Re:Ant Lord-Chapter 178: Monarch’s Leap

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"Kai?"

He didn’t answer. He stared forward with Predator calm. Like a Hunter is ready for the hunt.

"No room left for a chat." He said to himself.

He opened his system and moved with precision.

[Stat Allocation Interface Activated

Distribute 152 Unallocated Stat Points:

Strength: +60 → Total: 367

Speed: +52 → Total: 327

Stamina: +40 → Total: 300]

The moment he confirmed, his muscles tightened, locking like steel cables drawn to their absolute limit.

His bones began to vibrate, not with pain, but with raw power—as if something deep within his marrow was awakening, shattering every barrier of his current physique. It was once known or had. A low hum resonated through his limbs, echoing outward like a tuning fork struck inside his skeleton.

Then the energy came. Not a surge. Not a flow.

It was a flood of power.

Essence flushed through his veins like molten star iron, screaming through every nerve, every tendon, every sinew. It poured into his body with the heat of rebirth. It was reforging muscle, reinforcing bone, stretching ligaments into tensile cables strong enough to pull mountains apart.

His legs thickened first, the calves bulging with mass, perfectly proportioned and dense with compact might. The joints in his knees glowed faintly as internal structures twisted and aligned for optimal torque.

Then came the chest expanding, compressing, reshaping under invisible pressure. His pectorals flexed like sculpted stone, his shoulders pulling back as new muscle groups layered over existing ones. His veins popped out through his clothes. Each breath he took sounded like a blacksmith’s bellows, inhaling aura instead of air.

His spine realigned with a crackle of golden arcs, vertebrae thickening to support his now-supercharged upper frame. Veins lit up like lightning maps under his skin, pulsing with crimson gold fire. Even the surface of his skin grew smoother, tighter—radiating a subtle metallic shimmer beneath the dust and grime.

His hands flexed open. Fingers longer, heavier, but perfectly controlled.

Perfectly lethal.

Kai lowered his center of gravity instinctively, and the stone beneath his boots fractured—not from pressure, but from the sheer weight of potential now contained in his frame.

His aura spiked. Then flattened. Then stabilized like a predator lowering itself before the final pounce.

[Stats Sync Complete: Host body now optimized for Monarch Apex Mode.

New evolution gained, Elite Worker Ant to Elite Ant Warrior.]

He opened his eyes. And the Rift trembled in fear.

[Ding! System Notification –

Status Window – Updated:

Name: Kai (Elite Ant Warrior)

Species: Monarch Devourer Ant

Titles: Humanoid Ant Monarch, Ruler’s Guardian, First Flame Father

Title Effects:

All ants below host level submit automatically.

All rulers below host level yield unless bonded.

Bonded offspring grow +10% faster in lair range.

Level: 40 (⭐⭐⭐⭐)

EXP: 0 / 1000

HP: 4000 / 4000

Aura: 4000 / 4000

Lifespan: 30+ years

Strength: 367

Speed: 327

Stamina: 300

Ultimate Skill: Essence Eater

Sub Skills: Essence Overlord, Devourer’s Bite

Monarch Brand

Unique Skill: Luster’s Mark

Placed on: Mia, Luna.

Subordinate Slots: 8 / 10

Silvershadow (4★)

Shadeclaw (4★)

Skyweaver (3★)

Vexor (3★)

Shale (4★)

Flint (3★)

Needle (3★)

Wolf (2★)

Branding Cost: 400 Aura per target.

Branded subjects evolve into Ant-Hybrid forms, retain racial traits, gain Monarch aura bonds, and obey all commands. Bonding range becomes limitless once stabilized.

Inventory of Soul-Bonded Storage Cube (4x4x4):

Essence Liquid: 1050L

Star Crystal Liquid: Many Liters

Ruler’s Heart Core ×1 Star Meteoroid iron: 780 kg

Beast Meat: Few tons

Skill Set (Cooldown-free – Duration: 5 mins per activation):

Antenna Sensory Boost

Worker’s Resilience

Tiny Tank

Ant’s Instinct

Reflex Mode

Adaptive Armor (Passive)

Predator’s Instinct (Passive)

Aura Cost: -200 per skill use ]

The numbers felt good. Too good. But time ticked on. He turned.

Azhara stood several paces behind him, still catching her breath, chest rising and falling in quick, shallow bursts. Her legs were stiff from pleasure not from running, her fur matted with lingering scent, but her eyes... her eyes had never looked clearer.

"Do you really want to follow me?" he asked, voice flat but weighted.

She blinked, startled by the question.

Then nodded, ears perked, eyes glowing.

"Yes. I do."

The answer came instantly. Too quick. Too hungry.

Kai narrowed his gaze. "Why?"

She hesitated. Then smiled, coy but sincere.

"Because... I want to belong to someone strong. Someone who made me tremble. Someone who can train me. I want to follow you, serve you..." she bit her lip and said silently, "...mate you." Kai didn’t hear the last part. It was too silent.

Kai sighed. "Alright rabbit."

He couldn’t deny her value. She had proved herself already by carrying meteoroid iron, enduring pain, obeying orders without complaint. Plus she is a five star rank beast. He had no subordinates at that level. She will be good security for his Monarch Mountain.

He extended his hand. "Then I’ll take you as my subordinate."

Her breath caught in her throat.

He pressed his palm to her stomach. In her belly button. She felt the warmth of Kai’s touch. Her eyes are full of lust. She wanted to eat him like there was no tomorrow. But she controls herself.

[Monarch Brand Activated. -400 Aura.]

A purple mark flared across her belly, a luminous monarch crest embedded in a tribal swirl of lines and fractals. The glow burned for a second then sunk into her skin.

"AHH! Sir!"

She moaned again, knees briefly buckling.

[Ding! New Subordinate Added.

Azhara – Savage Rabbit

Rank: 5★

Status: Branded Ant-Hybrid

Racial Blend: Predator Rabbit.

Traits Gained: Colony Aura Resistance, Aura Pulse Detection, Loyalty Link

Impression point: 70 ]

Her body started to shift. Her face had softened, not in weakness, but in symmetry. Her once wild look had been tempered into something more divine. Her red eyes glowed with an intelligent hunger, and the new ant-like antennae unfurled from behind her ears, twitching as they synced with Kai’s aura field.

The tribal shoulder bone was still there—but now fused with her new chitin, framed like a badge of honor.

And down her stomach, where his mark had been etched, a faint golden glow remained. It was a sign of her bond to the Monarch.