Nearly a month had passed, bringing Gerhan to his third month in this strange new world. His colony had grown substantially, and his experiments on the three ants had yielded fascinating results.
First, Gerhan observed the ant that had been consuming dirt. To his astonishment, the ant had developed powers tied to the earth. Its body was now encased in a rough, spiked exoskeleton that resembled hardened rock. When the ant released a thorn-like projectile from its body, it pierced the wall of the colony, leaving a small but clear hole. Gerhan marveled at the display of power, already envisioning the potential uses for such an ability.
Next, he turned to the ant that had eaten bones. While its appearance was only slightly altered, its exoskeleton shone faintly with a hard, polished luster. Its strength was undeniable—it easily overpowered a soldier ant in combat, showcasing the durability and power it had gained. Additionally, the bone-eating ant had grown to the size of a soldier, making it an excellent addition to the colony's defenses.
Finally, he looked at the brain-eating ant. At first, he was disappointed; the ant displayed no signs of increased intelligence. However, upon further testing, he discovered something extraordinary. Gerhan instructed his workers to bring the small body of a frog to the brain-eating ant. Using his [Control] skill, Gerhan directed the ant to consume parts of the frog's brain.
The results were remarkable. As the ant ate, Gerhan's vision blurred, and suddenly, memories of the frog's life flooded his mind. He experienced the frog's brief existence—the places it had traveled, the predators it had evaded, and its instinctive habits. The skill was incredibly valuable, offering Gerhan and his colony a way to learn about creatures and their abilities through their memories. He also theorized that if they consumed the brains of more intelligent creatures, they might acquire new skills or strategies.
The Expanding Colony
In the last month, the colony had undergone significant expansion. The new layout included:
• Entrance: A widened tunnel leading to the heart of the colony.
• Main Room: The hub where resources were first brought for processing.
• Map Room: Used to document the surrounding area.
• Item Room: Storage for fangs, fur, and other materials.
• Food Storage Room: Reserved for meat and other edibles.
• Mushroom Garden: A thriving section dedicated to cultivating edible mushrooms.
• Seed Storage Room: For potential future planting projects.
• Egg Storage Room: For unhatched eggs.
• Larvae and Pupae Storage Rooms: Dedicated spaces for nurturing the young.
Everything brought into the colony went through the main room for sorting. Animal carcasses were processed into meat, fur, and bones. Useful materials, like fur and fangs, were stored in the item room, while unnecessary bones were deposited outside to decompose naturally.
The excavated dirt was repurposed, forming protective mounds and small towers around the entrance. Though modest, these earthen structures served as a first line of defense. The colony's entrance itself was hidden beneath a tree, blending seamlessly with the forest floor.
The Surrounding Terrain
Gerhan had gained a clearer picture of his environment:
• North: A small stream that could serve as a future resource hub.
• East: A swamp, likely harboring unique but potentially dangerous creatures.
• West and South: Dense forests that became more treacherous the deeper one ventured, teeming with stronger monsters.
• Distant Mountains: Jagged peaks visible on the horizon, hinting at yet another realm of danger.
Despite the colony's growing strength, Gerhan faced ongoing challenges. Smaller animals and insects had started avoiding the area due to the colony's increasing presence. However, larger predators had taken notice. Among them was a lone wolf—a grey-furred creature that frequently patrolled the area. Gerhan suspected it belonged to the same pack that had killed the reddish bear weeks ago.
Gerhan knew he had to prepare for the wolf's inevitable confrontation. The colony's current numbers and power might not be enough to defeat a predator of that size and cunning. As he laid more eggs and refined his experiments, Gerhan's mind turned to strategy.