Chapter

After waiting for a few hours, Gerhan observed the wolves as they finished their feast and began to rest. The carcasses were stripped of most flesh, but it was clear the wolves had no intention of lingering in the area. Even they seemed wary of attracting larger predators to the scene.

The brown-coated wolf dug into the bear's massive chest, pulling out a red, glowing core.

"That must be the bear's mana core," thought Gerhan, a mix of curiosity and envy stirring in him. "So beasts really do have more than just brute strength here."

The wolves moved quickly to gather what they could. The brown wolf tore off one of the bear's massive arms, slinging it across its back with ease, while the other gray wolf dragged the body of their fallen kin. With one last glance around the area, the wolves disappeared into the dense forest.

Finally, the clearing was still.

Gerhan took control of his worker ants and cautiously approached the scene. His small bodies moved nimbly through the grass and reached the now blood-soaked earth where the bear and wolf carcasses lay in ruin.

"It's about time I stop being so afraid," he thought as his ants began nibbling at the remains. "Larger beasts don't care about something as insignificant as me. I'm probably just part of the ecosystem to them, not even worth a second thought."

Still, the sight of the wolves claiming the core and the bear's arm lingered in his mind. "Maybe their intelligence isn't as refined as their strength and instincts. Whatever the case… now it's my turn to feast."

The ants focused on the bear, gnawing at the less-decayed parts of its body. Its flesh was firm and rich with nutrients compared to the rotting wolf carcass he had been relying on. Gerhan felt a surge of satisfaction as he commanded the workers to carry small chunks back to the nest.

"This process is going to take time," he thought, watching the diligent ants. "But with patience and persistence, I'll grow stronger. One trip at a time."

As the ants scurried back and forth, Gerhan planned his next moves. This was just the beginning. If the ecosystem didn't see him as a threat, then he would use that to his advantage, feeding and growing his colony until it could dominate even the strongest of creatures.

Colony Population:

• Workers: 6 fully grown workers.

• Larvae: 16 larvae.

• Pupae: 9 pupae.

These were the numbers in Gerhan's growing colony. As he assessed their progress, he dreamed of the day when his colony would number in the thousands—or even millions. For now, however, his immediate goal was to reach at least 100 workers.

When the workers returned with their loads, Gerhan instructed two more to join the food retrieval team, leaving one behind to tend to the larvae and pupae alongside himself.

He turned to the freshly brought food, watching the workers feed the colony while he himself began eating. With each bite, he felt his anticipation grow, his dreams of expansion coming closer to reality.