《Beast Hack: Customizing Beasts and Capturing Beauties》


 Chapter 1 The Empty Talent

    A ceremony was now being performed in one of the villages in this world that was being joined by all of the 18-year-old teenagers.


    The awakening ceremony was important, as this was the time for the young people to awaken their own beast-taming talent.


    One of the awakeners was actually Lucius, an orphan but handsome man in this village. Many women liked him and men disliked him because of his face.


    Soon the awakening ceremony started and the teenagers began to go to the platform to awaken their own talent one by one.


    All teenagers had successfully awakened their beast-taming talent and now it was time for Lucius to go and awaken his own talent.


    Lucius then went up and stood before the Awakening Crystal, the one that the elder used to awaken the teenagers beast-taming talent.


    The awakening crystal was not really rare and also not really precious, as its only function was only to awaken the talent of the teenagers.


    The elder who looked at Lucius only frowned as he told him to do the steps for awakening: "Place your hand on the Awakening Crystal and awaken your talent."


    Lucius did what he was told and immediately put his hand on the Awakening Crystal but after some time nothing happened.


    Lucius also didn''t feel anything. Usually the teenagers would feel something as the Awakening Crystal glowed but for him it didn''t.


    Lucius immediately looked at the elder and asked him about the current situation: "Elder, what is happening here? Why doesn''t the Awakening Crystal glow?"


    The elder who looked at the situation only smirked a little and told him about it. "It''s just as I suspected. You really are a lucky one."


    Lucius could only be confused as he heard that and suddenly, the elder began to mock him, "You are so lucky that the rare empty talent awakening happened to you."


    Lucius, upon hearing it, was immediately shocked and asked him back, "What do you mean by rare empty talent?"


    They also used this chance to hit Lucius, either by punching or kicking him, to let out their frustration on him from a long time ago.


    Soon enough, the male villagers carried the now-injured Lucius and threw him out of the village and they smiled after seeing their work.


    Paxton, who was the leader, smirked and spitted on him before telling him, "Scram now. Don''t think to come back to our village or else."


    Lucius, who was already injured, could not really talk and could only crawl out bit by bit with his body.


    Paxton and the men only laughed hard after seeing Lucius'' condition before going back to the village.


    Lucius, who was now crawling to the forest, could only become angry as he looked at them from behind and said, "Just wait for me. I will kill all of you later and destroy this village."


    Lucius wanted revenge but he was in a state where he was unable to do anything and he could only be sad.


    He crawled, pulling his own body to a huge tree for a rest. He had been crawling for an hour and his body was sore.


    The big tree that he was rested on was actually the sacred tree where Lucius was found by the villagers when he was a baby.


    Although he was found in the sacred tree, he was not considered the holy son but just a bastard son, as he was deemed to have dirtied the sacred tree.


    Lucius didn''t know why the tree was deemed as sacred but he knew that for a fact, this tree was the biggest and oldest in this forest so maybe that was the reason.


    Lucius then looked at the sacred tree and said, "Sacred Tree, if you really are sacred, then you must have the ability to help me."


    Lucius then continued to talk with anger, "Sacred Tree, I want to destroy the village and kill everyone in it. For it, I will pay anything."


    As soon as he said it suddenly, in the spot where he was resting, a symbol suddenly appeared and in that moment, his body was gone from there.

 Chapter 2 The Golden Apple

    Lucius soon woke up in an unfamiliar place. He also felt wet as he looked down to realize that he was lying on the water.


    He then began to sit down and realized that his body was not injured like before. It was like he was healed.


    He then looked ahead and soon saw a tree that was smaller and also more special because it was glowing.


    The tree was also being surrounded by a huge lake with shallow water and Lucius immediately thought that this lake water was the one who healed him.


    Then suddenly, as he stood up, not knowing what to do now, he suddenly heard something but he could not see anything.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Come here, little child." Lucius looked around and found no one and suddenly he turned to the glowing tree in the middle.


    Lucius, who began to walk to the glowing tree, immediately asked it, "Are you the one who is calling me?"


    The sound appeared again as it told Lucius, "Yes, I am the glowing tree in the center so please come forward."


    Lucius, who was walking toward it, began to ask again, "Just what are you? I never heard about you in the village."


    The glowing tree then told Lucius about its identity: "I am actually the real sacred tree that is hidden inside the big tree outside."


    Lucius was surprised after hearing it and suddenly became excited. "If you are really the real sacred tree, then you will be able to help me, right?"


    The sacred tree then answered, "Of course, my child. It is one of the reasons why you are here. Your heartfelt prayer has awakened me."


    Lucius, who heard it, immediately became excited as he kneeled, "Great Sacred Tree! Please grant me your strength!"


    And soon after it, the water in the lake began to dry out and also the sacred tree also began to dim slowly as it became a dried tree.


    Lucius, who had seemingly died, suddenly began to stand up again and this time an evil smirk appeared on his face: "Finally...finally... I am free."


    Lucius then looked at his body and smirked, "Just as expected from the body that I had made years ago."


    The truth was that Lucius was actually a body that the sacred tree had made it to use later and because of it, the body was in a blank state.


    Because of this blank state, previous Lucius cannot awaken any beast-taming talent, resulting in him being kicked out of the village and coming back here.


    Lucius then said, "Lucius, I will not let you die in vain, as I will fulfill your wish, which is to destroy the village and kill everyone in it but before that, I need to do something first."


    Lucius then suddenly shouted, "System, I am here." As soon as he shouted it, a screen suddenly appeared in front of him.


    [Welcome to the Beast Hacker System]


    Lucius smirked as he saw that his system was activated again in his new body. The truth was that Lucius was a transmigrator and he was too arrogant and used his system without a care in the world.


    Because of that, many evil people came into him trying to take his own body for that power and one of the evil people managed to transport his soul into a seed.


    Fortunately, the system was bound into his soul and the body stealer was angry and wanted to torture Lucius for it but too bad that the seed that housed his soul was already gone as it was sent flying by the war at that time.


    For years, Lucius had learned the system and used it to hack the seed that was his body to become a sacred tree and also used it to create a new body for him.


    Lucius then looked at the village where Lucius was kicked out and smirked, "Now it is time for me to pay the price for getting your body." Lucius smirked as he went to the village.

 Chapter 3 The Beast Tide

    Paxton was currently eating dinner with the village chief, who was his father. Paxton was now a bit happy after kicking out Lucius and eating his food happily.


    The village chief looked at his son and began to say something. "Paxton, I think it is time for you to leave the village."


    Paxton paused for a second and immediately asked for confirmation, "Leave? What do you mean by that, father?"


    The village chief then explained it: "I mean that it is time for you to leave the village and go to the city. I have arranged for you to join the academy there."


    Paxton then continued to eat as he replied, "I see. Then when will i leave to enter this academy that you talked about?"


    The village chief was about to tell him the exact time for him to leave but suddenly, before he could, the door was opened with force and the village vice chief came in.


    The village chief was about to get angry but looking at the current condition of the chief, who was now pale and breathing heavily, he held on.


    He just decided to ask him the reason for him breaking in: "Vice chief, tell me what is going on that made you break your way in here."


    The vice chief immediately said, "It''s a beast tide, chief! A hundred beasts are now coming toward our village right now and they are also the rampaging ones."


    The moment the village chief heard it, he was surprised and immediately told the vice chief, "How long do you think before they arrived at this village?"


    The vice chief immediately told him his estimation: "I estimated that the beast tide will arrive at this village in an hour or less."


    The village chief then immediately ordered the vice chief, "Gather the women and children and quickly evacuate them."


    He then continued again, "And for the men, gather them up and make them soldiers temporary and tell them that they will be gifted some money later."


    "What do you think will happen later, seeing that we are being evacuated?" Jarek was asking about Paxton''s thought about this situation


    Paxton only smiled and said, "It will be the same as usual. We will evacuate for some time while our father goes and kills those beasts."


    Paxton then continued as he explained about it, "The beast tide had happened every year so I doubt that anything different will happen."


    Paxton then suddenly smirked as he remembered something: "Oh wait, I forgot. There is something that has changed. That stupid boy, Lucius, has gone from here."


    Jarek, who heard it also laughed as he remembered Lucius. "Yeah, and also thinking that he was in the forest at this time means that he should have died now."


    Paxton then smiled as he nodded. "Of course, he was just an orphan and a talentless one. He will only die in the forest, where his good looks will not work at all."


    Paxton and Jarek continued to laugh when they thought about Lucius'' bad situation, but suddenly the caravan was stopped, which made them fall off.


    Paxton, who was angry, immediately shouted, "What the hell happened? Why are you stopping the caravan so suddenly?"


    The driver of the caravan immediately looked at Paxton and explained, "Young master Paxton, I stop because there is someone that is now currently standing in front of us blocking our way."


    Paxton, who heard it, immediately got out of the car while saying in anger, "Let''s see who was stupid enough to stop our caravan in this situation."


    Paxton then immediately went to the front of the caravan and when he saw the one who blocked them, he immediately smirked.


    "Well...well...well... if it isn''t our dear friend, Lucius? What are you doing here, you orphan?" Paxton immediately said to Lucius, who was currently in front of him.


    Lucius, who was now being confronted by Paxton, only smirked as he was not the same Lucius as before.

 Chapter 4 Paxtons End

    Jarek, who heard the commotion in front of the caravan, smirked the moment he heard Paxton mention Lucius. He immediately became interested.


    He then got off the caravan and immediately walked toward them and stopped beside Paxton. He was a bit surprised seeing Lucius here.


    Jarek then immediately shouted at Lucius, "Looks who''s here. It seems that we meet again, bastard orphan."


    Paxton also immediately asked Lucius, "What the hell are you doing here? You have been kicked out by the village so you better scram before the situation gets worse for you."


    Lucius only smirked after being mocked as he answered, "I''m not here to block your way, but instead I am here to take revenge on you."


    Jarek and Paxton, who heard what Lucius said, only laughed hard. They looked at each other as they could not believe what they just heard.


    "Revenge? On us? Don''t you think that''s a bit ridiculous, Lucius? We have awakened our talent but you... What can you possibly do to us seeing that you can''t even tame a beast, you talentless fool?" Mocked Paxton toward Lucius.


    Jarek also agreed with what Paxton said: "He is right, Lucius. What do you think you''re going to do? You''re nothing but a waste of space. You should be begging for your life now, not threatening us."


    Lucius only smirked upon hearing their answer, "I didn''t expect stupid people like you to understand but still, it seems that this is better as you won''t know how you die later."


    The moment Lucius said it, Paxton and Jarek were angry but before they could go and attack him, Lucius immediately raised his hand and flicked his finger.


    Jarek and Paxton, who saw it, immediately mocked him, "Is that all you can do? Flick a finger and expect us to die."


    Lucius smirked as he explained it, "No, I don''t think about that when I flick my finger. I just tried to act cool in front of you."


    Lucius then began to explain his power: "You see, I can hack them to be fiercer and also lost their mind as they rampaging around."


    Lucius then began to turn back and soon wolves began to appear and seemingly ignored Lucius as they began to walk toward Paxton and Jarek.


    Lucius then began to explain one final thing before he left: "And also one last thing: not only can I do that all, I can also hack them not to attack me, so do you understand?"


    Paxton, who didn''t understand the words that Lucius was saying, immediately shouted, "This must be it. You must be working with a devil, right?"


    Lucius, who heard what Paxton said, immediately let out a laugh. "It''s up to you to think about what I can do but for now, enjoy being killed by those beasts that I hacked. Bye bye!"


    Paxton, who was now trembling as he was afraid, began to step back. "NO. This can''t be happening to me! I am the one who awakened a talent! You can''t..."


    Lucius had already disappeared from their sight and the wolf immediately rushed toward Paxton and Jarek. Unfortunately, Jarek was a bit slower and got caught by one of the wolves.


    Jarek screamed in pain as his leg was bitten by the wolf, "No! Get off me, you bastard!" Jarek was going to kick the wolf with his other leg but it was futile.


    Paxton, who saw it, immediately left Jarek. He didn''t want to die but unfortunately, the wolves had surrounded them and one of them immediately lunged toward Paxton.


    "Get off me! Someone, help!" Paxton was basically asking for help but unfortunately, the village was too far and also the other people had already died in the caravan.


    The wolves were just too fierce and immediately used their claws to tear Paxton and Jarek apart but before their deaths, Paxton and Jarek screamed in anger, "YOU BASTARD ORPHAN!"


    Lucius, who looked at their end from afar, only smirked as he said, "Now that those two had died, it is time for the village destruction." Lucius smirked as he went to the village.

 Chapter 5 Village Chiefs Anger

    The village was now in ruins as the beasts were rampaging inside it. The villagers were now fighting the rampaging beasts with their own.


    The village chief was now shocked as he saw the current situation. He never thought that he and his village would lose in this battle.


    The vice chief then suddenly ran toward him and shouted, "Chief! This is beyond what we can handle! These beasts are too abnormal! They don''t even care if they die!"


    The chief who looked at the scared vice chief was frustrated as he answered, "Do you think I don''t know that? I can see them with my own eyes."


    The vice chief then immediately asked, "So what do we do now? The beasts were just coming, no matter how many we killed! A lot of villagers had also died. So do we run?"


    The chief immediately frowned and immediately said, "Of course not. We are the chief and vice chief of the village and we can''t just abandon them."


    The vice chief then immediately grabbed the chief''s neck and shouted, "Chief, listen to me! We have no choice! These beasts were too different than the ones we usually kill! If we don''t run now, we will die!"


    The vice chief then immediately reminded him what was important for him: "If you died, do you want to see Paxton, your son, be an orphan? Do you want his condition to be the same as that talentless Lucius?"


    Upon hearing what the vice chief said, the chief immediately said, "You are right. We need to escape. We cannot let our sons become like Lucius. Let''s chase after the caravan."


    The vice chief immediately nodded as he joined the escape but before that, he wanted to ask the chief something: "So what about the villagers that were fighting those beasts?"


    The chief then immediately said, "Just let them be the bait while we escaped. We will just tell their wives about their bravery and build their graveyard later."


    The vice chief immediately nodded and immediately escaped, with the chief leaving the villagers to be the bait for them to run.


    The chief who saw Lucius was here immediately shouted, "Lucius, what the hell have you done? Are you the one behind those beast tides?"


    Lucius, who heard it, only smirked, "The beast tide? Of course not. I am not the one who made it but still, I have added a little... adjustment to them so they became more lively."


    The vice chief who heard it immediately became angry: "Damn you, Lucius! You have destroyed our village and also you killed our only sons!"


    Lucius, who heard it, only smirked, "Killed them? No, no. The beasts are the ones who killed them. I am just a weak person who adjusted the beasts a bit."


    Lucius also said something that surprised them. "But also, when I thought about it, I am indeed the one who killed them but isn''t this justice for me as they always bullied me?"


    The chief who heard what Lucius said immediately became enraged. "How dare you to call this justice? Killing my innocent son and villagers and, on top of that, also destroying the village is justice for you!"


    Lucius, who heard it, laughed hard, "Innocent? Are you trying to lie to me? There is nothing innocent about them and I do the justice as i killed them so calm down my soul!"


    The chief immediately became angry the moment he heard it and immediately wanted to kill Lucius. "You have gone too far, Lucius! You''ll pay for everything you''ve done!"


    But before the chief could charge, the vice chief immediately stopped him as he said, "Wait! Look what is behind him!"


    Then a large wolf suddenly appeared from behind Lucius and walked slowly toward the chief and vice chief.


    Lucius only smirked as he said, "To think that you can see him immediately! Too bad that i cannot kill the chief immediately but it seems that i can watch a good show now."


    Lucius then looked at the angered chief and vice chief and said, "Let me tell you, if you kill can it, then you can face me, so make sure to entertain me." Lucius smirked as he sat down watching the show.

 Chapter 6 Village Chiefs Death

    Lucius was now sitting on one of the rocks while watching the show in which the chief and village chief were now facing a huge wolf.


    The chief immediately summoned his beast, which was also a wolf and said, "I will make sure to kill this beast and kill you afterward, Lucius!"


    The vice chief also summoned his beast, which was also a wolf: "Don''t be so fast, chief! We need to torture him first before killing him!"


    Lucius, who heard it, only smirked, "Well, you can do all you want but let me remind you that you need to kill this large wolf first."


    The chief and vice chief ignored what Lucius said and immediately ordered their wolves to attack the large wolf.


    The two wolves lunged and attacked the large wolf. One of the wolves began to use his fangs to bite the large wolf''s feet while the other used their claws to attack the large wolf''s body.


    The large wolf had a bigger size but still, it''s level was still the same as the two wolves who were attacking it and soon it was beaten down by the wolves.


    Lucius, who looked at the situation, didn''t panic at all; instead, he smiled even more, "Not bad, at all. Your tamed beasts are so strong that the large wolf is easily beaten down."


    The chief, who was now seeing that the large wolf had almost died, smirked and said, "Your beast is about to die and now it is time to end this!"


    The vice chief, who also saw the situation, was a bit confused seeing that Lucius was not panicking at all. "Wait, Chief... something''s not right. He''s too calm."


    Lucius immediately smiled hearing him say, "Wow, you are really smart, vice chief, not like the hot-headed chief but too bad that it is already too late."


    The system, after being told, immediately did its work and absorbed the corpses. The corpses that were absorbed immediately dried out quickly.


    Lucius, who looked at the corpses, only smirked as he saw his HP slowly rising. Lucius smiled as he said, "It is still the best to have a human body, making my work easier."


    Truthfully, this body was made by Lucius using his own blood. When he was a seed, he was wet by a bit of his own''s body blood and when he was thrown out in the war and arrived here, he immediately went to work.


    He used all the hacking points that he had to make the blood didn''t go spoilt and slowly hacked it to slowly become a complete body.


    Although it had become a complete body, it was still a baby, and unfortunately for him, a wild soul suddenly went into his body and used it.


    At the same time as that, the people from the village found this baby and took it to the village but then he was really surprised, finding his own body returned to him again and he almost died.


    Lucius acted as a sacred tree and gave it the golden apple that filled with his own energy and soul and when it was eaten, Lucius'' soul immediately killed the previous weak soul and took over the body.


    This body was also created with Lucius'' real blood so it fit with his soul perfectly but at the same time he wondered why the soul previously fit this body so well, too but he ignored it as now he had gotten his body back.


    Lucius then opened his system to see how much HP he got after absorbing all of the corpses around here.


    [Hack Points: 10,000.]


    Lucius smiled as he saw his current HP. "Not bad. This is quite a lot but still not enough if I want to go to the next plan."


    Lucius smiled, thinking about his next plan. His next plan was to hack himself to give him a new talent. There was also a reason why, when he made this body, he made it talentless.

 Chapter 7 Group of Strangers

    This world was the world of beast tamers and the stronger the talent awakened by the tamer, the stronger his beasts will be in later stages.


    The reason why Lucius made his body to be talentless was because of this very reason. He wanted his new body to have the strongest talent.


    The system could hack a person''s talent and upgrade it but for some reasons, the people that already had talents could only upgrade it by one level and that was it.


    The system could not upgrade a talent twice for the same person but for some reason for the talentless people. Although the system still could not upgrade twice, there is a hidden perk.


    For the talentless people, the system could hack their talent and immediately give them one talent, no matter what level it was, even if it was the strongest talent.


    The strongest talent was named God Talent by the system and it was too damn expensive and that''s another reason for the talentless body, as he was poor.


    Lucius really wanted to obtain but the points that he needed were too much so now he began to go back to the village to absorb more corpses to get more points.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Lucius then returned to the village and was surprised as he found that a group of strangers were already in the village investigating it.


    Lucius could also sense from their aura that they were way stronger than him, many times stronger than the chief even.


    Lucius then immediately thought of something and in that moment, he immediately used bone claws to hurt himself and ran toward the strangers and yelled, "Help me! Is there anyone there?"


    The group suddenly turned to Lucius as they heard his voice. They were also surprised to see that there was still someone here and the leader of the group immediately went forward and confronted Lucius.


    The red-haired man then immediately walked toward the boy and immediately shouted, "I''m Magnus Volcaria, the young master of the Volcaria family, one of the best families in the world."


    Lucius, who heard it, was a little bit surprised. "Volcaria? Strange, why haven''t I heard of them in the past? Just how much time has passed since I am a tree?"


    Lucius only used a polite tone in answering him, "It''s an honor to meet you, young master Magnus."


    Magnus only smirked when hearing that and immediately said, "Flattery won''t get you far, kid. I''ll cut to the chase. I can bring you to the city or even to my family''s estate, but... I need to know what you can do first."


    Lucius, who heard it, immediately understood what he meant and said, "I see. You want to see what I can do first before taking me along, right?"


    Magnus was a bit surprised after hearing Lucius'' answer, "Smart kid. I like that but still something''s off. A moment ago, you were trembling like a puppy, but now you are standing here calm, collected, and sharp. What''s the deal with you?"


    Lucius, who was found out, immediately told Magnus about it: "It''s quite simple, as i have been bullied all my life in the village so after seeing what happened, I decided to change."


    Lucius then immediately said again, "The scared puppy that you saw earlier was no more and now it is the real me, as this is what i need to survive in this world."


    Magnus, who heard it immediately, was quite surprised but also interested. "Quite interesting. I have to admit that I never expected that kind of answer."


    Magnus then immediately laughed out and said, "I have decided. I liked you so let me tell you, if you really can amaze me with your skill, I will give you something precious."


    Lucius immediately smiled upon hearing it. "I see. If that is the case, then let me tell you what I can do that will immediately make you interested." Lucius then began to explain his expertise.

 Chapter 8 Evolist?

    Lucius was now glaring back at Magnus and smirking, "You can say that my skills are closely related to beasts, as i am a beast specialized."


    Lucius then explained it more: "Although i am weak, i am handsome and also smart so i am really knowledgeable about beasts, either training them or even evolving them."


    Magnus, who heard it, immediately became interested in hearing his beast specialty, "So, you say that you are a beast specialist. Are you saying that you are an Evolist?"


    Lucius, who heard it, frowned a bit as he had never heard that kind of word in his past life: "Evolist? What is that?"


    Magnus and the others were immediately surprised the moment they heard what Lucius had said. They never thought that there were people who didn''t know about it. "You don''t know what an Evolist is?"


    Lucius, who looked at their surprised face, could only ask, "I don''t know about it, as this is the first time I heard this word. Care you explain it to me?"


    Magnus then immediately laughed as he explained, "Let''s see. An Evolist is someone who specializes in evolving beasts. They are highly valued as they are pretty rare."


    Lucius, who heard it, immediately understood it. It seemed that it was a new profession that appeared after he became the sacred tree.


    "I see, so an Evolist is just someone who evolves beasts? If that''s the case, then yes, I suppose I am one, but it seems you misunderstand something here." Lucius said when he heard Magnus'' explanation.


    Magnus, who heard what Lucius was saying, was a bit confused and asked him. "What do you mean by misunderstanding something? Care to enlighten me?"


    Lucius smirked as he explained, "Let me tell you, I am an Evolist and at the same time I am not. Not only can I evolve beasts, but I can make them better."


    Magnus then opened the carriage door and shouted at Lucius, "Enter the carriage with me. You will be safer inside this carriage."


    Lucius, who was already invited by Magnus, immediately entered the carriage and Magnus, who already saw Lucius entering the carriage immediately turned toward Daxton, the leader of the group.


    Magnus looked at him and said, "Daxton, Even though we have a guest here, don''t change the destination. Just stayed in the original destination."


    Daxton, who heard it, immediately frowned as he reminded him, "But, young master. Our destination is the main estate. Bringing him there might bring some trouble."


    Magnus, who heard it didn''t falter and said, "I will handle it and also, don''t you understand it? He has said that he is better than Evolist and if he really is, then it will be good for our family."


    Daxton could only sigh after hearing it and also understood it but he still hesitated and asked again, "But what if he''s lying? What if he is just a scammer?"


    Magnus smirked and immediately comforted Daxton, "Don''t you worry. If he is a scammer, then it will be easier for us to handle him as we are in the main state."


    Daxton could only sighed after being comforted by Magnus, "Very well, young master, if it is what you want. I will make sure to make our journey comfortable."


    Magnus smiled after Daxton agreed to him and said, "Good and now let''s continue our journey back to the main estate."


    Magnus then entered the carriage and closed the door while Daxton began to prepare to continue their journey.


    Magnus, who was inside the carriage, was surprised to see that Lucius was already asleep. It seemed that what he said was true, as he was really weak now.


    Magnus, who looked at the sleeping Lucius, only thought, "I hope that you are really a real deal and not a scammer. But if you really are a scammer, then your life will be worse than now." Magnus smirked as he thought about Lucius.

 Chapter 9 Not A Scammer

    Lucius soon woke up and found himself on top of a quite luxurious bed. He also found himself in a room where it was quite luxurious, which made Lucius realize that he was in Volcaria''s main estate.


    He could know about it as he was not fully asleep for the first few minutes in the carriage. He also managed to hear some conversation between Magnus and Daxton.


    But because of the comfortable carriage, he immediately went into deep sleep just after Magnus and Daxton finished their talk about him.


    Remembering their conversation, Lucius could only smirk as he said, "To think that Magnus is going to kill me if I am a scammer. It seems that he still doesn''t know who I really am."


    But still, there was one thing that really surprised him a bit: "To think that Evolists are highly respected these days. I remember in the past that all people can evolve their own beast."


    But as he thought about it more, it was different times: "It seems that the world has degraded or the materials that people needed for evolution have become scarce, making only some smart people able to think of another route of evolution."


    Both of the reasons that he thought could even be the real reasons but Lucius ignored it as he was different than those people, as what he needed for evolution were his system and points.


    Suddenly the door of the room was opened, and Magnus went in. He was also being accompanied by some maids that were carrying trays of different foods into the room.


    Magnus immediately looked at Lucius, who had woken up. "It seems that you have woken up, Lucius. What do you think of this room?"


    Lucius smiled after being asked and immediately answered, "The room is quite nice and also the bed here is so comfy. As expected from a top family."


    Magnus smiled after hearing Lucius'' comment. "Glad to hear it. So I am here to tell you that my parents know that you are my special guest and they immediately ask me to bring you to them."


    Lucius then immediately savored all the foods that had been prepared. The points in his system were also increasing as the foods here contained quite a lot of energy.


    Lucius smiled after he finished eating the foods that were a lot, "It is still the best to have a body that can eat this delicious food."


    Lucius then looked toward the elegant clothes that had been prepared for him. He immediately took one of them and wore them.


    Lucius then went to the mirror that was already in the room. Lucius looked at the red clothes that he was currently wearing and posed.


    Lucius immediately smiled after posing for a while, "Not bad. The clothes were quite nice to use and also look cool, as they are really different styles than the ones that I used in the past."


    Lucius then immediately knocked on the door to tell the maids that he was now ready to go and meet with Magnus'' parents.


    The maids who looked at Lucius, who had wore the prepared clothes, immediately escorted him to the designated hall. They didn''t say anything to him.


    Lucius only followed them as they didn''t talk much but still he was quite amazed by the castle. The halls that he passed had a high, luxurious vibe. It was what he expected from the top family.


    Finally, the maids brought Lucius to the huge doors, which surprised Lucius a bit. They immediately told him, "This is the hall where the patriarch and matriarch are waiting. You may proceed alone from here."


    The moment the maids said it, they immediately left him alone. Lucius could only sigh after seeing them leave him so fast. Lucius could only brave himself now.


    "Now, it begins. Let''s meet our new backers." Lucius then immediately opened the huge doors and entered the huge hall, where his new backers were waiting.

 Chapter 10 Ragnars Test

    Lucius then began to enter the grand hall and was surprised by how luxurious it was. But although it was luxurious, Lucius didn''t like it here because of one reason.


    There were some transparent glass panels lining the far side of the hall and through them, Lucius could see some rivers of lava.


    He then immediately knew where the Volcaria''s main estate was located. "To think that they put their main estate inside the heart of a volcano. No wonder the family exudes such fiery power as it''s practically bred into them."


    The heat from the volcano had also begun to affect Lucius as he began to furiously sweat and weaken, as it was hard for him to stand right anymore but still he could only endure this.


    Lucius then looked at two people that were sitting on top of the two thrones that were located at the end of the grand hall. From looking at their fierce faces, Lucius could tell that they were the parents of Magnus.


    Lucius also immediately felt their auras that were hundred times stronger than Magnus. Because of it, Lucius immediately knew that he needed to be careful around them or else.


    Soon the patriarch, who was glaring at Lucius, immediately shouted, "I am Ragnar, the patriarch of the Volcaria family. Are you Lucius, the one who was brought by my son here as his special guest?"


    Lucius didn''t know about this special guest thing but he could see that he was one, seeing the treatment Magnus gave to him.


    Lucius could also feel pressure when he faced Ragnar, so he immediately tried to calm down and answer, "Yes, sir. I am the one who Magnus brought here as a special guest."


    Ragnar immediately scanned Lucius and said, "I see, you are quite young to be brought here by my son. But before we waste time talking, let''s see what you''re truly capable of."


    Lucius, who heard it, immediately became worried and immediately shouted, "Wait a minute, Patriarch. I must clarify that I am not yet a beast tamer. Testing me now would-"


    Savra then sighed again, "Yes, indeed. Magnus has asked us to test him but he also says that his special guest is just a boy who has just fled from a beast tide and also he is a newly awakened boy so he was not strong at all."


    Ragnar could only frown after being scolded by his wife. "But... this is what we have always done when we have a special guest, aren''t we?"


    Savra then became even more angry after hearing Ragnar''s answer, "We indeed have tested our special guests this way but they were usually powerful people but this time the special guest was only a newly awakened boy so don''t you think that using the same test was appropriate?"


    Ragnar could only frown after hearing it and taking in defeat. "Fine. It seems that I am a bit too harsh with him."


    Savra only gave a sigh and immediately said, "Let''s bring him to our guest chamber to rest first. We will test him again "my way" when he wakes up."


    Ragnar could only nod after hearing it and Savra immediately instructed the maids that were standing near the door, "Prepare a new comfortable room for him to rest first."


    The maids immediately nodded, "At once, Madam." The maids then immediately lifted up Lucius and brought him to his new room.


    Ragnar, who saw the maids who were leaving, began to follow them with Savra. Ragnar also said with a small voice, "I still think that a little strength wouldn''t hurt."


    As Ragnar carefully picked up Lucius and followed Savra and the maid out of the hall, he couldn''t help but murmur, "I still think a little strength wouldn''t hurt..."


    Savra, who heard it, immediately glared at him and said, "Do you want to get smack again, Ragnar? Does my smack earlier is too weak for you so you want it again?"


    Ragnar, who heard it, could only shake his head as he followed Savra silently from behind. Although he was a patriarch, his wife was way stronger than him, and it made him a bit afraid of her.

 Chapter 11 Savras Test

    Lucius soon woke up and realized that he was on another bed inside another room. He frowned as he had passed out from the heat and Ragnar''s aura. "It seems that I need to get stronger or else."


    Lucius then also looked around and found out that Magnus was sitting right next to him. Magnus looked a bit worried and said to Lucius, "Lucius, are you alright?"


    Lucius immediately nodded after being asked and answered, "For now, I am alright but it is really not nice to feel pressured by your father''s aura that made me pass out."


    Magnus could only sigh after hearing it: "I am sorry for my father''s action. My father is just too stubborn to listen to me. I have told him that you are really weak and told him to go easy on you but it seems that he doesn''t listen."


    Lucius frowned as he heard those words. It was not really nice being called weak by other people but the truth was that he was weak and because of that, he could only sigh.


    But before Lucius could say anything, suddenly the door was opened and two people came in. They were Ragnar and Savra. Savra was all smiles while Ragnar was a bit frowning.


    Savra, who saw that Lucius had woken up, immediately went to him and introduced herself and also asked him about his condition, "Hello Lucius, I am the Matriarch of the Volcaria family, Savra Volcaria and also are you feeling any better, Lucius?"


    Lucius nodded after being asked, "I am fine now as I have gotten enough sleep. But still, I am a bit lightheaded as I just woke up."


    Savra then nodded and immediately apologized, "Please, forgive my husband, as he can be too overexcited. He really didn''t think it through when he unleashed his aura on you."


    Lucius immediately smiled after hearing it. "It''s alright. I understand that very much, as he needed to know if the people coming to the main house are a good one or not."


    Lucius only smiled as he understood what Ragnar had done. Although he didn''t really want to forgive him, he was just a weak boy now, so he could only forgive him.


    Ragnar, who heard it from a distance, immediately smiled, "See, Savra? No harm done. He even says that my method is right and it can train him a bit also."


    Savra immediately glared back at him, "You better shut up or else!" The moment Ragnar heard it, he immediately felt nervous and looked away.


    Lucius only smiled a little bit after seeing Ragnar being scolded by his wife. At least he could see him being shamed for a little revenge.


    Lucius was now looking at the lava turtle and smirking, "Let''s see what we should. What kind of turtle are you before I do anything?"


    Lucius then immediately used his system to scan the Lava Turtle to see his data first, as it has been a long time since he saw the data of a beast.


    [Species: Lava Turtle]


    [Element: Flame]


    [Level: 2 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: F (2¡ï)]


    [Vit: E (2¡ï)]


    [Agi: F (2¡ï)]


    [Int: F (2¡ï)]


    [Skills: Lava Spit]


    [Owner: Magnus]


    Lucius, who saw it, was not really surprised and said, "It is quite bad seeing that almost all the stats were actually F ratings."


    Lucius sighed and said, "It seems that no matter what I do later, it will really surprise them, as I am the real deal so let''s see what we should evolve you to." Lucius then turned into his system to start the hacking.

 Chapter 12 Suspicious Lucius

    Ragnar, Savra and Magnus had left the room, leaving Lucius all alone with the Lava Turtle. Ragnar then looked at Savra and began to say something.


    "What do you think, Savra? Is there a high chance that this kid, Lucius, is perhaps a scammer?" Ragnar asked Savra, as he didn''t really believe Lucius as this was their first time meeting.


    Savra turned to Ragnar and smiled, "I don''t think he is a scammer when I look at his confident face but still, I am only 80% sure about it, but who knows?"


    Ragnar, who heard Savra''s words, was a bit surprised. "80%? It is quite high when you are the one who says it but still, I am only 50% sure. I will need to see the result if he wants me to believe him."


    Magnus, who heard his parents talking, didn''t talk at all. Magnus was also curious whether Lucius was a scammer or not, as a young Evolist from a village was never heard of.


    Savra then turned toward his son, Magnus and asked him. "Magnus, you are the one who brings him here so what do you think? Is he a scammer or not?"


    Magnus looked at his mother and said, "I am only about 75% sure about him. He is so confident and calm that it immediately makes me believe him."


    Magnus then said again with a frown, "But if by any chance he is a scammer, then I will immediately do what we usually do to people like him." Magnus then crossed his neck with his hand.


    Ragnar, who looked at Magnus, smiled and said, "Good. You are really our son. If he is a scammer, kill him; if he is a real one, then you and him will be rewarded."


    Magnus, who heard it, immediately smiled and nodded. "Yes, father. Don''t you worry about it, as I believe that he is not a scammer."


    Savra, on the other hand, began to smile and said, "We will see soon enough if he is a scammer or not. For now, let him work, as I heard that some trainee Evolist took a day to work."


    The three of them then immediately walked away and each of them had some hopes that Lucius was a real one, as if it were true, then their family would raise greatly.


    Lucius then immediately told the system to do his earlier request after seeing the price: "System, launch the hack that I said earlier to make this Lava Turtle dumb and forgetful."


    Lucius could see that his points were reduced by 100 points but it didn''t hurt Lucius as it was not too big of a price.


    Soon the system immediately worked as the Lava Turtle began to change. His eyes looked emptier now as the Lava Turtle was now waiting for Lucius'' instruction.


    Lucius smiled after looking at the current Lava Turtle and decided to test it to see if the mod was really activated or not. "Let''s see. Lava Turtle, go to that corner."


    The Lava Turtle then began to slowly walk to the corner of the room. Lucius smiled as it really worked and tried to do another test. "Let''s see how about lying down for now."


    The Lava Turtle then obediently lied down and Lucius smiled even more and began to do the last test, "Now let''s see. Shake my hand with your leg."


    The Lava Turtle then stood up and moved toward Lucius. He raised his leg to greet Lucius'' hand that was already let out.


    The moment the turtle greeted Lucius'' hand, Lucius immediately shouted out loud as his hand was seared, "Damn it. Why didn''t I think it before? The Lava Turtle is a ''LavaTurtle'' so its body must be hot."


    Lucius, who was now blowing his hand, could only cry a bit, "Damn it! I need to see what kind of beasts first before I touch in the future." Lucius said to himself.


    Lucius then looked at the Lava Turtle and said, "Now let''s see... What should I evolve you to, huh? Seeing that this is a test, it needs to be a good one but still, no matter what I do, it will be good as you are just too weak."


    The Lava Turtle, who was now dumb, only looked at Lucius. It didn''t know what the man in front of him was thinking and it only stayed silent.


    Lucius then immediately turned to the system, "System, give me the evolution list of this Lava Turtle to me now." Lucius then immediately smirked as he saw the list of the evolutions that were better than he thought.

 Chapter 13 4-Star Material

    The system was now showing a screen to Lucius that was filled with the possible evolution list of the Lava Turtle that he was about to hack and he was now contemplating each one of them.


    [3-Star Lava Turtle: 10.000 HP]


    [3-Star Lava Tortoise: 100.000 HP]


    Lucius immediately thought for a while and soon made his conclusion. "The Lava Turtle one is the common one and it is not too expensive for me but still..."


    Lucius then looked at the second evolution: "The Lava Tortoise one, although ten times more expensive, will be a better and stronger evolution for the Lava Turtle."


    Lucius still thought about which one he needed to use to impress the Volcaria family. Lucius then began to turn around to see the materials that were already prepared by the maids.


    "Let''s see... just what materials the maids had prepared for me?" Lucius then inspected the materials and found out that there were quite a number of 2-Star materials and also a few 3-Star materials.


    "Not bad; it is even enough for me to immediately evolve the Lava Turtle into the Lava Tortoise." Lucius smiled after calculating it but suddenly he realized that at the corner end, there was one unique material.


    It was a vial of a crimson red liquid and when Lucius felt the aura, he was surprised as its aura was strong and when he held it up with his hand, it was so hot, although it was in a vial and only material.


    "A 4-Star material? What is it doing here? Why are they putting this one for me even though I only evolve a 2-Star beast, not a 3-Star beast?" Lucius was really confused about the current situation.


    Lucius, who was now looking at the 4-Star material, was now fighting with his inner self, "Do I absorb it or not? I don''t know how much it is worth, as I never absorbed a 4-star material in my past life."


    The system began his work by immediately hacking the core of the Lava Turtle and forcing him to evolve. Because this was not a natural evolution but a forced one, the Lava Turtle could feel some discomfort.


    The Lava Turtle trembled while letting out a small growl as his body began to change and also began to emit more heat than usual that made Lucius sweat even more than before.


    Lucius, who saw the condition of the Lava Turtle, only smirked and reminded it, "Just endure it, as evolution is never easy but when it is finished, you will become a new, stronger beast."


    The Lava Turtle still didn''t understand what Lucius said and could only endure the pain as he could feel that it had begun to change to be a stronger beast and Lucius, who saw the process, only smirked seeing it.


    ---


    Magnus, who had just finished training with his mother, began to go to the side of the room to take some water to drink and rehydrate himself.


    Savra, who looked at Magnus, began to smile as she praised him. "You have improved a little, Magnus but still, you are still too weak, as you only landed a hit on me once."


    Magnus, who heard it, immediately frowned as he said, "I am still a young person, as I am still 20 years old, so it is common for me to lose to you and also landing a hit on you is good progress."


    Savra, who heard it, only nodded. "Okay, but, speaking of progress, it''s been hours since Lucius started working with the Lava Turtle. I wonder what his current progress is."


    Magnus, who heard it, immediately raised his shoulders as he said, "I don''t really know, as the evolution process usually takes 2 to 3 days. Why don''t we see him first and check on him?"


    Savra, who heard it, immediately nodded. "That''s a good idea. It is also dinner time for us so we can also invite him for dinner later."


    Savra and Magnus then nodded to each other as they began to go to Lucius'' room to see his current progress and invite him for dinner, not knowing that there would be a surprise later.

 Chapter 14 Shocking Result

    Magnus and Savra were now walking toward Lucius'' room to see his current progress. Magnus then immediately looked at his mother and asked something.


    "Mother, what stage do you think Lucius is in right now? You''ve seen how Evolists worked before so you know their processes better than I do."


    Savra then answered Magnus'' question while explaining it a bit. "If he is a genuine Evolist, then he should still be in the preparation phase. Checking the beast and the materials is always the first step."


    Magnus, who heard it, frowned a bit as he thought. "Checking? Isn''t the process for evolving a beast just to evolve the beast? Don''t Evolists have a recipe or formula for these things?"


    Savra, who heard it, only smirked and said, "It''s not as simple as following a recipe and evolving a beast by giving it some materials. There were some steps."


    Savra then began to explain it more to him: "Not all of the beasts are the same, even though they are the same species. Their body and potential are different. Materials also have some differences, as qualities in them."


    Savra then concluded it all into one simple sentence: "A skilled Evolist needs to know what materials fit the best for the beast to let the perfect evolution."


    Magnus, who heard it, began to understand the reason why these Evolists were arrogant, as their jobs were pretty hard. "I see. So you''re saying even if Lucius is competent, he''s probably still in the checking stage. That would explain why it''s taking time."


    Savra then nodded as she said something about Lucius: "A perfect evolution is a hard process so you can see that as the reason why Evolists are rather arrogant. The fact that Lucius hasn''t asked for assistance suggests he''s either confident or... overconfident."


    Magnus smirked upon hearing what Savra said: "Overconfidence can be dangerous, but in this case, I''m curious. If Lucius truly knows what he''s doing, then he''s worth far more than we initially thought. And if he is not, then we''ll deal with him accordingly."


    Savra only nodded after he heard what Magnus said: "Let''s see what he''s accomplished. If he''s still checking the materials, we''ll gauge his methods. But if he''s moved beyond that..."


    "Then we might have found someone exceptional that will contribute to the raising of our family," continued Magnus, who was now excited while going to Lucius'' room.


    Savra, who had calmed down a bit, then immediately said to Magnus, "Of course it is. Can''t you feel your connection to it?"


    Magnus could only do what his mother told her. He then immediately began to sense his connection to his tamed beast and was surprised by it. "It''s my beast, but... how did this happen? It doesn''t even look the same!"


    Savra, who heard it, immediately turned to Lucius, who was still casually grilling a piece of meat while she and Magnus debated, "Lucius, just what have you done to the Lava Turtle?"


    Lucius didn''t bother looking up as he was still eating his meat, but still he answered, "I evolved it, of course. You can see just how different it is from before. Isn''t it obvious?"


    Savra, who heard it, was still confused about what the hell was going on and asked again, "Aren''t evolutions supposed to take two to three days, at the very least?"


    Lucius, who was still eating, was choked the moment he heard it. After drinking some water, he then looked at Savra and said, "Two to three days? Who told you that nonsense?"


    Savra, who still didn''t know what was going on, then said, "That''s the standard, Lucius. Every Evolist we''ve worked with has required that much time."


    Lucius then asked again after hearing a new fact about Evolists, "Just what the hell are they doing for two and three days?"


    Savra then began to explain what they did: "They usually inspect the beast''s condition, assess the materials, and prepare the evolution process carefully. It''s how it''s always been done."


    Lucius froze for a moment after hearing it and immediately asked to confirm it again, "Are you telling me that all the Evolists you''ve dealt with actually take two to three days to complete a single evolution?"


    Savra, who heard it, was a bit confused and immediately answered, "Yes. That''s how the process is handled. Does that surprise you?"


    Lucius was now in disbelief after hearing it. "Of course, it surprises me. Just what the hell is wrong with those people?" Lucius said while still in shock.

 Chapter 15 3-Star Lava Tortoise

    Savra and Magnus were still shocked after hearing what Lucius said. They were trying to process what Lucius just said about his method and the one they knew of.


    Savra then immediately asked Lucius about his method: "But don''t you need to check the materials and assess the beast first? To ensure it evolves perfectly."


    Lucius, who heard what Savra had just said, was confused. "Perfectly evolved? What the hell does that even mean? And why on earth would I waste time checking materials and beasts for something as absurd as perfect evolution?"


    Magnus frowned after hearing it and immediately asked, "What do you mean by that? Are you saying there''s no such thing as a perfect evolution?"


    Lucius could only sighed as he explained about it: "There is no such thing as a perfect evolution. That''s just a myth, an illusion. What actually exists are two types of evolutions: strong and weak. That''s it."


    Savra, who heard it, could only be confused by what Lucius had just said and asked again, "Weak evolution? What do you mean by that?"


    Lucius then sighed as he began to explain it: "Weak evolution is exactly what it sounds like. Sure, the beast evolves, but the result is mediocre."


    Lucius then continued to explain it more about its strengths. "It''ll be stronger than it was before, but it won''t stand a chance against other beasts that are at the same level as it."


    Magnus, who was still confused, was frowning as his knowledge was now being overturned and asked again, "So, what''s a proper evolution, according to you, then if you say that the Evolist evolution method is the weak one?


    Lucius only smirked after being asked and explained, "A strong evolution is one that maximizes the beast''s potential.It''s not about following some safe recipe or taking forever to prepare."


    Lucius then explained the point: "It''s about creativity, risk, and knowing how to push the limits. The phrase ''no pain, no gain'' exists for a reason."


    Savra, who was now curious about this new knowledge, asked Lucius, "Are you implying that the methods of every Evolist we''ve encountered are flawed?"


    Lucius nodded without hesitation. "Exactly. Those so-called Evolists you''ve worked with? They''re cowards. They take the safe route, sticking to weak evolutions because they''re too afraid of the consequences of failure."


    Lucius then immediately continued to mock the Evolists: "They waste time checking every little thing like materials, beast compatibility, whatever, so they can pretend they''ve done something impressive when, in reality, they''ve just played it safe."


    Savra then smirked as she said, "Of course, this is interesting as its price is also very expensive. Now let''s use it to check the Lava Tortoise."


    Savra then immediately walked toward the Lava Tortoise. She immediately scanned it by using the device and soon a light appeared from it and envelopped the Lava Tortoise.


    After a minute, the light soon disappeared from the Lava Tortoise''s body and its data soon appeared in the beast scanner for them to see.


    [Species: Lava Tortoise]


    [Element: Flame]


    [Level: 3 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: D (3¡ï)]


    [Vit: D (3¡ï)]


    [Agi: D (3¡ï)]


    [Int: D (3¡ï)]


    Savra and Magnus were now shocked to see the data of the Lava Tortoise that had appeared on the screen. All the stats of the Lava Tortoise were all marked with a "D".


    Magnus was the one who immediately shouted after he saw the stats, "What the hell is this? How can all of it be D-Tier?"


    Lucius, who was still eating his meat skewer, was frowning. "What''s the problem?" he asked as he was confused by Magnus''s loud voice.

 Chapter 16 Genius Evolist

    Savra and Magnus were still shocked after seeing the stats of the Lava Tortoise on the screen. It was because its stats were all marked as D-Tier.


    Lucius, who looked at them, was confused after seeing their shocked expression. "What''s wrong with it?"


    Magnus then looked at Lucius and said, "What''s wrong with it? How can the stats all be D-Tier?"


    Magnus then said again as he thought, "I remember clearly that before the evolution, my Lava Turtle had 2-Star E and F-Tier stats, but now all of them were 3-Star and also D-Tier."


    Lucius was still confused and curious about what the problem was. "Isn''t that a good thing? If all the stats improved, what''s the issue?"No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Savra, who saw the confused Lucius, began to explain it to him: "Lucius, you don''t understand. From what we know, a beast''s stats didn''t rise so suddenly. Usually, only one or two stats were raised by one tier and the rest were only increased by one level."


    Savra then pointed at the Lava Tortoise and said, "But this Lava Tortoise... every single stat increased by a level like usual but three of its stats had been raised by two tiers and the rest by one tier."


    Lucius, who was still confused, then asked again, "And? Isn''t that what evolution is supposed to do? Improve the beast?"


    Savra could only say to him again, "Lucius, evolution is usually a careful process. We''ve always believed it has limits to what it can achieve without harming the beast. What you''ve done goes beyond what any Evolist we know."


    Lucius, who heard what Savra had just said, immediately said, "Of course it is. That''s because this isn''t what you''d call a weak evolution."


    Magnus, who was still shocked on the side after looking at the stat, could only be silent as the truth was already there. He could only sigh, as Lucius was really better than any Evolists that he knew.


    Savra also then told him the face and teased him a bit, "Age is not a matter for talent and also you could learn something from him, Magnus."


    Magnus could only sigh after hearing what his mother said and stepped back a bit while lowering his head.


    Lucius onlu laughed upon seeing them and then added more teases to him, "An elder, huh? Not bad. And you say I''ll be second only to you and the patriarch? So does that mean I am in a higher position than him?"


    Savra immediately laughed also upon hearing what Lucius said, "That''s correct. Your position will be higher than my son. In fact, you can even be a new young master, seeing that you are still young and a genius."


    Magnus, who heard it, immediately went to Lucius and bowed down, "Elder Lucius, I apologize for doubting you earlier. Please forgive my rudeness."


    Lucius, who saw the changed Magnus, immediately smirked, "Oh? That was quick. Well, since it''s your first offense, I''ll let it slide. But if you ever question my abilities again, don''t expect me to evolve your beast."


    Magnus, who heard it immediately, stood up and nodded. "Understand, Elder Lucius. I won''t make the same mistake again."


    Savra, who heard and saw their conversation, could only chuckle and say, "Lucius, you''ve managed to do what most couldn''t and that is to put Magnus in his place. That alone earns my respect. Let me say it again, Lucius: welcome to the Volcaria family."


    Lucius only smiled upon being welcomed and said, "Happy to be here. Now let''s discuss those conditions I mentioned. After all, a genius like me needs proper rewards."


    Savra only chuckled upon hearing it, "I see, then let''s discuss those conditions, should we?" said Savra as they both began to become a bit serious.


    Magnus, on the other hand, could only stand a bit far from them to see what the conditions were that Lucius would ask from them, as he was not the one who was in discussion.

 Chapter 17 Lucius Conditions

    Lucius then smiled as he sat on his chair, "Let''s talk about my conditions. Firstly, as you mentioned, I''ll be heading a new division. That''s fine. But I want full authority over the team working with me. I''ll choose the people myself."


    Savra, who heard it, nodded and said, "That''s a reasonable request. The division will perform better if its members are people you trust and can work with effectively."


    Lucius smiled as he immediately continued, "Good. My second condition ties directly to the first and it is that I want to purchase slaves to form my team."


    Savra, who heard his second request, immediately frowned. "Slaves? I think that might not be the best idea. Slaves tend to be stupid so they will not be able to perform as well as you do later."


    Lucius only smirked upon hearing it. "You are thinking it too narrowly. I am not asking for any low-quality slaves. I''m talking about elite slaves, the ones with exceptional skills and potential."


    Lucius then continued his reasons for buying slaves: "And also, I want slaves because I want loyalty from them. They''ll be bound to me, and I won''t have to worry about betrayal."


    Savra immediately understood what Lucius meant: "Loyalty through ownership, I can see your points. If we focus on acquiring high-quality slaves, this could work. How many are you thinking?"


    Lucius immediately held up three fingers and said, "Two or maybe three slaves would be enough to enter my team."


    Magnus, who had been silent, looked surprised. "That''s it? Just two or three people? For an entire division?"


    Lucius chuckled and immediately explained it, "Why not? A smaller team is more focused, easier to train, and far simpler to manage. Quality over quantity, Magnus. Haven''t you learned that by now?"


    Savra, who heard what Lucius said, was still curious about his choices: "Are you really confident a small team can handle your workload?"


    Lucius'' smirk widened. "Absolutely. In fact, try to take a closer look at what''s left after the evolution."


    Savra then immediately looked around and suddenly realized something: "The materials were far fewer than before. Even the 4-Star material I provided is gone."


    Magnus was a bit surprised after hearing such specific requests. Savra, on the other hand, just nodded and said, "That''s quite specific. Anything else?"


    Lucius nodded and added, "Yes, and if possible, I want them to be talentless, as they don''t have any beast-taming talent."


    Savra was a bit surprised after hearing this: "Talentless? Why would you want slaves without talent?"


    Lucius only smirked and said, "Talentles individuals are easier to control and I also have some ways for them to grow without taming beasts."


    Savra then understood, "I see. To think that you also knew the ways for talentless people to grow but it seems that it is a secret."


    Lucius smirked and nodded. "Yeah, it is a secret and also it only works for talentless people, so this will be useless for you."


    Savra understood and said, "I see, then I don''t need to know about it as long as you are loyal to our family. Then, I''ll arrange for the slaves to arrive tomorrow."


    Lucius then nodded as it was already settled and Savra immediately invited Lucius, "Now that is settled. For now, let''s head to dinner. We''ll discuss more details tomorrow."


    Magnus, who had been quietly observing, finally said, "You really think of everything, don''t you? This isn''t how most Evolists operate."


    Lucius only smirked. "That''s because most Evolists are stuck in their ways, Magnus. I have no interest in following the crowd."


    Magnus fell silent, unable to refute the genius before him and he could not be fierce with him as his beasts were now in his hands.


    Savra then immediately looked at them and said, "Let''s head to dinner. It''s been a long day and I am hungry now."


    Soon the three of them went to the dining hall to have their dinner.

 Chapter 18 Sallos, The Slave Dealer.

    Lucius, Magnus and Savra soon arrived at the grand dining hall, where they would have their dinner. Lucius also realized that Ragnar was not here.


    Lucius, who was curious, immediately asked Savra about it: "Miss Savra, where is Sir Ragnar? Why don''t I see him here?"


    Savra, who was now eating, then immediately explained it. "He is currently handling some important matter and it needs his presence."


    Lucius, who was also eating, then understood it: "I see, he is quite a workholic, even though he looked not like it."


    Savra only smiled and said, "He sure is and I will remind him about your new position so don''t you worry about him not knowing about you."


    Lucius nodded and kept eating while Savra and Magnus also continued to eat their foods that had been prepared by the maids.


    And soon the dinner passed and the maids soon prepared some desserts for them to eat but Lucius declined it as he was a bit tired.


    "I am sorry but I don''t feel so good so if I may, I want to return to my room for the night." Lucius said as he began to stand up.


    Savra nodded and smiled. "Sure, you can return to your room and also don''t forget, as tomorrow the slave dealer will come."


    Lucius nodded and returned to his room. He then immediately changed his clothes and fell down on his bed to sleep.


    The next morning, when he woke up, he was surprised to find out that he was currently being surrounded by some beautiful maids.


    They were now basically cleaning up his room and also one of them began to approach Lucius and bowed, "Good morning, Sir Lucius. We''ve been assigned to attend to your needs."No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Lucius, who heard it, smiled as he didn''t reject them. "Assigned, you say? Well, I won''t complain. Let''s see how well you perform."


    The maids then immediately do what they were assigned. They immediately guided him through his morning routine, preparing a warm bath and selecting a fine set of tailored clothes for him.


    Lucius allowed them to work without interruption and he was also quite comfortable being served by beautiful maids.


    He also commented as the maids were still dressing him up, "You''re quite skilled. I see the Volcaria family doesn''t cut corners."


    Sallos paused then continued, "However, their main weakness is their inability to awaken any form of talent, as they were basically half beasts."


    Lucius soon understood and realized that beastmen were not really welcomed, but Lucius would like to see if she was really talentless or not by scanning her immediately.


    [Name: Liora]


    [Species: Beastman (Lion)]


    [Element: None]


    [Level: 1 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: E (1¡ï)]


    [Vit: E (1¡ï)]


    [Agi: E (1¡ï)]


    [Int: E (1¡ï)]


    [Skills: Scratch]


    After Lucius looked at her status screen, Lucius was surprised. It was because the system didn''t even classify her as a human but instead a beast. It can be seen from her data sheet.


    Lucius also thought about it: "She is also indeed stronger than humans, as her stats are already E-Tier. She is also stronger than normal beasts."


    But still Lucius was still wondering something as he thought, "I wonder if she is classified as a beast; does that mean that she can be tamed by a tamer?"


    Lucius was really curious about it as he looked at Liora the beastman and it immediately made her a bit nervous after being glared by Lucius for a long time.

 Chapter 19 Lucius Next Assignment

    Lucius then immediately turned toward Sallos and asked him something: "Sallos, I want to ask you something, as I have just known about beastmen."


    Sallos then smiled after hearing it and said, "Sure, just ask me what you want to know, sir Lucius."


    Lucius then smiled and immediately asked what he was curious about: "Beastmen are half-beasts, so can they be tamed by beast tamers?"


    Sallos was not really surprised, as he already expected such a question. "Although they are half-beast, they are also half-human so they could not be tamed by beast tamers."


    Lucius then immediately changed his question after hearing it: "So if that is the truth, then, are there any tamers that have tried to tame them?"


    Sallos nodded, meaning that there were, "Indeed, there were tamers who had tried but they immediately experienced severe backlash. Their beast-taming talents were forcibly reduced by an entire level."


    Lucius, who heard it then, said, "So because of it, there were no tamers that dare to tame the beastmen anymore."


    Sallos nodded after hearing him say, "Correct, sir Lucius. Even the most daring tamers avoid that because they already knew the risk."


    Lucius only smirked upon hearing it, "I see," but although he was already warned, Lucius was really interested as he got a system after all.


    Lucius then immediately turned his attention toward the next woman, who was the most beautiful of the five and he began to scan her data.


    [Name: Luna]


    [Species: Human]


    [Talent: None]


    [Level: 1 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: F (1¡ï)]


    [Vit: F (1¡ï)]


    Lucius only smirked upon hearing it: "I''m honored, sir, so what do you want me to do next after Miss Savra told me to come here?"


    Ragnar then immediately told Lucius about it, "I see, so you are curious about it, huh? In fact, my earlier matter was related to you."


    Lucius was a bit surprised by it and immediately asked, "Oh? And what would my assignment be?"


    Ragnar then looked at Magnus and back to Lucius, "Magnus will soon return to the academy so you will accompany him and join the academy as well. The arrangements have been made so you can join without issue."


    Lucius, who heard it, was surprised. "Wait, did I hear that correctly? I am not even a beast tamer yet so I couldn''t possibly qualify for admission."


    Ragnar only smirked and explained, "Don''t you worry about that, as I have handled it and also the academy is a bit special. It is neither a beast-tamer academy nor a conventional institution."


    Magnus then immediately joined in and explained it: "It''s more of a social hub for young nobles where it is the place where connections are made or even a place for showing off."


    Lucius was a bit surprised after hearing the fact, "I see," but then Lucius suddenly heard something wrong, "Wait a minute. Did you say ''young nobles''? Magnus, are you young?"


    Magnus was a bit shocked, as he immediately confirmed, "Of course I am young. I am only twenty years old."


    Lucius was really surprised after hearing his age. "Twenty? You are only two years older than me but with that fierce face, I would''ve guessed that you are thirty."


    Magnus, who heard it, immediately became sad. "Elder Lucius, I am still young. It is just because of my training that my face is like this."


    Lucius only chuckled upon hearing it and immediately turned toward Ragnar and asked, "So, what exactly do you want me to do at this academy?"


    Ragnar then immediately told him, "Do as you please. Build relationships. Learn the art of influence. You can do anything as long as you don''t tarnish our reputation."


    Lucius then understood it and immediately said, "Understood, but I just bought two new slaves so could I bring them with me?"


    Ragnar immediately nodded. "Of course you can. They are yours and also in the academy, you are permitted to bring your own servants."


    Lucius immediately smiled upon hearing it and thanked him, "Thank you, Patriarch. I won''t disappoint our family."


    Ragnar only smiled back and nodded as he heard what Lucius said.

 Chapter 20 Lucius New Talent

    Savra then suddenly entered the grand hall and she was being accompanied by the two slaves that Lucius had chosen.


    Savra then immediately called Lucius and told him, "Lucius, the slave matters have been handled and now the slaves are finally yours."


    Lucius looked back at Savra and walked toward her and bowed, "Thank you, Miss Savra, for handling the slaves."


    Savra only smiled after being thanked, "Don''t need to worry as they are a part of your conditions and I believe that they will be good use for you."


    Lucius nodded and smirked, "Of course, Miss Savra." Lucius then looked at Ragnar and back to Savra.


    "Matriarch, Patriarch. With both of you present, I want to know what the true reason is for sending me to the academy." Lucius asked both of them.


    Savra then immediately answered it. "It is quite simple, actually. You need to learn more about the world as you are still young and also to know some people that could be useful to you."


    Lucius, who heard it, was confused a bit and said, "Useful, huh? I doubt about that."


    Savra then smiled and said, "Don''t worry, as there must be some useful people and you can grow more there and also find potential customers."


    Lucius then smirked after realizing it, "I see but still, as an elder of the Volcaria family, am I even allowed to work with others? Won''t that conflict with the family''s interests?"


    Ragnar, who heard it, immediately laughed hard and said, "Of course you can! As long as they pay a good price for you and our family."


    Lucius then nodded after being told by Ragnar. "I see, then it simplifies things around then."


    Ragnar, who was still laughing, then said to Lucius, "Remember, you''re part of this family now. What you build strengthens us all."


    Lucius smiled and nodded. "Understood, Patriach. I won''t dissapoint the family."


    Savra then stepped forward and said to Lucius, "For now, settle in and prepare. You will go with Magnus a few days later."


    Lucius nodded once more. "I understand, Matriarch. If it''s alright, I''d like to take them to my room."


    Savra then smiled and answered, "Of course you can, as they are your slaves. Now familiarize yourself with them."


    Lucius then left the grand hall and went to his own room with his new two slaves.


    After arriving at his room, Lucius immediately told both of his slaves to wait at the corner of the room for now.


    Both slaves nodded and immediately moved toward the corner of the room where they were now watching Lucius.


    [Initiating: Celestial God Talent Acquisition]


    [Initiating: Hidden Aura Integration]


    The moment the system started the process, Lucius immediately felt a pain that was coursing through his body.


    At first, it was only a small pain but suddenly it grew into a burning pain that was torturing his entire body, with him sweating a lot more than normal.


    He could only curse the system for it: "Damn you! Why don''t you warn me about this first before starting?"


    The system didn''t answer and Lucius was left to endure his pain and after a few minutes, the pain was gone from his body.


    He could only smile after it and immediately told the system, "Show me my updated status. I want to see it."


    [Name: Lucius]


    [Species: Human]


    [Talent: Celestial God]


    [Level: 1 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: F (1¡ï)]


    [Vit: F (1¡ï)]


    [Agi: F (1¡ï)]


    [Int: F (1¡ï)]


    [Tamed Beast: None]


    His stats were still as usual as they were weak. Beast Tamers didn''t have strong stats and they only counted on their beasts when figthing.


    Lucius then wanted to test his new talent and soon looked at Luna, who was waiting on the corner of the room.


    Lucius immediately called her, "Luna, come here. I want to try something." Luna could only nod as she walked toward Lucius.

 Chapter 21 The First Woman, Luna

    Luna was kneeling down in front of Lucius. She was now waiting for something, as she didn''t know what her master was about to do to her.


    Lucius then immediately told her, "You will feel something unusual in your mind later but don''t reject and accept it. It won''t hurt you."


    Luna only nodded and waited, while Lucius bit his finger. He remembered that to tame a beast, a blood pact is needed so that was why he bit his finger.


    Lucius then immediately pressed his bloody finger onto her forehead and soon a red mark appeared on her forehead before eventually fading.


    Luna then suddenly felt something was actually entering her mind but she didn''t reject it after being told by Lucius earlier.


    Luna then suddenly felt something different after accepting it. She felt like a bond had appeared between her and her master.


    This was different than the bond that people usually say, as this time the bond was real and she could really feel it.


    Her mind was also changing as a sense of loyalty and belonging to her master was being imprinted on her mind.


    She didn''t know what this was but she still accepted it after being told by Lucius and now whenever she looked at Lucius, this feeling became greater.


    Lucius, who looked at Luna, didn''t notice any change so to see if it worked, he immediately scanned her data.


    [Name: Luna]


    [Species: Human]


    [Talent: None]


    [Level: 1 Star]


    [Stats:]


    She never thought that Luna, who was calm before, suddenly changed. It looked like she was being hypnotized or something but she ignored it as she was a slave.


    Lucius then immediately focused on Luna, who was still kneeling in front of him. "Let''s test something new, shall we?"


    Lucius then began to talk to Luna but not with their mouth but with their mind: "Luna, can you hear me?"


    Luna was surprised the moment she heard Lucius'' voice in her head: "Master, is that you? Are you talking directly to my mind?"


    Lucius immediately chuckled, "Indeed, I am. This is because of my talent that let me tamed any female beast tamers. You are now already one of my tamed beast tamer."


    Lucius then explained it to her, "And also, like any other tamers, I can also talk to my tamed beasts with my mind like we are doing here so it is normal."


    Luna immediately began to become calm again as she answered him, "I understand now, Master."


    Lucius was surprised by Luna''s answer, "You don''t seem to be so surprised. Most would find this a bit weird or terrifying."


    Luna only smiled as she replied, "I am not surprised, Master, as I was already yours in body and soul. This bond only solidifies what I''ve always known: my existence is solely to serve and please you."


    Lucius smiled a bit after hearing it and said, "Is that so? Then tell me, Luna... would you like a talent? A power that could make you more useful to me? Perhaps... the ability to tame strong beasts, even a beast like Liora?"


    Luna was a bit surprised this time and immediately replied, "Master! You... you can give me such talent? The talent to tame strong beasts, even beastmen like Liora?"


    Lucius smirked as he told her again, "Of course I can. In fact, it was because of your talentless point that you were bought by me. With it, I can easily add a new talent to you, so do you want it or not?"


    Luna immediately smiled as she nodded strongly and answered, "Of course I want it, Master. As long as I can become stronger for you, I will do anything."


    Lucius, who heard it, smirked immediately and said, "Very well, then. Let''s begin to hack your body." Lucius then immediately turned to the system to begin the hacking process for Luna''s new talent.


    Liora, who was in the corner of the room, was a bit frowning, as he could not hear what they were talking about anymore as they didn''t move their mouths.


    But still, she felt something was wrong from seeing the smirks that appeared so suddenly on their faces. "What the hell are they thinking now?"

 Chapter 22 Lunas New Talent

    Lucius had decided what kind of talent he would give to Luna. He then turned toward the system and ordered it.


    "System, hack her to give her the God-level talent: Moon Goddess!" Lucius said. Luna''s name was connected to moon so he just gave her the talent related to the moon.


    Lucius also didn''t forget to input an option into it: "And also include the Hidden Aura option as I don''t want to attract unnecessary attention."


    [Initiating: Moon Goddess Talent Acquisition]


    [Initiating: Hidden Aura Integration]


    The system then instantly reduced two million Hack Points from Lucius'' reserve. Lucius still had six million left so he was only frowning a bit.


    Lucius then looked at Luna before the hacking process began, "Luna, you are about to become something better so please endure it, okay."


    Luna then nodded, "Yes, Master. I will endure it, as anything you give me is a blessing. I''m ready for whatever you wish to give me."


    Then suddenly Luna felt some intense body throughout her body. She immediately kneeled, as it was too much for her too stand.


    Lucius then said, "Endure it, Luna. What comes after this is what truly matters. This is the price for power."


    Luna could only nod and grit her teeth as she was enduring the painful process and after a few minutes, the process was done and Luna immediately lied down.


    Lucius, who was now excited, began to check Luna''s data to see if the system had successfully hacked her body.


    [Name: Luna]


    [Species: Human]


    [Talent: Moon Goddess]


    [Level: 1 Star]


    [Stats:]


    Luna only smiled and immediately said, "Don''t be afraid, Liora. I am not going to hurt you. I am just doing something for your own good."


    Liora immediately frowned after hearing it and said, "Don''t lie to me. I have seen you change. This isn''t you, Luna. What the hell has he done to you?"


    Luna only chuckled and answered, "I''ve found my purpose, Liora. Master has just opened my eyes, and now it''s time for you to join me. Together, we''ll serve him. Isn''t that wonderful?"


    Liora, who heard it, immediately frowned as she retorted. "Damn you, Luna. Just what is happening to you that makes you like this?"


    Luxius only smiled from his seat and said, "Luna isn''t here to force you. She''s here to enlighten you or it could be said to tame you."


    Liora, who heard suddenly felt shocked, "Tame me? That''s impossible. Beastmen can never be tamed as we are half-human."


    Lucius only smiled upon hearing it and said, "If it''s truly impossible, then you have nothing to fear, do you?"


    Liora could only agree to what Lucius was saying. She was a slave and she cannot run so she could only agree.


    "Fine, let''s see if you can actually tame me but let me tell you that the backlash from failing is huge, Luna." Liora said as she stood waiting for her.


    Luna only smiled as she moved toward Liora, "Oh, Liora. Don''t you worry, as I will be successful. This will be a gift that you will thank me for later."


    Luna then bit down her finger, which made a wound. She then put her bloody finger into Liora''s forehead and soon a blood mark appeared before disappearing in an instant.


    Liora could feel that something was entering her mind and she was still calm as the backlash would automatically appear but suddenly she felt something wrong.


    "What the hell is happening here? Why isn''t it working? Where''s the backlash?" Liora shouted out loud in a panic.


    Luna, who heard her shout, only smiled as she said, "Oh, Liora. Didn''t I tell you? There''s no point in resisting. You''ve already been tamed by me."


    Liora could feel something changing inside her and she immediately kneeled as she tried to fight it back. "No! This can''t be happening! I won''t be tamed by you!"


    But suddenly, after she said it, she immediately stood and looked at Liora. Her expressions stayed the same but now it didn''t have any panic like before.


    "Master, Liora is at your command!" Liora said to Luna, meaning that Liora had been successfully tamed by Luna and this made her and Lucius happy.

 Chapter 23 Lunas Tamed Beast

    Lucius was now looking down at Luna and Liora, who had already kneeled down in front of them. Both of them had completely become his.


    Lucius then immediately looked at Liora as he was curious about something. "Liora. Tell me, how do you feel now? Have your memories been altered? or perhaps... something else?"


    Liora, who was being asked, was surprised a little bit. She then immediately shook her head.


    "No, Master, my memories are intact. I remember everything clearly, from what I thought, felt and even what I said and did before being tamed."


    Lucius, who heard it, raised his eyebrow a bit and immediately smirked. "Interesting, so it''s not brainwashing. Then what has changed in you? Can you tell me?"


    Liora looked at Lucius eyes directly. "Nothing has changed, Master. I am still me, as I can still think for myself. But there is something new in my mind."


    Liora then explained it more clearly to Lucius: "It was like a seed has been planted that made it impossible for me to think unfavorably of you."


    Lucius became even more curious and asked, "A seed, you say? What does this seed do other than make you unable to think unfavorably of me?"


    Liora then explained it more. "It makes me want to give everything to you, Master. My loyalty, body and soul. Everything I have belongs to you."


    She then furrowed her bow as she continued explaining, "But there is something strange as there is a condition. As long as you treat us with respect, that seed will remain stable. But..."


    Liora then looked at Lucius as she was warning him, "If you were to mistreat me or betray me, the seed will shatter and everything will change."


    Lucius, who heard it then, began to smirk as he understood it now. He then chuckled, "I see. So it''s like a beast-taming bond where some mistreated beast can even betray his master."


    Lucius, who was still in bed and curious, just smiled at her. "Lady Savra, may I know what you want me to do with all these beasts?"


    Savra only smiled back, as she was quite amused. "I see, you immediately went straight to the point, huh."


    She then gestured for the maid to put the materials and 5 beast cages down and soon explained it to Lucius.


    "These are Flame Foxes and they are quite numerous near our estate. They are 1-Star beasts and now I want you to evolve them into 2-Star beasts."


    Lucius raised an eyebrow as he was curious about what Savra wanted: "Evolve them? Why do you want me to do it, as I have said that I evolved premium beasts and now you want me to evolve five of them?"


    Savra then smiled as she explained. "I want to sell them. Usually only families with Evolists can sell beasts, but we also can now as we have you."


    Savra then continued to explain the benefit for Lucius. "And also, I will give you 75% of the total profit for your pocket money later, when you are going to the academy."


    Lucius immediately smiled upon hearing it that he also got some profit. "Pocket money, huh? Very well then. Leave them here with the materials, and I''ll handle it."


    Savra nodded and turned to the maids. "You heard him. Leave everything here." The maids then immediately do what they were told.


    Savra was about to leave when suddenly Lucius called her, "Lady Savra, since you''re here, I''d like to ask you something."


    Savra, who heard it, only smirked as she wanted to know what Lucius asked. "Ask away, Lucius. I am curious about what you want to ask me about."


    Lucius then smiled as he explained it to her, "You see, I will be sent to the academy later, so I want to know about the academy more."


    Savra then smiled. "I see, so you want to know about the academy. Ask away. What do you want me to answer?" Savra then asked Lucius what he want to know about.

 Chapter 24 The Noble Academys System

    Lucius had now gotten off the bed and was already dressed by Luna. He then immediately invited Savra to sit down to talk.


    Lucius then immediately began his question, "Later, I will go to the academy, so I want to know more about it. Specifically, what to expect, and also just how safe or dangerous it is."


    Savra only smiled as he answered, "The academy, as you thought, is an academy but for an elite. It is the place where young nobles are trained but it is looser.


    Lucius, who heard it, was confused but also curious. "Looser? What do you mean by looser, Lady Savra?"


    Savra nodded as she began to explain. "All of the students are nobles and they don''t like to be regulated so the academy is designed to fulfill their egos while still producing results."


    Savra then explained more about the system: "Attendance isn''t mandatory. Your progress is measured by your exams and practical accomplishments. As long as you perform well, no one cares whether you attend every lecture."


    Lucius smirked as he was really amused, "How really accommodating for the academy to do that. No wonder; a lot of nobles are fools."


    Savra only chuckled after hearing it. "It does but still, not all of them are fools. Many use that freedom to hone their power and speciality in secret, so they can act as a hidden tiger."


    Savra then explained about the courses inside it. "The academy also offers two primary courses: the Beast Tamer Course and the Evolist Course."


    Lucius then somewhat understood the situation and immediately asked, "I now know about the academy but still, how about the dangers? Surely a free place filled with fools was not really without its downside."


    Savra immediately became serious as she explained. "You''re right. The academy isn''t just a place of learning but also a battleground of status and power."


    Savra then explained more about the danger: "Many young arrogant nobles like to enjoy bullying other people for their entertainment."


    Savra then also explained, about the degree of the bullying, "Because of it, fights between nobles are common, and injuries are often overlooked as long as they don''t draw too much attention."


    Lucius only smirked upon hearing it. "I see. As expected of nobles, as power reigns supreme. As long as you are powerful, no one dares to block you."


    Savra nodded and soon comforted him. "Exactly, but don''t you worry. You are now our family member and you have our name to shield you."


    Savra then immediately smirked as she explained more. "No one would dare you bully you and if they dare, then they will need to prepare to face the consequences."


    Lucius only chuckled hearing that. "Good to know. But let''s say someone does cross me, someone foolish enough to provoke a fight. Can I... kill them?"


    Savra remained clam as she explained, "No. Killing other nobles is forbidden unless it''s a life-and-death duel. In any other circumstance, you can hurt them or humiliate them, but you must leave them alive or else."


    Lucius frowned after hearing it, as he immediately said, "How... inconvenient? But still, no one will die in that academy, which really relieves me."


    ---


    [Evolution Options for Flame Fox:]


    [2-Star Flame Fox: 1.000 HP]


    [2-Star Ember Fox: 10.000 HP]


    ---


    Lucius smiled upon seeing the list; he immediately decided what evolution chose. "These beasts will be sold later so we need to have the best one."


    Lucius then turned to Luna and Liora and smirked. "Now, watch me carefully. I will show you why I am the best master for you two."


    Luna immediately became excited as she clasped her hand. "Master, your power is unmatched. Please show us your power."


    Liora, who heard it, also nodded as she was curious about Lucius'' power. "I am eager to know it, too so please show me why you are the best for us."


    Lucius only chuckled as he turned to look at the 1-Star Flame Foxes that didn''t know about what would happen to them later.


    Lucius only smirked as he turned to the system. "System, hack their memories of this evolution process to be gone once it''s complete."


    Lucius also ordered the system to launch which evolution path Lucius wanted: "Use the second evolution path to evolve them all into 2-Star Ember Foxes."


    ---


    [Initiating Hack: Memory Erasure Initiated.]


    [Initiating Hack: Evolution to Ember Fox Commencing.]


    [Resources Required: 50,000 Evolution Points + 100 Memory Wipe Points.]


    [Cost Deducted: 50,100 Points.]


    ---


    Luna and Liora, who had been standing nearby, were surprised by the sudden changes in the room when Lucius showed off his power.

 Chapter 25 Flame Foxes Evolution

    Luna and Liora were shocked the moment they saw what Lucius had done. The materials that were around were being absorbed by something unseen until they were dried.


    The flame foxes also suddenly felt something as they suddenly began to change. Their body and fur began to become redder and bigger and also, at the same time, hotter.


    But still, this process was a fast evolution; the flame foxes immediately felt intense pain that made them screaming.


    Lucius frowned after hearing it and immediately told the system, "System, hack them to be in sleep mode while evolving."


    ---


    [Initiating Hack: Sleep Mode Initiated.]


    [Resources Required: 100 Sleep Mode Points.]


    [Cost Deducted: 100 Points.]


    ---


    The flame foxes then immediately went to sleep and the room went back to its peaceful state and Lucius only sat calmly in his chair.


    Luna and Liora could not say anything, as the events that were in front of them were too much for them to comprehend.


    Soon the evolution of the flame foxes had finished as they began to wake up from their deep sleep and Lucius smirked as he saw their data.


    ---


    [Species: Ember Fox]


    [Element: Flame]


    [Level: 2 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: D (2¡ï)]


    [Vit: D (2¡ï)]


    [Agi: D (2¡ï)]


    [Int: D (2¡ï)]


    ---


    Lucius was a bit surprised after seeing the third option. "It seems that because she was tamed by Luna, who is a moon goddess, this option appeared."


    Lucius then looked at the price and was a bit surprised as to how expensive it was. "Although it is expensive, my life is still better than these points."


    Lucius then looked at Liora and immediately warned her, "I will now evolve you but you will feel intense pain. Endure it, and you''ll become stronger than you ever thought possible."


    Liora didn''t falter and immediately stood straight. "I''m ready, Master. Please do what you must. Whatever it takes, I''ll endure it for you."


    Lucius then smiled and immediately told the system, "System, hack her to evolve into a 2-Star Lunar Beastman. And while you''re at it, integrate a hidden aura to mask the evolution. We don''t need unnecessary attention."


    ---


    [Initiating Hack: Evolution to Lunar Beastman (Lion) Commencing.]


    [Initiating Hack: Hidden Aura Integration]


    [Resources Required: 100,000 Evolution Points + 100,000 Hidden Aura Points.]


    [Total Cost Deducted: 200,000 Points.]


    ---


    Lucius frowned again as the price had been doubled because of the added option. "Expensive, but worth it. The hidden aura will ensure no one suspects a thing."


    Suddenly, Liora, who didn''t feel anything at first, immediately stiffened her body as she felt an intense pain appearing in her body.


    Her body didn''t change much but instead it was her essence that changed so much. Because of it, she immediately hugged her stomach while enduring the pain.


    Luna, who stood nearby, immediately looked worried as he turned toward Lucius. "Master, will she be okay?"


    Lucius didn''t turn toward Luna and only said, "She will be fine. This is the price of evolution and she will be stronger if she endures it."


    Liora then suddenly screamed loudly as her body began to shine. Fortunately, his room was quite soundproof, so no one would hear her.


    Soon enough, her evolution had ended as her scream stopped and also her light had disappeared from her body.


    She didn''t change much from before but there were definitely some changes that happened on the inside.


    "Let''s see just how powerful you are now, Liora." Lucius then immediately scanned her data to see how she was now.

 Chapter 26 Lunar Beastman

    Lucius smirked the moment he saw Liora''s new status, as it was better than he thought, as it was way stronger than other 2-Star beasts that he knew.


    ---


    [Name: Liora]


    [Species: Lunar Beastman (Lion)]


    [Element: Moon]


    [Level: 2 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: C (2¡ï)]


    [Vit: C (2¡ï)]


    [Agi: C (2¡ï)]


    [Int: C (2¡ï)]


    [Skills: Lunar Claws, Lunar Blessing, Lunar Roar]


    [Owner: Luna]


    ---


    "To think that all of the stats were all C-Tier." Lucius said as he began to remember Magnus'' Lava Tortoise''s stats.


    "Even though Magnus was 3-Star level, its stats are still D-Tier, so it can be said that Liora has roughly the same strength as it." Lucius said after making his conclusion.


    Lucius also looked at the skill slots and said, "I wonder just how strong those lunar skills are but unfortunately we are indoors. I will check it later."


    Lucius then turned toward Liora as he began to ask her about her new body. "Liora, how do you feel about your new body now?"


    Liora immediately smirked as she kneeled in front of him. "Master, I feel much better than before. I feel that I am at least ten times stronger than before."


    ---


    The system then immediately reduced the points and began to fasten the process for Lucius and immediately it was finished after a few minutes.


    Lucius then looked at his hands and clenched his fists and also smirked. "Finally, I have become a 2-Star Tamer again."


    Luna and Liora weren''t shocked, as they had already expected such an outcome from their unique master.


    Lucius, who had transformed, immediately turned to Luna and Liora. "You two stay here. I am going to the grand hall to deliver these cages."


    The two women bowed their heads in unison, their loyalty unwavering. "Yes, Master. We will stay here and wait for you."


    Lucius then went to his door to meet the guards who guard it. The guards who saw that the door was opened immediately asked Lucius.


    "Master Lucius, how may we assist you?" The guards asked.


    Lucius then immediately told them what he needed: "Summon some maids, as I am going to the grand hall. I need to deliver something to the Matriarch."


    The guards nodded. "At once, Master Lucius. We will call them immediately." They then immediately went to call the maids.


    Moments later, the guards had returned, bringing some maids. The maids immediately bowed down to Lucius, "Master Lucius, have you requested us?"


    Lucius smiled and pointed at the cages that were inside his room. "Yes, I am. Please prepare the cages and escort me to the grand hall, as the Matriarch had been waiting for them."


    The head maid immediately nodded. "Of course, Master Lucius. We will immediately prepare them."


    The maids immediately took the cages and brought them to the grand hall while Lucius was following them from behind.


    After a few minutes, they arrived in front of the gate of the grand hall, where two guards were guarding it.


    One of the guards stepped forward, bowing his head. "Master Lucius. The Matriarch is awaiting your arrival."


    Lucius immediately smiled upon hearing it. "Perfect timing. Please open the doors, as I have brought her what she wanted."


    The guards then obeyed as they opened the door to reveal the luxurious but hot grand hall where Savra was waiting.


    Lucius immediately entered the grand hall and soon the maids were following behind him, carrying the beast cages that were filled the new Ember Foxes.


    Lucius then stood in front of Savra. "Lady Savra. I''ve brought the delivery you requested. I believe that it will exceed your expectations," Lucius said and then smirked.

 Chapter 27 2-Star Ember Foxes

    Savra, who was now sitting at a throne, smirked when seeing that Lucius had finally come to see her.


    She also saw the cages that were being brought and put down by the maids that were filled with the new beasts.


    Savra then looked at Lucius and said, "I assume those are the results of your efforts. Are they the newly evolved forms of the Flame Foxes?"


    Lucius then smirked as he explained. "Yes, indeed. They are 2-Star beasts that had been evolved from Flame Foxes. They are called Ember Foxes now."


    Savra then immediately took out her beast scanner and began to scan the new Ember Fox as she pointed it to it.


    ---


    [Species: Ember Fox]


    [Element: Flame]


    [Level: 2 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: D (2¡ï)]


    [Vit: D (2¡ï)]


    [Agi: D (2¡ï)]


    [Int: D (2¡ï)]


    ---


    Savra was surprised the moment she saw the stats of the new Ember Fox. She never thought that its stats could be this high.


    She then immediately turned toward Lucius and smirked. "D-Tier stats. To think that you managed to do this on a 2-Star beast. It is a bit unexpected."


    The maid frowned and immediately issued her beast another command. "Fire Serpent, use Flame Wrap! Bind it!"


    The serpent soon ignited its body and lunged toward the Ember Fox. It was trying to encircle the fox and soon bound it down.


    But the Ember Fox was faster than it. It easily moved and avoided the fire serpent''s attack and also immediately countered it with its own attack.


    The Ember Fox soon ignited its tail and used Ember Tail right in the serpent''s head, making it down in a single hit.


    The maid was quite surprised, as she never thought that her beast would be defeated with only one move.


    Savra, who had seen the battle, smirked and rose from her throne. She immediately looked at Lucius.


    "Lucius, to think that your new beast can take down a normal 2-Star beast in one or two hits. It is really wonderful."


    Lucius only smiled after being praised, "Of course it is. I told you, didn''t I? These Ember Foxes are stronger than it looks."


    Savra then smiled as she praised him, "You have really outdone yourself yet again, Lucius. I really need to stop to underestimate you."


    She also then crossed her arms as she told him. "And also, these Ember Foxes should sell so well later. Even more than I expected."


    Lucius only stood and smiled. "If that is the case, then I''ll be expecting my share of the profits, Lady Savra. I trust that you won''t disappoint."


    Savra only chuckled and began to become a bit more serious. "Don''t you worry, as I will not let you down. I''ll ensure these Ember Foxes are sold to the highest bidders."


    Lucius smirked upon hearing what Savra had promised. "Good, I''ll leave the rest to you. I am going back to my room."


    Savra only nodded as she said. "Okay then, please have a good time with both of your slaves."


    Lucius only smiled as he left the grand hall, leaving Savra to handle the matters about these Ember Foxes.


    Savra then looked toward one of the headmaids. "Prepare the carriage, as I''m going to the auction house immediately. These Ember Foxes need to be listed and showcased before the market cools."


    The head maid nodded and immediately did what she was told: "At once, Lady Savra."


    She then immediately handled the maids to prepare the cages to be brought to the auction house and the guards to prepare the carriage for Lady Savra.

 Chapter 28 The Managers Excitement

    Savra soon arrived at the auction house. She then immediately went to the receptionist and shocked them.


    The receptionist immediately stood and bowed down. "Welcome to the auction house, Lady Savra. How may I assist you today?"


    Savra only smirked as she looked at her. "I need to speak to the manager so call him for me, will you?"


    The receptionist nodded quickly, "Of course, Lady Savra. Please wait here for a moment. I''ll notify him immediately." The receptionist hurriedly rang a small bell to summon a staff.


    The staff immediately came and after being told by the receptionist, he immediately went to the back to call the manager.


    Soon a middle-aged man who was dressed quite luxuriously immediately came out. He also walked hurriedly to the receptionist and bowed down to Savra.


    "Lady Savra, it''s an honor to have you here. How can we assist you today?" The manager said while bowing down.


    Savra only smirked and said, "I have something for the auction. They were also unique and I believe you will like it."


    The manager then stood up and asked, "Unique? Are they Magma Essences that you usually sell?"


    Savra only chuckled as she shook her head and soon gestured for the maids behind her to step forward and put down the cages.


    "No, they are not Magma Essence but instead they are these beasts, which are Five 2-Star Ember Foxes. I believe you will like them." Savra said while smirking.


    The manager then looked at the cages that were filled with the 2-Star Ember Foxes. They were not too rare and also not too powerful so the manager was a bit confused.


    Savra remained calm after seeing the manager and folded her arms. "Check them yourself. I am sure that you will like them very much."


    The auction hall was filled with a lot of people and all of them were famous people. However, only two figures stood out.


    They were the Tavian Blazeheart, a young noble from the renowned Blazeheart family. The other one was Eric Morphane, an Evolist known for his arrogance and precise nature.


    The auction had been proceeding smoothly until a sudden announcement interrupted the flow. A staff member stepped onto the stage, bowing slightly before addressing the crowd.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, we are sorry but we have a special addition to the auction. A newly acquired rare item will be auctioned immediately."


    The room soon became noisy as a lot of people were talking about it. Eric also joined in as he sneered. "Changing the schedule mid-auction? What could be so important to make such a disruption?"


    Tavian, who heard it, smirked as he was curious about it. "An unscheduled addition? They''d better have something worthwhile to justify this interruption."


    Soon the auctioneer was changed and the manager came out as he began. "Ladies and gentlemen, it''s not often that we have the privilege of presenting something truly extraordinary."


    The manager then gestured for his staff to take out the item. The staff then began to take out a huge cage that was more than enough to house the Ember Foxes.


    The manager stepped forward and placed his hand on the edge of the cage. Today, I bring you not one, but five beasts. They are so extraordinary that will shock you."


    The manager then immediately took out his beast scanner. "Now, I invite you to use your beast scanners. See for yourselves what makes these Ember Foxes so extraordinary.


    Eric, who heard it, raised his eyebrow and sneered. "Shock me? Really bold words from him. Let''s see if you can back them up."


    Tavian Blazeheart was amused when he heard it. "A bold claim: Let''s see if they''re foolish enough to exaggerate or clever enough to sell their beasts."


    All of the people then immediately took out their beast scanners to see just what the manager meant about them being extraordinary.

 Chapter 29 Talentless Advancement

    The people then immediately used their beast scanners to scan the Ember Foxes and the moment they saw the status, they were shocked.


    Eric, who saw it, was immediately shocked as he looked deeply at the scanner. "How can this be? A 2-Star beast with perfect D-Tier stats? I never see anything like this."


    Tavian then became silent for a while before smirking wide. "This is it. This is the beast I''ve been searching for. A perfect starter for me."


    Tavian possessed the Flame Lord talent. Lord and King-level talent can let the tamer tame 2-Star beasts as their starter beasts when they were 1-Star tamers.


    The manager that was on stage smirked when he saw the reaction from the crowd. "As you can see, ladies and gentlemen, these Ember Foxes are no ordinary beasts. With full D-Tier stats, they are perfect for nobles."


    The manager then immediately held his hammer as he began. ""We''ll start the bidding at 1,000 Beast Coins or 1,000 BC for each Ember Fox."


    Tavian was the first to act. He immediately stood and called out his bid. "I don''t want to waste my time so I bid 7,000 BC for two of the Ember Foxes."


    The crowd was shocked when they heard it. To think that there was someone who immediately bid that high.


    Eric only sneered as he also stood and called out, "I also bid 7,000 BC for two of the Ember Foxes. I am curious to see just how these beasts achieved such stats."


    Because of Eric and Tavian, the tension in the room rose and the remaining Ember Fox was now in a fierce state.


    The manager only smirked upon seeing each new bid; his mind racing was now racing to calculate the profits from this auction.


    In the end, the final Ember Fox was sold for 3,000 BC, only 500 BC lower than the previous bid but still, this made the manager smile as it was rare for 2-Star Beast to have this high price.


    The manager then bowed down. "Congratulations to our esteemed bidders that had gotten the Ember Fox. I wish you good luck."


    Tavian only smirked as he saw the two Ember Foxes. "A worthwhile purchase. These Ember Foxes will be the ones who raised my prestige in the family." Tavian said while leaving the hall.


    Eric, on the other hand, smirked as he saw his Ember Foxes. "A mystery worth researching. I wonder what secret you two hold." Eric said while leaving the hall.


    Lucius nodded his head and turned to Luna and Liora, who had just come to the grand hall. "Luna, bring the money with you. Liora, you''ll serve as my guard."


    Luna, who was excited, bowed her head and said, "Yes, Master." She then stepped forward and took the chest from the table. Liora, on the other hand, just stayed silent.


    As they prepared to leave, Savra immediately realized something and stopped him. "Lucius, before you go, I have a question."


    Lucius then turned his face to Savra, confused, "Yes? What is it that you want to ask?"


    Savra gestured toward him and Luna. "You''re both 2-Star Tamers now, but from what I know, both of you are talentless and haven''t tamed any beasts. How is that possible?"


    Lucius, who heard it, chuckled and smirked, "Ah, that. I recently discovered a unique recipe. It allows me to level up without the need to tame a beast. A rare find, wouldn''t you say?"


    Savra, who heard it, became interested and asked. "A recipe, you say? Could you share it with me?"


    Lucius''s smirk widened and he shook his head. "I''m afraid not. It''s useless to those with beast talents. It only works for the talentless."


    Savra was a bit surprised by the revelation, "Only for the talentless, huh?"


    Savra then folded her arms. "That''s... unusual. But I suppose it makes sense. Talentless individuals are exceedingly rare."


    Lucius then nodded his head. "Exactly. It is suited only for the few who are unfortunate. You wouldn''t benefit from it, so there''s no need to concern yourself as talentless are just too rare."


    Savra then nodded, "I see. Then it''s of no use to me."


    She then gestured toward the door. "Go ahead, Lucius. Enjoy the market. I''ll be curious to see what catches your eye."


    Lucius chuckled and turned toward the door, with Luna and Liora following closely behind. "Don''t worry, Lady Savra. I always find exactly what I''m looking for."


    As the carriage pulled away from the estate, Lucius leaned back in his seat, his smirk never fading.


    Luna sat beside him, carefully guarding the chest, while Liora remained alert, preparing for all situations.

 Chapter 30 Eternal Vault

    Lucius stepped off the carriage and looked at the market that was in front of him. The journey was not long as Daxton used a teleportation platform.


    Lucius didn''t know about it as he was always in the estate and also when he arrived at Volcaria''s estate, he was sleeping so he didn''t know it.


    Daxton then immediately scanned the crowd before turning back to Lucius. "Master Lucius, this market may not be the most dangerous, but it''s not without its risks. Allow me to accompany you."


    Lucius turned to Daxton and shook his head. "I know what you are worried about, but I don''t think I need to be accompanied."


    Daxton was a bit confused hearing it but still he said. "I insist, Master Lucius. There may be individuals here who..."


    Lucius cut him off with a wave of his hand. "I don''t need your companion, Daxton. Liora is more than enough to ensure my safety."


    Lucius then explained the reason. "Liora is a 2-Star Beastman now and I also doubt that there are many 3-Star tamers around here."


    Liora, who stood beside Lucius, immediately looked at Daxton. "Don''t worry, Sir Daxton. I will make sure that no one will dare to hurt my master. I''ll rip apart anyone foolish enough to try."


    Daxton''s worry deepened as he saw Liora and Lucius. "I don''t doubt her strength, Master but this is still my duty."


    Lucius only chuckled and looked at Daxton. "Daxton, your duty is to follow my orders. And my order is to remain here. Luna, Liora, and I will handle this on our own."


    Daxton could only step back after hearing what Lucius said. "As you wish, Master Lucius. But still, please be careful."


    Lucius smirked as he walked away, "Careful? Don''t you worry, Daxton; instead, be worried about people who dare to lay a hand on me."


    Lucius then immediately entered the market with Liora and Luna, leaving Daxton alone to guard the carriage.


    As they were walking, Luna then called Lucius, "Master, shall I carry this all day long? Or shall we find a place to store it? Whatever you want, I am ready."


    Lucius then looked at Luna and thought for a moment. "It seems we will need to buy a spatial ring. I doubt carrying a chest will be safe for us in the long run."


    Luna immediately nodded as she agreed with Lucius. Liora also agreed with what Lucius said, as it was better to have a spatial ring.


    The receptionist nodded quickly and smiled. "Yes, my Lord. We carry several types of spatial rings. May I ask what specifications you''re looking for?"


    Lucius raised an eyebrow, as he just knew about it. "Specifications? Are there any differences between each spatial ring?"


    The receptionist nodded again as she began to explain as she gestured to a nearby display that showcased some spatial rings.


    "There are two main features to consider, my lord. The first is the size of the internal space, which literally means the size of the space inside it."


    The receptionist then continued to explain about the second feature. "The second is the time differential. Certain rings allow the space within to exist on a separate time flow from reality, which helps in preserving items."


    Lucius smiled after knowing the new information. "Interesting, so can I assume that the higher the capacity and the greater the time manipulation, the greater the price?"


    The receptionist gave a small, nervous laugh, "Indeed, my lord. But they are worth the investment, especially for individuals such as yourself."


    Lucius only smiled as he was satisfied after hearing her explanation. He then turned toward the system. "System, can you tell me the specifications of the Eternal Vault?"


    ---


    [Eternal Vault: Each slot offers unlimited storage for one item type with timeless preservation and infinite stacking.]


    ---


    Lucius then understood what the system said and smirked. "So, it''s essentially a limitless inventory slot, and I can even store enough beast coins to rival the world and it is still not full."


    Lucius already knew now that his system''s Eternal Vault, although so expensive, was better than any of these spatial rings.


    But still, the spatial rings could be used to mask his system''s Eternal Vault. "I''ll take a look at your other displays first, as it would be a shame to leave with just the spatial rings."


    The receptionist nodded quickly, gesturing toward the showroom. "Of course, my Lord. Please take your time. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call for assistance."


    Lucius only gave her a smile. "Of course I''ll do that if I need your help." The receptionist then left Lucius alone in the showroom.

 Chapter 31 Beast Tools

    Lucius strolled around the showroom and looked at the displays that were filled with numerous materials and also some cages that were filled with beasts.


    Lucius frowned after looking around, as there were only some 1-Star and 2-Star materials. He could just ask for them from Lady Savra.


    Lucius then looked more again at the beasts but also frowned as they were just weak beasts. Although most of them had E-Tier stats that were deemed good for people but not for Lucius.


    Lucius could easily hack a beast to have full D-Tier stats, and it didn''t take much of his points if the beast was only 2-Star like the Ember Fox.


    Lucius then immediately went to another section, which was the Beast Tools section. The shelves were filled with numerous items designed to aid in handling and taming beasts.


    Lucius then looked at one vial that had some label below it: ''Beast Calming Powder: This powder calms the beast, making it easier to tame.''


    Lucius also looked at some other items that were named Beast Taming Ropes that were used to bind some beasts to make it easier to tame.


    Lucius frowned after seeing these items and also some others that were almost the same. All of these tools only aid in taming beasts, but Lucius didn''t need them.


    Liora then suddenly looked at one of the items, which was some silver ring and immediately called Lucius. "Master, this one might interest you."


    Lucius then saw what Liora suggested. It was a silver ring that was named the Beast Ring. It was a temporary spatial prison for a beast.


    It indeed made Lucius interested, as he said. "How practical, as you don''t need to take a lot of cages."


    The receptionist who noticed it immediately explained it. "My lord, that Beast Ring is one of our finest tools for transporting captured beasts. It creates a spatial pocket to contain the creature, ensuring it cannot escape."


    Lucius was interested and asked. "Interesting but I want to know if there are some limitations."


    The receptionist then nodded and explained. "Yes, my Lord. The beast must be fed regularly, as the space inside it flows at the same time as reality."


    Lucius frowned after hearing it. "The limitations are too much for me to take it. I also don''t need to catch any beasts."


    The receptionist bowed again and hurried off, leaving Lucius to turn inward as he addressed his system. "System, use 1 million Hack Points to purchase 10 slots in the Eternal Vault."


    ---


    [Initiating Hack: 10 Eternal Vault slots integration.]


    [Resources Required: 1,000,000 Eternal Vault Points.]


    [Total Cost Deducted: 1,000,000 Points.]


    ---


    Lucius soon felt something like a new connection to the system. He didn''t know how to describe it but he could feel the 10 slots of the Eternal Vault.


    The receptionist then returned while carrying a tray filled with the three silver spatial rings. "Here are your rings, my lord. I hope they meet your expectations."


    Lucius examined the rings and smirked. "Perfect. They were quite a match for our silver hair."


    Lucius then immediately wore one of the spatial rings that had been prepared by the receptionist.


    He then immediately used it to store the BC that was in the chest Luna brought but he didn''t put it in the spatial ring but instead directly to the eternal vault.


    Lucius also directly paid the receptionist with the BC and soon left the building as he was going back to the Volcaria estate.


    While they were already outside, Liora clenched her fists as she was still angry. "Master, why did you let him go? That... pig deserves to suffer for his insult."


    Luna also nodded, as she was also the same. "Please, Master, let us punish him. No one has the right to touch you."


    Lucius turned to them and smirked, "Patience, for someone like him, I don''t need you to handle him. That fat fool will soon pay for this with his precious thing." Lucius smirked as he looked at the system screen.

 Chapter 32 Lucius Plan

    Lucius looked at the system screen and smirked as he began to hack. "System, hack that disgusting pig. Delete his talent and his penis."


    Lucius then also realized something as he added another option. "And also a timer in which the hack will proceed after a day. I want him to wake up and realize that his precious things were gone without reason."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Talent Deletion Scheduled +1 Day.]


    [Hack Initiation: Penis Deletion Scheduled +1 Day.]


    [Resources Required: 200 Deletion Points + 200 Deletion Points.]


    [Total Cost Deducted: 400 Points.]


    [Completion Time: 24 hours from initiation.]


    ---


    Lucius smirked after looking at the system screen. "Perfect. I don''t need for him to suddenly die but I want him to have the torture for being talentless and also being an eunuch."


    Liora and Luna, who had been following Lucius from behind, were still angry, as they could not believe that fat pig could be free after harming master.


    Liora then said to Lucius, "Master, why not let me strike him down now? It would be quick, efficient... and immensely satisfying."


    Luna was also the same as she clenched her fist. ""Master, that swine dared to lay his filthy hand on you! Please, let me teach him a lesson he''ll never forget."


    Lucius only chuckled and turned toward them. "Patience, my girls. I have already done something with him. With my power, he will soon become talentless."


    Lucius then explained to them what the torture was. "Don''t you think that forcing him to live as a powerless, talentless husk is better than killing them directly?"


    Daxton soon entered it and when Savra looked that Daxton was already here, she was a bit surprised. "So you have returned. So, what did Lucius purchase in the market?"


    Daxton stood straight and reported it. "Young Master Lucius only bought a few spatial rings and that is."


    Savra only smiled after she heard that. "I see, so he only buys some spatial rings. Was there anything else of note?"


    Daxton then immediately told Savra about it. "There was... an incident. While in the market, Master Lucius was slapped by the stupid and arrogant governor''s son just because Lucius is in his path."


    Savra, who heard it, immediately frowned. "The governor''s son? And what did Lucius do? Is the governor''s son seriously injured?"


    Daxton shook his head as he explained it. "No, Lady Savra. Young Master Lucius simply brushed it off and told me to ignore it and insisted we leave without confrontation."


    Savra who heard it was confused and also surprised. She could not believe that Lucius did that. "Lucius said to ignore it? That doesn''t sound like him. Lucius is not one to forgive an insult so easily."


    Daxton nodded as he agreed. "Exactly, my lady. It didn''t sit right with me either, as he didn''t tell me any plan for it."


    Savra only smirked and said. "Don''t you worry. I''m certain Lucius has done something. He''s simply more hidden than most."


    Savra then stood up and looked at Daxton. "But we also need to do something. If the governor''s son thinks he can insult someone under my family''s banner, he will learn the cost of such arrogance."


    Savra then immediately explained what Daxton needed to do. "Daxton, I want the Flame Essence supply to his city cut off immediately. And make it known that the Volcaria family is reconsidering its relationship with the governor."


    Daxton was surprised by the sudden order but he just bowed, "Understood, my lady. Shall I inform him of the reason for this action?"


    Savra then smirked after hearing Daxton say, "No. Leave him guessing. Let the fear of the unknown consume him. He''ll wonder what he did to make us angry and that anxiety will certainly be a punishment for him."


    Daxton stood up and smiled as he was really satisfied with Lady Savra''s plan. "It will be done as you command, Lady Savra."


    Daxton soon left the grand hall to do what he was told and Savra just sat down on her throne thinking about something.


    "Lucius, just what have you done to grant that fool mercy? What game are you playing? But I know that it must be really the worst." Savra said while thinking of many possibilities and smirked.

 Chapter 33 Governors Misfortune

    The fat and ugly governor''s son was now playing with some girls in a luxurious room and also drinking some wine and eating some foods.


    But suddenly, as he was drinking, his eyes began to widen as he began to feel some pain in his stomach. He shouted, "What the..." and immediately fell down after vomiting dark blood.


    The girls who were accompanying him immediately screamed, "Young Master! What''s happening to him?"


    The bodyguard, who was stationed nearby, heard the commotion and rushed toward the room and was shocked when he saw that the governor''s son was already lying on the ground.


    He looked at the girls and asked seriously, "What the hell happened here? How can Young Master fall down so suddenly?"


    The girls were now trembling as they were asked by the bodyguard. One of them stepped forward and said, "We don''t know as the young master suddenly vomited blood and collapsed."


    The bodyguard knelt beside the young master and was worried. "Damn it, how the hell can this happen?"


    He then looked at his henchmen, "Get the governor! Now! Tell him his son is injured!"


    The governor, who had just received the news, immediately frowned and slammed his hand onto his desk. "What do you mean, injured? What happened to him?"


    The messenger began to sweat as he was scared. "We don''t know, my Lord. He was playing with the girls, and then... he just collapsed."


    The governor became angrier, "Fools! I''ll deal with this myself. Prepare my carriage! And summon the doctor!"


    The governor soon arrived at his son''s courtyard minutes later. He immediately looked toward the bodyguard kneeling beside his son. "What happened here?"


    The bodyguard stood up and immediately told him about it. "My Lord, he was fine before, but he suddenly vomited blood and collapsed. I have no idea what caused it."


    The governor who heard it frowned. "No idea? You''re supposed to protect him, you incompetent fool! If anything happens to my son, you''ll pay for it."


    The governor immediately turned toward the doctor and asked him, "Please check on him, Doctor."


    For a moment, the governor simply stared at the servant as he was shocked and soon turned into anger. "What? What do you mean they''ve stopped the supply? Why?"


    The servant could only kneel as he continued, "M-my lord, there was no explanation given. The supply was simply... halted without warning."


    The governor could only tremble in anger as he heard it. His son had just lost his manhood and beasts but now his supply had been stopped.


    "Those arrogant bastards! To think that they dare to cut off Flame Essence without so much as a reason? Do they think they can toy with me?"


    He then turned to one of his advisors and immediately snapped. "You! Have they sent any prior warnings? Any demands? Speak now!"


    The advisor flinched but shook his head. "No, my Lord. There were no prior communications. This decision seems... sudden."


    "Sudden? Nothing the Volcaria family does is sudden. They are calculating snakes. This is a deliberate move against me, but why?" He began to think more about it.


    But still, he didn''t know anything that would upset those bastards. "Find out everything about this. Search for the reason why they stop our supplies."


    His henchmen nodded and moved out but another advisor stepped forward and asked something. "My Lord, what should we do about the flame essence? The city relies on it for heating and forging. Without it..."


    The governor looked at him and shouted. "Silence! I already know the consequences! Do you think I need a lesson on how my own city functions?"


    The advisor shrank back, nodding quickly. "Of course, my Lord. My apologies."


    The governor then began to calm himself down before telling his advisors. "Prepare a formal response to the Volcaria family, but make no demands. We will not show weakness."


    "Yes, my lord," the advisors said in unison.


    The governor also added, "And also send someone to check on my son; I want updates on his condition every hour."


    As the advisors began to carry out his order, the governor could only clench his fist as he was really angry.


    The Volcaria family''s actions were calculated, and he couldn''t shake the feeling that he was being played.

 Chapter 34 The Angry Governor

    The governor sat in his study while thinking over the current situation. He was thinking about the sudden withdrawal of Flame Essence and also his son''s mysterious condition were related to each other as they happened at the same time.


    He then looked at his servant and ordered. "Prepare the carriage. We''re going to the Volcaria estate. This matter ends today."


    The servant bowed and also reported another matter. "My Lord, the young master has woken up."


    The governor who heard it was a bit surprised and said, "If he is awake, then tell him to prepare himself. He''s coming with me. His condition might be connected to Volcaria."


    The servant nodded quickly and left the room, leaving the governor alone to prepare himself to meet with Volcaria.


    The carriage was soon prepared and the governor and his son rode it to go to the Volcaria estate.


    The fat young master looked at his father while clenching his fist in anger and said, "Father, what''s happening to me? My... my manhood... my powers... They''re gone!"


    The governor glanced at him and tightened his lips. "I don''t know, but we''re going to find out. If this is the work of the Volcaria family, they''ll answer for it."


    The young master frowned as he was angry. "The Volcaria family? What do they have to do with this? Do they think they can humiliate me? Me? The son of the governor?"


    The governor frowned and immediately scolded him up. "Enough. Let me handle this. Don''t make a fool of yourself when we arrive."


    The fat young master could only be angry and silent while thinking. "They''ll pay for this; whoever''s responsible, I''ll make them suffer."


    Meanwhile, at the Volcaria estate, Daxton kneeled in the grand hall. He brought some news to Lady Savra. "Lady Savra, the governor has arrived, along with his son."


    Savra then smirked upon hearing it. "I see, then let them in. I want to see what they want to do now."


    Daxton bowed slightly. "As you wish, Lady Savra."


    Moments later, the governor and his son were to enter the estate and the moment they entered, they immediately saw Savra, who was sitting on a throne at a far end.


    "Lady Savra, I appreciate you granting me an audience." The governor began with a frowning face.


    "Harm? I have no idea what you''re talking about." Lucius said with a bit of a mocking tone.


    The governor became angry and roared. "Don''t play coy with me, boy! You''ll regret crossing my family!"


    The governor then summoned his beast, which was a 3-Star Wind Lynx and immediately commanded it. "Attack that boy!"


    The Wind Lynx leaped forward and prepared his claws as it ran toward Lucius. Daxton, who stood at the corner, shouted, "Young Master..."


    But before anyone else could react, something intercepted the lynx mid-air. Liora appeared and immediately struck the Wind Lynx using her claws.


    The Wind Lynx, who was attacked, fell down and was injured, making the governor frown.


    Liora stood between Lucius and the Wind Lynx and she looked angry. Liora then turned toward the governor. "How dare you to attack my master!"


    The Wind Lync was about to stand up and attack again but Liora immediately used her claw to stop it before doing anything. "You dare!"


    Lucius only chuckled and smirked when he saw the situation. "Liora, don''t overdo it. Let them live... for now."


    Liora only nodded and stepped back to his side. "As you wish, Master." But she still glared the governor.


    The governor clenched his fists as he was angry. "Savra! Is this how you allow your subordinates to behave? Do you condone this insult?"


    Savra only smirked. "Governor, you brought this upon yourself. Summoning your beast to attack in my hall? Did you think there would be no consequences?"


    The fat young master, who was really angry at Lucius, shouted. "You! I don''t care what tricks you used¡ªfix me! Restore my beast bond, my manhood, or I''ll---"


    "You''ll what?" Lucius interuppted.


    He then took a step forward as he mocked the fat young master. "You''ll cry louder? Scream until someone else fights your battles for you? Face it. You''re nothing."


    The young master became even angrier after he was mocked by Lucius and trembling because of it.

 Chapter 35 The Governors Death

    The governor ignored what Savra had said and immediately burst into anger as he looked at Lucius.


    "I won''t rest until that boy is dead!" The governor roared as he pointed his finger at Lucius, who stood calmly.


    Without hesitation, the governor summoned another Wind Lynx and immediately ordered it. "Kill him!"


    Liora immediately went to intercept the Wind Lynx. "How dare you try to harm my master!"


    Savra, who was watching from her seat, began to become angry as she stood. "Governor, this is enough..."


    But before she could act, Lucius raised his hand and stopped her. He smirked as he said. "Don''t trouble yourself, Lady Savra. I''ll handle this."


    Savra looked at Lucius. "You''re confident she can handle it?"


    Lucius smirked after being asked and soon turned toward Liora and called her. Liora then turned toward him.


    Lucius smirked as he raised his hand and ran it across his neck and Liora immediately smirked as she understood the command.


    Lucius then turned to Savra again. "Don''t worry. Liora is far stronger than you think."


    Lucius smirked as he already scanned the Wind Lynx''s data.


    ---


    [Species: Wind Lynx]


    [Element: Wind]


    [Level: 3 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: E (3¡ï)]


    [Vit: F (3¡ï)]


    [Agi: D (3¡ï)]


    [Int: F (3¡ï)]


    [Skills: Wind Slash, Gale Leap]


    ---


    Lucius looked at the data and smiled as Liora''s status was way stronger as her stats were 2-Star C-Tier, which was stronger than the Wind Lynx Stats.


    Daxton wasted no time. "Gentlemen, I bring news from the Volcaria family. The governor and his son are no more."


    The advisors were shocked and one of them asked. "What? The governor... dead? How did this happen?"


    Daxton immediately explained it. "The governor acted recklessly and insulted the Volcaria family. His actions were met with consequences.


    Daxton also then said. "However, this is also an opportunity for one of you to step forward. The Volcaria family will support the appointment of a new governor from among you."


    The advisors who heard it immediately glanced at one another, each calculating their chances. "So, one of us will become a new governor?"


    Daxton nodded. "Yes. The Volcaria family values order and prosperity. A competent leader will be chosen to ensure stability."


    The advisors exchanged knowing glances. They were careful not to show too much eagerness, but still, their excitement could still be seen.


    The former governor had ruled with arrogance and greed, and his death rather than being grieved seemed like a freedom.


    The city itself also responded similarly. As news spread of the governor''s death, the people around were not grieving but instead they celebrated it.


    The governor''s corruption and negligence had long been a burden, and his absence was a welcome change.


    Back at the Volcaria estate, Savra looked at Lucius and said, "It seems your prediction was correct. The city is celebrating his death rather than mourning it."


    Lucius chuckled. "People often hide their true feelings, but when the tyrant falls, their joy is impossible to mask. All they needed was a push."


    Savra smiled as she approved him. "You''ve proven yourself to be far more than I anticipated, Lucius. Efficient, ruthless, and... clever."


    Lucius then bowed slightly. "High praise, coming from you, Lady Savra. I merely did what was necessary. Weakness is a disease, and the governor was riddled with it."


    Savra only chuckled, "Indeed. But tomorrow, your focus must shift. The academy awaits you. Are you ready for the challenges it will bring?"


    Lucius only smirked. "Of course, I''m ready. Challenges are nothing more than opportunities in disguise. And besides, I doubt anyone there will surprise me."


    Savra''s smile deepened. "Confidence suits you, Lucius. But don''t underestimate the academy. It has its own politics and its own dangers."


    "I wouldn''t have it any other way," Lucius replied.


    Lucius then also looked around and asked. "And also, I am quite curious. Where is Magnus? Shouldn''t he be accompanying me?"


    Savra then smirked as she said. "Magnus is training with his father, Ragnar."


    Lucius chuckled lightly. "Training with Ragnar, is he? Then I can only assume he''s enduring quite the ordeal. I''ll look forward to seeing the results."


    Savra was amused as she glanced at him. "And I''ll look forward to hearing how you fare at the academy. Make no mistake, Lucius. You carry the Volcaria name now. Your actions reflect on all of us."


    Lucius bowed his head slightly. "Then I''ll ensure our name rises even higher, Lady Savra." The two then stood in silence for a moment.

 Chapter 36 The Night With Liora and Luna (18+)

    Days before their departure, Lucius began to indulge himself. Luna and Liora were always by his side. Whether it was attending to his every need during the day or engaging in more intimate activities at night.


    Despite his calm demeanor, Lucius often found himself struggling to keep up with their intensity. While his sharp mind and commanding presence placed him above most, his physical stamina was another matter entirely.


    Luna looked at Lucius, who was frowning, worried and asked, "Master, are you not feeling well? Have we displeased you?" Liora was also worried, although she didn''t really show it.


    Lucius chuckled and shook his head. "No, no. You two have done nothing wrong. It is just that you two have simply reminded me of one area where I could use... improvement."


    He immediately turned toward the system and requested a new hack. "System, hack my body to grant it endless stamina for the night. And while you''re at it, enhance... everything else. I''ll need it."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Endless Stamina and Libido Boost.]


    [Resources Required: 100,000 Hack Points.]


    ---


    Just right after Lucius requested it, the system did its job and immediately hacked his body. Lucius soon felt the change in his body.


    Luna and Liora suddenly felt that their master had changed but they didn''t know what it was. "Master, what are you doing?"


    Lucius smirked as he was now amused. "Nothing. I am just making my body stronger to ensure that neither of you will have an advantage over me tonight."


    Liora walked toward Lucius, kneeled down and also grabbed Lucius hands. "You don''t need to push yourself, Master. We''ll always serve you, no matter what."


    Lucius turned to hear and smiled. "I appreciate the sentiment, Liora, but as a man, I refuse to be outdone by women."


    Liora immediately shouted, "Yes, Master." She then immediately turned around and bent down to show his ass to Lucius.


    Lucius then immediately fucked Liora from behind and asked her about it. "Did you feel it, Liora? What do you think about me today?"


    Liora, who was fucked, immediately shouted, "You are the best, Master. I never thought you could be this strong today."


    Lucius then smiled as he continued to fuck her, "I will show you my real power and I will not let you two sleep tonight."


    Liora only smiled after hearing it and Luna, who just woke up, also smiled and giggled thinking about the night.


    As the hours passed, Luna and Liora finally collapsed on the bed after being fucked by Lucius continuously for the night.


    Lucius then sat down on the sofa as he looked at both Luna and Liora, who were still conscious but could not move at all.


    Luna, who was in peace, then looked at Lucius and said, "Master, thank you for letting us by your side."


    Lucius then smiled after hearing it and said, "Don''t thank me, Luna. You''re mine so it''s only natural that you are by my side."


    Liora also looked at Lucius and said, "But still, we still want to thank you for taking us to be your slaves. We will always be yours."


    Lucius chuckled after hearing what Liora said. "Of course you are. You two are my slaves until the day you die so rest now. We have much to do tomorrow."


    Luna and Liora, who heard it, only smiled and began to sleep and Lucius also smiled as he also went to sleep beside them.


    Finally, after some days, the day of his departure for the academy arrived. The estate was busy as the servants prepared the carriages for Lucius and Magnus.


    Magnus and his parents were now waiting outside while waiting for the carriage and also for Lucius and his slaves.


    Lucius soon appeared and both of his slaves, Luna and Liora, followed closely from behind. The three of them also looked ready, as could be seen from their excited faces.

 Chapter 37 Astra Academy

    Lucius, who had just arrived soon, stood calmly beside Magnus. They were also waiting for the carriage, which was being prepared by the servants.


    Ragnar also walked and stopped right in front of them. He stared at them and shouted, "Magnus! Lucius! Listen well."


    Ragnar then began to lower his voice and said, "Magnus may have heard this before, but I''ll say it again: The academy will be filled with people who think themselves better than you."


    Ragnar then raised his fist and shouted again, "You need to remember that you are Volcaria! You are better than them, and if anyone dares to stand in your way, beat them into submission. Do you hear me?"


    Magnus stepped forward and also raised his fist as he shouted, "Yes, Father! I''ll make them remember the Volcaria name!"


    Lucius bowed down and smirked. He also said slowly, as he was not like Magnus. "Of course, Lord Ragnar. I''ll ensure they understand their place."


    Ragnar''s fierce face soon turned into a smile. He then turned toward Magnus. "Good. Magnus, keep an eye on Lucius. He is our family elder but his strength lies in his mind, not his fighting ability. Make sure no harm comes to him."


    Magnus nodded and shouted again. "I understand, Father! I''ll make sure to protect him."


    Savra then approached them and looked at Magnus. "Magnus, do not let your pride cloud your judgment. Lucius is more important to this family than you can imagine."


    Magnus nodded as he also knew how important Lucius was as he was the family''s Evolist. He quickly bowed his head. "Yes, Mother. I''ll make sure nothing happens to him."


    Lucius chuckled as he turned to Magnus. "Don''t worry, Magnus, I am not so weak that I need to be protected continuously."


    Savra''s gaze then turned to Lucius as she smiled a bit. "Perhaps not, but the academy is a different battlefield. Even you, Lucius, need to be cautious."


    Lucius only smirked upon hearing it and nodded. "Of course, Lady Savra. But caution, like any weapon, is best used sparingly."


    Savra only stepped back as he reminded them, "Just remember, you carry the Volcaria name. Make sure it remains untarnished."


    With the final preparations complete, Lucius, Magnus, and their companions entered the black-and-gold carriage that carried the crest of the Volcaria family.


    The guard scanned the card and nodded after everything was checked out before turning to Lucius. "And you?"


    Lucius then took out his ID card that had been given by Ragnar before their departure. The guard was a bit surprised as they scanned it.


    "You are a new student, huh? It is a bit weird that a new student suddenly joined in and also, you don''t have a family name." The guard said as he was curious.


    Lucius nodded as he explained about his name. "You can say that I am the new son that was adopted by the Volcaria family because of my talent. I was also permitted not to use the family name."


    The guard soon nodded as there was some case like that and soon he turned toward Luna and Liora, who were standing behind Lucius. "And them? Are they your maids?"


    Lucius glanced back at the two and smirked. "Yes, they are my maids that will serve me later. They can go in, right?"


    The guard nodded and said. "Yes, they can but remember that they don''t wander the campus unsupervised. The academy has strict rules about non-students roaming freely."


    Lucius only replied, "Don''t worry, as they will always be by my side."


    The guard nodded again, stepping aside and motioning for them to proceed. "Welcome to Astra Academy."


    As they passed through the gates, Magnus soon turned to Lucius, "So, what do you think? The place is amazing, right?"


    Lucius looked around and said, "It''s... intriguing. A place where the ambitions of nobles collide. This will be... entertaining."


    Magnus only laughed, "Entertaining? You''ll see, Lucius. The academy is no joke. The strongest tamers and evolists from across the land come here. It''s not just a school. It''s a battlefield."


    Lucius smirked. "A battlefield, eh? Then let''s ensure the Volcaria name dominates it."


    Lucius'' smirk returned, his crimson eyes glinting with a hint of mischief. "A battlefield," he repeated softly. "Then let''s ensure the Volcaria name dominates it."


    Magnus nodded. "Absolutely! With you and me here, we''ll crush anyone who dares to stand in our way."


    As they continued deeper into the academy, the hum of activity surrounded them. Students dressed in elegant uniforms moved in groups, their conversations filled with laughter, rivalry, and ambition.

 Chapter 38 Lucius New Residence

    Lucius and Magnus stood near the main plaza of Astra Academy. Magnus turned to Lucius and began to inform him.


    "Lucius, we will split here. My major is in the Beast Tamer division, and yours is with the Evolists. But remember that this academy isn''t as peaceful as it seems. Watch your back."


    Lucius only smirked after hearing it. He was amused as he replied, "Don''t be worried. I have Liora and she is stronger than you think, so just relax."


    Magnus looked at Liora, the Lion Beastman who stood behind Lucius. Liora then crossed her arm and glared toward Magnus.


    "Don''t worry, young master Magnus. I will protect my master with my life. No one here can harm him while I am here."


    Magnus hesitated but still he could only let him go. "Still, be careful. Strength alone isn''t always enough at Astra. The dangers here aren''t just physical."


    Magnus then took a step closer to Lucius and asked him, "Promise me that you''ll avoid unnecessary risks."


    Lucius only chuckled as he placed his hand on Magnus''s shoulder. "Magnus, your concern is not really necessary to me. Worry about yourself. You''ll need that energy to keep the Volcaria name strong in your own battles."


    Magnus could only clench his fist and sigh. He then bowed and said, "Very well, Lucius. Just... don''t get hurt."No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Lucius waved his hand and smiled. "Don''t waste time worrying about me. Go. You have your own path to tread."


    With that, Magnus turned around and went toward the Beast Tamer Division. He glanced back at Lucius once before disappearing.


    Lucius soon went toward the administration hall with Liora and Luna. Lucius then approached the receptionist, who was a middle-aged woman.


    Lucius smirked upon seeing it and soon saw that there was a small monument beside the golden gate. He immediately thought of putting his ID card there and when he did that, the golden gate was opened.


    He and his maids soon entered the Golden Complex and were surprised by how grand the Golden Complex was. The houses here were not tall but instead wide enough to have numerous equipments in them.


    The trio soon went to House Number One, where Lucius was supposed to stay and when they found it, they were really surprised as it was grander than other houses.


    Luna looked at the house and turned toward Lucius. "Master, this house is really extraordinary. It is like it is specially built for a noble like you.


    Lucius only smirked hearing it as he enjoyed her reaction. "Good. That means it meets the bare minimum for my standards."


    They also noticed that there was another small monument near the door, identical to the one by the gate. Without hesitation, Lucius used his ID card again and soon the door was immediately unlocked.


    The house was really more luxurious and completed than they thought. Whether it was training equipment for both tamers and beasts, beast habitats, or a private library, this house had it all.


    But when they walked further inside, Lucius immediately noticed some unusual things. There were some messy clothes, scattered beast tools and also some beast feed put here and there.


    Lucius frowned as he realized that the previous inhabitant was a dirty one. He then looked toward Lucy and Liora and said, "Gather all this trash and throw all of it outside."


    Luna immediately smiled and nodded after being ordered, "Yes, Master. I will make sure that this place is finally worthy of you."


    Liora also nodded as she immediately helped Luna in gathering the dirty clothes and also the scattered beast tools.


    Lucius only watched them work while he walked further into the house. He was inspecting his new house to see what needed to be cleaned.

 Chapter 39 Kaelix Kryndal

    Luna and Liora were now working hard to clean the luxurious residence for Lucius. They began to gather all the scattered clothes and beast tools into one big heap.


    They immediately went outside to throw it out. They threw the heap into a nearby trash area, but suddenly, a loud noise surprised them a bit: "What the hell do you think you''re doing in my residence?"


    Luna and Liora turned around to see where the voice came from and soon saw a tall man running toward them and he was not happy at all as he glared toward Luna and Liora.


    Luna coldly met his gaze and replied, "Your residence? You are mistaken, as this residence is no longer yours but ours."


    The man was Kaelix Kryndal, the Rank 1 Evolist of the Golden Class. He then pointed at his belongings that were thrown out. "To think that you really dare to throw out my belongings. What makes you so daring?"


    Luna crossed her arms as she replied, "Of course we dare, as this residence is now our master''s. Your belongings are ruining the place so we are kind enough to get rid of them for you."


    Kaelix could not believe what they just said. "Nonsense! I am Kaelix Kryndal! The Rank 1 Evolist of the Golden Class!"


    Kaelix then pointed at the residence, "House Number One has been my residence since the moment I arrived at Astra Academy. Who dares take it from me?"


    Luna only smirked as she began to mock him. "If that''s the case, then prove it. Scan your ID card at the monument by the gate. Let''s see if what you said is the truth."


    Kaelix immediately ran toward the gate of the residence and took out his ID card. He then put it down to let the small monument scan it but after scanning it, the gate was not unlocked at all.


    Kaelix, who saw this, became shocked. "How... how can this be possible? I am the one who should be living in this residence."


    Lucius was a bit surprised hearing it and said. "I see, Kaelix Kryndal, huh? How... interesting. What was his reaction when he found both of you throwing out his belongings?"


    Liora was then the one who told Lucius in detail about it. "He was furious, Master. He shouted and raged, claiming this was his residence. But when he tried to scan his ID card at the gate monument, it was rejected."


    Lucius laughed after hearing it. "Rejection? It must be a very humiliating moment for him. So, what did he do next after that?"


    Luna only smirked when she explained it. "He threatened us, master but too bad that it was all empty words. He could not even enter the house so how can he threaten us?"


    Liora also smirked as she remembered it again. "So he could only gather his belongings and scram. He also seems to be headed to the administration office to raise a complaint."


    Lucius only smirked as he drank his tea as he mocked Kaelix, "As expected from someone who was arrogant because of his rank. To think that he went to the administration office to whine like a child."


    Liora then kneeled down in front of Lucius, raising her claws. "So, shall I deal with him, Master? A quick reminder of his place could spare us further interruptions."


    Lucius smirked but soon shook his head as he warned Liora. "No, Liora. This is the Astra academy and we cannot kill him so just let him be."


    Luna was a bit surprised hearing it. "Then what should we do, Master? Shall we prepare for his return?"


    Lucius thought for a moment and said. "We will wait. Let him do what he wants. I also want to see what he can do as the Rank 1 Evolist of Golden Class."


    Both Luna and Liora kneeled in front of him after they heard what their master had said. Lucius also wants to see what a Rank 1 Evolist of Golden Class could do to him.

 Chapter 40 Kaelixs Complaint

    Kaelix immediately went to the administration office. He was now angry as he stopped at the front desk and immediately slammed his hand on it.


    The receptionist was a bit startled as Kaelix suddenly shouted at him, "Explain to me right now just how my residence, House Number One, is suddenly reassigned without my knowledge."


    The receptionist then calmed herself down and began to check about it in the system and after finding it, she immediately looked at Kaelix.


    She then immediately explained it: "Kaelix Kryndal, I find that you have been reassigned to House Number Two within the Golden Section."


    Kaelix, who heard it, was really surprised as he said, "Reassigned? House Number One belongs to me. I''ve lived there since my arrival!"


    The receptionist kept her calm as she explained. "I understand your frustration, Mr. Kaelix, but according to the system, the reassignment is valid. House Number One now belongs to another student."


    Kaelix who heard it became even angrier as he clenched his fists. "Who? Who had the audacity to take my residence?"


    The receptionist then immediately told him the one who had taken his residence to stop his complaint. "The new occupant is a member of the Volcaria family."


    Kaelix, who heard it, was a bit shocked. It was because the Volcaria family was a renowned family but he was also suspicious about something as he just realized it.


    Kaelix then immediately glared at the receptionist, "You say that the new occupant was a member of the Volcaria family but the only Volcaria here is Magnus, and he''s a tamer. He has no business in the Evolist section."


    The receptionist then explained it to make it clearer. "He is a new member of the Volcaria family and according to the system, he is an adopted one."


    Kaelix, who heard it, immediately smirked as he said, "An adopted member,huh? So, he is just some lucky outsider they decided to adopt. Is that supposed to intimidate me?"


    The receptionist then began to become serious as he warned him. "I would still advise caution, Mr. Kaelix. While he may be adopted, he is still under the Volcaria banner, and that family does not take challenges lightly."


    Lucius chuckled and then closed the book and set it aside. He also began to explain it. "For starters, attendance in classes is optional. As long as I pass the exams, it doesn''t matter if I attend the classes or not."


    Luna was surprised the moment she heard it. "Optional classes? How generous of them. I assume that this ''freedom'' is meant for those stupid nobles."


    Lucius nodded, agreeing with what Luna had said. "You are not wrong, as I now think that the academy is not made for people but for nobles to grow stronger."


    Lucius then began to explain what he meant. "This academy follows the law of the jungle, which is to let the strong become stronger and the weak become weaker."


    Lucius also told them why he thought that. "We can see it from their policy on combat. Fights are not only allowed but encouraged as long as there is no teacher present and no one dies."


    Liora soon smirked upon hearing it. "No deaths, huh? How... considerate of them but that still leaves plenty of room for pain."


    Lucius smirked after hearing her. "Indeed. Injuries, humiliation, dominance... all of them are acceptable. This academy doesn''t train the noble elite; it weeds out the unworthy through survival of the fittest."


    Luna also smirked as she told Lucius. "This place sounds like it was designed for you, Master. No rules to hold you back, no oversight to limit your ambitions."


    Lucius laughed after hearing it. "You''re not wrong. This academy is the perfect stage for me. Also tomorrow morning, there''s an open class scheduled. I might attend to observe the competition."


    Liora stepped forward and kneeled. "Do you require protection, Master? I will accompany you and ensure no one dares challenge your authority."


    Lucius only nodded and said, "Sure, you can accompany me to tomorrow''s class, Liora. Luna, you can stay here for the moment."


    Luna nodded after she was ordered. "Yes, Master. I will make sure to keep your residence clean when you are away."


    Liora also nodded. "Thank you, Master. I will not let you down and I will not let anybody dare to hurt you."


    Lucius only smirked after hearing both words from his slave. He then looked outside the window. He was now waiting for what story he could see tomorrow.

 Chapter 41 Astras Evolists Method

    Lucius was now going to the hall where the open class would be held. Liora also followed Lucius from behind and her claws were always ready.


    Many students around were staring at Lucius and Liora, but they didn''t dare to do anything after seeing Liora, who stared back at them.


    Liora, who was now staring at the students, immediately readied her claws as she asked Lucius, "Should I handle them, Master? Their gaze made me uncomfortable."


    Lucius only shook his head and smirked as he enjoyed this. "No, Liora. Let them stare all they want. I want to let them know who is the boss around here."


    Liora only nodded as she followed him from behind, but still, her claws were always ready to strike anyone who dared to attack Lucius.


    Both of them soon arrived at the hall where the open class will be held. Lucius was amazed by how big it was and also by a strange machine that Lucius didn''t know at all in the center of the hall.


    He immediately sat in the corner of the room where he could observe the class without drawing attention to himself. Liora also followed him and stood behind him as a bodyguard.


    Lucius then observed all the students in the hall and soon found out that they all appeared to be timid, unsure and not confident at all.


    Lucius could only think that all of them were not nobles. "No nobles, huh? How disappointing. This open class seems to attract only the mediocre."


    Liora, who stood behind her, also observed the hall before asking Lucius, "They''re unworthy of your presence, Master. Shall we leave?"


    Lucius chuckled and arrogantly said. "Not yet. I am still curious to see what the Astra''s professor will teach in this big hall."


    A few moments later, the doors to the stage were opened and a man came in. Lucius assumed that he was a professor as he began to observe the hall from the center stage. After that, he began to start the class.


    "Welcome to the open class. A new semester has begun, and with it, there are some new faces. Let me show you now what it means to be an Evolist at Astra Academy. I assure you, this is unlike anything you know before."


    The professor then took one of the vials from the machine and said, "This is a 2-Star Flame Essence, created by extracting the essence of various 2-Star materials and fusing them into a single concentrated form."


    The students murmured among themselves and were amazed after hearing it; meanwhile, Lucius just kept his calm and continued to observe.


    The professor then walked toward a cage that was currently inhabited by a small fox and said, "Now, I''ll demonstrate the effectiveness of this method. Watch carefully."


    He immediately fed the 2-Star Flame essence to the fox and the professor also began to control the energy of the evolution inside the fox with his glowing hands.


    The fox then began to evolve; his fur began to be redder and its size was a bit bigger than before. Within moments, the evolution was complete and the fox had evolved into a 2-Star Flame Fox.


    The students were surprised to see a fast and efficient evolution method. The professor smiled smugly, basking in their admiration.


    The professor then said, "You see it now. With the Evolution Essence Maker, the process of evolution becomes faster and more efficient, as we only need a single vial of essence rather than numerous materials."


    The professor then paused and began to warn them, "However, I need to tell you that the essence method is currently only effective for beasts ranked 3-Star and below."


    A student then raised their hand and asked, "Professor, what if we wanted to evolve a beast into a stronger form of 2-Star? Wouldn''t we need more essence for that?"


    The professor nodded and explained. "Correct. To achieve a stronger evolution, you''d require multiple vials of essence. But you need to know that the energy control will be harder the stronger the evolution."


    The professor also warned them. "For novices like yourselves, I recommend starting small. Learn to master the basics before reaching for greatness."


    The professor clapped his hands, signaling the end of the session. "That concludes today''s class. I encourage all of you to practice what you''ve learned. Remember, mastery is not achieved overnight."


    The professor then began to leave the hall and the students also began to leave one by one, leaving Lucius to think about the class.

 Chapter 42 Confrontation with Kaelix Kryndal

    Liora and Lucius were left in the hall. Liora then looked at Lucius and asked, as she was curious, "What do you think about the class, Master?"


    Lucius stood and began to leave the class and said, "It is indeed efficient and faster and also revolutionary to add, but I think their methods were lacking depth."


    Lucius then began to explain his thought. "They prioritize speed and efficiency, sacrificing potential. Although it is clever, it pales in comparison to my perfect method."


    Lucius then concluded his thought. "The conclusion is that Astra''s Evolists may be better than most evolists, but they''re all the same low-end Evolists."


    Liora soon understood while walking behind Lucius. "I see it now, Master. You are really the perfect one. No one can compare to you."


    Lucius only chuckled after hearing it as they left the hall to return to their residence in the golden complex.


    But, as they almost arrived at the golden complex, they were immediately blocked by a group of students. The leader stood at the front and looked at Lucius arrogantly.


    Liora immediately stepped forward and readied her claws as she positioned herself between Lucius and the group.


    She also immediately told Lucius about the leader of the group: "Master, the one who leads the group is Kaelix, the former occupant of your residence."


    Lucius looked at Kaelix, who was now glaring at him. He then smirked as he saw Kaelix, who looked weak and also not that handsome.


    Kaelix then stepped forward and pointed his finger at Liora while shouting angrily toward her, "I have finally found you, bitch!"


    He then turned toward Lucius and sneered, "And you must be the lucky orphan that Volcaria adopted and luckily managed to enter Astra."


    Lucius was confused after hearing him. "Lucky?" It seems that Ragnar has kept my position within the family a secret. Interesting." Lucius smirked as he thought that.


    Kaelix only sneered as he looked at Lucius'' face. "Don''t get cocky, fake Volcaria. Your place here is undeserved, and I''ll make sure you know it."


    Lucius only smirked after hearing him. "Oh, I see. Kaelix, was it? You are saying that I do not deserve to be here but your residence is mine now, so doesn''t that say enough about who truly deserves to be here?"


    Kaelix immediately became angry as he heard that and clenched his fists and shouted, "Damn you, you arrogant fake Volcaria! I''ll teach you your place in this academy!"


    He gestured to the group behind him and shouted, "Attack! Make sure this imposter and his pet regret ever setting foot here!"


    Lucius, who heard him, didn''t flinch at all. Instead, he turned toward Liora and smirked as he commanded her, "Try not to kill them, Liora. Instead, make them learn what it means to go against us."


    Liora smirked as she prepared her claws. "As you wish, Master. I will make sure to let them know their place and also beg me to let them die." Liora said as she stepped forward to meet the attackers excitedly.


    Kaelix''s group wasted no time as they immediately summoned their own beasts to attack Lucius and Liora. The beasts soon appeared from the portals and they were all 2-Star beasts.


    An Aqua Crab appeared with its thick shell and beside it, a Flame Snake appeared also with its hot scales. In the air, two bird beasts appeared, which were Ligthing Hawk and Wind Falcon.


    Lucius was curious about their power so he immediately scanned their stats using his system. The system soon showed him the status of the beasts.


    ---


    [Species: Flame Snake]


    [Element: Flame]


    [Level: 2 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Skills:]


    [Gale Slash: Slices through enemies with wings, creating sharp gusts of wind]


    [Aerial Surge: Increases its speed temporarily, allowing for faster attacks.]


    ---


    [Species: Aqua Crab]


    [Element: Water]


    [Level: 2 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: E (2¡ï)]


    [Vit: E (2¡ï)]


    [Agi: F (2¡ï)]


    [Int: F (2¡ï)]


    [Skills:]


    [Bubble Burst: Shoots a cluster of bubbles that deal minor water damage]


    [Water Shield: Forms a protective layer of water around itself, reducing incoming damage briefly.]


    ---


    Lucius almost laughed after looking at their stats, which were way lower than Liora. He then looked at Liora and said, "Show them your power, but remember, don''t kill them. Just let them suffer."


    Liora nodded as she looked at her new opponent with excitement. "Yes, Master. It will be my pleasure to show them who is the boss here."


    The tamer of the Lightning Hawk shouted first as he ordered his beast, "Lightning Hawk, use Static Screech! Paralyze her!"


    The Aqua Crab''s tamer also followed. "Aqua Crab, use Bubble Burst! Suppress her movements!"


    "Use Gale Slash, Wind Falcon!" The Wind Falcon''s tamer ordered, while the Flame Snake''s handler yelled, "Flame Snake, wrap her with Ember Coil!"


    The beasts who had received the orders immediately began to attack Liora but Liora just stood silent as she received their attacks.


    The Lightning Hawk''s piercing screech sent weak electric currents through the air, the Aqua Crab''s watery projectiles shot forward, and the Wind Falcon''s razor-sharp gusts sliced toward her.


    The Flame Snake also slithed forward, coiling around her legs and slowly her body, beginning to sear her body with its hot scales.


    But Liora, who received all of those attacks, didn''t flinch at all after enduring all of those attacks and stood unbothered and soon a smirk appeared on her face.


    Liora immediately glared at the group of tamers and taunted them, "Is this all your beasts can do? I don''t feel a thing at all."


    Liora then changed her face to a serious one. "Let me show you what the real power looks like." Liora said as she smirked, signing, that she was about to move.

 Chapter 43 3-Star Thunder Eagle

    Liora then used her fangs to bit down the Flame Snake that was now coiling around her neck. The Flame Snake hissed in protest and heated up his body, but Liora''s didn''t waver at all.


    The Flame Snake, which could not endure it, began to scream in agony and Liora, with her claws, immediately struck it and sent it flying back to its tamer in a bloody state.


    The Aqua Crab, who saw the Flame Snake being attacked, immediately stopped its attack and used its Water Shield to defend itself but it was useless.


    Liora immediately appeared behind it with her fast speed and used its leg to break its Sater Shield and also sent it back toward its tamer, who fell under the impact with a grunt.


    The Lightning Hawk and Wind Falcon immediately attempted to retreat after seeing their companions being easily defeated. Liora, who saw it, only smirked as she mocked, "Running? How dull."


    Liora, who was faster than them, jumped to the air. With her claws, she immediately caught the Falcon and the Hawk. Both of the birds were trashing around after being grabbed but it was useless.


    Liora immediately slammed down both birds to the ground, but she didn''t stop there. She immediately grabbed their wings and broke them, making them scream out loud.


    The group of tamers stood frozen after seeing their beasts being defeated so easily by Liora. They also began to step back as they saw Liora was walking toward them.


    Kaelix who saw all of this became angry as he cursed. "Damn it! To think that all of you are so useless that I have to do it myself!"


    He then stepped forward while glaring at Liora. He then clenched his fists as he remembered what Liora had done. "You have thrown out my belongings like trash and also you mock me. I will make sure you pay for it!"


    Kaelix then immediately summoned his own beast. Soon a portal appeared and from within it, a big Thunder Eagle came out and flew on top of Kaelix while glaring at Liora.


    Lucius, who saw it, was amazed a bit and immediately scanned it to see just how powerful it was seeing that the top 1 Evolist owned it.


    ---


    [Species: Thunder Eagle]


    [Element: Thunder]


    "Thunder Eagle, show this insolent girl the price for mocking me. Use Storm Cry!" Kaelix shouted angrily while glaring at Liora.


    The Thunder Eagle soared high and released a piercing cry. A black cloud also appeared and thunder began to rumble around it. Then suddenly, a thunderbolt came and struck straight toward Liora.


    Liora only smirked and looked toward the incoming bolt. She stood straight and opened her mouth as she let out her own powerful roar, the Lunar Roar.


    With her roar, she easily made the black cloud begin to dissipate from the air, making the bolt useless and shattered it into some sparks.


    Kaelix, who saw it, was shocked to see his beast''s attack being easily nullified. "What the hell is this? How can you destroy my beast''s attack?"


    Without waiting for Liora, he immediately gritted his teeth and commanded his Thunder Eagle to use other skills.


    "Thunder Eagle! Show her your full power and use Electric Surge, followed by Lightning Dive! Make her regret standing before us!"


    The Thunder Eagle let out another screech as it began to envelop its entire body with thunder. Spark flew off its wing as it immediately launched itself high into the air, charging its power for a devastating attack.


    Lucius only smirked watching the show and soon said to Liora, "Liora, he''s throwing quite the tantrum, so show him why no one should challenge us."


    Liora nodded as she smirked. She began to crouch and her claws began to dig dipped into the ground as she began to charge her power to use her skill, Lunar Claws.


    Kaelix only smirked as he believed that victory was already in his hand. The Thunder Eagle screeched again, folding its wings tight as it began its descent like a bolt heading straight for Liora.


    Liora smirked as she saw the incoming attack. Liora was waiting for the right moment and when the distance between her and the eagle was so close, Liora smirked as it was time.


    Liora immediately lunged upward with her glowing claws, meeting the Thunder Eagle head-on. There was a loud crash and also a shockwave that was created by it.


    Lucius, Kaelix and the other tamers could not really see it clearly as dust and debris were flying around and blinding them because of the impact of both skills.


    Kaelix shielded his eyes from the debris and his heart was pounding as he tried to see what had happened. When the dust finally settled, he could see the result and when he saw it, he was shocked.

 Chapter 44 Strengthened Thunder Eagle

    Liora''s Lunar Claws were clashing with Thunder Eagle''s charged talons. The impact sent shockwaves through the ground.


    Although the collision left Liora''s right claw slightly bruised, she wasted no time. Without hesitation, she immediately began to counterattack.


    Liora immediately swung her left claw upward, landing a powerful strike on the Thunder Eagle''s chest, making it fall back but despite the blow, it still managed to remain standing while glaring at Liora.


    Liora, who saw it, immediately smirked as she praised it. "Not bad. You''re stronger than I expected for something under his command."


    Kaelix, on the other hand, was shocked and also frustated at the same time, seeing that his Thunder Eagle, who easily defeated any beast with ease, was struggling against Liora.


    "Damn it! To think that I have to use this in this place." Kaelix said in anger as he began to take something from his spatial ring.


    Kaelix then immediately threw something that looked like a black pill toward the Thunder Eagle and without hesitation, the beast caught it and swallowed it in a single gulp.


    Liora was soon surprised, as she felt the aura of the Thunder Eagle begin to change and rise. Its body began to tremble and a spark of electricity began to surge more around it.


    The Thunder Eagle also seemed to change more, as it was not as calm as before and it looked like it was about to explode in rage.


    Lucius was immediately intrigued by the transformation. He immediately used the system to see if there were any changes in its stats.


    ---


    [Species: Thunder Eagle]


    [Element: Thunder]


    [Level: 3 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: C (3¡ï)]


    [Vit: C (3¡ï)]


    [Agi: C (3¡ï)]


    The Thunder Eagle, who was a 3-Star Beast, was stronger than Liora, who was 2-Star and immediately overpowered her, as it instantly sent Liora crashing back to the ground.


    Liora, who now fell down, looked at the Thunder Eagle in anger. She never thought that she could be defeated here in front of her master.


    Kaelix soon smirked and sneered from the sidelines after watching this. "Pathetic! Is this the best your loyal maid can do, Lucius? She''s struggling against my Thunder Eagle''s raw power. Admit it. You''re outmatched!"


    Lucius watched silently and didn''t panic at all. He looked at Liora''s frustation and also Kaelix''s smug expression. Lucius was not angry but a bit annoyed after being underestimated by Kaelix.


    Liora, who saw Lucius'' gaze toward here, could only be depressed. "Master... Give me another command. I''ll fight until I win."


    Lucius only looked at her and smiled. "Liora, you have done well. The Thunder Eagle was just too strong for you now, so just rest for now."


    He then looked at Kaeli and turned toward the Thunder Eagle and smirked as he began to turn into his system.


    "System, hack that Thunder Eagle. Erase the pill''s effects and copy the pill into the Eternal Vault." Lucius said to the system in his mind.


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Buff Erasure and Pill Duplication.]


    [Resources Required: 220,000 Hack Points.]


    ---


    The system soon reduced the needed points. Lucius looked at it with pained expression but still, it was worth it.


    The system soon went to work. The Thunder Eagle, who was flying in the air, suddenly fell down and the thunder current around began to dissipate.


    The Thunder Eagle also suddenly began to weaken as its movement became sluggish and its strength began to decrease as a side effect of the pill.


    Kaelix was surprised by it, as he didn''t know what was happening. His Thunder Eagle should be in full power even after using its powerful move.


    The pill that he used was a new pill developed by his family that could increase a beast''s power tremendously for a short moment but it was not this short.


    On the other hand, Lucius was just smiling upon looking at Kaelix''s surprised expression, seeing that he didn''t know what was happening.

 Chapter 45 Lioras Vow

    Kaelix was surprised to see that his Thunder Eagle collapsed instantly. It''s aura also began to dissipate at a rapid rate, making Kaelix confused.


    Kaelix could only shout in shock seeing the scene, "What the hell is happening here? Thunder Eagle, try to get up!"


    The Thunder Eagle screeched as it tried to get up, but still, it was too weak to move as the effect of the pill erasure was too much.


    Lucius chuckled the moment he looked at the Thunder Eagle and began to mock Kaelix. "It seems that your pill wasn''t as amazing as you thought, Kaelix."


    Kaelix, who heard what Lucius was saying, became frustrated immediately. "It is impossible! The pill shouldn''t have worn off this quickly! What did you do, Lucius?"


    Lucius didn''t even bother to answer him. He soon turned to Liora, who was currently seriously injured but was still ready to fight.


    Lucius then began to calm Liora down, "Liora, you''ve done enough for now. Let''s return. You''re injured, and I''ll need you at your best for what''s to come."


    Liora, who heard what Lucius said, hesitated a moment as she didn''t like the idea of leaving without finishing the fight. But still, Lucius was her master, so she could only nod and leave. "As you wish, Master."


    Kaelix, who saw Lucius turn his back on him, instantly became angry as he shouted. "Don''t you dare walk away from me! This isn''t over! I''ll make you regret ever crossing me!"


    Lucius only chuckled as he turned back on him and said, "Kaelix, I have let you walk away with that little pride that you have left. You should be thanking me instead of yapping like a cornered dog."


    Kaelix clenched his fist as he was so angry and before he could respond, Lucius immediately raised his hand to silence him.


    Liora soon rose up and immediately left the room. She then immediately went to the training room to train herself.


    After she arrived at the room, she could see that there were a lot of training equipments, and she didn''t know what all of them could do, so she just tested them one by one.


    Meanwhile, Lucius immediately turned his attention to the pill that was now in his system''s Eternal Vault. He was curious about its effect.


    Unfortunately, Lucius''s system, the Beast Hack System, could not scan any item like this. Only natural materials could only be scanned by the system and only beasts could be hacked using the system.


    Lucius could only sigh as he began to look around the room. The room he was currently in was actually a specialized room for Evolists.


    There was a machine like the Evolution Essence Maker, the same as the one that the professor used this morning. The machine was quite glossy and also only had about two buttons.


    Lucius could also see that five empty vials were being put inside the machine, each of them being connected with something like a pipe. Next to the machine, there was also a manual on how to use it.


    Lucius took it and read it immediately. Inside it, it was said that the machine could extract and refine essence from various materials to create potent Evolution Essences that are used to evolve beasts.


    The machine only supported the creation of essences of beasts ranging from 1-Star to 3-Star. Lucius was wondering about it. "Is it because the evolution to 4-Star was a bit hard so they could not use this machine or..."


    Lucius began to ignore it as he was still playing with 3-Star Beasts and below. Lucius also continued to read the manual.


    According to the manual, users needed to insert compatible materials into the machine and once activated, the device would extract the essence and transfer it into a vial for use.


    Lucius could also see some other machines that were as unique as the Evolution Essence Maker, so he began to check on them.

 Chapter 46 Evolists Machines

    Lucius walked toward the other two machines. Both of them were pretty futuristic according to him and now he began to see what they were.


    The first one was named Beast Insight Terminal; this one could be said to be a better machine than the beast scanner that was usually used by rich people.


    This machine could display a holographic screen that was filled with beast data, the same as a beast scanner, except this machine could even check their skills.


    Lucius didn''t really like this machine, as his system already had the same function as this. "It is quite good, but for other Evolists. Not me."


    He then turned his attention to the second machine, which was called as the Beast Pill Synthesizer, and he was immediately intrigued by it


    The machine looked like a massive cauldron with numerous input slots for various raw materials. There were also two buttons on the machine.


    From the manual that he read, this machine could analyze any raw materials placed inside and break them down to their essence to synthesize them into a pill.


    These pills were created based on the materials placed on the machine, so random or incompatible materials could produce randomized, potentially useless pills.


    To use it, the users need to have a solid understanding of the materials they were working with so they could make pills that either vitamin for beasts or temporary enhancement pills that Kaelix used like before.


    The machine also had a holographic screen that would tell the user on the effect of the pill being made, so the user can use the pill with ease.


    "I wonder if this machine can identify and display the effects of the pill that it didn''t create." Lucius wondered as he looked at the black pill in his hand.


    Lucius, who was curious, immediately put it inside the machine but the machine didn''t work at all. Lucius even had pressed the buttons.


    Magnus, who heard it, suddenly widened his eyes as he could not believe what he just heard. He took a half step back and asked, "Wait... did you say House Number One in the Golden Complex?"


    Lucius only nodded, amused seeing Magnus'' reaction. "Indeed, I am. And also the previous occupant, some arrogant fool, thought he could reclaim it by challenging me. Liora was kind enough to... handle the situation."


    Magnus immediately frowned after hearing. He immediately slowly asked. "Handle him? You don''t mean... killing him, right?"


    Lucius chuckled after hearing what Magnus said. He then looked at Magnus and said, "Kill him? Of course not. I wouldn''t break the academy''s rules so openly."


    Lucius then suddenly stepped closer at Magnus, right on his face and smirked. "But let''s just say that if he keeps disturbing me and tests my patience, I may or may not try to end him."


    Magnus swallowed hard, as Lucius was too scary for him right now. "Lucius, you have to be careful. If things get worse, it could bring some trouble for the family. Just... don''t provoke him further."


    Lucius stepped back a little and continued to smirk. "Trouble for the family? Don''t you remember what your father said, Magnus? If anyone dares to trouble us, we need to beat them into submission."


    Magnus hesitated; the memory of Ragnar''s harsh words before they left the estate soon rang in his mind: Power demands respect. If they defy you, beat them into submission.


    But still, Magnus could not shake the unease feeling around his chest. Magnus then looked at Lucius and said, "Yes, my father said that, but this is different. Your opponent isn''t just anyone."


    Magnus then reminded Lucius about his real opponent: "Your opponent is Kaelix Kryndal, the Rank 1 Evolist of the Golden Class."


    Lucius, who heard what Magnus said, could only glare at Lucius. He could not believe what Magnus had just said.


    He never thought that Magnus, the one that he saw as a brave and fierce tamer, could be this timid. It seems that he needed to smack some sense into this kid.

 Chapter 47 Lucius Ruthless Support

    Lucius was now annoyed by Magnus, as he immediately raised his hand to stop him. "Enough, Magnus. Stop this pathetic display."


    Lucius then began to mock him and also left him no room for argument. "Don''t tell me you''re chickening out. Are you actually scared of some... Evolist?"


    Magnus was frozen after hearing his words. He immediately replied, "It''s not about fear, but it is about strategy. Kaelix is the Rank 1 Evolist of the Golden Class. He''s influential around here. If we provoke him, it could..."


    Lucius immediately became angry and shouted at him; that made Magnus step back a bit. "Stop your whining, Magnus and let me make something very clear here."


    Lucius then took a step forward and began to pressure Magnus, "I don''t care about his influence. I don''t care about his rank. And I certainly don''t care about what he thinks he''s entitled to."


    Magnus opened his mouth as he tried to speak but it was immediately stopped by Lucius as he continued to mock Kaelix.


    "Kaelix Kryndal is a nuisance. He is a bug that I''ll squash the moment he crosses me again. And if you''re too afraid to stand up to him, then perhaps you''re the one who doesn''t deserve your rank."


    Magnus clenched his fist as the insult hit him harder than he expected. "It''s not that, Lucius. It''s just that Kaelix has connections, and he''s been here longer. You can''t just..."


    Lucius immediately raised his voice and stopped Magnus. "I can, Magnus. And I will. But more importantly, you can."


    Magnus was immediately confused about what Lucius was talking about and Lucius began to explain it more to him.


    "Magnus... you are the young master of the Volcaria family, one of the strongest families in the world. You have a body built like a war beast, an aura fierce enough to intimidate half the academy, and yet..."


    Lucius looked disappointed as he began to talk with disdain, "And yet... you are acting like a timid little child."


    Magnus frowned as he began to talk back, "I''m not..." but Lucius immediately stopped him again as he took another step forward.


    Magnus then clenched his fist and raised it. "You''ve already proven yourself to be in a higher position than me. I''ll make sure I''m not a disappointment to the family."


    Lucius only smirked after hearing it. "No need to apologize, Magnus. You''re the face of the Volcaria family, so remember that you need to show them what it means to challenge our family."


    Magnus nodded and without another world, he turned and ran toward the arena. Lucius also smirked upon seeing the new Magnus.


    Lucius also turned to the system and made a new hack: "System, hack him to grant him a boost in confidence and bravery if he wins and a minor increase in both if he loses, enough to fuel his persistence for 24 hours."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Temporary Confidence and Bravery Enhancement]


    [Resources Required: 100,000 Hack Points.]


    ---


    Lucius only chuckled after seeing the hack and looked toward Magnus, who had been gone from his sight. "Let this be my gift to you."


    Luna, who already looked at the full scene, asked Lucius as she was curious, "Master, what did you just do?"


    Lucius turned to her and smirked, "Nothing too troublesome, Luna. I just give him a little push so he can learn how to stand on his own two feet a little bit easier."


    Luna, who heard it, smiled and said, "I see, Master. As expected of master, you can even help stupid young master like him."


    Lucius only smiled after hearing Luna''s praises and soon both of them began to enter the market to find some beasts.

 Chapter 48 Beast Exchange Pavilion

    Lucius and Luna were currently walking around the market. Luna then looked at Lucius as she was curious. "Master, what kind of beasts are we looking for?"


    Lucius didn''t stop walking as he replied, "It doesn''t really matter. They are for experiments so anything is okay, but if we happen to see something interesting, I don''t mind buying it."


    Luna nodded as she smiled. "Got it, Master. Cheap beasts for now, strong ones for later. Simple enough." Lucius only chuckled after hearing.


    They then soon arrived at the tallest building in the market. There was also a plaque that had the words "Beast Exchange Pavilion" in golden letters.


    Luna was quite amazed by the building and said to Lucius, "Impressive. This must be where they sell numerous kinds of beasts."


    Lucius nodded. "Exactly. Let''s see what they have to offer to us." Both of them then began to enter the pavillion.


    The moment they entered it, they were amazed by the huge and luxurious hall with polished floors and walls lined with glowing panels displaying images of various beasts.


    Lucius then went to one of the receptionists, and the woman behind it stood and bowed toward Lucius while politely greeting him.


    "Welcome to the Beast Exchange Pavilion. Are you here to buy, sell, or perhaps both?" She asked when seeing Lucius wearing nice clothes.


    Lucius was a bit surprised. He then smiled and stepped forward as he asked, "So, the Beast Exchange Pavilion handles both buying and selling beasts?"


    The woman immediately nodded, confirming it. "Yes, sir. The Beast Exchange Pavilion caters to all levels of beast tamers and Evolists, whether in selling or buying beasts."


    Lucius only smirked after hearing it and asked, "Interesting. Then could you tell me what''s the price range of the beasts that are sold here?"


    The receptionist then began to explain it to Lucius about the price: "Our prices are different for every level of beast." She then explained it in a simpler way.


    1-Star beasts: 100 to 500 Beast Coins.


    Lucius took the rings with a smile and turned back. He also said something before leaving: "I will come here again if I need anything."


    Luna also followed Lucius closely from behind. The two then exited the pavillion, returning back into the bustling market.


    While they were walking, Lucius began to look at the ten Beast Rings that were currently on his hands. He began to think of something.


    Luna glanced at him and asked, as she was curious, "Master, you''ve been quiet. Something on your mind?"


    Lucius smirked after being asked and only replied, "Just ignore me... I was just thinking of something about these rings."


    Luna nodded but still she observed Lucius, as she was really curious about what Lucius was about to do with those rings.


    Lucius began to think, "The Eternal Vault suspends anything placed inside it, freezing it in time. Can it also pause the beasts within these rings? If it can then, it will be very interesting."


    Lucius then immediately tried to test the theory. Lucius then began to put the beast rings into the system''s vault and it was a success. The rings began to disappear one by one.


    Lucius now knew that he could put the beast rings inside the system''s vault so he didn''t know if it would pause the beasts or not so he decided to test something.


    In a corner, Lucius activated the beast ring, releasing a small white beast into the ground. The beast was white and also resembled a rodent.


    Luna crouched beside it as she petted it. "So small, but I can see why they''re good for experiments. It looks like it could evolve into almost anything."


    Lucius only smirked as he was quite amused watching the interaction between Luna and the white beast. "Indeed, but now let me test my theory."


    Lucius then immediately gave it some good to eat and, after that, immediately put it back to the beast ring.


    Lucius also placed the ring back into the system''s vault. If what he thought was true, then the white beast would still be eating the food when he let it out later.

 Chapter 49 Dreston Velcour

    Lucius and Luna were just about to leave the market; they stopped after seeing a lot of students were rushing toward the arena.


    "Did you hear? Magnus Volcaria had gone insane!" One of the students exclaimed in disbelief.


    Another student was also joining; as he said, "He''s challenging everyone! He''s already taken down four students from the Golden Class, and he''s still going!"


    A third one also chimed in. "They say that the fifth battle will be his last for today. Let''s go watch it before it is over!"


    Lucius, who heard it, immediately was intrigued. He never thought that Magnus was so strong that he managed to defeat 4 students in a row.


    Luna, who also heard it, immediately turned toward Lucius and smirked, "Master, should we go watch? I am just wondering if he really has changed or not."


    Lucius only chuckled, "Of course we should watch him. Let''s see just how much power and confidence he got from this battle. And more importantly, let''s see just how far he dares to go."


    Lucius and Luna soon arrived at the arena. They immediately went to the top area, which was the most deserted one so he could easily sit in some seats.


    Luna also sat on the seat beside Lucius and now both of them were currently looking at Magnus, who was about to begin the battle.


    Lucius could see that Magnus was a bit different now, as he stood confidently and also looked even fiercer than before.


    His opponent this time was a slim one. He was also an attractive young man with good features and charm. His smile was confident, though his presence lacked the overpowering aura that Lucius carried so naturally.


    Luna sneered after looking at the slim guy and leaned her body at Lucius. "Who''s the peacock Magnus is chatting with, Master? He doesn''t look like much."


    Lucius smirked and said, "I don''t know about him at all. We should just see the battle." Even though he said it like that, Lucius immediately used his system to scan the man.


    ---


    [Name: Dreston Velcour]


    [Species: Human]


    [Talent: Wind Lord]


    [Level: 3 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: F (3¡ï)]


    [Vit: F (3¡ï)]


    He then folded his arms and murmured, "But still, this Dreston seems so confident. His beast is specialized in speed so I wonder how he would command his beast to fight."


    Luna, on the other hand, smirked and said, "Magnus will crush him. His Lava Tortouse isn''t a normal beast. I bet that this slim man will lose."


    Lucius only chuckled hearing what Luna had said. "I also bet the slim man will lose, but still, let''s see the battle. I wonder what kind of show Magnus will put on for us."


    The spectator seats were soon filled by the students that wanted to see the battle. Even the seats near the edge of the arena where Lucius and Luna were currently sitting were half full.


    Dreston Velcour soon smiled and waved his hands toward the spectators while casually leaning against the railing. His sleek Gale Wolf also stood by his side.


    Both Dreston and his Gale Wolf soon turned their attention toward Magnus. "I have heard a lot about you, Magnus Volcaria."


    Dreston also began to praise him. "To think that you manage to secure four consecutive victories against students from the Golden Class. I must say that you are pretty impressive."


    Magnus crossed his arms and looked straight at Dreston. "I am just doing what I need to do, so just shut your mouth up."


    Dreston, who heard what Magnus said, was a bit angry but calmed down and said, "I see, so this is the fifth. Are you ready or do you need a little break before facing someone like me?"


    Magnus only stood straight and didn''t smile at all as he fiercely said. "I don''t need a break. I am ready whenever you are."


    Luna leaned toward Lucius and soon grinned as she talked to Lucius, "Magnus is pretty fired up now, but I don''t like this Dreston guy."


    Luna then explained why she didn''t like him. "He has gotten that smug look that is saying that he has already won. Should we intervene if this turns ugly?"


    Lucius chuckled as he was amused. "intervene? No, Luna. Magnus has to stand on his own and also, this is not a mere battle for him but a lesson to make him know what his current position is."


    Luna then immediately said, "No matter what, Magnus should win the battle and also, it''s going to be entertaining to watch." Lucius only nodded as he said, "Exactly."


    Dreston soon brushed off some dust from his clothes and smirked. "Well, Magnus. If you are not tired, then I suppose I could indulge you in a match."


    Magnus snorted and soon grinned, "Indulge me? You''re awfully confident for someone who hasn''t seen my Lava Tortoise in action."


    Dreston only laughed as he was amused. "Oh, I''ve seen it. Impressive, for a brute. But speed wins battles, Volcaria. And my Gale Wolf? It''s untouchable."


    The crowd soon buzzed with excitement as the arena''s announcer stepped forward, amplifying his voice with a magical device to announce the match.


    "The fifth battle of the day: Magnus Volcaria versus Dreston Velcour! Two Golden Class students, both with 3-Star beasts! Who will reign supreme?"


    Magnus''s Lava Tortoise soon went into the arena. It''s massive form was emitting a powerful aura. Its molten shell also scared some of the students.


    Dreston''s Gale Wolf also stepped forward and entered the ring. Its sleek and muscular body was currently swirled by wind, meaning that it was ready for battle.

 Chapter 50 Lava Tortoise vs Gale Wolf (1)

    Dreston looked at Magnus and smirked as he began first. He commanded his beast, "Gale Wolf, use Zephyr Howl! and attack with your claws!"


    The Gale Wolf soon let out a piercing howl. The wind began to swirl around its body, enhancing its agility and making it faster and sharper the moment it moved.


    The Gale Wolf then ran straight to the Lava Tortoise, its claws already extended and bared for its use against it.


    Magnus didn''t flinch. Instead, he smirked and looked back at Dreston, "Impressive. But speed alone isn''t enough, Dreston."


    Magnus then raised his hand and pointed at his beast while commanding, "Lava Tortoise, use Molten Shell!"


    The Lava Tortoise immediately retracted its whole body into its shell as molten energy began to flow around his shell and hardened into a hot armor.


    Dreston only smirked after seeing it: "A fancy trick but useless. Speed always wins the battles."


    Magnus only laughed hard as he folded his arms. "We will see about that."


    The Gale Wolf then lunged its claws at the Lava Tortoise and suddenly, as it struck it, a loud clang echoed through the arena as the wolf''s attack barely left a scratch.


    Dreston, who heard it, frowned but his confidence was still high. "Keep attacking it. I am sure the shell will break soon."


    The Gale Wolf soon unleashed a flurry of strikes. Its claws were raking and its teeth were also biting the tortoise''s hardened shell but none of them managed to inflict some damage.


    To make it even worse, the heat that radiated from the shell began to burn the wolf''s paws and also his mouth, damaging it after each strike.


    Magnus, who saw the pathetic condition of Gale Wolf, began to laugh out loud, "Haveing trouble, Dreston? Looks like your speed isn''t helping much."


    Dreston, who heard it, immediately clenched his jaw as Magnus pointed his Lava Tortoise. "My Lava Tortoise''s Flame Aura isn''t just for show, as it is hot enough to even change the battle field."


    Magnus then grinned as he now pointed at the Gale Wolf, "The longer we fight, the worse it gets for your fragile little wolf. You better be serious or else."


    Dreston, who heard what Magnus was saying, became even angrier as he was now underestimated. "You, Bastard!"


    Magnus only laughed after being called bastard by Dreston, "What''s wrong, Dreston? I thought you were going to teach me a lesson. Don''t tell me you''re already running out of tricks."


    Magnus then raised and shook his hand. "But don''t you worry, my dear friend. This isn''t over yet. Lava Tortoise, use Lava Spit!" Magnus commanded.


    The Lava Tortoise raised its head and opened its mouth. Its shell began to glow red as it immediately unleashed a stream of molten lava toward the Gale Wolf.


    Dreston, who looked, immediately became panicky as he commanded, "Gale Wolf, use Gale Dash to avoid all of that lava."


    The Gale Wolf soon wrapped its body with wind, forming a protective barrier against the heat. It also ran faster as it avoided all lava effortlessly.


    Magnus watched the speed of Gale Wolf and smirked, "Not too bad, for a little wolf." He said it loud enough for Dreston to hear.


    Dreston, who heard it, immediately snapped. "Don''t think we are done here! Gale Wolf, while you''re moving, use Wind Slash!" he commanded.


    The Gale Wolf swiped its claws in rapid succession, releasing sharp wind currents as it moved around the Lava Tortoise.


    The wind blades struck the molten shell with loud voices but as everyone expected, the Lava Tortoise stood unscathed. Its molten shell was too hard for the Gale Wolf to damage at all.


    Magnus laughed out loud again, "Is that it, Dreston? It looks like your wolf has plenty of speed but no real power behind those attacks. You''re not going to win like this."


    Dreston bit his lips as he heard Magnus'' words. "Damn it, Magnus! I will show you just how powerful I am!" Dreston cursed.

 Chapter 51 Lava Tortoise vs Gale Wolf (2)

    Dreston soon looked at his Gale Wolf again and commanded. "This time use your Zephyr Howl again! Push your agility to the limit!"


    The Gale Wolf let out a piercing howl; the wind that was swirling around its body became even more intense as it began to become a whirlwind.


    Dreston then pointed at the Lava Tortoise, "Now, use Wind Slash, but this time hold it in your claws. Build the attack for maximum impact!"


    The Gale Wolf howled as its claws began to glow as wind energy began to gather all the wind energy. With each second, the energy grew sharper and denser.


    The Gale Wolf also took some steps behind and crouched down. It was preparing its stance to launch himself, as it wanted to strike in close range for the maximum damage.


    Magnus only smirked upon seeing the Gale Wolf. He only turned to Dreston and mocked, "Go ahead. Let''s see just what you have got, Dreston!"


    The Gale Wolf, who had gathered enough energy, was about to move and strike Lava Tortoise, but suddenly it stopped.


    Dreston, who noticed his beast''s hesitation, frowned. The Gale Wolf just paused and didn''t want to move at all. "What are you doing? Attack!"


    But the Gale Wolf still didn''t move. Instead, it hesitated a bit as it looked at the area around. Dreston also took a closer look and was surprised by what he saw.


    Magnus, who saw the surprised Dreston, only laughed out loud, "Finally figured it out, have you?"


    Dreston frowned after seeing that the area around Gale Wolf was now being covered with a pool of lava, which was the remnants of the Lava Tortoise''s Lava Spit attack.


    Dreston looked at Magnus and he immediately scolded him, "You Bastard, did you plan all of this?"


    Magnus only smirked after hearing his words, "Of course I am. Did you think that my Lava Tortoise was just spitting lava aimlessly?"


    Dreston was panicking, seeing that his Gale Wolf was howling in pain. He immediately opened his beast portal and pulled it from the lava pool.


    Dreston stood frozen for a moment as his hand trembled slightly before clenching into fists. He tried to force himself to be proud.


    However, Magnus didn''t miss it as he folded his arms. He immediately smirked as he mocked him, "Looks like your speed couldn''t save you after all. Better luck next time, Dreston."


    The arena fell silent for a moment before the announcer began to shout out loud with his magic item, "The winner of this match was... Magnus Volcaria! That makes it five wins in a row for the rising star of the Volcaria family!"


    Magnus turned back to Daxton and smirked, "You put up a good fight; I''ll give you that. But next time, try bringing a beast that can handle the heat."


    Dreston didn''t smile at all and said coldly, "Don''t get too comfortable, Volcaria. You may have won this round, but this isn''t over."


    Magnus only laughed out loud, "I''ll be waiting, Dreston. Come back when you''re ready for another lesson."


    Meanwhile, Lucius and Luna were smirking, as they found it quite entertaining after watching the battle between Magnus and Dreston.


    Lucius also said, "Magnus has finally understood the taste of power. That is why he can be that confident."


    Luna, who leaned at him, also nodded as she excitedly said, "Yes, Master. He is not the same timid fool who doubted himself anymore."


    Lucius chuckled as he said, "Of course he''s changed, Luna. I made sure of it. I am the one who had given him the chance to do so."


    Luna then smirked and said, "Then, Master, should we go down and remind him who was the one who let him gain his confidence back?"


    Lucius then nodded, "Yeah, it is time for a new instruction." With that, Luna, who had been following him from behind, began to smirk as they were about to meet Magnus.

 Chapter 52 Magnus New Instruction

    Lucius and Luna walked through the corridor toward the participant area. Magnus also saw them and shouted, "Lucius! Luna! Over here!"


    Magnus stood the door. He still looked fresh, although he had 5 battles earlier. He waved them over with his hand, signaling them to go toward him.


    Lucius smirked as he began to go toward Magnus, with Luna silently following behind him. They then began to enter the participant room that was prepared by the arena for the participants.


    Magnus soon sat down and smirked. He looked at Lucius and said, "I have got to thank you, Lucius. It''s because of you that I have known what I need to do and that is battling."


    He also then stood up and even wider. "Thanks to it, I have regained my confidence and with me winning it all, my fame has been raised in this academy."


    Lucius, who heard Magnus, only smirked. "Confidence is one thing, Magnus. Control is another. Do you feel you''re in control of your strength now?"


    Magnus soon excitedly nodded and said out loud, "Absolutely. After winning five times in a row, I feel unstoppable."


    Lucius only chuckled as he was amused. "Good. But tell me, is that the final battle for you today?"


    Magnus nodded and summoned his Lava Tortoise. A portal soon appeared and a huge Lava Tortoise came out, but this time it was slower than before as it was exhausted after five battles."


    Magnus then pointed at the Lava Tortoise and said, "It has given its all today, so I think it is time to let it rest for the day."


    Lucius observed the Lava Tortoise and smirked. "Rest is important but what if you don''t need to wait for it to recover?"


    Magnus was confused as he heard what Lucius said. He then asked again, "What are you talking about, Lucius?"


    Lucius stepped forward and crouched and began to take something out from his spatial ring: "Let me show you something interesting."


    Magnus, who was now very excited, immediately went straight back to the arena. With Lucius'' pill, his Lava Tortoise had been healed, so it was time for him to pay him back.


    Lucius then smirked after seeing Magnus, who had already disappeared. Luna then leaned back at Lucius and asked him, "So, what do we do now or where do we go now, Master?"


    Lucius then stood and went out of the room. "We will go back to our residence. We will let Magnus play his role and we will play our own roles."


    The two then went out of the room and began to go back to their residence in the golden complex. It was time for Lucius to experiment.


    The arena was about to be emptied and the announcer was also about to leave the arena. But suddenly, Magnus came and approached him.


    The announcer didn''t know why Magnus was approaching him but knowing that Magnus had won 5 battles today and also against golden-class students, he didn''t dare to run.


    Magnus then stopped right in front of the announcer. The announcer was a bit scared but still asked, "Young Master Magnus, may I ask what you need from me?"


    Magnus smirked and immediately said, "I am not finished yet. Make an announcement that I want to do an open challenge."


    The announcer was shocked after hearing it: "An open challenge? Aren''t your Lava Tortoise exhausted after those hard 5 battles?"


    Magnus only laughed and said, "Trust me on this. Just announce that I''ll take on anyone who dares step forward and I also want to add some tweaks to it."


    Magnus then began to whisper about what he wanted to add to his open challenge and when the announcer heard it, he was really surprised.


    He immediately asked Magnus one more time, "Are you really sure about this open challenge and the tweaks that you just said, Young Master Magnu?"


    Magnus nodded and went to the center of the arena. "I am very sure about it. Just announce to them while I am waiting for the challengers in the center of the arena."


    The announcer could only sigh as he began to take his magic mic and raise it as he was about to announce something really crazy, even to an Astra student like him.

 Chapter 53 Magnus Open Challenge

    The announcer was now standing on the raised platform that was specifically made for the announcer. He then looked at Magnus, wanting to confirm it one last time.


    Magnus looked at the announcer, who looked at him. Magnus smirked and nodded as he stood in the center of the arena.


    The announcer could only sigh, but he was also really excited as he was about to announce something really amazing. He then began to raise his mic.


    The announcer then began to excitedly announce, "Ladies and gentlemen! Hold onto your seats, because we have a new shocking turn of events!"


    The spectators who were just about to leave the arena were suddenly surprised as they heard the announcer. They were also interested in it, as they immediately went back to their seats.


    The announcer then raised his voice and continued, "Lord Magnus has declared that he will not only continue fighting today but will issue an open challenge to all Golden Class students and below!"


    The spectators who heard it were really surprised after hearing it. Magnus had just fought 5 battles that day, but now he wanted more.


    The announcer also excitedly continued, "This is no ordinary challenge, as there are some rules that will really excite you all."


    The announcer then began to tell them about the rules: "Here are the rules: Any challenger or even a team made up to three challengers can enter the arena and challenge Lord Magnus."


    The announcer also announced the prize for winning. "And also, why don''t we talk about the prize here? Let me tell you the prize for beating Lord Magnus is 6,000 Beast Coins."


    The spectators were now really excited hearing that they could fight Magnus with a team but after hearing the prize, they even became more excited.


    The announcer also raised his hand to stop their excitement: "Hold your horses, dear challengers! You should also think about competing individually or as a team, as the team will split the prize."


    The three challengers then immediately summoned their beasts in unison. Soon, three portals began to appear on the arena.


    Thunder Boar, Rock Bear and Ember Hawk began to appear from the three portals and stood in front of the Lava Tortoise. All of them were even 3-Star beasts.


    The leader of the team immediately pointed at Magnus, "Five wins in a row is really impressive, but now you are facing the three of us. There''s no way you can win this time."


    Magnus only laughed after being underestimated. He also immediately excitedly said, "If that is what you think, then I am sorry that the reality will be different than you think."


    The three tamers frowned a bit after being told that, but they didn''t back down. They immediately commanded their beasts.


    The Thunder Boar began to use its Thunder Charge. It roared as its tusks were filled with electricity and immediately charged toward Lava Tortoise.


    The Rock Bear also began to use its Rock Claw. Its claw began to glow as it gathered the earth element''s energy. It then soon ran toward Lava Tortoise with its Rock Claw.


    Ember Hawk, who flew in the air, also began to use its skill, Ember Wings. Its wing began to gather the flame energy and soon transformed it into embers and sent it toward the Lava Tortoise from above.


    Magnus, who saw them, only smirked and said mockingly, "Is that all you''ve got? Let me show you what real power looks like!"


    Magnus soon smirked and raised his hand and shouted out loud, "Lava Tortoise! Maximum Flame Aura! Burn everything to the ground!"


    The lava tortoise let out a roar as its molten shell began to glow brighter. Flames erupted from its body as it spread around the arena, making it even hotter than before.


    Magnus then laughed loudly as he shouted, "This arena belongs to me now! Lava Tortoise, keep the flames burning! Make sure they can''t take a single step without feeling the heat!"


    The Lava Tortoise rumbled as he used all its power to make the arena even hotter than before and Magnus spread his arms wide. "Now the real battle begins!"

 Chapter 54 White Beasts Modification

    Lucius and Luna had now returned to their residence. Lucius then looked at Luna and told her, "Luna, you can return to your job to clean the place."


    Luna nodded and said, "Yes, Master Lucius. I will make sure that it is perfectly cleaned." Luna then stood and was going to clean the residence.


    Lucius then suddenly called her before leaving, "Good, and also checked on your beast, Liora. She should be training, so tell her to train more and I expect something good from her later."


    Luna then turned to Lucius back and nodded. "Yes, Master. I will make sure that she trains harder and will not embarrass you anymore."


    Luna then immediately turned around and left Lucius alone in his room to clean the residence. Lucius, on the other hand, was now focusing on other things.


    Lucius then immediately took out the beast ring from his system''s eternal vault. He then immediately released the white beast from the beast ring.


    A white beast that looked like a cute white mouse appeared and it was eating some foods that looked like small cookies.


    Lucius immediately smirked after seeing it as what he thought was true: "So it really worked. The beast ring didn''t stop time for the beasts but my system vault can stop items but not beasts."


    Lucius then said, "So, I will just put the beast into the beast ring and into my system vault and think that it really works."


    Lucius also smirked as he said, "And also, the beast rings were all the same items regardless of the beast inside them, so I can just put them all into one slot of my system vault."


    The white beast who looked at Lucius'' face immediately froze as it was afraid of Lucius'' evil smirk. It didn''t know what Lucius was going to do with it.


    Lucius smirked as he thought of what to do with this small white beast. "What should I do with you? It must be an interesting one."


    Lucius then turned to his system and immediately told it, "Hack this beast and show me its possible evolution routes."


    ---


    [Evolution Options for White Beast:]


    [2-Star White Beast: 1,000 HP]


    [2-Star White Lion: 1,000 HP]


    [2-Star Flame Tiger: 10,000 HP]


    [2-Star Ice Cat: 10,000 HP]


    [2-Star Wind Rat: 10,000 HP]


    [...]


    ---


    Lucius was quite surprised as he saw the list. It was more than he thought that even the system could not hold them all. The evolution routes also seemed to only have canine, feline and rodent paths.


    Lucius then looked at the white beast and smirked, "Impressive; you really can evolve to a lot of beasts; no wonder they said that you are the perfect beast for experiment."


    Lucius then thought of something again and said, "Its evolution path is quite interesting, but I have already used the evolution hack so how about we use other kinds of hacks?"


    Lucius then turned to the system again and said, "Hack it again and this time transform its claw into tiger claws."


    [Int: F (1¡ï)]


    [Skills: None]


    ---


    Lucius was surprised, as the stats didn''t increase at all. He then began to think more about it: "Could it be because body modification cannot increase the stats or the modification is not enough?"


    Lucius then turned to the system again and said, "Let''s hack it again. Make its muscle five times tougher and its claw five times sharper."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Sharpened Claws (5X) & Tougher Muscle (5X).]


    [Resources Required: 200 Hack Points.]


    ---


    The beast began to tremble in pain again, as this time the modification was even more painful as before, as this time the change was both in claws and muscles.


    Its muscles began to tighten as it was harder than before and its claws also began to be sharper than before as they were bigger and longer than before.


    Lucius smirked after seeing the change and immediately scanned the beast again. "Let''s see if this hack has increased your stats or not."


    ---


    [Species: Large White Tiger Claw Beast]


    [Element: None]


    [Level: 1 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: E (1¡ï)]


    [Vit: E (1¡ï)]


    [Agi: F (1¡ï)]


    [Int: F (1¡ï)]


    [Skills: None]


    ---


    Lucius smirked after seeing that the stats had increased, mainly in Str and Vit, as they were increased by one tier.


    After seeing it, Lucius then immediately concluded, "So, body modifications can indeed enhance the stats directly. Let''s test it more."


    Lucius then immediately turned to the system to hack it more, but when he had told the system about the new hack, a screen suddenly appeared that shocked Lucius immediately.

 Chapter 55 Systems Warning

    Lucius then looked at the trembling white beast. He was quite satisfied with the hack just now, but he wanted more.


    ]He then immediately turned to the system and said, "Hack it again. Make its claws sharper and its muscles tougher, but this time, by ten times."


    ---


    [Hack Request Denied: Beast Modification Limit Reached]


    ---


    Lucius was surprised after seeing the system''s response and was quite angry at the same time. "Denied? Why can''t I hack the beast further? Aren''t you the Beast Hack System?"


    ---No?v(el)B\\jnn


    [Hack Limit: Beast Essence Limit Reached]


    ---


    Lucius still didn''t understand, as the system''s words were too simple now, but he began to read the words more carefully.


    Lucius then thought it more carefully after reading it and finally he could conclude something as he looked at the word "essence".


    "Beast Essence, huh? It seems that the essence that the system meant is the base of the beast or, I can even say, the soul of the beast."


    Lucius then turned toward the system again and said, "So, you don''t just hack the beast but their essence or soul, so no wonder all of the beasts that are felt normal afterward."


    Lucius soon understood it, but he soon frowned after thinking more about it. He felt like something about the system was not right.


    "If the system denies hacking to prevent a beast''s death from too much or heavy hacks, then why didn''t it stop me a few months ago?" He said it in confusion.


    A few months ago, Lucius had hacked some beast to go on rampage to destroy a village for revenge. The beasts that had been rampaging for a while also suddenly collapsed and died.


    "They died just after rampaging for a moment and that had put too much burden on their bodies, making them die so easily. They could be said to die because of the hacks, so why didn''t the system stop me?"


    Lucius then immediately turned to the system and asked, "Explain it to me. Why didn''t you stop me a few months ago but stop me now? Why allow one and forbid the other?"


    ---


    [Temporary Hack: Beast Essence Unaffected]


    Its body then began to grow rapidly into the same size as the previous white beast and its muscles were also tightened to the same level.


    But there were some differences between the two white beasts, as this one had a horn that power didn''t lose to the tiger claws.


    Lucius was satisfied after watching the transformation. He then began to scan the new white beast to see if he also had the same stats as the previous one.


    ---


    [Species: Large White Horned Beast]


    [Element: None]


    [Level: 1 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: E (1¡ï)]


    [Vit: E (1¡ï)]


    [Agi: F (1¡ï)]


    [Int: F (1¡ï)]


    [Skills: None]


    ---


    Lucius raised an eyebrow and smirked, "Interesting. The stats had been enhanced too, but to think that I was not aware of these other changes."


    Lucius then looked at the first slot and said, "To think that your species has also changed from a white beast into a new species."


    Lucius also glanced back at the first modified beast, scanning it as well. Its species had also been changed, as it was now listed as a "Large White Tiger-Clawed Beast."


    Lucius then concluded, "Too many hacks can rewrite the essence of the beast that can even change the species. It can be said as an evolution but it is not, as it doesn''t raise its star level."


    He then looked at both beasts and clasped his hand. "Species names are irrelevant as they are just names to identify both of you."


    Lucius then suddenly smirked, "What matters is potential and the power that you will have after some hacks, so why don''t we continue our experiment?" Lucius said as he watched the two trembling beasts.

 Chapter 56 Beast Fusion and Transformation

    Lucius was now looking at both beasts that he planned to fuse but suddenly he stopped as he just realized something. "Wait. There''s something I''ve overlooked."


    Lucius then thought about the temporary hacks and said, "Those hacks that I used before, like stamina boosts, libido enhancement, instant healing for the Lava Tortoise and the confidence gainer for Magnus."


    Lucius then turned to the system and asked it, "Do they also affect beast essence, or do they only use some kind of energy?"


    ---


    [All Temporary Hacks: Hacking Points & Beast Energy Usage]


    ---


    Lucius, who had just looked at the system, began to smirk as he began to understand how it worked. "I see, so that is how you work."


    Lucius then began to smirk as he explained to himself, "Temporary hacks are like borrowed power. Hack points are used to provide the power, and the beast''s own energy ensures their stability once the temporary hack ends."


    Lyucius then smiled. "It is really interesting. Now, I really understand what the system can do. As long as your beast and its essence are powerful enough, you can do anything."


    Lucius then thought about the temporary hacks that he gave to Magnus and Lava Tortoise earlier, which were instant heals after every battle and confidence gainers for every win.


    Lucius then smirked as he ignored it, "I am sure that they will be fine as both of them were already 3-Stars, and also the hack only lasts for the day."


    Lucius then turned his attention back toward the two white beasts. Although both of them were larger and stronger than before, they were still the timid white beasts.


    He was amused by their same personalities. Lucius then turned to the system and said, "Let''s fuse the two beasts. Let''s see what will happen when two beasts are fused."


    ---


    [Fusion Initiation: Large White Horned Beast + Large White Tiger-Clawed Beast]


    [Fusion Result: Large White Tiger-Clawed Horned Beast]


    [Resources Required: 1,000]


    ---


    Both of the beasts then began to glow as the system initiated the fusion process. Both beasts let out low growls but it was stopped as they were glowing completely.


    Their glowing forms then began to go to each other as they began to merge into one body. There were no cries of pain and only silence in the process.


    For five minutes, Lucius stood motionless as he observed the fusion process and finally, the glow began to fade. The two beasts had now been replaced by a single beast.


    The new beast was the same as before, as it had a huge rat body and tough muscles but it also had both characteristics of tiger claws and the horn.


    Lucius then immediately looked at the white beast and turned toward the system. "System, you can start the transformation now."


    The system then reduced the required points as usual. The beast began to be covered with a white glow as its structure began to change.


    Lucius stood silently as he watched the beast that began to change more into the structure of a tiger. He was quite interested as he watched it.


    Soon the glow faded and the newly transformed beast appeared. Lucius then began to scan it to see if there were some changes.


    ---


    [Species: White Horned Tiger]


    [Element: None]


    [Level: 1 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: D (1¡ï)]


    [Vit: D (1¡ï)]


    [Agi: D (1¡ï)]


    [Int: D (1¡ï)]


    [Skills: None]


    ---


    Lucius sighed after seeing the stats, as he was quite disappointed. "The stats are unchanged. I have expected it but still, it was quite disappointing."


    Lucius then looked at the White Horned Tiger and said, "You have gained nothing from this transformation except a new name and a more refined appearance."


    Lucius then stepped back a little and said, "I think I will not use this kind of hack again as it was too expensive. Evolution and fusion are for cheaper and more efficient."


    Lucius then turned toward the system again. "I have really done a lot of experiments and now I know that you can hack everything from a beast."


    Lucius also said, "I also haven''t tested if you can grant elements to a beast but I think you can do it too if you can transform a beast into a different beast."


    Lucius then suddenly remembered the other White Beasts he had stored in his Eternal Vault. He began to smirk as a new idea suddenly appeared in his mind.


    He immediately took the eight beast rings out of the system''s vault. "Let''s see what happens if I do it." Lucius smirked as he thought about his next experiment.

 Chapter 57 System Pill

    Lucius soon took out the eight beast rings that contained white beasts from his Eternal Vault. He also just remembered about the pill that he got from Kaelix so he took it out as well.


    Lucius then looked at the pill and thought for a moment before suddenly, a good plan came out of his head: "Let''s see if we can do that."


    He then summoned one of the white beasts from the beast ring. The small beast than appeared and without hesitation, Lucius immediately put the pill inside its mouth and the white beast swallowed it after being forced.


    The white beast then suddenly roared as it began to berserk, the same thing that happened to the Thunder Eagle, except the Thunder Eagle could control it and the white beast could not.


    Lucius immediately turned to the system and requested, "System, hack to beast and analyze its condition. Also, stop the berserk effect and replicate the pill."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Buff Erasure and Pill Duplication.]


    [Resources Required: 20,200 Hack Points.]


    ---


    The system soon did what it was told and the pill appeared once again at Lucius'' eternal vault. The white beast is now half dead because of the pill, even though it only used it for one second.


    Lucius soon concluded that "it seems that this pill is stronger than I thought, but still..." Lucius then looked at the system.


    He then smirked, "You have analyzed it when it used the pill, so you must have known about the pill now, so show me its description now."


    ---


    [3-Star Berserk Pill: Half Hour Berserk For 3-Star Beasts]


    ---


    Lucius then smirked as the system really gave him the description of the pills. "It seems that my thought is true. The system can hack a beast to analyze it and tell me the effect of the pills."


    Lucius then smirked as he looked at the pills and the white beasts. "It seems that I need more pills to test, so the system will know all about pills and I will not be like before, who knew nothing."


    Lucius then began to think of something else: "Let''s ignore it for the moment and let''s ask more about the fusion, as I am still a bit confused here."


    The announcer then nodded and said, "Very well! The open challenge is officially over! No one has managed to defeat Lord Magnus!"


    The crowd then erupted in applause, though some of them still grumbled as they didn''t like Magnus new personality; that was too much for them.


    Magnus on the hand only smirked as he turned to the audience and threw his arms wide. "You hear that? Not a single one of you could take me down! I''m undefeated!"


    But suddenly, as Magnus was still smiling, he suddenly felt an intense exhaustion appear on his body. He also could not think of anything and immediately collapsed to the ground.


    His Lava Tortoise was also the same. Just right after the end of the day, the Lava Tortoise was so exhausted that it immediately collapsed to the ground.


    The crowd and the announcer were surprised to see Magnus'' condition. The announcer immediately called out, "Medic! We need medics here immediately!"


    A team of medics and doctors soon rushed to the field to check on Magnus. The doctor kneeled beside Magnus and began to check his body.


    The doctor''s own beast also went to the Lava Tortoise to check on its condition and find the reason why both of them suddenly collapsed.


    The announcer then went to the doctor and asked in concern, "What''s happening, doctor? Is Lord Magnus all right?"


    The doctor only sighed and answered, "He is fine. Both he and his Lava Tortoise are just extremely exhausted. They''ve overexerted themselves."


    The announcer soon let out a breath after hearing the good news from the doctor. He also asked again for confirmation, "So they''re not in danger?"


    The doctor soon shook his head and immediately ordered the medics to take Magnus and his beast back into his residence for recovery.


    The announcer then turned back to the crowd and announced, "Do not worry, everyone! Lord Magnus is simply passed out from the intense battle!"


    The announcer also then praised Magnus: "He had fought hard today, as he had fought 11 teams in total; that should be about 33 tamers, and he managed to defeat them all! He truly is the undefeated king of the arena!"


    The announcer also didn''t forget about adding more fire: "And also, don''t you forget that Lord Magnus has promised us more open challenges in the future."


    The announcer then pointed at the crowd. "So train hard, because next time, you might get the chance to face him! Until then, thank you all for joining us, and goodnight!"


    The crowd erupted in applause and cheers once more as the arena''s lights dimmed, signaling the end of the day''s events.


    Magnus and his beasts were now passing out because the temporary hacks had finished but their reputation had raised, making the fame of Volcaria family even better than before.

 Chapter 58 Essence Fusion

    Lucius then summoned the rest of the white beast. He was now getting ready to do another hack with all of those beasts.


    Lucius then looked at the White Horned Tiger and smirked, "It''s time to make you even stronger now."


    Lucius then turned to the system and requested. "System, activate the essence fusion. Fuse all of the white beasts into the White Horned Tiger."


    ---


    [Essence Fusion Initiation: White Beast Essences ¡ú White Horned Tiger Essences]


    [Resources Required: 500 Hack Points.]


    ---


    The White Beasts began to glow as they slowly dissolved into some glowing particles that were now going toward the White Horned Tiger.


    Lucius didn''t know how to say it but he knew that the White Horned Tiger seemed to be stronger than before, even though its aura and body didn''t even change.


    Lucius then immediately turned toward the system again, as he knew that the White Horned Tiger could be hacked even more now.


    Lucius also wanted to test something, so he immediately requested, "System, increase its Strength and Vitality stats by one tier."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: 1-Star Str Tier Increased (D¡úC).]


    [Hack Initiation: 1-Star Vit Tier Increased (D¡úC).]


    [Resources Required: 2,000 Hack Points.]


    ---


    The beast body then began to transform as its muscles began to grow denser and more refined. Its claws and horns also began to be even sharper than before.


    Lucius smirked upon seeing the process and said, "Interesting... increasing stats directly immediately refines the body to withstand the new power. No need for the manual adjustments like before."


    Lucius then looked at the horn on the forehead of the white horned tiger. "I think you don''t need the horn anymore. It quite ruins your cool appearance."


    Lucius then turned to the system and requested another hack. "Erase the horn and also increase its Strength and Vitality stats by one tier."


    ---No?v(el)B\\jnn


    [Hack Initiation: Horn Erasure]


    [Vit: C (1¡ï)]


    [Agi: C (1¡ï)]


    [Int: C (1¡ï)]


    [Skills: None]


    ---


    Lucius frowned as he looked at the new stats. "The stats are good, but to think that it doesn''t have any skills. It is really not good."


    He then began to think of something as he turned to the system: "If you don''t have it, then I will make you have it, as I will just give you the chance to get it."


    Lucius then turned back to the system, "System, Initiate a virtual reality simulation. One day in real time for one year of combat training. I want it to face endless opponents to make it fiercer and lose its cowardice."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Virtual Reality Training (1 Day = 1 Year)]


    [Resources Required: 10,000 Hack Points.]


    ---


    The white tiger began to roar as it suddenly became tired and immediately went to sleep as it began to enter the virtual world to train.


    The reason why Lucius made it trained in the virtual world rather than just giving it skills with system hacks was that Lucius wanted a real tiger, not a mouse with tiger skills.


    Lucius then crouched beside it and patted its head, "Sleep well. When you wake up, you will not be a mouse anymore but instead a tiger that rules all beasts."


    Lucius then stood up and left the room while the white tiger was sleeping and fighting in its virtual world. Lucius was now going to meet with Liora and Luna.


    Liora was currently training with the dummies in the training room, while Luna was cleaning the room and observing Liora as she trained.


    Lucius could see that both of them were working hard, as he could see their exhaustion in doing what they were focused on.


    Liora and Luna, who realized that Lucius had come to the room, were surprised to see that their master didn''t smile like usual and it made them worried about Lucius.


    They could feel that something was wrong and immediately went and kneeled down in front of Lucius. "What happened, Master Lucius?"


    Lucius looked at them and didn''t smirk at all. Lucius then immediately clasped his hands behind his back and said, "Both of you, rise. I want to tell you about something.


    Liora and Luna immediately stood up but kept their heads slightly bowed. They exchanged a glance as both of them felt something was amiss. Something was different today.

 Chapter 59 3-Star Lunar Beastman

    Lucius was now standing in front of Luna and Liora. Lucius decided to tell them that he was not going to be too cautious anymore.


    The experiment earlier had reminded Lucius about the fact of this world where the strong rule and the weak could only serve or die.


    Lucius then looked at them and said, "Liora and Luna, I decide that I will not hide to be cautious anymore. The real world is fierce so it is time to rapidly grow stronger."


    Lucius also continued to explain why he had changed: "Even with the Volcaria family''s backing, we are far from untouchable. There are those who possess beasts at the 3-Star level, even at my age."


    Lucius then began to explain about it: "It was because for the tamers, the level of the beast was what mattered the most. A beast''s power directly determines the master''s status."


    Lucius then stepped closer to Liora as he glared at them, "I have decided that we don''t need to be so cautious anymore. I want us to grow stronger faster than before."


    Lucius then looked at Liora and asked, "And because of it, I want to ask you, Liora. Do you want to evolve into a 3-Star Beast now?"


    Liora, who heard what Lucius said, didn''t hesitate and immediately kneeled and answered, "Yes, Master. I want to evolve. I want to become stronger for you."


    Lucius smiled after hearing it and put his hand on her shoulder. "Good. I am happy that you have also realized what we need to do."No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Lucius then turned into the system and immediately asked it, "System, show me the evolution list that was available for Liora."


    ---


    [Evolution Options for Liora (Beastman - Lion):]


    [3-Star Beastman (Lion): 10.000 HP]


    [3-Star Ice Beastman (Lion): 100.000 HP]


    [3-Star Dark Beastman (Lion): 100.000 HP]


    [3-Star Lunar Beastman (Lion): 1.000.000 HP]


    ---


    Lucius was now frowning as he looked at the cost. "Liora was now a Lunar Beastman. If I change the evolution line below, then she will be weaker."


    Lucius then looked at his remaining hacking points and said, "Fortunately, I still have 4,000,000 hack points left so I could use them to evolve her."


    He then turned back at Liora and said, "I will evolve you into a 3-Star Lunar Beastman, but I need to remind you that this will not be an easy process as it was a forced evolution and it is painful, so you have to endure it."


    Liora looked at Lucius and nodded. "I will endure it, Master. Whatever it takes, I will become stronger for you, as I am your tamed beast and have swore loyalty to you."


    [Lunar Claw: Swipes with claws imbued with moonlight, dealing increased damage at night.] Experience tales at empire


    [Lunar Roar: Lets out a powerful roar that weakens enemies, reducing their attack and defense, and gains a ranged shockwave effect at night.]


    [Lunar Blessing: Calls upon the moon''s power to temporarily double its stats, usable only at night.]


    ---


    Lucius soon smirked as he began to read the status. "Quite impressive. You are stronger than ever, Liora. Your power had become stronger by ten times."


    Liora soon smiled and stood up. "Thank you, Master, for giving me all of this new power. I will not let you down anymore."


    Lucius then smiled as he immediately told Liora, "Stabilize your strength first, as you have just reached 3-Star."


    Liora bowed her head. "Yes, Master." And as soon as Liora began to stabilize her power, Luna immediately bowed and stepped forward.


    Luna then asked, "Master Lucius, if Liora is now a 3-Star beast, doesn''t that mean I, who is her tamer, can now become a 3-Star Tamer as well?


    Lucius then turned toward Luna and smirked, "Indeed, you are her tamer after all and tamer''s level will increase when the beast level increases, so you can start to stabilize your power so you can become a 3-Star tamer."


    Luna immediately bowed and smiled, "Of course, Master. I will prove that I am worthy by becoming a 3-Star tamer as well."


    Lucius soon observed both of them as they began. Lucius then turned toward the system, "Hack them. Stabilize their power instantly."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Instant Stabilizer.]


    [Resources Required: 20,000 Hack Points.]


    ---


    The system then did its work and immediately stabilized the energy of Liora and Luna. Their energies that were fluctuating for a moment immediately became steady.


    Liora and Luna soon opened their eyes. They were surprised that their energies were immediately stabilized. They immediately saw Lucius'' smirk and immediately knew that this was because of him.


    Liora kneeled down and Luna also kneeled but her gaze was at Lucius and she said, "That was fast. Thank you for the help, Master."


    Lucius only smirked and said, "No problem. Let''s get into the next instruction. Now that your strength is stabilized, I want to ask both of you something."


    Lucius then began to explain what they needed to do to become stronger so they could be help for him.

 Chapter 60 Virtual World

    Lucius looked at them and said, "Both of you have grown stronger, but raw power without experience is nothing more than wasted potential. That is why I want to send both of you to the virtual world."


    Lucius then explained it: "When you are inside the virtual world, you will fight, train, and adapt as though it were real. The battles could last for what feels like a year or two but don''t worry, as only a day will pass in reality."


    Luna, who heard it, was a bit interested and also excited as she answered. "A whole year of battle in a single day? Interesting."


    Liora, who heard it, was also excited as she flexed her claws. "So I will be fighting for a year. I want it, Master. With it, I will become even stronger."


    Lucius smirked after hearing it and turned back to the system. "System, initiate virtual reality training. Set the duration of their sleep to twelve hours and the virtual world to six months."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Virtual Reality Training (12 Hours = 6 Months)]


    [Resources Required: 20,000 Hack Points.]


    ---


    The system soon reduced the required cost and immediately made Luna and Liora fall asleep and sent them to the virtual world.


    Lucius then began to put both of them at the nearest bed and smirked, "I hope you two will fulfill my expectation. Show me the strength that you have got from the virtual world." Lucius said before leaving the room.


    Meanwhile, Luna and Liora had arrived in the unfamiliar world as they opened their eyes. They then began to look around and realize that they were on a dessert where it was hot and sands were spread all around.


    Luna then began to wipe her eyes with her hand as she turned to Liora and asked, "Liora, do you know where we are?"


    Liora then crouched low as she began to scan the surroundings. "I don''t know but this should be the place where we will grow stronger. For now, stay close to me."


    Before Luna could respond, a roar echoed across the desert. Both women immediately turned around to see the source of the sound.


    They soon found out that a group of beasts had appeared. They had a big body and also sharp claws and were running toward them.


    Liora immediately stepped forward and prepared her claws as she said to Luna, "They are all 3-Star beasts. This won''t be easy."


    Your next journey awaits at empire


    [Resources Required: 10,000 Hack Points.]


    ---


    The system then began to stabilize his energy, which was hiding in his body. The moment his energy was stabilized, he finally advanced and became a 3-Star Tamer.


    Lucius smirked after feeling the new power inside him, but suddenly a new screen appeared that immediately attracted his attention.


    ---


    [System Upgrade: Confirm?]


    ---


    Lucius was surprised after reading the new message on the screen, "An upgrade? To think the system has hidden features even I wasn''t aware of."


    He then began to think about it more: "This must be because I''ve reached 3-Star, as in my previous life, I was sealed before I could progress beyond 2-Star. Perhaps the system was limited by my rank."


    He then smirked as he turned to the screen again, "If this upgrade unlocks more of your potential, then let''s see just how far I can go with the new you."


    Without hesitation, Lucius immediately chose to upgrade the system. "System, confirm the upgrade and show me your real power."


    ---


    [System Upgrading...]


    ---


    The screen began to flash as it was upgrading and Lucius immediately leaned back in his chair. "It seems that it might take a while, so I think I can rest first."


    Lucius then immediately stood up and went to the bed to catch up on his sleep, while the system continued to upgrade itself.

 Chapter 61 Luna and Lioras Private Talk

    The desert was way tougher and more unforgiving than Luna and Liora thought. They were always being attacked, no matter it was day or night.


    Liora soon crouched down as her claws were digging in the sand and shouted, "Luna, stay close to me. These beasts won''t give us a second chance."No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Luna, who stood behind her, immediately scanned the beasts and said, "I''m not just going to hide behind you, Liora. I may not have your claws, but I can fight in my own way."


    Liora, who glanced at Luna, immediately turned away as she fought and smirked, "I expect nothing less from you, Luna, so try to survive."


    The ground soon trembled and a deafening roar appeared. A pack of desert beasts emerged and began to rush toward both girls, as they were now hungry and wanted to test them.


    Liora, who saw the beasts, immediately frowned as she began to flex her claw and also tense her muscle as she was ready to fight. She then said to Liora, "They are here; get ready to fight."


    Luna crouched down and grabbed her sharp bone from a previous kill. She also looked at the incoming beast and frowned. "Damn it, other beast from flame and earth elements. We''ll have to do this the hard way."


    Luna was a tamer and tried to tame beasts around here but it was too bad that her talent connected to the moon element, making it impossible for her to tame any beast with unrelated elements to her.


    Liora then immediately lunged forward with a roar. Her roar was Lunar Roar and it immediately strengthened herself and also weakened the enemies.


    Liora also used her Lunar Claws to kill the numerous desert beasts. She easily swiped her claws against the beasts and she didn''t stop even though she was being attacked by the beasts.


    Meanwhile, Luna didn''t attack head-on like Liora. She moved strategically and waited for opportunities. She also soon spotted some smaller beasts that broke away from the pack.


    She immediately used the chance and rushed toward it. With her sharp bone, she struck at its legs, forcing it to stumble. She was nimble but still she didn''t have the raw strength of Liora''s attacks.


    Suddenly Liora, while slamming her claw into another beast, began to realize that there was some beast that was approaching Luna. She immediately shouted, "Luna, watch your left!"


    Luna immediately turned just in time to see a beast charging at her with its claws. She immediately defended by crossing her arms and was soon thrown out to the side.


    Liora, who saw this, was enraged, and fortunately for her, the night had just arrived, so she immediately used her skill. "This is where all of you will die. Lunar Blessing!" Liora shouted.


    Liora then immediately became stronger as her power was immediately doubled because of her skill that only worked at night.


    The beasts who had now sensed the increased power of Liora immediately hesitated. Luna, who saw them, became enraged as she used her Lunar Roar again and this time she immediately paralyzed them.


    Luna looked away and a thin, bittersweet smile spread across his lips. "I''d be lying if I said I still felt completely loyal to him."


    Liora, who heard it, was really shocked and confused. She then stood up and looked at Luna right in the eyes. "What are you saying? How can you feel that way?"


    Luna shook her head as she began to cry. "Don''t misunderstand me, Liora. It''s not that I''ve turned against him. It''s just... I don''t feel worthy of him. I''m not useful to him at all."


    Luna then showed Liora her thin and scarred hands. "You''re strong, Liora. You''re his weapon, his shield. But me? I''m just a maid. I can''t fight for him or even protect him."


    Luna, who could not handle it anymore, began to cry even more as she shouted, "I keep telling myself that I''m loyal, that I''m important to him, but deep down... I feel like I''m just a burden."


    Liora, who heard it was also frowning. She then stepped forward and hugged Luna immediately. Luna was surprised as she began to stop her cry and relax after being hugged.


    Liora then looked at Luna and began to smile, "Luna, you are not useless. You''re my tamer. My strength exists because of you."


    Luna immediately tried to release herself from Liora but she could not, as Liora was just too strong. She then glared at Liora and asked, "What do you mean?"


    Liora then began to loosen her hug and returned the glare. "Without you, I wouldn''t even be here. I am your beast, and you are my tamer. Don''t ever think you''re weak just because you fight differently.""


    Luna wanted to open her mouth to protest but Liora silenced her with her claw in her mouth and a shake of her head.


    "If Master didn''t believe in you, he would have cast you aside. But he didn''t. He chose to send both of us here to this brutal world because he has expectations for us." Liora said as she tried to cheer Luna up.


    Luna then began to wipe her tears with her hands and soon asked Liora, "You really think so, Liora?"


    Liora nodded. "Yes. Master doesn''t waste his time on people who can''t meet his vision. He sees something in you, Luna. Something worth investing in."


    Luna then began to wipe tears from her eyes completely and began to smile. "Thank you, Liora. I really needed to hear that after surviving in this world."


    Liora soon smirked and said, "Now let''s focus on surviving this hellhole and becoming stronger for ourselves and for Master."


    Luna nodded and Liora also nodded as both of them said simultaneously, "We will survive and grow stronger together."


    Luna and Liora then stood up and went to fight again. They were not afraid anymore, as they don''t have any doubt. They would fight and face whatever the desert threw at them... together.

 Chapter 62 System Upgrade

    The morning had come as Lucius soon woke up. He didn''t waste any time as he immediately called, "System on."


    Lucius soon looked at the system interface and was quite surprised that it had changed a bit. It was not filled with the word "Beast Hacking System" anymore, but instead its current function.


    ---


    [Beast Hack]


    [Beast Fusion]


    [Essence Fusion]


    [Eternal Vault]


    ---


    Lucius realized that the system had organized its function, but he frowned as soon as he realized that there were no other changes. "Don''t tell me the so-called upgrade was just this."


    Just right after he said it, pain immediately went through his head. He clenched his teeth as his hand was holding his head.


    "Damn it. What is happening to me now? Why is my head so painful?" He cursed as he tried to endure the pain in his head.


    For ten excruciating minutes, Lucius endured the pain. His body was also trembling as if his mind were being torn apart and rebuilt.


    He also gasped, and sweat began to drip from his head as he tried to hold on to the bed frame to prevent his body from falling down.


    Then, as suddenly as it began, the pain stopped. Lucius immediately felt back to his bed and lay down on it and in an instant, he laughed out loud.


    Lucius then smirked as he turned toward the system, "So that''s what it was. The upgrade wasn''t just a cosmetic change but an injection of knowledge."


    Lucius then smirked even more as he continued, "I felt the pain because the system is injecting me with knowledge and now I fully understand how every function works: hacking, fusion, the Eternal Vault."


    Lucius then frowned after realizing what he had done the day before: "Damn it to think that I wasted my time on the experiment yesterday, but still, because of it, I know that I cannot hide myself anymore."


    Lucius then turned to the system again, still frowning as he now knew a new knowledge. "But still, to think that to advance to 4-Star tamer is way harder than I think."


    The moment they woke up, they were sweating and also gasping for air. Their bodies were also trembling from battling for 6 months in the virtual world.


    Lucius soon stepped closer and smirked, "So, you both of you had already awakened from your virtual training."


    Liora and Luna were surprised by Lucius that had entered their room. They immediately tried to get up and kneeled.


    But Lucius immediately stopped them by raising his hand, "Stay where you are. No need for formalities right now."


    Lucius then pulled a chair and sat down as he observed them. "Tell me, what are your thoughts on the virtual world you just experienced?"


    Liora looked at Lucius and became serious as she said, "It is a brutal world, Master. But still, it was effective, as I''ve never faced anything like it."


    Liora then began to explain how stronger she was now. "Before, I could defeat that Thunder Eagle after a few exchanges, but now... I feel like I could crush it with a single strike."


    Lucius smirked after hearing it and immediately said, "Is that so? Then I will count on you when we face him again and make sure to crush him."


    Liora immediately smiled as she nodded. "Yes, Master. I will make sure that the next time we meet, he will not dare to defy you ever again."


    Lucius smiled after hearing what Liora said and now he turned to Luna. He then asked her about her experience, "How about you, Luna?"


    Luna then immediately frowned as she said, "I didn''t fight as much as Liora did but the battles I did face... they changed something in me. My senses are sharper and my reflexes are faster now."


    Lucius smiled after hearing it, "I see. That''s good for you, Luna. You''re a Tamer, not a front-line fighter. Reflexes and heightened senses are exactly what you need to fulfill your role."


    Luna cheeks immediately flushed red after being praised. He then smiled as she said, "Thank you, Master."


    Lucius then stood and looked at both of them. "It seems the virtual training served its purpose. Both of you have grown where Liora grew in strength and Luna in awareness."


    Lucius then began to turn back and say, "But don''t get comfortable. Growth is only valuable if it leads to results. And I expect nothing less than perfection from both of you."


    Liora and Luna nodded in unison as Lucius immediately gestured toward the door, "Now, clean yourselves up. We''re leaving soon, and I have something that requires your full focus and readiness."


    Liora and Luna, who still sat on the bed, immediately bowed again and said in unison, "Yes, Master. We will prepare ourselves now."


    Lucius smiled. "I will be waiting for you in my room. " Lucius said after leaving the room.

 Chapter 63 Virtual Result

    Lucius was now looking at the white tiger that was sleeping in his room while waiting for Liora and Luna to prepare themselves.


    They were preparing themselves longer than Lucius thought, as they were still calming themselves down first before they could move.


    Moments later, a soft knock finally came at the door. Lucius smirked as he said to them, "Enter; the door is not locked."


    Both Liora and Luna soon entered the room and were refreshed after taking a bath, but they soon surprised after looking at a white tiger that was sleeping in Lucius'' room.


    Luna immediately looked at Lucius as she was curious. "Master, why is there a white tiger that is sleeping in your room?"


    Liora''s reaction was quite different, as she immediately glared and asked, "What is it doing here, Master?"


    Lucius only chuckled as he explained, "This tiger is undergoing the same virtual training that you both experienced. It''s about to wake up.


    Luna was surprised after hearing it and gestured at the white tiger, "Does Master mean that you used the virtual world on a beast? Can it handle that?"


    Lucius, who heard Luna, also smiled and said, "We''re about to find out whether it can or not."


    Lucius then turned to Liora and said, "When it wakes up, it may still believe it''s in battle, so subdue it."


    Liora straightened up and said, "Yes, Master." She then immediately went near the white tiger and flexed her claws to be ready for the tiger.


    The white tiger soon woke up and in an instant, it roared and used its claw that suddenly glowed and attacked anyone around it.


    Liora, who saw the white lion, immediately moved and intercepted it. She struck the back of the tiger''s neck, making it collapse to the ground.


    Liora stood over it and turned to Lucius with a smirk, "It''s subdued, Master."


    Lucius, who saw what Liora did, only smiled as he said, "Well done, Liora."


    Lucius then approached the unconscious tiger. He immediately scan it with his system to see the results of its virtual training.


    ---


    [Species: White Tiger]


    [Element: Light]


    [Level: 1 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: C (1¡ï)]


    She could not believe what she had just seen and she almost fell down because of it.


    With her pale face, she muttered, "This... this is incredible."


    Lucius raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Something the matter?" he asked worriedly.


    The receptionist quickly shook her head and bowed down in apology. "No, sir. It''s just... the beast you''re selling is extraordinary. I''ve never seen anything like it."


    Her voice was also trembling as she continued. "A 1-Star White Tiger with all C-tier stats, the rare Light element, and two combat skills... It''s practically unheard of. I... I need to call the manager."


    Lucius only kept smiling as he was amused and told her to continue, "I see, then please call him."


    Moments later, a middle-aged man in fine robes approached. His face was saying that he was in a hurry, as he was quick and went directly to the Beast Insight Terminal before turning to Lucius.


    He then began to introduce himself: "Sir, I am the manager here. My receptionist tells me you wish to sell a White Tiger with such remarkable traits. May I confirm this?"


    Lucius nodded and smiled. "You''ve heard correctly. I just found it by luck when going around the forest, but still it didn''t suit me so I want to sell it."


    The manager who heard it was shocked by the man''s lucky charm. The manager who looked at the beast then immediately be serious.


    "This beast... It''s exceptional, so I want to ask you if you really want to sell it. A beast like this is a treasure after looking at its good stats. "


    Lucius nodded and replied, "I''m certain. I have no use for it."


    The manager a bit hesitated but still nodded in the end, "Understood. In that case, we will offer you the best price possible. But I noticed you have a special request regarding your purchase."


    Lucius only smiled after hearing it. "Indeed. In exchange for this beast, I require fifty 1-Star beasts and fifty corresponding beast rings. Can you arrange that?"


    The manager was a bit surprised after hearing but still he answered, "That is... quite a lot. But it can be done. Please give us a moment."


    He then turned to the receptionist, who was still shocked by the White Tiger. "Prepare fifty 1-Star beast rings and fill them with suitable beasts. Make it quick."


    The receptionist nodded hurriedly, her hands trembling as she moved to carry out the order.


    After some time, a large box containing fifty beast rings was brought to the counter. Each ring was already filled with a random 1-Star Beast.


    The manager gestured toward the box. "Here is your order, sir. We''ve ensured all the beasts are healthy and well-suited for a variety of purposes."


    Lucius stepped forward and inspected the box. Satisfied, he nodded and placed his hand over the box. Without anyone noticing, he silently activated his Eternal Vault, storing the beast rings in an instant.


    The manager bowed down and said, "It has been a pleasure doing business with you, sir. If you ever have more beasts of this caliber, we would be honored to handle them."


    Lucius chuckled and said, "Perhaps I will. But for now, I have more important matters to attend to."


    As they exited the Beast Exchange Pavilion, the three walked in silence for a moment.

 Chapter 64 Payback on Kaelix

    Lucius had just left the Beast Exchange Pavilion after his business was concluded when a loud voice suddenly echoed through the street.


    "Lucius!"


    Lucius stopped and turned around to see the one who shouted his name. He then saw Kaelix Kryndal, who was now rushing toward him in rage.


    The crowd around was confused and curious about what was going on and Lucius was a bit annoyed by it, so he mocked Kaelix.


    "What do you want now, Kaelix?"


    "I was kind enough to let you leave with your dignity intact a few days ago. Yet here you are, barking in the street."


    Kaelix, who heard it, immediately became angry and pointed at Lucius and shouted.


    "Dignity?"


    "You humiliated me before! So, I''m here to make you pay!"


    Without another word, Kaelix began to raise his arm and summon his Thunder Eagle. The massive 3-Star beast appeared while crackling with thunder energy.


    Kaelix looked at Lucius and immediately pointed at him while commanding his beast.


    "Thunder Eagle!"


    "Use Lightning Dive and finish him!"


    Lucius, who saw the incoming Thunder Eagle, didn''t flinch. Instead, he was just smiling as he gestured lazily to Liora.


    "Liora"


    "It''s your turn. Show him what happens when someone crosses me."


    Liora, who heard it, immediately became excited, as this was the time for her to pay back her humiliation a few days ago. She then stepped forward and flexed her claws.


    "Finally! It is time for me to settle the score."


    The Thunder Eagle screeched and launched itself into the air before diving toward Lucius with electrified claws.


    But unfortunately for it, Liora moved faster and immediately leapt into the air with her extended claws at ready.


    She didn''t need a skill. Her strike was precise, aimed directly at the eagle''s chest, exploiting a weak point she''d observed in their last encounter.


    The Thunder Eagle soon let out a screech of pain as its body fell down, crashing to the ground in a cloud of dust. It twitched weakly as it was unable to rise.


    Kaelix, who saw the scene, could only open his mouth and shout out loud in disbelief.


    "Impossible!"


    "How could you take my Thunder Eagle down in one hit?"


    Liora only smirked as she looked at Kaelix. She didn''t even spare the fallen eagle another glance.


    "That was last time, but now I am different."


    "Do you really think the Kryndals scare me?"


    Kaelix was shocked and hearing and seeing that Lucius dared to mock him and his family.


    "Let me make something very clear."


    "Your name, your bloodline, your so-called power... it means nothing to me."


    Lucius then reached down and picked Kaelix''s severed hand, holding it up for Kaelix to see.


    Blood was also dripping from the limp appendage, pooling on the ground. Lucius looked at Kaelix face and smirked.


    "See this?"


    "This is what happens when you overstep."


    "Next time, Kaelix, it won''t just be your hand. The rest of your limbs will pay the price for your foolishness."


    Kaelix was pale after seeing Lucius pick up his severed hand. He was about to retort but was kicked by Lucius and it silenced him.


    Lucius, who was now satisfied, turned to Liora and put his hand on Liora, who was now prepared to strike Kaelix again if needed.


    "Well done, Liora."


    "You handled that beautifully."


    Liora, who heard it, grinned, showing her sharp teeth and immediately bowed down to Lucius.


    "Thank you, Master."


    Lucius then turned to Luna, who stood with her arms crossed. She was also amused after watching the show.


    Without a word, Lucius immediately tossed the severed hand toward her. Luna was a bit surprised to receive it and Lucius immediately went to her.


    "Luna, take care of this. I have plans for it when we return home.""


    Luna, who was now holding the severed hand, began to inspect it before smirking and bowing down to Lucius.


    "Of course, Master."


    Lucius then gestured for them to follow him. He then turned away from Kaelix and left.


    The crowd also began to disperse silently, as they were quite afraid of the trio as they passed them.


    Behind them, Kaelix immediately screamed in pain and frustation as he clutched his bleeding hand.


    "You''ll pay for this, Lucius!"


    "My family will crush you for this pain!"


    Lucius only chuckled after hearing it and didn''t even turn his head back on him.


    "Small words."


    Liora and Luna, who heard what Lucius said, only smirked as both of them accompanying Lucius back.

 Chapter 65 Lucius Free Time

    Lucius was not sitting in his chair while drinking some premium tea. He was also looking at the freshly severed hand of Kaelix that was put on a table before him.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Luna and Liora were also there and suddenly, they immediately kneeled down at Lucius. They had something that they wanted from him.


    "Master, we wish to train again in the virtual world."


    "We have offended the Kryndal family so I am sure that they will retaliate, so we want to become stronger."


    Luna also nodded, as she was agreeing with what Liora had just said.


    "It''s clear we can''t afford to stagnate, Master."


    "The virtual training pushed us to our limits last time. If we spend more time there, we''ll come back even stronger."


    Lucius, who heard what they just said, could only agree with what they were saying.


    Although he had the backing of Volcaria, he was in the academy, so it will be hard for him to ask for help.


    "Very well. I will grant it."


    Lucius then asked them to follow him to go to the bedroom. He also asked them to lie down on the bed.


    Luna and Liora soon did what they were asked and immediately lied down on the beds.


    "This time, you will train for a full day that means a year in the virtual world."


    The two women immediately nodded as they already knew about it. Lucius then turned toward the system to begin the hack.


    "System, initiate virtual reality training. One day in reality equals one year in the virtual world."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Virtual Reality Training (1 Day = 1 Year)]


    [Resources Required: 10 Hack Points.]


    ---


    The system then did the hack and both Luna and Liora soon fell into a deep sleep. Their consciousnesses also began to be transported into the grueling, simulated battlefield.


    Lucius stood over them for a moment and smiled as he patted their heads.


    "Train well"


    "The stronger you become, the closer I get to achieving my goals."


    Lucius then turned his attention to the severed hand on the table. He then began to smirk, as he already knew what he would do with it.


    "The hand of a Kryndal"


    "A symbol of power stripped from its owner. But why waste it on mere display or points?"


    Liora and Luna, who had entered the room moments earlier, exchanged glances before turning their attention to Lucius.


    Liora then crossed her arms as she was curious and asked Lucius.


    "An exam? What kind of exam will it be?"


    Luna stepped forward and looked at the words on the screen before turning to Liora and answering.


    "It''s likely a test of evolution or something similar, since Master is in the Evolist Division."


    "The academy also thrives on competition. They''ll want to see who can dominate."


    Lucius only laughed after hearing both of them. He soon stood up and smirked.


    "I wonder what challenges they''ll throw at me. Whatever it is, it won''t be enough."


    He then gestured toward the door.


    "I''ll need my rest for tomorrow. Make sure everything is ready for when I return. I have no intention of losing a single moment of progress."


    Next morning, Lucius soon emerged from his room. He was already fully dressed and prepared.


    Luna and Liora, who saw Lucius immediately, bowed down. Lucius then smirked as he began to leave. Continue your adventure with empire


    Liora then stepped forward and immediately kneeled and asked.


    "Master, do you need us to accompany you? I''d like to see the faces of anyone foolish enough to challenge you."


    Lucius immediately shook his head, rejecting her offer.


    "Not this time, Liora. This test is for Golden students like myself. Your place is here, guarding the estate and ensuring no pests or distractions disturb our progress."


    Luna raised an eyebrow after hearing it and immediately let out sarcasm.


    "You mean ''pests'' like the ones who scream for revenge after losing a hand?"


    Lucius only laughed after hearing what Luna said.


    "Exactly. Keep the house clean of dust, pests, and fools."


    Both women nodded in unison.


    "Understood, Master"


    Lucius turned to leave and soon paused at the doorway.


    "When I return."


    "I expect this place to be spotless. And perhaps I''ll have some stories to share."


    Lucius then immediately continued to go to the Golden Pavillion

 Chapter 66 Golden Class Midterm Exam

    Lucius was now walking toward the golden pavillion. For the past few weeks, he had already attended numerous classes as he was still curious about Evolists.


    Most of them were boring lectures about beast elements, material reactions, and the mechanics of taming. He had little use for this knowledge as he already had a system.


    But still, he was interested in what kind of test would be given to him from the best noble academy. Lucius could not help but be excited thinking about it.


    "Let''s see... just what kind of test will they throw at me?"


    Lucius then soon arrived at the Golden Pavilion. He also noticed that there were other 4 students that had already arrived here.


    Lucius soon began to look at each one of them, but he didn''t scan at them as he didn''t need to because it was more worth it to scan beasts.


    He immediately found Kaelix Kryndal after looking for a while. His arm was wrapped in bandages where his hand had once been.


    Lucius only smirked after seeing Kaelix''s current condition and didn''t even hide his own face.


    Kaelix soon met his gaze and was angry, but still, the moment Lucius took a step closer, Kaelix flinched and stepped back a little as his arm began to hurt.


    "Smart"


    Lucius then walked past Kaelix without another word and Kaelix could only be frowning after being humiliated by Lucius.


    The other three students also turned their attention to Lucius. They didn''t speak, but their expressions showed a lot.


    Each carried an air of confidence, but their eyes betrayed a hint of unease as they regarded him. Lucius could sense it: the subtle tension, the recognition of a threat.


    Lucius only smirked as his gaze swept each one of them.


    "So, these are the so-called elites of the Golden Class. Let''s see if they''re worthy of the title."


    Soon, a man stepped out from inside the golden pavilion. He was tall and dressed in a golden robe.


    "Golden Class students, you have been summoned here for the academy''s midterm examination."


    The examiner then began to look at the five gathered Golden Class students.


    "This exam will test your skills as Evolists. Your task, as usual, is to evolve a beast. However, given your elite status, the parameters have been adjusted."


    Lucius raised an eyebrow as he already anticipated the twist of the test.


    "You will each be given a 2-Star beast, and your goal is to evolve it into a 3-Star beast."


    "But for you, the evolved beast must possess at least one D-Tier stat."


    Lucius, who heard about the requirements, almost laughed.


    "D-Tier? That''s almost laughable. They''re really underestimating me."


    "Could it be Kaelix''s family pulling strings? Perhaps one of the staff members is in their pocket."


    Lucius let out a low chuckle thinking about it. He then smirked and murmured.


    "If they think this will stop me, they''re sorely mistaken. In fact, they''ve just made this more interesting."


    Meanwhile, the attendant that had just guided Lucius was now meeting with someone in a dark hallway.


    He was now meeting with a man that was tall and had a resemblance to Kaelix. The man then looked at the attendant and asked.


    "Have you done it?"


    The pale attendant nodded quickly and bowed.


    "Yes, young master."


    "I''ve given him the poison spider as instructed. It''s highly aggressive and nearly uncontrollable. If he tries to release it, he''ll die. And if he fails to evolve it... he''ll fail the exam."


    The young master smirked after hearing it.


    "Good."


    He then turned his gaze toward Lucius room and smirked.


    "This is only the beginning."


    "For severing my brother''s hand and daring to mock our family, he will pay the ultimate price."


    The attendant hesitated for a moment but still tried to ask.


    "Young master."


    "Are you certain this will work? That man... he''s dangerous. I''ve heard whispers¡ª"


    The young master snapped to the attendant and silenced him.


    "Enough."


    "Do not question my orders. That man humiliated my family. He thinks himself untouchable, but he is just another pawn waiting to be crushed. Leave now, and make sure no one interferes."


    The attendant bowed deeply.


    "Yes, young master,"


    The attendant then left the young master, who was now laughing hard as he mocked Lucius.


    "Enjoy your little test." Stay connected through empire


    "It will be the last time you look down on the Kryndal family."

 Chapter 67 Poison Spider Evolution

    Lucius stood before the steel cage while looking at the poison spider rampaging inside it. Its loud screeches were echoing around the room, making Lucius frown.


    Lucius could not stand its screeches anymore, so he turned to the system and made his hack: "System, hack it and put it too sleep. I have enough and no interest in dealing with its annoying screams."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Sleep Mode]


    [Cost Required: 0.5 Hack Points.]


    ---


    The system hacked it and put the spider to sleep. Lucius looked at the sleeping spider, crossing his arms and smirked. "That''s better. Now that it had stopped screaming, let''s check it."


    He turned to the system and pointed at the beast, "Display the beast''s data. I want to know how useful it is before evolving it."


    ---


    [Species: Poison Spider]


    [Element: Poison]


    [Level: 2 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: E (2¡ï)]


    [Vit: F (2¡ï)]


    [Agi: E (2¡ï)]


    [Int: F (2¡ï)]


    [Skills:]


    [Poison Fang: Bites the enemy, injecting a weak poison that deals damage over time.]


    [Toxic Web: Spins a sticky web infused with poison, slowing and damaging trapped enemies.]


    ---


    Lucius looked at the screen and read the data. He chuckled and thoughtfully said, "That''s not bad. Your skills are good, but your stats are pretty laughable. Fortunately for you, I am here."


    He turned back to the system. "Show me the evolution options that I can give to his poor poison spider."


    ---


    [Evolution Options for 2-Star Poison Spider:]


    [3-Star Poison Fang Spider: 10 HP]


    [3-Star Acid Web Spider: 10 HP]


    [3-Star Venom Spider: 100 HP]


    ---


    [Species: Venom Spider]


    [Element: Poison]


    [Level: 3 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: D (3¡ï)]


    [Vit: D (3¡ï)]


    [Agi: D (3¡ï)]


    [Int: D (3¡ï)]


    [Skills:]


    [Venomous Bite: Bites the enemy with fangs dripping in poison, dealing initial damage and inflicting poison over time.]


    [Poison Thread: Shoots a sticky, poisonous thread to immobilize enemies and deal continuous poison damage.]


    [Toxic Burst: Releases a cloud of venom around itself, damaging and poisoning nearby enemies.]


    ---


    Lucius read the Venom Spider''s new data and chuckled. "D-Tier across the board, huh. Your skills are quite good too. They will be in shock after scanning you, but still, I am not finished."


    Lucius looked at the system again and smirked. "Wake it from its sleep and make it more aggressive¡ªfierce, but not uncontrollable."


    Lucius further clarified his intentions to ensure the system didn''t make a mistake, saying, "What I want is that its personality will be more aggressive, not rampaging around like a buff."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Personality Adjustment ¡ú Increased Aggression]


    [Hack Initiation: Sleep Mode Erasure]


    [Resources Required: 5 Hack Points.]


    ---


    The spider twitched as it was being hacked by the system. Its personality then changed. It had become even more aggressive than before.


    Lucius looked at the new personality of the venom spider and smirked. "Perfect. You will be a surprise they won''t see coming, especially those Kryndals."


    He reached the beast ring on the table and put the aggressive Venom Spider inside it before it could even attack Lucius.


    Lucius leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms while looking at the empty room. "All that''s left is to wait. They think they''ve set a trap for me, but they''ve only handed me the means to outshine them all."


    He chuckled as he glanced at the door, thinking about what their expressions would be. "Kaelix''s family thought they killed me. Instead, they''ve given me an opportunity to humiliate them further."


    "Let them see what true strategy looks like. This isn''t just an exam¡ªit''s a stage. And I intend to steal the spotlight." Lucius said while laughing evilly in wait.

 Chapter 68 Kaelixs Plan

    Kaelix stood in front of his newly evolved beast in his private testing room. The muscular beast had fur, claws and fangs crackling with thunder. The beast was a 3-Star Thunder Wolf.


    Kaelix grinned as he looked at it again. He was proud and satisfied after evolving into such a strong beast. "Finally, a beast worthy of crushing that arrogant bastard."


    The Thunder Wolf growled low to respond to Kaelix''s emotions. Kaelix chuckled as he patted its head with his only arm. "Soon, Lucius. Very soon."


    Kaelix stepped away from the Thunder Wolf and turned toward a communication crystal that he had snuck in with his spatial ring. He noticed that it had been glowing, meaning that there was a message.


    He lightly tapped it, activating the crystal and projecting the image of a man strikingly similar to Kaelix¡ªhis older brother, Kaltrik Kryndal, a Diamond Class student and a 4-Star Evolist.


    Kaelix bowed his head a bit and excitedly asked, "Brother, can I assume that everything is already in place?"


    Kaltrik was calm as he nodded and answered, "Of course. I ensured that Lucius received a beast that even the most skilled 3-Star Evolists would struggle to handle."


    Kaltrik smirked as he explained what the beast was. "The beast was a berserk Poison Spider. Its aggression is unparalleled, and its poison alone could incapacitate him if he''s careless."


    Kaelix smirked the moment he heard it, as he was pretty happy about it. "A Poison Spider? Brilliant. He''ll either lose control and be devoured by his own test subject or fail the exam outright."


    Kaltrik raised an eyebrow and cut him. "Do not underestimate him, Kaelix. Lucius may be arrogant, but his cunning rivals yours. This is merely the first step in dismantling him. Ensure he does not leave this exam unscathed."


    Kaelix''s smirk didn''t falter. Instead, he clenched his fist and shouted out, "He dared to sever my hand and this is only half the price for what he''s done. If he survives this, I''ll make sure the other half is paid in full."


    Kaltrik''s image began to flicker around as he reminded Kaelix, "Control yourself. A Kryndal does not simply punish¡ªwe dominate."


    Kaelix also came out of his room, his Thunder Wolf crackling with electricity and walking beside him. Kaelix began to search for Lucius.


    The moment he could not find him, he smirked, "It seems that he''s either dead or too humiliated to show his face."


    He reached down to pat his Thunder Wolf''s head, murmuring, "Looks like we''ve already won even before going to war."


    The examiner glanced at the gathered students, noting that four of the five had emerged. He looked at the remaining room, which was Lucius''.


    Kaelix then stepped forward and looked at the examiner, frowning. "Examiner, perhaps you should check on Lucius. He might be... get sick. Or worse."


    The examiner turned to Kaelix and firmly said, "Silence. The exam is not yet over. Until the time is up, he is entitled to every second."


    Kaelix''s smirk faltered a bit as he frowned and muttered, "Protecting him, are you? Figures."


    The examiner turned his attention back to the group. He then looked at the beasts and said, "Now, let us assess the results of your efforts. Bring your beasts to the Beast Insight Terminal for evaluation."


    The students guided their beasts forward one by one, their expressions ranging from confident smirks to quiet determination.


    Kaelix followed, his Thunder Wolf padding beside him, sparks crackling along its fur. As the beasts approached the massive terminal, the machine hummed to life, its glowing screen ready to display the results.


    The truth was that Lucius was still inside his exam room. It was not that he was not ready but he was still sleeping inside the test room.


    He had evolved his beast in an hour and he had so much time left. The previous night, he didn''t get enough sleep because he was preoccupied with his future plans.


    This exam held little significance to him, as it was merely a boring obligation he had to fulfill due to his status as the academy student.

 Chapter 69 4 Exam Beasts

    The examiner turned toward the group of Golden Class students who stood beside their beasts, who were now smiling as they were confident in their beasts.


    "Now, we will evaluate each of your beasts in order of rank. When we call your name, proceed forward." He said as he began to call for the fifth-rank student, Randor Raventhorn.


    Randor stepped forward without hesitation. Beside him, a massive bear with rock-like body had already stood and growled.


    It was now going to the Beast Insight Terminal and Randor only smirked as he gestured toward the terminal. "Scan it."


    The machine was activated as the Rock Bear stepped onto the platform. A bright light scanned over its rugged frame before its stats appeared on the large screen above.


    ---


    [Species: Rock Bear]


    [Element: Earth]


    [Level: 3 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: D (3¡ï)]


    [Vit: E (3¡ï)]


    [Agi: F (3¡ï)]


    [Int: E (3¡ï)]


    [Skills:]


    [Boulder Slam: Slams the ground with its massive paws, creating a shockwave that damages and staggers nearby enemies.]


    [Stone Hide: Hardens its body with rocky armor, reducing incoming damage for a short duration.]


    [Earthquake Roar: Lets out a powerful roar that shakes the ground, dealing damage in an area and reducing enemy speed.]


    ---


    The examiner turned first to check the beast''s status and then back at him. "It has one D-Tier stat. You pass."


    "Thank you, examiner," Randor said while bowing down his head a bit. He also smirked as he brought the Rock Bear back from the machine.


    The examiner began to call out the next name, which was the fourth-rank student, Sambria Sylvaris.


    Sambria smirked as she stepped forward. Beside her, a majestic stag with sharp leaf-adorned antlers began to walk elegantly toward the machine.


    Sambria turned to the examiner with a confident smile and said proudly, "Let''s show them the true beauty."


    The machine was activated again as the Leaf Stag stepped onto the platform. A bright light scanned over its elegant body before its stats appeared on the large screen above.


    ---


    [Species: Leaf Stag]


    [Element: Nature]


    [Snow Sprint: Moves rapidly in a flurry of snow, damaging enemies in its path and leaving icy patches that slow foes.]


    ---


    The examiner smiled a bit, seeing the stats of the Ice Wolf. "Two D-Tier stats. You are a good evolist. You pass."


    Eric smiled after being praised and glanced at Randor and Sambria. "It seems versatility and strength can coexist."


    Sambria''s smile faltered for a moment, and Randor''s jaw tightened. Neither responded, but the tension between the three was undeniable.


    The examiner then called the second-rank student, "Next, Kaelix Kryndal, Step forward and bring your beast to the machine.


    Kaelix smirked and brought his Thunder Wolf to the machine. The Thunder Wolf silently trailed behind Kaelix and entered the machine.


    Kaelix smirked as he arrogantly said, "Let me show you all what a true Evolist can accomplish. Even with just one hand, I''m still leagues above the rest of you."


    The Thunder Wolf stepped onto the platform, activating the machine. A bright light scanned over its icy body before its stats appeared on the large screen above.


    ---


    [Species: Thunder Wolf]


    [Element: Thunder]


    [Level: 3 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: D (3¡ï)]


    [Vit: E (3¡ï)]


    [Agi: D (3¡ï)]


    [Int: D (3¡ï)]


    [Skills:]


    [Thunder Fang: Bites the enemy with electrified fangs, dealing thunder damage and causing a brief stun.]


    [Static Howl: Releases a thunderous howl that paralyzes nearby enemies for a short duration.]


    [Lightning Sprint: Charges forward in a flash of electricity, dealing damage to enemies in its path.]


    ---


    The examiner smiled after looking at the Thunder Wolf''s stat. "Impressive. To think that your Thunder Wolf had three D-Tier stats. It seems you''re still a capable Evolist, even with... limitations."


    Kaelix began to frown a bit as he heard the examiner mention his missing hand. He quickly recovered, looked at the examiner, and sneered. "Of course I am. A Kryndal''s talent isn''t bound by petty setbacks."


    Kaelix then brought the Thunder Wolf back. He also looked at the test room that Lucius was currently in. He smirked as he thought of something.


    He looked back at the examiner and said loudly, "It''s been almost an hour. Shouldn''t we consider disqualifying Lucius? He hasn''t come out yet. Perhaps he''s... fail."


    The examiner frowned after hearing Kaelix''s words and still said the same. "The exam isn''t over until the allotted time has ended, Kaelix. He still has time."


    Kaelix only frowned after hearing. He could only nod as he began to wait for the allotted time to be over.

 Chapter 70 Lucius Laziness

    The examiner and the rest had waited for a long time and he decided to end it now. He looked at the staff and said loudly, "He had used too much time! Start the countdown!"


    The staff member nodded and moved toward the timer control. They began to set the timer and Kaelix smirked after seeing it.


    But before the countdown could begin, Lucius suddenly came out of the test room. All people immediately looked at him.


    Lucius didn''t change much from before, as he was still wearing the same clothes without any visible damage on them. They could also see a beast ring in his finger, meaning that he had evolved his beast.


    Lucius stretched lazily, letting out a yawn. "I am sorry. I must''ve dozed off after waiting for so long. Is it already over?"


    The examiner could not believe it. He never thought that Lucius, the one that was currently ranked one golden student, could be this nonchalant.


    The examiner was now trying to reprimand him by scolding him loudly, "Lucius! Your behavior is unacceptable. This is a place for an exam, not a place for sleeping.


    Lucius raised a hand, ignoring and cutting him with a smile. "Where should I put the beast I evolved? I wouldn''t want to waste anyone''s time."


    The examiner got even angrier and wanted to scold Lucius but he was stopped by Kaelix, who suddenly barked at Lucius.


    Kaelix became angry and shouted out at Lucius, "Wait a minute! How could you have possibly evolved that beast? That beast was¡ª"


    Lucius turned to Kaelix and smirked. He was amused by his words and immediately interrupted him. "What was that, Kaelix? Evolved what? Do you know something about the beast I was given?"


    Kaelix froze, his mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air. Realizing he had walked into a trap, he stepped back a little.


    He also tried to reason while stuttering, "I... I''m just saying that you took too much time. How could it take so much time for someone like you to evolve a beast?"


    Lucius chuckled after hearing him stuttered. "I see. It''s really kind of you to be really concerned about my efficiency."


    Lucius smirked as he contined, "But as I said earlier, I was a bit... tired. Or perhaps you''d prefer I handle things your way¡ªrecklessly and without precision?"


    Kaelix frowned, clenching his remaining hand to a fist. "Watch yourself. You are not untouchable like you think you are."


    [Int: D (3¡ï)]


    [Skills:]


    [Venomous Bite: Bites the enemy with fangs dripping in poison, dealing initial damage and inflicting poison over time.]


    [Poison Thread: Shoots a sticky, poisonous thread to immobilize enemies and deal continuous poison damage.]


    [Toxic Burst: Releases a cloud of venom around itself, damaging and poisoning nearby enemies.]


    ---


    Kaelix was shocked when he saw the data. He clenched his fist so tightly that his nails dug into his palm because of anger and disbelief. "How? How could he have evolved that monstrosity? And full D-Tier stats?"


    He stepped forward, pointing at the screen with a trembling hand. "What trickery is this, Lucius?! There''s no way you could have done this legitimately!"


    Lucius smirked as he turned to Kaelix. He silenced him by mocking him. "Trickery? You seem to know a lot about the beast I was given. Why is that, Kaelix? Care to share with the class?"


    Kaelix froze for a moment before he quickly reasoned with him by stuttering, "I... I just heard rumors about the Poison Spider''s aggression. Everyone knows it''s nearly impossible to evolve!"


    Lucius chuckled after hearing what Kaelix said and stepped closer to him and whispered, "Be careful, Kaelix. Your ''rumors'' might make people wonder if you had a hand in setting this up."


    The examiner was also in disbelief as he read the screen. He had dismissed Lucius as a lucky boy riding on the reputation of the Volcaria family.


    But now he was faced with undeniable proof of Lucius'' skill, making him question the thing he had done and wavering his own confidence.


    The examiner immediately changed his face as he cleared his throat, quickly regaining his composure. "This is remarkable. Full D-Tier stats and three potent skills. You pass, Lucius."


    The examiner had passed Lucius, but he avoided looking directly at Lucius, clearly trying to save face after his earlier scolding.


    Lucius, however, wasn''t content to let it go unnoticed. He then began to mock him a bit. "Pass? Is that all you have to say? No applause? No words of encouragement for your top student?"


    The examiner''s jaw tightened, but he said nothing. He simply turned away, gesturing for the staff to prepare the next steps.

 Chapter 71 Second Test

    Lucius stepped away from the Beast Insight terminal, turning his attention toward the rest of the golden students. He was also amused when he saw their expressions that were a mix of anger and frustration.


    He then clasped his hands behind his back, beginning to mock all four students. "Well... what do you think of me now? Have I proved myself better than all of you here?"


    Randor clenched his fists and jaw as he warned him. "Don''t get too cocky, Lucius. This doesn''t mean you''re untouchable. A single display of skill doesn''t make you invincible."


    Lucius tilted his head and smirked, "Oh, really. Given that we are Evolists and our primary expertise lies in evolving beasts, the answer is undoubtedly yes. A single display of skill makes me deserve the top spot."


    Sambria stepped forward, clearly annoyed by Lucius''s words, but she admitted that what Lucius said was the truth.


    Sambria began to smile at him disdainfully. "A Venom Spider with full D-Tier stats is pretty impressive, but let''s see how you fare in real combat. Stats alone don''t win battles, Lucius."


    Lucius chuckled, turning his attention to her. "Sambria, what you said was true, but do you really think that your Leaf Stag can handle my Venom Spider on its own?"


    Sambria was pretty angry, as what Lucius said was the truth. Meanwhile, Eric stood silently, gazing at Lucius. Unlike the others, Eric didn''t show his emotions. He also didn''t want to deal with Lucius.


    Lucius took a step closer to Eric, studying him intently and asking, "No words, Eric? I expected more from someone who prides himself on being the ''intellectual'' of the group."


    Eric looked at Lucius and said, "Words are unnecessary. You have certainly made your point today and I don''t want to comment on it."


    Lucius smirked and landed his hand on his shoulder. "You are good. You really know where you are standing. I look forward to seeing you again, silent strategist."


    Kaelix, who watched the arrogant Lucius, couldn''t contain his rage any longer. He immediately spat, "Don''t think this makes you better than me. You''re still just a coward who hides behind tricks and words."


    Sambria frowned after hearing it, but she was already prepared for it. "You think you can take my spot, Randor? Let''s see how your Rock Bear handles the Leaf Stag."


    The examiner, who saw that both of them were ready, clapped his hands once, signaling the decision. "Then let''s settle this now in the Golden Arena."


    The group moved to the Golden Arena, a grand coliseum-like structure with high walls and a central battlefield.


    The arena was surrounded by seating for spectators, though it was empty save for the examiner and a few staff members.


    Randor and Sambria stepped forward to opposite sides of the arena, their beasts following closely from behind and soon entered the arena.


    The massive Rock Bear growled and stomped its feet as it was ready to fight and the elegant Leaf Stag also entered as it was ready to battle, too.


    The examiner then stood at the center platform and announced, "This match will determine the fourth rank. No interference. Let your beasts fight freely. Get ready."


    Sambria stood tall, her arms crossed as she smirked at Randor. "You should''ve stayed in your lane, Randor. My Leaf Stag will run circles around that lumbering beast of yours."


    Randor remained calm and looked at Sambria. "Talk all you want. Let''s see if your speed can outlast my Rock Bear''s strength."


    The examiner stepped forward, raising his arm to signal the start. "Enough talk. Prepare your beasts. The battle for the fourth rank begins... now!"


    Lucius leaned back casually in his seat, observing the battle between Randor and Sambria. He was checking on the battle between the Rock Bear and the Leaf Stag.


    Lucius was quite curious about the power of other Evolists in the golden class. "Let''s see just how strong you really are, Randor and Sambria of the golden class."

 Chapter 72 3-Star Beast Battle: Leaf Stag Vs Rock Bear

    The Leaf Stag and Rock Bear stood at opposite ends of the arena, staring at each other. They also began to move by instinct, as this was a battle without tamers.


    The Leaf Stag was the first one to move, using Forest Charge. The leaf on its antlers started to shine, sharpening as it charged towards the Rock Bear.


    The Rock Bear was unphased by the incoming attack, slamming its paw into the ground with Boulder Slam. The arena shook and cracked around.


    The Leaf Stag realized it but it didn''t stop. The Leaf Stag used its speed to move quickly and avoid the cracks in the arena, then jumped over them, landing near the Rock Bear.


    The Leaf Stag also didn''t waste any time and rammed its sharp antlers into the Rock Bear''s hardened side, but the Rock Bear barely flinched.


    The Rock Bear had already activated its Stone Hide, covering its body in rocky armor that absorbed most of the impact.


    Growling, it turned its head toward the Leaf Stag and raised its power for another Boulder Slam, this time aimed straight at its opponent.


    The Leaf Stag tried to retreat, but the bear already slammed it''s claw toward the Leaf Stag, sending it tumbling across the arena.


    The stag tried to stand up with his trembling feet, but the bear didn''t want it to happen, so it immediately used its Earthquake Roar.


    The bear roared and shook the ground around the arena. The vibrations caused the Leaf Stag to stumble, lowering its agility.


    The bear also seized the opportunity, charging straight at it, but the Leaf Stag''s instincts kicked in the moment it saw the incoming Rock Bear.


    The Leaf Stag used Vine Bind to summon vines from the ground, and thanks to the bear''s slow speed, the thick vines easily wrapped around the Rock Bear''s legs, stopping it from reaching the stag.


    The Leaf Stag took the opportunity to activate Photosynthesis Aura, its body glowing as it began to absorb the sunlight to heal its wound.


    The Rock Bear thrashed against the vines, its strength starting to tear them apart. With a final roar, the bear broke free, slamming the ground once more with Boulder Slam to prevent more vines from sprouting.


    The examiner then turned his attention to Kaelix. He already knew what Kaelix wanted, so he only said, "You will, of course, challenge the first rank, right?"


    Kaelix didn''t even hesitate and sneered, "Obviously. It''s time to put Lucius in his place."


    The examiner nodded, gesturing toward Lucius. "And you, Lucius? Any objections?"


    Lucius only smirked as he began to walk to the arena and said, "None at all, but I hope that Kaelix''s Thunder Wolf is as impressive as he claims. I''d hate to be disappointed."


    Kaelix became angry after being underestimated, but he quickly masked it with a confident grin. "You''ll regret those words. Thunder Wolf, let''s show him what real power looks like."


    Kaeli and Lucius were now standing opposite each other. Kaelix''s Thunder Wolf was now ready for battle as it growled at Lucius.


    Kaelix smirked and arrogantly said, "Lucius, I hope you''ve prepared yourself to lose, because this will be your downfall."


    Lucius remained calm and smirked, "Kaelix, you''ve been talking about my undoing for days. However, here I am, still waiting to see anything impressive from you."


    The examiner frowned as he looked at Lucius. "Where is your beast? We are in the battle so show me the beast."


    Lucius only waved his hand lazily. "Patience, examiner. The Venom Spider is... temperamental. I''ll release it when the battle begins."


    The examiner''s frown deepened. "You realize the academy will not be responsible for any injuries or deaths caused by your recklessness, right?"


    Lucius gave a small bow. "Understood. Thank you for your concern."


    Kaelix, overhearing, let out a mocking laugh. "Afraid of your own beast, Lucius? How pathetic."


    Lucius turned to Kaelix and smirked. "Afraid? No, Kaelix. I just enjoy giving my opponents a sense of hope before I crush them."


    The examiner raised his hand and announced, "This is a battle without commands! Let your beasts fight freely. Begin!"

 Chapter 73 3-Star Beast Battle: Venom Spider Vs Thunder Wolf

    Kaelix''s Thunder Wolf didn''t waste any time as it charged toward Lucius, activating its Thunder Fang. This scene made Kaelix smirk. "This will be over in seconds, Lucius. Are you even ready?"


    Lucius looked at the incoming Thunder Wolf didn''t flinch at all. Instead, he smirked as he was amused. "You''re awfully confident for someone about to lose, Kaelix."


    Lucius released a big green and black spider from the beast ring the moment the Thunder Wolf was near. The Venom Spider, who had seen the incoming Thunder Wolf, charged toward it.


    The Thunder Wolf also noticed the Venom Spider standing in front of it, but it remained unaffected, continuing to aim for Lucius. Kaelix who saw it grinned. "Finish him!"


    The Venom Spider became even angrier as it was ignored. In an instant, it closed the distance with the Thunder Wolf and attacked it with Venomous Bite, injecting its potent poison into it.


    The Thunder Wolf cried in pain from the poison. It tried to break free, but the Venom Spider was stronger than it expected.


    The Venom Spider knew the wolf tried to escape, so the venom spider directly used its strong body and pushed the wolf back to the arena.


    Kaelix was in rage, seeing his Thunder Wolf easily being beaten by the spider. He shouted out, "Get up! Don''t let that insect make a fool of you!"


    Lucius, on the other hand, was enjoying the show. He stepped forward and smirked. "Is this what passes for power in the Kryndal family? How... disappointing."


    The Thunder Wolf tried to fight back and activated Static Howl. The wolf then let out a thunderous howl to paralyze the spider for a moment.


    The Thunder Wolf used this chance to break free and distance itself. It then prepared to attack by using both Lightning Sprint and Thunder Fang.


    The Thunder Wolf rushed toward the Venom Spider with its thunder body and fangs. It closed the distance and attacked the spider, making it shriek in pain.


    Kaelix grinned, seeing that his Thunder Wolf dealt damage to the spider. "See that, Lucius? That''s real power!"


    Lucius chuckled and shook his head. "You misunderstand. The Venom Spider is... unpredictable. Aggressive by nature. I can''t exactly control it when it gets into this state."


    Kaelix glared at Lucius, clenching his fist, and shouted at him, "You planned this! You knew that thing was uncontrollable!"


    Lucius turned to Kaelix and smirked. "Planned it? Don''t be ridiculous, Kaelix. I merely followed the rules. Perhaps you should have prepared your Thunder Wolf better for such... situations."


    Kaelix became angry and shouted, "You''ll pay for this, Lucius! I swear it!"


    The Venom Spider didn''t stop even after Lucius tried to order it. The Venom Spider began to prepare its Venomous Bite once again.


    The examiner, realizing the situation, immediately turned to his staff. "Restrain the spider now!"


    A group of staff members rushed into the arena, each armed with containment equipment. The Venom Spider, sensing their approach, hissed back at them.


    Lucius moved away from the arena and headed towards the exit. "Do whatever you need to with it. My test is complete, and I''ve proven my point. Whether you can handle the Venom Spider or not is no concern of mine."


    The examiner was in disbelief after hearing what Lucius said. He became angry and called him out. "Lucius! This beast was under your care during this test! You bear responsibility¡ª"


    Hearing it, Lucius paused and looked back at the examiner, smirking. "It seems that you misunderstand, examiner. My only test is to evolve the beast and let it fight."


    Lucius then smirked as he explained it clearly to him. "Whether the beast is angry or anything else, I don''t care about it. If you need information, feel free to ask the attendant who is preparing it. Good bye"


    Without waiting for a reply, Lucius exited the arena, leaving behind an angry examiner and a humiliated Kaelix.


    The staff struggled to contain the Venom Spider as it fought back fiercely, its venomous threads binding one staff member''s equipment before another managed to lock it inside a beast ring.

 Chapter 74 Kaelixs Report

    The examiner turned to the remaining students, announcing the end of the test. "The test is over. You may return to your residences. If you wish to keep your evolved beasts, inform the staff. If not, sell them to the staff."


    Randor, Sambria, and Eric all chose to sell their beasts back. They already contracted stronger beasts, so they don''t need new beasts at all.


    Kaelix, who was still angry, also sold his Thunder Wolf while muttering, "I have no use for something that failed me."


    As the students left the arena, Kaelix clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palm. His humiliation was complete, and the disdainful glances from the others only deepened his frustration.


    Kaelix rushed back toward his own residence. Inside it, he broke a lot of stuff before calming down. He looked at Lucius'' residence and vowed, "This isn''t over, Lucius. You''ve humiliated me for the last time."


    Lucius went back to his residence, smirking over the victory against other golden-class students. "Too easy. If that was meant to challenge me, then the academy truly underestimates what I''m capable of."


    As he entered his residence, Luna and Liora were already waiting in the hall. They both bowed in unison. Luna was the first to greet, "Welcome back, Master. I trust the test went exactly as you planned."


    Lucius chuckled and smirked. "Of course it did. Honestly, I overestimate the test, but I never thought that the test was that easy."


    Liora stepped forward, kneeling and asked, "Then what''s our next move, Master? What do we do now?"


    Lucius sat down and drank the prepared tea. "For now, we continue as we always have. Train, observe, and wait. We could not even go outside now. Let''s think about it later."No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Liora and Luna nodded. They didn''t talk back as they returned to their previous work. "Yes, Master. We will do what we can for now."


    Meanwhile, Kaelix was now sitting angrily in front of the communication crystal. The crystal projected the image of his brother, Kaltrik.


    Kaltrik looked at his brother, smirking and asked, "Has my plan worked? Is Lucius finally dead, or at least failed and expelled from the academy?"


    Kaelix, who heard it, understood it and smirked. "You mean..."


    Kaltrik also smirked and said, "Yes, you know what I mean. I''ll ensure that when the time comes, a group of ''accidents'' will gather on Lucius."


    Kaltrik was excited as he explained the plan. "A few rogue mercenaries, perhaps some untamed beasts. Who knows? He''ll be out of the academy''s protective reach. Even his precious Volcaria backers won''t save him."


    Kaelix smirked after hearing it. "That''s brilliant, brother. No one will suspect us. And once he''s gone, I''ll reclaim my rightful place as the strongest in the academy."


    Kaltrik scolded Kaelix for a bit. "Do not grow overconfident, Kaelix. Lucius has proven himself to be resourceful and cunning. Underestimating him again would be your downfall."


    Kaltrik also warned him. "Remember, this plan is not perfect and if it fails, it will be your head on the line¡ªnot mine."


    Kaelix''s smirk didn''t disappear as he bowed his head at Kaltrik. "Don''t worry, brother. I knew the risk and I won''t fail this time."


    Kaltrik leaned back and smirked. "Good. Prepare yourself. When the time comes, I''ll send you the details. Until then, play your part and keep an eye on Lucius."


    Kaltrik also reminded him of something. "And also, I want to know everything he does, every move he makes."


    The crystal began to dim as the projection was almost fading out. "Remember, Kaelix. Pride is a weapon¡ªbut only when wielded wisely. Don''t let it blind you."


    Kaltrik''s projection faded out and Kaelix smirked. He glanced at Lucius'' residence. "Soon, Lucius. You''ll learn that no one humiliates a Kryndal and gets away with it."


    Kaelix then turned back to his own works. He needed to record what Lucius had been doing for a month later and send it to his brother.


    He also needed to plan some in case the plan failed, but he believed that his plan would work and Lucius would die namelessly later.

 Chapter 75 Lucius Golden Mission

    Lucius was now sitting in the main hall of his residence, looking at the screen that was located in the center.


    It had been months since the midterm exam, and every month he stared at the screen, waiting for an announcement.


    He was pretty bored and hoped for something interesting to happen and suddenly his hope was answered as the screen was turned on.


    Lucius stood up and went to the screen to see just what kind of announcement it would be this time. Was it a test, or was it something else entirely?


    [Golden Mission: Evolve the beast of a local noble]


    Lucius read the mission and was surprised by it. The mission was pretty simple but seeing that it was a golden mission, there should be a twist and that was what made Lucius so interested.


    "Well, well, well. It seems that the academy has finally decided to give me an interesting mission." Lucius murmured as he called for Luna and Liora.


    Luna, the devoted assistant and Liora, the prideful beastwoman, immediately entered the main hall and kneeled before Lucius.


    Lucius gestured toward the screen. "Our opportunity to leave this suffocating academy has arrived. A mission has been given to me, but it seems complicated, making it interesting."


    Luna stepped closer, tilting her head as she scanned the details of the mission. "A noble''s beast? How... fortuitous. This mission must be an important one, seeing that they give this to you."


    Luna then smirked as she stepped closer to Lucius. "So, do you have something specific in mind that you thought about this, Master?"


    Lucius turned to Luna and smirked. "I don''t really know about it, Luna. But this ignorance about it is what makes it so interesting."


    The carriage then began to move forward and the journey through the academy''s grounds was smooth. The privileges of the Golden Class ensured that gates opened seamlessly at their approach.


    The carriage then arrived at the academy''s teleportation platform. Guards clad in golden armor stood at attention, saluting as Lucius got off from the carriage with Liora and Luna standing behind him.


    The head guard stepped forward and bowed. "Master Lucius, the platform is prepared for your departure. The destination coordinates have been calibrated to the noble''s estate."


    The head guard also gave him a reminder. "And also, please remember that the teleportation platform will reactivate exactly one month from now, whether or not you have completed the task."


    The head guard then warned him, "Should you fail to return with proof of the mission''s success... you will be considered unworthy of the Golden Class and barred from re-entering the academy."


    Liora, who heard it, was a bit shocked after hearing it. She could not help but muttered, "What kind of academy sends its students on missions with such harsh ultimatums?"


    The head guard heard what she was saying, but he said nothing. He just focused his attention on Lucius, waiting for his answer.


    Lucius only smirked after hearing it and said, "I see. If that''s the case, then we have no time to waste. Efficiency, after all, is the hallmark of those who succeed where others fall."


    The head guard then nodded in acknowledgment. He smiled a bit and reminded him again. "You have one month, Master Lucius. Make it count."


    Lucius nodded and went to the teleportation platform. Luna and Liora were also following behind him. Lucius looked around for a bit before being reported by Liora. "The platform is secure. Shall we proceed?"


    Lucius smirked after hearing that and turned around to see the head guard. "We are ready. Please activate it, sir."


    The headguard nodded and activated the teleportation platform. The head guard smiled and wished Lucius luck before he fully teleported.


    Lucius only smirked in return, as there was always luck in his dictionary. He always believed that even the lady luck was always with him as he was the chosen one.

 Chapter 76 Lunas Former Family

    Lucius and the rest soon appeared on the other side of the teleportation platform. They have now arrived at the noble estate that would become Lucius'' mission target.


    Lucius was about to enter the estate, but he was surprised by Luna, who acted differently than before. She shook a bit and also walked very slowly, not like before.


    Lucius walked toward her and looked at her."Luna... You seem a bit hesitant to enter. Do you know about this place or the noble who we will meet later?"


    Luna hesitated as she clasped her hand tightly. She was now in fear, her eyes darting between the house and the ground. She then admitted it. "I... I do, Master."


    Liora, who watched the current Luna, walked toward her. She then put her hand on her shoulder. "Luna, don''t be afraid. We''re not the same as we once were."


    Liora then reminded her who they were: "We''re not ordinary people anymore¡ªwe are Master''s slaves. His property. Whatever burdens you carry, share them with him."


    Luna glanced up at Liora, immediately touched by her words. Taking a deep breath, she began to steady herself and finally confessed. "This noble family... they''re my former family."


    Luna was also trembling as she continued, "I was born into this house, but I failed to awaken a talent. They saw me as worthless and sold me to a slave dealer."


    Liora frowned after hearing it. Liora tightened her grip on Luna''s shoulder, offering silent support. She also disdainfully muttered, "Cowards."


    Lucius, who had been silently observing her, stepped forward. He looked at Luna and thought for a while before saying, "I see."


    Lucius then put his hand on her shoulder and reminded her, "Luna, you belong to me now. As my property, it is my responsibility to ensure no one mistreats what is mine."


    Luna looked up at him as she was surprised by his words. She never expected that her master would regard her as something precious. "Master..."


    Lucius then reached out and tilted her chin upward, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Do not let the past haunt you. You are no longer the discarded daughter of this house. You are mine, and I protect what belongs to me."


    For a moment, Luna said nothing, but then a smile appeared on her face. Her hands unclenched and she began to calm down. "Thank you, Master."


    Liora, who watched the scene, smiled and said, "See, Luna? You''re not alone anymore. Together, we serve Master Lucius, and nothing¡ªno one¡ªcan stand against us."


    Luna nodded, as she was a bit more confident now. "You''re right. I won''t let this place or its memories hold me back. I''m ready, Master."


    Lucius stepped back and was satisfied. He glanced at the estate and smirked. "Good. Because I have no intention of letting this mission be anything less than another display of our superiority."


    The trio then began to enter the estate. As they approached, the guards stationed there bowed and opened the gates without hesitation, recognizing Lucius'' badge as a Golden Class student.


    Luna glanced at the house one last time, tightening her fist, but this time she was not afraid but confident. Lucius had bought and changed her, giving her a purpose.


    Whatever lay ahead within those walls, she would face it, not as the broken girl she once was, but as a part of Lucius'' slave.


    ---


    Lucius was a bit surprised by it. He could not see the data at all, meaning that this man was likely the patriarch of this Garran family.


    Lucius then shifted his attention to the younger man and scanned his data to see if he was someone from the family or not.


    ---


    [Name: Kalidorn Garran]


    [Species: Human]


    [Talent: Thunder Master]


    [Level: 2 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: F (2¡ï)]


    [Vit: F (2¡ï)]


    [Agi: F (2¡ï)]


    [Int: F (2¡ï)]


    [Tamed Beast: Thunder Hawk]


    ---


    Lucius smirked as he saw the data from the screen. Kalidorn Garran¡ªLuna''s possible older brother¡ªwas not only the owner of the Thunder Hawk but also the one likely tied to their mission.


    Lucius then turned back to Liora and spoke to her. "Liora. Stay close to Luna. Ensure she keeps her composure."


    Liora nodded and turned to Luna. "Of course, Master." She then placed her hand on Luna''s shoulder. "Calm Down. No one can touch you here."


    Luna looked at Liora and immediately went behind Liora and hid, not wanting to see her former family again after so long.


    Lucius smiled after seeing Luna, and now it was time for Lucius and his maids to meet the client of his mission.

 Chapter 77 Dorian Garran

    Lucius was walking toward the Garrans, but he was worried as he looked at Luna''s current condition. She was still trembling while hiding behind Liora.No?v(el)B\\jnn


    Luna had tried to calm herself down, but it was not easy as her fear was still rooted deep, an emotional anchor from her past that held her back.


    Lucius thought that this would be troublesome later on, so he decided to fix it immediately. There was no need to wait for her to take a few days to calm down.


    Lucius turned towards the system and said with his mind. "Hack her. I want her fear to turn into confidence, but keep it first and release it after a day to instantly replace her fear with confidence."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Fear Conversion to Confidence Over Time]


    [Trigger: Fear Accumulation Transformed into Confidence After 1 Day]


    [Cost Required: 20 Hack Points]


    [Execute?]


    [YES] [NO]


    ---


    Lucius was satisfied after seeing the prompt and let the system execute the hack. The system then reduced 20 points for the cost.


    The hack was quite simple, as it was designed to transform Luna''s fear into a huge mass of confidence, but it will be kept by the system and would not be released to her.


    The system would only keep it for a day and would release it after her fear peaked and collapsed under the weight of her huge mass of confidence, leaving her bolder than ever.


    Lucius turned back to Luna and smiled as he murmured, "You''ll thank me for this later." He then turned back to the Garrans and was ready to meet them.


    Lucius ignored most of his words and turned around. "Fine. I''ll retrieve the core and complete the evolution, so I can get out from here fast."


    Lucius left the hall, but suddenly, Dorian looked at Luna more clearly and said, "Sadrina... is that you?"


    Lucius was a bit surprised after hearing Luna''s real name and turned to face the patriarch. He also looked at Luna, who was now trembling while clutching at her dress.


    Kalidorn was also surprised after hearing that name again. He immediately turned to Luna and after looking at her more, "It is really Sadrina."


    Luna, who was trembling, stepped forward and tried to talk to his family after a long time. "Father..."


    But the truth was different. Dorian frowned and scolded, "Who is your father? I have no daughter. Not one who is talentless and worthless."


    The words hit Luna, making her shoulder slump and her body tremble even more. She wanted to say something but she could not. She could only go and hide behind Liora again.


    Kalidorn also chuckled after seeing his sister. He crossed his arms and smirked. "So, this is what you''ve become¡ªa slave to some young master. How fitting for someone as useless as you."


    Kalidorn then stepped forward and laughed while looking at the trembling Luna. "Tell me, Sadrina, are you good at groveling? I bet you''ve gotten really good at playing the obedient little dog."


    Luna flinched after hearing what her brother said to her. She clenched her fists at her sides, trying to calm down as the weight of their ridicule was threatening to crush her little resolve.


    Lucius, who had been silent up to this point, took a slow step forward. He began to smirk after hearing all of that and suddenly raised his hand to stop them.


    Lucius turned to Kalidorn, then Dorian. "It seems the Garran family has a hobby for wasting words on matters that no longer concern them."


    Kalidorn frowned as he turned to Lucius and mocked. "What''s this? Are you offended, young master? I was merely pointing out the truth about your... ''maid.'' Surely, even you can see she''s not worth¡ª"


    Before he could finish, Lucius took another step forward and smirked. "Be careful, Kalidorn. You''re stepping on a narrow path between arrogance and stupidity, which can be dangerous."


    Kalidorn frowned after hearing what Lucius had just said. He was the young master of the Garran family, and he didn''t want to be mocked by a measly student. Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire

 Chapter 78 Lucius Warning on Garrans

    Dorian frowned after hearing what Lucius said. He then stood up, stepped forward and looked at Lucius. "What do you intend to do, young master Lucius? This is my estate, and I will speak as I please."


    Lucius only smirked as he looked back at Dorian. "You can speak as you please, Patriarch Dorian. I just want you to watch your tone when you are talking to her."


    Lucius also cautioned him once more about Luna. "Luna is no longer Sadrina Garran. She is my property and I protect what belongs to me."


    Lucius'' reminder caused Dorian to frown, as he could not ignore it. However, Kalidorn was less restrained and with his father''s presence, he stepped closer to Lucius.


    Kalidorn then sneered, ""Oh, protect her? How noble you are. Please tell me, young master, do you take all your trash to heart? Or is this one just a particularly obedient¡ª"


    Before Kalidorn could finish, Liora stepped in between him and Lucius. She glared at Kalidorn and threatened him. "Watch your mouth! One more word, and I''ll make sure you choke on it."


    Kalidorn was surprised by it and began to step back as he was threatened. He glared at Lucius, who was now calm and smiling, and it made him frown.


    Lucius took a step forward, placing his hand on Liora''s shoulder to signal her to step back. He then looked at Kalidorn and smirked. "Kalidorn, you should listen to her. I''d hate for this to turn... unpleasant."


    Kalidorn was pissed by this scene. He had his pride as a noble and he wanted to retort, but Dorian suddenly raised his hand and shouted, "That''s enough, all of you."


    Dorian then turned to Lucius and said in anger, "You have a mission to complete, young master. Please leave my estate to do it."


    Lucius nodded, smirked and mocked him a bit. "Of course. I''ll retrieve the 3-Star Storm Bear Core and evolve the Thunder Hawk."


    But before he turned, he stepped closer to Kalidorn and smirked. "But remember this, Kalidorn. Do I need to remind you who has been tasked with evolving your beast?"


    Lucius then turned, smiled, stood up, and chuckled, saying, "Perhaps you should reconsider your attitude, lest something unfortunate happens to it."


    Even when they were in Garran''s noble estate, Lucius''s daring threat to Kalidorn took him by surprise once more.


    Lucius then began to remind Liora who he was. "Think about it. I''m the Rank 1 Golden Evolist of Astra Academy, backed by the Volcaria family¡ªone of the most influential names in the region."


    He then explained the thing that was off. "With all of that background? Why am I given a mission like this? To hunt down materials myself? It doesn''t align with my status."


    He then smirked as he told Liora about his conlusion. "This mission reeks of manipulation. Someone is trying to test me¡ªor set me up to fail me."


    Liora frowned after hearing Lucius'' conclusion. "You think it''s a setup? By who? Is it one of our past enemies or new enemies?"


    Lucius chuckled as he was amused. "I don''t know but the Garrans should be involved in this. We can see it from Dorian''s attitude earlier that they clearly wanted me to suffer but they are not the mastermind."


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    Lucius immediately informed Liora, who he considered to be the primary suspect. "I think the one who is the mastermind is the Kryndals."


    Liora was surprised and clenched her fists again. She growled in disdain. "Kaelix Kryndal... That snake must be behind this. He still hasn''t learned anything from his last defeat."


    Lucius smirked and let out a low laugh. "Of course it''s him. But Kaelix isn''t acting alone. This mission is too complicated for him. There is another Kryndal involved¡ªsomeone who is manipulating the situation."


    Liora, who heard it, frustatiously said, "I don''t know any other Kryndal besides Kaelix, but it doesn''t matter. If he''s involved, I''ll make him pay for this."


    Liora looked at her master, worried, and said, "But still, master, now that we know it''s a trap, what''s our next move? I''ll follow you, no matter what. Just say the word."


    Lucius smiled and said, "We play along. I am now pretty bored and I want to see just how far they''re willing to go. I want to uncover every piece of their plan and watch them scramble when it all falls apart."


    Liora nodded as she would follow Lucius and Lucius soon leaned back on his chair. "When the time comes, we''ll show them why it''s a mistake to underestimate us."


    The room fell silent as Lucius and his companions entered the game¡ªnot as players, but as the new administrators who would alter the games for his own amusement.

 Chapter 79 Dorian and Kaltriks Plan

    Dorian was now in his private room, with a communication crystal active on his desk and displaying a figure that was Kaltrik Kryndal.


    Kaltrik then looked at Dorian and smirked. He then asked him about the plan: "Dorian, have you done as I instructed you?


    Dorian stood and nodded. "Yes, Lord Kaltrik. I have instructed the boy to retrieve the material from Wind Valley¡ªthe most dangerous place in this region."


    Kaltrik smiled after hearing it and was satisfied with his job. "Good. That place is crawling with storm bears and rogue beasts. The likelihood of his survival is slim at best."


    Kaltrik also added, "But I don''t think that it was enough. I will send some of my men to ensure that he won''t make it alive from there."


    Dorian frowned a bit after hearing it. "My Lord, if I may... sending more people could increase the risk of suspicion. If he survives and traces anything back to us¡ª"


    Kaltrik snapped after being reminded by Dorian. "Silence. Do I need to remind you who I am, Dorian? Or of the consequences of crossing the Kryndal family?"


    Dorian kneeled down immediately. He bowed his head low and said, "I am sorry, Lord Kaltrik. I am just worried about the possibility of him surviving."


    Kaltrik frowned and said, "You don''t need to worry. Just listen to me now. You will send your own people as well. Mercenaries¡ªlow lives who want quick coin. They''ll make sure no loose ends remain."


    Dorian was a bit hesitant and said, "But what happened if he found out about me? I am just worried about my reputation."


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    Kaltrik cut him off with a laugh. "Dorian, don''t tell me you''re worried about your reputation. You''re already a weakling hiding behind your family''s name. Do as I say, or else."


    Dorian swallowed hard as he was scared by Kaltrik''s family. "Yes, Lord Kaltrik. It will be done immediately after this call."


    Kaltrik smirked as he began to turn off the communication crystal. "Good. Lucius dared to hurt my brother and mock my family. He will pay with his life. Dorian, make sure to handle this properly. I don''t tolerate failure."


    Luna looked at Lucius and smiled. "I feel so good, Master. Even when I think of my family, I no longer feel fear. Instead, I feel the need to kill them. They deserve nothing less."


    Lucius smirked as he was satisfied. His hack on Luna had worked perfectly, replacing her fear with an unshakable confidence that had been tempered all day by her own family.


    Lucius smiled and said, "Fear is a weakness we can''t afford, but the desire for vengeance¡ªthat''s something we can use."


    He leaned back in his chair and reminded her, "Remember, Luna, strength and strategy are the keys to survival. Channel your emotions into power and let them guide your power."


    Luna nodded as she smirked. "I understand, Master. I will always remember it and use it to fuel my power."


    Lucius turned his attention to Liora, who stood near the door with her arms crossed. "Liora, you are stronger at night, so we will complete the mission then. Because of that, I want both of you to handle something first."


    He picked up the paper from the table and handed it to Luna, along with a small stack of beast rings. "Take this list. Buy everything I''ve written down."


    Luna took the paper and glanced over it for a moment before turning back to Lucius. "Understood, Master, but what about these beast rings?"


    Lucius smirked. "Sell them. Most are empty and just sell them cheap. The five marked with a red seal contain beasts I''ve evolved. Those will sell for a lot. The money will be used for your shopping."


    Liora nodded. "Leave it to us, Master. Luna and I will handle everything. And tonight, my power will be at its peak."


    Lucius nodded and smiled. "Good. You''re strongest under the moonlight, Liora, and we''ll use that to our advantage. Prepare yourselves. When the sun sets, we''ll move."


    Luna smirked as she kept the paper and empty rings in her spatial ring. "You won''t have to worry about a thing, Master. Liora and I will take care of this."


    Liora nodded and said, "We will be back before nightfall, Master."


    Lucius then raised his tea cup once more. "Go, then. Make sure no one follows you. We can''t afford any interference."


    The two women nodded in unison before turning and leaving the room. Luna was now even more confident than before and Liora was also ready for anything.

 Chapter 80 From Market Deals to Mercenary Bloodshed

    Liora and Luna had just arrived at the market. They then began to walk around to find a good place where they could buy the things they needed and sell the beast rings and the special beasts.


    Even though Luna was once a Garran, no one in the market knew her, as the young heirs of Garran rarely venture outside the estate so no one in the market recognized who Luna was.


    The two quickly found a large building that appeared to be the best in beast trading. The two also went to the receptionist and fortunately, it was a manager, although she was a bit suspicious of Luna and Liora.


    However, when Luna placed the five beast rings on her counter and scanned them using their beast scanner, the manager was taken aback.


    The scanner showed her that the beasts were 1-Star beasts and their stats were top-notch. Not only that, they were elementless, making them highly adaptable and easier to tame for novice tamers¡ªa rarity in the market.


    The manager looked at both of the girls and excitedly said, "These are some really incredible beasts. How could these elementless 1-Star beasts possess such advanced stats? Where did you get these?"


    Luna only smirked and said, "Where we got them isn''t your concern, but the price that you will pay for these beasts. They are after all better than the things that you sell here."


    The manager nodded and her gaze turned back and forward between the beasts and Luna. "Y-yes, of course. These could sell for a lot! I¡ªuh¡ªhow much are you asking?"


    Liora stepped forward and glanced at the manager, trying to threaten her. "Don''t try to cheat us. Offer a fair price, or we''ll take our business elsewhere."


    The manager paled and nodded quickly as she took out a calculator. "O-Of course! We will pay what they''re worth. Just give me a moment to calculate."


    Liora, who stood at her side, was crossing her arms as she growled at her. "Hurry up, will you? We don''t have all day to wait for you."


    The manager nodded quickly as she calculated the price for these beasts while avoiding Liora''s eyes. Moments later, she looked up and showed Luna her price. "This is the best price I can offer for these beasts."


    Luna looked at the number on the calculator and nodded as she was satisfied with it. She also gave her a paper: "These are the things that I need. Prepare them immediately and they will be paid with that money."


    They navigated through a series of alleys before arriving at a deserted alley, a dead end filled with numerous trash items.


    Liora and Luna then stopped and turned around to face the alley entrance where they had been waiting for the ones who had been following them.


    Liora then stepped forward and shouted out loud, "You can stop hiding like rats. We know you are following us, so show yourselves."


    5 people suddenly came out and smirked as they walked to Liora and Luna. Two of them were tamers and the other three were beastmen.


    One of the tamers, grinned as he stepped forward and mocked, "Look what we''ve got here. Two little birds that wandered away from their flock."


    The beastmen chuckled and one of them smirked and said, "To think that you''d make it so easy for us. Saves us the trouble of tracking you down."


    Liora glanced at them coldly and asked, "It seems that you know who we are, so I want to ask you, Who the hell are you and why are you following us?"


    The tamer smirked and said, "Everyone in this city knows you now. You''ve been made into wanted people. There''s a fat bounty on your heads, and we''re here to collect." Discover hidden tales at empire


    Liora immediately knew what they were talking about and clenched her fists. "Master was right. The mission was tampered with. And now it seems the Garrans have joined in."


    Luna, who had been silent, murmured, "The Garrans, not only weren''t satisfied with casting me aside, but now they want me dead."


    She then clenched her fists and frowned. "They were really a bastard family and cannot be forgiven for trying to aim for master''s life."


    She then turned to Liora and said in anger. "Kill them all. Don''t leave a single one alive and make sure to inflict the most pain to them."


    Liora smirked after hearing it. "Of course. It''s what I do best," Liora said while baring her claws, preparing to torture these worthless mercenaries.

 Chapter 81 How Liora Turned Hunters Into Prey!

    The mercenaries frowned after they heard what Liora said. The two tamers stepped forward and sneered. "Do you think you can take all of us? You must be dreaming."


    The other tamer chuckled, crossing his arms. "A lone beastman and a girl? This will be over in seconds. Boys, let''s show them what they''re dealing with."


    The tamers then summoned their beasts. Portal appeared and 3-Star Flame Hawk and 3-Star Wind Falcon appeared from the portals.


    The tamer with the Flame Hawk smirked, pointing at Liora. "Flame Hawk, use Flame Wings! Burn her to ash!" The hawk screeched as it ignited her wings and dove toward Liora.


    The other tamer shouted, "Wind Falcon, use Wind Blades! Cut her down!" The falcon flapped its wing furiously, generating sharp wind currents that were going toward Liora.


    Liora was not scared of those attacks. She smirked and bared her claws as she sprang into action to deal with those birds.


    She then began to slash upward, intercepting the wind blades. The sharp gusts of air disintegrated on contact, reduced to harmless breezes.


    The Flame Hawk was also about to dive to Liora, but she smirked and leapt to the air. She opened her claws and caught the hawk by its neck mid-flight. The bird squawked in panic, raising the hear, but Liora still gripped it.


    Liora then spun in midair and slammed the Flame Hawk into the ground with bone-crushing force. The flames extinguished instantly as the bird let out a final screech before dying.


    The Flame Hawk''s tamer fell down and clutched his chest as he vomited blood to the ground. His connection to his beast was cut, and the backlash hit him like a hammer.


    Liora didn''t stop at all and turned her attention to the Wind Falcon, which hovered above, preparing for another attack. She smirked as she bent her knees down and launched herself upward.


    The falcon''s tamer frowned and shouted desperately, "Wind Falcon, retreat! Get away from her!" but it was too late, as Liora had already reached it.


    With a smirk, she spun and sent him spinning through the air before slamming him into the ground. The impact cracked the boulders beneath him, and he groaned in pain.


    The third beastman hesitated for a moment, but his hesitation was short-lived as he bared his claws and lunged. "You''ll pay for that!"


    Liora confronted his attack directly; her claws clashed with his, yet her strength and speed were superior, making the beastman a bit pressured.


    But Liora didn''t pressure him; she let go and ducked under his claw swipe, driving her knee into the beastman''s gut and bending him down. Liora then gripped the back of his head.


    "Fool," she muttered, slamming him into the wall with enough force to leave a dent. The beastman then fell to the ground and bled a lot.


    The three beastmen had been easily beaten by Liora, but she wasn''t done. She turned to the first beastman and smirked. "Let''s make this slow."


    The beastman was now afraid of Liora and tried to crawl away, but Liora was faster. She stomped on his leg, shattering his bone, making the beastman scream in agony. Find exclusive stories on empire


    Liora kneeled beside him, grabbing his other arm and twisting it until it snapped. "That''s two. Two more to go."


    The second beastman was scared after seeing the scene and tried to escape but Liora was already on him. She drove her claws into his thigh, pinning him to the ground, preventing him to escape.


    "You''re not going anywhere, "Liora said as she took out her claws, spraying the alley with blood and immediately delivered a devastating blow to her ribs.


    The third beastman, dazed but not unconscious, tried to crawl away. But Liora caught him effortlessly, dragging him back by his ankle. "Where do you think you''re going?"


    She lifted him by the neck, her claws digging into his skin. He was choked and he tried to release himself. "P-please... S-spare me..."


    Liora smirked even more and said, "No." With one swift motion, she drove her claws through his throat, ending his life instantly.

 Chapter 82 Luna and Lioras Bloody Message to Their Enemies

    The alley was now silent except for the groans of the two remaining beastmen, as they were too injured to move. Their bodies began to tremble as they begged for mercy.


    "P-please... Spare us. We will do anything. J-Just let us live." The Beastman with the two broken limbs said, and the Beastman with the broken rib also said, "We were just following orders! Please, we didn''t know who you were."


    Liora looked at them and crouched down. "So you are following orders, but do you think that will excuse your action? and that will make me feel merciful to you because you begged? How pathetic."


    Without hesitation, she stood up and kicked the beastman''s ribs, making it injured even more. The beastman whimpered while clutching his ribs. "W-We didn''t mean it! W-We''re sorry!"


    Lioa tilted her head and smirked as she bared her claws. She then chuckled and said, "You''re sorry? Don''t worry. You will be."


    Meanwhile, the two tamers frowned after seeing Liora torture the two beastmen. Their arrogance had disappeared and been replaced by cold sweat and the urge to flee.


    "We need to get out of here. She is too strong for us," one of them whispered. The other tamer nodded, "Agreed. Let''s run away while she''s distracted."


    But as they turned around, they found their path was blocked. Luna stood at the mouth of the alley. She was calm as she looked at the tamers as if they were toys. She then asked, "Where do you think you''re going?"


    The tamers froze as they faced her. One of them was trying to be brave and took out a knife from his belt. "You''re just a girl. How dare you block us?"


    He lunged forward, his knife aimed for Luna''s throat, but Luna''s movements were faster and sharper. With a flick of her wrist, she drew her own dagger, parrying his strike and disarming him with a single motion.


    Before the tamer could react, Luna''s other hand came out with her second dagger, sliced cleanly across his wrist. The man growled in pain as he clutched his bleeding hand.


    Luna didn''t stop there and used the dagger to cut open his stomach. The tamer screamed in pain as he tried to stop his stomach from bleeding too much.


    She crouched beside the first beastman and asked, "Going somewhere?" Liora then grabbed him by the throat and lifted him to the air easily. He gasped as he was panicking.


    Liora smiled as he said, "Please receive my gift... life before death." Liora used her claws to slice across his neck with surgical precision¡ªnot enough to kill, but enough to let his lifeblood seep out slowly.


    She then released her grip and let him fall to the ground. With his broken limbs, he could not even move and whimpered as he lost his strength.


    The second beastman tried to rise, but Liora moved fast and kicked his ribs again to bring him down. She then raised him up and slashed his knees, forcing him to kneel in front of Liora.


    Liora smiled as she thought of something: "Let''s make this interesting." She trailed her claws lightly across his chest before driving them into his abdomen.


    He screamed out loud as he felt the intense pain as Liora twisted her hand and took out his beating heart. Liora smirked and threw the heart aside. Enjoy new adventures at empire


    Lioar then wiped her claws with the beastman cloth and smirked. "Done." She turned around and walked toward Luna.


    Luna also walked to Liora and looked around the corpses and half-dead mercenaries. This scene didn''t scare them; instead, it made them happy.


    Luna smirked, saying something while gesturing at them. "Good. They deserved every moment of this for what they have done."


    Liora nodded and turned around, walking toward the mouth of the alley. "Let''s report back to master. He''ll want to know the Garrans are behind this."


    Luna smirked as she also thought the same. "Yes, and I''m sure that this will be a gift for him and he''ll have plans for them after this."


    The two women then walked out for the alley, leaving the remains of the mercenaries that they had killed as a warning to anyone foolish enough to challenge Lucius or even his maids.

 Chapter 83 A Deadly Game Begins

    Liora and Luna had arrived back at their inn. They had to use some time to clean themselves to get rid of some blood smell before meeting their master.


    Lucius was sitting by the small table in the room, sipping his tea, turning to his maids that had just returned from their mission.


    Lucius put down his cup and smiled. "You''re back. Did you get the things that I want and also did you make sure that you get good prices for those beasts?"


    Luna stepped forward and gave him the spatial ring. "Everything you requested, Master. The beast rings, and the beast coins from the sale of the evolved beasts¡ªall accounted for."


    Lucius smiled as he looked at the contents of the spatial ring. He was satisfied with it and immediately put the beast rings and the beast coins inside his Eternal Vault.


    Luna then suddenly stepped forward and asked Lucius something that she was curious about. "Master, why did you have us buy so many high-end, spacious 3-Star Beast Rings? They are not usually needed in such quantities."


    Lucius glanced at Luna, leaning back in his chair, before answering, "You will know soon enough. Let''s just say... these rings will play a crucial role in what''s to come and it will benefit you too."


    Luna only smiled, although she was still curious about it, but Lucius was her master, so she could only stop asking, "I see. They are part of a bigger plan. I will wait to see what it is then, master."


    Lucius smiled as Luna didn''t ask much about it, but suddenly Liora stepped forward and glanced at Lucius. "Master, there''s something else you need to know. We were attacked on our way back."


    Lucius was surprised. He turned to Liora, frowning and asking her. "Attacked? Who the hell dared to attack you? Didn''t they know who I am?"


    Liora only replied, "Mercenaries. They were waiting for us, likely sent by someone who wants us dead and they said that we have been made to be wanted criminals in this city and a big target for mercenaries."


    Lucius was silent for a moment to process it. He frowned first, but then he began to smirk as he knew what the enemy wanted to do.


    He leaned forward and said, "I see... so that''s how they want to play. Not only did they dare to tamper with my mission but also made us targets in this city."


    Lucius stood and wore his coat. "Let them think they''ve gained the upper hand. We''ll use their arrogance against them. But for now, we have a mission to complete."


    He turned to Liora and reminded her, "Liora, ensure you''re fully prepared. Your strength will be crucial in Wind Valley, especially with the dangers we''ll face there."


    The mercenary was a bit nervous as he answered, "They... they said they''d spotted the new wanted guys earlier. They thought they were weak but valuable¡ªprobably worth a lot of coin."


    The boss was shocked hearing it and immediately gestured toward the corpses. "Weak but valuable? Does this look like the work of someone weak to you?"


    The other mercenaries didn''t dare to answer and the boss spat out in anger. "Idiots. They underestimated their targets and paid the price. That''s what happens when you think with your greed instead of your brain."


    The boss then turned to another mercenary who was quite a veteran and asked him. "Tell me, where are these ''new targets'' now?"


    The veteran looked at his boss and answered. "We have word from one of our informants, boss. They''ve left the city and are heading toward Wind Valley."


    The boss grinned and started to crack his knuckles. He then took his coat and said, "Wind Valley, huh? Perfect. That''s where we''ll strike."


    One of the younger mercenaries immediately spoke out, as he was a bit hesitant. "But boss, if they''re strong enough to take out our guys like this, shouldn''t we¡ª"


    The boss cut him off with a glare. "Shouldn''t we what? Run? Hide? Let them get away after what they did to our men?"


    He then took a step closer and glanced at the man, forcing him to shrink back. "No. We''re mercenaries. We don''t back down. We don''t let anyone think they can cross us and walk away."


    The boss began to remind them what those targets had done. "They dared to torture and kill my subordinates. They dared to humiliate us. And now, they''re walking away like it''s nothing."


    The boss turned his face to his men and said, "We''ll show them what happens when you mess with us. We''ll make them suffer like they made our men suffer and take their bounty to make a fortune."


    He then shouted at them. "Prepare the beasts and weapons. We leave immediately. We don''t have much time left, as they were quite far now."


    The mercenaries immediately scrambled to gather their gear and prepare themselves for the hunt, trying to get revenge on their fallen comrades.


    The boss also looked at the corpses before going out and said, "Whoever you are, you''ve made a grave mistake. Wind Valley will be your grave."


    With that, he and his men rushed out of the warehouse with the purpose of exacting his fallen comrades'' vengeance, and finally, the hunt was on.

 Chapter 84 Lucius Targets Wind Valleys Early Hunter

    Lucius and his maids had arrived at the infamous Wind Valley, a sprawling expanse of rugged cliffs and dense forest; its name was earned from the howling winds that swept through the terrain.


    The sheer and jagged edges of cliffs towered above them, while the forest stretched endlessly below, a maze of thick trees and winding paths.


    Lucius stood at the entrance of the forest and looked at it. The wind was so strong that Lucius had a bit of trouble standing in front of it.


    Liora stood to his right and surveyed the area. Luna stood behind Lucius and adjusted her daggers that were in her waist, anticipating some opponents.


    Lucius then looked at the sky, where several bird beasts circled above that easily flew through the strong wind. "This valley is really bad place. Even from here, I can see several 3-Star beasts, and we are still at the entrance."


    Liora smirked as she glanced up at the circling bird beasts above. "Don''t worry, Master. If any of those feathered pests dare to attack you, I''ll handle them personally."


    Luna chuckled as she pointed toward the forest. "There''s no need to worry about them, Master. The birds won''t attack us. We''re too large to be their prey; beside there were stronger beasts in there that kept them cautious."


    Lucius was satisfied as he listened to Luna''s analysis. "You''re observant, as always. To think that you already knew about them, but what about the Storm Bear?" Read latest chapters on My Virtual Library Empire


    Luna crouched near a patch of clawed-up dirt, tracing a set of massive paw prints embedded in the ground. She smiled as she dusted her hands off.


    She turned to Lucius and said, "The bear''s close. These tracks are fresh¡ªminutes old, at most. I can''t confirm if it''s the Storm Bear yet, but it''s definitely large enough to be our target."


    Lucius looked closely at the footprints and smirked. "If the Storm Bear''s territory is so close to the valley''s entrance, it means this place is even more treacherous than I anticipated."


    He then looked at Luna and Liora. "Let''s go and find it. The sooner we complete this mission, the better it will be for us."


    Luna nodded and immediately led them as they moved deeper into the forest to track the storm bear via the footprints and some other trace.


    Liora was following from behind and soon frowned as she smelled something. "This place smells bad. It seems that the Storm Bear''s domain was wide and the other beasts seem to be avoiding this area."


    Luna crouched low to examine another set of tracks and smirked. "They know better than to challenge something stronger than them, but it doesn''t matter to us. The bear is strong but nothing we can''t handle."


    Lucius chuckled and clasped his hands behind his back. "Confidence is key, Luna. But don''t let it blind you. The Storm Bear is strong for a reason. Underestimating it would be a fatal mistake."


    [Tempest Fury: Summons a swirling storm around itself, dealing continuous damage with bolts of lightning and sharp wind currents for a short time.]


    ---


    Lucius smirked after he looked at the data. "Quite impressive. Its stats and skills are strong, but not strong enough to pose a real threat. Liora, you''ve faced far worse, haven''t you?"


    Liora stepped forward and bared her claws. "Of course, Master. This beast is nothing compared to me. Its brute strength won''t save it."


    Lucius nodded. "Good. This Storm Bear is a strength-type beast¡ªpowerful but predictable. You''re faster, stronger, and more skilled. Take it down and retrieve its core."


    Liora then smirked as she changed her stance into a combat one. "As you wish, Master. I''ll make sure it''s over quickly."


    From the sidelines, Luna leaned casually against a tree, crossing her arms and watched. "Finish it fast, Liora. We''ve got more prey coming for us, and I don''t want to miss the fun."


    Liora glanced back at Luna and smirked. "Don''t worry. I''ll leave enough time for you to sharpen your daggers on someone else."


    Lucius chuckled after hearing what Luna and Liora said. The Storm Bear was just an appetizer in the battle that would soon come for them.


    ---


    In the entrance of Wind Valley, a man and a woman were standing. The pair didn''t move rushily but silently like ghosts, blending seamlessly with the shadows.


    The man''s face was closed with a mask, revealing only his cold eyes. His hand rested loosely at his sides, near the curved daggers on his waist.


    Beside him, the woman was also the same and wore a mask. On her waists there was also a pair of daggers that were a bit longer than the man.


    The man then looked at the woman and asked. "Where are the targets?" The woman looked back and answered. "They''ve entered the forest. Not far from here."


    The man then nodded. "Good. Let''s make this quick. The longer we delay, the more dangerous they become."


    The pair entered the forest silently, preparing to kill their target and be done with their missions.

 Chapter 85 Lioras Deadly Duel with the Storm Bear

    Liora and the Storm Bear were now standing opposite each other. Liora smirked as she immediately rushed toward the storm bear. Liora had also become stronger as her Lunar Blessing activated at night.


    "This will be a quick fight." Liora said with a smirk while flexing her claw as she rushed toward the storm bear, wanting to end it with one strike.


    The storm bear, seeing that Liora was rushing to him, used Thunderclap Roar that carried a shockwave of thunder and wind that were going toward Liora.


    Liora only smirked and countered immediately with her own. She planted her feet on the ground and took a deep breath before unleashing her own Lunar Roar that was strengthened under the moonlight.


    The two shockwaves clashed and the storm bear''s roar lost under the force of Liora''s roar and the remnants of her attacks slammed into the bear, knocking it back slightly.


    Liora only smirked as she crossed her arms while starting to mock the bear. "Is that all you''ve got? And also, did you call that a roar? Let me show you what real strength looks like."


    The storm bear didn''t know what Liora was talking about, but it knew that she talked badly about him, making him enraged. It then let out a furious roar as it activated its skill, Tempest Fury.


    A swirling storm of wind and lightning began to surround the bear''s entire body, tearing the trees and sending the debris around flying.


    The storm bear immediately used Storm Crash and charged toward Liora. Thanks to the storm, it had become stronger and faster than before. It was also baring its claws and fangs while charging.


    Liora only smirked and crouched slightly, preparing to counterattack. When the bear was mere feet away, she extended her left claw, catching the full force of the storm bear''s charge by the head.


    The bear''s massive frame shook a bit as its attack was suddenly stopped. The bear looked at the Liora and was enraged and tried to break the left claw that was holding his head, but it could not break it at all.


    Liora only smirked and immediately went to counter the storm bear. Liora used her left claw to push it back and throw it off balance.


    She didn''t stop there as she stepped forward and raised her glowing right claw and activated Lunar Claw, aiming to end it in one strike.


    The storm bear, regaining its footing, noticed that Liora''s right claw was already at it, so it let out a desperate roar and lunged back with its own claw, but Liora was way faster as she slashed downward.


    Her right claw struck the bear''s head and sliced through its thick skull as if it were paper. The bear let out one final roar before collapsing to the ground.


    Liora used some cloth to clean his claws from the blood with a satisfied smirk. She then turned to face Lucius, who had been watching the fight.


    Liora smiled as she glanced at the lifeless bear and turned to Lucius again. "It''s done, Master. One 3-Star Storm Bear Core is ready and it is also not much of a challenge for me. It is too weak."


    Lucius only chuckled as he stepped forward, approaching the fallen beast. He crouched and used a knife to extract the Storm Bear Core from it.


    Luna then stepped out from the shadows and studied the core that was given by Lucius. "It is in quite good condition, but I think that the qualities don''t matter much as Master can always evolve the beast perfectly."


    [Stats:]


    [Str: F (4¡ï)]


    [Vit: F (4¡ï)]


    [Agi: E (4¡ï)]


    [Int: F (4¡ï)]


    [Tamed Beast: Shadow Mantis]


    ---


    [Name: 04]


    [Species: Human]


    [Talent: Shadow Lord]


    [Level: 4 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: F (4¡ï)]


    [Vit: F (4¡ï)]


    [Agi: E (4¡ï)]


    [Int: F (4¡ï)]


    [Tamed Beast: Shadow Mantis]


    ---


    Lucius raised an eyebrow as he was surprised by their names. Their names were actually numbers but because of this, Lucius immediately knew the one who sent these assassins and smirked thinking about it.

 Chapter 86 Lucius Faces the Deadly Shadow Corps

    Lucius looked at the two assassins and smirked. "So, 03 and 04, huh? What a really strange name that you guys have, but judging from those numbers, you must be part of some shadow corps of some family."


    The two assassins suddenly stiffened after hearing it. They immediately changed their stances and gripped their weapons tighter than before.


    Lucius then smirked and said, "Seeing that you want to kill me, can I assume that both of you are the shadow corps of the Kryndal family, aren''t you?"


    The assassins exchanged a brief glance and their masks were hiding their expression, but Lucius knew that they were a bit panicking inside as Lucius knew who they were.


    Liora immediately growled the moment she heard the Kryndals. She crouched down and flexed her claws as she was ready to strike. "Those worms think they can send assassins to take you down, Master? Pathetic."


    Beside her, Luna also stepped forward and drew her twin daggers. "Let me handle them. "I''ll carve the truth out of them myself."


    Lucius raised his hand, stopping Luna. He then glanced at Luna and said firmly. "No, you''re cunning, Luna, but this fight is beyond your strength. Stay back and observe."


    Luna hesitated for a moment before nodding reluctantly as she stepped back, still gripping her daggers tightly. "As you wish, Master."


    Lucius returned his attention to the assassins and smirked. "Well? Are we going to play this game in silence, or do you have something to say for yourselves?"


    The assassins didn''t answer. Instead, they surprised everyone by sheathing their daggers and Liora felt something bad was about to happen, so she changed her stance into a battle one.


    Suddenly, both of the assassins began to raise their right hands and their arms began to twist and transform into something else.


    The transformation was swift but grotesque, their fingers elongating into razor-sharp sickle-like claws.


    In that moment, a surge of new information flooded Lucius'' mind. He also saw that a new screen appeared that provided a detailed explanation about what just happened.


    ---


    [System Update: Beast Fusion Ability Unlocked]


    [Access Level: 4-Star Tamers]


    [Functionality: Partial Beast Fusion]


    [Features: Fuse with a tamed beast to gain one enhanced limb; Absorb a single stat from the beast for personal augmentation]


    [Limitations: Fusion restricted to a single limb, Stat enhancement limited to one attribute at 4-Star level]


    ---


    [Str: F (4¡ï)]


    [Vit: F (4¡ï)]


    [Agi: D (4¡ï)]


    [Int: F (4¡ï)]


    [Tamed Beast: Shadow Mantis]


    ---


    Luicus immediately noted the key difference of their fusion: 03 had enhanced their strength, while 04 had opted for agility, but still they were still low level so only one limb and one stat were transformed.


    Lucius smirked and was amused, as he already knew that they were planning. The assassins then began to change their stances, as they were already preparing to strike.


    Liora looked at their new claws. She then flexed her claws and bared her teeth as she smirked. "They''re enhancing themselves with their beasts, huh? How cute. Do you think that will make you a match for me?"


    Liora then crouched down to tense her muscles as she prepared to strike. She also mocked them, "Show me what you''ve got. Or are you afraid to take me head-on?"


    The assassins remained silent, but they suddenly blended into the darkness and began to attack. They moved silently as they attacked, one aiming to intercept Liora while the other went toward Lucius.


    Liora could still see them and was targeting 04, but before she could reach her, 03 stepped into her path and swept upward with his sicklearm.


    Liora was pushed back by him but she didn''t frown. Instead, she smirked even more. "Not bad, but you''ll need more than that to stop me."


    03 didn''t respond as he held his ground. Meanwhile, 04 slipped around the clash and with her speed, she rushed toward Lucius in an instant.


    Luna, standing a few steps behind Lucius, caught the movement out of the corner of her eye. She realized 04''s intent and without hesitation, she stepped forward, gripping her daggers as she prepared to intercept her.


    "Master!" Luna shouted urgently, but even as she moved, she knew that she wouldn''t make it in time as 04 was too fast for her. Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire


    In a heartbeat, 04 was in front of Lucius, her sickle arm raised and was ready to strike. 04 then used her sickle arm and slashed directly at Lucius'' neck.


    Lucius didn''t flinch at all and he continued to smirk while watching 04, who was ready to kill him. As the assassin''s sickle-arm closed in, Lucius laughed and said, "You don''t think I''d leave myself so defenseless, do you?"


    The sickle arm didn''t manage to behead Lucius. It stopped abruptly as it collided with Lucius'' neck. 04 was confused and shocked, as how could this be happening to her? Was her blade too weak or was Lucius too weird?


    Lucius tilted his head and smirked when he saw the surprised 04: "Are you surprised? Did you really think I''d be so careless as to leave myself vulnerable?" Lucius mocked while raising his hand to clean his neck.

 Chapter 87 Lucius Defensive Innovation

    Lucius smirked as he adjusted the collar of his coat. Under it, there was a special inner suit that was Lucius'' hidden layer of protection that made the assassin fail to kill Lucius as his sickle arm could not cut it.


    A few days ago, Lucius was contemplating how to defend himself. Despite his growing power and his strong maids, he realized that direct physical attacks remained a risk and now he was thinking how to solve this.


    He then looked at one of the 1-Star beasts, and suddenly an idea appeared in his mind. He had a beast hack system that could do anything so the system should be able to do what he was thinking about now.


    Lucius looked at the system and smirked as he told it. "Hack the beast and transform it into a thin and flexible inner suit. I also want to erase its consciousness, so it would be a cloth, not a beast."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Beast Transformation to Equipment]


    [Target: Transform Beast into Thin, Flexible Innerwear Cloth]


    [Effect: Delete Beast Consciousness and Restructure Physical Form]


    [Cost Required: 1 Hack Points]


    [Execute Transformation?]


    [YES] [NO]


    ---


    The system could indeed do it and the cost was so low because he only hacked a low-level beast. Lucius smirked as he executed the hack without hesitation.


    The beast let out a pitiful cry as its body began to morph, its physical structure breaking apart and reforming under Lucius'' system.


    The process was both gruesome and fascinating. The small beast''s body twisted unnaturally, its consciousness erased as its form was restructured.


    The beast, which had claws, fur and eyes, had become threads, fibers, and flexible material. Its mass shrank, condensing into a thin, nearly invisible suit that was really hard to see with naked eyes.


