Evolution begins with an ant colony
Chapter 38 Different ant evolution paths

As Akun and his little crew of ants made their way back to the anthill, he couldn't help but think about what he had seen in the hive.

Akun's thoughts were racing. "When I first became an ant and discovered the endless evolution system, and started upgrading my ant pals, there was this quiet worry in my head. You know, like, what if I evolved the ant queen? I mean, I never really thought it through, but I was kinda scared she'd turn out super weird-looking or I'd end up having to be her servant or something."

"But seeing Tatilia made me realize my worries were just assumptions. Tho I don't know the details of how she's maintaining the colony's numbers, it would be best not to let my mind wander. Puls if I evolve the queen I'll have someone to assume central command while I'm out exploring."

"I should probably get some skills to tame her, just in case. I don't want things to get messy because I didn't plan ahead."

"Hey, endless evolution system," Akun called out.

[ Hello Player. How can I assist you.]

Akun pondered for a moment and then inquired, "I need a skill to help me tame creatures, especially the ant queen. You know, just in case things get wild."

[Of course, Player. Taming skills can be quite useful. Let me replace the appropriate skill for you.]

A few moments passed, and then the system respond.

[I have located a suitable skill for you. It's called "Beast Charmer." It allows you to establish a connection with creatures and soothe their aggressiveness, making it easier to tame them.]

Akun's interest was piqued. "Sounds good. What's the price?"

[The skill "Beast Charmer" costs 5,000 evolution points.]

Akun frowned at the cost. "Seems a bit steep. But I suppose it's necessary. How do I use it.

[To use the skill, you need to focus your intent on the creature you wish to tame while activating the skill. It will create a bond between you and the creature, calming its hostility and making it more receptive to your commands.]

Akun weighed his options for a moment before making his decision. "Alright, let's do it. Spend the evolution points."

[ Evolution points deducted. Skill "Beast Charmer" acquired]

With that, Akun felt a sense of satisfaction. "Great, let's hope I won't need to use it, but it's better to be prepared."

[Indeed, preparation is crucial in this world. Should you require any further assistance, feel free to ask.]

Akun nodded, his mind already shifting back to the tasks ahead. As Akun and the other ants reached the anthill, he turned to his comrades. "Hang tight here, I'll be back in a bit." With that, he made his way down into the anthill, heading straight for the chambers of the queen ant.

As Akun descended into the queen ant's chambers, a surge of excitement and ambition coursed through him.

"Things are really kicking into high gear," he thought to himself. "Evolving the queen could be a real game-changer for our anthill. And with all the spare evolution points I got... I can easily evolve the rest of the anthill."

"Since I entered this world, I've been on a journey of learning and growth. Now it's time to push the boundaries of what our anthill can become. Let's see just how far I can take this!"

As Akun's excitement swelled, the system's voice echoed in his mind.

[Player, an interesting opportunity has presented itself. The queen ant, if evolved with a powerful beast soul, has the potential to become a formidable ally. Consider utilizing one of the spare cores you obtained to unlock her hidden strength.]

Akun's curiosity peaked as he inquired, "Hold on, you're saying that some of those cores I got actually contain beast souls?"

The system's voice chimed in.

["Indeed, not all the cores possess beast souls, but a substantial number—756,890 to be precise—have the potential to infuse their essence into your evolutions.]

[The player can also use them to explore the ant's evolution paths.]

"Evolution paths?" Akun mused to himself, his excitement growing. "Well, I'll definitely have to check those out later."

Akun's curiosity pushed him further, "And which one is the most powerful beast soul we've got?"

The system answered without hesitation.

[It's the beast soul of a Lunar Toad.]

A sigh escaped Akun's lips, carrying a tinge of discomfort, "Ah, the Lunar Toad... brings back some less-than-pleasant memories."

As Akun stepped into the queen's chambers, he couldn't help but be struck by her sheer size. "Damm," he thought, "she's almost four times bigger than a regular worker ant."

He couldn't help but also notice an unusual sensation that enveloped him. It was as if he could feel a unique connection with the ant queen, a sense of calmness settling over his senses. In that moment, he mused to himself, "It's likely due to the fact that she's biologically my mother, even though we're ants."

He then chuckled and murmured, "Well, let's not get too distracted now."

