Re:Ant Lord-Chapter 130: Birth of the Wyrmling (Castle bonus)

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"Yes," Kai said, brushing sticky hair from her forehead. "And again, until Roddick climbs that slope himself."

Miryam the Egg pulsed a Soul massage to Kai, <<LOUD... SCARY>>. Kai stroked the shell. "Father is here."

Rune fissure widened, third rib cracked. Shards of ivory flaked. Luna gasped and asked, "She’s starting!"

"No hatching today," Kai muttered. "Battle shock could warp her form. We must end siege fast."

He scanned the lair supply, still four hundred litres star-milk, good. Weapons adequate. But the aura reservoir dwindled.

He swallowed a star core of one star beast, +100 aura regen buff for next hour. He made a decision to finish with a decapitation strike.

Kai stepped back to the ledge, voice ringing, "Roddick! Your pack bleeds for naught. Face me champion to champion. Winner claims honour, the loser leaves this mountain."

Silence... then parted ranks, Roddick limped forward. His forearm was wrapped in a bronze splint from last night. Rage burned.

"I accept your challenge, insect!"

Harvak tried to protest but Roddick back handed him. Wolves cheered blood-lust battle cry.

Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!

Kai strode to a flat terrace halfway up the slope. Luna watched with wide eyes, from the archway.

Roddick’s aura was silver white. It was pulsing with four-star might. He wielded twin crescent axes newly forged.

Kai rolled shoulders, spear tip low, unallocated STATS still 0 (He didn’t get the time to eat all the fallen wolves). Aura 2 600.

All the wolves circled around them.

Roddick attacked first, whirlwind axes. Kai parried, sparks. Wolf’s strength was monstrous, each clash numbed his wrists. He retreated, absorbing the pattern. Adaptive Armor shifted density to axe edges, lowering damage.

After twenty exchanges Kai stabbed the calf again. Roddick howled but caught the spear shaft, hurled Kai skyward. Air rushed. Kai twisted, landed near a precipice.

Wolf pounced, big mistake. Kai activated Reflex Mode, time slowed around him. He dashed under arc, jabbed spear butt into wounded ankle, pivoted behind, hammered knee. Ligament popped.

But Reflex mode drained 200 aura; the timer started to tick. He must finish the fight soon.

Roddick, staggering, invoked clan rune, a halo of lunar frost erupted, slowing everything extern. Kai felt limbs drag as though wading tar.

Wolf’s axe swept horizontally. Too slow to duck. He raised forearm to blow rang, armor dented, HP –120.

Kai’s vision tunneled, he felt Miryam the egg called Protect. In heart heat flared the Ruler’s Roar stigma.

"Not yet... I can’t waste it on him."

Instead he triggered Essence Overlord, the spear shimmered void-edge. He leapt inside the frost ring though muscles screamed.

Thrust... straight through Roddick’s chest plate. Wolf eyes bulged. Kai roared, twisting T-shaped, puncturing lungs.

Roddick smashed hilt down; Kai’s shoulder cracked (HP –200). Wolf yanked the spear deeper to trap Kai, then raised the axe overhead for decapitation.

Desperate, Kai sank mandibles into the wound gap, activated the Essence Eater (live). Aura flood rolled; Roddick shrieked, strength siphoned.

Stats +8; aura recovery+100.

Kai tore free, swept leg. Wolf toppled.

He reversed the spear one-hand, pinned throat. "Yield."

Foam dribbled from his mouth, pride warred with death terror. Finally Roddick rasped, "Clan... stands down."

Kai released the spear, flicked blood. Wolves on slopes watched silently.

Kai hauled Roddick to the ledge. "Hear me, Silvertail clan! Take your wounded master and go. Approach my mountain again, I feast on hearts."

Harvak, shaken, nodded. "We will leave... but Luna..."

"She chooses." Kai glanced back; Luna stepped out, ears erect. "I choose to stay with Kai," she announced.

Pack murmured shock.

Kai ended the parley: "Leave by noon."

Wolves carried injured Roddick and other wolves, dragging shame with them. Snow clouds swallowed the retreating line.

Silence fell. Inside the cavern Luna collapsed in relief. Kai hugged her briefly but the egg vibrated violently again. Sixth rune shattered, seven glowed embers.

Shadeclaw: She comes. freeweɓnøvel.com

They moved the egg onto a woven star-silk cradle. Star-milk pool bubbled. Shell cracks spider-webbed.

Kai knelt, aura steadying environment, softly chanting devourer lullaby he half-remembered from A’zhorath’s memories.

With crystalline plink, the front of the shell fell away and a tiny creature unfurled. It was a translucent gold worm no larger than Kai’s palm, eyes closed, gills fluttering. Four embryonic legs curled under thorax. Runes drifted across skin like dawn clouds.

Mental voice, clear yet newborn: <<Father... is warm.>> It pulsed love.

Tears pricked Kai’s eyes. Luna wiped hers. "Welcome, Miryam," Kai whispered, placing a finger for her to nuzzle.

System chimed softly:

[Hatching Complete.

Companion: Miryam (Nymid Wyrmling)

Rank: ⭐ (0/??)

Abilities: Embryonic Aura Pulse, Minor Sand-sense. ???, ???, ???

Bonding Bonus: Passive Aura Regen +5 %]

Lair reacted with veins in cavern luminous, ambient aura +50. Kai sensed monarchy’s roots deepen.

Kai looked around at the carnage. His beasts had already begun cleaning up the battlefield, but his mind was already elsewhere. The Monarch’s Mark had grown stronger, and with every victory, his power expanded.

But for now, there was still much to do. The Silvertail Wolf Clan wouldn’t let this loss slide, and the road ahead would be filled with more battles, more challenges. Kai needs to raise Miryam. Make Luna love with Luna. Return to Mia. He had a lot to do.

Kai’s journey was only just beginning.

Moon’s silver light still glimmered in the dome of Kai’s lair, but the bloody scent of battle had almost faded beneath incense smoke and the steady trickle of underground springs. He stood at the cavern’s ledge where the wolves’ volley had once howled, gazing out across the ravaged slope. Then a quiet rustle of rabbit silk announced Luna behind him. She brushed a wayward curl from her cheek, her violet eyes shining.

"We saved this place," she whispered, voice trembling between pride and weariness. "But you’ve never named it. A true kingdom needs a name. This is our home. We should give this mountain a new name."

Kai followed her gaze over the pillars, tunnels, and starlit skylight that crowned the hollow mountain. Shelves of crystal terraces rose like chiseled steps toward the heavens.