Out of all the insects in the world… I had to become the one I hate the most.
Ari stared at his reflection in the pond, the distorted image rippling with each faint movement of the water. This is karma. If I hadn't gone to that nest… if I hadn't crushed them so carelessly… maybe I wouldn't have died.
His jaw tightened. Maybe Keiko and I could've made up. Maybe things would've gone back to normal.
Where do I even go from here? He glanced around at the unfamiliar stretch of forest. I don't know where I am… or what this place even is.
Staying still wouldn't change anything. For now, I just need to move. Maybe I'll find someone who can explain this world to me… or at least somewhere to stay before nightfall.
He drew in a slow breath and began walking.
Ari lifted a hand and brushed a stray leaf from his twitching antennae. The canopy above blocked most of the sunlight, allowing only thin beams to slip through the dense leaves.
Each rustle in the underbrush sent faint vibrations through the ground, brushing against his heightened senses and he could smell dampened earth. Every careful step over twisted roots and jagged rocks reminded him how alive this forest was — and how small he felt within it.
Ahead, something shifted. Shadows flickered between the trees.
As he continued forward, a group of roughly twelve ant-like humanoids approached from the opposite direction, their footsteps thudding in steady rhythm against the earth. Ari slowed slightly and glanced at them.
They look just like me… Should I ask them where I am? Maybe they can give me directions. One of them turned in his direction. He quickly looked away.
His throat tightened. He wanted answers. He needed them. But the deep-rooted hatred he felt toward ants made his steps falter. After a brief hesitation, he lowered his head and chose to walk past them, hoping to avoid any interaction.
The group gradually slowed as they noticed him. Several pairs of eyes tracked his movements. Antennae lifted, angling subtly in his direction as if assessing him. One stepped forward, armored feet scraping softly against the dirt.
"Hold it." A sharp female voice cut through the forest air.
Ari froze, his shoulders stiffening at the command. No way… did they just speak? His pulse quickened. And why can I understand them? For a moment, he stood there, stunned. Then, forcing himself to remain calm, he resumed walking as if he hadn't heard anything, trying to shake the tension crawling up his spine.
A soldier stepped in front of Ari, one hand resting on the hilt at his waist. "You there. Stop." His gaze hardened. "Our lieutenant addressed you. Ignoring her was unwise."
Another soldier moved to Ari's right, cutting off his escape. "He isn't one of ours, Lance Corporal Lin," she said evenly. "Could he be from the hidden colony near the outskirts?"
Lance Corporal Lin studied Ari in silence for a moment. "…Are you scouting our territory?"
Ari slowly turned to face them, his hands trembling at his sides. What do I do…? He swallowed.
"Listen… you're right. I'm not from your colony." His voice faltered. "In fact, I don't belong to any colony. I'm not even from this world," he continued, forcing the words out. "I died… and then I woke up here. I know it sounds impossible, but I'm telling you the truth."
"Seize him!" Lance Corporal Lin shouted.
"What?! I'm telling you the truth!" Ari snapped, already turning. He bolted.
Branches scraped against his arms as he plunged into thick undergrowth. Two soldiers lunged from either side. Ari twisted his body sharply, shoulders dipping as he slipped between them. Their hands closed on empty air.
No way… he's fast. At least as fast as a Lance Corporal, one of the soldiers thought, eyes widening.
Ari's heart pounded as he weaved through thick foliage, dodging low branches and tangled roots. The stomping of armored feet and the rustle of leaves followed him.
I've gained some distance… I need to find somewhere to hide. No way am I letting myself be captured — killed — by ants of all things.
He scanned the area. A cave… if I can just reach it before they see me, I might be safe.
He charged toward the cave entrance, hope flickering in his chest. Just as he reached it, an ant slammed into him from the side, sending him crashing into the dirt. The impact knocked the air from his lungs, and dust rose around him.
Ari opened his eyes and gritted his teeth against the pain. He was pinned to the ground, struggling violently to break free. The ant pressed down harder and drew a pair of weapons, crossing them at his throat. The edges glinted sharply in the light.
Ari gasped, fear tightening his chest. "Don't move or I will end you right here," the ant said, her voice sharp and commanding.
