Evolution begins with an ant colony

Chapter 297 One More

Akun's purple eyes shimmered with curiosity and confusion as he tilted his head slightly to the left and asked, "Here to serve? What do you mean? Weren't you supposed to follow the king?"

Hestria then got on her knees again, bowing her head as she said, "Well... Master, the king said he doesn't need me anymore.... He had relieved me of my duties."

Hestria's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she stuttered, her words tumbling out in a rush. "I-I don't want to just retire while I'm still young and capable," she said, her voice quavering slightly. "I can be your sword, master. I promise absolute loyalty and obedience. I won't hesitate, no matter the order given."

Leandor's jaw tightened, a vein pulsing angrily on his forehead. He felt a surge of indignation at the suggestion that his liege's authority was being questioned. He turned to Hestria, his voice laced with barely contained fury. "Do you think our liege's forces are so diminished that he needs to recruit from among those who invaded our home?"

Leandor's mane bristled, a fiery aura emanating from his body as his red mana surged. "Such insolence," he growled, his voice dripping with anger. "I should put you to death."

Hestria felt a shiver run down her spine at the threat, her body trembling slightly, but she maintained a composed expression in front of Akun.

Akun let out a weary sigh, his brow furrowed in frustration. "Why does my life always seem to take such complicated turns?" he mused inwardly. "From Chrono Nexus to Genreia, and even Azra that Ember and Ivy told me saying she wants to see me. Now Hestria, they all seem to have their own agendas." He glanced at Hestria, then back at Leandor, feeling the weight of their expectations.

"It's as if these women are gathering around me, hoping for more than just servitude." He shook his head, a wry smile playing on his lips. "At this rate, when I finally decide to settle down, my life might suddenly get a harem tag." Another sigh escaped him as he thought the complexities of his fate.

Akun gently placed a reassuring hand on Leandor's shoulder, silently urging him to calm down. With a firm yet gentle tone, he instructed, "Stand down, Leandor."

Leandor reluctantly complied, his fiery aura gradually dissipating as he stepped back, still eyeing Hestria with suspicion.

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Turning his attention to Hestria, Akun approached her with measured steps. "The path to serving me won't be easy," he cautioned, his voice carrying a mixture of seriousness and compassion. "It may entail challenges and hardships that you can scarcely imagine. Are you truly willing to endure whatever trials may come?"

Hestria met Akun's gaze with calm seriousness, her eyes reflecting her resolve. "I am," she affirmed.

Nodding approvingly, Akun extended his hand towards her. "Then come," he said, his tone resolute. "Follow me back to the capital."

Hestria's smile was soft, a glimmer of excitement in her eyes as she closed them briefly. Tilting her head slightly to the left, she replied, "Yes, master."

With that, she rose to her feet, her demeanor now imbued with a sense of purpose. Falling into step behind Akun and Leandor, she followed them out of the palace, ready to embark on the journey that lay ahead.

Using his aspect power, Akun effortlessly lifted himself, Hestria, and Leandor off the ground, their bodies ascending gracefully into the night sky. The sheer force of his command propelled them upward, leaving the earth below in a blur.

As they soared through the cool night air, bathed in the ethereal glow of the moonlight, it cast shimmering silver hues upon their figures, creating an enchanting spectacle against the dark canvas of the sky.

Hestria couldn't suppress the soft sigh that escaped her lips as they traversed the starlit skies. "The feeling of soaring through the air is so... soothing," she mused to herself, her voice barely a whisper against the rush of wind.

Her gaze drifted to Akun, the moonlight casting an soft glow upon his figure. She marveled at the way his silver hair flutterd in the nocturnal breeze, each strand shimmering like strands of precious metal under the celestial spotlight. His features, illuminated by the gentle luminescence, revealed a chiseled jawline and piercing eyes that seemed to hold the mysteries of the cosmos.

"The way his silver hair dazzles in the moonlight as we soar through the air," Hestria continued lost in her thoughts, her thoughts drifting further. "And his handsome face, with that calm yet commanding glint in his eyes..." She trailed off, a faint flush gracing her cheeks as she realized the depth of her observation.

"I have been so busy, so preoccupied that I didn't notice just how handsome he truly is." She mused, lost as she continued to gaze at him.

Akun noticed her gaze fixed upon him from the corner of his eye and decided to ask as he turned to look at her, "Is there something on my face?"

Suddenly caught off guard, she stuttered, her hands frantically gesturing to hide the obvious blush spreading across her cheeks. "N-nothing really," she stammered. "I was just admiring... your armor... That's all."

Akun observed her peculiar behavior and responded, "Okay..." His tone carried a slight hint of awkwardness as he turned his head to face their destination in the distance—the bustling ant city.

As she noticed Akun redirect his gaze forward, she couldn't help but muse as she looked away and covered her face, "Why did I get all flustered just now... It's not like I did anything wrong... What's wrong with me?"

Suddenly, Hestria could feel the rush of wind that surrounded them before suddenly stopping, and then she heard Akun say, "We're here." She turned her face beneath as she removed her hands from her face and saw the bustling ant city. Most of all, the other monsters from all the other tribes had already arrived and were bustling around in the city below.