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"I have a question," he said, voice rough from both seeing Kai fight and the realization that he could break the shackles of royal ants. He won’t be mocked by stronger ants for being a worker ant. "Will you... allow to join you?"
The others, Shale, Flint, and Needle turned their faces and looked at Vexor. Their eyes were widening.
Vexor didn’t stutter.
"You save us. You fought beside us. Protected us. And... you killed what we couldn’t. You even gave commands that our bodies followed like instinct."
His fists clenched at his sides. "Back in the Ant kingdom, we’re just weapons. Tools. Numbers. If we return, we’ll be punished for the death of Thea team. You killed them, no one will believe that. Without princess Mia everyone thinks you are dead. If we go back then... Death awaits us, we will be assigned to so low level royal for breeding. After one ti mating, we will die and so new ants will be born."
Kai looked at him, quiet. Then at each of the others. "You want to join ?" he said, voice low but resolute.
They nodded, one by one.
Vexor.
Shale.
Needle.
Flint.
Kai’s crimson gaze narrowed.
"If you do," he said, "you won’t return to the Ant Kingdom. Not until I am strong enough. You’ll be branded deserters. Traitors. Maybe there will be a bounty on your heads."
Needle swallowed. "Better than being drained of our essence to a royal bitch."
"You’ll serve under . Not as soldiers—but as my people. My responsibility. My hive." He let the word hang. "But you’ll fight, bleed, and die under my command. You’ll serve not the Crown, but the future we build together. Do you understand?"
Flint looked to the others. "If we stay in the Ant kingdom, it’s death anyway."
"Agreed," Shale added. "A few decades ago a royal bitch nearly killed half of our working class just for making the ultimate ant warriors."
"We will follow you," Vexor said. "That’s final."
Kai didn’t smile. He simply stepped forward and raised one hand, palm glowing faintly with his monarch mark. His aura shimred around it like a coiling spiral of command.
"Then kneel."
They did.
All four dropped to one knee, heads bowed.
Kai extended his palm one by one.
[Monarch Mark – Activated.]
A surge of red light burst from his hand as it made contact with Vexor’s forehead.
The glyph inscribed itself like a brand, but without pain. It pulsed once with living heat, then vanished into the skin, absorbed by the soul.
[Ding! System Notification:
New Subordinates got marked.
Na: Vexor
Rank: 3★
Loyalty: Initiated.]
He moved to Shale next.
[New Subordinates got marked: Na: Shale Rank 4★ Loyalty: Initiated.]
Then Flint.
[New Subordinates got marked: Na: Flint Rank 3★ Loyalty: Initiated.]
And finally Needle.
[[Ding! System Notification:
New Subordinates got marked.
Na: Needle
Rank: 3★
Loyalty: Initiated.]
Each of them shuddered as the mark sank into their core, not just physically, but spiritually. It wasn’t domination. It wasn’t slavery. It was the belonging.
For the first ti in their lives, they weren’t tied to a commander’s chain. They were chosen.
Kai looked at the four newly marked subordinates and simply said: "You’re mine now. My blades. My will."
They rose, stronger than they had been monts ago, not from power, but from belief.
Luna watched silently from afar, eyes softening as she looked from the bowing warriors to the Ant she had t in the forest. He was no longer just a survivor. He was building a kingdom.
Shadeclaw crossed his arms, nodding in approval. Skyweaver glanced at Kai, then muttered, "The empire grows."
Even Miryam, nestled in Luna’s arms, blinked her golden eyes and pulsed a soft fla, sensing the change in energy, the stabilization of a future.
Kai stepped back, opened his system nu, and checked the new status entries.
[Current Subordinates under Monarch Mark:]
Silvershadow Rank 4★
Shadeclaw Rank 4★
Skyweaver Rank 3★
Vexor Rank 3★
Shale Rank 4★
Flint Rank 3★
Needle Rank 3★
Wolf: Rank 2★
Subordinates Slots: 8/10 ]
A pulse flickered through the Monarch Bond. It was like all heartbeats beating together.
Kai exhaled slowly. The pocket dinsion trembled in the distance. The collapse had begun. The trial was almost over.
But Kai knew this was just the beginning.
Now, he regains his lost subordinates. Four got killed by the six star rank guardian. He got four new ones.
He had a squad. A future. A cause.
He turned his gaze skyward. The cracked ceiling of the pocket realm still glowed faintly, flickers of thunder in the distance.
And a whisper echoed in his mind. The notifications ca in front of his eyes one heartbeat later.
[Ding! System Priority Mission-
Quest Na: Star forged Destiny.
Objective: Locate and harvest Star teoroid Iron. It’s a primordial ore ford when the thunderbolts clash with star iron alloy for a thousand of years. Then it becos the star teoroid iron. Ti limit: Before the realm collapses in 18 hours (rift-ti).
Reward:
New monarch Form Evolution Catalyst (50 %)
Unique Weapon Blueprint Slot (Unlocked)
Penalty: Failure results in delay of next evolution and the loss of an irreplaceable resource (very rare).]
Kai’s eyes narrowed. "Star teoroid Iron." Rarer than essence pool, more coveted than dragon marrow. A spark of excitent tugged at his gut, but he swallowed it quickly. Eighteen hours left before the rift closes for forever. This is like a once in lifeti opportunity. But he can’t take risks. First he needs to secure his family.
He opened his Soul Cube and visualized the 1,050 liters of essence liquid he’d secured earlier. More than enough to fuel for an army over millions to break through (if he finds a way to use it without killing them), but worthless if the gate is sealed with him and his family trapped inside.
He turned.
Luna descended from the ledge carrying Miryam, her golden runes glowed faintly from her earlier dose. Shadeclaw and Skyweaver flanked her, while Vexor, Shale, Flint, and Needle moved in a disciplined formation.
By soul link with Kai they already adopt the cadence of seasoned royal guards. They were standing in front of Kai in one line.
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