Evolution begins with an ant colony

The wolves den was cloaked in an uneasy silence. The adventurers, their weariness still fresh from the intense battle with the moonlit wolves, now faced an unexpected and enigmatic figure. Gruff, their resolute leader, couldn't contain his frustration and demanded to know who this mysterious woman was.

Gruff's voice, like gravel grinding on stone, resonated with authority as he demanded, "Who are you?" His fingers, roughened from years of wielding his massive morningstar, clenched it tightly.

In response, the woman, seemingly unperturbed by the hostile atmosphere, moved with an ethereal grace. Her lips curled into a serene smile as she spoke, her words weaving a soothing melody amidst the palpable tension. "Ah, I suppose introductions are in order." Her gestures were deliberate, as if each movement were part of an intricate dance. "You may call me Camilla."

Gruff's brows knit together, forming a formidable barrier over his piercing eyes. The curiosity that sparked within him overcame the initial irritation that had simmered on his rugged features. "Alright, Camilla," he grumbled. His tone hinted at the storm of questions that raged within him. "Now tell us why you're here."

As Camilla's smile expanded, her eyes took on an enigmatic luster, brimming with intelligence from another world. The subtle shift in her expression conveyed depths of knowledge and wisdom. "I am one of the Demon King's generals."

A collective gasp rippled through the party like a shiver down their spines. Shock and disbelief etched onto their faces, their shared glances revealing the gravity of the situation. The mere mention of the Demon King's name conjured images of malevolence and utter destruction, and anyone associated with such a maleficent entity was to be dreaded.

Gruff, his façade of bravery gradually crumbling, voiced the question that had hung heavily in the air. "What does the Demon King want with us?"

With a graceful movement of her slender finger, Camilla pointed directly at Evan. The hero's heart pounded relentlessly in his chest, beads of sweat coursing down his cheeks, as an inexplicable weight settled upon his shoulders.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"The Demon King has requested a Hero," Camilla declared with a calm demeanor, her piercing azure eyes locked onto Evan. Her gaze bore into him, unyielding and intense. "Hand over the Hero, and the rest of you may leave unharmed."

Evan couldn't help the flood of thoughts racing through his mind as he grappled with the unsettling situation. His voice quivered with anxiety, giving voice to his worries. "I mean, why in the world would the Demon King even be interested in a Hero like me?" Beads of sweat dotted his forehead as his brows knitted in concern. "Could it be...

could he want to get rid of me before I become a real problem?" The idea sent a chill down his spine, enveloping their already grim situation in an even deeper sense of foreboding.

Gruff, his tone filled with sincerity, turned to Camilla. "I'm sorry, but I can't do that. We can't simply hand over the hero, he followed us on this quest so he is out comrade."

Camilla's expression remained composed, but her eyes held an understanding that transcended their predicament. "I expected as much. You are brave, and your loyalty to your comrade is commendable."

Evan, overwhelmed by a surge of respect for Gruff and his party members, felt a deep sense of gratitude. They had his back, even when faced with the ominous presence of a Demon King's general. Your next read is at empire

The tension in the cave persisted, and the adventurers were left to contemplate the dire situation. As they grappled with the uncertainty of their future, Evan couldn't help but marvel at the camaraderie that had formed among them.

Camilla's sinister smile widened as she contemplated her next move. "Then I will just have to take him by force." Suddenly, she launched herself at them with blinding speed, leaving Gruff and his party barely any time to react.

Gruff, noticing Camilla's lightning-fast approach, shouted, "Brace yourselves!" He hefted his massive morningstar, trying to shield his party. But it was futile. Camilla's strength was beyond anything they had faced before. With a single swift motion, she shattered Gruff's shield, sending splinters flying through the air.

The battle unfolded in a whirlwind of blurs and motion. Camilla moved with grace and precision, her strikes landing with lethal accuracy. She darted around the adventurers, incapacitating them one by one.

As Camilla closed the distance, Durak, the brawny warrior of the group, saw an opportunity to strike.

"Take this, you demon!"

With a mighty swing, he hurled his massive warhammer at her. However, Camilla's movements were a blur, and she intercepted the incoming weapon with a punch that shattered the hammer into pieces, sending shards flying through the air.

