In the middle of the grand, marble-paved foyer, sprawled face down amidst a scattered mountain of leather-bound ledgers, parchment scrolls, and half-drained ink bottles, lay Regent Ian. He was completely motionless.
Antares' heart leaped into his throat. He sprinted across the polished floor and dropped to his knees, scooping the old man up in his arms.
"Ian! Ian!" Antares yelled, shaking the regent's shoulders, his voice laced with genuine panic.
The old man's head simply loll'd back, unresponsive. "No, no... not you! Wake up, Ian!"
NBeside him, Riya gasped in horror, clutching her hands over her mouth as her eyes widened in shock at the grim sight.
Behind them, a sharp CLANG rang through the air. Commander Adam's hand instantly clamped onto the hilt of his crimson blade, half-drawing it from its sheath. His visor glowed with lethal intensity as he dropped into a low, predatory battle stance, scanning every shadow, pillar, and rafter of the grand hall.
Did an assassin breach the Hive? Is there a enemy lurking within the palace? Adam's mind went into hyper-vigilance, ready to butcher anything that moved.
Suddenly, Ian's eyelids fluttered weakly. A long, raspy breath wheezed from his chest.
"My King...?" Ian murmured softly, his voice barely a breath. He slowly blinked his tired eyes, looking up into Antares' panicked face. "Is that... is that you, Sire? For a moment there... I thought I saw my grandmother beckoning me from the other side..."
"Phew!"
Antares let out a massive exhale, his tensed shoulders slumping in immense relief. He looked down at the pale, hollow-eyed old man.
There was no poison, no dark curse, and no assassin's strike. The Regent had simply passed out from pure, unadulterated, soul-crushing overwork. Running the entirety of the subterranean realm, managing logistics, food distribution, and processing endless administrative petitions in the King's absence had finally pushed the old antman over his limit.
"I am so glad you're alive, Ian," Antares said, his face transforming into a picture of pure, saintly innocence. He gave Ian a gentle, reassuring smile that could melt glaciers.
Beside them, Adam slowly slid his blade back into its scabbard, his visor light dimming slightly. He stared down at his King's "pure and innocent" expression, his stoic internal sensors seeing right through the facade.
He isn't glad because he worries for Ian's health, Adam thought dryly. He's glad because if Ian dies, His Majesty will actually have to sit at a desk and do paperwork himself.
"Thank you... my Lord," Ian coughed weakly, rubbing his aching temples as he tried to sit up.
I still need you alive to handle all the mountain of tedious work that I don't want to do, Antares thought inwardly, maintaining his angelic, caring smile on the outside.
Raising his hand, Antares extended his antennae, sending a localized mental ping through the royal quarters. Within seconds, four palace maids hurried into the foyer with a soft leather stretcher.
"Take the Regent to the palace infirmary immediately and ensure he gets proper rest," Antares commanded the maids.
"Wait, Your Majesty," Riya interjected gently, stepping forward. "Allow me to accompany them. I am the only medical antwoman. I can synthesize a restorative nature elixir to restore his vitality much faster."
Antares nodded. "Very well. Go with them, Riya." He then turned his dark eyes to his firstborn warrior. "Adam, escort them to the infirmary, and then I am ordering you to go to your quarters and rest as well."
Adam immediately straightened his back, starting to protest. "High father, my duty is your protection. I cannot leave your side while—"
"It is a royal command, Adam," Antares cut him off smoothly, leaving no room for argument. "You have flown non-stop and maintained guard duty across the entire land with me. You need to rest plus You can't really refuse an explicit order from your King."
Adam paused, his crimson visor flickering before he bowed his head in quiet submission. "As You command."
Once the maids, Ian, Riya, and Adam departed down the wide hallway, the grand foyer fell silent.
Antares stood alone in the center of the hall. He raised his hand once more, extending his antennae to scan the broad mana signatures vibrating through the palace grounds. His perception swept past the kitchens, the forge, and the barracks, until his senses locked onto two familiar, steady signatures located at the far end of the royal complex.
Two loyal souls he had almost set aside while buried in the chaotic expansion of the surface world.
With a purposeful, heavy stride, Antares turned on his heel and headed straight toward the palace's private training grounds.
Crossing under the heavy stone archway of the training arena, he was met with the rhythmic sound of iron clashing against iron and sharp, disciplined footwork.
