The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

Mikhailis watched through Rodion's holographic display, a look of fascination glimmering in his eyes. The display hovered above his glasses, showing the entire operation from different perspectives, switching between them in perfect sequence.

The gigantic slime, shifting and rippling like a massive jelly, followed the worker ants without resistance, its gelatinous body conforming to the uneven terrain of the tunnel. The air was thick with the sound of squelching as the slime maneuvered through the narrow path, its body leaving faint trails of glistening ooze behind.

Mikhailis smirked.

"Glad to see it's cooperating. Maybe we should give it a treat after this. A slime-sized cookie or something."

<Highly unlikely the slime would appreciate baked goods, Your Highness. But your attempt at humor is noted.>

The tunnel opened into a large, underground chamber—the destination the worker ants had meticulously prepared. The chamber was designed specifically to nurture the slime, ensuring its health while keeping its growth controlled.

It was lined with rich nutrients embedded into the earth, while small channels filled with water ran along the chamber floor, creating a supportive environment for the creature's regenerative capabilities. The worker ants guided the slime into the center of the chamber, surrounding it as they clicked amongst themselves, their antennae twitching with purpose.

Mikhailis leaned closer to the holographic display, watching intently as the worker ants began their next phase—feeding the slime. The ants brought out a combination of organic waste, crushed minerals, and magical herbs—all carefully gathered from the surrounding areas—and began pushing them towards the giant slime.

The slime's body rippled, absorbing the offerings in a slow, almost mesmerizing manner.

They really do look like a living cleaning crew.

The feeding continued, with the slime gradually growing larger, its body pulsing with a faint luminescence as it absorbed the nutrients. Mikhailis's eyes widened slightly, his interest piqued by the sight. He had seen many strange things since arriving in this world, but a creature of this size, being nurtured underground by a team of ants? This was a first even for him.

Mikhailis nodded, his eyes still fixed on the holographic display.

"Make sure it doesn't get any funny ideas about trying to escape, alright? I don't need a surprise slime rebellion down here."

<Understood, Your Highness. Measures are in place to prevent escape scenarios.>

He couldn't help but chuckle.

Rodion always had everything covered.

Watching the worker ants as they worked tirelessly, Mikhailis found himself admiring the efficiency of the colony. Their every movement was calculated, every task executed without hesitation. The ants surrounded the slime, their antennae brushing against its body as if analyzing its condition.

"It's pretty incredible, isn't it? How they just...know what to do," Mikhailis mused aloud, mostly to himself.

<Indeed. Their behavior patterns are pre-programmed to optimize colony growth and maintenance. Though I suspect your human sentimentality may be influencing your assessment, Your Highness.>

Mikhailis smirked, shaking his head.

"Maybe. But you gotta admit, it's kinda impressive. Like watching a perfectly choreographed dance."

<If dancing involved handling organic waste and feeding it to a giant slime, then yes, I suppose it is quite the performance.>

Mikhailis laughed, leaning back against his seat.

"Alright, alright, I get it. Not exactly ballroom material. But still, it's effective."

The worker ants continued their work, making sure the slime was comfortably settled into its new environment. The channels of water were used to keep the slime hydrated, while other worker ants tended to the nutrient sources, ensuring the supply was consistent. Mikhailis watched as the slime's body pulsed with energy, its regeneration enhanced by the rich magical herbs it had consumed.

It was all going according to plan.

"Just keep an eye on it," Mikhailis instructed, his tone serious. "I don't want it growing out of control. We're not trying to create a monster we can't handle."

<Monitoring protocols are active. Rest assured, any anomalies will be addressed immediately.>

Mikhailis sighed in contentment, his eyes still glued to the display.

If this worked out, they'd have an endless source of food—one that could help sustain the Queen and the entire colony.

The thought of it filled him with excitement. He could already picture the Queen Chimera Ant's delighted reaction to the news.

___

Mikhailis frowned, watching as the serpent's glowing eyes fixed on the worker ants, its influence spreading like ripples through the colony.

This wasn't good. If the serpent managed to turn the ants against them, they'd be in big trouble.

The frog chimera ant moved forward, its movements slow and deliberate. It was larger than the other ants, its body covered in a slick, amphibious skin that glistened in the dim light. It let out a low, reverberating croak, the sound echoing through the tunnel. The vibrations moved through the air, disorienting the serpent and breaking its hypnotic hold on the worker ants.

Mikhailis's eyes lit up with interest as he watched.

"Now that's what I'm talking about. Show that snake who's boss."

<The serpent's influence has been diminished. Proceeding with containment.>

The four Scurabons—hybrid beetle-mouse variants with small, armored bodies—joined the fray, their tiny forms darting around the serpent with surprising agility. They moved quickly, avoiding the serpent's snapping jaws as they delivered small, precise strikes to its vulnerable spots.

The serpent hissed, its body thrashing violently, but the Scurabons were relentless, their attacks coordinated with almost military precision.

The frog chimera ant moved in again, its sticky tongue shooting out to latch onto the serpent's head. The serpent let out a screech, its body writhing as it tried to free itself, but the frog chimera ant held firm, using its weight to pin the serpent down. The Scurabons took advantage of the opportunity, swarming the serpent's body and using enchanted vines to bind its movements.

Mikhailis grinned, his heart pounding in excitement as he watched the scene unfold.

It was like something out of an anime—a coordinated battle between strange, magical creatures. And he was the one pulling the strings.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

<Serpent's resistance diminishing. Containment nearly complete.>

"That's it, guys. Keep at it," Mikhailis murmured, his eyes glued to the holographic display. The serpent's thrashing grew weaker, its body slowly succumbing to the combined efforts of the frog chimera ant and the Scurabons. The vines tightened around it, binding its movements until it could no longer fight back.

The frog chimera ant let out a final, triumphant croak, its sticky skin pressing against the serpent's body, ensuring it remained restrained. The Scurabons moved quickly, securing the bindings with more vines, their small, nimble hands working with practiced precision.

Mikhailis let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, a wide grin spreading across his face.

"Nicely done. I knew you guys could handle it."

<Your confidence in the chimera ant unit is appreciated, Your Highness. The serpent will now be transported to a secure containment chamber for further study.>

Mikhailis nodded, his eyes still fixed on the serpent as the worker ants moved in to assist with its transportation.

"Make sure it's properly contained. I don't want it pulling any tricks on us."

<Containment protocols are in place. The serpent's hypnotic abilities will be neutralized during transport.>

He watched as the serpent was carried away, its body bound tightly by the enchanted vines. The frog chimera ant and the Scurabons moved alongside it, ensuring there were no mishaps. Mikhailis couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction.

They had done it. They had captured two incredibly powerful creatures, and no one had any idea.

<Your Highness, I suggest the serpent be presented to the Queen immediately. Her unique abilities may allow her to infuse the hypnotic power into the next egg that is about to hatch.>

"She could do that!?" Mikhailis's eyes widened, a slow grin spreading across his face.

<It's an idea transmitted by the queen immediately. I couldn't analyze how the information was relayed yet, but it seems that the queen transmitted her will through the chip and bond connection>

"Now that's an idea. Alright, Rodion, let's make it happen. I think our Queen is about to get very excited."

Mikhailis leaned back, his mind racing with possibilities. The serpent's hypnotic powers, combined with the Queen's natural abilities—it could be a game-changer. He couldn't wait to see what kind of creature would emerge from that egg.

This world was full of surprises, and he intended to make the most of every single one of them.