Dragging the hefty breadcrumb back to the nest was a monumental effort. Adrian's tiny muscles burned, and he had to stop frequently to rest. He noticed other ants carrying multiple smaller crumbs with seemingly less effort. Efficiency, he realized, was key. He needed to optimize his methods.Finally, he reached the nest entrance. A group of larger ants, presumably guards, blocked the way. They examined him and the breadcrumb with their antennae. Adrian, remembering the social structure he'd observed, emitted a series of specific pheromones he'd subconsciously learned from the other ants. It was the "food offering" signal.The guards parted, allowing him through. He entered the nest's central chamber, a vast cavern bustling with ant activity. In the center, on a raised platform of meticulously arranged earth, sat the Queen. She was significantly larger than any other ant, her abdomen swollen with eggs.Adrian approached the platform and deposited his offering. The Queen, surrounded by attendant ants, seemed to acknowledge his contribution. He felt a slight tingle, and the blue system screen reappeared.[Quest Complete: Gather Food for the Colony][Reward: 100 System Points, +1 to all stats][Stats]
Strength: 3 Agility: 4 Constitution: 3 Intelligence: 11 Wisdom: 9
Adrian grinned internally. The stat boost was noticeable. He felt stronger, faster, more resilient. 100 points… time to go shopping.He mentally opened the shop. He needed something to improve his food gathering efficiency. He scrolled through the options. "Enhanced Mandibles (Ant-Specific Universe) – 75 Points." Perfect.He purchased the upgrade. A tingling sensation washed over him, and he felt a slight pressure in his mandibles. They felt… sharper, stronger. He tested them on a stray twig. They sliced through it with ease."Much better," he thought. Now, for a long-term investment. He needed a way to acquire more points, and quickly. He remembered seeing something in the shop… "Seed of the World Tree (Yggdrasil Mini-Universe) – 500 Points." It was expensive, but it supposedly produced a fruit that granted incredible benefits, including accelerated growth and increased intelligence. It was a long-term gamble, but the potential payoff was immense.He didn't have enough points yet, but it became his immediate goal. He needed to accumulate points as fast as possible. He decided to focus on completing more quests. He opened the quest menu.[Daily Quest: Clean the Nursery]Objective: Remove all debris from the nursery chamber. Reward: 50 System Points, +0.5 to Constitution.
[Daily Quest: Patrol the Outskirts]Objective: Scout the area surrounding the nest for potential threats. Reward: 75 System Points, +0.5 to Agility.
[Daily Quest: Assist in Food Storage]Objective: Help transport gathered food to the storage chambers. Reward: 60 System Points, +0.5 to Strength.
Excellent. Daily quests. A steady source of income. He accepted all three. He started with the nursery. Using his enhanced mandibles, he efficiently cleared the chamber of stray leaves, twigs, and other debris. He felt a sense of satisfaction as he meticulously cleaned every nook and cranny. The quest completed, and he received his reward.Next, he patrolled the outskirts. He used his enhanced senses to scan the surrounding area. He noticed a small beetle attempting to burrow into the nest. He quickly alerted the guard ants, who swiftly dispatched the intruder. Another quest completed.Finally, he assisted in food storage. He carried small pieces of food back to the storage chambers, working tirelessly alongside the other ants. It was a repetitive task, but he knew it was necessary.By the end of the day, Adrian had completed all his daily quests. He had accumulated a decent amount of points and further improved his stats. He was still far from his goal of 500 points, but he was making progress.As he settled down for the night (or what passed for night in the perpetually dark nest), Adrian reflected on his progress. He was no longer just a random ant. He was Adrian, the reincarnated human, the ant with a system, the future Emperor. And he wouldn't rest until he achieved his goals. The ant kingdom was his for the taking.