A Journey That Changed The World.

Chapter 1307: So He Doesn’t Like Men

’’Now are you going to cooperate or am I going to have to tear off more limbs?’’ Archer asked the trembling Burrowfiend.

The monster quickly nodded in agreement, causing him to drop the thing before casting Aurora Healing on it. Moments later, its arms grew back to the beast’s shock, which made him laugh at its reaction.

Shortly after that, it let out a loud screech and dozens of Burrowfiends poured into the chamber which scared the Ripper Ant Queen even more, but the newcomers ignored her while staring at him.

Demetra appeared beside him with a raised eyebrow as she commented. ’’These things are nightmares of the deep. They prey on the eggs of the monsters to sustain themselves, but they also raid the islands and mainland.’’

’’Have your kind fought them?’’ he asked.

The shark woman nodded. ’’Yes. Father created a force of special Demon Sharks to guard our pups,’’ she explained.

’’Ohhh,’’ Archer muttered before turning to the Burrowfiend who was crouched in front of him.

Its beady black eyes never left him as he questioned. ’’Why are you looking at me like that?’’

Just then, a mature woman’s voice sounded in his mind. ’Your energy is delicious. Can we make a deal?’

Archer shook his head to clear it before replying. ’’Have your children guide me to you and leave the Ripper Ants along. They belong to me now.’’

’As you wish,’ the voice said before the Burrowfiend nodded and made its way to the entrance.

Once they were waiting for him, he walked over to the Ripper Queen and spoke in a fed up voice with no tone to mess around. ’’Look, you have two choices. Serve me and grow strong or be wiped out?’’

Vivienne returned to her humanoid form before speaking. ’’They can become powerful, but I’ll have to work with this bitch to achieve it.’’

’’I can just kill her if you like Vivi?’’ he offered in a nonchalant voice. ’’It’s not like a need more ants because I have you.’’

When the redhead heard this, she smiled. ’’No, keep them husband. They are a strong colony who can live on the surface and sea, which will be useful to you if they soak in your mana for a while.’’

Following that, Archer agreed and opened a portal to an empty part of the Domain and spoke to the Ripper Ant Queen. ’’Step through and start building your home. It will help you grow stronger straight away.’’

Vivienne approached the Cosmic Shield and entered before chatting to the two women with a smile. Seconds later, he started following the Burrowfiend until arriving at a giant beetle that was hidden outside.

This scene surprised Archer, but the queen’s voice echoed in his mind, using the creature a conduit to speak. ’This is a Transport Burrowfiend. They take my children to their missions and will bring you to me.’

He leaped onto the monster’s back, joining the other Burrowfiends as they scrambled aboard the massive creature. With a lurch, the transport beast plunged into the depths of the sea, the Cosmic Shield trailing in its wake.

An hour later, they emerged above the rim of a vast chasm. The queen’s voice echoed once more, calm and certain. ’The colony’s close now.’

Following that, they dived into the darkness, forcing him to use Mana Manipulation to light up their surroundings. After swimming for half an hour, they arrived at a cave entrance before passing through.

Archer spotted dozens of Burrowfiends wandering around or guarding the tunnels causing him to joint the women in the barrier. When he reappeared, the three looked at him as Inara commented. ’’Are you not worried about them?’’

’’Not really, if I’m honest,’’ he answered with a chuckle. ’’The queen seems smart and once she realizes the benefits of joining at one of my monarchs, then she will fall in line like the Ripper Ants.’’

Vivienne suddenly giggled before revealing. ’’You might have trouble with that queen husband. She’s very rebellious. It’s the reason I transformed, because Nightmare Ants are at the top of the pecking order.’’

Archer nodded in understanding as his eyes widened in surprise, causing Demetra to ask. ’’What’s wrong?’’

The Shadow Realm is full of monsters and Wild Pigs,’’ he revealed before teleporting to the Domain.

He opened two portals, one shimmering above the sea, the other rooted to the earth, as a flood of hundreds of creatures, wild and varied, erupted from the Shadow Realm. Archer exhaled, a wave of relief washing over him as the realm was finally empty.

