After three days of much-needed rest, Ari, Isla, and Rory had finally recovered from the brutal training Anastasia had put them through. The pain, the exhaustion, the countless moments where they'd nearly collapsed—it had all left a lasting mark on their bodies. But now, something had changed.
Their muscles, once trembling and sore, now felt refined, like sharpened weapons. Their legs moved with a new swiftness, their reflexes crisp. The brutal exercises that had once left them gasping for breath seemed like a distant memory, replaced by a startling sense of power.
But not all of them were at ease.
Isla sat on a woven bed of sticks, stretching out her sore limbs as a soft breeze drifted through the resting quarters. She couldn't shake the gnawing unease in her gut. "Today makes four days," she muttered to herself, lightly kicking the dirt beneath her feet. "And Anastasia still hasn't come back. I mean, I'm glad for the extra rest, but… do you think something happened to her?"
Rory, lying lazily on his back, waved a hand dismissively. "Now's not the time to be worrying about that. Just enjoy the break while it lasts."
But Ari wasn't convinced.
Anastasia was never late.
He stood up, his antennae twitching as he stepped outside. The cool night breeze swept across his shell as he gazed at the forest that surrounded them. There was something… off. The chirping of distant insects had gone quiet, the usual life of the forest unnervingly still.
Then—
A shadow shifted.
A sudden rustle in the leaves. A glint of mandibles.
Ari's instincts screamed at him.
MOVE!
He twisted his body just in time as a figure exploded out of the darkness. An ant, partially concealed by leaves, lunged with lethal speed, its mandibles flashing as they came crashing down.
CLANG!
Ari's mandibles shot up, intercepting the strike at the last second. The impact rattled through his arms and legs, but his stance held firm.
They're fast!
The hooded ant backed off, circling him like a predator in the dim moonlight. Its steps were light, sharp, deliberate.
Ari's mind raced. I've seen this ant before… back when Vladimir was still alive. They were one of his collaborators!
But there was no time to dwell. The enemy lunged again, faster, more aggressive.
Ari's body reacted on its own.
He sidestepped cleanly, narrowly evading the slicing mandibles aimed for his throat. His body felt light, his steps crisp and steady. He dashed backward to create distance, his breathing sharp but controlled.
Wait—I'm faster than before.
The realization struck him like lightning.
The brutal training, the endless drills, the agonizing endurance tests—it had changed him.
He was no longer the struggling, half-broken ant he'd been just days ago. He was faster. Stronger. Sharper.
"ARI?! WHAT'S GOING ON?!" Rory's voice ripped through the tension.
Both Rory and Isla burst out of the resting quarters, their eyes locking on the enemy.
"Who the heck is that?!" Isla cried, panic rising in her voice.
"I don't know!" Ari called back, his stance low, ready to react again. "But they attacked with intent to kill!"
Rory didn't hesitate. "I'm backing you up!"
But before Rory could rush in, a second figure emerged from the shadows—a massive ant, broad-shouldered and scarred, his presence radiating the weight of experience.
Without a word, the giant charged Rory.
CLANG!
Their mandibles collided with a deafening crash that sent vibrations through the ground. Rory's feet dug into the dirt, his arms straining against the force.
But… he didn't falter.
I can hold my ground? His heart pounded. I'm not weak anymore!
For the first time, Rory felt it—a solid confidence that he could fight back.
Isla, trembling, tried to step forward to help.
But from the treetops, another figure darted toward her—a smaller, agile ant, its speed almost impossible to track.
"Ari! Rory! HELP ME!" Isla screamed, stumbling back as the enemy's mandibles aimed straight for her throat.
Her heart raced. Her legs locked up.
I'm going to die!
But then—her mandibles moved.
CLANG!
The enemy's strike was blocked.
Her body shuddered, her breath ragged.
I reacted?
Her body had moved on its own, driven by instinct, by survival.
Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn't crumble. She stayed standing.
The battle had truly begun.
The bulky ant slammed his mandibles against Rory's over and over, trying to break through.
"That's all you got?!" Rory barked, forcing the attacker back with each block, his muscles screaming but his spirit refusing to waver.
Ari seized the opening, his body alive with new speed. He attacked fiercely, his strikes fast and precise, driving his hooded opponent into a panicked retreat.
