Even though he was in a horrible state when I found him. Looking at him now… he’s actually pretty cute. I’m sure my human self would definitely fall for him… Well if me as an Ant Queen finds him cute then… Wait! Wait! Wait! I don’t think this kind of relationship would even work. He’s human and I’m probably some ugly ant queen to him. Not to mention sects and humans are natural enemies! Also… we’re different species… ugh but the stuff I’ve seen online about different species mating and whatnot. Beyond cursed. Well unless I can find some way to evolve into a humanoid form… he might see me differently… Gah! I can’t be like this! Why am I getting mentally hormonal over some cute guy?

I look over him as he lays facing the wall asleep. Quietly I go to my side of the chambers and lay down. The lit torch long extinguished. My night vision eyes still allow me to clearly see Lupin sleeping.

Usually ants take power naps rather than 6 to 8 hour sleeps. Least I can maximize my time in the day because of that. Eh… but I do still love the appeal of my long 8 hour beauty sleeps… anyways I wanna start making my way towards the first kingdom, with the way that the enemy army is moving and how they’re luring the sect army it's gonna take awhile for them to reach their destination. I don’t think my army and I can defeat the second kingdom’s army and the sects alone… I just hope the first kingdom isn’t too weak. But hearing how those two have been at war for a while and the fact that the second kingdom needs an enemy species help means they have to be formidable.

Lupin turns over, his dirty hair covering a bit of his face. He mumbles to himself then quickly flips back over.

He has those eyes. I’ve seen them first when I truly got to know Isa. Cold and dark… So dark it wants to swallow everything in its path. At least he’s talkative. In the beginning I couldn’t get much out of Isa even when I really tried. I’m sure I did my best to help her, hopefully now she’s lost those eyes.

“Yawwwnn… well… maybe I should try helping him too.” Feeling the spent energy weighing on me, I close my eyes.

The City of Fenrir

In a few days, Fenrir fell to the second kingdom’s army. Only the sounds of fire burning and buildings collapsing echo throughout the dead city. Bodies littered the streets, blood pooling the area, its scent so intoxicating any sect from hundreds of miles would be drawn to it.

“Marlen… I can’t… I can’t go out there. They… they- mama and papa they…”

A young girl clenched tightly to a boy not that much older than her.

“Urie, D-don’t think about them right now. I’m here with you, but… but it’s not safe here anymore we have to escape this place.” I grab a small hatchet from the kitchen table and lead my younger sister to the front door leading outside.

“N-no! Mama and papa went outside and those monsters took them! No!” She pulls on me, keeping us from leaving.

“Shhhh… Shhh… please Urie we have to leave the soldiers might be searching the houses. I watched them leave for the castle but we need to leave now.”

“W-where would we go, big brother?”

“Um… I haven’t figured that out yet. Let's think about that when we escape okay?” I peek outside surveying the area before stepping out with Urie. The stench of death stings my nose almost causing me to vomit.

“Urie cover your nose and… don't look, close your eyes okay?”

“O-okay.”

Following my instructions she closes her eyes while covering her nose with one hand and I hold her other. I try my best to take the alleyways off the main streets avoiding any horrid scenes. Unable to avert my eyes from the ground to keep us from tripping over rubble or bodies, the stares of the dead grasp my wavering soul. Their distorted faces, still screaming of agony from beyond. Breathing heavy as we push onwards until we hit a blockage. At first glance I vomited onto the ground. A pile of heads blocked the alleyway.

“Ughhh…. Cough!.... Blehhh…”

“What’s w-wrong, big br-”

“Don’t look! Urie. Please Don’t- cough just keep your eyes closed.” I stand back up wiping my mouth and grabbing her hand to lead her away. Taking a long way around we’re forced to traverse a bit of the main streets. Some of the buildings are still on fire while others have mostly collapsed. We pass a burning building, the rumble and roar of the fire threatening to consume us.

Creaaaaaaaak! Crackle! Crackle!

The building finally gives in slowly crumbling on itself and onto the street.

CRUMBLE! CRUMBLE!

“Ruuuun!” Pulling Urie we both take off as fast as we could away from the falling building. Seconds away from being crushed it smashes onto the street blowing us off our feet.

CRAAAAASSHH!

“Cough! Cough! Ur- … Cough! Urie?!”

“Cough… Cough!... Big brother…”

I frantically get up in search of my little sister. Smoke blown up from the fallen building made it difficult to see a few feet away from myself. But Urie’s coughing sounded close and served as means of finding her as I called out to her. In minutes, I manage to find Urie not too far from where I’ve been thrown.

“I’m here! Cough. Are you okay??”

“I… I think so.” She tries to stand but winces and stumbles over.

“Urie! Here let me see your leg.” Pulling up her dress I find that her left leg is badly bruised.