    Lucius picked up the newly created inner suit and touched the surface. It was smooth, cool, and incredibly light. He also realized that this inner suit was basically a beast, so he tried to scan it.


    ---


    [Species: Cloth Beast]


    [Element: None]


    [Level: 1 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: F (1¡ï)]


    [Vit: F (1¡ï)]


    [Agi: F (1¡ï)]


    [Int: F (1¡ï)]


    [Skills: None]


    --- Read the latest on My Virtual Library Empire


    Lucius was a bit surprised seeing the data of the beast. The species had changed into something that was called ''Cloth Beast'' that made him murmure, "So even these kinds of beasts exist, huh?"


    However, he wasn''t satisfied with its current state, as it was still too weak. Now that it was already an innersuit, the cost for hacking it even further would be cheaper and he smirked, thinking about it.


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Stat Upgrade]


    [Target: 3-Star Cloth Beast]


    [Stat: Vitality (VIT)]


    [Upgrade: E Tier ¡ú C-Tier]


    [Stat: Strength (STR)]


    [Upgrade: E Tier ¡ú C-Tier]


    [Cost Required: 220 Hack Points]


    [Execute Stat Hack?]


    [YES] [NO]


    ---


    The system then began to execute the hack again and this time, the fibers began to pulse with energy as it was being restructured with stronger stats.


    The process was quick, and Lucius could feel the subtle shift in the material''s density as the hack completed, making Lucius decide to scan it again to see the new stats of the cloth beast.


    ---


    [Species: Cloth Beast]


    [Element: None]


    [Level: 3 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: C (3¡ï)]


    [Vit: C (3¡ï)]


    [Agi: E (3¡ï)]


    [Int: E (3¡ï)]


    [Skills: None]


    ---


    Lucius smirked as he read the new stats. "Now this is more like it. With 3-Star C-Tier Strength and Vitality, even a 4-Star D-Tier strike would struggle to break through."


    Lucius rose from his chair, holding the cloth beast in his hands. He immediately wore it and because it was light and flexible, it was surprisingly easy to wear and comfortable. It also clung to his body like a second skin.


    He tried to move his body around, noting how the suit moved seamlessly with his body. He was quite satisfied with it and murmured. "Perfect."


    Lucius then looked around the room and found a nearby steel bar. He then walked toward it and gripped it with one hand. Without hesitation, he tried to bend it in half, and to his surprise, it bent.


    Lucius chuckled and smirked as he tossed the mangled bar aside and adjusted his clothes. "Stronger than I expected. With this, I''ll not only survive¡ªit''ll be a testament to my superiority."


    With that, he began to think more. What he could do with this type of equipment transformation hack. He smirked as new ideas appeared in his mind.

 Chapter 88 Crushing Assassins and Seizing Control

    04 stood frozen as her sickle hand was still pressing against Lucius; neck. She was in disbelief as her proud attack was stopped by Lucius and she didn''t even know how he did it.


    Lucius only smirked as he reached the sickle hand with his left hand and gripped it, pulling it away from his neck with ease while mocking how weak she was. "You thought that would work? How disappointing."


    04 was tensed with anger as she heard it and without hesitation, she drew a dagger from her belt with her free hand, aiming directly at Luciu''s unprotected head, thinking that nothing could stop her.


    But Lucius was also fast and used his right hand to grip her wrist before the dagger could make contact. The two locked eyes and scanned each other.


    Lucius smirked as he tightened his grip on both her arms. His strength was undeniable, and the bulge in her chest didn''t escape his eyes.


    He immediately knew who she was and mocked her. "So, you''re a woman, huh? A bitch trying to kill me? That''s a dangerous game. And do you know what I do to bad bitches?"


    Without waiting for a response, Lucius acted. He jumped and used both his legs to deliver a brutal dropkick to her chest. The impact sent 04 flying backward, her body crashing through the underbrush.


    She hit the ground hard, slidding several feet before coming to a stop, but Lucius wasn''t finished with her. He rushed toward her and kicked her body upward, her sickle arm flailing uselessly as she tried to regain control.


    Lucius leaped into the air after her and after he reached her, he brought both hands together, clasping them like an axe.


    He then brought them down on her back, slamming her body into the ground with a resounding thud.


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    04 groaned weakly, her body twitching as she tried to push herself up, but Lucius landed beside her. He smirked as he raised his foot above her.


    Liora already knew what 03 was about to do and she smirked, thinking about it. "Oh no, you don''t." She took a deep breath, her chest swelling as she unleashed a deafening lunar roar.


    The shockwave from Liora''s lunar roar was disrupting 03''s focus and his summoning portal immediately closed down as he stumbled, clutching his head as the roar reverberated in his ears.


    Liora walked to him and mocked, "Pathetic. To think that you wanted to summon your beast when you can''t even stand up to me. Are you thinking that your beast will make a difference?"


    Taking advantage of 03''s disorientation, Liora closed the distance between them and struck him with a powerful swipe to his stomach, her claws stopping just short of tearing him apart.


    The force of the blow sent 03 crashing to the ground, his body crumpling as the air was knocked out of his lungs. He gasped, his arms trembling as he tried to push himself up, but his strength failed him.


    Liora crouched beside him and smirked as she tilted his head with a single claw. "You should feel lucky that my Master doesn''t want you dead¡ªyet."


    Liora then struck the back of his neck with her claw, knocking 03 unconscious. His body went limp, his sickle arm retracting as he fell into silence. Liora then brushed the dirt from her claws as she turned to Lucius.


    Liora flicked her claws clean and was satisfied with her work. "It''s done, Master. He wasn''t much of a challenge, though I did enjoy toying with him."


    Lucius turned to her and approved her. "Efficient, as always. You handled him quite well. Now, we''ll make use of these new tools."


    Luna stepped forward and smirked as she glanced at the unconscious assassins. "Two prizes. What should we do with them, Master?"


    Lucius smirked and said, "Bind them. I want to test something on them that will make sure to make the one who sent them regret ever sending them."


    Liora and Luna exchanged a brief glance before nodding unison as they began to work. They immediately used the surrounding vines to bind them temporarily and were curious about what Lucius would do to them.

 Chapter 89 Lucius Devastating Counterstrike

    03 and 04 were now bound tightly and were dragged into a clearing and thrown to the ground in front of Lucius. Both assassins weren''t conscious, as Lucius and Liora had made sure that they passed out.


    Lucius stepped forward and was thinking of something as he looked at the unconscious state of the assassins. "Pitiful. They were tools sent to kill me but they could not even manage to scratch the surface of my power."


    Although the assassins were 4-Star tamer, they had already weakened so much that Lucius, who was only 3-Star tamer, could hack them.


    He then turned toward the system as he began to hack 03. "Hack his mind to make him answer all of my questions truthfully for the next hour."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Mind Manipulation]


    [Effect: Hypnotize Target to Answer All Questions Truthfully for 1 Hour]


    [Cost Required: 10 Hack Points]No?v(el)B\\jnn


    [Execute Mind Hack?]


    [YES] [NO]


    ---


    Lucius chose yes and the system began to execute the hack. 03 immediately woke up, but this time, his eyes were blank and his movement was stiff.


    Liora was surprised as he watched the strangeness on 03. She was curious about it and asked Lucius, "Master, what are you doing to him?"


    Lucius didn''t look at her as his attention focused entirely on 03 but he still answered her. "Extracting information... the easy way."


    Liora still didn''t understand what Lucius meant, so she only stood aside while glancing at Lucius. Lucius then crouched down and stared at 03''s blank eyes. He smirked and began his question, "Where are you from?"


    03''s voice was flat and emotionless as he answered truthfully without any resistance. "The Shadow Corps of the Kryndal family."


    Lucius chuckled, as he had already somewhat expected it. "The Kryndals, huh... I already suspected as much, but I want to know who sent you."


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    There was about 1,000 HP left that made him frown, as the next plan required quite a lot of HP. "Not a lot, but more than enough for my plan."


    Liora and Luna exchanged a glance. Luna raised an eyebrow and smirked. "You''re planning something big, aren''t you, Master?"


    Lucius chuckled as he turned back to the system as he began to initiate a new hack. "Big? Of course not. Devastating? Absolutely yes."


    He then made his hack to the system. "System, hack these two assassins. Hypnotize them for the next 12 hours, and assign them a mission: assassinate the targets I specify later on."


    Lucius also didn''t stop as he put another hack. "I also wanted to put an additional safeguard, ensuring that if they are discovered or run out of time, they will kill themselves. No loose ends."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Mind Manipulation]


    [Targets: Two Assassins]


    [Effect: Hypnotize Targets to:]


    [Eliminate all assigned targets within 12 hours.]


    [Self-terminate 10 minutes before hypnosis ends or upon capture.]


    [Duration: 12 Hours]


    [Cost Required: 480 Hack Points]


    [Execute Mind Hack?]


    [YES] [NO]


    ---


    Lucius smirked as he told the system to execute and murmured, "Kryndals, don''t blame me for this. Blame yourselves for daring to mess with me."


    The system then began the hack and instantly, the assassins'' bodies began to stiffen and kneel down. Both 03 and 04, with their blank eyes, were waiting for Lucius to specify the targets they needed to kill.

 Chapter 90 Turning Foes Into Tools

    Lucius looked at the blank-faced assassins, 03 and 04. He smirked as he thought about the kind of missions that he gave to them.


    Lucius immediately ordered, "You will infiltrate the Kryndal gathering and eliminate every 1-Star to 3-Star Evolist you encounter. Leave no survivors."


    He took a step closer and smirked. "And ten minutes before your hypnosis ends, you will kill yourselves. If you are captured, you''ll do the same. I don''t want a single word of this operation traceable back to me."


    As Lucius spoke, Liora folded her arms. Though she trusted her master, she was still curious about Lucius'' plan, as she thought it was a bit weird.


    She stepped forward and asked, "Master, why did you focus on the lower-ranked Evolists? Won''t it be more effective to target their higher-ranked Evolists instead?"


    Lucius didn''t immediately respond, but before he could, Luna stepped forward and turned to Liora as she smirked.


    She then answered, "Liora, don''t you see Master''s true intent? He''s not just targeting individuals¡ªhe''s dismantling the Kryndals'' foundation."


    Liora raised her eyebrow as she was a bit curious about what Luna was talking about. So she simply asked Luna to explain to her.


    Luna chuckled and pointed to 03 and 04 and said, "Think about it. These two assassins are only 4-Star Tamers. If Master sent them after the higher-ranked Kryndals, they could only kill two or three before they were finished."


    She tilted her head and smirked. "But targeting the 1-Star to 3-Star Evolists? That''s an entirely different story. They''re weaker, easier to kill, and far more numerous."


    Luna then coldly continued, "The majority of tamers in any organization fall within those lower ranks. By wiping them out, Master isn''t just causing casualties¡ªhe''s crippling their foundation."


    Luna explained why their foundation was crippled. "With no low-rank Evolists to handle the weaker beasts, the higher-ranked ones will have to step in. And those arrogant elites? They''re not accustomed to dealing with such tasks."


    She smirked as she said, "They''ll hate it. Their entire structure will crumble, and it''ll take them months¡ªif not years¡ªto rebuild." Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire


    Lucius didn''t move as he smirked and mocked the mercenary boss. "And what if we are? What will you do, huh, the one that I don''t know of?"


    The boss became angry as he shouted, "I''m the boss of the mercenaries you butchered in the city yesterday! Your girls slaughtered my men¡ªgood, loyal men¡ªand now you''re going to pay."


    Lucius chuckled as he disdainfully said. "Ah, so you''re the one responsible for sending that pathetic bunch."


    He turned to Liora and Luna and smirked. "I must commend you both. It seems you''ve done me a favor by cleaning up the trash."


    Liora stepped forward while flexing her claws. She then said coldly, "They weren''t even worth the effort. Pathetic fools who thought they could challenge us. It''s almost embarrassing to call them your men."


    Luna leaned lazily against a nearby tree and spoke maliciously. "Your ''loyal men'' were nothing more than greedy fools looking for easy money, but I suppose greed often leads to poor decisions. Like confronting us."


    The mercenary boss let out a furious roar; his knuckles turned white as he clenched them tightly. "You arrogant bastards! I''ll make you regret killing my men¡ªand I''ll enjoy collecting your bounty when I''m done!


    The mercenaries behind him were also getting ready. They were going to avenge their friends and collect some money along the way.


    Lucius remained clam as he raised his hand to silence Liora and Luna. He then glanced at Liora and said, "Liora, handle the boss. Show him why he shouldn''t have crossed me."


    He then turned to Luna and threw her a pair of daggers and said, "Luna, take care of the rest. Make it quick¡ªor make it painful. I leave that to your discretion."


    Liora smirked as she stepped forward while she cracked her neck and flexed her claws. "Yes, Master. I will let them know who they are dealing with."


    Luna received the pair of daggers and smirked as she spun her daggers expertly. "Oh, this will be fun. Let me test these new daggers and see how long they last under the weak me."


    The mercenary boss immediately ordered his beast to attack Liora, while his minions summoned their beasts and attacked Luna and Lucius.

 Chapter 91 The Game-Changing Power of a 4-Star Tamer

    Lucius looked at the arrogant and angry mercenary boss. Lucius smirked as he began to scan him to see just how strong he was to be so arrogant.


    ---


    [Name: Hadric]


    [Species: Human]


    [Talent: Gale Master]


    [Level: 4 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: E (4¡ï)]


    [Vit: F (4¡ï)]


    [Agi: F (4¡ï)]


    [Int: F (4¡ï)]


    [Tamed Beast: Gale Wolf]


    Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire


    ---


    Lucius raised his eyebrow and smirked. "Interesting. To think that you are also a 4-Star Tamer. It seems that you''re not entirely useless after all."


    Hadric was surprised that Lucius knew his level but ignored it as he snapped. "Do you think you can stand against me after knowing my level?"


    Lucius didn''t respond immediately. Instead, he turned his attention to his big green wolf that was standing beside Hadric and scanned it.


    ---


    [Species: Gale Wolf]


    [Element: Wind]


    [Level: 4 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: D (4¡ï)]


    [Vit: E (4¡ï)]


    The two collided, claws clashing against claws. The Gale Wolf was aiming for Liora''s chest, but she blocked the attack with her own lunar claws.


    The force of the collision pushed both combatants back, their feet dragging against the ground.


    The Gale Wolf let out another roar that was fused with wind energy. Liora grinned as she inhaled deeply before unleashing her own roar.


    The two roars clashed in the air; the shockwave from their collision shook the ground and pushed back each other.


    Hadric growled in fustation as he watched the fight. "What the hell is this? That maid shouldn''t be able to defend herself against my Gale Wolf!"


    Lucius only chuckled and smirked. "Hadric, you''ve underestimated my Liora. A fatal mistake."


    Hadric snapped. "We''ll see about that. Gale Wolf, stop playing with her and finish this!"


    The Gale Wolf snarled as it moved faster. The constant winds of the valley enhanced its natural agility, making it faster and more evasive.


    It moved around Liora and used its speed and claws to strike Liora from different angles.


    Liora tracked the beast carefully, trying to parry its attack with her lunar claws.


    She then admitted. "You are fast, but speed without power means nothing."


    The Gale Wolf growled as it frustatedly circled her again. The winds around it intensified, signifying that it was preparing a stronger attack.


    Hadric''s patience snapped and he turned to his Gale Wolf angrily and shouted, "Enough of this shit! Gale Wolf, use Spiral Gust! Finish her off!"


    The Gale Wolf let out a howl, and the winds around began to spiral into a concentrated burst of energy.


    The vortex exploded forward in a devastating blast, tearing apart the air as it went toward Liora.


    For a moment, everything went silent.


    Then the Spiral Gust struck.


    The force of the attack sent Liora skidding back, her feet digging into the ground as she raised her claws defensively.


    The wind energy tore her body, leaving deep, bloody gashes on her arms and legs, but she refused to give up.


    Hadric crossed his arms and smirked. "You''re done now. No one can withstand my Gale Wolf''s ultimate attack."


    Lucius only chuckled after hearing it. "Don''t celebrate too soon. Your wolf just made its final mistake."


    Hadric blinked, confused. "What are you talking about?"


    Lucius smirked and said, "You will know it soon."


    Liora licked her own blood and grinned. Her claws began to glow brighter and sharper as her Lunar Blessing had fully activated.

 Chapter 92 Hadrics Downfall

    Liora smirked as she looked at Hadric and his Gale Wolf. "Is that all you''ve got? I expect more from a 4-Star tamer."


    Hadric snapped after being mocked by an injured maid. He turned to his Gale Wolf and ordered, "Kill her! I want her to regret mocking me!"


    The Gale Wolf stood and tried to finish Liora, but it was currently weak. The Spiral Gust had taken a toll on its energy reserves, leaving it vulnerable.


    Liora noticed it immediately and seized the opportunity as she rushed toward the Gale Wolf.


    The Gale Wolf tried to defend itself, summoning a thin barrier of wind around its head, but Liora was stronger as its lunar blessing activated.


    She lunged and grabbed the wolf''s head with her left claw, pinning it to the ground.


    With a smirk, she raised her glowing right claw as she poured all her strength into it.


    "This is the end. For you¡ªand your pathetic master."


    Her claw went down, piercing both the thin barrier and the Gale Wolf''s skull in one strike.


    The wolf let out a painful howl as it fell down and died. Its head spurted a lot of blood.


    Liora smirked as she withdrew her claw, the sharp nails dripping with blood and fragments of the beast''s brain.


    She then turned to Lucius and showed him the brain and blood of Hadric''s beast.


    Hadric vomitted in blood as his tamed beast had been killed. His body also trembled because of it.


    "Impossible...."


    "You... you killed my Gale Wolf."


    Lucius looked at the dead wolf and turned to Hadric. He smirked as he mocked Hadric.


    "Your arrogance led you here, Hadric. And now, you''ve lost everything."


    Hadric fell to his knees, clasping his trembling hands as he begged. "Please... spare me..."


    Liora scoffed, wiping the blood from her claws. "You were so confident a moment ago. Where''s that arrogance now?"


    Hadric was still trembling and kept kneeling down until Lucius spared his life.


    The corpses of Hadric, his Gale Wolf, and the fallen mercenaries became dry corpses as they were absorbed by the system.


    He could see that his hack points increased rapidly as the high-value targets were processed.


    Lucius smirked and chuckled. "A 4-Star Tamer and his beast, they''ve proven more useful in death than they ever were in life."


    Liora stepped closer and looked at the dried corpses of Hadric and his men.


    She turned to Lucius and said, "Master, your ability to turn every situation to your advantage is unparalleled."


    Lucius glanced at her and smirked. "It''s not enough to win, Liora. You must extract every ounce of value from the victory."


    As the last of the corpses dried out, Lucius turned to his maids and said, "We''re done here. Let''s return. There''s more work to be done."


    Liora and Luna nodded. "As you command, Master."


    Luna spun her daggers one last time before sheathing them in. "What''s next, master?"


    Lucius didn''t answer immediately as he smirked while walking with his maids, returning back to the city.


    ---


    Kaltrik Kryndal was sipping a glass of aged wine while sitting on a sofa. He was really satisfied after thinking about what he had done.


    He swirled the wine in his glass and smirked. "03 and 04... two of the finest assassins of the Kryndal family. Trained to kill without hesitation."


    He leaned back in his chair and said, "And they''re up against a mere 3-Star Evolist. Lucius won''t stand a chance at all."


    He looked to the sky and said, "By now he''s should be lying in his own blood pool, wondering why he ever dared to cross the Kryndals."


    He then laughed hard. "And with Lucius gone, the Volcaria family will think twice before involving themselves further."


    Kaltrik smirked as he was really satisfied with his own plan. "My plans are flawless."


    "By eliminating Lucius, I''ve not only avenged Kaelix''s humiliation but also sent a message to anyone foolish enough to challenge us. The Kryndals are untouchable."


    "Lucius may have thought himself clever, but cleverness means nothing without power."


    Kaltrik raised up his wind glass to celebrate it. "Thank you, Lucius. Your death will bring the raise of my family." Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire


    Unbeknownst to him, the very assassins that he sent to kill Lucius had returned to the family, but they didn''t return for him.

 Chapter 93 Kaelixs Torment

    The Kryndal training hub was bustling with activity. Evolists of varying ranks from 1-Star to 3-Star filled the wide arena-like spaces.


    They were evolving their own beasts for training or their client''s best for business.


    This facility, while crucial to the Kryndal family''s operations, maintained a simple routine.


    Guards, all 4-Star Tamers, patrolled lazily, confident in their superiority over the lower-ranked Evolists within.


    But the guards underestimated their station. The Kryndal family''s top security was allocated to hubs hosting 4-Star Evolists and above.


    It left this facility''s defenses vulnerable¡ªa vulnerability Lucius could exploit.


    Assassins 03 and 04 moved silently through the corridors. They easily navigated the maze of training halls and observation chambers.


    Their black cloaks blended seamlessly into the dimly lit passages, and their breath was steady, calm, and purposeful.


    Their target was clear: Kaelix Kryndal.


    Kaelix Kryndal was sitting on a luxurious leather sofa in his private office, a glass of wine shimmering on the table beside him.


    His legs were crossed casually, and a ledger lay open on his lap. He skimmed the records detailing the profits and successes of his division.


    He leaned back and muttered while lifting the wine glass with an air of celebration. "It''s only a matter of time."


    "Soon, Kryndal will reign supreme. My brother''s plans are flawless... and mine, well... mine are quite perfect."


    A soft creak broke the silence.


    The door to his office swung open. Kaelix turned his head lazily, a confident smile already plastered on his face.


    "Ah, you''re back," he said, not bothering to stand looking at the two figures who stepped inside.


    Kaelix set the glass down with a deliberate clink and gestured toward the plush chairs opposite him. "Come, sit. You must be exhausted."


    Without waiting for them to sit, Kaelix immediately asked, "So... did he beg? Did he cry for mercy?"


    Neither 03 nor 04 moved toward the chairs. They walked slowly toward Kaelix and their blank eyes locked onto Kaelix.


    Kaelix''s smirk faltered slightly and he irritatedly asked, "Well? Don''t just stand there. Speak! Explain yourselves!"


    The assassins said nothing.Kaelix''s irritation quickly transformed into anger. He stood and threw his wine glass toward both of them."What''s the meaning of this? You''re my family''s assassins! Speak now, or I¡ª"


    Before he could finish, the two assassins raised their hands together and summoned portals


    From the portals that appeared in front of them, two small Shadow Mantises appeared.


    Kaelix''s eyes bulged as he writhed on the floor, his mouth opening and closing in silent screams.


    Tears streamed down his face, mixing with the sweat and blood that coated his skin.


    His mind raced, trying to comprehend how this was happening.


    "Why?" he asked again, his thoughts a chaotic swirl of rage, confusion, and fear. "Who sent you? What have I done to deserve this?" Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire


    One Shadow Mantis climbed to his face, its jagged scythe grazing his cheek and drawing a thin, burning line of blood.


    The creature tilted its head, its antennae twitching as if mocking him. Kaelix recoiled, his remaining strength fading with every moment.


    The two assassins remained impassive, watching the spectacle unfold with efficiency.


    Their bodies stood motionless, as though they were statues presiding over his suffering.


    Lucius''s command echoed in their minds: "Torture him. Let him feel despair before he dies."


    Another Shadow Mantis moved to Kaelix''s hands, its scythe carefully slicing through the tendons in his fingers.


    The once-proud Evolist''s hands were now useless. His fingers twitched, but he could no longer muster the strength to move them.


    Kaelix''s mind was a storm of fragmented thoughts. His arrogance, his confidence, all shattered as the reality of his helplessness sank in.


    "This can''t be happening," he thought, his eyes darting wildly around the room. "I am Kaelix Kryndal. I''m untouchable. I... I can''t... die like this..."


    But the assassins'' silence was his only answer. The Shadow Mantises continued their methodical work, carving Kaelix''s body into a canvas of agony.


    Cuts crisscrossed his torso, his legs, and his arms. His once-pristine clothing was now shredded and soaked in blood.


    Finally, 03 raised a hand, and the Shadow Mantises halted.


    Kaelix''s trembling body lay still, though his chest rose and fell in shallow, ragged breaths.


    His vision blurred, and the edges of the room darkened. He could barely make out the shadowy forms of the assassins standing over him.


    "Why... me..." he tried to ask them for a reason.


    03 and 04 exchanged a glance, their expressionless faces revealing nothing.


    They turned and exited the room without a word, leaving Kaelix to bleed out on the cold, blood-stained floor.


    His final thoughts were a chaotic mix of anger, fear, and disbelief as the darkness consumed him.


    The door swung shut behind the assassins, and the room fell silent once more with Kaelix''s lifeless body lying on the floor.

 Chapter 94 Silent Reapers

    03 and 04 left Kaelix''s corpse behind as they returned to the Kryndal training hub silently.


    Their faces remained blank and their movements were synchronized like a single mind operating two bodies.


    The facility was still busy with activity¡ªevolists training their beasts, guards patrolling lazily, and staff members moving between rooms.


    None of them seemed to notice the assassins at all, even though they had passed them.


    The first to fall was a young Evolist practicing with his 1-Star Hound in a secluded training chamber. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    He turned at the sound of the door creaking open and frowned, noticing two cloaked figures stepping inside.


    "Who are you? This area is¡ª"


    The sentence was never finished. 03 raised his hand, and one of the Shadow Mantises leapt forward.


    The beast''s scythe-like limb slashed across the young man''s throat in a fluid motion, silencing him instantly.


    The Evolist was shocked, clutching his own neck as blood flowed out of it.


    He died as he collapsed, not knowing what was happening.


    His Hound barked furiously and lunged at the attackers, only to be sliced apart by another Mantis.


    03 and 04 stepped over the body cold as they signaled their Shadow Mantises to fan out throughout the facility.


    The next target was a group of low-ranking tamers gathered near the cafeteria.


    They were laughing, not knowing they were in danger, until the door slammed shut behind them.


    The noise drew their attention, and their laughter died as they turned to see two people standing in the doorway.


    "Who are you? What do you want?" One of the tamers demanded but trembled the moment he noticed the blood on the Mantises'' blades.


    Without a word, 03 raised his hand, and the Mantises rushed forward.


    One tamer tried to summon his beast, but a Mantis was faster.


    Its scythe plunged into his chest, pinning him to the wall as he screamed in agony.


    Another tamer attempted to flee, only to be intercepted by 04, who moved with almost inhuman speed.


    "That''s not part of the plan."


    The man''s scream was cut short as 04 pierced his heart with her dagger. She rose without a second glance and moved to the next room.


    Meanwhile, 03 just watched as his mantis dismembered another tamer.


    The man''s cries grew weaker with each cut until he finally fell silent.


    03 turned and walked away. He walked without a care in the world, without any emotion.


    The facility soon fell into silence as hours passed. Bodies were scattered across the halls and their lifeless eyes stared blankly at nothing.


    Blood began to form a pool and seeped into the cracks in the floor. The once-bustling hub was now a graveyard.


    03 and 04 stood in the center of the main hall. There were only 10 minutes before Lucius'' control of them was released.


    The assassins exchanged a brief glance and silently understood each other as they began to do Lucius'' final mission.


    They took out small vials of black and viscous liquid that were clearly poison.


    The poison had been given to them by Lucius as a failsafe to ensure they left no trace behind.


    03 opened his vial and looked at 04. 04 also looked back at him after opening her own vial.


    Both of them then said, "For Lucius."


    They raised the vials to their lips and drank the contents in one swift motion.


    The effect was immediate. Their bodies began to tremble and black veins spread across their skin as the poison took hold.


    The Shadow Mantises let out low, chittering sounds before dissolving into shadows.


    Their existence was tied to their masters. If their masters died, they died.


    03 and 04 collapsed to their knees. Their faces remained expressionless, even when their bodies began to dissolve into a dark, viscous substance.


    They were gone and erased from the world. They left nothing behind.


    Only faint scorch marks on the floor where they had knelt were left.


    The facility was silent once more. It was all thanks to the assassins that Lucius had controlled.


    The Kryndal training hub''s legacy, which was one of Kryndal''s most important assets, had ended.

 Chapter 95 Kryndals Wrath

    The household of the Kryndal family was in chaos after the low-level Evolist hub was destroyed the day before.


    This hub wasn''t just another asset; it was the backbone of the Kryndal family''s future.


    It was a big source of income and the primary training ground for their younger generation.


    The hub''s destruction was more than a financial blow. It was a direct attack on our family''s prestige and power.


    Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire


    Kalemir Kyrndal, one of the family elders and a formidable 5-Star Evolist, walked back and forth.


    He glared at the trembling retainers. He immediately shouted at them loudly.


    "How? How could this happen? How could the most important hub be destroyed in a single day?"


    He was too agitated and sat back on his chair. He explained how dangerous it was to his stupid retainers.


    He leaned in his chair weakly as he began to tell them about how dangerous it was.


    "This hub was the one that trained younger generation and brought in the most revenue. With it destroyed, our family is in crisis!"


    The retainers exchanged uneasy glances. They didn''t dare meet Kalemir''s gaze.


    "M-My Lord... we¡ªwe don''t know."


    Then one of them finally stepped forward and bowed his head low, explaining it.


    "The systems in the hub were destroyed during the attack. There are no traces of the culprits at all."


    Kalemir slammed a nearby table with his fist and destroyed it to pieces. He looked at the retainer and roared@@@@


    "No traces? You expect me to believe that an attack of this scale left us with nothing? Nothing at all?"


    Another retainer stepped forward and said the work that they had done regarding this accident.


    "We have sent investigators, but we have uncovered nothing at all. It''s as though the attackers knew everything about the hub."


    Kalemir glared at the retainer and threw him some objects in anger.


    A young Kryndal retainer stepped inside and bowed down.


    "My Lord, Elder Kalemir has summoned you. He''s called for an emergency council meeting to discuss the attack. Your presence is required."


    Kaltrik was a bit surprised and nodded. He then prepared himself and turned to the retainer.


    "Very well. Inform him I''m on my way."


    The retainer bowed again and left the room. Kaltrik exhaled deeply and clenched his fists tightly as his mind returned to the attack.


    "I will make sure to make whoever is responsible for this regret what he has done."


    The council meeting convened in the grand chamber of the Kryndal estate.


    The room was filled with the family''s top figures¡ªelders, advisors, and powerful tamers¡ªall wearing grim expressions.


    Kalemir stood at the head of the table, his imposing presence dominating the room. Kaltrik entered swiftly, taking his place among the others.


    ---


    Lucius leaned back in his chair. He watched Luna and Liora approach the table.Luna stepped forward first and smirked. She took out a heavy satchel of beast coins on the table.


    "We got quite a lot, Master. The merchants in the city couldn''t resist the goods we''d... acquired from the mercenaries. They paid handsomely."


    Liora stood beside her and crossed her arms across her chest.


    "They thought they were bargaining, but they had no idea. Their ignorance was almost insulting, Master."


    Lucius smirked as he put the beast coins inside his Eternal Vault.


    "Excellent. You''ve both done well."


    Luna smiled after being praised by her master. "We aim to serve you, Master."


    "And the best part is, the merchants won''t even realize how much more they could have paid."


    Liora''s tail flicked lazily behind her as she added, "Their losses are our gains. They won''t realize it until it''s too late."


    Lucius then looked at the 3-Star Storm Bear Core resting on the table. He put it back onto his Eternal Vault and smirked.


    It was time for them to meet their client to finish Lucius'' mission and do some interesting things.

 Chapter 96 The Evolution of the Thunder Hawk

    Lucius and his maids, Luna and Liora, had arrived at the Garran Estate. They walked inside, ignoring the guards that were stationed there.


    The guards didn''t do anything as they could see the Astra Academy''s badge on Lucius cloth. Astra Academy was the best in the empire after all.


    Dorian Garran, the patriarch of the Garran family, was surprised and iritated when he saw that Lucius had entered the main hall of his estate.


    He stood up and looked at Lucius. "Young Master Lucius, why are you here? Shouldn''t you be in Wind Valley completing your mission?"


    Lucius smirked and said, "Oh, but I have already completed it. That''s why I am here."


    Lucius then took out the 3-Star Bear Core from his spatial ring. "I''ve retrieved what was required to evolve the Thunder Hawk into a Storm Hawk."


    Dorian was surprised when he saw the 3-Star Bear Core in Lucius'' hand. "Impossible. It''s only been a week since you left... how could you have..."


    Lucius only smirked and said, . "I have my ways. Now, summon the beast. You wouldn''t want to upset the Academy, would you?"


    Dorian was frustated after being threatened by Lucius. He then called out his son. "Kalidorn! Come here! It''s time to evolve your beast!"


    Moments later, Kalidorn entered the room. He was surprised when he saw that Lucius was here. "How are you still alive? After those¡ª"


    Lucius turned to him. He was a bit surprised hearing that someone dared to say that he''s dead. "What was that?"


    Before Kalidorn could finish, Dorian stepped forward and silenced his son. "Don''t mind him. He is just surprised seeing that you are fine."


    Lucius smirked as he clasped his hands behind. "I see. Then summon your beast now. I don''t have time for petty distractions."


    Dorian frowned and turned to his son and shouted. "Kalidorn, summon your Thunder Hawk. Now."


    Dorian''s jaw tightened, but he turned to his son and barked, "Kalidorn, summon your Thunder Hawk. Now."


    Kalidorn stepped closer and glared at Lucius while clenching both of his fists. "You''d better make sure you evolve it successfully, or..."


    Before Kalidorn could finish his threat, Luna stepped forward and stopped right in front of Kalidorn with a smirk.


    "Or what, dear stupid brother?"


    Kalidorn was surprised and angry seeing Luna blocking him. "You bitch. You''re no Garran anymore. You''re just a slave. How dare you¡ª"


    Kalidorn raised his hand to strike her, but Liora moved faster. She appeared beside him; her claw was already pressed firmly against his throat.


    [Hack Initiation: Induced Sleep and Memory Erasure]


    [Effect: Target Falls Asleep Immediately, All Memories During Sleep are Erased]


    [Cost Required: 2 Hack Points]


    [Execute?]


    [YES] [NO]


    ---


    Lucius smirked as he executed the hack. The Thunder Hawk''s body relaxed instantly and fell into a deep sleep.Lucius smiled and turned to the system again. "Now, how much will it cost to evolve this into 3-Star Storm Hawk?"


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Evolution Sequence]


    [Target: 2-Star Thunder Hawk ¡ú 3-Star Thunder Hawk]


    [Effect: Enhanced Speed, Precision, and Thunder Abilities]


    [Cost Required: 100 Hack Points]


    [Execute Evolution?]


    [YES] [NO]


    ---


    Lucius was not surprised seeing the price and amused by it. "Only 100 Hack Points? It isn''t as expensive as I thought. Let''s do it."


    Lucius executed the hack and the Thunder Hawk''s body began to glow.Its wing began to grow broader. Its talons became sharper. Its feather had also darkened a bit and contained the power of the storm.The transformation was seamless and because it was asleep, it didn''t scream in pain at all.


    When the glow subsided, a 3-Star Storm Hawk lied on the floor. Lucius stepped back and admired it for a minute before thinking something else.


    He remembered about how arrogant the Garrans were, especially Kalidorn, and seeing that this beast was his, Lucius smirked.


    "I wonder what kind of nasty hacks I should put onto this hawk. There were really a lot of them." Lucius smirked as he began to think of a lot of possibilities.

 Chapter 97 The Ruthless Hack

    Lucius looked at the newly evolved storm hawk. He was thinking about some nasty hacks that he should put to this hawk.


    He turned to Luna and called her. "Luna, come here. I want to talk to you about something."


    Luna was curious why she was called, so she turned around and walked toward Lucius.


    She kneeled down and asked, "Yes, Master? What do you wish to discuss with me?"


    Lucius folded his arms and smirked while turning to the hawk. "I have finished evolving this Thunder Hawk into a 3-Star Storm Hawk. But that''s not all."


    He then turned to Luna and asked, "I know that you really hated the Garran family. They are so arrogant and need to be taught a lesson."


    Luna smirked after hearing it and excitedly said, "Punishment? Are you asking me for suggestions, Master? seeing that you call me."


    Lucius nodded. "Indeed. What do you think we should add to this beast? You can suggest anything, though it must remain reasonable."@@@@


    Luna tapped her chin thoughtfully, smirking as ideas began to appear in her mind. "Anything?"


    Lucius nodded. "Anything. As long as it was reasonable and not too strange, you can tell me anything. Make the wildest one."


    Luna looked at the sleeping hawk and smirked. "Then, how about this one? Every time the Storm Hawk receives damage, its tamer, Kalidorn, suffers an injury as well?"


    Lucius chuckled and shook his head. "Good idea, but it was too obvious. They could immediately knew that therew as something was wrong with it."


    Lucius then pointed to himself. "They will also find the evolist who evolved him and my ability could be revealed to them because of it."


    Lucius stepped forward and glanced at Luna. "We need something slower, something they can''t trace but so nasty, making Kalidorn wants to die."


    Luna smirked and said. "I see... then let''s make it a silent one. Make it that the Storm Hawk acts like a battery. Every injury it sustains charges this battery."


    Luna then laughed as she continued. "And when it''s full, the accumulated damage is unleashed all at once onto Kalidorn."


    Lucius smirked as he was approved it. "Now that is a clever suggestion. But surely you can come up with more."


    Luna tilted her heard and wickedly smirked. "Of course, Master. Here''s another one."


    Luna began to explain it. "Starting today, every day that Kalidorn remains the Storm Hawk''s tamer, his... masculinity diminishes."


    She gestured with her fingers, illustrating the effect. "By 0.01 centimeters on the first day. The reduction doubles every day after that. Second day, 0.02 centimeters. Third day, 0.04... until... well, there''s nothing left."


    [After 60 Days: Weakens body by 50%.]


    [After 90 Days: Complete body collapse, rendering the target unable to stand.]


    [Poison Effects on Beasts:]


    [No immediate effect.]


    [After 90 days: Causes berserk state, driving the beast to kill everyone nearby.]


    [Cost Required: 300 Hack Points]


    [Execute Modification?]


    [YES] [NO]


    ----


    Lucius smirked and told the system to execute it. The storm hawk was still sleeping and didn''t change at all, but Lucius knew that the hack was there.


    He turned to face Luna and Liora, who stood nearby. Luna looked at Lucius and asked, "Master, has it been completed?"


    Lucius nodded. "Yes, it is done. The modifications are in place. Kalidorn won''t even realize what''s happening until it''s too late."


    Luna grinned cunningly and clenched her fists in excitement. "I can''t wait to see his face when it all begins to unravel."


    Liora also smiled hearing them. "Master, you''ve outdone yourself again. The Garrans won''t know what hit them." Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    Lucius turned his gaze to Liora and smirked. "Your confidence is well placed. Now, listen carefully. I have some business to attend to."


    Luna tilted her head as she was curious and asked, "Business, Master? Do you need us to accompany you?"


    Lucius shook his head. "No. I need you both to stay here and ensure they don''t suspect my absence. The Garrans must believe I''m still within the estate."


    Liora nodded. "Consider it done, Master. No one will know you''ve left."


    Luna nodded as she said, "We''ll handle everything here, Master. Take your time."


    Lucius smirked as he gave them a small nod before going out of the room silently, avoiding the eyes of the guards.

 Chapter 98 A Web of Deception

    Lucius moved quietly through the estate. Lucius had avoided some of the guards eyes, but he needed to do something so he could move more freely.


    He then stopped and turned to his system. He then smiled as he said, "Hack me for invisibility. I want to ensure no one below a 7-Star rank can detect me."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Self-Invisibility Enhancement]


    [Effect: Complete Invisibility to 6-Star Tamers and Below]


    [Duration: 12 Hours]


    [Cost Required: 1000 Hack Points]


    [Execute?]


    [YES] [NO]


    ---


    Lucius frowned a bit after seeing the cost of the hack. "Are you kidding me? A thousand Hack Points!"He was really surprised, as he never thought about the high cost. "That''s equivalent to evolving a 3-Star beast to 4-Star with full D-Tier stats."He tapped his fingers against the wall, weighing his options. Finally, he sighed and muttered. "Even though it was expensive, I need it very much now for my own mission. Execute it"


    Lucius knew the system had hacked his body from seeing the reduced points, but he could not see if it changed or not, so he tried to test it.


    Lucius looked around and found some guards so he stepped in front of them immediately to see what their reactions were.


    But none of the guards seemed to notice or even glance at him. He tested it even further by touching them, but the guards seemed to think that it was some insects that touched them.


    Lucius smirked as he knew that he was now invincible. "Perfect. It''s time to see what secrets this estate holds."


    Lucius wandered around the halls in the Garran Estate. He observed some of the details in the estate, but none of them interested them.


    As he turned around, he suddenly found someone that he knew very well, Dorian Garran.


    The patriarch of the family was moving through the halls with an unusual air of caution.


    His footsteps were light, and his head turned around so much, ensuring that he was not being followed.


    Lucius immediately became curious and murmured. "Interesting. Let me see what you are hiding, Dorian."


    "Master Kaltrik, I apologize for disturbing you, but I have some urgent news I need to report."


    Kaltrik glanced at Dorian and said, "Spit it out. I don''t have time for any pleasantries."


    Dorian hesitated but still reported it. "It''s Lucius. He... he''s still alive."


    Kaltrik was surprised, hearing it. "What? How is that possible? I sent two of my best¡ª4-Star assassins. Are you telling me they failed?"


    Dorian nodded. "Yes, Master. Lucius is not only alive but has come to my estate to complete his mission. I thought you should know."


    Kaltrik was in disbelief and angry. He paced back and forward and looked back at Dorian.


    "Damn it. This isn''t the time for more problems. The family is already dealing with a disaster."


    Dorian''s brows furrowed. "A disaster, Master? What do you mean?"


    Kaltrik glared at him and snapped. "You don''t need to know. Just handle your estate and let me worry about the rest. Now, what do you want me to do about Lucius?"


    Dorian then said, "Master, I thought it best to seek your guidance. Should I eliminate him?"


    Kaltrik let out a bitter laugh. "Eliminate him? Do you have any idea who you''re dealing with? Lucius isn''t some low-level nobody. His evolist capabilities are already beyond what my brother Kaelix could achieve."


    Dorian''s jaw tightened. "But, Master¡ª"


    "No buts," Kaltrik interrupted. "Ignore him for now. If you act recklessly, Astra Academy will come down on you¡ªand, by extension, the Kryndal family. Is that what you want?"


    Dorian''s face twisted in frustration. "No, Master. But..."


    "Enough!" Kaltrik barked. "Do as I say. Let him complete the mission and return to the Academy. Do not provoke him further. Remember, you''re just a count in this empire. Your position is not invincible."


    Dorian clenched his fists as his pride was hurt. He gritted his teeth and said. "Yes, Master."


    Kaltrik''s hologram flickered as he leaned closer. "Good. Don''t call me again unless it''s truly urgent. I have bigger problems to deal with."


    Witht that, the crystal was turned off, and Kaltrik''s image vanished. Dorian stood silently and suddenly snapped. "Damn it. Damn that Lucius. Damn Kaltrik."


    From the shadows, Lucius watched the exchange with a satisfied smirk. "How delightful. The mighty Garrans and Kryndals tied up in their own knots."


    Lucius then kept looking at Dorian, waiting to see what he would do now and Lucius planned to find all of his secrets.

 Chapter 99 Perfect Gift

    Dorian stormed out of the room silently. He was still frustated because of the recent talk with Kaltrik.


    Lucius followed silently, as he was curious where Dorian would go next after talking with Kaltrik.


    They soon arrived in front of a massive door. It was carved from dark wood and reinforced with some unknown metal.It was also carved with numerous runes that Lucius didn''t know about.


    There was also a small monument beside the huge door. There was a crystal orb on top of it.@@@@


    Dorian approached it and put his hand to the orb. The runes on the door glowed up before opening up.


    Lucius remained in the shadows and smirked, "Interesting. Now, what could you be hiding behind such an elaborate door?"


    The door revealed a grand chamber filled with treasures that glittered in the faint magical glow of enchanted torches.


    Shelves lined the walls, packed with beast cores, rare materials, ancient artifacts, and shimmering jewels.


    In the center of the room, several pedestals displayed particularly rare and powerful items.


    Dorian stepped into the room and surveyed the Garran family Treasury. He folded his arms and let out a disdainful scoff.


    "Damn it. To think the Academy expects me to give that brat Lucius a gift."


    Lucius, hidden in the shadows, raised an eyebrow. "A gift? How generous of you, Dorian."


    Dorian paced through the Garran Treasury and frustatedly scanned all the shelves, searching for the most useless one.


    "Let me see," he sneered. "I''ll just pick the most useless item here. That should satisfy their ridiculous demands."


    He looked around and saw a dull, dust-covered orb. "Phatetic core, but perfect. He deserves nothing better."


    Lucius watched him from the shadows. He ignored him and looked around. "So, this is Garran family Treasury. A treasure trove of opportunity, indeed."


    Lucius began to move silently and roam deeper into the vast Treasury. It was massive and filled with a lot of treasures.


    He knew instinctively that the most valuable items would be hidden further in, away from the casual gaze of anyone entering the room.


    As he ventured deeper, the light began to dim. He glanced back briefly to ensure Dorian was still preoccupied.


    The count was too absorbed in his arrogant search for a "useless gift" to notice Lucius slipping away into the depths.


    "Perfect," Lucius muttered. "Time to make this visit worthwhile."


    [Hack Initiation: Automatic Resource Absorption]


    [Target: Unknown Scale]


    [Effect: Absorb Target Material to Convert into Hack Points]


    [Execution: Commencing]


    ---


    The moment the system began absorbing the scale, Lucius was surprised. He saw a flood of hack points appear on his interface.


    The numbers climbed rapidly, far surpassing his expectations. Lucius excitedly said, "Jackpot."


    Lucius looked at the dull scale back and smirked. "I don''t know what you are or how you ended up here, but I don''t care. You are mine now."


    He paused, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Is this luck? Or perhaps some divine plot armor working in my favor? Either way..."


    He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I''ll take it."


    Lucius checked his system interface again, noting with satisfaction that his hack points had skyrocketed.


    "Dorian, you have no idea how much value you''ve just handed me."


    Turning, Lucius began making his way back through the Treasury. Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire


    As he neared the door, he slowed, peering cautiously around the final corner.


    Dorian was still inside the Treasury, muttering angrily to himself as he inspected a dusty artifact.


    The man''s body language screamed frustration: his shoulders were hunched, and he occasionally slammed an item back onto the shelf with unnecessary force.


    Lucius smirked. "Still busy, I see. Perfect."


    He slipped past the distracted count silently. Once he reached the door, he slipped through it.


    Outside, Lucius smirked as he glanced back at the huge Treasury. "That scale... I don''t know what it is, but thanks to it, my plan will move faster."


    With a final smirk, Lucius turned and began making his way back toward his room, thinking what he should do next.


    Dorian didn''t know that he had given Lucius a very precious gift, even though he had not given it to him.


    Any gift that Dorian would give to him later would just be any ordinary gift, whether it was bad or not.

 Chapter 100 Garrans Anger

    Lucius had returned to his own room. Luna and Liora immediately turned to greet him the moment they saw him.


    Luna stepped forward and bowed, asking. "Master, is the business finished?"


    Liora also bowed down and asked, "Did everything go as planned, Master?"


    Lucius looked at them and smirked, answering. "Yes, it is done. By the way, the Storm Hawk is ready. Tomorrow, we''ll deliver it."


    Liora puffed out her chest with her tail flicking around. "I knew you''d finish it without a hitch! Those Garrans won''t know what hit them."


    Luna smirked and said, "Good. Let''s see how Count Dorian handles this, even though I don''t know what you have done, master."@@@@


    Lucius chuckled, waving them off. "Get some rest. We''ll need to make an impression tomorrow."


    Lucius chuckled softly, waving them off. "Get some rest. We''ll need to make an impression tomorrow."


    The next day, Lucius walked into the grand main hall of the Garran estate confidently.


    Luna carried the 3-Star Storm Hawk, its sleek, evolved form crackling faintly with electricity.


    Liora walked with her chin high, her eyes scanning the room as though daring anyone to challenge them.


    Dorian was already waiting inside with a neutral face, but Lucius immediately noticed the faint twitch in his jaw or the slight clench of his fists¡ªsigns of frustration and suppressed anger.


    As Luna placed the Storm Hawk gently on a pedestal, the bird looked around and let out its 3-Star Storm Aura.


    Dorian was surprised to see the Thunder Hawk had been evolved into a 3-Star Storm Hawk in a day.


    Dorian forced himself to become polite and said, "So, you''ve finished the evolution already. Impressive."


    Lucius smirked and folded his hands behind his back. "Of course. When I take on a mission, I see it through to the end."


    Dorian looked at the Storm Hawk again and thought. "It seems what Kaltrik said was true. He is not someone to be handled openly."


    Lucius smirked as he knew what Dorian was thinking. He ignored it and began to talk about business. "Now, about our agreement."


    Luna stepped forward and tossed a plaque toward Dorian. The count''s reflexes were quick, his hand snapping out to catch it.


    Lucius smirked and said, "Please sign it, Count Dorian. It''s proof that we''ve completed the mission."


    Dorian could only frown further. Grumbling under his breath, he retrieved a quill from a nearby desk and signed the plaque angrily.


    Kalidron faltered a bit after hearing his father, but he still asked, "What about Lucius and...her?"


    Kalidorn was referring to Luna. "Do we need to handle them? They''ve embarrassed our family enough."


    Dorian glanced at him and spat out in anger. "Are you an idiot? We cannot touch Lucius. Do you understand me?"


    Kalidorn was surprised. He was still confused why his father changed so much. "But Father, he¡ª"


    "Enough!" Dorian shouted. Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire


    He then stepped closer to his son and said, "You think you can act without consequence? Do you have any idea who that boy is? He''s more dangerous than you can imagine."


    Dorian then pointed at Storm Hawk. "This Storm Hawk is his work, making him a great evolist that even Kaltrik warned me not to provoke him. Astra Academy will crush us if we move against him openly."


    Kalidorn was frustated after hearing it. "And what about Luna? She''s nothing but a slave now¡ªmy former sister! Surely we can¡ª"


    Dorian grabbed Kalidorn''s collar and pulled him close. "Don''t you hear what I have just said?"


    "Even as a slave, she''s under Lucius''s protection. Do you think he''ll stand by and let us harm her? Do you want to be the reason this family falls?"


    Kalidorn was surprised as he shook his head quickly. He shrank a bit under his father''s intense gaze. "No, Father. Of course not."


    Dorian released him and pushed him off, turning away and sitting back in frustation. He exhaled sharply. "For now, we do nothing. Let Lucius and his maids think they''ve won."


    Kalidorn hesitated before speaking cautiously. "And later?"


    Dorian turned back to him. "We will take our revenge."


    Dorian clenched his fist. "But not yet. When the time comes, we will strike, and they will regret ever crossing the Garran family."


    Kalidorn began to smirk as he waited for it. "I''ll be ready."


    Dorian smirked a little. "You''d better be. Now go. Train with your new Storm Hawk. You''ll need to be stronger for what''s to come."


    Kalidorn nodded, turning back to the Storm Hawk with renewed determination.


    As he left the hall with his beast, Dorian stood alone, his fists clenching once more as he stared at the shattered vase on the floor.


    "Lucius... you''ve made a powerful enemy today. Enjoy your victory while it lasts."


    Dorian then took another vase and slammed it down again before finally calming down.

 Chapter 101 6-Star Talent Upgrade

    Lucius and his maids were staying in the nearby inn before going back to the academy via the teleportation platform.@@@@


    Lucius had been given a month for his mission, and he finished it in less than 2 weeks, so he could somewhat play around.


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    Lucius glanced at Luna, who was standing in front of him. "Luna, come here. I want to discuss something with you."


    Luna tilted her head slightly, curious why she was called. "What is it, Master?"


    Lucius leaned back in his chair and smirked. I want you to stay here."


    Luna blinked as she was surprised by it. She glanced back at Lucius. "What do you mean, Master?"


    Lucius clasped his fingers together and glanced at Luna. "I know that the Garran family was once your family."


    He then raised his head. "And because of those modifications I added to the Storm Hawk... in three months, they will descend into chaos."


    Luna nodded as she was the one that suggested the modification that was put inside it. "Then.. why do you want me to stay here, Master?"


    Lucius then continued. "I''ve heard from locals we passed on the way here that in eighty-five days, there will be a competition in this region¡ªa perfect stage."


    Lucius then smirked. "I want you to make your new name known here, Luna."


    Lucius then opened his arms wide. "Become more than a shadow of your past. Witness firsthand the destruction of the Garran family¡ªthe very people who were your nightmare."


    Luna began to smirk after hearing it. She was quite interested in it. Destroying her own family that had sold her to slaves. What good revenge!


    Lucius stood up and walked to her, putting his hand on her shoulder. "In conclusion, I want you to rid yourself of your bad past as Sadrina and be reborn as Luna."


    Luna swallowed and raised her chin. She glanced at her master in the eyes. "I understand, Master. But..."


    Luna then looked down and turned her head. "It seems that I am still too weak. My only beast is Liora, and her existence as my tamed beast remains... a secret."


    Lucius smirked and tightened his grip on Luna''s shoulder. "Don''t worry about that. I will ensure you have the strength you need. I do not send my subordinates into a battle they cannot win."


    Lucius could say that because his points were a lot. He turned to look at his current hack points that he currently had from absorbing the materials from the Garran''s treasury.


    ---


    Lucius nodded in satisfaction and smirked. "Good. System, execute the upgrade."


    The moment Lucius issued the command, Luna''s confident expressions twisted slightly as a sudden, overwhelming pressure gripped her.


    Her entire body stiffened, and she stumbled slightly, clutching her chest as if struggling to breathe.


    Her smirk vanished, replaced by tightly gritted teeth as waves of searing pain coursed through her.


    Liora was shocked seeing Luna and tried to help her. "Luna! Master, what''s happening to her?"


    Lucius stopped Liora. "Do not interfere. She needed to endure this to become even stronger."


    Luna dropped to one knee, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as her entire body seemed to tremble.


    Sweat formed on her brow, and her silver eyes flickered with both agony and an unyielding resolve. Yet, even in her pain, she made no sound¡ªno scream, no cry.


    Lucius stepped closer to her. "Endure it, Luna. This is the price of greatness. Show me your strength."


    Luna''s teeth clenched tighter and she lifted her head to look at Lucius. "I... I will not... break,"


    Five agonizing minutes passed before the pressure finally ended.


    Luna''s body relaxed slightly, and she fell forward onto her hands, her chest rising and falling heavily as she gasped for breath.


    Lucius crouched down in front of her and smirked as he was satisfied. "We''re just getting started, Luna."


    Luna looked up at him and smiled. Despite her pain, she still wanted more. "Then let''s keep going, Master. I''m ready."


    Lucius stood and looked at Luna. "That''s the answer I expected. Let''s continue to make you stronger."


    Lucius then took some of the 3-Star Beast Rings that he had in his Eternal Vault.


    "Now then... What kind of beast would best suit you, Luna?" Lucius said while playing with some of the rings in his hand.


    "It needs to be something fitting¡ªsomething powerful yet refined. I can''t simply give you any ordinary beast, now can I? That would be an insult to my own standards." He chuckled.


    "But all of the beasts that I made are all powerful, so which one do you want, Luna?" Lucius asked.


    Luna, who was still lying on the floor, smirked and began to say what beast she wanted.

 Chapter 102 Lunas New Beast

    Liora rushed to Luna''s side. She then carefully wrapped her strong arms around Luna''s shoulders.


    She helped her rise to her feet. "Come on, Luna. You''re tougher than this. Let''s get you off your feet for a moment."


    Luna nodded weakly, still catching her breath. Liora then took her to a nearby chair and let her sit down carefully on the chair.


    Once seated, Luna relaxed her shoulders and loosened up her fists against her thighs as she steadied her breath.


    Lucius picked up another chair and sat down in front of Luna. He looked at Luna and showed him the beast rings.


    "What kind of beast do you want, Luna? A beast that will take you to the top... what does that look like in your eyes?" Lucius asked, his elbow resting on his knee.


    Luna leaned back and calmed her breathing. She looked at Lucius and began to explain to Lucius what kind of beast she wanted.


    "Firstly... power. Without power, it will mean nothing." Luna said, while raising and clenching one of her fists


    Lucius smiled as he understood it. He leaned back and asked, "Power, yes. That''s a foundation every beast must provide."


    Lucius then showed her the beast rings again: "But all these beasts possess power to some degree. What else do you require?"


    Luna paused and turned her head to the window. She looked at the moon that glowed outside and smiled.


    "My talent is the Moon Goddess, so I want my beast to embody the moon¡ªmajestic and beautiful, but hidden. Like the shadows that cloak the night."


    She turned back to Lucius and smirked. "I want it to strike from the darkness, unseen and unstoppable."


    Lucius smirked after hearing her request. "Majestic and hidden, huh? I got a perfect beast for you."


    He then put one of the beast rings right in front of Luna. "I think this beast will be the perfect one for you."


    Luna looked at the beast ring and took it. She then let out the beast from the beast ring and soon a dark panther appeared from it.


    The panther didn''t do anything as Lucius already hacked it to be sleeping, so it would not make a mess when being summoned.


    Lucius gestured to the panther. "This is a 3-Star Shadow Panther. It hides like the night itself, unseen until it strikes."


    Lucius crouched down and rubbed it. "Even when sleeping, it carries majesty. Just like the moon you described."


    Luna smiled and crouched down, rubbing the panther with her hands. She could feel the soft fur and decided that this was it.


    "Master, I will take this one." Luna said as she continued to rub the panther.


    Lucius smirked as he leaned back. "Good. Contract it then. Make it yours, Luna."


    Luna nodded and began the process. She put her hand on its head and began to channel her own energy to contract it.


    Lucius smiled as he turned to the system and told it to make the contract process easier for her.


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Beast Contract Simplification]


    ---


    [Species: Silver Shadow Panther]


    [Element: Shadow]


    [Level: 4 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: B (4¡ï)]


    [Vit: B (4¡ï)]


    [Agi: B (4¡ï)]


    [Int: B (4¡ï)]


    [Passive Skill:]


    [Shadow Camouflage: Automatically blends into surrounding shadows, making it harder to detect and increasing evasion when in dim light or darkness.]


    [Active Skills:]


    [Silver Shadow Manipulation: Manipulates silver-infused shadows to enhance its claws, body, or fangs¡ªallowing it to attack with increased power, defend by hardening its body, or boost its speed for short bursts.]


    [Shadow Ball: Condenses shadow energy into a sphere and hurls it at enemies, dealing damage and briefly reducing their movement speed.]


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    ---


    Lucius smiled as he was satisfied with it. He turned to Luna and gestured toward the panther.


    "This is your new beast, Luna. It''s fur is silver like your hair and eyes. A perfect match for you."


    Luna looked at the Silver Shadow Panther. She reached out and rubbed the soft silver-white fur.


    "It''s... magnificent. Not only is it strong but also majestic. Thank you, Master."


    Lucius leaned back in his chair and smirked, "Do not thank me yet, Luna. This is only the beginning."


    The Silver Shadow Panther woke up. It immediately recognized Luna as its master. It walked toward Luna and licked her hand.


    Luna smiled and rubbed its cute face. She turned to Lucius. "Yes, Master. I will not let you down, Master."


    Lucius nodded. He stood up and looked at the moon. "Your new tale begins now. Prove to me and the world that you are worthy to be Moon Goddess."


    Luna nodded and smiled. She kneeled down and promised herself to be the best.


    Beside her, the Silver Shadow Panther sat proudly. It seemed to understand what Luna wanted and roared.


    Lucius turned around and smirked. He was satisfied. A new legend would appear and it was the legend of her maid.

 Chapter 103 Reaching 4-Star

    Luna stood before Luna. Luna was kneeling with her Silver Shadow Panther on her side.


    "Your Silver Shadow Panther has become a 4-Star beast. It is time for you to reach 4-Star as well."


    Luna lifted her head and looked at Lucius. She nodded. "Yes, Master."


    Luna turned around and looked at her Silver Shadow Panther. She smiled and rubbed the beast''s soft head.


    "Your name is too long. You need a name that suits you. Something powerful and simple."


    Lucius lazily crossed his arms, observing the scene with interest.


    Luna was silent for a moment. She was searching for the perfect name. Finally, after a moment, Luna smiled.


    "Your name will be Loxen. It is quite a good name. It is simple and strong."


    The Silver Shadow Panther blinked in surprise. Its tail flicked around. Its ears perked forward. It also let out a low roar.


    It was not aggression, but excitement. It was clearly pleased with its new name.


    Luna smiled and stroked the side of Loxen''s face. "Good boy. The name really suits you."


    Lucius chuckled as he was amused. "A fitting name for it. Loxen... simple but strong. It seems your beast approves."


    Luna turned back toward Lucius and smirked. "Thank you, Master."


    Lucius waved his hand dismissively. "Now that your beast has a name, It''s time for you to focus."


    Lucius reminded her. "You must stabilize yourself before reaching 4-Star. Meditate and channel your energy."@@@@


    Luna nodded. Without a word, she sat down beside Loxen. Loxen also lied down beside her.


    She crossed her legs and closed her eyes. She rested her hands on her knees. She was trying to sense the 4-Star energy.


    Lucius turned his attention to Liora. "Protect her while she meditates. Do not let anyone disturb this process."


    Liora nodded. She pounded her fist against her chest in salute. "Yes, Master."


    Lucius was satisfied with it. He walked toward his bed. He lied down and began to sleep. Before he slept, he turned to Liora.


    He reminded her. "I will go to bed now. Make sure no one interrupts her."


    Liora nodded. "No one will get past me, Master. You can rest easy."


    The door closed, leaving Luna alone in the room. She stood there and held the spatial ring.


    She smirked. "The Garrans... your time is ending."


    Outside, Lucius and Liora went to the teleportation platform. The guards stationed there eyed them curiously.


    One of them stepped forward and spoke. "Please show me your permit."


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    Lucius smiled and handed the guard his signed plaque. The guard was surprised after examining it.


    The guard glanced at Lucius and the plaque back and forward. "This... this is Count Dorian''s signature. You''ve completed the mission in less than two weeks?"


    Lucius chuckled. "Of course. Did you expect anything less from a Golden Class student?"


    The guard swallowed hard and quickly handed the plaque back. "N-No, sir. Please proceed to the platform."


    Lucius stepped onto the platform, Liora close behind. Lucius smirked as the teleportation activated.


    In a flash of light, Lucius and Liora appeared on the teleportation platform of Astra Academy.


    The guard stationed at the teleportation platform blinked in surprise when he spotted Lucius stepping off the platform.


    The guard went to them to see who they were. "Hold it there! State your name and purpose!"


    Lucius paused and smirked. Without a word, Lucius took out a plaque and threw it to the guard.


    The guard took it and examined it. He squinted to ensure the plaque and signature were authentic.


    After a moment, the guard was surprised that it was real. "This... this is the mission completion plaque!"


    He looked back at Lucius and praised him. "You completed the mission assigned by Count Dorian? Already? It''s been less than two weeks."


    Lucius tilted his head and smirked. "Did you expect anything less?"


    The guard only smiled. "Golden Evolists are impressive, but... to finish a mission like that so quickly? You must be incredibly skilled, sir."


    Lucius nodded, accepting the praise. "Thank you. Now, I would like to return to my residence. I''ve had enough traveling for one day."


    The guard realized it. "Of course, sir! Let us escort you." The guards then went and prepared a carriage.


    Lucius and Liora entered the carriage. The guards then drove the carriage to Lucius'' golden residence.

 Chapter 104 Surprising Evolution List

    Lucius and Liora had arrived at their residence at the golden complex. Lucius turned to Liora.


    "Luna has already become a 4-Star tamer. It''s time for you to ascend as well."


    Liora''s ears twitched. She turned to Lucius. She nodded and curled her claws in anticipation.


    "I''ve been waiting for this moment, Master. Whatever you command, I''ll see it through."


    Lucius folded his arms and smirked. "Good. Then let''s not waste any time."


    Lucius turned to the system. "Show me the evolution options for Liora."


    ---


    [Evolution Options for Liora (Beastman - Lion):]


    [4-Star Beastman (Lion): 100 HP]


    [4-Star Ice Beastman (Lion): 1.000 HP]@@@@


    [4-Star Shadow Beastman (Lion): 1.000 HP]


    [4-Star Lunar Beastman (Lion): 10.000 HP]


    [4-Star Human (Tamer Talent): 0,01 HP]


    [4-Star Human (Master Talent): 0,1 HP]


    [4-Star Human (Lord Talent): 1 HP]


    [4-Star Human (Queen Talent): 10 HP]


    [4-Star Human (Empress Talent): 100 HP]


    [4-Star Human (Goddess Talent): 100.001.000 HP]


    ---


    Lucius was surprised as he scanned the list. "What is this? A Beastman... evolving directly into a human?""


    Lucius stepped closer and warned her. "Before you decide, let me explain the trade-offs. This is no simple choice."


    He explained the trade-offs. "If you choose to remain a Beastman, you will become stronger like usual. But you cannot tame any beasts."


    He let the words sink in before continuing. "If you choose the human path, you gain the ability to tame beasts. But you will lose your current power and become weak like me and Luna."


    Liora stepped forward. "I see. So it''s a choice between being strong alone or commanding strength through others."


    Lucius nodded. "Exactly. So, tell me, Liora. Which path will you choose? Beastman power or human mastery?"


    Liora didn''t hesitate. She flexed her claws for one last time and met Lucius'' gaze head-on. "Human Master. That''s the path I choose."


    Lucius raised his eyebrow. He was impressed by her decisiveness. "Oh? And why is that, Liora? I expected you to lean toward the Beastman evolution."


    Liora smirked and explained it. "Because, Master, as a human, I can tame beasts. I can become like Luna¡ªnot just strong, but versatile."


    Liora explained more. "The Beastman evolution would make me strong alone, but the human path would give me a different kind of power. A smarter kind of strength."


    She crossed her arms and retracted her claws. "And besides, Master, you''ve created equipment that can make even the weakest Tamer into something formidable."


    She kneeled in front of Lucius. "With your resources and guidance, I know I''ll become stronger than I ever could as a Beastman."


    Lucius chuckled. His smirk grew wider. "Good reason, Liora. You never fail to surprise me."


    He turned back to the system. "Then it''s settled. We''ll begin your evolution to human."


    Liora stepped forward. She extended her claws and stared at them. She also flexed her fingers to see them for the last time.


    Her tail was swaying behind her. She reached back and felt her soft tail for one last time.


    "These claws have protected me. Fought for me. Served you, Master. And this tail... it''s been a part of who I am, a symbol of my nature as a Beastman."


    She paused and curled her claws into a fist. "But none of it matters now."


    She turned to Lucius. She stepped closer and kneeled. "I''m ready, Master. Let''s start. It''s time to leave this part of me behind and step into something greater."


    Lucius smirked. "Good. You''ve made your choice. Let''s see how far this new form will take you, Liora."


    Lucius turned to the system and smirked. It was time for Liora to become something new.

 Chapter 105 Lioras New Form

    Lucius looked at the system. He smirked as an idea appeared in his mind. "Luna has already become the Moon Goddess. Why don''t I balance them?"


    Lucius turned to Liora and smirked. "You shall be the opposite of Moon Goddes, The Sun Goddess."


    Lucius turned back to his system. "Evolve Liora to a 4-Star Tamer with the Sun Goddess talent. Don''t forget to apply Hidden Aura to conceal her aura."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Evolution Sequence]


    [Target: 3-Star Lunar Beastman ¡ú 4-Star Tamer (Sun Goddess)]


    [Additional Feature: Hidden Aura]


    [Cost Required: 200,002,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]@@@@


    ---


    Liora flexed her claws instinctively as the evolution began. She growled as the pain shot into her body. "Master¡ª!"


    Liora''s eye twitched and quivered before slowly reshaping into delicate human ears. They then shifted to the sides of her head.


    Liora gritted her teeth. Her claws trembled. Her sharp tips shirnked and softened into slender human fingers.


    Her tail also began to retract and shrink until it disappeared completely into her body.


    Lucius watched with interest. Her thick fur began to fade away, revealing smooth and radiant skin beneath.


    Lucius smirked and leaned to her. He studied her new body. "Look at you. Less beast, more human."


    Liora kneeled. Her hands pressed against the cold floor. She tried to steady herself. She sweated a lot because of the evolution process.


    Lucius crouched down in front of her. He placed his hand on her shoulder. "How do you feel? Less claws, less fur, no tail."


    Liora lifted her head. She looked at Lucius. "It feels strange. I also feel weaker and lighter than before."


    Lucius chuckled and stood up. He pointed at the mirror in the room. "See for yourself."


    Liora tried to stand up. She approached the mirror and stared at her own reflection. She was surprised at her new appearance.


    Her once-lion-like features had changed into beautiful woman features.


    Liora touched her face with her trembling fingers. "Master, is this truly me?"


    Lucius smirked. He folded his arms and leaned against the wall. "Indeed, it is. You have now become a human. Although weaker, but more potential than before."


    He turned back to the system. "Show me the evolution options for the Flame Lion."


    ---


    [Evolution Options for Flame Lion:]


    [4-Star Flame Lion: 1.000 HP]


    [4-Star Ember Lion: 10.000 HP]


    [4-Star Silver Flame Lion: 100.000 HP]


    ---


    Lucius immediately looked at the most expensive option. He chuckled as he considered it.


    "Silver Flame Lion. It''s not just the most powerful evolution. It''s the most fitting. Silver fur to match your hair and eyes. Flames that match your title as Sun Goddess."


    He turned to the system again. "Evolve the Flame Lion into a Silver Flame Lion. Add Hidden Aura as well."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Evolution Sequence]


    [Target: 3-Star Flame Tiger ¡ú 4-Star Silver Flame Tiger]


    [Additional Feature: Hidden Aura]


    [Cost Required: 200,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    The Flame Lion''s body began to expand. Its flaming mane and body began to become silver. The Silver Flame Lion stood before them.


    Lucius stepped closer. He was satisfied with it. "Magnificent. This is a beast worthy of the Sun Goddess."


    He turned to Liora. "What do you think? Does it meet your expectations?"


    Liora nodded. "Its... perfect."


    She reached out to stroke the lion''s fur. She felt the soft and warm fur. "Thank you, Master."


    Lucius chuckled and placed his hand on her shoulder. "No need to thank me. You are my maid after all, like Luna."


    He smirked, thinking what would happen now that his two maids had become more powerful than before.

 Chapter 106 4-Star Silver Flame Lion, Leon

    Lucius leaned at the nearby chair. He watched Liora, who was still rubbing the Silver Flame Lion.


    "Liora. Your beast has reached 4-Star, and now it''s your turn. Meditate. Focus. It''s time for you to ascend as well."


    Liora nodded. She took a deep breath and settled herself on the ground. She crossed her legs and placed her hands on her knees.


    Lucius circled around them and smirked. He turned his attention to Silver Flame Lion. He just realized that he had not scanned it.


    "How can I forget about it? Let me scan you now, then." Lucius activated his system and scanned it.


    ---


    [Species: Silver Flame Lion]


    [Element: Flame]


    [Level: 4 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: B (4¡ï)]@@@@


    [Vit: B (4¡ï)]


    [Agi: B (4¡ï)]


    [Int: B (4¡ï)]


    [Passive Skill:]


    [Flaming Majesty: Radiates a fiery aura, slightly increasing its attack and intimidating enemies within close range, reducing their effectiveness.]


    [Active Skills:]


    [Silver Flame Manipulation: Controls silver flames to enhance its claws and fangs for stronger attacks, create a temporary fiery shield, or increase its movement speed for a short duration.]


    [Silver Flame Burst: Releases a massive explosion of silver flames in all directions, dealing heavy area damage and igniting enemies with a lingering burn effect.]


    ---


    Lucius chuckled as he analyzed the data. He brushed his chin with his fingers. "Not bad. This beast is as powerful as Luna''s Loxen. A perfect match for you, Liora."


    He looked at Liora. She was still meditating, trying to advance to 4-Star. "Luna had become 4-Star and Liora was not far from it. It''s time for me to ascend as well. I can''t lag behind."


    Lucius turned to the system. He already knew what he was going to hack and the cost for it. "Hack my talent and upgrade it into 6-Star. Also add Hidden Aura."


    Lucius chuckled. He took a seat at the table and gestured for her to join him. "Of course I am. I am your master after all."


    But suddenly, new knowledge appeared in his mind. It was about the ability of 4-Star Tamer. He smirked after reading the new knowledge.


    Liora noticed Lucius'' smirk. She was curious about what happened. "Master. Why are you smiling? Did you discover something?"


    Lucius leaned back in his chair. He tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "It seems that our talents had something quite... interesting ability."


    Liora frowned and crossed her arms. "What do you mean? I don''t feel anything new. What''s this ability you''re talking about?"


    Lucius raised an eyebrow. He was surprised that Liora didn''t know it. "Have you already forgotten the mark of tamers at 4-Star and beyond? The ability to fuse with beasts."


    She was surprised. She just realized it. "I just remember it. It''s fusion ability, but... it''s not like full fusion, right?"


    She tried to remember it. "Aren''t we only able to fuse a single limb with our beast''s traits because we are 4-Star? Isn''t it better to let the beasts fight directly?"


    Lucius chuckled. He leaned forward. "That''s true. But also wrong. Our talents were God-level so it was a bit different from the usual."


    Liora furrowed her brow. "How different? What makes it better than relying on our beasts?"


    Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire


    Lucius smirked and stood up. "It seems words won''t suffice to convince you. It''s better if I show you."


    He gestured toward the food on the table. "But first, let''s finish breakfast. You''ll need your strength."


    Liora nodded. She took her seat across from him. As they ate, the Silver Flame Lion lay by Liora''s side. It occasionally glanced at her.


    Halfway through the meal, Liora suddenly looked down at the lion. She rested her chin on her hand. "By the way, Master... I haven''t named him yet, have I?"


    Lucius raised an eyebrow. "A name, is it? Something simple but fitting, I assume."


    Liora nodded and turned to the lion. "Yes, something strong but uncomplicated."


    She paused for a moment. She studied the lion''s posture and thought of a name. "How about Leon?"


    The Silver Flame Lion blinked. It let out a low growl. It seems that it was satisfied with the new name.


    Liora smiled and stroked its mane. "Leon it is. You like it, don''t you?"


    Leon responded with a deep purr. Its tail swayed around. Lucius watched the scene with amusement. He then finished the last bite of his and rose from his chair.


    "Well then. Now that we''re properly fed and ready, let''s head to the training area. It''s time for your lesson, Liora."


    Liora stood as well. "Yes, Master." Leon rose up and stood beside Liora.


    Together, the three of them left the dining room. Lucius was ready to show Liora the real ability of the user of God-level talent.

 Chapter 107 4-Star Fusion

    Lucius and Liora stepped into the training room. The space was vast and there were some specialized equipments. This is the golden residence after all.@@@@


    Lucius walked toward the center of the room. Liora also followed him from behind. He stopped and turned to Liora.


    "You were once Luna''s tamed beast, but that is no longer the case. Your evolution into a human has severed that contract."


    Liora nodded. "Yes, Master. I''ve felt it. I no longer sense the link to Luna. But what will happen to her?"


    Lucius smirked and said, "Don''t worry about it. Luna is my tamed beast. She didn''t feel anything at all. It must be because the severed contract is a natural one."


    Liora nodded. She sighed and smiled. "Thanfully, she didn''t get hurt at all."


    Lucius smiled and crossed his arms. "Now. Let''s go back to the topic. With you not contracted with Luna, you are now my contracted beast because of my talent."


    Liora nodded. She already knew about Lucius talent that let him tamed any female human tamer.


    Lucius turned to Leon. "So it also makes Leon, your Silver Flame Lion, can be said to be contracted to me."


    Lucius turned back to Liora. "Let me show you what it means to be a 4-Star Tamer with god-level talent."


    Lucius turned to Leon and waved his hand. "Leon, come here."


    The Silver Flame Lion responded to Lucius. It stood up and walked toward Lucius. It stopped and let Lucius stroke his mane.


    Lucius looked at Liora and smirked. "Make sure your eyes are open. I will show you our real power as 4-Star Tamers with god-level talent."


    Without warning, Leon''s body began to dissolve. It became numerous light particles. The light swirled around Lucius and went into him.


    Lucius smirked. His right arm began to transform. Silver fur began to grow from his arm. His hand elongated and sharp claws appeared. His new claw was also radiating heat.


    Lucius raised his right claw and flexed it in front of Liora. "Do you see this? This is the sign of a 4-Star Tamer. Limb Fusion. One limb infused with the power of the beast."


    Lucius turned to human form again so Liora could train with Leon.


    Lucius also closed his eyes. He reached out with his mind. "Luna, did you hear what I just said?"


    Luna, who was in another town, smirked. "Yes, Master. I know how to do it now. I just need to be more focused so I can fuse with Loxen."


    Lucius smirked. "Good. Train harder. Get used to the sensation and refine your control."


    Luna leaned on her bed. "Understood, Master. I''ll make sure I perfect it."


    Lucius nodded his head and turned to Liora. "Luna understands the principle now, and so will you. Just control the energy and you can do it."


    Liora nodded. "I understand, Master. I''ll train until I can do it as seamlessly as you."


    Lucius tilted his head and smiled. "Good. I expect more from you, as you were previously a beastman."


    Liora nodded and clenched her fists. "I won''t let you down, Master. I''ll master this fusion and become stronger to serve you better."


    Lucius nodded. "Then let''s begin. It''s time for you to take the first step."


    Lucius looked at Liora and Leon. "Try to do it now. I will tell you if you are wrong in a way."


    Liora nodded and turned to Leon. Leon also turned to Liora. They began to fuse with Lucius'' directions.


    Luna was in her room, looking at the moon at the window. She smirked as she looked at her own hands. "Let''s see."


    She focused. Her fingers elongated and transformed into sharp silver panther claws.


    She smirked as she looked at her new claws. "Slowly but surely."


    She clenched her claws into fists and smirked. "It''s time for the mission. I have prepared long. Now it''s time to show them who I am."


    She turned and went out of the room. She was going for a mission that she had made for herself.

 Chapter 108 Kalidorn Misery

    A week had passed since Lucius had completed his mission. The Garran city was still in chaos like usual.


    Suddenly, a commotion appeared. A frail old man was thrown out of his own home. His belongings were scattered across the stone pavement.


    The man who did this soon came out. The people immediately knew who he was. It was Kalidorn Garran, the son of the ruler of this city.


    He walked to the old man angrily. He grabbed the collar of the old man. "How can you not know what''s wrong with me?"


    The old doctor could only shake his head. He tried to calm down Kalidorn. "My lord, I-I have examined you thoroughly. There''s no medical explanation for... for this condition."


    Kalidorn slammed the old man to the ground. "No explanation? My manhood has shrunk¡ªshrunk¡ªby a full one half-centimeter!"


    He gestured wildly at his manhood. "It was already... modest, but now it''s even smaller! How do you explain that?"


    The doctor paled and scooted back. "M-my lord, such a condition is highly unusual. I can only recommend further study¡ªperhaps consultation with specialists."


    Kalidorn finally snapped. "Specialists? What good are you if you can''t even solve a problem like this? Useless! Absolutely useless!"


    He kicked over a small table, sending papers and vials scattering across the pavement. The old doctor could only watch in silence from the corner.


    Luna also watched the scene from the edge. She smirked as she looked at Kalidorn''s angry face. "It seems Master''s little ''adjustment'' is starting to show its effects."


    Kalidorn walked toward the old doctor again. "You have three days to figure this out, or I''ll have you thrown into the dungeons! Do you understand me?"


    The doctor nodded frantically and bowed down. "Y-yes, my lord. I will do everything in my power!"


    Kalidorn dismissed him and stormed away. The crowd began to disperse as they whispered about the scene they had just witnessed.


    Luna remained still and smirked as she watched Kalidorn retreat into the distance. "Poor litte Kalidorn. He doesn''t even realize that in 3 days, his manhood might be already gone before he could even treat it."


    Luna turned around and returned to her inn. "But it was not the end. This is just the beginning. There were still other ''adjustments'' that had not shown up yet."@@@@


    Kalidorn was surprised. He was in despair. "Tomorrow? Father, I can''t wait until tomorrow! What if it gets even worse by then? What if¡ª"


    Dorian silenced his son''s panicked rambling. He stepped closer, placing a firm hand on Kalidorn''s shoulder.


    "You will compose yourself. We will address this problem with the proper resources and expertise. Do you understand me?"


    Kalidorn could only nod slowly. But still, he was still anxious. "Yes, Father. I understand."


    Dorian nodded, releasing his grip on Kalidorn''s shoulder. "Good. Now rest. There''s nothing more we can do until the doctor arrives tomorrow. I''ll make the arrangements personally."


    Kalidorn sighed heavily. He dragged himself back to his bed. "This isn''t fair. Why me? What did I do to deserve this?"


    Dorian lingered for a moment. His gaze lingered on his son before he turned and left the room. He could only hope that the doctor could heal him.


    ---


    The morning had come again. Kalidorn sat slouched on the edge of his bed. His hands resting on his knees.


    He was not the arrogant Kalidorn anymore. His face was pale. Dark circles appeared in his eyes. He had trouble sleeping the entire night. "How did it come to this?"


    Kalidorn slowly looked at his manhood. "Let me check... just check." He adjusted his robe and reached downward.


    His hand froze. Something felt... wrong. He pressed his fingers to where his manhood should have been. A chill ran down his spine as he felt nothing but smooth skin.


    He was shocked. He frantically roamed his fingers over the area. "No, no, no... this can''t be happening!"


    He staggered back and bumped his leg into the edge of the bed. He looked down at himself. His mind was unable to process what he was seeing¡ªor rather, what he wasn''t seeing. "This isn''t real... this isn''t real..."


    However, the truth was there and cold. His vision blurred and a wave of dizziness washed over him. "No... no..."


    His eyes rolled back as his body fell down. He passed out on the floor on top of the rich carpet.

 Chapter 109 Garrans Misfortune

    Dorian stormed into his son''s room. He looked at Kalidorn, who lay crumpled on the floor. His once-proud son was reduced to such a pathetic state.


    He hurried to his son''s side. He bent down and placed a firm hand on his shoulder to shake him. "Kalidorn! What is the meaning of this? Wake up, boy!"


    Accompanying Dorian was a tall, older man with the distinctive robes of a healer. This was Dr. Malwick, a renowned doctor Dorian had summoned desperately.


    Dorian glanced at Dr. Malwick. "Doctor, check on him immediately. I need to know what''s going on."


    Dr. Malwick nodded without a word, stepping forward. He summoned his beast, Healing Jellyfish.


    He guided the jellyfish toward Kalidorn''s unconscious form. "Let''s see what we''re dealing with."


    The beast''s tentacles extended, glowing faintly as they began to scan Kalidorn''s body.


    Dorian crossed his arms as he watched him with a frown. "Well? What''s wrong with him?"


    Dr. Malwick furrowed his brow, his fingers brushing his chin as the jellyfish relayed its findings to him.


    After a moment, he adjusted his glasses. "He has passed out, likely from a combination of stress and shock. There''s no immediate danger to his life."


    Dorian let out a small sigh of relief, but he still frowned. "And the... other issue? His manhood? What is happening to him?"


    Dr. Malwick''s face grew more serious as he exchanged a glance with the Healing Jellyfish. He hesitated for a moment but still said it. "This is... strange. My jellyfish tells me that the condition is entirely natural."


    Dorian was surprised. He stepped closer to the doctor. "Natural? You mean to tell me that my son''s... situation is normal? How can that be?"


    Dr. Malwick raised his hand to calm Dorian down. "Let me clarify, Lord Dorian. Normally, when we refer to something being natural, we speak of growth."


    He gestured toward Kalidorn. "In his case, it is the reverse. His manhood is... naturally shrinking. It has now fully... disappeared."


    Dorian''s face darkened as he processed the words. "Shrinking? Until it''s gone?""


    The doctor nodded. "Yes. The jellyfish indicates no illness, no curse, no external interference. It appears as though his body is naturally adapting in this way.


    One of the doctors stumbled while stepping forward. "My lord. We have investigated thoroughly. It seems that an epidemic is attacking our city."


    Dorian was in disbelief. "An epidemic? How can''t you tell me its nature? Its source? What good are you if all you bring me are questions?"


    The doctor stuttered as he wrung his hands. "M-my lord, it is unlike any illness we have seen. It saps strength slowly, subtly. Those affected grow weaker over time, as if something... something unnatural is draining them."


    Dorian became frustrated. "You dare bring me superstitions? Are you telling me the Garran family is cursed?"


    The room fell silent. Dorian glared at his men. "All of you. Get out!"


    The advisors and doctors bowed hurriedly and exited the hall. Left alone, Dorian leaned heavily against the table, his head bowed. "This cannot continue. I won''t allow it."


    Meanwhile, the city beneath the Garran family''s rule was in disarray. Fear grew as rumors of sickness and death spread. It was also further intensified by whispers of Kalidorn''s insanity.


    Shops closed early, and citizens avoided the streets, wary of encountering the Storm Hawk or its deranged master.


    Some merchants began to talk to each other about the current condition. "Did you hear? Kalidorn killed three men yesterday¡ªone of them for accidentally brushing against him in the market."


    The other man shook his head. "He''s lost his mind. First, the epidemic weakens us, and now we have to worry about that madman roaming the city. What''s happening to us?"


    The day of the long-awaited tournament arrived, but the once-celebrated event had lost its luster.


    The grand arena, which should have been filled with cheering spectators, sat eerily quiet.


    Many participants had withdrawn from the competition, their strength drained by the mysterious sickness that plagued the city.


    Others simply refused to face Kalidorn, whose growing reputation for cruelty had made him the tournament''s most feared contestant.


    In the preparation chambers beneath the arena, Kalidorn stood before a massive mirror, adjusting his armor.


    His Storm Hawk perched on a stand nearby, its piercing gaze locked on its master.


    Kalidorn was now waiting for the sacrifice that he would get here in this tournament.

 Chapter 110 Garrans Tournament

    Kalidorn stood in the center of the arena. He looked at the stands and the preparation area beyond and sneered. "Where is my opponent? Is there no one with the courage to face me?"


    The spectators exchanged nervous glances. Kalidorn''s Storm Hawk let out a sharp screech. Kalidorn looked at them. "Cowards."


    He began to pace in the arena. "Is this the grand tournament I was promised? A contest of champions?"


    He gestured toward the empty preparation gates with a sweeping motion. "And yet, here I stand, unchallenged. Are all of you so weak, so pitiful, that none dare step into the ring with me?"


    The crowd remained silent. They avoided Kalidorn''s eyes as they shrank back into their seats. Kalidorn stopped and slammed his fist against his chestplate. "You fear me and it''s good. Fear is the mark of the weak."


    He turned to the pale announcer, who stood frozen at the edge of the arena. "Announce my victory. If no one will face me, then I''ve already won."


    The announcer hesitated. "M-my lord. Perhaps we should wait a moment longer, in case¡ª"


    Kalidorn looked at him and interrupted him. "In case what? In case another spineless fool decides to embarrass themselves? I will not wait for cowards."


    The announcer swallowed hard and nodded. He raised the mic. "L-ladies and gentlemen. It appears... it appears that no challengers remain for Lord Kalidorn Garran."


    Kalidorn sneered as he crossed his arms. He disdainfully looked over the crowd. "Let this be a lesson to¡ª"


    But before he could finish, a figure suddenly stepped forward from the shadow. No one knew her, as she wore a silver mask and silver robe.


    But they knew that she was a woman, looking at her thin posture and her two mountains.


    The The mysterious figure stopped at the edge of the arena. She looked at Kalidorn and smirked. "So, no one here has the courage to face you, huh?"


    She shook her head in disappointment. "How disappointing. Perhaps... I should change that."


    Kalidorn''s smirk deepened. He unfolded his arms and took a step forward. "Ah, so there is one brave¡ªor foolish¡ªenough to face me after all."


    Kalidorn clenched his fist and tightened his jaw. "You dare mock me?! I''ll show you what it means to face a Garran!"


    He turned toward his 3-Star Storm Hawk. "Electric Glide! Speed up and take to the skies! Use Storm Dive! Tear her apart now!"


    The Storm Hawk screeched in response. Suddenly, it launched itself upwards. Its body shimmered with streaks of lightning.


    Moon remained motionless. Her hand still rested on Loxen''s head. She tilted her head and was amused. "Loxen. You know what to do."


    Loxen didn''t need further instructions. The Panther stepped forward. It locked his gaze on the incoming Storm Hawk.


    Kalidorn only became angrier. He clenched his teeth so tightly it was a wonder they didn''t shatter. "You dare stand there and mock me?! Kill it!"


    His finger pointed toward Loxen in anger. "Tear that miserable creature apart!"


    The Storm Hawk screeched again. Its talons were crackling with arcs of lightning. It dove down toward the panther.


    Loxen remained calm. It looked at the hawk that dove toward it. Moon smirked. "Patience, wait for it..."


    The Storm Hawk was mere meters away. Its talons were outstretched. The crowd held their breath.


    And then, in one fluid motion, Loxen pounced. Its leap was faster than the hawk. It twisted in midair to meet the hawk head-on.


    Its claws shimmered with a faint glow, slicing cleanly through the electric energy that surrounded the Storm Hawk.


    Loxen landed gracefully on the ground moments later. The Storm Hawk, however, floundered in the air, its screech now one of frustration as it struggled to stabilize itself.


    Moon chuckled softly as she watched the scene. She looked at Kalidorn and mocked him. "Was that it? How disappointing."


    Kalidorn became even angrier. He pointed his trembling finger at Moon. "You insolent wretch! I''ll destroy you with my own hands if I must!"


    Moon tilted her head again. She smirked. "Oh, Kalidorn... you can try." Loxen growled beside her. It was ready for the next move.

 Chapter 111 Kalidorns Battery

    Kalidorn was filled with anger. He let out a roar as he drew out his sword. He charged toward Moon. His movements were wild and erractic.


    He raised his blade high and was ready to strike. "You''ll regret this, you insolent wench!"


    Moon stood calmly. She tilted her head. She smirked under her silver mask. She turned her attention to Loxen. "Loxen. Do it. Shadow Ball. Target the Storm Hawk."


    Loxen let our a growl. It began to open its powerful jaws. Shadow energy began to swirl and condense rapidly into a dense sphere.


    Moon turned her gaze back to Kalidorn. Her smirk deepened as she stepped forward to meet his charge.


    She took out a dagger from her waist. She held it loosely at her side. Her posture was relaxed but she was ready.


    Kalidorn''s fury peaked as he closed the distance. He leapt into the air. He was ready to use an overhead strike to cleave Moon in two. "Die, you wretched bitch!"


    Moon''s smirk didn''t falter. She raised her dagger and intercepted his sword effortlessly.


    Before Kalidorn could recover, Moon twisted her body and drove her knee into his chest, following it up with a brutal kick to his midsection.


    Kalidorn staggered back. He stumbled as he kept his balance. He looked at Moon and snarled. "You... you''ll pay for that!"


    Moon smirked behind her mask. "Oh, Kalidorn. You talk so much, yet you fight like a child throwing tantrums. It''s time for you to feel some real pain."


    She turned to Loxen and smirked. "Loxen, now!"


    Loxen''s growl deepened as it snapped its jaws shut to release the shadow ball toward the storm hawk.


    The hawk screeched in alarm as it tried to evade, but the attack was too fast. The Shadow Ball struck it and exploded.


    The Storm Hawk plummeted to the ground. Its body was trembling from the force of the impact. It let out a weak cry before falling silent.


    Kalidorn was in disbelief seeing his beast fall. "No... no! Damn you! I''ll kill you for this!"


    "W-what''s happening?!"


    "Help! My beast¡ªit''s attacking me!"


    The arena descended into chaos. Beasts of all sizes and types rampaged wildly, their roars and cries drowning out the terrified screams of the crowd.


    Kalidorn staggered back; his face was pale with disbelief as he watched his Storm Hawk screech and thrash uncontrollably.


    The hawk''s feathers crackled with violent arcs of electricity, and its movements were erratic, no longer responding to his commands.


    Kalidorn looked at Moon. His body was trembling in anger and fear. He looked at the berserk beasts and Moon back and forward. "What have you done?!"


    Moon tilted her head. She was amused by Kalidorn. She looked at Kalidorn. "This is a gift. A gift from my master... and me."


    Kalidorn clenched his jaw. He was angry and tried to move, but he could not. "Your master?! Who dares¡ª"


    Moon interrupted him with a chuckle. She slowly raised her hands to the edges of her mask. "Oh, Kalidorn. Don''t you recognize me?"


    With a single fluid motion, she removed the silver mask, revealing her face beneath. The pale moonlight illuminated her silver hair and eyes, which now gleamed with cold satisfaction.


    Kalidorn was so shocked. He could not really say anything. He tried to process the sight before him. "You... you''re... Sadrina?"


    The girl his family had sold into slavery now stood before him, commanding a power he could not comprehend.


    Luna¡ªno longer Sadrina¡ªsmirked. She tilted her head slightly. "Surprised? You should be. But as you know, I am Luna now. That weak, discarded girl you threw away? She''s gone."


    Kalidorn''s disbelief quickly turned to fury. "How?! How can you tame beasts? What have you done to them?"


    Luna chuckled. "Oh Kalidorn. Don''t bother trying to understand. Just know this: my master and I planned this perfectly. Ninety days was all it took. The Garran family is officially over."


    Kalidorn''s face twisted into a mask of rage. Unfortunately, he could not move at all as he was too weak from the adjustment. "I''ll kill you!"

 Chapter 112 Garrans Nightmare

    Kalidorn was angry now that he knew Luna was the source of all these misfortunes. He gripped at his swords and tried to attack Luna, but he could not move at all. "You wretched witch! What have you done to me?!"


    Luna stood calmly a few paces away. She had discarded her mask and smirked. She looked at the pathetic Kalidorn on the ground. "Don''t bother trying to move. You can''t."


    Kalidorn was even angrier, thinking that Luna had mocked him. "You think this will stop me? I''ll¡ª"


    Luna looked at Kalidorn and silenced him. She crossed her arms and smirked. "Silence. Don''t you understand, Kalidorn? This... all of this... is your doing."


    Kalidorn didn''t know what Luna meant. "What are you talking about, wretched bitch?"


    Luna chuckled. She gestured toward the Berserk beasts in the arena and the chaos in the city. "All of this... the city... the arena are in ruins because of you."


    Kalidorn trembled in anger. "What lies are you spewing now?"


    Luna stepped closer and smirked. "Think back, Kalidorn. Don''t you feel it? Your Storm Hawk became stronger after my master evolved it, didn''t it?"


    Kalidorn was frozen as he thought of something. The storm hawk was indeed stronger than any other 3-Star beast after Lucius evolved it.


    Its strength had indeed been extraordinary. But now, for the first time, doubt crept into his thoughts.


    Luna''s smirk turned cruel as she continued. "That strength came with a price. Every thunderbolt your hawk unleashed carried a poison."


    Luna turned to the rampaging beasts and smirked. "Poisons that seeped into every beast it touched. It had been lying dormants for ninety days in your hawk and spread to other beasts."


    Kalidorn was shocked. He suddenly realized what was happening now. "Poison...?"


    Luna smiled. "Exactly. And now, those beasts are rampaging, consumed by the poison''s final effect. But that''s not all."


    She crouched slightly, bringing her face level with his and smirked. "That same poison weakens humans like you. It''s why your body feels like it''s collapsing."


    She pointed toward the rampaging beasts. "Soon, you won''t even be able to defend yourself. You''ll be nothing but food for the beasts you once controlled."


    Kalidorn suddenly panicked after he heard the truth. "You... you monster! I''ll kill you! I''ll¡ª"


    01 chuckled. "Effective, yes. But unsettling. Let''s move. The mission comes first."


    The two figures stepped further into the estate. As they approached the main courtyard, the extent of the chaos became clear.


    Beasts of all kinds rampaged through the once-pristine grounds. Their roars beat the weakened screams of the estate''s inhabitants.


    The tamers, once proud and strong, were now frail. their bodies too weak to fight back. Many had already fallen because of their beasts sudden betrayal.


    02 glanced at the scene. He was uneasy for some reasons. "What the hell happened here? Even our plan wasn''t supposed to cause anything like this."


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    01 looked at 02 and frowned. "I don''t know. But it doesn''t matter. Ignore the chaos. The scale is our priority."


    Just as they moved to continue their mission, a figure stepped into their path from the shadows.


    The man was tall and imposing, but his clothes were tattered. It was Dorian Garran. He was in rage and confusion because of this chaos.


    Dorian looked at the two suspicious figures. "I knew it. I sensed something unnatural. You two¡ªyou''re responsible for this. Your appearance alone confirms it."


    01 and 02 stopped. 01 looked at Dorian. "I didn''t expect to meet the head of this dying family. But we don''t have time for this nonsense."


    02 frowned. He looked at 01. "I''ll deal with him. You get the scale."


    01 nodded and moved forward. He brushed past Dorian as he was nothing more than an obstacle. "Make it quick. The chaos won''t mask us forever.""


    02 stepped forward. He stared down at Dorian. "You.. Run while you still can, old man. Or else..."


    Dorian became angry. He clenched his fist. "How dare you? You invade my estate, bring ruin to my family, and now you insult me?!"


    Dorian''s face twisted in anger, his hand clenching into a fist. "How dare you?" he growled, his voice booming. "You invade my estate, bring ruin to my family, and now you insult me?! I will make you regret underestimating me."


    Both of them were now standing at the opposite of each other. They were ready to summon their beasts to fight.

 Chapter 113 The Clash of 5-Star Beasts!

    Dorian raised his arm and summoned his beast. A massive 5-Star Storm Bear came out from a portal beside him.


    02 remain unfazed. "A 5-Star Beast, huh? Impressive, but hardly surprising. Let''s see how it fares against this."


    02 also raised his hand. A portal appeared beside him. From it, a 5-Star Dark Wolf appeared.


    Dorian was surprised. "A 5-Star beast? Who are you people? And how do you have such power?"


    02 smirked. "Oh, this goes far deeper than you could ever imagine, Garran. But I''m not here to satisfy your curiosity. Shall we begin?"


    Dorian wasted no time. He pointed toward the dark wolf. "Storm Bear, Electric Charge! Now!"


    The storm bear roared. It rushed toward the dark wolf. Bolts of lightning danced around its body.


    02''s smirk deepened. "Fade Step."


    The Dark Wolf growled low before melting into the shadows. Its movement became faster than before.


    Dorian frowned as he scanned the battlefield. The storm bear paused briefly, looking for the dark wolf. "It''s using the night to its advantage. But shadows can''t hide you forever."


    02 chuckled. He mocked him. "Perhaps. But they''re more than enough for what comes next. Dark Wolf, Night Fang!"


    The Dark Wolf emerged from the shadows. It locked onto the storm bear. Its fang was glowing with dark energy.


    Dorian looked at the scene and shouted. "Wind Swipe!"


    The storm bear reacted instantly. Wind swirled around its claw as it met the Dark Wolf''s attack head-on.


    The clash sent shockwaves through the air. The wind dispersed the wolf''s momentum and forced it to retreat.


    The clash sent shockwaves rippling through the air, the wind dispersing the wolf''s momentum and forcing it to retreat.


    02 smirked for a brief moment. "You''re better than I expected, Garran. But I don''t have time to play games."


    Dorian became angry and growled. "Then stop wasting time. Face me with everything you''ve got."


    02''s voice suddenly came from Dorian''s behind. "Who said I''m hiding?"


    Dorian turned sharply, but it was too late. 02 emerged from the shadows and attacked him across Dorian''s back. "Night Slash!"


    Dorian let out a pained grunt as the force of the blow sent him stumbling forward. His knees hit the ground, and he caught himself with one claw.


    02 smirked as he flexed his claws. "Surprised? You should be. Speed and shadows will always outmatch brute strength."


    Dorian gritted his teeth. He pushed himself to his feet and growled. "This... isn''t over."


    02 chuckled. He stepped closer. "Oh, Dorian. You''re already on your knees. Do you really think you can stand a chance?"


    02 leaned forward. "You might as well surrender and accept your insignificance."


    Dorian growled. "Who the hell are you? You invade my estate and bring ruin to my family."


    02 smirked. He tilted his head as if considering the question. "Who am I?"


    02 then smirked and teased him. "You don''t need to know that, Garran."


    He raised his right claws and slowly walked toward Garran. "The only thing you need to know is¡ª"


    Before he could finish, a white panther suddenly emerged from the shadows. Its eye locked onto 02. Before 02 could react, it lunged forward and its powerful jaws snapped shut around 02''s head.


    02 let out a strangled gasp. His body was convulsing as the panther''s jaw crushed his skull.


    Blood splattered across the ground as the panther released him, letting his lifeless body collapse. It then turned its attention to Dorian.


    Dorian staggered back. He didn''t know what was happening. "What... what in the hell is this?"


    The panther growled as it stepped aside. From behind it, a woman appeared. She was wearing a simple silver robe.


    Dorian felt his breath catching in his throat. He was really shocked when he saw the woman. "You... it... it can''t be..."


    The woman stepped forward. Her silver panther stayed silently beside her. "Oh, Dorian. Surely you haven''t forgotten about me already?"


    Dorian''s knees became weak as he fell down to his knees in front of Luna. "You... Sadrina...how the hell can you be here?"

 Chapter 114 Lifeless Treasury

    Luna''s smirk deepened as she looked at Dorian''s pale and shocked face. She tilted her head and mocked him. "So you do remember me, Dorian. I was beginning to think you''d forgotten."


    She slowly stepped forward and leaned her body. She glanced at him and sneered. "Look at you now¡ªso pathetic. How fitting for the Garran family."


    Dorian''s shock quickly transformed into rage. He glanced back at Luna. "What the hell are you doing here, Sadrina? Shouldn''t you be off somewhere groveling with your pathetic master?"


    Luna''s smirk widened. She slowly shook her head. "Dorian... Let me remind you once more. My name is no longer Sadrina. I am Luna now."


    She crossed her arms. "And as for why I''m here... you could say that I wanted a front-row seat to witness the destruction of the Garran family."


    Dorian''s brow furrowed. He had realized something from Luna''s words. "This chaos... could it be? Is this because of your pathetic master, Lucius?"


    Luna chuckled and gestured at the carnage around them. "Of course it is. This... all of this... is his work. Your downfall was inevitable the moment you crossed him."


    Dorian became angry and bared his teeth. "I''ll kill you for this! Your Master and you! I''ll make you regret crossing me!"


    Dorian was now trying to get up and killed Luna. Unfortunately, he was already weakened by the battle with 02.


    Luna was unimpressed. She turned toward Loxen. "Loxen. Silence him. I''ve heard enough from this pathetic fool."


    Loxen growled as it locked onto Dorian. Without hesitation, it lunged forward. Dorian barely had time to raise his arms in defense before the Panther''s jaws clamped down on his head.


    Dorian''s untransformed face was easily crushed by Loxen. Blood and brain matter were splattered around the room. Dorian''s corpse fell down to the floor.


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    Luna sighed. She stepped over Dorian''s corpse without a second glance. "How anticlimactic."


    She turned her attention to the lifeless body of 02. She crouched down to look at his unique clothes.


    She thought for a moment. "I don''t know who you are, but judging by your strength... and these clothes... you''re not from around here, are you?"


    He still stared at the lifeless material. The scale was supposed to be one of the legendary items he needed to get. And yet now, it felt like nothing more than a meaningless trinket.


    He stood motionless. He then remembered about the chaos and soon realized it. "Someone''s been here. Someone''s already taken everything¡ªeverything."


    Unknown to 01, Lucius, the mastermind of this devastation, used his Beast Hacker System to drain the vault dry, consuming every ounce of energy from the materials and even the scale itself.


    01''s eyes burned with fury as he lowered the scale. "Whoever committed this will face severe consequences."


    He turned around in anger. He clenched his fist tightly as he rushed toward the exit. "This isn''t over."


    But the question burned in 01''s mind¡ªwho had the power to outplay him so thoroughly? And what were they planning next?


    ---


    01 moved swiftly through the estate. He had to find 02¡ªretrieve him and get out before things spiraled further out of control.


    But as he entered the courtyard, his steps faltered. His sharp eyes landed on a body lying across the ground. "No..."


    The body was unmistakable¡ªdressed in the same black cloak and insignia as him. It was 02.


    His head had been crushed, the lifeless corpse lying in a pool of blood. The sight made 01 clench his fists tightly.


    He crouched down and inspected the body. "Even in death, you look ready for battle. But how? Who could have done this... so effortlessly?"


    Nearby, another body caught his attention. It was Dorian. His head, too, had been crushed. 01 rose slowly. He had just realized something. "The mastermind..."


    His gaze flicked between the two bodies. His instincts were screaming. The situation had changed. "They''re still here."


    Suddenly, a soft mocking voice appeared. "So, you made it out of the Treasury."


    01 spun, trying to search for the people responsible for this. "Who''s there?!"

 Chapter 115 Mysterious 01

    01 was still searching for the one who called him. Suddenly, from the shadows, a woman and a silver panther appeared.


    01 looked at the woman. "Who are you?" His eyes flicked between the woman and the panther. He was ready to strike.


    Luna tilted her head and smirked. "I''m just a spectator. Here to enjoy the downfall of a pathetic family. But you... You''re an unexpected guest."


    01''s gaze narrowed. He took a step forward. "You''re the one behind this chaos, aren''t you? You killed 02 and you killed Dorian."


    Luna chuckled. She took a step forward. "Oh no. I merely oversaw their fight."


    01 prepared his stance. "Stay back! I don''t know who you are, but I''m warning you¡ªdon''t test me."


    Luna stopped and grinned. "I don''t need to test you. I already know how this ends."


    She smirked and whispered to him. "Now, shall we play?"


    01 let out a frustation. "Damn it!" Without hesitation, he fused with his own beast.


    Dark energy enveloped his body as his arms and legs transformed into powerful tiger claws, his agility and strength amplified by the fusion. "Let''s see how far your confidence gets you."


    Luna''s smirk never faltered. "Loxen."


    The Silver Shadow Panther growled low. It tensed as it prepared to strike. Without another word, the panther lunged forward.


    01 darted to the side. He used his tiger claw to counter it but was easily blocked by Loxen''s claw.


    Luna watched from a distance. She smirked as she watched the show. "Let''s see if you''re as strong as you claim, ''other one.''"


    The battle raged. The courtyard was shrouded in shadows and glowing with bursts of dark energy.


    ---


    The battle intensified as 01 launched himself forward, his claws slashing through the air toward Loxen.


    The panther dodged swiftly, melting into the shadows with ease. 01 growled, frustrated, as his claws hit nothing but air.


    Luna smirked and mocked from the sidelines. "Too slow. Loxen, end this quickly."


    Loxen reappeared behind 01, its Shadow Claws slicing downward.


    Loxen growled low, stepping toward 01 for the finishing strike. 01''s vision blurred, his breath ragged as the panther loomed over him.


    ---


    Luna stood over the unconscious 01. She kneeled down briefly, inspecting his strange clothing and weaponry. "Who are you, really?"


    She was more intrigued than concerned. Without wasting time, she closed her eyes and reached out telepathically.


    She called Lucius with telepathy. "Master. I''ve encountered something unusual in the Garran estate. There are mysterious people here¡ªthis one fought me. They''re powerful, and I don''t know their purpose."


    Lucius''s voice came through almost instantly. "Mysterious people, you say? Interesting. I need to know what they''re doing and why they''re here."


    Luna paused, glancing at the motionless body beneath her. "He''s unconscious, but he''s dangerous. I can''t let him recover."


    Lucius''s response was quick. "Kill him, but don''t damage the brain. Take his head, preserve it in a container, and store it in your spatial ring. I''ll summon you immediately after. I''ll extract what I need myself."


    A small smirk curled on Luna''s lips. "Understood, Master."


    She opened her eyes and turned to Loxen. She then gestured toward 01. "End him. Cleanly."


    The panther growled softly in acknowledgment and approached the unconscious man.


    Without hesitation, it raised a massive paw and drove its claws deep into his chest, piercing his heart with precision. 01''s body convulsed briefly before falling limp, lifeless.


    Luna smiled after seeing Loxen''s work. "Good."


    She crouched beside 01, pulling out a sharp blade from her belt. "Now for the interesting part."


    With practiced precision, she cut through the top of his head, exposing the intact brain beneath.


    Her expression remained emotionless as she carefully extracted it, her hands steady.


    From her spatial ring, she retrieved a specialized container, placing the brain inside and sealing it tightly.


    Rising to her feet, Luna held the container up briefly, her smirk returning. "All that effort, and this is all you''re good for," she said quietly.


    She slid the container into her spatial ring and closed her eyes again, reaching out telepathically. "Master. I am done with it."


    Lucius voice came through. "Good. Prepare yourself. I''m summoning you now."


    The air around Luna began to shimmer, a faint glow enveloping her and Loxen as Lucius''s summoning took hold.

 Chapter 116 The Nameless Shadows

    Luna appeared before Lucius. Without hesitation, she reached into her spatial ring and and retrieved numerous corpses.@@@@


    She laid them carefully on the ground in front of Lucius. She then kneeled before Lucius and presented the corpses.


    "These are for you, Master. All of them are the corpses from the calamity. There were also some strong corpses."


    Lucius examined the corpse. He kneeled beside them. He placed his hand on one of the bodies and felt its former power as a 5-Star tamer.


    He stood up and smirked. "These corpses will do nicely. Their energy will convert into a generous amount of hacking points."


    Lucius turned to Luna and put out his hand. "Luna, hand me the brain that you took from him."


    Luna nodded and retrieved the sealed container from her spatial ring. She gave it to Lucius. "Here it is, just as you requested."


    Lucius took the container. He studied it briefly before opening it. He stared at the brain within and smirked. "Let''s see if this works."


    He turned to the system. "Hack this brain. Extract and transfer all its memories to me. Can it be done?"


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Memory Transfer]


    [Target: Disembodied Brain]


    [Effect: Extract and Transmit All Memories to User]


    [Cost Required: 1,000 Hack Points]


    [Execute Evolution?]


    [YES] [NO]


    ---


    Lucius turned to Luna. "You can call them evil if you like it, though it''s really just a matter of perspective."


    Liora, who leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, snorted. "Evil or not, they didn''t seem too impressive. The ones Luna fought were pathetic."


    Lucius smirked and waved her dismissively. "You are right, but they were just pawns. Henchmen. Tools sent to fetch something they probably don''t even understand."


    Luna''s frown deepened as she tapped her chin thoughtfully. "What were they after, then? What''s so important that they''re sending fools like that to fight for it?"


    Lucius turned to face her and smirked. "Legendary materials. The details are vague, but these materials could be the key to something much bigger. That''s what they''re after."


    Liora straightened, cracking her knuckles. "And they sent weaklings to collect them? Sounds like they''re desperate¡ªor stupid."


    Lucius looked at Liora and shrugged. "Perhaps both, but here''s the interesting part: one of those legendary materials... is here, in this academy."


    Luna was surprised and instinctively stepped forward and looked at Lucius in the eyes. "Here? Are you certain, Master?"


    Lucius nodded slowly and smirked. "Positive. And that''s why we won''t interfere with them yet. Let them do the hard work of finding it. When the time is right, we''ll take it for ourselves."


    Liora smirked and her eyes shone. "Sounds like a plan. Let them run around like headless chickens while we reap the rewards."


    Lucius gestured toward the window. "Exactly. Their existence doesn''t matter to us. Their lives don''t matter. They''re free to waste their time."


    Lucius clenched his fist and turned to Liora and Luna. "But when they found what they got, it''s time for us to deal with them and take what we deserved."


    Luna''s smirk returned. "I like it. Let them struggle, let them bleed, and when they''re finished, we''ll step in and take everything they''ve worked for."


    Liora let out a low laugh. "That''s the difference between us and them. They blindly follow orders, hoping for slivers of power. We take what we want."


    Lucius unhurriedly sat back down. "Precisely. Power belongs to those who seize it, not to those who beg for it."


    Lucius looked up and waved his hand dismissively. "Let them chase their dreams of world dominance. In the end, they''re just another obstacle¡ªor an opportunity."


    The three exchanged a glance. They didn''t care about the nameless group, their goals, or the lives of those they used.


    As long as the chaos served their own purposes, Lucius, Luna, and Liora were content to watch the world burn.

 Chapter 117 The Silent Massacre

    In a shadowy chamber far from the chaos, a man stood with his arms crossed. He gazed at a group of henchmen who kneeled before him.


    "What happened to 01 and 02? They were tasked with retrieving the scale from the Garrans, weren''t they?"


    One of the henchmen hesitated but still spoke. "Master, we... we don''t know. There''s been no news from them. After a few days of silence, we sent a team to check the situation in Garran territory."


    The man glanced at them. "And?"


    The henchman swallowed hard, glancing at his companions before continuing. "When we arrived... the city was in complete chaos. It wasn''t just a failed mission¡ªit was something far worse."


    The henchman also trembled, remembering the sight. "The streets were littered with corpses¡ªhumans and beasts alike. The entire city... it had turned into a blood-soaked ghost town."


    Another trembling henchman chimed in. "The Garran estate was no better. Bodies everywhere. But what shocked us the most... we couldn''t find the corpses of 01, 02, or even Dorian."


    The man was surprised. He uncrossed his arms and took a step closer. "You mean to tell me that not only did they fail, but they also left behind a massacre? Just what the hell did 01 and 02 do?"


    The henchmen exchanged nervous glances. None of them dare to meet his gaze directly. "We... we don''t know, Master."@@@@


    One henchman then explained the original plan. "The original plan was simple. Use drugs to make some beasts berserk. Retrieve the scale in the chaos. It was supposed to be clean."


    The man clenched his fists and tightened his jaw. "Clean? Does this sound clean to you? A ghost town? Corpses everywhere? That''s the kind of attention we were trying to avoid!"


    The henchman flinched but pressed on. "We swear, Master, we had nothing to do with this. Whatever happened, it wasn''t part of the plan. Something else must have gone wrong." Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire


    The man turned away. He clenched his teeth. "01 and 02 were competent. They wouldn''t have gone off-script. But for an entire city to end up like that... this isn''t just incompetence. This is something else."


    As the henchmen were nervous, one of them suddenly perked up as he remembered something.


    He then smirked. "If there''s even a fragment of its power left, we''ll find a way to restore it. And when we do... We''ll see who else dares to challenge us."


    The henchmen nodded in unison. The henchman glanced at the scale and then back to his lord. "And the city, my lord? What about the Garrans?"


    The man scoffed. He tossed the scale lightly into the air and caught it. "The Garrans are irrelevant. Let them rot in their blood-soaked ruins. If anything, their destruction makes it easier for us to move unnoticed."


    He then turned to the henchmen. "Instead, focus your efforts on gathering information about this other group. I want to know who they are, what they want, and why they dared to interfere with me."


    The henchmen bowed and quickly left the room, leaving their master alone with the lifeless scale. He stared at it and scowled. "Another group, huh. Let''s see how long they last."


    He placed the scale on the table before him and sat down. The scale may have been drained of its power, but the game was far from over.


    If someone else wanted to challenge him for the Red Dragon''s legacy, they would soon learn the price of crossing him.


    ---


    At Astra Academy, Kaltrik was sitting on his chair. He had just finished wrapping up some of his family problems for the week.


    With a dismissive flick of his hand, he activated the crystal news panel embedded in the wall, ready to catch up on the latest updates. "Let''s see what the common rabble are stirring up this time."


    The first headline caught his attention, and his smirk quickly vanished. His eyes narrowed as he read it. "Garrans Family Wiped Out in a Single Night¡ªEstate Reduced to Ghost Town."


    Kaltrik blinked. He was certain he had misread it. He looked at the news again. He clenched his jaw as he read the news again.


    He slammed his fist on the table. "What the hell is this? The Garrans... destroyed? In a day?"


    He rose from his seat abruptly. He frowned and frustated. "Three damn months I ignored them because of their failure. But how can it be like this?"

 Chapter 118 The Threat in the Shadows

    He paced back and forth. He was frustated. "I ignored them after their failure to kill Lucius."


    He put his hand on his chin. "I also let them handle their mess because of the problems in my own family, but how could this be possible?"


    Kaltrik stopped pacing and slammed his fist against the wall. "The Garrans were a count family! They weren''t some weak, low-level nobodies. How could they be destroyed so easily?"@@@@


    He attempted to put it all together. "First, our family''s Evolist Hub is destroyed."


    He then looked at the news again. "And now this. It''s not a coincidence. It can''t be."


    Kaltrik touched his chin again. "There''s someone... no, some group, operating in the shadows. Someone powerful enough to wipe out an entire Count family without leaving a trace."


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    He clenched his fist. "Damn it! "How can things get so out of control?"


    He began pacing again. "If they could take down the Garrans, then they''re a threat. And if they''ve already moved against us indirectly, it won''t be long before they come for us outright."


    He looked outside and sneered. "Whoever you are, you''ve made a mistake. Coming after me or my family will cost you dearly."


    Kaltrik stopped abruptly, jabbing a finger at the projection as if it could respond. "I''ll find out who''s behind this. I''ll tear apart every shadow. No one can defeat the great Duke Kryndal family¡ªno one."


    He was now going to the main family again. This time he needed to report it to the head of family.


    Whoever this mysterious force was, they had made an enemy of Kryndal¡ªand he intended to make them regret it.


    ---


    He looked at his ministers and generals. "If these attacks continue, we risk losing not just our resources but the very stability of this empire. We cannot allow this to go unchallenged."


    Cedrik slammed his fists against his chest in salute. "Your orders, Your Majesty?"


    The king''s gaze swept over the room. "Strengthen the defenses of every city, town, and outpost. No one enters or leaves without scrutiny."


    He turned to the minister. "Dispatch scouts to monitor for signs of similar outbreaks. I want reports from every corner of this empire."


    He turned to Cedrik. "General, assemble a task force. Start searching for this group immediately. If they have the power to destroy a count family and one of our largest Evolist hubs, they won''t stop there."


    Cedrik bowed deeply. "It will be done, Your Majesty. This threat will be eliminated."


    Astorius''s attention shifted back to Anselm. "And you, Minister. Find out everything you can about this plague. Its source, its nature, and whether it can spread further. If someone is using it as a weapon, I want a countermeasure ready."


    Anselm wiped his sweat and nodded. "Of course, Your Majesty. Our best scholars and alchemists will begin work immediately."


    Astorius leaned forward. "Remember this. We are not dealing with mere rebels. This group has the resources and cunning to strike at the very heart of our empire. I want them hunted, exposed, and annihilated."


    The room filled with the sound of armor clanking as the council and generals bowed in unison.


    Astorius sat back on his throne and drummed his fingers against the armrest. "The Empire will not be made to bleed. Find them. Kill them. And remind the world that we are unyielding."


    ---


    The Royal Family and the Duke Kryndal''s family had already taken action, though the two incidents seemed unrelated.


    Yet, both were orchestrated by the same individual¡ªsomeone who now smiled to himself, contemplating his next move, unconcerned by the chaos he had unleashed.

 Chapter 119 Platinum Class Registration

    Lucius pushed open the door to the administration office. He looked at the reception desk and approached it.


    The receptionist, a young woman engrossed in her terminal, glanced up as he arrived. She set aside her current work. "How may I assist you?"


    Lucius placed his hands lightly on the desk and leaned forward. "I''ve come to report my advancement. I am now a 4-Star Evolist."


    To make it more believeable, he released a controlled wave of his aura. The receptionist stiffened as she could sense the level of the aura. "4-Star. Already?"


    Lucius chuckled. "You seem shocked. Surely the academy should expect no less from me."


    She quickly composed herself and adjusted her posture. She then extended her hand. "May I see your academy ID?"


    Lucius retrieved his ID card from his spatial ring and handed it over. The receptionist took it and scanned it with a small device that showed his information.


    Her brows furrowed in disbelief as she read. "You''ve been enrolled for less than a year and you''re not even twenty yet. How did you reach 4-Star so quickly?"


    Lucius tilted his head and smirked. "When one aims for greatness, time bends to their will."


    The receptionist blinked in surprise at his remark. She then cleared her throat and straightened her posture.


    "Well, this achievement qualifies you to enter the Platinum Class. However, you''ll need to pass an evaluation test first."


    Lucius leaned back slightly and folded his arms. "A test? Very well. When does it begin?"


    She checked the screen again to see what time was free. "Tomorrow morning. Report here, and I''ll guide you to the testing arena."


    Lucius smiled and nodded. He retrieved his ID from the desk and put it back into his spatial ring. "I''ll see you tomorrow then."


    Lucius turned around and left the room. The receptionist watched him go.


    Once the door closed behind him, she exhaled slowly and reached for the communicator at her side.


    The vice headmaster paused, then added, "And one more thing. Have the academy''s observers notified. They should see this firsthand."


    The receptionist nodded. "Understood." She then rose from her seat and immediately went to prepare the test for tomorrow.


    The vice headmaster also turned off the communication crystal. He smiled, as tomorrow''s test wasn''t just a formality. It was a rare opportunity to witness a prodigy in action.


    ---


    Lucius was now back in his golden residence. He removed his coat and leaned back on his chair in his own room. "I wonder what they will test me in tomorrow''s test."


    Luna, who was organizing a shelf nearby, turned to him and smirked. "Whatever test they come up with, Master, it won''t matter. You''ll crush it like you always do."


    Lucius crossed his arms and chuckled. "Of course. None of them can compare. I am the best Evolist this academy has ever seen, after all."


    Liora, who stood near the window, glanced at Lucius and folded her arms. "Do you think they''ll try to make it more difficult, knowing it''s you, Master?"


    Lucius turned to Liora and smirked. "It should be seeing that the receptionist was surprised knowing my level. But it will only make my victory all the more satisfying."


    He then turned his gaze back to the two women. "Luna, Liora, prepare yourselves. You''ll both be joining me for the test tomorrow."


    Luna blinked and smirked as she stepped forward. "Of course, Master. I wouldn''t miss the chance to see you outshine everyone."


    Liora nodded, pushing herself off the wall. "Understood, Master. We''ll be ready. Whatever they throw at you, we''ll make sure you''re not distracted by anything... trivial."


    Lucius smiled and nodded. "Good. Rest well tonight. Tomorrow, we make an impression they won''t forget."


    Luna stepped closer and smirked. "You mean you''ll make an impression, Master? We''ll just stand in awe like the rest of them."


    Lucius chuckled and began to go to his bed. "Get some rest. Tomorrow, we remind the academy why I''m not just another student."


    Luna and Liora smiled and began their preparations. For Lucius, tomorrow''s test wasn''t a challenge but an opportunity to demonstrate why he stood above them all.

 Chapter 120 Platinum Class Test

    In the morning, Lucius and his maids had come to the administration office. The receptionist was a bit busy after handling the test site yesterday.


    She then looked at the door and realized that Lucius had come. But she was surprised when she saw two women beside Lucius. "If I may ask, who are these with you?"


    Lucius placed his hand lightly on the desk. "These are my maids, Liora and Luna. Is there a problem with them joining me for the test?"


    The receptionist hesitated. Her gaze darted between Luna and Liora. "No, no problem. It''s just... unusual. Most candidates don''t bring anyone with them, let alone maids."


    Lucius smirked and gestured at the two women. "I''m not like most candidates. They were not only my maids, but my women. With them, I focus better."


    He glanced back at the receptionist. "Would you deny me that advantage?"


    The receptionist quickly shook her head. "Of course not. They''re welcome to accompany you. It''s just unexpected, that''s all."


    Lucius only smiled and nodded. "I like being the unexpected. Now, can we go take my test?"


    The receptionist smiled and stepped out from behind the test. "Of course. The test site has been prepared. Please follow me."


    Lucius gestured for Luna and Liora to follow. The three of them then followed behind the receptionist as she led them down the long corridors of the academy.


    As they walked, Luna leaned closer to Lucius. She was amused by the atmosphere around them. "Master, it seems you''re drawing more attention than usual."


    Lucius didn''t look at her but still smirked."Good. They should see who I am and understand why I''m different."


    Liora, who was behind them, immediately added. "And why crossing you would be a mistake."


    The receptionist glanced back at them. He could hear what they were saying but chose not to comment. Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    Lucius smirked and spread his arms slightly. "I''ve been ready since last night."


    The Vice Headmaster gestured to the arena''s center. "Good. Step into the area that had been prepared for you. Your evaluation begins now."


    Lucius walked forward and entered the area that had been prepared for him. In there, he could see a large cage that was covered.


    He was quite curious what was in it, so he approached it. He then gripped the edge of the cloth and pulled it away.


    Inside the cage, a massive beast stood. Its muscular form was covered in thick red fur. The beast exhaled deeply, releasing a puff of smoke from its nostril. It also looked at Lucius.


    The vice headmaster began to explain about the test. "This is a 3-Star Flame Bear. Your task is simple: evolve it into a 4-Star Flame Bear."


    Lucius turned toward the vice headmaster and frowned. "And the materials?"


    The Vice Headmaster gestured to a nearby table where an array of flame-based materials was neatly arranged. "You may use the items provided. Everything you need is here."


    Lucius turned around to see the table. A lot of materials had been prepared: molten rocks, fire cores and a bundle of flame herbs.


    He nodded slowly but he couldn''t shake the growing knot in his stomach. "Do I need to do it here, in front of everyone?"


    The vice headmaster folded his arms and smiled. "Worried about exposing a secret technique, are we? You needn''t be. Anything you demonstrate here will remain confidential. You have my word."


    Lucius chuckled. He was masking the unease feeling he had. "Your word is reassuring."


    The problem was big. Lucius had always relied on his system to evolve beasts. He could not display his power publicly without raising suspicion.


    Now, with all eyes in the arena focused on him, the question of what to do next loomed large: "What do I do now?"

 Chapter 121 4-Star Flame Bear

    Lucius stood motionless in front of the table of materials. He looked calm but panicked inside. "I''ve always used the system to hack beasts and force their evolution. How do I replicate that here without revealing anything?"


    He looked at the materials and exhaled slowly. He was still thinking about what to do. "I need a solution... now."


    A thought suddenly struck him as he just realized it. "What if the system can directly implant the knowledge I need? That would eliminate the guesswork."


    Lucius turned to the system. "Hack my mind. Inject every known evolution method and technique. Include the specific knowledge required to evolve a 3-Star Flame Bear into a 4-Star Flame Bear."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Knowledge Injection]


    [Target: User''s Mind]


    [Effect: Implant Evolist Methods and Techniques]


    [Additional Effect: Provide Complete Knowledge to Evolve 3-Star Flame Bear ¡ú 4-Star Flame Bear]


    [Cost Required: 100 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    A sudden wave of information surged into Lucius''s mind. He frozen momentarily.


    He clenched the edge of the table as the knowledge appeared in his mind. Every step of evolving a Flame Bear played out in perfect clarity.


    He straightened and smirked. "Now that I have the knowledge. It''s time for me to show them who is the real genius."


    Lucius approached the Evolution Essence Maker that was put beside the table. He looked at it and realized that it was a bit bigger and better than his own in his golden residence.


    Lucius touched the machine surface. "It seems that this one is far more advanced than the one in my residence. Must be designed for 4-Star beasts and higher. Impressive."


    The Vice Headmaster watched intently. He began to study his technique. "It''s interesting. The technique he uses is pretty common, but the way he uses it is better than other people I know."


    Inside the cocoon of flames, the bear''s form grew larger. Its fur became redder. Flame energy coated its full body. The fiery cocoon began to disappear, revealing the new 4-Star Flame Bear.


    Lucius turned to the Vice Headmaster and smirked. "How''s that for results?"


    The Vice Headmaster stepped forward. He looked at the evolved beast. After a long moment, he nodded.


    "Exceptional work. The energy was perfectly controlled, and the Flame Bear''s evolution is flawless."


    Lucius smirked. He dusted his hands off and looked at the vice headmaster. "Good. Shall we move on to the next phase?"


    The Vice Headmaster smirked and folded his arms. "You have passed the Evolist test. But as an Evolist, you must also demonstrate your ability to fight."


    Lucius raised his eyebrow as he was surprised. "Fight? What exactly do you mean?"


    The Vice Headmaster gestured toward the newly evolved 4-Star Flame Bear. "Defeat the Flame Bear that you just evolved using your abilities.


    Lucius tilted his head. He looked at the vice headmaster. His voice was laced with sarcasm. "When you say ''my abilities,'' are you referring to everything I can use?"


    The Vice Headmaster nodded. "Of course. Use whatever is at your disposal. Show me how you, as an Evolist, handle a situation like this."


    Lucius chuckled. "I suppose that I should tell you this. I''m one of the rare, ''lucky'' individuals who awakened with the None talent."


    The Vice Headmaster was surprised after hearing it. He glared at Lucius closer. "None? If you have no talent, how have you risen to the level of a 4-Star Evolist?"


    He then reminded him again. "Those with none talent cannot cultivate or raise their levels without taming beasts."


    Lucius was amused. He clasped his hands behind his back and smirked. "I understand your confusion. It does sound impossible, doesn''t it?"


    He glanced at the vice headmaster. "Let''s just say I happened upon a rather unique potion¡ªone that allowed me to cultivate without the need to tame beasts."


    The vice headmaster frowned after hearing it. He never knew or even heard a potion that could do this. He now didn''t know what to do.

 Chapter 122 Second Phases Solution

    The Vice Headmaster sat motionless in his seat. He didn''t know what to do with Lucius. He turned to the other four observers. "What are we supposed to do now? This is... quite unprecedented."


    The first observer leaned forward in his chair and shook his head. "We''re not sure. This is the first time we''ve encountered a situation like this."


    He looked back at Lucius. "None-talent individuals aren''t supposed to reach this level, let alone take the Platinum Class test."


    The second observer crossed her arms. "If he doesn''t have a beast, putting him against the Flame Bear is... problematic. Without a companion, it would be a one-sided slaughter."


    The third observer was a bit nervous. "But his Evolist technique was remarkable. I''ve never seen such precise energy control before. The way he does it is one of the best in his generation."


    The fourth observer sighed heavily, running down his hand across his face. "None of that matters if he can''t fight. If we let him proceed without a solution, it will destroy everything we''ve built here."


    The Vice Headmaster''s finger tapped against his folded arms as he thought about the situation. He looked back at Lucius, who waited for them.


    He then pressed the other observers. "What do we do, then? Disqualify him? That seems premature, considering his ability. But letting him fight the Flame Bear without a beast... that''s a bit..."


    Lucius smirked after hearing them. He stepped closer to the vice headmaster and opened his hands. "Let''s not make this complicated, Vice Headmaster. I understand the debate you''re having."


    He then pointed at himself. "You''re wondering how someone like me¡ªa person without the ability to tame beasts¡ªcan possibly complete this phase of the test."


    The Vice Headmaster narrowed his eyes but said nothing, letting Lucius continue.


    Lucius turned and gestured toward Liora, who stood beside her. "I propose a solution. Why don''t I let my maid, Liora, who is also my bodyguard, fight in my stead here?"


    The first observer leaned forward in his seat and shook his head. "That''s unacceptable. She is not you. This test is to evaluate your abilities, not hers."


    Lucius chuckled softly, nodding his head slightly. "I only follow the rules as they''re given, Vice Headmaster. If they happen to work in my favor, so be it."


    The Vice Headmaster laughed again and clapped his hands. "Very well! The second phase begins now."


    Lucius turned to Liora and smirked. "Liora, go on. Show them what you''re capable of."


    Liora smirked and stepped to the arena. She looked at the 4-Star Flame Bear. "It''s about time. I''ve been waiting for this."


    Suddenly, Luna''s voice appeared in her mind. Luna was reminding her something. "Liora, remember¡ªdon''t use full-body Beast Fusion. If you''re pressured, use only one limb for Beast Fusion. We can''t afford to let them see our secret, not even now."


    Liora smirked. She responded to her telepathically. "Relax, Luna. I won''t let them figure it out. Honestly, I don''t think I''ll even need to use it."


    Luna sighed. "I''m just reminding you. Even if you''re winning, we have to play this carefully. Master doesn''t want unnecessary attention."


    Liora glanced back at the observers for a fraction of a second and smirked. "Don''t worry, Luna. They''ll see what I want them to see¡ªand nothing more."


    With that, she refocused her attention on the Flame Bear, which roared again, flames erupting from its claws as it slammed its massive paws against the ground.


    Liora only smirked and mocked it. "Big, loud, and on fire. Typical for a stupid beast."


    The Vice Headmaster looked at the scene. "Liora, the Flame Bear won''t hold back. Let''s see if you can match its strength."


    Lucius, who heard what the vice head said, only smirked. He was quite amused. "Strength isn''t the question, Vice Headmaster. The real question is whether the Flame Bear can keep up with her."


    Liora smirked. She began to crouch down in preparation to fight the 4-Star Flame Bear.

 Chapter 123 Silver Flame

    The observers exchanged puzzled glances. They were confused. The second observer leaned forward.


    "Why hasn''t she summoned her beast yet? Is she planning to fight the Flame Bear entirely on her own?"


    The first observer shook his head. "If she''s holding back, it could cost her the fight. The Flame Bear won''t wait for her to show her full strength."


    The vice headmaster, however, smirked and raised his hand to quiet them. "Let''s not rush to conclusions yet. Watch closely. Liora is no ordinary fighter."


    The Flame Bear let out a roar and charged toward Liora with its flaming body and flaming claws.


    Liora looked at the beast and without hesitation, she dashed forward. Liora was using her hands and met the bear head-on.


    Liora managed to hold it for a moment before being overpowered by the bear, who pushed her back. Fortunately, Liora didn''t get injured by it.


    Liora frowned, looking at herself. She forgot that she was a human and not a beastman anymore.


    She looked like the bear was rushing toward her again, so she sidestepped quickly to avoid it.


    She also leapt into the air, flipping over the beast to land behind it. Because of heat from the bear, she also retreated further to the back.


    Liora then glanced down at her human hands. She was irritated, as this was the first time she battled with her human body.


    She exhaled deeply and shook her head. "This form... it''s limiting. I can''t fight effectively without using Beast Fusion."


    She turned her gaze toward the roaring flame bear. She then smirked. "But why waste the effort? I don''t need to do this alone. This is the very reason I evolved into a human."


    Liora extended her hand. She summoned a portal. She smirked. "Leon, it''s time to show this stupid beast what real power looks like."


    From the portal, a massive Silver Flame Lion appeared. It looked at the flame bear and roared.


    The vice headmaster was surprised by the beast. He looked at the beast. "A Silver Flame Lion, huh? That''s quite a rare one."


    With a sudden and powerful motion, Leon swung his head to the side. He lifted the flame bear off the ground as if it weighed nothing.


    The bear''s massive body flailed in the air for a brief moment before Leon hurled it across the arena like a rag doll.


    The impact shook the ground as the Flame Bear slammed into the arena wall, making a crack.


    The observers gasped. They were in disbelief. "That bear weighs over a ton! He tossed it like it was nothing."


    The vice headmaster, on the other hand, leaned forward and grinned. "This Silver Flame Lion isn''t just powerful¡ªit''s dominant. Look at its composure. It hasn''t even broken a sweat."


    Leon didn''t even give the flame bear a moment to recover. With a low growl, he rushed forward. The bear barely managed to rise to its feet before Leon was upon it.


    Leon leapt onto the bear and pinned it to the ground. The flame bear roared in protest. It tried to release itself by burning its body in flame.


    But Leon didn''t even flinch. He stood over the bear and his silver mane began to glow brighter as his power surged.


    Liora smirked after seeing the scene. He pointed toward the bear. "Finish it, Leon."


    Leon opened his jaws. He gathered silver flames in his mouth as he prepared to unleash his ultimate attack.


    With a deafening roar, Leon unleashed his Silver Flame Burst directly onto the Flame Bear''s head.


    The silver flames immediately surpassed the flame bear''s own flame in temperature.


    The bear''s roar of defiance faded as the silver flames consumed its head entirely.


    The obsevers watched in silence. The flame bear''s head was reduced to ash. Its dead body collapsed to the ground.


    Even a strong flame beast like a flame bear couldn''t withstand the overwhelming heat of Leon''s flames.


    Liora crossed her arms and smirked. She said to herself, "Lesson learned. Don''t fight by myself."


    Leon stepped back from the lifeless flame bear. He turned toward Liora and shook his mane in triumph. Liora gave him a small nod of approval.

 Chapter 124 Platinum Sparks

    The vice headmaster and the observers stared at the scene before them. They were surprised to see how the battle was concluded.


    The fourth observer leaned forward. "I can''t believe it. The fight was completely one-sided. That lion... it''s stronger than we thought."


    The second observer crossed her arms and nodded. "A Silver Flame Lion of this caliber is exceedingly rare. Its power rivals even the strongest beasts of its rank."


    The third observer furrowed his brow and turned to Lucius. "Where did you find such a rare and powerful beast? A Silver Flame Lion like that doesn''t just appear out of nowhere."@@@@


    Lucius smirked. He stepped forward amusedly as he addressed the question. "You''re right. The Silver Flame Lion is incredibly rare. But he didn''t start this way."


    The observers exchanged puzzled glances. They didn''t understand what Lucius meant, but they were curious and waited for him to explain.


    Lucius gestured toward Leon with a casual wave of hand and continued. "Leon was originally just a Flame Lion. I used a significant amount of rare resources to evolve him into a Silver Flame Lion."


    There was silence for a moment and then the reaction rippled through the group. The observers, along with the Vice Headmaster, sat up straighter. They were in shock.


    The fourth observer glared at Lucius. "You evolved it? You''re saying you personally oversaw the evolution from Flame Lion to Silver Flame Lion?"


    Lucius shook his head and smirked. "Not oversee, but personally evolve it. It wasn''t easy. The resources required were immense, and the process demanded precision."


    Lucius then smirked and gestured toward Leon. "But the results speak for themselves, don''t they?"


    The vice headmaster leaned forward. He clasped his hand together as he studied Lucius closely.


    "If what you say is true, then your skills as an Evolist are better than I thought. The evolution of this caliber, particularly to this type of beast, is almost unheard from 4-Star Evolists and below."


    The second observer glanced at the vice headmaster. "If he''s capable of that level of evolution, his presence in the Platinum Class isn''t just warranted¡ªit''s necessary."


    Lucius smirked and turned his attention fully to the Vice Headmaster. "So, vice headmaster. Do I need to do another test, or have I passed?"


    The third observer frowned. "Watch your mouth. These aren''t just anyone¡ªthey''re Lucius''s maids. He''s the new Platinum student."


    The second student, who was broader and more imposing, raised an eyebrow. "A new Platinum student?"


    He exchanged a glance with his companion. "It''s been a long time since we''ve had one."


    The thin student crossed his arms and smirked. "Even so, we''re the seniors here. So you''d better show some respect, Lucius, or things might get... unpleasant."


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    The third observer frowned. He wanted to intervene, but Lucius placed his hand on his shoulder to stop him.


    Lucius smiled and assured him. He was also quite amused. "Don''t worry. I''ll take care of this myself."


    The third observer hesitated but stepped back. He allowed Lucius to walk forward. Liora and Luna exchanged brief glances but said nothing.


    Lucius approached the pair and smirked. He tilted his head slightly. "So, I take it you''re the welcoming committee?"


    The thin student frowned a bit after looking at Lucius'' demeanor. "We''re just making sure the new guy knows how things work around here."


    He then stepped forward and warned Lucius. "You might have just gotten into Platinum Class, but that doesn''t mean you outrank us."


    The broader student added, "Yeah. It''d be wise to show some humility. We''re nobles, after all."


    Lucius chuckled and shook his head. "I see, so both of you are nobles, huh? No wonder, you were always so concerned with rank and respect."


    Both of them stiffened slightly, but Lucius continued before they could respond. "Let me make one thing clear. I didn''t get here by luck, favoritism, or lineage."


    Lucius then stepped forward and glanced at them. "I earned my place and I don''t bow to anyone. Even so to the insecure seniors that clinged to their titles."


    Both of the thin and broad students were mad after hearing it. They never thought that the new junior would be this arrogant.

 Chapter 125 The Hackers Greeting

    The thin student''s smirk vanished completely, replaced by a glare that burned with anger. "You''ve got a lot of nerves to talk¡ª"


    Lucius raised his hand to silence him. "I need to remind you about your interest in my maids. I suggest you keep your thoughts¡ªand your distance¡ªto yourselves."


    He then leaned to them slightly and smirked. "You might think your status makes you untouchable, but trust me... you don''t want to find out what happens when you cross me."


    The broader student clenched his fists. He was quite mad after hearing it. "Is that so? Let''s see if you still talk that way after we put you in your place."


    Both of them were about to summon their own beasts but the third observer stepped forward. He stopped between them and Lucius.


    He looked at the pair. "That''s enough. You''d better think twice before you do anything rash."


    The two students froze. They glared at the third observer and sneered. "And why should we?"


    The third observer gestured toward Lucius. "Because Lucius isn''t just some random student. He''s been approved to join the Platinum Class¡ªpersonally approved by the Vice Headmaster himself."


    The two were surprised after hearing that. The two students hesitated, as they didn''t want to mess with the vice headmaster.


    The third observer then continued. "You''re free to do as you like within the academy. But attacking a new Platinum student would have serious consequences. Do you really want to risk it?"


    Both of them soon frowned. They then began to step back. "Damn it. This isn''t over. You''d better watch your back."


    The two students turned and stormed off. Lucius and the third observer could still hear the curses.


    Lucius watched them leave and only smirked and laughed. "They were quite amusing."


    The third observer let out a long sigh. He glanced at Lucius. "You''re taking this lightly, but they''re trouble. I''m relieved this didn''t escalate."


    Lucius still smirked and was also quite curious about them. "Just who are they?"


    The third observer hesitated for a moment before answering. "The thin one is Karnon Raventhorn, and the broader one is Merek Raventhorn."


    Lucius''s smirk deepened. "I see. So they''re from the noble Raventhorn family, then. That explains their arrogance."@@@@


    The third observer nodded. "Exactly. They''re direct descendants. They carry a lot of weight here."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Physical Alteration]


    [Targets: Merek Raventhorn and Karnon Raventhorn]


    [Effect: Remove 0.1 cm of Penis Daily Until Completely Erased]


    [Cost Required: 50 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Lucius smirked as he mused silently. "Merek, Karnon. Since you value your charms and arrogance so much, consider this my personal greeting gift for you."


    Luna could sense Lucius sudden demeanor changing. She smirked and leaned closer. "Master, whatever it is, I''m sure it''s nothing less than poetic justice. Should I feel bad for them?"


    Lucius chuckled and shook his head. "No, Luna. You should enjoy watching them squirm."


    Luna smiled faintly but said no more. She began to sync back her steps with him as they approached the Platinum Residence


    Whatever Lucius had planned, she knew it would be effective and unforgettable. Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire


    Liora, who walked silently beside them, glanced at Lucius. She could sense that Luna was talking telepathically to their master.


    She knew that Lucius was doing something. She didn''t need to know, but still she let out a quiet laugh. "It''s always interesting with you, Master."


    Lucius turned slightly toward her. His smirk never faded. "Interesting is just the beginning."


    The third observer glanced at Lucius and his maids. He noticed the faint smirks playing on their faces.


    He wasn''t sure what they were thinking or why they seemed so amused, but it wasn''t his place to ask. He was just there to guide them, after all.


    He shook his head slightly and refocused on his task. Without another word, he gestured for them to follow him toward the Platinum Residence.

 Chapter 126 All Eyes on the Platinum District

    The third observer stopped in front of the towering Platinum Residence. He turned to Lucius and his maids, gesturing toward the grand entrance. "This is your residence now."@@@@


    Lucius glanced at the building. He slipped his hands into his pocket and smirked. "Impressive. Thank you for guiding us here."


    The third observer nodded. He then stepped closer and warned Lucius. "Be careful. The platinum area isn''t like the golden area."


    He pointed at the other platinum residences. "It''s harsher. The competition here can be cutthroat, and alliances are fragile at best. Watch your back."


    Lucius glanced back at the observer and chuckled. "I appreciate the concern, but I think you''re underestimating me. It''s not my back they need to watch."


    The observer hesitated for a moment but still nodded. "Suit yourself. But don''t say I didn''t warn you." With that, he turned and left. He went back to the academy.


    Luna stepped closer to Lucius. She tilted her head as she studied the building. "It''s larger than our golden residence. Shall we see if the inside is better than the golden one?"


    Lucius smirked and gestured toward the door. "By all means. Let''s inspect our new residence."


    Lucius then used the card given by the vice headmaster to scan the door. The door was then automatically opened.


    Lucius walked in first and looked around the space. "It''s quite big and functional. Let''s see what else it offers."


    Luna and Liora followed him inside. Luna stopped by a wall-mounted control panel near the entrance.


    "It''s well-equipped. Energy-efficient systems, advanced training equipment¡ªthis is definitely a step up."


    Liora moved toward an open doorway. She glanced into the attached training hall. She crossed her arms and smirked. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Not bad. The air is better here and cleaner. And the equipment looks high-end. They''re not cutting corners."


    Yellow Flare, a stocky man with tied yellow ponytail hair grunted. "Dormant or not, it''s dangerous to leave it in the wrong hands. According to the report, the material belongs to one of the Platinum Class students."


    Red Flare smirked faintly. "A Platinum Class student, huh? It makes sense it''d be hidden in a place like this. Still, we''re the best of the best. No one here can match us."


    Blue Flare narrowed her eyes as she scanned the towering buildings of the academy in the distance. "Don''t underestimate them, Red."


    She then warned him. "Platinum students aren''t just chosen randomly. Even if they''re not on our level, they''ll put up a fight if they catch us."


    Red Flare only nodded and smirked. "Noted. But we''re not here for them. We get in, take the material, and get out before anyone knows we were here."


    Yellow Flare also nodded. "Let''s move quickly. If the rumors are true, that mysterious group is after the same thing. We can''t afford to let them get to it first."


    The three exchanged quick glances. Without another word, they moved silently toward the academy.


    They soon found a place where there were no guards but still there was an academy''s barrier.


    Blue Flare then took out some tools and smirked. "I''ll handle this. The academy''s defenses are strong, but they''re not impenetrable."


    Red Flare crossed his arms and watched her work. "Just don''t take too long. The longer we''re out here, the greater the risk of being spotted."


    Blue Flare quickly used her tools to handle some small part of the academy''s barrier. Finally, she had made a small hidden hole in it. "Done. We can go in now."


    Yellow Flare smirked. He then stepped into the academy through the small hole. "Let''s go find this material. If we can get it quick, we will be handsomely rewarded by the boss."


    Red Flare only smirked as he followed him. "Agreed. But remember. Speed and concentration are key. We''re not here to play games."


    The three tamers then moved silently into the academy grounds, their senses on high alert.


    They were determined to claim the legendary material, unaware of the obstacles¡ªand individuals¡ªthat awaited them.

 Chapter 127 Tamer Divisions Golden Complex

    Lucius and Luna walked side by side toward the imposing gates of the Golden Complex in the Tamer Division.


    They could see that there were two guards in front of them. They were now guarding the golden gate while holding sharp spears.


    One of the guards stepped forward. He tightened his grip on his spear. "State your business. This is the Golden Complex. Unauthorized access is not permitted."


    Lucius stopped in front of them and smirked. He clasped his hands behind his back. "I''m here to meet someone."


    The second guard glanced at Luna and turned to Lucius. "This area is restricted to Golden Class tamers. If you have no business here, turn around."


    Lucius chuckled. He then took out a sleek plaque from his spatial ring and showed it to the guards. The plaque was drawn with platinum insignia. "Does this answer your question?"


    The guards were surprised. They glanced at the plaque and stiffened. They exchanged quick glances with each other before stepping back.


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    The first guard bowed down and stammered. "Forgive us. We didn''t realize you were a Platinum student."


    The second guard also bowed down quickly. He was now quite nervous. "Please accept our apologizes. Who would you like to meet? We''ll summon them for you."


    Lucius smirked and put his plaque back to his spatial ring. "Magnus Volcaria. Let him know that his beloved elder is calling for him."


    The guard blinked and swallowed hard. Magnus Volcaria was infamous within the Golden Class. He was competitive, fearless and especially loud.


    Even in his short time at Astra Academy, he had earned a reputation as someone who didn''t back down from anyone or anything.


    Few dared to challenge him outright, let alone call themselves his elder. The guard hesitated for only a moment before nodding quickly. "Yes, sir."


    He then quickly got to his feet and gestured toward the gates. "Please follow me. I''ll lead the way."


    Magnus turned around and began walking quickly. Lucius followed from behind, while Luna walked silently beside him and scanned their surroundings.


    The guards who still stood at the gate exchanged baffled glances. One of them leaned toward the other, whispering under his breath. "Did he just kneel?"


    The confused second guard nodded slowly. "Yeah, he is, but how can this happen? That''s Magnus Volcaria. The most fearless, competitive, and loud student in the Golden Class. He doesn''t bow to anyone."


    His gaze was also fixed on Lucius'' retreating figure. "Just who is this Platinum student?"


    They stood there in silence for a moment before the first guard let out a low whistle. "Whoever he is, I''d hate to get on his bad side."


    Meanwhile, the three of them arrived at Magnus''s Golden Residence. Magnus walked ahead and opened the door. "Let''s head in."


    Lucius and Luna followed him inside. They began to scan the interior. It was quite the same as the one inside their own former Golden Residence.


    Magnus turned to face Lucius as they stepped further in. He was a bit curious. "Elder, I have to admit, your visit caught me off guard. But still, what did you want to do with me?"


    Lucius was about to reply to him, but Magnus suddenly cut him. "And also, I am quite surprised to hear that you are a Platinum student. How did you become a Platinum student so quickly?"


    Lucius smirked and clasped his hands behind his back. He turned to Magnus. "I''m a genius. That''s it. But I didn''t come here just to talk about my promotion. I''m here because of what it represents."


    Magnus blinked, processing Lucius''s words before his eyes widened with realization. He stepped forward, his competitive fire reigniting. "Elder, are you saying¡ª?"


    Lucius smirked and nodded. "Yes, Magnus. It is what you are thinking about."


    Magnus smirked and jumped in excitement. It was time for him to also become stronger.

 Chapter 128 Magnus New Beast

    Lucius turned to Magnus and smirked. "It''s time for you to advance to a 4-Star Tamer, so summon your beast now."


    Magnus grinned. He immediately summoned a portal, in which a big Lava Tortoise appeared. It looked at Magnus and growled.


    Lucius smirked and turned to his system. "System, show me the evolution options for this Lava Tortoise."


    ---


    [Evolution Options for Lava Tortoise:]


    [4-Star Flame Tortoise: 100 HP]


    [4-Star Lava Tortoise: 1.000 HP]


    [4-Star Magma Tortoise: 10.000 HP]


    [4-Star Inferno Tortoise: 100.000 HP]


    ---


    Lucisu scanned the list for a moment. He smirked as he already decided which evolution route he would choose.


    He turned his attention back to Magnus. "Prepare a private room for me. I''ll need it to evolve your beast."


    Magnus blinked. He was a bit surprised. "You''re doing it here? Elder, are you sure? I mean, usually, Evolists need time to prepare and a dedicated place for this kind of thing."


    Lucius folded and chuckled. "Magnus, do you think I''d be standing here if I wasn''t prepared? Or are you having second thoughts about me evolving your beast?"


    Magnus shook his head quickly. "No way, Elder! I just... I''ve never seen anyone do it this fast before."


    Lucius''s smirk grew. "That''s because I''m not just anyone. I am a genius. So, are you going to get me that room, or are we wasting more time?"


    Magnus immediately nodded. "I''ll prepare it right now! Please wait for a moment."


    Magnus turned around and quickly ordered his nearby attendants to go and prepare the room.


    Moments later, Magnus returned. He gestured toward a door at the far end of the hall. "It''s ready, Elder. The best room in the residence."


    Lucius nodded and walked toward the room. Luna followed silently behind. Magnus also followed from behind and was accompanied by his Lava Tortoise.


    As they reached the room, Lucius stepped inside. He paused and turned to Magnus. He smirked. "Leave the rest to me, so don''t let anyone disturb me or else."


    The molten cracks fused together into sharp and jagged patterns that resembled glowing infernos.


    Its four limbs also grow thicker and stronger. Its claw also became sharper and hotter than before.


    The process soon finished, although it was still asleep. The Inferno Tortoise was bigger, stronger and hotter than the previous Lava Tortoise. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire


    Lucius then glanced toward the window and noticed that the sky was dark. He turned to Luna and smirked. "It seems that it was night already. Let''s get some rest first. We will show this to him tomorrow."


    Luna nodded and smirked. She then glanced and gestured toward the large and elegant bed in the corner. "The room seems well prepared. It''s certainly more luxurious than expected."


    Lucius approached the bed. He inspected it briefly before sitting down. "It''s quite soft and comfortable. They didn''t cut corners, at least."


    Luna stepped closer. She immediately took off her clothes and pushed Lucius down to the bed. "Master, it''s been a while since we''ve done it. Don''t you think it''s time for us to do it?"


    Lucius, who was lying on the bed, smirked. He straightened up his body and looked at Liora in the eyes, who was sitting on his lap. "You''re not wrong. A little coitus wouldn''t hurt anyone."


    Lucius then stood up and pushed the naked Luna to the bed. Lucius smirked as he began to take off his clothes and went to the bed.


    They began their fun night activity in the big, luxurious bed. The room was private and soundproof, so they could do it as hard as they wanted.


    When morning arrived, Lucius and Luna were prepared to leave. As they went out of the room, Lucius was surprised to see that Magnus was waiting just outside the door.


    Magnus, who realized that Lucius was already out, immediately stood up. "Elder Lucius! How did the evolution go? Did it work?"


    Lucius was amused and smirked. He then stepped aside and gestured toward the room. "Why don''t you see it for yourself, Magnus?"


    Magnus didn''t need to be told twice. He rushed inside. The moment he saw his new beast, he was surprised and excited at the same time.


    His new beast was way bigger than before. It was also stronger and hotter than before. Magnus was frozen, as he could not believe that this was his new beast.


    Magnus scanned his new beast and glanced back at Lucius. "It''s... enormous. Elder, this is incredible! I''ve never seen anything like it."


    Lucius looked back at Magnus and smirked. "It''s more than size, Magnus. This beast was even stronger than its previous form.


    Lucius then pointed at Magnus and smirked. "But that power is useless without a Tamer strong enough to wield it. Be the 4-Star Tamer and show them the strength of Volcaria."


    Magnus smirked. His competitive fire had been completely reignited. He clenched his fists. "You can count on me, Elder. I''ll take this power and show everyone what it means to be a Volcaria.""


    Lucius nodded and lowered his hand. He turned around and glanced back at Magnus over his shoulder. "Good. Then get to work."


    With that, Lucius began to walk down the hall and left the Golden Residence to return to their own Platinum Residence. Their mission had been completed.


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 Chapter 129 Hidden Flare Group

    Inside a storage room within the Golden Complex, Red Flare paced back and forth. Blue Fare sat on a stack of crates while crossing her arms.


    Yellow Flare, on the other hand, leaned against the wall near the door. The three of them were now frowning because of the current condition.


    Red Flare looked at them. "This is bad. The Platinum District''s security is far tighter than we anticipated. We should''ve been inside by now."


    Blue Flare glanced at him and frowned. She was irritated. "We underestimated them. I didn''t think that the academy would put a stronger barrier inside the Platinum District."


    Yellow Flare folded his arms and let out a low grunt. "The Platinum Students were so precious as they were harder to get. That''s why the barrier was stronger."


    Red Flare frowned. "Because of it, we cannot even enter. Now we''re stuck here in the Golden Complex. We need a plan."


    Blue Flare raised an eyebrow. Her fingers drummed against her arm. "Do you have one, or are you just stating the obvious?"


    Red Flare shot her a glare. "I''m thinking. It was harder than you think. Did you have a plan?"


    Blue Flare frowned and Yellow Flare could not hold it anymore and stepped forward. "We can''t stay here much longer. Sooner or later, someone''s going to notice us."


    Blue Flare leaned back slightly and turned his attention to the window. "There''s one way."


    Red Flare was curious what plan Blue Flare had. He turned toward her. "Let''s hear it."


    Blue Flare nodded toward the complex outside. "We use someone who has access to the Platinum District. A student, preferably."


    Yellow Flare frowned and shook his head. "You want us to drag a Platinum student into this? That''s risky. If they report us, it''s over."@@@@


    Blue Flare smirked faintly. "Not if we pick the right one. A student who''s... ambitious. Someone who can be bought or manipulated. They won''t report us if they think we''re offering them something in return."


    Dreston stepped closer and smirked. "Let me educate you, then. I''ve just become a 4-Star Tamer. I''m here to join the Platinum Class."


    He paused for a moment. He was waiting for Magnus''s reaction. However, Magnus didn''t react at all. "Oh? That''s nice."


    Dreston was surprised. It shouldn''t be like this. Dreston looked at Magnus with confusion. "That''s it? You''re not surprised?"


    Magnus stepped closer and smirked. "Not really. You see, I''ve also just become a 4-Star Tamer. In fact, I''m here for the same reason¡ªto join the Platinum Class."


    Dreston was surprised after hearing that. "What? You? How is that even possible? You''re younger than me! How can you become 4-Star Tamer so fast?"


    Magnus laughed loudly. He was amused by Dreston''s shocked face. "Maybe it''s because I''m a genius, or maybe you''re just slow."


    Dreston''s face darkened. His jaw tightened as he glared at Magnus. "You think you''re better than me just because of this? Let me remind you, Platinum Class isn''t just about rank¡ªit''s about proving yourself."


    Magnus tilted his head and crossed his arms. He smirked. "And I''ll prove it, just like I did when I beat you the first time. Face it, Dreston. You''re always going to be a step behind me."


    Dreston frustatedly clenched his fist. Before he could retort, the receptionist at the counter cleared her throat to break the tension.


    The receptionist glanced at both of them from her desk. "So, both of you are here for the Platinum Class evaluation? Tamer Division, correct?" Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire


    Both Magnus and Dreston nodded in unison, though their postures couldn''t have been more different.


    Magnus stood tall and looked confident while crossing his arms, while Dreston kept his arms at his sides and tightly clenched his jaws to suppress his irritation.


    The receptionist looked at both of them and nodded. "Good. Fortunately, both of you are from the Tamer Division, which simplifies the process. Follow me, and I''ll take you to the evaluation area."


    Magnus and Dreston exchanged a brief glare before following behind her. Despite the receptionist''s composed demeanor, the tension between the two could clearly be seen.


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 Chapter 130 The Pre-Platinum Clash Begins

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    Magnus looked at Dreston and smirked. "So, Dreston. How does it feel to know you''ll be sharing the evaluation with someone who''s already beaten you?"


    Dreston smirked and snorted. "You''re awfully confident for someone who barely scraped by last time. Don''t think you''re untouchable, Magnus. The Platinum Class is a whole different level."


    Magnus chuckled and placed his hands behind his head as he walked. "Keep telling yourself that. Meanwhile, I''ll be showing them why I belong there. You? You''ll just be the warm-up act."


    Dreston''s smirk tightened. He clenched his fists briefly before relaxing them. "Talk all you want. Words won''t mean anything once we''re in that arena."


    The receptionist glanced over her shoulder. She remained neutral but still felt a need to stop their bickering.


    "Gentlemen, I suggest you save your energy for the evaluation. It''s not about who''s louder¡ªit''s about who delivers results."


    Magnus grinned. He was unfazed by the reprimand. "Don''t worry, ma''am. I always deliver."


    Dreston scoffed. He shook his head, choosing not to respond to the receptionist.


    The three of them then stopped at a pair of massive double doors. The receptionist then turned to face Magnus and Dreston.


    She gestured toward the door. "This is the evaluation area. Both of you will be tested individually to determine if you have what it takes to enter the Platinum Class."


    Magnus raised an eyebrow and smirked. He glanced at Dreston. "Individually, huh? Shame. I was hoping for something more... direct."


    Dreston folded his arms and scoffed. "Don''t get ahead of yourself, Magnus. You''re not the only one with skills."


    The receptionist rolled her eyes slightly but maintained her professionalism. "The evaluator is waiting inside. Enter when you''re ready."


    Without waiting for another word, Magnus pushed the doors open and entered. Dreston followed closely from behind.


    Dreston Glared at Magnus and snapped. "This isn''t just about looks. This beast has more power than you can handle."


    Magnus chuckled and stepped back a bit. "We''ll see about that."


    Magnus then raised his hand and summoned a portal. "Now, let me show you what a real beast looks like."


    From the portal, a big 4-Star Inferno Tortoise emerged. It was bigger than the wolf. Its body also radiated heat as it let out a growl.


    The Whirlwind Wolf growled instinctively, its ears flattening slightly as it stepped back.


    Dreston frowned. He tightened his jaw as he looked at the size and aura of Magnus''s beast. "Damn it! What the hell is that thing?"


    Magnus rested his hands confidently in his hips and smirked. "Meet my Inferno Tortoise. Big, powerful, and built to crush anything in its path."


    Dreston kept frowning as he looked up at the massive beast. But still he sneered. "Size isn''t everything. Speed and strategy will always win over brute strength."


    The evaluator, who had been observing the exchange silently, stepped forward. He clasped his hands behind his back.


    His gaze shifted between the two beasts and he nodded slowly. "Both of your beasts look strong."


    The evaluator then gestured toward both of them. "But appearances don''t mean much in a real fight. It''s time to show me what you''re capable of. Prove your strength and control¡ªor fail trying."


    Magnus''s grin grew wider as he gestured toward the Whirlwind Wolf. "Dreston, I hope you brought your A-game, because I''m not holding back."


    Dreston stepped back slightly and raised his hand toward his beast. "Don''t worry about me. Worry about keeping that oversized tortoise from getting smashed."


    The evaluator clapped his hands once. "Enough talk. Prove yourselves. Let the battle begin."


    Magnus and Dreston locked eyes briefly, their competitive energy crackling in the air before they turned their full focus to the battle.


    The Inferno Tortoise roared, its molten shell flaring brighter, while the Whirlwind Wolf crouched low, the air around it swirling with sharp gusts of wind.


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 Chapter 131 Magnus Dominance

    Dreston wasted no time. He turned to his Whirlwind Wolf and ordered it to attack. "Gale Slash!"


    The Whirlwind Wolf growled. Its claws began to glow as it swiped through the air. Sharp wind blades materialized and went toward the Inferno Tortoise.


    Magnus stood confidently. He smirked and folded his arms. "Let me see how strong you really are. Inferno Tortoise, don''t move. Let it attack."


    The massive tortoise growled low. It planted its feet firmly on the ground.


    It made no effort to dodge. Its molten shell radiated heat as the Gale Slash struck.


    The wind blades hit their target, creating sparks as they clashed against the tortoise''s tough exterior.


    A few scratches appeared on the shell, but the Inferno Tortoise remained unshaken.


    Dreston frowned. He was frustrated because he was underestimated. "Don''t stop! Use Gale Slash again¡ªand again!"


    The Whirlwind Wolf howled. It swiped its claws to send more sharp wind blades toward the Inferno Tortoise.


    After a few moments, the Inferno Tortoise still stood strong. It growled. It shook its body slightly as if shrugging off the damage.


    The scratches were visible, but they seemed insignificant against its massive, imposing form.


    Magnus burst into loud laughter. "That''s it? That''s all your beast can do? It looks like I won''t even have to try. Inferno Tortoise, counterattack! Use Magma Breath!"


    The tortoise opened its massive jaws, and a searing stream of molten magma erupted forth from it. It surged toward the Whirlwind Wolf.


    Dreston frowned. He turned to his Whirlwind Wolf and shouted. "Dodge it! And use Cyclone Dash!"@@@@


    The Whirlwind Wolf leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding the stream of magma. It began to sprint in a wide circle around the Inferno Tortoise.


    The faster it ran, the stronger the wind currents it generated. A cyclone began to form beneath the Inferno Tortoise, lifting its massive body slightly off the ground.


    Magnus frowned for the first time as he watched the tortoise being lifted. "What the hell? It can do this."


    Magnus smirked. He crossed his arms over his heightened chest. "Naturally. That''s what it means to be a Volcaria."


    Dreston, who stood a few steps away, clenched his fists tightly at Magnus''s words. He tightened his jaw as he tried to suppress his frustration.


    Without a word, he summoned a portal that let his Whirlwind Wolf return to rest from the fatigue.


    The evaluator turned toward Dreston. "Dreston Velcour. Your Whirlwind Wolf is fast, precise, and adaptive. Its ability to create a cyclone and destabilize such a massive opponent is no small feat."


    Dreston''s tense posture relaxed slightly because of the compliment, but his frowning face still remained.


    The evaluator continued. "Unfortunately, your beast faced an opponent that was not only larger but far more resilient."


    "The Inferno Tortoise''s power and defense outmatched your wolf in this instance. Even so, your strategic use of speed and wind manipulation showed exceptional control."


    Magnus smirked as he heard it. "Good effort, Dreston. But in the end, it wasn''t enough."


    Dreston glared at him. He was frustated but still held it in. "Next time will be different."


    The evaluator sighed and raised a hand. "Enough. Both of you have demonstrated that you possess the skill, control, and adaptability required for the Platinum Class."


    Magnus''s smirk widened further. He looked at the evaluator. "So does that mean..."


    The evaluator nodded. "You both pass. Prepare yourselves¡ªthe Platinum Class is not for the faint of heart. You''ll face challenges that will push you to your limits."


    Magnus turned to Dreston with a triumphant smirk. "Looks like we''re both moving up, but let''s not forget who dominated today."


    Dreston said nothing, his fists clenching briefly before he turned away. He already knew what he should do next.


    The evaluator stepped back, gesturing toward the exit. "Report to the administration office to finalize your placements. Congratulations to you both."


    Magnus smirked as he exited the chamber. He also put his Inferno Tortoise back to his beast space. "Let''s see what the Platinum Class has to offer."


    Dreston already exited the room earlier than Magnus. Magnus didn''t care about it as Dreston was just another sacrifice for his fame.


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 Chapter 132 The Flares Target Dreston

    Magnus and Dreston walked side by side toward the administration office.


    Though they had both passed the Platinum Class evaluation, they were still tense toward each other.


    Unbeknownst to them, a figure watched from the side. A woman with blue hair leaned against a wall.


    A smirk appeared on her face as she muttered. "Perfect. We can use this for our plan."


    She turned around and immediately left both of them. She was going to meet her other companions.


    ---


    Inside a storage room within the Golden Complex, Red Flare and Yellow Flare met up. They didn''t smile at all, meaning they didn''t get any useful info.


    Red Flare glanced around impatiently. "Where is Blue Flare? Why is she later?"


    Yellow Flare leaned against the wall and shrugged. "I don''t know. She didn''t say anything about being delayed."


    Red Flare frowned and growled. "Forget it for now. Did you find anyone in this division we could work with?"


    Yellow Flare frustatedly shook his head. "No. The students here are ambitious, but none of them have what it takes to get us into the Platinum District. They''re all weaklings."


    Red Flare sighed heavily. "Same here. The Golden Class Evolists are too low-ranked and few to be of any use. Even those with potential are far from ready for this kind of job."


    Yellow Flare slammed his fist against the wall and cursed. "Damn it! We''re running out of time. If we don''t find someone soon¡ª"


    Before he could finish, Blue Flare appeared. She didn''t frown at all. Instead, she was smiling. It immediately drew Red and Yellow Flare attention.


    Red Flare knew something was up. He smiled. "There you are. Where have you been? We''ve been waiting."


    Blue Flare stopped in front of them and smirked. "Relax, Red. I was in the Tamer Division. That''s why I''m late."


    Yellow Flare was confused as to why Blue Flare went there. "The Tamer Division? Why there?"


    Yellow Flare crossed his arms and glanced at the residence. "So, what''s the plan? Wait for him to come back?"


    Blue Flare took out a small set of tools from her spatial ring. "We don''t have time to waste. He''s on his way home, but we''ll be waiting for him inside."


    Without waiting for a response, she approached the gate. She easily manipulated the system and made the gate easily open. "Done."


    She smirked as she entered the residence. She gestured for the other two to follow her. "Let''s get inside."


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    Red Flare and Yellow Flare exchanged brief glances before nodding and stepping through the gate.


    The three of them moved quickly but quietly, entering the residence and closing the door behind them.


    The interior was modest but well kept. Blue Flare surveyed the space briefly before gesturing toward the main hall. "We wait here. When he comes back, we make our move."


    Red Flare leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. "This should be interesting."


    Yellow Flare paced around the main hall. "Let''s make it quick. The sooner we get into the Platinum District, the better."


    Blue Flare smirked as she leaned back on the sofa. "Don''t worry. Dreston will do exactly what we want. He just doesn''t know it yet."


    The three Flares waited patiently, their expressions calm but their minds focused on the task ahead.


    Not long after, the sound of hurried footsteps could be faintly heard from outside. The door was opened and Dreston Velcour stepped inside.


    He was frustated. He could not believe that he lost to Magnus two times. "Damn that, Magnus. That arrogant fool... thinks he''s better than everyone. I''ll show him."


    He paused briefly and rubbed his temples as he tried to be calm. "I''ll get stronger. I''ll surpass him. Just wait..."


    Unbeknownst to Dreston, three pairs of eyes were already locked on him, watching his every move.


    The Flares, hidden in plain sight, exchanged silent glances. Their target had arrived.


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 Chapter 133 Drestons Deal with the Flares

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    Dreston walked toward the main hall. He was still frustated, but his stomach growled.


    He hadn''t eaten since the evaluation, so he walked there to search for some foods.


    As he entered the main hall, he froze. It was because he suddenly heard some voice from behind. "I''ve been waiting for you."


    Dreston turned around. His eyes narrowed as he saw a blue-haired woman sitting casually on his sofa.


    Dreston frowned. "Who are you? How did you get into my residence?"


    The woman smirked. She leaned back slightly as she was unbothered by his anger. "You don''t need to worry about that. What you need to know is that we''re here to help you."


    Dreston was surprised. He immediately scanned the room and soon noticed two other figures standing in the shadows near the walls.


    Both of them stepped forward. One had fiery red hair while the other was a broad-shouldered man with golden locks tied back in a rough ponytail.


    Dreston knew that these people were dangerous, but he kept his calm. He glared at them. "Help me? With what?"


    Blue Flare rose from the sofa and smirked. She stepped closer to him. "Oh, come on, Dreston. We know about your match with Magnus. We know how it ended. You lost to him, didn''t you?"


    Dreston stiffened as his pride was attacked. He snapped at them. "What of it? I''ll surpass him eventually."


    Blue Flare nodded knowingly and smirked. "Of course you will. But not if you keep going like this. That''s where we come in."


    Dreston frowned as he was a bit suspicious. "What do you mean? I don''t understand it."


    Instead of answering directly, Blue Flare let out her aura. The other followed suit and let out their 5-Star auras for Dreston to see.


    Dreston stumbled back slightly. He was surprised as he felt the sheer aura emanating from them. He was at a loss for words.


    When he arrived, he entered his residence and took a moment to admire the space. The interior was spacious and luxurious. It was also equipped with high-end machines. "This is more like it."


    But his satisfaction was short-lived. As he turned toward the main hall, he was surprised to see that the flares group were already sitting in there.


    Dreston looked at them in disbelief. "How¡ª? How did you get in here?"


    Red Flare leaned casually against the wall. "Like we said, we have our own ways to enter."


    Blue Flare stepped forward and looked at Dreston. "You don''t need to worry about the details. We''re here now. That''s all that matters."


    Yellow Flare crossed his arms and grunted in agreement. "You should be more focused on what we''re about to give you."


    Dreston''s surprise quickly faded. It was replaced by a smirk. "Alright then. You said you could make me stronger. Let''s see what you''ve got."


    Blue Flare took out an orb from her spatial ring. She held it up and smirked. "This is a 5-Star Wind Core. Do you know this, right?"


    Dreston stepped closer and was amazed by the beast core. "Of course it knows it. This 5-Star Wind Core will boost my Whirlwind Wolf''s power to an entirely new level."


    Blue Flare nodded. "Exactly. Your beast is already wind-based, so absorbing this core will enhance its abilities beyond anything you''ve seen before."


    Dreston took the core carefully. He smirked as he examined it. "With this, Magnus won''t stand a chance. Thank you for it."


    Red Flarae pushed himself off the wall and chuckled. "Don''t thank us just yet. We''ve given you the tool. Now it''s up to you to use it properly."


    Yellow Flare stepped toward the door and glanced back briefly. "We''ve got our own mission to handle. Make sure you don''t waste what we''ve given you."


    Blue Flare turned around. She smirked as she followed the others. "We''ll be watching. Don''t disappoint us, Dreston."


    With that, the three Flares exited the residence, leaving Dreston alone with the 5-Star Wind Core.


    Dreston clenched the beast core tightly. "This is it. With this, I''ll surpass Magnus¡ªand prove that I''m the strongest."


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 Chapter 134 A Fractured Barrier

    Inside one of the Platinum Residences of the Evolist Division, Kaltrik sat in the main hall. Papers and notes lay scattered across the table before him.


    He was frustated as his works had become larger and heavier. It was because of the recent attack on one of their largest Evolist hubs.


    Kaltrik leaned back in his chair. He frowned after thinking that his workload had been tripled just because of this accident.


    He clenched his fist and muttered. "Damn them. Whoever dared to attack us will pay dearly."


    He then turned his attention toward the center of the table. A vial that was filled with a deep red liquid sat on the table.


    Kaltrik reached for the vial and held it up. The red liquid was glowing and also exuding an intense heat and aura from it.


    Kaltrik scanned it again. This had become his habit. "Just what beast is this blood essence coming from?"


    The question had been in his mind even since he got this vial from a certain cave. He didn''t know its origin but the aura from it was really strong.@@@@


    The aura radiating from it was so intense that giving it to one of his beasts was out of the question. It would only destroy them.


    And yet, the essence''s presence alone had already begun to affect his beasts. His beasts had grown stronger simply by absorbing the aura that emanated from the vial.


    Kaltrik put the vial back on the table and smirked. "You are a mystery, but a powerful one."


    He leaned forward and tapped the edge of the tables with his fingers. "If I can unlock your secrets, you could be the foundation for my rise."


    Kaltrik''s gaze lingered on the vial. He could feel the possibilities swirling in his mind. New experiments, new beasts, or perhaps even a path to surpass his current level.


    He turned to the vial again. "Let''s see what you''re made of. I''ll turn this loss into the beginning of my ascension."


    He then immediately reached for his tools. He was ready to dive deeper into his research. Although the destruction of his family''s hub had been a blow, Kaltrik was determined to reverse the situation.


    She then gestured toward the barrier. "Just like in the Golden Complex, the barriers around the Tamer and Evolist Divisions are... fused."


    Red Flare frowned. He stepped closer to inspect the faint glow of the barrier. "Fused? What does that mean?"


    Blue Flare smirked in amusement. "It means the barriers have overlapping configurations. Probably a maintenance oversight."


    Blue Flare then pointed it again. "But still, it weakens the barrier between these divisions. With the right tools, we can pass through without raising any alarms."


    Yellow Flare immediately smirked. "So, just like in the Golden Complex, their security isn''t as tight as they''d like us to believe."


    Blue turned to him and smirked. "Exactly. That gives us a perfect opportunity to get into the Evolist Division. If the legendary materials are anywhere, it''s there."


    Red Flare straightened and smirked. "I see. So, with this fused barrier, we can slip in easily without any interference. That simplifies things."


    Blue Flare nodded. "Precisely. Now, let''s move before anyone realizes their mistake."


    Without wasting another moment, the three of them advanced toward the Platinum Evolist Division.


    As they approached the shimmering barrier, Blue Flare pulled out a small device from her spatial ring.


    She pressed a few buttons, and the device immediately caused the barrier to shimmer briefly before stabilizing.


    Blue Flare gestured toward the now-passable area and smirked. "There. We''re good to go."


    Red Flare chuckled and rushed through it. "Perfect. Let''s find those materials and get what we came for."


    Yellow Flare smirked and followed. He also scanned the surroundings. "We''ll need to move fast. If anyone spots us, this whole operation could fall apart."


    Blue Flare smirked as she fixed the barrier back. "Don''t worry. Even if they realize it, they won''t know what just happened."


    The three Flares had now entered the Evolist Division. They were going to find the legendary materia.


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 Chapter 135 A Heist in the Platinum Evolist Division

    The three Flares moved cautiously through the Evolist Division. As they advanced deeper into the district, their artifacts suddenly began to glow faintly.


    Red Flare smirked as he stared at the artifact in his hand. "It''s here."


    He then looked at the place where their target material was located and frowned when he looked at one of the largest residences.


    Yellow Flare frowned. "Figures it''d be inside a place like this. Of course, it''s not going to be easy."


    Blue Flare smirked. She stepped ahead of the others. She then took out her tools. "Who said anything about easy? That''s why I''m here. Give me a minute."@@@@


    She crouched by the gate''s control panel. She began to manipulate the system and bypass the security measures.


    After a few moments, the gate was opened and Blue Flare stepped inside with a smirk. "Done. Let''s go."


    The three of them entered the residence silently. The interior was vast and well-kept, with various tools, notes, and equipment scattered across the space.


    As they ventured deeper into the main hall, they were surprised. They could see a man that was engrossed in an experiment.


    They didn''t know what he was doing. Yellow Flare whispered to others. "What is he doing?"


    Blue Flare shook her head and scanned the room. "Doesn''t matter. Our artifact picked up the target¡ªit''s on that table."


    Red Flare followed her gaze. He then spotted a glowing vial among the scattered equipment.


    "That''s it," Red Flare said, his voice a low growl. "The legendary material."


    Yellow Flare grinned excitedly."Finally, we find it. Let''s grab it and get out of here."


    But before they could move, Kaltrik , who had been engrossed in his experiment, suddenly straightened.


    He felt something was wrong, so he turned around quickly. He suddenly saw three intruders that were standing in his residence.


    Blue Flare then smirked and gestured toward the exit. The three of them were now leaving the residence as they already had what they needed.


    As they slipped out of the residence, the alarm continued to ring. Kaltrik was still inside and fell into sleep after being hypnotized. His memory also began to disappear from his head.


    ---


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    Five minutes after the Flares vanished into the shadows, a figure emerged from the shadow in the corner of the room.


    A sleek, humanoid figure with silver panther-like features stepped out of the shadows.


    As she moved closer, her form began to transform into a normal woman. Luna stood tall and her gaze fell on Kaltrik''s motionless body.


    She tilted her head and smirked as she observed him. "So, you are one of my master''s main enemies. I quite expected more from you."


    Luna then crouched beside Kaltrik. "It''s almost sad to see you like this. You are really pathetic."


    Luna put her hand across his face. "I had hoped to make you suffer¡ªinflict the kind of pain you deserve. But, alas... time isn''t on my side."


    She rose to her feet and took out her dagger from her waist. "Leaving you alive might''ve been entertaining. I could''ve come back later to truly make you regret your existence. But no, you''re my master''s enemy. That alone seals your fate."


    Without hesitation, Luna stepped forward and used her dagger to stab Kaltrik''s heart. It was clean and swift. It ensured his death was instant.


    Luna looked at the dead Kaltrik. She pulled the blade easily from it. "Be thankful. I granted you a peaceful death¡ªsomething you don''t deserve, but I don''t have the time to waste."


    She wiped the blade on a nearby cloth before slipping it back into its sheath. She then looked toward the exit and smirked.


    "I hope she got the vial from them. That will make things... interesting."


    With a final glance at Kaltrik''s dead body, Luna began to transform into her beast form.


    She then melded into the shadow and left Kaltrik''s residence. He only left a faint scent of her presence here like a shadow.


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 Chapter 136 The Flares Desperate Run Through the Platinum District

    The three Flares moved silently through the Platinum District, but the alarm easily broke the silence. They could not become undetected for now.@@@@


    Red Flare growled. He was frustated about the alarm as he glanced over his shoulder. "Damn it! That alarm''s too loud¡ªwe''re exposed!"


    Blue Flare clenched her jaw. She scanned around to see for any sign of pursuit. "No point in hiding now. They''ll be swarming this area any moment."


    Yellow Flare clenched his fists and cursed. "Damn it. We need to move fast. We don''t need to run silently anymore."


    Blue Flare frowned and scolded him because of her frustation. "Then stop complaining and fuse with your beasts! Transform your legs¡ªwe need speed if we''re going to get out of here."


    Without hesitation, the three of them fused with their beasts. Their legs began to transform into a beast leg with dark fur growing around it.


    Red Flare''s legs began to become shadow hound''s legs. Yellow Flare''s legs became shadow stag''s legs and Blue Flare''s legs became shadow cat''s legs.


    The three of them then became faster as their agility stat was increased. With their shadow beast fusion, they easily became faster than before.


    Blue Flare led them and barked. "Don''t stop! We keep moving until we''re out of this district!"


    Red Flare glanced at her and growled. "Forget anything and just run. Don''t stop for anything."


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    Yellow Flare grunted in agreement. "We''ve got the material. Nothing else matters right now."


    The three Flares dashed through the streets. The alarm was still ringing, but they didn''t look back.


    All that mattered was escaping with the vial¡ªand they would let nothing stand in their way.


    Suddenly, they were surprised by a loud roar that appeared behind them. Before they could react, a big silver lion suddenly appeared and lunged directly at Blue Flare.


    Blue Flare was too focused on her escape. She barely recognized the surroundings until it was too late.


    The lion''s powerful body slammed into her side, sending her tumbling across the ground. She slid to a stop.


    The sound of the guard''s rapid approach broke their hesitation. They immediately decided to act.


    Without another word, Red Flare and Yellow Flare turned and ran. They only focused on escaping the district.


    They didn''t look back. They didn''t dare. The mission no longer mattered. Their own lives were the only priority now.


    Suddenly, a loud voice appeared behind them as they were running. "Don''t think you can run."


    Both Flares turned their heads. They were surprised to see a man that was riding a big thunder wolf. They were coming for them.


    The man pointed his two fingers at the two Flares. "Thunder Wolf, Thunder Strike!"


    The Thunder Wolf let out a howl. Its body surged with thunder. A blinding bolt of lightning shot forth toward the two fleeing Flares.


    Red Flare cursed as he twisted his body to face the incoming attack. "Damn it! Block it!"


    Yellow Flare also stopped beside him and clenched his fists. "We can''t take this head-on! That attack was too strong!"


    Red Flare glared at him and snapped. "I know! But we can''t escape, either! The attack''s too fast¡ªthere''s no time! Just transform your hands into shadow claws!"


    Both Flares extended their hands. They began to transform their arms into the powerful claws of their shadow beasts.


    They then raised their new dark claws to defend against the attack. They were hoping to absorb the brunt of the attack.


    Unfortunately for them, they had made a grave miscalculation about the attack.


    The lightning struck with devastating force. It easily overhelmed their defenses in an instant.


    Their shadow claws were unable to withstand the power of the Thunder Wolf''s attack.


    The air around them exploded, and both Flares were sent flying backward. Their bodies were slammed into the ground.


    They never thought that the beast that stopped them was not a 5-Star beast. Instead, it was a 6-Star Beast.

 Chapter 137 The Flares Last Stand

    Red Flare and Yellow Flare groaned in pain. Their bodies trembled as they struggled to stand.


    The residual electricity from the Thunder Wolf''s attack crackled faintly around them. It made their limbs weak and sluggish.


    Red Flare looked at the Thunder Wolf and muttered in disbelief. "Six-Star beast... Isn''t this... a bit overkill?"


    The man who rode the Thunder Wolf glared down at them. "Of course it is. You two dared to infiltrate the Platinum District. One of the most important places of the Astra Academy."


    The man pointed at the barriers. "Did you think we wouldn''t have defenses strong enough to handle intruders like you?"


    The Thunder Wolf growled deeply. It stepped closer to prevent them from having any thought of escaping.


    The man continued. "You managed to breach our defenses, so I had no choice but to respond with the best. Now, you''d better start talking. Who are you, and why are you here?"


    Red Flare and Yellow Flare exchanged quick glances. They never thought that they were caught. It seemed that there was only one plan they could do.


    Red Flare then looked up at the man from his weakened position and smirked. "Do your worst! We''ll never tell you!" Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    Beside him, Yellow Flare chuckled. "Whatever you do to us, you won''t get anything from us."


    The man was suspicious about them as they began to be brave. But before he could do something about them, both flares were already doing something.


    Without hesitation, Red Flare and Yellow Flare bit down hard on hidden capsules embedded in their teeth. The capsule broke and released a fast-acting poison.


    The man who realized what just happened became enraged. "Damn it! Don''t you dare to suicide!"@@@@


    But it was too late. The poison acted quickly. It coursed through their veins as their bodies began to convulse.


    The smirks on their faces remained. Even as life drained from their eyes. Within moments, Red Flare and Yellow Flare collapsed completely.


    Liora bowed down a bit and soon returned to her platinum residence with her silver lion.


    Elder Harwick watched her leave. "Lucius, your maids are really as amazing as you are. Let''s see what heights you''ll reach."


    He then turned around. He looked at his men. He gestured toward the fallen intruders. "Search them and check what they were carrying. Bring their corpses back to the base for examination."


    His men nodded and quickly moved out to carry out his orders. They began to inspect the corpses. After a few moments, one of them went to Elder Harwick.


    He was a bit pale. "Elder Harwick. We''ve discovered something unusual about the corpses."


    Harwick turned to him and furrowed his brow. "What do you mean by unusual? Explain it to me."


    He hesitated briefly before speaking. "The brains of all three corpses... they''re gone."


    Harwick, who heard it, was surprised. "What do you mean that their brains are gone?"


    His man tried to maintain his composure. "I mean, their heads were cut open recently and their breains were removed. There''s no doubt that it was done when you were talking to Liora."


    Elder Harwick frowned and tightened his fist. "Damn it. To think that there was another intruder. He must be stronger and more skilled to be undetected to me."


    He turned to his man again. "This wasn''t just a coincidence. Whoever it was wanted to ensure that no information could be extracted from these bodies. They''ve covered their tracks thoroughly."


    His man nodded. "That''s not all, Elder. We also found nothing on them. Even their spatial rings are gone. It seems the fourth party not only took their brain but also their rings."


    Harwick frustatedly tightened his jaw. He turned away briefly. "Damn it. They were one step ahead of us the whole time."


    He turned back to his men. "Bring the bodies back regardless. I want a full report on what you find. Keep your eyes open, as whoever did this may still be in the district."


    His men nodded and moved quickly to carry out his orders. Harwick mounted the Thunder Wolf once more and went to another area for another inspection.

 Chapter 138 Kaltrik Kryndals Death

    Elder Harwick turned to one of his subordinates. "Which residence was targeted?"


    The subordinate hesitated briefly before answering. "It was the second-ranked residence, sir... Kaltrik''s."


    Harwick was surprised and clenched his fists in frustration. "Damn it. To think it was his residence. Let''s go. We need to check on him immediately."


    Without wasting another moment, Harwick and his subordinates rushed toward Kaltrik''s residence.


    The alarm had been turned off. When they entered, they were surprised to find the room was not so messy. It was not what they had anticipated.


    But the moment they looked at what was in the center, they were shocked. Kaltrik lay motionless on the floor. It was not clear if he was dead or alive.


    Harwick frowned and turned to his subordinates. "Quickly, check on him. Is he alive or dead?"


    The subordinates moved immediately. They kneeled beside Kaltrik and inspected him. After a moment, one of them looked up and turned to Harwick.


    He frowned and cautiously said, "Elder Harwick. He''s dead. His heart was stabbed. It was a clean strike. At least his death was quick."


    Harwick clenched his fist and tightened his jaw. "Damn it. Kaltrik is one of the best Evolists of the younger generation. To think he''s been killed so easily."


    He turned to his subordinate, who had delivered the news. "What about the items? Were any of them taken?"


    The subordinate stood and moved toward the inventory logs and quickly scanned them.


    After a few moments, they shook their heads. "According to the registered list, nothing seems to be missing."


    Harwick frowned deeply. "If the registered items are all accounted for, then it must have been one of the unregistered items."


    His gaze shifted to the table where Kaltrik had been working. He scanned the scattered equipment, notes, and vials, searching for clues.


    "That means whatever was taken wasn''t officially documented. Something Kaltrik either acquired on his own or was working on in secret."


    Lucius turned to Luna and smirked. He curiously asked her. "Did you retrieve what we needed?"


    Luna turned to Lucius and smirked. "Of course, Master. I''ve taken their brains and their spatial rings."


    Luna then gestured toward Liora. "Thanks to her distracting Elder Harwick, I could easily move and took what I needed from the shadow.


    Luna also gestured to the night sky outside the window. "It was also night, making it even more impossible for them to detect me."


    Lucius chuckled and smirked. He was satisfied with Luna''s work. "Excellent. I expected no less."


    Luna then stepped closer to Lucius. She then smirked wider. "And there''s more, Master."


    Lucius looked at Luna''s face and smirked. "Seeing your expression, it should be a good matter for us. What did you do this time?"


    Luna chuckled. She folded her arms and leaned in slightly. "I took the chance to eliminate one of our persistent threats. It was Kaltrik Kryndal, the older brother of Kaelix Kryndal."


    Lucius smirked and approved her action. "I see. You''ve made a good choice there. Tell me, How did you kill him?"


    Luna straightened slightly. "He was already hypnotized by the intruders when I found him. So, I took the opportunity to kill him quickly."


    Luna then frowned when thinking about it. "Unfortunately, because of the time constraints, I couldn''t... take my time with him. No torture, just a clean strike."


    Lucius chuckled and smirked. "Don''t worry, Luna. You did the right thing. Eliminating him now means we''ve avoided future trouble."


    Liora glanced between Lucius and Luna. She folded her arms as she was satisfied. "With Kaltrik gone, the Kryndal family will be left in the dark. They won''t know anything about us."


    She paused briefly and turned to Lucius. "That will make our movements much easier than before."


    Lucius smirked and tapped his fingers lightly on his chair armrest. "Indeed. For now, we''ve neutralized the immediate threats. There''s no one left for us to concern, at least for now." Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire


    Lucius then turned to Luna and smirked. "Let''s take a look at our mysterious item, shall we?"

 Chapter 139 Lucius Sets The Trap

    Lucius looked at Luna and smirked. "Let''s see what''s contained in their brain. Luna, took them out."


    Luna stepped forward and smirked. She took out three boxes that were filled with three brains. She placed them on the table and turned to Lucius. "Here they are, Master."


    Lucius leaned in and opened the box. He smirked as he turned to the system. "Hack these brains and extract their memories directly to me."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Memory Transfer]@@@@


    [Target: Three Disembodied Brain]


    [Effect: Extract and Transmit All Memories to User]


    [Cost Required: 30,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Liora stood nearby. She folded her arms and was expressionless. "Their secrets better be worth it."


    Luna stepped back and turned to Liora. "They will be, Liora. They are ordinary people, so their secrets will be worth it for us."


    Lucius then gripped the table''s edge. He gritted his teeth as the pain shot through his head as the memories were being transmitted to him.


    A moment later, Lucius smirked as he got what he wanted from them. "It''s done. Their memories are mine."


    Luna tilted her head. She was curious about what her master found. "What did you find, Master? Is it interesting?"


    Lucius turned to her and smirked. "They are trying to gather legendary materials of the Red Dragon."


    Liora was a bit surprised and stepped closer to Lucius. "A Red Dragon? Just hearing the name... it''s clear this isn''t an ordinary beast."


    Lucius turned to her and smirked. "Of course it is. It is a dragon after all. From what I get, their mission is to gather all of the Red Dragon materials so they can get the Red Dragon Blessing."


    Lucius glanced between them and smirked. "Well then. Let''s not waste time anymore."


    Lucius turned to the system and smirked. "Begin the absorption. Extract most of the blood essence, but leave enough to maintain its color and aura."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Blood Essence Absorption]


    [Target: Red Dragon]


    [Effect: Extract 80% of Blood Essence while Retaining Physical Appearance and Aura]


    [Cost: None]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    The blood essence inside the vial began to change, but the changes were not visible. To other people, this vial looked the same as before.


    Lucius smirked as he looked at his hack points. He smirked as he got another jackpot. His hack points had been filled by a lot.


    Lucius then turned toward the vial again and smirked. "Perfect. The bait had been set."


    Luna stepped forward and studied the vial. "It doesn''t look any different. The color, the aura. It''s flawless. They won''t suspect a thing."


    Lucius turned to Luna and smirked. "That''s what your plan is, right? They''ll think they''ve found exactly what they''re looking for. But too bad for them. I have already absorbed most of it."


    Liora crossed her arms and looked at the vial. "So what''s next, Master? Do we wait for them to come, or do we take the vial to them?"


    Lucius smirked as he turned to face them both. "We follow the plan. Let them come to us."


    Luna tilted her head and smirked. "And when they do come. What will we do, Master?"


    Lucius stepped closer to the table and smirked. "When they come, we will follow them back to their base. It''s easy to follow plan."

 Chapter 140 A Humorous Twist in the Platinum District

    Inside one of the more lavish brothels in the Platinum District. The air was thick with incense and quiet murmurs of pleasure.


    The establishment was catered exclusively to the academy''s elite, who were noble students who often sought indulgence to fulfill their needs.


    In a private chamber, Karnon and Merek were being served by beautiful girls. Kanon leaned back on the plush couch, while Merek smirked at the young woman below him.


    The girls giggled softly while serving both of them. However, after some times, one of the girls frowned after he had done the deed with them.


    She turned to Karnon and confusedly asked. "Young Master Karnon. I am sorry but I want to ask why you are so quick today. You''re not usually like this."


    Karnon froze mid-motion. He was annoyed after being asked about his masculinity. "What are you talking about?"


    Another girl turned to Merek. She was a little bit hesitant but also bewildered about the same situation. "It''s not just that, Young Master. It''s... smaller than usual."


    Merek blinked. He was surprised by what he was hearing. He looked at her irritatedly. "Smaller? What nonsense are you spouting?"


    Karnon stood up abruptly. He threw the girl over the couch. He glanced at her. "Explain yourself."


    The first girl flinched but managed to stammer, "It''s just... we noticed. It doesn''t feel the same. You''re... not as big as before."


    Both men exchanged quick glances. They also began to realize something after being told by the girls.@@@@


    Merek pushed himself off the couch. He immediately looked down to see his manhood. "This is ridiculous. There''s no way¡ª"


    Karnon, who was already suspicious, was faster. He looked down to see his own manhood. "We''ll see about that."


    Their reactions were immediate. Karnon could not believe what he had seen. "What the hell?!"


    Merek''s jaw dropped, and he stumbled back a step. He gripped the edge of the table for support. "This... this can''t be right."


    Both of them stared at their own manhood. They were in a state of panic and denial. Their manhood sizes had been reduced.


    Luna turned to Lucius. "Master, now that we''re free to move as we please, what''s our next step?"


    Lucius turned to her and smirked. "We''ll visit the Volcaria Estate. It''s been too long since I last saw them."


    Liora tilted her head slightly. "It''s been a while indeed. They''ll need to see how much has changed since your last visit."


    Luna nodded in agreement. She also smirked. "Then let''s not keep them waiting, Master."


    Without further delay, the trio made their way to the academy''s teleportation platform.


    Lucius approached it confidently. He held up the Volcaria plaque he had kept stored in his spatial ring.


    The attendant that stood by the platform bowed quickly upon seeing the platinum plaque. "Please wait a minute, young master. The teleportion platform will soon be ready."


    After a moment, the teleportation platform was ready and Lucius stepped onto it. Luna and Liora followed closely behind.


    Lucius found himself standing on the rugged, volcanic terrain of the Volcaria Estate.


    The air was thick with the scent of sulfur, and the distant rumble of molten lava echoed through the landscape.


    Waves of heat radiated from the nearby volcano, casting a shimmering haze over the estate''s towering walls and grand structures.


    Lucius took a deep breath and smirked. "It''s been a long time since I''ve been here."


    Luna stepped beside him and smirked. "It''s as intense as I remember. A fitting backdrop for a family like the Volcarias. Always dramatic."


    Liora crossed her arms and cast a glance at the grand gates of the estate in the distance. "Shall we meet them, Master?"


    Lucius chuckled as he was amused by Liora. "Yes. Let''s meet with our backers and remind them that I am still their greatest asset."


    The trio moved toward the estate gates, their presence commanding even amidst the volatile beauty of the volcanic landscape.

 Chapter 141 A Genius Homecoming to the Volcaria Estate

    Lucius approached the gate. As he stepped closer, he could see that Daxton, the headguard of the Volcaria family, was there.


    Daxton looked at Lucius and was surprised upon seeing him. Daxton called him out. "Lucius? What are you doing here?"@@@@


    Daxton then walked toward him. "From what I know, you are still a student at Astra Academy and you shouldn''t be able to leave, right?"


    Lucius smirked. "Things have changed. I recently advanced to Platinum Class. One of the perks of that status is the freedom to come and go as I please."


    Daxton was surprised again. "Platinum Class? Didn''t you only spend one year at the academy?"


    Lucius smirked as he was amused. "Did you forget what the Matriarch said about me? She called me a genius. I''d say her judgment wasn''t misplaced."


    Daxton laughed hard and grinned. "Right, right! I almost forgot about that. You really are something else, Lucius. Not many students manage to reach Platinum Class¡ªlet alone in a single year."


    Lucius shrugged lightly. "It''s not such a big deal. The academy just happens to be a bit... easy for me."


    Daxton raised his eyebrow and crossed his arms. "Only you would say something like that. Still, it''s impressive. So, what brings you back here? Something important?"


    Lucius only chuckled. "Let''s just say I felt it was time to reconnect. I''d like to meet with the Matriarch and Patriarch¡ªjust for a moment."


    Daxton nodded and smiled. "I see. Well, you''ve come at a good time. They''re in the main hall right now. You can go straight to them."


    Lucius smiled and nodded. "It''s perfect. Thank you, Daxton, and nice to meet you again."


    Without waiting for a response, Lucius stepped past Daxton and went inside. Luna and Liora also followed him from behind.


    Daxton watched them go and was curious about what his real purpose was, but he was a family so as long as it benefited the family he didn''t care much.


    ---


    Lucius approached the double doors of the Volcaria Estate''s main hall. He pushed it open and entered. At its center, the Matriarch, Savra Volcaria, was sitting on a throne.


    Luna stepped forward and smirked. "It''s an honor to be acknowledged by you, Matriarch."


    Savra tilted her head and smirked. "A sharp tongue. I see why you keep her close."


    Savra then turned toward his other maid. She looked at Liora for a moment before being surprised by her. "Wait a moment. You''re Liora, aren''t you?"


    Liora nodded and turned to her. "Yes, Matriarch. I am Liora, in the flesh. The one you bought last year."


    Savra narrowed his eyes. "How strange. I distinctly remember you as a beastman. How is it possible that you''ve become human?"


    Before Liora could respond, Lucius stepped in. "It wasn''t as complicated as it seems. Liora was already half-human by lineage. I simply made a few... adjustments with the right materials."


    Savra''s brow arched as she was surprised. "You mean to say you evolved her into a full human? You can do that?"


    Lucius chuckled. "It''s amazing what luck and the right concoction can achieve. With some effort, the transformation was easy."


    Savra leaned back. She was clearly intrigued by it. "You never cease to surprise me, Lucius."


    She then glared at Liora and asked Lucius. "Did she gain a beast-taming talent through this... evolution?"


    Lucius nodded. "Fortunately, she did. She''s now a capable tamer and serves as my personal bodyguard."


    Savra smirked. "That''s fitting. Neither you nor Luna were beast tamers, so it''s a smart move to have someone with the talent by your side."


    Lucius smiled and nodded. "Precisely, Matriarch. It''s all part of the bigger plan."


    Savra nodded. "You''ve certainly grown into your ambitions, Lucius. It''s no wonder you''ve risen so quickly."


    Lucius smirked. "Thank you for your praises, Matriarch. It was good being praised by the mighty Savra of Volcaria.


    Savra only smirked after hearing it. She rarely praised people but for Lucius, she could not help but praise him.

 Chapter 142 Lucius and Savras Private Meeting

    Lucius glanced around the grand hall. He didn''t see the figure he expected. "By the way, where is Patriarch Ragnar? I heard he was here."


    Savra nodded slightly. "He was. But he was suddenly called away to attend a meeting with another dukedom. It''s an important matter."


    Lucius bowed his head a bit. "I see. As expected from the patriarch. Duty calls, as always."


    Savra chuckled softly. "Of course. The Volcaria family is not just any estate¡ªwe''re a dukedom. Responsibilities come with that, and sometimes we''re busier than most."


    Lucius nodded again. "Naturally. It''s part of what makes the Volcarias such an invaluable backing. That level of influence and power is unmatched."


    Savra smiled faintly as she glared at Lucius. "And so are you. You''ve proven yourself to be a valuable ally to this family. I''ll be very interested to see how much further you can rise, Lucius."


    Lucius smirked. "I assure you, Matriarch, there''s no limit to how far I intend to go."@@@@


    Savra chuckled again. "But still. I doubt you''ve come here just to see me. Knowing you, there''s more to this visit than a simple check-in. What are you planning, Lucius?"


    Lucius leaned forward slightly and smirked. "You''ve always had a way of reading people. Yes, I''m here to discuss something important that requires your attention."


    Savra arched an eyebrow and glanced at Lucius. "If you say it''s important, then it must be."


    She rose from her throne and gestured for Lucius and the others to follow her. "Come. Let''s talk somewhere more secure."


    Lucius smirked as he stood up. He adjusted his coat slightly and motioned for Luna and Liora to follow. "Lead the way, Matriarch."


    Savra led them to a seemingly unremarkable section of the wall. She reached into her spatial ring and retrieved a plaque and pressed it against a concealed slot in the stone.


    A faint hum echoed through the hall, and with a soft grinding sound, the wall shifted and slid open, revealing a hidden passageway.


    He couldn''t reveal the truth that the destruction of the Garran estate was his doing. Some secrets were better left buried.


    Savra''s sharp gaze remained fixed on Lucius as she leaned slightly forward. "But how can you be certain this mysterious group is connected to the Garrans?"


    Lucius smirked and gestured toward Luna, who stood calmly at his side. "You see. Luna was once a Garran."


    Savra was a bit surprised hearing that. She turned to Luna. "Luna, is this true?"


    Luna stepped forward slightly and nodded. "Yes, Matriarch. I was born into the Garran family. But because I was deemed talentless, I was sold into slavery. They are afraid that their status will fall because of me."


    Savra softened slightly. She sympathized with Luna. "I''m sorry to hear that."


    Luna shook her head and smiled. "It''s alright. If I hadn''t been sold, I never would have met Master. My life now has purpose."


    Savra only smiled hearing that and turned back to Lucius. "I see. But that still doesn''t answer the question. How did you come to know about this group?" Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire


    Lucius leaned back slightly. "For reasons unknown, one of my academy missions was to evolve a beast for Garran''s young master."


    Savra tilted her head slightly. "So, was this mission the moment you encountered the mysterious group?"


    Lucius shook his head and faintly smirked. "No, it wasn''t. Allow me to explain¡ªit''s a bit of a long story."


    Savra leaned back slightly, gesturing for him to continue. "I have time. I''m sure it will be worth hearing."


    Lucius glanced at Luna and Liora briefly before settling back into the sofa. He crossed one leg over there to comfort himself first.


    He glanced at Savra and smirked as he began the story. "The Garran mission wasn''t my first encounter with them, but it was the moment where it began."

 Chapter 143 The Garran Familys Downfall

    Lucius leaned back slightly and started. "For an unknown reason, I was sent to the Garran family for one of my academy missions."


    Lucius then looked at his hand and smirked. "But I can guess that the reason I was sent there was because I cut the hand off a noble."


    Savra wasn''t surprised and smirked. She leaned forward slightly. "I see. Which foolish noble was brave enough to offend you?"


    Lucius chuckled softly as he tried to remember his name. "If I remember correctly. His name was Kaelix Kryndal."


    Savra was surprised after hearing the name. She calmed herself before turning to Lucius. "Wait a minute. Did you just say Kryndal?"@@@@


    Lucius nodded and didn''t change his expression. "Yes, it is. Is that noble important?"


    Savra leaned back in her chair and let out a soft laugh. She was amused by him. "Important? The Kryndals are also a dukedom."


    Savra then put her chin on her hand and smirked. "But don''t worry, Lucius. The Volcarias are a dukedom as well, and far more powerful. They wouldn''t dare pick a fight with us."


    Lucius smirked. "Good to know. Though, to be fair, I didn''t really leave them much choice in the matter."


    Savra was curious about it now. She leaned forward. "Still, how exactly did Kaelix Kryndal offend you to the point that you cut off his hand?"


    Lucius chuckled softly. "It''s quite simple, actually. He was furious that I, a genius, took over his residence. His pride couldn''t handle it, so he tried to kill me."


    Savra raised an eyebrow. "And?"


    Lucius shrugged nonchalantly. "So I fought back, but I never thought that he was weaker and stupider. After one too many attempts on my life, I decided I''d had enough and took his hand as a lesson."


    Savra chuckled softly and shook her head. "I believe it. The Kryndals have always been arrogant¡ªtypical of an Evolist family that thinks too highly of itself."


    Her expression shifted slightly. "But that still doesn''t explain why you think the Garran mission is connected to them."


    Savra nodded slowly. "I see. But I''m still not convinced. How does all of this connect to the mysterious group you mentioned earlier?"


    Lucius only smirked. "I''m just getting started, Matriarch. What I uncovered during that mission is only the tip of the iceberg."


    Savra leaned forward slightly as she was curious. "Then don''t keep me waiting. Continue."


    Lucius smirked as he continued. "As I mentioned earlier, Luna is a former Garran. So, let''s just say there''s no good atmosphere between us and that family."


    Savra arched an eyebrow. She looked briefly at Luna before returning to Lucius. "I can imagine that. Continue."


    Lucius gestured toward Luna with a faint nod. "When we heard the news that the Garran family was being destroyed, Luna was... excited."


    Lucius then smirked. "She wanted to see the destruction with her own eyes, and I admit, so did I."


    Savra tilted her head slightly. She could understand that. "I see. So, you went to witness the aftermath?"


    Lucius nodded. "Yes. And in that moment, we saw something unexpected. A group of strangers that seemed to be part of the mysterious organization I mentioned earlier."


    Savra leaned forward slightly. "What were they doing there?"


    Lucius became colder. "We saw one of them fighting with the Garran Patriarch himself. He overhelmed him and defeated him. They also looted the Garran treasury."


    Savra glared at Lucius even more. "Did you see what they took?"


    Lucius nodded and leaned forward slightly. "Yes. They took something that looked like a large red scale."


    Savra''s gaze flicked to the vial on the table between them. She began to piece it together. "It seems that what you''re saying is true. They''re collecting materials connected to the Red Dragon."


    Lucius smirked, gesturing toward the vial. "Exactly. The scale they took from the Garrans was just one piece of the puzzle. This vial of Red Dragon Blood Essence is another."


    Savra leaned back in her chair. Her expression was unreadable as she looked at Lucius. "If what you''ve uncovered is true, then this group isn''t just any ordinary group."

 Chapter 144 A Deadly Trap

    Savra leaned back slightly. She still glanced at the vial on the table. "Now that I understand how you learned about this mysterious group, tell me, How did you get your hands on this blood essence?"


    Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    Lucius only smirked. He gestured toward the vial. "This essence was actually from Astra Academy."


    Savra was surprised, as she never thought it was in that place. She turned to Lucius for confirmation. "Did you say that you got it from the academy?"


    Lucius chuckled and leaned back into his seat. "You heard me. This vial came from the academy itself but it was not the academy but an unfortunate student."


    Lucius then shook his head. "I don''t know how he managed to get their hands on it, but the assassins from the mysterious group came for it."


    Savra''s expression darkened as she thought about it. "So how did the blood essence end up in your possession?"


    Lucius''s smirk widened as he nodded toward Liora. "Liora here happened to be in the area. She noticed the assassins and engaged them immediately, holding them off."


    Savra turned to Liora. "But those assassins were stronger, weren''t they?"


    Lucius became serious and nodded. "Yes. But fortunately, an academy elder arrived in time. A 6-Star Tamer. He dealt with the assassins easily."


    Savra leaned forward. "Then how did you get the blood essence? Surely the elder would have claimed it."


    Liora stepped forward and smiled. "My beast played a role. During the fight, it managed to bite off the hand of one of the assassins."


    Liora then held her spatial ring. "I then moved quickly and retrieved the spatial ring from the severed hand and kept it hidden."@@@@


    Savra smirked. She never thought about it. She turned to Liora. "Pretty clever. You really are quite resourceful."


    Liora bowed her head respectfully. "Thank you, Matriarch. It wasn''t without risk, but it was worth it."


    Inside a dimly lit, hidden chamber deep within the empire, Patriarch Ragnar Volcaria sat comfortably in one of the chairs.


    He wasn''t alone in the room¡ªtwo other figures shared the space with him.


    One was Anselm, the Empire''s Minister, a shrewd and calculating man known for his precise control over imperial matters.


    The other was an older man whose sharp features bore a striking resemblance to Kaelix and Kaltrik¡ªKarion Kryndal, the patriarch of the Kryndal family.


    Karian''s face was twisted in anger. "What are we supposed to do now?"


    He then slammed his fist onto the table before him. "One of our most important hubs has been destroyed, and the Garran family has been wiped out! How do we recover from this?"


    Anselm raised his hand to stop him. "Please, Patriarch Karion, I understand your frustration. But we must be patient."


    Anselm lowered his hand and glanced at Karion. "I have already dispatched a general to investigate both the destroyed hub and the Garran estate."


    Anselm then shook his head. "So far, we''ve found nothing¡ªno evidence, no survivors, and nothing to link anyone to the attack."


    Karion clenched his fist as he glared at Anselm. "Nothing? You expect me to believe that someone obliterated my hub and the Garran family, yet left no trace behind?"


    Ragnar, who had been silently observing the heated exchange, suddenly burst into laughter.


    Karion turned toward him sharply. He was immediately enraged. "What''s so damn funny, Ragnar? Are you enjoying this?"


    Ragnar leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. "Oh, I am, Karion. I never thought I''d see the day when the great patriarch of the Kryndal family would be so shaken."


    Karion''s face darkened. "Careful, Ragnar. This isn''t the time for your games. My family''s influence is at stake."


    Ragnar''s smirk widened as he leaned forward slightly. "And whose fault is that? You were the one so obsessed with expanding your reach, meddling in places you shouldn''t have. Now, you''re paying the price for it."


    Karion clenched his jaw. He knew Ragnar wasn''t entirely wrong, but admitting that was out of the question.

 Chapter 145 Ragnars Frustration

    Ragnar leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. He looked at Anselm. "By the way, why am I even here? None of my people or my estate has been attacked."


    Karion''s eyes narrowed as he turned toward Ragnar. "Of course not. You don''t have any bases to be attacked. All you have is that one estate you call home."


    Ragnar burst into laughter. "Exactly. One estate. Easier to protect, less to worry about. No troublesome hubs to manage or lose."


    Karion''s fists clenched at Ragnar''s dismissive attitude, but before he could respond, Ragnar continued. "So, if nothing of mine has been touched, can I go now? I don''t see why I should waste my time here."


    Anselm raised his hand to stop him. "Don''t leave yet, Patriarch Ragnar. You''re the strongest Tamer I know. We need someone like you to handle them."


    Ragnar''s smirk faded slightly. He was annoyed. "Handle them? I don''t even know who they are. How do you expect me to deal with an enemy I''ve never seen?"


    Without waiting for an answer, Ragnar stood up. He didn''t hesitate as he turned toward the door.


    Before exiting, he paused and glanced over his shoulder. "The Volcaria family is the strongest. We handle fights. If you manage to find them, then you can call me."


    He also warned them for the last time. "But if you''re still playing guessing games, don''t bother wasting my time."


    Anselm frowned. He was slightly frustated with Ragnar. Karion, on the other hand, couldn''t hide his anger. But he knew better than to start an argument he couldn''t win.


    The door closed behind Ragnar. Anselm let out a quiet sigh. His fingers tapped the edge of the table thoughtfully. "He''s as stubborn as ever."


    Karion growled under his breath. "That arrogant bastard. Always thinking he''s above everyone else."


    Anselm glanced at Karion. "We''ll find them. And when we do, Ragnar will have no choice but to fight."


    Karion clenched his fists but said nothing, his mind already racing with thoughts of revenge. Both to Volcaria and the Mysterious group.


    ---


    Savra shook her head slightly and sighed. She was disdainful toward them. "It seems the Kryndals and the minister haven''t gotten any smarter.


    Ragnar let out another sigh. He rubbed his temple as he tried to heal his headache. "Yeah. It makes me wonder if it was a good idea to be tied to this empire in the first place."


    Lucius leaned back slightly. He watched Ragnar with interest. "Sounds like they''re asking you to fight shadows. No clear enemy and strategy."


    Ragnar glanced at Lucius. He nodded in agreement. "Exactly. If they can''t even give me something concrete to work with, what''s the point? All they''re doing is wasting my time."


    Savra''s gaze turned thoughtful as she leaned against the table. "So, what now? Will you stay involved, or are you planning to step back?"


    Ragnar chuckled. "For now, I''ll wait. If they actually find something¡ªor someone¡ªI can fight, I''ll step in. Until then, I''m not lifting a finger."


    Lucius smirked. "I see. If Patriarch Ragnar doesn''t plan to work with them, how about working with me instead?"


    Ragnar raised an eyebrow. He was confused about what Lucius was talking about. "What do you mean, Lucius?" Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire


    Lucius turned to Savra and smirked. "Miss Savra, would you mind explaining everything we discussed earlier to Patriarch Ragnar? I''m feeling a bit hungry, and I''d prefer to eat first."


    Savra chuckled as she was amused. She then nodded and smiled. "Of course, Lucius. Take your time¡ªI''ll handle it."


    Ragnar frowned. He glanced between the two. He was suspicious about the two of them. "What''s this about?"


    Savra smiled faintly. "Don''t worry, Ragnar. It''s something... interesting. I have a feeling you''ll like it."


    Ragnar sighed. He leaned forward slightly. "Fine. Let''s hear it. But this better not be another waste of time."


    Lucius chuckled softly as his food was being prepared by the maids. "It won''t be. Enjoy the explanation, Patriarch. I''ll join you after I''ve eaten."


    With that, Lucius ate the food that had been prepared by the maids, leaving Savra and Ragnar to continue their discussion.

 Chapter 146 Ragnar Joins Lucius High-Stakes Plan

    Savra turned her attention to Ragnar. Rangar leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. "Well? What''s this about, Savra?"


    Savra folded her hands and smirked. "Lucius has uncovered something that is connected to that mysterious group we''ve been hearing about."


    Ragnar raised an eyebrow. "You mean the same group that''s been causing trouble for the empire?"


    Savra nodded. "Exactly. During one of his missions at Astra Academy, Lucius encountered this mysterious group."


    Ragnar was immediately interested in it. He leaned forward slightly. "Go on. I want to hear the whole story."


    Savra smirked faintly. She clearly enjoyed Ragnar''s curiosity. "Very well. It all started when Lucius got into trouble with the Kryndals. Apparently, he beat up one of their spoiled brats."


    Ragnar grinned after hearing it. He was clearly amused by it. "Which spoiled brat is it?"


    Savra chuckled. "Kaelix Kryndal. He tried to kill Lucius out of sheer jealousy and pride. Lucius fought back and, well, let''s just say Kaelix lost a hand."


    Ragnar burst into laughter, slapping his knee. "That''s the best! The Kryndals think they''re untouchable, so it''s good to see one of their brats getting what he deserved."


    Savra smiled but continued without missing a beat. "Of course, the Kryndals didn''t take it well. They used their influence to meddle with Lucius''s mission."


    Savra frowned a bit. "Instead of being given proper materials, Lucius was forced to gather them himself in a dangerous location."


    Ragnar also frowned like Savra. "Those damn Kryndals. Always using underhanded tactics. Tinkering with an Evolist''s mission¡ªespecially someone like Lucius¡ªthat''s low, even for them."


    Savra nodded in agreement. "It was during that mission that things got more interesting. "


    Savra then smirked. "After completing the task, Lucius learned that the Garran family¡ªLuna''s former family¡ªhad been destroyed. Luna wanted to see the aftermath, so they went there."


    Ragnar smirked. "The maid is good. Facing the destruction of her former family head-on takes guts."@@@@


    Savra continued and became more serious. "At the Garran estate, they saw the mysterious group firsthand. One of the group''s members fought and killed the Garran Patriarch before looting their treasury."


    He could feel the powerful aura radiating from the vial, far stronger than he had anticipated.


    Ragnar leaned closer to get a better look at it and muttered. "This... This is far more potent than I thought. It really is one of the legendary materials connected to the Red Dragon."


    Lucius smirked as he leaned forward. "Now that you''ve seen it, "what will you do, Patriarch?"


    Ragnar straightened and smirked. He was also pretty excited. "Of course I''ll join. It''s been a long time since something this interesting happened. Sitting around waiting for enemies to show up was getting boring."


    Lucius chuckled softly. He was satisfied with the response. "Glad to hear it. With your strength and Savra''s support, we''ll have everything we need."


    Ragnar waved a hand dismissively. "Enough flattery. Tell us what your plan is."


    Lucius leaned forward slightly. He rested his elbows on the table and started. "Sure."


    Lucius smirked as he began to explain the plan. "It''s quite simple and straightforward. The vial emits a strong aura. It''s unique and strong. The mysterious group could easily sense it."


    Savra listened intently while Ragnar folded his arms. Both of them were intrigued.


    Lucius continued. "All we need to do is let them take it. Once they have it, we''ll follow them back to their base."


    Ragnar frowned slightly. "Why not set a trap and beat them on the spot? It would be easier to crush them right then and there."


    Lucius chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Because the ones who come to steal it are likely just foot soldiers or low-level operatives¡ªmere thieves."


    Lucius raised his hand and slammed the table. "We''re not interested in small fry. We want the mastermind, the one pulling the strings."


    Savra nodded slightly, understanding the logic behind Lucius''s plan. "So, you''re saying we let them get away intentionally and track them to their leader?"


    Lucius smirked. "Exactly. If we strike too soon, we''ll just be dealing with expendable pawns. But if we let them escape and track them, we''ll find the real target."


    Ragnar leaned back in his chair and stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I see. It''s risky, but it could work. Still, how do you plan to follow them without being noticed?"


    Lucius''s smirk widened, and he leaned in slightly. "Simple. We''ll do it like this..."

 Chapter 147 The Trap Is Set

    Not far from the Volcaria Estate, in a dimly lit restaurant tucked away in a quiet corner of the district, a man sat alone at a corner table.


    His presence was thin, as he was not ordinary. This man was Zerath, a 6-Star Tamer and one of the higher-ups in the mysterious group.


    He was wearing a dark cloak that hidden most of his features. He appeared to be nothing more than a traveler passing through.


    As he ate in silence, his brows furrowed deeply. The special device he carried still remained silent. It didn''t sense the materials at all.


    Zerath gripped his fork tightly as he was frustated when recalling his fruitless search. "Damn it. Just where the hell is it?"


    He had entered Astra Academy quietly. His mission had been simple: find and recover the Red Dragon Blood Essence.


    Yet, despite his efforts, the artifact hadn''t picked up a single trace of it. "I even went to that elder house to check if he had it or not."


    The elder had killed the flares who originally took the material. Zerath hoped that he would find the essence in the elder''s surroundings.


    But the artifact didn''t react, even when he examined the elder''s personal spatial ring. "The artifact should still detect it, even if it''s hidden inside a spatial ring."


    His frown deepened as he leaned back in his chair. Zerath clenched his fists as he grew frustated. "Someone else must have taken it. But who? And where did they go?"@@@@


    He took a deep breath. He forced himself to remain calm. Losing his temper wouldn''t help him now. He needed to figure out where the material had gone. There was not much time left.


    Just as he was about to leave, a nearby conversation caught his attention.


    Two men seated at a nearby table were speaking in low tones, but their words were clear enough for him to hear.


    One of them excitedly whispered to the other. "Did you hear about the Volcaria family? They''ve suddenly found some incredible material."


    Zerath''s sharp ears perked up, and he instinctively slowed his movements, pretending to adjust his coat as he tried to hear more.


    The second man replied. "Yeah, I heard. It''s supposed to be something really rare¡ªat least 6-Star, maybe higher. And it''s an essence, no less."


    The first man thought and was curious about it. "I wonder what kind of essence it is. They''re being so secretive about it. No one knows the exact details.But I heard they plan to auction it off soon."


    However, he knew that the remaining essence wasn''t as potent as it once had been.


    Lucius leaned forward and muttered to himself. "This won''t be enough. If we want to draw them out, we need to make the bait irresistible.""


    Without hesitation, Lucius turned toward the system. He already knew what hack he needed to do. "Amplify the aura by double."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Aura Amplification]


    [Target: Red Dragon Blood Essence]


    [Effect: Double Aura Intensity]


    [Cost Required: 100,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Execute?]


    [YES] [NO]


    ---


    Lucius frowned as he stared at the prompt. He mutted it to himself. "One hundred million hack points."


    The cost was steep¡ªalmost one-eighth of the 800 million hack points he had gained from absorbing 80% of the essence''s power.


    He clenched his jaw. He was contemplating the decision. Spending so many points in one go wasn''t something he did lightly, but he knew that without a strong enough lure, the plan might fail.


    Lucius let out a frustrated sigh. "Damn it. The plan''s already in motion. If I back down now, it''ll all be for nothing."


    He hesitated for a moment but still did it in the end. "Fine. I''ll make them pay for this."


    Without further delay, he selected [YES] and confirmed the hack.

 Chapter 148 Will the Mysterious Group Take Lucius Bait?

    The vial''s aura began to grow stronger than before. Lucius could feel it clearly that the aura had grown by doubled.


    He held it up and examined it closely. He then smirked. "This will surely bait them. There''s no way they''ll suspect anything less than the real deal."


    He leaned back slightly. He was calculating the odds. "Before, the chances of success were around 50% at best. But now? I''d say it''s closer to 90%. They''ll be convinced this essence is genuine."


    But still, he was still irritated, knowing that he needed to use 100 million hack points for the plan.


    Even though he had plenty of points remaining, it wasn''t something he could easily overlook.


    His smirk faded as he clenced his fist. "Whoever you are. I''ll make sure you pay for this. Every last hack point."


    Lucius began to calm down. There was no point in dwelling on the loss now. The trap was set, and soon the mysterious group would come for the bait.


    With a final glance at the vial, Lucius kept it inside his spatial ring and turned toward the door. It was time to prepare for the next phase.


    ---


    Lucius made his way through the bustling Volcaria estate until he found Daxton, who was overseeing preparations for the upcoming auction.


    Daxton was speaking with a group of attendants and directing them on where to place various rare materials and items.


    Daxton soon spotted Lucius. He waved the attendants away and approached him. "Lucius, it''s nice to see you here. Everything is almost ready. Do you need something?"


    Lucius smirked. He then took out the Red Dragon Blood Essence vial from his spatial ring and gave it to Daxton. "I need you to place this in the center of the building."


    Daxton frowned after hearing it. He knew the magnitude of the request. "Are you sure? This is no ordinary item. If we display it openly, won''t that attract... trouble?"


    Lucius chuckled. "Don''t worry. We''re near the estate. No one would dare steal something from the Volcarias under our watch."


    Daxton hesitated for a moment He wasn''t entirely convinced, but Lucius''s confidence was infectious.


    He then gestured toward the auction place. "When the mysterious person tries to steal the essence, that''s when you act."


    Ragnar raised an eyebrow. "So, you''re certain they''ll try to steal it, not buy it outright?"


    Before Lucius could respond, Savra added thoughtfully, "What if they try to bid for it instead? If they purchase it, they could mask their identity even further."


    Lucius chuckled. He already considered that possibility. If they''re smart¡ªand I believe they are¡ªthey won''t try to buy it."


    Lucius pointed at his own head. "Think about it. If they bid for it and win, their identity will be scrutinized. The item is too rare and valuable"


    Lucius then opened wide his arms. "Too many powerful people will be present, and whoever wins will immediately draw attention."


    He leaned forward slightly and smirked. "If they want to avoid unnecessary entanglements, the safest route for them is theft."


    Lucius smirked as he pointed out at the forest outiside. "It''s easier to disappear after stealing something than after being the winning bidder. By stealing it, they''ll minimize the chance of being tracked¡ªat least, that''s what they''ll think."


    Savra nodded slowly and murmured. "I see. You''ve thought this through."


    Lucius smirked. "Of course I am. I''m Lucius¡ªthe genius."


    Ragnar let out a low chuckle. He was amused by Lucius''s confidence. "Well, I hope you''re right. If they take the bait, it''ll be our best chance to follow them back to their base."


    Lucius nodded and smirked. "They will. There''s no way they''ll pass up an opportunity like this."


    Savra crossed her arms. "Then we''ll do as you say. We''ll observe from the shadows and be ready to act when the time comes."


    Lucius was satisfied with her. "Good. Just be ready. When they make their move, we need to follow them without hesitation."


    Ragnar smirk as he clapped Lucius on the back. "I like your style, kid. Let''s see if they''re stupid enough to take the bait."


    Lucius chuckled as he rubbed his back. "Oh, they will. And when they do, it''ll be the last mistake they ever make."

 Chapter 149 A Heist Under Fire

    Zerath had finally arrived in the vicinity of the auction site. He was clad in a black cloak that hid most of his features. He moved silently there.@@@@


    He glanced down at the detection artifact in his hand. The moment he stepped closer to the building, the artifact shone brightly


    Zerath was a bit surprised and smirked. He looked at the building. "It''s here. There''s no doubt now... They really have it."


    Zerath carefully approached the building where the auction would soon take place. As he entered it, he was surprised the moment he saw the center display.


    He froze as he could not believe that his target, the red Red Dragon Blood Essence, was casually being put in the center of the room.


    Zerath frowned and muttered to himself. "What the hell? How could they just put it out in the open like that?"


    He clenched his fists as he was frustrated. "Damn it. This is going to be a lot harder than I thought. Stealing it won''t be easy with it right in the middle of the hall, surrounded by people."


    He took a deep breath. He forced himself to stay calm. He needed to think. Charging in recklessly wasn''t an option¡ªthis wasn''t some low-level operation where brute force would suffice.


    The Volcarias were known for their strength and vigilance, and Zerath knew that making a single mistake here could cost him everything.


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    He held his head. "I need a plan. A distraction, something to draw their attention away long enough for me to grab it and get out."


    He turned away from the hall for a moment. He scanned the surroundings. He noticed a few guards stationed discreetly at various entrances, but they didn''t seem overly concerned


    It was clear they didn''t expect anyone to be foolish enough to try and steal something under the Volcaria family''s nose.


    Zerath muttered to himself. "They''re too confident. That might work in my favor. But I''ll still need something more¡ªsomething that will guarantee I can get in and out before they react."


    His gaze flicked back to the artifact in his hand. "No matter what, I can''t leave without that essence. This is my only chance."


    ---


    The night had arrived. Daxton moved around the perimeter, patrolling as usual.


    He wasn''t expecting any trouble¡ªafter all, this was the Volcaria family''s territory, and few would dare to stir up chaos here.


    But just as he turned a corner, a faint, unusual smell caught his attention. He paused, sniffing the air. "Burnt...?"


    The scent grew stronger, and before he could react further, a bright orange glow erupted in the distance.


    Daxton was surprised as he saw flames rapidly engulfing part of the wooden structure. The fire spread quickly, fueled by something highly flammable. "What the¡ª?"


    Daxton immediately cursed under his breath and turned to the nearby guards. "Damn it! Get the others! Rescue the items before it''s too late!"


    The guards nodded, rushing off to follow his orders. Chaos erupted as more flames spread through the building.


    Daxton gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay calm. His first thought went to the most valuable item on display¡ªthe Red Dragon Blood Essence. "I need to secure it before something happens."


    But when he arrived, his heart sank. The item on the display had gone. The important essence was nowhere to be seen.


    Daxton shouted out loud. "What the hell?!"


    He scanned the area frantically, hoping that perhaps it had fallen or been moved in the confusion. But no¡ªit was gone.


    He clenched his teeth and muttered. "How can this be happening?" He then realized that the fire was not an accident. It was a distraction.


    It meant that someone had planned this.Someone had stolen the essence right under his nose.


    Daxton cursed and clenched his fist in frustation. "Damn it!" He didn''t know how it had happened, but one thing was clear. He had to act fast before things got even worse.

 Chapter 150 Burned and Betrayed?

    Lucius stood calmly at the Volcaria estate''s main balcony. He observed the distant glow of flames that consumed the auction building.


    Behind him, Ragnar and Savra joined him, both watching the scene with various expressions.


    Ragnar glanced at Lucius and frowned deeply. He was irritated about this accident. He couldn''t help but think it had to do something with Lucis. "Is this part of your plan, Lucius?"


    Lucius glanced back at Ragnar and smirked. "You could say that. I left some barrels of 4-Star oil unguarded on purpose, knowing it would tempt our intruder into doing exactly this."


    Savra also glanced at Lucius. She clearly didn''t like this sudden plan. "Why the hell would you deliberately set things up for him to start a fire?"


    Lucius''s smirk didn''t waver. "A couple of reasons."


    Lucius then raised his index finger. "First, I wanted to ensure he wouldn''t use his beast. The last time I met them, they were all 5-Star Tamers."


    Lucius looked back at the burning building. "I''m afraid that this time, there''s a good chance the robber is at least 6-Star Tamer."


    Savra folded her arms as she listened to his reasoning, but still she didn''t smile at all. Lucius glanced back at her and smirked.


    "If he had used his beast during the theft, it would have forced us into direct combat. That would mean unnecessary conflict and potential casualties."


    "But by luring him into using fire instead, we avoid that risk. Fire is easier to put out, and it ensures he has no choice but to steal the items quickly and escape without a fight."


    Savra was surprised after she heard it. She immediately considered his reasoning to be quite logic. "Hmm. I see. That''s... a sound strategy."


    Ragnar was still skeptical about it a bit. "So, you let him burn down the building just to avoid a battle?"


    Lucius chuckled and shook his head. "Of course not. That''s only part of it. There''s another reason¡ªone that could benefit us greatly in the long run."


    Lucius then raised two of his fingers up. "Secondly, you both know the empire has been reacting to recent events, right?"


    Without wasting time, the three of them¡ªLucius, Ragnar, and Savra¡ªset off for the auction house.


    When they arrived, the scene was tense but manageable. Fortunately, there were no casualties¡ªjust a few guests who had suffered minor burns.


    The fire had been put out, and guards were still moving about, ensuring that everything was secure.


    As they entered, Daxton approached Lucius quickly. He bowed down as he felt a bit guilty about the accident. "Lucius. I''m sorry. The essence... I couldn''t protect it. It was stolen."


    Lucius smiled and placed his hand on Daxton''s shoulder. "Don''t worry about it. We couldn''t have known something like this would happen, even in our own territory."


    Daxton frowned slightly. He was still bothered by his failure. Before he could say more, Lucius continued, "For now, focus on helping your men handle the aftermath. Make sure the guests are safe and sound."


    Daxton nodded quickly, but Lucius wasn''t finished. "And let this be a lesson for you and your men. This incident shows that you''re still not strong enough. You need to train harder¡ªthere will always be enemies willing to test our strength."


    Daxton clenched his fists briefly before nodding. "Understood. We''ll work harder. But... what about the thief?" Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire


    Lucius smirked and glanced at Ragnar, who stood beside him. "Don''t worry about the thief. The patriarch will handle it. We can''t let someone that causes a scene in Volcaria territory get away with it."


    Daxton immediately turned to Ragnar and kneeled down. He bowed his head in respect. "Patriarch, I am sorry but I leave this in your hands."


    Ragnar crossed his arms. "Leave it to me. Now, get back to work. Handle the aftermath, ensure everything is cleaned up, and we''ll talk later."


    Daxton nodded and stood up. "Yes, Patriarch." Without hesitation, he turned and went back to help the guards manage the situation.


    As Daxton left, Lucius glanced at Ragnar and Savra. "The real game begins now. Let''s see just where their base was."


    Ragnar chuckled. He clearly enjoyed this situation. "It''s been a while since I''ve had a proper hunt."


    Savra also chuckled. "Let''s make sure they remember that no one crosses the Volcaria family and lives to tell the tale."

 Chapter 151 Zeraths Perfect Escape?

    Ragnar and Savra had sensed the direction the thief had fled, so they immediately took off to chase after him.


    Lucius wasn''t far behind. He was now riding Leon, Liora''s White Flame Lion. His maids, Liora and Luna, were also riding with him.


    Leon had also grown massive since he evolved into a 5-Star beast. It was now large enough for all three of them to ride comfortably.


    Despite Leon''s incredible speed, Lucius noticed something strange. Even with Leon''s incredible speed, they were having trouble keeping up with Ragnar and Savra.


    Lucius glanced ahead and frowned. Ragnar and Savra weren''t riding or fusing with any beasts. They were moving at an incredible speed with only their physical bodies.


    Savra noticed Lucius''s confusion and smirked. She glanced back at him. "Impressive, isn''t it? This is the power of a 7-Star Tamer."


    Lucius was surprised after hearing that. "Wait. Both of you are 7-Star Tamers?"


    Savra nodded and smirked. Ragnar, who was ahead of her, chuckled but didn''t turn around. "You didn''t know? Looks like you still have a lot to learn, Lucius."


    Lucius furrowed his brow. He was trying to comprehend what he was seeing. "But... how can you move so fast without riding beasts or using fusion?"


    Savra''s smirk didn''t fade. "We don''t have time to explain it fully, but I''ll just say this¡ªonce you reach 7-Star Tamer, you gain the ability to train and enhance your body."


    Savra gestured toward her own body. "Our strength and speed aren''t just from beasts¡ªthey come from our own physical training."


    Lucius processed this new information quickly, nodding. "I see. So that''s why you can move like that."


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    Savra chuckled softly. "We''ll talk more about it later. For now, focus. We need to catch him and find out where their base is."


    Lucius smirked faintly. "Understood. Leon, faster!"


    Zerath was now confident that his mission was a success. Zerath pressed on as he was eager to return to his group''s hidden base and deliver the precious material.


    ---


    Lucius and the others moved swiftly through the forest, their senses on high alert. After hours of pursuit, the dense foliage began to thin, and the terrain around them changed dramatically.


    The air grew hotter, thick with the scent of sulfur, and the ground beneath their feet became rough and rocky.


    Before long, they emerged into an open area near the base of a towering volcano. The heat was intense, and faint streams of steam hissed from cracks in the ground.


    Ragnar smirked. "I never thought their base would be near a volcano¡ªjust like ours. It seems we''re not the only ones drawn to places like this."


    Savra scanned the area carefully. "It seems this really is their base. Given that they''re after Red Dragon materials, it makes sense. Maybe their members are all flame-elemental Tamers."


    Lucius, who was riding on top of Leon with his maids, shook his head. "That might be true for their leaders."


    He then raised his hand and smirked. "But if you remember, the assassins and thieves we encountered before weren''t using flame-elemental beasts. Most of them had shadows or other elemental types."


    Savra frowned slightly, considering Lucius''s observation. "You''re right. That would mean..."


    Lucius smirked faintly, cutting in. "It would mean that while their leaders might be focused on flame-based materials, they don''t limit their operatives to a single element. They probably recruit anyone who''s strong or useful, regardless of their beast type."


    Ragnar chuckled, clearly unconcerned by the details. "I don''t care about what elements they use. What I care is that we find them, see who they really are, and crush them."


    Savra smirked faintly at Ragnar''s bluntness but didn''t disagree. "Fine. But let''s not rush in blindly. We need to be careful¡ªif this is their main base, they''ll have defenses."


    Lucius nodded. "Agreed. Let''s move carefully. We''re close, but we don''t want to alert them until we know exactly where they are."


    With that, the group continued forward. If this really was the headquarters of the mysterious group, then soon Lucius would finally uncover the identity of their leader¡ªand the full extent of their ambitions.

 Chapter 152 Volcano Secrets Revealed

    Zerath had finally reached the hidden base, located deep within the heart of the volcano. Even though it was hot, he didn''t slow his pace. After all, this was familiar territory. He had made this journey before.


    The entrance to the base was concealed in an unconventional and dangerous way. To enter, one needed to jump into the crater of the volcano itself.


    The very idea was enough to deter most people¡ªafter all, no one in their right mind would willingly leap into what appeared to be molten death below.


    Zerath stood at the edge of the crater, glancing around briefly to ensure no one had followed him.


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    Satisfied that he was alone, he took a deep breath and stepped off the edge, letting gravity pull him downward.


    As he fell, the intense heat surrounded him, but he showed no fear. Just as he neared the bottom, a sudden gust of wind erupted beneath him and slowed his landing.


    When Zerath landed softly at the bottom, he smirked and walked forward. The crater''s interior wasn''t what it appeared to be from above.


    Instead of molten lava, there was a wide tunnel leading into the heart of the volcano, hidden from view by a complex array of illusions.


    He stepped into the tunnel, and after a few minutes of walking, the tunnel opened up into a massive underground base.


    The base itself was a marvel of engineering. Built into the rocky interior of the volcano, it was a sprawling network of chambers and corridors.


    It was filled with platforms that were suspended by thick chains over pools of molten lava far below. There were also a lot of 4-Star Tamers that worked as guards and operatives here and there.


    Zerath then made his way through the base and headed toward the inner chambers where the elders gathered.


    As he entered, two familiar figures stepped forward to greet him. Tarron, a big man with broad shoulders and an intimidating presence.


    The other one was Sevrina. A hot-headed woman known for her fiery temper and sharp tongue.


    Savra nodded. "Our estate is built around an open volcano¡ªvisible to anyone who looks closely enough. But this... this is different. It''s completely concealed."


    After a moment of contemplation, she turned to Lucius. "So, what should we do?"


    Before Lucius could answer, Ragnar stepped forward. "What else? We''ll enter it, of course."


    He already prepared himself to jump into the crater. But before he could jump, Lucius stopped him. "No! We can''t just rush in."


    Ragnar frowned. He was confused and also annoyed by Lucius. "Why not? This is their base, right? Isn''t finding it the whole point?"


    Lucius could only sigh. "Yes, Patriarch. Our main objective was to locate their base¡ªand we''ve done that."


    Lucius then glanced at Ragnar and reminded him. "But now that we''ve found it, the goal isn''t to charge in recklessly. This is enemy territory."


    He pointed at the crater. "If we attack now without proper planning, we''ll be outnumbered and surrounded. Even with your strength, that''s too risky."


    Ragnar frowned, but he didn''t interrupt as Lucius continued. "There should be a lot of operatives inside¡ªpossibly their leaders, too. If we''re caught, it could ruin everything."


    Lucius then pointed to the empire. "Instead, you and the Matriarch should return and inform the empire. Once they know, they can mobilize their forces and launch a proper attack."


    Savra nodded slowly. She had considered Lucius'' words. "That makes sense. But what about you, Lucius? What will you do?"


    Lucius smirked confidently. He pointed back toward the crater. "Of course, I''ll enter and spy on them."


    Both Savra and Ragnar frowned deeply at his bold declaration. Savra shook her head. "No. It''s too dangerous, even for us. How do you expect to survive in enemy territory alone?"


    Ragnar crossed his arms. "She''s right, Lucius. Even with your skills, sneaking into their base is risky. You might not come out alive."


    Lucius''s smirk didn''t waver. Instead, it grew wider. He gestured toward his spatial ring. "Relax. I already have a plan."

 Chapter 153 A Trick So Powerful Even 7-Star Tamers Are Fooled!

    Lucius smirked as he reached into his spatial ring. He retrieved a small vial filled with what seemed to be normal liquid. He held it up and showed it to both Ragnar and Savra.


    Savra and Ragnar frowned as they were confused. Savra glanced at the vial and asked. "What''s that?"


    Ragnar crossed his arms and was skeptical. "You''re calling this your Trump card? What kind of trick are you planning?"


    Lucius smirked. "Let me show you the power of my Trump card."


    He uncorked the vial and tipped it slightly, allowing a single drop of the liquid to fall onto his tongue. As he swallowed it, he turned his attention inward.


    He immediately made a new hack in his mind. "System, hack myself to become invisible to tamers below 7-Star for one minute."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Self-Invisibility Enhancement]


    [Effect: Complete Invisibility to 7-Star Tamers and Below]


    [Duration: 1 Minute]@@@@


    [Cost Required: 100 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Almost immediately, Lucius''s body began to shimmer. His form began to blur and fade into thin air.


    Within seconds, he was completely invisible, leaving no trace of his presence behind.


    Savra and Ragnar were shocked the moment they saw Lucius fading into thin air. Ragnar glanced around. "What the hell?! Where did you go?"


    Savra was also the same. Her gaze darted around the area, trying to find Lucius. "Lucius, stop playing games! Where are you?"


    Savra''s eyes narrowed further. She was also irritated, as both she and Ragnar were like a joke to him. "Why didn''t you just tell us that earlier?"


    Lucius shrugged nonchalantly. "Because sometimes, trying something yourself is more convincing than just hearing me say it."


    Ragnar let out a low growl of annoyance but didn''t press further. Instead, he handed the empty vial back to Lucius. "Damn tricks."


    Savra sighed, though she smiled a little. "Fine. You''ve made your point. You''re the only one who can use this effectively."


    Lucius nodded. He put the empty vial back into his spatial ring. "Exactly. Now, if we''re done testing my ''tricks,'' let''s get back to the real mission."


    He pointed at the crater and smirked. "I''ll infiltrate their base and gather information that will be good for later."


    Ragnar folded his arms, still grumbling but clearly impressed. "You''d better not get caught, kid."


    Savra gave Lucius one final look. "Be careful, Lucius. This group is more dangerous than you might realize."


    Lucius smirked confidently. "Relax. I''ll be in and out before they even know I was there."


    He also turned serious as he reminded them. "But don''t forget¡ªmake sure you squeeze as much as you can out of the empire and the other nobles."


    Ragnar raised an eyebrow. He was intrigued. "Oh? You''re thinking ahead again, huh?"


    Lucius chuckled. "Of course. After all, we''re the ones who found the location of their hidden base. This information alone is priceless. Make them pay for every ounce of effort we''ve put in."


    Savra smirked, folding her arms. "Don''t worry, Lucius. We''ll bleed them dry. The empire and the nobles will know that Volcaria is not to be underestimated."


    Ragnar grinned. He clearly liked the idea. "Hah! It''s about time they recognize who holds the real power."


    Lucius nodded. He was satisfied with their response. "Good. Use this opportunity well. We''re not just dealing with this mysterious group¡ªwe''re also strengthening our own position."


    Savra''s smirk widened. "Rest assured, Lucius. By the time this is over, Volcaria will be stronger than ever. We''ll make sure of it."


    With that, the tension eased slightly. Ragnar and Savra prepared to head back, while Lucius and his maids readied themselves for the infiltration.

 Chapter 154 A Base Beneath the Volcano

    Lucius retrieved the other 2 vials from his spatial ring. Without hesitation, he tossed them to Luna and Liora. "Drink these. You''re both coming with me."


    Luna and Liora caught the vials effortlessly. They exchanged a brief glance and nodded.


    Without hesitation, they uncorked the vials and drank the contents. The liquid went down smoothly.


    Meanwhile, Savra approached Lucius one last time. "Be careful, Lucius. You might be confident, but this is enemy territory. Don''t take unnecessary risks."


    Lucius smirked. "Don''t worry about me, Matriarch. I know exactly what I''m doing."


    Savra could only nod. Without another word, she and Ragnar turned around and left Lucius and his maids to their task.


    Once they were out of sight, Lucius smirked as he turned to the system. "System, make me, Luna, and Liora invisible to any 7-Star Tamers and below for 12 hours."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Group Invisibility Enhancement]


    [Targets: Lucius, Liora, Luna]


    [Effect: Complete Invisibility to 7-Star Tamers and Below]


    [Duration: 12 Hours]


    [Cost Required: 30,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Their bodies began to fade like Lucius before until they became completely invisible. Even their auras had vanished entirely. They were completely undetectable.


    Lucius smirked as he turned to his two maids. "Let''s go. We have work to do."


    Without another word, the three of them jumped into the crater. The infiltration had begun.


    They were then pushed gently by the rising hot air until they landed slowly onto the ground.


    They then looked up to see that the crater walls stretched high above them. It almost disappeared.


    She easily blended with them, as none of them could notice her. She was literally invisible.


    She then followed them to a massive hall. Inside it, several people were engaged in fierce combat. All of them used either weapons or fused with beasts.


    She also realized that all of them were either 4-Star or 5-Star Tamers. They were basically trained to fight or assassinate someone.


    Liora leaned against a nearby pillar and observed carefully. "So, they have this kind of training here..."


    She began to think about her previous encounter with the three thieves that tried to steal the Red Dragon Blood Essence at the academy.


    She put her hand on her chin. "It seems that I didn''t fight with them last time, as they basically tried to run."


    She crossed her arms and looked at the tamers that were training below. "I wonder how strong they are if we fight for real."


    She then smirked as she saw them fight with each other. Every strike, every dodge, and every coordinated attack drew her attention.


    She began to silently approach them. "Let''s see how they fight and maybe I can pick up a few tricks here and there... and figure out how to beat them faster and more easily next time."


    Every clash gave her more insight and ideas about how to counter each tactic. She wasn''t just watching for fun.


    She was mentally preparing every scenario where she might have to fight opponents like these.


    She continued to watch and smirk. "The next time we meet anyone from this group, I will be ready and stronger."


    ---


    Meanwhile, Luna moved quietly through the corridors. Unlike Liora, she hadn''t noticed any specific areas of interest yet.


    She didn''t know exactly where to go but she trusted her instincts. "Just keep moving until something stands out."


    She then realized a place that felt unusual. It was a long hallway but it was empty and quiet. There were almost no guards stationed along the corridor.


    Luna was immediately interested. "Strange. Why would they leave an area like this unguarded?"


    She stepped forward. She could feel something different about this place. "I don''t know about it, but still, this could just be a storage place."


    She tilted her head slightly, considering her options. After a brief moment, she shrugged. "Let''s just go. Even if I don''t find anything useful, Master will surely gather better information."


    With that, she continued down the hallway. She didn''t know what to expect. Whether it was a good or bad thing, she was ready for whatever lay ahead.

 Chapter 155 Lunas Gamble Pays Off

    Luna kept walking deeper into the hallway. She didn''t know what this place was, but the further she went, the more her curiosity grew.


    She then stopped abruptly, as in front of her stood a huge metal door. It was cold and imposing.


    She placed a hand on her hip and frowned. "How the hell am I supposed to get in here?"


    There didn''t seem to be any obvious way to open it. There were no handles or even any visible mechanism. It was clear that this wasn''t just any ordinary entrance.


    Luna also glanced around once more and knew that no guards were stationed here. "No wonder they don''t station any guards here."


    Anyone without a way to bypass it would be stuck outside, wasting time and effort trying to force it open.


    For a brief moment, she considered turning back. "Maybe I should regroup with Master."


    But the thought of leaving without even knowing what lay beyond was killing her. She was already too far to go back now.


    Then, an idea appeared in her mind. She began to smirk. "I can handle this. Let''s see if this works."


    She immediately fused with Loxen. Her body immediately became a shadow panther beastman.


    She began to meld into the surrounding shadows. She then moved toward the door and tried to slip through a narrow crack at its base.


    Like the shadow that easily passed it, she did it effortlessly without triggering any alarms or defenses.


    On the other side, she reappeared. She began to defuse and glanced around. She was satisfied with her new move. "That was easy."


    The room she had entered was large. It was far larger than she had expected. It was dimly lit, but she could see some shelves and strange devices.


    She began to move forward and smirked. "Now, let''s see what this place really is. I hope it''s worth all the trouble I go through."


    ---


    Luna moved silently through the large room. She tried to find anything that could be useful for her.


    Without wasting time, she stepped into the passageway. The dim glow from the warehouse faded as she moved deeper into the tunnel.


    She smirked. "Let''s see where this leads. Master will be pleased if I find something important here." Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    After a long, silent walk through the dim passageway, Luna finally reached its end.


    The place she arrived at was not big but also not small either. It was a small chamber that looked like part warehouse, part office.


    The shelves here were filled with various items and materials. A simple wooden table and chair were also put in the middle. Unknown papers and documents were also scattered around it.


    Luna smirked as she realized something. She stepped into the room and laughed. "Jackpot."


    She looked at the papers. "There must be some good information here."


    She also turned toward the shelves. "These items aren''t bad either. Instead, they are quite good."


    Without wasting time, she moved quickly and swiped the materials from the shelves. She put them all into her spatial ring.


    Anything good that pleased her eyes went in. Rare minerals, few sealed vials, weapons, etc. Anything she deemed used, she would take.


    She looked at her spatial ring and smirked. "These will be useful for Master. He''ll definitely find a way to use them, either for trading or experimenting."


    Once she was done with the materials, she turned her attention to the table in the center. There were a stack of papers.


    It was either hastily written reports or other detailed schematics of unknown devices.


    Luna grabbed every document she could find, carefully placing them into her ring as well. "If Master can decode these, they might give us a clue about what this group is planning."


    She paused for a moment, glancing around the room one last time to ensure she hadn''t missed anything important. "Materials for Master, information for us. Not a bad haul."


    With everything secured, she turned back toward the passage and smirked. "Let''s get out of here before anyone notices."


    Luna silently walked back. She was confident that her haul was really good. "Master will be pleased."

 Chapter 156 Behind Enemy Doors

    Lucius moved silently through the tightly guarded hallway. He knew he was getting closer to something important.


    As he continued forward, he suddenly recognized a familiar figure in the distance. It was the man who had escaped them earlier.


    The one who had stolen the Red Dragon Blood Essence and unknowingly led them straight to this base.


    He also wasn''t alone. He was being accompanied by two other people. One was a woman, and the other one was a big man with broad shoulders.


    Lucius smirked faintly. He was already planning something. "They must be heading somewhere important. Somewhere worth guarding."


    Without hesitation, he decided to follow them. Thanks to the system''s invisibility hack, he remained completely undetectable even as he moved closer.


    Lucius smirked even more as he followed them. "Wherever they''re going, it''s bound to be something valuable. Maybe even their leader."@@@@


    He continued following them. He also scanned every detail. The guards on the walls, the layout of the hallway, and any potential exits if things went south.


    After a few more turns, they arrived at a huge metal door. It was far larger and more imposing than any Lucius had seen so far.


    Two guards stood at attention on either side. They also held some weapons. The moment they saw the trio, they immediately stepped forward and bowed down.


    One of them then turned to the lever and pulled it down, causing the door to groan loudly as it began to open.


    Lucius smirked. He stayed close behind them. "This must be it¡ªsomething important enough to require this level of security."


    As soon as they entered, Lucius quickened his pace and slipped through the gap just before the door shut behind them.


    Lucius smirked as he began to scan the surroundings. "Let''s see what secrets you''re hiding."


    ---


    Zerath, Tarron, and Sevrina entered the leader''s room. At the far end of the room, the leader of the group was sitting on a raised platform.


    He was Bryson, the mysterious leader of the mysterious group. As soon as they stepped in, they kneeled before him in unison.


    Zerath was immediately shocked. He couldn''t help but blurt out. "What? It''s there? I just came from Volcaria!"


    Sevrina glanced at Zerath. "I only found out about it today, just before you arrived."


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    Zerath clenched his fists. "Damn it. That''s going to be really tough. I just stole from them. They''ll be on high alert now."


    Bryson frowned. He was displeased by the complication. He tapped the vial in his hand lightly.


    He was thinking about what he should do now. After a moment of thought, he spoke.


    Bryson looked at them. "For now, forget Volcaria. It''s impossible to steal from them at the moment. Their defenses will be too tight."


    The three elders nodded in unison. They knew what Bryson was true.


    Bryson then continued. "Focus on the Kryndal hub for now. You''ll work together on this mission. I don''t want any mistakes. The longer we delay, the more difficult it will be to secure the material."


    Tarron, Sevrina, and Zerath exchanged brief glances before bowing their heads. "Understood, Leader."


    His expression also darkened further as he added. "And don''t forget to keep an eye out for any other groups that could mess with us."


    He frowned deeply. "It''s not just about the Red Dragon''s inverse scale not being fully recovered."


    He frowned and added. "The destruction of the hub was also their doing. Because of them, our plans have become much harder."


    He also clenched his fists tightly. "All of them... will have to be dealt with eventually."


    Zerath, Tarron, and Sevrina exchanged brief glances before nodding solemnly. They understood what was expected of them. Failure was not an option.


    Bryson turned his back to them. He put the Red Dragon Blood Essence vial in his spatial ring. "Go. Begin your preparations. I want results soon."


    Without hesitation, the three elders bowed deeply and left the room in silence. They were already thinking of some plans.

 Chapter 157 Lucius Uncovers the Enemys Next Move

    Lucius was still hidden in the shadows. He was watching and listening intently to the whole conversation between the elders and the master.


    He began to remember every word and key detail in his memory. By the time the three elders bowed and left the room, he had gathered more information than he had expected.


    Lucius smirked as he followed the three elders. "So your names are Zerath, Tarron, and Sevrina. But I don''t really need this kind of information."


    He then smirked as he remembered the other important information. "But still, to think that there are still two remaining Red Dragon Materials."


    Lucius put his hand on his chin. "One of them is in the Kryndal hub in Flame Wing City, and unexpectedly the other is in Volcaria estate."


    His smirk grew wider. "This is better than I imagined. Not only do I know their names, but I also have two clear targets."


    Lucius knew that he needed to act fast. This information wouldn''t stay valuable for long.


    If he could interfere with their mission to steal from the Kryndals, he could disrupt their plans and possibly gain another Red Dragon material for himself.


    And as for the material in Volcaria? He''d make sure it stayed far out of their reach. He smirked as a new plan began to form in his mind. "Master Bryson, you''ve just handed me everything I need."


    Lucius then had arrived at the gate and immediately slipped out. "Time to regroup with Luna and Liora. They''ll want to hear about this."


    ---


    Luna and Liora were now waiting at the promised meeting spot. Both had successfully completed their tasks and returned without being detected.


    Liora leaned against a nearby wall. She was ensuring that no one was nearby, while Luna quietly checked the contents of her spatial ring.


    Moments later, Lucius arrived. He was smirking as he approached them silently. He didn''t waste any time and asked. "Did you find anything useful?"


    Luna crossed her arms and smirked. "Yes, Master. I got some really good stuff from here."


    It could be a strategic route likely used by the group for deploying operatives or fighters without being detected.


    Lucius glanced back toward the direction of the volcano and muttered. "This is further than I expected. They planned this place well. No wonder the empire couldn''t track them."


    Liora gestured toward the faint tracks on the ground leading away from the base. "Looks like this is how they get out when they''re on missions."


    Luna shrugged. "Interesting, but let''s not waste time. We need to head back and report to the Patriarch and Matriarch before they start worrying."


    Lucius smirked faintly. "Agreed. Let''s return to the Volcaria estate. We''ve got plenty to tell them."


    With that, the three of them set off. They were ready to deliver their valuable information and prepare for whatever came next.


    ---


    Inside a grand hall within the empire''s capital, Ragnar sat comfortably in a large chair. He leaned back with a smirk.


    Across from him, Anselm, the empire''s minister and Karion Kryndal, the patriarch of the Kryndal family, were also sitting on the same type of chair.


    Both men were quite annoyed as Ragnar suddenly called them so suddenly for a sudden meeting.


    Karion, who was pretty angry, slammed his fist on the table. "What the hell is this about, Ragnar? Why did you call us here so suddenly?"


    Before Ragnar could respond, Anselm raised his hand to calm Karion. "Ragnar. It hasn''t even been a full week since we last met. What''s so urgent that you had to summon us again?"


    Ragnar laughed hard. He enjoyed their irritation. He waved his hand dismissively. Relax... I just wanted to ask something simple."


    He leaned forward slightly and smirked as he glared at both of them. "It has been nearly a week, like you said. With all of your resources and influence, I assume you''ve got something."


    Ragnar then added again. "You two are some of the most capable people in the empire. Surely, with all that power, you must have some information by now, right?"


    Karion and Anselm immediately frowned upon hearing Ragnar''s question. Neither of them had expected Ragnar to suddenly bring up something like this.

 Chapter 158 Ragnars Bold Gamble

    Karion clenched his jaw. He was frustrated, as he hadn''t expected Ragnar to confront them so suddenly. "If I knew something. I would have called you instead of being summoned here and wasting my time."


    Anselm was still calm, but still, he showed a slight tension. "We''ve been working on it. But whoever is behind this is very good at covering their tracks. It''s not as simple as you make it sound."


    Ragnar''s smirk didn''t waver. He leaned back further in his chair. "Ah, so you have nothing yet. Well, that''s disappointing. I thought you''d have something impressive by now."@@@@


    Karion tightened his fists. He refrained from speaking immediately. He knew that he couldn''t win the current argument with him.


    Anselm kept his composure. He was silent. He also didn''t know how to respond. He just let the tension between the two patriarchs play out.


    Ragnar sighed. He shook his head in disappointment. "It seems I''m the only one actually doing the work around here."


    Both Karion and Anselm frowned at his words. Karion was the first to react. "What do you mean by that?"


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    Ragnar leaned forward slightly and smirked more. "I mean exactly what I said. I''ve already found out something about them while you two don''t."


    Karion frowned. He didn''t want to believe it, but something about Ragnar''s smug demeanor told him otherwise.


    He glared at him. "You found something? Impossible. How could you have found anything when we haven''t?"


    Ragnar shrugged nonchalantly. "Of course, with my own way. Unlike you two, I don''t just sit around waiting for answers to fall into my lap."


    He then used his fingers and pointed them at Karion and Anselm. "You two have more people, more resources, and more connections, yet you still haven''t uncovered anything. Tell me now, what exactly are you doing with all that power?"


    Karion''s face darkened even further. A pulsing vein could be seen at his temple. He He clenched his fists tightly.


    Karion shot Ragnar a glare before leaning back in his chair. He was still fuming, but he held back because of minister Anselm.


    Anselm turned back to Ragnar and frowned. "Explain yourself. What do you mean by that, Ragnar? Isn''t it your duty to share the information once you have it?"


    Ragnar shook his head and chuckled. "Nope. Let me remind you of something, old man. My job is to fight them. Yours is to search for information."


    Ragnar then opened his arms and laughed. "Yet here we are. Not only do I do your job better than you but you also expected me to handle the fighting too. Did I say it right, old man?"


    Anselm frowned deeply at Ragnar''s words. He was dissatisfied by the accusation. He began to calm himself before replying.


    Anselm frowned and sighed. "Fine. If that''s how you see it, then we''ll fight too. Now, can you reveal what you know?"


    Ragnar then smirked and shook his head. "Nope. I can''t do that. I still can''t reveal it."


    Anselm frowned. He leaned forward slightly. He was clearly irritated now. "What do you mean by that, Ragnar?"


    Ragnar leaned back comfortably and crossed his arms. "I don''t want just you two joining the fight."


    Ragnar then smirked as he gestured toward his head. "This information is better than you think. It''s far more valuable than you realize."


    Ragnar tapped his fingers on the table and smirked. "If you want it, you''ll have to do better than just promising to fight. You need to pay more or come up with a more... interesting offer."


    Karion snapped. He could not hold it back. "You''re bargaining with us over information? Is that what this is, you bastard?"


    Anselm raised his hand again to stop Karion before he could escalate things further. Anselm then turned to Ragnar and stared at him. "What do you really want, Ragnar?"


    Ragnar chuckled. He clearly enjoyed this situation. He leaned forward slightly. "Now you''re talking."


    Ragnar sat back down and tapped his fingers on the table. "Let''s just say... I have a few ideas. But first, I want to hear what you''re willing to offer."

 Chapter 159 Ragnars Bold Bargain

    Anselm frowned. He was still irritated by Ragnar. He tried to compose himself. "I can only offer this."


    He then explained it. "We will fight alongside you when the time comes, and after we''ve finished destroying them, we''ll reward you with treasures. Is that enough for you?"


    Ragnar leaned back slightly. "Treasures, huh? What kind of treasures are we talking about? I''m not interested in something worthless."


    Anselm then smirked faintly. "That depends on the battle. The better you perform, the better the treasures will be."


    Ragnar smirked back. He leaned forward slightly and rested his elbows on the table. "I see. If that''s the case... it''s still not enough."


    Anselm''s smirk faded slightly. Karion''s frown also deepened. His patience was clearly thinning out.


    Ragnar glanced at Anselm. He gestured to himself. "The information is with me, not you."


    Ragnar then tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "It''s not exactly in your favor to tell me that the better I perform, the better the reward will be. I hold all the cards now, so you better think it through."


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    Anselm frowned. He recognized the truth in Ragnar''s words. He didn''t respond to him immediately. He tried to guess what he wanted.


    Before Anselm could speak, Karion leaned forward and growled. "You arrogant bastard. How dare you demand more when we''re already offering to fight alongside you and reward you after it''s over?"


    His voice also grew louder. "Do you even know what we''ve lost? Both my sons died because of these bastards, and here you are laughing like it''s a joke!"@@@@


    Ragnar turned to Karion and smirked. "Oh, I dare, Karion. You should be thanking me. I''m doing the job your family failed to do in the first place."


    Ragnar then leaned back again. "Maybe if you''d handled things better, you wouldn''t have lost so much."


    Karion slammed his fist on the table again. "You''re crossing a line, Ragnar!"


    Ragnar remained unfazed. He shook his hand. "Crossing a line? No, Karion. I''m just stating facts. You''re the one who lost two sons to this group. Maybe you should''ve been stronger."


    Ragnar only laughed hard. "Oh, Karion, I live for dangerous games. Now, let''s get down to business."


    ---


    Lucius and his maids had finally arrived at Volcaria Estate. Despite the long distance, they arrived faster than they thought, thanks to Leon''s incredible speed.


    They then saw that Daxton was as usual guarding the door. Daxton also noticed them and greeted them. "Lucius! Where have you been? We''ve been looking for you."


    Lucius dismounted from Leon and replied. "We tracked down the robber. But unfortunately, they were faster than expected. I couldn''t catch them."


    Daxton frowned. He felt guilty. "Once again, I''m sorry. This was my fault. I should have guarded the essence better."


    Lucius smirked faintly. He placed his hand on Daxton''s shoulder. "Don''t worry about it. Just make sure you don''t make the same mistake twice."


    Daxton lowered his head. "Still, I need to be punished. I have failed my duty."


    Lucius raised his eyebrow. "Didn''t Patriarch Ragnar already deal with that?"


    Daxton nodded reluctantly. "Yeah. He told me the same thing you just did... and then made us double our training for a month."


    Lucius crossed his arms. He was thinking of something. "If that''s the case, then train five times harder for five months."


    Daxton was surprised by the added punishment. "Five times harder? For five months? But..."


    Before he could finish, Lucius shook his head, cutting him off. "No buts. You''re the one asking for punishment, aren''t you?"


    Lucius then looked at the other guards. "Besides, I''ve seen how the guards perform. They''re not good enough. It''s time to retrain them properly."


    Daxton wanted to argue but stopped himself. He could only sighed and lowered his head. "Understood, Lucius. I''ll make sure it''s done."


    Lucius smirked. "Good. Now, get to work. We''ll have more things to handle soon."


    Daxton gave a nod before turning back toward the guards. He was already thinking about how to implement the new training regimen.

 Chapter 160 Hot Springs, Hot Rizz

    Lucius and his maids were now entering the grand Volcaria Estate. A group of household maids then appeared before them and bowed respectfully.


    One of the maids, who were dressed in the estate''s signature crimson and black uniform, stepped forward and spoke politely. "The Matriarch has been expecting you, Lord Lucius."


    The other maids silently glanced at their current appearance. They were quite messy after a long journey. "It seems... you may need a bath before meeting with the Matriarch."


    Lucius smirked. He was amused by their reaction. "I see. Well, in that case, take me to the bathhouse. And be sure to bathe me well, will you?"


    The maids flushed slightly. Their cheeks turned red at his bold words. They exchanged awkward glances before nodding. "Yes, Lord Lucius. Please follow us."


    They led Lucius and his maids down a wide corridor toward the estate''s luxurious bathhouse. The heat from the natural hot springs filled the room.


    Lucius wasted no time. He took off his clothes and left them scattered on the floor. He let the maids handle it. He then stepped into the warm water, completely naked.


    He began to relax his muscles. He also leaned back slightly, allowing himself to sink deeper into the pool as he gestured toward the maids. "Well? Get to work."


    The maids were still flustered by his confidence and complete lack of modesty. They then approached him hesitantly.


    They knelt by the edge of the pool, dipping soft cloths into the water before beginning to gently wipe his arms and back.@@@@


    Lucius watched them amusedly. He smirked as he noticed the way their cheeks reddened as they worked. "It seems that my body is still great."


    Meanwhile, Luna and Liora had also entered the bathhouse. Unlike Lucius, they were used to this kind of treatment as they often bathed together.


    They allowed the other maids to bathe them without fuss. They remained calm and tried to relax in this hot natural spring pool.


    As the maids continued their work, Lucius leaned his head back. He closed his eyes briefly and enjoyed being bathed by the beautiful maids.


    Lucius then reminded them. "Make sure I''m spotless. I wouldn''t want to meet the Matriarch looking anything less than perfect."


    The maids nodded. They were too flustered to respond verbally. They continued their task diligently.


    He and his maids left the bathhouse while the maids stayed behind, still trying to calm their flushed faces. Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire


    ---


    Lucius and his maids entered the main hall of Volcaria Estate. At the far end of the hall, Savra, the Matriarch of Volcaria, was already waiting for them. She was sitting on her throne.


    Savra smirked as they drew closer. "So, you three came back safely without a single injury."


    Lucius smirked in return. "Of course. Like I told you before. I know what I''m doing."


    Savra chuckled softly. She was amused by him. "Sure."


    As they reached the center of the hall, Lucius glanced around briefly before asking, "Where''s Patriarch Ragnar?"


    Savra leaned back slightly. "As you probably guessed, he''s off handling some discussions with the minister."


    Lucius raised his eyebrow. "Discussions? Are we sure Patriarch Ragnar is... suited for that? Remember, he tends to be more of a brute."


    Savra laughed quietly. She was entertained by the remarks. "Don''t worry, Lucius. He may seem that way, but he knows what he''s doing."


    She put her hand on her chin and smirked. "When it comes to dealing with the empire, Ragnar''s no fool."


    Lucius shrugged. He was quite satisfied with the answer. "Fair enough. Anyway, since Ragnar''s busy, I assume you''re more interested in what we''ve brought back."


    Savra smirked even more. "Exactly. I''m far more interested in what you''ve obtained."


    Lucius then smirked again. He kneeled a bit and opened his right hand. "If that''s the case, let''s talk, shall we?"


    Savra smiled. She stood up and walked over to a section of the wall and put her plaque in a hidden slot on the wall. A hidden entrance was then opened again like before.


    She turned back to Lucius. She gestured toward the entrance. "Let''s go inside."


    Lucius didn''t hesitate. He followed her from behind. Luna and Liora also followed him too.

 Chapter 161 The Mysterious Groups Infos

    Lucius and Savra entered the secret room. Lucius leaned casually against the table and smirked.


    Savra took a seat across from him and crossed her legs. "So, Lucius, what kind of information did you manage to gather?"


    Lucius smirked and turned toward Liora. He gestured for her to begin. "Liora, start with what you found."


    Liora stepped forward and began her report. "I gathered intel on their armies. Their forces are primarily composed of 4-Star and 5-Star Tamers."


    Savra arched her eyebrow. "Only 4-Stars and 5-Stars? Aren''t there any 3-Stars and belows there?"


    Liora shook her head. "No. Only 4-Star and 5-Star Tamers, with most of them being 5-Star. Their operatives are well-trained, and their combat strength could be considered good."


    Savra rested her hand on her chin. She was thinking for a moment. "Interesting. So they only recruit those who''ve already reached a certain level of strength."


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    She then turned to Liora again. "And what about their numbers? How large is their army?"


    Liora slowly answered. "I couldn''t determine the exact size, but from what I observed, they''re big enough to pose a significant threat."@@@@


    Liora then continued. "And given the quality of their tamers, they''re not just numerous but also quite strong."


    Savra nodded slowly and tapped her fingers lightly on the table. "I see. They''re selective, focusing on quality over sheer numbers. They''re bigger than I thought."


    Savra then turned to Luna, who stood beside Liora. "And what about you, Luna? What did you find?"


    Luna smirked and put her hand on the table. "Quite a lot, actually, Matriarch."


    Luna then pulled a stack of documents from her spatial ring and placed them neatly on the table. The papers were slightly worn, some of them sealed with strange insignias.


    He glanced at Savra and gestured toward the papers. "These papers contain a method to obtain beast-taming talent, you say."


    Savra nodded. "Yes, but it''s not as easy as you think."


    Savra then pointed to a specific section of the paper. "According to this, you need to gather Red Dragon materials first. Without them, the method won''t work."


    Lucius was a bit surprised and he also just realized it. "Could it be... that this is the reason why they''re gathering the Red Dragon materials?"


    Savra leaned back slightly and crossed her arms. "It should be. The talent described here isn''t just any ordinary talent."


    Savra glanced at Lucius and smirked. "It''s an Emperor-Level Beast Taming Talent. Far stronger than my own, which is only at King-Level."


    Lucius then smirked. He was quite intrigued by it. "I see. No wonder they want it so badly."


    Savra nodded. "If they manage to gather all the materials and unlock this talent, they''ll gain a massive advantage. We can''t let that happen."


    Lucius leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. "Then it''s simple. We just need to make sure we get to the materials before they do."


    Savra frowned slightly. She glanced back at Lucius. "And how exactly do you plan to stop them? We don''t even know where the rest of the Red Dragon materials are."


    Lucius smirked. He smoothly placed his hand on the table and gestured toward himself. "That''s why I''m here. I brought the information we need."


    Savra was surprised when she heard it. "Do you mean that you have...?"


    Lucius smirked and nodded. "Yes. I know where the remaining materials are being kept. I even know who''s leading this mysterious group."


    For a moment, it was silent. Savra then leaned forward. She was piqued. "You know their leader?"


    Lucius smirked once more. He leaned back slightly as he crossed his arms. "Exactly. And with this information, we''re one step ahead of them. All we need to do now is act before they do."

 Chapter 162 Lucius Drops a Bombshell

    In a dimly lit hidden room within the empire''s capital, Anselm and Karion sat across from Ragnar.


    The moment Ragnar revealed what he had discovered, both men''s eyes widened in shock.


    Anselm leaned forward slightly and tapped his fingers on the table. "You''re saying that you found their base?"


    Before Ragnar could respond, Karion slammed his fist onto the table. He glared at him. "Are you serious? You expect us to believe that you, of all people, managed to find something we couldn''t?"


    Ragnar chuckled. He leaned back in his chair. He was unfazed by Karion''s hostility. "Believe it or not, Karion, I did. Unlike you, I don''t just sit around barking orders. I get things done."


    Karion''s glare intensified. He leaned forward and wanted to argue with him, but Anselm raised his hand to stop him once again. "Let him explain." Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire


    Anselm then turned back to Ragnar. "If you really did find their base, how can you do it?"


    Ragnar only smirked. "Simple. I let one of my precious items get stolen by them. Then I tracked them back to their hideout."


    Karion clenched his fists tightly. "You let them steal something from you? That''s reckless, even for you."


    Ragnar shrugged nonchalantly. "Risky, yes. But effective. Once they had what they wanted, they thought they were safe."


    Ragnar then shook his head. "They didn''t even bother to cover their tracks. They led me straight to their base."


    Anselm frowned slightly after hearing that. "I see. And where exactly is this base of theirs?"


    Without a word, Ragnar leaned forward and tapped a specific location on the map spread across the table. "It was here. It was inside a volcano and not far from here."


    Anselm studied the marked location. "A volcano... that explains a lot. No wonder none of our searches turned up anything. They''ve been hiding in a place no one would dare look."


    Karion snorted and crossed his arms. "Typical of you, Ragnar. Always acting recklessly, thinking you''re better than everyone else."


    As he reached the exit, Ragnar glanced back briefly. "See you in two days... if you''re ready, that is."


    Ragnar then left the room with a grin. He never respected them at all, even though they had more authroity than him.


    Anselm and Karion remained in the room. Karion slammed his fist on the table once again and cursed. "That arrogant bastard! He''s always playing games, thinking he''s better than us."


    Anselm frowned and placed his hand on Karion''s shoulder. "Calm down. Let him have his moment. He won''t be arrogant for long. Once all of this is over, he''ll have to put up or shut up."


    Karion gritted his teeth but said nothing. His anger was just simmering beneath the surface.


    ---


    Savra was genuinely surprised after hearing what Lucius just said. "What do you mean that one of the materials is here?"


    Lucius glanced back at her calmly. "It is exactly what I said. One of the Red Dragon materials is here in Volcaria Estate."


    Savra frowned. "But wasn''t it already stolen? The only material we had was the blood essence, and it''s gone."


    Lucius shook his head and clarified it. "I''m not talking about the blood essence, but I''m talking about another material."


    Savra leaned forward slightly and asked. "How the hell could they know about it when we didn''t even know something like that was here?"


    Lucius shrugged lightly. "I don''t know how they figured it out. All I know is what I overheard. Their information points to one of the materials being hidden somewhere in this estate."


    Savra fell silent for a moment. She was thinking hard. After a brief pause, she straightened and glanced at Lucius seriously. "Come with me. If what you say is true, we need to check the Treasury."


    Lucius nodded without hesitation He gestured for Luna and Liora to follow as Savra led the way out of the hidden room.


    They were heading toward the deepest part of the estate, which was the Volcaria treasury, where all their most valuable items were kept.

 Chapter 163 Lucius Unveils a Shocking Secret in Volcarias Vault

    Lucius, Luna, and Liora followed Savra down the long corridor until they arrived at a massive door.


    Savra stepped forward and pulled out a plaque from her spatial ring. She pressed it against a glowing panel beside the door.


    The door was then slowly opened up and revealed the contents of the Volcaria Treasury.


    Lucius smirked as they stepped inside. Lucius could sense that there were quite a lot of high-level materials here.


    There were a lot of 5-Star materials and only some of them were 6-Stars. Lucius was interested in absorbing all of them, but this was his backers.


    Lucius turned to Liora and praised it. "The quality here is impressive. It was better than what Garrans had. It was a very large difference."


    Savra glanced at him and smirked faintly. "Naturally. Volcaria prides itself on its strength."


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    She led them deeper into the Treasury and stopped near a heavily protected section. "All we know is that Red Dragon materials are at least 7-Star level."


    Savra then gestured toward the glass box that had something inside it. "But our collection of 7-Star materials is limited to just this one."


    The item inside it was an obsidian sphere that seemed to be encased by a swirling mass of molten rock. There were also some faint cracks around it that emitted a fiery red glow.


    Savra stepped forward and placed her hand on the glass box. "This is a 7-Star Volcano Core. We found it deep within this volcano years ago, and it''s been one of our greatest treasures ever since."


    Lucius approached the glass box to examine the Volcano Core closely. He could feel the heat from it.


    It was undoubtedly a rare and valuable item, but something about it didn''t match what he had seen and known about the Red Dragon materials.


    Lucius stepped back and turned to Savra. "So, is this the only 7-Star material you have?"


    Savra nodded. "Yes. As far as we know, there are no other 7-Star materials in our possession. Everything else is 6-Star and below."


    [YES] [NO]


    ---


    Lucius smirked as he saw the cost. "This cost... it was the same. This is definitely one of the Red Dragon materials. The Red Dragon Heart."


    Despite the sting of the price, he didn''t hesitate. He selected [YES], knowing the value of what he was about to reveal.


    The fossil began to change before their eyes. The rough surface began to smooth out. The dull brown color was replaced by a vibrant red color.


    They could also sense that the aura from the heart began to appear. Savra was immediately surprised the moment she sensed the level of the aura.


    Savra glanced at Lucius. She walked toward him and shouted. "What the¡ª? How is that possible? It suddenly became a fresh heart again... and that aura. It''s definitely 7-Star."


    Lucius smirked. He held up the jar containing the restored material. "This is one of the materials they''re searching for. The Red Dragon Heart."


    Savra was stunned and stared at him. "To think it was really here all along... But how did you do that? How did you make the heart look new again?"


    Lucius maintained his composure and answered. "I used a special restoration potion that I created from numerous rare ingredients."


    He glanced back at the heart. "I suspected there might be something unusual about this heart, so I took a gamble and used my only dose of the potion. It pained me to use it, but... it looks like I was right."


    Though Lucius''s explanation was a complete lie, he delivered it so convincingly that Savra had no reason to doubt him.


    Savra nodded slowly. She was really amazed by him. "I see. If that''s the case, I''ll make sure to compensate you for your loss. That potion must''ve been extremely valuable."


    Lucius smiled faintly and laughed hard in his mind. "Thank you. I appreciate it."


    Savra turned back to the heart. She studied it for a moment before becoming serious and turning to Lucius. "Something about this is strange."


    Lucius noticed her shift in demeanor. He smirked faintly. "What is it, Matriarch? Just ask what you don''t understand and I''ll try to answer it."

 Chapter 164 An Invisible Heist! Brysons Vault Cleaned Out Without a Trace!

    Savra kept her gaze fixed on the Red Dragon Heart. "Lucius, are you absolutely sure this is a Red Dragon material? Something about this feels... off."


    Lucius raised his eyebrow. He was confused by what Savra meant. "Off? What do you mean?"


    Savra folded her arms. "It''s strange. The other Red Dragon materials you''ve encountered so far were all still fresh and brimming with powerful auras."


    Savra then used her finger to point at the heart. "But this heart was fossilized and weakened when we found it. Why is it so different from the others?"


    Lucius was momentarily surprised by the question. "You have a point. It is really quite weird."


    He hadn''t really thought about it before, but now that Savra mentioned it, he couldn''t ignore it.


    He then suddenly realized something. He glanced back toward the heart. "Wait a minute. Could it be...?"


    Without wasting another second, he activated his system. "System, absorb this Red Dragon Heart, but leave enough to maintain its appearance and aura."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Heart Essence Absorption]


    [Target: Red Dragon Heart]


    [Effect: Extract 80% of Heart Essence while Retaining Physical Appearance and Aura]


    [Cost: None (Converted into Hack Points)]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    The system responded instantly. Lucius immediately opened his points to see if it was increased.


    When he looked at it, he realized that it had been increased by a lot. It was actually increased by 700 million hack points.


    It wasn''t quite as much as what he had received from absorbing the Red Dragon Blood Essence, but it was still an enormous amount.


    For a brief moment, Lucius almost felt like crying. "My points are back... and in massive numbers!"


    Lucius then continued. "Maybe they have a stronger version of the artifact that had a longer range than the previous one."


    Lucius then pointed at far away. "If that''s the case, they could have detected the heart from afar, which might explain why they targeted your estate in the first place."


    Savra nodded slowly. "That could be it. If they have something like that, it would explain how they knew that it was here."


    Lucius leaned back slightly and smirked. "Either way, it doesn''t matter now. We know what they''re after, and we have it in our hands. The important thing is to stay one step ahead."


    Savra nodded. "Agreed. For now, let''s wait for Ragnar to return before we plan our next move."


    ---


    Bryson was walking toward the end of the warehouse. Without hesitation, he reached one of the shelves and rotated an ordinary statue.


    With a low rumble, a hidden entrance was opened, revealing a secret passageway.


    Bryson entered the hidden room swiftly, where he kept some of his most sensitive documents and rare materials.


    However, the moment he stepped inside, he froze in place. He was shocked to see that the room was completely empty.


    Every document and valuable material he had stored here were gone. The shelves were bare, as if they had been meticulously cleaned out.


    His surprise quickly became anger as he clenched his fists tightly. "How the hell did this happen?"


    Bryson wasted no time. He walked to the far side of the room, where a camera artifact was hidden. He put it there to monitor this space in case of intruders.


    He immediately activated it. He then began to review the recorded footage to see who the hell dared to rob his secret room.


    As the recording played, his expression turned from confusion to disbelief. The footage showed the documents and materials vanished without a trace.


    They were all absorbed into a single point. It was like something invisible absorbed all of them.


    No one appeared in the recording, but the evidence was clear: someone had entered while remaining completely invisible.


    Bryson slammed his fist into the wall. He gritted his teeth and muttered. "No wonder they got past the guards... It was an invisible thief."


    He then clenched his fists even tighter in anger. "When I find you... I will kill you for this."

 Chapter 165 Ragnars Furious Realization

    Ragnar had just returned to Volcaria Estate. He was now making his way toward the main hall, but he was surprised to find it empty.


    He then paused and thought for a moment. "Where could they be, huh?"


    He suddenly remembered something. Without wasting time, Ragnar headed toward a specific section of the wall.


    He retrieved his plaque from his spatial ring and pressed it against a concealed panel. A hidden passageway suddenly opened up.


    Ragnar smirked and immediately stepped inside the hallway and went toward the secret room.


    The moment he entered the room, he saw that Savra was sitting across from Lucius. His maids were standing behind him.


    They also appeared to be in the middle of a discussion, but the moment Ragnar entered, all eyes turned toward him.


    Ragnar smirked and stepped further into the room. "I see... so you''re all down here."


    He turned to Lucius and smirked. "It seems that you are safe from spying there. And your maids are too."


    Lucius returned the smirk and crossed his arms. "Yeah, we''re fine. It wasn''t really that hard. We were invisible the whole time."


    Ragnar chuckled softly. "I see. Smart move."


    Savra leaned forward slightly and looked at Ragnar. "What happened at the meeting?"


    Ragnar''s smirk widened as he began to sit down and fold his arms. "Oh, it was a show, I tell you. Let me tell you what happened in there."


    Ragnar then began to tell them first what happened in the meeting before discussing it with them.


    ---


    Lucius leaned back and casually told them. "They could easily claim it''s invalid or find some excuse to avoid paying up."


    Savra tapped her fingers on the table again. She frowned as she heard what Lucius said. "You''re saying that even with the contract in place, we might not get anything in the end?"


    Lucius slammed the table slightly. "Exactly. It was a smart move to trap them for now, but it''s risky."


    Lucius leaned back again. "Once the job is done, nothing''s stopping them from backing out. Especially if they think they can get away with it."


    Ragnar''s smirk faded as he considered Lucius''s point. He clenched his fist lightly. "So you''re saying they might screw us over once the threat''s gone?"


    Lucius nodded. "That''s the risk. They might smile and cooperate now because they need us, but once they don''t..."


    Lucius smirked as he let them think about the next words. He then leaned forward and put his hand on his chin. "That''s why I said it''s both a good and a bad choice."


    Ragnar clenched his fists as he suddenly realized something. "No wonder they agreed so easily and signed it. They never intended to fulfill it in the first place."


    Ragnar then slammed his fist on the table in anger. "Damn it! How dare they?"


    Savra glanced at Ragnar. She also didn''t know what to do now. The information was already with them. Luna and Liora exchanged brief glances and remained silent as they observed the scene.


    Before Ragnar''s anger could escalate further, Lucius smirked. "Relax. I already have a plan."


    Both Ragnar and Savra turned to him. They were surprised by his confidence. "What do you mean by a plan? You already know how to handle this situation?"


    Ragnar, who was still fuming, added. "You''re telling me you''ve thought of something while we''ve been sitting here?"


    Lucius chuckled and smirked. "Of course. You didn''t think I''d come back from a mission like this without a backup plan, did you?"


    Savra crossed her arms. She was curious about it. "Alright then. Let''s hear it."


    Lucius smirked and glanced at both of them. "Let me tell you exactly how we''re going to deal with them."

 Chapter 166 Luciuss Bold Plan

    Lucius began to tell them his plan. Ragnar and Savra listened closely and occasionally exchanged brief glances. By the time Lucius finished, both of them nodded, meaning that they understood it.


    But still, Ragnar frowned. He was still processing one part of the plan. "So you''re saying that two days from now, when we''re supposed to fight the organization, only Liora and I will go."


    Ragnar gestured to himself. "But I don''t get it. Why don''t I go alone? Or better yet, why do we need to go at all?"


    Lucius smirked faintly. "I see. Maybe I explained it too quickly. Let me clarify."


    He leaned forward and placed his hand on the table. "In two days, when the empire launches its attack on the organization, their leaders will be ready for anything. They''ll expect it."


    Ragnar raised his eyebrow. "Wait... you''re saying they already know we''re going to attack?" Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    Lucius smirked. "Of course. Don''t you know that Luna stole several key documents and materials from their hidden warehouse?"


    Lucius leaned back and crossed his arms. "Their boss must have realized by now that someone infiltrated them. They may not know who exactly did it, but they''ll be on high alert."


    Ragnar nodded slowly. "Alright, fair point. If they''re already expecting trouble, that explains why they''ll be ready.


    Ragnar gestured to himself again. "But why do we need to go at all? If they''re likely to betray us afterward, why don''t we just avoid the fight entirely?"


    Lucius chuckled softly. "Because that''s precisely why you need to go. You need to show your strength."


    Lucius then explained it. "If you don''t show up, they''ll think you''re afraid or worse, that you don''t care about the deal. You have to make them think twice about crossing you."


    Ragnar smirked as he liked the idea. "I see... so I''m there to send a message. Make them hesitate before pulling anything stupid."


    Lucius leaned back again and smirked. "Exactly. You''ll remind them why it''s dangerous to mess with Volcaria."


    Ragnar smirked more. But still, he had one more question. "Alright, I get that. But why bring Liora along? Why not just let me handle it alone?"


    Lucius glanced briefly at Liora. "Because I want her to gain real battle experience. She''s gotten strong too quickly."


    Savra rubbed her temple briefly. She was trying to process what she had just heard. "I see... If it''s you, it must be something unusual you did or something you stumbled upon."


    She waved a hand dismissively. "Let''s ignore the details for now. Whether it''s strange or not, it''s already done."


    Lucius nodded. "Fair enough. But believe me, Matriarch. You''ll want her with you. Her abilities will come in handy."


    Savra gave Luna another long look and finally nodded. "Alright. If she''s a tamer now, she can come. Just make sure she''s ready."


    Luna, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward. "I''m ready. You don''t have to worry about me."


    Ragnar glanced between Lucius and Luna. He was skeptical but decided not to press further. "Fine. If you say she''s useful, we''ll see when the time comes."


    Lucius smirked once more. "You''ll see soon enough. Just trust me on this."


    Savra glanced back at Lucius. "But still, Lucius, are you really sure about this final plan? Are we really going to go through with it?"


    Lucius nodded without hesitation. "Of course, Matriarch. But remember, it''s a contingency plan. We''ll only execute it if they''re stupid enough to try what we think they will."


    Ragnar let out a loud laugh and crossed his arms over his broad chest. "Exactly! If they''re foolish enough to pull something after the battle, we''ll do it. Until then, it''s just a backup plan."


    Savra sighed, rubbing her temple briefly before nodding. "Fine. I''ll go along with it for now. Let''s focus on preparing for what''s ahead. Two days isn''t much time."


    Lucius smirked and turned to Luna and Liora. "Alright then. We''ve got work to do."


    Savra gestured toward Ragnar. "Make sure everything''s ready on your end. I don''t want any surprises."


    Ragnar grinned. "Don''t worry. My end''s covered."


    With the plan agreed upon, they all nodded, understanding what needed to be done.


    Without further delay, they turned and headed out of the room, each of them readying themselves for what would come two days later.

 Chapter 167 Lucius Hits 6-Star!

    Lucius was now in his room. He was also accompanied by his maids, Luna and Liora.


    Lucius looked at them and smirked. "It''s time for us to reach 6-Star Tamers."


    Luna smirked. She was excited. "About time, Master. We''ve been waiting for this."


    Liora also nodded. She leaned on the wall and crossed her arms. "We''re ready. Let''s make it happen."


    Lucius was satisfied by their answers. He then gestured toward an empty place and instructed them. "Summon your beasts."


    Both of them stepped forward and summoned their own beast. Luna summoned Loxen, the Silver Shadow Panther. Meanwhile, Liora summoned Leon, the Silver Flame Lion.


    Lucius smirked and turned to the system. He was now seeing if any new evolutions were unlocked for them.


    Despite his hopes for something new, the system still offered the same evolution paths as before.


    He rubbed the back of his neck briefly and sighed. "Looks like we''ll go with the strongest evolution available. No surprise this time."


    Luna tilted her head slightly and smirked. "Well, at least we know it''s strong. Besides, you''re the one making it happen. How can we go wrong?"


    Lucius turned to Luna and chuckled. "Well, you''ve got a point."@@@@


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    Liora, who was still petting her beast, asked. "Anything we need to prepare for?"


    Lucius smiled. "As usual. Once your beasts evolve, it''s time for you to use the new energy to become 6-Star Tamers. Be ready for that."


    Luna gave a light shrug. "It''s easy, Master. Just point us in the right direction, and we''ll handle the rest."


    Liora gave a firm nod. "We''ll be fine. Let''s do it."


    Lucius smirked and turned to the system. He was ready to hack and evolve their beasts. "Good. Get ready. You''re about to take the next step."


    ---


    In just two days, Lucius had spent 20 million hack points to evolve both Loxen and Leon into 6-Star beasts with full B-Tier stats.


    He had deliberately avoided adding the hidden aura option. He was thinking that it wouldn''t matter much at this level.


    With an impending war, no one would pay attention to the sudden appearance of new 6-Star beasts.


    Once the evolutions were complete, Luna and Liora harnessed the powerful 6-Star energy radiating from their newly evolved beasts.


    With careful control and focus, both successfully advanced to 6-Star Tamers, their connection to their beasts now at a completely new level.


    Meanwhile, Lucius had also harnessed the powerful 6-Star energy from Luna and Liora.


    He entered a deep meditation and absorbed it. He let it flow through his veins and strengthen his core.


    After hours of focused absorption and refinement, he woke up from his meditation. He had really become a 6-Star Tamer.


    [Vit: B (6¡ï)]


    [Agi: B (6¡ï)]


    [Int: B (6¡ï)]


    [Passive Skill:]


    [Shadow Sovereign: Surrounds itself with a silver shadow aura that increases evasion and critical hit chance, and further enhances its speed and stealth in dark environments.]


    [Active Skills:]


    [Silver Shadow Domination: Manipulates silver-infused shadows to attack, defend, increase speed, or temporarily turn invisible depending on the situation.]


    [Silver Shadow Burst: Unleashes a powerful explosion of silver shadows, dealing heavy area damage and applying a lasting shadow effect that weakens and drains enemies.]


    ---


    Lucius read through the stats of Loxen and Leon. It was clear that both beasts had grown significantly stronger after their evolution.


    Their skills were impressive, and their stats had reached B-Tier, but something about it didn''t sit right with him. "It''s good, but not good enough."


    He turned back to the system and issued a new hack. "Hack both Loxen and Leon. Upgrade all their stats to A-Tier."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Stat Overhaul]


    [Targets: Loxen and Leon]


    [Effect: All Stats Upgraded to A-Tier]


    [Cost Required: 80,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Lucius glanced at the displayed cost. 80 million hack points was not a small price, but with the 700 million hack points he had gained earlier, it didn''t bother him. "Worth it."


    Moments later, both Loxen and Leon began to growl softly. Their bodies trembled slightly as they began to grow even more to adapt to their new stats after being upgraded.


    Lucius turned to Luna and Liora, who were both watching their beasts closely and instructed them. "Check on your beasts. Make sure they''ve fully adapted to the upgrade. I''ll go meet with the patriarch and matriarch in the grand hall."


    Both Luna and Liora nodded in unison. They began to step in and examine their beasts more closely.


    Luna patted Loxen and smiled. "Understood, Master. I''ll make sure that he is ready later."


    Liora also nodded. She was patting Leon to make sure that he was okay from the transformation. "We''ll handle it, Master. Don''t you worry."


    Lucius smiled after hearing that. Without wasting any more time, he left the room, making his way through the estate''s corridors toward the grand hall.

 Chapter 168 Lucius Breaks the Rules

    Lucius had entered the main hall. Ragnar and Savra had already been waiting for him. They were currently sitting on their throne.


    Savra glanced at Lucius and frowned. She felt that something was different about him that day.


    Ragnar was also the same. He leaned forward and gripped the armrest of his throne tightly. "Lucius... did you... reach 6-Star?"


    Lucius sat on the chair that had been prepared by the maids. He then glanced at Ragnar and tilted his head, smirking. "It appears so."


    Ragnar blinked. He was really surprised by it. He relaxed his hand a bit. "How? It took me years to break through, and you...


    Savra rose from her throne and went to Lucius. She studied him to see if anything was hidden beneath him. "I knew that you would become 6-Star, but I didn''t expect this. Not this soon."


    Lucius raised his eyebrow and folded his arms across his chest. "Is it that surprising? You both did tell me I was a genius, after all."


    Savra''s lips twitched as she heard that. "Don''t get cocky. You''re twenty, aren''t you?"


    Lucius tapped his chin. He was pretending to think. "I believe so. Yes, twenty."@@@@


    Ragnar shook his head and rose from the throne. He walked toward Lucius and looked at him. "Twenty years old and already 6-Star..."


    He then glanced at Savra and sighed. He glanced back at Lucius. "Do you know how long it takes most tamers to reach 6-Star?"


    Lucius was quite interested in it. He never thought about it. "Enlighten me."


    Savra crossed her arms and tilted her head slightly as she began to explain. "For most tamers, reaching 4-Star happens in their early to mid-twenties. For 5-Star, it''s usually their late twenties or early thirties."


    She then gestured with one hand. "And as for 6-Star... That''s a milestone most hit in their thirties. If they''re fortunate enough to reach it."


    Lucius was quite interested in it and smirked. "How about 7-Star? How long did it take?"


    Ragnar answered this time. He folded his arms across his broad chest. "Forties or later. Even for those with King or Queen-level talent."


    Lucius then shifted his gaze to Luna and Savra. "Luna, you and Matriarch Savra will handle the Kryndal hub in Flame Wing City and steal the remaining Red Dragon material before they can react."


    Luna nodded and smirked. "Simple enough. Just consider it done, Master."


    Savra tilted her head slightly as she glanced back at Lucius. "And what about you, Lucius? What will you do?"


    Lucius glanced back at her and smirked. He gestured toward himself. "Me? Of course I''ll stay here."


    Savra was surprised. She raised her eyebrow. "Staying behind? Why?"


    Lucius shrugged. He spread his hands nonchalantly. "I''m no tamer or fighter. In a direct confrontation, I''d only slow you down. My role is different. I''ll prepare the final phase of our plan."


    Savra sighed. "The one weakness you have. For all your genius, you can''t fight."


    Lucius chuckled softly. "That''s why I leave the fighting to capable hands like yours. Now, enough talk."


    He gestured toward the teleportation platform. "Time is running out. We need to move."


    Ragnar turned without a word and began walking toward the platform, Liora following closely behind.


    Luna glanced at Lucius briefly, giving a small nod of acknowledgment before falling in step beside Savra.


    Savra paused at the base of the platform, turning back one last time to look at Lucius. "Don''t screw up your part."


    Lucius gave her a lazy two-fingered salute. "Don''t worry, Matriarch. When you return, everything will be in place."


    Without further comment, Savra and Luna stepped onto the platform beside Ragnar and Liora.


    The teleportation platform was soon activated. In an instant, the four of them vanished, leaving Lucius standing alone.


    Lucius lowered his hand and smirked as he turned back toward Volcaria Estate. "Now... time to ensure this final plan of mine runs perfectly."


    He went back into the Volcaria Estate. He was already thinking of what he would be doing later if they really executed the final plan.

 Chapter 169 Crushed Ego, Shattered Pride

    Ragnar and Liora materialized in the middle of a bustling camp. Around them, a group of tamers moved with purpose.


    They were now training to prepare for themselves when they went to war with the mysterious group.


    Ragnar smirked as he surveyed the crowd. "Hmm, seems they''ve prepared quite the force."


    Liora also looked at the gathered tamers. She saw a variety of beasts, but they were still weak compared to Leon. She remained silent but alert.


    They began to go to the center of the camp. They were going to the tent where Minister Anselm and Karion, the leader of another allied faction, were waiting.


    Karion saw that Ragnar had come. He then gestured at the assembled forces around them. "Ragnar. We''ve gathered quite a number of people for this operation. "


    He then frowned and gestured toward Ragnar. "But to think that you came with only one person with you."


    Ragnar only smirked. He glanced around the tent before glaring back at Karion. "Didn''t I tell you before? I might come, or I might not."


    He then shrugged nonchalantly. "But after thinking it over, I decided it was worth my time to show up."


    Karion frowned. But before he could respond, Anselm stepped forward and frowned deeply. "This isn''t a game, Ragnar. How dare you come here alone? And worse, you bring... a little girl?"


    Liora immediately glared at Anselm coldly after hearing those words. She didn''t speak but Anselm could sense the tension around her.


    Ragnar chuckled and raised his hand to stop her. He then glanced back at Anselm and warned him. "Careful, Anselm. You''re not in a position to lecture me."@@@@


    Ragnar leaned forward and smirked. "I''ve done more for this operation than most of your people combined. I even found the enemy''s position."


    Ragnar then smirked and shrugged. "So unless you''ve suddenly become an expert in reconnaissance, I suggest you hold your tongue."


    Anselm''s frown deepened. But before he could retort, Ragnar gestured toward Liora. "And as for her... she''s my niece, and she''s here to gain experience."


    Anselm was surprised and angry. "Experience? This is a war, not a playground for girls!"


    Ragnar smirked as he stepped closer. "Oh, I''m well aware. And I''m not playing around."


    He used his thumb to point at Liora. "She''s stronger than half the clowns you''ve brought with you. Maybe more."


    Liora looked at the pathetic lieutenant and smirked. "For a peak 5-Star Tamer, you''re already struggling to stand."


    She then stepped closer to him to make her aura press him down even harder. "And yet, you call me weak?"


    Bral forced himself to stand. He wasn''t shocked anymore but instead angry. "H-How? How can someone like you¡ªa little girl¡ªbe a 6-Star Tamer?!"


    Liora smirked as she leaned slightly closer and mocked him. "Who said a little girl can''t be a 6-Star Tamer?"


    Before Bral could react, Liora moved forward. She instantly closed the remaining distance between them.


    She shot her leg up and delivered a clean and devastating kick directly to his groin. The impact was immediate.


    Bral''s eyes bulged, his mouth opening in a silent scream as he collapsed to the ground in an instant, clutching his midsection.


    The crowd winced collectively. A few soldiers also couldn''t help but to mutter, "Oof," under their breath.


    Bray laid there. He was unconscious and motionless. His pride and superiority have been completely shattered by Liora.


    Liora straightened and brushed her hair back casually as though nothing had happened.


    She glanced around at the stunned soldiers and smirked. "Anyone else want to question why I''m here?"


    No one answered. Even Anselm, who had initially doubted her, remained silent. He was shocked that he could not say anything at all.


    Meanwhile, a young man was leaning against a pillar. He casually folded his arms across his chest.


    From his vantage point, he had witnessed the entire exchange between Liora and the lieutenant. Read the latest on My Virtual Library Empire


    He smirked as he watched the unconscious Bral being dragged away by a couple of embarrassed soldiers.


    He tapped his chin with his hand. "A young 6-Star Tamer from the Volcaria family... How intriguing."


    He tilted his head slightly and smirked. "I wonder... could I make her mine?"


    The thought amused him. He was used to getting what he wanted. Whether it was power, influence, or people. And this time, it seemed he had found something or rather, someone worth pursuing.

 Chapter 170 Empires First Prince Meets Volcarias Patriarch

    Ragnar folded his arms across his chest as he glanced at Anselm and Karion. "Now, she''s proved her power. You can''t doubt her anymore, right?"


    Anselm''s frown deepened, but he didn''t respond. He unwillingly admitted that he was wrong.


    However, Karion couldn''t hold back his frustration and glanced back at Liora before turning to Ragnar. "Where the hell did you find her? How can someone as young as her be a 6-Star Tamer?"


    Ragnar only smirked. He was enjoying their looks of disbelief. "Of course she can. Who says a little girl can''t become a 6-Star Tamer?"


    He gestured toward Liora with a slight tilt of his head, "You''d do well to remember that strength doesn''t always come with age."


    Outwardly, Ragnar maintained his usual smug demeanor, but inwardly he was also in disbelief.


    "What the hell is wrong with Lucius and his maids? They keep pulling off these ridiculous feats like it''s nothing."


    Even as he spoke with ease, Ragnar found himself wondering how it was even possible. Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Just a few days ago, she was 5-Star. And now she''s standing here, stronger than most veterans I''ve fought beside."


    He resisted the urge to shake his head. Lucius always had a way of making the impossible seem like part of his daily routine. And now his maids were doing the same.


    Karion opened his mouth to retort but thought better of it. Instead, he clenched his fists and muttered something under his breath.


    Ragnar clapped his hands together. "Good. Now that we''ve got that settled, how about you stop complaining, and we get moving?"


    Before anyone could respond, Anselm cleared his throat and stepped forward. "Before we proceed, let me introduce some key figures in this operation."


    He gestured toward a tall and imposing man who stood near the edge of the tent. "This is Drayton Raventhorn, Patriarch of the Raventhorn family and Karion''s ally."


    He glanced around the tent before continuing. "There''s someone important here who should be introduced."


    Suddenly, a man who was well dressed in ornate armor stepped forward. He also glanced at Liora briefly when he was going to the center.


    He stopped a few steps away from Ragnar and offered a slight bow. "Patriarch Ragnar, it''s an honor. I am Anthony Solvian, the First Prince of the Astranean Empire."


    Ragnar raised his eyebrow. He was a bit surprised to meet the first prince here. "I see. So, you''re the First Prince, but what is a royal like you doing out here in the middle of a war camp?"


    Anthony smiled and became serious. "The mysterious group we''re targeting has become a growing thorn in the Empire''s side."


    Anthony waved his hand. "They have caused enough chaos to disrupt the empire. As the First Prince, it''s my responsibility to handle them personally."


    Ragnar crossed his arms and smirked. He was a bit interested in him. "I see. So the Empire''s getting serious about this now, huh?"


    Anthony smiled and glanced briefly at Liora again before turning back to Ragnar. "Serious enough to send me. I also understand that you''ve brought... unique help."


    Ragnar caught the glance but chose to ignore it. He focused on the task at hand. "Well then, Prince. If you''re here to help, I won''t complain. But we''ve already wasted enough time with introductions and arguments."


    He turned toward the gathered group. "Let''s move out. I''ll show you the way to their base."


    Anthony smiled and nodded. "Please lead the way, patriarch Ragnar."


    Without further delay, Ragnar led the way out of the tent, Liora walking quietly by his side.


    As they moved toward the camp''s outskirts, where the forces were gathered, Ragnar leaned slightly toward her. "Watch that prince. He''s been eyeing you from the start."


    Liora didn''t need further explanation. She had already noticed the way Anthony had been watching her. "I''ll keep an eye on him."


    Ragnar smirked faintly. "Good. Let''s see how long it takes before he realizes we''re not playing by the Empire''s rules."

 Chapter 171 Shopping, Scheming, and Snacks

    Luna and Savra stepped off the teleportation platform. The air was quite hot but not as hot as Volcaria Estate.


    They could see the bustling streets of Flame Wing City stretched before them. It was filled with merchants and tamers.


    There were also a lot of flame-winged beasts of various sizes and types around here, whether the ones being sold or tamed beasts.


    Luna glanced around and was interested in it. She rested her hand on her hip. "So, this is Flame Wing City, huh? It lives up to its name."


    Savra nodded as he glanced around. "Yeah, this city is known for its flame-winged beasts. They''re bred and trained here, and some of the Empire''s best fire tamers come from this region."


    She then turned to Luna and became serious. "So, Luna, what''s the plan here? What should we do now?"


    Luna smirked. She tilted her head as she already anticipated the question. "First, we''ll find an inn to settle down and plan our next move. Then..."


    She then gave Savra a playful shrug. "We''ll do a little shopping."


    Savra raised her eyebrow. "Shopping?"


    Luna nodded. "Of course. There are plenty of rare goods here, and I''ve got a few things in mind that I want to buy for Master."


    Savra folded her arms and smirked. "I see. Despite being Lucius'' maid, you''re still a woman at heart. Fine. Let''s do some shopping."


    She also glanced at Luna with a sly grin. "I''ll even pay for it. Consider it my treat."


    Luna''s eye lit up, and she gave Savra a genuine smile. "Well, I can''t say no to that. Let''s go."


    The two of them began to walk down the crowded street. Luna then glanced sideways at Savra. "You know, I never expected you to be into something as normal as shopping."


    Savra chuckled softly. "I may be a matriarch, but I still know how to appreciate good things. And besides..."


    She gave Luna a sideways glance. "You''re surprisingly good company for something like this. I can see why Lucius keeps you around."


    Lucius then smirked and clasped her hands. "Just like the material we recovered from the academy, they don''t know its true value."


    Savra leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "So, they''re keeping it out in the open?"


    Luna nodded. "More or less. They''re storing it in one of their warehouses, guarded by a few tamers who don''t seem to realize they''re sitting on something priceless."


    She turned back to Savra. "This''ll be easier than you think."


    Savra smirked. She was clearly impressed. "You''re full of surprises. Lucius was right. Bringing you along was a good decision."


    Luna chuckled softly, crossing her arms. "Master doesn''t make mistakes when it comes to choosing his people. Now, let''s get ready. We''ll move after nightfall, when the city quiets down."


    Savra rose from her seat, stretching again before heading toward her belongings. "Fine by me. But first, let''s eat. No point in sneaking around on an empty stomach."


    Luna watched her and shook her head slightly. "You and your food..."


