Jason and his people felt the initial vibration before they heard it.

A deep, rumbling tremor that traveled up through the stone floor, rattling their teeth and shaking loose small rocks from the ceiling. Mae stumbled, grabbing Jason’s arm for balance. Ylva’s ears flattened, swiveling toward the source. Thalion’s pale eyes widened, his hand already half-raised.

"What was that?" Mae asked, her voice tight.

Jason had no answers. He had no idea what was happening within this cave. The tunnels were shifting, groaning, protesting something that had been done to them.

But something was wrong. Terribly wrong.

"I don’t know," Jason admitted. "But whatever it is, it’s not good."

The cocoon in the corner pulsed again. Faster now. The creature inside was squirming, pushing against the silk walls, desperate to break free.

Jason knew he could not leave this place until whatever was in that shell hatched. He needed to see it. To understand it. To know if he had to put it down or if it could serve as a valuable ally. Just like Thalion had proven to be.

"We should go," Ylva said, her eyes fixed on the tunnel ahead. "Now."

"Not yet."

"Jason—"

"I said not yet."

Ylva’s jaw tightened, but she didn’t argue. At the end of the day, he was her mate ajd going by their tradition, her alpha even though this term was corny as hell to Jason thank to all the booktok audience he had seen in his previous life.

Another vibration struck but it was violent this time. Closer. The ground beneath their feet bucked like a living thing, throwing Mae against the wall and nearly knocking Jason off his feet.

But this was different. This wasn’t Helga’s hammer. This was something else.

Something big. Moving toward them.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Each step was heavier than the last, shaking the stone, echoing through the tunnel like a death knell.

Jason’s blood ran cold.

"Thalion," he said, his voice low and sharp. "Get ready." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

The way he said it implied everything. Thalion understood. Jason might have use for his magic. And Jason would be fine with it if the situation called for it. No hesitation. No holding back.

Thalion nodded. His hand rose, palm facing the tunnel entrance. Mana crackled around his fingers—dark, swirling, hungry.

"I am ready," Thalion said.

Ylva extended her claws. Mae drew her sword, the blade trembling in her grip.

They waited.

-

The creature that walked into the chamber was something none of them could have anticipated.

It wasn’t the same spider that had taken the vampire they had seen earlier. That one had been fast, shadowy, barely visible in the darkness. This was different.

This one was defined.

It had a facial structure—a face, almost. Not the cluster of eyes and mandibles that Jason expected. This creature had three eyes. One on its forehead, large and unblinking. And two below, set in sockets that angled forward like a predator’s.

The eyes were yellow and almost had a hint of emotion in them.

The creature was huge. Almost the size of an orc, with a body that was all sharp angles and glistening chitin. Its legs were massive—three of them, not eight. Thick, muscular limbs that ended in pointed tips that clicked against the stone floor.

It moved like it owned the tunnels. Like it had been expecting them.

Jason stared at the thing. His mouth opened in shock because...

"What the fuck is that?" he whispered.

The creature tilted its head. Its three eyes blinked—not at the same time, but in sequence. Left, forehead, right. Left, forehead, right.

Then it spoke.

Not with words. With something else. A vibration that bypassed Jason’s ears and went straight into his brain.

"You are not prey."

Jason staggered. His hand flew to his head.

"Jason?" Ylva grabbed his arm. "What’s happening?"

"It’s... talking." Jason’s voice was strained. "In my head."

"Talking? What are you saying?" Ylva asked.

Thalion’s mana flared brighter. "Kill it?"

"Not yet." Jason held up a hand. "Wait."

The creature took a step closer. Its three legs moved in perfect synchronization, silent despite its size. Its yellow eyes swept over the group—Ylva’s claws, Thalion’s magic, Mae’s sword.

Then its gaze landed on the cocoon in the corner.

The creature froze.

Its head tilted the other way. Its eyes widened—all three of them. A low, rumbling sound emanated from its chest. Not a growl. Not a hiss.

Something else, something that almost sounded like... recognition.

"You birthed the king?", the voice said in Jason’s mind.

Jason’s blood turned to ice. "The ant king?"

The creature’s eyes flicked back to him.

"Yes."

"How do you know about it?"

The creature didn’t answer. Instead, it turned and walked toward the cocoon, its three legs carrying it across the chamber with surprising grace.

Ylva moved to intercept. "Get back—"

"Stop," Jason commanded.

Ylva froze.

The creature reached the cocoon and lowered its head. Its three eyes studied the pulsing silk, the squirming shape within, the cracks that were beginning to form on its surface.

"It is almost ready," the voice said.

Jason stepped forward. "What is it? What’s inside?" Jason expected it to be violent but whatever this was showed a high sign of intelligence.

The creature looked at him.

The creature’s mouth—a small, almost invisible slit beneath its eyes—curved upward.

Another tremor shook the cave. Stronger this time. The ceiling groaned. Dust poured down like rain.

"We need to leave," Mae said. "Now."

Jason looked at the cocoon. Then at the creature. Then at his group.

"The cocoon comes with us," he said.

Ylva’s ears flattened. "You want to carry that thing through a collapsing cave?"

"I want to keep it alive." Jason met her eyes. "Whatever it is, it’s mine now. The system said so," Jason said before realizing the words had slipped out of his lips, it was already too late.

"The system?" Thalion’s voice was sharp. "What system?"

Jason didn’t answer. He walked to the cocoon, wrapped his arms around its slick surface, and lifted. It was lighter than he expected—warm, almost pulsing with heat.

"Move," he said.

They moved.

Behind them, the three-eyed creature watched and the the cocoon finally bust open.