Inside the fortress, the clang of mandibles and the pounding of hardened feet echoed across the stone floors. Dozens of grasshoppers dashed through the dim-lit corridors, their long limbs moving with precision. Each one carried their deadly mandibles—four in arm—sharpened and stained from years of use. Their gleaming eyes narrowed with determination as they prepared to face the infiltrators.
"Be on guard," barked one of the squad leaders, a broad-chested insect with a deep scar running across his thorax. "All of them are strong enough to take us on and hold their own."
"Yes, sir!" the others responded in unison, never breaking stride as they scattered into branching hallways and platforms above.
Moments later, silence fell.
From behind a jagged stone wall, a pair of antennae twitched cautiously. Then a head emerged.
"Looks like the coast is finally clear," Beatrice whispered, her voice steady but alert. Her sharp eyes scanned the passage ahead, calculating every turn and shadow.
"Well now," came Lily's voice from just behind her, tone playful, "that's very good. At least we didn't encounter any of them so far or we'd be in big trouble, that's for sure."
She grinned cheekily, only half-serious, though her antennae flicked with awareness.
Behind her, Isla trembled. Her breath came in shallow gasps. Her heart pounded so loudly it almost drowned out her thoughts. Her legs felt like twigs ready to snap.
"These grasshoppers... are no joke," she murmured, barely audible. "Four arms, four mandibles, hard skin... there's no way I can defeat them, not at my rank..."
Her voice shivered, nearly breaking.
Lily turned, her grin widening at the sight of Isla's visible panic. "Oh, come on," she said teasingly.
Without warning, she poked Isla right in the belly.
"Eep!" Isla squeaked, jerking back, her entire body jolting.
But Lily was quick—she clapped her hand over Isla's mouth, eyes twinkling mischievously. "Shhh. You don't want our cover to be blown, do you?" she whispered, then gave a quiet, teasing laugh. "Try to calm down, Isla. I know they look terrifying, but if we sneak around quietly, we can get past them for sure."
Isla nodded slowly, though her eyes remained wide with fear. Her breath trembled against Lily's palm.
Lily softened her tone just a bit. "Look, it's better that we don't engage with them directly unless we have to. The average grasshopper is practically a Lieutenant-level threat."
"A... Lieutenant-level threat?" Isla repeated, her voice rising in dread.
"Meaning a Lieutenant could take them down without breaking a sweat," Lily explained. "But us? As Corporals, we can still handle them—just takes a bit more style and precision."
Beatrice finally turned her gaze toward Isla, calm and serious. "In the event of an attack, you must be prepared and fearless. Remember what all our training was for. Trust in it. Trust in yourself. That's the only way you'll survive."
Isla swallowed hard, then gave a shaky nod. "Right... thanks, Lily. Beatrice."
"Good," Beatrice said. "Now then, let's move out."
They crept forward through the labyrinth of stone, sticking to the shadows. Their antennae twitched, picking up vibrations. The smell of moss, metal, and insect pheromones was thick in the air. Every turn was a gamble.
Isla's hands shook as she clutched her mandibles. Her mind swirled with doubt. Why am I even here? I'm just slowing them down. I can't fight like they can... I'm just going to get them killed...
Then, without warning, two grasshoppers dropped from a ledge above.
The trio froze as the enemies landed before them with a heavy thud. Both grasshoppers towered over the ants, green carapaces glinting, limbs twitching in anticipation. Their four arms flexed, each gripping a jagged mandible blade.
"There they are," one hissed, mandibles pointing toward Isla.
The other lunged.
With lightning reflexes, Lily intercepted the first one. She ducked low, her smaller frame zipping beneath its sweeping blow. Her mandibles met its lower right blade with a sharp clang. She twisted her body sideways, dragging the enemy's arm off-balance, then delivered a spinning kick to its abdomen, forcing it back.
Beatrice stepped forward, graceful and composed. The second grasshopper slashed with all four arms in a coordinated flurry. But Beatrice's eyes were calm—she weaved between each attack with minimal movement, sidestepping the final strike before stepping in. She slammed one of her own mandibles against the incoming blade, deflecting it, then pivoted and struck the grasshopper's knee joint.
The insect staggered.
Isla stood frozen, watching with her back pressed to the wall. Her legs refused to move. Her heart screamed at her to run, but her body wouldn't listen.
Lily continued to dance around her opponent, blindingly fast. The grasshopper slashed in wide arcs, furious at her evasiveness, but each time Lily moved just a fraction ahead—a blur of motion, her antennae fluttering with every twist.
She finally leaped onto her opponent's arm, ran up its shoulder, and slammed both her mandibles down into the weak point at the base of its uppermost limb. With a roar, the grasshopper collapsed.
Meanwhile, Beatrice had forced her opponent into a corner. Calm and precise, she deflected two more strikes before kicking the insect's weapon out of its hand with a well-timed sweep. With a swift jab of her mandibles, she disarmed the other two limbs, then delivered a crushing blow to its chest that sent it tumbling to the floor.
Both enemies were unconscious.
Isla's jaw dropped. She could barely breathe.
"They... they're amazing," she whispered. "They're Corporals... and they didn't even get hurt..."
Lily dusted off her hands and flashed a wink. "Told you. Style and precision."
"Earth to Isla," Beatrice said quietly, already checking the hallway ahead. "We're still in the opening. Let's move."
Isla snapped out of her awe and scrambled to follow. But the creeping doubt still lingered. I couldn't even move... I would have just gotten in their way...
Then—a presence.
A shadow flickered across the hallway wall. The air shifted, pressing down on Isla's shoulders like a physical weight. Her breathing hitched. Her legs nearly buckled.
Isla's eyes widened as a blur zipped between her and the Corporals.
Beatrice turned—just in time.
CLANG!
A devastating blow collided with her raised mandibles. The sheer force sent her skidding back, then crashing into the far wall of the corridor. Dust erupted from the impact. Cracks spiderwebbed beneath her as she slumped briefly before forcing herself up, coughing.
"Beatrice!" Isla cried out, her voice raw with panic.
Lily spun in place, having narrowly evaded the strike herself. Dust filled the hallway, the heavy air suffocating.
Out of the smoke stepped a tall, broad figure—lean, sharp-eyed, and adorned in blackened carapace. Her limbs were more refined than the average grasshopper's, and her mandibles gleamed in the dim light.
The weight of her presence crushed Isla's senses. It felt like her lungs had seized up. This one... this one was entirely different.
"I see," the figure said, her voice laced with condescension and disappointment. "Looks like I stumbled on the weaklings of the invasion team."
Isla backed up, her body trembling violently. "I-Isn't that... one of Hopper's generals?" she stammered, her throat dry.
The general smiled coldly.
Lily didn't answer. Her expression had changed. The teasing spark that always danced in her eyes had vanished, replaced by a silent, burning focus. Her antennae lowered, her stance coiled like a spring.
Isla had never seen her like this. Lily's playful energy was gone—this was someone else. Someone carved from fire and vengeance.
The general grinned. "Well now... at least one of you might make this fight a little less boring."
But Lily didn't rise to the bait. She simply lowered into her stance, mandibles gleaming under the light, poised and silent.
Beatrice inhaled slowly, feeling the sting in her battered muscles but forcing herself to push it aside. She would stand. She would not let her body falter in front of her squad.
Her hand trembled slightly as she lifted her mandibles again, adopting a defensive stance.
Even injured, even shaken, she would fight.
The general's smile widened.
"Let's see what your little team is made of," she said, backing away into the shadows again, disappearing down the corridor.
For now.