    Savra grinned as she unpacked some freshly bought flame-roasted meat and bread. "Hey, even a mission like this deserves a proper meal beforehand. Besides, I don''t know when we''ll get to eat again."


    Luna didn''t argue. Instead, she sat down across from Savra. She was also joining her for some food before they went to do their task.


    ---


    Luna and Savra had just finished their meal. Savra leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms as she glanced at Luna. "Alright. We know where it''s located, but we can''t just walk in and take it."


    Savra frowned and reminded Luna. "We''re stealing something valuable, and that means we''ll need to do it quietly. I''m not exactly an expert when it comes to stealth. Got any ideas?"


    Luna smirked mischievously. "Don''t worry. There''s a reason Master sent me on this mission, and it''s not just because I''m good company."


    Savra raised her eyebrow, as she was intrigued. "Oh, would you show me then?"


    Without another word, Luna smirked and summoned her beast. A portal appeared and from it, Loxen, the Silver Shadow Panther, appeared.


    Savra was surprised as she saw and sensed the beast. She was shocked. "What the hell is this?"

 Chapter 172 A Heist in Flame Wing City

    Savra was surprised to see Loxen. It wasn''t the sight of the beast that surprised her, but what caught her off guard was the aura radiating from it.@@@@


    She could feel that the aura was not from a 5-Star Beast. Instead, it was a genuiune 6-Star aura.


    She stared at Luna and furrowed in disbelief. "What the hell... That beast is 6-Star, which means that you''re a 6-Star Tamer?"


    Luna smirked, resting her hand on Loxen''s head. "That''s right. Are you surprised, Matriarch?"


    Savra was in disbelief. "How? You''re barely in your twenties? How can you already be a 6-Star Tamer? This doesn''t make any sense."


    Luna tilted her head slightly and smirked wider. "Because I''m Master Lucius''s maid. With him, things like this... well, they''re just normal."


    Savra groaned, rubbing her temple with her hand. "Dammit. You and your master are so strange. First him, now you."


    She dropped her hand and stared at Luna. "What the hell is wrong with you two?"


    Luna chuckled softly and shrugged. "What can I say? He expects the best from us, so we deliver."


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    Savra crossed her arms and sighed. Despite it, Savra still smirked a little. "Fine. Let''s just hope that strength of yours lives up to the hype."


    Luna smirked as she stepped closer to Savra. "Oh, don''t you worry about that. You''ll see soon enough."


    Savra shook her head again but couldn''t help but chuckle. "You''re insufferable. No wonder you fit right in with Lucius."


    Luna smirked. "I''ll take that as a compliment. But enough talk. It''s time to move."


    She climbed onto Loxen''s back. She then turned toward Savra and gestured with a head tilt. "Come on. Get on."


    Savra raised her eyebrow and crossed her arms. "What? You want me to ride your beast? I thought this was a stealth mission, not a parade."


    Savra scanned around the area and muttered. "So, this is the Kryndal family''s 4-Star hub warehouse."


    Luna nodded. "Yeah, it seems so. But this is the lowest-tier warehouse. It''s where they keep the items they think aren''t worth much."


    Savra crossed around and smirked as she looked around. "No wonder. The things here don''t exactly scream value."


    She looked at some rows of low-quality beast cores and basic equipment. "I doubt even the tamers they hire would bother with most of this junk."


    Luna ignored the commentary and pulled the artifact from her spatial ring. It pulsed faintly with energy as she activated it. "Let me check where it is first."


    The artifact began to hum softly. She followed the trail it projected, moving carefully through the aisles. Savra trailed behind her, watching with curiosity.


    Finally, the artifact led them to a section filled with weak beast cores. They were so unremarkable they were practically gathering dust.


    Luna crouched down, reaching into the middle of a shelf to pull out a dull, blank object.


    It resembled a beast core, but its surface was smooth and featureless, lacking the usual glow or energy signature.


    Savra leaned over her shoulder, raising her eyebrow. "So, this is it, huh?"


    Luna stood up and held the item up. She smirked as she nodded. "Yeah, this is what we came for."


    Savra frowned. She inspected the item more closely. "It doesn''t look like much. No aura, no shine, no power. It''s just... dull. No wonder they thought it was a useless core."


    Luna smirked and slipped the item into her spatial ring. "Exactly. That''s what makes it so easy to steal. They don''t even realize what they have."


    Savra chuckled softly, leaning against a nearby shelf. "You''re not wrong. Thanks to their ignorance, we''ve secured another Red Dragon material for ourselves."


    She crossed her arms, glancing at the empty space where the item had been stored. "All that''s left now is for Lucius to work his magic on it¡ªjust like he did with the last one in our estate."


    Luna nodded. "Master always knows how to bring out the true potential in things, whether it''s a dull item like this or... Well, you''ve seen how he works."

 Chapter 173 Double Trouble in Flame Wing City

    Savra glanced around the dimly lit warehouse. She tapped her chin as she thought of something. "Luna, our mission is probably finished, right?"


    Luna nodded. "Yeah. All we needed to do was secure this Red Dragon material. So I can say that, Mission accomplished."


    Savra grinned as she folded her arms and turned to Luna. "So... how about we take things a step further?"


    Savra turned to Loxen. "With Loxen''s abilities, it''d be easy to slip through the cracks of every warehouse door in this district. Don''t you think?"@@@@


    Luna raised her eyebrow, then smirked. She already caught onto the idea. "I see... So you want to plunder the Kryndal family, huh?"


    Savra shrugged. "Why not? They''ve been a thorn in everyone''s side for long enough."


    Savra glanced at Liora and smirked. "Besides, they don''t seem to know the true value of half the things they''re hoarding. Think of it as... redistributing wealth."


    Luna chuckled softly and smirked. "You make a good point. And Master wouldn''t mind us bringing back a few extra treasures."


    She reached out to stroke Loxen''s silver fur. "With him, sneaking into their other warehouses will be a breeze."


    Savra gestured toward the exit and grinned. "Then what are we waiting for? Let''s make the most of this little trip."


    Luna nodded playfully. "Alright then. Let''s plunder the Kryndal family."


    Loxen let out a low growl. It prepared to meld into the shadows once more. The panther crouched low, ready to carry its riders wherever they directed.


    Savra climbed onto Loxen, with Luna following close behind. "Let''s make this quick and clean. We''ll strip them of anything worth taking and leave them wondering what hit them."


    Luna chuckled as Loxen began to meld back into the shadows with ease. "You''re enjoying this way too much."


    Savra smirked, leaning slightly forward. "And you''re not?"


    Luna only chuckled and soon they disappeared into the shadows. They were now going to turn the Kryndal family''s warehouses into their personal treasure troves.


    Sevrina frowned after hearing it. "Worried? I''m not worried. I''m pissed off. Whoever those intruders are, they''ve got guts trying to poke around where they don''t belong."


    Casey smiled faintly. "And we''ll deal with them. But for now, we need to focus on this mission."


    Sevrina glanced at Casey. "Fine. But only because I don''t want to hear Bryson whining about a failed mission."


    Flame Wing City finally came into view. Sevrina then turned around to her group. "Alright, listen up! We''re hitting that warehouse, grabbing the material, and getting out. No screw-ups. Got it?"


    The group of cloaked figures nodded silently. Casey placed her hand on Sevrina''s arm. "We''ll do this together."


    For a brief moment, Sevrina began to calm down a bit. She huffed and pulled her arm away. "Yeah, yeah. Let''s just get this over with."


    With Casey at her side and the group trailing behind, Sevrina led the way toward the city.


    But as they neared the city outskirts, Casey suddenly stopped in her tracks. She was staring at the artifact she held in her hand. "Wait."


    Sevrina halted immediately and turned to face her. "What is it? Why are we stopping?"


    Casey frowned as she stared at the artifact. She could see that the point was moving. "The artifact... it''s moving."


    Sevrina was immediately surprised by it. She stepped closer to get a better look. "What the hell do you mean,''moving''?"


    Casey held the artifact up for Sevrina to see. "It''s never done this before. Something''s not right."


    Sevrina clenched her fists. "Are you saying... someone''s tampered with it? Or worse, someone else is already there?"


    Casey didn''t answer immediately. She was still glaring at the artifact, trying to find some answer.


    She then decided to look up and met Sevrina''s glare. "I don''t know. But whatever it is... it''s not normal."


    Sevrina exhaled sharply. She glanced back at the group trailing behind them. "We don''t have time for this. Get ready¡ªwe''re moving in now."

 Chapter 174 The Craters Challenge

    Ragnar and his companions moved steadily toward the base of the mysterious group.


    The operation was divided into four teams, each led by notable figures of the Empire and its allies.


    Karion led one of the groups that were mostly his soldiers. He was also being accompanied by Drayton, the patriarch of the Raventhorn family.


    Minister Anselm led another group, which were the empire''s soldiers. He was also being accompanied by the Flame General, Feron.


    The third group was being led by the First Prince Anthony. He was being accompanied by Delano, the Earth General, who led the other empire soldiers.


    And the last one was Ragnar. Unlike the other groups, Ragnar marched at the front with only Liora by his side.


    The two of them moved ahead of the others because they were the ones who led the way and knew where the enemy base was.


    Behind them, the three groups who were following them began to be filled with skepticism and frustation.


    One of the soldiers silently muttered. "Just where the hell is this base?"


    Another soldier also started to grumble. "Yeah. We''ve been following this guy forever. Does he even know where he''s going?"


    Ragnar suddenly stopped and turned around to face the grumbling soldiers. He stared at him. "It was not far, so shut your mouths and keep moving. Or would you rather go back and let someone else handle this?"


    They immediately stopped as they exchanged uneasy glances. Ragnar continued to stare at them and reminded.


    "Let me remind you... I''m the one who found the location of this base. I''m the one doing the work here."


    "All you''ve done is follow my lead. So unless you have something useful to say, keep it to yourselves."


    Behind him, Liora smirked faintly. She crossed her arms as she watched the soldiers'' reaction. "They don''t know how lucky they are."


    Ragnar turned back to the front. He smirked as he glanced at Liora. "Ignorance is bliss, isn''t it?"


    Ragnar began to continue to run. "Come on, Liora. Let''s show them what real work looks like."


    The soldiers could only grumble under their breath. They had no choice but to follow as Ragnar and Liora.


    The other team leaders exchanged glances. They were already irritated with how Ragnar handled things around.


    He then turned to Liora. "It''s time."


    Liora nodded and fused with her beast, Leon, the Silver Flame Lion.


    Liora began to become a Silver Flame Lion Beastman. Her hands and feet began to become claws.


    Ragnar smirked as he also fused with his beast. His hand and feet became scaled, with sharp lizard-like claws, and his head took on the form of a reptilian beast, complete with sharp fangs.


    Ragnar turned back to the group and smirked. "If you''re too scared to enter... just flee. There are plenty of us here¡ªlosing a few cowards won''t matter."


    Anthony frowned as he exchanged a glance with Delano.


    Without another word, Ragnar turned to the crater. He smirked one last time at the gathered leaders and their forces before leaping into the volcano, with Liora following close behind.


    The remaining leaders and their troops stood in silence for a moment. Karion was enraged and muttered. "Arrogant bastard."


    Anthony walked closer to the edge of the crater. He turned back to his group. "Let''s go. We can''t let him take all the glory."


    Anselm sighed. He also prepared to follow. "Let''s move. We''ll see if his confidence is justified."


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    Karion, on the other hand, remained behind. It was different, like his personality. He glanced at Drayton.


    "Can you believe the arrogance of that man? He acts as if he owns this operation."


    Drayton folded his arms as he looked toward the crater. "His confidence is grating, but we can''t ignore the results. He found the location, didn''t he?"


    He then added disdainfully. "Still, his approach leaves much to be desired."


    Karion snorted. "Arrogance doesn''t win wars. Strategy does. And rushing in like that? It''s reckless."


    Drayton turned his head slightly. "Perhaps. But if we hesitate too long, we risk falling behind. And whether we like it or not, Ragnar has forced our hand."


    Karion sighed. "Fine. Let''s go. But don''t think for a second that I''ll let him outshine us."


    Drayton nodded as he followed Karion toward the edge of the crater. The two patriarchs exchanged a brief glance before jumping in.


    One by one, the remaining groups began to approach the crater. They steeled their resolves as they prepared to follow Ragnar and Liora into the heart of the volcano.

 Chapter 175 Tarrons Stand

    The leaders and their forces began to jump into the volcano''s crater. They also began to fuse with their own beasts.


    Anthony was the first to fully fuse with his beast. His body began to be covered with golden scales. He also had a pair of golden wings appear on his back.


    Both his hands and feet also began to transform into golden claws. Anthony had fully fused with his beast, the Golden Flame Wyvern.


    Delano also fused with his beast. His body began to be covered with earth armor. He had basically become a massive stone golem.


    Minister Anselm and General Feron also fully fused with their beasts. Wings began to grow from Anselm''s backs and his hands had become a pair of talons.


    Feron fused with his beast, which was a Flame-Scaled Komodo. His body was covered with red scales. His limbs had transformed into flame claws.


    Karion and Drayton had completed their full fusions as well. Karion''s body was covered with scales and wings grew from his back.


    Karion had become a beastman that was almost the same as the first prince, as Karion''s beast was a 7-Star Thunder Wyvern.


    Drayton had transformed into a huge golem like Delano, but his skins were not only stones but also some molten lava, making him stronger.


    Behind them, the 5-Star tamers also began to fuse. But because of their level, they could only partially fuse with their beasts.


    The group then landed on a wide stone platform. They were surprised, as there was a platform here.


    The platform wasn''t a natural formation. It was a deliberately constructed landing area. It was carved into the interior of the volcano.


    Anthony stepped forward as he scanned the area. "It seems that Ragnar was telling the truth. This is indeed the mysterious organization''s base."


    The others exchanged uneasy glances. Anselm adjusted his stance. "So, he was right after all."


    Before anyone could respond further, an alarm suddenly pierced the air. Red lights flickered on the walls as the sound echoed through the cavern.


    Anselm smirked as he unleashed a flurry of wind-charged strikes and sneered. "So you call yourselves the Red Dragon Order, huh?"


    Anselm raised his thunder talons and frowned. "How dare you sully the name of dragons. Today, we''ll erase your pathetic group from existence!"


    Tarron''s molten arms collided with Anselm''s attacks as he defended it. He then glanced at Anselm and became enraged.


    "You are mocking us? The Red Dragon Order will crush you and all who stand against us!"


    From the side, Feron surged forward. He ignited his scaled arm as he unleashed a powerful flaming punch aimed directly at Tarron''s side.


    Tarron barely managed to block the attack. He staggered slightly but quickly recovered. He then glanced back on the two attackers and flared up.


    He snarled. "You fools think you can handle me? I''ll make you regret underestimating the strength of the Order!"


    Anselm darted in again. He used his wings to create a vortex wind that attacked Tarron from all sides and mocked him further.


    "Underestimated you? Hardly. We''re just here to teach you a lesson you won''t forget if you survive it."


    Feron also followed up with a sweeping attack that aimed at Tarron''s legs with his burning scaled leg. "Your strength doesn''t scare us. We''ve faced worse."


    Tarron roared and slammed his molten arms into the ground and sent a shockwave of lava surging outward that forced both Anselm and Feron to retreat back to avoid the lava.


    Tarron then glanced at them back and growled. "You pathetic fools. I showed you the power of Tarron, the great elder of the Red Dragon Order."


    The three combatants now stared each other down. Meanwhile, Anthony, Karion, Drayton, and their forces moved further into the base.


    Anthony glanced back briefly and listened to the sounds of battle fading behind them. "Let''s keep moving. We don''t have time to waste."


    Karion snorted as he went deeper. "They can have their fun. We''ll focus on what matters." Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire


    Drayton nodded as both of them pressed forward. All of them were ready for whatever dangers awaited them deeper within the volcano.

 Chapter 176 The Confrontation with the Orders Leader

    Anthony and the rest of the group went deeper into the enemy base. Just as they arrived at the bigger space, they could see someone.


    It was another elder from the Red Dragon Order, Zerath. Zerath looked at Anthony and the others.


    He smirked as he recognized some of them. "So, it''s true. There are some fools who are bold enough to invade our base. All of them are even famous ones."


    Anthony looked at Zerath. He tried to scan his aura and found out that he was a 6-Star tamer.


    He turned around and glanced at Delano and Drayton. "This one is both yours. Handle him quickly. Karion and I will take care of the boss."


    Delano nodded. "Understood, young Lord."


    Drayton also nodded as well. "Leave him to us."


    Anthony glanced at Karion, who had already moved forward. Without another world, he followed. Both of them passed Zerath without a second glance.


    Zerath didn''t stop them at all. Instead, he smirked faintly, as he already knew what was going to happen. "Go ahead. You''ll find my boss is more than ready to deal with the likes of you."


    Anthony and Karion continued ahead. They didn''t care what Zerath was talking about.


    Meanwhile, Zerath turned his attention to Delano and Drayton, who were confronting him now.


    Zerath only chuckled as he looked at both of their golem bodies. "So, I get the golems, huh? This might actually be fun."


    Without wasting any time, Zerath fused with his own beast, the 6-Star Ember Fang Basilisk.


    His body began to transform. His arms elongated into scaled arms with sharp claws. His legs fused into one big snaketail.


    His eyes had changed into two red snake eyes and two curved fangs grew from his mouth. They were also dripped with molten venom.


    He tilted his head slightly in front of the two golems. "You''ll need to do better than just look intimidating. Let''s see if you can keep up."


    Delano stepped forward first. He readied his right golem arm. "You talk too much. Let''s see if you can back it up."


    Anthony nodded and went deeper into the room. He also praised Karion. "Impressive, Patriarch Karion."


    Anthony and Karion entered the massive chamber beyond. The chamber was grand and imposing.


    At its center, a person was sitting on a throne that was carved from obsidian. The man leaned back casually while watching both of them.


    Anthony looked at the man. "So, you''re the leader of this group. You''ve sown chaos and destruction across my empire. It''s time for your reign to end."


    The man on the throne chuckled. "I see it now. No wonder my plans have not been successful these days. I suspected another force was meddling, but to think it was you all along."


    The man stood up and looked toward Anthony. "The empire itself or rather, the first prince Anthony himself."


    He immediately clenched his fist in anger. "I am Bryson, leader of the Red Dragon Order. You dare to stand in my way?"


    He pointed his finger at Anthony. "You will pay dearly for disrupting the path of the Order!"


    Anthony frowned. "Your ''order'' has brought nothing but death and suffering to my people. Today, it ends."


    Bryson only smirked. "Brave words. Let''s see if your strength matches your arrogance."


    Without further delay, Bryon fused with his beast, the Infernal Scaled Wyrm. His body was immediately covered in obsidian armor.


    His arms transformed into massive claws and sharp molten wings erupted from his back.


    Karion frowned as he felt the overwhelming aura from Bryson. Karion glanced back at Anthony. "Stand back, Prince. He is a 7-Star Tamer, so this one''s mine."


    Anthony nodded and stepped back. "Don''t let him overwhelm you, Karion."


    Karion smirked. "I''ll handle him easily. Just don''t get in my way."


    Bryson looked at Karion and sneered. "You think you can handle me? I''ll show you the true power of the Red Dragon Order!"


    Karion smirked and crackled his claws with thunder. "Big talk. Let''s see if you can back it up."

 Chapter 177 Liora Faces the Unbreakable Elder

    Ragnar and Liora were clinging to the jagged walls of the crater. Ragnar smirked as he watched the battle between the 6-Star Tamers below.


    Ragnar smirked as he leaned forward. "They''re putting up quite the fight. Anselm and Feron didn''t hold back at all in this fight."


    Liora adjusted her grip and turned back to watch the battle. "They''re quite committed, but still, do you think they''ll actually take Tarron down?"


    Ragnar chuckled. "I don''t know about that. Tarron was stronger than I thought. They''ll have to wear him down first if they want to beat him down."


    Liora glanced back at him. "I see. So when should we step in and fight?"


    Ragnar grinned. "Let''s watch it first. We are the clean-up crew, so we don''t need to act first."


    Below the battle between Tarron, Anselm and Feron raged on. Tarron swung his huge, molten arm and sent waves of lava toward his opponents.


    Anselm used his wings to launch himself upward to avoid it. His talons also crackled with thunder as he shot back down toward Tarron.


    Feron circled around the side and ignited his body as he charged Tarron again. He was aiming at Tarron''s exposed flank.


    The combined assault forced Tarron to stagger back, but Tarron was stronger than they thought. He immediately sent back a wave of lava in retaliation. "You''ll have to do better than that!"


    He then slammed his molten fists into the ground, the impact creating fiery fissures that spread outward. "I''ll bury you both here!"


    Anselm landed on one of the unbroken stones. He then glanced at Feron. "He''s persistent. If he keeps slamming the ground like that, this whole place will come down on our heads."


    Feron nodded as he assessed the situation. "Then we finish this before he has the chance. I''ll distract him. You go for his core."


    Anselm raised his eyebrow. "You''re taking the brute-force approach?"


    Feron smirked. "It''s what I''m good at."


    Without waiting for a response, Feron launched himself forward. He ignited his right claw as he aimed for a blow directly at Tarron''s chest. "Inferno Strike!"


    Tarron snarled. He raised his molten arms to block the attack. "You think raw strength will stop me? I''ll crush you like the insects you are!"


    Meanwhile, Tarron looked at Liora and was surprised a bit. "Another one and also quite young, too. To think there''d be someone else foolish enough to show up here."


    He flexed his thick, molten arms and sneered. "You''re either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid, little girl, if you think you can take me on."


    Liora remained unfazed. She flexed her claws and smirked. "I''ll make quick work of you."


    Tarron chuckled. "Quick work, huh?"


    Tarron raised his massive, molten arms. "Then let me show you the power of an adult, little girl. You''ll regret stepping onto this battlefield."


    Liora only smirked and prepared herself. "Bring it."


    Feron glanced at Anselm as they both were at the edge of the battlefield. "So what''s the plan now?"


    Anselm crossed his arms and smirked. "She dared to ignore us. Let her be. Besides, she''s one of Ragnar''s people... and a genius at that."


    Feron raised his eyebrow. "A genius, huh? Then why let her fight alone?"


    Anselm''s smirk widened. "Geniuses tend to think they''re untouchable. Let her prove it¡ªor fall trying. Besides..."


    He leaned slightly closer to Feron and whispered to him. "It was better for a genius to die young, before they grow strong enough to become a threat to the Empire."


    Feron chuckled and smirked. "You were always like this. So, we just sit back and watch, huh?"


    Anselm smirked as he settled into a more relaxed stance. "Exactly. Tarron is no ordinary opponent. If she really is as strong as Ragnar claims, this fight will test her limits. If she wins, fine. If not..."


    He smirked again and shrugged. "The Empire doesn''t need another wildcard threatening its stability."


    Feron nodded slowly. "I see. Makes sense. But if Tarron takes her down, we''ll still have to clean up the mess."


    Anselm chuckled. "Let''s cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, enjoy the show."


    Both tamers watched in silence as they observed the two warriors prepare to strike.

 Chapter 178 The Crushing Weight of Genius

    Tarron smirked and growled. "Let me show you the power of an elder of the Red Dragon Order."


    He raised his massive right arm and slammed it into the ground, cracking it to spew streams of lava in Liora''s direction.


    The lava surged toward Liora, but Liora didn''t flinch. Instead, she raised her right claw and channeled her Silver Flame energy.


    She concentrated all of it into her palm, forming a sphere of intense and pulsating energy.


    She then rushed forward without a second thought. The lava reached and covered her body, but to everyone''s shock, it didn''t even burn her.


    The lava slid off her skin like water and Liora seemed to know it as she just rushed forward.


    Tarron was surprised as he staggered back. "What the hell? How can it be...?"


    Liora smirked as she closed the distance between them. She also picked up the lava as it was water. "Your lava isn''t hot enough. It is just water to me."


    Tarron was surprised, but soon it turned to anger. He flexed his molten arms as he prepared to strike again. "You arrogant brat!"


    But Liora didn''t give him the chance to retaliate. She crouched slightly and launched herself forward. "Now it''s my turn."


    Drawing back her palm, she used the concentrated sphere for the strike. "Silver Flame Burst!"


    Her palm connected with Tarron''s chest. The concentrated energy exploded on contact.


    A silver flame immediately engulfed Tarron, sent a shockwave through the battlefield and cracked the ground beneath them.


    Tarron let out a roar as the force of the explosion sent him hurtling backward. His massive frame crashed into the cavern wall.


    Anselm was shocked when he saw that. He looked over the residue of Liora''s explosive attack. "What... the hell? How is she this strong?"


    Beside him, Feron clenched his fiery claws as he was trying to process what he was seeing. "We''ve been struggling to hold Tarron back, but she''s handling him like it''s nothing."


    It was no wonder that Tarron, despite being an elder of the Red Dragon Order and a peak 6-Star Tamer, found himself completely outmatched.


    While both of their beasts were technically 6-Star, the gap between them was too wide. Liora wasn''t just a step above him. She was leagues beyond.


    Feron still locked his gaze onto Liora. He turned slightly toward Anselm. "What do we do now? She''s young, but she''s already stronger than both of us."


    Feron also reminded him about a possible event. "If we leave her unchecked, she''ll surpass us completely and soon."


    Anselm didn''t respond immediately. He already knew what Feron meant. "I don''t know. It''s... too much. For her to already be this strong. It should be a good thing for the empire."


    Feron let out a low growl. "Don''t forget who she is, Anselm. She''s Volcaria. And the Volcaria family hasn''t exactly been on good terms with the Empire."


    Anselm tightened his jaw. "You''re right. The Volcaria family''s strength has always been a thorn in our side."


    Anselm scanned around. "Fortunately, they only have two 7-Star tamers in their family and one of them is here." Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire


    Feron nodded. "That''s exactly why we can''t let her grow unchecked. If Liora continues at this pace, she could become the third 7-Star. She alone will be enough to tip the scales."


    Anselm shifted his gaze back to Liora. "Drastic measures... we can''t afford to let her live if she''s going to become a threat to the Empire."


    Feron tilted his head slightly. "You''re suggesting we take her out now?"


    Anselm nodded slowly without any hesitation. "We eliminate her here and now. It''s the only way to prevent further trouble."


    Feron smirked faintly. "For once, I agree with you. But if we''re going to do this, we''ll need to wait for the right moment. Tarron''s still in play, and I doubt Ragnar will stay out of it for long."


    Anselm''s smirk mirrored Feron''s as he glanced at him. "Then we let Tarron do as much damage as he can. Once Liora''s weakened, we strike."


    Feron nodded as he prepared for what was to come. "A genius like her might be rare, but even the strongest can fall when caught off guard."


    The two tamers shared a silent understanding. While the others saw Liora''s power as a marvel, to Anselm and Feron, it was a threat that had to be extinguished before it could grow any further.

 Chapter 179 When Empires Scheme

    Liora smirked faintly as she turned her head slightly toward Feron and Anselm.


    She had caught every word of their whispered conversation, thanks to her enhanced hearing.


    They had underestimated her, assuming their hushed tones and distance would cover their conversation.


    Liora smirked and sighed inward. "So, they''re planning to nip the bud before it blooms. How predictable."


    Liora was Lucius'' tamed human, so she can reach him telepathically. "Master, two people from the empire are planning to take me out."


    Liora also explained their reasoning. "They''re worried that I became so strong that I will be so dangerous to the empire, but they should be now."


    Far away, in the Volcaria estate, Lucius sat leisurely in his room. He was amused after listening to her.


    Lucius only chuckled. "I see. As expected from the empire. When they see a rare flower in their common garden, they''d rather pluck it than try to grow it among their common blossoms."


    Liora smirked as she listened to her master. She knew that Lucius was going to do something. "So, what''s the plan, Master?"@@@@


    Lucius leaned back in his chair and smirked. "Simple, do as they plan. Try to kill them. But leave one alive. Make sure they carry the message."


    Lucius smirked as he tapped his fingers on the armrest. "We''ll need a proper reason to fight back when the time comes."


    Liora nodded. "Understood, Master. I won''t disappoint you."


    Lucius only grinned. "You never do. Now, go. Show them what happens when they try to uproot what they can''t control."


    The telepathic link was severed and Liora focused back to the battlefield. She turned her attention back toward Tarron, who was still struggling to recover from her earlier blow.


    In her mind, she replayed Lucius''s final words. "This isn''t just about me. This is about making sure they understand that the Volcaria name isn''t one to be trifled with."


    In the Volcaria estate, Lucius rose from his chair and smirked. "So, the Empire wants to play games, huh? Let''s prepare then. It''s time to remind them that Volcaria doesn''t bow to anyone."


    With that, he turned to his own work. He now clearly understood that the final plan would be done whether they liked it or not.


    The two tamers were shocked as the attack was now surging toward them. "What the¡ª?!"


    Anselm tried to fly up with his wings and Feron tried to run, but it was all too late.


    The attack was already there and struck them with full force. Anselm and Feron were flung backward, crashing into the jagged walls with a thud.


    They were now struggling to recover as the attack from Tarron almost reached 7-Star, which could easily kill them.


    Liora turned back toward Tarron and chuckled mockingly. "Oops. It looks like your aim needs some work."


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    Tarron roared in fury. His aura flared wild as he turned to Liora. "You damn bitch! I''ll make you regret ever stepping into this place!"


    Liora didn''t flinch. She only smirked after meeting Tarron''s anger. "It''s my turn now and honestly, I don''t have time to waste. Let''s finish this."


    Before Tarron could react, Liora moved. In an instant, she disappeared from her position.


    By the time Tarron realized she was no longer in front of him. It was already too late.


    Tarron was surprised to find that Liora was already behind him. ""What the¡ª?! How could¡ª?!"


    Tarron tried to use his claws to swing back, but it was already too late. Liora only smirked as she whispered to him. "You''re too slow."


    Liora immediately clenched her fist and channeled her Silver Flame energy. "Silver Flame Fist."


    She drove her blazing fist into the back of Tarron''s head. The massive elder let out a guttural groan as his body collapsed forward.


    His breaths had become shallow gasps before his eyes rolled back and his body lay motionless.


    Liora shook her hand lightly as the silver flames around her fist dissipated. She looked down at Tarron''s unconscious form.


    She was disinterested in him as she brushed her silver hair. "That''s what happens when you waste my time."


    From above, Ragnar chuckled. "She really doesn''t hold back. That''s really the kind of strength Volcaria needs."

 Chapter 180 Volcarias Gambit

    Ragnar descended from the crater wall. After he landed on the ground, he walked toward Liora.


    He glanced briefly at Anselm and Feron, who were still struggling to recover from Tarron''s redirected attack, before turning back to Liora.


    He then crossed his arms. "Liora, why did you do that to them? I know you could have dodged Tarron''s attack without letting it hit them."


    He gestured briefly toward Anselm and Feron. "From where I stood, it looked deliberate. You moved toward them on purpose, knowing they''d take the blow."


    Liora smirked faintly. She pointed her ear with her finger. "Because I heard what they were planning."


    She shrugged. "They wanted to kill me. To eliminate a potential future enemy because I''m a genius."


    Ragnar shook his head and sighed. "That does sound like something they''d do."


    He glanced briefly at Anselm and Feron, who were still trying to collect themselves. "Typical nobles. Always trying to cut down what they fear rather than nurture it."


    Liora smirked as she crossed her arms. "Exactly, but I wasn''t going to let them get away with it so easily. Besides... the final plan has officially started."


    Ragnar was surprised as he turned fully toward her. "The final plan? What are you talking about?"


    Liora only smirked. "The Empire''s intentions toward the Volcaria family have been clear for a while now."


    Liora clenched her fist. "They don''t want peace with us. They want control. I''ve already told Master Lucius. He agrees. It''s time to act."


    Ragnar frowned as he processed her words. "And what exactly did you tell him to do?"


    Liora smirked. "To stop holding back. The Volcaria family has played nice long enough. If the Empire sees us as a threat, then we''ll show them what a real threat looks like."


    Ragnar sighed deeply as he scracthed his head lightly. "Lucius always did enjoy these kinds of games."


    He shook his head before gesturing toward the deeper tunnels. "Fine. But first, let''s head deeper into the base."


    He raised one finger. "If we''re starting a war, we''ll need to make sure there''s nothing left of this place to pose a problem later."


    Sevrina, Casey and their group had arrived at the Flame Wing City. Sevrina immediately turned to Casey and demanded. "Casey, where is it now?"


    Sevrina clenched her fist. "We''ve used everything we had to get here quickly. We can''t afford to waste a second."


    Casey nodded. She pulled the artifact from her spatial ring again. She activated it and it displayed the current location of their target.


    The moment she scanned the reading, she frowned as she saw its location.


    She turned to Sevrina. "Elder, the artifact shows that the item is... moving. It''s heading toward the teleportation platform."


    Sevrina froze for a moment. She frowned as she processed Casey''s words. "Damn it. It''s just as I suspected. Someone''s been messing with us."


    She turned to the rest of the group and commanded them. "Quickly! We need to get to the teleportation platform now, before they get away. If they escape, finding the item again will be a hundred times harder."


    Casey immediately put the artifact back to her spatial ring and nodded. "Understood, Elder."


    The group moved quickly as they went out of the city. They were now going to the teleportation platform located outside the city.


    Sevrina soon clenched her fists in anger as she glared at the path ahead. "Whoever is behind this, they''ve planned this well."


    She also growled in rage. "Every step, every move¡ªit''s as if they knew exactly how to stay one step ahead of us."


    She took a deep breath, trying to calm her rising anger. "We can''t let them outmaneuver us again. Once we catch them, I want answers. No excuses, no lies¡ªjust answers."


    Casey, who was behind her, nodded without hesitation. "Understood, Elder. We''ll make sure they don''t escape." Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    Sevrina glanced at her and nodded. "Good. Because if they do..."


    Casey looked at the artifact for a moment and reported. "The platform isn''t far now. If we move quickly, we might be able to cut them off before they use it."


    Sevrina didn''t respond immediately. Instead, she exhaled through her nose as she refocused her energy. "If they''ve made it to the platform, we''ll have to act fast. No hesitation, no mistakes."


    Casey nodded again. "Don''t worry, we''ll make it in time¡ªWe have to."


    The group pressed on as they raced against time to intercept the mysterious thieves before they could vanish.

 Chapter 181 Cornered in Volcaria Territory

    Luna and Savra arrived at the teleportation platform. The platform illuminated their figures as they prepared to leave Flame Wing City behind.


    Savra played with her spatial ring and smirked. "Well, that was fun. Let''s return now. I''m sure Lucius will be pleased with what we''ve collected."


    Luna nodded as she waited for the platform to work. "Agreed. We''ve done enough as we looted them all without sparing a single thing. Time to head back."


    The platform began to hum sofly as the teleportation sequence activated.


    A bright glow surrounded the two of them, signaling the imminent transfer. But just as the light intensified, a loud shout cut through the air.


    "Stop, you bastards!"


    Luna and Savra snapped their heads toward the sound. They were a bit surprised by it.


    From the forest, a group of strangers emerged. Leading them were two women that they didn''t know, which were Sevrina and Casey.


    Before Savra and Luna could respond, Sevrina and Casey leaped onto the platform.


    They barely make it within the boundary as the teleportation sequence was completed.


    The platform''s light flared brightly, enveloping all four of them in an instant and the teleportation was complete.


    The group of subordinates who had accompanied Sevrina and Casey just stopped outside the platform''s boundary.


    They were shocked as they watched the glowing light fade. The platform was empty now. Their leaders and the thieves were gone.


    One of them slammed his fist into the ground. "Damn it! They got away!"@@@@


    Another one shook his head as he stared at the empty platform. "No, they didn''t get away. Elder Sevrina and Vice Elder Casey went with them."


    The first man frowned. "What do we do now? Without the elders, we can''t pursue them."


    The second man crossed his arms. "We go back to the base. We wait for their news. That''s all we can do."


    Reluctantly, the group began to retreat. They were quite disappointed and also a bit unease as they left the teleportation platform behind.


    Both sides stood their ground. The stakes were clear as they prepared for what would inevitably come next.


    ---


    Sevrina wasted no time. She fused with her beast, which was a Six Tails Ember Fox. Her body was soon enveloped in flames.


    Her hair became longer and her hands were transformed into sharp claws. Six tails also grew from her back and radiated heat.


    Casey followed suit. She fused with her beast, which was a Three Tails Flame Fox.


    Her form became sleek and her hands were transformed into claws. Like Sevrina, three fox tails also grew from her back.


    Savra glanced at them. "To think they both have fox beasts. What do you think? Can you handle them?"


    Luna only smirked as she stepped forward. "Of course. I''ll handle them myself. It''s time to see just how powerful I''ve become."


    Savra raised her eyebrow but quickly nodded. She stepped back and smirked. "I see. Then, please do it as you like. Show them what a genius can do."


    Luna exhaled slowly. She began to fuse with her own beast, Loxen, the Silver Shadow Panther.


    Her body began to transform. Her hair became longer and her limbs became sleek and agile. Her hands also became a pair of sharp claws.


    Sevrina stepped forward as she flexed her claws. "You think you can take on both of us alone?"


    She then growled in anger. "You''re either brave or incredibly stupid."


    Casey, who stood behind Sevrina, tilted her head. "It doesn''t matter what she thinks. We''ll burn her arrogance to ashes."


    Luna smirked as she crouched slightly. "Arrogance? I don''t think so. You''ll find out soon enough what real power looks like."


    Savra leaned casually against a nearby pillar. She was watching the confrontation with interest. "This should be fun."


    She also grinned wide. "Let''s see how far they get before they realize they''ve made a mistake."


    With that, the battle was set. Luna, Sevrina and Casey were prepared to clash in a fiery showdown.

 Chapter 182 Lunas Duel Against the Foxes

    Luna smirked as she crouched slightly. She turned her attention toward Sevrina and Casey and taunted. "Come here. Show me what you''ve got."


    Sevrina wasted no time. Her six fiery tails flared behind her. She whipped them forward and formed a barrier around Luna. "Let''s see you escape this."


    The flame closed in rapidly, forming a flame prison meant to trap Luna, but Luna didn''t flinch.


    Instead, she smirked as she crouched lower and melded her body into the shadow beneath her feet seamlessly. "Nice try."


    Sevrina frowned as she watched easily escape her flame prison via the shadow. She immediately snarled as she looked around to find her. "What the hell?! Where did you bastard go?!"


    Before she could locate Luna, Casey stepped forward. "Focus, Elder. We''ll need to be calm."


    Her three tails began to glow brighter as she condensed three flaming spheres. She then fused all three into one large and concentrated sphere.


    Casey turned to the shadow where Luna had melded into and shouted, "Infernal Convergence!"


    She hurled the massive sphere toward the shadow. She was trying to attack the shadow itself.


    But Luna only smirked as her voice came out from the shadow. "You''ve quite a strong skill, but too bad it was slow and this is not all I can do."


    Luna emerged from the shadow and smirked as she melded into another part of the shadow. The flaming sphere didn''t even hurt her at all.


    Casey frowned as she watched Luna disappear into the shadows once again. She tried to scan around and anticipated where Luna might reappear.


    Casey turned to Sevrina and cursed. "Damn it. Her ability to meld into the shadows is more than just annoying. She can dodge anything we throw at her without even trying."


    Sevrina growled as her six tails lashed behind her. "Damn it. If ranged attacks won''t work and she keeps slipping away, then we''ll have to pin her down with physical attacks."


    Sevrina looked around to predict where Luna might appear. She stomped forward and mocked her. "What''s the matter, coward? Afraid to face us head-on? Or do you plan to run and hide in your shadows forever?"


    For a moment, there was silence. Then, from the edge of the shadows, Luna appeared. "Coward? Is that what you think of me?"


    Sevrina growled and dug the ground with her claws. "Of course it is. You''re hiding because you know you can''t win against us face-to-face."


    Sevrina''s claws struck empty air as Luna disappeared. "Damn you, bitch!"


    Sevrina looked around to search for Luna, but before she could react, Luna reemerged from the shadows behind Casey.


    Luna had flexed her claw as she rady to strike. Casey was also surprised as she turned her head slightly. She sensed the danger, but it was too late.


    Luna clenched her claw and smirked. "You should''ve been paying more attention."


    She struck Casey at the back of her neck. The blow was clean and deliberate. Casey''s widened briefly before her body collapsed to the ground, unconscious.


    Sevrina froze for a moment. She became even more angry and roared. "You little¡ª!"


    Without hesitation, she charged at Luna. Her claws were burned even brighter and hotter than before.


    Luna smirked. She melded back into the shadows just as Sevrina''s claws reached her. "I don''t like dragging things out. So, let''s finish this."


    Sevrina growled. She looked around as she tried to locate Luna. Suddenly, Luna emerged from the shadow behind her.


    Luna used her claws to swipe across Sevrina''s body. It was enough to force her to stagger forward.


    Before Sevrina could recover, Luna disappeared into the shadows again, only to reappear moments later from another angle. "Shadow Frenzy."


    She struck again and again. She targeted Sevrina''s weak points. Sevrina swung her claws wildly, trying to defend herself, but Luna was too fast.


    Each time, she vanished into the shadows before Sevrina could retaliate, only to reappear and strike from another angle.


    Luna''s relentless assault was overwhelming Sevrina. Sevrina''s body had been riddled with injuries. Blood began to dripped from her battered form, yet she refused to fall.


    Sevrina stood tall. Her breath was ragged and her legs were trembling. She clenched her fists, but her body had reached its limit


    With a final groan, her aura had weakened and her knees gave up. She collapsed to the ground, unconscious.


    Luna appeared a few steps away. She smirked as she looked at Sevrina. "That''s what happens when you underestimate me."

 Chapter 183 A Twist in the Hall

    Liora and Ragnar were currently moving deeper into the base. They could hear the sound of the battle, meaning that they were not really far.


    Soon they arrived at the larger hall and they saw that there was a fight currently going on in the center of the room.


    They knew all of the fighters. The one who stood in the center was Zerath, one of the Red Dragon Order''s elders and the one that Ragnar and the others followed to find out this base location.


    He was facing Delano, the earth general and also Drayton, the patriarch of the Raventhorn family.


    Zerath lunged forward. He was quite fast despite his size. He also flexed his claws as he aimed for Drayton. "You think your rock body can stop me."


    Drayton raised his right molten rock arm to intercept the strike. Lava began to drip from his arm, but he still smirked. "You''ll need more than that to break through me."


    Drayton immediately swung his left molten fist. He was aiming for Zerath''s midsection.


    Zerath twisted his serpenty body. He narrowly avoided the blow as he retaliated with a flick of his ember-coated tail.


    The tail struck Drayton''s arm and injected some venom into his arms, but his molten rock body quickly neutralized its effects.


    Delano moved in from the side. He had concentrated his power on his right rock fist as he punched Zerath''s flank. "You talk too much."


    The blow connected and sent Zerath skidding across the floor. The ember fins along Zerath''s back flared as he hissed in rage.


    His claws dug into the ground as he steadied himself. He glared at both of them and roared. "You''ll regret that!"


    He used his tail like a whip and lashed it toward Delano. Delano raised his rock arm to block.


    But the enraged Zerath was stronger than he thought. The attack cracked the ground beneath him, but Delano stood firm.


    Delano retaliated with a powerful stomp to send shockwaves through the ground that caused Zerath to momentarily lose his footing.


    Drayton seized the opportunity and charged toward Zerath with his molten fist. He also taunted him. "You''re not so tough when you''re outnumbered."


    Liora smirked as she crouched slightly. "Understood, Patriarch. Hopefully, you''ll have enough fun playing with Karion and the others."


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    Ragnar chuckled and turned away from the battle. "Oh, I will. Don''t take too long with this one, Liora. We still have work to do."


    Liora straightened. She flexed her claw and smirked as she turned her attention toward Zerath, Delano and Drayton. "Time to play."


    ---


    Delano and Drayton closed the distance toward Zerath. The moment they were in front of Zerath, both of them smirked. "This is the end."


    Delano raised his right massive rock fist. Drayton also raised his left massive molten fist.


    Zerath frowned the moment he saw both fists. He coiled his serpentine body defensively as he braced for impact. "Damn you!"


    But just as the two fists were about to connect with Zerath, a blur of silver flames appeared between them. The sudden presence shocked them all, but the attacks were not halted.


    Liora stood in the middle. She glanced at two massive fists bearing down on her without a hint of fear. In one fluid motion, she raised both her claws and caught both strikes easily.


    Delano and Drayton were surprised. They could not believe what was going on. They also couldn''t clearly see the one who stopped their attacks.


    Liora smirked as she didn''t give them time to react. She pulled her claws back, pulling both Delano and Drayton toward her easily.


    In that split second, Liora released their fists and stepped back slightly. She immediately clenched her claws and smirked. "Let''s see if you can handle this."


    She punched both of them in the faces. Her right fist connected to Delano and her left fist with Drayton.


    The force of her strikes sent both tamers flying backward, their massive forms crashing into opposite walls and cracking the ground.


    Zerath, who was still coiled defensively, froze in shock. He looked at Liora and muttered. "Who... who is this? And why is she helping me?"@@@@

 Chapter 184 Lioras Dominance

    Zerath stared at Liora. He was confused about what was going on. "Who are you? Why are you helping me?"


    Liora didn''t turn to face him immediately. Instead, she laughed hard. "Helping you?"


    She glanced back at him over her shoulder and smirked. "You must still be dazed from that attack if you think I''m here to help you."


    Zerath frowned as he continued to stare at her. "What¡ª," but before he could talk, Liora cut him off with a sudden act.


    Liora leapt into the air. With Zerath being taller, she had to jump to reach her target. She shot her claws out and clamped them around his neck.


    "What are you¡ª?!" Zerath''s words were cut off as Liora tightened her grip and smirked. "You''re confused, so let me fix that for you."


    With a twist, Liora drove her knee upward, striking Zerath squarely in the head. The impact reverberated through his skull, leaving him momentarily stunned.


    He staggered backward and instinctively used his claws to defend himself. He also let out a growl as she snarled. "You... damn¡ª"


    But Liora wasn''t finished. She smirked as she landed lightly on the ground.


    She turned around and delivered a hard, spinning kick to Zerath''s midsection.


    The force of the blow sent his body skidding across the hall and crashing into the wall.


    Meanwhile, Delano and Drayton had just regained their footing, shaking off the lingering impact of Liora''s punches.


    They then turned to the one who was responsible for their earlier humiliation.


    Their confusion soon shifted into anger the moment they knew who she was.


    Delano clenced his rock fist and growled. "It''s you, Liora! How dare you attack us! We''re supposed to be on the same side!"


    Drayton also nodded as he stepped forward. "We''re in the same camp, and yet you think you can strike us down? Explain yourself!"


    Liora tilted her head slightly and smirked as she folded her arms. "Oh, I''m sorry about that. I didn''t realize you were so weak that you couldn''t even take a hit."


    The casual insult made both men shocked for a while and increased their rage.


    Liora smirked and continued. "I''m truly sorry. I didn''t mean to knock you around so easily."


    Zerath froze. "Volcaria?"


    Liora chuckled. "That''s right. And thanks to you, we managed to find your base."


    She crossed her arms as she explained it. "It was almost too easy. All we had to do was follow you after you stole the essence."


    Zerath staggered slightly as he absorbed her words. "Damn it. No wonder you found this place... It was my mistake."


    He immediately pulled out the Red Dragon Serum from his spatial ring. "I won''t let you go any deeper. Not without a fight."


    The moment Liora saw the vial, her smirk faded. "Oh no, you don''t."


    Before Zerath could drink the serum, Liora moved. She vanished and closed the distance between them in an instant.


    Zerath barely had time to react before Liora appeared in front of him and struck him squarely on the head. "Stay down."


    Zerath let out a low groan as he defused. He collapsed to the ground as he was knocked unconscious.


    Liora stood over him and reached down to pick up the vial of Red Dragon Serum.


    She held it up and smirked as she put it back to her spatial ring. "This will be a good thing for Master Lucius to research."


    She then glanced back at Ragnar, who was still leaning casually against the stone wall.


    Liora frowned as she raised her eyebrow. "Patriarch, why haven''t you gone deeper yet?"


    Ragnar smirked and chuckled. "Why? Because watching you fight was far more entertaining than anything I''d find deeper in this base."


    He tilted his head slightly and glanced over the result of the battle. "You''re stronger than I thought, Liora. Way stronger."


    Liora crossed her arms and smirked. "I see. Thanks for the praise, Patriarch."


    But still, she reminded him. "But now that I''ve handled all three of them, it''s time we finished this."


    Ragnar pushed himself off the wall. He flexed his claws as he stepped closer. "Yeah. Let''s go. We''ve got work to do."


    With that, the two of them turned toward the deeper tunnels. They were prepared to uncover the final secrets of the base.

 Chapter 185 The Infernal Leader

    Karion and Bryson were currently figthing with each other. Karion with his thunder attack and Bryson with his molten flame attack.


    Karion moved first as he propelled himself forward, using his wings to be faster than before.


    His claws were also glowing with thunder as he aimed at Bryson, wanting to kill him.


    Bryson didn''t flinch. He raised his claws and growled. "You''ll have to do better than that!"


    Karion struck him with his thunder claw, but Bryson twisted his body and countered by whipping his molten tail forward like a blade.


    Karion frowned as he leapt back with a flap of his wings and tried to rebalance himself with his feet.


    Bryson, using the momentum of his tail, lunged forward. He used his molten claws to attack Karion. "Infernal Claw Rend!"


    Karion dodged to the side, despite the close range. The attack narrowly missed him, crashing to the ground.


    Karion retaliated with a spinning strike, using his thundertail as a whip. It connected to Bryson''s side and sent him backward.


    Bryson staggered but quickly regained his footing. Some of his scales fell down, thanks to the attack.


    He glanced at Karion and growled. "You''re faster than I expected, but speed alone won''t save you!"


    He slammed his claws into the ground to crack them. From within, lava began to rush out toward Karion as he roared. "Molten Wave!"


    Karion flew into the air with his wings as the molten wave exploded below him. "You think I''d fall for that? Not a chance."


    Hovering in midair, Karion raised his claws. He summoned a sphere of thunder as he aimed downward. "Storm Breaker Orb!"


    He hurled the orb toward Bryson, but Bryson quickly coiled his body to form a barrier. "Infernal Barrier!"


    The Storm Breaker Orb struck the barrier and exploded, resulting in shockwaves, but the barrier barely held it.


    Bryson frowned as some of his scales began to fall down, causing him to stagger slightly.


    He fell from the sky and crahed into the ground. Smoke and embers rose from his battered form as he struggled to move.


    Bryson stood tall as he glanced at Karion. "You thought you could defeat me? This is the power of the Red Dragon Serum! I am stronger than you could ever hope to be."


    Karion gritted his teeth as he dug the scorched ground weakly to push himself up. "Damn it. That attack... was stronger than anything before."


    Bryson laughed as he stepped forward. "Struggle all you like. It won''t make a difference. This battle is already over."


    Anthony, the First Prince of the Empire, stood on the sidelines and watched the battle.


    He was now frowning as he watched Karion, one of the Empire''s strongest 7-Star tamers, lay defeated.


    Anthony clenched his fists as he glanced at Bryson. "I never thought... the leader of the Red Dragon Order... would be far stronger than I imagined. Even Karion couldn''t stand against him."


    He was thinking as he calculated his next move. "What do I do now? If even Karion couldn''t stop him, then..."


    Before Anthony could finish his thought, Bryson turned to him and smirked. "First Prince, don''t think I''ve forgotten about you."


    Anthony tensed as Bryson began to approach him. His aura intensified with every step, making Anthony hard to breathe.


    Bryson smirked as he looked down at Anthony. "I think I''ll kill you first. Your sins are already too much to overlook."


    Anthony frowned, but his body betrayed his fear. He tried to move, but the weight of Bryson''s aura pressed him down, preventing him to move.


    He was then forced to kneel in one knee before him. "What is this power? His aura alone is enough to force me to kneel. How am I supposed to fight him?"


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    Bryson chuckled as he tilted his head. "What''s the matter, Your Highness? Is the great First Prince of the Empire too weak to stand before me?"


    Anthony gritted his teeth. He tried to stand up and growled. "You won''t... kill me that easily."


    Bryson smirked as he raised his right claw. "We''ll see about that. Let''s see if your will is as strong as your arrogance."

 Chapter 186 A Princes Hubris

    Bryson roared as he swung his claw down. He was aiming to crush Anthony where he kneeled.


    Anthony frowed. He raised his golden claws to guard against the devastating strike, although they were still trembling under Bryson''s pressuring aura.


    Just as the claws were about to connect, Ragnar suddenly appeared between them. Ragnar easily caught Bryson''s claws with his own.


    Ragnar also didn''t budge at all after receiving it. Instead, he smirked back as he tried to push back.


    Karion, who was still lying on the ground, was shocked as he saw the one who blocked Bryson''s attack. "Ragnar?! Where the hell have you been?"


    Ragnar turned his head slightly and grinned when he glanced down at Karion. "Oh, I''ve been... busy, but it''s good to see you lying there. I''d say you''re enjoying a well-deserved rest." Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire


    Anthony, still catching his breath, looked up at Ragnar with relief. "Good, Ragnar! Thank you for saving me. Now, kill him for me!"


    Ragnar''s smirk faded slightly and was replaced with a frustation. He tilted his head. "Huh? The hell are you ordering me around for?"


    Before Anthony could respond, Ragnar turned and kicked Anthony''s side, sending the prince sprawling across the ground.@@@@


    Anthony let out a choked gasp as the blow made him vomit and his body crumpling on the floor.


    Ragnar crossed his arms and became cold as he looked down at Anthony. "You''re disturbing me, and don''t you dare try to order me again. Got it?"


    Karion was shocked as he saw what Ragnar had just done. He immediately shouted from where he lay down. "How dare you do that to the First Prince!"


    Ragnar didn''t even spare him a glance. "You''re half a corpse, so you better shut up before embarrassing yourself even further than before."


    He turned back his attention to Bryson and smirked. "So, you''re the leader of this Red Dragon Order."


    Bryson looked at Ragnar and smirked. "That''s right. You must be Ragnar, the patriarch of the Volcaria family and the strongest 7-Star Tamer in the Empire."


    Ragnar chuckled as he flexed his claws. "You have done your homework. Good, it saves me the trouble of introducing myself again."


    Bryson smirked. "I''ve heard plenty about you, Ragnar. Let''s see if you''re as powerful as they say."


    Liora smirked faintly as she mocked him. "Begging? For someone like you? Not a chance. If anything, I should be the one disgusted that you think I''d even consider it."


    Anthony became more enraged. He staggered to his feet. He reached his spatial ring to retrieve a healing potion.


    The injuries Ragnar had inflicted weren''t severe, and after a quick gulp of the potion, he stood tall again.


    He flexed his golden claws as he glared at Liora. "I''ll make you regret looking down on me. And when I''m done, I''ll make you beg for forgiveness."


    Liora smirked as she stood her ground. She tilted her head slightly as she waved her claws. "Please make me. I dare you, stupid prince."


    ---


    Karion frowned as he processed Ragnar''s earlier words. His body ached, and his pride stung even more.


    He wanted nothing more than to rise and strike Ragnar down, to make him pay for the insults and humiliation.


    But as much as the rage simmered within him, he knew the truth: he was in no condition to fight.


    His battered body wouldn''t allow it, and the realization only fueled his frustration.


    From his prone position, Karion''s gaze shifted to the unfolding scene between Anthony and Liora.


    He furrowed his brows further as he watched the exchange. "First Prince, what the hell are you doing?"


    He then frowned. "Fighting Liora here of all places... this isn''t the time for such stupidity."


    He couldn''t deny Liora''s strength. She was a genius. In a different situation, he might have seen the merit in Anthony''s proposition.


    Having someone as talented as Liora by Anthony''s side as his concubine would strengthen the Empire''s position immensely.


    But here, in enemy territory, it was a foolish action. "It''s too reckless even for him. This is neither the time nor the place for this kind of arrogance."


    Karion was too injured to think much. He needed to think of something else in his current situation.

 Chapter 187 Golden Pride vs. Silver Flames

    Karion soon thought of the others. He looked back, but none of them were there. "Where the hell are the others? This was supposed to be a coordinated mission. Why hasn''t anyone else shown up?"


    He shook his head and exhaled heavily. He reached into his spatial ring and took out some healing potions. He uncorked them and drank them all.


    He then muttered to himself, "I need to heal up. Just a minute... just enough to be ready if things take a turn for the worse."


    The potions weren''t enough to fully restore him, but they were enough to let him move more freely than before. Karion leaned back as he glanced at the battlefield.@@@@


    He was more focused on Ragnar. "I''ll stay low for now. But if this spirals out of control, I''ll need to find a way to get out of here alive."


    He then clicked his mouth. "No matter what happens, the Empire needs me and the first prince to survive this. The others aren''t as important as we are."


    For now, he was currently watching the battlefield while waiting for the right moment to escape.


    ---


    Bryson smirked as he coiled his body in preparation for an attack. "Let''s see how strong the strongest 7-Star Tamer in the Empire really is."


    Ragnar smirked as he crouched slightly and scraped the ground with his claws. "Come on then. Show me what the Red Dragon Order leader can do."


    Bryson lunged first. He used his massive tail as a blade to attack Ragnar overhead.


    Ragnar sidestepped to dodge it. He also retaliated immediately as he swung his claws in a wide arc.


    Bryson raised his claws and slammed them into the ground and summoned a barrier to intercept the attack.


    Bryson grinned as he continued his attacks. This time he leapt into the air and attacked from above.


    Ragnar growled as he jumped upward to meet Bryson mid-air. "You''re not the only one who can jump."


    Bryson snarled as he whipped his tail toward Ragnar again. "You''re strong, but let''s see how you handle this!"


    Not stopping with his tails, Bryson roared as he condensed energy in his claws before sending it to Ragnar and exploding it.


    Liora didn''t flinch. She smirked as she leapt to the side. Anthony''s blazing claws sliced through the air where she had just been.


    Liora smirked as she mocked him. "Just as expected from you. It was indeed too slow."


    Anthony growled. He spinned on his heel to launch another attack. His claws glowed brighter as he slashed in rapid succession


    Each strike created arcs of golden fire that were launched toward Liora, but Liora smirked as she dodged them one by one effortlessly.


    Anthony was becoming frustated as his attacks continued to miss their mark. "Why won''t you fight seriously?!"


    Liora chuckled softly. "You think I''m not serious? I am. I''m serious about playing with you."


    Anthony let out a growl as he flew into the air. Hovering above, he raised both hands, summoning a massive sphere of golden fire.


    He glanced at Liora and hurled it toward her as he shouted in anger. "Wyvern Flame Burst!"


    Liora remained clam as she watched the sphere come toward her. Instead of dodging, she began to coat herself in a layer of Silver Flame.


    Anthony hovered above and frinned as he watched the explosion of fire and smoke engulf Liora. "You''re a fool! That was my full power! You''ll burn to ash. No one can survive that!"


    But as the flames and smoke began to clean, Anthony''s grin faltered. He was shocked when he saw that Liora was not that injured.


    Anthony was trembling in disbelief and stammered. "What...? How are you still standing? That was my strongest attack!"


    Liora smirked and tilted her head slightly as she brushed a strand of silver hair from her face. "It seems I was right about you. You''re not worthy of me."


    Her smirk was soon replaced with a serious look. "And now, the playtime is over."


    Liora immediately unleashed more of his aura as she crouched slightly. He glanced at Anthony. "It''s time to get serious."


    Anthony still hovered in the air. He was a bit afraid as he stared down at Liora. "What are you...?"


    Liora smirked briefly as she glanced at Anthony. "You wanted my attention, right? Well, you''ve got it. Let''s see if you can handle it."

 Chapter 188 The Collapse of the Red Dragon Orders Base

    Liora didn''t waste any time. She leapt into the air. She already coated her body with Silver Flame, which released some hard pressure toward Anthony.


    Anthony frowned as he could feel that he was being pressured and burned by Liora''s aura.


    Anthony clenched his fists. "She''s stronger than I thought. I need to retreat. I can''t win this."@@@@


    But Liora wasn''t about to let him go that easily. Her stats were already amplified by her Sun Goddess Talent, making her far superior in every aspect.


    Before he could attempt to flee, Liora was already in front of him and delivered a powerful kick to his stomach. "You''re not going anywhere."


    He gasped as the air was knocked out of him, but Liora wasn''t done. She clasped both hands together and struck him and slammed him to the ground.


    Anthony crashed into the floor, but Liora didn''t stop. She followed through immediately, descending from above with her knee aimed at his back.


    Her knee connected to his back, sending a shockwave through Anthony''s battered body.


    He let out a painful groan as the force drove him deeper into the cracked ground.


    Liora smirked as she grabbed Anthony by the collar with her left claw, effortlessly lifting him into the air.


    She glanced at the battered Anthony. She didn''t feel happy at all but instead disdain. "You''re pathetic."


    With a flick of her wrist, she released him, letting his body hang in the air for a brief moment before she spun sharply.


    Her right leg arced through the air, delivering a powerful spinning kick that sent Anthony flying.


    Anthony was sent flying backward, but Liora wasn''t finished. She moved fast and appeared directly in his path before he could recover.


    In her right claw, a sphere of silver flames had already formed. "You''ve wasted enough of my time, so let me show you why you should''ve stayed on the ground."


    She thrust the glowing sphere forward into his chest as she exploded it. "Silver Flame Burst!"


    The burst of silver flames quickly engulfed Anthony and sent him flying backward.


    Without hesitation, she turned and made her way toward Ragnar, who was still locked in a standoff with Bryson.


    Both of them seemed to realize the hall was beginning to collapse.


    Bryson looked at Ragnar and frowned as he was angry. "The Empire will pay for this! You think you can destroy us so easily? This isn''t over!"


    With a growl, Bryson turned toward a hidden corner of the hall. There was a secret teleportation platform behind it.


    He quickly activated the device. He began to teleport himself, but before it, he snarled. "I''ll return and when I do, the Empire will fall."


    Bryson soon vanished as his form dissolving into the glowing runes of the teleportation platform. Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire


    Ragnar watched Bryson''s departure with a smile. He stepped toward the now-active teleportation platform. "A secret escape route, huh? Clever."


    Liora approached it and turned toward Ragnar. "What do you think? Can we use it?"


    Ragnar smirked. He took out a small plaque engraved with the Volcaria family crest. "There''s only one way to find out."


    He placed the plaque into a slot on the platform, and the runes shifted, glowing brighter as the device adjusted to his input.


    Ragnar grinned after seeing it. "Perfect. It works. This will take us back to the estate."


    Ragnar then stepped onto the platform, followed by Liora. She smirked as she looked at the hall. "Let''s get out of here. This place is falling apart."


    Ragnar activated the teleportation platform. The runes glowed as energy enveloped them. In a flash, they disappeared, leaving the hall behind.


    Karion was getting out of the place. He was carrying Anthony''s unconscious body.


    He looked behind and smriked. "That should do it. They must have been buried beneath the rubble."


    But unbeknownst to him, Ragnar and Liora had already escaped using Bryson''s teleportation platform. The collapsing hall had done nothing to stop them.


    As Karion turned and flew away, his failure remained unknown to him.


    The Volcaria family''s strongest had not only survived but had returned to their estate, ready to prepare for whatever came next.

 Chapter 189 A Gift for Lucius

    Ragnar and Liora materialized on the teleportation platform within the Volcaria estate.


    Ragnar stretched his neck slightly as he had dismissed his fusion state. He then glanced at Liora. "Looks like we made it back in one piece."


    Liora smirked faintly. "Of course we did. It''ll take more than a collapsing base to get rid of us."


    The two of them stepped off the platform and made their way toward the estate''s main hall.


    As they approached, they could hear faint voices within. Pushing open the grand doors, they found Luna and Savra already there.


    Savra looked to see who was here. She then smiled the moment she spotted Ragnar. "Well, well. You''re back. Did you finish what you went for?"


    Ragnar smirked as he crossed the room toward her. "You could say that, but you wouldn''t believe what that son of a bitch Karion tried to pull."


    Liora folded her arms and stood behind Ragnar as she explained. "He destroyed the base and thought that he could bury us along with it."


    Savra raised her eyebrow, glancing between the two of them. "So, how are you here, then?"


    Ragnar chuckled and grinned. "Thankfully, that bastard Bryson had a secret teleportation platform in the base. It worked like a charm."


    Ragnar then clenched his fist and smirked as he thought, "And for Karion''s brilliant plan to crush us? Complete failure. I will return it later."


    Savra laughed, shaking her head. "Typical Empire tactics. Desperation disguised as strategy."


    Savra turned to Ragnar and smiled. "So, husband. Did you at least enjoy yourself there?"


    Ragnar leaned back, crossing his arms. "Enjoy? Maybe a little, but now we''ve got work to do."


    After a pause, Ragnar tilted his head. "By the way, what about you? Did you finish your mission? And did you get anything useful?"


    Savra smirked as she leaned back in her seat. "Of course. Not only did I get the last Red Dragon material, but I also picked up something extra."


    Ragnar raised his eyebrow as his curiosity piqued. "Oh? What would that be?"


    ---


    Lucius then put out 100 5-Star beast rings. He placed them on the table before him.


    Lucius glanced at Ragnar. "These are 5-Star beast rings. Each one contains a powerful 5-Star beast. I have specifically chosen the best beasts."


    He gave them to Ragnar. "I want you to take our 100 best soldiers and have them contract with these beasts. They''ll need to grow stronger quickly for our plan to succeed."


    Ragnar leaned forward and smirked. "Not a bad lineup. This should give them the edge they''ll need."


    He straightened and nodded. "Alright then. I''ll make sure it''s done."


    Lucius glanced toward Savra. "Miss Savra, while Ragnar trains the soldiers, I want you to focus on training the maids. They''ll need to be ready for what''s to come."


    Savra smirked as she stood. "You''ve got it."


    She turned toward Liora and Luna and teased them. "Come on, girls. Let''s have some fun."


    Liora raised her eyebrow as she crossed her arms.


    "Fun?"


    Luna, who stood beside her, chuckled. "When Matriarch Savra says ''fun,'' it usually means a lot of hard work."


    Savra laughed, shaking her head slightly as she placed her hands on her hips. "Don''t look so serious. It''ll be a game."


    Savra then smirked. "And by the time we''re done, you''ll be sharper, faster, and ready to take on anything."


    Liora exchanged a glance with Luna. "Alright. Let''s see what you''ve got."


    Savra grinned, turning toward the estate''s training grounds. "That''s the spirit. Follow me, girls. It''s time to play."


    Meanwhile, Ragnar gathered the rings and stood up. "I''ll handle this, Lucius. By the time we''re ready, these soldiers will be a force to be reckoned with."


    Lucius smirked as he heard it. He also stood up. "Good. I will be waiting for the good news."

 Chapter 190 The Empire Celebrates Too Soon

    Karion stumbled out of the crumbling base. Anthony was still unconscious in his arms.


    Not far from the exit, Karion spotted Anselm, Drayton, Delano, and Feron sprawled on the ground.


    He could see that they had just experienced a hard fight from their battered bodies.


    Karion landed near them and tried to wake them all up. "Get up! We don''t have time to lie around. The entire volcano is about to erupt!"


    Anselm groaned as he pushed himself up. He remembered that he and Feron entered the base to search for the others.


    But they were too weak and injured and finally collapsed near Delano and Drayton that they found.


    He was then surprised when he saw Karion was in front of him. "Karion? What happened?"


    Karion snapped as he glared at the group. "No time for questions. Just run. Get as far from here as possible!"


    Drayton managed to stand. "What about the others?The elders of the Red Dragon Order?"@@@@


    Karion growled. "They''re gone and we''ll be too if we don''t move and escape from here now!"


    Drelano and Feron exchanged brief glances before nodding. "Fine. Let''s get out of here."


    The group moved as quickly as their battered bodies would allow, Karion leading the way.


    Anthony, still unconscious, was carried by Karion, who gritted his teeth against the strain and finally, they emerged from the base.


    Karion looked behind and barked. "Keep moving! We''re not safe yet!"


    The group surged forward with every ounce of strength they could muster. They were desperate.


    Just as they reached the edge of the forest, the volcano erupted with a deafening roar.


    A massive plume of molten fire and ash shot into the sky, the ground beneath them shaking violently.


    Streams of lava poured down the mountain''s sides, consuming everything in their path.


    ---


    Anselm leaned against a tree. His breaths were heavy. All of them had also reverted to their human form. They all looked ragged and battered.


    Lucius approached the beast with the Red Dragon Serum vial in his hand. "Let''s see what this serum will do to you."


    He prepared a syringe and carefully extracted a small amount of the serum. He then injected the serum into the Flame Komodo''s thick neck.


    The reaction was immediate. The Flame Komodo roared as it began to tremble violently.


    Red scales began to replace its former scales. Its claws elongated and became sharper.


    Lucius stepped back. He focused as he observed the transformation. The beast thrashed wildly as it became increasingly enraged.


    Lucius still remained clam. "Fascinating. "The serum enhances physical traits and aggression, but it''s unstable."


    Lucius immediately turned to his system and smirked. "Let''s calm him down, shall we? Make it sleep for 24 hours."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Induced Sleep]


    [Target: 5-Star Flame Komodo]


    [Effect: Forces Target into Sleep for 24 Hours]


    [Cost Required: 1,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    The Flame Komodo began to calm down and fell asleep as the system hacked it.


    Lucius approached the now-docile creature. He was examining its new form. "It appears the serum temporarily integrates traits of a red dragon."


    He then frowned as he thought about it more. "But still, the instability is a major flaw."


    Lucius turned his attention back to the rest of the Red Dragon Serum on the table.


    He frowned as he thought about the group who made this serum. "But still, how can they make this potion?"


    His fingers tapped lightly on the table as he pondered. "The Red Dragon Order had only energyless Red Dragon material. How?"

 Chapter 191 Red Dragon Serum Secrets

    Lucius was now thinking about how they could create this serum, but then he sighed as he decided not to think about it. "No point of thinking about it."


    Lucius glanced back at the sleeping Flame Komodo and smirked. "Now, let''s find out what this serum does to this beast aside from my observation."


    He immediately turned to his system. "Hack and analyze the changes inside the Flame Komodo caused by the Red Dragon Serum."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Analysis Sequence]


    [Target: 5-Star Flame Komodo]


    [Effect: Analyze Changes Resulting from Red Dragon Serum]


    [Cost Required: 1,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Lucius crossed his arms. He was waiting for the system to finish his command. Moments later, the results appeared on the interface.


    ---


    [System Analysis Complete]


    [Target: 5-Star Flame Komodo]


    [Results:]


    [Trait Assimilation: Gained 5% Red Dragon Traits]


    [Stat Enhancement: All stats increased by 100%]


    [Elemental Impact: Either Gaining Flame Element or Amplifying Flame Element]


    [Duration: Effects last for 1 hour]


    [Status: Effects Active]


    ---


    Lucius tilted his head slightly as he read the report. "I see, it''s temporary power up."


    He glanced at this system. "The cost was about 100,000 hack points. Before point simplification, that is. Now, it only cost me 100 points."


    He leaned forward again and glanced back at the old paper. "Yet this ritual requires 7-Star Red Dragon materials that easily surpass the value of 100 points by a lot. Too much to count."


    He tilted his head slightly as his head was hurt. "Why? Why would the ritual require so much more energy than the system''s calculation?"


    Lucius picked up the paper and read it again, trying to find something, but Lucius found nothing. "Is there something more to the Red Dragon Emperor''s talent that I''m missing?"


    Lucius glanced back at the system screen. "Or are you just too powerful that it is cheap for you?"


    The system screen suddenly appeared. Lucius was curious why it appeared and read what was written on the system screen.


    ---


    [Reason for Reduced Cost: Talent Upgrade resets rank to 1-Star, ensuring full integration and requiring progression from the start.]


    [Reminder: Talent can only be hacked once to raise it by one level. Those without talent may choose one freely once.]


    [Reminder: The target must approve the upgrade mentally for the hack to succeed.]


    ---


    Lucius was processing the information that he just got. He leaned back in his chair, tapping lightly on the edge of the table. "I see."


    Lucius then smirked. "No wonder the cost is so low. The system resets the target to one star, forcing them to start over entirely."


    He rubbed his chin as he thought it further. "That explains what happened to me. When I acquired my talent, I was still at 1-Star, so I don''t know it."


    Lucius also realized it suddenly. "I''ve also never tried hacking someone else who had a talent."


    Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire


    Lucius paused and frowned as he considered the implications. "If using the hack causes a complete reset, it would be troublesome to use it on allies."


    Lucius tapped the table. "Even if it grants them greater potential, starting over from one star would set us back too much in the short term."


    He then smirked as he thought of something bad. "But it could be devastating if used on an enemy."


    He murmured to himself. "Stripping them of their rank, forcing them to begin again... that would weaken them significantly."


    His smirk then faded as he thought more. "But getting the target to mentally approve the hack would be the real challenge."


    Lucius rubbed his temple. "No one would willingly agree to such a thing unless they were desperate or utterly convinced it was worth it."


    He leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand as he thought of something. "But not impossible. I could just somewhat fool them or something."

 Chapter 192 Daxtons Dilemma

    Lucius turned his gaze to the system interface. "System, what if I want to get a new talent but I don''t want to revert to 1-Star? Do you have any solution for that?"


    A new text appeared on the system interface. Lucius immediately read what it was to see if it was the answer he was looking for.


    ---


    [Level Retention Cost: If the user wishes to keep the current level without reverting to 1-Star, the cost scales based on the target''s current rank.]


    [Cost Breakdown: 2-Star: Base Cost ¡Á 10; 3-Star: Base Cost ¡Á 100; 4-Star: Base Cost ¡Á 1,000; and so on. For God-Level Talent, separate purchases are required at 1-Star, 6-Star, and 9-Star.]


    ---


    Lucius leaned forward slightly and smirked as he read the explanation. "I see it now. So, the cost increases exponentially based on the user''s current rank. That''s quite reasonable."


    He tapped his fingers on the table. "My talent is God-Level. When I first got it, the base cost was 1 million hack points before point simplification."


    He glanced back at the system display. "When mine was upgraded to 6-Star God Talent, it cost 100 million hack points after simplification."


    He smirked as it all made sense now. "From what I can deduce, the scaling matches perfectly: Base cost multiplied by 100,000 for a 6-Star talent."


    Lucius stood up, as he was excited the more he thought about it. "No wonder it was so expensive. But if I were to upgrade a 7-Star King Talent to 7-Star Emperor Talent..."


    He paused as he calculated it in his mind. "It would cost 100 for base cost times 1 million hack points, which results in about 100 million hack points."


    He turned back to the table. He smirked as he glanced at the Red Dragon materials. "Interesting. With just one of these 7-Star materials, I could create six to eight 7-Star Emperor Talents."


    He glanced back at the old paper and immediately ripped it apart. "This ritual is worse than the system."


    Lucius tapped the table again. "But still, the system seems to be too overpowered. Even something like a talent upgrade could be made easier by it."


    Lucius then glanced around as his smirk shifted into a frown. "But what should I do? I can''t just let anyone know about the system for talent upgrades."


    Lucis paced the lab as he was searching for some answers. He also glanced at the Red Dragon Serum and suddenly it hit him.


    He smirked as he thought about a new method. "Wait a minute. I can use this method."@@@@


    He sat back again and smirked wider. "If this works the way I think it does, then not only can I hide my system but I can also strengthen our people."


    ---


    Lucius smirked as he read the data. "Quite good. As expected from the leader of Volcaria''s armies. His data wasn''t that disappointed."


    Daxton still didn''t know what Lucius wanted but was still waiting for him to speak. The moment he saw his smirk, he couldn''t help but feel uneasy.


    Lucius glanced at Daxton and smirked wider. He stood up and walked toward him. "I called you here because I want to give you something."


    Daxton frowned as he looked up. "Give me something? What is it, Young Master?"


    Lucius stopped a few steps in front of Daxton and smirked. "It''s an opportunity that is also an experiment that could elevate you to an entirely new level."


    Daxton was surprised as he processed Lucius''s words. "An experiment? What kind of experiment is it?"


    Lucius chuckled as he crossed his arms and tilted his head slightly. "The kind that''s unpredictable."


    Lucius also shrugged. "To be perfectly honest, I still don''t know exactly how it will turn out. That''s why it''s called an experiment."


    Daxton frowned as he read Lucius'' face. "So, you don''t even know if it will succeed?"


    Lucius waved his hand dismissively. "Don''t worry. I''m seventy percent sure it will succeed, but still, there''s still a thirty percent chance of failure."


    Daxton stiffened slightly. "And if it fails?"


    Lucius smirked. "If it fails, the consequences are... harsh. You may lose the ability to tame beasts entirely. Your connection to them could be severed forever."


    Lucius smirked as he stepped closer and extended his hand. "Now, what do you think? Will you take the chance?"


    Daxton frowned. He immediately glanced toward Patriarch Ragnar and Matriarch Savra, searching for answers.


    He knew that if anyone in Volcaria should know what Lucius was planning, it would be the Patriarch and Matriarch.


    But Ragnar and Savra were also the same. They didn''t know what Lucius was trying to do. Both of them furrowed their brows as they exchanged a brief glance.


    Ragnar leaned forward slightly, resting his chin on his hand as he sighed. "Daxton, truthfully, I have no idea what he''s up to."


    Savra nodded in agreement as she glanced at Lucius. "He didn''t tell us much, but knowing his. There''s always a method to his madness."


    Daxton frowned even more when he heard. He never thought that even they didn''t know about it. He didn''t know what to do or answer now.

 Chapter 193 Would You Sacrifice a Hand for Ultimate Power?

    Ragnar leaned forward slightly. He could see that Daton was a bit in a dilemma. "Daxton, let me tell you this. If you''re brave enough to take this chance..."


    Ragnar extended his hand. "I''ll make sure that you will be taken care of if something goes wrong. You''ll live comfortably for the rest of your life. That''s my promise as Patriarch."


    Daxton glanced at Ragnar and furrowed as he heard the assurance Ragnar said. While the words offered some comfort, they didn''t fully quell the tension.


    Lucius smirked as he heard what Ragnar had just said. He glanced at Daxton again and extended his hand again. "So, what do you think? Will you take the chance to become more powerful or stay like this for the rest of your life?"


    Daxton sighed. He was pressured with the decision he needed to make. Finally, he nodded as he glanced at Lucius. "Yes, Young Master. I''ll do it. If this can make me stronger than I am now, then I''m willing to take the risk."


    Lucius smirked. He was quite amused by him. "Oh, you''re quite brave, aren''t you? It''s rare to see you like this."


    Daxton chuckled. "The truth is, I''m afraid. Anyone would be. But this is a chance to become better, to become more useful to Volcaria."


    He glanced briefly at Ragnar before adding, "And knowing the Patriarch has promised to take care of me if it fails... that helps."


    Lucius tilted his head slightly and smirked as he observed the man before him. "I see, you''re quite afraid, but you''re still willing to take the chance. That''s... admirable."


    Lucius also tried to calm him down. "Don''t worry. I will make sure that it doesn''t fail."


    Daxton nodded. His tension was a bit eased now. "I trust you, Young Master. Please don''t fail."


    Lucius smirked as he was satisfied with it. He turned his attention back to the system. "System, list me the 6-Star talents compatible with Daxton."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Talent Scanning and Selection


    [Target: Daxton]


    [Process: Scanning Current Compatibility and Searching for Available 6-Star Talents]


    [Results:]


    [Flame King Talent: 1,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Lava King Talent: 1,000,000 Hack Points]


    Daxton, Savra, and Ragnar were currently exchanging confused glances as they observed Lucius.


    After Daxton had agreed to join the sketchy experiment, Lucius had become silent.


    He stood motionless with a smirk, still lingering on his face. There was no explanation for why he acted like that.


    Ragnar immediately called him out to wake him up. "Lucius! What are you doing now? Aren''t you going to start the experiment?"


    Lucius blinked, snapping out of his thoughts as he turned toward Ragnar. "Ah, my apologies. I was just... thinking about something."


    Savra raised her eyebrow as she was skeptical. "Thinking? You''ve been standing there, smirking like a maniac. Care to share what''s on your mind?"


    Lucius chuckled as he turned his attention back to Daxton and smirked. "Of course. I am just thinking about what is needed for the experiment."


    Daxton straightened slightly as he glanced at Lucius. "What do you need, Young Master?"


    Lucius smirked as he glanced toward Daxton''s right hand. "I need your blood."


    Daxton nodded without hesitation as he rolled up his sleeves. He was preparing to cut his arm a bit and offer his blood on the spot. "You got it."


    But before he could proceed, Lucius raised his hand to stop him. "Wait. Let me explain something before you do anything."


    Daxton paused as he glanced back at Lucius. Lucius then continued. "I need a bucket of your blood and not only that, I need your right hand."


    Daxton was shocked after hearing it. It was such an unexpected request. "A bucket of blood... and my right hand?"


    Ragnar leaned forward and frowned as he shouted. "Lucius! What do you mean? What are you planning to do with something like that?"


    Savra tilted her head as she glanced at Lucius and Daxton. "This experiment of yours is sounding more and more like a ritual."


    Lucius turned to Ragnar and Savra and smirked. "Relax. This is all necessary to increase the success rate."


    Lucius gestured toward Daxton''s right hand. "The blood and the hand will also ensure that the thing I create will belong solely to Daxton. No one else will be able to use it."


    He turned back to Daxton and smirked as he extended his hand. "It''s a small price to pay for the power you''ll gain, right? So, what do you say?"


    Daxton frowned. He never considered the weight of the request. A bucket of blood was one thing.


    He could recover from that in time. But his right hand? That was a sacrifice that could not be undone.

 Chapter 194 Daxtons Bold Sacrifice

    Lucius smirked as he put his hand on Daxton''s shoulder. "Don''t worry too much. I''m sure Matriarch Savra has something that can handle this situation."


    He turned toward Savra and asked. "You have something that can heal a severed hand, don''t you?"


    Savra frowned slightly, leaning back in her chair as she crossed her arms. "If we''re talking about fingers, then yes."


    Savra then took out some potions from her spatial ring. "These can handle that easily. And they''re relatively cheap, considering our resources."


    She also frowned as she added. "But a whole hand? That''s a different story. Healing something like that is possible, but it''s going to be far more expensive."


    Lucius'' smirk didn''t waver. Instead, he nodded thoughtfully. "I see. In that case, I''ll just take one of your fingers instead of your entire hand."


    Daxton was surprised as he processed the shift in Lucius'' request. "A finger?"


    Savra chuckled and smirked as she leaned forward. "If it''s just a finger, then you don''t need to worry."


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    Savra held the potion. "We can heal the finger with this. It could even recover the loss of your blood."


    Lucius turned back to Daxton and smirked. "You see it, right? The Matriarch has promised that you''ll be healed."


    Lucius crouched down and glanced at him. "Now, the question is, what will you do? There''s no turning back once we start."


    Daxton tightened his jaw. He glanced between Lucius and Savra. He was quite relieved, knowing that his injuries could be healed, but still it was still tense.


    Daxton then sighed as he resolved himself to the task ahead. "If Matriarch Savra guarantees it, then I''ll do it. No matter what the cost."


    Lucius smirked after hearing Daxton''s decision. He immediately prepared the bucket. "Then let''s proceed. You can do it now."


    Daxton nodded without hesitation. Without a word, he approached the bucket.


    Daxton used a small knife and slashed across his arms. Blood spurted out in a vivid arc, splashing into the bucket. Daxton maintained his composure as the bucket was filled with blood.


    Lucius watched intently and was quite surprised. He hadn''t expected Daxton to act so decisively, nor to endure the pain without so much as a wince. "Impressive."


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Lucius watched the blood and the finger began to dissolve into light particles before vanishing entirely. "It didn''t give me that many points."


    He leaned back in his chair as he gazed at the empty table. "But still, every point counts."


    Lucius then smirked as he began to close his eyes. "For now, I''ll rest. When the time is right, I''ll deliver the pill to Daxton and the real transformation will begin."


    The lab fell silent as Lucius closed his eyes. He immediately went to sleep after a few days without it.


    ---


    In the main hall of the Volcaria estate, Ragnar and Savra sat opposite one another. They were really curious about what Lucius was doing.


    Ragnar leaned back in his chair as he tapped the armrest. "He always does whatever he wants. No matter the situation, no matter the stakes."


    Savra, who sat across from him, smirked as she rested her chin on her hand. "True. Even back then, the moment he arrived, he acted as if he owned the place. Bold and unrestrained."


    Ragnar nodded and smirked. "And after becoming an elder in our family? He''s only grown bolder."


    Savra laughed. "He''s completely unrestrained now. The things he does, the risks he takes¡ªsometimes it''s as if he''s testing the limits of what we''ll tolerate."


    Ragnar shrugged. "That''s just who he is and honestly? It''s worked out more often than not. Whatever he does always ends up shocking us."


    Savra tilted her head slightly. "You''re not wrong. Every time I think I''ve figured him out, he does something even more outrageous."


    She then smirked as she turned around. "I can''t deny that it''s effective. Lucius has a way of turning his risks into results."


    Ragnar chuckled. "Exactly. That''s why we let him do what he does. There''s no point in interfering¡ªhe''ll just find a way to shock us again."


    Savra nodded as she leaned back in her chair. "I suppose all we can do now is wait. Whatever he''s working on, I''m sure it''ll be worth the trouble."


    Ragnar grinned. "Agreed. Let''s see what he comes up with this time."


    The two of them laughed as they were curious and amused by what their unrestrained elder would do next.

 Chapter 195 Lucius Bold Experiment Explained!

    The next day, Daxton was summoned to the main hall of the Volcaria estate. As he entered, the found Lucius was waiting for him.


    Daxton approached him and bowed slightly. "You called for me, Young Master Lucius?"


    Lucius nodded as he took out a pill from his spatial ring and smirked. "Yes, I wanted to tell you that it''s finished."


    Daxton looked up and saw the pill that was held by Lucius. "Is this it? The pill that can strengthen me?"


    Lucius smirked as he held the pill for Daxton and the other to see. "That''s right. This will elevate you to a new level. All you need to do is swallow it."


    Daxton received the pill from Lucius. The pill was now in his palm. There was a bit of hesitation in his face. He glanced back at Lucius. "I''ll trust you."


    Without any hesitation, Daxton put the pill in his mouth and swallowed it in one quick motion. The pill''s effect immediately rose just after it was eaten.


    Daxton staggered back as his body was being tore. He could sense that his body was being ripped and healed at the same time for many times.


    He also roared as his body convulsed. He fell to his knee and clutched his chest, trying to hold himself.


    Ragnar and Savra rose from their seats. They were really surprised and also concerned about Daxton.@@@@


    Ragnar looked at Lucius and shouted. "What''s happening to him? Is this really normal?"


    Savra also looked at Daxton and then turned toward Lucius. "He''s in pain. Are you sure that this is supposed to happen? Did something go wrong?"


    Lucius smirked as he glanced back at them. He began to calm them down. "Relax. This is normal."


    Ragnar was surprised after hearing it. He gestured toward Daxton and frowned. "What the hell do you mean this is normal, Lucius?"


    Lucius nodded. He turned back to Daxton, who was crying in pain and smirked. "Yes, the transformation process is intense, but it''s necessary. Surely you''ve heard the phrase ''No Pain No Gain'', right?"


    Savra only sighed as she crossed her arms. "He''d better survive this or we''ll lose a good warrior."


    Lucius smirked as he calmed her. "Don''t worry, he will. And when he does, you''ll see why this process is worth the risk."


    Lucius didn''t respond immediately. Instead, he smirked and extended the stone toward Daxton. "Go ahead. Touch it."


    Daxton was confused as to why Lucius did this. But he trusted him enough to follow through. He then placed his hand on the talent stone.


    The stone began to glow faintly. At first, its light was blue, which reflected Daxton''s current talent.


    Savra frowned as she glanced at the stone and was a bit disappointed. "It''s still the same. His talent is still Lord-Level."


    Before Lucius could respond, the stone''s glow suddenly intensified. The blue light was soon replaced by a bright red light and stunned all three people in the room.


    Ragnar growled as he leaned forward in his seat. "What the hell is this?!"


    Savra frowned as her gaze shifted between Lucius and the glowing stone. "This... This isn''t normal. What did you do?"


    Daxton, who held the stone, stood frozen. "What''s happening? What does this mean?"


    Lucius smirked as he crossed his arms. "What it means is that the experiment worked."


    He gestured toward the talent stone. "As you can see, Daxton''s talent has been upgraded. That red glow means his talent has risen from Lord Level to King Level."


    Daxton was trembling slightly as he pulled away from the stone. He was still surprised by the revelation. "Did... you mean that my talent has been upgraded?"


    Lucius nodded and shook Daxton''s hand. "Congratulations, Daxton. You''re no longer limited to a Lord-level talent. You now possess a King-level talent."


    Daxton stared at his hands. He was still in disbelief. "King-Level... I don''t know what to say."


    Ragnar and Savra exchanged a glance. They were really shocked by the sudden reveal.


    Ragnar chuckled as he shook his head and leaned back in his chair. "Well, I''ll be damned. To think that your experiment is about talent upgrade."


    Savra crossed her arms and glanced at Lucius. "I''ll admit. I didn''t think this was possible. But you''ve proven me wrong."


    Lucius smirked as he crossed his arms and laughed hard. "Didn''t I tell you already that I am a genius?"

 Chapter 196 The Volcanic Empress and Emperor Rise

    Savra and Ragnar exchanged a glance before turning their attention back to Lucius.


    Savra was the first to speak. "So Lucius, can you make the same pills but stronger for us?"


    Ragnar leaned forward slightly as he added. "If you can do it for Daxton, you can do it for us too, right?"


    Lucius smirked as he crossed his arms. "Of course I can. Both of you currently have King-Level Talent, correct?"


    Both nodded in unison.


    Lucius chuckled. "Upgrading to Emperor-Level Talent will be a bit harder, but not impossible. It''s well within my capabilities."


    Savra and Ragnar exchanged another glance and smirked. The idea of unlocking Emperor-level talent clearly piqued their interest.


    Savra smirked. "That would make us even stronger. With Emperor-level talent, we''d be on an entirely different level."


    Ragnar also added as he smirked. "Stronger than anyone in the Empire. This could change everything."


    Lucius nodded slightly. "It will, but there''s something else we need to address first."


    Savra tilted her head as she was confused. "Something else? What are you talking about?"


    Ragnar leaned back slightly. "Yeah. What''s this about?"


    Lucius chuckled. "You''ll know tomorrow. Let''s just say... it''s important."


    Both could sense that Lucius was up to something significant, but as always, he wasn''t ready to share the full details.


    Savra sighed, shaking her head with a faint smile. "Fine. You always keep us guessing, Lucius."


    Ragnar chuckled. "I see, but still, you''re lucky your results speak for themselves."


    Lucius simply smirked. "Don''t worry. You''ll understand everything soon enough."


    With that, the discussion ended, leaving the room charged with anticipation for whatever Lucius had planned.


    ---


    The next day, Lucius entered the grand main hall of the Volcaria Estate yet again.


    He glanced at Ragnar and Savra, who were now healed. Yesterday, they had surprised Lucius.


    Their muscles tensed and swelled, their skin glowing faintly as their very forms were reshaped by the power of the pills.


    The air was filled with their agonized roars as they endured the transformation.


    Sevrina and Casey stared in disbelief as Ragnar and Savra roared in pain.


    Casey trembled as she watched them and muttered. "What the hell..."


    Sevrina turned to Lucius. "What are they doing? What is happening to them?"


    Lucius stood calmly to the side and smirked as he crossed his arms. "You''ll know soon enough. For now, just watch."


    The agonizing transformation dragged on for nearly half an hour. But when it finally ended, both stood still, their breathing ragged and heavy.


    Like Daxton, their appearances hadn''t changed. Their forms remained the same, their auras stable but seemingly no different from before.


    Sevrina frowned as she was confused. "What the hell is this? What are you doing?"


    Casey, equally puzzled, leaned forward against her restraints. "Are you messing with them? They look the same!"


    Lucius chuckled as he turned to the prisoners. "Like I said, you''ll know soon enough."


    Lucius took out two Talent Stones from his spatial ring and tossed them casually to Ragnar and Savra.


    Sevrina and Casey immediately recognized what stones they were. "Aren''t those Talent Stones?"


    Lucius nodded but didn''t respond. Ragnar and Savra soon caught the stones and the moment they caught them, the stones glowed bright red.


    Sevrina only smirked as she leaned back slightly. "As expected from the leaders of Volcaria. You both had King-Level Talent. Quite impressive."


    Lucius was amused as he turned toward Sevrina and smirked. "Oh? You think that''s good."


    He gestured toward Ragnar and Savra''s talent stones. "Then tell me. What do you think of that?"


    The talent stones in Ragnar and Savra''s hands, which were red, suddenly began to shift color.


    Sevrina was immediately surprised as she saw the new color. "What the hell is that?!"


    Casey was also staring at the stones and stammered. "This... This isn''t possible! That''s¡ª"


    Lucius chuckled as he watched their reactions. "Exactly as I planned."

 Chapter 197 The Black Talent Stone Mystery

    The talent stones in Ragnar and Savra''s hands began to change color. The red color had dimmed and been replaced by a deep black color.@@@@


    Ragnar and Savra exchanged stunned glances. Ragnar stared at the black talent stone in disbelief. "I never knew that this color even existed."


    Savra nodded as she stared at her own black talent stone and then at Lucius. "Yeah. Did this color mean that our talents have truly become Emperor-Level?"


    Lucius smirked as he observed their reactions. "That''s right, so congratulations. You''ve both ascended to a level few can even dream of."


    Across the room, Sevrina and Casey were stunned. They never thought that the black talent stone meant so much.


    Finally, Sevrina broke the silence while trembling. "How is this possible? How can you upgrade your talent like that?!"


    Lucius chuckled and smirked. "Yeah. Just how, right? It must seem impossible to you."


    Lucius then sat beside her and put his hand around her neck. "After all, your group has its own method, doesn''t it? A ritual to achieve Emperor-Level talent."


    The moment those words left Lucius'' lips, Sevrina and Casey stiffened in shock. Sevrina glared at Lucius. "How do you know about that?"


    Lucius tilted his head slightly and smirked. "I have my own ways, but I must say that it''s a bit... sad, isn''t it?"


    Sevrina frowned deeply as she heard what Lucius said. "Sad? What the hell are you talking about?"


    Lucius chuckled softly. His finger tapped lightly against the floor. "The goal of your Red Dragon Order is to obtain Emperor-Level Talent¡ªspecifically, the Red Dragon Emperor Talent, right?"


    Lucius then smirked as he extended his hand. "But to think there are others who can obtain Emperor-Level talents so easily..."


    He then gestured toward Ragnar and Savra, then toward himself as he smirked. "Like us."


    Sevrina frowned even more as she processed Lucius'' words. "Now I know why you''re here."


    Lucius'' smirk widened as he tilted his head. "I see. That''s what you think, huh?"


    Lucius only smirked as he gestured toward the Black Talent Stone once again. "Because of this. The way to get Emperor-Level Talent."


    Sevrina glanced at the stone before turning to Lucius. "How the hell am I supposed to believe when you''re the reason the Empire attacked our base in the first place!"


    Lucius raised his hand to calm her down. "Relax. This time, the situation is different. The empire hates us just as much as they hate you right now."


    Sevrina frowned, as she didn''t understand what he meant. "What do you mean by that?"


    Lucius gestured toward Ragnar at the back. "The Empire believes Ragnar is dead, as they think he was buried in the destruction of your base. But as you can see, he''s very much alive."


    Sevrina glanced at Ragnar as she processed Lucius''s words. "So, what does it mean for you?"


    Lucius leaned back slightly. "It means that the Empire sees this as their best chance to erase one of the most powerful families in the Empire¡ªthe Volcaria family."


    Sevrina frowned as she studied his expression. "Erase you? Why would they do that? You''re part of the Empire."


    Lucius chuckled and shook his head. "You misunderstand. Volcaria has never been friendly with the Empire. Our relationship has always been... tense, at best. They don''t like us."


    Casey, who had remained silent until now, frowned as she leaned forward. "Why wouldn''t they like you?"


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    Lucius tilted his head and shrugged. "Because Volcaria is a family of brutes. That''s what they think of us. Unruly, destructive, and unwilling to play by their rules. Just look at Ragnar."


    He gestured toward Ragnar again and smirked. "One of the strongest 7-Star tamers in the Empire. A force to be reckoned with. But to the Empire? He''s just brute. And they don''t like brutes."


    Sevrina frowned as she understood it. "So, you''re saying the Empire wants to get rid of you?"


    Lucius nodded. "Exactly. And with the current situation, they see an opportunity to strike. They think Ragnar is dead, and they think Volcaria is vulnerable."


    He leaned forward and locked his gaze onto Sevrina''s. "That''s why I''m here. We have a common enemy. The Empire hates us just as much as they hate you."


    Lucius then extended his hand toward her. "So, what do you say? Shall we work together?"

 Chapter 198 The Volcanic Heart

    Sevrina was still frowning as she heard Lucius'' explanation. But still, she was a bit hesitant about the deal. "Even if that''s true, why should I trust you? How do I know you''re not lying?"


    Lucius chuckled again as he tilted his head slightly. "Because we are Volcaria, the family of brutes. We talked with power and never lie."


    He paused briefly as he added silently to himself. "Except for a few times and myself, of course."


    Lucius gestured toward the black talent stone again as he was being persuasive. "And also, isn''t it too good to pass up? Emperor-level talent, right here, within your reach. All you have to do is cooperate."


    Sevrina''s gaze remained fixed on the black stone before her. She was conflicted. On one hand, she didn''t want to work with Lucius.


    On the other hand, the black stone was undeniable proof of something she and her order had spent years pursuing: Emperor-level talent.


    Lucius smirked as he knew that this was the moment that he could seize to persuade her.


    "Come on, this could change everything for you, for your leader, and for the Red Dragon Order. What''s there to hesitate about?"


    Sevrina snapped as she slammed her fists to the ground. "Damn you!"


    Sevrina growled as her gaze was locked onto Lucius. "Fine. I''ll take you to meet our leader."


    Lucius smirked as he had been waiting for this response. "Well, that''s quite easy."@@@@


    But Sevrina wasn''t finished as she smirked the next moment. "But I have a condition. You come with us alone. No one else."


    Ragnar and Savra, who had been watching the exchange intently, immediately frowned.


    Ragnar leaned forward as he was trying to threaten her with his voice. "What the hell did you just say?"


    Savra crossed her arms as she locked onto Sevrina. "You want Lucius to go alone? That''s not going to happen."


    Sevrina smirked as she turned to Lucius. "What do you think? This is my deal. If you want me to take him to our leader, then he comes alone. Take it or leave it."


    Ragnar frowned after hearing it. "You think we''d agree to something so reckless? You have no leverage here."


    The plaque glowed faintly as it was activated. Sevrina turned to the group as it was time for them to get teleported. "Come."


    Lucius smirked and bowed a bit. "As you wish." He motioned for Luna and Liora to follow. The three of them moved onto the platform.


    Before they disappeared, Lucius turned back to Ragnar and Savra, who stood at a distance. "You know what to do, right?"


    Both Ragnar and Savra nodded silently as their gazes were locked onto Lucius. They didn''t need to speak, as they already knew about the plan.


    Satisfied, Lucius turned back to the platform as he prepared for the journey. The runes beneath them flared to life, enveloping the five of them.


    The teleportation activated with a flash of light, and the group disappeared, leaving the platform silent and empty.


    The five of them then appeared on the other teleportation platform. Almost immediately, the intense heat of the surroundings enveloped them.


    Lucius, Luna, and Liora remained composed as they glanced around their new surroundings. The sight before them was not that normal.


    They stood at the edge of a massive volcanic expanse, the ground beneath their feet glowing faintly with traces of molten rock.


    Far below, swirling rivers of lava flowed through a vast cavern.


    In the center of this volcanic expanse was a city, built into the walls and floor of the massive cavern.


    Towers of blackened stone and glowing red crystal rose high above the lava, their jagged designs reminiscent of dragon claws.


    Bridges of molten steel arched over the rivers of lava, connecting different sections of the city.


    Lucius was pretty impressed by the sight. "This is quite impressive. A city inside a volcano... fitting for the Red Dragon Order."


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    Sevrina turned slightly and smirked as she glanced back at Lucius. "Welcome to the heart of the Red Dragon Order. This place is far beyond the base you destroyed."


    Casey gestured toward the city below. "This is where our true strength lies."


    Lucius chuckled. "I see. Well then, let''s see your leader, shall we? We need to talk."

 Chapter 199 Breaking Chains

    Ragnar and Savra stood silently in front of the now-empty teleportation platform.


    Savra broke the silence as she crossed her arms. "I never thought that he would go so far as to include the Red Dragon Order in his final plan."


    Ragnar nodded as he stared at the platform. "Yeah. To think he''d be that bold... it''s impressive, even for him. But now, it''s our turn." Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire


    He turned toward Savra and smirked. "Let''s go. It''s time for us to carry out our own part."


    Savra smirked as she turned to Ragnar and uncrossed her arms. "Agreed. It''s been a week since that incident. Everything''s in place now."


    Ragnar nodded once more as he stepped onto the teleportion platform. Savra followed from behind.


    As the energy of the teleportation swirled around them, Ragnar glanced at Savra. "No turning back now."


    Savra smirked as she replied. "There never was."


    In a flash of light, the two disappeared, their forms dissolving into the glowing energy of the teleportation.


    ---


    In the grand hall of the Empire, King Astorius Solvian sat upon his imposing throne.


    Beside him were Minister Anselm and Karion, the Patriarch of the Kryndal family.


    Astorius looked at Anselm. "So, you wanted to propose that we go and attack Volcaria."


    Anselm nodded as he stepped forward. "Yes, Your Majesty. With Ragnar gone, only Savra remains as a 7-Star tamer."


    "She''s strong, but not strong enough to defend Volcaria against us. This is the perfect opportunity to remind Volcaria of its place."


    He paused briefly, then continued. "For years, they''ve acted as they pleased, ignoring your authority. It''s time they learned humility and groveled before the king."


    He crossed his arms and smirked. "There was a hidden teleportation platform in the base. I used it to escape and return to my estate. It was simple, really."


    He then gestured toward Karion. "But you? You were too busy patting yourself on the back to even consider the possibility."


    Karion tightened his jaw as he was in anger. "YOU!"


    Savra, standing beside Ragnar, smirked faintly as she crossed her arms. "And to think that you dare to attack us. It seems the Empire doesn''t want Volcaria anymore."


    Astorious tried to regain his composure as he warned them. "You''ve overstepped your bounds, Ragnar, Savra. Barging into the grand hall without permission is an act of defiance."


    Ragnar chuckled as he stepped closer and flared his aura. "Defiance? You''re planning to attack my family, and you want to lecture me about defiance? Spare me, Astorius."


    Savra tilted her head and smirked. "If anything, it seems the Empire has overstepped its bounds. To think you''d plot to take advantage of Ragnar''s supposed death. How... cowardly."


    Savra also didn''t stop there as she reached into her spatial ring and pulled out a folded piece of parchment. She tossed it casually onto the floor before Astorius.


    Astorius frowned deeply as he saw the parchment. Beside him, Anselm stiffened as he knew what the parchment was.


    Savra pointed at it. "That is a signed document from your dear Minister Anselm."


    Ragnar chuckled, crossing his arms as he added. "In short, it''s proof that Anselm willingly traded the Empire''s support for information on the Red Dragon Order. Which, as you can see, has been... rather useful."


    Anselm''s face paled as he glanced at the paper before turning to Savra. "You...!"


    Savra cut him off with a wave of her hand. "It doesn''t matter what you said. What matters is that it''s signed and binding."


    Astorius frowned as he retrieved the document and scanned it. "What do you want?"


    Savra stepped forward as she locked her gaze onto Astorius. "You know, it''s quite disheartening to hear that the Empire doesn''t want us anymore. After all we''ve done for you."


    Ragnar chuckled again as he added. "But don''t worry. We''ll make it easy for you."


    Savra smirked as she delivered her demand. "I want the Volcaria family to break away from the Empire and become its own sovereign power¡ªour own Empire¡ªthe Volcaria Empire."

 Chapter 200 A Kings Fury

    The king was shocked as he heard Savra''s bold declaration. The audacity of her demand rendered all of them speechless.


    Karion was the first to react as he stepped forward. He glanced at Savra and roared in anger. "What the hell do you mean by that?! You can''t just declare independence like it''s nothing!"


    Ragnar smirked as he glanced at Karion. "Just like Savra had said earlier, we want independence."


    The king immediately rose from his throne. He glared at the two of them and roared. "How dare you! How dare you come here uninvited and spout such nonsense in my grand hall!"


    Savra tilted her head slightly as she glanced at Astorius. "Didn''t you say you didn''t want us anymore? We''re just helping you get what you want."


    Astorius frowned as he gripped the arms of his throne. His aura immediately flared up. "This is a treason. You can''t do this."


    Savra chuckled as she met his glare without flinching. "Oh, of course we can. And also let me remind you that we don''t take ''no'' for an answer."


    Ragnar turned slightly, glancing back over his shoulder as he smirked. "You have until tomorrow to decide. Come to our estate and give us your answer."


    He then paused briefly before adding. "But let me remind you once again that this isn''t a request."


    Savra chuckled again as she turned to leave. "Until then."


    Without waiting for a response, Ragnar and Savra walked out of the grand hall while laughing hard.


    Astorius sat back down on his throne. He was clenching his fists tightly as he was really frustated with the current situation.


    He slammed his fists against the armrest as he growled in anger. "What do we do now? To think that Ragnar is still alive!"


    He turned toward Karion and shouted at him. "Didn''t you say he was dead? Didn''t you confirm it yourself? Then why was he still alive?"


    Karion frowned. "Your Majesty. I saw it with my own eyes. The volcano collapsed, and he was buried in the destruction along with the Red Dragon Order''s leader."


    Karion then kneeled down. "But I didn''t know that there was a hidden teleportation platform."


    Sevrina glanced over her shoulder as she replied to Lucius. "Of course. This is the heart of the Red Dragon Order. Our main forces are stationed here. The soldiers you met before were mere pawns compared to the warriors in this city."


    Lucius chuckled as he was impressed. "I see. It''s truly remarkable. I can understand why the Empire feared your order."


    As they moved further into the city, some of the soldiers stopped to greet Sevrina.


    One soldier, a muscular man, stepped forward and called out. "Elder Sevrina! Why are you just arriving now? We thought you were lost in the battle against the Empire''s attack a few days ago!"


    Sevrina paused as she turned to face the soldier to explain it. "I''m sorry for my absence. I had some important business to attend to."


    The soldier nodded. "It''s fine. The main armies didn''t suffer too much damage, and the leader and the other elders are safe. That''s what matters."


    Sevrina let out a faint sigh of relief. "I see. That''s good to hear."


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    The soldiers then glanced at Lucius and his maids. He was a bit suspicious about them. "And who are they?


    Sevrina coughed a bit and explained it. "They''re our leader''s guests. They were also the ones who will help us take vengeance on the Empire."


    The soldier''s eyes flicked between Sevrina and Lucius before he stepped back slightly. "I see. It''s about time we had allies who understood what the Empire has done to us."


    Lucius smirked faintly. "Sure do."


    Sevrina glanced back at Lucius, gesturing for him and his maids to follow. "Let''s go. The main hall isn''t far from here."


    As they continued, Lucius was thinking about something. The strength of the Red Dragon Order''s forces, the layout of their city, and the aura of defiance in its people.


    All of it showed a picture of an organization still standing strong, despite their recent losses.


    With a faint smirk, he stepped forward, following Sevrina toward the heart of the Red Dragon Order''s power.

 Chapter 201 Volcarias Intrusion into the Dragons Lair

    In the grand hall of the Red Dragon Order''s main base, Bryson paced back and forth as he clenched his fists in anger and roared.


    "That damned Empire! How dare they strike us so brazenly! They''ll pay for this. Every last one of them!"


    Tarron also slammed his fist onto the stone table as he spat out. "The Empire is filled with cowards! And that Volcaria bastard, Liora! I''ll crush him for what he''s done!"


    Bryson also became even angry as he heard the volcaria name and growled. "Ragnar Volcaria... That treacherous snake! But it wasn''t just him. That pathetic Karion destroyed my base. They''ll both pay dearly for this insult."


    Tarron nodded. "And don''t forget that woman. She was too strong. That battle... I''ll never forget the way she overwhelmed me. She''s dangerous."


    Zerath, who stood at the edge of the room with his head bowed down as he was sorry. "I must apologize. I didn''t realize someone was following me. If I had known..."


    Bryson cut him off with a wave of his hand, though he was quite annoyed. "Don''t worry about it. What''s done is done. But this proves one thing¡ªVolcaria isn''t just filled with brutes. They''re smarter than we gave them credit for."


    Deon, another elder that was not in the battle, tried to calm down the tension. "Leader, calm yourself. What''s done is done. What matters now is what we do next."


    Bryson stopped pacing back and forth as he turned toward Deon. "You''re right. For now, we have no choice but to wait."


    He turned back to the room. "Sevrina and Casey are our priorities. Once they return with the Red Dragon materials, we can focus on rebuilding and striking back."


    The elders nodded in agreement. The Red Dragon Order''s losses had been significant, and their path forward was fraught with uncertainty, but it was not over for them.


    Bryson clenched his fist in anger. "They think they''ve defeated us. But they''ll learn soon enough¡ªwe''re far from finished."


    But then they were interrupted by the sound of the doors being thrown open with force. Sevrina stormed in, with Casey following closely behind.


    Bryson turned to her and was surprised. "Sevrina! You''ve come back."


    Sevrina nodded. "Yeah, we just returned. I''m sorry we weren''t here for the fight, but we had more pressing matters to attend to."


    Bryson glanced at Lucius. But before he could respond, Lucius reached into his spatial ring and took out a black talent stone and tossed it casually onto the ground in front of Bryson.


    Lucius smirked as he gestured toward the stone. "Consider this a gift and I''m sure you know what it means, don''t you?"


    Bryson looked at the black talent stone and frowned when he processed what was in front of him. Deon, however, was less composed.


    Deon took a step forward in anger. "How dare you! You dare to throw something at the leader?!"


    Deon''s anger was cut short by Bryson. "Stop! Don''t move."


    Deon froze in place as he was surprised. He turned to Bryson. "But, Leader¡ª"


    Bryson looked at him and roared. "I said stop."


    He then glanced back at the black talent stone before leaning forward slightly and glanced at Lucius. "How... How can you have this?"


    Lucius chuckled as he observed Bryson''s reaction. "I see. So you really do know what this is, huh? As expected from someone who''s been searching for a way to obtain Emperor-level talent."


    The other elders, who had been quietly observing the exchange, were immediately shocked.


    They immediately flared their auras as they turned their gaze toward Lucius.


    Deon immediately barked. "What?! How do you know that?"


    Tarron also stepped forward. "Our end goal¡ªhow can you possibly know about that?"


    The tension in the grand hall reached its peak as every pair of eyes locked onto Lucius.


    But Lucius only smirked as he stood unfazed by their reactions. He didn''t respond, letting the silence stretch uncomfortably.


    The smug amusement etched on his face was enough to send a clear message: he knew far more than he was letting on.

 Chapter 202 Lucius Shocking Proposal

    Deon, Zerath, and Tarron kept their gazes locked on Lucius. But Bryson''s attention remained fixed on the black talent stone lying on the ground before him.


    The silence in the room stretched until Bryson finally broke it as he asked the elders. "Do you know what this stone is?"


    Deon, Zerath, and Tarron stepped closer and examined the stone. They recognized the object but were unable to recognize it because of the color.


    Deon was uncertain about it as he muttered. "It looks like a talent stone, but why is it black?"


    Zerath nodded as he added. "I''ve seen talent stones in the past. Gray when not activated, and then white, green, blue, and red corresponding to the levels of talent. But... I''ve never seen a black one before."


    Tarron frowned deeply as he leaned closer to the stone. "It''s impossible. A talent stone can''t be black. That''s not how it works."


    Sevrina, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward as she glanced at the confused elders. "It''s black because it''s the color of the fifth level of talent¡ªthe Emperor-level talent."


    The room erupted in shock. Deon, Zerath, and Tarron all recoiled slightly.


    Deon was trembling. "Emperor Level? That''s..."


    Tarron snapped. "Impossible! That level of talent is the one we have been searching for. How could something like this exist now?"


    Zerath remained silent as he turned to Bryson for confirmation. The other two elders followed suit.


    Bryson stood still as he sighed. Finally, he gave a single nod. "It''s true. This black talent stone represents Emperor-level talent."


    The other elders stared at him in stunned silence. The weight of Bryson''s confirmation settled heavily in the room. The reality of the stone''s significance was now undeniable.


    Bryson turned his gaze to Lucius as he stepped closer. "How can you have that stone?"@@@@


    "I''ve studied this color through countless research and ancient texts. I know what it represents¡ªbut I also know that not a single Emperor-level talent has been born in the past hundred years."


    Lucius smirked as he crossed his arms. "I see. I could tell you. But I''d prefer if we had this conversation privately."


    Lucius tilted his head slightly and smirked. "But it seems you don''t really need that information. What you truly want is the way to obtain Emperor-level talent, isn''t it?"


    Bryson immediately smirked as he heard that, his fingers tapping lightly against the edge of his chair. "Yeah. That''s precisely what I want. The method."


    Lucius chuckled as he glared back at Bryson. "Well, I''m sorry to disappoint you, but I can''t tell you the method."


    Bryson frowned a bit after hearing it. "If you cannot tell me the method, why are you even here? What are you planning?" Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    Lucius only smirked. "Don''t worry. Although I can''t give you the method, I can make you and even your elders become Emperor-level talent tamers."


    Bryson froze when hearing it. He was now processing what he had just heard. He clenched the armrests tightly as his body began to trmble.


    He glanced back at Lucius and asked in disbelief. "You... mean that you can make multiple people into Emperor-level tamers? Is that even possible?"


    Lucius leaned forward slightly and smirked. "It is. I can make it happen. For you and your entire elders."


    Bryson stared at him. He struggled to compose himself as he was thinking so much. "If that''s true... then what do you want for it?"


    Lucius leaned back in his chair as he answered. "What I want is your Red Dragon Order."


    Bryson frowned as he glanced back at Lucius. "What do you mean by that? Are you saying you want to take over the Red Dragon Order?"


    Lucius shook his head. "No. After seeing this city, its strength, and its potential, I''ve decided on something bigger."


    He leaned forward slightly and continued. "What I truly want is for Volcaria to fuse with the Red Dragon Order to form a new empire, which was the Volcaria Empire."


    Bryson froze as he heard what Lucius truly wanted. He could not believe what he had just heard. "Volcaria Empire? Are you saying... Volcaria wants to defect from the Empire?"


    Lucius nodded and smirked. "That''s exactly what I''m saying. The Volcaria family is done being tied to the Empire."


    He then gestured at Bryson. "And with the Red Dragon Order by our side, we''ll be stronger than ever¡ªstronger than the Empire itself."


    Bryson still couldn''t believe what Lucius had just said as he gripped his armrests.

 Chapter 203 Defying the Empire

    Bryson leaned forward as his gaze was still fixed on Lucius. "So, you''re asking for an alliance, but one that places Volcaria at the center, am I right?."


    Lucius chuckled as he shook his head. He raised a single finger in a subtle gesture of correction. "Not an alliance, but a genuine fusion between the two."


    Lucius then explained it more clearly. "There will be no alliance. Instead, we''ll form one complete empire with a new royal family as its core."


    Bryson glared at Lucius as he processed the bold statement. "A new royal family? I don''t understand."


    Lucius smirked. "Let me explain it. The Volcaria royal family will merge with the Red Dragon Order."


    "Together, we''ll create a singular, unified power¡ªone that surpasses all organizations, whether it was your group or empire. No fragmentation and limit."


    Bryson leaned back slightly as he stared at Lucius back. "This is a bold move. Defecting from the Empire isn''t just treason¡ªit''s a declaration of war. They won''t let this go unanswered."


    But before Lucius could respond, Bryson frowned and continued. "But there''s still something strange about all of this."


    He glanced at Lucius and pointed at him. "Why does Volcaria want this? And why are you, of all people, the one proposing it? You''re not the Patriarch."


    Lucius smirked as he leaned forward. "Allow me to properly introduce myself once again. My name is Lucius, one of the elders of the Volcaria family."


    He paused briefly before continuing. "This plan, this fusion, was suggested by me and approved by our Patriarch. He is fully aware of what I''m offering you. Of course."


    Lucius then chuckled a bit. "But after seeing your volcano city, I may have... tweaked the plan a bit."


    Bryson was a bit surprised but still kept his guard up. "So, the Ragnar knows and you''re one of the elders. No wonder you speak so boldly."


    But his aura flared as he leaned forward. "Still, there''s something I don''t understand. Why would Volcaria¡ªespecially the family that led the attack on us last time¡ªwant to defect from the Empire?"


    Lucius smirked. "The reason is simple. The Empire doesn''t like us. Volcaria is seen as a family of brutes¡ªrebellious, unrestrained, and unwilling to bend to their authority."


    ---


    Bryson and Lucius stepped out of the private room. The elders had been waiting anxiously in the grand hall, immediately turned toward Bryson.


    Deon kneeled before him and asked. "What happened? What did he propose, leader?"


    Bryson crossed his arms and replied. "We''re going to the Volcaria estate. There''s more to discuss there."


    The elders exchanged shocked glances.


    Tarron was surprised. "You''re going to Volcaria? Why would you agree to that?"


    Deon immediately stepped forward. "Let us accompany you. We can''t let you go alone."


    Before Bryson could respond, Lucius smirked and stepped forward. "Of course. Let''s all go to the Volcaria estate for a grand meeting. After all, this decision concerns all of us, doesn''t it?"


    Bryson glanced at Lucius and frowned. "What the hell are you planning, Lucius?"


    Lucius turned to Bryon. "Relax. This is an opportunity for transparency. Let''s bring everyone to the table, so there''s no confusion about what''s at stake."


    The elders, though still wary, nodded in agreement. "If this concerns the future of the Red Dragon Order then it''s only right for all of us to be present."


    Bryson remained silent. He glanced at Lucius. The young man''s confidence was unsettling, as his intentions were really hidden.


    But despite his growing unease, Bryson knew there was no turning back now. "Fine. Let''s go."


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    Lucius smirked as he gestured toward the teleportation platform. "Perfect."


    The group moved toward the platform as they prepared to leave the Red Dragon Order''s stronghold.

 Chapter 204 A New Power Awakens

    Lucius, Bryson, and the group of Red Dragon Order elders had arrived at the Volcaria Estate.


    Ragnar and Savra were already waiting at the entrance and the moment Ragnar saw Bryson, he began to smirk. "Welcome Bryson. To think we meet again after I kicked your ass last time."


    Byrson frowned and then smirked as he replied back. "Don''t get too comfortable, Ragnar. I''ll return the favor soon enough."


    The tension between the two could clearly be sensed. But before things could escalate further, Lucius stepped between them to calm them down.


    Lucius raised his hand and smiled. "Gentlemen. Let''s calm down, shall we? We''re here to discuss something far more important than old grudges."


    Ragnar chuckled as he stepped back slightly. "Fair enough, but don''t think I''ve forgotten about it."


    Bryson huffed as he followed them deeper to the estate. "Let''s just get this over with this unification."


    The elders who heard what their leader had just said were confused. Deon stepped closer to Bryson and asked. "Unification? What is this about?"


    Zerath frowned deeply. "We weren''t told anything about unification."@@@@


    Lucius smirked as he amusedly glanced back at the elders. "Don''t worry. You''ll understand everything soon enough. For now, just come inside."


    The elders hesitated briefly as they exchanged uncertain glances. But with Bryson stepping forward, they had no choice but to follow.


    The group entered the Volcaria estate, the grand hall awaiting them. The unification meeting was about to change the future of both Volcaria and the Red Dragon Order forever.


    ---


    The grand hall of the Volcaria estate was filled with tension as the two groups faced each other.


    On the left side sat Bryson and the elders of the Red Dragon Order. They were quite cautious.


    On the right were Ragnar, Savra, and the prominent members of the Volcaria family.


    Lucius sat in the center. He smirked, as his job was to be the middleman that would calm the situation and also the one who planned ahead.


    Lucius immediately broke the silence. "Let''s begin. This meeting is about the unification of the Red Dragon Order and the Volcaria family¡ªinto a new royal family for the Volcaria Empire."


    Lucius nodded. "Exactly. A name that combines the essence of both Volcaria and the Red Dragon Order. It''s a symbol of what we can achieve together."


    Bryson sighed as he leaned back in his chair. "It''s... acceptable."


    Lucius smirked faintly. "Good, then the names are settled, right?"


    Bryson and Ragnar exchanged glances before nodding in unison. "Yes."


    Satisfied, Lucius leaned forward slightly as he glanced at Bryson. "Now, let''s discuss the matter I promised¡ªthe Emperor-level talent."


    Bryson smirked as he nodded. "Yes, it is. So who has attained the Emperor-level talent, as I wanted to check the truth first?"


    Before Lucius could respond, Ragnar and Savra exchanged knowing smirks. Savra crossed her arms as she said, "Of course, it''s us."


    Bryson was surprised when he gestured toward both of them. "What?! You two?"


    Ragnar chuckled, leaning back slightly. "What''s the matter, Bryson? Jealous?"


    Bryson clenched his fists as he growled. "Damn it!"


    Bryson immediately reached into his spatial ring and took out an ancient orb.


    He gestured toward the orb and explained. "This ancient orb can reveal the truth about Emperor-level talents. Touch it, and it will show us the type of Emperor-level talent you''ve attained."


    Ragnar smirked as he extended his hand toward the ancient orb. "Sure, let''s see what it says."


    Savra chuckled as she leaned back in her chair. "Go on. Prove it to them, Ragnar."


    Ragnar smirked as he reached for the ancient orb with his hand. All eyes were fixed on the orb.


    Without hesitation, he placed his hand on the orb. The artifact pulsed brightly for a moment before its glow became black, just like the color of the Emperor-level talent stone.


    But unlike the talent stone, the orb showed some floating words above it that formed the name of Ragnar''s talent.


    The people were surprised when they saw the name of Ragnar''s new Emperor-level talent.

 Chapter 205 Emperor-Level Talents Revealed

    The ancient orb glowed as it revealed the name of Ragnar''s talent. The words glowed as they floated in the air: Volcanic Dragon Emperor.


    Bryson was shocked as he gripped the edge of the table as he stared at the words in disbelief. "Volcanic Dragon Emperor... your talent... it''s truly Emperor-level."


    Ragnar smirked as he read the name himself. "Volcanic Dragon Emperor, huh? Not bad. It''s perfect for the Volcanic Dragon Empire."


    Savra sat beside Ragnar and tilted her head slightly as she smirked. "Let me try."


    She stepped forward, placing her hand confidently on the ancient orb. The artifact pulsed again and showed the same color like before.


    It also showed the name of Savra''s Emperor-level talent, which was Volcanic Dragon Empress.


    She took a step back and read it. "Volcanic Dragon Empress. It''s really a good talent."


    Bryson was in disbelief as he glanced toward Ragnar and Savra. "Two of you? Both of you have Emperor-level talents?"


    The elders of the Red Dragon Order¡ªTarron, Sevrina, Deon, Casey, and Zerath¡ªstood frozen.


    They couldn''t believe what they were seeing as they kept staring at the glowing words.


    Tarron clenched his fists as he muttered. "The Emperor-level talent... The end goal of our order... They''ve achieved it?"


    Sevrina frowned as she exchanged a glance with Casey. "This is what we''ve been striving for and they''ve already reached it."


    Deon shook his head as he muttered, "Unbelievable."


    Lucius sat calmly at the center. He leaned back in his chair as he observed the reactions around the room.


    Lucius leaned forward slightly as he addressed Bryson. "So, do you believe me now, Leader Bryson?"


    Bryson smirked as he nodded. "Yeah, I believe it now. So, can you show me how you do it?"


    Lucius smirked as he opened his mouth to respond. But before he could speak, Ragnar raised his hand to interrupt. "Hold on, Lucius. Before that, I want to ask something."


    Lucius turned to Ragnar and smirked. "What is it, Patriarch Ragnar?"


    Ragnar smirked faintly, resting his chin on his hand as he continued. "What''s the difference between Emperor-level talent and King-level talent? I''m curious about it."


    Before Lucius could respond, Bryson let out a laugh. He shook his head as he leaned back in his chair. "Let me explain it to your thick skull."


    ---


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    Lucius sighed as he considered his options. "Each pill requires 100 million hack points. But if I make ten pills, that''s 1 billion points gone... painful, but necessary."


    His smirk returned as an idea began to form in his mind. "Let''s add a little extra to make it interesting."


    He issued the next command to the system. "System, create 7-Star Volcanic Dragon Emperor Talent in pill form, but I want a twist in it."


    "Add a setting where the pills require absorption of large quantities of the user''s blood and flesh before activation. The color must change to black to signal readiness."


    He paused briefly as he added the final touch. "And store them in the pre-prepared vials in the Eternal Vault. Make ten pills in total."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Talent Creation]


    [Target: None (Hack Conversion Only)]


    [Effect: Generate 7-Star Volcanic Dragon Emperor Talent in Pill Form]


    [Special Function: Pill Activation Requires Absorption of User''s Blood and Flesh in Large Quantities Until Color Changes]


    [Quantity: 10 Pills]


    [Storage: Eternal Vault (Pre-prepared Vial)]


    [Cost Required: 10,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    The system began to create the pills. Lucius leaned back slightly as he waited for it, but still he could feel the sting of the expense. "1 billion points. It''s painful, but worth it."


    He then chuckled as he thought about the reaction the pills would get from them. "These will not only test their resolve but also solidify their loyalty and once it''s done, I''ll demand more materials to absorb later. Fair trade."


    The notification confirming the completion of the process appeared before him and Lucius smirked as he read it. The pills had been safely kept in the vials that had been prepared in his eternal vault.

 Chapter 206 The Volcanic Dragon Pill

    Lucius reached into his Eternal Vault. He disguised it by accessing a spatial ring and retrieved a clear vial containing several pills and put it down on the table.


    Bryson glanced at the vial as he leaned forward slightly. The clear glass revealed the contents inside as several white pills were put inside it.


    He was curious as he gestured toward the vial. "So, are these the pills that will give me an Emperor-level talent like Ragnar and Savra?"


    Lucius nodded as he smirked. "Yes. Although, to be clear, it''s not the Red Dragon Emperor Talent you''ve been chasing, but it''s an emperor talent."


    To Lucius, surprised, Bryson leaned back and laughed hard. "Don''t worry about that. As long as it''s an Emperor-level talent, I can compromise."


    Lucius chuckled as he pushed the vial toward Bryson. "I''m glad to hear that. But before you get too excited, let me explain what these pills are and how they work."@@@@


    Bryson nodded as he leaned forward, holding up the vial, before turning back at Lucius. "Go ahead."


    Lucius gestured toward the vial and explained. "These are the Volcanic Dragon Emperor Talent Pills. To use them, the individual must meet specific criteria."


    He glanced briefly at Ragnar and Savra. "First, the person must have a deep connection with volcanoes and dragons."


    He gestured toward them. "Like Ragnar and Savra, who''ve spent most of their lives in volcanic environments and their beasts, which were Lava Drakes quite connected to Volcanic Dragon."


    Byson nodded as he understood it. "I see, but don''t you worry about that. I''ve lived in volcanic regions all my life, and my beast, the Infernal Scaled Wyrm, is quite connected to volcanic dragons, too. That shouldn''t be a problem."


    Lucius nodded. "Good, the second condition is equally important. These pills can only be used by 7-Star tamers."


    Lucius gestured toward the 6-Star elders. "They won''t work for 6-Star tamers, and they''ll outright reject anyone above 7-Star. Even 8-Star tamers can''t use them."


    Bryson chuckled as he leaned back in his chair. "Fortunately for me, I''m still 7-Star. It looks like I''m the perfect candidate."


    The elders frowned slightly at Lucius''s pointed comment but exchanged only brief, uneasy glances and didn''t speak a single word.


    Lucius then gestured toward Bryson. "Only then will it be ready for use¡ªand only you will be able to use it."


    The Red Dragon elders stared at Lucius in disbelief. They couldn''t think that the method was that extreme.


    Deon glared at Lucius and growled. "What the hell are you saying? You want Leader Bryson to cut off his hand?!"


    Zerath frowned deeply. "Are you serious? That''s insane!"


    Lucius laughed with amusement as he turned to face the shocked elders. "What''s the matter? Are you too scared to do it? Let me remind you¡ªthis isn''t unprecedented."


    He gestured toward Ragnar and Savra. "Even Ragnar and Savra went through the same process. They severed their own hands to use the pills. And here they are¡ªalive, well, and stronger than ever."


    The elders exchanged uneasy glances. Bryson narrowed his eyes as he turned toward Ragnar. "Is that true?"


    Ragnar smirked faintly, leaning back in his chair. "Of course it''s true. It was painful, sure. But worth every drop of blood."


    Savra chuckled softly as she added. "And don''t you Red Dragon Order people have potions that can heal severed hands? Surely that''s not an issue for a group as powerful as yours."


    Lucius nodded as he gestured toward the elders. "Exactly. It''s a small price to pay for the power of an emperor. Or are you telling me you''re not willing to make that sacrifice for greatness?"


    Bryson hesitated as he stared at the bucket. He was a bit surprised by the extreme method.


    Ragnar laughed as he mocked Bryson. "What''s the matter, Bryson? You want the power of an Emperor, but you''re too scared to cut off your own hand?"


    Bryson frowned after hearing it. He turned to Ragnar and narrowed his eyes in anger. "What did you just say?"


    Ragnar smirked, leaning back in his chair as he crossed his arms. "You heard me. You''re all talk. You want to eat the pill, but you''re too scared to pay the price. Typical."


    The words struck a nerve as he shouted in anger. "Fine. I''ll do it! I''ll show you how it''s done."

 Chapter 207 The Empire Marches on Volcaria

    Lucius smirked as he reached into his spatial ring and pulled out a knife. He placed it on the table and slid it toward Bryson. "Be my guest."


    Bryson''s eyes flicked between the knife and Lucius as he reached for the knife. Every gaze was now fixed on the leader of the Red Dragon Order.


    Grasping the knife firmly, Bryson lifted it and stared at his own hand. Without hesitation, he gritted his teeth as he raised the knife and brought it down in one swift motion.


    A sickening sound was heard as the knife severed his hand. The severed limb fell into the bucket and blood began to spurt from the stump, splattering the bucket.


    Bryson''s face went pale because of the amount of blood being drained from him as it poured into the bucket, pooling around the severed hand.


    The pill within the bucket began to absorb the blood and flesh and soon turned into a black pill.


    Lucius smirked as he gestured toward the bucket. "There it is. The pill is ready to be consumed."


    Bryson glanced at the black pill and smirked. He reached out for the bucker, but Lucius raised his hand and stopped him from doing so.


    Lucius then warned him. "Not so fast. You''d better heal yourself first before taking the pill. You''ll need your strength."


    Bryson nodded. He reached into his spatial ring and pulled out a small vial filled with a red liquid. Without hesitation, he uncorked it and drank it.


    The potion worked quickly as the stump of his severed hand began to glow and regenerate into a fully restored hand, and his skin became better.


    Bryson flexed his newly regrown fingers in front of Lucius and smirked. "So, can I eat it now?"


    Lucius nodded and smirked. "Sure, go ahead. But I need to remind you that you need to endure the pain or else."


    Bryson chuckled as he reached the pill. He picked it up and immediately swallowed it in one gulp.


    The effect was immediate. A searing pain ripped through Bryson''s body as he clutched his chest.


    He scanned around the huge Volcaria estate and soon he frowned as he realized that Volcaria Estate was way grander than he thought.


    The Volcaria family had claimed the whole volcano and molded it into their own domain."


    Astorius frowned as he glanced at it more. "This palce... to think that it was this extravagant.


    Even as a king, Astorius couldn''t help but feel a hint of irritation. "Even my royal estate pales in comparison to this... fortress."


    Karion chuckled as his gaze was fixed on the imposing structure. "It''s about time, don''t you think, your majesty? This thorn in the Empire''s side is finally going to be pulled out."


    Astorius turned to him and narrowed his eyes. "Don''t underestimate them. The Volcaria family is dangerous. Their defiance and power are why we''re here in the first place."


    Karion smirked and shrugged. "All the more reason to finish this. They''ve flaunted their strength for too long. It''s time they learned their place."


    Meanwhile, inside the Volcaria estate, Ragnar had seen the Empire''s approaching forces. The sheer size of the army was impossible to ignore.


    Ragnar smirked faintly, as he already knew what the empire wanted. "It seems that we already knew their answer even before we met."


    Lucius smirked as he turned to Ragnar. "Of course it is, but we knew this possibility long before they arrived, didn''t we?"


    Ragnar glanced back at Lucius and grinned. "We die, but still, I never thought they''re making it so clear that they''ve come prepared for a fight."


    Lucius smirked as he turned toward the armies. "Let them. A fight was always on the cards, whether they wanted one or not. But first,"


    He gestured toward them and added. "Let''s hear their excuse for bringing an army to our gates."


    Ragnar chuckled as he turned back to the window. "Fine, but I doubt their words will matter much once this begins."


    The tension was already in the air as the Volcaria family prepared for the inevitable confrontation.

 Chapter 208 The Ghosts of the Past

    Ragnar, Savra, and Lucius stepped out to meet the Empire''s armies. They didn''t cower despite the overwhelming numbers arrayed before them.


    At the head of the Empire''s forces stood King Astorius. He narrowed his eye as he glanced at Ragnar, who stood confidently in front of him.


    Beside him, Karion stood with a faint smirk as he glanced at the Ragnar, knowing the fate of Volcaria later on in this war today.


    Ragnar was the first to speak as he stepped forward and mocked the king. "So, is this your answer, Astorius? To think that you are so afraid of us."


    The air grew heavier as the Volcaria patriarch deliberately called the king name. Astorius immediately frowned as he took a step forward.


    "How dare you, Volcaria! To dare address the king by name. Are you looking for death?


    Ragnar smirked as he crossed his arms. "The moment you brought those armies to our gates, you ceased being our king. You made your choice, Astorius, long before this."


    The Empire''s soldiers stirred slightly at the bold declaration, but Astorius raised his hand, silencing them with a calm gesture.


    Astorius smirked a little as he locked eyes with Ragnar. "It seems that you already know our answer, Ragnar."


    As Ragnar and Astorius continued to mock each other, Lucius remained silent. He stood slightly behind Ragnar and Savra.


    He was glaring at King Astorius, studying him carefully. At first, he had dismissed the king as just another self-important ruler.


    But as the conversation continued, something about Astorius''s face struck something deep within him.


    Lucius frowned as he finally realized it, observing the king''s features further. It was not perfectly similar, but it was faintly similar.


    It was the face of someone tied to a bitter memory he had long buried. "That face... It''s too similar to my original body! How the hell can he have that face?"


    Lucius frowned as he remembered his past. Thousands of years ago, his body had been stolen, his soul forcibly removed by a cunning thief.


    That thief had used a forbidden technique to occupy Lucius''s body just to obtain the Beast Hack System.


    The mention of his deceased sons caused Karion''s aura to flare violently. He glanced at Lucius and growled. "Damn you, Lucius! To think that you dare to mock my dead sons!"


    Lucius chuckled softly as he leaned forward slightly. "Mock them? You are kidding me."


    Lucius then became serious as he stepped forward. "They are really arrogant bastards and let me tell you a little secret that I''ve been keeping Karion."


    Lucius smirked as he began to reveal his deep secret. "Both of your sons'' deaths were caused by me."


    Karion froze as he flared his aura violently in shock. "You... you dare to kill my sons?!"


    Lucius raised his hand to silence Karion with a chuckle. "Oh yes. I killed them. And do you know what the best part was?"


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    His smirk widened as he leaned forward slightly and locked his eyes onto Karion. "They never even knew who was behind it."


    The room seemed to grow hotter as Lucius''s smirk deepened. "Their faces¡ªwhen they realized they were dying... confused, helpless, utterly broken¡ªwere truly satisfying to watch."


    Karion was trembling in anger as he roared. "Lucius! You... you bastard! I''ll kill you!"


    Lucius chuckled again as he continued. "Just hold a minute, Karion. I''m not done yet."


    Lucius reached into his spatial ring and pulled out two objects. The people immediately recognized that they were two severed arms that Lucius had just made with his hack points.


    Lucius smirked as he gestured toward the grotesque trophies. "These are the arms of your sons, Kaltrik and Kaelix. I kept them as trophies. They were beautiful, aren''t they, Karion?"


    The revelation was so shocking that even the Empire''s soldiers, who had remained stoic throughout the confrontation, exchanged uneasy glances.


    Karion looked at the severed arms and realized that they were indeed his sons arms.


    He glanced back at Lucius and roared in anger. "You... you monster! How dare you defile their memory like this?!"


    Lucius'' smirk never wavered as he leaned back slightly. "Defile? No, Karion. I honored their deaths by keeping these. A reminder of how easily they fell... and how powerless you are to stop me."

 Chapter 209 The Kings Secret Exposed!

    Astorius'' eyes narrowed as he watched the chaos. The revelation left him momentarily stunned.


    "To think that Karion''s sons, who had been suspected to be killed by the Red Dragon Order, were actually killed by Lucius?"


    He clenched his fists tightly before shifting his gaze briefly to Karion, who was trembling with rage.


    "This isn''t ideal... but perhaps it''s better this way. With this revelation, Karion has even more reason to commit fully to this war. His anger will fuel the Empire''s cause."


    Meanwhile, Ragnar chuckled, leaning back slightly as he crossed his arms. He was really surprised at what Lucius had just revealed.


    "Lucius, to think that you''re more daring than I gave you credit for. "Not only did you admit to killing Karion''s sons."


    "But you mocked him to his face and even brought out their arms as trophies? That''s not just bravery¡ªthat''s audacity on another level."


    Ragnar turned his gaze briefly to Karion, whose aura surged uncontrollably. "But you might''ve pushed him too far this time, Lucius."


    Karion immediately roared as he pointed his finger at Lucius in anger. "Curse you, Lucius! I''m going to rip you apart with my bare hands!"


    Before Karion could make a move, Astorius stopped him. "Control yourself, Karion. Your anger will be far more useful when it''s directed at the Volcaria family as a whole, not just this boy."


    Karion gritted his teeth as he stopped. But he growled as he gestured toward Lucius. "Fine, but when we fight later, he''s mine."


    Lucius chuckled and smirked as he met Karion''s furious glare. "I''d like to see you try."


    Lucius then turned his gaze toward Astorius as he began to mock him. "Now, Bastard Astorius. I''m going to ask you one last time. Are you really prepared to face Volcaria in a war?"


    Astorius frowned as he couldn''t believe how daring Lucius was. "How dare you mock me and call me by my name again?"


    Lucius only smirked as he replied, "Let me tell you something, Astorius. Even with Karion and the large armies behind you, you stand no chance."


    Astorius growled low in his throat as he stepped forward. "What do you know? This is the best army the Empire can muster. Did you really think we would lose?"


    Karion clenched his fists as he struggled to process the revelation. The weight of Ragnar''s words pressed heavily on him, leaving him speechless.


    Lucius, meanwhile, stepped forward with a smirk as he addressed Astorius directly. "So, do you still think you can win this war?"


    Astorius'' aura surged as his gaze locked onto Lucius. "Don''t think for a moment that you''ve won!"


    "Although it never crossed my mind that Ragnar and Savra had Emperor-level talents, it doesn''t matter. My armies are still here."


    He gestured to the armies behind him. "They are the elite forces of the Empire and they outnumber yours five to one. Don''t think for a second that you can defeat us."


    Lucius chuckled as he crossed his arms. "Is that so? Do you really think your numbers will save you?"


    Astoriys frowned deeply as a flicker of unease crossed his face. "What do you mean?"


    Lucius smirked as he stepped forward slightly. "Did you really think that Volcaria''s armies are the only ones standing against you?"


    Astorius frowned as he stared at Lucius. He really didn''t know what Lucius was planning.


    But still, his statement sent some unease through the Empire''s armies.


    Astorius then growled as he glared at Lucius. "What are you saying? Speak clearly."


    Lucius chuckled again as he smirked. "Oh, you''ll find out soon enough, but let''s just say... you''re not the only one with allies."


    Astorius frowed deeply as he tried to read his face. He didn''t know if Lucius was lying or not.


    Lucius also glanced at the watch strapped to his arm. He smirked as he noted the time. "It seems... they''ll be here sooner than expected."


    The Empire''s soldiers shifted restlessly, their confidence beginning to waver in the face of Lucius''s calm composure.


    The stage was set, and the pieces were moving. Whatever Lucius was planning, the answer would reveal itself soon.

 Chapter 210 Lucius Bold Bet

    Astorius narrowed his eyes as he fixed his glare on Lucius. "You must be lying. There''s no way you have reinforcements. You''re just bluffing."


    Lucius chuckled with amusement and it only seemed to infuriate Astorius further. "Of course not."@@@@


    He then glanced down at the watch on his arms as he counted down. "In fact, they''ll arrive in three... two... one..."


    The air The air grew tense as everyone waited for something to happen, but nothing happened.


    Astorius'' gaze flicked around the volcanic plain before returning to Lucius and smirking as he let out a loud laugh. "It seems that your bluff has been called, boy. There''s no one coming."


    Lucius, however, remained unfazed as he met Astorius'' gaze. "Oh? Are you sure about that?"


    Before Astorius could respond, the ground beneath them rumbled faintly, a sudden surge of power washing over the field.


    Astorius froze as he turned toward the source of the energy. The Empire''s soldiers shifted uneasily.


    From within the Volcaria Estate, a group of figures emerged. Their auras were also so powerful that they could beat the auras of the empire armies.


    The one who led them was a familiar figure to the people that had joined in the mission to exterminate the Red Dragon Order, who was Bryson.


    Karion was surprised when he pointed his finger toward the newly appeared group. "Bryson? How can he be here? The leader of the Red Dragon Order..."


    The Empire''s soldiers murmured nervously. Behind Bryson, the imposing figures of the Red Dragon Order elders stepped forward and unleashed their strong auras.


    Anselm, who stood near Astorius, clenched his fists tightly as he recognized the group and growled. "Volcaria, you dared to work with the Red Dragon Order? Do you have any idea what you''ve done?"


    Ragnar chuckled, stepping forward with his arms crossed as he smirked at Anselm. "Of course we dare. The moment you decided to attack Volcaria, we made our choice. Working with the Red Dragon Order was the obvious move."


    Lucius smirked as he explained the stakes. "Let''s make it simple. If you win, we''ll surrender everything¡ªour lands, our treasures... and even ourselves. Volcaria will become your slaves."


    Astorius smirked with satisfaction as he heard that. "That''s a generous offer. I like it."


    But before the king could savor the thought further, Lucius''s smirk deepened. "Don''t get too comfortable just yet. If we win, not only will we create our new empire, but you will also be required to donate a huge area of volcano to us."


    Astorius'' smirk faded instantly as he frowned. "Donate all the volcanoes near you? That''s absurd."


    Lucius chuckled. "It''s only fair. After all, we''re wagering everything we have. Surely you wouldn''t hesitate to offer something of equal value, would you?" Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire


    Anselm and Karion exchanged uneasy glances as they processed the bold stakes.


    Astorius clenched his fists tightly as he locked eyes with Lucius. "Fine, we accept your terms."


    Lucius'' smirk widened as he nodded his head slightly. "Excellent. Now, as for the time and place..."


    He gestured toward a certain direction. "The competition will take place in the Death Land, exactly one week from now. It''s a barren, desolate field where we can fight freely without holding back."


    Astorius nodded as he agreed to the place and time. "Very well. A week from now, we''ll meet in the death land and settle this once and for all."


    Lucius chuckled as he took a step back. "Excellent. Prepare your best, Astorius. And don''t disappoint me."


    Astorius growled low in his throat as he clenched his fists. "We''ll see who''s disappointed."


    Lucius turned around and gestured to Ragnar and Savra. "Let''s go. We have preparations to make."


    As the Volcaria leaders and the Red Dragon Order began to retreat, Lucius glanced back briefly and locked his eyes onto Lucius one last time. "Goodbye then, Astorius. See you in a week."


    Astorius stood silently and growled as he watched them leave. The agreed competition had become a stage for a battle that would decide the fate of both sides.

 Chapter 211 War or Duel?

    Lucius and the others returned to the grand hall of the Volcaria estate. As soon as they entered, Ragnar and Bryson turned toward Lucius.@@@@


    Ragnar crossed his arms as he was quite irritated with Lucius. "Why the hell did you make that bet?"


    Bryson nodded in agreement as he raised his hand. "We had the numbers. We should''ve just gone to war. Why bother with a competition?"


    Lucius chuckled with amusement as he leaned back against the table. "Calm down. Think for a moment."


    Lucius leaned forward and shrugged. "if we went to war, there would be too many casualties on both sides. Even if we won, we''d be too weak to defend ourselves afterward."


    Lucius then continued. "We''re trying to build an empire, not destroy ourselves before it even begins. If we exhaust all our forces now, other factions, other empires, will see us as vulnerable and strike."


    Bryson let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing his temples. "And you think a competition is the better choice?"


    Lucius smirked, leaning forward slightly. "Relax. It''ll only be a 3 vs. 3 battle. We''ll only focus on taking down their three strongest¡ªtheir 7-Star tamers. Once we eliminate them, what''s left?"


    Ragnar smirked as he realized the truth. "Their soldiers, without any real leadership..."


    Lucius snapped his fingers as he smirked. "Precisely. With no 7-Star tamers left, do you really think their army will dare to attack us?"


    Bryson processed Lucius'' words and began to smirk. "Clever. Without their strongest, they won''t have the confidence to fight. They''ll retreat."


    Ragnar chuckled, shaking his head. "Damn, Lucius. You really planned this whole thing out."


    Lucius shrugged. "Of course. Why waste thousands of lives when we can cripple them in just three battles?"


    Bryson, still processing the strategy, crossed his arms. "Fair enough, but still... who are we sending for these battles?"


    Ragnar smirked as he glanced around. "Isn''t it obvious? We have exactly three 7-Star tamers on our side¡ªme, Savra, and you, Bryson."


    Bryson nodded as he processed it. "I see. That makes sense as we are the only 7-Star tamers."


    But before they could settle on the plan, Lucius shook his head. "No, it will not be the three of you."


    Ragnar immediately frowned. "No? Then who else? We''re the only 7-Star tamers here."


    Ragnar raised his eyebrow. "What now?"


    Lucius smirked. "I''ll need some potent medicine and high-level materials¡ªthe best you can get. I want to experiment with something. And trust me, it will be very useful later."


    Ragnar and Bryson frowned, exchanging another glance. Bryson shook his head. "You and your damn experiments..."


    Ragnar sighed. "Fine. We''ll send you some 6-Star materials. That should be more than enough."


    Lucius grinned. "Perfect. I''ll be waiting in my lab."


    With that, he turned around and left the hall. Whatever he was planning, it was about to begin.


    ---


    In the grand imperial hall, King Astorius sat upon his throne. Anselm and Karion kneeled before him, their expressions filled with frustration.


    Karion glanced at the king. "Why did you agree to that competition, your majesty? We should have crushed them outright!"


    Anselm, though calmer, shared the sentiment. "Yes, Your Majesty. Why give them a chance? We had the advantage."


    Astorius let out a slow breath. "What that midget said was the truth. If we went to war, we would have lost too many soldiers." Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    He then clenched his fists. "Even if we won, our forces would be crippled¡ªand the moment that happens, the other empires, the ones already eyeing our weakness, would pounce."


    Anselm remained silent as he knew what the king meant by saying it.


    Karion clenched his fists and smirked. "Even so... This competition gives me the perfect chance to get revenge. I will personally tear Lucius apart for what he did to my sons."


    Astorius nodded. "Then make sure you train harder, Karion. You will be joining the battle."


    Karion smirked faintly. "Good. That''s exactly what I wanted."


    Astorius then turned to Anselm. "Go and summon the Sky General. It''s time for him to fight."


    Anselm nodded as he turned around and left the hall.


    Astorius leaned back in his throne and exhaled deeply. "Lucius... You may have bought yourself time, but you haven''t won yet."

 Chapter 212 One Week to Dominate

    Lucius sat in his lab. He was deep in thought as he processed the 6-Star materials he had absorbed.


    The 6-Star materials didn''t provide enough hack points that he could use for further hacks.


    Each 6-Star material provided somewhere between 800,000 to 1 million hack points.


    Meanwhile, 7-Star materials were exponentially more valuable, each ranging from 800 million to 1 billion hack points.


    He sighed, rubbing his temples as he checked his remaining hack points.


    ---


    [Hack Points: 801,079,328HP]


    ---


    Lucius exhaled and muttered to himself. "It looks like a lot but against 7-Star opponents, it''s barely enough."


    He leaned back in his chair, analyzing the situation carefully. His upcoming battle required him to hack at least millions of points at a time.


    Even one adjustment could cost hundreds of millions, and with the competition only a week away, he needed to act fast.


    He glanced at Loxen and Leon, the two 6-Star beasts that he would use in the competition later.


    They were already powerful¡ªeach one possessing all A-Tier stats¡ªbut he knew that wasn''t enough anymore. His enemies wouldn''t be ordinary.


    He needed them to be stronger and to do that, he needed to make them both have S-Tier stats.


    Fortunately enough, his points were actually enough to have both of them have full S-Tier stats, as the costs were 800 million points for both of them.


    But still the most important question remained. Should he hack and strengthen them now or conserve his points for later use?


    Lucius only smirked and laughed after thinking that. "Why do I need to think it? I''ll just ask for more. When we win, we will also get a lot later."


    Lucius glanced back at the beasts. He sighed for a moment before smirking back. "System, hack both of them and make all of their stats become S-Tier."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Stat Overhaul]


    [Targets: Loxen and Leon]


    [Effect: All Stats Upgraded to S-Tier]


    [Cost Required: 800,000,000 Hack Points]


    Lucius smirked as he looked at the amount of hack points that he got, which was 400 million hack points.


    Lucius smirked as he looked at it again. "Not a lot for my other grand plan, but it was more than enough for the battle ahead.


    He stretched slightly. He was now prepared. Now, all that remained was waiting for the competition. "Let''s see if Astorius is ready for what''s coming."


    ---


    One week passed in the blink of an eye. Both sides had made their preparations and soon the day of the competition had arrived.


    The Death Land, a vast, barren wasteland devoid of life, stretched endlessly before them.


    Cracked earth and jagged cliffs stood as remnants of an ancient battlefield where countless wars had been waged.


    The Empire''s forces stood on one side with their elite soldiers lined up in perfect formation.


    King Astorius stood at the front as he surveyed the battlefield. Beside him was Karion, who locked his eyes onto one person¡ªLucius.


    Standing slightly behind them was Anselm, and to his side stood a towering figure¡ªthe Sky General.


    He had remained silent for the past week, preparing for this moment.


    On the other side, the Volcaria forces stood firm. At the forefront stood Lucius, who was smirking as he glanced at the enemy.


    To his left stood Ragnar, whose aura flared with excitement, and to his right stood Bryson, crossing his arms, waiting for the battle to start.


    Behind them, the Red Dragon Order elders stood in silence. Savra stood among them as she glanced toward the empire forces.


    This was no longer just about war. It was about who would rule the future of the country.


    The battlefield itself had been marked with a massive circular fighting arena, drawn in the cracked earth.


    The area was large enough for titanic battles but small enough to prevent excessive maneuvering. A perfect stage for a knockout tournament.


    Astorius glanced at them and shouted. "Volcaria, Red Dragon Order. Today, we settle this once and for all. No armies, no schemes¡ªjust strength."


    Lucius chuckled as he glanced back at Astorius. "Good. I was getting tired of all the talking."


    Astorius'' gaze flicked toward Bryson. "Tell me, Bryson¡ªdoes it feel good to be a pawn in Volcaria''s game?"


    Bryson smirked. "A pawn? No, Astorius. This is a partnership. And today, we''re taking what''s ours."


    Astorius scoffed but didn''t reply. Instead, he turned to the competition grounds and gestured toward the arena.


    "We will each send three fighters. One by one, we will enter. The last side standing wins."

 Chapter 213 A One-on-One Battle?

    Lucius smirked as he glanced at Astorius. "Tell me now. Who''s dying first?"


    Before Astorius could answer, Karion stepped forward. He flexed his fingers as he locked his gaze onto Lucius with pure hatred. "It''s me. I''ve been waiting for this."


    He pointed at Lucius and waved his finger. "Now come, Lucius! It''s time for me to avenge my sons."


    Ragnar smirked as he stepped forward. "Hold your horses, Karion. The first one will be me."


    But before Ragnar could jump into the arena, Lucius suddenly held out his hand, stopping him.


    Lucius then glanced at Karion and smirked. "Sure. It''s time for you to learn your place as well."


    Byrson and Ragnar both frowned immediately. "Lucius, what are you doing?"


    Lucius only grinned and smirked. "What else? I''m fighting. Just let me go first."


    Bryson frowned as he reminded him. "You''re still not 7-Star. From what we''re sensing, your aura is still below the threshold."


    Lucius smirked as he was completely unbothered by them. "Don''t worry too much. I could handle him."


    And without hesitation, Lucius leaped forward, jumping straight into the arena.


    Bryson and Ragnar stood frowning, watching as Lucius casually walked across the battlefield as if he wasn''t stepping into a death match.


    Ragnar let out a deep sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "It seems... we need to be ready to stop the battle."


    Bryson crossed his arms, shaking his head. "Yeah... if things get out of hand, we''ll have to step in."


    Both men turned back toward the arena as they were being prepared to stop it if needed.


    Karion stepped forward and smirked. "You''re either insane or suicidal, Lucius. But don''t worry¡ªI''ll make sure you don''t regret this for long."


    Lucius chuckled as he glanced back at Karion. "Oh? Then let''s see... if you can even lay a finger on me."


    Karion wasted no time. He fused with his Thunder Wyvern. Thunder scales began to cover his body.


    Bryson folded his arms and narrowed his eyes. "So, this was your plan? Fighting two-on-one? It was clearly outrageous, even for you, Lucius."


    Ragnar clenched his jaw as he glanced at him. "Lucius, please explain this to them and I hope you got a logical one."


    Lucius let out a loud laugh as he was amused by all of them. He shook his head and stretched out his arms. "Are you all stupid or what?"


    He then pointed at the beastman that was standing in front of him. "This is my beast."


    Karion''s fury intensified and he spat out. "Lies! A beastman is NOT a beast! They were different!"


    Astorius clenched his fists in anger. "Lucius, don''t think that we are stupid. We all know the laws of beast taming."


    Astorius pointed at the beastman and shouted. "Beastmen cannot be contracted. If they are, your talent will be erased! Are you trying to fool us?"


    The moment Astorius said this, the entire audience talked to each other as they also knew what King Astorius meant.


    "That''s true..."


    "Everyone knows that contracting a beastman is impossible..."


    "If you force a contract with a beastman, your talent is erased... that''s been known for centuries!"


    Even Bryson and Ragnar turned toward Lucius. They also knew about the law, but still they hoped that Lucius had some other reasons.


    Lucius smirked as he took a single step forward and glanced at Astorius. "If it''s like that, then tell me, Astorius. Have you ever tried it yourself?"


    Astorius was shocked when he heard it. He immediately replied in anger. "Why the hell would I do that if I already knew about the danger?"


    Lucius only chuckled after hearing Astorius'' answer. "That''s what I thought."


    He lifted his hand and gestured toward the beastman, who stood before him.


    He then smirked as he shouted loudly. "Let me remind you all of the true advantage of an Emperor-level talent, which was the ability to contract a stronger beast, including beastmen."


    The audience froze. Even Astorius, Bryson, and Ragnar¡ªall of whom had achieved greatness¡ªstood in shock. This... this was unheard of.

 Chapter 214 The Rule-Breaking Secret That Shook the Empire!

    Astorius narrowed his eyes as he heard what Lucius had just said. "That''s impossible! All recorded history states that if a tamer tries to contract a beastman, their talent is erased! That''s been the rule for centuries! There is no exception!"


    Lucius only smirked as he locked eyes with Astorius. "And tell me, Astorius, what would you think if I told you... that rule only applies to King-level talents and below?"


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    Astorius'' body tensed a bit as he clenched his fist and growled. "What did you say?!"


    Lucius chuckled, shaking his head. "It''s simple. Emperor-level talents do not follow the same rules. That''s why you never knew about this, Astorius."


    He gestured toward his own contracted beastman. "No one in the Empire''s history has ever had a true Emperor-level talent."


    He pointed his finger at Astorius and shook it. "Not a single one and even those with talent like yours... they never dared to try. They were just too cowardly to test the limits of their talent."


    Karion, still kneeling from his injury, clenched his fists tightly. "Bullshit..."


    Bryson, who had been massaging his temples, let out a deep sigh. "Lucius... You really are insane. You don''t need to say so much bullshit."


    Ragnar crossed his arms as he glanced at Lucius and sighed. "Just admit that you''re lying, Lucius, so you can safely walk away from this fight."


    But unknown to Ragnar, his wife, Savra, was staring at the beastman. She was shocked the moment she realized who the beastman was.


    Lucius only laughed, shaking his head. "It seems you''re all too stupid to realize the truth. Then let me show you."


    Without breaking eye contact, Lucius lifted his hand and summoned his beast portal again.


    The beastman turned without hesitation and walked toward the portal. There was no resistance. No backlash. No interference.


    The moment the audience saw this, they couldn''t deny it anymore. Lucius had truly tamed a beastman.


    Astorius was so shocked that he was frozen. His entire understanding of beast taming had been shattered.


    "This... this isn''t possible. There has never been a recorded case of a tamer successfully contracting a beastman. How...?"


    Karion was just as shocked. He had spent his entire life believing that beastmen were untamable.


    They were closer to humans than actual beasts. And yet, Lucius had just proved him wrong.


    Not far from them, Ragnar and Bryson were equally stunned. They exchanged a brief glance.


    Lucius never told them about this ability when they got their Emperor-level talents. They even had no idea that this was even possible.


    But then¡ªalmost simultaneously¡ªthe shock turned into something else and it was excitement.


    Bryson smirked as he flexed his fingers. "So... we can contract beastmen too?"


    Ragnar was also the same as he chuckled. "Lucius, you really like to keep secrets, don''t you? Still... this is interesting."@@@@


    Lucius only chuckled, watching the scene unfold with amusement. He put his teacup down and muttered. "It''s pointless, Karion. You were never going to win this battle."


    ---


    [Name: Luna]


    [Species: Human-Beast Fusion]


    [Talent: Moon Goddess]


    [Level: 6 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: S (6¡ï)]


    [Vit: S (6¡ï)]


    [Agi: S (6¡ï)]


    [Int: S (6¡ï)]


    ---


    [Name: Karion Kryndal]


    [Species: Human-Beast Fusion]


    [Talent: Thunder King]


    [Level: 7 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: A (7¡ï)]


    [Vit: A (7¡ï)]


    [Agi: A (7¡ï)]


    [Int: A (7¡ï)]


    ---


    Lucius looked at their stats once again. By normal standards, their stats should have been equal but Luna''s stats had one major difference.


    Her stats were almost at peak due to the 500% bonus granted by her Moon Goddess fusion.


    Lucius only smirked as he watched Karion struggle in vain. He raised his teacup again and drank again. "Now then... Shall we end this?"

 Chapter 215 She Ripped His Wings Off

    Luna tightened her grip on Karion''s wings. Her claws dug deeper into the joints as she pressed her feet harder into his back.


    The pressure was unbearable and Karion''s body strained under the force. The tension in his wings was also on the verge of snapping.


    Karion roared in pain. He gritted his teeth and cursed Luna. "You bitch! Get the fuck off me!"


    Luna only smirked as she pulled even harder and mocked sadistically. "It feels good, doesn''t it? Let''s make it even better, shall we?" Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire


    She flexed her legs and pressed them down harder, forcing Karion''s body to twist unnaturally.


    Karion could feel the pain and growled while trying to push everything he had left into his body. "FUCK YOU!"


    Karion''s thunder grew unstable as his instincts were screaming for him to break free.


    With a growl, he slammed his body backward, aiming to crush Luna against the ground, while flexing his wings violently to shake her off.@@@@


    But Luna didn''t let go. Instead, just before impact, she released her legs from his back and jumped high, pulling Karion with her into the air.


    Both of them were in the air and Luna had complete control. He spun midair, repositioning herself above Karion, putting her feet back on his back.


    Karion was in a state of panic and disoriented as he glanced back at Luna, cursing her. "YOU FUCKING WHORE! LET GO!"


    Luna didn''t respond but smirked as she coiled her legs like springs. She planted her feet firmly against his back and let the gravity take over.


    Karion''s body plummeted downward and Luna rode him down, keeping her grip on his wings.


    The moment they hit the ground, Karion''s body was the first to slam into the earth, while Luna crouched low, absorbing the force and soon jumped.


    She used all powers to jump upward, but she never let go of his wings.


    Karion soon screamed through the battlefield as his wings were pulled apart from his back.


    Blood splattered across the ground as Karion''s body convulsed and rolled over the ground.


    The Sky General lifted his gaze toward Luna. He then turned to Lucius and pointed his finger at him.


    He frowned as he growled. "You insult the Empire, you slander His Majesty, and you desecrate this battlefield with your arrogance. I will break you."


    Lucius chuckled, setting his teacup down on his thigh while tilting his head toward the Sky General. "Break me? I''d love to see you try."


    The Sky General frowned even more as he growled. "You should learn respect, boy."


    Lucius grinned. "And you should learn that I don''t bow to relics of the past."


    Astorius clenched his fists as he heard and watched what Lucius did and said. "Sky General, make him suffer."


    Lucius turned his gaze to Luna, who still stood casually, unfazed by the new opponent. "Can you keep going?"


    Luna smirked, cracking her knuckles. "Master, you insult me. Karion was too weak. I barely even warmed up."


    Lucius nodded and smirked as he glanced back at the Sky General. "Good, then let''s continue."


    The Sky General frowned as he stepped onto the arena. The winds around him shifted violently as he was about to fight.


    He raised his hand and clenched it, glancing at Luna. "I will show you your place."


    The moment he spoke, his aura surged as he began to fuse with his beast, which was a Tempest Roc.


    His already massive frame expanded and some soft feathers began to grow from his body.


    A pair of huge green wings also grew from his back. Although they looked like simple bird wings, they were way stronger than Karion''s.


    The Sky General had finished his transformation by stretching his wings wide and producing a little wind as he lifted his claw.


    He then pointed it toward Luna and growled. "I will kill you first and once your corpse lies on the ground, Lucius will understand his mistake."


    Luna only grinned as she tilted her head slightly and gestured toward herself. "Kill me? I''m really amused, but still, let''s see you try."

 Chapter 216 The Sky General Thought He Was Untouchable

    The Sky General wasted no time. With a swift motion, he reached into his spatial ring and pulled out a massive sword that was quite suited for him.


    Luna looked at the sword in surprise before she grinned, taunting him. "To think that you''re so weak that you actually need a weapon?"


    She crossed her arms and smirked. "I thought you were supposed to be the Sky General, the ruler of the heavens. Shouldn''t someone like that rely on their own strength?"


    The Sky General remained cold, but his grip on the sword tightened slightly. "This sword means that I have decided to take you seriously."


    He then pointed his massive sword at Luna and growled. "I will make sure that you regret ever mocking me and the king."


    Without another word, he flew into the sky. While hovering in the air, he began to attack Luna.


    He raised his sword above his head and gathered his energy. A torrent of wind wrapped around the weapon as he swung downward. "Tempest Blade!"


    A crescent wave of razor-sharp wind sliced through the air, rushing toward Luna, aiming to end her.


    Luna only smirked as she raised her claw. She gathered the shadow energy around it and used it to slash downward, shattering the wind blade.


    But the Sky General wasn''t done. From above, he swung his sword again and again, sending a barrage of Tempest Blades toward her.


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    Each time, Luna shattered them with her claws, but Luna was a bit overwhelmed by them.


    From his high point, the Sky General kept flapping his wings, keeping him high above the ground and smirked. "You can break them, but you can''t touch me."


    He then raised his sword above and roared. "I am the Sky General. The ruler of the sky. You down there will never reach me."


    With a swift motion, he raised his sword again, gathering even more power. "Die below where you belong!"


    He unleashed a storm of Tempest Blades, sending dozens of wind arcs hurtling toward Luna from all directions.


    Luna clicked her tongue, breaking another incoming attack, but she was quite overwhelmed. She needed to find a way to counter him.


    Without hesitation, he spread his massive wings, coating them in layers of Tempest Energy.


    His body also tensed up as he prepared to defend himself and soon he saw the incoming attack.


    The shadow arrow erupted from the ground, shooting toward him at breakneck speed.


    "Tch¡ª!" He immediately channeled even more Tempest Energy into his wings, forming an almost impenetrable wind shield around himself.


    The arrow clashed against the barrier, sending out a shockwave that rippled across the battlefield.


    For a moment, the air trembled, but his wind shield was stronger, and the arrow cracked after clashing for a while and shattered completely.


    The Sky General laughed and smirked as he glanced at the shadow. "Futile! Did you really think your little tricks could break my defense?"


    But below, Luna wasn''t frowning. Instead she was grinning as that shadow arrow wasn''t the only one.


    The moment she released the first arrow, she had already prepared the second and this time, she herself was the arrow.


    The moment the first arrow was released, Luna had already adjusted her stance.


    She moved around and now her claws were gripping the bow''s handle, while her legs pressed firmly against the bowstring.


    She had used her first shot as a distraction and now she pulled herself back by extending her claws forward and pushing her legs below.


    She then released herself by letting go of the handle. Like a shadow bullet, Luna launched herself forward, using the bow as a slingshot.


    A second arrow that was herself was fired.


    The Sky General only smirked as he sensed another incoming attack and scoffed. "Another arrow? You don''t learn, do you?"


    But his instincts suddenly screamed at him that this time it was different. This wasn''t a normal attack. This wasn''t just another projectile.


    He was surprised the moment he saw the other arrow that was shot toward him. It was not an arrow but Luna.


    She wasn''t an ordinary arrow, but the arrow of destruction.

 Chapter 217 From Predator to Prey

    The Sky General frowned as he was so shocked. He had fought countless battles, but never had he seen someone this reckless.


    To think that this lunatic beastman turned herself into an arrow? That was insanity, but it worked.


    His wind barriers had been cracked a bit, and for the first time in years, he had been forced to retreat.


    His pride had been shattered, but he wasn''t a fool. He gritted his teeth and unleashed all of his energy.


    He layered barrier upon barrier, forming countless layers of wind shields around him.


    He smirked as he glanced at the incoming Luna. "Try and break through this, you bastard!"


    But Luna only smirked because it was already over as the terrains changed. The night had come and it was the time when Luna was at her strongest.


    The night appeared and shadows were spread across the land, swallowing everything in darkness.


    Before the Sky General could blink, Luna had vanished mid-air, slipping into the darkness like a ghost, avoiding all the barriers.


    The Sky General was so shocked when he saw that. "What the hell?! How can you do this?!"@@@@


    He looked around frantically as he hovered above the battlefield. He flared his aura and sent numerous wind blades around in an attempt to expose her.


    He also roared as he twisted his head left and right. "Just where the hell are you? You damn coward!"


    But suddenly a whisper appeared behind him.


    "Right here, dummy."


    His instincts screamed, but he was too slow.


    Luna emerged from the shadow behind him and used her claws to grip his wings in an instant. Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire


    The Sky General froze as he had made the same mistake as Karion.


    Luna''s smirk widened. "Let me give you the same relaxation therapy as Karion, old man."


    She pressed her feet into his back and pulled.


    The Sky General''s face twisted in pain, but before he could react, Luna used even more strength than before.


    She wasn''t holding back. She also didn''t care about a third round anymore.


    She didn''t care if this was too brutal like before. She just wanted him gone and would do everything.


    The Sky General''s head separated from his body before he even understood what had happened.


    His lifeless, beheaded body fell down, crashing to the ground.


    Luna also landed just moments after, her legs barely holding her up, but she still had a victorious smirk on her face as she stared at the fallen general.


    She also chuckled and mocked the dead sky general for one last time. "Sky General? You were just an old, sky-breathing bastard."


    Then, her body finally gave out as Luna collapsed onto the battlefield, unconscious.


    Lucius only smirked as she glanced at Luna. He then raised his hand and summoned a portal that absorbed her body back into beast space.


    He smiled as he murmured. "You''ve done enough, so just rest, Luna. I''ll take it from here."


    ---


    Astorius was so shocked after seeing the fight. With the Sky General''s defeat, he had lost two matches in this competition.


    The empire forces were also stunned as they processed what had just happened. They now exchanged uncertain glances.


    On the other side of the battlefield, Bryson and Ragnar were no different. They stared at Lucius, eyes wide, jaws clenched.


    Bryson muttered as he was barely able to let his voice out. "How the hell... how the hell is this possible?"


    Ragnar was also the same as he pointed his finger at Lucius in disbelief. "He''s a 6-Star Tamer and not a 7-Star Tamer, right? He should be at the same level as us or below, right?"


    Bryson nodded as he swallowed hard. "That''s what we thought, but he just took down two 7-Star Tamers... without even fighting them himself."


    For a moment, both of them frowned as they realized that Lucius had become way stronger than them.


    Then, suddenly¡ªRagnar burst into laughter. Bryson also followed suit as a wide grin appeared on his face.


    Ragnar wiped a hand across his face and continued to laugh. "What the hell were we worrying about? He''s on our side!"


    Bryson clapped his comrade on the shoulder, still laughing. "Exactly! It doesn''t matter how ridiculously strong he is¡ªLucius is fighting for us!"


    The two tamers exchanged grins. Lucius'' victory was their victory. It didn''t matter if he had surpassed them.


    With a victorious smirk, Ragnar turned back to the battlefield. "This battle''s already over. The empire just doesn''t know it yet."


    Bryson crossed his arms, nodding. "Their strongest warriors are dead or unconscious. Their morale is shattered. What can they possibly do now?"


    Meanwhile, the one who was being talked about, Lucius, was still sitting on his sofa while drinking his tea, unbothered by any words.

 Chapter 218 Golden Dragon vs. Silver Panther

    Astorius clenched his fists in rage as he knew that he was the only fighter left on the empire side.


    Without hesitation, he went straight toward the battlefield from his command post. His presence alone sent shivers through his own troops. They had never seen the king this angry before.


    Astorius stood at the center of the arena and locked his eyes onto Lucius with pure hatred. He then pointed his finger at Lucius. "Come here, you bastard! I''ll make sure you pay for your crimes!"


    Lucius, who was still sitting on his sofa comfortably, let out a chuckle as he placed his teacup down.


    He then tilted his head and smirked. "Crimes? What crime exactly have I committed, dear Astorius?"


    He stretched lazily and continued, "All I did was take out the trash. And maybe burn a few worthless scraps along the way."


    Astorius immediately retorted in rage. "Enough of your bullshit! Stop hiding behind your words and face me, you coward!"


    Lucius sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "Alright, alright, no need to yell. Geez."


    Luicus stored his sofa and tea set back into his spatial ring. Then, he began to walk toward the arena where Astorius was already waiting.


    Lucius glanced at Astorius and smirked. "Let me just say, King Astorius. It must be an honor for you to stand against me, right?"


    Astorius'' frown deepened as he gritted his teeth in anger. "Enough of your arrogance, you bastard!"


    Without hesitation, he fused with his beast, the 7-Star Golden Dragon. Massive golden scales rapidly coated his body.


    His head was reshaped into the form of a majestic golden dragon head. Two huge golden dragon wings also sprouted from his back.


    His arms and legs thickened, transforming into powerful golden dragon limbs that had razor-sharp claws at the tips of his fingers.


    With his transformation complete, Astorius stood tall and glanced toward Lucius before roaring, "I WILL MAKE SURE YOU DIE, LUCIUS! YOU WILL REGRET EVER MOCKING ME!"


    Lucius, however, remained unfazed. He simply chuckled as he faced the overwhelming pressure Astorius exuded. Instead, he looked up and smirked. "Nighttime, huh?"


    He then raised his hand and summoned his beast. "This is the perfect battlefield for us."


    A black portal appeared beside him. From within the portal, a figure emerged. Loxen, the massive panther, who had silver fur and a shadow element.


    Astorius was in rage after hearing it. His wings flared out as he flew up into the sky, hovering high above the battlefield.


    He then turned below as he glared down at Lucius in rage. "You arrogant bastard! You dare mock me?!"


    Lucius merely smirked as he glanced at him from below. "I''m just stating the obvious."


    Astorius clenched his fist in a claw as it shook with rage. "Then die, you bastard!"


    His chest expanded as he inhaled deeply, golden energy surging and condensing inside his massive dragon mouth.


    Lucius was intrigued after seeing what Astorius was doing. He just smirked as he sat down. "Finally a proper attack, but still, is it strong?"


    Astorius became even more enraged as he heard Lucius'' other words. He threw his head downward and unleashed his attack. "Golden Breath."


    A torrent of pure golden flames erupted from his mouth, engulfing everything below.


    The entire arena was drowned in golden fire, obliterating everything in its path.


    It was a breath attack capable of reducing cities to ash¡ªan attack worthy of a true dragon emperor.


    Astorius hovered in the air, breathing heavily. The attack had used most of his energy.


    But he smirked as he saw nothing more than a sea of golden flames below. But... something was off.


    Despite the destruction, despite the overwhelming power of the attack, he couldn''t sense Lucius.


    But then he smirked as he began to realize it. "Hah... serves you right. You were all talk, Lucius... but no one survives my Golden Breath."


    But just as he was about to turn away, a voice appeared from behind him. "Are you sure about that, King Astorius?"


    It immediately made Astorius'' entire body freeze. His golden scales prickled, his instincts screaming danger, but before he could even turn¡ªA silver claw lightly tapped his shoulder. "Boo."


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    Astorius turned his body around and was shocked when he saw the one who talked. It was Lucius and he was unharmed.

 Chapter 219 Golden Dragon Ascension

    Astorius frowned deeply. He couldn''t make sense of what he was seeing. "How the hell are you unharmed?! My Golden Breath should have incinerated you!"


    Then something else struck him as he noticed something strange about him. "And how the hell are you even flying?! You don''t have wings!"


    Lucius only smirked and let out a few small chuckles. He stretched his claws and glanced back at Astorius. "Oh, that? It''s quite easy, really."


    With a flick of his wrist, shadows gathered behind him and made his thin shadow wings be thicker so it could be visible that they were flapping to keep Lucius hovering above the air.


    He then smirked as he hovered lazily. "You see, Astorius. Thanks to Loxen, I can manipulate shadows. Shape them, bend them, create anything I need from them."


    Lucius gestured toward his ethereal shadow wings. "So, if I need wings? I just make them."


    Astorius gritted his teeth as he was frustrated. "Tch... What about my Golden Breath? Don''t tell me you just ''shadowed'' your way out of that too."


    Lucius let out a mocking sigh, shaking his head. "I''ll admit, Astorius, your Golden Breath is powerful. It''s strong¡ªmajestic even."


    He then smirked as he gestured to the burning battlefield below. "But like I said before... it''s just too slow. It was easy for me to fly and avoid it."


    Lucius also crossed his arms, tilting his head as he continued, "Gold is precious, majestic, and strong. But it''s also heavy, sluggish, and predictable."


    He raised his silver and let it shimmer under the moonlight and grinned. "Silver, on the other hand? Maybe it''s less ''valuable'' than gold... but it''s faster. Sharper. Cooler. And stronger."


    Then he pointed directly at Astorius and smirked even wider. "And let me tell you the most important fact, Astorius..."


    Lucius immediately gestured toward himself. "I am silver so silver is stronger than gold. Even the gold is you, the golden dragon emperor Astorius."


    Astorius frowned deeply. He was in rage as Lucius'' mocking words echoed in his mind. "Silver is stronger than gold."


    That was the last straw and Astorius finally erupted as his golden aura exploded outward, forcing even the air around him to ripple from sheer pressure.


    He glared at Lucius and roared. "You talk too much, Lucius! If you say I''m too slow... then I''ll just become stronger!"


    Suddenly¡ªhis entire body ignited with golden flames. His muscles tensed, his scales hardened, and a new power flooded through him.


    Astorius'' eyes glowed as his body began to transform further. His golden aura condensed into a concentrated force of absolute might.


    Then, he threw his arms out and let out a deafening dragon''s roar. "GOLDEN DRAGON ASCENSION!"


    [Species: Human-Beast Fusion]


    [Talent: Golden Dragon Emperor]


    [Level: 7 Star]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: S (7¡ï)]


    [Vit: S (7¡ï)]


    [Agi: A (7¡ï)]


    [Int: A (7¡ï)]


    ---


    Lucius frowned as he realized that two of Astorius''s stats were way higher than his. "Tch... That explains why it hurt so much."


    Astorius wasn''t just fast anymore¡ªhe was an unstoppable tank of raw power.


    Lucius slowly pushed himself up. He was analyzing his current situation. His own stats were nowhere near Astorius'' in raw physical strength.


    If he tried to clash head-on, he''d lose. His mind raced, calculating his next move. What''s the best way to handle this?


    Meanwhile, Astorius hovered above him, his massive golden wings spreading wide.


    His entire body was still radiating the overwhelming power of Golden Dragon Ascension.


    He then let out a hard laugh as it was his turn to mock Lucius. "What''s wrong, Lucius? Thinking of a way out from this situation?"


    Astorius folded his hands and continued as he sneered. "You were right about one thing, Lucius. Gold is heavy. It''s sluggish. It lacks the speed and finesse of silver."


    He clenched his golden fist and smirked. "But that also makes it stronger. Heavier. Unstoppable."


    He then spread his arms wide. "Thin silver may dance around gold, but in the end¡ªgold crushes silver under its weight."


    Astorius then pointed directly at him, his golden dragon eyes glowing fiercely. "Face it, Lucius. You''ve lost. It''s time to end this¡ªonce and for all!"@@@@

 Chapter 220 The Battle Was Over…

    Lucius glanced at Astorius and smirked. The previous frown on his face had completely gone. "Yeah... you''re right, Astorius. Let''s end this once and for all."


    Astorius scoffed, rolling his shoulders as golden embers flickered around his fists. "Finally stopped running your mouth?"


    But Lucius wasn''t just talking anymore. He didn''t only have Loxen as his power¡ªhe had something far beyond that. The Beast Hack System.


    He turned to the system and began the hack. "Hack me and double my power beyond Astorius''. Make it last thirty minutes¡ªthat''s more than enough time to beat him."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Full Stat Enhancement]


    [Target: Lucius]


    [Effect: Enhance All Stats Until They Double That of Opponent, Astorius]


    [Duration: 30 Minutes]


    [Cost Required: 100,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Lucius'' entire body trembled as his stats were forcefully hacked. A surge of new power flooded through him, twisting every fiber of his being.


    His muscles expanded, his bones hardened, and his silver aura erupted violently, creating shockwaves that rippled through the battlefield.


    Then, like usual, the agony appeared. A searing, unbearable pain ripped through his body, like his very existence was being torn apart and reassembled all at once.


    "AAAHHHHHH!" Lucius screamed as the power overwhelmed him. Astorius didn''t know what happened, but he grinned.


    He spread his wings wide and laughed. "Finally screaming in pain, huh?! What''s wrong, Lucius? Can''t handle the weight of your own arrogance?"


    Lucius dropped to one knee and used his claw to dig the earth. He was trying to be awake in this torture.


    Astorius snickered, rolling his shoulders. "You''re right, Lucius. Let''s finish this¡ªNOW!"


    Without hesitation, he launched himself forward, his fist coated in dense golden energy. "DIE!"


    Astorius swung his massive, gold-infused punch straight toward Lucius, intent on ending the battle with a single blow.


    But... just before his attack landed... Lucius'' screams suddenly stopped. His silver eyes snapped open.


    He immediately swung his left claw, catching and stopping Astorius'' incoming fist.


    Astorius'' smirk vanished instantly as his eyes widened in complete horror. "W-WHAT...?!"


    He tried to pull his arm back, but he couldn''t.


    Lucius grinned as he tightened his grip around Astorius'' fist. The once unstoppable Golden Dragon Emperor was frozen in place.


    Lucius smirked, crossing his arms. "Did you like it?"


    Astorius gritted his teeth, rage and agony mixing in his golden eyes.


    Lucius cracked his knuckles and smirked. "Don''t pass out yet, King. I''m not done with you."


    Without hesitation, Lucius reached down and grabbed Astorius by the hair. He lifted his head, forcing Astorius to look directly into Lucius'' eyes.


    Astorius gritted his teeth, trying to move, but his body refused. The damage he had sustained had crippled him. He was now at Lucius'' mercy.


    Lucius only chuckled as he tilted Astorius'' head slightly. "Let me tell you something, before I finish you off, King Astorius."


    He leaned in closer as he whispered something to him. "All of this... Volcaria''s betrayal... Kryndal''s near destruction... the towns that fell into ruin... even the sudden rise of three Emperor-Talent prodigies in the Volcaria family..."


    Lucius paused for a moment as he watched Astorius'' reaction and grinned as he bared his fangs. "It was all because of me."


    Astorius was shocked after hearing it. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire


    Lucius chuckled as he gripped Astorius'' hair tighter. "You thought I was just another 6-Star Tamer? That I was beneath you? You are wrong."


    He then laughed. "Even though I''m a ''mere'' 6-Star, everyone is beneath me."


    Lucius let go of Astorius'' head, letting it drop limply to the ground.


    He stepped back, looking down at the king like he was nothing more than an insect. "I made them, Astorius. The Emperor Talents you so highly revere? I created them."


    Lucius then spread his arms mockingly "And just like I made them, I could just as easily destroy them. Your empire? It could fall with just a flick of my hand."


    Astorius felt his entire body tremble. He knew Lucius was strong. He knew Lucius was dangerous. But this...


    This was something far worse. This wasn''t just strength. This wasn''t just intelligence. This was pure, calculated destruction.


    Astorius gritted his teeth, his face twisting in fury and fear. "You... you''re a monster. No... you''re a demon!"


    Lucius let out a deep, amused laugh, stepping closer and grinned. "Demon? I quite like that."


    He raised his right claw high as he was preparing for the final strike. "But don''t blame me for this, King."


    Lucius'' smirk turned cruel. "Blame yourself... and your own actions."


    He swung his claw downward. But before the strike could land. Astorius'' eyes snapped open.


    His palm shot forward, pressing directly against Lucius'' chest and freezing Lucius.


    For a brief second, everything stood still and in that moment, Lucius immediately disappeared in an instant.


    Not in an explosion. Not in a burst of energy. Not even in a swirl of shadows.


    He simply...vanished without a sound. Astorius collapsed, his hand still outstretched, his entire body trembling.


    He panted heavily, his vision blurring, as he looked at his own palm in disbelief. "Hah... hah... I did it..."

 Chapter 221 Victory Feels Empty

    Ragnar and Bryson were shocked when they saw Lucius vanish. "What the hell just happened?!"


    Ragnar immediately glared at Astorius in rage. "Astorius! What the hell have you done?!"


    Ragnar launched himself toward the arena. He had already fused with his beast, the Lava Drake.


    Without hesitation, he grabbed Astorius by the collar with his burning right claw and lifted him into the air like a ragdoll.


    His eyes burned with fury as he roared into Astorius'' face. "What the hell did you do to Lucius, bastard?!"


    Astorius, barely conscious, let out a weak chuckle. Then, slowly, he raised his right hand. He uncurled His fingers, revealing a small, broken orb in his palm.


    Astorius also suddenly threw his head back and laughed wildly, "HAHAHAHA! I DID IT!"


    He clenched the broken orb tightly as he was really satisfied with what he had done. "I HAVE BANISHED LUCIUS FROM THIS WORLD!"


    Bryson was so shocked when he heard that. "What...? Banished from this world?"


    Ragnar tightened his grip as his claws dug into Astorius'' armor. "You... WHAT?!"


    Astorius grinned despite his battered state and laughed out loud. He then lifted the orb. "This orb... is the national treasure of the Astranean Empire. There is only one in existence."


    He let out another ragged chuckle, staring at the broken remnants in his hand. "It''s called the Dimensional Orb."


    He then dropped it to the ground. "And it has only one purpose and it was to banish a person from this world... into another dimension."


    Ragnar and Bryson were shocked to hear that. They never knew that it was possible.


    Byrson stepped forward and glared at Astorius from above. "You... You sent him to another dimension?!"


    Ragnar tightened his grip on Astorius, his claws burning against his armor and roared. "WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU DO THAT?!"


    Astorius grinned weakly, a mix of triumph and exhaustion on his face. "Because I''m not an idiot."


    He coughed violently, but his smirk never faded. "Lucius... that bastard... He admitted it himself."


    Astorius locked his eyes onto Ragnar''s. He was really twistedly satisfied. "He was the mastermind behind everything."


    "He was the one who orchestrated Volcaria''s betrayal against the Empire."


    His warriors followed behind him, their victory secured¡ªbut their leader''s mind was somewhere else.


    Despite the victory, Ragnar was not himself. His mind was in turmoil, his thoughts spiraling uncontrollably. Lucius was gone. No, banished.


    And now, everything that had happened¡ªthe war, the betrayals, the alliances, the rise of Volcaria itself¡ªall traced back to Lucius.


    Ragnar''s hands clenched into fists as he walked in silence, unable to process it all. Bryson, noticing his state, stepped forward. "Ragnar, let''s head back to my main base."


    Ragnar barely reacted, only offering a silent nod.


    Bryson continued, "Fortunately enough, after we take full control of the volcanic region, my main base will be at its very center."


    He gestured toward the distant volcanic peaks, where his fortress stood proudly in the heart of the territory. "Let''s make it the capital city of the new Volcanic Dragon Empire."


    Ragnar remained silent, but he thought that the idea made sense.


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    Volcaria''s power had skyrocketed, and with Lucius gone, they needed a stronghold to cement their rule. And yet¡ªit felt empty.


    Lucius was supposed to be here. He was the mastermind behind all of this. And now¡ªhe was gone.


    Ragnar finally muttered, "Fine. Let''s go to our new capital."


    Bryson nodded, and with that, the entire army began their march toward the new capital.


    As they traveled, Ragnar was not alone. Walking beside him, silent and observing, was Savra¡ªhis wife.


    Unlike Bryson, who focused on the political aftermath, Savra''s eyes never left Ragnar''s face.


    She could see it. Ragnar was not processing this as just another victory. She knew him too well.


    Something was broken inside him. And she needed to fix it¡ªbefore it was too late.


    Finally, they arrived at the Red Dragon Order''s main base.


    What stood before them was not just a fortress¡ªit was a massive city, built within the heart of the volcanic region.


    Even though it was originally built for the Red Dragon Order, it was clear¡ªwith a little work, this could become the true capital of the Volcanic Dragon Empire.

 Chapter 222 Lucius Last Gift

    Inside the Red Dragon Order''s main hall, Ragnar, Bryson, and Savra sat around a grand obsidian table.


    Ragnar let out a long sigh, running a hand through his hair as he leaned back in his chair.@@@@


    "We won... but somehow... it feels empty."


    Bryson, sitting beside him, sighed as well, rubbing his temples. He then shook his head.


    "I know what you mean. It must be because Lucius was always the one who planned everything. Without him... it just doesn''t feel the same."


    The room fell into a silence.


    Then¡ª


    BANG!


    Savra suddenly slammed her fist onto the table, shocking both Ragnar and Bryson.


    She glanced at them with frustration as he shouted out loud.


    "Bastards! We already won! So why the hell are you two acting like we lost?!"


    Ragnar and Bryson looked at her in surprise, not expecting her outburst.


    Savra clenched her fists, her body trembling. She was holding back tears, but her voice remained firm and strong.


    "Lucius wouldn''t want us to sit around like this, moping! If he were here right now, do you know what he''d be doing?"


    She looked at them and answered it herself. "He''d be laughing at us!"


    Ragnar''s eyes widened, and Bryson''s jaw tightened.


    Savra took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Lucius would mock us for sitting here like cowards instead of moving forward."


    For a moment, neither of them spoke.


    Then¡ª


    A small smile appeared on Ragnar''s face.


    Bryson let out a chuckle, shaking his head. "Yeah... You''re right."


    Ragnar exhaled and smirked. "That bastard wouldn''t let us hear the end of it."


    Savra nodded firmly, "And besides... he won''t die."


    Ragnar and Bryson looked at her in confusion.


    Both Ragnar and Bryson stiffened.


    Ragnar''s jaw clenched. "Yeah... But you''re saying Lucius had something even stronger, a talent that let him tame beast tamers?"


    Savra shrugged slightly. "It''s possible. We never really knew his background at all."


    Ragnar and Bryson fell silent because deep down¡ªthey both knew she was right.


    They had never truly understood Lucius. He was always several steps ahead, but now he was gone.


    Savra immediately reached into her spatial ring and pulled out a vial filled with some red pills.


    The moment she placed it on the table, Ragnar and Bryson instantly recognized it. The Volcanic Dragon Emperor Talent Pills.


    Savra exhaled sharply before saying, "We only have nine left. We need to use these to make our empire the strongest."


    Ragnar and Bryson nodded in unison, clenching their fists. They knew what this meant.


    These pills weren''t just rare pills, but they were created by Lucius himself, the final remnants of his genius.


    Bryson narrowed his eyes. "With these, we can ensure that Volcaria doesn''t just survive... but thrives."


    Ragnar clenched his jaw. "Yeah. We can''t waste them. We need to choose carefully. Only the best will receive them."


    Savra nodded and gestured toward the vial. "This was Lucius'' final gift to us, so let''s use it and prove to the world that even without him... we can be the best."


    Ragnad and Bryson nodded and then grinned. They had a purpose now and it was to build the Volcanic Dragon Empire.


    When Lucius, they could show him that the best empire was made, thanks to him.


    ---


    Meanwhile, Lucius slowly opened his eyes. His mind felt hazy, his body numb, as he tried to piece together what had happened.


    The last thing he remembered was that he was fighting Astorius and suddenly something that he couldn''t quite recall happened. "Did I just lose consciousness?"


    Lucius sat up abruptly as he began to scan his surroundings. "Where... am I?"


    His gaze flickered across the room and the moment he saw all of it, he gasped.


    The walls, the stickers, the TV, the arrangement of the furniture... it made his heart pound.


    Slowly, his eyes landed on the desk nearby and there, standing neatly in a row, were several action figures he had long forgotten.


    Lucius'' entire body stiffened as he knew where he was. He immediately clenched the bedsheets beneath him as realization struck him. "No way...There is no way in hell that this is right?"


    Lucius still couldn''t believe it, as this room was a unique place that had been buried in his forgotten memories.


    This room was his, the exact one when he was still a teenager. For the first time in a long, long while, Lucius was truly speechless.

 Chapter 223 Banished! The Supreme Overlord Returns to His Past Life?!

    Lucius stood there and scanned the room. It was still surprising to him to find himself in his old room.


    It wasn''t just a room, but the one that he had lived in as a mere teenager.


    Before working hard as an adult, before he was transferred to another world and before he became the best man of that world.


    But something wasn''t right, as how can he be here? It was not only a different world but also in the past.


    Lucius closed his eyes for a brief moment to calm himself down. With a flick of his fingers, the familiar interface materialized before him.


    He was shocked when he saw quite a list of notifications listed across the screen.


    ---


    [System Alert: Host Forcefully Banished]


    [Warning: Host is being forcibly expelled from this world]


    [Safety Protocol Activated: Forcefully Deactivating Host''s Consciousness]


    [Emergency Sequence Initiated]


    [Using All Available Hack Points to Search for the Nearest Viable World...]


    [Search Complete: Closest World Identified ¨C Blue World]


    [Commencing Dimensional Teleportation...]


    [An Entity Matching Host''s Signature Detected in the Blue World]


    [Initiating Fusion for Faster Stabilization...]


    [Using All Remaining Hack Points for Complete Stabilization]


    [Fusion and Stabilization Complete]


    [Scanning New World Power Levels...]


    [System Updating...]


    Loreia glanced at Lucius. She was still surprised but worried about him. "Lucius? Are you okay?"


    Lucius exhaled, forcing himself to keep his emotions in check. He loosened his hold just enough to look at her. No, no... I just..."


    He hesitated, then gave a small smile. "I just missed you, that''s all."


    Loreia frowned. "Missed me? What are you talking about? We saw each other yesterday."


    Lucius stiffened for a fraction of a second before forcing a light chuckle. "Yeah... but I just missed you, that''s all."


    He couldn''t exactly tell her the truth, could he? That he had been gone for a thousand years, living in another world?


    That to him, it had been an eternity since he last saw her? No. That was impossible.


    So instead, he held onto the moment, letting himself feel the presence of his sister once more, something he never thought he would experience again.


    Loreia then grabbed his shoulders and firmly pulled him back. "Okay, enough of that. You''re going to be late for the ceremony."


    Lucius frowned, his mind still sluggish from the overwhelming rush of memories and emotions. "Huh? What ceremony?"


    Loreia raised her eyebrow, tilting her head as if he had just said something ridiculous. "The awakening ceremony. You''re seventeen now, Lucius. It''s time for you to awaken as a Beast Tamer."


    Lucius froze. His thoughts immediately stopped for a moment. "What? Beast Tamer?"


    Loreia nodded as she turned toward the door. "Yeah. Every seventeen-year-old goes through it. It''s common sense. Now come on, we don''t have time to waste. I''ll take you there myself."


    Lucius remained rooted in his place. His mind was racing as he began to process it. Awakening? Beast Tamer?


    His fingers twitched as he thought about it more. This... wasn''t right. This was his world. The one he had been born in, the one he had left behind.


    He recognized this house, this city, this life. But this? A ceremony to awaken as a Beast Tamer? That had never existed in his world before.


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    His eyes darkened. Is this truly my original world... or is it something else entirely? A parallel world? A different dimension?


    Lucius clenched his fists, forcing himself to steady his thoughts. No matter what this place is, I''ll figure it out. For now, he needed answers.


    Taking a breath, he stepped forward and went out with his sister. "Fine. Let''s go."

 Chapter 224 A New World… Or a Forgotten Past? Lucius Faces a Shocking Truth!

    Lucius followed Loreia out of his small apartment. He then looked around the familiar environment.


    Everything looked the same as he remembered. Buildings, roads, and people going about their daily lives. They were all the same as he remembered.


    Yet, something was different. As he walked, he could see some beasts that were not supposed to be here.


    At first, he dismissed them as normal pets, but a closer look shattered that assumption. These were not the dogs or cats he had once known.


    A sleek cat with green, leaf-like fur sat near a flower stand. As it lazily flicked its tail, the flowers around it bloomed, vibrant and full of life.


    A small, fluffy rabbit bounced down the pavement, and with each hop, tiny, shimmering bubbles floated into the air, popping softly, releasing fresh air.


    Further ahead, a group of children crowded around a chubby, ferret-like beast, its round body squished against a girl''s chest as she hugged it tightly.


    Instead of resisting, the creature let out a soft purr, completely content in her arms.


    Then, his gaze landed on a particularly strange sight. A massive, cloud-like cat, its fur thick and unbelievably fluffy, rolled across the street.


    Every time it rolled, it collected pieces of trash stuck to its coat, then stopped in front of a garbage bin and shook itself clean, dropping the trash inside before continuing on its way.


    Lucius paused for a moment as he saw the beasts. They really resembled the ones from that world.


    Not just simple animals, but beasts infused with abilities. Powers. Elements. These creatures were no ordinary pets. They were something far greater.


    His fingers twitched. This isn''t just my world. It''s something else. Something altered. A parallel world.


    His eyes flickered as he absorbed the realization. If this place had evolved differently from the world he knew... then what else had changed?


    Lucius exhaled and started walking again. He promised himself that no matter what, he''ll figure this out.@@@@


    ---


    They soon arrived at a school. Lucius remembered this school, as this was the one he had attended when he was in high school.


    The structure was exactly as he remembered. Every brick, every window, the dull, uniform design of a standard school.


    "But we as humans also evolved, though not in the same way as plants and animals."


    "Unlike the beasts, our evolution required awakening. Humans needed to awaken their talents to form bonds with beasts and command them in battle."


    He paused, glancing at the students. "But not all of us are capable of awakening."


    Lucius narrowed his eyes.


    "Only 99% of humanity has the ability to awaken a talent and become Beast Tamers. The remaining 1% are talentless, unable to tame beasts and doomed to live as ordinary humans."


    A murmur spread through the classroom, some students shifting uncomfortably.


    The teacher then lifted a crystal orb and held it for all to see. "This is the Awakening Crystal."


    He then put it back down. "It was developed through extensive experimentation to help awaken talents more efficiently."


    "Any seventeen-year-old and above who touches this crystal will unlock their talent and take their first step toward becoming a Beast Tamer."


    Lucius stared at the orb. This world''s rules are a bit similar to the another world that I knew.


    The teacher continued. "Talents are categorized into three tiers, determined by the color of the light emitted when you awaken."


    He raised a finger. "First, Green Light means Common-Tier Talent. Those with this can tame one beast."


    A second finger. "Second, Blue Light means Elite-Tier Talent. These individuals can tame up to three beasts."


    Then, a final finger. "And lastly, the rarest of them all, which was Red Light, means Sovereign-Tier Talent."


    "It is said that those who awaken this talent can tame up to ten beasts. They are the ones who stand at the peak of this world."


    Lucius frowned after hearing what the teacher said, as this world was indeed his original world, but it was different at the same time.


    But he then smirked as, although it was different, he was used to this system of beast tamers.


    He was from the world of beast tamers after all, and now this world was too and it made this world more interesting than he thought. Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 225 No Talent? No Problem! Lucius Secret Weapon Finally Activates!

    The teacher clapped his hands together. "Now, we will begin the awakening ceremony. I will call your names one by one. When I do, step forward and place your hand on the Awakening Crystal."


    Some students whispered among themselves as they excitedly thought about what talent they would awaken, while the rest sat rigidly, waiting for their turn to step forward and awaken.@@@@


    On the other hand, Lucius just leaned back against his desk, watching the awakening process with no interest at all.


    One by one, names were called and each student stepped forward, placing their hand on the crystal.


    Some orbs glow green, signaling a common-tier talent, which was the lowest level.


    There were murmurs of disappointment, but no one seemed too surprised, as this was normal.


    Then, the unexpected happened. One student placed his hand on the crystal, and a bright blue glow appeared, making the entire class gasp.


    The teacher was excited and smiled. "An elite-tier talent! Very good! You have a bright future."


    The student, a boy with slicked-back hair, blinked in disbelief before a wide grin spread across his face.


    He laughed before turning to the rest of the class with a smug face. "Did you see that? Elite Tier! Looks like the rest of you are nothing compared to me!"


    Lucius exhaled quietly. He had seen a lot of arrogant people like this before. They always thought their temporary advantage meant they were superior.


    Then the teacher continued and called his name. "Next one, please come forward, Lucius Luxoria."


    Lucius paused. It had been a long time since he heard that name. He had almost forgotten that he once carried a family name.


    Lucius exhaled softly and stepped forward. There was no nervousness and no hesitation. He stood in front of the crystal and was quite curious about it.


    The teacher gestured toward the Awakening Crystal. "Lucius, please place your hand on the orb."


    Without hesitation, Lucius put his hand on the crystal and waited for it to react.


    For a moment, nothing happened. Even after one whole minute, the crystal remained completely dark.


    The teacher sighed and shook his head, as he already knew what this meant. "I''m sorry... but it seems you have not awakened."


    Some students whispered among themselves as they were quite sorry about me, and a few of them smirked as they were better than him.


    Lucius could hear what they were talking about, but he didn''t react at all. There wasn''t a need to.


    Elite-tier, on the other hand, got 300% power conversion. Three times the beast''s power when fused.


    Sovereign-Tier, which was the best talent, got 1000% power conversion. An overwhelming tenfold increase in strength.


    Lucius narrowed his eyes. That changes everything. For a Sovereign-Tier talent, one powerful beast could turn them into an absolute monster on the battlefield.


    Even if someone had only a single beast, with a 1000% conversion rate, they would easily crush any common-tier tamer and even elite-tier ones. Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    Aside from these differences, everything else seemed the same. Society functioned similarly. The technology remained at a comparable level.


    The civilization had also adapted to the existence of beasts, just as one would expect.


    Lucius turned off his phone. He tapped his fingers lightly against the table. "This world... It''s close to my original but really different at the same time."


    Then suddenly he felt refreshed and he immediately knew what it was. He opened his system to check if it was completed.


    ---


    [System Update Complete]


    [World Scan Finished: Blue World Power Levels Successfully Analyzed]


    [Host''s Body and Energy Fully Stabilized]


    [New System Parameters Established]


    [All Functions Recalibrated for Compatibility with Blue World]


    [Host Awakening Sequence Initiated...]


    [Welcome to the Blue World]


    ---


    Lucius smirked as finally the system, the very thing that had been his greatest asset in his past world, had been finished updating.


    He had been forcefully thrown into this new world, stripped of his previous cultivation, denied an awakening, and marked as "talentless" by this world''s standards.


    But none of that mattered anymore because his system was back. Lucius then leaned back in his chair, grinning. "Let''s see what''s changed."

 Chapter 226 Lucius Most Loyal Followers Return!

    Lucius knew that the system had been fully updated. From what he knew, usually after an update, the system would be better than before.


    Without hesitation, he just told the system to explain the changes to him, as he knew the system could do this after this second update.


    ---


    [System Adjustment Complete]


    [Power Levels Successfully Adjusted to Blue World Standards]


    [Eternal Vault Successfully Recalibrated ¨C 100 Slots Unlocked at No Cost]


    [All Items from the Previous World Have Been Deleted]


    [Hack Points Fully Integrated into New System ¨C Balance Expended for Host Stabilization and System Optimization]


    [Host''s Physical and Mental Condition Fully Stabilized]


    [Personal Data Available for Review at Any Time]


    [System Fully Operational]


    ---


    Lucius immediately accessed his personal data through the system. In his previous world, he had reached the rank of 6-star.


    Now that he was in his new world, he was curious to see what stage or how powerful he was now.


    ---


    [Name: Lucius]


    [Age: 17]


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    [Talent: Divine]


    [Stage: Beast Fighter]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: F]


    [Vit: F]


    Lucius crossed his arms as he sat down. "First, you need to calm down. Let me explain first why you feel different."


    Without wasting time, he told them everything. His banishment. His return to this world. The awakening system.


    The power levels. The difference between Beast Tamers and Beast Fighters. The changes in talent tiers.


    Liora and Luna listened in silence, taking in every word. They were also shocked when they heard that.


    Luna sighed, crossing her arms. "So we are not in our original world."


    Liora, however, clenched her fists in anger as she heard the reason why they were here. "Damn that Astorius. To think he dared to do this to you, Master."


    Lucius chuckled, shaking his head. "Don''t worry about him too much. He was already finished by the Volcaria."


    He then opened his arms wide and smirked. "This world is my original world and the most important thing is that you are here with me, so don''t worry."


    He stepped forward and placed both his hands on both of their shoulders. "Wherever we are, as long as we''re together, we will be the best."


    Liora and Luna immediately smirked after hearing it. They immediately bowed down. "Yes, Master. We will always be with you."


    Both Liora and Luna stood up. They knew that they were in the new place so they immediately thought about what to do.


    Luna was the first to speak. "Master, now that we are here... what should we do? This is a new world, after all."


    Lucius smirked, crossing his arms. "You''re right but this is a new world after all, so we don''t need to be in a hurry."


    Lucius then leaned back in his chair. "Just give me a second to think..."


    BAM!


    Before he could continue, the door was swung open. Lucius immediately turned his head toward the entrance.


    He was surprised to see that Loreia was already home at this time. It was really surprising, but suddenly Lucius realized something really important.


    He had been so caught up in reuniting with Liora and Luna that he hadn''t thought about how to explain to them about his real sister, Loreia. Damn it.


    Loreia entered the apartment and was surprised the moment she saw two unknown women standing beside Lucius.


    She stopped, pointing her fingers at them. "Lucius, who are they? How can you have two women in our apartment?"


    Before Lucius could even react, Liora and Luna instantly moved. They stepped in front of him, shielding him like a wall.


    Liora glared at Loreia while using her left hand to shield Lucius. "Master, stand back."


    Luna was also the same as she used her right hand to shield Lucius. "An unknown variable has appeared. Master, do you want us to eliminate the threat?"


    Lucius exhaled heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. This had just gotten even more complicated than before. Damn it.

 Chapter 227 Master? Servants? Loreia Walks Into a Scene She Wasnt Ready For!

    Loreia was frozen still. Her expression shifted from shock to confusion and then to something that was quite close to disgust.


    Her eyes darted between Liora and Luna before Lucius. "Who the hell are these two, Lucius?! And why did they just call you Master? Explain it to me now!"


    Lucius let out a long sigh, rubbing his temple. Of course, she would react like this.


    He turned to Liora and Luna, raising his hand. "Calm down. She''s my sister. Loreia."


    Both women blinked as they were really surprised. Luna asked again for confirmation. "Your sister? The real one?"


    Lucius nodded and gestured toward her. "Yes, she is my sister, the real one."


    Both Luna and Liora immediately lowered their guard. They exchanged a glance before stepping back, returning to their usual composed state.


    Lucius then shifted his attention back to Loreia, who still looked skeptical, arms crossed tightly.


    He met her gaze directly and sighed. "I''ll explain it all later, so stop looking at me with that disgusted expression of yours."


    Loreia let out a sigh, still glaring. "Fine, but I am a bit skeptical. Just looked at them."


    She gestured toward Liora and Luna. "They''re too beautiful. And they''re calling you Master? Lucius, are you...?"


    Lucius cut her off with another sigh. "Don''t let your mind spiral too much, sis. It''s not what you think. Just sit down. I''ll explain everything to you."


    Loreia hesitated but eventually sat down onto the couch, arms still folded. "Alright, fine. I''ll listen. Please explain it to me."


    Lucius nodded, then glanced back at Liora and Luna. Like usual, they stood behind him, silent but always protecting him.


    Lucius then glanced back at Loreia. With everything settled for now, it was time to explain to her just who they were.


    ---@@@@


    Lucius leaned back slightly in his chair, crossing his arms and exhaling.


    He then gestured toward them. "They''re just some orphans I met on the road."


    Liora and Luna were a bit surprised as they glanced at Lucius in confusion. Orphans? That was not the story they remembered.


    Loreia was also surprised as she raised her eyebrow. "Excuse me? Can you repeat what you just said, Lucius?"


    With that, she left the apartment, leaving Lucius with both of her maids.


    Lucius watched her leave, but he felt something strange. He felt that something bad could happen to her.


    He then turned to Luna and became serious. "Luna, have your beast, Loxen, follow her."


    Luna glanced at Lucius and was curious. "Do you sense something, Master?"


    Lucius exhaled. "I don''t know why, but I have a bad feeling just now. Just in case, keep an eye on her."


    Luna nodded. "Yes, Master. Don''t worry about her. Loxen will protect her."


    Without hesitation, she raised her hand, summoning her beast, Loxen, the Silver Shadow Panther.


    Loxen emerged from the silver portal. It was a shadow element beast, so it was a perfect beast for tailing and protecting someone unnoticed.


    Lucius was satisfied and turned away, walking toward the bathroom. "Alright, I''ll go take a shower."


    As he left the room, Luna suddenly smirked. She glanced down at Loxen. "Follow that woman, who was Master''s sister and protect her."


    Loxen flicked his tail as he understood his mission, but before he could move, Luna suddenly stopped him.


    Luna then smirked and added. "However... I have another order for you, which was to follow her, but do not interfere."


    Loxen blinked. He didn''t understand what Luna meant. Did she want him not to interfere or what?


    Luna then explained it more clearly. "Only show yourself if something truly dangerous is about to happen. Even if she gets beaten up a little, do nothing."


    Loxen''s fur tensed slightly. He was thinking that the order was quite a twisted and strange one. Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    This was the master''s sister that he needed to protect. He was thinking just what Luna was thinking for ordering this.


    Luna''s smirk didn''t fade as she reassured him. "Don''t worry. I will be the one responsible for this. Just do your order. This is a plan that will be good for her too."


    Loxen stared at her for a moment, then sighed. Luna was her beast tamer, so she could only do what was ordered.


    Without another word, Loxen vanished into the darkness, silently tailing Loreia.


    Meanwhile, Lucius was completely unaware of Luna''s hidden intentions.

 Chapter 228 A Simple Food Run… But Danger Lurks in the Shadows!

    Loreia walked down the street, making her way to the local fried chicken joint that was quite famous around here.


    She had just received her salary, so for today, she wanted to eat a little bit more delicious food to cheer up Lucius.


    As she stepped inside the restaurant, she could smell the scent of the crispy, golden-brown fried chickens.


    The place was also lively, with customers chatting, enjoying their meals, and workers calling out orders.


    Loreia then walked the counter, scanning the menu overhead. A cheerful-looking cashier greeted her with a bright smile.


    "Welcome to Pluckin'' Good Fried Beast! What can I get for you today?"


    Loreia hummed, glancing at the options. "I''ll take a box of original fried Pluckins and another spicy one. Oh, and throw in some fries too."


    "Great choice!" The cashier tapped on the screen. "Do you want the regular meal set or just the chicken?"


    Loreia thought for a moment before shrugging. "Might as well get the set. Comes with a drink, right?"


    The cashier nodded as he showed her the choices. "Yep! We''ve got berry fizz, thunder lemon, or just plain spring water."


    Loreia sighed. "Give me the berry fizz. Need something sweet after work."


    The cashier chuckled. "Rough day?"


    Loreia only shook her head as she muttered, "You have no idea."


    The cashier laughed as they finished entering the orders. "Alright! That''ll be 12 credits. Paying with card or scan?"


    Loreia pulled out her ID bracelet, tapping it against the payment terminal. A soft beep confirmed the transaction.


    The cashier bowed down. "Thanks! Your order will be ready in a few minutes!"


    Loreia nodded, stepping to the side to wait. She glanced around the restaurant, casually observing the people eating and chatting.


    Pluckins were actually a type of chicken beast. They were incredibly easy to raise.


    They grew plumper the more they were fed and unlike most beasts, they weren''t aggressive or particularly active.


    They were already drunk, so they were not thinking straight. They weren''t going to take no for an answer.


    Grinning like predators, they moved toward a quiet, empty alleyway. They were waiting for her to pass through.


    Unfortunately for them, Loreia had already spotted them lingering near the alley.


    Their disgusting grins had made her know their clear intentions. Without hesitation, she turned around and ran.


    There was no way in hell she walked into their trap. She immediately went and took another route to go back home.


    But unfortunately for her, Deon and Galwin had already predicted that and chased her the moment she turned around.


    Loreia''s heart pounded. She didn''t even think. She just ran as she was afraid.


    But fear clouded her mind, and in her panic, she didn''t pay attention to where she was going.


    Before she knew it, she had taken a wrong turn, one that led her into a more isolated, quiet area. The worst place to be.


    By the time she realized her mistake, it was too late. Deon and Galwin had already cut her off and blocked her.


    Deon sneered as he glanced at her. "You really think you can run?"


    Galwin also chuckled as he cracked his knuckles. "Yeah, it''s cute that you tried."


    Then, without another word, Deon summoned his beast, which was a Paracrab.


    It was a big crab beast with jagged pincers and a venomous stinger on its back. Its ability was just like its name. It''s paralysis.


    Deon smirked, gesturing toward Loreia. "Paracrab, get her and paralyze her."


    The beast moved before Loreia could react. It used its stinger to inject its paralyzing poison.


    She had no time to dodge and she was stung by it. A chilling numbness soon spread through her body.


    Her limbs froze and her throat tightened. She couldn''t move or even scream. She was completely helpless.


    Deon and Galwin grinned as they walked slowly toward her. "Don''t worry... We''ll take real good care of you and you''ll learn to behave soon enough."

 Chapter 229 Two Predators Close In… But They Werent Ready for What Came Next!

    Deon and Galwin had arrived in front of her. They were smirking as they took off their own clothes.


    Deon crouched slightly, tilting his head as he grinned at her. "Look at you, completely helpless. Guess you''re not so tough anymore, huh?"


    Galwin clicked his tongue as he was amused. "You know, we were real nice about it before. Tried to do things the easy way. But you? You just had to act all stuck-up."


    Deon let out a chuckle. "Right? Always acting like you''re too good for us."


    Galwin shook his head mockingly. "Tch. Should''ve just played along. Would''ve made things a lot easier for you."


    Deon shrugged. "Well, it doesn''t matter now. You''re all ours tonight."


    Galwin grinned. "Yeah. You''ll learn to be much more obedient after this."


    Loreia''s heart pounded wildly after hearing it. She desperately tried to move, to scream, and to fight back, but her body wouldn''t respond at all.


    She could only watch, frozen in place, as they glanced at her, getting closer. "No. No. NO!"


    Meanwhile, Loxen was still hidden in the shadows. He was observing the scene.


    His target, Loreia, was already in danger but Luna''s orders were clear. Do not act unless absolutely necessary.@@@@


    Yet, as he watched the two men tear Loreia''s clothes, Loxen knew that they were about to commit something unforgivable.


    This was the limit, as he could not let them do it. If he waited even a second longer, Loreia would lose her innocence.


    Loxen immediately leapt out from the shadow and appeared before them.


    Deon and Galwin were shocked the moment they saw Loxen. They staggered backward, not believing what they saw.


    In this world, Shadow Beasts were rare. Big cat beasts like lions, tigers and panthers were also rare.


    But the moment they saw one here, they were really shocked. It was beyond that. It was terrifying for them.


    Deon stumbled backward, his face pale as he stared at the massive beast before him. "W-what the hell is that?!"


    Galwin''s hands trembled, his eyes darting wildly. "T-That''s a Silver Shadow Panther!"


    It was also the moment that Loxen had been waiting for. Without hesitation, Loxen lunged and pierced Deon''s chest with his claw, sinking deep into his flesh.


    Deon''s mouth opened, but he can''t scream at all. Then Loxen opened his jaw and put it around Deon''s head.


    Loxen smirked as he crushed Deon''s skull with one strong bite, splattering his blood against the alley walls. Deon''s body twitched once before going limp.


    Galwin, who had watched everything, staggered backward. His body was shaking in fear. "N-No way... T-This... isn''t real...!"


    He immediately turned and tried to run back, but it was a big mistake.


    Loxen didn''t chase him. Instead, he simply melded back into the shadow once more.


    Galwin sprinted through the alley. His breath was ragged and his legs were burning, but he didn''t care at all. "I-I can make it...! I-I can live...!"


    But a shadow suddenly loomed above him. Before Galwin could even look up, something sharp and massive clamped around his throat.


    It was a brief flash of pain and nothing afterward. His headless body collapsed onto the ground.


    Loxen appeared behind him, throwing the severed head aside. The hunt was over.


    ---


    Loreia was still paralyzed, but more than that, she was really terrified.


    The moment Loxen had appeared and chased after Deon and Galwin, she had desperately tried to move.


    She struggled. Her mind was screaming at her to run, to get away but her body refused to listen.


    Her breath became panicked gasps. She was still trapped inside her own body, but suddenly a shadow appeared before her.


    Before she could even process what was happening, Loxen emerged from the shadow, standing right in front of her.


    Loreia''s heart nearly stopped. She was really frightened as she glanced at the beast towering over her, with fangs still dripping with fresh blood.


    She couldn''t take it anymore. Her fear, her helplessness, the overwhelming panic. All of them crashed down at once.


    Her vision blurred and her body went limp. Before she could even comprehend what was happening, she passed out.

 Chapter 230 Too Weak to Survive? Luna and Liora Make a Bold Proposal!

    Loxen stared at Loreia and was surprised when she saw her passed out, just from seeing his body and bloodied mouth.


    He tilted his head slightly. He was still in disbelief. This was supposed to be Master Lucius''s sister but how could she be so weak?


    From what Loxen remembered, his master, Lucius, had once cut off a person''s head, pulled out their brain and examined it. He did all of that without blinking.


    And yet, this woman fainted just because of a little fear. Loxen was genuinely shocked, but in the end, an order was an order.


    He exhaled through his nose, shaking off his thoughts. He was about to pick her up and bring her back to Lucius when something caught his attention.


    His nose twitched as he smelled a delicious scent. He instinctively turned to the side.


    Near Loreia''s fallen body, he saw a plastic bag that was filled with the food she just bought. Loxen soon walked toward it.


    He had seen humans carrying food in these kinds of containers before. It was wrapped in something, but that didn''t matter. He knew how to open it.


    With a precise swipe of his paw, he tore the plastic open and the aroma hit him instantly. They were Fried Pluckins.


    He took the first bite and in that moment, his eyes were widened in shock.


    It was... amazing. The texture was crispy, the meat was tender, and the seasoning was perfect. Not too weak, not too strong.


    Loxen froze for a second, then immediately devoured everything. He ate all the fried Pluckins, his tail flicking in pure satisfaction.


    When he was done, he even found a drink. He bit through the lid, tilted it up, and drank the refreshing berry fizz.


    He exhaled deeply, licking his lips. "...Humans really know how to make good food."


    Feeling satisfied, Loxen finally turned back to Loreia. She picked her up and melded into the shadow. It was time to bring her back.


    ---


    Lucius had just finished his bath and sat on the sofa. His silver hair was even still wet.


    He was leaning back and relaxing as he waited for his dear sister to return.


    But suddenly, a shadow flickered in the room and Loxen appeared from it.


    Luna remained composed. "Master, I understand that this is your original world, but the situation here... it''s the same as our previous one."


    Lucius'' eyes narrowed slightly, listening to what Luna meant by that.


    Luna continued, "There is a clear hierarchy here. And just like before, only the strong can live safely."


    She glanced at Loreia again. "Your sister is kind. But, Master... kindness can be a poison in a world like this."


    Lucius clenched his fists. "But she''s my sister. I can''t just¡ª"


    Before he could finish, Luna interrupted. She needed to remind Lucius of the truth. "I know, Master. She''s your sister. And that''s exactly why we must do this."


    She took a step forward. "Being kind is a poison. Just like in our previous world."


    Luna reminded him again. "Those who are too kind are the first to be taken advantage of. We cannot allow that to happen again."


    Lucius remained silent, his expression unreadable. He didn''t know what to do.


    Luna then kneeled before him. "Me and Liora will train her. We will make her stronger, but in a way that suits her."


    Luna raised her finger. "We''ll start in the virtual world first, where she can grow without real danger."


    She lowered her head. "Please, Master. For your sake. And for your sister''s."


    Lucius froze. For the first time in a long while, he didn''t know how to respond.


    Liora stepped forward as she agreed with Luna. "Master, Luna is right."


    She lowered her head slightly. "Please, Master. For the sake of our family."


    Lucius let out a long sigh, rubbing his temples. They weren''t wrong. He knew that. But still...


    He glanced at Loreia, who was still unconscious on the sofa. She had no real power. If something like this happened again, and Loxen hadn''t been there...


    He exhaled deeply and nodded. "Fine. I''ll let you train her, but don''t push too much. I don''t want her to suffer."


    Luna and Liora smirked slightly. They were pleased with their master''s decision.

 Chapter 231 A Virtual Hell? Loreia is About to Face the Training of a Lifetime!

    Lucius had given Luna and Liora permission to train Loreia, but there was another problem. His Hack Points were empty.


    Without them, he couldn''t send them into the virtual world, but before he could think further, his stomach growled.


    Lucius blinked as he suddenly remembered about the food that Loreia was supposed to have brought back.


    He turned toward Loxen, his eyes narrowing. As he observed Loxen closely, he noticed something strange.


    Aside from the scent of blood, there was another smell coming from Loxen. Lucius''s gaze sharpened. "...Loxen."


    Loxen''s tail flicked uncomfortably, and he immediately stepped back.


    Lucius exhaled slowly. His eyes became cold. "So, you ate the food she brought?"


    Loxen''s ears twitched, and after a brief moment, he lowered his head in submission. "...Sorry."


    Lucius sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I should''ve expected that."


    With the food issue gone, another thought crossed his mind. He glanced back at Loxen. "Did you bring their corpses?"


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    Loxen nodded and, without hesitation, dragged out the bodies of Deon and Galwin from the shadow.


    Lucius stared at their corpses and, in rage, kicked them furiously. "How dare you have any intentions toward my sister?"


    For a brief moment, he let his anger out by kicking them and soon exhaled slowly as he regained his composure back.


    These corpses weren''t just trash. They were potential Hack Points. He stretched out his hand, activating his system.


    Slowly, the corpses began to melt, dissolving into energy as the system absorbed them into Hack Points.


    ---


    [Hack Points Gained: +30]


    ---


    Lucius frowned slightly after seeing the amount of points that he got. "Only 30?"


    Lucius sighed as it was low, but it was better than nothing. At the very least, he had some points to work with.


    Lucius turned back to the system. This time he gave another hack order. "Hack them all and send them into the virtual world."


    Lucius also didn''t have many Hack Points, so he had to be strategic. The best option was to maximize their training time.


    He added another hack. "One night in reality will be one full month in the virtual world, and also made all of them start at the lowest level without any cultivation."


    The reason why Lucius added the last order, which made them weak, was because he didn''t have a lot of points.


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Virtual World Immersion]


    Loreia''s breathing began to slow down. Her eyes also darted between the two of them, searching for deception.


    When she found none, she let out a shaky breath and gradually calmed down, becoming more composed. "...Okay."


    Loreia looked around. Her brows furrowed as she scooped up a handful of sand, letting the grains slip through her fingers.


    Loreia could also feel the rough texture of the sand in her hands that felt so real. "This had to be a dream, right?


    She turned to Luna and Liora. She was a bit uncertain. "Are we... really in a desert? Or is this some weird dream?"


    Luna immediately smirked. Without warning, she teased her by reaching out and pinching her cheek hard.


    Loreia immediately jerked back, rubbing her cheek. "Ow! What the hell?!"


    Luna folded her arms, grinning. "See? It hurts. That means this isn''t a dream."


    Loreia''s face twisted in shock. "...Wait. So this is real?! How the hell did we get here?!"


    Liora, standing beside Luna, let out a small chuckle. "You don''t need to worry about that."


    She took a step closer, cracking her fists. "What you do need to worry about... is your training."


    Loreia froze when she heard that. "...Training?"


    Luna stretched lazily, rolling her shoulders. "Yeah. That''s why we''re here."


    Loreia''s expression darkened. "Train me? For what?"


    Liora tilted her head slightly. "To make you stronger, of course."


    Loreia blinked, taking a slow step back. "...I don''t like where this is going."


    Luna''s grin widened. "Oh, you''re going to love it."


    Loreia held up her hands defensively. "Wait, wait! Let''s just... talk about this! Do I even have a choice?!"


    Liora sighed dramatically. "No, you don''t."


    Loreia groaned. "I figured."


    Luna cracked her knuckles, her smirk turning slightly wicked. "Alright, enough stalling. Time to begin."


    Loreia took another step back. She was in panic. "H-Hey! At least tell me what we''re doing first!"


    Liora smirked. "Simple. We''re going to push you to your limits."


    Loreia''s eye twitched. "That''s not simple at all!"


    Liora immediately lunged forward without any hesitation.


    Loreia screamed. "W-Wait! Let''s talk about this first¡ª!"


    Luna only smirked. "Too late. The training had begun."

 Chapter 232 Brutal Training or Pure Torture? Loreias Nightmare Begins!

    Loreia''s heart began to beat violently as she stared at Liora, who was standing over her. Her expression was cold and unreadable.


    Luna, on the other hand, stood a few steps away. She was watching them with a smirk.


    That smirk on Luna''s face was what terrified Loreia the most, as she could tell that this wasn''t going to be normal training.


    Before she could protest, Liora suddenly grabbed her arms and legs, gripping them tightly.


    Loreia was surprised and she had a bad feeling about this. "H-Hey, wait! What are you¡ª"


    And what she felt was right. The training had started and Liora started it with pain.


    Liora bent her arms and legs in unnatural directions. The joints in her elbows and knees strained, twisting unnaturally.


    Loreia screamed, thrashing, but Liora held her down with ease. "AHHHH! STOP! STOP! THAT HURTS!"


    Luna chuckled, shaking her head. "You''re too weak, Loreia. This is nothing."@@@@


    Loreia cried out in shock with tears forming in her eyes. "NOTHING?! WHAT PART OF THIS IS NORMAL TRAINING?!"


    Luna crouched beside her, resting her chin on her hand as if observing a fascinating experiment. "The first phase of your training is simple: getting used to pain.


    Luna gestured toward her limbs. "If you can''t even endure a little joint stretching, how do you expect to survive?"


    Loreia gasped, panting heavily. "T-THIS ISN''T STRETCHING! IT''S BREAKING ME!"


    Liora, still holding her firmly, pressed harder. A loud POP echoed through the desert as her shoulder dislocated.


    Loreia let out a choked scream, her body jerking violently from the sheer agony.


    She couldn''t even process what had happened. All she knew was that her arm felt completely wrong.


    Luna clapped her hands, grinning. "Good. Now we move to the second phase."


    Loreia whimpered the moment she heard that. "P-Phase two? T-There''s more?"


    Luna leaned closer and smirked. "Pain endurance. You need to handle broken bones and injuries without completely losing your mind."


    Loreia stared at her in disbelief, tears rolling down her face. "I¡ªI CAN''T! THIS IS INSANE! WHO TRAINS LIKE THIS?!"


    Luna sighed dramatically, flicking Loreia''s forehead. "Weaklings complain. Warriors endure. And us, breakthrough."


    Tears slipped down her cheeks, her vision turning black at the edges as she almost lost it.


    Luna only watched and smirked at her desperation. "Don''t worry. It''s almost over."


    Liora squeezed harder and then, with a precise jerk of her arms, CRACK!


    Loreia''s neck snapped violently to the side and her body froze as all movement stopped.


    Her eyes remained open, staring lifelessly into both Luna and Liora in anger.


    Liora held her for a moment longer, ensuring there was no pulse.


    Then, she unceremoniously dropped her lifeless body onto the sand.


    Luna grinned. "That''s that."


    Liora simply nodded, stepping back. "Weaklings die. That''s all there is to it."


    Luna stretched, letting out a playful sigh. "Well, that should be enough for today. Let''s see what happens next."


    And with that, Loreia was finally dead for the first time here.


    ---


    Loreia suddenly woke up, gasping for air. Her entire body jerked upright, hands clutching her throat.


    Her breathing was erratic for a moment as she could still feel it. The crushing pressure around her neck and the unbearable pain.


    But then... she realized that her neck was fine after checking it. She also checked her arms and legs and her entire body.


    Nothing was broken. No dislocated joints. No searing agony. There was none of that.


    She was completely healed. A wave of relief washed over her, her shoulders slumping. "It must be a dream, right?"


    But then, she looked around and was shocked. It was still the same desert.


    And worse... standing just a few feet away... the twin bitches, Luna and Liora, were there. Alive and well.


    Luna smirked as she crossed her arms. "Welcome back, big sister."


    Loreia''s face twisted in pure horror as she remembered the pain. "NO! NOT AGAIN!"

 Chapter 233 Endless Pain, Endless Death… Until Loreia Finally Snaps!

    Loreia''s entire body trembled as she stared at them. She gripped the sand beneath her as her breath became short, panicked gasps.


    She had seen Luna and Liora here, meaning that the earlier experiences were real. "How am I still alive after all of that?"@@@@


    She looked at her own hands. "I¡ªI died... I felt it! My neck¡ªmy body¡ªit was all broken! H-How?! HOW?! HOW?!"


    Luna smirked as she stepped forward casually. "Don''t worry, big sister."


    Loreia flinched as Luna crouched beside her. Luna''s eyes were still gleaming with amusement.


    "This is a special dream world. A place where even if you die, you''ll just be resurrected... over and over again."


    Loreia''s stomach churned. "Resurrected? Over and over? No... No way!"


    Luna chuckled, enjoying her reaction. "Oh yes, and the best part? You''ll feel every second of that pain, no matter how many times you die."


    Loreia''s face twisted in horror as she was really scared. "T-That''s insane!"


    Luna tilted her head playfully. "No, that''s training."


    Loreia shook her head violently. "You expect me to go through all of that again?! Are you two insane?! I refuse! I won''t do it!"


    Luna''s smile didn''t fade. "Oh, you don''t have a choice."


    She leaned in closer, whispering softly. "You''re our big sister, right? That means you need to be stronger than us."


    Loreia gritted her teeth. "I¡ªI won''t do it! I swear, I¡ª"


    Luna sighed dramatically. "Liora."


    Liora cracked her knuckles and it made Loreia''s body stiffen. Her breath hitched.


    Luna''s smirk widened. "Let''s start again."


    Loreia scrambled backward. "NO¡ªWAIT! LET''S TALK ABOUT THIS! I DON''T NEED THIS TRAINING! REALLY!"


    Luna laughed. "Oh, but you do. You died too easily last time. We need to work on that, don''t we, Liora?"


    Liora nodded, stepping forward. "Weaklings die, Loreia. And you... are still weak."


    Loreia''s eyes darted around desperately, looking for a way to escape. "T-This isn''t fair! I wasn''t born like you two! I¡ªI don''t even know how to fight!"


    Luna grinned, mockingly patting her head. "Don''t worry. By the time we''re done, you''ll either learn how to fight... or you''ll just keep dying."


    Before Loreia could even catch her breath, CRACK. Liora snapped her neck, killing her for the eleventh time.


    ---


    Loreia opened her eyes once again. Her body was completely healed. No wounds and no broken bones, just like before.


    Loreia could feel that this time was different. She didn''t panic or scream at all. She simply... breathed the hot air.


    Luna stepped forward, smirking as usual. "Good morning, big sister. This is the twelfth day so good luck."


    Loreia''s fingers twitched as she heard the familiar footsteps. Liora was already approaching, ready to begin again.


    Just like before, Loreia knew what was coming. She had been beaten, broken, torn apart and even killed eleven times.


    But this time, something inside her snapped. She couldn''t hold it in anymore and immediately moved faster than before.


    Before Liora could even reach her, Loreia lunged forward, gripping Liora''s hair hard, yanking her down with full force. SLAM!


    Liora''s body hit the ground hard, her head whipping back in shock. For the first time in twelve days, Liora frowned.


    Her instincts kicked in. She grabbed Loreia''s arms, trying to break free, but then she was shocked as she couldn''t.


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    Loreia''s grip was too strong. She tried to pull her away, to force her off, but Loreia held on tight, ignoring everything.


    Luna''s smirk faded as she watched the scene unfold before her. For the first time, something was different.


    She narrowed her eyes as she glanced toward Liora. "What''s going on? Just fight back like you used to, Liora."


    Liora gritted her teeth as she was frustrated. "I¡ªI can''t, Luna."


    She tried again, pulling and twisting, but Loreia''s grip wouldn''t budge.


    Her fingers tightened, but no matter how much strength she used, she couldn''t break free.


    Luna''s brows furrowed. "What? That doesn''t make sense. Just rip her off."


    Liora''s frown deepened. "I''m telling you¡ªI don''t know why, but I can''t pull her hand off me!"


    Loreia soon smirked, then laughed out hard. Luna and Liora immediately stiffened.


    Loreia leaned closer, her grip on Liora''s hair tightening even more and whispered. "Today... it''s your turn to suffer."

 Chapter 234 The Predator Becomes Prey! Loreias Revenge is Beyond Brutal!

    Loreia''s smirk widened. She tightened her grip around Liora''s hair. For days, she had been nothing but a victim, a toy for them.


    But now, it had changed. It was her turn to be the master. She pulled Liora''s head up by pulling her hair, forcing her to look at her.


    Liora gritted her teeth and smirked as she mocked back. "Did you think... that you''ve won... just because of one lucky moment?"


    Loreia laughed. Not just a small chuckle. It was a deep, twisted, uncontrollable laugh.


    Her shoulders then shook with amusement. Her once-terrified eyes were now filled with vicious delight, savoring this moment.


    She tilted her head back on Liora, her grip on Liora''s hair tightening. "Won? Oh no, no, no, dear little sister... I haven''t even started yet."


    Without any hesitation, Loreia drove her knee into Liora''s face, CRACK! Liora''s blood was splattered across the sand.@@@@


    But Loreia wasn''t done yet. She let go of Liora''s hair, only to grab her face instead.


    CRACK! Loreia delivered another knee that was harder, sharper and more brutal than before. She was enjoying this moment.


    Liora gasped, her head jerking backward, blood pouring from her shattered nose.


    Loreia leaned in close and whispered directly in her ear, mocking her. "What''s wrong? Not so fun now, is it?"


    Liora''s vision blurred, but she still managed to smirk, spitting out blood. "You finally get it... huh? This is fun, right, big sister?"


    Loreia grinned wider. "Oh, I get it, little sister. I get it perfectly. It was really fun."


    Without hesitation, she threw Liora to the ground. "But you know what? I think you''re still not broken enough."


    Liora coughed, trying to push herself up, but Loreia was already on her.


    She pressed her foot against the back of Liora''s neck, grinding her into the sand.


    Liora let out a small breath. "You''re finally... learning my way... it''s quite perfect... "


    Loreia''s grin widened as she shook her head. "Learning?No , no, no... This isn''t learning. This is teaching."


    She grabbed both of Liora''s arms, pulling them backward while pressing her foot down on her neck.


    Liora tensed as she knew what was coming.


    Loreia pulled harder and smirked. "Either your neck breaks...or your arms rip apart."


    She let out another manic laugh, her entire body trembling with adrenaline. "Or maybe... both?"


    Luna''s eyes gleamed with excitement. "Then let''s see whose fangs are sharper."


    Loreia smirked, lowering her stance. "Of course and I would like to see just how strong you are."


    Loreia immediately lunged forward like a beast. There was no hesitation or even fear. It was just pure, ruthless aggression.


    Luna smirked as she was unfazed. Instead of dodging, she casually bent down, scooped up a stone from the sand, and hurled it straight at Loreia''s face.


    THUD!


    The rock slammed into Loreia''s forehead, cutting her skin open, but she didn''t stop.


    She didn''t even flinch and kept running straight toward Luna with blood dripping down her face.


    Luna frowned for the second time and soon her eyes widened as Loreia''s fingers shot straight toward her eyes.


    Luna tried to move, but she was a second too late. SQUELCH! "AGH¡ª!!"


    Pain erupted through Luna''s skull as Loreia''s fingers dug deep into her eye sockets.


    Her body jerked violently, staggering back, but Loreia''s grip was like iron. Luna gasped, her breath ragged, her body trembling.


    Loreia, on the other hand, grinned. She was now insane as her breath was uneven.


    It was filled with unhinged satisfaction as she tilted her head and whispered. "Oh, Luna... bear with it, okay?"


    Then she slowly and sadistically twisted her fingers deeper into her eyes.


    Luna groaned, her entire body twitching, her hands trying to push Loreia away.


    Loreia leaned in close, her bloodied face just inches from Luna''s. "I love the way you look at me... But I wonder... how do your eyes taste?"


    Then, she pulled her fingers back and with them, Luna''s eyes came out. Blood splattered onto the sand.


    Luna let out a low, strangled grunt, but she didn''t scream. Instead, she gritted her teeth and tensed her muscles.


    She stumbled slightly, pressing a hand against the open wounds, blood dripping between her fingers.


    Loreia, holding the bloody orbs, grinned wider. To prove her words, she ran her tongue across the blood on her fingers, licking it slowly.


    She then giggled. "Mmm. Not bad. A little bitter, but still good."


    Luna, despite the agonizing pain, managed to frown. Even she hadn''t expected this level of savagery.

 Chapter 235 A Month of Carnage! No Mercy, No Limits, No Escape!

    Luna had lost her vision, as both her eyes were useless. Blood still poured down from her face, but despite the pain, she smirked.


    Even without sight, she could still fight, using her experience. "You think this is enough to stop me, huh, big sister?


    Loreia, still grinning, licked the blood off her fingers. "No. But it''s fun watching you like this."


    Luna chuckled. "Fun, huh? Well, let''s see how long that lasts."


    Then, Luna lunged forward, leaping onto Loreia. She relied on her instinct alone.


    She pulled her fist back, preparing to smash Loreia''s face in but Loreia'' caught her.


    Both of Luna''s wrists were grabbed in midair, making Luna twitch. "You''re faster than before."


    Loreia only grinned wildly. "And you''re weaker than before."


    CRACK!


    Loreia slammed her forehead into Luna''s skull hard.


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    Luna''s head snapped backward, her body stumbling, blood gushing from her already ruined face.


    Her body stumbled back, but before she could react, Loreia pounced.


    She tackled Luna to the ground, straddling her and pinning her arms.


    Luna chuckled weakly, spitting blood. "Getting confident now, big sister?"


    Loreia only smirked as she replied. "No. I''ve just accepted who I am."


    BAM!


    BAM!


    BAM!


    Loreia''s fists crashed into Luna''s face over and over. Luna''s skin was torn, her nose was broken and her face was bruised.


    Each hit sent blood splattering onto the sand. Luna gasped, her body twitching, but she didn''t scream.


    She just grinned through the pain. "That''s it, Loreia. That''s the monster I wanted to see."


    Then, as Luna coughed out blood, Loreia wrapped her fingers around her throat.


    Tight.


    Firm.


    Unrelenting.@@@@


    Luna''s air was cut off, her body convulsing beneath Loreia. But despite choking, despite her bloodied, bruised face...she smirked. "Congratulations... you passed."


    Loreia only smirked. "I know." Before finally, she did it.


    SNAP!


    Luna''s neck was twisted violently by Loreia. Luna''s body twitched once before completely going still.


    ---


    For the rest of the month, they slaughtered each other.


    Every. Single. Day.


    No mercy. No hesitation. No limits.


    Each battle became more violent, more twisted, and more horrifying than the last.


    The ways they died were really also varied, like these.


    Liora snapped Loreia''s spine like a twig, then gouged her lungs out with her bare hands.


    Luna dug her fingers into Liora''s stomach, ripped out her intestines, and strangled her with them.


    Loreia pinned Luna down, drove her thumbs into her eye sockets until they burst, then smashed her skull open with a rock.


    Liora drowned Luna in her own blood, slitting her throat just enough to make her suffocate instead of bleed out instantly.


    Luna broke Loreia''s arms, twisted them behind her back, then slowly, inch by inch, peeled the skin off her hands while she screamed.


    Loreia returned the favor by force-feeding Luna her own torn-out tongue before slicing her stomach open and watching her bleed out.


    Liora bit through Loreia''s neck, tearing out her throat with her teeth, drinking the warm blood as Loreia choked to death.


    Loreia shattered Liora''s kneecaps, pinned her to the ground, then stabbed her repeatedly in the chest with each thrust of the stone slower than the last.


    Luna forced Loreia''s jaw open, breaking it at the hinge, then crushed her windpipe between her fingers.


    Liora bent Luna''s arm the wrong way, then tore it from her body and beat her to death with it.


    Loreia dismembered Liora piece by piece, leaving only her head untouched so she could watch herself die.


    The cycle of violence continued.


    Every.


    Single.


    Day.


    Their bodies were torn apart, shattered, and ripped to pieces. Only to be revived the next morning.


    And each time, they came back stronger, more brutal, and more inhuman.


    They didn''t just tolerate the pain. They embraced it.


    They laughed through their own deaths, grinned while being torn apart, and reveled in the suffering.


    The fear of dying was long gone.


    Pain was just another sensation.


    They had become something else entirely.


    A new kind of monster.


    And they loved every second of it.

 Chapter 236 They Broke Her… And Now Shes Their Master!

    Lucius stretched lazily as he woke up from his sleep. He moved effortlessly through his apartment. He was calm as usual.


    With a flick of his hand, he prepared himself a cup of tea, the rich aroma filling the air.


    But the moment he lifted the cup to his lips, he froze. His brows furrowed deeply as he realized something was wrong, really wrong.


    A thick, suffocating killing intent spread through the air. Lucius turned around to see just where this was coming from.


    He then sensed it and found out that it was not from an intruder. It was from inside the apartment, specifically from them.


    Liora. Luna. Loreia.


    Luna had known about Liora and Luna''s killing intent, but what shocked him and what truly made him pause...


    Was the fact that the overwhelming, almost uncontrollable, suffocating killing intent came from his precious sister, Loreia.


    The Loreia he had known could barely stand up for herself. She was kind, soft and innocent, but now she was not the same.


    Lucius set his teacup down slowly, exhaling deeply. She frowned as he glanced toward the sleeping Luna and Liora.


    He crouched beside them and whispered. "Just what the hell have you two done to my precious sister?"


    And soon enough, all of them immediately woke up from the virtual nightmare they had endured for a month.


    But the moment they opened their eyes, they didn''t hesitate and pause.


    They immediately assumed their battle stances, ready to fight at any moment. Feral, instinctive and ready to kill.


    Lucius frowned as he stepped forward and raised his hand, shouting loudly. "Stop."


    His voice echoed through the room and the moment they heard his voice, they froze, although they were still tense.


    They soon realized that they had come back to the real world. Luna and Liora exchanged glances and calmed down.


    Meanwhile, Loreia''s wide, crazed eyes darted toward Lucius.


    She stiffened, blinking rapidly as if she were seeing a ghost. "Lucius...? Is that really you? Are you real?"


    Lucius exhaled. "Of course, I am."


    The moment those words left his mouth, Loreia rushed toward and leaped into his arms.


    She wrapped herself around him, hugging him tightly, as if confirming he was real. "I missed you so much!"


    She then pulled back just enough to look up at him before frowning. "And also, who the hell are they, really?!"


    She pointed his finger at Luna and Liora, accusing them. "They''re monsters! They torture people for fun!"


    Loreia frowned as she narrowed her eyes. "Their idea?"


    Lucius nodded. "They told me that you are too weak after getting attacked by those two bastards."


    Loreia''s expression darkened. "Galwin and Deon."


    Lucius shrugged. "Yeah, whatever their names were."


    He crossed his arms. "Because of that, they came to me and said they wanted to toughen you up. That''s why they threw you into that hellish world."


    Loreia sighed heavily, shaking her head. She slowly turned toward Luna and Liora, her expression unreadable.


    For a moment, silence filled the room and then she spoke. "I really, really want to be mad at you both."


    Luna and Liora watched her carefully.


    Loreia then continued, "But... I already killed you two so many times in that world."


    She tilted her head, smirking slightly. "So let''s just say... we''re even."


    Luna chuckled, smirking. "Thank you, older sister."


    Liora only gave a small nod.


    Lucius sighed loudly, rubbing his temples. "But that doesn''t mean I''m letting this slide."


    Luna and Liora tensed slightly.


    Lucius glared at them both. "I''m still angry about what you put my sister through."


    He let the words sink in for a moment before his smirk returned. "So now, you two will be under my sister."


    Luna and Liora blinked, surprised. "Huh?"


    Lucius crossed his arms. "From now on, you will be her bodyguards. You will listen to her orders, follow her commands, and make sure nothing like that ever happens again."


    Luna and Liora looked at each other. Then, without hesitation, they knelt. "Yes, Master."


    Luna smirked at Loreia, tilting her head. "Looks like we''re in your care now, big sister."


    Liora nodded. "We will serve you well."


    Loreia stared at them, still processing everything and then she grinned, cracking her knuckles. "Oh, don''t worry. I''ll make sure you two don''t regret it."


    Luna chuckled. "Oh? Are you planning on getting revenge, big sister?"


    Loreia smirked. "Let''s just say... I''ll enjoy being the one giving orders this time."


    Lucius sipped his tea, smirking to himself, as this was going to be interesting.

 Chapter 237 Two Idiots, One Missing Worker, and a Desperate Manager!

    Inside Loreia''s office, the managers were behind his desk. He was currently frowning.


    Even a report that was laid in front of him, he wasn''t reading it at all. Instead, he tapped his fingers against the desk.


    Just this morning, he received unexpected info. One of his best employees, Loreia, had suddenly quit working here.


    "Just what the hell happened to her? She was one of my best workers!"


    He leaned back, rubbing his forehead. Loreia had always been professional, dedicated, and reliable.


    And then, to make things even worse, the two bastards, Galwin and Deon, were also missing.


    The manager sighed, shaking his head. "Those two again, why am I not surprised?"


    Unlike Loreia, Galwin and Deon were absolute garbage. They skipped work whenever they wanted and treated everyone around them like dirt.


    They could do this because they had some family connections with the higher-ups, helping them to avoid consequences.@@@@


    But even for those two idiots, something like this was too much. "Lazy bastards. Even if they were planning to slack off, they wouldn''t do it without at least coming up with a half-assed excuse."


    His fingers tapped aggressively against the desk. "Irritating. Absolutely irritating."


    One of his staff members suddenly raised his hand. "Manager, I think I know the reason."


    The manager''s frown deepened as his eyes snapped toward the staff member. "What? You know what''s going on? Speak."


    The employee shifted uncomfortably but nodded. "Well... it''s just a guess, but... yesterday was payday, right? And like usual, Deon and Galwin drank themselves stupid."


    The manager sighed, shaking his head. "Yeah, I already knew that. Those bastards treat every payday like some damn festival. That might explain why they''re not here today."


    The staff member hesitated. "But... there''s more."


    The manager''s brow twitched. "More? What more?"


    The employee licked his lips nervously. "Since they were drinking, they must have been wandering around, right? And... well..."


    "Spit it out." The manager''s patience was wearing thin.


    The staff member took a deep breath. "I think... because they were drunk, they might have run into Loreia. And knowing them... they might have done something."


    The moment the words left his mouth, the manager knew what he meant and became angry. "Damn it."


    He slammed his fist onto the desk, silencing the room. "To think those two dared to pull something like that¡ª!"


    Inside Loreia''s apartment, Lucius sat calmly, sipping his tea as he gazed at his sister. "Did you awaken your talent, sis?"


    Loreia sighed and shook her head. "No. I''m one of those unlucky ones."


    Lucius put down his teacup and sighed. "I see."


    He leaned forward, resting his elbow on the table. "Then, do you know any locations where we can hunt beasts?"


    Loreia raised her eyebrow. "You''re planning to hunt? Why? You''re already strong, aren''t you?"


    Lucius smirked slightly. "That may be true, but in this world, my energy is drained. I need to regain my strength. The fastest way to do that is through beast cores."


    Loreia sighed and pulled out her phone. She opened the map and showed them various beast-infested locations. "Alright, there are a few places nearby."


    She pointed at the first two locations on the screen. "These two are C-Rank zones. They were usually used to train some new beast fighters."


    Lucius nodded, then glanced at the next location. "And this one?"


    Loreia then turned serious. "This is an A-Rank zone. It''s far more dangerous than the others. There were only a few who dared to come here."


    Lucius smirked. "Perfect."


    He turned toward Luna and Liora. "Go hunt some beasts in the A-Rank zone. Focus only on collecting beast cores. Don''t waste time on anything unnecessary."


    Luna chuckled, placing a hand on her hip. "Oh? Sending us on a mission already? You really don''t waste time, Master."


    Liora nodded with a slight smirk. "Understood. We''ll return with enough beast cores to be useful."


    Loreia leaned back, folding her arms. "Hold on, are you sure about this? That place isn''t a joke. Even high-rank tamers don''t go in without a proper team."


    Luna grinned. "Oh, big sister, you''re underestimating us."


    Loreia rolled her eyes. "No, I just don''t want to hear later that you two got eaten by some oversized lizard."


    Liora chuckled. "That won''t happen."


    Lucius sighed, raising his hand. "Enough talk. Go."


    Without hesitation, Liora and Luna moved. They immediately rode Loxen that had been summoned by Luna. Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire


    Loreia watched as they prepared to leave. "Don''t die out there."


    Luna grinned as she disappeared into the shadows. "No promises."


    Lucius watched them leave and smirked. His hack points should be recovered anytime soon.

 Chapter 238 City Life is Confusing! Luna and Liora Struggle to Navigate!

    The apartment had become quiet as Luna and Liora were gone.


    Lucius sat comfortably on the couch, while Loreia stretched lazily, looking completely relaxed.


    She turned to him with a smirk. "So, what now?"


    Lucius raised his eyebrow. "I should be asking you that."


    Loreia grinned smugly. "Well, I quit my job."


    Lucius paused. "Just like that?"


    Loreia nodded. "Yep. No regrets. I figured, now that you''re back and rich, you can afford to take care of me."


    She leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm. "So, I''ll just relax and enjoy life."


    Lucius sighed, rubbing his temples. "Sure, I can afford it... but not now. I literally just got back."


    Loreia pouted playfully. "Ugh, fine. I''ll wait... for now."


    Then a loud growl echoed in the room. Lucius immediately froze.


    Loreia blinked for a moment before bursting out laughing. "Oh my god! Was that your stomach?!"


    Lucius sighed, shaking his head. "Don''t laugh. It''s your fault." Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    Loreia wiped a fake tear of laughter from her eye. "How is this my fault?"


    Lucius leaned back. "You didn''t bring any food last night. I expected a meal, but instead, I had to deal with you after you passed out, facing Loxen and those two bastards."


    Loreia rolled her eyes. "Excuse me for being too weak yesterday."


    Lucius chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, now I''m starving."


    Loreia tapped her chin, pretending to think. "Hmm... should I let my dear brother starve a little longer? As revenge for not letting me slack off?"


    Lucius gave her a sharp look. "Loreia."


    Loreia snickered. "Alright, alright! Let''s go eat. My treat."


    Lucius raised his eyebrow. "Oh? You''re actually paying?"


    Loreia grinned. "Consider it my last meal as a working-class citizen."


    Lucius sighed dramatically. "How generous."


    Loreia pointed at him. "Hey, don''t get used to it. This is a one-time deal."


    The old woman chuckled. "A wise girl. Not many newcomers have that kind of caution."


    She then raised her wrinkled hand, pointing in a specific direction. "Listen carefully, dear. Go straight down this road, take two lefts, then two rights. At the very end of that path, you''ll find the A-Rank beast zone."


    Liora smiled, nodding gratefully. "Thank you very much."


    The old woman patted her shoulder gently. "You''re welcome, my dear. Be careful out there."


    Liora bowed slightly in thanks before turning back toward the shadows where Luna and Loxen were waiting.


    As she walked back, she couldn''t help but smirk slightly. "Finally, we have a direction."


    ---


    Lucius and Loreia sat inside Pluckin'' Good Fried Beast!, enjoying their meal.


    In front of them was a pile of golden, crispy fried Pluckins and the moment Lucius took a bite, he was so surprised.


    He chewed the food and commented. "Wow... this actually tastes good."


    Loreia grinned, grabbing a piece herself. "Of course! Pluckins are the best, especially for food."


    She dipped a piece into a spicy sauce, popping it into her mouth. "This place has the best fried Pluckins in the city. I knew you''d like it."


    Lucius nodded approvingly, taking another bite. "Yeah, it''s been a long time since I ate food this good."


    The crispiness, the juicy meat, the seasoning. It was far better than most meals he had eaten in his previous world.


    Loreia watched him, chewing on a fry.


    Even though she had changed, even though she had gone through hell in the virtual world, at that moment, she was reminded of something simple. Lucius was still her little brother.


    She couldn''t help but smile softly as she watched him enjoy his food. "You really are still the same, huh?"


    Lucius glanced at her, raising his eyebrow. "What''s that supposed to mean?"


    Loreia chuckled. "Nothing. Just... it''s nice to see you enjoy something so simple."


    Lucius smirked. "Food is food. If it''s good, I''ll enjoy it."


    Loreia leaned back in her chair, sipping her drink. "Well, eat up. This is just the beginning of me introducing you to all the best foods in this world."


    Lucius grinned. "I won''t complain about that."


    For the first time in a while, they weren''t fighting, planning, or dealing with death.


    For now, they were just siblings, enjoying a meal together.

 Chapter 239 They Called Her the Perfect Worker… But Now, They Dont Even Recognize Her!

    Lucius continued eating, enjoying every crispy bite of the fried Pluckins and suddenly something caught his attention.


    ---


    [Hack Points Increased: +1]


    [Hack Points Increased: +2]


    ---


    He already knew that eating would also give him hack points. It wasn''t much, but it was still something.


    He smirked slightly but didn''t dwell on it. Right now, his goal was just to eat. Not farm points.


    Just as he reached for another piece, he realized that a group was approaching them and Loreia also noticed them.


    Loreia frowned the moment she recognized who they were.


    They were her manager... and some former work "friends" whose names she didn''t even bother remembering.


    The manager stepped forward, forcing a polite smile. "Good to see you here, Loreia."


    Loreia sighed dramatically, leaning back in her chair. She didn''t even let him finish. "Manager, I already know why you''re here. I''m not rejoining."


    The manager frowned, clearly not expecting her bluntness. "Loreia, don''t be so hasty. At least listen to what I have to say."


    Loreia rolled her eyes. "There''s nothing to listen to. I quit. I''m done. I''m not going back."


    The manager inhaled deeply, clearly trying to remain calm. "Is this because of Deon and Galwin? If it is, I assure you, they will face harsh punishment for what they did."


    The moment Loreia heard those names, she burst into laughter. Not a giggle. Not a chuckle. A full-blown, uncontrollable laugh.


    The manager and his staff members exchanged nervous glances. "Them? Punishment?"


    Loreia wiped a fake tear from her eye, still laughing. "Oh, that''s rich. You''re funny, manager. I should''ve appreciated your humor while I was working."


    Her laughter abruptly stopped, replaced by a cold smirk. "You think ''punishment'' matters to me? Even if you fired them, locked them up, or ruined their lives, I still wouldn''t care. I''ve already handled it."


    The manager''s expression stiffened. "Handled it? What do you mean?"@@@@


    Loreia leaned forward slightly and smirked. "Let''s just say... those two won''t be bothering me anymore."


    A brief chill ran through the manager''s spine. Something about the way she said it... was unsettling.


    Opening his eyes, he spoke with a defeated tone. "Let''s just hope the higher-ups don''t make us take the blame for this."


    Silence fell over the room as everyone knew that the higher-ups wouldn''t care about their excuses.


    And if things went bad? They would be the ones who suffered for it.


    ---


    Liora and Luna finally arrived at the gates of the A-Rank Beast Zone.


    Luna stretched, rolling her shoulders. "Finally, we made it. To think it was this close all along."


    Liora sighed, shaking her head. "Thankfully, we asked someone for directions. Otherwise, we''d still be wandering around like idiots."


    Luna grinned, nudging her. "Hey, hey! At least we got here in the end. That''s all that matters."


    Liora crossed her arms as she glanced at the entrance. There was a massive iron gate, guarded by heavily armed patrols.


    Liora glanced at them and frowned. "Looks like there are guards."


    Luna snickered, flipping her hair. "And? You''re acting like that''s a problem."


    Liora raised an eyebrow. "It is. Do you want to fight them all just to enter? It would be an unnecessary hassle." Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    Luna grinned. "You''re forgetting something, Liora. Don''t you know Loxen''s element?"


    Liora paused, then smirked slightly. "Ah. Right."


    Luna patted Loxen''s side. "Alright, you know what to do."


    Loxen let out a low growl before melding into the shadows, his form dissolving into pure darkness.


    Luna and Liora were on Loxen. They passed right through the gate''s shadow, unseen by the guards.


    The patrols remained clueless, standing there without realizing two deadly intruders had just passed them.


    As they emerged inside the A-Rank Beast Zone, Luna smirked. "See? That was too easy."


    Liora nodded, scanning the area. "Now, let''s get to work. Time to hunt."


    Luna grinned. "Time to have some fun."


    And with that, they disappeared deeper into the zone.

 Chapter 240 A-Rank Beast Zone? Luna and Liora Are Just Getting Started!

    Luna and Liora stepped deeper into the A-Rank Beast Zone, scanning around the place.


    Unlike the dense forests they had fought in before, this place was barren and dry, resembling a scorched wasteland.


    Liora studied the terrain carefully, frowning. "This place is different from what I expected. There''s barely any cover."


    Luna tilted her head. "It looks like a battlefield that''s already been burned down."


    She smirked, kicking a loose rock forward. "Not bad. That means we don''t have to deal with obstacles getting in the way."


    Liora gave her a sideways glance. "You say that now, but if something stronger than us shows up, we have nowhere to hide."


    Luna grinned. "That''s fine. I like straightforward fights. Sneaking around gets boring."


    Liora sighed. "You just hate using strategy."


    Luna shrugged. "Not true. My strategy is simple. Hit them until they stop moving."


    Liora shook her head. "One day, that reckless attitude will get you in trouble."


    Luna chuckled. "Then I''ll deal with it when it happens."@@@@


    As they ventured deeper, a low growl alerted them. They immediately stopped and looked at what it was.


    From the distance, a pack of beasts emerged, which consisted of red wolves.


    Their fur was a deep red, their tails and claws burning with fire, leaving behind embers and smoke wherever they stepped.


    They locked their gaze onto Luna and Liora, recognizing them as intruders.


    Luna grinned, rolling her shoulders. "Looks like we''ve found our first targets."


    Liora got off Loxen and glared at the red wolevs. "They found us first. Be ready."


    Luna laughed, getting off Loxen without hesitation. "Ready? I was born ready."


    One of the wolves snarled, flames bursting from its fangs as it crouched, preparing to strike.


    Luna only grinned wider. "Oh? You want to go first? Be my guest."


    Liora sighed, stepping beside her. "Can you at least try not to play with them too much?"


    Luna smirked. "Where''s the fun in that?"


    The wolves let out a collective snarl, fire rising around them.


    The battle was about to begin.


    ---


    Luna smirked, cracking her knuckles as she eyed the pack of Red Wolves in front of them. "Loxen, show them who''s the boss."


    Luna grinned. "Oh? His flames are suppressing theirs? Nice."


    Liora nodded. "Leon''s Silver Flames are superior to theirs. They can''t overpower him."


    Leon let out a deep, thunderous roar before opening his massive jaws. Silver flames began to gather at his throat.


    Leon then unleash a burst of silver flame toward the group of the red wolves, engulfing them completely.


    Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire


    They didn''t even have time to scream. Their bodies disintegrated into nothing but ash, leaving behind only their beast cores.


    Luna smirked, watching the display. "As strong as ever, huh?"


    Liora patted Leon''s side, nodding. "He never disappoints."


    With the battlefield silent, only the remains of their fallen enemies left behind, the two turned to each other.


    Luna stretched, letting out a satisfied sigh. "Alright, that was a decent warm-up. Let''s keep going."


    Liora nodded. "Agreed. We still need to gather more beast cores."


    Luna grinned, rolling her shoulders. "And maybe find something that actually puts up a fight."


    Liora sighed, shaking her head. "Before that, let''s pick up their beast cores."


    Luna waved her hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. Fine. Loxen, pick them up and store them in the Shadow Realm."


    Loxen nodded silently. He walked over to the ashes of the red wolves and took their beast cores, putting them in his shadow.


    Luna crossed her arms, watching. "You know, sometimes I think I should just let Loxen do all the work. It makes things so much easier."


    Liora rolled her eyes. "Or maybe you could actually do some work yourself."


    Luna laughed. "Why would I, when I have the best shadow panther doing it for me?"


    Loxen let out a low growl, side-eyeing Luna.


    Luna grinned. "Oh, don''t look at me like that. You''re enjoying yourself, aren''t you?"


    Liora ignored the banter, checking the area for any remaining threats. "How many beast cores so far?"


    Loxen finished collecting the last one, then let out a short growl.


    Luna translated easily. "Seven in total. Not bad. But we need more."


    Liora nodded. "Then let''s move deeper. The stronger beasts won''t be lurking at the edges."


    Luna grinned. "Now we''re talking. Let''s find something that actually makes this interesting."


    With their spoils secured, the two headed deeper into the A-Rank Beast Zone, ready for whatever came next.

 Chapter 241 Merciless Bandits Lurk in the Shadows… And Luna & Liora Are Their Prey!

    Not too far from Luna and Liora''s location, hidden among the rocky terrain, a group of rough men gathered.


    They were not ordinary men, as they were the bandits. They were merciless hunters who had adapted to survive in this deadly A-Rank Beast Zone.


    Because they had lived among these dangerous creatures for years, they were stronger than most ordinary Beast Fighters.


    Their strength wasn''t just from talent. It was from ruthless survival.


    One of the scouts crouched on a jagged rock and could see the bright glow of Leon''s silver flames in the distance.


    He smirked before quickly turning back toward his leader. "Boss, we got something. Looks like new prey just wandered in. They''re fighting in the Pyrolf territory."


    The leader of the bandits, a large man with scarred arms and cold, predatory eyes, was sitting lazily on a boulder, chewing on a dried piece of beast meat.


    He raised his eyebrow, grinning slightly. "New prey? Hah. It''s been a while since we''ve had a fresh hunt."


    One of the bandits laughed. "What kind of dumbasses just walk into our hunting ground? They must have a death wish."


    Another bandit clicked his tongue, shaking his head. "Probably some wannabe adventurers looking for easy beast cores."


    Another bandit shrugged. "Tch. Amateurs. They''re in an A-Rank Zone. No one comes here unless they''re strong or stupid."


    Then one of the excited bandits asked. "Then should we go greet them?"


    The leader chuckled, tossing his half-eaten meat aside and standing up. The leader then stretched, rolling his shoulders. "Of course, we do."


    He was also excited. "It''s been way too long since any good prey wandered in. Let''s welcome them properly."


    A taller, thinner bandit leaned forward, grinning. "Think they''re worth the effort?"


    The leader smirked. "Does it matter? If they have anything valuable, we take it. If they''re strong, we kill them. If they''re weak... well, you know how we do things."


    The bandits grinned, some already gripping their weapons, others whispering eagerly.


    "Heh, finally! I was getting bored of just hunting beasts."


    "Hah! Fresh bodies, fresh loot! This is going to be fun!" Read exclusive chapters at My Virtual Library Empire


    One of the bandits licked his lips, laughing. "If they''re decent-looking, maybe we don''t kill ''em right away. Could have some fun first."


    The leader shot him a look, his grin fading into a frown. "We kill them. We don''t play with our food."


    The bandit gulped, nodding quickly. "Y-Yeah, of course, boss. Just saying."


    The leader''s grin returned. "Good. Now, let''s move."


    Liora nodded, satisfied. "I see."


    She glanced around the wasteland. "Let''s keep going. We need a lot more for Master."


    Luna grinned, stretching her arms. "Yeah, yeah. Let''s just hope we run into something actually strong soon."


    Liora glanced at her, unimpressed. "You do realize we need to get the beast cores, not just fight for fun, right?"


    Luna shrugged, grinning. "Who says I can''t do both? Besides, we''re in an A-Rank Zone. If all we fight are these wolves, I''m going to be disappointed."


    Liora sighed, shaking her head. "Try not to jinx us."


    With that, the two continued their hunt, unaware that a different kind of predator was already hunting them.


    ---


    The group of bandits arrived at the first battlefield where Luna and Liora had fought.


    What they saw made them surprised. The only remnants of the Pyrolf pack were the stench of burnt flesh.


    One of the bandits crouched down, running his fingers through the ashes.His expression twisted in confusion.


    "Boss... this is insane. The Pyrolfs were fire beasts, yet they were completely incinerated."


    Another bandit kicked at the remains, his brow furrowing. "Burned into nothing but dust... what the hell did this?"


    The leader of the bandits stood still, crossing his arms. He observed the scene with amusement before smirking. "They''re stronger than I thought."


    One of his men chuckled. "You sound excited, boss."


    The leader grinned. "Of course, I am. Strong prey makes for the most entertaining hunts."


    One of the bandits hesitated. "But if they''re this strong, should we really go after them? If they can turn Pyrolfs into ashes, they might not be easy to deal with."


    The leader scoffed, stepping forward. "Don''t be an idiot. That just means they''re worth the effort."


    He cracked his neck, smirking. "Besides, it''s been too long since I''ve had a real challenge."


    Another bandit grinned. "Well, I guess that means we''ll be hunting properly today."


    The leader looked at the trail of footprints leading further into the A-Rank Zone. "They didn''t go far. Let''s move. The hunt is on."


    With that, the bandits followed the trail, their eyes filled with murderous intent.


    Unaware of the danger approaching, Luna and Liora continued deeper into the beast zone.

 Chapter 242 They Hunted for Loot and Pleasure… But Walked Into Their Own Doom!

    Luna and Liora ventured deeper into the A-Rank Beast zone and soon encountered a massive red wolf.


    Unlike the ones they had fought earlier, this one was larger, more muscular, and its fur burned with a fiercer intensity.


    Luna grinned, tilting her head. "Looks like we found the Alpha."


    Liora nodded. "It should be. Its flames are stronger, and its presence is heavier than the others."


    The Alpha Pyrolf narrowed its eyes, sniffing the air. It immediately caught the scent of its fallen brethren on them.


    It immediately made him growl deep. He was enraged knowing his brethren were killed.


    Luna laughed. "Oh? Are you mad? Are you upset we wiped out your little pack?"


    Liora sighed. "Taunting it isn''t necessary, Luna."Luna grinned wider. "Oh, but it''s fun. Look at him. He''s about to lose it."


    The Alpha Pyrolf, as if confirming her words, suddenly lunged forward without hesitation.


    Flames erupted from its body, surrounding it as it charged toward them.


    Luna smirked. "Oh? Straight to the attack? I like it."She snapped her fingers. "Loxen. Shadow Spear."


    Instantly, from the Alpha Pyrolf''s own shadow, countless dark spears erupted.


    The black tendrils pierced through its limbs, impaling its body midair, stopping it instantly.


    The Alpha Pyrolf was shocked as it let out a deep, furious snarl, struggling against the spears.


    Luna grinned, watching it struggle. "Oh? You''re still moving? That''s impressive."


    The Alpha Pyrolf growled even louder, baring its teeth at her in pure fury.


    Luna raised her index finger. "Don''t worry. It''ll be over soon."


    At the same time, a single, larger shadow spear formed below its head.


    With a simple flick of her finger...


    SHNK!


    The shadow spear pierced straight through the Alpha Pyrolf''s skull, killing it instantly.


    The flames around its body flickered out as its massive corpse collapsed onto the ground.


    Luna smirked, dusting her hands off. "Done."


    The leader of the bandits stopped, eyeing Luna and Liora carefully.


    Unlike his men, he didn''t look as entertained. Something about them felt off.


    But before he could speak, Liora''s voice cut through the air. "Leon, Silver Flame Burst."


    The bandits barely had time to react as Leon opened his massive jaws, his silver mane flaring intensely.


    A devastating burst of Silver Flame erupted from his mouth, sweeping across the nearest bandit.


    The man screamed but only for a second before his body was completely burned into ash, leaving nothing behind.


    The remaining bandits were shocked when they saw that one of their own was killed so fast.


    One of them took a shaky step back, his face pale. "H-He... he''s gone... just like that?"


    Another gritted his teeth, hands trembling. "W-What the hell kind of power is that?! That wasn''t normal fire!"


    The bandit leader frowned as he glared at Liora. "Who the hell are you?! How dare you attack so blatantly?!"


    Liora smirked, tilting her head slightly, completely unfazed. "This is a battlefield."


    She walked forward, patting Leon. "There''s no way I''m taking it easy."


    Luna chuckled, stepping beside her, crossing her arms. "Oh? Were you expecting us to just stand around while you scouted us like prey? What a joke."


    One of the bandits snarled. "You arrogant bitches! We were just talking, and you¡ª"


    Liora cut him off. "You were scouting. Calculating whether we were worth attacking. I simply made the decision for you."


    The leader narrowed his eyes. "Tch... You''re not normal women, are you?"


    Luna laughed. "Oh? Did you just figure that out? Maybe you''re slower than I thought."


    The bandits'' tension thickened.


    One of them whispered, "Boss, we should rethink this. That beast of hers¡ªit''s stronger than we thought."


    Another spat on the ground. "Damn it... I thought we''d have the advantage. Now I''m not so sure."


    The leader exhaled, cracking his neck. "Doesn''t matter. They killed one of ours. That means they die here."


    The bandits gritted their teeth, realizing too late that they weren''t the only hunters here.


    Luna grinned as she stepped back. "Oh? Is that how this works? You get one of yours erased from existence, and instead of running, you double down? I like your spirit."


    Liora nodded, crossing her arms. "Foolish, but quite entertaining."

 Chapter 243 They Thought They Were the Predators… Until They Met Liora!

    The bandit leader wasted no time at all. He leaped off his beast and merged with it.


    His body expanded and his muscles thickened. His limbs were replaced by claws and fur grew on his body.


    He was now a beast hybrid, half human and half beast.@@@@


    His form was monstrous with his dark fur with a streak of red fur running down his back like a trail of dried blood.


    His beast, Direfang, was no ordinary wolf. It was a massive black predator, with teeth so large and jagged they never fully retracted.


    Unlike common wolves, Direfangs were loners, only found in the most powerful and dominant packs.


    Its raw strength and constant aggression made it one of the most feared beasts in the wild and now that strength belonged to the bandit leader.


    The other bandits stepped back as they were quite excited.


    "Boss is getting serious! He''s fused with Direfang!"


    "That woman is dead now. No one fights against Boss in this form and survives!"


    The leader flexed his claws, his voice now a distorted snarl. "You should''ve run while you had the chance. But now... it''s too late."


    But instead of showing fear, Liora smirked. "So you fused? Interesting."


    She closed her eyes briefly, taking a deep breath as she began to fuse with Leon.


    Silver fur began to grow from her body. Her limbs had become claws and her once-human features now resembled a majestic lion as she became a Silver Lion Beastman.


    The bandits froze, staring at her transformation.


    One of them whispered, "T¡ªthe hell... she can fuse too?!"


    Another one stepped back. "That''s no ordinary fusion... She''s stronger than she looks!"


    The leader''s snarl deepened, his claws flexing. "Doesn''t matter. Beast Fusion or not¡ªyou''ll still die."


    Liora grinned, stepping forward, her claws crackling with silver fire. "Then let''s see just how powerful you really are, Bandit Leader."


    ---


    The bandit leader crouched low, flexing his claw before lunging toward her with his massive black claws.


    He was aiming straight for Liora''s throat, thinking of ending this, but Liora smirked.


    She rushed forward even faster as she closed the distance in an instant.


    Before the bandit leader could even react¡ª


    BAM!


    CRACK!


    Liora appeared in front of one of the bandits, her claw gripping his face.


    His eyes widened in terror. "W-Wait! Please¡ª!"


    She tightened her grip."Burn."


    A burst of silver fire erupted from her palm, engulfing the man''s head.


    His screams were muffled by the flames, his body convulsing violently before collapsing into a pile of ashes.


    One bandit, wide-eyed, screamed. "MONSTER! SHE''S A DAMN MONSTER!"


    Liora laughed. "You say that like I''m the bad guy. You were the ones planning to kill us first."


    One of the bandits, desperate, pointed at her. "Everyone! Surround her! We attack all at once!"


    Their beasts lunged forward, claws, fangs, and weapons ready to strike. But¡ªtoo bad.


    Liora glanced toward them and smirked. "Silver Flame Burst."


    She opened her mouth and gathered some silver flame for sending it toward the bandits.


    BOOOOM!


    A wave of silver fire erupted forward, sweeping across everything in front of them.


    The bandits screamed as the flames engulfed them and their beasts alike.


    Some of them tried to run, but the moment the fire touched them, their flesh ignited.


    Their bodies crumbled into burning cinders, one by one, until nothing remained.


    The battle was over.


    Liora flicked her wrist, shaking off the remaining embers on her claws.


    She turned toward the last remaining enemy, the bandit leader, who was now shocked.


    His entire bandit group was gone. They were wiped out in mere minutes.


    The once-powerful hunters of the A-Rank Beast Zone had become nothing more than ashes scattered by the desert wind.


    And standing before him, the cause of it all was this unknown woman, Liora.


    She tilted her head slightly, smirking as she pointed her claw toward him. "Your turn."


    The bandit leader gritted his teeth, his claws tightening into fists. "You... you bitch...I''m going to kill you!"

 Chapter 244 The Battle Ends… But Now Liora Wants a Bath?!

    The bandit leader crouched low as his entire body was shaking in rage.


    His muscles expanded, his veins bulging beneath his dark fur as a red aura began to radiate from him.


    His claws became sharper than before. He also bared his fangs in fury. "I''m going to kill you for them."


    He immediately charged as his entire body surged forward, sending rocks flying from the sheer force of his movement.


    He had poured every ounce of his power into this one strike. A final, desperate blow.


    His claws glowed with red energy, slashing forward, aiming straight for Liora''s throat.


    But Liora didn''t move. She didn''t even flinch. Instead, she caught his attack with a single claw.


    Her claws wrapped effortlessly around his, stopping his killing blow midair.


    The desert wind howled around them, the moment frozen in absolute silence.


    The bandit leader''s eyes widened. It was impossible. His entire body shook, refusing to believe what just happened."W-What...?"


    His voice cracked. "How can this be possible?!"


    Liora tilted her head slightly, her expression cold. "As I''ve already said..."


    She tightened her grip, squeezing his claw just enough for cracks to form along his fused beast arm."You''re too weak and too slow."


    Then¡ª


    She parted her lips slightly, a faint glow forming within her mouth.


    The air around them trembled as silver flames gathered at the back of her throat.


    The bandit leader''s face twisted in terror as he knew what she was about to do. "W-Wait!"


    But it was too late. Liora exhaled a burst of blinding silver flame, engulfing the bandit leader''s face.


    He didn''t even have time to scream.


    The flames ate through his flesh, incinerating his body in mere seconds.


    The red aura that once surrounded him faded, his bones disintegrating into dust before even touching the ground.


    By the time the fire died down, there was nothing left. Not even ashes.


    Liora lowered her head slightly, exhaling through her nose before smirking. "And that''s the end of that."


    Luna, who had been watching the entire thing unfold, let out a long whistle. "Damn. You didn''t even let him finish his last words. That was brutal."


    Liora rolled her eyes. "You''re annoying. Let''s go."


    She turned toward Loxen, already walking over to him.


    Luna snickered, shaking her head as she followed. "Alright, alright, I''ll stop teasing. But still, it''s weird seeing you care about stuff like that."


    Liora hopped onto Loxen''s back, leaning forward slightly as she adjusted herself. "Call it an appreciation for civilization. Nothing wrong with enjoying the good things once in a while."


    Luna grinned, climbing up behind her. "Alright, I get it. You''re still a killer, just a clean one."


    Liora ignored her.


    Luna patted Loxen''s side, giving a relaxed sigh. "Alright, buddy, take us home."


    Loxen let out a deep growl, his shadow stretching out beneath them and in an instant, they vanished into the shadow.


    ---


    The guards on the gate of the A-Rank Beast Zone were patrolling like usual.


    For hours, it had been quiet, just like any other day but then something unexpected happened.


    Bright flashes of light suddenly erupted from deep within the Pyrolf territory that could be seen even from a distance.


    One of them stepped forward, frowning. "What the hell was that?! Did you see that?!"


    Another guard nodded, his face tense. "Yeah... and those weren''t normal beast fights. That was way too powerful."


    "Could it be a high-rank beast rampaging? Or... something else?"


    "I don''t know, but we need to report this."


    Without hesitation, one of the guards turned on his communicator.


    "This is Gate Post 3! We have an anomaly in the Pyrolf territory! Multiple bright light sources detected¡ªpossible high-tier beast engagement! Requesting confirmation and further instructions!"


    The radio buzzed, and after a brief moment, a voice crackled through.


    "Copy that, Gate Post 3. Maintain position. Scouts will be dispatched immediately."


    The guards exchanged glances, tension thick in the air.


    "Whatever''s happening out there... it''s big."


    "And we''re about to find out what."


    As the message was relayed to higher-ups, a team was immediately dispatched to investigate.

 Chapter 245 The Bandits Are Gone, the Loot Is Collected… But Now Theres a Bigger Battle at Home!

    The group of guards moved swiftly, making their way toward the Pyrolf territory.


    The sun hung high, making the desert even more unbearable as they finally arrived at their destination.


    But the moment they saw it, they all froze. There was nothing. No Pyrolfs. No Alpha. Not even a single trace of anything.


    The entire area was barren, except for scorched marks on the ground, as if something had burned away everything.


    One of the guards stepped forward, shielding his eyes from the glaring sun. "This... doesn''t make any damn sense."


    Another knelt down, running his fingers through the ash-covered sand, confused.


    "We saw the lights from here, right? That means there should be something left. But... there''s nothing. Not even corpses."


    A younger soldier scanned the area. "The Pyrolfs lived here. Even if they lost a fight, there would be traces. Bones, blood, or something!"


    He kicked the ground in frustration, sending up a small cloud of dust.


    Another guard wiped sweat off his forehead, shaking his head.


    "It''s too damn hot here. Like something burned everything into nothing."


    The lead guard remained silent, his arms crossed as he observed the unnatural emptiness.


    "This wasn''t a normal battle. Something or someone erased everything."


    A more experienced soldier stepped up beside him. "Could it have been the bandits?"


    The group tensed.


    Everyone knew the bandits lurking in this zone were dangerous.


    The lead guard turned to the man who spoke, his expression skeptical.


    "The bandits are strong, but this? This is something else. They''re not capable of wiping out an entire pack without leaving a trace."


    One of the newer recruits swallowed hard. "But if it was them, what do we do? Are we going after them?"


    The lead guard exhaled, shaking his head. "No. Even if they were involved, we were ordered not to engage them directly. If we run into them, we''re as good as dead."


    A tense silence filled the air.Then, a more senior guard finally broke it, rubbing his temples. "Damn it. This is giving me a headache. What do we report back? That the Pyrolfs just... vanished?"


    Liora paused, raising her eyebrow. "Excuse me?"


    Luna crossed her arms, standing her ground. "You heard me! I should go first!"


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    Liora exhaled through her nose, unimpressed. "Why? I was the one actually fighting the entire time. You just stood around, watching."


    Luna gritted her teeth. "Hey, I was still part of the mission! I worked too! I mean, technically."


    Liora rolled her eyes. "Technically? You''re joking, right? You barely moved. I was the one tearing those bandits apart. I deserve the first bath."


    Luna huffed. "Oh, come on! I also got sweaty! Do you think standing around watching you kill people is effortless?"


    Lucius, still sitting on the couch, frowned deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Just... what the hell happened to them? Where did my loyal and cool maids go?"


    Loreia sighed dramatically, standing up and placing her hands on her hips. "Alright, enough! If you two keep bickering like children, I won''t let either of you use the bath."


    Liora and Luna immediately went silent, their eyes widening in surprise.


    "W-Wait! Big sister, that''s too much!" Luna protested.


    Liora frowned, nodding. "Agreed. You wouldn''t be that cruel... right?"


    Loreia folded her arms, unimpressed. "Then stop acting ridiculous."


    She turned to Liora, giving a small nod. "You take the bath first."


    Liora nodded firmly, stepping past Luna with satisfaction. "Thank you, big sister."


    Luna pouted, looking betrayed. "Tch... unfair."


    Loreia glanced at Luna next. "And you... you''ll go after her. In the meantime, fix your personality while you''re at it."


    Luna groaned, throwing her arms up. "Yeah, yeah, big sister. I got it. Geez."


    As Liora disappeared into the bathroom, Luna flopped onto the couch, pouting.


    Lucius exhaled heavily, shaking his head. "I swear, I don''t recognize either of you anymore."


    Loreia smirked, sitting back down beside him. "Welcome to my world, little brother."


    Luna just rolled her eyes, waiting for her turn.

 Chapter 246 Lucius Offers a Gift… But Forget to Mention the Pain!

    Lucius began to absorb the materials that Luna and Liora had gathered.


    With a flick of his wrist, he began to let the system absorb the materials.


    The materials began to break down into pure energy and were absorbed by the system.


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Material Absorption]


    [Processing Absorption...]


    [A-Rank Materials: 40 Items ¡ú +4,000,000 Hack Points]


    [B-Rank Materials: 70 Items ¡ú +700,000 Hack Points]


    [C-Rank Materials: 24 Items ¡ú +24,000 Hack Points]


    [D-Rank Materials: 26 Items ¡ú +2,600 Hack Points]


    [Total Hack Points Gained: 4,726,600]


    [Status: Absorption Complete]


    ---


    Lucius exhaled as he saw the hack points that he had gotten from this absorption.


    This world material classification was also different than the previous one. "So, this world''s classification is like this, huh?"


    He then glanced at the current balance. It seemed to be quite a lot, but he didn''t know if it was really a lot.


    The only way to find out was to start spending these hack points.


    Lucius then turned toward Loreia and called her. "Sister, come here. I want to ask you something."


    Loreia exhaled through her nose, stepping forward. "What now?"


    She moved without hesitation, stopping just a few feet from him.


    Lucius tapped his fingers lightly against the armrest. "You''ve said that you don''t have any talent, right?"


    Loreia frowned slightly. "That''s right. No beast tamer abilities, no natural combat gifts. Just a normal person."


    Lucius nodded, as if confirming something to himself. "And if I could change that? If I could give you a talent¡ªwould you take it?"


    Loreia blinked. Her arms, once firmly crossed, loosened just a fraction. "You can do that?"


    Lucius''s expression didn''t shift. "Of course."


    Loreia frowned, her fingers twitching slightly as she considered his words. "What''s the catch?"


    Lucius tilted his head. "A catch? Why would there be one? You''re my sister. You just need to take it."


    Loreia didn''t look convinced. "What kind of talent are we talking about?"


    Lucius chuckled, tapping his fingers against his knee. "The kind you don''t awaken with."


    Her brow furrowed. "And?"


    Lucius leaned forward slightly and smirked. "I''ll give you the highest-tier one."


    But before she checked what changed, she stormed straight toward Lucius and smacked him on the head.


    "You bastard! How dare you forget to tell me about the pain?!"


    Lucius barely flinched, rubbing his head with a smirk. "If I told you, you might''ve whined about it and backed out like a baby."


    Without a second thought, Loreia smacked him again¡ªharder.


    "Whined? Me? Do I look like someone who whines?" She glared, her hands resting on her hips.


    Lucius chuckled, tilting his head. "Right now? You look like someone who just tried to break my skull. Which, by the way, is pointless."


    Loreia narrowed her eyes. "Do I need to remind you who I am?"


    Lucius sighed theatrically. "Yeah, yeah. You''re my big, superior sister."


    She folded her arms, nodding. "Good. At least you remember that much."


    She then took a deep breath and checked her own body but something was off.


    There was no power that she could feel from her body. "Wait a minute... why don''t I feel anything at all?"


    Lucius leaned back, resting his elbow on the chair. "Of course not. It''s talent, not raw power. You don''t just instantly get stronger."


    Lucius gestured toward Loreia''s body. "You now have the potential to surpass others. Whether or not you reach that point depends on how you use it."


    Loreia frowned. "So, you''re telling me I just went through that hellish pain... and I got ''potential''?"


    Lucius nodded. "That''s right."


    She exhaled sharply. "You''re lucky I trust you, or I''d be strangling you right now."


    Lucius smirked. "Trust? Or is it just the realization that you''d lose that fight?"


    Loreia scoffed. "Try me."


    Lucius chuckled but shook his head. "You''re not ready for that yet. First, you need to get a beast to contract."


    Loreia raised her eyebrow. "A beast?"


    Lucius nodded. "Your talent doesn''t mean much without a foundation. Get a powerful beast, form a contract, and from there, we''ll see how much you''ve really changed."


    Loreia crossed her arms, thinking for a moment. "So, what kind of beast are we talking about? Something strong, obviously."


    Lucius tapped his fingers on the chair''s armrest. "I''ll handle that part. You focus on preparing yourself."


    He waved his hand dismissively. "Your body is different now, but you still need to get used to it before you rush into a contract. A weak mind won''t handle a strong beast." Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    Loreia rolled her shoulders again, testing her flexibility. "Fine. But don''t expect me to sit around waiting forever."


    Lucius smirked. "I wouldn''t dream of it, big sister."


    Loreia sighed, stretching her arms. "Alright. Guess I need to start figuring out what this ''divine-tier talent'' actually means."


    She then shot him a look. "And if there''s any more pain you forgot to warn me about, I swear¡ª"


    Lucius raised his hands. "No more surprises... for now."


    Loreia narrowed her eyes but finally let it go. "Fine. But I''m keeping an eye on you, little brother."


    Lucius smirked. "I''d expect nothing less."

 Chapter 247 The Big Cat Squad? No Thanks! Loreia Wants Something Different!

    Lucius suddenly called out again. "Loreia."


    She had barely taken a few steps before stopping, turning back with an impatient look. "What now?"


    Lucius rested his chin on his hand. "I just need to clarify something. What level of beast can you tame now?"


    Loreia raised her eyebrow. "What do you mean?"


    Lucius exhaled. "I don''t know this world''s beast ranking system well enough."


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    "You now have a Divine-Tier talent, so I want to know where that puts you in terms of beast selection."


    Loreia tapped her chin. "Hmm... good question. Give me a second, let me check."


    She pulled out her phone and quickly searched the internet. After a few moments, she scrolled through the information, then nodded. "Got it."


    She turned the screen toward Lucius, reading out the details. "Alright, so... normally, a newbie beast tamer starts with an F-Rank beast."


    "If they have a good background or resources, they can start with an E-Rank beast."


    Lucius nodded. "Makes sense. Go on."


    Loreia continued. "If someone has an Elite-Tier talent, they can start with a D-Rank beast, which is already much stronger than what an average beginner can handle."


    She scrolled further and smirked. "Now here''s where it gets interesting. A Sovereign-Tier talent is extremely rare. Those people get to skip ahead and tame a C-Rank beast right from the start."


    Lucius tapped his fingers against the chair''s armrest. "And a Divine-Tier talent?"


    Loreia looked at the screen, then blinked. "Huh. It doesn''t say."


    Lucius raised his eyebrow. "Nothing at all?"


    Loreia shook her head. "Nope. Looks like Sovereign-Tier was the highest recorded level. Either Divine-Tier is beyond normal classification, or it''s something they don''t even have a system for."


    Lucius smirked slightly, arms folded. "As expected of me, the one who gave you that talent."


    Loreia jabbed a finger at her. "Oh, don''t start acting cocky, Luna. The moment I get my beast, you two are done bullying me."


    Liora ignored the bickering and got straight to the point. "What kind of beast does she want?"


    Lucius gestured toward Loreia. "Tell them."


    Loreia sighed, shifting her weight to one leg. "Honestly? I don''t know. I just want something strong."


    Liora nodded slightly. "If you''re looking for strength, then a lion or a tiger would be a solid choice. They''re powerful, fast, and naturally aggressive in combat."


    Loreia wrinkled her nose. "You two already have feline beasts. I want something different."


    Luna smirked. "Afraid of being predictable?"


    Loreia rolled her eyes. "No, I just don''t want to be the third member of the ''big cat squad.''"


    Lucius leaned back, resting his chin on his knuckles. "Then how about something like a dragon?"


    Loreia was surprised to hear that and immediately turned toward Lucius. "A dragon?"


    Lucius nodded, his smirk widening. "Why not? If you''re going to have a beast, you might as well aim high."


    Loreia let out a short laugh, shaking her head. "As much as I''d love that, getting a B-Rank dragon isn''t exactly easy."


    She raised her finger. "They''re rare and usually controlled by high-ranking organizations or nobles. You can''t just walk into the wild and pick one up."


    Liora tilted her head. "She''s right. B-Rank dragons are heavily monitored. Even if we find one, capturing it without causing a scene would be difficult."


    Luna''s grin widened as she leaned against the wall. "Oh, but difficult doesn''t mean impossible, does it?"


    Lucius immediately became amused. "Who said anything about normal methods? Don''t worry about that."


    Loreia crossed her arms. "You''re scheming something, aren''t you?"


    Lucius chuckled. "I always am."


    Luna clapped her hands together. "Alright, so what''s the plan? Are we stealing one, luring one, or ''borrowing'' from an organization?"

 Chapter 248 Why Steal a Dragon… When You Can Make One?!

    Lucius smirked, waving his hand dismissively. "Don''t overthink it, Luna. We''re not going through all that trouble."


    Luna raised her eyebrow. "Oh? Then what''s the plan? You''re not about to tell me you have a dragon hidden somewhere, are you?"


    Lucius leaned back, resting his chin on his knuckles. "Did you forget about my power?"


    Luna blinked. "Oops... I totally forgot."


    She laughed, shaking her head. "Master always has the simplest yet most ridiculous solutions."


    Liora, who had been silently watching, finally spoke. "So what are you saying? We don''t need to find a dragon?"


    Lucius nodded. "Exactly. Just buy a reptile. I''ll evolve it into a dragon."


    Loreia, who had been sipping on a drink, nearly choked. "Wait... You can do that?"


    Before Lucius could respond, Luna practically jumped in excitement. "Of course he can! Master was the best Evolist in our previous world!"


    Loreia frowned, wiping her mouth. "Evolist? I''ve never heard of that term."


    Luna smirked, clearly enjoying the moment. "It means someone who can directly evolve and strengthen beasts."


    She then rolled her eyes. "Unlike normal tamers who rely on contracts and gradual training, Evolists create superior creatures from scratch."


    Loreia''s was a bit surprised. "So basically, you can take any weak beast and turn it into something absurdly powerful?"


    Lucius nodded. "That''s right. That''s why we don''t need to go looking for a dragon¡ªwe''ll just make one."


    Loreia exhaled, rubbing her temples. "You''re ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous."


    Lucius sighed, mirroring her gesture as he rubbed his own temples. "Why is that surprising? The moment I gave you a Divine-Tier talent, you should''ve realized I''m not normal."


    Loreia folded her arms, narrowing her eyes. "Oh, I realized it. I''m just still adjusting to the level of insanity that follows you around."


    Lucius smirked. "That''s fair. But you''ll get used to it."


    Loreia scoffed. "Will I, though?"


    Luna grinned. "Oh, you will. The sooner you accept that logic doesn''t apply when Master''s involved, the happier you''ll be."


    Loreia gave Luna a sideways glance. "That''s not exactly reassuring."


    Liora, who had been silently observing, finally spoke. "Enough talking. If we''re doing this, we should move quickly. The best selections will be at the higher-end beast markets."


    Liora adjusted her gloves. "That depends on how they respond when we arrive."


    As they approached the Beast Castle, the massive gates came into view.


    Inside, some of the rarest creatures in the region were waiting.


    Luna grinned, cracking her knuckles. "Alright, let''s go shopping."


    ---


    They were now inside the Beast Castle. They could see the high-end feeling from the grandeur of the building.


    There were a lot of wealthy tamers and nobles that roamed around, inspecting beasts for contracts or just pets.


    It didn''t take long for one of the staff members to notice Loreia and the other.


    They were three beautiful women who were elegant and had some noble auras.


    Even if they weren''t carrying visible insignias, their refined posture and presence immediately made the staff think that they were wealthy.


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    One of the staff members immediately thought, "Rich clients... I need to make them spend as much as possible."


    Making his best customer service smile, he approached with a polite bow. "Welcome to The Beast Castle, one of the finest beast markets in the city. How may I assist you today?"


    Loreia stepped forward without hesitation. "I want a strong reptilian beast."


    Luna leaned in slightly, smirking. "Specifically something related to dragons."


    The staff member''s eyes lit up. "A dragon-related beast? Interesting choice."


    He straightened up, adjusting his uniform. "And what rank of beast are you looking for?"


    Liora''s expression remained cold and unreadable as she answered. "Just show us C- or B-Rank options."


    The staff member almost blinked in surprise. C or B-Rank?


    Most newcomers barely dared to ask for D-Rank beasts. These women weren''t ordinary.


    Composing himself quickly, he nodded with a professional smile. "I see. Then please, follow me. I will personally show you our finest collection."


    With that, he turned and led them deeper into the market, where the rare and powerful beasts resided.

 Chapter 249 Not the Strongest, Not the Fastest… But the Smartest?!

    The staff led them deeper into the building, where the more powerful beasts were kept.


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    They finally stopped before a row of protected cages. The staff then gestured toward the first beast. "This is Scaltor."


    The beast was a massive lizard whose body was covered in thick metallic scales.


    Each of his scales overlapped each other like armor plating. Even at rest, its muscles looked dense and powerful.


    "Scaltor is a beast known for its overwhelming physical strength."


    "Its bite can shatter armor, and its body is naturally resistant to both blades and magic."


    Loreia observed it for a moment, tapping her chin. "It looks slow."


    The staff smiled. "It is, but if you''re looking for something that can charge through enemies like a battering ram, Scaltor is unmatched."


    Luna glanced at Loreia. "Not your style, though, is it?"


    Loreia shook her head. "I prefer something more... versatile."


    The staff nodded and moved on. "Then, how about this one? Meet Cindarox."


    The next beast was a red-scaled lizard with black obsidian spikes running down its spine like jagged blades.


    Its claws and fangs were also constantly engulfed in flames and they could feel the heat from standing near it.


    "Cindarox is a fire-type beast with high agility. Its claws can melt through steel, and its obsidian spikes make it extremely dangerous in close combat."


    Loreia watched as the lizard let out a low growl, scratching the ground, burning it. "Strong, but fire is too common. I want something more unique."


    The staff smiled knowingly. "Then perhaps Voltigon will interest you."


    The third beast was a yellow, black-scaled lizard. Its body was constantly crackling with static electricity.


    Its most striking feature was its tail that was split into three whips, each one crackling with thunder energy.


    The staff then explained the third beast. "Voltigon is a thunder element lizard with exceptional speed. Its tail whips can paralyze enemies while dealing rapid strikes."


    Loreia was a bit interested in it. "This one is quite impressive."


    Lucius smirked. "It fits your fighting style, too. Quick, unpredictable, and hard-hitting."


    Loreia nodded but didn''t decide immediately. She turned to the staff. "Is there anything else?"


    "What?" Luna blinked. "You''re picking this one?"


    Liora narrowed her eyes. "That''s unexpected. Why?"


    Loreia smirked, crossing her arms. "Because it''s cool. And also... it''s silver."


    Luna groaned. "That''s it? That''s your whole reason?"


    Loreia grinned. "Think about it. You both have silver beasts¡ªLoxen, the Shadow Panther, and Leon, the Silver Flame Lion. So, it only makes sense that I get one too."


    Liora stared at her for a moment before exhaling. "That logic is ridiculous."


    Luna placed a hand on her forehead. "So we''re picking beasts based on matching colors now? You do realize combat strength is more important, right?"


    Loreia waved her hand. "Oh, relax. I''m not just choosing it for the color. Argentis is unique. It''s intelligent, and it''s hard to tame. That means there''s something special about it that others don''t see yet."


    Luna tapped her chin. "Alright, fine. I''ll give you that. Rare creatures usually have hidden potential. But still, compared to the others, it doesn''t have overwhelming attack power."


    Loreia smirked. "Who said I need brute strength? If I wanted that, I''d have chosen Scaltor. But I want something different. Something that''s smart, adaptable, and not just another muscle-head beast."


    Liora studied Argentis carefully. The drake-like reptile sat calmly in its enclosure, unbothered by their presence.


    It wasn''t posturing aggressively or trying to assert dominance like the others. Instead, it simply watched them.


    "It doesn''t act like a wild beast," Liora noted. "It''s observing us."


    Luna raised her eyebrow. "You think it understands what''s happening?"


    Liora nodded slightly. "Maybe not fully, but it''s aware. More than the others, at least."


    Loreia''s smirk widened. "Exactly why I picked it. I don''t need a dumb brute. I need something that thinks."


    Luna shrugged. "Alright, fine. But don''t complain later if it ends up being hard to train."


    Loreia scoffed. "Oh, I know it''ll be hard to train. That just makes it more worth it."


    Liora crossed her arms. "So you''re the type that enjoys making things difficult for yourself?"


    Loreia chuckled. "Not difficult¡ªchallenging. There''s a difference."


    Luna sighed dramatically. "Ugh, whatever. Just don''t expect us to help if this thing refuses to listen to you."


    Loreia grinned. "Oh, I wouldn''t dream of it."


    Liora glanced at the staff. "We''ll take it."

 Chapter 250 Throwing Wealth Like Its Nothing!

    The staff frowned and bowed down slightly. "I apologize, but this Argentis has already been ordered by another customer."


    Loreia''s smirk faded slightly. "What?"


    Luna didn''t miss a beat. She stepped forward and smirked. "If that''s the case, then we can pay more."


    The staff hesitated, glancing between them. "I''m afraid the sale has already been arranged¡ª"


    Before he could finish, Luna reached into her coat and pulled out three A-Tier Beast Cores, holding them up for him to see.


    The nearby customers subtly turned their heads, sensing something valuable had just been revealed.


    Luna then smirked. "Do you know what these are?"


    The staff''s eyes widened, and even Liora raised her eyebrows.


    "These are A-Tier Beast Cores," Luna continued. "And I''m offering you three of them."


    She gestured toward Argentis with a casual flick of her wrist. "That beast? It''s only a C-Tier. The price difference is enormous. If you''re a smart businessman, you should know what to do."


    Loreia crossed her arms, watching the staff member''s reaction carefully. "Are you sure you''re willing to reject this offer for some unknown buyer?"


    The staff swallowed. He was sweating now. A-Tier Cores weren''t something that just anyone could get their hands on.


    After a moment of internal struggle, he sighed. "I... I''ll have to speak with my manager."


    Luna smirked. "Sure. Make it quick."


    As the staff hurried off, Loreia turned to Luna, shaking her head. "You really just threw that down like it was pocket change, huh?"


    Luna grinned. "Oh, please. This is nothing compared to what we can get later. Besides, Master wouldn''t care. He''d probably just laugh if he knew we were negotiating like this."


    Liora exhaled. "If the manager refuses, what''s the backup plan?"


    Luna''s smirk didn''t falter. "Then we make them an offer they really can''t refuse."


    ---


    Not long after, the staff returned, accompanied by a large, broad-shouldered man who was the manager of the Beast Castle.


    He immediately glared at Loreia, Luna and Liora to see who they were, but soon he realized that they were not ordinary.


    He tried to calm down and bowed down slightly. "Apologies, but we still cannot sell this beast. This Argentis was specially ordered by a very important customer."


    Luna''s smirk didn''t waver. "I see. Then how about these?"


    Without hesitation, she reached into her coat again, pulling out even more beast cores. This time, a total of ten A-Tier Beast Cores.


    If he went ahead and canceled the deal without warning, he could be risking his own neck.


    Liora watched the manager carefully. "Fine. But don''t take too long."


    The manager nodded quickly and turned away, walking briskly toward the back offices.


    As soon as he was out of earshot, Loreia let out a sigh. "Well, that was obvious. He''s not calling another manager¡ªhe''s calling the other buyer."


    Luna chuckled. "Of course he is. He''s desperate. If he offends the first buyer, he might lose business¡ªor worse."


    Liora crossed her arms. "Then should we just take the beast and leave?"


    Loreia smirked. "Tempting, but let''s see how this plays out. I want to know who I just pissed off."


    Luna''s eyes gleamed with excitement. "That''s the spirit, big sister. Let''s see who comes knocking."


    Meanwhile, in the manager''s private office...


    The manager immediately grabbed his communicator, his hands slightly sweaty as he dialed the direct line of the original buyer.


    He knew this was a dangerous move, but he had no choice.


    After a few tense seconds, the call connected.


    "What is it?"


    The manager swallowed hard before speaking. "Sir, I apologize for disturbing you, but I must inform you¡ªsomeone has offered a higher price for the beast you reserved."


    A brief silence followed. Then, the voice responded, colder this time.


    "...Higher price?"


    The manager nodded. "Yes. They''ve offered double what you originally paid¡ªten A-Tier Beast Cores."


    The silence that followed was longer this time.


    The manager held his breath.


    Then, finally¡ª


    "...I see."


    The call ended abruptly.


    The manager''s stomach twisted as he stared at the disconnected line.


    Something told him this wasn''t over.

 Chapter 251 A Simple Purchase Turns Into a Showdown

    It didn''t take long for the original buyer to arrive in person. They were a group of well-dressed individuals.


    Leading them was a tall, sharp-eyed man in a formal black coat, accompanied by two others dressed in expensive attire.


    They were actually from the Aurelius family, who were one of the wealthiest and most powerful houses in the region.


    They were known for their obsession with beasts and relentless pursuit of knowledge.


    Unlike other noble families that focused purely on combat and wealth, the Aurelius were researchers and experimenters.@@@@


    They believed that true strength wasn''t just about raising powerful beasts. It was about creating them.


    But they were also strong as their patriarch was actually a Sovereign-Tier talent beast tamer.


    With a genius of that level leading them, the Aurelius Family had made major breakthroughs in beast evolution, genetics, and combat enhancements.


    Argentis was meant to be part of their next experiment, as they were quite interested in its strange ability.


    They had ordered the creature not to raise it, not to train it, but to dissect it, study it, and break down its genetic potential.


    Although Argentis was only a C-Rank beast, its rarity and unknown potential made it valuable.


    It was valuable enough that someone of high status had come in person to settle the matter and that person was Cassius Aurelius.


    He was a direct descendant of the Aurelius main family. He was quite annoyed as he looked at the three women standing before him.


    He measured them a bit before finally speaking. "So these are the ones who think they can take what''s already ours."


    Luna smirked, unfazed by his condescending tone. "Who said it was ever yours? You paid way less than us, so by logic, it''s ours now."


    Cassius''s eye twitched. "But we are from the Aurelius Family. That alone should tell you that we have the right to claim it."


    Luna let out a short laugh. "Oh? So what you''re really saying is that you''re too poor to match our price and have to hide behind your family name to make up for it?"


    Cassius''s face darkened.


    Before he could respond, Luna reached into her coat again and pulled out another five A-Tier Beast Cores.


    With a smug grin, she tossed them toward the manager. "Here. Five more. We''ve now tripled his payment. So hand it over."


    He knew there was no escaping this situation. He needed to make a decision now.


    After a long moment, he took a deep breath. He had made the decision.


    He turned toward Luna and bowed down. "I apologize, but the Aurelius Family is much stronger. I cannot go against them."


    Luna''s smirk didn''t falter. "I see."


    She exhaled lightly, then tilted her head toward Liora, a knowing smirk forming.


    She had already planned what to do if the manager rejected her. "Then how about we make it so that you choose us?"


    The manager blinked, confused, but before he could say anything¡ª


    Luna looked at Liora and smirked. "Do it."


    Without hesitation, Liora stepped forward and released her aura.


    A suffocating aura was emitted from Liora, pressuring all the people there.


    Some gasped as they felt the invisible pressure crushing down on them.


    The manager broke into a cold sweat with his knees trembling as he felt Liora''s aura.


    Cassius frowned and pointed at her. "You think you''re the only one who can do that?"


    He straightened and raised his hand. "Let me show you the power of the Aurelius family."


    A second wave of aura erupted from Cassius, clashing directly against Liora''s aura.


    The surrounding customers instinctively backed away, feeling the ground beneath them vibrate under the force of the collision.


    Sparks of intimidation energy crackled in the air, two powerful presences colliding in an invisible battle of wills.


    The manager nearly collapsed, struggling to keep himself upright as he stood between two pure killing intents.


    The entire beast castle had gone silent because of Liora and Cassius.


    Both of them weren''t willing to back down at all and it was all just for Argentis.

 Chapter 252 An S-Rank Beast in Disguise?

    Luna smirked, tilting her head slightly. "You''ve got a powerful aura, I''ll give you that... but still, it''s not enough."


    Cassius'' eyes narrowed. He didn''t know what Luna meant. "What do you¡ª"


    Before he finished, Liora smirked. "Allow me to correct your misunderstanding."


    Without warning, Liora turned up the pressure. She unleashed her full S-Rank Aura.


    Cassius staggered back and his entire body tensed as he was pressured under her aura. He was pretty much in shock. "Impossible¡ª!"


    His breathing hitched as he struggled to stand up. "You''re... S-Rank?!"


    Luna chuckled, her arms crossed. "Oh? Surprised?"


    Cassius clenched his jaw, but he couldn''t stop sweating because of the pressure.


    Luna smirked. "You''re just a frog in the well, Cassius. You thought you were at the top, but you never even realized there was a whole world beyond you."


    Cassius ground his teeth, his pride taking a direct hit.


    Luna turned to the manager and became cold. "So, what now? Still want to choose him?"


    The manager, who had been trying to hold himself together, completely lost it.


    As Liora concentrated her aura on him, his knees gave out.


    He fell to the ground, panting heavily, his hands trembling as he raised them in surrender. "P-Please! I understand! I''ll hand it over! Just stop!"


    Luna smiled in satisfaction. "Good choice."


    Without wasting another second, the manager rushed to open Argentis''s cage, his hands barely steady as he fumbled with the locks.


    The metal door swung open, and he quickly stepped back, looking at Loreia with desperate eyes. "It''s yours. Please¡ªjust take it!"


    Argentis, still inside, hesitated for a moment, its silver eyes flickering between Cassius and Loreia''s group.


    It had sensed Liora''s overwhelming presence. It was far more powerful than anything it had encountered before.


    In the wild, power was everything. And in that moment, Argentis knew who the true monster was.


    With no resistance, it stepped forward, moving toward Loreia.


    Loreia smirked, placing a hand on its head. "Looks like you made the right choice, buddy."


    Cassius''s fists clenched at his sides, his entire face twisted in frustration.


    He had lost.


    And the worst part? He couldn''t do a damn thing about it.


    Cassius then took a deep breath, forcing himself to regain composure.


    "You think this is over?" Cassius muttered in barely contained rage.


    Loreia raised her eyebrow, completely unfazed. "I don''t think. I know."


    Luna laughed. "Oh, Cassius. If you''re about to start some petty revenge plot, let me stop you right there¡ªit won''t end well for you."


    Cassius narrowed his eyes. "Do you really believe you can walk away from this without consequences?"


