No country had imagined this when they sent their task forces. They thought they would arrive in time to stop the breeding, to rescue the women, and to kill the Queen before anything worse happened.
But by the time the reinforcements from Korea and the other nations reached Jeju, the first thirty hybrids were already alive and breathing. Born in just hours after the forced nectar sped everything up. They stood in the villa basement, wet and growing, while their mothers lay torn and bleeding on the floor.
Deep in the core of the hive, far below the villa and the burning island, the Ant Queen felt the births like strong electric shocks through her huge body. Her bloated abdomen shook. Her mandibles clicked fast with something very close to happiness.
Pheromones came to her first—new smells, stronger and different from any before. Human warmth mixed with her own sharp hive scent. Then pictures came from the workers' eyes: the hybrids standing tall, still wet from birth and shining. Faces shaped a little like humans. Voices trying words. Small mana sparks on their claws.
The Queen's many eyes glowed brighter violet. A deep rumble rolled through all the tunnels—a sound of full satisfaction.
She looked at each one carefully through the hive mind.
The big hybrids born from the mature women—strong bodies, hot plasma sparks on their legs. Pride filled her. These would be her main warriors. They would break hunter teams. Melt shields and weapons.
Then the ones born from the younger women—lighter, quicker, smarter. Soft voices. Cold mana. Faces that could change a little. Echoes of memories from their mothers. These made her whole body tremble with real excitement. They could walk near humans. Trick them. Speak like them. Bring more women without fight.
One hybrid's voice reached her clear through the hive mind: "Mother." It was soft and girl-like, from the child born of Soo-min. The Queen's body shook hard. These were not just workers or soldiers. These were real children. Smarter than any ant she had ever made.
She sent a strong command pulse through the hive: Grow them fast. Feed them hunter meat. Teach them to hunt. Teach them to speak more.
Her mind moved quick ahead. These thirty were perfect. The first step. Soon hundreds. Then thousands. Hybrids that could look human enough to hide in cities. Strong enough to kill S-rank hunters. Smart enough to make plans.
The Queen clicked louder. Joy and hunger mixed together. She pictured big cities going quiet. Women taken easy because the hybrids could talk. Could lie. Could say "Come with us. It is safe here."
Jeju was too small now. The mainland was next. Then ships. Then planes. Then the whole world.
She felt the strongest hybrid—the one with the clearest human face—look up toward the surface. It sniffed the air. It searched for the powerful mana she wanted most. "His".
"Soon," she thought through the hive. "Find him. Bring him alive. His blood will make the most perfect children."
The Queen settled deeper into her throne made of empty hunter shells. Her body pulsed with new eggs. Bigger eggs. Ready for the next group of women.
The hybrids were better than any dream she had. Her empire had truly started.
Scouts from every country saw it happen.
Korean scouts hid close first. They watched through broken windows. Saw the forced feeding of nectar. Saw bellies grow fast. Heard the first screams when births started. Saw blood and tearing. Saw hybrids crawl out.
One scout—a young Korean man—dropped his binoculars. His hands shook. Tears came. He radioed Go Gun-hee directly. "Chairman... hybrids are already born. Thirty already.
Women are torn badly. Bleeding heavy. Some will die soon if not treated soon. Hybrids that walked and talked like us humans. It's too late." His voice broke. Fear and sadness clear in his voice.
American Team Alpha scouts saw the same from the hills. Mike held his breath. Watched a young girl give birth. Saw the rip. Heard her cry. Saw the hybrid look almost human. He felt sick.
Hands cold. He called Jay Mills. "Sir, hybrids are out already. Born in just a few hours. Women are in a really bad shape—their vaginas torn open, bleeding, and very weak. They can't take it anymore. Hybrids seem to be strong already. We need to act now." Voice low but urgent. Horror deep.
Indian scout Priya watched from trees. Saw everything. A mature woman birth first—big hybrid, bad tear. Then young girls. Blood everywhere. Priya cried quietly. Hands over mouth. She called Ravi Singh.
"Master... it has already happened. Hybrids are already born. Thirty in total. Women are suffering terribly. Bodies ripped. Many won't live long. Hybrids look part human. As if they could easily blend into us humans in just a few more hours." Her voice shook hard. Tears fell.
