Evolution begins with an ant colony

Chapter 146 The Disaster At Night

With trembling hands, Oliver gently lifted his shirt to examine his skin, and his heart raced as he beheld an unexpected sight. He was met with a network of greenish veins encircling his abdomen, each one faintly glowing. The revelation left him baffled.

"What is this?" he mumbled, his voice tinged with anxiety. As he continued to observe the glowing veins, a growing sense of unease washed over him. "They seem to be draining my energy," he noted, his words filled with alarm.

But before he could fully grasp the nature of this mysterious phenomenon, his agony intensified. His scream pierced the night as a series of vines erupted from his abdomen, tearing through his skin. The searing pain was unbearable.

Hearing Oliver's scream, Gedion's worry grew, and he rushed back to his friend. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked in concern, his voice reflecting the urgency of the situation. The forest, which had been a silent observer of their game, now held its breath, as the events took an unexpected and ominous turn.

Gedion stared in shock as multiple glowing vines wiggled and writhed, sprouting from Oliver's skin. The unnatural sight left him utterly bewildered. He mumbled in confusion, "What the hell..."

Meanwhile, Oliver, lying on the forest floor, summoned the last of his strength and managed to lift his head. His words came out strained and urgent as he looked at Gedion and said, "Go... Get... boss..." The pain in his voice was evident, and the situation seemed dire. The eerie glow of the vines and the agony in Oliver's eyes painted a sinister picture, and Gedion realized they needed help.

Gedion quickly grasped the gravity of the situation and didn't waste a moment. "Don't worry, I'll hurry and inform our liege," he reassured Oliver. Without uttering another word, he sprinted off in search of Akun, the ant monarch. His footsteps echoed through the silent forest as he raced through the trees, driven by his determination to find help.

As Gedion's figure faded into the distance, Oliver lay on the ground, wrestling with the pain coursing through his body. The greenish veins, like malevolent serpents, continued to drain his energy as they continued to grow out of his body. Each second felt like an eternity as he waited for help to arrive.

The forest, once filled with the joyful play of two friends, had transformed into an eerie, haunting landscape. Oliver's labored breaths and the faint rustling of the sinister vines were the only sounds that broke the silence, a stark contrast to the vibrant life of the ant tribe's homes now shrouded in darkness.

Gedion's remarkable speed brought him to the castle in no time. He sprinted through the winding halls, past vigilant guards who could hardly register his presence, until he arrived at the grand doors of Akun's chambers. Without hesitation, he shouted, "My liege, something is happening to Oliver!"

Akun had been seated on his bed, engrossed in inspecting items within the system shop. The interruption made him close the system window, and his attention immediately shifted to Gedion. Rising swiftly from his bed, he inquired, "Oliver? What is happening to him?" The urgency in Gedion's voice left no room for delay.

Gedion's voice carried a grim weight as he continued, "Something weird is happening to him, my liege. Roots are sprouting from all over his body, causing him immense pain, and he's bleeding badly."

Akun's brows furrowed with deep concern as he absorbed the disturbing details. It was clear that something unnatural was occurring. He wasted no time, swinging open the grand doors to his chamber and fixing his gaze upon Gedion. Urgency laced his words as he inquired, "Where is he now? Tell me."

Gedion's response was swift and to the point, "He's on the road toward the city gate."

In an instant, Akun whirled around and harnessed his aspect power. With a burst of energy, he soared through the window of his chamber and into the air above the ant city. Yet, what lay before him defied all reason and left him utterly speechless.

In the area Gedion had described, a tree unlike any other had materialized. It was not just any tree; it moved with an eerie, unnatural grace. This enigmatic tree began to sway its roots with an otherworldly presence, extending and growing even larger as if it were a sentient being of its own.

Meanwhile, In a cozy corner of a bustling bar nestled within the heart of the ant city, four friends had gathered for a leisurely drink. Akun's strict stance on alcohol had led them to indulge in a refreshing alternative – drinks crafted from the bountiful fruits he had provided for cultivation.

Ember, a hearty soul with a penchant for the exotic, was the first to break the ice. With an enthusiastic slurp, he emptied an entire bottle of his favorite pineapple and banana concoction. The fusion of flavors danced on his palate, and he couldn't help but exclaim with delight, "Damn, this is good, as always!" His vibrant expression reflected the genuine pleasure he took in the fruity blend.

