Re:Ant Lord-Chapter 37: A Feast

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Kai’s limbs ached, each step a silent scream through his cracked exoskeleton. His chitinous plates bore deep dents from earlier clashes, streaked with dried ichor and mud. His legs dragged slightly as he trudged through the forest, a tangled grove of fallen trees and bioluminescent moss that pulsed faintly beneath his feet. Humidity clung to him like wet cloth, soaking into his joints and slowing every motion. Even breathing felt heavier.

His internal system clock blinked a soft orange. It’s been eight hours since he’d parted ways with Luna. One hour since he’d fought and killed not one, but two fully grown two-star beasts. One hour of relentless travel through predator-infested wilds. His aura gauge was dangerously low. His stamina bar was still recovering.

He was surviving on instinct now. Grit, stubbornness, and just a little rage. Any other ant in his place would’ve been dead by now. But Kai wasn’t any other ant. He was a Monarch Devourer Ant. A system user. A survivor. Maybe future Ant Lord.

Still, even his resolve had limits. He had pushed his skills hard... too hard. Tiny Tank had absorbed two direct hits. Reflex Mode had burned through his legs with speed. Essence Eater had taken in more power than his body was ready to hold. Every use drained him further.

He needed rest. He needed a safe place to rest for at least thirty minutes. But the forest would give him neither. A faint tremor shivered through the ground.

Kai froze again. His antennae flicked sharply. This wasn’t the same as before. It wasn’t a whisper of air or the clicking of stealth claws. It wasn’t the wingbeat of the Razor glare Hornet or the soft rumble of a stalking cat.

This was weight. This was thunder in slow motion. Something... lumbered. A tree in the distance creaked. Then another. Birds type beasts scattered from the canopy. The earth began to tremble beneath his feet.

Then it emerged. It moved with the deliberate, unshakable pace of a creature that feared nothing. Towering as tall as a small hill, the Boulder Hide Tusk Beast smashed its way through the underbrush.

Its body resembled a walking fortress, a thick stone-like armor covered its entire frame, a lattice of moss-streaked gray plates fused together like volcanic rock. Its tusks curved upward like sickles, glinting in the sunlight with ominous sharpness.

Steam puffed from its nostrils as it snorted, scenting Kai. The beast’s crimson eyes locked onto him like spears.

Kai’s jaw clenched. "Of course," he muttered, stepping back slightly. "A walking mountain. That’s just what I needed."

[DING! Wild Beast Detected.

Boulder Hide Tusk Beast (★★ Rank 2-Star Beast)

Danger Level: Medium to High.

Recommend Caution: Target immune to piercing attacks.]

Kai didn’t hesitate. "Fine," he growled. "Let’s dance, rockhead."

The beast lowered its tusked head. Then it charged fowad. Kai’s body moved before his thoughts caught up.

"Reflex Mode." Kai yelled.

Aura flared down his limbs like lightning. The world slowed for a breath as his legs kicked into high gear, his body a blur of motion. He darted left as the Tuskbeast thundered past, the ground shaking violently under its steps. Splinters of shattered trees exploded outward as it plowed through the grove.

Kai twisted mid-run and leapt forward, aiming for the soft spot behind the beast’s leg. His claws connected, but the impact was dull. The skin beneath was dense. Too tough. Not even a scratch.

"Damn it."

Predator’s Instinct flared.

[P.I. Activated – Weak Point Detected: Underside of the neck, under the jaw. Only accessible during rear rearing or post-charge recovery.]

Kai grinned despite the sweat coating his carapace. "Gotcha. I need to find an opening."

The Boulderhide turned with a bellow, steam blasting from its nose. It charged again. This time, Kai didn’t dodge right away.

He waited.

Watched.

Calculated.

Then, at the last second, he ducked low, diving straight under the beast’s legs as they thundered past. The creature roared, confused, and reared up on its hind legs to locate him.

"Now is the right time to strike back. I finally got my opportunity." Kai murmured to himself and launched upward.

With every ounce of strength he had left, he rammed his mandibles into the exposed under-jaw. Right at the soft patch of unarmored flesh.

CRACK!

The impact was satisfying. A burst of hot blood splashed across his face. The beast shrieked and flailed, its front leg slamming down hard.

Kai activated Tiny Tank just in time. His exoskeleton shimmered with silver-blue light. The hoof smashed into his shoulder like a hammer but the armor held on. It cracked slightly. His shoulder screamed. But he didn’t let go.

"Essence Eater! Time to feast."

He opened his mandibles wide, and aura poured from the beast into him in thick, syrupy waves. The Tuskbeast screamed, staggered backward, legs buckling. It twisted, trying to throw him off, but Kai held like a parasite, leeching the life from it.

Ten seconds.

Fifteen.

Twenty.

Then—THUMP!

The beast collapsed. Kai tumbled off its back and landed hard in the dirt, coughing, gasping for air. His body throbbed. His eyes burned. At that moment a system message hovered in front of him.

[DING! Beast Defeated – Boulder Hide Tusk Beast.

+1000 EXP.

Stats points :+5.

Level Up: 19 → 20.

Aura +100]

He blinked at the system interface just in time to see the next notification. Kai stared at the system window. It took a second to register.

Then he smiled. He stood up slowly, stronger than before. He was very Proud of himself. He could feel the difference already.

Kai’s limbs trembled.

He stood over the corpse of the third two-star beast, breath ragged, mandibles dripping with blood and steam curling from his shoulders. His vision wavered slightly, not from pain—but from exhaustion.

But then, the system’s voice echoed within his mind.

[System Notification: EXP Threshold Met, Level 20 Reached.

Warning: Promotion to Two-Star Rank Requires Additional Conditions.

Requirement: Consume 10x Two-Star Beast Cores to initiate Rank-Up Evolution.]

Kai blinked, his body stiffening. "Wait... What?"