The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

Mikhailis breathed heavily, dodging a low-hanging branch and sparing a quick glance at Elowen beside him. She looked focused, her gaze fixed ahead, her brows furrowed in concentration. Despite the situation, a grin tugged at his lips as he panted out a comment.

"Well, glad I kept up with my daily runs, huh?"

Elowen shot him a sidelong glance, her lips curving into a faint smile despite their dire circumstances.

"I never thought… we'd be running for our lives together… like this," she said between breaths, her voice light with a touch of humor, even if her eyes were serious.

The sound of chittering grew louder, closer, like a mass of moving gears closing in on them. Mikhailis's heart raced not just from the exertion, but from the thought of those beetles—those countless, relentless beetles swarming toward them. He heard Rodion's voice in his earpiece, ever the calming, though slightly sarcastic, presence in chaotic situations.

<Left turn, thirty meters ahead. I have detected a cave. Probability of temporary safety: approximately sixty-two percent. Better odds than being consumed by Tanglebeetles, wouldn't you say?>

Mikhailis snorted, leaping over a fallen log.

"I'll take those odds," he muttered under his breath. He glanced at Elowen, gesturing to the left.

"Cave up ahead. We're heading there."

She nodded without hesitation, her trust in him evident even now. They turned sharply, their feet skidding slightly on the forest floor, and raced towards the cave that loomed in the distance—a dark maw in the side of a mossy rock outcrop. As they neared it, Mikhailis could feel the air cool, the oppressive heat of the swarming beetles momentarily dissipating.

The two of them dashed into the cave, Mikhailis immediately pressing his back against the cold stone wall as he looked back toward the entrance. The beetles had reached the mouth of the cave, but they seemed hesitant, the swarm gathering outside, almost as if debating whether to enter the darkness. He exchanged a glance with Elowen, both of them breathing heavily.

"Looks like they don't like caves," Mikhailis said, his voice still slightly breathless.

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Elowen nodded, catching her breath.

"For now... we should be safe." She looked at him, a faint smile on her lips.

"Not quite the romantic alone time one would envision."

Mikhailis chuckled, shaking his head.

"Yeah, well, at least we're not beetle food. I'll take what I can get."

Their laughter was cut short when a guttural noise echoed through the cave—a chilling, low growl that made the hair on Mikhailis's neck stand on end. His eyes darted toward the darkness deeper in the cave, and Elowen stiffened beside him.

"What was that?" Mikhailis asked, though he already had a feeling he wouldn't like the answer.

Elowen's eyes narrowed, her ears straining as the noise grew closer—footsteps, many of them, accompanied by the growling. Her heart sank as she recognized the sounds.

"Thalorian Goblins," she whispered.

"They're endemic to Silvarion Thalor, especially during the fall. They must be part of the seasonal outbreak."

Mikhailis groaned, rubbing a hand over his face.

"Great. Just great. As if this day couldn't get any better."

The cave was soon filled with the eerie, echoing noises of the Thalorian Goblins, their distinct, hulking forms creeping into view. Unlike regular goblins, these Thalorian variants had thick, bark-like armor covering parts of their bodies and elongated, sharp claws, making them both tougher and more dangerous. Their eyes glowed a sickly green, and their snarls carried a deeper, more menacing timbre.

Elowen moved first, drawing her sword, her eyes glowing faintly as magic coursed through her body. She looked at Mikhailis, her expression resolute.

"Stay behind me, Mikhailis," she said, her voice calm but commanding.

Mikhailis opened his mouth to protest, but Elowen had already stepped forward, her sword at the ready, magic swirling around her other hand. He let out a breath, his eyes scanning the dark as the goblins slowly began to surround them.

"Guess we're doing this," he muttered, his eyes catching a glimpse of the goblins—their hunched forms, their eyes glinting in the dim light of the cave. He had always thought goblins were the stuff of fairy tales, but here they were, and they looked anything but amusing.

Elowen moved first, her magic flaring to life, casting an eerie glow across the cave walls. The goblins hesitated for only a moment before charging, their shrill cries filling the air. Elowen's eyes narrowed as she raised her hand, her voice ringing out clearly in a chantation.

"Spirits of the forest, heed my call, grant me strength to make them fall. Roots and wind, thunder's might, cast away shadows, bring forth the light!"

