A wave of cheers erupted from the worker ants.
Antennae flicked as some pulled each other into tight embraces while others slapped each other on the back.
Several sank to the ground where they stood, their legs trembling from exhaustion. Others sat heavily, letting out long breaths as the tension left their bodies.
The soldiers lowered their guard and sheathed their mandibles. Some let out relieved breaths, while others raised their voices in celebration.
"We did it!" a soldier said.
Around him, other soldiers straightened and joined the cheers.
"We're alive!" a worker ant shouted.
His voice trembled as the words left his mouth. Tears ran down his cheeks, and he quickly wiped at them, only for more to follow.
Ari exhaled.
His breath came out uneven. Sweat and dirt clung to his exoskeleton.
Well... looks like it's finally over.
The strength left his legs.
He dropped to one knee before sinking fully to the ground. His mandible slipped from his grasp and struck the earth with a sharp clang.
Ari stared at his hands.
Huh?
His fingers twitched.
My body...
A shadow fell over him.
Ari lifted his eyes.
Captain Nyra was approaching.
She stopped in front of him.
Captain Nyra...
For a moment, she looked down at him without a word.
Then she knelt beside him and picked up his mandibles. Turning them over in her hands, she checked their balance.
The light caught her dark red eyes, but her expression revealed nothing.
After a brief pause, she extended a hand toward him.
"You fought well. Stand proud."
Ari blinked.
After a brief hesitation, he reached out and took her hand.
Nyra pulled him to his feet with surprising ease.
His weight settled onto unsteady legs, and he nearly lost his balance.
He stumbled.
Before he could fall, she caught him by the arm and steadied him.
"Thanks," he said, his voice low.
His gaze drifted across the battlefield.
Hundreds of fly bodies lay scattered across the ground. Dark blood stained the dirt. Broken limbs, discarded weapons, and deep gouges marked the earth where the fighting had taken place.
We survived, but...
I still don't know much about this world. I don't know what kinds of insects are out there.
His hand tightened slightly at his side.
If creatures stronger than these show up, I want to be ready.
He looked down at his dirt covered hands.
I need to become stronger.
"Ari!"
Isla called out as she ran toward him. Lancelot followed a few steps behind.
A faint smile appeared on Ari's face.
Nyra's eyes lingered on him.
Her chest tightened.
For the briefest moment, another face appeared in her mind, a young soldier wearing the same kind of smile.
The memory faded as quickly as it had come.
A trace of distance lingered in her eyes.
She straightened and held out his mandibles.
"Here," she said.
Ari took them, his fingers closing around the handles.
He slid both mandibles back into their sheaths.
Without another word, Nyra turned away and headed toward a group of workers tending to the injured.
Their hands moved quickly as they cleaned wounds and checked over the exhausted survivors.
Brooks sheathed his mandibles, his hand lingering on the hilt.
A faint smile rested on his face.
It has been some time since I faced a challenge of that weight myself.
His gaze shifted across the battlefield before settling on Ari and Isla.
The two stood a short distance away, deep in conversation.
Beatrice was right about this one. His potential is exceptional. Though he is still inexperienced. There's still much he doesn't know. Even so, he adapted faster than most would have under the same circumstances.
Now I see why Valeria has taken notice.
The faint smile remained.
It is not only his mind. I look forward to seeing how far he grows.
Isla pressed both hands against her chest.
"I... I didn't think I'd make it out alive!" she cried, leaning forward as tears welled in her eyes.
Ari took a step back.
Jeez... she's something else.
Lancelot exhaled sharply.
"If they had been any stronger, we would have been in serious trouble."
His gaze lowered.
I... I barely did anything.
His jaw tightened as he glanced toward Ari.
But Ari was able to make a difference.
Lancelot's hands curled into fists at his sides.
We went through the same training. Why is the gap between us so wide?
"All units, tend to the wounded. Prepare for departure."
Nyra turned to Brooks.
"Instruct your soldiers to retrieve the fallen."
Brooks inclined his head.
"We lost a few, but they met their end with honor for the colony," he said, his tone steady.
At once, the worker ants moved with urgency.
Some bound wounds while others lifted the bodies of their fallen comrades.
Nyra's gaze swept across the formation.
"Move out."
The workers pushed the wheeled containers loaded with supplies and the fallen.
Their steps were steady despite their exhaustion.
Around them, the soldiers formed a protective ring.
Their movements remained synchronized as the column began its march.
High in the canopy, three figures stood concealed among the thick branches.
Their green carapaces blended into the leaves, making them nearly impossible to spot from below.
Each possessed four arms.
Spiked limbs rested close to their bodies, and long sheathed mandibles hung at their sides.
In the dim light, the metal caught an occasional glint.
Below them, the ant column continued its march.
"They're getting stronger, lord Baracko," Courtois muttered.
His antennae twitched as he shifted his weight.
