Chapter 32: The Chimera Ant’s Evolution (1) The Ant’s First Offspring

Chapter 32: The Chimera Ant's Evolution (1) The Ant's First Offspring "WOW! WOW, RODION, ARE YOU LOOKING AT THIS?" Mikhailis shouted, almost nose-to-glass as he peered through his magnifying glass. He was leaning over the aquarium in his study, his eyes wide with fascination. The gleam of excitement in his gaze was unmistakable. Using his magnifying glass, he focused on the chimera ant queen, watching as she shimmered beneath the soft light, her body noticeably larger. The ant wasn't just evolving—it was flourishing. Around her, nearly twenty worker ants and ten soldier ants scurried about, their movements sharp and purposeful. He could feel them—each one—through the familiar bond etched into his palm as a tattoo. The bond pulsed, almost like an electric connection, every time they moved. The queen herself was now the size of his fist, much bigger than when she first appeared in front of him. Her wings glistened faintly, reflecting the light as she moved with a grace that seemed unreal for an insect. Rodion's voice echoed softly, his tone laced with a mix of sarcasm and analytic precision. Mikhailis grinned, unable to keep himself from smirking. "Oh, please do. This feels like a proud dad moment here!" Mikhailis scratched the back of his head, his grin widening. "You make it sound like I run a monster petting zoo, Rodion. All for science, buddy. But I gotta say, the frogs were surprisingly tough to catch." Mikhailis's eyes sparkled at the mention of "magical beast." He stared at the queen, watching her shimmer and her abdomen pulse with energy. The worker ants scurried around, some gathering small particles from the corners of the aquarium, while the soldier ants stood vigilant, ready for anything. "She's beautiful..." Mikhailis muttered, almost to himself. He could sense the change within her, like a small spark of magic lighting up inside, and it wasn't just physical growth—it was something deeper. He could feel her intelligence beginning to bloom. He continued watching the bustling ants for several minutes, his fascination only growing as he noted the differences in each cast—the workers, the soldiers, and, of course, the queen. Their instincts were sharp, movements almost coordinated like they had a military strategy in place. He had to test this. "Alright, let's see if this works." Mikhailis straightened up, placing the magnifying glass to the side. He stared into the aquarium, focusing on the bond in his palm. It was like an invisible thread linking him to the queen, a mental string that connected them. With a slight tilt of his head, he gave a mental command: Fly. The queen shuddered momentarily, then, as if obeying his will, her wings began to flutter. Slowly, she lifted off the ground, rising steadily into the air. Her iridescent wings sparkled as they caught the light, and she moved smoothly, elegantly, hovering above the worker ants. The soldiers, sensing movement, became alert, their antennae twitching. "Holy crap, it worked!" Mikhailis couldn't contain his excitement. Rodion sighed. Or at least that's what it sounded like—a resigned exhale from an AI that clearly had its doubts. Mikhailis, with his typical disregard for caution, shook his head. "Nah, I got this. Trust me." Before Rodion could finish, Mikhailis had already popped open the lid of the aquarium. He extended his hand, palm up, towards the queen. She fluttered her wings, lifting off gracefully, and flew towards him. Instead of fleeing or attacking, she hovered gently over his hand before settling down on his palm. "See? She trusts me." He looked at the queen, her antennae twitching slightly as if responding to his thoughts. "Good girl. You're gonna be a star." Mikhailis carefully lowered her back into the aquarium. "Alright, girl, stay still. Time for your new gear." The robotic limb, equipped with the neural relay chip, extended into the aquarium. The other ants moved aside as if aware that something significant was happening. The queen remained completely still, her shimmering exoskeleton reflecting the light. Rodion's voice was flat, professional. Mikhailis watched, his gaze unblinking as the small chip was carefully affixed to the queen's back, just above her thorax. It adhered smoothly, the tiny connectors making contact with her exoskeleton. Mikhailis grinned from ear to ear. "Awesome! We did it, Rodion. She's got her own little cam now. Imagine all the things we can see." Mikhailis leaned back, letting out a sigh of satisfaction. "I always wanted to see the world through an ant's eyes. And now, I can. Plus, this will give us so much insight into their habits, their behaviors, even how the magic is affecting them."