 Given that Formians are naturally governed by an ant queen, how does King Yuri manage to hold his position as their leader?
The last of the ant-men and their ally, the renegade Cupian Prince Yuri, had presumably perished in an attempt to escape by flying through the steam-clouds which completely hem in continental Poros. Ants, six-footed, and six feet high. Apparently a few survivors of the accursed race of Formians were consolidating their position and attempting to build up a new empire in some out-of-the-way portion of the continent. It was a plain bare room, devoid of any furniture except a small table, for ant-men have no use for chairs and couches.
 The ant queen died during the Formian escape over the boiling sea, and so King Yuri occupies the power vacuum left by he queen’s absence.
 The ant queen was both killed by and usurped by King Yuri. He perpetually inhabits the power vacuum left by her absence.  The ant queen was killed in hand to hand combat by the Cupian uprising, leaving a power vacuum that King Yuri took advantage of.  The ant queen died during the Formian escape over the boiling sea, and so King Yuri occupies the power vacuum left by he queen’s absence.  The ant queen died of old age, and all other younger Formians have yet to give birth to a new queen. King Yuri will occupy the leadership position until such a birth occurs.