I Became an Ant Lord, So I Built a Hive Full of Beauties-Chapter 206: Soul Echoes and System Resets

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The sky above was deep violet, speckled with stars that shimmered behind crawling clouds. The moon—a pale silver orb—hung fat and full, casting its light across the forest with gentle clarity.

"I need to get stronger," he whispered. "Not just physically. Not just my aura. My soul. If I can strengthen my soul... maybe I can reach them. Even across continents."

The breeze stirred again. He sat in silence, letting the thought root itself deeper.

"Everything changed so fast," he murmured. "One day I was just surviving... Now I’m building an empire."

Kai didn’t know if it would last. He didn’t know if Akayoroi would say yes. He didn’t know if Luna was okay. Or if Miryam had grown larger. Or if the mountain was even still safe.

But what he did know... was that he couldn’t stop now. Not here. Not when he’d already taken the first steps to building a legacy.

He closed his eyes, letting the weight of everything settle just beneath his skin. The starlight pulsed gently against his lids. The wind sang.

A cool breeze rustled through the canopy above, shaking loose dew from high leaves. Tiny droplets landed on his arms and chest as he slowly sat upright on the thick ironroot branch.

His mind had been strangely calm for the last hour—but something beneath that calmness pulsed. It wasn’t the usual battle fatigue or soul strain from devouring star cores.

No. This was... different.

As if something inside him had changed. An unfamiliar rhythm in his soul.

Kai tilted his head back again and muttered aloud, "Hey, system... why am I feeling weird?"

The forest didn’t answer. Not right away.

Then—

[DING! System notifications- You got a soul-linked technique granted upon reaching

Four-Star RankNew Skill: Soul Core Manipulation.

Description: This skill allows the user to interact with spiritual matter on a sub-core level, sensing soul resonance, repairing minor soul fractures, and transmitting basic thoughts beyond conventional range. (He can connect with everyone under his mark. Both included, Luster’s and Monarch.)

Warning: Your current Soul Strength is insufficient to unlock full functionality. Strengthening your soul through special methods is required to extend range, precision, and soul communication features. ]

Kai blinked. "You’re only telling me this now?"

There was a brief pause—then another message arrived.

[System Response: You ranked up during a high-stress timeline (Rift closing). Soul-based detailed notifications were delayed due to emergency protocol.

Upon entering the unstable Rift Zone, System interface underwent partial reset while trapped in temporal void.

Priority: Ensuring user survival and dimensional gate opening.

Skill access restored post-stabilization.]

Kai leaned his head against the tree trunk, one brow twitching. "So you glitched..."

[System Update-

Correction: Partial functionality loss. Not a glitch.

Context: During Rift Collapse, the system prioritized spatial tether anchoring and user preservation over UI display. Communication and reward protocols were suspended.]

"That explains why I didn’t get EXP notifications after killing those kinky frog bastards..." Kai muttered.

Another crisp DING! answered him.

[Kill Confirmation: Frogkin – 4★ Rank. EXP Gained: +200

Kill Confirmation: Frogkin – 4★ Rank. EXP Gained: +200

Kill Confirmation: Frogkin – 4★ Rank. EXP Gained: +200

Kill Confirmation: Frogkin – 4★ Rank. EXP Gained: +200

Kill Confirmation: Frogkin – 4★ Rank. EXP Gained: +200

Total EXP Gained: 1,000]

Another notification came.

[DING! Congratulations! You have leveled up!

Level: 40 → New Level: 41]

Kai’s expression went flat. "You are so late, system."

Another message blinked to life.

[System Response: System Recovery Timeline: 6.4 hours post re-entry.

EXP data cached and restored upon stabilization.

Soul manipulation skill required manual triggering to initialize. You have now accessed the baseline tier.]

Kai groaned and muttered, "Next time I get dragged into a void dimension and have to fight a squad of creepy perverts while my UI takes a nap, remind me to file a bug report."

A softer tone rang through his mind.

[Ding! Monarch’s Mark Subordinate Limit Increased.

Previous Limit: 10

New Limit: 20

Your authority has expanded. Additional beasts or sentient allies may now be marked.]

Kai sat up straighter at that one.

So the level up had affected more than just his star rank. The monarch mark was evolving with him. Slowly, steadily—but it was moving.

"Twenty marked followers..." he murmured. "That’s a good number, for now."

"I can create an elite strike force," He was being practical. With his unique devourer evolution, not every follower needed to be powerful. They just needed to serve different functions—support, defense, scouts, supply.

And most importantly loyalty.

"What am I building?" he thought. "A hive? A rebellion? A sanctuary? A Powerful kingdom?"

The answer still wasn’t clear. Not yet. But he was one step closer.

Kai leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees as he pulled open his system window with a thought.

[Status Pane – Updated

Name: Kai

Race: Monarch Devourer Ant

Rank: ★★★★ (Four-Star)

Level: 41

Unallocated Stat Points: 15

Skills Active:

– Essence Eater

– Predator’s Instinct (Passive)

– Reflex Mode

– Adaptive Armor

– Tiny Tank

– Worker’s Resilience

– Antenna Sensory Boost

– Soul Core Manipulation (NEW)

Monarch’s Mark: 9/20 slots used

"Still a long way to go," he muttered. But the sight of progress—real progress—lifted some of the gnawing uncertainty that had haunted him since leaving the rift.

Kai focused on the new skill.

"Soul Core Manipulation..." he whispered.

He closed his eyes and extended his senses.

For a moment, the forest melted away. He felt the faintest heartbeat—no, not physical but spiritual pulses from the nearby tunnels. Somewhere below, Akayoroi’s signature flickered like sapphire silk. Azhara ’s was a bright wild spark.

But they were still close. Within range.

"Can I reach farther?" he asked the system.

[System Response:

Negative. Current Soul Power insufficient. Long-distance transmission requires Soul Power Threshold: 100+

User’s current Soul Power: 34]

"So that’s what I have to work toward..." Kai murmured.

He needed that range. He needed to reach Luna. Miryam. His mountain colony.

And if that meant strengthening his soul? Then so be it.

The wind picked up, brushing through the high trees like a tide of whispers. The moon had begun to dip slightly now—replaced by the first real glimmers of morning sunlight along the eastern peaks.

Kai stood, brushing bark dust from his legs.

The night had given him answers. The system had caught up. And now? ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

Now, he needed to put the pieces together. One queen was still waiting on her answer. And two lives far across the horizon were waiting on his return.

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