There, sweating under the harsh training lamps, were his first and most loyal personal guards: Levi and Eli. The two antman warriors had spent every waking hour in his absence honing their combat techniques, refusing to fall behind as the Hive evolved around them.
The moment Antares set foot on the arena sand, both guards froze. Their antennae twitched, sensing the undeniable, overwhelming aura of their Sovereign.
Without a single second's hesitation, Levi and Eli dropped their weapons to the sand and fell heavily to both knees, pressing their right fists firmly against their chests and bowing their heads until their brows nearly touched the earth.
"Your Majesty!" both warriors barked in unison, their voices trembling with profound reverence.
Antares walked over, looking down at the two faithful guards who had stood by his side since the very beginning of his rise. A warm, genuine smile touched his lips.
"Rise, Levi. Rise, Eli," Antares said smoothly.
"You have worked yourselves to the bone in my absence. I can feel the sheer density of the mana humming within your bodies." At the moment the two guards were in their full insectoid form.
Levi stood up, his posture rigid, though his eyes burned with fierce loyalty. "Sire! We heard words of the grand battles on the surface... of the Lycan war, the Redbeards, and the expansion of the camp. We felt ashamed that we were not strong enough to stand as your shield on the frontlines. We have sworn to push our bodies to their absolute limits so we may serve you once more!"
"You two have never failed me," Antares replied softly. "And your silent dedication has finally borne fruit."
A sudden, sharp chime echoed inside Antares's mind as the System detected the overflow of condensed ancestral mana within the two guards.
[DING!]
[Levi and Eli have reached their potential cap. They have fulfilled all requirements for a Grand Rank Upgrade.]
[Do you wish to upgrade Levi and Eli to Master Rank Royal Guards?]
* [YES] / [NO]
Without a moment's pause, Antares clicked [YES].
Instantly, a surge of brilliant, deep crimson and obsidian mana erupted from the earth beneath Levi and Eli's feet. Two thick pillars of royal light enveloped their bodies, lifting them three feet off the ground as ancestral evolution reshaped their physical forms.
Their chitin cracked and hardened, shifting from standard grey-black hide into sleek, high-grade obsidian plate armor infused with natural runic veins. Their physical frames expanded, growing taller and broader, their shoulder pauldrons sharpening into intimidating, jagged crests.
Their antennae refined into sleek, needle-like sensors capable of detecting physical movement through air vibrations, and their internal mana cores expanded exponentially, solidifying into the terrifying density of true Master Rank entities.
When the crimson light finally dissipated, Levi and Eli dropped softly back onto the arena floor, exhaling clouds of dark, pressurized steam from their breathing vents.
They looked down at their newly evolved, armor-clad hands, feeling the staggering power surging through their veins, before immediately dropping back to one knee, looking up at their King with eyes filled with boundless, fanatical devotion.
"I expect you two to be fully prepared when I return to the surface," Antares stated, his voice ringing with absolute authority. "Because when I step back out onto the frozen land, you will be flying beside me."
"WE LIVE FOR YOUR COMMAND, SIRE!" Levi and Eli roared in unison, their powerful voices shaking the arena walls.
Antares chuckled softly, giving them a brief nod.
"Good while you get accustomed to your new strength." He turned away from the training grounds, a playful, eager smirk spreading across his face as he stretched his arms above his head.
"Now then..." Antares murmured to himself, his heart giving an excited flutter. "Let me go and see my wives. I am sure they have missed me."
Walking away from the military quarters, Antares navigated the quiet, pristine marble hallways until he reached the heavy carved wooden doors that opened into the private Palace Gardens.
He pushed the doors open, stepping out into the tranquil oasis. The air here was warm and sweet, filled with the fragrance of blooming subterranean flora and illuminated by glowing crystal lanterns.
Directly near the central stone fountain, surrounded by vibrant purple orchids and glowing blue lotus flowers, sat Zarah and Solara.
Zarah was gracefully pouring tea into delicate ceramic cups, her fiery eyes glowing with quiet elegance, while Solara leaned back against a bench, her bright, gentle smile lighting up the garden as they chatted softly together.
Seeing the two women who shared his heart sitting together in peaceful harmony, the formidable Ant King felt all his stress, cold calculations, and fatigue melt away in an instant.
His heart softened completely.