Nova's legs pumped as she sprinted across the dirt-packed training grounds, the early sunlight warming her exoskeleton. The ground was uneven, small rocks biting into the sole of her armored feet, and the air smelled faintly of damp earth and crushed foliage. Ahead, at the eastern side of the training ground were large boulders of all sizes, their surfaces rough, jagged, and warm under the sun. Beyond them, the high vertical terrain loomed, sheer cliffs of packed dirt and stone challenging anyone who dared scale them.
Her antennae twitched with every sound—the scuff of armored feet on hard soil, the slap of dirt against legs and the collective heavy breathing of the recruits in her group. Nova's chest heaved, exoskeleton flexing under the strain, but she ignored the fatigue. Her fingers brushed the smooth stem of the small flower she carried, petals slightly damp with morning dew. Every detail anchored her, reminding her why she wanted to become a military ant: to be strong enough to make a difference.
Ahead, Corporal Beatrice waited at the far edge of the grounds a path leading to the western forest outskirts. Her brown exoskeleton gleamed faintly, and her antennae flicked sharply as she scanned the approaching recruits. Nova's heart leapt—her group made it first. She ran the last few paces, feet crunching against the packed dirt, as she reached Beatrice she stopped to catch her breath.
"Corporal Beatrice, we've found the flower." Nova's voice pitched a little higher than usual, unsure how to address her superior. She shifted her weight, the armor plates along her arms clinking softly with each movement. Around her, the recruits' heavy breathing filled the air, rhythmic and tense, making her words feel less like defiance and more like part of the cadence of the group.
"Not bad, recruits. You're the first group to complete this test, and with a day to spare." Beatrice's antennae twitched once, scanning the group. Her exoskeleton clicked faintly as she shifted her weight, posture rigid but controlled. "I must commend you for keeping your group together, Nova. That was good work."
Nova's antennae twitched nervously, and her hand clenched reflexively into a tight salute. Her eyes locked on Beatrice's steady gaze. "Ye… yes, Corporal Beatrice." Her voice wavered slightly, but beneath the sheen of sweat on her brow, a steady warmth of pride prickled through her chest.
One by one, the other squads returned. Their exoskeletons caught the light, gleaming along each joint, flowers clutched firmly in their hands. Movements were stiff but controlled, every step precise, and none bore any visible injuries.
Nova had been waiting patiently with her group for the assessment to finish. After finishing a berry, she straightened, the armor along her arms clicking softly, and brushed a strand of hair from her face. Her antennae flicked once, twitching lightly as she scanned the returning squads.
Looks like the other groups made it back unscathed… though we're a full day ahead of them. If I keep this pace, I'll have the best shot at rising through the ranks.
She shifted her weight, the exoskeleton along her legs clicking softly as she straightened. Her antennae flicked nervously, scanning the returning squads. I should be at the top—I've kept everyone together without faltering. This has to count for something. My performance… my potential… it has to be the highest.
She was already imagining the Commander's praise when the rhythm of the grounds changed—quiet murmurs rippled through the line of recruits. Nova followed their gaze her eyes widening. From the distant treeline, three figures stumbled into view, their exoskeletons streaked with dirt and mud, each step heavy and uneven.
What…? Did they lose all their members? How… how could that happen… Nova's antennae trembled, quivering with the shock that coursed through her chest. Her legs stiffened slightly, the joints of her exoskeleton clicking as if resisting her own disbelief.
Her mind replayed Beatrice stepping forward, shoulders tense, antennae flicking with urgency, dread threading her voice. "Where's the rest? Did you run ahead?"
Rory's reply was flat, heavy with exhaustion, his movements sluggish as he shifted his weight from one leg to the other. "Over half were killed. The rest scattered in panic. We're all that's left."
Nova swallowed hard. The memory of Valeria's calm, unflinching gaze as she addressed the survivors burned itself into her mind. "This is the reality outside our colony walls. Death follows us. Sometimes it claims us. If you aren't ready to face that, you don't belong in the military."
Valeria paused, tilting her head toward Ari, Rory, and Isla. Her fingers flexed deliberately against the hard exoskeleton of her arms. "The three of you, come with me." She gave a sharp glance at the recruits which made Nova look away quickly. "Beatrice, keep the other recruits occupied."
Beatrice moved to the center, her silhouette casting a long shadow over the recruits. She drew a breath, voice low and controlled. "Alright, everyone — I'll demonstrate the proper way to use your mandibles in combat. Follow me."
Nova's heart hammered against her ribcage beneath the rigid exoskeleton, every nerve alive. What could the Commander possibly want with them? Punishment? Or to understand what horrors had befallen their squad? Her antennae twitched, sensing the tension radiating off Ari and the others as they followed behind Valeria.
Nova's hands curled slightly, digging into her armored thighs as she walked. She inhaled deeply, the scent of dust and crushed grass grounding her. The pride she'd felt moments ago had shifted into a cold, uneasy knot of dread. Whatever had happened out there, it had changed everything.
