Year 336 Post-Collision – Day 23 on Surface
Sunny was on perimeter patrol when he found the nest.
Not by accident. By screaming.
His Pressure Sense had caught something weird about three hundred yards into the forest—a cluster of presences that were uniform, organized, and getting steadily more agitated. He'd gone to investigate, thinking maybe it was spawn preparing to emerge.
Instead, he found ants.
Red ants.
Giant red ants.
Each one was about the size of a large dog, with carapaces that gleamed like polished ruby and mandibles that could probably bite through steel. There were dozens of them, swarming around what looked like a partially collapsed nest—a massive structure of hardened earth and resin that had been damaged by something. A rift spawn attack, maybe, or just bad luck with a falling tree.
The ants were panicking. Sunny could feel it through his Pressure Sense—their collective distress, their desperate attempts to repair the nest, their fear.
And at the center of the swarm, one ant was different.
Larger. Darker red, almost burgundy. And it was looking directly at Sunny with compound eyes that seemed too intelligent for an insect.
[ARCHIVE ANALYSIS]
[ENTITY: MONSTER ANT COLONY]
[CLASSIFICATION: RED SOLDIER ANTS (GIANT VARIANT)]
[AVERAGE THREAT LEVEL: MODERATE]
[INTELLIGENCE: ABOVE BASELINE FOR INSECTS]
[ALPHA SPECIMEN: HIGH INTELLIGENCE (POSSIBLY SENTIENT?)]
[COLONY STATUS: DISTRESSED, VULNERABLE]
[RECOMMENDATION: BACK AWAY SLOWLY]
The burgundy ant moved forward, separating from the swarm. It made a series of clicking sounds—mandibles working, antennae waving. Not attacking. Communicating.
Sunny stood very still. "I don't speak ant."
More clicks. The burgundy ant gestured with its front legs toward the damaged nest, then toward the forest beyond, then back to Sunny. The meaning was surprisingly clear:
Help. Danger. Please.
"You want me to help?" Sunny asked. "Help with what?"
The ant turned and pointed with one leg toward the treeline. Sunny followed the gesture and activated his Pressure Sense at maximum range.
Oh.
There was something coming. Something big. A presence that felt wrong—hollow but heavy, dead but moving. Rift spawn. And not a small one.
[HOSTILE DETECTED]
[CLASSIFICATION: RIFT ABOMINATION]
[THREAT LEVEL: HIGH]
[ESTIMATED ARRIVAL: 4 MINUTES]
[THE ANTS ARE IN ITS PATH]
[THEY'RE ASKING FOR PROTECTION]
Sunny looked at the burgundy ant, then at the swarm behind it, then at the damaged nest full of eggs and larvae he could sense inside.
He should leave. This wasn't his problem. He was supposed to be on patrol, not playing hero for monster insects.
But the way the burgundy ant was looking at him—with what seemed like hope—reminded him of something.
Reminded him of being a helpless baby in an abyss, looking up at a Leviathan, hoping she wouldn't let him disappear.
"Fuck," Sunny muttered. "Okay. Get your people back. I'll handle it."
The burgundy ant's antennae quivered. Then it clicked rapidly at the swarm, and all the ants retreated into defensive positions around the nest.
Sunny drew his sword and walked toward the incoming presence.
The Fight
The rift abomination that emerged from the trees was a nightmare made of spare parts.
It had the body of a bear, the head of something reptilian with too many eyes, arms that ended in crab claws, and a tail that was just teeth. Its presence was hollow—undead or construct or something in between. And it was hungry.
It saw Sunny and charged.
Sunny activated Abyssal Sovereignty, rooting himself to the ground, making his presence solid. The abomination hit him like a truck hitting a wall.
It bounced back, confused.
Sunny swung his sword, channeling Pressure Blade through the steel, turning the weapon into a cutting edge of compressed space. The blade bit into the creature's shoulder—not deep, but real.
