Chapter 33: Temple of Worship to the Gods
"Ahh, yes! It is the sacred relic—the Spear of Destiny," proclaimed the queen ant, her regal countenance shimmering with a light sheen of perspiration.
The specter of fear loomed over her, aware that a subpar response might elicit the overlord's swift and fatal retribution. Her very life hinged on delivering a satisfactory answer.
"Tell me, do you possess knowledge of its composition?" The queen ant's mind danced through the corridors of memory, recalling the myriad ancient tomes she had devoured, seeking enlightenment within their hallowed pages.
"With profound awe and a hint of trepidation, she spoke of the legendary Spear of Destiny, its origins etched in the annals of humanity. According to the records, this sacred artifact was said to be crafted from a mysterious substance, akin to the divine matter found in the Stone Slate of Truth. Its unique composition defied comparison to any amalgamation of mere base metals, lending it an otherworldly essence."
"And what lies above or beyond our world?" inquired the Ant King, his spear thrust toward the sky with a commanding demeanor. The multitude of ant queens followed his lead, raising their eyes to behold a sight that transcended their resplendent palace. Their collective gaze was met by the celestial grandeur of the radiant sun, accompanied by a tapestry of constellations adorning the daytime heavens.
With a surge of awe-inspired wonder, the queen ant spoke, her voice laced with reverence. "Stars! The celestial expanse above us."
"Indeed," nodded the Ant King, a glimmer of approval gleaming in his discerning eyes. "You do not lack intelligence."
Another queen ant stepped forward, her voice tinged with curiosity. "Magnanimous king, our mightiest subordinate, the valiant Flying Ant Knights, soared skyward with unwavering resolve. Yet, upon reaching an altitude of approximately 100,000 meters, he encountered an impenetrable barrier akin to the fathomless depths of the ocean. His progress was abruptly halted, and though he could see the expanse of star, he was denied entry."
"Yes," chimed in another ant queen. "Through my consultation of the ancient texts from diverse races, I discovered the speculation of wise men who proposed that while the stars exist, they may well be projections from a loftier realm—a realm where the divine creator dwells, concealed like a veiled corner of existence. It is plausible that this celestial domain transcends the stars themselves."
The Ant King tapped his finger thoughtfully, his mind consumed by visionary ambitions. "Our destiny must lie within the celestial seas of the stars! Issue my command: let warriors from all races battle, nurturing the birth of stronger combatants through the crucible of war. At the same time, dispatch our most indomitable ant heroes to the cardinal extremities of our world—the depths of the ocean, the lofty altitudes—unleash them to explore the very limits of our realm. They shall chart an all-encompassing cartography, delineating the barriers that enclose us and opening new horizons!"
"Yes! Without hesitation!" resounded the resolute cries of the fervent ant queens. The Ant King's ambition set their blood ablaze, igniting an unyielding determination to transcend the shackles of their world and venture into the uncharted realms beyond.
A resurgence surged through the devouring ants, their relentless blades turning upon their own kin, their march unrelenting.
Sporting a serene smile on his lips, Jiang Ping, a seasoned explorer who had ventured to the farthest corners of the world, stood as the sole bearer of truth. As he keenly observed the unfolding events, his voice resonated with a captivating sense of intrigue. "Ah, your ideas never fail to astound me," he remarked, his admiration apparent.
He had already discerned the Ant King's audacious plan. This daring demon king seemed intent on provoking him with his ideas.
"I wonder," Jiang Ping mused aloud, his gaze fixed upon the bustling ant colony before him.
The devouring ants appeared to harbor aspirations of becoming an interstellar force, seeking to shatter the confines of dimensional space and, perhaps, trouble him in the process.
"Genesis, do you see the Ant King's swelling arrogance?" Jiang Ping inquired, a smile playing upon his lips. He found such variables to be rather intriguing.
Genesis, responded, "The birth of the Ant King defies the natural order. According to conventional wisdom, a creature of his ilk, transcending the realm of conventional combat prowess, should never have come into existence. His power surpasses that of all other creatures, upsetting the delicate balance of the world, transforming what was once a vibrant world of competing races into an era dominated by a single conqueror.
In the climactic battle, I had anticipated your intervention, instigating a conflict between the Devouring Ant and the Myriad Clans, stimulating their latent potentials, thereby maximizing the benefits for you."
Jiang Ping arched an eyebrow, remaining silent.
In the primeval world, the queens gradually unraveled a vast map -- the barriers that encapsulated the entirety of their world.
