Evolution begins with an ant colony

The ground beneath the Kingin tribe started to tremble, and ominous cracks snaked their way through the earth, causing a momentary pause in the chaotic battle. Ant guardians and Kingin warriors alike turned their attention to the growing fractures, voices murmuring in surprise and fear.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Gedion, one of the ant guardians, exclaimed, "What's happening? Is this an earthquake?"

Another guardian, Ember, responded, "No, this feels different."

Devon, Keleora's junior brother, nervously asked her, "Do you know what's going on, Keleora?"

Keleora shook her head, her eyes locked on the spreading cracks. "I'm not sure, but..." Inwardly, she wondered if this might be the work of Akun. The timing was too coincidental, and she couldn't put it past him to create such chaos.

Amidst the confusion, a long, large black-silver rod erupted from the heart of the battlefield within the Kingin tribe's territory. It shot skyward with astonishing speed, leaving a trail of amazement and bewilderment in its wake.

Kingin warriors on the frontlines were baffled, their voices rising in confusion. "What in the world is that?"

One of the Ant Guardians, Zara, recognized the phenomenon, Her tone filled with awe. "It's our liege! He's here, and he's making his presence known!"

Oliver, another Ant Guardian, nodded in agreement. "He's come to make the Kingins pay!"

The enormous black-silver rod continued its ascent, seemingly unending, as the entire battlefield fell into an eerie silence, the combatants and spectators alike awestruck by the monumental spectacle that had just unfolded before them.

King Phenor, on the receiving side of that colossal silver rod attack ascending into the heavens, had his dark defenses hastily raised, but his appearance told the story of a fierce struggle.

Dark energy crackled around him as he fought to ward off the silver attack that had been directed straight at him. His once-impassive demeanor was now filled with a strange excitement.

"Amazing, simply amazing," he muttered, almost to himself, his typically composed face marked by a blend of fascination and anticipation. His hands worked feverishly, weaving protective barriers to stave off the relentless onslaught of dark silver that threatened to consume him.

The battlefield below watched in stunned silence as Phenor grappled with the overwhelming power of Akun's assault, a breathtaking spectacle unfolding high above them in the night sky.

The colossal silver rod's ascent came to a sudden halt, and King Phenor found himself falling from the other side. Just before hitting the ground with a tremendous force, he employed his dark energy to cushion his landing. Dust and debris swirled around him as he touched down gracefully.

With unruffled composure, he stood upright and began to dust off the dirt that had clung to his regal attire. His gaze shifted toward the spot where the silver rod had emerged from the earth. A small, almost triumphant smile curled at the corners of his lips.

Keleora and Devon, still in a state of disbelief, observed their father. Their eyes widened as they noticed bruises on his hands.

The man who had earned the moniker "Bringer of Darkness" for his near-invulnerability and undefeated record had actually sustained damage from someone or something.

The impossible had happened, leaving them astonished and questioning the newfound power that had challenged their formidable father.

Keleora and Devon exchanged hushed words, their voices a mixture of disbelief and curiosity.

"I can't believe it," Keleora whispered, her eyes still fixed on their father. "How could anyone, especially Akun, lay a scratch on Father?"

Devon nodded, his brow furrowing in thought. "It's baffling. Father has always been invincible. Nobody could even touch him in battle."

Keleora clenched her fists slightly. "We need to find out what tricks he's using. This... it doesn't make any sense!"

Devon's gaze remained on their father, who now seemed even more determined than before. "Agreed. Whatever it is, we have to expose it.. quickly."

They turned their attention back to the unfolding confrontation, their thoughts consumed by the Akun, who had dared to challenge their father's unparalleled might.

Suddenly the tremors grew more intense, and Keleora's frustration deepened. "What is it now." Her voice quivered with a mix of anger and fear.

The ant guardians exchanged knowing glances, their eyes filled with a mixture of reverence and anticipation. They had learned to recognize these telltale signs; it was the unmistakable herald of Akun's arrival.

