Chapter 346

Chapter 346: Did It Work?!

Besides Miyoshi Mitsui, the Ant Tribe had slain another reincarnator—Luo Yong, wielder of the “Unique Skill: Goblin King.” Though considered a compatriot from their original world, he was nowhere near as agreeable as Miyoshi Mitsui. If Mitsui gave the impression of a middle-aged corporate drone from the past life, that Luo Yong fellow likely resembled a street thug, perhaps even an outright criminal.

Not that parasitizing him remained an option now. They’d incinerated his corpse after the execution…

Later, Lin Yu summoned her daughters for assistance. She led them to the great tree marking Miyoshi Mitsui’s burial site. For easy identification, the trunk bore crudely carved characters spelling “Miyoshi Mitsui”—an inevitable eyesore given their ant forms hadn’t yet achieved humanoid refinement at the time of engraving.

Upon arrival, Lin Yu stared blankly at the earthen mound beneath the tree. “Borrowing your remains for a bit. No hard feelings, Mitsui,” she murmured. After releasing a measured sigh, the silver-haired girl gestured decisively.

The Earth Digging Ants swarmed forward, their specialized limbs churning through soil with practiced efficiency. True to their name, they soon struck paydirt…

Moments later, a headless skeleton lay exposed on the ground. Lin Yu retreated several paces, her human past manifesting in the primal unease gripping her at the sight of humanoid bones. The presence of a dozen Earth Digging Ants provided scant comfort.

“Little Qiao… attempt to parasitize him.” Lin Yu nudged the small parasitic ant in her palm.

“Mm!”

Ji Qiao surveyed the skeletal remains with noticeably less trepidation than she’d shown toward Earth Dragon Aier’s massive frame. Perhaps size dictated her fears? The thought crossed Lin Yu’s mind as she crouched to accommodate her daughter’s acrophobia.

The tiny ant scurried to Miyoshi Mitsui’s remains, pressing a delicate forelimb against the skeletal fingertip. Her Unique Skill: Parasite activated.

Lin Yu’s pulse quickened as the agonizing wait began—one second… two seconds… stretching far longer than their previous attempt on the Earth Dragon’s bones.

After approximately five minutes passed—just as Lin Yu could no longer restrain her urge to inquire—Ji Qiao’s antennae stiffened upright, her expression radiating joy as she gazed at Lin Yu.

“Success, Mom!”

“It worked?!”

Lin Yu blinked in momentary astonishment before delight illuminated her features. Yet soon her brows furrowed with renewed uncertainty as she observed the little ant still maintaining contact between her forelimbs and the skeleton’s fingertip. Could this truly be considered successful parasitism? Shouldn’t proper infestation involve penetrating the host’s body or at least adhering to its surface?

“Are you certain it’s successful?”

Unable to resist approaching, Lin Yu voiced her doubt aloud.

“Success… but incomplete. The full process… requires time.”

Ji Qiao tilted her head thoughtfully. Drawing nearer, Lin Yu noticed with sudden clarity that her daughter’s limbs weren’t merely touching the bone—the very tips had partially merged with the skeletal structure. A translucent membrane shimmered at the junction, concentric ripples cascading across its surface like water disturbed by falling pebbles.

Does complete assimilation demand Little Qiao’s entire form merging with the skeleton? Lin Yu’s concern manifested as hesitant words: “Any pain? Discomfort?”

“No hurt. No bad feelings. Just… slow merging.”

Relief softened Lin Yu’s posture. Remembering her appraisal skill, she swiftly activated it. The status panel revealed [Parasitization In Progress] beside Ji Qiao’s name, all other parameters stable. Instructing the Earth Digging Ants to transport both Miyoshi Mitsui’s remains and Ji Qiao into an unused ground-floor chamber, she nearly jumped when Red Pupil and Magic Rainbow burst in with their sisters.

After explaining the situation, astonished murmurs rippled through the group.

“If she truly gains Miyoshi Mitsui’s Unique Skill,” Magic Rainbow mused, “those Earth Dragon skeletons could rise as Dead Spirit Puppets—like his corpse-army from legends.”

Purple Mist bounced eagerly. “Does this mean our conquered Earth Dragons and even the Dragon Mother might serve us now?”

“All speculation until completion,” Red Pupil interjected softly, her cotton-candy voice cutting through the excitement. “See how you frighten her?”

The chattering daughters turned to find Ji Qiao curled into a trembling ball, only her fused limb remaining visible.

“Adorable! Like Little Sound when nervous!” Lvzi giggled, squeezing Weak Sound against her.

As the crowd dispersed to ease Ji Qiao’s anxiety, Lin Yu—masking her unease around Miyoshi Mitsui’s corpse—entrusted guardianship to her daughters. Red Pupil’s tiny hand closed around hers, the perceptive child leading her away.

The remaining sisters established a rotating watch schedule. Timid Weak Sound drew first shift—her initial skittishness mirroring Ji Qiao’s own, until tentative greetings blossomed into whispered camaraderie.

…

Five days later found Lin Yu marveling at the sluggish progress: merely one fully integrated forelimb. This contemplative moment shattered when Darkling Stalker’s silhouette darkened the castle gate, freshly returned from distant dragon territories.