Evolution begins with an ant colony

Akun floated in mid-air, his aspect power keeping him suspended right in front of the massive ancient tree. His gaze remained fixed on the system shop that dangled amidst the turmoil of the battlefield.

Lost in thought, he thought, "There has to be a solution."

Suddenly, multiple colossal vines shot towards him, but with a swift gesture, he used his aspect power to sever them, avoiding their grasp with ease.

"Maybe I'll learn something new if I get close enough," he mused further, worry etched across his face.

With that in mind, Akun propelled himself towards the tree. Hovering directly in front of it, he gathered his raw aspect power and unleashed it to rip open the tree, unveiling an unconscious Oliver within.

Oliver was covered in roots that protruded from all over his body. A massive root emerged from his right eye, extending like a sinister vine, pulsing with energy that coursed through the roots and into his body.

As Akun's gaze fell upon the helpless Oliver, he couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency. He called out to the system inwardly, his voice tinged with desperation, "System! Is there any skill available in the shop that can help me save Oliver?"

But the system's cold response shattered Akun's hopes:

[Sorry, player. No skill exists in the shop that can fulfill that purpose.]

Frustration welled up inside Akun as he stared at Oliver. He gritted his teeth and muttered, "There has to be a way."

With desperation in his eyes, he waved his hand, summoning the system shop. As it materialized, he began searching through it himself, muttering, "I'll find a solution on my own then. Maybe some kind of separation skill will work."

Akun had already used his dragon eyes earlier and had discovered some kind of seed inside Oliver's core. It was the cause of this disaster, but he couldn't just dig his hands into Oliver's core. A single scratch would be fatal to any monster, and Oliver was no exception. So Akun had to find a solution that would allow him to remove the seed without touching the core and damaging it.

Suddenly, Leona, Zara, and several Kingin and evolved ant guards rushed towards Akun, calling out, "My liege!"

Akun turned to face them as he hovered in front of Oliver, who was ensnared by the tree.

Leona shouted, "Something is happening in the castle. Red flowers have sprouted all over everyone's bodies, and they've all lost consciousness and seem to be losing strength."

Upon hearing Leona's statement, Akun's thoughts raced. "The castle? How? I have to hurry and check it out," he exclaimed. He glanced back at Oliver and the huge tree, considering his options. "Oliver is a guardian, I'm sure he can still hang on, but most of the people inside the castle are weak, so if anything happens to them, they won't last very long."

Akun's gaze shifted to the swirling roots of the tree. "But I can't just leave him going on a rampage like this. I have to come up with something to prevent him from causing any more damage," he mused, frustration in his eyes.

Akun made a determined decision. He turned to Leona and the others, his voice resolute. "I'll try to use my aspect power to create a barrier," he declared. "I've never attempted anything of this magnitude before, but I have no other choice."

As he focused his power, a massive, pulsating purple barrier began to form around Oliver, expanding outward. It was a sight to behold, as Akun's body bathed in a purple light, and his eyes shone with intensity. The barrier continued to grow, enveloping the guardian and preventing him from causing any further destruction.

The efforts were met with bated breath, as Akun strained to maintain the barrier, his power radiating with a brilliant and vibrant hue.

Meanwhile, Kael watched in horror as Gedion fell to the ground, a crimson flower sprouting from his left eye. Fear gripping him, he called out to his comrade, "Gedion! Hang in there!"

Suddenly, a massive root emerged from the earth, casting a looming shadow over Gedion, who lay on the ground, unable to move. The root appeared ready to crush Gedion, and upon witnessing this, Kael's thoughts raced. "Gedion is down, I have to help him," he realized.

Kael propelled himself with tremendous force, leaving a gaping crater where he once stood, and swiftly arrived at Gedion's side. He picked up his comrade and noticed the red flower he had saw eariler on Gedion's right eye. He mumbled, "What is this?"

In his concern for Gedion, Kael temporarily forgot about the approaching root, which was now dangerously close. He realized his oversight and thought, "Damm it, I completely forgot about it. I won't be fast enough to dodge it at this range."

In a moment of desperation, Kael hugged Gedion tightly, bracing for impact. Fortunately, Akun's aspect power barrier activated just in time, preventing the root from advancing further. The root slammed against the barrier but couldn't penetrate it.

As Ember and Finn approached, panting heavily and sweat glistening on their faces, the scene was nothing short of chaotic. Roots lay severed on the ground around them, their pursuit of the two guardians abruptly halted by Akun's aspect power. The atmosphere was charged with a mixture of exhaustion and relief.

Ember, his body still engulfed in flames, dusted some root fragments off his shoulders. His voice, strained from the chase, quivered as he said, "Damm it, they was a close call, those roots almost had me there, I thought I was a goner."

Finn, now standing close to Ember, chimed in, his voice carrying a hint of weariness. "Yeah, you're right. I was starting to get really tired. And my hands were starting to tremble from just holding up my sword." The intensity of the battle had clearly taken a toll on them, leaving them physically and mentally drained.

Suddenly, Kael's urgent voice pierced the air as he yelled, "You guys should get over here and give me a hand! Something is happening to Gedion, and we need to take him to see our liege." His words carried a sense of concern, and it was clear that they needed assistance to address Gedion's condition.