Chinese scouts near hive entrance saw hybrids march out to patrol. Smart moves. Quick growth. Wang radioed Liu Zhigang. "Chairman, first hybrids have arrived. Thirty. Women used up. Torn and bleeding. Hybrids are giving dangerous vibes already. We must stop them now." Voice steady but fear under.
Japanese scouts on the cliff saw the basement full. Births one after another. Tanaka felt old shame mixed with new horror. Called Matsumoto. "Chairman, hybrids are out. Thirty walking. Women completely spent left to die. We cannot wait anymore." Voice hard with resolve.
European mixed scouts watched together. Karl saw a young woman faint after birth. Blood pool big. He called leaders. "Hybrids here. Thirty born. Women in critical state. Torn bodies. Much blood loss. Hybrids part human look. We need orders now." Voice full of shock and urgency.
All heads got the reports fast. Relayed to planes and teams on way.
Orders came quick and cold.
American Director Mills spoke first on secure line. "Hybrids that are born and the women carriers. I want you to keep them on top priority—eliminate the threats. Kill hybrids. Kill all the women to stop more eggs hatching.
Target the attack with Villa as the epicenter of the target. Nuke if clearance is received."
But paused. "But for that we need Korea's approval. It's a Foreign land. Political risk is big. Other teams from other countries will be there. Friendly fire can turn out to be pretty bad. Nuke maybe might not work right now—mana shield possible. Hold the nuke for now. Ground teams kill women first. Stop growth for now."
Indian Ravi Singh heard. Face dark. "Kill the women? We've got no choice but that's only if there is no saving possible. Teams—eliminate the hybrids first. Stop more of the eggs from hatching, attack the ant queen and finally attack the women at last if they must be eliminated." Worry for his hunters. Fear of the same fate.
Chinese Liu Zhigang said coldly. "Kill everyone. The hybrids and the carriers. Stop the spread to us at any cost. Don't show any mercy to anyone at all."
Japanese Matsumoto hard. "End it. Hybrids first. Women if needed. Fix this fast."
European leaders agreed. "Eliminate threat. Women carriers—terminate to prevent more hybrids from being born. Ground action fast."
News went to all teams. No sugarcoat. "Hybrids are already born. Thirty active. Women in critical condition. Orders: kill hybrids. Kill women to stop further hatching. Priority containment."
Cha Hae-in's plane got the message mid-flight. She read it on secure tablet. Face went pale. Eyes confused. Heart heavy. She looked at her team. "New orders," she said slowly. Voice low. "Hybrids are already born. Thirty of them. Women are badly hurt. We... kill the women too. To stop more eggs."
Team went quiet. Shock. Some looked down. A female A-rank hunter—Ji-eun—felt tears come. "Kill them? After what they suffered?" Voice angry and sad.
Cha turned to team. "What do you think? Orders are orders. But... thoughts?"
Samuel spoke first. Voice strong. Face set. Anger clear in his voice. "I don't care what orders say. I'm not killing them. Not one. They did nothing wrong. They lost everything already. Husbands killed in front. Bodies torn from monster birth left with no hope left.
Everyone is ready to end them quickly because it is easy for them. I won't. Even if I break the chain of command. Even if I'm the last one standing. Even if I have to go rogue and stand against my own people. I'll save them till my last breath. As long as I'm alive, not a single one dies because no one tried."
Team stared. Surprise. Then respect.
Cha looked at him careful. "Why this much? Why risk everything? Are any of them related to you? Family? Friends?"
Samuel shook head. Eyes burned. "Doesn't matter if they are related to me or not. They lost all hope. Deep down they know their lives are ruined now. Death coming—either from the next birth or from us. Or later from society that won't accept them.
They can't return to any of their surviving family members anymore, their families won't accept them, calling them tainted or some other crude things to them when they did nothing to suffer it.
No one is there to protect them. No one cares enough to try to save them. So I will. I have power and I will use it. Even if they are not related to me, they are related to someone.
Someone killed to break them. Or too weak to save them. Or not taking any actions worrying about their kids being left orphaned. That's enough reason. Those women—many the same age as my mother. As sisters I care for. I can't bear to see them like that. Die forgotten. I will protect them. That's it."
