Evolution begins with an ant colony

Kneeling before the demon king, Yandol felt the weight of his decision settle on his shoulders. Delikan's hand descended onto Yandol's head, and in that moment, Yandol's inner resolve solidified. "If this is what I must do to protect what I hold dear, then I have no choice," he mused silently.

A soft smile touched his lips as he continued his inward reflections, "As long as I'm able to witness my little boy being born and growing into an amazing man, surpassing even my own achievements, then I'm glad. I would have no regrets."

As Yandol knelt before Delikan, a powerful surge of demonic energy emanated from the demon king. The energy flowed seamlessly into Yandol's body, accompanied by a radiant purple glow that enveloped them both. Amillia, lying on the bed, observed the mysterious exchange, tears trickling down her face. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

As the demonic energy surged through Yandol's body, a gradual transformation took place. His once-human features began to change, taking on a demonic quality. His eyes, once filled with uncertainty, now gleamed with an purple light. Sharp, obsidian-like horns emerged from his forehead, curving gracefully towards the back of his head.

Yandol's skin underwent a small but noticeable change, taking on a faint violet hue that seemed to shimmer in the ambient light. His fingertips elongated into clawed appendages, each tip gleaming with a bone chilling glow. The transformation continued as his ears elongated into pointed tips, resembling those of mythical creatures from ancient lore.

With every passing moment, Yandol's body became more demonic, a fusion of his former self and the powerful energies bestowed upon him by the demon king.

Once the transformation was completed, the demon king slowly removed his hand from Yandol's head and told him, "You may rise."

Yandol slowly fluttered his eyes open, and the first things that came into view were his light purple skin and the complex patterns on his hands. He noticed some of the dragon scales protruding from the outer edges of his arms, but now they had a distinct purple hue.

"Are these my hands?" he mumbled, flexing them as he felt demonic energy coursing through his veins. The subtle vibrations beneath his skin hinted at the power that surged within him.

Delikan's calm and commanding tone filled the room as he laid out Yandol's first task. The weight of the responsibility settled on Yandol, and inwardly, he steeled himself for whatever lengths he would have to go to fulfill the demon king's wishes. His fists clenched; it seemed he had no choice in the matter.

The demon king continued, "You will be heading to the Holy Empire. There, you will assist Camilla in creating a cult that will go against the church."

Yandol, now both curious and confused, couldn't help but voice his concerns, "My lord, I may not know how powerful this 'Camilla' is, but isn't the Holy Empire the home to the headquarters of the Holy Church? Will they really be able to create a cult there? And also, what exactly is my purpose for following this person?"

Yandol continued, "Am I supposed to be some sort of bodyguard or something else?" Inwardly, he mused, "Sending me to the Holy Empire after turning me into a demon? Isn't that a death sentence? Why send me there now? I thought maybe I would have to assist in some random city and perhaps eliminate some residents, not head directly to the Holy Empire."

Delikan then spoke with a cold tone that sent chills down Yandol's spine. "Yandol, that is no way to act before your lord." In that moment, Yandol felt a very powerful force pushing his head to the ground as Delikan added, "You only speak when you're given permission. I will not tolerate insubordination."

Delikan then asked, "Are we clear?"

Yandol mumbled, "Yes, my lord."

Delikan replied, "Good. Now, I believe it's best that you follow me to the throne room. A place like this is hardly suited for a mission briefing as grand as the one I shall be sending you on." With that, Delikan turned around and started heading towards the guest room's door.

Yandol slowly rose from the floor, took a moment to gaze at his wife, and smiled. He then mumbled, "Guess I'll see you later, dear. Take care of yourself, okay?" With that, he turned around and followed closely behind the demon king.

As they left, Amillia couldn't help the tears streaming down her cheeks. She covered her mouth to prevent her cries from leaking out, watching slowly as her husband left, fully aware he was about to engage in activities that would clash with his principles.@@novelbin@@

Meanwhile, back in the godforsaken forest, the crescent moon hung overhead, casting its silvery glow over the ant city's homes. They were dimly lit with magic lamps lining the streets and some homes. In the ant castle, Akun's footsteps echoed as he made his way through the castle's halls.

