Queen Celeste's gaze swept across the gathering once more before her voice rang out:
"Corporal Beatrice. Please step forward."
Beatrice responded without hesitation. "Right, my Queen." She strode toward the platform with measured steps, her composure crisp and disciplined. She bowed low before the Queen.
Queen Celeste regarded her with solemn pride.
"You have served on many fronts, Beatrice," she began. "You fought bravely during the termite war, protected vital supplies from Zippy's flies, and showed unwavering leadership in the battle against the grasshoppers."
Beatrice held her stance, unmoving.
"More than your strength on the field, you've proven invaluable off it. You've trained recruits, written thorough battle reports, and given me and the Elder Council clear insights into events we did not witness. Your clarity and diligence are pillars that hold this colony strong."
A pause. The Queen's voice rang even louder:
"From this day forward, you are Sergeant Beatrice."
The crowd erupted into cheers.
Lily squealed and launched forward. "Nice work! You did it!" she cried, throwing her arms around Beatrice in a warm hug.
Beatrice stiffened instantly. "Lily, let go of me," she said through gritted teeth, irritation plain in her voice.
"Aw, come on! Don't be shy," Lily teased, clinging tighter. "You're a Sergeant now! That's so cool!"
"This is an official ceremony," Beatrice hissed under her breath. "Please refrain from these ridiculous outbursts—the Queen is present."
"But I can't help it!" Lily beamed. "I'm just so overjoyed that you ranked up to Sergeant!" She rubbed her head against Beatrice's face with exaggerated affection.
A stern voice cut through the moment like a blade.
"Lily."
Anastasia's tone was flat and cold.
Lily froze. "Yeah, yeah… I know," she muttered, stepping back.
"You're such a buzzkill…" she whispered under her breath.
Anastasia's eyes narrowed. "What was that?"
"Nothing! It was nothing," Lily said quickly, flashing a nervous grin.
Queen Celeste's voice rang out once more, clear and commanding, echoing across the great amphitheater.
"Lieutenant Seth, Chief Warden of the colony's prison—step forward."
A hush swept over the crowd. Seth approached the platform with calm, deliberate steps. No pomp, no fanfare—just the quiet dignity of a soldier long used to shadows. He bowed low before the Queen.
Celeste studied him for a long, silent moment. Her gaze held weight.
"Not all victories," she said at last, "are forged on the battlefield. Some are earned in quieter, colder places—where sacrifice comes without glory."
The amphitheater fell utterly still. You could almost taste the tension—heavy, reverent.
"Lieutenant Seth did not join the direct assault on Hopper's fortress," the Queen continued. "Instead, he led a critical expedition across hostile ground to acquire food supplies—provisions that Hopper himself demanded in exchange for Princess Tanya's life."
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"Had their infiltration failed… had Anastasia and her team not succeeded in rescuing the Princess… there was still a chance." Her voice softened. "A chance that Seth's mission would have allowed us to negotiate her return, through means we had already abandoned."
There were no whispers now. Just silence. The kind of silence that settled deep.
"He gathered workers and soldiers alike and marched into danger—not for glory, but for survival. He carried the burden of a fallback plan… a plan we dared not speak of, because our two strongest soldiers had already risked everything. But Seth did not falter."
Queen Celeste lifted her hand slowly, her voice growing more personal, almost gentle.
"This rank… you should have received it ten years ago, in the aftermath of the Great War.
"But due to complications—and your own choice to remain a Lieutenant and lead the Warden division—it was delayed."
. So my question to you now is, are you ready to accept it now?"
Seth took a deep breath for a moment and then bowed deeper. "Yes, my Queen."
"For your unwavering service, strategic foresight, and dedication to the colony's survival—I hereby promote you to Commander Seth, Chief Warden of the Colony."
The crowd erupted in thunderous applause. The warden ants he oversees raised their fists high in salute.
Seth turned, composed as ever, and made his way back down the steps. As he rejoined the ranks, he gave the crowd a modest nod. And that's when Ari noticed it—again.
A faint glow on Seth's left shoulder. Soft, but unmistakable.
