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But even as the two elite ant squads collided, a new shape moved through the heart of the storm. It was Kai. He had not moved during the first clash. He was busy seeing all the system notifications. But now, he shifted one step.
[System Notification- Ruler’s Roar Second Activation.
Effect: Area-of-effect Ruler-level roar deployed.
Aura Cost: -3400
Remaining Charges: 1
Warning: Physical strain incurred. Internal fatigue is critical. Recomnded rest: 2 hours minimum.]
[System Notification- You have killed:
Savage Rabbit Clan Berserker ×6 (Rank 3★) 1200 exp.
Savage Rabbit Clan Butcher ×4 (Rank 4★) 1600 exp
Rift Guardian: (Rank 6★ – Predator Guardian Class) 600 exp.
Experience Gained: 3400 exp. ]
[System Notification- Congratulations host.
Level Up!
Current Level: 35
Aura Capacity Increased.]
[Level Up! Current Level: 36
Aura Capacity Increased.]
[Level Up! Current Level: 37 Aura Capacity Increased.]
[System Notification- Title Gained: Breaker of the Rift Chain.]
The spear lifted from the ground. His aura didn’t flare rather it expanded. Not with wrath. Not with violence. But with command. Pure, sovereign Monarch aura.
It poured out of him like the rising tide of a flood that knew no boundary. It pressed against every soul in reach—not crushing, but pinning them with its presence.
A single word bood from his lips like a gavel sealing fate: "Enough." And everything froze.
Every fighter in mid lunge, mid swing, mid kill—all stopped.
Grev’s scythes trembled inches from Shale’s exposed throat. Sil’s illusion knives hovered mid spin above Flint’s back. Even Skyweaver, even Shadeclaw felt the pulse of authority and instinctively ceased all movent.
Ti itself seed to pause.
Kai stood at the center of it all, like a god refusing war. "I am not your enemy." His voice was iron on velvet. Cold. Unshakable. "But I won’t watch you tear each other apart for pride."
His eyes passed from Grev to Vexor, then back to Sil. "I am still Kai. But I’m not the sa Ant who you thought to be buried in the mantis cave. And I’m not here for your factions or your titles."
He lifted the spear—slowly this ti. No threat. Just gravity and truth. "I am the Lord of the Monarch Mountain. And my path... doesn’t bow to any Queen."
The aura pulsed once more. This ti it is subtler now, but heavier, like the warning growl of a creature no longer caged.
And for a mont, neither side dared to move. The battlefield crackled with tension. They were frozen in fear by Kai’s aura.
Even as Kai’s Monarch aura settled over the scorched ground, holding blades mid-swing and breath in throats, the silence was only temporary. The Dawn Blade squad stood firm, forming a protective line around them. But across from them, Thea’s Shadow Talon squad began to stir, snarling under their breath.
Grev, the five-star elite, spat on the ground. "So what if you’re a lord now? A filthy worker Ant trying to act as royal. In front of real power you are still just dirt."
"You are still a lowly worker ant," hissed Grev again, aura rising in jagged black flares. "Even if you’ve beco a three star rank... so what?"
Another charge, Sil’s face twisted in mockery. "Let’s crush this fake lord and remind the worker ants where they belong!"
Kai said nothing. He simply twisted his spear into a reverse grip.
Kai stood in the scorched basin, the rock beneath his feet still warm with lingering energy. The silence after the roar hadn’t lasted long. Already, his instincts were twitching, new enemies were ready to attack him.
Before he could counter attack... he needed strength.
His Monarch aura had plumted to dangerously low levels. If he tried to unleash one of skill, his internal aura channels might rupture. His hands trembled slightly, not from fear, but from depletion. His whole body buzzed like a broken wire.
Kai opened his Soul Cube.
Inside floated a selection of radiant spheres, three-star beast cores harvested before. A flick of his mind drew four of them into his hand, each humming with potential.
They pulsed like tiny suns of raw crystallizations of aura and mory. Instinct warned that the average beast would risk an aura burn or nervous collapse trying to absorb just one of these in his current state.
But Kai wasn’t average. He was the Devourer Monarch.
He placed one glowing core on his tongue, and bit down hard. It cracked like candy glass.
The system responded instantly.
[System Notification: Beast Core (3★ Rank) Consud. 260 Aura Recovered]
Another.
This ti he crushed it between his palms. The liquid inner essence flowed into his veins like molten starlight. His exoskeleton faintly glowed, Monarch glyphs flickering across his shoulders.
[System Notification: Beast Core (3★ Rank) Consud. 260 Aura Recovered.
Adaptive Armor strengthened. ]
Third, He inhaled this one, letting the vapor drift into his throat as it dissolved.
[System Notification: Beast Core (3★ Rank) Consud. 260 Aura Recovered]
Fourth. A rare variant. It cracked in his grip like soft stone, spilling cold fire down his arm.
[System Notification: Beast Core (3★ Rank) Consud. 300 Aura Recovered.
Passive Boost Triggered: Predator’s Instinct enhanced temporarily.]
Kai exhaled hard. He stood, aura visibly thicker now, swirling in red-black wisps from his back. Not full but over 1000 aura recovered.
[Level: 37 (⭐⭐⭐)
Exp: 400/1000
HP: 2025/3000
Aura: 1080/3700]
More than enough for the next fight. His body no longer trembled. His eyes cleared. His breath settled into a warrior’s rhythm.
He reached for his spear. "Round two," he muttered, "Let’s see who wants to die first."
[Skill Activated: Reflex mode. aura -200]
His body blurred. The first to strike landed on Drask (four star rank). He didn’t even realize he was dead until his twin brother Brask scread.
Kai’s spear passed through the air like a serpent made of light and pressure. It struck Drask’s chest, but instead of piercing—it exploded. The aura compressed inside the tip of the spear blade detonated on contact, sending rib fragnts and lungs spiraling outward in wet shrapnel.
[System Notification: Killed [Drask] – Shadow-Talon Twin, A four star rank.
400 EXP ]
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