Evolution begins with an ant colony-Chapter 337 Estimating strength

The arena announcer, sensing the electric tension in the air, hastily waved his hand. "And BEGIN!" he yelled, his voice cracking slightly under the pressure.

Prince Alexander, emboldened by a misplaced confidence, lunged forward. "I may not be as strong as you seem," he said, his voice wavering despite his bravado. "Lyra did tell me she defeated you in a single move, and I'll admit, you must be strong. But give up any hope of besting me so easily!"

Before the prince could finish his boastful statment, Akun inhaled sharply. His calm expression changed into a mask of focused intensity. In a blink, he was no longer standing still. Akun launched himself forward with such blinding speed that the air itself seemed to ripple in his wake.

King Nevi, felt a jolt of fear course through him. He could sense the raw power Akun intended to unleash in that single swing of his katana. A primal urge to protect his son surged through him. He opened his mouth to shout a warning, but the words died in his throat. As a massive gust of wind created by Akun's sheer motion caused everyone to instinctively shield their eyes. Experience more on novelbuddy

The entire scene unfolded in a blur. Akun's blade, a streak of black silver against the backdrop of the arena, met the prince's sword with a deafening clang. The force of the impact echoed through the stands, sending shivers down the spines of the spectators.

But it wasn't a fair contest. The prince's weapon, a well-crafted but standard-issue blade, was no match for Akun's black silver katana. The impact shattered the prince's sword into a thousand gleaming shards that rained down onto the arena floor.

The king, momentarily stunned by the sheer speed and power of the attack, found himself a mixture of relief and awe. Relief that Akun had stopped short of harming his son, and awe at the display of unparalleled skill. Akun, his blade still positioned menacingly close to the prince's throat, spoke in a voice that resonated with quiet authority. "The victor is clear," he stated simply.

"This charade is over."

The arena erupted into a cacophony of cheers and gasps. The abrupt conclusion of the duel left the audience momentarily stunned. Then, the announcer, recovering his voice, sputtered into the microphone, "A-And the winner… by way of disarming his opponent… is the challenger, Master Akun!"

Akun lowered his katana, his expression unreadable. He raised a hand towards the stands, silencing the growing din. "I believe that concludes my participation in this tournament," he declared, his voice a steady echo that carried across the arena. "If there is another opponent who wishes to challenge me, please step forward."

A tense silence followed his proclamation. No one dared to volunteer.

King Nevi, still recovering from the sheer speed of Akun's attack, leaned back in his seat, a mixture of awe and unease etched on his face. "My word," he muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. "If I wasn't a seasoned warrior myself, I wouldn't have seen a single trace of his movement. And even after witnessing that… I doubt even I could have countered such a blow."

Professor Eldrin, stroking his beard thoughtfully, chimed in. "Indeed, Your Majesty. It would be foolish to believe that this simple match revealed even a fraction of his true abilities."

A wry smile touched King Nevi's lips. "Well, it seems the prince didn't quite live up to the challenge," he observed, a hint of amusement lacing his voice. "Perhaps, then, it's time for someone with a bit more… experience to step forward."

His gaze swept across the arena, eventually landing on the imposing figure of Sir Cedric Ironheart. "Sir Knight Captain," the King boomed, his voice echoing through the hall, "I believe this is your moment to shine. Show our esteemed guest the true meaning of knightly prowess!"

Sir Cedric, who had been intently observing the duel unfold, straightened his posture at the King's command. A flicker of fear appeared in his steely blue eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a surge of determination. He bowed his head in acknowledgement. "As you command, Your Majesty," he declared, his voice firm. "I shall face this… challenger… right away."

With a measured stride, Sir Cedric made his way towards the arena. Prince Alexander, still reeling from the shock of his swift defeat, stood frozen. His heart hammered against his ribs as he traced a hand around his neck, the memory of Akun's blade a hair's breadth away sending shivers down his spine. "I thought I was a goner for a second," he muttered to himself, his voice barely a whisper.

Meanwhile, King Nevi leaned back in his seat, a satisfied grin etched across his face. "This," he announced to Professor Eldrin, "promises to be much more entertaining. I can't wait to see how this next duel unfolds."

As Sir Cedric entered the arena, a hush fell over the crowd. All eyes were fixed on the two figures, anticipation hanging heavy in the air. The outcome of the previous duel had left everyone speechless, unsure of what to expect from this new encounter. Would Sir Cedric, the kingdom's most skilled knight, be able to put up a better fight? Or would Akun's prowess once again prove to be unmatched?

Akun stood impassive in the center of the arena, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. "Considering we're no longer pretending to be humans," he mused silently, "defeating the knight captain shouldn't be an issue. But getting out of here after is the real challenge. I need to find Aric, he has a lot to answer for."

A flicker of frustration crossed his mind. Akun had initially hoped to use the prince's defeat as a small display of power, a way to discourage King Nevi's growing ambitions. Fantasy world monarchs like Nevi, Akun knew, were a predictable bunch. Power-hungry, always scheming to exploit any perceived advantage.

Undoubtedly, Nevi was already formulating plans, assessing Akun's strength and the possibility of subjugation. But the king needed a harsh lesson – the idea of subduing a dragon was laughably naive, not even mentioning one that was a demigod.

As these thoughts swirled within him, the prince, red-faced and undoubtedly shaken, shuffled back to the VIP section, seeking solace beside Lyra. "Thank goodness I'm not… dead," he muttered, his voice barely a whisper.

Lyra, scoffed. "You were more of a statue than a fighter, Alexander," she chimed. "Honestly, I expected you to do better than me, but you juts froze on the spot. You didn't even attempt a counter. Akun just… zipped past and reduced your sword to scrap metal."

The prince winced, his embarrassment deepening. "You don't have to rub it in, Lyra," he mumbled.

Lyra sighed. "Calm down," she said, a hint of sympathy softening her voice. "At least you weren't flung across the arena like a ragdoll when that… gust of wind hit. Unlike what happened to me."

..

Akun addressed the knight captain, his voice a low rumble that carried an undercurrent of authority. "State your name," he commanded.

Sir Cedric, despite the clear disparity in power, met Akun's gaze with unwavering defiance. "Surely, with your superior capabilities," he retorted, a hint of sarcasm lacing his voice, "you already know who I am."

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Akun's expression remained unreadable, though a faint purple glow emanated from his eyes. "I prefer introductions," he stated, his voice even lower. "Would that be a problem, Knight Captain?"

In his thoughts Akun mused, "It's unfortunate, but necessary, I will have to use this knight captain to properly shatter that King's fantasies, else my life out here will get complicated."