    Liora took a step forward and became cold. "If you want to turn this into a real fight, then stop wasting time and do it."


    Cassius''s jaw tightened. He wasn''t stupid. An S-Rank Beast Warrior wasn''t someone he could take on directly.


    A deep, arrogant chuckle, as if Cassius had just told him a particularly amusing joke.


    "So let me get this straight. You, my son¡ªan A-Rank Beast Fighter¡ªwere humiliated in front of commoners?"


    Cassius''s fists clenched even tighter. "I wouldn''t say humiliated¡ª"


    Hadrian cut him off with a dismissive wave. "No, no. Let''s be precise. You were crushed."


    Cassius''s jaw locked, but he didn''t dare speak.


    Hadrian leaned back in his chair, his smirk returning. "Interesting. I had thought no one of true worth resided in this city outside our family. And yet, here comes an unknown force, strong enough to embarrass my own blood."


    Cassius exhaled. "They knew who we were, Father. And they still didn''t care."


    Hadrian''s smirk disappeared. "Is that so?"


    Cassius nodded. "They mocked us. Treated our name as if it meant nothing. As if we were beneath them."


    Hadrian was silent for a long moment, his fingers tapping against his desk.


    Then, with a slow inhale, he spoke again.


    "You disappoint me, Cassius."


    Cassius flinched slightly but quickly controlled his reaction.


    Hadrian stayed calm. "You come to me, not with victory, but with excuses."


    He leaned forward again. "Tell me, what exactly do you expect me to do? Shall I scold them? Demand an apology?"


    Cassius swallowed hard. "No, Father. But they''re a threat."


    Hadrian smiled¡ªbut it wasn''t a pleasant one. "Finally, something worth listening to."


    He exhaled, then straightened in his seat.


    "An S-Rank, you say? That is... troublesome. But not unbeatable."


    Hadrian''s fingers tapping against the desk, calculating.


    Then, his eyes flickered back to Cassius.


    "Find out everything about them. Names, backgrounds, affiliations. If they believe they can cross the Aurelius Family without consequence..."


    His smirk returned, but this time it was cold. Dangerous.


    "Then we shall educate them otherwise."


    Cassius nodded, his posture straightening. "Understood, Father. I won''t fail."


    Hadrian''s gaze lingered on him for a moment before looking away, already dismissing him. "Good. Now go. I expect results."


    Cassius bowed slightly, then turned around, leaving the chamber.


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    As the doors closed behind him, Hadrian sighed, leaning back into his chair.


    "An S-Rank Beast Fighter, hm? How intriguing..."


    For the first time in years, he was genuinely curious.


    And that was very bad news for the three women who had just made an enemy of the Aurelius family.

 Chapter 253 Serene Fortune and Silver Resilience?!

    The three women were going back to their apartment but before that, Loreia needed to do something first.


    Loreia immediately made a contract with Argentis. It was also smoother than expected.


    The contract process was smoother than expected. Argentis easily accepted the contract from Loreia.


    The reason why she contracted it in that very moment was because she needed to put it in her beast space to take it home.


    Luna glanced at her as they walked. "Smart move. If you had walked in with that thing behind you, people would have lost their minds."


    Loreia smirked. "Exactly. A silver-scaled drake would''ve been a little too eye-catching."


    Liora nodded slightly. "You handled the contract well. Argentis accepted you immediately."


    Loreia shrugged. "Of course. I mean, did you see it? Argentis knew exactly who was the stronger one there."


    Luna laughed. "Yeah, it was either obey you or risk getting crushed. Not much of a choice."


    Loreia rolled her eyes. "You make it sound like I forced it. We bonded. It was mutual respect."


    Luna smirked. "Right, right. Mutual respect... with a hint of intimidation."


    Loreia ignored her and stretched. "Anyway, now that I finally have a beast, I need to start training properly."


    Liora looked at her. "Are you planning to evolve Argentis immediately?"


    Loreia tapped her chin. "I don''t know yet. I want to see what it can do in its base form first. Besides, Lucius might have some thoughts on that."


    Luna chuckled. "Oh, you know he''s going to want to mess with it. Give him some times, and he''ll turn that thing into a monster."


    Loreia smirked. "Good. That''s exactly what I want."


    ---


    They soon arrived at their apartment, where Lucius was already waiting for them.


    Like usual, Lucius was sitting on the sofa, drinking a cup of tea.


    The moment they entered, Lucius turned to them and smirked. "You''re back. Did you get the beast you wanted?"


    Loreia smirked, nodding. "Of course."


    Without hesitation, she raised her hand and summoned Argentis.


    Loreia chuckled. "Well, too bad for them. Argentis is mine now."


    Lucius took a step back. "And seeing its color... it fits you perfectly. Not just you, but our entire group."


    Loreia smirked, placing a hand on her hip. "Obviously. Did you really think I''d choose something unworthy?"


    Luna let out a dramatic sigh. "For once, I''ll admit¡ªyou actually picked something good."


    Loreia rolled her eyes. "Gee, thanks for the approval. I totally needed it."


    Luna grinned. "Oh, don''t get too excited. It just means now you have no excuse if you lose against me."


    Loreia cracked her knuckles. "Oh, you wish you could still beat me. Now that I have Argentis, you better get ready to eat your words."


    Lucius chuckled. "Enough posturing. The real question is¡ªwhat''s next?"


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    Loreia tilted her head. "What do you mean?"


    Lucius smirked. "Now that you''ve got your beast, it''s time to make it even better."


    Loreia''s grin widened. "I was waiting for you to say that."


    Luna clapped her hands together. "Alright, so what''s the plan? Are we evolving this beast immediately?"


    Lucius only smirked. "We''re not just evolving it. We''re going to turn it into something beyond even my expectations."


    Liora nodded. "Then we should prepare. If Argentis''s evolution is anything like what Master usually does, it won''t be a simple process."


    Loreia excitedly patted Argentis''s head. "Hear that, buddy? You''re about to become something legendary."


    Argentis tilted his head, blinking its eyes. It didn''t fully understand what Lucius meant.


    Loreia placed her hand on its back and chuckled. "Don''t worry, Argentis. Just trust the process."


    Lucius also put his hand on its back. "You will be a really nice beast to hack this time."


    Luna grinned. "Oh, I''m excited for this one. This is going to be fun."


    Liora simply nodded. "We should begin as soon as possible. The sooner Argentis evolves, the sooner Loreia can test its full capabilities."


    Lucius chuckled, stretching his fingers as if warming up for a task. "Well then... let''s begin, shall we?"


    Argentis let out a small, uncertain rumble, waiting for whatever was about to come.

 Chapter 254 Three Ghosts with No Past

    Cassius sat in his room. He was impatiently waiting for the reports from the staff of the Aurelius family about the three women.


    When the staff returned with the report, Cassius immediately snatched the document from his hands, reading it.


    But the more he read it, the more surprised he was. "What the hell is this information?"


    He skimmed through the details again to check if the document was true.


    ---


    Loreia Luxoria ¨C Registered as an office worker. No talent. No recorded combat ability. Failed Awakening.


    Lucius Luxoria ¨C Brother of Loreia Luxoria. Also registered as a civilian. No talent. Failed Awakening.


    ---


    Cassius gripped the report tighter before slamming it down onto the table and growled. "What the hell is this nonsense? This is all you found?"


    The staff members flinched, exchanging nervous glances before one of them, a thin, glasses-wearing man, stepped forward hesitantly.


    "Y-Yes, Master Cassius. This is the only official information available."


    Cassius''s fingers twitched as he snapped. "You''re telling me that three women¡ªone of whom is an S-Rank Beast Fighter¡ªleft behind nothing but this?"


    "No combat history? No recorded affiliations? No noble connections?"


    The staff swallowed hard and nodded. "That is correct, Master."


    Cassius'' jaw tightened. "This doesn''t make any sense at all."


    He lifted his gaze and glared at the staff. "Did you at least verify this information? Check multiple sources. Cross-reference city records?"


    The staff nodded rapidly. "Y-Yes, Master! We checked the noble registries, the military records, and even the Beast Tamer Association archives. There''s nothing out of the ordinary."


    Cassius scoffed. "You expect me to believe that? You saw what I saw! A failed awakening? No talent?"''


    He leaned forward and became cold. "Are you seriously telling me that an ordinary office worker just so happens to have an S-Rank Beast Fighter protecting her?"


    The staff member wiped the sweat from his brow. "Master Cassius, I swear this is all the data we could find. It''s as if... they lived completely normal, unremarkable lives up until now."


    Cassius gritted his teeth. "That''s impossible. Someone this powerful doesn''t just come out of nowhere!"


    Cassius leaned forward, lacing his fingers together. "I want every piece of information they have on her¡ªher work history, her performance records, her relationships with colleagues, even her daily routine."


    He let the words sink in before adding with a smirk, "And if something feels even slightly off... I want to know about it."


    Another staff member cleared his throat. "And if they refuse to give us information?"


    Cassius exhaled slowly, shaking his head. "Oh, I don''t believe in refusals."


    He smiled coldly. "Everyone talks with the right... motivation."


    The staff members visibly stiffened, but none of them dared to question him.


    Cassius then continued, tapping his finger on the desk. "If she really worked there... there should be records. If not... then we''ll know for sure if she''s hiding something."


    One of the staff members nodded quickly. "We''ll check the archives, Master. Cross-reference employee logs and financial transactions."


    Another one added, "We can question some of her coworkers under the guise of a background verification."


    Cassius nodded approvingly. "Good. I want results¡ªand fast."


    The staff members bowed deeply.


    "Yes, Master Cassius!"


    Without hesitation, they turned on their heels and rushed out of the chamber, ready to carry out his orders.


    Cassius leaned back in his chair, his smirk lingering as he tapped his fingers against the desk.


    "Let''s see what kind of ghost you really are, Loreia Luxoria."


    Meanwhile, at Loreia''s previous office, the atmosphere was a bit heavy.


    There were stacks of paperwork cluttering desks and emails piled up unanswered.


    Employees sat at their stations, some sighing audibly, others muttering complaints under their breath as they struggled to keep up with the workload.


    "I can''t believe I''m saying this, but I actually miss Loreia."


    A woman at a nearby desk, adjusting her glasses, let out a frustrated sigh. "You''re not the only one. Ever since she left, things have been... a mess."


    Another worker, flipping through documents, grumbled under his breath. "I always thought she just had a light workload, but now? Now I realize she was carrying half of this office''s responsibilities by herself."

 Chapter 255 A Simple Office Investigation

    The office was basically struggling. Employees who used to coast through their days were now buried under work they didn''t even realize existed.


    At his desk, the manager rubbed his temples, letting out a long sigh. "I should have treated her better."


    He muttered the words under his breath, but the nearby employees could hear him and silently agreed.


    Loreia had been the backbone of this office. She handled everything with precision and efficiency. But now she was gone.


    They were all feeling the weight of her absence, especially the manager.


    He then groaned, shaking his head. "Damn it. I knew she was good, but I didn''t think we''d collapse the moment she left."


    A senior employee, flipping through a report with pure frustration, grumbled. "It''s not just that she left... It''s why she left."


    The manager frowned. "I know. And I know exactly who to blame."


    His grip tightened around his pen in anger. "That bastard Deon. And that damn Galwin."


    The moment their names were spoken, a few employees tensed up. Everyone knew the story.


    Deon and Galwin, two of the most incompetent, arrogant fools in the company, had taken advantage of Loreia.


    It was the time when they were drunk and did something unforgivable to Loreia. It was what they thought after talking with Loreia herself.


    That''s why she immediately quit. Without hesitation and looking back at all.


    The worst part was Deon and Galwin ran away too. No one knew where they were now.


    The manager growled. "They didn''t just screw over Loreia. They screwed all of us."


    One of the staff members groaned, slamming his pen on his desk. "And now we''re stuck with their work! Damn those two! I hope they never find another job again!"


    A female employee sighed. "Too bad no one can find them. They disappeared like cowards."


    The manager gritted his teeth. "Running away, huh? How convenient."


    He leaned back in his chair, exhaling sharply. "And now we have a mountain of work... and no one else to take the fall."


    A heavy silence filled the room.


    Everyone knew the truth.


    This mess wasn''t getting cleaned up anytime soon.


    ---


    A few days had passed, but the office was still drowning in work. The situation hadn''t improved at all.


    It even got worse with mistakes piling up and exhaustion was clear on everyone''s faces.


    Then suddenly, an announcement surprised them. "All staff, please report to the main conference room immediately."


    The employees exchanged confused glances.


    "Huh? What''s going on?" one muttered, pushing back his chair.


    "No idea," another responded, standing up. "I was just about to finish this report too."


    As the confused workers gathered in the conference room, they saw that their manager was already there, looking unusually tense.


    Behind him, a group of well-dressed individuals stood near the windows.


    They weren''t from the company. They were outsiders.


    "Did she ever mention where she lived?"


    The woman''s brow furrowed. "You''re the second person to ask me that. Why is that important?"


    The investigator didn''t answer immediately. "Did she ever mention it?"


    The woman hesitated before shaking her head. "No, she never said. We just assumed she lived somewhere in the city."


    "And her family?"


    She sighed. "I only ever heard about her brother, Lucius and she didn''t talk about him much."


    The investigator leaned back slightly, nodding. "I see. And did you ever notice anything... unusual about Loreia?"


    The woman frowned. "Unusual? Like what?"


    "Strange behavior. Unexpected absences. Sudden personality changes."


    She blinked. "No... she was the same every day. Just... normal."


    The investigator wrote something down before looking up again. "You seem confused by my questions."


    She scoffed. "That''s because I am. What''s with all the questions about Loreia? Why are you guys so interested in her?"


    The investigator smiled faintly. "Just routine."


    The woman''s frown deepened, but she didn''t push further.


    The last one was the manager, who sat stiffly, resting his hands on the table.


    He could tell that these weren''t normal inspectors.


    The lead investigator sat across from him. "You were Loreia Luxoria''s direct superior, correct?"


    The manager nodded. "Yes, I was."


    "Tell me about her performance."


    The manager sighed. "She was one of my best employees. Reliable, efficient, never caused trouble. Now that she''s gone, we''re struggling to keep up."


    The investigator raised his eyebrow. "You sound like you regret her departure."


    The manager let out a bitter chuckle. "I do. I should''ve treated her better. Maybe she wouldn''t have left."


    The investigator''s eyes narrowed. "And yet, you didn''t stop her from leaving."


    The manager tensed. "She made up her mind. Nothing I said would''ve changed that."


    The investigator nodded slowly, his pen gliding over his notepad. "And Deon and Galwin?"


    The manager scowled. "Those two bastards? They''re the reason she left. The moment she quit, they disappeared like cowards."


    The investigator''s eyes flickered with interest. "Disappeared?"


    The manager nodded. "Yeah. No one''s seen them since. It''s like they just... vanished."


    The investigator''s pen stopped moving for a moment. "Interesting."


    The manager, growing more suspicious, finally spoke up. "Alright, I''ve played along long enough. Why are you so interested in Loreia?"


    The investigator smiled faintly. "Just routine."


    The manager didn''t believe that for a second but he knew better not to intervene.

 Chapter 256 Forget Everything About Loreia!

    The investigator stood up.


    Because of them, the tension in the room rose, and the staff members could feel it.


    One of the investigators gave a polite yet emotionless nod to the staff members. "Thank you for your cooperation."


    The staff members exchanged uncertain glances. Something about this felt very wrong.


    Before the staff members could think it more, the investigator spoke again, but colder.


    "I need to remind you to never speak of this meeting to anyone."


    The manager furrowed his brows. "Why is that?"


    The investigator''s smile didn''t waver. "Because it is not your concern."


    The staff members tensed.


    One of the younger employees shifted nervously. "Wait... is Loreia in trouble? Did she do something bad?"


    The investigator''s smile faded slightly. "This has nothing to do with you."


    He then turned to all of them. "Forget about Loreia. Forget about this meeting."


    The manager''s jaw tightened. "And if we don''t?"


    The investigator''s smile returned, but colder. "Then you will learn why it is better not to cross us."


    The staff members felt a shiver run down their spines.


    The investigators turned and walked out, leaving nothing but unease behind them.


    No one dared to speak.


    Because deep down, they all understood one thing. Whoever these people were, they were dangerous. Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire


    ---


    The staff members exchanged nervous glances. They felt uneasy after the investigators left.


    One of them, still shaken, turned to the manager. "What do we do now?"


    The manager let out a slow exhale. "Nothing."


    The staff stared at him in disbelief. "Nothing?"


    [Effect: Strengthen and Sharpen Silver Dragon Tail]


    [Cost Required: 30,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Lucius saw the cost of the hack. He was not really surprised by it. "Not bad. The cost is lower than I expected. Maybe I should''ve gone a bit further."


    Lucius then tapped his chin. "But for now, I think it was enough. Let''s see how our Argentis does with his first hack."


    He then turned his gaze toward Argentis, who suddenly tensed. Its entire body shuddered as the hack took effect.


    Lucius smirked, crossing his arms. "Try to hold back the pain, alright?"


    Argentis immediately growled as it scrapped its claws against the ground, trying to hold back the pain while its body twisted involuntarily.


    Lucius smirked as he observed it. "That''s the problem with genetic modifications... Your body doesn''t like changing this fast."


    Argentis''s breathing grew heavier, its muscles spasming as its bones shifted and extended but soon, the real change began.


    From its back, two bulges began to grow, stretching its silver hide unnaturally. The skin twitched and shifted, and then¡ª


    Two massive silver wings burst out from its back, unfolding like blades cutting the air.


    Lucius''s grin widened. "There they are. Your new wings. Try not to break them on the first flight."


    Argentis stumbled slightly, as if trying to process the new appendages, but the transformation wasn''t over yet.


    Its claws trembled violently, the once moderately sized talons elongating and thickening until they became polished blades.


    Lucius gave a nod of approval. "Now that''s a proper set of weapons."


    Then came the final change, which was its tail. Its structure reinforced itself, the tip sharpening into a solid, metallic edge that glowed faintly in the dim light.


    Lucius whistled. "Looks like you''ll be able to slice through anything with that now."


    Argentis groaned as its body finally settled down as the transformation had almost completed.


    Lucius walked forward, stopping in front of it before coruching down. "Not bad, huh? Now... tell me, how do you feel?"


    Argentis let out a low growl, flexing its wings as if testing them. It also tested its new claws and tail, which were sharper and stronger than before.


    Lucius chuckled. "Good. You''ll need time to get used to it, but trust me on this. This is only the beginning."

 Chapter 257 Not One, But TWO Hacks?!

    Lucius rubbed Argentis'' back, feeling the beast shudder, a clear sign of lingering pain. "As I said, don''t worry. This is only the beginning."


    Lucius then smirked. "So let''s start with another hack, shall we?"


    Argentis''s silver eyes widened in sheer disbelief. Another one?!


    Argentis instinctively growled, shifting uncomfortably. Its new wings, still unfamiliar, twitched as if trying to prepare for another wave of agony.


    Lucius scoffed at the reaction. "Oh, don''t give me that look. It''s for your own good."


    Argentis let out a guttural sound, part protest, part exhausted acceptance.


    Lucius clicked his tongue, unimpressed. "Come on, you''re acting like I''m torturing you. You should be thanking me for this."


    Argentis''s breath hitched. Thanking him?!


    Lucius ignored the look of disbelief in the beast''s eyes and paced around it, observing.


    "Your body''s already stronger. Your claws are sharper, your tail is deadlier, and now you''ve got wings."


    He nodded to himself. "So logically, the next step is increasing your raw stats."


    The drake tensed further, dreading whatever was coming next.


    Lucius grinned. "Let''s turn you into an S-Rank beast like your new brother."


    Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire


    Argentis froze. The pain from the previous hack was still fresh, and now Lucius was talking about another upgrade?


    It let out a deep, almost pleading growl, its massive claws scraping against the ground.


    Lucius chuckled at the reaction. "What? Don''t tell me you''re scared."


    Argentis stared at him. Of course it was scared! This wasn''t some natural evolution. It was forced!


    Lucius shrugged. "Oh well. Not my problem."


    He casually activated the hack.


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Full Stat Enhancement]


    [Target: Argentis]


    [Effect: Upgrade All Stats to S-Rank]


    [Cost Required: 40,440,000 Hack Points


    [Status: Insufficient Hack Points ¨C Enhancement Failed]


    ---


    Lucius frowned, clicking his tongue. "Damn... to think it''d cost 40 million. That''s way too much right now."


    Argentis, still trembling from the last hack, exhaled and felt an odd sense of relief.


    Lucius stretched and turned toward the door. "Alright, I''ll leave you to it."


    Argentis let out a pained growl, but Lucius was already stepping out, shutting the door behind him.


    He didn''t care how much it hurt. All that mattered was the result.


    ---


    Lucius walked through the lively downtown streets as he followed the map on his phone.


    The lights of shops, moving crowds and the faint aroma of street food were really far different from the cold, battle-worn landscapes he once knew.


    But somehow, it was... tolerable for him. He also smirked as he looked at his phone again. "At least I still remember how to use this thing."


    After years of not needing modern devices, he had struggled to operate one again.


    Loreia had taken it upon herself to teach him again.


    Flashback to Earlier...


    Loreia had handed him the phone and crossed her arms. "Alright, you''re rich, strong, and have godly power, but if you can''t use a phone, you''re just a very expensive idiot."


    Lucius raised his eyebrow. "Hah. You think I can''t figure this out?"


    She smirked. "Go ahead then. Call me."


    Lucius had stared at the screen, flicking through menus, opening and closing random apps.


    After a full minute, Loreia sighed and snapped the phone back. "Give me that. I swear, it''s like training a grandpa."


    "I would kill you for that remark if I didn''t need your help." Lucius had muttered.


    Now, he was navigating the streets alone, following the GPS with ease.


    Lucius glanced at the people passing by, watching how ordinary life unfolded around him.


    A couple walked past, laughing at something on their own phones.


    A businessman rushed past, grumbling into his earpiece.


    A group of kids stood outside a gaming shop, arguing about which mech model was the strongest.


    Lucius smirked slightly. "This world is strange. People are still weak, yet they live so comfortably."


    In his previous life, power dictated survival. If you were weak, you died. If you were strong, you thrived. Simple.


    Yet here? People could live their entire lives without ever seeing combat.


    Lucius turned a corner, the restaurant now within sight. "Even without swords and beasts, people still fight over petty things."


    He let out a chuckle. "Status, money, pride. It''s all the same. Just without the bloodshed."


    For now. He pushed the door open, stepping inside the restaurant.


    The restaurant had a warm, welcoming ambiance, filled with chatter and the aroma of sizzling dishes.


    Lucius scanned the room before spotting Loreia, Luna, and Liora sitting at a booth in the back.

 Chapter 258 A Feast Before the Storm

    Lucius walked straight to their table. He immediately glared at the spread of food laid out before them.


    He smirked as he watched them eating and enjoying the food themselves. "You all seem to be having a good time."


    Loriea grinned while taking a sip of her drink. "Of course. We have money now, so we should eat better."


    Lucius raised his eyebrow. "I see. So, what exactly do we have here?"


    Loreia glanced down at the various dishes, explaining them immediately to Lucius.


    "Bovarex Bone Broth Risotto¡ªrice soaked in the rich marrow broth of a Bovarex. Then there''s Grizzhog Boar Wellington, wrapped in a golden, flaky crust. And... Bovarex Imperial Steak¡ªthick, perfectly seared, still juicy inside."


    He sat down and picked up a fork, inspecting the meal before smirking. "Judging by the names, you all went for the expensive options."


    Loreia grinned. "Of course we did. If we''re going to eat, we might as well eat well."


    Luna, already cutting into her steak, waved her fork lazily. "Don''t pretend like you wouldn''t have done the same, Master. You should be thanking us for leaving you anything at all."


    Lucius chuckled. "I suppose I should be grateful then."


    Liora, who had been quietly eating, gestured toward his plate. "Eat. Before it gets cold."


    Lucius nodded. "Sure. I''ll see if this food is as good as it sounds."


    He picked up his knife, slicing into the Bovarex Steak, watching as the juices spilled onto the plate.


    The moment he took his first bite, his expression remained neutral for a second... before he smirked.


    "Not bad."


    Loreia laughed. "Not bad? That''s all you''re going to say?"


    Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    Lucius took another bite, chewing slowly. "I''ve eaten rarer delicacies, but... this is definitely one of the better meals I''ve had in this world."


    Luna smirked. "See? We know how to pick a good place."


    Lucius leaned back slightly. "I suppose I should trust your judgment more often."


    Loreia grinned. "Exactly. Now shut up and eat before we take your share."


    Lucius let out a small chuckle, cutting another piece of steak. "I''d like to see you try."


    With that, the four of them continued their meal, enjoying a rare moment of peace before whatever came next.


    Cassius tapped his fingers against his armrest. "Not necessarily. Maybe she did. Maybe someone else did it for her. Either way..."


    He smirked. "They''re dead. And if they''re not, they''re wishing they were."


    The investigators remained silent, processing the revelation.


    Cassius exhaled, shaking his head. "This just keeps getting better."


    One of the investigators hesitated before speaking. "Shall we keep looking into their whereabouts?"


    Cassius waved his hand dismissively. "No. Forget them. Focus on Loreia. She''s the key to all of this."


    He suddenly remembered something. "Wait a minute."


    He leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. "You got her address from the information you gathered, didn''t you?"


    The lead investigator nodded cautiously. "Yes, Master Cassius. It was listed in the company records. But..."


    He hesitated. "We haven''t verified if it''s her actual residence."


    Cassius smirked. "Then let''s fix that, shall we?"


    He stood up slowly. "Go and check her house. I want to know if it''s real or just another lie."


    One of the investigators visibly tensed. "Master Cassius, if she''s as dangerous as we suspect, wouldn''t this be... risky?"


    Cassius chuckled coldly. "Of course. That''s why I''m not sending you alone."


    The investigators exchanged glances.


    Cassius turned toward the shadows near the far end of the room. "Vance."


    From the darkness, a figure emerged.


    Cassius smirked. "You''ll accompany them. Make sure nothing unexpected happens."


    Vance gave a slight nod, his expression unreadable. "Understood."


    Cassius looked back at the investigators. "You''ll do what you do best¡ªobserve. Gather information. See if this ''Loreia Luxoria'' is who she claims to be."


    "And if she''s not... we''ll know soon enough."


    The investigators and Vance bowed. "Yes, Master Cassius."


    As they left the room, Cassius leaned back into his chair, his smirk never fading.


    "Let''s see if you really exist, Loreia Luxoria."

 Chapter 259 Darry Demands Their Table

    The investigators and Vance stopped outside the apartment complex. They were surprised looking at their target.


    Vance looked at the investigator, gesturing toward the apartment. "Are you absolutely sure this is their house?"


    One of the investigators quickly flipped through his notes. "Yes, Master Vance. This is the exact address listed in her company records."


    Vance narrowed his eyes at the small, single-room apartment. "A woman with an S-Rank Beast Fighter... and she lives here?"


    One of the investigators hesitated. "It is... unusual."


    Another investigator rubbed his chin. "If she had such power, you''d expect her to live somewhere safer, somewhere with security, maybe even in a noble district."


    Vance sighed. "Either she''s hiding something... or someone wants us to believe she lived here."


    The investigators exchanged glances.


    "You think the address was faked?" one of them asked.


    Vance shrugged. "Maybe. But if this was just a cover, then why leave it in the company records at all? Someone trying to disappear wouldn''t leave behind an obvious trail."


    Another investigator glanced around the area. "This place doesn''t look abandoned. People still live here."


    Vance clicked his tongue, still thinking. "Then let''s not waste time. We''re already here."


    He gestured toward the building. "Let''s check the place. I want to see if anyone here actually knew Loreia Luxoria."


    One of the investigators nodded. "Understood."


    Another hesitated before asking, "And if no one remembers her?"


    Vance''s frowned. "Then we''ll know for sure that this place is nothing but a lie."


    With that, they moved forward, stepping into the building, ready to uncover whatever truth was waiting for them inside.


    ---


    Lucius was enjoying his meal before suddenly he was disturbed.


    A group of rough people had entered the restaurant, making the waiters around tense.


    They looked away instinctively, pretending not to notice.


    The one leading the group was a tall and big man that was wearing a black suit.


    From his hair and cocky smirk, Lucius knew that he wasn''t here for a simple dinner.


    He was Darry, one of the high-ranking members of a strong local gang. Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    One of the nervous waiters bowed slightly. "W-Welcome, Sir Darry. How may I assist you today?"


    Darry didn''t even look at him. "VIP area. Now."


    The three girls, Loreia, Luna, and Liora, followed suit, standing up from their seats.


    Darry blinked, momentarily surprised. He hadn''t expected such an easy surrender.


    "Hah," he scoffed, leaning back slightly. "At least you know your place."


    But just as Lucius turned to leave, Darry suddenly raised his hand, stopping the three women.


    The tension in the room spiked immediately.


    "Hold up," Darry said, glancing over the three women with greed.


    He smirked as he arrogantly bragged himself. "Hey, girls. Why don''t you accompany me tonight?"


    Darry continued, grinning. "I can give you more than that thin and small man. You''ll be treated like queens with me."


    Lucius let out a slow breath. He was quite enraged. "Ah, how annoying."


    But before he could say or do anything, the girls spoke first.


    Luna tilted her head, placing a hand on her hip, mocking him. "You? You think you can afford us?"


    Darry chuckled, completely misreading the situation. "Oh, sweetheart, I can afford far more than you think."


    Luna''s smile widened, but it wasn''t friendly. "That so?"


    She leaned in slightly and whispered. "You wouldn''t survive a single night with me, little man."


    Darry froze for a fraction of a second, something in his body instinctively warning him of danger.


    But before he could react, Loreia stepped in. "I''ll pass. I prefer real men over overconfident dogs."


    Darry flinched slightly, his pride taking a hit. "What was that?"


    Liora finally spoke. "You are beneath notice."


    Darry''s smug grin slowly disappeared. His expression darkened as he realized what had just happened.


    He had just been outright humiliated.


    Lucius, still standing nearby, sighed and shook his head.


    "I tried to be polite but I suppose there are always fools who don''t know when to quit."


    Darry''s fist clenched. "You¡ª"


    Luna stepped closer, cutting him off completely. "Careful, Darry."


    Her voice was sweet and teasing. "You''re starting to sound like you have a death wish."


    Lucius finally smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Now then... how are we handling this?"

 Chapter 260 Beast Weaponization?

    Darry''s smug expression was replaced with anger now. His pride was wounded.


    He stepped back and growled. "It seems I need to teach you who''s in charge here."


    One of his henchmen stepped forward and smirked before summoning his beast. "Come here, Razorfang!"


    A portal appeared and from within, a wolf walked out. Its fangs were sharp and its claws were crackling with faint electric sparks.


    Lucius watched with interest as the henchman raised his arm. "Razorfang, Weaponize!"


    The wolf immediately transformed into a curved sword and grabbed by the henchman.


    He twirled it around before settling into a stance and glaring at Lucius.


    Lucius raised his eyebrow as he was intrigued. "So this is beast weaponization. It is pretty interesting."


    He walked closer. "It''s a different approach compared to fusion... makes the beast a tool rather than an extension of oneself." Read new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    Loreia glanced at the henchman. She was unimpressed. "Seems weak."


    Lucius agreed, but just to be sure, he quickly scanned the fighter''s stats.


    ---


    [Talent: Common]


    [Stage: Beast Fighter]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: C]


    [Vit: D]


    [Agi: C]


    [Int: D]


    ---


    Lucius smirked. "I see. So the wolf must have only recently reached C-Rank."


    Liora kept her cold gaze.


    Liora''s cold gaze flickered to the henchman. "He''s inexperienced."


    Lucius nodded slightly. "Yes. He must have just advanced to Beast Fighter and chose Weaponization over Fusion. A beginner, in other words."


    Luna sighed dramatically. "And here I thought we''d at least get something interesting."


    The henchman, overhearing their conversation, gritted his teeth and snapped. "Tch. You talk too much."


    He gripped his weaponized beast tightly. "Let''s see if you still think I''m weak after I cut you down."


    Darry grinned, crossing his arms. "That''s right. Let''s see you act arrogant when your blood''s on the floor."


    He grinned as he was confident in his weapon''s ability. "Still want to act tough?"


    Loreia crossed her arms, sighing dramatically. "And here I thought you''d be at least a little more creative. Let me guess, after this, you''ll say something like ''you''ll regret this'' or ''don''t blame me if you die,'' right?"


    Luna laughed, leaning slightly toward Lucius. "She''s having fun with this."


    Lucius smirked. "Let her enjoy herself. It''s her first real fight outside the training simulations."


    The henchman snarled. "Tch, you asked for it!"


    Without another word, he lunged forward. He used his Razorfang sword, aiming for her shoulder.


    But to his surprise, he hit nothing, as Loreia had already moved.


    She bent her body to the right, smoothly dodging the attack.


    She had fought and died countless times within the virtual world so this battle was just child play.


    The moment she dodged, she immediately countered.


    With precision, she raised her hand¡ªher newly-equipped finger claws¡ªand attacked.


    Slash!


    A single, swift cut struck the henchman''s right arm.


    He twitched slightly, a small streak of blood forming along his forearm.


    But instead of backing down, he chuckled.


    "Hah. Is that all?" He mocked, shaking his arm. "It barely even hurts."


    Loreia''s smirk widened.


    "You should check your condition first."


    The henchman''s grin wavered.


    Then, suddenly¡ªhis entire right arm went numb.


    His expression shifted from cocky confidence to sudden panic.


    "W-What the hell..." He looked at his arm¡ªbut he couldn''t feel it. He couldn''t move it.


    His sword trembled in his grip, his fingers struggling to respond. "What... what did you do to me?!"


    Loreia spun her claws once, admiring them. "Oh, nothing much."


    She glanced at him with a smile. "Just a little something extra that my little brother Lucius added."


    Luna chuckled. "Oh, this is getting fun."


    Lucius, watching silently from the side, smirked. "Seems like you''re finally getting used to fighting in reality, big sister."


    Loreia grinned. "Well? Are we done here, or should I take another arm?"

 Chapter 261 Tortured Without a Sound

    The henchman was now struggling. His right arm was completely unresponsive.


    What the henchman didn''t realize was that the finger claws Loreia was using weren''t just ordinary weapons.


    They were, in fact, very similar to his own Razorfang sword¡ªbut far superior in design.


    Unlike the Beast Weaponization process, where tamers turned their beasts into weapons, Lucius had taken a completely different approach.


    Using his system''s hacking ability, he had done something far more efficient.


    He manually and artificially transformed live beasts into live equipment.


    The finger claws that Loreia wore had been crafted from a weak, insignificant F-Rank beast known as a Zapmite.


    Zapmites were tiny, annoying insect-type beasts that weren''t deadly. Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    They weren''t useful in combat. At best, they delivered weak electric shocks¡ªbarely enough to cause brief muscle numbness.


    To most people, Zapmites were nothing more than oversized mosquitoes.


    But for Lucius?


    They were raw materials.


    Thanks to their F-Rank status, it only took 10 Hack Points to turn one Zapmite into a single finger claw.


    He had made five claws for one hand, costing only 50 Hack Points.


    But of course, F-Rank weapons weren''t useful.


    So Lucius had simply enhanced them.


    Using his system, he had boosted the stats of the Zapmite Finger Claws from F-Rank to C-Rank, which had only cost 2,220 Hack Points in total.


    A ridiculously cheap price for something just as effective as a Beast Weaponization transformation.


    ---


    The henchman gritted his teeth as he just realized how badly this fight had turned against him.


    His right arm hung limply at his side, completely useless. "Damn it...!"


    But he still had his left hand.


    Clenching his jaw, he gripped his weaponized sword tighter and lunged forward.


    His muscles strained as he swung down with all the strength he could muster, aiming directly for Loreia''s torso for a desperate, final attempt.


    But... It was too slow. Far too slow.


    Loreia''s eyes tracked the movement effortlessly. Her body wasn''t even tense.


    She simply tilted her head slightly, shifting her stance and with a single motion, she sidestepped.


    ---


    Without hesitation, Loreia drove her finger claws straight toward the henchman''s eyes.


    The sharp metal tips dug into his soft flesh, burrowing deep with a squelch.


    The henchman couldn''t even scream.


    His mouth was frozen, his body locked in paralyzing agony, but the pain? The pain was very, very real.


    His legs twitched violently, his body convulsing, but he was completely powerless.


    The restaurant fell into silence as the torture continued.


    Some people gasped, covering their mouths. Others turned away, unable to watch the gruesome display.


    A few diners lost their composure entirely¡ªvomiting at the sight.


    Even Darry, the so-called "gang leader", felt his stomach churn.


    He had seen violence before. He had seen people get beaten, stabbed, even killed.


    But this?


    This was something else entirely. This was torture.


    His confidence wavered, his fists clenching as a cold chill ran down his spine. "W-What the hell is she?"


    Loreia, meanwhile, remained completely unfazed. Her expression was neutral, almost bored. "Tch."


    She twisted her claws slightly, feeling the faint resistance of nerves and soft tissue.


    She smirked as she pulled and ripped both of his eyeballs out with one fluid motion.


    Plop.


    The mangled orbs dangled loosely from their optic nerves for a second before she let them drop to the floor.


    The henchman''s body convulsed one final time before his mind gave up.


    His breathing was ragged, his foam-covered lips twitching faintly.


    Then he completely passed out and collapsed to the ground, twitching like a dying animal.


    Loreia clicked her tongue, shaking her head. "Quite weak."


    She flexed her fingers, wiping the bloodied claws against the unconscious man''s shirt, as if it were nothing but dust on her hands.


    Darry stared at her, his face pale. For the first time in his life, he was terrified.


    The restaurant remained silent and no one dared to move.


    Lucius, who had been watching the entire time, finally spoke. "Well now... this is getting interesting."

 Chapter 262 Captured? Not Today!

    Lucius, Liora and Luna walked out of the restaurant first. They were really unbothered, as if nothing had happened.


    Loreia was the last to leave but before stepping out, she stopped in front of Darry.


    With a smirk, Loreia casually dropped the two bloodied eyeballs onto the floor in front of him.


    Plop.


    Darry flinched. He instinctively stepped back as the disfigured orbs landed right at his feet.


    Loreia tilted her head slightly in amusement. "You better think twice before asking me to accompany you again if this was enough to make you shit yourself."


    Darry swallowed hard. His mouth dried up as he was unable to respond at all.


    Loreia only grinned and burst into a loud, merciless laigher. "Hah! Pathetic."


    With that, she turned around and walked out of the restaurant while keeping laughing.


    Darry stood there and his body trembled as he had just realized that he had messed with the wrong people.


    ---


    The investigators and Vance were now standing in front of the apartment building.


    Vance crossed his arms. "So, this is where they live?"


    One of the investigators nodded. "Yes, according to the company records, this is Loreia Luxoria''s registered address."


    Vance sighed. "Let''s see what''s inside, then."


    The investigator stepped forward, knocking on the door and called out. "Delivery service! We have a package for you!"


    Silence.


    The investigator exchanged glances with his colleagues. "No answer."


    He knocked again, louder this time.


    Still nothing.


    Vance''s patience ran out instantly.


    "Move."


    Without hesitation, he stepped forward and kicked the door open with a single powerful strike.


    CRASH!


    The door flew open, slamming against the wall and what they saw inside shocked them.


    A massive silver dragon was curling in the center of the room. Its body was trembling in pain.


    "T-That''s..." one of them stammered.


    Another investigator recognizing it immediately muttered in disbelief. "Isn''t this the Argentis that Master Cassius wanted to obtain?"


    Vance frowned as he glanced at Argentis. "How the hell is it already this big?"


    The investigators stepped forward cautiously, examining the beast''s massive, gleaming silver wings, its razor-sharp claws, and its newly evolved form.


    One of them swallowed hard. "This... this doesn''t make sense. Argentis was a C-Rank when it was at the Beast Castle. How did it evolve this fast?"


    Vance raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "So?"


    "Sir, it''s hostile¡ª"


    BOOM!


    The floor shook as Argentis suddenly roared.


    Vance clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Tch. So it still has fight in it?"


    The investigator backed up slightly. "Sir, I think it''s going to retaliate!"


    Vance''s expression remained calm, but his eyes grew colder. "Fine. Let''s see if this dragon is worth the trouble."


    Argentis lowered itself into an aggressive stance, its wings spreading slightly.


    It didn''t know how strong these enemies were or how it could win in its current state.


    But it knew one thing. It wasn''t going down without a fight. Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    Vance smirked as he cracked his knuckles. "This shouldn''t take long."


    But just as he took his first step¡ª


    CRACK!


    The floor beneath them groaned violently, splitting apart.


    For a brief moment, silence hung in the air.


    Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    The entire floor collapsed beneath them.


    The investigators barely had time to react before they plunged downward, their bodies twisting mid-air in shock.


    "What the¡ª?!"


    Vance''s eyes widened slightly as he instinctively reached for something to grab onto, but it was too late.


    They were falling.


    All of them.


    Except...


    Argentis.


    The massive silver dragon hovered in mid-air, flapping its newly evolved wings.


    It watched with amusement as its would-be captors fell through the crumbling apartment floor, crashing into the lower level in a chaotic heap.


    The dragon''s silver eyes gleamed as it realized something.


    This... was its fortune.


    It let out a deep, rumbling chuckle.


    "Heh."


    And with one strong flap of its wings, Argentis soared upward, blasting through the ceiling and into the night sky.

 Chapter 263 Home Sweet Ruins

    Lucius and the others had arrived at their apartment, only to stop when they saw the state of their apartment.


    Their once tidy and secure residence was now partially collapsed. There were cracks all over the wall.


    The top-floor area, which was her apartment before, had also caved in completely.


    For a moment, none of them spoke.


    Luna let out a low whistle. "Well... this is new."


    Loreia''s eyebrow twitched as she could not believe it. "I''m gone for one meal, and we come back to this?"


    She stepped forward, kicking a chunk of stone. "This is just great."


    Liora, as usual, was still calm. She scanned the area to see if it was safe. "The damage is extensive. The structure is no longer safe."


    Lucius rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "It''s impressive, in a way. Whoever did this must have been in a hurry."


    Luna kicked a broken chair with her foot, watching as it toppled over. "You think someone wanted to send us a message?"


    Loreia scoffed, arms folded. "If they did, they picked the wrong people to mess with."


    Lucius stepped forward and smirked. "The collapse wasn''t natural. This was either intentional... or the result of something big happening."


    Loreia took a deep breath and looked up. The moment she did, she was surprised.


    She pointed her finger to the sky. "Wait. Look! Isn''t that Argentis?"


    The group immediately turned upside and could see Argentis, who flew above the broken apartment.


    Lucius raised his eyebrow, amused. "Well, that explains a few things."


    Loreia''s brow furrowed. "Could it be... that someone tried to attack?"


    Luna smirked. "That wouldn''t surprise me. But the real question is¡ªwho?"


    Loreia crossed her arms. "Argentis is a lucky beast. If something happened, maybe the building collapsed because of him." Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire


    Lucius let out a short chuckle. "That sounds about right but still it was interesting."


    Lucius immediately smirked. "If someone really attacks, then it seems we need to teach some lessons."


    Luna grinned. "Oh? So we''re going hunting?"


    Some people were walking toward them and he didn''t know who they were.


    Vance turned around and saw four people. One man and three women.


    Vance knew who they were, as he already looked at the picture of both Loreia and Lucius.


    But from their aura alone, Vance knew that they weren''t ordinary people at all.


    Loreia stepped forward first and looked at Vance coldly. "So you''re the ones who attacked our place, huh?"


    Luna whistled slowly, placing her hand on her hip as she scanned their faces. "Oh, I recognize some of them."


    She smirked as she gestured toward them. "Aren''t they the same people who were following that bastard back at the Beast Castle a few days ago?"


    Vance frowned, but he didn''t respond immediately.


    Lucius, on the other hand, grinned slightly as he turned toward Vance.


    "I see. A group of men who thought that they worked under someone from a powerful family."


    "Because of that, they were convinced they could do everything they wanted."


    Lucius then shook his head before letting out a sigh. "Another young master type, huh? But it was his minions that is here."


    Luna chuckled, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Yeah, too bad. It''s just the extras today. No main villain in sight."


    She glanced at the injured investigators still recovering and smirked. "If he were actually here, we could have given him a ''proper'' makeover."


    Lucius grinned too as he rolled his shoulders lazily. "Of course. It''s become a rather common job for us, hasn''t it? Giving a bit of ''cosmetic improvement'' to stupid, arrogant young masters."


    Luna sighed dramatically. "It''s almost like a public service at this point."


    Liora also spoke. "It''s a waste of time dealing with them. We should just finish this quickly."


    Lucius chuckled. "I suppose you''re right. But..."


    He turned toward Vance, who had remained silent through their entire exchange.


    Lucius only smirked as he tilted his head slightly. "You don''t seem too surprised by our words. Maybe you''ve realized your place already."


    Vance clenched his fists as he didn''t know how to answer or act.


    From their calm demeanor and their words, he knew that they were not ordinary people at all.

 Chapter 264 Loreia Declares War on the Aurelius Familys Elite!

    Loreia stepped forward, cracking her knuckles as she was now really angry.


    She didn''t care who they were or even what they wanted.


    She only knew that they dared to step on her territory and destroy her apartment.


    And now? They were all going to die thanks to their foolish action.


    She glanced at Vance and the investigators. "I don''t care who you are anymore. You destroyed the apartment, and that''s all I need to know."


    She tilted her head slightly, cracking her neck. "So let''s just end this. I''m going to kill you all."


    The investigatros stiffened as they felt the killing intent from Loreia.


    Vance, on the other hand, remained still, watching her carefully.


    Lucius only grinned as he was amused by her bloodlust. "Sure. Now that Argentis has evolved, you can use it to fight."


    Loreia only smirked. "Good."


    She turned to Vance. "Let me fight them alone. I want to kill them myself."


    Lucius raised his eyebrow before chuckling. "Alone, huh? I like your confidence, sis."


    Lucius turned toward Luna and Liora. "Well, let''s give our big sister a proper send-off for her first real performance."


    He then clapped his hands together. "Luna, Liora¡ªgive your big sister a round of applause."


    Luna grinned, her eyes shifting between Loreia and the trembling investigators. "Ohhh, this is going to be fun."


    She then clapped her hands. "Finally, big sister gets to show off for real. No training wheels this time."


    Liroa tilted her head slightly before giving two claps. "Don''t disappoint us, Loreia."


    Loreia rolled her shoulders, cracking her neck. "Tch. Like I''d lose to this garbage."


    She gestured toward Vance and the investigators. "You all better not run. It''d be boring if this ended too quickly."


    Vance only frowned as he snapped. "Don''t think we''re that weak. We are the elite of the Aurelius family."


    The investigators nodded, though they were still trembling a bit.


    One of them gritted his teeth. trying to suppress his fear. "She''s alone. We have the numbers!"


    Another nodded quickly, reassuring himself. "We can overwhelm her!"


    Loreia snorted after hearing them. "Overwhelm me?"


    She arched her eyebrow, tilting her head mockingly. "Oh, that''s cute."


    Luna chuckled, shaking her head. "You hear that, master? They think numbers matter."


    Lucius smirked. "Ah, the classic mistake of weaklings. Thinking headcount is the same as strength."


    ---


    Lucius was quite surprised, seeing the data in front of him. "Species unkown."


    He tilted his head and smirked. "I see... so that''s what''s truly happening here." Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire


    The Aurelius family wasn''t just taming beast. They created them by experimenting with them.


    Lucius smirked after realizing it. "To think that they did this. Artificial mutations. Forced evolution."


    He then frowned after looking at the incomplete or deformed mutation. "But this is incomplete."


    He tapped his fingers lightly against his forearm. "Mutations that aren''t fully stabilized. Forced enhancements that push them past their limits."


    Lucius sighed, shaking his head. "But to think that they''re too stupid to let out such a failed experiment."


    The Aurelius family, who was so arrogant, couldn''t even perfect their own creations.


    It was too disappointing but yet it was intriguing enough for Lucius.


    He chuckled and smirked. "Still... I wonder what kind of other ebastas they''ve been playing with."


    The Aurelius family was experimenting with beast evolution, but what happened if it was done with his system?


    He could do even better than them. Far, far better than them to create a perfect one.


    Liora, who kept looking at Chimawrens, turned to Lucius. "Master Lucius, should we assist her?" Although she is strong, these beasts are... different."


    Luna nodded, arms crossed. "Yeah, Master. Big sister is powerful, but these things aren''t like normal beasts."


    She wrinkled her nose slightly. "I can smell something disgusting coming from them. Something unnatural."


    Lucius tilted his head slightly, amused by their concern. "Are you suggesting that Loreia could lose against these beasts?"


    Luna and Liora both stiffened slightly at his words.


    "Not like that!" Luna quickly corrected. "We just¡ª"


    Liora also corrected her words. "We don''t doubt her strength, but these beasts react differently than normal creatures. They mutate, and that unpredictability could be dangerous."


    Lucius smirked, raising his hand slightly to silence them. "Just stay put."


    He gestured toward the battlefield. "Watch how your big sister fights."


    Luna and Liora glanced at each other before nodding.


    Lucius only reminded them. "If she''s in danger, then join the battle but for now? Let''s see what she''s capable of."


    Luna grinned slightly. "Fine. This could be fun to watch."


    Liora gave a small nod, her cold gaze shifting back to Loreia.


    The fight was about to begin.

 Chapter 265 A Fight Against Mutated Beasts

    Loreia looked up and shouted. "Argentis! Come down here!"


    Argentis flinched mid-flight as it turned toward Loreai, who had called him.


    It immediately growled and dove down. As soon as it landed on the ground, it folded its wings and glanced at Loreia.


    Loreia grinned as she placed her palm on its head. "Now you''ve truly become a dragon."


    Argentis only let out a low growl as it was being patted.


    Loreia exhaled and smirked. "Alright, buddy. Let''s see if I can do what those so-called Beast Fighters did."


    She had seen how beast fighters transformed their beasts into weapons.


    Luna and Liora had usually fused with their beast so Loreia wanted to try the beast weapon.


    Loreia closed her eyes for a moment, calming herself down.


    She could feel Argentis and immediately knew what to do. "Argentis. Spear Mode."


    Argentis let out a growl. It didn''t what happen but it knew what Loreia wanted.


    Its form then suddenly transformed into a long spear that appeared on Loreia''s hand.


    The handle was wrapped in smooth dark leather, fitting perfectly in her grip.


    The blade shone like polished dragon scales, curved like a dragon fang.


    Loreia twirled the spear once, feeling its perfect balance and grinned. "Damn, Argentis. You feel perfect."


    Loreia laughed, spinning it effortlessly. "So this is what a Beast Fighter feels like, huh?"


    She slammed the spear''s butt against the ground, causing a faint shockwave to ripple outward.


    She then smirked as she raised her spear back and pointed it toward Vance and the other. "Alright, you bastards. We can have some real fun, now."


    Vance frowned as he watched Loreia effortlessly wield her spear. Her confidence irritated him.


    Vance exhaled, rolling his shoulders before snapping back at her. "Don''t get ahead of yourself just because you fused with your stupid dragon!"


    Loreia twirled her spear lazily, resting it on her shoulder. "Oh? Did I touch a nerve?"


    Loreia then used the momentum from the downward strike to lift herself upward, flipping through the air.


    She twisted her body midair and lashed out a powerful kick on another Chimawren''s head, sending it spiraling backward. "Tch!"


    But before she could land back on solid ground, another Chimawren reacted instantly, adjusting its flight path. Read the latest on My Virtual Library Empire


    It flew toward Loreiua and lunged, using its sharp talon to clamp down on Loreia''s leg, gripping it tightly.


    Loreia frowned as she was caught and dragged toward the sky by it away from the battlefield.


    Liora, who observed the battle, was a bit surprised. "I never thought those mutated beasts could be this smart."


    Luna glanced at her, raising her eyebrow. "Smart? They''re just attacking wildly."


    Liora shook her head. "No, it wasn''t random. They purposely let the first two Chimawren die just to catch Loreia off guard."


    Lucius smirked as he also realized it now. "I could see it now after you say it."


    Liora contined. "Even though it looked like a simple aerial ambush, it was actually a coordinated strategy."


    Vance, hearing their conversation, smirked. "Of course it was."


    He crossed his arms. "Did you really think we''d send mindless beasts into battle?"


    Luna frowned. "Aren''t they supposed to be unstable? I thought they were too aggressive to be controlled properly."


    Vance smirked, shaking his head. "They are aggressive. But that doesn''t mean they''re stupid."


    He gestured toward the Chimawren still circling above. "Their mutated minds are programmed to analyze all threats in real time."


    Vance then explained. "They don''t just attack randomly. They react, adapt, and execute plans mid-fight."


    He chuckled, watching as Loreia struggled slightly. "That''s why they were able to lure her into a false sense of control. She thought she was overpowering them, but in reality, they were setting her up for capture."


    Lucius only smirked. "A beast that adapts... now that''s interesting."


    Luna clicked her tongue. "Tch. So they''re not just puppets¡ªthey''re evolving mid-battle?"


    Vance grinned. "Exactly. Which is why your ''big sister'' won''t last much longer."


    But all three of them didn''t panic at all. They already knew that they could save her even if Loreia was in danger.

 Chapter 266 A Freefall to Death?

    Loreia frowned as she felt the tight grip of the Chimawren''s talons around her leg, dragging her higher and higher into the sky.


    Loreai frowned as she gritted her teeth and shouted. "Damn you, bastard!"


    Without hesitation, she adjusted her grip on her spear and plunged it straight into the Chimawren''s skull.


    The sharp tip of the spear easily pierced through its mutated flesh effortlessly, sinking deep into its head.


    The Chimawren let out a final scrreh before its entire body stiffened and its grip on Loreai''s leg loosened.


    Loreia frowned as she realized what she had done wrong. She had killed the beast and now she was free and falling. "Tch¡ª!"


    She was thinking what to do in the sky, but before she could do so, the remaining Chimawren immediately moved.


    Their programmed instincts kicked in, sensing an opportunity.


    One by one, they went toward her, preparing their steel wings to attack.


    They were going to cut her apart before she even hit the ground.


    Loreia frowned after realizing the situation she was in. "Shit."


    From below, Vance grinned as he watched. "That''s what happens when you act without thinking. No one survives mid-air against them."


    Loreia frowned, gripping her spear tightly as she tumbled mid-air. She didn''t know what to do.


    There were too many enemies, too many attacks coming at once.


    She had seconds before they tore into her but then something unexpected happened.


    One of the Chimawren screeched violently, its entire body convulsing. Its wings twitched unnaturally.


    The metallic implants embedded in its body sparked violently, small arcs of electricity snapping through its nerves.


    Loreia was a bit surprised. "What?"


    The Chimawren, unable to stabilize itself, suddenly flew off course and collided headfirst into two of its allies.


    It made one of the Chimawren panic, flapping its wings erratically and slicing the beast next to it.


    Another one lost control entirely, spiraling downward and accidentally slashed through the throat of another Chimawren with its talon.


    In an instant, numerous Chimawrens were completely out of their formation.


    Vance snapped his gaze toward him. "What the hell are you talking about?! They''re machines¡ªthey don''t just malfunction on their own!"


    The investigator swallowed hard. "I don''t know, sir! But the control override isn''t responding!"


    Another shouted out in panic. "Sir! One of the Chimawren corpses¡ªit''s falling¡ª!"


    Vance looked up instinctively. He was just in time to see it and immediately shocked.


    A massive Chimawren corpse was plummeting like a meteor straight toward them.


    Vance immediately cursed and shouted. "Damn it! RUN! NOW!"


    The investigators barely had time to react before the corpse crashed into the ground.


    BOOOOM!


    The impact shattered the earth beneath them, sending shockwaves through the battlefield.


    Some of the investigators weren''t fast enough and were crushed by the impact.


    Some others were thrown violently across the battlefield, screaming in pain.


    Vance shielded himself with his arm, gritting his teeth as dust and rubble scraped against his face.


    When the smoke cleared, the battlefield was a mess. Bodies lay scattered.


    Some groaing in pain and some... not moving at all.


    Vance frowned as she turned toward the impact site and saw who was there. "Damn it... YOU MONSTER GIRL!"


    A figure soon rose from the rubble and it was Loreia. Her clothes were torn slightly from the force, but beneath it...


    Her body was only dirtied with the dust, but it was healing at fast rates.


    She rolled her shoulders as if shaking off a minor inconvenience before grinning.


    She then stretched her arms lazily before gripping her spear again. "Not bad. A bit rough on the landing, but quite a good skydive."


    Vance stared in disbelief. To think that Loreia just turned a Chimawren into a weapon, crushed his forces, and emerged completely fine.


    Vance was now trembling in rage. "You... you insane freak..."


    Loreia laughed, spinning her spear in her hand. "Freak? No, no."


    She smirked as she pointed her spear at him. "I''m just a simple girl and I''m just getting started."

 Chapter 267 Gorevile Wants to Play

    Vance frowned deeply as the battlefield was now a mess. Most of his men were either dead or severely injured.


    Their enemy, the monster girl, Loreia, was still standing tall and mocking him in this very moment. "Damn it."


    He lifted his gaze toward Loreia. "It seems that I need to handle this myself."


    Loreia smirked, spinning her spear lazily. "Oh? Finally ready to get your hands dirty? Took you long enough."


    Vance ignored her taunt and took a step forward, his body emanating a powerful aura.


    He then sneered. "You think I''m the same as those weaklings you''ve crushed? You think you''ve won?"


    His voice grew sharper. "Let me tell you something, monster girl. You don''t understand the power the Aurelius family wields."


    Loreia arched her eyebrow. "Oh? And here I thought your power was just getting beat up and making dramatic speeches."


    Vance chuckled as he was excited now. "Keep laughing. But you won''t be smiling when you see what true power looks like."


    He extended his hand and created a portal in which his beast would come out.


    THUD.


    A monstrous limb slammed onto the ground, followed by another.


    A grotesque towering figure appeared. It was a beast of pure experimentation.


    Its body resembled that of a gorilla, but something was really, really wrong.


    Instead of a single uniform form, it looked like it had been stitched together from various gorilla-like creatures.


    Its muscular frame was also reinforced further with unnatural bone plates.


    Its arms were grotesquely overgrown, its knuckles digging into the ground like a beast ready to pounce.


    Its tail, however, was really different. Instead of a normal tail, it had been replaced with a snake.


    It was also not a normal snake, as it was dripping with something like venom.


    Vance smirked as he stepped back from his own beast. "Now that I''ve summoned my beast¡ªGorevile¡ªyou are dead."


    Loreia stared at the abomination, then whistled. "Huh. And here I thought your Chimawren were the ugliest things I''d see today."


    Vance ignored her. "This is one of our strongest experimental beasts¡ªnot only powerful, but highly intelligent."


    Gorevile let out a deep, guttural growl, its knuckles grinding into the dirt, its snake-like tail twitching hungrily.


    Vance pointed at Loreia. "I''ll make sure you pay for what you did today."


    Loreia spun her spear once and grinned. "Then stop talking and come here!"


    ---


    Lucius tilted his head slightly, watching the mutated beast stand before Loreia.


    Each bone spike shattered upon impact, their sharp fragments scattering uselessly to the ground.


    Loreia smirked as she narrowed her eyes. "Is that all you got?"


    Vance chuckled, crossing his arms. "Oh no. Not even close."


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    Just as Loreia rushed forward, closing the distance between them, Gorevile smirked.


    Its muscles rippled unnaturally, shifting and reforming mid-combat.


    Its legs bulked up instantly, the muscle density increasing in a split second.


    With a powerful leap, Gorevile soared high above Loreia, completely avoiding her charge.


    Loreia frowned, her eyes snapping upward.


    While still mid-air, Gorevile''s snake-like tail twisted around, the fangs at its tip dripping with a thick, putrid substance.


    With a whip of its tail, it released a spray of corrosive venom directly toward Loreia.


    Vance smirked as he saw Loreia was covered with the purple venom. "What''s wrong, monster girl? Too slow to react?"


    He laughed, shaking his head. "Gorevile is more than just brute strength."


    "Its adaptive biology makes it unpredictable. You can''t block everything with that fancy spear of yours!"


    Grovile chuckled as it wasn''t just a mindless weapon. It was a beast that enjoyed this.


    Instead of charging blindly like a berserk beast, Gorevile slowed its movements.


    It knew that it did not need to rush as Loreia was already on its palm.


    Vance smirked, noticing the shift. "Oh? Are you taking your time now?"


    Gorevile grinned, baring its jagged teeth, its snake-like tail twitching with anticipation.


    This beast wasn''t just smart. It was quite sadistic. It had adjusted its venom, deliberately weakening its potency.


    It wasn''t because it was inefficient, but because it wanted to play with its prey.


    The venom was a decaying venom that dissolving felsh layer by layer slowly.


    Vance chuckled. "Oh, I see. You want to enjoy this, huh?"


    Gorevile tilted its head slightly, as if acknowledging its Vance''s words.


    It could have released a stronger dose and ended this faster, but that wouldn''t be fun.


    It wanted to watch, to see her struggle until the venom took her life.


    Vance grinned wider, crossing his arms. "Fine. Take your time. After all... She''s already dead. She just doesn''t know it yet."

 Chapter 268 Gorevile Was Designed to Kill... itself?

    Gorevile walked forward and stopped in front of Loreia. It was currently waiting.


    It had expected a scream and a cry of agony from Loreia. The slow and painful suffering it loved to witness.


    But... after waiting for a long time, it frowned. There was nothing. Not even a whimper.


    Gorevile paused as he glanced at Loreia. Why isn''t she screaming?


    All beasts, warriors or even experimental beasts like itself were all breaking under its venom, yet this one... She wasn''t reacting at all.


    Gorevile gritted its jagged teeth together in annoyance. If the venom wasn''t enough, then it would simply tear her apart.


    Without hesitation, Gorevile lunged forward, its massive hand wrapping tightly around Loreia''s legs.


    Its grip was tightening as its muscles shifted instantly, redirecting its raw strength into its arms.


    The muscles in its arms were reshaped, expanded and thickened.


    It then slowly lifted her into the air, holding her upside down and a smirk appeared on its face.


    Now, it would rip her in half slowly. It wanted to feel the resistance in her body and the sickening snap of her spine.


    It also wanted to see her helplessness expression the most as she realized there was no escaping.


    It began to tighten both its grip on Loreia''s legs and started pulling in opposite directions.


    One. Two. SHINK!


    Gorevile froze as a sudden pain appeared on its chest. It slowly looked down and was surprised to see a spear piercing its chest.


    It immediately looked up and found that not only Loreia wasn''t writhing in agony or even screaming. She was instantly grinning.


    Gorevile was really confused. It had poisoned her and her body should have been decaying, but now it wasn''t.


    Her body wasn''t even injured. Not a single sign of decay could be seen in her body.


    Loreia tilted her head and smirked. "Aw, did you think that would work?"


    Vance, who watched from the sidelines, was stiffened in disbelief. "How the hell is she still standing?!"


    One of the injured investigators weakly muttered. "M-Maybe the venom wasn''t strong enough..."


    Vance gritted his teeth, shaking his head. "No. Even though Gorevile held back, the dosage was still enough to paralyze an A-Rank beast."


    He snarled, glaring at Loreia. "So how... how the hell did you resist it?!"


    Its body also twitched unnaturally mid-charge. It as if something was withging it down, making it sluggish.


    Loreia raised her eyebrow in surprise. "Huh?"


    Vance''s smirk immediately disappeared as he was in shock. "What the hell just happened?!"


    He looked at it closer and realized it. Gorevile''s wound, the area where Loreia had pierced with her spear, was dissolving.


    The flesh around the wound was not bleeding. It was melting.


    Vance stepped back in shock. "W-What the hell?! Why is its body... rotting?!"


    Gorevile was also confused. It was now in enrage as it looked at its own injuries.


    Its mutating body was supposed to be healing, but now it was decaying.


    Vance was desperately trying to process what was happening and then it hit him.


    Gorevile... was poisoned but not by any poison. It was by its own venom. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire


    Vance was surprised but he couldn''t believe it. "No... That''s impossible!"


    Gorevile''s venom was stored exclusively in its tail, separated from its main body.


    There was always a risk of self-poisoning, but Gorevile was trained to be careful and to never let that happen.


    His Gorevile was specifically a different breed that was the best, so how can it be?


    Gorevile staggered backward. It began to fall down to his knee.


    Its limbs twitched uncontrollably as the purple sludge-like venom ate away at its insides.


    Loreia smirked, spinning her spear. "Oh, poor thing. To think that it was poisoned by its own poison."


    Loreai then turned toward Vance and smirked. "And you didn''t expect that, did you?"


    Vance clenched his fist, digging his own palm with his fingers. "What did you do?!"


    Loreia only grinned, pointing her spear at Gorevile''s dissolving wound. "That? I didn''t do anything. Your beast should have done this to itself."


    Vance staggered slightly. He was still thinking, What the hell was going on?


    But before he could even fully process the situation, a voice surprised him. "Now that Gorevile can''t do shit to me..."


    Vance''s body tensed as he glanced back toward Loreia, who pointed her spear at him. "Now it''s your turn to die."

 Chapter 269 Luck? Fate? Or Just Pure Skill?

    Luna and Liora, who stood at the edge of the battlefield, could feel their emotions swung wildly like a pendulum.


    One moment, Loreia was in danger. Suddenly, in the next moment, she was perfectly fine.


    They had almost rushed in multiple times to save her, only to be stopped by Lucius and every single time, he was right.


    Loreia had always pulled through, even when the odds looked impossible.


    Luna sighed, crossing her arms. "Alright, I have to ask¡ªhow the hell does she keep surviving this?"


    Liora, who was normally calm, was the same and nodded in agreement.


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    "I don''t understand it either. Every time it looks like she''s about to die, she turns things around. It''s almost... unnatural."


    Lucius only chuckled. "It''s because Argentis is a beast of luck."


    Luna blinked, turning toward him. "What?"


    Lucius glanced at her and explained. "It''s quite simple, actually. When Loreia used Beast Weaponization, not only Argentis stat was her, but its luck too.


    Luna raised her eyebrow, skeptical. "You''re telling me luck is the reason she''s still alive?"


    Liora narrowed her eyes slightly. "That doesn''t explain everything. Beast weaponization strengthens the body, not the mind or external factors."


    Lucius shurgged. "Of course it is. Wether it''s Beast Fusion or Beast Weaponization..."


    Lucius pointed toward Loreia. "All of the beast''s abilities and stats are transferred to the tamer."


    Liora furrowed her brows. "Including passive abilities?"


    Lucius grinned. "Especially passive abilities."


    Luna exhaled. She was still trying to wrap her head around it. "And Argentis''s ability is basically..."


    Lucius gestured toward the battlefield. "Overwhelming luck."


    Luna and Liora both turned their gazes back toward Loreia, who still stood completely unharmed while Gorevile struggled against its own failing body.


    Lucius then continued. "You can see the effect right in front of you."


    He held up a hand, listing them off.


    "First, the Chimawren''s malfunctions when attacking her in the sky¡ªsomething that had never happened before."


    "And now? Gorevile poisoning itself¡ªdespite the fact that it has always been careful with its own venom."


    Loreia tilted her head with a smirk. "You did that you yourself, idiot."


    Loreia twirled her spear effortlessly, smirking. "You did that to yourself, idiot."


    Vance clenched his massive hands and roared. "I''LL MAKE SURE YOU DIE FOR THIS!"


    Loreia raised her eyebrow and smirked. "Then come and try, if you can."


    Vance frowned and without hesitation, he shifted his muscle toward his legs to launch himself forward with terrifying speed.


    BOOM!


    In an instant, he closed the gap between them, leaping high into the air.


    While still mid-air, he redirected his muscle mass toward his arms, bulking them up.


    He also reshaped his bone armor into a massive, jagged bone sword and roared. "DIE!"


    Vance was aiming for an overhead strike, but Loreia didn''t fear it. Instead, she smirked.


    The moment Vance''s bone sword came crashing down, she jumped forward. "Let''s dance, shall we?"


    CLANG!


    Their weapons collided in the air, resulting in a shockwave.


    Vance''s brute force also began to overpower her, pushing her back mid-air.


    Vance grinned twistedly as he saw her faltering. "You can''t stop me!"


    Loreia could feel the pressure, but she wasn''t panicking at all. In fact, she was even grinning. "Who said I was trying to stop you?"


    Before Vance could understand her words, Loreais suddenly weakened her power, letting the bone sword push down.


    Vance was confused for a second before realizing that it was his mistake.


    Loreia had succeeded in shifting her force to redirect the bone sword to the left.


    Vance''s stirke went off course, disrupting his balance and in that exact moment, Loreai flipped midair.


    With a twist of her body, Loreia delivered a strong kick straight to Vance''s back, sending him below. "Get back down."


    BOOM!


    Vance crashed into the ground, creating a crater upon impact.


    Loreia landed smoothly a few meters away, twirling her spear effortlessly. "You hit hard. But you fall even harder."

 Chapter 270 Hes Melting, Yet Hes Stronger?

    Vance, who was still on the ground, roared. His injuries should have weakened him.


    But instead they made him stronger thanks to Gorevile''s berserk form ability.


    Vance''s muscles swelled even more as his form became even more monstrous.


    He was now fully enraged. He glanced at Loreia and snarled. "Damn you! I WILL KILL YOU!" Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire


    He shifted his muscle density back toward his arms again, reinforcing them with even more power than before.


    Without hesitation, he made his bone armor protruding from his forearms before breaking some shards off it.


    He picked them up and threw them like missiles toward Loreia with more power and speed than before. "DIE!"


    Loreia quickly spun her spear. She intended to defect the incoming spikes like before but there were too many. "Tch!"


    Several of them managed to tear through her defenses, grazing her arms and legs.


    Small cuts began to form on her skin. Nothing she couldn''t handle until she felt something unusual from them.


    Her wounds were not only painful, but they also began to decay.


    Loreia immediately realized that she had been poisoned by Gorevile''s venom.


    She frowned, gripping her spear tighter. "So that''s what you''re doing, huh?"


    Vance, who was enraged, grinned and laughed. "Hah! Hahaha! You noticed, huh?"


    Loreia narrowed her eyes. "You laced them with venom, huh. Do you even know what the poison does to you?"


    Vance smirked, raising his grotesque, partially decayed arm. "Of course I know it, but even if my own arms rot away, as long as YOU die, it''s worth it!"


    Loreia clicked her tongue, flexing her fingers. She could feel the slight sting of the venom trying to spread.


    Vance grinned wider, seeing her reaction. "What''s wrong? Feeling it already? Your body''s going to rot, piece by piece!"


    Loreia smirked, shaking her head. "You really are a crazy, stupid monster."


    Vance''s face twitched, his rage intensifying. "WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"


    Loreia pointed her spear at him. "I called you stupid. Because sacrificing yourself for nothing is just that... stupid."


    Vance''s veins bulged as he was enraged. "YOU... DAMN... BITCH!"


    Without hesitation, he lunged forward. His snaketail twisted behind him as it spat more of its toxic sludge.


    Loreia smirked, tilting her head slightly. "Of course not but it can hold you back for a minute."


    Vance frowned as he felt something was wrong. He could still fight as his strength had increased thanks to his injuries.


    Then suddenly he realized it. His own flesh was melting. His own venom was decaying his body at a faster rate than he thought.


    Vance was so shocked. He never thought that this could happen. "D-Damn it...!"


    Loreia only smirked as she tilted her head mockingly. "Oh? Something wrong?"


    Vance staggered as he clenched his fists. "T-This... this wasn''t supposed to happen! I¡ªI was supposed to overpower you!"


    Loreia laughed, taking a step forward, glancing toward Vance. "And yet, here we are. You are already too weak to fight."


    Vance gritted his teeth, shaking his head violently. "NO! I CAN STILL FIGHT!"


    Loreia smirked, lifting her spear and pointing it directly at him. "Oh, I know."


    She took another step. "But you won''t for much longer."


    Vance felt his legs trembling, his monstrous form struggling to hold itself together.


    Loreia''s grin widened as she twirled her spear once more. "Then... goodbye."


    Her stance shifted, and her muscles tensed. "I''ll end your misery now."


    Loreia gripped her spear tightly as she almost won.


    She then launched her spear forward, aiming Vance''s chest directly.


    Vance gritted his teeth as he didn''t care anymore. "Damn you...! If I die, then I''M TAKING YOU WITH ME!"


    Loreia''s eyes narrowed as she heard what Vance said. "What the¡ª?"


    Before she could react, Vance activated the self-destruction sequence in his body.


    His body began to expand unnaturally until it was almost the size of one room.


    Loreia frowned as she gripped her spear tightly. "Damn you! I''ll stop you!"


    Vance grinned wickedly, his face twisted in satisfaction. "Too late to stop me. NOW YOU DIE!"


    BOOOOM!


    A massive explosion erupted, consuming the battlefield in a blinding inferno.


    The shockwave ripped through the ground, sending dust and debris flying in all directions.

 Chapter 271 Cassius Failure Costs Him

    The moment the explosion happened, alarms rang through the Aurelius estate''s command hall.


    The senior staff soon gathered and frowned when they found what alert it was.


    One of them stared at the report and frowned. "That was Vance''s self-destruction sequence being activated."


    Another senior staff member growled. "Impossible. Vance was one of our strongest. He wouldn''t¡ª"


    The senior officer who stood at the end shook his head and confirmed it. "He did. Vance has self-destructed."


    It didn''t make any sense for them. Vance was one of the best warriors in the Aurelius family.


    For him to self-destruct, no for him to be forced into self-destruction... it could mean that something had gone horribly wrong.


    The staff exchanged uneasy glances. No one wanted to be the one who forward this terrible news.


    Finally, one of them, the oldest one, sighed. "Alright. I will be one who reports this to the patriarch."


    The old staff moved quickly toward the grand hall of the Aurelius estate.


    When he arrived at the main chamber, he found that the patriarch was already waiting for him.


    Hadrian Aurelius sat on his throne and glared fiercely at the old staff. He soon lifted his gaze. "Speak."


    The old staff exhaled for a moment before delivering the terrible news. "Patriarch... Vance has self-destructed."


    Hadrian closed his eyes for a brief moment, inhaling deeply before exhaling it.


    The weight of Vance''s death should have hit him harder, yet his expression remained the same, indifferent.


    The old staff watched him. He had expected rage or at least some reactions.


    Instead, Hadrian slowly opened his eyes. "I see. You can go back now."


    The old staff hesitated. He was unsure if he had misheard it but he knew better than asked him again.


    Without another word, the old staff bowed down before turning around and exiting the chamber.


    Hadrian finally turned his full attention to the only other person in the room, Cassius Aurelius, who was his son.


    Cassius was now frowning as Hadrian was glaring at him with amusement rather than anger.


    Hadrian stood up and walked toward him. "Do you know what you did wrong, Cassius?"


    Cassius frowned before speaking. "I was arrogant and I wasn''t careful enough."


    Hadrian chuckled as he agreed. "Yes and because of that, one of the best warriors has died."


    Hadrian watched him for a moment longer before turning away. "Go and make sure the next experiment doesn''t disappoint me."


    Cassius didn''t hesitate. He bowed his head slightly before turning around, exiting the chamber without another word.


    ---


    From within the shadow at the explosion site, Luna stepped out from the shadow.


    She was already fused with Loxen. Without another word, she reached into the shadow and pulled out others.


    Lucius, Liora and Loreia soon stepped out from the shadow after being opened a path by Luna.


    Luna exhaled, wiping sweat from her brow. "Phew... Thank god I was fast enough to pull you all into the shadows in time."


    Loreia rolled her shoulders. "Yeah, I never thought that man would actually have the guts to blow himself up."


    Lucius only surveyed the scene with a smirk. "Hmm... It was reckless. But still, quite interesting."


    He then put his hand on his chin. "The Aurelius family... they have loyal warriors like this was already great."


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    Liora frowned and asked. "So should we eliminate them now before they try again to kill us in the future?"


    Lucius chuckled, shaking his head. "No, no. Charging in blindly without understanding the enemy is foolish. We are not fools."


    Liora frowned as she sighed. "So we wait?"


    Lucius nodded. "Yeah. We wait and learn."


    Lucius turned his attention toward the wreckage. "The Aurelius family has also been experimenting with something unnatural. I want to know what."


    He then smirked. "After all, they think they''re the ones playing the game. Let''s show them what happens when you don''t even know you''re a pawn."


    Loreia sighed, resting her arms on her hips. "That''s fine and all, but we have a problem."


    Loreia pointed at the wreckage. "My apartment? It''s gone. Reduced to rubble. So unless you''ve got another place in mind, we''re technically homeless."


    Luna grinned, stretching her arms. "Oh, don''t worry about that. I always have contingencies."


    She tilted her head toward Lucius. "Master, shall I handle it?"


    Lucius glanced at her, nodding slightly. "Do it. We''ll need somewhere off the radar."


    Luna''s smirk widened as she reached out and opened the shadow once more.


    "Then let''s disappear for a while. The Aurelius family won''t even realize what''s coming next."

 Chapter 272 A New Base… Or a Haunted Nightmare?

    Within the shadow world, the four of them moved around and Lucius turned toward Luna. "Do you have a place in mind?"


    Luna smirked as she nodded. "Of course, master. I have found something... interesting."


    Lucius raised his eyebrow. "Interesting?"


    Luna''s smirk widened. "A place that''s well-hidden, rarely visited, and most importantly¡ªdangerous enough to keep unwanted guests away."


    Lucius considered her words before nodding. "I see. Then show us."


    Without another word, Luna led the way from the shadow toward their soon-to-be base.


    After arriving at the destination, they stepped out from the shadows.


    They soon found a massive forest in front of them with a lot of towering trees.


    They could even sense auras of some strong beast inside this forest.


    Not only that, they also saw an old mansion that seemed to be built in the center of the forest.


    Lucius was a bit intrigued with the mansion. "An abandoned estate in the middle of a beast-infested forest? It''s pretty interesting."


    Luna nodded. "Of course. I came across this place while scouting around. It''s been here for a long time, untouched by most."


    She gestured toward the forest. "The reason was this forest that was crawling with a lot of strong beasts. Most of them are S-Rank or higher."


    Lucius chuckled as he was approved of this old mansion. "It''s quite a perfect location."


    Liora crossed her arms, scanning the area. "It had good defenses. If the beasts here are that strong, it means outsiders won''t dare enter carelessly."


    Loreia walked around the mansion and smirked. "A hidden sanctuary and a hunting ground for powerful beasts... We can use this to our advantage."


    Lucius only nodded as he entered the old mansion. "This mansion is quite old but it will do."


    Lucius turned back toward the girls. "We can just renovate and change this place to be our base."


    Lucius smirked as he rubbed his chin. "A base to lay low, gather strength, and most importantly, harvest powerful beasts."


    Luna smirked. "I thought you''d say that, Master."


    Liora rolled her shoulders, already considering defensive measures. "Shall I start clearing out the mansion?"


    Lucius waved his hand. "Not yet. First, we assess everything. If there''s something inside, I want to know before we claim it."


    Luna soon became excited. "Shall we?"


    With a simple nod from Lucius, the group advanced, their figures disappearing into the abandoned mansion''s entrance.


    ---


    Lucius and the others were now inside the old mansion but when they walked forward...


    Lucius could only sigh. "Fine. Luna, deal with it."


    Luna grinned as she led the way inside. "With pleasure, Master."


    But just as Luna took another step forward, a whistling sound cut through the air.


    SHNK!


    From the walls, numerous swords were materialized like phantom swords.


    They were hovering as if they were guided by unseen hands.


    Luna''s eyes narrowed. "Ghost weapons...? Now that''s interesting."


    Without hesitation, she lifted her hand and tried to weaponize Loxen and she succeeded.


    A pair of silver curved daggers appeared in her grasp. "Let''s see if I can handle this."


    The first wave of ghost swords attacked Luna and she used both her daggers to strike back.


    She easily deflected each phantom sword before they pulled back and adjusted their attack pattern.


    Liora also acted as she weaponized Leon. A silver, broad sword appeared in her hand.


    CLANG!


    Liora struck one of the panthom swords before parrying another sword.


    The ghostly weapons swirled around them, moving like a storm of blades.


    Luna smirked as she dodged and weaved. "This is kind of fun."


    Liora, blocking two more incoming swords, side-eyed her. "That''s because you''re insane."


    Another sword came from behind, aiming directly for Loreia but she didn''t move.


    She stood frozen near the back as she was panicking, seeing the phantom sword.


    Luna deflected another sword before calling out, "Big sis, are you seriously just standing there?"


    Loreia didn''t even glance at her. "I am assessing the situation."


    Liora flicked a ghost sword away with a sharp swing. "You''re scared."


    Loreia huffed. "I am strategically maintaining distance!"


    Luna laughed under her breath. "Right. Keep telling yourself that."


    She spun, deflecting another attack with a flick of her wrist. "Alright then, since cowards don''t fight, Liora and I will take care of this."


    Loreia twitched but still didn''t move.

 Chapter 273 A Haunted Mansion, A Living Armory

    The ghost swords kept attacking and both Luna and Liora continued to deflect them.


    But the battle had barely started, as the mansion had no intention of letting them pass so easily.


    Suddenly, the attacks intensified as more weapons were materialized from the walls.


    The variation of them also increased. Spears, daggers and heavy maces were materialized and began to attack them


    The sheer variety and coordination of the attacks forced both Luna and Liora to adjust instantly.


    Liora clicked her tongue. "Tch. It''s adapting."


    Luna, flipping over a spinning axe, landed beside her. "So, it''s not just a haunted house¡ªit''s a damn armory."


    Liora frowned as she deactivated her sword. "This is annoying."


    Luna raised her eyebrow. "Giving up already?"


    Liora didn''t answer. Instead, she closed her eyes, her breath steadying.


    She began to fuse with Leon. Within seconds, her entire body transformed and became a silver lion beastman.


    Liora looked at the weapons and roared in anger. Her roar shook the room and summoned a silver flame.


    The silver flame soon spread and covered the phantom weapons and among touching them, they trembled.


    The energy that once kept them moving was disrupted, as if something deep inside them had been burned away.


    Luna, having just barely dodged a dagger aimed at her throat, immediately retreated behind Liora.


    She peered out from behind her. "Well, damn. That''s effective."


    Liora barely spared her a glance. "I could have done this from the start."


    Luna smirked. "And yet, you didn''t."


    Liora''s flames expanded, the heat intensifying. The weapons began to wither before vanishing entirely.


    Loreia, still at the back, cautiously peeked around Lucius. "So... it''s working?"


    Luna gave her a smug look. "Looks like you''re safe to come out, big sister."


    Loreia huffed. "I don''t see you fighting anymore, either."


    Luna smiled innocently. "Oh, but why would I? When can I let my dear, strong, flame-wielding protector do it for me?"


    Liora sighed as she warned them without looking at them. "If you''re going to hide behind me, at least shut up."


    Lucius only chuckled, watching the entire situation. "Interesting. This mansion is really full of surprises."


    With the Phantom weapons losing their power, the battlefield shifted.


    It then slowly rose from its kneeling position and with a clank, it reached behind its back and unsheathed his sword.


    His sword was not an ordinary one, as it was a huge greatsword that was almost as tall as a man.


    The Spectral Knight glanced at Lucius and the others, changing his stance into an offensive one. It was ready to fight.


    Lucius smirked. "It seems what Luna said was true. There really is a spirit beast."


    Luna folded her arms. "Of course. When have I ever been wrong?"


    Lucius gave her a brief glance. "Shall I list how many times you are wrong, or should we focus on the opponent?"


    Luna rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine. But just so you know, I was still right about this."


    Lucius turned his gaze back to the knight. "Then, who wants to fight it?"


    Before anyone else could answer, Liora stepped forward. "Just let me handle it. I want to finish this as fast as possible."


    Lucius tilted his head, watching her. "Are you that eager to fight?"


    Liora rolled her shoulders. "No point wasting time. If it''s standing in our way, I''ll cut it down."


    Luna smirked. "Well, at least let us enjoy the show."


    Lucius nodded. "Very well. It''s yours."


    Liora stepped forward and locked her eyes onto the Spectral Knight.


    She bared her claws, coating them in silver flames. "You''re in my way."


    Loreia, still standing slightly behind the group, frowned as she observed the spectral knight. "Are we really just letting her fight alone? This thing looks... unnatural."


    Luna glanced at her and grinned. "Oh? Do you want to step in and help?"


    Loreia''s eye twitched. "That''s not what I meant."


    She crossed her arms. "I''m just saying that this thing isn''t like the phantom weapons from before. It feels... off."


    Luna hummed. "Yeah, I get what you mean. It''s more than just a mindless spirit beast¡ªit actually has a presence."


    Lucius smirked. "That just makes it more interesting."


    Loreia sighed, glancing at Liora. "Fine, but if she gets in trouble, we''re stepping in."


    Luna grinned. "You mean if she gets in trouble, I''ll step in, and you''ll stay in the back, right?"


    Loreia glared at her. "One of these days, I''m going to punch you in the face."


    Luna chuckled. "Sure, sure. Maybe after this."


    Liora ignored them and focused on the Spectral Knight. She wanted to finish this as fast as possible.

 Chapter 274 An Unkillable Guardian?

    Lucius activated his system and scanned the Spectral Knight, as he was curious about what lay beneath its empty armor.


    ---


    [Species: Draemor]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: B]


    [Vit: A]


    [Agi: A]


    [Int: S]


    [Abilities:]


    [Haunted Arsenal: Wields ghostly weapons (blades, halberds, chains) that can phase through solid objects before striking, making dodging nearly impossible.]


    [Manifestation Cycle: Cannot be permanently killed¡ªif destroyed, the mansion''s mana restores it within hours.]


    [Mansion-Warping Presence: Can alter hallways, shift staircases, and seal exits, ensuring prey never escapes.]


    [Soulbind Execution: Those who resist for too long are marked with a spiritual sigil, causing them to suffer hallucinations, fatigue, and eventually vanish from reality itself.]


    ---


    Lucius smirked. "Interesting. This thing isn''t just any knight, but an extension of the mansion itself. It is the true immortal."


    Lucius tapped his chin. "If it can regenerate endlessly within this mansion, then fighting it head-on will be pointless."


    Lucius frowned. "No matter how many times it dies, the mansion will simply revive it."


    Lucius'' smirk widened. "It is really an interesting beast. It was something that is worth hacking later."


    ---


    Liora immediately lunged forward. Her claws were already ignited with silver flame.


    The spectral knight reacted immediately. It raised its massive greatsword and tried to cleave Liora into two.


    CLANG!


    Liora caught its massive sword with her claws but Liora wasn''t finished.


    Liora burned her claw even brighter to increase her strength and then¡ª


    CRACK!


    Liora tightened her grip and snapped the sword in two, shattering the massive sword like a brittle glass.


    The spectral knight staggered back, momentarily thrown off balance and Liora used this very chance.


    Loreia was so shocked that she stepped back instinctively. "It''s warping the mansion?!"


    Luna''s eyes narrowed. "To think that this mansion was not its house but instead it turned it into its weapon."


    Lucius simply smirked, watching the scene unfold. "Now this... this is fascinating."


    Liora didn''t wait. She had already ignited her claws with silver flames. "I don''t care if this whole place is against me! I''ll just burn it all down!"


    The Spectral Knight moved and in an instant, numerous phantom weapons appeared again in the air.


    With a single motion of its hand, the phantom weapons all moved toward Liora.


    One of them, the phantom spear, was aiming at Liora''s chest but she ducked low, dodging by a hair''s breath.


    She then twisted her body to narrowly avoid a battle axe that cleaved down from above.


    There were also chains that wanted to wrap her legs, so she leapt over them, but the moment she landed...


    Swords came from the walls themselves, stabbing at her from all directions.


    Liora frowned and roared. Silver flames burst outward as she burned some of the nearest weapons into ash.


    But still, the weapons were too much, so she could only think of one thing.


    With a roar, she lunged straight for the knight. She thought that by killing the knight it would be over.


    She ignited her claw with a brighter silver flame and aimed its torso.


    SLASH!


    Her fire burned through its chestplate, and the black mist inside began to fade.


    But in that moment, the mansion shifted again and the floor beneath them collapsed.


    She fell but managed to tweet and launch herself backup, digging her claws into the stone wall.


    She climbed a but before flipping back into battle just in time to meet another wave of phantom weapons.


    Liora roared again, unleashing a massive burst of silver fire to form a protective wave around her.


    All of the weapons that were aiming at her were burned off before they could touch her.


    The Spectral Knight took a step back as it was trying to reform its shadow body.


    Liora, landing back on her feet, grinned. "What now? You''re running?"


    But before she could charge again, the mansion twisted once more.


    The walls moved again to block her path and the spectral knight began to summon more phantom weapons.


    Liora gritted her teeth. "Fine. We''ll see who lasts longer¡ªyou, or my flames."


    Lucius chuckled as he watched the exciting battle from the sidelines. "Good. Keep burning it down, Liora. Let''s see if this so-called immortal knight can withstand you."

 Chapter 275 An Immortal Guardian?

    Liora exhaled sharply, rolling her shoulders.


    The walls continued to block her and phantom weapons continued to appear.


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    Liora was done playing now.


    She clenched her fists and erupted her silver flames, consuming the entire hall.


    The phantom weapons, once relentless, melted into nothing before they could even reach her.


    Luna, standing at the side, whistled. "Oh? Deciding to get serious now? Took you long enough."


    Liora cracked her neck. "I was holding back because I thought this thing would stay dead after a proper hit."


    She then ignited her claws again. "I was wrong. So now, I''m just going to erase it."


    Lucius smirked, crossing his arms. "A smart decision. This isn''t something you can kill through normal means. So, burn it all."


    The spectral knight was unfazed by the destruction and lunged forward once more.


    It used its massive greatsword and slashed down toward Liora with greater force.


    Liora didn''t dodge and instead of blocking, she caught the blade mid-swing.


    Her silver flame soon heated the sword into a hot steel and then Liora finished it.


    CRACK!


    She snapped it in half, throwing the broken pieces aside.


    The Spectral Knight recoiled, but before it could react, Liora was already on it.


    She lunged and grabbed its head with her claw in a crushing grip.


    The shadows beneath the helmet flared violently, writhing like a living entity, but Liora didn''t let go.


    Her silver flames surged, pouring directly into the knight''s hollow skull.


    The Spectral Knight struggled, twitching violently, but Liora held it still, her flames searing through the dark mist inside.


    Luna smirked from the sidelines. "Alright, that should be the end of him."


    But in fact, it wasn''t.


    For one house, Liora''s silver flame never stopped burning it, yet the knight never truly died.


    Every time she released it, within two minutes, its body fully regenerated, reforming as if nothing had happened.


    Liora''s eye twitched. "What the hell is wrong with this thing?!"


    Loreia, who had been watching from the back, spoke up. "Uh... maybe because it''s part of the mansion?"


    Luna tapped her chin. "It''s quite a good guess, but is it really the truth?"


    She then looked at Lucius. "What do you think, master? Does this thing can actually die here?"


    Lucius smirked before answering. "That''s right and it''s exactly why this is getting interesting."


    Liora gritted her teeth, flames roaring even higher. "Then what? Do I just burn this place down until there''s nothing left?!"


    But before she could act, Loreia immediately stepped in, raising her hand. "Wait! Don''t burn the mansion!"


    Liora snapped her head toward her. "What?"


    Loreia''s expression was serious. "This place should be our base to stay. If you burn it down, then where exactly do we live?"


    Liora frowned, glancing around the hall. She didn''t care much for the mansion itself.


    She only cared about winning, and right now, she felt like she was being toyed with.


    "Then what?! Should I just keep burning it forever? Even though I''m strong, I have my limits."


    Lucius sighed as he stepped forward. "Let me see if I can do something¡ªbut first, my energy is depleted."


    Liora clenched her fists, her flames simmering down slightly.


    "You better make it fast, Master. Because this thing is not stopping."


    Lucius nodded, then turned his gaze toward Luna. "Luna, search the mansion. See if there''s anything in this place that I can absorb to replenish my energy."


    Luna, already leaning against a nearby broken pillar, grinned. "Finally, something fun to do."


    She straightened, rolling her shoulders before fusing with her beast, Loxen.


    The shadows curled around her form, and within seconds, she melted into the darkness, disappearing completely.


    ---


    Time passed, and the Spectral Knight remained as relentless as ever.


    Though it wasn''t attacking for the moment, its armor was continuously reforming, waiting for its next opportunity.


    Liora was the one who kept it down and she was not so patient anymore.


    She gritted her teeth, twitching her claws in irritation. "Just where the hell is she?"


    Loreia, standing nearby, exhaled. "I don''t blame her for taking her time. This place is huge."


    Liora''s eye twitched. "I don''t care how big it is! If she takes any longer, I swear I''ll start breaking walls to find her!"


    But before she could say another word, a shadow appeared behind her. "Please, sister, no need for violence~."


    Liora was surprised and instinctively spun around but before she could strike, she realized that it was Luna.


    Liora lowered her left claw and snapped. "Took you long enough! We''ve been standing here like idiots while you were off sneaking around!"


    Luna chuckled. "Oh, forgive me, dear sister. But I was a little... occupied."


    Lucius raised his eyebrow. "Occupied?"


    Luna smirked before pulling out a massive haul of treasures from her shadow.


    A-Rank beast materials, S-Rank rare materials and some mana stones. All of them were laid out before them.


    She grinned proudly. "Master, this is what I got from the mansion."


    Luna smirked as he looked at the items. "Impressive. Not only are there plenty of A-Rank materials, but you even found more than ten S-Rank resources."


    Luna giggled, tilting her head. "Hehe~. I may have taken a little longer, but it was worth it, right?"


    Liora exhaled, crossing her arms. "Fine. You''re not completely useless."


    Loreia, kneeling beside the treasures, picked up one of the S-Rank materials. "These are high-tier. This mansion isn''t just haunted¡ªit''s hiding a fortune."


    Lucius set the material back down and turned toward Luna. "Good work. Now, let''s put these to use."


    Without hesitation, he turned toward his system. "Go and absorb all of these materials. Convert them."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Material Absorption]


    [Processing Absorption...]


    [E-Rank Materials: 506 Items ¡ú +5,060 Hack Points]


    [D-Rank Materials: 443 Items ¡ú +44,300 Hack Points]


    [C-Rank Materials: 171 Items ¡ú +171,000 Hack Points]


    [B-Rank Materials: 84 Items ¡ú +840,000 Hack Points]


    [A-Rank Materials: 78 Items ¡ú +7,800,000 Hack Points]


    [S-Rank Materials: 14 Items ¡ú +140,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Total Hack Points Gained: 148,860,360]


    [Status: Absorption Complete]


    ---


    Lucius watched the massive influx of hacked points in his system.


    This was really a lot and I couldn''t stop to put a wide smirk on Lucius'' face.


    He clenched his fingers slightly, feeling that he could hack as please now.

 Chapter 276 The Perfect Guardian?

    The materials vanished entirely as they were completely absorbed by Lucius'' system. Not even a trace remained.


    Luna whisted, folding her arms. "As always, it''s insane how you devour all those materials like they were nothing, Master."


    Loreia, standing beside her, frowned slightly. "Little brother, your ability is really amazing... but too expensive to maintain."


    Lucius smirked. "The more expensive, the stronger the ability, right?"


    Liora frowned, turning to Lucius. "Master, now that your energy is restored, can you finally handle this Spectral Knight?"


    Lucius cracked his neck slightly before nodding. "Okay, okay. Give me a moment."


    He turned his focus toward the spectral knight and smirked. "First, let''s make it unable to move for an hour."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Time Manipulation]


    [Target: Draemor]


    [Effect: Forcefully Pause All Actions and Movements for 1 Hour]


    [Cost Required: 1,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    The Spectral Knight suddenly froze as if the very concept of time had been stripped away from it.


    Liora blinked. "Wait... that''s it?"


    Lucius grinned, turning toward her. "Liora, you can release it now. It won''t move anymore."


    Liora immediately released it and the armor dropped to the ground like dead things.


    Loreia cautiously waved her hand in front of it. "It''s not doing anything."


    Luna tilted her head, watching with amusement. "So, you basically froze time for it?"


    Lucius nodded. "Something like that. It won''t be bothering us for an hour."


    Liora exhaled, shaking her head. "If you were going to do that, you should''ve just done it earlier."


    Lucius smirked. "Where''s the fun in that?"


    Liora rolled her eyes but didn''t argue.


    Lucius then turned to the others. "For now, I want all of you to start cleaning up the mansion. Make sure it''s suitable for us to use as a base."


    Loreia raised her eyebrow. "You''re making us clean?"


    Luna smirked. "Oh, poor big sister. Didn''t think we''d actually have to work, huh?"


    Loreia shot her a glare. "Shut up, Luna."


    Lucius chuckled. "As for me, I''ll handle the Spectral Knight personally."


    He flexed his fingers and smirked. "Now that I''ve got my energy back, let''s see what happens when I truly take control."


    Luna clapped her hands together. "This is going to be interesting." Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    With the Spectral Knight locked in time and the mansion slowly being secured as their new base, Lucius finally had some time to hack this new interesting beast.


    ---


    Lucius was now left alone with Draemor, the spectral knight, the very beast that they had fought before.


    This one wasn''t just any normal spirit beast. It was actually the very manifestation of this mansion''s will.


    It was formed from raw mana, existing to only protect this mansion from outsiders.


    The sheer density of mana in the mansion made it possible for such an entity to manifest and sustain itself.


    Lucius soon smirked, as this beast was a perfect spirit beast. Too perfect indeed.


    A beast that couldn''t truly die. A creature designed to protect this structure at all costs.


    Instead of destroying it, why not modify it? Why not make it the perfect guardian for his new home?


    Lucius smirked as he got his face closer to it. "Alright then, let''s tweak you a little."


    He accessed his system, his mind already forming the perfect modifications.


    The current Draemor was strong, but it lacked versatility. It was too focused on combat when it could be so much more.


    Lucius grinned as he thought about its modification. "First, I want its abilities to reinforce the mansion itself."


    "Strengthening walls, structures, and defenses to high-tier durability so my mansion is resistant to both physical and magical destruction."


    "Next, I need it to be able to rebuild and expand the mansion''s layout at will. No fixed structure. My base should be adaptable, changing whenever I want."


    Lucius smirked. "An evolving stronghold."


    He thought deeper. A single guardian wasn''t enough so he just needed to add more of them.


    "For extra hands, let''s give it the ability to summon golems to assist in restoration¡ªor maybe even serve as soldiers when necessary."


    A self-repairing, self-expanding, and self-defending fortress, but he wasn''t done yet.


    Lucius''s smirk widened. "Finally, for emergency situations... let''s make the mansion itself fight back."


    "Convert it into a semi-sentient defensive structure, allowing walls, doors, and statues to actively repel or attack intruders."


    An ability to make his mansion into a fortress that fought like a beast. To transform it into a living citadel.


    Lucius smirked as he had finalized all the modifications that he could think of.


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Ability Overhaul]


    [Target: Draemor]


    [Effect: Modify and Upgrade Abilities for Strategic Defense and Enhancement]


    [Old Abilities Removed & New Abilities Implemented]


    [Fortress Reinforcement: Enhances walls, structures, and defenses to high-tier durability, making them resistant to both physical and magical destruction.]


    [Adaptive Expansion: Allows the mansion''s layout to be rebuilt and expanded at will, ensuring a flexible and indestructible long-term base.]


    [Golem Command: Grants the ability to summon golems to assist in restoration efforts or serve as defensive soldiers]


    [Living Citadel: In emergencies, converts the mansion into a semi-sentient defensive structure, enabling walls, doors, and statues to actively repel or attack intruders.]


    [Cost Required: 40,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Lucius smirked as he watched its new abilities that were perfectly aligned with his vision.


    It had become a guardian that could rebuild the mansion and turn it to protect and fight as needed.


    It was exactly what he wanted, but when he looked at the cost, he was so shocked.


    He almost had a heart attack from the sheer cost. "Tch. That''s really hurt."


    Spending that many hack points in a single move was too wasteful even for him.


    if he hadn''t just absorbed a massive stockpile of resources, he would have been left completely drained.


    Lucius sighed. "Good thing I had enough. If not... I might''ve actually cried from losing too many points."


    He then rubbed his temple before shaking his head. "No use dwelling on it. The investment was a must and worth it."

 Chapter 277 From Ghostly Knight to Elegant Guardian

    Lucius crossed his arms. He was observing Draemor, who stood motionless before him.


    Her abilities were perfect. She was the perfect guardian and caretaker but still...


    Something was missing and Lucius knew what it was. "If I''m going all out, I might as well make it perfect."


    He still had plenty of hack points so he could hack even more and Lucius planned to hack her appearance.


    Lucius smirked as he began to tell his appearance details for the hack.


    "System, modify its form. If this is going to be my mansion''s caretaker, then it should be fitting."


    "Turn her into a beautiful, elegant silver-haired girl. She should look refined, yet still maintain the strength of a warrior."


    He paused before adding one final detail.


    "And, of course, put her in a proper headmaid uniform¡ªone that suits her role. Something classy, something fitting for my mansion''s guardian."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Form Modification]


    [Target: Draemor]


    [Effect: Transform into a Beautiful, Perfect Silver-Haired Head Maid]


    [Cost Required: 10,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Lucius watched closely as Draemor''s body began to change. The heavy armor melted away, reshaping into a sleek form.


    Her big frame condensed, morphing into a graceful and refined woman.


    Her hair grew and flowed freely, transforming into long silver hair woven into a beautifully braided ponytail.


    The cold, dark armor was replaced by a luxurious black-and-silver maid uniform tailored perfectly to fit her new form.


    It was elegant yet practical, with traces of armor embedded into the design. The perfect balance of beauty and strength.


    Lucius walked closer, admiring his work. He was completely satisfied. "It cost a lot, but... the result? Absolutely perfect."


    ---


    Lucius turned to his system again. Draemor''s appearance was already perfect and its abilities were flawless.


    But there was one final adjustment left to make. "Now, let''s finalize everything."


    Lucius smirked as he issued his next command. "First, rename her. A proper name for my mansion''s head maid."


    "Draemor is no longer fitting. From now on, she will be called Lilia."


    A slight pause before he continued.


    "Next, let''s improve her intelligence. Inject knowledge into her mind¡ªfull understanding of this world, its structure, history, and societal systems.


    "She must be well-versed in everything necessary to manage the mansion and deal with external threats."


    Lucius''s smirk widened. "Also, ensure she has expert-level knowledge in mansion care, security, and optimization.


    "She will be more than just a guardian¡ªshe will be the heart of this stronghold."


    But he wasn''t done yet.


    "Give her tactical awareness. She should instinctively understand battle strategies for reinforcement, expansion, and emergency defense.


    "If an enemy invades, I want her to act without needing commands."


    Lucius chuckled, staring at Lilia, thinking of other hacks that he could think of before finalizing her final hacks.


    "Lastly, this is a new world, which means my old talents don''t apply anymore. But that doesn''t matter. Just hack her into becoming my tamed beast."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Identity Creation & Knowledge Injection]


    [Target: Draemor ¡ú Lilia]


    [Effect: Rename and Reprogram with Enhanced Intelligence and Loyalty]


    [Injected Knowledge:]


    [World Information: Grants full understanding of this world''s structure, history, and societal systems]


    [Mansion Care & Defense: Expert-level knowledge on maintaining, securing, and optimizing the mansion for long-term use


    [Tactical Awareness: Strategies for reinforcement, expansion, and emergency defense]


    [Additional Effect: Immediately Bound as User''s Tamed Beast]


    [Cost Required: 5,000,000 Hack Points


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Lucius watched as Lilia was being hacked. She was processing the new knowledge that was injected into her.


    After a few moments, she moved a bit. She was no longer the mindless spirit beast.


    She was now a perfect headmaid, Lilia, who was the new guardian of Lucius'' new mansion.


    She then opened her eyes and bowed deeply the moment she saw Lucius. "Master, I am Lilia. From this moment forth, I exist to serve you."


    Lucius grinned. "Good. You''re complete now."


    He turned toward the door leading to the main hall, stretching lazily. "Time to introduce you to your other masters or, to be exact, your big sisters."


    Lilia smiled softly, tilting her head. "I look forward to meeting them, Master."


    ---


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    Luna, Liora and Loreia were strolling around the mansion, inspecting different rooms as they worked on securing their new base.


    Everything seemed to be normal, until suddenly, something happened.


    The walls began to shift and the corridors were twisted as the architecture of the mansion was changing again.


    The floor beneath them trembled, moving to reaarange themselves.


    Loreia frowned as she looked around. "What the hell is happening?!"


    The hall that had been in front of them just seconds ago was completely different now.


    The passageways extended, doors disappeared, and the very path they had walked down was no longer there.


    Liora frowned and transformed her hand into Leon''s claw. "Tch. Do I need to burn this mansion to the ground?"


    Luna sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes. "And here we go again."


    She placed a hand on Liora''s wrist, stopping her before she set the entire hallway ablaze.


    "Calm down, you beast. If you burn everything, Master is going to scold you."


    Liora clicked her tongue but didn''t lower her hand. "Then what do you suggest? We just stand here and wait for the house to eat us?"


    Luna grinned. "Exactly. Let''s just see what happens for now."


    Loreia crossed her arms. "Yeah, but if this thing tries to throw us into a pit, I''m going to be the one setting it on fire."


    As the floor beneath them shifted once again, the three sisters braced themselves as they didn''t know what would happen.


    But what shocked them were that the floor seemed to transform into a moving platform for them.


    Liora blinked. "Wait... it''s not trying to kill us?"


    Luna smirked, crossing her arms. "Shocking, right? A moving floor that doesn''t lead to instant death."


    Loreia frowned slightly but remained cautious. "It''s... surprisingly efficient. It''s like the mansion is guiding us somewhere."


    The platform descended smoothly, moving through the twisting architecture of the mansion''s newly rearranged layout.


    There was no danger, no obstacles¡ªjust a seamless transition.


    Faster than expected, they arrived at a new hall and when they looked what was inside, they were really surprised.


    Because what was inside and waiting for them was someone they didn''t expect to see.

 Chapter 278 Lucius New Head Maid Shocks His Team

    Luna, Liora and Loreia didn''t expect to be delivered straight to Lucius.


    Loreia frowned, crossing her arms as she glanced at him. "Why are you here, Lucius? And... who is that?"


    Luna and Liora followed her gaze and soon found a silver-haired girl behind Lucius.


    It also seemed that she wore some kind of maid uniform, but she was not just any maid.


    She also seemed to hover slightly above the ground, as if not entirely human.


    Liora''s eyes narrowed. "Wait a minute... that aura... Isn''t she the Spectral Knight from before?"


    Lucius clapped once, drawing her attention. "Sharp as ever, Liora."


    He smirked. "Yes, she was indeed the previous Spectral Knight. But don''t worry, I''ve made some adjustments. She''s our ally now."


    He turned slightly, gesturing toward her. "Isn''t that right, Lilia?"


    Lilia bowed deeply. "Yes, Master."


    She then lifted her gaze toward Luna, Liora, and Loreia and bowed down.


    "It is a pleasure to meet you, mistresses. I am Lilia, and I will serve the Luxoria household from this day forward."


    Liora sighed, deactivating her claw as she folded her arms. "Hah... I see."


    Luna smirked. "As expected of you, Master."


    Loreia, however, was still staring at Lilia, baffled. "You can do this?!"


    Lucius chuckled, tilting his head slightly. "Of course I can."


    Luna giggled, stepping beside Loreia. "Big sister, you should know by now¡ªMaster Lucius can do anything, as long as he has enough energy."


    Loreia let out a long breath, shaking her head. "This is ridiculous."


    Lucius grinned, then turned to Lilia. "Now then, Lilia. I have one more task for you."


    Lilia bowed once more. "What is your command, Master?"


    Lucius smirked. "Rearrange the mansion. Make it beautiful and perfect. Transform it into a stronghold worthy of bearing the Luxoria name."


    Lilia smiled, stepping forward as an immense surge of energy flowed through her.


    "As you command, Master. The Luxoria Mansion will be reborn."


    And with that order, the entire mansion trembled as the transformation began.


    ---


    Lilia was working on rebuilding the mansion, reshaping it into a true fortress.


    In the meantime, Lucius turned to Liora, Luna and Loreia. "Now that we have a base, let''s talk about the future."


    The three women paused, focusing on him as he crossed his arms. "What will we do next? Do any of you have plans?"


    Liora was the first to speak, cracking her knuckles. "If this place is safe, then I want to head out and train."


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    Liora tilted her head slightly. "Maybe... I''ll become the best warrior in this world or something."


    Lucius nodded approvingly. "Quite a good goal. Strength is always valuable."


    Then he turned to the other two. "What about you two?"


    Luna tapped her chin, thinking for a moment before smirking. "Why don''t we start a business?"


    Lucius raised his eyebrow. "A business?"


    Luna nodded. "Yes. Specifically, a beast-selling business."


    She then gestured toward Lucius. "With Master''s ability, we can create extremely strong beasts and sell them at a high price. The demand for powerful beasts is endless."


    Lucius was immediately intrigued by her plan. "I see... That''s a good one."


    Luna grinned. "Of course it is and I''ll work on it with big sister Loreia."


    Loreia, who had been listening silently, suddenly pointed at herself. "Me?"


    Luna chuckled. "Of course! You know more about this world than I do. You understand trends, social structures, and things like marketing and public relations."


    Loreia blinked, then frowned slightly. "So, you just want me to handle the social side while you take care of selling?"


    Luna snapped her fingers. "Exactly! I''ll handle logistics, and you''ll handle connections."


    She then gave a playful wink. "With your knowledge of the world and my ability to manipulate people, we''ll make a killing."


    Lucius smirked, amused by her confidence. "You really thought this through, huh?"


    Luna nodded firmly. "Of course! With Master''s ability, we can create beasts that no one else can match. We''ll dominate the market."


    Lucius exhaled with satisfaction. "Good. Then let''s do it."


    But then he raised his hand slightly, signaling for a pause. "Still, where do you plan to set up the shop? What about the beast stocks? Security? Logistics?"


    Luna smirked. "Don''t you worry, Master. I already thought about all of that."


    Lucius raised his eyebrow, waiting for her to elaborate.


    Luna gestured toward the forest surrounding the mansion. "Like I said before, the forest around this mansion is filled with powerful beasts."


    Luna gestured toward Liora. "Liora can train while also capturing them. That way, we keep a steady supply of high-quality stock while she gets stronger. Two birds, one stone."


    Liora crossed her arms, nodding slightly. "That''s fine. If I''m going out anyway, I might as well bring back something useful."


    Lucius nodded. "That solves the stock problem."


    He leaned slightly forward. "What about the shop''s location?"


    Luna''s smirk widened. "I have a place in mind."


    Lucius tilted his head slightly. "Where?"


    Luna grinned. "A dangerous location."


    Loreia frowned. "Why would you pick somewhere dangerous? That sounds like a problem."


    Luna shook her head. "Not a problem¡ªa filter. We''re selling powerful beasts, right? That means only strong people can afford them. If they can''t even reach the shop, they''re not worthy of buying from us."


    Lucius''s smirk returned. "That''s an interesting way to look at it."


    Luna nodded. "Exactly. It creates exclusivity. Only the elite will be able to come, which means we can set ridiculously high prices."


    Loreia sighed. "Sounds like a scam."


    Luna giggled. "It''s not a scam. It''s called business."


    Lucius chuckled, then leaned back slightly. "And the shop''s defense? I have mentioned security. What do you suggest?"


    Luna then smirked. "Simple, Master. Can''t you just make another one like Lilia?"


    Lucius paused for a moment, considering it.


    Luna continued. "Think about it. Lilia is the perfect guardian for the mansion. What if we had a second entity?"


    Luna moved her hand, showing the dream shop. "Just think. Being specialized in defending a pet shop? Something that builds defenses and manages the facility?"


    Lucius tapped his fingers against his forearm, thinking. "A living stronghold dedicated to the business."


    Luna grinned. "Exactly. We won''t need guards. We won''t need human workers¡ªeverything will run automatically."


    Lucius nodded slowly. He really liked Luna''s idea. "Interesting. Very interesting."


    He then ultimately decided it. "Then let''s create the perfect guardian for our beast shop. I still got a lot of energy."

 Chapter 279 From Siblings to Summons

    Lucius clasped his hands together. "Now that the three of you know what to do, come here."


    Luna and Liora nodded without hesitation, stepping forward immediately.


    Loreia, however, hesitated, her expression shifting slightly with wariness.


    Still, she moved forward but at a slower pace than the others.


    As she reached him, she crossed her arms, eyes narrowing. "What exactly are you trying to do?"


    Lucius''s smirk didn''t fade. "Don''t worry. You''re my big sister. I wouldn''t harm you."


    Loreia raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, you say that... but you also sent me into a virtual world where I was killed over and over again."


    Lucius sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "I already apologized for that, didn''t I? Besides, it wasn''t even my idea."


    Loreia scoffed. "Right. And whose idea was it then?"


    Lucius glanced at Luna and Liora. "Theirs."


    Loreia''s head snapped toward the two sisters, her glare sharp.


    Luna immediately put on an innocent smile, tilting her head. "Big sis, you survived, didn''t you? And look how strong you became!"


    Liora simply shrugged. "It was efficient."


    Loreia sighed, rubbing her temples. "I swear, all three of you are insane."


    Lucius chuckled. "Perhaps. But that''s why we''re strong."


    He then lifted his hand, stopping them. "Now, no more stalling. I''m going to give you all something."


    Lucius then turned toward Loreia and became serious. "Loreia, there''s something I haven''t told you."


    Loreia frowned slightly, sensing the shift in his tone. "What is it?"


    Lucius exhaled, crossing his arms. "Both Luna and Liora... are my beasts."


    Loreia''s eyes widened slightly. "Wait¡ªwhat?"


    Lucius nodded. "That''s the reason they''re even in this world with me. Because they are tamed under my contract, they were able to follow me here."


    Luna grinned. "Yup. We''re Master''s beasts."


    Liora crossed her arms. "That is correct."


    Loreia glanced at both of them, processing the revelation. She could only frown before turning back to Lucius. "And why are you telling me this now?"


    Lucius glanced back at her. "Because I want to do the same to you, big sister."


    Loreia tensed. "...Me? As your beast?"


    She took a half-step back, eyes narrowing. "Lucius, what exactly are you planning?"


    Lucius shook his head. "It''s not about controlling you, Loreia. It''s because you''re my sister, and this is the best way I know to keep you safe."


    He placed a hand over his chest. "By forming the bond, I will always be able to sense your well-being¡ªyour condition, your location, everything. If anything ever happens to you, I''ll know immediately."


    Loreia sighed deeply, arms crossed, as she stared at him. A long silence.


    Then¡ª


    "I see." She ran a hand through her hair before sighing again.


    "Fine. But let me be clear¡ªI''m doing this because you''re my brother."


    Lucius smiled. "Thank you for your trust, big sister."


    Luna grinned, nudging Loreia. "Wow, big sis, you''re really soft when it comes to Master."


    Loreia clicked her tongue. "Shut up, Luna."


    Lucius chuckled before stepping forward. "Then let''s begin."


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    He performed the basic ritual of beast taming, the same one he had used for Luna and Liora before.


    When the process was complete, Loreia blinked, looking at her hands. "...Nothing seems different."


    Lucius smirked. "Of course not. Because you''re my big sister. The only real difference is that now I can feel your presence no matter where you are."


    Loreia rolled her eyes. "Let''s hope that doesn''t become annoying."


    Lucius chuckled, looking at the three. "Now, with that settled, I''ll give you all something useful."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Ability Enhancement]


    [Targets: Luna, Liora, Loreia]


    [New Abilities Granted:]


    [Instant Teleportation: Allows them to teleport to User at will]


    [Material Absorption: Grants the ability to absorb materials and convert them into Hack Points]


    [Shared Eternal Vault: Full access and synchronization with User''s Eternal Vault]


    [Cost Required: 3,000,000 Hack Points


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    The moment the system completed the process, Luna, Liora and Loreia blink.


    They could instinctively sense that their bodies had somewhat changed, but they didn''t know what it was.


    Luna was the first to speak up, tilting her head. "Master... something feels different."


    Liora flexed her fingers. "Yeah. It''s like... I have something new, but I don''t know what it is yet."


    Loreia crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes. "You definitely did something to us. Explain, Lucius."


    Lucius smirked. "Of course. These are the abilities I just granted you."


    He lifted a hand, casually explaining. "First, you now have the ability to teleport to me at any time. No matter where you are, you can instantly come to my side."


    Luna grinned. "Oh? So I can just pop into Master''s room whenever I feel like it?"


    Lucius raised his eyebrow. "If you do that while I''m sleeping, I''m throwing you back out."


    Luna pouted. "So cruel."


    Liora ignored the exchange and focused. "And the other abilities?"


    Lucius continued. "The second ability is Material Absorption. You can now absorb materials like I do and convert them into energy for me. It saves me the effort of doing it myself."


    Luna nodded. "So basically, we''re gathering resources to fuel Master''s power directly."


    Lucius smirked. "Exactly."


    Loreia tapped her chin. "And the last one?"


    Lucius pointed at them. "You now have access to my storage space. Everything I store, you can retrieve at will."


    Lucius smirked. "This means no more carrying things manually. If you need a weapon, armor, or any stored item, you can pull it out from the vault instantly."


    The three of them took a moment to process the information.


    Soon, their new abilities settled within their instincts, the knowledge of how to use them engrained in their minds.


    Luna snapped her fingers, smirking. "I see... these are pretty useful."


    Liora nodded, satisfied. "A solid enhancement."


    Loreia sighed but looked somewhat impressed. "I won''t lie, this is incredibly convenient."


    Lucius chuckled. "Good. Now, you all have what you need."


    He crossed his arms. "Now, you can go and do what you wanted to do."


    Luna grinned. "That means business time."


    Liora cracked her knuckles. "Training and beast hunting for me."


    Loreia exhaled. "Fine. I''ll work with Luna on the business side of things."


    Lucius smirked. "Then go. Our real conquest starts now."


    As the three of them dispersed to carry out their roles, the Luxoria family''s rise truly began.

 Chapter 280 A Shop Unlike Any Other

    Lucius watched as Luna, Liora, and Loreia left to carry out their tasks.


    Their new abilities will allow them to move with purpose and efficiency.


    Now, it was his turn to handle an important matter.


    He needed to create another beast like Lilia. A guardian beast dedicated to Luna''s beast-selling business.


    Lucius folded his arms as he was thinking. "But how should I do it?"


    Lilia had been made from Draemor, the Spectral Knight.


    But now that Draemor no longer existed, he had no base entity to hack. "I can''t use the same method as before."


    His gaze shifted toward Lilia, who was renovating the mansion with some of her silver golems.


    Then, an idea struck him and Lucius'' smirk returned. "Wait... could I actually do this?"


    If what he was thinking was possible, then he wouldn''t just be able to create one more guardian.


    He could mass-produce them. The possibilities were endless.


    But first, let''s make Lilia''s stat into full S-Rank as she was the main guardian.


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Full Stat Enhancement]


    [Target: Lilia]


    [Effect: Upgrade All Stats to S-Rank]


    [Cost Required: 3,031,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Lilia soon felt that she had become stronger thanks to her newly enhanced S-Rank stats.


    Though she felt the tremendous increase in power, Lucius ignored it entirely.


    He had something more important to test. "Now, let''s see if I can do this."


    Lucius turned to his system, issuing a new hack. "System, clone Lilia. Name the new entity Liline."


    "Her core structure should remain the same, but this time she would have a new purpose."


    "Keep all the knowledge Lilia possesses, but inject additional expertise: commerce, beast caretaking, and beast shop design."


    Lucius needed a true manager for the business, someone who understood not just the trade but how to properly care for and present the beasts they would sell.


    He continued, "Make her my contracted beast, just like Lilia."


    He then smirked as he thought about changing her form. Each guardian needed to be unique.


    "Her appearance should be slightly different. Keep the silver hair, but tie it into a bun¡ªa symbol of her caretaker role."


    And of course, not only her appearance, her attire also needed to be unique.


    "For her attire, give her a black and silver business suit with an elegant silver-black coat. A professional look befitting her role."


    To conserve Hack Points, he added one last condition. "Match her stats to Lilia''s, but leave her abilities blank."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Clone Creation]


    [Original Model: Lilia]


    [New Entity: Liline]


    [Retained Knowledge:]


    [General Knowledge: Full transfer of Lilia''s current expertise]


    [Additional Knowledge Injected:


    [Commerce Mastery: Expertise in trade, finance, and business management]


    [Beast Caretaking: Advanced knowledge of beast nurturing, training, and well-being


    [Beast Shop Design: Understanding of optimal interior and exterior layouts for a successful beast shop]


    [Contract Status: Directly Bound to User, Same as Lilia]


    [Physical Attributes:]


    [Hair: Styled into a bun, symbolizing caretaker role]


    [Clothing: Black and silver business suit with an elegant silver-black coat]


    [Stat Configuration:]


    [All Stats Match Lilia''s]


    [Abilities: Left Blank to Minimize Hack Point Cost]


    [Cost Required: 15,000,000 Hack Points


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Lucius watched closely as a single strand of Lilia''s fallen hair began to twist and reform into a new being.


    Within seconds, another silver-haired woman stood before him.


    Her appearance was similar to Lilia, yet distinctly different.


    Her hair tied into a neat bun, her posture poised and professional.


    Her business attire also reflected the level of elegance fitting a shop manager.


    Lucius smirked. "It worked. It really works."


    Liline opened her eyes, immediately locking onto Lucius. Without hesitation, she bowed gracefully.


    "Master. I am Liline. From now on, I shall oversee all matters concerning the beast shop."


    Lilia, standing beside her, observed Liline curiously. "So, I have a sister now."


    Liline smiled gently. "It appears so. I look forward to working alongside you, Lilia."


    Lucius chuckled, pleased with the result. But then, his smirk faded slightly as he checked his remaining Hack Points.


    "Tch. That cost way too much."


    He crossed his arms. "At this rate, I won''t be able to mass-produce them."


    It was possible, but the price was steep¡ªtoo steep to make an army of personalized caretakers and defenders.


    Still, one was enough for now.


    Lucius sighed but smirked again. "Well, no matter. Liline, welcome to the Luxoria Family."


    Liline bowed once more. "It is an honor, Master. I shall ensure our business thrives."


    Lucius grinned. The Luxoria Empire was beginning to take shape.


    ---


    Luna and Loreia moved swiftly through the shadow as they rode atop Loxen, Luna''s shadow beast.


    Loreia let out a small sigh, adjusting her position. "Just where the hell is this place, Luna?"


    Luna grinned. "Don''t worry, big sis. It''s not that far. With Loxen, we''ll get there in no time."


    Loreia nodded slowly, glancing at the dark landscape around them. "Yeah, I get that. But still... are you sure about this location?"


    Luna tilted her head slightly. "Why? Having doubts?"


    Loreia crossed her arms. She was uncertain. "You said it was dangerous, right? Won''t that just scare away potential customers?"


    Luna''s smirk widened. "Oh, big sister, you''re thinking too normally."


    Loreia raised her eyebrow. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"


    Luna chuckled, flicking her fingers. "If we don''t stand out, how will we dominate the market? In business, being unique is the key to success."


    Loreia narrowed her eyes. "Unique? You mean reckless."


    Luna laughed. "No, I mean genius. Listen¡ªif we make it too easy, then anyone can buy our beasts. That''s not what we want."


    Luna clenched her fist. "We need to create an exclusive, high-tier image. Our beasts will be top-quality, and their price alone will filter out the weak."


    Luna smirked, shaking her finger. "The difficulty of reaching our shop? That will only add to its legend."


    Loreia exhaled, thinking it over. "And you''re sure people will still come?"


    Luna grinned confidently. "Of course. If we provide the best beasts in the world, people will find a way to reach us, no matter how dangerous the journey is."


    Luna touched Loreia''s chin. "That''s how business works¡ªthe more exclusive something is, the more people want it."


    She then gave Loreia a playful nudge. "Besides, with Master backing us, our beasts will be unrivaled. We''ll build a reputation so strong that even kings will come crawling to us."


    Loreia sighed, shaking her head. "Fine, fine. You sound too confident for me to argue."


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    Luna smirked. "That''s because I''m always right."


    Loreia rolled her eyes. "You''re unbearable."


    Luna grinned wider. "And yet, here you are, working with me."


    Loreia exhaled sharply. "I regret it already."


    Luna giggled. "Too late. We''re already on our way."

 Chapter 281 Lilines Transformation is Complete!

    Liline''s appearance and stats were already perfected, and the only thing left were her abilities as a guardian.


    Lucius turned to his system once more and smirked. "Now... let''s hack Liline''s abilities."


    He needed her to be the ultimate shopkeeper, the best helper for Luna and Loreia.


    Not just someone who managed a business, but a force that could dominate the entire market.


    "First, give her the ability to enhance every pet, product, and service within the shop."


    "Customers must feel like they''re receiving the best of the best¡ªbetter than anything they could find elsewhere."


    "Second, to remove the need for hiring staff, grant her the ability to summon spectral workers who can handle everything."


    "Sales, grooming, medical care, and security. The shop must run itself flawlessly."


    "Third, let her expand and enhance the shop''s interior and facilities, ensuring every beast has a proper, adaptive enclosure that keeps them in peak condition for sale."


    "Fourth, business isn''t just about quality¡ªit''s also about trust. Grant her the ability to detect any fraud, scam, or deception."


    "Within her shop, make sure everything is honest and clean. If necessary, she should be able to enforce binding contracts that prevent betrayal."


    "Lastly, for emergencies, allow her to convert the entire shop into a fortress, ensuring no one can attack or cause destruction inside her domain."


    Lucius smirked as he issued the new hack for the new guardian.


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Ability Enhancement]


    [Target: Liline]


    [New Abilities Granted:]


    [Silver Commerce Blessing: Enhances pets, products, and services, ensuring satisfied customers and crushing competitors.]


    [Silver Guild Manifestation: Summons spectral staff for sales, grooming, medical care, and security, running the shop seamlessly.]


    [Architect of Prosperity: Expands and optimizes the shop, creating adaptive enclosures and premium facilities for all beasts.]


    [Guardian of Trade: Detects fraud and deception, enforcing absolute business integrity with binding contracts if needed.]


    [Living Bazaar Awakening: Turns the shop into a fortress, making structures defend against intruders and suppressing hostility.]


    [Cost Required: 50,000,000 Hack Points


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Liline soon realized that she had become stronger as another hack was put into her.


    She had new abilities and the way to use them was already implanted in her mind.


    Lucius smirked as finally the second guardian had been completed.


    Lilieane opened her eyes, immediately understanding the full extent of her power.


    Lucius smirked, arms crossed. "Now, Liline is perfect."


    Then, his smirk twitched slightly as he glanced at his Hack Points balance. "Tch... still that cost way too much."


    No matter how powerful his system was, hacking at this level burned resources at an insane rate but was worth it.


    Lucius looked at Liline, nodding. "Just wait until Luna takes you to the new location. There, you can establish the greatest pet shop in the world."


    Liline bowed elegantly. "Understood, Master. I will ensure that the shop prospers beyond expectation."


    Lucius grinned. Everything was falling into place. The Luxoria empire was just getting started.


    ---


    Luna and Loreia stepped out of the shadows, arriving at their destination.


    The moment their feet touched the ground, the surroundings became clear.


    It was a vast clearing in the middle of the dense forest, surrounded by towering trees and a deep, natural barrier of nature.


    Loreia frowned slightly, scanning the area. After a moment, her brows knitted together in recognition. "Wait... isn''t this place kind of familiar?"


    Luna grinned, folding her arms. "Sharp as always, big sis."


    She gestured around. "It''s almost the same as our mansion''s location. A clearing deep in the forest."


    Loreia raised her eyebrow. "Then why did we come all the way here? What makes this place different?" Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    Luna chuckled, flicking her silvery hair back. "Simple. While the mansion is surrounded by S-Rank beasts, this place only has A-Rank beasts at most."


    Luna raised her finger. "That means it''s dangerous enough to keep weaklings away, but not so bad that no one will attempt to come."


    Loreia nodded slowly, considering the logic. "So, the danger acts as a filter. Makes sense."


    Luna grinned wider. "But that''s not the only reason. This location is also near multiple towns, making it a perfect business spot."


    Loreia crossed her arms, thinking. "A secluded location, strong beasts, and easy access to various towns..."


    She let out a low hum before nodding. "I see. This actually is a good choice."


    Luna smirked. "Of course it is. I did my research. We''re not just making any pet shop¡ªwe''re creating the pet shop. The one everyone will risk their lives to come to."


    Loreia sighed, rubbing her temples. "You and your insane business strategies..."


    Luna grinned wider. "Insane? No. Brilliant."


    Loreia rolled her eyes but smirked slightly. "Yeah, yeah. Now that we''ve arrived, let''s check in with Lucius."


    Luna nodded. "Sure."


    Without hesitation, both activated their mental connection to Lucius, a result of their tamed beast bond.


    "Master, we''ve found the perfect place to build the pet shop," Luna announced confidently.


    Lucius''s voice echoed in their minds. "I see... from what I sense, it''s a bit far from our current base."


    Luna shrugged. "That''s okay, right? We have instant teleportation now, thanks to you."


    Loreia nodded. "Yeah, yeah. Distance doesn''t really matter anymore. But Lucius, have you created the guardian for our pet shop yet?"


    Lucius chuckled. "Wait a moment. It still needs some tweaking."


    Luna smirked. "Tweaking? So you''re customizing another one, huh?"


    Lucius grinned on his end. "Of course. If we''re going to do this, it has to be done perfectly."


    Loreia sighed. "Here we go again."


    Luna chuckled. "Well, take your time, Master. We''ll prepare things on our end. Just let us know when she''s ready."


    Lucius smirked. "You''ll know soon enough."


    With that, the connection faded, and the two turned their attention back to their surroundings.


    Meanwhile, Lucius turned back to Liline, crossing his arms. "Now then, Liline... what materials should we use for you to contract and build the pet shop, huh?"


    Liline, standing elegantly before him, placed a hand over her chest and bowed slightly. "Master, as long as you provide the materials, I will ensure that the shop is built to perfection."


    Lucius smirked. "Of course you will. But the question is¡ªwhat should I use?"

 Chapter 282 A Metal Stronger Than Diamond?

    Lilia, standing nearby, noticed Lucius deep in thought.


    He was considering what materials should be used for the foundation of the pet shop.


    She bowed gracefully. "Master, may I offer you a suggestion?"


    Lucius raised his eyebrow, intrigued. "A suggestion? Do you know of good materials?"


    Lilia nodded firmly. "I do. In fact, some of the most important parts of this mansion were built with it."


    Lucius''s smirk widened. "I see... Please, enlighten me."


    Lilia then began to explain it to Lucius.


    "This metal does not have a known name¡ªit was discovered by the past owner of this mansion, and its source is hidden beneath us."


    Lucius''s eyes sharpened. "A mine beneath the mansion? Go on."


    Lilia continued, "The metal looks similar to silver, but it is far stronger than diamond while being significantly lighter than most metals."


    Lucius nodded slowly, intrigued.


    "Not only that. It has a unique property¡ªit is resistant to nearly all forms of attacks. Magic, physical, corrosive elements¡ªnothing easily damages it."


    Lucius grinned. "That explains why the mansion still stands strong after all these years."


    Lilia smiled softly. "Precisely. Because of its difficult-to-use nature, only small portions were used for the most critical parts of the mansion''s structure."


    She then added something even more intriguing.


    "And, after observing it for a long time, I''ve discovered that this metal does not remain stagnant¡ªit grows stronger over time as it absorbs mana. The longer it remains in place, the more durable it becomes."


    Lucius'' eyes gleamed. "An evolving material."


    Lilia nodded. "Yes. Furthermore, it has a natural regulation property¡ªit maintains a stable internal temperature, no matter the outside environment."


    Lucius chuckled. "That means a pet shop built with it would be able to house any type of beast without environmental restrictions."


    Lilia smiled knowingly. "Exactly. But there''s more."


    Lucius tilted his head. "More?"


    Lilia''s expression turned serious.


    "The metal appears to have holy properties¡ªit naturally repels beings with evil intentions, preventing curses and corruption from lingering within structures built from it."


    Lucius'' smirk deepened. "So, not only is it durable and temperature-resistant, but it also grants protection against negative forces?"


    Lilia nodded once more. "That''s not all. Those who remain in structures made from this metal for extended periods have been observed to gain luck, improved health, and enhanced magical capabilities. It has a subtle but powerful supportive effect on its occupants."


    Lucius laughed lightly. "This metal just keeps getting better."


    Lilia then added the final point. Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire


    "And because both Liline and I have the ability to reshape and expand structures, we can easily manipulate this metal to build the perfect shop¡ªeven though it is difficult to work with under normal conditions."


    Lucius crossed his arms, smirking. "I see."


    A material that absorbs mana and grows stronger over time.


    A metal that resists all attacks and regulates temperature.


    A holy metal that repels evil, grants luck, and enhances health and magic.


    And now he had two beings capable of shaping it freely, Lucius''s smirk widened.


    "It''s perfect."


    He then turned to Lilia. "Bring me some raw material. I want to see it for myself."


    Lilia nodded immediately, not hesitating. "Understood, Master."


    She gestured, and within seconds, a group of golems emerged from the depths of the mansion, their massive hands carrying slabs of the mysterious silver ore.


    The golems carefully placed the ore before Lucius, revealing its true form.


    Lucius raised an eyebrow, intrigued. The chunk of ore was large, yet surprisingly light when he touched it.


    He lifted a small fragment, testing its weight. "Lighter than it looks... but it doesn''t seem that strong."


    Lucius was curious about it so he wanted to check it. "Lilia, let''s test its durability."


    Lilia nodded. "Allow me, Master."


    She picked up the ore, carrying it effortlessly to the highest point of the mansion.


    Without hesitation¡ªshe dropped it.


    The silver chunk plummeted straight down, crashing into the ground.


    A deep crater formed beneath it, the force shaking the surroundings slightly.


    And yet¡ªthe ore itself remained untouched.


    Lucius smirked, stepping toward the crater, inspecting the ore closely. "Not even a single scratch."


    He chuckled. "This is a really good ore."


    He then turned to Lilia. "This material doesn''t have a name, does it?"


    Lilia shook her head. "No, Master. It has never been officially named."


    Lucius''s smirk widened. "Then, since this metal will serve as the very foundation of our family''s legacy..."


    He placed his hand on the ore and smirked. "Let''s call it¡ªLuxorite, the silver of Luxoria."


    Lilia bowed slightly, acknowledging the name. "Luxorite... a fitting name, Master."


    Lucius grinned, satisfied. With this ore, his mansion, his shop, and his family''s empire would unbreakable.


    But still, although the Luxorite ore was perfect, a new concern appeared in his mind.


    He turned to Lilia and asked, "Lilia, I know that there''s a mine below the mansion... but will the supply be enough?"


    Lilia''s expression darkened slightly, and she hesitated before answering. "The supply is limited, Master."


    Lucius'' eyes narrowed. "Limited?"


    Lilia nodded. "Yes. From what I have observed, the Luxorite veins do not run deep. The mine holds some reserves, but not enough to completely construct both the mansion and the pet shop out of it."


    Lucius''s frown deepened. "I see..."


    Lilia continued. "Perhaps because this metal is so powerful, it is naturally rare. Even after years of being here, I have not seen it regenerate or expand beyond what is already present."


    Lucius sighed, rubbing his chin. "That complicates things. If our supply is limited, then we can''t afford to waste even a single piece."


    He let his mind drift, searching for a solution.


    Then he glanced at the massive golem standing behind Lilia, which was one of her creations. "Wait a minute..."


    Lucius smirked as a new idea appeared in his mind. If the supply of Luxorite was low...


    Then why not make more?


    Lilia noticed his expression change and tilted her head slightly. "Master? Did you think of something?"


    Lucius grinned. "Oh, I did. And if this works... we won''t ever have to worry about running out of Luxorite again."


    Lilia''s eyes widened slightly, intrigued. "Do you have a method to increase the supply?"


    Lucius chuckled. "Let''s find out."

 Chapter 283 Limitless Luxorite?

    Lucius walked toward one of Lilia''s massive golems. He touched it, inspecting the metal used for its construction.


    He then turned to Lilia. "From which metal did you make these golems?"


    Lilia, standing beside him, bowed slightly. "I used ordinary metals, Master. Materials that were easy to shape and reinforce for their structural integrity."


    Lucius nodded, considering her response before asking the real question. "Can you make the whole golem from Luxorite?"


    Lilia frowned slightly, tilting her head. "But Master, Luxorite is so limited. The mine doesn''t have enough to replace all my golems."


    Lucius smirked. "I didn''t ask about the supply. I just want to know¡ªcan you do it?"


    Lilia paused for a moment, processing his request before nodding. "Yes, Master. I can."


    Lucius grinned, turning toward his system. "Then, let''s solve the supply issue right now."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Ability Modification]


    [Target: Lilia]


    [Modified Ability:]


    [Golem Battalion: Summons silver-plated armored constructs to assist in restoration or act as an exterior defense force]


    [New Function Added:]


    [Self-Sustaining Metal Generation: Golems passively generate additional metal from the material used in their construction, allowing continuous reinforcement, repairs, and potential expansion]


    [Result:]


    [Ever-Forging Golem Battalion: Summons silver-plated armored constructs for restoration and defense. Golems passively generate extra metal, which can be used for self-repair, reinforcement, or stored for later use.]


    [Cost Required: 10,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    As the hack was executed, Lilia suddenly felt like her ability had been improved.


    Lucius smirked, watching her closely. "With this, the material supply will no longer be a problem."


    He then turned back to Lilia. "Do you feel the change in your ability?"


    Lilia closed her eyes briefly, sensing the new enhancement, before nodding. "Yes, Master. I can feel my ability changing."


    She then looked toward the golems, observing their forms. "It seems... my golems can now produce the very metal they are built from."


    Lucius grinned. "Exactly."


    He glanced at the golems, already picturing what this meant. "That means if we construct golems entirely from Luxorite, they will continuously generate more Luxorite, correct?"


    Lilia nodded again. "Yes, Master. Given time, we can grow our supply without relying on the mine."


    Lucius laughed softly. He was satisfied with the hack. "Then do it. Change all of your golems into Luxorite constructs."


    Lilia bowed. "As you command, Master. I will begin the transformation immediately."


    Lucius grinned. "Good."


    With this, the foundation of the mansion and the pet shop was now limitless.


    Lilia and her golems would ensure Luxorite was never in short supply.


    But for now, the supply was still limited.


    Lucius turned his gaze toward Liline, who stood calmly, awaiting further instructions.


    "Liline, although Luxorite will eventually be limitless, for now, we only have a small amount available."


    Liline nodded, listening attentively.


    Lucius continued. "So first, contract with this Luxorite and use it for the most important foundations of the pet shop. Make sure the core structure is reinforced properly."


    "As for the rest of the construction, use other strong metals."


    Liline nodded in understanding. "And when our Luxorite supply increases, I will gradually replace the remaining materials until the entire pet shop is made of Luxorite."


    Lucius grinned. "Exactly. Build it strong first, then perfect it later."


    Without hesitation, Liline stepped forward, approaching the large slab of Luxorite that had been prepared.


    She extended her hand and contracted with it, fusing it into her control.


    The Luxorite responded to her presence, binding itself to her as its designated caretaker.


    He glanced at Liline. "Luna will retrieve you on the other side. Once you arrive, begin the construction immediately."


    Liline bowed gracefully. "Understood, Master. I will ensure the pet shop is built to perfection."


    Lucius smirked, satisfied. "Now... let''s send you and this Luxorite over to Luna and Loreia." Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire


    Lucius stored the Luxorite into his Eternal Vault, its massive weight vanishing instantly into his boundless storage space.


    Lucius immediately connected to Luna through their mental link. "Luna, it''s inside the storage. Just pull it out."


    Luna grinned, placing a hand on her hip. "Got it, Master."


    Loreia, standing beside her, raised her eyebrow. "So, it''s finished? The materials and the guardian?"


    Luna nodded. "Yeah, everything''s set. Now, let''s get this place built."


    With a simple thought, Luna activated the Eternal Vault, reaching into the boundless space to retrieve the massive slab of Luxorite.


    The ground rumbled slightly as the enormous slab appeared before them.


    Then, without warning, the Luxorite pulsed.


    A figure slowly emerged from it, stepping out as if she had been born from the metal itself.


    Her silver hair was neatly styled into a bun, her sharp yet composed eyes scanning the area, and her elegant silver-black coat fluttering slightly as she turned toward them.


    With a graceful bow, she greeted them.


    "Greetings, Big Sister Luna and Big Sister Loreia. I am Liline, the guardian and renovator of the pet shop."


    Luna smirked, arms crossed. "Nice to meet you. Just make sure the shop looks as good as I imagine it."


    Liline nodded with confidence. "Do not worry. I will create the greatest pet shop in the world."


    Loreia sighed, rubbing her temple. "I can already tell she''s just as serious as Lilia."


    Luna grinned, patting Loreia''s shoulder. "And that''s exactly why she''s perfect for the job."


    Liline smiled softly. "Then let us begin. This place will soon become the pinnacle of beast commerce."


    With that, the construction of the Luxoria Pet Shop officially began.


    ---


    Liora was deep in the forest near Luxoria Mansion. She was now in the middle of hunting.


    She then thought to herself, her eyes scanning the surroundings.


    "What kind of beast should I catch, huh? A B-Rank beast?"


    She immediately dismissed the idea. Too weak. "No. That won''t do. Would an A-Rank beast be enough?"


    "Tch. Maybe for a normal shop, but not for ours."


    The thought of selling weaklings was irritating her. "No, this is for the first sale. It needs to be something beyond expectations."


    Her eyes gleamed. "An S-Rank beast... or even SS-Rank."


    The challenge excited her.


    Without hesitation, Liora ventured deeper into the forest, where the real monsters awaited.


    The hunt had just begun.

 Chapter 284: Another Monster Bows Before Her!

    Liora ventured deeper into the forest, her eyes sharp, scanning for anything truly powerful.


    She rode atop her beast, Leon, the Silver Flame Lion, moving through the dense terrain with ease.


    But despite going deeper, she was frowning. "Tch... nothing but weaklings."


    She had already encountered multiple A-Rank beasts, but Leon killed them effortlessly.


    Even the S-Rank beasts she had run into weren''t enough¡ªLeon only needed a bit of extra power to take them down.


    Liora exhaled, her eyes narrowing. "At least I got some beast materials."


    She glanced at the pile of corpses she had collected¡ªmaterials that would be absorbed to fuel Lucius''s energy later.


    But still¡ªnone of these creatures were worth capturing.


    Just as she was about to move deeper, her instincts flared.


    A strange presence.


    Before she could fully react, a massive shadow moved from the trees¡ª


    A black and crimson-furred wolf lunged at them.


    Liora''s eyes widened slightly as she instantly dodged, flipping off Leon''s back and landing gracefully a few meters away.


    "Hmph. Sneaky little thing."


    She watched as the massive wolf clashed with Leon, their bodies crashing into the ground.


    Leon let out a thunderous roar, his silver flames igniting as he swiped at the beast.


    But then¡ªsomething happened. The black wolf sank its fangs into Leon''s shoulder.


    Liora''s eyes narrowed. At first, it seemed like a normal attack¡ªbut then... Leon staggered.


    His flames flickered¡ªhis movements suddenly slowed. His power weakened.


    Liora frowned deeply as she watched her beast struggle for the first time.


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    "What the hell...?"


    Leon shook his head, confusion clouding his usually sharp instincts.


    Liora''s frown turned into a smirk. "Finally."


    She cracked her knuckles. "I finally found a worthy beast."


    The hunt had truly begun.


    Liora turned toward Leon, who struggled against the wolf''s venomous bite. "Leon! Get over here! We''re fusing!"


    Leon growled lowly, shaking off his confusion before immediately rushing to her side.


    The moment he reached her, his silver flames flared, and their bodies merged seamlessly in an instant.


    Silver flames engulfed her as she transformed into a lion-beastwoman.


    But the black wolf wasn''t intimidated.


    It simply growled, then melted back into the shadows¡ªvanishing completely.


    Liora''s smirk widened. "Oh? So, you can fuse with darkness?"


    Her eyes gleamed with amusement. "Well, guess what? I know how to handle that."


    She lifted her arms, flames crackling across her body. Then¡ª


    "RAAAAAAAGH!"


    Her roar exploded outward, and from her body, a brilliant silver fire burst, radiating outward in all directions.


    The venom that had weakened Leon earlier? Burned away instantly.


    The shadows that the wolf was hiding in? Lit up like a sun.


    The forest floor ignited in waves of light, pushing back the consuming darkness.


    And there it was.


    The black wolf, momentarily blinded, its dark camouflage stripped away by the overwhelming light.


    Liora smirked, her silver flames still burning fiercely. "Found you."


    She lunged.


    The wolf barely had time to react, still staggered from the sudden brightness, its instincts thrown off by the unexpected erasure of its cover.


    But it was too late. Liora was already at its side.


    CRACK!


    Her clawed fist connected, slamming into the wolf''s ribs, sending it crashing into a tree.


    The beast growled in pain, but Liora only grinned wider.


    Her flames flared, her claws twitching with excitement. "Come on. That''s not enough. I want more."


    The black wolf, still recovering from her attack, lifted its head.


    For the first time, it seemed to frown, as if realizing Liora wasn''t an ordinary opponent.


    Then¡ªit locked eyes with her, making Liora froze.


    A strange sensation crept over her body. Her limbs suddenly felt heavy, her movements restricted.


    "Tch. What...?"


    Then, the hallucinations came.


    Flashes of images filled her mind¡ªvisions of her fears, her failures, her worst memories.


    She saw herself powerless, weak, defeated. She saw Lucius disappointed in her.


    She saw Leon torn apart. She saw herself losing. For a moment, her breath hitched.


    "Pfft."


    A small chuckle escaped her lips. Then another. "HAHAHAHA!"


    She burst out laughing. Her silver flames ignited, raging even brighter, burning through the illusions.


    The hallucinations shattered, the weight in her body vanishing instantly.


    Liora grinned wickedly, taking a step forward. "You thought you could make me fall into an illusion? You wish."


    The wolf tensed, startled by her resilience.


    Liora smirked, her claws burning. "That trick might work on someone weak."


    She dashed forward. "But I don''t fear anything."


    The wolf tried to dodge, but Liora was too fast.


    "Too slow!"


    BOOM!


    She slammed her fist into its ribs again, sending it skidding across the forest floor, leaving a trail of broken trees and dirt.


    The wolf let out a pained growl, struggling to stand.


    It still had powerful abilities¡ªbut its body was weak.


    Liora rolled her shoulders, smirking. "You''ve got strength, but you can''t take a hit, huh?"


    She licked her lips, her battle instincts burning. "Then let''s see how much more you can handle before you break."


    The wolf lunged, moving faster than before, its claws infused with darkness, aiming straight for Liora''s neck.


    But¡ª


    "Too slow!"


    Liora dodged effortlessly, shifting her body at the last second before grabbing its front leg mid-air.


    With a sharp twist¡ª


    CRACK!


    The wolf let out a pained snarl as its leg bent unnaturally.


    Liora didn''t stop. She slammed her knee into its chest, sending it flying backward, rolling through the dirt.


    But the wolf wasn''t done.


    Even with its broken leg, it forced itself up, darkness swirling around it as it prepared another attack.


    Liora grinned wider. "That''s it. Keep going. Let''s see how long you can last."


    The wolf howled, going back to the darkness to become invisible.


    The wolf then reappeared direcly behind Liora, its claws wrapped in dark energy, slashing toward her back.


    Liora tilted her head slightly, grinning. "Trying to sneak up on me? Cute."


    At the last second, she spun, raising her flaming forearm to meet the attack.


    CLASH!


    The impact shook the ground, silver fire clashing against darkness.


    The wolf realized Liora was too strong, trying to retreat¡ª


    Too late.


    Liora appeared in front of it instantly, claws raised¡ª


    "Game over."


    SLASH!


    A clean strike across its chest sent the wolf crashing down, its body trembling as it struggled to move.


    It growled weakly, but the fight was over.


    Liora stood above it, smirking in victory.


    "Finally admitting defeat?"


    The wolf whimpered, lowering its head in surrender.


    Liora grinned. "Good. That means you belong to me now."


    The hunt was over.


    The first SS-Rank beast of the Luxoria Pet Shop had been caught or so it seemed.

 Chapter 285: The Luxoria Pet Shop is Built

    Liora stared down at the defeated wolf. She placed her foot on its back, asserting dominance. "Stay down."


    The wolf let out a low growl but didn''t resist, its body too weak to fight any longer.


    Satisfied, Liora connected to Lucius through their bond.


    "Master, I''ve caught a beast that seems to be at the peak of S-Rank or maybe early SS-Rank."


    Lucius was pretty surprised hearing that, smirking.


    "Good. Just touch it and teleport here. I''m sure it''ll be pulled along with you."


    Liora nodded, but then she glanced at the pile of beast materials scattered around her from the hunt. Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    "Master, what about the materials I''ve collected? Should I just absorb them?"


    Lucius chuckled. "Yeah, just look at them and say ''absorb.'' They''ll be broken down automatically and became my energy."


    Liora smirked. "Simple enough."


    She turned toward the piles of rare materials¡ªbeast cores, fangs, hides, and elemental essences from A-Rank and S-Rank creatures.


    "Absorb."


    At her command, the materials disintegrated into shimmering light, their essence flowing into her body, before being transferred directly to Lucius''s system.


    Liora tilted her head slightly, amused. "Pretty easy."


    She then turned back to the wolf, who was still staring up at her cautiously.


    "Alright, time to go. It''s time for you to meet my Master."


    She placed her hand on the wolf''s back, activating the teleportation ability.


    ---


    Lucius sat back, smirking as he watched the influx of Hack Points flood into his system.


    "Liora did well."


    He glanced at the numbers, satisfied.


    The SS-Rank beast would be a fine addition to the shop, but more importantly¡ª


    "These strong beasts are giving me a ridiculous amount of Hack Points."


    Soon, Liora appeared in front of Lucius with a massive black and crimson-furred wolf beside her.


    The beast''s muscular frame trembled slightly, still recovering from their earlier battle, but its glowing red eyes burned with resistance.


    Lucius leaned back, smirking as he examined the creature.


    Liora crossed her arms. "Master, this is the beast I brought."


    Lucius nodded approvingly, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Good. It looks strong and fierce."


    The wolf immediately snapped its gaze toward Lucius, its fur bristling, letting out a low, menacing growl.


    To the beast, Lucius wasn''t a threat. He was weak.


    But before it could even think about doing anything¡ª


    THUD!


    Liora stomped down on its back, forcing its massive body to the ground.


    "Stay down!"


    Liora pressed her claw against its neck. "This is my Master. You will not act without permission."


    The wolf whimpered, its ears flattening as it submitted immediately.


    Lucius chuckled, watching the exchange with interest. "I see... so you''ve already disciplined it."


    Liora nodded, flicking her wrist. "A few smacks were enough to get the point across."


    Lucius grinned. "That''s how it should be. Now... let''s see what we''re dealing with."


    He activated his system, scanning the Vorafang for its full details.


    ---


    [Species: Vorafang]


    [Stats:]


    [Str: SS]


    [Vit: A]


    [Agi: S]


    [Int: A]


    [Abilities:]


    [Bloodbane Bite: Inflicts a venom that weakens the enemy''s body and mind, causing hallucinations.]


    [Shadow Stalker: Becomes completely invisible in darkness, making it impossible to detect.]


    [Night Terror: A gaze attack that induces fear and paralysis, leaving enemies vulnerable.]


    [Endless Chase: Can track its prey for days without tiring, never relenting.]


    ---


    Lucius''s smirk widened. "Wow... it''s quite good."


    He glanced at Liora. "An early SS-rank beast. You''ve outdone yourself."


    Liora grinned, tilting her head proudly. "Of course, Master. I only bring the best."


    Lucius chuckled but didn''t take his eyes off the wolf. "Still... it has a weakness."


    Liora raised her eyebrow. "What do you mean?"


    Lucius gestured toward the beast. "Its strength is incredible, but its body is weak."


    He tapped his fingers against his arm in thought. "However, despite its weak body, its stamina is insane. That makes it a perfect hunting beast¡ªit never stops tracking its prey."


    Liora nodded slowly. "That''s true. Even when I fought it, it didn''t stop coming after me. It was relentless."


    Lucius grinned. "You did well, Liora. This beast is valuable."


    Liora smirked, bowing slightly. "Thank you, Master."


    Lucius then crouched down slightly, looking the Vorafang directly in the eyes.


    "Now... what kind of hack should I give you, huh?"


    The wolf didn''t understand his words, but it felt something shift in the air.


    Lucius''s smirk widened. The beast instinctively growled, feeling an uneasy pressure settle over it.


    It didn''t know what was about to happen but one thing was clear. Its life would be changed forever.


    ---


    On the other side, Luna and Loreia stood in front of the newly constructed pet shop, their eyes wide in amazement.


    The structure was massive, far more impressive than even the Beast Castle, one of the largest beast shops in the region.


    Everything about it radiated prestige.


    Whether it was the detailed exterior or the adaptive design meant to accommodate the strongest of beasts, it was the best.


    Luna grinned, placing her hands on her hips. "Liline, you really outdid yourself."


    She whistled as she looked around. "This is even better than I imagined."


    Liline stood proudly beside them, adjusting her silver-black coat. "Of course, Big Sister."


    She smiled, tilting her chin slightly. "I am the best at this, after all."


    Loreia, who was still analyzing the sheer size of the structure, finally spoke. "Alright, we have the building."


    She crossed her arms. "But we don''t have the beasts."


    Luna snapped her fingers. "Oh, right! We still need the inventory."


    She turned to Liline. "We should check with Master."


    Loreia nodded. "Yeah, let''s ask him if it''s ready."


    Without hesitation, Luna activated her connection with Lucius.


    "Master, the shop is finished. Should we start receiving the beasts now?"


    Lucius immediately replied to them. "Not yet. The beasts aren''t ready. I''ll send them to you later."


    Luna pouted. "Aww, Master, don''t keep us waiting too long. We need to open soon."


    Lucius chuckled. "I''ll make sure they''re worth the wait."


    Loreia sighed. "Well, at least we have time to prepare before they arrive."


    Luna grinned. "Yeah, let''s use this time to perfect the business strategy."


    Liline smiled, already running calculations in her mind. "Understood. By the time the beasts arrive, everything will be set for an elite grand opening."


    The Luxoria Pet Shop was now complete.


    All that remained...


    Was to stock it with the finest beasts in the world.

 Chapter 286 286: Hacking the Ultimate Hunter

    Lucius studied the Vorafang. The beast was powerful, but hacking it to perfection would be far too costly.


    He sighed. "Too expensive to modify this one completely... so let''s just use it for what it''s worth."


    He turned to Liora. "We''ll keep this one as the opening sale beast since it''s already SS-Rank. It''ll attract the right kind of attention."


    Liora grinned, nodding. "Sounds good. An SS-Rank beast for the first sale will make a huge impact."


    Lucius chuckled. "But... I still like its overall look. Let''s make a modified version."


    He then accessed his system.


    "System, clone this beast, but adjust the stats to be all S-Rank¡ªI want it to be more stable rather than extreme in certain areas."


    A slight pause, then Lucius grinned wider.


    "Oh, and let''s tweak its personality. Make it multitasker. I want it to have the mindset of a war beast, a hunting beast, and a guardian beast."


    He chuckled. "A versatile predator... I like it. For the abilities, remove them all for now. I''ll decide on those later."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Beast Cloning]


    [Original Model: Vorafang]


    [New Beast: Luperion]


    [Stat Configuration:]


    [All Stats Upgraded to S-Rank for Maximum Stability]


    [Personality Traits Embedded:]


    [Warbeast Instinct: Thrives in battle, adapts to combat strategies]


    [Hunting Beast Mentality: Precision tracking, heightened senses for pursuit]


    [Guardian Nature: Fiercely protective, prioritizes defense of allies and territory


    [Abilities: All Previous Abilities Removed (To Be Modified Later)]


    [Cost Required: 10,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    As the hack began, a fur fell from Vorafang, growing into a new wolf.


    Within moments, the new wolf, Luperion, stood tall. It was quite similar to Vorafang, with a bit of a difference.


    It seemed more balanced in strength, and also instead of black and red, Luperion had silver and red fur.


    Lucius grinned in satisfaction. "Good. Now... what kind of abilities should I give you, huh?"


    Before he could decide, Liora stepped forward. "Master, can I give a few ideas for its abilities?"


    Lucius raised his eyebrow. He was interested. "Sure, Liora. Give me your wildest ideas."


    Liora smirked, thinking for a moment before speaking.


    "Master, you said this beast is multitasker and balanced, right? And since it''s a wolf, it usually operates in packs. Why not give it an ability that makes it stronger when more of its kind are present?"


    Lucius rubbed his chin, considering the idea. "Hmm... A synergy-based skill... That''s actually a damn good ability."


    Liora nodded quickly. "And there doesn''t need to be an Alpha among them¡ªthey should naturally see you as their Alpha."


    Lucius''s smirk widened. "Oh? So it''s more like a military wolf unit rather than a pack led by one dominant leader?"


    Liora grinned. "Exactly, Master. With this, their combat efficiency will increase, and they''ll function more like elite soldiers rather than wild beasts."


    Lucius chuckled, nodding. "I like that. Alright, what''s the second ability?"


    Liora crossed her arms, her expression turning slightly more serious. "This one''s about ensuring they finish their job."


    Lucius tilted his head slightly. "Oh?"


    Liora continued. "What if they could mark an enemy when fighting, weakening them over time and making sure Luperion always knows where they are?"


    Lucius'' eyes gleamed. "Like a hunting mark that ensures there''s no escape?"


    Liora nodded. "Yes, Master. That way, once Luperion chooses its prey, it never loses track."


    Lucius''s grin widened. "Not bad. System, add these abilities to Luperion."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Ability Enhancement]


    [Target: Luperion]


    [New Abilities Granted:]


    [Warborn Convergence: Multiple Luperions can coordinate attacks with flawless precision, amplifying their power, and overwhelming enemies with military-grade synergy]


    [Warfare''s Mark: Luperion brands its prey with a seal, weakening it over time while ensuring constant awareness of its exact location¡ªno escape from its relentless pursuit]


    [Cost Required: 20,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Luperion''s body trembled as the new hack was being given to its body.


    Lucius watched with satisfaction, then smirked. "It''s quite good, but still, it''s missing something."


    He then turned his head, his eyes locking onto the pile of Luxorite ore nearby.


    A thought soon formed and his smirk widened.


    "Luperion has already become a military wolf. Why not take it even further?"


    Liora, standing beside him, raised her eyebrow. "Master, what are you thinking now?"


    Lucius grinned. "Weapons."


    Liora blinked, then grinned back. "Oh... I like where this is going."


    Lucius chuckled. "System¡ªevolve Luperion by fusing it with Luxorite."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Fusion & Ability Enhancement]


    [Target: Luperion]


    [Material Used: Luxorite Ores]


    [Transformation: Luperion evolves into an Armor Wolf, integrating Luxorite into its form]


    [New Abilities Granted:]


    [Luxorite Warforged Evolution: Luperion''s Luxorite-infused body absorbs mana, reinforcing and evolving after each battle, becoming stronger and more indestructible over time]


    [Luxorite Mastery: Luperion can reshape its Luxorite armor into powerful weapons, boosting both offense and defense, effortlessly shredding armor and tanking attacks]


    [Cost Required: 25,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Luperion''s body trembled again as the Luxorite ore lifted from the ground, fusing with Luperion''s body.


    Liora whistled, watching the transformation. "Now that''s impressive."


    Lucius smirked, crossing his arms. "It''s not just impressive."


    The Luxorite melded into Luperion''s flesh, creating an armored wolf with a sleek appearance.


    Its entire body gleamed with Luxorite plating, its claws reinforced with razor-sharp metallic edges.


    Spikes ran along its back, capable of morphing into weapons or shields at will.


    Luperion let out a powerful howl, the ground trembling beneath it.


    Lucius grinned. "Now... this is the perfect military wolf."


    Liora grinned as well, rolling her shoulders. "Master, you really don''t hold back, do you?"


    Lucius chuckled. "Why would I? If we''re doing this, we''re doing it right."


    But then Liora sighed, turning toward Lucius. "But still, Master, isn''t this wolf too rare and strong to sell?"


    Lucius raised his eyebrow. "What do you mean?"


    Liora gestured at Luperion. "Think about it. You just used Luxorite, our secret, nearly indestructible ore, to create a one-of-a-kind war beast. If we sell it, people might start asking too many questions about where this kind of beast came from."


    Lucius paused, realization dawning on him.


    "...Damn it."


    Liora smirked, shaking her head. "You got too excited again, Master."


    Lucius only chuckled, exhaling sharply. "I really did, huh? I just kept pushing, and now it''s too valuable to sell."


    He then sighed, rubbing his temples. "Alright... new plan."


    Luperion wasn''t going anywhere.


    It was too dangerous to release something like this into the hands of potential enemies or competitors.


    And now he had to figure out what to do with it.

 Chapter 287 287: A Pet Shop Unlike Any Other

    Just as Luna and Loreia were finalizing preparations for the shop, a flash suddenly appeared in front of them.


    Before they could react, Lucius and Liora appeared right in front of them.


    Loreia''s eyebrows furrowed in surprise. "Lucius? Why are you here? Have the beasts been prepared?"


    Lucius nodded confidently. "Of course they are."


    As soon as he said that, six wolves emerged from behind.


    Five of them were standing tall, their postures upright, disciplined, and soldier-like, moving in perfect formation.


    But it was the one in front that immediately caught Luna and Loreia''s attention.


    "Wait... is that¡ª"


    "Vorafang?!"


    Luna''s eyes widened, and she immediately grinned with excitement. "Master, to think that you actually obtained an SS-Rank beast like this!"


    Lucius chuckled. "You can thank Liora for that."


    Luna turned toward Liora, smirking. "Liora, you really did a good job this time."


    Liora crossed her arms, smirking back. "Of course. Do you expect anything less from me?"


    Loreia, however, was more focused on the five wolves standing behind Vorafang.


    "And those five? They''re obviously weaker, but... they look different."


    Lucius grinned, stepping forward. "Vorafang will be our grand opening beast for sale¡ªits rarity will drive attention to our shop."


    He then gestured to the five wolves behind it.


    "But these five? These will be our main beasts for sale."


    Lucius handed Loreia and Luna the papers detailing the stats and abilities of the new wolves.


    As they read through them, their eyes widened.


    Luna whistled. "Damn, Vorafang is seriously impressive."


    But then¡ª


    Loreia frowned, her eyes darting back to the five new wolves. "What the hell is with these beasts?"


    Lucius smirked knowingly. "Hehe... good, right?"


    Luna scanned the stats again, then let out a low chuckle. "I see... while they''re not as strong as Vorafang, they''re incredibly versatile."


    Lucius nodded. "Exactly. They can serve as main beasts, side beasts, or even function in group formations. They''re perfect for battle, tracking, and defense¡ªa true multitasking species."


    Luna grinned. "I like it. What''s their name?"


    Lucius smirked. "Vornis."


    In his mind, he thought, ''They''re basically the watered-down version of Luperion¡ªjust without Luxorite.''


    The cost? Only 1 million Hack Points per beast. With A-Rank stats, they were the perfect reliable and stable breed for warriors, hunters, or even noble guards.


    Lucius grinned, looking at his shop. "Now that we have the beasts, it''s time to begin the Grand Opening."


    Luna''s eyes sparkled with excitement. "Of course. Big Sister Loreia, it''s time to spread the news."


    Loreia nodded, already planning the next steps. "Leave it to me."


    Without hesitation, she pulled out her phone, her fingers moving swiftly as she accessed the website she had created for their business¡ªLuxoria Castle.


    It was more than just a simple pet shop page¡ªthis was a marketplace for elite beast tamers, a hub where only the best and most powerful beasts were sold.


    With a few taps, she posted the grand opening announcement.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle ¨C Official Grand Opening Announcement]


    THE GREATEST BEAST SHOP IN THE WORLD IS HERE!


    Are you looking for a true battle companion? A beast worthy of standing beside only the strongest?


    Luxoria Castle is not just a pet shop¡ªit''s the pinnacle of beast commerce, offering only the most elite creatures!


    Location: Deep within the Grand Forest, accessible only to those who can survive the journey.


    GRAND OPENING EXCLUSIVE SALE:


    For our first-ever sale, we are offering a one-of-a-kind SS-Rank Beast¡ª


    VORAFANG ¨C The Apex Stalker!


    With unmatched tracking abilities, deadly venomous fangs, and mastery over darkness, Vorafang is an absolute killing machine.


    Only one exists. The highest bidder takes it home.


    Think you''re strong enough to reach us? Then prove it.


    WARNING: If you are weak, don''t waste your time. This is a place for true warriors only.


    ---


    Loreia smirked, satisfied as she hit post.


    Immediately, traffic flooded the website.


    Within minutes, comments started appearing.


    "What the hell? A beast shop calling itself the best?"


    "Who do they think they are?"


    "Luxoria Castle? Never heard of it."


    "Wait, is this real? Selling an SS-Rank beast for their grand opening? No way."


    "No damn shop has ever sold an SS-Rank beast before. Are these guys insane?"


    But then¡ª


    "Wait. LOOK AT THE LOCATION."


    "This place is in the middle of a dangerous forest???"


    "They''re making people fight through high-tier beasts just to get there? What kind of shop does this???"


    "This is a scam, right?"


    Some laughed, others mocked, but deep down, the curiosity grew.


    Then¡ª


    The first verified post dropped.


    "Confirmed. This is real. The Luxoria Family is selling an SS-Rank beast on day one."


    "I saw the beast myself. It''s Vorafang, the apex predator."


    "Holy shit, this might be legit."


    "I don''t care where this place is¡ªI NEED TO SEE THIS."


    "Whoever gets Vorafang will be a legend."


    The internet exploded.


    Some were skeptical, some were laughing, but one thing was clear¡ªeveryone was talking about it.


    Luna, standing beside Loreia, grinned as she watched the chaos unfold.


    "Well, big sis, looks like you really know how to stir up the market."


    Loreia crossed her arms, smirking. "Of course. You think I''d let this shop go unnoticed?"


    Luna laughed. "With this kind of buzz, the strongest tamers will be coming. We''re about to witness a war just to claim that beast."


    Lucius, listening to their conversation, grinned. "Good. Let them come."


    The grand opening was now a phenomenon.


    Meanwhile, in the main office of Beast Castle, one of the largest and most prestigious beast shops in the world, a tense atmosphere filled the room.


    Several high-ranking executives gathered around a massive display screen, their eyes locked onto the Luxoria Castle announcement.


    At the head of the room, a well-dressed man in a dark suit leaned forward.


    "So... they''re claiming to sell an SS-Rank beast for their grand opening?"


    One of his subordinates, a woman in a business coat, nodded.


    "Yes, Director. The announcement spread like wildfire, and now every high-tier tamer in the region is talking about it."


    A younger executive scoffed, adjusting his glasses. "This has to be a bluff. No shop in history has ever put an SS-Rank beast for sale on day one. It''s ridiculous."


    Another member of the table nodded. "Not just that, but their shop is in the middle of a highly dangerous forest. No sane customer would even bother going there."


    The Director of Beast Castle, Varen Aldren, let out a low chuckle, resting his chin on his hand.


    "Hmph. A reckless stunt."


    One of the executives hesitated. "Sir, if this is real... and they do have an SS-Rank beast, won''t this challenge our market dominance?"


    Varen''s expression darkened slightly, his sharp gaze narrowing.


    "That''s exactly why we''re going to find out if this Luxoria Castle is real... or just a pathetic joke."


    He leaned forward, smirking.


    "Send someone. Have them confirm whether this shop truly exists... and if that SS-Rank beast is genuine."


    A murmur spread through the room.


    The female executive nodded. "Understood, Director. We''ll dispatch a high-ranked tamer immediately."


    Varen''s smirk widened.


    "Let''s see if they can back up their bold words... or if they''ll crumble under the pressure."


    The battle of beast commerce was about to begin.

 Chapter 288 288: Luxoria Castle’s Grand Auction Begins!

    A week later, the Luxoria Castle beast shop finally began receiving its first visitors.


    And unlike normal pet shops, these weren''t ordinary customers.


    Each person that arrived was strong, their auras radiating power, their beasts walking beside them with pride.


    Warriors. Adventurers. Elite Beast Tamers.


    Even noble families had begun sending their representatives.


    But despite making it through the treacherous forest, their expressions weren''t pleasant.


    A brawny man with a giant tiger beast at his side grumbled as he finally stepped into the clearing.


    "Tch. What a pain in the ass... What kind of shop makes customers risk their damn lives just to visit?!"


    A woman in a dark hunter''s cloak, her golden hawk perched on her shoulder, sighed loudly.


    "Seriously. This was way too much trouble. I fought at least three B-Rank beasts just to get here."


    Another tamer wearing noble robes clicked his tongue in annoyance.


    "The arrogance of this place is unbelievable. Do they think we''re all desperate enough to risk death for a damn pet shop?"


    Despite their complaints, none of them left. Because the truth was¡ªthey were here.


    They had come because they wanted to see if the rumors were true.


    A younger tamer, wiping sweat from his forehead, glanced at his companion.


    "Do you think it''s real? The SS-Rank beast they''re selling?"


    His friend, an older man with scars across his arms, snorted.


    "Hmph. I don''t know. But if it is real... we''d be fools to ignore this place."


    Far from the others, standing atop a hill overlooking the Luxoria Castle, a lone man watched the scene unfold.


    This was Sallos, the representative of Beast Castle. He crossed his arms, smirking.


    "So this is Luxoria Castle? Let me see just how good you really are... To dare claim yourself as ''the best.''"


    On the other side of the clearing, another group of visitors approached¡ªtwo figures bearing the symbol of the Aurelius Family.


    Sylvia Aurelius and Victor Aurelius, both dressed in noble yet battle-ready attire, walked through the last stretch of the forest, unbothered by the journey.


    Sylvia scoffed, glancing up at the imposing structure of Luxoria Castle.


    "So this is the ''great'' new pet shop everyone''s talking about? Making us go through all this trouble just to see some beasts... It''s certainly interesting."


    Victor adjusted his gloves. He didn''t care much about the journey.


    "Let''s just go in and see if the beasts here are good enough for Brother Cassius''s research."


    Sylvia chuckled. "That''s why we''re here, right? But still... too bad Cassius is stuck in his lab."


    Victor sighed. "Getting punished and locked away after his failure... Serves him right."


    Sylvia smirked. "Well, at least he gave us an excuse to check this place out ourselves."


    Just as they approached the entrance, the massive doors of Luxoria Castle creaked open.


    A deep voice echoed outward, carrying across the air with absolute confidence.


    "Welcome... to the greatest beast shop in the world."


    The moment had arrived.


    Strong tamers, wealthy nobles, and influential families had all gathered to witness Luxoria Castle''s grand opening.


    And none of them knew just how much this shop was about to change the world.


    ---


    Above Luxoria Castle, Lucius smirked, watching over the massive gathering of the visitors. "Wow... there are quite a lot of people."


    He leaned against the railing, observing the restless crowd gathered before the grand entrance, each one radiating strength and authority.


    Some stood confidently, arms crossed, waiting for the grand reveal. Others grumbled about the treacherous journey, but not a single one had left.


    Luna, standing beside him, grinned smugly. "Of course, Master. It was obvious this would happen."


    She smirked, watching the visitors murmur and argue amongst themselves.


    "We made the location a test just to get here¡ªforcing them to travel through dangerous territory. That alone made us unique."


    She gestured at the annoyed yet intrigued guests.


    "Now look at them. All of them are dying to see what''s inside. They wouldn''t have come this far if they weren''t already hooked."


    Lucius chuckled. "And the opening beast being SS-Rank... that really sealed the deal."


    Luna nodded smugly. "Oh, you bet. They''re desperate to see if it''s real. Everyone''s been talking about it, and now they can''t resist."


    She glanced at some of the nobles standing among the crowd, their expressions serious and calculating.


    "Even the big players are here, Master. That means we''ve already won."


    Loreia, standing nearby with her arms crossed, sighed heavily.


    "I still can''t believe your insane idea actually worked."


    Lucius grinned, turning to her. "Oh? Having doubts, big sister?"


    Loreia rolled her eyes. "I thought making the shop this hard to reach was going to drive people away, not attract them. But... I''ll admit, you were right. They''re all here."


    She looked down at the crowd again, shaking her head.


    "They''re frustrated... but they wouldn''t have come if they weren''t extremely curious."


    Lucius chuckled. "Curiosity is the strongest bait. And we''re about to reel them in."


    Luna grinned, nudging Loreia. "Big sis, you should know by now¡ªwhen it comes to business, Master Lucius doesn''t lose."


    Loreia sighed again but smirked slightly. "Fine. Let''s just get this started before they get even more impatient."


    Lucius smirked, stepping forward. "Then let''s give them a show."


    With a wave of his hand, the doors to Luxoria Castle fully opened, revealing the luxurious interior.


    Just as the crowd was taking in the sight, suddenly¡ª


    A woman appeared, hovering above them.


    The onlookers gasped, their eyes widening in surprise.


    "What the¡ªwho is that?!"


    "She''s floating!"


    "A spirit beast? No... a mage?"


    Some instinctively stepped back, sensing the immense authority radiating from her.


    The woman smirked, looking down at the gathered crowd.


    "Welcome once again to Luxoria Castle."


    It was Liline¡ªthe guardian and manager of the shop.


    She hovered effortlessly, raising one hand as she continued.


    "As we have promised, this is no ordinary beast shop. And today... marks the beginning of something the world has never seen before."


    She paused briefly, letting the tension build. Then she smirked.


    "So, let''s begin the auction, shall we?"


    A wave of murmurs spread through the crowd.


    "Wait... what? The auction is starting now?!"


    "They''re not even giving us time to prepare?!"


    "They really know how to keep control over the situation..."


    Despite their shock, the excitement in the air was undeniable.


    Everyone who had made it here wanted to see the SS-Rank beast with their own eyes.


    And now¡ª


    The bidding war was about to begin.

 Chapter 289 289: Doubt Luxoria Castle?

    Suddenly, a group of spectral staff appeared from within, bringing out the SS-Rank Apex Predator, Vorafang.


    The moment the massive black and crimson-furred wolf entered the grand hall, the entire crowd fell into silence.


    Its blood-red eyes gleamed, its presence instinctively radiating danger.


    But even more shocking to the onlookers¡ª


    "Wait... what are those?!"


    "Are those... spectral beings? Are they using spirit beasts as staff?!"


    "How the hell did they do that?!"


    Even some of the elite nobles and tamers, who had seen countless rare beasts, were visibly shaken.


    Lucius, standing above on the upper balcony, simply smirked.


    "Heh. You fools are only surprised by the staff? Even the one talking to you is a spirit beast."


    His eyes glimmered with amusement as he watched the reactions below.


    Then¡ª


    Liline, still hovering in the air, raised her hand to silence the murmurs.


    "Now, we will immediately begin the auction for the SS-Rank beast¡ªVorafang, The Apex Predator."


    The crowd tensed, but Liline simply smiled calmly before continuing.


    "Before we begin, let me properly introduce you to the beast you''re bidding for."


    She gestured toward Vorafang, who stood tall, his gaze scanning the room like a true predator.


    "This beast is the ultimate hunting machine."


    She let the words sink in before continuing.


    "Unlike ordinary wolves, Vorafang does not howl to warn prey¡ªit stalks in absolute silence, only striking when its victim is already doomed."


    Some of the hunters in the crowd exchanged uneasy glances.


    Liline smirked slightly before continuing.


    "Its crimson eyes have the ability to paralyze those foolish enough to meet its gaze."


    Some of the less-experienced tamers instinctively looked away, only to realize they weren''t even making eye contact with the beast yet.


    "And if it bites an enemy?" Liline''s silver eyes glowed.


    "Its fangs inject a venom that weakens and confuses the target, ensuring that escape is impossible."


    The crowd tensed even further.


    Some of the elite tamers, realizing how deadly this creature was, began mentally calculating its worth.


    But Liline wasn''t done.


    "Additionally, Vorafang has incredible stamina¡ªcapable of chasing prey for days without stopping."


    Some hunters muttered in amazement.


    "A relentless hunter..."


    "Damn, if this thing gets your scent, you''re dead."


    Then, Liline''s expression became more composed as she continued.


    "Of course, every beast has its weaknesses."


    She gestured gracefully toward Vorafang.


    "It is a darkness-element beast, meaning it is vulnerable to light-element attacks."


    Some light-element tamers in the room nodded in understanding, already considering strategies for countering it.


    "And finally¡ª" Liline paused for effect.


    "This beast is what we call a ''glass cannon.''"


    The crowd fell silent, waiting for her explanation.


    "It deals extreme damage and is a relentless hunter¡ªbut it cannot take too many hits."


    A few tamers nodded in approval, understanding its strengths and weaknesses.


    "For those of you who seek sheer power¡ªthis beast is a monster on the battlefield."


    She then gestured, and more spectral staff appeared, gracefully moving through the crowd, handing out detailed stats and description papers to every potential bidder.


    The onlookers took the papers, reading them carefully.


    Within moments, whispers spread through the hall.


    "Wait... what?"


    "They''re... showing everything?"


    "The full stats... the abilities... even the weaknesses?!"


    A well-dressed noble tamer, flipping through the paper, frowned deeply. "No shop ever dares to list a beast''s weaknesses like this. What are they thinking?"


    A beast tamer with battle-worn armor chuckled, holding up the paper. "It''s actually genius."


    His companion, a hunter wrapped in a long cloak, raised an eyebrow. "How so?"


    The tamer smirked, tapping the printed stats. "By showing everything, they remove the doubt. Most beast shops try to hide flaws and make buyers guess a beast''s limits. But here? You know exactly what you''re buying."


    Another noble snorted. "They could have just exaggerated the beast''s power like everyone else does... but instead, they laid out all the details? Hmph. Bold move."


    A younger tamer, still new to the trade, nodded in understanding. "This means we don''t have to waste time testing it out ourselves. We already know how to train it properly."


    A merchant, known for trading high-class beasts, nodded in approval.


    "This is... different from any other pet shop I''ve dealt with."


    His assistant nodded. "Luxoria Castle isn''t just selling beasts. They''re selling trust."


    Liline, watching the reactions below, smirked. "I see you''ve all noticed."


    She extended her hand toward Vorafang, who remained perfectly still. "This is not an ordinary pet shop."


    She smiled. "We don''t believe in deception. Every beast sold here is displayed with full transparency."


    She gestured toward the papers in their hands. "What you see is exactly what you get."


    She paused, letting the weight of her words settle. "That is the Luxoria Castle guarantee."


    But then, a calm yet skeptical voice cut through the crowd.


    "How can we know that this paper tells the truth?"


    The hall fell silent as the onlookers turned toward the speaker.


    He was Sallos, the hidden representative of Beast Castle, here to assess the legitimacy of Luxoria Castle''s claims.


    Liline, still floating elegantly above them, did not seem fazed.


    Instead¡ªshe smirked.


    "Whether you believe it or not... that is entirely up to you."


    Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire


    She gestured gracefully toward the stack of papers in the hands of the bidders.


    "We have already provided the full stats."


    Sallos''s expression remained unchanged. "Anyone can write numbers on a piece of paper."


    Some of the bidders murmured in agreement, while others remained silent, waiting for Luxoria Castle''s response.


    Liline, however, simply chuckled softly.


    "Oh? You doubt our credibility?"


    She tilted her head slightly, smirking.


    "Then let me ask you this¡ªhow foolish would we have to be to lie on our Grand Opening?"


    A small ripple of realization spread through the crowd.


    "If we were deceiving you, we would be ruining our name before it even started."


    Liline''s gaze swept over the bidders.


    "Do you really think we would risk our reputation for a single beast sale?"


    Sallos''s lips pressed into a thin line, saying nothing.


    Luna, standing beside Lucius on the balcony, grinned. "Damn, she''s good."


    Lucius chuckled. "Of course. Liline wasn''t just made for show. She knows exactly how to handle skeptics."


    Liline, still hovering in the air, folded her arms. "If you still don''t believe us..."


    She smirked.


    "Then perhaps you should place your bid and see for yourself."


    The crowd stirred.


    Sallos''s gaze remained cold, but he said nothing.


    The tension remained¡ªbut Luxoria Castle held its ground.


    And now, the auction would truly begin.

 Chapter 290 290: Beast King Manual REJECTED?!

    Liline scanned the gathered bidders, her presence commanding attention.


    But just as anticipation reached its peak, she raised her hand, stopping the momentum.


    "Before we begin the auction..."


    The crowd paused, listening carefully.


    Liline smirked. "Seeing as we are offering an SS-Rank beast, we will not be accepting standard currency."


    A ripple of shock spread through the hall.


    "What?!"


    "You''re not accepting money?!"


    "Then what are we bidding with?!"


    Liline remained completely composed.


    "We will only accept unique materials, rare artifacts, or things of great value. Credit and normal gold hold no weight here."


    Some tamers muttered in disbelief, while others¡ªthe smarter ones¡ªnarrowed their eyes, realizing what this meant.


    A man in noble robes adjusted his monocle, intrigued. "They aren''t just selling a beast. They''re making sure only those worthy can even participate."


    A hardened warrior crossed his arms. "Tch. Makes sense. If they accepted gold, some weak noble brat could just buy it outright. This way, only those with real power can bid."


    Sallos, still watching carefully from his hidden position, narrowed his eyes.


    "So they''re establishing dominance right from the start. Clever."


    Liline, still floating, smiled elegantly. "Now, with that clarified..."


    She raised her hand high, and in response, a large golden timer appeared in the air, counting down. "Let the auction begin."


    Immediately, the first bid rang out. "I bid a Vorafang beast core! It''s an SS-Rank core!"


    The crowd murmured in surprise.


    "A Vorafang core? He''s bidding the core of the same species?"


    "Isn''t that ironic? Buying a live Vorafang with a dead one?"


    "Still, SS-Rank cores are rare... but is it enough?"


    Before anyone could discuss further, another bidder stepped forward.


    "I''ll make a better offer. I bid five SS-Rank beast cores."


    The crowd turned toward him, their reactions shifting instantly.


    "Five?! That''s a huge step up!"


    "We don''t even know what beasts they came from, but SS-Rank is SS-Rank! It''s way better than just one core!"


    Liline, still floating above the stage, smirked. "You''re quite smart."


    She nodded approvingly. "Quantity over specificity. A single Vorafang core is valuable, yes, but five SS-Rank cores? That gives us more options to work with."


    The first bidder gritted his teeth, realizing he was instantly outmatched.


    More voices rose up, their excitement building.


    "I can''t let this go that easily¡ªI bid a refined SS-Rank Magic Crystal!"


    "A full magic crystal?! That''s one of the purest forms of condensed energy!"


    "Not bad, but I''ll top it¡ªI offer an artifact from the ruins of Solmaria!"


    The bidding war had officially exploded into chaos.


    Each new bid pushed the value higher, turning what was already a legendary auction into an unprecedented one.


    Lucius, standing above on the upper balcony, smirked as he watched the insanity unfold.


    "Heh... This is getting fun."


    Liline grinned. "Well then... let''s see just how far you''re all willing to go."


    The countdown timer continued ticking down¡ªand with each second, the stakes only grew higher.


    ---


    Victor Aurelius frowned, crossing his arms. "Tch... I don''t like wasting too much time."


    Without hesitation, he raised his hand. "I bid the Cultivation Manual to Become a Beast King."


    The entire hall fell into silence. Heads snapped toward him, eyes wide with disbelief.


    "Wait... what did he just say?!"


    "A Beast King Cultivation Manual?!"


    "That''s impossible!"


    Lucius, watching from above, smirked.


    "I see... a key to the next stage, huh?"


    Even Sylvia, standing beside Victor, was slightly surprised by his bid.


    "Are you sure you want to offer that?"


    Victor simply smirked, tilting his head slightly. "It doesn''t matter. We can just give them a low-level version. They won''t even know the difference."


    Sylvia chuckled, shaking her head. "You''re as devious as ever, little brother."


    But before Victor could feel satisfied with himself¡ª


    "Hmm..."


    Liline''s voice broke the silence. What they didn''t know is that she had heard everything.


    "Your bid is quite interesting but still..."


    She smirked.


    "I prefer SS-Rank Beast Cores over your manual."


    Victor''s smirk vanished instantly, his expression darkening.


    "What?"


    Murmurs spread through the room.


    "They rejected the manual?!"


    "Are they crazy? That''s a literal key to the next stage!"


    Sylvia, however, only laughed, placing her hand on Victor''s shoulder. "Calm down, will you? Just let your big sister handle it."


    Then, with a smirk, she raised her hand.


    "10 SS-Rank Beast Cores, plus the manual."


    The crowd erupted again.


    "10?!"


    "That''s a ridiculous bid!"


    Even Victor clicked his tongue but said nothing.


    Liline smirked, tilting her head slightly. "Now that''s a much better bid."


    She then swept her gaze across the silent room. "Any other takers?"


    The hall remained silent.


    For now, the Aurelius family held the highest bid.


    ---


    Liline hovered above the auction hall, scanning the silent crowd with a smirk.


    The tension hung thick in the air¡ªno one else dared to raise their bid.


    Even the most ambitious tamers and nobles hesitated¡ªnot because Vorafang wasn''t worth more.


    But because competing against 10 SS-Rank beast cores AND a Beast King cultivation manual was sheer madness.


    A few murmurs spread through the hall.


    "Damn... 10 SS-Rank Beast Cores and a manual?"


    "That''s an overwhelming bid... No wonder no one''s countering it."


    "I wanted to try, but even I know when to back off."


    Victor smirked proudly, arms crossed. "Looks like we win, huh?"


    Sylvia grinned, placing her hand on his shoulder. "Of course. No one else here can match our resources."


    Liline, seeing no further bids, lowered her hand gracefully.


    "Very well. Since there are no further challengers..."


    She let the moment linger, allowing the weight of the deal to settle.


    "The bid is closed. Vorafang, The Apex Predator, now belongs to the Aurelius Family."


    A chime echoed through the hall, officially sealing the deal.


    The crowd murmured in amazement, some disappointed, some relieved.


    "It''s over."


    "The first sale in Luxoria Castle... and it''s already history."


    Sylvia smirked, satisfied. "A fine addition to the family. Cassius will be pleased."


    Victor nodded. "Indeed. With this, his research into ultimate beasts will move forward faster."


    Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire


    Liline gestured to the spectral staff, who swiftly moved to prepare Vorafang''s transfer.


    She then turned back to the rest of the crowd, her smirk still present.


    "Now that the grand opening sale has concluded..."


    Her eyes gleamed.


    "The rest of you¡ªare you ready to see what Luxoria Castle truly has to offer?"


    Lucius, standing on the upper balcony, grinned.


    The game had only just begun.

 Chapter 291 291: A-Rank Beast, S-Rank Price

    The spectral staff soon brought out another set of beasts¡ªfive large armored wolves.


    Each one of them stood with perfect discipline and unwavering presence.


    Liline smirked, scanning the crowd. "Now that the auction has concluded, we move on to the next highlight of our grand opening."


    She gestured toward the five wolves standing before her.


    "These beasts before you are Vornis¡ªthey were not as strong as Vorafang, yet highly versatile and adaptable in combat."


    At her signal, the spectral staff once again moved, distributing detailed papers containing the full stats, abilities, and weaknesses of the Vornis.


    The moment the attendees read the descriptions, a wave of murmurs and surprised reactions spread across the hall.


    "What the hell is this?!"


    "A wolf that''s an A-Rank beast but still this strong?"


    "It''s not just strong¡ªit''s flexible! It can be an attacker or a defender?!"


    A nobleman, reading through the stats, adjusted his monocle, his hands trembling slightly.


    "This isn''t just a simple battle beast. It can function in solitary combat or in group tactics. That alone makes it more valuable than some of the standard S-Rank beasts."


    A seasoned beast tamer, known for leading mercenary squads, let out a low chuckle.


    "Tch. It''s a damn soldier. Look at the details¡ªit moves in formation, it adapts to its pack, and it has a hunting mark ability."


    Another bidder, a well-dressed woman with piercing eyes, frowned.


    "Wait... does this say that its steel armor can change forms?"


    She looked at Liline.


    "Are you telling me this beast can reshape its armor into melee or ranged weapons at will?"


    Liline grinned, nodding.


    "You are correct. Depending on the situation, Vornis can transform its armor into defensive plating, bladed weapons, or projectile-based attacks. It is not just a battle beast¡ªit is a warrior." Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    The murmurs grew louder.


    Some were shocked, others intrigued, and many were already considering placing a purchase.


    But then¡ª


    A well-dressed merchant raised his hand.


    "What about weaknesses? This beast must have a flaw."


    Liline smirked, expecting this question.


    "Indeed, it does. Its diet."


    She raised her hand, and at her signal, a spectral display appeared in the air, highlighting the Vornis''s primary weakness.


    "Vornis does not eat normal food. It consumes steel."


    The room went silent for a moment before someone spoke.


    "Steel? That''s it? That''s the weakness?"


    Another merchant scoffed.


    "Hah! With the amount of money floating around in this room, feeding it steel is nothing!"


    A noble tamer stroked his chin thoughtfully.


    "Wait. If it consumes steel... then wouldn''t feeding it higher-quality steel make it even stronger?"


    Liline nodded, smiling elegantly.


    "You are correct. If fed with refined or enhanced steel, Vornis will gradually grow stronger and possibly evolve. The quality of its diet directly affects its potential."


    A ripple of realization spread through the hall.


    One tamer laughed, shaking his head.


    "They really thought this through. They made sure the beast is strong, flexible, and constantly growing¡ªbut also made it so only wealthy or resourceful owners could maximize its potential."


    Another noble grinned.


    "Meaning this beast is not just for warriors¡ªit''s an investment."


    Liline folded her arms, her smirk never fading.


    "Now then... who among you is ready to claim a Vornis?"


    Lucius, watching from above, grinned. "Heh... This is going even better than expected."


    Liline then raised her hand to remind them something about the sale.


    "Before we begin the sale, I want to remind you all of something important."


    The bidders focused on her, waiting for what she had to say.


    "Vornis is not a limited-edition beast. Unlike Vorafang, it will be available for purchase regularly at Luxoria Castle."


    Some bidders nodded, acknowledging this, but Liline wasn''t finished.


    "However, today''s sale is special. For the grand opening, we will sell only five Vornis today."


    She paused, letting that information sink in.


    "And the price will be set at 10 S-Rank beast cores per Vornis."


    A wave of stunned reactions spread through the hall.


    "What?!"


    "10 S-Rank beast cores? That''s nearly the price of a top tier S-Rank beast!"


    "Why are you pricing an A-Rank beast so high?!"


    One bidder, a muscular man with battle scars across his arms, scoffed. "Hah! 10 S-Rank beast cores for a single A-Rank beast? You''re overpricing this thing!"


    Another noble, less emotional but clearly skeptical, nodded. "Even if it''s strong, it''s still not an S-Rank beast. Why would we pay so much?"


    Liline chuckled softly. "What do you know?"


    She crossed her arms, smirking. "Vornis isn''t just any A-Rank beast."


    She gestured toward the five wolves standing in formation.


    "This beast has a stable, perfectly balanced stat system. Unlike wild S-Rank beasts, which can be unpredictable or difficult to train, Vornis is battle-ready for any situation."


    She lifted a finger.


    "One. It is an adaptable combatant¡ªable to switch between offense and defense with its shapeshifting steel armor."


    Another finger.


    "Two. It is an elite tracker¡ªwith its Hunting Mark ability, no prey can escape it."


    A third finger.


    "Three. Its true strength shines in numbers. With Pack Tactics, a group of Vornis is far stronger than a random assortment of S-Rank beasts."


    Some of the smarter tamers started murmuring amongst themselves.


    "Wait... Pack Tactics? If they work in formation, that means..."


    "They''d be able to fight like a military unit!"


    "That''s right! Even if S-Rank beasts are stronger individually, a team of Vornis would be far deadlier in a coordinated assault!"


    Liline smirked, watching as the crowd slowly came to understand the real value.


    Then, she gave the final push.


    "And lastly..."


    She smiled coldly.


    "You cannot get this beast anywhere else."


    Silence.


    A noble tamer clicked his tongue, frustrated. "Damn it. She''s right. No other pet shop in the world sells something like this."


    A merchant, who had been skeptical before, sighed heavily. "That means they control the supply. If you don''t buy one now, you''ll be forced to come back later¡ªat their price."


    Liline grinned, tilting her head slightly.


    "Exactly."


    Then, she clapped her hands once, signaling the sale to begin.


    "We only have five stocks."


    Her eyes glowed with amusement.


    "So hurry up and buy one before they''re gone."


    The moment she finished speaking¡ª


    A flurry of raised hands filled the room.


    The battle for Vornis had begun.

 Chapter 292: The Beast Market Shaken

    The grand sale of Vornis had finally come to an end.


    Due to the extremely limited stock, the final prices had surged¡ªeach buyer paying at least 10 to 20% more than the original price.


    Yet, despite the high cost, every single buyer left satisfied.


    Liline, standing tall and elegant, smirked as she looked at the guests.


    "And with that... the first sale at Luxoria Castle has officially concluded."


    The murmurs settled, and the remaining guests, realizing there was nothing left to bid on, began preparing to leave.


    Some tamers chatted among themselves as they walked toward the exit.


    "Tch, I thought they were just bluffing at first... but this place is serious."


    "I have to admit, these beasts are completely unique. This changes everything."


    "Damn it... I should''ve bought a Vornis when I had the chance."


    Liline raised her hand once more, silencing the remaining chatter.


    "Now that the sale has finished, we sincerely thank you for coming."


    Her eyes gleamed, her expression composed.


    "For those who were unable to buy today, worry not."


    She smirked.


    "The next sale will be announced on our website at a later date."


    Some nobles perked up at that.


    "Oh? They''re expanding their sales already?"


    "That means we have to keep an eye on their listings."


    Liline continued smoothly.


    "And beyond sales, we may also be announcing other services soon. Perhaps... something even more exclusive than what you''ve seen today."


    More murmurs spread through the room.


    "Other services? What could that mean?"


    "Are they planning something even bigger?!"


    Liline smiled slightly, enjoying their speculation.


    "So, stay tuned. And as always..."


    She snapped her fingers, and the massive doors of Luxoria Castle slowly began to close.


    "We look forward to your return."


    With that, the massive doors shut, sealing Luxoria Castle''s first-ever event.


    The guests exited, some murmuring in frustration, others excited for future opportunities.


    Sallos, the hidden representative of the Beast Castle, frowned deeply.


    "Damn it... I need to report this to the higher-ups immediately."


    Without another word, he turned around, disappearing into the crowd.


    Meanwhile, Sylvia Aurelius only smirked as she took one last glance at Luxoria Castle.


    "Interesting. To think this beast store would actually be this unique."


    Victor Aurelius nodded in agreement, though his tone remained indifferent.


    "Yes, but... why didn''t you buy a Vornis as well?"


    Sylvia shrugged lazily. "Vorafang is already more than enough for the experiments later on."


    She glanced at him. "Vornis is impressive, but compared to Vorafang?"


    She scoffed. "It''s weaker."


    Victor smirked slightly, adjusting his coat.


    "As you like. But if this shop keeps growing, we may have to reconsider our stance."


    Sylvia chuckled. "Oh, don''t worry. If they continue surprising us... I might just come back and buy everything."


    The two walked off, leaving behind the Luxoria Castle grounds but they would not forget what they had witnessed today.


    --- Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire


    Lucius leaned back, arms crossed, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he smirked.


    "Hahaha! We made a killing today. Too many profits, too much to count!"


    He let out a satisfied chuckle, as if already envisioning himself sitting on a throne.


    Luna, leaning casually against the balcony railing, grinned. "To think our first sale would be this successful... I almost feel bad for the other beast shops."


    Loreia sighed but smirked slightly. "If we keep this up, we won''t just be successful¡ªwe''ll be rich beyond imagination."


    Lucius nodded, his smirk widening. "And with my power, it''s not just about getting rich. We can also get stronger¡ªfaster."


    Luna laughed, shaking her head. "Tch, what a dangerous thought. Wealth and power at the same time? Master, you''re basically creating an empire."


    Lucius grinned. "Exactly."


    Loreia rolled her eyes but didn''t deny it. "Still, we should be careful. With today''s success, I guarantee we''ve caught the attention of some very dangerous people."


    Lucius chuckled. "Let them come. I''d love to see what they can do against us."


    Luna grinned. "Ohhh, I like this confidence. So, Master, what''s next? Shall we expand? Or maybe... shall we crash another pet shop''s economy?"


    Lucius laughed. "Let''s start by counting today''s earnings first, then we''ll talk about world domination."


    He then suddenly turned toward Liline, curiosity sparking in his mind.


    "By the way, Liline... can you give me the Cultivation Manual said to break through to Beast King?"


    He leaned forward slightly, smirking. "I''m really curious about it."


    Liline bowed slightly. "Yes, Master."


    With a gesture of her hand, a group of spectral staff appeared, moving seamlessly through the room.


    Within seconds, they presented two books before Lucius.


    Lucius grabbed the first book, running his fingers over the cover.


    Before he could open it, Liline spoke.


    "Master, I must remind you... this is said to be the lowest level of the Cultivation Manual that they offered."


    Lucius raised his eyebrow. "Oh? Those bastards tried to swindle us?"


    Liline smirked. "Of course they did. However..."


    She gestured toward the second book. "I managed to haggle with them and secured a slightly better version as well. So, we now have two manuals instead of just one."


    Lucius''s smirk deepened. "I see... Good job, Liline."


    Luna, who had been lounging nearby, grinned. "Oh? A Beast King Cultivation Manual? Now that''s something interesting."


    Loreia frowned slightly. "We don''t even know how accurate these manuals are. Becoming a Beast King has always been surrounded by mystery. What if these books are just nonsense?"


    Lucius chuckled, flipping through the first few pages. "That''s exactly what I plan to find out."


    For the next few hours, he sat still, completely engrossed in the two cultivation manuals, flipping through each page with careful analysis.


    Luna and Loreia, at first patiently waiting, eventually grew impatient.


    Luna leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm. "Master, are you just going to keep reading and leave us in suspense?"


    Loreia narrowed her eyes. "You''ve been staring at those pages for a while. Did you actually understand something?"


    Lucius finally closed the books, placing them down in front of him. He then smirked.


    "I see... No wonder they said one was the lowest-tier manual and the other was slightly better."


    Luna''s eyes sparkled with curiosity. "What? What did you find out?"


    Loreia leaned forward slightly. "Tell us. If it really is the path to becoming a Beast King, we need to know how it works."


    Lucius grinned, tapping his fingers on the book covers. "Sure... I''ll explain."


    He glanced at Liline, who was calmly observing from the side, and then back at Luna and Loreia.


    "Let me tell you the true nature of what it takes to become a Beast King."


    And with that¡ªthe hidden path beyond Beast Fighter would finally be revealed.

 Chapter 293: The Path of the Beast King

    Lucius leaned back, crossing his arms as he looked at Luna, Liora, and Loreia.


    "Listen carefully. The cultivation manual for the Beast King stage explains something very simple... yet incredibly powerful."


    He tapped the book cover lightly.


    "Unlike the Beast Fighter stage, where tamers rely on fusions to gain strength, the Beast King path allows the master to draw mana directly from their tamed beasts, cultivating it within their own bodies to permanently enhance their stats and physique."


    The room fell into silence.


    Luna, Liora, and Loreia stared at him, absorbing what he just said.


    Luna''s eyes widened, her ears perking up as she leaned forward. "Wait, wait, wait¡ªare you telling me that we can become stronger without fusing with our beasts?!"


    Liora, usually calm, narrowed her eyes. "That means... even without merging with Leon, I could still grow stronger just by absorbing his mana?"


    Loreia frowned slightly. "So we don''t have to rely on fusion anymore? We can permanently increase our base strength?"


    Lucius nodded, smirking. "Exactly."


    He looked at all three of them.


    "The Beast King stage is the point where we¡ªthe tamers¡ªbecome the true kings of beasts."


    Luna grinned, crossing her arms. "Damn... that changes everything."


    Liora clenched her fist. "This means... even without fusing, we can reach levels of power beyond what normal Beast Fighters can ever achieve."


    Loreia tapped her chin. "But if that''s the case... wouldn''t this mean that the strongest Beast Kings don''t even need to use fusion? They could reach the level of high-ranked beasts on their own."


    Lucius nodded again. "Exactly. A true Beast King could stand equal to their own tamed beasts. That''s why this stage is so feared... and why it''s so difficult to reach."


    He then tilted his head slightly, looking at the manuals again.


    "Now that I think about it, this seems to be the next stage after 6-Star in our past world."


    Luna''s ears twitched as she thought back to their old world. "Yeah... once a fighter surpassed 6-Star, they stopped relying on external sources and started refining power within themselves like the patriarch."


    Liora nodded. "This feels the same. Instead of just relying on our beasts, we become strong enough that we, ourselves, are a force to be reckoned with."


    Luna crossed her arms, realizing a problem.


    "But what''s the difference between the lower manual and the better one?"


    Lucius smirked, leaning back. "The difference lies in the beast itself."


    Liora raised her eyebrow. "The beast?"


    Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire


    Lucius nodded. "What I just explained is the general concept of the Beast King stage¡ªthe ability to cultivate by absorbing the mana of your tamed beasts."


    He lifted the first manual, tapping its cover.


    "However, how you do it depends entirely on the beast."


    Loreia nodded. "So, what exactly makes the lower one worse than the better one?"


    Lucius chuckled. "It comes down to the bloodline of the beast being used for cultivation."


    Luna tilted her head. "Bloodline?"


    Lucius nodded. "The lower manual is designed for lower-tier beasts¡ªones with weak or impure bloodlines. That means the mana they provide is also lower in quality, making the growth slower and less effective."


    Liora''s eyes sharpened. "So, the stronger the beast, the more powerful the cultivation results?"


    Lucius smirked. "Exactly. But there''s a limit. Even the lowest-level Beast King cultivation manual requires at least an S-Rank beast to work properly."


    Luna whistled. "So, anyone below that rank can''t even start this process?"


    Lucius nodded. "Correct. If a tamer has only A-Rank or below, they will never reach Beast King. Their beasts simply don''t have enough energy to provide."


    Loreia, flipping through the second manual, narrowed her eyes. "And the better manual?"


    Lucius chuckled, picking up the higher-quality book and tapping it with a smirk.


    "The better manual is exactly what it sounds like. It uses beasts with better bloodlines¡ªones with stronger inherent abilities, allowing for faster and more potent cultivation."


    Luna leaned closer. "So, what are we talking about? Like, better S-Rank beasts? Or..."


    Lucius''s smirk widened.


    "Not just better S-Rank beasts... but those with ancient bloodlines. Beasts with royal or divine ancestry. Those with powerful elemental affinities or special body constitutions."


    Liora grinned. "So, in other words, the stronger and rarer the beast... the more ridiculous the growth speed becomes."


    Lucius nodded. "Exactly. Different beasts have different methods of cultivation, depending on their element, species, and unique traits."


    Loreia sighed, rubbing her temples. "So, basically, it''s all about beast selection. The better your beast, the better your cultivation."


    Lucius grinned. "Correct. And guess what?"


    Luna smirked, already catching on. "We''re in the perfect position to take advantage of this."


    Liora crossed her arms. "With Master''s ability to easily modify a beast, we can cultivate the best ones for ourselves."


    Lucius leaned forward, smirking. "Exactly."


    ---


    Lucius turned to Liora, smirking. "Summon your beast, Leon."


    Liora raised her eyebrow. "Oh? You''re going to do something to him?"


    Lucius smirked. "Of course. Let me evolve him to his best form before you start cultivating."


    Liora grinned, cracking her knuckles. "Heh, I like the sound of that. Alright then."


    She took a step back and summoned Leon.


    A majestic silver lion with a mane of pure flame appeared beside her.


    Lucius looked at the beast, smirking. "Leon, come here."


    Leon''s sharp eyes snapped toward Lucius, instantly sensing his intent.


    The lion growled lowly, ears twitching as if in protest.


    Liora laughed, placing her hand on Leon''s side. "Hah! He doesn''t trust you, Master."


    Lucius chuckled darkly. "Oh? Afraid I''ll turn you into something unrecognizable, Leon?"


    The lion rumbled, yet its instincts told it not to disobey.


    With a low, almost reluctant growl, Leon finally stepped forward, stopping in front of Lucius.


    Lucius smirked, patting the beast''s head. "Good boy. Now, let''s begin."


    He then turned to Liline. "While I absorb the materials and evolve Leon... make sure our pet shop stays hyped."


    Liline bowed elegantly. "Understood, Master. I shall ensure that Luxoria Castle remains the center of all attention."


    Luna, standing nearby, grinned. "Ohhh, I like where this is going. If we push the hype further, people will start lining up just to buy from us."


    Loreia nodded, already formulating ideas. "We can leak information about upcoming beasts. Maybe... spread rumors about exclusive breeds only available through us."


    Lucius chuckled, placing his hand on Leon''s back. "Do what you must. I''ll handle the evolution."

 Chapter 294: 10 Billion Hack Points

    Lucius was sitting comfortably inside his private chamber within Luxoria Castle.


    In front of him were piles of high-tier materials that he got from selling beasts.


    "10 SS-Rank beast cores... and 50 S-Rank beast cores."


    Lucius grinned darkly, running his fingers along one of the SS-Rank cores.


    "This is the most I''ve gotten since arriving here."


    He exhaled, his excitement barely contained.


    "System."


    His eyes flashed with anticipation.


    "Absorb all the materials and tell me the total Hack Points gained."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Material Absorption]


    [Processing Absorption...]


    [SS-Rank Materials: 10 Items ¡ú +10,000,000,000 Hack Points]


    [S-Rank Materials: 50 Items ¡ú +500,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Total Hack Points Gained: 10,500,000,000]


    [Current Hack Points Balance: 10,508,864,690]


    [Status: Absorption Complete]


    ---


    Lucius froze, staring at the numbers flashing before him.


    Then¡ª


    "...Fuck."


    A deep laugh escaped his lips, growing louder as he ran a hand through his silver hair.


    "HAHAHAHA!"


    He slammed his hand onto the armrest of his chair, his smirk widening dangerously.


    "To think that my points shot up from a mere 8 million to over 10 billion just from one sale..."


    He leaned forward, gripping the edge of his chair, his eyes glowing with greed.


    "Hah... Fuck, I can hack so much now."


    His gaze snapped toward Leon, his smirk widening.


    "Leon..."


    The majestic silver lion stood in front of him, its silver eyes unwavering, fully aware of what was coming.


    Lucius tilted his head slightly, his voice filled with amusement.


    "You''re about to be hacked. And seeing my immense amount of Hack Points, I might as well tell you now..."


    He chuckled.


    "This will be your Ultimate Body Evolution Hack."


    Leon''s ears twitched, his flames flickering slightly.


    Lucius continued, his tone dripping with satisfaction.


    "This will make your strength incomparable, your body unbreakable, your power limitless."


    He paused, letting the weight of his words settle before adding with a smirk¡ª


    "But the side effect?"


    His silver eyes gleamed.


    "Pain."


    Leon''s muscles tensed, but he did not flinch.


    Lucius grinned, resting his chin on his fist.


    "Now, tell me, Leon¡ªdo you want to stay awake during the process, or would you rather sleep through it?"


    The lion growled lowly, watching Lucius carefully.


    Lucius smirked, explaining further.


    "If you stay awake, you''ll feel every single change happening inside your body¡ªevery muscle reforged, every nerve reconstructed¡ªbut..."


    He leaned forward.


    "You will adapt faster."


    Leon''s flames flickered violently, his ears twitching.


    "If you sleep, the pain will be dull, but your adaptation will be slower."


    Lucius extended his hand.


    "So, what do you choose? If you want to stay awake¡ªtouch my hand."


    The room fell into silence.


    Leon stood still, his muscular frame unmoving, his eyes locked onto Lucius.


    It knew.


    It knew that it was weak compared to what it could become.


    It had stayed awake through all of its previous hacks.


    It had endured every transformation.


    So fuck it.


    If it was going to be the best beast, then it would endure the pain.


    Leon let out a deep, rumbling growl before stepping forward¡ª


    Then, without hesitation¡ª


    He placed his paw firmly onto Lucius''s hand.


    Lucius''s smirk widened.


    "Good choice."


    A massive surge of energy rippled through the room, the air trembling as the system prepared to rewrite Leon''s very existence.


    Lucius let out a low chuckle, his silver eyes burning with excitement.


    "Now... let''s begin your hack."


    ---


    After leaving Luxoria Castle, Sallos made his way straight back to Beast Castle''s main headquarters, where an urgent meeting was already taking place.


    Inside the grand conference room, the directors and executives of Beast Castle sat around a long obsidian table, the atmosphere tense with anticipation.


    At the head of the table, Varen Aldren, the Director of Beast Castle, was sitting calmly.


    As Sallos entered, all eyes turned to him.


    Varen leaned forward slightly.


    "Sallos. You''ve returned."


    He narrowed his eyes.


    "Tell us. What happened at Luxoria Castle?"


    Sallos, still frowning deeply, took a moment to compose himself before speaking.


    "The sale was... a great success."


    The room fell silent.


    Some executives exchanged glances, while others leaned in, waiting for details.


    Varen''s silver eyes darkened slightly. "Define ''great success.''"


    Sallos took a deep breath before revealing the numbers.


    "They sold five A-Rank beasts and one SS-Rank beast."


    The moment he said it, a ripple of shock spread through the room.


    "Wait¡ªan SS-Rank beast?!"


    "That''s impossible. No beast shop has ever sold one!"


    "They were just too fierce to sell!"


    Sallos continued, his tone grim.


    "And that''s not all..."


    He gritted his teeth before dropping the most shocking detail.


    "They were paid with 10 SS-Rank beast cores and over 50 S-Rank beast cores in just that single event."


    The room erupted.


    Some executives shot to their feet, their chairs scraping loudly against the floor.


    "WHAT?!"


    "That''s insane! How could they have made such a massive profit so quickly?!"


    "Do you have any idea how rare SS-Rank beast cores are?! Even for us, we only get a handful per year!"


    "And they got 10 in one day?!"


    Varen, however, remained silent, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the table as he processed the information.


    Sallos, seeing the reactions, sighed heavily.


    "I told you, Director. This isn''t some minor pet shop popping up. Luxoria Castle is unlike anything we''ve seen before."


    One of the senior executives gritted his teeth.


    "Tch. How? How did they manage this? They''re just starting! Even with their hype, this shouldn''t be possible!"


    Sallos shook his head.


    "Because they don''t operate like us. They sell differently."


    Varen, finally breaking his silence, spoke calmly.


    "Explain."


    Sallos nodded, gathering his thoughts.


    "They revealed full stats and weaknesses for every beast. No deception, no hidden flaws. That created instant trust in their product."


    The executives listened intently, some still in disbelief.


    "They also only accepted payment in rare materials, refusing standard currency. That made their beasts even more exclusive and increased their perceived value."


    One of the financial directors clicked his tongue.


    "That means they didn''t just earn money... they stocked up on the rarest resources."


    Sallos nodded gravely.


    "Exactly. And that''s what makes them dangerous. If they continue operating like this... it won''t just be about profit."


    His eyes darkened.


    "Luxoria Castle is positioning itself as the most powerful beast supplier in the world."


    The room fell silent again, this time with a much heavier tension.


    Varen, tapping his fingers once more, finally spoke with a smirk.


    "So... they think they can rise above us?"


    His silver eyes gleamed dangerously.


    "Then let''s see how long they can keep this up."


    The war in the beast commerce world had officially begun.

 Chapter 295: Silver Sun Awakening

    Lucius stood before Leon, his eyes glowing, his smirk widening with excitement.


    "Now... I want you to be the best."


    Leon, the majestic silver lion, stared at him, his eyes burning with determination.


    Lucius raised his hand, smirking.


    "First, let''s change your element and form."


    He paused, his smirk deepening.


    "I basically plan to turn Liora into a Sun Goddess, so her beast must carry the essence of her sun."


    Leon let out a low rumble, understanding what was about to happen.


    Lucius chuckled darkly.


    "Your element will become Silver Sun, a fusion of Light, Flame, and Metal. It will be the perfect manifestation of destructive and divine power."


    The room trembled slightly as Lucius continued.


    "But just an element change isn''t enough. If you want to be the best at controlling elements, then the answer is obvious..."


    He grinned.


    "You will become an Elemental Beast¡ªa pure being of energy and form."


    Lucius pointed at Leon, activating the hack.


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Element and Species Modification]


    [Target: Leon]


    [Modifications Applied:]


    [Elemental Fusion: Converts element to Silver Sun, a fusion of Light, Flame, and Metal.]


    [Species Modification: Transforms into Silver Sun Elemental, allowing partial or full elemental body conversion.]


    [Cost Required: 30,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Leon''s silver mane flared, transforming into pure sunfire.


    His once physical form was shifting between tangible and intangible states.


    His claws and fangs gleamed like molten steel, his entire frame radiating an aura that made the air shimmer.


    The room grew hotter, the walls vibrating from the sheer elemental energy spilling out of him.


    Leon let out a powerful roar, his voice now carrying the resonance of a living sun.


    Lucius grinned, his eyes flashing with excitement.


    "Now that your species and element have been hacked..."


    He stepped closer, his smirk sharpening.


    "Let''s adjust your power and body."


    With a flick of his wrist, he reached into his Eternal Vault, pulling out Luxorite.


    "Fuse these with him. Empty his previous abilities."


    The Luxorite pieces began floating toward Leon, merging with his already transforming elemental body.


    Lucius continued.


    "Now, let''s set the foundation of his new abilities."


    He gestured toward Leon, who was growling lowly, his entire frame already shifting into a pure elemental form.


    "As an Elemental, his power will no longer come from ordinary mana."


    Lucius''s silver eyes gleamed.


    "His power will come from the sun itself."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Fusion and Ability Overhaul]


    [Target: Leon]


    [Process: Fusing Luxorite with Leon, Resetting All Previous Abilities]


    [New Abilities Granted:]


    [1st Ability ¨C Silver Sun Core]


    [Power Source: As a Silver Sun Elemental, Leon no longer draws mana from the environment. Instead, he generates endless energy from the Silver Sun Core, a self-sustaining power source akin to an eternal star.]


    [This core never dies, burning eternally within him, ensuring his power never runs out.]


    [2nd Ability ¨C Limitless Form Adaptation]


    [As an Elemental, Leon can reshape his form at will, adapting to different combat scenarios.]


    [The Luxorite infused within him also morphs freely, transforming into weapons, armor, or even tools as needed.]


    [3rd Ability ¨C Sun''s Dominance]


    [His mere presence weakens enemies, reducing their strength and resistance when they are within his range.]


    [The Silver Sun''s Aura radiates a suppressive force, making weaker foes tremble before him.]


    [Cost Required: 60,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    The moment the hack activated, Leon let out a powerful, agonized roar, his entire form writhing as his body adjusted.


    His silver flames blazed violently, his entire body turning into a swirling mass of radiant energy.


    His Luxorite-infused structure shifted rapidly, his body fluctuating between solid and pure flame, struggling to contain its newfound power.


    The room trembled, the walls vibrating from the sheer raw elemental force spilling from him.


    Leon let out another monstrous growl, his pain-filled howls echoing through the chamber.


    Lucius smirked, standing his ground as the energy wave pulsed outward.


    "Good."


    His eyes flashed with satisfaction.


    "Suffer through it. The pain means you''re evolving."


    Leon''s roaring intensified, his body breaking apart and reforming over and over, his mind adjusting to the changes being forced upon him.


    Lucius stepped back, watching as Leon writhed in agony, his form constantly breaking apart and reforming.


    It was struggling to contain the overwhelming energy surging through him.


    Lucius simply sat down, resting his elbow on the arm of his chair, his eyes calmly observing the process.


    He leaned back, tapping his fingers together, lost in thought.


    "Hmm... It''s strong, but the cost was only 90 million Hack Points."


    His gaze flickered toward Leon''s unstable form, still howling as the pain of transformation continued.


    "I want more."


    His smirk widened slightly.


    "But still... what more can I hack?"


    His mind raced, already calculating possible upgrades, new abilities, and further evolutions.


    But then¡ªhe exhaled, shaking his head slightly.


    "Tch. No use thinking about it now."


    He stretched his arms, yawning lazily as he glanced at the suffering Leon.


    "His ability changes should take a while this time."


    Lucius smirked as Leon''s roars shook the room, his body still struggling to stabilize the Silver Sun Core within him.


    "I guess I''ll just sleep first."


    He closed his eyes, leaning back into his chair.


    "By the time I wake up... let''s see just how much of a monster you''ve become, Leon."


    As Lucius rested, Leon continued to burn, break, and rebuild, enduring the price of becoming the ultimate elemental war beast.


    ---


    Outside the chamber, Liora stood still, her arms crossed, her eyes narrowed as she listened to the powerful roars of Leon.


    Each thunderous howl carried a mix of agony and transformation.


    A clear sign that Leon was enduring something far beyond ordinary evolution.


    Liora''s brows furrowed deeply.


    "Tch... What the hell is happening in there?"


    Beside her, Luna smirked, leaning casually against the wall, completely unfazed by the deafening noise.


    "Don''t worry. This is for his own good. Master is turning him into a true beast."


    Liora glanced at Luna, then back at the sealed door, listening to another earth-shaking roar from Leon.


    Her fist clenched.


    Then¡ªshe sighed, nodding.


    "I hope so..."


    Luna chuckled. "You should be excited. The next time you see Leon, he won''t be the same weak beast you knew before."


    Liora exhaled, relaxing slightly.


    "Fine. Then I''ll wait."


    And so, as Leon continued his painful evolution inside...


    The others waited, knowing that when he emerged, he would no longer be the same beast as before.

 Chapter 296: Beast Castles First SS-Rank Beast

    Loreia hurried toward Luna, her expression serious as she held her phone tightly.


    "Luna, Beast Castle is up to something."


    Luna, who had been lounging near the shop''s observation deck, frowned and turned to face her.


    "What did they do?"


    Loreia didn''t waste time. She handed over her phone.


    "See for yourself."


    Luna''s eyes narrowed as she took the phone, quickly scanning the screen.


    On the official website of Beast Castle, a bold announcement had just been posted.


    ---


    Official Announcement: Beast Castle''s 10-Year Anniversary Event


    For the past ten years, Beast Castle has been the undisputed leader in the world of elite beast commerce.


    We have provided only the strongest and rarest beasts, equipping tamers, warriors, and noble families with companions of unparalleled power.


    Now, to commemorate our 10-year anniversary, we are making history once again.


    For the first time in Beast Castle''s history, we will be selling an SS-Rank beast to the public!


    Unlike at certain places that force customers through dangerous, unnecessary obstacles...


    Our exclusive event will be held at our prestigious Main Shop in the City Center, ensuring convenience, security, and accessibility to all serious bidders.


    Event Location: Beast Castle Main Headquarters ¨C City Center


    Date: One week from now


    Time: 2:00 PM ¨C Auction Start


    Why Choose Beast Castle?


    - The most trusted and established beast shop in the world


    - Transparency, professionalism, and top-tier service


    - No unnecessary risks¡ªjust the best beasts in the safest environment


    - A guarantee of quality that only Beast Castle can provide


    This is your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to obtain an SS-Rank beast from the most prestigious beast shop in the world.


    Only verified elite tamers, noble families, and high-ranking officials will be eligible to participate.


    Do not miss this chance to be part of history.


    For registration and inquiries, visit our official website:


    Beast Castle ¨C The Pinnacle of Beast Commerce for a Decade and Beyond!


    ---


    Luna''s eyes gleamed as she finished reading, a smirk forming on her lips.


    "I see... so this is what they''ve done."


    She laughed a bit, her fingers tapping against the phone screen.


    "So there was a rat in the auction after all. It only took them one day to come up with this."


    Loreia, still watching her, crossed her arms. "What do we do?"


    Luna simply handed the phone back, still smirking.


    "Nothing."


    Loreia raised an eyebrow. "Nothing? They''re literally trying to outshine our success."


    Luna chuckled, shaking her head.


    "It''s still a week away."


    She leaned back, stretching her arms casually.


    "Let''s wait for Master Lucius before deciding what to do."


    Her smirk widened as she glanced toward the sealed private chamber where Lucius was evolving Leon.


    "Because when he wakes up... this little game of theirs? It won''t even matter."


    Loreia exhaled sharply, nodding.


    "Fine. We wait. But when the time comes... we crush them."


    Luna''s grin widened.


    "Of course. That goes without saying."


    The battle between Luxoria Castle and Beast Castle had only just begun.


    ---


    At Beast Castle''s headquarters, the executives and high-ranking officials were gathered around a massive display screen.


    Their eyes were glued to the numbers rising before them.


    The announcement of their 10-Year Anniversary Event had exploded across the internet.


    Live discussions, forum posts, and social media trends were dominated by one name¡ªBeast Castle.


    The analytics team was rushing through reports, numbers flashing across screens, showing the spike in searches, registrations, and direct interest.


    At the head of the table, Varen Aldren, the Director of Beast Castle, sat with his hands clasped, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.


    One of the executives grinned, turning toward him.


    "Director! The response is overwhelming! The internet is going crazy!"


    Another executive nodded, excitement in his voice.


    "Ever since we posted the announcement, our website traffic has increased by 700%! We''ve already received over 3,000 elite registration requests¡ªand that''s just in a single day!"


    A younger official, reading off his tablet, whistled in amazement.


    "Even the noble families are showing direct interest. Some of them have already sent inquiries about private viewings."


    One of the marketing heads, grinning with satisfaction, gestured at the live feed of social media.


    "People are eating this up! Look at these comments!"


    "Beast Castle is finally selling an SS-Rank beast? I HAVE to be there!"


    "No one else has the experience and credibility of Beast Castle. This is history in the making!"


    "Unlike some random new pet shop that forces people into the wilderness, Beast Castle provides convenience and professionalism."


    "Only fools would buy from an unproven shop when Beast Castle is holding its biggest event ever."


    Varen chuckled lowly, his fingers tapping against the armrest of his chair.


    "Good. Very good."


    He leaned forward, his smirk growing wider.


    "This is exactly what we needed."


    One of the veteran executives grinned, adjusting his tie.


    "With this momentum, Luxoria Castle will be nothing but a fading memory in a week."


    Varen closed his eyes for a moment, relishing the sensation of victory.


    Then he spoke with confidence.


    "Let''s see if their little wilderness shop can survive against us."


    The executives laughed, celebrating their success in dominating the market attention.


    They believed Luxoria Castle was already losing.


    But what they didn''t know...


    Was that Lucius hadn''t even begun to fight back.


    ---


    Inside his private chamber, Lucius slowly opened his eyes, adjusting it.


    The air around him was noticeably warmer, a powerful heat radiating from the center of the room.


    Lucius sat up, his smirk widening as he looked at it.


    Standing in front of him, shining like a miniature sun, was Leon¡ªhis form now completely transformed.


    His once-solid silver mane had become a flowing mass of silver flames, his body now a fusion of pure fire and metal, constantly shifting in elemental brilliance.


    But the most striking part was the metallic core floating within the center of his chest, glowing like a molten star.


    Lucius let out a low chuckle.


    "Wow... you turned out quite nice."


    He slowly stood up, stepping closer, feeling the intense heat radiating from Leon''s form.


    He extended a hand, letting his fingers hover just inches away from the lion''s fiery mane.


    Even without touching him directly, he could feel the sheer energy surging from his body.


    "I can feel your heat."


    Leon''s new form adjusting, flames flaring and calming, as if responding to Lucius''s presence.


    Lucius grinned, his mind already racing with possibilities.


    "But... what more should I hack, huh?"


    He tapped his chin, eyes gleaming with undeniable excitement.


    Then¡ª


    A thought struck him.


    His smirk widened.


    "I have just the thing."


    The next stage of Leon''s evolution was about to begin.

 Chapter 297: Divine-Tier Beast

    Lucius leaned against the wall, arms crossed, as his mind pieced together a crucial thought.


    "Talent in this world has four ranks. The known Common, Elite, and Sovereign-Tiers. And the unknown Divine-Tier."


    He tapped his fingers against his arm, his eyes gleaming.


    "Me, Luna, Liora, and Loreia... we all have Divine-tier talent, the highest rank."


    He smirked, his thoughts racing.


    "But what about beasts?"


    He turned his gaze toward Leon, whose body still burned brilliantly, the silver flames swirling like a living sun.


    "If humans can have talent tiers... can beasts also have them?"


    His smirk widened, a dangerous idea forming.


    Without hesitation, he raised his hand, eyes flashing.


    "System. Make Leon a Divine-Rank Beast."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Rank Evolution]


    [Target: Leon]


    [Effect: Evolve into Divine-Rank Beast]


    [Cost Required: 1,000,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Lucius felt the massive energy shift the moment the hack executed.


    A violent force exploded from Leon''s body, the entire room trembling under the sheer weight of the transformation.


    Lucius let out a low chuckle, watching the scene unfold.


    "Heh... this is it."


    He felt the insane cost drain from his points¡ªbut he wasn''t concerned.


    "With a price like that... it must be one hell of an evolution."


    Leon''s silver flames surged, his body writhing as raw divine energy consumed him.


    Lucius grinned, stepping back slightly.


    "Let''s see what you turn into, Leon."


    The evolution of the first Divine-Rank Beast had begun.


    ---


    The chamber trembled, waves of intense energy radiating from Leon''s body as the Divine Evolution process unfolded.


    Unlike before, no roars of pain filled the air¡ªbecause Leon was now fully elemental, his form no longer bound by physical constraints.


    Yet, despite the silence, Lucius could feel it¡ªthe burning agony of transformation, the breaking and rebuilding of Leon''s very essence.


    Lucius smirked, watching the process unfold.


    "Tch... You''re tough. Not even a sound, huh?"


    He crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly.


    "But I know. I can feel it¡ªyou''re in pain."


    Leon''s flaming form flickered violently, his Silver Sun Core pulsing, shifting between unstable heat and solid mass.


    Lucius grinned, stepping closer.


    "Just endure it."


    His silver eyes gleamed.


    "And when it''s over... you will be reborn as a Divine Beast."


    Time passed, the chamber growing hotter, the sheer divine energy swirling like a storm contained within a single being.


    Then¡ª


    After hours of transformation, the energy finally settled.


    Leon''s blazing form stabilized, his flames flowing smoother, brighter, and more refined.


    Lucius smirked, admiring the finished result.


    "Your form hasn''t changed much."


    He gestured toward Leon''s body, which still flowed like pure silver fire, his core gleaming like a molten sun.


    "I guess that makes sense. You''re pure elemental now¡ªyour form isn''t meant to change too much."


    He chuckled, eyes glinting with excitement.


    "Shall we take a look at your new status?"


    ---


    [Name: Leon]


    [Species: Silver Sun Elemental]


    [Rank: Divine-Tier]


    [Element: Silver Sun]


    ---


    [Stats:]


    [Str: S]


    [Vit: S]


    [Agi: S]


    [Int: S]


    ---


    [Abilities:]


    [Silver Sun Core ¨C Generates limitless energy, making Leon immortal and self-regenerating. It cannot be sealed, controlled, or destroyed, reforming even if shattered.]


    [Silver Sun Transformation ¨C Adapts its form instantly, shifting into weapons, armor, light, or molten metal to evade or attack.]


    [Silver Sun Domain ¨C Cripples enemies in its presence, draining mana, slowing attacks, and nullifying abilities, ensuring absolute dominance on the battlefield.]


    ---


    Lucius'' smirk widened as he read through the status.


    "Wow... you really became a Divine-Tier Beast."


    His eyes gleamed, scanning the abilities.


    "And your abilities have changed to be even better."


    He laughed, leaning back slightly.


    "Even though you only have three abilities... they''re all insane."


    He gestured toward Leon''s Silver Sun Core, glowing steadily within his body.


    "An immortal war beast. You can become anything¡ªa weapon, an armor, a pure elemental force. And if someone tries to destroy you..."


    Lucius grinned.


    "You''ll just reform, like the never-ending burn of the sun."


    Leon''s flames pulsed, the heat intensifying.


    Lucius''s gaze flickered back to the stats.


    "But still, the only thing dragging you down is your stats. They''re still S-Rank."


    He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.


    "But... it seems like you have so much raw energy that even without hacking, I''m sure your stats will naturally break through to SS-Rank soon."


    He smirked.


    "After all... even the sun doesn''t burn at full power instantly."


    Leon let out a low growl, his body flickering, his flames responding to Lucius''s words.


    ---


    Liora suddenly tensed, her muscles tightening as a wave of scorching heat surged through her body.


    "What the hell is this...?"


    She clutched her chest, her breath coming in short gasps.


    Loreia, standing nearby, immediately frowned.


    "Liora? What happened?"


    Liora gritted her teeth, her fingernails digging into her palm as her entire body was being reformed.


    "Tch... I don''t know! It''s like my entire body is... burning from the inside out!"


    Luna, who had been leaning against the wall, smirked knowingly as she observed Liora''s reaction.


    "It must be because of Leon."


    Liora snapped her head toward her. "What?"


    Luna crossed her arms, her eyes glinting.


    "Think about it. Your tamed beast, Leon, must have finished its evolution."


    She stepped closer, gesturing at Liora''s trembling form.


    "A normal beast evolution already affects its tamer, but this?"


    She chuckled. "Leon didn''t just evolve. Master Lucius should have made it beyond any legendary beasts."


    Loreia raised an eyebrow. "Wait... you''re saying that because Leon grew stronger, it''s directly impacting Liora''s body?"


    Luna nodded.


    "Exactly. The connection between a Beast Fighter and their beast isn''t just one-way. If a beast undergoes a massive transformation, its master will feel the backlash."


    Liora gritted her teeth, sweat dripping down her forehead.


    "Tch... Dammit, I should''ve expected something like this!"


    The heat in her body surged again, her veins burning.


    Luna placed her hand on Liora''s shoulder, her grip firm.


    "Just hold on. Your body is adjusting to the new level of power. If you resist, it''ll only make it worse."


    Liora took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, but her body refused to cool down.


    She sat down on the floor, closing her eyes, focusing on absorbing the energy instead of fighting it.


    Luna smirked, watching her.


    "Heh... It looks like you''re being forced to evolve too. You''re not just getting stronger, Liora¡ªyou''re changing."


    Liora didn''t respond, only clenching her fists tighter as she felt the power settling within her.

 Chapter 298: Beast King Liora

    Lucius stepped out of his private chamber, fully prepared to show off Leon''s new form.


    But the moment he entered the hall, his eyes narrowed at the sight before him.


    Liora sat on the floor, her body radiating an intense and unstable heat.


    Lucius frowned.


    "What the hell happened?"


    Luna, who had been standing beside Liora, turned to him, smirking slightly.


    "Master, it''s because you made Leon into something... unbelievable."


    She gestured toward Liora.


    "The feedback was too strong. Her bond with Leon caused all that power to surge into her body."


    Lucius'' eyes gleamed, scanning Liora''s condition.


    "I see..."


    Liora gritted her teeth, trying to control her breathing, but the burning power inside her wasn''t settling.


    Lucius smirked, stepping forward.


    "Let me handle it."


    Without hesitation, he activated his system.


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Energy Cultivation Synchronization]


    [Target: Liora]


    [Effect: Establish Automatic Cultivation of Leon''s Energy]


    [Hacks Applied:]


    [Body Adaptation: Gradually reshapes Liora''s body, essence, and existence to become more attuned to Leon''s Silver Sun Elemental nature]


    [Energy Healing: Before cultivation, a portion of Leon''s energy is used to constantly heal and refine Liora''s body, ensuring optimal condition]


    [Eternal Cultivation: Liora will continously absorb and refine Leon''s energy, leading to continuous growth and evolution]


    [Cost Required: 2,000,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    The moment the hack activated, Liora''s overwhelming pain she had been enduring immediately lessened.


    The unstable heat that had been raging inside her began to settle.


    Her body rapidly healed, adjusting to the newfound power.


    Her flames stabilized, flowing in perfect harmony with Leon''s energy.


    Liora''s eyes fluttered open, her breathing calm and steady.


    Luna knelt beside her, tilting her head.


    "You good?"


    Liora blinked, then slowly nodded.


    "Yeah... I think I''m okay."


    Lucius grinned, stepping closer, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.


    "Congratulations, Liora."


    She looked up at him, confused. "Huh? For what?"


    Lucius smirked.


    "You''ve just become a Beast King."


    Liora''s eyes widened in shock.


    "What?!"


    Luna and Loreia, who had been watching the process, remained frozen in place.


    Luna''s jaw slightly dropped, her eyes wide with shock.


    Loreia adjusted her stance, staring at Liora with utter disbelief.


    "Wait¡ªWHAT?!"


    Liora, still feeling the immense energy coursing through her, looked at her hands.


    Then back at Lucius, her eyes filled with confusion.


    "How the hell¡ª?"


    Lucius, leaning back casually, chuckled, his eyes dancing with amusement.


    "What? What are you two so shocked about?"


    Luna snapped her head toward him, frowning.


    "Master, did you not just say that you need a cultivation technique to become a Beast King?"


    Loreia nodded rapidly, trying to process what just happened.


    "Yeah! How the hell did she suddenly jump to Beast King?!"


    Lucius grinned, enjoying their reactions.


    "Oh? That''s easy. It''s because of me."


    Luna and Loreia blinked.


    "Huh?"


    Lucius chuckled again, gesturing toward Liora.


    "I already made her body automatically cultivate Leon''s energy."


    He smirked.


    "So even without a cultivation technique, her body naturally absorbs, refines, and evolves from it."


    Liora, blinking rapidly, still processing the absurdity of it all.


    "Wait. You mean¡ª"


    Lucius interrupted, grinning.


    "Yeah. You don''t have to do anything. Your body will just cultivate on its own."


    Luna took a step forward, her brows furrowed.


    "So... she just gets stronger without effort?"


    Lucius nodded.


    "Exactly. Not only that¡ª" He pointed toward Liora''s body.


    "Her body is also automatically healed and reforged by the energy, so there''s no risk of dying from cultivation either."


    A silence filled the room.


    Then¡ª


    Liora, Luna, and Loreia all exchanged looks.


    Then back at Lucius.


    Then back at each other.


    "THE HELL?!"


    Luna clutched her head.


    "Do you understand how INSANE this is, Master?! I heard that people train for YEARS to reach Beast King! And Liora just¡ª"


    Loreia rubbed her temples, clearly trying to make sense of everything happening.


    "I... I don''t even know what to say."


    Liora, after a moment, simply let out a sigh, stretching her arms.


    "You know what? I''m not even going to question it. I feel stronger, so I''ll take it."


    Loreia clicked her tongue, then suddenly turned her gaze to Lucius.


    "I know that you''ve made something unbelievable... but today was the last straw."


    Lucius raised his eyebrow, smirking. "Oh? What now, big sis?"


    Loreia pointed at him, her expression serious.


    "Just what the hell is your secret, Lucius?"


    Luna and Liora, who had been focused on Liora''s changes, turned their heads toward them.


    Loreia crossed her arms, her voice unwavering.


    "As your older sister and now as your tamed beast, I want to know it."


    She exhaled sharply.


    "Otherwise, I''ll go crazy."


    Lucius sighed, running a hand through his silver hair.


    "Sister, it seems I have no choice but to tell you the truth, huh?"


    Loreia nodded, her eyes narrowing.


    "Yeah. It must be a system, right?"


    Lucius paused, his smirk fading slightly.


    "Oh? What makes you think that?"


    Loreia rolled her eyes.


    "Because I''ve read enough novels to know that whenever someone transmigrates to another world, they usually get some kind of cheat ability."


    Luna and Liora blinked, before smirking slightly.


    "Well, she''s not wrong, Master." Luna chuckled.


    Lucius laughed softly, finally nodding.


    "Yeah, you''re right. I have a system."


    Loreia''s expression didn''t change. "I knew it."


    Lucius leaned forward slightly, his eyes gleaming.


    "It''s called the Beast Hack System."


    Loreia''s brows furrowed. "Beast Hack?"


    Lucius grinned.


    "It basically lets me hack anything... as long as I have Hack Points¡ªwhich is what I call my energy."


    Loreia stared at him for a moment, then let out a deep exhale.


    "I see..."


    She looked down at her hands, then at Leon, who had just evolved into a Divine Beast.


    "No wonder you could make all of this happen."


    She paused, thinking, then let out a small laugh.


    "If you think about it, humans are basically just another kind of beast."


    She glanced at Liora, then back at herself.


    "So, it makes sense that you could hack me, too."


    Lucius smirked.


    "Exactly."


    The room fell into silence for a moment.


    Then¡ª


    Loreia sighed, shaking her head.


    "Fine. I won''t ask any more questions."


    She looked up at him again, eyes serious.


    "But now that I know... you better make sure I''m never left behind, little brother."


    Lucius grinned.


    "Oh, don''t worry, big sis. You''ll always be ahead of the rest."


    With that, the truth of the Beast Hack System was revealed to Loreia.

 Chapter 299: Hack System Revealed

    Lucius exhaled, leaning back, feeling a sense of relief.


    "Well... that actually feels nice."


    He smirked slightly, his eyes calm yet satisfied.


    "Now that you guys finally know my secret, I don''t have to hold back anymore."


    Luna and Liora exchanged glances, before both grinning.


    Luna crossed her arms, tilting her head.


    "No wonder Master is so damn strong."


    Liora chuckled, stretching her fingers as small flames flickered from her fingertips.


    "Yeah... It makes sense now. From our previous world, you already had a system, didn''t you?"


    Lucius nodded, smirking.


    "That''s right. I had it from the moment I arrived in this world."


    Luna and Liora smiled, stepping closer.


    Luna''s eyes gleamed with admiration.


    "Thank you for choosing us to be part of you, Master."


    Liora smirked, her silver flames dancing lightly across her fingertips.


    "Yeah. We owe everything to you."


    Lucius grinned, stepping toward them.


    "Of course, I chose you two. You''re both beautiful."


    Luna and Liora smirked playfully, their confidence radiating.


    "Hehehe."


    Lucius then turned toward Loreia, who had finally calmed down after the overwhelming revelation.


    "Now that you already know my secret, let''s just say this¡ª"


    He gestured toward the massive amounts of materials stored in his Eternal Vault.


    "I need Hack Points for my abilities."


    Luna nodded. "Yeah, we figured. That''s why you absorb materials, right?"


    Lucius grinned.


    "Exactly. Every hack I perform costs points, and I gain them by absorbing rare materials."


    He crossed his arms, looking at all of them.


    "So make sure to obtain more materials. The more we have, the more we can hack."


    Loreia smirked, adjusting her posture.


    "So you''re basically saying we need to keep feeding you power, huh?"


    Lucius grinned.


    "Pretty much."


    He then turned to Liora, his gaze sharpening.


    "How are you feeling?"


    Liora rolled her shoulders, cracking her knuckles.


    "It feels... amazing."


    She looked at her hands, flames flickering around her fingertips, before clenching them into fists.


    "My body feels like it''s growing stronger every second. It''s like I can feel the energy constantly refining me."


    Lucius''s smirk widened.


    "Good to know."


    With the truth revealed and Liora''s transformation into a Beast King complete, they were now one step closer to their next conquest.


    ---


    Luna suddenly stepped forward, a mischievous glint in her eyes.


    "Master, I wanted to tell you something important."


    Lucius raised his eyebrow, already sensing something interesting.


    "What is it, Luna?"


    Luna''s smirk grew wider.


    "Beast Castle has officially decided to declare a market war against us."


    Lucius paused for a second, then let out a small chuckle.


    "Beast Castle? War?"


    He looked at her with amusement, tilting his head slightly.


    "Are they that desperate already?"


    Loreia sighed, shaking her head. "Just look at their website."


    Lucius took out his phone, casually opening Beast Castle''s official site.


    His eyes scanned the screen, his expression unreadable for a moment.


    Then¡ª


    A knowing smirk spread across his lips.


    "I see... so this is what they''re playing at, huh?"


    He let out a low chuckle, his fingers tapping against his phone screen.


    "To think they actually dared to sell an SS-Rank Beast for their so-called ''10-Year Anniversary Event''."


    Luna and Loreia frowned, exchanging glances.


    "Master, why do I feel like you''re already thinking three steps ahead?" Loreia asked.


    Luna crossed her arms. "You don''t look the least bit concerned."


    Lucius chuckled darkly, putting his phone away.


    "Hehe... because this one is going to fail."


    Luna and Loreia both raised their eyebrow.


    "Why do you think that, Master?" Loreia asked, genuinely curious.


    Luna narrowed her eyes. "Yeah, Beast Castle has the reputation and the network. Their announcement caused an uproar. Even noble families are interested. So why do you think this will fail?"


    Lucius smirked, placing his hands in his pockets.


    "You''ll understand soon enough."


    He turned slightly, his eyes gleaming with amusement.


    "Just wait until you see their auction."


    Luna and Loreia glanced at each other, still confused but trusting Lucius''s confidence.


    Lucius stretched slightly, letting out a relaxed sigh before turning to them.


    "For now, just ignore Beast Castle."


    His eyes glowed slightly, his smirk widening.


    "Now that you know about my system, I want to give you something."


    Luna raised her eyebrow. "Oh? A gift, Master?"


    Liora crossed her arms, intrigued. "What kind of gift?"


    Lucius''s smirk didn''t fade as he raised his hand, activating his Hack System.


    "Let''s see if this works..."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Status Perception Ability]


    [Targets: Liora, Luna, Loreia]


    [Effect: Grants the ability to see the status screens of others, including:]


    [Stats]


    [Abilities]


    [Weaknesses]


    [Cost Required: 3,000,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    The moment the hack executed, all three women shuddered, feeling something strange take hold within them.


    Luna gripped her temples. "Whoa... What was that?"


    Liora frowned, flexing her fingers as a strange wave of information washed over her. "I feel... weird."


    Loreia adjusted herself, blinking rapidly. "Something changed... but what?"


    Lucius chuckled, arms crossed.


    "Try it. Focus on Leon."


    The three of them instinctively turned their gazes toward Leon.


    The moment they did, a status screen appeared in front of them, revealing every detail of Leon.


    Luna''s eyes widened.


    "What... the hell is this?!"


    Liora, usually calm, took a step forward, scanning the numbers.


    "Wait... I can actually see his stats, his abilities... even his weaknesses?!"


    Loreia began reading through the displayed text.


    "This is... ridiculous! How the hell can this even be possible?!"


    Lucius grinned, enjoying their reactions.


    "It''s your new ability."


    He placed his hands in his pockets, tilting his head slightly.


    "With this, you''ll be able to see a beast''s full status screen. That way, you''ll always know what you''re dealing with."


    Luna blinked, processing it all, before smirking.


    "So this means... I can now scan a beast before deciding if it''s worth taming or selling?"


    Lucius nodded. "Exactly. No more guessing. No more misjudging a beast''s strength."


    Liora, however, wasn''t paying attention to that. She was still staring at Leon''s stats, her expression unreadable.


    Then, she turned to Lucius, her voice serious.


    "How the hell is Leon this ridiculous?"


    Loreia, who was also examining the numbers, frowned.


    "Yeah... And his rank. It says Divine-Tier?!"


    Lucius smirked.


    "Now it makes sense why the feedback nearly broke Liora''s body, right?"


    Liora let out a slow exhale, rubbing her forehead. "No wonder it felt like I was being burned alive... Leon isn''t just stronger¡ªhe''s on an entirely different level now."


    Luna grinned, looking back at Leon, who stood calmly, radiating power.


    "Tch... So now we have a Divine-Tier Beast under our command. That''s going to shake the entire beast-taming world."


    Lucius'' eyes gleamed.


    "And with this new ability I gave you... handling beasts will become much easier, won''t it?"


    Luna, Liora, and Loreia all exchanged glances before smirking.


    Luna cracked her knuckles. "Of course."


    Liora grinned. "No beast will be a mystery to us anymore."


    Loreia nodded. "With this... we can dominate the market."


    Lucius chuckled darkly, his silver eyes flashing.


    "Then let''s use it to its full potential."


    The game had officially changed.

 Chapter 300: Liora’s Next Mission: Capture SS-Rank Beasts!

    Lucius glanced at his system, smirking


    "Let''s make things even more convenient..."


    With a simple command, he activated a new hack modification.


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Eternal Vault Expansion]


    [Target: Eternal Vault]


    [Effect: Modify 10 Slots to be capable of holding and preserving beasts]


    [Cost Required: 1,000,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    As soon as the process finished, Lucius smirked, satisfied.


    He turned toward Liora.


    "Liora, now that your beast is ready and you are fully prepared... it''s time for you to hunt more SS-Rank beasts."


    Liora'' eyes narrowed. "More SS-Rank beasts?"


    Lucius nodded.


    "Yes. If you can catch a beast stronger than Vorafang, do it."


    He leaned back, crossing his arms, explaining further.


    "The Vorafang you caught before had likely only recently evolved into an SS-Rank. That''s why you could catch it."


    His eyes sharpened.


    "Now that you have a beast far beyond that level, you should be able to catch even better ones."


    Liora grinned, cracking her knuckles.


    "Heh... Sounds like fun."


    Lucius chuckled.


    "I''ve also modified my Eternal Vault."


    Liora raised her eyebrow. "Oh? What did you do this time, Master?"


    Lucius smirked. "I turned 10 slots into beast storage."


    Luna, overhearing, whistled. "Whoa. That means we don''t need to worry about cages or special containment methods anymore."


    Lucius nodded.


    "Exactly. Now, you can store the beasts you catch immediately. However¡ª"


    He raised a finger.


    "You can only store one species per slot."


    Liora smirked, understanding his intent.


    "So, as long as I catch the same species over and over, only a slot is used?"


    Lucius grinned. "That''s right."


    Liora nodded. "Then I''ll go all out. Let''s see how many SS-Rank beasts I can bring back."


    Lucius smirked, then gave his next instruction.


    "Also¡ªwhen it''s almost time, go and attend Beast Castle''s auction."


    Liora paused, tilting her head. "The auction? You want me to just observe?"


    Lucius nodded. "I want to know exactly how their auction plays out."


    Liora grinned. "Got it. I''ll attend and see for myself."


    Before she could say anything else, Loreia casually stepped in, flipping through her phone.


    "Don''t worry. I''ve already taken care of the registration."


    Luna and Liora looked at her in surprise.


    Lucius raised his eyebrow. "Oh? You already registered?"


    Loreia smirked, shrugging.


    "Of course. I registered with a different name. If they''re expecting someone from Luxoria Castle, they won''t find me."


    Luna grinned. "Damn, big sis. You really think ahead."


    Loreia smirked. "Well, someone has to keep things running smoothly."


    Lucius chuckled, satisfied.


    "Good. Then everything is set. Liora, go and hunt. Loreia, prepare for the auction. Luna, keep an eye on Beast Castle''s movements."


    Liora nodded, her flames flickering in excitement.


    "I''ll be back with beasts you''ve never seen before."


    Without wasting another second, she turned and left, her form blurring into speed as she dashed toward the wild.


    Leon, now fully elemental, had already transformed into Liora''s clothes, his flames woven seamlessly into her battle attire.


    Lucius watched her disappear into the distance before turning his eyes toward Loreia and Luna.


    "Now that Leon has been hacked..."


    He smirked, his gaze flickering between them.


    "How about you two? Which one of you should be hacked first?"


    Loreia and Luna froze.


    The memory of Liora''s agonizing transformation flashed through their minds, and a cold sweat formed on their backs.


    Luna let out an awkward chuckle, waving her hand.


    "Master, I think... you should rest first."


    Loreia quickly nodded in agreement.


    "Yeah, Lucius. You already spent so much energy hacking Leon into something ridiculous."


    Luna crossed her arms, giving a forced smirk.


    "And let''s not forget, that must have drained a ton of Hack Points. You just made a Divine-Tier Beast, after all."


    Loreia sighed dramatically.


    "Besides, we still have our sale to focus on later. You can hack us after we make some money."


    Lucius tilted his head, his smirk lingering.


    "Hmm... I see your point."


    He leaned back slightly, stretching his arms.


    "I am a bit tired. And... yeah, my Hack Points took a major hit."


    His eyes glowed slightly, scanning his status.


    "About 80 percent of my points were used just to make Leon what he is now."


    He let out a low chuckle.


    "Guess I should get some sleep."


    Loreia and Luna exhaled in relief, sharing a quick glance.


    "Good. We avoided it." Luna muttered under her breath.


    Lucius raised his eyebrow but shrugged, smirking.


    "Alright then. You two handle the store."


    Loreia nodded firmly.


    "Of course. You rest, and when you wake up, we''ll be ready for our next move."


    Lucius let out a small laugh as he walked off to his private chamber.


    "Fine, fine. Wake me up if something interesting happens."


    As soon as the door closed behind him, Luna collapsed onto the couch, sighing.


    "Damn, that was close."


    Loreia crossed her arms, nodding.


    "Yeah... I''m not ready to go through that kind of transformation yet."


    Luna smirked. "Exactly. So let''s make sure Master doesn''t hack us for at least another few days."


    Loreia chuckled, shaking her head.


    "Agreed. Let''s just focus on the store for now."


    For now, they had bought themselves time¡ªbut deep down, they knew it wouldn''t last forever.


    ---


    Three days later, inside the grand conference hall of Beast Castle, Varen Aldren sat at the head of the table.


    His fingers tapping rhythmically against the polished wood.


    Across from him, Sallos stood calmly, awaiting orders.


    Varen''s eyes flickered with anticipation as he finally spoke.


    "Sallos. Have you prepared the SS-Rank beast we''re going to sell?"


    Sallos nodded firmly.


    "Yes. The hunters have already contacted us."


    Varen''s smirk widened slightly.


    "So, they succeeded? Good."


    Sallos continued.


    "The beast has been caught. It''s secured, and all preparations are being finalized."


    Sallos leaned forward slightly.


    "Did you want to see it first, Director? Before we sell it."


    A dangerous glint flashed in Varen''s eyes.


    "Of course."


    He stood up from his chair, his posture commanding.


    "This is our first SS-Rank beast to sell after all."


    The auction would soon begin.


    And Beast Castle was about to unveil their greatest sale yet.

 Chapter 301: Shocking SS-Rank Bill!

    Varen and Sallos walked side by side, making their way to the large back hall of Beast Castle''s main store.


    The room was massive, built specifically for storing and inspecting high-rank beasts before auctioning them off.


    Inside, a group of rugged hunters stood waiting, their armor scratched, their weapons still stained with fresh beast blood.


    Sallos gestured toward them.


    "This is the hunter group I hired to catch the SS-Rank beast."


    Varen''s eyes scanned the men before him, noting the confidence in their posture.


    And most importantly¡ªthe large, sealed cage at the center of the hall.


    His smirk widened as he stepped forward.


    "I see..."


    He folded his arms, his presence commanding the room.


    "Nice to meet you."


    The leader of the hunter group, a grizzled man with a scar over his left eye, nodded respectfully.


    "Director Varen, it''s an honor."


    Varen''s gaze flickered toward the cage, his anticipation rising.


    "Now then... let''s see what you''ve brought me."


    The leader of the hunter group motioned toward the massive cage in the center of the hall.


    "Here it is, Director Varen. The SS-Rank beast we captured for your auction."


    The hunter group began to unseal the cage for Varen and Sallos to see.


    Their eyes narrowed as they gazed at the colossal warhorse inside the reinforced steel cage.


    The Titanhoof.


    Its body was covered in rock armor, its hooves radiating an earthen aura, each step causing the ground to tremble faintly.


    Sallos let out a low whistle.


    "A Titanhoof, huh? An SS-Rank warhorse... I can see why this would be a prize."


    Varen smirked slightly, admiring the beast''s sheer presence and power.


    But then¡ª


    The hunter leader pulled out a scroll, handing it to Varen.


    "Here''s the bill, Director. The full cost of capturing the Titanhoof."


    Varen raised his eyebrow, unfolding the document with practiced ease.


    But the moment his eyes landed on the total cost...


    His smirk disappeared.


    "What?!"


    He frowned deeply, his eyes flickering with disbelief.


    "This price... is as expensive as five SS-Rank beast cores!"


    Sallos, standing beside him, leaned in to check the amount, his own expression darkening.


    The hunters, however, remained unfazed, their leader crossing his arms.


    "Director, you have to understand."


    His tone was firm, carrying a trace of annoyance.


    "It''s one thing to kill an SS-Rank beast. But capturing one? That''s an entirely different challenge."


    Another hunter spoke up, scowling.


    "Damn thing nearly wiped out half our team. We had to use specialized traps, endurance-based combat, and a ridiculous amount of resources just to weaken it."


    Another one grumbled.


    "Honestly, it would''ve been easier to just kill it and sell its core."


    Varen''s frown deepened.


    "Tch... So that''s why the cost is so absurd."


    The hunter leader nodded.


    "SS-Rank beasts aren''t meant to be captured alive. That''s why your request cost so much."


    Silence settled in the room as Varen mulled over his options.


    He had no choice.


    If he refused to pay, the beast would be theirs to sell elsewhere.


    If he paid, it would eat up a massive amount of resources.


    His jaw clenched slightly.


    Then, with visible reluctance, he finally exhaled sharply.


    "Fine."


    He pulled out a golden crest, authorizing the transaction.


    "You''ll get your payment."


    The hunters smirked, clearly satisfied.


    "Pleasure doing business, Director."


    As they finalized the transaction, Varen''s expression darkened.


    ---


    Liora moved swiftly through the wasteland, scanning the area.


    The place was eerily silent, the remnants of a once-thriving city now reduced to ruins.


    Tall warning signs stood at the edges of broken structures, rusted but still visible.


    "Danger Zone ¨C High-Rank Beasts Detected"


    Liora smirked, ignoring the warnings as she continued forward.


    "A place like this... abandoned and forgotten..."


    She cracked her knuckles, her eyes glinting.


    "This must be where the real monsters hide."


    For nearly five hours, she hunted, searching for something worthy of capture.


    And then¡ª


    A heavy tremor shook the ground.


    Liora stopped in her tracks, eyes snapping toward the source of the movement.


    Then, she saw it.


    A colossal beast, towering over 20 meters, standing in the middle of the wasteland.


    Its obsidian-black scales glistened under the sunlight, streaked with magma-filled veins.


    It looked almost like a T-Rex from the internet, but larger, deadlier, and far more terrifying.


    Its clawed feet dug into the cracked earth, molten energy dripping from its fangs as it exhaled smoke from its nostrils.


    A true SS-Rank predator.


    Liora''s smirk widened, an excitement sparking in her eyes.


    "Heh... Now, this is a good one."


    She rolled her shoulders, stretching her arms.


    "A beast like this... if I catch it, Master will be pleased."


    She took a step forward, the heat in the air rising as the beast locked eyes with her.


    It let out a low, rumbling growl, sensing a challenger.


    Liora grinned. "Leon."


    Suddenly, her clothing shifted, the fabric melting into silver flames as Leon materialized in his lion form.


    The Silver Sun War Beast landed beside her, his body encased in radiant silver armor.


    Liora placed a hand on his back, her grin never fading.


    "Let''s show this thing what true power looks like."


    Leon lowered his stance, his silver flames intensifying, his entire body radiating overwhelming heat.


    But before she engaged, Liora suddenly remembered her new ability.


    She focused on the massive beast before her, activating the Status Perception Ability.


    A holographic-like screen appeared in her vision, revealing the stats of her opponent.


    ---


    [Name: Dreadmaw]


    [Species: Abyssal Tyrant Beast]


    [Rank: Sovereign-Tier]


    [Element: Fire, Earth]


    ---


    [Stats:]


    [Str: SS]


    [Vit: SS]


    [Agi: S]


    [Int: S]


    ---


    [Abilities:]


    [Magma Maw ¨C Dreadmaw''s bite superheats upon impact, melting armor and flesh alike with volcanic heat.]


    [Seismic Devastation ¨C Stomps the ground, creating localized earthquakes and opening fissures of molten rock beneath its enemies.]


    [Titanic Resilience ¨C Its ultra-dense bone structure and magma-reinforced hide grant it immense durability, allowing it to endure siege-level attacks.]


    [Cataclysmic Roar ¨C Unleashes a wave of intense heat and force, burning away projectiles and staggering enemies caught in the shockwave.]


    [Wrathborn Instinct ¨C The more it fights, the stronger and more relentless it becomes, its rage fueling its raw destructive power.]


    ---


    Liora''s smirk slightly faltered, her brows furrowing.


    "Damn..."


    Her eyes scanned through the stats again, her mind processing the information.


    "It''s way stronger than Vorafang."


    She clenched her fists.


    "SS-Rank Strength and Vitality... meaning it hits like a mountain and takes hits like a fortress."


    Her gaze lingered on its Wrathborn Instinct.


    "The more it fights, the stronger it gets? That''s a damn problem."


    She exhaled sharply, then chuckled, shaking her head.


    "But I believe in you, Leon."


    She ran her fingers through his flaming mane, feeling the sheer heat of his new power.


    "You''ve been reborn as a Divine Beast."


    She stepped forward, cracking her knuckles.


    "And I refuse to believe you can''t take down this overgrown lizard."


    Leon let out a ferocious roar, his entire form igniting, flames turning into blinding silver light.


    Dreadmaw snarled, its obsidian-black scales glowing with magma, recognizing the threat before it.


    Liora grinned. "Alright, you damn monster... let''s see who burns hotter."


    The battle for dominance in the wasteland had begun.

 Chapter 302: Dreadmaw’s Wrath Unleashed

    Leon exploded forward, his flames surging, his entire form radiating pure heat.


    The Silver Sun Domain immediately took effect, the temperature shifting in an instant.


    Dreadmaw, despite its immense size and power, was visibly staggered.


    Its energy was continuously being drained as Leon absorbed its essence.


    Yet¡ª


    Even weakened, Dreadmaw''s raw physical power was still immense.


    With a deafening roar, it stomped the ground, triggering Seismic Devastation.


    The ground beneath them fractured violently, massive fissures opening in all directions, the wasteland collapsing into molten pits.


    It was a trap¡ªan attempt to swallow Leon whole.


    But Leon was faster.


    His body flickered, his elemental form phasing through the collapsing ground, seamlessly reforming on the other side.


    Dreadmaw''s eyes flickered with frustration, realizing Leon had avoided the trap entirely.


    It snarled, then unleashed Cataclysmic Roar¡ªa devastating shockwave meant to stagger and burn its opponent.


    But¡ª


    Leon stood firm, his Silver Sun Core flaring brilliantly.


    The heat resistance of his core was absolute.


    The roar did nothing.


    Liora grinned from afar.


    "Heh. Too bad for you, lizard. Leon doesn''t care about your heat."


    Leon jumped into the air, his flames expanding outward, forming two colossal silver claws.


    With a thunderous slash, the claws ripped toward Dreadmaw, aiming to tear into its magma-infused flesh.


    But¡ª


    The moment his attack landed, Liora''s eyes widened.


    It felt like striking a mountain.


    Dreadmaw''s Titanic Resilience activated, its ultra-dense obsidian bone structure absorbing the force without sustaining a single deep wound.


    It didn''t just take the hit¡ªit used the moment to counterattack.


    Liora''s eyes flashed.


    "Leon, move!"


    But it was too late.


    Dreadmaw lunged forward, its massive maw superheating as it clamped down on Leon''s core.


    A deafening crack echoed through the battlefield.


    Dreadmaw''s jaws crushed Leon''s core in an instant, sending fractured silver flames scattering into the air.


    The massive beast chewed once, then with a grunt¡ªspit out the remains.


    A low growl of satisfaction rumbled from Dreadmaw''s throat.


    It believed the enemy was dead.


    Liora watched, her eyes narrowing.


    Her fists clenched.


    "Tch... You think it''s over?"


    Dreadmaw''s eyes flickered, turning toward her, ready to move onto its next prey.


    But then¡ª


    Something happened.


    The scattered silver flames flickered.


    They swirled together, reforming slowly, steadily... unnaturally.


    Dreadmaw''s head snapped toward the movement.


    Liora smirked, crossing her arms.


    "I guess no one told you."


    Her eyes glowed with confidence.


    "Leon is immortal."


    Dreadmaw snarled, taking a step back as the scattered silver flames in the air began swirling toward a single point.


    The fractured remnants reformed, the flames knitting together, glowing brighter than before.


    With a powerful pulse, the core fully restored itself, Leon''s body materializing once more¡ªthis time, burning hotter, stronger.


    Liora grinned, cracking her knuckles.


    "Welcome back."


    Leon lowered his stance, his silver flames raging, his body now even more refined than before.


    Dreadmaw growled, clearly irritated by Leon''s return.


    Then, it roared, stomping the ground once again¡ª


    Seismic Devastation.


    The entire wasteland rumbled, new fissures ripping open, molten fire erupting into the air, attempting to consume Leon whole.


    But¡ª


    Leon didn''t move.


    He stood his ground, his silver flames flickering calmly¡ªand then, something changed.


    A powerful surge erupted from within him.


    Liora''s eyes widened slightly.


    Leon''s status screen suddenly flashed before her, his Strength stat shifting.


    ---


    [Leon''s Status Updating...]


    [Str: S ¡ú SS]


    ---


    Leon growled, his body absorbing the force of the quaking earth, his flames growing even larger and brighter.


    Liora''s smirk widened.


    "Oh? You finally broke through, huh?"


    Dreadmaw, sensing the shift in power, snarled as if reacting to the newfound challenge.


    Then¡ª


    Dreadmaw lunged, its fangs aiming straight for Leon''s core once more.


    But this time¡ª


    Leon moved.


    Faster.


    Stronger.


    More precise.


    He dodged at the last second, his silver flames solidifying into a massive blade, striking Dreadmaw''s side.


    The massive beast staggered, its obsidian armor cracking slightly¡ªbut not enough.


    Liora gritted her teeth.


    "Damn it... Even with SS-Rank Strength, its body is still too tough!"


    Dreadmaw recovered instantly, slamming its tail into the ground, sending magma spikes surging toward Leon.


    Leon countered, his body shifting into pure light, reappearing behind Dreadmaw in a blink of an eye.


    He formed another colossal claw, slashing down at full force.


    But Dreadmaw turned just in time, catching the attack with its unbreakable fangs, pushing back against Leon''s immense power.


    For a moment¡ªthe battlefield froze.


    Leon''s Silver Sun flames clashed against Dreadmaw''s volcanic energy, both refusing to give in.


    Liora narrowed her eyes, watching intensely.


    "Even after breaking past the limit... it''s still not enough?"


    Liora suddenly remembered her ability to scan weaknesses.


    She focused her gaze on Dreadmaw, activating her Status Perception Ability.


    A holographic screen appeared in front of her, revealing its critical flaws.


    ---


    [Weakness:]


    [Long Recovery Period ¨C After an extended battle, Dreadmaw enters a short regenerative phase, making it momentarily vulnerable.]


    [Territorial Nature ¨C Will not chase opponents far beyond its claimed land, allowing skilled tamers to use hit-and-run tactics.]


    ---


    Liora''s eyes gleamed, her smirk widening.


    "So that''s it, huh?"


    She clenched her fists, piecing together a strategy.


    Then¡ª


    She shouted toward Leon.


    "Leon! Let''s go! Get out of here!"


    Leon, mid-battle, paused for a split second, his eyes blinking in confusion.


    Dreadmaw, still locked in combat, tensed, readying another earth-shattering attack.


    But before it could act, Leon obeyed Liora''s command.


    He rushed toward her and, in one smooth motion, lowered his body for her to hop on.


    Liora grabbed onto his mane, swinging onto his back as Leon immediately turned and bolted away.


    Dreadmaw let out a booming roar, its body surging with rage.


    It lurched forward, attempting to chase them down¡ªbut despite its immense size, it was still slower than Leon.


    Liora grinned, feeling the wind whip against her face as Leon sprinted at full speed.


    "Let''s go! Find the end of its territory!"


    Leon''s flames surged, his body flickering like a comet as he raced across the wasteland.


    Behind them, Dreadmaw''s roars echoed, but as they continued running¡ª


    Liora could feel it.


    The pursuit was slowing.


    Dreadmaw, despite its wrath, was not leaving its land.


    Liora smirked.


    "Gotcha."


    Now¡ªit was time to counterattack.

 Chapter 303: The Abyssal Tyrant Has Been Captured!

    Liora stopped, turning her gaze toward Dreadmaw, who had finally halted its chase.


    The massive beast snorted but it made no effort to step beyond its claimed land.


    Liora grinned. "So, you really won''t leave your territory, huh?"


    She cracked her knuckles. "Now that you can''t come any closer... let''s counterattack."


    She turned toward Leon. "Alright, Leon. Send it some missiles."


    Leon suddenly paused, his silver flames flickering slightly in confusion.


    Liora blinked.


    "Wait... You don''t know?"


    Leon tilted his head, clearly unsure of what she meant.


    Liora frowned, realization hitting her.


    "Damn..."


    She crossed her arms, deep in thought.


    "Master hacked you into a war beast, but he never actually explained what war weapons were, huh?"


    Leon growled lowly, clearly having no reference for what "missiles" were.


    Liora let out a deep sigh, shaking her head.


    "Tch. I guess I have to be the one to fight."


    She took a deep breath for a moment.


    Then she grinned. "Leon. Fuse with me."


    Leon''s flames surged, recognizing the command immediately.


    Liora stretched her arms, rolling her shoulders.


    "If you don''t understand your new abilities yet, then I''ll just use them myself."


    She smirked.


    "I should be able to use everything you''ve got."


    Leon roared, his silver flames expanding as they engulfed Liora, their energies merging seamlessly.


    The fusion was instantaneous, their essences merging, and in the blink of an eye¡ªLiora''s body transformed.


    Her skin flickered between solid and flame, her hair now a flowing mane of silver fire.


    Her entire body pulsed with energy, her form more fluid, more adaptable¡ªmore warlike.


    She clenched her flaming fists, flexing her fingers, feeling the surge of new power course through her.


    "So this is what it feels like to fuse with the new you, huh?"


    Her eyes glowed fiercely, her smirk widening.


    "Damn... I feel even stronger than before."


    Her body felt lighter, faster, but at the same time, denser¡ªreinforced with pure energy.


    She slowly raised her hands, watching as flames shifted between elemental forms, morphing at her will.


    "Now... it''s time for the real counterattack."


    She turned her attention to Dreadmaw, the colossal beast still watching cautiously, sensing the new shift in power.


    Liora grinned, and with just her imagination, her shoulders shifted, molten metal forming into two massive missile launchers.


    "This... is what I was talking about."


    She aimed.


    Dreadmaw''s eyes narrowed, its body tensing.


    Then¡ª


    Boom! Boom!


    Two massive missiles launched from her shoulders, spiraling through the air, leaving behind trails of silver flame.


    Dreadmaw frowned, its instincts screaming.


    It knew these weapons.


    It had fought humans before¡ªsmall, insignificant creatures that relied on strange long-range weapons.


    It had always countered them the same way.


    Dreadmaw roared, sending out a shockwave of intense heat, forcing projectiles to explode prematurely.


    But this time¡ª


    Nothing happened.


    The missiles tore through the heatwave, completely unaffected.


    Dreadmaw''s eyes widened.


    It let out another roar, but it was useless.


    The missiles continued their course¡ªstraight toward it.


    "Boom!"


    The first missile collided, detonating upon impact, sending shockwaves through Dreadmaw''s colossal body.


    "Boom!"


    The second hit directly into its side, an explosion of silver flames engulfing the monster''s obsidian scales.


    Dreadmaw roared in pain, staggering backward, feeling true damage for the first time.


    Liora smirked, smoke rising from her launchers.


    "Oh? You didn''t like that?"


    She rolled her shoulders, letting out a low chuckle.


    "Heh. That was just a test shot."


    Her launchers started reloading automatically, silver flames crackling as another set of missiles formed.


    She lifted her hand, aiming once more.


    "Now let''s keep going... until you give up."


    She fired again.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    A relentless barrage of missiles launched at blinding speed toward Dreadmaw.


    Their silver flames illuminating the battlefield as they spiraled toward Dreadmaw.


    Dreadmaw roared, stomping down hard, triggering Seismic Devastation once again.


    The earth cracked, molten fissures ripping through the wasteland, attempting to swallow Liora whole.


    But Liora laughed, her elemental form flickering, dodging the collapsing terrain effortlessly.


    "Come on, big guy! You think I''ll fall for that twice?"


    Dreadmaw snapped its head up, then unleashed Cataclysmic Roar, sending a wave of raw heat and force toward Liora.


    But Leon''s Silver Sun Core nullified the effects entirely.


    Liora charged forward, her speed increasing, her launchers continuing their relentless fire.


    "BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"


    Each missile struck true, sending Dreadmaw skidding backward, its massive frame struggling to keep balance.


    Its Titanic Resilience was holding up, but the damage was adding up fast.


    Liora gritted her teeth, her eyes flashing.


    "Still standing? Fine. Let''s see how much more you can take!"


    She raised her hands, her launchers shifting, transforming into a shoulder-mounted energy cannon.


    Silver flames condensed at the center, spiraling into a dense, concentrated mass.


    "Eat this!"


    She fired.


    A blinding beam of condensed solar energy tore through the air, colliding directly with Dreadmaw''s chest.


    The massive beast roared in agony, its magma-infused scales melting under the pure force of the attack.


    Dreadmaw stumbled, falling to one knee, its body shuddering violently.


    Then¡ªits energy shifted.


    Liora''s eyes narrowed.


    "It''s finally happening."


    Her scanner activated, immediately detecting a change in Dreadmaw''s condition.


    ---


    [Status Update: Dreadmaw]


    [Health: 50% ¨C Entering Recovery Period]


    [Weakness Activated: Long Recovery Period ¨C Dreadmaw will now temporarily enter a self-repair state, reducing its ability to attack.]


    ---


    Liora smirked. "Finally... you''re slowing down."


    Dreadmaw let out a pained snarl, its body shuddering, its magma veins dimming slightly.


    Its massive body quivered, no longer lunging forward, no longer charging.


    It was just breathing heavily as it began its automatic healing phase.


    Liora didn''t waste time.


    She walked forward, her cannon glowing with stored energy as she aimed directly at Dreadmaw''s face.


    "Now that you''re healing... you can''t fight back, can you?"


    She took another step closer, her presence looming over the weakened beast.


    "So, let me give you one chance."


    Her flaming cannon surged, crackling with energy, its power ready to obliterate if necessary.


    "Submit and become mine... or else."


    Dreadmaw''s eyes narrowed, its massive head lowering slightly, its body still desperately trying to recover.


    It wasn''t stupid.


    The enemy before it was too strong.


    Too fast. Too unrelenting.


    Dreadmaw growled low.


    A signal of understanding. A sign of submission.


    Liora grinned, lowering her cannon.


    "That''s what I thought."


    She placed her hand on its snout, feeling its massive frame shudder under her touch.


    "Good job, big guy. You made the right choice."


    She turned toward the sky, commanding her system.


    "System¡ªput it inside the vault."


    ---


    [Beast Capture]


    [Target: Dreadmaw]


    [Process: Storing within the Eternal Vault]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    A bright silver glow surrounded Dreadmaw as its entire colossal frame began breaking down into pure energy.


    It was then sucked into one of the Eternal Vault''s beast storage slots.


    Within seconds, the Abyssal Tyrant Beast was gone.


    Liora exhaled, stretching her arms.


    "Damn, that was a good fight."


    Leon, who had remained fused with her, let out a low, rumbling growl, his flames shifting slightly.


    Liora smirked, patting her armored chest.


    "See, Leon? That''s how you make something submit."


    She then turned toward the horizon, looking at the endless wasteland.


    "Now then... Let''s go back to them to show off our second hunt."

 Chapter 304: Dreadmaw’s Arrival

    Inside Luxoria Castle''s pet shop, Luna and Loreia were busy handling business matters.


    They were reviewing sales reports and managing the growing beast inventory.


    Luna leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms.


    "Man, even though Master is resting, we''re still working like crazy."


    Loreia sighed, adjusting some paperwork.


    "That''s because we''re actually running a real business, not just randomly selling things on the street."


    Before Luna could respond¡ª


    A flash suddenly burst into the room.


    Luna and Loreia instantly turned, sensing the powerful heat wave that followed.


    And standing there¡ª


    Liora had returned.


    Luna raised her eyebrow.


    "Oh? You''re back already?"


    Loreia glanced at the time, then frowned slightly.


    "It''s only been two days. That was fast."


    Luna smirked, crossing her arms.


    "So, what''s the result? Did you catch another SS-Rank beast?"


    Liora grinned confidently, placing her hand on her hip.


    "Of course."


    Luna and Loreia both perked up.


    "And? How was it?"


    Liora''s expression shifted slightly with a hint of exhaustion.


    "This one was a bit different. Stronger. Way harder to handle than the last."


    Luna''s eyes gleamed with interest.


    "Oh? Now that''s interesting."


    Loreia, tapping her fingers against the table, nodded.


    "Then why don''t you take it out? Let''s see what kind of monster you brought back."


    Liora hesitated for a moment, then frowned slightly.


    "Tch... This one''s a lot fiercer than Vorafang."


    She exhaled sharply.


    "And it''s many times stronger than it."


    Luna and Loreia exchanged glances, their curiosity growing.


    Before they could respond, Liline appeared out of nowhere, gracefully stepping forward.


    "Don''t worry. As long as it has submitted to you, I believe I can handle it."


    Luna chuckled, nudging Loreia.


    "She sounds confident."


    Loreia nodded.


    "Well, she is our Beast Caslte''s guardian."


    Liline continued, addressing Liora directly.


    "Even if it is stronger than I am, as long as it has already accepted its place. It will not act out."


    Liora looked at Liline for a moment, then sighed.


    "Alright, then. If you''re saying it''s fine, then I''ll take it out."


    But before she could take it out, Liline raised her hand.


    "Wait a moment. Let me make a proper cage for it first."


    Luna and Loreia glanced at each other, curious about what Liline was planning.


    Then¡ª


    With a simple gesture, Liline manipulated the hall.


    The entire structure shifted seamlessly as a massive transparent cage formed in the center of the room.


    Its walls were denser and stronger than any other in Luxoria Castle.


    Loreia whistled, impressed.


    "Damn, this is some next-level reinforcement."


    Luna smirked. "You didn''t hold back, huh, Liline?"


    Liline folded her hands behind her back, nodding.


    "Of course. If this beast is as strong as Liora claims, then standard containment is not an option. This cage is now the strongest structure in Luxoria Castle."


    She turned to Liora.


    "You can take it out now and place it here."


    Liora nodded, satisfied.


    "Alright, then. System, take out Dreadmaw and put it inside the cage."


    At her command, something began to materialize within it.


    As the form solidified, the sheer presence of the beast caused the floor to vibrate faintly.


    Luna and Loreia''s eyes widened as they finally saw it.


    Standing inside the reinforced cage was a towering behemoth.


    Its obsidian-black scales were pulsing with molten veins.


    Its massive head lowered slightly, sharp fangs were glinting in the light.


    The beast snorted, releasing a wave of thick heat, its eyes scanning its new surroundings.


    Loreia blinked in shock.


    "Wait a damn second... isn''t this a T-Rex?!"


    Liora grinned, crossing her arms.


    "Yeah. A T-Rex that can easily destroy a city."


    Luna and Loreia both activated their scanners instinctively, their eyes reading the beast''s stats in real time.


    Their eyes widened in shock.


    Luna let out a low whistle.


    "Holy hell... What you said was true. This thing is leagues ahead of Vorafang."


    Loreia nodded, still staring at the data.


    "If Vorafang was just a baby, then this one is a full-fledged warrior."


    Luna grinned, placing her hands on her hips.


    "Master is going to be so excited when he sees this."


    Liora smirked, patting the side of the massive cage.


    "Let''s just say, I brought back something very special this time."


    The arrival of Dreadmaw had officially raised the stakes.


    ---


    Lucius stretched lazily, stepping out of his private chamber.


    He had rested for over a day, his body feeling completely refreshed.


    "Hah... I slept too long."


    As he walked through the castle halls, he heard familiar voices coming from the main hall.


    Liora.


    "It seems she''s back."


    Lucius smirked, his pace quickening slightly.


    "Let''s see what kind of beast she brought home."


    As he entered the hall, his eyes instantly locked onto the massive reinforced transparent cage at the center of the room.


    Inside¡ª


    A colossal black-scaled T-Rex-like beast, its obsidian armor pulsing with magma veins, its towering form exuding pure dominance.


    Lucius paused for a moment, then grinned.


    "Wow... what a cool T-Rex."


    The others immediately turned their heads upon hearing his voice.


    Luna smirked.


    "Master, you''re finally awake."


    Loreia adjusted herself, giving him a slight nod.


    "You slept long enough."


    Liora grinned. "Welcome back, Master."


    Lucius chuckled, rolling his shoulders as he stepped closer.


    "Of course, I''ve woken up. I''ve slept for more than a day."


    He let out a relaxed sigh, his eyes gleaming as he scanned the massive beast.


    "I feel completely refreshed."


    But then, his attention shifted fully to Dreadmaw.


    Lucius walked right up to the cage, placing his hand on its reinforced wall, staring directly at the beast.


    "Still... this thing is massive."


    He chuckled.


    "And strong."


    He turned to Liora, his smirk widening.


    "You really did a good job capturing him."


    Liora''s eyes gleamed with pride.


    "Thanks, Master. This one was a tough one."


    Lucius grinned, staring at Dreadmaw once more.


    "Good. Then let''s see what we can do with him."


    But suddenly, Liora stepped forward, her face turned serious.


    "But before that, Master... I need to talk to you about something."


    Lucius raised his eyebrow, turning his gaze toward her.


    "Oh?"


    He tilted his head slightly, intrigued.


    "Sure. You can talk."


    Luna and Loreia exchanged glances, sensing that whatever Liora had to say wasn''t just about the hunt.


    Lucius, still smirking, gestured for her to continue.


    "So? What''s on your mind?"

 Chapter 305: Lucius’s Oversight

    Liora crossed her arms, glancing at Lucius.


    "Master, it seems that when you hacked Leon... you forgot something."


    Lucius frowned slightly, tilting his head.


    "Forgot?"


    His eyes narrowed as he studied Liora''s expression.


    "What did I forget? Can you elaborate, please?"


    Liora sighed, shaking her head.


    "It''s better if I just show you, Master."


    Without wasting time, she summoned Leon.


    A surge of silver flames ignited, and in an instant, Leon stood before them.


    Liora turned toward Leon.


    "Leon. Transform into a tank."


    Leon''s flames pulsed, then flickered in confusion.


    He tilted his head slightly, clearly not understanding the command.


    Liora let out a deep sigh, then turned back to Lucius with a knowing smirk.


    "See, Master? Leon doesn''t know what a tank is."


    Lucius blinked once. Then twice.


    Then¡ª


    He laughed.


    An amused chuckle escaped his lips as he ran a hand through his hair.


    "Ahh... I see now."


    Luna and Loreia exchanged glances, confused.


    Luna raised her eyebrow. "Wait... what''s the issue?"


    Loreia quickly put the pieces together.


    "Master gave him the power... but not the knowledge to use it."


    Lucius grinned, shaking his head.


    "Exactly. I hacked him into a war beast, but I completely forgot to give him knowledge of war weapons."


    He chuckled again.


    "That''s why he doesn''t know what a tank is. He has the ability to transform, but he doesn''t even know what he''s supposed to transform into."


    Liora smirked, stepping forward.


    "So, Master... you''ll fix it, right?"


    Lucius grinned back.


    "Of course. I''ll handle it."


    Liora smiled, nodding.


    "Thank you, Master."


    Lucius raised his hand, preparing to launch his next hack modification.


    "System."


    His smirk widened.


    "Hack Leon. Send him into a full year of a brutal, tragic war inside a hyper-realistic virtual world."


    Luna and Loreia stiffened slightly, their eyes widening.


    Liora, on the other hand, simply nodded, understanding immediately.


    Lucius continued.


    "Inject him with complete knowledge of all war weapons¡ªtanks, artillery, air support, explosives, siege weaponry..."


    His grin sharpened.


    "Also, give him full mastery over different transformation forms¡ªwhether it''s animal, humanoid, or aerial combat forms."


    He paused briefly, then added one final modification.


    "And while we''re at it... let''s throw in some martial arts knowledge. It''ll make him even deadlier in any form."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: War Simulation & Knowledge Injection]


    [Target: Leon]


    [Effects Applied:]


    [Virtual War Immersion: Forces Leon into a full year of brutal, tragic war within a hyper-realistic virtual world, compressed into one night]


    [Combat Mastery Injection: Grants complete knowledge and proficiency in utilizing various war weapons]


    [Form Adaptation Training: Teaches mastery in switching between animal, human, and flying forms seamlessly]


    [Martial Arts Integration: Embeds expertise in multiple hand-to-hand and armed combat styles]


    [Cost Required: 500,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Leon''s flames dimmed, his body collapsing into a deep sleep.


    His entire form relaxed, but the aura around him remained intense.


    Lucius exhaled, smirking as he turned toward Liline.


    "Put Leon in the same kind of reinforced cage as Dreadmaw."


    Liline nodded instantly, raising her hand.


    The castle shifted, forming a second impenetrable containment zone around Leon.


    Luna let out a low whistle, her eyes flickering with interest.


    "Master, you really don''t hold back, huh?"


    Loreia shook her head, watching Leon''s sleeping form.


    "A whole year of war? And learning weapons, transformations, and martial arts? That''s insane..."


    Liora grinned, placing her hand on her hip.


    "It''s exactly what he needs. He''ll wake up tomorrow and finally understand how to use the power Master gave him."


    Lucius chuckled, nodding.


    "Exactly. By tomorrow, he''ll be an entirely different beast."


    Lucius then turned his attention to Dreadmaw.


    "But still, Liora... this beast is on a whole other level."


    Liora nodded, arms crossed, her eyes sharp as she looked at Dreadmaw.


    "Yeah. It was way harder to catch than Vorafang. I had to be careful. If I wasn''t, it could have easily turned me into ash."


    Lucius grinned slightly, nodding.


    "Of course. From the data alone, I can already see just how strong it is."


    He glanced at her, his expression turning slightly serious.


    "Honestly? You were lucky to manage to capture it."


    Liora smirked.


    "Heh. I don''t rely on luck, Master. Just skill."


    Lucius chuckled. "Fair enough."


    Luna, standing beside them, tilted her head, studying the beast.


    "So, this will be our second SS-Rank beast for sale?"


    Lucius nodded without hesitation.


    "Of course, it is."


    Luna crossed her arms, a curious look on her face.


    "Then, Master, are you planning to hack it?"


    Lucius shook his head immediately.


    "Of course not."


    Luna raised an eyebrow. "Why not? You hacked Leon."


    Lucius frowned, answering her.


    "Because it''s too expensive to hack an SS-Rank beast."


    Liora and Loreia both nodded, understanding instantly.


    Luna, however, still seemed unconvinced.


    "But imagine how much stronger it could become¡ª"


    Lucius cut her off, shaking his head again.


    "That''s not the point. This beast is not even our Luxoria Castle''s special beast."


    Luna frowned slightly, crossing her arms. "Then what do you mean, Master?"


    Lucius smirked, leaning back slightly.


    "I''d rather hack a beast that actually fits our specialty."


    He glanced toward Liline, then back at Luna and Loreia.


    "For example... Vornis."


    Liora tilted her head. "Vornis? But that''s just an A-Rank beast. Why would you prioritize it over hacking an SS-Rank?"


    Lucius grinned.


    "Because Vornis is our specialized beast. It''s designed by me, created for sale in Luxoria Castle."


    Luna''s eyes flickered with understanding.


    "So rather than making one overpowered SS-Rank beast that doesn''t represent our shop, you''d rather improve what we sell in mass?"


    Lucius nodded.


    "Exactly. If we make Vornis better, stronger, and smarter... it will dominate the beast market completely."


    Loreia sighed, shaking her head.


    "That makes sense. You''re thinking of long-term success instead of short-term gains."


    Lucius smirked.


    "That''s why I''m the Master."


    Then¡ª


    His expression shifted slightly as he thought deeper.


    "And... thinking about it more, Vornis also doesn''t seem to have full knowledge of being a war beast."


    He turned to Liline.


    "Liline, I remember there was one more Vornis kept here as I instructed before, right?"


    Liline nodded gracefully.


    "Yes, Master. One was kept in containment per your orders."


    Lucius grinned.


    "Good. Bring it here."


    Liline bowed slightly, then turned to retrieve the beast.

 Chapter 306: Experimentation Begins

    The doors opened, and several spectral staff members guided a single Vornis into the hall.


    Lucius turned his gaze toward the beast, his smirk widening slightly.


    The Vornis stood firm, its stance aggressive, its eyes burning with battle instinct¡ªthe same fierce personality as Vorafang.


    But¡ª


    It wasn''t yet a true war beast.


    And¡ª


    It was still an Elite-tier beast.


    Lucius tilted his head slightly, observing its movements, already formulating his plan.


    "Hmm... You''re not quite there yet."


    Luna, watching from the side, raised her eyebrow.


    "It looks tough, but you''re saying it''s not ready?"


    Lucius nodded, his smirk deepening.


    "It''s fierce, yes... but it lacks discipline. It lacks tactics. It lacks true war instinct."


    Liora crossed her arms.


    "Then, are you going to train it like Leon?"


    Lucius chuckled.


    "Not just train it. I''m going to evolve it and make it a perfect war beast."


    He raised his hand, activating his system.


    "System."


    His eyes flashed coldly, his smirk stretching further.


    "Evolve Vornis into a Sovereign Beast. After that, like Leon, send it into the brutal battlefield."


    Luna''s eyes glowed with intrigue. "You''re giving it the same war training?"


    Lucius grinned.


    "Not just that."


    He turned toward Liline.


    "Clone it in the virtual world¡ªmake it fight as a single army under Leon."


    Loraie blinked. "Wait... an army of Vornis?"


    Lucius nodded.


    "An army of disciplined, tactical, war-trained beasts¡ªworking under a general."


    Luna let out a low whistle.


    "Damn, Master... You''re not just making war beasts. You''re creating an army."


    Lucius chuckled darkly.


    "Exactly."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Sovereign Evolution & War Training]


    [Target: Vornis]


    [Modifications Applied:]


    [Evolution: Upgraded into a Sovereign Beast, elevating all abilities and intelligence]


    [Virtual War Immersion: Forces Vornis into a full year of brutal, tragic war within a hyper-realistic virtual world, compressed into one night]


    [Combat Mastery Injection: Grants complete knowledge and proficiency in utilizing various war weapons]


    [Tactical Adaptation: Self-cloning within the virtual world to learn formation tactics, discipline, and coordinated combat as an army under Leon]


    [Cost Required: 11,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    The moment the hack was activated, Vornis collapsed, its body trembling slightly as it fell into a deep, forced sleep.


    But unlike Leon, something different happened.


    Its body immediately began shifting as it slept.


    Its armor growing thicker, its presence rapidly evolving before their very eyes.


    Luna stared, watching the transformation unfold.


    "Tch... it''s changing already?"


    Liora smirked. "Of course. Master is forcing it into an instant evolution."


    Loreia exhaled. "This is ridiculous."


    Lucius, arms crossed, watched calmly.


    "Let it sleep."


    He smirked.


    "By tomorrow, both Leon and Vornis will be at the top."


    And with that, the ultimate war beasts were finally in the making.


    ---


    Inside a dimly lit lab, Cassius Aurelius stood before a restrained Vorafang.


    The lab was filled with strange machinery, containment tanks, and scattered notes.


    The beast snarled, its crimson eyes burning with defiance, even as chains held its body in place.


    Cassius smirked, adjusting his gloves.


    "This Vorafang... is what you''d call a glass cannon."


    He tilted his head slightly, his fingers lightly tapping against the metal table.


    "Quite powerful, but its body is pathetically weak."


    He chuckled to himself.


    "No wonder they were able to catch it and sell it off."


    But¡ª


    What truly fascinated him wasn''t its strength or weakness.


    It was its personality.


    This beast was vicious, filled with pure killing instinct.


    A feral, untamed nature that reminded him of certain failed experiments in the past.


    Cassius grinned, his eyes gleaming as he held up a syringe filled with an unknown mixture.


    "But that''s what makes it fun. Let''s see how much you can change, little beast."


    Before he could inject it, the door to his lab slid open.


    Footsteps echoed in the room as Victor Aurelius entered, his expression calm but expectant.


    "Cassius."


    Cassius didn''t even turn around, still focused on the beast before him.


    "Ah, Victor. You''re early."


    Victor stepped forward, his hands in his pockets, his gaze settling on Vorafang.


    "I came to ask when the new beast from Vorafang will be ready."


    Cassius finally turned, raising his eyebrow.


    "Oh? You actually want this beast?"


    Victor nodded casually.


    "It has a nice appearance. It''s strong. And I like it."


    He smirked slightly.


    "I could use it as my personal hunting dog later."


    Cassius chuckled, setting the syringe down.


    "A hunting dog, huh? That''s quite an amusing thought."


    He tapped the table, glancing back at Vorafang, who continued to struggle violently.


    "You do realize it''s a glass cannon, right? Powerful attacks, but it''ll break the moment something hits it too hard."


    Victor shrugged.


    "That''s fine. I''ll just keep it from getting hit."


    Cassius grinned, his fingers tracing the surface of the table.


    "I see... So you don''t mind what I do to it, then?"


    Victor nodded without hesitation.


    "Do whatever you want. As long as it turns into something useful for me."


    Cassius laughed softly. "Good. Then I can have some real fun with it."


    He picked up the syringe once again, turning toward Vorafang, his expression unreadable.


    "It should be ready later. But by the time I''m done... it won''t be the same beast anymore."


    Victor grinned slightly.


    "That''s exactly what I want."


    As Victor left the lab, Cassius turned back to his experiment, his silver eyes gleaming with twisted excitement.


    "Now then... let''s see just how much I can push you before you break."


    The experimentation of Vorafang had truly begun.


    ---


    The next day, inside the reinforced containment chambers, two beasts stirred.


    First¡ª


    Leon.


    His Silver Sun flames pulsed, flickering brighter than before, his body unchanged in form, yet something felt different.


    No longer just a wild war beast, but a seasoned warrior who had survived countless battles.


    He had fought, died, and learned in a brutal war simulation that felt like an entire year.


    And now¡ªhe understood.


    Meanwhile¡ª


    Vornis awakened.


    Unlike Leon, its transformation was clear.


    The beast that had once been part flesh, part armor was now something entirely different.


    Its entire body gleamed, forged purely from steel, yet somehow retaining the organic flexibility of flesh.


    The once visible muscles and tendons had been replaced with metal fibers, designed for ultimate combat precision.


    It was no longer a beast of flesh and bone.


    Vornis had become a Pure Steel War Beast.


    Its metallic claws flexed, its eyes glowing with a cold, mechanical precision, built not just for combat¡ª


    But for war.


    The two war beasts of Luxoria Castle had finally awakened.

 Chapter 307: Leon & Vornis Perfected

    Liora grinned, watching as Leon stood before her, his presence more controlled and refined than ever before.


    "Leon. Transform into a tank."


    Leon''s flames flickered for a bit.


    Then¡ª


    His entire body shifted, compressing, reshaping and restructuring until¡ª


    A massive, futuristic silver tank now stood in his place.


    Its sleek metallic frame glowed faintly, reinforced with Luxorite plating.


    Its turret was massive yet streamlined, looking far more advanced than any normal war machine.


    Liora''s eyes gleamed with satisfaction.


    "Now that''s what I wanted to see."


    She walked around the tank, running her fingers along its armored plating, nodding in approval.


    "The knowledge has been completed. Leon has truly become a perfect war beast."


    Lucius watched calmly, his eyes flickering toward Vornis, who stood silently.


    Its body was now fully metallic, resembling a living steel soldier.


    He grinned slightly.


    "Leon has become a war machine... and Vornis has evolved into a true soldier."


    He turned toward Liline.


    "Liline, take Vornis back to containment."


    Liline nodded gracefully.


    "Understood, Master."


    The spectral staff stepped forward, guiding Vornis toward its reinforced cage.


    Lucius exhaled, watching everything fall into place.


    "Now with this... hunting SS-Rank beasts should be far more efficient."


    Liora grinned, cracking her knuckles.


    "Of course. And with Leon''s stats all breaking through to SS-Rank, hunting will be a lot easier than before."


    Lucius nodded, satisfied.


    "Good. Then I''ll return to Luxoria Mansion first."


    Luna raised her eyebrow. "Going back already, Master?"


    Lucius stepped onto the hidden teleportation platform.


    "I need to take care of something there. Don''t slack off while I''m gone."


    Liora chuckled. "Don''t worry, Master. I''ll use this time to hunt another SS-Rank beast."


    Lucius smirked.


    "Good. Keep the pace up."


    As the teleportation activated, his figure vanished into light.


    Luna and Loreia exchanged glances before turning back to the massive caged Dreadmaw.


    Loreia sighed, adjusting her sleeves.


    "If that''s the case... then we''ll see what we can do with this one."


    Luna grinned, placing her hand on the reinforced cage.


    "Yeah. Let''s see just how much we can push it before the auction."


    ---


    Four days had passed, and the day of Beast Castle''s auction had finally arrived.


    The massive auction venue was packed with people, nobles, merchants, and elite beast tamers.


    All of them gathered to witness the grand event.


    Liora, dressed in a casual yet well-prepared outfit, stood among the crowd, her eyes scanning the area.


    She could see beasts displayed in reinforced cages, most of them being B-Rank or lower.


    "Tch... They''re selling low-tier beasts like this at an auction?"


    She muttered under her breath, not impressed by the selection.


    As she walked past a few sections, she noticed a few A-Rank beasts.


    But¡ªthey were rare.


    Liora narrowed her eyes.


    "So, they''re keeping the real stuff hidden inside..."


    Her gaze then shifted toward the center of the auction building, where a massive, transparent cage stood.


    Inside it¡ª


    The SS-Rank Beast.


    Even though it was enclosed within the building, the structure allowed it to be visible from the outside.


    But the view was slightly obscured.


    Liora scoffed.


    "Hmph. So they''re baiting people in with this."


    Only registered bidders were allowed inside to see the SS-Rank beast up close.


    Liora smirked, pulling out the invitation that had been arranged by Loreia and Luna.


    The moment she reached the entrance, a staff member in formal attire stepped forward.


    "Your invitation, please."


    Liora calmly handed it over, her expression indifferent.


    The staff scanned the invitation, nodding in approval.


    "Everything is in order. Welcome to the Beast Castle Auction. Please follow the signs inside for the main bidding halls."


    Liora smirked.


    "Thanks."


    Without hesitation, she stepped through the doors, entering the hall of the auction.


    Inside, only the elites gathered, the air thick with wealth, power, and ambition.


    Liora casually scanned the massive hall, immediately focusing on the centerpiece of the auction.


    The SS-Rank Beast.


    She smirked, crossing her arms.


    "Let''s see just how good you are."


    Her gaze locked onto the colossal beast inside the reinforced cage.


    It was a horse, but unlike any ordinary warhorse¡ªit was massive.


    Though not nearly as large as Dreadmaw, it still stood at an intimidating 5 to 6 meters tall, its muscular frame covered in thick, rock-like plating.


    The sheer weight and density of its body made it resemble a horse golem.


    Its eyes burned with a fierce spirit, clearly not a docile beast but a creature bred for destruction and war.


    Liora tilted her head, intrigued.


    "Hmm... Not bad. You look like a real powerhouse."


    She activated her scanning ability, her vision flickering with data as the beast''s full stats appeared before her.


    A small smirk formed on her lips as she analyzed the results.


    "I see... It''s definitely stronger than Vorafang."


    She glanced at its stats, reading through its abilities carefully.


    "But... still weaker than Dreadmaw."


    Her eyes narrowed slightly.


    "Master said this auction would fail... but I don''t see how."


    She took another step back, her gaze drifting toward the rest of the auction hall.


    Everything was run professionally¡ªhigh-class attendants, a refined and elegant interior, and an auctioning system that seemed well managed.


    From an outsider''s perspective, everything looked flawless.


    Liora crossed her arms, her smirk fading slightly as curiosity crept into her mind.


    "Tch... What exactly does Master see that I don''t?"


    She exhaled, shaking her head before walking toward the private bidding rooms.


    "Well... I''ll just wait and find out."


    With that, she stepped inside her designated room, a lavish VIP suite overlooking the auction stage.


    It also had a one-way transparent wall allowing her to see everything happening outside, while maintaining her privacy from other bidders.


    A comfortable leather chair awaited her, along with a small control panel for bidding access.


    But she wasn''t here to bid.


    She was here to observe.


    Settling into her seat, she closed her eyes briefly, focusing on her bond with Lucius.


    Then¡ªshe called out to him.


    "Master, I''ve arrived at the auction. I''m inside the private VIP room."


    There was a brief pause.


    Then¡ªLucius''s calm voice echoed in her mind.


    "I see."


    Liora could almost picture his smirk as he continued.


    "Wait a minute. We''ll be teleporting there soon."


    Liora''s eyes opened slightly, a small grin forming on her lips.


    "Heh... Figures. Master wouldn''t miss this show for anything."


    With that, she leaned back, arms crossed, watching the auction unfold.


    The real event was about to begin.

 Chapter 308: Varen’s Auction Takes a Hit!

    Lucius, Luna and Loreia had teleported and arrived in front of Liora.


    Liora smirked, leaning back slightly as she greeted them.


    "Welcome, Master, to the grand auction of Beast Castle."


    Lucius grinned, sitting on the sofa. "Let''s see how the first SS-Rank beast auction of Beast Castle will go."


    Luna crossed her arms, scanning the auction hall below.


    "Hmph. Looks fancy enough."


    Loreia glanced around the private suite. "They''ve spared no expense to make this feel high-class."


    Liora, however, wasn''t going to let the real question slide.


    "But Master... why did you say that this auction would be a failure?"


    Lucius only smirked. "As I said, just sit tight and watch. You''ll know the answer soon enough."


    Liora narrowed her eyes, slightly annoyed but still intrigued.


    "Tch. You always do this. Keeping secrets until the fun part."


    Luna chuckled. "That''s just how Master is."


    Lucius merely tilted his head. "That''s because watching others realize their mistakes in real-time is far more entertaining."


    The auction was about to begin.


    And soon, everyone would understand why Lucius had already predicted failure.


    ---


    The auction was about to begin as the light began to dim and the hall fell into silence.


    A tall man soon stepped onto the grand stage. He was wearing quite a nice suit.


    He raised his hand as his gaze swept over the audience.


    "Welcome, everyone, to Beast Castle''s special auction."


    The crowd''s entire focus was entirely on him and some of them were even surprised.


    "The Director himself, Sir Varen?"


    "They''re really pushing this sale, huh?"


    "He wouldn''t be here unless this beast was truly special..."


    Varen smiled slightly, enjoying the effect his presence had on the room.


    "Because this beast is quite special..."


    He spread his arms and smiled wide. "I will personally oversee its auction."


    A spotlight suddenly illuminated the center of the auction stage, revealing a massive transparent cage.


    Inside it¡ª


    A huge and tall warhorse stood. Its muscular frame was covered in dense stone-plating.


    "Let me introduce you to the star of today''s auction¡ªTitanhoof."


    Varen continued to describe the magnificient beast.


    "Titanhoof stands at five meters tall with its entire body reinforced by hard stones."


    "Titanhoof also fears nothing. It doesn''t hesitate to charge through enemies even when facing overhelming odds."


    He gestured toward Titanhoof''s massive body. "This is truly the king of warhorses. A beast for kings."


    Some nobles nodded in agreement. They were really interested in this beast.


    ---


    Just as Varen was building the momentum, another voice from one of the VIP rooms, interrupted him.


    "Hello. I am Sylvia Aurelius of the Aurelius Family."


    The entire crowd turned toward the VIP section, whispering among themselves.


    "Aurelius? That''s one of the wealthiest families!"


    "They''re here too? Of course, they''d want an SS-Rank beast."


    Sylvia remained calm but sharp.


    "What you''ve said so far is great, Lord Varen... but what about its weaknesses?"


    The room fell into silence.


    Even from within the VIP suite, Liora, Luna, and Loreia watched with amusement.


    Sylvia continued, unfazed by the attention on her.


    "You are aware, aren''t you? The recently viral pet shop openly listed the weaknesses of their own beasts during their auction."


    Whispers quickly spread among the crowd.


    The audience nodded, remembering how Luxoria Castle''s first auction stunned the industry.


    They did it by openly displaying weaknesses along with strengths of their own beasts.


    One noble nodded, agreeing with Sylvia.


    "That''s true... Luxoria Castle was completely transparent."


    Another muttered.


    "And their beasts still sold at ridiculous prices despite that."


    Varen''s calm expression immediately shifted into a frowning one.


    Inside the VIP suite, Luna turned toward Lucius, smirking.


    "Master, is this what you meant by failure?"


    Lucius, arms crossed, merely watched the scene unfold.


    He didn''t say any words.


    Varen was about to experience firsthand why Luxoria Castle wasn''t just another pet shop.


    ---


    Varen''s frown lasted only for a moment before he quickly recovered.


    "Of course, we have an answer."


    He gestured toward Titanhoof once again.


    "Our competitor has listed the weaknesses of their beasts, but so will we."


    The crowd whispered to each other in anticipation.


    Some nobles nodded.


    "Alright, let''s see if they actually answer properly."


    "Transparency is important."


    Varen stepped closer to the massive cage, raising his hand toward it.


    "The weaknesses of Titanhoof are actually quite simple."


    Varen began explaining, his smirk never fading.


    "First, because of its earth element, Titanhoof has a natural disadvantage against water."


    Some nobles muttered to themselves, nodding.


    "That makes sense... Earth and Water usually don''t mix well."


    Varen continued.


    "It avoids water-based battlefields and does not fight at full potential in such environments."


    He gestured again, with two fingers in his hand.


    "Secondly, soft ground terrain such as swamps and quicksand can trap Titanhoof."


    "They made it hard to escape or move efficiently, so remember to avoid it."


    Some of the audience quickly took some notes in case of meeting Titanhoof themselves.


    "So it''s powerful on solid ground but weak in soft ground. That''s important to know."


    Varen then smirked, turning toward the audience with one on his hand.


    "And lastly¡ªTitanhoof is incredibly strong and fast. However..."


    "Because of its unstoppable charge, it is quite difficult for Titanhoof to change direction midway."


    The crowd nodded in understanding, some looking impressed with the explanation.


    Varen turned his gaze back toward Sylvia, smirking.


    "Now then, Miss Sylvia, what do you think of that?"


    Sylvia leaned back slightly in her VIP seat, tapping her fingers against the armrest.


    "Oh, I see. That''s certainly... informative."


    But the way she spoke didn''t sound like praise.


    It sounded like she wasn''t fully convinced.


    Liora narrowed her eyes, watching Sylvia''s reaction carefully.


    Luna, standing beside Lucius, chuckled.


    "I think she noticed something."


    Lucius, still leaning back with his arms crossed, simply smirked.


    "Of course she did."


    The real problem with the auction had yet to be revealed.


    Then he turned toward Liora.


    "You know the problem now, don''t you?"


    Liora nodded, crossing her arms.


    "Yeah... I do."


    Lucius chuckled.


    "Good. Then go ahead. Argue with him."


    Liora''s smirk widened.


    "Oh? You''re giving me the green light?"


    Lucius grinned, leaning back in his seat.


    "Go ahead. Have some fun with it."


    Liora laughed a bit, already preparing to speak.


    "Sure. Let''s see how confident he stays after I''m done."


    The real auction battle was about to begin.

 Chapter 309: Liora Exposes the Lies!

    The audience was stunned.


    Many had not expected Varen to openly state the weaknesses of Titanhoof and he did so without hesitation.


    Even Sylvia Aurelius, who had initially questioned him, could only nod slightly and accept the explanation.


    "Well... at least he gave an answer."


    Some nobles whispered among themselves.


    "I guess Beast Castle is learning from Luxoria Castle."


    "Yeah, but that was kind of expected."


    However¡ª


    Another voice suddenly echoed from another VIP room.


    "Hello, I am one of the VIPs, but I don''t want to tell my name for secrecy reasons."


    The crowd turned toward the VIP room, whispering among themselves.


    "A new doubter?"


    "She must be someone important if she has a VIP room."


    "And she''s hiding her identity? This is getting interesting."


    Inside her VIP suite, Liora smirked, leaning against the wall as she hid her true identity.


    Luna and Loreia grinned, watching the scene unfold from their own room.


    Liora then continued.


    "I have also studied Titanhoof. And I''ve encountered a similar species of Titanhoof aside from this one."


    The crowd listened intently, sensing something off about her words.


    Liora''s eyes gleamed as she revealed her findings.


    "And from what I know... Titanhoof isn''t actually afraid of water."


    The auction hall fell silent.


    Even Varen frowned after hearing it.


    Liora smirked, enjoying the reaction.


    "Not only that... but saying that soft ground is its weakness? That''s also incorrect."


    She leaned forward, tapping the armrest with her fingers.


    "Thanks to its sheer weight, soft ground actually compresses beneath it, turning into solid terrain. So it doesn''t actually get trapped as easily as you claim."


    The crowd murmured again, exchanging glances.


    Some of the more experienced beast tamers nodded, realizing the logic in her words.


    "That... actually makes sense."


    "Wait, so did Varen just say things based on assumption?"


    Liora wasn''t finished.


