Evolution begins with an ant colony

Chapter 140 The Intruder's Demand

Camilla, her voice trembling, offered an apologetic tone as she stammered, "Oh, I'm sorry, master. My brain is far too small to fathom your grand goals." She attempted to interject some humor into the tense situation, but her jest felt frail and strained.

Akun, having risen from his bed in the chambers, turned his attention toward the window, peering out onto the expanse of his ant city. His thoughts resonated in Camilla's mind as he sternly demanded, "don't wast my time with your apology, get straight to the point."

Camilla, standing from her bathtub, forced a chuckle through her apprehension. She began to tell Akun what she knew. "The Demon King recently got his hands on the souls of two heroes who died, because they were under the influence of his chaos mana.

I don't know their names, but I do know that four of his seven, generals brought a hero each, and he put all of them under his spell." The weight of her words hung heavy in the air, and the implications of the Demon King's actions had set a dire course that demanded their attention.

Akun, his voice calm and firm, asked, "Is that all?"

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Camilla, busily drying herself with a towel, her words resonating within Akun's thoughts, replied, "The Demon King also orderd Zelus, one of his seven Generals, to retrieve the dragon cores from the Godforsaken Forest. But I honestly don't know how Zelus plans to accomplish that. Anyone who enters that place is gravely weakened.

Besides, I'm sure there are other monsters as strong as you are, so it might as well be a suicide mission." Her words hung in the air, underscoring the impending challenges and uncertainties that lay ahead.

Finally, as Akun arrived at the heart of the dryad tribe, his descent was marked by the gentle release of his aspect power. With an air of undeniable presence, he touched down gracefully, with a soft reverberating thud. Akun moved forward with a purposeful stride, as though he possessed an unspoken claim over the land.

His aura was unmistakably powerful, and it drew the curious gazes of the dryad inhabitants.

Their luminous eyes, like leaves in the dappled forest sunlight, followed him intently. The forest seemed to hold its breath in his presence, and a hushed reverence for the stranger who had arrived in their midst filled the air.

In most circumstances, an intruder like Akun would have triggered an all-out response from the forest's inhabitants. The residents of this enchanted woodland were fiercely protective of their territory. However, this time was different. The Dryads, unlike the other creatures dwelling within the god forsaken forest, possessed an innate and profound connection to nature.

Their attunement with the forest allowed them to perceive and sense things far beyond the grasp of other inhabitants. Their collective consciousness quivered with the awareness of the bold intruder's presence. Whispers of fear echoed through the network of roots, leaves, and trees, their voices echoing the ominous warning.

The forest itself seemed to hold its breath, and the Dryads, in their silent communion with nature, conveyed a clear message to their kin: One misstep, and they might all pay a dire price. The entire tribe was in turmoil, caught in a state of anxious anticipation, as the intruder's arrival disrupted the harmonious balance they had long enjoyed.

Amidst the expectant hush of the forest, Akun's eyes locked onto one of the Dryads, a male with vibrant green hair and eyes, his pointy ears giving him an otherworldly appearance. In a hushed tone, Akun addressed him. "Go and inform your princess," he said, his voice gentle but carrying an unmistakable air of authority. "Tell her that Akun has arrived."

Before the Dryad could comply, a melodic voice cut through the air, arresting his words. "That won't be necessary." The voice belonged to none other than the Dryad princess, Rinalef. She approached Akun with a graceful stride, her presence a proof of her royal lineage.

The Dryad princess, Rinalef, her gaze piercing, inquired in a voice as melodic as a forest stream, "Why have you come, Akun?"

Akun, maintaining his calm but firm demeanor, responded, "So you weren't being held here againist your will, *sigh* Just as I thought. You know perfectly well why, Princess. Stop wasting our time and let Oliver go."

Rinalef merely shrugged, her expression feigning innocence as she replied, "I have no idea what you're talking about." The tension between the two was palpable, and the impending conversation held the promise of uncovering deeper truths and motives.

Akun's voice turned cold and dead serious as he addressed Camilla. "You can play dumb if you want, but it doesn't really matter. However, from where I stand, you have two choices: you're either on my side or in my way. Choose wisely." The weight of his words hung in the air, and the consequences of Camilla's decision carried a sense of inevitability.

Akun's thoughts churned inwardly, an almost calculating quality to his contemplation. "Before I even touched down, I'd already utilized my Dragon Eyes to pinpoint Oliver's location," he mused silently. "I thought a simple call to the princess would resolve this, with her handing him over willingly.

But if she insists on wasting my time..." The unspoken implications of his resolve loomed, setting the stage for what was to come.

Suddenly, Akun embarked on his stride toward the tree castle, his purpose clear. As he passed Rinalef, she turned to him, a mix of curiosity and concern coloring her voice. "Where do you think you're going?"

Akun's reply remained straightforward. "Obviously, I'm going to get Oliver."

Rinalef's voice held a note of admonishment as she continued, "Who do you think you are? You can't just waltz in here and act as if it's nobody's business. If you do this, then..."

Before she could finish her statement, Akun interrupted her, his words crisp and confident. "Or what? What could you possibly do to me?" His gaze turned cold and serious, and he paused briefly in his tracks, sending a shiver down her spine.