The ant paused at the edge of the crate, its antennae twitching.
It looked like it was waiting for an order.
Another ant appeared.
Then five more.
Then twenty.
Within seconds, a silent stream of insects poured from the underside of the cart.
They moved in tight, coordinated lines.
They split like water around stone, some crawling under nearby stalls, others slipping into alleyways, vents, and drainage grates.
No one noticed them.
These were the Krell Ants, Ben's newest creation, a spy swarm designed for surveillance and information gathering.
Their bodies gave off no mana trace.
They ran purely on aether.
Their layered chitin bent light and cloaked their movements, making them almost invisible.
They carried no stingers and no weapons.
They only had eyes, ears, and a single purpose.
Despite their name, the Krell Ants were not connected to the Hive Mind.
The reason was simple.
They were too small.
Their cores could not maintain a Hive link over distance.