What the hell? Are those their mandibles? They're shaped like weapons, not attached to their mouths. What kind of world is this? Ari's mind raced in disbelief.
Wait… now that I see her clearly… she's female? She actually looks like a human woman—face, lips, hair, curves… breasts. What the hell am I thinking? Snap out of it! She's an ant—the insect I hate the most. Her exoskeleton and antennae are proof enough. My life is in danger. Now is not the time for this.
She observed him closely, her eyes narrowing into a hard glare, then straightened. "Stand up slowly. If you try to run, I will sever your arms and legs. Do you understand?..."
She's terrifying. I believe every word she says. I should just comply if I want to survive. He slowly stood up, his hair damp with sweat and dirt.
Valeria closed her eyes and swiftly sheathed her weapons.
"Excellent work, Lieutenant Valeria. He nearly escaped. Apologies for our failure. It was fortunate you were present," Lance Corporal Lin reported as he reached the scene.
A female soldier saluted. "The area has been checked thoroughly. No other ants were found. This concludes my report, Lieutenant."
Lieutenant? Are these ants some kind of soldiers? Ari drifted in thought, stunned.
"Apologies won't fix anything. What matters is that you learn and don't repeat your mistakes. This was your first expedition — I'll overlook it this time," Valeria said, her arms folded, voice firm.
Valeria turned toward him. "Take this ant to the colony so Queen Celeste can render her judgment," she ordered. "Bind his arms and legs. He's a swift one."
"Right away, Lieutenant," a soldier said. She released a thick, sticky resin from the pouch at her waist, coating Ari's wrists and ankles.
As it hardened, his limbs were pinned. He struggled, but the resin held tight, digging painfully into his joints. Pain shot up his arms and legs, sharp and unrelenting, and he hissed through gritted teeth.
Crap… what is this stuff? I can't move at all! Ari panicked, thrashing against the hardened restraints.
"All right, everyone, move out," Valeria ordered as three soldiers lifted Ari into the air. The group began marching back toward the colony.
I need to find a way to escape. Who knows what they plan to do with me? Ari fretted as they marched. Hours later, he jolted awake as they reached the entrance of the colony.
As Lieutenant Valeria and her soldiers moved through the tunnels, cheers erupted from the other ants. "They've returned from their voyage with zero casualties. Lieutenant Valeria is an exemplary squad leader," a worker ant praised.
The sound echoed off the tunnel walls, layering and overlapping as it traveled through the packed earth. The underground air was warmer than the forest outside.
"Looks like they brought a prisoner," a female ant whispered nearby.
"Maybe he's the last survivor of some skirmish," another ant added quietly.
The tunnels widened into structured chambers supported by smoothed pillars of compacted earth. Rows of neatly arranged stones reinforced the ceilings. Storage rooms were stacked with carefully sorted seeds, berries, and carved containers. Light filtered down from narrow shafts above, illuminating sections of the colony in controlled beams.
This place isn't what I expected. There are tunnels everywhere, but in my world, ant colonies never had chambers built like this. The layouts are precise. These insects… they have an advanced civilization, Ari thought, astonished.
The soldiers carried Ari into a large chamber. Blue-green bioluminescent fungi lined the walls, flickering faintly and casting shifting light across the throne.
The ant seated upon it had clear wings folded neatly behind her, catching the glow and reflecting it in sharp lines. Her fingers rested against the carved resin armrest, tracing the shallow grooves etched into its surface.
"My Queen, we have returned from our scouting expedition," Lieutenant Valeria reported, bowing low. The other soldiers followed her example, forcing Ari to the ground.
"Welcome back, Valeria. Raise your head. I trust everything went well?" Queen Celeste asked.
"Yes, Your Majesty. We located food sources to the southeast and northwest of the colony. Each location would take approximately three days to reach. We suffered no casualties."
"Excellent. You have done well, Valeria. Continue at this rate, and you may become a commander soon," Celeste praised, a faint smile crossing her face.
"Your words honor me beyond measure, Your Majesty," Valeria said.
"Now then, do tell me who this ant is." Queen Celeste's expression shifted, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied Ari.
