Evolution begins with an ant colony

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The journey from border town to the grand capital of the Leonheart Empire had been swift, the landscape blurring around Oliver and Leona as they moved like streaks of light. Finally, they stood at the outskirts of Imperia Magna, the colossal city that stretched far and wide.

Imperia Magna, a proof of centuries of civilization, loomed before them. Its massive walls, once sturdy nearly indestructible but now showed signs of recent damage, hinted at a troubled past. The repairs – scaffolding and workers, like ants on a colossal structure, mended the broken sections.

Leona's sharp eyes surveyed the city's sheer size, the complex architecture, and the resilience reflected in the ongoing repairs. Her gaze narrowed as she observed the damaged walls, a frown forming on her face.

Turning to Hestria, Leona inquired with a curious tone, "What caused the break in the wall?"

Hestria, her expression somewhat solemn, revealed, "It was a demon invasion."

A quiet tension settled between Oliver and Leona. Their eyes met briefly, sharing a slightly serious glance, as the weight of the revelation hung in the air.

Approaching the city gates, Oliver, with a casual demeanor, voiced his reluctance, "Damn gates again. I don't want to have to go through another drama of paying an entrance fee. Instead, I suggest we should leap over the walls."

Hestria, caught off guard by Oliver's suggestion, was shocked. The city walls stood nearly 100 feet tall, and the idea of effortlessly leaping over them seemed implausible.

Oliver grinned mischievously, his green eyes gleaming with confidence. "Don't worry, Hestria. You'll be surprised at what we can do."

Leona, though maintaining her calm exterior, couldn't help but wonder how Oliver planned to execute this seemingly audacious feat. "So how exactly do you plan we do that without alerting the guards or the people inside, considering it would take a massive amount of force to leap that high? Such an action would inevitably create a very loud sound."

Oliver grinned mischievously as he explained, "If we spread our mana around our bodies and use it to suppress all the sound around us, we can easily leap over the walls without alerting anyone."

Leona, genuinely surprised by the idea, couldn't hide her curiosity. "Where did you learn that from?" she inquired.

Oliver's grin widened, a hint of pride in his voice. "It was our liege who taught me, specifically for my scouting missions."

Leona sighed, realizing the practicality of the technique. "Alright then, we'll jump."

Hestria's surprise could be seen on her face as Leona unexpectedly agreed to Oliver's plan. Though she wanted to voice her concerns, she hesitated, realizing that if they could pull off such a maneuver, it would further emphasize the Leonheart Empire's vulnerability.

Leona, taking charge, stated, "Let's begin."

Oliver, wearing a confident grin, responded with a simple "Okay."

As both of them started spreading their mana around their bodies, Hestria observed the world around her suddenly falling into silence. The usual sounds—the wind, the distant workers repairing the broken sections of the wall—all faded away. She even tried speaking but couldn't hear her own voice.

Internally musing, Hestria thought, "When Oliver suggested it, I thought he was joking, but seeing how effective it is, it just goes to show the empire truly stands no chance."

In that moment, the duo crouched down slowly, and then, with sudden and massive force, propelled themselves into the air. Although the air swayed around them due to the wind created by their rapid ascent, there was still no sound. Silently, they leaped over the towering walls and landed on the other side, just as Oliver had suggested.

Landing on the other side of the towering walls, Leona and Oliver took a moment to observe the city sprawled before them.

Leona gently lowered Hestria to the ground, allowing her to stand on her own. She glanced around, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.

Oliver, always wanting to get straight to the point, turned to Hestria. "Which way to the royal castle?" he asked, a casual smile playing on his lips.

Hestria, reluctant yet compliant, pointed them in the direction they needed to go. "It's just stright ahead, at the center of the city." The then trio began their journey through the bustling city.

As they walked, Oliver's eyes caught sight of a stall selling vibrant fruits. His appetite piqued, he decided to indulge. Taking three apples, he approached the girl behind the counter, handing her a generous gold coin. "Keep the change," he said with a playful wink, eliciting a blush from the fruit vendor.

Leona, ever focused on the mission, interrupted, "Oliver, we don't have time for this."

Oliver bid a charming farewell to the blushing vendor, flashing his trademark grin. "Another time, perhaps," he said, winking again before rejoining Leona and Hestria.

Leona, taking in the city's appearance, couldn't help but marvel at the sights and sounds surrounding them as they continued their journey toward the royal castle.

Oliver's gaze swept over the cityscape, and he couldn't help but remark, "It's quite nice here. It would be a shame if their king ended up resisting. We might end up fighting, causing chaos, and dragging innocent people into it."

As Oliver spoke, a chill ran down Hestria's spine. She turned to him with a worried expression, uncertainty etched on her face.

Leona, always composed, nodded in agreement. "Indeed, it would be a shame if we had to spill innocent blood. Everything depends on how smoothly things go."

Suddenly, a voice called out, "Hestria, is that you?" The trio turned towards the source – a knight with brown hair and blue eyes, dressed in armor similar to the one the magic knights wore when they first entered the forest.

Upon seeing him, Hestria froze. The man then inquired, "If you are here, where are the others... And who are they?" He gestured towards Leona and Oliver, who stood beside her.

Leona and Oliver exchanged glances with the man and then with Hestria, sensing the unspoken tension in the air.