Novels2Search
The Most Powerful Ant in the Universe
Chapter Forty-Six: Back to Null

Chapter Forty-Six: Back to Null

I'm not really sure what to do in this scenario.

There are three humans in total. One of them - a big one with black clothing - is bleeding, one of them has cat-like ears, and the last one looks ready to pass out. None of us are moving at all.

[...Joule? What am I supposed to do here?]

[Uhhh... I don't know what language they're using since they haven't said anything, but once they do I can translate it directly to your mind.]

[Okay, but then what?]

[I don't know, honestly.]

I return my attention to the humans, who seem a little hesitant about attacking me. The cowardly one takes a deep breath and starts talking very fast. I can't understand a word of any of it, but the other two are looking at him like he's crazy.

[Okay, I got it. Translating now!]

"-ucatswhowerereallyscaryandIreallyappreciateyousavingusbutareyousavingusorareyoujustfiguringouthowtoeatus?"

My mandibles fall open. [What?]

[I didn't catch any of it either. Should I rewind it?]

[...I don't think it really matters too much.]

I pay attention to the big one. He looks like a fighter.

[What exactly are you doing in my house?]

The man leaps to his feet, staggering away and falling over backward. He says several words that I don't recognize.

[What do those mean?]

[It's probably best that I don't tell you.]

[I'll take your word for it.]

The cat-human lunges forward, claws out, clearly trying to attack me despite the fact I haven't attacked anyone yet. I automatically light my mandibles up with void before remembering that Joule doesn't want me to kill any humans. Instead, I simply head-butt her.

She acts as though I threw a tree at her and slams into the back wall, collapsing. The coward's mouth is now a large O. Well, I might as well talk to him. The big one is still saying words I don't understand, the cat-human (who I honestly like, she seems violent) is faking being knocked out in the back and this one is the only one who's still talking.

[What are you doing here?]

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

He immediately shuts up, his mouth still flapping, but no sound coming out.

I sigh, my recently-earned lungs assisting with the feeling. It's quite a helpful expression, sighing. As if I can just breathe out the annoyance I'm feeling.

[Are you going to actually talk or are you just going to keep moving your mouth?]

His face pales, but he draws himself up and starts talking even faster.

"ThankyouverymuchforsavingusIreallyappreciateitbutwhydidyou-"

[Stop!]

He shrinks away as though I just stabbed him. Walking closer to him, I tap him with an antenna and he completely freezes up.

[If you keep talking that fast, I'm never going to get what you're saying. Start over. Slowly, if you can.]

He sucks a massive breath in, and manages to talk at a normal pace, though still not at the rate I talk at.

"Thank you very much for saving us. We really appreciate it, but why did you do it?"

I tilt my head. [When did I save you?]

He seems a little stunned. "Ju - just now! From the stucats!"

I look a little closer at him, curious. [From the what?]

Joule groans in my head. [Good grief, just let me take over. You tactless invertebrate.]

What's an invertebrate?

[Hello, there. I'm Joule, and this is Null.]

He looks a little thrown by the different voice but manages to keep going, spots of sweat coming through his clothing. I don't think I've ever met a species that was so varied. One talks constantly, one uses words that I'm not supposed to understand and the other pretends to be knocked out by a single headbutt. In spite of myself, I'm curious to see what other kinds of human exist.

"Uhhh, hello? Why did you change your voice?"

[I didn't change my voice. I'm speaking as another being existing inside the same body as the ant. I could be compared to the 'system' you use, but exclusively for Null.]

He nods slowly, quite obviously not getting it. "Okay... I'm just going to pretend this is normal and go with it."

[I have to do that all the time with Noah.]

He jumps away and trips over his shoes, falling over backward. As I move forward, trying to see if he's okay, he instead scoots back, talking even faster.

"Y-y-you're the one that Noah was talking about? But I thought it was going to be a weapon, or a dragon, or a super-monster of some kind, but you're an ant!" 

[He's like five feet long. Is that normal for an ant?]

I cut in, still curious. 

[Why is the human with the cat ears pretending to be unconscious?]

He looks back at her, and then back at me.

"She's not pretending - you hit her really hard!"

I check on her again. 

[Are most humans this fragile?]

The bigger human, who seems to have regained some control of the words leaving his mouth, interjects. "Dylan, why are you talking to the giant murder monster?"

[Oh, so he is considered large. That's helpful!]

The coward (Dylan, apparently) talks without looking away from me. "He's using telepathy - he's what we're looking for. He mentioned Noah specifically." 

[Why do I get the feeling Noah scared the crap out of someone?]

Joule doesn't even sound surprised anymore, just resigned.

[Pardon me, did Noah intimidate you somehow?]

The big human snorts. "Intimidate? He ripped a friggin' earth dragon in half."

[That does sound like Noah. So, why are you looking for me?]

Dylan talks over him. "We were sent here to try and find out what Noah was doing here, but you're honestly a whole lot better than what I was expecting."

The cat woman starts coming to, and the big human walks over to her, muttering more things that Joule refuses to translate. He leans down and gives her a bottle filled with red liquid, which she drinks gratefully. I wonder what that is?

[I don't have very many questions for you, but I do have one important one.]

Dylan smiles a bit, but still looks a little panicked. "Sure, what is it?"

[Do you know how to get to Lymphadra?]