Loud smashes echoed across the training grounds, each impact sending thin clouds of dust into the air.
Ari shifted sideways, his joints flexing smoothly as his feet scraped against the packed dirt.
Rory lunged forward, his hand-held mandibles cutting through the space where Ari had just been. The air hissed with the speed of the strike, missing by only a few inches.
"Stand still!" Rory growled, his breath coming in short bursts.
He pivoted sharply, the soles of his armored feet scraping against the dirt as he locked eyes on Ari.
Ari smirked, his stance loose, exoskeleton flexing with effortless balance. "If I did that," he tilted his head slightly, "you might actually crush me."
Rory gripped his mandibles in frustration. With a sharp grunt, he charged again, planting his feet firmly against the dirt.
He swung wide, aiming to catch Ari off guard, but Ari twisted just in time, the edge of Rory's blade grazing air where his side had been moments before.
Rory followed up with a quick series of strikes, each slash slicing through the small clouds of dust kicked up by their movements.
Ari shifted smoothly with each attack, the scrape of his feet against the ground and the faint click of his exoskeleton joints marking every dodge.
"Got you this time!" Rory snapped, thrusting his mandibles forward in a feint to the right, then pivoting sharply to the left.
He adjusted his attack mid-stride, angling to cut off Ari's usual sidestep. But Ari was faster—too fast.
Just as Rory thought he had him cornered, Ari ducked low, spinning to the side in a blur before sweeping Rory's legs out from under him.
With a heavy thud, Rory crashed onto the ground, face first into the dirt.
The impact rattled his exoskeleton slightly, and a cloud of dust rose around him. Silence stretched for a heartbeat before Isla burst out laughing, tapping one of her legs sharply against the ground.
"Hah! I knew it! You didn't even last a full minute!" she teased, her antennae twitching in amusement.
Rory groaned, rolling onto his back and brushing dust from his armor plates. "Shut up, Isla. I don't see you putting in the effort to get stronger."
"I mean, I get that Ari is fast, but you went down way too easily. Kinda embarrassing, don't you think?" Isla's antennae flicked as she leaned slightly forward, amused.
Rory sighed, pressing one hand against his face, his exoskeleton scraping softly against the dirt. "Why do I even bother arguing with you."
Ari chuckled, stepping closer and extending an arm to help Rory up. "You put up a good fight. Better than yesterday's attempt," he added, the corner of his lips twitching in a teasing smirk.
Rory scoffed but took the offered hand, letting Ari haul him to his feet. "Yeah, yeah. I'll get you next time."
Isla shrugged her shoulders, antennae twitching. "Sure you will."
From a short distance away, near the colony's entrance, Beatrice and Lily watched the spar, their antennae flicking slightly as dust rose around the combatants.
He hasn't even drawn his mandibles yet, and he was able to subdue Lance Corporal Rory, Beatrice observed, her voice composed, though her eyes betrayed her surprise.
"He's really cool, isn't he?" Lily added, eyes shining. "They're both Lance Corporals, and yet Ari seems to be in a different class. No wonder our Commander takes an interest in him," she said with a teasing smirk, turning to Beatrice. "And why he gets under your exoskeleton so easily."
Beatrice shook her head quickly, antennae twitching. "Under my exoskeleton? Don't be ridiculous. He has potential yes, but that doesn't mean he bothers me."
Lily's eyes lingered on Beatrice for a moment, antennae twitching slightly, before she smirked teasingly and looked away. "If you say so," her voice light.
Rory clenched his mandibles, the metal edges pressing into his palms, frustration coiling tight inside him.
After our fight with the flies, I asked Ari to spar with me so I could get stronger. I can't say I don't understand my own reasoning, but… why him of all people? He barely even put effort into dodging me. Now that I've really fought Ari, I get it—he's not just fast, he's terrifyingly strong. There's no way I can win against him. That much is clear. But… I refuse to remain weak.
I barely held my own against a few flies, while he wiped out dozens and even injured their leader. I'm not frustrated because he's stronger. I'm afraid. If an enemy ever comes that even he can't defeat, what am I supposed to do? I'd be dead weight. That's exactly why I have to keep fighting him.
His mandibles tightened further, knuckles pressing against the cool metal. Determination sparked through him, sharp and bright. Get ready for round two, Ari.
With a burst of speed, Rory rushed at Ari once more, this time feinting to the right before pivoting sharply left.
He put all his strength into a wide swing of his mandibles, aiming to finally land a hit.
Ari's antennae twitched—something wasn't right.
A faint sound reached him, cutting through the tension of the fight.
It wasn't Rory's attack. It was coming from below, deep within the colony.
"Wait, Rory."
