I jolted awake, panting. My head spinning around.
"Awakening initiated."
My heart sank as I became aware of my surroundings. The system's words ringed in my ears. The world was dark again. Illuminated only by the core's glow. The rough scent of stone and damp moss invaded my senses. The faint glow of the mana core pulsed in the distance. My mandibles twitched. My limbs—chitinous, clawed—shifted against the dirt floor.
It was all but a dream.
And I was still an ant. Then came a pulse. A familiar hum. The faint voice of the system:
"Mana recovery complete."
Everything felt… quieter. But not in a lonely way. In a complete way. I stood up, a little dizzy at first, and checked my status.
[Ant King – System Panel]
Species: The Chosen Royal
Level: 1
Health: 10/10
Stamina: 8/8
Mana: 30/30
Mana Recovery: +2 MP/day
Active Abilities:
• Tactical Foresight
• Appraisal
• Tremor Pulse
• Force Heal
– Instantly heals target. Leaves scar tissue that is weaker and more vulnerable to future damage. (Cooldown: 0, Mana Cost: 20 MP)
Passive Abilities:
• Royal Command – Improves coordination among colony members.
• Mana Recovery – Absorbs 2 MP/day from surroundings.
• Combat Insight – Grants instinctive perception of enemy weaknesses during combat. Slightly boosts response time across colony.
Just then, I heard their voices. Light clicking sounds. Feet on earth. "You're awake!" one of the older ants squeaked, rushing over. The younger ones stood behind, a bit cautious but curious.
"I thought we lost you again," said the second.
A familiar ding sounded in my mind.
[Mana Core – System Panel] Total Mana: 125/125
Mana Recovery Rate: +25/day
Mana Consumption: -15/day
Active Infrastructure:
• Incubation Chamber
Boosts egg hatching speed: 3 days → 2.5 days
• Storage Chamber
Enables resource collection and retention.
• Mushroom Cultivation Chamber
Boosts fungus growth rate by 20%.
• Medical Chamber
Improves healing and recovery rate of all ants.
• Defensive Tunnel Entrances
Enhances perimeter security and early threat detection.
The system didn't stop.
Ding!
New Active Skill Unlocked: Force Heal
-Instantly accelerates regeneration in injured ants. Leaves scar tissue prone to re-injury. Useful for emergencies only.
I blinked and looked around. The tunnels were neater. More structured. There were grooves in the walls. Everything seemed to be much better and more organized. It was clear. The colony was growing. The ants gathered around me, their movements purposeful, yet strangely hesitant. I tilted my head, puzzled. What were they possibly after? Then, one of them, lowered it's gently before me, antennae drooping in expectation. Realization struck.
They weren't seeking resources or orders. They just wanted… acknowledgment. A faint warmth bloomed in my chest as I reached out, patting Mira gently. One by one, I repeated the gesture—each ant stepping forward, mandibles twitching in quiet pride. No words were exchanged, but I felt their satisfaction through the link we shared.
Not just workers. Not just summons.
The tunnels felt quieter than usual, a low hum of calm filling the chambers after the days of labor and growth. I stood near the mana core, its faint glow casting soft purple hues over the dirt walls. My mandibles clicked softly in thought. Around me, five ants moved, each now familiar in posture, motion, and intent. They weren't just tools of the system anymore. They were like companions now. I thought for a while, wondering what to name them. Something purposeful with deep meaning.
I turned to the small one who always twitched when startled. His antennas jittered even now, flicking at invisible threats. "Skitt," I said. He paused, tilted his head. "That's what I'll call you."
Next came the bulky digger, his carapace always scraped from clawing through packed earth. His motions were slow but deliberate. "You're Brill."
The one who had first discovered the glowing fungus, the one who always wandered a little too far, stood to my right. "Zell suits you."
Another, quieter ant, the one who had taken a wound during the cricket fight but hadn't left the line, gave a soft nod when I looked at it. "Mira."
Finally, the newer addition, fast and curious, already skittering back and forth near the new tunnels. "You'll be Nokk."
Just as I finished system blared once more:
Ding!
Name: Mira
Gender: Female
Role: ???
Name: Brill
Gender: Male
Role: ???
Name: Zell
Gender: Male
Role: ???
Name: Skitt
Gender: male
Role: ???
Name: Norkk
Gender: Male
Role: ???
"Wait here mister giant, we have a gift for you."
Nokk and Zell returned soon after, dragging with them a bundle of mushrooms. New ones, their textures and shapes unfamiliar. Zell dropped his haul near me and began to speak through clicks and mental images.
First, a tall stalk with a faint purple hue, the cap glowing softly in the dark: Glowcap Bloom. I brought up Appraisal.
Ding!
"Glowcap Bloom – Emits a bioluminescent glow. Bitter in taste. Grants minor enhancement to visual perception in darkness when consumed. Ineffective on you, but useful to others."
