The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

Chapter 176 The Sudden Boost of Strength

Mikhailis sat comfortably in his room, the soft morning light spilling through the curtains, creating a warm golden glow. He leaned back, feeling the smooth frame of his glasses on his nose as he adjusted them. His fingers flicked against the frame, activating the built-in system.

"Rodion," he whispered, a small grin playing on his lips as he called his AI assistant.

The voice, steady and familiar, filled his ears, and Mikhailis felt a sense of relief. It was like hearing from an old friend—one who could be blunt and irritating at times, but still, a friend.

"I believe there's been some more... interesting developments?" Mikhailis asked, leaning back in his bed.

Mikhailis's eyes widened, and he almost choked on his own breath.

"Wait, wait, hold up. Are you telling me she's got necromancy now?" His voice betrayed a hint of excitement. He couldn't help it. The idea of his chimera ants having a necromancer queen sounded so over-the-top, it was straight out of one of those novels he used to read.

Continue your journey on empire

Mikhailis clicked his tongue, a smile tugging at his lips.

"Yeah, yeah. Stop mocking me, Rodion. You know some of those novels had decent ideas. Besides, who doesn't want a queen who can summon zombies?"

Mikhailis leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his fingers tapping against the glass screen in front of him.

Alright, alright, I get it. It's not an instant power-up. Still, it's cool.

He glanced back at Lira, who was still fast asleep beside the bed, her head resting against the mattress. Her peaceful face brought a soft warmth to his chest—a rare feeling.

"So, anything else I should know about? And don't give me the 'I already told you the important bits' excuse. Come on, Rodion, spill it."

Rodion paused, and Mikhailis tilted his head.

"What? What is it?"

Mikhailis's heart skipped a beat.

"The eggs? I thought we were only expecting the first batch—like, what, 150 of them?"

Mikhailis blinked, his jaw dropping slightly.

"Eight hundred and fifty? You're telling me we've got an entire army of larvae just popping out at once?"

Mikhailis sat back, running a hand through his messy hair. He let out a low whistle, shaking his head.

"That's... that's something. I mean, it's a lot. More than I bargained for, really." He couldn't help but laugh. The idea of his chimera ant army growing overnight from a few hundred to nearly a thousand was a little overwhelming—but in a good way.

This changes everything, Mikhailis thought.

With this many soldiers, they could finally divide their forces in a meaningful way. He could keep some protecting the nest, the queen, and his small clone still back at the egg-like throne. And then, there could be the group that would follow him—a force he could use to explore, to fight, to be his eyes and ears in this strange fantasy world.

"Alright, Rodion. That's incredible. We're going to have an army out there and still enough to defend the nest. Things are looking up."

Just as Mikhailis finished speaking, Rodion's voice interrupted him, tinged with an urgency that caught his attention.

Mikhailis felt his stomach tighten, his eyes widening.

"The big one? Show me, Rodion."

A feed appeared in front of his glasses, showing the hatchery. The massive green egg was shaking, cracks forming along its glossy surface. The chimera ants around it stepped back, their antennae twitching, and Mikhailis watched, his heart pounding in anticipation.

The egg cracked, pieces of shell falling away, and from within emerged a creature that made Mikhailis's eyes widen in shock. It looked like a Thalorian goblin—but it wasn't quite right. Its form was more monstrous, its skin covered in an insect-like exoskeleton that gleamed a dark green. Its feet were covered in wolf fur, its legs powerful, and on its shoulders and arms, skulls fashioned into gauntlets and armor.

"What in the..." Mikhailis whispered, leaning closer to the feed. The creature stood tall, its eyes gleaming, its body a strange combination of goblin and chimera ant.

Mikhailis couldn't help but let out a low laugh.

"The Skullborne Ravager? Sounds intimidating. What's its rank?"

Mikhailis felt his pulse quicken. A Count-ranked goblin chimera ant, born from his own former body? He couldn't decide if it was incredibly cool or incredibly weird—or maybe both.

"Wait, are you telling me all the others ascended too? The soldiers, the workers, even the fire scarabs?"

Mikhailis leaned back, running a hand through his hair, his lips curling into an incredulous grin.

"This is insane," he muttered, shaking his head.

I have an entire Count-ranked army now. This is beyond anything I could have imagined.

His eyes focused back on the feed, the Skullborne Ravager standing tall in the hatchery, its gaze steady, its aura radiating power. For a brief moment, Mikhailis felt something—a connection. It was like a thread between his mind and the creature. He furrowed his brow, focusing on the feeling, and to his surprise, he felt the Ravager respond.

"No way," he whispered, his voice filled with awe.

He concentrated, and the Skullborne Ravager moved, raising one of its arms, its gauntleted hand flexing. Mikhailis felt a chill run down his spine, a smile spreading across his face.

"I can control it... with my thoughts?"

Rodion replied, his tone calm.

Mikhailis let out a low laugh, shaking his head in disbelief.

"This... is insane."