Morning came slowly, the sky washed in muted gold and pale blue. A light breeze brushed past them, stirring their hair and making their antennae twitch lightly.
The wheeled containers creaked rhythmically as the workers' armored legs pushed them forward. Tiny pebbles scattered beneath the rolling wheels. The containers were packed with berries, grains, aphids, and mealy bugs.
"Thank goodness," Isla said softly, hugging herself as she walked. Her antennae drooped low, brushing against her hair with each step. "This terrain gives me a bad feeling. I want to get back to the colony already."
"Scared of the dark, Isla?" Lancelot asked.
"N-No!" she stammered, her feet scuffing against the dirt. "I just… hate feeling like we're being watched."
She glanced around nervously.
Ari watched her for a moment, then looked up toward the trees.
"We should be heading back by nightfall," he said evenly. "So you don't have to worry anymore. Besides… I guess that means my plan actually worked."
Lancelot smiled. "Yeah. You really pulled it off and solved our winter crisis. You're something else, Ari."
Ari shook his head and brushed a hand along the back of his neck. "Don't thank me. Thank the workers who built these carts in time and gathered all the food. They're the real reason this expedition's going so smoothly."
Beatrice suddenly stepped closer and cleared her throat, pulling Ari, Rory, and Isla's attention toward her.
"Listen…" she began. Her arms folded tightly across her chest as she let out a quiet breath. "I won't lie. I had my reasons for being skeptical at first."
Ari blinked at her.
"But now?" she continued. "I can see how useful they really are. The workers finished transport in no time, and nobody's collapsing from exhaustion after running back and forth all day."
"You really pulled this off, Ari," Beatrice said. "These carts actually made a difference."
Ari tilted his head toward the sky overhead. A steady breeze brushed against him while the creaking of wheels and the crunch of dirt echoed nearby as workers continued moving supplies across the terrain.
Honestly… I only knew how to make these because I used to build toy cars back when I was alive.
Kinda crazy thinking about it now.
I never thought something dumb like that would actually be useful here.
He let out a quiet breath.
Memories surfaced one after another. Small plastic wheels scattered across his bedroom floor. Half-built toy cars sitting beside open tool kits. The sound of laughter.
Keiko's laughter.
The corners of his mouth twitched faintly as he remembered the two of them crouched on the ground as kids, pushing toy racecars across the pavement and arguing over whose was faster.
Suddenly, one of the cart's wheels snapped loose with a sharp crack.
The entire cart lurched violently to one side as the weight of the supplies shifted without warning.
"Watch out!"
The worker ants pushing from behind stumbled back in panic, their legs scraping hard against the dirt as they tried to avoid the collapsing load.
Several berries spilled over the edge first, followed by sacks of grain that burst open the moment they slammed against the ground. Loose kernels scattered across the path while wooden pieces clattered loudly nearby.
The sharp crack instantly snapped Ari out of his thoughts.
He flinched and turned toward the sound just in time to see supplies spilling across the dirt.
"Um..."
Ari stared at the broken wheel lying on its side.
...Okay, maybe they're still a work in progress.
An awkward silence settled around him.
Beatrice slowly drew in a deep breath.
"I... I retract my statement," Beatrice said flatly.
Without another word, she turned on her heel and started walking away.
"Ari, what are we going to do?" Isla asked.
"Don't worry," Ari said quickly. "I already prepared for something like this."
Even if I was hoping it wouldn't happen this fast.
"Lance, hand me the materials."
Lancelot gave a quick nod and passed the bag over.
The added weight pulled against Ari's arms as he carried it toward the damaged cart.
He crouched beside the broken wheel and grabbed hold of it.
The stone felt rough against his fingers. Heavy too.
The cart shifted dangerously the moment the workers tried lifting one side.
"Careful," Ari said.
Several worker ants immediately rushed to stabilize the opposite end. Their legs dug hard into the dirt as they pushed against the tilted cart to stop it from collapsing further.
Ari reached into the bag and pulled out a chunk of resin. The sticky substance stretched slightly between his fingers as he pressed it carefully along the damaged axle.
The sharp scent of sap filled the air around him.
Slowly, he lifted the wheel back into place, his arms tightening from the weight.
"Hold it steady," Ari said, his eyes narrowing as he tried to line the wheel up properly.
Lancelot immediately grabbed the side of the cart alongside two soldiers. Their grips tightened against the wooden frame as the uneven load shifted again with a low creak.
Once the wheel was in place, Ari pressed the resin firmly around the joint, smoothing it with precise movements until it sealed tightly. He tapped it lightly with the log, listening for any movement.
"Good… finally done," he muttered, exhaling slowly.
"We got delayed for a bit, but the problem's been handled," Lieutenant Brooks said firmly. His voice carried across the path as nearby workers slowly settled down. "Alright, everyone, let's keep moving."
Suddenly, a faint buzzing drifted through the air.
At first, it was barely noticeable.
Then it grew louder.
