Evolution begins with an ant colony

Under the radiant gaze of the crescent moon, the holy capital stood in serene splendor. Its ethereal glow enveloped the grandeur of the holy church, a celestial haven of sacred duties. Within the hallowed confines of one room, the chosen heroes, Evan and Mina, prepared for a perilous journey to the kingdom of Almarck, where the looming threat of the Demon invasion awaited.

Clad in armor with symbols of their virtuous quest, the heroes readied themselves for the challenges ahead. Yet, before embarking on this divine mission, a ritual beckoned—an ancient rite that would weave mystical weapons, forged with holy power, to aid them in their imminent battles against the demonic forces.

The air buzzed with anticipation as the heroes stood on the precipice of destiny, their hearts attuned to the sanctity of the ritual about to unfold.

Mina, enveloped in the modest mage attire befitting her class, affectionately patted Evan's shoulder. Her voice, a melodic whisper, carried an air of playful anticipation as she mused, "What are the odds that you and I end up being the ones selected of this crucial mission?" Laughter danced from her lips, a symphony of excitement echoing through the room.@@novelbin@@

Mina's rainbow-hued hair cascaded gracefully, a proof of the passage of time transforming her into a more mature version of herself. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

Evan, now displaying a bulky physique with a faint scar marking his right brow, turned to meet her gaze. His response was a serious reminder, "We're not heading there for fun, so save that infectious laughter of yours for later." The gravity of their impending mission hung in the air, a stark contrast to Mina's lighthearted demeanor.

Mina's mischievous grin widened as she playfully remarked, "Oh, come on now. Aren't you thrilled to be journeying with a cute girl like me?" Leaning in closely, she succeeded in causing Evan to fluster momentarily. Swiftly regaining his composure, he gently pushed her back and said, "We should meet the head priest now that we're prepared." Taking the lead, Evan walked ahead and opened the door.

Mina, not one to be pushed aside easily, pouted with mock disappointment. "Hey, don't run away from me. I wasn't even finished yet," she protested, her playful tone echowing with a touch of playful defiance.

Swiftly, Mina followed Evan through the hallowed halls, their footsteps echoing as they navigated the church's sacred corridors. Their journey led them to the grand wooden doors of the prayer hall, where the resounding melodies of prayers filled the air.

Priests, priestesses, and devoted believers sang praises to their goddess in a massive congregation, a ritual observed towards the end of each year.

Evan turned to face Mina, cautioning her, "Be sure to behave yourself. We walk in, receive our blessings, and then join Lady Utopia outside. Nothing more, nothing less. Don't complicate things."

Feeling a slight sting of insult, Mina frowned and snapped back in a hushed tone, "Hey, you're making it sound like I'm stupid. Of course, I'll behave once we walk in there." Her indignant tone hinted at her annoyance, yet a mischievous glint lingered in her eyes.

Evan retorted in a hushed tone, "No way in hell I believe you with that look in your eyes. Look, if you make us look bad, I will stop talking to you completely—giving you the cold shoulder. Are we clear?" He pointed at her, his face contorted in a frown, gritting his teeth.

His words struck Mina like an arrow to the heart. Faking a cry, she muttered, "You really know how to play with the heart of a love-struck girl, Evan. Are you some sort of playboy?"

Evan added sternly, "Enough of that. I'm serious!" in an intense hushed tone.

Mina let out a sigh, her shoulders slumping, and said, "Okay, I get it. I'll behave." The weight of Evan's warning settled on her as they prepared to enter the prayer hall.

Evan let out a sigh, his gaze fixed on the imposing wooden doors. "Here goes nothing," he muttered. Slowly, he pushed the doors open, and the loud sounds of worship songs spilled out into the hallway. Inside, people occupied rows of seats, all dressed in white and yellow garments. Their hands were clasped together, creating a harmonious chorus as they fervently sang their songs of worship.

Evan and Mina slowly made their way on the red carpet that adorned the floor, heading toward the head priest who stood directly in front of the goddess's statue. As they approached, they couldn't help but feel slightly intimidated by the perfection of the worship songs echoing around them—it was almost too flawless, giving both Evan and Mina goosebumps.

Inwardly, Evan thought, "Damn it all, let's hurry things up, get our blessings, and be on our way." He quickened his steps, and Mina, noticing his pace, followed suit.

They both finally arrived behind the head priestess and bowed, placing one knee to the ground and lowering their heads. Simultaneously, they spoke up, alerting the head priestess of their presence.

Evan and Mina spoke up, their words directed at the head priest, "Head priest, we have arrived to receive our divine blessing."

The head priest, who was initially facing the statue of the goddess as he worshipped, paused, raising up his right hand. Everyone else there stopped praying, and the head priest slowly turned around to face the heroes.

He said, "Indeed, you are here now, so I shall play my part and grant both of you the blessing from the goddess." He outstretched his hand, and a priest walked up to him, handing him a large rod-like golden holy cross with a green jewel in its center.

The head priest then proceeded to slowly place the rod on Mina's head as he asked, "Child, do you swear to live by the teachings of our goddess for as long as you live?"

Mina, with her head still bowed, closed her eyes as she replied, "I shall, and I shall not dare go against any of them."