Ari leaned toward Lily, lowering his voice to a whisper. "Hey, um… Lily. Can I ask you something?"
"What's up?" she replied with a mischievous grin, already sensing he was confused.
"That faint glow on his arm. The left one. What does it mean?"
She gave him a sly look, almost like she'd been waiting for this moment. "You really don't know?"
"That's why I'm asking," Ari muttered, eager to know.
She leaned in closer, voice playful. "It means he ranked up, silly."
Ari blinked. "Come again?"
"You've really never paid attention to your own body, have you?" she said, grinning.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ari stuttered, caught off guard.
Lily chuckled, flicking his forehead gently. "When you became a Lance Corporal, didn't you notice the little flower mark on your shoulder?"
"…Maybe?"
"It determines your rank. Each petal represents one tier. There are eight tiers for the eight petals. Private, Lance Corporal, Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Commander, Captain, and General. You've got two petals—Lance Corporal. I have three for Corporal. Anastasia has six. Seth just ranked up, so now his flower glows in full bloom."
Ari's brow furrowed. "Wait, that's what that thing is? I thought it was just a weird scar I got due to the harsh training I had with Anastasia as a recruit."
Lily rolled her eyes. "No, Sir. It's part of the Queen's power. Every true Queen can awaken the ranking system. When she deems someone worthy, not only do they receive the title—but their body is enhanced too. Strength, speed, reflexes, durability—it all gets a boost. You didn't notice that when you got promoted?"
Ari scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "I mean… I did feel like my speed and slashes improved a great deal."
"Exactly." She smirked. "But Hopper brought you back to reality when he defeated you with his fists."
"Wow. Thanks for reminding me."
Ari thought back, eyes widening a little. "So that time when Anastasia's shoulder glowed during our meeting with Queen Celeste after we won against queen Helena's colony… she was getting her sixth petal?"
"That's correct. And now Seth's flower is glowing because he reached Commander."
Ari glanced down at his own arm, now conscious of the meaning of the insignia on his left shoulder.
"For such a well-informed, strategic, and tactical ant, I'm surprised you didn't know about this," she said with a chuckle.
"I'm wondering the same thing," he muttered with a smirk.
They shared a quiet laugh, the applause still echoing around them as Seth stood tall among the crowd—shoulder glowing, flower in full bloom.
From her vantage point near the Queen's platform, Princess Tanya watched Ari closely, her hands folded in front of her chest, barely able to keep still. The cheers and ceremony around her faded into silence as her gaze lingered on him. And then—her breath caught.
Her mind was pulled backward, dragged into a memory she could never forget.
"That was a good sneak attack, Ant. What's your name?"
Ari's mandibles were raised, his entire frame trembling—not with fear, but with rage. "My name is Ari. And I said, leave her alone."
Hopper smirked, stretching his arms lazily. "If you want her that badly, come take her. She's right here. But first—" he jabbed a finger at his own chest, "you'll have to get past me. I'll even give you the first shot."
Ari didn't hesitate. With a roar, he lunged, mandibles slashing with relentless speed and fury. He poured everything he had into those strikes—every fear, every ounce of desperation, every flicker of hope. The air itself screamed with the sharp whistle of his attacks.
Then silence.
Hopper hadn't moved. Not a scratch. Not a dent.
"I'm disappointed," Hopper said flatly, cracking his neck. "Your mandibles can't even pierce me. This is the strength you thought could save the princess? You're pathetic."
And then he was gone.
In a blink, Hopper vanished—then reappeared inches from Ari.
Ari's eyes widened. He ducked just in time, but the shockwave from Hopper's punch still sent him flying, slamming him into the tunnel wall with a sickening crunch.
Before Ari could even cry out, Hopper was there again. A brutal kick to the stomach launched him across the tunnel once more. He crashed against the wall and collapsed, coughing blood.
Hopper didn't stop.
He walked over calmly, lifted Ari by the throat with one arm, leapt into the air, and hurled him downward.
The impact left Ari broken and barely conscious, twitching on the stone floor as a crimson pool spread beneath him.
