Ants are social insects belonging to the family Formicidae within the order Hymenoptera, which also includes bees and wasps. Known for their highly organized colonies, cooperative behavior, and strict division of labor, they have thrived for thousands of years through their ability to adapt and survive.
Their bodies are encased in exoskeletons—hard outer shells that grant them protection from the elements and predators. Equipped with powerful mandibles, ants can attack, defend, and manipulate their environment. However, their society dictates their roles from the moment they hatch.
In this world, ants are very different from the ones I know. They follow a strict hierarchy that resembles human civilizations. At the lowest rank are the slave ants, forced into servitude. Above them are the workers—fragile but numerous—tasked with gathering resources and maintaining the colony.
Overseeing the slaves are the wardens, who ensure order and discipline. Soldiers form the backbone of the colony's defense, their long, blade-like mandibles making them formidable in battle. Even within the military class, there is a clear chain of command: recruits, privates, corporals, sergeants, lieutenants, commanders, and at the very top, the elite warriors.
Beyond the soldiers stand the elder ants, second in rank only to the queen herself. They are the oldest and most experienced members of the colony, serving as advisors in matters of governance, war, and history. Their counsel provides stability and ensures that the queen's rule is guided by wisdom.
At the very top of this structure stand the royalties—the princess, the next in line to rule and the most important person to the future of the colony, and the queen, the absolute authority who governs with final say over all matters.
From birth, an ant's destiny is written in its mandibles. Those with long, sword-like mandibles possess the strength to become soldiers, while ants with shorter, dagger-like mandibles are destined to be workers. Some who could be soldiers choose to hide among the workers—or even take up the role of wardens—out of fear of the battlefield.
But if all of this is true… then what does that make me? Ari's gaze lingered on the hilt of the mandible Valeria had entrusted to him, its cool metal pressing lightly against his palms. The weight of uncertainty settled over him.
I am an ant like the rest. And yet… after I died, I didn't come into this world with mandibles. That's unnatural—they're the primary weapon of every ant.
Could it be a mistake? A miracle? Or something else entirely? Is it because I'm from another world?
Was I meant to be a soldier? A worker? Or something new—something beyond classification?
It doesn't matter. Valeria entrusted me with her father's mandibles, which means I can fight. All I need to do is adapt, survive, and, ultimately, find a way back to my world—even if it means reincarnation all over again.
Ari shook his head, letting the thoughts slide away. Now was not the time for existential pondering.
The early morning air was crisp and still, carrying a weight of unusual quiet over the colony. Normally, at this hour, worker ants would be swarming through the tunnels, hauling supplies, their exoskeletons clicking softly with every step, and reinforcing the walls with practiced efficiency. Today, however, the rhythm was broken—something urgent had stirred the colony from its usual order.
A rare, almost unthinkable event had taken place: the queen had left the colony. Antennae twitched nervously across the ranks as the news rippled outward, the soldiers standing straighter, mandibles flexing in hand almost instinctively in readiness.
Queen Celeste, the ruler of the colony, had departed on an important diplomatic mission. Her decision was met with resistance from the elders, who feared for her safety, but in the end, her will was absolute. To ensure her protection, she selected a formidable escort: Commander Valeria, Corporals Beatrice and Lily along with other corporals, thirty newly trained military ants, and three lance corporals—Ari, Isla, and Rory.
As they marched in formation, Isla clutched her mandibles tightly, her nervous energy evident in every step. "I… I wonder where we're going…" she murmured, her voice soft and uncertain.
"Me too," Rory admitted, his tone steady but thoughtful. His antennae twitched as he kept his eyes on the path ahead. "But there's no need to worry. If we're traveling with the queen, it won't be somewhere dangerous. Still… don't let your guard down."
Beside them, Lily marched with casual ease, her arms folded behind her head. She cast Isla a sidelong glance, a teasing smirk tugging at her lips. "Come on, Isla. Lighten up a little. Nothing's going to happen on this route. Just stay alert, and you'll be fine."
Isla drew in a shaky breath, her steps evening out. "I see… Thanks. I feel much better now."
Corporal Beatrice's voice cut through the march, firm and commanding. "You're doing well, privates. Keep sharp and hold formation."
"Yes, Corporal!" the recruits answered in unison, their voices carrying across the line. The sound of synchronized steps followed, steady against the packed earth.
Ari listened to their exchange but held his tongue. The air felt heavier with each step, the silence between the recruits saying more than words could. The route was supposed to be safe, yet in this world, nothing ever truly was. And if the queen herself had left the protection of the colony, then the situation was far more dire than anyone wanted to admit.
