While Antares rested in his royal chamber, the news of his awakening spread like wildfire through every tunnel, hall, and clay hut of the Scarlet Ant Tribe.
Men, women, children, elders — everyone was buzzing with excitement. But what shocked them most wasn't simply that the king had woken up. It was that he had completely recovered from mana pollution. In the entire recorded history of Prime Terra, across every continent, no one had ever survived it. Not once.
Inside a sturdy clay hut near the outer residential ring, a woman sat on a straw bed, breastfeeding her baby while her eyes sparkled with gossip.
"Have you heard the news?" she asked her husband.
"About what this time?" The man sighed, pointing at their three young children playing outside. "I hope this isn't another one of your gossip sessions with the other wives. Save some energy for the kids."
"Listen to me, husband," she said, giving him a playful wink. "The king has woken up… and he's fully recovered."
The man paused, then pretended to focus on mending a leather strap. "I heard the same from the workers in Lord Ian's agricultural sector," he admitted quietly. He had long grown used to his wife's gossip, though he would never tell her how much he secretly enjoyed it.
"I'm sure he'll improve the situation of our tribe, dear," the woman said softly.
"He first has to recover completely," the man replied, watching their children laugh. "After what he went through, it's understandable if he's still weak and tired."
The wife gently laid the baby beside her and smiled. "Well, I'm sure this is just the beginning of a great future for our tribe."
Back in the King's personal chamber, Antares stirred awake.
"Hmmmmm… I think I can live like this," he murmured, standing up and walking over to the polished metal mirror hanging on the wall.
The reflection staring back at him was nothing short of striking.
He was tall — about 5'11" — with a well-built, muscular frame that radiated natural command. Long, spiky black hair cascaded wildly down to his lower back. His skin was a light brown, smooth and healthy, while his blood-red eyes glowed with an intensity that made him look both regal and slightly dangerous. A well-defined nose and sharply handsome face completed the picture.
"If I went back to my old world, I could put all the top models and movie stars to shame," Antares muttered, flexing in front of the mirror with a grin.
He noticed small resemblances to Antarion — especially those blood-red eyes that looked like pools of liquid crimson.
Then he remembered the system's words about his new abilities.
Let's try the antennae first.
The moment the thought formed, two glowing red antennae smoothly emerged from the top of his head, emitting a warm aura that filled the entire room.
"Ouchy — that stings, damn it!" Antares hissed, rubbing his temples.
He sat cross-legged on the bed and closed his eyes, focusing. With the antennae active, his senses sharpened dramatically. He could feel the two guards standing right outside his door. He could sense the entire castle-like structure around him — the central tower, the branching tunnels, every living presence within the king's residence.
Some auras were strong and steady. Others were faint, almost insignificant. He located Zarah moving at high speed through the halls, stopping occasionally to check on maids, cooks, and scattered soldiers. She was monitoring everything with perfect efficiency.
After several minutes, a sharp headache stabbed through his skull and blood trickled from his nose. Antares quickly retracted the antennae and wiped the blood away with his sleeve.
"I guess I reached my limit," he muttered.
He glanced at the door. "You two, come here."
His voice was firm and commanding.
The two guards outside felt the order in their blood. They entered immediately, knelt, and bowed deeply.
"Your Majesty, your loyal servants stand before you," they said in perfect unison.
Antares coughed softly, a little embarrassed by the title, but secretly pleased.
He studied them. The twins had identical faces and armor, the only difference being their hairstyles — one with short black curly hair, the other with black braided hair reaching his shoulders.
Two red screens of light materialized in front of Antares' eyes.
[Levi]Age: 21 Strength: Late Apprentice Knight Talent: Spear Wielder Loyalty: 100%
[Eli]Age: 21 Strength: Late Apprentice Knight Talent: Swordsman Loyalty: 100%
[Ding… Required conditions met for the use of the Ant God's Essential Blessing.][Would you like to use your skill on your subordinates Eli and Levi?][YES / NO]
Antares gave them a satisfied nod, eyes shining with expectation.
"If my memory serves me right, my father took you two into the inner nest to raise you as my personal guards even before I was born… correct?" he asked, crossing his legs.
There was a brief silence before Levi, the slightly older twin, answered. "It is as you have said, my lord."
Eli continued smoothly. "Our mother died during winter when we were still babies. Our father perished on the front lines during the invasion of the Iron Fang goblin clan."
"After repelling the goblins, your father, Lord Alexis, found us scavenging for food at the tribe's trash deposit," Levi added. "He took us in and raised us to become your personal guards."
A good man… just as I remember, Antares thought, replaying the memories of his predecessor's father. In his old life he had never known real family. This hit different.
"It must have been tough for you two," Antares said, voice carrying genuine sadness. "I'm sorry for the loss of your parents… and thank you for your father's service in the Ant King's army."
The twins looked surprised. The previous Antares had barely spoken to them during his rare moments of consciousness.
"Thank you, Lord Antares," they replied together.
Antares leaned forward. "For now, I only have words… but let me ask you something important."
He looked them dead in the eyes.
"Would you follow me if I told you I want to conquer this continent — and everything beyond it? I believe it's time for the Scarlet Ant Tribe to rise. I need every capable individual by my side."
Levi and Eli exchanged a single glance, then answered in perfect unison, voices filled with excitement:
"Even if it meant following our lord to the gates of hell, we vow to exterminate all your enemies. Until our last breath, we will follow His Highness."
Antares smiled.
"Good. Then receive this little gift from me."
A faint red aura flared around him.
"Receive the Blessing of the Ant God."
Swoosh!
Blinding crimson light exploded from Levi and Eli, flooding the entire chamber. The glow was so intense it would have blinded anyone else, but Antares watched calmly.
[Ding… You have upgraded your personal guards Eli and Levi to Early Senior Knight strength using 2,000 Essence Points.]
[Would you like to use 500 Essence Points on each to open their Aura Chambers in their hearts and facilitate the creation of their Aura Cores?][YES / NO]
Antares didn't hesitate. "YES."
The light intensified even further. When it finally faded, the twins remained kneeling, breathing heavily.
"Arise."
Levi stood first. He had grown slightly taller, his muscles more sharply defined. Eli cracked his neck, the same changes visible on his frame — except his braided hair had lengthened noticeably.
Their armor and weapons looked unchanged, but their presence had transformed.
Antares tilted his head. "Is it possible to upgrade their equipment as well?"
[Ding… It would require more Essence Points, but it is definitely possible.]
"Are you the voice I was hearing in my inner domain?" Antares asked.
[No. I am simply a System Lord Antarion created to help you use your powers in the most efficient way possible, Host.]
"Hmmm… I see. Equipment upgrade can wait."
He waved the system away and looked back at his guards with open excitement.
"Hope you like it."
Levi and Eli could feel the changes deep in their bones — muscles, strength, even their senses had multiplied. They also sensed a new chamber in their hearts, pulsing with potential aura energy.
They knelt once more.
"We thank the lord for his blessing and vow to protect him."
Antares nodded. "Alright. Go and test your new power but do it secretly. And call Zarah for me. I have a task for her."
The twins rose and left, barely hiding their wide smiles. They were clearly itching to test their newfound strength.
Once the door closed, Antares threw himself back onto the bed and stretched luxuriously.
"Now it's time to make some changes around here…" He laughed, staring at the ceiling with bright, ambitious eyes. "Now I'm excited."