I felt revitalized. Was it something that changed within me, or was it just the hope to move forward after a good rest?

I used my energy to break down a wall that led to another antlion tunnel. I arrived at a spacious cave with several more tunnels, but my options were limited to the ones I could reach.

Deeper inside, the entire hive had been alerted, and they would do everything to defend their nest. Some ants ran, others jumped, and some tried to land on me before bursting into pieces by my power, though their attacks tore through my skin.

I continued through the narrow tunnels, collecting enough larvae to mend my scars. This place were important for getting healing properties, so maintaining balance in the ecosystem was crucial, but being there, that equilibrium seemed disturbed.

My progress through the caves was imposing, as antlions kept emerging from the sandy ground and various tunnels. I felt their presence trembling beneath me, and I prepared myself, releasing a blast that hit the first thing my eyes saw. Many of them were fast, but it only took one impact, and they burst into pieces like balloons.

I managed to step on an antlion just in time. Once weakened, I retaliated to ensure it wouldn't rise again.

I followed a tunnel that descended towards a water lake. When I emerged, I found myself cornered, but I concentrated and released an explosion around me, as vast as that of a houndeye but with the strength of a vortigaunt.

I was covered in their yellow hemolymph, but it was what a warrior should expect. I saw a guardian in front of me, restless but not moving from its spot. I approached slowly, and another guardian appeared, charging at me, forcing me into a place with high and steep walls, with two guardians wanting me dead.

But I wasn't there to flee. The two guardians fell into what would become their arena, the coliseum they had to face. I was their gladiator.

I dodged the first charge and then unleashed my attacks. Their shells seemed impervious, but I wasn't concerned. I kept moving to the rhythm of their attacks, which turned into failures.

I positioned myself near the sturdiest surface. Their pattern was repetitive, and I imagined they would be stunned after ramming into me, expecting the cushion of my body.

I climbed on top of one of the creatures, focused my energy, and chanted the words of my species as a battle cry, firing a beam from each limb. It was the cries of pain that made their shells appear less impenetrable.

It was harder than I thought as more antlions came to help the guardian. The beating of their wings descended upon me, while the acid of the workers tried to impact my skin, their sizzling sound piercing my ears.

I dispatched the smaller ones first, chaining a beam to hit multiple of their equals. The guardian shook its head from side to side—was it fear or a deceptive trick? I couldn't tell. I mimicked its movements and evaded while landing a charged blow.

Electric currents ran through its limbs, incapacitating it. I stood victoriously, climbing on top of the guardian antlion, ready to finish the battle.

My energy surged from my body, my energy. I attacked with one hand, then the other, and the other, and the other. The energy returned to me like a boomerang, replenishing me.

When its flesh became soft, my claw delivered the final blow. One of the walls crumbled, weakened by the multiple failed attacks of the guardians.

The hive was filled with the precious extract my people sought. I stood atop a honeycomb, needing to distinguish the quality ones as I couldn't carry so much with me.

I positioned myself, feeling the touch of the nectar, and asked for one thing: "Grant me the wisdom to make the most of this harvest."

The cave began to glow intensely as their voices guided me. In that place and at that moment, I felt the company I had longed for. It made me feel that there was still much for me to learn.

I witnessed immeasurable wisdom in the vortal flow. Physically alone, I knew we were one among many, faceless and voiceless, their presence making us numerous.

Once we collected the right extract, their voices faded one by one, but before returning to silence, they guided us to the exit.

We felt revived, with determination and tenacity. But no one stood in our way to test our strength.