"I'm not lying!"

Qiao Zhi tried to defend himself. "How could a newcomer like me bully a senior? I'm even disabled." After saying that, he raised his hand, indicating that he only had four legs and was indeed inferior to a normal ant.

The overseer shook his huge head in front of the two ants. Seeing the accusatory expression on the little ant lying on the ground, he clicked his tongue impatiently.

This little ant had been making a big fuss earlier, saying that the newcomer was lazy and disobedient, and even tried to release the aphids. That’s why he came to check. But after looking around, he found nothing unusual. It was obvious that this little guy was just causing trouble, which made him quite annoyed.

"Alright, have you had enough lying on the ground? If not, I can call your supervisor to help you up."

Realizing that it wouldn’t get a chance to speak and that there was no way to punish Qiao Zhi today, the little ant glared at him resentfully. "I don't want to be in the same group as him this afternoon!"

Feeling wronged, Qiao Zhi muttered. "Fine."

After the overseer left, he returned to the corner alone, looking expressionlessly at his teammate whose arm was nearly broken.

That little pest actually hurt his teammate right under his nose.

How infuriating.

The teammate hissed softly and whispered, "It's fine. This kind of minor injury can be quickly treated at the specialized hospital."

"Weren't you with Ruan Xing? Why don’t I see him?"

Qiao Zhi took a bandage from his pocket and wrapped it around the wound. "He went somewhere else."

His teammate's tone changed slightly. "He has no combat experience… unlike you…"

Then, in a near whisper, he added, "After all, the Major General specifically ordered us to protect him."

Qiao Zhi said, "Since the Major General specifically instructed it, we should be at ease and trust his judgment. When has Major General Fu ever misjudged someone?"

His teammate hesitated before murmuring, "That's true. At least he wasn’t caught as quickly as I was, nor exploited like this…"

Qiao Zhi shook his head. "Let's focus on getting you out of here first."

The teammate frowned, "Ants can send signals through their antennae very quickly. If there’s any danger, the entire colony will immediately mobilize. Even though this is just a small cave, isn't it a bit difficult to act before they react?"

Qiao Zhi blinked. "I can't kill them all, but there's no need to, right?"

"1005! What are you mumbling about?"

The little ant came back again. Already annoyed with Qiao Zhi, he now saw that he wasn’t working seriously and immediately shouted, trying to draw the attention of all the ants in the aphid chamber.

"Ah, I was just thinking… We've all been working for so long. Isn't everyone a little tired?"

The little ant was about to curse, but before he could, a sudden drowsiness washed over him. With a "thud," he collapsed to the ground, with its six legs facing the air. Before long, he even started to snore softly.

This sudden change made the other workers stare blankly. Sleeping so openly during work hours? Very brave and courageous!

Before they could react, the same sleepiness spread through them.

One after another, with repeated "thud thud thud" sounds, more than a dozen ants collapsed in less than a minute.

The aphid chamber fell into dead silence.

"I just needed to make them all fall asleep."

Qiao Zhi smiled, revealing his bright white teeth.

—

"Overseer, you're lying, aren't you?"

The hatchery was so silent that even the sound of a needle hitting the ground could be heard.

Ruan Xing's voice rang out clearly in everyone's ears.

The overseer's head swelled with anger, and his large pincers waved furiously. "What nonsense! I think you're the suspicious one here. Everyone else is resting, yet you're standing so properly!"

Ruan Xing sighed. "You harshly scold the resting workers, calling them worthless. But when I am working, you complain that I don’t fit in... Are you just looking for an excuse to yell at someone?"

To the others, his words made perfect sense. The overseer was obviously just looking for an excuse to vent his frustration!

The scrawny ants began whispering among themselves.

The overseer stomped its feet. "1004! How dare you go against me? You're fired! Even if your supervisor begs for you, it won’t work. I’ll make sure no department takes you in! No work means no food—just wait to starve to death!"

