Inside the King's personal quarters, the air was warm and heavy with the rich aroma of roasted meat and spiced herbs.
Antares sat up on his straw bed, staring at the feast spread before him. Calling it a "plate" would have been a criminal understatement. It was a massive wooden tray, easily the size of a small table, piled high with food and accompanied by a giant goblet filled with a vibrant purple juice brewed by the women of the tribe.
"Hmmmmm, Zarah… will I even be able to finish all this?" Antares asked, eyebrows raised.
Zarah, standing gracefully beside the bed in her simple maid outfit and scarlet armband, smiled softly. "Trust me, my lord. The men of the ant tribe are known for appetites that can rival even the orcs. You will definitely finish everything… and you might even ask for seconds."
"If you say so…" Antares muttered.
He dug in with his bare hands — the ant tribe had never bothered with cutlery. The food was incredible. Roasted meat dripping with juices, sliced potatoes seasoned perfectly, boiled greens, sweet sugarcane-like stalks, and a thick red sauce that tied every flavor together. He ate without pause, swallowing large bites while Zarah quietly added more to his tray.
It had been a full day since his awakening. Most of that time had been spent chatting with Zarah, learning about the tribe's current state. They were deep in winter. The entire Scarlet Ant Tribe had retreated into the underground nest to escape the brutal surface conditions. Their territory lay in the southernmost region of the Monster Continent Cretis, a place where ambient mana in the atmosphere wildly amplified the weather. Winters here weren't just cold — they were lethal. Blizzards, mana storms, and hordes of aggressive monsters like Terror Wolves and Terror Fowls made the surface a death trap. That was why almost every member of the tribe now lived below ground.
Antares kept eating, savoring each bite. When the tray was finally empty, he reached for the giant goblet and drained the sweet, slightly tart purple juice in long, satisfied gulps.
"See, my lord?" Zarah said with a proud little laugh. "We may have little in the ant tribe, but our cooking is surely one of the best on this continent. Fufu~"
"That was… honestly the best meal I've had in either of my lives," Antares admitted, leaning back against the wall with a contented sigh. His stomach felt pleasantly full for the first time since the soul transfer.
He stretched and lay down fully on the bed. "I'll take a nap. Do not disturb me unless it's something important."
Zarah's face flickered with worry. In his previous life as Harry Waterson, Antares had always hated having his sleep interrupted, and that habit had carried over.
"Don't worry, Zarah," he added quickly, noticing her expression. "I'm just resting. As I am right now, I can tell the mana pollution has completely left my body."
Zarah bowed deeply, relief washing over her features. "As you wish, my lord. It will be done exactly as you command."
She quickly cleared the empty tray and goblet, cleaned the area with efficient movements, then bowed once more before leaving the chamber. Outside, she stationed two elite guards at the door with strict orders that the king was not to be disturbed.
Back inside, Antares stared at the dark stone ceiling for a moment, replaying everything that had happened. The betrayal on Earth. The meeting with Antarion. The new body. The tribe's dire situation.
Then exhaustion finally claimed him.
He closed his eyes and slipped into deep sleep.
Antares found himself floating in an endless dark space. No shape, no sound, no sensation — only perfect isolation.
Suddenly, a bright screen of light materialized in front of him.
[Ding… Congratulations to the Ant King, Antares Antis, on successfully binding with the Heritage of the Ant God Antarion.]
Antares remained silent, listening intently.
[Ding… You have gained 10,000 Essence Points.][Ding… Essence Point limit has been reached: 10,000/10,000.]
What the hell is going on now? Antares thought. Is this one of those systems from the games and novels?
[Would the host like an explanation of the Heritage he has received from the Ant God Antarion?][YES / NO]
Antares mentally selected YES.
[DING… You have chosen the YES option.]
A calm, mechanical voice filled the void.
"The Ant God Antarion has blessed the host with a number of perks and gifts. If the host does not understand anything, feel free to ask questions at any time."
