The ground tremors returned while Oliver hiked a steep incline, pitched backward, and slid. He glanced back at the fall and gasped, yet his fear was for nothing, as his diminutive mass prevented injury from falling.

But what colossal creature caused the shaking this time? He’d seen humanoid-ish and insect forms dominating the distance but figured many more types existed.

The quake subsided. However, if he listened, he could hear something like a rolling storm. His mind still whirled, and he knew why mice skittered from one dark corner to another under the maleficent gaze of mankind. But no, he was no mouse; in the last encounter, he’d been nothing more than a fly at the end of a flyswatter.

On the upside, he was walking alongside Zaisy, the ladybug girl whose light steps were like a moonwalker’s, and somehow, things were no worse than in his previous life—not that that had been all that great. Honestly, it had been miserable.

Her smile seemed to hold affection as if she looked up to him. He’d never had anyone look at him like this. Much to his chagrin, Ella had called him a friend, but they’d spent no time together, and she barely glanced at him.

The towering blades of grass swayed above them like trees, their shadows casting shifting patterns over the ground. The air was thick with the scent of earth and a powerful floral smell. Despite the dangers, the place had a wild beauty to it.

"So," he said, glancing at her. "Where are we?"

She tilted her head, her glossy red wings rustling slightly. She considered his question. "This is Rhen Knoll. It’s kind of a secret place for class sixers."

"Rhen Knoll?" Oliver echoed. "What’s class six?"

“It’s just our size. We’re right square in the middle from one to twelve. Below us, there are gnats, mites, and bacteria size. We’re as large to the smallest as the largest are to us.”

“I see.”

They walked silently over a boulder field. In the middle distance, the cone of an ant hill stood. The six-legged silhouettes looked like dogs climbing in and out of a small volcano. I am on acid.

His questions about Rhen Knoll kept her talkative, but he wasn’t sure why he was so curious about a place where he didn’t belong. He could simply die and wake up in another place, perhaps one closer to his expectation of an ordinary world.

"At the top, there’s an oak tree that holds thousands," she said. "Where have you been living?"

Oliver frowned. "Under a rock.”

She seemed to accept the statement as fact.

“How long have you lived around here?"

She raised her sharp chin in thought. "I’ve been here my whole life for two moons."

Oliver choked on his spit and stopped. “You’re only two months old? I mean, I guess that makes sense for your condition." He didn’t want to call her an insect. He quickly changed the subject. “Tell me about the giants.”

She spoke as they began climbing the knoll. Her expression grew serious as she grasped for details. "The largest are a force of nature. They can wipe out cities where they step and never know it. Many are aiming to become that big by eating the next largest thing. They're like you, striving to live but aggressive and hungry. The smaller ones hunt, eat those like us, and work their way up."

He suspected the players started just like him, tiny humans. "That makes sense. So I have to eat to become more powerful."

She vaulted a ribcage from a creature the size of a rodent with the help of her wings. "Well, the food at the tree is always good. They mix so much together and with herbs. But it has to be very fresh to give you a boost."

“I’ll try anything once.”

“Maybe I should, too. I’ll never survive the winter as skinny as I am.”

After a while, the grass began to thin, and they reached the edge of a grove of gnarled, twisted weeds. In the middle of the clearing sat a man. He was sprawled out under a low-hanging seed head, his back against the rough shoot, lazily munching on a flea. Slurping ooze from his fingertips, he sat forward and turned half-closed eyes towards them.

"That’s Hunter," the ladybug girl whispered, nudging Oliver. "He’s harmless now, but you should have seen him when he could have fit in your hand.’”

"Is he a player?" Oliver asked, squinting at the man, but forgot she didn’t know about players and NPCs. “I mean, is he different?”

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"A little. But I’ve heard he’s given up on the whole hunting thing. All he cares about now is relaxing."

Hunter was tall, maybe twice the height of Oliver, but no earth shaker. He wore clothes made of scuffed leaf cloth and had messy brown hair falling over his eyes."The fleas are magical. This one, for instance," he curled the husk. “Takes away all your worries. A single bite and you forget about everything wrong in the world. No more giants, no more monsters. Just existence."

The ladybug girl rolled her eyes. "He’s been at it for weeks now. He would probably be a giant if you could grow by repeatedly eating the same creature."

Hunter sighed contentedly, leaning back. "Not everyone’s cut out for the race, little bug. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is stop running and enjoy what the world gives you."

Oliver walked up to the tall man. "At some point, you wanted to join the giants. What changed?"

"There’s always a bigger giant, kid.” Hunter stared at Oliver as if reading him like a book. "If you want safety, there’s Tree City at the top of the knoll." He waved a hand vaguely toward the trees. "Big tree, lots of branches. The folks there know how to keep to themselves. Why don’t you two come back with me."