The abomination roared and swung with its crab-claw arms.
Sunny ducked, activated Iron Echo to harden his skin for half a second, took a glancing blow that would have broken ribs without it. Pain Tolerance kept him moving. Pressure Sense let him predict the tail attack coming from behind.
He spun, cut, dodged, survived.
The fight lasted three minutes that felt like hours.
Finally, Sunny found an opening—the creature overextended on a claw strike, and he drove his sword through the hollow space where its heart should be. Abyssal Sovereignty pushed through the blade, claiming the space the creature occupied, forcing it to not exist there anymore.
The abomination collapsed into black mist and bone fragments.
Sunny pulled his sword free, breathing hard, and turned back to the nest.
The burgundy ant was standing at the edge of the clearing, watching. When Sunny met its eyes, it performed something that looked disturbingly like a bow.
Then it approached slowly, clicked its mandibles in what seemed like a specific pattern, and presented itself.
The meaning hit Sunny like a weight:
You saved us. We offer service. Please. Accept.
"I don't need—" Sunny started.
The ant clicked again, more urgently. Behind it, the swarm was emerging, all of them moving in formation, all of them focused on Sunny with that same desperate hope.
They were offering themselves. Pledging loyalty. Asking to be claimed.
And Sunny realized with creeping horror what they were actually asking for.
Names.
In this world, names had power. He'd learned that from Elena, from Roland, from the books he'd read. Named monsters were stronger, smarter, more real. But naming required magicules—the magical energy that most inhabitants used for everything.
Sunny didn't have much magicule capacity. He ran on sovereignty and pressure and stolen concepts. But his Claimed Demigod Physique did passively absorb ambient magical energy. He had 847 units. Enough for daily function.
Probably not enough to name a whole ant colony.
[ARCHIVE ALERT]
[THEY'RE ASKING FOR NAMES]
[NAMING REQUIRES: MAGICULE INVESTMENT]
[ESTIMATED COST PER ANT: 15-30 Units]
[NUMBER OF ANTS: 47]
[TOTAL COST: 705-1,410 Units]
[YOUR CURRENT CAPACITY: 847 Units]
[THIS WILL PROBABLY KILL YOU]
[OR AT LEAST KNOCK YOU UNCONSCIOUS]
[RECOMMENDATION: DON'T]
Sunny looked at the burgundy ant. At the swarm behind it. At the damaged nest and the vulnerable eggs.
He thought about being claimed. About what it meant when something powerful said "you are mine" and meant it.
"You really want this?" he asked the burgundy ant.
It clicked affirmatively.
"Naming's dangerous. For both of us. I might not survive it."
Another click. Understood. Still asking.
"Why me?"
The ant made a complex series of gestures that Sunny somehow understood:
You came. You fought. You protected. You are strong. You are worthy. Please. Claim us.
Sunny closed his eyes. Remembered the Leviathan claiming him. Remembered what it felt like to belong to something.
"Fuck it," he said. "Okay. We'll do this. But if I die, you're carrying my body back to the village and explaining to Elena what happened."
The burgundy ant clicked rapidly—what Sunny was starting to recognize as ant laughter.
"Alright." Sunny sheathed his sword and held out his hand. "You first. Come here."
The burgundy ant approached. Sunny placed his hand on its head, felt the presence beneath the carapace, and reached for his magicules.
The process was instinctive—like his Archive synthesis, but simpler. Raw. He pulled on his magical energy and pushed it into the ant, along with identity, purpose, name.
"You're proper," Sunny said, thinking of how the ant had bowed, how it had organized the swarm with discipline and courtesy. "Very formal. So... Burgundy. That's you. Burgundy the Formal."
The magicules flowed. The name took.
Burgundy transformed.
His carapace darkened to deep burgundy-red, almost black at the edges. His size increased by a third. His mandibles sharpened. And most importantly—his presence solidified. Became real in a way it hadn't been before.
