Evolution begins with an ant colony

Chapter 299 The Festival

The full moon hung high in the night sky, its silvery glow casting a magical aura over the bustling city below. Anticipation buzzed in the air as everyone eagerly awaited the start of the festival.

Akun guided his descent, gradually bringing himself, Leandor, and Hestria to the ground between the grand castle gates and the lively streets of the city. His movements were graceful, exuding an air of regal authority.

As they landed, the gathered crowd caught sight of their liege and bowed respectfully in unison. "Welcome, my liege," they chorused, their voices blending harmoniously in the night.

Akun returned their greeting with a warm smile, his eyes sparkling with genuine delight. "I am pleased to see everyone here and that everything seems to be going well," he remarked, his voice carrying across the square. With a gesture of his hand, he invited further discussion. "Is there anything remaining before we officially commence the festival?"

....

Leona, who happened to be nearby, flashed a warm smile as she addressed Akun. "All that is left now, my liege, is for you to give the signal."

Akun's smile widened even further at her words. "Alright," he declared, his voice carrying a note of excitement. "May the festivities begin."

Cheers erupted from the gathered crowd as Akun spoke, the sound echoing through the streets. But he wasn't finished yet. With a raised hand, he signaled for attention once more.@@@@

"Oh, one more thing," he announced, his tone light and playful. "For tonight, I'm just Akun, not your liege." He paused, a glint of enthusiasm shining in his eyes. "I want to have as much fun as everyone else, so no one should have any second guesses about approaching me."

As Akun's words hung in the air, a brief hush fell over the crowd before erupting once more into cheers and applause.

Leandore, catching Akun's attention, stepped forward. "My liege... I mean.. Akun," he began, "I would like to go and celebrate with my family." He gestured towards a nearby table where a lioness beast folk sat surrounded by a few others, including a young lion beast folk who waved eagerly at him.

Surprised, Akun glanced at Leandor. "You have a family?" he mumbled incredulously.

Leandor chuckled warmly. "Who doesn't have a family?" he replied with a grin.

Not wanting to be left out of whatever Akun was involved in, Hestria called out, "Hey, wait for me!" She chased after them,

not wanting to be left behind despite Tatilia's quick pace.

In a dimly lit corner of the bustling ant city, Ember and an imposing orc warrior faced each other with unwavering determination, their eyes locked in a fierce stare-down.

Ember broke the tense silence with a confident tone, asking, "Are you ready?"

The orc warrior, towering over Ember with a formidable presence, responded in a gravelly voice, "Whenever you are."

With a nod of agreement, Ember squared his shoulders and declared, "Alright then... Let's begin." With that both of them placed their elbows on a wooden table and gripped their arms, ready to arm wrestle.

Ivy, standing nearby, took charge of the showdown. Placing her hands on both of their gripping fists, she announced, "Alright boys, you can start in 1... 2... 3... Go."

As the countdown ended, the contest erupted into action. Muscles strained and veins bulged as the two competitors exerted their strength in a fierce arm wrestling match. The orc warrior, known for his clearly larger muscles, initially thought he would win, but soon began to be pushed back as Ember applied more pressure.

Gradually, the orc's hand began to inch towards defeat, tilting slowly towards the surface of the table. A sense of desperation flickered across his face as he muttered, "No, no, this can't be."

"You better believe it," Ember declared, his voice ringing with confidence.

Ember exerted all his strength, driving the orc's hand down with a loud thud. It was a clear victory, and Ember triumphantly gazed at his defeated opponent.

As Ember won, he stood up straight and rolled his shoulders, relaxing his muscles after his win. Meanwhile, the orc warrior cried in a corner, and his comrades comforted him.

Suddenly, a voice called out, "Oh, come on, Ember. Don't tell me you're only fighting opponents you can win against."

Ember then turned his head to the source of the voice.