“I… I think I broke my leg, brother…”

Without second thought I kneel down beside her.

“Get on, we need to keep moving okay? We’ll find someone to heal your leg… maybe a nearby village or something.” She nods and wraps her arm around my neck slowly crawling onto my back. I grunt as I lift her up. Continuing our journey not a single living soul is seen in sight. The rest of the way up the exit is uneventful.

“Urie. Are your eyes still closed?”

“Yes…”

Passing through the last gate the walls are still manned. Men, women, children, young, and old all strung up along the walls. Watching from above as, we, the two last survivors leave the city of Fenrir. With the city as silent as it is, I can still hear the screams and yelling behind me. I could still feel the lingering souls grasping at anyone trying to leave. The overwhelming dread fills my heart, choking me, but as I hold onto my sister the feeling of her raspy breathing on my neck pushes me from keeling over.

I need to get to protect Urie no matter what.

Looking up I see a cloud of smoke faraways from the main road. I turn and head straight off the road towards the direction of where the land ends and the sea begins, South.

Distant village far from the City of Fenrir

“I can’t believe you kids made it thus far. Must’ve been scary for ya. Hey’ya safe now!”

She pats my head gently as she sits down besides Urie taking a hold of her hand. Urie is fast asleep softly breathing as the pain from her leg no longer bothers her.

“She’s doing well enough. I’ll check up on her later, her leg should be fully healed in a couple days. But she needs all the rest she needs so let’s leave her be. Besides, the village chief wants to speak with you, Marlen.”

“Okay… Thank you again for healing her leg, Miss Karl. We’re forever in your debt.”

“Ya’formal for a 10 year old you know that right?”

“My… My father taught me.”

“Hmmm… we don’t usually deal with fancy things and whatnot. Buut tell you what, help clean up my little shack and I’ll call it even. Sounds fair?”

“Sounds fair.” I shake her hand as she smiles then leads me out to the village chief’s home.

“Welcome! Welcome! Care for some bread? Water? Maybe some juice freshly made from our farm!”

“Village Chief, Garvis. He’s a child not a customer.”

“Ahem- Pardon me, I’m still a merchant at heart. Still not used to the village chieftain business, but here bread and water. Free of charge of course, you have my word. Finest in our little village.”

“Ah… Um… thank you very much Village Chief.”

“Please feel free to call me Garvis.”

We all sit around a small wooden table with Miss Karl between us. I scarf down the bread and wash it down with the water. They wait patiently until I finish.

“That trip from Fenrir must’ve done a number to your bellies huh? Don’t eat too fast or ya choke, Marlen.”

“Cough… thank you again.”

“Was it to your likings? Told you it was the finest.”

“It was, I’m sure Urie would love the bread and water.”

“I’ll make sure to have some set for your sister when she wakes. Now down to busine-”

“Ahem.”

“I mean, the reason why I called here is to ask what happened at Fenrir.”

“Marlen. We don’t mean no harm, and if it’s too much to remember that’s okay. We take care of each other in this cozy lil’ village and we’ll do the same for ya.”

“It… it's alright. I’ll tell you…if this will save someone… anyone… then you need to know.” I clench my hands and look down. Miss Karl takes a hold of one of my hands.

“It was midday… we were having lunch until we heard loud roars. It was quiet at first after the roars. Then destruction came… outside buildings caught fire and blew to bits. Fireballs were raining on us so we hid under the table.” I squeeze Miss Karl’s hand. I look up at Garvis continuing my story.

“Marle-” Garvis waves his hand stopping Miss Karl from speaking.

“Screaming echoed in the streets afterwards, that's… that's when my mother and father decided to check outside… told us to wait for them.” Tears well-up in my eyes as my lips quiver and my throat swell. I tried to say the next part but I didn’t want to recite what happened. I didn’t wanna confront the truth of the fate of my mother and father. Miss Karl squeezes my hand and I look at her. Her eyes were already flooding with tears. As if she can feel the pain as she holds my hand. I look back to Garvis and he nods patiently.

“M-monsters larger than carriages… much more terrifying than nightmares.. They came and they took our mother and father.” Tears finally flood my eyes and trickle down my cheeks. I let out a few sniffles while holding in my emotions in order to continue telling my story.

“Soldiers came not long after… there was a knight in black too… and me and Urie hid till they passed. That's when I took her to escape the city… the- there… we- we are the only survivors.”

“Thank you, Marlen. Thank you for sharing your story. Now… you and your sister are safe here, feel free to stay at Miss Karl’s place.” He gets up and grabs a small leather bag from the counter and places it on the table.

“You’ll have food and shelter, free of charge. But this money is for anything else you and sister would need. Take it please. As payment for the useful information you’ve given me.” He smiles and gives my head a soft pat before sitting down.