"We found him wandering near the outskirts of the colony. I suspect he is a scout from another colony, sent to gather intelligence on our defenses and infiltrate us."
Ari lifted his head from the ground. "No! I'm not a scout. I told you already — I'm not from any colony! I'm not even from this world! I don't know what's happening!" he protested, voice cracking with desperation.
From another world… Queen Celeste's gaze lingered as her voice dropped, the sound barely carrying past her lips. Her fingers paused against the armrest, interest settling into her expression.
"Silence." Valeria's kick connected sharply with Ari's face.
"Gah!" Ari coughed, the impact rattling his jaw and knocking the wind out of him.
Valeria turned to the Queen, one hand resting on her hip. "I assure you, Your Majesty, he is only pretending to be clueless. If anything, I respect him for not revealing any information so far."
Queen Celeste tapped her fingers against the armrest. "That is a bold claim, Valeria. Normally, I would execute scouts on the spot, but something tells me to keep this one. We will interrogate him later. For now, enslave him. He will work for us," she decided, her voice cold and measured.
"No! I haven't done anything wrong!" Ari cried, disbelief sharp in his voice.
"Oh, you poor thing. You must be scared and confused. Let me spell it out for you: I granted you the privilege of labor over the silence of death, so be grateful."
Her clear wings shifted behind her with a subtle flutter. The faint glow of the bioluminescent fungi glinted off her sharp gaze, cold and unwavering.
Queen…my ass. Ari's jaw slackened, and his breath caught in his throat. His shoulders sagged, a cold weight settling into his chest as his eyes remained fixed on her. This ant… she's a witch.
"Take him to his cellar. He will begin work in our mines tomorrow."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Valeria replied, personally dragging Ari toward his prison cell. Ari's limbs scraped against the cold stone floor, his antennae twitching as dust and grit rubbed on his exoskeleton.
"Return to your chambers and await orders from your superior officers," Celeste commanded.
"Yes, my Queen," the other soldiers replied, bowing before exiting the chamber.
Queen exhaled. There's something off about this one… something not from here. His words—strange as they were—rang with honesty. Not a trace of deception. No hesitation. She narrowed her gaze. Perhaps it was wise to observe him a little longer.
Valeria's grip on Ari's arm was anything but gentle. She hauled him down the corridor, his feet scraping against the rough, dust-caked stone with each dragged step. The air grew colder the deeper they went, carrying the scent of damp earth and rot.
"Let me go! You're going to rip my arm off!" Ari gasped through gritted teeth, every tug sending sharp jolts through his jointed limb. His body tensed, antennae twitching from the pain, but Valeria's grip remained unyielding and cold.
Ari stumbled, his knees buckling as jagged pebbles scraped against the segments of his legs, but Valeria didn't slow. Her expression remained unreadable—calm, focused, detached.
When they reached the dimly lit cell, Valeria flung the door open with a creaking groan. She tore the hardened resin from his limbs with practiced ease and shoved him inside without a word.
He hit the ground hard, a sharp grunt escaping as his side slammed into the dirt. The floor was cold and unforgiving, scattered with coarse grit that jabbed into his shell like splinters. Dust puffed up around him, clinging to his exoskeleton and the throbbing ache radiating through his ribs.
"You are lucky the Queen spared you. Be grateful—you now serve a purpose," Valeria said, taking one final glance at him, her eyes lingering a moment longer than necessary.
He's a strange one… no mandibles to defend himself. And he isn't marked by his Queen, which means he has no rank. A worker or a recruit? Or a scout? she murmured under her breath, her expression unreadable. Almost as quickly, she turned on her heel, her cold demeanor snapping back into place.
This can't be real… Ari pressed himself into the corner, his arms folded around his knees. His breaths came in shallow, ragged gasps, and the dust and grit of the floor clung to his tears. I… I'm a slave now. To the insects I used to kill…
His antennae drooped, trembling. If only I hadn't gone to that nest… if only I could see Keiko again… her face… her smile…
He buried his face against his arms, each heartbeat hammering in his chest. The cell was silent except for his ragged breathing. Why can't I go back? Why me?