As Akun stood in the presence of the queen ant, his curiosity burning, he finally decided to consult the system.

"Hey, system," he inquired, "how many evolution points would it take to boost the queen ant's grade?"

The system's response came swiftly.

[Player, it's actually recommended to first evolve the queen with the beast soul. This approach will unlock her potential more effectively.]

With determination in his voice, Akun gave the system a clear instruction. "Let's start the Queen's evolution process using the Lunar Toad's beast soul."

As Akun's command resonated with the system, a radiant light enveloped the queen, illuminating the chamber with an otherworldly brilliance.

Akun found himself taken aback by the intensity of the light. He couldn't help but wonder if this was how dazzling the transformation process appeared from the outside when he himself underwent evolution. He murmured to himself, "Is this how brightly it shines when I'm evolving?"

As the brilliance of the light faded, Akun's eyes widened in astonishment. The queen's exoskeleton had transformed into a stunning white hue adorned with intricate blue patterns. He couldn't help but blurt out, "Whoa, what's with the glow up?"

The system chimed in, announcing, [Evolution complete! Monster ant queen successfully evolved into an evolved lunar monster ant queen.]

Leona, accompanied by a group of regular worker ants, hurried down to the queen's chambers. Concern etched across her face, she quickly approached Akun and asked, "boss, did something happen to the queen?" But before he could even respond, Leona rushed to the queen ant's side, checking if she was alright. Akun reassured her, "Hey, calm down, Leona. Everything's fine. I was just evolving the queen."

Leona, her worry shifting into curiosity, looked up at Akun and questioned further, "Evolving? But boss, if she evolved, shouldn't she have taken on a human form like we did?"

Leona's questioning gaze continued, now focusing on the change in the queen's color. She asked, "And why did her color change?"

As Akun gently placed his arm on her shoulder, he explained, "I was just implementing a few minor changes through evolution. I actually plan to start the next one, so it would be great if you could step back for a moment."

After Leona calmed down and positioned herself beside Akun, he activated his dragon eyes.

Race: Evolved Lunar Monster ant queen

Grade: Insect Grade Stage 9

Stats:

Mana: 800

Strength: 100

Agility:80

Endurance: 120

Intelligence: 150

-Skills:

[Queen's Aura], [Ant Communication], [Royal Presence]

[Lunar Blessing], [Exoskeleton Enhancement], [Lunar Beam.]

Akun studied the queen's new attributes, noting the changes brought about by her evolution.

Akun's mind was a whirlwind of surprise as he scrutinized the queen's status. "Man, she's nearly caught up to me in terms of mana, and she's only at Stage nine of the insect grade!How is that even fair? Here I am, all the way at the dragon grade, and yet she's packing mana like it's nobody's business."

He scratched his head, pondering the intricacies of evolution and power distribution. "Guess there's more to this world than meets the eye. I've got to keep pushing forward if I want to stay on top of the game."

Observing the queen ant's progress at Stage nine of the insect grade, Akun's determination surged. "It's time for the big moment," he thought to himself. Addressing the system, he confidently declared, "Okay, system, initiate the evolution process using my evolution points."

The system's response came swiftly,

[Initiating the evolution process...]

A luminous radiance enveloped the queen once more, even more intense than before.

As the evolution process continued, Akun's voice resonated within the chamber as he addressed the system, "Hey system, could you grab some clothing fit for royalty from the super gamer shop?"

The system responded with efficiency, [Understood, player. I possess an appropriate ensemble for your request. The acquisition will incur a cost of 159 evolution points.]

Once the luminous display of evolution had waned, Akun extended the newly acquired attire to Leona with a knowing nod. "Leona, once she's elegantly attired, kindly bring her outside, would you?"

Leona's spirited affirmation resonated with a determined glint in her eyes as she gave Akun an enthusiastic thumbs-up. "Absolutely, boss! I'll ensure she's the definition of royalty!"

Beyond the confines of the anthill, Akun stood in a state of anticipatory patience. His emotions entwined a tapestry of curiosity and fascination. Suddenly, a vibrant call from Leona reached his ears.

"Boss, feast your eyes! Doesn't she exude the aura of a true queen?"

His gaze, a nexus of amazement and astonishment, settled upon the transformed figure before him. A wistful note seeped into his voice as he softly uttered, "She looks just like..."