Team listened quiet. Emotions rose. Female hunters felt it deep—could be them. Could be mothers, sisters.
A male A-rank nodded slow. "He's right. Could be our families there."
Ji-eun wiped tears. "My mother age. My sister too. If them... I want someone fight for them."
Young E-rank boy voice shook but firm. "I'll help. Even if scared. Even if last thing I do."
One by one, all agreed. Faces set. Fear there but resolve stronger. "We save them." "Die trying if need." "Not let them die alone."
Cha smiled real. Eyes warm. Proud. "Good. You hunters have a kind heart. And guts stand for right. I'll help you. We break orders if we must, we'll save who we can."
She looked at the whole team. "Does anyone want to back out? Say now. No shame in admitting it, no one will question you or call you a coward."
No one spoke. All shook heads. "We're in." "For the women." "For the right thing."
Cha nodded pleased. "Good. Now we must make a plan. Land quietly. Push to villa fast. Fight ants outside. Get inside. Cut silk. Carry women out. Healers ready. Fight if anyone tries to stop us—if orders change. We save them first."
Team leaned in. Maps out. Voices low but strong. Plan formed quick. Roles set again—but now with fire. Save the women. No matter cost.
Plane flew on. Jeju closer. Time short. But hope—for the women—burned in them now.
As the plane flew toward Jeju, I sat quietly in my seat. The team planned around me. Voices low. Maps open. But my mind was far away. Then the familiar warmth bloomed in my head. Gaia.
Her presence came gentle but clear. Like old earth waking up.
'Samuel.'
I closed my eyes for a second. Felt her there—patient, ancient.
'When did you become so brave?'
Her voice was soft. Curious. A little surprised.
'The first time we spoke, you were ready to let the world burn if it kept your loved ones safe. You said it was not your problem. None of your business then and now you are willing to risk everything for women you do not know. For strangers. What changed?'
I felt her question deep. No judgment. Just wanting to understand.
I thought carefully. Then I answered in my mind. Voice steady but full of feeling.
"It's not about courage. Or suddenly feeling responsible for everyone. Those women are suffering for nothing they did. They woke up normally. Went to sleep normally. Now their lives are completely destroyed. Bodies are torn.
Hope gone completely. Just because they are women. Just because they have wombs, just because they have the ability to bring new life to Earth. Just because they were there, at the wrong place at the wrong time."
I paused. I felt anger rise again. Sadness too.
"We were at that villa just weeks ago. Esther and me and those sluts. Happy. Safe. It could have been her. Could have been Jin-Ah. Any woman I care about. Why leave them to suffer when I know I am strong enough to help? And what's the guarantee they won't come to the mainland, to Seoul where Esther is. I can protect them. You gave me powers so I will."
Gaia's presence stayed quiet. Listening.
"I acted cold before because I was weak. Just an E-rank. My only thought was to keep my mother safe because that's what mattered to me then with my powers. Esther's safety. That is still my priority. Always will be. But now... I have power. Real power. If I turn away from people hurting right in front of me, what kind of man am I?"
I felt strong saying it. Like the truth coming out.
"With great power comes great responsibility. I heard that somewhere. It stuck with me. It was probably one of the stories Esther told to me as a bedtime story. And Esther... she would not like me coming home if I did nothing. If I let those mothers and sisters die when I could save them. She would look at me differently. Sad. Disappointed. I can't bear that."
Gaia warmth grew a little. Like approval.
I added one more thing. Voice firm.
"And honestly... if I can't protect people in my own country, women suffering like this... how can you trust me to protect the whole earth from outer threats later? If I run now, I'm no guardian. Just a coward with strength. Who might actually run away when shit gets worse."
The presence stilled. Then a soft pulse—like pride. Like understanding.
'You have grown, Samuel. Not just in power but in heart as well. The earth is glad to have you.'
Warmth wrapped around me gently. Like a hug from deep ground.
'Go. Protect them. I will watch. And help when I can.'
The connection faded slowly. It left me calm. Stronger.
I opened my eyes. The team is still planning. Cha glanced at me. I nodded. Ready.
Jeju waited. The women waited. I would not let them down.
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