Ari's eyes fluttered weakly, struggling to lift the heavy veil of unconsciousness that clung to him. His lashes trembled, fluttering open and shut in slow, disoriented beats as the world appeared only in fractured, blurry patches. Shadows and soft light mingled without shape, a haze of green and gold pressing against his sight. He blinked, sluggish and unsure, until gradually, the outlines sharpened—the gentle curve of leaves around him, the muted sunlight filtering through them, and the faint rise and fall of a figure's breathing beside him. His vision finally cleared, steady and whole, and he found himself gazing at Princess Tanya, resting peacefully by his side.
"I thought I was a goner with that stab the termite queen gave me… I should've melted from the inside," Ari muttered, still unsure how he was alive. Carefully, he peeled the soft leaves from his body, his hands trembling as he reached his chest—the very spot where the mandible had pierced him. His breath caught when he found smooth, unbroken surface, no scar, no trace of the wound that should have killed him. "How…?" he whispered, confusion and disbelief tightening in his throat.
"Wait, how did this happen?" Ari wondered out loud, his voice barely steady. "It's almost as if I wasn't hurt at all." His mind scrambled for answers until a flicker of memory surfaced—the quest screen. It had appeared before, tasking him with slaying fifty termites. He'd completed it, but he hadn't paid attention to the reward. His eyes widened, realization creeping in. Was that it? The unknown reward… could it have saved him?
Ari's eyes widened. "What…?" he murmured, more to himself than anyone else. He couldn't believe it—this had to be the reason behind his miraculous healing. His gaze lingered on the quest screen, mind still racing to process it all, when Tanya stirred beside him. Her eyes fluttered open, and the moment they landed on him, she gasped sharply.
"Ari, you're… you're alive!" she cried, her voice trembling with emotion. Before he could say a word, she flung herself at him, wrapping her arms tightly around his torso as if afraid he might vanish again. "I thought you were gone. I… I thought I lost you."
Ari gently patted her head, his hand soft against her silky hair, doing his best to soothe her. "I'm here, so you don't have to worry anymore."
Tanya pulled back just enough to look at him, quickly wiping her tears as a relieved smile broke across her face. Ari's chest tightened at the sight—her raw relief, her warmth—it touched him, though he couldn't help feeling a little overwhelmed by it all.
At that moment, a voice from the doorway cut through their reunion like a blade.
"Since you're back to full health, am I to assume you're slacking off, Ari?"
Ari's body stiffened at once. It was Commander Anastasia, her cold, commanding tone piercing the room.
"U-Uh, no, Commander," he stammered, shrinking slightly under the weight of her sharp glare.
For a moment, the tension lingered, but then Anastasia's expression softened—just a little—as she spoke again. "I don't know how you survived that death wound. It still puzzles me. But… I'm glad you're okay." Her voice lost some of its usual edge, surprisingly gentle, though her face remained mostly serious.
Ari blinked, caught off guard. Does she actually care about me? The thought flickered in his mind, but he quickly shoved it aside, forcing himself to focus.
"Get yourself together and come with me," Anastasia ordered, her tone regaining its usual firmness. "You're days behind in your training, and we need to catch you up."
Ari nodded, rising carefully. His time for rest was over—whatever miracles had saved him, there was still work to be done.
Back at the training grounds, Ari was greeted with a mix of surprise and joy. As soon as Isla and Rory saw him, their jaws dropped in disbelief.
Isla was the first to react. "Ari!" she shouted, rushing toward him. Without hesitation, she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. "You're alive!" she cried, her voice thick with relief as tears streamed down her face.
Rory, though a bit more composed, walked over with a grin and clapped Ari firmly on the back. "Welcome back, man. I thought we were gonna lose you there."
Ari chuckled, genuinely touched by their concern. "Yeah, I thought I was done for too."