His silver hair swayed from side to side as he approached the meeting room. The halls were dimly lit with yellow runes, casting a soft ambiance over the space. Upon reaching the door, Akun commanded the guards, "Open the doors."

In response to their liege's order, they immediately began swinging the doors open to reveal the meeting room—the same one he had used for discussions with the tribe leaders. This time, present were the guardians Nadalin and Phenor, with the exception of Oliver, Leona, and Gideon, the latter still assisting the Veloras.

Akun glided to his seat, each step exuding an air of royalty. As he settled into the chair with effortless grace, he inclined his arm on the armrest and rested his head upon it. The room fell into a hushed expectancy.

With a calm and commanding tone, he addressed those gathered, "Now that all of you are here, I want to hear your reports on how far your respective sides of the project have progressed." The weight of his words hung in the air, prompting the assembled group to prepare their updates.

Akun's discerning gaze glided across the table, ultimately fixing on Phenor. With a nod, he granted permission for Phenor to speak, "Alright, Phenor, how far have you and the Kingins progressed with your assigned tasks?"

Phenor gracefully rose from his seat, offering a brief bow before delivering his report, "I and my people have nearly completed our side of the project." The air filled with anticipation as the details of their progress awaited disclosure.

Phenor continued with a sense of accomplishment, "We have nearly completed building the wall from the edge of the forest, extending towards the rumored 'holy empire.' The gate you asked us to craft is ready, adorned with the runic carvings you specified. The designated spaces for weaponry are also finished; once the weapons are crafted, they'll find their place there.

The road connecting that part of the forest to the ant city is near completion, with final touches, decorations, and polish underway. Additionally, we await the dryads to create a mana vein that will link to the wall, activating the runes. That concludes my report, my liege."

Phenor then executed a respectful bow. Akun's smile widened, expressing approval, "Impressive speed, Phenor. It appears you'll complete your tasks well ahead of the deadline. Rest assured, once accomplished, I'll fulfill my promise to reunite you with your son. Now, take your seat."

With another bow, Phanor gracefully returned to his place. The atmosphere in the room held a blend of achievement and anticipation for the next report.

Akun's piercing gaze continued its sweep across the room, contemplating the next individual to present their report. Suddenly, his eyes locked onto Nadalin, the graceful ant queen. Softening his expression, he mumbled, "Mo-" A brief pause, a correction, and then he said, "Now, Nadalin, how are things on your end? I hope it hasn't been too stressful for you."

Nadalin chuckled gently before responding, "Akun, you don't always have to be so protective. I, too, have responsibilities. Allow me to provide my report."

Akun released a subtle sigh, a harbinger of anticipation, before mumbling, "Okay, Nadalin, let's hear your report."

Nadalin gracefully rose from her seat, a sense of regality in her demeanor, and began to articulate the details of her progress. "As per your directive, with the assistance of the evolved ant soldiers you graciously provided, we initiated the clearing of sections within the forest. The construction of the new residential structures outlined in the blueprints you provided has commenced.

However, given the complexity of the designs, we've encountered some challenges. Despite this, our diligent efforts have allowed us to complete approximately 12% of all planned structures in that designated area."

The room absorbed the richness of her report, each word painting a vivid picture of the evolving landscape under Nadalin's watchful guidance.

Akun acknowledged Nadalin's efforts with a nod, his voice carrying a measured approval. "Good job, Nadalin. You may take your seat now." Nadalin, with the grace befitting a queen, offered a respectful bow, expressing her gratitude. "Thank you, my liege," she murmured, gracefully returning to her seat.

As the room settled into a momentary hush, Akun's gaze swept across the gathering. His voice, laden with a hint of inquiry, broke the silence. "Now, who is ready to deliver their report next?"