The Eccentric Entomologist is Now a Queen's Consort

Mikhailis stood face-to-face with the massive Earthshaker Bear, the sheer size of the beast looming over him. The tension in the air was thick, and each breath Mikhailis took felt heavy, almost like the ground itself was pressing down on him. He could see the glow in the bear's eyes, two molten orbs that seemed to burn with pure rage. The ground beneath him trembled as the bear's claws dug into the earth, and it let out a roar that shook the very air, sending vibrations through Mikhailis's bones.

He took a deep breath, focusing his mind. The evolution he had undergone was still new to him, his body not yet fully accustomed to the power coursing through his veins. He could feel it, though—the strength, the raw energy that made his muscles twitch with anticipation. This power wasn't something he had ever experienced before, and it gave him an edge he desperately needed for a battle like this.

The bear took a step forward, each movement deliberate, and Mikhailis matched its gaze, refusing to back down. He shifted his weight, lowering his stance, his fingers flexing as he prepared for the clash. This isn't just about strength, he thought, his eyes narrowing. It's about control. Intelligence. The bear let out another roar, and for a brief moment, Mikhailis could see the fire in its eyes, the instinct to dominate.

The Earthshaker Bear suddenly charged, its massive paws pounding the earth, the force sending shockwaves across the clearing. Mikhailis grinned—it was time to see what this new body could do. With a burst of speed, he dashed to the side, narrowly avoiding the bear's first swipe. The bear's paw struck the ground where Mikhailis had been, the impact causing cracks to radiate outward like a spider's web.

"Alright, big guy, let's dance," Mikhailis muttered, his voice barely audible over the bear's enraged growl.

Mikhailis moved swiftly, utilizing the techniques he had learned back in his human life. He remembered the fluidity of Jeet Kune Do, the way he had trained himself to become like water, to adapt, to flow around any obstacle. He used those principles now, dodging the bear's attacks with quick, agile movements. The bear swung its paw again, and Mikhailis ducked under it, his body moving with a natural grace that surprised even him.

He countered with a low kick, his foot slamming into the bear's knee. The bear grunted in pain, its leg buckling slightly, but it quickly recovered, its eyes narrowing in rage. It swung again, this time with more force, the air whistling as the massive clawed paw arced toward Mikhailis. He rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike, the force of the blow sending dirt and rocks flying into the air.

I'm not going to win by brute strength alone, Mikhailis thought, his eyes narrowing as he studied the bear. He had to use the bear's size against it, leverage its momentum and weight to his advantage. He needed to think tactically.

The bear let out another roar, rearing up on its hind legs, its shadow falling over Mikhailis. The beast towered above him, its sheer size intimidating. Mikhailis clenched his teeth, his mind racing. He had to do something—anything—to tip the scales in his favor. He dashed forward, closing the distance between them. The bear brought its massive paw down, but Mikhailis was already moving, ducking under its arm and slamming his shoulder into the bear's chest.

It was like hitting a wall, but Mikhailis used the bear's weight against it, shifting his stance and using a Judo technique to try and destabilize the creature. He hooked his arm around the bear's front leg, pulling with all his strength while pushing against its chest. For a moment, he felt the bear's balance shift, its body tilting slightly, but the creature was too heavy, too strong. It let out an enraged roar, swinging its paw and catching Mikhailis across the side.

The force of the blow sent Mikhailis flying, his body skidding across the dirt. He groaned, feeling the pain radiate through his ribs. He forced himself to his feet, his vision blurring for a moment.

Gotta be smarter, he thought, shaking his head.

The bear wasn't just strong—it was relentless. He needed to stay one step ahead.

The Earthshaker Bear growled, lowering itself back onto all fours. Its eyes locked onto Mikhailis, filled with fury. It stomped the ground, and Mikhailis felt the earth beneath him begin to tremble. Fissures spread across the ground, the earth cracking and shifting beneath his feet. He could feel the power of the bear's skill—"Ground Tremor"—shaking the battlefield.

Mikhailis leaped into the air, his powerful legs propelling him upward, avoiding the fissures as they spread beneath him. He twisted his body, his eyes locking onto the bear as he descended. He landed on the bear's back, his hands gripping the rocky plates that covered its body. The bear roared in anger, thrashing wildly, trying to shake him off.

Mikhailis held on, his fingers digging into the grooves between the bear's rocky plates. The creature twisted and rolled, trying to dislodge him, but Mikhailis clung tightly, his body moving with the bear's motions. He could feel his muscles straining, his body aching from the effort. The bear let out another roar, and Mikhailis saw the spikes—jagged, sharp rocks protruding from the bear's back, growing rapidly.

"Oh, come on!" Mikhailis muttered, his eyes widening. He shifted his weight, pushing off the bear's back just as the rock spikes shot out, narrowly avoiding being impaled.

He flipped through the air, landing a few feet away, his heart pounding in his chest. The bear turned to face him, its eyes blazing with rage, its body covered in sharp, rocky protrusions.

Mikhailis took a deep breath, centering himself. He couldn't afford to lose focus. He needed to end this—and fast. He dashed forward, closing the distance between them once more. This time, he used a different approach. He moved in close, his fists striking rapidly, targeting the bear's joints and the softer areas beneath its rocky armor. He used Wing Chun, the rapid, precise strikes designed to disable his opponent's movements.