    "And as for water? Calling it afraid of water is ridiculous. What kind of warhorse is afraid of a battlefield just because of water?"


    She chuckled lightly as she continued to mock him.


    "If you had said it was slower in a water battlefield, or that its movement becomes restricted due to its weight, then sure, that would be correct."


    Her tone became sharp.


    "But saying it fears water? That''s outright wrong."


    The entire audience shifted, now looking back at Varen.


    Liora paused for a moment before delivering the final strike.


    "Although you are wrong for the first two weaknesses, I can agree with the third one."


    "But you are still wrong in the first two. So now, Lord Varen. Did you really study Titanhoof''s weaknesses?"


    The crowd waited in anticipation.


    "Or... did you just say whatever sounded right after looking at its form?"


    A silence filled the auction hall.


    Inside the VIP suite, Luna chuckled, shaking her head.


    "Damn. She really called him out."


    Loreia smirked. "This is getting fun."


    Lucius?


    He simply grinned, watching as Varen was finally being pushed into a corner.


    ---


    Varen frowned as he glared in the direction of the anonymous VIP.


    "How can you tell that what I am saying is wrong?"


    He was quite irritated thanks to Liora.


    But he forced himself to be composed as he was the director.


    "Who is to say that you aren''t lying? That you''re not just trying to discredit me?"


    A few nobles muttered in agreement, but most of the audience simply watched.


    They were waiting for the VIP''s response.


    Inside the VIP room, Liora smirked, tilting her head slightly.


    "Oh, Lord Varen. I never said I was lying."


    She then mocked him.


    "I''m just saying that you... are a liar."


    Shocked whispers spread across the hall.


    "She called him a liar outright?"


    "This is getting interesting."


    Varen''s brows furrowed, his fingers slightly twitching against the auction podium.


    Liora smirked as she continued.


    "Let''s just do this then. If you''re saying that what you said is true, then why don''t we test it right now?"


    Varen''s eyes narrowed, but remained silent.


    "Why don''t we take out a water beast and have it throw a water attack at Titanhoof?"


    Liora was really confident as she continued.


    "If Titanhoof is truly afraid of water, then we''ll all see it, won''t we?"


    "If it panics, struggles, or outright refuses to fight, then I''ll apologize."


    The crowd cheered loudly now, intrigued by the challenge.


    "That''s a fair test."


    "Is he going to do it?"


    Liora''s smirk deepened as she delivered the final blow.


    "But if Titanhoof doesn''t react the way you claimed..."


    "Then I guess that means you were lying in front of all these esteemed guests, huh?"


    The room was in silence once again.


    Even from inside their own VIP suite, Luna was grinning, clearly enjoying the show.


    "Damn, she really has him cornered."


    Loreia chuckled, shaking her head.


    "Varen should''ve prepared better. He underestimated the intelligence of his audience."


    Lucius simply smirked, watching the show with amusement.


    Varen''s fists clenched slightly, but he forced himself to clam down.


    Then¡ª


    He let out a short, forced chuckle.


    "I''m sorry. It seems that I have misread the description."


    He waved his hand, adjusting his expression, trying to regain his confidence.


    "I had meant to say that water only slows Titanhoof down, not that it fears it."


    Some nobles nodded slowly, but others exchanged skeptical glances.


    "So he''s backtracking now?"


    "He got caught lying, and now he''s trying to adjust his words."


    Varen frowned. He realized that he had lost the first battle.


    On the other hand, Liora only smirked while leaning back in her chair.


    "Oh? So it was just a mistake?"


    She was mocking him, but not enough to outright insult him.


    Varen exhaled slowly, his voice tight but composed.


    "Yes. A mistake."


    Liora simply smirked wider.


    "Well then, Lord Varen... You should be careful when presenting information to your guests."


    Varen was still frowning, but force himself to give a small, professional smile.


    The crowd, however, had already turned skeptical.


    "Is this really the quality of Beast Castle''s auction?"


    "If they can misread something this basic, what else are they hiding?"


    Liora, noticing the shift, decided to strike again.


    "But still..."


    Her voice echoed throughout the hall again, catching the attention of every guest.


    "There is one more weakness that I haven''t mentioned yet."


    The crowd went silent.


    Even Varen froze momentarily, his eyes narrowing as he realized that Liora wasn''t done with him yet.


    Liora smirked.


    "Dear audience... do you wish to hear it?"


    The auction hall instantly erupted.


    And within seconds, multiple nobles and wealthy tamers nodded eagerly.


    "Of course we do!"


    "If it''s another flaw they didn''t mention, we should know."


    "We are placing bids with our own money. We deserve full transparency!"


    Even Sylvia Aurelius smirked from her VIP suite, resting her chin on her palm.


    "Heh... Now, this is getting interesting."


    Varen''s expression tightened, his fingers clenching against the podium.


    This was spiraling out of his control.


    He knew it.


    Lucius, watching from the VIP suite, chuckled.


    "Liora... go ahead. Give them the final push."


    Liora grinned, taking full control of the moment.


    The next words she spoke would shake Beast Castle''s credibility even further.

 Chapter 310: Not Everyone is Welcome?

    Liora leaned back, smirking.


    "The weakness that I know is simple..."


    She paused for a moment.


    She wanted to make sure that everyone was listening to her words.


    Then¡ª


    "Titanhoof is the king of warhorses and you, Lord Varen, claimed the same."


    The crowd nodded.


    Liora''s eyes gleamed.


    "But have you considered what happens to the buyer?"


    Murmurs began to spread through the hall.


    Liora continued sharply.


    "Being the king of warhorses means it will only recognize a rider worthy of it."


    She crossed her arms.


    "So what does that mean for the buyer? After purchasing it, they will still have to earn its respect and recognition before they can even ride it."


    She paused, letting the audience think for a moment.


    "And if they fail to do so? Then what? It refuses to be tamed? It rejects its owner? What do you say about this, Lord Varen?"


    The crowd murmured again, some of them seemed to be uncertain about the purchase.


    "She has a point. If the beast doesn''t accept its master, it''s basically useless."


    "I never thought about that."


    Varen''s frown deepened, but he quickly recovered.


    "Of course, I already knew that."


    He remained confident, but there was a slight worriness in his tone.


    He spread his hands casually, addressing the entire audience.


    "But as usual, that responsibility falls on the buyer."


    He laughed before continuing.


    "Every pet shop is like that. Even Luxoria Castle does the same, don''t they?"


    He then turned his gaze toward Sylvia Aurelius.


    "Miss Sylvia, I heard that you won a SS rank beast in Luxoria Castle''s auction."


    The audience curiously turned to her.


    "Tell me, when you received the beast, did Luxoria Castle just outright give it to you? Or did they assist you in forming a contract with it?"


    Sylvia narrowed her eyes slightly.


    She thought for a moment before answering.


    "No, they didn''t."


    The audience whispered among themselves.


    Varen smirked.


    "See? Even Luxoria Castle follows the same standard. The responsibility of taming falls to the buyer."


    Sylvia, however, wasn''t finished.


    She tilted her head slightly, adding¡ª


    "But... we also didn''t ask. Maybe next time, we will."


    The audience murmured again.


    Varen, however, quickly latched onto her words, smirking wider.


    "That answer is good enough."


    His eyes returned to the VIP suite where Liora was.


    "Now then, Miss VIP and everyone else in attendance. Tell me."


    He spread his hands wide.


    "Is that really a weakness?"


    The crowd remained silent, waiting for the VIP''s response.


    Inside the VIP suite, Luna grinned, nudging Lucius.


    "He thinks he won that argument."


    Lucius chuckled.


    "Let''s see what Liora does next."


    Liora, still calmly seated, let out a small laugh.


    "Heh... You really think that''s a good enough answer, Lord Varen?"


    Her eyes glowed mischievously as she prepared to fire back.


    The debate was far from over.


    ---


    Liora smirked as she fired back her argument.


    "I see... So that''s your answer, huh?"


    She laughed as she was quite amused.


    "But if that''s the case, doesn''t that mean not everyone here was truly welcome at this auction?"


    The crowd shifted, some nobles exchanging some uneasy glances.


    Varen''s smirk faltered slightly.


    "What are you implying?"


    Liora tilted her head, smirking.


    "On your website, you were the one who proudly stated that you prepared this grand place for ''all serious bidders,'' didn''t you?"


    She paused a bit before continuing.


    "But now, after what you just said... It sounds more like you only prepared this auction for buyers who are already powerful enough to control their beasts."


    Her smirk widened as she continued.


    "So what about everyone else? The tamers who traveled here, spending time and effort just to see an SS-Rank beast, only to realize they could never control it?"


    The crowd murmured in agreement.


    "She''s right..."


    "Not all bidders here are top-tier tamers..."


    Varen''s expression darkened slightly.


    But before he could respond, Liora continued her attack.


    "Luxoria Castle, on the other hand, is different."


    The room went quiet again.


    "They knew their beasts were strong. So, they specifically stated that only strong tamers could come to their auction."


    Sylvia, still listening, nodded slightly, realizing the difference in approach.


    "And about the contract issue? Miss Sylvia herself never said Luxoria Castle didn''t offer such a service, did she?"


    Sylvia raised her eyebrow, then smirked slightly.


    "That''s true. I never said they don''t offer it."


    Liora chuckled.


    "It''s just that we never asked."


    She let her words hang in the air.


    "What do you think about that, Lord Varen?"


    The crowd stirred again, more nobles muttering among themselves.


    "She''s making a damn good point."


    "Luxoria Castle actually filters their buyers. Beast Castle just lets anyone in."


    "And now they''re backtracking their own words..."


    Varen''s jaw clenched slightly.


    He had never anticipated an argument like this.


    The one that challenged not just the beast''s value but the entire credibility of their business model.


    But he wasn''t about to lose face.


    He exhaled, calming himself down, before addressing the audience again.


    "Miss VIP, I understand your concerns. But you must remember¡ª"


    He gestured toward Titanhoof.


    "We are merely a pet shop. Our job is to sell beasts, not train them."


    He let the words settle in the room, before continuing.


    "And let''s not forget. A SS-Rank beast like this is truly a rare existence."


    He turned his gaze across the audience.


    "Not everyone can have the privilege of owning such a creature. That is why, aside from money, they must prove themselves."


    Some of the nobles nodded slightly, agreeing with the logic behind it.


    But just as things seemed to settle down, another voice suddenly cut through the tension.


    From another VIP room, a deep, composed voice joined the debate.


    "I would like to end this stupid argument."


    The crowd turned to the new VIP room.


    They were figuring out who the new speaker was.


    "Who is that? Another VIP?"


    "Seems like someone important..."


    The voice continued.


    "I am interested in purchasing this beast."


    A pause.


    Then¡ª


    "And I must admit, what Lord Varen said holds some truth."


    Varen''s smirk deepened, sensing an unexpected ally.


    Inside the VIP suite, Liora''s smirk didn''t fade.


    She leaned back slightly, exchanging glances with Luna and Loreia.


    "Well, well... someone''s trying to steer the conversation away."


    Luna chuckled. "Trying to shift the focus back to the sale, huh?"

 Chapter 311: A Hollow Auction

    Liora turned to Lucius.


    "Master, do I need to continue?"


    Lucius shook his head, smirking slightly.


    "No, no. Just end it here."


    He leaned back, continuing to watch the situation unfold.


    "I never thought so many people would still support Beast Castle''s way of doing things."


    Liora narrowed her eyes. "You thought they would fail because they wouldn''t give their buyers a way to contract the beast, right?"


    Lucius nodded.


    "Exactly. I thought the bidders would be upset about it. But looking at this scene... it seems the people here are already strong enough that they don''t even care about the contracting process."


    Luna shook her head in confusion.


    "But Master, we also don''t help buyers in contracting their beasts, right?"


    Lucius smirked. "Of course, we do."


    Luna blinked in surprise. "Huh? But we never offer it."


    Lucius chuckled.


    "We never had to... because they never asked."


    He gestured toward the auction stage, where the bidders remained unfazed.


    They simply waited for the sale to continue.


    "But if a customer wants it? I can help them."


    Luna was a bit surprised before grinning.


    "I see... That means this can become another service for us later."


    Lucius nodded approvingly.


    "Exactly."


    His grin widened.


    "A service that Beast Castle cannot provide."


    Liora crossed her arms, nodding as she finally closed the debate.


    "I see. If that''s the case, I''ll end the argument."


    She leaned in slightly.


    "Mr. VIP that I don''t know of... I''ll leave the rest to the bidders."


    With that, she disconnected her voice transmission, cutting herself off from the discussion.


    The mysterious bidder chuckled, revealing a bit of playfulness.


    "I see. If that''s the case... then let me start the bidding."


    A wave of anticipation swept across the auction hall.


    Then¡ª


    "I am Raiven Valefor, Young Master of the Valefor Family."


    The entire audience gasped in shock.


    Murmurs immediately erupted throughout the room.


    "The Valefor Family?!"


    "They''re one of the strongest warrior clans!"


    "Their beasts are always brute-force types. Titanhoof would be perfect for them!"


    Raiven only smiled as he started the bid.


    "I bid 8 SS-Rank Cores."


    Varen grinned, finally feeling some momentum returning to the auction.


    "8 SS-Rank Cores! Do we have any higher bids?"


    A brief silence¡ª


    Then, another voice rang out.


    "10 SS-Rank Cores."


    The crowd turned their heads toward another VIP room.


    Sylvia Aurelius had spoken.


    Varen''s smirk grew wider, sensing more competition.


    "We have 10 SS-Rank Cores! Do we have 12?"


    He barely finished his words before Raiven raised the bid himself.


    "12 SS-Rank Cores!"


    The audience murmured again, excitement rising.


    But¡ª


    Sylvia simply leaned back in her chair, shaking her head.


    "Too much for me. I''ll back down."


    Varen''s smile dimmed slightly, but he quickly hid his frustration.


    "Do we have any other bidders?"


    Silence.


    "One... Two..."


    Still, no one dared to speak.


    Varen''s smirk started to fade.


    "Tch... Damn."


    Inside his mind, calculations ran rapidly.


    5 SS-Rank Cores were already spent just to capture the beast.


    2 SS-Rank Cores for maintenance and feeding.


    2 SS-Rank Cores for the specialized reinforced cage.


    1 SS-Rank Core for the cost of setting up this entire event.


    That meant the break-even point was at least 15 SS-Rank Cores.


    And yet¡ªit stopped at 12.


    The rest of the audience frowned, some looking hesitant, others clearly holding back.


    Even the wealthy elite didn''t bid further.


    They had realized the issue.


    Even if they had the money to buy it, they simply didn''t have the power to tame it.


    Varen was frowning but he forced himself to maintain his composure.


    "Three!"


    A loud chime rang throughout the auction hall.


    "Sold to Young Master Raiven Valefor."


    Some loud applause soon followed but it can be seen that the enthusiasm was a bit lacking.


    Varen let out a sigh. Although the beast was sold, the price was not as he had expected it to be.


    ---


    Luna glanced at the stage, her eyes locked onto Varen''s frustrated expression.


    She turned to Lucius, smirking.


    "Master, it seems that thanks to Liora, the price of the beast wasn''t as high as Varen expected."


    She chuckled.


    "This could be considered... not quite a success."


    Lucius grinned, leaning back slightly.


    "Of course. That''s exactly what I planned."


    But then, his eyes flickered with a new thought.


    "Still... why don''t we give them one last little gift before we go?"


    Luna raised her eyebrow, intrigued.


    "A gift?"


    Lucius tilted his head slightly, his smirk widening.


    "Yes. Something to make them sweat a little more."


    He then turned his phone to Luna, where the Luxoria Castle web page was open.


    Luna''s eyes widened before realization hit her.


    She immediately turned to Loreia.


    "Big sister, it''s time to post it."


    Loreia, who had been watching the entire auction unfold, grinned, tapping on her phone.


    "I see. So it''s time, huh?"


    Her fingers hovered over the screen, ready to press upload.


    But she hesitated.


    "If I post this... they''ll immediately know we''re here, Lucius."


    Lucius chuckled.


    "Don''t worry. I''ll handle that part."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Location Teleportation Enhancement]


    [Targets: Lucius, Liora, Luna, Loreia]


    [Effect: Grants the ability to instantaneously teleport to either Luxoria Mansion or Luxoria Castle at will]


    [Cost Required: 5,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    The four of them could feel their teleportation ability had been enhanced.


    Lucius grinned, lowering his hand.


    "With this, we can leave immediately¡ªbefore anyone realizes we were ever here."


    Loreia smirked. Her fingers were ready to post the announcement.


    "Good job, little brother. Now, it''s time for me to do my job."


    She paused, her eyes gleaming mischievously as she scrolled through the draft.


    "Let me edit it a bit before it goes live."


    Luna leaned over, grinning.


    "Oh? You''re adding something extra?"


    Loreia chuckled.


    "Of course. I want to give them the best attack they have ever seen."


    She cracked her knuckles.


    "Let me craft the best counterattack for them... hehehe."


    Lucius, watching from the side, simply smirked.


    "Make it sting, big sister."


    Loreia grinned.


    "Oh, don''t worry, little brother. I plan to."


    With a final tap, the edited post was set.


    The trap was ready.


    Beast Castle would never see it coming.

 Chapter 312: The Announcement That Shook Beast Castle!

    The auction of Titanhoof had finally been concluded.


    Because of that, many members of the audience instinctively reached for their phones.


    Some were just checking messages.


    But others, who were more invested bidders and tamers, went straight to Luxoria Castle''s website.


    They were curious if Luxoria Castle had a new announcement.


    And to their shock, there was a brand new announcement that seemed to mock Beast Castle.


    ---


    Luxoria Castle Official Auction Announcement


    Luxoria Castle''s Next Grand Auction is here.


    Attention all beast tamers, elite warriors, and collectors.


    After the unparalleled success of our first auction, we are proud to introduce a brand-new SS-Rank Beast.


    Stronger than Titanhoof, far superior to the last Vorafang.


    A beast of absolute dominance, never before seen in any auction.


    This is not just any SS-Rank Beast. This is the peak of power.


    Auction Date: Two days from now


    Location: Luxoria Castle


    Note: Only qualified bidders who have proven their strength by surviving the dangerous journey to our location will be allowed to participate.


    But that''s not all.


    Introducing the new and improved Vornis.


    Not just one but ten of them.


    Faster, smarter, deadlier.


    The most versatile war beast you can buy.


    A special bonus.


    For those who previously purchased the five Vornis from our last auction, we invite you to return.


    You will receive a free upgrade on your Vornis, fully enhanced by Luxoria Castle''s special methods.


    And finally, a special service just for you.


    Do you want to contract your beast immediately after purchase?


    Do you want full compatibility between you and your beast?


    Luxoria Castle now offers a Contract Assistance Service.


    For a small extra price, we will ensure that your beast fully recognizes you as its master.


    No struggles and rebellion. Only absolute loyalty.


    You know what to do.


    Luxoria Castle ¨C The Future of Beast Trading.


    Will you claim the strongest beast, or will you simply watch from the sidelines?


    Luxoria Castle awaits.


    #StrongerThanTitanhoof #LuxoriaCastleAuction #SSRankPower


    ---


    The moment the audience read the announcement, they were really shocked.


    "The hell is this?!"


    "They got a new SS-Rank Beast?!"


    "And they outright said it''s stronger than Titanhoof?!"


    "No way..."


    Someone else shouted¡ª


    "Look at this! They''ve restocked Vornis! And it''s an improved version?!"


    Another noble read further down the announcement. He was in shock.


    "Wait... The first buyers of Vornis get a free upgrade?! Are you serious?!"


    The buyers from the last Luxoria Castle auction were immediately thrown into chaos.


    "What?! We could have had an upgraded version?! For free?!"


    But the biggest reaction came from those who had been skeptical earlier.


    One elite tamer, gripping his phone tightly, let out a low curse.


    "Damn it... Look at this! They even introduced a contracting service!"


    More whispers exploded.


    "No way... They actually offer contract assistance? Beast Castle doesn''t even have that!"


    "Damn, they actually know exactly what we want..."


    One particularly rich noble shook his head.


    "Beast Castle... just lost."


    ---


    Varen frowned deeply.


    He could hear the whispers of doubt from the crowd and the excitement over Luxoria Castle''s sudden announcement.


    His auction had been only half a success, and now, his competitor had just stolen all the attention.


    Varen clenched his teeth as he quickly pulled out his phone, opening Luxoria Castle''s website.


    When he read the announcement, he was really surprised and frustated because of it.


    "What the hell...?"


    He read the text over and over, until he reached a particular line.


    "Stronger than Titanhoof."


    But that wasn''t the worst part.


    This announcement was just posted.


    Which meant¡ª


    They were here.


    His hands trembled slightly.


    He then immediately called his secretarist.


    A deep voice answered.


    "Vallos speaking."


    Varen didn''t waste a second.


    "Vallos, they''re here."


    A brief pause.


    Then¡ª


    "Who?"


    Varen''s expression darkened.


    "Those bastards from Luxoria Castle. They were here."


    He gritted his teeth.


    "Find them. Now."


    Vallos didn''t sound surprised, only intrigued.


    "You''re sure?"


    Varen let out a low, furious breath.


    "They posted the announcement right after the auction ended. And they knew about Titanhoof. There''s no way that''s a coincidence."


    His voice dropped lower, filled with rage.


    "That means they were watching. They were here the entire time."


    Vallos was silent for a second, then chuckled.


    "Heh... Bold of them."


    "Less talking, more catching." Varen snapped.


    Vallos remained calm.


    "Where do you want me to start? This auction hall is massive. Tracking them down won''t be simple."


    Varen narrowed his eyes, thinking fast.


    Then¡ª


    He suddenly remembered.


    That one particular VIP room.


    That woman who had kept arguing with him.


    "Go and check VIP Room Number 4."


    Vallos paused.


    "The woman who debated with you? You think she''s one of them?"


    Varen smirked coldly.


    "I don''t think. I know."


    His fingers tightened around the edge of the podium.


    "She must be one of Luxoria Castle''s main people."


    Vallos let out a low chuckle.


    "Understood. I''ll go greet our guest."


    Varen''s smirk didn''t fade.


    "Good. And when you find them, make sure they don''t leave easily."


    Vallos chuckled again.


    "Got it, boss."


    ---


    The crowd murmured, watching as Varen became frustated and panicked.


    The way his eyes darted across the auction hall and the way his jaw clenched tightly.


    It was obvious.


    Something was very, very wrong.


    And then¡ª


    One by one, the attendees pulled out their own phones, checking Luxoria Castle''s website again.


    The moment they read the announcement once again, they soon realized something.


    Gasps. Whispers. Some people even cursed under their breath.


    "They were here?!"


    "Those Luxoria bastards dared to come to our auction?"


    "Not only that... But they posted this right after Titanhoof was sold?!"


    The nobles and merchants exchanged worried glances.


    Inside her VIP suite, Sylvia Aurelius sat back, twirling a glass of wine between her fingers.


    "Heh... They actually had the nerve to do it."


    Her eyes gleamed with interest as she scrolled through the announcement.


    On another VIP room, Raiven Valefor, still calm as ever, read through the post.


    After a brief silence, he chuckled.


    "They''re either crazy... or extremely confident. Maybe both?"


    Raiven glanced toward the auction stage, where Varen was visibly struggling to contain his frustration.


    "Either way... Varen is pissed."

 Chapter 313: Lucius’s Announcement

    The VIP room door was forcefully opened by Vallos.


    He stepped inside and immediately saw four figures inside the room.


    There were three women and one man.


    "Are the four of you from Luxoria Castle?"


    Lucius, who was sitting in the middle only smirked.


    "And if we were?"


    He tilted his head.


    "What would you do?"


    Vallos grinned back, crossing his arms.


    "Simple. We''d capture you."


    Lucius chuckled.


    "I see. But the real question is... can you?"


    Vallos frowned slightly, but he quickly hid his irritation behind a smirk.


    "Don''t underestimate Beast Castle."


    With a motion of his hand, the guards behind him immediately sprung into action, summoning their beasts.


    Scaltors.


    Large, serpentine creatures with muscular limbs, their fangs and tails as sharp as steel.


    Their scales were also harder than reinforced metal.


    Then¡ª


    Vallos extended his hand, summoning his own beast.


    Cindarox.


    A big lizard with flaming limbs.


    Vallos then smirked.


    "Now, with this, do you still think you can escape?"


    Lucius didn''t move and flinch.


    Instead, he smirked again.


    "Liora."


    Liora, who had been leaning lazily against the chair, finally stood up.


    She stretched her arms, her eyes gleaming with amusement.


    "Yeah?"


    Lucius waved his hand dismissively.


    "Handle them."


    Liora rolled her shoulders, then casually glanced at the summoned beasts.


    He analyzed them for a moment before chuckling.


    "Hah... I see."


    Vallos raised his eyebrow.


    "What? Getting nervous?"


    Liora grinned, stepping forward.


    "Nervous? No. I was just taking a good look before crushing them."


    She cracked her knuckles.


    "Sure, I''ll handle them."


    Vallos smirked. "Don''t think we''ll back down just because you''re a girl."


    Liora''s grin turned sharp, almost predatory.


    She took another step forward, flames flickering around her fingertips.


    "Oh? Don''t think of me as a girl."


    Her eyes burned fiercely.


    "Think of me as an Alpha."


    The battle was about to begin.


    ---


    Vallos frowned, his eyes narrowing as he noticed the fire dancing at Liora''s fingertips.


    "So, you''re a Beast King... but don''t think that means you can defeat us."


    He quickly gestured to his guards, barking out orders.


    "Attack. Now."


    The guards nodded immediately and commanded their Scaltors.


    "Use Tail Blade Strike!"


    "Follow up with Tremor Fang!"


    The Scaltors hissed, whipping their steel tails through the air and lashed their steel fangs toward Liora.


    Meanwhile, Vallos stepped forward.


    "Ignition Claws! Burn yourself, Cindarox!"


    Cindarox let out a roar, its veins pulsing violently as it suddenly engulfed itself in flames.


    Its claws burned bright, its entire body turning into a living flame as it charged at Liora.


    The heat was suffocating or at least, it should have been.


    But¡ª


    Liora didn''t move.


    She didn''t even acknowledge the incoming attacks.


    Instead¡ª


    She simply smirked.


    And then¡ª


    She raised her hands, flames bursting forth, shaping themselves into massive silver fire claws.


    "Let''s see if you can handle this."


    She swung her claws forward.


    And in an instant¡ª


    The first Scaltor was gone.


    Its reinforced steel-like scales?


    Melted instantly.


    Its body didn''t even have the chance to resist.


    The moment Liora''s silver flames touched it, the entire beast liquefied.


    The second Scaltor lunged, jaws wide open¡ª


    But Liora twisted mid-air, her claws slicing through its skull.


    Its fangs melted before they could even get close.


    The remnants of its body collapsed into molten steel, its limbs twitching as it was reduced to nothing.


    The guards froze.


    "What... the hell?!"


    "Our Scaltors... they just¡ª"


    "They''re gone?!"


    Liora landed gracefully, her eyes flashing.


    "Tch. Weak."


    But¡ª


    She suddenly turned her attention to Cindarox, the supposedly ''blazing'' beast.


    And she laughed.


    Not because she was impressed.


    But because¡ª


    Its heat felt cold.


    Liora smirked.


    "Is that all? You''re supposed to be a fire-type beast?"


    Cindarox let out a roar, slamming its burning claws into the ground, sending waves of heat across the room.


    But¡ª


    The flames barely even reached her.


    She snorted, shaking her head.


    "That''s not even warm."


    Vallos froze, his eyes widening in realization.


    "Impossible..."


    Liora grinned, cracking her knuckles as her flames roared even stronger.


    "My turn."


    She launched forward.


    Cindarox roared, its flaming body surging with heat as it lunged at Liora with everything it had.


    But¡ª


    Liora moved faster than it.


    In a blink, she was already in front of the massive beast.


    Before Cindarox could even react¡ª


    She grabbed it.


    Her silver flame claws clamped down around its snout.


    Her grip was so tight that the beast instantly frozen.


    The supposed unstoppable flames of Cindarox?


    They were turned off.


    The great fire beast of Vallos was silenced in a single grip.


    Liora''s eyes glowed, her smirk widening.


    "Pathetic."


    Vallos staggered back. His face was in shock.


    ---


    Lucius smirked, leaning back as he activated the voice transmission.


    "Hello? Is this connected...? Ah, it must be."


    The crowd fell silent.


    Everyone, including Varen, Vallos, and every noble in attendance.


    All of them turned toward the speakers, eyes widening in shock.


    "Alright then. Let me introduce myself properly."


    A brief pause. It was just enough to let the tension build.


    Then, Lucius''s voice rang out.


    "My name is Lord L, the owner of Luxoria Castle."


    The crowd erupted in whispers.


    "Lord L?! The mysterious head of Luxoria Castle?!"


    "He''s actually speaking directly? Here?!"


    "What the hell is happening?"


    Varen was enraged as his grip on the podium tightened. His eyes were locked upward.


    Lucius chuckled, his voice filled with amusement.


    "By the way... Director Varen, isn''t it?"


    He paused for dramatic effect.


    "Good job on auctioning Titanhoof."


    Varen''s jaw clenched, his expression sour.


    Lucius continued.


    "But still... wasn''t it a bit too cheap?"


    The crowd gasped.


    Sylvia smirked from her VIP suite, sipping her wine.


    Raiven chuckled under his breath, amused by the chaos.


    Lucius pressed on.


    "Selling an SS-Rank beast at that price... I must say, that wasn''t your best moment."


    Varen''s breath came out ragged, his composure cracking.


    Lucius wasn''t done.


    "And... for you to send guards to my room?"


    The crowd erupted again, gasping in shock.


    "Wait, what?! They sent guards to his room?!"


    "That''s a declaration of war... right?"


    Lucius''s chuckle echoed through the hall.


    "It''s not that I mind, really. But next time, please send stronger ones."


    The crowd froze.


    And then¡ª


    Liora''s voice suddenly appeared through the transmission.


    "Yeah, seriously. I barely even broke a sweat."


    Lucius grinned.


    "Right? Just one of my maids handled them all effortlessly."


    His voice turned into mocking.


    "So please, for the sake of Beast Castle''s reputation, improve your security, okay?"


    Luna burst into laughter in the background.


    Loreia chuckled, shaking her head.


    Varen, on the other hand, was boiling in anger.


    Lucius wasn''t done.


    "And finally¡ª"


    His voice shifted, addressing the entire audience.


    "For those of you in attendance... let me remind you."


    He paused for a moment.


    "In two days, Luxoria Castle will be auctioning an SS-Rank beast... one that is far better than Titanhoof."


    Lucius''s voice then turned cold.


    "But let me make one thing clear."


    His eyes glowed, his smirk turning deadly.


    "The weak are not welcome."


    Silence.

 Chapter 314: Panic at the Auction

    The auction hall was in chaos.


    The moment Lord L''s voice transmission ended, the entire room exploded with whispers.


    Nobles, warriors, and high-ranking officials murmured among themselves.


    They were still stunned by what had just happened.


    "Did that really just happen?"


    "He mocked Varen to his face, called his auction a failure, and then just... left?"


    "No, no, forget Varen! Did you hear what he said to the audience?! He outright mocked us!"


    A wealthy merchant slammed his fist on the table, his face red with frustration.


    "That arrogant bastard! He just called everyone weak!"


    Another noble, an experienced beast tamer, let out a chuckle.


    "You have to admit... he has guts."


    His friend, an older warrior, laughed and shook his head.


    "Guts? That''s not just guts. That''s madness. He openly insulted his own future customers."


    The younger, less experienced nobles fumed.


    "Who the hell does he think he is?! If he wants people to buy his beasts, why insult them first?!"


    "Yeah! Who would go to his auction after being called weak?!"


    But¡ª


    Some of the seasoned elites smirked.


    "You fools don''t get it, do you?"


    "What do you mean?"


    The older noble leaned back, crossing his arms with a smirk.


    "Lord L isn''t just mocking us. He''s setting a challenge."


    The crowd froze.


    Another high-ranking beast tamer nodded in agreement.


    "Think about it. Instead of begging for customers, he''s doing the opposite."


    "He''s saying¡ªif you''re strong enough, come. If you''re not, stay away."


    "Tch... that''s crazy..."


    "Yeah. And that''s exactly why people will go."


    Another warrior let out a deep chuckle.


    "Everyone in this hall has pride. After today, people will be desperate to prove themselves worthy."


    A rich merchant frowned, his face still red.


    "But what if people refuse out of spite? Wouldn''t that backfire on him?"


    A noble scoffed.


    "Don''t be stupid. If Luxoria Castle really has another SS-Rank beast better than Titanhoof, people won''t care about the insult. They''ll want the beast."


    Sylvia Aurelius, still watching from her VIP suite, smirked.


    "He''s good."


    She twirled her wine glass, amusement in her eyes.


    "Very good."


    Raiven Valefor, still calm as ever, chuckled.


    "Lord L just embarrassed Varen in his own house, mocked his own customers, and still managed to make them want his product."


    He shook his head.


    "That''s not arrogance. That''s strategy."


    Varen, still frozen at the auction stage, his face paled with rage.


    He had heard every whisper, every laugh, every insult thrown at him.


    His hands clenched so tightly that they turned white.


    He had just been humiliated.


    Publicly.


    but suddenly, the voice transmission was turned back on.


    The moment the audience heard the familiar voice again, their bodies tensed.


    Lord L only chuckled and amused.


    "Ah, I almost forgot. Before I leave... I should give you all a little gift for your wonderful hospitality."


    The crowd stiffened, a sense of unease creeping into their bones.


    Then¡ª


    CRASH!


    Lord L''s VIP room''s glass wall was broken by something.


    The object landed dead center in the auction hall with a loud THUD.


    A red crystal.


    It pulsed ominously, the glow inside it swirling with an unknown energy.


    The moment it landed, the audience instinctively stepped back.


    Varen''s eyes widened as he glared at the crystal.


    "What the hell is that?!"


    Lord L''s voice echoed once again.


    "Oh, that? That''s just my specially crafted bomb."


    The room fell silent.


    Even Raiven and Sylvia, who had been enjoying the chaos, immediately frowned.


    "A... bomb?" Sylvia muttered.


    Lord L''s voice remained relaxed.


    "You better get out before it explodes in five minutes."


    The crowd snapped.


    "WHAT?!"


    "A BOMB?!"


    Lord L continued, unbothered.


    "If you die here, well... too bad. That just means you won''t get to attend my next auction."


    A long pause.


    Then¡ª


    The entire auction hall erupted into chaos.


    "RUN!"


    "GET OUT OF HERE!"


    "DAMN THAT BASTARD!"


    People scrambled toward the exits, pushing and shoving to escape.


    Some tried to grab valuables, others just bolted without a second thought.


    Even high-ranking nobles like Raiven and Sylvia hesitated for a moment before stepping back.


    Raiven smirked slightly.


    "He really doesn''t hold back, does he?"


    Sylvia sighed, crossing her arms.


    "Now, I have to leave like peasants, thanks to him."


    She turned toward her guards.


    "Prepare my escape route. I''m not getting caught up in this mess."


    ---


    Lucius turned toward Liora, still smirking.


    "Well, that should keep them busy."


    Liora cracked her knuckles, her eyes glowing fiercely.


    "Yeah, but let me finish one last thing."


    She suddenly gripped Cindarox''s burning jaw.


    Vallos''s eyes widened.


    "Wait¡ª!"


    CRACK!


    With a single tight squeeze, Cindarox''s flaming body shattered.


    The fire snuffed out instantly, its veins turning cold as the beast collapsed lifelessly.


    Vallos stared in shock.


    His beast was defeated like nothing.


    "Tch. Weak." Liora muttered.


    Lucius chuckled, turning back toward Vallos.


    "Well, it''s been fun. But we have places to be."


    He raised his hand.


    "Goodbye."


    Before Vallos could even react¡ª


    Lucius and his team vanished.


    Gone.


    Vallos stood frozen, staring at his dead beast.


    His fists clenched tightly, his entire body shaking in anger.


    Varen, still standing on stage, his face red with fury, gritted his teeth.


    His voice roared through the auction hall.


    "DAMN YOU, LORD L!!"


    His furious shout echoed.


    But the only ones who heard it were the scattered remains of his humiliated auction.


    ---


    Lucius, Liora, Luna and Loreia had appeared in the main hall of Luxoria Mansion.


    For a moment, there was silence.


    Then¡ª


    Luna burst out laughing.


    "PFFT¡ªDID YOU SEE HIS FACE?!"


    She clutched her stomach, her eyes tearing up from laughter as she nearly collapsed onto the couch.


    "Varen looked like he was about to explode!"


    Liora grinned, shaking her head as she leaned against the wall.


    "Forget Varen. Did you see how those nobles ran? Acting all high and mighty one second, then bolting for their lives the next."


    She mimicked their panic, waving her arms dramatically.


    "Oh no, Lord L''s going to kill us all! Hahaha!"


    Loreia, who had remained calm the whole time, finally smirked.


    "Well, it''s official. We just humiliated Beast Castle in front of the entire industry."


    Lucius only chuckled.


    "Of course we did. That was the plan."

 Chapter 315: Beast Castle’s Humiliation

    Lucius looked at others and smirked.


    "Now, everyone knows that Beast Castle isn''t the dominant force anymore."


    Luna, still laughing, wiped a tear from her eye.


    "Of course, it is. I can''t help but to laugh, remembering the chaos."


    Liora crossed her arms, grinning.


    "Don''t forget, they now know that Luxoria Castle is watching them."


    Loreia leaned back, smirking.


    "And more importantly, they know they can''t do a damn thing about it."


    Lucius laughed, turning toward his team.


    "Exactly."


    He walked forward, stepping into the center of the room.


    "Beast Castle''s pride has been shattered."


    He tilted his head slightly.


    "They''ll retaliate. They have to."


    Liora cracked her knuckles.


    "Let them try."


    Luna stretched lazily, yawning.


    "Yeah, yeah. We can crush them later. But for now... let''s just enjoy the chaos."


    Loreia chuckled, glancing at her phone.


    "Speaking of chaos... the Beast Castle forums are losing their minds right now."


    Lucius sat down in his lavish chair, resting his chin on his hand.


    "Good."


    He smirked, his eyes gleaming with amusement.


    "Let''s see how much damage we''ve done."


    ---


    The chaos in the auction hall was slowly settling, but Varen''s anger only grew stronger.


    The supposed bomb still sat in the center of the hall, pulsing ominously.


    But nothing had happened yet.


    Varen turned toward an experienced beast tamer who had coincidentally been present during the auction.


    The tamer was a veteran, a man known for his mastery over energy-based beasts.


    "Sir! Can you stop the bomb?!"


    The tamer turned to him, his face calm.


    Then¡ªhe simply shook his head.


    Varen''s expression darkened further.


    "What do you mean? This place is the main hall of Beast Castle!"


    His voice rose in frustration.


    "I cannot let it be destroyed! If it''s money you need, I''ll pay you¡ªjust stop it!"


    The tamer sighed, turning to face him fully.


    He was calm, but a bit irritated.


    "I''m not shaking my head because I''m not capable."


    He folded his arms, his eyes flickering with mild annoyance.


    "I''m shaking my head because..."


    He gestured toward the so-called ''bomb''.


    "That''s not a bomb."


    The entire audience who had just barely returned to the hall froze.


    "What?"


    The tamer scoffed.


    "It''s just a crystal that pulses brightly."


    Varen''s entire body stiffened.


    For a brief second, he couldn''t process what he just heard.


    Then¡ªhis rage exploded.


    "DAMN YOU, LORD L! HOW DARE YOU PLAY US LIKE THIS?!"


    His furious roar echoed through the hall, shaking the walls.


    The audience, who had just barely returned, all turned toward the crystal.


    They were in disbelief.


    "What the hell...?! The crystal is a fake bomb?!"


    "We ran for NOTHING?!"


    "That bastard tricked the entire auction hall!"


    Some people were furious¡ªbut others...


    They were laughing.


    One of the wealthier tamers leaned against a column, shaking his head with a grin.


    "Damn. This Lord L guy is ruthless."


    A younger noble, who had fled the hall in terror, groaned.


    "I panicked for nothing. What kind of insane person fakes a bomb just to humiliate his rival?"


    The whispers didn''t stop.


    And soon, Beastagram exploded with posts.


    ---


    Trending on Beastagram


    #LordLStrikesAgain ¨C 3.2M Posts


    #FakeBombGate ¨C 2.9M Posts


    #BeastCastleEmbarrassment ¨C 1.7M Posts


    #LuxoriaCastleAuction ¨C 5.4M Posts


    ---


    @TamerKing98


    "I swear, Lord L is the pet industry''s greatest villain. Man walked into Beast Castle''s house, ate their food, spit in their faces, and left while laughing."


    @AureliusNoble


    "Beast Castle got PLAYED. LMAO. Lord L just made their director lose his damn mind. #FakeBombGate"


    @WarriorTamer_22


    "The real highlight of the auction wasn''t Titanhoof. It was watching Varen''s face turn purple from rage. #BeastCastleEmbarrassment"


    @BeastAuctionFanatic


    "Luxoria Castle''s next auction is in two days. That''s all I care about now. Beast Castle is finished."


    ---


    Back in the auction hall, Varen was in rage as he read the comments flooding social media.


    His reputation...


    His auction...


    His dignity...


    All of it was ruined.


    One of his guards reluctantly spoke.


    "S-Sir... what should we do now?"


    Varen''s face twisted, his eyes burning with pure hatred.


    "We make Luxoria Castle PAY."


    The war between Beast Castle and Luxoria Castle had officially escalated.


    ---


    Back in Luxoria Castle, the room was filled with laughters.


    Luna, Liora, and Loreia were lounging around, scrolling through Beastagram.


    They were reading the endless stream of mocking comments directed at Beast Castle.


    Luna leaned forward, grinning as she turned toward Lucius.


    "Master, why didn''t you just use a real bomb instead?"


    Lucius, who was sipping tea, paused.


    He then gave her a flat look.


    "Luna, don''t be stupid."


    Luna snickered, raising her hands playfully.


    "I mean, I''m just saying¡ªit would''ve been way funnier if something actually exploded."


    Lucius sighed, shaking his head.


    "They were all future customers."


    He smirked, setting down his cup.


    "I can''t kill them, can I?"


    Liora grinned, leaning against the couch.


    "So that was just a little prank, huh?"


    Lucius grinned back.


    "Of course."


    He leaned back, his eyes glowing with satisfaction.


    "But because of that ''small prank''¡ªBeast Castle was truly embarrassed."


    Loreia chuckled, tossing her phone on the table.


    "Embarrassed? More like publicly humiliated. That forum is still roasting them."


    Luna laughed, kicking her feet up.


    "I don''t even know what''s funnier¡ªVaren''s reaction, or the fact that they actually believed it was real."


    Liora smirked, cracking her knuckles.


    "I was hoping one of them would pass out from fear. That would''ve made it even better."


    Lucius smirked, tapping his fingers against the armrest.


    "What''s important is that now... they know who they''re dealing with."


    He tilted his head slightly, his smirk deepening.


    "And this was just the beginning."


    Luna stretched lazily, yawning.


    "Yeah, yeah. But seriously, Master... next time, can we actually blow something up? Just a little?"


    Lucius chuckled.


    "If they push me far enough, sure."


    Liora grinned.


    "Then let''s make sure they do."


    The war between Luxoria Castle and Beast Castle had only just begun.


    And Lucius?


    He was having the time of his life.


    Loreia''s phone then buzzed, drawing her attention.


    She glanced at the screen, then smirked.


    "Looks like Beast Castle just posted something new."


    Lucius grinned, resting his chin on his hand.


    "Oh? Let''s read it, shall we?"


    The game wasn''t over yet.

 Chapter 316 316: Beast Castle’s Bold Move

    Beast Castle Official Statement


    ANNOUNCEMENT ¨C CHALLENGE ISSUED


    To the esteemed tamers, nobles, and beast traders of the world¡ª


    Beast Castle does not stay silent in the face of provocation.


    We have heard the bold claims of Luxoria Castle.


    And we answer with action.


    In one week, we formally challenge Luxoria Castle to a Beast Match.


    A battle of wild beasts, not controlled by tamers.


    One-on-one. No interference. No tricks. No illusions.


    Winner claims the title of the strongest beast shop in the industry.


    This is not just a match¡ªthis is war.


    Luxoria Castle, if you dare call yourselves the best...


    Prove it.


    We await your response.


    ¡ª Beast Castle Leadership


    #BeastCastleVsLuxoria #BeastWarIncoming #TrueChampionShop


    ---


    The moment Beast Castle''s post went live, the internet erupted again.


    Thousands of users flooded to Beastagram, forums, and social feeds came to comment.


    ---


    @SteelFangTamer


    "OH?! A beast match?! No tamers? This is going to be brutal."


    @NobleWatcher101


    "Beast Castle finally got some backbone after being humiliated."


    @LCLoyalist


    "Luxoria doesn''t even need to reply. Their sold beast alone could melt half their stable."


    @ChaosAuctionFan


    "This is going to be the battle of the year. Wild beast duel for supremacy? LET''S GO."


    @FireHeartedTamers


    "Beast Castle just challenged their own funeral."


    ---


    Loreia glanced at the screen and laughed.


    "They posted it. Beast Castle''s challenging us. One-on-one beast match. Wild, no tamers."


    Lucius leaned back, eyes gleaming.


    "A public challenge, huh? Bold of them."


    Luna grinned. "So? Are we accepting?"


    Lucius glanced toward Loreia, smirking.


    "Post the response. Let''s give them what they want."


    Loreia''s fingers tapped swiftly. Moments later, the reply was live.


    ---


    Luxoria Castle Official Response


    Oh?


    A challenge from Beast Castle?


    A wild beast duel, one-on-one, no tamers involved?


    How exciting.


    We accept.


    Just don''t cry when your beast crumbles before ours.


    And when it''s over¡ª


    Try not to disappear from the industry.


    We''d hate for this to be your last public appearance.


    ¡ª Lord L


    #Accepted #LuxoriaDominance #TheRealStronghold


    ---


    Luxoria Castle''s post immediately made the internet explode again.


    It was flooded with reactions in a matter of minutes.


    ---


    @VoidSerpent_92


    "DID HE JUST TELL THEM NOT TO DISAPPEAR?!"


    @AuctionBloodline


    "Lord L doesn''t just accept a challenge. He crushes egos while doing it."


    @TamerQueenLyla


    "''We''d hate for this to be your last public appearance''¡ªBRUH that''s not a response, that''s a death sentence."


    @CriticOfPower


    "Luxoria just accepted with the kind of energy that makes the other side rethink everything."


    @ShadowTamer13


    "Honestly Beast Castle should''ve just taken the L quietly. Now they''re gonna get erased in front of the whole world."


    @TameItOrBurn


    "Lord L is the final boss of the beast industry. Varen''s playing on tutorial difficulty."


    ---


    Inside Luxoria Castle''s hall, the team watched the reactions pour in.


    Luna was lauhging hard.


    "These comments are killing me. They''re treating this like Beast Castle already lost."


    Liora smirked.


    "Because they did. They just don''t know it yet."


    Loreia scrolled through with a grin.


    "The public''s already decided the winner, and the battle hasn''t even started."


    Lucius stood, hands in his pockets.


    "Good. Let them keep watching."


    He glanced toward the screens around the room.


    "Because when the match begins, I''ll make sure they don''t just lose..."


    His smirk sharpened.


    "They''ll wish they never challenged us at all."


    ---


    Liora turned toward Lucius, stretching slightly.


    "So now that we''ve accepted the challenge... have you thought about which beast we''ll send to fight them?"


    Lucius tapped his finger against his chin, then smirked.


    "We''ll think about that later. For now, let''s focus on the auction in two days."


    Luna tilted her head.


    "Didn''t we already have Dreadmaw ready for the show?"


    Lucius chuckled, his eyes gleaming.


    "Of course not. That alone isn''t enough."


    He stood slowly, looking at the live feeds of their website.


    "Now that Beast Castle has challenged us, we need to raise the bar. Let''s make this auction unforgettable."


    Loreia nodded, already pulling up notes on her tablet.


    "I see... So we''re going to humiliate them before the match even begins. What do you have in mind?"


    Lucius turned his gaze toward Liora, smirking.


    "Liora. Can you catch another SS-Rank beast before the auction?"


    Liora grinned.


    "I figured you''d ask. What type are you thinking this time?"


    Lucius replied smoothly,


    "If possible, a flying-type or water-type. Something that contrasts Dreadmaw''s land brute force."


    Liora cracked her knuckles and nodded."Alright. I''ll see what I can find."


    Without wasting another moment, she stepped outside, raising her hand.


    Leon materialized beside her and transformed.


    His body morphed into a sleek silver-flame jetpack, locking perfectly onto Liora''s back.


    Flames roared beneath her feet.


    "See you all soon. I''ll bring something they won''t forget."


    And with a burst of wind and fire, Liora shot into the sky, hunting her next beast.


    ---


    Lucius then turned around and called Liline.


    "Liline. Come here."


    In moments, Liline appeared, standing gracefully before him.


    "Yes, Master."


    Lucius gave a slow, satisfied smirk.


    "It''s time I hacked you again. I''ve thought of something very useful."


    Liline''s eyes sparkled faintly with curiosity.


    "As always, I am ready. What would you have me become?"


    Lucius turned toward the air, focusing.


    "System. Hack Liline and grant her a new ability. Something that will revolutionize our business."


    Lucius pointed at his own head. "Just read my idea in my head."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Ability Creation]


    [Target: Liline]


    [New Ability Granted:]


    [Silver Containment Box]


    [Creates a sealed silver box capable of containing beasts based on rank]


    [Containment Duration:]


    [SS-Rank Beast ¡ú 1 Day]


    [S-Rank Beast ¡ú 1 Week]


    [A-Rank Beast ¡ú 1 Month]


    [B,C,D,E,F-Rank Beast ¡ú 1 Month+]


    [Includes powerful enchantments that prevent any form of escape until the duration expires]


    [Cost Required: 500,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Liline closed her eyes as the new ability was granted to her.


    "I feel it, Master. The ability has been integrated."


    Lucius grinned, eyes gleaming.


    "Perfect. Now customers can actually take their beasts home, SS-Rank or not. And those containment enchantments will guarantee control."


    Luna whistled.


    "That''s a huge advantage over Beast Castle. They don''t even let customers leave without signing tons of paperwork first."


    Loreia nodded while reviewing logistics on her tablet.


    "This solves the problem of buyers transporting dangerous beasts. It''ll increase trust and our popularity."


    Lucius chuckled.


    "Exactly. This may have cost half a billion hack points... but with this?"


    He leaned back in his seat.


    "We''re not just going to defeat Beast Castle¡ªwe''re going to erase their reason to exist."

 Chapter 317 317: Skyfang Ravine

    In his office, Varen was reading the reply that was posted by Lord L.


    The words played over and over in his mind:


    "Try not to disappear from the industry."


    His hands shook with rage.


    "DAMN YOU, LORD L!"


    He slammed his fist onto his table, shattering the corner.


    One of the nearby guards flinched, hesitating before stepping back.


    "VALLOS!"


    Within seconds, Vallos appeared with a grim expression.


    "Yes, Director."


    Varen pointed a shaking finger toward him.


    "Go. Contact the strongest beast tamer you can find¡ªanyone!"


    "I don''t care what it costs. I want the best. I want a beast that will wipe Luxoria Castle off the map."


    Vallos bowed his head slightly.


    "Understood, sir. I''ll begin the search immediately."


    Varen''s voice was sharp and venomous.


    "Luxoria... you dared to humiliate me in my own house."


    He stared into the distance.


    "You will pay for crossing me. I swear it."


    Vallos turned, clenching his own fist as he walked away.


    "That silver-haired girl... she embarrassed me in front of everyone."


    He muttered under his breath, "Stupid girl... next time, I''ll be ready. I''ll break you myself."


    The storm brewing inside Beast Castle was rising.


    And vengeance was on its way.


    ---


    Liora soared high above the forest, constantly scanning for movement below.


    "Tch... finding another SS-Rank beast is harder than I thought."


    She glanced down at her phone, checking the map loaded onto her phone.


    "I''ve already scouted the western forest, the obsidian hills, and the crater basin..."


    Nothing.


    Not even a proper S-Rank challenge.


    She sighed¡ªuntil something caught her eye.


    A specific region blinking red on her screen.


    "Skyfang Ravine...?"


    Her lips curled into a grin.


    She tapped into the info logs, reading aloud to herself as she flew.


    "An ancient aerial beast territory."


    "Known for its massive vertical air tunnels, hidden caves, and razor-thin ledges."


    Her eyes lit up with interest.


    "Winds here are so violent they can shear through planes like butter..."


    She looked up from her screen and narrowed her eyes at the jagged ridge in the distance.


    It was shrouded by dense fog and whirling air currents.


    "A forbidden zone filled with untamed flying beasts..."


    She smirked, her grip tightening slightly.


    "Now that... sounds like a good place to hunt."


    With a burst of speed, the jetpack roared, and Liora dove straight toward the deadly winds of Skyfang Ravine¡ª


    Where only the strongest flying beasts dared to rule the skies.


    ---


    The wind howled louder as Liora approached the ravine.


    She hovered just above the entrance, letting the air currents slam into her.


    With Leon protecting him, the air currents felt like breeze to her.


    She checked the scanner again¡ªno readable signals. Just static.


    "No tracking, no energy pings... even satellites avoid this place."


    Then something flickered.


    Not on the radar¡ªbut in her instincts.


    A gust slammed into her from the side.


    She didn''t flinch.


    Instead, she told Leon to transform back into her clothes.


    She then let herself drop, free-falling into the vertical chasm.


    Wings. Somewhere below. She didn''t see them, but she felt them.


    A predator was watching.


    She smirked. "Good."


    Leon then transformed into wings, helping her to descend slowly.


    The moment she arrived on the ground, the wind shrieked past her ears like a living thing.


    She crouched, steadying herself.


    Silence followed. Then¡ªone deep beat of wings.


    She turned sharply. Nothing.


    But the wind changed direction.


    Something massive had moved.


    Liora grinned and rolled her shoulders.


    "Come on. Show me what made this place your kingdom."


    A screech echoed through the canyon¡ªlong, high-pitched, almost metallic.


    Her eyes locked onto the darkness across the ravine.


    Movement. A shadow spread from within the fog, wings dragging across the cliff walls.


    She didn''t wait.


    She launched herself forward, leaping from the ledge and flew again with Leon''s wings.


    "Let''s see if you''re worth catching."


    ---


    Liora flew through the ravine, weaving between sharp cliffs and tunnels.


    The massive shadow ahead of her moved again.


    It was faster this time, going up into the fog.


    She grit her teeth.


    "It''s going up..."


    Leon flapped its wings, but even at full power, she was losing ground.


    Then it broke through the fog and ascended into open sky.


    Liora slowed to a hover near the top ledge, eyes fixed on the enormous shape.


    "...It''s bigger than I thought."


    She clenched her fist. Fighting something like that in open air would be a hassle.


    She turned toward her wings which was Leon.


    "Leon. Fuse with me."


    Leon nodded and merged into her body mid-air.


    Her armor reshaped around the fusion, growing sharper, lighter.


    Wings of energy burst from her back.


    She cracked her neck once and smirked.


    "Perfect."


    With a single motion, she flew upward, tearing past the sky as the ravine vanished below.


    Then she saw it.


    The beast was circling just above the cloudline.


    Its wings stretched wider than a battleship.


    It was over fifty meters across.


    Its entire body was wrapped in arcs of living lightning.


    Thunder pulsed from its chest with every flap, each beat sending shockwaves through the air.


    "A Sky Raptor..."


    Her eyes were wide with excitement.


    It turned slowly, revealing a long neck lined with jagged feathers.


    Her lips curled into a grin.


    "Oh yeah. This is it."


    She clenched her fists tightly.


    "This will be the perfect second beast for our auction."


    The raptor roared, thunder rolling across the sky.


    And Liora shot toward it, smiling as the clouds lit up with lightning.


    She then focused her eyes. "Let''s scan you first, shall we?"


    She used her system to see the data of the beast in front of her.


    ---


    [Name: Zephyron]


    [Species: Stormborn Sky Raptor]


    [Rank: Sovereign-Tier]


    [Element: Wind and Lightning]


    ---


    [Stats:]


    [Str: SS]


    [Vit: SS]


    [Agi: SS]


    [Int: SS]


    ---


    [Abilities:]


    [Skybreaker Cyclone ¨C A single wingbeat creates a vortex strong enough to tear up terrain and scatter enemies midair.]


    [Thunderstorm Lance ¨C Fires a concentrated lightning blast that pierces magic shields and war-beast armor.]


    [Gale Slipstream ¨C Instantly shifts position mid-flight, dodging attacks or vanishing into cloud cover.]


    [Sovereign''s Descent ¨C Dives at supersonic speed, striking with explosive wind and thunder on impact.]


    [Cloudveil Cloak ¨C Wraps in mist to become undetectable by spells, radar, or aerial sensors.]


    ---


    Liora smirked as she read it.


    "You''re even stronger than Dreadmaw."


    Liora clenched her fists.


    "Good. That means you''re worthy."


    Her gaze locked onto Zephyron''s golden eyes as the beast turned toward her.


    "This one''s perfect. Master will want you alive¡ªand the crowd at the auction? They''ll lose their minds."


    The sky split with thunder.


    Liora launched forward without hesitation.

 Chapter 318 318: One Spear. One Thunder Lance.

    Liora smirked as she spread her arms.


    "Now... let''s test your power, shall we?"


    Flames surged from her palm that soon solidified into a huge weapon.


    It was a spear that was taller than she was, forged from silver sun and Luxorite.


    "Let''s see if you can withstand this."


    With a twist of her arm, she hurled it.


    The Silver Sun Spear tore through the sky toward Zephyron.


    It already saw the spear coming toward its body.


    It flapped its wings inward as its feathers lit up with thunder energy.


    A huge bolt shaped like a lightning lance fired from its beak, roaring through the sky to intercept the spear.


    The two projectiles collided.


    The explosion lit the sky as clouds vaporized in an instant.


    But only one remained.


    The Silver Sun Spear kept going.


    It shattered through the thunder lance like it was made of glass.


    Zephyron''s eyes widened.


    It twisted mid-air and tilted its massive body, narrowly dodging the oncoming spear.


    Liora watched it reposition with flawless control, its speed unnatural for its size.


    She grinned wider.


    "You really are the sovereign of the skies. Even with a body that massive, you move like smoke."


    Her hands lit up again.


    More silver fire swirling around her arms, shaping, bending.


    "This is going to be fun."


    Another weapon began forming in her palm.


    "There''s a lot I want to try on you."


    She didn''t wait.


    In a blink, the flames twisted into a shoulder-mounted miniguns.


    Whrrr¡ªCHAK-CHAK-CHAK!


    A hail of silver plasma bullets tore through the sky, chasing Zephyron''s movement.


    The beast screeched, eyes flashing. In a single beat, it vanished once again.


    Wind bent unnaturally.


    Liora''s eyes snapped left.


    There.


    She flipped backward mid-air and swapped weapons instantly.


    Leon responding to her thoughts. The minigun dissolved into twin rail cannons locked along her forearms.


    She braced. Fired.


    BOOM¡ªBOOM¡ª


    Zephyron soon reappeared in the clouds and twisted its body.


    But one of the shots managed to graze its wings.


    It roared in anger as it began to counterattack.


    Zephyron opened its beak, trying to generate another Thunder Lance.


    Liora twisted mid-air, forming a long silver sniper rifle mid-spin.


    She didn''t dodge.


    She pulled the trigger.


    CRACK.


    The bullet struck the center of the lightning beam mid-path.


    BOOM.


    A explosion burst between them, energy waves slamming outward.


    She dropped low, flames surging from her back as Leon adjusted her flight.


    Her sniper vanished, morphing into a massive rocket launcher on her shoulder.


    "Try this."


    The launcher fired¡ªa gleaming silver warhead going toward it.


    Zephyron didn''t dodge.


    It vanished.


    Gale Slipstream¡ªagain.


    But Liora was already turning.


    "Caught you."


    She pointed a finger¡ªLeon formed a mini-turret on her arm and fired a secondary shot just as Zephyron rematerialized.


    The blast hit the side of its body, sending the monster tumbling through the clouds.


    It roared in frustration¡ªand then disappeared into mist.


    The sky fell silent.


    She hovered still, rotating slowly, her visor scanning the air.


    Then¡ª


    A gust.


    A flash of lightning¡ª


    Liora''s eyes widened.


    "Here it comes."


    Zephyron dived directly through Liora, its body wrapped in storm energy.


    Liora didn''t move.


    Instead, she raised both hands.


    "Leon. Transform."


    The silver armor exploded outward.


    A massive mech suit formed around her in an instant.


    It was a bulky one, armed with missiles, chainguns, and twin plasma sabers.


    She caught the dive.


    Liora''s silver flames burned hot through the mech''s core. Zephyron shrieked, electricity crackling across its wings.


    They were then separated.


    Liora skidded back through the air, her thrusters howling.


    She was grinning.


    "You''re strong and it was good."


    She rolled her neck, one hand reshaping into a massive sword.


    "Because I''m not done."


    Zephyron''s eyes narrowed as it saw the blade.


    Sparks flicked across its wings. It let out a sharp cry.


    It was not an attack or a roar. It was something else.


    It hovered, watching her.


    Then it shrieked again, sharper and focused.


    Liora tilted her head. "What... are you trying to say?"


    Leon pulsed. His form shifted slightly. An earpiece slipped into place over her ear.


    "Translating. You can hear it now, master."


    The next sound hit differently.


    It was clear and direct.


    "Why are you here?"


    Liora blinked. "You can talk?"


    The wind howled, but Zephyron stayed still, wings out, eyes locked on her.


    Liora raised her chin. "I want to catch you."


    There was a pause.


    Then¡ª"Damn it. So you''re a hunter."


    Liora smirked. "You could say it like that."


    Zephyron flared its wings wide. "Fine. If you can withstand this next strike... I''ll surrender."


    Liora gripped the sword tighter. "Sure. Let it rip."


    No more words.


    ---


    Zephyron rose higher, wings fully spread, thunder pulsing around them.


    Liora watched from below, eyes narrowed.


    "What are you doing now...?"


    The lightning didn''t scatter. It concentrated.


    A massive spear of thunder began to form above Zephyron''s body. It just kept growing.


    Too long. Too thick. Too heavy-looking for flight.


    It dwarfed the beast holding it.


    Liora''s jaw tightened. "That''s bigger than you."


    Zephyron gripped it in both claws.


    "This is my last strike. I''ve poured everything into this."


    Liora frowned. She could feel the pressure from it. The whole sky shifted with the charge.


    "Damn it. So this is what you meant..."


    She looked down at her own hands.


    "I need to be more serious than before."


    She turned toward her beast. "Leon."


    "I''m ready," Leon replied.


    "Full warform. Right now."


    Silver light exploded around her.


    Plates launched out in pieces, forming one by one.


    A mechanical core, thick armor across the limbs, bladed shoulder fins, twin reactors spinning behind the back.


    Steam hissed from the legs. A full combat mech, fused with her body.


    Liora stepped into it as the last panel locked shut over her chest.


    Inside, everything went silent for a second. Then the display flared.


    Readouts glowed. Power surged.


    She gripped the controls.


    "Now we''re talking."


    Above, Zephyron pulled the thunder lance close. Its wings flared wide.


    "If you can stand against this, I yield. But if you fall¡ªthere will be nothing left to bury."


    Liora stared through the visor. "You''re really going all in."


    "This is what it means to be Sovereign."


    Her hands slid across the controls. Cannons primed. Blades locked into place.


    She exhaled once, steady and sharp.


    "Then I''ll show you what it means to challenge a Luxoria."


    The sky shook.


    Zephyron screamed and dove.


    Thunder tore loose.


    Liora braced.


    "Come on, sovereing of the sky. Let''s end it right here."

 Chapter 319 319: Liora’s New Mech

    Zephyron hurled the huge thunder lance from its body toward Liora.


    Liora who was inside her mech, smirked.


    "Bring it."


    BOOM¡ª


    The lance struck the mech.


    Liora crossed her arms, summoning blade shields to block it.


    The first hit slammed her downward. Her mech skidded through the air.


    "Not enough."


    Zephyron screamed, forcing more power into the lance.


    Liora''s grip tightened.


    "You want a storm?"


    She boosted forward, jets flaring. The mech went straight into the blast.


    CLANG¡ªCRASH¡ª


    The thunder lance was blocked. Her left arm snapped backward, armor peeling. But she kept going.


    Zephyron''s eyes widened.


    "Why won''t you fall?"


    Liora''s voice shot back.


    "Because I''m not here to lose."


    The right arm shifted. Leon formed a new weapon mid-motion.


    A twin-pronged breaker hammer.


    She swung.


    CRACK.


    The hammer struck the base of the thunder lance.


    BOOM¡ª


    The weapon shattered.


    Fragments of pure lightning exploded across the sky.


    Zephyron flinched midair, body twitching from the energy backlash.


    Liora didn''t stop.


    She surged forward, grabbing the beast by the neck with the mech''s left arm.


    "You said one strike."


    Zephyron''s body tensed.


    Liora pulled back her hammer.


    "This is mine now."


    SLAM¡ª


    She crashed the weapon into its chest.


    Lightning scattered. Wings flailed. The beast dropped.


    Liora dove after it.


    "Leon. Bind mode."


    Silver chains shot out from the mech''s back, wrapping around the falling raptor.


    Zephyron growled, but didn''t resist.


    "You won."


    Liora hovered above it, mech sparking, half-damaged, still active.


    "Damn right, I did."


    The chains held tight. The sky fell quiet.


    Zephyron looked up.


    "I thought you were just another hunter."


    Liora hovered above, her silver mech steaming.


    "I''m not ''another'' anything."


    Zephyron coughed out a breath of smoke.


    "...You fight like a monster."


    "I take that as a compliment."


    "...You didn''t kill me."


    "I only kill what I don''t need."


    Zephyron''s eyes narrowed.


    "Then what do you want from me?"


    Liora tilted her head.


    "I want you in a cage. On stage. Breaking the second auction record.


    The raptor growled low.


    "You''re shameless."


    Pause.


    "...Fine. Do it."


    Liora raised her arm.


    "System. Capture."


    ---


    [Beast Capture]


    [Target: Zephyron]


    [Process: Storing within the Eternal Vault]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Chains pulled tighter. Zephyron''s body turned translucent.


    "Hmph... make sure they deserve to see me."


    Lucius smirked. "I will."


    With one final spark of thunder, Zephyron vanished into the vault.


    Liora lowered her arm and exhaled once.


    Her mech vanished into the air.


    She looked down at her empty hands.


    "That''s two."


    She glanced up at the torn clouds.


    "Time to go home."


    ---


    Liora soon appeared in the hall of Luxoria Castle.


    Loreia looked up from the stair rail where she''d been lounging. "Whoa. That was fast."


    Luna turned from the hallway, brows raised. "You''re back already?"


    Liora nodded once, calm as ever.


    Loreia stood, stretching her arms. "Didn''t you take two whole days for Dreadmaw?"


    Luna crossed her arms, a sly smile creeping in. "Exactly. That one had you flying around half the continent."


    Loreia added, "What''d you do this time, scare it into a cage with your face?"


    Liora smirked. "Funny. Keep talking, and I''ll send you to collect the next one."


    Loreia raised her hands. "I''m good."


    Luna tapped her chin. "So... what was it this time? Another oversized lizard?"


    Liora walked past them, voice steady. "No. This time it was an SS-Rank Sky Raptor."


    Loreia blinked. "A flying one this time?"


    Luna crossed her arms, raising her eyebrow. "So, why don''t you catch another lizard kind of beast?"


    Liora shrugged. "Master Lucius said the next one had to be different. So I chose air superiority."


    Loreia leaned in. "What''s it look like? Wings? Beak? Lightning?"


    "You''ll see."


    She stepped forward and raised her hand.


    "I''ll summon it. But first¡ª"


    She tapped the side of her neck. "Liline."


    Liline appeared at the end of the corridor, bowing and grinning.


    "Yes, Miss Liora?"


    "Build another containment cage. Same specs as Dreadmaw''s. Strong, transparent."


    Liline tilted her head. "For something big, I assume?"


    Liora met her gaze. "Very."


    Liline nodded once. "Understood. Preparing now."


    She vanished again.


    Loreia crossed her arms and leaned back against the railing. "How big we talkin''? Like Vornis big or...?"


    "Bigger."


    Luna smirked. "Should''ve brought popcorn."


    Liora stood still, arms crossed, watching as construction units deployed from the floor.


    Plates unfolded, supports locked into place.


    In seconds, the base of the containment zone was built, rising tall with smooth transparency like Dreadmaw''s cage.


    "Fast," she muttered.


    Liline reappeared beside it, inspecting every corner.


    "Just as ordered. Ready when you are."


    Loreia stepped up beside Liora. "Alright then. Let''s see the SS-Rank beast."


    Luna rested her hand on her hip. "Try not to break the roof this time."


    Liora raised one hand.


    "Get ready."


    ---


    Liora locked her eyes on the center of the cage before turning toward the system.


    "System, release Zephyron into this cage."


    ---


    [Eternal Vault: Accessing...]


    [Target: Zephyron]


    [Status: Confirmed. Releasing to Designated Zone.]


    ---


    Liline immediately took one step back. "Brace yourselves."


    A sharp crack split the air before a burst of wind slammed outward from the cage''s center.


    Lightning flashed inside.


    Zephyron appeared in a blink of light, wings spread wide, electricity sparking off every feather.


    Its massive frame loomed tall, tail flicking once with controlled menace.


    The raptor landed hard¡ªBOOM.


    The platform under it shook. Sparks scattered across the cage''s inner walls.


    Loreia stumbled back. "What the¡ª?!"


    She caught herself on the rail, eyes locked on the beast.


    "That thing''s HUGE."


    Luna narrowed her eyes. "Yeah, but not as tall as Dreadmaw."


    Loreia blinked. "Seriously?"


    Luna gestured toward the Dreadmaw cage, not too far from there.


    "Dreadmaw was twenty meters and this one''s... what, seventeen?"


    Liora stepped forward without hesitation. "Seventeen tall. But way wider. The wingspan stretches over fifty."


    Loreia''s jaw dropped. "Fifty?! Like five-zero?!"


    "Five-zero," Liora confirmed.


    Loreia let out a low whistle. "That''s not a beast. That''s a damn aircraft."


    Zephyron shifted slightly, wings twitching as if to emphasize the point.


    Luna tilted her head. "Its weight must be distributed across a glide ratio... No, forget it. I don''t want to know how it even flies."

 Chapter 320 320: The Beast Spoke

    Loreia kept pacing in front of the cage, eyes locked to Zephyron''s massive wings.


    "No, seriously. Fifty meters? That thing could block out the sun."


    Luna nodded, arms folded. "And it''s packed with elemental energy. Wind and lightning together?"


    Liora stood nearby, watching quietly.


    Loreia turned toward her. "So, was it actually hard to beat?"


    Liora shrugged. "It would''ve been. If I wasn''t stronger."


    "Yeah, yeah," Loreia muttered.


    "Always so casual about stuff like this."


    Luna leaned slightly toward the cage. "Its presence alone is even heavier than Dreadmaw''s."


    Loreia pointed at the beast. "And you said it fired some massive thunder lance? Like, end-the-sky level?"


    Liora nodded once. "Its final attack was big enough to destroy half a mountain."


    Loreia looked over her shoulder. "And you tanked it with a mech?"


    Liora gave a short smirk. "One hit. Shattered it."


    Liline, standing just outside the cage, smirked.


    "Strong as it is, I''m still better."


    All three turned to her.


    Luna blinked. "You''re kidding."


    "I''m not," Liline replied with a faint smile.


    "I am the spirit guardian of Luxoria Castle. This place exists because I hold it together."


    Loreia raised her eyebrow. "So you could beat that thing if it got loose?"


    "I wouldn''t need to fight it."


    Liline said simply. "It would kneel."


    Liora raised her brow but said nothing.


    Luna tilted her head, amused. "Arrogant as ever."


    Liline gave a light curtsy. "Confident. There''s a difference."


    Loreia crossed her arms. "You''ve never fought something like that, though."


    Liline didn''t respond. She just smiled.


    Before another word could be thrown, Lucius appeared before them.


    Everyone turned immediately.


    He stopped a few paces from the cage and looked up.


    Zephyron stood perfectly still inside.


    Lucius smirked. "Well, well... Liora. That''s a big flying beast."


    His eyes locked into its massived wings and the arcs of electricity on them.


    "From its size and elemental resonance alone..."


    He paused. "It seems stronger than Dreadmaw."


    Liora gave a nod. "It is."


    Lucius stepped forward. "Good."


    He looked back at her. "I assume it surrendered?"


    "It had no choice."


    Luna stepped to the side, smiling faintly. "Welcome back, Master."


    Loreia grinned. "You''re just in time. Liora brought home a thunderstorm."


    Lucius looked at each of them in turn, his gaze lingering just a second longer on Liora.


    Then he turned back toward the cage.


    Zephyron wasn''t moving. But its eyes were locked onto Liora.


    Lucius narrowed his eyes slightly. "It''s looking at you."


    Luna tilted her head. "Yeah. It''s doing that weird ''I-want-to-say-something'' stare again."


    Loreia whispered, "Is it about to explode?"


    Liora crossed her arms. "No. It wants to talk."


    Lucius glanced sideways. "You understand it?"


    Liora shook her head. "Not exactly. But Leon made something that can."


    Lucius raised his eyebrow. "Leon made what?"


    "A translator," Liora said.


    Lucius blinked. "...It made a translator?"


    Liora smirked. "Master, Leon can form tanks, bazookas, and an entire mech suit mid-air. A translator''s nothing."


    Lucius looked genuinely intrigued for a moment. "I see. Then make one for all of us."


    "Of course."


    Liora raised her hand.


    Silver fire flickered across her palm. Four small, silver earpieces formed instantly.


    She tossed them¡ªone each¡ªto Lucius, Luna, and Loreia, then clipped one into her ear.


    Lucius caught his midair, inspected it, then slid it behind his ear. "Hmph. Efficient."


    Loreia tapped hers, unsure. "Wait. This won''t explode or fry my brain, right?"


    Luna smirked. "You''d survive. Probably."


    Liora ignored them. "It''s synced to Leon''s field. You''ll hear Zephyron if it speaks again."


    Liline stepped beside the group, hands behind her back.


    "No need for me," she said with a smile.


    "As a guardian spirit, I already understand all beast dialects."


    Loreia turned to her. "Okay, seriously? Why are you so overpowered?"


    Liline blinked. "Because I was designed that way."


    Lucius gave a low chuckle. "Then let''s hear what our thunderbird has to say."


    Everyone turned back toward the cage.


    ---


    Zephyron glanced toward Liora.


    "You remember the deal."


    Liora''s gaze sharpened. "I do."


    Lucius glanced sideways. "What deal?"


    Liora spoke without turning. "It told me before surrendering¡ªit would only allow itself to be sold to someone worthy."


    Lucius raised an eyebrow. "Worthy?"


    "It wants a tamer who can match its strength."


    Lucius stepped forward, eyes fixed on Zephyron. "I see."


    He clasped his hands behind his back, posture relaxed. "So... a strong tamer, then."


    Zephyron stood still, wings slowly folding in.


    Lucius smirked. "Don''t worry about that."


    He took another step toward the edge of the platform.


    "Our auction will be the best this city has ever seen."


    Luna let out a quiet breath of amusement. "It already is."


    Lucius continued, "Powerful tamers from every region will be there. Not the arrogant kind, not the spoiled kind¡ªtrue masters."


    Loreia nodded quickly. "Real beast kings. Not the wannabes who cry when a C-Rank roars."


    Lucius glanced at Zephyron. "There will be some who deserve you. I promise that."


    Zephyron didn''t respond¡ªbut it lowered its head slightly, sparks fading from its wings.


    Luna adjusted her earpiece. "Guess that means it accepts the plan."


    Liora crossed her arms. "It better. It already lost."


    Loreia grinned. "I still can''t believe you dragged that thing here in one day."


    Liline tilted her head. "Should I start preparing the main stage, Master?"


    Lucius gave a small nod. "Yes. But before that..."


    He turned toward Zephyron, smirking.


    Then he shifted to face Liora.


    "I have a new plan."


    Liora stepped forward. "What kind?"


    Lucius glanced toward Liline before turning back to her.


    "Take the ten new Vornis and hunt some beasts around our castle."


    Liora raised her eyebrow. "Alive or dead?"


    Lucius shook his head. "Alive."


    Liora frowned. "We''re capturing wild beasts?"


    Lucius nodded once. "Exactly. Bring them back. Just bring a lot."


    He paused, eyes gleaming.


    "I have a really good plan."


    Liora studied him for a second. "Auction-related?"


    Lucius didn''t answer. He just smirked.


    Luna stepped in. "You''re building something."


    Lucius smiled slightly. "You''ll see."


    Loreia leaned closer to Luna. "He''s definitely building something."


    Luna whispered back, "Probably a new layer of psychological warfare."


    Liora turned to go. "Ten Vornis. Wild captures. Understood."

 Chapter 321 321: Mist Panthers

    Liora stood at the edge of the forest, looking at the thick mist in front of her.


    Behind her, ten Vornis units marched in formation silently.


    They moved like soldiers. No roars. No wild steps.


    Just the steady, metallic rhythm of unstoppable machines.


    She glanced over her shoulder and smirked.


    "Didn''t think I''d be commanding an entire steel platoon today."


    None of them responded, of course. They didn''t need to.


    She stepped forward into the fog. The Vornis followed without hesitation.


    "Stay sharp."


    She pointed her finger toward the fog.


    "Scan for movement. Live targets only. If it dies, I''ll scrap your plating."


    The lead Vornis flicked its tail once, acknowledging her order.


    Liora chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. I know you get it."


    The deeper they moved into the forest, the thicker the mist grew.


    Visibility dropped fast, but Liora didn''t slow down.


    She spoke again.


    Mostly to herself, but loud enough for them to hear.


    "Funny. Lucius said you''re perfect machines, but I think you''ve got personalities hiding under all that steel."


    One of the rear Vornis turned its head slightly, tracking something in the trees.


    Liora caught it. "Found something already?"


    The beast didn''t move. Just stared forward, scanning.


    Liora exhaled. "No fear, no hesitation. You really are built different."


    She reached out, tapped one of the Vornis on its shoulder plating.


    "Let''s see how good you are at capturing, not killing."


    The beast''s claws reshaped instantly.


    Blades folding in, spikes retracting, shifting into blunt restraint tools.


    Liora grinned. "There it is."


    She stepped deeper into the fog.


    "Alright, steel soldiers. Time to hunt."


    Suddenly, something went past behind her. Fast. Silent.


    Liora spun and shot her hand back.


    Snap.


    Claws stopped midair. She held something struggling in her grip.


    A panther-like beast hissed, its fur semi-transparent, fading into the mist.


    Wind stirred around its body, claws twitching with wind charge.


    Liora looked down at it. "Sneaky."


    It slashed.


    Blades of wind shot toward her chest.


    She raised her left hand.


    CRACK.


    The blades shattered on impact.


    Liora didn''t blink. "Nice trick."


    Her eyes flared. "Scan."


    ---


    [Name: Silphra]


    [Species: Mistborne Stalker]


    [Rank: Elite-Tier]


    [Element: Wind]


    ---


    [Stats:]


    [Str: A]


    [Vit: B]


    [Agi: A]


    [Int: A]


    ---


    [Abilities:]


    [Miststep Ambush ¨C Teleports short distances through fog for surprise attacks.]


    [Razor Pelt ¨C Wind-charged fur slashes nearby enemies.]


    [Fog Veil ¨C Summons thick fog to block sight and scent tracking.]


    [Laceration Claws ¨C Strikes create wind blades with extended range.]


    [Predator''s Patience ¨C Turns invisible when still in mist.]


    ---


    Liora raised an eyebrow. "Elite-tier, huh?"


    The Silphra hissed again, twisting in her grasp.


    "Not strong... but smart."


    She tightened her grip. "And if there''s one of you... there''s probably more."


    She glanced back toward the Vornis units.


    "Master didn''t specify what he wanted but seeing your interesting ability... I might as well have caught you."


    The panther tried vanishing again but Liora slammed it down, knee on its back.


    "No disappearing."


    She opened her palm toward the sky. A silver glow flared from her wrist.


    "Vault. One slot."


    ---


    [Beast Capture]


    [Target: Silphra]


    [Process: Storing within the Eternal Vault]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    The beast vanished in a second.


    Liora stood up, brushing her hand off.


    "Alright. Let''s catch a lot of them."


    She turned to the Vornis leading the squad.


    "Scatter. Sweep the fog. Bring them back alive."


    The lead Vornis nodded once before disappearing into the mist.


    The others following in perfect formation.


    Liora smirked again and cracked her knuckles.


    "Now this is getting fun."


    ---


    Each Vornis spread out through the fog like silver phantoms.


    Their eyes glowed faintly, shifting and recalibrating.


    Liora narrowed her gaze, watching from the side.


    "They''re enhancing their vision systems."


    One by one, the Vornis tilted their heads, targeting their preys.


    Even through the thick fog, nothing escaped them.


    The first Silphra jumped between trees.


    Vornis-02 raised a claw.


    Flash.


    A glowing seal appeared across the fleeing beast''s back.


    Terminus Hunt was engaged.


    Liora smirked. "Good. Marked."


    Another Vornis dropped from above, landing without sound.


    It lowered its stance.


    Click.


    A panel opened on its back. A cannon extended but not for destruction.


    Instead, it fired a net woven with energy threads.


    The Silphra barely blinked before it was wrapped mid-leap, yanked straight to the ground.


    Another tried to vanish into the fog.


    Vornis-04 turned its head, eyes pulsing with predictive patterns.


    It ran, fast¡ªno sound¡ªthen fired.


    The net snapped forward like a whip, catching the beast by its hind leg.


    Thud.


    It crashed into a tree, dazed but unharmed.


    More Vornis units emerged from the mist in coordinated formation.


    Each one aimed. Each one fired.


    Nets launched like artillery¡ªnon-lethal, reinforced, precise.


    PFFT. PFFT. THUMP. SNAP.


    In minutes, six Silphra were down, wrapped and struggling on the forest floor.


    A few tried summoning fog to hide¡ªbut the Vornis didn''t need vision anymore.


    Their seal locked the targets'' positions down.


    One Silphra shrieked and jumped, claws glowing.


    Vornis-07 caught it in mid-air with a rotating tail-shift. Its blade had retracted into a flat restraint disc.


    Smack.


    The beast hit the ground hard but alive.


    Liora walked calmly toward the center where the captured creatures squirmed.


    "Ten minutes. And you''ve got a whole pack."


    She looked over at the nearest Vornis.


    "You''re machines, but I''d swear you''re hunting for fun."


    No reply, of course. Just another net being prepped.


    She opened her hand, ready to vault them.


    "System, store them all. Same slot as the previous Silphra."


    ---


    [Beast Capture]


    [Target: Silphra]


    [Process: Storing within the Eternal Vault]


    [Slot Status: Silphra x12 Stored in Single Slot]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Each restrained Silphra vanished in rapid flashes.


    zip, zip, zip


    Only the Vornis remained, resetting their net launchers and scanning for more.


    Liora lowered her arm.


    "Twelve... not bad."


    She cracked her knuckles.


    "Let''s see if we can find more of them."


    She glanced into the thicker fog ahead.


    "Or maybe something similar. Stealth types. Ambushers."


    The lead Vornis took off without a word, the rest following like hounds on a trail.


    Liora smirked, pacing behind them.


    "Bring me everything that moves."

 Chapter 322 322: Mist Beasts Cannot Hide

    Liora sat on a flat stone, one knee raised, fingers resting against her chin.


    She moved slowly, running through different hand positions.


    Strike styles, pressure control, guard shifts.


    Then she stood and stretched once, flames flickering faintly across her arms.


    "Not bad. Still need to push more into the core flow."


    She closed her eyes and focused.


    Silver energy pulsed quietly around her, syncing with her breath.


    Then she felt it¡ªmovement.


    One of the Vornis appeared from the mist, stopping just a few feet in front of her.


    It didn''t speak, of course. Just a short bark.


    Then it turned and began walking away.


    Liora raised her eyebrow. "Something?"


    The Vornis didn''t look back. Just paused and flicked its tail, nudging the ground with its claw.


    Liora''s eyes followed the motion.


    "...You want me to follow."


    The Vornis took one more step, then stopped again, glancing back.


    Liora cracked her neck once and stepped off the stone.


    "Alright. Lead the way."


    She walked behind it, steps silent.


    "Let''s see what you found."


    ---


    Liora followed Vornis through the thick mist until they stepped into a wide clearing.


    She stopped.


    "...Huh."


    Dozens of steel cages had already been constructed, all arranged neatly in a perimeter around the area.


    Inside them, there were a lot of mist and beasts walking around or crouching low.


    Some of them were Silphra.


    But not just them.


    Her eyes narrowed as she stepped closer.


    One cage held a floating, gray-feathered owl, wings unmoving but eyes glowing.


    Another cage held long snakes that had frost mist emitted from their bodies.


    Liora focused her eyes. "Scan."


    ---


    [Name: Mistvex]


    [Species: Mistborne Lure Owl]


    [Rank: Elite-Tier]


    [Element: Dark and Psychic]


    ---


    [Stats:]


    [Str: B]


    [Vit: B]


    [Agi: A]


    [Int: A]


    ---


    [Abilities:]


    [Lure Call ¨C Mimics voices or commands to bait targets into traps.]


    [Mist Mirage ¨C Projects false images to confuse enemies.]


    [Mind Sink ¨C Emits psychic fog that weakens focus and reaction.]


    [Fogblind Veil ¨C Blocks vision and tracking abilities.]


    [Wraithflight ¨C Flies silently, even while carrying prey.]


    ---


    [Name: Velgrith]


    [Species: Glidefang Mist Serpent]


    [Rank: Elite-Tier]


    [Element: Ice and Wind]


    ---


    [Stats:]


    [Str: B]


    [Vit: B]


    [Agi: A]


    [Int: A]


    ---


    [Abilities:]


    [Mistpiercer Ray ¨C Fires a freezing beam that pierces barriers.]


    [Cold Current Body ¨C Emits freezing mist that slows and weakens foes nearby.]


    [Glidecoil Dash ¨C Dashes through enemies to trip, crush, or disarm before vanishing.]


    [Shatter Pulse ¨C Bursts cold pressure to crack weapons and shields.]


    [Ice Thread Skin ¨C Releases invisible razor mist when wounded, slicing anything nearby.]


    ---


    Liora smirked in satisfaction.


    "Wow. You''ve been busy."


    She looked down at the Vornis next to her. "You did all this without me?"


    The Vornis didn''t respond,


    They just tilted its head slightly, as if asking, Did you expect anything less?


    Liora walked between the cages, inspecting each beast one by one.


    "They''re different types... but they share traits. All fog-based. Stealth, ambush, disruption..."


    She glanced at the owl. "Illusions, baits, confusion."


    Then at the serpent. "Snare and disable types."


    She crossed her arms. "Master is going to love this."


    The Vornis stepped forward and barked once.


    More units arrived from the treeline, dragging another net-wrapped Silphra toward the cages.


    Liora shook her head with a grin. "You''re making me look lazy."


    She turned around, raising her hands toward the cages.


    "Alright. Let''s put them all into the Eternal Vault."


    ---


    [Beast Capture & Slot Allocation]


    [Target: Silphra, Mistvex, Velgrith]


    [Process: Assigning Beasts to Eternal Vault Slots]


    [Slot 01: Silphra x91]


    [Slot 02: Mistvex x87]


    [Slot 03: Velgrith x93]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Each cage lit up with silver light.


    One by one, the captured beasts vanished and were put into the Eternal Vault.


    Liora watched it all without flinching.


    Once the last beast disappeared, she let her hands drop and looked at the current numbers.


    "91... 87... 93."


    She smirked. "That''s a lot of fog beasts."


    She stepped forward, brushing mist off her armor.


    "Is it enough? Probably. But Master didn''t say the exact amount."


    She looked at the fading treeline, then back at the clearing.


    "But I''ve cleared half the forest already."


    Stretching one shoulder, she glanced at the Vornis pack circling around her.


    "Alright. Let''s head back. We''re close to the castle anyway."


    The lead Vornis barked once in acknowledgment.


    "Mission done. You all did good."


    Another Vornis let out a short click.


    Liora tilted her head. "What, want praise now?"


    The Vornis just stared, expression unreadable behind cold steel.


    She chuckled. "Fine. You did better than I expected."


    She turned, silver flames flickering at her heels as she walked.


    "Let''s go."


    The Vornis squad followed in silence, moving through like legion or soldiers.


    ---


    Liora returned to the Luxoria Castle with Vornis following her from behind.


    She then entered the main hall of Luxoria Castle.


    Luna turned from the console. "You''ve come back already?"


    Loreia leaned around a column. "Seriously? You were out for, what¡ªfour hours?"


    Liora walked past them, brushing dust off her shoulder. "Master said five. I''m early."


    Luna raised her eyebrow. "By a whole hour."


    Loreia crossed her arms. "Show-off."


    Liora stopped near the center platform. "I got quite a lot."


    Lucius''s voice echoed from the upper walkway. "So you''ve returned, Liora."


    She turned. "Yes, Master."


    Lucius descended the stairs, each step slow and deliberate.


    "Report. What did you bring?"


    Liora stood straight as she reported it.


    "The surrounding forest only held A-Rank beasts so the one I caught was within those ranks.


    She then smirked, raising her hands.


    "But all of the beasts I caught were fog or mist types."


    Lucius paused. "Mist beasts?"


    "Exactly."


    He nodded once, intrigued. "Show them. I want to see."


    Liora looked to the side. "Liline."


    Liline appeared from within the walls and looked at Liora. "Yes?"


    Lucius glanced at her. "Prepare display."


    Liline smiled. "Of course. One moment."


    But before she moved, Liora raised three fingers.


    Lucius noticed immediately. "Three cages?"


    Liora nodded. "Three types."


    Liline bowed lightly. "Understood. I''ll set up the chambers right now."


    Loreia leaned toward Luna. "She got that many types in four hours?"


    Luna smirked. "She''s flexing hard today."


    Liora didn''t respond.


    She just crossed her arms, eyes on the empty platform that would soon fill with cages.

 Chapter 323 323: Three Cages. One Plan.

    Lucius and Liora stood side by side, looking at Liline, who was working.


    Three massive transparent cages were rising from the ground.


    Lucius watched the structure taking shape, then glanced at Liora.


    "The Vornis units. How did they perform?"


    Liora didn''t hesitate. "Flawless."


    Lucius turned his gaze back to the cages. "Elaborate."


    "They hunted without direction. Scanned targets. Adjusted to non-lethal protocols. Captured nearly three hundred beasts in total."


    Lucius gave a faint nod. "No delays?"


    "None. They moved like they were reading my mind."


    Lucius''s eyes narrowed slightly. "They weren''t."


    "I know." Liora smirked.


    "They''re just that efficient."


    Lucius folded his hands behind his back. "Good. They weren''t built for wild capture, but if they''re adapting this well..."


    Liora tilted her head slightly. "You''re thinking of mass deployment."


    Lucius didn''t confirm or deny it.


    "They also marked each beast with precision,"


    Liora continued. "Didn''t miss a single one."


    Lucius glanced at her. "Any malfunctions?"


    "Zero."


    He watched as the last piece of the third cage snapped into place with a metallic clang.


    "Perfect."


    Liora crossed her arms. "They make live capture feel too easy."


    Lucius smirked. "Exactly how I designed them."


    ---


    Lucius stood before the three newly constructed cages.


    He didn''t look away as he spoke.


    "Liora. Show me the beasts."


    Liora smirked. "Sure."


    She raised her hand. "Release them."


    ---


    [Eternal Vault: Accessing...]


    [Targets: Silphra, Mistvex, Velgrith]


    [Slot 01: Silphra x91 ¨C Confirmed. Releasing to Designated Zone.]


    [Slot 02: Mistvex x87 ¨C Confirmed. Releasing to Designated Zone.]


    [Slot 03: Velgrith x93 ¨C Confirmed. Releasing to Designated Zone.]


    [Status: Release in Progress...]


    ---


    The Silphra pack appeared first. They were semitransparent panthers with wind energy.


    Next came the Mistvex owls. Their wings were folded tight, and their eyes were scanning the surroundings.


    Last were the Velgrith serpents, coiled and calm, cold mist trailing off their scales.


    Lucius watched, hands folded behind his back.


    "I see... so these are the mist beasts."


    He stepped closer to the glass of the nearest cage.


    "They generate fog, vanish into it, use it to disable tracking."


    Luna stepped forward beside him. "And together, they''d be quite troublesome."


    Lucius smirked as he began to scan the three beasts with his system.


    "Impressive."


    Loreia leaned in, eyes wide. "Whoa. Those three were very compatible."


    Luna folded her arms. "Mistvex lures. Velgrith disables. Silphra ambushes."


    Lucius gave a small grin. "They were designed by nature to be a set."


    He narrowed his eyes. "Though... a few of them are bruised."


    Liora shrugged. "They''re not exactly durable. Fast and tricky, sure. But if you hit them once..."


    Lucius nodded slowly. "I see."


    He turned toward Liline, who stood silently at his side.


    "Liline. Heal them. Then send one of each species to my room."


    Liline bowed gently, a faint smile on her face. "Yes, Master. I''ll handle it immediately."


    Loreia raised her eyebrow. "Why your room, though?"


    Lucius didn''t look back. "To study them."


    Luna smirked. "You''re thinking of engineering a new trio-type synergy."


    Lucius turned slightly, the corner of his mouth twitching. "You could say it that way."


    Lucius then turned to face all three of them.


    "Reminder¡ªtomorrow is the auction."


    He let the words hang a moment.


    "Make sure everything is prepared. No delays. No errors."


    Liora responded immediately. "Understood."


    Loreia gave a thumbs-up. "I''ve got my outfit ready, if that counts."


    Lucius glanced at her. "It doesn''t."


    Luna smiled faintly. "I''ll make sure the bidding system is locked in."


    Lucius nodded. "Good. Liora, be ready to demonstrate."


    Liora cracked her knuckles. "I was already planning to."


    Lucius stepped toward the exit. "Then we give them a show they''ll never forget."


    ---


    Lucius entered his room, the doors sliding shut behind him with a quiet click.


    Moments later, Liline appeared beside him.


    She phased through the wall, bowing down to him.


    "Master."


    Three containment platforms rose from the floor.


    Each held a transparent cage. One Mistvex, one Velgrith, and one Silphra.


    All of them were resting inside.


    "They are the three beasts you requested. One of each."


    Liline continued. "Already subdued. Mild sedatives administered to keep them calm until you begin."


    Lucius approached the cages slowly, hands behind his back.


    He looked over each one carefully.


    The Mistvex''s feathers twitched slightly in its sleep.


    The Velgrith''s coils were still, cold mist slowly leaking from its scales.


    The Silphra''s chest rose and fell steadily, claws slightly flexed even while unconscious.


    Lucius smirked. "Perfect. Thanks, Liline."


    Liline lowered her head. "Would you like me to remain and assist with the analysis?"


    Lucius paused for a moment.


    "No. I''ll handle it myself."


    Liline nodded. "Understood. If you require anything, I''ll be nearby."


    She vanished by entering the wall, leaving Lucius alone with the beasts.


    He stepped closer to the cages, eyes narrowing.


    "Let''s see what kind of hack I should give to you three."


    ---


    Lucius stood in front of the three sleeping beasts, hands folded behind his back.


    Then he remembered something. It was about what Zephyron had said earlier.


    "Only someone worthy."


    Lucius narrowed his eyes.


    "Worthy, hm..."


    He turned slightly, walking slowly.


    "That bird wants strength. The one who is worthy to tame it."


    He paused again as he looked back at the forest around Luxoria Castle."


    "The problem is the forest near us only has A-Rank beasts. Even wild tamers with a few B-Ranks could wander in."


    He tapped a finger against his arm.


    That''s the reason why he told Liora to catch a lot of beasts from there.


    He wanted to make those beasts stronger so they could filter the clients.


    But now he had too much idea on how to hack these beasts.


    "I have ideas. Too many. None perfect."


    He stayed silent for a long moment.


    Then his eyes narrowed again.


    "I need something wild. Something they can''t prepare for."


    He turned back to the three beasts again.


    His gaze swept over them again.


    One of each.


    Then he paused.


    He remembered the numbers of each beast.


    Then the corner of his mouth lifted as he thought of something.


    "What if I used that?"


    Lucius turned to the beasts again and smirked.


    "This will be interesting."

 Chapter 324 324: Lucius Fused Three Beasts

    Luna leaned against the corridor railing, watching Liline prepare the auction hall.


    "I wonder what kind of hack Master gave those beasts..."


    Loreia stretched her arms overhead, yawning. "Don''t know. Just let him be."


    Luna raised her eyebrow. "Come on. You''re not curious?"


    Loreia tilted her head. "It''s Lucius. His hacks are always overkill."


    Luna smirked. "True. But still... suddenly telling Liora to capture that many beasts in a few hours.


    Luna glanced at the room. "And now he''s sealing himself inside with three of them? He''s definitely cooking something."


    Loreia plopped down onto a sofa. "Yeah, well, whatever it is... it''s probably going to scare someone."


    Luna tapped her chin, eyes still fixed on the closed door. "I just wonder what kind of idea he came up with."


    "One minute it''s just a standard auction, the next he''s got Liora sweeping the fog zone clean."


    Loreia shrugged. "Beats me. We''ll probably find out the same time the crowd does."


    Luna gave a small laugh. "Guess we should just ask him."


    Loreia grinned. "You first."


    Luna chuckled and turned away. "I value my life."


    Then, the door to Lucius'' room was suddenly opened.


    Lucius came out and was a bit surprised to see them both. "You''re here?"


    Loreia stood up. "Yeah. We were curious."


    Lucius raised an eyebrow. "Curious?"


    Luna crossed her arms. "About your plan. You''ve been in there a while."


    Lucius smirked. "I see. Then let''s not waste time."


    He glanced upward. "Liora."


    Without a sound, Liora dropped from above, landing beside them with a light thud.


    Luna blinked. "So you were nearby the whole time."


    Liora said nothing. Just crossed her arms and stared at Lucius.


    Lucius gave a slight nod. "Good. You''re all here."


    He turned to them fully. "After hearing what Zephyron said¡ªabout only wanting to be sold to someone worthy¡ªI decided to change the format."


    Loreia leaned forward. "Change how?"


    Lucius looked toward the far wall. "I''m going to make the forest harder. Deadlier. A proving ground."


    Luna''s eyes widened slightly. "So that''s why you had Liora sweep the area."


    Lucius glanced at her. "Exactly."


    Luna nodded. "You wanted a variety of beasts... so you could hack them. Amplify their strength. Make the forest a challenge."


    Lucius smirked. "You could say it like that."


    He turned. "Liline."


    Liline phased out of the wall with her usual graceful silence. "Yes, Master?"


    "Summon the cages. The large ones."


    Liline nodded. "As you command."


    She raised her hand.


    In a blink, three massive cages containing Mistvex, Velgrith, and Silphra appeared from the side.


    Lucius walked toward them slowly, raising his hand.


    He smiled coldly.


    "Now... it''s time to hack you all."


    He turned his head slightly. "System. Hack all targets. Upgrade their stats to A-Rank."


    "And also, add a one-day temporary boost only for today auction."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Temporary Boost and Mass Stat Enhancement]


    [Targets: Silphra, Mistvex, Velgrith]


    [Total Beasts: 268]


    [Effect: Upgrade All Stats to A-Rank for Each Beast]


    [Effect: Apply Unique Boost Separate from Stat Enhancement]


    [Duration: 24 Hours]


    [Boost Effect: All abilities are amplified by 200%, reaction speed doubled, and resistance to elemental attacks significantly increased]


    [Cost Required: 15,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Each beast flinched slightly as they were being hacked by the system.


    Lucius''s smirk widened. "With this... half the clients who think they''re strong won''t make it past the first pack."


    Luna tilted her head, watching the beasts being hacked.


    "It''s impressive... but are you sure this is enough?"


    Lucius glanced at her.


    She continued, "Some of the ones coming tomorrow are experienced. S-Rank beast tamers. They''ve fought in arena matches."


    Loreia stepped forward. "Yeah... boosting A-Ranks is cool, but if someone walks in with a Sovereign, they''ll breeze through."


    Liora stayed quiet, but her eyes narrowed slightly as well.


    Lucius didn''t even flinch. "That''s the point."


    He looked at the girls.


    "If they can breeze through... they deserve to meet Zephyron."


    Luna crossed her arms. "And the others?"


    "They won''t even get close to the auction floor."


    Loreia raised a brow. "That many filters? You''re gonna piss people off."


    Lucius turned back toward the cages. "Good. Let them be angry. Let them fail. It''ll make the final round even sweeter."


    Luna smirked faintly. "Brutal as always."


    Lucius''s eyes stayed fixed on the beasts.


    "Only the strong will pass. That''s exactly what Zephyron asked for."


    He then turned back toward them, smirking.


    "But this is not the end of the plan."


    Luna blinked. "There''s more?"


    Liora raised her chin slightly. "Another beast?"


    Loreia narrowed her eyes. "Wait... don''t tell me. It''s one of the three from your room."


    Lucius smirked, impressed. "You''re sharp today, big sis."


    Loreia grinned. "I''ve been paying attention."


    Lucius looked to the side. "Liline."


    She bowed down. "Yes, Master?"


    "Create a containment cage. Large. Secure."


    Liline gave a slight nod. "Of course."


    She lifted her hand, and the ground in front of them split open.


    From below, a massive cage rose.


    It was twice the size of the others.


    Lucius raised his hand again. "Now... come forth."


    A moment later, the beast appeared from the Eternal Vault.


    It landed silently in the center of the cage.


    A massive creature.


    Its body cloaked in thick, shifting fog. Its silhouette seemed to blur at the edges.


    All three girls tensed.


    Luna took a step back. "Wait. This is..."


    Loreia stared wide-eyed. "This was your actual plan?"


    Liora narrowed her eyes. "You fused them?"


    Lucius nodded. "Correct. This beast is the fusion of Silphra, Mistvex, and Velgrith."


    He stepped closer to the cage, arms behind his back.


    "And after the fusion... I evolved it into a Sovereign-tier."


    Luna muttered, "Master... you''re insane."


    Loreia was already scanning the beast with her system.


    "Damn, its ability set looked stacked. Look at these.


    Liora''s eyes locked onto the beast. "This is their leader."


    Lucius nodded. "The Sovereign Mist Beast. Their commander."


    Luna let out a slow breath. "So... even if someone survives the other mist beasts..."


    Loreia finished it, "They still have to fight this thing to reach Zephyron."


    Lucius turned, his eyes gleaming.


    "Now tell me..."


    He smiled.


    "Do you really think those so-called S-Rank tamers are going to make it through?"

 Chapter 325: Nebelis, The Mist Sovereign

    Luna kept staring at the status screen in front of her, eyes flicking line by line.


    ---


    [Name: Nebelis]


    [Species: Mist-Fused Sovereign Beast]


    [Rank: Sovereign-Tier]


    [Element: Wind, Ice and Dark]


    ---


    [Stats:]


    [Str: S]


    [Vit: S]


    [Agi: S]


    [Int: S]


    ---


    [Abilities:]


    [Mist Field Generator ¨C Spreads a thick fog that blocks sight, scent, and magic tracking. Makes Nebelis nearly impossible to detect.]


    [Illusive Pulseform ¨C Creates realistic clones inside the mist. They feel real, confuse senses, and hide the real body.]


    [Mistbound Arsenal ¨C Forms weapons from mist¡ªblades, spears, scythes¡ªthat strike from any angle.]


    [Precision Drift ¨C Moves freely through terrain using mist currents. Can strike from any direction.]


    [Sovereign Mistlink ¨C Boosts Silphra, Mistvex, and Velgrith. They attack in sync, hide deeper, and become stronger.]


    [Fogbound Surveillance ¨C Senses everything inside the mist¡ªmovement, sound, even through walls. Can''t be ambushed.]


    ---


    Luna finally exhaled and turned toward Lucius. "This... is going to be very hard."


    Lucius raised a brow, watching her calmly.


    "The forest already had mist," Luna continued.


    "Now we''re throwing in this thing and hundreds of boosted mist beasts?"


    She shook her head. "No way anyone gets through casually."


    Loreia stepped up beside her. "It''s basically a maze filled with illusion traps and invisible predators."


    Liora crossed her arms. "Good."


    Lucius nodded. "Exactly."


    He turned, hands behind his back as he gazed at Nebelis through the glass.


    "Only tamers who can overcome this deserve to face Zephyron. No gimmicks. No lucky bids."


    Luna glanced at the Sovereign Mist Beast. "You''re not just selling a beast. You''re hosting a survival test."


    Lucius smirked. "No. I''m filtering the weak."


    Loreia raised her eyebrow. "So... only the real monsters get to raise their paddles, huh?"


    Lucius''s voice was cool and final.


    "Only those strong enough to walk through hell deserve to own what we sell."


    He turned to Liline without looking away from Nebelis.


    "It''s already midnight. Some of the early challengers may be on the move."


    He raised a hand slightly.


    "Go. Release all the mist beasts into the forest. Every last one."


    Liline bowed. "As you command."


    She vanished into the wall without another word.


    Loreia looked over. "So... should we announce this? Post it on the site? Some kind of warning?"


    Lucius shook his head immediately. "Of course not."


    He turned back to the girls, a faint smirk curling at his lips.


    "Let it be a surprise."


    Luna chuckled. "A deadly one."


    Loreia gave a short laugh. "Brutal."


    Lucius walked past them slowly. "They chose to come here thinking it was just another auction."


    He paused. "They''ll realize it''s not the moment they step into the forest."


    Luna looked toward the window, where the dark mist was already creeping toward the castle edges.


    "I wonder how many will actually make it."


    Lucius didn''t stop walking.


    "Fewer than they expect."


    ---


    The mist clung low to the ground, creeping between trees like it was alive.


    Some of the S-Rank tamers had already entering the mist forest.


    Three figures also moved with practiced formation.


    Each one of them were already armed with gear and already fused with their beasts.


    Alaric walked in front, adjusting his cloak as he glanced ahead.


    "This mist''s unnatural. Can''t see a damn thing past thirty meters."


    Colan followed behind, scanning the area.


    "Not just unnatural. I tried casting a light spell ten minutes ago. It barely pushed past my palm."


    Dario exhaled, twirling a throwing blade between his fingers.


    "Whatever. Doesn''t matter. We''re here for the auction."


    Alaric smirked. "Yeah. And I want to see what kind of beast Luxoria''s hiding this time."


    Colan nodded. "They kept everything locked down. Not a single leak."


    Dario grinned. "That just makes it better."


    Alaric raised his eyebrow. "You guys think the rumors are true?"


    Colan glanced at him. "Which ones?"


    "That the beast that they sold this time will be a flying one."


    Dario shrugged. "With Lord L? Wouldn''t be surprised."


    Colan muttered, "Still... they''re making us walk through a fog-choked forest just to attend."


    Alaric narrowed his eyes. "Yeah. That''s the part that bothers me. This isn''t just for show."


    Dario tilted his head. "You think it''s a test?"


    Alaric stopped, crouching slightly. "I don''t know about that."


    He pressed his hand against the ground. "But the pressure here... it''s heavier than it was a few days ago."


    Colan scanned the trees around. "This isn''t natural fog. I feel something different."


    Suddenly, blades of wind sliced through the mist.


    They were sharp, fast, and aimed straight for them.


    "Move!" Dario barked.


    He ignited his throwing knife midair, flame coiling around the blade.


    He launched it forward.


    Clang¡ªBOOM!


    The fire-coated knife exploded against the incoming wind slash, canceling the force.


    The blast shook nearby branches.


    Alaric stood immediately. "What was that?!"


    Colan spun. "I didn''t see anything. No sound or even heat signature."


    Dario frowned. "There''s a beast out here. But I can''t sense it. I felt the intent, not the presence."


    Alaric grit his teeth.


    He had already fused with Direfang, his beast.


    He now had enhanced scent, reflexes, and vision.


    He sniffed the air once.


    "...Nothing. I can''t smell anything."


    Colan muttered, "Alright, my turn."


    He closed his eyes briefly, his aura glowing pale gold.


    "Skyflare Ward."


    A radiant burst of light pulsed out from his body, washing over the area in a quick dome.


    The trees lit up. The fog gleamed white.


    But nothing moved. No silhouettes. No heat trails. Just mist.


    Dario clicked his tongue. "It''s not hiding with illusions?"


    Colan shook his head. "Then it''s something worse."


    Suddenly, Colan''s eyes widened. "Behind you, Dario!"


    Dario spun instantly, blade drawn. "Come on, then!"


    SLASH!


    His blade cut through the air and hit something solid.


    Mist disappeared and for just a moment, the beast''s form appeared.


    A semi-transparent panther. Body wrapped in wind and haze.


    Its eyes locked with Dario''s.


    "Silphra..." Colan muttered. "No way."


    Dario didn''t lower his sword. "You know that thing?"


    Colan stepped forward. "I fought it before. Two weeks ago. Before going to the first Luxoria Castle auction."


    Colan then frowned. "But it wasn''t like this."


    Alaric narrowed his eyes. "You''re saying this is a stronger version?"


    Before anyone could respond, the Silphra vanished again, melting into the fog like it was never there.


    Dario lowered his blade slightly, breathing out. "So Lord L''s gone and made this forest a battlefield."


    Colan tightened his grip on his staff. "We''re not even deep in yet. This was the entrance."


    Alaric stood straight again. "He doesn''t want bidders."


    Dario scoffed. "No. He wants survivors."

 Chapter 326: S-Rank Teams Are Rallying

    Dario quickly opened Beastagram on his phone.


    He tapped the Live Post, and started recording with one hand.


    "Yo. This is Dario, S-Rank from Iron Burst."


    The background behind him showed faint moving mist.


    "I don''t usually do this, but I gotta warn you all¡ªLord L''s auction tomorrow? Yeah, it''s not normal."


    He turned the camera toward the trees.


    "He made the entire Mist Forest near Luxoria Castle a warzone. Stronger than before."


    He pointed toward the claw mark of a beast.


    "I just fought a Silphra. But it wasn''t the same weak beast from last time."


    He panned back to himself.


    "That thing moved faster, hit harder, and vanished before we could track it."


    Dario narrowed his eyes. "This ain''t some passive showcase. This is a damn filter."


    He ended the video with a clear warning:


    "If you''re heading there, bring a squad. Ten S-Ranks minimum. I''m serious. Anything less, and you''re not getting through."


    He hit Post and the video went viral in seconds.


    It had already passed 300,000 views in under an hour.


    Comments poured in, reposts spiked, and more top-ranked tamers jumped into the thread.


    ---


    @StormShred_Jex:


    "Dario''s not one to exaggerate. If he says ten S-Ranks minimum, I''m not going alone."


    @Nightshade_Kan:


    "I knew Lord L was insane, but this is next level. Anyone forming a serious raid group? DM me."


    @AegisBlade_Thorne:


    "Confirmed beast activity near me. Mist Panther types. They''re... smarter. I''ve fought them before. Not like this. Something''s wrong."


    @DracoCrest_Durva:


    "North entrance teams¡ªdon''t go solo. They''re coordinating now. I saw a Mistvex luring a team into a trap while a Velgrith waited behind them."


    @ShadowMarshal_Jen:


    "Group forming near South Ridge checkpoint. Five of us so far. Looking for more with hard CC or wide-range attacks. We''re not treating this like an auction. It''s a raid."


    Shared Point: Mist Forest ¨C South Ridge Watchtower


    ---


    Colan looked over Dario''s shoulder, watching the post notifications flood in.


    "You just started a panic."


    Dario shrugged, unapologetic. "Good. If they still come... at least they''ll come prepared."


    Alaric stood still, eyes narrowed as he scanned the fog ahead.


    "The weak will still try."


    Dario tucked his phone away. "Then they''ll learn the hard way."


    Colan suddenly ordered them. "We need to move."


    Alaric glanced over. "Why?"


    Colan pointed at the holo-display.


    "South Ridge Watchtower. There''s a team forming. They''re coordinated, armed, and they''ve got someone running anti-illusion fields."


    Dario leaned in. "ShadowMarshal_Jen?"


    Colan nodded. "Yeah. And she''s already gathered five others."


    Dario cracked his knuckles. "That group''s serious."


    Colan turned to both of them.


    "We need numbers if we''re getting through this forest. Lord L designed this whole zone like a raid dungeon."


    Alaric rolled his shoulders once. "Fine. South Ridge it is."


    Colan marked the location. "Shared the waypoint to your comms."


    Dario checked his map. "Five kilometers. If we don''t get ambushed, thirty minutes max."


    Alaric unslung his spear and stepped forward. "Let''s move."


    Colan tightened his gauntlets. "Stick close. We already know the mist messes with our senses."


    Dario pulled a second blade from his belt. "If anything moves, it dies."


    The three of them turned toward the dense fog, heading for South Ridge.


    ---


    The three of them moved through the dense fog until faint figures came into view.


    They could see eight people standing in formation near the old South Ridge Watchtower.


    Barrier stones had been set up, flickering with low-level energy to hold back the surrounding mist.


    As they approached, one of the eight stepped forward, eyes narrowing slightly.


    "Wait... you''re Dario, right? The one who posted that warning video."


    Dario nodded. "Yeah. That''s me. And you are...?"


    "I''m Jenavira, the leader of the Shadow Marshal Group."


    Dario offered a short nod. "Good to meet you. And the rest?"


    Jenavira turned and pointed.


    "Three are with me. The other four¡ª"


    She gestured to the other side of the clearing


    "¡ªare from the Night Shade group. I DMed their leader an hour ago and asked to combine teams."


    One of the Night Shade members stepped forward, introducing himself.


    "Name''s Kanos. Tactical commander. Appreciate you putting out that warning."


    Dario nodded. "Glad to meet someone sane in this mess."


    Alaric''s voice came from behind as he stepped into the light.


    "Now that we''re here, how are we getting through this mist?"


    Jenavira turned slightly. "Marek."


    A tall man stepped forward.


    "My beast, Tenebrisant, has radar tracking."


    Marek then pointed to himself.


    "I already fused with it, so I can pulse through the fog and get a read on movements nearby."


    Dario gave a nod. "Smart. Is everyone here fused up already?"


    Marek chuckled before answering.


    "Of course. If you''re not fully fused in this zone, you''re already dead."


    He closed his eyes, hand raised.


    A silent wave of pressure pulsed outward¡ªsubtle, but strong.


    Everyone felt it ripple through their skin.


    After a few seconds, Marek opened his eyes. "I''ve got a scan."


    Everyone leaned in slightly.


    "Thirty beasts within a one-kilometer range. All A-Rank."


    Alaric tilted his head. "That''s easy."


    Marek frowned. "Yeah, but... something''s wrong."


    Colan stepped forward. "What do you mean?"


    Marek clenched his fist. "They''re stronger. Way stronger than they should be."


    "Their power levels are three to four times the standard."


    Dario muttered, "Of course. Lord L must have put some strong ones for a test for us."


    Kanos stepped forward confidently.


    "Don''t worry. We of Night Shade have dealt with mist-type environments plenty of times. We''ve mapped terrain like this."


    He gestured to his team. "We''ll lead the way through the outer path. Should avoid at least two known trap points."


    Marek pointed into the mist. "Based on radar alignment, the clearest path to Luxoria Castle is that way."


    Kanos nodded. "Then let''s move. Quiet and fast. Watch your flanks. They don''t attack alone."


    Jenavira pulled out her twin daggers, which were the weapon form of her beast.


    "Everyone stay focused. Don''t rely on sight alone."


    Dario cracked his knuckles. "Let''s give Lord L a show."


    And with that, the expanded team of eleven S-Rank tamers stepped into the mist.

 Chapter 327: Night Shade Just Took Over the Raid

    Kanos suddenly raised his hand and called out.


    "Thalia, do it."


    Thalia nodded silently. She stepped forward and spun her twin chakrams.


    She launched them high into the air.


    As they whirled above the group, the air shimmered and suddenly the mist around them shifted.


    The original thick fog faded, replaced by a new kind of mist.


    It was cooler, slower, and denser, but strangely still.


    Dario blinked. "What the hell did she just do?"


    Jenavira frowned. "Yeah, why would you replace the mist with more mist? Doesn''t that just make things worse?"


    Kanos smirked without turning around. "Don''t worry about it."


    He gestured to Thalia.


    "Her beast is Moonveil. It specializes in blind fields. Its mist can scramble scent trails, mana tracking, and illusion detection."


    He pointed to the chakrams circling slowly above.


    "Those aren''t just weapons. They''re her beast''s weaponized form."


    Colan tilted his head. "So it''s... defensive mist?"


    Kanos smirked, nodding. "Exactly."


    "That layer blocks the trail behind us. Any beast trying to follow will lose our scent entirely."


    Dario let out a low whistle. "Alright. I''ll admit¡ªthat''s useful."


    Just then, Alaric raised his hand. "Wait. There. Left side. Webbing."


    Thin strands shimmered between trees, barely visible in the new mist layer.


    Jenavira narrowed her eyes. "What is that? I haven''t seen a spider-type beast logged in this forest."


    Kanos turned slightly, clearly unbothered. "That''s ours."


    He pointed toward a high branch, where a figure crouched in the trees.


    "That''s Elliane. She''s with us."


    A sleek, black-clad woman gave a small wave from above, holding a long, modified rifle in her lap.


    "Her beast is Wraithdrift," Kanos continued.


    "Mist Spider-type. It creates webbing that doesn''t alert enemies. It conceals itself completely. And when weaponized..."


    He gestured toward Elliane''s sniper rifle.


    "It becomes that. Every bullet can deploy web clouds behind us. Shields our movement and muffles sound."


    Dario blinked. "Okay... wow."


    Jenavira raised an eyebrow. "You Night Shade people don''t mess around."


    Kanos smirked. "We don''t. We specialize in restricted environments. Fog, night, underground¡ªanywhere visibility''s gone."


    Alaric gave a rare nod. "Respect."


    Kanos pointed ahead. "Let''s keep moving. Thalia, keep the chakrams above us. Elliane, backline overwatch."


    "Copy," Elliane said from above.


    Jenavira leaned toward Dario. "Glad we grouped up with them."


    Dario muttered back, "Yeah. This mist maze might actually be beatable now."


    They then pushed forward, the mist getting thicker with every step.


    Then Marek raised his hand and stopped walking. "Hold."


    Everyone froze.


    "I''ve got movement."


    Marek looked around, trying to focus on his radar.


    "Six beasts approaching. Two Velgrith. Four Silphra. Closing fast."


    Kanos frowned. "How the hell are A-Ranks tracking us this cleanly?"


    Marek replied without blinking. "They''re not normal anymore. We''ve gone deeper. They have become stronger."


    "You know that Velgrith has the abilities to disrupt any concealment zones and defensive structures, right?"


    He then continued, "The Velgrith has become stronger and could already locate us."


    "They''re also not coming at random. The Velgrith should have told Silphra to attack us."


    "The Silphra are currently circling to flank us."


    Kanos narrowed his eyes. "So they''re not only getting stronger but acting tactically now, huh."


    He turned his head. "Orlen. Get ready."


    Orlen smirked as he stepped forward, cracking his knuckles.


    "Sure thing, boss."


    He pulled out a pair of silver-toned tonfas that shimmered faintly in the mist.


    Kanos unlatched the whip sword from his back. It coiled like a serpent in his hand.


    "Let''s see how well they move in our fog."


    Jenavira stepped forward. "We''ll help."


    Alaric turned toward his team. "Dario, Colan. Get ready."


    Kanos held up his hand. "No."


    Jenavira paused. "What?"


    "The mist here is too thick. Visibility''s near zero. You''ll be fighting blind. Our beasts are specialized for this."


    He motioned toward his sword. "My beast, Mistcoil, is currently weaponized into my whip sword."


    "It can scan the enemy and mark the beast even if they vanish again. Nothing escapes once I''ve tagged it."


    He pointed at Orlen. "Driftclaw''s fused with him. Short-range combat specialist. Built for mist terrain."


    "The mist around can increase his defense and give him mist armor. He can hold off the fast movers."


    Dario raised his eyebrow. "You''re saying we''re in the way?"


    Kanos looked at him seriously. "I''m saying one wrong move in this fog gets one of us killed."


    Kanos turned to the group. "Anyone here have beasts tuned for this terrain?"


    Jenavira nodded. "I do. Duskhound. Tracks through scent memory and distortion fields."


    "I am basically an assassin for unseen enemies. Perfect for an ambush kill."


    Kanos nodded. "That works."


    Jenavira gestured behind her. "Sirelia''s with me. Her beast is Crybloom."


    "It can generate a cold mist that weakens enemies and slows their movement. Can also cloak allies inside it."


    Kanos frowned. "AOE-type?"


    "Wide field," Jenavira admitted. "But powerful."


    He thought for a moment, then nodded slowly.


    "Alright. Jenavira, you''re in. But tell Sirelia to hold back the paralysis effect. We don''t need friendly fire."


    Jenavira turned to Sirelia. "Just cloak us. Nothing else."


    Sirelia gave a small nod and raised her hand.


    Cold mist began to roll across the ground, blending with Thalia''s earlier field.


    It had become thicker, quieter, and far more dangerous.


    Kanos barked quick orders. "Elliane¡ªtop watch. Scan for anything that slips by."


    Elliane''s voice came from above. "Already tracking."


    "Thalia," Kanos said.


    "Keep the chakrams circling the backline. Maintain cloaking radius. Don''t let anything track us from behind."


    "Copy," she replied, already adjusting her flight paths.


    Marek looked up. "Targets closing. Less than 40 seconds."


    Kanos smirked and spun his whip sword once.


    "Good. Let them come."


    The mist around them thickened again.


    Alaric stepped forward slightly, spear still low but ready.


    "So... what do we do now?"


    Dario responded without looking back. "Stay silent. Be wary."


    He slowly drew a second short blade.


    "They''ll handle the front. We stay alert and cover their backs."


    Colan adjusted his stance, readying a light burst in his palm.


    "You want us to wait and do nothing?"


    Dario shook his head.


    "No. We help if something slips past. At the very least, we protect ourselves. You see something move? Don''t ask. Just hit it."


    Jenavira glanced over her shoulder. "Keep comms clear unless it''s urgent. Let Kanos and Orlen take the lead."


    Alaric gave a short nod. "Understood."


    Thalia''s chakrams buzzed slightly above as they slowed into a wide spiral.


    Marek''s voice came low and steady. "Contact in ten seconds."


    Kanos crouched slightly, eyes locked forward.


    "Formation holds. First contact... now."

 Chapter 328: Welcome to Phase Two

    The fog trembled.


    Then it broke.


    Two Velgrith lunged forward, their bodies coated in icy mist, slicing through the cold veil like missiles.


    Behind them, four Silphra darted in from the flanks, claws extended, fangs bared.


    Marek pointed. "Incoming!"


    Kanos''s voice was sharp. "Orlen¡ªengage!"


    Orlen stepped forward with no hesitation.


    His body pulsed with silver light as his defense was strengthening.


    A thick layer of swirling mist coiled around him, hardening into mist-forged armor.


    "Bring it," he growled.


    One of the Silphra dove straight at him¡ªfast.


    Orlen didn''t flinch.


    He shifted his stance, raised one tonfa, and smashed the side of the beast''s face mid-charge.


    The Silphra hit the ground hard but rolled upright.


    Orlen didn''t let it get back up. He lunged, mist shielding surging around him.


    He stomped the ground, making it uneven. Silphra had trouble moving thanks to it.


    "I''ll keep ''em focused on me!" Orlen shouted.


    Meanwhile, Jenavira''s form blurred¡ªalready gone from the group''s line.


    She had fused fully with Duskhound.


    "I''ve got the flankers."


    She reappeared behind one of the Silphra, silent, precise.


    Shunk¡ªShunk!


    Two daggers plunged into the beast''s spine, striking it down before it could even cry out.


    "Target down."


    She said quietly into comms, already vanishing back into the mist.


    Another Silphra turned toward the commotion.


    Too slow.


    Jenavira''s voice: "Marking second."


    The second Silphra didn''t even get to react before it dropped.


    Meanwhile, Kanos whipped his sword wide, the segments unraveling into a long serpent of steel.


    "Eyes forward!" he snapped.


    "Tracking Velgrith!"


    The Velgrith launched an ice beam toward Marek.


    Kanos struck first.


    CRACK!


    His whip blade lashed across the Velgrith''s flank.


    It''s not enough to kill, but it got marked.


    "One marked!" Kanos shouted.


    "If it disappears again, I''ll still see it."


    The Velgrith tried to phase back into the fog. Not good.


    Kanos''s blade struck again, hard, severing one leg.


    "You''re not getting away."


    The second Velgrith lunged toward Orlen.


    Orlen blocked with his tonfas, gritting his teeth. "Armor''s holding!"


    The beast''s claws scraped but couldn''t pierce the mist-forged plating.


    Dario called out, "We''ve got two Silphra left!"


    Jenavira''s voice chimed back. "One is circling toward Colan."


    Colan spun. "On it!"


    Kanos lashed his whip toward the last unmarked Silphra. "Marking now¡ªdon''t touch!"


    Slash! The blade caught its leg, and the mist seal locked on.


    "Done. Someone clean it."


    Alaric charged from the rear with a swift leap, driving his spear through the beast''s core.


    "Cleaned."


    Kanos''s voice came through clear. "Final Velgrith¡ªtracked."


    He lunged, blade wrapping around the beast''s neck before snapping it off.


    It fell limp seconds later.


    Orlen exhaled and lowered his arms. "All down."


    Jenavira reappeared beside Kanos. "That''s six."


    Kanos glanced around the quiet mist, then turned toward the group.


    "Status?"


    Marek: "No injuries."


    Elliane: "No contact on radar."


    Thalia: "No trails left behind."


    Kanos finally relaxed his stance and coiled his whip sword. "Then we keep moving."


    Jenavira wiped her blades clean. "If this is just the start, I want to see what he left deeper in."


    Dario grinned, spinning his knife once. "Just hope that Lord L doesn''t disappoint."


    The moment the words left his mouth, the mist pulsed.


    Then it thickened, fast.


    Visibility dropped instantly.


    And before anyone could speak, three massive cave entrances began forming from the fog itself.


    The mist swirled and hardened into shape like they were being carved by invisible hands.


    One to the left.


    One in the center.


    One to the right.


    Each glowed faintly from within, impossible to see inside.


    Jenavira looked sideways at Dario, eyes narrowed.


    "Well. It seems Lord L didn''t disappoint after all."


    Dario let out a weak chuckle. "Yeah. I take it back."


    Kanos took a step forward, eyeing the three entrances carefully.


    "Three caves... appearing the second we clear out that beast pack?"


    He turned to the others.


    "And just so happens... we have three squads here."


    Jenavira crossed her arms. "A test. One for each team."


    Colan adjusted his grip on his staff. "Or a trap."


    Marek checked his radar. "I''m not getting anything from inside. It''s like... the caves don''t exist until we enter."


    Thalia floated her chakrams in a slow circle. "No readings. Not even terrain feedback."


    Kanos nodded slowly. "Interesting..."


    Alaric stepped up beside him. "So what''s the call? Do we go in?"


    Kanos looked at Jenavira. "Shadow Marshal... your take?"


    Jenavira studied the central cave for a moment.


    "He''s watching us. That much is obvious. If we turn back now, we won''t get anything."


    She looked at her team. "We''ll take the middle."


    Kanos smirked. "Then Night Shade will take the right."


    Dario glanced at Alaric and Colan. "Guess that leaves us the left."


    Alaric rolled his neck. "Fine. We''ll finish faster anyway."


    Kanos turned to all of them.


    "Keep comms open. The moment anything goes wrong, report it."


    Dario raised his eyebrow.


    "But aren''t the three of us going in at the same time?"


    Kanos glanced at him. "Physically, yes. But inside?"


    He pointed at the caves. "You really think Lord L plays fair?"


    Marek added, "For all we know, each cave is a self-contained trial. Different space. Different rules."


    Thalia narrowed her eyes at the swirling mist around the entrance.


    "The structure isn''t even stable. I''m watching the layers of fog shift like it''s alive."


    Jenavira stepped forward, blades sheathed but ready.


    "He wants to isolate us. See what each squad does when forced to act without backup."


    Dario folded his arms. "So we''re not just getting tested¡ªwe''re being evaluated."


    Kanos nodded. "Exactly. This isn''t just a path forward. It''s a filter."


    Sirelia glanced between the teams. "So we go in blind, no map, no terrain layout, and no idea what''s inside."


    Kanos smirked. "Which means it''s just another night op for us."


    Dario stretched his shoulders. "Let''s just hope it''s a short one."


    Jenavira gave one final glance toward the others. "No hesitation. In and out."


    Kanos pointed to the comm devices linked across their gear.


    "Stay linked. If the signal drops¡ªdo not panic. Trust your beast. Trust your team."


    Alaric stepped toward the left cave entrance. "Let''s get this over with."


    Dario grinned. "Race you to the end."


    Kanos cracked his knuckles. "Don''t fall behind."


    And with that, the three squads moved toward their respective caves.

 Chapter 329: Mist Trial

    Kanos and his squad stepped into the mist-formed cave.


    The moment they crossed the threshold, a low pulse vibrated through the air.


    The mist curled around their bodies¡ªthicker, heavier. And then¡ª


    Silence.


    Kanos tapped his comm once. "This is Kanos. Status check¡ªJenavira? Dario?"


    No response.


    He tried again. Nothing.


    Kanos frowned, eyes narrowing. "Signal''s dead. Disconnected by the mist."


    Thalia slowly drew her chakrams. "So we really are cut off."


    Kanos nodded. "We''re on our own."


    He turned to Elliane, who was already perched on a low ledge, glancing into the fog ahead with her rifle half-drawn.


    "Elliane. Can you see anything in front?"


    Elliane frowned, eyes scanning the void.


    "No. Mist''s too thick. Visibility''s zero. It''s like a wall of white. Can''t even get a silhouette."


    She shifted slightly and tapped the side of her scope.


    "Thermal''s being blocked. We''ll have to move deeper before we see anything useful."


    Kanos muttered, "Damn. He really thought of everything."


    He turned back to the team, frowning. "Alright. Get ready."


    Thalia rolled her shoulders, letting her chakrams hover beside her.


    "Chakrams are ready. I''ll deploy them once we detect movement."


    Orlen cracked his neck, stepping forward with his tonfas drawn.


    "I''ll stay front. Let them hit me first."


    Kanos smirked slightly. "Just don''t get too cocky."


    Orlen grinned. "No promises."


    Elliane stood and raised her rifle. "Rear guard set. Let''s move slow."


    Kanos raised his hand and stepped forward.


    "Stay close. Fog this thick? The cave''s probably alive."


    He looked at the dense white curtain ahead.


    "And Lord L wants to see what we do when we walk into something we can''t predict."


    He glanced at the team again.


    "Ready?"


    They all nodded.


    Kanos turned back, stepping into the fog.


    "Then let''s go."


    ---


    Jenavira and her team was also in the same condition.


    The entrance was sealed with a quiet whump, and the mist immediately thickened.


    Jenavira reached for her comm. "Kanos, Dario¡ªdo you copy?"


    Silence.


    She tried again. Nothing but static.


    Marek lowered his hand from his own device. "No signal. Same as expected."


    Jenavira frowned. "Then we''re sealed. Completely isolated."


    Sirelia took a step forward and raised her palm.


    A swirl of pale blue mist formed instantly, cooling the air.


    "I''ll start a passive field," she said quietly.


    "Just enough to cloak us. No paralysis yet."


    Jenavira nodded. "Good. Let''s stay hidden until we understand what we''re walking into."


    Dravin dropped into a crouch near the edge of the fog.


    "Ground''s dry," he muttered.


    "But too smooth. No sound reflection. That''s intentional."


    Jenavira raised her eyebrow. "You mean we won''t hear movement?"


    "Exactly," Dravin replied.


    "The terrain muffles steps. Our enemies could crawl on us without warning."


    Marek tapped his temple. "Activating Tenebrisant''s radar mode."


    His eyes dimmed slightly as soft pulses of invisible energy rippled from his body in all directions.


    "...Scan initiated. No contacts yet. But the walls are shifting."


    Jenavira glanced sharply at him. "Shifting?"


    "They''re not solid. The mist moves like it''s rearranging the structure."


    Sirelia sighed softly. "That means the cave''s alive. Or at least programmed to adapt."


    Jenavira crossed her arms, frowning.


    She then looked at each member in turn.


    "Marek¡ªmaintain pulse range every thirty seconds. I want constant readings."


    He nodded. "Understood."


    "Dravin¡ªhold the center. You''ll anchor the formation if anything gets close."


    Dravin flipped his spear into a resting position on his back. "Got it."


    "Sirelia¡ªmaintain the concealment mist. Only switch to paralysis when I call it."


    "Ready," Sirelia said.


    Jenavira turned to face the dense fog ahead.


    "We don''t move until we''re sure. This is a test."


    She narrowed her eyes.


    "Lord L must have wanted to see how we think."


    ---


    On the other mist cave, Dario walked up front.


    Behind him, Alaric moved steadily, spear angled low.


    Colan stayed at the rear, illuminating their path just enough to keep them from being totally blind.


    "Still nothing," Dario muttered.


    Alaric sniffed the air. "No scent. Not even damp stone. It''s like we''re walking through nothing."


    Colan tapped the side of his visor. "My light can''t reflect off anything. It''s being swallowed by the mist."


    Dario paused, checking the comm. "No signal. Nothing new there."


    He looked back at the other two. "Alright. Then we do what we always do."


    Alaric nodded. "Tight formation. Short bursts."


    Colan frowned. "I don''t like this. The walls... they''re too smooth. No edges. No sign of natural rock."


    Dario exhaled. "Meaning?"


    "Meaning this isn''t a cave," Colan said.


    "It''s a space made to look like one. This is fabricated."


    Dario looked ahead. "A test chamber."


    Alaric growled low.


    "Lord L wants to see how we function without enemies. The pressure''s psychological."


    Dario stepped forward again.


    "Then we keep calm. And keep moving."


    They walked in silence for several minutes.


    Colan finally spoke again. "You know this fog... it doesn''t behave like the others outside."


    Alaric glanced back. "Explain."


    "It''s not reacting to us. It''s not swirling, shifting, or adjusting. It''s observing."


    Dario chuckled darkly. "So even the fog''s judging us."


    Colan didn''t laugh. "Maybe. Just stay sharp."


    Dario raised his hand, signaling a brief stop.


    "Colan. Prep a flare light. Just in case."


    Colan pulled a small orb from his pouch. "Do you want it triggered?"


    "No," Dario said.


    "Not unless it goes dark ahead. I want this mist to know¡ªwe''re not panicking."


    Alaric grinned. "Let it try."


    They resumed walking, deeper into the silence.


    Then, without warning, the mist parted.


    The team stepped into a massive open space.


    It was a dome-shaped chamber, larger than anything they''d seen so far.


    The ceiling arched high above, barely visible.


    And in the center¡ª


    All three of them stopped at once.


    Dario''s eyes widened. "What the hell is this?"


    Alaric raised his spear. "No... it''s not just mist."


    Colan took a slow step forward, voice low. "It''s alive."


    Floating in the center of the chamber was a massive beast that was made entirely from fog and mist.


    A long, draconic shape with no true form, but its presence was overwhelming.


    Its eyes¡ªif they were eyes¡ªglowed faintly.


    Dario whispered, "That''s not a common beast at all."


    Alaric''s grip tightened. "So this is the trial."


    Colan nodded slowly. "He wants us to fight it. Three of us. One dragon."


    Dario clicked his blades together once.


    "Guess Lord L''s not holding back anymore."


    They stared at the swirling fog dragon.


    The test had begun.

 Chapter 330: Alaric Went Bloodrage

    The Mist Dragon''s body pulsed once.


    Then it moved.


    With no sound, a massive claw of swirling fog extended from its body.


    The mist claw swept towards the three of them.


    "Incoming!" Dario shouted.


    He lunged forward, twin short swords igniting mid-motion.


    WHAM¡ªSWISH!


    The claw struck the ground where he''d stood a second ago.


    But Dario had already dashed forward with Cinder Step.


    Everytime he ran on the Mist Dragon''s body, his step burned it.


    "Eat that!" he barked.


    Alaric didn''t wait.


    He let out a sharp howl.


    Pack Alpha.


    Power surged through him and radiated to the others.


    Dario felt the sudden boost in his strikes, while Colan''s energy pulsed brighter.


    Alaric''s eyes narrowed. "Marking it now."


    He activated Endless Chase, marking the mist dragon as his target.


    "Now it''s mine."


    He dashed in with amplified speed, spear crackling with force.


    Colan remained back, focused.


    He slammed the base of his staff on the ground. "Radiant Renewal!"


    A burst of light spread out, covering Dario and Alaric, accelerating their recovery mid-combat.


    Then he raised the staff high. "Solar Pulse."


    A dense beam of light exploded above the Mist Dragon, scattering energy grains.


    The mist shuddered, and the dragon''s form wavered.


    The mist claws twitched slightly as the magic within them began to disappear.


    "Disruption hit!" Colan shouted.


    "Its accuracy and channeling are dropping!"


    Dario laughed. "Perfect¡ªkeep frying it!"


    The Mist Dragon roared and raised another claw, this one even larger, forming mid-air as it aimed for Colan.


    Alaric growled. "Not happening."


    He intercepted with a leaping strike, spear stabbing through the fog claw before it could solidify.


    The fog burst apart from the point of impact, scattering.


    Dario circled behind again, Cinder Step reigniting. "Let''s cook this thing from all angles!"


    Alaric landed next to him, eyes locked on the mark still glowing on the dragon.


    "It''s weakening."


    Colan''s voice rang from behind. "But it''s not done yet. Stay sharp!"


    They regrouped quickly, backs to each other.


    The Mist Dragon began reforming its body again. Faster this time.


    Alaric smirked. "Alright then... round two."


    But something suddenly changed.


    The mist around them surged.


    They were rushing from the ground, sweeping across the walls, rising like a tide.


    Colan took a step back. "Wait..."


    Dario''s grin dropped. "That''s not just its body¡ª"


    FWIP¡ªFWIP¡ªCRACK!


    Mist solidified into shape. Dozens of weapons appeared mid-air.


    Swords. Spears. Halberds. Axes. All floating, all aimed at them.


    "They''re everywhere!" Alaric shouted.


    Dario ducked as a spear shot past his head. "Oh, come on¡ªhe upgraded?!"


    A battleaxe of mist slammed into the ground beside Colan, carving into the floor.


    "I can''t disrupt all of this!" Colan shouted.


    He raised his staff and fired another Solar Pulse, but the blast only knocked a few weapons away¡ªmore just replaced them.


    Alaric snarled. "It''s copying us. Turning the terrain into a weapon field!"


    The Mist Dragon roared again. Blades launched like a barrage.


    Dario raised his swords to block¡ªtoo slow.


    A mist halberd slammed into his shoulder, sending him crashing to the side.


    "Damn¡ª"


    Alaric moved to intercept, activating Endless Chase again to keep the dragon marked.


    But the new weapons weren''t part of the beast.


    They moved independently, slicing at angles he couldn''t predict.


    Two mist scimitars cut across his legs, breaking his stance.


    "Gah¡ª! It''s breaking through!"


    Colan''s hands glowed as he fired off another Radiant Renewal.


    But mid-cast, a jagged spear of mist pierced his side, knocking him flat.


    "I can''t¡ª! Too many targets!"


    The Mist Dragon surged forward now, fully formed again.


    Its claw reappeared, slamming toward the weakened trio.


    Alaric forced himself up, blood trailing from his arm.


    "We need distance! Regroup¡ªfall back!"


    Dario rolled to avoid another crashing blade.


    "Screw falling back¡ªthis thing''s not letting us move!"


    Colan gasped, holding his side.


    "We can''t outpace it. It''s adapting faster than we can react."


    Alaric looked around them.


    No exits, no way out, just an endless wall of floating weapons closing in.


    He clenched his teeth. "We''re not dying here."


    Then his body pulsed.


    Dark red light flickered across his skin.


    Bloodrage¡ªactivated.


    His muscles surged, breath deepened, eyes burning silver-red.


    Colan''s eyes widened. "Wait¡ªyou''re using that already?!"


    Dario swore under his breath. "Damn, Alaric! You''re gonna burn yourself out!"


    Alaric growled. "Don''t care. I''m ending this."


    Dario turned sharply to Colan. "Colan! Focus Radiant Renewal on him. Constant flow. Keep him alive."


    Colan gritted his teeth but nodded. "On it!"


    His staff pulsed, golden energy wrapping around Alaric, stabilizing the wild surge of Bloodrage.


    Alaric stepped forward¡ªthrough a barrage of flying blades.


    A spear grazed his arm. A sword slashed his shoulder.


    But instead of faltering, he moved faster.


    Blood fueled strength.


    Dario looked back at the Mist Dragon¡ªstill forming, but flickering.


    He narrowed his eyes.


    Some of the flames from Cinder Step were still burning across the dragon''s misty form.


    Dario planted his foot, slammed his blades together, and shouted, "Ashwake Howl!"


    The ground trembled as every lingering ember erupted into an explosion blasting outward.


    BOOM¡ªBOOM¡ªBOOM!


    The Mist Dragon reeled, its shape fracturing, weapons scattering mid-air.


    "NOW!" Dario roared.


    "ALERIC¡ªATTACK!"


    "RAAAAAAH!"


    Alaric exploded forward, howling, eyes wild.


    He launched through the chaos, spear extended, glowing red-hot from the heat and his own burning rage.


    The dragon twisted, trying to reform¡ª


    Too late.


    Alaric closed the distance in seconds.


    Spear raised.


    Target locked.


    "DIE!"


    He thrust straight toward the beast''s core¡ª


    ---


    Meanwhile, in the other cave¡ª


    Silence.


    Jenavira stood still, blades still sheathed, eyes scanning the mist like it was alive.


    Marek stood nearby, eyes glowing faintly from his ongoing pulse scan.


    "No movement. No energy spikes. Nothing yet."


    Dravin leaned against the mist-coated wall, spear still folded. "It''s too quiet."


    Sirelia glanced toward Jenavira. "Captain. Do we wait here? Or push deeper?"


    Jenavira didn''t answer immediately.


    She glanced over at Marek. "Scan again. One more pulse. Longer range."


    Marek nodded. "Activating full-range scan."


    He crouched, fingers touching the ground.


    A low hum echoed through the mist as a pulse of energy rippled out.


    Seconds passed.


    Nothing returned.


    "No beast presence," Marek said.


    "Not within 100 meters."


    Dravin frowned. "Feels wrong. There should be something by now."


    Sirelia nodded slowly. "Feels like they''re waiting. Or watching."


    Jenavira''s fingers tapped her belt once.


    "This isn''t hesitation. This is design. Lord L is testing how we handle silence."


    Dravin straightened. "So? Push forward?"


    Jenavira''s eyes narrowed. "No. Not yet."


    She stepped forward just a little, mist swirling at her feet.


    "The moment we assume the test has started is when it already has."


    She looked back at the others.


    "Stay ready. This quiet? It''s part of the fight."

 Chapter 331: Something’s Coming…

    Jenavira stood completely still.


    Seconds passed.


    The air tensed.


    Then the mist shifted.


    A low rumble whispered through the floor as the fog rippled outward.


    Marek snapped his head up. "Movement."


    The mist wall curled upward like rising smoke, thickening fast.


    The ground beneath their feet pulsed once, then began stretching outward.


    Dravin muttered, "The hell¡ª?"


    In seconds, the enclosed space morphed.


    Mist and ground shaped themselves into a wide, circular chamber.


    A dome.


    Jenavira''s eyes narrowed. "There it is."


    And then¡ªcenter stage¡ªthe mist twisted tighter, forming into a massive beast.


    A long dragon took shape, silent but overwhelming.


    No scales. No flesh. Just layered, pulsing fog wrapped around a glowing core.


    Its eyes opened¡ªslow, glowing pale blue.


    Dravin took a step back. "Oh. Great."


    Jenavira''s lips curled into a half-smirk. "I was right."


    Dravin rolled his eyes. "Yeah, congrats. You win a dragon."


    Jenavira stepped forward, not drawing her blades yet. "So this is it."


    Sirelia glanced at her. "You think this is the trial?"


    Jenavira nodded. "A mist guardian formed by mist. No energy signature. No prep time. Placed dead center in a sealed dome."


    She flicked her thumb across the hilt of one blade.


    "This screams design. Not a chance."


    Dravin tilted his spear forward. "So what now? We hit it?"


    Jenavira raised her head, eyes fixed on the creature.


    "Only one way to find out."


    Marek clenched his fists. "You want to engage it directly?"


    "No." Jenavira cracked her neck once.


    "I want to provoke it first."


    But before she could move¡ª


    FWIP¡ªFWIP¡ªSHING¡ª


    The air screamed as blades formed mid-air.


    Dozens of mist-forged weapons¡ªswords, scythes, and jagged spikes¡ªhovered in a perfect circle.


    Then they launched all at once.


    "Scatter!" Jenavira barked.


    The team dove into motion as the blades tore through their former position.


    Sirelia rolled into cover behind a mist-shaped stone.


    "Damn¡ªit didn''t even need provoking."


    Jenavira narrowed her eyes, daggers drawn now, crouched low. "It''s a guardian."


    She clicked her tongue. "That confirms it. Automated aggression."


    Sirelia stood beside her, knives drawn. "Then we attack."


    "Fine," Jenavira snapped.


    "Let''s do this by the numbers."


    Marek extended both palms, closing his eyes. "Echo Pulse!"


    A deep hum radiated outward.


    The dragon flinched¡ªbut Marek''s brows furrowed.


    "That glowing orb... it''s not the core."


    Jenavira glanced sideways. "Wait, what?"


    "That thing in the chest¡ªit''s a decoy. I scanned it. It''s just an ice ball."


    Dravin snorted. "So the thing''s got fake hearts now? Real cute."


    Sirelia looked at Marek. "Then where''s the real one?"


    "I don''t know yet. Echo Pulse hit nothing vital."


    Jenavira''s eyes flicked toward the beast, which was closing in fast.


    "We don''t have time to figure it out."


    "We ignore the core for now," she ordered.


    "Just fight. We adapt mid-battle."


    "Understood." Marek activated another ability.


    "Twilight Veil!"


    A blanket of shifting shadow-mist enveloped the team, lowering enemy accuracy and blurring their movements.


    "Visual disruption active!"


    Sirelia crouched low and pulled three knives from her pouch.


    She infused each one with pale blue and violet energy.


    "Bloom Paralysis. Frost Trap Weave. Infused."


    She hurled them in a tight arc around the Mist Dragon.


    The blades struck the ground and detonated softly.


    They released cold pressure zones that slowed everything in their radius.


    The dragon''s movement dulled slightly.


    "Got it," she called out.


    "Paralysis field is spreading!"


    Dravin surged forward from the flank. His beast, Venomire, pulsed inside him.


    "Activating Venom Pulse!"


    Green mist radiated from his body, weakening the beast''s toxin resistance.


    "Debuff applied!"


    He leapt in.


    "Chainsting!"


    His segmented spear unraveled and shot forward, piercing into the Mist Dragon''s left shoulder.


    CRACK¡ª


    It sank in deep¡ªpoison injecting on contact.


    Mist recoiled sharply as the dragon shrieked, twisting to counter.


    Jenavira was already on the move.


    She blurred and vanished¡ªappearing on the dragon''s right side.


    "Engaging in close combat."


    Her twin daggers shimmered with Duskhound''s power.


    "Laceration Sweep!"


    She slashed upward, the blades slicing through the dragon''s shoulder and dispersing part of its form.


    The beast turned sharply, claws forming again.


    Marek called out. "Pressure spike¡ªwatch for another barrage!"


    Sirelia tossed another knife. "I''ve got a slow field ready!"


    Dravin snarled, twisting his spear. "I''ll pin it down¡ªgo for its damn head!"


    Jenavira didn''t answer.


    She was already mid-air, spinning into a deadly arc.


    "Duskhound Fangs¡ªdual strike."


    Both daggers struck home¡ªone in the base of the dragon''s neck, the other near its lower flank.


    The fog exploded outward from the impact zones.


    Jenavira landed in a slide and shouted, "Hit it harder! It''s reforming fast!"


    Marek stepped up behind her, eyes glowing again.


    "I''ve got another Pulse ready!"


    Sirelia narrowed her eyes. "Let''s end this before it adapts again."


    Dravin tightened his grip. "Then we go all out."


    Jenavira smirked.


    "Now we''re talking."


    But suddenly the Mist Dragon screeched, shifting the mist instantly.


    FWIP¡ªCLANG¡ªSWISH¡ª


    Hundreds of new mist weapons formed in mid-air. They were no longer random.


    They were precise.


    Thinner, faster, sharper.


    They spiraled toward the team in chaotic, deadly patterns.


    "Scatter¡ªNOW!" Jenavira barked.


    Dravin dove left. Sirelia rolled right.


    Marek ducked back, his cloak barely deflecting a blade that sliced his shoulder.


    "Shit¡ªit''s targeting vitals!"


    Marek shouted, stumbling.


    Sirelia threw up a cold mist wall, but five spears punched through it like paper.


    One grazed her leg.


    "Too fast¡ªmy traps aren''t holding it back anymore!"


    Dravin deflected two strikes with his spear.


    But a sudden mist hammer slammed into his side, launching him across the dome.


    "Guh¡ª!"


    He hit the wall and dropped hard.


    Jenavira weaved through a cluster of slashes, flipping up and over two curved daggers that aimed for her back.


    "Focus!" she snapped.


    She landed beside Dravin, dragging him upright.


    "You good?"


    He grunted. "Does it matter?"


    "Not really."


    Another wave of weapons launched.


    Marek raised both hands. "Shield pulse¡ªtwilight field reset!"


    The veil snapped back into place, but the weapons tore through it like it wasn''t even there.


    "They''re adapting too!" Marek roared.


    "Then stop defending!" Jenavira shouted. "We go in NOW!"


    Sirelia threw one last knife¡ªit exploded in mist but barely slowed the dragon down.


    She gritted her teeth. "Fine. Targeting the core, fake or not."


    Dravin coughed and stood. "Spear''s ready."


    Jenavira''s eyes gleamed. "Then let''s carve a path."


    She blurred again¡ªfaster this time. The fog resisted her movement, but she didn''t stop.


    "Strike together!"


    Dravin''s spear whipped forward¡ªpiercing through three mist shields in one thrust.


    "Chainsting¡ªBREAK!"


    Sirelia hurled twin knives, one from each hand, targeting the dragon''s wings.


    "Bloom Trap¡ªLOCK IT DOWN!"


    The dragon tried to rise, but the frost weave detonated, freezing its lower half in place for a second.


    A single second.


    That''s all they had.


    Jenavira leapt high, twin daggers burning in her grip.


    She twisted mid-air, angling the blades down¡ª


    "DUSKHOUND FANGS¡ªCORE STRIKE!"

 Chapter 332: No Time to Think

    Night Shade was in a fight with the mist dragon.


    Thalia stood mid-field, chakrams spinning in wide circles.


    She raised her arms, and opened her mouth.


    "Dusk Screech!"


    The sonic ripple tore through the dragon''s concentration.


    Its claws jerked off-target, mist-shields misfired.


    It screeched and twisted midair, momentarily blinded.


    "Now!" Thalia called.


    From the far ridge, Elliane was already cloaked.


    Her body blurred in and out as her beast''s web threads dissolved her into the environment.


    "Cloak-Web Field active."


    She aligned her sniper rifle calmly, fingers sharp on the trigger.


    "Fog Snare Threads¡ªround one."


    CRACK!


    The mist split as a high-velocity bullet shot forward¡ªlaced with enchanted threads.


    The second it struck the dragon''s flank, it detonated outward, binding mist to mist.


    It forced the creature''s body to harden and pause in midair.


    Tight threads bound around its legs and body like a cage.


    Elliane''s voice came through the comms. "Target restricted."


    Kanos saw it. "Good shot."


    Down below, Orlen had already rushed forward.


    Mistrock Cloak coated his body in dense grey mist armor.


    He leapt straight toward the dragon''s trapped body.


    "BREAKING THROUGH!"


    He slammed both weapons into the side of the beast.


    CRACK¡ªBOOM!


    Mist shattered off the dragon''s shell-like body in chunks, revealing a faint core deeper inside.


    "Got something!"


    Orlen shouted, flipping backward to dodge a counter swipe.


    Kanos had already vanished.


    Shadow Blink.


    He stepped through the mist like a ghost, reappearing directly behind the dragon.


    His whip-sword extended and lashed outward¡ªsegments slicing across the dragon''s back.


    SLASH¡ªSLASH¡ªSLASH!


    Each strike was precise¡ªKanos''s beast, Mistcoil, had marked the beast during his entrance.


    Mist exploded from the impact zones.


    "Marked!" Kanos barked.


    "Anywhere I strike will track it¡ªeven if it vanishes again!"


    Thalia''s chakrams spun back toward her hands.


    "Resonant Curve¡ªgo!"


    She launched them again, and they curved wide, dragging disorienting frequencies through the air.


    The dragon screamed¡ªthen staggered mid-air, stunned by the rapid sequence of blows and control.


    Elliane''s voice rang again.


    "Snare Threads reloading. Ready for round two."


    Orlen charged again. "I''ll pin it for good this time!"


    Kanos''s voice was cold and direct. "Keep pushing. It''s losing control."


    This was their moment.


    He lunged forward, whip-sword slashing again.


    But then¡ªthe air shifted.


    The mist darkened.


    Thickened.


    Everything stopped moving.


    A sudden pulse radiated out from the Mist Dragon''s core.


    The threads that bound it, snapped.


    Elliane''s voice cracked through comms. "¡ªWhat?! Restraints failed!"


    The Mist Dragon roared¡ªits body shrunk and condensed.


    The fog twisted tighter around it, and when it reformed¡ª


    It was faster.


    Sharper.


    Smaller and deadlier.


    Kanos'' eyes widened. "It evolved."


    Orlen charged again.


    "Let it try¡ª!"


    But the dragon was gone.


    A blur.


    It reappeared behind him, its mist blade slicing across his back.


    "Gah¡ª!"


    Orlen crashed forward, rolling hard across the stone.


    "Armor cracked!" he grunted.


    Thalia''s chakrams launched again.


    "Dusk Screech!"


    But this time¡ªthe dragon didn''t flinch.


    It moved through the sound.


    Its claw lashed out and struck Thalia square in the chest¡ªsending her flying back into the wall.


    "Thalia¡ª!" Kanos snapped.


    Elliane fired two more sniper rounds, but the mist around the dragon bent the bullets mid-air.


    "No good! It''s manipulating trajectory!"


    Kanos vanished with Shadow Blink.


    He reappeared above the dragon for an overhead strike.


    But the dragon spun, perfectly timed, and slammed him with its tail mid-blink.


    Kanos hit the ground with a thud, mist swirling around him.


    He gritted his teeth, blood sliding down his temple.


    "We''re outpaced¡ª!"


    Orlen pushed himself up. "We''ve still got one shot¡ª!"


    Kanos stood slowly.


    His whip retracted, blade in hand now.


    "Then we take it."


    "Final strike," he said flatly.


    "Everything we''ve got."


    Thalia coughed from the wall, already standing. "Say when."


    Elliane loaded one final round, glancing through her scope. "Target locked."


    Orlen tightened his cloak again, body shaking but ready. "Let''s end this."


    Kanos breathed deep once, then raised his weapon.


    "All at once."


    The Mist Dragon hovered, watching them¡ªunblinking.


    Kanos raised his hand.


    "GO!"


    Thalia''s chakrams screamed through the air, slicing into the fog like twin crescents.


    Elliane fired twice, and both rounds exploded mid-flight, releasing web-snare detonations.


    The Mist Dragon dodged¡ªjust barely¡ª


    Right into Orlen, who slammed both tonfas into its core.


    "MIST CRUSH!"


    The dragon buckled¡ªbut didn''t fall.


    Kanos stepped forward.


    His blade began glowing dark silver.


    He shot into the air, spinning into a final mid-air slash¡ª


    "SHADOW REND¡ª!"


    ---


    Alaric, Colan, and Dario stumbled forward, the thick fog finally beginning to clear.


    They could see the silhouette of Luxoria Castle from the distance.


    The Mist Dragon just vanished after being defeated.


    Dario dropped to a knee, exhaling hard. "Damn it... that was really hard."


    Colan wiped blood off his chin. "We almost didn''t make it."


    Alaric grunted, still leaning on his spear.


    "No ''almost'' about it. We were one mistake from death."


    Dario looked around.


    "I''ll take solid ground and no floating blades for a while, thanks."


    Then¡ª


    Voices.


    Muffled at first, then clearer. Echoing from not far ahead.


    "¡ªWe''re close!"


    "Over here¡ª!"


    The three turned sharply, instincts kicking in.


    But instead of more mist beasts, Kanos emerged from the fog.


    He was dragging a half-limp Orlen with one arm.


    Thalia followed behind, bruised but walking.


    And Elliane was at the rear, still scanning with her rifle.


    Dario blinked. "No way."


    Kanos locked eyes with him. "You''re alive?"


    Dario grinned. "That''s my line."


    Orlen groaned. "Barely."


    Alaric stepped forward. "You made it through yours?"


    Thalia gave a tired nod. "It wasn''t a beast. It was a damn nightmare."


    Colan looked around. "Where''s Jenavira''s team?"


    Elliane adjusted her scope. "There."


    Another set of figures appeared through the mist.


    Jenavira, Marek, Dravin, and Sirelia, weapons drawn, eyes wary.


    Dario raised his hand. "We''re friendly."


    Jenavira''s eyes scanned each face. "You all made it?"


    Kanos nodded. "Barely."


    Dravin chuckled dryly. "Then I guess we passed."


    Sirelia muttered, "If that was a pass, I don''t want to see failure."


    Dario looked back toward the castle. "Guess that''s the point."


    Colan nodded. "Only the worthy make it through."


    Alaric rested his spear against his shoulder. "So now what?"


    Jenavira exhaled, blades finally sheathed.


    "Now we find out why Lord L set all this up in the first place."


    Kanos glanced toward the castle, eyes narrowed.


    "And what he''s planning next."

 Chapter 333: Lucius Watched It All... And Smiled

    Inside Luxoria Castle¡ª


    A large crystal screen projected images from above.


    Liline stood near the console, arms folded, eyes calmly monitoring the feed.


    The final moments of the trials played on loop.


    Mist dragons defeated, weapons shattered, and the survivors finally emerging.


    Lucius stood before it all, silent.


    Luna leaned closer, eyes scanning the footage.


    "They actually made it through..."


    Loreia crossed her arms.


    "Took them long enough. I was starting to think none of them would survive."


    Luna smirked. "I''m more surprised how hard-headed they were."


    "Even after being half-dead, they kept charging forward like madmen."


    Loreia pointed at the screen.


    "That one. He was bleeding from the chest and still shouting orders."


    "They''re all like that," Luna muttered.


    "Stubborn, reckless, and somehow still breathing."


    Liora stepped forward from the side, arms crossed. "They had to be."


    Everyone glanced at her.


    She looked at the scene where the Sovereign Mist Beast, Nebelis, had initiated the trials.


    "The new mist beast isn''t weak," Liora said plainly.


    "Even I didn''t expect it to push them that far."


    Lucius''s lips curled into a faint smile. "Exactly."


    Loreia turned to him. "So... did they pass?"


    Lucius glanced at the footage before speaking.


    "Of course they passed."


    Loreia raised her eyebrow. "You sound certain."


    Lucius gave a faint nod.


    "The moment they defeated the mist clone of Nebelis, the test was already over."


    Luna folded her arms. "Wait¡ªjust the clone?"


    Lucius turned slightly toward them. "You think I''d let the real one fight them?"


    He let the silence hang for a moment.


    "Remember¡ªthe trial wasn''t about killing a beast. It was about filtering the weak."


    Liora''s eyes narrowed. "So anyone strong enough to overcome the clone... gets in?"


    Lucius smirked.


    "Exactly. I already told Nebelis to use only its clones to fight them."


    Lucius gestured toward the screen. "Anyone who defeats its clone... passes."


    Loreia looked back at the footage. "So this was a screening process."


    "A brutal one," Luna added.


    "And you made it look like a death trap."


    Lucius turned, smiling slightly.


    "If I told them it was a filter, they wouldn''t take it seriously."


    "But when you believe you''re fighting for your life... you show what you really are."


    Liora nodded once. "You saw what you needed."


    Lucius looked out at the castle courtyard beyond the screen.


    The surviving hunters were approaching.


    They were wounded, exhausted, and unaware of what waited next.


    "Let''s give them a gift for passing the test."


    He turned toward his system.


    "System. Hack the ones who passed and fully heal them."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Mass Healing Directive]


    [Targets: All Individuals Who Passed the Test and Arrived at Luxoria Castle]


    [Effect: Instantly Restore All Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Conditions to Full Health]


    [Cost Required: 1,000,000,000 Hack Points


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Luna blinked as he heard what Lucius said.


    "You''re healing all of them?"


    Loreia narrowed her eyes. "Didn''t expect that."


    Lucius smirked. "It''s not just healing. It''s a demonstration."


    He gestured to the screen again as the survivor began to heal.


    "No potions. No healers. Just instant restoration while they were in our area."


    Luna chuckled. "You want them to feel small before they even step inside."


    Loreia shrugged. "Or awestruck."


    Lucius turned, hands folding behind his back.


    "Let them feel what true power looks like. Let them understand what it means... to step into the real Luxoria Castle."


    Liora gave a faint nod. "They''ll understand."


    ---


    Dario suddenly felt something strange in his body.


    He looked down at his arm.


    There had been deep injuries and blood seeping from it.


    But now it was gone.


    The wound vanished right before his eyes, replaced with flawless skin.


    He blinked, stunned.


    "What the hell...?"


    Colan stepped back, gripping his staff.


    "Something''s happening¡ªmy mana''s full again. All of it."


    Thalia looked down at her leg, which had been half-bruised and stiff.


    She rotated it once. No pain at all.


    "Okay, what did we just walk into?"


    Orlen flexed his arms, wide-eyed.


    "My back¡ªit''s fixed. I had two cracked ribs!"


    Jenavira narrowed her eyes.


    "This isn''t natural recovery. This is... instantaneous."


    Alaric cracked his neck, his fatigue already lifting.


    "Feels like I slept for ten hours and got a new body in the process."


    Dravin snorted. "If that''s what death feels like, sign me up."


    Sirelia held up her hand, watching faint light pulse through her fingertips.


    "It''s not just healing. Even spiritual energy is stable. Balanced."


    Kanos scanned the surroundings.


    "No caster or even machine. This came from the castle."


    Marek''s eyes glowed slightly.


    "Correction¡ªit came through the castle. The source is deeper."


    Elliane reloaded her rifle slowly, eyes focused on the opening gates ahead.


    "Then someone did this on purpose."


    Dario looked toward the silver doors inching open.


    "Healing all ten of us at once... Who the hell has power like that?"


    Jenavira didn''t answer right away. She just stepped forward.


    Then she said quietly, "Lord L."


    Kanos narrowed his eyes. "Now I want to know what this auction''s really about."


    In the back, Dario pulled out his phone and opened the Beastagram.


    Hundreds of new posts flooded his screen.


    Images of survivor teams limping through fog and arguments happening live.


    Dario''s eyes widened. "Wow... Everyone''s talking about it now."


    Dario typed something and posted it


    ---


    @IronBurst_Dario:


    "Luxoria Castle, huh? I don''t know what kind of auction needs to nearly kill us before letting us in. But if that was the test, then damn. I better see something shocking behind those doors."


    @ThunderTamer_Rei:


    "WHO MAKES A FOG MAZE WITH A REALLY POWERFUL S-RANK BEAST AS A CUSTOMER FILTER?! I JUST CAME TO BUY A DAMN MOUNT."


    @FrostLine_Veyla:


    "I''m still coughing up mist. What even WAS that trial? Where were the signs? The warnings?!"


    @GraveHawk_Sonn:


    "Bro. That fog claw thing sliced my shield in HALF. I''m not even mad, just confused¡ªwas that a discount code challenge or what?"


    @NightCrawl_Aster:


    "Someone explain why we got jumped by a literal fog dragon. This is just an auction, not a dungeon raid."


    ---

 Chapter 334: No Rewards

    Dario laughed for a moment. "They''re really pissed, aren''t they?"


    Then some new posts appeared again.


    But in a different tone.


    "I think the tide''s turning."


    Dario showed his phone screen to Colan.


    "Look at this."


    ---


    @SteelVein_Rog:


    "Honestly? Mad respect to Lord L. This ain''t a shopping mall¡ªit''s Luxoria Castle. If you can''t survive the test, you don''t deserve to by one from Luxoria Castle."


    @StormRider_Hayne:


    "Y''all complainin'', but after we beat that fog monster, we got healed and buffed. That''s not trauma. That''s an entrance exam."


    @CrimsonBite_Kiri:


    "Lord L just filtered out the trash. The auction''s now full of people who earned their right to be there. Power recognizes power."


    ---


    Colan raised his eyebrow. "They''re actually backing him."


    Dario nodded. "Yeah. It''s turning into a flex."


    He scrolled again¡ªmore videos, more posts.


    Some of the survivors were even recording short clips.


    ---


    @NightClaw_Mesa (video):


    [Shows her wound gradually vanishing]


    "We got hit hard, sure. But after the trial? Instant full-body recovery."


    "You think I''m complaining? Nah. I feel better than I did before I came here. Lord L''s the real deal."


    @Ghostline_Valk:


    "Anyone who passed the mist trial now has literal battleproof bragging rights."


    "No healer, no potions. Just instant healed from the castle. Luxoria doesn''t sell power¡ªthey build it."


    ---


    Thalia glanced at Dario. "Has someone called it a flex yet?"


    Dario grinned and reposted one.


    ---


    @IronBurst_Dario:


    "Flex unlocked: Survive Luxoria''s trial, get healed like royalty, walk into the elite zone of Luxoria Castle. Respect, Lord L. That was brutal¡ªand perfect."


    ---


    Seconds later, the repost blew up.


    He laughed. "Alright. This is going to be fun."


    Jenavira glanced over her shoulder. "Let them talk. The ones that didn''t make it... will feel it even harder."


    ---


    Liline soon appeared, floating gently from above, glancing at the survivors.


    "Welcome to Luxoria Castle."


    She looked once again across the numerous survivors.


    "Congratulations to all of you who survived the trial."


    Dario blinked. "That''s it? Just ''congratulations''?"


    Someone else called out from the back. "Hey, uh¡ªMiss?"


    Liline tilted her head. "Just call me Liline."


    Colan soon cleared his throat.


    "Miss Liline, then... why did Lord L drop a damn Mist Dragon on us out of nowhere?!"


    Liline smiled again.


    "Didn''t you already read our announcement on the official Luxoria site?"


    Several survivors blinked, clearly caught off guard.


    "I¡ªwhat?"


    Liline continued smoothly.


    "It was stated. Clearly. Only those who pass through the dangerous journey are allowed into the auction."


    She opened her palm.


    A small floating projection soon appeared with the exact announcement:


    ---


    "Note: Only qualified bidders who have proven their strength by surviving the dangerous journey to our location will be allowed to participate.."


    ---


    Liline let it flicker and vanish.


    "So," she said, smiling wider.


    "why ask me about it... when we told you already?"


    Kanos muttered under his breath, "I must''ve skipped that part..."


    Someone else in the crowd raised a hand.


    "Okay, fine. We passed. But since we did survive that hell¡ªdo we get anything? A reward? A gift? Maybe... a discount?"


    Liline chuckled, her eyes narrowing slightly.


    "No. You only got healing. Just healing."


    She floated forward, hands behind her back now.


    "This was never a prize challenge. There''s no bonus, no title, no special badge."


    "It was a test. Nothing more, nothing less."


    "Survive¡ªand you get the right to walk inside."


    Alaric crossed his arms. "That''s it?"


    "Yes," Liline said.


    "You are only customers for us."


    The air shifted slightly at those words.


    But before the silence could settle, a man from another team stepped forward.


    His eyes widened and teeth clenched as he snapped.


    "Damn you, Liline¡ªand damn Lord L too!"


    His voice echoed off the castle walls.


    "You think we''re your toys? You trick us into walking into some hell trial, nearly kill us, and then give us a smile like that?!"


    He raised his arm, aura flaring with violent intent. "I should burn this place to¡ª"


    FWIP.


    Liline raised her hand.


    Without a word, spectral guards phased into existence.


    They were tall, armored, silver-etched phantoms with glowing eyes and shifting weapons.


    They moved in unison.


    CRACK¡ªCLANK¡ªTHUD!


    In under two seconds, they had him pinned.


    One on each side, another behind, locking his limbs.


    The man struggled, smirking. "Don''t think that''s enough to hold me¡ª"


    WHAM.


    A clean punch to the gut silenced him.


    WHAM¡ªWHAM¡ª


    He staggered, eyes wide, breath gone.


    But it didn''t end there.


    The guards shimmered¡ªand suddenly shifted form.


    The two holding him merged, reshaping into a massive cannon, the barrel locking into place with a click.


    The man was inserted headfirst into the cannon''s chamber.


    Liline remained perfectly composed.


    "Launch him."


    BOOM.


    The cannon fired.


    The man screamed as he was blasted through the air, a glowing arc cutting across the sky.


    He vanished far outside the castle grounds with a fading speck of light.


    The hall went dead silent.


    Liline looked back at the crowd, her smile still in place.


    "Now... does anyone else wish to argue with me?"


    Every single person shook their head.


    Even the most prideful survivors lowered their gaze.


    Dario whispered, "That guy was S-Rank..."


    Thalia muttered, "Didn''t matter."


    Kanos adjusted his coat. "And people wonder why Luxoria has no riots."


    Alaric kept his eyes ahead. "Lesson learned."


    ---


    Liline turned back to the crowd.


    She smiled calmly.


    "Now that no one wishes to argue anymore... let''s continue."


    Her eyes scanned the crowd.


    "But first¡ªlet me ask something."


    She raised her voice slightly.


    "Are the people who purchased Vornis in the previous auction present?"


    The room went still.


    A few murmurs passed through the crowd.


    Then¡ªa single man stepped forward from the back.


    He walked with calm confidence, posture perfect, hands in his coat pockets.


    And as he stepped into the light, several people gasped softly.


    Even Dario muttered under his breath. "Wait a second..."


    Colan blinked. "He looks like..."


    Liline''s eyes narrowed slightly. She recognized that face.


    The jawline. The brows. The same bone structure as Varen, the CEO of Beast Castle.


    But this one was different.


    Sharper eyes.


    Stronger frame.


    The man stopped just a few steps in front of her.


    "Don''t worry, Miss Liline."


    He put his hand on his chest and bowed down a bit.


    "I''m Donnie Aldren. I''m just Varen''s younger brother."


    The crowd tensed.


    Donnie kept speaking.


    "I''m not a spy. Not here to sabotage or stir trouble."


    He glanced around the room.


    "I passed the trial. I''m here because I survived. And because Luxoria Castle allows qualified bidders."


    He locked eyes with her again.


    "So... am I welcome?"


    Liline''s expression didn''t change.


    But internally, she recalled Lucius''s prior instruction.


    He had anticipated Donnie''s arrival.


    After a brief pause, she gave a warm smile.


    "Of course. Lord L has already approved your presence."


    "You''re welcome here, Mr. Aldren."


    Donnie bowed his head slightly.


    "Thank you, Miss."

 Chapter 335: Knowledge = Power

    Liline turned back to the gathered crowd once more.


    "Are there any more individuals here who previously purchased a Vornis?"


    She waited.


    The hall remained quiet.


    Then, Donnie looked at Liline again.


    "There''s no need to call for others, Miss."


    Liline glanced at him. "Oh?"


    Donnie gave a small nod.


    "I''ve already acquired them."


    She raised her eyebrow. "Acquired?"


    Donnie smiled. "Yes. I''ve purchased all five Vornis from the original buyers."


    A small ripple of shock passed through the crowd.


    Liline''s eyes narrowed slightly in interest. "All five?"


    Donnie smiled, nodding.


    "Correct. I made offers they couldn''t refuse. Fair prices. No pressure."


    She floated slightly forward.


    "Then, Mr. Donnie, would you mind showing them to me?"


    Donnie gave a brief bow. "Gladly."


    He snapped his fingers once.


    From the hallway, several uniformed assistants entered.


    They guided a heavy cage made of alloyed steel and reinforced crystal plating.


    Inside¡ªfive Vornis stood in formation.


    Their chrome bodies gleamed, armor reinforced.


    Every movement was synchronized. Sharp. Precise.


    The eyes of each beast locked on Liline.


    Liline smiled faintly. "I see... You''ve taken good care of them."


    Donnie nodded. "Of course. I''ve been feeding them high-quality reforged steel. Pure ore and military-grade scraps."


    He paused, glancing at the beasts with clear pride.


    "They work together better than I expected. Their synergy? Impeccable."


    "But..."


    He tilted his head slightly, "I do find it unfortunate."


    Liline looked back at him. "Unfortunate?"


    Donnie nodded.


    "They''re powerful. Durable. Efficient."


    He stepped toward the cage, placing a hand on the steel frame.


    "But in the end, they''re still classified as Elite-Tier beasts."


    And at that exact moment¡ª


    Lucius, still watching from the upper gallery, furrowed his brow.


    He stepped closer to the edge of the viewing platform.


    "...Did he just say Elite-Tier?"


    ---


    Lucius stood silently, eyes locked on Donnie below.


    He spoke to Liline from his mind.


    "Ask him. He just mentioned ''Elite-Tier.'' Let''s see if he knows what Sovereign-tier means."


    Liline gave a small nod and turned to Donnie, still standing beside the Vornis cage.


    "Mr. Donnie."


    She hovered toward him.


    "You mentioned the term ''Elite-Tier.'' I''d like to ask¡ªare you also familiar with Sovereign-tier beasts?"


    Donnie raised her eyebrow before nodding.


    "Of course. Every S-Rank tamer knows about Sovereign-tier classification."


    He glanced briefly around the room.


    "Though... those below S-Rank usually don''t."


    Liline smiled lightly. "I see. If that''s the case¡ªcould you explain what you know? For the benefit of those listening."


    Donnie shrugged. "I don''t know why you''re asking, but sure."


    He folded his arms, speaking with steady confidence.


    "All S-Rank tamers are aware that upon reaching this level... a new path becomes visible."


    "It''s called the Beast King Stage."


    There was a brief murmur among the other survivors.


    Donnie continued without pause.


    "To step into it, a tamer needs a cultivation art aligned with their bonded beasts."


    "And more importantly, they need beasts of the proper tier."


    He raised a finger.


    "See, just like humans have talent tiers¡ªCommon, Elite, and Sovereign¡ªbeasts also do."


    "Most tamers only ever feel the power bonuses from beast fusion or armament."


    "The higher the tier, the more power you will have after it."


    He pointed casually toward the Vornis behind him.


    "Now here''s what we know as S-Ranks."


    "¡ªCommon-tier beasts cap out around B-Rank."


    "¡ªElite-tier beasts, like these Vornis, can push up to S-Rank."


    "¡ªBut Sovereign-tier beasts? They go beyond. Past S-Rank."


    Donnie didn''t stop.


    "And here''s the kicker."


    He held up two fingers now.


    "Only Sovereign-Tier tamers can bond with Sovereign-tier beasts."


    "Elite-talent tamers like me? We''re locked out. No matter how skilled we are."


    There was a short silence.


    "But..."


    Donnie''s voice dropped, "there''s a loophole."


    He looked straight at Liline.


    "If an Elite-Tier tamer manages to bond with a Sovereign-tier beast that''s still in S-Rank form, there''s a 50% chance our talent will evolve into Sovereign-tier."


    His smile returned.


    "That''s why Sovereign-tier beasts are so coveted. They''re more than just strong."


    "They''re our one shot at breaking through. Becoming more."


    The room had gone quiet.


    Donnie stepped back slightly, folding his arms again.


    He looked at Liline. "Was my explanation good enough?"


    Liline''s smile deepened.


    "As expected of you, Mr. Donnie. That was more than good enough."


    ---


    From the room above, Lucius stood silent, watching everything.


    He exhaled slowly through his nose.


    "I see..." he muttered to himself.


    "So they already knew about Sovereign-tier beasts."


    His eyes narrowed.


    "It seems I''m the only one who didn''t... as expected. I''m new to this world."


    There was no bitterness in his voice.


    He tapped his finger lightly against the table.


    Then, without moving his lips, he sent a thought directly into Liline''s mind.


    "Liline. Create five single platforms. One for each Vornis."


    "Make them grand. Futuristic. Let them rise from the ground. No function¡ªjust for show."


    "Then... tell Donnie to open the cage."


    "Tell the Vornis to walk to the platforms. I''ll handle the upgrade myself."


    "And let Donnie know¡ªit''s a reward. For his good explanation."


    Liline''s eyes glowed faintly for a second as the message flowed through.


    She gave a subtle nod.


    "Yes, Master."


    She turned toward the group as a rumble shook the ground beneath them.


    From the polished black floor, five gleaming platforms rose in perfect sync.


    Each one was shaped like an arc-edged pedestal, pulsing with faint lines of energy.


    Grand, futuristic and smooth.


    The crowd murmured in awe.


    Liline glanced back at Donnie, smiling.


    "Mr. Donnie. Please open the cage."


    Donnie looked intrigued. "Of course."


    He gave a short signal.


    The metallic lock disengaged, and the Vornis stepped forward one by one.


    Liline gestured toward the platforms. "Vornis units, stand upon the platforms."


    Without hesitation, the five war beasts moved into position.


    One per pedestal, standing tall.


    The crowd watched, tension rising.


    Liline turned slightly to Donnie, her smile returning.


    "And one more thing."


    He looked at her.


    "Lord L has decided that your clear explanation deserves more than thanks."


    She let the silence hang.


    "The upgrade on your Vornis will be a bit better than before."


    "Free of charge."


    Donnie''s eyes widened slightly.


    He stepped forward and bowed politely.


    "Please tell Lord L... I''m honored. I didn''t expect anything in return."


    He looked at Liline.


    "And thank you, Miss Liline. For relaying his will."


    Liline smiled. "You earned it."


    Donnie nodded. "Then I''ll accept it with pride."

 Chapter 336: 5 Sovereign Beasts

    Lucius stared down at the five Vornis below, each one standing tall on its designated platform.


    He then smirked as he turned to his Beast Hack System.


    "Hack them all. Upgrade their specs to the latest version."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Specification Upgrade


    [Targets: 5 Units of Vornis]


    [Effect: Overwrite Base Specifications with the Latest Hacked Vornis Model]


    [Includes All Structural, Combat, and AI Enhancements from Most Recent Version]


    [Cost Required: 75,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Lucius gave a short mental command.


    "Liline. Do it now. Let them see the best show."


    Liline nodded once. "Yes, Master."


    She raised her right hand.


    All five platforms began to glow, veins of silver-blue light pulsing across their surface in synchronized waves.


    Arcs of energy spiraled upward, surrounding each Vornis in thin streams of radiant code.


    ZMMM¡ªTHRRRRMMM...


    The Vornis began to shift.


    Slightly bulkier frames.


    Sharper claws.


    Reinforced plating.


    Their metallic bodies darkened to a sleeker alloy tone.


    Their aura intensified and was impossible to ignore.


    Donnie''s eyes widened as he stepped closer, staring at them.


    "...What...?"


    He watched as one of his Vornis turned its head slowly, now reacting with far more fluid precision than before.


    "They''re... bigger."


    He took a breath. "Their presence feels stronger... heavier."


    Colan leaned toward Dario. "That''s not a cosmetic change."


    Dario whistled. "Nah. That''s a full systems boost."


    Liline lowered her hand as the lights on the platforms dimmed.


    The five Vornis stood silently¡ªbut their new forms radiated enhanced lethality.


    Lucius watched from above, eyes narrowed.


    Donnie finally spoke again, voice low.


    "...Thank you, Lord L. I''ve never seen anything like that."


    Liline turned to him and smiled gently.


    "Now... you truly own some of Luxoria Castle''s beasts."


    But Donnie didn''t step back.


    Instead, he raised his hand slightly.


    "Miss Liline, I... have one more request."


    Liline tilted her head. "Yes?"


    Donnie nodded slowly. "It''s not about upgrades this time."


    He looked at the five Vornis, all standing silently on their glowing platforms.


    "These Vornis¡ªwhile they work perfectly as a unit... they''re still not mine."


    The room went silence.


    Donnie continued, steady.


    "They were bought. Not raised."


    He exhaled.


    "I haven''t formally contracted any of them."


    "What I said earlier about their synergy and combat potential, that''s based on observation, not experience."


    "It was how they performed with their previous owners."


    Liline''s smile didn''t falter, but her gaze sharpened slightly.


    "I see."


    Donnie glanced up toward the balcony, then back at her.


    "And on the official Luxoria website... it mentioned something."


    He folded his arms. "You offer Contract Assistance Services¡ªfor high-tier beasts. Right?"


    Liline nodded. "We do."


    She raised her hand gently to her temple.


    "Please wait a moment. I''ll confirm with Lord Lucius directly."


    She stood in silence as she sent the message to Lucius.


    "Master. Mr. Donnie is requesting the Contract Assistance Service... for the five upgraded Vornis. What shall I tell him?"


    Lucius smiled at the message.


    "Wait a moment, Liline. I want to check something first."


    He glanced at his system.


    "System. Calculate the cost to hack Donnie into establishing a direct contract with all five upgraded Vornis."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Forced Beast Contract]


    [Target: Donnie Aldren]


    [Beasts: 5 Upgraded Vornis Units]


    [Effect: Establish Permanent Contract Between Donnie Aldren and All Five Vornis]


    [Bond Level: Synchronized Control & Loyalty Integration]


    [Cost Required: 100,000,000 Hack Points]


    ---


    Lucius stared at the cost.


    "Only a hundred million?" He smirked.


    "Not too expensive... considering what he''s getting."


    Then he looked down at the crowd below and said clearly into Liline''s mind:


    "Repeat what I say to him¡ªexactly."


    Liline nodded. "Yes, Master."


    She turned back to Donnie, her eyes glowing faintly.


    "Mr. Donnie," she said.


    "We can establish a contract between you and the five Vornis."


    "But..." she paused with a small smile.


    "Since they''ve now been upgraded to Sovereign-tier units, the cost will be significantly higher."


    Donnie''s eyes widened.


    "Wait¡ªSovereign-tier?"


    He looked at the five Vornis again. "You mean... they''re not just upgraded?"


    Liline nodded.


    "They''ve surpassed Elite classification. What you''re seeing now... are Sovereign-tier war beasts."


    Gasps echoed across the hall.


    Even Dario muttered under his breath. "He just got five Sovereign-tier beasts?"


    Kanos narrowed his eyes. "Those were for sale a week ago..."


    Liline turned toward the crowd.


    Following Lucius''s mental command, she projected her voice clearly.


    "From this day forward," she declared.


    "All Vornis units sold by Luxoria Castle will be Sovereign-tier S-Rank beasts."


    All of the people were stunned.


    Jenavira muttered, "That''s impossible..."


    Marek whispered, "If true... it changes everything."


    Even some of the newer S-Ranks were visibly shaken.


    Sirelia glanced at Thalia. "Did you hear what Donnie said earlier?"


    Thalia nodded slowly. "Yeah. To evolve our talent to Sovereign-tier... you need to form a contract with an S-Rank Sovereign-tier beast."


    Kanos exhaled. "And Miss Liline just declared she''s selling them."


    Donnie was silent for a moment¡ªthen nodded firmly.


    "...Then yes. I''ll pay whatever it takes. I''ll form the contract now."


    Liline smiled gently. "Good choice."


    She floated forward slightly, her hands folded.


    "The price for each Vornis Sovereign Contract is five S-Rank beast cores."


    She paused.


    "You have five Vornis."


    "The total cost is twenty-five S-Rank beast cores."


    A few tamers in the crowd muttered quietly.


    "That''s it?"


    "For Sovereign-tier contracts?"


    "Honestly... that''s a steal."


    Donnie nodded. "Yes, Miss Liline. That''s fair."


    In his mind, he was already calculating.


    Twenty-five S-Rank beast cores¡ªfor contracts with five sovereign-tier war beasts?


    That was less than what some paid just for materials to attempt evolution rituals.


    And these weren''t just any beasts. They were Vornis¡ªupgraded, obedient, engineered to kill.


    If this worked the way he hoped... this was the biggest bargain of his career.


    He reached into his storage ring.


    Without hesitation, he retrieved 25 glowing S-Rank beast cores.


    He then placed them into the containment tray Liline offered.


    Liline took them gracefully.


    "Thank you for your purchase, Mr. Donnie."


    She stepped back.


    A soft pulse of light flickered in the air around the five Vornis.


    Then she looked back at him.


    "It''s done."


    Donnie blinked.


    "...Wait."


    He glanced at her. Then at the Vornis.


    "...What do you mean ''done''?"


    Liline tilted her head slightly, smiling.


    "The contract is complete. All five are now fully bound to you."


    Donnie froze.


    "HUH??"

 Chapter 337 337: Became Sovereign by Accident

    Liline only smiled. "Just check for yourself."


    Donnie gulped.


    Time to test it.


    He raised his hand, voice clear.


    "Return."


    Five portals shimmered into the air behind him.


    One by one, the Vornis units stepped backward, vanishing into the personal dimension space tied to him.


    No resistance. No delay. Full obedience.


    Donnie exhaled slowly, lips curling into a smile.


    "So... that means my talent already evolved into Sovereign-tier, right?"


    Liline was silent for a moment.


    Then she gave a small shake of her head.


    "...Sadly, no."


    Donnie blinked. "Wait¡ªwhat?"


    Liline kept her voice soft.


    "While what you said earlier may be true in general... here at Luxoria, we only handle the contract and bond."


    She gestured lightly.


    "We didn''t modify your body or upgrade your talent. We facilitated a link."


    Donnie''s smile faded. His brow furrowed slightly. "I see."


    He stood quiet for a second, hands at his sides.


    But Liline''s voice interrupted that silence¡ªcalm and confident.


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Donnie."


    She smiled again.


    "Lord L has a deal for you."


    Donnie raised an eyebrow. "A deal?"


    Liline nodded. "You see... Vornis is not just any beast. It was created by Lord L."


    She stepped forward slightly.


    "And since it''s his own design, Lord L also developed its unique Beast King cultivation art."


    She bowed lightly, extending her hand.


    "Would you like to purchase it as well?"


    Donnie blinked, clearly surprised. "You''re offering that too?"


    He paused... then began to think.


    My talent didn''t evolve...


    But I already own five Sovereign-tier beasts.


    If I have their cultivation art... I can train properly.


    Even if I''m not Sovereign-tier myself, I can still reach Beast King level with Elite-tier talent.


    And with five Vornis under my control?


    I could become the strongest Elite Beast King.


    Not bad at all.


    Donnie lifted his gaze and smiled slightly.


    "So then... what''s the price, Miss Liline?"


    Liline smiled with perfect grace.


    "Please wait a moment."


    She closed her eyes, contacting Lucius directly.


    "Master. Mr. Donnie is ready to purchase the Vornis Beast King Cultivation Art. May I have the price?"


    Lucius sat back slightly, eyes half-lidded.


    "Heh... Wait a minute, Liline. Let me check."


    He pulled up his system screen.


    "Hack the five Vornis Donnie owns¡ªuse each one as a core to create a unique cultivation art."


    "Also... add an effect for tier upgrade."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Cultivation Art Creation]


    [Targets: 5 Vornis Contracted to Donnie Aldren]


    [Effect: Each Vornis Creates a Unique Beast King Cultivation Art]


    [Core Function:]


    [Reshapes the cultivator''s body, essence, and existence to be more attuned to Vornis.]


    [Elevates talent tier to match that of the Vornis beast (Sovereign-Level Tier)]


    [Cost Required: 100,000,000 Hack Points]


    ---


    Lucius smirked.


    "Not too expensive."


    He turned back to Liline, thinking for a sec.


    "But this isn''t just some ordinary item..."


    He tapped a finger against the railing lightly.


    "Cultivation arts are rare. Especially ones that raise your tier."


    "Let''s just raise the price. They were all rich by the way."


    He gave a small nod to himself and sent the figure to Liline.


    "This is the price."


    Liline received the number. Her eyes opened slowly.


    She turned toward Donnie.


    "Mr. Donnie... the price is 10 S-Rank beast cores per Vornis."


    Donnie''s brow furrowed slightly.


    "...That''s quite a bit."


    He crossed his arms, thinking aloud.


    "Most cultivation arts aren''t this expensive. Especially for beasts of the same type."


    "Usually, one manual is used for multiple beasts¡ªit''s mass-produced."


    He paused.


    Before he could finish calculating, something clicked in his head.


    He looked up.


    "Wait. Miss Liline... did you say each Vornis?"


    Liline nodded gracefully.


    "Yes."


    "Lord L personally examined your contracted beasts."


    Her voice didn''t change, but there was a spark of pride.


    "We aren''t like other factions that hand out copy-pasted manuals."


    She held her hand to her chest.


    "This is Luxoria Castle. Each Vornis... is designed to fight differently. And each one has its own tailored cultivation method."


    Donnie blinked, realization sinking in.


    "I see..."


    He looked at the five Vornis that he had just summoned back.


    "No wonder it costs more. It''s not just rare... it''s custom."


    He smirked.


    "Well, I am pretty loaded."


    He reached into his storage ring.


    "S-Rank beast cores are still manageable. SS-Ranks would''ve been a problem."


    He held up a containment case filled with neatly stacked, glowing cores.


    "Fifty, right?"


    Liline nodded. "Correct. And also, do you want five separate manuals or one fused art for all five?"


    Donnie raised his eyebrow. "You can do that?"


    Liline smiled. "Of course."


    "We''re Luxoria Castle after all."


    Donnie only smiled. "I see... then please give me the fused one. Those five are with me after all."


    She gave a short bow, then raised her hand to her earpiece.


    "Master, Mr. Donnie agrees to the price."


    From the balcony, Lucius smirked, arms folded.


    "I already had the spectral staff deliver the manual. They''re waiting."


    Liline''s eyes shimmered faintly. "Yes, Master."


    Lucius chuckled.


    "Good. And I''m glad the cost didn''t change¡ªwhether five separate manuals or one fused method."


    He turned back to the screen, watching as the staff approached Donnie below.


    ---


    The spectral staff floated forward.


    In its gloved hands rested a single, sleek black book.


    It stopped in front of Donnie and extended the book.


    Liline stepped beside it, gesturing lightly.


    "This is the fused cultivation art, Mr. Donnie. Tailored specifically for you and your five Vornis."


    Donnie took it slowly before glancing at Liline.


    "Can I... use it right now?"


    Liline smiled, eyes glinting faintly.


    "Of course. This can also serve as a demonstration. A... show, if you will."


    Some of the survivors leaned forward slightly. The room grew quiet.


    Donnie opened the manual.


    He expected complex diagrams, obscure terms, strange breathing cycles.


    But as he flipped through the pages, his eyebrows lifted.


    "...It''s quite simple?"


    He frowned, but curiosity pushed him forward.


    Donnie sat cross-legged in the center of the platform and began following the steps exactly.


    Five minutes passed.


    Then ten.


    Suddenly, his breath hitched.


    He felt something inside him twist.


    Not painfully, but like a puzzle locking into place.


    Energy rushed through his limbs. Not raw power. Not muscle gain.


    Something deeper.


    He opened his eyes.


    "...Weird. My strength didn''t really go up."


    Liline stepped forward with a light smile.


    "Congratulations, Mr. Donnie."


    He looked at her, confused.


    "You have officially become a Sovereign-Tier Beast King."


    Donnie froze.


    "...Wait."


    "...WHAT?!"

 Chapter 338 338: From 20 to 500 Cores

    Donnie stared at his hands.


    They looked the same.


    But inside¡ªhe felt it.


    He had crossed a threshold.


    "...I really became a Beast King..."


    He looked up at Liline, eyes still wide.


    "But... how?"


    Liline only smiled.


    "Because the cultivation manual we provided isn''t ordinary."


    She stepped forward, hands behind her back.


    "It''s designed to reshape the user''s body and essence¡ªto perfectly synchronize with Vornis."


    "And since your Vornis are Sovereign-tier, the cultivation art naturally elevated your talent tier to match."


    She paused, letting that settle.


    "In other words... your breakthrough was inevitable."


    Donnie burst out laughing, disbelief melting into elation.


    "Hah! Worth it. Really... WORTH it!"


    He turned in a circle, throwing his hands up.


    "I came for an unknown upgrade, but I got a whole damn evolution!"


    Several tamers in the crowd were staring, either stunned, amazed, or secretly jealous.


    Liline smirked softly.


    "Now then... shall we head to the auction?"


    Her voice was calm.


    But the air around them?


    Crackling with anticipation.


    ---


    Liline clapped her hands once.


    A rumble echoed through the hall as a massive cage rose from beneath the stage.


    Inside stood ten Vornis, lined in perfect formation.


    They were silent like weapons waiting to be commanded.


    Liline stepped forward and raised her voice clearly for all to hear.


    "Now, let us begin the first auction round¡ªten units of Vornis, Sovereign-tier war beasts."


    She smirked lightly.


    "The starting bid is twenty S-Rank beast cores."


    Murmurs rippled through the crowd.


    "And let me remind you..." Liline added, eyes scanning them all,


    "This includes full contract assistance and custom cultivation art, if desired."


    Before she even finished, a hand shot up.


    "Twenty-five!"


    Another voice followed.


    "Thirty!"


    "Thirty-five!"


    It jumped rapidly.


    But before the next bid could land¡ª


    A new voice cut in.


    "Eighty-five S-Rank beast cores."


    The entire hall fell into silence.


    Everyone turned.


    The bidder stood tall near the back.


    A few gasped.


    Someone whispered, "Wait... is that¡ª?"


    Another tamer confirmed it, eyes wide.


    "Raiven Valefor. That''s the Raiven. The one who bought Titanhoof from Beast Castle."


    Whispers broke out immediately.


    "He''s switching sides?"


    "He already has a Sovereign-Tier beast... and now he''s going for Vornis?"


    "Why would he¡ª?"


    Raiven''s voice echoed again.


    "I''ve analyzed the Vornis specs."


    He looked directly toward the cage.


    "This beast is better than I thought."


    His lips curled slightly.


    "Eighty-five is a bargain."


    Liline''s smile widened, amused and unshaken.


    "Well then."


    She spread her arms gently.


    "Do we have anyone who dares to challenge Mr. Valefor''s bid?"


    The room hung in silence.


    Until a calm, clear voice rang from the opposite side of the hall.


    "Three hundred S-Rank beast cores."


    Heads turned instantly.


    Standing elegantly near the eastern row was another female noble.


    Someone gasped.


    "Wait... that''s¡ª"


    "Sylvia Aurelius."


    "The Aurelius family?! What''s she doing here?"


    Sylvia smirked faintly, folding her arms.


    "My offer is for three Vornis units."


    Her gaze flicked briefly toward Raiven, then back to the stage.


    "We''re allowed to bid in groups, aren''t we?"


    Liline didn''t miss a beat.


    "Of course," she replied smoothly.


    "Vornis is a war beast¡ªdesigned to function best in packs."


    She extended her hand toward Sylvia.


    "We encourage bulk purchases."


    Sylvia''s smirk deepened. "Then I''m simply playing smart."


    Raiven narrowed his eyes slightly but didn''t speak.


    The crowd murmured louder now.


    "Two nobles bidding against each other?"


    "This is getting insane..."


    But just as the tension peaked, another calm voice echoed across the auction hall.


    "Let''s not pretend you''re the only nobles here."


    Heads turned again.


    From the western balcony, a tall woman stepped into the light.


    Her green robes flowed with forest-stitched patterns.


    Someone gasped aloud.


    "Elaris Myralis...?!"


    "A Myralis is here too?"


    She stopped at the rail, smiling with serene confidence.


    "I''ll bid four hundred S-Rank beast cores for three Vornis units."


    Liline blinked once¡ªthen smiled smoothly.


    "Well then... a third noble has entered the stage."


    She raised her hand, projecting her voice again.


    "We now have three active bids."


    ¨C "Three Vornis for 400 beast cores."


    ¨C "Three Vornis for 300 beast cores."


    ¨C "One Vornis for 85 beast cores."


    She looked over the crowd.


    "Do we have any further bids?"


    The hall buzzed with energy. Whispers, envy, calculation.


    Tamers stared at each other, wondering if more nobles would step in...


    Or if someone insane enough would try to outbid them all.


    ---


    Raiven frowned.


    He stepped forward slightly, voice raised.


    "Elaris."


    Everyone turned as he pointed toward the Myralis noble.


    "Your family deals in forest-type beasts. Graceful flyers, camouflaged hunters, spirit-attuned guardians."


    He gestured toward the caged Vornis behind Liline.


    "These are war beasts. Steel-element, machine-precision, front-line killers."


    His brow furrowed.


    "There''s not a single leaf or vine in their design."


    He turned slightly and scoffed.


    "If it were Sylvia, I could somewhat understand."


    "The Aurelius family is scientific¡ªobsessed with dissecting beasts and modifying behavior."


    "They''d tear these Vornis apart to study them."


    Then he locked eyes with Elaris again.


    "But you?"


    "You''re going to bid four hundred beast cores just to decorate them with moss?"


    Some of the crowd chuckled.


    But Elaris only smiled¡ªunshaken.


    "Hehe... they''re quite interesting to pass up."


    She stepped forward, resting her hand lightly on the railing.


    "And strong. I like strong."


    Her eyes glimmered.


    "Besides, I can make them into the guardians of my forest."


    "Iron trees, silver blades, silent executioners beneath the branches."


    Elaris tilted her head.


    "And if it bothers you that much, Raiven... I''ll just give them forest-type steel to eat."


    She gave a small, teasing shrug.


    "That''ll make them attuned to nature, right?"


    The crowd burst into laughter again, a few tamers even clapping softly.


    Raiven''s jaw tensed.


    He glanced toward the Vornis still standing firm in the cage, silent and ready.


    "...Damn it."


    His hand lifted sharply.


    "I''ll take the last four."


    He paused¡ªthen let the full number hit.


    "Five hundred S-Rank beast cores."


    The room exploded in gasps.


    "Four beasts for five hundred?!"


    "That''s more than Sylvia or Elaris offered for three!"


    "Is he trying to prove a point?"


    Raiven didn''t look at anyone.


    He just stared straight ahead.


    "They''re mine. That''s final."


    Elaris chuckled softly, barely loud enough for him to hear.


    "Aw. Is that your pride talking... or your pocket?"


    Raiven didn''t answer.


    But the tension between them burned brighter than ever.

 Chapter 339 339: Dreadmaw Has Arrived

    Liline stepped forward with a graceful smile, hands folded behind her back.


    "It seems..."


    Her voice echoed through the hall.


    "...no one wishes to place any further bids."


    She turned her gaze toward the three nobles seated at the center of attention.


    Sylvia Aurelius, Elaris Myralis, and Raiven Valefor.


    "But before I officially close the auction for these ten Vornis, I''d like to inform the three of you of something important."


    All three glanced up¡ªcurious, alert.


    Sylvia narrowed her eyes slightly.


    Elaris tilted her head.


    Raiven said nothing.


    Liline continued calmly.


    "Vornis is not like other beasts. It is a uniquely crafted war beast.


    "They are exclusively bred, designed, and controlled by Luxoria Castle."


    She paused, letting that settle.


    "And because of that... it is not a subject for dissection, research, or cloning."


    Sylvia''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    Liline smiled again, this time with a subtle sharpness behind her words.


    "Any unauthorized research methods¡ªespecially invasive ones¡ªwill result in the Vornis triggering its internal failsafe."


    Her voice sharpened.


    "It will self-destruct instantly."


    That drew a collective reaction from the hall.


    Even Elaris blinked at that.


    Raiven didn''t move but nodded once, as if silently acknowledging the condition.


    But Sylvia''s lips tightened. Her eyes narrowed further.


    She leaned forward slightly.


    "...Self-destruction failsafe?"


    Her tone was still smooth, but colder.


    "That''s an inefficient loss of data."


    Liline''s smile didn''t fade.


    "It''s not about efficiency. It''s about ownership."


    "These beasts are not tools. They are crafted¡ªrefined¡ªnot to be broken apart."


    Elaris chuckled.


    "Relax, Sylvia. You bought a war beast, not a science experiment."


    Sylvia didn''t respond right away.


    But her gaze remained on Liline.


    "...Understood."


    Liline gave a slight bow.


    "Thank you."


    She straightened slowly, her eyes scanning the three nobles again.


    "But I am not finished yet."


    Liline continued.


    "There is one more condition you must understand about Vornis ownership."


    Her tone shifted¡ªfirmer, clearer.


    "If you wish to tame, transfer, or even have your Vornis re-bonded to another person¡ªit must be done here, at Luxoria Castle."


    She paused.


    "They will not accept commands, links, or contracts from anywhere else."


    "No third-party systems or even black-market bonding."


    Her smile returned¡ªpleasant, but absolute.


    "Only here. Only under our system."


    Raiven nodded once. "That''s fair. I wouldn''t trust anyone else with them anyway."


    Elaris gave a soft hum. "Makes sense. They''re not pets. They''re weapons... sacred ones."


    Sylvia, who had stayed silent for a beat, finally spoke.


    "...So even taming assistance or delegation isn''t permitted outside?"


    Liline nodded. "Correct. No proxies. No off-site handlers."


    Sylvia exhaled slowly, then gave a brief nod. "Understood."


    Liline smiled again, satisfied.


    "Then I officially welcome you three¡ªand your Vornis units¡ªas registered, licensed partners of Luxoria Castle."


    She turned to the rest of the crowd.


    "And that concludes this Vornis'' Auction."


    Applause broke out across the chamber.


    ---


    Liline smirked faintly as the murmurs faded.


    "Now then..."


    She raised her hand, and the stage behind her began to shift.


    "Let''s move on to what you''ve truly been waiting for¡ª"


    Her voice rang clearly.


    "¡ªthe main auction."


    The crowd leaned forward, attention locked in.


    "But first,"


    Liline added, "a few important clarifications."


    She glanced across the nobles and tamers gathered.


    "For this auctioned beast, unlike the Vornis..."


    She held up one finger.


    "You are free to do as you please. Sell it, trade it, dismantle it for research, extract its essence¡ªwhatever you like."


    Gasps and cheers broke out in the crowd.


    Raiven raised his eyebrow.


    Sylvia tilted her head, clearly interested.


    Elaris just smiled.


    Liline continued, casually but clearly:


    "There is no failsafe. No restriction. You bought it? Then it''s yours to risk or ruin."


    A voice from the seats called out, "Even the taming?"


    Liline nodded.


    "Yes. But unlike Vornis, we will not assist with taming or contract services¡ªunless you pay extra."


    Another voice shouted, "Does it include a martial arts manual?"


    Liline smiled. "No. But if you''re willing to pay... we might provide one."


    Someone muttered in the back, "So basically, everything''s fair game... as long as it''s not Vornis."


    Liline turned slightly and smirked again.


    "Exactly."


    Raiven crossed his arms. "So Vornis is sacred. Everything else is wild."


    Elaris chuckled. "I like the balance."


    Sylvia adjusted her gloves. "At least this part''s open for experimentation."


    Liline raised her hand again.


    "Then prepare yourselves..."


    A vibrating mechanical sound filled the hall.


    The floor panels of the main stage split apart, and a massive platform began to rise.


    Liline''s voice echoed above the noise.


    "...because this next beast is one that even we almost didn''t dare to sell."


    The crowd held its breath.


    Finally, the full, transparent containment cage emerged.


    It was towering and reinforced with glowing containment runes.


    And inside...


    The entire hall gasped.


    It stood twenty meters tall¡ªeven larger than the Titanhoof that Beast Castle sold.


    Its obsidian-black scales glimmered with glowing magma-like veins, pulsing as if alive.


    Its posture was brutal¡ªT-Rex-like, but more feral, more monstrous.


    Its eyes burned red.


    Its breathing rumbled through the glass.


    Its very presence radiated one word: Dominance.


    Voices erupted around the hall.


    "By the Stars¡ª"


    "That thing''s a monster!"


    "It''s... it''s way more terrifying than Titanhoof!"


    "They weren''t exaggerating. They undersold it!"


    Liline stood calmly, hands clasped behind her back.


    Her smile was cool, confident.


    "Let me formally introduce you."


    She extended her hand toward the beast without flinching.


    "This is Dreadmaw."


    Gasps rippled again.


    Someone in the crowd muttered, "I never thought that beast they sold would be something like this."


    Another voice added, "I just thought of a beast at the same level as Titanhoof. But this¡ªthis thing is real."


    Even Raiven''s eyes widened slightly, gaze narrowing with interest.


    Sylvia''s lips parted in shock.


    Elaris leaned forward with a quiet laugh. "Now this is exciting."


    Liline''s voice remained calm but held a weight that silenced the crowd.


    "Dreadmaw is a one-of-a-kind Apex-class beast."


    "Not cloned. Not modified. Not replicated."


    Her next words hit hard.


    "Dreadmaw... is wild-born. Captured alive. Tamed by force."


    Complete silence.


    Then Raiven muttered under his breath.


    "...You actually captured that?"


    Sylvia whispered, "Insane."


    Elaris whispered back, "I want it."


    Liline smiled slightly, stepping aside.


    "Shall we begin the bidding?"

 Chapter 340 340: Dreadmaw Just Sold for More Than Titanhoof

    Liline smirked as the tension in the hall simmered.


    Every gaze locked onto the massive beast behind her.


    "Now then... Let''s begin."


    But she held up a finger.


    "However¡ªbefore we start, there''s something important you need to know."


    The crowd quieted instantly.


    Liline''s eyes swept across the hall.


    "This beast¡ªDreadmaw¡ªis in a league of its own. A genuine, untamed SS-Rank Sovereign-Tier beast."


    She paused.


    "As such, just like our last auction for SS-Rank Sovereign beasts... we are only accepting SS-Rank beast cores as currency."


    Gasps rang out immediately.


    "SS-Rank only...?"


    "They''re actually doing that again?"


    "Even harder to get than last time..."


    Raiven''s eyes narrowed.


    Sylvia leaned forward, intrigued.


    Elaris just grinned.


    "But,"


    Liline continued smoothly, "we understand that not everyone keeps dozens of SS cores in their pocket."


    A few chuckles echoed.


    "So here''s the condition."


    She raised her hand, signaling the floating auction interface above her to begin glowing softly.


    "If the auction reaches thirty SS-Rank beast cores, then¡ªand only then¡ªwe will allow additional bidding using S-Rank beast cores."


    "But with an exchange ratio based on our system''s standard."


    Raiven crossed his arms. "So we''ll need to start high if we want flexibility."


    Sylvia smirked. "Not a bad move. Filters out the scavengers."


    Elaris laughed under her breath. "And makes the real players sweat early."


    Liline smiled wider.


    "Now that everything is clear..."


    She turned to the crowd and raised her voice.


    "Let the bidding for Dreadmaw... begin."


    ---


    Sylvia leaned forward, resting her arms on the edge of her seat.


    "I want this one."


    Her voice was smooth and confident.


    "A beast like this... once properly researched and dissected..."


    "Its structure, power output, and regenerative traits. It''ll be worth five times the price."


    She raised her hand.


    "Twenty SS-Rank beast cores."


    The room gasped immediately.


    "She just jumped to the threshold..."


    "She''s serious."


    "That''s already insane!"


    Elaris, lounging lazily nearby, just gave a casual wave of her hand.


    "I''ll pass on this one."


    "Fire-type? Big teeth? Glowing magma?"


    She chuckled.


    "It''d just burn the trees down. Not my aesthetic."


    Sylvia smirked. "Good. One less obstacle."


    But from the other side of the room¡ª


    A deeper voice cut in.


    "I disagree."


    Raiven Valefor stood tall, arms crossed.


    His eyes were fixed on Dreadmaw like a predator sizing up prey.


    "This isn''t a beast for study."


    He stepped forward, voice growing louder.


    "This is a beast for war. A titan for destruction. And I''m a warrior."


    He raised his hand high.


    "Forty SS-Rank beast cores."


    The room exploded.


    "Forty?!"


    "He just jumped it by twenty!"


    "That''s more than a royal warship!"


    Liline''s eyes flicked up at the bidding screen as it updated.


    She smiled quietly, watching the crowd buzz.


    Even nobles from the sides began murmuring.


    Several tamers who had hoped to bid in S-Rank cores slumped in their seats, sighing.


    "Even 4,000 S-Rank cores isn''t enough to match them now..."


    "Completely out of reach."


    Sylvia narrowed her eyes at Raiven.


    "You''re not getting this beast without a fight."


    Raiven didn''t even look at her.


    He just smirked.


    "Then fight."


    Sylvia''s hand shot up again.


    "Forty SS-Rank beast cores... plus an additional five hundred S-Rank beast cores."


    A wave of murmurs swept through the audience.


    "She''s pushing it hard!"


    "She wants this thing dissected for sure."


    "Is she trying to intimidate Raiven?"


    But Raiven didn''t flinch.


    His hand rose just as calmly.


    "Forty SS-Rank beast cores... and one thousand S-Rank beast cores."


    The crowd''s reaction surged again.


    Elaris leaned back in her seat, grinning.


    "This is better than any arena match."


    Sylvia narrowed her eyes.


    "Fifty-five SS-Rank beast cores."


    Raiven immediately countered.


    "Fifty-five SS-Rank beast cores."


    "Plus ten thousand S-Rank beast cores," Sylvia fired back.


    Raiven raised his eyebrow.


    "Make that sixty SS-Rank beast cores and four ten thousand S-Rank beast cores."


    Liline''s eyes gleamed slightly as the bidding screen updated in real time.


    Whispers broke out all around.


    "Wait¡ªthat''s seventy SS-Rank value total!"


    "That''s more than double of what Titanhoof sold!"


    "He''s not playing around."


    Sylvia clenched her fist on her chair''s armrest.


    Her lips thinned. She didn''t raise her hand again.


    Silence fell.


    Raiven turned slightly to face her without saying a word.


    The air crackled between them.


    Then¡ª


    Liline raised her voice.


    "No further bids?"


    The hall was still.


    "Going once..."


    The tension hung.


    "Going twice..."


    Sylvia exhaled slowly and leaned back, conceding.


    "Sold."


    Liline''s voice rang like a bell.


    "Dreadmaw is now the property of Lord Raiven Valefor."


    Applause burst out¡ªsome in awe, others just stunned by the price.


    Raiven remained silent for a moment, staring up at the beast.


    Then he finally spoke.


    "...You''ll be perfect for the battlefield."


    ---


    Liline raised her hand lightly.


    "Lord Raiven, please come forward to receive your beasts."


    Raiven smirked, brushing off his coat as he stepped down toward the central platform.


    The crowd dispersed as he passed, whispers following his footsteps.


    Raiven reached Liline and stopped just a step in front of her.


    Liline gave him a respectful nod, then asked plainly.


    "Now that the beasts are yours, may I ask¡ªwhat do you intend to do with the four Vornis and Dreadmaw?"


    Raiven didn''t hesitate.


    He pulled out a dimensional satchel and placed two crystal-bound containers on the platform.


    "Sixty SS-Rank beast cores."


    Then, with a wave of his hand, twenty thousand S-Rank beast cores materialized neatly behind him in stacks.


    The entire crowd gasped again.


    "Just like that...?"


    "He''s loaded."


    Raiven calmly nodded.


    "This is full payment for all five beasts."


    He then looked Liline straight in the eyes.


    "For the Vornis, I want them all tamed and contracted. Permanently."


    Liline''s expression didn''t change, but her eyes gleamed slightly.


    "And Dreadmaw?"


    Raiven smirked.


    "I want him bound to me. Contracted. One-on-one."


    A ripple of tension passed through the hall again.


    "And..." he added, "I want the fused martial art manual for all five."


    "I plan to turn them into a single-unit strike team."


    Liline smiled with open approval.


    "I see."


    She turned slightly, raising her hand again toward the inner walls.


    "Please wait a moment, Lord Raiven. I''ll begin preparations."

 Chapter 341 341: Dreadmaw Wasn’t the Final Beast

    Lucius smirked as he saw the result of the auction.


    Raiven was the one who claimed Dreadmaw.


    He also didn''t expect their spending was that much.


    And now, silence filled the air as the system registered final purchases.


    Lucius smiled.


    He didn''t care how much extra was being paid for contract services or cultivation manuals.


    Just by selling the beast itself, he had acquired more SS-rank beast cores than expected.


    He leaned back in his chair.


    "System, hack Dreadmaw and the four Vornis. Bind them permanently to Raiven."


    His voice dropped slightly lower.


    "And give me the fused cultivation manual."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Multi-Beast Contract & Cultivation Fusion]


    [Targets: Dreadmaw + 4 Vornis Units]


    [Recipient: Raiven Valefor]


    [Effect 1: Contract Formation]


    [Establishes permanent, synchronized contracts between Raiven and all five beasts]


    [Effect 2: Cultivation Art Fusion]


    [Fuses the five individual Beast King Cultivation Arts into one manual]


    [Cost Required: 2,180,000,000 Hack Points]


    ---


    Lucius frowned slightly.


    "Not enough..."


    He quickly turned to Liline and called her via mental link.


    "Yes, Master?"


    "Send me three SS-Rank beast cores. Immediately."


    "As you command."


    Moments later, three spectral staff phased through the wall, carrying the SS-rank beast cores.


    Lucius extended his hand and smirked.


    "Absorb."


    The system responded instantly.


    Lucius exhaled slowly as the beast cores vanished completely.


    He smirked.


    "Perfect."


    He turned back toward the system.


    "Now... it''s time to hack."


    ---


    The spectral staff phased in front of Raiven, bringing the cultivation scroll.


    Liline gave a warm smile.


    "Lord Raiven, your Cultivation Manual is ready. And your beasts have already been tamed and bound to you."


    Raiven arched his brow. "Already?"


    He looked at his own palm for a moment, then smirked.


    "Luxoria Castle really doesn''t disappoint. I didn''t feel a thing¡ªjust like that, they''re mine."


    Liline gave a graceful nod. "That is the Luxoria standard."


    Raiven suddenly asked, "Can you do one more thing?"


    He folded his arms.


    "I want to sever my old contract. It was with a temporary beast¡ªan Elite-Tier S-Rank. Doesn''t suit me anymore."


    Liline tilted her head. "Wait a moment."


    She connected to Lucius mentally.


    "Master, Lord Raiven has requested contract dissolution with his previous beast."


    Lucius''s voice came back smoothly. "No problem. Just a moment."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Safe Contract Release]


    [Target: Raiven Valefor]


    [Effect: Safely Dissolve All Previous Beast Contracts Without Harm to Beasts or Host]


    [Ensures: No backlash, memory damage, or loyalty interference]


    [Cost Required: 10,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Lucius said casually, "It''s done."


    Before Liline could even pass the message¡ª


    A portal suddenly appeared beside Raiven.


    A massive elephant-like beast stumbled out.


    It paused, let out a snort, and then sprinted away into the wild beyond the castle walls.


    Raiven''s eyes widened. Gone.


    He looked down at himself.


    No burn. No mental backlash. Nothing.


    "...Wow."


    He exhaled.


    "I don''t know how Lord L does it... but that was clean."


    He chuckled, then grinned. "Yeah. This was worth it."


    Raiven turned to leave¡ªbut Liline stepped forward again.


    "Lord Raiven¡ªplease don''t forget this."


    She handed him a thin book sealed in black silk.


    "This is the current data sheet and detailed weaknesses of Dreadmaw."


    Raiven''s brow lifted slightly.


    "You''re just handing that over?"


    Liline smiled again. "Only to you. This time, unlike the previous auction, the weaknesses and specifics will not be public."


    She looked toward the crowd.


    "Only the final buyer will know how to control and maximize their beast."


    "That way, its strength remains exclusive and unpredictable."


    Raiven slowly took the book, turning it in his hand.


    "Good. That''s how it should be."


    He tucked it away and walked back toward his seat.


    The crowd remained in silence.


    They''d just watched a full warbeast transfer, contract reshaping, and knowledge sealing.


    ---


    A few S-rank tamers at the back began to exchange glances and murmurs.


    "...So that''s it?"


    Another exhaled. "Seems like the auction''s over. Damn shame."


    "Yeah," a third said.


    "After that hell in the mist forest... I thought there''d be more."


    The first tamer nodded.


    "Still. Seeing Dreadmaw in person? That made it worth it."


    "Absolutely," another added.


    "That thing made Titanhoof look a bit tamed."


    A woman nearby scoffed lightly.


    "Well, we may not have won anything, but we survived that fog, didn''t we? That alone proves something."


    One of her teammates smirked.


    "And now we know just how wide the gap is between us and someone like Raiven."


    "True," the first man said.


    "Still... if Luxoria Castle ever sells another like Dreadmaw¡ª"


    "I''m selling a limb if I have to," the last one muttered.


    They all laughed lightly, the tension easing.


    But in every glance... admiration, envy, and awe lingered.


    But just as the people began to leave, Liline''s voice rang out again


    "Why are you all standing up?"


    Dozens of heads turned back.


    Liline''s expression was soft.


    But the smirk tugging at her lips said otherwise.


    "Who told you the auction was over?"


    The room froze.


    "...Wait, what?"


    "I thought that was the final one?"


    "No way..."


    Liline took a slow step forward.


    She raised her hand and gestured to the stage.


    "We still have one more beast."


    Gasps rippled through the room.


    Elaris leaned forward with a smile. "Another one?"


    Sylvia smirked, brushing her hair aside. "They were holding back."


    Neither had managed to secure a sovereign-tier beast yet.


    This was their chance.


    At the far side, Raiven frowned deeply.


    "...Damn it. They never said Dreadmaw was the final one."


    He clenched his fist slightly. "And I just spent all of my cores."


    Liline tilted her head.


    "We never claimed we only had one."


    She let the silence hang for a second longer, then added with a sharp smile:


    "And let me give you a special secret, for bidders only."


    She raised two fingers.


    "This next beast... is stronger than Dreadmaw."


    Another wave of murmurs.


    Liline''s voice sharpened.


    Just cutting a bit through the noise like a blade.


    "All four of its stats are SS-Rank. Not a single weakness."


    The entire room erupted in a mix of disbelief and excitement.


    "Wait, what?!"


    "Full SS-Rank stats?! That''s ridiculous!"


    Liline smirked wider.


    "Luxoria Castle doesn''t just sell ordinary beasts."


    She took a step back as the lights above the stage began to dim¡ª


    And a low mechanical rumble echoed beneath the floor.


    The ground trembled slightly.


    The air grew heavy.


    The next beast was rising.


    And this time¡ª


    None of them dared to look away.

 Chapter 342 342: She Bought the Storm

    A thunderous cry echoed through the auction hall.


    Greenish yellow lightning arced from the ceiling to the rising cage.


    The cage that surfaced was a bit smaller but wider than Dreadmaw''s.


    Inside stood a towering raptor, nearly 18 meters tall.


    Its wingspan stretched far beyond the confines of the transparent walls.


    Storm clouds spiraled above it, drawn in by its sheer presence.


    Liline''s voice cut through the awe-struck silence.


    "Let me introduce you... to Zephyron."


    She smiled sharply.


    "The Sovereign of Storm."


    Gasps exploded across the room.


    "That''s a Sky Raptor!"


    "Wait, wait¡ªdid she say ''Sovereign of Storm''?!"


    "It''s a lightning beast?!"


    Raiven stood frozen, staring at the beast.


    "...Damn it," he muttered.


    He gritted his teeth. "I''m out. I have no money left after Dreadmaw."


    From the other side of the hall, Sylvia stepped forward with a calm smirk.


    "Then I suppose this one''s mine."


    She was about to shout out her bid.


    But before she could speak¡ª


    Elaris Myralis raised a hand casually, smirking as well.


    "Not so fast."


    Sylvia blinked. "...You?"


    She narrowed her eyes. "Isn''t this beast a bit far from your specialty?"


    "You''re a nature tamer. This is lightning and wind. There''s nothing forest-attuned about it."


    Elaris shrugged. "True. But it''s a flying beast¡ªand that''s rare enough."


    She smiled.


    "Besides, storm energy helps grow thunder-element plants."


    "This beast will be perfect for cultivation. I''m not losing this one."


    Sylvia''s smile thinned. "Tch. Damn."


    The tension surged again.


    ---


    Sylvia raised her hand without hesitation.


    "50 SS-Rank beast cores."


    The hall stirred again.


    "She''s starting strong."


    "Of course she is¡ªit''s Zephyron."


    But Elaris just chuckled, arms crossed.


    "Dreadmaw was sold at 60."


    She stepped forward, eyes fixed on the beast in the cage as thunder sparked around its wings.


    "Let''s make this more interesting."


    "Eighty SS-Rank beast cores."


    Gasps rippled.


    Sylvia''s eyes narrowed. "Eighty?"


    She clicked her tongue.


    "Ninety."


    Liline watched silently, smirking.


    The hall was dead quiet as all eyes snapped back to Elaris.


    She didn''t even blink.


    "One hundred."


    Whispers exploded again.


    "She pushed it to triple digits¡ª!"


    "This is insane¡ªZephyron''s value is through the roof."


    Sylvia''s hand hovered, twitching just slightly.


    Her lips tightened. Her eyes locked on Zephyron.


    But the number had climbed too fast.


    She exhaled sharply.


    "...Damn," she muttered under her breath.


    Elaris tilted her head slightly, her smirk never leaving her lips.


    "So that''s it then?"


    She turned her gaze toward Liline.


    "Looks like it''s mine after all."


    The crowd murmured again, stunned at the result.


    "Elaris just won Zephyron."


    "She beat Sylvia. That''s two nobles who went head-to-head¡ªagain."


    "Luxoria Castle really attracts monsters now..."


    Sylvia stepped back, silent. She didn''t argue.


    ---


    Elaris stepped forward, walking confidently toward Liline.


    She pulled out two glowing containers from her space ring.


    One was filled with 100 SS-Rank beast cores, the other with 400 S-Rank beast cores.


    "This covers Zephyron and the three Vornis, correct?"


    Liline nodded. "Yes. Perfectly calculated, Lady Myralis."


    Elaris flicked another, smaller container onto the table.


    This one was filled with an extra 10 SS-Rank cores.


    Elaris smirked. "Zephyron isn''t mine to tame. I only want the cultivation manual."


    "But I want the three Vornis contracted to me. Also, give me a fused cultivation manual for them."


    She paused, then added with a shrug, "And I want my current beast safely disconnected. No backlash."


    Liline smiled faintly. "Understood. One moment."


    She turned slightly, eyes glazed as she linked to Lucius with a silent signal.


    High above, Lucius received the message.


    He looked over the transaction, nodding once.


    "She''s smart. Clean request."


    He activated the system.


    "Let''s begin the hack, shall we?"


    After a few minutes, a portal suddenly opened behind Elaris.


    Her old beast¡ªa gentle, leafy serpent¡ªslithered out.


    It glanced around, then disappeared into the mist outside.


    Two spectral staff members then appeared before her:


    One presented a dark steel scroll¡ªthe fused Vornis cultivation art.


    The other held a polished obsidian slate etched with storm patterns¡ªZephyron''s manual.


    Liline gestured elegantly.


    "The contract with your former beast is cleanly dissolved. The three Vornis are now fully yours. And here are your manuals."


    Elaris blinked.


    "...Already?"


    She looked at her hands, then at the scroll.


    "I didn''t even feel it."


    Her gaze shifted to Raiven, who was standing near the side.


    "...So he wasn''t exaggerating."


    She smirked.


    "Luxoria Castle is quite professional and quick. I like it."


    Liline bowed gracefully. "Thank you for that, Lady Myralis."


    Just then, a spectral staff phased in beside her, carrying something.


    It was an ornate, silver-lined box.


    Without a word, Liline raised one hand toward the transparent cage holding Zephyron.


    The cage vibrated slightly before being compressed and streamed directly into the case.


    WHOOSH¡ªCLACK.


    The case sealed with a hiss.


    The room fell silent.


    Elaris, Raiven, Sylvia, and several others stared.


    Elaris blinked.


    "...What did you just do?"


    Liline turned calmly.


    "This is the Silver Beast Box. One of our proprietary inventions."


    She placed her hand atop the sealed container.


    "It can hold an SS-Rank beast safely for 24 hours. After that, it automatically releases the beast within with its cage."


    Elaris raised her eyebrow.


    "You''re handing something like that to me?"


    Liline smiled.


    "Lady Elaris stated that you''re not the one who will tame Zephyron."


    "This box will allow you to return to your domain easier."


    "Just think of it as our service for buying such an outstanding beast."


    Elaris looked impressed.


    "To think you even have something like this..."


    Liline smirked slightly.


    "We are Luxoria Castle."


    She gave the box a gentle tap.


    "Though I must remind you¡ªZephyron is not only strong. It is intelligent."


    She looked directly at Elaris.


    "It understood it was being sold and made one demand: that its tamer must be worthy."


    Liline stepped closer, voice quieter but sharper.


    "That means someone with strong thunder and aerial affinity."


    "If not, it may refuse to be tamed or even wreak havoc in your domain."


    Elaris crossed her arms.


    "I see... So it wants to choose who tames it."


    Liline nodded.


    "Exactly. If you need our help later¡ªwhether with taming, contracts, or resonance alignment.


    "Luxoria Castle is always open to our clients."


    Elaris smiled lightly.


    "Fully noted. Thanks for the warning... and the box."


    She picked up the Silver Beast Box with a firm grip.


    Liline gave a small bow.


    "Safe travels, Lady Eralis."

 Chapter 343: The End of The Auction

    Sylvia walked up to the front.


    She didn''t wait for anyone to address her.


    She simply took out some case filled with the beast cores and gave it to Liline.


    "Three Vornis. 300 S-Rank Beast Cores."


    Liline nodded.


    "Yes. Confirmed."


    Sylvia crossed her arms. "Just give me the boxes. I want the individual cultivation manuals for each. No contracts."


    Liline raised her eyebrow.


    "You do not wish to tame them, Lady Sylvia?"


    Sylvia''s eyes narrowed.


    "Not yet. I''ll have someone else handle it. Just the manuals and containment."


    Liline tilted her head slightly, then nodded.


    "As you wish. Please wait a moment."


    She gave a small wave of her hand.


    Three spectral staff members appeared, each one holding a cultivation manual.


    They also brought three boxes that had been filled with Vornis.


    Liline gestured smoothly. "These are the requested items:"


    "Three silver boxes with Vornis inside and three unique Beast King Cultivation Manuals¡ªone for each Vornis."


    Sylvia grabbed them quickly without another word.


    Liline watched her for a moment. "Lady Sylvia. If you do wish to contract them in the future, please return to Luxoria Castle."


    "Our taming and contract assistance services remain available."


    Sylvia stopped only for a second.


    She didn''t turn back. Didn''t say a word.


    Just nodded once, sharply, before walking off, her grip tight on the manuals and containment boxes.


    It was clear to everyone. She wasn''t in the mood to speak after losing both bids.


    ---


    Liline rose gently into the air, hovering above the central platform once more.


    "Esteemed guests of Luxoria Castle..."


    She spread her arms.


    "This concludes today''s auction."


    A wave of murmurs passed through the crowd.


    some filled with awe, others still calculating the sheer value of what had just been witnessed.


    Liline continued, smiling warmly now.


    "For those worried about their return¡ªplease be at ease."


    She turned toward the massive screen behind her.


    A map of the Mist Forest flickered into view, and a clear path began to appear.


    "As promised, those who passed the trial will not need to face it again."


    "The forest will now reveal a safe path back to your territory."


    "You may leave freely¡ªno trial, no guardians. You''ve earned it."


    ---


    A small cheer broke out. The pressure of the day had lifted.


    A few tamers exchanged glances, others clapped softly.


    One or two looked toward the cages still on stage¡ªperhaps dreaming of the next auction.


    Liline gave one final bow.


    "Thank you for surviving, bidding, and witnessing the power of Luxoria Castle."


    She floated down slowly.


    "And may your paths be filled with strength."


    ---


    Raiven went and burst through the front doors of Valefor Mansion''s main hall.


    He didn''t even slow his pace. "Father!"


    Vandred Valefor sat near the end, sipping a dark roast coffee from a steel mug.


    His frame was massive, arms folded.


    He looked up. "What the hell''s got you grinning like a fool?"


    Raiven stopped in front of him, practically buzzing with pride.


    "I''ve bought another SS-Rank beast."


    Vandred''s mug froze halfway to his lips.


    "Another one? Beast Castle''s pushing another batch this fast?"


    Raiven smirked and shook his head.


    "Not from them. This came from another source¡ªLuxoria Castle."


    Vandred squinted. "Luxoria... Castle?"


    Raiven nodded. "Yeah. The one that humiliated Beast Castle at the last auction. I went to their next event."


    Vandred leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing.


    "And what the hell did you pay?"


    Raiven scratched his head. "About sixty... maybe sixty-five SS-Rank beast cores."


    PFFFFT¡ª Vandred spit his coffee across the floor. "YOU DID WHAT?!"


    He slammed the mug down. "You paid five times the price of Titanhoof? Are you insane?!"


    Raiven raised a hand. "Wait, wait¡ªlisten. They included everything."


    Raiven flexed his fingers and told him one by one.


    "Taming. Cultivation manual. Full contract. It''s a Sovereign-tier SS-Rank."


    Vandred''s brows lifted slightly.


    "You mean to tell me... it''s already fully bonded?"


    Raiven nodded confidently. "Bound and trained. Cultivation manual already fused and compatible."


    Vandred stood up fast¡ªtowering, cracking his knuckles with a wide grin.


    "That''s all I needed to hear."


    He pointed directly at Raiven. "You and me. Arena. Now."


    Raiven''s eyes lit up. "Thought you''d never ask."


    Vandred stomped past him, barking orders to a butler.


    "Clear the floor! Open the damn roof! We''re testing this new beast right now!"


    Raiven followed, laughing. "Let''s see if your old bones can keep up."


    Vandred looked back with a dangerous smirk.


    "If this thing you bought is really worth sixty cores, it better hit harder than Titanhoof... or I''ll beat it with my fists."


    Raiven grinned wider. "Oh, you''ll see, Father."


    ---


    Eryndor stepped out from the shadows near the arena wall. "Why are we here?"


    Caelan stood beside him, arms crossed, gaze locked on the center ring. "Father''s fighting Raiven."


    Eryndor''s tone didn''t change. "Training match?"


    "No," Caelan said.


    "Raiven bought a new SS-Rank beast. Claimed it''s stronger than Titanhoof."


    Eryndor tilted his head slightly. "From Beast Castle?"


    Caelan shook his head. "No. Luxoria Castle."


    Eryndor was silent for a moment. "...So that''s the place."


    Caelan sighed as he continued.


    "Yeah. Sixty SS-Rank beast cores. When Father heard the number, he laughed. Thought it was a joke."


    Eryndor stayed still. "And when he found out it wasn''t?"


    Caelan''s tone darkened.


    "He nearly flipped the war table. If Raiven had that much to throw away, he better prove it in battle."


    Eryndor turned his head slightly.


    "Where''d Raiven even get that kind of money?"


    Caelan shrugged. "Most of it came from Father."


    "After he bought Titanhoof, Father rewarded him with more cores."


    "Combine that with what Raiven had saved from a few years back¡ªwell¡ªhe should have enough."


    Eryndor''s eyes narrowed. "So he used Father''s own reward... to buy a beast from another pet shop?"


    Caelan gave a short nod. "Exactly."


    Eryndor didn''t speak for a while. Then, "What kind of beast?"


    Caelan''s voice lowered. "I don''t know about the beast at all, but he said something interesting."


    "Raiven says that they gave him the full manual and a tamer service too."


    Eryndor''s tone barely shifted. "He got that too? Is that for real?"


    Caelan nodded once. "Yeah, but I don''t know if it''s real or not."


    "We can know it later when we see the fight later on."


    They both turned their eyes back to the field, where their father, Vandred, was now stepping onto the arena platform.


    Caelan exhaled through his nose. "Still. No matter what beast Raiven''s got... Father won''t be pulling any punches."


    Eryndor didn''t move. "Then we''ll see if Raiven bought a throne..."


    "...or his own funeral."

 Chapter 344: Prove It’s Worth the Price

    Vandred cracked his knuckles, his voice booming across the arena.


    "Although this is a mock battle... don''t think I''ll pull any punches."


    Raiven grinned. "I wouldn''t want you to. The beast I bought is going to open your eyes, Father."


    Vandred narrowed his eyes. "Then show me."


    He stepped forward, placing a single palm on the ground.


    "But since I want to see your beast''s raw strength... we''ll do this with a simple rule.


    "Beast battle only and no fusion or weaponization."


    Raiven nodded. "Understood."


    Vandred smirked. "Good. Then let''s see if your fancy new pet can survive my Gravemaw."


    He raised his voice. "Come forth... Gravemaw!"


    The ground trembled.


    With a roar, a massive figure erupted from a steel-lined portal behind Vandred.


    A towering bear-like beast stepped forward¡ªsix meters tall even on two legs.


    Its skin was layered in jagged steel armor, its eyes glowing red with berserker fury.


    Earth rumbled beneath its claws, the weight alone shaking the platform.


    "Steel and earth. Brutality incarnate," Vandred said proudly.


    "This is the beast that broke seven elite warbeasts with one charge. My Gravemaw."


    Caelan crossed his arms from the side. "Still a monster."


    Eryndor remained silent, watching closely.


    Vandred gestured. "Now, Raiven. Summon yours."


    Raiven didn''t move immediately. Instead, he tilted his head slightly and smirked.


    "Actually, Father, before I do... I need to tell you something."


    Vandred narrowed his eyes. "What?"


    "I didn''t just buy one Sovereign-tier SS-Rank beast."


    "...Huh?"


    "I bought four more¡ªS-Rank Sovereign-tier war beasts. All steel element. All contract-bonded to me."


    Caelan frowned. "Wait, what?"


    Eryndor finally spoke. "That''s not cheap."


    Raiven''s smirk grew wider. "Can I use all of them?"


    Vandred scoffed. "Why not. Let me see how good these beasts really are."


    With a flick of his fingers, the air behind Raiven cracked open.


    Magma-colored light bled through as a massive portal widened.


    Then the ground shook.


    From the portal stepped a monster that dwarfed everything.


    Its footsteps scorched the earth.


    The magma veins pulsed violently beneath its jet-black scales, and its eyes burned with primal heat.


    The beast towered more than triple the size of Gravemaw.


    Vandred''s eyes widened slightly. "What... the hell... is that?"


    "Sweet, right?" Raiven''s voice was smug.


    "That''s Dreadmaw. Sovereign of Volcano."


    Vandred clenched his jaw. "It''s bigger than Titanhoof."


    "And stronger," Raiven said simply.


    Then four more portals opened behind him.


    Out marched the Vornis¡ªfour armored steel beasts moving like a military unit.


    Vandred glanced at them, arms still crossed. "Hm. War beasts, huh? Steel element."


    "They''re called Vornis. Luxoria Castle''s personal creations. All Sovereign-tier," Raiven added.


    Caelan squinted. "They''re sharp. Synchronized already?"


    Eryndor gave a faint nod. "Trained for group formation."


    Vandred grunted. "They look good. I won''t lie."


    He shifted his stance.


    "But no matter how expensive or engineered they are... they''re still fresh."


    "Let''s see if they can stand against Gravemaw''s experience."


    Raiven smirked. "Then let''s see, shall we?"


    BOOM!


    Gravemaw didn''t hesitate.


    The massive bear roared and charged straight at Dreadmaw.


    Its massive claws shimmered as it activated Wrecking Rampage, tearing through stone and dust.


    "That''s how you fight!" Vandred shouted proudly.


    The bear suddenly slammed its fists down¡ªEarthspike Charge!


    Dozens of jagged earthspikes erupted from the battlefield, racing toward Dreadmaw''s legs and lower body.


    But the volcanic behemoth didn''t flinch.


    Dreadmaw raised both feet¡ªand slammed them down.


    SEISMIC DEVASTATION!


    The earth shattered and split, the spikes cracking mid-rise and collapsing as a wave of tremors surged outward.


    Caelan watched, brows furrowed. "It neutralized the entire attack in one stomp..."


    Eryndor didn''t respond, but his eyes narrowed.


    Gravemaw roared again and lunged in, undeterred.


    With a burst of steel energy, it unleashed Steelgrip Maul.


    It tried to use its claws to clamp around Dreadmaw''s neck and upper torso.


    It was trying to pin the larger beast down.


    "It''s going for control!" Caelan muttered.


    "Father''s beast is trying to overpower it with grip and weight control!"


    But it wasn''t that easy.


    Dreadmaw''s body was way larger than Gravemaw''s.


    And also its body surged with heat, magma veins pulsing brighter.


    It twisted its neck, massive jaws igniting.


    MAGMA MAW!


    It snapped at Gravemaw''s midsection¡ªbiting deep into the steel armor.


    SSSSSHHH!


    A loud hiss filled the air as molten heat melted through Gravemaw''s plating.


    Gravemaw snarled, trying to push back, but its grip faltered.


    Vandred narrowed his eyes, arms still folded.


    "Tch... it''s strong. That bite melted Gravemaw''s armor?"


    Raiven grinned. "Of course. That''s just the start, Father."


    Caelan blinked. "That thing''s not just strong¡ªit''s terrifying."


    Eryndor finally spoke. "The pressure it gives off... it''s not just size. It''s suppression. Dominance."


    Gravemaw stumbled back, its side glowing red-hot, part of its steel plates dented and dripping.


    But it didn''t stop. Instead, it roared.


    Berserker Ascension activated.


    Its armor plates expanded, and its crimson eyes lit up with fury.


    Vandred grinned, teeth bared. "That''s more like it. Show him, Gravemaw!"


    The bear slammed forward again with Wrecking Rampage, this time even faster and even harder.


    Its movements blurred for a beast of its size. It slammed into Dreadmaw''s massive chest.


    It caused the ground to quake and force the volcanic titan to skid backward.


    Raiven''s grin vanished. "...He''s actually pushing it back."


    Caelan raised his eyebrow. "Father''s not holding back anymore."


    Eryndor muttered lowly, "It''s not about control. He''s going for domination now."


    Dreadmaw''s eyes gleamed orange.


    It stopped sliding.


    Its chest heaved once¡ªand suddenly, the molten glow of its veins dulled.


    They were replaced by a black sheen that rippled across its body.


    Obsidian Carapace.


    The lava cooled and hardened into shining black armor, tougher than steel.


    "Here we go," Raiven whispered.


    Dreadmaw countered instantly.


    Its claws and tail ignited in flame, flaring bright and wild as it lunged back in¡ª


    Infernal Thrash!


    CLANG! CRASH! WHIP!


    Its front claws smashed into Gravemaw''s shoulders, sending a shockwave outward.


    Then the tail spun like a flaming mace, slamming into Gravemaw''s ribs.


    It forced the steel bear to stumble sideways, its berserk form staggering from the pure heat and force.


    "Damn!" Caelan clenched his fists.


    "That strike shook the arena!"


    Gravemaw growled low, blood dripping from its snout.


    It tried to swipe again¡ªbut Dreadmaw met its claws head-on, the two titans locked in a brutal exchange.


    Fists. Tails. Flame. Dust.


    The battlefield cracked beneath them.


    Vandred''s expression twisted¡ªnot from disappointment, but excitement.


    "That''s it... push him harder, Gravemaw!"


    Raiven narrowed his eyes. "He''s not going to stop until one of them breaks."


    Eryndor''s voice was quiet but sharp. "The question is... which one first?"

 Chapter 345: The Monster Raiven Bought

    Raiven''s smirk widened.


    "It''s done waiting."


    Dreadmaw''s obsidian plating flared. Flames erupted from its spine. Its body glowed brighter, fiercer.


    "Now you''ll see what it really means to fight a Sovereign of Flame."


    Elemental Overlord.


    Dreadmaw''s veins blazed, every limb radiating volatile energy as the beast reared back and stomped the ground.


    BOOOM!


    A massive blast pulsed from beneath it¡ªVolcanic Pulse!


    Shockwaves of molten energy exploded outward in all directions.


    "Move, Gravemaw!" Vandred barked.


    But it was too late.


    The explosion launched Gravemaw backward, flipping the steel-plated bear through the air and smashing it into the arena wall.


    The impact cracked the reinforced stone barrier and buried the beast in smoke and rubble.


    Caelan stepped forward, stunned. "He... blew Gravemaw off its feet?"


    Eryndor said nothing¡ªbut his narrowed eyes said enough.


    Vandred leaned over the railing, eyes blazing. "Get up. You''re not done."


    But even as the dust settled... Gravemaw didn''t rise.


    The berserk glow faded. Its armor was scorched black, chunks of steel melted, and its breathing grew shallow.


    The massive bear groaned, but it didn''t move.


    Raiven raised his hand. "That''s enough."


    Dreadmaw, still glowing like a living volcano, stepped back slowly and let out a deep, victorious snort.


    The fire died down.


    Raiven turned to his father. "Do you still doubt me, Father?"


    Vandred''s fists clenched at his sides, jaw tight.


    Then he let out a sharp breath and grinned.


    "...No. I don''t."


    "That was a damn fine beast, son."


    Raiven''s expression softened slightly.


    Caelan folded his arms. "You''ve definitely gotten stronger. That thing... is a monster."


    Eryndor simply nodded. "Approved."


    Raiven looked at them both. "I told you. I didn''t just buy power. I bought a monster."


    Vandred stepped toward him and slammed a hand on his shoulder.


    "Not only that... they helped you tame it. And more importantly¡ªgave you the Beast King cultivation art tied to that thing."


    Raiven smirked. "Hehe. Of course. That''s the real core of it all. But still... I never thought Luxoria Castle was this good."


    Vandred gave a grunt, half in approval, half in disbelief.


    "They''re efficient, I''ll give them that. Taming service, contract, cultivation art¡ªall without you lifting a damn finger."


    Raiven grinned. "Exactly. But, Father..."


    He tilted his head toward the four armored beasts still standing in formation behind him.


    "I haven''t even used the Vornis yet."


    Vandred looked at them and narrowed his eyes.


    "Don''t waste those in duels. Use them when you hunt."


    Raiven gave a small nod. "That''s the plan. Dreadmaw was just for showing off."


    Vandred barked a short laugh. "Well... you showed off fine."


    Caelan finally smiled a little. "Better not fall behind, Raiven."


    Eryndor turned slightly. "Don''t lose that edge. Or we''ll remind you who the older brothers are."


    Raiven laughed. "Anytime."


    Vandred folded his arms, then glanced toward Caelan.


    "By the way... have you tamed Titanhoof yet, Caelan?"


    Caelan''s expression tensed slightly. "...No, Father."


    "It''s too unruly. Doesn''t want to be tamed by me."


    Vandred frowned deeply.


    "Hmph. That thing''s powerful, but prideful. I thought you''d have forced it into line by now."


    Raiven leaned forward a bit with a small grin.


    "Why don''t you go to Luxoria Castle instead?"


    Vandred and Caelan both looked at him.


    "They helped me tame Dreadmaw like it was nothing. They even gave me a tailored cultivation manual for it."


    Caelan raised a brow. "... Is it the genuine one?"


    Raiven nodded. "Yes. The optimized one. I didn''t even feel the contract process. Just like that¡ªdone."


    Caelan''s expression shifted into something more intrigued.


    "...Interesting. I see. Then we go tomorrow."


    Raiven raised a hand. "Actually, maybe hold off for now."


    Caelan narrowed his eyes. "Why?"


    Raiven smirked.


    "Because there''s a battle coming between Beast Castle and Luxoria Castle soon. It''s official¡ªalready announced."


    He folded his arms with satisfaction.


    "A one-on-one beast match. Winner gets to call themselves the top beast supplier."


    Eryndor glanced up. "They''re settling it publicly?"


    Raiven nodded. "In front of everyone. And knowing Lord L, he''s going to make it a spectacle."


    Caelan leaned back slightly, a flicker of interest in his eyes.


    "A direct clash between their best beasts... That might actually be worth watching."


    Raiven added, "They''re not just selling beasts anymore¡ªthey''re proving which castle builds the strongest."


    Vandred let out a short laugh. "Hah! Finally, something worthy of my time."


    He cracked his knuckles.


    "Let''s see which shop truly knows how to forge war machines."


    Eryndor tilted his head.


    "I''m curious which beast they''ll use. If Dreadmaw was just one of them..."


    Caelan looked at Raiven. "Any idea what they''re planning to unleash?"


    Raiven rolled his shoulders.


    "All I know is... Lord L doesn''t show his cards early. But whatever it is, it''ll be brutal."


    Vandred grinned. "Good. Let them show us. I want to see if this Luxoria Castle really lives up to the name."


    ---


    Elaris was running through the narrowing forest path.


    Vines responded to her urgency, retracting as she passed.


    Time was burning.


    The silver containment box holding Zephyron would only last twenty-four hours.


    The great trees opened to reveal the living estate, grown from a blend of ancient wood and beast flora.


    At the center stood Sylvaine Myralis, her eyes flicked sideways.


    "Elaris?" Her voice cut through the clearing.


    "Why are you back so soon?"


    Elaris walked straight toward her, barely slowing. "I need containment vines now."


    Sylvaine raised her hand, signaling the others to stop.


    Her gaze sharpened. "What happened?"


    "I bought something."


    "You bought something?" Sylvaine narrowed her eyes.


    "You look like you ran through a wildfire. What did you buy that requires emergency support?"


    Elaris smirked and pulled the silver cube from her pouch.


    "I bought an SS-Rank Beast."


    Silence hit the grove. Even the trees stilled.


    Sylvaine stepped forward, her expression unreadable. "Repeat that."


    "I bought a Sovereign," Elaris said, holding up the box.


    "SS-Rank. Wind and thunder element. It''s in here, for now."


    Sylvaine''s fingers curled slightly at her side.


    "You¡ªwhat possessed you to¡ªElaris, do you even understand what you''ve brought into my forest?"

 Chapter 346: Storm in the Grove

    Elaris didn''t flinch.


    "I do. That''s why I''m here. The box won''t last more than three more hours."


    Sylvaine''s frown deepened. "We will talk later about this. Extensively."


    She turned without waiting.


    "Summon the containment vines. Layer the Root Vault twice. No gaps."


    Several attendants burst from the underbrush, responding instantly.


    Their beasts followed them from behind.


    Massive serpent-root types and vine-linked crawlers.


    They soon sank their claws and roots into the ground.


    "Form the anchor ring!" one of them barked.


    "Stabilize the undergrowth, now!"


    Elaris didn''t wait.


    She marched forward and tossed the silver box into the center of the forming pit.


    "Back up. When it breaks, don''t be near it."


    The containment vines rose from the earth¡ªtwisting, overlapping, spiraling upward to form a living cage.


    The box cracked.


    A hiss of steam escaped as it shattered open, revealing a transparent prism chamber inside, lined with flickering runes.


    Inside, a towering figure of chained wind and lightning growled low.


    Its wings folded, its body restrained, but the energy emitting from its form made the leaves shudder.


    Zephyron, Sovereign of Storms, locked eyes with Elaris.


    "You brought that here?" one of the attendants whispered, backing up.


    Sylvaine didn''t look away. "Hold the formation. Do not falter."


    Zephyron didn''t move. Not a twitch. Its wings remained folded.


    Its claws rested. Its eyes scanned the surroundings, then locked on Sylvaine.


    Elaris smiled. "Mother, relax. This is the beast I bought."


    Sylvaine''s eyes narrowed. "Who the hell sells a beast like this?"


    She stepped closer, gaze scanning Zephyron''s aura.


    "Its energy... this isn''t just SS-Rank. It''s nearly at the peak."


    "Of course it is," Elaris said, casually brushing her hair back.


    "Quite expensive too."


    Sylvaine sighed. "Then why did you buy it?"


    Elaris tilted her head, grinning. "Because it was an SS-Rank beast. Why wouldn''t I buy it?"


    "You know how hard it is to catch something like that?"


    Sylvaine frowned. "Of course I know. They were too prideful to be caught and liked to kill themselves."


    "I do too." Elaris didn''t lose her grin.


    "Which is why I skipped that part and just bought it. Simple."


    Sylvaine''s frown deepened, her eyes still on Zephyron.


    "We''re a noble house aligned with forest beasts. What possessed you to drag a lightning storm into my garden?"


    "Exactly," Elaris said.


    "It''s not your type. But it''s perfect for big sister."


    Sylvaine turned, caught off guard. "Your sister?"


    Elaris nodded. "She''s a thunder-aligned tamer. Been stubborn about bonding with anything weaker than her standards."


    "This one fits. Wild, powerful, rebellious. She''ll love it."


    Sylvaine looked back at Zephyron. "That thing could destroy half this grove if it breaks loose."


    Elaris only smiled hearing that. "It won''t and besides, it has thunder aura."


    "I''m already thinking of cultivating a field of thunder herbs. The energy output''s ideal."


    Sylvaine sighed again, slower this time, eyes lingering on the chained Sovereign.


    "...I see. Still."


    She stepped forward and circled the cage once, her hand brushing a containment vine.


    "It''s quite... magnificent."


    Elaris grinned wider. "Told you. I have good eyes."


    Sylvaine narrowed hers. "Fine. But how much did you pay to exercise those eyes?"


    Elaris shrugged. "About 110 SS-Rank beast cores."


    Sylvaine froze. Her breath caught for half a second. "What the hell did you just say?"


    "I said¡ª"


    "I heard you," Sylvaine snapped, stepping forward.


    "Do you realize what you''re saying? 110 SS-Rank cores?"


    Elaris held her ground, still smiling. "We''ve got plenty, don''t we?"


    "That''s not the point," Sylvaine hissed.


    "Yes, we have stockpiles, but that''s an absurd amount for one beast¡ªeven a Sovereign."


    "Come on," Elaris said, casually waving her hand.


    "It''s not just the beast."


    Sylvaine tilted her head. "What else did they throw in, a damn crown?"


    Elaris''s grin sharpened. "The Beast King Cultivation Manual."


    Sylvaine blinked. "...You got the manual too?"


    "Of course," Elaris said, proud.


    "You know how important that is. And it wasn''t a generic one. It was customized. Tailored for this exact beast."


    Sylvaine went silent for a beat, then muttered under her breath.


    "A tailored cultivation guide... for a Sovereign-class thunder beast..."


    She sighed, slower this time.


    "If that''s true... then maybe the price wasn''t as outrageous as it sounded."


    She turned toward the guards standing nearby.


    "Fetch Velmara. Tell her Elaris has something she wants her to see."


    The guards nodded and disappeared into the living corridor of vines.


    Elaris crossed her arms. "Think she''ll be mad I picked her a Thunderbird?"


    Sylvaine raised her eyebrow.


    "If it obeys her without exploding the grove, she might call it a decent gift."


    Elaris chuckled. "Good. I wanted to see if she still remembers how to smile."


    Sylvaine''s mouth twitched¡ªbut didn''t quite form a smile.


    "You''re testing your sister''s patience and my threshold in a single day."


    "I call that efficiency," Elaris said, casually adjusting her sleeves.


    "Let''s see if Velmara agrees."


    ---


    Velmara moved like a storm.


    Her dual daggers flickered with crackling arcs as she carved through the air.


    Each strike was controlled and each step was calculated.


    Sparks traced the ground as her thunder weapons responded to her will.


    A faint rustle broke the rhythm.


    She spun and halted mid-strike as two guards approached from the vine-carved entrance, panting lightly.


    "Miss Velmara," one said quickly, "Lady Elaris has returned. She... requested your presence."


    Velmara straightened, sweat rolling down her temple. "What is it this time?"


    The guards exchanged glances.


    "She said... it''s a surprise. Asked us not to say more."


    Velmara frowned, wiping her blade across her arm bracer before sliding both daggers into their back holsters.


    "A surprise?"


    "She insisted," the second guard added.


    "Said it was important. And that it was¡ªwell, for you."


    Velmara exhaled slowly, her tone dry.


    "Let me guess. Something explosive, mildly insane, and forest-unfriendly?"


    "Possibly," the guard admitted with a nervous shrug.


    Velmara turned toward the exit, rolling her shoulders.


    "Of course. Let''s go see what my little sister thinks will shock me this time."


    She paused briefly, a flicker of amusement passing over her usually unreadable face.


    "She better not have bought another carnivorous flower beast."


    The guards gave awkward chuckles but said nothing as they led her toward the grove.

 Chapter 347: Velmara Met the Storm Beast

    Velmara stepped into the grove.


    Her pace slowed as she saw both her mother and Elaris already standing near the containment circle.


    Before she could speak, her attention snapped to the center.


    The transparent cage pulsed with barely.


    Inside it stood Zephyron.


    Velmara froze. Her entire posture shifted.


    She took one step forward, then another, faster now.


    She moved past the guards and stopped right at the edge of the barrier, hands clenched at her sides.


    Electricity crackled across Zephyron''s wings¡ªsharp streaks of yellow and green, dancing through its feathers.


    The beast didn''t move. It stared back at her.


    Velmara didn''t speak.


    She took another step, eyes locked on every twitch of energy rippling across its frame.


    She circled the edge of the cage slowly, studying the storm beast from every angle.


    When she finally looked back at Elaris, her voice came low and sharp.


    "What the hell is this?"


    Elaris didn''t answer right away.


    She just smirked, arms crossed, weight shifted casually to one side.


    "Well?" Velmara snapped.


    Elaris tilted her head. "A present."


    Velmara stared at her. "That''s not a joke I find funny."


    "It''s not a joke," Elaris said.


    "That''s Zephyron. Sovereign of Storms. SS-Rank. Yours, if you want it."


    Velmara looked back at the beast.


    Her jaw clenched. Her fingers twitched once before she spoke again.


    "You''re serious?"


    "I dragged it halfway across the world just for you. What do you think?"


    Velmara turned fully to face her. "How? Where?"


    "Luxoria Castle auction," Elaris said.


    "Bought it. And yes¡ªbefore you ask¡ªI got the Beast King Cultivation Manual too. Custom-built for him."


    Velmara didn''t speak.


    She turned back to Zephyron. The beast watched her, silent and unmoving.


    For once, Velmara didn''t have a retort. She just stared.


    Elaris''s smirk deepened. "Well? You gonna say thank you or just keep glaring?"


    Velmara kept watching the thunder flicker along Zephyron''s wings.


    "I''m trying to decide if this is the best thing you''ve ever done... or the most dangerous."


    "Why not both?" Elaris shrugged.


    Velmara turned her head slightly. "This must''ve cost a fortune."


    Elaris lifted both brows. "Obviously. I dumped everything I had into it."


    Velmara''s eyes narrowed. "And you did that without telling anyone?"


    Elaris pointed casually at Sylvaine. "Mother just found out too. Don''t worry, I got scolded already."


    Velmara looked at Sylvaine. "And you''re okay with this?"


    Sylvaine''s arms were crossed, expression rigid.


    "Of course not. I''m still trying to decide if I should punish her or let the beast do it."


    She shifted her gaze to Zephyron, then back to her daughters.


    "But the aura it emits... and a tailored Beast King manual? It''s a reckless buy, but I can''t deny it''s valuable."


    Velmara glanced back at the beast, then returned her stare to Elaris.


    "So what do you want in return for this gift?"


    Elaris blinked. "Huh?"


    "You think I don''t know you?" Velmara said.


    "You always want something."


    Elaris grinned. "Alright, alright. Nothing huge. Just... maybe reimburse me a bit? I did go broke for this."


    Velmara folded her arms. "How much?"


    Elaris raised a single finger. "One hundred and ten SS-Rank beast cores."


    Velmara blinked. "Shit."


    Sylvaine let out a long exhale.


    Velmara ran a hand down her face.


    "No wonder Mother''s half a second from dragging you into the roots."


    "She didn''t say no," Elaris replied, cheerful.


    "That means I won."


    Velmara shook her head, then looked at Zephyron again.


    "After seeing it... and that manual... I can''t even call it a bad deal."


    "Thank you," Elaris said with mock elegance.


    "Finally, someone appreciates my genius."


    "I''ll give you seventy cores," Velmara said.


    "And I owe you a couple favors."


    Elaris''s smile widened. "That''ll do. Now let''s see if you can actually tame it."


    Velmara stepped forward, eyes fixed on the beast. "I will tame it."


    Zephyron''s wings twitched.


    Velmara cracked her neck, sparks already dancing across her skin.


    "Thunder beasts are my calling."


    Elaris stepped closer, voice lowering slightly.


    "Also... I was told something about this one. It''s smart. Smarter than most."


    Velmara gave her a look. "Define ''smart.''"


    "It knows I bought it," Elaris said.


    "Didn''t resist. Stayed calm. They said it agreed to cooperate with taming¡ªbut only under one condition."


    Velmara raised her eyebrow. "What condition?"


    "They said it wanted a tamer with thunder affinity... and flight compatibility," Elaris replied.


    "You''ve got the thunder. I wasn''t sure about the second."


    Velmara gave a smirk. "Don''t worry. If it flies, I''ll fly with it. Simple."


    Without waiting, she stepped toward the edge of the containment zone.


    "Velmara," Sylvaine called out, "don''t rush it."


    "I''m not rushing. I''m accepting."


    The cage creaked open slightly as the vines shifted.


    Zephyron didn''t move, just watched her.


    Its eyes followed Velmara as she passed the final vine ring and entered the containment.


    The moment she stepped inside, the pressure changed.


    Static rolled off its wings.


    Zephyron lowered its head slightly. Its gaze fixed on her¡ªreading her.


    This one... had thunder in her blood.


    It could feel the pulse. Strong, steady. She had passed half its judgment.


    But aerial affinity? That had to be proven.


    Zephyron''s wings opened. A low crackle shot through the space.


    Then, without a word or sound, it extended one wing downward toward her¡ªlowering it like a platform.


    Velmara paused.


    She looked back at her mother.


    Sylvaine narrowed her eyes. "It''s giving you a path. It wants you on its back."


    Velmara nodded once. "Got it."


    She stepped onto the wing without hesitation and climbed to its back.


    The moment she reached the top, she stopped and looked around.


    Her eyes widened.


    "...This thing''s huge. Ten people could stand here and still not touch shoulders."


    She looked toward Elaris and Sylvaine, her voice sharp.


    "Looks like it''s already chosen me."


    But before she could finish¡ª


    Zephyron''s lips curled.


    The containment vines snapped open fully.


    With no warning, Zephyron launched upward¡ªwings exploding with force as it shot into the sky.


    Wind slammed into the grove as branches bent, leaves tore free, and lightning rippled in its wake.

 Chapter 348: Velmara Vomited Mid-Flight

    Elaris and Sylvaine both looked up as Zephyron soared into the sky.


    Elaris shaded her eyes with one hand. "So... that''s how it tests aerial affinity?"


    Sylvaine nodded. "It seems so."


    Elaris glanced sideways. "Mother... do you think big sister can handle it?"


    Sylvaine didn''t answer right away.


    Her eyes remained fixed on the fading silhouette above.


    "She''s never flown before," she said finally.


    "Not once. And that height¡ªit''s not something you ease into."


    Elaris stayed quiet for a moment.


    Then she spoke again. "Will she fail?"


    Sylvaine''s arms folded slowly. "I don''t know."


    She inhaled once through her nose, then added, "But your sister... she''s brave."


    "Different from both of us. Always tried to outpace everyone. Never slowed down, even when she should''ve."


    Elaris kept watching the sky. "You really know her that well?"


    "Of course I do," Sylvaine replied.


    "She''s my daughter. And so are you."


    Elaris glanced back, a small smile forming. "Yeah. I know."


    She dropped her arm and looked toward the path leading deeper into the estate.


    "Mother, actually... I wanted to talk to you about something else."


    Sylvaine''s gaze narrowed instantly. "You didn''t buy another beast, did you?"


    Elaris grinned. "Hehe... not exactly."


    Sylvaine''s eyes narrowed more. "Elaris."


    "I just want your help," Elaris said quickly.


    "Not money. Just... guidance."


    Sylvaine didn''t move. "With what?"


    "About them. The others. I need you to look at a few things for me," Elaris said.


    Sylvaine sighed, then turned toward the inner path. "Fine. We''ll talk inside."


    Elaris followed after her, grinning. "You''ll like it, I promise. Maybe."


    "I already don''t," Sylvaine muttered.


    ---


    High above the sky, Velmara''s body jolted as Zephyron surged through another gust of wind.


    She gripped one of its feathers with both hands, legs braced, boots sliding slightly across its back.


    Her brow tightened. "Damn you, Zephyron¡ªwhat the hell are you doing?"


    Zephyron didn''t respond with sound.


    But its head turned slightly, one glowing eye watching her.


    It smirked.


    This one was holding on better than expected.


    Let''s see if she can keep up.


    Without warning, Zephyron tilted into a sharp spiral.


    The sudden twist ripped the air apart around them.


    Wind roared past Velmara''s ears as the entire world flipped sideways.


    She gritted her teeth, clamping her mouth shut to keep from losing breath¡ªor cursing louder.


    Zephyron dipped into a nosedive.


    Velmara dropped lower on its back, keeping her body tight to the beast.


    The pressure slammed down on her spine, her eyes tearing from the speed.


    "You bastard!" she shouted through clenched teeth.


    "You''re doing this on purpose!"


    Zephyron climbed again.


    It rolled left, spinning into a barrel arc, wings tucking then flaring out.


    It then shifted into a fast, circling drift that sliced through a flock of wild skybeasts.


    Velmara held her breath.


    Her arms trembled, not from fear¡ªbut the sheer force pressing into her.


    She bit down on her lip, refused to let go, and shouted again.


    "Is this the test?! Trying to throw me off?!"


    Zephyron dipped and rose again, now weaving between tall storm clouds.


    It flattened its body and entered a speed-glide, the wind humming around its form.


    Velmara pressed closer, eyes narrowed. Her hair whipped behind her like a banner.


    "Alright," she muttered.


    "You want to fly wild? I''ll ride it wild."


    Zephyron''s body rumbled beneath her.


    It heard her.


    And approved.


    It shifted into a dive-snap, wings folding tight before shooting upward again in a perfect S-curve.


    Velmara didn''t flinch this time.


    She moved with the rhythm, knees bent, fingers adjusting grip, breath timed with the turns.


    But minutes passed.


    The altitude climbed. The spins got tighter.


    And her stomach turned.


    "Damn... it..." she muttered.


    Her grip loosened. Her vision blurred. Her body swayed, unbalanced.


    She hunched forward¡ªthen choked.


    In one violent heave, she vomited.


    Her head dropped. Her body went limp. Breath shallow.


    She blacked out.


    The second she slipped from its back, the wind caught her.


    Her body tumbled toward the forest far below.


    Zephyron''s eyes sharpened.


    It snapped into a vertical dive, wings streamlined as it shot downward like a missile.


    In seconds, it closed the distance and tilted mid-air, catching her gently across its upper spine.


    Its wing wrapped around to steady her, holding her in place.


    She didn''t wake.


    But she breathed.


    Zephyron looked forward, then slowed its speed and began to descend in a wide, steady glide.


    A smirk curled across its beak-like face.


    "For a first flight... brave," it thought, flicking its tail.


    Still alive. Still riding. Still worthy.


    It wasn''t perfect.


    But with a few more tries, this one could soar.


    For now? It passed.


    ---


    Inside Sylvaine''s private room, vines curled around the ceiling, glowing dimly under the sunlight.


    Sylvaine stood with her arms folded, watching Elaris closely.


    "Show me," she said.


    Elaris nodded. She raised one hand and began to summon her beasts.


    Three massive beasts appeared from the portal she summoned.


    Each one stood over two meters tall¡ªsleek, powerful, and unmistakably forged from gleaming steel.


    Liger-shaped bodies, plated tails, reinforced joints. Their eyes scanned the room, silent and controlled.


    Sylvaine''s face tightened the second they appeared.


    Her gaze snapped to Elaris. "What the hell are you doing?"


    Elaris blinked, casually stepping beside the nearest Vornis. "Presenting my collection?"


    "I told you," Sylvaine hissed, stepping forward.


    "How many times? We are a nature family. Our beasts breathe with the forest."


    Sylvaine pointed at the Vornis angrily.


    "Why¡ªwhy would you bring these steel abominations into my home?"


    Elaris waved off her tone with a slight smirk.


    "Relax. I didn''t buy them just to break your rules."


    She turned toward the trio of Vornis. "I bought them for a reason."


    Sylvaine''s eyes narrowed. "Which is?"


    Elaris gestured at the war beasts.


    "These are modifiable. Their element isn''t fixed. With the right resources, I can turn them into nature-aligned beasts."


    Sylvaine stared at her. "What?"


    "I''m serious," Elaris said.


    "Luxoria Castle gave me the specifications."


    "One of the core abilities built into these Vornis allows them to restructure their foundation."


    "As long as I have the materials, we can easily change them."


    Sylvaine folded her arms.


    "That''s absurd. These are forged war beasts. What kind of resources would even allow a shift that extreme?"


    Elaris continued, "As long as I have the materials, I can change them."


    Sylvaine''s expression tightened. "What kind of materials?"


    Elaris stepped closer to one of the Vornis, placing a hand on its steel shoulder.


    "Ore. But not just any. I need metal that carries natural conductivity."


    "Something grown in sync with forest domains. Ores that still resonate with life."


    Sylvaine went quiet. Her fingers drummed against her forearm.


    The three Vornises stood still, silent, watching both of them.


    Finally, Sylvaine asked, "Are you sure they didn''t scam you?"


    Elaris looked at her, a small grin forming. "There''s only one way to find out."


    Sylvaine frowned. She didn''t reply immediately.


    Instead, she turned back toward the beasts and stared at them, eyes narrowing.

 Chapter 349 349: Jungle Tank

    Sylvaine let out a long breath, then reached into her spatial ring.


    She pulled out a chunk of glowing green ore.


    It was dense, veined with light and pulsed with a steady rhythm like a heartbeat.


    Elaris leaned forward slightly. "Is that¡ª?"


    "This is Verdanite," Sylvaine said.


    "Our best nature-element ore. Grown in the deep core of the Myralis Grove."


    Elaris blinked. "You''re actually giving me that?"


    Sylvaine didn''t look amused.


    "I don''t know what to do with you anymore. But because you sound too damn confident... I''ll let you try it. Once."


    Elaris smirked. "Yes, Mother."


    Sylvaine stepped forward and handed her the ore.


    It was heavy¡ªmuch larger than expected.


    The moment it touched Elaris''s hands, a subtle energy ripple moved through her fingers.


    "I didn''t think you''d let me touch something this valuable."


    Elaris tilted the ore slightly, inspecting the intricate natural veins within it.


    "You said the beast evolves based on the steel it eats," Sylvaine replied.


    "So if you''re going to try this... it needs the best. Otherwise the result will be flawed. Or worse¡ªdishonorable."


    Elaris nodded slowly.


    "Right. Can''t have a half-formed forest-war beast running around embarrassing the family."


    Sylvaine stared at her. "One test. That''s all."


    Elaris grinned. "One''s all I need."


    She turned toward one of the three Vornis, going toward it.


    Elaris raised the Verdanite chunk and placed it carefully in front of it.


    "Activate evolution mode," she said.


    Vornis nodded, then stepped forward.


    Sylvaine crossed her arms but leaned in slightly, watching every movement.


    Elaris soon explained the mode.


    "It lets the Vornis modify its core plating based on the elemental signature of the steel it consumes."


    The Vornis lowered its head.


    Its metallic jaw unlocked with a faint click, and it opened its mouth.


    With a single motion, it devoured the Verdanite.


    For a moment, nothing happened.


    Then a low hum echoed from within its core.


    Green light seeped from the seams in its armor¡ªfirst faint, then pulsing, then spreading.


    The steel along its body darkened, losing its pure metallic sheen.


    Vibrant green veins began to crawl across its surface like living roots taking hold.


    Its mane shifted¡ªno longer metallic strands, but twisted vines layered over armor, alive and constantly shifting.


    Plates along its limbs reshaped and thickened, merging with hardened bark textures.


    Curved claws sharpened and turned deep green, as if formed from compressed wood and crystal.


    The once-pure steel tail split into twisting tendrils and coiled vines ready to snap forward or lash outward.


    Its eyes glowed bright.


    They were no longer cold, mechanical green, but something wilder.


    A fusion of war and nature stood before them.


    Elaris stared at the transformed Vornis, eyes wide with satisfaction.


    She let out a low whistle and smirked.


    "Wow... it really evolved. This is the nature version. Perfect."


    Sylvaine took a step forward, eyes fixed on the beast.


    "What you said was true... but still."


    She glanced back at her daughter.


    "This beast has changed. It''s not the original Vornis anymore. Your data sheet is probably worthless now."


    Elaris''s grin faltered. Her brow creased.


    "Damn it, Mother. You''re right."


    Sylvaine nodded.


    "Structurally, it''s a new beast. Different temperament. Different growth behavior. You''ll need to start from scratch."


    Elaris groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I spent hours learning its old abilities..."


    Sylvaine crossed her arms, watching her daughter''s frustration build.


    "And the Beast King Cultivation Art?"


    Elaris froze. "...That too?"


    Sylvaine gave a slow, deliberate nod.


    "If the core has changed this drastically, the manual tied to its steel form won''t work."


    Sylvaine rolled her shoulders.


    "The beast''s new pathways won''t respond the same way."


    Elaris stared at the Vornis again. "Damn it. Damn it twice."


    Sylvaine raised an eyebrow. "Still think it was worth 70 SS-rank beast cores?"


    Elaris didn''t answer right away. She looked back at the transformed Vornis.


    She watched the green-lined armor shift slightly with each breath the beast took.


    "Yeah," she said finally.


    "It''s still strong. Stronger, actually. But now I''ve got to go back to Luxoria Castle."


    Sylvaine narrowed her eyes. "Why?"


    Elaris folded her arms.


    "The cultivation manual I got is basically junk now. It won''t sync with this new form. I need to get a fresh one¡ªcustom again."


    "And the data?"


    Elaris sighed.


    "Same problem. Everything I had was for the steel version."


    "I''ll have to ask them to re-scan it and generate a new sheet. Hopefully they won''t charge me again."


    Sylvaine gave a small nod, thoughtful. "I see."


    She looked again at the beast, now perfectly still but radiating quiet dominance.


    "Then next time... I''ll join you."


    Elaris blinked. "What?"


    "I''m curious," Sylvaine said.


    "This Luxoria Castle of yours¡ªit''s made quite a bit of noise lately."


    "I want to see what kind of place can create monsters like this... and sell them casually."


    Elaris smirked. "You might like it."


    Sylvaine gave her a sideways look.


    "That depends on what they show me. And how many rules they break doing it."


    Elaris shrugged.


    "Well, you won''t have to wait too long. Luxoria Castle''s making a move soon."


    "I heard they''re going head-to-head with Beast Castle."


    Sylvaine turned fully at that. "So it''s official?"


    "Yeah," Elaris said.


    "A public battle. Their best against each other. War through beasts."


    Sylvaine raised an eyebrow, then let out a short breath through her nose.


    "A new viral pet shop challenging the old established giant."


    She smirked. "That''ll be a war worth watching."


    "Of course it will be," Elaris replied.


    "Lord L doesn''t play small. And Beast Castle''s too proud to back down."


    Sylvaine gave a slow nod.


    "Let''s just hope the fallout doesn''t kill half the trade routes."


    Elaris chuckled. "Wouldn''t be the worst thing."


    Sylvaine turned toward the exit.


    "Enough about that for now. Let''s take a look at your sister first."


    Elaris blinked. "Oh right¡ªshe''s still out there with Zephyron."


    Sylvaine didn''t stop walking.


    "If she''s alive, she''ll be proud. If she''s unconscious, she''ll be embarrassed."


    Elaris followed behind, grinning. "Either way, I''m teasing her."

 Chapter 350 350: From Vomit to Victory

    Elaris and Sylvaine walked into the grove.


    Zephyron was already there¡ªresting in the clearing, wings folded, posture calm but alert.


    Its bright green eyes flicked toward them briefly, then back to the trees.


    Not far from its side, Velmara stood hunched against a tree.


    One hand braced on the bark.


    The other pressed tightly against her stomach.


    Her expression was pale, strained¡ªand she was still dry heaving.


    Elaris raised her brow, then smirked.


    "Big sister Velmara... how do you do?"


    Velmara''s eyes twitched.


    Her head turned just enough to glare.


    Elaris didn''t stop. She stepped forward, voice light.


    "You know, for someone who said ''Thunder beasts are my calling''... you vomited quite a lot."


    Velmara opened her mouth, but nothing came out.


    She clutched her side and winced.


    Sylvaine sighed. "Elaris. Stop. Let your sister breathe."


    Elaris lifted both hands.


    "Okay, okay. Just checking if she still had some dignity left."


    Sylvaine walked past her and looked Velmara over carefully.


    "It seems the contract didn''t complete," Sylvaine said, eyes narrowing.


    "I don''t feel the connection between you two."


    Velmara coughed once, then laughed. "You''re wrong... Mother."


    Elaris blinked. "Wait, what?"


    Velmara lifted her head, wiped her mouth, and straightened her back slowly.


    Her legs still shook, but she forced herself upright.


    "I succeeded," she said.


    Sylvaine and Elaris both looked at her.


    "You what?" Elaris asked.


    Velmara smirked before replying.


    "I don''t know how, but... Zephyron accepted me."


    Right after she said it, her body shuddered again.


    She leaned against the tree, vomiting once more.


    Sylvaine turned toward Zephyron, narrowing her eyes.


    The great beast stood silent.


    Then it dipped its head slightly. Not a nod¡ªbut something close.


    A quiet smirk formed on Sylvaine''s face.


    "So... it wasn''t just about compatibility. It accepted her because of her bravery."


    Zephyron let out a low, soft exhale¡ªsomething between a sigh and a proud grunt.


    Elaris blinked again, then looked at Velmara.


    "Well," she muttered, "I guess you are a thunder freak after all."


    Velmara didn''t even look at her. "If you talk again... I''ll throw up on your dress."


    Elaris backed up instantly. "Okay okay! Goddess of Storms, chill."


    Sylvaine shook her head. "Both of you are impossible."


    ---


    From behind Elaris, the newly evolved Vornis Verdant stepped into the grove.


    Velmara, still leaning on the tree, turned her head slowly. Her eyes narrowed.


    "So... this is another beast you bought at that castle too?"


    Elaris smirked, arms folded.


    "Close. I bought it, sure. But I evolved it into that."


    Velmara studied the beast''s shape, its rooted plating and flowing green veins.


    "Looks fierce. That''s new. Doesn''t really scream your usual style."


    "I''ve outgrown ''style,''" Elaris said, grinning.


    "The better the beast, the better I am."


    Velmara groaned.


    "Okay, okay. Fine. Just leave me alone and let me throw up in peace."


    Elaris raised her hands.


    "Got it. Big Sis needs nap time. Rest well~ hehehe."


    But then¡ª


    Vornis Verdant moved.


    Its heavy steps echoed as it approached Velmara.


    Velmara stiffened. "What''s it doing?"


    Elaris blinked.


    "I... don''t know. It''s still an unknown beast. I don''t know about its abilities."


    Vornis Verdant stopped just a few meters from Velmara.


    Then it let out a low, resonant roar. Not aggressive¡ªbut commanding.


    The surrounding trees responded instantly.


    The leaves shimmered and began to thicken.


    Branches extended. Vines curled upward.


    Everything around them grew fresher, richer.


    The forest bloomed in seconds.


    Velmara''s body relaxed. Her nausea faded.


    Her lungs filled with clean air, and the heaviness in her limbs vanished.


    "...Huh?" She blinked.


    "What just happened? I feel... better?"


    Elaris stared, eyes wide. "Wait... what?"


    Sylvaine stepped forward, her gaze fixed on Vornis Verdant.


    "That''s one of Verdanite''s properties," she said quietly.


    "It promotes plant growth... and accelerates recovery in living beings around it."


    She looked at Elaris again. "To think your beast actually gained that ability..."


    Elaris smirked slowly. "Of course it did. You gave me the best ore. I fed it well."


    Sylvaine crossed her arms and smirked.


    "Seems like it was worth feeding it a Verdanite after all."


    Velmara glanced between them.


    "Wait. You fed it Verdanite?"


    She looked at the beast again, stunned.


    "Isn''t that one of our prized materials? Mother only used it for royal equipment."


    Elaris shrugged.


    "Yeah, but look at it now. It healed you. It nourished the forest. It''s not just a war beast anymore..."


    She grinned. "It became a guardian of the grove."


    Velmara stared at it, then let out a slow breath.


    "Fine. Maybe it wasn''t a waste after all."


    Elaris smirked harder. "You''re welcome."


    Elaris smirked, stepping beside her. "You''re welcome."


    She nudged Velmara lightly with an elbow. "By the way, feel like joining us later for a show?"


    Velmara arched a brow. "What kind of show?"


    "A fight," Elaris said, her grin widening. "A proper one."


    Velmara looked mildly interested. "Between who?"


    "Beast Castle and Luxoria Castle," Elaris replied.


    "The place I bought your Zephyron from."


    Velmara''s eyes sharpened slightly. "When?"


    "It should be soon," Elaris said.


    "Luxoria just wrapped up its auction. The challenge is set."


    Velmara gave a slow nod.


    "Then I''ll join. I want to see how good they really are. If they can sell a Sovereign like Zephyron and forge a beast like that."


    She motioned toward Vornis Verdant, "They''re worth watching."


    Sylvaine spoke up behind them, her gaze still fixed on the green-armored war beast.


    "I can''t say I''m patient either."


    Elaris turned. "Oh?"


    Sylvaine smiled faintly.


    "The people who crafted a steel war beast that can channel the properties of Verdanite..."


    "I want to see the rest of their arsenal."


    Velmara nodded slowly.


    "If they''re that capable... maybe the beast world''s balance is really shifting."


    Elaris folded her arms, looking satisfied.


    "Good. Let''s watch it together. Who knows¡ªmaybe next time, we won''t just be the audience."


    Sylvaine smirked. "Then they''d better be ready."


    ---


    Elsewhere, deep within the heavily guarded laboratory of the Aurelius family mansion...


    Sylvia stood alone.


    Sterile lights hummed above her.


    The room was lined with reinforced observation tanks, scanner arrays, and a dozen different containment systems.


    But her focus was locked on three objects sitting quietly on the central platform.


    Three silver boxes.


    Each marked with the Luxoria crest.


    Sylvia stepped closer, hands behind her back.


    Her lips curled into a slow smirk.

 Chapter 351 351: Tampering Vornis—BOOM

    Sylvia''s eyes was fixed on one of the silver containment boxes.


    She stood before it, alone.


    Without hesitation, she tapped the release sequence.


    The box unfolded with a hiss of air and arcane pressure.


    Vornis, the steel warbeast, soon appeared from it.


    Sylvia smirked. "There you are."


    She circled the beast slowly, clipboard in one hand, scanning device in the other.


    "Luxoria Castle claims Vornis can''t be disassembled... or researched," she said aloud.


    "That tampering will cause system failure."


    She stopped in front of its face, tilting her head.


    "But who am I?"


    She tapped the metal plate on her chest¡ªan Aurelis family emblem.


    "I''m Sylvia. Of the Aurelius bloodline. We don''t buy power¡ªwe unravel it."


    She walked over to the lab console, fingers flying across the keys.


    "A beast that can''t be understood isn''t a weapon. It''s an illusion. And illusions break."


    She turned toward the Vornis again, its systems powering up.


    "A beast like you... created by a shop with no legacy, no academic standing? Don''t insult me."


    She gestured toward the restraints.


    "Override passive protocols. Begin external deconstruction sequence."


    The lights around the chamber shifted red. The Vornis''s body twitched once.


    Sylvia''s eyes gleamed.


    "We''ll start with limb integration. Let''s see how your armor binds to the core¡ª"


    But the moment the analysis signal touched the Vornis''s neural shell, its eyes flashed bright red.


    The hum in the lab spiked.


    Warning signals appeared across the console.


    WARNING: ABSOLUTE BOND PROTOCOL VIOLATED. CRITICAL SYSTEM BREACH DETECTED. SELF-PROTECTION MODE ACTIVATED.


    Sylvia''s smirk faded.


    "What¡ª?"


    The Vornis let out a sharp roar. A red pulse shot across its entire body.


    Sylvia turned to the console. "Shut it down¡ªshut it¡ª!"


    Before she could finish, the Vornis exploded.


    Not in a chaotic burst¡ªbut a precise, directional rupture.


    The containment field shattered.


    Fire, smoke, and reinforced fragments tore through the sealed lab.


    The lights blinked out. The backup generators kicked in a second too late.


    Then, from within the debris, a figure stood up.


    She was covered in soot, her lab coat torn down the sleeve.


    Sylvia Aurelius emerged, face bruised, eyes blazing.


    She wiped blood from her mouth and growled, "Damn it."


    She looked around at the shattered remains of the containment rig.


    Sparks rained down from the ceiling as alarms blinked uselessly.


    "To think it exploded the second I started disassembling it."


    she paced back toward the console¡ªnow cracked and half-melted.


    Her fists clenched.


    "They weren''t bluffing. That wasn''t a bluff at all..."


    She turned her furious eyes toward the remaining two silver containment boxes.


    Sylvia gritted her teeth.


    "So it''s true. The Vornis can''t be researched. Not by normal means."


    She stared at the crest on the side of the box.


    "Luxoria Castle... you think this trick makes you untouchable?"


    She hissed through her teeth, stepping forward.


    "You''ve underestimated the Aurelius family."


    Then she stopped and turned toward the lab door.


    Her voice dropped to a bitter murmur.


    "...But maybe I underestimated you too."


    She narrowed her eyes, then glanced once more at the silver boxes. "Fine."


    She picked up the boxes¡ªone in each hand, dragging them with scorched gloves.


    "Let''s go."


    She walked out, smoke still curling around her shoulders.


    "I''ll bring this to my older brother."


    ---


    In his laboratory, Cassius stood over his reinforced workbench.


    A massive beast rested inside a containment pod.


    It was Vorafang, the SS-rank predator his younger brother had bought.


    Cassius was nearly finished with its internal reinforcement upgrade.


    He painstakingly customized its bone pressure limiters and enhanced core stamina with a layering of energy runes.


    Just as he was locking the final sequence, the lab doors slammed open.


    Cassius didn''t even look up. "This section''s restricted."


    Heavy footsteps echoed in.


    Then came the voice.


    "Cassius."


    He looked up.


    His expression darkened with surprise. "Sylvia? What the hell¡ªwhat happened to you?"


    Sylvia stood in the doorway with her disheveled looks and burned coat.


    Behind her, two silver containment boxes hovered in automated transport mode, humming softly.


    Cassius stepped forward, eyes narrowed.


    "You look like you just wrestled a flame-element berserker. What did you do?"


    Sylvia didn''t blink. "I researched one."


    Cassius frowned. "Researched what?"


    She tapped one of the boxes. "This. From Luxoria Castle. Vornis."


    He blinked. "...What''s a Vornis?"


    Sylvia exhaled slowly.


    "Steel war beast. Custom-built. Luxoria claims it could not be tampered with and was bonded to its buyer for life."


    "They warned tampering causes detonation."


    Cassius folded his arms. "And you tried to tamper with it anyway?"


    Sylvia gritted her teeth. "Of course I did. We''re the Aurelius family. I had to try."


    Cassius''s brows raised. "And it exploded?"


    "Instantly. The second I touched its internal shell," she said bitterly.


    "It wasn''t a bluff. It blew the lab. I barely made it out."


    He walked up to the closest box, scanning its smooth silver casing.


    "No breach points. No access ports. What kind of containment is this?"


    "I don''t know," Sylvia said.


    "But they''ve created something dangerous. Something we didn''t design. That we can''t reverse-engineer."


    Cassius stared at the box for another long second.


    Then he looked at his sister. "So what do you want from me?"


    Sylvia''s voice lowered. "Help me figure out how to research it. Quietly. If Luxoria Castle built it, there has to be a flaw."


    Cassius turned back to Vorafang.


    "You''re asking me to drop this."


    He motioned toward the half-enhanced SS-Rank predator still pulsing with raw power.


    "To chase something you nearly died testing?"


    "I''m asking you to prove Luxoria Castle isn''t untouchable."


    Cassius was quiet for a long moment.


    Then he looked back at the silver boxes.


    "...Alright. Let''s see what this ''Vornis'' is really made of."


    Sylvia nodded without hesitation.


    She raised her hand and tapped the side of the second containment box.


    The silver panels hissed and unfolded.


    Another Vornis stepped out.


    Cassius took one step forward, eyes locked on the beast.


    "Well, well... now this is interesting."


    He circled the Vornis once, noting its posture, the reactive plating, and the structure of its tail blades.


    His smirk grew wider.


    "It''s almost the same frame as Vorafang," he muttered.


    "Size, core height, even the neural armor connections. But this one... it''s more refined."


    Sylvia crossed her arms, still wincing from the burn marks on her side. "Can you scan it?"


    Cassius didn''t answer. He was already activating his custom interface.


    Runes lit up across the table behind him, casting a red glow over his fingers.


    He turned back toward the beast, eyes narrowed.


    "Let''s scan it."

 Chapter 352 352: Told You

    Cassius stood in front of the console, his eyes narrowed, fingers racing across the glowing panel as the scan data poured in.


    The interface flickered.


    Numbers, internal schematics, material breakdowns¡ªeverything streamed onto the screen.


    Then he stopped.


    His hands froze.


    His face darkened.


    Sylvia stepped forward. "What''s wrong?"


    Cassius didn''t look at her. "What the hell is this?"


    He turned, voice rising. "And who the hell is this Luxoria Castle?"


    Sylvia''s eyes narrowed. "What did it show?"


    Cassius pointed at the data. "You''re telling me they made this? They built this system?!"


    "Yes," Sylvia said firmly.


    "That''s what they claimed. The entire beast is their creation¡ªtop to bottom."


    Cassius turned back to the screen, muttering under his breath.


    "No. No way. This shouldn''t even be possible."


    He gripped the edge of the console.


    "The inside of this beast... it''s not just engineered. It''s layered."


    "Multiple cores, cross-linked command chains and reactive energy pulses."


    "Even half of the structure doesn''t even register on standard theory."


    Sylvia blinked. "You''re saying you don''t understand it?"


    Cassius''s jaw clenched.


    "That''s exactly what I''m saying. I¡ªCassius Aurelius¡ªdon''t understand this."


    "You''re the best," Sylvia said, shocked.


    "You always understand even the most chaotic systems."


    "Yeah," Cassius snapped, "but this one''s deceptive."


    "It looks simple. Basic. But when you try to go deeper, it folds in on itself."


    "It''s like a fake map hiding a labyrinth. You think you''re at the core¡ªbut it redirects, scrambles, loops."


    He pointed sharply at the interface.


    "That''s why it''s hard. That''s why Luxoria was confident."


    Sylvia stared at the Vornis.


    "So what now? You can''t take it apart. If we disassemble it again, it''ll self-destruct."


    Cassius slowly turned, a smirk forming across his face.


    "I''m better than you," he said, eyes glowing faintly with curiosity and pride.


    "So it won''t explode."


    He reached for his precision tools¡ªcustom-built, finely calibrated for beast analysis.


    Sylvia crossed her arms but didn''t hide her skepticism.


    "Are you sure about this?"


    Cassius didn''t look at her.


    "You blew up a lab because you tried brute force. I''m using finesse."


    "You said you didn''t understand it," she reminded him.


    "That''s why I''m not trying to understand it," he replied coolly, lowering the probe.


    "I''m going to feel it out."


    He slowly approached the Vornis.


    The war beast didn''t move.


    It stood still, eyes dim, in standby mode.


    Cassius crouched near its side, lifting one panel with extreme care.


    Micro-locks disengaged. Thin cables shimmered beneath layers of shifting steel.


    He connected his scan wire to one of the minor output nodes¡ªthen paused.


    "Interesting. These circuits reset every six seconds. They''re rewriting data loops constantly."


    "Meaning?" Sylvia asked.


    "Meaning it''s alive in its own way. It resists being mapped."


    He tapped a few commands onto his wristpad and slid a slender tool between the outer plating.


    Five minutes passed.


    Then ten.


    Sylvia leaned closer. "So far, so good?"


    Cassius didn''t answer.


    A sound pinged from his console.


    Then red text flashed across the interface.


    WARNING. ABSOLUTE BOND PROTOCOL VIOLATION. UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS DETECTED. SELF-PROTECTION MODE ACTIVATED.


    Cassius'' smile dropped.


    "...No."


    The Vornis''s eyes snapped open¡ªbright red.


    Sylvia took a step back. "Cassius¡ª!"


    Cassius yanked his arm away, scrambling backward.


    "Shut down the signal! Cut the node¡ª!"


    But it was too late.


    The Vornis released a piercing roar.


    A bright pulse of red light exploded from its chest.


    Then came the blast.


    A white-hot explosion tore through the chamber.


    Steel fragments launched outward.


    The blast sent Cassius flying across the lab, crashing into the far wall.


    Sylvia dove behind a support pillar, shielding herself from the burst of flame and shrapnel.


    When the smoke cleared, the Vornis was gone.


    It was reduced to scorched wreckage and melted plating.


    Sparks rained down.


    Cassius groaned from the floor, coughing, a thin stream of blood trailing from his mouth.


    Sylvia slowly stood up, dusting ash off her coat.


    She limped toward her brother, glaring down at him.


    "Told you."


    Cassius winced, half-laughing through pain.


    "Okay... maybe Luxoria''s not all smoke and flair."


    Sylvia crossed her arms. "So what now, genius? You just blew up the second one."


    Cassius tilted his head back, groaning. "There''s still one left, right?"


    Sylvia nodded toward the last containment box.


    It was still sealed in the far corner of the room. "Untouched."


    Cassius stared at it, eyes narrowing. "Then we bring it to him."


    Sylvia blinked. "You mean... Father?"


    Cassius shook his head firmly. "No. Not him. I mean the Elder."


    Sylvia frowned. "But why not Father? He''s still the head."


    Cassius exhaled, brushing a smear of ash off his cheek.


    "Vornis is only classified as an S-Rank beast. Father wouldn''t care. He only moves for SS-Rank and above."


    Sylvia nodded slowly.


    "Right. If it''s not some strong anomaly, he''ll ignore it."


    Cassius looked at her. "But the Elder? He''ll be interested."


    Sylvia folded her arms. "So we go to Theron, then."


    Cassius gave a tired nod. "Yeah. He''s the only one who might actually understand this thing without blowing himself up."


    Sylvia looked back at the final sealed Vornis unit.


    "I hope he can disassemble it. Or at least scan it."


    Cassius smirked faintly. "I hope so too."


    He walked past the wreckage, slower now, but focused.


    "Because whatever Luxoria did to make this beast... it''s not just good," he muttered.


    "It''s interesting. And I want to know why."


    ---


    Cassius and Sylvia moved through the reinforced corridors of the inner hall.


    Armed sentries stood watch on either side, but none dared speak as the siblings passed.


    Beast roars echoed faintly from containment chambers deeper inside.


    Finally, they arrived before the war room of Theron Aurelius.


    Inside, Theron stood.


    He was taller than either of them, arms bare, covered in scars and beast-tamer brands.


    His eyes locked onto them immediately.


    Theron''s expression didn''t shift, but his voice hit like a command.


    "What are the two of you doing here?"


    He stepped closer.


    "And what the hell happened to your faces?"


    Sylvia was still singed.


    Cassius''s side was wrapped with a bloodstained bandage.


    Both of them looked like they''d come out of a live-beast testing gone wrong.


    "We have a problem," Sylvia said first.


    Cassius stepped up beside her.


    "A beast that can''t be researched and disassembled."


    Theron''s brows lifted slightly. "Even by you?"


    Cassius gave a weak smirk. "Yeah. See what I''ve been reduced to?"


    Theron stared for a beat, then stepped forward with a low grunt. "Show me."

 Chapter 353 353: Be Gentle

    Sylvia stepped forward and tapped the silver casing.


    With a soft hiss, the final containment box unlocked and released the third Vornis.


    Theron crossed his arms, smirking.


    "So this is the beast you want me to disassemble?"


    Cassius nodded slowly. "Yes. But Elder Theron... please. Be careful."


    Theron glanced at him, one brow raised.


    Cassius continued, voice low.


    "The system it''s built with... it''s too complex. Even I couldn''t crack it. One wrong trigger, and it detonates."


    Theron stepped closer to the Vornis, walking a slow circle around it.


    "So, Luxoria Castle made a beast that explodes when dissected."


    He stopped in front of it again, eyes sharp.


    "They really didn''t want anyone looking inside."


    Sylvia stepped beside him. "We tried. Both of us. It killed two labs."


    Theron''s smirk widened just a touch. "Don''t worry."


    He turned toward the far end of the chamber and gestured.


    Two armored researchers and one silent handler emerged from the shadows.


    "My team... is more than good."


    Theron then raised his hand.


    "Bring it to the containment slab. Secure every limb. Reinforce the arc-locks. No mistakes."


    His team moved fast¡ªno words spoken.


    The Vornis was guided to a large black-plated table in the center of the lab.


    Energy restraints locked over its joints, head, and tail.


    Diagnostic runes lit up the surface beneath it, casting flickering patterns over its armor.


    Cassius and Sylvia stood behind the main barrier glass, watching every movement.


    Theron pulled on a reinforced gauntlet.


    "First stage: non-invasive layer separation. We go one panel at a time. Watch the pulse feedback."


    The beast didn''t resist.


    Piece by piece, Theron''s team carefully began to open the outer armor¡ªworking with surgical precision.


    One hour passed.


    Data streamed across the upper monitors¡ªinner circuits, adaptive filaments, energy siphons, core synchronization webbing.


    Cassius leaned forward. "He''s doing it..."


    Sylvia nodded slowly. "He''s actually making progress."


    Theron didn''t slow down.


    He reached the lower chest plate.


    "Final layer. Prepare for core alignment scan."


    He pressed the tool to the joint seam.


    Then¡ª


    A soft ping echoed from the console.


    UNAUTHORIZED CORE ACCESS DETECTED.ABSOLUTE BOND PROTOCOL BREACHED.


    Cassius''s eyes widened. "No¡ª!"


    Theron stepped back. "Reinforce it! Shut down the¡ª"


    The Vornis''s eyes flared red.


    Its core surged.


    The restraints shattered.


    A blinding flash erupted from its chest, followed by a deafening blast.


    The containment slab vaporized.


    A shockwave tore through the vault. Walls cracked. Sirens blared.


    Cassius and Sylvia were slammed against the barrier, glass shattering but holding just enough to stop the full force.


    When the smoke cleared, only smoldering fragments remained where the Vornis had once been.


    Theron stood amidst the destruction, blood streaking down his arm, half his mantle burned away.


    He spat to the side, then looked at what was left of the table.


    "What kind of bastard designs a beast that explodes just for being understood?"


    Sylvia stepped over the broken glass barrier, limping forward. "That was the last one..."


    Cassius followed behind her, expression grim. "We lost all three."


    Theron clenched his jaw. "And nothing. No data. No salvageable parts. Just fire and silence."


    Cassius looked at the scorched remains of the slab.


    "They weren''t bluffing. Every single one was locked beyond comprehension."


    Sylvia ran a hand through her hair.


    "I thought we''d at least get a core trace, a resonance read¡ªsomething."


    Theron turned sharply toward them.


    "You two brought me something that detonated on knowledge."


    His voice dropped, sharp and cold.


    "I''ve dismantled SS-Rank Sovereigns. But this thing... this was different."


    Cassius muttered, "We didn''t know it would trigger on precise access."


    Theron narrowed his eyes. "Yes, you did. You just thought I could get around it."


    Sylvia frowned. "We trusted your skill, Elder."


    Theron''s fists tightened, then relaxed.


    "...Good. Then listen close."


    He stepped closer to them, smoke still rising from his body.


    "If Luxoria Castle can make beasts that punish you for trying to learn their secrets..."


    His eyes gleamed.


    "Then this isn''t just a beast auction. It''s a declaration."


    Cassius looked up. "So what now?"


    Theron turned away, already walking toward the war terminal.


    "Now?" His voice echoed off the vault walls.


    "We start preparing our answer."


    Sylvia followed behind him, her expression grim.


    "But how exactly do we do that?" she snapped.


    "We attack them just because a few beasts exploded in our labs?"


    "The nobles will laugh. They will say we''re insecure."


    "And our family''s reputation? It''ll drop further. Everyone already thinks we''re arrogant bastards."


    Cassius frowned. "She''s not wrong. Luxoria Castle is still mostly unknown."


    "They don''t flaunt their background¡ªbut they just sold multiple SS-Rank Sovereigns."


    "That means they''ve got real power behind their name."


    Theron stopped walking, his fists clenched.


    He didn''t speak. But his eyes said enough.


    Cassius''s eyes lit up suddenly, a spark of realization crossing his face.


    "Wait... Sylvia. I remember seeing something. News in the beastagram."


    Sylvia turned. "What news?"


    "There''s a duel coming up. Beast Castle and Luxoria Castle. Public. Confirmed."


    Theron turned his head. "Go on."


    Sylvia nodded. "Yeah... that''s right. Should be happening soon."


    "Beast Castle got humiliated in the last auction¡ªLord L, whoever he is, apparently made a mess of them on their own turf."


    Cassius smirked, folding his arms. "So Beast Castle''s going to throw everything they''ve got into this fight."


    Theron''s expression shifted.


    A slow, sharp grin formed.


    "You want to give them a hand."


    Cassius grinned back. "Exactly. And we''ve got the perfect beast for it."


    Theron chuckled under his breath. "So that''s your plan. Send your creation in as Beast Castle''s secret weapon."


    Sylvia narrowed her eyes. "Wait. You''re going to interfere just to humiliate Luxoria?"


    Cassius looked at her, eyes gleaming.


    "They embarrassed us. Made us look weak. Mocked our entire research lineage with something we couldn''t crack."


    He looked to Theron. "Let''s give them something they won''t ignore."


    Theron cracked his knuckles. "Count me in."


    He walked to the beast vault access panel and keyed in an override code.


    "Let''s finish modifying that monster. If Luxoria wants a war beast duel..."


    He smirked, cold and violent.


    "...then they''ll get our answer."

 Chapter 354: Two Sisters. One Upgrade. Zero Mercy.

    Lucius was now standing before a gleaming pile of treasure.


    Over two hundred SS-Rank beast cores were stacked on the table.


    He raised his hand, fingers brushing the nearest one.


    His eyes narrowed, then sharpened.


    "System, absorb exactly two hundred. No more."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Resource Absorption]


    [Target: 200 SS-Rank Beast Cores]


    [Effect: Convert Cores into Hack Points]


    [Total Hack Points Gained: 200,000,000,000]


    [Status: Absorption Complete]


    ---


    Lucius threw his head back and laughed.


    Loud. Sharp. Unrestrained.


    "The last time I only got ten billion... now two hundred billion?"


    His eyes glowed. "This is robbery."


    He walked forward, his coat trailing behind him as the remaining cores pulsed in place.


    "Too many ideas," he muttered to himself.


    "New system modules, Divine-tier beast designs, mass production optimizations..."


    He turned toward the back wall, where Liline stood silently with her clipboard, waiting.


    "For the rest of the SS-Rank beast cores, store them in the second vault."


    "They''ll be our reserve energy for castle operations, emergency upgrades, and cultivation boosts."


    Liline nodded crisply. "Understood."


    Lucius added, "And give half of them to your elder sister, Lilia, over at the Luxoria mansion."


    Liline blinked once. "All of that?"


    Lucius smirked. "She handles internal security and living systems. If anyone needs raw core fuel, it''s her."


    Lucius turned slightly, smiling. "Good. And one more thing."


    He tilted his head. "Call Luna and Loreia. It''s time."


    Liline bowed. "Yes, Master."


    She vanished through the hall without delay.


    Minutes later, Luna entered first, followed by Loreia, shoulders relaxed but alert.


    Both stopped in front of Lucius.


    Luna''s eyes scanned the room, noticing the remains of the massive core absorption.


    "Impressive."


    Loreia glanced at the platform.


    "You called us in front of this beast core mountain. What are we doing now?"


    Lucius turned, smirk sharp.


    "I want to talk about the battle."


    "The one between Luxoria Castle... and Beast Castle."


    He walked forward, hands behind his back.


    "It''s approaching."


    Luna folded her arms, her expression unreadable, then gave a faint grin.


    "So it''s finally happening."


    Loreia''s brows lifted. "You mean that duel? The one they announced publicly?"


    Lucius nodded. "They''ve committed. And so will we."


    Luna''s grin widened. "Perfect. I was getting bored."


    Loreia stepped closer. "What''s the plan?"


    Lucius glanced at both of them.


    "I''ll brief you soon. This time... I want the entire beast world to witness what Luxoria truly is."


    Luna chuckled. "Then let''s give them a show they''ll never forget."


    Loreia cracked her knuckles. "Just point me to whoever thinks they can beat us."


    Lucius smiled. Cold. Confident.


    "Yeah... and because of that."


    He tapped his fingers down on the table, smirking.


    "It''s time to upgrade one of you two."


    He turned to face them fully.


    "I''ve gathered more Hack Points than ever. I can push you beyond what even Liora reached."


    The words dropped like lead.


    Luna''s smile froze.


    Loreia blinked once, then frowned deeply.


    Neither spoke for a second.


    Then Luna muttered, "You''re serious."


    Lucius tilted his head. "Completely."


    Loreia took one step back. "You mean like the Liora upgrade? When you hacked Leon."


    Lucius nodded. "Exactly like that. Except this time, no limits. I have more than enough points to go wild."


    Luna''s arms dropped to her sides. She stared at the wall, not smiling anymore.


    "She screamed for six straight hours, Master."


    "She stopped breathing twice," Loreia added, her voice tight.


    "I brought her back both times," Lucius said casually.


    "And she''s stronger than anything now. You''ve seen Leon."


    They both remembered.


    The silver sun titan. Divine-tier. Unstoppable. Loyal only to Liora.


    They also remembered what Liora looked like afterward.


    Eyes blank, body trembling, skin pale and steaming as if burned from the inside out.


    Luna folded her arms. "And now you want to top that?"


    Lucius grinned. "Why not? I don''t need weak soldiers."


    Loreia looked at him sharply. "We''re not weak."


    Lucius''s grin widened. "Then prove it. One of you step forward."


    The room fell quiet.


    ---


    Luna broke the silence first.


    Her silver eyes flicked toward Loreia, then back to Lucius.


    "Well... It only makes sense that she goes first."


    Loreia raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"


    Luna gestured lazily in her direction.


    "You''re the elder sister. You set the standard."


    "Our glorious Luxoria Castle''s rising reputation? You''ve been its face lately.


    "Killing beasts, crushing nobles, handling our so-called social media presence."


    "If anyone should be enhanced, it''s our beloved spearhead."


    Loreia scoffed.


    "Oh please. Don''t act like you''re not the one pulling strings in the shadows."


    "Master strategist, master manipulator¡ªaren''t you technically older than me in terms of seniority?"


    Luna tilted her head. "Age isn''t everything."


    "But time is," Loreia snapped.


    "You''ve been with Lucius the longest. You''ve killed more for him. You were there when he rebuilt this empire."


    Luna''s voice didn''t waver. "Exactly. I''ve already done my part. I''ve earned the right to observe."


    Loreia stepped forward, poking Luna in the chest with one finger.


    "You sit on the throne of the castle. You run the operations. You manage the clients, the logistics, the noble negotiations."


    "If someone''s going to be upgraded to something divine and horrifying, it should be the one they already fear in silence."


    Luna didn''t flinch.


    "Which is why it should be you. Let''s not pretend¡ªLiora was upgraded because she needed it."


    "She was raw strength. Untamed. And you? You''re just a cleaner version of that."


    Lucius watched them, amused. He didn''t interrupt.


    Loreia grinned.


    "Fine. Then let me be honest. You don''t want it because you''re scared."


    "You watched what happened to Liora, and now your pretty little brain is screaming not it, not it!"


    Luna''s eyes sharpened.


    "And you don''t want it because you know if I get it first, I''ll be five steps ahead of you forever."


    "Oh shut up," Loreia muttered.


    "If I wanted to be ahead, I''d already be on that damn table."


    Luna turned to Lucius. "Pick one. You made this mess."


    Loreia nodded. "Yeah. You''re the boss, right?"


    Lucius smirked.


    "Perfect. Because I already have someone in mind."

 Chapter 355: Luna’s Upgrade Just Started

    Lucius smirked as the two sisters glared at each other, waiting for him to decide.


    He let the silence stretch a little longer, just to make them squirm.


    Then, without warning, he raised his hand and pointed.


    Straight at Luna.


    "It''s your turn."


    Luna blinked. Her lips parted slightly. "...What?"


    Loreia burst out laughing. "Oh this is beautiful."


    Luna turned to Lucius, frowning hard. "Why me, Master?"


    Lucius didn''t stop smiling. "Seniority."


    He walked toward her, casually placing a hand on her shoulder.


    "You''ve been with me the longest. You were there when we were still in the previous world."


    "You and Liora¡ªyou''re my two blades. Liora''s already Divine-tier. It''s time for you to match her."


    Luna''s brow twitched.


    "I''ve already done everything you asked. I''ve won battles without fighting. I''ve silenced nobles with a sentence. I¡ª"


    Lucius raised one finger, cutting her off.