Once spherical, the cataclysmic wars of the previous century shattered Pangea, scattering fragments of land across every corner of the globe.
Over the years, the Ant King had tirelessly traversed the barriers, clutching a black spear, desperately searching for fissures in the fabric of space. He had made countless attempts, striving with every ounce of his being.
Divine radiance bathed the world, blinding in its brilliance, causing the queen ant to avert her gaze.
Despite the emergence of ripples within the barriers, their attempts to breach the impregnable fortifications proved utterly futile.
Indeed, throughout history, there has never been news of someone breaching the barrier.
The unyielding fortifications of the world's barriers rendered the mighty Ant King silent, thwarting his every attempt to embark upon an Interstellar journey.
Furthermore, the ants turned against one another, their violent acts resulting in the depletion of precious resources and the inability to replenish their forces. Paradoxically, the strength of the devouring ants dwindled even as they once stood at the pinnacle of their power after obliterating all rival races.
"Is our race truly bound for oblivion?" questioned a concerned queen ant, her thoughts momentarily drifting to the words of a wise human sage uttered before his demise.
The slaughter carried out by the devouring ants left no traces of life, a relentless march towards annihilation, even if it meant digging their own graves.
This time, however, the queen was spared the wrath of the Ant King.
In the heart of the central palace, amidst the enveloping darkness of the night, a voice rang out with unwavering determination, declaring, "I shall not succumb to this grim destiny!"
Bound within the constraints of the world's barriers, their once abundant resources now depleted, and the cycle of life shattered, the devouring ants found themselves growing weaker and more desperate with every fleeting moment.
A millennium later, the devouring ant factions turned against one another, engaging in a fierce struggle for dominance, beheading enemy queens in a desperate bid for survival.
The world lay riddled with wounds, the sun concealed beneath a shroud of inky mist, leaving the earth devoid of vital energy and sunlight.
Despair gripped the ant queen and her valiant heroes, for if this trend persisted, the devouring ants would surely meet their doom.
"Is this our retribution? To consume all that exists, annihilate all races, only to sever our own life force?" lamented a powerful ant knight, his voice heavy with despair. It was he who had led the charge, decimating an entire continent in the relentless pursuit of dominance.
"King! Must you watch our clan perish without taking action?" cried a fearless ant knight, rushing towards the Ant King, only to meet his inevitable demise at the monarch's hands.
Fury surged through the crowd, igniting an unyielding determination within each devouring ant. This time, the Ant King recognized the urgency of the situation and knew that decisive action was imperative. The survival of their species hung precariously in the balance.
"Let the strength of our united clan serve as our weapon, and let us build a sanctuary to honor the divine!" proclaimed the Ant King with unwavering resolve.
A wave of jubilant fervor swept through the multitude, sweeping away their despair and replacing it with a newfound hope. In their darkest hour, they believed that the power of faith could bring forth miraculous possibilities.
In response to the Ant King's call, devouring ants across the world rallied together, pooling their dwindling resources to create something extraordinary. The central continent, now transformed into a sacred ground, bore witness to the construction of a magnificent temple.
As time passed, the temple grew, reaching skyward in awe-inspiring proportions. Its grandeur surpassed anything the world had ever seen. At its pinnacle, an imposing statue of the Creator of All was erected, a testament to the deity's unfathomable greatness. Its radiance outshone the very sun, casting a divine glow upon the devoted ants below.
Within the looming threat of annihilation, the devouring ants emanated a resplendent brilliance, their miraculous structures standing tall within a mere decade. The world marveled at their unwavering faith and indomitable spirit, for they had defied their bleak fate and embraced the power of unity and devotion. The temple became a symbol of their resilience and a beacon of hope, inspiring other struggling species to believe in the extraordinary and triumph over seemingly insurmountable odds.
On the day of completion, the Ant King issued the paramount order to the entire clan. Hundreds of millions of devouring ants from every corner of the world congregated around the Temple of Heaven.
Under the leadership of the Ant King himself, the ranks swelled with dozens of queen ants, standing in solemn formation on either side, while tens of thousands of ant knights commanded the vast assembly with unwavering dedication.
As they gathered for what would become the most monumental sacrifice in history, a hushed reverence filled the air. The weight of their plight bore heavily upon them, but they knew that their actions could alter the course of their destiny.
Upon reaching the grand summit of the temple, the pinnacle of sacrifice was revealed—a fossil imprinted with a single, mysterious footprint.