Evolution begins with an ant colony

Standing alone with King Leonheart was Thalagor, he glanced over at him, flashing a smile he said, "Right this way, sir." He gestured towards the door of the inn, walking towards it, leading him.

Before he followed behind Thalagor, King Leonheart paused and gazed intensely at the structure before him. "It's simply amazing," he mused inwardly, "I can't help but wonder how monsters came up with such complex architecture."

Thalagor then opned the inn's door and invited himself and Leonheart in. As King Leonheart and Thalagor stepped into the inn, the warm aroma of roasted hearty stews could be perceived in the air around them. The room was filled with lively chatter, echoing against the wooden rafters overhead.

Beast folk of various shapes and sizes occupied the space, gathered around sturdy tables crafted from polished wood. Finely carved chairs, each one unique, provided comfortable seating for the patrons. Overhead, soft light runes were embedded in the ceiling, casting a warm and inviting glow over the scene.

Thalagor guided King Leonheart to the receptionist's desk, where a gray cat beast folk woman sat, her golden eyes gleaming with curiosity and warmth. Thalagor flashed a warm smile at her and said, "Evelyn, could you assist us? Our esteemed guest here needs to feel 'right' at home."

Evelyn's feline ears perked up at the request, and she narrowed har gaze as she then said. "Of course, Thalagor. We'll give him a 'warm' welcome," she said, her voice carrying a low under note.

As she spoke, the air of the inn seemed to quiet down. The beast folk patrons, who had been engaged in lively conversation, suddenly fell silent, their eyes fixated on the king with a strange intensity.

King Leonheart could practically feel all the intense gazes directed at him. He turned his head slightly to look at the beast folk giving him intense stares from the corner of his eyes, narrowing his eyes and casting an intense gaze of his own, eyeing them with suspicion. Inwardly, he mused, "These monsters are up to something. I can feel it."

Suddenly, Thalagor spoke up, turning around to face the other beast folk present as he said, "Why don't you all come over here and welcome his majesty. He came from far beyond the barrier to have a meeting with our liege."

King Leonheart's senses tingled as a sudden shift in the atmosphere gripped the air. He felt the blood lust looming around him, thickening with ominous intent.

"What's happening?" Leonheart demanded, his voice filled with cold urgency and slight realization.

Before he could process the answer, a fox woman, her face filled with malice, lunged at him with startling speed. With a fierce strike, she delivered a powerful blow, sending King Leonheart hurtling through the air. The force of the attack shattered the inn's sturdy wooden door, and he crashed onto the snowy cobblestone streets beyond, skidding to a halt amidst the chilling night air.

King Leonheart gritted his teeth, rising slowly to his knees as he cast a fierce glare at the gathering beast folk. Their intense expressions seemed to intensify his anger, each face twisted with a mix of hostility and seriousness.

"What's the meaning of this?" Leonheart demanded, his voice echoing with authority, despite the hint of uncertainty.

Thalagor stepped forward, a smirk playing on his lips as he met Leonheart's gaze. "Isn't it obvious, Your Majesty?" he remarked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "We're simply extending a warm welcome, something we failed to do during your knight's previous visit.

This time, we intend to make amends and ensure things are done right." His words carried a thinly veiled threat, hanging heavy in the frosty night air.

King Leonheart's words cut through the tense silence like a blade, his voice filled with a potent mixture of anger and resolve. He rose to his full height, gazing intensly at the beast folk before him, his gaze piercing and unyielding.

"I don't know what transpired here to provoke such hostility," Leonheart began, his voice steady despite the turmoil within. "But from what I've been told by the knight who returned, they were decimated before they could even complete their mission."

He paused, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the group before him. With movements, he brushed off the dust from his robes, a silent gesture of defiance. Then, locking eyes with each of them in turn, he continued with a cold commanding tone.

"Whatever happened then is of no consequence to me," Leonheart declared, his voice echoing with authority. "But what does concern me is the audacity of you filthy monsters to lay hands on me. Rest assured, I will ensure you all learn your rightful place, and that is beneath my heel." Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire

As King Leonheart's rage reached its peak, his body began to radiate with a golden light, pulsing with raw power. With a mighty stomp, he drove his right foot into the ground, the impact creating a small crater beneath him.

In an instant, his body was coverd in shimmering golden armor, each piece fitting seamlessly together. A red regal cape came down from his back, billowing in the night breeze, adding to his commanding presence. And in his hand materialized a massive golden sword, its blade gleaming brilliantly.

With his transformation complete, King Leonheart unleashed a deafening roar, the sound echoing through the night air with a force that made the very ground tremble. The beast folk, momentarily frozen in fear, felt a chill run down their spines at the sheer power emanating from the king.

In the midst of the silence that followed, King Leonheart spoke, his voice resonating with an unmatched zeal. "I may not be able to take down all of you," he said, his words carrying a weight of inevitability, "but I can promise that at least half of you will not live to see another night."

Thalagor's voice cut through the tense atmosphere like a blade, his words laced with both defiance and a hint of amusement. "A bold declaration for a mere human," he remarked, his eyes narrowing as he gazed at King Leonheart. "Rejoice, for although we intend to engage in combat, our intention is not to end your life. You still have a meeting with our liege, after all."

He continued, his tone carrying a sinister edge. "So, should we find you on the brink of death, fear not. We will summon the Dryads to mend your wounds and restore you to health. Consider it a courtesy extended to you, our guest."