But Rory didn't hear him. He was too focused, too intent on landing a hit.
Ari dodged once more, but his focus had shifted, his movements just a fraction slower.
Rory's mandibles grazed his side—but before Rory could even celebrate that small victory, Ari spun behind him and sent him tumbling to the ground once more.
This time, Ari didn't extend a hand to help him up. Instead, he was already turning toward the source of the noise. "Did you hear that?"
Rory groaned from the ground but turned his head toward the tunnels, finally noticing the faint scuffling sounds.
Isla's amusement faded as she, too, focused on the noise. "What is that?"
The training grounds had gone eerily still.
The usual sounds of sparring, grumbling, and laughter faded into the background as Ari strained his senses.
A faint noise reached him—not the sharp clash of mandibles or the rhythmic stomping of feet, but something distant, muffled.
It wasn't from the surface. It was coming from below.
Rory, still catching his breath, blinked at him. "Yes it's faint but I hear it."
Ari was already moving, his legs carrying him toward the tunnels before he could explain.
The deeper he went, the clearer the sound became—a scuffle, hurried movements, someone scrambling.
Then, a shadow emerged from below.
A smaller ant, younger than any of the soldiers, clawed his way up from the lower tunnels, his movements clumsy but determined.
Ari narrowed his eyes and stepped forward. "Hey."
The young ant froze, his antennae shooting up in alarm.
He turned sharply, locking eyes with Ari.
"Who are you?" Ari asked, tilting his head slightly.
The younger ant didn't respond. Instead, he tensed, preparing to run.
Before he could, another voice echoed through the tunnel. "Edwin!"
The young ant—Edwin—flinched.
Then, from above, a figure dropped down swiftly.
Valeria.
Ari watched as she landed with practiced ease, her gaze immediately locking onto Edwin. "You again," she muttered, exasperation clear in her voice.
Edwin scowled. "Let me go, Valeria! I'm not staying down there forever!"
Ari blinked. "Wait… you two know each other?"
Valeria shot him a glance before grabbing Edwin by the back of his thorax. "He's my younger brother."
Ari's antennae twitched in surprise. "Your brother?"
Edwin struggled. "Let me go! I don't belong down there! I should be training with the others!"
Valeria's patience thinned, but her voice remained firm. "You know the laws. Worker ants aren't allowed on the surface until they turn sixteen."
"That's a stupid rule!" Edwin snapped. "I'm fourteen! If I were born a soldier, I'd already be up here training! It's not fair!"
Valeria sighed, her grip relaxing slightly. "Edwin—"
"I don't care what they say," Edwin interrupted. "Father fought! You fight! I should be allowed to fight too!"
Ari studied Edwin, He had never given much thought to the younger ants hidden away deep underground.
His gaze turned to Valeria. "So they're just… locked away?"
"It's for their safety," she insisted. "The surface is dangerous. If they were up here before they were ready—"
"They'd have a chance to grow strong instead of being treated like helpless children!" Edwin interrupted. "I want to fight like you and Father did!"
Valeria's expression faltered, something unreadable flickering in her eyes. "Father didn't want that for you."
Edwin flinched but stood his ground. "You don't know what he wanted."
A heavy silence settled between them. Finally, Valeria sighed. "Come on. We're going back down."
Edwin clenched his hands at his sides but didn't resist as she guided him toward the lower tunnels.
Ari hesitated before following. He needed to see this. He needed to understand.
The deeper they went, the cooler the air became.
Then, the tunnel opened into a vast cavern filled with young ants of all sizes.
Some barely past the larval stage, others closer to Edwin's age.
They were playing, training, talking—living in a world completely separate from the colony above.
Ari exhaled slowly. "I had no idea…"
Valeria glanced at him. "Most don't."
Edwin's antennae twitched. "Now do you get it? We're not weak. We're just kept down here, waiting."
Ari studied the young ants, his thoughts swirling.
He had spent so much time training, fighting, and pushing himself to survive in this world.
But these ants—these children—hadn't even been given a chance yet.
He turned to Valeria, his gaze firm. "Maybe it's time that changed."
Her eyes narrowed, jaw tightening, antennae bristling—a look of irritation and controlled anger he knew all too well.
That look. The one I despise the most.
"That's out of the question," Valeria replied, her tone clipped and unwavering. "Especially with the season we're entering. This rule has existed for generations to protect the colony. There are predators that hunt younger, weaker ants. Because of their inexperience and lack of strength, they're easy prey. Letting them onto the surface now would be reckless."
Neither of them said anything more as Edwin was led back to his place among the young.
But as Ari turned to leave, he knew one thing for certain—he had to protect all of them from the dangers on the surface.