The air hung heavy with the scent of damp earth and moss. Towering before them was a vertical expanse of rugged terrain, jagged and uneven like the side of a mountain—an almost impossible challenge for anyone untrained. Loose stones and tufts of grass clung precariously to the slopes, shifting faintly in the breeze.
Valeria stood at its base, arms crossed, her gaze sharp and unyielding, measuring the trio with the precision of a seasoned soldier.
"Take heed," Valeria said, her voice sharp and commanding, echoing off the rocky slope. "Your first trial is to scale this mountain-like terrain. Every movement must be deliberate. Hesitate, falter, or misjudge—and the only lesson you will learn is the fall that awaits you."
The moment Valeria finished speaking, Isla's eyes widened, her gaze tracing the jagged expanse of the mountain-like terrain. Every ridge and slick patch seemed to mock her.
"Uh… that looks… impossible," Isla stammered, her voice quivering as she shook her head. "There's barely anything to hold onto!"
Rory stepped forward, shoulders squared, jaw tight with resolve. "We'll manage. Our mandibles will give us the grip we need. We'll reach the top, no matter what," he said, voice steady, fingers flexing in anticipation.
Valeria's eyes narrowed, her piercing gaze cutting through the tension. "Mandibles are prohibited," she declared, each word deliberate and heavy with authority. "This is a test of body, hands, and feet alone."
"What!? No way!" Isla cried, shaking her head furiously. "Climbing that with just hands and feet? We'll never make it!"
Ari, who had stood silent until now, frowned faintly. His eyes lingered on Isla's trembling hands, the way her breathing quickened as if the wall itself was suffocating her. Why is she acting like this is so difficult? Back when I was human, ants in my home would scale walls without hesitation—as if it were nothing at all.
Valeria, unmoved by their protests, stepped forward, her exoskeleton feet pressing firmly into the damp earth. "Very well," she said, her voice calm yet commanding. "Watch closely. I will demonstrate."
Without hesitation, she launched herself at the steep terrain. Dirt crumbled beneath her fingers as she climbed, yet her movements were fluid, precise—each grip and foothold secured with the ease of instinct.
In mere moments, she reached the summit, straightened her posture, and then descended in a swift sprint, her steps barely disturbing the loose soil.
She landed lightly before them, her gaze sharp. "There. You have seen it for yourselves. Did that appear so difficult?"
Isla's mouth hung slightly open, her eyes still fixed on the slope Valeria had just conquered. She hesitated, then shook her head slowly. "N-No… when you do it, it almost looks… simple." Her voice wavered with disbelief.
Ari's gaze lingered on Valeria, his chest rising and falling with steady breaths. The way she had scaled the sheer terrain with such speed and precision left him momentarily speechless. To climb that high on something so unforgiving… and to move like it was nothing. That's not something just anyone could do. Valeria… she really is incredible.
Valeria's expression remained firm as she clasped her hands behind her back, her voice carrying the weight of instruction. "Remember this: worker ants may lack the raw strength of a soldier, yet they climb with ease—even burdened with heavy loads. They have adapted, through necessity, to master any slope, any angle. If you are to protect them, you must be capable of the same. You must be present wherever the battle demands—be it wall, cliff, or even tunnels."
Ari narrowed his eyes, her words echoing in his mind. Why does that sound like more than just information? Almost like she's hinting at something… testing us.
Rory drew in a steady breath and gave a firm nod. "Alright. I'll go first. Let's see what this mountain's made of."
He stepped forward, planting his hands against the rough terrain. With a grunt, he began climbing, his arms tightening as muscles strained against the weight of his own body. The earth was cold and coarse beneath his fingers, crumbling slightly with each pull.
Inch by inch, he forced himself upward—until, at nearly ten feet, his grip slipped. With a dull thud, Rory crashed back to the ground, dirt scattering around him.
Isla winced, pressing a hand to her mouth. "Ouch… that looked painful. Are you alright, Rory?"
Rory pushed himself up, brushing mud from his arms, his jaw set in grim determination. "I'm fine," he said, breathing hard but steady. "The sooner we get through this, the stronger we'll become. I'm not stopping here."
Ari and Isla exchanged a hard, resolute glance, the tension between them sparking unspoken resolve. They both nodded, the faint scrape of shifting dirt beneath their feet punctuating their decision.
One by one, the three of them launched into the climb again, hands scraping against rough soil, muscles burning with each strained pull. The steep, unyielding terrain offered no mercy, forcing them to fight for every inch as sweat and dust streaked their faces.
Rory clawed his way higher, his forearms trembling with effort, sweat dripping into his eyes. Just as he reached a point that felt halfway to the summit, his fingers slipped. With a sharp curse, he tumbled back to the ground, dust kicking up around him. "Tch! I was halfway there," he muttered through gritted teeth.
Meanwhile, Isla, attempting her own climb, let out a sudden scream as her hands lost purchase. Gravity claimed her instantly—and she landed squarely on top of Rory with a thud.
"Thank goodness… I thought I was a goner!" she gasped, scrambling to push herself up.