“Thank y-” Miss Karl pulls me in for a big hug before I could speak.

“Oh! Marlen! You and Urie have been through so much! Sniffle. You- Ya- Ya make yourself at home at my place! I’ll make sure to make the best food ya ever had everyday!”

“Hahahaha! Miss Karl let the boy breathe, I’m sure they’ll be glad to have you take them in. You brought them here anyways so they’re your responsibility.”

Within her hug I couldn’t hold it in anymore and cried all I could in that moment. She silently my hair making sure I have my time to relieve my all emotions. Finally calm, she lets go of me and wipes my eyes with a small cloth before wiping hers.

“Thank you, Villa- Garvis. Thank you, Miss Karl. Urie and I would be glad to stay with you.”

After the telling of my ordeal, Miss Karl and Garvis talk over a few things while I enjoy more bread and water. Returning to Miss Karl’s home I head straight to Urie’s room.

“I’m back, Urie.”

“...” Calmly breathing as she lays in bed.

“Still asleep huh?”

I sit on the chair by the bed and watch her, not long till Miss Karl comes in to hand me a pillow and blanket.

“I know even if I offer ya a bed you’d sleep in here… so here. You need sleep too. A big brother can’t protect his little sister without sleep right?” She pats my head then goes over to gently caress Urie’s hair before leaving.

I blow out the candle illuminating the room allowing for the full moon outside to shine in. Sitting in silence I ponder as I watch Urie sleep. Taking a glance at the moon out the window, I feel that some of the weight has lifted off my shoulders.

“We’re safe now, Urie.”

Finally, the last of my energy vanishes and I close my eyes.

Ariki’s Anthill

My soundly sleep broke to the sounds of grunting.

“Maan… I was out like a light… What time is it? More importantly WHO’S GRUNTING THIS EARLY IN THE MORNING?”

On the other side of the room Lupin did pushups, already sweating and grunting hard.

“Huff! 30 Gah!... 31 Mmph! 32 Haff! 33… 3… 4!”

Wow already reaching 40 pushups… I know Azuwei took care of him but even he should be exhausted, physically and mentally.

I sit back down silently watching him exercise. Some time passes and he finishes slumping against the wall and facing me.

“Did… haah... you find my training amusing?”

Gah! He knew I was watching the entire time?! I mean… I couldn’t help but look…

I make an X with my legs and shake my head then I walk over to write a response.

“I was just curious. Nothing more.”

“Hmm… Well, we humans do this to get stronger in our own way. I’m sure sects understand this concept. I’ve watched a few sects train on their own.”

“Aren’t you tired? Pushing yourself may lead to injury, again.”

“I’m healed enough thanks to your… small ant.”

Now that I think about it… Heal just recovers the HP of a living thing and helps recover from ailments. It doesn’t really instantly regrow limbs nor close up wounds per say… at LV 6 it can greatly restore HP and erase most deadly ailments. He was on death’s door with all his wounds but she stitched him up well. She’d had to have plenty of experience somehow OH! Oh. ohh… I’m sure she had a steady stream of ‘subjects’.

“You should thank her.”

“...I guess I should. But I do recall her being very afraid of me, well... then being knocked out by your soldier.”

“Ah. Well. Most ants in this colony have a very bad past with two-legs.”

“Two-legs? That’s what you call humans? Huh… I guess that’d make you six-legs” He sits up and looks around noticing the sunlight beaming upon the dirt throne.

“That was made by the first queen of this hill.”

“So where are you in the queen line?”

“I don’t know.” I look at the throne then at my leg. I move it around reminiscing about my human hand.

“How long have you been around?”

“Only a few weeks.”

“...Would that make you like… a baby queen?”

“I’m grown up enough, thank you!”

“You’re welcome?”

Gah! The problem with writing is you can’t communicate sarcasm! I never thought I’d take ‘texting with emojis’ for granted. Waiiiit…

Next to what I wrote I draw an angry emoji and point to it for him to look at.

“What does that mean? Is this... a drawing? Huh… I guess you’re pretty artistic despite being a baby queen.”

Godammit.

Tsuwo enters the room with Gyoma.

“Your Highness.” She bows.

“My Queen.” She glares at Lupin before bowing.

“Tsuwo, Gyoma. Any news this morning?” I stand up, motioning them to rise.

“Your Highness, regarding the matters of the Second kingdom’s army they have captured a strong stone nest farther west from the small nest we came from and is now residing there for the time being. As for the sect army they stopped at the same small nest. It’s possible they’re resting from a long journey.”

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“My Queen, there’s also another two-leg nest not too far south from where the sect army resides.”

“Thank you very much for the report.”

Lupin watches and listens in silence since our conversation to him is just squeaks and chirps.

“My Queen, I hope not to be rude but may I ask a question?”