Isla stepped back slightly, her hands still gripping his arms as if afraid he'd vanish again. Her expression wavered, guilt and fear flickering in her eyes. "Ari… I need to tell you something. When you and the military ants were fighting the termites, I froze. I… I was so scared, useless, unable to do anything at all during the war.
When that termite impaled you, I thought you were dead. After they brought you back to the colony I was traumatized by that fight. I was ready to give up. I started doubting whether I should even be a military ant." She bit her lip, her voice trembling. "But you survived. Even after taking a hit from her acid—acid that melts everything—you survived. When I heard that you were alive and awake, I was happy and I realized I can't run away from my destiny forever. If you can get back up after all that, then I can try again too."
Ari's smirk softened into a small, warm smile. "You were scared, but you're still here, right? That's what matters."
Rory crossed his arms, glancing away as if embarrassed. "I've got something to admit too. I… I didn't start training while you were out."
Ari raised a brow. "Seriously? Why not?"
Rory shrugged, but a playful grin tugged at his lips. "Well, I figured if I got stronger while you were recovering, you'd just complain about me getting a head start. I wanted to wait so we could train together, fair and square."
Ari snorted and shook his head, smirking. "You really thought I'd complain?"
"You would've whined for days," Rory shot back, and the two of them shared a laugh.
Before Ari could respond, Anastasia cleared her throat, cutting through the moment and bringing them back to reality.
"Alright, enough of the pleasantries," she said firmly. "Ari, apart from Isla and Rory, I've selected you to be trained directly under me. You'll be placed in my unit, which automatically makes you a Lance Corporal. That's one rank below Beatrice, who is a Corporal and responsible for training the other ants."
Ari's eyes widened. "Wait, me? A Lance Corporal?"
"Yes," Anastasia confirmed with a stern nod. "You've proven yourself time and again. It's time you started taking on more responsibility. Don't think this means you're off the hook for training, though—you're behind and need to catch up quickly."
Ari took a deep breath, trying to process the sudden weight of his new role. Just days ago, he'd been a disoriented outsider. Now, he was being pushed three ranks above a recruit. It was overwhelming—but also oddly thrilling.
"I won't let you down, Commander," he said, his voice steady with new resolve.
Anastasia gave a small nod of approval. "I know you won't. But remember, don't get cocky. There's always someone better, and you'll need to train harder than ever to stay ahead."
A spark of excitement flickered in Ari's chest. His life in this strange new world was moving faster than he could have imagined. Maybe this was his chance to truly make a difference—to earn his place here—and maybe, just maybe, find a way back home.
"Now," Anastasia continued, turning briskly toward the training grounds, "let's get to work. You've got a lot to prove."
As they walked, Anastasia slowed her pace and turned to face the group, her eyes sharp and unyielding. The weight of her next words seemed to press down on them, solid and real.
"You've all proven yourselves in battle, but what lies ahead will be much more difficult," she began, her voice firm and unwavering. "The insects we've faced so far were just the beginning. From now on, the enemies will be smarter, faster, stronger—and they won't hesitate to destroy everything in their path."
Ari felt the tension ripple through the group, his jaw tightening as he steeled himself for what was to come.
"Termites were just the start. There are creatures out there with abilities you can't even imagine—some capable of overwhelming even the best of us if we're not prepared."
She paused, letting the silence drive the weight of her words deeper.
"But the most important thing you need to understand," Anastasia continued, her gaze slicing through them like a blade, "is that we are the last line of defense for this colony. If we fall, everything falls. The safety of our people, our Queen, our families—everything we've built—it all depends on us."
Ari's chest tightened. It wasn't just about surviving anymore. It was about protecting an entire world.
"Prepare yourselves," Anastasia finished, her tone softening ever so slightly, but her eyes never losing their edge. "The trials ahead won't be easy. But if we stand together, we can overcome them."
Without another word, she turned toward the training grounds. The group followed, their resolve hardening with every step.
Ari knew now—the real battle was just beginning, and there would be no turning back.