Re:Ant Lord-Chapter 20: First Rival

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He was nothing. Millions of ants, all functioning in perfect order and he was now just another piece of the machine.

A sudden, uncomfortable weight settled on his soul.

"I fought so hard to be free. And now, I'm just another servant?"

His mandibles clicked in frustration. "No. This isn't permanent. I will break free of this mark."

As if responding to his determination, the system's voice chimed in.

[Ding! New Mission Added: Rise Through the Ranks.

Objective: Prove your worth within the Ant Kingdom. Strengthen yourself and prepare for Level 30.]

Kai smirked. "Now that's more like it."

If the queen thought she could bind him, she was wrong.

He would play the obedient soldier for now. He would climb their ranks, gain their trust, and learn everything he could.

And when the time came... He would break free.

As Kai walked deeper into the kingdom, he made sure to analyze everything.

Workers moved in precise formations, their every task dictated by invisible pheromone signals.

Elite ants, marked with glowing insignias, gave commands without hesitation.

Kai studied them all.

"I may be marked now, but I'm not truly one of them."

Every moment spent watching, learning, and adapting brought him closer to his goal of freedom. He had infiltrated the Ant Kingdom, but he was no servant.

He was a predator waiting to strike.

As he passed a massive central chamber, a new notification appeared.

[Ding! System notifications: Special Opportunity Detected. An unknown presence has noticed you.]

"What an unknown presence.. who is it?" Kai asked the system looking left and right.

But then, something unexpected happened.

From the far side of the plaza, an ant unlike any Kai had ever seen approached. At first, Kai assumed it was just another soldier, but as the figure drew closer, his entire perception shattered.

This Ant was walking on two legs.

His form was no longer that of an insect but a tall, imposing humanoid figure, his chitinous exoskeleton smoothly blending with the structure of his body. His face was eerily human, with piercing golden eyes and a strong, commanding presence. His armor-like plating gleamed under the faint light, his posture exuding both power and authority.

Kai's mind raced. He had never seen anything like this. How was this possible?

"What... isn't it supposed to be an Ant kingdom? Why does he look like a human?"

"System!" he demanded inwardly. "What's going on?"

The system's response was immediate.

[Ding! Once an ant reaches the three-star rank, they gain the ability to change their form at will. This is the first stage of transcending their original limitations.]

Kai's mandibles clicked in shock. "So they can just... turn into humans?"

[Ding! Not exactly. They retain their core attributes but can assume humanoid form for better dexterity, intelligence, and communication.]

[System notifications: There are humans who live in this world. But they are very far away separated by a dangerous forest of death.]

Kai's eyes narrowed. "Humans also live in this world. Let's not think about that now. As an ant, if I go there they will definitely throw me out."

Then he thinks, "If three-star ants could do this, what could four-star or even five-star ants achieve?" His heart pounded with an entirely new ambition. If he could evolve beyond his current form, he might one day walk like humans as well. Maybe visit the human kingdom.

For a moment, he imagined himself leaving the Ant Kingdom and stepping into the human world. If he wants to reach their lands, what kind of power could he need?

But he quickly shook the thought away. He was still far from the three star rank. He had more pressing concerns.

The three-star soldier ant had finally reached him. His golden eyes bore into Kai, filled with an unreadable authority.

"You," he said in a voice that was deep and resonant. "What is your name?"

Kai straightened his posture, forcing himself to maintain eye contact. "Kai," he answered.

The soldier studied him for a moment, then spoke again. "I am incharge of this area, my name is Captain Darius. As a newcomer to the Ant Kingdom, your first task is simple. You will assist the worker ants in transporting supplies. Follow their instructions and do not fall behind."

Kai's mandibles twitched in frustration. "Carrying supplies?"

That wouldn't help him level up. He needed experience, not menial labor. Moving crates wouldn't earn him any essence, wouldn't make him stronger.

Hesitating, he took a step forward. "Sir, with all due respect, is there another task? Something... more combat-oriented? I need to grow stronger."

The moment the words left his mouth, a suffocating pressure filled the air.

The three-star soldier's golden eyes flashed dangerously. "You dare to disobey my command?"

Before Kai could react, a crushing force slammed into him, sending him to his knees. His exoskeleton cracked slightly from the sheer pressure of the aura pressing down on him. It was like an invisible weight had wrapped around his body, squeezing the air from his lungs.

The pain was instant. His vision blurred, his limbs trembled, and for a moment, he genuinely wondered if this soldier was going to kill him for his defiance.

[Warning! Host has suffered internal damage!]

The system's alert rang in his mind, but Kai couldn't even respond. The power gap between them was too immense.

Just as the weight threatened to crush him entirely, a new voice rang through the air, gentle yet commanding.

"That is enough, Captain Darius."

The pressure vanished instantly.

Kai gasped, his legs shaking as he forced himself back up. The pain was still fresh, but more than that, confusion filled his mind. Who had just intervened?

He turned his head—and his breath caught.

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Standing just a few feet away was a female human ant unlike any other he had seen. She was beautiful.

Her exoskeleton gleamed with a soft, iridescent sheen, a rare and mesmerizing golden-yellow hair. Her figure, though did not carry any kind of insectoid traits, had an elegance that none of the others possessed.