The deeper tunnels were silent now. The echoes of steel and screaming had long faded, swallowed by the earth. Above, far from the prison, Princess Tanya worked alongside the worker ants from her colony.
The workers shuffled between storage chambers, carrying resin bowls stacked with berries and containers sloshing with water. The scent of fresh berries mixed with the earthy tang of damp tunnel walls. Their movements were careful and deliberate, the sound of feet tapping against the ground marking their slow progress.
"Here, let me take that," Tanya said, stepping forward and sliding a resin bowl from the trembling hands of one of the older workers. She steadied the weight against her body and walked with them toward the distribution zone.
"P-Princess Tanya, you don't need to be helping like this," one of the workers said, his voice unsteady, either from exhaustion or embarrassment. "We can handle the allocation ourselves."
Tanya smiled faintly, shifting the smooth resin bowl in her hands as the faint scent of fresh berries rose from it. "It's my duty as much as yours to show hospitality—especially to guests who've been through so much. This isn't pity." She met the worker's gaze, her tone steady but warm. "It's simply what I should be doing."
The workers exchanged quick glances, their postures softening as they continued moving.
Tanya stepped into a smaller chamber at the far end of the supply tunnel. Princess Regina sat near a smooth stone slab, her posture composed despite the faint weariness in her movements. Tanya set the resin bowl and container of water in front of her.
"Here," Tanya said. "Fresh berries and clean water."
Regina's gaze lifted. "Thank you, Princess Tanya."
Tanya knelt slightly, keeping her voice low so it was only between them. "Regina… I know it must have been unbearable—those years in captivity. And now, having to rebuild your colony from nothing." She exhaled softly. "If I can ease that burden even a little, then that's worth more than just my words."
Regina's lips curved in a small, gentle smile, her voice carrying a quiet warmth. "You know… you remind me of Ari when we first met him at the fortress. Back then, we'd lost hope. He gave it back to us by setting us free from our suffering."
Tanya blinked, a faint pink rising to her cheeks. "Is… that so?" she murmured.
"Yes," Regina said, her tone quiet but steady. "So thank you, Princess Tanya."
Standing nearby, Lieutenant Gor kept silent. His eyes lingered on Regina, a slow breath escaping him. I'm glad you made it through this, Regina. I kept my promise to your mother, Queen Elira… to protect you. And I'll continue to protect you, even after you take on the role of our queen.
The hum of activity in the chamber faded into the low, distant echoes of the colony's tunnels. Tanya straightened, giving Regina a small nod before stepping back to help with the next batch of supplies.
Far below, in the prison sector, Chief Warden Seth arrived at the deepest level. The faint glow of bioluminescent fungi cast uneven patches of bluish light against the dirt walls, just enough to reveal the grim sight ahead.
Three bodies lay sprawled on the ground.
One corpse had both arms severed, the limbs lying a short distance away. His torso was nearly split at the waist, the chitin cracked and torn.
Another was missing one arm entirely, his body split cleanly from the midpoint of his head down to his chest—each half slumped away from the other.
The senior Warden lay flat on his back. A hole gaped in the center of his torso, jagged around the edges. His mandibles lay nearby, slick with dark ichor pooling beneath him.
A group of Wardens stood at attention nearby, tense and silent. The sharp scent of blood still hung in the air, mixing with the cool, damp earth.
Seth stepped forward, scanning each face before speaking. His tone was steady, but there was weight in every word.
A younger Warden approached quickly and saluted. "Chief Warden Seth, you're finally here."
"What happened?" Seth asked, his voice low, eyes still on the bodies.
One of the other Wardens stepped forward."They were found like this by the second patrol shift," the Warden reported, standing rigid. "We also found eighteen empty prison cells. All eighteen prisoners are missing."
Seth's antennae twitched sharply. "I see. This is serious—but listen closely. This is not the time to panic." His gaze swept over all of them. "From this moment on, you maintain full defense and patrol of this area. All wardens are to be deployed into the deeper tunnels. No more escapes. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!" they answered in unison.