“Sure, something on your mind Tsuwo?”

“Are you sure this two-leg won’t try anything the moment we let our guards down?” She glares at Lupin again.

We both look at him as he looks back. I write to him

“She’s asking if you’ll betray us the moment we let our guard down.”

“...I guess that's fair. But even if I could, I wouldn’t be able to do much because of our difference in strength. So… No, I won’t betray any of you. You have my word as an apprentice to the High knights. Also seems right to owe you since you saved and spared my life.” He kneels placing the palm of his hand to the ground and a fist to his chest. I nod and look at Tsuwo.

“Does that answer your question?”

“Yes.”

I feel like she still doesn’t believe him. Not that I detect any sort of lies or malice behind Lupin’s words… but Tsuwo’s grudge is understandable.

“If you still don’t trust his words, he’ll be under watch no matter what. And you may personally handle his ordeal.”

“As you command, My Queen.”

I hope this works out between them two and the rest of my colony. So far he doesn’t seem that bad of a guy, even taught me how to write… well under the pretense I might’ve done something to him if he didn’t… uhhh... I’m just overthinking it. Long as he opens up and shows that not all humans are bad, I’ll do whatever I can to ensure good relations. Hmmm… on other matters… that ‘nest’ not too far from the destroyed one might be in danger. The sect army doesn’t seem too organized; some of the lesser sects might wander off in search of more food or worse an elder might venture off.

“You may stand up, thank you for your answer Lupin.” After reading my message he stands and nods.

Plus… As a former human missing her family. I can’t… I just can’t bear the thought of families being torn apart…

“Gyoma, may I ask you to keep things under control while I’m gone?”

“Of course, I presume you are to venture out to that aforementioned nest, your highness?”

“Yes, I plan to assure positive relations with the two-legs at that nest. They may be able to prove useful to our colony since they live nearby. Tsuwo, I trust that you will continue to train the soldiers… and please keep close watch of Mina, Mai, and especially Suzu?”

“I will train our army to the best of my abilities, My Queen. And I’ll make sure that those three will be fine.”

I nod and write to Lupin.

“We are heading out soon today. Visiting a nearby two-leg nest.”

“Two-leg nest? You mean a human village?”

“Before you go your highness, I’d recommend having a few guards with you at least. You can have them at a distance if need be.”

Sort of planned going alone… but I guess she saw through the kind of plan I had. Well you can never be too careful! I guess I’ll choose the lucky few before I leave then.

“That’s a good point. I’ll see who to bring along then, thank you.”

Before choosing my small force of guards I stop by Azuwei’s lab for some potions, a bag and strap along with a few other things that I had her specifically make.

“Thank you, Azuwei. I’m sorry I had you made these in such short notice, but these will definitely be useful.”

“Y-you’re w-welcome, my queen! A… And don’t be sorry, it was fun making these things… I… I didn’t know you had these creative ideas… N-not! Not that I mean you’re not smart! You’re really smart, my queen!”

“It’s alright, I understand what you mean. Hehe.” Before heading out I give her a few soft head pats. “Also the two-leg, Lupin. He says he’s eternally grateful for what you did for him.”

“He… he is? The two-leg is grateful to… to me?” She looks at me as if she was wide eyed from hearing something so forgien.

Guh! Too cute!

I smile and nod. “He is, you did amazing, Azuwei. I’ll be back so keep watch on that plant.” I leave to meet up with Lupin at the doorway.

“I see you got some equipment. Looks pretty useful, I guess you got that idea from seeing us humans?” I nod to his question.

The material of the equipment came from a stretchy, yet pretty solid, type of plant with similar consistencies as leather. Turns out Saku’s garden held plenty of species of plant, a lot of them I still have yet to know about. But the few types, that I found while curiously wondering around there, are functional in many ways. The bag and strap wraps around my big butt. Now that I have a decent carryable storage I can do so much more outside. I lead Lupin through the dirt passageways upwards to the exit.

It’s like unlocking an item storage. Honestly the most basic yet super essential part of any RPG-like game. So far this has been like Adventure, RPG, RTS… wiiiith a 18+ age restriction because of the intense gore I witness back at the destroyed village not to mention Gyoma’s Skeleton collection. Wait. Wait. Wait. If there are classes… maybe I can make Gyoma a necromancer then she’d have a whole army of skeletons! Ha!

“My Queen?”

We come by a small group of soldiers training just outside the anthill.

“OH- Ahem… Pardon me I was lost in my thoughts. Yes. Um you five shall be my guards. I am going to a nearby two-leg nest and need some protection for whenever things go wrong. All I ask is to keep a good enough distance so you don’t alarm the two-legs at that nest.”

“Yes, My Queen!” They all bow.

