Evolution begins with an ant colony

Gasping for breath, Vector’s feet pounded against the forest floor as he desperately fled towards its edge. His wounded body protested with each step, his hand clutching his stomach where the earlier battle had left him injured. Panic surged through his veins as he replayed the unraveling of his carefully devised plan. "Darn it, this wasn’t how it was supposed to go!

How did it go so wrong?" His thoughts raced, mirroring his frantic pace.

In his haste, he glanced back over his shoulder, sweat mingling with the blood on his brow. His eyes widened at the sight that greeted him – Leona, a whirlwind of lethal grace, carving her way through the other adventurers with calculated precision. Her blade moved like an extension of her very being, a dance of death that left no room for mercy.

It was a stark reminder of his miscalculations, his underestimation of the forces he sought to oppose.

Each labored breath he took seemed to echo the weight of his predicament, his chest heaving as he fought to keep going. The forest around him blurred, a tumultuous backdrop to his desperate escape. The adrenaline that had fueled him now mingled with the acidic taste of fear, his heart racing as the magnitude of his mistakes crashed down upon him.

Leona’s keen eyes caught the sight of Vector’s desperate retreat towards the forest’s edge. With a calculated swipe of her blade, she swiftly dispatched the remaining opponents in her path, leaving behind a trail of defeated adversaries. Her movements were a deadly ballet, a testament to her mastery in battle.

In an instant, the battleground transformed into a graveyard of her opponents, their fallen forms a grim reminder of the futility of their mission. With the enemies incapacitated, Leona wasted no time. Her determination surged as she bolted forward, her lithe figure a blur as she closed the distance between herself and Vector.

"You won’t escape!" Leona’s voice rang out, carrying a mixture of determination and warning as she saw Vector’s figure retreating towards the forest’s edge.

"Darn it, she’s coming for me!" Vector’s thoughts raced in fear as he glimpsed Leona’s determined figure rapidly closing the distance. Panic surged through him, his breath quickening as the reality of his situation set in. However, he managed to steady himself, reminding himself that safety was just a few steps away. "No need to panic, I’m just a few steps away from the forest’s edge.

She is fast, but she won’t be able to close in on me anytime soon."

(A/N: as I mentioned a few chapters back only Akun can see the barrier. So vector thinks he just has to leave the forest.)

His breath hitched as he neared the forest’s edge, relief washing over him as he believed he was about to escape the clutches of his impending doom. But then, his eyes widened and his heart dropped as he caught sight of a figure suspended in the air. It was Akun, the one who was rumored to be the "Flying Ant."

"Wait.... What? H.. he was here all this time?"

Dread flooded Vector’s thoughts as his gaze met Akun’s, a gaze so intense that it seemed to pierce through Vector’s very soul.

Fear gripped Vector’s heart as he felt the weight of Akun’s stare, a gaze that held a promise of retribution. The gravity of his actions hit him like a tidal wave, and in that moment, all his confidence shattered.

A sardonic grin crept across Akun’s face, a chilling precursor to what was about to unfold. The fear that had gripped Vector only intensified as Akun’s expression seemed to seep into his very bones. Before Vector could react, before his heart could even beat another frantic rhythm, Akun’s power surged to life.

With an almost casual gesture, Akun harnessed the very fabric of his aspect powers. The world around Vector seemed to twist and warp, and suddenly, he was no longer in control of his own movements. He was pulled backwards with a force beyond his understanding, his body hurtling through the air like a ragdoll.

"What? H..how is this happening, I’m flying backwards.. Towards her... I can’t move... This doesn’t make any sense."

His heart pounded in his chest like a drum, the realization of his impending collision with Leona filling him with a dread that words could scarcely capture.

As Vector’s body drew closer and closer to Leona, he could see the cold determination in her eyes, a stark contrast to the panic that had consumed him. The seconds stretched out like an eternity, and in that brief moment, Vector’s life seemed to flash before his eyes. Every miscalculation, every misstep, every arrogant assumption that had led him here now coalesced into a singular, horrifying truth.

As Vector closed in on Leona, she swiftly and mercilessly cleaved him in half from head to torso, Ending his life. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Moments later, Leona stood over Vector’s immobilized form, her breath ragged. She turned her gaze toward the sky, spotting Akun floating there.

