The corridor leading to Hopper's chamber was shrouded in eerie silence. Dust hung in the air, stirred only by the faint tremors of distant battles. Anastasia stepped forward with her mandibles drawn—twin blades gleaming with purpose. Her gaze was sharp, unwavering. Her breathing stayed calm, focused on the battle ahead.
Then, a shadow fell across the hallway.
A towering figure stepped forward, eyes glowing faintly in the dim torchlight. Four gleaming weapons hung at his sides—twice the blades, twice the danger. Viser.
"I wondered when I'd get to meet the so-called new Commander Hopper always talks about," Viser said, his voice a low growl. "You've made quite a mess of things in this fortress."
Anastasia didn't blink. "Step aside. I don't have time to waste."
A grin crept across his face. "You're confident. I like that. But before you assume I'm just another grasshopper… let me make something clear." He stepped closer, the metal of his blades clinking ominously. "Even among Hopper's elite, I'm feared. I rival two of his generals."
The air shifted—thicker now, as if the corridor itself held its breath. But Anastasia stood unfazed.
"Then you'll fall like the rest."
Viser's grin vanished. "So be it."
With a sudden burst of speed and the beat of his wings, he lunged. His four weapons sliced through the air—two arcing high, two low. Anastasia reacted instantly, her twin mandibles raised. Steel met steel—furious, sharp, deafening. Sparks erupted as their blades clashed, lighting the passage in rapid flashes.
Each impact was thunderous. The screech of metal grinding, the hum of air splitting under pressure—sound and fury filled the hall. Their blows cracked the floor, gouged stone from the walls, sent dust flying with each step.
Anastasia ducked low, parried, then spun upward with a counterstrike. Viser vaulted over her, landing heavily behind and sweeping his lower blades toward her back. She twisted just in time—her weapons catching his mid-swing with a clang that rang like a war bell.
"You're fast," he muttered, impressed. "For an ant."
"You talk too much," Anastasia replied, launching a series of rapid jabs at his chest.
He blocked them with spiked forearms, retreated a step, then unleashed a cross-pattern slash with all four blades. Anastasia narrowly avoided the full impact—one edge grazed her shoulder, drawing blood. But she didn't falter. She pressed forward, her strikes faster, heavier, refusing to let him control the rhythm.
They clashed again and again—relentless. Movements blurred. Dodges, feints, somersaults. The corridor echoed with fury as air howled around their blades.
"I see now," Viser said during a deadlock, their weapons locked in a grinding push. "You're not just strong. You're driven. But will that be enough?"
He shoved her backward. Anastasia skidded across the floor, catching herself on one hand. She charged again, her feet pounding the stone. The hallway trembled beneath them as they collided once more.
The fight dragged on—minutes, maybe longer. Time lost meaning in the chaos. Anastasia felt fatigue creeping in—tight limbs, aching muscles, stinging lungs. Her wounds bled freely now. Each swing took more effort. Viser, massive and monstrous, showed no signs of tiring. His blows came with ceaseless, brutal force.
Then—he broke through.
One of his lower blades slammed into her side, sending her crashing into the wall. Pain exploded through her ribs as debris rained down. She gasped. Her grip weakened. Her vision swam.
Viser approached, steps slow and confident. "It ends here. You were impressive. But not enough to stop me."
Anastasia struggled to rise. Her legs trembled. Her chest heaved. She stared at the cracked floor, shadows dancing before her eyes. Then…
She saw her father's face.
Captain Terrence. Proud. Brave. The strongest ant she had ever known. She remembered the moment Hopper struck him down—merciless and sudden. She had sworn vengeance that day. Sworn she would make Hopper pay.
Why did I come here? she asked herself.
To save Tanya. To free our colony. To avenge my father.
And then—another face.
Ari. Battered and bloodied, standing alone against Hopper. Just a lance corporal. No business fighting a monster like that. But he stood tall. Unyielding. Determined to protect the princess, no matter the cost.
Anastasia's breath caught.
For Tanya. For my father. For all of them… I can't fall here. Not now.
She clenched her jaw and screamed from the depths of her soul, "I refuse to lose here! Not yet!"
Her hand shot out, gripping her blades once more. A surge of strength coursed through her limbs—a second wind, born of memory and purpose.
Viser raised his blades to finish her.
But she was already moving.
Steel rang as she intercepted his strike—fury behind her counterattack. Anastasia was on her feet, eyes alight with fire. Her movements were faster now, no longer weighed by doubt or fatigue. Twin weapons spun like whirlwinds.
Viser reeled. "What—what is this?!"
"You underestimated me!" she shouted, every step, every swing fueled by purpose.
Clang. Swipe. Slash.
Each blow cracked the stone. The walls shuddered. Viser's smugness had vanished, replaced by clenched teeth and wide eyes. Her speed—it had risen. Or perhaps it was her resolve. Either way, he was losing ground.
He aimed low—she leapt. He slashed high—she met it midair, deflected, then drove a blade across his arm. Blood splattered the wall.
"Damn it!" Viser roared.
She didn't stop.
Feint. Spin. Strike.
Her final assault broke through his defense. One blade drove into his chest. The other sank deep into his side.
Viser froze, eyes wide in disbelief.
She twisted both weapons and shoved him backward. The giant stumbled. Dropped to a knee. Then collapsed fully, twitching weakly, his four blades sprawled uselessly.
Anastasia swayed. Her body screamed in agony. Her breaths came in broken, raspy bursts. Slowly, she lowered her blades. Silence enveloped the corridor.
Then, her knees buckled. She dropped, head bowed, shoulders trembling.
She inhaled deeply… and exhaled in a shuddering breath.
"Ari… I'm coming," she whispered, voice hoarse but full of fire.
She pulled herself back to her feet, staggering but unbroken. Blood dripped from her side. Her vision blurred. But she stepped over Viser's body without hesitation.
The corridor stretched ahead into darkness.
But her path was clear.
She was not finished—not until Tanya was safe. Not until Hopper fell.
And so she moved forward, limping through shadow, carrying not just blades but the weight—and strength—of every reason she had to fight.