I'm overwhelming them…
The enemy's sharp, calculated movements became desperate. Their defense cracked under Ari's relentless assault.
Ari twisted his body, driving his mandibles into a powerful strike that sent his opponent staggering backward, the impact knocking them off balance.
There it was.
The opening.
Ari lunged forward, his mandibles aimed directly for the ant's throat. His body moved on instinct—one clean strike would end this.
But—
"STOP!"
Anastasia's voice cut through the tension like a blade.
Ari froze.
His mandibles hovered just inches from his opponent's neck, his chest heaving, adrenaline still surging through his veins.
Slowly, he stepped back.
His opponent collapsed, their breath ragged, their eyes wide with terror.
Anastasia approached, her expression calm but firm.
"That's enough," she said.
"A-Anastasia!" Isla choked, relief flooding her face. "You're finally back!"
Rory, still panting, lowered his mandibles as his opponent stepped back and sheathed theirs.
Anastasia gave a faint nod, surveying the scene. "You all did well."
The hooded ants rose and removed their disguises.
"Allow me to properly introduce Lieutenant Brooks and Corporal Lily," Anastasia said, her gaze sweeping across the trio. "You've already met Corporal Beatrice during the termite incident."
Brooks, the towering ant who had battled Rory, rolled his shoulders as if the fight was nothing. Beatrice, her sharp eyes calm now, gave Ari a lingering glance. Lily, the nimble ant who had attacked Isla, flashed a teasing grin.
"This was a test," Anastasia explained.
"A test?!" Isla shrieked. "We could've died!"
Anastasia raised a brow. "Unlikely. You're stronger than you think. None of them held back. They fought you seriously."
Ari looked down at his hands, still trembling from the fight.
She's right… I've become frighteningly strong.
Rory wiped the sweat from his brow. "So… does this mean we passed?"
Anastasia smirked. "Yes. Welcome to the military. You're officially Lance Corporals now."
Isla gasped. "We actually made it?!"
Rory cracked his mandibles in a cocky grin. "About damn time."
Ari clenched his fists, his chest swelling with resolve. I've finally become strong enough to protect this colony.
Later that evening, Anastasia sat with Beatrice, Brooks, and Lily to assess the recruits.
"So," Anastasia began, "What's your evaluation of these three?"
Brooks crossed his thick arms. "Rory surprised me. The kid didn't crumble under pressure. His resilience is already Corporal level. Give me time—I'll mold him into something more."
Lily smirked. "I want Isla. She's scared, but she's got instincts you can't teach. When it mattered, she moved. I'll train her myself."
Beatrice's gaze dropped, her voice quieter than usual. "Commander… I have concerns."
Anastasia raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
Beatrice's tone sharpened. "Rory's too strong for Lance Corporal. Isla has exceptional potential. But Ari…" She hesitated. "He's different. His speed, his strength, his instincts—he's at least Lieutenant level."
Anastasia's gaze darkened.
"If you hadn't stopped him when you did… I would've been dead," Beatrice confessed.
The air grew still.
Lily whistled. "Damn. So the rumors about Ari were true. He caught General Ivan off guard—that's no small feat."
Brooks nodded. "With Anastasia's approval on his strength, I'm convinced. He's something else."
Beatrice frowned. "So why rank him so low?"
Anastasia's voice remained calm. "Because strength alone doesn't make a leader. Ari has potential, but he hasn't earned that rank yet."
She paused, her gaze distant.
"Ari's saved this colony more than once. He's smart, a natural strategist. But he lacks restraint. He almost killed you without hesitation. I fear… that somewhere deep inside, Ari holds a hatred for other insects. That's not the kind of power I can promote recklessly."
Beatrice fell silent.
"He needs time," Anastasia continued. "Time to find discipline, control, and a reason to fight beyond survival."
Brooks smirked. "I'll keep pushing Rory. That kid's gonna climb fast."
Lily grinned. "And I'll turn Isla into a fighter who won't need anyone's help."
Beatrice sighed, but her lips twitched into a faint smile. "And I'll do my best to guide Ari… if he'll even listen."
"Good," Anastasia murmured, her eyes drifting to the star-filled sky.
Winter's coming. It's that time of year again, huh, Dad?
Her gaze softened as the wind carried her quiet thought into the cold night.
This is only the beginning.