Adam stared at the three eggs before him; their smooth and pale form shifts under the faint glow of the core. "Hmmmm... perhaps this time. Alright, let's see what you've got." He focused on one of the eggs and activated the skill." Appraisal!"
[Worker Egg]
That was it....
He released a frustrated sigh once more, his mandibles clicked, sharing his frustration. Shaking his head he attends to the more important matters in hand. "The system had stated that the incubation period is just 2 to 3 days, but the real question is what classifies its start? What conditions are required to for the egg to start incubating?" He spoke to himself softly, but the questions lingered, " Did already start, because it has mana or maybe I have to transfer man into it." Regardless, the first goal was clear. "Time to create an incubation chamber."
He needed a proper incubation chamber. Fortunately, he has a rough idea as to what an egg may require, after all he had tried to make his game realistic as possible. A moist chamber to prevent dehydration, a stable temperature and last but not least, protection. But how was he supposed to determine if this chamber had the right conditions? He had no thermometer, no measuring tools, and no way of testing for microscopic threats. He clicked his mandibles in frustration, then stopped as a realization struck him. He turned to face his grotesque reflection on the mana core's surface. His antennae twitched. "Wait a second..." he murmured. "I have antennas. Ants use their antennas to detect moisture in the soil as they dig. That means... I can do it too!"
Of course, he was an ant after all. His mind raced. " If I can sense moisture, I can check the dampness of the nearby walls and tunnels". The best environment for hatching might just be a few feet away. Fueled by newfound determination, he braced himself, mandibles tightening. If he was going to ensure his first-ever summoned ants had the best chance of survival, he needed to get digging.
He took a deep breath, or at least the ant equivalent of one, as he prepared himself for the crucial task ahead. his mandibles clicked around the dirt, biting off little pieces of it and positioning it on one side of the mana core. The earth was loose, but still, the process was tedious. He continued, breaking off the soil, slowly expanding the hole until it was large enough for him to squeeze his body through. He dug deeper, his antennae swaying for the tiniest bit of changes in the environment, bringing each piece up until a wall was form covering one side of the tunnel. This prevented anything unwanted to interfere with his eggs or worse the core. His antennae twitched rapidly, as if signaling him that the conditions were just right. He picked up his pace, moving the bits with greater efficiency, until the tunnel transformed into a circular chamber large enough for him to stand vertically.
But just as he neared completion, his mandibles stuck something. The dirt gave way too easily to reveal a hollow cavity beyond. A soft, emerald glow seeped through the opening, casting eerie patterns onto the chamber walls. His curiosity flared. He bit away at the remaining dirt, hastening the excavation. As the tunnel widened, the source of the glow became clear. A biofluorescent mushroom. It grew in abundance in the closed chamber. However, he knew this mushroom. Luminagari Mycena, The Verdant Glow Fungus. It clustered in dense patches along the walls, its small umbrella-like caps releasing a bioluminescent shimmer. It wasn't too bright yet, its glow intensity likely tied to humidity and mana presence, but it was unmistakable. This would be perfect for incubation. The warmth, the humidity, the faint light, conditions ideal for the eggs' development.
Piece by piece, he carefully placed the dirt, pressing it down with deliberate precision. Each mound had to be firm, packed enough to hold its shape yet not so rigid that it crumbled under its own weight. His legs worked in unison, getting accustomed to the change, sculpting the foundation as he shaped the loose soil into something structured, something purposeful. Slowly, the base took form, a sturdy, slightly raised platform that would cradle the eggs. The damp earth clung together, making the surface firm but not suffocating. Once satisfied. I took a step back, my antennae twitching as I examined my work. It wasn't just a pile of dirt—it was a shelter, a carefully crafted safeguard for the colony's future.
With that done, I turned my attention back to the eggs. Using my mandibles, I carefully picked them up, one by one, feeling their squishy, almost wet texture. It made me nervous. If I bit down too hard, I could harm them. I took my time, ensuring each was placed securely in the center of the chamber, where the warmth and humidity were just right. Stepping back, I observed my work once more. A sense of accomplishment swelled within me. The eggs were safe, the chamber secure, and the first real structure of my colony had been created. This was only the beginning, but it was a start. And in this world, a start was everything.
Securing the eggs safely, I turned my attention to another pressing concern, the mana core. It was technically exposed, and I had no idea what would happen if other creatures came into contact with it. Nor did I want to find out. But since it was already closed from one side, I guess it would be alright. He went out of the chamber back into the tunnel, adjusting his priorities. With that taken care of, another concern arose, food. I needed to eat, and soon. Even though I worked for what felt like hours on the chamber, I still do not feel hunger nor thirst. But he did not know how long this would last, or if the hatched little ants would even eat the mushrooms. He needed them, as his only source of light in this world. He went back and chipped one of them from the wall and turned toward the unexplored depths of the tunnel system, venturing further and deeper into the unknown.