COURAGE AND THE WILL TO SURVIVE; AN UNEXPECTED FACE ARRIVES

The sound of Lily's body hitting the ground echoed through the ruined chamber, as the bloodied mandible that had pierced her chest retracted with a wet hiss. A shadowy figure stood behind her, his form slowly emerging from the dust like a specter of death. The glint of his emerald compound eyes cut through the gloom.

He was tall, lean, and cloaked in muted green armor that shimmered under the flickering light. Four jagged mandibles hung lazily at his sides. A long scar traced across his thorax. His voice, when he finally spoke, was calm… and dripping with contempt.

"Looks like I found some small fries from the invasion ant team," he said with clear disappointment. "They even look battered and weak already. It's not even worth killing any of them at this point."

"You… bastard!" Beatrice snarled, dragging herself up on shaky legs. Her injuries from Gianna's beating were still fresh, her body trembling. "You'll pay for this… I'll kill you—" she choked as pain shot through her midsection, forcing her to a knee.

"Oh no…" Isla whispered, her voice dying in her throat. She clutched her chest as the pressure that poured off the figure hit her like a tidal wave. Her knees buckled slightly. "He's… He's one of Hopper's Generals…"

The figure stepped into the light fully now. His face was brimming with excitement as his eyes scanned the destruction around him—his gaze fell upon Gianna's mutilated corpse.

"Oh…?" His voice held a note of amusement. "Someone managed to kill Gianna? I wonder who…"

Before either ant could move, the figure vanished. In a blink, he reappeared directly before Isla and Beatrice.

Their hearts sank. The gap in power between them was suffocating.

"Was it you?" he asked, leaning toward them, eyes wide with manic glee. "Was it you?" he repeated, his voice cracking with excitement. "I've been itching for a fight for the longest time…"

But then, just as quickly, his demeanor shifted. His voice dipped into disinterest. "By the look on your faces, I doubt either of you had enough strength to take her down. Pitiful. I'll just look for the one who took her out after I kill the rest of you."

Isla stepped forward, mandibles shaking in her hands, her face pale but set.

"No…" Beatrice gasped. "Isla, please run! That's the speed monster … Sly—the fastest grasshopper in existence! Please… you'll die if you engage him. Just run. Leave us behind!"

"I can't run," Isla said softly, voice trembling. "Even if I did, I'd only die. I have no one to save me but myself. Even if I know I stand zero chance… I still need to stand."

With a scream, Isla lunged at Sly, mandibles swinging.

Sly didn't even unsheathed his weapons. He dodged her attacks effortlessly, leaning and swaying like a leaf on the wind. "So slow…" he mused as he sidestepped her wild swings.

He struck with the back of his hand—once, twice—each blow sending Isla skidding across the stone floor. She coughed, blood spattering her lips, but got back up.

"Still standing? You're persistent."

Isla charged again, this time aiming low. Sly lifted a leg and brought it down like a hammer, stomping her into the ground. Cracks spread from the point of impact.

She groaned, her armor chipped, her ribs aching.

"You remind me of a beetle I once fought," Sly said, almost bored. "He didn't know when to die either."

She spat blood and rose again, shakily.

Again, she swung.

This time, he twisted behind her, kicked her legs out from under her, and launched a brutal elbow into her spine. Her body folded mid-air, crashing hard.

Isla gasped, trying to breathe through the pain. Everything hurt—her head spun, vision flickered. But still… she stood.

"I-I won't let you... win…"

Sly tilted his head. "You're not even worth using my mandibles on."

He struck again, this time unleashing a rapid flurry of punches and kicks. Each blow found a gap in her defense. Her body whipped back and forth like a ragdoll, her screams echoing through the chamber.

Still… she rose.

"Tch," Sly clicked his tongue. "I really admire your bravery and grit."

He reached back.

"But I'm going to end this."

A flash of silver.

He released one of his mandibles—its edge gleamed as it cut the air.

The world exploded into a dust storm.

But when the cloud settled—he wasn't alone.

A figure stood between Isla and Sly, holding Sly's mandible in his bare hand. His grip firm. His eyes unwavering.

Ari.

Isla's vision blurred, but recognition lit up her face. "A-Ari… you're here… you're alive…"

"I'm glad I made it in time," Ari said gently, not taking his eyes off Sly. "Don't worry. I'll take it from here."

