Re:Ant Lord-Chapter 103: A Treasure?

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"A favour... and I will reward beyond your wildest dreams." A gold orbs shimmered invitingly inside the chamber.

"What are you talking about? I don’t understand it. What favour do you want? What can I do for you? I am just a two star rank." Kai asked her multiple questions.

"I will die. The eight‑star ant and the Queen will ensure this. Yet within me stirs an heir. My baby egg is unhatched. I cannot entrust my baby to my servants. Their loyalty crumbles with my breath. They will abuse my child power. But you... you are different. I can see you have great potential. And your soul is different from other beasts."

Kai shook head. "You expect me to smuggle a worm? I’m on enemy lines, hunted by traitors, buried underground. Not an ideal nursery babysitter. Your egg must be huge. Your baby will be hundreds of meters tall. How will I raise her? What will I feed? Are you kidding me?"

"Don’t worry. The Nymid Wyrmling remains small palm‑sized when hatch. My child won’t reach her true size until six‑star. My race feeds on star‑crystal milk, I will give you enough star milk to feed her."

Kai stiffened. "What? Star crystal liquid..."

"Do not fear any danger. I have taken all the preparations." Pause, sympathetic. "Raise my child. Teach her cunning and restraint. When she reaches seven star rank, she will shed false shape, but by then your strength will eclipse petty queens. She will bond to you as a first sight provider. Together... dynasties tremble."

Kai considered. Sounded insane, yet exciting. But risk?

He crossed arms. "Why trust me? You sensed two worlds in my soul, what does it mean? First explain it."

"Because you resisted corruption. I can see the aura of devourer inside you is darker than mine, but you bend it. Anyone who masters such hunger will not betray a helpless babe. You managed to keep a balance between your soul light and darkness. I admire your strength."

Flattery again, but sweet. He weighed options inside his mind, "If I accept then I gained a rare companion, breeder of power. If I deny... maybe face wrath even in death? And those treasures could boost me."

"What about the Queen Or other stronger beast? They find out I am raising your baby. Then they will kill me." Kai asked.

"My progeny masks aura until metamorphosis. Appear as common dune worms. Keep her near you. Also your devourer frequency will cloak her. You don’t have to worry about anything. You will find out when you grow stronger. I am a ten thousand years old devouring beast. You will learn your True power with time. My baby is female. Don’t treat her badly."

Kai glanced around. "Alright, I will help you. Where is she?"

A section of dais unfurled silently. A crystal cradle rose, containing an egg the size of clenched fist, iridescent ivory, inscribed by golden runic veins. It pulsed faintly, like heartbeat.

"Take my egg, place it inside star milk, when you get out, the star‑essence will incubate faster. In one month she hatches."

Kai stepped closer, mesmerised. ’Egg’ seemed to call his name.

"Treasure first," he said. "I won’t risk it for free."

"Choose." Around the chamber, three relic stacks glowed. He approached the treasure.

First: seven Sand‑Ruby Slivers, each swirling with liquefied fire, a known stat enhancer.

Second: scroll‑tube of Ruler‑Grade Map, would reveal hidden ley lines for any star crystals mine.

Third: a fist‑sized Obsidian Heart Star Core, remnant of a different Ruler.

Kai’s eyes widened. He picked Heart‑Core. He knew a ruler star core is the most valuable treasure. It will be very helpful for him. After choosing the treasure, he stores it into his soul cube with satisfying clang.

[Ding! Inventory Updated : Obsidian Heart Star Core. A Ruler’s core.

Description: Host level is too low. ] freewēbnoveℓ.com

He turned to the egg. "I accept your baby."

"Bind with a drop of your blood." The desert ruler informs him. "This way she will bond with you. Otherwise you will be rejected by her."

He pricked finger and let his blood splatter on the shell. Gold veins flared; faint chirrup echoed in mind, unborn thanks.

Egg shrank, folding to marble size, a self‑sealing stasis. Then the ruler gave him almost thousands of liters of star crystal milk. Kai put everything inside his storage. Also put the egg in a small box full of star liquid.

[Ding! System notifications:

New Passive Skill Gained: Soul Guardian (Nymid) grants minor aura regeneration and resistance to mental manipulation while carrying Nymid Egg.

Permanent Companion Quest initiated.

New mission: Hatch the desert ruler egg.

Reward: ???]

Kai smirked. "Deal sealed."

"Go, swift soul. Above, fate roars. My shell will break soon and the dunes will quake. Protect the egg from the world’s greed... and one day, call upon A’zhorath’s daughter." Voice echoed softer, fading like a retreating tide.

Silence returned; dais dimmed into ashes. A new path opened for him.

Taking one last glance at the relic hall, Kai chose all Sand‑Ruby Slivers, he couldn’t leave them here and slipped them into the cube. Then he walked through the new tunnel path.

Halfway up, distant booms rattled dust: Queen and generals still battling with the Ruler’s shell. He hurried, following faint airflow until a new fissure gaped a fresh quake.

Clambering through crushed limestone, he spotted daylight lancing in. He hacked quick footholds, surfaced onto slope beside crater’s rim. Battle still raged though front lines had shifted east; Dawn Blade standards fluttered near triage tents.

Kai slid down dune, sprinted through smoke curls. Soldiers gasped on seeing him, pointing. He reached Mia outside medic marquee bandaging a trooper.

Her eyes widened. "Kai! I thought..."

"Don’t worry princess." He glanced around and his voice was low, "I am alive. What’s the battle situation? We must clear the battlefield."

Anger flashed but she steadied. "Report later. Queen ordered Dawn Blade to push another cavern at dusk. Can you fight?"

He rotated shoulder. "Never better." (System read HP 1 900/2 200; aura still good.)

She gave small relieved nod then studied him closer. They shared a quick grin of intimacy tempered by war.