Evolution begins with an ant colony

Akun was already seated on his throne in the throne room. The silvery glow of the moonlight that seeped into the room through the windows behind the throne seemed to give off a rather welcoming ambiance.

For some reason, the runes in the golden chandelier above were not lit, almost as if things were left this way to build up the tension of the moment.

"May I come in, my liege?" Phenor's voice echoed from beyond the massive doors of the throne room. Akun then tilted his head to the left, resting it on his left arm, which was inclined on the armrest of his throne, as he said, "You may."

In that moment, the doors of the throne room creaked open, slowly revealing Phenor. His purple eyes seemed to hold calm seriousness, and his black hair seemed to glint softly due to the moonlight.

Phenor slowly made his way into the throne room, his footsteps echoing softly in the spacious room as he did. Arriving just before the platform that elevated the throne, Phenor bowed, getting down on one knee and placing his right hand on the ground while the other rested on his elevated leg. He bowed his head and then said, "My liege, I've come for my reward just as you promised."

Akun, looking intensely at Phenor, suddenly let out a sigh as he said, "You have done well. As I am a man of my word, I shall grant your wish."

"Come forth, Xalender," Akun said, his voice seeming to echo through the very fabric of reality. In that moment, a rift opened up, and the god of death stepped out beside Akun's throne. The silvery glow of the moonlight dimly illuminated his skeletal frame, and his ragged robe seemed to sway from side to side despite the fact there was no wind in the room.

"Master, you called?" Xalender's voice echoed as he inquired.

Akun glanced at Xalender, his gaze seemed calm yet piercing. "I want you to resurrect Devon," he stated firmly, his voice resonating with authority.

Xalender's hollow sockets seemed to fixate on Akun as he processed the request. After a moment of silence, he responded, "Resurrecting the deceased without a body requires a considerable exchange. Remember all those you have resurrected were possible because their physical bodies were still present. Are you prepared for the consequences of resurrecting him without a body, master?"

Akun spoke with a calm commanding tone. "I am aware of the price. Proceed with the resurrection."

With a nod of acknowledgment, Xalender extended his skeletal hand, summoning the dark energies needed for the resurrection.

As Xalender began the resurrection, a dark aura filled the throne room, casting eerie shadows against the walls. The air grew heavy with anticipation as a swirling vortex of darkness materialized on the ground before them.

From within the depths of the portal, a faint glow emerged, gradually intensifying until a figure began to materialize. Devon's soul emerged from the abyss, his body translucent as he floated above the ground.

As Devon's spectral form emerged from the dark portal, Phenor's heart leaped with joy. Tears welled up in his eyes as he beheld the ghostly figure of his son, his expression a mix of disbelief and overwhelming happiness.

"Devon..." Phenor whispered, his voice choked with emotion. He took a hesitant step forward, his hands trembling as if reaching out to touch the apparition before him.

Devon turned towards his father, a soft glow emanating from his translucent form. "Father," he said, his voice filled with warmth and affection.

Akun observed Devon's translucent form with a furrowed brow, realizing that the process of resurrection was not yet complete. Turning to Xalender, he inquired, "What is the next step in completing Devon's resurrection?"

Xalender, with his hollow gaze fixed on Devon and Phenor, replied, "All that is left now is imbuing his soul with life energy, basically life force, as I am the god of death I cannot help in such an endevor. You will have to be the one to do so. Master."

Inwardly Akun called out to the system, "System, I'm curious, exactly how many years do I have left to live."

The system's voice echoed in his head saying, [The player need not worry about that. Since the player is a demigod the player is immortal.]

Akun smiled softly as he slowly rose from the throne, musing, "Then I guess there is nothing to worry about." He walked up to Devon's translucent form and placed his hand upon it. Gradually, Devon's body began to regain color, and the black portal beneath his feet began to close until his body was fully tangible. Finally, the process was complete.

Devon, shocked by the sudden transformation, blinked in disbelief as color flooded back into his body. With a gasp, he stumbled forward, his heart racing with a mixture of confusion and joy. Rushing to his father's side, Phenor threw his arms around his son in a tight embrace, overcome with emotion at the sight of him restored to life.

"Father!" Devon exclaimed, his voice choked with emotion. "I can't believe it's really you!"
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Phenor, equally moved by the reunion, wrapped his arms around his son, holding him close. Tears welled up in his eyes as he returned the embrace, a mixture of joy and relief flooding through him. "My son," he murmured, his voice trembling with emotion. "I thought I had lost you forever."

For a moment, father and son clung to each other, the weight of their shared ordeal slowly lifting as they reveled in the miracle of their reunion.

As the heartfelt embrace between father and son lingered, Akun stood back, his expression nonchalant, letting out a sigh he said. "I'm glad to see you two reunited," he said softly, his voice carrying a very slight note of warmth. "But I must attend to other matters."

Turning to Xalender, who stood nearby with his skeletal frame shrouded in darkness, Akun said. "Thank you for your assistance, Xalender. You may return to your duties in the underworld."

Xalender inclined his head in acknowledgment, his empty eye sockets fixed on Akun. "As you command, master," he replied softly, before disappearing into a swirling vortex of shadows that enveloped him, the portal closing behind him with a whisper of finality.

With Xalender's departure, the atmosphere in the throne room shifted, the weight of the moment lifting slightly as the tension eased. Akun turned his attention back to Phenor and Devon, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. "I'm pleased to see that you are happy," he said, his tone tinged with genuine warmth.

"And I hope with this you will continue to serve me diligently as you have done so far."

Phenor, his gaze filled with gratitude, stepped forward, his expression earnest. "Thank you, my liege," he said, his voice resonating with sincerity. "I won't ever disappoint you. My loyalty to you and your cause is unwavering."

(A/N: with that, this arc ends!! Time for the next arc where Akun finally steps out of the forest and the world gets to feel his power!!)