Gerhan took a deep breath, his mind racing as he surveyed the battlefield. The ground was littered with the broken bodies of ants, their juices staining the soil, while the lifeless forms of three wolves lay nearby—silent proof of the brutal struggle that had just unfolded. The colony had fought fiercely, but the cost had been steep. He needed to know exactly how much he had lost and how much strength remained.
Before the Battle:
• 47 Worker Ants – Each the size of a human finger, versatile and efficient in transport and general work.
• 78 Digger Ants – A third the size of a finger, now the main workforce after tunneling operations were mostly complete.
• 16 Soldier Ants – The size of a human palm, forming the backbone of the colony's defenses.
• 3 Army Ants – Towering over the others, each as large as a palm with fingers combined, the colony's most formidable warriors.
After the Battle (Including Those Who Stayed Back):
• 19 Worker Ants – Their numbers had been nearly halved, but those who remained would continue the colony's vital operations.
• 78 Digger Ants – Completely untouched, as they had not been part of the battle.
• 7 Soldier Ants – More than half of the colony's elite warriors had perished.
• 1 Army Ant – Only one of the massive ants remained, battered but alive.
Had the battle continued, it would have undoubtedly ended in a victory for the wolves. The size difference was too great, and the colony was simply not ready to face such large opponents in direct combat. However, the wolves had made one crucial mistake—they had underestimated the unwavering resolve of the ants. Unlike other creatures, ants had no sense of fear, no hesitation, and no doubt. They fought until their bodies failed them, their trust in their queen—or in this case, their king—absolute.
This endless morale was a terrifying trait for an army to possess.
Gerhan clenched his mandibles. The battle had been a wake-up call. He had defended his territory, but at a great cost. If he wanted to survive in this world, he needed to grow stronger—fast.
As the army returned, he immediately sent all of his digger ants to retrieve as much meat as possible before a larger predator arrived. Even though he considered this his territory, it was still completely exposed. The dirt towers—small mounds that had formed from all the excavation—offered no real defense, and without proper guards stationed, his land was vulnerable.
While his remaining soldiers and lone army ant rested, he instructed seven worker ants to assist in the retrieval effort. Every piece of meat had to be salvaged. Nothing could be wasted.
Survival depended on it.