Ants could only get food through work, and eating was essential for survival. If they didn’t get enough food, their bodies would suffer, even turning into waste.

Ant 999 and the others were already weak from long-term malnutrition. The weaker they got, the less they could work, creating a vicious cycle.

Every day, countless ants died from "overwork" and "malnutrition." Their bodies were recycled into the colony’s graveyard, where they became nutrients for the mycelium.

Now, by taking away Ruan Xing’s job, the overseer was essentially taking away his life. The only difference between him and the other ants was that he would directly starve to death, while the others would be worked to death trying to avoid starvation. The speed of death was the only variation.

Ruan Xing sneered. "You never mention your mistakes. Instead, you always shift the blame to your subordinates, and now you are even stripping away my right to survive. Is this your way of solving problems?"

"So what’s next? Are you going to blame the entire department and fire all of us to protect yourself?"

Many ants visibly changed their expressions as they realized that Ruan Xing had a point. The overseer could hold them all accountable and expel them, depriving them of their right to work and live.

They worked tirelessly every day, exhausting themselves to the brink of death. Yet, their labor was hoarded by this guy, leaving them with nothing to eat, barely clinging to life. On top of that, they were constantly scolded. Who could put up with this?!

"Our lives were given by the Queen, and our food comes from the aphids. What right do you have to control us? Are you trying to place yourself above the Queen?!"

"We are all part of the same colony, yet you call us worthless. Do you actually look down on your own kind?"

"In your eyes, is the Queen also worthless? Then what are you? You’re supposed to be one of us—unless... you some kind of outsider sneaking in?"

These words were sharp and heavy.

The malnourished ants turned their gazes to the overseer, their eyes burning with overwhelming hatred.

No one had said it outright, but it wasn't as if they hadn't already noticed. When Ruan Xing pointed it out, suspicion instantly took root in their minds. Bullying them was one thing, but having thoughts of disrespect toward the Queen? That was an unforgivable crime worthy of being cut into pieces!

The overseer was too enraged to speak. At the same time, the group of underlings behind him began exchanging doubtful glances.

Ruan Xing’s words made far too much sense. The overseer always eats alone and never joins them. It spent its days insulting others, lashing out at anyone who displeased him. Even its most loyal followers weren't spared from its wrath.

A few ants had quietly circled behind Ruan Xing, silently expressing their agreement with their actions.

"Look at the cubs who died for no reason—this must be the first step of your rebellion! Killing the young, depriving our colony of a future, and then climbing step by step to power until you consume the entire colony! In the end, even the Queen herself will be forced to bow at your feet!"

"You! You are so terrible!" Ruan Xing clutched his chest in feigned heartbreak.

Many ants nodded in agreement.

The overseer raised his massive pincers and shouted: "I’ll kill you!!!"

Ruan Xing gasped in horror. "Stop him! He’s trying to kill us!"

By now, the ants were completely swept up in the fervor of Ruan Xing’s speech. They didn’t pause to think—only surged forward in righteous fury.

999 was the first to stand in front of Ruan Xing. The overseer’s strongest enforcers also leaped in, using their own pincers to restrain him.

The overseer’s antennae twitched desperately as if attempting to send a signal.

But Ruan Xing was quicker. "He's trying to contact his fellow traitors!"

999 lunged forward, and his pincers sliced down in one decisive motion—severing the overseer’s antennae with ease.

A shriek of agony echoed through the chamber. "You’re the traitors! You’re the ones who should be executed!"

Ruan Xing’s steady and righteous voice rang out. "Everyone, this ant has completely lost its mind because its conspiracy was discovered! He wants to kill all of us who know the truth and turn the tables! Look at that twisted expression—is that the face of a comrade?"

"No!" The ants shouted in unison.

"Then, as members of this colony, we must make the right decision. We must act for the Queen, for the good of the colony! Isn’t that what we all want?"

"Yes!"

