“Where did you go after the fight? I couldn’t find you anywhere!”

It was Tiny showing his consideration for me.

He hugged me just as I returned and started pouring his worry onto me.

And I could only smile foolishly.

“Even that guy was asking about you.”

Hum, that sounded unnaturally eerie.

*Ting*

[Skill: Foreboding gained.]

Anyways, I told him how I trailed one enemy ant and found their camp then told the commander.

{Memory has become lv 8}

*Ting*

[Skill: Narrator gained.]

“So it was you! You are going to be awarded by the queen tomorrow!”

Given the opportunity, I asked him what it meant by being awarded by the queen.

“It is a huge deal to be awarded by the queen. Moreover, being personally awarded is the highest honor one ant can achieve in their lifetime!”

Then he continued with more flattery, and finally told me about the award. He sometimes acts too silly.

{Charm has become lv 10.}

*Ting*

{Charm has reached its maximum level}

And present you with the choice to:

Rule or Love

I couldn’t hear what tiny was saying all of my attention was centered on the meaning behind the two options.

And after thinking about it I came to the decision that it was better to rule and be loved, rather than to love and be alone.

*Ting*

[Skill: Deter gained.]

“It is not a materialistic award. You will probably get a wish; a wish to ask anything from the queen. Now, don’t ask for her hand, okay. Her other suitors won’t take that lightly.”

He then asked me if I wanted to check out the newbie training ground, where young ants were given a chance to learn combat with real enemies.

The prisoners were probably being used as the partners.

{Military knowledge has become lv 4}

I answered with a ‘why not’ and we went out of the nursery.

*Ting*

[Skill: Decider gained.]

This time we didn’t play hide and seek like last time and instead decided to see who was faster.

And unexpectedly, the difference between me and him was at least a 300 meters when I reached the place.

{Movement & Breath has become lv 8}

{Stamina regeneration, preservation, Silent steps has become lv 7}

Seems like these skill ups do more than to just annoy me.

Anyways, I saw the bully fighting in the ring or at least he was trying, but the black soldier was probably too much for him to handle.

{Battle tactics has become lv 4}

And Tiny finally reached the training ground.

Huffing and puffing he spoke, “How… did… you… do that?” And then he took a deep breath.

I did tell him anything, because even I had no idea about it. And not like it mattered.

In the time we talked the bully finished in the ring and came out battered and heavily exhausted.

*Ting*

[Skill: Examine gained.]

I glanced at him for a second, then looked at Tiny and asked him if he wanted to try the training.

“Me…” he pointed at himself, “try that?” he asked turning his head toward the ring where another of our siblings was now getting beaten.

Hearing that I made a scary face and asked him what we had come here for, if not for the training.

“We came here to share a laugh by watching the ants getting a beating. Why else did you think we came here to do?”

I didn’t hear another word from him and dragged him to the instructor midst his wailing and cries.

{Decider has become lv 2}

*Ting*

[Skill: Pull gained.]

The instructor smiled and nodded his head when he saw me coming. He was the other officer who had joined forces with the officer from the sissy training hall to stop the invaders charge outside the baby room.

“What are you doing here? Do you want to try battl… no you don’t need battle experience like these kids.”

Then he saw tiny who was still loitering on the ground.

I gave him a salute and told him that Tiny wanted to try battling the ants.

{Manners has become level 2}

He looked at me perplexed, struggling between his duty and his pride. But having made a decision he sighed and nodded his head.

“Let this one go next.” He told his assistant pointing at Tiny, who shivered hearing that.

“Don’t worry. He won’t hurt you. Rather let’s make it such that he will just dodge your attacks, okay. How does that sound?”

Tiny stopped his act and stood up dusting himself. Then he pondered hard for half a minute and finally decided to go for it.

Two minutes later the one ant struggling in the ring came out and the officer took tiny into the ring.

“I want to see his attacking ability. So just dodge, and don’t attack.” The officer commanded to the prisoner.

Then tiny started his magic, meanwhile the bully came to talk.

I asked him what he wanted and he apologized.

{Talk has become lv 6}

“I’m sorry for my behavior. I acted like an idiot with you. I hope you will forgive me and my friends.” He looked back to see his goons, no friends and said, “Those fools are just too good to me. They had nothing to do with it, it was entirely my fault.”