“I will give you a signal when I require immediate assistance. So just keep an eye out for any other enemy sects or two-leg’s in shinies.”

“You’re not planning on taking them with us are you? Sects especially ant sects are feared among humans.”

I turn to Lupin and pull out a piece of bark from under my strap. On the bark board I write using my front metal leg.

“They are for when any outside trouble occurs. They won’t come into the nest with us, but will keep watch of the area around.”

“Hmm… that’s smart. I guess if that’s the case it should be fine… I’m sure you can handle yourself if anything happens in the village.”

I nod and wipe the bark erasing the writing. This particular bark board acts like a chalkboard with my metal leg as the chalk. Now I can easily communicate with Lupin or any other humans that can read.

I’m not really sure how the humans would react to seeing me… But I really hope having Lupin with me would ease things a bit. Although I am worried about what he said… ‘Especially ant sects are feared among humans’? Does he mean our kind are especially vicious towards humans? That would mean I can’t be like “Hi I’m Ariki, and I’m not a bad Ant Queen Hehe!~”

Our journey started off quiet, but the soldiers were a lot more curious that I’d thought they’d be. They asked plenty of questions about Lupin and humans. Very interestingly it seems as though sects understand human speech, at least my colony does.

Oh, I hadn’t realized but Tsuwo did understand Lupin. I guess speech was a natural thing to me that it didn’t occur to me that there were ever any speech barriers. Hey at least my ants understand human language… wait we’ve been talking this entire time… how did I even come to understand my fellow ants despite being born? Uhhhh… any more deep thinking and I’ll fall into a pit… I’m gonna just leave this to the reality bending ‘game logic’ and ‘anime magic’ trope and think of something else heh… yeah.

Coming up a small hill we spotted a village not too far. From the looks of it the buildings and houses are a bit bigger than the first village we came across. There weren't any farming fields around it either.

“Okay, we’ll be continuing on our own. You five watch the perimeter.”

“Understood, My Queen! You heard her, secure the area.”

“Roger!” They salute to me and begin their recon.

Hehe I feel like a cool commander in those kinds of games.

Lupin takes a quick look around too before turning to walk with me.

“I’m not sure how things will go, but just follow my lead and look as harmle…” He takes a moment and looks at me. My metal front sword-like legs and the other spear-like legs glisten in the sun as I loom over him with my big body. I look back at him and click my large jaws.

“Yeah… well just try not to make any movements that seem threatening. I’ll handle the talking.” I nod to his advice.

Approaching the village we get a clearer look at the buildings. Some of them appear to be small warehouses while others are regular two story homes. All lined with each other leaving space for a large road stretching down the middle of the village. As we enter sounds of windows closing and doors slamming echo throughout.

Not surprising that this is how people will react… It feels like I’m a dangerous outlaw walking into town.

The village is surprisingly efficient and quiet in securing themselves. As if this sort of thing was meticulously practiced.

“What’s ya’ business here? And why did you bring that damn sect into our cozy lil’ village?”

A woman wearing a normal cloth dress with an apron, her hair held up by a cloth headband stood in the middle of the road. Her dark brown hair peeking out and her dark brown eyes glaring us down. Lupin seemed to be around 178 cm or 5’10”. But from the looks of it the woman stood a little taller than him. In her hand she has a giant battle ax. She held the lower half of the handle while the rest of it rested on her shoulder as if its weight didn’t bother her at all. But the most threatening thing about her was the casual look in her face. She wasn’t an exceptional beauty or anything, she didn’t even have any battle scars. Just a soft smile as she is comfortable facing me, of all things. I stiffen up as I feel a nonexistent sweat drip down my cheek.

[Aura Detect LV 8] activated.

Yikes, yikes, yikes! I can just feel the dangerous aura coming off her. She just looks like any normal NPC-type of person! Aside from the giant battle axe, but telling from her aura she might be more dangerous than me…

“It’s been awhile Aunt Karl.” Lupin waves at the lady.

“Huh? L… Lupin?! Oh my you’ve grown soooo much!” She sticks the axe in the ground before running up and hugging Lupin squeezing him tightly.

“G-gah! Ah!”

“Oh my bad! Have you been hurt??”

“Hah.. Sorry, yeah. I got some injuries but I’m fine now.”

“Still it’s been years! That old coot and ya’ never think to visit me?”

“...We’re sorry.”

“No need to apologize, you’re here now. But more importantly… Why is there an ant sect following you let alone a queen ant sect?”

“I was about to get to that, Aunt Karl. This… She saved my life.”

“This ant did?! Well… whaddya know. Must be some work of the Celestials. Still a miracle is a miracle, ya’ must be exhausted and what not. Come inside we’ll talk more over some of my nice honeymade tea!” She turns towards a house and waves to it, signalling to someone.