Zaisy jumped and clapped her hands together. “That’s where we’re headed.”

Oliver’s heart lifted at the thought of safety. Perhaps Hunter had things right. "I think that’d be great?"

Hunter groaned as he lifted himself from the ground as if it took all his energy. "Yeah, let’s get going." He stretched before tossing the shell aside. "Before it gets dark."

With that, the three set off into the forest of weeds and grass. As they walked, Oliver couldn’t help but study the strange man. How could anyone live so peacefully in a world such as this? The distant sound of something heavy crashing through the underbrush echoed behind them, and the hairs lifted from the back of his neck. He folded his arms against the chill and hurried on.

The sun sank below the hash grass blades, their tips brushing against a sky painted in hues of orange and violet. A gusty wind rustled the stalks, carrying an earthy scent of damp soil and distant murmurs of civilization.

As Oliver, Zaisy, and Hunter approached the base of the colossal oak, they could see the entrance to Tree City. The sheer scale of the world pressed upon Oliver. The tree's roots twisted and coiled like the sinewy limbs of ancient titans. The rest rose from there, ever higher.

Oliver gazed upward, craning to take in the sprawling network of branches that stretched beyond sight into misty dusk. Tiny lights flickered among the leaves. They were lanterns, bonfires, and bioluminescent creatures. The display flickered on the Zaisy’s shell in the failing light. The air vibrated with the hum of activity: the flutter of wings, the patter of tiny feet, and the soft lilt of unfamiliar melodies.

"Welcome to Tree City," Zaisy said, her wings fluttering excitedly. She gestured toward a spiraling pathway carved into the bark, lined with mushrooms. "Don’t you like it?"

He nodded. The city pulsed with life and warmed something in him that had grown cold in his solitary existence, but he didn’t like that. "It's okay." A sense of hope stirred within him, but he quickly stilled it.

The display flickered. Survive the hunt. What was wrong with the damn thing?

They began their ascent, the path winding around the massive trunk. Intricate carvings adorned the bark of mystical creatures and celestial bodies that shimmered as they passed. A woodpecker worked on a praying mantis statue, and its beak blasted into the wood. One peck would destroy Oliver. He made a wide circle around the bird. The air quivered with the next strike. He wasn’t looking where he was going and tripped at the top of a staircase.

The stairs led down into a dark hole. Other staircases spiraled into small dwellings within hollows and crevices, entrances adorned with colorful petals and trinkets. Inhabitants of all shapes and sizes emerged to observe the newcomers: beetle folk with iridescent shells, nimble green things with translucent wings, and others that defied explanation.

Children—if they could be called that—chased one another along the branches, their laughter ringing like wind chimes. Vendors called out from stalls fashioned from leaves and twigs, offering goods that ranged from fragrant nectar to odd tools. The mingling scents of sweet pollen and savory roasted seeds filled the air.

Hunter lagged a few steps behind, his hands tucked casually into the pockets of his leaf-woven trousers. "See? I told you it's a nice place," he said. "Easy to get lost in the crowd here, so stay close while I find a place for you to stay."

Oliver glanced back at him, noting his relaxed posture, contrasting with the vibrant energy surrounding them. "This is your home?" Oliver said.

Hunter shrugged, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "For now."

Zaisy spun, walking backward with effortless grace. "Come on, I want to show you the Grand Atrium!"

They emerged into an expansive chamber where the tree's branches formed a natural dome overhead. Bioluminescent flowers dangled like chandeliers, casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the gathering. At the far end sat a podium carved from a single piece of amber. A moth-like elder addressed a crowd. “Smother that flame. It throws my balance off.”

Curiosity nudged Oliver closer to listen. The elder cleared his throat and spoke of sightings at the edge of their territory, including one that ripped a branch from the tree. Luckily, the monster didn’t discover the city during its rampage.

A knot tightened in Oliver's stomach. "If they grow bigger by eating, that means every day becomes more dangerous," he whispered, and it wasn’t a question.

Zaisy’s natural enthusiasm flagged. She nodded, her shoulders drooping. "It’s said there will be a single giant at the end of time."

“That time is probably close,” Hunter said.

The elder laid out a defense plan, but Oliver lost interest. The crowd began to disperse. As they moved away, he caught snippets of conversations—speculations about the giants, rumors of disappearances, and debates over whether to fortify the city or seek a new home.

He felt a weight settle on his shoulders. The danger he thought he'd left behind was closer than ever. "Maybe coming here was a mistake."

Zaisy placed a gentle hand on his arm, her eyes earnest. "You're safe for the time being."

Her touch was comforting, but doubts lingered. Oliver gazed up at the intricate patterns of light above. When he turned to leave, the elder caught his arm.

“Come with me.”