Evolution begins with an ant colony

As Gideon and his clones charged through the snow, the princess unleashed a massive roar that echoed through the icy expanse. The sound disrupted the harmony of the shadowy clones, causing some to lose their footing and dissolve into ephemeral shadows.

"Using your roar to reduce my numbers, are you? Nice strategy," Gideon taunted, he wasn't about to back down. "But unfortunately, you will have to use a better approach than that if you are going to end this battle."

As the clones closed in, dozens of green magic circles appeared in the air again. They fired out the same hot, greenish acid-like substance that melted the earth on contact. Yet, Gideon and his clones easily dodged each projectile, moving with a fluidity that defied the chaotic onslaught. They sidestepped to the left and right, leaping into the air to avoid the lethal rain of acid.

Closing in on the princess's large dragon form, Gideon exclaimed, "Why are you just standing there? It's like you are begging to be attacked."

Inwardly, the princess mused, "I'm not moving because your weapons wouldn't be powerful enough to deal me any damage. Dragon scales are the single most powerful substances in the world; nothing else can even come close to comparing. So, when you swing those toys of yours and they shatter, I'll make vines erupt from the earth and trap you.

Then, I'll stomp on you with my leg, instantly ending your pathetic life."

Finally closing in, Gideon swung his blades. To the princess's surprise, his blades effortlessly cut through her scales like a hot knife through butter. The realization sent a shockwave of astonishment through her draconic form as the battle took an unexpected turn.

Gideon unleashed a series of massive cuts with his twin blades, each stroke carrying the precision of a master swordsman. The snowy battlefield became a canvas painted with arcs of movement as he danced around the dragon princess. Then, with a powerful blow, he sent the towering princess in her dragon form sprawling backward. She coughed out blood, her blood staining the pure snow beneath her feet.

"Impossible, simply impossible," the princess muttered in disbelief, her emerald eyes reflecting the shock of the moment. "How did this tiny weapon leave me with such a large cut?" Her blood flowed freely, giving the white snow a red hue. Gritting her teeth, she continued her internal monologue, "I was seriously wounded before I managed to escape through the time tunnel, thanks to Father's help.

So now, after sustaining those serious attacks from him, maintaining my dragon form seems to be sapping me of a lot of my energy. I will have to face him in my human form. Although I am throwing away the obvious size advantage I had, I can easily defeat him once I use the explosive strength my human form possesses."

In that moment, the princess swiftly began to revert to her human form. Her body shrank rapidly until she was back in the form she originally arrived with. Though her clothes were a bit ragged, they seemed to amend themselves, a proof of the influence of her mana. However, unlike before, she left her tail with its sharp edge on her body.

Though smaller now, it was obvious she planned on using it in the upcoming battle. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

The princess's breaths came out as ragged gasps as she gazed at Gideon, who approached slowly, his clones dissolving around him. His voice echoed as he remarked, "All that talk, and you didn't even last a minute. That's kind of a letdown. You are making this boring."

The princess narrowed her gaze, asking with a cold tone, "Are those your last words?" Gideon shot back at her with his own cold tone, "I don't know. Why don't you get over here and find out?"

The princess replied, her green eyes glowing brightly, "I think I will." In that moment, it was as if her figure instantaneously disappeared from Gideon's line of vision. Moments later, she seemed to materialize in the air directly above him. Gideon, catching sight of her figure in the air, cold gaze in her eyes as she closed in, couldn't help but let out a small chuckle.

Microseconds later, a massive crater was created where she once stood—a proof of her absurd speed. She moved so fast that she had already shifted several feet away from her original location before the earth even realized what hit it. The battlefield echoed with the remnants of her astonishing speed, leaving a sense of awe and anticipation in the frigid air.

As Gideon adjusted to the sudden change in dynamics, he prepared for the next phase of the confrontation, realizing that facing the princess in her human form brought a new set of challenges and surprises.

As the princess closed in, she twirled in the air, intending to use the sharp blade-like end of her tail to cut Gideon down from head to toe. Bringing down her scale-like sword with a massive swing, thanks to her twisting momentum in the air, Gideon swiftly brought up his twin short swords to block the attack from landing.

He raised his swords overhead, positioning them in an X-like way, intercepting the attack at the middle of his blades.@@novelbin@@

The clash was so powerful that it sent out a massive shockwave, causing snow to billow into the air like a frozen tempest. Gideon's feet slightly dug into the earth, further causing cracks to ripple all around.

In the aftermath of the powerful clash, Gideon and the princess found themselves momentarily pushed back, with the princess landing on her feet sevral feets away. Without wasting any time, she lunched foward again.

With a swift and fluid movement, the princess twisted her body, her movements looked like she was dancing, aiming to capitalize on her superior speed. She brought her tail around once again, it's edge gleamed in the moonlight, attempting to catch Gideon off guard. The blade-like tip of her tail aimed for Gideon's abdomen, a lethal dance orchestrated with skill.

Anticipating the incoming strike, Gideon's instincts kicked in. He swiftly leaned backwards, his head touched the snow as he evaded the deadly arc of the dragon princess's tail. The whistling sound of the tail cutting through the air lingered as Gideon smoothly moved, putting his agility on display.