    "And that''s exactly why you''re going first. You''re the leader of this castle when I''m not speaking."


    "You''re the voice behind my silence. You should be the strongest among the three."


    Luna stared at him, her jaw tight, but she didn''t speak.


    She couldn''t.


    Lucius was her master.


    Loreia leaned in from behind, grinning.


    "Come on, Shadow Queen. Time to catch up to the rest of us."


    Luna shot her a glare. "Enjoy this while you can. You''re next."


    Loreia smirked. "Oh, I want to be next."


    Luna looked back at Lucius. "...Fine. I''ll be hacked first."


    Luna turned away and began walking. She didn''t flinch, didn''t argue again.


    But her hands were clenched.


    Loreia followed, still smiling.


    "Want me to hold your hand during it?"


    "Shut up," Luna muttered.


    Lucius just watched them go, eyes glowing.


    The first upgrade had begun.


    ---


    Lucius sat alone in his room, arms crossed.


    The room was quiet¡ªsterile, polished, precise. Just how he liked it.


    Then the door opened.


    Luna entered without a word, her steps silent.


    She stopped in front of him, expression blank, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of tension.


    Lucius looked up and smiled faintly. "Summon your beast."


    Luna didn''t hesitate. "Understood."


    She lifted her hand.


    A swirling silver portal opened beside her.


    From its depths Loxen¡ªthe Silver Shadow Panther¡ªappeared. Silent. Graceful. Deadly.


    The creature entered without sound.


    Its eyes scanned the room once before landing on Lucius.


    Lucius stood slowly, stepping forward with his usual calm confidence.


    "It''s been a while," he said, eyes meeting Loxen''s.


    "You''ve grown sharper."


    Loxen narrowed its eyes slightly, then turned to Luna.


    The stare it gave her wasn''t one of confusion.


    It knew.


    Luna exhaled quietly, her lips tightening. She gave a small shake of her head.


    Loxen frowned¡ªears flattening, tail swaying low.


    A quiet rumble of discontent built in its chest.


    Then it let out a low sigh, as if bracing itself.


    Lucius chuckled softly. "So it understands. Good. That saves us time."


    He stepped closer, placing a hand on Loxen''s head.


    "You''ll survive, and when you''re done... you will become an entirely different beast."


    Loxen''s body tensed.


    Lucius looked at Luna.


    "And you¡ªdon''t try to stop the pain. You need it."


    Luna nodded once. "I know."


    Lucius returned to his system, smirking.


    "Let''s begin."


    The room darkened.


    And the hacking process began.


    ---


    Lucius rubbed his hands together, eyes glowing with anticipation.


    "Let''s do this, shall we?" he said, voice low and excited.


    He turned to his system, entering a rapid sequence of commands.


    "System, evolve Loxen into a divine-tier beast¡ªsame existence class as Leon."


    "But let it embody the Silver Moon instead of the Silver Sun."


    He leaned closer.


    "Also... integrate war simulation protocols."


    "Everything Leon has¡ªknowledge, tactics, instincts¡ªcompress it into a one-hour sync."


    "I want nothing left untouched."


    He looked to Luna, then back at the screen.


    "And hack Luna to receive the same cultivation effect as Liora."


    "Her body, her soul, her synchronization¡ªperfectly adapted to Loxen."


    Lucius''s grin widened.


    "Make Loxen''s stats all hit full SS-Rank. Right now. Everything. No bottlenecks."


    "Compress the entire process into one hour. One divine evolution. One divine sync. No mercy."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Full Divine Synchronization Protocol]


    [Targets: Loxen & Luna Luxoria]


    [Evolution Path Matched to Leon ¨C Divine Silver Sun ? Divine Silver Moon]


    [Rank Tier: Upgraded to Divine Tier]


    [All Stats: Upgraded to Full SS-Rank]


    [Virtual War Immersion: 1 Year of Brutal War Simulated in 1 Hour]


    [Weapon Mastery: Complete knowledge and proficiency in all forms of war weaponry]


    [Form Mastery: Seamless shifting between animal, human, and flying forms]


    [Martial Arts Integration: Embedded mastery in armed and unarmed combat styles]


    [Phase 2: Luna-Loxen Synchronization]


    [Virtual War Synchronization: Entered Same War Simulation as Loxen]


    [Pain Threshold Overridden: All pain experienced but endured to accelerate growth]


    [Automatic Cultivation of Loxen''s Energy: Continuous intake and refinement]


    [Body Evolution: Reshaped to resonate perfectly with Loxen''s Silver Moon Elemental Essence]


    [Healing Priority: Energy used first to repair and enhance Luna''s body before cultivation cycle begins]


    [Tamer Rank Elevated: SS-Rank Perfect Synchronization with Loxen]


    [Result: Perfect SS-Rank Synchronization Achieved]


    [Luna Luxoria and Loxen Become Twin Manifestations of Silver Moon Divinity]


    [Process Completion Time: 1 Hour ¨C EXTREME PAIN TOLERANCE REQUIRED]


    [Cost Required: 20,000,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Loxen let out a deep, shaking roar as its body surged with wild elemental power.


    Luna dropped to her knees, gripping her chest as her bones cracked and reformed under the forced evolution.


    Her breath caught¡ªthen she screamed.


    But both collapsed before they could feel the worst of it.


    The simulation seized them.


    Their minds were hurled into an endless battlefield.


    One year of death, strategy, and survival compressed into a single, unrelenting hour.


    Their bodies twitched violently.


    Lucius smiled as he watched them.


    "They can''t feel it yet as their minds are deep in the simulation."


    "Their focus is surviving that battlefield... not the one inside their bodies."


    He stepped closer, watching their divine transformation.


    "But once they return, the pain will catch up."


    He raised a finger, pointing lazily at the surging bodies.


    "It''ll hit all at once. The shattered bones, the torn muscles, the nerve override, the elemental realignment..."


    His smile sharpened.


    "Boom."


    He said it so casually, like an afterthought.


    But there was pride in his voice.


    Unapologetic pride.


    He turned away from them and walked toward his chair.


    "It''s the price to be strong."


    He sat down and crossed one leg over the other.


    "I''ll see you in an hour," he said to no one in particular.


    Then he closed his eyes and waited.

 Chapter 356: Master, I’m Gonna Kill You

    Exactly one hour later.


    A blinding surge of light burst from the chamber.


    The walls rattled thanks to the energy radiating off the two figures inside.


    Then¡ª


    Luna and Loxen roared.


    Their eyes snapped open.


    Bodies jerked violently as every fiber of pain¡ªeverything the simulation delayed¡ªrushed into their nerves at once.


    Luna screamed first.


    "¡ªAAAGHHH¡ªF**K! YOU SADISTIC¡ª"


    She clenched her fists, body arching off the chamber floor.


    "¡ªLuci¡ª! You absolute son of a¡ªGAHH! My f**king SPINE¡ª!"


    Loxen snarled, its form flaring between phases as the pain surged.


    It swiped at the air, tail thrashing, claws slamming against the floor.


    "Why the f**k did you make it THIS REAL¡ª?!"


    Luna tried to stand but collapsed again.


    "YOU SAID AN HOUR¡ªYOU NEVER SAID IT WOULD FEEL LIKE A F**KING EXECUTION¡ª!"


    Lucius watched through the glass, unbothered.


    He leaned his chin against his hand, smiling like a proud craftsman admiring his masterpiece.


    "You survived," he said quietly.


    "That''s all that matters."


    Luna managed to lift her head, hair clinging to her sweat-soaked face.


    "I swear... if I could move¡ªI''d shove that smug face of yours into the goddamn wall¡ª"


    Then her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed flat, twitching once before going still.


    Beside her, Loxen let out one last weak growl and dropped beside her.


    Lucius finally stepped forward, entering the chamber.


    He knelt beside them both.


    Luna''s body was still glowing faintly with silver traces along her veins.


    Her skin had taken on a soft shimmer, and her breathing, though ragged, was steady.


    But Loxen... had changed entirely.


    Its panther body was gone.


    What remained was a small, smooth silver bracelet.


    It was curved and polished like a crescent moon.


    It had also wrapped itself around Luna''s wrist.


    "Not just Divine..." Lucius whispered, grinning.


    "You''re not even physical anymore. A perfect elemental form."


    He stood.


    "Let them rest."


    With care, he lifted Luna into his arms.


    She was heavier than she looked¡ªbut still his family.


    He walked to his personal quarters and gently placed her down on the silk bedding.


    Lucius glanced at the glowing bracelet around her wrist.


    "I knew you''d survive," he said.


    "But I didn''t think you''d look this good doing it."


    He turned off the lights.


    "Sleep. We start testing soon."


    ---


    Luna''s eyes snapped open.


    Her body ached.


    Every joint felt like it had been burned, rebuilt, and pressed into stone.


    But it was quiet now.


    No more screaming nerves. Just the dull echo of something survived.


    She turned her head.


    Lucius sat beside the bed, elbows on his knees, eyes on her like he''d never looked away.


    "...Master," she whispered.


    Lucius raised his eyebrow. "Welcome back."


    Luna tried to sit up but winced, barely managing to push herself upright.


    She looked at him carefully¡ªhis face, his posture, everything that made him Lucius.


    Then her silver eyes lowered.


    "I... I''m sorry," she said softly.


    Lucius didn''t react at first.


    Luna forced herself to go on.


    "For what I said. All the screaming. The curses. I shouldn''t have¡ª"


    She hesitated, then bowed her head slightly.


    "I forgot my place. I''m just your slave... and I¡ª"


    "Stop," Lucius said.


    She looked up.


    He leaned forward, resting one arm on his knee, the corner of his mouth lifting.


    "Don''t say it like that," he said.


    "Yes, I bought you. Yes, you serve me."


    "But you''re not just a slave anymore."


    Luna''s lips parted, confused.


    Lucius reached out and tapped her wrist¡ªwhere the silver moon bracelet pulsed faintly against her skin.


    "You''re my shadow. My strategist. My blade. And now, my family."


    His voice was quiet. No mockery. Just a fact.


    "You earned that."


    Luna stared at him, her expression unreadable for a moment.


    Then she lowered her head again.


    "...Thank you, Master."


    But the calm didn''t last.


    Her fingers twitched. Her brows lowered.


    A second later, her voice sharpened¡ªback to the Luna Lucius knew.


    "But still," she snapped.


    "Master, what the hell was that?!"


    Lucius raised an eyebrow, amused. "What?"


    She sat up straighter, groaning as she moved but refusing to stop.


    "That pain¡ªcompressing it into one hour? Do you have any idea how much I wanted to kill something halfway through?!"


    Lucius smirked. "You said you wanted results fast, didn''t you?"


    Luna frowned harder. "Not death-by-torture fast!"


    He waved a hand dismissively. "You survived. You''re stronger now."


    Luna clenched her jaw, then exhaled. "Barely."


    Lucius stepped to the side of the bed, arms folded.


    "Good. Then let''s move on."


    "Prepare for battle. You''ve been through more war in that hour than most tamers face in a lifetime."


    Luna blinked, then smirked.


    "...Of course, Master. That damn war taught me everything. Tactics. Powers. Loxen''s full capabilities."


    She held up her hand, staring at the silver moon bracelet wrapped tight around her wrist.


    "I''m not the same Luna anymore."


    Then her smile twisted into something darker.


    Her fist clenched.


    "Beast Castle..."


    Her voice dropped into a hiss.


    "Because of you, I went through hell. Because of you, I screamed like some broken toy."


    She stood, wobbling once, then steadying herself with raw determination in her eyes.


    "I''ll make sure every one of you pays for it."


    Lucius nodded, completely satisfied.


    "Then we''re ready."


    "Let Beast Castle come," Luna said. "Let them try."


    She tapped the bracelet once.


    "I''ll make their minds break before their beasts do."


    ---


    Lucius turned, the air around him still humming faintly from Luna''s divine evolution.


    "Liline."


    Without delay, a shimmer rippled across the wall.


    Liline emerged silently from the wall, kneeling with one hand on her chest.


    "Yes, Master."


    Lucius didn''t look at her.


    He kept his eyes on the silver bracelet still pulsing faintly on Luna''s wrist.


    "Call Loreia for me. It''s time we discuss our next plan."


    Liline nodded. "Right away."


    She vanished again, slipping back into the wall like smoke.


    Moments later, Loreia stepped into the room.


    She wasn''t rushing.


    She looked at Lucius, smiling while shutting the door behind her.


    "So... you called for me, Lucius?"


    Lucius turned toward her, smirking. "Yes, big sister."


    He motioned for her to step closer.


    "It''s time we talk about the battle," he said.


    "The one against Beast Castle."


    Loreia tilted her head slightly. "Finally."

 Chapter 357: Bring a Leash

    Lucius had typed the post himself.


    On Loreia''s phone, no less. He passed it to her with a smirk.


    Loreia read it aloud with a grin, then turned to him.


    "You sure about this?"


    Lucius leaned back. "Of course."


    Luna, still recovering on the bed, raised an eyebrow.


    "You do realize this''ll blow up the entire beast scene, right?"


    Lucius smiled wider. "Good."


    Loreia snorted and hit post. "Okay then... let''s see how they react."


    ---


    Official Statement from Luxoria Castle


    To Beast Castle and whoever''s left pretending to lead it¡ª


    We''ve been very patient.


    You challenged Luxoria Castle. You wanted a beast-only battle.


    We accepted without hesitation.


    Now it''s time to stop hiding behind auctions, excuses, or whatever''s left of your pride.


    The battle takes place TOMORROW.


    Location: S-Rank Forbidden Area, just outside our main territory.


    You know where it is. You''ve scouted it before. Don''t pretend you''re lost.


    We''ll be waiting from sunrise. Don''t be late.


    This isn''t about accepting the challenge. That part''s done.


    This is about showing up and proving you''re not all bark and bankrupt cores.


    Bring your strongest beast.


    If you''re lucky, it might survive long enough to entertain us.


    If not?


    Well... I hope you brought a leash and a first-aid kit.


    #LuxoriaDominance #BeastCastleBreakdown #SSRankOnly


    ---


    @VornisFangirl


    "WHAT THE HELL¡ªLUXORIA JUST WENT FOR THE THROAT."


    @BeastCastleFaithful


    "Tch. Arrogant trash. Beast Castle''s gonna shut them up."


    @CoreCollectorZ


    "Bro they said BRING A LEASH ????????????"


    @SovereignSniper


    "Someone tag the Beast Castle manager, I want a LIVE STREAM."


    @RuthlessRealm


    "This is either suicide or a declaration of war... I''m here for it."


    @HiddenTamer92


    "Luxoria''s getting too bold. Either they''re insane or they''ve got something no one''s seen yet."


    ---


    Luna smirked as the feed scrolled nonstop.


    "Looks like the crowd''s awake now."


    Loreia grinned. "Some of them are foaming. I love it."


    Lucius glanced over at them, calm as ever. "Let them talk."


    He turned his eyes toward the sunrise out the window.


    "Tomorrow... we make them understand why we don''t need to talk at all."


    ---


    Inside Beast Castle, the atmosphere was anything but calm.


    Varen Aldren stood in front of the grand monitor, arms crossed, jaw tight.


    The Luxoria Castle post was still displayed in full.


    His eyes narrowed at the final lines:


    "Bring a leash and a first-aid kit."


    "Damn it..." Varen muttered, voice low and seething.


    "They dared to mock me¡ªus¡ªopenly."


    Across from him, seated comfortably on a velvet couch, Sylvia Aurelius sipped her tea without a care in the world.


    She smiled, watching his rage simmer.


    "To think Luxoria Castle is this brave..." she mused.


    "Or perhaps just suicidal."


    Varen turned his glare toward her.


    "You''re awfully calm about this."


    Sylvia looked up at him, swirling her cup slowly.


    "Of course. The louder someone shouts, the more desperate they usually are."


    He scowled. "So you''re saying I should ignore it?"


    She set her cup down gently.


    "I advise you not to reply. Let them think you''re shaken. Let them believe you''re unprepared."


    She smiled again¡ªsharper this time.


    "So that when the battle starts, you can surprise them."


    Varen grunted, pacing away from the screen.


    "I already planned to strike without warning... but now I want to know something else."


    He turned back to face her.


    "What are you even doing here, Miss Sylvia? You don''t exactly have a habit of social visits."


    Sylvia smirked, folding one leg over the other.


    "Observation."


    Varen raised an eyebrow.


    She continued.


    "Luxoria made a move. I''m here to see how Beast Castle responds."


    "Your reaction determines whether you''re still a relevant name in this war."


    Varen''s frown deepened. "So you came to measure me?"


    Sylvia''s smile didn''t waver. "Exactly."


    He stepped closer. "And if I fail your little ''test''?"


    She leaned forward slightly, her voice like a knife wrapped in silk.


    "Then maybe it''s Luxoria I should invest in next."


    The silence that followed was heavy.


    Varen clenched his fists, then turned back toward the war table.


    "Your threat doesn''t work on me, Miss Sylvia," he said, voice low and controlled.


    "I''m still the CEO of Beast Castle¡ªthe largest beast facility on the continent."


    He turned his head slightly, casting her a sidelong glare.


    "So instead of circling me with your tea and smiles, just tell me what you want."


    Sylvia didn''t flinch. In fact, her smirk grew.


    "As expected of you, Mr. CEO," she said sweetly.


    "Always composed. Always pretending you''re three steps ahead."


    She leaned back into her seat, one leg crossing over the other with poise.


    "But before I get to what I want, I have a question."


    Varen didn''t answer.


    Sylvia went on, slowly. "Have you... already selected your beast for the battle?"


    Varen lifted his chin. "Of course we have. I don''t leave matters like this to chance."


    "I see," Sylvia nodded, her voice almost too casual.


    "Because if you hadn''t... I was thinking about helping you."


    Varen turned fully now, face darkening. "Pardon?"


    Sylvia met his glare with a calm, amused smile.


    "As I said¡ªif you were still scrambling for a worthy contender."


    "The Aurelius family would''ve been willing to lend you something from our Vault."


    Varen''s frown deepened. "You mean to say... Aurelius beasts under my banner?"


    Sylvia''s fingers traced the edge of her teacup.


    "Temporarily. One battle. Publicly, of course, it''d remain a Beast Castle win."


    Varen frowned, arms crossed tightly.


    "There''s no way the Aurelius family is doing this out of goodwill."


    He stepped closer, eyes sharp.


    "What do you really want, Sylvia? And what does your family want?"


    Sylvia''s smirk widened ever so slightly.


    "Simple. We want to crush Luxoria Castle."


    The name hung in the air like a blade.


    Varen''s gaze hardened. "So that''s it."


    Sylvia set her cup down with a soft clink.


    "You see," she said calmly.


    "Luxoria Castle was... brave enough to play a game with us."


    "Openly mocking our research and our reputation."


    She looked directly at him now.


    "And because of that, we intend to give them our answer. Loud. Violent. Permanent."


    She leaned forward, resting her chin lightly on her hand.


    "But the best delivery method, I thought... would be you, Mr. Varen."


    "You''re currently in an argument with them. You''ve been publicly insulted. Who better to carry our wrath into the arena?"


    Varen stared at her for a long, silent moment.


    Then finally spoke.


    "I see."


    He turned, facing the large projection of the battlefield once again.


    "So I carry your message... and I get my revenge at the same time."


    Sylvia''s voice softened, but the edge was still there.


    "Exactly. And in return... we test what kind of monster Luxoria Castle has really become."


    Varen nodded slowly.


    "Fine. Bring me your beast."


    Sylvia smiled again¡ªthis time, razor-thin.


    "I already have. It''s waiting downstairs."

 Chapter 358 358: 3AM Stream

    A new stream went live on Beastagram under the handle @FionaFlares


    It immediately began drawing attention.


    Fiona, one of the most popular internet artists in the beast world.


    A registered S-Rank tamer.


    Appeared on-screen, headset on, wind whipping through her silver-and-pink hair.


    The camera panned out behind her.


    Showing the massive, desolate wasteland that had been designated as the battlefield.


    "Alright, everyone!"


    Fiona grinned at the camera, voice vibrant and full of energy.


    "Welcome to the unofficially official livestream of what might be the biggest beast battle of the year!"


    Behind her, the area stretched wide.


    Cracked earth, shattered stone and the remains of a few long-abandoned structures.


    The sun was high, the sky clear.


    There were no spectators here, no seats or barriers.


    Just sand, silence, and distant roars of beasts moving far beyond the frame.


    "This place is no joke," she said, turning the camera to show the terrain.


    "A high-tier, S-Rank designated wild zone. Even I don''t hang around here for fun."


    "There are S-Rier Elite-Tier beasts lurking just out of sight."


    She paused, then grinned wider.


    "Which is why this is the perfect place for a match between Luxoria Castle and Beast Castle."


    "No interference. No spectators. Just pure destruction."


    As she adjusted her camera angle again, comments started flooding her screen.


    ---


    @StormTamerKai


    "They''re really doing it here?! That place eats low A-Ranks for breakfast!"


    @MythicalDraws


    "Fiona, be careful! Don''t get eaten before the stream ends."


    @BattleJunkieZ


    "If this is SS-Rank only, I''m cancelling all my meetings."


    ---


    Fiona chuckled. "Don''t worry, I''m at a safe distance... for now. But trust me, I wouldn''t miss this for anything."


    She lowered her voice slightly, serious now.


    "This isn''t just a beast battle. This is statement warfare. Luxoria Castle made it personal. Beast Castle answered. And now?"


    She turned back to the camera, eyes gleaming.


    "Now we find out who''s the real king of the beast world."


    Fiona spun the camera around, locking it onto a stabilizer drone that followed her from above.


    She adjusted her mic and grinned.


    "Time to hear from the crowd¡ªwell, the crazy few who actually showed up at 3 AM like me."


    She walked across the cracked ground, heading toward a cluster of figures gathered near a collapsed watchtower.


    As she approached, she whispered to the stream.


    "Yes, this is a deserted S-Rank beast zone, yes, most of the sane world is asleep, and yes, I live for this."


    She stopped in front of a young man with spiked red hair and a beast gauntlet on his left arm.


    "Yo, name and rank?"


    He blinked. "Uh... Dorno. S-Rank."


    Fiona raised an eyebrow. "Why are you here at this hour, Dorno?"


    He scratched the back of his head.


    "I mean, it''s Luxoria versus Beast Castle."


    "I figured either I see something insane... or I get vaporized by mistake. Worth it either way."


    Fiona laughed. "That''s the energy I like."


    She turned to a quiet girl sitting on a chunk of broken wall, petting a mist-type wolf beast curled at her feet.


    "Hey you, name?"


    "Elliane," the girl said softly.


    "S-Rank tamer. Night operations division."


    "You look like you live in darkness," Fiona said.


    "Thoughts on this battle?"


    Elliane''s eyes didn''t leave her wolf.


    "If Luxoria wins, we''ll see them rise. If they lose, they vanish. Either way, something ends tonight."


    Fiona grinned at the camera. "Dramatic. I approve."


    She continued moving, catching a group of three more tamers preparing light barriers and beast detection wards.


    A tall, older man nodded as she approached.


    "Let me guess," Fiona said. "S-Rank, backup response?"


    "Lorne," he replied.


    "Here in case the SS-Ranks lose control. Someone has to clean up the crater."


    Fiona tilted her head. "Confidence level?"


    "Zero," he said flatly.


    "But I brought a teleport badge just in case."


    Fiona turned back to the stream, walking as the sun began to peek over the distant cliffs.


    "Alright, you''ve heard from the mad, the ready, and the hopeless."


    "The stage is set. The tamers are gathering."


    She smirked, hair glinting in the dawnlight.


    "Let the world wake up to chaos."


    As if on cue, a massive gust of wind surged through the area.


    Sand whipped into the air, followed by an echoing cry that split the sky.


    A huge avian beast soared overhead.


    Its wings cast a massive shadow across the ruins.


    Feathers of metallic gold and violet shimmered as it descended.


    Gasps broke out across the gathered tamers.


    "Whoa¡ªwhat the hell is that thing?" one muttered.


    Fiona''s eyes lit up. Her camera drone zoomed in.


    "Ohhh it''s starting already!" she shouted.


    "We''ve got a major entry overhead!"


    She panned the camera toward the sky, tracking the beast''s graceful descent.


    "Let''s see¡ªwho''s coming in first? Is it Luxoria or Beast Castle¡ª?"


    The massive bird flapped once, then slowly hovered as a platform unfolded on its back.


    From the swirling cloud of energy, Varen Aldren stepped down.


    He was cloaked in dark battle robes, his expression cold and focused.


    Fiona gasped with a grin.


    "OHHH¡ªBeast Castle makes the first move!"


    The tamers around her began murmuring, adjusting scanners, whispering theories.


    But Fiona didn''t stop.


    "Wait¡ªhe''s not alone," she said quickly.


    "We''ve got two others descending with him."


    The rider of the avian beast stepped beside Varen, cloaked in aerial armor.


    But the third presence¡ª


    Fiona zoomed in with her camera.


    Her jaw dropped.


    "No way. No way¡ªthat''s¡ª"


    She spun back to the camera, eyes wide with barely restrained excitement.


    "Everyone watching¡ªconfirm this right now¡ªthat''s Victor Aurelius."


    Gasps echoed behind her.


    A few tamers stepped closer to their own comms, whispering fast.


    Fiona looked stunned for a beat, then straightened with a sharp smile.


    "That confirms it. Beast Castle didn''t just prepare. They brought in the powerhouse, the Aurelius family."


    "Varen Aldren has backup from one of the biggest beast research houses in the world."


    "And the one representing it was Victor Aurelius."


    She pointed to the screen, her voice rising.


    "Luxoria Castle, you better show up loud, because they came ready for war!"

 Chapter 359 359: Beast Castle Deployed First

    Victor stood at the edge of the crumbled platform, overlooking the wide terrain.


    His blue eyes scanned the area with calm calculation.


    "So this is the place we''ll be fighting."


    Varen crossed his arms, standing a few meters behind him.


    "Yeah. This is it."


    Victor turned slightly. "And they''re not here yet?"


    Varen clicked his tongue.


    "No. It''s barely past four in the morning. They said sunrise."


    He glanced toward the faint glow building on the horizon.


    "Technically, they''re not late."


    Victor''s lip curled into a faint smirk.


    "How punctual of them."


    He turned back toward the field, then looked at the massive black containment cage set behind their staging platform.


    Reinforced chains crisscrossed the cage walls, runes glowing faintly with containment seals.


    Victor stepped closer to it, eyes focused.


    "I really want to see how strong it''s become..."


    He placed one gloved hand against the cold metal of the cage.


    "After being modified by both Elder Theron and Elder Brother Cassius."


    "This thing should be something new. Something worthy of being unleashed."


    Varen''s jaw tensed. "It better be."


    He looked back toward the sky.


    "Because I''m sick of Luxoria Castle''s smug face."


    "That post¡ªmocking us? Calling us broke and bankrupt? They''ve crossed the line."


    Victor didn''t look away from the cage. "Good."


    He tapped the metal twice. The beast inside stirred.


    "They''ll regret it."


    Varen turned to him, voice low but sharp.


    "Just make sure your beast holds."


    Victor smiled faintly. "It won''t need to hold."


    He looked at Varen directly, eyes colder than before.


    "It''ll dominate."


    ---


    Far above the terrain, soaring just beneath the thinning clouds, a massive wind-and-thunder beast drifted silently.


    Zephyron glided without a sound, riding the currents with majestic stillness.


    Upon its back stood three figures.


    At the front, Elaris Myralis stood with one foot braced against the armored ridge.


    Arms crossed, sharp eyes locked on the distant battlefield below.


    "So that''s where the battle starts."


    Behind her, Velmara Myralis sat calmly, one hand resting on Zephyron''s back.


    "They chose well. Isolated. Wild. No witnesses. No interference."


    Elaris smirked slightly. "Except us."


    Further back, cloaked in layers of living flora and seated in silence, was the Verdant Matriarch, Sylvaine Myralis.


    She finally spoke. "We won''t intervene. We observe."


    Elaris nodded without turning.


    "Of course. But you can''t deny it''s tempting."


    She glanced downward.


    "Varen''s already here. And he''s not alone."


    Velmara shifted forward slightly, her gaze narrowing.


    "That''s Victor Aurelius down there."


    Elaris let out a dry chuckle.


    "So Beast Castle''s pride isn''t enough. They''re borrowing brains now."


    Sylvaine didn''t flinch.


    "It means they''re desperate."


    Velmara also found a massive black cage stationed behind Victor.


    "And that... is something we haven''t seen before."


    Elaris narrowed her eyes.


    "Something the Aurelius family made."


    Sylvaine''s fingers tightened slightly on the straps embedded in Zephyron''s back.


    "Watch closely and see what it''s for."


    Elaris smirked, raising a hand to block the glare.


    "Let''s see who bleeds first."


    ---


    From a craggy outcrop overlooking the eastern side of the battlefield.


    Three silent figures stood against the wind.


    The oldest, a towering figure draped in beast-hide armor, stood like a statue.


    Vandred Valefor, the patriarch of the Valeforer family, watched with interest.


    Beside him stood his eldest son, Caelan Valefor, straight-backed and armored in his custom gear.


    And leaning against a boulder with one foot casually planted on a ledge was Raiven Valefor.


    Caelan broke the silence first. "Beast Castle arrived first."


    Raiven snorted quietly.


    "Of course they did. Screaming pride shows up before skill."


    Vandred didn''t respond.


    He kept his eyes locked on the huge containment cage below.


    "Victor Aurelius is here," Caelan added.


    "Which means Aurelius involvement is official."


    Raiven narrowed his eyes.


    "That makes this more than a duel. It''s a warning."


    Caelan nodded. "And a test."


    Vandred finally spoke.


    "If Luxoria wins, they become fact. Not theory. Not hype. Reality."


    He looked toward Raiven, his eyes glinting beneath his heavy brow.


    "You were the first Valefor to buy from Luxoria Castle."


    Raiven smirked. "Still the best purchase I''ve made."


    "Then you watch this," Vandred said, voice heavy with expectation.


    "You judge if the castle that sold you Dreadmaw... still deserves your respect."


    Raiven''s gaze sharpened. "If they break under pressure, I''ll walk away."


    Caelan glanced sideways. "And if they don''t break?"


    Raiven''s lips curved slightly. "Then maybe I bet on the right monster."


    Vandred''s voice came like iron striking stone.


    "If they lose, Luxoria dies here."


    He leaned forward slightly.


    "But if they win..."


    He cracked one massive knuckle.


    "...then even the Valefor must look again."


    ---


    Far from the crowded staging grounds.


    Perched on a steep cliff with an unobstructed view of the battlefield.


    Sylvia Aurelius sat alone beneath the shade of a jagged stone arch.


    She leaned back against the rock, one leg crossed over the other.


    Her eyes scanned the field below, catching sight of Varen Aldren standing beside the containment cage.


    Victor was a step behind him.


    "Tactician to the end."


    Then her eyes shifted to the open field.


    Luxoria Castle had yet to arrive.


    Sylvia smirked.


    "They''ll come. They''re arrogant, but not stupid."


    She let out a quiet exhale and stared deeper into the wasteland where the battle would begin.


    "Let them come and let them pay."


    Her tone sharpened with quiet venom.


    "For what they did."


    She thought back to the labs that exploded¡ªtwice.


    The smirking Lord L who dared put Aurelius technology in checkmate.


    The beasts that couldn''t be dissected.


    And Cassius locked himself away with Theron to build something "better."


    They weren''t here now. Too focused on their own obsessions.


    But she came to see the end of the insult herself.


    "The moment Luxoria steps onto that field is the moment the consequences begin."


    Her eyes gleamed.


    "And I want a front-row seat when their god-complex breaks."


    She glanced toward the rising sun and waited.


    ---


    Fiona adjusted her mic, glancing at the sky.


    She turned back to the camera, her smile widening.


    "Alright, people¡ªeveryone''s in position."


    Her drone zoomed out, revealing the vast battlefield now buzzing with anticipation.


    Several cloaked figures from various factions lingered at the edges, watching.


    The massive containment cage loomed ominously behind Beast Castle Camp.


    Fiona grinned.


    "The spectators are here. The elites are watching. Beast Castle''s locked in."


    She leaned toward the camera, her voice playful but biting.


    "Now all that''s left... is Luxoria Castle."


    She straightened up, looking off toward the distant cliffs.


    "Are they stalling? Cold feet? Or are they just making us wait to build the tension?"


    Just as she spoke, a light breeze shifted the sands.


    From one of the far cliffs, away from the center.


    A woman in a flowing silver dress stood alone, her arms behind her back.


    "What a nice stage... Isn''t it?"


    Fiona''s camera immediately locked on her.


    "Oh?" Fiona said, raising her eyebrow.


    "What''s this now?"

 Chapter 360: Little Boy!

    Fiona turned to her phone, flipping through her stream interface as her drone hovered in place.


    She pointed toward the ridge with a smirk. "Hey¡ªdid you all see that?"


    The camera zoomed back in on the woman in the silver dress, catching her long silver-white hair.


    Fiona turned back to the lens, excitement bubbling in her voice.


    "That cliff... it''s the exact opposite of Beast Castle''s position."


    She leaned closer. "Could it be that she''s from Luxoria Castle?"


    Her voice lowered just slightly, teasing.


    "But we don''t know for sure yet."


    "Her face¡ªher name¡ªhasn''t been shown anywhere in public files."


    She let the silence sit for a beat as the stream chat began to flood with reactions.


    Then she added, smirking, "Still... damn, she''s beautiful."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @CrimsonDrake: "WAIT WHO IS THAT?! SHE JUST APPEARED LIKE A QUEEN."


    @MoonStrike_03: "That HAS to be Luxoria. The vibe is too elite."


    @TamerTrashTalk: "Luxoria playing the mystery card now? That''s bold."


    @SSBeastHunter: "If she''s from Luxoria and she looks like that, I''m switching sides."


    @BeastCastleBlood: "Keep simping. Doesn''t matter when Beast Castle crushes them."


    @SketchesOfStorms: "I NEED fan art of her NOW."


    ---


    Fiona held her phone up, showing the chat to the viewers, laughing.


    "Yup. My stream''s exploding. Everyone''s officially obsessed."


    She looked back toward the distant ridge, narrowing her eyes.


    "No announcement. No escort. No fanfare. Just... presence."


    Fiona grinned. "If that''s not Luxoria Castle''s opening move, I don''t know what is."


    She adjusted her headset.


    "Stay tuned, folks. I think the real show''s about to start."


    ---


    From across the field, the tension thickened.


    Varen Aldren narrowed his eyes, stepping ahead of his group.


    He cupped his hands around his mouth and called across the battlefield.


    "So... are you from Luxoria Castle?"


    The woman didn''t answer right away.


    Instead, she tilted her head slightly.


    Luna''s eyes glinted as she replied.


    "What, you couldn''t figure that out from me standing in the opposite direction?"


    She placed one hand on her hip and smiled.


    "Or are you just that slow?"


    Varen''s frown deepened.


    "You''d do well to show some respect to your elders."


    Luna laughed¡ªcold and graceful.


    "You''re too old-fashioned, old man. In this era, respect isn''t handed out because you''ve got gray in your beard."


    She stepped forward another pace.


    "Respect is earned by power. And right now? I don''t see any worth giving."


    Varen''s expression twisted with frustration.


    Victor stepped in calmly, placing his hand on Varen''s shoulder.


    "Let it go."


    Varen looked at him, eyes narrowed.


    "She''s mocking me."


    "I know," Victor said without emotion.


    "Which is why you should let me handle it."


    Varen took a step back, exhaling hard.


    "Fine."


    Victor turned his head slightly and looked toward Luna.


    Luna smiled wider, clearly enjoying herself.


    "Smart move."


    "Let the younger ones deal with me. You? You''re not built for this pace anymore."


    She turned slightly, walking back to her place.


    She tossed one final glance over her shoulder.


    "But don''t worry... I''ll make sure you feel something before this battle ends."


    Behind Victor, Varen clenched his fists.


    "Damn you... Luxoria."


    But Victor ignored him.


    He stepped forward slightly, eyes narrowing as he called out across the battlefield.


    "Are you really from Luxoria Castle?"


    Luna didn''t even stop walking.


    "Can''t you tell, little boy?"


    Victor frowned, his tone sharpening.


    "I''ve never seen your face. Not once."


    "Not at an auction, not on Beastagram. Luxoria doesn''t parade ghosts."


    Luna paused, then slowly turned her head, smirking.


    "Do I need to show my face in the past, little boy?"


    "Just to prove to the world that I''m from Luxoria Castle?"


    She tapped her cheek mockingly.


    "Please. My face is too expensive¡ªtoo valuable¡ªto be seen without purpose."


    She turned fully now, voice low and wicked.


    "I''m only here because Lord L ordered me to be. Otherwise, I wouldn''t waste a second standing around with you... little boy."


    Victor''s brows twitched.


    That calm, calculating look he always wore cracked¡ªjust a little.


    He took a breath, but his voice was tighter now.


    "I''m twenty-five, damn it. I''ve led numerous expeditions into sovereign zones and risen as a genius from the Aurelius family."


    He pointed.


    "You? You''re not even twenty, are you?"


    Luna grinned wider.


    "Yeah, yeah. You''ve got a few more birthdays under your belt. Big deal."


    She walked closer to the edge of her ridge again.


    "But experience?" She glanced over.


    "I''ve fought more hidden wars than you''ve studied books."


    "I''ve broken nobles in the dark while you were still playing with tranquilizer kits."


    "For me, Victor... you''re just a curious little boy with an attitude."


    Victor''s jaw clenched.


    "Damn you."


    Luna winked.


    "Too late. You''re already losing¡ªand I haven''t even moved."


    ---


    Back near the edge of the battlefield, Fiona crouches in front of her drone camera.


    Her laughter barely suppressed behind her microphone.


    "Oh my god¡ªdid you guys hear that?!"


    She wiped a tear from her eye, still laughing.


    "Victor Aurelius just got bodied by Silver Dress Girl!"


    "Straight-up cooked like a D-tier tamer in a Sovereign zone!"


    Her stream chat exploded.


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @MoonGlaive92: "VICTOR JUST GOT CALLED A LITTLE BOY."


    @SketchesOfStorms: "SOMEONE GET HIM A HEALING CORE FOR HIS EGO."


    @SilverTamerX: "Wait, WHO IS SHE??"


    @EliteViewerEX: "This girl''s from Luxoria for sure. The confidence, the dress, the ENERGY."


    @RoyalCoreWatcher: "I''ve watched every Luxoria auction¡ªshe''s never been on camera. Not once."


    @FanficForge: "Okay I ship Silver Dress vs Victor now. Rivals to annihilation."


    ---


    Fiona grinned, turning her camera back to face her.


    "We still don''t know who she is, by the way!"


    She pointed toward the distant ridge.


    Where Luna had returned to her calm demeanor with her arms crossed.


    "No confirmed name, no records, no Beastagram presence. Zero appearances at auctions."


    "But she''s got the entire field on edge and Victor looking like a failed intern."


    She tilted her head with a sly smirk.


    "Luxoria Castle always knew how to pick their monsters. And I think we just met one of the silent ones."


    She zoomed out, letting her audience take in the wide view of the rising tension between giants.


    "This just keeps getting better."

 Chapter 361: How Ugly

    Victor''s expression hardened. His patience was emptying. Fast.


    "Enough of this," he snapped.


    "We''re not here to trade insults."


    He stepped forward, frowning.


    "We''re here to fight. So let''s fight."


    Luna''s lips curled into a calm, sharp smile.


    "Oh? Finally ready to stop pouting?"


    Victor narrowed his eyes.


    "Before we start... I need to know your name."


    Luna raised her eyebrow.


    She let the silence stretch a moment longer than needed.


    Letting her gaze drift around the spectators gathered on nearby ridges.


    Up toward the drones in the sky, then back to Victor.


    She smiled wider.


    "Okay then... little boy."


    She stepped forward to the edge of the cliff, smiling.


    "For the sake of you, that frustrated old man behind you..."


    "And to the many curious viewers watching from the comfort of their safe little screens..."


    She spread her arms slightly, moonlight gathering faintly around her.


    "Let me introduce myself properly."


    The air went still for a heartbeat.


    "I am Luna Luxoria¡ªthe number one woman of Lord L."


    Her eyes flashed as her voice turned colder.


    "And the CEO of Luxoria Castle."


    She made a mock bow, her silver hair fluttering in the wind.


    "Pleased to meet you."


    ---


    Fiona''s mic nearly peaked as she let out a dramatic gasp.


    "SHE DID NOT JUST SAY THAT¡ª"


    She spun around to face her camera drone directly.


    Eyes wide and glowing with pure stream-fueled adrenaline.


    "You all heard it! You heard it right here on this stream¡ªthat''s Luna Luxoria!"


    "The first woman of Lord L! The CEO of Luxoria Castle herself!"


    Her stream chat exploded.


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @ShadowQueenConfirmed: "BRO. CEO?! LORD L''S NUMBER ONE??"


    @NoWayNoWayNoWay: "I THOUGHT SHE WAS A MYTH."


    @MoonCultist: "She revealed her name like a final boss. I''m dead."


    @WarFanaticJade: "Victor looked like he just got punched by air."


    @TamerLogs: "This is history. Someone screen cap this moment. NOW."


    @MoonMirrorArtz: "I will draw this reveal until my hand breaks. This is peak."


    @Luxoria4Life: "WE STAND. WE RISE. LUNA LUXORIA FOR GODDESS OF MOON."


    ---


    Fiona laughed breathlessly, half-sitting on a chunk of rubble.


    "Victor wanted a name? She gave him a legend."


    She flipped her cam view to zoom back in on Luna''s still-smirking face.


    "And she''s still calm. Still mocking. Like revealing her name was just an afterthought."


    Fiona leaned toward the mic again, voice hushed but electrified.


    "Ladies and gentlemen... this isn''t just a beast battle anymore."


    She paused.


    "This is Luxoria''s official declaration of war."


    ---


    Victor stepped forward, irritation seeping into every word.


    "Enough of this. I''ll make sure you regret that arrogance."


    Luna tilted her head, still smiling faintly.


    "So dramatic. Is this where you show off your little toy?"


    Victor ignored the taunt.


    He turned on his heel and walked toward the massive black containment cage behind him.


    He raised his hand, his loud voice echoing across the field.


    "To answer your provocation..."


    He placed his palm on the lock.


    "I''ll be using this."


    He looked back at Luna, a rare smirk appeared on his face.


    "The latest creation of the Aurelius family."


    The door unlocked.


    "And also the very first beast Luxoria Castle ever dared to auction."


    Luna frowned slightly.


    Victor spread his arms wide.


    "Let''s welcome the new Apex Predator¡ªNyxfang."


    "The improved... perfected version of Vorafang."


    The cage opened.


    And the battlefield changed.


    A massive wolf beast stepped forward, its paws cracking the stone beneath them.


    Its fur was a twisted, shifting black.


    It was streaked with pulsing red and black veins.


    Visible streams of unstable bio-energy were pumped through its grotesque frame.


    Dark plating jutted out across its shoulders and limbs like mismatched armor.


    Its jaw was also wrong as it split unnaturally, revealing an eldritch maw.


    It was lined with jagged fangs that bent inward and outward, twitching like hungry tendrils.


    Its claws had morphed into bone-hooked whips, twitching with parasites.


    Even the tamers watching from the sidelines instinctively took a step back.


    It wasn''t just powerful.


    It was unnatural and really terrifying.


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C Fiona''s Stream]


    @TamerReaper: "WHAT IS THAT THING?! THAT''S NOT A BEAST IT''S A CURSE."


    @ArtOfAbominations: "Did he say Nyxfang??? Is that the beast of Luxoria''s first auction???"


    @SilverMoonDefense: "LUNA DON''T YOU DARE FIGHT THAT THING ALONE."


    @DrawnByTerror: "I''m gonna have nightmares and I need to sketch it."


    @LunaLuxoriaStan: "THAT. THING. IS. GOING. DOWN."


    ---


    Fiona stepped back with wide eyes, still filming.


    "...Okay. That''s a new level of nightmare fuel."


    She forced a grin, voice rising again as adrenaline took over.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, Beast Castle just officially unleashed Nyxfang. The evolved version of Vorafang."


    Then she spun back toward the opposite ridge.


    "But now the real question..."


    She raised a hand dramatically, pointing toward Luna.


    "...What beast will Luna Luxoria summon to stand against that?"


    Her voice dropped.


    "She''s Lord L''s first woman and the CEO of the Luxoria Castle."


    The camera zoomed in on Luna.


    Fiona grinned wide.


    "Get ready, everyone. If Nyxfang is Beast Castle''s monster..."


    She paused.


    "Then what kind of beast is Luxoria Castle about to release in response?"


    She whispered into her mic.


    "Luna... it''s your move."


    ---


    Luna''s eyes locked on Nyxfang, the grotesque apex predator standing across the battlefield.


    She didn''t flinch.


    But her brows furrowed slightly in disgust.


    "...How ugly."


    "To think that Vorafang, the first SS-Rank Sovereign beast we ever sold, was twisted into that."


    She tilted her head.


    "This is what happens when you give a diamond to some idiots."


    Victor smirked from across the field, his arms folded confidently.


    "You can mock it all you want, but in the end, what matters is power."


    He pointed toward Nyxfang, which growled low, blood mist curling around its claws.


    "And that thing will devour you."


    Victor''s voice sharpened.


    "You''ll lose, Luna. To the better version of the beast you sold. How poetic is that?"


    Luna let out a long sigh.


    "The fact that you say that with pride actually baffles me."


    She shook her head, then raised her hand.


    "Fine. I''ll play with you."


    A silver portal opened beside her, and from it a beast stepped out.


    It wasn''t enormous.


    In fact, it was small¡ªbarely two meters tall.


    Just slightly larger than Luna herself.


    Its entire body was composed of shifting silver water, occasionally rippling into vapor trails and reforming.


    Its form flickered between a tiger and a panther, never fully locking into one shape.


    It didn''t growl.


    It didn''t roar.


    It just watched¡ªsilently, eyes glowing like twin crescent moons.

 Chapter 362 362: Battlefield Bed

    Varen and Vincent froze all over.


    Both men looked at the creature that had emerged from Luna''s portal.


    It was small.


    Too small.


    Varen''s brow twitched, and then his lip curled upward.


    "...That''s it? That''s what Luxoria Castle brings to face Nyxfang?"


    Victor didn''t answer immediately.


    His eyes narrowed slightly, observing the glimmering silhouette.


    Its shifting form flickered in and out of defined shape, refusing to settle on anything predictable.


    Then he scoffed.


    "It must be a performance beast. Flashy tricks. No substance."


    Varen let out a sharp, dismissive laugh.


    "Looks like a pet someone dressed up for auction day. I thought they had real monsters."


    Victor didn''t take his eyes off the beast.


    "It''s too quiet. No growl. No intimidation display. It didn''t even roar."


    Varen shook his head.


    "That''s not power. That''s theatrics. Luxoria must be slipping."


    "They''re sending their ghost girl out with a glorified light show."


    Victor let out a dry chuckle.


    "Honestly, I expected more. After all that buildup, the arrogance, the mystery?"


    "And this is what crawls out of her shadow?"


    Varen rolled his shoulders and stepped forward.


    "Let her watch. Let everyone watch."


    "Because when Nyxfang rips that thing apart. When it stops pulsing and starts bleeding."


    "Maybe then they''ll remember who owns this field."


    Victor raised his hand slightly, signaling Nyxfang to shift forward.


    The abomination responded immediately, snarling as its red-and-black veins bulged.


    Its limbs sprouted short, hooked tendrils.


    "The only thing left after this... will only be silence."


    Varen cracked his knuckles, smirking.


    "Let''s crush their pride."


    ---


    Fiona stared at the silver beast standing beside Luna.


    Her face was frozen.


    It was somewhere between confusion and intrigue.


    "...Is this really it?"


    She whispered to her stream, almost in disbelief.


    "This is the beast Luxoria Castle summoned... against that thing?"


    She zoomed in on the creature once again.


    Small, fluid body, constantly shifting between feline forms.


    "It''s beautiful, don''t get me wrong.


    "But... that''s what they brought out against Nyxfang?!"


    She looked toward Nyxfang, the grotesque abomination.


    It was snarling and scraping its claws along the ground, already brimming with slaughter-lust.


    "Oh my god, chat''s gonna go insane¡ªhold on."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @BeastBlooded: "THIS IS A JOKE RIGHT. WHERE''S THE REAL BEAST???"


    @MoonlightMirage: "I don''t care if it''s small. LOOK at how it moves later."


    @VictorSupremacy: "Nyxfang''s gonna eat that thing in five seconds. Why even bother?"


    @CoreDripDealer: "Yeah but size alone¡ªlike that silver blob ain''t even the size of a Sovereign."


    @LuxoriaLeash: "Y''all are too blind. You think Luxoria walks in without backup plans?"


    @GoreFansUnite: "I want blood. Give me the breakdown. Pretty lights won''t save you now."


    ---


    Fiona raised her hand, trying to calm the chaos even as more posts flooded in.


    "Okay! Okay! Breathe, everyone!"


    She laughed nervously.


    "This is either the biggest bluff in Luxoria Castle''s history..."


    "Or we''re watching the quietest apocalypse about to detonate."


    She looked again at the beast once again.


    "It''s not normal but nothing about Luna Luxoria ever is."


    She straightened up, voice tense now.


    "Either this is about to be the cleanest surgical takedown ever seen on Beastagram... or a bloodbath."


    ---


    Luna didn''t look even bothered.


    "I don''t care what you think of my Loxen."


    She raised her hand.


    From her spatial ring, she took out a luxurious bed.


    A full queen-sized bed complete with a plush pillow and a thick bolster.


    The battlefield stared at her in confusion.


    Fiona''s jaw dropped. "What the¡ª?!"


    Luna didn''t flinch.


    She calmly walked over to the bed, climbed in, adjusted the pillow beneath her head, and pulled the blanket up.


    She turned to Loxen, who sat silently beside her.


    "Wake me up when it''s finished."


    Loxen nodded.


    And lowered its head, eyes locking on Nyxfang.


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @LunaSLEEPING?!: "SHE JUST WENT TO BED. IN FRONT OF NYXFANG. I''M ASCENDING."


    @ShadowRoyalty: "Queen behavior. She knows her beast is gonna win. No doubt."


    @VictorDefenders: "This is straight disrespect. Victor better turn Nyxfang loose and END HER."


    @ChaosWithStyle: "This is performance art and violence and I LOVE IT."


    @NoWaySheSnoozed: "SHE SAID WAKE ME UP WHEN IT''S DONE. HOW IS SHE STILL THE SMOOTHEST ONE HERE?"


    @LuxoriaWorshipper: "Luna''s not just fighting. She''s making a statement: ''I don''t need to watch to win.''"


    ---


    Victor''s expression twisted with fury. He stepped forward, hands clenched.


    "To think you''d dare to sleep during this..."


    His voice rose, aura spiking.


    "I''ll make sure you regret everything."


    Behind him, Nyxfang roared, lunging forward toward Loxen.


    Blood mist exploded from its claws as it activated Hemovore Surge.


    Loxen didn''t move.


    It didn''t flinch or blink.


    It just sat there, waiting for Nyxfang to come to it.


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @NyxfangRampage: "HE''S COMING. HE''S CHARGING¡ªLOXEN MOVE WTF???"


    @LunaWakeUpPlease: "HELLO?? THE ABOMINATION IS CHARGING¡ªDO SOMETHING??"


    @VictorIsSeriousNow: "This is it. He''s gonna shred that ghost pet."


    @ITrustTheMoon: "No... no wait. Look at Loxen. That thing isn''t even breathing heavy. It''s waiting."


    ---


    From her high vantage point, Fiona nearly screamed.


    "Nyxfang is charging at full speed and Loxen''s not even bracing!"


    She pointed frantically as Nyxfang''s claws scraped across stone, its maw splitting open unnaturally wide.


    Four jaws unfolding with writhing tendrils and jagged fangs glowing red.


    Victor shouted across the field.


    "Dodge, defend, or die!"


    But Loxen stayed still.


    It was like Nyxfang wasn''t attacking a creature¡ª


    It was attacking a target.


    And that made it even worse.


    The impact came.


    Nyxfang''s claws crashed down with enough force to rupture the battlefield.


    BOOM.


    The cliff Luna lay on cracked and shifted.


    Yet the bed remained perfectly in place.


    Victor stood still, eyes locked on the crater he''d just created.


    Breathing heavily. Confidence.


    Waiting.


    But something felt wrong.


    Nyxfang... had stopped moving.


    Its claws were buried halfway into the stone.


    Its massive jaws, mid-bite, hung frozen in place.


    As the dust finally cleared, Victor''s eyes widened.


    There was no small, delicate silver beast in front of Nyxfang anymore.


    What stood there now was massive.


    A towering, flowing beast of living silver water, shaped like a monstrous panther.


    Loxen had transformed.


    A deep growl echoed from its throat, vibrating the very ground beneath it.


    As if he was saying.


    "Is that all you''ve got?"


    Its grin stretched unnaturally, almost playfully.


    Behind it, high on the undisturbed cliff.


    Luna turned in her sleep.


    Still wrapped in her blanket.


    Still resting.


    And in the faintest trace of expression on her face¡ª


    She smirked.

 Chapter 363 363: Tentacles, Teeth, Blood Mist

    Victor''s lips curled into a sneer.


    "So you got bigger. Congratulations."


    "But bulk and glow don''t change the outcome. You''re still prey."


    Nyxfang''s jaws snapped shut with a guttural growl.


    Its muscles bulged and its body shook with rage.


    Its eyes locked on Loxen.


    The new, monstrous form stood still and confident.


    And it charged again.


    Mid-sprint, Nyxfang''s body pulsed violently.


    Its veins flared red and black.


    Then¡ª


    Crimson Nerve Pulse.


    A blast of bio-electric energy exploded from its core.


    The wave shot across the land, tearing apart the spiritual field.


    Every lesser beast in the area instinctively flinched.


    Then¡ª


    Viral Bloodcloud.


    Nyxfang roared and unleashed a cloud of blood-mist, corrupted and weaponized.


    It spread fast, coating the battlefield with a special red mist.


    It was laced with neurotoxins, illusion-inducing spores, and hallucinogenic agents.


    From a safe zone in the distance, Fiona''s voice cut through the static.


    "Holy crap¡ªNyxfang just melted the field! That blood mist¡ªdo you see that red fog?


    "I don''t know what it does, but it must be so horrifying."


    ---


    [Beastagram Chat ¨C LIVE]


    @BeastCoreFan: "OH GOD THAT''S DISGUSTING WTF IS THAT GAS??"


    @LunaWakeUp: "WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP SHE''S SLEEPING SHE''S SLEEPING"


    @AbominateThem: "Nyxfang is a NIGHTMARE. This is over. That silver cat is done for."


    @SilverBeliever: "Please. Please don''t fall. You''re moonlight. You don''t break."


    ---


    But Loxen didn''t fall.


    It stood in the center of the blood mist, not flinching at all.


    Then... it smirked.


    Its chest glowed.


    Liquid silver began pouring from its core.


    The fluid wrapped around its limbs.


    Its tail.


    Its back.


    Its head.


    Flowing into armor.


    Seamless plates of glowing silver formed across its body.


    Fluid, reactive and alive.


    Victor''s smirk disappeared.


    "...What?"


    Nyxfang growled¡ªenraged.


    It triggered Aberrant Limb Bloom.


    Tentacle-like limbs burst from its sides and spine.


    Hooked claws and needle-like blades swiping in a storm of mutated rage.


    The tendrils struck.


    They pierced forward, fast, brutal¡ª


    And collided against Loxen''s silver armor.


    But Loxen didn''t move.


    Didn''t flinch.


    It raised one massive silver-plated paw¡ª


    And grabbed the tentacles.


    In one smooth motion, it yanked hard.


    Nyxfang''s mutated limbs screamed as its entire body was pulled upward.


    Loxen smirked.


    It brought the tentacles down, bringing Nyxfang down.


    SLAM.


    Loxen smashed Nyxfang into the ground.


    Once.


    Twice.


    Three times.


    The ground shattered beneath the force.


    Cracks spidered through the earth with each impact.


    Victor frowned.


    "Damn it¡ªagain?!"


    But Nyxfang wasn''t dying.


    Thanks to Bio-Adaptive Regeneration, its grotesque muscles began to bulge.


    Flesh reinforcing under the punishment.


    Its skeletal frame shifted, thicker plating forming along its spine and chest.


    Yet something was wrong.


    Even with Bloodseeker Intelligence, the beast couldn''t predict or calculate.


    Loxen... was unreadable.


    It hadn''t used a single signature technique.


    Just movement.


    Fluid, brutal, and controlled.


    Nyxfang lashed out again, trying to bite.


    Nothing.


    It couldn''t even trigger Hemovore Burst.


    Loxen had no blood.


    Only a silver water body.


    Nyxfang stumbled back.


    It tried to slip away¡ªphase into a shadow.


    Voidstalker Predation activated.


    But¡ª


    Nothing.


    The battlefield was still caught in morning light.


    The sun had only just cleared the ridge.


    Too little shadow.


    Nyxfang snarled and slammed its claws into the dirt¡ªbut there was no answer.


    Its body was made for countering aggression.


    The more fierce, the more powerful it became.


    But Loxen wasn''t fierce.


    It was unpredictable.


    Worse than a predator.


    Nyxfang paused.


    For the first time, it looked uncertain.


    ---


    Loxen stood still.


    It watched Nyxfang carefully¡ªunmoving, silent.


    The abomination growled low, not in triumph but in hesitation.


    Loxen''s shoulders shifted.


    Liquid silver flowed upward, shaping two heavy-caliber machine guns.


    Victor''s eyes twitched.


    "What the hell is that?"


    Loxen raised both guns.


    They spun once, synced, then unleashed a storm of silver bullets.


    BRRRT¡ªBRRRT¡ª


    Nyxfang''s head snapped up as the first wave of rounds shredded the ground.


    The beast lunged sideways, its claws tearing trenches in the dirt, but it wasn''t fast enough.


    Crack!


    A round smashed into its front left leg. Ice burst across the joint.


    Nyxfang snarled, stumbled, slammed down its other limbs to hold its weight.


    Its frozen leg refused to respond.


    Loxen took another step forward.


    Another burst fired.


    Thud!


    A bullet punched into Nyxfang''s side.


    Ice cracked outward along its ribs, spreading with unnatural speed.


    Victor barked. "Move, damn it!"


    Nyxfang let out a furious roar and slammed both claws into the ground.


    Heat surged from within its body as new glands expanded near its lungs and spine.


    Gene Surge Feedback triggered.


    Frost hissed from his body as his cells burst and reformed¡ªsacrificing defense for sheer thermal output.


    Its eyes locked on Loxen.


    Victor growled through clenched teeth.


    "Target acquired. Erase it."


    Nyxfang reared back.


    Its jaws opened wider than before, the skin at the corners splitting clean.


    Its four-way maw unhinged fully, revealing rows of twitching bone fangs.


    Mawsplit Overdrive activated.


    Victor shouted, stepping forward. "Now! Kill that thing!"


    Nyxfang launched.


    Loxen stayed exactly where it was.


    Tendrils exploded from Nyxfang''s back, blade-tipped and twitching.


    They whipped outward in mid-air as it lunged, mouth open, claws stretched.


    It was done waiting.


    If it couldn''t read Loxen''s strategy, then it didn''t need to.


    "Then I''ll just swallow you whole."


    Nyxfang dove through the remnants of scattered shadow.


    Leaping from one stretch of shade to the next.


    Even with limited coverage, the beast forced its body through.


    Its four-fold maw widened even further, fangs dripping.


    They locked into devouring formation.


    Loxen still hadn''t moved.


    Nyxfang didn''t question it.


    Didn''t need to.


    It believed it would end everything in one bite.


    Then¡ªNyxfang crossed the final meter.


    It lunged forward¡ª


    Jaws snapping wide enough to consume a Sovereign whole¡ª


    And then¡ªit froze.


    A pulse of light flickered in front of its eyes.


    Loxen''s mouth had opened¡ªnot in a snarl... but to reveal a weapon.


    From deep inside its throat.


    A rotating silver cannon formed directly within its chest cavity and throat tunnel.


    It was aimed straight down the middle of Nyxfang''s charge.


    Loxen smirked, eyes glowing with steady, predatory focus.


    "You lose."


    The cannon surged.


    BOOM.


    A column of compressed silver energy burst outward at point-blank range.


    It engulfed Nyxfang''s entire head and upper chest in one shot.

 Chapter 364: A Nap and A Cat

    The instant the cannon flared open in Loxen''s throat.


    A deep warning instinct flared inside Nyxfang.


    Danger.


    Its damaged jaw twisted open further.


    Not for a bite, but to release a final, desperate attack.


    From the recesses of its war-torn body, its internal organs shifted.


    Biological sacs swelled. A heavy pressure gathered in its torso.


    Nyxfang tried to counter.


    A surge of corrupted energy built in its lungs.


    With a guttural roar, it attempted to fire back a blood-drenched shockwave.


    A concentrated Viral Hemoblast.


    It shot forward.


    Raw and unstable power laced with acid mist and bone fragments.


    But it was too slow.


    Too thin.


    Loxen''s cannon fired a split-second earlier.


    The silver beam crashed into Nyxfang''s body.


    The bloody blast Nyxfang released buckled mid-air.


    Completely overpowered and shattered on contact.


    The collision sent shockwaves in every direction.


    Nyxfang''s entire body was consumed in a blinding silver surge.


    Flesh peeled. Veins ruptured. Mutated armor splintered.


    The crimson cloud it unleashed turned white-hot and vaporized instantly.


    For a second, the battlefield went silent¡ªeverything drowned in energy.


    When the light faded¡ª


    Nyxfang crashed into the ground.


    Its body was a twitching, broken heap.


    Large portions of its plating had been blown clean off.


    Its internal organs were failing.


    The regenerative mutation systems were overloaded, burned out from trying to recover too fast.


    Its blood mist was gone.


    Its breath shallow.


    One final spasm rocked through its limbs.


    Then silence.


    Nyxfang passed out.


    The abomination that couldn''t be tamed¡ª


    Now it lay unconscious and defeated.


    In front of the one beast it could neither read nor adapt to.


    ---


    Across the ridges, drones floated in silence.


    Everyone watching, live or through a stream, had the same frozen expression.


    Even Fiona, usually overflowing with words, stood still for a full five seconds.


    Before finally exhaling into her mic.


    "...What the hell did I just watch?"


    She turned slowly to her drone camera, still filming.


    "Nyxfang... lost."


    Her voice was raw, stunned.


    "No¡ªhe didn''t just lose. He got shut down. Like a rogue AI with no firewall."


    She pointed toward the still-standing silver beast.


    "And that thing... Loxen... what even is that?! Is it a beast? Or is it some kind of full-scale war-class beast?!"


    She replayed it in her head, piecing it together as she spoke.


    "It summoned machine guns. Then a built-in cannon."


    "It tanked Nyxfang''s attack easily."


    "It didn''t bleed, didn''t stagger, and¡ªit didn''t even use an eye-catching ability."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @BloodMistDevil: "THERE''S NO WAY THAT WAS JUST A BEAST."


    @AureliusIntelDrop: "Someone PLEASE explain what Loxen is. It moved like a war weapon."


    @MoonSilverCult: "SHE SLEPT. SHE SLEPT WHILE IT FOUGHT. SHE KNEW."


    @TamerDownBad: "If that''s a standard Luxoria beast... we''re all dead."


    @VorafangVeteran: "That was the evolved Nyxfang. Modified by the AURELIUS family. And it lost. BADLY."


    @SystemBreakerLive: "Loxen tanked a battlefield like a machine. Not even phased. Who builds something like that?!"


    ---


    Fiona shook her head, mouth still slightly open.


    "No blood. No sound. Just precision."


    She lowered her mic and whispered, almost in awe.


    "Luxoria Castle... what the hell are you people building?"


    ---


    Victor stood frozen near the edge of the cracked platform.


    His eyes locked on the crater where Nyxfang lay motionless.


    His mouth hung slightly open.


    The words refused to come for several seconds.


    Then, finally¡ª


    "...What the hell just happened?"


    His voice cracked with disbelief.


    He stepped forward slowly, fists clenched at his sides.


    "How... how can Nyxfang lose?"


    He looked down at his hands like the answer might be etched there.


    "Elder Brother Cassius and Elder Theron built that thing."


    "They made it to win. It was supposed to adapt, regenerate, counter anything..."


    He turned toward the battlefield again, his voice rising.


    "And it got taken out by a beast that hasn''t even revealed its full power!"


    Across from him, Varen was just as shaken.


    "We... we lost?" Varen muttered.


    Then he clenched his jaw.


    "No."


    He shook his head once.


    "That''s not right."


    He took a step forward, staring at the glowing trench where Nyxfang had fallen.


    His eyes swept across the terrain, searching for an explanation.


    A trick. A malfunction. Anything.


    He found nothing.


    Just silver mist. Stillness.


    A beast that had not even moved to win.


    "How?" His voice cracked.


    "How could this happen?"


    ---


    Loxen turned away from the battlefield.


    Its body returned into a smaller, silver liquid cat version like before.


    It approached the untouched cliff where the silver bed still sat perfectly in place.


    With one low growl.


    It lifted a paw and nudged Luna''s blanket with the tip of its claw.


    Luna stirred.


    She opened one eye halfway, blinking once as her gaze settled on Loxen''s face.


    "...Is it done?"


    Loxen nodded once.


    Luna yawned and sat up slowly, stretching her arms high over her head.


    Her joints cracked lightly as she arched her back.


    She dropped her hands to Loxen''s head and gave it two firm pats.


    "Good boy."


    She stood up, pulling the blanket off and folding it with one hand like it was routine.


    The bed was put back in her spatial ring.


    Luna rolled her shoulders, letting out a satisfied breath.


    "Now that... was a good nap."


    She dusted off her arms and turned toward the battlefield.


    Her eyes narrowed as she looked down at the crater where Nyxfang''s unconscious body still twitched faintly.


    Luna smiled.


    Then she tilted her head and spoke without restraint.


    "Let''s go see the loser, shall we?"


    Luna walked casually down the slope.


    Her expression didn''t change.


    Calm and slightly amused.


    In the far distance across the battlefield, she spotted Victor and Varen.


    She glanced to her side, where Loxen silently stood.


    "Loxen," she said casually, flicking her hand once.


    "Be a dear¡ªtransform into a mic and a speaker set. I''d like to talk to the audience."


    Loxen nodded.


    Its front shoulder shifted.


    Silver fluid surged from its core, splitting mid-air and reshaping.


    In moments, a sleek silver microphone slid from the right claw.


    And a floating speaker disc hovered beside Luna''s head.


    She took the mic with a small smile. Gave it a few quick taps.


    "Check. One. Two."


    Her voice echoed across the ruined terrain, clear and amplified.


    All eyes turned.


    Fiona, still on her ridge, sat up straighter.


    The crowd watching remotely leaned forward.


    The stream chat froze.


    Victor''s head turned sharply.


    Varen slowly raised his eyes toward her.


    Luna raised the mic with a smirk and casually cleared her throat.


    "Ahem."


    She let the pause linger¡ªjust long enough.


    "I have something to say."


    Silence held for three full seconds.


    Then she tilted her head, her hair brushing over one shoulder as she smiled wide.


    "What''s up... losers?"

 Chapter 365: Got Roasted. In 4K.

    Luna brought the mic back to her lips, smirking.


    Her eyes locked onto Varen and Victor in the distance.


    She didn''t rush. She let every step stretch.


    Then she spoke.


    Voice light, smug, and loud enough.


    For every person on every ridge, every stream, and every screen across the world to hear.


    "Hey... losers of Beast Castle."


    She grinned wide. "Guess what?"


    She held the pause.


    "I win."


    Her shoulders rose and dropped in a fake shrug.


    "Heheh."


    She twirled the mic slightly in her fingers, pretending to be casual.


    "But you already know that, don''t you?"


    She stopped walking. Loxen stood beside her, unmoving.


    "But that''s not why I turned this on."


    She leaned forward slightly, just enough for her voice to cut a little deeper.


    "I didn''t come here just to remind you that I crushed your best beast while I was asleep. No, no."


    She smiled again, almost sympathetically.


    "I came to say¡ªdon''t feel bad."


    She spread her arms.


    "Seriously. You''re still the giant of the pet shop world. The old favorite."


    "The name people remember from the cheap neighborhoods and discount breeders."


    She turned slightly, pacing just enough to keep attention on her.


    "It''s just that I''m better."


    "Luxoria Castle isn''t like you. We don''t sell to everyone."


    She stopped and tilted her head again.


    "We''re not affordable."


    She raised the mic again, eyes sharp.


    "We''re premium."


    She lowered her voice, smooth and slow.


    "You''re a good choice... for regular people."


    Then her grin returned, cruel and amused.


    "But we? We cater to kings."


    Luna flicked the mic off with one tap and turned away without waiting for a response.


    ---


    Victor''s eyes stayed locked on Luna as she turned her back and walked away.


    He couldn''t move.


    His jaw clenched, his nails digging into his palms.


    "Damn it..."


    His voice cracked, barely audible.


    Varen stood beside him.


    Frozen, not blinking, not speaking.


    His fists were clenched at his sides.


    The skin around his knuckles paled from pressure.


    ---


    On the side, Fiona was wheezing with laughter, half collapsed behind her drone cam.


    She slapped the stone next to her, tears in her eyes.


    "I¡ªoh my god¡ªSHE SAID PET SHOP FOR NORMAL PEOPLE?!"


    She wiped her eyes with the edge of her sleeve.


    "I can''t¡ªI need a break. That was the most elegant massacre I''ve ever seen."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @SilverMoonDEAD: "SHE LITERALLY SAID ''WE CATER TO KINGS'' I''M SCREAMING"


    @VictorCookedLive: "BRO NYXFANG GOT ONE-TAPPED AND THEN THEY CALLED THEM BALMART"


    @LunaFlexGodTier: "This is the funniest war I''ve ever seen."


    @NeverRecovering: "BEAST CASTLE IS GONNA NEED A THERAPIST NOT A REMATCH."


    @PetShopPunchline: "I am now only buying from Luxoria. I don''t care if it costs me my house."


    ---


    Fiona took a shaky breath and leaned closer to her mic.


    "If Varen doesn''t break a wall after this, I''ll be shocked. Because this... this was personal. This wasn''t just defeat."


    She pointed at the battlefield, where Luna and Loxen were now gone.


    "That was public humiliation, in 4K, with sound."


    She leaned back, chuckling darkly.


    "And it was beautiful."


    But then¡ªa shadow shifted beside her.


    Fiona froze mid-laugh.


    "...Wait¡ªwhat¡ª"


    She turned.


    Luna Luxoria stood right next to her.


    Her eyes casually scanning the equipment, one hand on her hip, the other already reaching for the mic.


    "Hey,"


    Luna said, like they''d been friends for years.


    "You''re Fiona, right? You''ve been streaming the whole fight?"


    Fiona blinked, mouth half open.


    "Wait¡ªhow did you¡ªhow are you here?!"


    Luna didn''t answer. She smiled instead.


    "Do you have a lot of followers?"


    Fiona straightened, nodding quickly.


    "Y-yeah. Top ten on Beastagram. S-Rank certified, global verified¡ª"


    "Perfect," Luna said.


    "Mind if I borrow your stream for a second?"


    Fiona handed over the mic without hesitation.


    "Of course. It''s all yours."


    Luna stepped into frame, the camera auto-focusing on her immediately.


    She looked straight into the lens.


    Expression calm.


    Voice sharp.


    "Listen up¡ªcommoners and nobles alike."


    The chat exploded.


    "This is an announcement from Luxoria Castle."


    She smiled faintly.


    "Tomorrow, we open our gates again."


    "We will be selling twenty more Vornis."


    "And this time, the cost per beast will be... only 50 S-Rank cores."


    A pause. Long enough to hurt.


    Then¡ª


    "As usual, only the strong may approach."


    "First come. First serve."


    The chat exploded.


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @CoreShatter88: "WHATTTTTT???? TWENTY VORNIS?! 50 CORES?!?!?"


    @HighTierOrDie: "Is this a dream? That was LUNA LUXORIA LIVE??"


    @VornisHypeTrain: "I''M CAMPING OUTSIDE LUXORIA GATES TONIGHT."


    @TooBrokeToTame: "Can someone lend me 50 cores and a miracle???"


    @LuxoriaDomination: "First the battlefield... now the market. They''re not stopping."


    ---


    Fiona blinked as her drone camera tried to stabilize.


    "Luna¡ªserious question¡ªwhy now? Why suddenly release more Vornis after holding back so much?"


    Luna glanced at her, then back at the stream lens.


    She gave a small shrug.


    "You could say... it''s because I won today."


    She smiled wider.


    "And what better time to open the gates than right after you crush your rival and remind the world who sets the standard?"


    Fiona laughed. "I mean¡ªfair."


    But Luna raised one hand, tapping her finger against the air beside the floating mic orb.


    "One more thing."


    She turned fully to face the camera.


    "My master, Lord L, asked me to pass along a message."


    The chat slowed¡ªeveryone holding their breath.


    "To those of you who already own a Vornis... you already know they''re special."


    "You''ve seen the customization. The adaptive evolution paths."


    She leaned closer.


    "But in one week, Luxoria Castle will host a special event."


    Fiona perked up. "Wait, what?!"


    Luna continued without blinking.


    "A competition. A showcase. A battlefield."


    "Bring your Vornis. Any variant. Any evolution."


    "The strongest one will win a special gift from Luxoria Castle... personally signed and approved by Lord L himself."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @VornisChampionWANNABE: "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS NOW A TOURNAMENT TOO???"


    @VornisEvolutionist: "I KNEW THEY HAD HIDDEN TIERS. I KNEW IT."


    @LuxoriaOrDie: "THIS IS THE BIGGEST MARKET PLAY IN HISTORY."


    @Can''tSleepNow: "I NEED TO TRAIN. I NEED TO EVOLVE. I NEED TO WIN."


    ---

 Chapter 366 366: It’s One Per Tamer

    Fiona caught her breath, still holding the second mic she had.


    She turned slightly, calling out for Luna before she left.


    "Wait, wait¡ªbefore you go,"


    Fiona said, raising a hand.


    "One more thing, Miss Luna."


    Luna raised an eyebrow.


    Fiona looked directly at her.


    "I heard from multiple sources that Vornis has only ever been sold in two auctions."


    She glanced back at the camera, then back at Luna.


    "And according to auction records and tamer gossip... only four people have them."


    She raised her hand and began counting off.


    "Donnie Aldren owns five Vornis."


    "Raiven Valefor owns four."


    "Elaris Myralis has three."


    "Sylvia Aurelius has three."


    "That''s fifteen total. Publicly confirmed. Verified. Tracked."


    She pointed toward the mic.


    "And Vornis can''t be stolen or re-sold, right? Only Luxoria Castle can breed and distribute them."


    She stared directly at Luna now.


    "So how can you even host a competition?"


    "That''s... not enough to even fill one bracket."


    The chat immediately flared again.


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @DataCoreConfirmed: "FIONA''S RIGHT. THERE ARE ONLY 4 PEOPLE THAT OWN VORNIS."


    @MarketHunterX: "They''re locked. Luxoria doesn''t allow resale. It''s in the contract."


    @VornisLogic: "You can''t host a tournament with 15 beasts. That''s not even two full brackets."


    @AuctionSniper47: "There''s no way this makes sense. Are they bluffing?"


    @MysteryCastleLurker: "So... either they''ve been secretly distributing Vornis... or the event is staged."


    @BloodForBeasts: "What if they''re clones? Or test batches they didn''t reveal?"


    @NotAFanToday: "Why does no one know where the other Vornis are? Is Luxoria hiding inventory?"


    @TruthSeeker404: "Luna is either lying... or this is bigger than we thought."


    ---


    Luna smiled faintly, unbothered by the heat from the stream or Fiona''s pressure.


    "Fifteen confirmed, yes," she said smoothly.


    "And all unstealable. All traceable."


    Her hands folded neatly behind her back.


    "But like I said before¡ªtomorrow, we will have another sale."


    She let the words settle, watching the stream numbers spike in real-time.


    "Twenty new Vornis units. Premium-batch, perfected, sealed by Luxoria."


    She turned her gaze slightly toward Fiona, voice calm but with a note of playfulness.


    "And thanks to your excellent reminder, Fiona..."


    She gave a small nod.


    "We''ll make sure each person can only buy one."


    She smiled wider, just enough to feel it.


    "So you can all rest easy. No monopolies. No scalpers. No secret nobles hoarding power."


    Her voice sharpened slightly, but the smile didn''t fade.


    "This way, a lot of you will get your shot."


    "And yes..."


    She looked directly into the stream camera again.


    "That means a lot more people will be eligible to enter the Vornis Evolution Competition."


    She paused¡ªjust long enough.


    "So no excuses. Train your beast. Show up. Win."


    Then she turned, entering her own shadow.


    "See you there."


    ---


    Fiona grinned widely, barely holding in her excitement.


    She turned back to her drone camera, mic in hand.


    Gesturing dramatically toward the now-empty battlefield.


    "You heard it, people. You heard it right."


    She took a breath, then pointed toward the camera like she was delivering a prophecy.


    "Tomorrow¡ªLuxoria Castle opens another auction."


    She held up a finger.


    "And the CEO herself just confirmed¡ªone Vornis per person."


    She leaned in, eyes sparkling.


    "No power stacking. No nobles sweeping the whole stock. This is your chance."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @CoreScramble: "LET''S GOOOOOO. ONE PER PERSON IS GENIUS."


    @VornisForAll: "I ACTUALLY HAVE A CHANCE NOW??"


    @AuctionBloodRite: "The battlefield was round one. Now it''s buyer vs buyer."


    @LuxoriaBlessed: "This is the fairest savage auction I''ve ever seen."


    @CampOutsideCastle: "I''m literally packing now. I don''t care if I have to sleep on the steps."


    @TrainingArcStarts: "Whoever wins that tournament is gonna be the next legend."


    ---


    Fiona raised her mic again.


    "Luxoria Castle just turned a battlefield flex into a public invitation."


    "And somehow made it feel like both a reward and a challenge."


    She let out a breath.


    "This is about to become a war zone."


    She gave a final wink into the stream.


    "Get your cores ready. See you at the gates."


    ---


    Victor could only sigh.


    He turned his head slightly to the side.


    He glanced toward the Beast Castle staff, who stood just behind the ridge.


    "You. Get a team down here."


    "Secure the beast. Transport it back to containment."


    One of them hesitated. "Sir, is it¡ª"


    "It''s alive." Victor snapped.


    "But barely. Move."


    The squad rushed into the crater without another word.


    Victor stared down once more.


    "We need to reassess Luxoria Castle."


    He didn''t look at Varen.


    "They''re not what we thought. They''re worse."


    Behind him, Varen hadn''t spoken in several minutes.


    He watched Luna disappear.


    He listened to her words ring through the auction channels.


    He heard the Beastagram crowd laugh, mock, cheer.


    His fists trembled.


    And he turned without a word, not knowing what was coming next.


    And that made it worse.


    ---


    High above the sky, on top of the flying Zephyron, Sylvaine Myralis looked below.


    Nyxfang was defeated so easily.


    The winner, Luna, was already gone.


    But the impression she left lingered.


    Beside Sylvaine, Elaris remained seated atop Zephyron''s back.


    Her gaze was fixed on the terrain below.


    "She really slept through the whole fight," Elaris muttered.


    Sylvaine didn''t respond immediately.


    Her fingers tapped against her forearm.


    "Luxoria Castle... is far more dangerous than I initially believed."


    "Agreed," Elaris said.


    "I thought they were just elite. But this? This was different."


    "We need to reassess their position," Sylvaine said.


    "They''re not just competitors."


    Velmara, who stood a few steps behind them, frowned.


    "Then what do we do?"


    Sylvaine turned toward her daughters.


    "We attend the auction tomorrow."


    She looked back toward the silent field, her expression unreadable.


    "And we observe. Closely."


    Elsewhere, on a high cliff, the Valefor family had also watched in quiet.


    Vandred Valefor exhaled through his nose, arms folded.


    "Luna Luxoria," he said under his breath.


    "So she''s the CEO of Luxoria Castle."


    Behind him, Caelan nodded. "Yeah and she was amazing. She didn''t even fight."


    Raiven, leaning on a stone rail, smirked faintly.


    "I knew Luxoria Castle was wild. But even I didn''t think they''d embarrass Beast Castle this hard."


    Vandred grunted.


    "Mockery means nothing without follow-through. But they followed through."


    He glanced back at Raiven.


    "You''re already holding four Vornis. You''ll be at that auction tomorrow."


    Raiven nodded. "Wouldn''t miss it."


    Caelan added, "We all should. If Luxoria''s spreading more of those beasts into the wild..."


    "We need to know what kind of power we''ll be standing next to¡ªor against."


    Vandred looked out at the sun rising higher over the horizon.


    "Then we watch. We prepare."


    He turned.


    "And if Luxoria dares rise higher¡ª"


    He cracked his knuckles.


    "¡ªthen the Valefor family will be there to greet them at the top."

 Chapter 367 367: From Battlefield to Bed - 1 (18+)

    Luna appeared in the middle of Luxoria Castle''s main hall.


    Lucius was already waiting for her to return.


    "You did well, Luna."


    He tilted his head slightly.


    "I watched the entire battle. Live. Flawless."


    Luna''s lips curled.


    She swept into a bow, then stood upright with a graceful shrug.


    "Of course, Master. I had full faith in Loxen. I simply... napped."


    From the side corridor, Loreia strolled in.


    A grin already appeared at her mouth.


    "The nap part was my favorite."


    She walked closer, eyes gleaming.


    "You didn''t just win¡ªyou humiliated them."


    Luna turned slightly, eyes amused.


    "Why waste words or energy when their defeat was already guaranteed?"


    Loreia laughed, bumping her shoulder as she passed.


    "You laid down like a princess while your beast dismantled theirs like scrap metal."


    Luna smirked without looking back.


    "Obviously. Loxen is one of Master Lucius''s finest creations."


    Lucius chuckled under his breath, watching them.


    "Of course it is. Loxen was crafted to be the best."


    Luna turned toward him slowly, her steps light and deliberate.


    She reached the first stair of the dais and tilted her head up at him.


    "By the way, Master..."


    Her fingers brushed lightly along her side, then trailed lower.


    "Can I do it tonight?"


    Lucius raised an eyebrow. "Do what?"


    Luna''s grin sharpened.


    "It''s been so long since we''ve done anything together."


    She stepped closer, her eyes flicking up to meet his.


    "Not even once since we arrived in this world..."


    Her hand paused at her hip, fingers teasing the edge of her belt.


    Lucius exhaled through a faint laugh as the realization clicked.


    "I see."


    He turned fully toward her.


    "Then come. We''ll go to my room."


    From across the hall, Loreia''s voice cut in sharply.


    "Wait, wait, wait¡ªLucius?! You already did it?!"


    Luna looked over her shoulder, her voice calm, almost teasing.


    "Of course. Master''s already had both me and Liora."


    Loreia''s face twitched.


    "My baby brother..."


    She raised a hand dramatically to her chest.


    "To think you''ve grown so much..."


    Lucius sighed.


    "Big sis. I''m an adult."


    "Technically, I''m older than you now if we count our past lives."


    Loreia folded her arms, trying not to smile.


    "As your proud older sister, I approve."


    She paused, then gave a sharp grin.


    "Now go destroy her."


    Lucius didn''t even look back.


    "Always."


    Luna followed beside him.


    Loreia called after them, louder now.


    "Don''t forget to soundproof the room this time!"


    Luna raised one hand without turning. "No promises."


    ---


    Luna stood at the center of the room, stripping off her clothes.


    One layer at a time, her uniform slipped off, pooling at her feet.


    Lucius crossed his arms... then frowned.


    Wait.


    I hacked her to be stronger, faster, and more durable than any normal woman.


    But I''m still a normal human¡ªphysically.


    He narrowed his eyes.


    No. That''s unacceptable.


    He turned to his system.


    "Hack me and strengthen all of my physical attributes and stats to SS-Tier."


    "Also give me instant heal after I got hacked."


    "Activate silent mode. I don''t want to alert Luna."


    "Enhance my penis to 50 cm long and 15 cm wide."


    "Also boost the pleasure of any woman that has sex with me by 5 times."


    "Do it all in 60 seconds. I don''t care about the cost."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Absolute Physical Reinforcement Protocol]


    [Target: Lucius Luxoria]


    [Effect 1: Upgrade all physical traits and all stats to SS-Tier]


    [Effect 2: Enable Instant Regeneration, healing all injuries in instant]


    [Effect 3: Engage Silent Override, muting all pain responses and body sound]


    [Effect 4: Anatomical Enhancement¡ªpermanently increase phallic length to 50 cm and girth to 15 cm]


    [Effect 5: Neural Pleasure Command ¨C override partner nervous systems during intercourse to amplify sensation by 500%]


    [Execution Time: 60 Seconds]


    [Cost: 10,000,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing ¨C Absolute Dominance Protocol Engaged]


    ---


    Lucius clenched his jaw.


    Okay. Ow.


    That''s not pleasant.


    His spine cracked.


    His muscles swelled, bones shifted, and nerves lit up like firecrackers.


    He gritted his teeth so hard he almost bit through his lip.


    Then remembered the silent mode just kicked in.


    Perfect.


    In sixty seconds, it was done.


    His body glowed faintly for an instant before cooling.


    He stood straight again, chest rising and falling.


    One drop of sweat rolled down his temple.


    Luna turned, eyes narrowing slightly.


    "Master?"


    Lucius exhaled once.


    "Just... a bit warm in here."


    She smiled faintly and raised a hand.


    She channeled cool air through the room.


    "Then allow me to adjust the temperature."


    The air turned crisp. Lucius relaxed his shoulders.


    He looked down, flexing one hand.


    Flawless.


    Luna stepped closer, bare and unashamed.


    She placed her hands lightly on his chest.


    "Shall we begin, Master?"


    Lucius smirked.


    "Let''s."


    ---


    Luna lay back across the bed, her breath slow, her eyes half-lidded.


    Lucius moved over her, his knees sliding past her shoulders as he adjusted their position.


    She looked up at the towering silhouette above her and smirked.


    "Master, your cock''s even bigger than before..."


    Lucius leaned forward, smirking.


    "I''ll make sure you choke on every centimeter."


    His legs locked around her arms gently but firmly.


    His 50 cm cock loomed over her mouth, pulsing and thick


    Without warning, Lucius pushed forward¡ª


    He thrust fully into her throat, bulging her stomach


    He let out a slow breath, savoring the view below.


    "Now, let''s see if the taste matches the elegance."


    He lowered his head between her thighs.


    Her pussy was dripping, lips spread and twitching


    Lucius didn''t hesitate.


    He licked her clit and shoved his tongue deep inside.


    Luna arched, her throat humming with muffled moans.


    He smirked again, eyes focused.


    "You taste better than anyone I''ve ever fucked."


    Luna''s thighs quivered slightly around his head, but she didn''t back down.


    She deepthroated him fully, saliva running down her neck.


    Their bodies stayed locked in the sixty-nine position.


    He was seconds from exploding, balls tightening


    Luna''s eyes widened slightly beneath him.


    Her throat vibrated as she choked on his cock


    Lucius growled low in his chest.


    "Swallow it all, don''t waste a drop."


    And then¡ª


    He came hard, thick cum pumping deep into her throat


    Luna''s entire body jolted.


    Her legs tensed, her hands clenched at the sheets beneath her.


    She gagged as his cum flooded her stomach.


    She could barely breathe, drowning in his seed.


    She managed a strangled sound between gasps, part moan, part laugh.


    "Ahhn¡ªMaster, I can''t... there''s so much!"


    Lucius pulled back only slightly, watching her with a satisfied gleam in his eyes.


    "I don''t care. I''m not stopping until you break."

 Chapter 368: From Battlefield to Bed - 2 (18+)

    The position had changed.


    Lucius stood tall at the center of the bed.


    Luna was beneath him, face pressed into the sheets.


    Her hair tangled, breath shallow and ragged.


    Her wrists were pinned flat against the mattress.


    Lucius'' bare feet planted directly on top of them.


    His full weight pressing down just enough to lock her in place.


    With one hand, he lifted her hips into the air as if she weighed nothing.


    Her legs dangled helplessly off the edge of the bed.


    Her thighs parted, and her ass lifted.


    Exposed, ready, and trembling.


    She couldn''t move. She couldn''t fight.


    She was nothing but a plaything now, perfectly positioned and locked in place.


    The system enhancements were also still active.


    Every thrust set her body on fire, her nerves hijacked with pleasure.


    Five times the intensity, relentless, without pause.


    Lucius looked down at her trembling form.


    "You''re not done, Luna."


    His voice was calm, too calm.


    "I''m going to fuck you until you pass out."


    Luna tried to respond.


    Her lips moved, but no sound came out clearly.


    She moaned, drooling into the pillow, her voice broken by ecstasy.


    Lucius leaned down, his breath hot against her ear.


    One hand grabbing her hair, pulling her head back.


    Just enough for his voice to slide straight into her mind.


    "That was just the warm-up," he growled.


    "Now I''m going to fuck you until your body forgets how to stand."


    Luna''s legs kicked reflexively.


    They were shaking, trembling and completely useless.


    She wasn''t going anywhere. She couldn''t.


    Lucius grinned, eyes cold and hungry.


    "Let''s see how many times your hacked little body can cum before it breaks."


    ---


    Lucius slammed his full 50cm cock into her.


    Without hesitation, without mercy.


    His cock was pounding her vagina so deep.


    Her stomach bulged outward with every brutal thrust.


    Her insides stretched to the brink.


    She screamed into the sheets, her voice muffled and broken.


    This is too much.


    Her pussy clenched and spasmed around him.


    Completely overwhelmed, gripping him tighter with every thrust.


    No one else could survive this.


    No one else gets this.


    Only me. I''m his. That''s why I endure it.


    Another brutal thrust slammed into her.


    Her mind shattered.


    Nothing left but heat and pulsing pressure.


    Every nerve in her pussy lit up, overloaded and burning.


    Lucius leaned down, his voice slicing into her ear.


    "Don''t you dare pass out yet."


    She tried to speak.


    Tried to moan his name, to plead.


    But her jaw just shook.


    Only choked gasps escaped.


    Her eyes rolled back.


    Her pussy clenched harder.


    Gripping his cock as the only thing keeping her from falling apart.


    Lucius held her tighter, merciless.


    "You begged for this. To be fucked until you broke."


    He slammed into her again. Hard.


    Her body convulsed as another orgasm ripped through her.


    Yes.


    I did. I wanted to break.


    I wanted him to ruin me.


    Lucius adjusted his angle.


    Closer and deeper.


    His pace was no longer controlled but merciless.


    He didn''t slow.


    He got faster.


    Brutal. Ruthless. Unrelenting.


    "Don''t you dare faint. I''m going to fill you first."


    Luna couldn''t answer.


    Maybe she nodded. Maybe she didn''t.


    Her body wasn''t hers anymore.


    It belonged to him.


    Her body shook violently beneath him.


    Unable to keep up.


    With the speed, with the size, with the overwhelming pressure.


    I can''t think. I don''t need to.


    This is what I''m for.


    She was just his slave.


    Her pussy¡ªruined.


    Her body¡ªbroken.


    Her soul¡ªhis.


    And she loved it.


    Then he slammed in one last time.


    The stretch tore her wide open.


    Her stomach bulged, and her walls clamped down hard.


    And he released everything.


    Hot, endless, unstoppable.


    She could feel it.


    Filling her to the brim.


    Overflowing. Stuffed. Claimed.


    Lucius leaned forward, fingers tangled in her hair.


    "Good girl."


    ---


    Lucius pulled back, his cock still soaked in her juices.


    Luna''s body still twitching as more of his cum leaked steadily from her stretched pussy.


    She lay limp, face buried in the soaked mattress.


    Catching her breath, barely holding herself up.


    But Lucius wasn''t finished.


    He grabbed her wrists, dragging her up to her knees.


    "Master¡ªwhat are you doing?"


    She panted weakly, her voice hoarse, eyes still unfocused.


    Lucius only smirked. "The night''s still young."


    He gripped her ass firmly, spreading her cheeks apart


    Luna blinked rapidly, her voice catching.


    "Wait... Master."


    "Wait a moment. I haven''t recovered yet."


    Lucius leaned in close, lips brushing her ear.


    "Didn''t I tell you?"


    "I''m going to break you tonight."


    He rammed his cock deep into her ass without warning.


    Brutal and unforgiving.


    Luna screamed out loud as her body convulsed from the sudden penetration.


    ---


    Loreia was still working.


    Then suddenly a sharp, muffled sound echoed through the wall behind her.


    She paused mid-work and raised an eyebrow.


    "Damn... Can''t believe my little brother''s fucking her like that."


    Another thud. Another cry.


    "He''s really a beast. Luna''s moaning so loud I can hear it through the wall."


    A moment later, Liora stepped through the corridor.


    "Where are Master and Luna?"


    Loreia smirked without looking up.


    "You can hear it, can''t you? Through that wall."


    Liora tilted her head, listening briefly.


    "I see. So they''re going all out."


    Loreia leaned back in her chair, grin widening.


    "He''s probably breaking her hips right now."


    She tapped her chin thoughtfully.


    "Are you considering joining?"


    Liora shook her head.


    "Let Luna handle herself."


    "If we both rode him, he wouldn''t last a round."


    Loreia whistled. "That confident, huh?"


    Liora turned away, the faintest curve at the corner of her lips.


    "He made us too good at breaking him in bed."


    Loreia stretched her arms above her head.


    "So, what are you going to do now?"


    Liora started walking toward the gate again.


    "Hunting."


    ---


    The room had fallen silent.


    Luna lay crumpled on the ruined bed, limbs limp, breath faint, eyes closed.


    Her hair stuck to her skin, her mouth half-open, and her body completely motionless.


    All of her holes.


    Pussy, ass, and throat.


    Left gaping, stretched past their limits.


    She had been used so thoroughly she passed out mid-climax.


    Her body was no longer able to respond.


    Lucius stood at the center of the room, breath steady, expression calm.


    He adjusted his cuffs, stepping back from the bed.


    The room reeked of cum.


    Sheets soaked, floor splattered, walls marked.


    He raised his head and called out.


    "Liline."


    Liline, the Luxoria Castle guardian, appeared.


    She stopped the moment she took in the scene.


    She blinked once.


    "...Lord Lucius?"


    He didn''t even glance back.


    "Move her somewhere she can recover. No one else is to touch her."


    He turned toward the exit, his voice unchanging.


    "This room is no longer usable. Clean it. Burn it. Collapse it."


    "Do whatever you think makes sense."


    Liline bowed slightly, composed as ever.


    "Understood."


    Lucius walked to the doorway.


    "I''ll sleep elsewhere tonight."


    And with that, he disappeared down the hall.

 Chapter 369: Loreia’s the Only Adult Left.

    Loreia sat slumped at her office desk, arms crossed, forehead furrowed in a scowl.


    It was supposed to be a major event.


    Gate Opening Day for Luxoria Castle''s public sales phase.


    But instead of a triumphant showcase...


    She looked around.


    No staff.


    No family.


    Just her and¡ª


    "Liline," she muttered, voice dry.


    "You''re the only one here helping."


    Liline stood nearby, her expression calm but sympathetic.


    "I''m always available, Lady Loreia. You''re not alone."


    Loreia leaned back, sighing deeply.


    "Luxoria Castle''s supposed to be this mysterious powerhouse, right?"


    "Everyone on the outside only knows three people."


    "You, Luna and Lord L."


    She paused.


    "And now look at us."


    Her eyes narrowed.


    "Luna''s still in bed, right?"


    Liline nodded.


    "Yes. Full muscle failure and neural fatigue."


    "She won''t be able to move for another 12 hours."


    "I''ve already applied regenerative pulses."


    Loreia groaned.


    "Yeah, I saw her condition in your status pic."


    "That''s not recovery¡ªthat''s coma with glitter."


    Liline tilted her head, lips twitching slightly in amusement.


    "A fair description."


    Loreia stood up, pacing.


    "Liora? Off hunting. Didn''t say where."


    "Probably slaughtering something three countries away."


    She clenched her jaw.


    "And Lucius..."


    Her tone dropped.


    "He broke Luna, broke himself, and now he''s passed out in another wing."


    She waved her hand dramatically.


    "My little brother, genius of geniuses, absolute ruler of everything.


    "Down for the count because he couldn''t resist proving a point in bed."


    Liline clasped her hands behind her back, walking slowly beside Loreia.


    "He didn''t anticipate the backlash. Neither did I."


    "His body enhancements went beyond sustainable output levels."


    Loreia spun, pointing a finger.


    "That''s not even the issue!"


    Liline raised an eyebrow. "No?"


    Loreia slammed her hands on the desk.


    "Today is bulk sale day."


    "And only Lucius can hack new clients for instant bonding and cultivation manuals."


    "I''m stuck here with dozens of rich tamers on the way."


    "And no one to finalize the service!"


    She groaned again.


    "If I knew it''d be like this, I would''ve shoved a sleep blocker in his tea last night!"


    Liline let the silence hang for a moment, then stepped forward gently.


    "Then delay the gate."


    Loreia blinked.


    "...What?"


    "Let them arrive. Let them pass the test."


    "Let them beg for the right to be let in."


    Liline said with a small smile.


    "Just stall until Lucius wakes up."


    Loreia stared, then grumbled.


    "Fine. Liline, don''t open the gate yet."


    "Not until all guests arrive and finish the trial."


    "As you command," Liline replied softly.


    Loreia sighed, rubbing her temples.


    "...You''re really the only one holding this place together right now."


    Liline''s eyes glinted. "That''s what I was designed for."


    Loreia looked up.


    "You''re not allowed to collapse too, got it?"


    Liline nodded, smirking faintly.


    "Then I suggest you rest for thirty minutes while I reroute the courtyard logistics."


    "If someone needs to yell at people, I''ll handle it."


    Loreia flopped onto the couch.


    "Deal."


    ---


    Just outside the towering outer gates of Luxoria Castle, a crowd had started forming again.


    Some were familiar faces.


    Tamers who had passed the mist trial once before.


    They breezed through the second round with steady confidence.


    Others were new.


    First-timers, some trembling, some triumphant.


    All of them covered in dried mist, claw marks, and leftover adrenaline.


    Among them lay Fiona Flares, sprawled out dramatically on a flat rock near the forest edge.


    Her stream camera floated a meter above her, still live.


    "Gods," she muttered, one leg twitching.


    "That trial was not cute."


    She wiped sweat off her brow and turned her head toward the camera.


    "I''m not even being dramatic this time."


    "The mist beasts? Rabid. Aggressive. Organized."


    She glanced down at her phone as the chat scrolled like wildfire.


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @SaberStud89: LMAO YOU BARELY MADE IT


    @VornisVaulted: Wait... that was really her? She looked dead.


    @MoonTamerMommy: Did she just call a Mist Dragon "not cute"


    @BrokenSpineMain: ngl I cried when that Mistvex screeched


    @NobleFiend: Fiona, real talk¡ªwho carried?


    ---


    Fiona rolled her eyes and lifted her head slightly.


    "No one carried me, okay? We all helped each other."


    "I distracted the Mistvex. Dolan froze the perimeter."


    "And that random girl. What was her name again... Avenia?"


    "She legit body-slammed a Velgrith."


    She let her head fall back again.


    "Still though... that Mist Dragon nearly cooked my beast alive."


    "If it weren''t for my Starlace forming a last-second barrier, I''d be sleeping in the dirt right now."


    More comments flooded in.


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT]


    @CastleLust: Sooo, is Luxoria open yet?


    @DramaWing: Fiona, ask them if you can interview Luna!!


    @IWasThere93: Honestly if I don''t get any Vornis today, I''ll cry


    ---


    Fiona dragged herself upright with a groan, brushing the leaves off her shoulder.


    "Yeah, yeah. I know. You''re all here to see who gets in first."


    "Well, hate to break it to you¡ªgate''s still shut."


    She glanced toward the looming castle wall in the distance.


    "But I''ve got a feeling... it''s not going to stay closed for long."


    Her stream cam zoomed out to capture the growing line of elite tamers forming just behind her.


    ---


    Liline stood by the glass wall.


    "Lady Loreia... There''s already a crowd outside."


    Loreia looked up from her desk, brows furrowing.


    "How many?"


    "At least a hundred tamers," Liline replied.


    "All of them are S-Rank and above."


    "Some are previous guests returning for their next Vornis."


    Loreia let out a breath, pinching the bridge of her nose.


    "And what about Lucius?"


    Liline hesitated.


    "Still sleeping."


    Loreia''s fist hit the desk.


    "That damn brat..."


    She pushed back her chair and stood.


    "Take me to his room."


    Liline frowned, shifting uneasily.


    "But, Master¡ª"


    Loreia turned to her sharply.


    "Don''t worry. I''m not some guest. I''m his big sister, the biological one."


    She pointed to herself.


    "I''ve known him since before he couldn''t even hold a brush. He can''t go against me."


    Still, Liline looked uncertain.


    "Even so... He is the architect of this castle. My core responds to him alone."


    Loreia took a step closer, her voice low but calm.


    "And I won''t make you disobey him."


    She placed a hand on Liline''s shoulder.


    "If he gets mad, I''ll take the blame. Not you."


    Liline''s lips pressed into a thin line.


    She wasn''t just weighing protocol¡ªshe was weighing loyalty.


    Lucius was her creator.


    But Loreia... Loreia wasn''t just anyone.


    And right now, her presence, her will.


    It radiated authority.


    Liline looked up slowly.


    "Understood."


    Loreia gave a small smile.


    "Then please. Lead the way."


    Liline raised her hand, and the walls responded.


    A long hallway was directly formed in front of them.


    It led straight into Lucius Luxoria''s private recovery wing.


    As it finished reshaping, Liline turned and walked forward.


    "I''ll escort you personally."


    Loreia followed without hesitation.


    "You better be ready, little brother," she muttered.


    "I''m done covering for you."

 Chapter 370 370: Loreia Didn’t Knock

    Loreia charged through the hallway Liline had constructed.


    No hesitation. No delay.


    She reached the doors to Lucius'' private chamber and pushed them open without knocking.


    Inside, the room was dim and quiet.


    Lucius was sleeping in the center bed.


    His chest rising and falling in deep, undisturbed rest.


    Loreia narrowed her eyes.


    "Unbelievable," she muttered.


    "Sleeping like a prince while I handle everything."


    She stepped closer, eyes flicking over his perfectly relaxed face.


    "Damn you."


    "You really know how to look peaceful, huh?"


    Behind her, Liline appeared, hands folded, expression tight.


    "Lady Loreia¡ªplease."


    Loreia raised a hand without turning.


    "Don''t intervene."


    Liline stopped immediately, lips pressed into a silent line.


    Loreia reached the side of the bed. Her voice dropped.


    "Little brother... It''s been a while since I gave you some love."


    She smiled darkly.


    "So let me remind you what that feels like."


    Without hesitation. Without mercy.


    She pulled her arm back and punched Lucius in the head.


    Full force. Right between the eyes.


    "WAKE UP!"


    Lucius jolted violently, the entire bed frame shuddering.


    His hand shot up, gripping his temple.


    "Who the hell¡ª"


    His vision cleared.


    He saw her.


    Loreia.


    Standing over him, arms crossed.


    With an all-too-familiar scowl carved into her face.


    Lucius froze.


    "...Ah."


    His mouth twitched into a guilty half-smile.


    "Big sis."


    Loreia raised an eyebrow.


    "Had a good sleep?"


    Lucius chuckled weakly, rubbing his head.


    "Hehehe... define good."


    Loreia cracked her knuckles.


    "Define unconscious while I run your castle solo."


    "With your strategist paralyzed, your knight vanished, and your clients multiplying by the hour."


    Lucius groaned. "You''re mad."


    Loreia stepped forward again.


    Lucius raised a hand quickly.


    "Okay, okay! I''m up! Fully recovered!"


    Liline remained quiet in the doorway, watching them with a faint sigh of relief.


    Loreia leaned in one last time.


    "Next time you break a woman so hard she can''t walk..."


    "At least leave a schedule for your backup staff."


    Lucius muttered under his breath.


    "Technically... that''s a compliment."


    Loreia''s hand raised again.


    Lucius scrambled out of bed.


    "I''m up!"


    ---


    Lucius walked quietly behind Loreia as they entered the hidden overlook chamber.


    A private observatory built above Luxoria Castle''s heart.


    Loreia didn''t say a word as she sat down on the sofa.


    Her arms crossed, her face still radiating irritation.


    Lucius stood at the side, frowning.


    He quickly opened his system screen with a flick of his fingers.


    "Alright. System¡ªhack me, Luna, and Loreia. Full restoration."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Absolute Restoration Protocol]


    [Targets: Lucius Luxoria, Luna Luxoria, Loreia Luxoria]


    [Effect: Instantly heal all injuries and fully restore body, mind, and spirit to their maximum perfect state¡ªbeyond natural limits, with zero flaws, fatigue, or damage remaining]


    [Cost Required: 2,000,100,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Lucius inhaled sharply as warmth rushed through his limbs.


    He stretched one shoulder and rotated his neck.


    "Perfect. That hit the spot."


    His mind was sharp again.


    No fatigue. No pain. Fully Restored.


    Loreia exhaled quietly from the side.


    "Good job, little brother. Took you long enough."


    She leaned back slightly.


    "So you didn''t need to sleep after all, huh?"


    Lucius chuckled nervously.


    "Hehe... yeah, big sis. Just... power nap, you know?"


    Loreia gave him a side-eye glare that shut him up immediately.


    Lucius cleared his throat and called Liline out.


    Liline soon appeared from the wall, bowing down.


    "Yes, Master Lucius?"


    "Luna should be fully restored now."


    "Bring her here."


    Liline smiled faintly.


    "Of course. She''ll be here shortly."


    She turned, but not before sneaking a small, amused glance toward Loreia.


    Lucius saw it and frowned.


    "Don''t enjoy this too much, Liline."


    Liline didn''t stop walking.


    "I''m simply relieved your skull is still intact."


    Loreia snorted. "Barely."


    Lucius sighed, rubbing his temple.


    "Today''s gonna be long..."


    ---


    Luna suddenly woke up from her sleep.


    She stretched slowly¡ªthen froze.


    "...Damn."


    She sat up, blinking.


    "I feel amazing. Like... too amazing."


    Her hands ran along her own skin, testing her limbs.


    "Is my recovery always this fast? Especially after a night like that?"


    Before she could sit up fully, Liline stepped out from the wall.


    Luna flinched.


    "The hell¡ªwhen did you get in here?"


    Liline clasped her hands gently.


    "Apologies, Lady Luna. I didn''t mean to startle you."


    She gave a small tilt of her head.


    "I came to inform you that you''re fully restored."


    Luna narrowed her eyes.


    "Let me guess. Lucius used his hacking system."


    Liline smiled.


    "Correct. A full-body, mind, and spirit restoration. He included you."


    Luna nodded slowly, sliding off the bed.


    "Hmph. That sounds like him."


    "Break me, then fix me like polishing a blade."


    Liline stepped aside to give her room. "He''s asked for you."


    Luna raised a brow. "What, already?"


    But then she paused, squinting.


    "Wait... Your tone just shifted."


    "You said he''s calling me like it''s nothing"


    "But now you look like you''re hiding something."


    Liline''s lips twitched slightly.


    "He is... currently in a dangerous situation."


    Luna immediately frowned.


    "What kind of danger? Why are you smiling?"


    Liline didn''t hide the grin this time.


    "Not that kind of danger."


    She turned, gesturing toward the hallway, she just made.


    "Come. I''ll explain as we walk."


    ---


    As the two women made their way through the corridors of Luxoria Castle...


    Liline kept her voice calm and elegant as always.


    But the story she told was anything but.


    From the furious Loreia charging into Lucius'' room.


    To the full-force punch between the eyes.


    To Lucius, scrambling like a child caught with stolen sweets.


    Luna listened silently at first...


    And then she cracked.


    "Pfft¡ªwait, wait¡ªshe punched him?"


    Liline nodded. "With a smile."


    "In the face?"


    "Yes."


    Luna doubled over, laughing hard.


    "He''s lucky he survived!"


    Liline gave a small, satisfied nod.


    "Yes. Master will think twice before oversleeping again..."


    She paused, a faint smile tugging at her lips.


    "...or trying to be arrogant in bed."


    Luna leaned against the hallway wall, still snickering.


    "Oh no. Don''t tell me he boasted before passing out?"


    Liline tilted her head ever so slightly.


    "He might have said something about ''outlasting the divine moon''s grace.''"


    Luna''s eyes widened, then she burst into laughter again.


    "He said that? To me?!"


    She wiped a tear from her eye, catching her breath.


    "Yeah, okay. He deserved that punch."


    Liline gently opened the final door leading to the hidden room.


    "They''re waiting for you now."


    Luna straightened her coat, composed herself, and smirked.


    "Time to greet my master..."

 Chapter 371 371: Mid-Chaotic Parkour Livestream

    The door slid open.


    Luna stepped in, her hair still slightly tangled, expression playful.


    "Good morning, Master~"


    She turned.


    "Good morning, Big Sis Loreia¡ª"


    She stopped.


    Lucius was sitting stiffly in the corner.


    Back straight, legs together, eyes wide.


    Luna blinked.


    "...Why do you look like you''re waiting for execution?"


    Loreia turned slowly to face her, smiling.


    Too sweetly.


    "Luna. Come sit down."


    Luna obeyed instantly, sliding into the sofa beside her.


    She kept a safe distance. Instinct.


    Loreia leaned forward slightly, her tone still pleasant.


    "You know what today is, right?"


    Luna nodded.


    "Of course. I''m the one who told them about the event."


    Loreia''s smile didn''t fade.


    Her hand waved lazily toward Lucius in the corner.


    "Then why..."


    "If you knew how important today is..."


    "Would you drag him into that... mess?"


    Luna blinked.


    "I mean... It''s been a while. I thought..."


    Loreia cut in.


    Her voice no longer calm.


    "You thought..."


    "The night before a bulk sales launch..."


    "Was the best time to go wild and break each other''s bones?"


    Luna frowned. "You... approved it last time."


    Loreia''s eyes narrowed.


    "Yes. If it was the normal one."


    Her voice sharpened further.


    "But no... you two went into a full-on war session."


    "Both of you ended up broken."


    "You couldn''t move. He passed out. Neither of you could even walk this morning."


    She leaned closer.


    "If Lucius didn''t have that hack system of his, neither of you would be standing here."


    "We''d be cancelling this important event thanks to the horny rabbits."


    Luna said nothing.


    She looked away, quietly sitting back against the sofa.


    No smirk now. Not even a twitch.


    Loreia exhaled.


    "I''m not mad because you two had fun."


    "I''m mad because I had to carry your empire.


    "While you''re both busy breaking each other."


    The silence was heavy.


    Even Luna.


    Who normally teased, flirted, and mocked.


    Had gone quiet.


    Loreia was the newest, the one without a divine-tier beast or overwhelming strength.


    But right now, her words held the weight of the whole team.


    Even the Lunatic dared not talk back.


    And Lucius.


    Still quiet in the corner.


    Just raised one hand.


    "...So, uh... do I have permission to stand now?"


    Loreia didn''t look at him.


    "Only if you walk straight."


    Lucius nodded quickly and stayed seated.


    ---


    Loreia stood, brushing the front of her coat and turning sharply.


    Her eyes locked on Liline.


    "Open the door."


    Her voice was crisp now.


    "It''s time to start the sales."


    Liline gave a small nod.


    "Understood."


    But before moving, her gaze shifted.


    Lingering on Luna and Lucius for just a moment.


    "This time."


    "Just let me handle the opening show."


    She turned to Lucius, tone gentle but pointed.


    "When I give the signal, you know what to do. Be ready to hack."


    Lucius stood straight, nodding with no trace of hesitation.


    "Got it. I''ll be ready."


    Loreia gave him a sidelong glance.


    "You''d better be."


    She looked back at Liline and pointed toward the wall.


    "Let''s go."


    Liline raised her hand, creating a new hallway.


    She stepped forward, gesturing toward it.


    "This corridor leads directly to the presentation platform."


    Loreia nodded once and walked without pause.


    Luxoria Castle was ready to open.


    ---


    The moment the Luxoria Castle gate began to open, the entire crowd snapped.


    A voice shouted from the back¡ª


    "IT''S OPEN¡ªMOVE!"


    Dozens of tamers surged forward, pushing each other.


    "Go, go, go! There''s only twenty Vornis!"


    "If you''re slow, you''re out!"


    "Shove that noble out of the way!"


    In the middle of the chaos, Fiona Flares was struggling to keep up.


    She panted, one boot half-unbuckled.


    "Damn it! They''re all too fast!"


    She flicked her hand toward her drone camera.


    It zipped beside her and kept streaming her run.


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @VornisOrBust: SPRINT, GIRL


    @RareDropBaby: 20 Vornis?? That''s NOTHING


    @StreamQueenLover: Don''t fall behind Fiona!!!


    @TamerDad: PRAYING YOU GET ONE ????


    @HackMeDaddy: If she gets one I''m throwing my phone in joy


    @MirevasMaidens: PUSH THAT GUY IN GREEN¡ªHE''S BLOCKING YOU


    ---


    Fiona gritted her teeth.


    "Chat, if you ever loved me¡ªPRAY."


    "Pray I get one. There''s no pity rounds in Luxoria!"


    She ducked beneath a cloaked tamer.


    She tried to break through and jumped over a low barrier.


    She then finally crossed the threshold.


    She was in.


    But the real war had just begun.


    ---


    The crowd was expecting some modern and luxurious hall.


    Instead?


    They stopped short.


    What greeted them was a massive, open arena.


    The ground was uneven and wide, stretching hundreds of meters across.


    Cracked stone pathways, large fallen trees and boulders littered the space.


    "What the hell is this...?"


    One tamer muttered, eyes scanning the terrain.


    Another frowned, stepping onto a cracked slab.


    "Is this... an old battlefield?"


    "I thought this was a shop."


    A few turned toward the front.


    Just in time to see Liline appear, floating in the air.


    Her voice echoed through the entire arena.


    "Welcome, dear guests."


    She gave a graceful bow midair.


    "Pleased to meet you."


    "I am Liline, Guardian of Luxoria Castle and supervisor of this event."


    Tamers began shouting questions.


    "Where are the Vornis?"


    "This isn''t a hall!"


    "What is this place?"


    Fiona pushed through the group, holding her drone cam steady.


    "Told you it wouldn''t be normal."


    "CEO Luna already hinted this might be a competition."


    Liline smiled down, serene.


    "Indeed. As previously stated in the invitation brief, only 20 Vornis will be sold today."


    She spread her hands wide, gesturing to the battlefield.


    "Rather than boring paperwork and line queues... we decided to make it fun."


    "Scattered across this space are 20 silver tokens."


    "Each token grants the right to purchase one Vornis unit."


    "The price will, of course, be 50 S-Rank beast cores."


    Gasps and frustrated muttering spread through the crowd.


    "Are you serious?!"


    One tamer growled.


    "We came all this way and now we have to fight for it?"


    "You think this is fair?"


    Liline''s smile didn''t change.


    In an instant, a silver spectral sentinel appeared behind the shouting man.


    It picked him up without resistance.


    Without any hesitation, it launched him into the sky.


    Using a cannon hidden beneath the floor.


    The man''s scream vanished into the clouds.


    Liline dusted her gloves.


    "Any more questions?"


    Dozens of heads shook silently.


    Fiona leaned into her mic.


    "You guys saw that, right? I think I just found my new favorite event manager."


    Liline floated downward slightly.


    "Before we begin, a final note."


    "If you are not here for a Vornis and instead wish to access other Luxoria services."


    "You may exit the arena using that path."


    She pointed to the left, where a silver-lit hallway appeared.


    A few more paths opened toward raised platforms.


    "Or, you may head to the spectator seats up above and enjoy the live event."


    "Refreshments will be available."


    Then she clapped her hands once, lips curling.


    "Let''s Begin."


    "Run, fight, or lose. The choice is yours."

 Chapter 372: Man Into Orbit

    Fiona crouched behind a broken stone slab, eyes scanning the open arena.


    Her drone cam hovered beside her, streaming every second live.


    She smirked, brushing a bit of dust off her shoulder.


    "You hear that, chat?"


    She whispered into her mic, a glint in her eyes.


    "It''s a treasure hunt."


    She glanced up at the floating Liline disappearing into the light.


    "No queue. No auction stage. Just chaos."


    She stood, rolling her shoulders.


    "Honestly? I like these odds better. Let''s go hunting."


    Her fingers tapped the drone to zoom out.


    Dozens of tamers were already sprinting through the ruins.


    "If it''s like this, I might actually snag one."


    She winked at the camera.


    "So please, chat¡ªpray for me, will you?"


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @FionaFanboyX: YOU GOT THIS QUEEN


    @TokenTracker99: GO LEFT! LEFT! I SAW SOMETHING SHINY!


    @SirVornis: Imagine Fiona getting TWO??


    @TamerTrashLord: GIVE ME ONE IF YOU DO


    @FlareDonator1: I swear if you win I''ll triple sub


    ---


    Fiona laughed, her breath picking up.


    She started jogging toward the eastern corridor.


    "Tell you what."


    She held up two fingers to the camera.


    "If I get two¡ªor three somehow."


    "I''ll gift the extras to the top donator by the end of the stream."


    The chat exploded instantly.


    ---


    [LIVE CHAT CONTINUES]


    @CryBabyCore: SHEEEEESH LET''S GOO


    @TokenTakerT1: Donating my rent RIGHT NOW


    @MoonlightSniper: SIMP MODE ACTIVATED


    @GhostHunterGirl: Girl if you win one and don''t give me, I riot


    ---


    Fiona ducked behind a fallen statue and grinned.


    "Time to win a Vornis... or die trying."


    She broke into a sprint.


    ---


    The battlefield had turned into a mad scramble of tamers.


    They dashed, dodged and dove into other obstacles, searching for the tokens.


    But not every one of them came to buy the Vornis.


    The weaker tamers soon made their way toward the spectator seats.


    One man slumped into a reclining chair with a sigh.


    "Yeah, I wasn''t going to risk getting elbowed by a Sovereign-rank psycho just to maybe get a token."


    The woman next to him took a long sip from her fruit drink.


    "Exactly. I''m here for the drama, not the trauma."


    They laughed as they looked down at the arena.


    Rows of seats curved around the upper balcony.


    There were also snacks and light refreshments already available for them.


    "Free food and beast battles? Luxoria Castle really knows how to treat its spectators."


    Meanwhile, two separate groups began to leave the area.


    The Myralis and Valefor families.


    They moved past the main platform, ignoring the event entirely.


    Sylvaine Myralis walked at the front of her group.


    She looked over her shoulder.


    "Let''s go."


    Her voice was calm but final.


    "We didn''t come to watch children chase tokens. We''re here for Lord L."


    Behind her, Elaris followed with hands behind her back, pace unhurried.


    "We already own Vornis. No need to wrestle with the masses for more."


    She gave a faint smile.


    "Let them enjoy their scramble."


    On the other side of the corridor, Vandred Valefor led his group in silence.


    "We''re heading to meet Lord L."


    Caelan nodded once. "To finalize the contract?"


    Vandred grunted.


    "Yes. I want that Titanhoof beast bound to you. Properly this time."


    Caelan''s smirk was slow but unmistakable.


    "Finally. I can tame that damn horse."


    He cracked his knuckles.


    "About time it stopped treating me like a rival."


    Vandred gave a sideways glance.


    "It will. Once it knows who holds the reins."


    ---


    Two groups approached from two different gates of the main corridor.


    From one side came Vandred Valefor, tall and imposing.


    Walking with him were his three sons: Caelan, Raiven, and Eryndor.


    From the other side came Sylvaine Myralis, calm and composed.


    At her side were her daughters: Elaris and Velmara.


    Both groups stopped when they saw each other.


    Vandred stared forward.


    "Myralis."


    Sylvaine returned his look.


    "Valefor."


    Vandred crossed his arms.


    "Didn''t expect you to show up for this."


    Sylvaine answered without blinking.


    "I could say the same. But we''re both here, aren''t we?"


    Vandred looked toward her daughters, then back to her.


    "You here for more beasts?"


    Sylvaine''s tone stayed calm.


    "No. We already have what we need."


    Vandred grunted.


    "Then what?"


    "I want to speak with Lord L. Not everything is about brute power."


    Vandred didn''t respond right away.


    Sylvaine nodded once.


    "Let''s not waste time. We''re not here to argue in hallways."


    Vandred gave a short nod.


    "Fine. Let''s go."


    The two groups began walking toward the negotiation chamber.


    Side by side.


    No one spoke on the way.


    Raiven glanced briefly at Elaris.


    She noticed but didn''t react.


    Caelan stayed focused, walking behind his father.


    Eryndor remained at the rear, quiet and alert.


    Velmara looked ahead, ignoring the Valefors.


    When the two families reached the grand chamber doors, they stopped again.


    Standing before them was Liline, waiting in front of it.


    She was composed and perfectly still.


    She gave a graceful nod.


    "Welcome to Luxoria Castle, Lord Vandred Valefor, Patriarch of the Valefor family."


    She turned slightly.


    "And Lady Sylvaine Myralis, Matriarch of the Myralis family."


    Vandred narrowed his eyes.


    "You know who we are?"


    Liline gave a small smile.


    "Of course. Your names, achievements, and ranks are all public."


    "Your data is spread across the net. It''s not hard to access."


    Sylvaine glanced at her.


    "So you''ve done your research."


    Liline nodded.


    "It''s standard protocol in Luxoria Castle. We prepare thoroughly for every negotiation."


    Vandred gave a low grunt.


    "I see."


    Sylvaine nodded once.


    "Understood."


    Liline stepped aside, gesturing to the large door behind her.


    "Lord L is waiting for you inside."


    She placed her hand on the wall. The door reacted instantly.


    It was unlocked and slowly opened up.


    "Please, come in."


    Without another word, both Vandred and Sylvaine entered.


    Their children followed from behind.


    The moment they entered, they paused.


    The hall was nothing like the rest of Luxoria Castle.


    A high-ceilinged chamber lined with silver pillars and crystal glass panels.


    Golden veins pulsed underfoot, and soft mist rolled along the edges of the floor.


    At the center of it all.


    Seated calmly on a silver-backed throne-style sofa was a woman.


    Her legs crossed, posture elegant.


    Silver hair flowed beneath a half-mask that covered the upper part of her face.


    She spoke clearly.


    "Welcome to Luxoria Castle."

 Chapter 373: 20% Bluff, 80% Panic, 100% Authority

    They all stood in silence.


    Their eyes fixed on the woman seated at the center.


    There was no one else in the room.


    No guards. No attendants.


    Just her.


    Vandred frowned.


    "Are you Lord L?"


    The woman gave a small smirk beneath the edge of her mask.


    "Can''t you see?"


    Raiven stepped forward slightly, eyes sharp.


    "That''s not possible. Lord L is a man."


    "I heard his voice clearly during the Beast Castle auction."


    The woman''s smile widened.


    "Of course. You could say that voice belongs to Lord L."


    She spread her hands calmly.


    "And you could also say that I am Lord L."


    Her tone stayed light, yet firm.


    "Lord L is the mysterious owner of Luxoria Castle."


    "Whether Lord L is a man, a woman, or even a beast..."


    She tilted her head slightly.


    "...what difference does it make to you?"


    No one answered immediately.


    She continued.


    "The only fact that matters is this: you came here to speak with Lord L."


    "Am i right?"


    Vandred''s eyes narrowed, but he didn''t argue.


    Sylvaine gave a small nod.


    "I see. A mysterious Lord L with no fixed appearance."


    She glanced around the room again.


    "Interesting."


    She folded her hands in front of her.


    "Just as you said¡ªit doesn''t matter."


    Vandred finally grunted in agreement.


    "We didn''t come to admire faces. We came to talk."


    The masked woman smirked.


    "Then let''s begin."


    Her voice was steady. Her posture perfect.


    But inside, she was panicking.


    This is insane. I shouldn''t be the one doing this.


    The woman wasn''t some stand-in proxy.


    She was Loreia Luxoria.


    Lucius and Luna were still being punished.


    Neither could appear in front of guests today.


    And now she was here. Alone.


    Sitting in the throne Lucius usually occupied.


    Wearing a mask to hide her identity.


    Just smile, nod, and speak calmly.


    She could feel her heart pounding.


    Thank God they believed me.


    "Lord L" was short for Lord Lucius, yes.


    But if someone asked.


    She could just as easily say it meant Lord Loreia.


    She was Lucius''s older sister.


    And technically, she had a stake in all of this.


    She helped build the empire from the shadows.


    That counted for something, didn''t it?


    It''s not a lie. Not really.


    She just had to stay composed.


    Keep the mystery alive.


    And most importantly.


    get through this conversation without giving herself away.


    Please don''t let Vandred lose his temper.


    Please don''t let Sylvaine see through this.


    Please don''t make me talk for hours.


    She crossed her legs calmly, masking everything behind her elegant tone.


    "Let''s hear your requests. One at a time."


    ---


    Sylvaine took a breath, ready to speak.


    But Vandred cut in first.


    "I want to fight."


    Everyone in the room paused.


    Even Loreia, sitting masked on the throne, blinked.


    "...What?"


    Vandred stepped forward slightly.


    "Luxoria Castle is a new force."


    "You sell powerful beasts and hold bold auctions."


    He folded his arms.


    "I already saw Luna fight yesterday. I want to see another one."


    He turned his head slightly.


    "Let''s say... my son Raiven will fight in my place."


    Raiven stood behind him, expression unreadable.


    Vandred looked across the room.


    "Don''t you agree, Sylvaine?"


    Sylvaine tilted her head, considering the idea.


    After a pause, she nodded.


    "It is interesting."


    "I would also like to see the strength of this so-called Luxoria."


    She looked toward the masked woman.


    "It''s a fair test, isn''t it?"


    Loreia, hidden behind her mask, tensed.


    She was the only one here without Divine-tier power.


    Argentis, her beast, was still S-Rank Sovereign-tier.


    Strong, but not enough to face Raiven or anything near Vandred''s expectations.


    She clenched her fist.


    Then, without a sound, Liline appeared beside her.


    She leaned in and whispered something into Loreia''s ear.


    Loreia''s eyes shifted, then slowly¡ªshe smiled.


    "I accept your challenge, Patriarch."


    She stood, voice confident.


    "Liline. Please show us the way to the arena."


    Liline nodded once and raised her hand.


    A section of the wall slid open, revealing a new corridor.


    "This way, honored guests."


    Loreia turned toward the others.


    "Let''s go toward the arena."


    As the group began to move, Loreia leaned toward Liline.


    She whispered something else.


    Liline gave a subtle nod.


    Then vanished silently.


    ---


    They soon arrived at the arena¡ªand everyone paused.


    It wasn''t just large.


    It was massive.


    The walls stretched far beyond what the eye could follow.


    The ceiling was high, yet no light sources were visible.


    The air was still, but the pressure in the space was undeniable.


    "What is this place?"


    Vandred asked, eyes narrowing as he scanned the vast battleground.


    "This doesn''t match the castle layout."


    Loreia, still masked as Lord L, gave a faint smile.


    "It''s the underground arena."


    "Built specifically for Sovereign-tier beast combat."


    Sylvaine nodded.


    "So this is the hidden core beneath Luxoria Castle. Impressive."


    Vandred looked forward.


    "Then... who will fight my son?"


    His eyes shifted to Loreia.


    "Will it be you, Lord L?"


    Loreia shook her head calmly.


    "Your son is the one challenging us. It''s only fair that I respond with one of my subordinates."


    Just then, a circular gate slid open along the arena''s edge.


    Liora stepped forward, walking in with silent steps.


    Her hair barely shifted as she moved.


    Her eyes were sharp, her posture unreadable.


    Loreia smirked beneath the mask.


    "Please meet Liora, General of Luxoria Castle."


    "Every Sovereign beast sold by us was caught by her."


    The crowd in the observation deck murmured in surprise.


    Raiven blinked.


    "...So you''re the one who captured Dreadmaw."


    Velmara crossed her arms beside her mother.


    "And Zephyron as well."


    Liora gave a single nod, saying nothing.


    She walked to the center of the arena, looking directly at the Valefor side.


    "Who''s my opponent?"


    Her tone was cold. Direct. Emotionless.


    Raiven stepped forward, frowning slightly.


    "I am."


    Liora looked at him up and down.


    "You, huh."


    She tilted her head slightly.


    "What kind of battle do you want? Beast-only, or tamer and beast together?"


    Raiven opened his mouth, but before he could answer¡ª


    Vandred interrupted.


    "Just beast battle."


    His voice was firm.


    "We''re here to test strength, not start a war."


    Liora nodded once.


    "Understood."


    She turned and pointed.


    "You''ll enter from that side. I''ll wait on the opposite."


    Raiven gave a sharp nod and moved toward the designated entrance.

 Chapter 374 374: Where Were You

    Liora was already walking toward her side of the arena.


    But Loreia quickly stepped in front of her.


    "Liora. Just where are you coming from?"


    Liora stopped.


    "Hunting."


    Loreia narrowed her eyes.


    "Hunting? When the event starts today?"


    Liora looked straight at her.


    "You didn''t stop me yesterday."


    Loreia clicked her tongue and smacked her lightly on the forehead.


    "Because I thought Lucius and Luna would help me."


    She crossed her arms.


    "But no, they broke each other, leaving me to handle all of this alone."


    She shook her head.


    "I had to force Lucius to activate the system just so they could stand again."


    "And after that, I punished them and made them work behind the scenes."


    Liora gave a small nod.


    "I see. No wonder you ended up becoming Lord L."


    Loreia smirked beneath the mask.


    "Of course. I had to hold the entire castle together somehow."


    She paused, then raised her eyebrow.


    "But tell me something."


    "How did you come back so fast?"


    "You usually take two or three days minimum."


    Liora replied without emotion.


    "Master called me."


    Loreia blinked, then nodded slowly.


    "So that kid had enough brain left to do something useful."


    Liora turned, ready to continue walking.


    "I''ll handle this match. You don''t need to worry."


    Loreia called out behind her.


    "Okay, you can go, but remember one thing."


    Liora stopped.


    "What?"


    Loreia stepped closer.


    "Don''t use Leon."


    Liora frowned immediately.


    "Why?"


    Loreia kept her voice low.


    "Leon is too strong for them."


    "If you summon him here, it''s over in one second."


    "We need to hide him for now."


    Liora nodded slowly.


    "I see. Then I''ll just use the one I hunted today."


    Loreia raised an eyebrow.


    "You managed to catch something already?"


    Liora nodded once.


    "It was already my target. I knew its location and behavior."


    "It only took one day of fighting to capture it."


    Loreia gave a small nod.


    "Efficient as always. Alright, you can go."


    Liora took a step, then paused.


    "Wait. Can I use one Vornis?"


    Loreia blinked.


    "Let me check."


    She turned slightly called for Liline.


    "Liline, are the Vornis units all claimed?"


    Liline appeared immediately and informed her.


    "Only two tamers have secured tokens so far."


    "That means only two Vornis have been sold."


    Loreia nodded to herself.


    "Good. Then yes, Liora. You can use one."


    Liora looked toward the control point.


    "Liline, prepare one Vornis for deployment on my side."


    Liline smiled.


    "Of course, Lady Liora. It will be ready."


    Then she vanished again.


    Loreia exhaled.


    "Good luck. Try to beat him."


    Liora didn''t smile. She simply nodded.


    "Don''t worry. I never lose."


    She walked forward without looking back.


    ---


    Liora walked calmly to her side of the arena.


    Raiven stood across from her.


    She looked directly at him.


    "Are you ready?"


    Raiven gave a short nod.


    "I''m ready."


    He narrowed his gaze slightly.


    "I want to see just how powerful the one who captured Dreadmaw really is."


    Liora smiled faintly.


    "You''ll see it in the fight."


    She pointed toward the center of the arena.


    "Now summon your beast."


    Without hesitation, Raiven extended his hand.


    A huge portal appeared.


    Dreadmaw came out and made the arena into a storm of molten rock.


    Then its burning eyes shifted¡ªand locked on Liora.


    It paused.


    Then frowned.


    "...Damn it."


    Its voice, deep and rumbling, echoed through its link with Raiven.


    "Why the hell is she my opponent?"


    Liora tilted her head and smirked.


    "I see you still remember me."


    Dreadmaw growled low.


    "I remember how many times you shot me."


    Liora kept her expression neutral.


    "Don''t worry. I''m not going full force today."


    She turned slightly, lifting her hand as her system responded.


    "I''ll just use the one I hunted recently."


    A 7-meter-tall lion of flame stepped from her portal.


    Its mane burned with fire, every movement releasing waves of scorching heat.


    Inferon stood silently, eyes locking onto Dreadmaw without blinking.


    Dreadmaw flinched slightly.


    Then he relaxed when he took in the size.


    "...Huh. Smaller than me."


    He snorted.


    "So you''re not using that crazy sun lion. Just this one."


    Inferon didn''t speak.


    Its gaze remained calm, regal.


    Liora glanced toward Dreadmaw and smirked.


    Raiven didn''t hear exactly what Dreadmaw was saying.


    But through his link, he could feel it.


    Hesitation.


    A brief flicker of unease from his beast the moment it saw Liora.


    He narrowed his eyes.


    "...Afraid of her?"


    But then, as Inferon appeared, Dreadmaw''s tension faded.


    The massive tyrant beast looked down at the lion and snorted.


    Raiven picked up the shift.


    "...So. She''s not using her real beast."


    He clenched his jaw.


    "You''re not even serious."


    He spoke quietly to himself, his voice tight with frustration.


    "Then I''ll make sure you regret that. I''ll humiliate you right here."


    Across the field, Liora''s eyes locked with his.


    She didn''t say anything.


    But her smirk deepened.


    Just enough to confirm one thing.


    She knew.


    She had read the intent in his posture.


    She knew exactly what he was thinking.


    And it didn''t bother her at all.


    ---


    Raiven quickly gave the first command.


    "Dreadmaw. Use Cataclysmic Roar."


    Dreadmaw moved fast. Each step cracked the floor.


    As it closed in, it released Cataclysmic Roar.


    Sending a wide shockwave of flame and pressure across the arena.


    The attack devastated the battlefield, shooting Inferon with debris and heat.


    Liora quickly countered.


    "Inferon. Activate King''s Dominion."


    Inferon''s aura expanded.


    King''s Dominion created a field of pressure that suppressed weaker energies.


    The moment the roar reached it, the flame weakened and broke apart.


    The shockwave collapsed before it could hit.


    Inferon stood still. No scratches. No reaction.


    Dreadmaw stopped mid-charge.


    Raiven noticed it right away.


    His beast had hesitated.


    Not from injury¡ªbut recognition.


    He frowned.


    "He didn''t even flinch."


    Liora finally spoke.


    "Inferon. Step forward."


    Inferon took a single step.


    No aggressive movement. No attack.


    Just a response.


    Raiven kept his eyes on her.


    So she''s holding back.


    He didn''t say it out loud, but the irritation showed in his expression.


    "Dreadmaw. Switch to Seismic Devastation."


    Dreadmaw lifted one leg and stomped hard.


    Seismic Devastation activated, sending a wave of quakes toward Inferon''s side.


    Liora raised her hand again.


    "Inferon. Use Sovereign Flame Pounce."


    Inferon''s body flared with light.


    It jumped, clearing the quake''s range in a single bound.


    When it landed, it released a sunquake shockwave, flattening the cracked terrain.


    It forced Dreadmaw to back up.


    Dreadmaw slid back, claws digging into the floor.


    Raiven narrowed his eyes.


    "So you can fight seriously."


    Liora didn''t reply.


    She was waiting for the next move.

 Chapter 375 375: Inferon Turned Into a Problem.

    Liline appeared near the side gate, hands behind her back.


    "The Vornis unit is ready, Lady Liora."


    She gave a short nod and stepped aside.


    The arena wall shifted open, revealing a new path.


    Liora looked across the battlefield toward Raiven.


    "Are you alright if I use two beasts?"


    Raiven gave a smirk, clearly amused.


    "Sure, sure. Use whatever you want."


    He lifted his hand slightly.


    "I want to see your power. All of it."


    Liora gave a small smile.


    "Then don''t regret it."


    From the second gate, Vornis stepped into the arena.


    Liora didn''t need to command it.


    Vornis moved on its own and stood beside Inferon.


    Inferon glanced sideways and frowned.


    Liora looked at both of them.


    "Inferon, this will be your partner for now."


    Inferon didn''t respond at first.


    Then it growled¡ªlow and short.


    Vornis gave no reaction.


    It simply positioned itself properly and waited.


    Raiven blinked.


    He narrowed his eyes at the second beast.


    "That''s a Vornis...? Why would you use an S-Rank Sovereign in a battle like this?"


    "I brought an SS-Rank Sovereign. Are you holding back?"


    Liora shook her head, smirking slightly.


    "You''ll understand later."


    Raiven crossed his arms.


    "I hope this isn''t an insult."


    Liora''s eyes didn''t change.


    "You''ll find out soon enough. Just focus."


    Raiven gritted his teeth.


    "Dreadmaw. Get ready. Two-on-one."


    Dreadmaw growled, flames building across its back.


    Liora then raised her hand.


    "Inferon. Vornis. Fuse."


    Inferon turned its head fast, surprised.


    Even it didn''t expect the command.


    Raiven blinked, eyes narrowing.


    "...Wait, fuse?"


    Before he could react further, Vornis moved.


    Its body shifted, joints unlocking and reshaping.


    In seconds, it leapt onto Inferon''s back and began breaking apart.


    A solar rail cannon formed down Inferon''s spine.


    With anchoring plates clamping onto its shoulders and back legs.


    Thin steel cables snaked up toward Inferon''s head.


    Inferon tensed, trying to move.


    Liora''s voice cut in.


    "Hold still. You''ll receive the command interface."


    The cables connected, sending information directly into Inferon''s neural pathways.


    Inferon growled low, twitching once.


    But didn''t resist further.


    It stood still.


    And then it stopped shaking.


    The cannon locked in place.


    Its eyes burned brighter.


    Raiven took a step back.


    "You can use it like that?"


    Liora answered without looking at him.


    "Of course. Vornis is a steel war beast engineered to adapt."


    "It can become weapons. Suits. Enhancements."


    Liora then lowered her hand.


    "Now... let''s finish this."


    "Inferon. Blast him apart."


    Inferon stepped forward.


    The cannon on its back glowed brighter, shifting from orange to pure white.


    The solar heat radiating off its body warped the air around it.


    Sparks ignited along the cannon''s rails.


    The ground under Inferon blackened and cracked.


    Raiven''s eyes widened.


    "Dreadmaw. Elemental Overload. Fire mode. Now!"


    Dreadmaw roared, its magma veins flaring wide.


    Its entire body lit up as it activated Elemental Overload, boosting its flame element.


    "Volcanic Pulse. Now!"


    Dreadmaw stomped one claw into the ground.


    A fiery pulse erupted outward, shaking the battlefield, trying to destabilize Inferon''s stance.


    The arena cracked beneath the pressure.


    Molten flame surged in all directions as Dreadmaw pushed its limit.


    Inferon stood still.


    Then fired.


    The cannon discharged with a deep, focused hum.


    No explosion.


    Just an overwhelming beam of concentrated solar flame.


    The beam shot through the Volcanic Pulse, melting it down on contact.


    "What¡ª"


    Raiven muttered.


    The beam hit Dreadmaw square in the chest.


    There was no time to dodge.


    The impact blasted through its obsidian armor.


    Magma and flame burst outward, but it wasn''t enough.


    Dreadmaw was thrown off its feet, sent flying across the arena.


    It crashed into the far wall with a deafening slam.


    Steam hissed off its body.


    The molten glow inside its veins flickered, then faded.


    It didn''t get back up.


    Raiven stared, stunned.


    "Dreadmaw...?"


    Dreadmaw growled weakly in his mind.


    "I... I can''t move."


    Raiven clenched his fist, eyes locked on Liora.


    She hadn''t even flinched.


    She stood there calmly as Inferon''s cannon cooled down.


    From the stands, the patriarchswere speechless.


    Sylvaine leaned forward slightly.


    "That was coordinated fusion... controlled by a single tamer."


    Vandred frowned.


    "Tch."


    He didn''t say anything more.


    Liora gave one last look toward Raiven, then spoke quietly.


    "Don''t underestimate what you don''t understand."


    Raiven took a slow breath.


    He nodded once.


    "...Understood."


    Liora turned back toward her side of the arena.


    Inferon stood proudly.


    Vornis was now detaching and returning to its standard form.


    The battle was over.


    ---


    Raiven walked back toward his family.


    He stopped beside Vandred, giving a short nod.


    Across from them, Loreia only smiled as he observed the battle.


    She turned back toward them, bowing down a bit.


    "So, how was it, dear Patriarchs?"


    Her tone carried a slight smile.


    "Was Luxoria Castle''s power enough for you?"


    Sylvaine gave a small nod.


    "It was convincing."


    Vandred grunted, crossing his arms.


    "I never expected Vornis could be used that way."


    Loreia tilted her head.


    "Of course it can. Vornis is no longer a normal beast."


    "It''s now classified as a full steel-type war beast."


    "One of its key functions is its morph-type system."


    Vandred nodded slowly.


    "I see. That makes me want one for myself."


    Raiven stepped in.


    "I already own four."


    "If possible, I''d like to give the other three to my father and brothers."


    Loreia smirked beneath the mask.


    "Of course you can."


    "We''ll assist in breaking the current bond and rebinding them properly."


    She paused.


    "Naturally, it comes with a price."


    Vandred didn''t flinch.


    "What about an SS-Rank Sovereign beast?"


    He looked her directly in the eyes.


    "Can your castle handle bonding and stabilization?"


    Loreia gave a short nod.


    "Absolutely."


    "We can bind any SS-Rank Sovereign-tier beast to any designated contractor."


    Her gaze moved to the three Valefor brothers.


    "Just tell me which son will be the one to get a contract?"


    Caelan stepped forward, posture straight, voice firm.


    "That would be me."


    Loreia looked him over for a moment, then asked,


    "And the beast in question?"


    Caelan answered without hesitation.


    "I brought it. It''s ready to be contracted to me."

 Chapter 376 376: Fiona Is Losing to Rocks

    Loreia smirked beneath the mask.


    "So, Patriarch Vandred."


    "You want your son Caelan to be contracted with the SS-Rank Sovereign Beast."


    She looked at Raiven for a moment.


    "And you want to transfer three Vornis units from Raiven."


    "One to you, one to Caelan, and one to Eryndor. Correct?"


    Vandred nodded.


    "Yeah. That''s all we need."


    Loreia nodded back.


    "Alright. Do you want special cultivation manuals for each Vornis as well?"


    Vandred raised an eyebrow.


    "You can do that too?"


    Loreia answered right away.


    "Yes. We make manuals customized for each person''s beast."


    Vandred gave a short grunt.


    "Then yes. We''ll take them."


    Loreia started listing the numbers.


    "Breaking and rebinding one Vornis costs 20 S-Rank beast cores."


    "You''re doing three, so that''s 60 cores."


    "The custom cultivation manuals cost 10 cores per Vornis."


    "Three manuals equals 30 cores."


    "That''s 90 S-Rank cores total."


    Loreia turned slightly toward Caelan.


    "And for you, Caelan."


    "Do you also want a cultivation technique for your beast?"


    Caelan raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.


    "You can provide that? Even for a beast, you didn''t sell?"


    Loreia smirked under the mask.


    "Of course we can."


    "We offer custom cultivation techniques for any beast."


    "Whether it was sold by us or not."


    She looked at him calmly.


    "Our method works on everything, as long as it''s a beast."


    Caelan gave a small nod and smirked.


    "Alright, then. Yes. I want it."


    Loreia continued with the numbers.


    "The contract binding process for an SS-Rank Sovereign beast costs 10 SS-Rank beast cores."


    "The custom cultivation technique also costs 10."


    "So for your request, the total is 20 SS-Rank beast cores."


    Vandred gave a short, approving grunt.


    He reached into his spatial ring and pulled out two crystal cases.


    "Ninety S-Rank beast cores," he said, handing over the first case.


    "And twenty SS-Rank beast cores," he added, offering the second.


    "Here''s the full payment."


    Loreia accepted them with a respectful nod.


    "Thank you. Everything will be prepared shortly."


    She turned her head slightly.


    "Liline, please escort Patriarch Vandred to VIP Hall Number One?"


    Liline appeared beside the wall, calm as ever.


    "Understood."


    She raised one hand.


    A new hallway opened.


    "This way, please."


    Vandred didn''t say a word.


    He gave a nod to his sons, then followed Liline through the hall without hesitation.


    The deal was now in motion.


    ---


    Loreia connected to Lucius through their link in her mind.


    "Lucius. I already sent Liline to tell you what to hack. Start now."


    Lucius responded instantly.


    "Yeah, yeah. I saw them enter VIP Room One."


    Loreia gave a slight nod, still facing the arena.


    "Good. Be careful. Stay hidden."


    "No one should realize you''re using the system directly."


    Lucius''s tone was casual but sharp.


    "Don''t worry, sis. I''ve spent my whole life hiding this. You think I''d mess up now?"


    Loreia''s eyes narrowed slightly behind the mask.


    "I''m just reminding you."


    Lucius chuckled faintly in her head.


    "Relax. I''m ten steps ahead, as always."


    Loreia didn''t reply, but her expression relaxed just slightly.


    "Good."


    She cut the link and turned her attention toward the Myralis family.


    "What can I do for you today, Lady Sylvaine?"


    Sylvaine gave a polite smile.


    "For now, I''d like to process two Vornis rebondings."


    She glanced toward her daughters.


    "One for me, and one for Velmara."


    Loreia nodded.


    "Understood. With cultivation manuals included?"


    Sylvaine responded without hesitation.


    "Yes. I want both of them fully optimized."


    Loreia calculated the price quickly.


    "Then the cost would be sixty S-Rank beast cores."


    "Twenty per Vornis for bond break and rebinding, and ten per unit for cultivation manuals."


    "Are there any other services you''d like today?"


    Sylvaine shook her head lightly.


    "Not at the moment. We''re simply observing."


    "This visit is for evaluation."


    She glanced toward the arena.


    "You''ve made an impression, I''ll say that much."


    Loreia allowed herself a slight smile.


    "Thank you. That''s what Luxoria Castle was built for."


    She turned slightly.


    "Liline.


    "Please escort Matriarch Sylvaine and her daughters to VIP Room Number Two."


    Liline materialized instantly, giving a slight bow.


    "Right this way, honored guests."


    A hallway shimmered open beside the arena.


    Sylvaine looked at Loreia one last time.


    "We''ll speak again, soon."


    Loreia nodded.


    "Looking forward to it."


    The Myralis family walked through the hall, calm and poised.


    Business was proceeding perfectly.


    ---


    In the middle of the battlefield.


    Fiona Flares darted between broken ruins and fallen trees.


    She skidded around a scorched boulder.


    Dove into a patch of tall mistgrass, face flushed.


    "Damn it!" she hissed, panting.


    "Where the hell are those tokens!?"


    Her drone hovered beside her, still live and streaming.


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @StormGirlX: You''re too slow!! Go left!!


    @TokenFiend87: 5 ALREADY TAKEN??


    @VornisOrDie: Dig under the rocks, dummy!


    @SimperLord: Still cute when she''s mad ngl


    @SnipeKing47: I just saw someone get launched. BE CAREFUL FIONA


    ---


    Up above, floating calmly in the air, was Liline.


    Her hands were clasped neatly behind her back.


    Her eyes scanned the field below with perfect clarity.


    "Five Vornis tokens have already been claimed."


    "Fifteen remain."


    The moment her voice reached the field.


    Several tamers cursed and picked up speed.


    Fiona flopped onto her back for a second.


    "Five gone already!? Dammit¡ªI thought I was early!"


    She jumped to her feet and brushed off her jacket.


    "Okay, chat, this is it. I am not leaving without a Vornis!"


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @TokenTracker99: Run like your sponsorship depends on it


    @BeastQueenFan: IT DOES


    @SaberMoments: You got this. Vornis or bust.


    ---


    Fiona sprinted toward the far right flank of the battlefield.


    "Alright, Luxoria Castle..."


    She ducked under a crumbling tree root.


    "Show me where you''re hiding the damn things!"


    Suddenly, a burst of air and light struck her from the left.


    Boom!


    "What¡ª?!"


    She was thrown off her feet and slammed hard into a broken wall.


    Her drone spun wildly before stabilizing midair.


    She groaned, rolling onto her side.


    "Ugh... damn it¡ªcheap shot!"


    She looked across the field and spotted a tamer vanishing into mist.


    "Coward."


    As she pushed off the ground, her hand brushed against something.


    It was solid, flat, and unnaturally smooth.


    She froze.


    "Could it be..."

 Chapter 377 377: Fiona’s Arena Sprint

    Fiona turned back, still clutching the silver plate.


    Her grip tightened as she flipped it over once to double-check.


    Luxoria''s emblem glowed brightly, and the Vornis crest pulsed steadily.


    Her eyes lit up.


    "Chat... I got it."


    She held it high over her head.


    Her drone zoomed in for a dramatic close-up.


    "It''s the real deal. I actually got one!"


    She spun in place, still grinning.


    "You saw that, right? Didn''t even need to beg for it this time."


    But the moment echoed.


    Several nearby tamers turned in her direction.


    One of them pointed.


    "Hey¡ªshe has a token!"


    "She got one!" another shouted.


    "Stop her before she exits!"


    Fiona''s smile vanished.


    "Ah, great. I jinxed it."


    She turned and started running.


    "Chat, I don''t think I''m getting a second one."


    She weaved between fallen rocks, ducked low, and leapt over a half-sunk platform.


    "Forget a second¡ªI''m trying to keep this one now!"


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @TokenAlert2000: RUN FIONA RUN!!!


    @WhoNeedsTwo: Protect the token at all costs!


    @SlideAndStrafe: Left! Go left! Shorter exit route!


    @FionaFanForever: Don''t stop. We don''t need a second. We need survival.


    @TamerLogic: Imagine if she loses it now LMAO


    @BarkAndBolt: FIONA IF YOU DROP IT I''M UNSUBBING


    @TokenTaken23: Someone''s chasing her! Top right cam!


    ---


    Fiona glanced behind her.


    She saw three tamers already rushing her way.


    "Nope! Not today!"


    She slid down a cracked slope, kicking up dirt.


    She clutched the token tight to her chest.


    Her drone buzzed overhead, keeping pace.


    The camera shook slightly with every turn she made.


    "I''ve got one shot. No tricks. No backup."


    Fiona exhaled sharply.


    She sprinted at full speed toward the exit.


    Behind her, footsteps echoed.


    Someone had locked onto her.


    "There she is!"


    "Cut her off from the right!"


    Fiona glanced back.


    Two tamers were closing in fast.


    She dropped low and slid across a sloped platform.


    Rolling forward, she used the momentum to spring back up.


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @SlideQueen47: SHE''S INSANE


    @VornisDash: GO FIONA GOOOO


    @Cam2Watcher: One''s RIGHT BEHIND YOU


    @SaberEyes: THERE''S A TRIP RUNE AHEAD DON''T¡ª


    @FionaMain: BRO SHE''S A NINJA


    @LuxoriaCamMod: Confirmed¡ªtoken #6 in her hand!


    ---


    A flash of light flared at the edge of her path.


    A trap rune activated beneath her boots.


    "Nope!"


    She leapt over it, barely clearing the edge.


    She landed rough¡ªbut still upright.


    One pursuer tried to follow.


    They didn''t make it.


    A burst of energy shot up and launched the tamer into the air.


    Fiona grinned.


    "Told you¡ªno backup. Just me."


    The exit door loomed ahead now, its gate sliding open.


    "Miss Fiona, token registration confirmed."


    "Proceed to Chamber Three."


    Fiona didn''t slow down.


    "Thanks for the escort!"


    The battlefield was behind her now.


    She finally stopped running and looked up.


    A large hallway opened.


    Warm lighting. No sounds of battle.


    Just silence and luxury.


    She exhaled, then turned to her drone with a grin.


    "Well, chat... We made it."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @WeSurvived: SHE DID IT!!


    @TokenQueen: MVP OF THE DAY


    @RooftopSniper22: You cooked that slide like a pro


    @VornisClaimed: CHAMBER THREE HYPE


    @NoSecondToken: That guy got LAUNCHED trying to chase her


    @PlantBeastSimps: Hope there''s food in there...


    ---


    Fiona held up the token one last time.


    "Luxoria Castle, Token #6¡ªsecured."


    She winked at the camera.


    "Now... seems like we''re heading into Chamber Three."


    She stretched out her legs, walking toward the open door slowly.


    "Let''s go check it out, shall we?"


    Her drone followed close, rotating slightly to scan the room ahead.


    The adventure wasn''t over yet.


    It had just changed.


    ---


    Fiona reached chamber 3 and pushed the door open with both hands.


    Inside, the atmosphere shifted.


    Cool, quiet, and clean.


    In the center, Vornis stood perfectly still, waiting for its buyer.


    Near it stood Liline, hands folded neatly.


    She smiled softly as Fiona entered.


    "Welcome, Miss Fiona. I''ve been waiting for you."


    Fiona blinked, slightly out of breath from her sprint.


    "So this is it, huh? Can I buy the Vornis now?"


    "Also... what do I do with the token?"


    Liline gave a polite nod.


    "The token is yours to keep. A small gift from Luxoria Castle."


    She gestured toward a crystal case resting on the side table.


    "If you check it now, you''ll see."


    "Your name has already been engraved into it."


    Fiona frowned, confused.


    "Wait, what? I didn''t write anything on it¡ª"


    She flipped the silver token over quickly and gasped.


    Her name, Fiona Flares, had been engraved on the back.


    It was perfectly etched in glowing runes.


    "What the¡ªhow the hell did you do that?"


    Liline smiled again.


    "A secret, of course."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @VornisTamer88: BRO HER NAME''S ON IT???


    @LuxoriaIsMagic: What kinda tech is that?!


    @StreamerGoals: This castle is wild.


    @SteelBeastCrush: That Vornis looks CLEAN


    @SimperForce47: Fiona Flares Vornis edition WHEN??


    ---


    Fiona turned toward her drone, lifting the token again.


    "You saw that, right? It''s marked¡ªlike I was meant to have it."


    Then she looked back at Liline.


    "Alright. What''s next?"


    Liline gestured toward the Vornis.


    "You may proceed with the purchase."


    "Fifty S-Rank beast cores for the Vornis."


    Fiona nodded, then hesitated.


    "What about the contract and the manual?"


    "I heard you guys give out full packages."


    Liline gave a pleasant smile.


    "Yes. We do."


    She tilted her head slightly.


    "But that''s an additional fifty S-Rank beast cores."


    Fiona blinked.


    "Fifty? For just the extras?"


    Liline nodded again.


    "Vornis is originally priced at one hundred S-Rank beast cores."


    "Today''s bulk event reduced the beast cost to fifty."


    "But the manual and contract services are exclusive."


    "They remain full price."


    She paused, her voice calm.


    "The bonding contract includes system-approved syncing."


    "The manual is customized to your style and beast version."


    "These cannot be found anywhere else."


    Fiona stared at the beast, then back at Liline.


    She frowned and turned toward the drone camera.


    "Okay, chat... What do I do?"


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @PocketCore56: JUST GET THE BEAST. SCREW THE EXTRAS


    @FlareBudgeting: GIRL STAY BROKE BUT SMART


    @FullPackageFan: Nah. Manual + Contract = LONG-TERM WIN


    @CoreMath98: 50 now, or regret later


    @TamerEliteX: Without the contract sync, you can''t push Vornis to max


    @ScamWatch69: This how they get ya


    @StreamerVault: Chat we taking a vote??


    @LegendRiseSoon: If you''re serious, get both. If not¡ªsave your cores


    ---


    Fiona crossed her arms, thinking.


    "Alright. I''ve got the token. I''ve got the chance."


    She looked at the Vornis again, then back at the camera.


    "Should I go all in?"


    She waited for the chat''s flood of opinions.


    The decision was hers.


    But she wasn''t making it alone.

 Chapter 378 378: Fiona’s Wallet Cried

    Fiona looked back at the camera.


    "Alright, chat. I''m stuck. This isn''t a joke anymore."


    She held up the token again.


    "Fifty S-Rank beast cores for the Vornis? Doable."


    She pointed toward Liline.


    "But she just told me it''s another fifty for the full contract and manual."


    She sighed.


    "That''s a hundred total. That''s every core I''ve earned this quarter."


    She tapped her wristband, opening her Beastagram overlay.


    "We''re doing this right. I''m putting up a poll."


    She spoke while typing the options live.


    "Choice one: Don''t buy anything. Keep the token as a souvenir."


    "Choice two: Only buy the beast."


    "Choice three: Go all in¡ªget the complete set."


    She hit post.


    "Okay, it''s up. Poll''s live for ten minutes."


    "Please vote. Help me not regret this."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @TokenTroll44: SAVE YOUR CORES


    @CoreDealer47: GET THE FULL PACKAGE


    @SassySimper: I don''t want excuses later when Vornis won''t listen to you


    @BudgetBeastie: You worked hard, make it count


    @RookieTamer12: Just get the beast and upgrade later


    @FionaFanPrime: FULL SET OR WE RIOT


    ---


    Ten minutes passed.


    Fiona sat cross-legged on the floor, watching the votes shift in real time.


    She squinted at the final result.


    "Okay... final numbers are in."


    She stood up dramatically.


    "Don''t buy: twenty percent."


    "Only the beast: thirty-five percent."


    She held her breath.


    "Complete set: forty-five percent."


    She exhaled loudly.


    "Well, I said I''d listen to chat."


    She looked over at Liline, then at the Vornis.


    "Guess I''m going broke today."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @FullSetConfirmed: YESSSSS


    @VaultOfRespect: This is the way


    @SadWalletGang: RIP to her cores


    @WinnersOnly: WORTH IT


    @SystemBonded: You won''t regret it. That beast will become yours now


    ---


    Fiona faced Liline.


    "Alright. I''ll take the full set. Beast, contract, manual. Let''s do this."


    Liline gave a satisfied nod.


    "Understood. Preparing your package now."


    Fiona grinned.


    "Perfect. Let''s get that beast officially mine¡ª"


    But before Liline could move, she paused.


    Her head tilted slightly.


    She was listening to something no one else could hear.


    She didn''t speak right away.


    Fiona blinked.


    "Uh... Miss Liline?"


    Liline''s eyes moved slightly to the side.


    Her lips shifted just barely.


    Fiona narrowed her gaze.


    "She''s talking to someone... but not me."


    Liline suddenly smiled again, her posture straightening.


    "Miss Fiona, my lord, Lord L, wishes to speak with you directly."


    Fiona froze.


    "...Wait. What?"


    "Lord L?"


    Liline nodded once.


    "Yes. He asked to meet you personally."


    "There is something he wishes to discuss."


    Fiona''s eyes widened.


    "Hold on. The real Lord L?"


    "With me?"


    She turned to her drone, hands raised.


    "Chat, WHAT do I do?!"


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @L_Fanbase: GO. IMMEDIATELY.


    @PowerMove69: You don''t say no to Lord L


    @SteelRankedUp: Do it or we disown you


    @MysteryLOver: He''s the most viral name on the net and he wants YOU


    @TamerTactics: Say yes, walk tall, act cool


    @TrueLWatch: If she doesn''t go I''m flipping a table


    ---


    Fiona read the flood of messages, stunned.


    She blinked, then nodded quickly.


    "Alright. Yeah. I''m going."


    "If Lord L wants to talk, I''m not saying no."


    Liline smiled softly.


    "Good. Please follow me, Miss Fiona."


    A hallway began to open beside them.


    Fiona stared at it, took a breath, and stepped forward.


    "Okay, Lord L... Let''s see what you''re hiding."


    She followed behind Liline.


    The walls hummed faintly as they moved deeper.


    Liline walked ahead, her posture relaxed.


    "You don''t need to be so tense, Miss Fiona."


    Fiona gave a weak smile.


    "Sorry... It''s just..."


    "This is the first time I''m meeting someone this big..."


    "Face-to-face."


    Liline glanced back over her shoulder, smiling.


    "Understandable."


    "But my lord is not some cruel monster who eats nervous guests."


    Fiona gave a half-laugh.


    "I know, I know."


    "Just... kind of feels like I''m walking into a final boss room."


    "Try to relax," Liline said.


    "My lord enjoys people who are themselves.


    "That tends to make the meeting easier... for both sides."


    Fiona nodded slowly.


    "Right. Be real. Got it."


    As they reached the end of the hall, a set of elegant silver doors stood before them.


    Liline turned and gestured.


    "My lord is waiting inside."


    "Please, take your time and enter when ready."


    Fiona stopped in front of the door.


    She took a long breath in... then out.


    "Okay. I''m going in."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @DoorOfDestiny: OPEN ITTTTT


    @MeetingTheMyth: This is it


    @GodModeUnlocked: Don''t faint now Fiona


    @LordLFans: Say something cool when you walk in


    @VornisChamp: Represent us casual tamers with pride


    @DeepBreathCrew: YOU GOT THIS


    ---


    Fiona reached for the door handle.


    This was it.


    Whatever came next... she was ready.


    ---


    Fiona opened the door slowly and stepped inside.


    The room was quiet.


    It was clean, simple, and dimly lit with soft silver lighting.


    There were two people waiting.


    Fiona stopped in her tracks.


    One of them was Luna.


    The woman who had casually destroyed Beast Castle''s champion while sleeping.


    The woman who became an internet legend in a single day.


    Fiona stared.


    "Miss Luna...?"


    Luna gave a short nod.


    "Welcome, Miss Fiona."


    Next to her stood a man in sleek white attire.


    His silver mask shimmered faintly.


    His posture was relaxed but firm.


    Even without saying a word, his presence held weight.


    Then he spoke.


    "Welcome, Streamer Fiona."


    His voice was calm, smooth, and direct.


    "I am Lord L."


    Fiona blinked.


    The words hit harder than expected.


    ---


    ???? [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @LORDLREVEAL: LORD L IN THE FLESH???


    @MaskOfLegends: HE''S REAL


    @FionaMetGod: SHE''S REALLY THERE HOLY¡ª


    @NappingQueen: AND LUNA TOO??


    @BestStreamEver: THIS IS HISTORY


    @LuxoriaRoyalty: So calm. So scary. So COOL


    ---


    Fiona managed to nod, heart still racing.


    "It''s... an honor to meet you, Lord L."


    She took a slow breath, then glanced up at her drone.


    It was still hovering and streaming everything live.


    She frowned.


    "Uh... Lord L, I''m sorry."


    "Do I need to turn this off?"


    Before she could move, the chat exploded.


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @KeepItOn: DON''T TURN IT OFF


    @WeNeedThis: LET US STAY


    @StreamingHistory: THIS IS TOO BIG


    @CamOnAlways: FIONA DON''T YOU DARE


    @RoyalRevealFan: LORD L PLEASE LET US WATCH


    ---


    Lord L chuckled softly.


    "No need, Miss Fiona."


    He folded his hands calmly.


    "You''re a streamer. This is part of who you are."


    He looked straight into the drone.


    "I''m sure the chat is just as curious as you are."


    "About why I asked to speak with you."


    Fiona blinked.


    "So... you''re okay with everyone watching?"


    Lord L nodded once.


    "Let them. I have nothing to hide."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT]


    @LordLUnmasked: HE''S TOO COOL


    @StraightTalkKing: NOTHING TO HIDE?? HE''S A LEGEND


    @RespectMaxed: I WOULD''VE TURNED OFF EVERYTHING


    @FionaTheChosen: SHE REALLY GOT CALLED UP LIKE THAT


    @ThisIsCanonNow: He LET her stream it. Absolute power.


    ---


    Fiona straightened up again, her nerves starting to settle.


    "Alright... Then let''s talk."


    Lord L nodded calmly.


    "Let''s."

 Chapter 379 379: You Can Leave Anytime

    Lord L gave a slight smirk.


    Eyes narrowing with interest.


    "Miss Fiona."


    He folded his arms.


    "I heard from Luna that you claimed to be one of the top streamers in the world."


    He tilted his head slightly.


    "Are you sure about that?"


    Fiona didn''t flinch.


    She adjusted her jacket and smiled confidently.


    "If you''re talking about general fame..."


    "Yeah, I''m in the top ten, easily."


    She pointed at the drone hovering above her.


    "But if we''re talking about independent streamers."


    "No sponsors, no corporate boost, just raw growth?"


    She grinned.


    "I''m number one. Period."


    Lucius leaned back slightly in his chair.


    "You''ve got quite the confidence to say that out loud."


    Fiona gave a playful shrug.


    "You invited me, didn''t you?"


    "Why else would you want someone like me here if I wasn''t worth the spotlight?"


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @TalkYourTalk: SHE DID NOT STUTTER


    @NumberOneEnergy: Independent QUEEN


    @LordLRespect: He''s testing her, and she''s passing


    @NoSponsorStrong: That''s right. No contracts. No filters. Just power.


    @StreamerFlex: WHO ELSE CAN TALK TO LORD L LIKE THIS ????


    @ThatSmileTho: Lord L is enjoying this fr


    ---


    Lucius chuckled softly beneath the mask.


    "Fair point."


    He glanced toward Luna, who stood at his side.


    She watched her while smiling.


    Then he looked back at Fiona.


    "Alright then."


    His voice remained calm and steady.


    "I''ll believe you."


    He leaned forward slightly.


    "I''m here."


    "Just like you guessed."


    "To offer you a sponsorship."


    Fiona''s eyes widened slightly.


    Even though she had half-suspected it.


    Hearing it confirmed made her heart skip.


    "Wait... seriously?"


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @RoastModeOn: NOT HER ACTING SURPRISED ????


    @GirlYouKNEW: We ALL saw it coming, Fiona


    @StreamerQueen: OMG IT''S HAPPENING


    @FakeShockLOL: ''Who, me?'' energy


    @SheWinning: Sponsor arc unlocked


    @LordLDeals: SHE GOT THE CALL UPPP


    ---


    Fiona held back a laugh.


    "Okay, yeah... Maybe I hoped for this."


    She shifted slightly.


    "But... why me? There are other streamers."


    "Big ones. Flashier than me. Whole teams behind them."


    Lucius just smiled behind the mask.


    "Because Luna recommended you."


    He said it so casually that it caught her off guard.


    He added with a shrug.


    "And to be honest, even if she didn''t..."


    "I''m a bit too lazy to go digging through dozens of names."


    "Looking for the ''perfect'' match."


    He looked her in the eyes.


    "Luna recommended you."


    "So, you''re here. That''s it."


    Fiona blinked.


    "...That''s really it?"


    Lucius gave a nod.


    "That''s the truth."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT]


    @LunaSaidYes: IF LUNA SAID IT, IT''S LAW


    @LazyButPowerful: Lord L too lazy to scroll. relatable


    @WorthyPick: Fiona was chosen by fate fr


    @LunaChosen: That''s a flex. Luna handpicked her.


    @NoTryouts: No audition. Just vibes.


    ---


    Fiona finally smiled wide, hands on her hips.


    "Well then..."


    "Guess I''d better not let either of you down."


    Lucius nodded once.


    "That would be appreciated."


    Fiona shifted her stance slightly.


    Her expression turned more serious.


    "But still... What''s in it for me?"


    She raised her hands slowly.


    "I mean, I''m sorry if that sounds blunt, but I need to be honest."


    "I''m already doing well. I can get sponsors anytime."


    "So what makes this different?"


    She looked directly at him now.


    "And what would I be doing, exactly?"


    "If I said yes to being sponsored by you?"


    "Why is Luxoria Castle a better sponsor than the rest?"


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @SeriousModeON: SHE FLIPPED THE SWITCH


    @ContractLawyerFiona: Girl just dropped a negotiation midstream


    @BossFlares: She''s cooking now


    @RealQuestions: She actually asked what matters, LET''S GO


    @NoMoreJokes: Fiona turning into CEO live


    @LordLPleaseHireMe: Even I''d sign without asking


    ---


    Lucius chuckled.


    "Good. I like that you''re asking."


    He leaned back slightly in his chair.


    "Luxoria Castle doesn''t just fund. We build."


    He held up a hand.


    "Let me explain more clearly."


    "If you want money, there are other sponsors."


    "Flashy brands. Big contracts. But we''re different."


    He paused before continuing.


    "Yes, we''ll pay you."


    "But we give more than that."


    Lucius gestured subtly toward the walls.


    "You''d be the only streamer tied directly to Luxoria Castle."


    "That''s not a partnership."


    "That''s ownership."


    "You''ll be the first and only public face."


    "Of the strongest beast research and enhancement hub in the world."


    He leaned forward now.


    "Your beasts? Custom-made."


    "Your streams? Backed by us."


    "And your freedom? Total."


    "You can stream what you want."


    "Training, battles and hunts."


    He gestured to the side.


    "You can follow Luna."


    "Interview Liline."


    "Join Liora on a live beast capture mission."


    "It''s not about exposure or paycheck numbers."


    "It''s about becoming the first of us."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @JustSignedMySoul: THIS ISN''T SPONSORSHIP, THIS IS DESTINY


    @BossLevelDeal: CUSTOM BEASTS???


    @StreamerRoyalty: "The only streamer" that''s INSANE


    @FionaGoALLIN: DO IT NOW


    @LegendInProgress: Bro he''s offering her the castle


    ---


    Fiona stood quiet for a moment.


    She looked down at the token in her hand, then back up at Lucius.


    Her chat was screaming. Her heart was racing.


    This was more than she expected.


    Much more.


    Fiona swallowed, still gripping the token.


    Her voice came out slower, thoughtful now.


    "Then... how long would this partnership last?"


    Lucius didn''t hesitate.


    He smiled beneath the mask.


    "As long as you want."


    Fiona blinked.


    "Wait¡ªwhat?"


    Lucius nodded once.


    "There''s no contract deadline. No forced duration."


    "If you want to walk away after a week, you can."


    "If you want to stay a lifetime, that''s your call."


    Fiona raised her eyebrow.


    "So I can leave anytime?"


    Lucius leaned back again.


    "Yes. But let me be honest with you."


    He paused for just a beat.


    "Once you sign with us... you won''t want to leave."


    He gestured toward the room around them.


    "Because everything here is real. Built for your growth. Not ours."


    "The choice is yours, Fiona."


    "Do it¡ªor don''t."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @FreedomSponsor: She can leave ANYTIME??


    @RareOfferAlert: That''s actually wild


    @LuxoriaTrapButNice: Bro''s confident because he knows no one leaves


    @JustSayYes: DO IT ALREADY


    @FionaThinkPls: If you don''t take this, I''m crying


    @NoEscapeNeeded: It''s not a trap if it feels like home


    ---


    Fiona looked between Lucius and Luna.


    Then back at the drone.


    "No pressure, huh?"


    But her smile was already forming.


    She took a deep breath.


    She straightened her jacket and looked directly at Lucius.


    "Okay then, Lord L..."


    She raised her hand with confidence.


    "I want to join in."


    Lucius nodded once.


    "Welcome to Luxoria Castle, Fiona Flares."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @WeWINNING: SHE SAID YESSSSSSS


    @CastleQueen: FIONA FLARES OF LUXORIA


    @FullContractMode: A LEGENDARY MOMENT


    @NewEraStart: This is history.


    @NoGoingBack: LET''S GOOOOO


    @StreamGodsSmile: I felt that in my soul


    ---


    Fiona smiled at the camera.


    "Alright chat... It looks like I just signed with a castle."

 Chapter 380: Top Streamer to Royal Correspondent

    Fiona shifted on her feet, still smiling.


    "So... what should I stream now?"


    Lucius leaned back slightly.


    "Anything you want."


    Fiona raised an eyebrow.


    "Seriously?"


    "I just agreed to something hug."


    "And you''re telling me I get full freedom?"


    Lucius chuckled lightly.


    "That''s the point. We don''t control. We enable."


    Fiona crossed her arms, thinking aloud.


    "Alright then..."


    "Is there anyone interesting around here?"


    "Like famous tamers, beasts, or... drama?"


    Lucius gave a small nod.


    "There are."


    "Leader of both the Myralis and Valefor families are here today."


    Fiona''s eyes widened.


    "Wait, what? The actual Myralis and Valefor?"


    "Like the big-name noble families?"


    Lucius nodded again, calmly.


    "Yes."


    "Sylvaine Myralis and Vandred Valefor. Along with their children."


    "They just finished their meetings."


    Fiona stared for a beat, then spun toward her drone.


    "Chat, are you hearing this?"


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @RoyalSightings: HOLY THEY''RE IN THE BUILDING


    @EliteWatch: She about to run into Caelan and Elaris


    @PowerNamesOnly: This castle is STACKED


    @LuxoriaNeverSleeps: She''s gonna stream nobles now


    @ValeforFansRise: GIVE US A GLIMPSE OF THE IRON FANG


    ---


    Fiona turned back to Lucius, grinning.


    "Where are they now?"


    Before Lucius could answer, Liline appeared from the wall.


    "I will show you, Miss Fiona."


    She gave a short nod and raised her hand.


    A hallway formed instantly.


    "Please follow me."


    Fiona glanced at the corridor, then looked back at Lucius.


    "Wait¡ªwhat about my Vornis?"


    Lucius smirked.


    "Don''t worry."


    "I''ll handle it personally."


    "Consider it a surprise."


    Fiona''s eyes narrowed playfully.


    "You''re setting something up, huh?"


    Lucius tilted his head.


    "Always."


    Fiona turned toward the new hallway, the drone flying ahead.


    "Alright chat, let''s go meet the elite."


    "And maybe find out what kind of surprise Lord L is cooking behind the scenes."


    The stream was far from over.


    ---


    Fiona followed Liline down the hallway.


    They then stopped in front of a towering door etched with Luxoria emblems.


    The doors opened smoothly without a sound.


    There was Vandred, sitting leisurely with his three sons.


    Caelan, Raiven, and Eryndor were also sitting leisurely on the sofa.


    Fiona paused.


    She quickly stepped in with a bright smile and a short bow.


    "Hello! Sorry to interrupt."


    "I''m Fiona Flares, the only official streamer of Luxoria Castle."


    She lifted her drone to hover just above her shoulder.


    "Mind if I stream a little in here?"


    Vandred raised an eyebrow.


    Then let out a small grunt of amusement.


    "Sure. You''re Luxoria''s now. Do what you want."


    Fiona perked up.


    "Thanks! Appreciate it."


    She looked toward Vandred.


    "So, if you don''t mind me asking..."


    "What brings you to Luxoria today, Patriarch?"


    Vandred let out a short laugh.


    "Nothing minor. I just came to handle a few things."


    He raised one hand, gesturing toward Raiven.


    "Raiven had four Vornis under his name."


    "We''re redistributing them."


    "One for me, and one each for my sons."


    He paused, then added with a firm tone.


    "And while we''re here, we''re finalizing something far more important."


    Vandred''s gaze turned toward Caelan.


    "The contract between Caelan and the Titanhoof beast."


    Fiona''s eyes widened, her voice quick.


    "Whoa, chat! Did you hear that?"


    She turned to the drone.


    "They''re rebonding four Vornis¡ªone per family member."


    "That means even a top-tier family like Valefor..."


    "Is treating Vornis as a premium weapon."


    "You don''t rebind junk."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @FourForFang: FOUR VORNIS TO VALEFOR FAM?!


    @LuxoriaFlex: That''s generational wealth right there


    @SplitTheBeasts: They''re making a squad with it


    @CoreCrusherX: Vornis demand about to skyrocket


    @SmartRaiven: Raiven really came here loaded


    @VornisMeta: Confirmed. Vornis isn''t just hype¡ªit''s war gear


    ---


    Fiona kept going.


    "And wait¡ªdid he just say Titanhoof?"


    She looked back at Vandred.


    "As in the beast Raiven won at the Beast Castle auction?"


    "You still haven''t bonded it yet?"


    She blinked, then frowned a little.


    "Sorry if that''s too forward..."


    Vandred shook his head.


    "Don''t worry about it. Timing is everything."


    Caelan stepped forward.


    "The beast was waiting for the right moment."


    "And that moment is now."


    Fiona nodded fast, then turned to the drone again.


    "You guys get that?"


    "This is huge."


    "They''re finalizing the Titanhoof contract here, not at Beast Castle."


    "And that means even high-tier noble families."


    "Are coming to Luxoria Castle for services Beast Castle can''t do."


    She took a deep breath, eyes shining.


    "This is the real deal."


    "Not just auction."


    "But full package. Contract and cultivation manuals."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @RIPBeastCastle: This confirms Luxoria > Beast Castle


    @ContractKingdom: They came here for contract¡ªnot flex


    @TitanhoofBound: Caelan + Titanhoof = SCARY


    @LunaWasRight: This castle really is unbeatable


    @LuxoriaFirstChoice: If nobles are lining up, we KNOW it''s legit


    @StreamerInHeaven: Fiona walking through history rn


    ---


    Fiona turned to Vandred again with a respectful nod.


    "Thank you for letting me share this, Patriarch."


    He grunted.


    "You''ve got the camera."


    "Might as well show people what real power looks like."


    Fiona gave a sharp nod.


    "Oh, I will."


    Suddenly, Liline came to the room by phasing through the wall.


    "Mr. Caelan, Mr. Vandred."


    "The chamber is ready."


    "We''ll begin the rebonding of the Vornis units."


    "And the full contract synchronization for Titanhoof."


    Vandred let out a rare smile.


    "Already, huh?"


    Caelan gave a small smirk and stepped forward.


    "Finally."


    Liline turned to Fiona next.


    "Lady Fiona, you may come as well."


    "You''re welcome to stream the entire process."


    Fiona blinked, then looked at Vandred.


    "Is that... okay?"


    Vandred gave a firm nod.


    "Go ahead. Let them see it."


    Fiona gave a respectful bow.


    "Thank you, Patriarch."


    She turned to her drone, already flying to her side.


    "Chat, we''re going in. This is it."


    "Let''s see how Luxoria Castle binds an SS-Rank Titanhoof beast."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @EliteBeastWatcher: WE''RE GOING INTO THE CONTRACT ROOM


    @CoreBurner99: BINDING LIVE. I''M SHAKING


    @TamerTears: THIS IS WHAT BEAST CASTLE COULDN''T DO


    @CaelanFan: FINALLY THE FIRSTBORN SPEAKS


    @StreamerCamOn: BEST STREAM OF THE YEAR


    @LordLApproves: Fiona really walking through legends rn


    @VornisTechReveal: Show us everything!!


    ---


    Fiona stepped beside Liline, her footsteps echoing slightly.


    "Alright Luxoria... show us what Beast Castle couldn''t."


    The doors opened again.


    History was waiting.

 Chapter 381: Contracted in 20 Seconds

    Fiona followed closely behind the Valefor family.


    Her drone hovered above her shoulder, recording every angle.


    They entered a massive chamber.


    The ceiling stretched high above, reinforced with glowing runes.


    In the center were some raised platforms.


    Each one was shaped like a disc with etched binding circles.


    "This place is insane..."


    Fiona whispered under her breath.


    Liline stood calmly in the center of the room, waiting.


    She turned to Raiven first.


    "Mr. Raiven, please summon the three Vornis."


    Raiven nodded.


    "Understood."


    He raised his hand, summoning a portal.


    Three Vornis appeared from the portal.


    They moved to the platforms without needing instruction.


    Liline turned next to Vandred, Caelan, and Eryndor.


    "Please take your places on Platforms Four, Five, and Six."


    All three Valefor men gave a single nod.


    They stepped onto their spots without question.


    Fiona raised her voice slightly, streaming every second.


    "Alright, chat. It''s time."


    "Let''s see how Luxoria Castle handles beast rebonding."


    "The ones that were never done in every pet shop we knew."


    Suddenly, the six platforms glowed.


    Runes lit up beneath each participant''s feet.


    For a brief moment, silver light shot upward in synchronized pillars.


    Then... silence.


    Liline bowed.


    "Bonding complete."


    Fiona blinked.


    "...Wait. That''s it?"


    Even Vandred looked mildly surprised.


    "That fast?"


    Caelan raised an eyebrow but didn''t say a word.


    Eryndor simply looked down, nodding slightly.


    Raiven gave a short exhale.


    "Still fast... even when you know it''s coming."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @AutoContractWHAT: THEY DIDN''T EVEN MOVE


    @BeastCastleCouldNever: NO HAND SIGNS? NO BLOOD?


    @FastestBondAlive: That''s faster than syncing earbuds


    @TamerTalks: This is what you get when you get to Luxoria


    @ValeforStyle: Eryndor didn''t even blink


    @VornisInstaLink: Bro I need this tech


    @StreamHype: Fiona''s reaction = same


    ---


    Fiona shook her head slowly, still in disbelief.


    "That was literally the smoothest rebonding I''ve ever seen."


    She turned to Liline.


    "So... the system just recognizes the new target and overrides the previous link?"


    Liline nodded.


    "Correct."


    "Once authorized, Vornis links are rewritten through Luxoria Castle''s contract grid."


    "No scrolls, no signatures, no rituals. It all happens through embedded sync nodes."


    Fiona turned back to the camera.


    "You guys get this? Beast Castle requires full rituals and a prep team."


    "Luxoria Castle just hits a button and boom. Ownership transferred."


    She gestured to the Valefor men.


    "They didn''t move. Not one gesture. Nothing."


    Vandred grunted, arms still crossed.


    "Time is strength. This saves both."


    Caelan gave a small nod of agreement.


    "No delay means no vulnerability."


    Fiona looked back to her drone and grinned.


    "This isn''t just flashy. This is efficient war-level contracting."


    The drone zoomed slightly closer.


    Caelan broke the silence.


    "How about my Titanhoof?"


    Liline stepped forward, smiling.


    "Of course. Please present your beast."


    Caelan took out a thick, blackened silver box.


    It was inscribed with heavy runes and reinforced with layered seals.


    Fiona''s eyes widened.


    "Wait¡ªthat''s a high-tier spatial vault."


    "That''s not normal storage."


    Liline nodded.


    "This container is reinforced for SS-Rank Sovereign beasts."


    "Even passive energy from Titanhoof would corrode lower-tier vaults."


    Caelan carefully opened the box.


    A red pulse of raw pressure echoed through the room as Titanhoof emerged.


    Fiona took a half-step back, stunned.


    "That... that thing looks like it could shatter buildings just by walking."


    Liline''s tone stayed even.


    "Before we proceed, a reminder:"


    "SS-Rank Sovereign beasts do not follow normal contract rules."


    Caelan frowned slightly.


    "How different are we talking?"


    Liline raised one hand, summoning a projection.


    "Luxoria Castle can forge a contract that binds Titanhoof to you directly."


    "But... the bond is not final."


    "At this tier, the beast has free will within the link."


    "If it deems you unworthy, it can sever the connection instantly."


    Caelan looked directly at Titanhoof and nodded.


    "Then I''ll make sure it doesn''t even think about leaving me."


    Liline smiled faintly.


    "Good. Then let us begin."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @TitanhoofReveal: THAT''S A BEAST, NOT A HORSE


    @SSRANKACTIVATED: You feel that pressure through the screen?!


    @ValeforFlex: Of course the Valefors have the only vault like that


    @LuxoriaExclusive: Beast Castle never had a chance


    @ContractEdge: So the beast can LEAVE if it wants?!


    @PowerBalance: He better EARN it then


    @LegendaryStream: I swear this stream''s better than any show


    ---


    Fiona smirked at the camera.


    "Alright, chat¡ªthis one''s different."


    "This time, we''re not just rebinding."


    "We''re bonding an SS-Rank Sovereign beast live."


    "And not even Beast Castle could handle this."


    She gestured toward the platform.


    "Let''s see if Caelan can prove he''s worthy."


    The room was quiet for only a second.


    Then¡ªLiline smiled.


    Fiona blinked.


    "...Wait. What?"


    Caelan turned toward her.


    "Why is she smiling?"


    He looked at Liline.


    "Is it... already contracted to me?"


    Liline gave a small nod.


    "Correct. The beast has accepted you."


    "The moment Titanhoof stepped onto the platform and recognized your energy signature."


    "The contract was completed through Luxoria''s system grid."


    "It has acknowledged you as its rider."


    Caelan''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    "I can try calling it back?"


    "Go ahead," Liline said calmly.


    Caelan raised his hand and opened his beast portal.


    A moment later, Titanhoof calmly stepped through and disappeared inside the portal.


    The contract was real. The bond was sealed.


    Fiona''s mouth dropped.


    "What the actual¡ªHOW?"


    She spun toward the camera.


    "Chat! You just saw that, right?!"


    "That was an SS-Rank Sovereign beast.


    "It just got contracted in¡ªwhat¡ªtwenty seconds?"


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @TooFastTooTitan: HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE


    @NoChantNoStruggle: No fighting... no resisting... just BAM


    @SSRankSimp: Caelan got it like that


    @CastleTechOP: Luxoria''s system is NEXT LEVEL


    @HorseOfLegends: Titanhoof = claimed


    @NotBeastCastle: Beast Castle crying in ritual scrolls rn


    @ValeforWINS: Bro is calm and collected and just bagged a monster


    ---


    Fiona shook her head, still reeling.


    "That''s it. I''m convinced. Luxoria Castle doesn''t just talk power."


    "They deliver it. Fast. Clean. No drama."


    Liline then called Caelan again.


    "Sir Caelan."


    Her voice remained calm.


    "Now that the bond is complete, I advise you to grow stronger and prove yourself consistently."


    "SS-Rank Sovereign beasts retain free will."


    "Titanhoof may have accepted you today.


    "But if it ever senses weakness or dishonor in your actions..."


    She paused.


    "...it has the right to sever the bond at any time."


    Caelan gave a short nod.


    "Understood."


    "I didn''t come here for an easy win."


    "I came to earn a legacy."


    Fiona whispered to her stream.


    "Man''s got a one-ton tank horse and still says that like he''s not done yet."

 Chapter 382: Grizzhogs Like Snacks

    Three spectral maids suddenly materialized inside the chamber.


    Each floated forward with perfect synchronization.


    In their hands were some scrolls etched with runic markings.


    One maid stopped before Vandred, the second approached Eryndor.


    And the last stepped toward Caelan, bowing slightly.


    Each of them handed over a sleek, glowing scroll.


    Liline stepped forward as Caelan took his.


    He was now holding two scrolls.


    One was for Vornis and the other one was for Titanhoof.


    Fiona''s eyes widened again.


    "Wait¡ªmanuals for both?"


    She pointed at Caelan.


    "That''s... a Titanhoof-specific cultivation manual?"


    Liline smiled gently.


    "Of course."


    She turned to face the stream and Fiona directly.


    "At Luxoria Castle, we can create custom manuals for any beast.


    "No matter the rank, species, or origin."


    "And they are fully personalized. No duplicates."


    "Each one is tied to its user''s physique, talent and the beast."


    Fiona blinked, stunned.


    "So no one else can use it if it gets stolen?"


    Liline nodded.


    "Correct. The moment someone else tries to cultivate it."


    "They will become waste."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @ManualTechInsane: EVEN THE BOOKS ARE SMART??


    @ScrollLocked: Custom AND theft-proof. That''s wild


    @TitanhoofBoost: That manual''s gonna make Caelan a monster fr


    @OnlyInLuxoria: Beast Castle still doing printed pamphlets ????


    @RoyalTreatment: That maid delivery was smoother than my job interview


    @SecureCultivation: A locked scroll that adapts to you? Gimme 3


    ---


    Caelan nodded respectfully toward Liline.


    "I''ll use them both well."


    Fiona smirked at her drone.


    "You all saw it. Manuals. Vornis. Titanhoof. Exclusive tech."


    She turned slowly, showing the chamber behind her.


    "It''s only my first day here, and there''s already too much to believe."


    Liline gave a graceful bow.


    "All processes are now complete."


    She turned toward the Valefor patriarch.


    "Is there anything else you require, Lord Vandred?"


    Vandred gave a rare, approving smile.


    "Nothing more. We''ll be returning now."


    Liline nodded.


    "Understood. Just don''t forget, the Vornis competition is in one week, Lord Vandred."


    "All Vornis owners are invited to test their evolution progress and tactical synergy."


    Vandred gave a soft grunt.


    "I never forget a fight. We''ll be there."


    Before he turned to leave, Fiona stepped forward slightly.


    "Excuse me, Lord Vandred¡ªbefore you go..."


    "Mind sharing your thoughts about Luxoria Castle?"


    Vandred looked at her for a moment, then gave a short smirk.


    "What can I say..."


    "It amazed me."


    "It''s still new, so I can''t say how long it''ll last."


    "But if it keeps this up¡ª"


    "It might just become the best."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @ValeforSealOfApproval: BRO EVEN VANDRED SAID THAT


    @TamerLegends: "It might be the best" from HIM?!


    @StreamOfTheYear: Fiona''s stream keeps delivering


    @VornisHype: One week until the competition let''s GOOOO


    @RoyalExit: That''s the cleanest endorsement I''ve ever heard


    ---


    Fiona turned to the camera.


    "You heard him, chat. The Iron-Fanged Patriarch himself."


    "This place is real. And it''s just getting started."


    ---


    Vandred and his sons had already exited the Luxoria Castle.


    Fiona turned to Liline, lowering her voice slightly.


    "Hey, what about the Myralis family?"


    "Are they still here?"


    Liline shook her head softly.


    "No. They left shortly after their session was completed."


    Fiona sighed.


    "Dang, would''ve been cool to stream them too."


    She paused, then asked quickly:


    "How about the Vornis competition tokens?"


    "Any left on the field?"


    Liline smiled, but shook her head again.


    "I''m afraid not."


    "The battlefield became much more aggressive after your exit."


    "The remaining tokens were claimed within the hour."


    Fiona frowned.


    "Dang... so I really got lucky."


    She looked toward the camera.


    "Alright, chat. No more token runs today."


    She shrugged.


    "What do we do next?"


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @TourTime: Explore Luxoria Castle!


    @AskLordL: Go bother Lord L again


    @VornisRevealWhen: VORNIS SHOWCASE PLSSSS


    @TalkToLuna: Interview Luna!


    @GoHuntWithLiora: Join Liora on a beast hunt!


    ---


    Fiona scrolled through the wave of suggestions, chuckling.


    "You guys want everything. Fine, fine..."


    Her eyes narrowed as one comment kept repeating:


    "Liora. Everyone wants Liora."


    She turned to Liline nearby.


    "Miss Liline, is it possible for me to meet Lady Liora?"


    Liline looked at her thoughtfully for a moment.


    "Lady Liora is currently having a meal in the restaurant."


    Fiona perked up.


    "Can I meet and talk to her?"


    Liline smiled softly.


    "I don''t know much."


    "But I believe she would accept company if you ask politely."


    "Would you like me to escort you?"


    Fiona nodded quickly.


    "Yes, please!"


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @HUNTGODDESS: WE''RE GONNA SEE LIORA EAT????


    @SilverBeastQueen: DO NOT interrupt her mid-bite


    @RespectFirst: Bow first. Speak second.


    @FionaGotGuts: This girl fearless for real


    @EliteMeetingNext: Vornis, Titanhoof, now Liora? This stream legendary


    ---


    Fiona smirked and followed Liline out of the chamber.


    "Alright, chat. Time to meet the hunter of Luxoria Castle."


    ---


    Fiona followed Liline into an open-ceilinged restaurant.


    It was quite wide and was maintained entirely by spectral maids.


    Fiona whispered to the drone.


    "Alright chat... I expected a fancy lounge, but this is next level."


    Then she saw her.


    Liora.


    Seated alone, she wasn''t in full battle gear now, but she was still imposing.


    What surprised Fiona wasn''t the woman.


    It was the meal.


    A full roast Grizzhog.


    The beast was massive.


    Almost the size of a small bear.


    It was charred and seasoned to perfection.


    And Liora was eating it casually, like it was a light snack.


    Fiona''s jaw dropped a little.


    "She''s just... eating that thing? Alone?"


    Liline gave a small smile beside her.


    "Lady Liora prefers protein-heavy meals after a hunt."


    Fiona stared.


    "That''s a whole Grizzhog! I''ve seen squads struggle to take one down!"


    Liora didn''t look up.


    She calmly sliced through a bone-thick leg, took a bite, and chewed like it was bread.


    Fiona exhaled.


    "Alright, chat... here we go."


    She walked slowly toward the table, stopping a respectful few feet away.


    Liora''s eyes finally lifted.


    She looked at Fiona.


    Fiona gave a small bow and spoke quickly.


    "Hi. I''m Fiona."


    "The new official streamer of Luxoria Castle."


    Liora wiped her fingers with a cloth, then gave a simple nod.


    "I know."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @SteelGoddess: SHE LOOKED AT HER


    @RespectTheHunter: She knew already. Of course she did.


    @GrizzhogDevourer: That meat didn''t stand a chance


    @FionaHoldingItTogether: Look at her being polite while internally screaming


    ---


    Fiona forced a smile.


    "I hope I''m not interrupting your post-hunt meal..."


    Liora calmly replied.


    "You are. But you''re not unwelcome."


    Fiona blinked.


    "...Fair enough."

 Chapter 383: Monsters Mukbang

    Liora set down her massive roast Grizzhog.


    She looked at Fiona.


    "Why are you here?"


    Fiona took a breath.


    "I''m thinking of joining you when you hunt."


    "To film it. For my stream."


    Liora''s gaze sharpened.


    She leaned back slightly in her chair, studying Fiona more closely.


    "You want to join me... for streaming?"


    Fiona nodded confidently.


    "It would be amazing content."


    "Seeing how Luxoria Castle''s hunter works in the field?"


    "It''ll blow up online."


    Liora narrowed her eyes slightly.


    "Are you sure about that?"


    She leaned forward just a bit.


    "I don''t hunt basic beasts."


    "I go after SS-Rank Sovereign types."


    "Things that kill cities if you blink wrong."


    "So if you tag along, you''ll see blood."


    "Real blood. Not the type you edit in post."


    Fiona held her ground.


    "That''s fine. I knew it wouldn''t be safe."


    She smirked slightly.


    "But it''s exactly the kind of thing my viewers have never seen before."


    "So yeah¡ªI''m in."


    There was a brief silence.


    Then Liora smirked too.


    "You''ve got guts."


    She picked up a bone and cracked it in half with her fingers.


    Then pointed it slightly toward Fiona.


    "Sure. You can join me."


    "Meet me at the eastern gate tomorrow. Before dawn."


    "If you''re late, I leave you behind."


    Fiona grinned wide.


    "Deal. Thanks, Lady Liora."


    Liora gave a single nod.


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @SheSaidYes: FIONA''S GOING HUNTING WITH LIORA AHHH


    @SOVEREIGNHUNTING: This ain''t a side quest anymore


    @BloodContentIncoming: She said real blood. I''m not ready


    @RespectLeveledUp: Liora giving her a shot?? GOAT move


    @EastGate6AM: I''m setting my alarm to see if Fiona survives


    @DeadlyDuo: Fiona + Liora stream = Death or Glory


    ---


    Fiona turned toward the drone, her smile full of adrenaline.


    "Alright chat. You heard her."


    "Tomorrow... we hunt."


    She gave a short exhale, then added more quietly.


    "I''m not gonna lie though... I''m still kinda nervous."


    She glanced off-screen.


    "It''s Liora."


    "She eats Sovereign beasts for breakfast.


    "And I mean that literally."


    Fiona paused a beat, then perked up.


    "But hey, I''ve got my Vornis coming, right?"


    She turned to the wall and called Liline.


    "Miss Liline, is my Vornis ready yet?"


    Liline smiled calmly and nodded.


    "I will inform Lord L right away."


    "He was preparing something specific for you."


    "If you wish, I can ask if you can receive a temporary basic version first."


    "Just for tomorrow''s hunt."


    Fiona nodded quickly.


    "Yes, please. I don''t need anything crazy for now."


    "Just something that won''t abandon me when a beast twice my size tries to flatten me."


    Liline chuckled softly.


    "Understood."


    She gestured gently toward the restaurant around them.


    "In the meantime, Lady Fiona, you''re welcome to continue streaming here."


    "There are many rare dishes available."


    "Caught directly by Lady Liora during past hunts."


    Fiona''s eyes lit up.


    "Wait. This entire kitchen is filled with Liora-caught beasts?"


    Liline nodded again.


    "Grizzhog, Bovarex, Blazebark... and a few rare dishes not available anywhere else."


    Fiona turned back to the drone, grinning wide.


    "Alright, chat. Change of plans."


    "You wanted action."


    "But for now, we''re doing a Luxoria mukbang."


    "Everything on this menu was caught by one of the deadliest tamers alive."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @EatTheBoss: GRIZZHOG MUKBANG?? LET''S GOOOO


    @ChefLiora: So she hunts AND provides food supply


    @SurvivalBuffet: This castle just keeps giving


    @VornisPlsSoon: Vornis reveal during dinner? I''m staying


    @BeastBites: Fiona better eat a Bovarex Steak on cam


    @TomorrowWeHunt: Mukbang today. Deathmatch tomorrow


    ---


    Fiona rubbed her hands together.


    She already waved for one of the spectral maids.


    "Let''s taste what they cooked for us."


    "And tomorrow... we test if it can protect me, too."


    ---


    Inside Lucius''s private chamber, screens flickered across the wall.


    Lucius sat cross-legged on a levitating disk.


    He calmly drank something that looked expensive and bitter.


    Across from him, Loreia stood with her arms crossed.


    Just as she was speaking.


    Liline appeared silently through the wall, giving a small bow.


    She did not interrupt.


    Just waited quietly at the side.


    "Lucius," Loreia said, frowning,


    "Just what are you doing?"


    Lucius glanced up from his screen, sipping again.


    "Talking to my favorite sister, clearly."


    Loreia didn''t smile.


    "I mean Fiona. The streamer."


    "You accepted her just like that?"


    Lucius shrugged."Because Luna recommended her."


    "And you know how precise Luna is."


    "Fiona''s talented. Knows how to control a crowd."


    "That kind of visibility helps us."


    Loreia stepped forward.


    "I know. I get that she''s good."


    "But you''re forgetting something."


    Lucius raised an eyebrow.


    Loreia''s voice dropped slightly.


    "There are things here she can''t be allowed to know."


    "Your system, Lucius."


    "If she finds out about the Beast Hacker¡ª"


    Lucius waved it off.


    "Relax, sis. I''m not that careless."


    "That''s why I''m working to make sure she''s... comfortable here."


    "Eventually, she won''t want to leave. Can''t leave."


    Loreia narrowed her eyes.


    "If she''s going to stay, then she needs to be bound."


    "Like me. Like Liora. Like Luna."


    Lucius gave a slight sigh.


    "We''ll see. Let her prove herself."


    Loreia wasn''t finished.


    "But before that¡ª"


    "You''re coming with me. To the training chamber."


    Lucius blinked.


    "Now?"


    Loreia''s eyes glinted.


    "Yes. No hacks. No systems."


    "Just your body. Your muscles. Your speed."


    "You''ve been floating too long."


    Lucius scowled slightly.


    "You know I don''t like sweating."


    Loreia smiled darkly.


    "Then don''t make it look so easy next time you bring someone into our home."


    Liline, from the side, finally spoke.


    "Shall I prepare the training hall, Lady Loreia?"


    Loreia nodded.


    "Yes. Full resistance mode. He''s going in raw."


    Lucius groaned.


    "I shouldn''t have called for Fiona..."


    ---


    Liline quickly prepared a massive training chamber.


    Panels folded open. Heavy gravity emitters powered up.


    "Training chamber fully calibrated."


    "Sovereign-tier beast protocols engaged."


    In the center of the room, Lucius stood alone.


    He wore a light-flex combat shirt and tactical pants.


    Up in the observation deck, Loreia leaned forward, grinning slightly.


    "Now then."


    "Since my little brother already has stats like a Sovereign-tier beast..."


    "...let''s see if his body can keep up."


    Lucius frowned, already stretching his shoulders.


    "Really? You''re running beast-level intensity on me?"


    Loreia smirked.


    "Of course."


    "I''d be a terrible sister if I didn''t challenge you properly."


    "Ready?"


    Lucius exhaled slowly.


    "...Just get it over with."


    Loreia smiled and pressed the activation command.


    "Start round one."

 Chapter 384: Dragged Into Hell Training

    The floor beneath Lucius shifted with a mechanical grind.


    It revealed raised terrain segments and shifting plates.


    From the control deck above, Loreia watched everything.


    Liline stood beside her.


    "Initiating gravity compression level two."


    Lucius''s body instantly felt twenty percent heavier.


    He took a breath and cracked his neck.


    "Alright, let''s get this over with."


    Loreia''s voice came through the overhead speaker.


    "Aw, is the genius system hacker tired already?"


    Lucius rolled his eyes.


    "I''m here, aren''t I?"


    "Barely," Loreia replied.


    "You''ve been depending on hacks for too long."


    She hit another button.


    A platform behind Lucius shot upward.


    It released a Sovereign-class resistance drone.


    "Round one: dodge and survive."


    "You get hit? That''s on you."


    Lucius frowned.


    "You programmed a Sovereign drone to beat up your little brother?"


    "No," Loreia said sweetly.


    "I programmed it to remind you you''re still human."


    The drone lunged.


    Lucius spun out of the way just in time.


    He slid across the platform with his bare hands.


    The gravity field made every movement sluggish.


    "Tch¡ªthis would be easier if I had my system!"


    "No hacks. No shortcuts," Loreia replied instantly.


    "Your body should be able to move like your mind."


    "Otherwise, you''re just a fragile brain on a throne."


    Lucius ducked under a swipe, then kicked off a wall.


    He narrowly avoided the drone''s follow-up pounce.


    He landed and rolled with a grunt.


    "I''m starting to miss Fiona''s screaming," he muttered.


    Loreia laughed.


    "She''s braver than you right now."


    "At least she volunteered to face real beasts."


    Lucius launched forward.


    He finally managed to kick the drone''s side and stagger it.


    "Yeah? She''s not getting beat up by a training robot!"


    Loreia smirked behind the glass.


    "Of course not, she was not as great as you."


    "You''re just being gently corrected."


    "You call this gentle?"


    Lucius shouted, sidestepping another lunge.


    Loreia clicked her tongue.


    "Liline, raise the gravity to 30%."


    "Understood."


    The pressure doubled.


    Lucius dropped to a knee for half a second.


    Before forcing himself back up.


    "Are you trying to kill me?"


    "Nope," Loreia replied cheerfully.


    "Just trying to make sure you can dodge a punch."


    Lucius exhaled hard.


    "When this is over, I''m removing your dessert privileges for a week."


    "I don''t eat dessert."


    "Exactly," he grunted, leaping backward from a blast.


    After five more minutes of training, the drone disengaged.


    Lucius collapsed onto his back, panting.


    Loreia''s voice finally softened.


    "That''s enough for now."


    She tapped the comms.


    "Not bad. You didn''t die."


    Lucius groaned.


    "Give me five minutes."


    "Then I''ll come up there and overwrite your whole combat training library."


    Loreia smirked, arms crossed.


    "Sure. If you can still walk by then."


    From beside her, Liline offered a quiet suggestion.


    "Shall I prepare a recovery protocol?"


    She turned toward Liline with a faint smile still lingering.


    "So, why are you here anyway?"


    Liline gave a small bow.


    "I came to inform Lord Lucius that..."


    "Miss Fiona will be joining Lady Liora on her hunt tomorrow morning."


    "She requested an early-access version of her custom Vornis."


    "Something simple but reliable for field protection."


    Loreia folded her arms and nodded slowly.


    "I see... our little streamer''s already diving in."


    She looked back toward the comm.


    "Fortunately, she needs our dear brother for the beast prep."


    "Which means¡ª"


    She tilted her head slightly.


    "You can use your system now, Lucius. Heal up."


    Lucius, still lying on the ground, gave a lazy smirk.


    "Finally."


    He lifted a single hand and spoke with a tired grin.


    "System¡ªfull body restoration."


    In seconds, the bruises vanished, his breath steadied.


    And he stood up like nothing happened.


    "Better."


    Loreia gave a short scoff.


    "Cheater."


    Lucius smirked, brushing off his shirt.


    Loreia pointed toward the door.


    "Now go."


    "Fiona needs a beast, and she''s already brave enough to follow Liora."


    "Don''t make her go in unarmed."


    Lucius sighed with mock reluctance.


    "Sure, sure."


    He turned to Liline.


    "Prepare a tuning chamber for me."


    Liline bowed with graceful precision.


    "Yes, Master Lucius. A room will be ready in three minutes."


    Lucius stretched once, then walked out without another word.


    ---


    Lucius was currently thinking of something.


    Then he turned to Liline.


    "Liline."


    "Contact your sister Lilia at the Luxoria Mansion."


    "I want her to send me one of the Luperions."


    Behind him, Loreia raised an eyebrow.


    "Wait. Did you say... Luperion?"


    Lucius gave a slight nod.


    "Yes. For Fiona."


    Loreia''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    "You''re giving a Luperion to our streamer?"


    Lucius smirked, finally turning to face her.


    "She''s not just a streamer."


    "She''s our first public partner. Our face to the world."


    "And if she''s going to represent Luxoria Castle..."


    He paused, then smiled faintly.


    "...she should have something better than a base-model Vornis."


    Loreia frowned.


    "Luperion is an advanced model."


    "It''s designed for our private armies."


    "That''s not something just anyone can handle."


    Lucius nodded.


    "Exactly. That''s why it won''t move unless I authorize it."


    "She can fight with it, stream with it, and look great beside it.


    "But if she ever tries to leave us?"


    He tapped the side of his head.


    "Luperion won''t budge."


    Loreia leaned against the console, arms crossed.


    "So it''s not just a gift. It''s a leash."


    Lucius gave a small laugh.


    "A very elegant one."


    Liline, still expressionless, nodded once.


    "Understood, Master Lucius."


    "I will request a Luperion delivery from Miss Lilia immediately."


    "Estimated arrival: fifteen minutes."


    Loreia looked at her brother again, quieter this time.


    "You''re really playing the long game with her, huh?"


    Lucius grinned.


    "Always."


    "Now let''s make her something unforgettable."


    ---


    Meanwhile, back in the Luxoria Castle restaurant, Fiona was still eating.


    Plates were stacked around her like a fortress of empty dishes.


    Despite her slim, energetic frame, she was a professional-grade mukbang machine.


    She finished the last bite of Grizzhog roast.


    She wiped her lips, then pointed at the next dish.


    "Alright chat, we''re going double rare now."


    "This one''s from a Mist Beast."


    She took a bite, her eyes lighting up.


    "Holy crap, this is fog-spiced. Who even makes food like this?"


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @MistOnMyPlate: Girl''s got an iron stomach


    @FogFlavors: Mist Beast cuisine hits different fr


    @VornisNext: Forget the food¡ªWHERE''S THE VORNIS


    @SheEatingEating: Someone stop her she''s not breathing


    @FullSendFiona: I''m both proud and terrified


    ---


    Fiona sipped from a glowing drink made from Bovarex blood extract.


    "Alright, chat... No lie, this food''s next level."


    She leaned back and grinned.


    "But I do wonder what kind of Vornis Lord L is cooking up for me."


    She glanced toward the camera with mischievous eyes.


    "Whatever it is... I better be able to ride it into the sunset or at least look cool beside it."

 Chapter 385: Custom Basic Unit

    Fiona let out a happy sigh.


    After finishing her seventh plate and chugging some juice.


    Just as she leaned back into her seat, Liline appeared.


    "Miss Fiona," she said calmly.


    "Your quarters are ready."


    Fiona blinked.


    "Oh? I have my own room here?"


    Liline nodded.


    "Of course."


    "As Luxoria Castle''s only contracted streamer, you will reside in our upper east wing."


    "You are permitted full access within your assigned sector."


    Fiona wiped her mouth and stood up quickly.


    "Sweet! Lead the way, Miss Liline."


    A few minutes later...


    They reached a tall silver door with a Luxoria emblem etched into the front.


    When she entered, Fiona gasped.


    The room was massive.


    There were multiple interactive screens on the walls.


    A curved luxury sofa facing a holographic projection unit.


    A queen-sized bed with a gravity-soft platform.


    And a private balcony with an amazing view.


    "This looks like a boss-level VIP suite..."


    She slowly walked inside.


    Liline followed, then turned to her.


    "Your Vornis will be delivered before dawn."


    "It is currently being prepared by Lord L himself."


    Fiona blinked.


    "Wait, Lord L is personally handling it?"


    Liline nodded.


    "Yes. He insisted."


    She gave a polite bow.


    "Please rest for now."


    "Everything you require is voice-controlled through the central AI."


    With that, she vanished.


    Fiona turned slowly to the camera drone.


    "Okay, chat... holy crap."


    She did a slow spin with her arms stretched wide.


    "I''m not saying I made it..."


    "But this room screams main character energy."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @RoomTourTime: SHOW US EVERYTHINGGG


    @StreamerRoyalty: This ain''t a room, it''s a streamer throne


    @FFSuiteConfirmed: THAT CREST ON THE DOOR THO


    @JealousViewer: I''d fake a contract just to get that bed


    @WhereTheSnacksAt: Check the minibar!!


    @VornisHypeNow: Lord L himself working on it? You''re blessed


    ---


    Fiona smirked.


    "Alright then, let''s do a room tour!"


    She pointed to the living area.


    "First off¡ªcheck out this floating sofa."


    "It vibrates when you lean on it, but like..."


    "Not in a weird way. Just expensive."


    She walked over to the bed.


    Jumped on it once, then bounced slightly.


    "And this bed?"


    "It was so soft, I''m sleeping in a cloud tonight."


    She slid open a panel on the wall.


    She then found a snack cabinet stocked with numerous snacks.


    "Okay, who do I talk to about stocking this every day?"


    She turned back to the drone.


    "Chat. I don''t think I''m leaving this place. Ever."


    Her voice lowered to a playful whisper.


    "And my Vornis? Arrives before dawn."


    She winked.


    "Tomorrow, we stream a beast reveal..."


    "And then, a Sovereign hunt."


    She laid back on the bed and threw a pillow at the drone.


    "This is the dream, chat. And we''re just getting started."


    ---


    Fiona soon opened his eyes.


    She sat up in bed with no hesitation.


    Her hair slightly messy but her energy already kicking in.


    "Alright... up and alive."


    She turned toward her drone camera.


    It had been activated by motion detection.


    "Good morning, chat."


    She gave a peace sign with one hand.


    "Hope you all slept as well as I did on that gravity foam bed."


    "Seriously, I could stream a whole review just about the pillow physics."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @SheNeverSleeps: WHY IS SHE ALREADY AWAKE


    @StreamGrind: She''s built different


    @MorningQueen: Even her bedhead is photogenic


    @VornisRevealNow: IS TODAY THE DAY??


    @AwakeForTheBeast: GOOOOOOD MORNING VORNIS CREW


    ---


    Before she could say another word, Liline phased into the room.


    "I see you''re already awake, Miss Fiona."


    Fiona jumped slightly.


    "Oh¡ªLiline! You scared me."


    Then her eyes widened.


    "Wait... are you here for what I think you''re here for?"


    Liline gave a graceful nod.


    "Yes."


    "Your custom Vornis has been completed."


    "Lord Lucius finished the final adjustments an hour ago."


    Fiona''s mouth opened in excitement.


    "Chat! You hear that? It''s done! My beast is real!"


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @BeastTimeBaby: LET''S GOOOOOOOO


    @LuciusBuiltIt: If he touched it, it''s probably insane


    @StreamerMountReady: Hope it''s got jet wings or something


    @FionaAndTheBeast: She''s gonna ride into battle like royalty


    @NoMoreWaiting: TAKE US TO THE LAB


    ---


    Liline smiled gently.


    "Please follow me."


    "It is waiting in the chamber."


    Fiona hopped to her feet.


    "Alright, chat. Let''s meet my partner."


    Fiona soon arrived at the chamber.


    When she entered it, she froze.


    What froze Fiona was the one who stood in the center.


    "Whoa."


    The beast before her was sleek.


    It glowed faintly in hues of orange, red, and ember gold.


    Its armor segments were slim with polished claws and shoulder plating.


    It looked like it had been styled just for her.


    It didn''t look like the heavy, jagged Vornis.


    It looked... cooler.


    Fiona took a step forward, her eyes wide.


    "This... this is my Vornis?"


    Lucius stood a few meters behind the platform.


    He gave a small, casual smile.


    "Of course."


    He coughed once, subtly hiding the truth.


    In reality, this wasn''t just a Vornis.


    It was a Luperion.


    A better version of Vornis.


    But Fiona didn''t need to know that.


    Not yet.


    Fiona walked in a slow circle around the beast, taking it all in.


    "Chat, are you seeing this?!"


    "I thought I was getting some basic unit, but this..."


    "This is a fashion-forward predator, and I LOVE IT."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @OrangeFlameDrill: THAT''S NOT A BASIC MODEL THAT''S AN ICON


    @StreamerSync: It even looks like her brand


    @LuxoriaCustomOP: Did Lord L style a war beast for her?!


    @RedHotRide: This ain''t no Vornis. This is VORNIS 2.0


    @IWantOneNow: I''d sell my gear for a beast like that


    ---


    Fiona placed her hand gently against its armored neck.


    The beast leaned into her touch.


    She felt something hum in her fingertips.


    "...It likes me."


    Lucius gave a faint nod.


    "It was designed to."


    Fiona looked back at him, grinning ear to ear.


    "Lord L... I don''t know what I expected."


    "But you destroyed it."


    "This is beyond perfect."


    Lucius simply smiled.


    "Good."


    He stepped forward slightly.


    "But... it''s not just the look that''s different."


    Fiona blinked.


    "Wait¡ªwhat?"


    Lucius tilted his head.


    "There''s more to your partner than you think."


    Fiona raised her brows, clearly stunned.


    "You''re telling me this thing''s not just cool, but secretly cracked?"


    Lucius smirked.

 Chapter 386: Her Beast Ate Her Phone

    Lucius smirked slightly.


    "Try giving your phone and drone to it."


    He gestured toward the sleek orange-red beast.


    "Anything related to your streaming setup.


    "Give it to your Vornis."


    Fiona blinked.


    "Huh? Just... hand it over?"


    Lucius nodded.


    "Trust it."


    Still unsure, Fiona shrugged.


    She handed her phone and wrist drone to the Vornis.


    The moment her fingers left the devices, the beast''s chest shifted open.


    It revealed a small inner hatch.


    Then, with a sudden chomp-like motion.


    It swallowed both devices whole.


    "Wait¡ªWAIT! What just happened?!"


    Fiona took a step back, alarmed.


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @WhereDidItGo: YO WHAT


    @LastFrame: THE LAST SHOT WAS THE BEAST''S MOUTH ????


    @StreamOffline: Stream just DIED


    @CameraSnacked: DID IT JUST EAT THE DRONE??


    @LuxoriaGlitchOrPower: Is that a bug or a feature


    ---


    Back in the chamber, Fiona stared at Lucius.


    "It ate my phone. And the drone."


    Lucius smiled calmly.


    "Don''t worry. That''s one of its features."


    "Your devices weren''t destroyed¡ªthey were integrated."


    Fiona blinked.


    "...You mean my Vornis is my new stream setup?"


    Lucius smirked.


    "Exactly. Starting now, your beast is your broadcast."


    "Welcome to Luxoria Castle''s streaming tech."


    Fiona stared in awe.


    "...Chat''s gonna lose it when they figure this out."


    Lucius simply smirked.


    He then snapped his fingers.


    Immediately, the back plating of the Vornis opened up, releasing multiple drones.


    They were streamlined, angular, and lit with her signature orange-red color.


    From the beast''s shoulder, a small circular slot opened.


    A sleek, transparent visor floated forward into her hands.


    Lucius gestured toward it.


    "This will be your new phone, stream controller, camera hub, and live beast sync module."


    Fiona slowly reached out, grabbing the visor as if it were made of glass.


    "No way..."


    Lucius continued calmly.


    "It''s already integrated with your beast''s neural network."


    "It includes my contract protocols, Luxoria Castle''s comm-grid."


    "And a firewall that not even I can breach once it''s locked."


    "You''re part of the system now."


    Fiona let out a breathless laugh.


    "This is... next level."


    She slid the visor onto her head.


    As soon as it clicked into place, a soft hum triggered.


    An orange holographic interface unfolded in front of her.


    Status readings. Stream toggles. Beast vitals.


    Combat sync. Castle comms.


    All at her fingertips.


    She instinctively waved a hand to the side.


    She then saw her Beastagram app open mid-air, fully linked.


    "It''s all... touchless?"


    Lucius nodded.


    "You don''t even need voice commands. Just intent."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @SHE''SBACK: SHE''S ALIVE!!!


    @NewTechWHO: BRO WHAT IS THAT SETUP


    @VisorQueen: She''s streaming through her beast now?


    @VornisUpgradeUnlocked: That''s Luxoria tech. That''s ENDGAME tech


    @GodTierHUD: I need that UI injected into my soul


    @NoPhoneNoProblem: We went from streamer to cyberpunk icon in a DAY


    @Luxoriastrikesagain: HE SNAPPED AND HER TECH EVOLVED


    ---


    Fiona grinned wide.


    "Hey chat."


    She reached out and swiped the interface playfully.


    "Miss me?"


    "This is your new Vornis-powered, visor-integrated, beaststream experience.


    "Straight from Lord L himself."


    She looked over her shoulder toward him.


    "I don''t even know how to repay you for this."


    Lucius simply smiled again.


    "You already are. Just keep streaming."


    "And show the world what Luxoria Castle can do."


    Fiona smirked at the camera.


    "Gladly."


    Lucius gave a calm nod, then reminded her.


    "One more thing."


    Fiona blinked.


    "There''s more?"


    Lucius tapped the air, and a new logo appeared in front of her interface.


    It was a sleek and minimal silver app with Luxoria Castle''s crest embedded in the center.


    "This is the Luxoria Castle App. It''s launching today."


    He looked back at her.


    "From now on, you can stream there too.


    "Uncensored, high-tier quality and direct links to the castle''s data."


    Fiona raised a brow.


    "Wait, so I''m streaming on two platforms now?"


    Lucius smirked.


    "Exactly. Beastagram for public chaos."


    "Luxoria App... for real content."


    Fiona nodded, already flicking through the new UI tab in her visor.


    Lucius continued.


    "There''s no login required to watch."


    "No subscriptions. Just pick a username and enter."


    "That way, no one misses out."


    "And you, Fiona, will be the first featured channel."


    Fiona whistled.


    "You''re making it impossible for anyone to ignore me, huh?"


    Lucius chuckled softly.


    "That''s the point."


    He walked a few steps forward and added with a slightly raised hand.


    "Also¡ªyour Vornis."


    "It still has the standard Vornis protocols."


    "Core defense matrix, adaptive limb shift, auto-track sync, battlefield shield pulse..."


    Then he smiled.


    "...But upgraded, of course. Faster. Cleaner. More reactive."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @NEWAPPDROP: YO DID HE JUST ANNOUNCE AN APP


    @LuxoriaLive: No login?! I''m downloading it NOW


    @FIONAFEED: Featured streamer on two platforms? She''s eating


    @BetterVornisConfirmed: Her beast has better default stats than the auction ones


    @LuxoriaSponsorMe: This is why he''s HIM


    @GodstreamOnly: Finally, an app for real beast tech not corporate junk


    @CastleFlexing: Imagine Beast Castle watching this rn


    ---


    Fiona faced the camera again.


    The visor interface reflecting the red-orange glow.


    "Alright chat¡ªremember this:"


    "Starting today, you can catch my streams right inside the Luxoria Castle app."


    She gestured toward her beast.


    "And this little monster behind me?"


    "I''ll name him... Fionyx."


    "My new partner."


    Behind her, Fionyx gave a quiet mechanical growl.


    Lucius let out a small chuckle as he turned to leave.


    "Try not to break the app on day one."


    Fiona grinned even wider.


    "No promises, Lord L."


    As Lucius disappeared down the corridor.


    Fiona spun toward the camera drone, her excitement bubbling over.


    "Alright, chat¡ªthis is it."


    "I''m officially moving to the Luxoria Castle App."


    She gave a playful wave.


    "Say goodbye to Beastagram for now."


    ---


    [Beastagram LIVE CHAT ¨C @FionaFlares]


    @WaitWaitLetMeDownload: LET ME INSTALL FIRST


    @FionyxRevealNext: FIONYX?! That name goes hard


    @AppCrasherIncoming: Don''t start without me


    @RIPBeastagram: She left us for a castle


    @LuxoriaDownloadSpeedrun: SPEEDRUNNING THE INSTALL RN


    ---


    Fiona opened the Luxoria Castle App, and as expected.


    Her profile was already there. Clean. Polished.


    Featured streamer: Fiona Flares.


    "Lord L already made me a full account."


    "Of course he did."


    She activated her stream and within seconds...


    The viewer count started climbing.


    Hundreds. Then thousands.The chat bar exploded.


    Fiona struck a pose in front of Fionyx.


    "Let''s start the official Luxoria-exclusive stream."


    "With Fiona Flares..."She pointed her thumb back at her beast.


    "...and Fionyx."


    "Let''s show the world what Luxoria Castle really is."

 Chapter 387: One Stock Left

    Fiona leaned slightly forward, fingers flicking through her visor UI.


    "Alright, chat."


    "Let''s explore this app before we dive into the chaos."


    She expanded the first tab labeled [BEAST ARCHIVE], which split into two categories:


    Auction-Class Beasts


    Regular-Class Beasts


    Her eyes darted to the second one first.


    "Hmm... Regular-Class?" she muttered.


    "Let''s see what that''s about."


    As she tapped into the Regular-Class section.


    A beautifully organized interface bloomed across her visor.


    There was only one beast there.


    [Vornis Units ¨C Standard Model]


    "Ohoho¡ªchat, I found them!" she grinned.


    "Let''s look at Vornis stats directly from the source."


    She tapped the entry.


    Even though the stock was listed as ''currently unavailable,''


    The entire data sheet was available in stunning clarity.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @VornisDATA??: YOU CAN SEE ALL THE STATS???


    @SystemTransparency: Bro this is better than official tournament sheets


    @IWantAllTheLore: THE LORE SECTION IS DEEP TOO


    @SmartBuyersWin: This is how you earn trust¡ªshow the real specs


    @GoodbyeMysteryBoxes: Beast Castle would NEVER give this data


    @EliteUI: The UI feels like I''m hacking into military secrets


    ---


    Fiona zoomed in and panned the screen with two fingers.


    "This right here? This makes the app so worth it already."


    She let out a low whistle.


    "They''re showing everything."


    "Abilities, elemental alignments, stat spread..."


    She tapped another tab.


    "...Even the weaknesses."


    Her eyes widened slightly as she read through the data on screen.


    Fiona turned to her drone with a huge grin.


    "You don''t buy mystery boxes in Luxoria."


    "You know exactly what you''re getting."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @VornisWikiUnlocked: They really show the weaknesses too???


    @BalancedNotBroken: Finally, a system that doesn''t scam you


    @TransparencyGOAT: This is how you build trust


    @LoreANDStats: I''m reading all of this like it''s a novel


    @CompareToAuction: Go check auction-class beasts next!!


    ---


    Fiona tapped back to the main [Beast Archive] menu


    She then swiped into the Auction-Class tab.


    Rows of SS-Rank Sovereign-tier beasts began to appear.


    Their names read like a list of legendary monsters.


    Then she stopped.


    "Wait a minute..."


    Her eyes narrowed as the screen shimmered.


    A highlighted beast listing sat right at the top of the screen.


    Unlike the others, this one was glowing.


    And more importantly...


    It wasn''t marked as SOLD.


    Instead, there it was.


    One word beneath the name:


    [STOCK: 1]


    Fiona''s jaw dropped slightly.


    "Chat... hold on..."


    "There''s one beast in the Auction section... and it''s in stock."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @STOCKONEWHAT: YO WHAT IS THAT


    @ISITREAL: No way that''s not a glitch


    @SSBEASTINCOMING: Tell me it''s not Zephyron again


    @DONTSKIPCLICKIT: CLICK IT FIONA WE''RE SCREAMING


    @EXCLUSIVEAGAIN: Did Lord L leave a hidden drop or something?!


    ---


    Fiona tapped the glowing listing.


    "Alright, chat... Let''s see what this thing is."


    The screen expanded.


    And the name appeared in bold, burning red text:


    ---


    [Inferon ¨C The Blazing King]


    [Status: SS-Rank Sovereign-Tier | Stock: 1]


    ---


    Fiona''s eyes went wide.


    "...Inferon? No way."


    The detailed beast data loaded instantly.


    ---


    [Species: Titanflame Lion]


    [Element: Fire / Light]


    [Temperament: Regal, Dominant, Unforgiving]


    [Description:]


    [A colossal lion whose breath reshapes the horizon.]


    [Wields divine fire and radiant dominance. Judgement incarnate.]


    [Each roar reshapes the weather. Each step blackens the earth.]


    [Inferon is not a beast¡ªit is a sunborn king.]


    ---


    Fiona scrolled down, reading aloud.


    "Okay. This thing''s seven meters tall. Breathes solar fire."


    "Melts barriers. And turns battlefields into volcanic hellscapes."


    She gasped.


    "Wait¡ª''flames that burn inside the spirit core''?!"


    She kept scrolling.


    ---


    Abilities:


    [Celestial Inferno ¨C Releases a golden wildfire that bypasses armor and continues burning inside targets.]


    [King''s Dominion ¨C Suppresses speech, lies, and movement of lower-ranked entities within aura range.]


    [Solar Prowess ¨C All stats boost dramatically under sunlight.]


    [Sovereign Flame Pounce ¨C Cross-battlefield leap that detonates in sunflare on impact.]


    [Radiant Rebirth ¨C Upon defeat, erupts and reforms with heightened purity. Once per battle.]


    ---


    [Weaknesses:]


    [Water & Darkness Suppression ¨C Heavy water or divine dark energy weakens its aura.]


    [Nocturnal Instability ¨C Loses balance at night without sunlight support.]


    [Pridebound Limitation ¨C Refuses commands it deems dishonorable.]


    [Sync Resistance ¨C Cannot be tamed emotionally or telepathically¡ªrequires sheer strength.]


    ---


    Fiona looked frozen for a second.


    "...This isn''t a pet. This is a living sun with teeth."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @ITSREAL: INFERON IS REAL


    @SSBEASTLIVE: ONE STOCK? WHO''S GETTING IT?!


    @IThoughtItWasGone: I THOUGHT IT WAS AUCTION ONLY


    @FireLionKing: THIS THING COULD EAT TITANHOOF


    @LuciusWhatDidYouDo: LORD L IS COOKING AGAIN


    @GetFionaOne: GIVE HER THE BEAST


    ---


    Fiona exhaled and whispered:


    "One stock..."


    She turned slowly to the camera.


    "This... this isn''t just some normal drop."


    She shook her head.


    "This has to be for the next auction."


    "There''s no way they''d let this beast go casually."


    She flicked through the app one more time.


    The purchase button was greyed out.


    "Yup. It''s locked. Figures."


    She sighed dramatically.


    "Can''t even impulse buy the sun."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @FionaTouchIt: I''d sell a lung for Inferon


    @FireGodMode: That lion is pure rage and royalty


    @AuctionWhen: FIONA FIND OUT WHEN THE NEXT AUCTION IS


    @GetThatLion: Ask Lord L to gift it


    @VornisWho: After seeing Inferon I forgot Vornis even existed


    @OneStockFear: The real question is... who''s it for


    ---


    Fiona smiled and closed the beast listing.


    "Alright, chat, let''s not spiral too hard."


    "We''ll save the Inferon dreams for another stream."


    She tapped the time display hovering in her visor.


    "But look at the time..."


    Her grin returned full force.


    "Lady Liora should be arriving any minute now."


    She stood from her seat, stretching her arms.


    "It''s huntin'' time, baby."


    She glanced toward the camera again.


    "Let''s go meet her and get this stream properly underway."


    "Today''s our first official trip out with Luxoria''s top hunter."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @LIORAWATCH: She''s coming?! LET''S GO


    @SOVEREIGNHUNTINCOMING: Vornis + Liora = Boss level team


    @FionyxInTheField: Hope we get to see Fionyx fight!


    @SurviveTheDayFiona: Don''t die. I''m too invested in this stream


    @HelmetOnQueen: Fiona, please dodge everything


    ---


    Fiona spun on her heel.


    The visor interface flipped open a small map of the eastern gate.


    "Next stop¡ªLuxoria Gate."


    She began walking, boots clicking down the corridor.


    "Let''s see what kind of beast Liora''s got her eyes on today."


    "Hope mine doesn''t run away."


    She glanced back at Fionyx trailing behind her with silent grace.


    "...He better not."

 Chapter 388 388: Do I Get a Jetpack?

    Fiona stepped out onto the raised eastern platform of Luxoria Castle.


    Standing there, arms crossed and gaze fixed ahead, was Liora.


    Her silver hair was tied back in a high combat loop.


    Fionyx walked behind Fiona silently.


    Liora turned at the sound of approaching footsteps.


    Her gaze fell immediately on Fionyx.


    "So Lord L have given you your beast."


    Fiona nodded with a grin.


    "Yeah. Meet Fionyx."


    She patted the beast''s shoulder proudly.


    "And now I''ve got something to protect me too."


    Liora gave a small approving nod.


    "Good."


    She turned toward the edge of the platform.


    "Then let''s go."


    Just as she said it, metallic liquid flew into her back.


    Forming a jetpack for her to fly with.


    Fiona''s eyes went wide.


    "Wait¡ªwait wait wait. You''re flying?!"


    Liora turned back slightly.


    "Of course."


    Fiona blinked rapidly.


    "Do I get one?!"


    Liora smirked faintly.


    "No. You have something better."


    She nodded toward Fionyx.


    "Just ride him."


    Fiona looked at Fionyx, confused.


    "Wait... ride him? He transforms?"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @JetpackFlex: Liora got that sovereign tech flex


    @TransformBeastTime: FIONYX CAN TRANSFORM?!


    @GadgetQueen: Everything in Luxoria Castle is smarter than me


    @SheDidntKnow: Fiona didn''t even read the manual


    @FionyxJetForm: Ride or fly, baby


    ---


    Fionyx let out a soft rumble.


    Its legs compacted. Armor shifted and retracted.


    Panels slid into new configurations.


    In seconds, Fionyx''s entire shape changed into a hoverpack unit.


    Still glowing with Fiona''s signature colors.


    "...Holy crap." Fiona whispered.


    "You''re telling me this thing''s both a beast and a personal flight rig?"


    Liora hovered off the ground a few meters, watching.


    "Luxoria doesn''t build things halfway."


    Fiona grinned wide, eyes locked on her newly transformed beast-gear.


    "Chat... let''s take to the sky."


    She hopped onto Fionyx.


    "Alright, Lady Liora¡ªlead the way!"


    Liora nodded once.


    Both of them then flew away.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @AirborneArc: BRO SHE''S FLYINGGG


    @FionyxJetFormActivated: THAT WAS SO SMOOTH


    @BeastJetPackCombo: Why even walk anymore


    @StreamerInTheSky: Fiona is living the dream


    @LuxoriaLevel100: Lord L did not play with this design


    ---


    Fiona laughed as she soared.


    "Let''s go catch us a beast!"


    Up ahead, Liora hovered smoothly.


    Fiona leaned into the flight, then called out,


    "By the way."


    "What kind of beast are we hunting today?"


    Liora looked over her shoulder.


    A small smirk curling at her lips.


    "Just follow me."


    "It''ll be a surprise."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @ThatSmileMeansTrouble: Liora''s smirk = Fiona''s death incoming


    @SheWontTellUs: Bro even Fiona doesn''t know


    @SSBeastTime: If it''s a surprise, it''s definitely dangerous


    @StreamerInDanger: Protect our girl


    ---


    They flew for several more minutes across rising cliffs.


    Until they approached a partially ruined zone.


    Most of the area was submerged in shallow water.


    Fiona slowed down and hovered above the site.


    "Wait... this place looks like an old beast testing facility."


    She glanced at her visor''s mapping tools.


    "And we''re in a registered SS-Rank danger zone..."


    Her eyes narrowed toward the water.


    "Liora. Don''t tell me¡ªthis one''s aquatic?"


    Liora gave a slight nod.


    "It''s not just aquatic."


    She hovered lower, eyes scanning the rippling surface.


    "It''s territorial."


    Fiona''s brows furrowed as she hovered beside her.


    "Great."


    "So we''re dealing with an angry sea monster that lives in a sunken death temple."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @MistRuinsUnlocked: New zone unlocked! Let''s GOO


    @WaterBossIncoming: I knew it would be a sea beast


    @SSRankOnly: This place screams hidden horror


    @FionaHoldYourBreath: Aquatic = nightmare fuel


    @LuxoriaZoneElite: Even the ruins look hostile


    ---


    Fiona took a deep breath and pulled up her interface.


    "Alright, chat."


    "Looks like we''re diving into something big today."


    "Time to see if I can survive my first Sovereign-tier splash zone."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @PrayForFiona: Don''t get stomped PLEASE


    @MoistMadness: It''s too wet here for my anxiety


    @SovereignSpottedSoon: She''s way too calm for this


    @MistRuinsTension: Something''s down there. I FEEL it.


    ---


    Suddenly, the water around the ruins began to tremble.


    Not ripple. Tremble.


    Fiona froze mid-air, eyes narrowing.


    "Liora... you feel that?"


    Liora gave a silent nod.


    "It''s surfacing."


    A booming roar echoed beneath them.


    Followed by a column of steam that shot skyward.


    Then the ground cracked open.


    Water exploded from the center platform.


    From it, something colossal emerged.


    Coral-armored hide dripping with pressure mist.


    Its curved horns glinting under the pale ruin light.


    The beast''s eyes locked onto them.


    Fiona hovered back half a meter on instinct.


    "What the hell is that?!"


    Liora spoke clearly and calmly, introducing it.


    "That... is Brutaurus. The Abyss-Horned Juggernaut."


    Her eyes meeting the creature''s.


    "A Sovereign-tier pressure beast that rules these ruins."


    "Water element. Territorial. Duelist mentality."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @BrutaurusLive: OH MY GOD IT''S ACTUALLY HIM


    @TheJuggernaut: That thing is a walking tsunami with fists


    @SevenMetersTall?!: Nah I''m logging out


    @WeDeadToday: Fiona better fly home


    @SovereignFlexing: Liora is UNBOTHERED


    ---


    Fiona stared, her heart hammering.


    "This is nuts."


    "I use fire. Fionyx is fire-based."


    "This is like throwing a spark into a storm drain."


    She turned to Liora.


    "Wait¡ªyou brought me here knowing we were going up against this?"


    Liora looked back, completely unfazed.


    "Yes."


    "And I brought him too."


    She raised her hand.


    A portal soon appeared beside her.


    From within it, Inferon walked out.


    ---


    Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @WHATTHEFLAME: SHE BROUGHT INFERON TO A WATER ZONE??


    @InferonVsBrutaurus: THIS IS ACTUALLY A LEGENDARY FIGHT


    @TwoSovereignsLive: I CAN''T BREATHE


    @LuxoriaDoesNotCare: Elemental matchups mean NOTHING here


    ---


    Fiona looked at Liora like she''d lost her mind.


    "You... you''re a flame user?!"


    Liora smirked.


    "You sound surprised."


    Fiona''s mouth opened slightly.


    "I mean, yeah!"


    "You''re facing a water-pressure sovereign!"


    "I thought maybe you had some insane lightning setup or something."


    Liora kept her gaze forward.


    "I don''t need a counter."


    "I need dominance."


    Inferon roared.


    A sound that shattered the mist and cracked the air.


    Brutaurus answered with a deep bellow, steam erupting from its vents.


    Fiona''s drone wobbled from the force.


    She looked toward her beast.


    "Fionyx... We''re in trouble, huh?"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @NoEscapeToday: This is not a warm-up


    @BrutalFlames: Fire vs Water and nobody''s scared but me


    @FionyxBeReady: Fiona''s gonna need to pull out a miracle


    @LuxoriaMethod: Overpower. Not counter. Remember that.


    ---


    Fiona took a breath, the visor interface flickering with alerts.


    "Alright then..." she muttered.


    "Let''s see what fire can do underwater."


    Liora gave a single command:


    "Engage."

 Chapter 389 389: Fire vs Water?

    Brutaurus let out a thunderous roar.


    Its horns glowed with deep-sea pressure energy.


    It then slammed its fists into the flooded ground.


    "Duelist''s Claim."


    A glowing sigil marked Inferon, pulsing with energy.


    All other targets were ignored.


    Then came the second move.


    "Hydrocage Arena."


    Pillars of spiraling water erupted from the ground.


    They encircled Inferon in a dome of rotating aquatic pressure.


    The water spun like drills¡ªforming a closed battleground.


    Fiona hovered outside the cage, eyes wide.


    "It just sealed off the arena! That''s¡ª"


    Liora cut her off.


    "Don''t panic. Brutaurus follows ritual combat law."


    She looked over at Fiona.


    "It only fights one-on-one while the Duelist''s Claim is active."


    "As long as Inferon holds out¡ªyou won''t be touched."


    Fiona let out a long breath.


    "Okay. Okay. That helps."


    Without waiting another second.


    Liora shot toward the water cage with her jetpack.


    She then landed just inside with Inferon.


    Fiona stayed hovering, still on edge.


    "Alright partner¡ªlet''s give the world a show."


    She tapped her visor.


    "Fionyx, deploy full stream drones. All coverage angles."


    A moment later, multiple sleek orange-red drones launched from her hoverpack.


    They zipped into position like a formation squadron.


    Some high above, others skimming the water surface.


    And a few diving through narrow gaps between the hydropillars.


    Her interface synced instantly.


    "Streaming now."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @MultiCamBeastMode: SHE''S STREAMING THE WHOLE FIGHT


    @DroneSwarmFlex: FIONYX IS A BROADCAST BEAST


    @LiveFromTheCage: Inferon and Brutaurus... this is a MOVIE


    @CommentaryQueen: Fiona should be paid to narrate this war


    @LuxoriaBudgetDifferent: How much do these drones cost


    ---


    Fiona floated a little higher, locking into her commentary mode.


    "Alright, chat."


    "As you can see, Brutaurus has locked Inferon in a Hydrocage Arena."


    "This is a one-on-one sovereign-level duel, and yes."


    "We are filming all of it."


    "Lord L designed Fionyx for this exact moment."


    "You''re watching combat history in real time."


    In the distance, Inferon let out a rumbling roar.


    It ignited its mane with golden fire.


    Brutaurus responded by slamming its fists together.


    Fiona smiled, fire reflected in her visor.


    "Let the Sovereigns fight."


    ---


    Inside the Hydrocage, the water pillars spun like vertical vortexes.


    At the center, two titans stared each other down.


    On one side¡ªBrutaurus.


    On the other¡ªInferon.


    Fiona floated just outside the ring.


    Her visor synced to her multi-drone display.


    "Alright chat, this is it."


    "The warm-up round between two Sovereigns."


    She zoomed one camera on Inferon.


    "On your left, standing over seven meters tall, the flame beast himself."


    "Inferon, The Blazing King."


    Another drone panned across Brutaurus.


    "And on your right, the walking tsunami."


    "The Abyss-Horned Juggernaut, Brutaurus!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @FireVsFlood: I''ve never seen this matchup before!


    @MistVsMane: The air''s literally boiling and freezing at the same time


    @StreamingGold: Fiona''s commentary is carrying my life rn


    @InferonWalkedInUnbothered: That lion isn''t even blinking


    @BrutaurusWarmingUp: We''re gonna see the arena crack, huh


    ---


    Inferon made the first move.


    It stomped forward.


    Its King''s Dominion activated.


    The air thickened, and the pressure in the cage bent toward it like royalty arriving in court.


    Brutaurus tensed¡ªthen suddenly lunged forward.


    Liora''s voice came through Fiona''s Visor.


    "Trenchbreaker Charge incoming."


    Fiona''s eyes lit up as she snapped into commentator mode.


    "There it is, Trenchbreaker Charge!"


    She panned one of her drones in close.


    "That''s straight from Liora, by the way.


    "Confirmed as one of its signature openers."


    Inferon stood its ground and lowered its body slightly.


    When Brutaurus struck, the impact echoed across the ruins.


    The two Sovereigns locked horns and claws.


    Steam hissed from their collision point.


    Fiona''s eyes sparkled behind the visor.


    ---


    "It''s pure raw force right now¡ªno techniques, no tricks."


    "They''re just testing each other''s limits."


    Brutaurus pushed harder, gill vents blasting vapor into Inferon''s face.


    Inferon responded by igniting its Prideborn Flame.


    A sudden burst of sunfire that burned Brutaurus''s horn armor and forced it to backstep.


    Liora stood on a nearby slab inside the arena.


    She said nothing. Just watching.


    Fiona noticed.


    "And there''s Liora, calm as ever. No orders. No interference."


    "She''s letting Inferon think¡ªnot just fight."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @AlphaTestRound: This is just warm-up and it already looks like a final boss cutscene


    @NoVoiceCommands: Liora''s really letting Inferon move on instinct huh


    @BuiltDifferent: You can tell Inferon likes this


    @SteamAndFlame: Chat this arena about to melt


    @TacticalSavage: They''re literally sparring at Sovereign-tier


    ---


    Inferon stepped back, then leapt into the air.


    Sovereign Flame Pounce activating.


    Fiona flinched from the wind it generated.


    "It''s going aerial¡ªoh, this is gonna hurt."


    Inferon landed with a blazing shockwave, knocking Brutaurus back a few meters.


    Brutaurus slid but didn''t fall.


    It growled, flexed, and launched a Riptide Slam in retaliation.


    Water burst from the ground¡ªInferon dodged it by inches.


    Fiona grinned wide.


    "And that, chat... is just the warm-up."


    "Let''s see who snaps first."


    ---


    Inferon landed hard from his last pounce, steam hissing beneath his paws.


    But Brutaurus didn''t give him a second to breathe.


    With a roar, the giant minotaur rushed forward again.


    Its massive legs stomped through the water as it lowered its head, horns glowing with pressure.


    "Brutaurus is charging again!"


    Fiona shouted.


    "And this time, he''s not slowing down!"


    Inferon braced himself.


    But the Trenchbreaker Charge landed square in his chest.


    The impact threw the lion-beast across the cage.


    Inferon slammed into a stone pillar with a crash.


    Fiona flinched.


    "Oof¡ªthat looked rough."


    Inferon tried to stand quickly, but water surged beneath him.


    Brutaurus raised both fists and slammed them into the ground.


    Riptide Slam.


    A geyser of pressurized water shot upward and knocked Inferon off his feet again.


    He landed hard, steam hissing from his mane as it flickered dimly.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @OhNoInferon: He''s getting tossed


    @BrutaurusBuiltForThis: You can tell this arena is his home turf


    @NotLookingGood: Fiona I''m scared


    @SteamIsFading: That flame''s starting to dim


    @LioraGonnaStepIn?: She''s still not moving?!


    ---


    Fiona tightened her grip on her hover rig.


    "Come on, Inferon..."


    She focused on the lion, who finally rose.


    "Brutaurus is hitting harder and faster now."


    "That water control is serious."


    She zoomed in on Inferon''s face.


    His flames weren''t out¡ªbut they were weaker.


    "Inferon''s still standing¡ªbut barely."


    "This fight is just getting started, and he''s already feeling it."


    She looked to Liora, who still hadn''t said a word.


    "And Liora... is just letting him fight."


    "Guess this is how Luxoria trains Sovereigns."

 Chapter 390: Fiona Opts for Sanity

    The water inside the Hydrocage spun faster.


    Inferon stood in the center, soaked, battered, and breathing hard.


    His golden mane, once burning bright, now flickered weakly.


    Every step he took made steam rise, but it was clear.


    He was slowing down.


    Across the arena, Brutaurus didn''t slow at all.


    The massive beast charged again.


    It slammed into Inferon with its shoulder.


    Sending the lion skidding backward across the flooded floor.


    "Come on, Inferon... Hang in there."


    The lion tried to roar, but it came out ragged.


    He jumped back, claws lit with fire, and swiped.


    But Brutaurus blocked it with one arm.


    It then used the other to slam Inferon into the ground.


    Fiona''s visor flashed red.


    Vital signs dropping.


    "Chat... tThisis bad. Inferon''s losing. Fast."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @GETHIMOUT: RECALL HIM NOW!!!


    @TOOMUCHDAMAGE: Why is Liora letting this happen


    @BrutaurusIsABully: That last slam was insane


    @NotAFairFight: This is water terrain. Inferon''s too outmatched


    @SteamIsGone: His fire is barely lit


    @FIONAHELPHIM: Scream at Liora or something!


    @SovereignPain: I can''t watch this anymore


    @CallBackNow: He already proved himself!


    ---


    Brutaurus roared, mist blasting from its back vents.


    It stomped toward Inferon again.


    Inferon forced himself up.


    His legs shook, and his flames tried to relight.


    He took one step forward.


    But suddenly, a portal appeared beneath him.


    "Wait... what''s that?!"


    From the back of the arena, Liora raised one hand.


    "That''s enough."


    Inferon then vanished.


    He was quickly pulled back into Liora''s system.


    Brutaurus roared again, louder this time, steam blasting in all directions.


    It beat its chest and stomped, victory clear in its movements.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @FinallySafe: SHE CALLED HIM BACK THANK GOD


    @InferonNeedsRest: He gave it all


    @RespectToTheKing: Inferon didn''t run¡ªhe stood tall until the last second


    @SoreLoserWho: Nah he earned respect today


    @BrutaurusScaryAF: I get why that thing has 7-star taming difficulty


    @CALLBACKWORKED: Liora pulled him back just in time


    @FIONYXYOURTURN?: Is Fiona gonna fight next?!


    @EMOTIONALDAMAGE: Why am I crying for a flame lion??


    ---


    Fiona let out a breath and slumped slightly in the air.


    "Alright, chat..."


    "Inferon gave it everything. But this time... it wasn''t enough."


    She looked toward the water-soaked ruins.


    "That thing¡ªBrutaurus¡ªit''s no joke."


    She glanced at her Fionyx drone.


    "And now it''s still waiting."


    Fiona''s eyes narrowed behind the visor.


    "Guess it wants a new challenger."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @DOITFIONA: YO FIONA GET IN THERE


    @DuelistTime: You''re next on its list


    @StreamerVsBrutaurus: Let''s GOOOOO


    @FIONYXBELIEVE: Don''t leave us hanging!!


    @TestYourMetal: Come on queen, do it for the stream!


    ---


    Fiona blinked.


    "...Hell no."


    She frowned and leaned toward the camera drone.


    "Have you SEEN what it just did to a flame lion the size of a van?"


    "I''m here to stream, not become soup."


    Fiona sighed.


    "Okay, okay... We''ll scout from a safe distance."


    "But we''re not jumping in unless Lord L himself presses the fight button."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @SmartMoveQueen: Thank you for choosing life


    @StreamerNotSacrifice: Finally, a protagonist with sense


    @ObservationModeOn: Let''s analyze instead!


    @StillContentThough: This stream still fire


    ---


    Fiona then caught movement in the corner of her visor feed.


    "Wait¡ªwhat is she doing?"


    She zoomed in.


    Liora was walking.


    Straight into the Hydrocage.


    Brutaurus turned its massive head, noticing Liora.


    Its eyes narrowed.


    Why was a small human walking into its domain?


    For a moment, the Sovereign beast seemed genuinely... puzzled.


    It didn''t roar. It didn''t charge.


    It simply stared.


    Fiona''s jaw dropped behind her visor.


    "She''s actually walking in there?!"


    "Alone?! With no beast out?!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @ISSHESUICIDAL: SHE WALKIN IN RAW???


    @BRUTAURUSCONFUSED: Even the beast''s like ''yo chill''


    @QueenEnergy: Nah Liora built different


    @SheDidntFlinch: No jetpack. No Inferon. Just vibes.


    @BrutaurusNervous: Why does HE look scared now??


    @ThisIsLuxoria: This is how you assert dominance


    ---


    Fiona leaned toward her drone, stunned.


    "Chat... She''s not even raising her weapon."


    "She''s just walking right into the Sovereign''s face like it''s a playground."


    She hovered a bit lower to get a better view.


    "I don''t know what she''s thinking..."


    Fiona murmured.


    "But if Brutaurus even twitches¡ª"


    Down below, Liora stopped five meters in front of Brutaurus.


    The massive beast narrowed its eyes, nostrils flaring.


    Liora smirked and spoke evenly.


    "You''re quite good."


    She rolled her shoulders.


    "But I want to see just how strong you really are."


    Suddenly... liquid metal flowed from her back.


    The silver mass expanded and shaped itself across her arms.


    It transformed into a high-density rail bazooka that locked onto her shoulder.


    The weapon lit up with silver-orange light.


    Brutaurus took a step back.


    Yes¡ªthe sovereign beast stepped back.


    Fiona gasped.


    "Wait¡ªhe moved?"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @HESTEPPED: THE BEAST MOVED BACK?!


    @RAILBAZOOKA???: BRO WHAT TECHNOLOGY IS THAT


    @WHOLEFUTURE: She pulled a missile launcher out of her spine


    @NOFEARONLYSMOKE: That''s not a tamer. That''s an anti-tank unit


    @BRUTAURUSCONFUSED: The Sovereign is literally rethinking life rn


    @LioraLockAndLoad: THIS IS THE LUXORIA WAY


    @WeaponQueen: Flame-user? More like mech soldier


    ---


    Brutaurus let out a low growl, confused and angry.


    It stomped once, cracking the ground beneath the water.


    Liora didn''t blink.


    The weapon glowed brighter as energy lines locked onto the beast.


    "Just warning you."


    "This shot won''t be fatal. But it''ll hurt."


    And then¡ªshe fired.


    A beam of compressed kinetic plasma shot out.


    It was faster than sound, slamming straight into Brutaurus''s chest.


    The Hydrocage trembled.


    Columns of vapor exploded around the ring.


    Brutaurus let out a roar of pure rage.


    He staggered back, hooves sliding.


    Its entire upper body was smoking from the blast zone.


    It looked shocked. Enraged.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @SHESHOOTSHESCORE: LIORA JUST BLASTED A SOVEREIGN BACK


    @SHEHURTHIM: Look at that recoil¡ªthat was real


    @RAILGUNIMPACT: That shook the entire battlefield


    @HEMADNOW: Oh he angry angry


    @FlameAndFury: And she said that wasn''t fatal??


    ---


    Fiona''s voice cracked into the mic.


    "Okay! Okay! We are way past regular taming!"


    She laughed nervously.


    "Chat¡ªshe just shot Brutaurus with a back-mounted rail bazooka."


    "And told him it was a warning."


    She looked down at the battlefield, eyes wide.


    "We''re not just streaming beasts anymore."


    "We''re streaming warfare."


    Brutaurus slammed its fists into the ground, letting out a furious roar.


    And Liora?


    She was already charging the next round.

 Chapter 391: Tyrant of the Tides

    Fiona stared at the smoke rising from Brutaurus''s chest.


    Her mouth slightly open.


    She tapped the side of her visor and muttered.


    "She was great."


    "But still... What the hell did she do?"


    She zoomed in on the shoulder-mounted rail bazooka on Liora''s back.


    "That cannon¡ªshe didn''t summon it."


    "It formed from her armor. It looked like... it was alive."


    She tilted her head.


    "Even if it''s beast weaponization..."


    "I''ve never heard of one that turns into a full rail launcher mid-combat."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @ThisAintNormal: That wasn''t a summon. That was tech


    @WeaponBeastFusion: Yo is that a weaponized beast form?!


    @LuxoriaDoesItAgain: This place keeps rewriting the rulebook


    @CheckFionyxToo: Wait didn''t Fionyx become your hoverpack?


    @ModularFusionTheory: If Fiona''s Vornis can become transport... maybe Liora''s can become weapons?


    ---


    Fiona blinked.


    "...Wait a minute."


    She turned slightly, looking at her hoverpack.


    "You guys are right."


    She patted the beast''s armor.


    "Fionyx did transform."


    "He turned into a hoverpack when I flew in with Liora."


    She turned back toward the battlefield.


    "So maybe... Liora has something like a Vornis."


    "But way more advanced."


    "Maybe a full battle-grade model made for war."


    Fionyx hummed softly, recognizing the topic.


    Fiona gave a nervous laugh.


    "Okay, yeah. So this is definitely above my paygrade."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @FionyxJuniorMode: Fiona got the streamer version


    @LioraWithTheDLC: She got the war god expansion


    @ModularBeastTech: Someone ask Lord L what else these things can become


    @LuxoriaTier: I don''t think other tamers even know about this tech


    @ChatMindBlown: So her railgun might actually be her beast?!


    ---


    Fiona leaned in, her voice steady but tense.


    "Alright chat..."


    "Let''s see how Lady Liora handles the Juggernaut in round two."


    Down in the flooded arena, Liora stood her ground.


    Brutaurus roared, louder this time.


    Its pressure vents blasted a surge of mist as it charged.


    Liora didn''t flinch.


    The cannon on her back deconstructed instantly.


    It flowed down her arms, then solidified into a pair of gauntlets.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @RailgunToFist: She went from cannon to fistfight??


    @ThoseGlovesLOOKHEAVY: They thudding with pressure just by forming


    @WhoNeedsWeapons: Liora is the weapon


    @ModularGearQueen: She''s just changing loadouts like it''s a video game


    @BrutaurusGonnaBreakThat: I hope those gloves are tougher than they loo


    ---


    Brutaurus lunged, its massive arm raised for a full-force overhead slam.


    Liora crossed her arms and blocked.


    At the moment of contact, a wave of mist exploded outward.


    She slid back several meters¡ªbut stayed upright.


    Fiona''s voice came through the feed.


    "Liora just blocked that?!"


    "That was a Sovereign-tier slam!"


    Liora dashed forward before Brutaurus could charge again.


    Her gauntlets lit up with compressed heat.


    She drove a punch into the beast''s side.


    It hit¡ªsolid.


    But not solid enough.


    Brutaurus barely staggered.


    Instead, it twisted and backhanded her with one huge fist.


    Liora flew back.


    She hit the water hard, bounced once.


    Then rolled across a submerged stone ledge.


    Fiona gasped.


    "That one landed. She''s hit!"


    "Brutaurus returned it hard!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @OHNOLOIRA: She got sent flying


    @GlovesBlockedSomeButNotALL: That hit still HURT


    @BrutaurusSaidNOPE: He ate the punch and gave one back


    @EvenSheBleeds: Liora can actually get hurt??


    @LuxoriaDoesntRetreat: She''s getting back up tho


    ---


    Sure enough, Liora stood.


    Her gloves hissed with heat release valves.


    One of the outer plates was cracked.


    She shook her arms once and steadied her breathing.


    Brutaurus roared again, this time louder, angry that the human was still standing.


    Fiona narrowed her eyes.


    "She''s not done. Not even close."


    "But that last hit proves it¡ªBrutaurus can still push her back."


    "Even with her weapons... this won''t be easy."


    She looked at the chat, then back at the battlefield.


    "This isn''t just power anymore¡ªit''s strategy now."


    "Let''s see who learns faster."


    "The Sovereign Beast... or the woman built to break them."


    ---


    Down in the flooded arena, Brutaurus''s body pulsed with dark blue energy.


    Steam hissed from every vent.


    Water began to rise and spin unnaturally.


    Circling the massive beast in high-speed spirals.


    Fiona blinked.


    "Wait... What''s he doing?"


    A pressure wave exploded from Brutaurus''s core.


    The water no longer followed gravity.


    It obeyed him.


    His entire body surged with power.


    His coral armor glowed from within, eyes burning with raw fury.


    Then the arena text flashed on Fiona''s visor.


    ---


    [Brutaurus has activated: Tyrant of the Tides]


    ---


    Fiona''s heart dropped.


    "Oh no... that sounds very final."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @FULLPOWERBRUTAURUS: HE''S GOING BERSERK


    @WHATDOESTHATMEAN: TYRANT OF THE TIDES??


    @NOCOOLDOWNMODE: This is his FINAL PHASE


    @EVENLIORANEEDSTORUN: Tell her to GET OUT


    @THEREGOESTHEFLOOR: The water''s not even touching the ground anymore


    ---


    Brutaurus roared, louder than ever before.


    He charged Liora with a fury that didn''t care about defense.


    Just destruction.


    Fiona yelled into the mic.


    "LIORA, MOVE!"


    But Liora didn''t move.


    Instead, she smiled.


    Liquid metal flowed again from her body.


    But this time it didn''t stop at her arms or back


    It kept flowing.


    It spun upward, around her, folding and forming¡ª


    A massive construct took shape.


    A glowing greatsword taller than she was.


    It was thick, jagged, and lined with molten silver vents.


    Fiona''s visor blinked red.


    "What the hell¡ªwhat is THAT?"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @GODSLAYERWEAPON: WHAT IS SHE HOLDING?!


    @THAT''SNOTLEGAL: That sword is BIGGER than her


    @THISISFINALFORM: She''s going full Luxoria Mode


    @OVERRIDELEVELPOWER: Is this even beast-related anymore?!


    @DON''TMISS: ONE SWING. PLEASE. JUST ONE SWING.


    ---


    Brutaurus closed the gap.


    He lunged forward with both fists, intent on smashing her into the floor.


    Liora raised the sword with one hand¡ª


    And swung.


    The moment the blade moved, the entire arena tilted.


    The water surrounding them split like glass.


    A wave of silver energy followed the arc of her strike.


    Cutting through Brutaurus''s charge.


    The blade hit Brutaurus dead center.


    There was no explosion.


    Just silence.


    Then... everything collapsed.


    CRACK!!


    Brutaurus''s body crashed into the stone below.


    His pressure field was gone, water crashing down in waves.


    He didn''t rise.


    Fiona''s drone zoomed in.


    Brutaurus was out cold.


    Completely still.


    Steam rose from the deep gash along his chest.


    His horns were embedded in the floor.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @SHEWON: SHE ACTUALLY DID IT


    @INSTANTDEFEAT: That was ONE STRIKE


    @THEBEASTWASERASED: I blinked and he was DOWN


    @FINALCUTLUXORIA: What even is that weapon?!


    @LioraEndBoss: She didn''t beat the boss¡ªshe was the boss


    @FionaSpeechless: Fiona say something I''M SHAKING


    @CROWNHERNOW: LUXORIA GENERAL STATUS: CONFIRMED


    ---


    Fiona finally found her voice.


    "...Chat. I don''t know what just happened."


    She zoomed in on Liora, who now stood silently.


    "But Liora Luxoria just defeated a Sovereign-tier juggernaut..."


    "In one hit..."


    She swallowed hard.


    "And I think I finally get it now."


    "This isn''t beast taming."


    "This is Luxoria."

 Chapter 392: From Fire to File

    Liora raised her hand.


    A faint portal opened under the fallen Brutaurus.


    Its body began to sink slowly into the portal.


    Fiona watched with wide eyes.


    "Wait, wait¡ªwhat are you doing?"


    She hovered down, landing just a few meters away from Liora.


    "Did you already make a contract with it?"


    Liora shook her head.


    "No."


    "I just sent it into Luxoria Castle''s special subsystem."


    Fiona blinked.


    "Subsystem?"


    "You mean storage?"


    Liora nodded once.


    "Exactly. It''s stored¡ªnothing more."


    "Not bonded. Not mine."


    Fiona''s mouth opened a little.


    "But... you beat it."


    "You tamed it, didn''t you?"


    Liora smirked faintly.


    "I defeated it."


    "But I didn''t tame it. There''s a difference."


    Fiona pointed to the ground where the beast had vanished.


    "So... what? You just... filed it away?"


    "Like it''s a spare sword or something?"


    Liora shrugged casually.


    "Same thing I did with Inferon."


    Fiona''s eyes went wide.


    "...Hold on."


    She stepped closer, voice rising slightly.


    "Inferon too? You''re not even bonded to him?"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @HoldUpWHAT: SHE DOESN''T OWN THEM?!


    @SystemStorageBeasts: Are they just held in a digital vault?!


    @BrutaurusANDInferon: Just sitting in Luxoria Castle like items?!


    @UltimateFlex: Liora beat two Sovereigns and just stored them?!


    @TheyForSale?: DON''T TELL ME THESE ARE UP FOR GRABS


    @LUXORIABUILTDIFFERENT: I NEED THAT VAULT ACCESS


    ---


    Fiona stepped closer, eyes locked on Liora''s.


    "You''re telling me..."


    "Brutaurus. Inferon."


    "All these Sovereign monsters... aren''t contracted to anyone?"


    "They''re just stored in the Luxoria system?"


    Liora calmly answered,


    "Yes."


    "Stored. Stabilized. And yes..."


    "They''re for sale."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @EXCUSEME: I NEED A BANK LOAN


    @SOEVERIGNMARKETPLACE: THIS IS WHAT THE AUCTION REALLY MEANS


    @VaultDropSoon?: Are we getting another auction soon?!


    @LordLPlease: Someone ping Lord L, I''m ready to mortgage my beast team


    @FlexOfTheCentury: She beat them and said ''they''re stock''


    ---


    Fiona slowly turned to her drone, still hovering close and capturing everything.


    "Chat... I don''t even know what to say."


    She glanced back at Liora, then back at the now-empty battlefield.


    "That Inferon we saw in the auction section of the app..."


    "The one marked as in stock..."


    She exhaled.


    "That was the Inferon. The exact one Lady Liora just used."


    Liora smirked as she deactivated her gauntlets.


    "Correct."


    She turned toward Fiona.


    "He''s listed in the app because he''s not bonded to anyone."


    "That''s how Luxoria Castle works."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @STOCKBEASTUSEDLIVE: That''s CRAZY


    @SHEUSEDTHEMERCH: Liora just demo''d the auction beast


    @THISISMARKETING: Bro this is the most terrifying sales pitch ever


    @InferonFORSALE: I thought it was just a profile not active inventory


    @RARELOOTLIVE: Fiona was next to a beast you can literally buy


    @LuxoriaOverkill: Lord L''s shop is the final boss store


    ---


    Fiona then took a deep breath.


    "...I feel like I just filmed a commercial."


    Liora then looked up toward the sky.


    "Ready to head back?"


    Fiona gave a small stretch and cracked her knuckles.


    "Yeah."


    "I think we gave them a full episode''s worth of content."


    She turned to her drone with a grin.


    "Chat, we''re heading back to Luxoria Castle."


    "If I pass out halfway, send snacks."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @FULLCONTENTDROP: This felt like a movie


    @MOREHUNTSPLS: Take us with you every time


    @VAULTACCESSWHEN: Lord L better add us to the beta testers


    @STREAMERINTRAINING: Fiona''s gonna need flame-resistant everything now


    @FROMMUKBANGTOWAR: She went from food reviews to sovereign combat


    @RespectTheOrangeHair: She kept it cool the whole time


    ---


    Liora turned, her jetpack glowing faintly again.


    Fiona hopped on Fionyx, who transformed smoothly into hoverpack mode.


    They lifted off together.


    Fiona smiled into the camera one last time.


    "Next stop¡ªwhatever madness Lord L has waiting back at base."


    "Luxoria Castle... we''re coming home."


    ---


    Fiona and Liora had arrived and went to the restaurant.


    At the far end sat Lucius Luxoria.


    He was already waiting for them.


    "Welcome back, Miss Fiona."


    "How was your little adventure with Liora?"


    Fiona exhaled hard, plopping down across from him.


    "Wild."


    She pulled off her visor and laid it on the table.


    "She''s really strong."


    Liora walked past without sitting.


    Lucius smirked faintly, eyes on Fiona.


    "Stronger than you expected?"


    Fiona gave him a look.


    "Let''s just say... I saw a Sovereign beast turn into steak."


    "And she didn''t flinch."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @BACKATBASE: She lived!


    @DINNERWITHLORDL: Oh she moved up fast


    @WARTHENWINE: Brutaurus to brunch transition


    @SHEEARNEDIT: That table view is VIP


    @FionaRecapTime: Tell him everything queen!


    ---


    Lucius leaned forward slightly, fingers laced.


    "Did you learn anything?"


    Fiona paused, then nodded.


    "Yeah. I learned a lot today."


    "Like the fact I''m nowhere near Lady Liora''s level."


    Lucius chuckled, swirling his drink slowly.


    "Few are."


    Fiona exhaled, then narrowed her eyes.


    "But something else too..."


    She leaned forward.


    "There are two SS-Rank Sovereign beasts in the vault now."


    "Inferon and Brutaurus."


    Lucius gave a knowing smile.


    "That''s correct."


    "And?"


    Fiona raised an eyebrow.


    "So when''s the next auction?"


    "People saw both beasts in action live today."


    "Everyone''s gonna ask."


    "You''re gonna drop them again soon, right?""


    Lucius tilted his head, eyes gleaming.


    "Why don''t you do it?"


    Fiona blinked.


    "Wait, me?"


    Lucius nodded smoothly.


    "Use the new Luxoria Castle App."


    "Announce it. Stream it. Run it your way."


    Fiona stared at him, stunned.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @AUCTIONHOSTFIONA: NO WAY YOU''RE RUNNING IT


    @SSDROPINCOMING: Let her click the ''list'' button LET''S GO


    @HOSTESSMODE: She''s not just a streamer¡ªshe''s the MC now


    @INFERONFORSALE: This is the most dangerous pop-up shop


    @STREAMTOAUCTION: Fiona''s career arc just speedran 3 years


    ---


    Fiona slowly grinned, leaning on her elbows.


    "Wait wait wait."


    "You''re saying I can announce the next auction?"


    Lucius nodded once, calm and cool.


    "You''re our official streamer."


    "People trust you."


    "Use your channel. Let the app broadcast it."


    "Build the hype yourself."


    Fiona glanced to her drone.


    "Chat, you hearing this?"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @AUCTIONSTREAMTIME: DO IT LIVE DO IT LOUD


    @IMSELLINGMYHOUSE: Please let us bid with kidneys


    @FIONAEXCLUSIVE: Imagine she''s the one who clicks the unlock button


    @VAULTDROPQUEEN: Let her open the gates of the vault


    @STREAMERTOCEO: Fiona about to break Beastagram with this


    ---


    Fiona looked back at Lucius, eyes shining.


    "Alright, Lord L..."


    "If I''m doing it¡ªgive me access to everything."


    Lucius smirked.


    "You''ll have full access to the sale list, price sheets, and... surprise slots."


    Fiona laughed.


    "Surprise slots?"


    "You''ll see."


    She tapped her visor, opening her Luxoria app live interface.


    "Okay chat. Let''s build an auction stream so insane..."


    "They''ll think we''re selling dragons."


    "Oh wait."


    "We are."

 Chapter 393: Not Sure What Button She Pressed

    Lucius tapped once on Fiona''s visor.


    "I''ve sent you the full data sheet for both sovereigns."


    Fiona quickly wore her visor back.


    And two data sheets appeared on it.


    Her eyes lit up.


    "Got them. Thanks, Lord L."


    She grinned wide, tilting her head toward the floating drone.


    "Alright, chat."


    "Two Sovereign-tier beasts in my archive now."


    "Don''t get jealous."


    Lucius leaned back with a light smile.


    "Now then, when do you want to run the auction?"


    Fiona blinked.


    "...Wait. You''re letting me choose?"


    Lucius nodded once.


    "It''s your stream."


    "It goes live whenever you say so."


    Fiona stood up and stretched, still reeling from the earlier hunt.


    "Wow... that fast?"


    Lucius gestured lazily toward the balcony view.


    "If you want to go live now¡ªyou can."


    "If you want tomorrow, next week, or even next month... same answer."


    Fiona smirked, hands on her hips.


    "Chat, you hear that? Total freedom."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @HOSTPRIVILEGES: She got the Lord L button


    @INFERONLISTED: YESSS finally confirmed


    @BRUTAURUSWAKINGUP: This auction gonna break apps


    @GIVEUSDATE: When Fiona?! We''re ready!


    @TOMORROWPLEASE: My wallet is screaming in preparation


    ---


    Fiona raised a hand.


    "Alright, alright."


    She stifled a yawn.


    "Look¡ªI just watched Liora body slam a sea sovereign, alright?"


    "So let''s not get too wild."


    She pointed at the camera with a smirk.


    "Tomorrow. Same time. Live auction stream right here."


    "I''m dropping Inferon and Brutaurus to the top bidders like usual."


    Lucius chuckled.


    Fiona winked at him.


    "And now... I''m officially logging off."


    "Chat, you better spread the word."


    "Drop links, post clips, make memes¡ªdo your job."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @AUCTIONTOMORROW: LET''S GOOOO


    @MEMESLOADING: Fiona with her auction hammer incoming


    @SHARETHELINK: Tag your squad now. We not missing this


    @20BIDSONLY?!: Oh it''s about to get competitive


    @LOREUNLOCKED: First time we get full sheets for Sovereigns!!


    @FionaOutLikeAQueen: Rest well, auction host


    ---


    Fiona waved to the drone.


    "Peace out, Luxoria."


    She gave a playful salute.


    "Fionyx, shut down the stream."


    Fionyx growled, blinking once before the camera drone went dark.


    The livestream ended.


    Lucius stood across the table and nodded.


    "Good job there, Fiona."


    Fiona exhaled, wiping a bit of sweat from her brow.


    "Thanks, Lord L."


    She dropped into the seat beside him, finally letting herself relax.


    Lucius raised an eyebrow.


    "So..."


    "What do you think of Luxoria Castle now?"


    Fiona let out a small laugh.


    "Honestly?"


    "I can''t even put it into words. It''s insane."


    She sat forward, suddenly energized again.


    "The vaults, the beasts, the weapons..."


    "Liora? Like, what was that?"


    Lucius tilted his head slightly, feigning curiosity.


    "What part?"


    Fiona gestured wildly.


    "The part where she fought a Sovereign-tier beast alone."


    "With a fucking railgun she grew out of her spine!"


    Lucius chuckled.


    "Ah, that."


    "Well, she did fuse with her beast."


    Fiona blinked.


    "Wait, what?"


    "But she didn''t transform or go glowing."


    "Or any of that flashy stuff I''ve seen before."


    Lucius smiled faintly.


    "That''s because Luxoria doesn''t use traditional fusion rituals."


    "Liora uses integrated fusion tech."


    "The beast doesn''t appear¡ªit becomes part of her."


    "Just like your Fionyx can."


    Fiona''s head tilted.


    "... You''re telling me she was weaponizing her beast the entire time?"


    "The cannon, the gauntlets, that sword¡ªthat was her beast?"


    Lucius nodded.


    "Exactly. It''s called Modular Beast Weaponization."


    "It''s a system we''ve perfected here."


    "Most tamers only know basic beast fusions."


    "Sword types, claw types, armor overlays."


    "Luxoria tech allows transformation into full military-grade weapon formats."


    Fiona sat back.


    "That''s crazy."


    "I thought that was just old myths..."


    "Or like stuff only Lord L could do."


    Lucius gave her a subtle smirk.


    "Even your Fionyx can do it."


    Fiona''s eyes widened.


    "Wait¡ªyou''re serious?"


    She turned quickly to her hoverbeast.


    "Fionyx, beast weaponization."


    "Let''s try a... simple gun, I guess?"


    Fionyx let out a mechanical chirp.


    Suddenly, its front legs retracted, its body folding inward.


    In a flash of energy, a gun was locked into place across Fiona''s right arm.


    "...Oh."


    She blinked at it, raising the barrel slowly.


    "Oh wow."


    Lucius stepped forward slightly.


    "Feel good, right?"


    Fiona nodded, flexing her new gun.


    "Of course."


    "Not only is it smoother and cooler than regular Beast Weaponization..."


    She smirked.


    "I can feel it. I''ve got the stats too."


    "Like when normal tamers weaponize their beast."


    "But this feels more natural. Less strain. Like it''s built in."


    Lucius gave a small, proud smirk.


    "Because it is. Yours is modular. Stable."


    "It''s not just an ability¡ªit''s a full system."


    Fiona nodded slowly, still marveling.


    "No wonder Miss Liora can fight like that."


    She looked over toward Liora, who was eating.


    "She fought Brutaurus head-on."


    "No visible summoning. No full transformation."


    "She just walked in and fought like a one-woman army."


    Lucius chuckled faintly.


    "Her beast is strong, yes."


    "But so is her connection to it. That''s what makes the difference."


    Fiona tilted her head.


    "So she''s still using beast weaponization like normal tamers do?"


    Lucius shook his head once.


    "Not quite."


    "Normal tamers activate Beast Weaponization as a skill."


    "They summon their beast into weapon form."


    "Use it for a while, and gain a temporary boost based on the beast''s stats."


    "Liora? She lives in it."


    Fiona raised an eyebrow.


    "...What do you mean?"


    Lucius pointed at Fionyx.


    "Your Fionyx just transformed into a gun. That''s a simple form."


    "Liora''s beast doesn''t just become a weapon."


    "It''s fused with her nerves, her muscles, and her combat instincts."


    "She doesn''t have to activate anything."


    "It responds before she moves."


    Fiona stared in stunned silence for a moment, then laughed softly.


    "That''s why she didn''t need to shout commands or flail around with flashy combos."


    Lucius smiled.


    "Exactly."


    "Liora''s beast is trained for full synchronization."


    "The weapon forms are extensions of her body."


    "Her movements are the commands."


    Fiona gave a quiet whistle.


    "Okay, so she''s on a whole different level."


    "But..."


    She turned to Lucius.


    "How do I get there?"


    Lucius smiled again.


    "Ah... that''s a secret, of course."


    Fiona frowned slightly.


    "Come on."


    Lucius chuckled.


    "But I will tell you this."


    "Your Fionyx can transform into war weapons too."


    "Not just handheld guns or hoverpacks."


    Fiona perked up.


    "Seriously?"


    Lucius nodded.


    "Though don''t expect something as advanced or futuristic as Liora''s arsenal."


    "Hers was custom-built for battlefield supremacy."


    Fiona smiled.


    "Fair enough."

 Chapter 394: Two Sovereigns, Zero Chill.

    Fiona sat up, stretched, and yawned in the morning.


    She blinked once, then immediately reached for her visor.


    "Time to work."


    Sliding it on, she launched the Luxoria Castle App.


    Tapped her stream overlay and went live.


    Her image appeared instantly across feeds.


    "Good morning, all!"


    She waved to the camera, still brushing her hair back.


    "Hope you all slept better than I did..."


    "Because today''s gonna be massive."


    She leaned closer to the stream feed.


    "So tell me¡ªDid you spread the word?"


    "Are you ready for the auction?"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @BIDMODEON: Been awake since 3AM.


    @SPAMMEDITEVERYWHERE: Shared to my guild and my mom


    @AUCTIONHYPE: Inferon and Brutaurus, LET''S GOOO


    @MORTGAGEMYGEAR: Sold two A-Ranks just to prep


    @RefreshTheVault: I''ve had the app open all night


    @StreamerOfWar: Fiona''s hosting history today


    ---


    Fiona grinned.


    "That''s what I like to hear."


    She stretched once more and walked toward her balcony.


    "Today, we''re putting two Sovereign-tier monsters on the stage."


    "Two beasts I watched with my own eyes."


    "Fight, destroy, and then get packed into Luxoria Castle''s vault like trophies."


    "And now, they''re up for sale."


    She waved her hand.


    "Auction goes live in one hour."


    "Get your wallets, tokens, contracts, and calm breathing exercises ready."


    "Because this ain''t gonna be peaceful."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @SSBANKREADY: I HAVE 130 S-RANK CORES


    @20SPOTSWHOGETSIN: Only 20 slots right?!


    @IJustWokeUp: WHAT DID I MISS?!


    @STAYLIVEFIONA: Don''t leave us hanging till it starts


    @BrutaurusIsMine: Say goodbye to my points


    @CanFionyxBeBidOnToo?: LOL no he''s priceless


    ---


    Fiona smirked.


    "One hour, chat. Be ready."


    She then tapped the interface and ended the stream.


    She then stretched again and rubbed her neck.


    "Now to fuel up before the madness begins."


    She made her way toward the restaurant.


    The scent of fresh bread, sizzling meats, and rich broth filled the air.


    At a corner table, she spotted Lord L.


    He was already there, sipping some tea.


    "Morning, Lord L."


    Fiona said as she approached, still half-waking.


    Lucius gave a nod.


    "Morning, Miss Auction Queen."


    She grinned and slid into the seat across from him.


    "Today''s the day. I''m starting the auction. So..."


    She leaned in.


    "Where are the Sovereigns?"


    "I assume they''re not just gonna stroll out from a side door?"


    Lucius smirked without lifting his gaze.


    "Liline will show you the way soon."


    "We''ve prepared a special containment area below the castle."


    "Proper stage. Proper cages. Proper security."


    Fiona''s eyes lit up.


    "Cages? Like the beasts are actually being displayed?"


    "Of course."


    "It''s not just a digital listing¡ªit''s a Luxoria-class auction."


    "They''ll see them directly."


    Fiona nodded slowly, impressed.


    Just then, Lucius turned toward Fionyx.


    "Fionyx."


    "Prepare for Auction Mode later."


    The beast nodded once, acknowledging it.


    Fiona blinked.


    "Wait¡ªwhat''s Auction Mode?"


    Lucius glanced at her, amused.


    "You''ll see."


    "It''s a special protocol built into your Fionyx unit."


    "It''ll activate once you go live from the Auction Hall."


    Fiona frowned, curious.


    "You''re not gonna tell me now?"


    Lucius gave a faint, almost smug smile.


    "What would be the fun in that?"


    She sighed and picked up a plate of roast spice chicken.


    "Alright, fine."


    "I''ll just be over here not stressing."


    "While everyone waits to fight over Sovereign beasts..."


    Lucius chuckled and raised his cup.


    "Enjoy your breakfast."


    "Your day''s about to get loud."


    ---


    Fiona leaned back in her seat.


    Patting her stomach with satisfaction.


    "Okay, now that was a real breakfast."


    She stood, stretching lightly and adjusting her visor.


    Lucius tapped the table twice.


    "Liline."


    From the wall, Liline phased out like usual.


    "Yes, Master Lucius?"


    He gestured slightly toward Fiona.


    "Take her to the auction room. It''s time."


    Liline nodded.


    "Of course. Miss Fiona, if you''ll follow me."


    Fiona gave Lucius a quick salute and playful smirk.


    "See you at the top of the feed, Lord L."


    Lucius smirked.


    "Don''t disappoint."


    She turned and followed Liline out through the corridor.


    Moments after they disappeared, the restaurant doors opened again.


    Luna entered first, arms folded behind her back.


    Followed closely by Loreia, who carried a slim tablet.


    Luna stopped beside Lucius and raised her eyebrow.


    "So... how''s your new auction host?"


    Loreia tilted her head slightly.


    "She talks a lot."


    Lucius didn''t look up from his drink.


    "That''s her job."


    Luna sat down beside him.


    "You think she''s ready for this kind of pressure?"


    "Two Sovereign-tier beasts in one auction?"


    Lucius finally glanced up.


    "She doesn''t have to be perfect."


    "She just has to be interesting."


    Loreia sighed, setting her tablet down.


    "Let''s just hope she doesn''t trip on stage."


    Lucius chuckled.


    "If she does..."


    "It''ll go viral."


    Luna smirked.


    "That does sound like a Luxoria-style success."


    Lucius then remembered something.


    "By the way..."


    He looked up at both of them.


    "We did get a lot of Hack Points from the last auction, right?"


    Luna nodded immediately.


    "A ton."


    Loreia tapped her tablet.


    "We got a lot of SS-Rank Beasts."


    "Easily giving you billions of hack points."


    Lucius then turned toward Luna.


    "You and Liora have already been upgraded, right?"


    Luna laughed a bit.


    "Of course."


    "You think I''d let Liora be the only one with new loadouts?"


    "It was... painful, though."


    She smirked.


    "Upgrading Loxen and my body wasn''t fun."


    "The war sim lasted a virtual year. Full invasion protocol training."


    Lucius nodded thoughtfully.


    Then he turned toward Loreia, smirking.


    "So you understand what time it is, right?"


    Luna grinned knowingly and turned her gaze to Loreia.


    "We''ve all been rebuilt by Master Lucius''s system at least once."


    "Liora''s a combat monster."


    "I''m a full strategist unit now."


    She gestured toward Loreia with a tilt of her head.


    "But big sis..."


    "You''ve been the one training us this whole time."


    "It''s your turn."


    Loreia''s expression faltered for the briefest moment.


    Her fingers curled around the edge of the table.


    "I''m... fine as I am."


    Lucius stood.


    "You were fine."


    He walked around the table, placing a hand on her shoulder.


    "But now, it''s my turn to train you, Big Sister."


    Loreia looked up, conflicted.


    "Lucius..."


    He smirked.


    "You''ve pushed me further than anyone ever did."


    "But that was when I was still learning."


    "Now I have the power to give back."


    Luna smiled warmly.


    "Come on, Big sis."


    "Don''t be the last outdated one in the family."


    Lucius looked her dead in the eye.


    "This isn''t just an upgrade."


    "It''s my thanks."


    Loreia was silent for a moment...


    Then she sighed.


    "Fine."


    "But if I end up screaming in a virtual nightmare..."


    "I''m kicking both of your asses when I wake up."


    Lucius grinned.


    "Deal."

 Chapter 395: No Fake Bids Allowed

    Fiona stood just beyond the edge of the raised auction platform.


    She took a slow breath.


    In front of her, separated by energy walls.


    Were the two Sovereign-tier beasts.


    Her eyes widened as she saw them for the second time today.


    Brutaurus rested within an arena styled like a flooded ocean temple.


    The cage didn''t just trap¡ªit glorified him.


    In the second cage, Inferon was surrounded by volcanic terrain.


    Fiona whistled softly.


    "They didn''t just build cages..."


    "They built shrines."


    She looked at Fionyx, smiling.


    "Alright, buddy."


    "Auction Mode¡ªactivate."


    Fionyx blinked once and immediately transformed.


    He reconfigured his body into streamlined hover armor.


    It quickly latched onto Fiona''s body.


    Light trails ran down her limbs as the system finished locking in.


    She then floated inches above the ground, completely stabilized.


    At the same time, dozens of miniature drones activated.


    They spread outward, adjusting for different angles of the beasts.


    Her visor updated instantly, giving her a cinematic interface:


    Beast Data Feeds


    Cage Environment Feeds


    Live Auction Connection


    Drone Director Mode


    Fiona blinked rapidly behind her visor.


    "...Holy hell."


    She muttered under her breath.


    "This isn''t an auction..."


    "This is a damn movie production."


    The overlay was clean, crisp, easy to control.


    She could direct the drones herself with simple hand movements.


    Best of all¡ªthe system was designed to showcase.


    Two sovereign beasts at their most awe-inspiring angles.


    She could even pull up real-time beast data sheets.


    Liline''s voice came through her.


    "Miss Fiona."


    "Before the auction starts."


    "Would you like to enter the cages for a closer inspection shot?"


    Fiona grinned.


    "Can we do that?"


    "The armor you''re wearing can fully withstand the Sovereigns'' passive auras."


    "As long as you don''t provoke them, they won''t react."


    "A controlled tour, for the audience."


    Fiona clenched her fists lightly.


    "Alright. Let''s make it epic."


    The containment gate in front of her opened.


    She slowly floated forward.


    First, into Brutaurus''s domain.


    The temperature dropped slightly.


    Brutaurus towered nearby, but made no move to attack. ''


    He simply watched her.


    Fiona spun slightly in midair, the drones following her movements.


    They captured perfect cinematic angles of the Sovereign juggernaut.


    "Chat''s gonna lose their minds when they see this..."


    She whispered.


    "This... this is what Lord L meant by Auction Mode."


    It wasn''t just selling beasts.


    It was telling their story.


    It was building a legend¡ªbefore they ever changed hands.


    And now, it was time to fly to the second beast.


    Fiona grinned wide behind her visor.


    She adjusted the drone cameras to hover around Inferon''s cage.


    "Alright, buddy..."


    Her eyes gleamed at Inferon.


    "You''re up first."


    She tapped her Visor to start the stream.


    "Okay, Fiona... it''s showtime."


    ---


    The stream went live.


    Instantly, viewer numbers spiked so fast the counter struggled to update.


    The auction overlay lit up with bidding windows and beast data previews.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @INFERONSPOTTED: HE''S REAL


    @FLAMELIONKING: Bro''s walking like he owns the sun


    @FIRSTBIDREADY: TAKE MY CORES


    @HOTTESTAUCTION: Fiona starting STRONG


    @LUXORIAPRODUCTION: This camera work is insane


    @ITSLIKEAMOVIE: Best. Auction. Ever.


    ---


    Fiona floated slowly toward Inferon''s domain.


    "Welcome, Luxoria fans and beast masters."


    Her voice was smooth but energetic.


    "Standing before you is Inferon¡ªThe Blazing King."


    She shifted position.


    Letting the drones capture Inferon''s blazing mane from above.


    "Sovereign-tier. Fire and Light elements."


    "Ruler of the Scorched Plateaus."


    "And today..."


    She smiled wider.


    "He''s available to the highest bidder."


    Inferon paused for a moment, glancing up at her.


    Fiona held her breath for a moment, then spoke again.


    "Let''s start strong, chat."


    "Auction is officially open!"


    And just like that, the bidding war began.


    ---


    Fiona hovered slightly higher.


    She opened the auction interface window on her visor.


    "Alright, everyone watching¡ªlisten carefully."


    She gestured dramatically to the auction panel.


    "We''re starting the bid for Inferon at 50 SS-Rank Beast Cores."


    "If you want to enter a bid, it''s simple."


    She pointed to a glowing icon on the app interface floating at the top-right corner of the stream.


    "Hit the bidding slot on your app."


    "Enter your bid amount."


    "But¡ª"


    She leaned in slightly with a smirk,


    "you must have the actual cores with you."


    Fiona flipped her hand over.


    Letting a small hologram of beast cores spin around her wrist.


    "Luxoria Castle''s app has an auto-scanning AI."


    "Once you submit your bid, your device will scan the beast cores physically near you."


    She grinned wider.


    "So make sure your S-Rank or SS-Rank cores are right beside you."


    "Whether it''s in your safe, pouch, spatial box, wherever."


    "If the AI doesn''t detect your cores, your bid is cancelled automatically."


    She made a playful "tsk-tsk" sound.


    "No fake bids in Luxoria."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @BEASTCORESREADY: They got anti-scam tech too?!


    @THEREALDEAL: Fiona explaining better than my bank


    @CORESPREADOUT: Putting my cores on the table RIGHT NOW


    @SCANMEPLS: My safe''s open, LET''S GO


    @ONLYLUXORIATHINGS: Physical proof = physical power


    @50SSCORESONHAND: First round about to get WILD


    ---


    Fiona floated backward a little.


    She showed them Inferon''s full view.


    She waved toward the camera again.


    "Alright, bidders! Cores beside you! Bids ready!"


    "Starting in..."


    "Three."


    "Two."


    "One¡ªBID OPEN!"


    The auction officially began.


    And the bidding board on her visor flickered.


    Within seconds, the numbers began to climb.


    First, it rose carefully:


    50 SS-Rank Cores ¡ª initial bid.


    55 SS-Rank Cores ¡ª almost immediately after.


    58 SS-Rank Cores ¡ª another quick jump.


    60 SS-Rank Cores ¡ª a steady hand lifted the competition.


    Fiona blinked rapidly as the numbers updated in real-time.


    "Whoa, okay¡ª"


    She laughed lightly.


    "Didn''t even hesitate, huh?"


    She floated higher for dramatic effect, arms open wide.


    "Chat, I thought you said times were tough."


    "You all are loaded!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @RICHWARRIORS: WHERE DID ALL THIS MONEY COME FROM


    @SPENTMYCOLLECTION: Inferon worth every core


    @ITSNOTENOUGH: Only 60?? I''m about to jump in


    @BEASTKINGDREAMS: Someone finna drop 100 cores watch


    @BESTAUCTIONEVER: This pacing is better than TV shows


    ---


    The numbers continued to climb.


    62 SS-Rank Cores


    65 SS-Rank Cores


    67 SS-Rank Cores ¡ª a sudden spike.


    Fiona zoomed out the visual to showcase Inferon roaring softly.


    "You''re all gonna bankrupt yourselves."


    "Before we even get to Brutaurus!"


    She teased.


    The drone cameras rotated automatically, giving viewers a full 360-degree view of Inferon.


    She pointed to the screen with a smirk.


    "Let''s see who''s really serious about taking home a king!"


    The energy in the stream¡ªand in the Luxoria App¡ªwas just heating up.

 Chapter 396: Take My Wallet

    Fiona floated slightly higher.


    Watching as the bids for Inferon still climbed like wildfire.


    Her visor displayed numbers that made her head spin.


    78 SS-Rank cores, 80 cores, 82 cores...


    She shook her head, voice cutting back into the stream.


    "Okay, wait¡ªhold on a second."


    She turned toward her drone camera.


    "Where the hell are you people getting all this money from?"


    Her voice was half laughing, half dead serious.


    "You do know that SS-Rank Beast Cores aren''t exactly lying around, right?"


    "You get them by killing SS-Rank Sovereign beasts."


    "Not like... grocery shopping."


    "And yet..."


    She waved at the auction screen.


    "Here you are, throwing around 80, 90 cores like you found them under your sofa cushions!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @BIGWALLETS: LUXORIA AIN''T SMALL BABY


    @SSRANKFLEX: Rich tamers don''t play around


    @GLOBALBIDDERS: The world is bigger than you think, Fiona lol


    @STORMLORDSQUAD: Entire guilds pooled cores for this


    @LEGITSSKILL: These bidders hunted Sovereigns for YEARS


    @AUCTIONWHALESPOTTED: 1% of 1% population in action


    @TRUSTINLUXORIA: Plus... Luxoria Castle''s reputation is untouchable


    @EVERYONETRUSTLORDL: If Lord L lists it, they show up. Period.


    ---


    Fiona blinked behind her visor, reading the scroll of comments.


    "...You serious?"


    She paused, processing it.


    "So what you''re telling me is..."


    "There are tamers out there rich enough, strong enough, and crazy enough..."


    "...to casually throw 100 SS-Rank cores just because..."


    "Luxoria Castle posted a Sovereign beast for auction?"


    More chat flooded in agreement.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @YESQUEEN: Exactly


    @ITSALIFESTYLE: Strength = currency


    @TRUSTTHEBRAND: Luxoria Castle is THE auction ground now


    @IFIONAONLYKNEW: Tamers train 20 years for a shot like this


    @NOFAKERS: Only REAL hunters here


    ---


    Fiona exhaled deeply, tilting her head back with a groan.


    "Man..."


    She laughed.


    "I gotta get richer fast."


    She looked straight into her drone.


    "Alright then."


    "If we''re playing with the big boys¡ª"


    "¡ªThen let''s see who dares to go the distance today."


    The stream lights around her pulsed as the bidding timer ticked down.


    00:10


    00:09


    The bids were still coming in fast.


    Every update made her jaw tighten in disbelief.


    95 SS-Rank Cores.


    100 SS-Rank Cores.


    108 SS-Rank Cores.


    112 SS-Rank Cores!


    Fiona shouted into the mic without thinking:


    "CHAT¡ªTHEY''RE BREAKING A HUNDRED!!"


    Inferon stood beneath her, not knowing about the bidding war.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @HOLYFIRE: 100+ SS-Rank CORES WHAT


    @GUILDWARS: Must be an entire nation bidding lmao


    @THEBIGGUNS: Luxoria auctions aren''t a game anymore


    @MYLIFEISSADNOW: I can''t even afford one S core


    @INFERONWORTHIT: Watch it hit 120


    ---


    The timer flashed again:


    00:07


    Then it happened.


    One bid soared across the board.


    120 SS-Rank Beast Cores.


    A silence fell over the stream for half a second.


    Even Fiona floated still, stunned.


    "...120...?"


    She blinked twice, then let out a breathless laugh.


    "ONE-HUNDRED AND TWENTY SS-RANK CORES?!"


    She spun once midair out of pure energy.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @MYSTERYKING: WHOEVER BID 120 SS-RANK CORES IS A LEGEND


    @UNKNOWNCHAMP: We don''t even know who they are!


    @REALPOWERONLY: Beast Castle could NEVER lmao


    @BURNITALL: Inferon found a master worth fearing


    @RESPECTTHEBID: That''s not a bid, that''s a WAR DECLARATION


    ---


    The auction buzzer rang out across the hall.


    Fiona floated down closer to the platform.


    "Alright, Luxoria Castle viewers..."


    She grinned wide.


    "We have a winner!"


    She raised her arm toward the big holographic board behind her.


    "Congratulations to user AshenVanguard!"


    "120 SS-Rank cores... and a new king rides beside you."


    The Luxoria App chat exploded immediately.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @WECALLHIMKINGNOW: ASHENVANGUARD LETS GOOOO


    @BIGBOSS: Absolute madman, massive respect


    @DONTRUSHME: 120 cores tho... wallet gone but honor secured


    @INFERONBELIEVER: AshenVanguard carrying the fire crown now


    @RESPECTTHEMOVE: A true beast deserves a true master


    ---


    Fiona laughed, shaking her head as she floated gently across the stage.


    "Man, AshenVanguard... you didn''t just win."


    "You made a statement today."


    Then, something blinked across her visor.


    A private system message.


    [AshenVanguard] ¨C Chat Response: Connected.


    Her stream pinged again.


    A message popped into the public Luxoria Castle chat.


    ---


    [@AshenVanguard]:


    "Winning Inferon isn''t just a trophy for me."


    "I''ve hunted beasts my whole life. Fought Sovereigns. Lost comrades."


    "Today, I finally earned a partner who matches the fire I carried all this time."


    "I don''t tame flames. I become the fire. Luxoria Castle... thank you."


    ---


    The chat erupted even harder.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @GOTCHILLS: Okay, that was raw


    @NOBODYDESERVEDITMORE: AshenVanguard true beastmaster


    @THERESPECT: THIS is what Luxoria Castle is about


    @FULLSEND: Bro bid 120 cores and still had time for a speech lol


    @INFERONPROUD: Inferon about to WRECK the battlefield now


    @WELCOMEFIREKING: Welcome to Sovereign level, King Vanguard!


    ---


    Fiona smiled warmly, heart pounding.


    "That... was badass."


    She let the moment breathe for a few seconds.


    "AshenVanguard, on behalf of Luxoria Castle, congratulations again."


    She floated back toward the center.


    Where the auction interface blinked once more.


    "And for the rest of you out there?"


    Her smile turned playful.


    "Don''t relax yet."


    "Because next..."


    "...we''re bringing out Brutaurus."


    The crowd lost it¡ªagain.


    And Fiona knew this wasn''t just an auction anymore.


    ---


    Fiona floated back into position at the center of the auction platform.


    She turned toward the second massive domain.


    It was where Brutaurus was currently standing.


    Fiona smirked beneath her visor.


    "Alright, Luxoria Castle viewers..."


    She gestured toward the aquatic coliseum with a sweeping arm.


    "You''ve seen fire..."


    "Now prepare for the tide."


    The holographic boards updated automatically behind her.


    It projected Brutaurus''s full stats, abilities, weaknesses, and data for everyone watching.


    Fiona gave a small nod to the audience.


    "I won''t waste your time re-reading everything."


    "You can see the sheet yourselves."


    "Just know this¡ªBrutaurus isn''t just a Sovereign beast."


    She pointed at the monster, who snorted once, releasing a burst of pressure mist.


    "He''s a walking flood."


    "He''s a living coliseum."


    "And if you think you can handle the Abyss-Horned Juggernaut..."


    "Now''s your chance."


    The auction interface opened again.


    Brutaurus¡ªLive Auction Starting Now.


    Fiona raised her hand dramatically.


    "Opening bid starts at 50 SS-Rank Beast Cores."


    She leaned toward her drone camera with a grin.


    "Same rules apply."


    "Cores must be beside you, ready to scan."


    She gave a small wink.


    "Let''s see who''s ready to ride the tides."


    "Auction starts..."


    She counted down again with her fingers.


    "Three..."


    "Two..."


    "One..."


    "BID OPEN!"


    And just like that, Brutaurus''s battle for ownership began!

 Chapter 397: Tides of War

    Fiona floated in midair.


    Her voice projected across thousands of active streams.


    "And here we go, Luxoria Castle fans..."


    "Inferon''s flame has passed. Now it''s time for the tide to rise."


    She pointed toward the massive armored Sovereign.


    "Brutaurus. The Abyss-Horned Juggernaut."


    Behind her, Brutaurus shifted his massive weight.


    It snorted as if sensing the attention, water mist bursting from his gill vents.


    "You''ve read the stats. You''ve seen the test footage."


    "Now let''s see who''s got the strength¡ªand the cores¡ªto earn him."


    The screen lit up again:


    ---


    Opening Bid: 50 SS-Rank Beast Cores


    Current Beast: Brutaurus ¨C The Abyss-Horned Juggernaut


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @RANKSSGO: Let''s see who dares to fight this time


    @COREMOUNTAIN: This one''s a tank, not a trophy


    @THISMYFAVORITE: I''ve waited for this guy since the preview


    @TIDEDUEL: May the strongest stand still longest


    ---


    "Bidding opens... now!" Fiona called.


    The first bids came in within seconds.


    52 SS-Rank Cores


    54


    58


    Fiona chuckled.


    "No slow start, huh?"


    "Must be some real colossus-wannabes out there."


    Then it started escalating.


    60


    63


    67


    70 SS-Rank Cores


    Fiona raised an eyebrow.


    "Alright, now it''s real."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @70ALREADY?!: This gonna pass Inferon''s price?


    @TANKLOVERSUNITE: He''s worth more. Guaranteed.


    @MAXDEFENSE: You don''t bid for Brutaurus to show off. You bid to never lose again.


    @RESPECTTHETIDE: Abyss Juggernaut = zero retreat


    ---


    72 SS-Rank Cores


    75


    79


    Fiona leaned forward, smirking.


    "We''re nearing the deep waters now."


    "80 cores. Just like that. No pause."


    82 SS-Rank Cores


    86


    89


    She looked into the drone camera directly.


    "They aren''t just bidding for power. They''re bidding for legacy."


    Then came a spike.


    94 SS-Rank Cores


    The board flashed red for a second¡ªbid confirmed.


    Fiona blinked.


    "Ninety-four?" she echoed.


    "Someone''s done warming up."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @WHOEVERTHATIS: Just wrecked everyone else lol


    @COREBURNER: That man has DEEP pockets


    @95ORGOHOME: Who''s pushing it to triple digits?!


    @STAYONTHELINE: Next bid''s gonna set records


    ---


    Then it happened.


    100 SS-Rank Cores


    The auction platform chimed loud and clear.


    The number hovered.


    Fiona exhaled as it displayed behind her.


    "...One hundred."


    She floated down slightly.


    "Ladies and gentlemen..."


    "We''ve hit the peak."


    "Triple digits. For a beast that does not obey¡ªonly respects."


    Then¡ªeverything froze.


    Not literally. But the chat paused, the bid screen held at 100.


    And then it happened.


    A chat message scrolled into view.


    ---


    @StoneholdWarden: I will take this one. For mine alone.


    ---


    Fiona blinked.


    "...Who?"


    The bid board didn''t wait.


    130 SS-Rank Cores ¨C Confirmed


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @WHO?!: 130???


    @IS-THIS-REAL: Who the hell is Stonehold_Warden?!


    @ABSOLUTEMADMAN: That''s not a bid. That''s a declaration.


    @CALLTHEVAULT: He just WIPED the floor with everyone


    @BIGGESTBIDYET: Did he just one-shot the entire auction?!


    ---


    Fiona turned her head slowly to face the camera, jaw slack for a moment.


    Then she let out a single, breathless laugh.


    "...That''s it. We found our monster."


    She tilted her visor slightly, confirming the bid screen.


    "130 SS-Rank Cores. Locked in."


    Fiona floated backward a few feet to give a full view of Brutaurus''s cage behind her.


    She raised her hand dramatically.


    "Do we have any challengers?"


    "Anyone else daring enough to drop more?"


    Silence.


    No new bid notifications. No jumps.


    "Come on, guys."


    Her voice teased, testing the final few seconds.


    "Is that it?"


    Still nothing.


    Fiona leaned toward her drone with a smirk.


    "Alright then."


    She turned toward the screen.


    ---


    Final Bid Confirmed.


    Winner: @StoneholdWarden


    Final Offer: 130 SS-Rank Cores


    Beast Acquired: Brutaurus ¨C The Abyss-Horned Juggernaut


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @UNDEFEATEDBID: There it is


    @130COREKING: Stonehold_Warden claimed the throne


    @JUGGERNAUTFORJUGGERNAUT: Perfect match.


    @SILENCEWON: No one dared to answer back


    @INSTANTRESPECT: Not a single challenger after that drop


    ---


    Fiona smiled and extended one arm dramatically toward the Beast''s domain.


    "Brutaurus has chosen his new master."


    She glanced back toward the camera.


    "Congratulations, @StoneholdWarden."


    "You now own the Juggernaut."


    Fiona floated to the center of the platform once more.


    "Now then..."


    She tapped the screen beside her and opened the final results window.


    "@AshenVanguard and @StoneholdWarden..."


    "You two have won."


    The glowing names hovered beside their respective Sovereign beast images.


    "Do you want your beasts delivered to your estate or... ?"


    She paused.


    "Wait a second."


    She turned toward the edge of the stage where Liline stood.


    "Liline, can we actually deliver beasts of this tier?"


    "That''s allowed, right?"


    Liline gave a small, composed nod.


    "Yes, Miss Fiona. Lord L has already approved long-distance delivery."


    Fiona smiled and faced the camera again.


    "Well then!"


    "You heard her."


    "We can ship these beasts straight to your front door."


    She tapped once more on the screen, sending a notification to the two winning accounts.


    "@AshenVanguard, @StoneholdWarden."


    "Please confirm your delivery address and¡ª"


    Before she could finish, a bold notification popped up:


    ---


    [AshenVanguard]:


    "No need. I''m nearly there. Landing in 7 minutes."


    [Stonehold_Warden]:


    "Same. Already in Luxoria Zone. At the gate."


    ---


    Fiona blinked.


    "... You''re both... What"?


    She laughed and shook her head.


    "So you weren''t just rich."


    "You were literally on your way here this entire time?"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @THEYREHERE: Bro they''re PULLING UP


    @VIPENTRANCEINCOMING: These two about to walk in like final bosses


    @DELIVERYDENIED: Who needs shipping when you ride in yourself?


    @LEGENDENTRANCE: Real kings pick up their beasts in person


    ---


    Fiona straightened her posture midair.


    She floated slightly above the center of the auction platform.


    She turned toward the glowing platform interface.


    "Liline."


    "Create a direct hallway from the front gate straight to the auction chamber."


    "Let them walk in like they own the place."


    Liline nodded with a graceful bow.


    "Understood, Miss Fiona."


    In the next instant, she easily created a wide hallway with only her hand.


    It stretched outward through the castle like a living corridor.


    The crowd in the app chat went wild after seeing it.


    Fiona turned to the camera again, one hand on her hip.


    "Well then..."


    Her smirk returned.


    "Let''s welcome our new Sovereign masters in person, shall we?"


    Behind her, the cages pulsed with heat and pressure.


    Inferon and Brutaurus waiting... just like everyone else.

 Chapter 398: Brutaurus and Inferon Got New Dads

    Fiona stood near the platform edge.


    Drones repositioned automatically for a perfect wide shot.


    Behind her, Inferon and Brutaurus stood in silence.


    Then, the new hallway lit up fully.


    And then¡ª


    Two figures entered.


    The first wore obsidian-red armor patterned with flame-sigil threads.


    A short, ember-red hairstyle. A black mantle lined with charred feathers.


    Then the second came.


    A towering man wrapped in reinforced marine armor, pale blue and abyssal gray.


    His eyes carried the calm of the deep sea and the power to crush.


    Fiona blinked, visor scanning them instantly.


    "...No way."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @WAITWAITWAIT: THAT''S KAELEN STRAVOS


    @FIRECROWNDUDE: Bro that''s the Arena Champion!


    @THEIRONBLOOD: IS THAT DRELMAS VHARKORR?!


    @LEGENDSENTERING: They came in person?!


    @NOAUTODELIVERY: Real tamers don''t wait on shipping


    @SO THIS IS LUXORIA: What is happening right now


    ---


    Fiona opened her arms theatrically.


    "Well, chat... if you didn''t believe in legends before¡ª"


    She pointed to the two men entering the stage.


    "Now you''re staring at two of them."


    Kaelen Stravos stopped in front of Inferon''s cage.


    And Drelmas Vharkorr stepped toward Brutaurus''s domain.


    Fiona turned to the crowd, her grin wide behind the visor.


    "The Auction is over."


    "The beasts have chosen."


    "And now¡ªso has history."


    The chat didn''t stop flooding.


    And Luxoria Castle''s legend just grew larger.


    ---


    Liline appeared without sound, standing beside the two auction winners.


    Two spectral servants also materialized beside her.


    She gave a soft nod.


    "Please, present your payment."


    Kaelen and Drelmas both nodded, wordless but focused.


    Kaelen reached into his reinforced utility pack and drew out a compact silver core vault.


    "120 SS-Rank Beast Cores."


    Drelmas did the same.


    His box was heavier, more mechanical, sealed with pressure-locked clasps.


    "130 cores. Delivered in full."


    The spectral servants bowed, lifting both core vaults gently before vanishing.


    Liline stepped forward, her voice even.


    "Payment confirmed. The contracting process is now complete."


    Both men blinked.


    Kaelen frowned.