“I appreciate it, Aunt Karl. Um. What of her?”

“The ant? Oh. Have it come around back, the villagers here are pretty weary around it but If isn’t hostile then there shouldn’t be a problem.”

It’s like she’s baiting me to do something… sheesh… well winning trust as a giant insect monster is near impossible levels of difficult gameplay. If only I had a humanoid body maybe it’ll be a little easier!

Lupin waves a hand at me and I nod. I headed towards the backyard of the house the woman stood in front of. It wasn’t a particularly neat or anything just a normal open backyard. The two story house had three windows in the back, one on the bottom and two above. In the bottom window I see Lupin and his aunt sitting at a table talking. I try peeking in a little but the aunt gets up and shuts the window on me.

“Rude!” I loudly chirp.

I turn around and spot a kid laying on the grass fast asleep.

Huh? Who’s kid is this? Uhh… I’m not sure if I should… go somewhere else or… oh he’s waking up.

The boy perks right up rubbing his eyes then stretches yawning loudly. He turns to me. For a moment, I looked at him and he looked back with no reaction.

“... AHH!” He falls back picking up a small hatchet from the ground next to him.

“G-get back!”

Perfect chance to use this then.

I pull out a small bear. Made out of scratch from the things laying around in Azuwei’s lab and stuffed with a cotton like plant. I lower my head and slowly make my approach.

“W-what are you… ?”

I place the bear in front of him and back up. Giving him space to be comfortable getting the bear on the ground. I sit down on the grass and look at the bear.

“You… this is for me?” I nod. “You under...stand me?” I nod again.

He gets up slowly still keeping his eyes on me. One step at a time he inches towards the bear, his hatchet still raised. Even when picking up the bear he doesn’t lower his weapon nor look away. Although it took him a couple tries to get the bear without looking down.

This kid is this cautious around me. If he’s like this then… the thing that Lupin said about us is true… to this boy here, he’s facing the monstrous thing he could ever face. Although it pains me that they see me as a ‘monstrous thing’, it's all the more reason… to become his friend!

He backs up a good distance before holding the bear up to get a good look at it. Doing his best to keep me in his view.

“I… I’m not really into this stuff anymore… but my sister… when she wakes up I’m sure she’ll love this. Um… thank you?”

I pull out a board causing him to tense up for a moment. Quickly I wrote to him.

Let’s just hope at his age he knows how to read… cuz stereotypically medieval age settings like these, not everyone learns things at a young age. Not how kids learn back in my world anyways.

“Y-...youuu… you’re weeell.. Welcome. You’re welcome? You can write??” He lowers his hatchet and comes closer to get a good look at my writing board. I erase the first message and write another.

“Yes, can you read well?”

“Uhm… my father taught me most of what he could. I still have a lot of trouble reading though… but my father never gave up on teaching me.”

“He sounds like a great father.”

“He… he is a great father.”

“What’s your name?”

“Oh… I’m. I’m Marlen.” By now his hatchet isn’t pointing at me anymore, but he still holds onto it.

“Nice to meet you Marlen, I’m Ariki. ‘Are we key’ is how you say it.”

“Ar… Are… w-wah.. We…key. Ariki? Okay I didn’t know sects have names themselves.” He looks at the bear and holds it up. “How did you get this?”

I look at his hand holding the hatchet.

Huh. He’s smart enough to know that me having this bear might mean I stole it from other humans. Yeah.. I mean it’s suspicious for an ant to have a kid’s stuff animal.

“A friend of mine made it.”

“A friend of yours made this? Then… why give it to me?”

“Because I wanna be your friend.”

“You… wanna be… friends?”

“Yes. Do you wanna be friends?”

He finally sits down looking at the bear.

“I… I watched as monsters take my parents from me and my little sister… seen… what the monsters did to our home…” He puts his hatchet down on his lap and holds the bear looking straight into my eyes. “Are you a monster?”

This boy…

I stand up and approach him. He doesn’t move, but he keeps his eyes on me. From what I can tell though, he’s scared. Shivering in the spot he’s sitting in and yet he doesn't hold his only means of defense against me. I extend my sword-like leg slowly and gently brush his hair.

Whether he’s fully trusting me or somehow is testing me. Whether he’s very stupid or very brave. He chooses to face me. Even when he just told me he lost his parent’s and home… this boy’s eyes remain hopeful...

I write on the board.

“I’m not a monster.” He quietly read over the message again and again before speaking.

“Then… sure. Let’s be friends.”

I give him a happy-like chirp and nod my head before writing another message.

“Thank you.”

He takes a deep breath and gives me a soft smile.

“You’re welcome, um… Ariki. Oh and I’ll be right back, I wanna give this to my little sister. She… isn’t awake yet, but it’s time I check up on her. When she wakes up though maybe you’d like to be her friend too?”