The vibration spread across the ground and through the air around them. Ari felt it against his skin, a steady pulse that seemed to grow stronger with every passing second. Loose dirt trembled beneath their feet, and several workers glanced around uneasily.
Ari's antennae flicked sharply.
His body tensed.
What is that?
Without thinking, his hand moved to the hilt of his weapon.
Beatrice reacted instantly.
The sharp scrape of metal rang out as she unsheathed her mandibles and stepped forward, lowering her center of gravity into a fighting stance. Her eyes scanned the horizon, focused and alert.
Lancelot's stance widened.
"Something's coming," he said.
His jaw tightened as he drew his mandibles free. The blades gleamed briefly in the fading light before he raised them into a ready guard.
"Everyone, stay on guard. Protect the workers," Brooks said.
He stepped forward immediately, placing himself between the workers and the direction of the approaching sound.
"Form up," Brooks said.
The soldiers tightened their formation at once, weapons raised as they prepared for whatever was approaching.
Behind them, the workers broke into panic.
The orderly transport line fell apart almost instantly. Carts were abandoned where they stood as berries, grains, and bundles of supplies spilled onto the ground.
"Move!"
"Get down!"
Several workers stumbled in their haste, bumping into one another and nearly falling as they scrambled away from the open path.
Many crowded behind the wheeled containers, pressing themselves against the wooden frames for cover. Others huddled together in small groups, gripping one another's arms.
Their eyes remained fixed on the sky.
Then, they appeared.
A dark mass swept across the sky.
The source of the buzzing emerged from beyond the treeline as more than a hundred winged insects descended overhead, their wings beating so rapidly that the sound swallowed every other noise around them.
The roar filled the air.
Several workers froze.
Others stared upward in disbelief.
The swarm spread out above the convoy, circling in wide arcs while maintaining their altitude.
Their faces were disturbingly human in shape, stretched across insectoid features and twisted into smug, mocking expressions. Compound eyes glinted as they looked down at the ants below.
Each creature was large, their bodies suspended effortlessly in the air.
Four muscular arms extended from their torsos, flexing as they hovered overhead.
Ari's breath caught in his throat.
No way...
These are flies?
His stomach tightened as he stared at the swarm overhead.
One fly broke away from the swarm and drifted forward.
He was noticeably larger than the others. His carapace carried a bluish-black sheen that caught the fading light as he hovered effortlessly above the convoy.
Dark eyes swept across the ants below.
A slow grin spread across his face.
"Name's Zippy," he announced. "Remember it."
The fly folded one pair of arms across his chest while the others hung loosely at his sides.
"You'll be hearing it plenty before this is over."
His gaze wandered past the soldiers and settled on the wheeled containers loaded with food.
The grin on his face widened.
"Well, well..." Zippy said, looking over the convoy. "Looks like luck's finally on our side."
"We came out here hoping to stock up for the winter, and what do you know?" He chuckled. "You've already done all the hard work for us."
The flies behind him snickered.
Zippy spread one pair of arms outward.
"So here's the deal."
His grin sharpened.
"You hand over the haul, and your precious little workers get to walk away in one piece."
He paused deliberately, letting his words settle over the convoy.
"Simple, right?"
A wave of laughter erupted from the swarm behind him.
Isla swallowed hard.
Her fingers tightened around the hafts of her mandibles.
There are so many...
Her eyes darted between the swarm overhead and the soldiers forming ranks around the convoy.
Beatrice stepped forward, placing herself near the front of the formation.
"We're not outnumbered," she said. Her voice remained steady despite the tension in her posture. "But we have eight hundred and twenty-five non-combatants to protect."
She glanced toward the officers.
"What's the plan, Captain? Lieutenant?" she asked.
Nyra stepped forward.
"I will handle this," she said.
Her hand moved instantly to her side and she drew her mandibles in one clean motion.
The blades slid free with a sharp metallic sound.
Brooks advanced, each armored foot pressing firmly into the soil.
"Stand back," he said. His voice cut through the noise of the buzzing overhead. "Your priority is the workers' safety. Do not break formation for any reason at all."
Soldiers adjusted immediately, tightening their line without stepping forward.
Above them, Zippy tilted his head, watching.
His smirk twitched.
"You'd risk the lives of your workers over a few food?" he said.
A low laugh followed.
"Brave… or foolish. Which are you, old soldier?"
Brooks smiled slightly, his eyes narrowing.
"Make no mistake," he said. "We will cut all of you down before anyone gets hurt."
His hands lowered to his sides, mandibles still drawn but held loose.
The air stayed heavy.
At that moment, a familiar screen flashed before Ari's eyes.
[New Quest: Kill Thirty Flies]
Rewards: ???
Ari's breath caught.
His heart pounded once, hard.
Another quest?
His fingers tightened around his mandibles.
The rewards are still locked… why?
His jaw clenched.
I do not even know why I am doing this…
This system is useless.
But…
His eyes lifted toward the swarm overhead.
I do not have a choice.
Ari raised his mandibles and stepped forward.