Ari sat alone, absently moving the paired mandibles in his hands. The dull scrape of metal edges brushing together filled the quiet space around him.
He watched them for a moment, the steady motion giving him something to focus on as his thoughts turned heavy and crowded.
I haven't been in this world for very long, yet I've already come close to death more times than I can count.
Ari exhaled sharply. The sound was rough in the quiet. He gripped his mandibles tighter, the metal edges clicking once before stilling. A faint tension ran through his arms.
Speed alone isn't enough. If I want to survive here—if I want to truly protect myself and the others—I need to learn how to fight.
Ari's mind drifted to the termite colony. The acrid stench of smoke and burning wood still clung to his senses, mingling with the sharp, biting tang of acid. The tunnels had been alive with chaos, walls buckling and splintering as flames licked their timbered edges.
Termites swarmed in every direction, hulking, insectoid soldiers whose chitin gleamed under the firelight. Acid sprayed from their forelimbs, sizzling against the scorched earth, hissing as it narrowly missed him or as he dodged. Every instinct screamed at him to move faster, strike harder. He had slashed through them with speed alone, metal biting into chitin, the clang of his mandibles echoing through the tunnels. His heart pounded so violently he could feel it in his throat, adrenaline burning in his veins.
And then… she appeared. Termite Queen Andromeda. Her form was deceptively small, petite and humanlike, yet the weight of her presence was suffocating. Mandibles glinted with lethal precision, a thin sheen of acid glimmered along her forearms, and her eyes—intelligent, calculating—tracked him with a predator's patience.
Every movement she made was deliberate, a measured strike designed to exploit the slightest weakness. One moment he was attacking, slaying termites, and the next he was impaled, pain ripping through him as the world tilted sideways. Heat and fire blurred with the metallic tang of blood. Every nerve screamed, every thought shattered into fragments. Panic clawed at his chest as he struggled to pull free, to survive.
He had survived—but barely. He remembered the sting of her acid, the precision of her strike, the way she had toyed with him in the minutes before she had escaped. That memory still burned in him, a reminder of how fragile his strength truly was—and how much he had yet to learn.
Then there was the swarm of flies. They attacked him in unrelenting numbers, wings cutting through the air. He darted, spun, and struck, feeling his muscles respond faster than ever before. Metal collided with chitin in a precise, violent rhythm, and he managed to take down several of them.
But speed alone carried him again; for every fly he cut down, two more took its place. Each missed strike reminded him of the gap between survival and mastery. He had grown stronger, yes—but his reliance on speed remained a fragile shield. What if they were as strong as Commander Valeria? As fast and lethal as Commander Ruth, who was far faster than me. One misstep, one hesitation… and death would come, an inevitable fate.
Ari's grip tightened around the mandibles until the handles pressed hard against his palms. The faint creak of his exoskeleton followed the motion. Heat pooled beneath his chest, steady and unpleasant. The thought stayed with him, refusing to fade.
"Ari!"
Ari's antennae twitched at the sound of a familiar voice, pulling him out of his thoughts. He turned toward the approaching figure—Princess Tanya. The faint rhythm of her steps echoed against the packed ground.
"Oh, it's you, Princess Tanya," he murmured, shifting his weight and brushing a hand along the mandible handles. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"
Tanya stopped in front of him, her wings fluttering slightly. "I thought I told you to drop the formalities, Ari."
"Sorry," he muttered, rubbing his cheek with a finger. "I guess I just got used to calling you 'Princess.' Is that a bad thing?"
"Well… it's okay, I suppose." Her antennae drooped a little, and her voice carried a hint of disappointment. She blinked once, then straightened. "Though I'm glad to see you back alive and well after that expedition."
She smiled warmly, wings settling behind her. "I heard all about what happened from one of the military ants. You were attacked by flies but fought them off. They said you were amazing out there."
Ari felt a flush of heat creep up his face. He looked away, embarrassed. I wouldn't say amazing, but I held my ground, he muttered, a soft chuckle vibrating through his chest.
"It was amazing." Tanya's wings shivered lightly behind her, and her tone was firm but kind. "I hope you keep getting stronger—and faster too—because…" She hesitated, lowering her voice so only he could hear. "We might not have much time left."
Ari's body stiffened at her words. He turned to face her, antennae flicking sharply with concern. "What do you mean by that, Princess?"
Tanya hesitated for a moment, studying him carefully, antennae twitching as she searched for the right way to ask. "Do you remember when you were first spotted and captured?"
