The ant stood still, but beyond the physical realm, a large ball of light hovered above its head. This radiant, self-contained light was connected to the ant by a thread-like mass of similar energy.
Memories flooded the ant's mind, disjointed and unclear. "I remember leaving a milky, dark space," he thought. "Then my body moved on its own, vision cloudy... What happened?"
Suddenly, the light globe rippled, and information flooded in. "I remember!" he recalled. "I was shot fourteen times, activated the Type 2.9XXX reactor, and self-destructed, taking the central bureau's exterminators with me."
From eco-warrior to fugitive, my journey took a drastic turn. Once celebrated for transforming the Sahara desert into thriving forests with edible vegetation, I faced betrayal from the Central Government.
My achievements included:
- Revitalizing endangered species through birth release plans
- Enhancing livestock productivity and health through DNA alterations
However, after rejecting their Olive Branch, they smeared my name, burned my facilities, and spread a Class Two virus, forcing me into hiding.
Their cruelty knew no bounds. They found my CAT, Lorla – my family – and drowned her alive. The faces of these "terrorists" were etched in my memory, their threats delivered through her brutal murder.
But their actions unleashed a monster. Within a year, I addressed overpopulation, drastically reducing the global population to 10%. Only one clean lake remained.
Reincarnation
Livestock and plants were also affected. After my catastrophic actions, I was shot multiple times – 14 bullets or more. Desperate, I activated a Type 2.9XXX reactor, self-destructing it and taking the central bureau's agents with me.
My life story in retrospect: from eco-warrior to genocidal maniac, and now, reincarnated as an ant. Irony abounds.
As someone familiar with fictional narratives, reincarnation didn't faze me. However, being an ant – vulnerable and insignificant – raised questions.
"Where's my system?" I thought, searching my surroundings. "SYSTEM? System, respond!"
After fruitless calls, I reassessed. "Maybe I've been too caught up in fictional expectations," I realized, calming down. Memories of my ant life began to coalesce.
I had survived as a forager ant, unnoticed by the queen. Ants are highly coordinated, and any disruption is swiftly eliminated.
My gaze fell upon the nest's center, where soldiers swarmed around a tower-like structure. Atop it stood four massive soldier ants with enlarged pincers and armored exoskeletons – eunuch daughters.
The concept of eunuch daughters, once theoretical, was now a reality. These ants, though unable to reproduce, served as high guards for the colony.
A study by a young researcher had sparked interest among scientific big shots, including myself. The possibility of eunuch daughters as a unique caste fascinated us
The false queens mesmerized me. Observing the surroundings during my unconscious state had prepared me for this, but the sight still amazed me.
At the center of the four giant ants was a bed of soft earth, where the queen ant rested. Her golden stripe glistened, and her peaceful demeanor belied her ruthless nature – having killed rival queens, massacred colonies, and enslaved countless ants.
The trophies of her conquests adorned the nest's sides – over twenty queen heads. "What drove her to create this new caste?" I wondered.
Suddenly, I refocused. "What am I thinking about? I have more pressing matters..."
My gaze shifted to the ball of light above me. "What is that?"