For the first time in my new life, I understood how antly(manly) an ant could be. I accepted his apology, shook his antennae and he went back to his friends.

*Ting*

[Skill: values gained.]

And Tiny finally came down from the ring. He did great. Although he wasn’t able to touch his opponent even a single time, no, he wasn’t even able to get near him, but at least he tried, and that’s all that matters.

{Examine has become lv 2}

Tiny came back and demanded a high five which I complied to, but not without some eye rolling.

“Let’s come back tomorrow too.” He happily said and I shrugged my shoulders.

We were going back to the nursery when I saw the scavengers getting called for a mission.

I Looked at them and remembered the thrill that I had on my first day outdoors.

I started walking with the ants when Tiny stopped me.

“Where are you going?” He asked.

I told him that I wanted to join the scavengers and roam in the outside world, and his eyes opened wide.

“But you are not level ten yet. Even if you want to join they won’t let you!”

But I just told him that it would be okay, and sent him to the nursery.

And following the scavengers I embarked their barracks.

{Evade has become lv 6}

{Balance has become lv 7}

Dodging those busy and antsy ants, I somehow found the officer in charge, and he jumped up when he saw me.

“You! Aren’t that guy who ate a poisonous apple and lost conscious in our last tour de food?”

{Talk has become lv 7}

And with my cheeks died red, I requested him to let me join the other ants and venture outside.

“You know, you scared the hell out of the guys around you last time. You were lucky though, really lucky. If that guy over there hadn’t checked up on you, then you would have been left outside alone and died. Anyways you can join the team anytime…”

And I smiled hearing that, but then gloom took over me.

“Just show me your rank up pass, and I’ll let you settle in.”

I asked him what rank up pass was and he looked at me horrified thinking about something.

*Ting*

[Skill: Common knowledge gained.]

“Y-You aren’t a ranker, you are a young rank zero ant?”

I understood what he was getting at, and was going to explain, but he didn’t let me.

“You… I understand that young ants are carving for some adventure, but you defied protocol and endangered not only your, but also the lives of everyone around you. You think the life of a scavenger is a joke that any little no ranker boy from the nursery can make laugh and then live on with his life!!”

He yelled out loud and every ant around us stopped to see what was happening.

{Fear resistance has become lv 7}

I could hear some ants saying stuff like isn’t he the one, wasn’t he, so he was a nursery boy now I understand…

“You want to join the other ants and become a scavenger?”

{Breath control has become lv 4}

Some blood returned to my pale face when he asked me that, but that happiness vanished, and boiling heat took its place. I gritted my teeth and started at the officer.

“You think you are a hero? Listen to me now, as the commanding officer of the scavengers, I hereby ban you from joining any scavenger team, be it private or governmental, and also forbid you to come anywhere near our barracks. Now get lost, and don’t you ever fucking COME BACK AGAIN!!!!” he yelled in anger.

{Anger has become lv 10}

*Ting*

{Anger has reached its maximum level}

And present you with the choice to:

Bury or Burn

‘Fuck bury!’ I thought. There is no way I can bury this anger. Rise; Burn, and destroy everything.

*Ting*

[Skill: Fury gained.]

My eyes turned red and wetness unknown to me covered them, as my vision turned blurry. My tightly clutched mandibles creaked as I clenched my feet and spoke, “You will regret your decision.”

{Decider has become lv 3}

*Ting*

[Skill: Revenge gained.]

“Humph, well then try everything you can and I promise if you managed to join the scavengers, I’ll get on my knees, lick your feet and call you my boss.” He smirked with haughtiness unfitting his post.

A huge commotion broke out with the officer’s promise and all the ants stared at my retreating back. Some looked in pity and others looked in disdain.

“Such a fool.” some said.

But those words didn’t enter my ears. I wasn’t even mad anymore. The fury had cooled down long ago.

I went back to the nursery and Tiny asked me what happened.

I didn’t tell him anything, so he changed the topic.

“Okay forget that and tell me, what are you going to ask from the queen?”

I only smiled and didn’t tell him.

I had just the wish to ask from her.

*Ting*

[Skill: Planner gained.]