Evolution begins with an ant colony

In the cosmic space of the time tunnel, as alternate Akun's glitchy body dissolved into nothingness, Danlatica's echoing voice filled the space with an air of vindication.

"I told you it would fail, but you didn't listen."

In a swift manifestation, Danlatica appeared beside the fading remnants of alternate Akun. Her gaze assessed his deteriorating state, and with a confident smile, she uttered, "You are in really bad shape. Nothing I can't fix."

With a gentle rest of her head on alternate Akun's chest, she blushed slightly. Her next words held a mysterious promise, "I will now break the fate that binds you. In exchange, you will become mine."

A dark purple aura enveloped her, and the time tunnel dissolved, revealing a cosmic space with distant stars—they seemingly floated aimlessly in the vastness. Danlatica extended her hand over the dissolved parts of alternate Akun's unconscious body, begining the unexplainable restoration of his faded body.

"I can't save you if I leave you the way you were originally, the book of existence will just begin to forcfully erase you again," she murmured. A blush tinted her cheeks as she smiled, revealing her fangs. "So, I must change you."

In a tight embrace, she held him, and her †Authority† surged forth, reshaping his features. Horns emerged, a tail extended, and the dark silver armor shattered into thousands of shards, revealing alternate Akun in beautiful purple and white robes. A royal mark appeared on his forehead, stretching around his head like a crown.

With a joyous tone, Danlatica said, "From now henceforth, you are Delikan, the embodiment of my sweet, true love."

Within the depths of alternate Akun's consciousness, the fragments of his system's voice echoed, gradually regaining coherence.

---

######

######

//System back online...//

//Detection of forced alterations in the nature of all system programs.//

//Acknowledgment of changes within the system's framework, player's soul, skills, and their... †Authority†//

//Initiating system reboot...//

//...//

//...//

‡[Reboot Completed.]‡

‡[Welcome, player, to the #### system.]‡

.....

Meanwhile, As Akun's eyes fluttered open, he found himself surrounded by the concerned faces of tribe leaders and dryad elders. One elder, engaged in healing, caught his attention. Sitting up, he mumbled, "What... happened?" A sharp pain pulsed through his head as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.

Elder Thalanor's voice echoed, "You suddenly emerged here, young liege," and the tribe leaders swiftly gathered to assist you. The title "young liege" echoed through Akun's mind, perplexed by Thalanor's unexpected reference.

Witnessing the elders and tribe leaders bowing before him, a display of their loyalty, Akun questioned their intentions. "What is all this about? Are you setting up a trap while I'm distracted?"

The fear of misunderstanding gripped the elders and tribe leaders, causing their faces to suddenly turn pale, Thalanor spoke, "We wouldn't dare, young liege. Our motives are pure, seeking your protection in times to come. We bow not against your power but in hope of your benevolence."

Akun's thoughts raced, "They seem to be telling the truth." The sincerity in the elders and tribe leaders' actions left an impression on him.

However, Akun's memories felt fragmented, causing him to think further. Holding his forehead, he thought, "My memories are so fuzzy." As his gaze swept over the desolate and destroyed landscape, as he realized. "Wait, was the fusion a success?" he wondered.

Suddenly, his system's voice echoed in his head, [Unfortunately, player, the fusion process failed, and the system was forced to take measures to save the player.]

Inwardly, Akun's confusion deepened, demanding answers from the enigmatic system. "System... What do you mean it wasn't a success? And what do you mean you took 'measures' to save me?"

The system continued its explanation, stating, [Due to the fact both players had different levels of evolution, you both had different soul essences.]

In response, Akun's thoughts became more contemplative. "But I thought Evolution is something that only happens to my body. Back in the underworld with Xalender, my Evolution failed because I didn't have a body."

The system clarified, [The player is correct.]

[However, back then, the player was only in the dragon grade, and as such, most built-up power was in their body.]

[Now, that the player has entered the heavenly grade, all built-up power has been sent to the soul, preparing it for its ascension to godhood, and the body now only taps from that power to remain the way it was.]

[Trying to merge souls of a mortal and demigod is impossible.]

[Which is what resulted in the process failing, and damaging the player's soul.]

The complexities of his evolving status were becoming clearer, yet the challenges ahead loomed large.

Akun gave in as he realized what the system was trying to say, he asked, "So you are saying the process was doomed to fail from the beginning?"

[Unfortunately, yes, player.]

Unable to bear the weight of what the system said, Akun sank to his knees, leaving the elders and tribe leaders shocked. Concerned, they asked, "Is all well, young liege?"

Akun mumbled, his words confusing the tribe leaders when they were actually directed to the system, "So how did you save me?"

[.....]

[.....]

There was a moment of absolute silence. Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire

[The system consumed part of the alternate player's soul to fix the damaged player's soul.]

The system's response shocked Akun as he asked, "System, what do you mean by 'you consumed a part of his soul'?"

[It is just as it sounds, player. A part of the alternate player's soul was consumed to be used to save the player. There was no other choice in the matter.]

The system's response left Akun devastated as he crouched there in silence.

Inwardly, Akun thought, "So it tried to save him, only to just make things even worse..."

The thought made Akun feel a profound sense of guilt. The reality dawned on him – he had just ended the life of a man who only wanted the best from life. In a way, he was that man, and yet, he had been most unfair to him.