Ari stumbled forward, the edges of his vision blurring with flickers of light and darkness. He tightened his grip on the makeshift bag strapped to his back.
Not yet...
Each step made him wince, his breathing growing heavier.
He reached a patch of flat ground beneath a crumbling cliff that loomed overhead. His trembling limbs finally gave out, and Ari collapsed onto the earth.
No... This can't be the end...
Sweat clung to his skin as he struggled to catch his breath.
"I can't give up now," Ari whispered through gritted teeth.
His fingers dug into the dry soil as he dragged himself forward. The makeshift bag shifted against his back, scraping along the ground.
Suddenly, a dull thud sounded beside him.
The pouch had slipped from his makeshift bag and landed on the ground. Ari slowly turned his head and reached for it, his trembling fingers fumbling with the opening. Inside lay a green gem.
His eyes widened.
For a moment, the world around him faded, and Emilia's voice echoed in his mind.
"Think of it as a keepsake until you return."
Emilia's shoulders relaxed.
"Take care. And make sure you come back in one piece."
Ari's fingers tightened around the green gem.
That's right... I've been so caught up in the battle between the Monarchs and the moths... I completely forgot about returning this to her...
Ari's eyelids grew heavier, his vision fading into darkness.
No... Emilia...
His fingers loosened around the green gem. It slipped from his grasp and landed in the dirt beside him. His arm fell limp against the earth, and his head slumped forward.
Back in the colony, workers carried stones and heavy clumps of mud toward the damaged walls. Dust rose around their feet as they worked to repair the crumbling structure.
"All right, everyone! Make sure you preserve the integrity of the walls while repairing the damage. One mistake, and this entire section could collapse someday!" Flint said.
"Yes, Flint!" the workers replied.
Beyond the dust-covered training grounds, Beatrice and Lily sat together on a rock. Lily hummed softly, swinging her legs back and forth, while Beatrice sat with her arms folded, staring at the ground.
"Hey, Lily..." Beatrice said.
"Hm? What is it, Beatrice?"
"What do you think about what the captain said?"
Lily's legs slowed to a stop.
"Honestly, I'm not sure what to do. I'd rather focus on gathering more food for the tribute."
"I see..." Beatrice lowered her gaze. "I don't know what to think, either. Going against the Queen...? We could get into serious trouble. And if we don't make it back alive..."
She trailed off, her fingers tightening around her arm.
Lily glanced at her before looking up towards the sky.
"But what choice do we have? If we do nothing and let those grasshoppers keep taking everything from us..." She paused, her voice growing quieter. "We'll just keep getting weaker until there's nothing left."
She looked back at Beatrice.
"That's just a slow, painful death anyway."
Beatrice glanced toward the exit tunnel and exhaled hard.
"For the first time in my life, the thought of joining the captain in this battle makes me afraid. Afraid I'll never see the walls of the colony again."
Before Lily could answer, hurried footsteps caused their antennae to twitch. Isla burst into view, breathless.
"Isla, are you all right?" Beatrice asked, jumping off the rock.
Isla bent forward, breathing heavily, her hands braced against her knees.
"I've... I've been searching everywhere for you."
"Please..." Her voice cracked.
She slowly straightened.
"Please help me get stronger!"
Lily stared at her.
"Looks like Isla has finally lost it."
"I never thought I'd see the day she'd come running to Beatrice and beg her for training."
Lily placed her hands behind her head.
Beatrice narrowed her eyes at her.
"What? Tell me I'm wrong. I mean, ever since she became a Lance Corporal, she's been avoiding her training under me."
"I know how pathetic I am," Isla muttered, her voice thin and trembling. "I know I'm weak."
She swallowed hard.
"During the invasion of Helena's colony... I hid. I was afraid. When the termites attacked the training route, I just stood there, frozen, while Ari and Lance protected me. Even when we decided to fight back, I was still too scared to do anything. I was helpless."
Her eyes filled with tears, but she forced herself to meet their gaze.
"And when the grasshoppers came... I froze. I couldn't move. I could barely breathe."
Her voice trembled.
"Their eyes... It felt like I was choking on fear."
"But I can't just let the moment the three of us shared together vanish."
She lowered her gaze, her hands trembling.