[NAMING SUCCESSFUL]
[ENTITY: BURGUNDY]
[SPECIES: RED SOLDIER ANT → NAMED SOLDIER ANT (COMMANDER CLASS)]
[RANK: B-]
[ABILITIES GAINED: Enhanced Strength, Tactical Intelligence, Loyalty Bond]
[COST: 78 MAGICULES]
[YOUR REMAINING: 769 UNITS]
Burgundy looked at himself, then at Sunny, then performed another bow—deeper this time, with perfect courtesy.
"You're welcome," Sunny said. "Now the others. Line them up."
The Mass Naming
What followed was exhausting.
Forty-six more ants, each needing a name, each requiring magicules Sunny didn't really have to spare. He pulled from every scrap of his limited magical energy, combining it with his Media Catalog because apparently his brain had decided that if he was doing this, he was going all in.
He named them after shades of red, variations of crimson, types of fire and blood:
Scarlet - A swift scout ant, fast and perceptive Crimson - A heavy warrior, built like a tank Ruby - A small worker with surprising strength Cardinal - A strategic thinker, second to Burgundy in intelligence Vermillion - An aggressive fighter who seemed to enjoy combat Garnet - A defender, always positioning herself to protect others Carmine - A hunter with a vicious bite Cherry - Cheerful (somehow?), always clicking enthusiastically Rust - Older, experienced, moved carefully Rose - Gentle with the eggs, protective of the young Sangria - Liked to organize things Rosso - (Italian for red) Seemed fancy, carried himself with flair Auburn - Reddish-brown, good at camouflage Coral - Worked well in water, swim-capable Poppy - Small but fierce Brick - Tough, never backed down Cherry - (different from first Cherry) Darker, more serious Mahogany - Large, wood-colored, very strong Blood - Intimidating presence, natural leader of warriors Fire - Hot-tempered, aggressive Rust - (second Rust) Quieter, methodical Flame - Energetic, never still Ember - Smaller, but burned bright in combat Blaze - Fastest of the warriors Mars - (Named after the red planet) Strategic, observational Cerise - Deep red, elegant movements Ruby - (second Ruby) Different from first, more tactical Maroon - Dark, almost purple-red, mysterious Rufus - (Latin for red) Classic, dependable Claret - (Wine-red) Sophisticated, careful Copper - Metallic sheen, conducted heat well Crimson - (second one) Stockier, defensive specialist Carmine - (second one) Lighter colored, faster Amaranth - (Deep red flower) Beautiful carapace Jam - Sticky? Somehow? Could trap enemies Cinnabar - Toxic bite variant Scarlet - (second one) Night-patrol specialist Burgundy - (no wait, that's taken)
By the time Sunny got to ant number thirty, his vision was swimming.
By ant forty, he was swaying on his feet.
By ant forty-six, he could barely form words.
"You're... Russet," he managed, touching the last ant. "You're... reddish... brown... and... fuck..."
[MAGICULE DEPLETION: CRITICAL]
[REMAINING: 12 UNITS]
[USER STATUS: COLLAPSING]
[WARNING: CONSCIOUSNESS FAILING IN 3... 2... 1...]
Sunny felt himself falling. Felt multiple ant bodies catching him before he hit the ground. Felt himself being lifted, carried carefully through the forest.
The last thing he heard before passing out completely was Burgundy's mandibles clicking in what sounded like concern and gratitude, and a very proper, very British-sounding voice in his head saying:
"Rest, my Lord. We shall return you safely. You have our eternal gratitude and service."
Why the fuck does he sound British? Sunny thought deliriously.
Then: nothing.
The Awakening
Sunny woke up in the common house to find Elena, Marcus, Roland, and Nina all staring at him with expressions ranging from concern to complete confusion.
And outside the window, he could see red.
Lots of red.
Forty-seven giant ants, all positioned around the village in defensive formations, working in perfect coordination to reinforce the wall with hardened resin and earth.
