A DETAILED REPORT

The journey back to the colony was long and quiet. The ants, both military and worker, pushed through their exhaustion, carrying supplies and tending to the wounded. Their bodies ached, and the weight of the battle still clung to their minds. They had won, but it had come at a cost.

By the time they reached the checkpoint—a neutral ground between the two colonies—the sun was beginning to set, casting a warm golden glow over the dirt paths and towering grass. The moment they arrived, members of both colonies rushed forward to assist. Worker ants hurried to transport the injured back home, while others solemnly carried away the fallen.

Commander Ruth stepped forward, meeting with the representatives of Queen Helena's colony. She then turned to Brooks and the others and dipped her head slightly in a show of respect.

"Thank you for your cooperation," she said sincerely. "This collaboration was a success. Both I and Queen Helena look forward to strengthening the bond between our colonies." She glanced at the carts filled with food. "Thanks to our joint efforts, we gathered enough resources to sustain both of our colonies through the coming hardships."

Brooks nodded. "We feel the same way. It was an honor to fight alongside your soldiers."

Ruth's antennae twitched as she turned slightly, her gaze landing on Ari. The young ant had remained quiet since the battle, lost in thought.

"Ari," she called.

He straightened, snapping out of his daze. "Yes, Commander?"

She studied him for a moment before offering a rare smile. "I foresee that you will become a force to be reckoned with in the future. Stay true to yourself and to this colony."

Ari hesitated before nodding. "I will."

"Good." Ruth turned back to the group. "Let's move out!"

With that, Queen Helena's military and worker ants departed, heading toward their own home. Ruth led her own forces in the opposite direction, guiding them back to their colony.

As they finally crossed into familiar territory, a collective sigh of relief passed through the ranks.

Rory flopped onto a makeshift bed of twigs and leaves, groaning. "That expedition was a damn roller coaster… Thank God we're finally home."

Isla, stretching her tired limbs, nodded. "You can say that again. I feel like I was drained of every ounce of energy after that fight."

A thought struck her, and she glanced at Rory. "Hey, do you think we'll rank up to Corporal after this mission?"

Rory snorted. "Doubt it. Those flies were weak. They weren't much of a threat."

Isla raised a brow. "That's real funny, Rory. Last time I checked, you barely stood a chance against them."

"At least I killed a handful," Rory shot back. "How many did you take down?"

"Well… you stole my kill," Isla huffed. "I started attacking the fly first."

Ari remained silent, lying on his bed and staring at the ceiling. His mind was elsewhere. His thoughts kept circling back to Evelyn, to the unexpected kiss she had given him.

Why did he feel so flustered? She was an ant. That should have been the only thing that mattered. But… she looked human. She spoke like a human. She felt human.

Was it really that simple?

He sighed, shaking his head. He didn't have the energy to think about it now.

In the meeting chamber, Queen Celeste sat upon her elevated throne, her dark eyes scanning the room. The elder ants, seated nearby, murmured amongst themselves, awaiting the official report. Anastasia stood at the queen's side, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable.

When Beatrice and Brooks entered, the room fell silent. Corporal Beatrice, "Lieutenant Brooks welcome back" said Anastasia.

Celeste's gaze settled on them. "Thank you for coming. I trust the expedition was successful, but I have not yet had the chance to read your reports. Please, enlighten us."

Beatrice stepped forward and cleared her throat. "Four days ago, we Utilized our treaty with Queen Helena's colony. Both our military and worker forces worked in unison to gather the necessary resources for our survival."

She took a deep breath before continuing.

"At first, everything went smoothly. We navigated through dangerous territories, avoiding potential threats. Our worker ants worked tirelessly to collect and transport food while our military protected them. However, just as we were about to leave, we were ambushed."

A murmur rippled through the elders. Celeste's expression darkened. "By whom?"

"Fruit flies," Beatrice said grimly. "Led by a fly named Zippy."

At that, some of the elders scoffed.

"Fruit flies?" one of them muttered. "Surely they were no match for our forces."

Beatrice shook her head. "Individually, no. But they came in overwhelming numbers, and they were desperate. They demanded our food, claiming they needed it for their own survival. When we refused, they attacked without hesitation."

The room grew tense. Anastasia's sharp gaze didn't waver. "Go on."

"The battle was chaotic," Beatrice continued. "Our first priority was to defend the worker ants. We formed a defensive formation, keeping them in the center while our military fended off the attackers. The flies were fast, erratic, and relentless. Some managed to break through our defenses, forcing us to fight in close quarters."

She hesitated, glancing toward Anastasia. "And that's where Ari stood out."

The room stilled.

While most of us struggled to keep up with the flies' speed, Ari moved through the battlefield like he had been born for it. He wasn't just fighting—he was hunting. Every strike was precise. Every movement was calculated. He didn't waste energy, didn't hesitate. He tore through the flies like they were nothing, eliminating dozens in mere moments."

Anastasia's expression didn't change, but something unreadable passed through her eyes. "How many did he take down?"

"Alone? At least three dozen," Beatrice said. "Maybe more. Commander Ruth and Lieutenant Brooks fought alongside him, and between the three of them, they wiped out a total of 120 enemies. Not one of them sustained a single injury."

A shocked silence filled the chamber. Even the elders looked taken aback.

"That's… unusual," one of them finally said.

Beatrice hesitated before speaking again. "There's more. The way he moved… it wasn't normal. He wasn't just fast—he was unnaturally fast. And precise. Almost like he could see the future or predict every attack before it happened."

Anastasia let out a slow breath. "And the casualties?"

Beatrice's expression turned solemn. "For both colonies combined, we suffered 25 military ants with mild or severe injuries, 75 worker ants injured, and…" She lowered her voice. "Twelve casualties from the military, five workers."

Queen Celeste closed her eyes for a moment before exhaling deeply. "Their loss is tragic. But their sacrifices ensure the survival of the colony. They will be honored."

She turned back to Beatrice and Brooks. "You both performed admirably. Your efforts will not go unnoticed."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Brooks said with a bow.

Anastasia, however, motioned for Beatrice to step aside with her. Once they were out of earshot, she spoke in a low voice.

"You were right," Beatrice admitted. "I didn't believe you before, but now I do. Ari is dangerous."

Anastasia's gaze was sharp. "More powerful than when you last fought him?"

"Yes." Beatrice nodded firmly. "Far more."

Anastasia remained silent for a moment before muttering, "Then we might need him in the future."

Beatrice hesitated. "For what?"

Anastasia's expression darkened. "Something dangerous is coming. And I just hope, for his sake and ours, that Ari doesn't become a problem or retaliates."