The bear growled, its body twisting as it tried to swipe at Mikhailis, but he was too close, too fast. He ducked under its arm, his fists striking again and again, each blow landing with precision. The bear reared back, its movements becoming more erratic, more desperate. Mikhailis grabbed its head, pulling it down into a clinch, his knee driving up into its snout with all the force he could muster.

The bear let out a roar, stumbling backward, its eyes filled with pain and fury. It charged at him, its massive body barreling forward. Mikhailis grinned, his eyes narrowing. He shifted his stance, his body moving fluidly as he sidestepped the bear's charge. He used the principles of Aikido, redirecting the bear's momentum, using its own weight against it. He twisted his body, his hands guiding the bear's movement, and for a brief moment, the creature lost its balance, its weight working against it.

Mikhailis saw his opening. He moved in close, his body tense, his muscles straining as he wrapped his arms around the bear's massive form. He took a deep breath, focusing all his strength, all his power. With a loud shout, he lifted the bear off its feet—a feat that seemed impossible, given its size. The bear's eyes widened in shock, its body twisting as it tried to regain control, but Mikhailis held on, his determination unwavering.
Enjoy new adventures from empire

With all his strength, he twisted his body, slamming the bear into the ground. The impact sent a shockwave through the clearing, dust and debris flying into the air. The bear let out a final, pained roar, its body going limp, the glow in its eyes fading. Mikhailis stood over it, his chest heaving, his entire body trembling from the effort.

He looked down at the bear, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

"Well... that was something," he muttered, a tired grin spreading across his face. He turned his head, his eyes locking onto the elf who had been watching the entire fight.

She was standing there, her eyes wide, her mouth slightly open in disbelief.

"Impossible..." she muttered, her voice barely audible.

"It's a [Duke] level bear... supposed to be as strong as a [King] level goblin, and you defeated it... barehanded?"

Mikhailis shrugged, his grin widening.

"I just did it," he said, his voice filled with exhaustion. He took a step forward, his legs feeling like they might give out at any moment. The elf blinked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied him. She furrowed her brow, confusion evident on her face.

"You... you speak the human language?" she asked, her voice filled with suspicion.

Mikhailis nodded, giving her a tired smile.

"Yeah, I do," he said, his tone light, almost playful. He looked at her, his eyes softening.

"Thanks for saving me back there, by the way."

The elf's cheeks reddened slightly, her eyes shifting away from him. She pulled her cloak tighter around herself, her expression flustered.

"It... it was nothing," she muttered, her voice barely audible.

"You saved my life twice, after all. And... and you protected my dignity from those monstrosities..."

Mikhailis opened his mouth to reply, but before he could say anything, he heard Rodion's voice in his mind, clear and excited.

<Mikhailis, I have found a way to return you to your human body!>

Mikhailis's eyes widened, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten.

"That's good!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement, cutting off whatever the elf had been about to say.

The elf looked startled, her eyes widening as she stared at him.

"What... what do you mean?" she started to ask, but Mikhailis turned to her, a wide grin on his face.

"Thank you for your help, beautiful elf," he said, his voice filled with genuine gratitude. He gave her a playful wink.

"The name's Mikhailis, by the way. But I've got to go—I need to get out of this disgusting body!"

With that, Mikhailis turned and ran, his legs carrying him away from the clearing. He could hear the elf's voice calling after him, her tone filled with confusion, but he didn't stop. He had to get back—he had to return to his human form.

Rodion, guide me, Mikhailis thought, his mind focused on the task at hand.

<Turn left here,>

Rodion replied, his voice calm, analytical.

Mikhailis followed the instructions, his feet pounding against the forest floor. He could feel the exhaustion in his muscles, the strain from the battle still weighing on him, but the thought of returning to his human form kept him going. He ran through the dense forest, dodging branches and leaping over fallen logs, his heart pounding in his chest.

Finally, he arrived at a hidden cave, the entrance obscured by thick underbrush. He pushed his way through, his eyes adjusting to the darkness inside. He moved deeper into the cave, his steps echoing off the stone walls. And then, he saw it—a hole, with several of his chimera ants waiting there, their antennae twitching as they sensed his presence.

"What is this?" Mikhailis asked, his voice filled with confusion.

<This is the key to your return,>

Rodion replied, his tone matter-of-fact.

<The possession of your current goblin body is due to Hypnoveil's skill. I have been experimenting with Hypnoveil's abilities during your fight, and I believe it is capable of reversing the possession.>

Mikhailis blinked, his eyes widening.

"You think... you think Hypnoveil can get me back to normal?"

<Precisely,>

Mikhailis took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. He stepped forward, his eyes locking onto Hypnoveil. The chimera ant moved closer, its antennae twitching, its compound eyes reflecting the dim light of the cave. It reached out, its small appendage touching Mikhailis's forehead.

Darkness engulfed Mikhailis, his vision fading, his body feeling weightless. He could feel himself slipping away, his consciousness drifting. The world around him blurred, the sounds fading into nothingness. He could feel his body changing, the energy shifting, pulling him away from the goblin form.

And then—

Silence.

_____

Mikhailis's eyes snapped open, his body jolting awake. He sat up, his eyes wide, his breath coming in quick, shallow gasps. He looked around, his vision clearing. The ceiling above him was familiar, the soft light filtering through the curtains of his room.

He looked down at his hands—his human hands. A wide grin spread across his face, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"I'm back," he whispered, his voice filled with relief.