"Sunny," Elena said slowly, carefully, like addressing someone who might be insane. "Would you like to explain why there are forty-seven massive ants building fortifications around Blackshore Village?"
Sunny's head was pounding. His magicule reserves were empty. His body felt like he'd run a marathon while carrying bricks.
"I named them," he said weakly.
Silence.
"You named them," Marcus repeated.
"They asked. I said yes. Then I named all of them. Then I passed out." Sunny tried to sit up and immediately regretted it. "How long was I out?"
"Six hours," Nina said. "The ants carried you back. Burgundy—that's the big burgundy one leading them, right?—came to the gate and politely asked if they could bring you inside for medical care. Then they started building defensive structures. Without being asked. Roland's been supervising because apparently you gave them a whole army."
Roland was leaning against the wall, studying Sunny with fascination. "That burgundy one. Burgundy. He speaks."
"What?"
"Not out loud. But he projects. Thoughts. Intent. Clear as day. He's got tactical intelligence, boy. Real intelligence. And he says they're oath-bound to you now. Named servants. Loyal until death." Roland's expression was unreadable. "You created a private army by accident."
"It wasn't an accident," Sunny protested. "They were in danger. I helped them. They offered service. Naming seemed... appropriate?"
"Naming forty-seven monsters would kill most mages," Elena said flatly. "The magicule cost alone should have put you in a coma for days. How are you awake?"
"Demigod constitution?" Sunny offered weakly.
"That's not how—" Elena stopped herself, took a breath. "You know what? I don't care. You're alive. The ants are friendly. And apparently they're excellent builders because our wall is already being reinforced with structures that would have taken us weeks to construct." She fixed him with a hard look. "But we need to have a serious talk about you doing insane things without consulting anyone."
"In my defense," Sunny said, "I didn't think it would work."
"THAT'S WORSE," Elena shouted. "That's so much worse!"
Roland chuckled. "The boy's got guts. Stupid guts, but guts." He pushed off the wall. "Come on. If you can walk, you should meet your swarm properly. That Burgundy fellow keeps asking for you. Very politely. He's got manners."
Sunny managed to stand—barely—and followed Roland outside.
The village had transformed in six hours. The ants had built reinforced sections of wall using hardened earth-resin composite that looked stronger than the original wood. They'd dug defensive trenches. They'd created watchtowers using natural materials.
And they'd organized themselves into squads with clear specializations: warriors, scouts, builders, guards.
Burgundy was waiting near the village gate. When he saw Sunny, he approached and performed that same formal bow.
And then Sunny heard it—not words exactly, but intent projected directly into his mind with perfect clarity and what could only be described as a British accent:
"My Lord Sunny. You have awakened. This is most excellent. Shall I provide a status report on the fortification progress?"
"You can... talk?" Sunny asked.
"I can project thought, yes. A gift of the naming. Several of us gained enhanced intelligence. I, having been named first and with greatest energy investment, gained the most." Another bow. "I am Burgundy, Commander of the Named Ants of Blackshore, Sworn to Serve Lord Sunny until death or release. It is an honor."
"Why are you so formal?" Sunny asked.
"You named me Burgundy the Formal, my Lord. The naming shapes us. I became what you perceived me to be." He gestured with his foreleg toward the other ants. "Each of my siblings carries the essence of their name. Scarlet is swift. Crimson is strong. Cherry is cheerful. We are what you made us."
[ARCHIVE NOTATION]
[CONGRATULATIONS]
[YOU ACCIDENTALLY CREATED THEMED PERSONALITY ANTS]
[BURGUNDY IS PROPER BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT HE WAS PROPER]
[THE NAMING CRYSTALLIZED YOUR PERCEPTION INTO REALITY]
[THIS IS VERY FAIRY TALE]
[ALSO VERY WEIRD]
"I didn't mean to—" Sunny started.