"Today, this executioner—who has tormented us for so long, betrayed the colony, and turned his fangs against his own kind—will finally be brought to justice!"

"Judgment! Judgment! Judgment!"

The ants’ eyes burned red with rage, their pincers trembling with fury, clashing together in a cacophony of sharp clicks.

Ruan Xing crouched slightly, smiling. "So, traitor—any last words?"

The overseer’s voice dripped with venom. "You’re a human, aren’t you?! You deceitful creatures tricked the Queen all those years ago, and now you're sinking your claws into our colony too?!"

Ruan Xing tilted his head, his expression full of feigned shock. "It seems the traitor has truly lost its senses. We must act quickly."

He stood, stepping aside to give the ants space. Then, with a light hop, he perched himself atop the nutrient pod that once housed the first ant egg he had killed.

Leisurely, he gestured. "Executioners, deliver justice to the traitor."

999 turned, locking his gaze on the creature who had tormented him for decades. A deep, deathly silence filled his heart before it ignited into uncontainable fury. His eyes burned red as he roared, "Die!"

That resolute cry served as the spark that set the entire chamber ablaze.

"Kill the traitor! Kill him!"

The ants surged forward, swarming the overseer. The frail and malnourished were the first to throw themselves at him, using the sharpest parts of their bodies to tear him apart.

The overseer's slender legs were gnawed into stumps. One of its eyes was bitten out, and its massive abdomen was split in half. Its heart was dragged from the chest and shredded into pulp.

His head—filled with hatred for his own kind and for humans alike—was torn from his body by the very subordinates who had once sworn loyalty to him.

That plump, well-fed head, nourished by years of exploitation, rolled far across the chamber—until it came to rest at Ruan Xing’s feet.

Despite wearing an oversized costume, his nonchalant posture was unmistakable. Leaning back on his arms with his legs crossed, he tilted his head and looked down.

He gave the head a light stomp, testing its firmness. After finding it unsatisfactory, he kicked it back into the swarming mass of ants.

He had no doubt that in their frenzy, they would find an appropriate use for such an unworthy footrest.

It was only at that moment that Fu Gui, who had been gaping in shock, finally managed to move his jaw.

"M-Master, you're amazing!"

Inside his helmet, Ruan Xing chuckled softly. "Not bad, huh?"

[Spirit Speaker]

After Ruan Xing regained magic power, his ability also grew even stronger.

The mass of milky-white mycelium, mostly hidden in his hair, stretched out a few tendrils to gently brush against his cheek—an apparent sign of admiration.

Fu Gui’s expression turned stern. With a swift motion, he grabbed the mycelium in his beak and yanked it out. "What kind of nasty thing dares to make a nest in my master's hair?! Do you even know your place? Pah!"

The mycelium, undeterred, simply latched onto Fu Gui’s chest instead. Its delicate tendrils wrapped around his throat, making it look like he was wearing a fluffy cotton patch.

Meanwhile, the ants' bloodthirsty frenzy had begun to subside. But even as their rampage ended, the wild aggression still lingered in their eyes.

Their instincts—stirred by the scent of fresh blood—turned toward Ruan Xing. Their gazes became sharp and predatory, as if they were ready to tear him apart next.

Ruan Xing’s voice cracked like a whip. "What do you think you’re doing?! Snap out of it!"

999 was the first to regain his senses. Guilt and shame washed over him. "Apologies—we went too far."

The others gradually followed, their expressions shifting from exhilaration to fear, shock, and realization as the full weight of their actions hit them.

The overseer was now nothing more than scattered remains. But its death did not bring Ruan Xing any sense of ease.

"Now that the Overseer is dead... what do we do?" A burly ant hesitantly broke the silence.

999 froze.

Revenge had felt exhilarating. But now that their leader was gone—and with so many young ones dead—who would take responsibility when the higher-ups came to investigate?

Ruan Xing flashed a warm, reassuring smile. "It's simple. We pick a new leader."