Evolution begins with an ant colony

Chapter 34: A hope for adventure and a dream of purpose

Akun’s eyes widened in astonishment as the silver puppet before him transformed into a colorful form. To his surprise, it bore an uncanny resemblance to Blisk, the dark mage electromancer from Alvaleon Dark Fantasy. The puppet donned a sleek black armor adorned with intricate patterns, giving it an edgy and unique appearance.

The puppet’s aura exuded an air of enigma and power, much like the character it resembled.

"Whoa, this is seriously amazing," Akun exclaimed with a mix of surprise and excitement.

"Look at that, it’s looks exactly like Blisk!" Akun marveled, his eyes still wide with amazement. But then he wondered, "How do I control it though?"

The system’s response was quick.

[Notice!! "Your puppeteer skill is currently at level one. You can only give simple instructions, and the puppet will follow.]

"Alright, let’s see what you can do," Akun instructed the puppet, gesturing for it to assume a battle stance.

Akun couldn’t help but feel a tinge of disappointment as he watched the silver puppet adopt a simple battle stance. "I was expecting something a bit more... impressive," he commented.

The system chimed in to remind him.

[Notice!! your puppeteer skill is currently at level one. The puppet can only perform basic actions at this level.]

"System, if I upgrade the Puppeteer skill, how much more complex actions can the puppet carry out?" Akun inquired, curious about the potential improvements.

[Notice!! Upgrading the Puppeteer skill will allow the puppet to carry out complex instructions equivalent to a skilled individual. However, please note that the puppet will not possess consciousness or independent decision-making abilities.]

"System, you mentioned that the puppet can help me explore beyond the barrier. But how can I know what the puppet is seeing? It’s just a puppet following instructions," Akun questioned, trying to understand the limitations.

[Notice!! Upon upgrading the Puppeteer skill to the master level, you will unlock a control mode called "Deep Dive." In this mode, you can use your consciousness to directly control the puppet’s actions and see through its eyes, enabling you to explore and experience the world beyond the barrier.]

"Really? That’s truly amazing," Akun exclaimed in surprise. He then asked, "System, you mentioned that I can customize the puppet’s appearance. Does that mean I can change it into a girl?"

[Yes, it is possible to customize the puppet’s appearance, including changing its gender. However, I would advise the player to not get carried away with extreme modifications.]

Akun nodded, absorbing the information. "Okay, good to know. Now, system, how many evolution points do I still have?"

[You currently have 1567 evolution points.]

"You know, going all out against those adventurers might feel good in the moment, but it could turn out to be a big mess later. If they go missing and someone comes looking, they might stumble upon our anthill. And if they decide to retaliate, or hunt us because of resources, it could put our whole colony at risk."

He leaned in a bit, his tone earnest. "But that’s not all. I used this skill that kind of tags them, leaving a sort of map of the places they go."

Leona’s eyes lit up. "So, you’re basically keeping tabs on them?"

Akun nodded, a determined expression on his face. "Yeah, exactly. Instead of jumping into a fight, I’m trying to be smart about it."

Ember’s raised eyebrow seemed to soften. "Sounds like a pretty clever plan, boss."

Ivy grinned, clearly impressed. "Always thinking ahead, aren’t you?"

Akun’s smile grew. "Well, that’s the idea. We’ve got to be smart and stick together to make this work."

Akun turned his attention to Leona, Ember, and Ivy. "Alright, let’s head back to the anthill. I’ve got something important to discuss with everyone."

Leona nodded, her expression serious. "Understood, boss. I’ll round up the evolved ants and have them ready for your speech."

As they made their way back to the anthill, Ivy chimed in. "It’s good that you’re taking charge, Akun. The colony needs a clear direction."

Akun’s determination was evident in his voice. "Yeah, we can’t just drift along. We need a plan if we’re going to thrive in this new world."

They entered the anthill, where the bustling activities of the ants continued. Leona quickly set to work gathering the evolved ants. Akun took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and responsibility.

He was ready to lay out his vision for the colony’s future and rally them for what lay ahead.

Akun stood before the gathered evolved ants, his voice carrying a sense of purpose and determination. "My fellow ants, I want you to think back to when we were mere creatures, living day to day without a true purpose, our actions guided only by instinct. But now, things have changed. We’ve evolved, gained intelligence, and with that comes the power to shape our destiny."

He scanned the attentive faces of the evolved ants, his words resonating with them. "It’s time for us to rise above our former existence. We should no longer be content with simply surviving. We have the potential to thrive, to carve out a name for ourselves in this new world. We deserve more than scavenging for rotting corpses or foraging for scraps in the forest."

Akun’s gaze turned toward the walls of the anthill. "We will build our own future, starting with the basics. We’ll cultivate our own food, create a sustainable source of nourishment that we can control. No longer will we be at the mercy of what nature provides."

His voice grew stronger as he spoke of their ambitions. "We won’t remain hidden underground any longer. Let’s build a thriving nation, one that stands tall on the surface, a symbol of our unity and strength. Let’s strive for greatness, for a place among the powerful beings of this world."

Akun’s eyes blazed with determination as he addressed the heart of their purpose. "We’re ants, yes, but that doesn’t mean we must always be at the bottom of the food chain. We have the potential to rise, to become something more. And I don’t plan to lead you alone. Join me, work together, and let’s bring this dream to life. Let’s show the world what we’re capable of."

The anthill echoed with a mixture of anticipation and excitement as the evolved ants absorbed Akun’s words, their spirits ignited by the prospect of a new future.