"On the contrary, my Lord, you have given us purpose, intelligence, and power we could never have achieved naturally. We are grateful beyond measure." Burgundy's antennae quivered. "The fortifications will be complete by nightfall. We have identified three weak points in the village's perimeter and are addressing them. Additionally, I have established a patrol rotation and scouting network. If rift spawn approach, we shall provide advance warning."
Marcus, who'd followed them outside, looked at Sunny with disbelief. "He's militarizing your ant colony."
"I am providing appropriate security measures," Burgundy corrected. "Lord Sunny has claimed this village as worth defending. Therefore, we defend it. This is logical."
"I didn't claim the village," Sunny protested.
"You protect it. You fight for it. You live within it. This is claiming, my Lord. Whether you acknowledge it formally or not."
Roland laughed. "The ant's got a point. You've been acting like this place is yours to defend. Maybe it is now."
Elena approached, looking at the fortifications with professional assessment. "These are good. Better than good. If Burgundy can organize your... swarm... to this standard consistently, Blackshore just became significantly more defensible." She looked at Sunny. "I'm still mad at you for the reckless magicule expenditure. But I'm also grateful. These defenses might save lives."
"That is our purpose now," Burgundy said. "To serve, protect, and build. Lord Sunny gave us names. We give him loyalty. This is the compact."
Sunny watched his forty-seven named ants working in perfect coordination, building defenses, organizing patrols, turning a vulnerable border village into something approaching a fortress.
He'd meant to help some bugs.
Instead he'd created an army.
Why does this keep happening to me? he thought.
[ARCHIVE RESPONSE]
[BECAUSE YOU KEEP DOING INSANE THINGS IMPULSIVELY]
[ALSO: YOU'RE CLAIMED BY A PRIMORDIAL]
[CLAIMING THINGS IS CONTAGIOUS APPARENTLY]
[YOU'VE CAUGHT IT]
Burgundy clicked his mandibles in what Sunny now recognized as polite attention-seeking. "My Lord, if I may? When you have recovered, I would appreciate discussing long-term strategic planning for the village's defense and the potential expansion of our forces."
"Expansion?" Sunny asked weakly.
"There are other colonies in the forest. If you were willing to negotiate naming compacts, we could establish a comprehensive defense network—"
"NO," Sunny, Elena, and Marcus said simultaneously.
"As you wish, my Lord." Burgundy bowed. "The current arrangement shall suffice. For now."
He walked away to supervise construction, his burgundy carapace gleaming in the afternoon sun, his bearing impeccably proper and vaguely threatening.
"Your ant is scary," Nina said.
"I know," Sunny replied.
"But also kind of impressive?"
"I know."
"Are you going to name more things?"
"NO," Sunny said. Then, quieter: "Probably not. Maybe. I don't know. Can someone please get me food? I think naming forty-seven ants burned through every calorie I've ever consumed."
They got him food. A lot of food. And while Sunny ate and slowly recovered his magicule reserves, forty-seven named ants continued building fortifications around Blackshore Village with disciplined efficiency and one very proper British-sounding commander directing operations.
Somewhere in the deep ocean, Sunny could feel the Leviathan's presence pulse with what might have been amusement or approval.
He'd been on the surface for twenty-three days and had already claimed an ant army.
This was either going really well or really badly.
Time would tell which.
[END CHAPTER 12]
[DAYS ON SURFACE: 23]
[NAMED SERVANTS: 47 (ALL ANTS)]
[MAGICULE DEPLETION: RECOVERING]
[VILLAGE DEFENSES: SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED]
[BURGUNDY'S POLITENESS LEVEL: MAXIMUM]
[OTHER ANTS: THEMED BY NAME]
[CONTINUITY DEBT: 36.6% (NAMING DOESN'T INCREASE IT, SURPRISINGLY)]
[CLAIMING INSTINCT: AWAKENED]
[STATUS: ACCIDENTALLY MILITARIZED INSECTS]
[NEXT CHAPTER: CONSEQUENCES OF HAVING AN ANT ARMY]