“Sure, I would like that.”

He nods and gets up. Takes one step but stops before the next. He looks at me as I’m still standing in front of him.

“Um… may I touch your head?”

I turn my head sideways, curious about his question but then sit down. Bowing my head as low as I could for him to touch. He walks over and softly touches the top of my head. My antennae pokes at his hand and he flinches for a second. After that initial touch he continues to feel the shell of my head.

“T-thank you… I just wanted to do that. Um… I’ll see you in a bit.” He runs off going inside the backdoor of the house.

“Phew… kids… at least they’re more open to make friends with anything. But this particular one is smart. I feel like him touching my head was another measure to make sure I wouldn’t do anything to him despite all that I’ve said. Not that I don’t understand… the weight of his words when he told me about his parent’s and home… those… those were heavy.”

I sigh and lay sprawled out on the ground and close my eyes. Soaking in the sunlight and breathing in the fresh flowing wind.

No sounds of cars or planes. Grass, plants, and trees as far as the eyes can see. Fresh winds this close to civilization. Not to mention the open sky. This world is way more fresher than the Earth I lived in. Obviously because there isn’t any big pollution and more nature than ever. Hmm… my family would love exploring and camping around in this world, although I bet the mosquitos here would be the stuff of nightmares. I… really hope they’re doing okay, they gotta be…

I open my eyes to look around. The sun already at its peak beaming the hot rays down on my shell. A passing cloud slowly shades me from the rays for a brief moment as a westward wind blows. All is serene even within the large village. Time seemingly stretches as the sun starts to make its slow descent. I inspect my metal legs as I wait for Lupin and his aunt to finish with whatever they were discussing.

“Wouldn’t this mean I evolved in a way? I gained new permanent features in order to have higher survivability in this harsh environment.”

I open up my menu screen and go into my status.

>[Status] [Colony] [Base] [Map]

Name: Ariki

Race: >Svienlic Fire Ant

Class: Queen

LV 6

HP: 2,000/2,000 (green)

MP: 400/400 (blue)

SP: 2100/2100 (orange)

Offense: 1,600 Defense: 1,000 Magic: 500

Skills (24):

[Hard Skin LV 6] [Strength LV 7] [Life LV 7] [Command LV 7] [Accuracy LV 5] [Touch Sensory LV 5] [Smell Sensory LV 5] [Vision LV 3] [Movement LV 6] [Intelligence LV 7] [Fire-Breath LV 7] [Tactics LV 5] [Persuasion LV 6] [Resistance: Fire LV 7] [Resistance: Poison LV 5] [Poison LV 5] [Bite LV 5] [Aura Detect LV 8] [Charm LV 10] [Dance-Beat LV 3] [Blade LV 4] [Titanium Legs LV 1] [Skewer LV 1] [Multilingual LV 1]

“Wait a second… ‘Svienlic’ Fire Ant is my race now? What? Does that mean eating Elders and gaining their abilities also changes your race in a way? Hold on, hold on, hold on! Would that mean my colony would change to Svienlic because I’m now that and I’m their queen?”

[Status] >[Colony] [Base] [Map]

1. Tsuwo, Hardened Soldier, LV 13<

2. Gyoma, Slayer, LV 13

3. Saku, Farmer, LV 13

4. Azuwei, Magic Scientist, LV 13

5. Mina, Soldier, LV 7

6. Mai, Soldier, LV 7

7. Suzu, Soldier, LV 7

8. …

“Huh so the Top 4 gained 3 levels while the other 3 gained 6 levels? Why is the level gain so different? I gained 5 levels from the whole battle… I get why Mina, Mai, and Suzu gained a little more because they first fought a lot of the Grivels. But how come Tsuwo, Gyoma, Azuwei, and Saku only got 3 whole levels? Does that mean the experience gap is growing exponentially with each level? Usually this happens when you get closer to the level cap. At LV 10 they only gained 3 levels for defeating the Elder… so if I had to guess that would mean the cap would be closer to LV 60 or LV 70 or even LV 50 instead of the usual LV 100. Other than that I’m not sure if there’s any other factors that would affect this. Hmm…”

* Tsuwo, Hardened Soldier, LV 13<

Name: Tsuwo

Race: >Fire Ant

Class: Hardened Soldier

LV 13 [Stat Points Available: 6]

HP: 1,500/1,500 + (green)

MP: 200/200 + (blue)

SP: 1,000/1,000 + (orange)

Offense: 1,700 + Defense: 1,200 + Magic: 300 +

Skills (15):

