Chapter 83
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Chapter 83: Army Lady Gradually Understood Everything
*Who… am I?*
As this thought formed, knowledge flooded her mind—about herself, her mother, the world…
After assimilating this information, comprehension dawned.
Sensation returned to her body. Darkness enveloped her vision while a sack-like object constricted her form.
*Sack?*
Memories about sacks surfaced after brief contemplation. Her forelimbs brushed against the pressing material.
*Ah—my eggshell.*
*Outside… is Mother? Is Mother there?*
An indescribable emotion welled within her.
*I want…*
She wanted to see Mom quickly!
And… she wanted more…
More of what?
Though not entirely sure, as long as she could see Mom…
Her breathing grew strangely rapid.
Her front limbs stiffened as she struggled fiercely to break free from the confining shell.
*Crack…*
A piece of eggshell fell away!
She persisted with effort.
*Crack-crack-crack…*
She emerged!
But all around echoed similar sounds of shells breaking.
Glancing instinctively, she recognized her sisters hatched alongside her.
Shifting her gaze forward, she spotted three ants ahead.
Though the other two were far larger, her focus locked onto the smallest white ant at the center—unable to look away.
This was…
Such beauty… such majesty…
Nothing else seemed to matter anymore. The world narrowed to this singular presence.
"Mom…"
The word escaped her lips unbidden.
"Mom…" "Mom…"
The chorus of nearby ants snapped her from her daze.
Seeing some sisters already scuttling toward the white ant, she hurried to follow.
Excitement fluttered within her as she stared at the white figure ahead.
Reaching that spot meant touching Mom.
She wanted…
Though unclear exactly what, the craving burned fiercely—
"Little Tear, take them downstairs."
A cold, almost detached voice abruptly resonated in her mind.
Her fervor snuffed out like a candle.
Her legs froze mid-step.
Was Mom angry? But… why…?
Now calm, she finally noticed the two enormous black ants flanking the white one.
So massive… and radiating overwhelming pressure.
Were these her elder sisters?
How enviable, being permitted so close to Mom!
Did strength earn them that privilege?
Yes! Of course! Mom’s radiant nobility demanded only the mightiest ants beside her!
Just then, the slightly smaller giant black ant approached.
"Move! Sister will take you meat-eating!"
Meat? Now that she mentioned it… hunger gnawed.
This must be "Little Tear" from Mom’s command—no, *Sister* Little Tear.
Up close, the sister’s size seemed even more imposing. Could she grow that large too?
Yet her own form differed slightly from Sister Little Tear’s. What ant breed was she?
As the thought formed, a translucent window materialized:
——
Name: Army Lady
Species: Military Ant (Growing)
Qualification: A
(Continued below)
——
Army Lady…
Is this the name given by Mom?
Then she and the other Iron Armored Ants and Acid Ants followed Little Tear out of the room.
Until they exited, they kept glancing back reluctantly at the white ant—even Little Tear, who led the group, was no exception.
Outside the room, several fully matured Iron Armored Ants stood guard at the entrance, with Acid Ants perched on their backs.
Ahead stretched a long, wide corridor. Speaking of which, this place was…
"What is this place, Sister Little Tear?"
"Ah! You called me ‘sister’! Say it again! Again!"
"Sister… Little Tear?"
Army Lady tilted her head in confusion.
"Mhm! I’m Sister Little Tear! All of you, say it too! Go on!"
She then heard the other ants echoing the title.
Well, except for one—the green ant at the rear of the line seemed lost in thought, remaining silent.
Though that ant didn’t participate, Little Tear’s delight at being called "sister" by the others made her overlook the absence.
Army Lady didn’t point it out and instead pressed her earlier question.
Thus, she learned the ant colony had just concluded a major battle the previous night, and this castle they now occupied was one of the spoils of that victory.
_Battle…_
For reasons she couldn’t fathom, the word ignited a thrill in Army Lady’s heart—second only to the exhilaration she’d felt upon seeing Lin Yu earlier.
She envied both the ants who’d secured Mother’s triumph and those who’d perished on the battlefield.
…
Watching Little Tear depart with the group, Lin Yu finally exhaled in relief.
Of the first batch of eggs, only those of the Earth Digging Ants and Stealth Ants remained unhatched.
The room was littered with ant eggs and the shattered shells of newly emerged ants.
Lin Yu picked up a shell fragment and popped it into her mouth.
_Crunch. Crunch. Crunch._
_Nostalgic._
The mingled taste of shell and residual egg fluid was unpleasant, but with the fire source left behind in the Second Ant Nest, her options were limited to these scraps or raw meat.
_Actually edible things I’ve tasted… just those red fruits, maybe?_
_Tangy and sweet! So good!_
_But they’re all gone now…_
_Since I’ll likely be staying in the Fog Zone long-term, I should transplant some saplings here. Even if they’re not fruiting yet, watering them daily with my saliva ought to speed things up. Soon enough, red fruits again!_
_Those wild vegetables and mushrooms could be transplanted too. They’re vile raw, and roasted without seasoning they’re still worse than meat—but at least they’d add variety._
…
Roughly half an hour later, movement rippled through the first batch of earth-yellow Earth Digging Ant eggs.
Shells split as twenty ants matching the eggs’ dull hue emerged.
Their mandibles differed from others—razor-edged at the front, bulkier at the base.
All C Qualification Earth Digging Ants. Lin Yu sighed in relief when none cried out for "Mom."
By nightfall, however, the first batch of Stealth Ant eggs still hadn’t hatched.
In contrast, the second and third batches—10 B Qualification Acid Ants and 10 B Qualification Iron Armored Ants—had all emerged.
Lin Yu directed these maternally vocal ants to the underground food storage chamber for their first meal.
The next morning, Red Pupil roused Lin Yu.
The 10 Stealth Ants had finally hatched.
