As James traveled down the ant tunnels, he wondered why the Dominion treated him as if he was the enemy. He thought these trials were supposed to show the Dominion that humanity shouldn't be destroyed but treasured. He thought it would be in their best interests if he could complete each quest.
Then he thought this whole thing was a test, an evil test.
"Meryl?" he said. "I have a question for you."
The fairy appeared before him. "What do you want master?" She giggled. "Sorry, I don't grant wishes. What do you want?"
"Do you know what criteria the Dominion is judging these trial quests?"
"What's the criteria? You're a fancy man. I wish I could talk to Mikey and laugh at you," she said.
"Who is Mikey?" He groaned.
"The AI. I named him Mikey. And he can only come out when you complete quests, fancy man." The fairy landed on his shoulder.
James stopped. A group of ants was in the tunnel before him. The mobs fled when they saw him. He noticed the ants were smaller and seem to only be worker insects.
James said, "I just want to know what standards the Dominion is looking at."
Meryl was quiet for a few seconds then she said, "why didn't you say so? I cannot tell you. Only the Dominion knows. Complete your quests. You'll be judged by that."
"Nice."
"Can they read my mind?" He said.
"Hmm, no they cannot read your mind. But they can look at your history," she said. "Watch out!"
A large ant broke through the tunnel sending an avalanche of dirt on him. He jumped to the side barely missing the large mandible jaws coming toward his head.
James punched the mob's head in a two-handed strike combo and then an uppercut with his right hand. The ant's head was smashed into jelly. It ceased moving. He didn't care about the mob's loot. He wanted this quest over.
The way forward was blocked by falling earth and roots. He had to double back and take another tunnel.
He said, "Thanks, Meryl."
She sniffed. "Yikes, you're covered with dirt and gore. Nice."
"I just wanted to thank you. I could have been killed," he said.
"I can do more," she said.
He shook his head. "I don't know. The Dominion will not let you. You might get in trouble."
"Nah," she said. "They might or they might not. Let's go."
They traveled along a branch of tunnels that moved steadily downwards. James laughed because he saw Meryl was wearing blue-scaled armor and holding a small sword and shield.
"So, I didn't think you had any protection?" he said.
The fairy said, "I do. I always wanted to be an adventurer."
She swiped her sword back and forth. The weapon looked like a toothpick. He shook his head and went down the pathway. He saw a group of ants moving down a tunnel branch. The mobs didn't attack him and moved down an adjoining path.
"Follow me," he said.
"Yes."
They walked down the cave where the ants went down. He noticed the mob was smaller like the beetle workers. 
Meryl said, "Who were the human heads on the ants above?"
"I don't want to talk about it," he said through gritted teeth.
"Humans, I don't understand them," she said. "You have all these hang-ups."
Suddenly, the tunnel opened into a large cavern. He saw several ant guards, ten in all staring at him. And behind the guards was the Ant Queen, the mob boss. She was twice as long as her guards and she had large gossamer wings like the same ones that Meryl had. The Queen snapped its long mandibles at him.
Next to the Queen was a large stack of the farmer's crops. The stack was almost as tall as the mob boss. He wondered if he could kill the queen and finish this quest. It seems impossible.
He said, "Meryl, hey if I die do I come back?"
"No," the elf said softly.
"Fuck!" he said.
James was tempted to leave. He had enough speed to get out of this nest.
Queen's voice thundered. "Why do you come here and bring the beetles for battle? We don't have any quarrels with you."
"My name is James you took the farmer's crops and he wants them back."
The Ant Queen didn't respond for a while and seem to move in jerky movements.
She said, "These are my crops. The farmer didn't give us anything."
"Is he supposed to give you anything?" he said.
The Queen started to jerk again and didn't say anything for a while. James wondered what was happening. He saw something behind the queen. It was a cloaked person. 
The dark figure was short about three feet. And he thought he saw magic sprouting from the dark figure.
Before James could do anything the Queen said, "Attack!"
The guards came at him in a rush. The vulnerable spots on the ants were more discernible since he gained a level. The fairy disappeared in a puff of white smoke. She couldn't help anyways.
He quickly move to the right and the ant guards hit each other while they tried to come at him. He waited until one of the mobs was close to him and then he struck precisely at the large vulnerable spot on its face. The surface of the ant's skin was strong but he knocked it unconscious with his punch. James punched another spot and noticed the health bar of the mob went down to zero.  He killed it. The carcass disappeared leaving the nine remaining enemies.
Another creature came from behind him. James jumped and landed on top of the ant riding it like a surfer dude. The mobs tried to grab him with their mandibles. He dodged the jaws easily.
James took out of his inventory a dagger. A few attacks were getting close and he kicked a few legs and mandibles away from him. He stood on the ant as it moved back and forth like a bronco. Somehow, he stayed on.
The ant hit a few of its comrades trying to get James off its back. He smiled as they bucked and hit the other guards causing some hits. He looked over at the dark figure. It was difficult because the ant was bounding back and forth.    
James had to time this correctly. He waited until he saw the dark-robed figure. He jumped off nimbly and threw the dagger. It flew towards the intended target. The dark-robed figure was so intent on his casting that he didn't see the knife coming toward him.
The dagger hit the cloaked figure on the chest. The cowl of the creature fell off and James saw it was a green skin creature. It must be a goblin. The creature was three feet tall and the goblin snarled at him. The dark mage stopped its incantations.
Instantly, the Queen Ant moved suddenly and smashed down on the dark mage. The goblin exploded in guts and dark blue blood.
"Stop!" The Queen said.
The guards moved backward away from him.
The Queen said, "The goblins enchanted me with a spell. They wanted me to take the farmer's crops. I destroyed the bugger. Thank you."
She looked over at all fruits and vegetables.
"I'll have my ants bring the crops back."
A series of words appeared before him.