Sly blinked. His grin widened. "Oh… You stopped my slash so effortlessly. Am I to assume you were the one who killed Gianna?"

"No," Ari replied with cool confidence. "But I'd easily beat her if we fought."

Sly's laugh echoed like a bell across the ruined chamber. "Now I'm intrigued. My muscles are just itching to fight someone like you."

Ari gave a small nod. "Soon. But first, let me help my fellow ants. Then, you and I can have that battle you've been craving."

Sly stepped back with a bow and a crooked smile. "Of course. Go ahead."

Ari vanished.

In the blink of an eye, he appeared beside Isla, gently catching her broken body. Her head leaned against his shoulder.

"You did well, Isla," he whispered. "Now let me handle the rest."

He disappeared again, this time reappearing next to Beatrice. He laid Isla down gently and reached into his bag.

"Ari… you need to get out of here…" Beatrice said through gritted teeth. "He'll kill you."

"Worry about yourself for once," Ari replied. "Look at your injuries."

He handed her a wooden flask. "Drink this. It'll help."

Beatrice took it reluctantly, coughed at the awful taste. "What the hell is this?"

"A recovery mixture I made. Helps the healing process." He pointed. "See? Your wounds are closing."

Beatrice looked stunned. "Whoa… I don't feel any pain anymore …"

He gave some to Isla, who groaned at the bitterness but then smiled weakly. "It tastes like waste… but I feel so much better."

Sly, watching from a distance, narrowed his eyes.

"What is this? He gave them something, and now they're healed like they never fought Gianna… And that speed—faster than most Commander ants. Wait… that face…"

Recognition dawned.

"That's the ant who attacked Hopper back at Queen Celeste's colony. He was weak back then… but now…"

A twisted grin spread across Sly's face. "This should be fun."

Ari turned toward Lily's lifeless body. He knelt beside her and gently lifted her up.

"No pulse. She's not breathing."

He stared at her peaceful face. His heart pounded.

"This mixture… it might work. I unlocked it with the system after defeating the flies that ambushed us on the expedition but I didn't know how to use it until my final day of training…"

She definitely can't solo in her state, he hesitated, face flushing. "I'll have to… give it mouth to mouth…"

Ari glanced around nervously. "Damn it… I've never kissed anyone before in my past life. And now my first kiss is going to be with… an ant…"

He shouted inwardly, cursing his fate. Then, sighing, he poured some of the potion into his mouth and leaned down, pressing his lips to Lily's.

Isla and Beatrice both turned crimson.

"He's… kissing her?!" they thought in unison, dumbfounded.

Moments later, Lily coughed.

Her eyes fluttered open.

"Ari…? Am I dead? Is this the afterlife?"

"No, you're very much alive Lily" said Ari with a sigh of relief.

Ari...? What are you doing here?

"I should ask you that. This isn't a place for ants weaker than Lieutenants."

"You say that… but you're a Lance Corporal," she said, groggily sitting up.

She blinked. "Wait… my wounds… they're gone?"

"I gave you some of my mixture," Ari said, scratching his cheek awkwardly.

"What do you mean gave—" Beatrice cut in, eyes blazing. "You kissed Lily while she was unconscious?! You bastard!"

She lunged, slashing at Ari with her mandibles. He dodged easily, sighing.

"It was the only way to save her! She was practically dead!"

Lily blushed, her fingers brushing her lips. "That was… my first kiss…" She glanced up at Ari with a teasing glint in her eyes. "You better take responsibility."

Ari turned bright red and looked away. "You're impossible…"

Isla stumbled forward and hugged Lily tightly. "I thought you were gone… I was so scared…"

Lily smiled and stroked her head. "I'm here. You did great, Isla."

Beatrice joined them, wrapping her arms around both. "Don't ever scare us like that again… I was so worried…"

Lily chuckled. "Aw, you all love me don't you?"

But the moment shattered in an instant.

Sly appeared—without sound, without warning—his mandibles slashing forward. The three ants froze, eyes wide.

Ari spun, unsheathing one of his mandibles, and deflected the strike in time. Sparks flew.

"You ruined such a touching moment," Ari said, irritated.

"I was getting impatient," Sly growled, his eyes gleaming. "And my intuitions were right—you're at least as fast as me."

A wicked grin twisted his face.

"This… is going to be fun."