"Hey, boss!" she called out, her voice a mixture of relief and excitement.

"Hey, Leona!" Akun responded, his voice carrying a sense of ease.

Leona’s lips curled into a grin. "You’re really showing off with these powers, huh?"

Akun chuckled. "Maybe a little. But it’s good to see you handling things down there."

Leona’s expression turned serious. "You know you can always count on me."

"Thanks, Leona. But right now, I need you to go back and help Ember. There are still some adventurers you need to deal with."

Leona nodded. "You got it. I’ll head back and make sure they don’t get away."

With a final nod, Akun continued to hover around the sky, watching the battle. Leona dashed back towards the battlefield, her resolve stronger than ever.

Meanwhile, the other guardians displayed their overwhelming might against the remaining groups of adventurers. Ivy, with her mastery over water elemental attacks, easily disabled her opponents, leaving them struggling in puddles created from her watery assaults.

Oliver’s arrows found their marks with deadly precision, puncturing vital points in the adventurers’ bodies. His aim was unwavering, and each shot was a lethal blow.

Zara’s spells were no longer gentle displays of magic; they were unleashed with destructive intent. Flames engulfed adversaries, thorns pierced their flesh, and gusts of wind hurled them off balance, leaving them vulnerable to further attacks.

Kael’s swift strikes were aimed to incapacitate and eliminate. His daggers found openings in armor, aiming for vital organs, and his ruthless efficiency ensured that his opponents had no chance to defend themselves.

Luna’s celestial magic took on a harsher edge, unleashing blinding bursts of light and harnessing the power of the cosmos to smite her foes. Her enemies were ensnared in traps of shimmering energy that disintegrated them upon contact.

Finn’s greatsword cleaved through flesh and bone, leaving behind a trail of devastation. His strikes were meant to crush, maim, and incapacitate, sending a clear message that resistance was futile.

In a relentless onslaught, the guardians attacked with precision and deadly intent. Their movements were honed and purposeful, leaving no room for mercy or hesitation. The adventurers were met with a torrent of lethal force, their attempts to fight back crumbling in the face of the guardians’ resolve to protect their home.

With the last of the adventurers defeated, the guardians gathered, their victorious air mixing with playful banter. Gedion cleared his throat, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Alright, folks, here’s the real challenge: who’s gonna clean up this mess?"

Leona chuckled. "Yeah, we need to tidy up around our anthill."

Ember grinned. "Guess it’s time for someone’s cleaning skills to shine."

Gideon smirked. "I’m all for teamwork, but this one’s a solo job."

The guardians exchanged knowing glances, and a light-hearted argument ensued.

Leona playfully nudged Oliver. "You’re good with details, Ollie."

Oliver scoffed. "Hey, I’m an archer, not a janitor."

Zara smirked at Kael. "Care to show us your meticulous side, Kael?"

Kael rolled his eyes. "Come on, I’m not a neat freak."

Luna raised an eyebrow at Finn. "Big sword, big responsibility, Finn."

Finn crossed his arms. "I didn’t sign up for clean-up duty."

Their banter continued, fingers pointing at each other in a mock-serious manner.

Eventually, they all turned their eyes to Ivy, who had been observing with a bemused smile. "Hey, what about Ivy? She’s the quiet one, she can handle it."

Ivy sighed, feigning exasperation. "Oh, come on! Why am I the one?"

Amidst laughter and friendly teasing, the guardians reached a consensus. "Alright, Ivy it is!"

As they playfully celebrated their victory and settled their good-natured argument, the bond between the guardians grew stronger. The aftermath of battle was a testament to their unity and camaraderie, showcasing not only their strength but also their unique personalities and the dynamic that made them a formidable force.

Akun, still floating in the air, observed their playful banter and couldn’t help but laugh. His thoughts were simple, "Good times." Then, he shifted his gaze beyond the anthill, spotting a figure approaching in a carriage pulled by a horse. Akun’s emotions surged with anger. "They still have the audacity to return?" His mind seethed with fury, his gaze reflecting the intensity of his emotions.