Ari's mandibles clanged on Hopper's body—but there was no effect. Hopper remained still, completely unharmed and utterly unbothered. He looked down at Ari with cold, piercing eyes, then slowly released his grip on Tanya's throat. She collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.
"Who is this?" Hopper asked in a low, deadly tone.
"Let her go, you bastard!" Ari shouted, his voice laced with rage.
"Ari, what the hell are you doing?" Anastasia whispered, holding her trembling lips.
The elder ants stood frozen, stunned by what they had just witnessed. Silence loomed over the colony. Among Hopper's warriors, Sly stepped forward with a twisted smile and he chuckled maliciously.
"Hopper, would you like me to get rid of this runt?"
"That's okay, Sly. Stand back in line." Hopper's tone was calm, almost amused. "That was a good sneak attack, Ant. What's your name?"
"My name is Ari. And I said, leave her alone," he growled through clenched teeth.
Hopper smirked. "If you want her that badly, come take her, she's right over here. But first, you'll have to get passed me or hurt me. Here—I'll even give you the first shot." He pointed to his chest, grinning.
"You'll pay for underestimating me!" Ari snarled and lunged forward.
In a blur of movement, Ari unleashed a flurry of swift and relentless slashes. The force of his mandibles sliced through the air like blades. But when he finally stopped, panting and spent, the sight before him crushed his spirit—Hopper hadn't moved an inch. Not a scratch marked his body.
"I'm disappointed, your mandibles can't pierce me" Hopper said flatly as he cracked his neck. "This strength is what you thought could save the princess? You're a weakling."
And then, in a flash, Hopper vanished and reappeared before Ari. The sudden movement stunned everyone. Ari barely ducked in time as Hopper's fist passed just inches from his face. The shockwave alone sent him hurtling backwards, crashing into the tunnel wall with a sickening thud.
"Ari!" Rory called out, drawing his mandibles, ready to leap in.
"Don't you dare move," Anastasia ordered, grabbing his arm. "If you attack Hopper, you'll die instantly."
Her hand trembled. Fear had taken root in her eyes—genuine, bone-deep fear.
Oh no.... Ari said Beatrice
Ari struggled to rise, dazed. As soon as he found his footing, Hopper appeared again—this time driving a brutal kick into his midsection. Ari flew backward once more, hitting the tunnel wall with crushing force. Blood spilled from his mouth as he gasped for breath.
Hopper didn't let up. He walked over calmly, picked Ari up by the throat, leapt into the air, and hurled him across the tunnel. Another violent crash. Ari lay battered, motionless, barely conscious.
"Attacking me was when you signed your death warrant," Hopper said coldly. "Don't worry. I'll make sure your death is the most agonizing thing you'll ever experience."
Hopper then drew his mandibles and raised them to deliver the final blow—but Anastasia stepped in front of Ari.
"No!" Tanya cried out, tears streaming down her face. "It's my fault! Please, don't hurt him!"
"Please… I beg you Hopper," Anastasia whispered, dropping to her knees, bowing deeply before Hopper.
"Oh?" Hopper cocked his head. "And why should I spare him? He dared to raise his mandibles against me."
"Believe it or not," Anastasia said, her voice trembling, "he's the one who designed and built the new structures. That's why we had such a fruitful harvest. That's why you received more food this season. Without him, none of it would have been possible. We need him he's an asset. Killing him now would be pointless."
Hopper's eyes narrowed, calculating.
"I see your point… Very well. I'll spare him." He leaned in close to Anastasia's ear and whispered, "But I wonder what your father would say… you, bowing to the same grasshopper who ended his life. It's pathetic. You are pathetic."
Anastasia trembled, holding her head low in shame.
Hopper straightened and looked toward Queen Celeste. "I'm sorry about the mess, Your Majesty. But you do understand—he attacked first. And for me sparing his life, I'll be needing more food as compensation."
"What? But we've already finished the collection, if we go back out on another expedition we will be caught in the cold" an elder ant said, alarmed.
"Go back out," Hopper ordered. "You have fourteen days. If you fail… well, that's a shame."
"We won't make it through winter if we go out now," the elder said, panicking.
"Then maybe you should've kept your little hero on a leash," Hopper sneered. "Now, I'll be taking the princess as ransom. If you fail to deliver the food, I'll kill her. And I'll wipe out this entire colony."
"I like that idea," Sly added, grinning cruelly. "I'll make sure they suffer."
"Fourteen days," Hopper repeated. "You'll bring it to our fortress. I trust you can find your way."
With that, Hopper and his warriors turned and marched out of the colony, dragging Princess Tanya with them.
"No! Princess Tanya!" Ari cried, trying to stand his vision blurry and his leg shaking.
Tanya stumbled as she was pulled forward, but twisted in Hopper's grasp just enough to look back. Her eyes locked with Ari's—wide, tear-filled, trembling.
"Ari…" she choked out, her voice cracking. "You didn't have to do that for me… I never wanted you to get hurt."
Blood ran down Ari's mouth, but he reached a hand toward her. "I couldn't just watch—"
Tanya shook her head. "I was so scared, but when you stood up… for a second, I wasn't anymore."
She bit her lip, her voice quivering. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry… Please don't die. Please."
Then Hopper yanked her forward. Until they disappeared out of sight.
"No, Tanya... I couldn't protect you," Ari muttered to himself, bitterly.
He then froze when he saw Anastasia's face.
Her expression burned with fury.
"Do you realize what you've done?" she shouted. "You've nearly doomed this entire colony! All because you couldn't control yourself. Are you insane?"
"He was hurting the princess!" Ari replied, confused and desperate. "What was I supposed to do? Just stand there and let him choke her?"
"What you did was reckless," she said, her voice cracking. "You didn't think it through. Hopper isn't just some bug—he's the strongest. Did you not see that? Your mandibles couldn't even scratch him!"
Ari stared at her, wounded by more than his injuries.
"This… this isn't like you, Anastasia," he said softly. "You're strong. You're brave. You're not afraid of anyone. And now you're trembling in fear just because of him? That's not bravery. That's pathetic."
He turned toward the others. "And the rest of you—why? Why are you putting up with this? Letting them exploit everything you've worked for? Why suffer like this? It's stupid!"
Before he could finish, Anastasia slapped him across the face. The sharp sound echoed through the tunnels. She stormed off without a word, her emotions in turmoil.
"I… I can't believe this happened," Isla whispered, still shaking.
"…Ari…" Rory murmured, his fists trembling as he stared at his broken rival, standing with blood staining his shell and eyes dim.
Queen Celeste watched it all unfold with quiet anguish, sighing deeply to maintain her composure. The elders began murmuring among themselves in hushed, angry tones.
"I knew letting him join the colony was a mistake," one hissed.
"We should've sent him away when we had the chance," another added. "Now the colony's future rests in the hands of monsters look at the mess he has caused."
Brooks stood off to the side, quiet and contemplative. Among the buzzing doubt and disappointment, he alone seemed to carry a different thought.
What you did wasn't wrong, Ari, Brooks said to himself. It just wasn't the right time. But that fire in you… it's rare. "Fear for the colony's future clouded our judgment, but you—you attacked Hopper without any fear at all. You were the light we were looking for, just like Captain Terence said, Brooks."
Ari's body was broken, but it was the weight of failure—and of truth—that crushed him more. The fact that he couldn't keep his promise.