    "Wait... already?"


    Drelmas raised an eyebrow.


    "I assumed I''d at least need to do something for Brutaurus first..."


    Before either of them could ask more, two more spectral servants appeared.


    Each one holding a sealed scroll wrapped in beast-threaded ribbon.


    They stepped forward and offered the scrolls respectfully.


    Liline gestured.


    "These are your custom cultivation manuals."


    "They are tailored specifically for your new sovereigns."


    "Based on their internal structure, elemental nature, and synchronization compatibility with you."


    Kaelen accepted his scroll slowly, still confused.


    "I''ve never seen a beast auction this streamlined."


    Drelmas turned the scroll in his hand.


    "Or this... immediately."


    Fiona floated closer, visor still glowing.


    "Yeah, uh... welcome to Luxoria Castle,"


    She said, half-laughing.


    "I''ve been here longer than both of you."


    "And I still can''t get over how fast everything works."


    Kaelen gave her a sideways look.


    "I didn''t expect to walk in, bid, and walk out with an SS-rank Sovereign and its cultivation manual."


    Drelmas added with a quiet grunt,


    "I expected a week of ritual bonding. Not five minutes and a bow."


    Liline gave a faint smile.


    "This is not the Beast Castle."


    "Lord L designed this system so that the strong are not delayed by red tape."


    Fiona nodded.


    "She''s not kidding."


    "We''ve had people finish auctions and deploy their new beast the same evening."


    Kaelen shook his head slightly, now unrolling part of the scroll.


    "You said this is custom?"


    Liline nodded.


    "Every scroll is generated by analyzing your aura, beast signature, and your body."


    "No two manuals are the same. Not even for the same beast."


    Drelmas let out a low breath.


    "This really isn''t your usual pet shop."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @HOWISTHISREAL: They didn''t even need to sign anything?!


    @SCROLLSPEEDRUN: Instant contracts, instant manuals??


    @THELUXORIADREAM: Imagine buying a beast and getting a roadmap for godhood in one scroll


    @RESPECTTHEMONEY: Money talks¡ªbut Luxoria executes


    ---


    Fiona looked toward the camera, then back at the two men.


    "Well, I hope you two are ready."


    "Because now that you''re part of Luxoria Castle history..."


    "You''re never going to be anonymous again."


    Kaelen rolled up his scroll with a smirk.


    "Good."


    Drelmas nodded once.


    "Let them watch."


    Liline bowed.


    "Luxoria Castle welcomes its new sovereign masters."


    And the chamber lights pulsed softly.


    ---


    Fiona hovered casually between the two towering figures.


    "So... not to stir the pot or anything."


    She said, grinning,


    "But don''t you two want to, I don''t know..."


    "Test out your new beasts?"


    Kaelen tilted his head slightly.


    "You mean a show match?"


    "Not necessarily against each other."


    Fiona replied quickly, raising both hands with a laugh.


    "But yeah. Summon them. Maybe give the crowd a little preview?"


    "You did just spend over a hundred SS-Rank cores each."


    "Would be a waste not to flex a little."


    Drelmas raised an eyebrow.


    "Tighten the bond through first exposure combat..."


    He nodded slowly.


    "It''s actually a good idea."


    Kaelen cracked his knuckles and gave a rare smile.


    "I''ve been waiting to feel Inferon''s fire up close."


    Fiona snapped her fingers.


    "Then it''s settled. Now we just need a place¡ª"


    She turned toward Liline.


    "Liline, please tell me this place has a Sovereign-tier combat arena."


    Liline smiled without missing a beat.


    "Luxoria Castle has one."


    "It is specifically calibrated for combat between high-level tamers and Sovereign-class beasts."


    She took a small step forward, raising one hand.


    A glowing hallway pulsed into view behind her.


    "If you would follow me, I will escort you there."


    Fiona clapped her hands and floated beside them.


    "Yes! Let''s go!"


    "New content unlocked, baby!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @GOODCALLFIONA: Fiona with the content brain as always


    @SHEKNOWSVIEWS: Smart move¡ªthis will go viral


    @THANKYOUFIONA: Two legends about to spar day one??


    @CASTLEGENIUS: First auctions, now an arena debut¡ªLuxoria never misses


    @SHEUNDERSTANDS: Give her admin already


    ---


    Fiona turned toward her drone and winked.


    "You guys better clip this."


    "We''re about to see Inferon and Brutaurus touch the ground for the first time under new ownership."


    Kaelen walked ahead calmly, fists clenched.


    Drelmas followed beside him, every step steady.


    Liline led the way.


    And Fiona?


    She floated beside them, already planning her next stream title.

 Chapter 399: Duel of the Day

    Kaelen and Drelmas stood on opposite ends of the arena.


    The silence between them lasted only a moment.


    Then Kaelen spoke first.


    "Only one way to show them what we really are."


    Drelmas nodded once, his deep voice calm.


    "Yeah. Full fusion. Let the world witness."


    Fiona, still floating overhead, raised an eyebrow.


    "Wait... What are you two¡ª?"


    Before she could finish, both men stepped forward, arms raised.


    Brilliant light surged.


    Kaelen''s body ignited in red flames as Inferon''s power merged with him.


    His muscles tightened, his skin took on a faint ember glow, and his hair turned bright flame-orange.


    A burning crest shimmered above his head like a crown of fire.


    Drelmas, in contrast, was covered in thick mist as Brutaurus fused with him.


    His body became heavier, broader¡ªhis skin darkened like deep stone.


    Blue lines flowed across his arms and shoulders, and small gill marks appeared along his back.


    Two thick horns curved from his forehead, like the beast''s own.


    Both men stood taller, more powerful.


    Their Sovereigns didn''t fight for them.


    They were the beasts now.


    Fiona gaped through her visor.


    "Chat¡ªdid you SEE that?!"


    "They''re not just summoning their beasts. They''re becoming them!"


    She twirled in the air once, barely containing her excitement.


    "They didn''t wait even an hour¡ªand they''re already in perfect fusion?"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @FUSIONDAYONE: They just fused LIKE THAT??


    @NOHESITATION: The beasts wanted this. You can feel it.


    @LEGENDARYBOND: Bro they''re not tamers, they''re generals


    @BEASTMANMODE: InFERON Kaelen and JUGGERNAUT Drelmas


    @FIONAREACTS: Give Fiona a raise for covering this fire


    @SSLEGENDS: First the bids. Now the fusion. Luxoria really built different.


    ---


    Fiona steadied herself, grinning wildly.


    "Okay... if there was any doubt about whether they earned their beasts?"


    She gestured to the arena below.


    "This¡ªright here¡ªis your answer."


    Kaelen and Drelmas stood ready, flames and pressure radiating from them.


    The battle hadn''t even started...


    And the world was already watching.


    ---


    Fiona floated high above, visor locked on both.


    Her drones capturing every angle for the Luxoria App stream.


    "And it begins..."


    Drelmas raised one massive hand, fingers clenching into a fist.


    "Duelist''s Claim."


    A deep-blue sigil flared beneath Kaelen''s feet.


    The space around him trembled for a moment¡ªthen went still.


    Kaelen narrowed his eyes.


    "So it''s just me and you now, huh?"


    Drelmas didn''t speak. He simply started walking forward.


    The pressure in the arena thickened instantly.


    Fiona''s drone systems showed the shift.


    Kaelen crouched slightly, flame building around his shoulders.


    "Then I''ll be first."


    With a sharp step, he vanished into a trail of heat.


    He reappeared just beside Drelmas, driving a flame-covered fist toward his side.


    "Flare Breaker!"


    The strike connected¡ªbut Drelmas didn''t move.


    His body flexed. Mist surged.


    "Torrent Skin."


    Kaelen''s flames hissed against the swirling water shield.


    The impact sent steam curling into the air, but Drelmas didn''t stagger.


    "You''re not stopping me with fire." Drelmas growled.


    He countered with a quick, brutal left hook.


    Kaelen ducked, but the sheer pressure behind the swing forced him to slide backward across the arena floor.


    Before he could recover, the mist thickened.


    "Hydrocage Arena."


    Pillars of spinning water erupted around them, closing in like a tidal dome.


    Kaelen was now locked into a narrow space with one opponent¡ªand zero escape.


    "Perfect." Kaelen smiled.


    He raised both hands, letting his energy spike.


    "Solar Prowess."


    Flames exploded around him.


    Inferon''s power surged as heat intensified inside the Hydrocage.


    The mist began to boil.


    Drelmas narrowed his eyes, recognizing the change in air pressure.


    Kaelen blurred forward again.


    "Infernal Dash!"


    This time, he didn''t punch.


    He drove his knee upward into Drelmas''s gut.


    The hit landed harder than the last. Drelmas grunted, sliding back a step.


    Kaelen followed up immediately.


    "Flame Fang Kick!"


    His leg ignited as he twisted into a spinning heel strike.


    It collided with Drelmas''s shoulder.


    Sending a shockwave through the water dome.


    Cracks formed in the Hydrocage pillars.


    Drelmas let out a grunt.


    He raised both arms, slamming them into the ground.


    "Riptide Slam!"


    Water burst up from beneath Kaelen''s feet, launching him into the air.


    Mid-air, Drelmas leapt.


    His body seemed too heavy to move that fast.


    But Brutaurus''s strength propelled him like a cannon.


    His shoulder smashed into Kaelen''s chest, driving both of them back down in a crater.


    Dust filled the air.


    Fiona leaned forward, stunned.


    "They''re going all out... and this isn''t even five minutes in."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @SSCLASH: This is BEAST LEVEL


    @FIREvsPRESSURE: I can''t even tell who''s winning


    @NOHOLDBACK: One mistake and they''re DONE


    @DIDYOUFEELTHAT: I felt that hit through the screen


    @DUELISTENGAGED: Drelmas out here claiming titles


    ---


    The mist cleared slowly.


    Cracks veined the stone floor around them.


    Kaelen''s fists burned with molten flame.


    Drelmas''s muscles pulsed with tidal pressure.


    They locked eyes.


    Kaelen spoke first.


    "Let''s end it."


    Drelmas nodded slowly.


    "One attack."


    Kaelen''s lips twitched into the faintest grin.


    "No tricks. No dodging."


    "Only strength," Drelmas replied.


    They both stepped back¡ªjust one pace.


    Kaelen clenched his fists.


    Flame flared behind him.


    "Solar Brand Judgment."


    Drelmas dug his heels into the ground.


    Mist spiraled tighter around his body.


    "Tyrant of the Tides."


    Fiona, floating high above, whispered through her comms.


    "They''re doing it."


    Kaelen: "Here I come, tide-breaker."


    Drelmas: "Try not to burn out before you hit me."


    In unison, they roared¡ª


    "NOW!"


    Kaelen charged forward, blazing like a comet.


    Drelmas surged like a tidal wave, water crushing beneath his fists.


    The arena shuddered as both Sovereign forces collided head-on in the center.


    Flame met flood.


    Pressure met explosion.


    A blinding flash of steam and light burst into the sky.


    Fiona floated above the haze.


    "...Whoa."


    She hovered lower as the smoke began to fade.


    Revealing a crater carved into the center of the Sovereign Arena.


    Still, neither fighter was clearly visible.


    "Chat..." she said, her voice hushed with anticipation.


    "That... was insane."


    "But now the real question."


    She turned toward her main camera drone.


    "Who''s still standing?"


    "Who''s your champion?"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @TEAMFIRE: Kaelen for sure!


    @PRESSUREWON: Drelmas never moved once


    @DRAWIT: It''s gotta be a draw!


    @REPLAYREPLAY: I NEED slow-mo on that clash!


    @FIONAREACTS: Fiona''s reaction was gold


    ---


    Fiona smirked.


    "Only one way to find out."


    "Let''s see who''s left standing."

 Chapter 400: Just Surprise Marketing

    Two silhouettes emerged from the crater¡ªboth upright.


    Kaelen stood still, arms loose at his sides.


    Drelmas exhaled deeply, the mist retreating from his shoulders.


    A few seconds later, both of them deactivated their fusion states.


    Kaelen rolled his neck once.


    "Not bad."


    Drelmas nodded.


    "Solid hit. Didn''t flinch."


    Kaelen smirked.


    "Neither did you."


    Up above, Fiona floated down just slightly and pointed toward them.


    "Alright, everyone¡ªyou saw it."


    "Both of them still standing. No clear victor."


    She gave a playful shrug.


    "Looks like we''ve got ourselves a draw!"


    Turning back to the camera drone, she added with a grin.


    "This was just a practice match anyway. No need for knockout punches... yet."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @MUTUALRESPECT: That was a real test of power


    @DRAWISFAIR: Honestly, both earned it


    @SOVEREIGNMATCHUP: Imagine if they went all out


    @MOREMATCHESPLEASE: Round 2 someday??


    @FIONAWINNING: Fiona''s coverage top tier


    ---


    Fiona chuckled at the stream chat.


    She waved to the two departing tamers below.


    "Great match, you two!"


    Kaelen gave a small nod as he passed by her.


    "Good commentary."


    Drelmas followed silently, giving a quiet gesture of respect with his massive hand.


    Fiona watched them go, then turned back to her drone with a glowing grin.


    "And that wraps it up, folks."


    "Two Sovereign-class tamers, two monster-level beasts.


    She flipped backward once midair, landing gently at the center of the platform.


    "This officially ends today''s Luxoria Castle Auction Stream!"


    She held up a hand and wagged a finger playfully.


    "But don''t forget¡ªwe''re not done yet."


    "At the end of this week, we''ve got the first ever Best Vornis Competition."


    "If you''ve got a Vornis, bring it."


    "If you are a Vornis owner, better start training."


    She leaned forward toward the lens.


    "Because that''s when we''ll find out who''s evolved Vornis to be the best."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @GREATSTREAM: Fiona crushed it again


    @INFERON+BRUT FTW: That match was WILD


    @VORNISPREP: Yo we need to get ready for that competition fr


    @DREL-KAELENREMATCH: Best practice fight I''ve ever seen


    @STREAMQUEENFIONA: Fiona carried the whole auction


    @CANTWAIT: Vornis comp gonna be


    ---


    Fiona smiled warmly as she read the rolling comments.


    "Thanks, everyone. Seriously."


    "Thanks for watching, thanks for bidding, and thanks for being part of streaming."


    She gave one last wave as the camera zoomed out slowly.


    "See you at the Vornis Tournament."


    "Fiona Flares¡ªsigning off!"


    The stream ended on the high note of fire and mist still lingering in the air.


    ---


    Lucius stepped out from his chamber.


    Luna stood just outside it, arms folded, leaning against the doorframe.


    Inside the room, Loreia sat in the center of a glowing array.


    Luna smiled, turning to Lucius.


    "Was she in the same process as me and Liora back then?"


    Lucius only smirked.


    "Rougher and harsher than both of you."


    Luna tilted her head slightly.


    "You think she''ll surpass us?"


    Lucius shrugged, amused.


    "Of course, she was. I didn''t spend that many hack points to make her average."


    Luna let out a soft chuckle.


    "She''ll be thrilled to hear that."


    They both turned to watch as Loreia''s body was momentarily lifted off the floor.


    Then Lucius blinked and asked,


    "How''d the auction go?"


    Luna brightened slightly, stepping away from the door.


    "Just wrapped. Both beasts sold."


    "Inferon went for 120 SS-Rank beast cores."


    "Brutaurus? 130."


    Lucius gave a quiet whistle.


    "Impressive. Did they show up?"


    "Both buyers arrived in person."


    "Kaelen Stravos and Drelmas Vharkorr."


    Lucius''s smile widened.


    "So the ones who showed up were those two, huh?"


    Lucius turned toward Luna.


    "How''s our star, Fiona?"


    Luna smirked without even checking a screen.


    "She''s in the restaurant."


    "Third table from the window. Finished two plates already."


    Lucius chuckled.


    "Impressive metabolism. Let''s meet her, shall we?"


    Luna nodded.


    "She''ll like that. She''s still buzzing from the auction."


    Lucius pushed the door open with one hand.


    "Good. Let''s see how far that buzz carries when I drop her next job."


    Luna''s smile widened slightly.


    "You''re not going to warn her first?"


    "Where''s the fun in that?"


    At the far table, Fiona sat with a tray nearly cleared of food.


    Lucius, still wearing his silver mask, stepped closer without a sound.


    Fiona looked up¡ªand blinked in surprise.


    "Ah¡ªLord L!" she said, sitting up straighter.


    "Didn''t expect you here."


    Lucius gave a light chuckle as he slid into the seat across from her.


    "Relax. Just continue eating. We''re not here to audit your appetite."


    Luna sat beside him, offering Fiona a small wave.


    Fiona grinned.


    "Alright... if you say so."


    She picked up her glass, sipping lightly before glancing back at him.


    "So? How''d I do?"


    Lucius leaned an elbow on the table.


    "I watched the whole stream."


    "Smooth execution. Strong presence. Sharp timing."


    "Auction mode synced with Fionyx perfectly."


    Fiona beamed.


    "Right? It was flawless. Even the chat said so."


    Lucius nodded once.


    "Luxoria Castle''s reputation just jumped another tier."


    "SS-Rank beast auctions delivered like a cinematic experience..."


    "All thanks to you."


    Fiona set her glass down and leaned in slightly.


    "By the way..." she said, narrowing her eyes.


    "You mentioned there were surprise slots besides Inferon and Brutaurus."


    Lucius tilted his head.


    "Did I?"


    Luna glanced at him with a faint smirk.


    Fiona nodded.


    "Yeah. You said the two weren''t the only ones up for bidding."


    Lucius tapped a finger on the table, thinking.


    Then he shrugged with a mischievous grin behind his mask.


    "Ah... right."


    "Well, that was... just to hype things up."


    Fiona blinked.


    "Wait¡ªwhat?"


    "There weren''t any other beasts in this auction," Lucius admitted casually.


    "But the phrase ''surprise slots'' boosts anticipation."


    "Viewers stay longer. Bidders stay alert."


    Fiona gaped.


    "So you faked it?"


    Lucius laughed lightly.


    "Did anyone ask for clarification?"


    Fiona blinked again... Then sighed and leaned back.


    "I mean... no."


    Lucius chuckled, resting his hand against his chin.


    "Then I didn''t lie. I just let the silence do the marketing."


    Fiona shook her head, exasperated but clearly amused.


    "You really play people like it''s second nature."


    Lucius tilted his head slightly.


    "It''s not about playing. It''s about preparing them to want more."


    Fiona raised an eyebrow.


    "So there really aren''t any hidden beasts?"


    Lucius leaned forward just a little.


    "Not in that auction."


    Fiona squinted.


    "...Which means?"


    Lucius''s grin widened.


    "You''ll find out. Just keep that drone of yours ready."


    Fiona rolled her eyes.


    "Figures."


    Then she smirked.


    "Fine. I''ll bite."

 Chapter 401: Loreia Woke Up Mad

    Loreia''s voice thundered through the chamber.


    "Damn you, Lucius! I never thought you''d push it this far!"


    She sat up, her hands gripping the edge of the reinforced slab beneath her.


    Her body trembled¡ªnot from pain.


    But from the aftershock of everything flooding into her.


    Somewhere across the castle, Lucius blinked.


    His hair subtly lifted at the back of his neck.


    "...She''s awake."


    Fiona tilted her head, still chewing on a piece of toast.


    "Something wrong, Lord L?"


    Lucius shook his head with a dry smile.


    "No, just... an old beast stretching her claws again."


    "I''ll tend to it later."


    He looked at Fiona.


    "Enjoy your meal. I have a few things to handle."


    Fiona gave a casual salute with her fork.


    "Go do your thing, Lord L. I''m gonna steal another croissant."


    Lucius turned to Luna, who stood nearby with a tablet in hand.


    "Check on Loreia."


    Luna gave a soft nod.


    "Yes, Master. I''ll make sure she didn''t destroy half the room."


    ¡ª


    Minutes later, Luna entered the reinforced recovery chamber.


    Loreia was on her feet now, arms crossed.


    She had torn off most of the monitoring cables.


    Energy still coursed around her body in quiet pulses.


    Luna grinned.


    "Looks like someone''s already angry."


    Loreia glared at her.


    "He threw me into a virtual war for ten years, Luna."


    Luna tilted her head with a teasing smirk.


    "And you survived. Stronger than ever, I''m guessing?"


    Loreia glared.


    "Ten years. Inside a never-ending battlefield."


    "I had to fight with Lorien at my side, who¡ªby the way¡ªwas still adapting from Argentis."


    "We were thrown into slaughterfields, nightmare loops, collapsing sky cities.


    "I didn''t even get a proper debrief."


    "Well, you''re alive," Luna said with a casual shrug.


    "Which means it worked."


    "And if Lorien evolved properly, you should be grateful."


    "Grateful?" Loreia narrowed her eyes.


    "Lorien became something else in there."


    "That beast is... perfect. But don''t make it sound easy."


    "I had to earn every second of that survival."


    She paused, breathing heavily. "Now tell me where Lucius is."


    Luna held up her hands, stepping aside.


    "Master had something to handle. He said to wait and cool off."


    Loreia scoffed. "Cool off?"


    She exhaled sharply, then crossed her arms.


    "Fine. If he wants me to cool off, then you''ll help."


    Luna blinked. "Me?"


    "Yes. You''re already here."


    "And I need a proper spar to test this new strength."


    Her voice dropped an octave. "Unless you''re scared."


    Luna frowned and sighed.


    "You really love dragging me into these things..."


    Loreia took a step forward. "Luna."


    "Fine, fine!" Luna rolled her eyes.


    "I knew I should''ve pretended to be busy."


    She quickly called on Liline.


    "Liline, prepare the largest arena in Luxoria."


    "Use Sovereign-class reinforcement and full adaptive terrain settings."


    Liline''s voice echoed softly.


    "Understood. Activating the Grand Colosseum Vault."


    "Estimated time¡ªthree minutes."


    Luna looked at Loreia with a dry smile. "Happy now?"


    Loreia cracked her knuckles. "Not yet."


    ---


    Loreia and Luna stood across from each other in the Grand Colosseum Vault.


    Loreia didn''t wait.


    She raised her hand, and in a flash, a sleek silver spear materialized in her palm.


    "This is Lorien," she said. "Its current weaponized form."


    Luna raised an eyebrow, arms still folded. "A spear?"


    Loreia smiled.


    "Don''t let the form fool you. You''ll see soon enough."


    Luna''s lips curled slightly. "I see... Then I won''t hold back."


    She took a step forward, then reached behind her back.


    Silver moonlight wrapped around her as Loxen''s form shifted.


    A long, thin cannon slotted itself into place over her right arm.


    A layered shield extended from her left wrist, formed from warped crescent energy.


    Her hair fluttered in the wind as her visor snapped shut.


    "I didn''t think I''d get to stretch this system out today," Luna said.


    "But if you want my all, big sis..."


    "Then I''ll give you something real."


    Loreia twirled her spear once, then planted its butt onto the silver floor. "Good."


    "Just don''t complain when you can''t keep up."


    Luna''s eyes narrowed behind her visor. "No promises."


    A low pulse spread through the arena as both Divine-tier beasts surged in sync with their masters.


    "System''s synced," Luna said.


    "One click and I lock the entire terrain for illusion reversal and phantom overrides."


    Loreia exhaled once.


    "Lorien already sealed misfortune and trickery."


    "You''ll find it harder to cheat fate in here."


    "Oh?" Luna smirked. "What about bending it?"


    "Try," Loreia said. "And watch what happens."


    Both paused.


    Neither moved.


    Then Loreia chuckled softly. "You''ve improved."


    "And you''ve changed," Luna admitted.


    "There''s something... more. Your stance. That energy."


    "Lorien didn''t just enhance you¡ªit completed something."


    Loreia nodded. "Ten years in war. You find what matters."


    They stepped forward at the same time, standing now just meters apart.


    Luna raised her cannon slightly.


    Loreia spun her spear in one smooth arc.


    "I won''t hold back, Luna."


    "I hope not," Luna replied. "Because neither will I."


    ---


    Luna didn''t wait for another breath.


    She shot forward, cannon locking in.


    "Let''s see if that spear is more than decoration!"


    The barrel glowed silver-blue.


    Three crescent energy rounds fired in rapid succession.


    Each one aimed with surgical precision.


    Loreia didn''t move.


    The blasts struck.


    Or... they should have.


    Each one passed through her image¡ªno impact, no explosion.


    Luna skidded sideways, already recalculating. "Illusion field?"


    Loreia''s voice rang out, calm and clear. "No illusions."


    Luna''s eyes narrowed.


    She pivoted, fired again.


    A barrage of glowing discs slammed toward Loreia''s chest.


    Nothing.


    They vanished mid-air¡ªlike they had been... erased?


    "What?" Luna hissed.


    She activated a pulse grenade from her left shoulder plate and lobbed it.


    The device exploded mid-flight, sending a ring of moonlight shrapnel toward Loreia.


    Still¡ªnothing.


    The air around Loreia shimmered faintly, like ripples on glass.


    Not a single piece of the attack touched her.


    Luna dashed backward and muttered.


    "There''s no barrier reading. No shield detected. No spatial shift."


    She raised her voice. "What did you just do?"


    Loreia didn''t flinch.


    She stood, holding the spear upright. Serene. Untouched.


    "I didn''t do anything," Loreia said. "Lorien did."


    Luna clenched her jaw.


    "I locked the illusion anchor!"


    "I bypassed enchantments¡ªthis isn''t normal protection!"


    Loreia finally moved. Just a single step forward.


    "When Lorien is with me," she said quietly,


    "I don''t need to dodge. Fate itself changes. Misfortune doesn''t reach me."


    Luna stared. "You''re saying I missed... because of luck?"


    "No," Loreia corrected. "Because of miracle certainty."


    She lowered the spear slightly.


    "You''re not fighting just me."


    "You''re fighting a beast that rewrites outcomes before they happen."


    Luna let out a slow breath. "So that''s the Blessed Miracle."


    She smirked.


    "Well then, big sis¡ª"


    "This just got interesting."

 Chapter 402: Loreia Finally Got Serious

    The battlefield twisted.


    The ground beneath them dissolved into reflective glass.


    The sky became a warped void of mirrored fragments and glowing crescent sigils.


    Time lost rhythm. Sound fell silent.


    Silver Moon Domain: Activated.


    Luna stood at the far edge.


    She extended one hand lazily toward Loreia.


    "Your Lorien''s interesting."


    "Luck, healing, light... Even fate bends for you."


    Her eyes narrowed.


    "But let''s see if it can bend around this."


    She vanished.


    A silver streak tore through the domain.


    Luna reappeared behind Loreia mid-strike.


    Her cannon arm fired off a curved blast of cursed ice and illusion flame.


    Loreia''s feet didn''t move.


    She stood there calmly as the energy washed toward her¡ª


    ¡ªbut the blast veered off course.


    It swirled sideways, struck nothing, and disappeared into the mirrored terrain.


    "Probability skip," Luna muttered. "Expected."


    Her hand twitched.


    Four crescent blades shot forward, shifting into dark water mid-air.


    Then froze into jagged ice just before impact.


    Lorien''s light shimmered again.


    The ice cracked and reversed direction.


    One shard embedded itself into the wall.


    Another spun off and nearly clipped Luna''s ankle.


    Luna smiled. "It''s not just defensive. It''s redirective."


    She floated backward and pointed.


    "Then let''s remove defense entirely."


    Silver Moon Authority: Engaged.


    The environment warped. Shadows elongated unnaturally.


    Luna''s presence multiplied.


    Six mirrored illusions stepped forward alongside her.


    Each bore a different elemental signature: curse, shadow, water, ice, illusion, and reflection.


    Loreia''s eyes narrowed. She flicked her spear.


    She formed feathered layers of radiant shielding.


    The first illusion struck.


    Darkness coiled from its palms, exploding into chains of cursed energy.


    Loreia swung the spear¡ªthree chains dissolved instantly.


    But the second illusion stepped in.


    Frost mist surged from its legs and encased Loreia''s right foot.


    Her movement slowed.


    The third illusion blasted her with a burst of mirrored flame.


    Something that looked like fire but carried no heat.


    Instead, it reversed her field of vision.


    The world flipped. Left became right. Front became behind.


    Loreia growled softly and planted her spear.


    Lorien pulsed, restoring orientation in a shimmer of light.


    But it wasn''t fast enough.


    The fourth illusion stabbed her in the side with a blade of cursed glass.


    Blood splattered the air.


    Loreia flinched, barely stepping back in time to deflect a second thrust.


    Her shoulder guard was split. Skin bruised.


    The edge of the wound shimmered unnaturally.


    Lorien quickly tried to reverse it.


    Luna''s real body approached now, no longer smiling.


    "You''re bleeding, big sis."


    Loreia didn''t answer.


    Lorien shifted behind her, turning into a mirrored guardian with glowing wings.


    It was trying to project a new healing dome.


    The light began to rise.


    Then Luna snapped her fingers.


    All the illusions vanished¡ªand so did the ground.


    Loreia fell.


    A split-second later, the battlefield reset.


    She reappeared above the mirrored field¡ªoff balance. Vulnerable.


    That was the opening.


    Luna dashed up from below, cannon charging.


    "Let''s see how miracles handle reality distortion!"


    The cannon blast landed directly on Loreia''s lower abdomen.


    It crashed through the partial shield, slamming her into the mirrored terrain.


    She hit hard. The reflective ground cracked.


    Blood trailed from her lip.


    She coughed once but slowly pushed herself up again.


    Luna floated overhead, breath steady but eyes sharp.


    "Still standing?"


    Loreia lifted her head.


    "...Obviously."


    She stood slowly, brushing aside the cracked feathers of Lorien''s half-mended cloak.


    "And it seems," she said, rotating her shoulders.


    "That when both of us wield Divine-tier beasts..."


    "My fortune can''t really do much."


    Luna descended slowly.


    "Finally figured that out?"


    Loreia''s lips twitched into a thin smile.


    "Good. Because I''m done being lucky."


    She stabbed her spear into the ground.


    Lorien''s feathers pulsed out like rings across the floor.


    Silver sparks gathered behind her.


    Wings of radiant flame and shifting energy grew from her back.


    The spear liquefied, reshaping into a two-handed radiant cannon.


    The barrel pulsed with gentle waves, but the core howled with fate-twisting energy.


    Luna frowned.


    "That''s not just a weapon..."


    Loreia''s hand closed on the handle.


    "It''s Lorien''s Judgment Pattern."


    Her voice hardened.


    "Let''s see if your illusions can survive certainty."


    Without warning, she fired.


    The recoil threw Loreia back a meter.


    Luna''s Silver Moon Domain warped violently to counter.


    Multiple reality layers formed in defense:


    Mirrors, phantoms, ice-shells, illusions stacked over illusions.


    The ray pierced all of them.


    Luna barely dodged to the side, but the edge clipped her left shoulder.


    Her cannon arm exploded in a cascade of fractured silver.


    She tumbled, trying to stabilize mid-air.


    Loreia fired again.


    This time, Luna fused fully into Loxen''s war form.


    She shifted into a serpentine mirror-beast of smoke and steel.


    She weaved through the beam''s blast.


    But Loreia''s third shot didn''t follow a straight line.


    It bent, adjusting itself midair as Lorien''s core guided it toward Luna''s true body.


    The blast struck her in the side.


    Luna crashed into the mirrored ground, silver shards scattering across the field.


    Her armor cracked open.


    One of her floating crescent blades short-circuited, dropping limp.


    Loreia lowered the cannon, panting hard.


    Her armor was damaged, her side still bleeding.


    But her eyes stayed locked on Luna.


    Luna struggled to push up on one knee.


    Her illusions stuttered. Her breath fogged in the cold light.


    Loreia took a step forward.


    "One more, Luna."


    Luna groaned and raised a hand, palm open.


    "...I yield."


    The mirrored terrain rippled, then shattered like broken glass falling into the void.


    Silver Moon Domain: Deactivated.


    They were back in the arena.


    The real floor. The real sky.


    Lorien hovered beside Loreia in its glowing feathered dragon form, curling around her like a protective flame.


    Loxen slithered out of Luna''s armor, still flickering, forming back into a silent, looming shadow.


    Luna coughed and looked up, expression half-proud, half-defeated.


    "That cannon... that wasn''t fair."


    Loreia exhaled, lowering the weapon as it dissolved back into Lorien''s body.


    "Neither were your illusions."


    Luna cracked a grin. "Tch. You finally got me."


    Loreia smirked, wiping blood off her mouth.


    "It only took ten years in a fake war world."


    "Next time I''ll trap you in one."


    "You''ll have to try harder."


    They both stood in silence for a moment.


    The warmth of Lorien''s passive healing was already mending bruises across Loreia''s ribs.


    Then Luna spoke softly.


    "Lucius is going to love this."


    Loreia smiled.


    "He''d better."

 Chapter 403: Fionyx Went Full Cinema Mode

    The sun peeked through the pale-blue skylight above Fiona''s room.


    Fiona sat up groggily, hair messy, visor still beside her pillow.


    She rubbed her eyes.


    "Ugh... what time is it?" she muttered, checking the floating display.


    "No stream scheduled. Vornis event is still days away..."


    She flopped back down.


    "I''ve got nothing to do."


    Then a knock echoed through the door.


    It opened without waiting.


    Liora stepped in, fully dressed in combat attire.


    Fiona jerked upright.


    "L- Lady Liora? What the¡ª? How did you even¡ª?"


    "I knocked."


    "No, I mean¡ªnever mind. What''s going on?"


    Liora folded her arms. "Do you want to come with me?"


    Fiona blinked. "Come with you? Where?"


    "Hunting," Liora said simply. "Another tour."


    Fiona narrowed her eyes.


    "Like, a stream-hunting kind of thing or a Luxoria-secret-job kind of hunting?"


    "Yes."


    Fiona sighed. "That''s not an answer."


    Liora stared blankly.


    Fiona chuckled, getting up and stretching.


    "Fine. I''ll join."


    "I''ve got no other content planned anyway."


    "You just barge in and invite me like it''s brunch, but whatever¡ªI''ll bite."


    "Dress fast. We leave in ten minutes."


    "Geez, you''re intense in the morning."


    Liora turned without responding and walked out.


    Fiona muttered as she reached for her gear,


    "Why do I feel like I''m going to regret this..."


    Ten minutes later, Fiona stepped off the platform near the eastern hangar of Luxoria Castle.


    Fionyx hovered behind her in sleek hoverpack mode.


    Liora was already waiting, arms crossed, her long coat fluttering.


    Fiona yawned as she approached.


    "Alright, I''m here."


    "What are we actually doing this early?"


    Liora didn''t answer immediately.


    She just turned and started walking.


    Fiona frowned. "That''s not ominous at all."


    "You''ll know soon," Liora finally said, a faint grin slipping onto her face.


    Both of them used their hoverpacks and began to fly out of the Luxoria Castle.


    The terrain changed rapidly.


    From lush growth fading to broken stone, then crumbled structures.


    Then nothing but ash-colored remnants of a forgotten city.


    Fiona leaned forward, looking around.


    "Okay. Now I have questions."


    Liora didn''t turn. "Old city. Beast testing zone now."


    "You mean graveyard for failed beasts?"


    "Some of them are still alive."


    That wiped the rest of Fiona''s sleep away.


    By the time they landed, the sky was painted in gray streaks.


    The field before them looked like it had once been an industrial sector.


    "So..." Fiona adjusted her visor. "What are we hunting today?"


    Liora didn''t speak. She just nodded toward the skyline.


    A sharp shriek pierced the air.


    Fiona''s eyes snapped up¡ªand her breath caught.


    Something dove from above with a guttural howl.


    It spread its wings¡ªeach one enormous, lined with dark metallic feathers.


    Some torn and fused with wires.


    A long reptilian body snapped upright mid-air.


    Two multi-jointed hind legs struck the side of a broken tower before it launched again.


    It hovered briefly, circling like a predator stalking prey from the clouds.


    Its eyes locked onto them.


    Fiona took a cautious step back. "What the hell is that?"


    "That," Liora said with a smile, "is Chimawren."


    Fiona blinked. "That doesn''t sound like a normal beast name."


    "It''s not. Failed hybrid experiment. Raptor-beast base."


    "But they spliced in lizard genetics. Didn''t stabilize."


    Liora rolled her shoulders.


    "Which makes it fun."


    The Chimawren let out a sharp cry.


    Then several more answered.


    From the rooftops, from behind collapsed towers and from broken skybridges.


    They swooped in¡ªeight...


    No, ten more, circling fast, forming a swarm.


    Fiona''s hand flew to her hip.


    "Damn it. That''s a lot. That''s way too many."


    "They''re not Sovereign," Liora said, stepping forward.


    "Still Elite-Tier. You''ll live if you stay behind me."


    Fiona raised her brow. "What if I want to help?"


    "You can talk to your viewers."


    Before Fiona could answer, Liora smirked as she summoned twin arm cannons from Leon.


    The closest Chimawren dove toward her, screeching.


    Liora lifted both arms and fired.


    A double blast thundered out, vaporizing the creature mid-air.


    Fiona ducked behind cover. "Holy crap."


    Liora stepped forward, rotating mid-stride, lining up her next shot.


    "Watch and learn."


    Fiona activated her stream.


    Fionyx''s body split, releasing half a dozen compact drones into the air.


    They flickered with orange sigils, stabilized, then moved around her in perfect formation.


    Auto-framing the battlefield with cinematic angles.


    "Okay¡ªhey everyone! This is Fiona, live from... somewhere stupid!"


    She announced, already half-laughing.


    "We''re in a ruined city zone. I thought we were coming out for lunch."


    "Instead¡ªsurprise mutated aerial hunt!"


    The drones pulled wide as explosions flared behind her.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @sovereignsniper: Whoa whoa WHOA, is that Liora?!


    @TamerTrash: SHE''S USING A TWIN CANNON WHAT THE HELL


    @Fionyx4ever: THE DRONES, THE ANGLES¡ªTHIS IS CONTENT


    @KlawFiend: FIONA MOVE YOUR HEAD I WANNA SEE THE KILL


    @Z-BeastMom: ARE THOSE The MUTATED CREATIONS?! THEY LOOK GLITCHED


    ---


    Fiona ducked as a Chimawren wing clipped a collapsed beam near her.


    Sparks flew. She tilted her head toward the lens.


    "So apparently those are called Chimawren. Failed beast hybrids."


    "Don''t ask me why they exist. I didn''t make them."


    She said quickly, her breath short but steady.


    "But Liora''s casually killing them from the sky."


    "So yeah. Just another Tuesday."


    Above her, three Chimawren dove in formation.


    Liora didn''t speak¡ªjust moved.


    She vaulted off a twisted railing, spun mid-air, and fired both cannons in perfect sync.


    Three searing beams lanced out¡ªone after the other¡ªcutting clean through skull, chest, and wing.


    The creatures didn''t even scream. They dropped like bags of meat.


    Fiona crouched lower, whispering into the cam.


    "Holy crap. She just triple-tagged those things like a VR sim."


    Liora landed hard, shockwave bursting from her boots.


    "Focus," she said flatly.


    "I am focused," Fiona replied, lips curled.


    "Focused on your kill count."


    Another drone swirled beside her face, auto-tracking Liora.


    She quickly reloaded her twin cannons.


    "Fionyx," Fiona whispered.


    "Give them the heat chart overlay. Full color."


    One drone blinked, then projected an overlay on-screen.


    It tracked Liora''s attack trails with flaming arcs and highlighted beast corpses with ember-glow outlines.


    The chat erupted.


    ---


    @VisualSavage: WHOA FULL SPECTACLE MODE ACTIVATED


    @LordLWife69: THAT''S NOT A TAMER THAT''S A DEMON WITH A CAMERA


    @CannonCrush: TELL HER TO TEACH ME HOW TO DO THAT


    ---


    Fiona raised her hand. "You heard them, Liora. You''ve got fans."


    Liora didn''t answer.


    Her cannons locked in again¡ªtwo more Chimawren swooping down.


    She moved like a ghost in steel, ready to erase them.


    "Showtime," Fiona muttered.

 Chapter 404: Silver Sun Cannon

    Smoke and ash swirled as another Chimawren crashed into the ruins below.


    Body still twitching, wings torn clean off by twin plasma rounds.


    Liora didn''t slow.


    She stepped over its corpse like it wasn''t there, eyes already tracking the next one.


    Three more dove in from different angles.


    Fiona ducked behind a rusted pillar, whispering into her mic.


    "Okay, she''s not even blinking."


    "That''s kill number twelve, maybe thirteen? I''ve lost count."


    In the sky, Liora pivoted.


    Leon''s cannons pulsed.


    Then split apart and reformed mid-air into sleeker railguns.


    A second later, two streaks of condensed solar fire lanced through the clouds.


    Two more Chimawren dropped, smoke trailing from clean, molten punctures.


    Chat exploded.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @InfernaGirl: I''m SORRY that''s illegal


    @WraithFox: Did she just change weapon modes mid-combat?!


    @BeastHuntrZ: This is why Luxoria Castle stays untouchable


    @SnipeMeDaddy: SHE''S NOT EVEN SWEATING WHAT IS THIS


    ---


    Fiona grinned.


    "Oh, you saw that? That must be Liora''s beast."


    "But I don''t know its real identity. Sorry for not knowing."


    Suddenly the air shifted.


    The remaining Chimawren screeched as something massive stirred above them.


    Fiona instinctively glanced up¡ªand froze.


    One of the buildings was moving.


    No¡ªsomething on top of it.


    A monstrous winged creature uncoiled itself from a collapsed tower.


    Twice as large, plated in jagged half-metal scales.


    Its wings sparked with unstable mana.


    One eye was glowing red, the other fused with cybernetic mesh.


    It let out a low, garbled shriek.


    Fiona gasped. "...Okay that''s new."


    "Chimawren Alpha," Liora muttered, her tone flat.


    "Failed Sovereign candidate."


    The beast launched from the rooftop, aiming straight for Liora.


    Fiona shouted, "Liora, that one''s huge! Should I¡ª?!"


    "Stay back."


    Liora''s cannons disassembled mid-air, parts hovering around her.


    She reached out.


    Leon quickly reformed into a colossal solar cannon.


    Longer than she was, fused to her shoulder like divine artillery.


    No words. She pointed and fired.


    The cannon flash was blinding.


    A beam of pure silver-sun plasma detonated through the air.


    It sliced the Chimawren Alpha in half mid-flight.


    Its upper body vaporized instantly; the lower half crashed down behind Fiona.


    Silence followed. No more screeches.


    No more flapping wings. The sky was clear.


    All Chimawren¡ªgone.


    Fiona blinked, still crouched behind cover.


    She slowly stood, brushing dust off her jacket.


    "...Are you kidding me."


    One of her drones zoomed close to her face.


    She stared into the lens, wide-eyed.


    "Did you all SEE THAT?"


    She pointed at Liora, who stood still in the smoke, cannon dissolving into light.


    "That''s not a hunter. That''s not a general. That''s a damn executioner."


    She stepped forward, arms wide, voice rising with passion.


    "Luxoria Castle''s Silver Sun Executioner! Liora Luxoria!"


    "You just watched her take down a sky full of mutated beasts."


    "And a failed Sovereign candidate like she was on her lunch break!"


    Liora turned slightly. "I said I''d handle it."


    Fiona laughed. "You didn''t handle it. You annihilated it."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @WipedZone: "I said I''d handle it." Bro that line needs to be on a T-shirt


    @GodTierGoose: Fiona laughing like a proud stage mom and I''m HERE FOR IT


    @CoreSync_: Chimawren Prime? More like Chimawren Piledrive


    @TamerTrash: Replay that cannon shot. Slow it. Frame by frame. I''m studying this for life.


    ---


    Fiona kept her drones hovering while the battlefield cooled.


    She lowered her voice, her tone shifting from excitement to curiosity.


    "By the way..."


    Liora didn''t turn.


    She was scanning the edges of the ruined city, eyes always tracking, always ready.


    Fiona walked up beside her, brushing soot off her sleeve.


    "Just who the hell made those things?"


    "I mean, those weren''t natural. At all."


    Liora glanced at her sidelong. There was a pause.


    Fiona tilted her head.


    "What?"


    "Don''t tell me it''s some random black market lab or a rogue cult again."


    A smirk touched Liora''s lips. "You already know the answer."


    Fiona blinked. "What?"


    "You know them. Everyone does."


    "You just don''t understand them."


    Fiona''s brows knit. "Stop being cryptic and just say it."


    "The Aurelius family."


    Fiona''s jaw opened slightly. She didn''t say anything for a full second.


    "...Wait. What?"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @StreamBeasties: SHE SAID AURELIUS??


    @FionyxRider: Wait wait wait... are we talking the Aurelius?


    @GlitchFeather: Oh hell no this just went from content to conspiracy


    ---


    Liora finally looked at her. "You''ve heard the name."


    "Yeah, obviously," Fiona said, blinking.


    "Beast researchers, war sponsors, old-money nobility."


    "I thought they did... contracts and medical upgrades. Not this."


    Liora chuckled.


    "That''s the surface. The smiling heirs, the branded uniforms, the golden labs. All for show."


    She swept a hand toward the carnage behind them.


    "This? This is their real work."


    Fiona stared at the wrecked Chimawrens.


    "You''re telling me these... freakshows are Aurelius projects?"


    "These are just Elite-Tier trash. Failed designs."


    "Stuff they dump in unstable zones like this one."


    Fiona took a slow step back, voice quieter.


    "And what, they just release them?"


    "Let them hunt whatever''s unlucky enough to walk through?"


    Liora shook her head.


    "No, they monitor their aggression cycles."


    "Study performance. Cull the failures. Upgrade the rest."


    Fiona shivered slightly. "That''s insane."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @MistyTruths: They''re testing them on civilians??


    @FlamecoreFanatic: Failed designs?? These things almost ripped Liora''s face off


    @ExoSplicer: THIS is what elite-tier trash looks like?! What''s their definition of a success then?!


    @RankDropSurvivor: Fiona get out of there before they cut the feed


    @OblivionFox: They''re using real zones as live labs. That''s war crimes tier


    ---


    Liora also reminded her.


    "You''ve already seen one of their Sovereign-tier successes."


    Liora''s voice dropped into something colder.


    Fiona narrowed her eyes. "...Wait. You mean¡ª"


    "Nyxfang."


    Fiona flinched. "That thing? The blood-mutant?"


    Liora nodded once, slowly.


    "Yes. The one Beast Castle used."


    "The one Victor Aurelius deployed against Luna."


    Fiona ran a hand through her hair, shaking her head.


    "We all knew it was an Aurelius creation."


    "That thing was all over the feeds."


    "But we thought... I thought it was a one-off. A nightmare prototype."


    Liora''s tone didn''t shift. "It wasn''t."


    Fiona looked over the smoking field of dead Chimawren.


    "I never imagined they made more. This many."


    "These... they weren''t Sovereign-tier, sure¡ªbut they weren''t normal either."


    "They''re field tests. Bio-weapons. Each one records data while it fights."


    "All of that gets fed back into the Aurelius labs. And then they improve."


    Fiona stared at her. "They improve? Off the kills?"


    "Yes."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @BlightEater: So wait... THESE ARE AURELIUS FIELD UNITS?!


    @GeneJunkie: The wings, the talons¡ªyeah, they match old Aurelius mutation threads


    @StreamDrip: Nyxfang was the flagship. These are the mass models


    @FionyxForever: FIONA GET OUT OF THERE RIGHT NOW


    ---


    Fiona''s voice lowered as she glanced toward her drones.


    "So this is what they''ve been doing in the dark."


    "While we were watching the Sovereigns in the arena..."


    "They were growing nightmares underground."


    Liora gave a faint nod.


    "And releasing them into zones where no one would ask questions."


    Fiona turned back to the camera drone, staring into it.


    "They wanted us to see the perfect monster."


    "But they didn''t want us to see the army underneath it."

 Chapter 405: So This Wasn’t Just a Beast Hunt.

    Fiona adjusted her visor, her face tense as she looked over the battlefield again.


    And yet something still felt off.


    "...Wait," she said suddenly, eyes narrowing.


    "Hold on¡ªdoes this mean..."


    Liora tilted her head slightly but didn''t interrupt.


    Fiona stepped forward, brows furrowing.


    "Don''t tell me. We''re inside Aurelius territory, aren''t we?"


    Liora nodded once.


    Fiona''s eyes widened.


    "What the actual hell¡ªwhy are we here?!"


    "You brought me to one of their rogue testing zones?!"


    She threw her hands up.


    "And you just casually let me stream it?!"


    "Mutated Chimawren, failed Sovereign freaks¡ªare you insane?!"


    Liora didn''t flinch.


    Her expression remained perfectly neutral.


    Only the faintest smirk played on her lips.


    "Because today," she said, "I''m hunting."


    Fiona blinked. "Hunting what? Mutated beasts?"


    Liora shook her head.


    "Hunting Aurelius."


    Fiona froze.


    "What?"


    Before she could ask again, movement echoed from the far side of the rubble.


    Two figures emerged from behind a collapsed support tower.


    Both wore the black-and-gold segmented uniforms of Aurelius field enforcers.


    One of them raised a suppression rod. "Halt!"


    "You two¡ªstate your names and authorization codes!" the other barked.


    "You''ve breached an Aurelius-controlled domain."


    "This is classified bio-research ground."


    Fiona instinctively stepped back.


    Her drones shifted defensively.


    "Oh crap. They saw the whole thing, didn''t they?"


    Liora didn''t respond. She stared at the men like they weren''t even real.


    One of the Aurelius guards squinted. "Wait... I know that face."


    The second one frowned. "Damn it. She is one of the Luxoria. That''s her."


    Fiona blinked. "They recognized you¡ª"


    They barely finished the sentence before Liora moved.


    Leon surged from light particles, condensing into a war-form blade.


    She blurred forward in a step too fast to track.


    The first Aurelius guard tried to raise his weapon.


    Too slow.


    Liora''s blade cleaved through his torso, splitting armor like paper.


    He didn''t scream. He just dropped.


    The second one reached for a comm.


    He never made it.


    Liora flicked her hand.


    Leon''s blade shifted mid-motion into a railgun cannon.


    One blast. Clean through the man''s chest.


    He was launched ten meters back before crumpling against a broken wall.


    Silence.


    Fiona stood frozen, mouth open. "You just¡ª"


    "They were Aurelius," Liora said simply.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @OverclockedSaber: HOLY¡ª


    @StreamGhost: THAT WAS A KILL ORDER EXECUTION


    @TamerTrash: SHE SWITCHED WARFORM MID-FINISH


    @SystemOutage: ARE WE WATCHING A MISSION OR A DECLARATION OF WAR?!


    @SunBlazed: LUXORIA DOESN''T STALK. THEY STRIKE.


    @VortexBite: Did Liora just declare a solo hunt on AURELIUS?!


    @EyesOnSilver: Yo. Fiona''s in DEEP now. They''re gonna flag her stream.


    ---


    Fiona raised both hands toward her drones.


    "Okay, uh¡ªjust to clarify for the viewers, I did not agree to this part."


    Leon quickly transformed back into her clothes again.


    Fiona stepped beside her, trying to keep pace.


    "You could''ve told me this wasn''t a hunt. This is a raid."


    "You needed to see it."


    "Why me?! I''m a streamer, not an assassin!"


    "You''re the only one brave enough to tell the truth."


    Fiona stopped walking.


    Liora turned her head slightly.


    Fiona stared.


    "Wait. That''s why you brought me?"


    "Not just to witness these beasts. But to broadcast it."


    Liora said nothing.


    But the look in her eyes said everything.


    Fiona''s drones hovered silently. All still live.


    Fiona sighed.


    "Okay. So we just trespassed. Murdered two Aurelius enforcers."


    "Exposed their mutant zoo. And you want me to turn this into a stream segment?"


    Liora looked forward again.


    "They killed thousands with their monsters. We just filmed proof."


    Fiona swallowed.


    "...And if more come?"


    Liora didn''t hesitate. "I kill them too."


    Fiona let out a long exhale and rubbed her forehead.


    "Thank the system I stream on the Luxoria app."


    "If I were still on Beastagram, I''d be banned already."


    She glanced at her drones.


    "But seriously¡ªwhy the hell did you need to do this on camera?"


    Liora''s expression shifted.


    "For a long time, I couldn''t say anything," she murmured.


    Then she looked up¡ªstraight into one of Fiona''s main drones.


    She let it hover close to her face.


    Her voice turned sharp.


    "Aurelius," she said flatly.


    "If you''re watching this¡ªgood. I want you to hear me."


    Fiona froze.


    Liora didn''t blink.


    "I''m coming for you."


    She took one step forward, boots crunching over shattered metal.


    "You destroyed our home. You turned our family into targets."


    "You turned peace into blood. So Luxoria Castle was built on your grave."


    Fiona stepped back, stunned. "Wait¡ªwhat? Aurelius destroyed your house?"


    Liora''s gaze remained cold.


    "In the past, we were just a strong family."


    "Quiet. Private. We weren''t trying to start wars."


    Her voice dipped lower, but the fury behind it only grew.


    "But we bought one beast."


    "A Sovereign-tier they didn''t want us to have. That''s all it took."


    "They sent soldiers. Assassins. Burned everything."


    "Tried to erase us for stepping out of line."


    Fiona''s lips parted. She couldn''t find words for a moment.


    "So you''re telling me... Luxoria Castle only exists because Aurelius tried to end you?"


    Liora smirked faintly.


    "Exactly. They broke into our home. So we built a fortress."


    She looked back at the drone.


    "And if anyone''s wondering, why did we build the best pet shop?"


    "Why has it even beaten the Beast Castle? Blame Aurelius. They made us."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @SilverTears: WHAT¡ªWAIT WHAT?! AURELIUS BURNED THEIR HOUSE?!


    @TruthSpike: This is a declaration of war. No way this stream stays up long


    @FionyxViewer34: So LUXORIA was made out of REVENGE?!


    @TamerLore: THEY DESTROYED THEIR FAMILY OVER A SINGLE BEAST PURCHASE?!


    @SunCrush: I NEED THIS CLIPPED AND ARCHIVED NOW


    @VoidClaws: This is history. Real history. They never told us this.


    @BeastLeaks: I just downloaded the whole segment. If they take it down, I''m reuploading everywhere.


    @CastleFangirl: Liora said "we''re hunting Aurelius" and then gave us the lore drop of the year


    @SnipeMeDaddy: Wait till Luna hears this. She''s gonna kill someone.


    ---


    Fiona turned toward the camera again, voice softer now.


    "You heard her. This wasn''t just a battle stream."


    She paused, then added:


    "This was the beginning of something bigger."

 Chapter 406: Fiona Logs Out of Combat

    Inside the dimly lit Aurelius lab, Theron was walking around the command chamber.


    Two Vault Enforcers were already waiting, standing rigid in front of a central projection pillar, their faces grim.


    "What''s the report?"


    Theron demanded, arms crossed, eyes scanning the blood-red screen behind them.


    One of the guards stepped forward.


    "Two of our field sentries¡ªunits posted in Sector V-9¡ªneutralized. KIA. "


    "Confirmed deaths by unknown intruders."


    Theron''s brow tightened. "Unknown?"


    "Yes, sir," the guard replied.


    "Surveillance feed cut out mid-transmission."


    "All we retrieved were last-frame visuals¡ªno ID confirmation."


    "Run it."


    The image flickered on the main pillar.


    Two armored Aurelius guards stood mid-engagement. One was already falling.


    The other had his comm unit half-raised before a blinding flash obliterated the frame.


    Theron''s jaw clenched.


    "And you''re telling me this was a random intrusion?"


    The second officer hesitated.


    "We don''t believe so."


    "Both enforcers triggered emergency flag protocols before blackout."


    "One word made it through: ''Luxoria.''"


    The word hung in the air like a pulse grenade.


    Theron''s expression didn''t move.


    But something behind his eyes snapped to attention.


    "...Luxoria."


    He turned slowly to the first enforcer.


    "Send a recovery and extermination team. Full sweep of V-9. No witnesses."


    "I want biological signatures, beast traces, everything."


    "Yes, sir," they said in unison.


    As they moved to exit, Theron muttered under his breath.


    "I need more than disposal. I need understanding. A better design."


    He glanced up at the holo-sculpture of Nyxfang suspended above the lab''s war table.


    "I never thought it could be defeated."


    Three Days Earlier...


    Inside a restricted analysis vault, Theron stood next to a silent figure: Cassius Aurelius.


    The air buzzed with data drones orbiting a suspended screen playing raw combat footage on loop.


    It was the battle between Nyxfang and the CEO of Luxoria Castle, Luna.


    Theron didn''t speak. Cassius didn''t blink.


    They watched as Nyxfang was easily defeated by Luna''s beast.


    Even when she was sleeping.


    Cassius folded his arms, jaw tense.


    "Impossible. She shouldn''t be alive."


    Theron didn''t look away. He was a bit confused.


    "She was marked," Cassius said, voice colder than frost.


    "Vance was assigned to end her. That was months ago."


    Theron turned to him.


    "Vance died. You told me he died with his targets."


    Cassius frowned.


    "I was told it was handled. Cleaned. But she''s here. And clearly alive."


    Theron stepped closer to the screen.


    "Not just alive."


    "They evolved. They built Luxoria Castle in our blind spot."


    Cassius clicked a small key-syringe from his sleeve, spinning it idly in his fingers.


    "And now she''s becoming stronger and making better beasts."


    Theron growled. "Even better than Nyxfang."


    They watched again¡ªframe by frame.


    It hadn''t died.


    But it had lost.


    And that alone was enough.


    Theron''s voice dropped to a rasp.


    "They were one of our misfires. A cleanup job".


    "We never expected them to resurface."


    "To think," Cassius murmured


    "One of today''s rising factions is one of our old loose ends."


    Theron exhaled sharply. "This makes things complicated."


    Cassius''s gaze sharpened. "No. This makes things correctable."


    ---


    Fiona jogged to catch up with Liora.


    Her drones followed close, hovering above them in a V-formation.


    "Okay," Fiona said, breath still a little ragged.


    "We''ve killed a bunch of freak-chickens, pissed off a superpower family, and now apparently this is a revenge mission."


    Liora didn''t reply.


    Fiona narrowed her eyes.


    "So... I have to ask."


    "What kind of beast did you buy that made the Aurelius family so damn furious they nuked your entire house?"


    Liora glanced over her shoulder.


    "Argentis."


    Fiona blinked. "What?"


    "Argentis," Liora repeated.


    "Sovereign-tier. Silver-scaled. Looked average."


    "Weak combat stats. Power level just slightly above Elite-Tier."


    Fiona frowned. "Then why would they care about that?"


    Liora slowed as they crossed a fallen beam.


    "Because it had one thing they couldn''t predict."


    Fiona raised a brow. "...Which was?"


    "Luck," Liora said.


    "Extremely high, absolute-level luck. System-defying. Fate-bending."


    "It survived death scenarios it had no right to walk away from."


    Fiona''s eyes widened. "Wait¡ªyou mean it was lucky?"


    Liora nodded.


    "Beast Castle caught it by accident. Wanted to sell it off fast."


    "They didn''t even realize what they had."


    Fiona''s jaw dropped. "Let me guess¡ªAurelius wanted it?"


    "They demanded it," Liora said.


    "Cassius Aurelius showed up with some senior goons."


    "Offered a lower price than us. Arrogant. Entitled."


    Fiona whistled. "So your family outbid them."


    Liora''s smirk deepened. "Lord L paid triple. For his sister."


    Fiona paused. "That''s... Luna, right?"


    Liora shook her head. "No, it wasn''t Luna."


    "It was the other one and it was her first beast. She loved it."


    Fiona leaned into her drone mic. "Chat. This is crazy."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @LoreiaRising: WAIT. ARGENTIS WAS THE TRIGGER??


    @BeastWhisperer: Sovereign-Tier with elite stats? Must''ve been super rare


    @StreamEyes: They started a WAR over a lucky dragon??


    @InfernaGirl: Beast Castle must''ve had NO idea what they were selling


    @MoonByte: That''s so Aurelius¡ªlose a bid, send assassins


    ---


    Fiona shook her head.


    "So let me get this straight. You bought a weird, shiny dragon."


    "Cassius didn''t get it. And he... what, cried?"


    "Publicly," Liora said.


    "Broke a control vial in his own palm."


    "Screamed about genetic waste being stolen."


    "And then?"


    "They sent assassins."


    Fiona winced. "Over a beast."


    "Over pride," Liora corrected.


    "Aurelius''s pride doesn''t allow losing."


    "Especially not to someone they consider ''beneath them.''"


    Fiona exhaled slowly. "And that led to..."


    Liora''s voice dropped a note.


    "Our house burned. Everything''s gone."


    "But Argentis survived. So did Lord L''s sister."


    Fiona looked away, whispering to herself.


    "Over one Sovereign-tier... with luck."


    Liora stopped walking and turned to her fully.


    "Not just luck. Argentis was later reforged. Rebuilt into something greater."


    Fiona''s eyes widened. "No way."


    Liora didn''t respond immediately.


    She was already scanning the ruined cityscape.


    The way her shoulders shifted, subtle and sharp, told Fiona everything.


    It wasn''t over.


    Liora spoke without looking back.


    "I''ve told you the story. That''s enough."


    Fiona tensed. "Wait, what do you mean?"


    "Go back," Liora said. Her tone was flat.


    "Find cover. There are more coming."


    Fiona''s face dropped. "Wait, seriously?"


    "They''re fast. Trained. And not scouts this time."


    Fiona looked toward the horizon.


    And sure enough, distant movement flickered over a crumbled rooftop.


    Liora continued, voice low.


    "You want to stream? Do it from cover."


    "Let them watch. Just don''t get in the way."


    Fiona backed up quickly, nodding. "Yes, miss. Loud and clear."


    She tapped her drone console.


    "Alright, chat, we''re going full stealth mode."


    "Miss Liora is about to turn some Aurelius elites into lunch."

 Chapter 407: Liora Put On Her Beast

    The heat shimmered across the cracked horizon.


    From the haze, a line of movement emerged.


    Dark silhouettes rode fast and low, kicking up bursts of dust as they approached Liora.


    Fiona''s drone lens zoomed in automatically.


    "Whoa," she whispered.


    "Okay, chat... We''ve got incoming."


    One figure rode a massive beast.


    Huge, brutish, and boar-shaped, plated in bone-wrapped iron armor, with tusks as thick as tree trunks.


    It snorted molten breath as it stomped toward the clearing.


    Flanking it from above were four smaller figures on flaming hawk-like beasts.


    They circled in swift arcs, leaving trails of smoke and fire behind them.


    Fiona swallowed.


    "Okay, that... I don''t know what it is. But that thing''s a walking war crime."


    "And those in the air¡ªI also don''t know those."


    "But they must be some mid-rank Aurelius scouts."


    "Damn it. We''re looking at a full strike unit."


    Liora stood in the open, unmoved.


    The lead rider pulled his beast to a halt.


    The rider stood tall, clad in dark Aurelius armor.


    A cruel sneer stretched across his scarred jaw.


    "So," he said, voice projecting like thunder, "you''re Liora Luxoria."


    Liora said nothing.


    He gestured with one gauntlet, tapping a pulse key on his wrist.


    The boar stomped forward once, metal bones creaking.


    The flame birds above shrieked and tightened formation.


    "I''m First Enforcer Dargan," he continued.


    "Commander Theron gave one order."


    "If any Luxoria is spotted in Aurelius territory¡ªterminate immediately."


    His eyes narrowed. "And you? You walked in alone."


    He raised a hand.


    "You''ll die today."


    Liora cracked her neck.


    Then smiled.


    "Try it."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @BeastLine1: Liora is insane. That''s a siege beast. That''s not for solo combat!!


    @FionyxOnFire: Flaming bird spotted too! They''re using a full scouting burn formation


    @SilverSunOrDie: Why is she SMILING?!


    @OvercastClaw: Bro said "terminate" and Liora said "try me"


    ---


    Fiona ducked low behind a broken concrete wall, whispering fast into her mic.


    "Okay, okay, update time. You''re seeing this live."


    "That''s a real Aurelius enforcer team."


    "The guy with the ego is Dargan¡ªhe''s got beast override clearance."


    She turned her drone cam toward Liora.


    "And she''s not flinching. At all."


    The boar let out a slow, grinding snort.


    Its tusks sparked against each other, steam rising from its plated shoulders.


    Behind Dargan, the four flame bird riders began to split off.


    Fiona gritted her teeth.


    "They''re prepping a pincer dive."


    "That''s standard Aurelius strike pattern three. She''s about to get blitzed."


    She hesitated, eyes on Liora''s back.


    "She told me not to fight. Said to stay hidden. Just stream."


    She sighed. "Damn it. Fine."


    Then, quieter, she added, "You better win, Liora."


    ---


    Dargan raised one arm and barked,


    "Flaregul units¡ªsuppress and eliminate! Burn her down!"


    The sky responded instantly.


    All four Flaregul hawks screeched.


    Their ignition-feathered wings flared wide before diving in sharp, coordinated arcs.


    Each rider drew impact lances, tips glowing red-hot.


    Fiona''s drones tracked every movement.


    "Oh no. Oh no no no," she muttered.


    "Chat, they''re going in. Four divebombers."


    "Each trained to kill in a single pass."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @WindshearFlash: That''s full Flaregul formation!!


    @TamerTrash: No way even Liora can block all that


    @InfernaGirl: If she dodges this I''m gonna scream


    @BlastDrop: LUXORIA BETTER HAVE A PLAN


    ---


    Liora stood still.


    No tension. No panic.


    Just silence.


    Then her eyes flashed silver-gold.


    "Leon," she whispered.


    Behind her, a ripple of pressure tore the air apart as Leon appeared.


    Not in beast form... but as flowing metal and energy, coating her body.


    "Suit configuration," Liora commanded.


    "Silver Sun Executioner Mode."


    The energy twisted and locked into place.


    Plating slid over her limbs. Gauntlets formed around her arms.


    A full helm split open around her head and closed with a snap, visor igniting.


    She now stood in a full combat suit of solar alloy.


    Fiona''s jaw dropped.


    "Are you kidding me?! She just put on her beast like it''s armor?!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @SilverSunOrDie: SHE''S WEARING HER BEAST!!


    @MoonByte: SOVEREIGN BEAST SUIT?! THAT''S ILLEGAL


    @CoreBurst: I THOUGHT HE WAS A DRAGON?!


    @SunbringerZ: SHE''S ABOUT TO SOLO A BIRD SQUAD WITH HER FISTS


    @FionyxOnFire: SOMEBODY CLIP THIS


    ---


    The first Flaregul dove, its rider aiming straight for Liora''s head.


    Jetflare bursts cracked the air as the beast''s talons extended, coated in flame.


    Liora raised one hand.


    Boom.


    A silver cannon formed over her palm and unleashed a beam of compressed solar light.


    The Flaregul was vaporized mid-screech, its rider disintegrated in a flash of incineration.


    The second and third came at her from opposite sides.


    Liora pivoted on her heel, boosters igniting from her back.


    She launched upward, twisted mid-air, and caught both combustion riders by the throat.


    They barely had time to scream before Liora slammed them together.


    She detonated their beasts with the collision, hurling the corpses to the dirt below.


    The fourth rider panicked.


    His Flaregul veered upward, attempting a quick U-turn, trying to gain distance for another strike.


    Liora''s helmet locked on.


    "Leon¡ªtether spear."


    A javelin formed in her right hand, crackling with radiant solar bands.


    She hurled it with absolute force.


    It pierced the Flaregul through the wing, ruptured its combustion gland, and exploded mid-air.


    It sent the rider''s charred body spiraling into the ruins.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH


    @SkyDropKick: THAT WAS A 4 KILL COMBO IN TEN SECONDS


    @StreamEyes: SHE JUST SLAPPED A FLAREGUL OUT OF THE SKY WITH A BEAM


    @SunbringerZ: THE LAST GUY TRIED TO RUN AND GOT PINNED LIKE A BUG


    @SilverSunOrDie: LIORA = LETHAL


    @MoonByte: I CAN''T EVEN BLINK. THIS IS ART


    ---


    Liora dropped from the air and landed in a crouch, silver steam rising from her shoulders.


    The light of her armor pulsed once¡ªthen dimmed slightly, standing by for the next engagement.


    Dargan''s face twisted in disbelief.


    "You..."


    He gripped the side of his boar''s tusk.


    "You killed them like insects."


    Liora didn''t move. Her voice came cold from the suit''s voice modulator.


    "I warned you."


    Fiona kept low, camera pointed forward. Her face was pale and stunned.


    "Chat... We just watched four Aurelius aerial elites die in under ten seconds."


    She swallowed.


    "She''s not fighting."


    "She''s executing."

 Chapter 408: Gravernox Unleashed

    Dargan''s eyes burned with fury as the wreckage of his Flaregul squad smoldered behind Liora.


    He dismounted Gravernox slowly, slamming a control rod into the beast''s armored neck.


    "You think this is over?" he growled.


    Fiona adjusted her drone angle from cover, zooming in on the scene.


    "Chat, he''s not backing down. He''s calling something in¡ªwait¡ª"


    Dargan spread his arms. "Gravernox... fuse with me."


    The beast let out a guttural snort.


    Its blood-tempered armor began to shift, crack, and reform.


    Fiona''s jaw dropped. "Oh no."


    The red-black mineralized fluid pouring from Gravernox''s spine surged upward.


    It wrapped around Dargan''s limbs.


    Bone-iron plates snapped into place across his shoulders, chest, and jaw.


    His legs bulked with monstrous mass as boar hooves replaced boots.


    Tusks cracked through his faceplate, and his skin flushed deep crimson.


    In moments, Dargan stood fully transformed.


    A towering boar-man hybrid, wrapped in bone-spiked siege armor.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: WHAT THE HELL IS THAT


    @TamerTrash: FUSION?! WITH A SOVEREIGN BEAST?!


    @WraithFox: HE LOOKS LIKE A MONSTER


    @SunbringerZ: OKAY THIS MIGHT ACTUALLY BE A PROBLEM


    ---


    "You''re strong," Dargan said.


    His voice now layered with Gravernox''s guttural growl.


    "But don''t think you can take me lightly."


    He slammed his fused foot into the ground.


    Cracks raced out in all directions.


    "I''m no soft noble. I''m an enforcer. Trained in blood. I don''t lose."


    Liora tilted her head, smiling through her visor.


    "Is that what you think?" she said.


    "My sister defeated Victor Aurelius. And Nyxfang."


    Dargan snarled.


    "That was just beasts against beasts. Young Master Victor is still growing."


    He cracked his fused knuckles.


    "I am grown. I am tempered. I am strength forged from duty."


    "You''re a corpse," Liora replied flatly.


    He lunged.


    Fiona backed farther into the ruins.


    "Okay, chat."


    "He just fused with a Sovereign-tier juggernaut."


    "That thing''s called Gravernox¡ªit''s a siege-class war beast!"


    She ducked under a crumbling steel beam as shockwaves tore across the ruins.


    "This guy''s not bluffing. His charge just split a wall!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @MoonByte: This is the boss fight. THIS IS THE BOSS FIGHT.


    @CoreBurst: He''s breaking terrain just by walking


    @SilverSunOrDie: But Liora''s still SMILING


    @FionyxOnFire: Stream''s stable. We''re not leaving until this ends


    ---


    Liora sidestepped as Dargan rushed toward her.


    The ground buckled beneath each step of his monstrous form.


    His tusk-arm slammed through where she''d stood an instant before.


    Liora glided backward, boosters flaring from the soles of her warframe.


    She spun midair, her gauntlets shifting.


    "Load: Execution Claws. Level Three," she commanded.


    Leon responded.


    Silver energy surged around her hands.


    Armor split, extending vicious claw-like blades from her gauntlets.


    Each edge gleamed with solar-tipped plasma.


    "You think those toys scare me?!" Dargan snarled, lunging again.


    He twisted with terrifying speed.


    His fused form was no longer bulky but fast and deadly.


    His Bonehook Spikes lashed from his sides like coiled whips.


    Liora raised her arms to block.


    Sparks erupted as the spikes scraped her gauntlets.


    She hissed and kicked off him, flipping into a somersault midair, then landed low.


    "Tch. Faster than expected."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @SilverSunOrDie: HE''S ACTUALLY KEEPING UP??


    @Ashfall: I THOUGHT Liora would slap him in 5 seconds flat!


    @FionyxOnFire: That Gravernox fusion''s no joke...


    ---


    Dargan roared, slamming both fists into the ground.


    The Iron-Blood Pulse Core ignited in his chest, radiating violent heat and tremors.


    A ripple of blood-hardened metal surged outward, shattering debris and knocking Liora off balance.


    He charged.


    "TUSKGRIND EXECUTION!"


    His twin tusks rotated like massive drills, spinning at high velocity.


    Liora barely managed to cross her claws in time.


    The impact sent her skidding across the ground, leaving gouged trails through stone.


    Sparks exploded off her armor. Her visor flickered for a second.


    Fiona gasped from her hiding spot.


    "Chat¡ªshe just got blown back!"


    "That tusk spin nearly cracked her whole defense!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @TamerTrash: THAT''S THE MOVE THAT SPLIT A WALL TANK


    @CoreBurst: Liora''s staggered?!


    @MoonByte: Don''t panic. Her suit hasn''t hit critical. She''s still good


    ---


    Liora stood again, flexing her fingers.


    "Alright," she muttered. "You want to trade brute force?"


    The armor along her back split.


    From it, dual silver railblades extended.


    Massive twin sabers hummed with charged solar edges.


    "Load: Titan Edge. Left and right."


    She blurred forward in a flicker-step.


    Dargan raised his arms, grinning. "COME ON THEN!"


    They clashed.


    The first railblade carved across his side, slicing shallow through armor.


    His spike-covered shoulder slammed into her gut, sending her flying again.


    She recovered midair¡ªtwisted¡ªand hurled the second railblade like a javelin.


    It hit him square in the chest.


    Dargan roared as sparks and blood-metal exploded outward, but he stood firm.


    "You HIT me. You HURT me," he growled, stomping forward.


    "Good. Now I don''t have to hold back."


    Liora landed on one knee, one arm smoking.


    "Leon. Execute overdrive buffer."


    Silver energy surged around Liora as Leon''s overdrive buffer kicked in.


    Her suit''s joints flared with raw light, the solar core within humming louder.


    She rose fast and raised her railblade with both hands.


    "Boost confirmed."


    Dargan grunted. "Doesn''t matter."


    He slammed his foot down, triggering a seismic tremor.


    The ground cracked, and from beneath, red-hot spikes of compacted earth and blood-forged metal erupted.


    His Earthen Momentum drew power directly from the terrain.


    Liora jumped, just barely dodging the skewers.


    Midair, she twisted, boosters flaring behind her heels.


    She dropped straight down like a spear¡ªrailblade first.


    "Titan Edge¡ªcut depth override."


    The silver blade cleaved downward, landing a direct hit against Dargan''s fused shoulder.


    The force crushed his left side to one knee.


    But he didn''t fall.


    He laughed.


    "You think pain stops me?"


    His core pulsed red.


    Bloodrage Stampede.


    He exploded upward with terrifying force, grabbing her by the waist mid-motion.


    "You''re fast," he snarled.


    "But I don''t need fast."


    His tusks glowed red-hot.


    "I just need this¡ª"


    He turned mid-charge and slammed her full-force into the side of a ruined skyscraper.


    The wall didn''t just crack¡ªit disintegrated.


    Concrete and rebar exploded outward as Liora''s body crashed through three floors in a single instant.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: OH MY GOD


    @SilverSunOrDie: HE JUST YEETED HER INTO A BUILDING


    @WraithFox: LIORA?!?


    @MoonByte: HER ARMOR¡ª


    @CoreBurst: She''s not down. She''s not down. She better not be


    ---


    Dust choked the sky as a floor collapsed above her.


    Liora''s body was buried under a mess of rubble, smoke, and warped steel.


    But her beacon still pulsed faintly.


    She wasn''t done yet.

 Chapter 409 409: Things Got Slightly Out of Hand

    Dargan stood over the shattered ruin, arms crossed over his blood-forged chest, tusks steaming from heat.


    The building Liora had crashed into still smoked behind him.


    "Hahahaha!" he laughed, the sound booming across the broken cityscape.


    "Is that all Luxoria has to offer?!"


    He threw his head back, triumphant.


    "I heard stories. I thought maybe... just maybe... you were strong."


    He stepped closer to the wreckage, peering through the dust.


    "But this?" He raised his voice. "This is pathetic."


    He stomped down on the edge of the debris.


    The crushed floor dipped under the pressure of Gravernox''s strength.


    "I don''t know how someone like Vance died to your so-called family."


    Then his head tilted.


    His sharp eyes locked onto a faint blinking light drifting just above.


    A drone.


    Dargan''s smile twisted into a snarl.


    "...You didn''t come alone."


    With a sudden leap, he launched skyward and snatched the drone.


    He then crushed it with one hand.


    The feed distorted.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @BlastDrop: NONONONONONO


    @FionyxOnFire: FIONA GET OUT


    @Ashfall: He just killed the camera!!!


    @TamerTrash: THE DRONE¡ªHE SAW IT


    @StreamEyes: Where''s Fiona?! IS SHE OKAY?!


    ---


    Fiona ducked farther behind the twisted rebar of a broken wall.


    "Dammit," she muttered. "He found one of the drones."


    She quickly issued a remote recall on the others.


    She pulled them behind her and cut their lights.


    Her hands trembled.


    "This is bad. This is really bad."


    Her voice cracked as she addressed the feed.


    "Chat... I''m not gonna lie."


    "That guy''s fused with a full Sovereign-class siege beast and just wrecked Liora."


    She tried to steady her breathing.


    "And I''ve got no backup. Not strong enough to fight. Not strong enough to run."


    Her grip tightened on Fionyx''s ring.


    "I was supposed to just stream a fun hunt..."


    Her voice broke again.


    "And now I''m watching a Luxoria Enforcer get buried alive."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @MoonByte: Fiona...


    @InfernaGirl: You''re doing fine. Don''t panic. Just survive.


    @WraithFox: You''re strong enough to film this. That matters too.


    @SilverSunOrDie: Where''s Liora. Please.


    ---


    Suddenly¡ª


    A sharp, pulsing beat echoed through the wreckage.


    Dargan turned.


    A glow emerged beneath the rubble. Golden. Blazing.


    The building shook.


    Then exploded.


    A column of molten silver light burst upward, disintegrating the upper floors.


    Rubble was launched in every direction as metal warped and dust ignited in a circular blast.


    From the crater¡ª


    Liora rose.


    Her visor glowed white.


    Armor cracked and flared but was still intact.


    She stepped out of the ruined structure, steam billowing from every joint.


    "Don''t think I''m done yet," she said coldly.


    Fiona gasped, heart pounding. "She''s alive¡ªshe''s moving!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @CoreBurst: YESSSSSSSSS


    @SunbringerZ: SHE''S STANDING.


    @FionyxOnFire: I''M GONNA PASS OUT


    @SilverSunOrDie: SHE CAME BACK FROM A BUILDING COLLAPSE LIKE A GOD


    ---


    Liora raised her hand.


    Her Warframe adjusted, overdrive buffer pulsing again.


    "The Silver Sun Core doesn''t fail," she said flatly.


    "I don''t fall because you yell louder."


    Dargan tensed.


    His grin returned, but this time there was a flicker of unease in his eyes.


    "You''re alive," he muttered.


    "I''m not alive," Liora replied, walking forward, "I''m awake."


    Silver light spiraled from her boots as she launched forward.


    "Round two," she whispered.


    "Let''s end this properly."


    Dargan snarled, blood-forged fists raised.


    "I''ll just need to put you down again."


    Liora didn''t even blink.


    "Oh," she said, eyes glowing pale gold.


    "Not this time."


    Behind her, the light bent unnaturally.


    A deep thrum echoed across the broken city.


    Leon''s voice resounded¡ªnot as sound, but as pressure. Solar light rippled outward.


    Silver Sun Domain: Activated.


    The world changed.


    The wind stopped.


    The heat surged.


    Light warped and dimmed around Liora¡ªbut only to magnify her.


    The battlefield dimmed like dusk, yet she gleamed like a white star.


    Fiona shielded her eyes from behind her barricade. "What the hell is that?"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @FionyxOnFire: SHE JUST¡ªWHAT DID SHE JUST ACTIVATE


    @CoreBurst: That''s not sunlight. That''s something else


    @Ashfall: My screen dimmed the second she spoke


    @MoonByte: My guy just got a sunburn from the stream


    ---


    Dargan stepped back once.


    Once.


    The Silver Sun Domain pulsed again.


    He grunted. "Tch¡ªYour tricks won''t work."


    His fused frame bristled, bonehook spikes lashing. "Gravernox, execute¡ª!"


    But his command failed mid-breath.


    His movements slowed.


    His blood armor dimmed.


    His tusk motors sparked and¡ªstalled.


    "...What?" Dargan muttered.


    He lifted one hand and noticed the faint tremble.


    "What is this?! What are you doing?!"


    Liora moved.


    One flicker-step. Then she was beside him.


    She didn''t speak. She didn''t warn.


    Railblade drawn.


    Titan Edge engaged.


    One precise slash¡ªdownward from collar to knee.


    Sparks. Blood. Metal. A rupturing hiss.


    Dargan howled and stumbled¡ªbut Liora was already gone.


    She appeared behind him next, her other blade already swinging.


    He turned to block¡ªtoo late.


    Both railblades crossed at his back.


    A blinding explosion of solar energy detonated at the point of impact.


    The air bent.


    The shockwave flattened what remained of the closest tower.


    Dargan crashed forward, leaving a molten trench across the street.


    Fiona''s jaw dropped. "She¡ªshe''s not even speaking anymore..."


    She leaned toward the screen. "Chat. She''s just... cutting him apart."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: NO CALL-OUTS. NO WARNING. JUST STRIKES


    @InfernaGirl: She''s suppressing his movement... with just EXISTENCE?


    @WraithFox: He''s not even bleeding right. His blood''s evaporating


    ---


    Dargan roared, forcing himself upright, one tusk shattered, his chest plate hissing.


    "DAMN YOU!" he shouted.


    "I AM AN ENFORCER! I AM A FUSION!"


    He stomped once.


    The ground cracked.


    "I AM GRAVERNOX''S FANG!"


    He charged.


    Liora didn''t flinch.


    She extended both arms.


    Leon''s voice echoed once more.


    The air behind her shimmered.


    Then solidified into a glowing warframe cannon fused to her back.


    Liora raised her hand slowly.


    "Goodbye."


    Silver Pulse Breaker¡ªFire.


    The beam shot forward in silence.


    A piercing, focused stream of sun-forged energy erupted point-blank into Dargan''s chest.


    It didn''t explode.


    It erased.


    His charge collapsed mid-motion.


    His body hurled backward, rolling once, twice.


    Then slammed into the cliffside wall behind them.


    His fusion form shattered.


    The light faded.


    Dargan lay in a broken crater, coughing blood, armor scorched, breath ragged.


    Liora lowered her weapon.


    "Battle complete."


    Fiona stared in silence.


    "...Chat?"


    She swallowed.


    "...Remind me never to fight her."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @SilverSunOrDie: That wasn''t a win. That was judgment


    @CoreBurst: Dargan just got ERASED


    @MoonByte: Liora never needed to try before. This was her real speed.


    @FionyxOnFire: I''m crying. That was so beautiful I''m crying


    ---

 Chapter 410 410: Political Statements May Be Lethal

    Dargan coughed again, blood spitting between his cracked teeth.


    Liora didn''t rush.


    She walked calmly¡ªher blade dragging.


    She stopped in front of him.


    Dargan tried to push himself up with one arm, trembling. "You..."


    "You must''ve heard me from that comm-link in your armor," Liora said coldly.


    She raised her voice just enough for the distant surveillance gear to catch it.


    "Luxoria officially declares war on the Aurelius family."


    In a steel-lined chamber deep inside the Aurelius vault, multiple red screens lit up.


    Theron Aurelius stood tall, one arm folded behind his back.


    The other gripped a control wand linked to his command console.


    His gunmetal eyes narrowed.


    "...She said it," Theron growled.


    "Replay that. Streamline to Hadrian."


    Dargan spat blood into the rubble.


    "You... think you''ll live long enough to make that matter?"


    "You think declaring war makes you powerful?"


    Liora tilted her head, unmoved.


    "No."


    "Declaring war just means we''re done pretending this was passive."


    She looked around at the collapsed buildings.


    The burned corpses of Flaregul riders and the warped landscape left behind by Leon''s domain.


    Her voice remained flat.


    "This... was just the opening act."


    Dargan growled, jaw trembling.


    "You won''t win. Aurelius has thousands of beasts."


    "You have... What? A castle with three tamers?"


    Liora didn''t answer.


    She didn''t need to.


    She raised her blade and placed the glowing edge an inch from his throat.


    "Luxoria has exactly what it needs."


    "You?"


    "No."


    She pointed the tip at his chest.


    "We have reason."


    [Aurelius Command Center]


    A junior officer turned to Theron.


    "Sir. Orders? Do we deploy containment?"


    Theron watched the screen where Liora stood over Dargan''s broken body.


    His expression didn''t change.


    "Not yet."


    He tapped the screen once.


    "Let her deliver the message."


    Dargan gritted his teeth.


    "Even if you beat me... they''ll come for you."


    "Cassius. Theron. Hadrian himself. You won''t even reach the gates."


    Liora crouched slightly, blade still resting against him.


    "I won''t even reach the gates, huh?"


    Liora smirked.


    "I am only here to deliver a message."


    Dargan''s blood-slick jaw tensed.


    His eyes darted between her face and the gleaming weapon pressing just above his heart.


    "We don''t need to storm your labs."


    "We don''t need to chase you through your mountain of war beasts."


    "You have numbers," she said with a tilt of her head.


    "So do it. I dare you."


    Liora leaned in, the heat of Leon''s warform suit glowing brighter around her.


    "Come to Luxoria."


    Dargan gritted his teeth. "You... you''ll regret¡ª"


    She cut him off with silence.


    Her eyes didn''t blink.


    "Come. Bring your beasts, your suppressors, your engineered horrors."


    "I want them all lined up outside our gates."


    Dargan''s lips twitched. "You''re bluff¡ª"


    "I''m giving you an invitation," she interrupted.


    "Because this time, we won''t be the ones running."


    Her voice dropped to a whisper.


    "You ended our home once. Now we''ve built a castle."


    She stood. The blade lifted by a fraction.


    Dargan started to speak again¡ª


    And Liora thrust the blade straight through his chest.


    The beam didn''t explode.


    It burned.


    It carved.


    It evaporated the last of his armor, his ribcage, his heart.


    He didn''t scream. There was no time.


    His mouth opened.


    Then closed.


    Then nothing.


    Liora withdrew the blade without looking down.


    A thin stream of smoke rose behind her as Dargan''s lifeless body slumped backward into the crater.


    ---


    Fiona slowly stood from her hiding spot.


    Her hand trembled on the edge of her visor.


    "Okay," she whispered.


    "Uh... that''s... that''s the end of him."


    She slowly stepped forward as her drones hovered in formation, capturing every angle.


    The air still shimmered faintly from Leon''s residual domain presence.


    Fiona swallowed hard.


    "Chat, I... think that was the most terrifying thing I''ve ever streamed."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: SHE DIDN''T EVEN FLINCH


    @CoreBurst: Dargan''s done. Deleted. Just like that


    @MoonByte: ''Come to Luxoria'' is actually the hardest threat ever


    @SilverSunOrDie: My guy got EXECUTED during a message


    @FionyxOnFire: I can''t even. She just made a political statement AND a killcam in the same breath


    ---


    Back inside the Aurelius Vault, red indicator lights pulsed one final time before fading into silence.


    Dargan: deceased.


    Theron Aurelius didn''t flinch.


    "Trace the origin of her signal," he said, voice clipped.


    "Route all thermal overlays on that city sector. Get me confirmation on that beast signature."


    The techs scrambled behind him.


    One of the analysts, a younger tamer with trembling fingers, tapped furiously at his console.


    "We''ve got the battlefield coordinates... infrared data''s distorted."


    "There''s interference. Something scrambled the terrain scan."


    "Scrambled?" Theron asked sharply, turning.


    The analyst flinched.


    "Sir, it''s not natural interference. It''s some kind of radiant overload."


    "All sensors caught a burst of solar-element distortion right before Dargan''s vitals flatlined."


    Cassius stepped into the observation chamber, arms folded behind his back.


    His eyes flicked to the screen.


    "No match for any beast signature in our database?"


    He asked without even looking at the analyst.


    The room went quiet.


    "No, sir," the analyst finally admitted.


    "Whatever that was... we don''t have it on file."


    Another technician leaned in.


    "We checked it three times. It''s not Vornis. It''s not any Luxoria beast we''ve cataloged."


    "It doesn''t even behave like a known Sovereign-Tier."


    Theron narrowed his eyes. "Describe it."


    The tech swallowed.


    "We only got fragmented scans..."


    "But the energy output was infinite. And changing."


    "The form kept shifting."


    "Some kind of radiant fusion between elemental light, solar flame, and silver plasma constructs."


    Cassius''s voice grew colder. "It adapted?"


    "Yes. Mid-battle. Not even a delay between changes."


    Cassius frowned, slowly pacing toward the screen. "That''s not possible."


    "Sir, it used a domain..."


    "One that collapsed environmental energy fields and burned out all magic traces in a 50-meter radius."


    "We couldn''t get clear scans."


    Theron looked at the battlefield feed, rewinding to where Liora had walked from the ruins.


    "This wasn''t the sister who killed Vance," Cassius muttered.


    "No," Theron said. "This was the other one. The weapon."


    They both stared.


    Then Cassius whispered, "So what did they build this time?"


    ---


    Back on the battlefield, Liora stood over the corpse of the Aurelius enforcer and slowly turned to Fiona.


    "It''s done," she said.


    Fiona nodded quickly. "Y-yeah. Got it. I caught everything."


    Liora looked toward the sky.


    The sun had fully broken through the clouds now, rays catching the ruined cityscape.


    "No more hiding," she said quietly.


    Then to Fiona, without turning:


    "Let''s go home."

 Chapter 411: The Castle That Declared War

    Raiven strode directly into his father''s room.


    "Father," he said, holding out a datapad.


    "You need to see this stream."


    "It''s spreading across all inner noble channels."


    Vandred looked up from the armrest of his throne, a half-finished training spear resting across his lap.


    His deep crimson eyes narrowed. "Stream?"


    Raiven handed it over.


    "Fiona Flares. Luxoria''s streamer."


    "She was with Liora Luxoria in Aurelius territory."


    "There was a battle¡ªFlareguls, an Aurelius enforcer, and then... she made a declaration."


    Vandred tapped the screen once and it flickered to life.


    A live replay began to scroll: Flaregul units diving, Liora engaging, and Leon''s suit transformation.


    Dargan''s fusion with Gravernox and the battlefield shifting into molten chaos.


    Then came the moment.


    Liora standing over Dargan.


    "Luxoria officially declares war on the Aurelius family."


    A long silence.


    Then Vandred... laughed.


    Not softly. Not mockingly.


    It was full, gruff, and resonant. A heavy, amused thunder.


    "Hah... hahahahaha!"


    He leaned forward, watching as Dargan was obliterated and Liora declared war.


    "To think," Vandred said, grinning now.


    "That this entire time there was such a buried history between Luxoria and Aurelius."


    Raiven kept his arms folded, gaze serious.


    "We always thought they were silent builders. Remote. Methodical."


    "But this? This is blood-forged retaliation."


    Vandred''s grin didn''t fade. "It''s better than that. It''s personal."


    Raiven nodded. "So what do we do now?"


    Vandred''s eyes gleamed. "For now?"


    He stood slowly, cracking his shoulders.


    "Nothing."


    Raiven raised an eyebrow. "You don''t want to act?"


    "No," Vandred said. "We watch."


    He stepped toward the massive war-window that overlooked the southern front of their stronghold.


    "This is the moment," he said.


    "Where we see whether Luxoria is just a castle of echoes... or the next giant."


    Raiven''s brow furrowed. "You think they could be?"


    "I''ve fought Aurelius," Vandred said.


    "I''ve seen Hadrian''s monsters. I''ve faced Theron''s vault units. You don''t survive that without cost."


    He gestured toward the screen, where Liora''s calm stance remained frozen in replay.


    "But that girl. That was no survivor."


    Raiven tilted his head. "Then what was she?"


    "A general," Vandred said.


    "Not the type that commands from behind walls."


    "One that walks into enemy land and delivers judgment firsthand."


    He exhaled slowly, then picked up the heavy black shield.


    "I''ve seen many wars, Raiven."


    "Family grudges, border disputes, resource skirmishes."


    "They all start with shouting and end with broken beasts."


    He ran one calloused hand across the engraved edges of the shield.


    "But this..."


    He smirked.


    "This feels different."


    Raiven''s gaze sharpened. "You''re enjoying this."


    "I''m watching the beginning of something real," Vandred replied.


    "Not posturing. Not petty. Just raw vengeance dressed in discipline."


    Raiven folded his arms, nodding slowly.


    Vandred raised the shield slightly, resting it against his shoulder.


    "Now we observe. Closely."


    "I want to see who survives. Who breaks. Who burns."


    He turned toward Raiven, a rare glint of anticipation flickering in his crimson eyes.


    "I want to see who rises as the true giant between Luxoria and Aurelius."


    Raiven gave a small smile. "And if neither falls?"


    Vandred chuckled. "Then the world might not be ready for what comes next."


    He lowered the shield and looked back to the darkened screen.


    "But one thing is certain."


    He leaned back into his throne, the room humming with quiet tension.


    "I can''t wait to see who wins¡ªand who gets buried trying."


    ---


    In the heart of the Myralis Grove, high above the canopy, Elaris Myralis stepped inside hurriedly.


    Her eyes shimmered with a mixture of disbelief and exhilaration.


    In her hand, a beast-glass tablet flickered with a paused replay of the stream.


    "Mother," Elaris called.


    Sylvaine Myralis turned slowly from the edge of the petal-arch balcony.


    Draped in her emerald cloak woven from living vines, she raised an eyebrow with her usual quiet elegance.


    "Elaris," Sylvaine said calmly. "You''re breathless."


    Elaris stepped forward, holding up the tablet. "You need to see this."


    Sylvaine gave a gentle nod and walked toward the blossom-carved dais.


    She took the device delicately and glanced down.


    She watched without speaking as Liora Luxoria defeated a fused Aurelius enforcer.


    She saw her declare war with the calm of someone swatting an insect.


    Elaris bit her lip.


    "It''s not fake. Fiona Flares streamed the whole thing."


    "The signal came from within Aurelius territory."


    Sylvaine remained still, only her fingers shifting slightly on the edge of the tablet.


    Elaris continued.


    "She didn''t just fight a beast. She fought a fused Sovereign-tier."


    "And she didn''t struggle. She warned him before killing him."


    "I see," Sylvaine murmured.


    Elaris leaned forward.


    "She declared war on Aurelius. In public. On record. She didn''t even try to hide it."


    Sylvaine looked up. "And you believe this is wise?"


    Elaris hesitated.


    "I think it''s... dangerous. Bold. Brilliant. Maybe foolish. But I respect it."


    Sylvaine exhaled through her nose.


    "Respect does not keep one alive, daughter."


    "Neither does silence," Elaris countered.


    Sylvaine handed the tablet back.


    "So this is where we are."


    "Luxoria stepping into the light. And making an enemy of Aurelius."


    Elaris nodded. "Yes. Boldly."


    Sylvaine walked to the edge of the balcony again, watching the flowering horizon sway with the wind.


    "Luxoria has always remained quiet."


    "Now they erupt with fire and blood, declaring war through a child in silver armor."


    "She''s no child," Elaris said. "She''s a blade. Forged."


    Sylvaine turned slightly, curious. "Do you admire her?"


    Elaris paused. "Yes. I do. She fights for family. For vengeance. Not for pride."


    Sylvaine studied her daughter. "And what would you do, if our family were next?"


    Elaris straightened. "I would stand beside you."


    Sylvaine smiled faintly. "A wise answer. For now."


    Elaris hesitated.


    "You''ve seen many conflicts, Mother. What do you think this becomes?"


    Sylvaine stepped forward, brushing a single finger against the living wall.


    "This becomes a war of memory," she said.


    "Luxoria remembers its pain. Aurelius remembers its pride."


    "And the world will remember which of them survives."


    Elaris lowered her gaze. "Should we... choose a side?"


    Sylvaine shook her head.


    "We are Myralis. We are nature. We endure storms. We do not leap into them."


    She placed a hand gently on her daughter''s shoulder.


    "But should the storm reach our grove... we will bloom in blood if we must."


    Elaris smiled faintly. "So we watch."


    "For now," Sylvaine agreed.


    "But keep your eyes on Luxoria. And the girl in silver. I fear they are not just warriors."


    "What are they?"


    Sylvaine turned back to the wind.


    "Proof that even ruins can grow new kingdoms."

 Chapter 412: The Offer

    Fiona sat stiffly in the wide, cold-lit chamber, her eyes scanning the occupants with growing unease.


    She hadn''t even remembered how she got here.


    One moment she was packing up her drone gear, and the next, she was being escorted here.


    Now she sat alone on a cushioned seat, staring at Luna Luxoria.


    She was leaning against a pillar with arms crossed, eyes narrowed in amusement.


    Liora was nearby and her expression was unreadable as always.


    Across from her stood two masked figures.


    One wore white and silver, with jagged engravings like runes etched into the mask''s surface.


    Fiona recognized him in an instant.


    Lord L.


    The other figure stood slightly behind him.


    Slightly taller, cloaked in white with a mask that gave off no aura, no signal, no identifier at all.


    Fiona had no clue who she was, but every instinct in her screamed not to ask.


    Her streaming beast, Fionyx, was silent.


    Offline. Disconnected.


    She swallowed.


    "Fiona," Lord L said. His voice was calm, almost kind.


    "You understand what just happened, don''t you?"


    Fiona gave a slow nod.


    "Y... yeah. I stream the whole thing. Liora''s declaration. The Aurelius kill."


    "I know about the beast. I know you''re not hiding anymore."


    "Good," he said, hands behind his back.


    "Now you know something else."


    Fiona blinked. "What?"


    "You were the one who made it visible."


    He took a step forward.


    "Your stream. Your reactions. Your audience. You lit the fire for them."


    Fiona forced a laugh.


    "Wait¡ªme? I just... recorded it. I wasn''t even fighting."


    Lord L smirked beneath the mask.


    "That''s exactly why it worked. Because you didn''t fight."


    "You told the world what to watch. And they watched."


    Fiona''s throat tightened. "So what, this was all planned?"


    "It was necessary," Luna said coolly.


    "And successful. You pushed our visibility past the point of denial."


    "Now the world knows Luxoria Castle. Not a rumor. Not a backwater name."


    Liora stood and walked forward. "And they know who we''re targeting."


    Fiona looked between them. "So why am I here?"


    Lucius tilted his head.


    He slowly took off his mask, revealing his face to Fiona.


    A half-smile played on his lips, not cruel, but too controlled to be warm.


    "Because... you''re the reason they saw it happen."


    Fiona sat frozen.


    "And now," Lucius continued.


    "I want to give you something no contract can offer."


    He raised his free hand slowly, palm open.


    "I want you to join us. As real family."


    Fiona''s brows furrowed. "Family?"


    Lucius''s voice didn''t waver.


    "Not blood. Not fake words on paper. I mean the kind of bond that doesn''t break under threat, war, or fear."


    "What I have with Liora. With Luna. What we forged when the world left us to rot."


    He stepped closer, lowering his voice to a bare whisper.


    "You''ve already seen it. Liora would kill an army on command."


    "Luna will destroy the battlefield itself just to protect us."


    "And you, Fiona, already proved your loyalty by streaming a war into the eyes of the world."


    Fiona''s mouth felt dry. "I... I didn''t plan that. I just..."


    "You believed," Lucius said.


    "Even for a moment. That''s enough."


    Then his tone shifted.


    "But we are at war now. And war doesn''t allow passengers."


    He turned his hand, presenting two fingers.


    "You have a choice."


    Fiona blinked.


    Lucius raised one finger.


    "One. You break the contract. Walk away."


    "You''ll be free, untouched... but Fionyx stays here."


    Fiona''s throat tightened.


    Lucius smirked. "You''ve felt it, right?"


    "He''s not like the other Vornises. He was built different."


    "Built to sync only with you, yes."


    "But not outside Luxoria. His core is bound to our system."


    Fiona looked down. "So if I leave...?"


    "He''ll go dormant. Shut down. No more transformations. No more performances. No more heartbeat."


    She flinched.


    Lucius raised a second finger.


    "Two. You stay. Take my hand. Join us."


    "Not as an employee. Not even as a symbol. But as a real member of Luxoria."


    "Bound not by papers, but by purpose."


    Luna stepped forward then, her voice smooth like frost.


    "I hated Master when we first met when I was a slave," she said flatly.


    "Thought he was another freak like others."


    "Then I saw what he built. What he protected. What he saved me from."


    She gestured toward Liora.


    "She was also in the same situation as me before. As slaves."


    "But now, our life changes thanks to Master."


    Liora didn''t speak. She just looked at Fiona.


    Unblinking. Unmoving.


    Watching her like a blade held steady.


    Lucius extended his hand once more.


    "If you take it, Fiona... I''ll show you everything. Our origins. Our truth."


    "Why Luxoria exists. And why we''ll win."


    Fiona stared at his hand.


    Her fingers trembled slightly as she remembered that first day.


    She walked into Luxoria Castle with wide eyes and cautious hopes.


    Fionyx had just been bonded to her, a beast beyond anything she had imagined.


    The streams exploded. Her fame soared.


    But more than that... the people here had welcomed her.


    Luna had teased her with cool confidence.


    Liora had protected her with silent precision.


    And Lucius...


    Had guided her with more patience and depth than any of her past partners.


    She looked into his eyes.


    "What kind of bond is it?" she asked softly.


    "I need to know before I choose. Luna calls you ''Master.''"


    "What... does that mean?"


    Lucius''s silver eyes narrowed slightly.


    Then he gave a small, knowing smirk.


    "It''s a bond like a beast and a tamer," he said plainly.


    "Where you''re the beast¡ªand I am the tamer."


    Fiona''s breath hitched. "You mean... I''d be like your¡ª"


    "You''d still be you," Lucius interrupted gently.


    "Still Fiona. Still free to talk, live, stream, and laugh."


    "You''ll still be famous, still wear whatever style you want, still tease the camera and play with Fionyx."


    He took a step closer.


    "But you''ll belong to Luxoria now. To me."


    "Like Luna. Like Liora. A sacred contract¡ªnot of paper or coin, but of command."


    Fiona hesitated, eyes wide.


    Lucius didn''t stop.


    "The bond doesn''t hurt. It doesn''t strip you of who you are."


    "It just means you''ll never betray us."


    "That you''ll never raise a hand against your family."


    "That you''ll always answer when I call."


    His hand remained steady.


    "That''s all."


    Fiona looked down again. Her mind raced.


    Could she do it?


    Could she be bound like that?


    But then again... Wasn''t she already?


    She''d streamed Luxoria to the world. She''d cheered for them. Fought with them.


    Risked her life next to Liora. She hadn''t run away then.


    And when the world turned against them... something in her had stayed.


    Lucius''s voice was firm now. "So choose, Fiona."


    "Do you want to walk away?"


    "Or do you want to become more than just a guest?"


    "A real part of us."


    Fiona looked back into his eyes.


    Her fingers tightened.


    Then she stepped forward.

 Chapter 413: The NDA Was a Hack Command

    Fiona stared at Lord L''s extended hand, tension crashing in her chest.


    The room was still. Every eye was on her. She took one deep breath...


    Then raised her voice.


    "Fuck it," she shouted. "I''ll join."


    She grabbed his hand without hesitation.


    Her grip was tight. Final.


    "Without Fionyx," she muttered.


    "My stream wouldn''t be worth half as much."


    "And honestly, the perks of being here? Too damn good to pass up."


    She glanced up at Lucius.


    "But I still get my freedom, right? No leash, no cage?"


    Lucius nodded smoothly. "Of course, Fiona."


    His tone didn''t falter.


    "Freedom of expression. Of voice. But never of betrayal. That''s the only line."


    Fiona grinned. "Sounds fair enough."


    Lucius took a step back, letting go of her hand.


    "Then let''s make this official," he said.


    "Let me reintroduce myself properly."


    "I am Lucius Luxoria."


    His voice held no arrogance¡ªonly the weight of truth.


    Next to him, the taller masked woman stepped forward and lifted her own mask.


    "I am Loreia Luxoria," she said, her eyes glinting silver.


    "His older sister."


    Liora remained quiet, but inclined her head.


    Luna gave a theatrical twirl of her finger and winked.


    "You already know us," Luna said smoothly.


    "Luna and Liora. The strategist and the enforcer."


    Lucius gestured toward the center of the room.


    "The four of us are the founders of Luxoria Castle. Beast hackers. Survivors. And now..."


    He turned slightly.


    "Fiona, you become part of it."


    Fiona glanced around, still catching her breath.


    "Okay, but how about Liline?" she asked, curiosity finally overtaking her nerves.


    Lucius chuckled softly. "Ah. Liline."


    He nodded toward Liline, who had just appeared.


    "As you noticed¡ªshe''s like a ghost. That''s not far off," he said.


    "Liline is a spirit beast. A humanoid, high-tier construct. One of the few of her kind."


    Fiona''s eyes widened.


    "Wow. I just... I didn''t know that was even possible."


    Lucius smirked.


    "Not naturally. She didn''t come from a forest or a sky temple."


    "She was made. Engineered to house the full essence of this place."


    He gestured around them.


    "This castle? Luxoria Castle itself? It''s her. Liline is the spirit that embodies it."


    "Every wall, every chamber¡ªshe breathes through it. That''s why it bends to her will."


    Fiona blinked.


    "No wonder she can hover, phase out, and open tunnels in seconds..."


    Lucius''s smile deepened as he stepped forward.


    "Exactly. And now¡ª"


    He placed two fingers gently against her forehead.


    "Let''s finalize your place."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Contract Override Protocol]


    [Target: Fiona Flares]


    [Effect:]


    [Grant full access to the Beast Hacker System, including beast knowledge, hacking methods, and core protocols.]


    [Bind Fiona as a Contract Beast under Lucius Luxoria with absolute loyalty and obedience.]


    [Instantly apply all physical, mental, and spiritual enhancements previously given to Luna, Liora, and Loreia.]


    [Cost Required: 10,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    Fiona''s eyes widened.


    "What¡ªwait, hack?! What do you mean¡ª"


    A flash of light struck through her pupils.


    Suddenly her mind was drowning in raw data.


    Everything about Lucius and his life. All about Luxoria.


    All of them were forcefully inserted into her mind.


    She gasped.


    Then her knees buckled.


    Fiona collapsed with a soft thud onto the padded floor.


    Lucius turned calmly.


    "She''ll wake up in a few hours," he said, smiling faintly.


    "Liline."


    "Yes, Master," Liline said, bowing.


    "Please take her to her room."


    "And when she wakes, please escorts her to meet with us once again."


    Liline nodded once, then moved to gently lift Fiona in her spectral arms.


    Lucius glanced over at the others.


    "She chose well."


    Luna chuckled. "You knew she would."


    Liora simply crossed her arms and muttered, "She better keep up."


    Loreia smiled. "She will. She just became a Luxoria."


    Lucius looked at Fiona''s sleeping form one last time.


    "Welcome to the family, Fiona Flares."


    ---


    Fiona groaned as her eyes fluttered open.


    Her head throbbed. Her breath was shallow.


    But her mind¡ªwas bursting.


    "Ugh... What the hell was that?" She muttered, slowly sitting up.


    She looked around and realized she was no longer in the meeting chamber.


    She was actually back in her room.


    She rubbed her forehead. "Holy hell. My brain''s a download center now."


    She stood shakily, pacing a few steps as information pulsed behind her eyes like second-nature.


    "Okay... so Lucius is not just some mysterious tamer guy," she said aloud to herself.


    "He''s... like one of those comic protagonists."


    "Some reincarnated or isekai''d genius that came back here with a full-on hack system."


    She paced faster.


    "No wonder he talks like he''s ten steps ahead of the planet. He is."


    "The Beast Hacker System¡ªit''s literally built to rewrite logic."


    "He''s not just fighting nobles, he''s rewriting the battlefield."


    She stopped, hand against the wall, laughing breathlessly.


    "And this castle¡ªthis whole damn Luxoria Castle¡ªit''s not even the real Luxoria."


    She looked around, realizing now with her expanded data access.


    "This is just a storefront. A shell. A mobile version built around Liline..."


    "The real Luxoria Castle is already built somewhere deeper, hidden from everyone."


    Then she turned toward the corner and caught her reflection in the mirror.


    Her eyes narrowed, and a small smile crept across her lips.


    "Fionyx..." she whispered.


    "Or should I say¡ªLuperion."


    Her voice shook slightly with awe.


    "He''s not even a Vornis. That was just the nameplate for show."


    "He''s a higher-tier beast built with reactive Luxorite."


    "Synced to entertainment combat, but with core tech lightyears ahead of anything in circulation."


    She looked at her reflection in the glass wall.


    "Wow. Too much information. My brain is fried."


    She let out a soft laugh.


    "But... damn, this is kinda awesome."


    She held up the bracelet.


    "I guess being bound to a genius tamer-god with a castle spirit, a fake shop, and a custom beast isn''t the worst career move."


    Fiona grinned.


    "And now I get to stream it all."


    She spun once on her heel, excitement bubbling in her chest.


    The revelations, the systems, the secrets.


    It was the ultimate content drop.


    Her audience would go feral for this kind of lore.


    But then... she paused.


    Her smile faltered just a little.


    "Wait," she muttered. "All of this is classified, isn''t it?"


    "No public access. No unauthorized recordings."


    "Restricted zones flagged. Hidden beast identities redacted."


    She sighed, flopping back onto the bed.


    "Damn. This would''ve been my best stream yet."


    She stared up at the ceiling.


    "A Divine-tier isekai hacker overlord with a ghost castle and custom-made stream beast?"


    "I could''ve broken the charts."


    Liline suddenly appeared in her room.


    "Lady Fiona," she said gently.


    "Please follow me. Master Lucius is calling for you."


    Fiona blinked, then sat up quickly.


    "Got it," she said, brushing her hair behind her ear.


    She took one last glance at her reflection, this time with resolve.


    "Let''s see what our ''master'' wants now."


    She followed Liline out the door without hesitation.

 Chapter 414: Streamer.exe Has Ascended

    Fiona followed Liline through the corridors of Luxoria Castle.


    The walls dimmed where they passed, doors opening before they even reached them.


    They finally reached a grand chamber where Lucius stood alone in the center.


    He didn''t turn as Fiona stepped in¡ªhe just spoke.


    "Well?"


    Fiona blinked. "Well, what?"


    Lucius turned slightly, a knowing smirk on his lips.


    "Now that your mind is filled with things no one on this continent should know."


    "What do you think?"


    Fiona threw her hands up. "Fuck, it was too amazing!"


    She paced a few steps, still riding the high of it all.


    "It was like... a story out of those ridiculous novels."


    "The overpowered MC gets isekai''d and returns home with a god-tier system."


    "Builds a secret castle with loyal killers and starts a war against the noble elites!"


    She spun on her heel and pointed at him.


    "Except it''s not fiction. It''s you. And I just got patched into the plot."


    Lucius chuckled. "Yeah, yeah."


    "And now you understand why I''m selective about who gets to read the script."


    Fiona grinned.


    "So what''s my role? I mean, I know I''m the streamer."


    "But with all this secrecy, half the best stuff can''t even be aired."


    Lucius nodded. "Correct."


    "You can''t stream the origins. Or our systems. Or the castle''s core."


    Fiona crossed her arms. "Then what can I stream?"


    Lucius took a slow step forward, smirking.


    "War."


    Fiona raised an eyebrow. "You want me to stream the fighting?"


    Lucius gave her a pointed look.


    "We just declared war on Aurelius."


    "If we let them control the narrative, they''ll paint us as terrorists, monsters, rebels who got lucky."


    He paused.


    "But if you show the world the truth."


    "Our reasons, our strikes, our victories¡ªthen we''re not just a rebellion."


    He smiled.


    "We''re a movement."


    Fiona nodded slowly. "Okay. I''m listening."


    Lucius continued.


    "You''ll be our voice. Our lens. You won''t just stream blood."


    "You''ll stream meaning. Message. Symbolism. That''s what Luxoria needs now."


    Fiona smirked. "I already have a few ideas. But..."


    She scratched her cheek.


    "I''m still weak. I can''t do what Liora does. Or Luna. I''m just... me."


    Lucius stepped closer, placing a hand lightly on her shoulder.


    "You won''t be for long."


    Fiona looked up at him, blinking. "What does that mean?"


    Lucius''s grin widened just slightly. "Follow me."


    He turned and walked toward a dark corridor behind the throne dais.


    Fiona blinked, then jogged after him.


    "Wait¡ªyou''re going to train me?"


    Lucius chuckled. "Better. I''m going to build you."


    Fiona''s eyes lit up. "So I''m gonna be strong like Luna and Liora?"


    Lucius glanced back, that same maddening smirk on his lips.


    "Of course. You''re Luxoria''s voice now. It''s only right that your voice is backed by real power."


    Fiona''s grin widened.


    She didn''t know what was waiting for her.


    She didn''t know what she''d become.


    But she knew one thing for certain.


    She wasn''t just a streamer anymore.


    She was Luxoria.


    And the world was about to hear her roar.


    ---


    Lucius stood before Fiona, his expression calm but laced with mischief.


    One that always meant something devastating was coming.


    "Fiona," he said softly, "please hold it in this time, okay?"


    Fiona tilted her head. "Hold what in?"


    Lucius didn''t answer.


    Instead, he raised his hand.


    "System," he said clearly. "Initiate hack. Match her level to Luna and Liora."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Divine Synchronization Override ¨C Fiona Flares & Fionyx]


    [Targets: Fiona Flares, Fionyx]


    [Effect:]


    [Upgrade both Fiona and Fionyx to match the divine specifications of Luna and Liora Luxoria.]


    [Evolve Fionyx into a Divine-Tier beast with full form control and infinite transformation.]


    [Elevate Fiona''s stats to SS-Rank, grant auto-cultivation, perfect synchronization, and divine combat compatibility.]


    [Cost Required: 10,000,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    The instant the hack activated, Fiona''s eyes snapped open wide.


    "W-Wait, what''s hap¡ª?!"


    A surge of light exploded through her body.


    She screamed, the sound sharp and raw, as her limbs locked and her entire body arched.


    And then¡ª


    Fiona collapsed.


    Unconscious.


    Still glowing.


    The air around her pulsed with residual energy, and for a moment, silence filled the room.


    Loreia stepped in, arms folded, eyeing the collapsed figure with a half-smirk.


    "Well," she said casually, "you really went all-in."


    Lucius nodded without looking away from Fiona.


    "Of course. She''s one of us now."


    Loreia tilted her head. "You think she''ll wake up sane?"


    Lucius''s smile returned, slow and sharp.


    "Let''s find out later."


    ---


    Fiona''s eyes snapped open.


    She gasped and sat up instantly, her chest heaving like she had just surfaced from underwater.


    The air around her was thick.


    Hot, charged, echoed with distant roars and clashing metal.


    She blinked rapidly.


    "What the hell...?"


    She wasn''t in her room. She wasn''t even in Luxoria Castle.


    She was in an arena.


    No¡ªa warzone.


    Dust swirled. Cracked stone under her hands.


    All around her, beasts fought beasts.


    Some with flame erupting from their mouths, others snarling, tail-blades slicing through the air.


    She saw people too.


    Tamers clashing with weapons, light glowing around their wrists.


    Chaos.


    A battlefield of dozens.


    Suddenly, something nudged her shoulder.


    Fiona spun¡ªbut then exhaled sharply.


    "Fionyx..."


    He stood beside her, his newly evolved form blazing faintly.


    His starlit eyes glowed with sharp concern as he nudged her again.


    He was checking if she was fully conscious.


    "Okay, buddy. I''m good. I''m awake," she murmured.


    But as she stood, a flash of movement to her right made her spin.


    A horned beast lunged from the smoke¡ªjaws wide, claws poised.


    Fiona barely raised her arms.


    "Shit¡ª!"


    But she didn''t have to.


    Fionyx moved first.


    He launched forward, his body reforming mid-motion into a sleek, burning predator.


    He slashed the attacker in half with a single arc of light.


    The beast disintegrated into glitch fragments.


    Fiona''s breath caught. "...Thanks."


    But she didn''t have long to react.


    Three more creatures bounded from behind a broken column, snarling and already charging.


    Her eyes widened.


    "No, no, no¡ª!"


    Fionyx roared and stepped in front of her, body morphing again into a blazing wall of heat.


    Fiona staggered back, and then it clicked.


    The metallic interface flickered in the sky above her.


    Player tags. Beast stats. Virtual construct lines.


    "This is..."


    She looked around again, now seeing it.


    The pixel bleed in the skybox, the soft hum of system code under the sound.


    "Fuck. It''s a virtual battle."


    A system trial.


    Her trial.


    She gritted her teeth.


    "I have to fight. This is how I get stronger."


    Another beast howled in the distance, and the ground shook under its weight.


    Fiona clenched her fists.


    "Damn it, Lucius... Couldn''t you have given me a training manual first?"


    But she cracked a grin.


    "Fine. Let''s dance."


    She stepped forward.


    "Fionyx¡ªhighlight the crowd. Let''s put on a show."

 Chapter 415 415: iTamer Pro Max

    Fiona stood atop a broken platform as the battlefield shifted around her.


    She brushed her windswept hair back and looked down at Fionyx beside her.


    "Alright," Fiona muttered. "Let''s see..."


    She exhaled and rolled her shoulders.


    "Liora usually fuses with her beast to fight."


    "I''ve seen her punch through walls wearing Leon like a cannon suit."


    Fionyx tilted his head, the light of his body pulsing in sync with hers.


    Fiona grinned.


    "Now that you''ve been upgraded, you should be able to do the same, right?"


    She took a breath, eyes narrowing.


    "Although I know most tamers can fuse with their beasts..."


    "This is gonna be different."


    Fionyx let out a low, resonant hum, like a bassline beneath the battlefield''s static.


    Fiona raised her right arm and clenched her fist.


    "Let''s test it out. Fionyx¡ªfuse with me."


    Fionyx roared once¡ªnot a cry of aggression, but of affirmation.


    Then he shifted.


    The motes circled Fiona in a spiral of orange, red, and gold.


    Her body lifted off the ground slightly as the light wrapped around her.


    It formed gauntlets, shoulder guards, a flame-emblazoned chestplate, and leg armor pulsing with tempo.


    The final shimmer of Fionyx formed a sleek, glowing mech suit.


    Not bulky, but sculpted to her movements.


    Neon trim traced down her limbs like circuit paths.


    Her helmet locked into place with a soft his


    Visor was alive with synced visuals and beat-mapping.


    She landed, boots thudding softly against the stone.


    Fiona looked down at herself.


    "Whoa..."


    Her hands curled into fists. The gauntlets glowed with energy waiting to explode.


    She turned, admiring the reflection in a shattered mirror embedded in the ruins.


    "Wow. This is... amazing."


    And then¡ªher mind lit up.


    A cascade of data flowed into her consciousness.


    Names. Timing. Ability patterns. Power spikes. Evasion rhythms.


    [Ability Recognition Complete ¨C Divine Fused Combat Interface Online]


    "Holy shit," Fiona breathed.


    "These are your abilities?"


    Fiona grinned behind the visor.


    "Okay, yeah. This is way better than I expected."


    She jumped once¡ªlight boosters firing gently from her calves.


    She spun midair, then landed perfectly, posing like she was on stage.


    "This? This is content."


    Her visor pulsed with a proximity warning.


    Three beasts approaching. Heavy. Fast.


    Fiona cracked her knuckles.


    "Alright then, let''s test this properly, shall we?"


    She crouched slightly, eyes glowing beneath the visor.


    "Fionyx, sync the music."


    A low beat thrummed through her bones.


    "Let''s give ''em a show."


    "Let''s give ''em a show."


    "Activated Broadcast Domain."


    In an instant, the world around her changed.


    The battlefield twisted into a glowing concert stage.


    Lights flared from nowhere¡ªspotlights formed from pure flame.


    The cracked earth turned into a smooth, glowing floor.


    Red, gold, and violet patterns circled under her feet like stage sigils.


    Far in the distance, three beasts rushed toward her¡ªeach one massive, armored, and fast.


    Fiona didn''t move.


    She simply raised one arm, and her right gauntlet shifted.


    A glowing cannon formed.


    It hummed with radiant heat.


    "First act: Lightstream."


    She fired a wide beam of starlight and flame, cutting across the field in a bright arc.


    The front beast took the full hit.


    It was burned mid-leap, crashing into a wall of glowing stage tiles.


    The other two roared and circled.


    Fiona turned smoothly, gauntlet retracting.


    Her armor shifted again.


    This time, twin pistols formed in each hand. Thin, sleek, pulsing with tempo lines.


    She dashed backward, flipped midair, and opened fire.


    Each shot matched the beat.


    Every bullet was a pulse of fire and sound, slamming into the second beast''s shoulders and legs.


    It staggered, blinking against the flashes.


    "Second act: Pulse Pistols."


    She spun once, weapons vanishing.


    Now her arms extended and twin whips of light unraveled from her gauntlets.


    She snapped them outward, forming spirals in the air.


    The whips caught the third beast mid-charge¡ªwrapped around its legs¡ªand yanked hard.


    It flipped over, crashing into a glowing spike that rose from the ground like part of the set.


    "Third act: Rhythm Reign."


    Fiona danced forward, twisting on her toes as her boots glided across the battlefield.


    Her armor changed again.


    Her arms now holding a long, glowing sniper lance.


    The air stilled. The music slowed.


    She knelt. Aiming.


    The lens glowed red.


    "Climax Break¡ªone shot."


    She pulled the trigger.


    A beam of light, thin as thread, fired with deafening silence.


    It punched through the second beast''s skull¡ªclean, instant. The creature collapsed.


    The lights around her flared into sparks.


    Fiona stood slowly.


    The music shifted again¡ªfaster now.


    She grinned behind her visor.


    "Fionyx, shift weapon mode."


    Her back armor unfolded.


    Twin glowing fans rose over her shoulders.


    Drone wings that spun with heat and rhythm.


    The ground rumbled.


    One last beast¡ªa new one¡ªcharged from the far edge of the domain.


    Big. Armored. Loud.


    Fiona raised both arms.


    Cannons folded over her wrists.


    She didn''t wait.


    She ran forward, each step leaving fire behind her heels.


    The enemy roared.


    Fiona shouted back:


    "Finale time!"


    She leapt¡ªstraight into the air¡ªtwisting as her cannons fired in slow motion.


    Beams of light and sound slammed into the beast''s face, chest, legs, everywhere.


    The crowd¡ªif there had been one¡ªwould''ve screamed.


    She hit the ground. Slid forward. Spun once.


    The beast crashed behind her, body covered in glowing marks and flames.


    Fiona stood.


    Breathing slow.


    Heart racing.


    The Broadcast Domain slowly faded.


    But she didn''t.


    She raised one hand to her imaginary crowd.


    "And that," she said breathlessly, "was your first look... at the Divine Streamer of Luxoria."


    She held the pose for a second longer, letting the imaginary applause settle in her head.


    Then she turned, her gaze locking on the remaining clusters of beasts scattered across the far end of the arena.


    Some were watching her now¡ªhesitating, unsure.


    The rhythm pulsing through her armor dimmed to a steady beat.


    Her smile returned.


    "Show''s not over yet."


    She stepped forward slowly, her boots lighting up with every motion.


    She pointed one glowing blade toward the crowd of enemies.


    "Now..."


    Her voice lowered to a growl.


    "Let''s finish this war."


    Fionyx pulsed on her back¡ªready, synced, flames dancing along her shoulder guards.


    The lights around her flickered back on¡ªone more act.


    One more encore.


    Fiona smirked beneath the visor.


    "Time to burn this stage down."


    Then she dashed forward into the chaos¡ªready for her final act.

 Chapter 416 416: Streamer Buff Activated

    Fiona''s eyes snapped open.


    The soft silver glow of her room greeted her, and she sat up with a groan.


    Her body felt sore, but not in the usual way.


    Her mind was foggy but packed with memories.


    Battle after battle. Death after death.


    Sitting across the room, waiting like they''d been there the whole time.


    Loreia, Luna, and Liora.


    Loreia was lounging in a corner chair, arms draped behind her head.


    Luna leaned against the far wall, arms crossed.


    Liora sat nearest the bed, legs crossed, silent and still.


    Loreia grinned the moment Fiona groaned.


    "Well well, look who finally came back from the stage," she said with a teasing lilt.


    "Did you have a good sleep, Divine Streamer?"


    Fiona blinked once, wiped her eyes, and then frowned sharply.


    "Fuck, no," she muttered. "That was not a good sleep at all."


    Loreia snorted. "Ah. That''s how you know it worked."


    Fiona rubbed her forehead, sighing.


    "At first, the enemies were easy. Just random beasts, basic movement patterns."


    "Then it kept ramping up. Smarter attacks. Faster movement. Unreadable combos. I died."


    Luna raised a brow. "Once?"


    Fiona gave her a look. "Multiple times."


    Liora nodded slightly. "It''s expected."


    Fiona groaned and threw her pillow across the bed.


    "Each time I respawned, I had to re-adapt. They changed. They learned."


    "The system... it wasn''t just testing me. It was evolving through me."


    Loreia smirked, stretching.


    "Of course. That''s the point. Virtual death doesn''t mean failure here."


    "It means you''re being reforged."


    Fiona looked at her, exhausted.


    "Reforged physically and mentally, huh?"


    Loreia tapped her temple.


    "Exactly. You''re a Luxoria now."


    "You''re not supposed to come out of a trial feeling clean."


    "You''re supposed to come out mean."


    Fiona leaned forward, breathing in deep. "Well, I''m definitely meaner now."


    Luna finally pushed off the wall, walking forward. "And stronger."


    Liora then spoke. "You held up better than expected."


    Fiona stared. "That almost sounded like a compliment."


    Liora didn''t respond. But Loreia chuckled.


    "It was one. That''s as high as her praise goes."


    Fiona cracked a grin despite herself. "I''ll take it."


    Luna nodded, now standing next to the bed.


    "You passed the first phase. More will come."


    "But now you''re synced. With Fionyx. With us. With Luxoria."


    Fiona exhaled slowly. "Good."


    She looked at all three of them, then grinned.


    "Because I''ve got a stream idea that''ll melt the screen."


    Luna raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh?"


    Loreia leaned forward, suddenly much more attentive.


    "What kind of idea are we talking?"


    Fiona held up a finger, smirking. "Alright, picture this¡ª"


    She lowered her voice, speaking just loud enough for the three of them to hear.


    As she laid it out, Luna''s head tilted slightly, her expression sharpening.


    Loreia''s grin grew steadily more impressed.


    Even Liora glanced toward Fiona with the faintest flicker of curiosity.


    By the time Fiona finished, she leaned back on her elbows, satisfied.


    Loreia whistled. "That''s... intense."


    Luna nodded, her voice cooler but clearly impressed.


    "Risky. But undeniably original."


    Fiona smirked.


    "Exactly. And now that I''ve got this new power?"


    "The synced suit, Fionyx in divine form, full access to Broadcast Domain?"


    She clenched her fist. "I can pull it off."


    Liora, quiet as ever, finally spoke.


    "If you fail, they''ll come for you first."


    Fiona met her eyes without blinking.


    "Then I''ll make sure there''s nothing left for them to come back to."


    Luna smiled. "Let us know when it goes live."


    ---


    Fiona stood atop a crumbled rooftop as red light flickered across the scorched city ruins below.


    Wind swept through broken steel frames and shattered glass.


    This wasn''t a safe zone, not even close.


    But it was perfect.


    Her drones flew up into the air and floated in place.


    Small glowing discs ready to stream.


    Her new streamer suit glowed faintly, with shiny gloves that could project weapons.


    Light boots made for flying and a gold-trimmed visor covering her eyes.


    She inhaled once.


    Then smiled.


    "Alright," she whispered. "Showtime."


    With a flick of her wrist, she started her livestream.


    Fiona waved casually into the drone-cam as the stream connected.


    "Hellooo, chat," she said, her voice light, teasing.


    "Long time no see, huh?"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: FINALLY!!! SHE''S BACK!!!


    @FlameGrid: New outfit?? NEW GEAR??


    @TamerTrash: LOOK AT THAT SUIT??? Is that a FUSION VISOR?


    @MoonByte: Stream queen''s back!!! LET''S GOOOOO


    @CoreBurst: You''ve been gone for weeks. Don''t tease us with just a hello


    ---


    Fiona twirled once on her heel, letting the camera catch every angle of her new look.


    "Oh, you like this?" she said, motioning to her gear.


    "Yeah, full upgrades. New system. Custom-fit for my new status."


    The drone panned behind her, revealing the sprawling wreckage of the ruined city.


    "But we''re not here just to model," Fiona continued, turning serious.


    "You''re probably wondering¡ªwhere am I?"


    She pointed down over the balcony.


    "This, my dear chat, is one of Aurelius''s old research zones."


    "Abandoned after one of their beasts got too wild."


    "A perfect place for a little trial run, wouldn''t you say?"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @SunbringerZ: WAIT WHAT?! YOU''RE IN AURELIUS TERRITORY??


    @WraithFox: Girl, are you insane???


    @TamerTrash: WHY ARE YOU SMILING THIS IS SUICIDE


    @Ashfall: ARE YOU STREAMING A RAID ALONE???


    ---


    Fiona chuckled. "Now, now, I''m not that reckless."


    She leaned forward into the lens.


    "I''m just here to deliver a message."


    A beat of silence passed before she added¡ª


    "From Luxoria Castle."


    The chat exploded.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @CoreBurst: LUXORIA REPRESENT!!


    @InfernaGirl: Is Liora with you?! Is Lord L behind this!?


    @MoonByte: Wait... where is Liora? Is this a coordinated strike?


    ---


    Fiona tilted her head at the mention of Liora, then smirked.


    "Ah, Liora? Not today."


    She lifted her hand, palm glowing faintly.


    "Today, I''ll be the one doing the fighting."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: ...HUH???


    @FlameGrid: HOLD ON. YOU??? YOU DON''T FIGHT.


    @SunbringerZ: GIRL YOU ARE A STREAMER WHAT DO YOU MEAN "I''LL FIGHT"


    @TamerTrash: MA''AM. WE LOVE YOU. BUT PLEASE DON''T DIE ON CAM


    ---


    Fiona gave them a half-laugh, half-smirk. "Aw, I missed you all."


    She turned, visor locking onto movement in the distant rubble.


    The system pinged three inbound signatures¡ªhostile. Big ones.


    "But don''t worry. I''m not the same Fiona you saw last time."


    She raised both arms. Her gauntlets shifted, unfolding sleek projection barrels.


    "Fionyx," she called out.


    A surge of light responded as her beast descended behind her.


    "I''ve changed."


    Her voice lowered, steady and confident.


    "And tonight... you''ll see the new me."


    She stepped off the ledge¡ªand fell.


    The screen flickered with light.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @WraithFox: SHE''S FALLING???


    @MoonByte: OH MY GOD SHE''S ACTUALLY GOING IN


    @CoreBurst: NO BACKUP?? SHE''S FUSING RIGHT IN STREAM???


    @Ashfall: IS THIS A DEBUT RAID STREAM?????


    ---


    Fiona''s voice echoed through the feed.


    "Ladies, gentlemen, and chaos-lovers everywhere¡ªthis isn''t a broadcast."


    The camera caught her mid-air, armor reshaping around her, visor blazing.


    "This is a declaration of war."

 Chapter 417: Press X to Dismantle Mutants

    Fiona stood at the center of the ruined plaza.


    The air trembled.


    Red light flickered around her.


    She raised her hand, visor glowing.


    "Broadcast Domain¡ªactivate."


    A wave of silver and orange light exploded outward.


    The battlefield changed instantly.


    The cracked ground became a glowing arena stage.


    Ruined walls shimmered with digital flames.


    Spotlights formed from thin air, shining on her.


    Music started to play¡ªa slow, heavy beat that pulsed through her boots.


    From the smoke ahead, the enemy arrived.


    A full formation of Brassclades.


    Their heavy steel legs pounded the ground as they moved forward.


    Thick armor gleamed, twin horn drills spinning slowly with tension.


    Behind them, the air shrieked.


    Chimawrens, mutated raptor-like birds, dove from above, wings glowing with eerie light.


    Fiona narrowed her eyes.


    "Alright."


    She reached to her sides.


    Two long weapons formed in her hands: streamblades.


    They were shimmering energy swords, one glowing orange, the other blue.


    "Let''s give ''em a show."


    She dashed forward.


    The music kicked in.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: SHE''S GOING IN


    @TamerTrash: MUTATED BEASTS MIX ?! THIS IS A BOSS RAID!


    @CoreBurst: LOOK AT THOSE BLADES AHHHHH


    @MoonByte: FIONA ISN''T PLAYING ANYMORE


    ---


    The first Brassclade charged her¡ªhorns spinning, hooves smashing concrete.


    Fiona sprinted toward it.


    At the last second, she spun left, sliding under its front legs.


    Her blue streamblade dragged across its underbelly, sparks flying.


    She flipped backward, landing behind it.


    "Too slow, tinhead."


    Another Brassclade turned to face her, drills humming.


    Fiona twirled both blades, then jumped, flipping in the air.


    Her boots activated thrusters, pushing her higher.


    Above the Brassclade, she crossed her blades.


    "Flash Arc!"


    A spinning X-shaped blast fired from her swords mid-air, crashing into the Brassclade''s back.


    Boom.


    It staggered.


    Fiona landed with style, posing on one knee, blades held wide.


    The Chimawrens dove from above.


    Sharp talons aimed at her head.


    Fiona didn''t panic.


    Her gauntlets shifted.


    The streamblades vanished.


    Two long energy whips replaced them, glowing red and gold.


    "Come here, birdies."


    She snapped her right whip in a circle, catching one Chimawren mid-air.


    She spun with the momentum, slamming it into a wall.


    It exploded in pixel light.


    Another swooped at her.


    She jumped, twisting, and used the second whip to wrap its neck.


    She rode it like a hoverboard for three seconds before flipping off.


    "Too easy."


    Two Brassclades flanked her, horns spinning fast.


    Fiona touched her chestplate.


    "Climax Drive¡ªonline."


    Her armor expanded, forming winged boosters and shoulder cannons.


    The ground lit up beneath her feet.


    "Let''s finish this."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @SunbringerZ: SHE JUST CALLED A FINAL MODE


    @WraithFox: SHE''S LITERALLY GLOWING


    ---


    The first Brassclade charged again.


    Fiona lifted both arms.


    BOOOM


    Twin energy beams fired from her shoulder cannons, slamming into its face and stopping it mid-run.


    "Gotcha."


    She dashed forward, sliding under it, and planted a hand on the ground.


    She used her boots to kick upward, launching herself off its belly.


    In the air, she spun and fired both beams downward, blasting the beast into the floor.


    The second Brassclade slammed its hooves¡ªAnchor Slam.


    A shockwave shook the ground.


    Fiona flew sideways from the blast.


    "Alright," she muttered. "Let''s end this clean."


    Her gauntlets reformed into a giant energy bow, the string glowing bright white.


    She pulled it back.


    "Special move¡ªFinal Shot."


    A huge arrow of fire and light formed, whirling with illusion energy and sound.


    She let it go.


    The arrow flew fast¡ªstraight into the Brassclade''s chest.


    It exploded in a pillar of fire and starlight.


    Fiona stood there, breathing hard, smoke rising around her.


    The music faded.


    The lights dimmed.


    The Broadcast Domain ended.


    She lowered her visor.


    Grinning.


    "Stream complete."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: I''M SCREAMINGGGGGG


    @CoreBurst: THAT. WAS. DIVINE.


    @FionyxOnFire: SHE JUST SOLOED A RAID WITH STYLE


    @MoonByte: FIONA ISN''T A STREAMER. SHE''S A LEGEND.


    ---


    Fiona brushed the soot off her gloves.


    Her breathing was steady now, but her grin was wide.


    She looked straight into her leading drone cam and raised an eyebrow.


    "What do you think, chat?"


    She lifted her arms in a mock pose, twisting once and striking a finger-gun stance.


    "I''m amazing, right?"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: YES YOU ARE


    @TamerTrash: THAT WAS A GODDAMN MOVIE


    @MoonByte: STOP MAKING ME SCREAM IN PUBLIC FIONA


    @CoreBurst: I KNEW IT. I KNEW YOU WERE BUILT DIFFERENT


    @SunbringerZ: GIVE THIS WOMAN A SHOW AND A MILITARY RANK


    ---


    Fiona twirled her whip around her finger before dismissing it into digital particles.


    The battlefield was quiet now.


    Only the light breeze through broken walls and the soft buzz of cooling tech remained.


    She laughed softly.


    "I mean, I used to be scared of beasts like that."


    "Now look at me... taking on Brassclades and sky creeps with fireworks and rhythm."


    She held up a victory sign. "And I barely broke a sweat."


    Then she winked.


    "Guess Lord L wasn''t lying when he said I''d become something special."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @MoonByte: "Barely broke a sweat" SHE DODGED AN ENTIRE SIEGE CHARGE IN MID-AIR


    @InfernaGirl: NO BEAST CAN KEEP UP WITH HER NOW


    @FionyxOnFire: FIONA IS THE SHOW


    @TamerTrash: CAN WE GET A REPLAY PACKAGE PLS


    @WraithFox: LUXORIA TOOK A STREAMER AND MADE HER A WAR QUEEN


    ---


    Fiona beamed at the screen.


    "Stick around, chat. This? This was just the warm-up."


    She gave a mock salute toward them.


    Meanwhile, perched atop the ruins of a collapsed tower, two dark-clad enforcers watched the entire scene unfold.


    One adjusted the scope on his gauntlet, eyes tracking Fiona as she walked across the broken street below.


    "So... she really was from Luxoria," he muttered.


    The other clicked his tongue.


    "They actually dared to send her alone."


    "A streamer, no less. To challenge our sector?"


    He narrowed his eyes. "Arrogant."


    The first enforcer grinned. "Master Theron''s already declared it, remember?"


    "Every member of Luxoria Castle is marked."


    The second one''s voice dropped cold. "Death sentence. No mercy."


    Their weapons shimmered quietly in the dusk.


    "She''s strong now," one said.


    "Doesn''t matter," the other replied. "We bring her in¡ªdead or erased."

 Chapter 418: The Floor Is Actually Lava

    Fiona took a slow breath as the glowing ruins around her started to shift.


    Her visor flickered with ambient noise, picking up distant vibrations.


    Heavy. Uneven. Getting closer.


    Fiona straightened, her voice live to the audience once again.


    "Chat..." she said, her tone sharpening.


    "It seems we''ve got... company."


    She slowly turned toward the sound.


    The cracked highway ahead of her split open, metal rebar groaning under pressure.


    Through the smoke marched a mountain of scales and molten steam.


    Its shell glowed like black lava rock, every step cracking the ground beneath it.


    Moltrax.


    And beside it, crawling through the wreckage like a savage nightmare, came something even worse.


    Long arms dragging the floor.


    Misshapen fangs spread in a crooked smile.


    Mutated muscles twitched under stretched skin and armor plating.


    A dripping tail lashed side to side.


    Gorevile.


    Fiona took one step back. Her visor flashed red.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: ...THOSE ARE SOVEREIGN BEASTS


    @CoreBurst: NOPE NOPE NOPE GET OUT OF THERE


    @WraithFox: WHO THE HELL SENT THESE TWO AT ONCE?!?!


    ---


    Fiona lowered her stance slightly, letting the stream stabilize as her armor adjusted to combat mode again.


    Her visor dimmed for a second as she locked onto both incoming beasts.


    "Well, chat," she said with a crooked grin.


    "I guess today''s stream just hit boss raid level."


    She twirled one of her streamblades in her hand, fire rippling off the edge.


    "And apparently, I''m the test subject."


    She cracked her neck.


    "No Liora. No Luna. Just me and Fionyx."


    She raised her voice, and a glowing ring of fire burst behind her.


    "These two aren''t just here to stop me. They''re here to measure me."


    Fiona narrowed her eyes, letting her grin turn feral.


    "So if that''s the case¡ª"


    She pointed her blade forward as Gorevile shrieked and began charging.


    "Then I hope they''re ready."


    Her visor flared, music spiked back into her audio line, and she shouted:


    "Chat, support me. Don''t look away now. This... is my next level."


    Fiona charged forward, both hands gripped around her glowing streamblade.


    The wind whipped past her as her drones flared into full recording mode.


    The battlefield shook.


    Moltrax stomped once, lava pulsing from its magma vents.


    Its massive, dark-red body glowed with molten seams, and heatwaves rippled from its shell.


    It didn''t roar.


    It simply began to advance, slow but unstoppable.


    Beside it, Gorevile didn''t wait.


    The mutated brute let out a harsh growl and charged straight at Fiona.


    His arms spread wide, tail dragging behind.


    Its double-jointed limbs moved too fast for its size, bone-blades popping from its elbows.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: THEY''RE COMING TOGETHER?


    @MoonByte: GOREVILE LOOKS LIKE A DEMON AHHHH


    @TamerTrash: FIONA NO¡ªTHAT THING IS FAST


    @CoreBurst: MOLTRAX IS MELTING THE FLOOR WHAT


    ---


    Fiona ducked low just in time as Gorevile''s arm whipped past her, missing her by inches.


    Its claws tore through a streetlamp like butter.


    She flipped backward and swung her blade upward.


    "Too close!"


    But Gorevile was already twisting.


    Its tail glowed green and dripped with mutagen.


    "Back!" she shouted, boosting away.


    The tail slammed into the ground, melting the stone instantly with a sickening hiss.


    Fiona''s visor flared:


    [Warning: Mutagenic Hazard Detected]


    [Tail Venom: Tissue-corrupting]


    [Avoid contact.]


    "Great," Fiona muttered, sweat running down her neck.


    "I''m dancing with a mutant and a volcano."


    She turned¡ªjust in time to see Moltrax stop moving.


    Its magma vents hissed and began to glow white-hot.


    Her visor pinged again.


    [Magma Vent Eruption Incoming]


    [Recommendation: Aerial Evade¡ªNOW.]


    "Fionyx, up!"


    Her boots fired thrusters and she blasted upward.


    Just as a cone of molten fire exploded from Moltrax''s back.


    The blast incinerated everything in front of it.


    Trees turned to ash. Concrete melted into lava.


    "Okay!" Fiona shouted mid-air.


    "That''s hot! Noted!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @FionyxOnFire: DID HE JUST VOMIT A VOLCANO


    @Ashfall: SHE BARELY ESCAPED


    @WraithFox: THAT FIRE WOULD''VE ONE-SHOTTED HER


    @MoonByte: HER JET BOOSTERS SAVED HER


    ---


    Fiona hovered above, catching her breath.


    "These two aren''t playing," she muttered.


    "Alright, focus. Gorevile''s fast. Hits hard."


    "Gets worse when he''s hurt. Mutagen tail. Bone blades. Intelligence too."


    She turned her gaze to the lumbering Moltrax.


    "Moltrax is a tank. Siege-type. Doesn''t aim up. Vents, plates, slow reaction time."


    Her eyes narrowed.


    "Okay."


    She smirked.


    "Let''s split them."


    Fiona shot to the right.


    She fired a line of streambombs along the ground behind her.


    The blasts kicked up smoke and fire, blocking vision.


    Gorevile roared and jumped through the cloud¡ªexactly as she planned.


    Fiona whirled around midair.


    "Tempo Break Pulse!"


    Her gauntlets fired a massive soundwave burst, synced to a bass beat.


    The force slammed Gorevile out of the air and into the wall of a ruined tower.


    "Stay down!" she barked.


    But he didn''t.


    Gorevile laughed.


    Not like a beast.


    Like a monster enjoying the pain.


    Its muscles twitched and grew bigger.


    Bone spikes pushed further out of its arms.


    Blood ran down its face¡ªbut it kept smiling.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @TamerTrash: WHY IS IT LAUGHING


    @CoreBurst: IT''S GROWING


    @Ashfall: SHE HURT IT AND IT''S GETTING STRONGER??


    @WraithFox: PAIN ASCENSION MODE OH NO


    ---


    Fiona clenched her fists. "So pain makes him worse? Great."


    She turned¡ªbut Moltrax was already stomping forward.


    It slammed both front legs down.


    "Lava Pulse Tremor!"


    The ground under Fiona cracked open.


    Streams of lava burst upward, chasing her shadow.


    Fiona screamed as she dodged left, rolling mid-air, a few cracks of flame catching her boots.


    "Gah¡ª!"


    Her visor blinked red.


    [Footing unstable. Terrain compromised.]


    "Fionyx, anchor mode!"


    Her boots snapped to the edge of a metal platform sticking out of the wreckage.


    She landed hard, panting.


    "Okay," she growled. "Time to stop reacting."


    She raised her arm and activated her next mode.


    [Stream Sync: Combat Broadcast Boost.]


    Music kicked in again¡ªfaster, louder.


    Her armor flared with light.


    "Let''s give the world a real fight."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @FionyxOnFire: SHE''S SHIFTING MODES


    @Ashfall: HERE COMES HER REAL FORM


    @MoonByte: PLEASE END THEM FIONA


    @TamerTrash: BURN THE MUTANT AND THE MOUNTAIN


    ---


    Fiona''s visor locked on both enemies.


    "Round two," she whispered. "Let''s go."


    Then she leapt into the fire.

 Chapter 419 419: Streamer Enters Final Boss Phase

    Fiona spun mid-air, dodging Gorevile''s massive claw by just a hair.


    His tail slammed the ground behind her, sending chunks of concrete flying.


    "Too slow, freak!"


    Her boots flared, launching her up and over him.


    She twisted in the air, landing gracefully on a broken streetlamp.


    She looked at the sky-cam drone floating nearby and grinned behind her visor.


    "Okay, chat! Let''s spice this up!"


    She pulled up a glowing stream panel in front of her.


    She was still dodging a flying shard of molten rock from Moltrax''s last blast.


    "Poll time!" she shouted.


    "Should I:"


    "A) go full Watcher Dance mode."


    "B) call in a Gift of Flames or"


    "C) Show off that giant cannon upgrade I know you''re all dying to see?"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT ¨C POLL ACTIVE]


    @Ashfall: AAAAA THIS IS TOO HYPE


    @MoonByte: DANCE DANCE DANCE


    @TamerTrash: CANNON CANNON


    @CoreBurst: GIFT OF FLAMES I WANNA SEE THE BURN


    @FionyxOnFire: C!!! LAUNCH THAT BIG GUN


    @SunbringerZ: WE NEED THAT STYLE. B OR C.


    ---


    [Poll Results: 39% A | 28% B | 33% C]


    ---


    Fiona laughed. "Watcher Dance wins!"


    She tossed her sword into the air¡ªand it vanished into a stream of sparks.


    Her suit shifted.


    Now sleek, lightweight. Her boots thinner. Gloves sharper.


    Her whole body glowing with rhythm trails and soft starlight.


    Music kicked in again¡ªfast-paced, rhythmic, pulsing in time with her steps.


    "Alright, you wanted a show?"


    She ran straight toward Gorevile.


    Every step of her left behind glowing marks in the shape of musical notes.


    The brute lunged.


    She slid under him, then jumped and flipped over his back.


    Her fingers left streaks of burning light as she moved.


    She struck¡ªonce, twice, a spinning kick right to his face.


    Snap! Snap! Boom!


    "Watcher Step One: Starlight Weave."


    Each hit hit harder than the last. Gorevile stumbled.


    Then she vanished again.


    Behind him.


    "Watcher Step Two: Reverse Flow."


    She spun, her fist glowing orange, and slammed it into his spine.


    Gorevile roared.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: SHE''S DANCING AROUND A MUTANT


    @MoonByte: THIS MODE IS SO PRETTY AND SO DEADLY


    @CoreBurst: THAT COMBO WAS CLEAN


    @FionyxOnFire: HE''S STUMBLING! SHE''S HITTING HIS WEAK SPOTS


    @TamerTrash: SHE''S THE LUXORIA GHOST NOW


    ---


    Then Moltrax moved in.


    The ground cracked as it charged forward with its Siege Borer Charge.


    Its horns glowed red-hot, the ground melting as it ran.


    Fiona turned and skidded to a stop.


    "Alright, big guy¡ªyour turn."


    She raised both arms.


    "Watcher Step Three: Echo Dash."


    She teleported a few meters forward, leaving behind a bright afterimage.


    Moltrax slammed into the fake copy.


    It missed her entirely and crashed into a half-crumbled building instead.


    Fiona laughed.


    "Too slow, Molty!"


    She jumped again, landing on a floating drone mid-air.


    Time for the next move.


    She flicked her fingers toward the camera.


    "Alright, chat. You voted for dance¡ªbut I''m giving you a bonus."


    Her hand opened.


    Gift System: Activated.


    [Gift of the Crimson Stream Accepted]


    [Speed Boost + Heat Resistance + Critical Sync Bonus Activated for 2 Minutes]


    "Thank you, chat!"


    She kicked off the drone and shot toward Gorevile, who was just pulling himself out of the rubble.


    Her fists lit up¡ªflames swirling around them, trailing stars as she flew.


    "Gift Combo¡ªCrimson Rush!"


    She punched him across the face, then followed with a spinning knee.


    She then dropped a flaming dropkick right into his gut.


    He flew back.


    Not dead. But hurting.


    She landed, crouched, glowing.


    "Next one''s for you, Moltrax."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @SunbringerZ: I''M SCREAMING


    @MoonByte: SHE''S TOO STRONG NOW


    @TamerTrash: THAT GIFT BUFF WENT CRAZY


    @CoreBurst: GOREVILE''S ACTUALLY STAGGERED


    @Ashfall: MOLTRAX BETTER WATCH OUT


    ---


    Fiona looked at both beasts now.


    Each one was wounded, shaken, and angrier than ever.


    She smirked.


    "Let''s finish the second act."


    But then, a pulse in the air.


    Two new figures fell from the sky, landing with twin impacts beside the massive Sovereign beasts.


    One to Gorevile''s left. One to Moltrax''s right.


    They didn''t wear armor like standard tamers.


    They wore sleek black enforcer suits, etched with the Aurelius family crest.


    One was lean and tall with a long spear crackling with energy.


    The other was bulky, visor dark red, holding a heavy greatblade forged from smelted beast bone.


    Fiona took a step back, frowning behind her visor.


    "Chat... uh..."


    She raised her arm slightly, letting the camera zoom.


    "Damn. Looks like the enforcers just joined the party."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: WAIT WHAT?!


    @MoonByte: OH NO¡ªREAL AURELIUS ENFORCERS


    @TamerTrash: THEY''RE NOT JUST BEASTS ANYMORE


    @FionyxOnFire: THOSE UNIFORMS... THEY''RE HIGH CLEARANCE


    @CoreBurst: THEY''RE STANDING WITH GOREVILE AND MOLTRAX??


    ---


    The tall one beside Gorevile stepped forward, his spear gleaming.


    "You trespass into restricted Aurelius space," he said coldly.


    "You stream. You destroy. You show off."


    His eyes narrowed behind his visor.


    "And now... you''ll pay for it."


    The other one cracked his neck and slammed the flat of his greatblade into the ground.


    "You beat our beasts," he growled.


    "You humiliated our family. And now we''ve got orders."


    The tall one raised a hand.


    "Master Theron has officially marked every member of Luxoria Castle for death."


    "You," the brute added, pointing at Fiona.


    "Are the first head we''ll collect."


    Fiona''s jaw tightened.


    She kept her stance steady, breathing slow.


    "Wow. You guys really know how to ruin a good finale."


    She rolled her shoulders.


    "I was gonna end the stream with something flashy."


    The one with the spear spun his weapon.


    "Don''t worry. We''ll give them something to see."


    The brute stepped forward, standing next to Moltrax like it was his pet.


    "You think your little dance show makes you strong?"


    He pointed his blade. "You''re not a warrior. You''re just a performer."


    Fiona smirked, stepping forward.


    "Wrong."


    Her visor flashed. Fionyx shifted behind her, armor plating reforming.


    "I''m both."


    She raised her arms, music swelling again.


    "And this third act? It''s called: Curtain Call."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: SHE''S NOT BACKING DOWN


    @MoonByte: OH GOD THEY SAID THERON SENT THEM


    @WraithFox: SHE''S OUTNUMBERED¡ªAND SHE''S STILL SMILING


    @TamerTrash: CURTAIN CALL? SHE''S GOING FOR A FINAL SHOWDOWN?!


    @CoreBurst: STREAM NEVER ENDS UNTIL SHE SAYS IT DOES


    ---


    Fiona''s voice dropped to a whisper.


    "Alright, chat... Let''s make this one unforgettable."


    Then she leapt... straight into round three.

 Chapter 420 420: Dance Battle?

    Fiona''s visor pinged a warning.


    Her whole suit trembled with the surge of power building in front of her.


    The tall spear-wielding enforcer stepped up beside Gorevile.


    His hands sparked with thin light.


    The brute with the beastbone blade raised his weapon.


    Moltrax let out a low, grumbling growl, steam pouring from its vents.


    They didn''t speak.


    They just moved.


    Both enforcers reached for their beasts¡ª


    And fused.


    Light exploded from the tall one''s body, twisting into Gorevile''s side.


    In seconds, his armor changed.


    His arms thickened, and one eye glowed with Gorevile''s signature warped grin.


    Bone-like blades grew from his elbows.


    His voice became two-in-one.


    The brute let out a battle cry as molten lines surged from Moltrax into his armor.


    His suit darkened, glowing red-hot at the seams.


    His arms pulsed like boulders, and magma flowed down his back like a lavafall.


    Fiona stepped back once.


    "Alright," she muttered, raising both hands slowly.


    "Chat..."


    She looked straight at the main drone.


    "Looks like we''re dancing with fused enforcers now."


    She turned her visor slightly, letting the light catch her smirk.


    "Which means..."


    She tapped her wrist.


    A music menu popped open.


    "Time for a song."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: THEY FUSED¡ªOH MY GOD THEY FUSED


    @MoonByte: THIS IS BAD THIS IS BAD


    @CoreBurst: MOLTRAX ENFORCER FORM LOOKS LIKE A TANK


    @FionyxOnFire: BRO LOOK AT GOREVILE''S FUSED ARM


    @TamerTrash: FIONA??? DON''T YOU DARE JUST DANCE


    ---


    Fiona scrolled.


    Found the right one.


    "Luxoria Pulse ¨C Remix 3."


    She hit play.


    A loud beat kicked in¡ªfast, bright, filled with energy.


    Her whole suit pulsed with the rhythm.


    "Chat!" she shouted, voice rising with the beat.


    "You with me?!"


    "Cheer me on! Join me! Dance!"


    Her visor glowed.


    Broadcast Domain: Stage Mode ¨C Re-Activated.


    A spotlight flared above her.


    Lights shimmered on broken ruins like stage floors.


    Sound boomed across the battlefield.


    The fused Gorevile-enforcer shot forward, elbow blades flashing.


    Fiona flipped sideways, his blade barely missing her waist.


    She slid across the ground, spun, and pointed two fingers toward him.


    "Watcher Combo: Step One!"


    Her gloves lit up and fired starline daggers.


    Tiny bursts of light exploded on contact.


    They struck his side.


    Not enough to break his armor, but it made him stumble.


    The Moltrax-fused brute stomped forward.


    He dragged a molten greatblade across the floor.


    Fiona jumped.


    "Watcher Step Two!"


    She kicked off a glowing drone midair, twisting as she spun above the brute.


    His swing missed, crashing into the ground in a small shockwave of lava.


    "Too slow!"


    She landed on a broken light pole like a dancer on a spotlight.


    "Come on chat! I wanna hear you!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: SHE''S REALLY DOING IT¡ªSHE''S FIGHTING TO THE BEAT


    @MoonByte: THAT SONG HITS HARD


    @TamerTrash: WATCHER COMBO GOING STRONG


    @CoreBurst: SHE''S SMACKING THEM WITH STYLE


    @FionyxOnFire: I''M CLAPPING I''M CHEERING I''M IN


    ---


    Fiona''s visor scanned both fused targets.


    "Gorevile guy''s fast, but his core is exposed when he lifts his left elbow."


    "Moltrax guy¡ªway slower, but he''s got a back vent overheating."


    She grinned.


    "Perfect."


    "Fionyx¡ªblades, now!"


    Her gauntlets shifted again, forming long twin energy streamblades in a flash.


    She dashed forward¡ªmusic building.


    "Watcher Step Three: Dual Slash!"


    She sliced past the Gorevile-fused enforcer in a glowing streak.


    She hit his side and jumped back just in time to dodge his blade swipe.


    Then she spun again¡ªstraight toward the Moltrax brute.


    He raised his molten sword.


    Fiona skidded under it, rolled, then thrust both blades into his left vent.


    Steam exploded.


    "Boom!" she shouted.


    The brute growled, stepping back.


    Not beaten.


    But hurt.


    She flipped backward, panting, blades up.


    "Alright, chat. They''re not down yet¡ª"


    She twirled one blade over her shoulder.


    "Let''s continue to dance."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: SHE''S STILL GOING


    @MoonByte: I''M DANCING IN MY ROOM RIGHT NOW


    @FionyxOnFire: FIONA JUST WON''T STOP


    @TamerTrash: THEY''RE FUSED. THEY''RE ANGRY. SHE''S STILL GRINNING??


    ---


    Her suit, Fionyx, pulsed, glowing brighter.


    His divine core reacted to attention.


    Every cheer. Every viewer. Every word of support was energy.


    The more the chat erupted?


    The stronger Fiona became.


    Down on the ground, the tall enforcer beside Gorevile finally growled, his body twitching with rage.


    "You think this is a joke? A performance?"


    He stomped forward, spear glowing with sharp red light.


    "You mock us. You mock the Aurelius family!"


    Gorevile''s influence surged in his body.


    His arm twisted, growing jagged bone plating.


    His hand was now a massive claw of fused flesh and steel.


    "I''ll break your stage!"


    He lunged.


    "Predator Fang Rush!"


    He rushed across the battlefield.


    Faster than before, a blur of motion with his claws striking low and high.


    Fiona danced around him, her blades parrying the first hit.


    She dodged the second, sliding beneath the third.


    "Close!" she laughed.


    "But not enough!"


    He roared and slammed both arms down.


    Bone shards exploded outward in all directions.


    "Bone Shard Burst!"


    Fiona leapt up just in time, shards slashing through the air below.


    Her boots flared, launching her skyward.


    She spun midair and grinned.


    "Chat, he''s mad~!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: BRO''S LOSING IT


    @CoreBurst: SHARD BURST MISSED


    @MoonByte: FIONA''S TOO FAST


    @FionyxOnFire: SHE''S DODGING WITH STYLE


    ---


    Then came the second enforcer.


    The one fused with Moltrax stomped forward, his molten greatblade dragging glowing lava trails.


    "You shouldn''t have come here."


    He raised his hand.


    "Lava Pulse Tremor!"


    He slammed the blade into the ground.


    The earth exploded and a wave of molten cracks spread in all directions.


    "Fionyx¡ªlift!"


    Fiona shot upward again, spinning as flame rushed beneath her.


    "Your fire''s not hot enough!"


    The brute looked up and pointed.


    "Then burn properly."


    "Furnace Overflow¡ªFull Pressure!"


    Molten fire erupted from vents on his arms and back.


    He sent scalding shockwaves in all directions.


    Fiona winced.


    Heat washed over her.


    But she gritted her teeth and twisted midair.


    "I see you''re both serious now."


    She landed again, blades still burning, her armor glowing brighter than ever.


    "Then I guess it''s my turn to turn it up."

 Chapter 421: Chat Decides Fate

    Fiona smirked, boots skidding across a glowing rooftop as she raised both hands high.


    "Fionyx¡ªDivine Performance Authority. Let''s end this act."


    A flash of silver, orange, and gold light burst from her armor.


    The world changed again.


    The battlefield wasn''t ruins anymore.


    It was a stage.


    Fireworks lit the sky. Rhythm lines pulsed across the ground.


    Spotlights fell on Fiona like she was center stage at a galactic concert.


    Her visor glowed. "Welcome to the final scene."


    The fused enforcers growled in sync.


    "You think you can win with lights and music?" the Moltrax brute shouted.


    The Gorevile enforcer pointed his claw.


    "You''re just noise. Let''s show you real pain."


    Gorevile''s fused body twitched.


    The enforcer''s arms bulged with new bone plates.


    His claws extended, his spine rippled with exposed growths.


    "Pain Ascension Mode," he said darkly. "No holding back."


    He charged.


    Fiona didn''t flinch.


    She raised her streamblades, letting them hum with music.


    "Let''s dance."


    The enforcer slammed a mutated fist down.


    He shook the ground, sending spikes of bone toward her feet.


    Fiona twirled, flipping over the spikes and slicing through them with one clean arc.


    She leapt, flipped mid-air, and landed behind him.


    "Too slow again."


    He roared, spinning with a claw slash.


    But she vanished in a flicker of light.


    Echo Step.


    Then she reappeared above him.


    "Final Verse: Dancer''s Fall!"


    She kicked down with both feet, landing hard on his back.


    She dropped him face-first into the ground.


    The Moltrax-fused brute wasn''t standing still.


    He roared, magma bursting from his shoulders.


    "Furnace Overflow!"


    The air boiled.


    Flames poured from his vents.


    He raised his sword.


    "Siege Borer Charge!"


    He launched forward like a flaming train.


    Fiona dodged left¡ªbarely escaping the impact.


    But her stage remained active. The ground under her feet lit up.


    She landed smoothly.


    Her gauntlets reformed.


    "Let''s try this gift," she said, grinning.


    Her hands pulled two glowing orbs from her hips.


    Flame Baton ¨C Split Style.


    She spun them like a dancer, each twirl lighting up the stage.


    Then she flicked them forward.


    Each baton flew in wide arcs before smacking into both enforcers'' chests.


    BOOM.


    Mini-explosions of fire and starlight.


    Both enforcers staggered.


    Gorevile''s fused one coughed blood.


    Moltrax''s brute dropped to one knee.


    Still not down.


    They shouted at the same time.


    "We are Aurelius! We will not fall!"


    "Then," Fiona said, standing tall, visor blinding with light.


    "I''ll make sure you don''t get back up."


    Her suit blazed with full Divine Power.


    She tapped her visor.


    "Crowd Sync¡ªPeak Mode."


    [System Sync: 100%]


    [Combat Output: Overdrive Active]


    [Divine Authority ¨C Max Display Level]


    The crowd watching from Luxoria app screamed in the chat.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: SHE HIT 100%


    @MoonByte: OH MY GOD SHE''S GLOWING


    @CoreBurst: FINAL FORM UNLOCKED


    @TamerTrash: THAT WAS A FREAKING DANCE MOVE EXPLOSION


    @FionyxOnFire: FUSION BOYS ARE DONE


    ---


    Fiona moved.


    Faster than either enforcer could follow.


    She blinked between spots¡ªslashing, dodging, spinning.


    A knee to Gorevile''s jaw.


    A backflip kick into Moltrax''s chest.


    Then she grabbed their shoulders with one hand each, slamming them into the ground with a flaming twirl.


    They struggled.


    But she raised her voice over the sound of crackling fire.


    "Final Performance Lock¡ªExecute."


    Chains of rhythm and light wrapped tightly around the two Aurelius enforcers.


    The glowing sigils pulsed in time with Fiona''s heartbeat.


    The two men lay on their knees, shoulders heaving, eyes flickering between rage and disbelief.


    Their fused beast power was burned out, their pride cracked.


    Fiona stood between them, both streamblades held out wide.


    Her visor tilted toward her leading drone.


    "Alright, chat," she said calmly.


    The light from her suit dimmed slightly.


    "What do you think we should do with them?"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: POLL TIME AGAIN??


    @CoreBurst: THEY TRIED TO KILL HER


    @TamerTrash: THEY DESERVE PAYBACK


    @MoonByte: oooo this is intense


    @FionyxOnFire: LET''S GO FIONA JUSTICE MODE


    ---


    Fiona lifted one hand, her gauntlet pulsing.


    "Okay, I''m giving you three choices."


    "Option A: Execute them. Make a statement."


    "Option B: Release them. Show them what mercy from Luxoria looks like."


    "Option C: Up to you. You tell me your custom answers and I''ll pick the wildest one."


    She winked behind the visor.


    "Oh¡ªand if any of you are watching from Aurelius command..."


    She looked directly into the drone camera.


    "You can vote too. I''m sure your opinion matters. A little."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE POLL ¨C ACTIVE]


    [A ¨C Execute]


    [B ¨C Release]


    [C ¨C Up to You (custom comment)]


    ---


    The chat flooded.


    @Ashfall: A. THEY DESERVE TO FEAR LUXORIA


    @CoreBurst: C ¨C make them stream their defeat to their bosses


    @MoonByte: C ¨C tie them up and send them back with glitter


    @TamerTrash: A. END THEM


    @FionyxOnFire: B. LET THEM CRAWL AWAY IN SHAME


    @WraithFox: C ¨C tattoo "FIONA WON" on their helmets


    ---


    Fiona laughed.


    "You people are terrifying."


    She walked slowly in front of the two enforcers, letting her streamblades flicker off.


    The tall one growled, still trying to fight the rhythm chains.


    "You... think this makes you strong?"


    "I think it makes me smart," Fiona said.


    "You fused with Sovereign beasts, tried to murder me, and got taken down by a ''performer.''"


    She crouched down to meet his eye.


    "Face it. You lost."


    The brute enforcer tried to move but winced, his body burning with internal heat backlash.


    "You... will regret sparing us," he hissed.


    Fiona tilted her head. "Oh, I haven''t decided anything yet."


    She stood, pulling up the final poll count.


    ---


    [LIVE POLL RESULTS]


    [33% ¨C Execute]


    [33% ¨C Release]


    [34% ¨C C (Custom vote wins)]


    ---


    "Wow," Fiona said with a smirk. "To think the winner... was chaos."


    She scrolled the glowing chat window floating beside her.


    "Alright chat¡ªlet''s see what madness you''ve cooked up."


    ---


    Comments flew past:


    @CoreBurst: Pick me pick me!! I said to make them confess live!!


    @MoonByte: Put party hats on them and make them say ''Fiona is queen''


    @TamerTrash: Tie them to Moltrax and send them home like that


    @Ashfall: Have them deliver a message with glitter and regret


    ---


    Fiona laughed.


    "Ooooh what do we have here?"

 Chapter 422: From Dance Moves to Data Dumps

    Fiona scrolled through the chaotic list of custom poll votes, still grinning.


    Until one quiet comment stood out in sharp contrast:


    ---


    @LunaLuxoria: Get their information. Reveal it to the public.


    ---


    Her smirk widened. "Oho... now we''re talking."


    She tapped the comment and magnified it on the screen.


    "Look at this one, chat. Direct from a familiar name¡ª@LunaLuxoria."


    She winked toward the camera. "Guess who''s watching?"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: WAIT¡ªLUNA''S IN THE CHAT?


    @MoonByte: OF COURSE SHE IS


    @TamerTrash: I KNEW IT. SHE''S ALWAYS THREE STEPS AHEAD


    @CoreBurst: WELL IF LUNA SAID IT...


    @FionyxOnFire: OMG THIS IS GONNA BE SO GOOD


    ---


    Fiona turned to the two kneeling, still-bound enforcers.


    "Well, I do like that idea," she said. "But..."


    She paced a few steps, her boots clicking lightly against the cracked floor.


    "There''s just one problem. These guys?"


    "Tight lips. Real trained. Real loyal."


    One of the enforcers laughed bitterly through clenched teeth.


    "You can kill us. You can chain us. You''ll get nothing."


    The other nodded, blood on his lip.


    "We''d rather die than betray Aurelius."


    Fiona tapped her chin. "See what I mean?"


    But then a quiet, familiar voice came through her earfeed.


    "Fiona."


    She blinked. "Luna?"


    "Don''t forget what Lord Lucius gave you," Luna said.


    "Your beast isn''t just fire and flash. He''s upgraded now."


    "Full Divine-tier. Interface linked."


    "Streamer gear''s not your only weapon anymore."


    Fiona''s eyes lit up.


    "Oooh! Right! I totally forgot!"


    She turned toward the camera.


    "Chat¡ªI have new toys. Wanna see them?"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @MoonByte: YES YES YES YES


    @Ashfall: USE THE NEW TECH


    @FionyxOnFire: DO IT DO IT DO ITTTTT


    ---


    "Fionyx," Fiona said with a grin. "Do what she said."


    Her chestplate pulsed once.


    The ring on her back hummed with energy.


    From both of her gauntlets, streams of orange liquid metal poured out.


    They stretched through the air like tentacles.


    They hovered above the two enforcers'' heads, then suddenly snapped downward.


    The enforcers screamed as the metal wrapped tightly around their heads.


    They locked in place like living helmets.


    The glow spread, tiny lines moved through the plates like data pulses.


    Fionyx''s voice echoed in Fiona''s helmet:


    "Memory extraction initializing. Mind resistance: high."


    "Deploying rhythm sync override."


    The helmets shimmered¡ªthen hissed.


    Both enforcers froze.


    Fiona stepped closer, waving a hand in front of one of their blank, glowing visors.


    No reaction.


    She looked back at the camera drone and pointed to the glowing helmets.


    "Chat... that sound you just heard?"


    She paused for dramatic effect.


    "That was the sound of a full memory dump."


    She turned toward both enforcers.


    Their eyes were wide, frozen in place, pupils faintly glowing under the influence of Fionyx''s override.


    "Not only did we get their memories¡ª"


    She smiled.


    "¡ªthey''re already brainwashed and synced. Fionyx has them under control now."


    She flicked her hand and pulled up a new holographic stream panel.


    "Which means... they''ll do whatever I say."


    She looked straight into the drone lens.


    "So..."


    She raised her hands.


    "Chat! Who wants me to make them spill everything?"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: YESSSSS MAKE THEM SING


    @TamerTrash: GET THEM TO EXPOSE THEIR VAULTS


    @MoonByte: I WANT A FULL CONFESSION ON RECORD


    @CoreBurst: FIONA YOU HAVE TO ASK ABOUT THERON


    @FionyxOnFire: MAKE THEM SAY ''LUXORIA FOREVER'' FIRST


    ---


    Fiona laughed.


    "Oh, this is going to be fun."


    She crouched down between them.


    "Okay boys," she said cheerfully, tapping both helmets.


    "Let''s start with the names of your command team. Real names. Titles. Locations."


    The helmets pulsed again.


    Then the enforcers opened their mouths.


    And began to speak.


    ---


    Inside the Aurelius Command Center, a dark metallic room flickered with red emergency lights.


    Panic hummed beneath the silence as a live feed stuttered on one of the main monitors.


    It showed the faces of the two top enforcers that was bound by Fiona


    Across the room stood Theron , his arms crossed, jaw clenched so tight his temple twitched.


    He watched as one of the enforcers began calmly listing vault coordinates, security phrases, and top personnel schedules.


    Live. On stream.


    Theron''s voice was cold.


    "Override them. Now."


    One tech officer quickly typed on a glowing panel.


    "Trying, Commander."


    A second officer beside him paled. "Sir... the neural connection¡ª"


    "It''s cut."


    Theron turned slowly.


    "What?"


    "It''s not just blocked. It''s been disassembled."


    "Their cortex chips aren''t responding. Like... they were erased."


    Another officer stammered, "The chip embedded, Command Override Protocol, is inactive."


    Theron''s voice sharpened.


    "That''s impossible. I hand-checked the neural kill switch myself."


    A senior advisor stepped forward cautiously.


    "Sir... the feed confirmed it. They''re under Luxoria control."


    Someone else muttered under their breath, "And they were our top enforcers..."


    Theron turned toward the screen again.


    One enforcer was now revealing test logs of Moltrax''s failed fusion batches.


    The other had just said, "Gorevile''s vault underwent emergency lock last cycle."


    "Containment breach covered up by vault security head, Gresh Voln."


    Theron''s face twisted.


    "Fuck."


    He slammed his fist into the metal desk.


    The entire console cracked beneath the blow.


    "Send. All. Units."


    The room fell silent.


    Theron didn''t yell. His voice was low, but absolute.


    "Everyone in a 100-kilometer radius. Every hunter. Every drone. Every damn beast."


    "Lock that sector down."


    The senior advisor hesitated.


    "Sir... We''ve never mobilized this many forces for one person."


    "She''s not a person anymore," Theron snapped.


    "She''s Luxoria''s spear."


    "And if we don''t erase her now, the world''s going to think we''re bleeding."


    A younger soldier in the corner looked up.


    "Sir, do you want us to issue an order to terminate the enforcers remotely?"


    "If we locate their beacons¡ª"


    Theron cut him off. "No. Don''t waste time. I''m going myself."


    The room tensed.


    "Y-you''re deploying personally, Commander?"


    Theron pulled on his armored gauntlet, his crimson eyes glowing with a quiet storm.


    "She just tore down my men."


    "She just broadcast secrets we''ve kept hidden for a decade."


    "She just spat in the face of Aurelius'' control¡ª"


    He turned to face them all.


    "¡ªand I''m going to make her regret breathing."


    "Suit me up."


    "And ready the Execution Core."

 Chapter 423: Fionyx: Activates Brain Blender

    Fiona stood calmly between the kneeling enforcers.


    The rhythm-chains pulsed with glowing light around their arms and necks.


    Her visor gleamed, her face lit by the streaming holograms.


    "Alright boys, let''s keep the music going."


    She turned slightly, her drone camera hovering in close.


    "Chat... you heard the surface-level stuff."


    "Vault codes. Beast test logs. But what I really want..."


    She leaned down between the two enforcers.


    "...is the truth behind Aurelius."


    She snapped her fingers. The helmets pulsed again.


    "Tell me what your family''s really after."


    The left enforcer''s head twitched.


    Then he began to speak¡ªslowly, monotone.


    "Primary objective: restructure dominance hierarchy across regions through beast integration."


    Fiona raised an eyebrow. "Integration?"


    The right enforcer added, still blank-eyed.


    "Humanoid beast project."


    "Forced crossbreeding of mutant beast cores with genetically selected humans."


    "Goal: create a new species of loyal bio-warriors."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: WHAT


    @MoonByte: THEY''RE MAKING HUMAN-BEAST FUSIONS???


    @CoreBurst: THIS IS INSANE


    @TamerTrash: AURELIUS IS BREEDING BEAST SLAVES??


    @FionyxOnFire: THEY''RE CREATING A NEW RACE JUST TO BE BELOW THEM


    ---


    Fiona''s smile faded just a little.


    She stepped closer.


    "Say that again. Slowly."


    The first enforcer obeyed.


    "Aurelius Vault 5 ¨C Project name: Hybrid Order."


    "Goal: to develop controllable humanoid-beast hybrids."


    "Sub-species designed to possess limited intelligence, high obedience."


    "Status: six subjects survived. One escaped."


    Fiona froze.


    "One escaped?"


    "Yes. Female. Tagged as failure. Last tracked¡ªSector E."


    The second enforcer continued.


    "All test subjects classified as below human."


    "Internal protocol refers to them as ''sub-line class.''"


    Fiona''s hands tightened into fists.


    "Let me get this straight."


    She looked up at the camera.


    "Aurelius is experimenting on humans. Mutating them."


    "Turning them into beast hybrids. Then ranking them below human beings."


    She turned back to the enforcers.


    "And your job was to hunt these hybrids if they tried to escape?"


    "Affirmative."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @MoonByte: This is worse than anything we''ve heard


    @Ashfall: They''re playing god. And executioner.


    @TamerTrash: We need to find the escaped one


    @CoreBurst: So if Luxoria hadn''t interfered... this would''ve been hidden


    @WraithFox: THEY THINK THEY''RE GODS. MAKING A NEW LOW CLASS.


    ---


    Fiona exhaled, stepping away from them slowly.


    She faced the stream again.


    "So now we know."


    She lifted her hand and pointed toward the enforcers.


    "They called us rebels. They called us monsters."


    She gestured to herself.


    "They called me a performer pretending to be a warrior."


    She raised her voice.


    "But they are building slaves. Beast-hybrids with no rights."


    "Lives designed only to serve."


    She turned, glaring into the camera.


    "If you''re from Aurelius and you''re watching this..."


    She paused.


    "...You just lost your silence."


    She turned back to the enforcers.


    "Now tell me where the escaped one went."


    The helmets shimmered.


    "Last ping¡ªDistrict E... no further movement tracked."


    Fiona nodded.


    "Then that''s where I''m going next."


    She faced the camera, eyes fierce.


    "Luxoria doesn''t just fight for strength."


    She raised her blade.


    "We fight for the ones you buried."


    The words echoed across the battlefield, carried by the livestream into every corner of the Luxoria Castle app.


    "And now..."


    She turned toward the enforcers.


    "...it''s time to end you two with a proper public execution."


    She stepped forward, eyes locked on the camera drone.


    "Not out of hate."


    "Not out of rage."


    "But because the world needs to see we''re not afraid of Aurelius."


    "We''re not scared of your labs. Your beasts. Your rankings. Your family name."


    She crouched slightly, blades angled.


    "We are Luxoria."


    "And if you come at us again..."


    She pressed a button on her gauntlet.


    Fionyx responded immediately.


    Energy flared as two glowing execution markers locked onto the enforcers'' chests.


    "...you won''t walk away."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: SHE''S REALLY DOING IT


    @MoonByte: THIS IS THE MESSAGE THE WORLD NEEDED


    @CoreBurst: EXECUTION IN 3...2...1


    @TamerTrash: THIS IS FOR ALL THE HYBRIDS THEY MADE


    @FionyxOnFire: SEND A MESSAGE THEY''LL NEVER ERASE


    ---


    Fiona looked one last time toward the feed.


    "Cut the lights."


    The stage darkened¡ªexcept for the glow of her blades.


    Then she stepped forward.


    The stream went silent.


    The screen pulsed white¡ª


    And the execution began.


    ---


    High above the clouds, Theron Aurelius flew at full speed.


    The thrusters on his back blazed with controlled rage, smoke trailing behind him.


    His jaw was locked tight, fists clenched.


    The internal screen still showed Fiona''s stream.


    "Damn it," he growled.


    Another alert pinged.


    Aurelius Internal Security Breach Level 3: Project Hybrid Order Compromised.


    He didn''t blink.


    "She exposed it."


    His voice rose.


    "One girl, one Luxoria brat, just leaked top-tier classified experiments in front of half the world."


    He slammed his armored fist into his own dashboard mid-flight.


    "She executed my enforcers on stream. She''s turning us into a joke."


    Theron''s aura flared. "Luxoria..."


    He growled low.


    "...I''m going to erase your name from the map."


    He accelerated even harder, pushing his suit''s boosters to the redline.


    But then something streaked past him.


    A sharp blast of silver light cut across the sky¡ªjust ahead of him.


    His eyes narrowed.


    "What¡ª?"


    Another shot. This one aimed directly at his left wing booster.


    Theron twisted hard, rolling midair to avoid it.


    The beam grazed past, clipping part of his shoulder armor.


    He stabilized, skidding sideways through the clouds.


    "Who''s there?!"


    And then¡ª


    She appeared.


    No words. Just that cold, sharp gaze.


    Theron''s frown deepened. "You."


    Her silver and white suit shimmered with faint heat from Leon''s internal power.


    Her weapon wasn''t drawn. Yet.


    She floated just ten meters away, her posture steady, calm.


    Theron narrowed his eyes.


    "So they sent you. The Executioner."


    Liora''s voice cut through the wind like steel.


    "No one sent me."


    She raised her hand.


    "I came to stop you."


    Theron''s lips twitched with dark amusement. "You think you can stop me?"


    "You''re too late."


    He gestured toward his screen. "Your little streamer just declared war."


    "She exposed Vault 5. She killed my top agents. She hacked military-grade fusion."


    "And I''m going to make her disappear before she finishes the next scene."


    Liora didn''t move.


    "She doesn''t need to finish the scene," she said.


    "She already won the audience."


    Theron''s smile dropped.


    "You dare talk to me about audience?"


    His body glowed with red light as energy surged from his armor.


    "I''ve fought Sovereigns in the mist, bled through siege trials, crushed rebel clans by hand¡ª"


    "And you want to delay me with words?"


    Liora''s eyes stayed cold.


    "I came to fight."


    She lowered her arm, taking a stance.


    "I won''t let you reach her."


    Theron smirked. "Then you''ll fall right here."


    They hovered in silence for one breath.


    Then they launched forward at the same time...

 Chapter 424: Surround Her!

    Theron Aurelius hovered in the air, his armor glowing with rage.


    He stared down at the lone figure standing atop a shattered bridge: Liora Luxoria.


    Below them, dozens of Aurelius soldiers marched forward.


    Each one already fused with mid-tier Sovereign beasts.


    Gorevile, Gravernox, and Moltrax.


    Though not as powerful as the originals, they were still dangerous.


    Each soldier had claws, drills, thickened bone plating, or molten armor infused into their bodies.


    Glowing horns. Mutated limbs. Aura that screamed controlled violence.


    A miniature battalion of monsters.


    Theron raised one gauntleted hand, voice sharp and precise.


    "Strike formation. Fan out. Target Liora Luxoria. Do not hold back."


    He lowered his hand.


    "Break her."


    The army roared in unison.


    Then charged.


    Liora didn''t move.


    She simply let out a breath.


    Her silver gauntlets expanded.


    Twin light cannons formed across her arms.


    Glowing silver flames rose from the ground around her.


    She spoke calmly to herself.


    "Fifty-two. Mid-tier fusions. Spread formation. Equal pressure from both flanks."


    Her eyes narrowed.


    "Not enough."


    The first wave reached her.


    Four soldiers with Gravernox traits.


    Thick armored bodies, tusk-plated fists, and heavy charge auras.


    They rushed together like a stampede.


    "Stonecrush Blitz!" one shouted.


    They leapt as a unit, trying to slam her under their combined weight.


    Liora disappeared.


    A blink.


    Then¡ª


    Boom.


    She reappeared above them, both arm cannons aimed downward.


    "Leon Style One: Twin Lance Collapse."


    Two beams of burning silver light fired straight down.


    The ground shattered.


    The four Gravernox-fused soldiers were launched backward.


    They were unconscious before they landed.


    Liora landed lightly, smoke rising around her.


    "Next."


    Ten more surrounded her.


    This time all Gorevile-based.


    Their arms elongated with retractable blades, their eyes glowing with red aggression.


    They circled fast, slashing from all sides.


    One came in screaming.


    "Flesh Hook Spiral!" His elbow blades spun like drills.


    Liora ducked under his strike, grabbed his wrist, and twisted hard, breaking it.


    Then, with one fluid step, she spun and kicked two others in the head.


    Another tried to grab her from behind.


    She didn''t even look.


    "Leon¡ªCounter Pulse."


    A shockwave erupted from her suit, launching everyone within five meters into the air.


    She stepped forward, unfazed.


    In the air, Theron watched with a growing frown.


    "Twelve down in under thirty seconds," he muttered.


    "She hasn''t taken a single hit."


    He opened a private line.


    "All Moltrax units¡ªfire simultaneously. Don''t let her breathe."


    On the ground, Moltrax-fused troopers stomped forward.


    Steam rose from their armor, backs lined with mini-vents and magma triggers.


    They raised their arms in sync.


    "Vent Blast¡ªArc Formation!"


    Streams of molten fire shot toward Liora from eight directions, the heat enough to melt solid stone.


    Liora crouched.


    "Leon¡ªFlashstep Guard Form."


    Her body blurred¡ªleaping between molten arcs with impossible speed.


    Then she rose high into the air.


    The soldiers looked up.


    She aimed both cannons down again.


    "Leon Style Two¡ªRadiant Burn Line."


    A massive silver beam carved across the field, igniting every vent-fused enemy in a single sweeping arc.


    More fell.


    Smoke rose.


    Theron clenched his jaw.


    He activated his personal combat channel.


    "All remaining units¡ªgroup tactics. Use Beastlock Strategy Gamma."


    The field shimmered as the remaining soldiers formed a shifting triangle.


    They were rotating sides as they advanced.


    One Moltrax unit provided cover fire.


    Two Gorevile types flanked with speed.


    Three Gravernox tanks blocked the front.


    Theron hovered above, voice cold.


    "Now push her."


    Liora didn''t blink.


    She raised her arms.


    Metal shifted, locking into a new position. Her palms split open.


    Cannon ports expanded, glowing with internal flame.


    She muttered one word: "Engaged."


    With that, Leon''s silver glow exploded behind her.


    Leon War Sync ¨C Cannon Form: Activated.


    Her arms now formed twin divine-grade plasma cannons.


    The advancing triangle didn''t stop.


    "Take her!" one soldier shouted.


    The Gravernox trio charged.


    Liora didn''t move.


    Then¡ª


    BOOM.


    Her right cannon fired.


    A single streak of silver-white light burst forward and pierced straight through the first Gravernox tank.


    It collapsed before it hit the ground, armor cracked open like glass.


    The other two kept moving, flanking around, trying to box her in.


    She sidestepped.


    Her left cannon spun and fired, striking both tanks at the knees.


    Explosions rippled from under their bodies.


    Both were down within seconds.


    The Gorevile units came next¡ªfast, twitching with mutated speed.


    "Echo Dive!" one shouted as they blinked forward, claws slashing from opposite sides.


    Liora leapt up in one graceful spin. "Leon Step."


    A shockwave burst from her boots, throwing both Gorevile units into the air.


    She flipped, twisted midair, and fired again.


    Double blast.


    Two bodies fell¡ªburned, silent, defeated.


    The Moltrax shooters screamed from the back.


    "Open vents! Overheat her!"


    They fired streams of flame from shoulder-mounted lava pods.


    Liora landed and raised both arms.


    "Radiant Cross Defense."


    A shining X-shaped barrier formed in front of her.


    The flames hit but couldn''t pass through.


    She stepped forward behind it. Slow. Inevitable.


    Each blast glanced off the barrier.


    Each step took her closer.


    "Leon Style Three," she whispered, "Heat Reversal."


    Her barrier absorbed the next attack and fired it back.


    A column of redirected flame surged straight into the shooters.


    Three fell in one hit. Screaming.


    The last one tried to run.


    Liora didn''t chase.


    She simply raised her right hand and fired once.


    The last soldier dropped without a sound.


    Smoke. Silence.


    Only wind now.


    Liora stood alone in the center of the cracked battlefield.


    Every enemy was down.


    Theron Aurelius was the only one left.


    He slowly floated lower, expression unreadable.


    His voice was low.


    "...You destroyed all of them."


    Liora looked up, silver eyes sharp.


    "They weren''t enough."


    Theron''s aura flared, his red armor glowing with raw, compressed Ether.


    "You think this proves something?"


    "I didn''t come here to talk," she replied.


    "I came to stop you."


    Theron smirked. "You think this ends here?"


    He landed on the ground with a thunderous thud.


    "No, Luxoria dog."


    He cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders.


    "Now it''s just you and me."


    "I''ll show you what the true power of Aurelius really looks like."

 Chapter 425: It’s a Raid Boss Cutscene

    Theron stood tall, his eyes locked on Liora coldly.


    Without a word, he raised his right hand.


    A dark red portal formed in the air beside him, pulsing with energy.


    The ground shook. Sparks flew from the edges.


    Then¡ª


    Something massive stepped through.


    The beast that emerged was huge, twelve meters tall.


    Its body was a twisted blend of bone, metal, and mutation.


    Gears spun along its spine. Blades jutted from its arms.


    Its jaw was lined with layers of thick steel teeth, glowing softly.


    Its steps cracked the ground beneath it.


    Theron gestured toward the monster with a calm hand.


    "This," he said, voice low and proud, "is my personal beast."


    "Vaultusk."


    Liora narrowed her eyes, her arms steady at her sides.


    Theron smirked.


    "Let''s see if you''ll be the first person to stay alive after seeing it."


    The monstrous creature stood behind him, silent but humming with pressure.


    Each breath it took made the air heavier.


    Theron remained where he was.


    He didn''t even need to move.


    Vaultusk was already in position.


    Liora lowered her stance slightly, her fingers tightening.


    She spoke without fear. "Whatever you bring out... it doesn''t matter."


    She looked Vaultusk straight in the eyes.


    "In the end, it''s still just a Sovereign."


    Theron laughed¡ªjust once.


    "Heh. Sovereign, yes."


    "But this one..." he raised three fingers.


    "Has SSS-Rank stats."


    Liora blinked. That wasn''t normal.


    "...SSS?" she repeated quietly.


    Theron nodded.


    "Strength. Endurance. Intelligence. All optimized."


    "All stable. Vault-born. Combat-forged. It was never meant to be fair."


    He pointed at her like giving a command.


    "Let''s see if you can win this."


    Vaultusk responded instantly.


    Its arms shifted, steel grinding as one transformed into a massive cannon.


    The other turned into a spinning blade.


    Liora raised her head, letting out a slow breath.


    "...Then let''s test it."


    She smirked faintly.


    "I''ve always wanted to see what someone called ''perfect'' really looks like."


    Liora''s feet slid into stance.


    Her armor gleamed as Leon''s energy surged behind her.


    It formed arm cannons, wings, and radiant shields around her arms and shoulders.


    She didn''t wait.


    In an instant, Liora moved.


    She dashed forward, boosters flaring, and fired two quick blasts from her cannons.


    They struck Vaultusk in the chest with a loud boom.


    Silver light exploded across its armored hide.


    Smoke covered the target.


    But then¡ª


    A deep hum echoed through the air.


    The smoke faded.


    Vaultusk stood completely still, unfazed.


    Liora''s eyes narrowed. "Not even a scratch?"


    Theron''s voice echoed from behind.


    "It has SSS-Rank Vitality. You''ll need more than that."


    Vaultusk''s chest opened, revealing a swirling core of red and black energy.


    "Core Breach Finisher¡ªActivate."


    The beast launched forward with shocking speed.


    It slammed the ground, sending a shockwave blasted toward Liora.


    She jumped but the tremor still caught her feet mid-air, throwing her balance off.


    "Guh¡ª!"


    Vaultusk followed instantly.


    Its right arm shifted into a massive metal jaw, spinning with blades.


    It swung once and Liora blocked with her arm shield.


    But the impact sent her flying back across the field.


    She hit the ground hard, sliding across broken stone.


    "Ugh... that thing''s strong."


    Theron smirked.


    "Strength, vitality, intelligence. Everything was refined."


    "You''re not fighting a beast. You''re fighting my war machine."


    Vaultusk advanced again.


    Its arm turned into a blade while its legs pulsed with power.


    "Ossimetal Maw Rend."


    The metal jaw opened at an odd angle¡ªthen clamped down fast.


    Liora just barely flipped out of range.


    But the bite crushed a boulder in half where she''d been.


    "Okay," she muttered, "it''s not slow, either."


    She raised both arms and charged again.


    She fired two shots and swung a kick infused with Leon''s power.


    Her blow landed¡ªVaultusk stepped back half a step.


    A pause.


    Then its body started to shift, mutating armor layers across its chest.


    Theron called out, "Adaptive Armor Regrowth. Now try that again."


    Liora frowned. "It just grew stronger."


    Vaultusk''s eyes flashed.


    "Shock Pulse Matrix!"


    A bright electric wave blasted from its body.


    Liora screamed as her link with Leon briefly cut out. Her shield systems flickered.


    "Gah¡ªmy connection...!"


    Vaultusk didn''t stop.


    It raised both arms and slammed down with Seismic Vaultstep.


    It cracked the battlefield, sending Liora flying again.


    She landed hard.


    Her breathing quickened.


    Armor cracked. Shoulder bruised.


    She stood slowly.


    "Okay. So that''s how it is."


    Theron floated higher, looking down at her like a disappointed commander.


    "I told you, Liora. Vaultusk isn''t here to play."


    "It doesn''t roar. It doesn''t shout."


    "It just wins."


    Vaultusk began to glow with Internal Mutation Bloom.


    It sprouted extra limbs, glowing spikes, and a rotating jaw from its left shoulder.


    Liora steadied herself, her breath heavy.


    "That thing... fights like it already knows what I''ll do."


    Theron''s voice was quiet.


    "Because it does. Targeting Protocol Intelligence."


    "It watches. It learns."


    "You? You''re just an enemy it hasn''t finished yet."


    Liora clenched her fists. "Leon..."


    Her beast pulsed weakly behind her, systems still rebooting from the shockwave.


    She raised one cannon arm again.


    Even bruised, even pushed back¡ª


    She smiled.


    "Good. Then I won''t hold back either."


    Her silver sharpened.


    "It''s also been a while... since I got serious."


    Behind her, Leon pulsed, his core glowing brighter than ever.


    Then it happened.


    "Silver Sun Domain, Activate."


    The air shifted.


    A wave of radiant light exploded from Leon, covering the battlefield.


    The cracked ground turned smooth, golden light streaked through the air, and heat shimmered.


    Theron narrowed his eyes. "What... is this?"


    His HUD glitched.


    Vaultusk paused, confused by the sudden energy interference.


    "What kind of Domain...?"


    Leon didn''t speak.


    But it moved and the world responded.


    The sun above grew brighter, focusing its light only on Liora.


    Liora''s wounds closed instantly.


    The cracks in her armor vanished. Her breathing calmed.


    Even her eyes glowed now, softly at first, then brighter.


    She stretched her arm.


    "Leon, Silver Sun Core, Full Output."


    A beam of energy linked her chest with Leon''s core.


    In an instant, Liora was not just healed.


    She was stronger.


    Faster.


    Fully synced.


    Theron''s face hardened.


    "That healing... That''s not possible."


    Liora raised her cannons again, now shining with intense silver light.


    "It''s not just healing," she said. "It''s resetting the fight."


    She took one step forward.


    The ground under her boots shimmered like glass.


    "Round two."

 Chapter 426: Liora Just Broke the System

    Theron watched from above, his face dark with frustration.


    His eyes flicked between the live data of Vaultusk.


    And the glowing waves of Leon''s domain spread across the battlefield.


    "Something''s wrong..." he muttered.


    Vaultusk''s core energy was dropping.


    Slowly, but definitely.


    And Liora?


    She looked like she hadn''t taken a single hit since the domain activated.


    "She''s becoming stronger."


    He clenched his fists.


    "Vaultusk, stop wasting time. Kill her."


    Vaultusk roared, not with sound, but with force.


    The air vibrated as its body shifted again.


    "Coreline Mutation Surge, Max Layer."


    The massive beast''s arms reshaped into huge clawed blades, extra limbs forming from its back.


    Its chest split slightly, revealing the vault jaw pulsing with red light.


    "Fracture Phase Recoil."


    Vaultusk''s body suddenly broke apart.


    Its pieces spun mid-air to dodge Liora''s next cannon blast.


    It then snapped back together as it reformed right beside her.


    Liora''s eyes widened. "Fast."


    Vaultusk struck with its full body weight.


    "Seismic Vaultstep!"


    Boom!


    The shockwave flung Liora back through a stone wall.


    Debris rained down as dust filled the area.


    Theron smirked. "That''s more like it."


    Vaultusk surged forward, ready to slam both claw arms down.


    "Ossimetal Maw Rend!"


    Its rotating jaws opened wide, ready to crush Liora while she was down.


    But¡ª


    The light in the air suddenly flared.


    Silver threads rippled across the entire battlefield.


    Liora stood up, calm, glowing again.


    "Still not enough."


    Her voice was clear, steady. Her boots slid through the dust.


    Vaultusk''s claws came down¡ª


    She caught them.


    With both hands.


    Energy surged around her. Her arms trembled for a moment.


    Then¡ªVaultusk''s claws began to bend.


    Theron stood up from his floating platform, eyes wide.


    "What?!"


    Liora looked up, smiling. "You didn''t notice, did you?"


    She glanced around.


    "This whole time, your beast''s been inside my Domain."


    "Silver Sun Domain isn''t just defense."


    She pulled harder.


    "It''s drain."


    Vaultusk''s claws glowed red¡ªthen cracked.


    The light in its limbs flickered.


    Liora shoved it backward, then spun and pointed toward its chest.


    "Leon¡ªSolar Latch Protocol."


    Leon''s form shifted.


    Chains of pure light shot out and wrapped around Vaultusk''s core.


    "Let me return the favor," Liora whispered. "I''ll take your strength."


    Theron frowned and shouted.


    "Vaultusk¡ªdisconnect! Override her link!"


    But Vaultusk didn''t move.


    Its limbs jerked.


    Its body glitched.


    Theron''s control pulse flashed red:


    [Warning: Signal Drain Detected]


    Liora took a slow breath as Leon pulsed brighter behind her.


    Her aura swelled.


    Her cannons got larger.


    Her armor gleamed with new layers.


    Vaultusk finally pulled away, staggering back for the first time.


    Its knees buckled.


    Its arms drooped.


    The glow from its body dimmed.


    Theron stared.


    "No..."


    Liora smirked.


    She stepped forward again.


    "And now..."


    She activated her boosters, blasting forward.


    Vaultusk barely raised its arm before she slammed into it.


    She punched directly into its chest armor, denting it with one hit.


    She followed with a sweep kick, spinning behind the beast.


    Then she fired both cannons¡ªpoint-blank into its back.


    Boom!


    Vaultusk crashed to the ground, groaning.


    For the first time, it looked... slow.


    Liora hovered just above it, eyes calm.


    "Now we''re even."


    Theron''s voice was sharp.


    "Vaultusk¡ªget up!"


    But the beast only growled, pushing itself slowly.


    Liora grinned, pointing her blade forward.


    "Let''s finish this."


    Silver light crackled across her armor, her eyes shining brighter than before.


    Her breath was calm, but her heart thundered.


    She could feel it.


    Her power wasn''t just rising.


    It was breaking through.


    Her stats, already near the top, finally snapped past the barrier.


    "...I feel it," she whispered.


    "SSS-Rank. I''ve broken through."


    Leon roared behind her, a soundless surge of power shaking the sky itself.


    Theron''s face twisted into a scowl.


    "Impossible..."


    "No one but Vaultusk has SSS stats."


    "You were just a dog."


    Liora didn''t answer him.


    She rose higher.


    Above the battlefield.


    Above Vaultusk''s broken body.


    And then the light came.


    A beam of pure silver fire erupted from Leon''s core.


    It formed a massive blade in the air.


    It extended far, glowing so bright it cast shadows across the ruins.


    Liora grabbed it with one hand¡ªcalmly.


    The blade was three times her size, but it moved like it was part of her.


    She raised it overhead.


    "Vaultusk," she said quietly, looking down.


    "You fought well."


    She turned to Theron.


    "But this ends with you watching."


    "Leon, Silver Sun Final Sword."


    Theron''s eyes widened. He shouted¡ª


    "Vaultusk! Full defense! Use everything!"


    Vaultusk''s chest armor sealed tight, extra limbs deployed, and ground spikes formed to lock it in place.


    Steel walls. Bone shields. Mutation plating.


    Everything.


    But it didn''t matter.


    Liora''s sword lit up the entire sky.


    And then¡ªshe dropped.


    "Goodbye."


    She fell like a meteor, silver energy streaming behind her, blade pulsing with power.


    The moment the sword touched Vaultusk¡ª


    BOOM.


    A blinding white flash swallowed the whole battlefield.


    A windstorm exploded outward, lifting debris, trees, and even broken stone towers.


    And when the light faded¡ª


    There was nothing left.


    Vaultusk was gone.


    Not crushed. Not broken.


    Incinerated.


    Turned to ash, its core shattered, its frame melted into the earth.


    Theron stared in silence.


    His beast was gone.


    His command signal flatlined.


    And Liora floated above it all.


    Silver armor cracked slightly, eyes still glowing.


    She lowered her sword. It vanished into light particles.


    Leon''s form reformed behind her, whole and calm.


    Liora let out a slow breath.


    Then she smiled.


    "...One down."


    She looked up at Theron one last time.


    "You''re next."


    Theron clenched his jaw.


    "Damn it..." he muttered.


    He looked at the remains of Vaultusk.


    It was nothing but burned ground.


    His beast was destroyed.


    And worst of all.


    Liora looked like she was still fine.


    But before he could speak again, the sky rippled.


    Liora''s eyes narrowed. "What now¡ª?"


    A loud boom echoed as something fell from above.


    A shadow cut through the clouds.


    It hit the ground hard, sending dust and cracked stone everywhere.


    Then it stood up.


    Theron grinned for the first time.


    "You''re in trouble now."


    Liora''s brow lifted.


    "That''s..."


    And the new enemy slowly raised its head.

 Chapter 427: Vaultusk Was the Warmup

    Liora narrowed her eyes as she looked at the new figure.


    It was tall, part beast and part machine, moving with precise, sharp steps.


    Its body was covered in armored plating.


    One eye glowed red and the other was reptilian.


    Wires ran across its arms and chest, and its claws clicked against the stone.


    Liora''s face tensed. "What... is that?"


    Theron grinned as he stepped to the side.


    "So you''re surprised?"


    He raised a hand toward the new arrival.


    "Liora, you already knew we were experimenting hybrids."


    His voice was smug.


    "And this one of the few who managed to survive."


    He pointed.


    "This is Scaldrith. The first of his kind."


    Liora''s eyes narrowed. "So... it''s real."


    "A living human-beast hybrid."


    Theron nodded. "One that didn''t break. Didn''t go mad. Didn''t run."


    He turned to Scaldrith.


    "Fight her. Hold her here. I only need a few minutes."


    Scaldrith didn''t speak.


    It stepped forward, slowly, scanning Liora with glowing sensors.


    Liora snapped her cannons back into position.


    "I won''t let you run again, Theron."


    She moved forward, ready to strike¡ª


    But Scaldrith suddenly stood in her path.


    Fast.


    Too fast.


    Liora halted, boots sliding on broken rock.


    Scaldrith''s claws unfolded.


    Its voice was low, mechanical.


    "Priority directive: Block Luxoria unit."


    Liora frowned.


    "Out of my way."


    Scaldrith took a combat stance.


    "Order denied."


    Behind them, Theron activated his booster suit. "Goodbye, Liora."


    He blasted into the sky, moving fast toward the Aurelius border zone.


    Liora tensed to follow¡ª


    Scaldrith moved again.


    Fast. Precise. Perfect.


    It blocked her route with only two steps, tail raised, blades drawn.


    Liora floated higher and aimed her cannon.


    "I don''t care who¡ªor what¡ªyou are."


    She narrowed her eyes.


    "If you''re in my way..."


    She drew in energy.


    "I''ll remove you."


    Scaldrith''s body glowed faintly with red pulses, cybernetic parts syncing into battle mode.


    "Statement logged."


    "Engaging Sovereign target."


    Liora raised one brow.


    "Then let''s see just how powerful you really are."


    The light behind her flared once more.


    The next battle had begun.


    ---


    Liora hovered just above the cracked earth, her cannons aimed and glowing.


    Scaldrith stood still across from her.


    Unlike Vaultusk, this one didn''t tower or stomp.


    It didn''t roar.


    It watched.


    Moved.


    Like a soldier.


    Liora narrowed her eyes.


    "Let''s see what you can do."


    She fired the first shot.


    Two bursts of radiant light from her left cannon.


    Scaldrith vanished.


    Liora''s eyes widened.


    He didn''t dodge.


    He moved too fast to follow.


    Then¡ª


    A blur behind her.


    Liora twisted just in time.


    Clang!


    Scaldrith''s metal claws scraped against her shoulder guard, sending sparks.


    She flew backward, flipping in the air.


    "He''s fast..."


    "Faster than Vaultusk."


    Scaldrith didn''t speak. Its eye-lens tracked her, adjusting constantly.


    Its voice finally rang out¡ªshort and cold:


    "Strength level: Confirmed. Status: Threat class. Engaging."


    Scaldrith lunged forward again, both arms shifting as blades extended from its forearms.


    Liora blocked with both cannons, barely.


    "Leon¡ªArmor Boost!"


    Silver energy flared around her as she slid back, grinding across the ground.


    Scaldrith spun mid-air and landed in a crouch, tail slicing toward her legs.


    She jumped again, flipped forward, and fired a plasma burst down at him.


    Scaldrith raised its arm, a built-in shield unfolded, blocking it instantly.


    Liora frowned.


    "He has weapons... but also gear."


    He thinks. Reacts. Changes stances.


    Scaldrith''s claws clicked once.


    "Switching: Close-range strategy. Vault Stack Enabled."


    His muscles pulsed with red light.


    Then he disappeared again.


    This time he appeared midair, above her.


    Twin cleavers shot from his spine, spinning toward her like blades from a trap.


    Liora shouted, "Leon, Mirror Deflect!"


    A burst of silver light bent the blades off course but only for a moment.


    Scaldrith slammed into her chest with a knee, sending her crashing to the ground.


    Boom!


    The stone cracked under her.


    She coughed, rolling fast as he landed and tried to stomp her midsection.


    She pushed herself up fast, panting.


    "His strength... it''s the same as Vaultusk."


    "But he''s smaller. Smarter. Faster."


    Above her, Scaldrith rotated both arms, blades locking in reverse grip.


    He took another step forward.


    "Objective: Eliminate."


    Liora stood straight, blood on her lip.


    "Not today."


    She dashed forward again, this time matching his speed.


    They clashed in the center.


    Blade to blade.


    Light against steel.


    Each movement was clean.


    Liora ducked. Fired.


    Scaldrith flipped. Countered.


    She struck with a cannon punch.


    He twisted under it and slashed across her thigh.


    She hissed in pain, then kicked him in the chest, forcing space.


    He slid back. Didn''t fall.


    Liora''s breath was heavy.


    "You''re not a beast," she said.


    Scaldrith replied in that cold, soldier tone:


    "Correct."


    "I am a weapon."


    And he charged again.


    Liora didn''t flinch.


    She grinned.


    "Then I am too."


    She raised her hand.


    "Leon, time to get serious."


    Leon''s light surged behind her.


    Her cannons folded away, transforming.


    "Switch to Claws Mode."


    Her arms reshaped.


    Now sleek and sharp, silver claws extending over her fingers, glowing with burning heat.


    "Close range, huh?" she said. "Let me handle that."


    Scaldrith''s speed didn''t stop.


    He spun forward, slashing left and right.


    Liora met him head-on.


    Clang! Clang!


    Sparks flew as their claws and blades clashed.


    She parried once, then ducked and slashed across his chest.


    Scaldrith jumped back but a line of sparks burst from the cut.


    Liora chased.


    She punched forward.


    She used her claw to stab his shoulder.


    Scaldrith growled, his voice glitching.


    "Wound confirmed... Adapting..."


    He tried to use Combat Adaptation Surge.


    His arms thickened, plates shifting to add strength.


    But Liora didn''t give him time.


    She leapt forward and flipped over his head.


    She slashed both claws down his back.


    Screech!


    Sparks, metal, and fluid burst out.


    Scaldrith dropped to one knee.


    His claws shook.


    Liora landed behind him, breathing steadily.


    "You''re fast."


    "But not faster than me."


    Scaldrith slowly stood, systems flickering.


    He didn''t respond.


    Liora raised her claws again.


    "Let''s see how much punishment you can really take."


    "Show me what makes you a ''perfect'' hybrid."


    Then she charged forward once again.

 Chapter 428: The Last Test Subject

    Fiona flew low over the crumbling rooftops, her visor glowing and drones buzzing beside her.


    She checked her coordinates again.


    Sector E.


    Her destination.


    "Alright, chat," she said with a grin. "We''re almost there."


    The screen beside her blinked with thousands of live viewers.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: Sector E... wasn''t that the place the hybrid escaped to?


    @TamerTrash: That''s what those brainwashed enforcers said, yeah.


    @MoonByte: Do you think it''s still alive?


    @CoreBurst: I just hope it looks cool


    @FionyxOnFire: Or hot


    @WraithFox: Fiona, show us first if they''re cute. Priorities.


    ---


    Fiona laughed.


    "You really want to see what this escaped hybrid looks like, huh?"


    She flipped mid-air, landed on a broken pipe.


    She then pointed one gloved hand toward the next zone.


    "Then let''s go meet her. Hopefully she has a good camera angle."


    Just as she turned a corner¡ª


    Her visor flashed red.


    "Hostile detected."


    Two Chimawren swooped down from the broken towers.


    Their mutated wings twitched, claws glowing with blood-red energy.


    "Oh," Fiona said, smiling. "We''ve got some uninvited guests."


    The first Chimawren dived straight at her.


    Fiona crouched low¡ªthen jumped.


    Boosters fired from her boots, launching her up and over the beast.


    She flipped, summoned a glowing spear from her back, and stabbed it downward.


    Boom!


    The Chimawren crashed into the ground, wings snapping.


    The second one came fast from behind.


    Fiona twisted and fired a quick blinding flash from her shoulder light.


    The beast screeched, flying blind.


    She spun and threw her spear¡ªdirect hit to the chest.


    It fell with a heavy thud.


    Fiona landed on a metal beam and posed with a wink.


    "Alright chat, two down. Who''s keeping score?"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: EASY


    @MoonByte: Too smooth


    @CoreBurst: I blinked and they were dead


    @TamerTrash: SHE HIT THE AIR POSE


    @FionyxOnFire: That''s my streamer queen


    ---


    Just as Fiona turned to keep walking, a loud screech came from the far side of the street.


    Her visor locked on.


    "Flaregul. Four of them."


    The mutated firebirds flew overhead.


    Their bodies glowed with embers, wings leaving burning trails behind.


    "Perfect."


    She grinned.


    "Let''s make it a light show."


    She activated Broadcast Domain: Flame Sync Mode.


    Music kicked in¡ªfast drums, rising tempo.


    Her gloves sparked as two flame-threaded whips formed in her hands.


    The first Flaregul dove.


    Fiona whipped upward¡ªthe lash wrapped around its neck.


    With one swing, she spun it midair and smashed it into a tower.


    The second and third circled her, launching emberbombs from above.


    She danced between the impacts, each step bursting in light. Her visor tracked them all.


    "Chat, do you see this rhythm?"


    She jumped again, spun her whips, and threw both forward like twin spears.


    Boom! Boom!


    Two more Flareguls fell.


    The last one hesitated.


    Fiona looked up and raised a hand.


    "Come on."


    The beast shrieked and dived.


    Fiona waited until the last second¡ªthen activated Phoenix Flash Finisher.


    Her body lit up with fire and light.


    She kicked upward, launching herself like a bullet.


    She punched straight through the Flaregul''s chest.


    Boom.


    It fell in flames.


    Fiona landed with a smirk.


    "Sector E is tough," she said. "But not Luxoria-tough."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: I AM SCREAMING


    @MoonByte: That was clean


    @FionyxOnFire: THE WHIPS?? AND THE PUNCH??


    @CoreBurst: Fiona got no chill


    @TamerTrash: Alright hybrid better have a good entrance after all this


    ---


    Fiona walked through the ruined gate of Sector E.


    The air was quiet now.


    Broken buildings.


    Melted stone.


    She looked forward.


    "Alright chat... we''re in."


    Her voice dropped slightly.


    "Let''s go find this hybrid."


    She tapped her wrist, and four more drones flew out from behind her shoulders, spreading wide across the area.


    "Alright, team," she whispered to the camera, "eyes in every direction."


    The drones zipped between ruins alleyways.


    They scanned the rooftops, scanned inside buildings, flashing small pulses of light.


    All they showed were broken walls, burned streets, and a few scattered piles of ash.


    One drone beeped.


    Fiona turned toward the feed.


    "Another mutated Chimawren. That''s the fifth one I''ve seen here."


    She sighed, then looked back at the camera drone following her.


    "Chat... no sign of the hybrid yet."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: Maybe it''s already dead


    @TamerTrash: Or hiding.


    @MoonByte: Wouldn''t blame them tbh


    @FionyxOnFire: Hope it doesn''t look like a bug creature


    @WraithFox: Or worse¡ªwhat if it''s just ugly


    ---


    Fiona raised an eyebrow.


    "Rude."


    She laughed.


    "You all really came just to judge appearances, huh?"


    She kept walking, her boots crunching broken glass.


    Then¡ª


    Bzzt.


    One of her drones blinked out.


    Fiona frowned. "Wait."


    Then another.


    Bzzt. Bzzt.


    Two more disappeared.


    "What the¡ª"


    She looked up, and on her screen, all feeds from the scouting drones turned to static.


    Then she looked straight at the camera.


    Her tone shifted.


    "Chat... do you know what that means?"


    She smirked.


    "It means something just showed up."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: OH.


    @TamerTrash: IT''S HERE


    @MoonByte: No way¡ªstealth destroy?


    @FionyxOnFire: LET''S GOOO


    @WraithFox: Fiona please don''t die I just made popcorn


    ---


    Fiona narrowed her eyes.


    She raised one hand and tapped her visor.


    "Switching to thermal mode."


    A red overlay appeared across her view.


    She scanned the area¡ªnothing moved.


    "Whoever you are," she said aloud, "I know you''re watching me too."


    She stepped into the middle of an empty street.


    "You saw me take out your pets. You saw me walk into your home."


    She spread her arms wide.


    "Well... I''m here."


    "Come out."


    She waited.


    One second.


    Two.


    Then a sharp metal sound echoed through the air¡ªlike claws on steel.


    Fiona spun toward the sound.


    From the shadows of a ruined building... something stepped out slowly.


    It wasn''t a Chimawren.


    Or a Flaregul.


    It wasn''t like any beast she''d seen before.


    She whispered.


    "...Found you."


    The hybrid had arrived.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: IS THAT IT?!


    @MoonByte: No way. It looks... kinda human


    @CoreBurst: That''s not a beast. That''s a person??


    @TamerTrash: It''s wearing CLOTHES?


    @FionyxOnFire: Wait wait wait, is that a GIRL hybrid?


    @WraithFox: Bro is that a SHE


    ---


    Fiona raised an eyebrow.


    She stepped forward slowly.

 Chapter 429: Emotional Damage Imminent

    Fiona took a slow step forward, still stunned by what she was seeing.


    The hybrid didn''t look dangerous.


    She looked... small.


    Like a girl barely old enough to fight.


    Her blonde hair sparked softly as it moved.


    Her long bunny ears twitched at every sound.


    Her hands were shaped like paws, her feet the same.


    A fluffy lightning-tipped tail flicked behind her nervously.


    Fiona couldn''t help but whisper, "She''s... adorable."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: IS THAT HER?!


    @MoonByte: BRO SHE''S A LITTLE BUNNY GIRL


    @CoreBurst: I WASN''T READY FOR THIS LEVEL OF CUTE


    @TamerTrash: I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A MONSTER LOL


    @FionyxOnFire: I''M GONNA CRY SHE''S TOO SOFT


    @WraithFox: PROTECT HER AT ALL COSTS


    ---


    Fiona smiled wide, voice soft as she spoke.


    "Hey there... are you the one who destroyed my drones?"


    The bunny girl blinked, slowly backing up toward the wall.


    Her paw-hands trembled.


    Then she frowned a little.


    Her voice was barely a whisper.


    "...Are you with them?"


    Fiona shook her head quickly.


    "No, no. I''m not from Aurelius."


    She lowered her weapons and turned off her cannon glow.


    "I''m here to save you."


    The bunny girl didn''t speak at first.


    But then, after a small pause, she answered shyly.


    "...Fifi. Fifi Fluffiel."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: STOP. THAT NAME IS TOO PURE


    @MoonByte: "Fifi Fluffiel"? IMMEDIATE HEART MELT


    @TamerTrash: FIONA YOU BETTER NOT MESS THIS UP


    @FionyxOnFire: I WOULD DIE FOR HER


    @WraithFox: IS THIS A SIDEKICK UNLOCK SCENE?? PLEASE


    ---


    Fiona smiled even wider.


    "Wow... what a cute name."


    Fifi looked down, her ears twitching.


    But her eyes flicked up again¡ªstill unsure.


    "I don''t... I don''t believe you," she whispered.


    "You''re strong. You fight like them."


    "I saw... I saw your weapons."


    Fiona took another step forward, voice calm.


    "I use them to protect people."


    "I''m not like the scientists who hurt you."


    "I''m here because I found out what they did... and I want to help."


    Fifi took one step back.


    Her breathing started to get faster.


    "Help me...?"


    Fiona nodded. "Yes. I promise."


    But then¡ª


    A loud clank echoed from a falling pipe nearby.


    Fifi flinched.


    Her whole body sparked.


    Tiny blue lightning bolts jumped around her.


    "Ah¡ª!"


    Her feet lit up with energy.


    And in a flash¡ª


    She vanished.


    Fiona blinked. "Wait¡ªFifi?"


    She turned around¡ªnothing.


    No sign of her.


    Only faint flickers of static trailing across the ground.


    Fiona raised a hand to her headset.


    "She ran."


    "Chat¡ªshe ran!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: NOOOOO


    @MoonByte: FIONA CHASE HER


    @TamerTrash: BUNNY GIRL ESCAPED


    @FionyxOnFire: HER NAME IS FLUFFIEL AND SHE''S GONE


    @WraithFox: SHE GOT SCARED OMG SOMEONE HUG HER


    ---


    Fiona sighed.


    She looked out into the empty misty street.


    "...I scared her."


    She smiled faintly.


    "Don''t worry, Fifi."


    "I''ll find you again."


    Fiona flew low across the broken rooftops of Sector E.


    Her eyes scanned every shadow, every broken hallway.


    "Fifi..." she whispered, glancing down at the faint static trail left behind.


    She opened her drone panel and activated all units.


    "Spread out. Search pattern."


    "Priority: one small hybrid, bunny ears, terrified expression."


    The drones zipped into the mist.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: We gotta find her!


    @MoonByte: Poor Fifi!


    @FionyxOnFire: She probably doesn''t even know what''s happening


    @WraithFox: If anyone hurts her, I swear...


    @TamerTrash: Fiona SAVE THE BUNNY


    ---


    Fiona followed the signal trail, weaving through the collapsed buildings.


    Her visor beeped softly.


    "Faint heat signature¡ªcorner street, five meters away."


    She landed fast and darted toward it.


    But then¡ª


    Her visor glitched.


    A sudden wave of static filled her screen.


    "What?"


    A drone next to her snapped in half mid-air, electricity sparking through it.


    A new feed popped up.


    Fiona''s eyes widened.


    "No¡ª"


    A new shape appeared on her screen.


    Something¡ªsomeone¡ªwas holding Fifi.


    Fifi was off the ground, her small legs kicking.


    Her body was twitching with tiny shock sparks, ears trembling.


    The figure holding her looked humanoid, cloaked in shadow, but its face wasn''t clear.


    Like the camera couldn''t focus on it.


    And it was choking Fifi.


    Fiona''s heart dropped.


    "FIFI!"


    She shouted into her mic.


    "I see her! She''s in danger!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: NO NO NO NO NO


    @MoonByte: WHO IS THAT?!


    @FionyxOnFire: SHE''S BEING CHOKED


    @TamerTrash: DON''T LET HER DIE


    @WraithFox: FIONA GET THERE NOW


    ---


    Fiona''s hands tightened into fists.


    "I''m coming."


    She boosted forward, breaking through debris as her light burst across the fog.


    The moment she got visual, she shouted again.


    "HEY! Let her go!"


    The figure didn''t flinch.


    Fifi tried to speak¡ªbut only weak gasps came out.


    Her paws scratched at the figure''s arm.


    "Let. Her. GO!" Fiona screamed.


    She raised her hand and charged a plasma shot, aiming low to avoid Fifi.


    "I''m giving you one warning."


    The figure turned its head slowly toward Fiona.


    The plasma bolt exploded through the fog¡ªbright and fast.


    But the figure didn''t move.


    Instead, it cut the shot in half with one swift motion.


    Slice.


    The beam scattered into harmless sparks.


    Fiona''s eyes widened.


    "What the¡ª?"


    The cloaked figure then released Fifi, who dropped to the ground with a soft cry.


    She then scurried behind a broken wall.


    Fiona kept her hand raised, blaster still aimed.


    "Who are you?" she asked, voice steady but tense.


    The figure slowly turned to face her.


    Then¡ªunzipped its coat.


    The cloak dropped back, revealing the full body beneath.


    What stood before Fiona wasn''t a man.


    And it wasn''t just a beast either.


    Its entire body was coiled, plated, and shifting.


    Metal-lined serpentine coils wrapped around a long torso.


    Its arms bladed with sharp fang-like joints.


    One eye glowed red. Its jaw was too long.


    Its body moved like a snake, even while standing.


    "I," the voice said in a cold, precise tone, "am Vernyx."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: WHAT THE HELL


    @MoonByte: IT SPOKE


    @CoreBurst: THAT''S VERNYX?!


    @FionyxOnFire: LOOK AT THAT BODY WHAT IS THAT


    @TamerTrash: THAT''S NOT A BEAST THAT''S A NIGHTMARE


    @WraithFox: Fiona pls step back


    ---


    Fiona''s eyes narrowed.


    Vernyx smiled slightly.


    "I was not sent for you."


    "But if you stay here¡ª"


    The red light in its eye flared.


    "¡ªyou will die anyway."


    Fiona stepped back once, then lifted her arms.


    "Well," she muttered, "this got interesting fast."


    She glanced at Fifi, huddled behind a rock.


    "Stay down, bunny. I''ve got this."


    And the next battle was about to begin.

 Chapter 430: This Snake Has No Chill

    Fiona didn''t hesitate.


    She shot forward, boosters firing from her boots, one hand glowing with a charged pulse.


    "Alright, snake-face. Let''s see what you''ve got!"


    She opened with a fast volley.


    Three burst blasts from her left gauntlet, aiming for the chest, head, and leg in quick succession.


    But Vernyx moved with inhuman grace.


    Shlrrrk.


    It twisted sideways, its body bending like a coil, each segment sliding with perfect control.


    The blasts missed.


    Fiona''s eyes widened. "You''re fast¡ª!"


    Before she could react, Vernyx spun in place, and his tail snapped toward her like a whip.


    Wham!


    Fiona was slammed out of the air and hit a concrete wall with a heavy crash.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: SHE JUST GOT SLAPPED INTO A WALL


    @MoonByte: OH NO FIONA


    @CoreBurst: BRO THAT SNAKE MOVES LIKE SMOKE


    @TamerTrash: NOT THE TAIL WHIP


    @FionyxOnFire: GET UP QUEEN


    ---


    Fiona coughed as she stood.


    "Ow... okay. That tail has attitude."


    She brushed off some sparks and fired her thrusters again.


    "Let''s see you block this!"


    Fiona raised her arm.


    "Photon Spiral¡ªStageburst!"


    Her cannon glowed with bright white rings.


    She then fired a concentrated beam straight at Vernyx''s center.


    Vernyx didn''t dodge.


    Instead¡ª


    "Slithershard Morphing."


    Its body shifted, armor plates turning to spinning spikes.


    They deflected the beam outward in glowing shards.


    The shot bounced harmlessly.


    Fiona blinked. "You adapted?!"


    But she had no time.


    Vernyx launched forward like a drill.


    Its body spun, arms spread with bladed coils whirling.


    "Coiled Fang Engine."


    Fiona raised a shield¡ªtoo late.


    CRASH!


    The impact blew her back again, sliding across the ground as sparks flew off her armor.


    Her breathing grew heavy.


    "He hits like truck..."


    "But moves like a ghost."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @MoonByte: SHE''S LOSING


    @Ashfall: THIS IS WORSE THAN THE LAST FIGHT


    @TamerTrash: WHERE''S FIONYX HELP


    @WraithFox: NOOO NOT LIKE THIS


    ---


    Fiona rolled to her feet.


    "Okay. Let''s turn up the style."


    She activated Broadcast Domain¡ªCombat Flash Mode.


    Drones flew around her. Light effects shimmered.


    Music kicked in.


    She boosted upward and summoned her Flare Claws.


    Both hands glowed with red-hot blades.


    "Let''s DANCE."


    She flew in fast, slashing at Vernyx from both sides, flipping behind him, launching spark-kicks mid-air.


    The crowd went wild.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @FionyxOnFire: YESSS FINALLY


    @Ashfall: SHE''S MOVING


    @CoreBurst: CUT THAT SNAKE UP


    @TamerTrash: FINISH HIM


    ---


    But Vernyx whispered again.


    "Disruptive Command Coil."


    He caught her mid-swing.


    He coiled his body around her, sending red pulses through her suit.


    Her visor glitched.


    "Wha¡ª?"


    Static.


    Her controls flickered.


    Then¡ª"Serpent Breakstrike."


    His coils snapped open, and bone spikes launched from his back.


    They pierced through her shield and forcing her back.


    Fiona dropped to one knee, panting.


    Her suit smoked.


    He stood across from her, calm and coiled.


    "You''re strong," he said, "but not built to survive this."


    Fiona winced.


    "Chat... I think I''m in trouble."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: NO NO NO


    @MoonByte: SHE CAN''T GO DOWN NOW


    @TamerTrash: GET UP, FIONA!!


    @FionyxOnFire: PLEASE. DON''T. STOP.


    @WraithFox: THIS ISN''T HOW THE SHOW ENDS


    ---


    Fiona gritted her teeth... then smirked.


    She stood back up.


    "Don''t worry," she said. "I''m not done yet."


    She raised one hand high into the air, fingers glowing with code-strands.


    "Fionyx," she called. "No more games."


    "Activate¡ªDivine Performance Authority."


    A shockwave of orange light exploded around her.


    The battlefield transformed. The wind shifted. The air shimmered.


    Music blared¡ªepic, thunderous, loud enough to echo across Sector E.


    Her armor restructured in real-time. Her limbs glowed.


    Her boosters flared into radiant wings.


    Fionyx''s full power flowed through her¡ªlimitless and unshakable.


    This wasn''t a battle now.


    This was a performance.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: SHE DID IT


    @MoonByte: DIVINE MODE ACTIVATE


    @CoreBurst: THE LIGHT. THE MUSIC. THE STYLE.


    @FionyxOnFire: BEST STREAM EVER


    @TamerTrash: SHE''S A GODDESS


    ---


    Vernyx hissed, eye flashing red.


    He rushed her again, spinning like a blade.


    "Coiled Fang Engine!"


    Fiona didn''t move.


    The moment he struck¡ªher body flashed white.


    Block.


    She danced to the side, flipping mid-air, each step timed to the beat.


    "Let''s go, chat."


    "Watch this¡ªEncore Strike!"


    She punched forward, her fist glowing with stagelight.


    It connected with Vernyx''s head, sending him skidding back.


    "Light Reverb Cannon!"


    She raised her arms.


    She then fired a beam in rhythm with the music.


    Each blast hit like a timed explosion.


    Vernyx stumbled, his coils damaged, plating cracked.


    He tried again.


    "Parasurge Hatch."


    He released serpent spawn into the field.


    But Fiona spun in place, her drones forming a circle of stage lights.


    "Spotlight Sweep."


    Beams cut across the terrain, vaporizing the minions on impact.


    "Sorry," she said. "No guests allowed on my stage."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: SHE''S CONTROLLING THE FIGHT


    @MoonByte: HE''S LOSING


    @CoreBurst: SHE BROKE HIS RHYTHM


    @WraithFox: THIS IS ART


    ---


    Vernyx lunged again.


    Fiona sidestepped.


    He tried to coil.


    She flipped over his back.


    He spun, tail raised.


    She landed in front of him.


    "Finale Flash Combo!"


    Her claws glowed.


    She struck once¡ªtwice¡ªthree times¡ªon the beat.


    Each blow sent Vernyx reeling backward.


    She raised one final hand.


    "Stage Curtain¡ªDROP."


    Her boosters fired full power, launching her up.


    She came down in a glowing kick straight to Vernyx''s core.


    BOOM!


    Dust exploded outward.


    Vernyx hit the ground hard, twitching.


    Sparks flew from his back.


    Fiona stood over him, breathing hard but standing strong.


    She smiled at the camera drone.


    "Chat... how was the show?"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: LEGENDARY


    @MoonByte: FIVE STARS


    @FionyxOnFire: I CAN''T BREATHE


    @TamerTrash: BEST FIGHT EVER


    @WraithFox: FIONA JUST MADE HISTORY


    ---


    But the battle wasn''t over yet.


    The ground shook softly.


    Vernyx began to stand up.


    His coils twitched, his head lifted, and sparks danced along his broken plating.


    Fiona took a step back, eyes narrowing.


    "Chat... she''s getting back up."


    Vernyx''s voice buzzed, broken and cold.


    "...Eliminate... Performer..."


    Fiona tightened her fists.


    "I thought we were done."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: SHE''S STILL ALIVE?!


    @MoonByte: BRO SHE''S TOO TOUGH


    @FionyxOnFire: SHE''S HACKING THE SCRIPT


    @TamerTrash: FIONA BE CAREFUL


    ---


    Fiona exhaled.


    "Alright, looks like we need to be more serious."


    She lifted both glowing claws.


    "Let''s end the act¡ªfor real this time."

 Chapter 431 431: Fiona Got Clapped

    From behind the cracked wall, Fifi watched in silence.


    Her small body trembled, but not from fear this time.


    Her eyes, wide and glowing faintly with static, followed Fiona''s every move.


    She had never seen anything like this before.


    The way Fiona moved...


    The way she fought...


    How the lights danced around her, how she smiled even when the enemy was strong.


    Fifi whispered to herself.


    "...She''s not scared."


    She blinked, clutching her small paw-hands together.


    "She''s... smiling."


    Another blast lit the sky.


    Fiona twisted mid-air, kicked Vernyx in the chest, then landed perfectly on her feet.


    Fifi gasped softly.


    "Is she really... fighting for me?"


    She looked down at her own feet.


    Her long ears twitched.


    "No one... no one ever fought for me before."


    The wind blew gently past her, carrying sparks and bits of glowing dust from Fiona''s battlefield.


    Fifi pressed her paws against her chest.


    "Maybe... maybe she''s not like the others."


    ---


    Fiona''s feet hit the ground with a light thud.


    Dust swirled around her boots.


    Her hair shimmered with stage light, her armor pulsing to the rhythm of her music.


    Vernyx stood tall, coils spread wide, arms lifted, and his body sparking with dark red energy.


    Fiona smirked, wiping a line of dirt from her cheek.


    "Still standing?"


    She raised one arm, her claws glowing.


    "I can do this all day."


    And it was true.


    Thanks to her Luxorite Core Stage, her energy never dropped.


    As long as the audience cheered, as long as the stream stayed live, her stamina kept rising.


    She didn''t need rest.


    She had momentum.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @MoonByte: SHE''S SHINING


    @FionyxOnFire: THAT''S OUR DIVINE STREAMER


    @TamerTrash: AS LONG AS WE WATCH SHE WON''T FALL


    @WraithFox: GO FIONA GO FIONA GO FIONA


    ---


    Fiona dashed forward.


    She spun, kicked, and fired a burst shot that slammed into Vernyx''s chest.


    He hissed, slid back, but didn''t fall.


    She followed up with a light combo, her claws swiping left, right, overhead.


    She then delivered a knee to his ribs.


    He grunted¡ªcoils shifting.


    She flew back and landed mid-air, posing.


    "Still breathing? Good."


    But Vernyx wasn''t done.


    His voice was low.


    "You rely on eyes."


    "You rely on noise."


    He looked up.


    "Let me show you silence."


    Suddenly, Vernyx''s coils spread wide¡ªhis body glowing.


    "Genome Collapse Vortex¡ªRelease."


    The ground beneath them cracked as his body coiled into a huge spinning spiral.


    Dark energy shot out in waves.


    Fiona''s light started to flicker.


    "Wh¡ªwhat?"


    Her body slowed¡ªlegs shaking.


    Her rhythm broke.


    "Ugh..."


    She stumbled slightly.


    Her audience couldn''t see it fully, but Fiona felt it.


    Nerve pain. Bone pressure.


    Her Ether rhythm started skipping beats.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: WHAT IS THAT MOVE?!


    @MoonByte: FIONA LOOKS WEIRD


    @CoreBurst: SHE''S STAGGERING


    @FionyxOnFire: OH NO SHE''S NOT SMILING


    @WraithFox: SOMETHING''S WRONG¡ª


    ---


    Fiona gritted her teeth.


    "I... I''m okay."


    But her limbs twitched.


    Her grip weakened.


    And Vernyx was already in front of her.


    "Slithershard Morphing."


    His arms turned into whip-like blades, slicing toward her.


    She blocked once¡ªbarely.


    Twice¡ªsloppier.


    The third strike hit her side¡ªhard.


    She crashed into the ground and rolled.


    "Gh¡ª!"


    Her music stuttered.


    Drones spun wildly.


    One screen blinked out.


    "Chat..." she muttered. "I need a boost."


    She opened her arms wide.


    Her voice cracked slightly, but she still spoke:


    "Cheer louder."


    "Right now¡ªI need you."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: WE''RE HERE


    @MoonByte: DON''T QUIT


    @FionyxOnFire: LET''S GOOOOOOOOO


    @TamerTrash: STANDING FOR YOU


    @WraithFox: FIONA YOU''RE NOT ALONE


    ---


    The stage lights surged.


    Her armor flared.


    Her eyes glowed bright again.


    "Thanks, chat."


    "Let''s keep going."


    But Vernyx didn''t give her time.


    "Parasurge Hatch."


    From his body, tiny serpent spawn launched toward her drones and gear.


    They stuck, hissed¡ªand exploded into toxic clouds.


    "Ugh¡ª!"


    Her feed glitched.


    "Fionyx¡ªclear the zone!"


    Her beast responded, shields flashing¡ªbut it was too late.


    Her rhythm broke again.


    She coughed.


    Her legs dropped to one knee.


    And Vernyx raised both arms for the final blow.


    "Silence begins."


    He dashed forward like a spinning blade¡ª


    And for the first time¡ª


    Fiona couldn''t dodge.


    The blast hit her directly.


    CRASH!


    She flew back, bounced across the ground, and slammed into a wall.


    She didn''t move for a second.


    The dust settled.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: FIONA?!


    @MoonByte: SHE''S DOWN


    @TamerTrash: GET UP GET UP


    @FionyxOnFire: I''M SHAKING


    @WraithFox: NO NO NO


    ---


    Fiona slowly moved, her body shaking.


    Blood ran from her forehead.


    Her armor flickered weakly.


    She pressed her hand against the ground.


    "How... can you be so strong...?"


    Her voice was barely a whisper.


    Vernyx stopped his spin.


    He slithered forward, eyes glowing red.


    "That was only warm-up," he said coldly. "Now I am serious."


    Fiona''s eyes widened.


    "What...?"


    "You haven''t even seen my true form."


    He spread his arms wide.


    "Let me show you what happens when you fight the serpent born of war."


    He coiled tighter, body glowing with mutation energy, fangs sharpening.


    Fiona coughed again.


    She was pressing one hand against the cracked ground, her other clutching her side.


    "Damn it..." she muttered. "I can''t move fast enough..."


    She tried to stand, legs trembling.


    Vernyx turned his head slowly toward her.


    "Your show is over."


    But then¡ª


    A crack of lightning flashed behind him.


    ZAP!


    A small bolt hit Vernyx''s back.


    It was not strong, but enough to stop him for a second.


    He turned sharply.


    And there she was.


    Fifi.


    The small bunny-eared girl stood shaking, sparks running down her arms.


    Her big eyes burned with a mix of fear and anger.


    "You... stop hurting her," she said.


    Vernyx tilted his head and laughed¡ªmocking.


    "You?"


    "You''re the failure. The one they threw away."


    He coiled low, laughing again.


    "You can''t even control your own powers."


    Fifi stepped forward, her feet sparking.


    "I... I don''t need control."


    "I just need to protect her."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: FIFI''S HERE


    @MoonByte: SHE ZAPPED HIM


    @TamerTrash: BUNNY GIRL GOING WILD


    @FionyxOnFire: PROTECT FIONA


    @WraithFox: TEARS. I''M CRYING


    ---


    Fifi raised her paws.


    Her whole body trembled¡ªbut she didn''t run.


    Her voice was soft.


    "I won''t let you hurt her anymore..."


    And the electricity around her started to grow.


    This time, she didn''t hold it back.

 Chapter 432 432: We Stayed for the Trauma

    Fifi stood with her small fists clenched, sparks crackling around her soft paws.


    Her breathing was fast. Her ears twitched, but her feet didn''t move.


    Fiona coughed behind her, still leaning against broken rubble.


    "Fifi..." Fiona whispered. "You don''t have to¡ª"


    "I want to," Fifi said.


    Her voice was soft¡ªbut clear.


    "I don''t want to run anymore."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: NO WAY


    @MoonByte: SHE''S GONNA FIGHT HIM?


    @FionyxOnFire: BUNNY GIRL TOO BRAVE


    @TamerTrash: I''M NOT READY FOR THIS


    @WraithFox: SHE''S SO SMALL BUT SHE''S FACING A MONSTER


    ---


    Vernyx tilted his head, coiling slowly.


    "Is this your plan?"


    He smiled, voice sharp and cold.


    "You want to play hero now? After being thrown away?"


    He flicked his tail once, cracking the ground.


    "You''re not a storm. You''re not a fighter."


    "You''re a mistake."


    Fifi flinched, but didn''t back down.


    She turned to Fiona for a second.


    "Please... rest. I''ll try to pull him away."


    Then she dashed forward.


    Not to attack¡ªbut to run.


    "Hey!" she yelled, trying to sound brave. "Snake-face!"


    "I''m the one you want!"


    She jumped over a small wall, sparks flying from her feet.


    Vernyx narrowed his eyes.


    "Very well."


    He followed.


    ---


    Fiona grunted, sitting up slowly.


    "...Fifi..."


    She placed her hand over her chest.


    "Buy me a few seconds, okay..."


    ---


    In the distance, Fifi skidded to a stop near a broken plaza.


    Her ears drooped slightly, but she turned to face Vernyx again.


    He arrived moments later, slithering upright.


    He looked down at her.


    "This is the field you chose to die in?"


    Fifi shook her head. "No."


    "I just wanted... her to heal."


    Vernyx didn''t wait.


    He charged.


    "Coiled Fang Engine."


    He became a spinning blur of blades.


    Fifi jumped away just in time¡ªbarely missing his strike.


    She landed awkwardly, one paw sparking.


    "Skitterflash Step!"


    She teleported left, then right.


    But she reappeared mid-air, and her body flipped out of control.


    She hit the ground hard.


    Vernyx didn''t stop.


    "Slithershard Morphing."


    His arms turned into whips, slicing across the field.


    One caught her leg.


    "Ahhh¡ª!"


    She rolled over, trembling.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: STOPPP


    @MoonByte: SHE''S TRYING SO HARD


    @FionyxOnFire: PROTECT HER PLEASE


    @TamerTrash: THIS IS TOO PAINFUL


    @WraithFox: WHERE''S FIONA


    ---


    Fifi tried to stand.


    "I... I''m not..."


    A blast hit her chest¡ªmutagen sparks crackled across her body.


    She screamed, then fell again.


    Vernyx hovered above her now.


    "This is what you are."


    He raised both bladed arms.


    "Small. Weak. Broken."


    Fifi lifted her head slightly.


    Her voice shook.


    "Even so... I wanted to try."


    "I wanted... to be brave."


    ---


    Back in the distance, Fiona stood now.


    Her body still hurt, but her core glowed again.


    She raised her head.


    She saw Fifi, lying on the ground.


    Her fists clenched.


    "That''s enough," she growled.


    "Get away from her."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: YES


    @MoonByte: FIONA IS BACK


    @FionyxOnFire: LET''S GO


    @TamerTrash: TIME TO END IT


    @WraithFox: YOU DON''T HURT OUR BUNNY


    ---


    Fiona''s boosters flared to life.


    Her body burned with radiant heat.


    Her voice cut through the air.


    "You''re not a mistake, Fifi."


    She dashed forward, landed beside the small bunny girl, and gently picked her up.


    Fifi winced, eyes fluttering open.


    "F-Fiona...?"


    Fiona smiled softly.


    "You did good."


    She placed Fifi down behind a broken stone wall.


    "Now rest."


    Fiona turned back toward the battlefield.


    Vernyx stood waiting, coils tightened, blades pulsing, his glowing red eye locked on her.


    Fiona''s expression turned cold.


    "I''ll make you pay for touching her."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @CrimsonSnaps: LET''S GO FIONA


    @EchoSpark: PROTECT THE BUNNY


    @DataMelted: Time for a grand finale


    @VoidSlice: VERNYX IS STILL TOO STRONG THO


    @SunRider7: FIONA NEVER BACKS DOWN


    ---


    Fiona raised her arms high.


    "Fionyx¡ªDivine Performance Authority¡ªFull Power!"


    Her armor glowed brighter than ever.


    Her gauntlets morphed into twin blazing swords.


    Orange wings of light erupted behind her.


    The drones formed a circle of light panels around the field.


    Music blared. Her stage returned.


    Her Divine Performance Authority surged to its peak.


    She shot forward at full speed.


    "Encore Drive!"


    She slashed left, right, up¡ªher moves clean and fast.


    The battlefield pulsed with explosions timed to her swings.


    Vernyx dodged¡ªbarely.


    One slash hit¡ªslicing his side, purple blood leaking from the gash.


    He hissed and spun his tail at her.


    She ducked.


    Then uppercut him with a burst of silver.


    "Let''s see you crawl now."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @StarNoodle: SHE''S ACTUALLY WINNING


    @MechWaltz: VERNYX TOOK DAMAGE?!


    @QuietByte: DON''T LET UP


    @TsunTsunBun: KICK HIM INTO A WALL


    ---


    But then¡ª


    Vernyx''s eye flashed.


    "Command Priority Override."


    His body uncoiled violently, snapping open wide.


    "Genome Collapse Vortex."


    Fiona tried to dodge.


    But the black wave hit her full force.


    She screamed¡ªpain raced down her limbs.


    Her Mana started to crackle.


    "Ugh¡ª!"


    She fell mid-air, hitting the ground hard.


    She coughed¡ªblood at her lip.


    But she stood again.


    "I''m not done¡ª!"


    Vernyx struck again.


    "Coiled Fang Engine."


    He spun like a blade-drill, slamming into her chest.


    Boom!


    Fiona was flung into a wall, breaking through.


    Her drones shattered.


    Music cut out.


    Her armor dimmed.


    Still¡ªshe got back up.


    Her body shook.


    Her visor cracked.


    "...not... yet..."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: FIONA?!


    @ByteCrush: GET UP


    @FrostyBagel: SHE''S HURT


    @LuxStream99: THIS IS BAD


    @NovaJammer: SHE''S STILL MOVING?! HOW?!


    ---


    Fiona raised one shaky hand.


    "Fionyx..."


    "Last... round..."


    Leon''s energy surged again. She launched into the sky.


    "Star Stage Finale¡ªFlashburn Cannon!"


    She fired a giant beam of burning light.


    It hit Vernyx straight in the chest.


    Explosion. Dust. Silence.


    Everyone held their breath.


    ---


    Then¡ª


    From the dust...


    Vernyx rose.


    Damaged.


    Cracked.


    But alive.


    He looked up.


    Then disappeared.


    "Slithershard Morphing."


    He reappeared behind her.


    And whispered.


    "Silence."


    He drove both blade-arms into her back.


    Fiona screamed.


    Her armor shattered. Her wings broke.


    She hit the ground¡ªhard.


    She didn''t move.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: NO


    @EchoSpark: FIONA


    @DaggerBite: THIS ISN''T HOW IT ENDS


    @ByteBun: PLEASE GET UP


    @MoonByte: FIONA!!!!


    ---


    Fifi, still hidden behind rubble, cried softly.


    She stared at Fiona''s still body.


    "No..."


    "She tried to protect me..."


    Her hands sparked again.


    "I don''t want her to die..."


    And something inside her began to crackle.


    Something big. Something bright.


    Fifi stood up¡ªtrembling with thunder.


    And Vernyx turned to face her again.

 Chapter 433 433: Fluffy Lightning Ball

    Fiona''s body lay still in the dust.


    Fifi stared at her, eyes wide with fear, then pain... then something new.


    Anger.


    Her paws clenched.


    Her soft breath quickened. Her ears twitched violently.


    Sparks danced across her cheeks and tail.


    The ground beneath her feet vibrated as static began to swirl around her body.


    "Fiona..."


    Her voice cracked.


    "You were the first... the only one who protected me."


    Tears rolled down her cheeks.


    "But he..."


    Her hands shook.


    "HE HURT YOU."


    Then, she shouted, voice filled with rage:


    "I''M GOING TO KILL YOU!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @StarBlitz: SHE''S GLOWING?!


    @FluffyStatic: IS THIS HER TRUE FORM??


    @BoltKidX: GO BUNNY GIRL GO!!!


    @NovaFury: SHE''S SO SMALL BUT I''M TERRIFIED


    @ZapQueen: DESTROY THAT SNAKE


    ---


    Vernyx turned toward her slowly.


    His coils slid along the ground.


    He raised one blade arm lazily.


    "You?" he said, cold and low.


    "You''re nothing."


    "You''re a failure."


    "You can''t even control yourself."


    "What can you possibly do?"


    Fifi''s entire body flared with electricity.


    A violent wave of uncontrolled storm energy blasted out in every direction.


    Fiona''s broken body was protected by the edge of a rock wall.


    But Vernyx stood directly in front of the blast.


    And it hit him hard.


    BOOM!


    Vernyx was thrown back, smashing into a wall, his armor sparking.


    Fifi panted, tears still streaming, her face red with rage and sadness.


    "I don''t care... if I break."


    "I just want to stop you."


    ---


    Fifi raised both paws and screamed¡ª


    "Arcflare Collapse!"


    A shockwave of pure electricity erupted from her body.


    Thunder cracked the sky.


    The entire battlefield lit up like a flashbang storm.


    Vernyx roared as he was struck mid-recovery.


    He tumbled back, leaving behind metal fragments and hissing scales.


    Fifi stepped forward¡ªsparking with every move.


    She jumped high into the air.


    "Bunny Bolt¡ªOverdrive!"


    She came crashing down like a lightning strike¡ªpaws glowing bright yellow.


    She slammed into Vernyx''s chest.


    BOOM!!


    The earth shook.


    Smoke covered the impact zone.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @EchoSnap: SHE HIT HIM


    @BuzzGale: DID SHE WIN?!


    @FuryTails: THAT WAS A FINISHER RIGHT??


    @VoltageSprite: SHE DID HER BEST


    ---


    But then...


    The smoke moved.


    A hiss echoed.


    Vernyx stood back up.


    His armor was cracked.


    His coils smoked.


    His eye flickered.


    But he was still moving.


    He stared down at Fifi, who could barely lift her head.


    "You did well, rabbit," he said coldly, each word slow like a dagger.


    "Too well."


    He stepped closer.


    Fifi whimpered, trying to stand.


    Her small arms trembled, sparks flickering weakly from her paws.


    "Now die."


    Vernyx raised his tail, blade tipped and glowing.


    "Go back to where you belong¡ªscrap, error, failure."


    Fifi coughed.


    "I just... wanted to help..."


    He didn''t care.


    He struck.


    SLAM.


    His tail slammed into her side, launching her into a cracked wall.


    She cried out¡ªsharp, small, pained.


    Her body hit the ground with a heavy thud.


    She didn''t get up.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: NOOOO


    @ByteBloom: STOP IT STOP


    @FluffGuardian: NOT THE BUNNY


    @SparkFist: HE CALLED HER A FAILURE WTF


    @ZapQueen: SHE FOUGHT WITH HER HEART


    ---


    Vernyx slithered forward, slow and towering over her.


    "You tried to be something you''re not."


    "Useful."


    His red eye gleamed.


    "Even when you shine... it''s not enough."


    He lifted one blade arm again.


    Fifi blinked slowly, too weak to move.


    Her voice cracked.


    "I... wanted to be brave."


    "I just... didn''t want to be alone..."


    Her hand twitched toward the light¡ªtoward Fiona.


    She couldn''t reach.


    ---


    Vernyx raised his blade again, red eye glowing bright.


    Fifi flinched, too weak to move.


    "I''ll end it now," he hissed. "You die silent."


    He swung down¡ª


    BOOM.


    A sudden burst of silver light exploded across the battlefield.


    Vernyx didn''t even see the strike.


    He flew across the air like a ragdoll, crashing into a stone wall.


    CRACK!


    Dust flew. The ground shook.


    Vernyx groaned and slid down the rubble, stunned.


    He looked up quickly, furious.


    "Who¡ª?!"


    Standing exactly where he had been, calm and still¡ª


    Was Liora Luxoria.


    Her eyes locked onto him with zero emotion.


    And in her right hand...


    She held Scaldrith''s limp body, one clawed arm dangling, broken armor sparking.


    Liora dropped the hybrid at her feet like trash.


    Vernyx''s eye flared.


    "YOU... you killed him!?"


    Liora didn''t blink.


    "Dead?" she repeated, tilting her head slightly.


    "No."


    She smirked.


    "Just passed out after a blur of punches."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: L I O R A


    @SteelTalon: SHE JUST YEETED HIM


    @ShadowCrush: SHE CALLED IT A BLUR LOL


    @LuxVaultCrack: THE HUNTER HAS ARRIVED


    ---


    Vernyx slowly stood, his coils tightening in rage.


    "You... you''ll pay for that."


    "You dare touch one of us?"


    Liora didn''t move.


    She didn''t raise her blade.


    She only looked down at him, calm and cold.


    "You talk too much."


    ---


    Behind her, Fifi stirred, barely sitting up.


    She stared at the silver-haired warrior.


    "W-Who are you...?"


    Liora turned slightly, looking over her shoulder.


    "So, you''re the failure hybrid I heard about."


    Fifi flinched.


    But Liora''s tone didn''t mock.


    It was just... blunt.


    "Don''t worry. I''m with Fiona."


    She turned her head back to Vernyx.


    "Now take Fiona," she said. "Get her away from here."


    Fifi nodded slowly.


    "Y-Yes..."


    She crawled to Fiona''s side, carefully lifting her with what little strength she had left.


    Liora stepped forward without turning.


    "I''ll handle this."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @FluffStatic: Liora just ordered her like it was nothing


    @ByteDrill: She''s so COOL


    @SilverEdgeX: That poor snake''s gonna get WRECKED


    @WraithFox: "Now it''s time to deal with the snake" GOOSEBUMPS


    @Ashfall: LUXORIA''S HUNTER VS AURELIUS'' MONSTER. LET''S GO


    ---


    Vernyx''s coils flexed.


    His eyes burned.


    "You''re confident."


    Liora stopped walking.


    Then turned her head just enough to smirk.


    "I just broke the lizard."


    "Now I''m here to crush the snake."


    Vernyx hissed, coils tightening, blades twitching at his sides.


    "You think you can crush me?"


    "I was made to slice gods apart."


    He took a step forward, voice colder than steel.


    "Come try, hunter."


    "I''ll show you why no one survives when I coil."


    Liora''s smirk didn''t fade.


    "Good."


    She raised her hand, Leon''s light rising behind her like a blade drawn from the sun.


    "I want you to fight back."


    "It makes the silence hit harder."

 Chapter 435: Fifi’s First Ride

    Vernyx was barely standing now.


    His coils dragged, his blades cracked, his eye dim and flickering.


    But even so...


    He smiled.


    "You''re strong," he said with a hiss, voice trembling.


    "Too strong..."


    "But it doesn''t matter."


    He tapped something on his chest.


    A red core began to glow beneath his broken plating.


    "Because your fight style, your flame, your system¡ªit''s all been recorded."


    He raised his head.


    "Your info... has already been sent to the vault."


    His body crackled.


    "And now..."


    He opened his arms wide.


    "It''s time to kill you¡ªwith me."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: WAIT WHAT


    @MoonByte: HE''S GONNA SELF-DESTRUCT?!


    @ByteBlaze: NO NO NO STOP HIM


    @FluffyStatic: FIONA?! LIORA?!


    @CoreSparkz: SHUT HIM DOWN NOW


    ---


    Fiona''s voice returned¡ªshaky but clear.


    "Chat... he''s really gonna blow."


    "Classic move. Destroy yourself before getting caught."


    She looked at the glowing core building up in his chest.


    "Too bad for him... he''s doing it in front of Liora."


    ---


    Behind cover, Fifi clutched her ears.


    "He''s going to explode?" she whispered, worried.


    Fiona nodded slowly.


    "Yeah... but watch."


    "Liora won''t let him."


    ---


    Out in the center of the battlefield, Liora didn''t flinch.


    She looked straight at Vernyx.


    "You think I care?" she said calmly.


    "You think I care if they sees my moves? My energy?"


    Her blade dropped to her side.


    "It''ll end the same way."


    She stepped forward.


    "They''ll send someone."


    "I''ll cut them down."


    "They''ll study me."


    "I''ll break them again."


    Her eyes narrowed.


    "You forget one thing, Vernyx."


    She raised one hand.


    "I''ve already fought and beaten Scaldrith."


    "And you were made just like him."


    "So of course..."


    Her smirk returned.


    "I already know how to shut you down."


    She clenched her fist and activated Silver Sun Authority.


    ---


    Suddenly¡ªlight burst across the battlefield.


    A ring of pure solar fire surrounded Vernyx.


    The red core in his chest¡ªflickered.


    Then went out.


    "W-What...?"


    Vernyx looked down, panicked.


    The glow vanished.


    His limbs twitched.


    "No... I¡ªhow...?"


    Liora stepped into the light, now only a few meters away.


    "Inside my Authority," she said coldly, "your fire doesn''t burn."


    "Your energy belongs to me."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: SHE SHUT HIM DOWN.


    @VoltageNova: SHE REALLY JUST TURNED OFF HIS CORE


    @MoonByte: LIKE. A. SWITCH.


    @DataStormX: I''M NEVER SLEEPING AGAIN


    @ZapQueen: THE SUN. DOES. NOT. CARE.


    ---


    Vernyx''s knees dropped.


    He fell, face-first into the ground.


    His coils stopped moving.


    His systems blinked and failed.


    Fiona let out a long breath.


    "Well, chat," she said softly.


    "That''s what we call a clean shutdown."


    ---


    Back behind cover, Fifi stared in awe.


    "She... she stopped him without even touching him."


    Fiona nodded proudly.


    "That''s Liora."


    "She doesn''t need tricks."


    "She doesn''t bluff."


    "She ends things."


    ---


    Liora turned away from Vernyx without another word.


    Her boots crunched over the cracked field as she walked steadily toward Fiona and Fifi.


    Fiona sat leaning against a half-broken pillar, one arm around Fifi, who clung quietly to her side.


    Liora stopped a few steps away, looking down at the little bunny girl.


    "So this is the failed hybrid that ran," she said flatly.


    She glanced down at Fifi''s trembling paws.


    Then back at the unconscious bodies of Scaldrith and Vernyx lying in the dust behind her.


    "No wonder they called you a failure."


    Fifi flinched and immediately hid behind Fiona.


    Her long ears drooped, and she didn''t say a word.


    Liora arched a brow.


    "A shy one, huh."


    Fiona grinned tiredly.


    "She''s not just shy, she''s recovering."


    "She tried to fight that snake when I was down."


    Liora looked again at Fifi, eyes sharp but less cold now.


    "...Hmm."


    Then she shifted her focus back to Fiona.


    "So, Fiona," she said. "What''s your plan now?"


    Fiona leaned her head back with a tired grin.


    "Oh, the usual."


    "Drag myself home, soak in a hot bath, get healed up, and sleep for ten hours."


    Liora didn''t smile¡ªbut her eyes narrowed, like she almost did.


    Fiona glanced at her.


    "And hey... thanks for saving me."


    "But seriously. How''d you even know to show up?"


    Liora crossed her arms.


    "Your plan was reckless. Of course I came."


    She paused.


    "Luckily for you... you didn''t die."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: SHE CALLED IT RECKLESS


    @MoonByte: LIORA''S JUST BUILT DIFFERENT


    @StreamFist: Can confirm Fiona nearly died 12 times


    @ByteWing: THE HOVERPACK IS COMING I KNOW IT


    @SoftTailz: Protect the bunny PLEASE


    ---


    Fiona pushed herself to her feet, groaning.


    "Okay, okay. Let''s go back."


    She raised her hand.


    "Fionyx¡ªhoverpack mode!"


    Her armor shimmered, reforming into a sleek, glowing hoverpack strapped to her back.


    She turned and looked at Fifi.


    "...Can we bring her?"


    Liora nodded without hesitation.


    "Of course. Bring her to Lord L."


    Her tone was cool, but something in her voice had purpose.


    "He''ll want to see her. Personally."


    Fiona smirked.


    "I figured as much."


    She turned to Fifi, gently tapping the girl''s shoulder.


    "Fifi. We''re heading home."


    "You''re coming too."


    Fifi looked unsure.


    "I... I don''t know how to fly..."


    "Don''t worry," Fiona said. "We''ve got you."


    "Fionyx¡ªsecond unit, hoverpack assist!"


    A small pack deployed from Fiona''s shoulder module and floated down.


    It latched onto Fifi''s back automatically, adjusting to her size.


    Fifi squeaked in surprise, ears twitching high.


    "I-It''s flying... on me?!"


    Fiona reached out and grabbed her hand.


    "Yeah. Just float with me."


    Fifi nodded hesitantly.


    "...Okay."


    Liora stepped to the side and gave a small signal.


    Leon shimmered behind her, reforming into a silver flight rig.


    She pulled it across her back and lifted into the air.


    With one hand, she activated a magnetic field.


    She then dragged the limp bodies of Scaldrith and Vernyx behind her.


    They were bound in silver coils.


    "Master will love this," she said simply.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: THE DRAGGED BODIES??? ICONIC


    @TamerTrash: Fifi got her first hover ride


    @NovaSprout: Fiona grabbing her hand = softest thing ever


    @MechaDroneX: Leon dragging two corpses like it''s groceries


    @ZapQueen: They''re bringing her HOME??


    ---


    Fiona and Fifi lifted into the sky together, trailing just behind Liora.


    Fifi''s grip tightened.


    Fiona leaned in.


    "Hey," she said gently. "You okay?"


    Fifi nodded softly.


    "I... I think I''m excited."


    Fiona smiled.


    "Good. You''re about to meet someone very special."


    Liora led them through the sky, back to Luxoria Castle.

 Chapter 436: New Roomie

    The gates of Luxoria Castle opened with a soft hum.


    White light bathed the landing platform as Fiona, Liora, and Fifi went down together.


    Fifi''s feet barely touched the ground before she scurried behind Fiona again.


    Her small paws clinged to Fiona''s coat.


    She peeked out for a second, ears twitching, then quickly hid again.


    Liora glanced back, hands behind her back.


    "She''s still scared," Liora said flatly.


    Fiona nodded, patting Fifi''s head gently.


    "Yeah. She''s been through a lot."


    "She doesn''t need more pressure."


    Liora looked at Fiona, then at Fifi again.


    "...She''s stronger than she looks."


    "I know," Fiona replied with a soft smile. "But let her stay with me first."


    "I''ll bring her to Lucius tomorrow. After she rests."


    Fifi looked up slightly at the name.


    "L-Lucius?"


    Fiona gave her a reassuring grin.


    "He''s the boss. The one who made all this. But don''t worry."


    "He''s actually nicer than he looks. Sometimes."


    Fifi gave a small nod, still clinging to Fiona''s sleeve.


    Liora turned, stepping down the white hallway that led deeper into the castle.


    "Okay then."


    "I''ll go meet him first."


    Fiona tilted her head.


    "You gonna tell him everything?"


    Liora looked over her shoulder.


    "I always do."


    Then she walked away.


    Fiona and Fifi stood there for a moment.


    Fifi tugged Fiona''s sleeve gently.


    "Um... can I really stay with you...?"


    Fiona ruffled her hair.


    "Of course you can, fluffball."


    "We''ll get you a soft bed, warm food, and a place to breathe."


    Fifi smiled a little.


    "T-Thank you..."


    Fiona nodded, smiling gently.


    "Come on, let''s get inside."


    "You''re safe now."


    Fiona gently opened the door to her room.


    It slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a cozy space.


    Warm lights, soft orange walls, a wide couch, and a big bed off to the side.


    Fifi peeked in carefully, still clinging to Fiona''s arm.


    She looked around, eyes wide.


    "This is... your room?"


    Fiona nodded and smiled.


    "Yep. Home sweet castle-room."


    She led Fifi inside and closed the door behind them.


    Then she tapped the panel on her wall.


    "Liline?"


    A shimmer appeared in the corner of the room.


    Suddenly, Liline phased out from the wall, glowing softly.


    "Fiona, welcome ba¡ª"


    She paused, noticing the small bunny-eared girl hiding behind Fiona.


    Fifi jumped with a soft squeak and hid again.


    Liline tilted her head slightly, then smiled.


    "Is this our new guest?" she asked gently.


    Fiona looked back at Fifi.


    "You could say that."


    "She''s shy. And a bit overwhelmed."


    Liline nodded warmly.


    "Well, she''s safe here."


    Fiona gave a thumbs up.


    "Anyway, I need food brought here."


    "She hasn''t eaten since... probably forever."


    Liline raised her hand and tapped her fingers in the air.


    "Of course I can. I''ll prepare something soft, warm, and light for her."


    "Just go take a shower. By the time you''re back, it''ll be ready."


    Fiona stretched.


    "Perfect."


    "Thanks, Liline."


    Liline smiled again, then softly faded back into the wall like smoke.


    Fifi stared at where she vanished.


    "...She came from the wall..."


    Fiona chuckled.


    "Yeah. That''s Liline. She''s kinda the ghost-queen of the castle."


    "But nice."


    "She''s part of the castle itself."


    Fifi blinked.


    "...That''s scary and cool..."


    Fiona smiled and reached for Fifi''s hand.


    "Now come on. Let''s take a shower."


    She gave her a playful look.


    "We stink."


    Fifi looked down and sniffed herself.


    "...Oh. I do..."


    Fiona laughed.


    "Yeah, bunny girl. You really do."


    Fifi giggled quietly.


    Fiona pushed the bathroom door open.


    Warm mist floated in the air.


    A big glass shower sat in the corner, already preheated by Liline''s system.


    "There," Fiona said, pointing to the big shower panel.


    "We can use that one together. It''s comfy."


    Fifi nodded slowly, still hugging herself a little.


    She looked around the room.


    "It''s really clean..."


    Fiona smiled. "Yeah. Liline keeps everything sparkling."


    She handed Fifi a soft towel and a small robe from the wall.


    "Here. You can wear this after. I''ll help if you need anything."


    Fifi looked at the towel, then at Fiona.


    "...Can I ask something?"


    "Sure," Fiona said, pulling off her boots with a wince.


    Fifi hesitated, then whispered, "Why are you being so nice to me?"


    Fiona looked at her for a second.


    Then she smiled softly.


    "Because someone should have been nice to you a long time ago."


    "You didn''t ask to be made like that."


    "You didn''t ask to be locked up."


    Fifi''s eyes watered a little.


    She wiped them quickly with her sleeve.


    "...Thank you."


    Fiona turned on the water and steam hissed gently into the air.


    "Alright, no more tears. Let''s get this grime off."


    They stepped into the warm shower.


    The water ran down their tired bodies, washing away dirt, dried blood, and dust from the fight.


    Fifi let out a soft squeak when the heat hit her back, but then she relaxed.


    Fiona reached out and helped gently rinse her fluffy bunny ears.


    "You''re tougher than you think, Fifi."


    "You faced Vernyx. That wasn''t nothing."


    Fifi blushed and smiled a little.


    "I... I just didn''t want you to die..."


    Fiona chuckled. "And I didn''t want you to die either."


    "See? We''re a good team."


    After the shower, the two sat on soft mats in Fiona''s room, wrapped in warm towels.


    Liline had already returned, with two plates of hot food on a floating tray.


    A bowl of veggie noodles, soft meat rolls, and warm fruit slices.


    Fifi''s eyes sparkled.


    "This is all for us?"


    "All for you, bunny girl."


    Fiona grinned.


    Fifi took a bite¡ªand let out a soft hum of joy.


    "It''s so good..."


    Fiona watched her for a moment before eating herself.


    They ate slowly, quietly. No cameras. No pressure. No enemies.


    Just a warm room and peace.


    Later, Fiona patted the bed beside her.


    "Come on."


    "It''s huge. You''re sleeping here."


    Fifi hesitated again.


    "But... are you sure?"


    Fiona nodded. "Yep. You''re with me now."


    Fifi crawled onto the bed and lay beside her, hugging a small pillow.


    Fiona pulled the blanket over both of them.


    The lights dimmed on their own.


    The room fell into calm silence.


    "...Fiona?"


    "Yeah?"


    Fifi whispered, "Good night."


    Fiona smiled.


    "Good night, Fifi."


    "You''re safe."


    And finally, Fifi closed her eyes...


    ...and slept without fear.

 Chapter 437: Vault Secrets?

    Liora stood still in one of the private vault chambers deep inside Luxoria Castle.


    She quickly called Lucius with their connection.


    "Master, I have something interesting for you to see."


    A moment passed before a soft hum echoed.


    Lucius Luxoria appeared from a corridor, stepping into the room.


    His eyes gleamed as he folded his hands behind his back.


    "What is it, Liora?"


    Without a word, Liora turned to the side and opened, taking out something from her system vault.


    The unconscious bodies of Vernyx and Scaldrith dropped onto the metal floor.


    Both were bruised, armor cracked, wires sparking, limbs twitching faintly.


    Still alive¡ªbut fully passed out.


    Lucius raised a brow.


    His smile widened.


    "Well now..."


    He slowly walked around the two hybrids, crouching slightly beside Vernyx.


    "Humanoid beasts with machine fusion..."


    He turned to Scaldrith''s still form.


    "Clean limb coordination. Cybernetic nervous systems... and a blend of organic and mechanical tissue."


    He stood up and looked at Liora.


    "These must be the hybrids I heard about from Fiona''s stream, aren''t they?"


    Liora nodded.


    "Yes. They''re man-made humanoid beasts."


    "Created by the Aurelius vaults. Not natural. Not bonded to the world."


    Lucius crossed his arms, thinking.


    "So this is what Aurelius has been hiding..."


    "One''s reptilian¡ªcommand type."


    "The other''s serpentine¡ªsilent assassin."


    Liora added, "And both were designed to fight like people, not beasts."


    Lucius smirked.


    "A shame they ran into you."


    Liora said nothing.


    Lucius chuckled softly.


    "I''m very interested now."


    "So this is one of Aurelius'' top projects, huh?"


    "Really interesting."


    He turned and snapped his fingers.


    "Liline," he said clearly.


    "Please open the dissecting analysis room."


    The wall beside him shimmered.


    A soft light pulsed outward.


    Then, from the wall, Liline appeared.


    She bowed slightly, her voice as gentle as always.


    "Yes, Master Lucius."


    Her eyes shifted toward the two unconscious hybrids on the ground.


    Her expression didn''t change, but she blinked once.


    "...These are not beasts from this region."


    Lucius smirked.


    "Correct. They''re not natural beasts at all."


    He gestured casually toward Vernyx and Scaldrith, who were still unconscious.


    "They''re hybrids¡ªmachines and monsters, fused into humanoid weapons."


    Liline tilted her head slightly.


    "From the Aurelius vault, I assume?"


    Liora answered with a nod.


    "Yes. They were strong... but not strong enough."


    Lucius chuckled.


    "Well done, as usual."


    Liline turned to Lucius.


    "The dissecting analysis room is ready. Do you want full detail scans?"


    Lucius nodded.


    "Yes. Everything. Internal structure, nerves, mechanical signals, core implants, and combat reflex mapping."


    "I want to know what makes them tick."


    Liline raised her hand, and a soft panel appeared in the air, glowing with blue code.


    "They will be transferred now."


    Two glowing platforms appeared under Vernyx and Scaldrith.


    Their bodies slowly lifted from the floor.


    Faint sparks still flickered from Vernyx''s broken fangs and Scaldrith''s arm wires.


    Lucius watched carefully.


    "Liline, make sure they don''t wake up during the process."


    "They may look broken... but Aurelius weapons always have backup tricks."


    Liline smiled faintly.


    "They will be fully restrained. No energy allowed in or out without my permission."


    Lucius nodded in approval.


    "Perfect."


    As the two hybrids floated through the vault doors, Lucius glanced at Liora.


    "Did Fiona take the bunny?"


    "Yes," Liora replied. "She brought her back safely."


    "She wanted her to rest before meeting you."


    Lucius chuckled.


    "That''s fine."


    "I''m more interested in what these two have inside them first."


    He turned toward the vault.


    "Let''s take a look..."


    "...at Aurelius'' secrets."


    And with that, the doors closed softly behind them.


    ---


    Lucius stood quietly near the glowing chamber wall.


    He watched Liline working from the center of the room.


    Her form moved gently through the air, data screens floating around her.


    Her eyes glowed faintly as she processed everything.


    Lucius''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    Liline had changed.


    He could feel it.


    After upgrading her into a Divine-tier spirit beast, everything in Luxoria Castle had become sharper, faster... cleaner.


    Even this analysis room looked more advanced than before.


    Lucius smirked.


    All thanks to the hack points he used.


    He had so many now that even upgrading Liline to Divine Tier had been easy.


    He stepped forward.


    "Liline," he said calmly, hands behind his back, "what have you found so far?"


    Liline turned slowly, her form soft but steady.


    "Yes, Master Lucius."


    "I have completed the first scan of both hybrids."


    "They are... more complicated than expected."


    Lucius tilted his head slightly.


    "Oh?"


    Liline nodded.


    "They each have numerous DNA patterns."


    "They are made with roughly 60% beast DNA and 40% human DNA."


    Lucius raised an eyebrow.


    "Interesting..."


    "So they''re more beast than man¡ªbut still close enough to function like a soldier."


    "Exactly," Liline replied.


    She swiped one screen toward him.


    "And they also added advanced tech to help suppress the wild instincts of the beast side."


    "Such as?"


    Liline listed softly.


    "Implants that reduce aggression."


    "Neural chips that can trigger sleep, hypnosis, or even instant death if needed."


    Lucius''s eyes sharpened slightly.


    "They added suicide triggers?"


    "Yes," Liline said. "They were designed for control. Not freedom."


    Lucius smirked again.


    "Aurelius always did love chains."


    He walked slowly around the glowing room.


    "Did you find anything else?"


    Liline nodded.


    "There are signal receivers buried in their spines."


    "They only respond to high-tier vault commands."


    "Without those commands, they default to auto-combat mode... or freeze entirely."


    Lucius hummed softly, his eyes still on the glowing data screens.


    "Failsafe weapons with human minds," he repeated.


    "Tell me, Liline... what about their intelligence?"


    He turned slightly, thinking back to the stream.


    "From what I saw, they seemed... clever. Not like wild beasts."


    Liline nodded, her soft voice steady.


    "Yes. Their mental level is quite high."


    "I would say about the same as a smart human teenager."


    Lucius raised an eyebrow. "That smart?"


    "They can think fast, react, and even plan," Liline continued.


    "But their minds were set up to be proud of their survival as hybrids."


    "And also trained to be Aurelius'' top soldiers."


    Lucius folded his arms.


    "So, in short... they aren''t just weapons."


    "They''re loyal."


    "To Aurelius."


    Liline nodded again. "Yes. Very loyal. You could say they were programmed to follow."


    Lucius smirked, his silver eyes glowing.


    "Can you hack that loyalty?"


    Liline smiled faintly.


    "Of course I can."


    "It won''t be easy... but it''s possible."


    Lucius chuckled.


    "Good."


    "Because I don''t want to destroy them."


    "I want to turn them."


    "Let Aurelius watch their best weapons bow to me instead."

 Chapter 438: Fluffiel Meets Luxoria

    Fiona opened her eyes slowly, blinking at the soft light coming through the window.


    The castle room was quiet, calm.


    The bedsheets were warm.


    She stretched her arms above her head with a yawn.


    "Mmm... I slept like a rock."


    Next to her, Fifi stirred.


    The small bunny-eared girl peeked out from under the blanket, her ears droopy from sleep.


    "...Fiona?"


    Fiona turned to her and smiled.


    "Morning, fluffball."


    Fifi rubbed her eyes.


    "Did we... really sleep here all night?"


    Fiona sat up and nodded.


    "Yep. Safe, sound, and snuggled."


    Fifi yawned.


    "...That was... the best sleep I ever had."


    Fiona laughed softly.


    "I bet it was. You needed it."


    She reached over and patted Fifi''s head gently.


    "Now... let''s get ready."


    Fifi tilted her head. "Ready for what?"


    Fiona stood up and walked toward her wardrobe.


    "It''s time to meet Lucius."


    Fifi sat up quickly, her eyes wide.


    "L-Lucius?!"


    She hugged her pillow tight.


    "Isn''t he the... big boss?"


    Fiona pulled out a clean outfit and nodded.


    "Yep. The big boss of Luxoria Castle."


    "He''s the one who built all this."


    Fifi hid her face in the pillow.


    "I''m scared..."


    Fiona smiled and walked back over, crouching beside her.


    "Hey. Don''t be."


    "He''s not scary."


    Fifi peeked out with one eye.


    "Really?"


    Fiona nodded.


    "Lucius is calm, smart, and kind to people who deserve kindness."


    She added with a wink, "He only gets scary when someone tries to hurt his people."


    Fifi''s ears twitched.


    "...So... he won''t hurt me?"


    Fiona placed a hand on her shoulder.


    "Not at all. You''re with me."


    "And I already told him about you."


    Fifi blinked. "You did?"


    "Yep. He''s curious."


    Fiona stood up again and started fixing her hair in the mirror.


    "He wants to meet you. I think he already has a few ideas about how to help you too."


    Fifi slowly slid out of bed.


    She picked up her soft shoes and the little coat Liline had brought the night before.


    "Okay... I''ll try to be brave."


    Fiona smiled in the mirror.


    "There''s the Fifi I know."


    "Let''s get clean, get dressed, and go meet the one and only Lucius Luxoria."


    Fifi took a deep breath, her spark-filled hair flickering gently.


    "...Okay," she whispered. "I''m ready."


    Fiona gave her a soft smile, then turned toward the wall.


    "Liline?" she called.


    A few seconds later, Liline appeared from the wall.


    "Yes, Fiona?"


    "Can you show us the way to Lucius?"


    "Of course," Liline replied with a gentle nod.


    Suddenly, part of the wall shimmered and a hallway unfolded in front of them.


    "Please follow this path. He''s waiting."


    Fiona nodded. "Thanks, Liline."


    She looked at Fifi and held out her hand.


    "Let''s go."


    Fifi hesitated for a second, then slowly reached out and took Fiona''s hand.


    Together, they walked through the hallway.


    At the end of the hall was a wide silver door.


    It opened by itself as they approached.


    Inside, Lucius Luxoria stood by a long table with a soft couch in front of it.


    He turned as they walked in.


    "So this is Fifi," he said, voice smooth.


    "The bunny girl."


    Fifi immediately hid a little behind Fiona again, her ears low.


    Fiona gently pulled her forward.


    "Yeah," she said. "This is Fifi Fluffiel."


    "She''s the one Aurelius called a failed hybrid."


    Lucius looked at the small girl.


    He didn''t move closer. He just gave her a small smile.


    "No need to be scared," he said.


    "Sit down first."


    He gestured toward the soft couch in front of him.


    On the table were two cups of warm tea and a plate of cookies.


    Fiona walked over and sat down casually, pulling Fifi gently with her.


    Fifi sat slowly, still watching Lucius carefully.


    Lucius stayed standing for a moment, then slowly sat on the other side of the table.


    "I heard about you from Fiona," he said.


    "I also saw what you did."


    Fifi blinked. "You... watched the stream?"


    Lucius nodded.


    "You protected Fiona. You tried to fight. That takes courage."


    Fifi looked down at her hands.


    "...But I still lost."


    Lucius smiled again.


    "Even strong people lose. It''s what you do after that matters."


    He pushed the cookie plate gently toward her.


    "Have one. You''re safe here."


    Fifi hesitated.


    Then slowly, she reached out and picked up a cookie.


    "...Thank you," she whispered.


    Lucius nodded. "No problem."


    He leaned forward slightly.


    "Now that you''re eating the cookie, let''s talk."


    "Do you have any information? Anything you want to say?"


    Fifi frowned and looked down.


    "I... I don''t know much," she said softly.


    "I only knew that I was called a failure."


    "And I escaped."


    Lucius raised an eyebrow slightly.


    "How did you escape?" he asked.


    "Did someone help you?"


    Fifi''s hands tightened around the cookie as her face tensed.


    She looked a little scared.


    Lucius noticed and gently raised a hand.


    "Don''t worry," he said calmly. "Just take it slow."


    Fifi nodded slowly.


    She closed her eyes, remembering.


    "...I suddenly woke up."


    "I was inside a water tank... or something like that."


    "There were tubes in my arms. I felt cold. I didn''t know what was going on."


    She paused.


    "Then I panicked. I trashed around."


    "I broke the glass somehow."


    "I fell to the floor, and everything was wet and loud."


    Fiona listened quietly beside her, eyes soft.


    Lucius said nothing, letting her continue.


    Fifi looked up, eyes unsure.


    "The place looked empty. Quiet."


    "I don''t know why, but there were no guards near me."


    "So... I ran."


    "I ran and ran."


    "At first no one followed."


    "But then... they noticed."


    "I heard alarms. I heard them shouting."


    "But I didn''t stop."


    "I just kept running."


    "And somehow... I escaped."


    She looked at Lucius, then down again.


    "I thought I would die."


    Lucius nodded slowly, his voice steady.


    "I see... you were quite lucky."


    "To think you managed to escape like that."


    "It must''ve been during a shift change... or maybe when the staff was off guard."


    Fifi only nodded as she continued to eat the cookies.

 Chapter 439: Fragmented but Real

    Lucius leaned back a little, hands resting calmly on the table.


    "Okay," he said softly. "Then what about the others?"


    "You seemed to know something about the other hybrids."


    Fifi blinked, then slowly nodded.


    "Y-Yeah... I think so."


    Lucius tilted his head.


    "How?" he asked. "And also¡ªwhat about your memory?"


    Fifi looked down at her hands again. Her ears drooped slightly.


    "...I don''t have many memories," she said in a quiet voice.


    "Not like normal people."


    "I only remember my name."


    "Fifi Fluffiel."


    She paused.


    "And I remember the pain."


    Fiona looked over at her, brows drawn.


    Lucius stayed still, his expression unreadable.


    Fifi went on.


    "I remember... flashes. The pain when they forced things into me."


    "Beasts, parts, wires... shocks."


    "I don''t know who I was before. I don''t remember my parents or where I was born."


    "But I remember screaming."


    "I remember being scared."


    Lucius frowned slightly now.


    "...You still feel it? That pain?"


    Fifi nodded slowly, her arms wrapping around herself.


    "Yeah."


    "It''s not in my body anymore, but... in my head."


    "Sometimes when I sleep, I feel like I''m still there."


    "Still inside the tube. Still being watched. Still being poked with tools and wires."


    Fiona gently reached over and placed her hand on Fifi''s.


    Fifi didn''t pull away.


    Lucius''s voice came quietly.


    "And those other hybrids?"


    "Scaldrith and Vernyx."


    "You recognized them?"


    Fifi nodded.


    "Yeah... but not from talking to them."


    "When I saw them... something just clicked."


    "I didn''t know their names, but I knew they were like me."


    "Different."


    "Not normal beasts. Not normal humans."


    She looked at Lucius, her eyes a little watery but calm.


    "I knew they were made like I was."


    Lucius tapped the table lightly with his finger, thinking.


    "So... you know about this world?"


    Fifi nodded again, more confidently this time.


    "Yes."


    "I don''t remember the small stuff, but I know enough."


    "I know what a tamer is. I know about beasts. I know about zones."


    "I don''t know where I learned it... but it''s in there."


    She pointed to her head.


    "Like someone placed the info directly inside me."


    Lucius nodded slowly.


    "That means they programmed your brain."


    "They gave you basic knowledge, but wiped your past."


    Fiona frowned.


    "They erased her before she could live."


    Lucius glanced at Fifi again.


    "Well," he said simply, "you''re here now."


    "You have a place to rest. And people who won''t treat you like a lab tool."


    Fifi looked down again.


    "...Thank you."


    Lucius leaned forward slightly.


    "One last thing," he said. "Do you... want to remember your past?"


    Fifi blinked.


    She looked unsure.


    "...I don''t know."


    "I''m scared of what I''ll find."


    Lucius nodded with understanding.


    "That''s fair," he said.


    "You''re actually a fusion... of many beasts and people."


    He leaned back slightly.


    "So even we don''t really know what your past was."


    Fifi looked down at her lap and slowly nodded.


    "...I understand."


    Lucius turned his head toward the wall and spoke clearly.


    "Liline. Please come."


    Liline appeared, glowing softly as always.


    "Yes, Master Lucius?"


    Lucius nodded toward Fifi.


    "Bring her something to eat. She''s probably hungry."


    Liline smiled and bowed her head.


    "Of course."


    She turned to Fifi.


    But Fifi took a step back, clearly nervous.


    Lucius noticed and looked at Fiona.


    Fiona sighed and stood up.


    She walked over to Fifi and knelt beside her.


    "Hey, it''s okay," she said softly.


    "No one here is going to hurt you."


    She smiled and patted Fifi''s hand.


    "Liline is like the heart of the castle. She''ll take care of you."


    Fifi looked at Fiona... then at Liline... and finally gave a small nod.


    "...Okay."


    Liline gently gestured.


    "Follow me. Your food will be ready soon."


    Fifi slowly walked out with her, glancing back at Fiona one more time before disappearing through the hallway.


    The room was quiet again.


    Lucius turned to Fiona.


    "She''s an interesting one."


    Fiona shrugged. "She''s been through too much."


    Lucius smirked.


    "Which brings us to you."


    He folded his arms and looked directly at her.


    "What do you think I want to talk about, Fiona?"


    Fiona blinked.


    "...Something big, huh?"


    Lucius smiled again.


    "Of course."


    Just then, the door opened quietly.


    Luna, Loreia, and Liora stepped into the room together.


    Luna crossed her arms with a calm smile.


    Loreia strolled in, spinning a cookie between her fingers.


    Liora was silent, as always, her expression serious.


    Lucius nodded toward them.


    "Perfect timing."


    He looked around at all of them.


    "Let''s talk about what we should do with this Fifi."


    Luna raised an eyebrow. "The bunny hybrid?"


    Fiona nodded. "Yep."


    "She''s sweet. Scared, but kind."


    Luna sat down by the wall and tilted her head.


    "For now..." she said thoughtfully, "let''s just observe her."


    "She''s still adjusting."


    "Pushing her too early might scare her again."


    Loreia grinned as she took a seat beside Fiona.


    "I mean... we could always make her part of the castle staff."


    "She''s cute enough," Loreia smirked.


    "I could see her working in a maid outfit."


    Fiona laughed. "You just want to dress her up!"


    Liora spoke up, voice low but clear.


    "She has potential."


    "She was slow... but her instincts were strong."


    "If trained properly, she could become a fighter."


    Lucius raised an eyebrow, curious.


    "You think so, Liora?"


    Liora nodded once.


    "She hesitated at first. But when Fiona was in danger, she acted."


    "She didn''t run. That says enough."


    Loreia leaned back.


    "Well, fighter or maid, she''s soft."


    Fiona raised her hand.


    "I want her with me."


    Everyone looked at her.


    Fiona smiled.


    "I think she''d be perfect for my stream."


    "Like a mascot. An assistant. Or even an idol next to me."


    "She deserves to be seen as more than a failed hybrid."


    Luna glanced at Lucius.


    "You''re the one who decides in the end."


    Lucius tapped his chin.


    "She''s Sovereign-tier."


    "Mutated. Unstable."


    "Half-human, half-beast."


    He looked around.


    "No one here is afraid of that?"


    Liora shook her head.


    "She''s weak now. But I can train her."


    Loreia grinned. "She''s adorable. I like her."


    Luna nodded. "If she ever becomes a threat, we''ll stop her. But right now, she''s not."


    Fiona leaned forward.


    "She''s more scared of herself than we are."


    Lucius smiled again.


    "Good."


    He leaned back in his seat.


    "Then we welcome her."

 Chapter 440: Freedom Comes With Terms

    Lucius stood and placed one hand behind his back, his eyes watching the group.


    "So, we all agree," he said. "We''ll welcome her."


    Everyone nodded.


    Lucius smiled lightly, then turned to Fiona.


    "And I think Fiona''s idea is the best."


    Fiona smirked and gave a playful thumbs-up.


    "Hehe, told you I had good taste."


    Lucius chuckled.


    "But let me be clear."


    "Liline already has a full phantom staff system running the castle."


    "We don''t need more helpers or maids."


    Loreia pretended to pout.


    "Aw, no bunny maid?"


    Lucius ignored her teasing and continued, looking toward Liora.


    "And for fighters, we already have you, Liora."


    Liora nodded silently.


    Lucius added, "Plus, we have the phantom army."


    "Liline controls them fully. We''re not short on strength."


    "So," he concluded, "making her an idol might be the best path for her."


    Fiona nodded... but then noticed something in his voice.


    "Wait," she said, frowning slightly. "You said ''might.''"


    Lucius turned toward her again.


    "Yes. Because even if she becomes an idol... she still needs one thing."


    Fiona blinked.


    "What thing?"


    Lucius''s gaze softened, but his voice stayed firm.


    "She needs an upgrade. And a contract."


    Fiona''s eyes widened.


    "Wait... like me? A contract with... you?"


    Lucius nodded once.


    "Yes."


    Fiona shifted in her seat, unsure.


    "But... she''s still so scared. So gentle."


    "She''s not like me."


    "I chose this. She didn''t."


    Lucius took a step closer to her.


    "I understand, Fiona."


    "That''s why I''m saying this now¡ªbefore anything happens."


    "She needs to be safe. For herself... and for us."


    Fiona''s fingers curled slightly.


    "She''s not dangerous. Just scared."


    Luna finally spoke from her seat near the wall.


    "It''s a good idea, Fiona."


    Fiona looked at her, surprised.


    Luna nodded calmly.


    "We don''t know much about her."


    "You heard it yourself, right?"


    "She barely remembers anything, and she still feels pain from her past."


    Fiona looked down.


    "Yeah..."


    Luna continued.


    "We could help her."


    "We''re not trying to take her freedom away. You know that."


    "We just want her to be strong enough to smile again."


    Loreia leaned forward, her elbows on her knees.


    "And brave enough not to shake every time someone raises their voice."


    "Right now, she''s still living in fear."


    Lucius nodded again.


    "I can remake her gently. I''m not forcing anything on her."


    "I just want her to be able to stand tall."


    "To smile on stream beside you... without trembling."


    Fiona stayed quiet for a long second.


    She looked at the table, then looked at the empty chair where Fifi had sat earlier.


    "She''s already been through so much..."


    Loreia smiled softly.


    "That''s why we help her."


    Liora, still standing silently, finally said:


    "If she gets stronger... I''ll train her personally."


    "I''ll teach her to protect herself."


    Fiona sighed and stood up slowly.


    "...Okay."


    "Let me talk to her first."


    "I want her to decide."


    Lucius nodded with approval.


    "That''s fair."


    "No pressure."


    "No commands."


    Fiona started walking toward the door.


    "Let me explain everything clearly."


    "If she chooses it herself..."


    She paused.


    "Then I''ll support it."


    Lucius smiled again.


    "Good."


    Luna stood up too.


    "And Fiona?"


    Fiona looked back.


    "She trusts you."


    "You might be the first person who ever did that for her."


    Fiona smiled faintly.


    "Then I won''t let her down."


    She opened the door and stepped out.


    Time to talk to Fifi.


    ---


    Fiona walked through the quiet hallway leading to the Luxoria dining hall.


    On the far side of the room, she saw Fifi, sitting by herself at one of the long tables.


    A plate of food sat in front of her.


    Soft bread, fruit slices, and a warm bowl of soup.


    Fifi''s ears perked up when she saw her.


    She smiled gently. "Fiona!"


    Fiona smiled back and walked over.


    She pulled out the chair next to Fifi and sat down.


    "Hey," she said. "You look cozy."


    Fifi nodded shyly. "Liline brought me everything. It''s really good..."


    Fiona looked at the soup and nodded. "She always knows what people need."


    Then her smile faded just a little.


    "Fifi, I need to tell you something."


    Fifi blinked and tilted her head.


    "What is it?"


    Fiona took a slow breath.


    "The Luxoria family... they want to welcome you."


    Fifi''s eyes widened. "Really?"


    Fiona nodded. "Yeah. As one of us."


    "But..." she added, "there''s one condition."


    Fifi''s smile faded. She looked unsure.


    "...What condition?"


    "Don''t worry," Fiona said quickly. "It''s not bad."


    "It''s just a small contract."


    "A special one. It makes sure you can''t hurt anyone in Luxoria."


    Fifi frowned a little. Her ears lowered.


    "...Like Aurelius? Like forced loyalty?"


    Fiona shook her head fast.


    "No, no. It''s not like that at all."


    "It doesn''t hurt."


    "It doesn''t force you to obey commands or punish you."


    "You still have your freedom. Just like I do."


    Fifi looked surprised.


    "You have a contract too?"


    Fiona smiled and nodded.


    "Yep. I made a contract with Lucius."


    "But I can still stream, joke around, do whatever I want."


    "I just can''t hurt the family. That''s all."


    Fifi looked down at her hands, quiet.


    "...But why do I need one?"


    Fiona gently placed her hand over Fifi''s.


    "Because they want to help you."


    "But they also want to be safe."


    "You saw what happened when your powers went wild, right?"


    Fifi''s fingers twitched.


    "...I didn''t mean to..."


    "I know," Fiona said softly. "But still, it was dangerous."


    She leaned in a little closer.


    "And Lucius... he wants to help fix that."


    Fifi looked up slowly.


    "...Fix me?"


    Fiona nodded.


    "He can remove the pain in your body."


    "He can fix your powers so they don''t go out of control."


    "He can even make it so you never feel that experiment pain again."


    Fifi''s eyes widened.


    "He... he can do that?"


    "Of course he can," Fiona said proudly.


    "He made me better. He made Liora to be strong like what you saw."


    Fifi held her spoon tightly.


    "...Will it hurt?"


    Fiona looked down for a moment.


    "...Yeah," she said quietly. "It''ll hurt a lot."


    "But only once."


    "And after that..."


    She looked into Fifi''s eyes.


    "You''ll never have to hurt again."


    "You''ll be reborn."


    Fifi sat silently for a moment.


    Her soup grew cold.


    Her ears twitched softly.


    "...I need to think."


    Fiona smiled gently.


    "Take your time."


    "No one''s rushing you."


    "I just wanted you to know the truth."


    Fifi nodded slowly.


    "...Thank you."


    And for now, that was enough.

 Chapter 441: Broken Bunny, Burning World

    That night, Fifi couldn''t sleep well.


    She curled under the soft blanket in Fiona''s room, hugging her pillow tightly.


    But no matter how soft the bed was, no matter how warm the light was... the pain still came.


    Not in her body, but in her memories.


    She dreamed of the cold water tube again.


    The wires in her arms.


    The voices shouting commands.


    The feeling of not being human.


    Not being real.


    Just... something made.


    She flinched in her sleep. Her paws clenched tight.


    She wanted it to stop.


    She just wanted peace.


    Morning came slowly.


    The soft sound of light waking up the room gently filled the air.


    Fiona was still asleep on her bed nearby, snoring softly with a blanket half on her face.


    Fifi sat up, her hair messy, her ears flat.


    But her eyes were different now.


    She was tired.


    But also ready.


    She stood up quietly, tiptoed to the mirror, and looked at herself.


    "...I don''t want to be broken anymore," she whispered.


    She turned toward the wall panel and tapped it softly like she had seen Fiona do.


    "Liline?"


    A few seconds later, Liline appeared from the wall in her glowing, calm form.


    "Yes, Miss Fifi?"


    Fifi took a deep breath.


    "Can I... talk to Lord Lucius?"


    Liline smiled gently.


    "He''s expecting you."


    A little later, in the same room as before, Lucius stood waiting.


    He looked up as Fifi walked in alone, her small hands clenched at her sides.


    "You came," he said.


    Fifi nodded.


    "I... I thought about it."


    Lucius said nothing, waiting.


    Fifi looked at the floor.


    "I had nightmares."


    "I felt all the pain again."


    "The wires. The voices."


    "The fear."


    She looked up at him.


    "I don''t want to feel it anymore."


    Lucius stepped forward slightly.


    "Then say it clearly."


    Fifi took a deep breath.


    "I want to do the contract."


    "I want to be part of Luxoria."


    "I want to... be fixed."


    Lucius smiled softly.


    "Good."


    "You made the choice yourself."


    Fifi nodded again.


    "No one pushed me."


    "I want to be better."


    Lucius raised his hand.


    "Then come here."


    "It''s time to begin."


    ---


    Fifi gasped.


    Her eyes shot open.


    She sat up fast, breathing hard.


    Her body felt heavy. Her chest ached. Her limbs shook.


    "W-What...?"


    She looked around.


    The sky was red. The ground cracked and scorched.


    Everything smelled like smoke and metal.


    "...What place is this?"


    Suddenly¡ªBOOM!


    An explosion echoed in the distance.


    Fifi flinched and covered her ears.


    Then she saw it.


    A large mutated beast¡ªhalf metal, half flesh¡ªcharging across a destroyed street.


    It slammed into something behind a broken wall. Screams followed.


    Fifi crawled backward, shaking.


    "W-What the hell is going on?!"


    Then she saw that more beasts appeared.


    Flying ones. Crawling ones. Some had glowing cores.


    Others shot out sparks or acid.


    Fifi stood up, her legs wobbling.


    "No... no, no, no. I don''t want this!"


    She turned and ran.


    But the land stretched forever.


    Burnt buildings, fallen weapons, craters.


    Everywhere she looked, there was only war.


    No Fiona.


    No Lucius.


    No Liline.


    She wasn''t in Luxoria anymore.


    She fell behind a crumbled wall, panting.


    Suddenly, one of the mutated beasts turned toward her.


    It charged.


    She screamed.


    And then it hit her.


    Darkness.


    ---


    She woke again.


    Same place.


    Same sky.


    Same burning smell.


    Her eyes filled with tears.


    "I died..."


    "But I''m here again?!"


    She tried to move¡ªbut another explosion hit nearby.


    This time she didn''t run.


    She clenched her fists and growled.


    "I don''t want to die again!"


    Her feet sparked with electricity. Her body charged with unstable power.


    As another beast leapt at her¡ª


    She released it.


    BOOM!


    A shockwave of thunder knocked the beast back.


    But her body trembled.


    It was too much.


    And again¡ª


    Another one came. Too fast. Too strong.


    She was slammed into rubble.


    And everything turned black.


    ---


    Again... she opened her eyes.


    Same red sky.


    Same battlefield.


    Same death.


    "...Why?"


    "Why do I keep waking up?"


    No system.


    No explanation.


    Just pain.


    Just war.


    But this time¡ª


    Fifi stood up slowly.


    Wiped her tears.


    And clenched her tiny fists.


    "...Then I''ll keep fighting."


    "Until I understand why."


    And the thunder in her heart sparked again.


    ---


    Fifi stood there, her feet sparking on the broken ground.


    Smoke filled the air.


    The thunder in her chest beat louder¡ªsteady, not wild. For once, it didn''t hurt.


    She looked at her hands.


    They were still paw-shaped... but something was different.


    The blue glow in her fingers was stronger, more focused.


    "I... don''t feel it."


    She blinked.


    "The pain. The experiment pain... it''s gone."


    She clenched her fists.


    "Why?"


    Her ears twitched as a roar echoed nearby.


    A huge mutated beast came charging toward her.


    It was like a gorilla, but its back was covered in sharp black pipes, and its eyes were glowing red.


    Fifi didn''t run.


    She didn''t panic.


    Instead... she stepped forward.


    "Let''s try this."


    She raised her hand.


    "Bunny... Bolt!"


    A flash of lightning burst from her palm.


    BOOM!


    The bolt hit the beast straight in the chest, blasting it backward into rubble.


    Fifi gasped.


    "I... I did it?"


    But then¡ªanother one came from the side.


    She jumped high¡ªhigher than she ever had before.


    Mid-air, her body twisted, and her feet sparked.


    She slammed down with full force.


    ZAP!


    "Whoa!"


    She landed safely and looked back.


    The beast was stunned, twitching on the ground.


    She took a step back and panted.


    "...What''s going on?"


    "I can fight now. I don''t feel scared. I don''t feel broken..."


    Another beast¡ªthis time a flying one¡ªswooped toward her.


    She flicked her finger.


    "Static Veil!"


    A wave of low sparks burst around her.


    The flying beast hit the field and dropped, stunned before it hit the ground.


    Fifi blinked again.


    "These are... new abilities."


    She looked at her arms, then her legs.


    She felt faster.


    Stronger.


    But her eyes showed sadness.


    "...Why?"


    "Why am I here?"


    She looked around at the endless battlefield. Fire. Screams. Smoke. Dust.


    "Am I... dreaming?"


    She placed a hand on her chest.


    "No..."


    "This feels real."


    Another explosion in the distance made her flinch.


    But this time, she stood her ground.


    "I don''t know why I''m here."


    "But if I can fight..."


    She turned and faced the next wave of beasts.


    "Then I will."


    "I won''t die again."


    She crouched low.


    Her sparks charged up.


    Her eyes glowed faintly.


    And then she leapt back into battle.

 Chapter 442: The Bunny Breaks the Cycle

    Fifi''s body was now laying on a silver bed.


    Next to her, Lucius stood with his hands behind his back.


    Fiona stood at his side, arms crossed, biting her lip as she stared at Fifi''s peaceful face.


    "...Lord Lucius," Fiona said softly.


    "Do you think she''ll survive this?"


    Lucius didn''t look at her right away.


    His eyes stayed on Fifi, then slowly, he smiled.


    "Of course."


    He stepped closer and looked down at the girl with the faint sparks in her hair.


    "She''s like you, remember?"


    "You thought you died too."


    Fiona looked down. "...Yeah."


    Lucius turned to her.


    "But you didn''t. And neither will she."


    "She will wake up."


    "She will stand again."


    Fiona sighed. "It''s just... we can''t see anything."


    He looked back at Fifi.


    "We just need to trust her."


    "Her revival is not tied to sight. It''s tied to will."


    Meanwhile, deep inside the unseen realm...


    Fifi stood in smoke and sparks, her paws shaking, her breath heavy.


    Another monster lunged at her.


    She leapt¡ªbarely dodging.


    Her body was bruised. Her fluffy ears drooped. Her spark trails flickered.


    She looked around.


    Just monsters. Machines. War.


    She gritted her teeth.


    "I don''t... want to die."


    Another beast roared and charged.


    She slid under it, then spun and launched a spark-kick to its back.


    BOOM!


    She stumbled after, coughing.


    Her whole body ached¡ªbut she was still moving.


    "...I want to see them again."


    "I want to go back."


    She wiped her eyes, then stood tall.


    A golden glow began to pulse from her chest.


    Divine Thunder energy surged through her again.


    The battlefield shook.


    And in a moment of stillness¡ª


    She smiled.


    Back in the real world...


    Lucius watched as the glow around Fifi''s body flickered once.


    Fiona''s eyes widened. "She moved!"


    Lucius gave a small nod.


    "...Her will is strong."


    "We don''t need to watch her win."


    "She''s already doing it."


    Fiona looked back at the sleeping bunny girl.


    "Come back soon, Fifi..."


    "We''re waiting for you."


    ---


    After a few quiet hours, the soft light around Fifi''s body pulsed gently.


    Her ears twitched.


    Her fingers moved.


    Then, with a quick breath¡ª


    Fifi''s eyes opened.


    She sat up fast, her heart pounding, sparks flickering from her paws.


    She looked around wildly, breathing fast.


    Her body dropped into a low battle stance, paws raised and glowing.


    "W-Where¡ª?! Who¡ª?!"


    "Fifi!"


    Fiona rushed over quickly, waving her hands.


    "It''s okay! You''re safe!"


    Fifi blinked, confused.


    She looked around the room¡ªfamiliar soft walls, glowing silver panels, peaceful light.


    She was in Luxoria Castle.


    She stared at Fiona... and then her eyes filled with tears.


    "...Fiona..."


    She dropped her paws and leapt forward, throwing her arms around Fiona tightly.


    Fiona caught her and hugged her back, smiling wide.


    "You''re really back," Fiona whispered.


    Fifi cried softly into her chest.


    "I thought I was gone... I thought I''d never wake up again..."


    "It''s over now," Fiona said gently. "You made it."


    From across the room, Lucius stood with his hands behind his back, watching the moment calmly.


    He smiled slightly.


    "Congratulations, Fifi."


    "You''ve completed the contract."


    Fifi peeked up from behind Fiona''s arm, her eyes still watery.


    Lucius continued, "And more than that... you''ve evolved."


    "You''re now a Divine-Tier beast."


    Fifi blinked.


    "D-Divine...?"


    Lucius nodded. "A tier above Sovereign."


    "Something that shouldn''t even exist normally."


    "You''re stronger. Calmer. And finally free from pain."


    Fifi paused... then slowly ducked behind Fiona again.


    She pointed one paw at Lucius and frowned hard.


    "B-Bad lord," she said quietly, ears twitching.


    Fiona burst out laughing. "Oh no, she''s blaming you!"


    Lucius chuckled softly.


    "Don''t worry about that."


    "I''ve been called worse."


    He looked at her with a kind smile.


    "At least now you''re cheerful."


    "No pain. No confusion. And the next time you fight..."


    His eyes gleamed.


    "...you''ll be ready."


    Fifi peeked out again, slowly relaxing.


    Her sparks buzzed gently¡ªbut no longer in fear.


    She felt warm.


    Whole.


    And for the first time...She smiled again.


    "I''m... Divine now?"


    Lucius nodded.


    "You''re no mistake anymore, Fifi Fluffiel."


    "You''re a miracle."


    Fifi hugged Fiona again tightly.


    "...Thank you for not giving up on me."


    Fiona smiled and squeezed her back.


    "Always."


    ---


    Lucius walked into the glowing white laboratory deep inside Luxoria Castle.


    The air was cool.


    The walls shimmered with data screens and quiet humming machines.


    In the center, two large pods glowed softly.


    One held Scaldrith, the lizard-soldier hybrid.


    The other held Vernyx, the coiled serpent-fighter.


    Both of them were still.


    Not dead, but not awake either.


    Lucius stopped near the center of the room and looked around.


    "Liline," he called.


    A few seconds later, Liline appeared, stepping from the wall like light itself.


    Her silver glow was soft and calm as always.


    "Yes, Master Lucius?" she asked.


    Lucius looked toward the pods.


    "Have you done it?"


    He pointed at the sealed units.


    "Are they ready?"


    Liline walked forward, her fingers waving through the air as data screens flickered open.


    "I''ve completed the separation process," she said.


    "Their Aurelius command keys are now fully removed."


    Lucius raised an eyebrow.


    "No more outside control?"


    Liline nodded. "Correct. They are no longer linked to the vault systems."


    Lucius stepped closer to the pod holding Scaldrith.


    The lizard hybrid floated inside, wires running from his back and arms into glowing control points.


    "And their memories?"


    Liline blinked once.


    "Still intact."


    "They remember who they are."


    "But..."


    She looked at Lucius.


    "They are confused. No longer sure who to follow."


    Lucius smiled slightly.


    "That''s good."


    "They will learn here."


    He turned to Vernyx''s pod next.


    The serpent hybrid''s body twitched once inside the fluid.


    Lucius narrowed his eyes.


    "And what about his rage?"


    "He nearly destroyed Fiona."


    Liline answered, "Vernyx''s aggression has been dulled. Not erased¡ªbut slowed."


    "If he wakes now, he won''t lash out immediately."


    Lucius gave a satisfied nod.


    "Good."


    "Then begin the next phase."


    Liline tilted her head.


    "Reprogramming?"


    Lucius smiled faintly.


    "No."


    He looked at both pods.


    "Rebuilding."


    "They won''t be slaves again."


    "They''ll learn what it means to choose."


    Even if that means choosing war again.


    This time¡ªit will be on his terms.

 Chapter 443: War-Born: L-Drake and L-Snake

    The lab lights dimmed slightly as Lucius stood in front of the chamber.


    Liline stood beside him, calm and ready.


    In the center of the room, two stasis beds rolled forward.


    On one bed lay Scaldrith, arms crossed, unconscious but breathing.


    On the other was Vernyx, his serpent form slightly coiled, eyes shut, but his tail twitching faintly.


    Lucius looked at them both.


    "They''ve been broken, freed, and now..." he raised a hand, "...they will be remade."


    Behind them, the doors opened.


    Two glowing beasts walked in.


    Tall, metallic, and powerful Luperion.


    They moved without sound, their bodies glowing faint silver under Luxorite energy.


    Lucius turned to Liline.


    "Bring them here."


    Liline nodded once.


    With a soft pulse from her palm, the floor shifted.


    Mechanical arms gently guided the two Luperions beside the hybrid bodies.


    One stood behind Vernyx.


    The other behind Scaldrith.


    He raised one hand.


    "Now..."


    "Let''s fuse the two of you."


    ---


    [Hack Initiation: Divine Fusion Protocol ¨C War Genesis]


    [Targets: Vernyx, Scaldrith, Luperion (2 Units)]


    [Hack 1: Fuse Vernyx and one Luperion into a new Divine-Tier war entity.]


    [Hack 2: Fuse Scaldrith and the second Luperion into a separate Divine-Tier war entity.]


    [Hack 3: Optimize Luperion''s adaptive and command abilities across both new forms.]


    [Hack 4: Simulate 1 year of brutal war for each fused being, condensed into fusion duration.]


    [Cost Required: 10,000,000,000 Hack Points]


    [Status: Executing...]


    ---


    As the system activated, streams of golden code filled the air.