"Wow… that ant really backed up his words," Antares muttered, remembering the quirky god in the charcoal suit.
"First and foremost, dear host, you must know that you did not reincarnate as an ordinary ant that crawls on the ground."
A blue screen appeared, showing detailed illustrations of a man and woman with features very similar to Antares.
"You have reincarnated as an Antman."
"Although you currently possess a mostly human-like appearance, you can unlock your full insectoid features — wings, antennae, exoskeleton, and more — through vigorous training and breakthroughs in power, such as entering new circles for mages or reaching new layers for aura users."
"Wait — you mean like power rankings?" Antares asked.
"Yes, host."
"Could you explain more about those?"
"Certainly."
A large screen the size of a chalkboard materialized, filled with clear information.
"There are many uncharted territories in this world, and different races cultivate different forms of energy. The most commonly known are:
Mana (Magic) Knight Force Aura Spiritual Force Beast Force Ki
Most individuals are born with an affinity for only one type, but rare geniuses throughout history have mastered more than one."
The voice continued, focusing on the systems most relevant to the Monster Continent Cretis.
"Power rankings differ depending on the energy type. Each stage is divided into Early, Mid, Late, and Peak. Every breakthrough also grants additional lifespan, which is why powerful families emphasize constant training."
Knight Force / Mage Rankings
Trainee Knight / Novice Mage Apprentice Knight / Apprentice Mage Senior Knight / Awakened Mage Master Knight / Archmage Great Knight / High Mage Blessed Knight / Blessed Mage True Knight / Guardian Mage Guardian Knight / Heaven's Mage Heaven's Knight / (Higher stages unknown)
Aura Practitioners are ranked from Rank 1 to Rank 9.
"The rankings for the other energy types are heavily guarded secrets of the major factions."
Antares absorbed everything. "I see… So what rank am I currently?"
"It is difficult to determine your exact rank, host, because of the number of blessings Lord Antarion has placed upon you."
"Tell me about those blessings."
"As you wish. Among the blessings granted by Lord Antarion are the Primordial Ant Physique and the Ant God's Essential Blessing… It appears the remaining blessings are currently sealed due to your present level of strength."
"Alright. Tell me more about those two."
A new screen appeared, showing a detailed diagram of a powerful adult male figure with additional insectoid features: two pairs of translucent wings, three pairs of long arms covered in red exoskeleton, glowing red antennae, and a thin spiked abdomen ending in a menacing red stinger.
"The Primordial Ant Physique is a bloodline perk that allows the host to harness the full strength of the Antman lineage without years of grueling training. At the first stage, you gain:
Retractable exoskeleton (defense comparable to high-grade armor) Early-stage ant wings for high-speed flight Sensitive antennae granting superior sensing abilities and telepathic communication with other ants
These features are fully retractable. You may call upon them at will or perform partial manifestations, so your appearance will remain human unless you choose otherwise."
Antares let out a relieved breath. "That's cool… but I was worried I'd look like that permanently."
"Do not worry, host. The physique is completely controllable."
"And the other blessing?"
"The Ant God's Essential Blessing allows you to bring out the true potential in anything around you — living beings, objects, skills, even the hive itself — by spending Essence Points."
"Wait… so I can upgrade anything as long as I have enough points?"
"Correct. You were granted the maximum starting amount of 10,000 Essence Points for your current level."
"How do I generate more Essence Points?"
"You may earn them by slaying magical beasts, fulfilling your duties as Ant King, completing tasks issued by Lord Antarion's will, and through other hive-related achievements."
[DING DING DING]
"It appears my time in this domain is about to end, host."
"You're leaving? I still have so many questions!" Antares protested.
"Do not worry. When you achieve your first breakthrough and open your Mind Gate, we will meet again here in your Inner Domain."
The voice paused, then added calmly, "Before I depart, is there any message you would like me to relay to Lord Antarion?"
Antares grinned in the darkness, eyes gleaming with newfound confidence.
"Yeah… tell that ant I said this…"