"They're both going to the fortress. I know they are. Ari's already left to try and save the princess, and Lance... he's training harder than anyone else."
She clenched her fists.
"They're not waiting for permission. They're not waiting for someone to tell them what's right."
Her voice faltered.
"I don't want to be afraid anymore. I don't want them to die."
She squeezed her eyes shut, struggling to hold back her tears.
"So please...I'm begging you. Please help me."
Lily released a slow breath.
"You know, you're no fun. I can't even tease you when you're like this."
Beatrice stepped closer.
"Are you sure about this, Isla? Do you understand what awaits you beyond the walls of that fortress?"
Isla nodded.
A long silence settled between them.
Lily smiled and gently squeezed Isla's cheek.
"Honestly, I'm a little envious of your courage. You've really grown, haven't you?"
"Fine," Beatrice said. "I'll teach you everything I can in the short time we have."
Isla's eyes widened. Her lower lip trembled.
"Corporal Beatrice..."
"And you'd better get ready," Lily added with a grin. "Because I definitely won't go easy on you."
She leaned forward and gently ran her fingers down Isla's back.
"Eek!"
Isla jumped before turning to them with a small smile.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Queen Celeste's Colony — Four Years Ago
CLANG!!
The clash of steel rang through the colony.
A younger Valeria skidded across the ground, her feet scraping before she finally came to a stop.
She gritted her teeth.
"Draw your weapons, Zyroth! I will kill you!"
Zyroth said nothing.
In an instant, he vanished.
Valeria's eyes widened.
She spun around, crossing her mandibles just as his strike came down.
CLANG!!
Her mandibles caught the spike protruding from his upper arm.
The force sent her flying backward.
She slammed into the colony wall, the impact forcing the air from her lungs.
"Gahk!"
She crumpled to the ground.
For a moment, she remained there, struggling to catch her breath. Then, with trembling arms, she pushed herself upright and forced herself back into a stance.
"Your efforts are futile. You're only a Sergeant, after all."
Zyroth turned away.
"Don't leave...!" she shouted, blood dripping from her head.
Valeria staggered forward.
"I must kill you!!"
Zyroth stopped and turned to look into her eyes.
"Oh... now I see. You're his child, Vanguard Terrence."
He slowly approached her.
"So that's where your rage stems from. You want to avenge him, don't you?"
He paused before continuing.
"Then how about this? Why don't I kill every last ant in this colony and leave you as the sole survivor?"
Valeria's eyes widened.
"No... you couldn't."
"Would that provide the catalyst you need to grow stronger?"
"No... please, don't."
Valeria looked around.
Princess Emilia hid behind Lieutenant Tavian.
Queen Celeste sat upon her throne.
The elders stood stunned.
The soldiers trembled in fear.
Valeria's hands slowly dropped to her sides.
Zyroth smiled.
"Good... Now you understand your predicament. Your father learned the cost of standing against me."
Valeria clenched her jaw, biting down on her lower lip until blood began to trickle.
"Why... Why must we suffer like this...? Father..."
Her tears fell to the ground.
The memory faded.
Far from the colony, beneath a sky dimmed by layers of soil, Valeria emerged at the entrance to Queen Helena's territory, her fist clenched at her side.
"So... this is how you felt, Ari..."
The moment she approached the entrance, the soldiers turned toward her.
"Wait... isn't that...?"
"That's Captain Valeria of Queen Celeste's army," one murmured.
Valeria stopped before the guards.
"I'm here to speak with the Queen and your captain."
The soldiers exchanged glances, and one quickly disappeared into the tunnels.
Moments later, another ant emerged.
"Captain Nyra," Valeria said.
Nyra tilted her head.
"It must be urgent if you've traveled all the way from your colony alone."
"I'm requesting aid from your colony," Valeria said. "I'll ensure additional resources are provided to you for your assistance."
Nyra's eyes remained fixed on Valeria. She neither frowned nor raised an eyebrow.
"You're asking us to lend our forces for a war?"
"I'm talking about freedom," Valeria replied. "But I won't pretend it'll be easy. That's why I need you alongside me."
Nyra held her gaze.
A moment passed before she gave a slight nod.
"As my Queen said, the treaty binds our colonies together."
She turned and started toward the tunnels.
"You can explain the details to her."
"Right," Valeria muttered, following her.