Once that was done, he returned to the women who were floating in the tunnel with the Burrowfiends surrounding it with curious expressions. The sight made Archer laugh, causing him to approach the entrance.

Inara, Demetra, and Vivienne gawked, jaws practically on the floor, as thousands of nightmarish, drooling monsters encircled him, yet not one twitched a claw. The second he melted into the shadows like some brooding magician, the lioness whipped her head toward the other two.

’’Is he for real?’’ she yelped. ’’Those things outrank S-tier monsters. They could floss with most people!’’

Demetra flashed a grin, her razor-sharp teeth glinting. ’’Oh, totally. He normally just walks into monster colonies like it’s a casual stroll, smacks their boss around for fun, and calls it a day. Hilarious, right?’’

Vivienne nodded, deadpan. ’’Yup. Did the same to me, Valariana, and Aeliana. Waltzed in, gave us a good whacking, then claimed us like he didn’t enslave us, but here I am, living the dream as his woman.’’

Inara started giggling. ’’He does have a way with women, doesn’t he? Why do you think he entrusts so many things to us?’’ she asked in a curious tone.

When the ant queen heard this, her smile softened, deepening with understanding. ’’That’s where his past weaves into it, even if he doesn’t fully see it himself. Archer’s unease around men it stems from what his father’s abuse. Somewhere deep in his mind, those wounds have quietly shaped him, nudging him to keep his distance.’’

’’So he doesn’t like men?’’ Demetra asked. ’’What about his friends? Lioran and Cian?’’

Vivienne gave a small shrug before chiming in. ’’I think that’s how he’s trying to open the door a bit, those two Maeve and Nala’s brothers, after all,’’ Vivienne said.

The other two nodded, a quiet agreement passing between them, before the trio dove back into their gossip with renewed enthusiasm. While the three women spoke, Archer was already halfway down the tunnel.

As he walked, Aisha sent him a message. ’We’ve lost contact with the fortress on Placidia’s husband. Maeve and Ashoka want to go check it out with their legions. They want to get some experience before the Pluoria invasion.’

’Okay. Once I’m done down here, I’ll go see them,’ he replied while stepping into the Burrowfiends chamber.

Following that, Archer spotted a giant version of the Burrowfiend but this one radiated a pseudo god’s aura which made him stop walking. His eyes narrowed as he let his Primordial Dragon one loose.

When the queen felt this, she backed off as a massive dragon’s head appeared above him that showed his true face, which scared the shit out of her. The monster quickly bowed and pleaded for mercy. ’Please don’t hurt us! I was just testing you to see if you were worthy of following.’

Archer was curious and dismissed his aura as he questioned. ’’You want to follow me? Why?’’

’My children watched you deal with the Kraken Termites and Ripper Ants,’ she answered while getting comfortable. ’They sensed your energy when you sent them away.’

’’Oh, that makes sense then,’’ he said while nodding.

Archer opened a portal to the Domain where they could build a colony on the ground and the ocean. When the Burrowfiend Queen saw this, her eyes opened in shock as she spoke. ’We can build a great colony there. Is there any food?’

’’Yes, there are trillions of monsters in there. I’m always collecting them wherever I go,’’ Archer revealed while ushering some workers through the portal to start a new colony.

The queen nodded before entering the portal and appeared on a beach in the northern part of the Domain. When he joined her, he suggested. ’’You can use the land and sea, it will help you become stronger.’’

’You’re right, Master,’ she said while summoning more Burrowfiends to protect and work. ’It shouldn’t take too long to build a new home.’

Following that, Archer waved his hand and summoned a dozen Umbraworms while speaking. ’’Eat these things and tell me you’re happy with your choice.’’

The Burrowfiend workers tore into the struggling worms, but when the queen tried, some of her dark eyes went wide. ’Delicious and full of powerful mana!’ she exclaimed.

Archer chuckled at their reaction but soon enough an uncountable number of them poured into the Domain and started work on the colony.

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