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[Ding! Absorbing Corrupt Essence. Strength +2. Speed +1. (Temporary boosted)]
Kai roared, his body surging with power. He broke free, landing on all six legs as his aura flared violently.
"Time to end this."
He charged forward, dodging a wild swipe and climbing onto the boss's back. His mandibles clamped onto its exposed neck joint, and he activated all his skills at once—Tiny Tank, Reflex Mode, and Worker's Resilience.
His jaws crushed through chitin and bone, tearing into the corrupted core of the beast.
The Zombie Ant Leader let out one final, deafening shriek before its body collapsed, the fungal growths wilting and shriveling into dust.
The cavern fell silent.
[Ding! Congratulations the is Boss Defeated!]
[Ding! EXP Gained: 5,000]
[Ding! Congratulations, host you Level Up! Level 5 → Level 10!]
Kai collapsed to the ground, his entire body trembling from the sheer exertion of the fight. His breath came in ragged gasps, his vision swimming from the overwhelming surge of power and fatigue.
He had done it. He had reached Level 10.
[Ding! SYSTEM NOTIFICATION:
Evolution Mission Complete: Reach Level 10 and One-Star Rank in 27 Days.
Reward: 1 year of life. Rank upgrade. Skill unlock. ]
As the system processed his evolution, the oppressive air of the chamber began to lift, replaced by a sense of something greater.
The path ahead was no longer blocked. The tunnels leading out of the lower nest were now open.
Kai slowly rose to his feet, his mandibles clicking in satisfaction.
"I made it."
But as he stepped forward, the system's final notification flashed across his vision.
[Ding! Warning: Preparing for Evolution. Next Phase Unlocked.]
Kai took a deep breath as the weight of his next challenge settled on his shoulders.
"This was just the beginning."
The moment Kai defeated the Zombie Ant Leader, a wave of exhaustion crashed over him. His limbs trembled, his mandibles ached from the brutal final bite, and his mind swam with the aftershocks of the corrupt essence he'd absorbed. But despite the pain, a deep sense of accomplishment settled within him.
He had done it. He had reached Level 10.
Before he could fully process the victory, the system's cold, mechanical voice rang in his mind:
[Ding! System Notification: Evolution Imminent!
You have reached Level 10, equal to one star of this world.
The next stage of your existence awaits.]
Kai barely had a moment to breathe before a sudden force gripped his body. It was unlike anything he had felt before, a pressure, an overwhelming heat spreading from within, as if his very core was being ripped apart and reforged.
His vision blurred. His limbs locked in place. The world around him seemed to darken, and then—Everything vanished.
Kai found himself floating in an endless abyss. There were no tunnels, no nest walls, no decaying corpses, just an empty void stretching infinitely in all directions.
His body was suspended, weightless, yet he could still feel himself. He could sense the energy pulsing through his exoskeleton, his legs, his mandibles—all of it shifting, as if preparing for something far greater than what he had ever known.
[Ding! Entering Evolutionary Stasis.]
[Reconfiguring Biological Structure.]
[Processing Accumulated Essence…]
Kai's mind reeled. The system was reshaping him, pulling apart his old, weaker body to construct something new, something stronger.
Then, a bright holographic display materialized before him. It was his Evolution Selection Screen.
[Evolutionary Paths Available1. Myrmidon Ant (Warrior Class)
Gains immense strength and enhanced combat abilities.
Hardened exoskeleton capable of withstanding powerful blows.
Special Skill: Battle Frenzy – Temporarily increases all stats in combat.
2. Shadow Reaver Ant (Assassin Class)
Gains unparalleled speed and stealth-based attacks.
Body structure becomes lighter but more flexible.
Special Skill: Phantom Stride – Grants temporary invisibility and speed burst.
3. Monarch Devourer Ant (Predator Class RARE)
Gains the ability to devour and integrate abilities from defeated enemies (condition).
Exoskeleton becomes adaptive, allowing for situational resistance to attacks.
Special Skill: Essence Overlord – Absorb, refine, and permanently integrate enemies stats. ]
Kai's eyes locked onto the third option. Monarch Devourer Ant.
It was unlike the other choices. It wasn't just about brute force or stealth, it was about absorbing the power of his enemies and making it his own. It perfectly fits with his ultimate skill Essence Eater.
A slow, determined grin formed on his mandibles.
"This is perfect, with Monarch Devouring Ant evolution… no one will ever be able to surpass me."
With absolute certainty, he made his choice.
"System, I choose option three. The Monarch Devourer Ant."
[Ding! System notifications:
Evolution Selected: Monarch Devourer Ant.
Initiating the Transformation Process…]
The moment Kai confirmed his selection, his entire body ignited. It was as if molten lava surged through his veins, consuming every fiber of his being. His exoskeleton cracked, his limbs twitched uncontrollably, and his mind was flooded with an overwhelming storm of raw, burning energy.
He wanted to scream, but no sound came out.
Every nerve felt like it was being ripped apart and reconstructed at the same time. He could feel new structures forming inside him, muscle fibers strengthening, his mandibles sharpening to razor-like precision. His legs elongated slightly, adapting for both speed and stability.
His exoskeleton hardened, darkening into a sleeker, more refined shell. At the same time, it remained flexible, allowing for adaptive movement. The system had merged durability with agility, ensuring that his body was both resilient and versatile.
His aura core expanded, growing stronger as it absorbed the remaining corrupt essence from the Zombie Ant Leader. His entire being was undergoing reconstruction, not just physically, but at a molecular level.
Time became meaningless in that void. The pain was unrelenting, yet with it came a power unlike anything Kai had ever known.
And then—Everything stopped.
Kai's eyes snapped open.
He was no longer floating. The void had vanished, and in its place, he stood within the previous battlefield, its walls pulsing faintly with an energy.
Then, the system's voice rang out once more:
[Ding! Evolution Complete.
New Form Acquired: Monarch Devourer Ant.
Processing Upgrades…]