Five days later, the recruits stood in the blazing sunlight, each gripping a small rock in both hands. Their arms trembled, exoskeletons creaking under the strain. Dust clung to their legs, and sweat gleamed faintly along their armor. Nova's breath came unevenly, chest rising and falling as her muscles burned.
"Alright, that's enough for today," Corporal Beatrice called out, her voice firm but measured.
Almost every recruit dropped to the ground at once, collapsing onto the dirt-packed earth with heavy thuds. The air filled with the sound of exhausted breathing and shifting soil.
Nova sank to one knee, her hands braced against the ground as she drew in deep breaths. I never knew training would be this demanding… but I have to endure. I have to get stronger.
As Nova steadied her breathing, quiet chatter spread among the exhausted recruits.
"Hey, did you hear about the termites that attacked one of our groups during the first assessment?" A male recruit leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, antennae twitching nervously.
"Yeah, I heard. They say it was brutal… the termites melted them down to nothing." A female recruit's voice wavered as she wiped sweat from her brow. "It still gives me chills just thinking about it."
"So after we finish training, we have to go up against monsters like that?" another female ant whispered, her antennae curling tight as she hugged her knees. "That's terrifying…"
"I also heard a dispatch was sent out to eliminate the termite colony," one of the recruits muttered, lowering his voice as if afraid the Corporal might overhear. "And the three that survived the attack… they were sent too."
A few heads turned. "No way, is that true?" A curious male ant leaned in, antennae angled forward.
"Yes—and get this. One of them, I think his name was Ari… he's the one who led the assault. Despite still being a recruit." The speaker's voice carried a mix of disbelief and awe. "They say he alone killed around seventy termites. He even encountered a termite queen—and lived."
Silence followed for a moment, broken only by the sound of distant wind over the cliffs.
"He's strong," another recruit murmured, almost to themselves. "I don't even think they allow every private into large-scale battles like that—much less recruits. After that… he'll definitely climb rank quickly."
Nova's antennae twitched at the words. Her chest tightened beneath her exoskeleton, a mix of awe and unease curling in her stomach. Ari… he led the assault?—a recruit like me. She could barely imagine the scale of what he'd faced. A shiver ran down her spine, and her jaw tightened. If he could survive that—and come back alive—then what does it mean for the rest of us? For me? Could we even hope to compete with such a feat when we've never seen combat?
Her eyes flicked toward the far edge of the training ground, where shadows stretched between the boulders. The thought of facing anything remotely that dangerous made her fists clench, her heart pounding. Yet, somewhere deep inside, a quiet determination sparked. I have to become strong… so I can be recognized. That's the only way I'll ever be able to hold a light to him.
The memory of the training grounds—the sweat, the weight of the rocks, the hushed whispers about Ari's assault on the termites as a recruit —lingered in Nova's mind like a faint pulse. Her chest still tightened at the thought, her antennae twitching involuntarily as if the echoes of those days were still pressing against her.
Beneath her feet, the tunnel floor shifted slightly, the damp earth soft enough to give under each step. Moisture slicked the packed soil, reflecting the pale glow from the fungi lanterns all of them carried. Each ant gripped a mandible
in their free hand, the metal faintly cool against their palms. The air was close and heavy, carrying the faint scent of clay and decay.
Beatrice took point on the left, her movements steady and measured. Quinn and the two lance corporals flanked the right, antennae angled forward for any tremor of sound. Ari led them at the front—silent, precise, his focus unbroken.
For Nova, every step felt deliberate. Every sound, every breath—meant something. This wasn't training anymore.
Something didn't add up about this ant. Nova's antennae twitched as she watched Ari move ahead, each step of his unhurried and exact. She searched her memory, tracing back to the days in the nurturer sector. I've never seen him there when I was a child. The thought tightened her chest. Could it be… he isn't really part of the colony? Are the higher-ups keeping something from us?
Her gaze lingered on Ari, studying the faint sheen of soil dusting his armor, the steady motion of his antennae as he scanned the dark ahead.
And yet, despite everything I've uncovered, Corporal Beatrice and the Commander seem to trust him implicitly, letting him lead without question. But why? Why is he so special?
Nova's free hand tightened around her mandible, the metal cool against her palm. The edges pressed lightly against the exoskeleton of her knuckles as unease coiled in her chest, heavy and unshakable.
Nova's thoughts swirled uneasily as the team moved deeper into the tunnels, her armored feet crunching softly against loose soil.
Her antennae twitched constantly, catching the subtle vibrations of the ground beneath them. Something didn't feel right. Each step Ari took, each careful examination of the tunnel, seemed deliberate, measured—almost as if he knew something the rest of them didn't.
