After several days of waiting, some of the eggs finally hatched into larvae. Gerhan observed the tiny, wriggling forms with a mix of relief and mild discomfort. Feeding them was an unusual process—he had to regurgitate food into their tiny mouths in what felt like a bizarre imitation of kissing.
"This is so weird," he muttered as he adjusted to the instinctual act. "It's feeding, not kissing, but still…"
As the days passed, the larvae fed greedily and began to grow. However, with their growth came Gerhan's own growing hunger. The small reserves of food he had from his wings were nearly depleted, and his tiny ant body felt increasingly weak.
A week passed—though to Gerhan, it felt like an eternity. Finally, three of the larvae entered the pupal stage, their soft bodies beginning to harden. After another three painstaking days, the pupae finally transformed into workers.
The new ants were pale, their exoskeletons not yet darkened, but they were alive, moving, and eager to serve. Gerhan studied their movements, marveling at their instinctive obedience.
"They'll need time to strengthen fully," he muttered, "but it's enough for now."
After their birth, Gerhan felt a strange surge in his mind, almost like unlocking a hidden door. A notification from the system confirmed his suspicion.
[New Skill Unlocked]
Command - Allows you to transmit information and orders to your ant children.
"This… this is perfect!" he exclaimed. The skill was intuitive, almost second nature, as though it had always been there.
Realizing the urgency of the situation, Gerhan wasted no time. He activated Command, focusing his thoughts on the three workers. A wave of information flowed from his mind to theirs, carrying a clear, simple order:
"Find food. Search the area and return safely."
The workers froze momentarily, then scurried toward the sealed entrance as though possessed by a singular purpose. Gerhan followed, his heart pounding with anticipation. He carefully opened the blocked entrance, letting the workers slip through.
Sunlight streamed into the burrow for the first time in over a week, and Gerhan winced, shielding his eyes.
"Ah, my eyes! Too bright!" he complained, blinking rapidly to adjust.
Once his vision cleared, he watched as his workers disappeared into the vast unknown. He could feel their movements faintly in his mind, a subtle connection that reassured him they were still alive and obeying his orders.
The outside world loomed large and dangerous, but for the first time, Gerhan felt like he had a chance.
"This is it," he muttered, turning back to the cramped burrow. "While they're out there, I'll start digging. We need space—lots of it."
With that, he began to claw at the earth, carving out a new section of the burrow. His hunger gnawed at him, but the faint awareness of his workers' progress gave him hope. If they succeeded, the colony would have food.
If not…
No, he wouldn't entertain that thought. Gerhan focused on the task at hand, knowing that this was only the first step in his journey to survive—and thrive—in this massive, unforgiving world.