Her hand glowed brightly, a brilliant emerald-green energy swirling around her palm before expanding into a luminous wave. The wave surged forward, illuminating the cave with a radiant, otherworldly light. The goblins shrieked in alarm as the magic hit them with the force of a raging storm, roots erupting from the ground, wrapping around their limbs and hurling them backward.

Some of them smashed into the cave walls, the force leaving them crumpled and motionless, while others were caught in a vortex of energy, their forms dissolving into ash.

<Analysis: The chantation appears to channel both elemental and spiritual magic, creating an effective dual-force attack. Energy intensity suggests Elowen has fully tapped into nature-based elemental reserves—root manipulation combined with a purification light effect. Goblins possess no significant resistance to these elements, making this a highly effective countermeasure,>

Rodion's voice echoed calmly in Mikhailis's ear.

Mikhailis watched, impressed, as Elowen's magic swept through their enemies like a force of nature. The air shimmered and hummed with energy, and each movement of her hand brought a new burst of light or a surge of roots from the earth, like an artist painting a masterpiece of destruction.

He could only watch, awe-struck, as she wielded her power with both precision and raw force, cutting a path through the goblins.

She was incredible—her movements fluid and powerful, each step a calculated burst of speed. Mikhailis saw her gather mana into her legs, and with a sudden explosive dash, she vanished from his sight for an instant, only to reappear amongst the goblins. Her sword cut through the air, a gleaming arc that severed heads and limbs with a swift, deadly precision.

Each slash was deliberate, each motion a perfect combination of grace and lethal intent. She moved like a blur, her form shifting and reappearing in flashes as she dispatched her foes, her magic guiding her steps and amplifying her speed. The goblins barely had time to react before they fell, their grotesque forms collapsing in her wake, leaving Mikhailis awestruck at her sheer prowess.

"As expected of a [King]-ranked swordsman and magician!" he shouted, unable to keep the admiration out of his voice. He watched as Elowen cut through the goblins, their numbers seemingly endless. Despite her skill, it was clear that the sheer volume of enemies was taking its toll on her—her breath was growing labored, her movements slower than when she had first begun.

He saw her eyes flick toward him, a momentary lapse in her focus as her gaze softened. She was worried about him—even now, in the middle of battle, she was thinking of his safety. Before he could say anything to reassure her, a movement at the cave entrance caught his eye. He turned, his stomach sinking as he saw more goblins pouring in from outside, their grotesque forms blocking their only exit.

"Shit! Seems like we're getting sandwhiched..." Mikhailis uttered with a wry smile.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Elowen turned, her eyes widening as she took in the scene—the goblins closing in from both sides, trapping them. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her grip on her sword tightening. Mikhailis could see the determination in her eyes, but he knows, with this number, even her would get tired.

Even the strongest warrior would die when getting sandwiched by 1000 enemies.

Realizing that Elowen was struggling to keep up, Mikhailis knew it was time to reveal his own secret.

I guess it can't be helped.

He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to do. He turned to her, his eyes meeting hers, a determined glint in his gaze.

"Elowen," he said, his voice steady despite the chaos around them.

"No need to worry about me. Let me show you my secret."

She looked at him, confusion flickering across her face, but before she could respond, Mikhailis let out a sharp whistle. The sound echoed through the cave, cutting through the goblins' shrieks and the clashing of steel. For a moment, nothing happened, and Elowen shot him a questioning look.

Then the ground began to tremble, a low rumble that seemed to resonate through the very bones of the earth. Mikhailis held his breath, his eyes fixed on the shadows at the far end of the cave. Slowly, the darkness seemed to shift, to move, and then—

A group of Chimera Ants emerged, their forms massive and intimidating, their exoskeletons gleaming in the dim light. Elowen's eyes widened, her gaze snapping to Mikhailis, her mouth opening in shock.

"What…?" she breathed, her eyes darting between the Chimera Ants and Mikhailis.

Mikhailis gave her an apologetic smile, his expression both serious and hesitant.

"This is the result of my research here," he said, his voice steady. "I was planning to tell you once I was sure they were useful and under control, but it looks like we don't have the luxury to wait."

Elowen stared at him, her eyes wide, her mind reeling. She had known Mikhailis was intelligent, that he had a penchant for strange research, but this—this was something entirely different. The Chimera Ants, massive and imposing, stood before them, awaiting his command.

Mikhailis turned to the Chimera Ants, his voice loud and clear.

"Attack!"