The moment Tony and Ethan stepped through the shimmering portal, it swiftly collapsed behind them, leaving no trace of its existence. Eric watched as they disappeared, their presence vanishing like a fleeting dream. He let out a quiet sigh before turning his attention back to his surroundings. The cave was still filled with the sounds of sporadic gunfire, echoes bouncing off the walls like whispers of a battle nearing its end.
"This place is almost like a maze..." Eric muttered to himself. The layout was intricate, winding tunnels stretching in every direction, and it was no surprise that the enemy hid within these passageways like an ant colony. In such confined spaces, knights like Igris and Bellion would find it difficult to maneuver effectively. However, for Berru and the Ant Soldiers, this terrain was perfect.
Normally, Berru would have already wiped out every last enemy in a place like this, yet he was taking his time, moving methodically rather than swiftly. Eric furrowed his brows, sensing something odd about his approach. It was as if Berru was deliberately avoiding large-scale destruction, carefully navigating the battlefield with an uncharacteristic level of restraint.
"Did he take a liking to this place?" Berru was minimizing the damage, making it more difficult to find and eliminate the last remaining enemies.
For a brief moment, he considered summoning all of his Ant Soldiers to speed things up, then give this place to Berru to play, but then he hesitated.
But thinking about the castle, that Beru created for him, which was almost bigger than a mountain, he quickly dismissed the Idea, if Berru like this place, he has to destroy this place as soon as possible, who know what thing he would create, if left alone.
Also, It was said that Obadiah Stane would later find a prototype suit here, and made the iron Mauger based on that. then perhaps destroying the whole place would be wiser choice. Not only would it save him time, but it would also prevent Tony from encountering unnecessary trouble in the future. anyway, tony was one of his favorite character, so he don't mind a little bit of help, As for how this event would alter the original timeline...
He didn't particularly care.
Before visiting the world of Solo Leveling, he might have been concerned about the so-called 'plot.' But now, with his overwhelming strength, such concerns felt trivial. If he still had to worry about insignificant matters despite his power, then perhaps it would be better to dug a pit and hide there for the rest of his life.
Berru, who just finished a group of terrorist, heard a familiar voice from the darkness.
"Berru."
Despite the chaos, the whisper reached his ears with pinpoint precision. Within a mere second, Berru materialized before him, kneeling down on one knee, his insect-like form still radiating an aura of unwavering loyalty.
"I deeply apologize for the delay," Berru said, his voice laced with regret. "I will finish everything here as quickly as possible."
Eric, however, shook his head. "No need for that. Besides, you seem to like this place. "Do you want this place?
He asked him, while thinking of some excuse to refuse him, but he seems to be overthinking it.
At his words, Berru tilted his head slightly, confusion evident in his normally expressionless face. "What do you mean, Your Highness?"
A smirk played on Eric's lips as he crossed his arms. "I noticed that you've been trying to preserve this place as much as possible. Usually, you'd be done by now, but instead, you're being careful."
Berru stiffened slightly before lowering his gaze. "That... Your Highness showed kindness to those two men earlier. Since this is their home, I thought it would be best to leave it as intact as possible."
For a moment, there was silence. Then—
"Pfft—"
A loud laugh escaped Eric's lips, catching Berru off guard. The Ant Commander quickly lowered his head further, his voice slightly nervous. "Forgive me if I have done something wrong, my lord."
Eric wiped a tear from his eye as he struggled to contain his amusement. "No, no, it's just—" He took a deep breath. "You, trying to be delicate? That's a first. And if Tony knew you considered this to be his home, I can only imagine his reaction."
Berru hesitated. "Your Highness, I assure you, I can be quite meticulous when necessary."
Eric raised an eyebrow. "Right. Because tearing enemies in half with those claws of yours is the epitome of precision."
Berru, ever loyal, tried to defend his actions. "If I had known it would amuse you, I would have tried to crush them more elegantly."
Eric burst out laughing again. "Berru, stop, you're going to kill me!"
The Ant Commander straightened slightly, looking somewhat puzzled. "Is it funny, Your Highness?"
Eric exhaled, shaking his head. "No, but watching you try to kill them as gently as possible is."
With that said, he turned his gaze upward and, in one fluid motion, propelled himself into the sky. Within seconds, he was hovering over a hundred meters above ground, surveying the battlefield below. Even from this height, he could see remnants of resistance—terrorists desperately trying to launch missiles at the unknown enemy.
A sigh escaped his lips.
He was tired. It had already been a year since he last went home, and the thought of lingering here any longer felt pointless. He had no interest in entertaining these ants any further.
Raising his right hand, a faint blue glow surged from his fingertips, illuminating the air with an ominous brilliance. The atmosphere seemed to be still as if the world itself was holding its breath in anticipation. Then, with a slow and deliberate motion, he lowered his hand.
The sky split with a deafening boom.
An immense, invisible force crashed onto the battlefield like the wrath of a god. The earth quivered in agony, fracturing under the sheer pressure as a massive imprint, perfectly molded in the shape of a colossal palm, embedded itself into the ground. The impact sent shockwaves rippling outward, shattering structures and hurling debris into the air like a storm of destruction.
A deafening silence followed for a split second—a momentary pause before nature retaliated.
A violent rush of wind spiraled downward, rushing to fill the sudden vacuum created by the overwhelming force. The displaced air, now seeking balance, howled like a vengeful spirit, kicking up a swirling vortex of sand and dust. Within moments, the battlefield was consumed by a blinding tempest, its roaring winds drowning out all other sounds.
What once stood as a stronghold of defiance was now nothing more than a chaotic wasteland. Buildings, weapons, and bodies alike were buried beneath the unrelenting sands. The very land seemed to mourn, swallowed by the golden tides that would ensure no remnants of the battle remained.
This was no mere act of destruction—it was erasure.
In just a few days, this entire site would be reclaimed by the desert, leaving no evidence of the war that had transpired. The world would forget, as though it had never existed at all.
Satisfied, Eric turned away, opened a portal, and vanished without a second thought.
As the last remnants of the storm raged on, another portal suddenly materialized in the air. From within, a bald woman clad in a flowing yellow robe stepped forth.
She stood there, her expression unreadable as she gazed upon the destruction before her. The howling winds pulled at her robes, yet she remained still. Lifting a hand slightly, she hesitated, as if contemplating something—before ultimately lowering it again.
"I was one step too late," she murmured. Her voice carried a solemn weight, her golden eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "It seems I will have to be an uninvited guest this time."
With that, she turned and stepped back through the portal, leaving the battlefield behind.
The storm raged on, and soon, all traces of what had transpired would be erased, swallowed by the sands of time.