Chapter 29: The Ancient Giant Scorpion

Within the arena, a surge of cheers erupted. For a brief moment, Ye Mi almost believed she wasn’t surrounded by a swarm of inexplicable metallic creatures, but was truly fighting before living, breathing spectators.

She paused, a hint of confusion settling over her.

How were these metal beings producing such sounds? Did they possess flesh? Vocal cords?

Ye Mi glanced around, but saw no devices that might play recorded noises. Instead, her gaze caught a massive stone tablet suspended at the arena’s center. Ancient script was carved across its surface, and thanks to her experience with stone monuments, she could barely decipher the gist of the announcement:

"Champion: Ancient Giant Scorpion · 99 victories"
"Characteristics: Shell of formidable hardness, razor-sharp tail, deadly venom"
"This round marks the 100th decisive battle—if the champion prevails, the gods shall bestow their grace!"

Was this introducing the foe she was about to face?

Ye Mi’s expression grew serious. This giant scorpion was on the verge of its hundredth win, a clear testament to its strength.

Beside the champion’s details, the tablet also displayed scant information about the challenger:

"Challenger: Number 100"
"If the challenger wins, they may replace the Ancient Giant Scorpion as the new champion."

"Is that all?"

Such brevity felt dismissive.

She looked further down. At the bottom of the tablet, two vivid progress bars caught her eye. The red bar, representing the Ancient Giant Scorpion, nearly filled the entire length—about 90%. The blue bar, symbolizing Challenger Number 100, shrank pitifully on the right, as if on the verge of being devoured entirely.

Clearly, not a soul supported Challenger Number 100.

“Well, you’re all underestimating me,” Ye Mi muttered as the Ancient Giant Scorpion impatiently stepped forward. She raised her longsword, assuming a battle stance. “I have to survive.”

The battle was about to commence.

Around the arena, in the bronze stands, the metallic beings waved their rusted limbs in a frenzy. Their joints screeched, but oddly, the cacophony was smothered by the roaring tide of cheers.

As a second wave of applause thundered, Ye Mi dashed forward, launching her attack on the Ancient Giant Scorpion.

Her sword sliced across one of the scorpion’s eight legs, but the creature did not react—it trusted in its own resilience. Yet, countless black threads erupted from behind the blade, swiftly entangling the leg that had been struck.

In mere moments, the Ancient Giant Scorpion paid for its overconfidence, losing a limb as a small price.

In rage, it raised its tail formed of three spear-like segments. The tip—the stinger—lashed out like lightning.

Ye Mi rolled aside, and the ground where she’d stood was struck by venom. A sizzling sound accompanied the formation of a basin-sized pit, white smoke rising with the sickly-sweet stench of decay.

Were that venom to touch her...

Ye Mi’s pupils contracted. She needed to move faster!

The scorpion allowed her no time to think. Its remaining seven bronze limbs darted rapidly, its massive body moving with terrifying agility.

It spun abruptly, two powerful pincers sweeping toward her, the rush of air stinging her cheeks.

Fortunately, before venturing to the alien ruins, Ye Mi had scavenged a pair of enhanced tendon implants from the brown-haired girl’s expedition team; now, they served her well. She leapt effortlessly, avoiding the swinging pincers.

Without them, she might have suffered broken bones.

A spectacular moment.

The stands exploded with even greater cheers. Ye Mi still had no idea how these metallic creatures managed to produce sounds so akin to living beings.

She understood the importance of striking while the iron was hot. Landing, she burst forward, accelerating, and once again severed two more of the scorpion’s legs with her technique.

Adding the first, it had now lost three legs.

The scorpion’s movement slowed noticeably. Its enormous body dragged a deep furrow in the sand. Ye Mi seized the opportunity to widen the distance, flicking bronze fragments from her sword, her breath quickening.

As if by silent agreement, the fight paused; woman and monster faced off.

The scorpion abruptly changed tactics.

It ceased pursuit, curling its body inward. Its thick bronze shell shielded its vital parts, and the remaining five legs tucked out of sight beneath it.

It opened its enormous pincers to their widest, as large as door panels, brandishing them in front in an impenetrable display.

Most troublesome was the long spear tail, raised like a viper, the stinger trembling, poised to deliver a fatal strike if Ye Mi drew near.

She frowned.

This bronze creature was more formidable than she had imagined; it possessed intelligence.

There was no time to ponder why these bronze beings had suddenly awakened and gained sentience. She needed all her focus for the battle.

Still, she knew that no matter their cunning, they could never match human intellect.

The metallic beings in the stands seemed to sense the shift, their cheers growing even more frenzied.

“If I can’t get close...” she murmured, slowing her steps, “then I’ll make you come to me.”

She feigned a tentative advance; the scorpion reacted instantly.

A pincer swept toward her, the other aimed at her waist, the tail blocking her escape. Ye Mi was forced to leap back, skimming across the ground.

Then—

She deliberately pretended exhaustion, her steps faltering.

The scorpion fell for it, believing its prey was spent.

It launched a desperate assault, pincers and tail striking simultaneously—

Now!

Ye Mi abruptly deployed her defensive shield.

In the critical moment, the scorpion’s pincers slammed against it, sending ripples through the barrier. Its tail followed, venom corroding a gaping hole in the shield.

But in that brief instant, Ye Mi was no longer beneath it.

Her enhanced tendon implants fired at full strength, propelling her like a cannonball.

Black threads wrapped tightly around the scorpion’s tail—crack!

With a tooth-grinding metallic snap, the three spear-like stingers smashed to the ground.

For the first time, Ye Mi heard its cry—a shrill metallic shriek, like a thousand blades scraping against each other.

It writhed madly, the remaining legs gouging deep trenches in the earth.

But deprived of its venomous tail, the beast had lost its most lethal weapon.

To Ye Mi, every subsequent attack was no more than futile struggle.

The cheers in the stands halted abruptly.

All the metallic beings froze, as if a pause button had been pressed.

Ye Mi ignored them, turning instead to the three spears lying on the ground.