I Became an Ant Lord, So I Built a Hive Full of Beauties-Chapter 208: Statistical Ascension

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Minute by minute, the golden light changed: first a firestorm, then a spiral. It drilled into the core of his being, forging, hammering, reshaping intangible latticework. Kai’s own memories threatened to unravel— until, with primal force of will, he clamped down on them, refusing to lose himself.

A circuit closed.... Then, the pain began to recede. Not a fade, but a sudden drop, like plunging into a lake after running through the desert. His breath returned harsh and ragged. His limbs spasmed. Sparks of light danced under his skin.

[Ding! System notifications- Integration 80%... 92... 98... 100%]

Silence!!!!

Kai collapsed against the trunk. Sweat—no, soul-condensate—glistened on his skin like liquid moonlight. He looked down at his hands: faint gold lines traced his veins, then it sank and vanished. His body felt... weightless and unbearably dense at once.

The system’s calm chime followed.

[DING! System notifications-

Full absorption complete. The host baseline attribute caps reached.

Current Attributes:

Strength: 500

Speed: 500

Stamina: 500

Soul Power: 500 (New)

Skill Evolution: Soul Core Manipulation → Soul Core Mastery

Effect Upgrade:

—Global Mark Resonance (One-way): Host may open a soul channel to any subordinate marked by Monarch’s Mark or Luster’s Mark, regardless of distance or plane.

—Aura Cost: 100 per 1000 km transmission. Cost scales linearly; no upper distance limit recorded.

—Channel direction: Host → Subordinate only. Subordinates may reply only when the channel is open. (For Now, without their own soul power they can’t contact Kai)

Additional Passive: Monarch Aura Ascendant—Physical resistance to 5-Star or lower beasts increased 50%.

Kai stared at the floating script, chest heaving.

"So... five hundred soulpower. And my stats... I’m... on par with six-star bodies now?" he murmured.

[System: Affirmative. In raw metrics, the host surpasses all natural entities at 5 star rank or below. Skill synergy and unique enemy abilities can offset this advantage, but physical domination is assured.]

He let out a breathless laugh. "That’s... insane."

But beyond the raw numbers, one truth thundered louder: he could contact them. Luna, Miryam and anyone else under his mark. One way, yes, but enough to reassure, to command, to protect. Maybe it will become both ways of communication after this skill Soul core mastery level up.

Power hummed behind his sternum—a new pulse, deeper than aura. He could sense it: threads of silver-gold connecting outward, invisible but undeniable, ready to ignite with a thought.

He closed his eyes, focusing.

First he touched Akayoroi’s mark (as a test). A thin strand of light formed spontaneously in his mind’s darkness—a soul line vibrating like taut silk. He didn’t push further—she was only a tunnel away. He released the thread gently.

Then Luna.

He pictured the mountain slope and Luna’s smiling face, the rocky dais where she trained. He summoned the bond—the memory of her laughter, her worry, her stubborn determination. The thread appeared. It was faint, but stable. Thousands of kilometers away, yet there.

The system flashed: Aura drain: 540 (distance-adjusted). Pain flickered behind his eyes but did not overwhelm.

Kai stood atop the branch, eyes closed, soul power humming behind his ribs like a newborn star. He felt the threads of connection stretching outward through the trees, through distance, through planes—Soul Core Mastery— that now shimmered inside his very being.

He whispered into the void: "Luna... Luna! Can you hear me? I am okay. I’m coming home soon."

No answer came immediately. But then, he felt it. A heartbeat. Not his own, but distant, quickened. Like a bell being struck softly in the distance. Another echo pulsed beside it. Miryam’s small presence, simple and pure: warm, curious, full of recognition.

He kept his focus steady, pouring all his aura into the one-way connection... and in that moment, a rush of emotion swept him—like water opening a forgotten gate and Kai saw her.

Tears welled in Luna’s eyes. "Kai...? Is that you?"

(Few days Ago, Flashback: From Luna’s Point of View)

Luna stared at the swirling vortex, her fingers still tingling from his last touch. Miryam was on her sling, her eyes glowing faintly, and his six subordinates.

The air went silent when they exited the gift gate. "...Kai?" Luna whispered. "Come back safely."

They made their way back to the mountain through ravaged stone and thick forest trails. Skyweaver and Shadeclaw scouted the path while Silvershadow protected their home. The four ants stay close to Luna and Miryam.

By dusk, they reached their home.

The great Monarch Mountain. Inside the belly of the mountain water shines in the dim light. When they stepped inside, the familiar scent of moss, pollen, and cracked earth met them. Everything was intact. No sign of invasion.

Silvershadow waited at the arch. He saw Luna’s face—and stepped forward with slow grace. "You’ve returned... but where is our Lord?"

Luna looked down, her voice dry. "He... had to look for something. He will be back soon."

That night, they said nothing more.

The next morning, Luna stood at the edge of the cliff where their cold air flew, her eyes fixed toward the horizon. "He should’ve come back by now..."

Miryam curled beside her, letting out a tiny worried chirp. freeweɓnovel-cøm

Another day passed. Still nothing. No sign of Kai’s return.

Luna clenched her fist and made a decision. "Silvershadow. Shadeclaw. Go to the rift gate’s location. Search for your Lord. Use every scent you know. Find out where he is?"

They obeyed without question. With non stop running, By evening they reached the rift gate location and they returned empty-handed.

"There is nothing," Shadeclaw said gravely. "Not even a trace. The gate has vanished."

Luna’s heart sank. Her moon-vine bracelet glowed faintly on her wrist. Its pulse was slow but steady. That glow—it meant only one thing.

"He’s alive," she whispered. "Somewhere... But where?"

For the next three days, she barely slept. Her orders were minimal. Her movements were mechanical. She kept glancing at the bracelet, willing it to glow brighter, to speak, to sing.

Miryam stayed close. The once-distant wyrmling now curled near Luna when she rested and pressed her head against her side when she stared silently at the stars.

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