    Lines of data flowing from Lucius''s palm into the chamber itself.


    The two Luperions glowed brightly and began moving forward.


    Their bodies started to dissolve.


    Their frames shifted into energy and wrapped themselves around Vernyx and Scaldrith.


    Lucius watched calmly.


    "Let''s see how your rebirth looks."


    Liline stood to his side, observing quietly.


    "They are stable," she said.


    "The hack is overriding their internal cores."


    Lucius nodded. "Good."


    Inside the fusion light, Vernyx''s serpent body merged with the sleek frame of Luperion.


    On the other side, Scaldrith''s lizard-like body fused with the second Luperion.


    Lucius crossed his arms as the golden light grew stronger.


    Liline read the system window aloud.


    "War simulation running... One year of virtual combat being streamed into their minds."


    Lucius chuckled.


    "Let them fight. Let them evolve before they even open their eyes."


    He watched as sparks surged between the pods.


    The Luperion code shimmered, fusing perfectly into the hybrids'' bodies.


    The air crackled.


    And then¡ª


    BOOM.


    Both pods hissed open.


    Steam flowed out.


    Lucius stepped forward.


    Two tall figures stood there, shoulders rising and falling¡ªsilent but alive.


    "Welcome back," Lucius said softly.


    "Let''s just call you... the new Luperions."


    "They''ll fear what you become."


    Liline tilted her head. "Shall I prepare their testing arena?"


    Lucius smiled darkly.


    "Yes."


    "Let''s see what my war children can do."


    ---


    The arena was quiet.


    Cold metal walls surrounded the circular platform, glowing softly with light from the Luxoria core.


    Only two stood at the center.


    Two tall, armored humanoids¡ªmotionless like statues.


    One on the left, sleek and thin.


    One on the right, broad and heavy.


    Their silver-black Luxorite armor shimmered with faint energy.


    Lucius Luxoria stood just outside the testing field, arms behind his back.


    Beside him, Liline hovered slightly above the ground, her hands folded calmly.


    Lucius took a single step forward.


    "These two," he said softly, "were born from mistakes."


    "But now... they are mine."


    He raised his voice slightly.


    "L-Snake. L-Drake."


    The two metal beings stirred at once, heads tilting toward Lucius''s voice.


    Lucius continued, his tone clear.


    "You''ve been reborn as my new fighters."


    "You will not serve Aurelius anymore."


    "You will fight for Luxoria."


    He smirked.


    "Now show me your true forms."


    "Show me your power."


    At once¡ªBoth figures moved.


    With a deep mechanical sound, their bodies began to shift.


    Their standard armored human shapes dissolved and changed.


    The one on the left¡ªsleek and quick¡ªsplit at the spine and twisted.


    Its head elongated, armor plates shifted back, and a long coiled tail snapped into place behind it.


    Its arms extended into curved bladed limbs. Fangs peeked from its mouth.


    The being hissed, low and sharp.


    Lucius nodded.


    "L-Snake. Formerly Vernyx."


    "You''ve returned to your most comfortable form."


    Next, the heavier one on the right hunched low.


    Its back grew with thick metal ridges.


    Its arms bulged, claws forming over the fingers.


    A long tail slammed onto the ground, sparking with energy.


    Its face hardened, jaw opening with heavy breath.


    A metal-scaled lizardman, with a soldier''s stance.


    Lucius smiled again.


    "L-Drake. Formerly Scaldrith."


    "You''ve chosen strength and command."


    Liline floated slightly forward.


    "They are stable," she said calmly. "No energy spikes. No rejection."


    Lucius looked between them.


    "Good."


    "Now..."


    "Fight."


    "Show me what your fusion¡ªyour rebirth¡ªis worth."


    Both Luperions turned toward each other.


    L-Snake hissed again and dropped low, its tail coiling beneath its feet.


    L-Drake grunted and took a heavy step forward, claws glowing faintly with internal power.


    Lucius stepped back with a soft laugh.


    "This will be fun."


    "Let the fight begin."


    ---


    Deep in the lower training chamber, the floor lights hummed softly.


    L-Drake stood tall, arms crossed, armor gleaming like thick dragon scales.


    Across from him, L-Snake sat coiled, half-shifted into his serpentine form, eyes faintly glowing.


    L-Drake tilted his head.


    "Vernyx... no, I mean, L-Snake. Seems we meet again."


    L-Snake looked up slowly and gave a small nod.


    "Yeah. You too, Scaldrith¡ªL-Drake."


    They both stood in silence for a moment.


    The past between them wasn''t forgotten.


    But it felt far away now.


    "To think," L-Drake muttered, "we were once under Aurelius."


    L-Snake''s coils shifted slightly. "And now we serve Luxoria."


    L-Drake chuckled quietly.


    "Yeah... kinda funny when you think about it."


    He looked down at his armored hands.


    "But it''s better. My head''s clear now. No noise. No control."


    L-Snake gave a short nod.


    "Same. No more forced orders. Just purpose."


    "Real purpose."


    They then locked eyes.


    L-Snake uncoiled slowly. "Let''s test it."


    L-Drake cracked his knuckles. "Test our new power?"


    L-Snake gave a short smirk. "Of course."


    L-Drake nodded once, his body shifting, growing broader.


    "No holding back, then."


    L-Snake''s tail uncoiled fully as blades extended from his arms.


    The room dimmed.


    And the two divine weapons took their first step toward each other.

 Chapter 444: Clash of the Luperions

    The room darkened as the floor of the Luxoria Arena shifted.


    L-Snake and L-Drake stood still, facing each other.


    High above them, Lucius and Liline watched silently.


    L-Drake rolled his shoulders.


    His heavy armor plates clicked into place.


    "Ready?" he said in a calm, deep voice.


    L-Snake shifted his foot back, tail coiling.


    His eyes glowed. "Let''s begin."


    Then¡ªthey moved.


    L-Snake darted forward first, fast and low.


    His body twisted, shifting into half-snake form.


    Blades extended from his arms. His tail swept the floor, sharp and fast.


    L-Drake stepped to the side and raised one arm.


    CLANG!


    L-Snake''s arm-blade hit his steel forearm and sparked.


    "Still fast," L-Drake said, holding his ground.


    "Still solid," L-Snake replied, pulling back and flipping over him.


    L-Snake''s body rotated midair.


    His tail shot out like a whip.


    L-Drake ducked, then rushed in.


    BOOM!


    His shoulder slammed into L-Snake''s side, sending him skidding across the ground.


    But L-Snake stopped himself, coils grinding against the floor.


    He turned and hissed, then grinned. "Good hit."


    L-Drake''s fists glowed with Luxorite energy.


    "Not enough," he said, charging again.


    L-Snake spun into full serpent form now.


    His body grew longer, shifting into his war serpent form.


    He was covered in segmented metal armor, with glowing light coils.


    He slithered fast around the arena''s edges, leaving static sparks behind him.


    L-Drake''s eyes narrowed.


    He dropped to a crouch.


    "Fortress Mode."


    His back shifted.


    Armor plates locked. His arms expanded.


    His body bulked up with layered protection.


    Two Luxorite cannons slid from his shoulders.


    L-Snake struck again¡ªthis time faster.


    SLASH!


    His blades sparked against L-Drake''s chest.


    But L-Drake didn''t budge.


    He raised one clawed hand and grabbed L-Snake''s tail mid-swing.


    Then, with a grunt, he swung L-Snake into the wall.


    CRASH!


    The wall cracked.


    L-Snake reformed instantly, sliding backward into a defensive coil.


    "Your defense got better," he said.


    L-Drake smirked. "Your aim didn''t."


    L-Snake narrowed his eyes. "Then I''ll correct it."


    Suddenly, his arms retracted and shifted¡ªbecoming two long-linked whip blades.


    He spun.


    The blades extended, wrapping around L-Drake''s cannon arm and legs.


    WHIP¡ªWHIP¡ªCRACK!


    L-Drake roared, trying to move, but the coils tightened.


    L-Snake''s body glowed brighter.


    "Coil Lock¡ªActivate."


    He pulled, throwing L-Drake forward.


    He then leapt into the air with both feet glowing.


    "Final Coil Kick."


    L-Snake slammed his body into L-Drake''s chest, breaking the hold.


    BOOM.


    L-Drake''s heavy body crashed across the stone floor, sparks flying from his armor.


    The metal plates on his chest hissed from the impact of L-Snake''s kick.


    He growled low, pushing himself up with one massive clawed arm.


    "Damn it," L-Drake muttered, steam rising from his back.


    "I need to be more serious."


    Across the arena, L-Snake slithered back and forth in his full serpent warform.


    His voice was calm. Cold.


    "You should''ve known I wouldn''t hold back."


    L-Drake cracked his knuckles, and his armor plates shifted.


    "Fine then."


    He slammed his claws into the ground. The battlefield trembled.


    "Overcast Boost¡ªReinforced Shell Mode."


    His armor thickened. Turret plates folded out from his shoulders.


    His tail split into a wide battering blade.


    And from his chest, a glowing Luxorite sigil flared.


    THUMP. THUMP.


    His heavy feet stomped forward.


    L-Snake narrowed his eyes.


    "Let''s see if that armor can hold up."


    He launched forward in a blur of silver coils.


    WHIP¡ªCLANG¡ªCRASH!


    L-Snake''s tail smashed into L-Drake''s side. It dented the armor but didn''t pierce it.


    L-Drake didn''t move.


    He grabbed L-Snake''s neck mid-swing and slammed him into the floor.


    "Got you."


    He didn''t stop.


    L-Drake lifted L-Snake again and threw him into the wall.


    CRASH!


    Stone cracked. Metal shrieked.


    L-Snake''s massive body curled midair and caught itself.


    He hissed, now circling L-Drake fast.


    He was spinning around him like a loop.


    L-Drake tried to turn, but L-Snake was too fast.


    "Too slow," L-Snake said.


    "Tail Gun Array¡ªOpen."


    Suddenly, segments along L-Snake''s back and tail popped open.


    It revealed six embedded laser cannons.


    They all fired at once.


    Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-ZZZAP!


    L-Drake raised his arms to block, but the energy pushed him back step by step.


    He growled, lowering his arms.


    "Alright then..."


    "Judgment Core¡ªStabilize."


    From his chest, a circular core opened¡ªglowing like molten fire.


    "Your lasers won''t stop this."


    He jumped forward, spinning once, and brought his tail blade down like a war axe.


    L-Snake blocked with his upper coil, sparks flying.


    But the weight forced him to the ground.


    L-Drake landed and pushed harder.


    "Fall already!"


    "Not yet," L-Snake hissed.


    He fired a point-blank cannon from beneath his own neck, blasting L-Drake off him.


    Both warriors skidded back.


    They stood still, eyes locked.


    ---


    Lucius stood at the observation deck, hands behind his back.


    He was watching the sparks and shockwaves rise from the arena floor.


    A faint smile touched his lips.


    He glanced at Liline, who floated calmly beside him.


    "What do you think, Liline?" he asked.


    She tilted her head slightly, eyes still fixed on the fight.


    "They''re powerful."


    "Even an SS-Rank Sovereign beast wouldn''t last long in front of them."


    Lucius nodded slowly.


    "Of course. I made them strong."


    "Strong enough to be the peak of SS Divine-Tier. It was not just for show."


    "They''re soldiers. Precision and pressure."


    Another clash echoed from the arena below.


    L-Snake had wrapped around L-Drake''s arm again, and L-Drake countered with a shoulder slam that cracked the ground.


    Liline didn''t blink.


    "But," Lucius added, voice calm, "I think I can make them better."


    Liline looked at him. "Even stronger?"


    Lucius smirked. "Always."


    He leaned forward slightly, watching as the two warriors broke apart and circled each other again.


    "For now," he said, "let''s enjoy the show. Let them push each other."


    He turned slightly toward Liline. "Also, call the others here. Loreia, Luna, Liora."


    "But not Fiona or Fifi," he added. "Let them rest."


    Liline nodded. "Right away, Master."


    She disappeared into the air, vanishing like mist.


    Lucius smirked to himself. "Let the family see what my new divine soldiers look like."


    Down below, L-Snake and L-Drake clashed again, power shaking the ground.


    The real show had only begun.

 Chapter 445: Big Sis Approved

    Fifi sat cross-legged on her soft yellow blanket, ears twitching slightly as she hugged a round pillow.


    It had been three days since Lucius let her rest.


    No more war rooms. No more simulations.


    Just soft things and warm lights.


    Fiona was drying her fiery-orange hair with a towel.


    She then peeked over from her bed across the room.


    "You''re looking brighter today."


    Fifi looked up and gave a tiny nod. "Mhm. My legs don''t hurt anymore."


    Fiona smiled and tossed the towel aside.


    "Good. You were scaring me for a bit. I thought you''d go all quiet forever."


    "I was just tired," Fifi mumbled, voice soft.


    "I didn''t know rest could feel this nice..."


    She stretched her arms up with a yawn, then blinked at Fiona.


    "Big Sis Fiona?"


    Fiona blinked. "Big Sis?"


    Fifi''s eyes went wide.


    "Oh. I... I wasn''t supposed to say that? I''m sorry. Am I not allowed?"


    Fiona burst out laughing, then stood up and crossed the room in two steps.


    She plopped down next to Fifi and gave her a gentle noogie.


    "Of course you''re allowed, dummy. You can call me Big Sis as much as you want."


    Fifi giggled, relaxing. "Okay. Big Sis Fiona."


    Fiona nudged her shoulder. "That''s better."


    They sat in silence for a moment.


    Fifi played with the edge of her blanket while Fiona leaned back on her palms.


    Then Fiona asked, "Hey, Fifi... can I ask you something?"


    Fifi tilted her head. "What is it?"


    Fiona turned to face her.


    "Now that you''re safe, now that you''re free..."


    "What do you want to do? Like... really?"


    Fifi stared ahead, blinking slowly. Her mouth opened, but no words came.


    "I don''t know," she said finally.


    "It''s the first time I''ve ever been safe."


    "The first time I''ve had... choices. I don''t even know what I like yet."


    Fiona nodded. "That''s fair."


    Fifi looked up. "What about you, Big Sis? What do you want?"


    Fiona''s eyebrows lifted. "Me?"


    Fifi nodded again. "You''re strong. And pretty."


    "And everyone cheers for you... but what do you want?"


    Fiona paused. Then smiled.


    "I want to be the best streamer in the world."


    Fifi blinked. "Streamer?"


    Fiona chuckled. "Right... you probably don''t know what that is."


    Fifi shook her head. "Is it a kind of fighter?"


    Fiona laughed louder. "Kinda! But not with just fists."


    She stood up and spun around dramatically.


    "A streamer is someone who shows their fights to the world! Live!"


    "With fans watching and cheering! It''s like performing and battling at the same time."


    Fifi''s eyes sparkled. "People... cheer for you while you fight?"


    "Yup. They send hearts. Comments. Even gifts."


    "And if you''re good¡ªlike really good¡ªthey remember your name."


    Fifi''s voice dropped to a whisper. "I want that too..."


    Fiona turned to her, surprised. "Really?"


    Fifi nodded, clutching her pillow. "Not the cheering."


    "But... if I do good, and people remember my name... maybe I won''t disappear again."


    Fiona didn''t answer right away. She just stared at Fifi, eyes steady.


    Then, without a word, she leaned over and pulled the bunny girl into a warm, full hug.


    "You''re not gonna disappear," Fiona said quietly. "Not ever again."


    Fifi''s hands slowly lifted, hugging her back.


    Her ears brushed against Fiona''s cheek. "Promise?"


    "I promise," Fiona said, holding her tighter.


    "You''re one of us now. You''re Fifi Fluffiel. Divine-tier thunder bunny of Luxoria."


    Fifi gave a tiny laugh. "That sounds funny."


    Fiona grinned. "You think that''s funny? Then listen to this."


    She leaned back, hands on Fifi''s shoulders.


    "You''re gonna be my co-star. My sidekick. My lightning mascot."


    "No¡ªmy secret weapon."


    Fifi blinked. "I am?"


    Fiona nodded proudly. "Yup. And more than that¡ªyou can be the idol in my show."


    Fifi tilted her head. "What''s an idol?"


    Fiona paused. "You really don''t know?"


    Fifi shook her head. "Is it another kind of fighter?"


    Fiona laughed and stood up, striking a pose with both hands on her hips.


    "An idol is someone everyone loves!"


    "They''re bright, shiny, fun to watch! They dance, sing, smile, make people happy."


    "And when they fight, they shine even brighter!"


    Fifi''s eyes widened. "Like... like a bunny star?"


    "Exactly!" Fiona winked.


    "You already look like one."


    "All we need is a cool outfit, maybe a theme song, and a lot of sparkly lights."


    Fifi''s ears drooped a little. "But I don''t know how to dance... or sing..."


    Fiona sat back down and poked her forehead.


    "Neither did I when I started. You learn. We practice together."


    "You''ll teach me?"


    Fiona nodded. "Of course. That''s what big sisters do, right?"


    Fifi''s eyes lit up. "Okay. Then I''ll try. I''ll be your idol bunny."


    Fiona reached into a drawer and pulled out a hairclip shaped like a lightning bolt.


    "Then the idol look starts now."


    She carefully clipped it to Fifi''s hair, just above her left ear.


    Fifi touched it gently, smiling.


    "It''s warm," she whispered.


    "Made from real Luxorite. Special stuff. Looks good on you."


    Fifi''s cheeks turned pink. "T-Thank you..."


    Fiona tilted her head. "Wanna try a pose?"


    Fifi blinked. "Like... idol pose?"


    Fiona stood and put one hand on her hip, one hand raised with two fingers in a peace sign.


    "Like this. Easy. Just smile and strike."


    Fifi got up slowly, imitating the pose. "Like this?"


    "Closer... no, raise your hand higher. Smile wider¡ªyes! That''s it!"


    They both giggled.


    Then Fifi whispered, "Do you think... Master Lucius will watch us?"


    Fiona paused. "He always watches. If we shine bright enough... he''ll be proud."


    Fifi looked down, then whispered again, "I want him to be proud."


    Fiona reached out and squeezed her hand.


    "Then let''s give him the best show he''s ever seen."


    Fifi smiled. "Let''s sparkle together."


    Fiona nodded. "Yeah. Let''s light up the world."


    Meanwhile, Lucius stood alone in the control room, eyes fixed on the screen.


    The camera feed showed Fifi and Fiona laughing, posing, smiling like the world didn''t scare them anymore.


    He watched for a while. Then a small smile touched his lips.


    "She''s not that shy anymore," he murmured. "Good."


    He tapped the edge of the console with one finger.


    "Fiona shines. Fifi follows. Just as planned."


    He turned away from the screen.


    "But playtime''s over," he said softly. "It''s almost time."


    He pressed a button. "Let''s give them a new mission."

 Chapter 446: Permission to Wave

    Fifi and Fiona were still relaxing on their own room.


    Suddenly Liline appeared in their room through the wall like a ghost.


    Fifi squeaked and jumped back, clutching her pillow again.


    Fiona looked up calmly. "Liline?"


    Liline''s eyes glowed softly as she nodded. "Master Lucius wants to see both of you. Now."


    Fifi froze.


    Fiona stood up and stretched. "Alright. Got it."


    Liline only nodded before stepping back into the wall, fading like mist.


    The room went quiet.


    Fifi stood stiff, ears drooped, her pillow held tight against her chest.


    Fiona looked at her. "Fifi?"


    Fifi didn''t move.


    "He wants to see me?"


    Fiona walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Yeah. Both of us."


    Fifi looked down, voice shaky. "But... last time... he made me fight alone. For months."


    "I know."


    "He made me die in that world. Over and over."


    "I know."


    Fifi''s voice dropped lower. "I... I don''t like him."


    Fiona crouched down to her level. "That virtual war was hard. It scared you. I get it."


    Fifi''s lip trembled. "He knew my trouble and didn''t help."


    Fiona nodded. "Because he knew you could do it. And you did."


    Fifi blinked. "But..."


    "You came back stronger. You talk more now. You smile more."


    "You''re still scared, yeah... but you''re not broken."


    Fifi looked away. "I still don''t like him..."


    Fiona smiled. "You don''t have to like him. Just walk with me, alright?"


    Fifi hesitated, then whispered, "Will you stay close?"


    Fiona tapped her forehead gently. "I''ll be right beside you. Always."


    Fifi nodded slowly.


    Fiona held out her hand.


    "Come on. Let''s just go see what he wants."


    "Maybe it''s a mission. Maybe it''s... something cooler."


    Fifi''s hand trembled, but she reached out and grabbed Fiona''s. "Okay."


    They walked to the door.


    Fiona opened it with one hand, still holding onto Fifi with the other.


    Fifi followed behind, her steps small and quiet.


    Down the silver-lit hallways, the floors shimmered under their feet.


    Fifi whispered, "Do you think he''ll be mad?"


    Fiona looked over her shoulder.


    "Lucius doesn''t get mad. He plans. He tests. And when he''s proud... he smiles."


    "Did he ever smile at you?"


    "Once. After my second solo kill in front of a full audience."


    "He didn''t say anything. Just looked at me and smiled."


    "Was it scary?"


    Fiona laughed. "Yeah. A little. But it also felt good. Like I did something right."


    Fifi gripped her hand tighter.


    Fiona looked forward again. "We''ll be fine. You''ve got lightning inside you now."


    Fifi whispered, "And you''ve got fire..."


    Fiona smirked. "Let''s show him what that looks like when we walk in together."


    Fifi gave a small nod. "Okay."


    And so, hand in hand, the two girls walked toward the room where Lucius was waiting.


    ---


    Fiona and Fifi stepped inside the room where Lucius was waiting.


    He turned slowly as they entered¡ªand smirked.


    "Well," he said, voice calm, "look who finally showed up."


    Fifi immediately stepped behind Fiona, peeking out from her side with only one ear and half her face visible.


    Lucius tilted his head, still smirking. "Still shy, huh?"


    Fiona glanced back at Fifi, then faced Lucius again. "Yeah. A bit."


    She patted Fifi''s hand gently.


    "But not like before. She walks around now. Talks more. She''s getting there."


    Lucius nodded once, pleased. "Good. I like that."


    "Different personalities in this family... it makes things more interesting."


    Fiona grinned. "So, what do you need, Lord Lucius?"


    Lucius turned fully toward them. "Tomorrow... it''s time."


    Fiona raised an eyebrow. "Time for what?"


    Lucius folded his arms behind his back. "The Vornis Competition."


    Fiona blinked. "Wait. That''s tomorrow?"


    Lucius smirked. "You forgot?"


    Fiona scratched the back of her head. "I mean... yeah, kinda. A lot''s happened."


    Fifi looked confused. "Um... what''s a Vornis Competition?"


    Fiona looked down at her and smiled. "It''s some kind of competition. But special."


    Fifi tilted her head. "Special how?"


    "It''s all about Vornis beasts," Fiona said.


    "They''re not normal beasts. They''re only made here¡ªin Luxoria Castle. No one else can breed or sell them."


    Lucius stepped forward, joining in.


    "Vornis is our crown jewel. A steel-element war beast. It doesn''t just fight¡ªit evolves. In battle."


    Fifi blinked again. "Evolves?"


    Fiona nodded.


    "Yeah. It eats metal. Any kind. Then it changes."


    "Gets stronger. Bigger. Smarter. Its body can shift shape too."


    Fifi''s eyes widened. "That sounds... scary."


    Lucius chuckled.


    "It''s powerful. But it only listens to its assigned master. No one else can control."


    Lucius then gestured toward the glowing panel.


    "This competition tomorrow... it''s not about raw power."


    "It''s about style, upgrades, synergy. Who made the best Vornis for their style."


    Fiona raised her eyebrows. "So, it''s not just a fight?"


    Lucius shook his head.


    "It''s a showcase. A test. A statement. Every participant shows their Vornis off."


    "What it can do, how it adapts, and how it fits their battle personality."


    Fifi whispered, "Can I... watch?"


    Lucius looked at her, then gave a small nod. "You can sit beside me. I''ll allow it."


    Fifi smiled a little. "Thank you..."


    Lucius turned his gaze to Fiona.


    "As for you," he said, "you''ll be the main MC for the show."


    Fiona raised an eyebrow. "Me?"


    Lucius nodded once. "Make it interesting."


    Fiona grinned. "You mean... host it?"


    "Yes. Introduce the matchups. Talk to the crowd. Make Luxoria shine."


    Fiona laughed. "You picked the right girl for that."


    "I know," Lucius said simply.


    Fifi tugged on Fiona''s sleeve. "Big Sis... you''re gonna talk to everyone?"


    "Yup," Fiona said proudly.


    "I''m gonna open the show, announce the fighters, hype up the Vornis, and then crush them with style."


    Fifi giggled. "Can I wave at the crowd?"


    Lucius gave her a glance. "Only once. If you do more, they''ll think you''re a guest star."


    Fifi made a tiny salute. "One wave. I promise."


    Fiona placed a hand on her hip.


    "Don''t worry, Master Lucius."


    "I''ll make it loud, fast, and shiny."


    "They won''t forget the name Luxoria."


    Lucius smirked faintly.


    "Good. I don''t want entertainment. I want dominance wrapped in gold."


    Fiona gave a thumbs-up. "Then you''ll get a golden storm tomorrow."


    Lucius turned away. "Then go. Prepare. Your moment begins at noon."


    Fiona grabbed Fifi''s hand. "Come on. We''ve got a Vornis to polish and outfits to prep."


    Fifi followed, bouncing slightly as they walked.


    "Big Sis?"


    "Yeah?"


    "I want to be shiny too."


    Fiona laughed. "You already are, little bunny."

 Chapter 447: No Trash Cans Allowed

    Fiona pulled out her glowing stream phone and handed it to Fifi.


    "Here," she said, placing it gently in Fifi''s hands.


    "For now, you can watch my stream from here."


    Fifi looked down at it, blinking. "Really?"


    "Yup," Fiona nodded.


    "You''ll learn how I do things."


    "The camera work, the jokes, the rhythm. It''s more than just fighting¡ªit''s performing."


    Fifi held the phone carefully like it was made of glass. "Okay... I''ll watch everything."


    Fiona smiled and gave her a quick pat on the head.


    "Good. Pay attention to the timing and the way Fionyx moves too."


    "Got it."


    "Alright then," Fiona said, turning around.


    "I need to get ready for the Vornis Arena and start the warm-up stream."


    Fifi''s ears twitched. "Will I see you fly?"


    Fiona winked. "You bet."


    Fionyx shimmered around her body.


    Parts of her jacket transformed into a radiant hoverpack.


    She waved once.


    "See you on the screen, Bunny Spark."


    Then she blasted into the air.


    ---


    Up in the sky, Fiona soared above Luxoria Castle.


    Dozens of drones hovered around her.


    Cameras, lights, mini speakers all aligning with perfect timing.


    Her visor lit up. Stream was live.


    "Stream On!"


    Fiona''s voice came through loud and bright.


    "Hello boys and girls! It''s me¡ªFiona Flares¡ªand I''ve got exciting news for you all!"


    She spun mid-air, light rings flashing from her hoverpack as she struck a pose.


    "Tomorrow, the Vornis Competition opens right here in the heart of Luxoria Castle!"


    She raised one glowing hand toward the sky, and a massive projection appeared above.


    A golden text reading appeared.


    "VORNIS COMPETITION ¨C STREAMING WORLDWIDE".


    "And yes¡ªit will be streamed for FREE on the official Luxoria Castle App!"


    She pointed at the hovering drones around her.


    "Not one coin needed! Just tap, watch, and enjoy the show."


    Fiona grinned.


    "We''ll bring you exclusive battles, custom Vornis showcases, and the one thing no one can miss..."


    "Me, live on stage as your host and headliner!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @MoonByte: SHE''S GONNA HOST AND FIGHT???


    @FionyxOnFire: VORNIS COMP FREE? I''M SCREAMING


    @TamerTrash: GIVE HER A STAGE MADE OF FIRE


    @WraithFox: SHE''S GLOWING LIKE THE SUN WTF


    @BunnyBoost: CAN WE TALK ABOUT HER HOVER MOVES??


    ---


    Fiona then smirked.


    "Alright, my lovely watchers!" she called out, voice booming through the synced drones.


    "Before tomorrow''s big event, let me give you the inside scoop."


    She pointed at the countdown projection still hovering in the sky.


    "The Vornis Competition isn''t just a fight. It''s a challenge¡ªa showcase!"


    She flew in a smooth arc, light trailing from her boots as Fionyx swirled beside her.


    "Only people who bought and bonded with a real Vornis can enter."


    "No copies. No fakes. Just real contracts, real sync, real beasts."


    "And you all know this already¡ªbut just in case... Vornis isn''t a normal beast."


    She paused in the air, hand out, palm glowing.


    "It can evolve. It eats metal and changes during battle."


    "It''s alive, smart, and built for the battlefield. But this competition?"


    She smirked.


    "It''s not just about who''s the strongest."


    She pointed down at the castle plaza far below.


    Where the arena was being constructed by dozens of glowing drones.


    "It''s about custom style."


    "Who made the most unique Vornis? Who gave it a theme? Who made it shine?"


    She floated higher, her voice rising with excitement.


    "Show me a war beast that looks like a walking tank if you want."


    "But show me a dancing flame lion, and you just might win."


    She grinned.


    "Lord L himself will be one of the judges."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: LORD L IS JUDGING?? IT''S SERIOUS


    @MoonByte: A TANK OR A DANCER... HARD CHOICE


    @FionyxOnFire: PLEASE FIONA WIN IN STYLE


    @TamerTrash: I''M JUST HERE FOR THE DRAMA


    @WraithFox: SHUT UP THIS IS GONNA BE AMAZING


    ---


    Fiona laughed, twirling mid-air again.


    "But don''t get the wrong idea," she said with a playful grin.


    "Just because it''s about looks and design doesn''t mean you can slack on power."


    Fionyx flared behind her, shifting into a sleek twin-blade drone that hovered near her shoulders, glowing hot white.


    "Your Vornis has to fight."


    "It has to take hits, strike back, survive¡ªand still look good doing it."


    She pointed to the floating text behind her, which now glowed with the phrase:


    STYLE + STRENGTH = VICTORY


    "So let me remind you again that this competition has two parts," she explained.


    "First, a full style and build showcase. Each tamer shows off their Vornis."


    "How they designed it, what it can do, how it moves, how it reacts."


    She paused and spun slowly in the air, arms out like a show dancer.


    "Judges will look at everything. Armor design, color, transformation, skill flow. Even the name matters!"


    "Then," she said, letting the excitement building, "comes Part Two: one-on-one battles."


    "Your Vornis will face another beast in a real fight. No holding back."


    She smirked. "Win both rounds? You walk away with the crown."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: DESIGN AND DUEL?! BEST FORMAT


    @MoonByte: I''D LOSE ON NAMING ALONE


    @FionyxOnFire: FIONA GONNA WIN STYLE EASILY


    @GearGiggle: BATTLE ROUND GONNA BE CRAZY


    @VaultJet: I HOPE ONE VORNIS EXPLODES


    ---


    Fiona continued flying as the drones shifted around her in a spiral formation.


    Each one projected past clips of her past battles with Fionyx.


    She pointed at one of the clips.


    "See that? That''s not just light. That''s design on impact."


    Another clip showed Fionyx spinning mid-air, turning into a glowing whip and wrapping around an enemy beast''s leg.


    "And that?" she said. "That''s choreography. Not just winning... winning with flare."


    She faced the camera again, visor gleaming.


    "Tomorrow, the Vornis arena won''t just be a battlefield."


    "It''ll be a runway, a coliseum, a concert, and a forge. All at once."


    Fionyx turned into a ring of light that danced around her body before snapping back into hoverpack form.


    "So¡ªif your Vornis just punches hard and looks like a walking trash can..."


    She raised one eyebrow.


    "You might get through the battle."


    A pause.


    "But don''t expect to win."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @BrightBit: SHE JUST CALLED OUT HALF THE COMPETITION


    @FluffyStatic: NO TRASH CANS ALLOWED LOL


    @IronStomp: BRO MY VORNIS IS A WALKING WALL WHAT NOW


    @ColorCrash: BETTER GO ADD WINGS TO IT


    @SoftStrike: SHE''S NOT HOSTING¡ªSHE''S JUDGING FROM THE SKY


    ---


    Fiona blew a kiss to the camera drone.


    "I''ll see you all tomorrow. Noon sharp. Don''t be late."


    She hovered in place, glowing wings spread.


    "One last thing."


    She leaned close to the drone.


    "If you''re watching this thinking you''ve got a chance?"


    She smirked.


    "Make sure you bring more than a beast."


    "You''ll need a whole performance."


    The screen flashed white with her signature flare logo.

 Chapter 448: Vornis Dropped, Beast Castle Flopped

    The meeting hall of Beast Castle was quiet.


    Too quiet.


    The screen in front of the boardroom had just gone black.


    Fiona''s flashy stream had ended minutes ago, but the echoes of her voice still lingered.


    "Tomorrow, we don''t just fight. We shine."


    The words rang in their ears like a warning.


    Around the long glass table, executives sat still, eyes darting nervously between each other.


    No one spoke until one man, the head of Beast Castle marketing, finally broke the silence.


    "What do we do?"


    Another man leaned forward. "That stream''s already viral. Look at the numbers."


    He tapped his tablet.


    "Thirty million viewers in fifteen minutes. Worldwide trending. Comments exploding."


    "Sponsors tagging the Luxoria brand directly."


    Someone else added, "And they''re making Vornis look like a god-tier product."


    "No weaknesses. No limits. No one else can sell it."


    A woman in a sleek gray coat scoffed.


    "That''s because no one can. It''s exclusive to them. No one knows how they made it."


    One of the older directors leaned back.


    "And now they''re making a whole event just to showcase their private stock..."


    "Public battle. Custom beast display. Aesthetic scoring."


    "And Lord L himself as judge," muttered another executive.


    The room went quiet again.


    At the head of the table sat Donnie Aldren, the new CEO of Beast Castle.


    He said nothing.


    He didn''t need to.


    Everyone in the room already felt it: pressure.


    Heavy. Silent. Cold.


    Donnie''s hands were clasped in front of him. His dark jacket perfectly pressed.


    His eyes, cold and unreadable, were locked on the screen.


    The same screen that, just moments ago, had shown Luxoria Castle blazing with light and glory.


    One man across the table cleared his throat.


    "Sir... with respect, if we don''t act soon, our reputation will be gone by the end of the week."


    Another added quickly, "Beast Castle used to lead the premium beast market."


    "But now? We''re a joke. Fiona''s stream already has memes mocking us."


    "And our former CEO..." someone muttered.


    Donnie''s eyes flicked once.


    That was enough.


    The man who had spoken instantly stopped.


    The marketing head looked around.


    "Then what''s the move? We can''t make our own Vornis. We can''t out-stream them."


    Another executive leaned forward.


    "What if we challenge the competition format? Say it''s biased."


    "Call it unfair¡ªmake noise on social feeds."


    A woman across the table snapped her fingers.


    "We spin it! Say Luxoria''s locking everyone out of fair play. That only rich elites can join."


    Someone else whispered, "Should we... sabotage the event?"


    The room went quiet again.


    One of the newer directors glanced at Donnie, hesitant.


    "We could hire mercenaries. Fake a beast malfunction."


    "Make it look like a Vornis broke protocol."


    Another added, "Or flood their app with low ratings during the live stream."


    "Make people question the system."


    More voices joined in, all talking at once.


    "Leak fake documents."


    "Bribe some of their stream drones."


    "Discredit Fiona."


    "Hire someone to fake a better beast!"


    Donnie Aldren said nothing.


    He sat still, face unreadable, just frowning.


    The buzzing voices bounced off the walls, but none of them seemed to reach him.


    His mind was somewhere else.


    Back to when Varen Aldren, his older brother, stood on that very same stage and lost.


    Publicly. Brutally. His chosen beast broken. His pride shattered.


    Beast Castle''s reputation destroyed.


    Varen had been the face of the brand. Now he was gone.


    All because of Luxoria Castle.


    Again and again, they were humiliated.


    Again and again, they were forced to watch.


    Donnie sighed quietly.


    Even their father¡ªcold and merciless¡ªhad finally snapped.


    He looked Donnie in the eye and said, "You replace him. Fix this mess."


    But deep down, Donnie knew the truth.


    Nothing could be done.


    Luxoria Castle was just that strong.


    He even bought five Vornis from the first auction winners.


    He then went to Luxoria Castle himself.


    Paid the full price and watched as each Vornis was contracted to himself.


    Five different beasts. Five different styles.


    All terrifying. All perfect.


    He trained with them. He tested them.


    He realized quickly... Vornis wasn''t just powerful.


    It was alive.


    A Sovereign-tier beast that evolved during battle.


    That learned. That adapted. That listened.


    Beast Castle?


    They dealt with Normal-Tier and Elite-Tier beasts.


    Barely Sovereign. And even those were hard to control.


    He clenched his jaw.


    They weren''t just behind.


    They were obsolete.


    ---


    Donnie finally stood up from his seat. Everyone went quiet.


    He looked around the room. Calm. Sharp.


    Then he spoke.


    "No sabotage. No tricks. Don''t do anything."


    The higher-ups frowned. A few of them exchanged confused glances.


    "But... why not?" the head of marketing asked.


    Donnie''s eyes didn''t blink. "Because Luxoria Castle is not a force we can handle."


    Silence.


    He stepped forward slowly, voice steady.


    "They focus only on Sovereign-tier beasts. We don''t."


    He pointed to a chart on the wall.


    "We handle the lower market. Elite and Normal-tier."


    "That''s still 90% of beast buyers. We own that space."


    Someone whispered, "We can''t even sell Sovereign beasts properly. They never listen."


    Donnie nodded. "Exactly."


    "Luxoria Castle doesn''t try to take everything. They only want the top."


    He turned to face the full table again.


    "So we shift. We lean into what we''re good at."


    "Make our beasts cleaner, cheaper, easier to raise. Control the base. Let them keep the crown."


    The room stayed quiet for a few seconds... then people slowly nodded.


    "Understood."


    "We''ll start refocusing ads and training packs."


    "I''ll meet with suppliers tomorrow."


    One by one, they stood and began filing out.


    Donnie didn''t say anything until the last one left.


    Then he smiled.


    He turned to the side, pulled out his comm, and called Beast Castle''s secretary.


    "I won''t be coming in tomorrow," he said.


    The voice on the other end was calm. "Understood, sir. Should I tell them it''s urgent business?"


    "Yes. Very urgent," Donnie said, smirking.


    "What''s the reason?"


    He adjusted his tie. "Personal mission."


    The secretary paused. "...Related to the Vornis Competition?"


    Donnie smirked wider. "You could say that."


    He hung up.


    Then muttered, "Can''t be a Vornis owner and not show up, right?"

 Chapter 449 449: Come for the Monsters, Stay for the Muffins

    Fiona hovered high above Luxoria Castle.


    Below her, a sea of people filled the castle plaza and nearby sky bridges.


    The crowd kept growing.


    Viewers from all over the region had come just to see the Vornis Competition live.


    She smiled behind her visor.


    "Wow," she said to the stream, spinning slowly mid-air.


    "That''s a lot of people."


    Fionyx shifted into a glowing megaphone that floated near her shoulder.


    "Alright, stream fam!"


    "I''ve got a quick announcement for everyone down there on the ground!"


    The drones around her all zoomed in at once.


    Her voice echoed across the plaza.


    "If you''re here just to watch..."


    "Don''t worry, we''ve got you covered!"


    She pointed toward the rows of elegant silver chairs that had just unfolded from the sides of the plaza.


    "We''ve set up VIP seats for every guest."


    "Yes, even if you just walked in five minutes ago!"


    The audience below cheered as several drones guided them to the newly revealed seating areas.


    "And for all my lovely supporters who skipped breakfast..."


    "Free refreshments are now being served on both sides of the arena!"


    On cue, several spectral staffs flew through the crowd carrying glowing trays.


    They were stacked with pastries, drinks, and fresh fruit cups.


    Kids cheered. Adults applauded.


    Even a few beasts wagged tails or flapped wings excitedly.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @BunCrunch: FREE FOOD?? SHE LOVES US


    @CoreDrinker: WHO''S HANDING OUT THOSE DRINKS I''M HUNGRY


    @SkySnack: I GOT A LUXORIA BERRY MUFFIN LET''S GOOO


    @GlowFan94: BRO I JUST CAME TO WATCH AND I''M GETTING VIP TREATMENT


    @TamerToast: THIS IS BETTER THAN MY LAST BIRTHDAY


    ---


    Fiona laughed. "Remember!"


    "If you''re joining the actual competition, please proceed to the inner prep zone."


    "ONLY if you have a valid Vornis contract!"


    She leaned a bit closer to the drone camera.


    "There''s only a handful of you, I know."


    "That''s what makes this competition so rare."


    She spun once more in the air, her stage lights adjusting to spotlight the arena below.


    "Most people don''t even have a Vornis. That''s why today is so special."


    "The beasts you''re going to see? They''re custom. They''re wild. They''re powerful."


    Fionyx shifted into a spinning crown made of light.


    "And only the best of them will take home the crown."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @SharpFangs: FINALLY SOME REAL BEAST CONTENT


    @VornisHype: WHO''S READY FOR SOME METAL EVOLUTIONNN


    @MistClaw: IF THEY DON''T EVOLVE MID-FIGHT I''M OUT


    @SnackLord: WAIT... IS THAT DONUT FILLED WITH SUNBERRY JAM?


    @HexShell: I JUST CAME TO WATCH BUT NOW I WANT A VORNIS


    ---


    Down below, the crowds were settling in. Some waved up at the camera drones.


    Others adjusted their seats and munched happily on the food provided.


    The vibe was fun. Relaxed. But the air still carried weight.


    This wasn''t just a stream anymore.


    It was a live event.


    And everyone knew it.


    Fiona floated down a little, still high enough to be seen but close enough for the crowd to cheer.


    She gave a bright wave.


    "To everyone here and everyone watching from home..."


    "Welcome to Luxoria Castle''s Vornis Competition."


    "Let the show begin soon."


    She gave one last wink.


    "And trust me... you don''t want to blink."


    ---


    In the inner zone, behind the main arena, the Vornis owners were preparing.


    Most stood quietly with their beasts, checking some parts of their armor.


    Donnie Aldren was one of them.


    He stood alone near the back wall, arms crossed.


    He was wearing a sleek black combat suit and a black mask that covered the upper half of his face.


    His real name wasn''t listed on the entry file. He made sure of that.


    Right now, he wasn''t Donnie Aldren, the new CEO of Beast Castle.


    He was just another masked competitor.


    Around him, the atmosphere was quiet but tense.


    The other competitors barely spoke. They all knew that this wasn''t just a battle.


    This was a stage. A spotlight.


    And Luxoria Castle had set the bar high.


    Donnie looked up at the glowing lights above the arena dome.


    He could hear the crowd already.


    He could even hear Fiona''s voice still echoing on the outside speakers.


    He muttered quietly to himself, "This is insane..."


    He glanced around.


    "Free seats. Free food. A competition this big..."


    "All just to show off sovereign-tier beasts?"


    He shook his head, impressed despite himself.


    "And all the watchers?" He looked toward the exit hallway where drones hovered.


    "They''re not just fans. They''re all S-Rank tamers or higher."


    He chuckled once under his breath.


    "They had to pass through the Luxoria Mist Forest just to get here."


    "That alone filters out half the planet."


    His fingers tightened slightly.


    "This is why Beast Castle can''t fight them."


    His eyes narrowed under the mask. "They don''t play the same game."


    Suddenly, he heard a voice beside him.


    "True," someone said.


    "It''s not just Beast Castle. Even our families need to think carefully now."


    Another voice added, "Luxoria Castle may be looked like simple group..."


    "But when they move, they move like a storm."


    Donnie turned, surprised.


    Standing just a few feet away were two people he recognized instantly.


    The first was Caelan Valefor.


    Tall, broad-shouldered, arms crossed like a fortress.


    The second was Velmara Myralis.


    Lean and powerful, lightning-colored strands in her dark green.


    Her arms were folded too, but her stance was ready, like she could move at any moment.


    Donnie blinked behind his mask.


    What are these two doing here?


    He had only heard rumors before


    Two of the most dangerous young tamers in the Sovereign Beast World.


    Caelan didn''t look at Donnie directly.


    "You''re not wrong, stranger."


    "Luxoria''s not aiming to compete. They''re showing dominance."


    Velmara nodded slowly.


    "They''re not here to grow their name."


    "They''re here to remind us they still own the top."


    Donnie kept his voice neutral. "Then why are you two here?"


    Velmara gave a faint smile.


    "Same reason as you."


    Caelan cracked his knuckles, his gaze firm.


    "To test our Vornis... and prove that the strength of our families still matters on this stage."

 Chapter 450 450: Rated R for Roar

    Fiona hovered above the arena, her visor glowing as the drones circled her in formation.


    The crowd below waited, eyes wide, food half-eaten, breaths held.


    Fionyx flared behind her as she raised one hand.


    "Alright, everyone!" Fiona shouted with a smirk.


    "Let''s start the Vornis Competition!"


    A cheer exploded from the audience stands.


    "As I said before," she continued, floating in a slow circle above the platform.


    "Stage One is the Beauty Stage."


    She spun once midair, light trailing behind her.


    "This round isn''t about power. It''s about style, customization, and creativity."


    "We''re going to see how beautiful or how terrifying your Vornis beast looks after all your hard work."


    Drones zoomed toward the center of the arena as the main platform began to rise.


    A glowing hex ring formed midair.


    "And to help with that... We''ve prepared something special."


    A large steel platform rose from the center of the arena, and on it stood a massive beast.


    It was four meters tall, glowing with raw energy.


    The crowd gasped.


    "This is the base Vornis."


    The beast stood still at first.


    Then it let out a sharp, echoing ROAR, shaking the arena floor.


    It looked like a giant steel lion, its entire body covered in sharp, silver-gray armor.


    "It''s here so you can compare," Fiona explained.


    "This is what Vornis looks like before customization."


    "No mods. No tuning. Just raw Sovereign beast."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: THAT ROAR


    @MoonByte: THAT''S THE BASIC VERSION?!


    @FionyxOnFire: WHO CUSTOMIZED THEIR LION?? LET ME SEE


    @SnackBite: BRO THAT THING LOOKS READY TO KILL AS IS


    ---


    Fiona hovered just above the base Vornis, pointing down.


    "Now, out of all the Vornis owners in the world," she said, her voice getting more serious.


    "Only eight dared to enter this competition."


    The crowd murmured at that.


    "That''s right," Fiona nodded. "Only eight."


    She flew slowly across the sky above the audience stands.


    "It seems the rest... well, maybe they didn''t want to lose."


    "Or maybe their Vornis wasn''t ready."


    She shrugged.


    "Either way, it''s good news for us. Because the ones who did enter?"


    She smirked.


    "They''re the real deal."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @RustSpike: ONLY EIGHT?? THIS IS GONNA BE GOOD


    @SkySnack: QUALITY OVER QUANTITY


    @VornisFan1: THAT MEANS EVERYONE LEFT IS TOP-TIER


    @CoreHowler: BRO I GOT GOOSEBUMPS


    @TinyRoar: CAN I ADOPT A VORNIS PLEASE??


    ---


    Fiona floated high above the center stage, raising her hand and her voice followed.


    "Alright! Each contestant will enter the stage one by one and present their Vornis!"


    The drones moved in sync, forming a wide viewing circle above the stage.


    "Judges will observe the design, movement, armor, color, and overall uniqueness," Fiona said.


    "No fighting yet. This is all about the look."


    She twirled midair, then pointed at the viewers watching from their phones, tablets, or drone-linked visors.


    "But wait..." she said, grinning.


    "You already knew Lord L would be the judge, right?"


    Some of the crowd nodded. Others shouted, "Yeah!"


    "As I said in the stream," Fiona continued.


    "He was going to pick the most beautiful, most fearsome, most customized Vornis."


    She floated lower, voice lowering just a little.


    "But then... earlier today, Lord L said something to me."


    She paused.


    "He said, ''This isn''t about what I think. This round should be judged by those who came to see beauty''."


    The audience hushed for a moment.


    Fiona smiled wide. "So guess what?"


    She spread her arms.


    "YOU are the judges!"


    The crowd erupted into cheers and claps.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: WAIT WHAT WE''RE THE JUDGES??


    @MoonByte: THIS IS SO COOL OMG


    @FionyxOnFire: POWER TO THE PEOPLE


    @SparkFang: I''M GONNA BE STRICT LOL


    ---


    Fiona gave a playful wink to the camera.


    "Every time a Vornis appears on stage, you''ll see a little box pop up on your Luxoria Castle App."


    She pointed at the screen hovering above the stage.


    "You can score each beast from 1 to 10 based on how much you like the look, the movement, the vibes... anything."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @PetalScream: I FEEL SO POWERFUL RIGHT NOW


    @ThunderKid: FINALLY I CAN JUDGE SOMETHING


    @BerryVibe: I''M GIVING BONUS POINTS FOR FLUFF


    @GearGlow: DON''T VOTE BASED ON CUTE ALONE LMAO


    ---


    Fiona flew up just a little higher, so every viewer could see her clearly.


    "Choose wisely, Luxoria fans. Every point matters. Every vote counts."


    She raised a fist.


    "Some of these contestants have trained for days just for this."


    "Their Vornis are fully customized.


    "Some flashy, some terrifying, some weird but all unique."


    She pointed at the scoreboard now lighting up with eight blank slots.


    "There are only eight competitors. Each of them deserves to be seen."


    The stage lights shifted, preparing for the first showcase.


    "Now then..." Fiona smiled brightly.


    "Are you ready, dear Luxoria fans?"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: YESSS START ITTT


    @SkyBuzz: BRING OUT THE FIRST BEAST


    @SnaxQueen: I HAVE MY 10 READY


    @MechByte: LET THE STYLE WAR BEGIN


    @FionyxOnFire: FIONA HOSTING THIS IS A BLESSING


    ---


    Fiona extended her hand toward the arena gate.


    "Let the Vornis Beauty Stage... BEGIN!"


    The gate at the far side of the arena started to rise.


    And the first competitor stepped forward.


    ---


    Outside the glowing border of the Luxoria Mist Forest, a small group of people gathered in the shadows.


    They wore sleek black suits and their faces were mostly covered.


    One of them, taller than the rest, stepped forward.


    "Is everyone ready?" he asked.


    The others nodded silently.


    He looked toward the shimmering fog wall that surrounded Luxoria Castle.


    "That mist is hard to pass... But we trained for this."


    A shorter figure spoke up. "Is the signal clear?"


    The tall one checked a blinking device on his wrist.


    "Yes. Now''s the best time. The crowd is distracted."


    Another figure grinned. "Perfect. While everyone watches the Vornis show..."


    "We infiltrate."


    They all turned to face the mist, shoulders tense.


    "Our target today is Luxoria," the leader said.


    "We get inside. We mess up their systems."


    "We find anything useful. And we send a message."


    Someone whispered, "Glory for Aurelius."


    The leader nodded. "Glory for Aurelius."


    They stepped into the mist one by one, their forms vanishing into the silver fog.

 Chapter 451: The Vornis Catwalk Begins

    Fiona hovered high in the air, her silver visor glowing as she looked down at the rising platform.


    "All right, Luxoria fans," she said, spinning once mid-air with a grin.


    "Get your app ready. It''s time to judge!"


    Below, the stage lights flared on.


    "As I said before," she continued.


    "I''m also a viewer today. That means I get to judge too, just like you!"


    She pointed at the glowing scoreboard floating above the arena.


    "So bring your best, contestants. And viewers... Please judge wisely."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: FIRST BEAST COMINGGG


    @MoonByte: FIONA JUDGING TOO?? NO PRESSURE LOL


    @FionyxOnFire: I ALREADY HAVE MY SCORE BUTTON OPEN


    @SnackBite: hope the first one isn''t basic


    @TamerTalk: LET''S GOOOOOO


    ---


    "Contestant One, please enter!" Fiona called out.


    From the far side of the arena, the gate opened.


    A tall tamer walked onto the stage, wearing a long gray cloak and heavy armor.


    Beside him, his Vornis stomped out slowly.


    The crowd leaned in, and the cameras zoomed close.


    Fiona''s eyes narrowed behind her visor.


    The Vornis... looked almost exactly like the base version.


    Same steel lion form, same sharp claws, same shape.


    The only difference?


    It had a few added weapons bolted onto its shoulders.


    Two small cannons and a sharpened tail extension.


    Fiona tilted her head.


    "Hmmm..."


    The Vornis roared once, then stood in place, posing.


    The crowd clapped politely.


    "Nice entrance," Fiona said calmly, floating lower.


    "But let''s be honest..."


    She looked at the camera.


    "It''s still a little too close to the original."


    She tapped her screen and entered her score.


    "I''m giving it a 5 out of 10. Solid, but safe. Not a lot of creativity."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @SharpCore: IT LOOKS LIKE THE BASIC ONE WITH A GUN LOL


    @BiteBeam: bro just taped a cannon on it


    @MistStorm: not bad but not wow


    @StormSnack: I gave it a 6.5... at least it walked in strong


    @PixiRider: someone modded their beast like it''s a game tutorial


    ---


    Votes poured in.


    Audience members inside the arena tapped their drones.


    Online users submitted through the app.


    The scoreboard lit up:


    [AVERAGE SCORE: 6.0]


    Fiona nodded.


    "All right! First contestant gets a 6.0 average. Not bad. Could be better."


    She gave a small smile.


    "But hey, it''s still round one! This is just the beginning."


    Fionyx floated beside her, forming a glowing number panel for the next score slot.


    "Let''s see who''s next," Fiona said, hovering back up into the air.


    "I hope someone surprises me!"


    The crowd hushed as the gates began to open again.


    Bright lights moved to the side. A soft, bell-like chime played over the speakers.


    Fiona hovered high above, watching closely.


    "And here comes our second contestant!" she said with a grin.


    "Let''s see what they''ve got!"


    From the glowing entry gate, a girl stepped out.


    She was young, wearing a sparkling pink-and-white outfit.


    She gave a small wave to the crowd as she walked forward.


    Right beside her came something unexpected.


    A Vornis, but not like the last one.


    This one was pink.


    The armor plates shimmered with a soft rose hue.


    Its mane looked almost like silk threads, glowing gently as it moved.


    Small ribbons of light floated behind its legs like decorative streamers.


    Its eyes sparkled with a crystal-like shine.


    The crowd gasped.


    Even Fiona''s eyes widened a little. "Ohhh¡ªnow this is different."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: PINK?!


    @MoonByte: SHE MADE A GIRL VORNIS


    @FionyxOnFire: bro that thing is CUTE AND DEADLY


    @PetalPunch: I''M GIVING IT A TEN


    @TamerSnack: it looks like a magical beast from a dream game


    ---


    Fiona floated lower, examining the beast from above.


    "Look at that design," she said.


    "She didn''t just change the color. She changed the whole feel."


    She pointed out the finer details.


    "Custom glowing joints."


    "A softened, curved armor design that makes it look graceful."


    "Ribbon effects around the legs. Crystal-shine eyes."


    "This thing looks like it belongs in a royal beast parade."


    The girl gave a small bow and stepped aside, letting her Vornis pose proudly.


    The pink beast lifted its paw, spun in place like a trained dancer.


    It then let out a soft, echoing roar that almost sounded musical.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @CottonZap: I NEED ONE


    @FluffieDagger: CAN THIS BE A TOY TOO PLEASE


    @BladeSpark: lowkey I thought pink would look weird BUT IT WORKS


    @RoseSting: my daughter is crying she loves it


    @GlintRay: imagine it does a backflip next


    ---


    Fiona tapped her voting panel and smiled.


    "I''m giving this one a 9 out of 10."


    "It''s creative, charming, and you can tell the tamer really designed it with care."


    She pointed to the hovering scoreboard as the votes rolled in.


    "Let''s see what you thought."


    One by one, the audience scores were counted.


    App votes, drone scans, all collected live.


    The glowing scoreboard updated:


    [AVERAGE SCORE: 8]


    The crowd clapped loudly.


    Fiona nodded.


    "Nice! 8 average! Our second contestant made something beautiful and totally unique."


    "A soft, graceful Vornis that still looks battle-ready."


    She gave a thumbs-up toward the contestant.


    "Great job! I think that one won over half the crowd already."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: SHE EARNED IT


    @MoonByte: BEST LOOK SO FAR


    @FionyxOnFire: pink supremacy


    @SnackShot: my mom just voted 10 and said she wants one


    @TinyZap: CUTENESS CAN BE A WEAPON TOO


    ---


    Back in the prep zone, a few of the other contestants looked up at the scoreboard.


    Donnie, behind his mask, gave a slow nod.


    "She went full pink... and it worked."


    Velmara crossed her arms. "Don''t underestimate cute things."


    Caelan just grunted. "Let''s see if it still holds up when the battle starts."


    Fiona hovered higher again, waving to the crowd.


    "Alright, Luxoria fans!"


    "Two down, six to go!"


    "We''ve still got a long day of beauty, beasts, and big surprises ahead!"


    She turned toward the glowing arena gate.


    "Let''s not waste time and get ready for contestant number three!"


    The gate slowly opened, revealing the third contestant.

 Chapter 452: Punk’s Not Dead, It’s Evolving

    The arena lights pulsed again as the third gate opened.


    Fiona floated above the center stage, visor glowing bright.


    "Get ready, Luxoria fans... Contestant number three is here!"


    The music shifted to a heavy guitar riff.


    The crowd leaned in.


    Then, from the gate, a tall young man strutted onto the platform.


    He had spiked hair, black jacket full of pins, boots covered in chains.


    His Vornis stomped beside him, matching his vibe completely.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: BRO HE LOOKS LIKE A BAND LEADER


    @MoonByte: PUNK TAMER ALERT


    @FionyxOnFire: IF HIS VORNIS HAS A MOHAWK I''M GONNA LOSE IT


    @RustSnax: please tell me it roars like a rock scream


    @ZapCore: this is gonna be fun


    ---


    Fiona raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Okay... this is new."


    The Vornis stepped into full view.


    It was shaped like the base steel lion but fully customized in punk-rock style.


    Its armor was black with red lightning bolt streaks.


    Sharp studs lined its back, and its tail looked like a coiled guitar cable.


    Across its faceplate, a jagged red paint stripe ran down over one eye.


    But the best part? Its mane.


    It was made of sharp, glowing metallic fins.


    It was styled into a full mohawk.


    When it roared, the sound wasn''t deep like before.


    It was distorted. Electronic.


    Almost like a guitar solo run through a speaker.


    The audience shouted in surprise and excitement.


    Fiona laughed mid-air.


    "Oh, he went full-on rockstar with it!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @ShockRiff: MOHAWK CONFIRMED


    @StageBite: THAT ROAR WAS A WHOLE RIFF


    @FlameNote: HIS VORNIS LOOKS LIKE IT HEADBANGS


    @VoltVibe: this guy brought concert energy


    @SnareStrike: punk beast go brrrr


    ---


    The contestant gave a peace sign to the crowd, then let his Vornis strike a pose.


    Its head tilted, paw raised like a fist, tail sparking behind it.


    Fiona tapped her app and grinned.


    "I give this one a 7.5 out of 10. I love the energy. Super bold."


    "The colors work, the mane is insane, and that sound effect? That was a surprise."


    She glanced at the scoreboard. "Let''s see what the rest of Luxoria thinks!"


    The audience cast their votes quickly.


    Some laughing, some nodding, some pretending to air-guitar in their seats.


    A moment later, the score flashed above the arena:


    [AVERAGE SCORE: 7.0]


    Fiona clapped. "Nice! 7.0 average."


    "Our punk rocker tamer hits the stage and brings the noise!"


    She pointed to the tamer below. "Well played, Contestant Three. Rock on."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: HE DESERVED IT


    @MoonByte: MAN HAD STYLE


    @FionyxOnFire: I NEED THAT MOHAWK FOR MY BIKE


    @SnaxDrop: THE ROAR STILL PLAYING IN MY HEAD


    @ChromaGear: 7 IS FAIR BUT I WANTED MORE CHAOS


    ---


    Backstage, in the prep zone, Velmara tilted her head slightly.


    "Interesting style," she said.


    Donnie crossed his arms. "Better than I expected."


    Caelan gave a small nod. "He gave it personality. That''s rare."


    Fiona hovered back up to the top of the arena.


    "Three down, five to go!" she called out.


    "We''ve seen steel, sparkle, and now... pure punk."


    She pointed toward the main gate as the lights dimmed again.


    "Let''s keep it rolling. Get your scores ready...


    "Here comes Contestant Number Four!"


    The gate rumbled open, steam hissing from the sides.


    Red-orange lighting flared across the stage like flames crawling over stone.


    The moment the figure stepped out, the crowd reacted immediately.


    Gasps. Shouts. Whispers everywhere.


    Even Fiona''s eyes lit up.


    "Oh wow. Wait... Is that...?"


    The tall figure strode confidently forward, a heavy black-and-red mantle trailing behind him.


    His eyes glowed faintly bronze beneath short ember-red hair.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: KAELEN STRAVOS???


    @MoonByte: BRO WHAT


    @FionyxOnFire: THE BLAZING SOVEREIGN HIMSELF??


    @IronSpire: HE''S HERE? WITH A VORNIS???


    @CoreShred: THIS JUST GOT SERIOUS


    ---


    Fiona laughed. "You all recognize him already, huh?"


    She hovered lower.


    "That''s right, Luxoria fans. The one and only, Kaelen Stravos!"


    "He was the guy who won the sovereign-tier Inferon at the Luxoria Auction."


    Kaelen gave the crowd a short nod, then raised one hand.


    Beside him, his Vornis appeared from the gate.


    It immediately drew gasps from the viewers.


    It looked like a miniature infernal warbeast.


    Volcanic red armor plates coated its body, with lava-like veins pulsing beneath the surface.


    Its mane was not metal but glowing magma strands, twisting with heat and movement.


    Its tail dripped ember sparks with every step.


    The claws were sharp obsidian and from its shoulders sprouted short flame-jet vents that released little bursts of fire.


    It didn''t roar. It burned.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @BlazeStrike: THAT VORNIS LOOKS LIKE A MINI INFERON


    @MeltGear: ITS TAIL IS LITERALLY ON FIRE


    @VolcaQueen: I NEED HIS BLACKSMITH CONTACT


    @AshBiter: THE FLAMES LOOK ALIVE WTF


    @RiftBlast: HE''S COOKING THE STAGE WHILE WALKING


    ---


    Fiona grinned.


    "You can feel the heat even from here."


    "Kaelen used Sovereign-tier volcanic ore for the main plating, that''s confirmed."


    "And those fire vents? Custom."


    "I''ve never seen anyone weaponize shoulder jets like that on a Vornis."


    Kaelen stopped in the middle of the platform.


    His Vornis turned, posed, then slammed one paw forward.


    A wave of heat rippled across the stage floor.


    The flames didn''t just burn. They danced


    Fiona clapped from above.


    "That''s what I call Inferon-style."


    "You can tell this one''s inspired by his main beast."


    "But it''s not just a copy... It''s a tribute."


    She tapped her app.


    "I''m giving this one a 9 out of 10."


    "That''s serious presence, power, and design."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @Ashfall: 9 FROM FIONA?? DESERVED


    @MoonByte: I GAVE IT AN 8.5¡ªLOOKS DEADLY AND BEAUTIFUL


    @FionyxOnFire: I LOVE HOW HE DIDN''T EVEN ROAR, JUST BURNED


    @CinderSnack: VORNIS OF THE YEAR VIBES


    @HeatClaw: THIS GUY WANTS THE CROWN BAD


    ---


    Votes poured in fast.


    Arena drones scanned audience hand gestures, and app votes rolled in from across the world.


    The scoreboard updated:


    [AVERAGE SCORE: 8.5]


    The crowd erupted into loud claps and whistles.


    Fiona nodded. "8.5 average! That''s our highest score yet!"


    She looked toward Kaelen, who gave one last glance toward the crowd.


    He then turned and walked off slowly.


    His burning Vornis followed close behind, leaving a soft trail of embers in its wake.


    Fiona floated higher and waved to the cheering crowd.


    "That was round four! We''ve had sparkle, punk, and now fire. This is getting good!"


    The gates began glowing again.


    "Let''s move to Contestant Number Five¡ªget those apps ready, judges!"

 Chapter 453: Pressure-Cooked Elegance

    Fiona hovered high as the next gate rumbled open.


    Heat from the last entry still clung to the arena floor.


    But a deep cold began to creep in as mist poured out from the new gate.


    She lifted her voice, full of curiosity and excitement.


    "Let''s welcome Contestant Number Five!"


    Steam rolled into the arena like a tide.


    The crowd leaned forward, buzzing with questions.


    Then a giant figure stepped through the mist, slow and steady.


    And the arena went quiet for a heartbeat.


    Fiona blinked.


    "No way... That''s Drelmas."


    Even from her height, she could see his massive frame.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @AnchorDown: HE''S HERE??


    @MistJaw: bro that''s THE juggernaut from Deephold


    @WaveHammer: Drelmas doesn''t talk¡ªhe stares


    @StoneTide: he''s the one who won Brutaurus, right?!


    @FloodPulse: this just became a real match


    ---


    Fiona nodded, her voice softer now.


    "Another auction winner, folks."


    "Drelmas, the man who won Brutaurus, the Abyss-Horned Juggernaut."


    She pointed down.


    "Let''s see what kind of Vornis he brought today."


    From the mist, it stepped forward.


    And once again, the crowd gasped.


    The Vornis was massive.


    Slightly bigger than the base model.


    But every part of its body felt like it was anchored to the ground.


    Its armor wasn''t sleek or flashy.


    It looked like it was carved from deep ocean rock, with glowing spiral runes etched across its limbs.


    Its legs were thicker, and its hooves looked reinforced like underwater weights.


    Its back held a large water-pressure core, pulsing with a deep-blue glow.


    Every step made the arena tremble.


    Fiona narrowed her eyes. "That''s not just a design. That''s a whole pressure rig."


    The Vornis exhaled slowly.


    Steam hissed from its gill-like vents along its ribs.


    Then it lowered its head, stomped once.


    The stage actually cracked under its front hoof.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @CragBreaker: THAT THING IS A SEA WALL


    @AbyssWhirl: look at the runes on its chest!


    @SteelLure: it''s got anchor plates on its back legs


    @MudLock: feels like it''s staring at me through the screen


    @DepthRoar: 10/10 for intimidation factor alone


    ---


    Fiona circled slowly above, fanning the mist with a gentle wave.


    "This isn''t a flashy build," she said.


    "But it''s heavy. Grounded. Intentional."


    She pointed to the glowing blue ring at its core.


    "That''s a hydro pressure condenser."


    "It was used to simulate deep-sea resistance."


    "That means this Vornis was trained under artificial ocean gravity."


    The crowd went wild.


    Drelmas, silent as always, simply placed one hand on his Vornis''s neck.


    It didn''t roar. It didn''t move again. It just stood, solid and unshaken.


    A message.


    We''re already winning. We don''t need noise.


    Fiona tapped her app.


    "I''m giving this one a 9 out of 10."


    "No sparkles. No fire. Just pure presence and craft."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @SaltVein: pressure plating + rune core = GENIUS


    @BreakerLine: that was the calmest flex I''ve ever seen


    @QuietFlood: this beast doesn''t need to move fast¡ªjust once


    @MistWrap: he made the floor crack without attacking


    @DeepCoreFang: 9 easy. that''s a warrior''s beast


    ---


    Votes poured in fast.


    The scoreboard flickered...


    [AVERAGE SCORE: 8.7]


    Fiona clapped her hands.


    "And that''s our new high score, folks! 8.7 average!"


    "Brutaurus-style dominance done right."


    She gave a respectful nod toward Drelmas.


    "Amazing work. Quiet. Strong. And unforgettable."


    Back in the prep zone, Kaelen leaned on a wall.


    "He didn''t even blink," Kaelen muttered.


    Donnie, still masked, stared in silence.


    "He''s the wall we all have to climb now," Velmara added, arms folded.


    Fiona floated back up, smiling.


    "Alright, Luxoria fans! We''ve seen beauty, flames, music, and pressure."


    She twirled once mid-air.


    "Get your apps ready again... Contestant Number Six is almost here!"


    The next gate began to glow.


    ---


    Inside a secret room high within Luxoria Castle, four figures watched the competition through a wide crystal screen.


    Lucius sat in the center, arms folded, silver eyes calm as ever.


    Beside him stood Liora, ever silent, ever still.


    On the other side leaned Loreia, arms crossed, watching the screen with a faint grin.


    Behind them, seated with her legs crossed, was Luna, sipping from a glowing cup of pale blue liquid.


    They were not part of the audience but they saw everything.


    Lucius watched the stage closely as Drelmas walked off, his Vornis leaving cracks in the floor.


    "He''s strong," Loreia said casually. "He didn''t even need to roar."


    Liora gave a single nod.


    "He''s heavier than the others," Luna added. "Like a wall with legs."


    Lucius didn''t respond.


    He was still watching the scoreboard slowly reset for the next entry.


    Then suddenly the air shimmered.


    From a side hallway, Liline appeared in her usual quiet way.


    She stopped a few feet from Lucius and bowed lightly.


    "There''s something you should know," she said.


    Lucius turned his head slightly. "Speak."


    Liline kept her voice low.


    "Unusual movement in the Mist Forest. Not our normal guests."


    "Five figures... all in full dark suits."


    Lucius''s eyes narrowed slightly. "Aurelis people, huh?"


    "It seems so. And they''re carrying a large box."


    "Heat signatures suggest it''s holding something unstable... or alive."


    Loreia straightened up, her grin vanishing. "Do you want me to act?"


    Liora finally spoke. "I can go now."


    Lucius raised one hand slightly.


    "No. You don''t need to move."


    He stood and walked slowly to the window, gazing down at the mist-covered forest beyond the arena.


    "Let them come."


    He turned slightly, silver eyes gleaming.


    "Just let those two handle it."


    Luna smirked. "Those two, huh?"


    She leaned back in her seat. "I see. This will be fun."


    Loreia cracked her knuckles. "Are you sure? If it''s Aurelius..."


    Lucius didn''t blink. "They''ll learn soon."


    Back in the Mist Forest...


    The five figures in black moved carefully between the trees.


    Two of them carried a large crate, suspended between them with stabilizers.


    The lead whispered, "Target is inside Luxoria."


    "We plant this, make chaos, and get out."


    Behind them, someone muttered, "I still don''t like this place... The mist is too quiet."


    But they didn''t know.


    They were being watched.


    Back in the hidden room, Luna chuckled softly.


    "I wonder how fast they''ll scream."


    Lucius stared through the glass again.


    "I just want them to understand something simple."


    He stepped back, tone calm.


    "No one enters this castle without permission."


    He then turned back to his seat.


    "Let the event continue."


    Liline nodded. "I''ll monitor. Quietly."


    Loreia grinned again. "Let''s see how long they last."


    Luna finished her drink. "I''ll bet... not even five minutes."


    Liora''s eyes were already locked on the far monitor, ready¡ªif needed.


    Lucius spoke one final time.


    "They came to disrupt our show..."


    He looked toward the next contestant entering the arena.


    "...but they''ll leave remembering why no one ever interrupts Luxoria."

 Chapter 454: I See You... Boo

    Deep at the outer edge of the Luxoria Mist Forest, five figures in full black suits crouched low beneath the fog.


    Each wore a thin Aurelius insignia on their left shoulder.


    They were here for one reason: to disrupt Luxoria.


    The leader spoke softly into his comm.


    "Activate summon."


    All five raised their wrists.


    With a mechanical buzz, five black portals tore open in the air behind them.


    From each portal, a shadow stepped through with no footsteps or even sound.


    Five Nyxgrinds emerged.


    Each one twisted and stretched with eerie smoothness.


    They were like living wire and vapor wrapped in armor.


    Their single glowing purple eye blinked once.


    Then they stood still, completely silent.


    One operative whispered, "Creeps me out every time."


    The leader didn''t respond. Instead, he raised his hand again.


    "Begin fusion."


    Each Aurelius soldier stepped forward. Their beasts didn''t resist.


    The moment they touched the Nyxgrinds'' core plates, the fusion began.


    Black wires burst from the beasts, slithering around their bodies like liquid chains.


    Armor plates reformed over their suits. Their visors turned a dull violet.


    Their limbs cracked¡ªlonger, sharper.


    Their fingers reshaped into thin blades.


    The transformation wasn''t loud.


    But it felt heavy.


    Their bodies became slimmer, darker, and more angular.


    They were fused with mechanical shadow.


    Each of them gained the traits of Nyxgrind which were stealth, silence, and speed.


    On the leader''s back, his armor opened into a black exhaust port.


    He activated the first skill.


    "[Nano Smoke Dispersal]," he muttered.


    The ground hissed.


    A black, corrupted mist exploded around them, spreading fast.


    It pushed away the white Luxoria mist and replaced it with something darker.


    A fog that erased scanners, heat signatures, and even footsteps.


    They nodded to each other.


    "Let''s go," the leader said.


    They picked up the large black container.


    A sealed vault unit, humming with something alive inside.


    Then all five slipped into the darkness of the forest.


    ---


    The five Aurelius infiltrators moved like shadows through the trees.


    The outer edge of the Mist Forest had given no resistance.


    Now, deep inside, the air was colder, heavier.


    They remained silent.


    The leader then raised his hand.


    "Use [Void Phase Dive]. No reason to deal with branches."


    All five of them nodded and instantly melted into the ground like smoke.


    They passed through trees, roots, and even stone¡ªunseen, unfelt.


    Not even the natural mist of the forest could follow them.


    The forest offered no obstacle.


    But then... something changed.


    Just as they emerged from their dive on the other side of a moss-covered ridge, the air around them shifted.


    It became thicker.


    The white mist around them suddenly surged like waves of water.


    From it, shapes began to form.


    Mist coiled into legs, wings, jaws, and eyes.


    One took the form of a four-legged beast, wide-shouldered with blade-shaped legs.


    Another spread long, thin wings made of silver vapor.


    A third beast swirled into a large, eyeless humanoid covered in glowing patterns.


    More and more took shape.


    All made of mist, all moving silently.


    The five intruders halted, stepping into a defensive formation.


    One of them whispered, "So this is why they call it the Mist Forest..."


    The second narrowed his eyes.


    "These aren''t natural beasts. They''re being made. Right in front of us."


    The leader looked around slowly. "Strange. We shouldn''t be visible."


    He clenched one clawed fist.


    "We''ve all activated our passive [Shadow Null Presence]."


    "We don''t give off heat, light, sound¡ªnothing."


    The third operative stepped back a little.


    "It''s the forest. No... it''s Luxoria. This place doesn''t follow normal tracking rules."


    The fourth one growled. "It''s sensing us anyway. That shouldn''t be possible."


    The leader took a breath, his voice colder now.


    "Enough."


    He reached for the curved blades fused into his arms.


    "Activate [Silent Dagger Shift]. Cut through them."


    The others followed instantly.


    Their arms reshaped with a sharp hiss¡ªlong, silent blades extending from elbows and forearms.


    Without another word, the five launched forward into the mist.


    They slashed.


    Blades passed through the creatures¡ªbut the mist only twisted, reformed, and struck back.


    A four-legged beast lunged at the second operative, its claws made of glowing fog.


    He ducked, rolled, and slashed it in half¡ªonly to see it rebuild in seconds.


    Above, the flying one dove at them, scattering shimmering needles of mist from its wings.


    The third operative raised an arm to block, but his blade only slowed the needles.


    But they passed through, burning cold.


    "These aren''t just mist copies," the fourth said. "They adapt."


    "Then destroy faster!" The fifth shouted, already spinning and cutting another form apart.


    Still, more kept forming.


    For every one they struck down, two more emerged.


    Each was shaped a little differently, as if studying them.


    The leader gritted his teeth. "Keep moving. Don''t stay in one spot."


    They advanced, but the mist pressed harder. The creatures weren''t random.


    They were organized. Each one moved with purpose.


    And somewhere, deep within the fog, something else watched.


    it was a huge white dragon or mist


    A giant white dragon made of mist floated just above the ground.


    Its body was long, graceful, and half-invisible.


    Its silver eyes glowed softly through the vapor.


    Standing beside it was Liline, holding a floating clipboard in one hand.


    She watched the intruders move below with a polite, amused expression.


    "So, Nebelis," she said calmly, "can you hold them back?"


    The mist dragon didn''t roar or shift


    Its voice echoed quietly in the air, like breath across glass.


    "Of course," Nebelis replied. "They are nothing."


    Its eyes narrowed slightly.


    "I am already a Divine-Tier Beast."


    "They are only Sovereign-Tier, and from what I sense... early to mid-SS rank at best."


    The mist thickened around Nebelis as it spoke, glowing brighter with Luxorite threads.


    "They cannot hurt me. They cannot see me. They do not belong here."


    Liline smiled gently. "I see."


    She tucked the clipboard into her sleeve and took a sip from her teacup.


    "Well then," she said softly, her voice cheerful, "let''s enjoy the show."


    Below them, the five intruders were still fighting mist creatures, never knowing they were already surrounded.

 Chapter 455: Phase Dive Straight into Regret

    The five Aurelius operatives moved quickly through the dense white fog, slashing and striking in silence.


    Mist beasts came from all sides.


    But they were no longer surprised.


    The fifth operative ducked a flying mist hound and stabbed upward, clean through its neck.


    The beast scattered like smoke.


    Another beast lunged low, but the second operative turned without looking, his blades already swinging.


    "This pattern again?"


    The blade hit. Another mist beast gone.


    "Their moves are repeating," said the third. "Easy now."


    The leader said nothing but his eyes glowed brighter.


    Their systems were fully engaged now.


    Their [Adaptive Kill Memory] trait kicked in.


    It recorded each attack, each dodge, each creature''s weakness.


    With every second, their movements grew faster, cleaner, deadlier.


    Within minutes, the five of them were cutting through waves of mist beasts like machines.


    A single strike ended each one.


    They didn''t speak unless they needed to.


    But then the fourth stopped moving for a moment.


    "...Wait."


    More mist rolled in.


    Twice as fast.


    Beasts started to reform almost instantly.


    Just right after being dispersed.


    The third frowned. "They''re coming back faster."


    The fifth slashed one that had reappeared in the same spot he''d cleared seconds ago.


    "I just killed this one."


    The leader scowled behind his helmet. "The mist is learning too."


    The second operative''s claws locked into place. "It''s copying our speed."


    Now every time they cleared a space, two more beasts appeared.


    And the fog? Thicker than before.


    The fourth operative growled. "We can''t keep doing this."


    "Damn it," said the fifth, cutting down another.


    "They''re endless."


    The leader looked ahead.


    The fog was dense, but through it, he could see faint shadows.


    "Forget the beasts," he said coldly. "We break through."


    "Straight line," said the third. "Cut the shortest path."


    The leader raised his hand.


    "Activate [Void Phase Dive]. Ignore everything."


    One by one, they melted into the ground, bypassing the beasts entirely.


    They rushed forward in pure silence, slipping under tree roots, rocks, and fog beasts alike.


    The mist moved with them.


    But even in that voided state, they felt it.


    Pressure.


    A new force pushing back.


    One of them reappeared for just a second.


    To be met by a mist creature already standing in front of him, fully formed and ready.


    "How?!" he hissed, phasing back under.


    The fifth shouted, "It''s predicting our path now!"


    The leader snarled. "Then we move faster."


    They pushed harder.


    Dashing through terrain in fragmented bursts of shadow.


    They passed through boulders. Tree trunks. Streams of vapor. Nothing slowed them now.


    ---


    In the deepest part of the Mist Forest, Nebelis floated silently above the trees.


    Beside it hovered Liline, hands folded neatly behind her back.


    She was watching the screen on her floating clipboard.


    She was tracking the five intruders'' movement as they slipped through the lower layers of fog.


    Nebelis spoke first, its voice quiet but heavy.


    "So... they thought they could break through by ignoring my mist beasts?"


    Liline nodded, eyes still on the screen. "Yes. I believe that''s their best option."


    She smiled faintly.


    "You sent too many at once. Naturally, they''d want to skip the fight."


    Nebelis''s silver eyes narrowed.


    "Of course I did," it said. "They are not guests."


    Its voice rolled like fog over stone.


    "They are not here to test themselves. They are not here for peace."


    "They are enemies."


    The mist below thickened as it spoke.


    "And this Mist Forest is my territory."


    Its eyes glowed brighter.


    "I can do anything I want to them."


    Liline finally looked up.


    "Well, they''ve broken through the front. They reached the deeper layers."


    She tilted her head slightly.


    "Are you planning to go straight to them now?"


    Nebelis didn''t move.


    "No," it answered slowly. "I won''t waste effort."


    It looked down at the forest below.


    "What they fought before... those were just weak mist beasts."


    It closed its eyes for a moment.


    "Now, I''ll send the real ones."


    Liline raised one eyebrow. "Oh?"


    Nebelis''s long form began to curl, like a cloud drawing breath.


    "I''ll show them what it means to step too deep into fog they cannot control."


    Liline gave a polite smile.


    "I see then."


    She turned to float beside Nebelis, just out of reach of its swirling mist.


    "Well..."


    She sipped from a freshly summoned teacup.


    "Let''s enjoy the show, shall we?"


    ---


    The five intruders moved deeper into the forest, their steps fast and quiet.


    The white mist wrapped around them like a cage, but they kept going.


    Their sensors flickered, but they pushed forward.


    "We''re almost through this layer," the fourth operative said.


    But then... something shifted.


    A sharp blast of mist hit them from the side.


    It wasn''t soft like before.


    Instead it was dense and fast, like a punch of air made of steel.


    The five froze.


    "What was that?" the second whispered.


    The mist swirled, then gathered ahead of them.


    It was faster than anything they''d seen before.


    It began to take shape.


    First legs.


    Then a torso.


    Then arms¡ªone holding a long mist-forged sword, the other carrying a sleek, vapor-built gun.


    The head formed last, no face, only glowing white eyes.


    A mist human, standing still.


    The leader frowned. "Ignore it. Go around."


    They tried to move left but the mist warrior moved before they did.


    In one blur, it stood right in front of them again.


    The fifth swung his blade.


    The mist warrior blocked it with the flat of its sword, then fired its gun point-blank at his chest.


    The shot was silent but hit like a hammer, blasting him back into a tree.


    The second shouted, "It''s fast!"


    The third leapt in to strike but the mist human spun, sword slicing across his thigh before vanishing again.


    The leader growled. "It''s not like the others. It''s smarter. Stronger."


    The fourth stabbed forward, aiming for the chest.


    But the blade passed through as the mist warrior split its body.


    Then he reformed behind him and kicked him hard into the dirt.


    The mist solidified again, pointing its gun.


    "They''re learning," the leader muttered. "Fine."


    He raised his own weapons.


    "Then we fight."

 Chapter 456: Welcome to Donnie’s Elemental Petting Zoo

    Back at the glowing heart of the Vornis Competition, the mist of the last round had just cleared.


    The crowd''s energy was back to full mode.


    Cheering, laughing, and waiting for what was next.


    Fiona hovered high above the stage, her visor reflecting the sunlight.


    "Alright, Luxoria fans!" she said with a bright smile.


    "Let''s keep the show going!"


    She spun in the air once.


    "Now, please welcome... our sixth contestant!"


    The arena gates opened.


    A tall figure stepped through, calm and quiet.


    He wore a long black coat and a mask that covered half his face.


    The crowd leaned forward.


    He walked with no hesitation, stopping right in the center.


    Fiona tilted her head.


    "Oh? A masked man?"


    She floated lower.


    "And you are...?"


    The man looked up at her calmly.


    "Miss Fiona," he said, his voice steady and low.


    "My name is... irrelevant. But I come not with one Vornis... but five."


    The audience gasped.


    Fiona blinked. "Wait. Five?!"


    He nodded. "All contracted. All customized."


    Fiona looked back at the crowd, then returned to him.


    "Well... that''s amazing..." she said slowly.


    "And also this is a beauty contest, so it should be okay..."


    She gave him a look. "But it might be a little unfair to others."


    The masked man¡ªDonnie in disguise¡ªnodded politely.


    "I understand. That''s why I''m asking."


    "I will follow the rules, no matter the result."


    Fiona paused. "Hmm..."


    Then she had an idea.


    She floated up a little higher.


    "Alright, Luxoria fans," she called out with a grin.


    "I can''t make this call alone."


    She pointed at the arena''s floating scoreboard.


    "So how about... We let you decide?"


    The scoreboard blinked and displayed:


    "Poll: Should this contestant be allowed to showcase all 5 Vornis?"


    [YES] or [NO]


    Fiona laughed. "Let''s make this fun! Voting starts now!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @GemGazer: FIVE VORNIS?? LET HIM SHOW!!


    @BreezeTune: i mean it''s a beauty contest... more vornis = more fun


    @FluffBurn: he''s polite too LET HIM COOK


    @SilverFlick: i wanna see them all


    @SkySpice: i voted YES in 0.1 sec


    ---


    In the arena, the votes flooded in.


    The bar filled up quick.


    Fiona laughed again.


    "Wow... okay, okay! Voting just closed."


    She pointed at the result flashing on the screen.


    "RESULT: YES ¨C 80% APPROVED"


    The crowd cheered.


    Fiona nodded at the masked man.


    "Well then, mystery man¡ªyou''re in. Show us what you''ve got."


    Donnie tilted his head slightly.


    "Thank you," he said calmly.


    Donnie then raised one hand.


    A dark blue portal opened behind him.


    Out of it, five Vornis stepped forward, one by one.


    The crowd fell silent for a moment.


    Even Fiona hovered lower, eyes wide.


    The first Vornis roared as it appeared.


    A massive steel lion, its armor cracked with glowing red flame.


    Heat shimmered off its body.


    Its mane blazed like a wildfire, and flames danced across its claws.


    Fiona pointed. "That one''s Flame Vornis."


    The second came next.


    It was much slower, much heavier.


    Its body was thick with stone and metal, each leg wrapped in rock plating.


    The claws were jagged and stone-tipped, and dust rolled off its feet with every step.


    Fiona nodded. "Earth. No question."


    The third Vornis was sleek and fast, wrapped in blue-steel armor.


    Parts of its plating shifted gently, almost like flowing water.


    Its claws looked like sharp harpoon blades, and its tail ended in a long, curved, serrated fin.


    "Oooh," Fiona whispered. "Water!"


    The fourth beast followed.


    Its frame was built from bark, roots, and vines.


    Its body twisted with living wood, and its mane flowed with green tendrils.


    Thorns coiled tightly around its legs and tail.


    "Wood," Fiona said. "That''s Wood Vornis!"


    Then came the fifth¡ªand it looked... familiar.


    It had the same shape as the base Vornis, but every detail had been perfected.


    Its steel armor shined like silver, each plate flawlessly interlocked.


    It moved like a machine tuned by a master.


    No flames. No roots. Just refined metal at its peak.


    Fiona whispered, "Metal..."


    Then she flew up slightly, her voice echoing across the crowd.


    "Everyone! Do you see this?!"


    She pointed to the five beasts, now standing in formation behind Donnie.


    "These aren''t just random Vornis builds."


    "He customized them to match the five basic elements!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @IronSip: WHATTT FIVE ELEMENT VORNIS?!


    @FlareRoot: I LOVE THE WOOD ONE


    @ShatterFin: the water one just became my fav


    @MagmaStride: bro the flame one is LITERALLY ON FIRE


    @CleanCore: that metal one is TOO CLEAN it''s perfect


    ---


    Fiona turned back to Donnie, still floating midair.


    "Tell me, mystery man," she said.


    "Did you really design each one for the elements?"


    Donnie looked up at her, still calm.


    "I did."


    He gestured toward them.


    "One for each element: Flame. Earth. Water. Wood. Metal."


    "I built them," he continued.


    "Not just for battle but to show balance. A full cycle of force and form."


    Fiona blinked. "You even talk like a philosopher..."


    She laughed and pointed at the scoreboard.


    "Well, Luxoria judges... You saw it."


    "Five custom Vornis. Five full elements."


    "Let''s get those votes in!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @CoreBurn: voting 10 right now


    @PetalTail: wood one gets my vote it''s SO pretty


    @StoneClaw: earth was sick but flame was scary


    @StreamSpark: can we vote for all five??


    @LightBite: he deserves a bonus score JUST for the idea!


    ---


    Fiona floated midair, about to tap her screen to start the voting.


    "Alright, Luxoria fans! Let''s begin¡ª"


    Suddenly, Donnie raised his hand.


    "Wait."


    Fiona paused. "Hmm? What happened?"


    Donnie''s voice was calm but firm. "It''s not over yet."


    She blinked. "Not over?"


    He nodded. "There''s something else."


    "Something that makes these five Vornis even more special."


    Fiona''s eyes lit up. "Oh? More secrets?"


    "Yes," Donnie said.


    "That''s why I asked to show all five. They''re not just individual builds."


    "They''re connected."


    Fiona smiled wide. "I see. So this wasn''t just for show."


    She looked at the audience. "Everyone..."


    "It looks like there''s still more coming!"


    She twirled once in the air, full of energy again.


    "Alright then!"


    She pointed to the five Vornis.


    "Let''s begin."

 Chapter 457: Donnie Didn’t Just Compete

    He looked toward the five Vornis still standing behind him in formation.


    "Vornis... assemble."


    The five beasts nodded in unison.


    The audience went completely silent.


    Then the ground started to rumble.


    Each Vornis moved into position like they''d practiced this a thousand times.


    The Flame Vornis stepped forward.


    It roared as its flaming mane expanded, forming wide shoulder armor.


    The Earth Vornis lowered itself behind it, its thick, stone-plated body unfolding.


    It latched onto the lower half, forming legs and core plates.


    The Water Vornis moved next.


    Its sleek armor shifted and connected along the arms.


    It created fluid, blade-lined gauntlets and hydro boosters on the back.


    The Wood Vornis extended its vines and roots, which wrapped around the structure and linked to joints.


    It formed flexible support, a torso frame, and energy links.


    Finally, the Metal Vornis stepped into the center.


    Its perfectly polished core armor unfolded upward.


    It formed a shining chest plate and crown-shaped helmet that locked into place on the fusion unit.


    The five beasts merged into one.


    Each transformation snapped together with glowing pulses.


    Flames, vines, water, steel, and stone all intertwining in perfect rhythm.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @RexBeam: WAIT WHAT


    @GigaVine: IS THIS A ROBOT SCENE?!


    @OceanCore: BRO THEY''RE FUSING


    @FlareBrick: THIS IS ELEMENTAL KNIGHT MEGAROBOT MODE


    @ShinyClaw: I''M ACTUALLY SCREAMING RIGHT NOW


    ---


    The fusion beast stood tall in the center of the stage.


    It looked like a divine armored lion knight.


    It stood on two legs, with massive shoulder armor of flame.


    His legs were like stone towers and his arms were flowing with water energy.


    Its entire body was wrapped in living roots and vines and a sleek metallic chest that shined like a mirror.


    Its mane was a full halo of fire, leaves, and steam.


    Ffrom its back rose five blade-wings, each forged from a different element.


    Its eyes glowed gold.


    Its roar was deep and carried the sound of wind, thunder, and crackling fire.


    Fiona''s jaw dropped.


    "W-Wait... what is this?!"


    She spun in the air to face the crowd.


    "Did you just see that?! He made a Vornis fusion!"


    She turned back to Donnie. "What do you even call that?"


    Donnie looked up, finally revealing a faint smile behind his mask.


    "This," he said softly, "is the result of full elemental balance."


    He raised one hand toward the towering fusion beast.


    "Elemental Knight Vornis."


    Fiona gasped. "Elemental Knight Vornis?!"


    She pointed dramatically at the fusion beast.


    "Everyone! I don''t know what''s happening anymore."


    "But this is the coolest thing I''ve ever seen!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @MechaPulse: THAT''S A MEGAROBOT IF I EVER SAW ONE


    @BarkMode: NAME DROP?! ELEMENTAL KNIGHT VORNIS??


    @IronBloom: FIVE VORNIS FUSED. HE JUST WENT LEGENDARY


    @SplashJet: VOTE''S A 10 NO QUESTIONS


    @SunRoot: THIS JUST TURNED INTO AN ELEMENTAL SHOWDOWN


    ---


    Fiona floated beside the massive fusion Vornis, still wide-eyed with amazement.


    "You combined style, design, and now this..."


    She raised her hand toward the crowd.


    "This isn''t just a Vornis entry."


    She grinned.


    "This is a full performance!"


    The crowd roared again, echoing her excitement.


    Fiona spun mid-air, eyes glowing beneath her visor.


    "Well, Luxoria fans..."


    She raised her hand.


    "I think you all know what to do."


    She tapped her screen.


    "Voting¡ªstarts now!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @MechaStorm: I''M GIVING A 10 RIGHT NOW


    @RootKick: THIS IS PEAK SHOWCASE


    @BurnClaw: HE JUST DROPPED A FINAL FORM


    @CleanCut: I didn''t expect this today and now I''m crying


    @GigaShell: this man walked in and rewrote the rules


    ---


    The Luxoria App buzzed with nonstop votes.


    Every second, the bar climbed higher.


    Fiona looked up at the screen as the final tally began to flash.


    The lights dimmed slightly.


    Dramatic music played from the stadium''s surround system.


    Then¡ªBOOM.


    [AVERAGE SCORE: 9.5]


    A massive cheer exploded through the stands.


    Fiona''s mouth dropped open again.


    "NINE POINT FIVE?!"


    She covered her face with both hands, then laughed.


    "That''s our highest score yet! Are you seeing this?!"


    She turned to the fusion beast and gave it a small salute.


    "You, my big shiny friend, are the new bar!"


    ---


    Back in the contestant prep zone, Caelan Valefor watched the screen, arms folded, brows furrowed.


    He didn''t say anything at first.


    Then finally, he muttered, "He forged five separate Vornis..."


    "All elementally aligned... and fused them into one."


    He gave a short breath through his nose.


    "Impressive."


    Velmara stood next to him, arms crossed, but her fingers tapped her arm slowly.


    "That wasn''t just impressive," she said. "That was ridiculous."


    She turned toward Caelan with a sideways smirk.


    "He didn''t come here to win one round."


    "He came to show everyone he could''ve made five perfect entries..."


    "Instead, he fused them all into one huge beast."


    Caelan nodded. "He turned a contest into a demonstration."


    Velmara narrowed her eyes at the replay of the fusion.


    "And the scary part?" she added.


    "I don''t think that was even battle mode."


    ---


    Back in the arena, Fiona flew up again to address the roaring crowd.


    "All right, Luxoria fans!"


    She pointed toward the massive fusion Vornis one last time.


    "Give it up for the mysterious contestant and his five-fold fusion.


    "Elemental Knight Vornis!"


    The crowd responded with cheers, claps, even synchronized stomps.


    The fusion beast gave a low roar¡ªnot loud, but deep and proud.


    It bowed once to the crowd... and slowly stepped back.


    The lights softened.


    And Fiona hovered mid-stage once more.


    "That''s six down," she said, smiling wide. "Only two left."


    She winked at the camera drone.


    "But if they want to beat that..."


    "They better bring fireworks, fireworks, and more fireworks."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @CrownSpark: 9.5 was earned. no question.


    @StarLoop: give him a crown now


    @SoilShatter: my earth-vornis looks like trash now


    @FlameGear: I want to fuse mine now too


    @HydroBuzz: i bet the final 2 are sweating HARD


    ---


    And just like that, the next gate began to glow.


    The competition wasn''t over.


    But the crowd already had a new favorite.


    And his name... no one even knew yet.

 Chapter 458: That’s a Verdant War Machine

    Lucius stood in the hidden room, arms folded behind his back.


    His eyes focused on the display.


    The image showed the massive fusion Vornis, Element Knight Vornis.


    It was still standing in the center of the arena as the crowd cheered.


    Beside him, Loreia stared at the screen, eyes wide.


    She pointed lightly toward it and said, "I didn''t think something like this was even possible."


    Her voice held a mix of shock and amusement.


    "Five Vornis... fused into one? That''s not something you see every day."


    Lucius didn''t answer yet.


    On the other side, Liora remained still as always.


    Her eyes were locked onto the fusion Vornis, watching it slowly retreat from the stage.


    She didn''t speak, but her gaze softened just slightly.


    Lucius noticed.


    "You''re impressed," he said.


    Liora didn''t nod, but her silence said enough.


    Then Luna spoke from behind them.


    She sat on the edge of the seat, one hand holding her teacup, the other resting under her chin.


    "Well," she said, "whoever this man is... he''s not just skilled. He''s clever."


    She looked at the screen again.


    "He didn''t just build beautiful Vornis."


    "He designed each one with a purpose."


    "He then brought them together like pieces of a puzzle."


    Her smile grew slightly. "It''s like watching a child''s show but for tamers."


    Loreia laughed. "Yeah. It reminded me of those old fusion toy ads."


    Lucius remained quiet for a moment.


    Then he nodded.


    "It''s... interesting," he said at last.


    "To think that someone that was not from Luxoria or even a noble house..."


    "Had the idea to make five element-themed Vornis."


    He looked at the scoreboard.


    "And then to build each one strong enough to stand on its own."


    "While also being made for combination."


    He finally turned to face the others.


    "This man... is more than a tamer and very interesting."


    ---


    Fiona hovered above the glowing stage, still smiling from the excitement of the last round.


    "All right, Luxoria fans," she said, twirling midair.


    "That last entry gave us five Vornis fused into one¡ªand a score of 9.5!"


    The crowd cheered.


    Fiona raised her hand again.


    "But now... let''s see what our next contestant can do!"


    The arena lights dimmed slightly, the crowd leaned forward, and the gate slowly opened.


    Out of the shadows, a tall, elegant woman stepped through.


    She wore a dark green battle suit with sharp leaf-like patterns across her shoulders and boots.


    Her silver-blue hair was tied neatly, and her storm-gray eyes held calm confidence.


    Fiona''s eyes widened as she floated lower.


    "Wait a minute... Could it be?"


    She spun in the air.


    "Luxoria fans!"


    "Our next contestant is none other than a noble from nature."


    "Velmara of the Myralis family!"


    The crowd gasped, then clapped hard as Velmara gave a slight bow.


    "I didn''t expect a noble to join the contest," Fiona said, smiling.


    "Let''s see what kind of Vornis she''s brought."


    Velmara nodded gently.


    "This one is not my personal beast," she said.


    "But it belongs to my family."


    She motioned with one hand.


    From the back of the arena, two armored handlers wheeled forward a large sealed container glowing with faint green light.


    Fiona turned to the crowd. "Ooh, a container reveal? Fancy!"


    The container opened slowly, releasing a soft green mist.


    Then a massive steel lion leapt out with a deep, earth-shaking thud.


    Its body fused with glowing green Verdanite, vines twisting along its armor, and claws that gleamed like forged roots.


    Its deep green eyes stared into the crowd¡ªcalm, steady, and alive.


    Fiona''s mouth dropped. "W-What is that?"


    Velmara stepped forward.


    "Let me introduce," she said.


    "The Vornis Verdant¡ªthe forest guardian of the Myralis family."


    "This beast was made not from steel alone."


    "But from Verdanite, a secret metal only found in our family''s territory."


    "It is alive. It is aware. And it does not fight for glory."


    She placed one hand gently over her chest.


    "It fights to protect."


    The Vornis Verdant gave a low growl.


    The vines on its legs gently twitched, and its tail flicked, leaving behind a faint shimmer of green mist.


    Fiona blinked, speechless for a moment.


    "This... this doesn''t even look like a normal beast..."


    She floated around it slowly.


    "The way the vines are wrapped into the armor... the green glow..."


    "And the way it moves¡ªlike it''s breathing..."


    She spun back to the crowd.


    "Everyone! This Vornis was not just made for battle. It was born for balance."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @LeafStrike: THAT THING IS A FOREST TANK


    @SteelBud: it''s glowing like a sacred tree


    @RootRoar: VERDANITE???


    @NatureCore: this is elegance and power together


    @StoneSeed: Velmara came in like a queen


    ---


    Fiona turned back to Velmara.


    "You really surprised us. I thought you''d bring some kind of Thunder Vornis..."


    Velmara smiled. "My Vornis is indeed a thunder one."


    "But today, I want to show you the new guardian that fight for all of Myralis."


    Fiona raised her hand again.


    "All right, Luxoria fans! You''ve seen it. You''ve heard it."


    "Now it''s time¡ªget your votes in!"


    The crowd tapped, waved, and cheered.


    The scoreboard lit up slowly...


    [Average Score: 9.2]


    Fiona clapped her hands with a cheerful grin.


    "Nine point two! A stunning score!"


    She turned toward Velmara, still hovering midair.


    "Congratulations! Although..."


    "Still a little lower than the last one," she teased with a smile.


    Velmara didn''t look bothered. She simply smiled back.


    "This is just a beauty contest," she replied.


    "I will show real power in the battle round later."


    Fiona laughed. "I see! So this was just a warm-up."


    Velmara gave a calm nod, stepping back as Vornis Verdant followed her quietly.


    Fiona spun around in the air and pointed toward the glowing archway.


    "Well then, Luxoria fans!"


    She raised her voice and waved both hands toward the crowd.


    "We''ve had seven amazing entries so far..."


    Her eyes twinkled.


    "Now¡ªit''s time for the final contestant!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @LeafWhirl: Velmara never misses


    @BlazeBit: she said "this is nothing"


    @IronFan: 9.2 is still crazy good


    @MossGear: Vornis Verdant looks like a boss fight


    @SparkTune: last contestant better bring a Dragon Vornis or something


    ---

 Chapter 459: They Can’t Even Say It Out Loud

    The light dimmed again.


    Fiona floated above the stage, eyes locked on the next gate.


    "Well, Luxoria fans," she called, voice playful, "we''ve had seven incredible entries..."


    She paused and looked toward the final gate as it began to open.


    "But now... our final contestant has arrived."


    From the misted doorway, a tall, broad-shouldered man stepped out.


    His heavy beaststeel mantle shifting with every confident stride.


    Fiona blinked. "Wait. That''s..."


    She flew forward slightly, hovering above him.


    "Caelan Valefor! From the famed Valefor family?"


    The crowd gasped, then broke into murmurs.


    Caelan stopped near the center and gave a simple nod.


    He raised his hand.


    A portal opened behind him, red mist leaking from the edges.


    From within, a massive lion-shaped figure stepped out.


    Its body was wrapped in iron-black plating laced with crimson Valenite veins.


    The beast growled low, its fangs glowing red as molten metal dripped from its claws.


    Fiona''s eyes widened. "W-What is that?"


    Caelan spoke, voice deep and steady.


    "This is Vornis Vale."


    "A war beast born from pain and iron."


    "A Valefor family creation, forged using Valenite, our family''s unique ores."


    The beast stepped forward, each paw leaving behind smoking red claw marks.


    Its red eyes glowed, scanning the arena like it was ready to crush anything that moved.


    Fiona floated in a small circle, stunned.


    "The armor... the veins... It''s like it''s alive."


    "But... angry."


    She turned toward Caelan. "You made this yourself?"


    Caelan shook his head.


    "No. I didn''t make it."


    "I earned it."


    "This beast only bonds with pain, blood... and Valefor will."


    The Vornis let out a deep, growling exhale, the air around it growing heavier.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @CrimsonCore: bro that lion looks like it eats swords


    @IronVow: molten claws??? who hurt him


    @BloodSeal: Valefor family really pulled up last


    @FinalStrike: this beast looks like a final boss


    @VornisFan99: my phone is shaking HELP


    ---


    Fiona turned back to the crowd, her tone now more serious.


    "This... this isn''t just a show beast."


    "This one''s made to fight."


    She turned back to Caelan.


    "Still... this is a beauty contest, not a battlefield."


    Caelan nodded. "Even rage can be beautiful."


    Fiona chuckled nervously. "True... terrifying, but true."


    "All right, Luxoria fans!" She shouted, flying higher.


    "You''ve seen it. You''ve heard it. Now vote!"


    "The final score depends on you!"


    The drones hovered again.


    Fans tapped their apps. Hands went up. The crowd buzzed with energy.


    And finally¡ªthe screen lit up.


    [Average Score: 9.3]


    Fiona''s jaw dropped again.


    "Nine point three! Our second-highest score!"


    She spun toward Caelan.


    "That was a dangerous-looking beast, and still¡ªso many fans were amazed."


    Caelan simply gave a single nod.


    "I don''t need the top score," he said.


    "I only need to stand at the end."


    Fiona laughed.


    "Well, with Vornis Vale beside you..."


    She gestured toward the molten-clawed beast.


    "I don''t think anyone''s getting past you easily."


    Caelan gave a low laugh, arms crossed. "They can try."


    He turned without another word, walking toward the exit gate.


    Fiona called out, "Hey¡ªCaelan!"


    He paused, glancing back over his shoulder.


    "You''re not planning to skip the battle round, are you?"


    Caelan gave a small smirk.


    "I never skip a fight."


    The crowd erupted in cheers as Vornis Vale let out one final growl, eyes glowing deep red.


    It meant that it was ready to fight in the battle stage.


    ---


    Fiona floated mid-air again, glowing drones orbiting her like spotlights.


    She raised her hand and spun in a full circle.


    "Luxoria fans! That''s it for the Beauty Showcase Round!"


    She waved toward the scoreboard floating high above the arena.


    "Eight contestants. Eight incredible custom Vornis. But..."


    She grinned.


    "There can only be one winner."


    The screen pulsed.


    [Winner ¨C Score: 9.5]


    [Masked Contestant ¨C Elemental Knight Vornis Fusion]


    The crowd roared.


    "Let''s give it up for..."


    "Our mysterious man with the Elemental Knight Vornis!"


    The masked contestant stepped out calmly, arms folded, his cloak swaying behind him.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @ChompRoot: FUSION GUY WINS LET''S GOOOO


    @StreamFlare: his beast was cooler than my entire life


    @WhiskerBlast: 9.5??? that''s basically legendary


    @TapTapBoom: i still don''t believe that was real


    @FionaFan: she said "style AND power" and he did both


    ---


    Fiona clapped her hands.


    "Now, now, calm down, everyone!" she said with a smirk.


    "Let''s not just celebrate..."


    She raised one finger with a dramatic pause.


    "Let''s give him his prize."


    The crowd blinked. Prize?


    Even the masked man tilted his head slightly.


    Fiona smiled even wider.


    "Oh yes... Some of you thought this was just a beauty show, right?"


    She chuckled. "I never said there wouldn''t be a reward!"


    Cheers erupted.


    Fiona continued, "The first stage had a secret reward!"


    "I just didn''t announce it earlier to keep things spicy!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @PlotTwistPie: SHE LIED IN HD


    @PrizeOrNothing: WHAT KIND OF PRIZE??


    @SilverBug: bro better get a castle key or something


    @FireSnax: is it a date with Fiona?!


    ---


    "Now then," Fiona said, pointing at the masked man.


    "Please follow Miss Liline to meet Lord Lucius himself."


    She winked. "Your prize is..."


    "Well, let''s just say it''s secret. Too good to say out loud."


    From a side hallway, Liline appeared gracefully.


    "Right this way, sir," she said, motioning calmly.


    The mysterious man nodded once and followed without a word.


    Fiona turned back to the audience.


    "Sorry everyone¡ªno spoilers! But trust me, it''s worth it."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @RiftRanger: THE PRIZE IS TOO STRONG TO ANNOUNCE


    @GigaWin: plot armor prize fr


    @KnightFan7: secret prize means it''s a big one


    @LuxGuessr: I bet it''s a beast license or a custom ore


    ---


    Fiona raised both hands again.


    "Now then!"


    "Battle fans, get ready!"


    "Because the combat round will begin in two hours!"


    The audience cheered.


    "But!"


    Fiona held up her hand again, this time more serious.


    "If you need to go to the bathroom, grab food, stretch your legs¡ªdo it now."


    "And as for our eight contestants..."


    Her tone shifted just a bit sharper, though still playful.


    "You''ve all seen what each other brought to the table."


    She floated down slightly, arms crossed with a smirk.


    "If you''re scared that your Vornis might get..."


    "Well, completely broken¡ª"


    She twirled once and pointed toward the private gate exit.


    "You can still drop out before battle starts. We won''t judge."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @ArmorBreak: NOT THE RETIRE BUTTON


    @IronShell: Fiona said "save yourself" real smooth


    @BeastBank: i''d quit too if I saw Vornis Vale up close


    @SnackGrabber: bathroom first, trauma later


    @FionaRules: SHE REALLY GAVE A WARNING AND A SMILE


    ---


    Fiona gave one final bow midair.


    "We''ll return in two hours, same stage¡ªmore fire, more beasts, and real fights."


    "Don''t miss it."


    "Luxoria Castle out¡ªfor now!"


    The camera drones zoomed back as the lights faded slightly, transitioning to break mode.


    But the air stayed buzzing.


    Because everyone knew...


    The battle was going to be a war.

 Chapter 460: That’s CEO Mecha Boy

    In a quiet corridor behind the Luxoria arena, the masked man followed silently behind Liline.


    She led him through a side door and down a narrow hall.


    Finally, they stopped in front of a polished metal door.


    Liline turned, offering a graceful nod. "He''s waiting inside."


    The masked man nodded once. "Thank you."


    He stepped in.


    Inside the room was calm and bright.


    At the far end sat Lucius Luxoria, one leg crossed, a teacup in hand.


    He gave a small smile.


    "Please, sit down."


    The masked man approached the seat across from him and gave a respectful nod.


    "Thank you, Lord L."


    Lucius set down his cup.


    "Congratulations on winning the Vornis Beauty Competition, Masked Man."


    The masked man gave another short nod. "Thank you. It was an honor."


    Lucius chuckled lightly. "Or should I say... Donnie Aldren."


    The masked man blinked, clearly caught off guard.


    "It seems I cannot hide anything here," he said slowly.


    Then, with a sigh, he reached up and pulled off the mask.


    He revealed his face fully. "Yes. It''s me."


    Lucius leaned slightly forward, eyes amused.


    "How are you doing, Donnie?"


    Donnie gave a calm smile.


    "Quite good, actually. Better than expected."


    "Also, as of last week... I''ve become the new CEO of Beast Castle."


    Lucius raised a brow, setting his cup down with a soft clink.


    "Isn''t Varen Aldren still the CEO?"


    Donnie''s expression remained smooth, but the amusement in his eyes showed.


    "Not anymore. Thanks to you, Lord L."


    Lucius tilted his head slightly.


    "My father was very displeased with how Varen handled things with you."


    "The way he lost face and destroyed Beast Castle''s reputation," Donnie continued.


    "The auction loss, the public defeat... it all added up."


    He folded his hands together on the table.


    "So now, Varen has been moved to a... quieter position."


    "While I, the second son, was placed at the top. Effective immediately."


    Lucius smiled faintly. "So, a power shift."


    Donnie nodded. "Exactly."


    "And I came here not only to compete but to offer my thanks."


    He looked up at Lucius, voice steady.


    "Thanks to your influence and presence, Beast Castle has changed. For the better."


    Lucius didn''t answer right away.


    He simply watched him, reading the weight behind the words.


    Donnie continued. "Beast Castle will not oppose Luxoria again."


    "Not openly, not secretly. Not under me."


    He bowed his head slightly. "That''s a promise."


    Lucius finally smiled again, softer this time. "Good."


    There was a moment of silence.


    Then Lucius stood, walking slowly toward the wall panel.


    The surface lit up with a soft hum as his hand touched it.


    The screen changed, showing a rotating image of the Elemental Knight Vornis.


    The massive fusion beast Donnie had used in the beauty competition.


    Lucius folded his arms and stared at the image for a while.


    Then he spoke.


    "Your custom Vornis," he said, his voice calm but impressed.


    "Very well-crafted. Did you design all five yourself?"


    Donnie nodded from where he stood.


    "Yes," he said.


    "First, I had five normal Vornis."


    "I used rare ores to turn each into a beast of a different element."


    He stepped forward, looking at the screen beside Lucius.


    "Then I studied your Vornis modification guide, the one from the auction system."


    Lucius glanced sideways, eyes narrowing slightly.


    "So you used Luxoria''s mod blueprints."


    Donnie smiled a little.


    "They''re public after the auction. It''s just not easy to understand."


    "But I kept studying it. And the more I tried, the more I saw how flexible your system is."


    "Vornis beasts are smart. They adapted fast. It made the fusion easier."


    Lucius didn''t interrupt. He let the younger man talk.


    Donnie took a breath.


    "I always liked Elemental Knights as a kid."


    "You know, those old shows where five robots combine into one giant warrior."


    He looked at Lucius, almost sheepish.


    "So... I wanted to make one of my own."


    He pointed at the screen.


    "That''s the result. Five Vornis. Each with a synced elemental type."


    "Each with locking joints and modular limbs."


    "And when combined... it creates the Elemental Knight Vornis."


    "With full cockpit function."


    Lucius blinked. "Wait. Cockpit?"


    Donnie chuckled. "Yes. It''s inside the chest."


    "A real one. I sit inside it during battle mode."


    "It''s fully shielded, has command panels, and even has a viewfinder system built in."


    Lucius raised his eyebrows, clearly surprised now. "You''re serious."


    Donnie nodded proudly. "Completely."


    "I even ran the simulation dozens of times."


    "The beast adjusts based on terrain. In forest mode, the plant-based Vornis takes the lead."


    "In battlefields, metal and fire take the front. Water supports defense systems."


    Lucius stepped back slightly, looking at the screen again.


    "To think... you really liked a kids'' show that much," he said, lips curving.


    Donnie laughed. "I did. Still do, honestly."


    "Those shows made me dream big."


    "Now, I used those dreams in real beast taming."


    Lucius looked thoughtful. "And you''re saying..."


    "The five Vornis willingly allowed themselves to be modded this way?"


    Donnie nodded. "Yes. I didn''t force it."


    "I bonded with each. Then I explained my vision. I think they liked the idea."


    "Because once I fused them the first time... they synced almost instantly."


    "Like they were waiting for it."


    Lucius said nothing at first. He just stared at the display.


    Then he gave a small nod.


    "You''ve taken the concept of taming," he said, "and turned it into design."


    "Into something new. You made your beast into a symbol."


    He looked over again. "And that''s not something many tamers can do."


    Donnie bowed slightly. "Thank you."


    Lucius returned to his seat and sat back down.


    "Still," he added, "this cockpit idea is dangerous."


    "One attack, and you might go down with the beast."


    Donnie shrugged. "I accept that risk. If I''m inside it, I''ll be more focused."


    "And the beast knows I''m with it, not behind it. We fight together."


    Lucius''s expression shifted. He nodded, almost to himself.


    "Very well. That answer satisfies me."


    He leaned in slightly, his voice lowering just enough to shift the mood.


    "As for your reward... how about something more fitting?"


    He whispered a few words close to Donnie''s ear.


    Donnie''s eyes widened. "Wait... you mean I can really¡ª?"


    Lucius smirked, calm and confident. "Of course. If anyone''s earned it, it''s you."


    Donnie''s grin returned. "Then that''s exactly what I want."


    Lucius leaned back again, hands clasped calmly.


    "Then it''s yours," he said. "Consider it your prize."

 Chapter 461 461: Hack-n-Slash-n-Fog

    The five intruders stood in a tight circle.


    Their eyes tracked every movement in the swirling fog.


    The Mist Human stood still, its single glowing eye watching them like a hawk.


    The leader clenched his fists. "Activate [Execution Protocol Lock]."


    At once, all five of them shimmered slightly, their forms fading into a haze.


    Their movements grew faster and quieter, their steps leaving no sound on the damp ground.


    "Don''t hold back."


    The Mist Human moved.


    It shifted its sword and gun.


    The sword lengthened into an axe, and the gun stretched into a Gatling barrel, spinning fast.


    "Watch out!" the fourth shouted.


    He rolled aside as bullets of compressed mist flew in all directions.


    The fifth operative lunged forward, his blades slashing at the Mist Human''s legs.


    But it jumped high, spinning as it landed.


    Its weapon shifted again into a spear.


    It thrust forward, the spear tip gleaming like a star in the fog.


    The third operative blocked it with crossed blades, sparks flying.


    "Damn it," he muttered. "It''s faster than before."


    The leader gritted his teeth. "Use [Adaptive Kill Memory]!"


    Their eyes glowed as their systems kicked in.


    They recorded the Mist Human''s moves, mapping its angles and analyzing the speeds.


    The second operative grinned. "I''ve got its pattern¡ª"


    Before he could finish, the Mist Human''s spear dissolved into liquid mist.


    It then reformed it into a shotgun, firing a close-range burst of compressed air.


    The second operative flew backward, slamming into a tree with a heavy grunt.


    "Ugh¡ª"


    The fourth grunted.


    "It''s changing too fast. Every time we learn it, it switches."


    The leader narrowed his eyes.


    "Keep learning. It can''t do this forever."


    He dashed forward, blades crossing as he aimed for the Mist Human''s chest.


    The Mist Human blocked with its shotgun barrel.


    It then shifted instantly, the barrel twisting into a steel knuckle blade.


    It punched forward¡ªfast and heavy.


    The leader caught the blow on his crossed blades.


    But he was pushed back several feet, boots scraping the ground.


    The fifth operative jumped in, blades glowing red, and slashed at the Mist Human''s arm.


    But the beast''s arm twisted away, the steel knuckle dissolving back into mist.


    "Don''t let it reform!" the fourth shouted, lunging in from the side.


    They slashed together.


    Sparks flew as their blades cut through the mist form only for it to rebuild.


    It shifted into a double-edged axe that spun with deadly speed.


    "Switch!" the leader yelled, rolling under the axe and slashing upward.


    The second operative was back on his feet, rushing in.


    "I''ll block¡ª"


    The Mist Human spun, its axe shifting back into a sword and gun.


    It fired a shot at the second operative, but he deflected it with his blade.


    "Ha! Learned that move," the second operative taunted.


    But the Mist Human''s eye glowed bright.


    Its sword transformed again, this time into a whip of barbed mist.


    It cracked the whip, catching the second operative around the waist, and yanked him hard to the ground.


    "Argh¡ª!"


    The leader cursed. "Don''t let it grab you!"


    The third and fourth lunged in, blades striking like lightning.


    They hit the Mist Human hard, their [Adaptive Kill Memory] helping them dodge its next swing.


    But even as they fought, the Mist Human''s form blurred and reformed.


    It was faster and faster.


    He shifted his weapons between gun, sword, spear, axe, and shotgun.


    He even used hand-to-hand combat, every move flowing like water.


    The fifth operative gritted his teeth.


    "It''s like fighting a hundred different warriors all at once."


    The leader''s eyes glowed brighter. "Then we fight like a hundred."


    "Activate [Mechanical Mutation Surge]"


    Their bodies began to shift.


    Limbs split, gears clicked into place, and new arms grew from their sides.


    Their torsos expanded, sprouting additional plates and armor.


    Sharp claws emerged from their legs, giving them extra grip and balance.


    "[Silent Dagger Shift]" the fourth shouted.


    Knives extended from their new limbs.


    Blades appeared along their forearms, knees, and even along their backs.


    Every part of their bodies turned into a weapon.


    The Mist Human''s single eye pulsed as it scanned them.


    It shifted again.


    Its sword and gun split into a Gatling gun and a massive energy shield.


    "Hold positions!" the leader commanded.


    The Mist Human fired a barrage of mist bullets.


    The second operative spun his new limbs, blocking the bullets with blade strikes.


    "Too slow!" he shouted.


    His blades sliced through the mist bullets and dispersed them.


    The Mist Human didn''t pause.


    Its weapons shifted instantly.


    The gatling gun collapsed and reformed into a rocket launcher.


    A roar of compressed air echoed as it fired.


    The third operative leaped forward, using his new legs to vault high above the explosion.


    "Too easy!" he yelled.


    He dove down with blades extended.


    The Mist Human twisted, its launcher dissolving into mist and reforming into a giant steel hammer.


    It swung upward, smashing the third operative back.


    "Argh¡ª!"


    The fourth operative dashed in, blades whirling around his body like a tornado.


    "Go!"


    He spun, slashing at the Mist Human''s hammer.


    Metal clashed with mist-forged steel. Sparks flew.


    The Mist Human''s eye glowed again.


    It split into three separate forms.


    Each one held a different weapon: a shotgun, a sniper rifle, and a plasma blade.


    "Copying our own surge!" the fifth yelled.


    The leader grunted. "Then we adapt!"


    He and the second operative moved in together.


    Their bodies were now bristling with extra arms and blades.


    "Left!" the second shouted.


    They ducked under the shotgun blast, then swung their new blades in perfect sync.


    "Right!" the leader barked.


    They pivoted, narrowly avoiding the plasma blade.


    They then countered with synchronized strikes from their new arms.


    The Mist Human''s three forms merged again.


    It became one solid shape with a long energy spear.


    It charged forward.


    "Now!" the leader yelled.


    All five operatives lunged together, every blade glowing.


    They slashed from all angles, their [Adaptive Kill Memory] reading every motion.


    The Mist Human blocked, shifted, and countered.


    But every time it changed weapons, the intruders matched it with new angles and new strikes.


    The leader roared. "We can''t give it a second to breathe!"


    The second operative screamed, "Push! Push!"


    The Mist Human''s spear dissolved again, forming twin blades.


    But the intruders'' weapons were everywhere now.


    Finally, the leader''s main blade struck home, slicing through the Mist Human''s shoulder.


    The Mist Human shuddered, its eye flickering.


    It staggered, its weapons dissolving.


    The leader panted, stepping back. "Did we get it?"


    The Mist Human''s eye dimmed, then flickered one last time, before fading to darkness.


    The second operative let out a slow breath. "Finally."


    The leader nodded. "Stay sharp. This forest doesn''t forgive mistakes."


    The five stood there, bodies still shifting slightly from the [Mechanical Mutation Surge].


    They were ready for whatever came next.

 Chapter 462 462: Mist You Already

    Nebelis floated above the battlefield, watching the five intruders.


    "Hmm," Nebelis murmured.


    "They actually defeated it."


    Liline hovered beside it, grinning.


    "What now, Nebelis? They managed to beat that Mist Human."


    Nebelis''s tail flicked, stirring the fog below.


    "I never thought they could do that."


    "That Mist Human was an SS-Rank Sovereign creation."


    Liline twirled her pen lightly between her fingers.


    "Well, they are the elite soldiers of Aurelius."


    "Of course they''re strong."


    Nebelis let out a soft hum, like wind through the mist.


    "True," it said slowly.


    "Still... I must admit I''m impressed."


    Liline''s smile grew a little sharper.


    "So, what will you do now?"


    Nebelis''s eyes glowed brighter.


    "It seems... I need to be more serious."


    Liline''s pen clicked shut as she clapped her hands lightly.


    "Ooh, that sounds exciting."


    "Let''s see if they can manage to win again."


    Nebelis turned its gaze back toward the intruders.


    The mist thickened around it, forming a new shape.


    "I will make sure they face the real challenge now," Nebelis said.


    Liline stepped back a little, her smile curious.


    "Don''t be too hard on them," she teased.


    "After all, we want a good show."


    Nebelis''s tail snapped once.


    "A good show it shall be."


    And with that, the mist surged forward, gathering strength for a new battle.


    ---


    The five intruders moved quickly, each one panting from their last fight.


    "[Void Phase Dive]!" the leader shouted.


    They sank into the ground, turning to mist themselves, and rushed forward.


    Nothing stopped them now.


    Soon, they reached the heart of the Mist Forest.


    Before them stood a massive dome of mist, swirling like a living storm.


    The five intruders emerged from the ground, weapons ready.


    The second operative grunted.


    "So this is it, the core."


    The third squinted at the dome.


    "Looks like a fortress."


    The fourth cracked his neck.


    "No problem. We''ll smash it like the rest."


    The fifth shifted his stance, blades humming.


    "Let''s finish this."


    Suddenly, the mist thickened. The dome pulsed, then split apart.


    A massive form rose from the center.


    An enormous mist dragon was formed.


    Its body glowed silver, claws like knives, wings like clouds.


    The five intruders frowned.


    The leader stepped forward, eyes steady.


    "It''s just another mist beast."


    He raised his blades.


    "Everyone, use everything you''ve got."


    The five operatives moved together, each one activating [Mechanical Mutation Surge].


    Their bodies shifted, sprouting extra limbs, blades, and armored plates.


    "Charge!" the leader roared.


    They rushed forward.


    But the Mist Dragon''s eyes glowed.


    [Mist Weapons Rain]


    Above them, the sky darkened.


    Hundreds of mist-forged weapons appeared.


    Swords, spears, axes, and even modern rifles.


    All were aimed at the intruders.


    "Look out!" the second shouted.


    The weapons rained down.


    Blades slashed, bullets tore through armor, spears stabbed from every angle.


    The five fought back, cutting weapons from the air, deflecting blades.


    But there were too many.


    "Keep pushing!" the leader yelled, blocking a mist sword.


    But it didn''t stop there. The Mist Dragon activated another ability.


    [Mist Claws]


    From every direction, claws of mist appeared.


    Some were as big as a man, others small and quick.


    They slashed at the intruders, cutting through plates and biting deep.


    "Argh!" the third operative cried out, a claw slicing his side.


    The fourth swung wildly.


    But a claw stabbed through his leg, bringing him to one knee.


    The fifth tried to block.


    But two claws pierced his arms at once, forcing him to drop his blades.


    "Don''t stop!" the leader shouted, even as claws ripped at his shoulders.


    They kept fighting, blades glowing, cutting through the mist.


    But then, the Mist Dragon lifted its head high.


    A wave of pure mist energy blasted outward.


    [Mist Roar]


    It hit them like a tidal wave, slamming into their chests, stealing their breath, and filling their lungs with cold.


    Their systems flickered. Their weapons jammed.


    Even their eyes burned with the mist''s poison.


    The second collapsed, coughing, unable to breathe.


    The third fell to his knees, blades dropping from his hands.


    The fourth tried to stand, but the ground shook under the roar, knocking him flat.


    The fifth reached for his weapons, but his hands felt numb.


    And the leader... He staggered, blades cracked and glowing.


    He looked up at the mist dragon, eyes blazing with anger.


    "Damn it," he hissed. "That mist dragon... it''s too strong."


    He glanced over his shoulder at the large metal box they had been carrying.


    The second operative frowned, breathing hard.


    "Leader, are you thinking¡ª"


    "Release them," the leader said.


    The third''s eyes widened.


    "But¡ªthose were supposed to be released in Luxoria itself!"


    "If we let them out here, we''ll lose control!"


    The fourth shook his head.


    "We can''t lock them back. Once they''re out, that''s it. Chaos."


    The leader clenched his fists. "Just do it."


    He looked at each of them in turn, his voice steady even through his pain.


    "We''re losing this fight. That thing is too strong."


    "They''re the only chance we have left to stop it."


    He glanced back at the mist dragon.


    "And remember¡ª"


    "Once the containers open, we retreat. Let them handle the mist dragon."


    The second operative gritted his teeth. "Understood."


    They all nodded, though hesitation lingered in their eyes.


    The third moved quickly to the container, his fingers flying across the code panel.


    "Password confirmed," he muttered, voice shaking.


    The box hissed, steam curling from the edges.


    The leader took one last look at the mist dragon.


    "Go! Run!"


    The containers'' locks clicked open.


    At once, the operatives sprinted into the mist, vanishing into the darkness.


    Meanwhile, high above the forest, Nebelis watched the scene unfold.


    Beside it, Liline floated, her expression curious.


    "What do you think they just did?" she asked.


    Nebelis''s long body coiled slowly.


    "They released something dangerous," it said.


    Liline tilted her head, tapping her pen to her lips.


    "Dangerous enough that they''d run from it themselves?"


    Nebelis''s eyes narrowed.


    "It seems they had no choice. They know they can''t beat me."


    Liline''s smile was small and sharp.


    "So they''re hoping something else can."


    Nebelis floated lower.


    "Whatever they''ve released," it said, "it is not part of this forest."


    Liline''s eyes glowed faintly.


    "Interesting," she murmured.


    "What kind of creature... is scary enough to be their secret weapon..."


    "And scary enough to make them run?"


    A deep, rumbling growl rolled through the forest.


    Nebelis''s eyes glowed brighter.


    "Now," it said, "let us see what they have brought into my domain."


    Liline''s smile widened. "Yes," she whispered.


    "Let''s see if they can handle the mist dragon..."


    "Or if they''ve made things worse for themselves."


    The forest held its breath as new monsters awakened.

 Chapter 463: When Dragon Meets Sharkzilla

    Liline floated near Nebelis, eyes fixed on the container as it opened.


    She gave a small smile.


    "So these are the hybrids I heard about from Fiona."


    Nebelis''s eyes glowed softly.


    "Yes."


    "They are the mutated beasts mixed with human DNA. I can feel it."


    Inside the container, two humanoid beasts stepped forward.


    One was a monstrous, shark-like creature.


    Its jaw split into four ways, metal fins vibrating along its arms.


    The other was a sleek, birdlike machine.


    Its feathers were made of blackened steel, eyes cold and sharp.


    They were Razorkai and Zephyrahn, the hybrid beasts of Aurelius.


    "New prey, hehehe," Razorkai growled, voice echoing like a hungry wave.


    Zephyrahn didn''t make a sound.


    "New target locked," it whispered, eyes cold and sharp.


    The mist dragon clone stood still, its eyes empty but glowing.


    Nebelis watched from above, its long mist body coiling.


    "Let''s see how strong they really are," it said quietly.


    Liline floated beside it, grinning.


    "Yeah," she said.


    "This will be a fun show¡ªbetter than before."


    Razorkai leaned forward, claws cracking the ground.


    "No blood smell," it hissed. "But it''ll still break."


    Zephyrahn''s wings shimmered as it shifted position.


    "Movement calculated. Weak points identified."


    Nebelis''s eyes glowed brighter.


    "The mist dragon clone might not be alive¡ªbut it can fight."


    "Let''s see if they can handle it."


    Liline tapped her pen against her clipboard.


    "They''d better," she teased.


    "I''d hate for them to disappoint me."


    Razorkai lunged forward, its fins vibrating with a low hum.


    "Riiip!" it roared, jaw splitting open.


    Zephyrahn vanished into the air, leaving only a faint trail of mist.


    The mist dragon clone roared, claws of fog striking out.


    Nebelis''s eyes narrowed. "Begin," it murmured.


    Liline''s grin widened. "Let the show start," she whispered.


    ---


    The mist dragon clone roared, mist swirling like a storm.


    Its eyes glowed bright as it unleashed [Mist Weapons Rain].


    Dozens of mist-forged weapons appeared above Razorkai and Zephyrahn, raining down in a deadly storm.


    Razorkai didn''t even slow down.


    It lunged straight through the weapons, letting them pierce its skin and metal plating.


    Each cut only fueled its rage, red blood dripping and steaming in the cold air.


    Its eyes glowed.


    "More pain!" Razorkai growled. "More strength!"


    Its body pulsed as [Frenzy Surge Protocol] activated.


    Each drop of its own blood made it faster, stronger, and harder to kill.


    Zephyrahn watched calmly, wings folded close.


    His eyes locked onto the mist dragon''s movement.


    Razorkai roared and activated [Multi-Jaw Collapse], its jaw splitting into four monstrous sections.


    It lunged forward, biting down on the mist dragon''s body.


    Its teeth ground through the fog.


    But the mist dragon vanished, reappearing on the other side of the arena.


    "Coward!" Razorkai laughed, its teeth dripping mist.


    But Zephyrahn was already in motion. Its eyes glowed coldly.


    "Target acquired."


    It spread its wings, eyes narrowing as it activated [Execution Protocol Lock].


    A sphere of silence wrapped around the mist dragon, cutting it off from any outside sound or movement tracking.


    "Nowhere to run," Zephyrahn whispered.


    Its talons extended as [Razorwind Talons] glowed with deadly light.


    Then¡ª[Silent Gale Dive].


    Zephyrahn vanished into the air, a blur of wind and metal.


    The mist dragon clone turned, confused.


    It couldn''t sense Zephyrahn at all.


    Zephyrahn struck from above, claws slicing deep into the mist body.


    The mist dragon roared, its form dissolving and reforming across the arena.


    It tried to rebuild itself, but each time it reappeared, it moved slower.


    Nebelis watched from above, its eyes glowing faintly.


    "Interesting," it murmured. "They''re pushing it past its limits."


    Liline floated beside it, smiling. "I''d say they''re winning."


    Razorkai turned, grinning.


    "Stop hiding!" it shouted. "Fight me!"


    The Mist Dragon clone reappeared at the far end of the arena.


    Its eyes glowed bright as it raised its massive claws.


    [Mist Claws].


    Its claws expanded from its body in every direction.


    Long, sharp mist claws burst from the ground, the air, and even the sky.


    Razorkai''s eyes gleamed with bloodlust.


    "More pain! More fun!"


    It roared and activated [Finblade Eruption].


    Its metal fins vibrated, then launched like a volley of high-speed blades.


    The fins whistled through the air, cutting through the mist claws and striking the Mist Dragon''s main body.


    Mist hissed and scattered, but the Mist Dragon tried to reform.


    Zephyrahn''s eyes glowed cold as it spread its wings.


    "Weakness detected," it whispered.


    It activated [Slipstream Dash], vanishing in a blur of wind.


    In an instant, it reappeared behind the Mist Dragon.


    "[Razorwind Talons]," it murmured.


    Its claws extended, glowing bright.


    Zephyrahn slashed hard, cutting deep into the mist dragon''s core.


    The Mist Dragon staggered, its body flickering and shifting as it tried to stabilize.


    But each time it moved, more of its mist scattered into the air.


    Razorkai lunged forward, jaw wide.


    "[Multi-Jaw Collapse]!" it shouted.


    Its jaws split into four parts, biting down on the Mist Dragon''s side.


    The jaws ground through the mist, cracking the dragon''s form and tearing chunks of its essence away.


    The Mist Dragon roared silently, the sound lost in the heavy mist.


    It tried to slash with [Mist Claws] again, but its movements were too slow now.


    Zephyrahn''s wings flared.


    "Target immobilized," it said softly.


    It dove down from above, claws glowing with deadly light.


    "Finishing blow," it whispered.


    The claws sliced clean through the Mist Dragon''s head.


    The dragon''s eyes dimmed.


    Its mist form shivered once, then dissolved into the air like a breath of fog.


    It was gone.


    Razorkai laughed, blood and mist dripping from its jaws.


    "Hah! Weak, so weak!" it roared.


    Zephyrahn folded its wings calmly, eyes sharp. "Target eliminated."


    Razorkai turned to Zephyrahn, its grin wide. "More prey?"


    Zephyrahn didn''t answer, but its eyes glowed faintly.


    High above, Nebelis watched, its silver eyes cold and bright.


    "They defeated the Mist Dragon," it said, voice like a cold wind.


    Liline floated beside it, her smile sharp and pleased.


    "Looks like they really are monsters," she said.


    "I wonder how far they can go."


    Nebelis''s tail curled slowly, the mist around it thickening.


    "Let them come," it said. "The forest is still mine."

 Chapter 464: Sibling Rivalry—Hybrid Edition

    Nebelis floated high above the clearing.


    Its eyes were locked on Razorkai and Zephyrahn.


    Mist swirled around Nebelis''s tail.


    "It seems it''s time I stepped in myself."


    But before it could move, Liline stopped it.


    "Hold on," she said, her tone light but firm.


    Nebelis''s eyes narrowed.


    "What''s the matter?" it asked.


    Liline''s smile widened.


    "It''s not your time yet."


    Nebelis''s tail twitched. "What do you mean?"


    Liline''s eyes sparkled. "Now it''s my turn."


    Nebelis tilted its head slightly, the mist around it thickening.


    "You?" it asked, surprised.


    "Are you going to fight them yourself?"


    Liline giggled softly. "Oh, of course not," she said, her voice playful.


    "I didn''t come all this way just to get my hair messy."


    Nebelis huffed. "Then what do you plan to do?"


    Liline tapped her pen lightly on her clipboard.


    "I brought a new soldier," she explained.


    "Well... not really a soldier. More like an elite private soldier."


    Nebelis''s eyes glowed brighter. "I see."


    It floated closer to her. "Where is it?"


    Liline''s grin turned sly.


    "Just outside the Mist Forest," she said, pointing beyond the trees.


    Nebelis''s tail whipped through the air, sending ripples through the mist.


    "Let me check," it said.


    Its eyes closed, mist swirling around its head.


    A moment later, it opened its eyes again.


    "I see it," it said. "So this one... interesting."


    Liline clapped her hands once, her grin bright.


    "Good," she said.


    "Can you make a path for it to enter?"


    Nebelis''s tail curled in amusement.


    "Of course," it said.


    "I''ll open the mist way for it to meet those hybrids."


    Liline''s eyes gleamed. "Perfect," she said.


    "This is going to be even more fun than I thought."


    Nebelis''s voice rumbled softly.


    "You really do enjoy this," it said, its tone curious.


    Liline''s smile softened. "I do," she admitted.


    "It''s like watching a story unfold. And I do love a good story."


    Nebelis''s eyes shone faintly as it shifted its massive body.


    "Then let''s watch," it said.


    "I''ll guide your warrior into the arena."


    The mist below them thickened, swirling and churning as it formed a path from the forest''s edge.


    Far away, in the darkness, a figure stepped forward.


    Nebelis''s eyes followed the figure.


    "This one... it carries an interesting scent," it said.


    Liline''s smile turned mischievous.


    "Just wait," she said.


    "You''re about to see something special."


    The mist path solidified, glowing softly as it led the new warrior.


    Nebelis''s tail flicked. "Very well," it said. "Let''s watch a better show."


    ---


    The two hybrids suddenly perked up, their eyes narrowing as the ground trembled.


    A hole appeared in the mist ahead of them, swirling with silvery light.


    From that hole, they felt a presence.


    Razorkai''s grin spread wide.


    "Hah! Another one of the mist''s games?" he laughed.


    "Come on then! Let''s see what snack crawls out next!"


    Zephyrahn stayed silent, eyes locked on the opening.


    Its steel feathers rustled faintly in the cold wind.


    From the hole, a figure emerged.


    A tall, sleek, silver naga, its upper body human-like but cold and inhuman.


    The lower half was a long, coiled tail of shining Luxorite scales.


    Its silver eyes glowed, and a mocking smirk never left its lips.


    Razorkai''s grin faltered. His eyes widened.


    "Vernyx?!" he shouted.


    "What are you doing here?! Aren''t you dead?"


    The silver naga tilted its head, its forked tongue flicking out once.


    "Oh, if it isn''t Razorkai and Zephyrahn," it hissed softly.


    "It''s been a while since I saw you two."


    Zephyrahn''s eyes narrowed, sharp as daggers.


    "So you survived," it said, voice cold and clipped.


    "Changed sides, did you?"


    L-Snake''s smirk grew.


    "Changed sides? No. I didn''t change sides. I changed entirely."


    It raised a single silver-scaled hand.


    "I am not the same Vernyx you once knew," it said.


    "I am now something else. A new entity forged by my master, Lord L."


    Razorkai''s grin returned, cruel and mocking.


    "Lord L? Don''t make me laugh!" He slammed his claws together, sparks flying.


    "You think just because you changed your scales, you can beat us?"


    Zephyrahn''s feathers bristled.


    "You are nothing but a traitor now," it spat.


    "You were once one of us. Now you are just another enemy to be erased."


    L-Snake''s tongue flicked again, its smile twisting into something sharp.


    "Traitor?" it asked, voice dripping with amusement.


    "No, no, my dear Zephyrahn. I was reborn. Upgraded. Perfected."


    It leaned forward slightly, Luxorite scales shifting with a soft hiss.


    "And now? Now I stand before you as your executioner."


    Razorkai let out a barking laugh.


    "Executioner? Ha! You were weak then, and you''re weak now!"


    "We''ve always been stronger than you, Vernyx."


    "How do you think you can beat us?"


    L-Snake''s grin widened, eyes glowing brighter.


    "Weak then, perhaps," it purred. "But now?"


    It extended one arm, Luxorite shifting along its skin.


    "Now I am L-Snake."


    "No poison, no burn, no darkness can touch me."


    "And every strike you make? Every skill you show?"


    "I learn it. I grow. I become stronger."


    Zephyrahn''s wings flared with anger.


    "Arrogant fool," it said, voice low and cold.


    "You speak too much."


    L-Snake''s tongue flicked again, slow and deliberate.


    "Perhaps," it said.


    "But words are part of the game, aren''t they?"


    Its body uncoiled, rising taller than before.


    "Razorkai. Zephyrahn. You were once my brothers."


    "But now?"


    It smirked again. "Now you are my prey."


    Razorkai''s grin vanished, replaced by a scowl.


    "Then come on!" he roared.


    "Let''s see if your fancy new scales can handle a real fight!"


    Zephyrahn stayed silent, but its feathers gleamed, blades ready.


    L-Snake''s eyes glowed brighter still.


    "It will be my pleasure," it whispered.


    ---


    Nebelis floated above the battlefield.


    Its silver eyes glowed as it watched the three beasts below.


    It smiled softly.


    "A battle between former brothers?"


    "It will be really interesting."


    Liline hovered beside it, her clipboard in one hand.


    "Yeah," she agreed, her eyes bright.


    "Of course it will be interesting. I wouldn''t miss this for the world."


    She leaned forward slightly, teasing.


    "You want some treats to go with the show?"


    Nebelis''s tail curled with amusement. "


    Tea vapor for me," it said.


    Liline grinned. "Sure. One tea vapor coming right up."


    She summoned a small Luxorite teapot, steam rising from its spout.


    The misty aroma spread, calming yet sharp.


    Nebelis inhaled slowly, eyes narrowing in pleasure.


    "Perfect," it murmured.


    And together, they settled in to watch the deadly dance below.

 Chapter 465: Fiona’s Battle Bonanza!

    Fiona flew high in the air, eyes bright and full of excitement.


    Below her, the arena buzzed with energy.


    The spectators had just finished their breaks.


    Some had grabbed quick meals, and others had visited the bathroom.


    Now they were all back in their seats, chattering and laughing, waiting for the next round.


    Fiona lifted her hand, her smile beaming.


    "Ladies and gentlemen," she called, her voice ringing across the stadium.


    "Welcome back!"


    The crowd cheered, the sound echoing around the arena walls.


    She twirled once, arms wide.


    "It''s time for the second round¡ªthe Battle Competition!"


    The cheers grew louder, some fans waving flags, others whistling.


    "Now," Fiona said, her tone playful, "let me tell you something."


    She held up one finger.


    "We only have four contestants left!"


    The crowd gasped, some voices calling out in surprise.


    She winked. "The other contestants gave up."


    "They didn''t want their Vornis to be crushed in battle."


    "And I don''t blame them!"


    The audience laughed, some clapping, some nodding in agreement.


    "Now," Fiona continued, her voice full of energy.


    "Let''s give a big Luxoria welcome to the four contestants remaining!"


    She pointed down one by one as the cameras zoomed in.


    "First¡ªVelmara from the Myralis family!"


    Velmara stepped forward, calm and confident.


    She gave a small nod to the crowd.


    "Second¡ªCaelan Valefor!"


    Caelan appeared, his heavy beaststeel armor shining.


    He crossed his arms, eyes sharp, scanning the arena.


    "Third¡ªDrelmas Vharkorr!"


    Drelmas emerged, his massive frame like a wall of stone.


    He gave a single nod, his eyes calm but full of silent strength.


    "And last but not least¡ªKaelen Stravos!"


    Kaelen grinned, his ember-red hair catching the light.


    He rolled his shoulders, his Vornis Inferon''s mark glowing faintly on his armor.


    Fiona twirled midair again.


    "And now, my dear Luxoria fans," she said, voice full of mischief.


    "Let''s mix it up to see who fights who!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @BattleBuddy: YOOO CAELAN V DRELMAS?


    @RootRoar: I NEED VELMARA V KAELEN RIGHT NOW


    @IronTune: I''m just here to watch Kaelen melt everything


    @MistGear: Drelmas is gonna crush the ground with his fists


    @FlameSpark: Velmara''s gonna bring those vines out I can feel it


    ---


    Fiona floated lower, her eyes sparkling.


    "All right, Luxoria fans! The system is rolling now¡ª"


    A giant screen lit up above the arena, showing spinning names.


    The crowd held its breath as the screen ticked faster and faster.


    Finally, the names stopped.


    Fiona clapped her hands.


    "First match¡ªVelmara vs. Drelmas!"


    The crowd exploded with cheers and shouts.


    "Second match¡ªCaelan vs. Kaelen!"


    Even louder cheers.


    Fiona laughed, raising both hands.


    "This is going to be a battle to remember!"


    She looked down at the four contestants.


    "Contestants¡ªget ready," she said.


    "Weapons and Vornis on standby. This is your time."


    She grinned.


    "And Luxoria fans¡ªdon''t blink. This is gonna be good."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @MistBlade: velmara vs drelmas is gonna be like tree vs rock


    @SkyRider: caelan vs kaelen lmaooooo name match


    @FireCore: velmara gonna entangle drelmas?


    @StoneTide: drelmas gonna hold the ground


    @EmberShot: kaelen gonna burn caelan? I''m here for it


    ---


    Fiona floated higher, her voice clear.


    "Contestants, please step forward and prepare your Vornis!"


    The ground rumbled as each contestant''s Vornis emerged.


    Fiona smiled.


    "Luxoria fans¡ªlet the battle begin!"


    ---


    Drelmas stood at the edge of the arena, his massive frame like an iron wall.


    His eyes were calm, but his aura radiated quiet strength.


    Across from him, Velmara stepped forward.


    Her gaze was sharp, her posture poised.


    Drelmas took a deep breath and nodded respectfully.


    "It''s an honor to fight you," he said, his voice steady.


    "The first daughter of the lord of the Myralis family."


    Velmara''s lips curved in a small, confident smile.


    "You too, Drelmas," she said.


    "Your fame has spread far but I don''t think you''re unbeatable."


    Drelmas''s eyes didn''t waver. "We''ll see about that today."


    In the arena below, Vornis Verdant crouched low, its glowing green veins pulsing like a living forest.


    Its claws flexed, and the air smelled faintly of fresh earth.


    On Drelmas''s side, Vornis Abyss loomed.


    A giant beast of metal and water, its body pulsing with blue runes.


    Mist drifted from its vents, and each step cracked the ground beneath its massive hooves.


    Fiona hovered above the arena, her eyes bright with excitement.


    "Luxoria fans!" she shouted.


    "This is the first battle of the second round.


    "Velmara of the Myralis family versus Drelmas of the Vharkorr line!"


    The crowd roared, some fans holding up signs and waving banners.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @VineStrike: let''s gooo Velmara! show him the power of nature!


    @IronHoof: Drelmas can''t lose, Abyss is a fortress


    @RootBane: Verdant vs Abyss is gonna be a forest vs ocean showdown


    @StoneShell: Drelmas is so calm it''s scary


    @LeafLight: Velmara better not hold back!


    ---


    Drelmas smirked faintly, tilting his head.


    "I hope you''re ready, Velmara."


    "Vornis Abyss doesn''t back down. Ever."


    Velmara''s eyes narrowed, her smile sharper now.


    "Neither do I," she said.


    "Vornis Verdant has been trained in every forest, every battlefield."


    "It doesn''t bend."


    Drelmas crossed his arms. "We''ll see which one breaks first."


    Velmara raised an eyebrow. "Confident, aren''t you?"


    Drelmas chuckled. "Confident enough to challenge the Myralis name."


    Velmara''s vines shifted around her like living snakes".


    Then let''s not waste time."


    Fiona''s voice rang out. "Tamers, prepare your Vornis!"


    Vornis Verdant''s claws dug into the ground, its green eyes glowing brighter.


    Vornis Abyss lowered its head, mist hissing from its vents.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @MistBlade: this is gonna be EPIC


    @StoneRoot: abyss looks unstoppable


    @LeafSong: verdant gonna show that vines can beat steel


    @WaveEdge: abyss''s pressure gonna crush verdant


    @BloomStrike: let''s gooooo!


    ---


    Fiona raised her hand, her voice sharp and clear. "BEGIN!"


    The crowd roared.


    Vornis Verdant lunged first, vines lashing out.


    Vornis Abyss met the charge head-on, its massive hooves stomping as water surged from its vents.


    The clash shook the entire arena.


    And above them all, Drelmas and Velmara stood unyielding.


    They were watching, learning, and ready to adapt.


    Neither one was ready to back down.

 Chapter 466: Fifi’s Battle Watch Party!

    Fifi sat beside Lucius in the hidden room, her small bunny ears twitching nervously.


    She held a little white teacup with both hands.


    Her wide yellow eyes watched the screens showing the battle competition outside.


    Lucius smirked, leaning back in his seat.


    "Fifi," he said, his voice low and smooth.


    "What do you think of the show?"


    Fifi blinked, her cheeks turning pink.


    She looked down at her cup, then peeked up at Lucius shyly.


    "It''s... good," she said softly.


    "The first competition was... interesting."


    "I liked watching all the Vornis showing off."


    Lucius nodded slightly, his silver eyes focused on her.


    "And now the battle competition," he said. "What do you think?"


    Fifi''s little paws squeezed the cup as she tried to speak.


    "It''s... it''s also really interesting," she said, her voice trembling a bit.


    "They''re all so strong. And... and they all fight so hard."


    Lucius smirked again, tilting his head.


    "More than that," he said, his tone teasing.


    "Your sister, Fiona, looked pretty cool, didn''t she?"


    Fifi''s eyes lit up, and she smiled brightly.


    "Yes!" she said.


    "Sister Fiona looked so cool and beautiful above."


    "She flies so fast, and her voice is always so bright."


    "I... I wish I could be like that."


    Lucius leaned forward slightly, his silver eyes sharp but warm.


    "You''re strong in your own way, Fifi," he said. "Never forget that."


    Fifi''s cheeks flushed again, and she looked away, shy.


    "Thank you," she whispered.


    Lucius chuckled, the sound soft but deep.


    "Let''s continue to watch the show," he said.


    "You might learn something."


    Fifi nodded quickly, her ears perking up.


    She settled back beside Lucius, still holding her teacup close, eyes glued to the screen.


    With Lucius''s calm presence beside her, the battles didn''t seem quite so scary anymore.


    ---


    Drelmas stood tall at the edge of the arena, his massive arms crossed.


    "Abyss! Use [Crush Mark]!"


    Vornis Abyss lowered its heavy head, mist hissing from its gill vents.


    The mark latched onto Vornis Verdant.


    Its vines shivered, its green eyes narrowing.


    Velmara''s eyes flashed.


    "Verdant! Use [Verdanite Mark]!"


    Vornis Verdant''s claws dug into the ground, the green veins on its body glowing like fireflies.


    Roots extended from its feet and lashed out, wrapping around Vornis Abyss''s legs.


    A glowing green mark appeared on Abyss''s chest.


    It was draining its strength and mana bit by bit.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @MistStrike: They BOTH marked each other! This is intense!


    @IronBark: Abyss''s pressure is no joke.


    @LeafLash: Go Verdant! Drain that metal beast!


    @WaveCrush: Drelmas looks calm, but I bet he''s thinking fast.


    @RootEdge: Velmara''s smile is scary. I love it.


    ---


    Fiona''s eyes sparkled.


    "Incredible!"


    "Both Vornis are marked! This is a real clash of tactics, fans!"


    Drelmas pointed forward.


    "Abyss! Shift to [Tidegrip Shift]!"


    Vornis Abyss''s legs thickened, its tail splitting into an anchor-shaped blade.


    Water vapor hissed from its vents, forming pressure clamps on its limbs.


    It lunged forward, massive claws swinging in heavy arcs.


    Velmara didn''t flinch.


    "Verdant! Use [Verdanite Armament]!"


    Vornis Verdant''s vines expanded, forming thorned whips and sharp steel petals along its shoulders.


    Its claws stretched, forming long, root-covered blades.


    The arena shook as the two Vornis clashed.


    Drelmas clenched his fists.


    "Abyss! Hold steady¡ªuse that pressure!"


    Abyss stomped the ground, the mark on Verdant glowing brighter.


    Verdant''s vines strained against the pressure, but still pushed forward.


    Velmara''s eyes narrowed.


    "Verdant, watch his footing! Let''s choke that fortress!"


    Verdant''s vines coiled, reaching for Abyss''s legs and tail, pulling them back.


    Abyss roared, a low, deep sound that shook the ground.


    "Abyss never falls," Drelmas muttered.


    Verdant''s vines lashed out, striking the mark on Abyss''s chest.


    Fiona hovered closer, eyes wide.


    "They''re both using everything they''ve got!"


    "Neither side''s backing down!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @StormRoot: Vornis Abyss''s pressure is scary but Verdant''s roots are STRONG!


    @MetalWave: Abyss is a fortress but Verdant is a jungle!


    @EarthCrush: I can''t even tell who''s winning!


    @MistBloom: Fiona''s voice is gonna give out at this rate lol


    @WildBloom: This is so intense I forgot to eat my snacks.


    ---


    Velmara shouted, her voice sharp.


    "Verdant! Press on!"


    "Drain his strength¡ªbreak that shell!"


    Vornis Verdant roared, its green glow intensifying as the mark on Abyss spread deeper.


    The air shimmered with the energy of nature fighting steel.


    Drelmas''s voice rumbled. "Abyss! Crush him!"


    Vornis Abyss''s tail anchor swung forward with unstoppable force, slamming into Verdant''s chest.


    Verdant stumbled, vines retracting for a moment.


    Fiona flew higher, voice trembling.


    "This is the most intense fight I''ve ever seen!"


    "Luxoria fans, who do you think is winning?!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @RootSlam: Verdant''s looking tired but it''s still fighting!


    @IronWave: Abyss is so strong but that poison''s getting him too!


    @ThornHeart: Both of them are beasts! I can''t tell who''s gonna win!


    @BloomTide: I''ve never seen such a fight before!


    @MistBloom: Fiona''s voice is making ME hyped up!


    ---


    Vornis Verdant''s vines trembled, its green glow dimming.


    Its claws, once fast and strong, now moved slower, heavier.


    The [Crush Mark] drained its strength and stamina.


    Verdant''s breathing grew ragged.


    Velmara clenched her teeth.


    "Verdant! Don''t stop! Use [Verdanite Armament]!"


    Verdant''s vines twisted and formed a massive bladed cannon.


    It launched a barrage of green steel thorns at Abyss.


    Drelmas didn''t waver.


    He pointed forward, voice calm but fierce.


    "Abyss! Use [Tidegrip Shift]¡ªadapt!"


    Abyss''s legs shifted, forming thick iron plating.


    Its tail split and twisted into a heavy cannon barrel, water vapor hissing from the vents.


    It fired back¡ªa blast of compressed water and steel shards.


    The blasts collided in the air, exploding in a spray of mist and sparks.


    Both Vornis staggered backward, their bodies cracking and hissing with damage.


    Fiona''s eyes widened.


    "Both beasts are showing signs of wear!" she called.


    "Verdant''s vines are withering, and Abyss''s pressure plating is breaking down!"


    Verdant''s eyes glowed weakly as the [Crush Mark] kept draining its strength.


    "Verdant... hold on..." Velmara whispered.


    Abyss''s hooves shook, its blue runes flickering as the [Verdanite Mark] on its chest drained its mana.


    "Abyss... stay strong," Drelmas rumbled.

 Chapter 467: Drelmas’s Pressure Hose

    Velmara wiped sweat from her brow, her eyes sharp and determined.


    She locked eyes with Drelmas across the arena.


    "Drelmas," she called, her voice steady but heavy.


    "Let''s just finish this in one shot."


    Drelmas nodded, his massive arms folding across his chest.


    "Yeah," he said simply.


    "Let''s finish this once and for all."


    In the arena below, Vornis Verdant and Vornis Abyss stood, battered but unbroken.


    Verdant''s vines drooped, green glow flickering, while Abyss''s metal plates were cracked, steam hissing from its vents.


    Fiona floated above, her eyes wide.


    "Luxoria fans, this is it!" she shouted.


    "The final moves¡ªwho will stand, and who will fall?!"


    Velmara raised her hand, her voice firm.


    "Verdant! Use your ultimate¡ª[Venomous Bloom Detonation]!"


    Vornis Verdant''s vines pulsed with life, gathering energy deep in its core.


    Its body glowed green, and a massive poisonous flower bomb formed on its back.


    Drelmas''s eyes narrowed.


    "Abyss! Ultimate skill¡ª[Tidal Barrage Bazooka]!"


    Vornis Abyss''s tail anchor split, shifting into a massive bazooka-like cannon, water and metal swirling inside.


    Its body shook as it gathered energy, blue runes glowing like lightning.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @VenomRoot: A POISON BOMB?!


    @WaveShot: Abyss with a bazooka¡ªoh my gosh


    @SteelVine: I can''t breathe, this is crazy!


    @BloomHeart: Verdant''s gonna flood the arena with poison!


    @PressureShot: Abyss''s cannon looks unstoppable!


    @MistCore: WHO WILL WIN???


    ---


    Fiona flew lower, her voice trembling.


    "Fans, this is it!"


    "Verdant''s [Venomous Bloom Detonation] vs. Abyss''s [Tidal Barrage Bazooka]!"


    "Hold on!"


    Velmara''s voice cracked but stayed strong. "Verdant, now!"


    Verdant roared, its green glow blinding as the poison flower bomb bloomed.


    It sprayed a massive wave of toxic mist and sap across the arena.


    Drelmas''s eyes shone. "Abyss, now!"


    Abyss''s cannon roared to life, launching a massive water-metal shell that cut through the air like a hurricane.


    The blast collided with the poison mist in a deafening explosion, sending waves of mist and metal through the arena.


    Fiona shielded her eyes.


    "Incredible!" she cried.


    "A clash of ultimates!"


    The smoke cleared slowly.


    Verdant staggered, its vines burnt and shriveled, green glow fading.


    Its head lowered, eyes dim.


    Abyss stood firm, though its armor was cracked and dented, steam rising from its vents.


    Velmara''s eyes widened, breath shallow.


    "Verdant..." she whispered.


    Drelmas''s gaze softened.


    "You fought well," he said quietly.


    Verdant collapsed, the poison flower fading into dust.


    Fiona''s voice rose, strong and clear.


    "Winner¡ªDrelmas and Vornis Abyss!"


    The crowd erupted in cheers.


    Fans jumping from their seats, some crying, some laughing.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @WaveBreaker: Drelmas wins! What a fight!


    @RootBloom: Velmara''s beast fought so hard!


    @IronHammer: Abyss is a tank!


    @PoisonEdge: I thought Verdant had it¡ªso close!


    @DeepWater: Best fight I''ve ever seen!


    ---


    Velmara walked forward, her vines trailing.


    She faced Drelmas, her eyes respectful.


    "You earned that win," she said softly.


    "Verdant gave it everything."


    Drelmas nodded, his deep voice calm.


    "So did Abyss. You''re strong, Velmara."


    Velmara managed a small smile.


    "Thanks. Let''s fight again someday."


    Drelmas smiled back.


    "Yeah," he said. "Next time, it might be different."


    Fiona flew down between them, grinning.


    "That was one for the books!" she cried.


    "Luxoria fans, let''s give it up for both tamers¡ªthey fought like champions!"


    The crowd cheered, voices ringing with respect and admiration.


    Fiona then floated higher above the arena, her hair catching the light.


    She smirked, her eyes dancing with excitement.


    "Luxoria fans," she called, "are you ready for our second battle?!"


    The crowd roared back, a deafening wave of approval.


    Fiona''s grin widened.


    "Then let''s bring them out!" she said, pointing dramatically toward the left gate.


    "First up¡ªKaelen, with Vornis Inferno!"


    A blast of heat washed across the arena as Kaelen strode forward.


    Vornis Inferno appeared beside him.


    The crowd gasped. Some fans even took a step back from the rails.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @FlameRoar: Vornis Inferno is so intimidating!


    @IronTide: Kaelen always brings the heat¡ªliterally!


    @ForgeHeart: I want to see that Battlefire Mode in action!


    @HeatWave: Inferno''s steps are setting the arena on fire!


    @FionaFan: Kaelen looks so confident!


    ---


    Fiona''s smile sharpened as she turned toward the right gate.


    "And facing him¡ªCaelan, with Vornis Vale!"


    A deep growl rumbled through the arena as Caelan stepped out.


    Vornis Vale followed, every step leaving behind scorched, bleeding claw marks.


    The air seemed to grow heavier.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @BloodStrike: Vornis Vale looks like a nightmare in metal!


    @SteelRoar: Two unstoppable beasts in one arena!


    @RedClaw: Caelan''s eyes are serious¡ªhe''s not playing around.


    @HeatEdge: Inferno vs Vale is gonna be legendary.


    @WarCore: WHO''S GONNA WIN?!


    ---


    Kaelen smirked, folding his arms.


    "Caelan," he called across the arena, his voice loud and clear.


    "It''s been a while since we fought. Ready to burn?"


    Caelan''s eyes glowed red as he stared back.


    "Kaelen," he said calmly.


    "I hope you''re ready to bleed."


    Kaelen chuckled, his grin fierce.


    "I''ve been ready since the day we forged these beasts."


    Caelan nodded once.


    "Then let''s see whose forge burns brighter."


    Fiona floated down between them, her smile bright.


    "Luxoria fans," she said, voice trembling with excitement.


    "This is more than just a fight. This is a clash of legends!"


    She turned to Kaelen.


    "Your Vornis Inferno¡ªanything you''d like to say before the battle?"


    Kaelen looked at his beast, then at the crowd.


    "Inferno''s not here to play," he said.


    "It''s here to remind everyone that steel and fire rule the battlefield."


    The crowd erupted in cheers.


    Fiona turned to Caelan.


    "And you, Caelan? Any words before the fight?"


    Caelan''s eyes glowed deeper red, his jaw tight.


    "Vornis Vale isn''t a beast," he said.


    "It''s a legacy. And no flame can burn that away."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @ForgeBlast: Caelan is serious¡ªno mercy!


    @FlameRider: Kaelen''s smile is scary though.


    @BattleDrum: Inferno''s steps are like thunder.


    @BloodEdge: Vale''s roar is giving me chills.


    @FanRoot: I''m shaking¡ªLET''S GOOOOO!


    ---


    Fiona laughed, raising both hands high.


    "Then let''s prepare for the second battle of the round!" she called.


    "Kaelen with Vornis Inferno¡ªversus Caelan with Vornis Vale!"


    The crowd''s roar rose like a wave.


    Fiona''s eyes sparkled. "Luxoria fans¡ªwho do you think will stand tall?!"


    The entire arena seemed to lean forward, breaths held, hearts pounding.


    And in that moment, everyone knew¡ªthis battle would be unforgettable.

 Chapter 468: Hot Shots and Saw Shots

    Both Vornis charged at each other, the ground shaking under their steps.


    Kaelen pointed forward.


    "Inferno, use [Scorchbrand Mark]!" he shouted.


    Caelan''s eyes glowed. "Vale, [Valenite Mark]!"


    The moment they collided, each Vornis struck out.


    Inferno''s burning claw marked Vornis Vale, the red brand glowing hot on its shoulder.


    Vale''s body began to sizzle, the heat draining its stamina and weakening its steps.


    At the same time, Vale''s serrated claw slammed into Inferno''s chest, leaving behind a deep, glowing wound.


    The [Valenite Mark] pulsed, filling Inferno''s body with pain, draining its strength.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @BlazeEdge: Both beasts are marked!! This is insane!


    @BloodStrike: Vale''s brand is making Inferno weaker!


    @FireFlare: But Inferno''s mark is burning Vale too!


    @ClawCore: This is so close!


    @HeatWave: My heart can''t take this!!


    ---


    Kaelen''s eyes narrowed. "Inferno¡ª[Blazing Form Shift]!"


    Inferno roared as flames covered its entire body.


    Armor shifted and shifted again, turning into molten steel.


    Small guns formed along its sides, barrels glowing red.


    Caelan''s voice was calm but sharp.


    "Vale, [Valenite Armament]¡ªform hooked claws!"


    Vale''s claws extended, hooking forward with a sharp clank.


    It lunged and swung, claws trying to grab and pull Inferno closer.


    Inferno''s guns roared, firing bursts of molten rounds that exploded on impact.


    Vale staggered but didn''t slow down.


    Vale''s other arm shifted, forming a massive serrated-edge saw that whirled like a deadly wheel.


    It slashed forward, sparks flying.


    Kaelen clenched his fist.


    "Inferno, use those flames¡ªfight back!"


    Inferno growled, stepping forward, ignoring the pain from the Valenite Mark.


    Its claws glowed white-hot as it struck at Vale''s side, cutting deep.


    Sparks and embers flew.


    Vale roared back, its armor cracked but its blood glowing even redder.


    "Vale, more pressure!" Caelan ordered.


    Vale''s claws twisted and locked, yanking Inferno toward it.


    Inferno''s flames hissed against Vale''s metal skin.


    Kaelen''s teeth clenched. "Inferno, burn him¡ªuse everything you''ve got!"


    Inferno''s guns fired point-blank, flames and shells exploding against Vale''s chest.


    Vale''s saw ground forward, cutting into Inferno''s shoulder, sparks flying.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @FlameEdge: THIS IS CRAZY!


    @BloodFire: The saw vs. the flames¡ªepic!


    @SteelBurn: Inferno''s guns are insane!


    @MoltenClaw: Vale''s pulling him in with those hooks¡ªso smart!


    @ForgeFury: Both are gonna collapse at this rate!


    ---


    Fiona hovered above the arena, her voice full of excitement.


    "This is an incredible fight, Luxoria fans!" she shouted.


    "Both Vornis are marked."


    "Both are losing strength, but neither one''s backing down!"


    Inferno''s flames wavered, its armor blackened by Vale''s claws.


    Vale''s body trembled, red veins flickering like dying embers.


    Kaelen pointed, sweat dripping down his face.


    "Inferno, finish it¡ª[Flame Overload]!"


    Inferno roared, its guns spinning, its entire body glowing red.


    A massive burst of flame shot out, slamming into Vale''s chest.


    Vale staggered but grinned, its claws still hooked deep into Inferno''s armor.


    "Vale¡ª[Saw Grind]!" Caelan ordered.


    Vale''s saw whirred even faster, slicing deeper, sparks flying everywhere.


    Inferno''s flame weakened, its steps slowing.


    Vale''s body shuddered, its blood glow fading.


    Kaelen and Caelan locked eyes.


    Fiona''s voice rang out. "Both Vornis are on their last legs! Who will stand?!"


    Kaelen''s eyes blazed. "Let''s finish this!" he yelled.


    Caelan''s jaw tightened. "Vale, let''s go," he said, his voice low but firm.


    Vornis Inferno''s flames roared to life, its armor shifting into thick, spiked plates.


    Guns formed along its shoulders, barrels glowing red.


    Inferno''s tail split into molten whips, each one sizzling with heat.


    "[Blazing Form Shift¡ªMaximum Output]!" Kaelen shouted.


    Inferno''s entire body glowed, flames dripping from its claws.


    It charged forward, guns firing, whips swinging.


    Vale''s eyes burned bright red, its body splitting open to reveal saw blades and spiked chains.


    Hooks lashed out, dripping molten blood.


    "Vale, [Valenite Armament¡ªExecution Mode!]" Caelan commanded.


    Vale roared, the ground cracking under its feet.


    It swung its saw arm, sparks flying as it met Inferno''s whips.


    "Burn him down!" Kaelen shouted.


    Inferno''s guns fired in rapid bursts, each bullet a molten missile.


    Vale twisted, chains wrapping around the bullets, redirecting them into the ground.


    It lunged forward, saw blades grinding and sparking.


    "Too slow!" Kaelen yelled.


    Inferno''s tail whips swung like molten swords, cutting at Vale''s chest.


    The impact sent metal shards flying.


    Vale''s claws extended, hooking into Inferno''s armor.


    "Crush him!" Caelan ordered.


    Vale yanked Inferno forward and slammed it into the ground.


    Its saw blades roared to life, cutting into Inferno''s chest plate.


    Inferno roared, guns firing even as its flames weakened.


    Vale''s eyes glowed. "Now!" Caelan shouted.


    Vale''s claws shifted, forming spiked drills, and plunged them into Inferno''s chest.


    Sparks exploded as the drills twisted.


    Inferno''s flames flared one last time¡ªbut then faded.


    Kaelen''s eyes widened. "Inferno...!"


    Inferno shuddered, then fell, its body steaming and still.


    The arena fell silent for a moment.


    Then Fiona''s voice rang out, clear and strong.


    "Winner¡ªCaelan and Vornis Vale!"


    The crowd erupted in cheers, voices blending in one massive roar.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @FlameEdge: Vale wins! That was insane!


    @BloodClaw: That saw drill combo was unstoppable!


    @IronBurn: Inferno fought like a beast but Vale was too much!


    @RedStrike: I can''t believe it''s over!


    @BattleCry: Best match ever!


    ---


    Kaelen stepped forward, his face calm despite the loss.


    "You''re strong, Caelan," he said simply.


    Caelan nodded, his red eyes calm.


    "So were you, Kaelen. Let''s fight again someday."


    Kaelen smirked. "Yeah. Next time, I''ll be ready."


    The crowd roared again, celebrating both warriors.


    Cheers and claps echoed through the arena, banners waved high.


    High above, Fiona floated gracefully, her smile bright and full of pride.


    "Luxoria fans," she called.


    "Give it up for these two incredible tamers¡ªand their unstoppable Vornis!"


    The crowd roared even louder, their voices a single, thunderous cheer.


    Fiona twirled in the air, her eyes glowing.


    "And don''t forget," she continued.


    "Now that we''ve got our two winners, the final match is decided!"


    Her hand pointed dramatically to the left.


    "On one side¡ªDrelmas Vharkorr!!"


    Drelmas stepped forward, his massive arms crossed, calm and steady.


    "And on the other¡ªCaelan of the Valefor family!"


    Caelan''s eyes glowed red, his expression serious and unflinching.


    Fiona''s grin widened.


    "Now, fans¡ªcheer them on! Let''s give them the support they deserve!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @RootBlade: Drelmas vs Caelan¡ªlet''s gooooo!


    @MetalRoar: Vornis Abyss vs Vornis Vale! Epic!


    @BloodHeat: This is gonna be brutal.


    @FionaFan: Fiona''s the best host ever!

 Chapter 469: Tea Time or Takedown?

    Drelmas and Caelan stood at their podiums on opposite sides of the arena.


    In the arena, Vornis Abyss and Vornis Vale stood tall, though both showed signs of battle damage.


    Drelmas crossed his arms.


    "Vale fought hard in the last round," he said, his deep voice steady.


    "He deserves this final fight."


    Caelan nodded, his red eyes serious.


    "Abyss has taken his share of hits too," he said.


    "It''s only right we finish this."


    Fiona floated down between them, her eyes shining.


    "Hold on, you two," she said, her grin wide.


    "Don''t worry about your Vornis. They''re about to get a little help."


    Drelmas and Caelan both raised an eyebrow.


    Fiona turned and called out, "Liline¡ªplease?"


    A ripple of surprise went through the crowd as a silver light appeared above the arena.


    Liline emerged, just like a ghost.


    The spectators gasped. Some pointed, others whispered in shock.


    "Yes, Miss," Liline said, her voice calm as ever.


    She raised one hand and snapped her fingers.


    In an instant, both Vornis¡ªAbyss and Vale¡ªglowed bright.


    The cracks in their armor sealed, the dents smoothed, and the steam vanished.


    Their eyes glowed with fresh energy.


    Drelmas blinked, his eyes wide.


    "That''s... incredible," he muttered.


    Caelan''s jaw tightened, then relaxed.


    "I didn''t expect that," he said.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @SteelHeal: WHOA¡ªLiline just healed them in one second!


    @BloodRestore: Both Vornis look brand new!


    @MistEdge: I want a healer like that on my team!


    @RootSpark: Drelmas and Caelan are gonna go all out now!


    @ForgeRoar: Best finale ever!


    ---


    Fiona laughed, her hands on her hips.


    "Now we can continue the final," she said, her voice ringing bright.


    "Let''s go!"


    Drelmas smirked, rolling his massive shoulders.


    "Abyss, you ready?" he rumbled.


    Abyss let out a deep growl, mist hissing from its vents.


    Caelan gave a small grin.


    "Vale," he called, "let''s show them what Valefor''s legacy can do."


    Vale roared, its red eyes glowing like burning embers.


    Fiona''s smile grew.


    "Luxoria fans," she shouted, her voice rising.


    "The final match has officially begun!"


    ---


    Liline appeared quietly in the mist forest, stepping lightly beside Nebelis.


    Nebelis sat curled in its long mist dragon form, drinking tea vapor from a small cup.


    The cup steamed gently in its claws, sending out a sweet aroma.


    At the same time, Nebelis watched the fight between L-Snake and the two hybrid intruders.


    Liline tilted her head, curious.


    "Did I miss something?" she asked softly.


    Nebelis''s silver eyes glowed faintly.


    "Nope," it said in its slow, rumbling voice.


    "It''s still the same as before."


    Liline''s eyes shifted to the fight below.


    L-Snake stood tall and unmoving.


    He hadn''t taken a single step since the fight began.


    Every time the hybrids attacked him...


    He blocked them with a simple twist of his arms or his tail.


    "L-Snake is still fighting them," Nebelis continued.


    "But with no seriousness."


    Liline frowned, her lips curving downward.


    "I see," she said.


    "If it''s like that, it''s a bit boring."


    Her eyes glowed faintly. "The opponents... too weak, maybe?"


    Nebelis let out a low hum. "Then you can go back," it said.


    Liline''s smile returned. "Sure," she said brightly.


    She waved her hand, and a huge teapot appeared in the air beside her.


    Mist and steam swirled from its spout, filling the air with a soft, sweet scent.


    "And this," she added, "is filled with tea vapor."


    Another wave of her hand, and she summoned small, cute smoke clouds.


    They were like little puffs from baking cookies.


    They floated around Nebelis''s head, releasing a warm, cozy smell.


    "This is for you," Liline said, her eyes dancing.


    "A snack while you watch."


    Nebelis''s tail curled, eyes narrowing with a pleased expression.


    "Good," it rumbled. "Snacks for me."


    Liline giggled softly.


    "Enjoy," she said.


    "I think it''s more interesting to watch the final Vornis battle competition anyway."


    Nebelis''s eyes glowed brighter for a moment.


    "Then go watch," it said. "I''ll handle things here."


    Liline nodded.


    "Okay. Bye," she called softly, waving as she vanished into the mist.


    Nebelis settled in, letting the tea vapor swirl around its face.


    "Good snacks," it murmured, sipping slowly.


    ---


    L-Snake stood at the center.


    He barely moved, his arms shifting into shields and swords whenever needed.


    Each time Razorkai or Zephyrahn attacked, he blocked them with casual ease.


    Razorkai''s jaw split open into four parts, a terrifying grin on his face.


    "Vernyx!" he growled.


    "Stop hiding behind your tricks and fight me like a real beast!"


    L-Snake''s silver eyes glowed faintly.


    "Tricks?" he said, his voice calm and mocking.


    "You''re the one using brute force with no skill."


    "And remember... I am L-Snake, not Vernyx."


    He shifted his left hand, forming a Luxorite shield that deflected Razorkai''s savage claws.


    Zephyrahn dove in from the side, his wings slicing through the mist.


    "[Silent Gale Dive]."


    His claws extended into deadly [Razorwind Talons].


    L-Snake''s right arm shifted into a spear.


    He blocked Zephyrahn''s attack with a single, effortless twist.


    Sparks flew as the spear clashed with the talons.


    "Is this the best the hybrids have to offer?" L-Snake taunted, his forked tongue flicking.


    "Once... you were stronger than me."


    "Now? You''re pathetic."


    Razorkai''s eyes burned with rage.


    "You...!" he roared. "[Multi-Jaw Collapse]!"


    His four-way maw opened wide, aiming to bite through L-Snake''s torso.


    L-Snake simply shifted his entire body, forming spikes from his chest.


    Razorkai''s jaws slammed into the spikes, shattering them and staggering back.


    Zephyrahn vanished into the air.


    "[Slipstream Dash]."


    He reappeared behind L-Snake with a spinning slash.


    L-Snake didn''t even turn.


    His tail shifted into a whip, lashing back and catching Zephyrahn mid-strike.


    Zephyrahn cried out as the whip smashed him into the ground.


    Razorkai shook his head, blood dripping from his mouth.


    "Vernyx... Fight me seriously!" He roared.


    L-Snake''s smirk grew.


    "Seriously?" he purred.


    "This is me being generous."


    His arms shifted again.


    One was forming a sword, the other a gun.


    Razorkai lunged forward, claws swinging wildly.


    "I''ll tear you apart!" he shouted.


    L-Snake raised his sword, parrying each claw strike with smooth, precise movements.


    "Is this really the savage beast that once beat me easily?"


    Each of his words cut deeper than the blade.


    "Really... I never realized that you''re so weak."


    Zephyrahn flew overhead, eyes glowing.


    "[Mirage Plume Cloak]!"


    His feathers shimmered, hiding him in midair.


    L-Snake''s eyes followed him easily.


    "Hiding in the wind won''t save you," he sneered.


    He raised his gun and fired a burst of bullets, each one tracking Zephyrahn''s movements.


    Zephyrahn dodged left, right, and then dove down.


    Only to be met by L-Snake''s waiting sword.


    Razorkai roared, his body trembling with rage.


    "Vernyx¡ªno matter how many tricks you use, I will devour you!"


    L-Snake''s smirk widened, his silver eyes cold.


    "Try it," he whispered.


    And the battle continued, the hybrids'' rage crashing against L-Snake''s unyielding defense.

 Chapter 470: When the Bro Code Gets Weird

    Razorkai and Zephyrahn stood side by side, both panting heavily, their bodies marked with battle scars.


    L-Snake stood tall in front of them, his arms crossed casually.


    Zephyrahn''s wings twitched as he turned to Razorkai.


    "Razorkai," he said, his voice calm but strained.


    "We... we have no choice."


    Razorkai frowned, his jaws splitting slightly.


    "What are you talking about?"


    Zephyrahn''s eyes glowed faintly.


    "We... we have to fuse," he said.


    "Vernyx¡ªno, L-Snake¡ªhe''s too strong."


    "I don''t know what that Lord L did to him, but now... we''re losing."


    Razorkai''s face twisted with anger.


    "Damn it," he growled.


    "Fuse with me? That''s disgusting."


    Zephyrahn''s feathers rustled, his eyes hard.


    "It''s the only way," he insisted.


    "We either fight together or we lose to him."


    Razorkai''s claws dug into the ground.


    "I don''t want to lose to that smug snake," he muttered.


    He glared at Zephyrahn. "Fine. Let''s do it."


    L-Snake smirked, his forked tongue flicking in the mist.


    "Oh? Trying something new?" he mocked.


    "Interesting. Let''s see what you can do."


    Razorkai and Zephyrahn roared at the same time.


    Their bodies glowed, a sickly mix of red and black energy.


    Feathers merged with scales, claws fused with talons, and their bodies twisted in on themselves.


    A monstrous, grotesque fusion formed.


    A new creature with Razorkai''s bulk and Zephyrahn''s wings.


    Its face was a jagged mix of shark teeth and razor feathers.


    Its arms ended in massive, shifting claws that glowed with unstable energy.


    The new beast let out a deep, broken growl.


    "We... are... RAZEP," it hissed, voice rumbling with two voices combined.


    L-Snake raised an eyebrow, his smile widening.


    "Now that''s a face only a mother could love," he sneered.


    "Let''s see if you''re worth my time."


    ---


    Nebelis watched the battle unfold.


    It still sipped on its tea vapor and munched on its cookie smoke.


    Its tail flicked with interest as it saw the new fusion form of Razep.


    "Well, well," Nebelis murmured, its eyes glowing faintly.


    "They can even fuse. That''s... interesting."


    It sipped its tea vapor again, the steam drifting lazily.


    It tilted its head slightly, watching the battle below.


    "But still," it added, voice slow and curious, "why does it look like that?"


    Its gaze lingered on Razep''s jagged face.


    Part shark teeth, part feathered mask, with too many eyes glowing at once.


    Nebelis let out a low hum, amused.


    "L-Snake was right," it said, its lips curling in a small smirk.


    "A face only a mother could love."


    It took another bite of its cookie smoke and crumbs floating away like mist.


    It shifted its gaze back to the fight.


    L-Snake stood his ground, arms folded, eyes unblinking.


    Razep roared, its claws shifting and glowing with unstable power.


    "We... will... win!" it shouted, voice a mix of Razorkai''s growl and Zephyrahn''s cold tone.


    Nebelis''s tail curled with curiosity.


    "Let''s see how strong you are, Razep," it said, eyes glinting.


    "This might actually be fun."


    It leaned back, tea vapor in hand, waiting for the clash to continue.


    ---


    Razep roared, its voice vibrating through the mist.


    "We... are... unstoppable!" it hissed, wings flaring wide.


    It lunged forward, claws shifting and twisting.


    "[Bloodstorm Raze]!" it screamed.


    Its claws split into dozens of blood-forged spikes, each one spinning like a drill.


    L-Snake narrowed his eyes, smirking as he raised his arms.


    His hands shifted into shields, deflecting the first wave of spikes.


    Sparks flew as metal clashed.


    "Cute," L-Snake taunted, his voice smooth.


    "But are you done yet?"


    Razep''s wings glowed, feathers turning into blade feathers that slashed through the air.


    "[Razorwind Cyclone]!" it shouted.


    A storm of blades flew at L-Snake from every angle.


    L-Snake''s smirk faded as he crossed his arms, his body forming armor plating.


    The blades hit hard, sparks flying, cracks forming.


    "Hmph," L-Snake muttered, his voice strained for the first time.


    "That''s better. Finally showing some teeth."


    He shoved forward, metal grinding as he stepped back.


    Razep''s eyes gleamed.


    "Bleed!" it roared, lunging with its claws again, combining [Bloodstorm Raze] and [Razorwind Cyclone].


    Claws and feathers flew together, each strike aimed at L-Snake''s chest.


    L-Snake''s arms shifted into swords, slashing at the claws.


    He deflected three, four, but the fifth cut deep into his shoulder, sparks flying.


    He staggered back, his smirk returning.


    "Not bad," L-Snake admitted, his tongue flicking.


    "Looks like this fusion is worth something after all."


    Razep roared again, its claws dripping with red energy.


    "We... are Razep! And we will not lose to you!"


    L-Snake laughed, though a faint trickle of silver blood leaked from his shoulder.


    "Big words from a big mess," he mocked.


    "But let''s see you handle this."


    His tail whipped around, shifting into a Luxorite scythe.


    "[Luxorite Reaper Slash]!" he roared, swinging the scythe in a wide arc.


    Razep blocked with its claws, the scythe grinding against the blood-forged metal.


    Sparks and blood sprayed everywhere.


    "Too slow!" Razep snarled, wings slamming down.


    "[Bloodwind Fury]!" it shrieked.


    A tornado of red wind and blood blades erupted, slamming into L-Snake''s chest and knocking him back several steps.


    L-Snake skidded, his armor cracked in places. He let out a low hiss.


    "Well now," he said, voice low and dangerous, "that actually stung."


    Razep lunged forward, claws raised. "Die!" it roared.


    L-Snake''s arms shifted again, forming a spear and a shield.


    He braced himself, smirk returning.


    "Bring it," he growled.


    Razep''s claws slammed into the shield, but L-Snake''s spear thrust forward, piercing Razep''s shoulder.


    Blood sprayed, but Razep didn''t slow.


    Its claws glowed red as it roared and lunged again.


    "We... will never stop!"


    L-Snake''s eyes glowed brighter.


    He deflected Razep''s slash with his shield.


    "Persistent," L-Snake muttered.


    He shifted his stance, arms tensing.


    Razep roared, its wings spreading wide as it leapt high, claws forming a spinning saw.


    "[Blood Saw Fury]!"


    It screamed, descending on L-Snake like a storm.


    L-Snake raised his arms in defense.


    But the claws cut deep this time, leaving a glowing gash on his chest.


    He hissed, eyes narrowing.


    "So... you''re stronger than I thought," he murmured.


    Razep landed hard, claws dripping with red energy, wings spread wide.


    L-Snake''s smirk returned.


    "It seems," he said slowly, his eyes shining cold and sharp.


    "I need to be a bit more serious."

 Chapter 471: Razep’s DIY Fusion Fiasco

    Razep roared, its claws crackling with blood energy.


    "We... won''t lose to you!"


    It screamed, lunging forward with [Bloodstorm Raze].


    It sent a rain of blood-forged spikes toward L-Snake.


    L-Snake smirked, licking his lips slowly. His eyes glowed cold and bright.


    "Every move you make," he said softly, "feeds me."


    His [Luxorite Gluttony] activated.


    The knowledge of Razep''s moves soaked into his mind like a sponge.


    As the spikes flew at him, L-Snake''s arms shifted.


    Not into outdated swords or spears, but into sleek, futuristic pulse rifles.


    The barrels glowed with Luxorite energy.


    "Outdated weapons are boring," he hissed.


    "Time to upgrade."


    He fired a burst of energy bullets that shredded the incoming spikes.


    Razep''s wings glowed, and it roared, "[Razorwind Cyclone]!"


    A spinning storm of blades and wind launched forward.


    L-Snake''s lips curved into a sly smile.


    His tail shifted, forming hover thrusters that lifted him slightly above the ground.


    "Predictable," he mocked, voice cold.


    "Try harder."


    He zoomed sideways, dodging the cyclone entirely.


    "Your moves are too slow," he teased.


    Razep snarled. "We... will not lose!"


    It spread its wings wide, claws splitting into chainsaw whips, the blades spinning with a deafening screech.


    "[Blood Chain Shred]!" it yelled, slashing forward.


    L-Snake''s arms shifted again, now forming energy shields.


    He blocked the whips easily, the chains bouncing off with bursts of light.


    "Chains now?" he laughed.


    "You really are desperate."


    His eyes glowed even brighter.


    "Let''s see how this one feels," he taunted.


    His arms morphed into a long railgun.


    "Time to show you the future of pain," he hissed.


    He fired, a piercing energy beam slicing the air.


    The shot slammed into Razep''s shoulder, sending metal and blood spraying.


    Razep roared, stumbling back.


    "You... you''re too strong," it spat, voice trembling.


    L-Snake''s grin widened, his tongue flicking out.


    "I learn," he said, his voice dripping with mockery.


    "Every move you make¡ªevery skill¡ªfeeds me."


    His tail split into multiple segments, forming drone pods that hovered around him, guns bristling.


    "You taught me too much," he whispered.


    Razep lunged again, wings flaring. "We won''t¡ª!"


    L-Snake''s drones fired in unison, a web of Luxorite beams slamming into Razep from every direction.


    Sparks and blood flew, smoke filling the air.


    Razep''s wings faltered, claws trembling.


    "No..." it growled weakly.


    L-Snake floated down slowly, his eyes glowing cold and sharp.


    "You should''ve stayed weak," he said, his voice low and cruel.


    "Now you''re just a stepping stone."


    Razep let out one last roar, claws lashing out.


    But L-Snake caught them easily.


    His hands shifted into gravity gloves that crushed Razep''s arms with brutal force.


    Razep gasped, its body shaking as its wings twitched weakly.


    "We... we...!" it croaked.


    L-Snake''s smirk turned into a savage grin.


    His forked tongue flicked out as he leaned closer.


    "You lose," he hissed.


    Razep''s eyes rolled back as its monstrous form shuddered.


    With one last breath, it collapsed to the ground.


    Steam rose from its wounds, and the battlefield fell silent.


    L-Snake''s eyes glowed as he leaned over the fallen hybrid.


    "You''re lucky that Lord L wanted you alive."


    He then shifted his arms.


    He formed long metal chains that wrapped around Razep''s twisted form.


    The chains glowed, pulling tight.


    "I don''t know what he will do. Maybe he''ll study you," L-Snake continued.


    "Or maybe he''ll turn you into another soldier... like me."


    He chuckled, low and cold. "Either way, it will be really interesting."


    Razep couldn''t answer¡ªits eyes had closed, its body limp.


    L-Snake yanked the chains, lifting Razep''s body with ease.


    "Back to Luxoria Castle with you," he said, his voice casual.


    "Lord L is waiting."


    He turned and began to walk, the mist swirling around him.


    High above, hidden in the mist forest, Nebelis watched with a faint smile.


    "A good show indeed," he murmured, sipping his tea vapor.


    Crumbs of cookie smoke floated around him.


    He glanced at the spot where L-Snake vanished with Razep''s body.


    "Now that those hybrids are finished," he said softly, his silver eyes glowing.


    "It''s time to handle those five intruders."


    He paused, savoring the last sip of his tea vapor.


    "This time," he whispered, his voice dark and smooth.


    "Let me do it myself. It''ll be faster¡ªand cleaner."


    Meanwhile, L-Snake reached the forest''s edge, Razep''s unconscious body dragging behind him.


    The chains clinked softly as he walked. He smirked again.


    "Lord L always loves new projects," he said, eyes gleaming.


    "Especially ones that scream."


    ---


    Back in the mist forest, Nebelis stretched its long body.


    "Five intruders left," it muttered.


    "They were trying to sneak through the mist paths."


    He sighed, his tail flicking with amusement. "How rude."


    He shifted, mist gathering around him like a cloak.


    "This time, no clones," he whispered.


    "No distractions." His claws gleamed faintly.


    "I''ll handle them myself." He licked his lips, a small smile forming.


    "Faster this way."


    The mist thickened, swirling around him as he vanished into the fog.


    In the distance, faint voices of the five intruders echoed.


    "Almost through¡ªhurry!" one of them whispered.


    Nebelis''s smile widened as he floated above them, unseen.


    "Let''s begin," he whispered.


    The mist twisted¡ªand then the forest went silent.


    Only Nebelis''s soft, dangerous laughter remained.


    ---


    Back in the arena, the ground shook as Vornis Abyss slammed its heavy hooves.


    Across from it, Vornis Vale bared its jagged teeth, Valenite veins glowing deep red.


    Every step it took left burning claw marks behind.


    Drelmas raised his fist, his calm eyes sharp.


    "Abyss¡ªhold your ground!" he called.


    Caelan''s eyes glowed bright.


    "Vale¡ªdon''t hold back!" he shouted.


    Fiona hovered in the air, her hair streaming behind her.


    She grinned wide, eyes sparkling.


    "Luxoria fans!" she yelled, her voice full of excitement.


    "It''s almost at its peak¡ªwho will win?"


    The crowd roared back, banners waving and hands clapping.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @SteelClash: Abyss is a wall¡ªhe''s not going down!


    @BloodStrike: Vale''s claws are scary¡ªlook at those burn marks!


    @IronRoar: Abyss''s defense is legendary!


    @RedTalon: Vale''s gonna crack that armor!


    @RootBloom: I can''t decide¡ªboth are too strong!


    ---


    Fiona pointed down at the beasts.


    "Luxoria fans," she cried, her voice full of energy.


    "Cheer for your chosen warrior!"


    The arena vibrated with cheers and chants.


    The final clash was just moments away.

 Chapter 472: The Final Vornis Smackdown

    The arena shook as Vornis Abyss and Vornis Vale circled each other.


    Both beasts were scarred, but neither gave in.


    Drelmas clenched his fists.


    "Abyss¡ªnow''s the time," he called, his deep voice strong.


    Caelan''s eyes narrowed.


    "Vale¡ªuse your full power!" he shouted.


    Fiona hovered in the air, her eyes wide with excitement.


    "Luxoria fans," she cried, voice trembling with energy.


    "Let''s watch the peak of this battle!"


    The crowd roared in response.


    Abyss''s blue runes glowed bright, water mist hissing from its vents.


    Its body shifted, forming massive pressure cannons on its shoulders.


    A huge hammer fist also formed on its right claw.


    "[Tidebreaker Shift]!" Drelmas ordered.


    Abyss roared, the ground trembling as its hammer arm smashed the ground.


    Vale''s red eyes burned bright, Valenite veins glowing like lava.


    Its claws twisted and extended into massive blood-forged blades.


    "[Valenite Execution Shift]!" Caelan commanded.


    Vale roared, its body pulsing with rage.


    Its tail split into a saw-edged whip, spinning with deadly speed.


    The crowd leaned forward, breathless.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @SteelStrike: Abyss looks unstoppable!


    @BloodClaw: Vale''s blades are insane¡ªlook at that glow!


    @MistRoar: This is the best fight ever!


    @IronEdge: Drelmas vs. Caelan¡ªboth legends!


    @RootCore: I can''t decide who to cheer for!


    ---


    Fiona''s voice rang out.


    "Both beasts are using their ultimate forms!"


    "This is it, fans¡ªwho will stand tall?"


    Abyss raised its hammer fist, aiming at Vale''s chest.


    "Crush it!" Drelmas roared.


    Vale''s blades glowed red, its saw-whip slicing through the air.


    "Slice through!" Caelan shouted.


    Abyss slammed its hammer down, the shockwave blasting the arena.


    Vale leapt sideways, the saw-whip cutting Abyss''s side, sparks and blood spraying.


    Abyss turned, its pressure cannons glowing.


    "[Tidebreaker Shot]!" Drelmas ordered.


    The cannons fired a massive burst of water and metal, roaring toward Vale.


    "Vale¡ª[Bloodblade Hurricane]!" Caelan commanded.


    Vale spun, its blades forming a shield of red metal that deflected the shot.


    It lunged forward, its saw-whip wrapping around Abyss''s neck.


    "Now!" Caelan yelled.


    Vale''s claws glowed bright, energy flowing through them.


    With one final roar, it slashed Abyss''s chest, the blades cutting deep.


    Abyss staggered, its body shaking.


    The pressure cannons cracked and fell off, mist hissing from its vents.


    With a deep growl, it fell to its knees, then collapsed.


    Fiona''s voice trembled. "And the winner¡ªCaelan and Vornis Vale!"


    The crowd erupted in cheers, banners waving high.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @SteelVictory: Vale wins! That was epic!


    @BloodRush: What a fight¡ªAbyss was strong, but Vale was unstoppable!


    @RootBloom: Caelan''s skill is amazing!


    @IronRoar: Drelmas fought hard, respect!


    @FireCore: Best finale ever¡ªLuxoria rocks!


    ---


    Drelmas walked forward, his face calm despite the loss.


    "You''re strong, Caelan," he said, voice deep but kind.


    "Vale fought like a true warrior."


    Caelan smiled, his eyes bright.


    "Abyss was incredible too," he said.


    "This was the best fight I''ve ever had."


    They shook hands, respect between them clear.


    Fiona floated lower, her smile bright.


    "Luxoria fans," she shouted.


    "Give it up for these incredible tamers and their Vornis!"


    The crowd roared, banners waving and voices blending in one thunderous cheer.


    Fiona''s eyes sparkled as she turned to Caelan.


    "Mr. Caelan," she called, her voice clear.


    "Liline will now show you the way to the inner chamber."


    Caelan blinked, surprised but curious.


    "Inner chamber?" he asked softly.


    Fiona smiled even brighter.


    "Your prize will be given there," she explained.


    She turned to the crowd again, waving her hand.


    "And for the rest of you¡ªdon''t leave just yet!"


    "There''s still a party and many refreshments waiting outside," she said, her voice playful.


    "It''s our way of saying thanks for coming here today."


    She winked at the defeated tamers in the back.


    "And to the other contestants¡ªcome to the party too!"


    "Make it worth your time for coming here."


    "Luxoria Castle is always open to celebrate all who fought!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @FionaFan: Fiona''s the best host ever!


    @SteelEdge: I''m so glad there''s a party¡ªgonna get some snacks!


    @IronSong: Even the losers get to party? That''s so cool!


    @MistTide: Luxoria Castle really knows how to treat its fans!


    ---


    Liline appeared beside Caelan.


    "Mr. Caelan," she said softly, her eyes bright, "please follow me."


    Caelan nodded, his red eyes calm but eager.


    "Of course," he said.


    Liline smiled, leading the way through a doorway at the edge of the arena.


    "Lord L is waiting," she said, her voice smooth.


    "He has something special for you."


    Caelan''s eyes widened.


    "Lord Lucius himself?" he whispered.


    Liline nodded, her smile never fading. "Yes. Let''s go."


    And together, they stepped into the chamber, leaving the cheering crowd behind.


    ---


    Caelan stepped into the inner chamber, the door sliding closed behind him.


    In the center, on a high-backed chair, Lord L sat waiting.


    Lord L looked up at Caelan, his eyes steady.


    "Young Master Caelan," he said.


    "We meet again."


    Caelan bowed his head respectfully.


    "Yes, Lord L," he replied, his voice even but filled with respect.


    Lord L''s smile widened slightly.


    "Please," he said, gesturing to the seat across from him.


    "Sit down."


    Caelan nodded.


    "Thank you," he said, moving to the seat and sitting carefully.


    Lord L leaned forward slightly.


    "Now," he said, his eyes sharp.


    "Let''s get to the point. What do you want for a prize?"


    Caelan blinked, surprised. "The prize is... up to me?" he asked.


    Lord L nodded, his silver hair catching the light.


    "Yes," he said.


    "I know you''re already wealthy. After all, you''re the first son of the Valefor family."


    He paused, his smile sharp.


    "You also have fine beasts¡ªTitanhoof and Vornis Vale."


    Caelan''s brow furrowed. "That''s true," he said slowly.


    "I can''t think of anything else."


    Lord L tilted his head.


    "If that''s so," he said, his voice smooth as always.


    "Then may I recommend something?"


    Caelan''s eyes widened slightly, curiosity sparking.


    "Sure," he said. "Anything is good."


    Lord L''s smile turned sly, his eyes glinting.


    He leaned closer, his voice low but clear.


    He spoke a single sentence¡ªsoft but powerful.


    "Is this good enough for you?" he asked.


    Caelan''s eyes went wide, shock and awe filling his face.


    "Are you... sure you can do that, Lord L?" he whispered.


    Lord L''s smile turned into a confident grin.


    "Of course I can," he said, his eyes glowing faintly.


    "I am Lord L of Luxoria. There is nothing I can''t do."


    Caelan''s jaw tightened, his heart pounding.


    He nodded slowly, determination shining in his red eyes.


    "If you can... then please do it," he said firmly.


    Lord L''s smile widened, his teeth gleaming.


    "Consider it done," he said, his voice filled with unshakable confidence.

 Chapter 473: Luxoria Castle’s Final Fight

    Donnie and Caelan sat side by side in the softly lit chamber.


    They both stared at the figure in the center, Lord L.


    Lord L leaned forward slightly, his voice smooth and deep.


    "Now, Mr. Donnie and Young Master Caelan..."


    "Both of your prizes have just been finished."


    Donnie''s eyes widened in shock.


    "How... how can that be?" he stammered, glancing at Caelan.


    Caelan''s eyes were just as wide.


    "That was fast," he murmured. "We were just here."


    Lord L''s smile grew wider behind the mask.


    "Of course it can be done."


    "This is Luxoria Castle. Here, nothing is impossible."


    Donnie swallowed hard, his eyes darting to Caelan and back to Lord L.


    "That''s... incredible."


    Lord L tilted his head slightly.


    "But I have a question for you both."


    His tone shifted to something more playful, yet dangerous.


    "Did you two want to try it?"


    Donnie and Caelan both looked at each other, confusion in their eyes.


    Caelan cautiously asked first.


    "Try it? What do you mean by that, exactly, Lord L?"


    Lord L''s eyes glinted behind the silver mask.


    "Of course, your prize, Young Lord Caelan."


    Caelan blinked, his heart pounding.


    "My prize...?"


    Lord L''s grin widened.


    "Aren''t you dying to test it?"


    He teased him even more.


    "Especially after it was rebuilt by Luxoria?"


    Donnie, standing nearby, looked surprised.


    "Rebuilt?"


    He turned to Caelan.


    "Young Lord Caelan, was your prize... beast modification too?"


    Caelan''s jaw tightened, his eyes glowing.


    "Yeah."


    "My prize was... a beast modification."


    Lord L''s grin widened.


    "Then why don''t you two fight each other?"


    "To be the peak of this competition. Also¡ª"


    He leaned forward, his eyes shining.


    "Showcase how powerful you''ve both become."


    Donnie''s eyes flickered with surprise, but then he grinned.


    "That''s... actually a great idea, Lord L"


    "I''m always ready to prove myself."


    Caelan''s lips curled into a small smirk.


    "And I''d like to test my new beast''s strength too."


    "Let''s do it."


    Lord L clapped his hands once, the sound echoing in the chamber.


    "Perfect, this is exactly what this event needs. A final battle between two of its finest tamers."


    He paused, his eyes cold and sharp behind the mask.


    "And of course¡ªit helps me too."


    Donnie frowned slightly.


    "Helps you?"


    Lord L''s smile turned sly.


    "Seeing both of your new powers in action," he explained.


    "It helps me perfect the system. And... it''s entertaining."


    Caelan chuckled.


    "Then let''s not waste time," he said. "Donnie, ready when you are."


    Donnie''s eyes glinted with determination.


    "Of course," he said.


    "Let''s make this the best fight Luxoria Castle has ever seen."


    Lord L stood slowly, his cloak swirling around him.


    "Good," he said, his voice low.


    "Then go. The arena awaits. Show the world what Luxoria Castle has created."


    ---


    Fiona floated high above the arena, her bright eyes wide as she listened to her earpiece.


    Her face shifted from surprise to disbelief.


    "Lord, is this really happening?" she whispered.


    Lucius''s smooth voice crackled in her earpiece.


    "Of course," he said, his tone calm and cold.


    "Just announce it."


    Fiona blinked, then a slow smile spread across her face.


    "Yes, Master," she said.


    She turned her mic on and floated forward, her voice loud and clear.


    "Luxoria fans!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the arena.


    "A surprise battle has just been announced!"


    The crowd gasped and cheered all at once, their voices a roar.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @IronClash: A surprise battle? Who''s fighting?!


    @BloodEdge: Luxoria Castle is full of surprises!


    @RootBloom: I''m so excited!


    @SteelStrike: This is gonna be good!


    @MistSong: Who''s stepping into the ring?!


    ---


    Fiona''s eyes glowed. "The next battle," she said dramatically.


    "Will be between Young Lord Caelan¡ªand a mysterious challenger!"


    The crowd cheered, some voices shouting questions.


    Fiona''s grin widened.


    "Yes, you heard me right¡ªa mysterious challenger!" she called.


    "And he''s here to test the power of Luxoria''s latest beast modifications!"


    A hush fell over the crowd.


    Caelan stepped forward, his red eyes sharp, his jaw set.


    "I''m ready," he said, his voice low.


    "I''ll take on whoever stands in my way."


    From the opposite gate, the masked figure emerged.


    Donnie, hidden behind a sleek black mask, his eyes steady but unreadable.


    Fiona floated lower, her grin mischievous.


    "Luxoria fans," she shouted, "get ready to witness a battle like no other!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @FlameEdge: That mask is so creepy¡ªwho is that?!


    @BloodClaw: Caelan''s gonna crush him!


    @RootTide: Mysterious challenger¡ªso Luxoria style!


    @SteelRoar: That''s Donnie, right? I bet it is!


    @MistVine: Caelan''s not holding back¡ªthis is gonna be intense!


    ---


    Lucius watched from his hidden chamber, a small smile playing on his lips.


    "This will be... interesting," he murmured.


    ---


    The masked man raised his hand slowly.


    A glowing portal soon opened beside him, swirling with bright colors.


    The crowd leaned forward, breath held tight.


    From within the portal, a tall, shining figure emerged.


    Its silver armor gleamed under the lights, cracked in places to reveal molten lava veins, misty water lines, and glowing roots.


    Its wings shone with every element¡ªfire, water, rock, wood, and metal¡ªpulsing with energy.


    Fiona gasped, her eyes wide with shock.


    "Luxoria fans!" she shouted, voice trembling with excitement.


    "That''s... that''s the Elemental Knight Vornis!"


    "The same one that won the beauty contest earlier!"


    The crowd erupted in cheers, voices blending into a thunderous roar.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @IronEdge: The same Vornis from the beauty contest?!


    @FlameCore: That''s insane! It''s like a dream!


    @RootBloom: The Elemental Knight Vornis is here to fight!


    @SteelTide: Who is this mask guy really?!


    @MistBite: That''s too cool¡ªI can''t even!


    ---


    Fiona floated lower, her smile wide.


    "So the mysterious man is the same one who impressed us all at the beauty contest."


    The masked man stood tall, his eyes cold behind the mask.


    A faint smirk curled at his lips. "It''s still early for you to be amazed."


    Caelan narrowed his eyes, his arms crossed.


    "So this is your beast," he said. "Is this your prize?"


    The masked man nodded, his eyes glinting.


    "Yeah," he said simply.


    "My prize is to make all my Vornis fused into one."


    He tilted his head slightly. "And this time¡ªthe Elemental Knight Vornis isn''t just a temporary fusion."


    "Now it''s a genuine Sovereign beast. It doesn''t need to split anymore."


    Caelan''s jaw tightened.


    "That''s... a serious upgrade," he muttered.


    "But it doesn''t matter. I''ll take you on¡ªno matter what your beast is."


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @FlameEdge: He fused them all?! That''s insane!


    @SteelHeart: Caelan''s gonna have his hands full.


    @MistBite: This battle''s gonna be legendary!


    @IronClaw: Who is this mask guy really?!


    ---


    The crowd cheered, voices filled with excitement and shock.


    Fiona hovered above, her smile bright.


    "Luxoria fans," she shouted, "get ready for the fight of a lifetime!"

 Chapter 474: Sovereign Smackdown

    Caelan raised his hand, his eyes sharp and determined.


    "Fine," he called, voice strong. "Let''s even the field."


    He spread his arms wide, a deep, powerful glow pulsing from his chest.


    The ground trembled as a massive portal opened beside him, glowing with a dark red light.


    A huge, ironclad warhorse appeared from within.


    It stood 10 meters tall, its iron skin dark red and thick with glowing crimson veins.


    Jagged spikes and ridges jutted out from its body, each one alive with a dangerous glow.


    Fiona hovered above, her eyes wide.


    "What kind of beast is that?!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with excitement.


    The crowd gasped, voices rising in surprise.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @IronEdge: WHAT IS THAT THING?!


    @BloodClaw: Looks like a monster from a nightmare!


    @MistStrike: That''s the biggest warhorse I''ve ever seen!


    @RootBloom: Its armor is insane!


    @SteelFire: Caelan''s a monster tamer for real!


    ---


    Caelan smirked, his eyes glowing as he faced the masked man.


    "Mask man," he said coolly, "your prize for winning the beauty contest was to fuse your five Vornis into one stronger beast."


    He raised his chin, pride in his voice.


    "But I got a prize too," he said.


    "My prize was to fuse my Titanhoof and Vornis Vale into one beast."


    He grinned, teeth glinting. "And now¡ªthis is my beast. Titanvale."


    The masked man''s eyes narrowed behind his mask.


    "Titanvale," he repeated softly, his voice low. "So your beast is fused too."


    Caelan''s smirk widened.


    "Yeah," he said.


    "Titanvale''s no normal fusion. It''s a genuine Sovereign-tier war beast."


    "No splits. No weaknesses. Just pure power."


    The masked man''s lips curved into a small smile.


    "Interesting," he said.


    "Then it looks like we both have our ultimate beasts."


    Titanvale snorted, steam hissing from its iron vents.


    Its eyes glowed crimson as it stomped the ground, the force cracking the arena floor.


    Fiona''s voice rang out, filled with excitement.


    "Luxoria fans," she shouted, her voice shaking.


    "This is a showdown like no other! Two tamers with newly fused beasts¡ªface to face!"


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @MistBite: Fused beasts on both sides?!


    @SteelRoar: Titanvale looks like a fortress!


    @RootEdge: Elemental Knight Vornis vs Titanvale¡ªbest fight ever!


    @IronClash: Lord L''s prizes are insane!


    @BloodStrike: I''m so hyped right now I can''t sit still!


    ---


    Caelan pointed forward, his voice strong and sure.


    "Titanvale," he called, "show them your power!"


    Titanvale roared, the sound like a war drum, its spikes glowing brighter.


    The masked man lifted his hand slowly.


    "Elemental Knight Vornis," he said calmly, "defend and counter."


    Elemental Knight Vornis shifted its claws into flame blades, its wings glowing with every element.


    Fiona floated lower, her eyes wide with anticipation.


    "Luxoria fans," she called. "This is it!"


    "The final battle between two Sovereign beasts¡ªTitanvale and Elemental Knight Vornis!"


    The arena shook with cheers, voices merging into one roaring wave.


    And as the mist swirled, the ultimate showdown began.


    ---


    The arena trembled as Caelan''s voice boomed across the battlefield.


    "Titanvale¡ªuse [Valenite Roar]!" he commanded.


    Titanvale reared up on its hind legs, its iron hide glowing bright red.


    With a massive exhale, it let out a deafening roar.


    The ground shook, and the air trembled with its power.


    The Elemental Knight Vornis flinched as the roar hit it, its armor plates shuddering.


    Its movements slowed a bit, its elemental glow flickering.


    "Now¡ªcharge!" Caelan shouted, his red eyes sharp.


    "Titanvale, [Valenite Armament]¡ªbulldozer mode!"


    Titanvale''s limbs shifted and thickened, spikes sprouting along its shoulders and legs.


    Its head lowered, forming a heavy iron battering ram.


    Its hooves slammed into the ground, cracking the arena floor as it charged.


    The crowd roared, some cheering, others gasping.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @IronEdge: Titanvale''s unstoppable now!


    @BloodStrike: That roar shook the whole arena!


    @MistRoar: Bulldozer mode¡ªno way!


    @RootBloom: Elemental Knight Vornis better move fast!


    @SteelClash: Caelan''s not holding back!


    ---


    The masked man''s eyes narrowed behind the mask.


    "Elemental Knight Vornis¡ªtake to the skies!" he called.


    Elemental Knight Vornis''s wings flared open.


    It leapt into the air, its wings beating hard.


    "Attack from above¡ª[Elemental Armament]!" the masked man commanded.


    Elemental Knight Vornis''s arms shifted, forming a massive gatling gun that glowed with elemental energy.


    The barrels spun, each one shifting color as it charged up.


    "Fire!" the masked man ordered.


    The gun roared to life, spraying the arena with elemental bullets.


    Flame rounds, water shots, rock shells, vine-tipped darts, and metal shards.


    Titanvale charged through the onslaught, its armor denting as the elemental bullets struck.


    Sparks flew, bits of metal and blood spraying. It roared but didn''t slow down.


    "Titanvale¡ªkeep moving!" Caelan shouted.


    Titanvale lowered its head, spikes glinting.


    It powered forward, the bullets deflecting off its thick hide or digging in shallowly.


    Elemental Knight Vornis flew higher, dodging Titanvale''s charge.


    "Keep firing!" the masked man yelled.


    The gatling gun spun faster, bullets raining down like a storm.


    Caelan gritted his teeth.


    "Titanvale¡ªjump and grab him!" he roared.


    Titanvale bent its legs, energy crackling through its veins.


    With a mighty leap, it soared into the air, its spikes glinting red.


    Elemental Knight Vornis''s eyes widened, its gun still firing.


    Titanvale crashed into it, claws grabbing at its wings.


    The two beasts collided midair, metal and elements clashing in a shower of sparks and blood.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @BloodClaw: They''re in the air! That''s insane!


    @IronRoar: Titanvale''s unstoppable!


    @RootEdge: Elemental Knight Vornis¡ªdon''t give up!


    @MistBite: This is the best battle ever!


    @SteelFang: Both of them are crazy strong!


    ---


    Titanvale roared, claws closing around Elemental Knight Vornis''s wings.


    "Rip them off!" Caelan ordered, his eyes sharp.


    Elemental Knight Vornis''s wings glowed, pulsing with energy.


    The masked man''s voice was calm but strong.


    "Elemental Knight Vornis¡ª[Wing Blast] now!"


    Elemental Knight Vornis''s wings exploded with power, a shockwave of wind and elemental energy blasting outward.


    Titanvale was thrown back, its claws releasing their grip as it stumbled to the ground.


    Caelan grunted, his teeth clenched.


    "Titanvale¡ªstand up!" he ordered.


    Titanvale shook its massive head, eyes glowing.


    "Don''t stop!" Caelan yelled.


    Elemental Knight Vornis hovered above, its wings still glowing from the blast.


    The masked man''s voice was steady.


    "Keep the pressure on," he said.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @IronEdge: That Wing Blast was crazy!


    @BloodRoar: Titanvale almost got him!


    @RootFang: Caelan''s not giving up!


    @MistStrike: This fight is insane!


    @SteelClaw: Both of them are giving it everything!


    ---


    The arena trembled as both beasts readied for the next round.

 Chapter 475: Bazookas & Beasts

    The arena shook with the fury of battle.


    Titanvale and Elemental Knight Vornis glared at each other, both battered and steaming from their fierce clash.


    The masked man adjusted his mask, his eyes calm.


    "Young Master Caelan," he called, his voice steady.


    "This is just a battle show. We don''t have to drag this out forever."


    Caelan exhaled, sweat on his brow.


    "Yeah," he agreed. "It''s better to end it fast."


    The masked man gave a small smile.


    "Then let''s give the fans one last show," he said.


    Caelan''s eyes glowed red.


    "Agreed," he said. He pointed forward.


    "Titanvale¡ªbazooka mode. [Valenite shot]!"


    Titanvale''s body shifted, iron and veins forming a massive bazooka on its back.


    Sparks flew as energy gathered in the barrel.


    The masked man raised his hand.


    "Elemental Knight Vornis¡ªbazooka mode. [Elemental shot]!" he ordered.


    Elemental Knight Vornis''s arms shifted, a huge cannon forming on its shoulder.


    The five elements glowed inside, swirling together like a storm.


    Both tamers shouted at the same time. "Fire!"


    Titanvale''s cannon roared, a massive red shot tearing through the air.


    Elemental Knight Vornis''s cannon answered with a glowing rainbow blast.


    The two shots collided in midair, exploding into a huge wave of energy.


    The ground shook, the lights dimmed, and the entire arena was filled with dust and sparks.


    Fiona floated higher, shielding her face from the wind.


    "Luxoria fans," she called, her voice loud, "this is the greatest clash yet!"


    The dust settled slowly, revealing Titanvale and Elemental Knight Vornis.


    Both stood, but both were steaming and covered in cracks.


    Their energy cores glowed dimly, sparks dripping from their sides.


    Caelan''s eyes softened.


    "Titanvale," he called, his voice calm, "enough."


    Titanvale lowered its head, breathing heavily, its iron hooves trembling.


    The masked man nodded slowly.


    "Elemental Knight Vornis," he said. "You can stop now."


    Elemental Knight Vornis''s cannon retracted, its elemental wings dimming.


    Fiona floated lower, eyes bright.


    "It looks like both tamers have chosen to end the fight!" she announced.


    "A draw¡ªboth beasts gave it their all!"


    The crowd cheered, some clapping, some whistling.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @IronEdge: That was amazing!


    @RootBloom: Both beasts are legends!


    @BloodStrike: A draw! Can''t believe it!


    @MistRoar: They gave it everything!


    @SteelClash: Best fight I''ve ever seen!


    ---


    Caelan stepped forward, eyes locked on the masked man.


    "You fought well," he said simply.


    The masked man nodded.


    "Same to you," he replied. "Your Titanvale is a true monster."


    Caelan smirked.


    "Your Elemental Knight Vornis isn''t too bad either," he said.


    Fiona''s voice rang out one last time.


    "Luxoria fans, let''s hear it one more time for these two incredible tamers¡ªand their unstoppable beasts!"


    The arena roared with applause, fans on their feet.


    Cheers and whistles filled the air, celebrating the incredible battle they had just witnessed.


    Caelan wiped sweat from his brow, eyes calm but proud.


    Beside him, the masked man stood tall, arms crossed.


    Suddenly, from above, a glowing platform hovered down.


    The air shimmered as Lord L appeared, his silver mask glinting under the lights.


    He stood with perfect posture, cloak drifting around him like mist.


    The crowd gasped, some pointing, others cheering even louder.


    Lord L then raised his hand and the arena fell silent.


    "Young Master Caelan," he called.


    His gaze shifted to the tamer on the left, "and Masked Man," he said.


    He turned his head slightly. "what do you think of your new beasts?"


    Caelan stood tall, his red eyes bright.


    "Of course it''s good," he said with a small smirk.


    "Titanvale is the strongest beast I''ve ever had."


    The masked man chuckled softly.


    "Good," he said simply, his voice low but firm.


    "Elemental Knight Vornis exceeded my expectations."


    Lord L''s smile widened behind the mask.


    "Good," he said, his voice full of satisfaction.


    "Then let me tell you all something important," he said, his voice ringing across the arena.


    Fiona floated higher, her eyes wide as she turned to the crowd.


    "Luxoria fans," she called.


    Her voice trembling with excitement, "listen closely to Lord L!"


    Lord L''s eyes glowed faintly as he spread his arms.


    "From today onward," he declared, his tone powerful.


    "Luxoria Castle will offer a new service¡ªthe ability to fuse beasts together."


    He paused as the crowd gasped.


    "Imagine," he continued.


    "Creating a new Sovereign-tier beast like Titanvale, born from the union of Vornis Vale and Titanhoof."


    He gestured to the massive iron horse behind Caelan.


    "Or the Elemental Knight Vornis," he added, turning to the masked man''s beast.


    "A fusion of five elemental Vornis, brought together into one unstoppable force."


    The crowd buzzed with whispers, their eyes wide.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @SteelRoar: We can fuse our beasts?!


    @IronEdge: This is insane¡ªLord L''s the best!


    @RootBloom: My dream beast is finally possible!


    @BloodStrike: Gonna cost a fortune, I bet.


    @MistClash: I need this now!


    ---


    Lord L''s smile turned sly.


    "But I must tell you all," he said, his voice turning smooth as glass, "it''s not cheap."


    His eyes glowed faintly.


    "Luxoria Castle''s fusion service comes at a high cost¡ªin resources."


    Caelan crossed his arms, his face serious.


    "Makes sense," he said. "Titanvale didn''t come easy."


    The masked man nodded slowly.


    "Anything worth having," he said, "always has a price."


    Lord L''s voice grew stronger, echoing across the stands.


    "Luxoria Castle offers only the best," he declared.


    "If you seek strength, greatness, or the power to win any battle¡ªcome to me."


    Fiona floated lower, her voice bright.


    "Luxoria fans," she shouted, her eyes glowing.


    "Lord L has spoken! The future of taming is here¡ªfusion beasts like you''ve never seen before!"


    The crowd erupted in cheers, some jumping, others waving flags.


    ---


    [Luxoria Castle App ¨C LIVE CHAT]


    @IronFang: Worth every coin¡ªLord L, take my money!


    @RootBlade: I''m signing up tomorrow!


    @BloodRoar: Fusion beasts will change everything!


    @SteelBloom: Luxoria Castle is unbeatable now!


    @MistEdge: The competition''s gonna get crazy!


    ---


    Lord L''s smile remained calm, his mask hiding every emotion.


    "This is the future," he said quietly, but with power.


    "Welcome to the age of fusion beasts."

 Chapter 476: When Your CEO Ditches You for Fusion Beasts

    Inside the meeting room of Beast Castle, tension filled the air.


    All the executives sat in a circle, heads down, and frowned deeply on their faces.


    No one spoke at first.


    One man finally broke the silence.


    "I never expected the Vornis competition to be this successful," he said.


    "We didn''t stand a chance."


    Another shook his head.


    "Luxoria Castle is just too strong," he muttered.


    "They have everything: beasts, money, power."


    A woman sighed.


    "And now they''re even fusing beasts," she said.


    "How can we compete with that? Titanvale? Elemental Knight Vornis?"


    "We can''t even get a stable Sovereign-tier beast half the time."


    Someone else groaned. "Even the CEO gave up."


    "He said it''s impossible to beat Luxoria Castle. He''s not even here to help us figure things out."


    A man in a gray suit leaned forward.


    "The CEO always said we could only play on the lower end of the market," he said.


    "He was right. There''s no way we can compete at the top."


    The woman shook her head again.


    "We''re just surviving now," she said.


    "Selling average beasts to average tamers. That''s all we have left."


    A younger man slammed his fist on the table.


    "It''s not fair," he said.


    "We work hard. Our beasts are good too, but Luxoria Castle makes us look like amateurs."


    Another executive sighed heavily.


    "They have Lord L," he said.


    "No one can stand up to him. Not Donnie, not us. No one."


    Someone else spoke up, voice quiet but firm.


    "We need to face reality," he said.


    "Beast Castle can''t be the best anymore. We have to find another way. Maybe a different focus."


    The woman nodded.


    "Like selling rare materials or breeding support beasts," she said.


    "Things Luxoria Castle doesn''t care about."


    The man in the gray suit agreed.


    "It''s the only path left for us," he said.


    "We can''t challenge them head-on. We''d lose every time."


    The younger man looked around.


    "So that''s it then," he said. "We give up on being number one."


    The woman spoke again, her voice sad but steady.


    "We survive," she said.


    "We find our place. We keep our people working. That''s enough for now."


    The room fell silent again. No one wanted to say more.


    They all knew the truth. Beast Castle had lost its chance to be the best.


    All they could do was find a way to survive in a world ruled by the Luxoria Castle.


    They all sighed, the weight of defeat heavy on their hearts.


    ---


    The ground in the Valefor family''s main arena was cracked and marked from countless battles.


    Vandred stood in the center, his massive arms crossed.


    He watched as Caelan guided Titanvale around the ring.


    Vandred''s eyes narrowed.


    "So this is the fusion beast," he said slowly, studying every line of Titanvale''s armor.


    "The new service from Luxoria Castle." He nodded, eyes thoughtful.


    "It looks powerful."


    Caelan smirked, his arms crossed, proud.


    "Of course, Father," he said.


    "Titanvale is the result of fusing Titanhoof with Vornis Vale."


    He tilted his head slightly.


    "You know tamers can have many beasts," he added, his eyes locked on Vandred''s.


    "But I think having one beast¡ªone that''s strong¡ªis enough."


    His eyes glowed. "Quality over quantity."


    Vandred grunted, his eyes never leaving Titanvale.


    "Quality over quantity," he repeated, his voice low but firm.


    "A good lesson." He nodded slowly.


    "And with this fusion service, Luxoria Castle will surely be the best."


    He turned to Caelan. "Do you know the price?"


    Caelan shook his head. "No, Father," he said.


    "Lord L didn''t say. Only that it''s not cheap."


    Vandred''s eyes darkened. "I see," he said.


    He turned his gaze back to Titanvale.


    "Still, it''s worth it," he said.


    "Power like that can''t be ignored."


    He clenched his fists. "Then let''s go now," he said.


    "I want to fuse my beast, too."


    Caelan''s eyes widened. "You mean¡ª"


    Vandred nodded.


    "I won''t let the Valefor family fall behind," he said, his voice firm.


    "Luxoria Castle or not. We will keep our place at the top."


    Caelan smirked. "Good," he said.


    "I''ll come with you. I want to see which beast you fuse."


    He glanced at Titanvale, his pride obvious. "It''ll be worth it."


    Vandred''s eyes gleamed red, his battle scars shining faintly under the arena lights.


    "I know which one I''ll use," he said.


    "My strongest. The one that''s fought with me the longest."


    Caelan nodded.


    "A beast forged in battle," he said. "The kind that earned its place."


    Vandred grunted, his chest rising with a deep breath.


    "Exactly," he said. "Let''s move."


    "The sooner we get to Luxoria Castle, the sooner we get even stronger."


    Caelan turned to Titanvale, its massive hooves cracking the ground.


    "Titanvale," he called, "we''re going on a journey. Get ready."


    Titanvale snorted, its eyes glowing bright crimson, ready for whatever came next.


    Vandred and Caelan stood side by side, both calm and strong.


    They didn''t need fancy words or plans. They had one goal: strength.


    And nothing¡ªno price¡ªwould stop them from reaching it.


    ---


    The air was thick with tension inside the dark vault of the Aurelius family.


    The officers and researchers stood in a circle, heads bowed, faces grim.


    The silence was heavy, broken only by the hum of the containment units.


    Theron''s eyes were cold as he stared at the reports on the screen.


    "The five intruders and the two hybrids," he said, voice low.


    "They''re gone. Just like that."


    A junior officer shook his head.


    "It doesn''t make sense," he said.


    "They were the best we had."


    Theron''s fists clenched.


    "Damn it," he muttered. "How can it be?"


    Another officer stepped forward.


    "Lord Theron, could it be the work of Liora Luxoria?" he asked, trembling.


    Theron''s eyes narrowed.


    "Liora," he repeated.


    "Of course. Only she has that level of power." He paused, eyes hard.


    "I admit," he said, his tone cold, "they were too strong."


    Silence settled again, heavy and cold.


    Theron''s jaw tightened.


    "It seems," he said slowly, "that we can''t keep using silent tactics anymore."


    He turned to the others, his gaze firm.


    "We need to answer. Not with shadows. But with war."


    The officers shifted, some exchanging nervous glances.


    Theron stepped forward. "Let me go," he said.


    "I''ll meet the Patriarch myself." He raised his head high.


    "It''s time for the world to know how strong the Aurelius family really is."


    One by one, the officers nodded, eyes gleaming with cold resolve.

 Chapter 477: Hadrian’s Hybrid Headache

    Vandred, Caelan, and Raiven walked side by side toward the gates of Luxoria Castle.


    Eryndor, the third son, wasn''t with them¡ªhe had other things to handle.


    At the grand gate, Liline appeared, her hair neat, eyes bright.


    She bowed slightly.


    "Lord Vandred, Young Lords Caelan and Raiven," she said.


    "Welcome to Luxoria Castle."


    Vandred nodded. "Take us to Lord L," he said.


    Liline smiled.


    "Of course, follow me," she said, leading them through the gates.


    They passed massive statues, halls lined with gold and silver.


    Raiven''s eyes scanned everything, quiet but sharp.


    Caelan walked with his arms crossed, calm but focused.


    At the inner chamber, Lord L waited, seated on his high-backed chair.


    Lord L''s lips curved slightly.


    "So, Lord Vandred," he said. "You''ve come."


    Vandred smirked. "You must already know why I''m here," he said.


    Lord L''s smile widened.


    "The fusion beast," he said, his voice smooth.


    "You want to create one."


    Vandred crossed his arms.


    "Yes," he said. "I want to fuse my beast."


    Lord L''s eyes glinted.


    "It''s not cheap," he said.


    "Fusion is a powerful process¡ªone that only the best can afford."


    Vandred''s grin grew.


    "Of course I know," he said.


    "But I''m one of the strongest nobles. I have the resources to pay."


    Raiven shifted slightly, his ice-blue eyes calm.


    "Money isn''t a problem," he said, his voice low.


    Caelan smirked.


    "Father''s always been prepared," he said. "This is just another challenge."


    Lord L''s smile grew cold.


    "Good," he said.


    "Luxoria Castle only deals with those who can handle the cost¡ªand the responsibility."


    Vandred''s eyes glowed red.


    "I''m ready," he said. "Tell me what I need to do."


    Lord L leaned forward slightly.


    "First," he said, "you''ll need to select the beast you wish to fuse."


    "It must be compatible¡ªstrong enough to handle the process."


    Vandred nodded. "I already know," he said.


    "My strongest beast¡ªthe one that''s fought with me the longest."


    Raiven''s eyes narrowed. "Father''s beast is no joke," he said.


    Caelan chuckled. "It''s as strong as Titanvale," he said.


    Lord L''s smile stayed calm. "Perfect," he said.


    "Then prepare yourself. The process is intense and final."


    "Once fused, there''s no going back."


    Vandred grinned. "Good," he said. "That''s how it should be."


    Liline stepped forward.


    "Lord Vandred," she said softly, "if you''re ready, follow me to the fusion chamber."


    Vandred nodded. "Lead the way," he said.


    Caelan glanced at Raiven. "This is going to be good," he said.


    Raiven smirked. "Father''s always full of surprises," he said.


    The Valefor family was ready for whatever came next.


    ---


    Vandred stood near the fusion chamber door.


    His arms were crossed, eyes sharp.


    He watched as Liline led his beast inside.


    Raiven stood beside him, hands in his pockets.


    "I gave her my beasts too," he said.


    "I want to see how strong it can get."


    Vandred nodded.


    "Fusion beasts are the future," he said. "Better to get ahead now."


    Liline stepped back into the hall.


    "Both beasts are inside," she said. "They''ll start the process soon."


    Vandred gave a small smile. "Good," he said. "I''m ready for this."


    Lord L approached from the side, his silver mask glowing faintly.


    "Vandred," he said. "Your beasts will be powerful once they''re done."


    Vandred''s eyes glinted.


    "That''s what I want," he said. "Strength. Nothing else matters."


    Lord L gave a small nod. "You understand," he said.


    Just then, a small beep sounded from Lord L''s wrist.


    He raised his hand, and a screen formed in the air.


    He tapped it quickly, eyes focused.


    A video feed appeared. It was Hadrian Aurelius.


    His white hair was slicked back, his eyes cold and piercing.


    Lord L stared at the screen.


    Hadrian''s face didn''t move, but his eyes glowed with anger.


    "Lord L of Luxoria Castle," he said.


    "I have heard that you killed some of my hybrids."


    His voice was calm, but it carried weight.


    Lord L stood still. "They attacked me first," he said.


    Hadrian''s eyes narrowed.


    "And I also hear that you declared war on me," he said.


    "Is that true?"


    Lord L''s eyes glinted.


    "Your family crossed the line," he said. "I had no choice."


    Hadrian''s face stayed cold.


    "Then I will answer by accepting your war declaration," he said.


    "But I don''t want this to drag on. I want it settled."


    Lord L''s head tilted slightly.


    "And how do you propose we do that?" he asked.


    Hadrian''s eyes shone bright.


    "A battle," he said. "Once and for all."


    Lord L''s smile was faint, but his eyes glowed.


    "Fine," he said. "If that''s what you want."


    Vandred crossed his arms tightly.


    "Hadrian''s not one to play games," he said.


    "He''s a real strategist."


    Lord L smirked.


    "I know," he said. "But don''t belittle me."


    He tilted his head slightly.


    "Since we''re on this topic," he said, "you knew Hadrian, right? Lord Vandred."


    Vandred nodded. "Of course," he said.


    "We''re both nobles, and from the same era."


    His eyes narrowed a little. "We crossed paths more than once."


    Lord L leaned forward.


    "Can you tell me about him?" he asked.


    "Personality, beast, anything you know."


    Vandred took a breath. "Hadrian is cold," he said.


    "He doesn''t care about feelings or bonds. Only results. He''s always been like that."


    Lord L listened quietly.


    "He''s always been focused on research," Vandred continued.


    "Genetics, breeding, pushing beasts beyond their limits."


    "He''s the type who treats beasts like tools, not partners."


    Lord L nodded slightly. "And his combat style?" he asked.


    Vandred frowned. "He doesn''t fight head-on much," he said.


    "He uses his beasts like chess pieces. Controls them from a distance."


    "Makes them do the dirty work while he sits back."


    Lord L''s eyes glowed faintly.


    "So he''s the type who sees the battlefield like a puzzle," he said.


    Vandred smirked. "Exactly," he said.


    "He''s like a cold machine. Always planning, always adjusting. He never stops calculating."


    Lord L tilted his head. "And his personal beast?" he asked.


    Vandred''s eyes darkened. "A chimera," he said.


    "He made it himself. A monster that can shift its type mid-battle."


    "Elemental, physical, whatever he needs."


    He clenched his fists. "That beast is dangerous."


    Lord L nodded. "Thanks," he said. "That helps."


    Vandred''s eyes locked with his.


    "Just don''t underestimate him," he said. "Hadrian''s no fool."

 Chapter 478: Dad’s New Pet Project

    Lord L looked at Vandred and nodded slowly.


    "Lord Vandred, you know about Hadrian," he said.


    "So I want to make you a deal."


    Vandred smirked. "What is it?" he asked.


    Lord L took a deep breath.


    "I will fuse your beast and Raiven''s for free," he said.


    "And not just that. I''ll give an upgrade for yours as well."


    Vandred raised an eyebrow.


    "Sounds generous," he said. "But what''s the catch?"


    Lord L''s eyes glowed faintly.


    "For the battle with Hadrian," he said, "it will be yours."


    Vandred frowned a bit.


    "Sorry if I''m blunt," he said.


    "Why do you tell me to fight him? If I fight, he will think of you as a coward."


    Lord L smirked.


    "I don''t care what he thinks," he said. "There''s another plan I have."


    Vandred''s eyes narrowed. "Another plan?" he asked.


    Lord L nodded. "Yes."


    "I want you to be the one who fights him."


    "And you know you can use him to test your new beast, can''t you?"


    Vandred''s frown turned into a grin. "I see... It''s worth doing."


    Lord L crossed his arms. "And also, you know Hadrian is quite arrogant," he said.


    "Why don''t you teach him something?"


    Vandred raised an eyebrow. "Teach him?"


    Lord L nodded. "Show him that Valefor is strong too."


    "That even his best hybrids and beasts can''t stand against a true warrior."


    Vandred''s grin widened. "That''s the idea," he said.


    "I always wanted to put that cold man in his place."


    Lord L''s eyes glowed faintly.


    "You''ll get that chance," he said. "In the arena. In front of everyone."


    Vandred smirked.


    "Let him see real power," he said. "Not his lab experiments."


    Lord L leaned forward slightly. "Let him see the bloodline of Valefor," he said.


    "Let him understand that strength isn''t made in a lab. It''s forged on the battlefield."


    Vandred''s eyes darkened, but his grin stayed.


    "He''s always hidden behind his beasts," he said. "Always treating them like tools."


    Lord L''s voice stayed calm. "That''s his way," he said.


    "But you-you fight with your beasts. You know them. You respect them."


    Vandred nodded. "That''s the difference," he said. "That''s why I''ll win."


    Lord L''s eyes gleamed. "Then make sure of it," he said.


    "Show the world that Valefor doesn''t kneel to Aurelius."


    Vandred''s grin turned savage. "He won''t even know what hit him," he said.


    "And when he loses, he''ll know who was truly strong."


    Lord L stood straighter. "Good," he said. "That''s the warrior I wanted to see."


    Vandred tilted his head. "Then I''ll give you the show you want," he said.


    Lord L nodded slowly.


    "Don''t hold back," he said. "This is your moment. And Valefor''s too."


    Vandred''s eyes glowed. "I never hold back," he said.


    Lord L smiled faintly. "Then go," he said. "Liline is waiting. Your beast is ready."


    Vandred turned and stood.


    "Hadrian will learn that," he said. "Valefor''s strength is real."


    Lord L watched him stand and smiled.


    "Now the fusion is almost over. Let''s go see it."


    Vandred''s grin widened. "I see."


    "Let''s see the beast that I''ll use to beat the hell out of that stupid Hadrian."


    They walked down the corridor, their steps echoing on the cold floor.


    Lord L''s eyes glowed faintly.


    "You know, Vandred, this fusion process is no small thing."


    "What you''ll see¡ªno one else has dared to try it yet."


    Vandred''s eyes glinted. "Good. I''ve always wanted to do what others fear."


    They reached the fusion chamber. The air was thick with energy.


    Sparks and smoke drifted around the edges.


    Liline stood by the control panel.


    "The fusion is nearly complete," she said. "It''s stabilizing now."


    Vandred''s eyes narrowed, watching the chamber glow bright.


    "I can feel it. The strength comes from inside."


    Lord L nodded. "This beast¡ªit''s your weapon. Your proof."


    Vandred crossed his arms. "Hadrian thinks beasts are just tools," he said.


    "That''s his mistake. I know my beast. We fight together."


    Lord L''s smile was cold. "And that''s why you''ll win," he said.


    "Hadrian underestimates the bond between warrior and beast."


    Vandred''s grin turned sharp. "He''s always thought he was above everyone else."


    "It''s time he saw what a real warrior looks like."


    Liline looked at the monitors. "Stabilization complete. It''s ready."


    Vandred stepped closer, eyes locked on the chamber. "Open it."


    Steam hissed as the doors slowly parted.


    A massive silhouette emerged, its eyes glowing red, its body armoured and alive with energy.


    Lord L''s voice was calm. "Your new beast, Lord Vandred."


    Vandred''s chest rose as he stared at it. "Perfect," he said. "Hadrian won''t know what hit him."


    ---


    Hadrian sat in his chair, his eyes cold and steady.


    The room was dim, with only the soft glow of monitors reflecting on his pale skin.


    He leaned forward.


    "Theron, be wary," he said.


    "Heighten the security. I will be fighting soon."


    Theron''s face appeared on a small screen.


    "Yes, Lord Hadrian," he said.


    Hadrian''s eyes glowed faintly.


    "I know I will win," he continued.


    "But this Luxoria Castle¡ªsomething about it feels off."


    Theron nodded. "Understood," he said.


    Hadrian''s fingers tapped the armrest.


    "Luxoria Castle is not a normal place," he said.


    "There''s more to it than they show. I trust my gut. That''s why I''m here."


    Theron''s eyes narrowed. "I will not let them surprise us," he said.


    Hadrian nodded. "Good. That''s why you''re here."


    He paused, his eyes sharp. "Also..."


    "Tell my sons and daughter¡ªVictor, Cassius, and Sylvia¡ªthat a war is coming."


    Theron''s eyes glinted. "They will be ready," he said.


    Hadrian''s gaze stayed firm. "They need to be," he said.


    "Luxoria Castle underestimates the Aurelius family. They think they can challenge us."


    Theron''s face remained calm. "They will learn," he said.


    Hadrian''s lips curved slightly. "Yes," he said.


    "They will learn that we are not that weak."


    He leaned back in his chair, his eyes cold.


    "Prepare my beast," he said. "Make sure it''s in top performance."


    Theron''s face stayed serious on the screen.


    "Understood," he said. "The beast will be ready."


    Hadrian''s eyes glowed faintly.


    "I don''t want any mistakes," he said. "Everything must go as planned."


    Theron nodded once. "It will," he said.


    "Luxoria Castle will see the strength of the Aurelius family."


    Hadrian''s lips stayed curved. "Good," he said. "Let them come."

 Chapter 479: Biceps vs. Beakers

    Hadrian stood at the edge of the abandoned square.


    He glanced around at the worn-out structures and cracked stones.


    Every corner was under his control, every shadow had been analyzed.


    He was sure that Lucius would come.


    But instead, a heavy footstep echoed across the square.


    Vandred Valefor approached, towering and broad-shouldered.


    His crimson eyes locked onto Hadrian with a cold focus.


    Hadrian frowned. He tapped his scepter twice, activating a scanning rune.


    The device whirred softly as it tried to identify any hidden threats.


    His eyes narrowed.


    Vandred stopped ten paces away.


    He cracked his neck, rolling his massive shoulders.


    His battle scars shifted beneath the reinforced armor, marks of countless fights.


    He flexed his hands, the leather of his gloves creaking.


    "Vandred," Hadrian started, stepping forward, eyes unblinking.


    "Why are you here? My business today is with Lucius, not with Valefor."


    Vandred''s lips twisted into a smirk.


    He tilted his head, his crimson eyes gleaming with challenge.


    "Hadrian," Vandred said.


    He shifted his stance, one foot forward, testing the ground like a fighter preparing to strike.


    "Your business is with Luxoria, that''s true. But today I''m not Vandred from Valefor."


    He tapped his armored chest, leaving a dull thud.


    "I''m Vandred from Luxoria. So your business is with me, too."


    Hadrian''s jaw tightened. His fingers drummed on the scepter''s handle.


    He shifted his weight, adjusting his stance.


    "That''s a poor joke."


    "You think you can just walk in and claim Luxoria''s interests?"


    "This is between me and Luxoria. Step aside."


    Vandred''s eyes glinted.


    He uncrossed his arms and cracked his knuckles one by one.


    He rolled his neck again, the scars along his throat flexing as he did.


    "Step aside?"


    He laughed low and steady, shoulders shaking.


    "Hadrian, you''ve always been good at hiding behind your beasts."


    "But you''ve never been good at facing a real fight."


    Hadrian lifted his scepter, its tip glowing faintly.


    "Don''t test me, Vandred."


    "I didn''t come here to waste time on a second-rate brute. I came to challenge Luxoria''s power."


    Vandred''s grin widened.


    He stomped the ground, the stone cracking beneath his boot.


    "Then challenge me. You''ll find I''m harder to crack than any of your lab-grown toys."


    He reached back and rested one hand on the hilt of his heavy battle-axe.


    Hadrian''s eyes flashed cold.


    He raised the scepter, feeding power into its core.


    He pivoted his foot, ready to unleash his chimera.


    "I see. So this is your game. Fine."


    "Let''s see if you can handle my beasts on your own."


    Vandred''s laugh rumbled deep in his chest.


    He bent his knees, lowering his center of gravity.


    His eyes locked onto Hadrian''s, unflinching.


    "No fancy tricks. Just you and me. Show me if you have any real strength left."


    Hadrian''s lips curled in disdain.


    "So be it. Let''s end this quickly."


    He shifted his grip on the scepter, and a faint blue glow crawled up his arm.


    Vandred straightened his posture, his broad chest rising with each breath.


    He clenched his fists, the leather straining, and shifted his feet into a balanced stance.


    "Quickly or slowly. Makes no difference. You''ll break either way."


    Hadrian''s eyes narrowed. His fingers tightened. "We''ll see."


    Vandred''s grin held. His crimson eyes burned with challenge.


    "Come then. Let''s finish what you started."


    ---


    The air between them cracked. Hadrian''s eyes locked on Vandred.


    He raised his scepter and pointed it at Chimaelith.


    Circuits glowed bright, lines of energy running up his arm.


    His breath was steady, and he stepped forward, one boot grinding stone beneath him.


    "Chimaelith, time to show them real power."


    Chimaelith let out a low growl, metal wings flexing.


    Its claws curled inward, retractable blades sliding into place.


    Hadrian''s body merged with Chimaelith, armor plates shifting over his skin.


    Metal feathers sprouted along his back, and a single crimson eye opened in the middle of his forehead.


    His arms expanded, claws taking shape.


    He flexed his fingers, each one ending in diamond-forged talons.


    Vandred''s jaw tightened.


    He stomped forward, his boots leaving deep cracks in the ground.


    His eyes glowed red, the veins in his arms bulging.


    "Gravalorn, with me."


    Gravalorn roared, a sound like grinding mountains.


    Its bloodsteel limbs reshaped, plates sliding into place.


    Vandred''s body merged with Gravalorn, jagged stone plates forming across his chest and arms.


    His fists turned to massive gauntlets dripping molten iron blood.


    His spine expanded, spines erupting down his back.


    "Come," Vandred said.


    He lifted one arm, stone fingers flexing. "Let''s end this."


    Hadrian shifted his weight, claws scraping across the ground.


    He crouched, wings angled low.


    "Then let''s begin."


    The air trembled.


    Hadrian lunged, activating [Adaptive Weapon Shift], claws becoming diamond-forged blades.


    He swung both arms, aiming at Vandred''s chest.


    Vandred twisted his body, activating [Valenite Armament].


    His fists reshaped into blood-forged spiked clubs.


    He blocked the strike, sparks flying. The ground shook with each clash.


    Hadrian jumped back, wings spreading.


    He launched forward, claws out, activating [Skyhunter Strike], driving down at Vandred from above.


    Vandred braced himself, slamming both fists into the ground with [Titan Breaker Smash].


    He sent a shockwave that cracked the earth.


    Hadrian was thrown back, landing hard, claws digging furrows in the dirt.


    Vandred advanced, his fists dripping iron blood, each step leaving deep prints.


    "You think your machine can match me?"


    Vandred''s arms tensed, plates shifting.


    "Try me."


    Hadrian rose, his claws flexing. His crimson eye burned bright.


    "You''re just a brute with rocks. Let''s see how you handle this."


    He lunged again, activating [Crushing Rampage], charging like a living battering ram.


    Vandred met the charge head-on, his fists reshaping into serrated claws with [Valenite Armament].


    He swung both arms, blocking and catching Hadrian''s claws.


    Their arms locked, both straining, metal scraping against stone.


    "Is this all you''ve got?" Vandred leaned forward, crimson veins glowing.


    He lifted his head, activating [Bloodquake Roar], sending a seismic pulse that threw Hadrian backward.


    Hadrian tumbled, landing on one knee. His claws dug deep to hold his ground.


    He rose, wings spread wide, metal feathers rattling.


    "You call that strength?" His crimson eye pulsed.


    Vandred''s fists glowed, iron blood hardening over the stone.


    He moved forward, each step a small quake.


    "You''ve spent too long hiding behind lab glass." Vandred''s breath came in steadily.


    "Face me."


    Hadrian''s claws shifted, becoming long blades.


    He crouched low, wings tense. "Fine."


    He lunged, activating [Rending Gore], his head splitting into a diamond-forged battering ram.


    Vandred''s arms crossed, forming a shield of living rock with [Earthen Aegis].


    The impact shook the air, stone, and metal, colliding with a deafening crack.


    Vandred pushed forward, fists reshaping into bloodsteel spiked clubs.


    He swung, each strike aimed at Hadrian''s chest.


    Hadrian rolled to the side, claws lashing out, activating [Adaptive Weapon Shift].


    He formed talons that slashed across Vandred''s stone plates.


    Vandred staggered, but his bloodsteel shell glowed bright.


    He clenched his fists tighter.


    "Gravalorn grows stronger with every strike," Vandred''s arms flexed.


    "You''ll break before I do."


    Hadrian''s wings snapped open, metal feathers rattling.


    His claws extended, crimson eyes glaring bright.


    "Then I''ll just have to cut deeper."


    They stood facing each other, every muscle tensed, the ground between them cracked and torn.


    The fight was far from over.

 Chapter 480 480: RAID RAGE

    A notification buzzed through every device in the world as Fiona''s live stream fired up.


    The screen split open with a swirl of lights.


    Fiona''s face filled the feed, eyes bright and ready.


    "Hello, Luxoria fans," she said, leaning forward with a grin.


    Her hand moved to her earpiece, adjusting the volume.


    "You must be wondering why I suddenly turned on my stream."


    A surge of chat messages poured in:


    ---


    @StreamEdge: FIONA! She''s live!


    @BlazeBurst: She''s gonna fight?


    @CoreSpark: Vornis rematch?


    ---


    Fiona waved a hand, a light chuckle as she read the messages.


    "No, no, not Vornis."


    "I need to tell you that today''s stream is gonna be even better than the Vornis competition."


    She stood up, rolling her shoulders, the glow from her wrist device intensifying.


    Her legs shifted into a combat stance, knees bent, weight balanced.


    She checked her drone, which hovered beside her, scanning the ground.


    "This stream," she said, pointing one finger at the screen.


    "This time is a raid. And not any beast raid¡ª"


    She paused for effect, her grin spreading wide.


    "It''s an Aurelius raid."


    The chat exploded.


    ---


    @WildSwipe: NO WAY!!!


    @BeastBeat: This is gonna be insane!


    @FlameCore: RAID ON THE AURELIUS? LFG!!!


    @FrostByte: She''s gonna get us all killed.


    ---


    Fiona lifted her left leg, shifting her balance, then leaned back with both arms extended like a ring announcer.


    "You heard it, right, fans? Today we''re gonna raid the Aurelius family."


    "The ones who love messing with beast and human DNA like it''s a game."


    Her eyes gleamed under the visor, reflecting the glowing metrics of the growing audience.


    ---


    @HackSpark: RAID THE LABS!


    @TalonKing: She''s serious, look at her eyes!


    @PlasmaSniper: The best part is watching her sweat.


    ---


    Fiona paced in a circle, her fingers dancing across her drone''s control pad.


    "I want you all to see every second."


    "Every roar, every shock, every broken lab wall. And guess what?"


    She stopped, one hand pressing to her chest.


    "This isn''t just for me."


    "It''s for every tamer they hurt. Every beast they threw away."


    She pointed at the screen again, smirk never leaving.


    "So I''m gonna give you all a show. A fight. A highlight reel you''ll never forget."


    The drone focused on her face, the glow intensifying.


    ---


    @ByteBreaker: She''s streaming a raid.


    @LionHearted: I''m taking notes.


    @EchoBlade: How many beasts are coming with her?


    ---


    Fiona spun the plasma blade in her right hand, its energy dancing in the air.


    She lifted it high, the blade humming with promise.


    "I''ll bring every last piece of the Aurelius empire crashing down."


    "And you''ll watch every second."


    She swung the blade, pointing it toward the horizon.


    Her legs bent, every muscle tensed.


    "Alright, chat¡ªcountdown starts now."


    ---


    @ShadowBolt: TEN.


    @FlareStorm: NINE.


    @SteelWings: EIGHT.


    ---


    Fiona lunged forward, one foot crushing a loose stone beneath her boot.


    The drone''s camera swiveled to follow, capturing every angle.


    ---


    @Sparkline: SEVEN.


    @BeastMode: SIX.


    @DataKnight: FIVE.


    ---


    She exhaled, the glow of Fionyx''s energy gathering around her.


    Her battlewear lit up, matching the anticipation in her eyes.


    ---


    @RageQuake: FOUR.


    @NovaStar: THREE.


    @IronMaiden: TWO.


    ---


    She grinned. "ONE."


    Her feet hit the ground, knees bent, energy thrumming through her body.


    The stream''s sound levels spiked, the roar of the crowd filling the feed.


    ---


    @StreamEdge: LET''S GO!


    @FlameCore: RAID AURELIUS!


    @ShadowBolt: RAID RAID RAID!


    ---


    She took a final breath, eyes locked on the horizon.


    "Fionyx. Show them why we''re trending."


    Light exploded around her as Fionyx''s form emerged.


    Fiona''s smirk sharpened.


    "Time to raid."


    The screen filled with cheering emojis, and the chat flooded with fire icons.


    Fiona''s figure blurred as she launched forward, her drone capturing every second.


    The raid had begun.


    ---


    Inside the main vault of the Aurelius family territory, tension sparked like live wires.


    A low hum filled the air as workers moved between rows of armored gates and stacked containment units.


    Screens blinked with status lights and coded readouts.


    One guard at a terminal turned, eyes wide.


    "Sector four reports an enemy breach."


    Theron paused mid-stride, his boots grinding against the metal floor.


    He turned slowly, his arms crossing over his chest, scars and tattoos shifting with the motion.


    "It seems Luxoria has moved," he said. His gunmetal eyes narrowed.


    A technician rushed forward, holding a small device.


    "Sir, they''ve already breached the perimeter."


    Theron''s head lifted slightly.


    He clenched his jaw, rolling his shoulders back, the heavy beast-scale mantle flexing with each movement.


    He took a deep breath, each breath filling his broad chest.


    "Send our fighters," he said, stepping forward.


    "Don''t hold back. Kill them."


    A line of armored soldiers snapped to attention.


    Their weapons shifted, loaded, charged, ready.


    "This is an attack," Theron continued, his voice steady, each word measured.


    "A raid."


    He stepped down the metal stairs, boots echoing.


    He waved one arm forward, the tattoos on his skin shifting like a map.


    "This is war."


    A squad leader saluted, turning to his team. "Prepare for deployment."


    Theron''s eyes flicked to the side. "Use everything we''ve got."


    Soldiers moved quickly, opening armored doors and unlocking containment units.


    The air filled with the low growl of beasts waking from stasis.


    Theron''s hands tightened into fists.


    His knuckles cracked as he walked toward the largest containment gate.


    He stopped, his breath steady.


    "Unleash the mutated beasts," he said.


    A switch was flipped.


    Hydraulic arms creaked open.


    A massive shadow shifted behind the thick glass, claws scraping.


    A snarl filled the vault, vibrating through every metal panel.


    A guard stepped back. "They''re... they''re waking."


    Theron''s eyes glowed with a cold focus.


    He tilted his head, stretching his neck.


    "Good," he said.


    He stepped forward, eyes locked on the containment gate.


    His fingers brushed the edge of his heavy cloak, brushing away dust.


    "Now let''s show them the price of challenging the Aurelius family."


    The mutated beasts lunged forward, claws raking the air.


    They crashed through the gates, their eyes glowing with unnatural hunger.


    Soldiers formed ranks, weapons raised.


    Theron''s lips curled into a hard smile as he turned to his soldiers.


    "Move out."


    The vault roared with the sound of armored boots, snarling beasts, and the cold scent of war.

 Chapter 481 481: Glow Up and Blow Up

    Fiona hovered above the ground.


    Her hoverpack flared with a steady glow as Fionyx''s energy coursed through the system.


    She adjusted her headset, eyes scanning the chaos below.


    "Fionyx," she said, one hand lifted, fingers forming a quick snap.


    "Give me a [Plasma Mic Blaster]."


    Fionyx''s glow pulsed bright, forming a compact weapon that fit perfectly in her hand.


    She spun it once, the barrel lighting up with neon lines.


    She smirked, her orange ponytail flicking behind her.


    "Looks like some soldiers finally decided to show up."


    Below her, Aurelius'' soldiers in armored robes formed ranks, their weapons trained on her position.


    From behind the front lines, containment gates creaked open.


    A mutated beast burst free, its body a mess of spikes and thick muscle plates, dripping with chemical fluids.


    It roared, head snapping side to side, as it charged.


    "Fionyx, mark that one!" she called out.


    Fionyx''s visor glowed, locking onto the beast.


    A targeting reticle spread across her screen.


    ---


    @SparkJump: She''s going after a monster?!


    @NightByte: That''s a vault-grade mutant!


    @EdgeCrusher: She''s gonna die on camera!


    ---


    Fiona''s plasma mic blaster hummed as she aimed down at the beast.


    She leaned forward, one knee bent, weight balanced.


    "Chat, time to party."


    She fired.


    The blaster shot a burst of white-hot plasma, cutting a line across the beast''s armored hide.


    The beast roared, its claws slamming into the ground.


    Cracks spread in all directions.


    The soldiers fired back, bolts of energy racing past her.


    She tilted left, hoverpack twisting her body, her hair whipping around.


    "Fionyx, bring me the [Dancer-Form Blades]," she said.


    Fionyx shimmered, light spiraling down her arms, forming twin plasma blades that extended from her wrists.


    She lunged forward, descending like a comet.


    The mutated beast swung a massive claw, but Fiona ducked under it, blades slashing across its side.


    "Chat, did you see that?!" she shouted, twisting away.


    ---


    @ChaosRider: That''s insane!


    @FireFang: She just danced around that claw!


    @LazerStorm: She''s not human!


    ---


    Another beast burst from a gate, covered in armored bone plates and trailing dark mist.


    It lunged at her with a roar, fangs snapping.


    Fiona''s feet hit the ground.


    She flipped backward, her hoverpack catching her just above the dirt.


    "Fionyx, time for the [Rhythm-Reactive Cannon]!"


    The cannon formed in front of her, a long barrel pulsing to the beat of her battle music.


    She pulled the trigger.


    A shockwave of sound and plasma erupted, slamming into the beast.


    It staggered, head snapping back.


    "Let''s keep it going, chat!" she yelled.


    The soldiers regrouped, forming a tight formation.


    Their weapons glowed.


    She turned, eyes scanning.


    "More soldiers, huh?"


    She raised her plasma mic blaster, voice steady.


    "This party''s just getting started."


    She fired again, the plasma bolt smashing into the front line.


    A soldier fell, armor smoking.


    Another beast lunged from the side, covered in chitinous plates with spines glowing bright.


    It leapt with a [Shockburst Tackle], its claws sparking.


    Fiona twisted sideways, the hoverpack propelling her into a spin.


    She aimed down, firing a second [Plasma Mic Blaster] shot, the beam slicing through the beast''s leg.


    It fell with a crash, its roar echoing through the vault.


    ---


    @CodeRunner: She''s unstoppable!


    @NightCry: I''m sweating just watching this.


    @FireBlade: That''s what you get messing with Luxoria.


    ---


    She flipped in the air, Fionyx forming a [Stage-Defense Shield] around her.


    The energy dome deflected incoming shots from the soldiers.


    She landed lightly, her hair falling over one eye.


    "Chat, let''s give them a show they''ll never forget."


    She lunged forward, both plasma blades flashing.


    Her feet glided across the broken ground, each step landing perfectly between the chaos.


    One soldier swung a blade, but she deflected it, spinning low and slashing his side.


    He dropped.


    Another mutant beast roared from the back, metal claws crackling with [Electro-Fury Charge].


    "Fionyx, let''s finish this," she called out.


    Fionyx''s glow brightened, forming a [Divine Performance Armament].


    Twin plasma wings flared behind her.


    She charged, wings slicing through the air, plasma blades carving through the mutated beast.


    ---


    @SkyEdge: She''s a goddess of battle.


    @BloodBite: I''m never missing a raid stream again!


    @VoidShift: That was the best fight I''ve ever seen.


    ---


    Fiona turned, her hoverpack lifting her high.


    The smoke and sparks settled below.


    "Thanks for the show, chat," she said, her grin wide.


    "Luxoria fans, let''s go to the next level."


    The screen lit up with cheers and emojis as she soared away, ready for the next challenge.


    ---


    Theron''s lips tightened as he watched the screen in the command center.


    The massive, mutated beast, a Sovereign Tier beast, lay broken and smoking.


    Fiona hovered above it, her plasma blades still glowing,


    Her grin was clear even in the flickering lights of the screen.


    Theron''s fists clenched.


    "That''s one girl," he said, his deep gunmetal eyes unblinking.


    "And she''s not even one of their main fighters."


    The operator hesitated, eyes darting back to the screen.


    Theron leaned forward, his breath steady.


    He lifted one finger and pointed at the feed. "Send the elite soldiers."


    He turned, his heavy mantle of beast-scale armor shifting with him.


    "Have them fuse directly with the mutated beasts," he continued.


    His scars twisted as his muscles flexed. "No holding back."


    Another operator keyed in the commands, and the lights on the console were flaring bright.


    Theron stepped forward, each step measured.


    His eyes stayed locked on the screen.


    "This is war," he said.


    "No time to wait. No room for mistakes."


    The containment gates shuddered open.


    Elite soldiers, each wearing reinforced combat suits, lined up.


    They moved in formation, boots hitting the ground with a steady rhythm.


    One by one, the mutated beasts behind the gates stepped forward.


    Their bodies twisted with muscle plates and spiked bone armor.


    Steam hissed from their vents as chemical fluid dripped onto the metal.


    The soldiers moved closer to the beasts, their arms outstretched.


    Plates of armor shifted, merging with the beasts'' bodies.


    Energy crackled as fusion circuits lit up.


    The soldiers'' bodies expanded, arms thickening with jagged plating.


    Their faces merged with beast maws and mechanical eyes.


    Theron''s arms crossed over his chest.


    His breath filled his lungs, deep and cold.


    "Show them the meaning of Aurelius," he said.


    The soldiers roared, their voices and the beasts'' voices merging into one.


    They charged, claws scraping across the ground, weapons glowing.


    The command center shook with the impact.


    Theron watched, his eyes sharp.


    "This is our answer," he said, his tone final.


    The battle had only just begun.

 Chapter 482 482: Plasma Hair, Hover Despair

    Fiona hovered above the broken ground, her hoverpack sparking with faint cracks.


    She looked down at the incoming soldiers.


    These ones weren''t like the last.


    Their arms were covered in jagged plates, some with spines or gills, others with claws thick as swords.


    Their eyes glowed, merging with their beasts.


    She frowned, adjusting her headset.


    "Chat, looks like they brought the big guns this time."


    ---


    @TalonStrike: They''re fused?!


    @NightByte: Those are the elite soldiers?!


    @EdgeHacker: Fiona watch out, those are Vault Beasts!


    ---


    The first soldier stepped forward, his arms bulging with armored plates.


    His back erupted with jagged spikes as he swung a massive claw at her.


    Fiona ducked, rolling to the side.


    Sparks burst where his claws scraped the ground.


    Fionyx formed a [Rhythm-Reactive Cannon] on her shoulder.


    She fired, but the shot bounced off the armored plating.


    She skidded backward, arms out for balance.


    "Damn it, chat. They''re tough!"


    Another soldier lunged, his chest splitting open with a glowing [Plasma Roar].


    A blast of heat surged at her.


    She twisted mid-air, the hoverpack thrumming as she tried to dodge.


    The blast clipped her shoulder, her battlewear searing.


    She winced, her grin faltering. "Okay, that one hurt," she muttered.


    ---


    @FireLine: FIONA GET OUT OF THERE


    @BattleBro: She''s getting roasted out there!


    @VoidHunter: The fusion soldiers are too strong!


    ---


    She flipped back, the plasma mic blaster forming in her hand.


    She aimed, but the nearest soldier moved fast, his arms turning into [Serrated Blades].


    He swung both arms down.


    Fiona crossed her blades to block.


    Sparks flew as the blades clashed, metal grinding.


    Her feet hit the ground, knees bending. She strained, her arms shaking.


    "Chat, I might need to switch tactics."


    Fionyx''s energy flickered, forming a [Stage-Defense Shield] around her.


    The enemy swung again, cracking the shield.


    Fiona rolled left, her hair singed by a plasma burst.


    Another soldier stomped forward, his legs fused with beast muscles.


    He activated [Titan Pounce], leaping at her with both arms out.


    She jumped back, the impact making the ground quake.


    Her hoverpack coughed smoke.


    She grit her teeth, eyes scanning the battlefield.


    "Fionyx, we''re losing some edge here," she said.


    Fionyx''s glow pulsed, forming a [Divine Performance Armament].


    The plasma wings spread wide.


    "Alright, let''s put on a show."


    She lunged forward, blades flashing.


    One soldier with a lizard''s tail swung at her, using [Tail Whip Crush].


    It hit her side, sending her skidding across the ground.


    She rolled, coming up on one knee.


    "Okay, that''s gonna bruise," she said, coughing.


    ---


    @ChaosByte: She''s getting cornered!


    @LightHammer: FIONA GET UP!


    @SteelFlame: I CAN''T WATCH THIS!


    ---


    Fiona''s hand pressed to the ground.


    Fionyx formed a [Plasma Mic Blaster] in her grip.


    She lifted it and fired, the shot hitting one soldier in the chest.


    The soldier staggered but didn''t fall. He roared, charging again.


    Fiona''s eyes narrowed.


    Her ponytail flicked, sweat running down her neck.


    She stood slowly, knees bent.


    "Fionyx," she whispered, voice steady.


    The air shimmered¡ªa cannon formed on her arm.


    She aimed at the center of the squad.


    "[Finale Strike]," she said.


    The cannon fired, a beam of light cutting through the soldiers.


    One dropped, the others staggered.


    But the rest came fast, claws and plasma weapons flashing.


    Fiona lunged to the side, blades crossing, but one claw caught her shoulder, ripping a gash.


    She winced, teeth gritted.


    "Chat, this might be my last highlight."


    ---


    @FireByte: DON''T GIVE UP!


    @WingedRider: YOU GOT THIS!


    @CorePulse: LUXORIA NEVER FALLS!


    ---


    The operators in the vault cheered, their fists pumping the air.


    Screens flickered with images of Fiona, her plasma blades clashing with the fused soldiers.


    Sparks flew as her shield cracked again, her hoverpack sputtering smoke.


    She stumbled, knees buckling under the strain.


    "Look at her now," one operator said. "She''s falling apart."


    Another operator leaned closer to the screen. "We''re gonna win this one."


    Theron stood in the center of the room, his eyes hard.


    His arms crossed over his chest, the beast-scale mantle shifting as he moved.


    He watched every movement on the screen.


    Fiona''s sweat dripped from her chin, her eyes tired but still locked on her targets.


    Theron''s frown deepened.


    He tapped one finger on his arm, slow and measured.


    "What is happening?" he asked.


    An operator blinked. "Sir?"


    Theron''s voice rumbled.


    "Where are the other fighters? Liora, Luna."


    "This is Luxoria. They never send just one."


    The operator''s fingers hovered over the keyboard. "No sign of them yet."


    Theron turned, eyes sharp as steel.


    "Something''s wrong."


    He raised his voice. "Tell the elite soldiers to be wary."


    A message flashed across the command console.


    Outside, the fused soldiers readied themselves, their beast limbs twitching, eyes scanning the air.


    One soldier adjusted the plates on his arms, claws scraping the ground.


    Another shifted, metal tail coiling and uncoiling.


    Fiona stood slowly, her body shaking.


    She wiped blood from her lip. Her blades flickered in the air.


    The closest fused soldier lunged at her, claws forming a [Serrated Crush].


    She blocked, but her arms trembled. The soldier roared, pressing her backward.


    She strained, legs sliding on the cracked ground.


    Theron''s eyes locked on the screen. His jaw tightened.


    "Something''s coming," he said, voice low.


    The operators fell silent, eyes wide.


    Fiona''s eyes darted to the side, scanning the battlefield.


    "Come on, Luxoria," she whispered. "Where''s my backup?"


    A pulse of energy flickered in the air, but nothing appeared yet.


    The soldiers closed in around her, claws gleaming, eyes bright with bloodlust.


    Theron''s fingers tapped faster.


    "Stay sharp," he said. "They''re planning something."


    The battle was far from over.


    ---


    Fiona knelt on the cracked ground, one hand pressed to her bleeding shoulder.


    She winced but kept her grin.


    She closed her eyes briefly, Fionyx''s glow flickering around her.


    The energy seeped into her skin, slowly sealing the wound.


    She let out a shaky breath, her legs steadying.


    She looked up, eyes half-lidded, and dropped her voice to a soft tone.


    "Chat, it seems this might be my last highlight," she said, trembling.


    "So please, fans, cheer me up."


    She dramatically lifted her plasma mic blaster, the glow dancing along the barrel.


    "Maybe I can get a superpower," she said, laughter forced but bright.


    "Like those story main characters."


    ---


    @ByteSpark: We''re here for you!


    @LightWing: You can do it!


    @FireZone: This is your moment, Fiona!


    ---


    She leaned on her hoverpack, legs shaking, eyes on the soldiers closing in.


    Her plasma mic blaster glowed bright.

 Chapter 483: Shark’s Hunger Games

    Fiona smirked as she suddenly stood, her body strong and her wounds gone.


    Her hoverpack pulsed bright, Fionyx''s energy flowing through her.


    "Fans, thank you for your cheers," she said, her voice steady.


    "I seem to have been healed."


    She looked around at the soldiers encircling her, their claws raised, fangs gleaming.


    She raised her plasma mic blaster, pointing it at the sky.


    "And now it''s time to fight back."


    She shifted her feet, eyes narrowing. "L-Shark, I choose you!"


    A pulse of light formed beside her.


    A towering figure emerged.


    A massive sharkman, silver Luxorite scales gleaming.


    His jaws split into rows of jagged teeth.


    His arms ended in fin-blades, each one humming with power.


    The chat exploded.


    ---


    @ShockBite: L-Shark??!!


    @NovaEdge: WHAT''S THAT THING?!


    @LightBolt: She''s not even fighting alone?!


    ---


    Fiona waved one hand, hair flicking over her shoulder.


    "Don''t worry, chat," she said.


    "This L-Shark is a hybrid made by Lord L."


    She shifted her stance, one foot forward.


    L-Shark flexed his arms, claws scraping the ground.


    "It was made from an Aurelius hybrid we captured and... improved," she continued.


    "So we''re different from them."


    She turned to the soldiers, eyes hard.


    "We just make it better and don''t do twisted experiments."


    ---


    Theron''s eyes narrowed as he watched the screen.


    His arms crossed, the scars along his biceps tightening with each flex.


    "How can this be?" he muttered.


    His jaw was clenched, and tension was showing in his thick neck muscles.


    He leaned forward, the screen reflecting in his gunmetal eyes.


    "Isn''t that... Razorkai?" Theron''s voice dropped to a low growl.


    "That''s the hybrid we sent to Luxoria to cause chaos."


    He turned sharply to the operator.


    "But he wasn''t killed. Instead he was turned by Luxoria to be their soldier."


    The operator trembled, fingers stuttering on the keyboard.


    "Sir, what do we do?"


    Theron''s hand shot out, grabbing the edge of the console, his knuckles white.


    "Damn it!"


    His breath came fast, and each exhaled hot against the cold steel.


    "Release the limiter," he ordered.


    The operator''s eyes widened. "Sir, that''s a direct override¡ª"


    Theron''s stare cut him down. "That thing is dangerous. Kill it quickly."


    The operator''s fingers flew over the keys.


    The screen lit up with warning symbols. Red lights blinked across the room.


    Theron''s voice rumbled deep in his chest.


    "A hybrid turned enemy is a threat to everything."


    Theron watched, his fists trembling.


    "That''s no beast anymore," he said.


    "That''s a monster in Luxoria''s armor."


    He turned back to the operator. "Send in everything. I want that hybrid broken."


    The operator nodded, sweat dripping. He pressed the button.


    The screen filled with more red icons.


    Dozens of beasts and soldiers moved to the front lines, weapons drawn.


    Theron''s teeth bared. "Let''s see how Luxoria handles a real fight."


    The screen crackled with static as the final wave charged in.


    ---


    Fiona shot into the air, her hoverpack''s glow lighting the darkened battlefield.


    She flipped once, steadying herself.


    She scanned the chaos below as soldiers fought with savage movements.


    She smirked.


    "L-Shark," she shouted, "can I leave this to you?"


    L-Shark''s eyes glowed.


    He flexed his saw-blade arms, each blade dripping plasma.


    "Leave this meat to me," he growled. "This will be a buffet."


    Fiona laughed, hair flicking behind her.


    "Sure! Now, chats, let''s see the performance of L-Shark!"


    ---


    @BloodSurge: That beast is nuts!


    @FireEdge: He''s gonna EAT them?!


    @ChaosRider: Luxoria''s crazy but I love it!


    ---


    On the ground, the soldiers roared as their limiter seals snapped.


    Their arms cracked, expanding with monstrous growths.


    One soldier''s chest split open, his ribs turning into [Spine Spears] that shot out at L-Shark.


    L-Shark twisted, catching the spears on his saw-blade arms, metal grinding metal.


    He laughed, low and sharp. "Now be obedient and enter my mouth."


    He lunged forward, his jaw splitting open wider than humanly possible, forming [Cannon Jaws].


    He bit down, crunching through the soldier''s armor and spines in a single motion.


    Blood and metal sprayed as he chewed, sparks flying.


    Another soldier rushed in, arms fused into [Plasma Scythes].


    He swung both scythes at L-Shark, who ducked, the scythes cutting air.


    L-Shark''s finned tail whipped around, striking the soldier''s legs.


    The soldier stumbled.


    L-Shark lunged, his jaws expanding, and bit down, tearing through armor and bone.


    ---


    @EdgeSniper: He''s eating them alive!


    @VoidBurst: That''s savage even for Luxoria!


    @MetalEdge: L-Shark''s unstoppable!


    ---


    L-Shark roared, metal teeth grinding as he swallowed the last piece.


    He turned, eyes wild.


    Another squad advanced, their bodies fully fused, arms glowing with [Shockwave Cannons].


    They fired.


    Bolts of energy streaked across the ground.


    L-Shark charged, the plasma blasts hitting his armor, leaving smoking dents.


    He didn''t slow.


    His arms formed [Saw-Blade Arms], spinning with high-speed whirring.


    He swung both arms, cutting through the soldiers like paper.


    Blood sprayed, metal clanged.


    One soldier tried to run, but L-Shark''s head split open, forming [Cannon Jaws] again.


    He fired a plasma bolt, the blast hitting the soldier in the back.


    The man collapsed, armor melting.


    L-Shark laughed, low and deep. "Meat for the feast."


    He lunged forward again, biting another soldier, tearing the body apart.


    He swallowed with a grin, eyes bright.


    Fiona hovered above, her visor capturing every angle.


    "Chats, this is the power of Luxoria."


    ---


    @BladeRider: He''s unstoppable!


    @NovaBurn: This is a show worth paying for!


    @PlasmaQueen: LUXORIA! LUXORIA!


    ---


    The soldiers rallied, a leader stepping forward, his body fused with [Titan Golem Form].


    His arms turned into thick stone clubs. He swung both at L-Shark.


    L-Shark ducked low, his arms shifting into [Plasma Cannons].


    He fired point-blank, the twin shots smashing into the leader''s chest, blowing it apart.


    "Obedience," L-Shark growled, stepping over the broken body.


    "Meat in the mouth."


    Fiona grinned. "Well, chats," she said, voice loud and clear.


    "It looks like the buffet''s still open."


    She leaned forward slightly, eyes locked on the chaos below.


    "I wonder what kind of food they''ll send next," she mused, grin widening.


    L-Shark stood at the center of the field, arms wide, teeth gleaming.


    He roared, the sound rolling across the ground like a wave.


    He flexed his claws, chest rising with a deep breath.


    "I''m waiting," he growled. "Bring me more meat."


    The battlefield trembled under his feet.

 Chapter 484: Who’s the Real Big Bro?

    Theron frowned, his thick arms crossed.


    His eyes locked on the screens showing L-Shark tearing through soldiers like meat.


    Sparks and blood flew with every strike.


    "Damn it," he muttered, voice low and cold.


    His fingers drummed on the metal railing.


    He turned to the operators.


    "It seems we need to use a hybrid to fight him."


    The closest operator''s hand froze over the keyboard.


    "Sir," he said, voice shaky, "you can''t mean¡ª"


    Theron''s eyes flashed. "Release Ragehowler."


    The operator''s face went pale.


    Another operator leaned back in his chair.


    "Are you sure, sir? It''s... It''s the most troublesome hybrid."


    Theron''s jaw tightened. "I''m sure."


    He pushed himself off the railing, boots hitting the metal floor with a deep clang.


    "The elite soldiers were all defeated by him," he said, voice steady.


    "We can only use our strongest hybrid to defeat him."


    The operator''s fingers flew across the console.


    Red lights flashed as security protocols dropped one by one.


    Heavy gates hissed open in the darkness beyond.


    In a deep chamber, Ragehowler stirred.


    His thick claws scraped the reinforced floor.


    His blood-red eyes snapped open, glowing bright.


    "Who''s the enemy this time, huh?" he growled, his voice like grinding stone.


    His head turned, long neck twisting as he looked up at the cameras.


    Theron stepped closer, his face appearing on the screen.


    "It''s your former brother, Razorkai."


    Ragehowler''s eyes narrowed.


    His breath came hot and fast, claws flexing.


    Theron''s eyes stayed hard.


    "He''s been remodeled by Luxoria. He''s the enemy now."


    Ragehowler''s fangs bared.


    His massive chest expanded, a deep growl rising in his throat.


    "Razorkai," he spat, his voice dripping with rage.


    "Luxoria dares to turn him against us."


    Theron''s eyes were cold and steady. "Destroy him."


    Ragehowler''s massive arms slammed into the chamber walls, denting the steel.


    Sparks flew from the ceiling.


    He swung his arms in a circle, cracking his neck. "I''ll rip him apart."


    Theron''s lips tightened. "Then go. The battlefield is waiting."


    Ragehowler''s claws dug deep into the floor.


    He lunged forward, the walls vibrating with every step.


    Outside, L-Shark tore through another wave of soldiers.


    His teeth dripped with metal and blood. He turned as the ground shook.


    Ragehowler emerged from the vault gates, his body glowing with rage.


    "RAZORKAI!" he bellowed, his voice echoing like a drumbeat.


    L-Shark''s silver eyes snapped toward him.


    He licked his metal teeth, blood dripping.


    Ragehowler''s arms flexed, claws glowing red.


    "Luxoria''s toy," he spat. "I''ll break you first."


    L-Shark smirked, his saw-blade arms whirring. "Bring it," he growled.


    Theron''s voice crackled over the comms.


    "Kill him, Ragehowler. For Aurelius."


    The two hybrids lunged at each other, claws slashing, teeth bared.


    The ground shook as metal met bone, and the air filled with the sound of battle.


    Operators watched with wide eyes as the feed filled with sparks, blood, and pure rage.


    ---


    L-Shark''s eyes glowed as he locked onto Ragehowler.


    His jaws split into that wide, insane grin, showing every sharp, metal tooth.


    "If it isn''t the big brother, Ragehowler," L-Shark said, his grin never fading.


    He shifted his stance, tail lashing the ground.


    "Are you the one who''s gonna become my next meal?"


    Ragehowler''s eyes glowed red, every vein in his arms pulsing with anger.


    His massive claws dug into the ground, his breath coming out in harsh growls.


    "You''re the one who''ll be ripped apart," Ragehowler roared.


    His muscles tensed, spikes on his back rattling as he hunched forward.


    L-Shark''s grin only grew.


    His head tilted to the side, eyes dancing with hunger.


    "Now, now," he said.


    His voice dripped with twisted delight, "Just stay put and let me eat you."


    Ragehowler''s chest heaved.


    "Damn you, Razorkai," he spat, his claws flexing.


    ---


    @BladeBurst: Bro, these two are gonna destroy everything!


    @SparkSlash: This is nuts! I can''t stop watching!


    @PlasmaEdge: Who''s gonna win?!


    ---


    Fiona hovered above, the glow of her hoverpack lighting the battlefield.


    Her eyes scanned every move.


    "Fans, get ready," she said, voice sharp.


    "Luxoria''s L-Shark is going head-to-head with Ragehowler."


    Ragehowler lunged, his fists smashing the ground with [Fury Smash].


    The earth split, cracks racing toward L-Shark.


    The ground quaked, dirt flying into the air.


    L-Shark leaped sideways, his saw-blade arms shifting into [Harpoon Launchers].


    He fired twin harpoons at Ragehowler''s chest.


    One lodged deep, the other skidded off a bone plate.


    Ragehowler roared, yanking the harpoon from his chest.


    Blood dripped, but he barely noticed.


    His eyes were locked on L-Shark. "You think that''s enough?!"


    He activated [Blood Roar], his voice a thunderous bellow.


    The shockwave knocked soldiers back and sent debris flying.


    L-Shark spun low, tail slicing the ground.


    "Heh," he muttered, his grin still wide.


    "This will be the best meal I''ve ever had."


    Ragehowler lunged, claws glowing with [Rage Overload].


    He swung both fists, each strike crashing down like a hammer.


    L-Shark blocked one with a saw-blade, but the second smashed into his side, sending sparks flying.


    ---


    @RiftRunner: Holy crap, he just tanked that hit!


    @EdgeBreaker: These guys are insane!


    @ChaosCore: L-Shark''s gonna get torn up!


    ---


    Fiona''s voice crackled through the stream.


    "L-Shark is not going down that easily. He''s crazier than ever!"


    L-Shark''s grin twisted, his jaws splitting open wider, forming [Cannon Jaws].


    He fired a plasma blast point-blank into Ragehowler''s face.


    The beast staggered, smoke rising from his cheek, but his eyes only burned brighter.


    "RAZOR-KAI!" Ragehowler roared, claws slamming together.


    His chest expanded, muscles swelling. "I''ll break you with my own hands!"


    He charged again, claws raised.


    L-Shark twisted, arms shifting into [Plasma Cannons], firing multiple shots.


    Ragehowler''s claws batted them aside like sparks.


    Fiona hovered, eyes wide.


    "Chat, this is a real clash of monsters. Who''s gonna walk away from this one?"


    ---


    @FrostBite: This is Luxoria''s craziest raid yet!


    @FlareStrike: I can''t believe I''m seeing this live!


    @NightShade: Ragehowler''s rage is off the charts!


    ---


    Ragehowler lunged again, claws glowing, every step shaking the battlefield.


    "RAZOR-KAI!" he roared, his voice like a quake.


    L-Shark laughed, his saw-blade arms humming as he stepped forward.


    "Come on, big brother," he said, his teeth shining with blood.


    "This is a buffet, and you''re on the menu."


    They clashed again, the ground beneath them crumbling, the air filled with their roars.


    The battle had only just begun.

 Chapter 485: Battle of the Birdbrains

    The operators in the vault smiled as they watched the screens.


    The battle outside raged with brutal force, but L-Shark was getting battered.


    Sparks flew from his saw-blade arms, his plasma cannons cracked.


    Blood and metal dripped from his wounds as Ragehowler pressed him back with unstoppable fury.


    One operator laughed, his eyes locked on the feed.


    "We''re gonna win," he said. "That hybrid can''t hold on much longer."


    Another nodded, arms crossed.


    "Luxoria sent their best, and we''re tearing him apart."


    Theron stood at the center of the command room, his arms crossed, his eyes hard.


    He didn''t share their smiles. His lips tightened, his brow furrowed.


    "Send the most elite soldiers," he said, voice calm and cold.


    The operators paused.


    One turned, confusion in his eyes. "Sir?"


    Theron''s eyes stayed fixed on the screens.


    His fingers drummed on his arm, slow and steady.


    "Send them to the young masters and mistresses. Escort them to the bunker."


    The operator''s brows knitted.


    "But... sir, we''re already winning. That''s only one hybrid."


    Theron''s gaze shifted to the man.


    "It took only one hybrid from Luxoria to decimate most of our forces," he said.


    His jaw clenched, the scars on his neck stretching.


    "We don''t know if they have more."


    The room fell silent.


    Theron stepped forward, his boots hitting the metal floor with a steady rhythm.


    He leaned over the console, his face lit by the red glow of the screens.


    "Do it," he said.


    "Protect the young master and mistress at all costs."


    The operator''s fingers hovered over the keys, then flew across the console, lights blinking as commands were issued.


    Another operator turned. "Sir, where will you be?"


    Theron''s eyes flicked to the main screen, where Ragehowler''s claws glowed with power.


    He exhaled slowly, his chest expanding.


    "Prepare my beast," he said. "BoneRend."


    A cold hush filled the room.


    The first operator''s fingers froze.


    "Sir, that thing... It''s too dangerous even for¡ª"


    Theron''s head turned, his stare like steel.


    "There''s something coming," he said. "Something on another side."


    The operators glanced at each other, unsure.


    Theron turned back to the screens, his arms unfolding.


    His hands curled into fists, the scars on his knuckles showing.


    "We will not be caught off guard," he said.


    He reached for his comm device, pressing the button.


    "BoneRend," he said. "Wake up."


    A low growl crackled over the speakers.


    One operator shuddered. "Sir, what if BoneRend goes out of control?"


    Theron''s face was like stone.


    "Then I will bring it back under control," he said. "I trained it. It knows me."


    He took a step back, eyes scanning the screens.


    Sparks flickered from broken metal.


    Soldiers screamed and fought. The air hummed with static and roars.


    Theron''s shoulders squared. "Send the command," he said.


    The operator nodded, his hand pressing the final button.


    Deep in the vault, a metal door rumbled. The lights flickered, shadows stretching.


    Theron''s eyes narrowed.


    "Let''s see what Luxoria''s other hybrids can do," he whispered, his breath steady, his gaze hard.


    BoneRend''s roar filled the chamber, rattling every console.


    The operators covered their ears.


    Theron only smirked. "Come then," he said. "Show me your strength."


    ---


    On the other side of the battlefield, another group of soldiers was falling one by one.


    Blood pooled on the ground, their bodies sliced clean.


    Above them, L-Hawk floated lazily, wings spread wide.


    His sharp silver feathers glowed faintly in the dim light.


    He sighed, one hand resting against his side.


    A few drops of blood fell from his claws.


    "Just where is the leader?" he muttered, his tone flat.


    "I want to end this as soon as possible."


    He drifted down a few feet, his wings barely moving.


    His head turned as more soldiers tried to regroup.


    Without effort, he flicked his wings and sent a burst of [Wing Shard Scatter].


    Silver shards whistled through the air, slicing through armor and bone.


    The soldiers fell without a sound.


    L-Hawk''s eyes drifted shut for a moment, his tail feathers twitching once.


    "Boring," he whispered, the word slipping from his lips like a slow breath.


    Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed from the corridor ahead.


    L-Hawk''s eyes opened just slightly.


    He turned his head, his silver feathers shifting with the movement.


    Theron appeared, his steps heavy, his eyes cold.


    His beast-scale mantle shifted as he moved, the light catching the scars on his arms.


    "So you''re another hybrid of Luxoria," Theron said, his voice deep and steady.


    "Or should I say... Zephyrahn."


    L-Hawk''s eyes half-closed, his head tilting.


    "Hmm... I''m not on Aurelius anymore," he said. "Let''s just call you Theron."


    Theron''s jaw tightened. "What are you doing here, Zephyrahn?"


    L-Hawk yawned, one hand drifting to scratch his neck.


    "Theron, what does it look like? I''m killing soldiers who bore me."


    "Then what are you doing here, Theron?"


    Theron''s eyes narrowed, his fists clenching.


    "Of course I''m here to destroy you and avenge my soldiers," he said.


    His breath was calm but heavy, each word slow.


    L-Hawk blinked once, his tail flicking.


    "Destroy me?" he asked, his voice flat.


    "Are you sure about that?"


    His wings shifted slightly, silver shards glowing at the tips.


    "Lord L already remakes me," he said.


    "You can''t even beat me now, even with that BoneRend."


    Theron''s breath slowed. His eyes turned sharp.


    "Then let''s see if that''s true," he said.


    He lifted his arms, scars glowing faintly. The ground trembled.


    "BoneRend!" he called.


    A low growl filled the air, deep and menacing.


    Metal doors cracked open behind Theron, and a massive shape loomed.


    BoneRend emerged, its body a fusion of bone plates and muscle, its claws dripping with bloodsteel.


    Theron''s arms merged with BoneRend''s, his chest expanding with muscle, his eyes glowing red.


    His voice rumbled low and steady. "Now we''ll see which hybrid is stronger."


    L-Hawk''s wings spread, each feather shimmering.


    "Hmm... this will be a bit troublesome," he said, his tone still lazy.


    His eyes, however, sharpened as he shifted his stance in the air.


    The tension in the air thickened as the two prepared to clash.

 Chapter 486: Loudmouth vs. Lazy Feathers

    Theron rushed forward, his body fused with BoneRend, claws cracking the ground with every step.


    His eyes glowed red, a wild grin splitting his face.


    "Come on, Zephyrahn," he shouted.


    "Show me how much you''ve improved. Or are you just another failed toy of Luxoria?"


    L-Hawk hovered a few feet above the ground, his wings flaring just enough to stay aloft.


    His silver feathers shimmered under the faint light.


    He let out a slow breath, eyes half-closed.


    "Let''s just get this over with, Theron."


    Theron lunged, arms slashing down with [Bone Crusher Maul], the impact sending cracks through the ground.


    Dust rose around them.


    L-Hawk drifted sideways, his wings tilting lazily.


    "Hmm..." L-Hawk''s voice drifted out slowly.


    "By the way, it''s L-Hawk now, Theron," he said. "Zephyrahn is gone."


    Theron''s grin widened, his teeth bared.


    "It doesn''t matter what you call yourself," he said, his arms flexing, claws glowing red.


    "You''re still just a hybrid. Still just another piece of meat for me to break."


    L-Hawk''s feathers shifted, tips glowing.


    He flicked his wings, sending a spray of [Wing Shard Scatter] at Theron.


    The shards ripped through the air, hitting Theron''s arms.


    Sparks flew, but BoneRend''s armor plates held strong.


    Theron laughed, the sound echoing through the vault.


    "Is that all you''ve got, L-Hawk?" he taunted, his eyes wild.


    "Come on! Give me something worth crushing!"


    He lunged again, his claws swinging down in [Flesh Ripper Strike].


    The air split, the claws a blur.


    L-Hawk twisted sideways, his wings folding in tight.


    He barely avoided the strike, a shallow cut appearing on his side.


    He sighed, eyes half-closed, and shifted higher into the air.


    "You''re loud, Theron," he said. "Too loud."


    Theron''s eyes flared red, his grin widening.


    "Loud? I''ll show you loud!"


    He roared, the sound vibrating through the metal walls, a deep growl that rattled everything around.


    He activated [Devourer''s Howl], the roar sending a shockwave of force at L-Hawk.


    The wind slammed into him, his feathers scattering like knives.


    L-Hawk''s wings fluttered, his body steady despite the impact.


    His eyes were half-closed, and his lips barely moved.


    "Hmm... now you''re just showing off," he muttered.


    He flexed his wings, forming [Wing Blade Storm], a spinning burst of sharp feathers that shot toward Theron.


    Theron raised his arms, BoneRend''s armor bracing.


    The blades hit, sparks flying as the steel deflected most of them.


    One shard nicked his cheek, a small line of blood forming.


    He grinned, eyes wild.


    "There! That''s the fight I wanted!" he shouted, voice raw.


    He charged again, his claws dripping with energy.


    L-Hawk''s wings flicked once, just enough to move him out of range.


    "Hmm... noisy and reckless," he said, his eyes steady.


    Theron''s eyes burned with fury.


    "I''ll break you, L-Hawk," he growled, his breath heavy.


    "Even if I have to tear every feather off your back."


    L-Hawk''s feathers shifted, forming [Wing Shield] as Theron''s claws slammed down.


    Sparks lit the vault, the ground splitting.


    "Try it," L-Hawk said, his voice a lazy drawl.


    His eyes, though, were locked on Theron, unblinking.


    The battle raged on, neither one backing down.


    ---


    Cassius, Sylvia, and Victor were moving through the long corridors of the vault, the air heavy with tension.


    Their footsteps echoed on the cold metal floor.


    A small group of elite soldiers formed a protective ring around them.


    Victor''s silver-blue eyes narrowed as he glanced back at the soldiers.


    His mouth curved into a mocking grin.


    "Why are we escaping?" he asked.


    "Our enemies are only Luxoria, right?"


    He flicked his wrist, his taming whip swaying slightly.


    "Father even went to deal with Luxoria himself."


    Cassius kept his eyes forward, the gold-streaked hair framing his face unmoving.


    His gloved fingers tapped against his data module, his mind processing the situation.


    "Victor," he said calmly, "there''s more going on here than you realize."


    Sylvia adjusted her braid, her pale fingers brushing her scanning device at her belt.


    "Don''t be so arrogant," she said, her voice steady but tinged with worry.


    "Elder Theron wouldn''t order an evacuation unless the threat was real."


    The lead soldier nodded and turned, his armored boots grinding the metal.


    "Yes, Master Theron ordered this personally," he said.


    "The Luxoria hybrid has proven itself far stronger than expected."


    He gestured at the nearest console, the screen flickering with images of the battlefield.


    Explosions lit up the feed, and the silhouettes of L-Shark moved through the chaos like shadows.


    "He had killed dozens of our elite soldiers," the soldier continued.


    Cassius''s eyes darkened.


    He stopped for a moment, arms crossing, the floating drones at his back humming quietly.


    "I see," he said. "If that''s the case, then please escort us properly."


    His eyes met the soldier''s. "I never knew Luxoria had become this formidable."


    Sylvia exhaled slowly, her soft violet eyes scanning the screens.


    "Yeah," she said, voice low.


    "I never thought they''d become another behemoth."


    She adjusted the armored lining of her lab coat, the metal clicking softly.


    "It seems we need to be careful."


    Victor rolled his eyes, a smirk on his face.


    "Don''t worry, brother, sister," he said. "I''ll crush them later on."


    Cassius turned, his amber eyes sharp.


    "Victor," he said, voice cold, "let''s just do what we''re told first."


    Sylvia''s gaze matched Cassius''s, her lips a thin line.


    "For once, listen, Victor," she said.


    "The vault''s at risk. We can''t afford your pride."


    Victor sighed, his gloved hand brushing his lab coat.


    "Fine," he muttered. "But I''ll remember this."


    The soldiers continued their march, boots steady, weapons ready.


    Cassius adjusted his gloves, eyes scanning every corner.


    His drones shifted, scanning the air for any sign of danger.


    Sylvia flicked her scanning device on, the small screen lighting up with red alerts.


    "Multiple movement readings," she said.


    "It seems this time, the soldiers from Luxoria were coming."


    Victor''s fingers flexed around his taming whip.


    "Good," he muttered. "Let them come."


    Cassius''s eyes narrowed. "No," he said.


    "We move now. Soldiers, get us to the bunker."


    The lead soldier nodded, his face hidden under his helmet. "Yes, sir."


    They moved quickly, the vault''s lights flickering as distant roars echoed through the metal.


    Cassius''s eyes flicked to Sylvia''s. "Stay close," he said.


    Sylvia nodded, her braid swaying with every step. "Understood."


    Victor smirked, his eyes sharp. "Luxoria won''t get the last laugh," he said.


    Cassius didn''t answer, his mind already on the next move.


    They walked on, the weight of the battle pressing on every step.

 Chapter 487: Snake It ‘Til You Make It

    The walls of the corridor rattled as the silver-scaled creatures slithered in from every side.


    Their bodies glistened under the dim vault lights, each one at least fifty centimeters long and armed with sharp fangs.


    They hissed, coiling around pipes and dropping from the ceiling.


    One elite soldier stepped forward, his arms merging with his beast as claws and armor plates formed.


    He swung at the nearest snake, slicing it clean in half.


    Sparks flew as the creature''s silver scales cracked open.


    Another soldier shouted, his voice low and determined.


    "Hold the line! Don''t let them break through!"


    Cassius stood back, arms crossed, his drones hovering near his shoulders.


    "Let the soldiers handle it," he said, his eyes scanning the battlefield.


    Sylvia adjusted her scanning device, eyes narrowed.


    "Agreed. They''re small. The soldiers can manage."


    Victor''s eyes flicked to the soldiers, then back to the snakes.


    A grin crossed his face. "Small?" he said. "Weak."


    He stepped forward, his taming whip shifting into his hand.


    His eyes glowed, the whip''s circuits activating. "Vextryx," he called.


    The air shimmered as Vextryx emerged, its dark scales glinting.


    Victor''s arms fused with the beast, his fingers turning into clawed gauntlets.


    He lunged forward, a smirk on his face.


    "Let''s clear the way," he said, his claws slashing through a cluster of snakes with [Beat Breaker].


    Cassius frowned, his drones spinning around him.


    "Victor," he muttered. "Always showing off."


    Sylvia sighed, her scanning device lighting up.


    "It can''t be helped," she said.


    "We''d better join in. The bunker is still far."


    Cassius nodded, stepping forward.


    His arms flexed as he called, "Myraktos."


    The massive beast roared to life, its metal plates shifting.


    Cassius''s arms merged with Myraktos, forming heavy blade arms.


    He swung both down, the force splitting the ground as he cleaved through several snakes at once.


    Sylvia''s eyes glowed softly as she pressed a button on her device.


    "Serenyx," she whispered.


    A soft light formed as Serenyx appeared, its antlers glowing.


    Sylvia''s arms fused with the beast, her hands now tipped with small shield projectors.


    She moved forward, deflecting the snakes'' bites with [Light Ward].


    Victor laughed, his claws dripping with silver blood.


    "See?" he shouted. "They''re nothing!"


    Cassius''s face stayed serious.


    "Just focus," he said, his blade arms whirring.


    "We can''t afford mistakes now."


    Sylvia moved beside Cassius, her shields deflecting a cluster of snakes that lunged at his side.


    "Stay close," she said.


    "We need to reach the bunker."


    Victor''s eyes danced with excitement.


    "Don''t slow me down," he said, his claws slashing through another wave of snakes.


    Cassius glared at him.


    "Save the talk for later," he said. "We''re almost there."


    Sylvia''s shields glowed brighter, deflecting another lunge.


    "Stay focused," she said, her voice calm.


    Victor lunged forward, his claws glowing with [Rhythm Echo].


    He swung in a wide arc, the sound waves vibrating through the corridor.


    The snakes reeled back, stunned.


    Cassius''s blades swung down, cleaving them apart.


    Sparks flew, metal clanged, and the ground shook.


    Sylvia''s shields closed in, protecting them from the final wave.


    "Move," she said. "The bunker is this way."


    Cassius''s drones flew ahead, scanning for threats.


    "Clear," he said.


    Victor grinned, his claws retracting.


    "Let''s finish this," he said.


    They moved forward, boots tapping on the metal floor.


    But then a sound echoed through the corridor¡ªa smooth, taunting voice.


    "Thank you for showing me your location," it said.


    Cassius''s head snapped up. His eyes narrowed.


    "Who?" he demanded.


    His arms flexed, ready for combat.


    Victor''s claws formed again, his smirk fading.


    "Show yourself," he said.


    Sylvia''s fingers tightened on her scanner, the screen flickering.


    "Something''s here," she whispered.


    A flicker of movement appeared ahead.


    From the shadows, L-Snake emerged, his silver scales glinting under the lights.


    His forked tongue flicked the air, a mocking smirk on his face.


    "It''s me," L-Snake said, his voice smooth.


    "L-Snake. Or you may remember me as Vernyx before."


    Cassius''s eyes widened, his jaw tightening.


    "How can you be here?" he asked, his voice low.


    L-Snake''s silver eyes glowed faintly.


    His arms crossed, his tail coiled behind him like a living whip.


    "Simple," he said.


    "You were so kind to destroy my little snakes, showing me your location."


    He waved one hand lazily, as if wiping dust from the air.


    "I just needed to know where the last one was killed," he said.


    "It''s as simple as that, isn''t it?"


    Victor''s claws tensed, a growl forming in his throat.


    "You¡ª" he started.


    L-Snake''s smirk widened.


    "Now," he said, his voice dripping with mockery.


    "Let''s play, young masters and mistresses."


    Sylvia''s eyes narrowed, her shields forming around her.


    "Cassius," she said quietly, "he''s not an ordinary hybrid. We need to be careful."


    Cassius nodded, his drones forming a ring around them.


    "Victor, stay focused," he said.


    Victor grinned, claws clicking.


    "Finally," he said. "Something interesting."


    L-Snake''s body shimmered, his arms shifting into [Luxorite Armament].


    Blades extended from his hands, his tail transforming into a spiked whip.


    "Let''s see how well you handle a real fight," he taunted.


    Cassius''s blades shifted, his stance tightening.


    "We''ll handle you," he said.


    Sylvia''s shields glowed brighter.


    "Together," she added.


    Victor lunged forward, claws gleaming with [Beat Breaker].


    L-Snake flicked his tail, blocking the strike effortlessly.


    L-Snake''s eyes glowed with a cold light. "Predictable," he whispered.


    He lashed out with his spiked tail, the movement sharp and precise.


    Sparks flew as it scraped across Cassius''s blades.


    Cassius twisted, blocking the strike, his drones spinning defensively.


    Sylvia''s shields flickered, absorbing a sudden strike from L-Snake''s arm blades.


    Sparks scattered across the corridor, lighting up the worried faces of the soldiers nearby.


    An elite soldier lunged, his fusion weapon crackling with energy.


    He swung it at L-Snake''s side.


    Another soldier leaped in from the left, his claws striking down, trying to catch L-Snake off guard.


    L-Snake''s eyes narrowed as he spun, his tail whipping the ground.


    "It''s a bit troublesome to fight you all," he said, his forked tongue flicking.


    He smirked, his silver eyes glowing. "Let''s just cut the number, shall we?"


    With a flick of his tail, he slashed at the nearest soldier, the force knocking the man back into the wall.


    The other soldier stumbled, his claws missing their mark as L-Snake shifted sideways.


    Cassius watched from behind his drones, his jaw tight.


    "Stay sharp," he called, his voice even.


    Victor lunged again, claws glowing.


    "Let''s see you handle me!" he shouted, eyes wide with anticipation.


    Sylvia''s shields brightened.


    "Hold your positions," she said, her voice calm.


    "We can''t let him split us up."


    L-Snake''s smirk widened.


    "Split you up? I''ll do more than that," he hissed, his tail coiling for another strike.

 Chapter 488: L-Snake’s Slitherin’ Smackdown

    L-Snake spun around, his tail slamming into the ground, his silver scales glinting under the flickering lights.


    Sparks flew as his tail scraped across the floor.


    The soldiers backed away, their weapons trembling in their hands.


    Cassius''s drones hovered close, scanning the battlefield.


    His eyes locked onto L-Snake, his fingers flexing.


    "Stay close," he ordered. "Don''t let him separate us."


    Victor''s claws glowed, the edges vibrating with energy.


    He grinned, eyes bright. "I''ll handle him," he said, his voice low.


    Sylvia''s shields pulsed, forming a barrier in front of the group.


    Her braid swung behind her as she moved, eyes steady.


    "Focus, Victor," she said. "We need to be smart."


    L-Snake''s smirk widened, his silver eyes narrowing.


    "You all work quite well together," he said, his voice smooth and mocking.


    He moved his arms in a slow, taunting wave.


    "But what I need are only the three of you."


    He flicked his tail, his body glowing with energy.


    "So let''s get rid of the others," he hissed.


    He activated [Luxorite Mark], a faint glow flickering over his body.


    Then he spread his arms wide, his scales shifting and rippling.


    Numerous small snakes slithered out from his body, their silver forms glinting in the dim light.


    The snakes rushed forward, their bodies a blur.


    Soldiers screamed as the creatures bit into their armor, fangs piercing metal and flesh alike.


    Blood sprayed, the floor slickening underfoot.


    Cassius''s eyes hardened.


    He swung his blade arms, cleaving through three of the creatures.


    "Stay with me!" he shouted, his drones firing at the swarm.


    Victor lunged, claws slashing.


    "Get back!" he yelled, slicing through a pair of the snakes with [Beat Breaker].


    The vibrations shattered the creatures, but more came from behind.


    Sylvia''s shields pulsed, her arms steady.


    "They''re too many," she called. "Form a circle!"


    Cassius moved quickly, positioning himself back-to-back with Victor and Sylvia.


    "Hold the line!" he barked, his voice cutting through the chaos.


    L-Snake laughed, his silver eyes glowing bright.


    "You think you can hold them back?" he taunted, his tail flicking.


    "Try it."


    He lunged forward, his arm shifting into a [Luxorite Blade], slashing at Victor.


    Victor blocked with his claws, sparks flying.


    He grunted, his body sliding back a step.


    "Fast," Victor muttered, his teeth gritting.


    Cassius swung his blades, deflecting another strike from the snakes.


    His eyes stayed on L-Snake. "Victor, focus," he said.


    Sylvia''s shields brightened, deflecting another wave of the silver creatures.


    She moved carefully, her scanner lighting up.


    "They''re all controlled by him," she said. "Take him down, and they fall too."


    Victor''s claws gleamed.


    "Then let''s finish this," he said.


    He lunged again, claws glowing with [Rhythm Echo], slashing at L-Snake''s side.


    L-Snake twisted, his tail blocking the strike.


    His smirk never faded. "Good try," he said.


    He lashed out with his tail, hitting Victor in the chest and sending him tumbling back.


    Victor rolled, landing on his feet, claws raised.


    "Come on!" he shouted.


    Cassius''s drones spun, their beams firing at L-Snake.


    The beams hit, but L-Snake''s scales deflected most of the energy.


    "Weak," he said.


    Sylvia moved to Victor''s side, her shields glowing.


    "Victor, stay steady," she said.


    Victor''s grin returned, his claws ready. "Always," he said.


    The battle raged on, the corridor filled with the sounds of clashing steel and hissing snakes.


    ---


    Theron''s arms flexed, his claws scraping the ground.


    Sparks shot from his fingertips, his breath coming in short, heavy bursts.


    His body glowed with a deep crimson light, the power of BoneRend surging through him.


    He stood tall, eyes locked on L-Hawk.


    L-Hawk hovered above, his wings drooping slightly.


    His silver feathers were cracked, a few even missing.


    His head tilted, his eyes half-closed.


    "You''re getting stronger, Theron," he muttered. "Almost annoying."


    Theron''s grin widened, his teeth bared.


    "Tired already?" he asked.


    "Did Lord L not prepare you for real battle?"


    L-Hawk''s wings twitched.


    He sighed, his arms crossing loosely.


    "Lord L made me strong enough," he said.


    "But I didn''t sign up for so much talking."


    Theron''s eyes burned with fury. He lunged, his claws glowing.


    He swung with [Flesh Ripper Strike], his arms blurring.


    The air split as his claws slammed into L-Hawk''s shield.


    Sparks flew, metal clashing with light.


    L-Hawk''s wings shook as he drifted back, his eyes barely open.


    "So noisy," he said, his feathers reforming. "You''re making me work."


    Theron''s laugh echoed through the vault. "Then work harder!" he shouted.


    He dropped his stance, his body trembling with energy.


    "You''ve forced my hand," he said. "I didn''t want to use this so soon."


    L-Hawk''s eyes opened just a fraction more. "Oh?" he said, voice calm.


    Theron''s mouth twisted into a cruel smile.


    "BoneRend," he called.


    "Activate [Forbidden Core Unleash]!"


    The ground shook, red energy bursting from Theron''s chest.


    His body expanded, muscles ripping through his armor.


    His claws thickened, his eyes glowing bright red.


    His voice turned deeper, more monstrous.


    "Now you''ll see true power!"


    L-Hawk''s wings trembled.


    He floated back, his feathers drooping.


    "Hmm," he muttered, "looks troublesome."


    Theron roared, charging with blinding speed.


    His claws slammed forward with [Bone Crusher Maul], the ground cracking under the force.


    L-Hawk blocked with his wings, but the impact sent him tumbling back, feathers scattering.


    He righted himself midair, wings out, but his breathing was heavy.


    "Alright," he said, his voice lazy but serious.


    "You got my attention now."


    Theron''s eyes burned like fire.


    "You''ll need more than that," he growled.


    L-Hawk''s wings shifted, forming [Wing Blade Storm], a burst of spinning feathers shooting at Theron.


    The blades cut the air, slicing at Theron''s arms.


    Theron''s claws blocked them, sparks flying. His grin widened.


    "Weak!" he shouted.


    He swung his claws in a massive arc, activating [Fury Slash], sending a red shockwave at L-Hawk.


    The blast hit, slamming L-Hawk into the wall.


    Cracks spread through the metal as L-Hawk struggled to stand.


    His wings drooped, one hanging limply.


    "Tch," he said, his voice low. "You''re a real problem."


    Theron stepped forward, his claws gleaming.


    "Ready to give up?" he mocked.


    L-Hawk''s eyes opened slowly, a flicker of determination there.


    Theron roared, charging again, his claws glowing bright.


    The battle wasn''t over yet.