** Completed ** Trial Quest: Help Farmer Ince get his crops back. Please report back to the Village Elder and tell him about the goblin wizard.
Received 50 XP points.
Received two extra attribute points. Please distribute.

"Thank you," James said.
The Queen said, "You have our gratitude. Please take this. If you need help, call me with this and my troops will help you."

Received ant token.

James saw a small gold coin with the face of the Ant Queen on it.
"Thanks again."
James nodded and walked out through the tunnel where he came from. Meryl appeared. She moved her small toothpick sword back and forth like she was a master swordsman.
The fairy said, "We showed them."
James said, "I was lucky that the Ant Queen didn't kill me; it would be a one-sided fight. The Queen was large."
Meryl said, "I think you could have destroyed her. I believe in you."
James said, "What changed your mind? You and the AI, Mikey, thought I would die on the pirate ship."

"I didn't say that," Mickey said.

"Yes, you did. You were very snarky about it," James said. "And you shouldn't be talking to me."

"Hey, you completed a quest, Bravo," Mickey said. "I can speak if you do something like complete a quest."

Meryl said, "Can you believe this human killed ants and stuff?"
James said, "I'm right here."

"No," Mickey said, "this scrawny human looks stronger than he looks."

"That's enough. Meryl help me get out of here," James said.
"I'm not your escort," she said. "Use your map."
"I forgot."
He pulled out his map. It showed where he was and the way to get back to the top. James traveled through ant hill while consulting the map as his guide. It didn't take him long to get near the exit but before he went outside he saw something glinting on a small path.
James stopped and walked down the cave. He found a big chest. It was partially hidden by the dark shadows. He walked over to it and he thought about how he opened the loot boxes. He walked into the chest and smacked the metal. He fell backward and landed on his butt with a thud.
Meryl laughed. "That never gets old."
"Why didn't you tell me?" James said.
"You didn't ask me before you stupidly tried to open the chest. Some chests are locked and others are unlocked. Try to open the chest from the top."
James moved closer to the chest and before he tried to pry the top open he stared at Meryl for more instructions.
"Go ahead," she said, "but be careful some chests have traps attached to them."
"Great."
He placed his hand on the lid and tried to pull it open. The chest was locked. He shook his head.
"Is there another way to open it?" He said.
"Yes, if you're strong enough you punch it open," she said. "You're a monk. Go ahead."
James punched the chest hard. The lock broke and the lid opened. Inside was a couple of things of items. A cloak of agility, a large two-handed sword. He placed the items inside his inventory. He tried to equip the weapon but he couldn't equip it.
"Damn," he said. "What weapons can I use?"
Meryl said, "Your class can only use weapons from your Red Monk class Temple."
"Fine."
The fairy said, "You can sell it."
"Yes, that's true. Let's get back to the village. I think the elder would want to know about the goblins."