[Hard Skin LV 7] [Strength LV 7] [Life LV 5] [Command LV 5] [Accuracy LV 5] [Touch Sensory LV 5] [Smell Sensory LV 5] [Vision LV 3] [Movement LV 7] [Intelligence LV 5] [Fire-Breath LV 6]* [Tactics LV 5] [Resistance: Fire LV 7] [Bite LV 7] [Intimedate LV 7] [Guard LV 7] [Retaliate LV 7] [Train LV 6] [Raise-Spirits LV 3]*

“Weird that she hasn’t used her stat points yet. Only two of her skills got one level too. So her race stayed the same… It only changes one’s own race, not the entire colony even if the queen evolves. Hmm… so if Tsuwo ate the Elder Grivel she’d be ‘Grivelic Fire Ant’? That begs the question… if… if… Gah. I feel like the gods er… ‘Celestials’ would be judging me for thinking this but… if I were to consume a powerful enough human… I may evolve to have more humanlike qualities.”

I rack at my brain as I think about the ways of becoming human and the morality of my options.

“UGH! Man… even if the person is the most evil, devilish person in this world. How can I be okay with eating another human being? I know my body now doesn’t react all that much to all that death and carnage I’ve seen but… this is the matter of my soul. This shouldn’t be the only way right?... But this seems the most logical way. But…”

Off in the distance a fireball is fired up into the sky exploding into a big smokescreen.

“Enemies approaching? Looks like they’re coming from the southside.”

Four more fireballs are fired off into the sky, most of them coming from the northern side of the village.

“A lot more of them north?!”

Quickly getting up I get a mind transmission from one of the soldiers.

“My Queen, flying sects are coming from the north and south. Majority of the force are from the north. They seem to be surrounding the village before closing in.”

“Okay group up northside and form a defensive perimeter, shoot down as much as you can. I’ll handle the south and any others leftover.”

“Roger, My Queen!”

The instant our mind transmission ends a growing noise echoes from above.

Whiiiiiiirrrrrrrr!!!!

“What the heck is that noise??”

WHAAAM!!

A brownish sect with four large sturdy legs crashes hard into the backyard. It pulls out its head from the hole it made in the ground, not a single scratch on its helmet like head. The sect wasn’t that big, only three fourths of my size, but the exoskeleton gleamed under the sun. Each step it took made heavy thuds suggesting the heftness of its body. It turns to me and chirps loudly fluttering its wings. The chirps coming from it shattered the windows and shook me to my core and instinctively I covered my nonexistent ears with my forelegs.

“Gaahh! A… cricket?!”

More of the same sounds followed it’s chirps.

Whiiiiiiiiiirrrrr!!! Whiiiiiirrrrr!!! Whiiiirrr!! Whiiiiiirrrrrr!!!! Whiiiiiirrrrr!!! Whiiiiirrrr!!!! Whiiiiiiirrrrr!!!! Whiiiiiirrrr!!! Whiiiiirrrrr!!!!

Somewhere faraway

“Wh… Where am I?”

Pushing against the wall around me made a soft crackling noise. The surface of it felt slimy.

“Ari?... Ari?! ARI??”

I push and push gradually breaking the slimy wall around me until finally I manage to break open a hole. My vision slowly adjusts to the darkness in the room.

WHERE THE HELL IS THIS?! AND WHERE THE HELL IS ARI?!

I watch as ants scuttle around the room going about their roles. This time instead of frantically opening the walls I quietly chip away at it. With a big enough hole, I look outside.

Wh...why are there giant ants? And this wall is all kinds of weird. It’s like I’m in an egg or that sort of thing. Did I get shrunken and stuffed in this egg thing? What the fuck is going on?! Stupid! Dumb! Actually retarded! It wasn’t supposed to be like this… Ari isn’t here when she should be. We should have been together now! And now I’m in this shitty of a situation.

I bide my time. One of the ants made its way to check on me. Taking it by surprise I grab at the ant pulling into my hiding spot and quickly disposing of it with my hands. Despite the careful preparation all the ants in the room catch wind of my actions and stop to look at me.

Tch. I was sure they wouldn’t notice this… now what am I gonna- Huh?

A small group of soldiers came running in and stopping in front of me. They took a look at me and the dead ant on the ground then bowed. The one bowing at the head of the group spoke to me using its antenna and butt. It created chirping sounds which I perceive as an understandable language.

“My Queen! You have been born. Congratulations! Now we shall serve you for the rest of our lives.”

What the fuck?

The rest of the ants around the room bow to me. Confused at first I finally got a look at my ‘hands’. To see more of myself I came out the hole I made, stepping over the ant I just killed. Looking down I see that they were forelegs the entire time and from what I could see of myself I now recognize that I am an ant.

“So now... I’m an Ant Queen, huh?”

A chill flows through my body. A chill I’ve known ever since I met that one person in high school. No matter where I may be, I always feel the same sort of thing when it comes to her.

“Ahhh!… mmm… hehehehe...”

Ari. You’re here aren’t you?