Evolution begins with an ant colony

Back in the demon continent, in the city of Zerath, nestled beneath the crimson skies and towering castle of Delikan, the Demon King, Delikan himself, hovered effortlessly in the air, surveying his sprawling domain below. With piercing red eyes, he observed the bustling city streets teeming with demons going about their daily routines.

His presence commanded respect and instilled fear among his subjects, who moved about with a sense of deference in his presence. As he gazed down upon his kingdom, a faint smirk could be seen upon his lips, revealing the calculated mind of a ruler who held absolute power over his realm.

Delikan's pale skin seemed to emit a very small glow, creating this otherworldly aura around him as he floated in the air. His obsidian horns gleamed softly in the crimson light, adding to his imposing presence. Clad in his signature attire of black and red, his regal outfit gave off power and authority.

The complex designs of his suit probably complimented his imposing figure, while the red and silver fur cape billowed behind him, swaying gracefully as the wind swept through the city. With each gust, the cape swirled around him like a living shadow, adding to the mystique of the Demon King as he gazed down his realm with a sense of quiet satisfaction.

Suddenly Delikan felt a sudden throb in his core, a knowing smile graced his lips, hinting at his anticipation. "Ah, it seems a certain someone has decided to step out of their shell," he murmured to himself, his voice carrying a hint of amusement.

Turning away from the bustling cityscape below, Delikan's gaze shifted towards the horizon, his gaze seeming to penetrate the vast expanse beyond his domain. "And from the look of it," he added, his voice carrying a tone of quiet certainty, "he's slowly approaching the second phase."

Delikan then gestured inquisitively, his eyes gleaming with recognition, he remarked, "As expected of him, he's every bit as skilled as I remembered him to be." He then shrugged slightly then added, "I mean if he wasn't things won't be interesting."

Suddenly, a system's voice echoed in his thoughts, alerting him to unexpected developments. ‡[Notice to the player, it appears the changes the other player experienced exceeded the player's expectations.]‡"l

‡[So much so the system suggests a reevaluation of the player's initial plans.]‡

Delikan's smile widened slightly as he observed the red system window materializing before him, displaying the status of a certain individual. "System, you are over exaggerating," he remarked confidently. "I've been planning this for thousands of years. Do you think I didn't account for what he could be capable of if left to grow in that little forest if his?"

With a smug tone, he continued, "And you are hurting my feelings. I never planned for him to be caught up in my plans. No, he and I still have a match we didn't quite finish thousands of years ago." Delikan's gaze lingered on the status window, a grin spreading across his face as he added, "Indeed, am I not correct, Akun?"

Delikan's eyes sparkled with anticipation as he referred to the man whose stats were displayed on the red system window before him. With a self-satisfied grin, he remarked, "Since it would take some time before our epic rematch, I'll simply sit back and enjoy myself for the time being.

After all, what's more fun for a gamer than world conquest?" His voice became more deep and intimidating towards the end. His red eyes glowing slightly with his mana.

Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire

.....

Lyra's eyes widened with fear as she recounted the moment in her mind. "He... he moved so fast," she murmured, her voice trembling. "I barely saw him... and then... he was right in front of me..."

As she spoke, the memory replayed vividly before her eyes, Akun suddenly leaped forward, his movement appearing as a blur to Lyra's eyes. Instinctively, she raised her sword, recognizing the impending danger as his attack aimed for her neck. The moment his strike landed on her sword, it instantly shattered into pieces, leaving her defenseless against his assault.

In that heart-stopping moment, she thought her end had come.

But then, to her astonishment, Akun swiftly sheathed his katana, his form seeming to vanish and reappear on the other side of her.

"The gust of wind unleashed in the wake of his movement was so forceful that it sent me sprawling backward, my feet lifted off the ground as if I were nothing more than a mere leaf caught in a storm." She paused, her pupils still shaking as she gazed at his outstretched hand.

She then mused further, "And what's even more terrifying," she paused, slowly glancing at a massive slash mark that was left on the ground and some of the trees, presumably from Akun's attack. She thought further, "How did they create a massive mark like that? Is this some kind of sword technique? Who is he.... What is he..."

Akun suddenly broke her train of thought, his voice cutting through her contemplation. "You know," he said, "it's not fair to keep a man hanging like this, right?"

Lyra, still bewildered by Akun's actions, didn't immediately grasp his intent when he reached out a hand to help her up. Instead, her mind raced with confusion. "What does he want?" she wondered anxiously. "What is he trying to take from me? He already broke my sword..."

Then, a sudden realization hit her like a bolt of lightning. The tournament token! With a dawning understanding, she reached into her pocket. Akun watched her movements with a mixture of curiosity and a slight hint of wariness. "Is she planning another last-ditch move?" He wonderd as he narrowed his gaze.

To his surprise, Lyra retrieved a golden emblem from her pocket, the tornament token and handed it to him. "Here," she said, her voice tinged with resignation. "This is what you wanted right?" She then added, "Since you now have what you came for, I guess we're done here."

Akun gazed at the token she handed to him, instantly recognizing it as the tournament token. A hint of awkwardness swept over him. He had intended to help her up, but instead, she handed him the symbol of the tournament. Letting out a sigh, he simply decided to just leave them.

"I'll be on my way then," he said quietly. With a final glance at Lyra, he turned around and began to walk away.

†[ -??- has grown slightly.]†

†[ -??- has become -AD- .]†

†[†Authority† †Great-Extreem-Chaos† is slightly resonating with -AD-'s existence.]†