Suddenly, as if rising from the very heart of the earth itself, Akun burst forth. His armor, a dark, gleaming, seemed to absorb the feeble light around him. Floating gracefully beside him was Leona's delicate form, cocooned within a protective sphere of aspect power, a stark contrast to Akun's dark presence.

The ant guardians stood in awe, their breath caught in their throats as they witnessed their liege's dramatic entrance.

Akun's commanding figure hovered in the air, his eyes locked onto Phenor, who still wore his irritating, smug grin. Akun couldn't help but think, "Like father, like son," as he prepared to confront the ruler of the Kingin tribe.

Amidst the chaos and tremors that seemed to shake the very core of the earth, Akun's commanding voice sliced through the battle's clamor. He turned his attention to his loyal guardians, his tone unwavering.

"Continue the battle, my trusted guardians. Lead our armies to victory." The ant guardians, their resolve steeled by his words, responded with a unified, "Yes, my liege."

However, Akun's gaze lingered on Keleora, and his eyes, glowing with an intense, almost otherworldly radiance, bore into her with an eerie promise. "I will save you for last," he declared, his words chilling her to the bone.

For a moment, terror seized Keleora, a cold grip around her heart, as if she were a helpless prey cornered by a relentless predator. But she couldn't afford to be paralyzed by fear.

As a barrage of arrows hurtled toward her, she reacted swiftly, conjuring a protective shield crafted from dark energy that encased her in an impenetrable bubble.

Amid the pandemonium of battle, a voice, smooth as silk and dripping with mischief, cut through the turmoil. "I really think you should pay more attention to the battle, miss." It was Oliver, standing poised with his bow drawn, ready to unleash another arrow. His hazel eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint, and his smirk hinted at an insatiable desire for the thrill of combat.

Keleora, her expression sly and filled with the cockiness of a seasoned warrior, shot back at Oliver, her voice dripping with a smirk that matched her posture of confident readiness.

Dark energy crackled around her like a tempest on the brink of release. "Back for round two, are we?"

Oliver's response was smooth, laced with a hint of amusement as if he were indulging in a delightful game. "Round two? Oh no, miss, you seem to have it all wrong." He shifted his weight, his grip on the bowstring tightening, a prelude to an impending storm. "That's what you say when both sides are going to trade blows. But this..." His words hung in the charged air like a promise of impending doom.

"This is going to be a one-sided beating, your punishment, if you will."

With swift precision, Oliver released the tension in his bowstring, propelling an arrow into the heavens. In a mesmerizing display of arcane power, the arrow multiplied, fragmenting into a thousand deadly shards of gleaming death.

Keleora, taken aback by the sudden onslaught, summoned her defenses, but the sheer ferocity of Oliver's assault shattered her protective barrier like glass. Panic gripped her as she attempted to evade the relentless barrage, but the arrows, driven by an unrelenting determination, followed her every movement with uncanny accuracy.

Most of them found their mark. Keleora, once defiant and fierce, now writhed in agony. Her body bore the gruesome evidence of the assault, arrows piercing her flesh in a macabre display. Coughing up blood and struggling for each breath, she was a portrait of suffering.

"Sister!!" Devon's scream of anguish echoed through the chaos of battle as he watched his sister, Keleora, impaled by a multitude of arrows. His eyes, wide with horror and despair, then shifted towards the approaching figure of Oliver. The pitch-black armor he wore seemed to emanate an eerie, ethereal glow beneath the moonlight.

Devon, trembling with a mix of fear and determination, stood his ground, ready to defend his sister. His gaze bore into Oliver's, burning with an intensity that mirrored his resolve.

Oliver's tone was deceptively playful, his words carrying an air of nonchalance as he continued his approach. "Oh, miss, you didn't tell me you had a brother," he teased. "You should have invited him to our first meeting. I'm sure he and I would have gotten along just fine."

His voice then took on a darker, more ominous tone as he spoke of their fateful encounter. "Well, it's sad we had to meet each other this way," Oliver mused, his fingers slowly pulling his bowstring taut. "Because after tonight, I don't think we'll ever be able to see each other again."