As Hopper turned to leave with his warriors, dragging Princess Tanya behind, Ari groaned and reached out with a trembling hand.
"No… Princess Tanya…" he gasped. His vision swam, leg useless beneath him, the world spinning.
Tanya, stumbling in Hopper's grip, turned back. Her fearful eyes met his—full of horror, pain… and something far deeper.
"Ari…" she called out, her voice fragile and shaking. "You didn't have to do that for me… I never wanted you to get hurt."
He coughed, blood trickling down his chin. "I couldn't just… watch…"
Tanya bit her lip hard, tears welling in her eyes. "I was terrified. But when you stood up, even just for that moment… I wasn't scared anymore."
She choked back a sob. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry. Please… don't die. Please."
And then she was gone. Hopper yanked her forward, and the tunnel swallowed them.
That moment stayed with her like a burn that never faded.
Later, at the fortress—after Hopper fell—she saw him again.
"Ari…" Her voice trembled, raw with emotion. "I was so scared. It was so lonely and excruciating being in that cage for so long. I thought I'd go mad. And watching you… seeing you both get bloodied and battered like that…"
Her voice cracked, tears threatening to fall again. "I couldn't bear it. But you… you risked your life to save me. You actually did it. You won. You… defeated Hopper."
Ari looked up at her with tired eyes, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "Well… I made a promise to you, didn't I?"
Back at the ceremony, she exhaled shakily.
He doesn't know it yet, she thought, her heart tightening. But he's become more important to me than even I understand.
He did his duty, just like any soldier might for their princess. But Ari went beyond that. He didn't fight Hopper because someone commanded him to. He did it because he couldn't stand to see me taken. He faced a monster… for me.
And… there's something else.
Her gaze lowered slightly, her mind flashing back to that moment in the fortress. No one else saw it—only her. In the heart of that brutal fight, when Hopper had him pinned and bleeding… something changed.
Just for a split second.
His mandibles glowed faintly. Then, a strange green energy pulsed around him—an acid, maybe, or something more. It sizzled on Hopper's arms, severing them, forcing the tyrant to recoil in pain and surprise.
Tanya's breath caught in her throat.
No one else saw it happen. No one but her.
She never told anyone. Not because she was afraid—but because even now, she wasn't sure what she saw. It didn't feel like a weapon. It felt…overwhelming. She sensed that he might have reasons for keeping such a power a secret.
Whatever it was, it helped turn the tide. It saved him. It saved her.
He has a strength that no one understands yet. But I do, she thought. Because I saw it. I felt it. And as long as Ari is here, the colony will be safe, I just know it.
"Corporal Lily, please step forward…"
"Looks like I'm up. Wish me luck, Ari," she said with a wink as she walked toward the Queen, then bowed.
"Reports say that your actions played a pivotal role in the war. You fought against General Gianna—a formidable and merciless grasshopper. You stood your ground, composed and calm. Through strategic thinking, creative planning, and perfect timing, you managed to subdue and defeat her. That alone gave us a major advantage in the war, and I commend you for your bravery and battlefield intelligence. From this day forward, you will now be Lieutenant Lily."
The crowd of ants was speechless—then suddenly erupted into cheers. The military ants clanged their mandibles together in celebration.
"Lieutenant Lily… that doesn't sound too bad. It has a nice ring to it," she said excitedly.
Her left shoulder began to glow softly, the flower mark blooming from three to five radiant petals, a shimmer of light dancing across her armor.
"Congratulations, Lily. You skipped a rank," said Beatrice.
"You now bear five petals. You've bypassed Sergeant and gone straight to Lieutenant,"said Isla.
"Well, it was all thanks to both you and Isla that I was able to take Gianna out, so… thank you both for fighting by my side," she said with a smile.
while watching her expression, Isla recalled that winter day—seeing Lily alone, crying at her parents' grave. She hadn't looked like herself at all.
Has she really cried away all those feelings she buried deep inside? Isla wondered, surprised.
"You're really strong, Lily," she muttered.