I Became an Ant Lord, So I Built a Hive Full of Beauties

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"I built something that will never bow again," he said. "Not to kings. Not to fate. Not to the ones who eat the weak and call it law. I will build a future... without innocent sacrifice."

Lirien stared at him. For a heartbeat. Then another. Then she knelt before him.

"I will forge your future," she said. "So long as the fires never go cold."

"I want to build with you." Her tone sharpened. "Forge-bonding with a lord is an ancient rite. You provide the prey. I make the weapons. Your enemies become your blades."

Azhara whistled. "Oh, I like her. She talks like a volcano and reads poetry."

Akayoroi studied Lirien silently. "Do you know what bonding entails?"

Lirien stepped forward and extended a hand, her palm glowing with emberlight. "Brand me with the Crest. My forge is yours. My strength, my hands, and my loyalty will follow, as long as you don’t harm any innocent."

Kai didn’t hesitate. The system already told him she will be useful to his future development. Kai didn’t need to impress her. She only wants one thing not to harm any innocent species. Kai also agreed on that same life value. So, he reached out and placed two fingers on her forehead.

The brand ignited.

A glowing mark seared into her skin — the sigil of his Monarch’s Crest / Mark, shaped like a rising pattern flanked by pure aura. She didn’t flinch. Her eyes remained on his.

[Ding! System notification - Monarch’s Mark Applied — Lirien Flamepaw is now a Bonded Subordinate of host Kai.