Evolution begins with an ant colony

The tribe leaders descended onto the cobblestone floor of the dryad tribe, each landing leaving behind a massive crater beneath their feet. Ragged gasps escaped from their mouths as they struggled to catch their breath.

Thalgar pondered silently, his eyes fixed on Akun's retreating figure. "Such power, such aura... How did he become so strong?" He clenched his jaw, and blood trickled from both sides of his wolf-like mouth.

Leandore's gaze locked onto Akun's retreating figure, frustration boiling within him as he felt the weight of a rare defeat on his shoulders. His thoughts delved into the shameful reality, "Ever since the great dragonic war thousands of years ago, no one has ever defeated the head of my tribe. Now, I have brought that shame to my bloodline, for being its first head to fall in battle since then.

I feel like a disgrace to my ancestors; I didn't even land a single attack and was reduced to this pathetic state."

Meanwhile, Seraphina's mind raced with curiosity and disbelief, "What sort of trick did he use to free himself from my charm song? The melody my ancestors used to sing to help put newly dragonborns to sleep—how was he able to resist it? Is he a elder dragon?"

Just as confusion clouded their thoughts, a familiar voice resonated from behind them. "Seems he really got you all good, huh? Or should I say, I really got you all good." The tribe leaders turned their collective gazes slowly as they heard the deep voice behind them. Shock set in as they laid eyes on alternate Akun.

Leandore, still conscious, mumbled in bewilderment, "What?" The other tribe leaders shared his confusion as they swiftly turned their gazes behind them to check if Akun had somehow disappeared and reappeared before them. However, Akun's retreating figure was there, leaving them dumbfounded as they redirected their attention to the alternate timeline Akun.

Alternate Akun, observing them, mused inwardly, "The one unconscious over there and these four before me—they seem to be the tribe leaders of the other tribes. The fact that future me left them alive despite their serious injuries simply means he is in a hurry and doesn't have the time to finish them off, and maybe because he wants to spare them.

He isn't actually looking for an all-out war, but with their current state, war is one of the two possibilities that would happen if they leave here alive today. The other, which is highly unlikely, is that they simply go back to their tribes, mind their business, and pretend like this never happened."

As alternate Akun continued to muse, his eyes shone brightly from beyond the visors of his dark silver armor, "But the chances of that are like 0.01%, so all-out war it is. Going by my nature, he must have tried to avoid them, but they must have gotten in the way, resulting in their serious injuries.
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Should I finish them off?" The air thickened with uncertainty as the alternate Akun considered his next move.

Meanwhile, as Akun walked through the halls of the dryad tree castle, his dragon eyes were locked on the figure of the crying princess, his gaze pierced through the very walls themselves.

As he approached, he noticed two dryad guards by the doors of the room. He had already dealt with guards from other tribes on his way here, so these two wouldn't be a challenge either.

"Halt! State your name!" the dryad guards yelled, pointing their metallic wooden spears at him. They were obviously shaking with fear, having witnessed how effortlessly Akun dealt with guards from other tribes eariler. However, they weren't going to let fear consume them and abandon their princess.

Akun continued his stride towards the doors, undeterred by their demands. "We said to state your name," one of the guards echoed with a shaky voice. His hands were sweaty, his posture a mess, and his eyes shaking with fear. Sweat streamed down his face, mirroring the features of the other guard beside him. Neither was mentally nor physically prepared to face Akun, nor did they have what it takes.

Akun approached the frozen guards, a momentary pause accentuating the intensity of his gaze. Fear held them in its grip, causing their weapons to slip from their trembling hands. The guards dared not meet Akun's eyes, fully aware that such eye contact might seal their fates. Instead, their gaze fixated on the floor.

With deliberate steps, Akun continued, and as he opened the imposing doors leading to the room with the round table, the guards dropped to their knees. An overwhelming sense of relief flooded over them, as if luck had favored them profoundly in that fleeting moment. The weight of imminent danger lifted, leaving the guards grateful for the unexpected mercy they perceived in Akun's passing.

As Akun entered, the room fell silent, and the crying princess slowly raised her gaze to meet his intense stare. Her eyes conveyed a mixture of disbelief, fear, and regret.

In a swift motion, Akun seized her by the collar, lifting her off the ground. His deep, resonating voice cut through the stillness, demanding answers, "Time to start talking. Why does your tribe want to go to war with mine?" The weight of his words hung in the air, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

The guards who Akun had walked past earlier were sneakily watching the scene through the small opening between the open doors. When they saw Akun lifting their princess, a sudden feeling of guilt their hearts, making them regret feeling relieved when Akun passed them earlier. They felt conflicted as they grappled with the consequences of their passive roles in the unfolding drama.

"Akun, please, be gentle with my people. I'll tell you everything." The princess's voice sounded muffled as tears streamed down her cheeks. She held onto Akun's hand that was supporting her, trying to alleviate the pressure on her neck as he lifted her off the ground.