"Can you… get off me?" Rory groaned, struggling beneath her weight, dust clinging to his sweaty exoskeleton as he rolled slightly to relieve the pressure.
Days passed, each one marked by sweat, scraped hands, and aching muscles. Three full days into the grueling training, progress remained slow but tangible. Rory had climbed roughly halfway up the jagged slope, while Isla had managed only a third. Their persistence was undeniable, yet Valeria knew the lesson extended beyond mere strength or endurance.
This is not just a test of might, strength, or willpower, Valeria thought, eyes fixed on Ari's relentless attempts.
Unlike the others, he pushed himself to the absolute limit. Time and again, he sprinted toward the steep terrain, hands scrabbling for grip, legs trembling as he tried to cover as much distance in a single motion. Each attempt brought him closer to the summit, yet inevitably, his fingers slipped, and he tumbled down the jagged wall of mud and loose soil, dust and small stones scattering around him.
Still, he refused to yield.
Reckless… Valeria mused, tilting her head. And yet… he's almost making it to the top. Tenacity like this… it's rare.
Ari sprawled on the ground, every muscle screaming, arms and legs numb from sheer exhaustion. Dirt clung to his sweat-soaked exoskeleton, and the scent of damp earth filled his nostrils—but his mind refused to surrender.
Damn it… I can't feel my legs or my arms… but I have to reach the top. This is the only way to get through this training. He clenched his fists, grinding grit between his teeth. I don't know how she made it look so effortless… and I'm not sure I ever will.
With teeth clenched and every fiber of his being screaming in protest, Ari hauled himself to his feet. His body trembled under the weight of exhaustion, muscles trembling like fragile cords of steel. He drew a deep, ragged breath, then charged forward, launching himself onto the steep terrain. Every handhold and foothold burned, every inch fought for with sheer will.
Higher and higher he climbed, dirt crumbling beneath his fingers, legs shaking violently with each push. Pain screamed through his limbs—but he refused to yield.
And then—finally—he reached the summit.
With the last reserves of strength, he leapt, clutching the edge of the slope, fingers digging into the loose soil. Summoning every ounce of resolve, he dragged himself onto solid ground, collapsing in a heaving, sweat-soaked heap.
Valeria's eyes widened, a rare flicker of surprise crossing her usually impassive face. "What…? He actually made it…"
From below, Isla's jaw dropped. "Rory… Ari actually reached the top!" Her voice wavered between awe and disbelief.
Rory, chest heaving and dust streaked across his exoskeleton, nodded slowly. "Ari… he's something else. I don't know how he managed that."
Ari lay at the summit, body trembling from fatigue, muscles quivering with every breath. His chest rose and fell unevenly, and sweat streaked dirt across his face. Despite it all, a small, triumphant smile tugged at his lips.
"I did it… finally," he muttered, voice hoarse, barely able to push himself upright.
Valeria stepped forward, her armored feet crunching against the loose soil. She nodded once, sharp and deliberate. "That was very impressive—each of you. But especially you, Ari. You reached the top after failing repeatedly."
Ari offered a weak, weary smile in return. Valeria's expression, however, hardened instantly, her gaze locking onto him.
"However, this training was never meant for you to drive yourselves to the brink of death. Its purpose is to teach you to climb with precision and efficiency. And there is a reason I was able to do it so effortlessly—a reason you must understand."
Valeria lifted her foot deliberately, flexing it to reveal a remarkable combination of claws, fine hairs, and sticky pads. "We military ants use these," she explained, voice calm but firm. "They allow us to grip and cling to nearly any surface—even ones that seem impossibly smooth."
A long silence stretched over the group as the revelation sank in. The faint rustle of dirt and the wind brushing against the jagged terrain were the only sounds.
Isla's lips trembled, and tears welled in her eyes. "So… you're telling me I went through all of that… for nothing?" Her voice wavered, a mixture of disbelief and frustration.
Rory exhaled heavily, wiping a streak of dirt from his forehead. "I guess it makes sense," he said, voice steady but tinged with resignation. "We weren't military before, and we weren't worker ants either… so we never had a reason to use them."
A thought suddenly struck Rory, and he turned to Isla, brow furrowed. "Wait… but you were a worker ant. How did you not know about this?"
Isla sniffled, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand. "I… I never had a reason to climb anything," she admitted quietly, eyes cast downward.
Rory let out a long, measured sigh, shaking his head. He shifted his stance, flexing his feet deliberately, testing the grip. Slowly, carefully, he applied the technique Valeria had demonstrated. To his astonishment, his feet held firm, and he began to ascend the slope with ease, dirt barely shifting beneath him.
Isla's eyes widened, and after a hesitant pause, she mimicked his movements. Her feet found purchase, claws and pads gripping instinctively. Within moments, both of them had scaled the terrain, arriving at the top with wide eyes and pounding hearts.
Ari slumped against the summit, sweat and dirt streaking his face, and let out a weak, rasping chuckle.
"Well… that would've been nice to know before I nearly killed myself climbing," he muttered, voice hoarse but tinged with humor.
Valeria's lips curved into a brief, sharp smirk. "Welcome to military training," she said, voice crisp and authoritative. "Lesson number one: Adapt—or die."