Evolution begins with an ant colony

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As the blade withdrew from John's chest, a rush of agony overtook him. He collapsed to the ground in a violent, uncontrolled descent. Blood gushed from the wound, staining his clothing and the ground beneath him. Each heartbeat sent fresh waves of pain radiating through his body.

John fell down fast. One moment he was standing, the next it felt like the battlefield shook beneath him. He hit the ground with a sickening thump, his body twisting at an unnatural angle.

Pain shot through him, a primal scream caught in his throat. Instinctively, his hands flew to the gaping wound, warm blood staining his fingers red. Each breath was a shallow gasp, ragged and torn from his lungs. Agony etched itself across his face as he wore and expression of pure suffering.

The silence that followed was broken only by John's labored breathing and the taste of iron on his lips. His vision blurred as his strength waned. His body trembled with weakness, yet he fought to stay conscious, desperate to understand the reason behind his friend's shocking betrayal.

John, his body wracked with pain and confusion, summoned the strength to turn and face Chris. His voice trembled with a mix of frustration and despair as he implored, "Answer me, Chris! Why? Why are you doing this?"

A sinister smile remained fixed on Chris's lips as he chose to remain silent, his eyes glinting with an enigmatic resolve.

Meanwhile, Ken, his demeanor smug and triumphant, approached Mina. His fingers closed around her hair, yanking her up from the ground.

Her face contorted in agony, and she winced at the pain. Ken's words dripped with mockery as he taunted, "How the tables have turned. I'm sure you weren't expecting this, right, John?" His tone was laced with sadistic satisfaction as he dragged Mina by her hair, forcing her to follow him.

Mina's eyes scanned the area frantically. Her body tensed, desperate to escape Ken's grip. But with a sickening realization, she felt useless. Her mana, the source of her power, was completely drained. She was stuck, at Ken's mercy.

The frustration and helplessness in her eyes were evident as she tried to resist, but her efforts were in vain.

As John lay on the floor, blood seeping from his wounds, Ken approached him with an air of cruel satisfaction. He crouched down, his eyes gleaming with malevolence, and his voice oozed with sadistic glee as he spoke, "You know, John, if you beg for your life as best you can, I might just pity you and give you an easy death.

Then, I'll turn you into one of my undead soldiers, and we'll be buddies again."

John's eyes blazed with defiance, his battered form showing the resilience in his spirit. He clenched his teeth and with great effort, spat out a mouthful of blood, aiming it at Ken's face. He retorted with unwavering determination, "I would rather bleed to death right here than apologize to a stuck-up idiot like you."

Ken's composure cracked as anger surged within him. He rose to his feet, his face twisted in fury. Without hesitation, he started stomping on John's wounds, causing him to scream out in excruciating agony. The act was a cruel manifestation of his anger, a stark contrast to the friendly camaraderie they had once shared.

John's screams of pain filled the air as he coughed up blood, his body wracked with agony. Inwardly, he fought to maintain his consciousness, realizing that losing it now could mean certain death. Determination coursed through him as he thought, "Damm it, I'm starting to lose consciousness... I can't let that happen. If I lose consciousness now, I will most definitely die here. I just have to hold on."

Suddenly, Ken ceased his relentless assault on John. He stepped back for a moment but only to deliver another brutal blow. With a swift and powerful kick to John's abdomen, he sent John hurtling through the air. John's body crashed into the village gate with a bone-crushing impact. The sheer force of the kick shattered multiple bones throughout his body, including his ribcage.

Each gasping breath he took was accompanied by the visceral sight of blood spattering from his lips. John's suffering was palpable as he struggled to hold onto consciousness amidst the devastation wrought upon him.

As John's body collided with the village gate, Mina's cry of concern filled the air. Her voice carried a sense of urgency and worry as she implored, "John! Are you okay? Talk to me!"

Ken, heedless of Mina's anguish, forcibly raised her up and silenced her with a sharp slap across the face. His cold demeanor exuded authority as he spoke, "You'll remain quiet if you know what's good for you."

Mina, despite the pain from being raised by her hair, gritted her teeth in defiance. She held onto Ken's hand, a silent gesture of resistance against the brutality she was subjected to.

John, lying battered and bruised on the ground, felt his vision dimming. His once-determined eyes seemed to lose their light as he inwardly mused, "So... this is where it ends for me... huh."

Screams echoed from beyond the village walls, a chilling and ominous chorus that hinted at unfolding chaos.

Mina, alarmed by the distant cries, questioned Ken with a tremor in her voice, "What's going on in there?"

Ken's sinister smile widened, his eyes gleaming with anticipation as he revealed, "Guess it's time for the main event." The atmosphere grew heavy with foreboding, and the village stood on the precipice of a fateful turning point.

Mina's voice trembled with a mix of concern and disbelief as she questioned Ken, "What do you mean by 'The main event'? And what did you do to Chris? He and John are best friends; he would never betray him."

Ken's chuckle, tinged with a cruel amusement, resonated through the tense air. He answered Mina's inquiries with a sinister edge in his voice, "The main event is the slaughtering of the villagers."

Mina's eyes widened with alarm at Ken's ominous revelation. She pressed further, her voice determined, "How will you slaughter the villagers? My memory may be a bit foggy, but I'm sure the stone box has all your undead soldiers trapped inside." Her words carried an underlying challenge, as if daring Ken to explain the inexplicable.

Ken smirked as he responded, "How naive. Do you realize I'm a necromancer? I can control the undead."

Mina inquired further, "So?"

Ken clarified with a sinister tone, "So... I'll just have to raise an army inside the village walls. There's no way you can deny that there are skeletons of dead creatures beneath the marble streets of this small village. And as they are skeletons, all I have to do is command them, and voilà, the lovely sound of pain and death."

Mina, her voice laced with a mixture of anger and despair, accused Ken, "You're a monster."

Ken couldn't help but chuckle at her accusation. His tone was mockingly charming as he replied, "Please, darling, no need for the flattery."

Mina's frustration grew, and she gritted her teeth as she pressed further, her voice trembling with concern. "Okay, what about Chris? How did you make him betray John?"

Ken explained his evil plan in a way that made Mina shiver. "It's actually pretty simple," he said casually. "I already took care of him."

Mina stared at him, speechless. "What...?" she finally managed, her voice barely a whisper. The truth of what Ken had done hit her like a punch, leaving her reeling in horror.