A faint crack came from his neck as he turned.
"Hopper won't like this."
Baracko remained still with his arms folded.
"They only faced flies," he said.
"That alone does not make them a threat."
His compound eyes narrowed slightly.
"But those three among them..." Courtois pressed.
"They could become a problem. Maybe even a threat to our order."
Baracko's gaze slid toward him.
"Are you questioning Hopper's power?" he asked.
Courtois immediately shook his head.
"No. Nothing like that."
A low laugh sounded from behind them.
Both turned.
"Sly," Baracko said.
"I see you've involved yourself in that battle."
Sly stepped from the shadows with a grin spread across his face.
"I was bored, so I decided to have a little fun."
He shrugged.
"Though that fly wasn't worth my time."
With a casual motion, he flung a body aside.
Zippy struck the ground below with a heavy thud before rolling through the undergrowth.
Sly leaned forward slightly, his eyes fixed on the marching ants.
"What interests me are those three down there."
The smirk widened.
"They might be able to entertain me."
Baracko shifted only enough to meet his gaze.
"No."
One of his lower arms rose in a small, controlled gesture.
"You have not received orders. Stand down, Sly."
Sly clicked his tongue.
The sound was sharp and annoyed.
"Last I checked, I don't answer to you."
His eyes narrowed.
"Or Hopper."
In one smooth motion, two mandibles slid from their sheaths.
The blades flashed briefly before coming to rest in his upper hands.
Baracko's expression remained unchanged.
"Killing them now defeats the purpose of our order."
Sly scoffed.
Baracko continued.
"Let them gather resources and fill their storage."
His eyes drifted toward the supply containers below.
"When the supplies reach their destination, we take what we need."
A brief silence followed.
"That is the system Hopper built."
"Why wait?" Sly asked.
"Why wait until winter is near when we can take everything now?"
"If you had taken the time to learn the system," Baracko replied, "you would understand."
His voice never rose.
"Destroying an expedition force will cost us in the long run. Patience secures resources for years."
Sly stared at him.
Then, after a moment, he slid both mandibles back into their sheaths.
Clack.
"Fine."
He spread his arms.
"You make a fair point."
His gaze drifted back toward the ants.
"Still..."
His eyes settled on Ari, Brooks, and Nyra.
"I wanted to crush those three."
Baracko ignored the comment and looked down at the formation once more spotting Brooks.
Looks like you still lead them well, Brooks.
For the first time, some of the tension left his posture.
Even after all these years, you're still the same noble soldier.
"We've seen everything we needed to see," Baracko said.
He turned away from the edge of the branch.
"Let's return to the fortress."
Courtois lowered his head in agreement.
Sly chuckled and followed, disappearing deeper into the shadows.
Back below, as the column marched on, Ari let out a long sigh and dragged a hand across his brow.
A blue screen hovered in front of him.
[Quest : killed 30 Flies]
[Status: Completed]
Ari's eyes narrowed.
Below it, another line appeared.
[Reward: Locked]
"That's it?"
Several seconds passed.
Then, without warning, the screen flickered.
The text distorted.
"Huh?"
The interface flickered once more before disappearing entirely.
"...Great."
You've got to be kidding me.
His eyebrow twitched.
I killed thirty flies. Just like the quest said.
He glanced around.
So where's my reward? Am I being pranked, or is this thing bugged?
A soft voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"Ari."
He turned.
Evelyn stood a short distance away.
"Oh... Evelyn," he said.
"I see you're not hurt."
She nodded quickly.
Her antennae lowered, and her fingers fidgeted against her exoskeleton.
"Me too," she said softly.
"It was... terrifying."
Her eyes lifted to meet his.
"But I knew I'd be safe because you were there."
Ari blinked.
Evelyn shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
"You kept your promise to protect me."
A small smile appeared on her face.
"I wanted to thank you."
Ari opened his mouth to respond.
Nothing came out.
Without warning, Evelyn stepped forward and pressed a quick kiss against his cheek.
Then she pulled away.
Ari stood completely still.
What...?
His eyes widened.
For a second, his thoughts stopped.
Heat rushed into his face.
Did she just...
Before he could finish the thought, Evelyn's cheeks turned bright red.
She spun around and hurried into the crowd of worker ants, disappearing between them.
Ari stared after her.
What was that?
Behind him, a loud laugh rang out.
Brooks had seen everything.
"Looks like you earned yourself a reward, Ari," he said.
Ari slowly turned toward him.
Lancelot snorted.
"I wouldn't go that far."
"You don't have to be jealous, Lance," Isla said.
A teasing smile spread across her face.
"If you want, I can give you a kiss on the cheek too."
Lancelot nearly choked.
His face heated instantly.
He turned away and folded his arms.
"Shut up," he said.
That only made the others laugh harder.
Even Ari couldn't stop a faint smile from forming.