Next in her sights was Liara, the party's healer.

"I need more time!" She said as she struggled to cast protective barriers.

Despite Liara's attempts to conjure protective barriers, Camilla's supernatural agility allowed her to bypass them effortlessly. She struck Liara with a heavy powerful blow that left the healer unconscious, as she coughed up blood and fell to her knees, unable to continue the fight.

Sylva, the mage, tried to retaliate with her arcane spells, but Camilla's movements were too swift to be caught by them. With an almost casual flick of her hand, Camilla sliced Sylva from head to torso, a turly brutal scene to behold, blood painted the walls of the den scarlet.

Finally, it was Bram, the sharpshooter and scout, who attempted to provide cover. He fired arrows in rapid succession, but Camilla dodged them with preternatural grace. In a heart-stopping moment, she disarmed him, knocking his bow from his hands, and left him full of openings, writ a swift kick to his head she sent him crashing to the ground.

he adventurers fell one by one, their defeat was evident. Camilla's strength and agility were incomprehensible, and they realized they were outmatched. It was Bram, before he too lost fell in battle, who managed to gasp to Evan, "Run, Evan... Get out of here!"

Evan watched in horror as his comrades were defeated. Beads of sweat mixed with dirt trickled down his face, his heart racing as he contemplated his next move. But Bram's words snapped him into action. With a determined yet fearful look in his eyes, he turned and fled, leaving his fallen comrades behind.

Camilla, satisfied with her victory, looked down at the incapacitated adventurers. "Now, Hero, you are mine."

Evan's heart pounded in his chest as he raced down Knushu Mountain. Fear gripped him as he glanced back, seeing his fallen party members and Camilla's sinister smile. He couldn't afford to look back anymore; he had to escape.

Camilla's voice echoed behind him, taunting him, "Run, run, run, Hero! How I do love a good chase!" She summoned her moonlit wolves, and they responded with eerie howls, joining the pursuit.

The forest around Evan seemed to close in as darkness enveloped the landscape. His thigh throbbed from the earlier wound, and each step sent a jolt of pain through him. Blood dripped onto the grass as he fled, and fear gnawed at his every thought.

Evan's heart pounded in his chest as he raced down Knushu Mountain, the pain in his thigh intensifying with each step. His breathing was heavy and labored, and he dared not look back at the fallen members of his party, fearing the worst. Fear gripped him, and he couldn't help but stumble over a protruding tree root.

He fell to the ground, his hands scraping against the forest floor. Pain shot through his wounded thigh as he grimaced. Struggling to his feet, he glanced around in a panic, realizing he was alone, surrounded by the ominous darkness of the forest.

Suddenly, his gaze fell upon a figure emerging from the shadows. A woman with striking silver hair and piercing blue eyes stepped into his view. It was Mellin.

Meanwhile, Mellin and her party were making their way up Knushu Mountain when they unexpectedly crossed paths with Evan. He looked desperate and panicked. Mellin couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"

Darius, noticing Evan's numerous wounds, inquired further, "And where's the rest of your party?"

Evan gasped for breath, his words rushed and urgent. "You have to run! One of the Demon King's generals is leading a pack of moonlit wolves down the mountain!"

The news sent shockwaves through Mellin's group. They had heard tales of the Demon King's generals and knew they were formidable foes. But their passive expressions remained unchanged, and they exchanged wordless glances. But what surprised them even more was Kalardix's reaction.

Kalardix, with an unusual glint in his eyes, couldn't hide his excitement. "A Demon King's general, you say? Sounds like a formidable opponent." He spoke with a smug satisfaction that baffled the others.

Mellin exchanged glances with her party members. They shared a knowing look, understanding that this was precisely the kind of challenge they had been seeking.

Gromm, the party's sturdy warrior, grinned and flexed his muscles. "Well, I've been itching for a good fight. Let's give this general a taste of what we can do!"

Lyra, the party's mage, cracked her knuckles and smirked. "I've been working on some new spells. This could be interesting."

Raela, the nimble rogue, twirled a dagger between her fingers. "Finally, a challenge worth our skills."