Evolution begins with an ant colony-Chapter 336 Future Problems

Sir Cedric Ironheart, relieved to be free of his tense standoff with Kaldarix, sheathed his sword and retreated from the stage.

Meanwhile, in the center of the arena, Akun approached the kneeling Kaldarix. A faint green light emanated from his hand as it hovered over Kaldarix's head. Akun healed the damage inflicted by Kaldarix on himself when he attempted to look at the stats of a demigod, restoring his sight.

Kaldarix blinked, his purple eyes losing their golden tint as he refocused on the figure standing above him. Uncertainty and a flicker of fear clouded his gaze as he met Akun's calm stare.

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"Go," Akun instructed gently, his voice carrying a hint of underlying authority. "Find a seat amongst the others."

Kaldarix, subdued but not submissive, hesitantly nodded. Rising to his feet, he cast a wary glance at the crowd that parted before him like a frightened sea. He made his way towards the empty seat Akun had vacated earlier, the memory of his recent humiliation still fresh in his mind.

From his vantage point in the royal box, King Nevi observed the exchange with keen interest. His gaze then shifted to Professor Eldrin. "Those… other companions of the silver-haired one," he inquired, his voice laced with curiosity. "Do you think they might be dragons as well?"

Professor Eldrin stroked his beard thoughtfully. "It's impossible to say for certain, Your Majesty," he admitted. "Their appearances are not as overtly draconic as Kaldarix's. We can't even say for certain this silver-haired one is a dragon. However, considering the circumstances, it wouldn't be entirely unreasonable to suspect…"

The King chuckled, cutting him off. "True, true," he mused. "Perhaps the upcoming duel will shed some light on the matter."

A wave of frustration washed over Akun as he watched Kaldarix make his way back to the others.

"This whole tournament thing has been thrown out the window. Sure, hoping for a carefree day of entertainment was probably naive, but this? This is different. Kaldarix's disobedience and our blown cover are annoying, sure, but right now, I can't even contain this anger growing inside me." Akun thought as he gritted his teeth slightly.

Akun mused futher as he gazed at the prince as he slowly made his way to the stage. "And all this is Aric's fult, I could hear all the provoking words he was telling Kaldarix which most likely led to his memories surfacing."

Akun had been acutely aware of snippets of conversation from the impudent human. It was clear Aric held some form of connection to Kaldarix, a connection that reeked of time manipulation. Either Aric came from the future or the past.

"And there was the fact that I couldn't access his status window, the fact that the system claimed that I locked it completely rules out the possibility that he came from the past."

It had become clear to Akun, Alric must have been sent here to the past by him from the future. "But why?" Akun asked himself, "Didn't we learn the disastrous consequences of tampering with time?" Akun mused, as flashes of the battle with his alternate self flickered in his eyes.

"What exactly awaits me in the future... what is so dire that I would throw away promises I made to myself in order to accomplish something?" Akun mused, the fact that with all the power he had now, there were going to be problems that would be beyond his control made him angry nearly beyond control. Experience tales at novelbuddy

Flashes of the night of the crimson blooming flashed before his eyes as he mused further, "what hell must I go through next?"

He clenched his fists, trying to calm himself. This unexpected development had left a bad taste on the day's events. The playful enjoyment he'd anticipated was replaced by a gnawing sense of unease. Aric's presence was a constant reminder of the potential chaos that awaited him.

Akun stood up straight, took a deep breath to calm himself down. He knew he couldn't let anger take over. He had to focus on the present, figure out this new situation with Aric, and deal with this unexpected problem.

Akun wasted no time on theatrics. With a skilled flick of his wrist, he drew one of his katanas from its sheath. Its polished black surface gleamed under the sunlight. He gestured towards the prince with the flat of the blade, his voice a low rumble. "Let us get this over with," he stated simply.

Prince Alexander, his nervousness momentarily forgotten, straightened his posture and drew his own sword. He assumed a defensive stance, a glint of seriousness hardening his eyes. "Ready when you are," he said, his voice surprisingly steady.

The arena announcer, startled by the sudden shift in attention, cleared his throat and stammered into the crystal-phone. "L-ladies and gentlemen! The next match is about to begin! In the left corner, Prince Alexander, heir to the throne! And in the right corner… the challenger… uh… Master Akun!"

A hush fell over the crowd as all eyes fixated on the two figures standing in the center of the arena. The tension was immense.

Just then, a commotion erupted in the stands. Hestria, panting heavily, emerged from the crowd, her eyes scanning the arena frantically. She finally spotted Mellin and the others and rushed over.

"Have they started the next match already?" she gasped, her voice filled with urgency.

Mellin, ever calm, offered a reassuring smile. "Not yet, Hestria. You only just missed the introductions."

Beside her, Chrono Nexus materialized with a soft shimmer, a hint of relief washing over her face. "Thank goodness," she sighed. "I wouldn't have forgiven myself if I'd missed my darling's match."

As if sensing her presence, Kaldarix, seated amongst the others, abruptly shot up. His eyes widened in recognition as they landed on Chrono Nexus. "You…" he stammered, a mixture of fear and confusion frowning his face.

Before he could utter another word, a telepathic message from Akun echoed in his mind, sharp and laced with a barely suppressed edge. "Not another word, Kaldarix. My patience wears thin. You wouldn't like to see what happens when it runs out."

Kaldarix, intimidated by the silent threat, slumped back into his seat, his defiance momentarily quelled.

Chrono Nexus, meanwhile, locked eyes with the Dragon Monarch. A sly smile played on her lips as she addressed him directly, her voice ringing out with a hint of amusement. "Well, well, if it isn't the Dragon Monarch himself. Seems you've regained your memory."

Kaldarix, unable to contain his irritation, mumbled under his breath, "Silence, you… god. How are you walking the mortal plane again? But worry not, once I'm free from my father's watchful eye, I'll claim your head for myself!"