Chapter 24: New Discoveries
The newly hatched ant larvae looked like little handles growing out of the eggs. Placed side by side with the eggs, it was difficult to tell them apart at first glance.
The hatching of the eggs signaled an imminent population explosion in Luo Wen’s brood. But before that, his workload increased yet again. The larvae required mature black ants to partially digest food and regurgitate it into a form they could consume—a task as revolting as it was necessary.
And Luo Wen was still the sole provider of meat for the entire hive.
To make matters worse, the black ant colony, noticing the dwindling number of scouts returning, had significantly reduced the number sent toward Luo Wen’s territory. Other than a few lost stragglers, Luo Wen hadn’t seen a direct scout approach in days. His hunting range now extended dangerously close to the enemy nest.
From higher ground, his keen vision could spot the busy entrance of the black ant colony. Although Luo Wen didn’t dare provoke them directly at their doorstep, he observed from a safe distance, hoping to learn about their habits. He aimed to improve his understanding of colony management by studying them.
During hunts, Luo Wen now brought along six or seven of his own black ants. Whenever he killed a black ant from the neighboring nest, his ants would swarm over the carcass, feasting on it and carrying the leftovers back to the brood. The journey back to the nest was made easier with Luo Wen having already cleared out most hazards, and the ants’ pheromone trails ensured they wouldn’t get lost.
Hunting grounds were now only a dozen meters away from the enemy nest, while his lair was over 50 meters away. The long travel time gave Luo Wen opportunities to observe and strategize while his ants handled transportation. This new approach significantly reduced his workload, as he no longer had to spend most of his day hauling food back and forth.
Though the ants were slower than him, they were tireless and never slacked off. Luo Wen, by contrast, often needed to rest and reflect on his bug life after each trip. As a result, their efficiency was nearly comparable.
One day, while waiting for his transport team to return, Luo Wen witnessed something strange near the enemy nest. A new species of insect, with a yellow-brown body, nonchalantly entered the black ant colony. Strangely, the ants didn’t attack it—instead, they stepped aside to let it pass.