Evolution begins with an ant colony

Chapter 151 • Crimson Blooming Part Two

She quickly called for Ivy, her voice trembling. "H-hey, Ivy, we've got to get our liege over here." Ivy, who had also inhaled the mist as it spread toward her, coughed as she replied, "Okay, let's first tell Leona what's happening here." The two ant guardians knew they had to act quickly to inform their liege and the save of the ant city's people.

In their frantic attempt to leave the fog-filled grand hall, Mara suddenly coughed up blood, and her legs buckled beneath her. She knelt on the ground, gasping for breath, a desperate look in her eyes. Ivy turned back, alarmed by Mara's condition, and asked in a shaky voice, "H-hey, what's wrong?"

Before Mara could respond, a crimson flower sprouted on her right eye. Her voice trembled as she mumbled, "I-I think I get it now, Ivy. It's the mist. The mist is causing this." She remembered Luna's last words, the warning she couldn't complete.

In the growing chaos, the agonizing screams of an evolved ant guard pierced the air from the other side of the grand hall. He collapsed near the exit, unconscious, as crimson flowers emerged from his body. The red mist was relentless, claiming more victims with every passing moment.

Mara, weakened and struggling to hold on, fell to the cold, stone floor. With great effort, she whispered urgently to Ivy, "Tell Leona and Zara. Don't let them inhale the mist. You have to hurry. You've also inhaled it, so you'll become infected soon."

Ivy nodded, "Don't worry," she assured Mara, "I'll be back soon." With that, Ivy sprinted out of the main hall, leaving behind a scene of growing horror and uncertainty, as the deadly crimson mist continued its advance.

As Ivy made her way out of the grand hall, her voice echoed with urgency, "No one is allowed to leave the grand hall! If you do, you will only make things worse by infecting the guardians who are fighting the tree." Her words carried a stern warning, but the sight of multiple victims falling under the red mist and blossoming flowers emerging from their bodies only escalated the crisis.

…

Meanwhile, just outside the castle…

"Is that everyone?" Leona asked urgently, her eyes looking around the anxious crowd as she paced back and forth. A concerned expression on her face. She needed to ensure the safety of all the ant city inhabitants who had made their way into the castle.

"Yeah, I think so," Zara replied, her hands twisting nervously as she rubbed the back of her neck, her brow furrowing in distress. "But we're receiving reports from the guards that some Kingins are missing."

Leona's voice rang out with authority as she stomped her foot and pointed towards the gate. "Then what are you waiting for? Gather the others. Let's go and search for them!"

Zara's shoulders slumped, and she wrung her hands helplessly. "We've already tried," she said, shaking her head in frustration, her voice trembling. "I-It's like they all just disappeared into thin air."

A sense of urgency filled the air as a male ant guard rushed up, his footsteps quick and heavy. "Miss Leona!" he called out, nearly stumbling in his haste. His tone was grave as he stopped to catch his breath, his eyes wide with shock. "T-the roots, t-the roots are absorbing the people into the tree!"

Leona's expression suddenly turned grim, and she stepped closer, gripping the guard's arm. "What do you mean? Explain yourself," she demanded, her voice rising with urgency as she pulled him towards the direction of the looming tree.

The guard's trembling finger pointed at the ancient tree and the ongoing battle between the ant guardians in the distance. His words came out in a rush as he explained, "The roots impale the people, and if nothing is done, they will start aging rapidly until only their cores remain, then the tree will pull them in."

Leona stood there, utterly dumbfounded, yelling in shock, "What!" Before she could fully comprehend the situation, another voice cut through the chaos, followed by a series of coughs. It was Ivy. She urgently spoke up, "L-Leona!" ~Cough~ ~Cough~ "S-something is happening to the Kingins and Evolved ants inside the castle."

Leona and Zara rushed to Ivy's side, concern etched into their faces. Leona's voice quivered as she asked, "W-what's wrong?" Ivy managed to speak with great effort, her voice quivering too, "F-flowers... Red flowers started growing and blooming all over their bodies, and now they've all fallen unconscious."

Leona's eyes widened in panic, and she exclaimed, "We have to help them." But before she could move, Ivy grabbed her wrist with trembling hands, her own body showing signs of roots growing under her flesh. "No, don't go," Ivy pleaded desperately. "If you do, you'll be infected too."

As Leona turned to look back at Ivy, she noticed bulging roits and a crimson flower blooming directly above Ivy's right eye, while her breaths came out as ragged gasps. The situation had taken a dire turn.

"Ivy!" Both Leona and Zara exclaimed in shock, their instincts urging them to help. But Ivy raised her trembling hand, keeping them at a distance. "Don't come closer," she insisted, her voice weak. The guards present wore grim expressions as Ivy continued, "Go get our liege. Only he can save us now. Get out of here, quickly."

Zara protested, "But we can't just leave you here." Ivy's voice grew more urgent as she emphasized, "You all have to get out of here now, while I'm still conscious. Once I lose consciousness, the red mist will start coming out of my body, and then it will be too late." The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on them, and their only hope was in reaching Akun.

"Gritting her teeth," Leona spoke firmly, "you don't have to worry. We will get our liege and hurry right back to save you."

Zara nodded in agreement, her expression just like Leona's.

With those words, they turned and swiftly went on their way. Watching them go, Ivy managed a weak smile before her condition worsened. Coughing up blood, she eventually fell to her knees, unconscious. As she lost consciousness, numerous red flowers bloomed all over her body, transforming her into a human-shaped garden.

Once completely covered, the flowers emitted a red mist that began to spread in all directions, a growing threat that needed to be stopped.