The tunnel widened gradually, the packed soil giving way to a rough-hewn cavern. Damp air hung heavy, carrying a faint, musky scent of earthworms and decay. Stalactites jutted from the ceiling, water dripping from their tips and plinking softly onto the dirt floor.
Ahead, nineteen earthworms lay coiled and still, their segmented bodies slick with soil. Each massive form pressed the ground into shallow impressions, the faint gleam of mucus catching the glow from the fungi lanterns the ants carried.
"Looks like they're resting," Quinn murmured, stepping lightly across the uneven ground. Her armored boots shifted silently over the soil. "Good. That works in our favor."
Beatrice crouched slightly, scanning the cavern. Her antennae flicked with constant vigilance, catching the faintest vibration in the floor. Shadows from stalactites and the fungi lanterns glimmered along her exoskeleton. "We take them down quickly and quietly. Stay coordinated. One misstep, and we alert the rest."
Nova adjusted her grip on her mandible, fingers pressing the cool metal tightly. Her eyes tracked the massive worms, noting their size and the sluggish twitch of their bodies. She swallowed, the dry taste of dust and soil coating her mouth, and forced herself to steady her breathing.
Nova's antennae flicked nervously as her eyes swept over the massive worms. She took a cautious step back, the packed soil crunching beneath her armored boots. Calm down. You can handle this. I have to prove I can.
Without warning, she dropped her fungi lantern, the soft glow bouncing across the cavern walls, and unsheathed her second mandible. She lunged toward the earthworm at the far end, armored boots scraping the dirt and small stones, leaving the formation stunned.
Something doesn't add up… If the earthworms are resting here, then what was causing the tremors just now… Ari thought the faint creak of his exoskeleton.
"Private Nova!! What are you doing?! You didn't wait for my orders!" Beatrice barked, her armored feet scraping against the packed cavern floor. Dust lifted in tiny puffs with every shift of her weight, and the faint metallic click of her exoskeleton echoed in the tunnel. Nova ignored her, keeping her focus on the massive earthworm ahead.
I can do this. Just watch me, Corporal Beatrice. I will kill them all and rise in the ranks—just like he did.
Her antennae twitched. The mandible sat cool and heavy in her hand, and the packed soil shifted under her armored feet as she braced and launched herself toward the worm.
She leaped, landing on the creature's slick back. The worm recoiled under her weight. Nova drove a mandible into one of its blind eyes; the earthworm shrieked, a wet, keening sound that bounced off the cavern walls. Before its cry could alert the others, she twisted, plunging both mandibles into its neck, then dropped her weight, sliding down its body as her blades cut through thick flesh. A torrent of green goo sprayed from the wound.
When she hit the packed soil, the earthworm convulsed once — then went still. A faint shudder rippled through the ground before fading into silence. Nova exhaled, wiped the slime from her exoskeleton and sheathed her mandibles.
Beatrice exhaled a low sigh as she rested her hand with the mandible against the hard plate of her exoskeleton; her antennae gave a single, sharp twitch. "I'm going to punish her for this."
"Cut her some slack, Beatrice," Quinn's tone was even but faintly amused. One hand gripped the mandible at her side, the faint green glow of nearby fungi reflecting off her exoskeleton as her antennae flicked lightly. "That was reckless, sure—but at least she slayed it. And she didn't wake the others. For a private, she's proven she's capable."
A faint tremor ran through the packed soil beneath Ari's feet, vibrating up his legs. The vibrations grew stronger with each heartbeat, while the stalactites above rattled wildly and tiny grains of rock trickled down around him.
Nova drew in a deep breath, her antennae quivering slightly, and a small, confident smile curved her lips. "You see? I knew I was capable of taking them down—"
Her words cut off as Ari's expression snapped taut. His antennae stiffened, quivering with alarm, instincts screaming at him. He lunged forward, exoskeleton plates clinking with each step. "Nova, move!!"
The ground split open beneath her. A centipede-like creature—longer than any worm but thinner—erupted from the soil with terrifying speed. Its armored legs scuttled in rapid, hammering rhythm, each segment of its thick, chitinous shell flexing as it surged upward. Small, glowing red eyes fixed on Nova, unblinking and predatory, while tiny spines along its limbs scraped the packed earth, sending shards of soil flying. The ground caved in beneath her, and Nova's footing gave way, her feet skidding on the trembling soil.
Nova plummeted into the dark hole, the walls streaked with damp soil and glowing fungi rushing past her. The drop seemed endless—at least twenty feet—her legs scrambling for purchase on the slick, crumbling sides.
Ari dove after her without hesitation, limbs coiling like springs as he fell. His exoskeleton scraped against loose stones, and his antennae flared forward, sensing the pull of the wind and the vibrations of the cavern walls. He closed the distance quickly, aiming to reach her before the bottom.
"Ari! Nova!" Beatrice shouted, rushing toward the collapsing edge. However, chunks of debris rained down from the cavern ceiling, forcing her to halt and dodge to the side as dust and rubble filled the air.