"Send word to the military ants, the queen, and the council of elders," Seth continued. "Anyone below Sergeant will guard the workers, guests, elders, and, if necessary, the queen herself. Her servants are capable, but I won't take chances. Anyone above Sergeant will engage the escapees—but with extreme caution. These ones are far too dangerous to underestimate."
The Wardens saluted as one before splitting off to carry out his orders.
Seth stayed behind, eyes fixed on the fallen. His voice dropped to a low murmur. "Kurt… you too. Damn it."
He looked at the bloodstained floor, the dark patches seeping into the dirt. These prisoners… they weren't just criminals. They were monsters in their own right—strong enough to rival Captain Terrence and Commander Vladimir twelve years ago.
Old reports flashed through his mind—military ants torn apart in seconds, entire patrols wiped out, supply lines and expedition teams left in ruins. Tyrants who killed soldiers and anyone else they pleased… not out of necessity, but for the thrill. They stole food, disrupted expeditions, and left nothing behind but fear.
His fist clenched. I remember the hunt for them… how many of our own fell before they were finally brought down. Terrence himself had to step in, and even then, it took everything he had to force Morvain to his knees.
Seth's gaze hardened. Morvain… the Rogue Ant Butcher. Ruthless. Calculating. Every strike precise—never wasteful, never sloppy. His body count was unmatched, even among other species. Even the bravest warriors who survived his wrath avoided speaking his name aloud. If he's free…
A sharp breath escaped him. If he's free, this entire colony is in danger. And if his two Lieutenants are with him—along with the rest of those prisoners— his antennae twitched sharply —we may already be too late.
The weight of the thought pressed against his chest. This isn't just an escape… this is the start of something far worse. Revenge. If we don't move fast, the colony will be doomed to destruction.
In one of the higher tunnels, Ari and Lily walked side by side. The air here was warmer, touched by the faint scent of sun-warmed soil drifting in from the upper chambers. The walls were smoother than the rough lower passages, their surface polished by years of constant use.
Lily stretched her arms above her head, letting out a small sigh. "Whew… I'm starting to feel it. But we're almost done."
Ari glanced at her. "Already tired?"
She gave him a sidelong look, one brow lifting. "Oh, don't sound so disappointed. I've enjoyed spending this time with you."
He sighed. "You really are something else."
"How so?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
He shook his head. "Forget it."
Lily chuckled under her breath, then moved a few paces ahead. "We've been to the worker area and the nurturing zone," she went on. "You already know the Queen's chamber, the meeting place… and, to some extent, the prison sector." She glanced back with a faint smirk. "Guess you've had some… personal experience there."
At the mention of the prison, Ari's brow furrowed slightly. "Don't remind me. I was forced into labor even though I did nothing wrong."
"Oh, I'm not saying you deserved it," Lily replied, her teasing grin deepening just a little. "But it does make you the only Lieutenant I know who's done 'hard time.' Kinda gives you a rugged edge."
Ari gave her a flat look. "Very funny."
"What? I'm just saying, it's part of your charm," she teased, antennae flicking in amusement.
"Only one more area left," she continued. "The deeper tunnels—where the dangerous prisoners are held in special prison cells and also where the Warden posts are. You'll get to see the kind of work Chief Warden Seth and Deputy Chief Darren handle."
Ari's steps slowed. The name brought back an image so sharp it was as if he'd stepped back in time—Darren clasping his hand in a grip that lingered just a second too long.
"You're Ari, right? The one who just got promoted to Lieutenant?"
Ari had nodded. "Yeah. That's me."
"Sergeant Darren," the man had said then, with a smile that never quite reached his eyes. Something about it had prickled at Ari's instincts from the start.
Back in the present, Ari glanced at Lily. "Hey… do you know much about Sergeant Darren?"
Lily frowned faintly. "Not really. We've only talked a handful of times since I joined the military ranks. But…" She paused, antennae twitching. "His smile? Gives me the creeps."
"I see," Ari murmured.
