Every extra day the army lingered meant more resources consumed. Although a few units had yet to arrive, Luo Wen decided not to wait any longer.
The weather that day was favorable—partly cloudy—with the tree canopy overhead blocking most of the light and heat, creating perfect conditions for a long-distance march.
At Luo Wen’s command, over 6,000 Transport Bugs loaded with a variety of troops and supplies began advancing on their eight long legs, heading directly for the Red Ant Nest. The scene was nothing short of spectacular.
Trees flitted past as Luo Wen led the march from the front of the formation. His role was to navigate for the army, as he had the widest field of view among the swarm at present.
Along the way, the army skirted around two Red Ant hunting parties. With the swarm’s overwhelming superiority in both numbers and quality, there was no need to engage such minor threats. Luo Wen’s strategy was to strike directly at the heart—obliterating the Red Ant Nest first, then dispatching smaller units to clear the territory afterward.
As for those two hunting parties? The forces following behind would take care of them.
Two hours later, after several breaks for the Transport Bugs to rest and replenish their energy, the army traversed two kilometers of forest and reached a familiar sight—the “volcanic crater.”
Having eradicated Red Ant Nests before, there was nothing novel about the scene. The swarm swiftly encircled the “crater.”
Luo Wen circled near the entrance, using the sensory hairs on his legs to detect vibrations from the underground network of tunnels. He identified the location of the subterranean passageways and extended his claws—his digging limbs, now sharper than ever since their transformation.
Giant Mandible Soldier Ants took the lead, flanked by Small Soldier Ants providing cover. If the enemy numbers were small, the swarm would engage in melee combat. If enemy numbers swelled, they would create a gap for Worker Ants at the rear to provide ranged support.
The swarm advanced methodically. Losses occurred but remained within acceptable limits.
The battle dragged on until nightfall. Narrow tunnels restricted movement, preventing the full deployment of the swarm’s forces. In fact, less than one-fifth of the army had entered the tunnels. The majority of troops remained outside, where they eliminated three returning Red Ant hunting parties.
A force of 1.8 million versus 20,000 was hardly a contest. The rear troops often found the battle over before they could even charge.
To be honest, more time was spent cleaning up the battlefield than fighting.
The swarm collected all spoils. Insect wars were simple: the victor claimed everything—enemy and ally carcasses alike were recycled as nutrients for the swarm’s growth.
Post-battle statistics showed the swarm lost around 20,000 units. Precise enemy losses were hard to calculate due to the tunnel skirmishes, but based on prior experience, the nest likely housed at least 400,000 to 500,000 ants. Even if their numbers had been diminished by the Big-headed Ants a month ago, they should have replenished somewhat during that time.
Luo Wen estimated at least 400,000 had been present, with an additional 45,000 from the three hunting parties eliminated outside.
As Luo Wen tallied the results, a squadron approached from the distance.
This was the swarm’s heavy combat units: 200 Ultra-Giant Soldier Ants, 500 Giant Soldier Ants, and two Scorpions. The two ant types were based on the Big-headed Ant soldier template, with minor modifications. A gene for enhanced leaping was added, increasing their agility, along with slightly enlarged mandibles for greater attack power.
The Scorpions were experimental. Enhanced muscle genes made them larger than their prototypes, with body lengths—excluding tails—of 40 centimeters. Luo Wen had no specific use in mind for them yet and had only created two to test their combat effectiveness in this war against the Big-headed Ants.
Accompanying these heavy units were around 10,000 smaller combat units mounted on their backs, tasked with guarding them. Despite their apparent strength, these heavy units excelled only in duels or mass battles. If caught alone by a Red Ant hunting party, their venomous stingers could prove fatal. A mishap, such as being surrounded, might even cost them their lives.
Previously, their slower pace had prevented them from keeping up with the Transport Bugs, so Luo Wen had stationed them at the rear for a gradual advance. Clearing out a Red Ant Nest didn’t require their involvement, and the pheromone markers left by the main force ensured they wouldn’t get lost.
When Luo Wen bypassed the two hunting parties earlier, he had assigned mobile squads to monitor them.
These squads specialized in reconnaissance, harassment, and trap-setting. Equipped with standard units and enhanced by Scout Bugs, Spy Bugs, and even a Queen Ant, these squads could carry out more complex missions thanks to the Queen’s higher intelligence.
After leaving the main force, the squads moved ahead of the hunting parties, setting up decoy pheromone trails. These misdirected the hunting parties into wandering in circles, oblivious to the deception.
The squads then rendezvoused with the slower-moving heavy units, relaying Luo Wen’s orders.
As Luo Wen surveyed the spoils carried back by the heavy units, he nodded in satisfaction. The execution of his orders had been commendable. However, a few Giant Soldier Ant corpses caught his eye—clear evidence of losses. Since Red Ants didn’t have such units, their origin was obvious.
Furthermore, the escorting units had suffered significant losses, tarnishing the operation’s success slightly. Still, the Ultra-Giants and Scorpions remained unscathed, the battle was won, and even the fallen had been retrieved.
These heavy units were valuable, walking reservoirs of protein. In times of famine, Worker Ants would cull them to feed the colony. Losing just one would be a considerable blow for an ordinary nest.
Although Luo Wen wasn’t in such dire straits, his frugality made him protective of his swarm. The smaller units could be overlooked, but every heavy unit cost enormous resources to cultivate. Losing even one, alive or dead, was unacceptable.