Next, a short, chubby mushroom with a rough exterior but a strong scent—almost like roasted seeds: Silkstalk Red.
Ding!
"Silkstalk Red – High nutritional value. Taste profile: smoky, nutty, satisfying. Could Increases worker efficiency."
Lastly, an odd, wide fungus with a faint green sheen and an earthy, musty scent: Leafshade Fungus.
Ding!
"Leafshade Fungus – Application to external wounds accelerates natural regeneration. Works best when processed in Medical
Chamber."
Just as I processed this, Mira stumbled. She caught herself but sat down, breathing heavily. My antennae twitched. I hadn't felt it until now, but… hunger? I didn't get hungry. I never had since waking up here. But they did. They most likely needed sustenance. Water, food and shelter. And it seems they had taken care of two of them without me. But it looks like they just wanted me to join first. Tears of joy almost ran through my face.
" You guys..." I sniffed. " You guys should rest, let me search for water."They clicked and protested softly, a buzzing murmur of disapproval echoing through the chamber—but one rough pat from my mandibles silenced them. Not harsh, but firm. They knew what it meant: I needed to go alone. They slowly backed away, letting the shadows swallow me as I entered the tunnel once more.
The air grew colder as I moved deeper, the scent of damp earth growing stronger. Droplets clung to the low ceiling like glassy veins, falling occasionally onto my shell with faint, wet taps. I swept my antennae along the walls, searching—hoping—for some indication. Moisture. Humidity. A subtle trickle.
Still nothing.
I halted near a patch of slick mud pressed into the tunnel wall, hope flickering in my chest. It felt like something should be behind it. I narrowed my focus.
[Active Skill: Tremor Pulse – Activated]
[Mana Cost: 10 MP | Remaining Mana: 20/30]
The skill surged from me like a quiet pulse, threading itself into the ground. At first, I felt nothing. But then—light. Shapes. Not real ones, but outlines that flared in my mind. A grid-like map formed in all directions around me, expanding outward from the point of activation. It was like seeing the tunnels from above, each block etched with texture and depth, some solid, others hollow, flickering with faint tremors from movement or moisture.
But this first reading was a failure. Just stone. Packed dirt. Nothing substantial.
Still, now I understood. This was no vague feeling—this was precision.
I advanced deeper, following instinct and the scent of damp air, until I found another section of tunnel, narrower, muddier. The wall here was darker, wet to the touch. My antennae tingled.
I triggered the skill again.
[Active Skill: Tremor Pulse – Activated]
[Mana Cost: 10 MP | Remaining Mana: 10/30]
The pulse rippled out once more—and this time, the response was different. Beyond the muddy wall... a hollow shape. Round, irregular. Not just a chamber. A cavern.
Something stirred within me—a thrill.
I pressed a claw into the wall and began digging.
The earth here was soft, each stroke peeling away layers of slick clay. Water oozed from the ceiling and pooled around my legs as I tunneled forward. After several minutes, the wall gave way entirely—and I stumbled into a new chamber.
I froze.
A pool stretched before me, cradled by jagged stone and fed by a slow, steady drip from the muddy ceiling above. The water shimmered in the low glow from my carried fungus, faint ripples distorting its glassy surface. Moss clung to the surrounding rock, and somewhere, deeper in the cave, I heard the echoing fall of droplets—soft, rhythmic, almost like breath.
My mandibles parted in awe.
[Appraisal Activated]
Water.
Relief washed over me like gentle waves on a beach. I dipped my head low and drank. Cool liquid flooded my mouth, washing away fatigue I hadn't realized was weighing on me. I pulled back, standing tall. Without hesitation, I turned and skittered back into the dark, retracing my path. I could tell them through my mind. But their similes are what keeps me going now. My body still dripped with fresh moisture, the taste of clean water lingering in my mandibles. When I returned to the central chamber, the others perked up, antennae reaching toward me.
"We have water," I said aloud. My voice steady, proud.
Their minds met mine in a wave of joy, relief, and curiosity. Their mandibles clittered with excitement. They went for a sip and came back." Now that we have a constant supply of water. Next up." Mira's stomach growled, she covered her eyes with her legs, covered in embarrassment. ".... Food."
As they gathered around, Brill distributed pieces of dried Silkstalk and Glowcap, mixing nourishment with vision enhancement. The aroma was stronger as they mixed them violently with their legs, warming them just enough to create a vibrant slush. They all gathered around me. Mira leaned against Zell. Brill tapped his claws rhythmically against the stone. Nokk stood watch near the entrance.
To me it looked nothing more than what I could ever ask for. A family picnic.
System Notification: New Resources Identified and added:
• Edible Mushrooms: Silkstalk Red (Taste-Grade: High)
• Medicinal Mushroom: Leafshade Fungus (Healing Efficacy: low)
• Resource Unlocked: Underground Water Stream (Flowrate: Stable)
In that moment he wished that this precious moment could last forever. He fell asleep, gently with a smile. But fate seemed to have a different plan.