Evolution begins with an ant colony

Chapter 143 Hidden Memories And Weary Warriors

Returning to the familiar grounds of the ant tribe, Akun and Oliver descended with grace, the earth beneath them receiving their presence with a soft, welcoming sigh. Akun, his eyes filled with curiosity, turned to Oliver as they touched down. "Hey, Oliver," he began, his voice carrying a hint of concern, "do you really not remember what happened when you went to the Dryad tribe? Nothing?"

Oliver attempted to delve into the recesses of his memory, a furrow forming on his brow. But as he sought the elusive memories, a searing pain shot through his head, causing him to grasp his forehead. Gasping, he panted out his reply, "No, my liege... nothing." The suffering etched on his face was palpable, and it was clear that some shadowy barrier obscured his recollection.

Observing Oliver's distress, Akun couldn't help but wonder about the depths of the Dryads' manipulation. His thoughts churned inwardly as he contemplated the hidden secrets that had been woven into Oliver's memory. He was itching to uncover the truth, but he also understood the importance of proceeding with caution. He couldn't risk pushing Oliver too hard.

Placing his right hand gently on Oliver's shoulder, Akun offered a reassuring smile as he spoke, "We'll delve into this matter later. For now, why don't you go and get some rest?" His words were laced with genuine concern, and he hoped that some time and rest might help Oliver recover the missing fragments of his memory.

Oliver nodded in agreement, his voice laced with obedience as he replied, "Yes, my liege." As he responded, his hand instinctively moved to his stomach, briefly clutching it. Unbeknownst to both of them, the sinister roots of the seed that had been planted within Oliver's stomach had already begun their insidious work.

They silently extended their tendrils, sapping his life force bit by bit, a malevolent force hidden deep within.

Meanwhile, outside the god forsaken forest, In the midst of the arid desert, the rugged terrain seemed to stretch on endlessly, punctuated by rocky mountains that loomed over the landscape. Kaladrix, along with his brave companions and the hero Evan, embarked on a challenging quest to confront the fearsome salamanders that had made this desolate land their home.

Suddenly, a thunderous boom echoed through the arid expanse, a sound that could be heard from afar. Kaladrix, his body enveloped in shimmering gold, had manifested a set of imposing golden armor. In one colossal hand, he wielded a massive golden battle-ax, and his intent was clear.

He had singlehandedly engaged the fire-breathing salamanders, slashing through their ranks with powerful, sweeping blows. Already, several of the fiery creatures lay vanquished at his feet, their once-menacing presence reduced to smoldering embers.

With each weary step, Darius leaned on his greatsword, using it as an impromptu walking stick. His armor bore the scars of battle, a proof of the day's toil. Sweat streamed down his face, leaving salty trails on his cheeks. Fatigue radiated from his piercing blue eyes as they traversed the scene.

He focused his gaze on Kaladrix, his voice a mix of exhaustion and inquiry, "Don't you think we've hunted enough for one day?" The sentiment hung heavily in the air as he glanced at the rest of the party, each member mirroring the same weariness, except for the tireless Mellin.

Amidst the collective weariness, Lyra's voice broke through. Her green eyes, once filled with sparks of magic, had dimmed. "Yes, let us call it a day," she agreed, her voice bearing the weight of mana depletion.

Elara chimed in, echoing Lyra's sentiment. She added, "I'm completely out of arrows," her voice revealing the fatigue that had settled in her limbs.

Torin, the cleric, knew the limits of his powers. With a nod, he affirmed, "Indeed, we should call it a day. My mana is also entirely depleted." His words resonated with the truth of their exhaustion, and a collective sigh of relief hung in the air as they decided to end their hunt.

Standing tall in his gleaming golden armor, Kaladrix's enthusiasm remained unshaken. He gazed at his worn companions, a glint of disappointment in his eyes as he challenged them, "You guys are no fun at all. Where's your warrior spirit? How will Evan learn anything valuable from us if you quit the moment things get tough?"

Frustration etched across Raela's face as she ground her teeth, her dagger-like glare locking onto Kaladrix. With a forceful gesture towards Evan, who had succumbed to exhaustion and already lay in slumber, she snapped, "What the hell Kaladrix? The guy passed out an hour ago because of how difficult the quest was.

And you still want us to be an example for someone who's already catching some shut-eye, thanks to Mellin's icy shade?"

The exchange revealed the tension between their leader's unrelenting spirit and the reality of their exhaustion.

Evan, appearing surprisingly energetic despite the grueling quest, raised himself up and shared, "I'm awake, actually. Thanks to you guys, I've advanced to 4? swordsman."

Raela's voice was still laced with frustration as she retorted, "That doesn't change the fact that you're exhausted now. Join us in telling Kaladrix to stop trying to kill us all with so many quests. This is our third major monster extermination quest in a row. Most adventurers tackle one of these a day and call it quits."

Kaladrix, never one to back down from an argument, countered with a hint of pride, "But it's because of quests like these that we've risen to become B-class adventurers. It's not all that bad, you know." The tension in the party simmered, the balance between ambition and self-preservation a constant source of contention.

Raela's fiery declaration hung in the air, her frustration evident. She continued, "None of us wanted that. As far as we're concerned, we could stay C-class adventurers, and it wouldn't prevent us from taking quests at the guild. But you keep dragging us from one quest to the next. You've got to realize that, unlike you and Mellin, the rest of us are just humans, and we have our limits."