Evolution begins with an ant colony

Darius's mind whirled in response to Akun's unexpected proposition. Stunned into silence for a brief moment, he struggled to process the implications. Finally, his voice trembled as he managed to stammer out, "Y-yes."

As the weight of Darius's agreement hung in the air, Akun interjected with a demand that took Darius by surprise. "Hold on," Akun asserted, his tone unwavering, "I don't want to hear it only from you.

I want to hear your party's thoughts on this matter as well." The request emphasized that this was not a decision to be made unilaterally, forcing Darius to consider the implications of his actions on his comrades.

Akun's gaze remained fixed on Darius as the conversation continued. "Your comrades are inside that carriage, correct?" Akun inquired, his finger pointing towards the carriage. Darius, his voice wavering, confirmed, "Yes, they are all in there."

With an unexpected air of reassurance, Akun nodded in satisfaction. "Good," he acknowledged. As he began to stride past Darius towards the carriage, Darius couldn't help but voice his apprehension. "What do you want to do to them?" he questioned, his voice reflecting his growing fear.

In response, Akun's tone took on a playful quality, attempting to soothe Darius's concerns. "Just relax," he advised, a faint smile touching his lips. "I just want to ask them personally if this is what they want." The statement hinted at Akun's respect for the autonomy of Darius's comrades, implying that their consent was of utmost importance in this decision.

As Akun approached the carriage, his gaze penetrated its interior, revealing a somewhat crowded space. He wasn't particularly fond of the idea of climbing inside, Akun's inner thoughts reflected, "Darn, it's crowded in there. Why don't I bring them out here instead?"

With a subtle, determined expression, Akun made a decision. Instead of entering the carriage, he would utilize his aspect power to bring the adventurers out. This way, he could demonstrate his prowess while maintaining the commanding presence he desired. The air around him seemed to crackle with energy as he summoned his aspect power to carry out his plan.

Darius watched with a mix of anxiety and concern as Akun effortlessly used his aspect power to bring his fellow party members out of the carriage. His worry for their safety was palpable, his voice quivering as he pleaded, "Please don't hurt them."

Akun, looking at Darius with an air of assurance, responded, "Hey, I'm no mindless killer. I only want to bring them outside so we have enough space for our conversation." His words were intended to provide some reassurance, but the underlying power of his aspect and the situation at hand made Darius's fear difficult to fully dispel.

As Akun used his aspect power to lift the adventurers from the carriage, his gaze settled on their grievously injured bodies. Limbs twisted at unnatural angles, faces contorted and almost unrecognizable. The sight churned his stomach, and he couldn't help but think, "How could a human do this?"

Almost succumbing to a surge of pity, he quickly steadied his resolve, focusing his mind on the objective at hand: the notion of making them his slaves.

Dropping the adventurers by the side of a tree, Darius hovered anxiously nearby, assuming a stance akin to that of an overprotective mother, ensuring their well-being.

Akun proceeded to approach the fallen adventurers. He then instructed Darius to rouse them from their unconscious state. Despite his lingering trepidation, Darius carefully tapped his comrades on their shoulders, attempting to coax them back to awareness.

Darius's gentle attempts to wake his comrades proved ineffective, much to Akun's growing impatience. Taking matters into his own hands, Akun walked over to the fallen adventurers and delivered a resounding slap to each of their faces. Darius, still worried, pleaded for caution, urging Akun to be gentle.

"Take it easy on them."

Akun's response remained consistent, "As I have told you over and over again, relax. I just want to have a chat with them."

As their consciousness returned, Darius's party members awoke in a confused and pained state. Lyra, the group's mage, managed to speak up amidst her disorientation.

"Darius? Where are we? I can't see anything…" Her voice trailed off, a mix of confusion and discomfort evident in her tone.

Gromm, the half orc warrior, growled in agreement, "By the gods, this hurts..."

Raela, who was known for her resourcefulness, joined in with a low groan, "Darius? What's going on? I can't feel my arms."

Torin, managed a weak utterance, "Did we... survive?"

Darius leaned in close to his wounded comrades, his voice carrying a fragile thread of reassurance. "Don't worry, my friends. I've brought you all to a place where you can receive proper treatment."

Gromm's skepticism laced his words as he inquired, "Where? This doesn't look like any church, and even if it was, would they even be able to heal sever wounds like these, even if they could, we won't be able to afford it." His voice broke slightly, revealing the weight of their situation.

Tears welled up in his eyes as fear gripped him. Their conversation was abruptly interrupted as Akun approached, his imposing presence casting a shadow of discomfort over the scene. His words cut through the air with a sense of inevitability. "I sympathize with your situation, but you have two choices before you."

The mere sight of Akun sent a shiver down their collective spine, triggering a flood of questions. Before they could voice their concerns, however, Lyra's voice quivered with fear. "I'm so sorry... I didn't mean to expose your secret. Please, spare me... I...

I don't want to die."

(A/N: before you all ask how she spoke up to beg when she couldn't see Akun, she heard his voice so you know the rest.)

The air grew heavy with tension, the weight of their choices bearing down upon them as they awaited Akun's response.

Akun's gaze shifted to Lyra, his eyes taking in her sorry state. The light that once illuminated her eyes had dimmed, a stark indication of her blindness. Her legs bore the brunt of her injuries, twisted and broken at angles that defied the natural order.

He leaned in closer, his tone steady and commanding. "I can free each of you from this sorry state, but the price for such a salvation is simple: your unwavering servitude to me."

A quiet stillness wrapped around the group when Akun put forward his idea. Darius's friends shared cautious looks, their unspoken feelings weighing them down. Elara was the first to speak up, showing her doubt. "Do you really have the power to make us better?"

Gromm's voice came next, filled with worry. "And if we go along with this, will you treat us kindly once we're under your control?"

Akun's voice cut through the tension, his tone unexpectedly light. "Even though I'm technically a monster, I'm not hard to get along with." His light-hearted comfort appeared to calm some of the unease. The adventurers looked at each other, their faces uncertain at first, but gradually shifting towards acceptance.

"We're in," they said one after another, their voices carrying a blend of surrender and doubt. Lyra's answer hung in the air briefly before she also spoke up, her agreement tinged with a touch of doubt.

Akun rose to his feet and commanded the system "Activate the taming skill." The system's response came swiftly:

[Processing...]

[Notice: The player is about to use a taming skill on humans, which will turn it into an enslavement skill. Does the player wish to proceed?]

"Go ahead," Akun agreed. Suddenly, he saw faint, purple chains appear around his arms, winding around the adventurers' necks before vanishing. A delicate purple ring appeared as a mark on their necks. Strangely, the adventurers felt no pain during this. It was more like a light, ticklish feeling on their necks.

As the strange feeling faded away, Torin broke the silence. "Is it done?" he asked. Akun replied in a composed tone, "It's done." He then directed his magical energy, starting to heal the adventurers. But his focus was momentarily broken by a notification from the system:

[Ding!! The player has obtained a new title]

[Ding!! Monster Human Tamer]

"What on earth? It's like the system only assigns me titles to make me feel awful," Akun thought to himself.