Lian decided to test the ability to control this monster to see how far he could go and what limitations it had.
The ant lowered its body closer to the ground.
"Sit."
The creature immediately bent its leg joints and sat completely on the ground.
Lian sent a second command.
"Three steps forward."
The ant took exactly three steps.
Not two steps, not four steps, but exactly three steps! Then it stopped.
Lian commanded in his mind for it to turn around itself. The creature, with its massive size, spun a full circle and faced him again.
The commands were not like speaking to an animal, but like a direct transmission of intent.
There was no need to form a precise sentence in his mind; the concept was enough.
Lian decided to share his sense of sight with the monster.
In the first moment, the world split into two. He still felt his own body and saw the battlefield from his human perspective.
But at the same time, another image fell on his vision.
He saw himself from the front, from a lower height. His body appeared narrow and tall in the ant’s view.
The colors were also different.
The forest green was fainter, but the flows of heat, smell, and mana were much clearer.
The vibration of the ground formed like invisible waves in the ant’s perception.
Every movement around had its own trace. Lian even sensed the three Lacerians behind the root.
Not through sight, but through body odor, heat, and the very faint vibrations of their breathing.
The influx of two different perceptions made his head spin for a moment, the ground tilted briefly.
He immediately turned off the ability, and the second image disappeared.
He took a few quiet breaths.
Then he activated the skill again; this time not with all senses, only vision.
The pressure was much less. He was able to look around through the ant’s eyes without losing his balance.
Then he only borrowed the sense of vibration. This sense was even more useful.
The ant could detect the movement of large creatures from a very long distance through the ground.
Lian cut the connection. The value of the talent was now clear. With suitable members, he could identify paths without being directly present.
He could be aware of ambushes or predators before entering an area. He could monitor several points at the same time.
Colony members could be used for guarding, tracking, messaging, or finding resources.
In an unknown world, having creatures that could take risks on his behalf was a huge advantage.
If later he found members with special senses, the ability to fly, burrow, or stealth skills, Hive Link could become an information network that no ordinary group could compete with.
For now, the capacity was only ten members, but this Talent was still Rank S, and parts of it were locked.
Its true potential was far beyond one ant.
Now he felt even more that the battle had really been worth it. This was a very great talent.
A panel appeared.
[Would you like to name the colony member?]
Lian looked at the ant.
"You are the first member." He thought for a few moments and then said.
"Then your name will be One."
[Name registered: One.]
A summary panel of the creature appeared before him.
[Name: One]
[Race: Crimson Needle Ant]
[Level: 19]
[Rank: Normal]
[Colony Position: Worker]
[Special Traits: Paralytic Stinger, Heavy Carapace, Vibration Detection]
Lian closed the panel.
One moved its antennae gently, as if it understood that it had received a name and was happy.
At that same moment, another panel that he had not yet opened shone in the corner of his vision.
[Reward Acquired: Extra Life.]
Lian’s gaze remained fixed for a moment, then he opened the description panel.
[Extra Life]
[Upon the user’s definite death, his soul and body are restored to full condition once. All wounds, poisons, curses, and mental damage that directly caused death are cleansed.]
[Extra Lives Remaining: 1]
Lian remained motionless for a few seconds. This was no longer a Stats increase or a defensive skill.
Not a chance to escape death, not damage reduction, but a real extra life!
If he was killed once, he would return, his body and soul would be restored, and he would be revived in the nearest safe location.
He now effectively had two lives.
The value of such a reward was incomparable to any of his current skills.
He could have a second chance in a situation where anyone else would die forever with one mistake.
He could hold a hidden trump card against assassination, a fatal strike, or an enemy whose power he didn’t know.
He could even, in special circumstances, take a risk that was previously impossible.
But this did not mean carelessness. The extra life only worked once. If he wasted it on a foolish mistake, that would just be stupidity.
Lian closed the panel. This reward had to stay hidden. No one needed to know that even after death, he could rise again.
"It’s safe. You can come out." He turned toward the crack and called out.
A few moments later, the moss at the entrance parted. Ravian was the first to come out.
He kept his spear raised from the moment he exited and scanned the surroundings.
Sera appeared behind him, and Nemi crawled out of the crack last.
All three stopped upon seeing the field. Almost all the corpses had disappeared.
Where there should have been a mountain of carcasses a few minutes ago, only gray soil, lifeless shells, and traces of battle remained.
Nemi looked around in disbelief.
"Where did the bodies go?"
Before Lian could answer, One moved from behind the root. The sound of its heavy footsteps made all three react immediately.
Ravian threw himself in front of his sisters and aimed his spear at the ant’s head.
Sera pulled out her knife, and Nemi stepped back, the color draining from her face.
One moved its antennae but did not attack.
Lian laughed.
"Don’t worry. It’s not an enemy."
"This is one of them." Ravian said without lowering his spear.
"Was."
Sera turned her gaze between Lian and the ant, curiosity on her face more than fear.
"What do you mean, was?"
Lian commanded One to lower its body. The ant immediately sat down, closed its jaws, and folded its antennae.
"Now it listens to me."
Ravian still hadn’t lowered his spear.
"How?"
Lian just shrugged. He really didn’t know how to explain his world’s power system to these three. The best answer was that this was his ability.
Sera stepped forward, but Ravian grabbed her arm.
"Don’t get close."
She pushed her brother’s hand aside.
"If it wanted to attack, it would have done so by now."
She approached One more calmly. The ant showed no aggressive movement.
Sera stopped a few steps away and examined its red and black shell.
Its shell seemed thicker than the tribe’s shields, and the metal stinger at the end of its abdomen still held a drop of green venom.
Nemi stayed behind Ravian.
She peeked out slightly from beside her brother’s shoulder and looked at the ant from a distance.
Lian commanded One to lift one of its front legs. The creature obeyed, then lowered it again.
The hesitation on Ravian’s face lessened slightly. He lowered his spear, though he was still not completely at ease.
Lian looked at One’s broad back.
The ant’s size was almost that of a large elephant. The natural grooves on its shell provided enough space for four people to sit.
"I don’t think we need to walk through the rest of the forest on foot."
Ravian looked at One’s back.
Then at the massive roots and tall moss around. Gradually, he understood the meaning of Lian’s words.
One was not only faster than them, but could also pass through the moss that reached up to their waists without stopping.
Its six legs allowed it to climb the slope of roots and maintain balance on uneven surfaces.
Vibration Detection could also sense large dangers before they arrived.
Ravian, with an expression that showed he still couldn’t believe it, said:
"With this... maybe we’ll reach it in a day, even less."
"We’re going to ride it?" Nemi asked from behind him.
Lian pointed at One.
"Do you see any other way?"
Nemi looked at the ant’s massive stinger, then at its back.
"Walking wasn’t that bad either."
Sera gave a faint smile.
"Two days of walking or a few hours on this."
"On this."
Using the remaining ropes, they tied a few loops between the grooves of One’s shell.
Ravian sat at the front to show the way, Lian sat behind him and transmitted commands directly to One through Hive Link.
Sera and Nemi sat at the back and held the ropes tightly.
When everyone was ready, Lian gave the command to move.
One suddenly moved forward.
Its first movement was so fast that Nemi let out a short sound of surprise and clung to Sera.
The ant’s six legs landed on the ground with precise order.
Each leg found the right spot before landing and, without slowing down, carried its massive body over craters, exposed roots, and thick moss.
What would have taken the four of them hours was now being covered in minutes.
The cold forest wind hit their faces, and the moss strands parted on both sides.
They were on the move again... but this time, not on foot.
"Even better than what I thought." Lian muttered to himself.
Maybe they really could reach the tribe within a few hours!