Ari blinked, caught off guard by the sudden change in topic. "It's a day I could never forget. Valeria was terrifying." He relaxed his shoulders slightly, letting the tension drain.
"And do you remember telling me that you came from another world?" Tanya asked, her expression neutral but her body shivering lightly.
Ari narrowed his eyes, noticing her subtle tension. "I do."
"If that's true…" Tanya took a deep breath, a faint smile touching her lips. "Could you tell me what your world is like? Does war exist? Is there peace?"
Caught off guard, Ari hesitated. Then he began, "Well… it's not peaceful every single day, that's for sure. But compared to this world? It's much less violent."
Tanya leaned closer, her antennae flicking with curiosity. "Can you describe it to me? What is it like?"
Ari leaned back slightly, gathering his thoughts. He had almost forgotten what it felt like to speak of his old world.
"My world is much bigger than this one," he began, letting his gaze drift briefly upward. "It's divided into many countries, each with its own governments, cultures, and languages. I was born in Japan, in a city called Tokyo."
Come to think of it… when I arrived in this world, there was never a language barrier between us. For some reason, I just understand them.
Ari's antennae twitched slightly as the thought settled in.
Tanya's eyes widened, antennae flicking with curiosity. "Tokyo?"
Ari nodded, brushing a hand along the mandible handles at his side. "It's one of the largest and busiest cities in Japan. Towering buildings, bright lights, millions of people moving through their daily lives. The streets are always crowded, filled with the sounds of cars honking, trains speeding past, people talking, and flashing advertisements everywhere."
She leaned slightly forward, antennae twitching, captivated. "It sounds… overwhelming."
Ari shifted his weight, the exoskeleton along his shoulders creaking softly. "It can be. But it's also amazing. The technology is so advanced that you can cross the entire city in minutes using underground trains. Massive skyscrapers, shopping districts, entertainment centers, and so many restaurants—you'd never run out of new foods to try."
"Restaurants?" Tanya asked, tilting her head.
"They're places where people go to eat food that's prepared for them."
Her eyes widened in surprise. "You don't have to make your own food?"
Ari chuckled softly. "Not always. Some people cook at home, but there are plenty of places where you can pay for meals that are already made. There's food from all over the world—spicy dishes, sweet desserts, fried food, raw fish, noodles, soups—you name it."
"That sounds incredible," Tanya murmured. "Do you have a favorite food?"
Ari thought for a moment. "Probably ramen. It's a noodle dish with a rich broth, meat, and vegetables. Warm, filling, and really comforting."
"Ramen..." Tanya repeated slowly, as if committing the word to memory.
"There's also ice cream," Ari added with a small smile.
"Ice cream?"
"It's a sweet, frozen dessert. Comes in different flavors—chocolate, vanilla, strawberry. You eat it with a spoon, and it melts in your mouth."
Tanya gasped, her eyes lighting up. "That sounds delicious! I really want to try it someday."
Ari smiled gently. "I think you'd like it."
Her eyes softened, a wistful warmth settling over her features. "Your world sounds so different... so wonderful. Do people there fight as much as we do?"
Ari sighed. "There are fights, and wars do exist, but they aren't constant like here. Most people live their lives without ever having to fight at all. Governments and laws keep order. Wars are terrible when they happen, but they aren't a daily part of life. In Tokyo, people go to school, work, visit friends, enjoy entertainment—movies, music, art. Things that bring joy."
Tanya's gaze drifted, her voice quiet. "It sounds like a dream."
Ari studied her, sensing the weight behind her words.
"Maybe one day, I'll run away to that world with you… far from here." She smiled softly, but it didn't reach her eyes. "If only things were that simple."
Ari's own smile faded as he met her gaze. The longing in her voice was impossible to miss. She was bound by responsibilities far greater than she revealed.
"Princess..." He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "I don't know what's going on, or if something's troubling you. If it's about Vladimir..."
At the mention of the name, Tanya's expression darkened. She looked away, voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what to think anymore."
Ari clenched his fist at his side. Vladimir, the military commander, had left a deep wound in her heart—one he hadn't openly declared but that spoke louder than any words. And if what Tanya said about time running out was true, then something dangerous was coming.
He took a steadying breath. "Whatever happens, just know that I'll protect you."
Tanya turned back to him, eyes filled with warmth and gratitude. "Thank you," she whispered. "That means more to me than you know."
They sat together in silence, the weight of their conversation settling between them like a quiet storm.
Ari wasn't sure what the future held, but one thing was certain—
He wouldn't let anything happen to Tanya.
Not while he still had the strength—and the determination—to keep getting stronger.