After a long march, the convoy reached an elevated clearing. The ground leveled out beneath their feet, and a faint breeze stirred the grass around them. Queen Celeste stepped forward, her presence drawing every gaze.
"We are facing a crisis," she declared, her regal voice cutting across the gathered ranks. Her translucent wings shifted with a faint rustle, catching the morning light in pale, iridescent hues. The faint motion made her seem taller, more commanding, as every soldier's eyes locked on her.
"Though we have located several food supplies, transporting them all back to the colony before winter sets in will be impossible. Our current resources are insufficient to sustain us through the cold season."
One of the elder ants, an advisor to the queen, stepped forward. His antennae dipped respectfully as he spoke. "Then what is our next course of action, Your Majesty? Winter is drawing near, and we have little time."
"We need a solution—and quickly," Celeste replied, her tone steady and unyielding. Her wings shifted faintly as she straightened. "That is why I have decided to contact our allied nation, Queen Helena's colony."
A low murmur rippled through the formation. Antennae twitched, lips tightened, and uneasy glances passed from one soldier to another. The treaty with Helena's colony still held, but every soldier knew the truth—seeking aid from another colony was a gamble. In this world, alliances could turn brittle overnight.
Lieutenant Brooks, along with two other soldiers… I think it's Lieutenant Tavian and Sergeant Samuel… they're overseeing the colony right now, Ari thought, his gaze following their precise movements across the open ground. Despite opposition from the council of elders, Queen Celeste had already made her decision. She had handpicked her escorts, ensuring both experience and fresh recruits would accompany her. Meanwhile, back at the colony, defenses had been entrusted to Brooks, Tavian, and Samuel, with the now fully recovered Commander Seth left in charge—a reassuring presence in case of a raid.
After an exhausting journey, they finally arrived at the borders of Queen Helena's colony. A squad of military ants stood at attention, their armor clinking softly as they shifted. Commander Ruth led them, her posture straight, eyes focused ahead. The evening breeze moved through the grass, carrying the scent of damp earth.
"Welcome. We've been expecting you," Ruth said, her voice flat and steady. She didn't blink or shift a muscle in her face, her words carrying a low, detached calm.
Commander Valeria straightened, her eyes sharp. "Thanks for making the arrangements, Ruth. I appreciate the effort."
Ruth's expression remained blank, her voice steady and neutral. "These arrangements are for the survival of both our colonies. This way," Ruth stated, gesturing toward the tunnels of her colony. Her steps were even and deliberate as they followed behind her.
As they entered, Ari noticed the shift in atmosphere. The worker ants digging tunnels with pickaxes paused, and the military ants of Helena's colony fixed them with cautious, wary stares. Isla shrank slightly under their gaze.
"Are you sure these ants are our allies?" she whispered, her voice tight with nervousness.
Queen Celeste, noticing the tension, ordered the recruits to remain outside, along with a few Corporals. Only the ranked officers—and those Valeria trusted—followed Ruth into the main chamber, where Helena awaited.
The chamber was grand but pragmatic, built for efficiency rather than luxury. At the center, on a raised platform, sat Queen Helena. Her wings extended behind her in a precise, symmetrical display, the edges smooth and well-kept, their faint iridescence catching the light. Beside her, General Ivan stood, alert and poised as her second-in-command.
Helena offered a composed smile. "It is a pleasure to meet you in person, Queen Celeste."
Celeste inclined her head slightly. "The pleasure is mine. It has been many years since I last left my colony, yet I find this encounter most welcome."
Ivan's gaze settled on Valeria. A flicker of recognition passed between them.
"I see you've fared well," Valeria remarked coolly. "All thanks to our treaty, I assume."
Ivan's lips tightened in a brief smirk. "Don't flatter yourself. You only caught me off guard in our last battle."
"In war, there is no such thing as 'off guard,'" Valeria shot back. "Victory belongs to those who fight with strategy."
Ivan grunted, conceding the point.
His attention then shifted to Ari, and his expression stiffened. So this is the one who changed the tide of battle… he thought. That quick-footed ant, moving unpredictably. He dodged my strike before I could react—the first time that's ever happened. Back then he had no rank, and now… he's a lance Corporal.
Ari met his stare without flinching.
Ivan narrowed his eyes. I'll have to keep an eye on this one.
Helena clapped her hands together, signaling the start of the meeting. "Now that we are all assembled, let us begin negotiations."
The chamber fell silent as the weight of the discussion settled over them. The future of both colonies hung on what was about to be decided.
And Ari, ever the outsider, couldn't shake the sense that this was only the beginning of something far larger than himself.