Evolution begins with an ant colony

Thalagor felt his knees give out in fear, falling to the floor as beads of sweat formed on his face, streaming down slowly. His pupils shook as he gazed at his liege's figure, slowly emerging from the dust. Each of his steps seemed to echo throughout the area, further sending chills down Leonheart and Thalagor's spines.

As Leonheart locked eyes on the man that emerged from the dust cloud, he thought, "This man.... He isn't human.... The aura he exudes commands attention and submission.

His elegant silver hair gives off a sense of royalty and power, and his purple eyes feel as if they could pierce through your soul." He paused, gulped, then continued, "The black armor he wears seems to absorb the light around it, its perfect structure speaks of both his battle prowess and his unmatched skill... Is he the liege this wolf man spoke of?"

Akun then gazed at Thalagor and demanded, "I want you to tell me what exactly happened here," he said, his tone low and commanding.

Akun gazed around and noticed this area littered with bodies, yet other Beast Folk in surrounding areas did not come to help, nor did it look like they could even notice what had transpired in this particular area. Akun could see some sort of barrier. With his dragon eyes, he was able to determine that it was an illusion barrier.

So many questions clouded his mind, his gaze moved from Thalagor to Leonheart, his anger mounting.

"This was never part of the plan," Thalagor mused, his body trembling under the sight of his liege. He then mused further, "Why did he suddenly arrive here? Did he discover what we were up to? Is he here to punish us?" Breathing in, then breathing out, Thalagor slowly rose to his feet as he continued his musings, "Calm down, Thalagor.

He just asked to be informed of what happened here, which means he doesn't know what has transpired here, or of my plan." Grinning, Thalagor Continued, "Which means there is still a chance for my plan to work."

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Thalagor turned his gaze to his liege as he slowly walked towards him, preparing to speak. "My liege, we welcomed the human king with open arms just as you instructed. We were about to give him lodging in one of the many inns you had us build," he said, clenching his fists.

His face twisted into a mask of pain and sentiment as he continued, "But just as we were about to give him a room key, he proceeded to pull his sword on the innkeeper that was behind the counter." Thalagor's expression darkened as he recounted the scene. "He swiftly beheaded her, saying, 'I would rather die than live in a place populated with monsters.

It may be the last thing I do, but I will make sure I cut down as many of you as I can, in the name of my knights that never returned home from this forsaken place.'"

Falling to his knees, Thalagor began to cry. "I and everyone present were immediately overtaken by shock and anger, we all stood up. Wanting him to understand the wight of the life he just took," he added, his voice choked with emotion.

Gesturing to all the bodies littered around, Thalagor added, "But sadly, most of us were no match for him. Despite the fact we all came together to put him in his place, most of my people were easily cut down by his blade.

Lives and dreams snuffed out in an instant." He paused, gripping his chest tightly as he continued, "My liege, I don't know what we had done to deserve such a hostile response from him." Tears streamed down his cheeks as he spoke, his voice choked with emotion. "Although most of us fell to his blade, we finally managed to bring him to his knees. Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire

I ask that my liege bring back our fallen people, and avenge their honor."

King Leonheart, gazing at Thalagor, could see that he had spun the story to his advantage. He mused, "At this point, there was nothing I can possibly do. There was no way this man, with such a monstrous aura, would believe me if he said what he was just told was not the truth." Leonheart braced himself for a bitter end.

His jaw tightened, and his eyes narrowed as he resigned himself to the grim fate that awaited him.

Akun turned his gaze to Leonheart, his eyes narrowed in contemplation. His mind raced with questions and doubts, each thought weaving a web of uncertainty. "What he is saying doesn't make complete sense," Akun mused, his voice tinged with skepticism. "Why would a king who had surrendered himself to come have an audience with me mindlessly slaughter the beast folk?"

He furrowed his brow in thought, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides in frustration. "The most effective move would have been to make a move on me during our audience. Then he would have killed me. That would have been a far more sensible move than what this beast folk is saying he did. But then again, emotions do make humans make senseless decisions... But something still feels off.

What is up with this illusion barrier? Did he set it? He looks more like a swordsman than a mage... Is he that powerful?"

Akun's mind was going into hyperdrive as he pondered the reasons and how the scenario actually played out. But one thing he was certain of: what this beast folk before him said was not the truth.

Akun then began to walk towards king Leonheart, each if his steps sending chills down his spine, as he braced himself for his fate.

Meanwhile, Thalagor mused with a grin, "My plan has succeeded. Now all the humans of that nation shall pay."

"So, you are the one responsible for this?" Akun asked, his voice tinged with accusation.

But then Akun paused, his gaze locking with Leonheart's eyes. As he studied the king's expression, a sense of admiration flickered in his own eyes. The look in Leonheart's eyes didn't resemble that of disgust and pride, or anger and vengeance. It was the look of a man who had tried his best to survive a sudden disadvantageous situation.

A man who looked like he had been wrung dry of every ounce of strength, yet still managed to maintain a defiant spark in his eyes.