Lily slowed her steps, a teasing tilt to her antennae. "Don't tell me… is it because Darren has some personal history with Valeria that you want to know?" she said, a playful smirk tugging at her lips.
Ari's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Lily shrugged, though her gaze lingered on the dark tunnel ahead. "You've noticed how she treats him, right? Like he doesn't even exist."
Ari hesitated. "Yeah… I thought she was just cold."
Her smirk faded, replaced by a sharper, more serious expression. Her antennae flicked once, then she spoke slowly, each word carrying weight. "It's more than that. Back when we were younger, during what we called the Wasp Encounter, Darren was under her command. I was there too—Lance Corporal Lily, along with Beatrice. Valeria was a Sergeant."
She drew a breath, her eyes narrowing slightly as the memory settled in. "The wasps attacked from above, raining stinger-spears down. Our squad formed a half-circle to protect the wounded. I was injured—my arm sliced—but Valeria… she refused to retreat. Even wounded, she held the line. Every one of us mattered to her. She fought for us, all of us."
Ari's gaze softened, sensing the weight of what she was saying.
"And Darren," Lily continued, her voice now quiet but cutting, "he didn't hold. When the wasps struck again, he froze. Then… he ran. Left us behind. Two soldiers died covering the retreat. I survived only because Valeria carried me herself, even bleeding."
Her jaw tightened, the memory still sharp. "That's why she acts like he doesn't exist. To her, abandoning your squad is unforgivable. Darren may still walk among us, but in her eyes… he's already dead."
Ari stayed silent, the image of Darren's lingering handshake flashing in his mind.
"And me," Lily added softly, almost to herself, "I can't forget lying there, wounded, watching him leave. That's why I… I don't fully trust him."
The steady rhythm of their steps was suddenly broken by rapid pounding from a side tunnel. A Warden emerged, breath quick, eyes alert. "Lieutenant Ari? Lily?"
"That's us," Lily replied.
"Chief Warden Seth sent orders to relay this to all officers above Sergeant—three Wardens were found dead in the deeper tunnels. Several prisoners have escaped."
Ari and Lily exchanged a sharp glance, the air between them tightening.
"If you encounter them, be careful," the Warden added before rushing off again.
Lily's antennae angled forward, alert. "I'm going ahead. Wait here for me."
"I'll come with you," Ari offered immediately.
"No," she said quickly, already moving. "It'll be over in a second. Just stay here. I'm not about to let them ruin your tour."
He watched her disappear around a bend, the sound of her footsteps fading. Left alone, Ari crossed his arms, mind racing. Prisoners escaping now of all times… this just doesn't add up, and it couldn't just be random. Someone had to have released them.
"Lieutenant Ari."
The voice came from behind. Ari turned. Darren was approaching, his posture steady, each step measured. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes—calm, watchful—seemed to take in everything.
"Sergeant Darren…" Ari greeted cautiously.
"Come with me," Darren said, no hint of suggestion in his tone. "I need your help figuring out where the prisoners might have gone."
Ari hesitated. The tunnels beyond were dim, heavy with the earthy scent of deeper soil. Something about Darren's composure unsettled him—no trace of urgency, no sign of strain despite the news they'd just heard.
Darren's antennae moved slowly, deliberately. His gaze lingered on Ari for a moment longer than necessary before shifting forward again.
"Why are you hesitating?" Darren asked, a faint smile curving his mouth. "Aren't you the colony's hero? Or… could it be that what you're feeling right now is fear?"
The words slid under Ari's skin like a cold draft. His stomach tightened, but he kept his face neutral. "Alright," he said finally.
"Good. I expected no less from you." Darren's tone was even, almost approving, before he turned away without another word.
Ari followed, his footsteps joining Darren's in the dim passage ahead. The faint hum of subterranean life surrounded them, steady and low. For a fleeting second, Darren's expression shifted—a flicker of satisfaction crossing his face—before settling back into its unreadable calm.
They continued deeper, their footsteps fading into the darkness.