Chapter 33: First Encounter
In the dense forest of mini world number one, five Vorrans are moving swiftly through the underbrush. Their feline-like forms blend seamlessly with the shadows, their night vision cutting through the darkness. Each of them moves with grace, their eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of prey.
The leader of the group, Rylis, suddenly halts, his keen senses picking up something off. He glances back at the others, his whiskers twitching. "Hey," he says in a low voice, "this is weird. We haven't seen a single prey since we started."
One of the others, Tiran, narrows his eyes and nods in agreement. "You're right. It's too quiet. We should've encountered something by now."
Rylis turns back to the forest, his tail flicking with unease. "Let's keep moving. Maybe they're just deeper in."
The group presses on, their senses heightened, but the forest remains eerily silent. Minutes pass, and the usual rustling of small creatures or the flapping of wings is absent. The air feels thick with tension, and the Vorrans exchange wary glances as they continue their search.
Suddenly, Deya, the smallest of the group, stops in her tracks and crouches low. "Wait," she whispers, pointing ahead. "Look."
Tiran steps forward, his claws extending instinctively. "Should we follow it?"
Rylis stands, his gaze hard. "We don't have a choice. We need to find out what's going on here." With a nod, the group moves cautiously along the blood trail, their senses on high alert.
The trail winds deeper into the forest, leading them to the base of a large hill. There, half-hidden by foliage, is a cave entrance, dark and foreboding. The opening looks rough, as if it had been dug recently. The walls are uneven, and loose dirt spills out of the entrance.
Deya's ears flatten as she eyes the cave warily. "Wait a minute," she says, her voice hushed. "Why does that cave look like it was just made?"
Rylis nods slowly, his instincts screaming at him that something isn't right. "You're right. This wasn't here last week."
Despite their unease, the Vorrans move forward. Rylis leads the way, his eyes scanning the entrance for any signs of danger. The air grows colder as they step inside, and the scent of blood becomes more intense, lingering in the tight space.
The cave goes deeper than any of them expect, the rough tunnel descending into darkness. Tiran runs his hand along the wall, feeling the jagged edges of freshly torn earth. "Whatever made this," he says quietly, "it's quite big."
The further they go, the more the feeling of being watched settles in their bones. The walls seem to press in around them, and every sound echoes ominously through the cave. The blood trail continues, disappearing deeper into the shadows.
After what feels like an eternity, they reach a wider chamber. The ground here is covered in the remains of animals—broken bones, torn flesh, and pools of blood. In the center of the carnage is something large and unmoving.
As the Vorrans inch closer, their eyes widen in horror. The guard ant, slightly bigger than them, is crouched in the middle, its mandibles dripping with the blood of its latest kill. The sight of the Vorrans seems to stir it, and its antennae twitch violently as it rises to its full height, towering over them.
Deya gasps, her claws unsheathing instinctively. "What is that thing?"
Rylis steps back, his heart racing. "I don't know," he growls, "but we need to get out of here. Now."
But before they can move, the guard ant lunges, its mandibles snapping shut with terrifying speed. The Vorrans scatter, their agility saving them from the initial strike.
"Defend yourself!" Rylis shouts, brandishing his blade.
The others nod, their fear turning into determination as they prepare to face the monstrous creature. The air crackles with tension as the Vorrans square off against the predator, their sharpened reflexes the only thing standing between them and certain death.
Rylis grits his teeth, his sharp eyes darting between the massive ant and the exits. The Vorrans are agile, their feline-like bodies built for speed and precision, but something about this enemy unsettles him. It isn't moving like any creature they've encountered before—its stillness is unnerving, as if it's waiting, sensing their every move.
Suddenly, Rylis raises a hand, his voice sharp. "Wait! We don't need to fight it!"
The others hesitate, their muscles coiled, ready to spring into action. Tiran glances at Rylis, his face twisted in confusion. "What do you mean? It's right there!"
"Trust me," Rylis says, his voice low but firm. "We're faster. We just need to outrun it, not take it head-on. It's big to maneuver like us in these tunnels."
They nod reluctantly, backing away from the looming threat. Their night vision gives them confidence, the shadows of the cave becoming their ally. They think they have the upper hand—after all, Vorrans have hunted in the dark for generations. The cave walls, the low light, everything seems to favor them.
But what they don't realize is that their enemy isn't relying on its eyes. The guard ant's evolution has gifted it something far more deadly. Though it now has rudimentary eyes, its true power still lies in its antennae—finely tuned sensory organs that allow it to feel the slightest vibrations, detect even the faintest movement in the air.
The moment the Vorrans shift, preparing to bolt, the ant senses their intent.
"Now!" Rylis shouts, and the Vorrans sprint into action, their speed blurring their forms as they rush toward the cave entrance.
But they underestimate just how fast their enemy is.
The guard ant moves with frightening precision, its legs propelling it forward faster than the Vorrans could have imagined. In a flash, its mandibles snap shut around one of their own—Deya. She barely has time to scream, her eyes wide with terror as she is lifted off the ground, struggling helplessly in the creature's grip.