Leona's voice rang out in the cozy bar, filled with warmth and camaraderie. She addressed Ember, her tone half-teasing and half-concerned, "Hey, Ember, watch it. That's your 5th bottle. You do realize the rest of us want some too, right?"

Ember, his shoulders relaxed, gave a nonchalant shrug as he carefully placed the nearly empty bottle on the counter. He wore a sheepish grin, realizing his enthusiasm had gotten the best of him. "Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I got carried away again."

Zara's voice carried a hint of playfulness as she chimed in, "Hey, don't forget about me; I want some too." Her words were directed at the Kingin woman who gracefully stood behind the counter. With a warm smile, the Kingin woman nodded and gracefully made her way to a barrel at the back of the bar. She carefully selected a ripe pineapple, her deft hands slicing it with practiced precision.

Her voice was as sweet as the fruit itself as she replied, "Coming right up, ma'am."

The Kingin woman deftly worked her magic, opening a few bananas and placing the pineapple in a massive bowl. She then invoked a simple spell that Akun had taught her, nothing overly complex, just enough to transform the bananas and pineapple into a delightful liquid concoction. With care, she poured the refreshing drink into a beautifully crafted glass cup and placed it on a wooden tray.

She offered it to Zara with a beaming smile and a gracious demeanor. "Here it is, ma'am," she announced cheerfully.

Zara's hands eagerly wrapped around the glass cup, and she savored every sip, finding herself lost in the delightful flavors. "It's so good," she couldn't help but exclaim in delight.

Just then, Gedion, who had left Oliver in Akun's care, because he didn't want to see his friend suffer, joined the group by the counter, broke the cheerful atmosphere with a pondering mumble, "Hey, don't you think things have gotten rather boring lately?"

Ember, Leona, and Zara turned their attention to Gedion, curiosity piqued. In unison, they questioned, "What do you mean?"

Gedion, sensing the group's attention squarely on him, cleared his throat and continued, "Don't you guys miss those battle days?

I mean, before we were chosen as guardians, the times when our boss led us to face other monsters, or the time when our anthill got destroyed by the Kingins, or even when we invaded their tribe." He spoke about those memories, trying to forget that pained expression he had witnessed on Oliver's face eariler.

Ember couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in response. "And your point?" he questioned.

Zara chimed in, echoing the same sentiment, "Yeah, Gedion, what's your point?"

Gedion grinned, making his intentions clear. "Do you guys not see it already? I'm saying that I'd love to get into another battle again."

Leona, intrigued by Gedion's newfound enthusiasm, chimed in, "Since when did you become so hot-blooded? I could understand it coming from Ember or Finn, but not you."

Gedion replied, his tone laced with a hint of amusement, "You're making it sound like it's weird for me to want something."

Zara then chimed in, her voice tinged with concern. "Yeah, Gedion, when what you want is more bloodshed and chaos, don't you think you're being ungrateful to our liege, who's provided us with this peaceful environment to thrive in? I wonder how he'd feel if he heard what you were saying."

Gedion replied defensively, "Hey, it was just a thought, no need to get so serious about it."

Zara nodded, saying, "Oh, really? Well, okay then," and she returned to sipping her pineapple and banana juice.

Leona approached Gedion with a smile and a thoughtful comment, "Let's hope it stays as a thought. After all, we wouldn't want anything that could make us lose our precious family or disrupt our peaceful juice enjoyment, right?" She handed him a glass of banana and pineapple juice, and Gedion accepted it with a smile, saying, "Guess you're right."

Just as Gedion was about to take a sip of his juice, a thick root burst through the walls of the bar, impaling him right through the abdomen. Blood splattered across the floor as he coughed up more blood, writhing in agony. He dropped his glass, which shattered upon hitting the floor. Simultaneously, the root yanked him out of the building, shattering the walls in the process.

Gedion's sudden, violent departure left Zara, Leona, and Ember shouting out in unison, "Gedion!" They watched in shock as their friend was swiftly whisked away, revealing a multitude of roots that swirled through the air, causing destruction throughout the ant city.