"That old fool is destroying his core for more celestial energy!" Josephine exclaimed, her voice laced with surprise.
"He’ll die the moment the celestial energy runs out!" the fox lady gasped, equally shocked.
Sunny remained unmoving as black smoke enveloped the elder. Before their eyes, Malik underwent a terrifying transformation, swelling into a colossal black werewolf.
"GRAAAAA!!!" he roared, the sound shaking the very foundations of the castle.
"I’ll use this temporary strength to kill you! I don’t have time, but with this boost, I’ll surely end you!"
"Boost in strength? You only gained five stages... You’re still a Celestial rank, just at the tenth stage," Sunny stated, his tone flat and unimpressed.
"Just?!" Malik bellowed, a furious snarl contorting his monstrous face. He lunged at Sunny, a blur of black fur and raw power.
"Watch out!" Josephine and Star cried out in unison, but before either could react, a piercing gray beam of light shot forth from Sunny’s eyes. It struck Malik instantly, encasing him in a stony shell, transforming the raging werewolf into a lifeless rock sculpture.
"....?!"
BAM!
Everyone present stared at the petrified werewolf in a mixture of shock and disbelief. They watched, mesmerized, as Sunny casually walked towards the motionless figure, stepped onto its head, and with a single, deliberate exertion of force, shattered it into countless pieces.
{Congratulations, Master killed A celestial stage 3 beast Man.}
{Master gained 450 Exp.}
’Just 450 for a celestial stage?!’ Sunny was stunned by the meager experience gain. He turned his gaze towards Xanor.
"You!!"
Xanor, seeing the impending danger, swiftly produced a direct teleportation crystal.
"We will meet again!!" he declared, his voice filled with a desperate urgency.
Before Star could move to intercept him, Sunny raised a hand, stopping her. They all watched as Xanor activated the crystal, vanishing in a flash of light. Sunny then shifted his attention to the fourteen remaining heads, who were now trembling uncontrollably, fear etched onto their faces.
"My Queen!!!"
All but Zinmo, Zagreb, and Milan rushed forward, dropping to their knees in a desperate plea.
"Please, my Queen!!"
"Yes!! Spare us!!"
"We were deceived!! Please no!!"
"Yes!! Don’t kill me!!"
Sunny’s gaze swept over each of them. He then turned around, took Josephine’s hand in his, and began to walk towards the castle.
"Come with me," he said, directing his words to the five individuals standing behind Josephine. They nodded, understanding the silent command, and quickly followed.
The fourteen kneeling figures looked on in confusion, watching Sunny stride towards the castle door without so much as a backward glance.
"We are saved?" Zagreb ventured, a flicker of hope in his voice.
"Saved?"
"....?!!"
They spun their heads, their eyes falling upon Star, who now wore a sinister smirk.
WHOOSH!!!
The wolf beastman who had been following behind Sunny halted, looking over his shoulder. He saw Star approaching them, her purple-sheathed sword held casually in her hand. His gaze moved to the men and women still on their knees, and then froze, his eyes widening in horror as he spotted the newly decapitated bodies on the ground.
"...?!!!"
He watched as Star walked past him, not even sparing him a glance.
"....?!!"
He turned back to the gruesome scene, witnessing small, shadowy snakes materialize out of thin air, beginning to feed on the fallen bodies.
"What the fuck!!"
{Skills used: Star steps: Increased the speed by 1,000% making the user completely unmatchable... A chance to increase the attack dealt by 10%... High grand class. 1,000 Celestial energy per use.}
{Skills: Snake Domain: Send Snakes one lower than user’s rank to feed on the targets killed by user... The more flesh the snakes Devoured, the more stronger the user gets... High grand class... 500 Celestial energy per use.}
____
[Inside the Castle.]
{Congratulations Master: Subordinate Star killed 14 beastmen and women, and Master gained a total of 3,500 EXP.}
{Congratulations Master for entering the third stage.}
’Why don’t I feel any different?’
Sunny, who sat on the throne, with Josephine seated beside him and Star standing to his left, thought to himself.
The three fixed their gazes intently at the five individuals standing before them.
"What are your names?" Sunny inquired, his voice calm and authoritative.
The fox lady stepped forward with a graceful bow. "I am Alexandra," she said, before stepping back into place.
The bird lady then took a step forward. "I am Chloe, my King."
"Chloe..." Sunny’s brow furrowed slightly as he stared at the young girl. "How old are you?"
"I am 19, my King," Chloe answered.
Sunny nodded, then turned his attention to the three men.
A lion beastman stepped forward. He was clearly a normal beastman, possessing the upper body of a lion, similar to Chloe, whereas Alexandra was an elite beastwoman. "I am Bobbi, My King!" he declared with a respectful bow.
Sunny nodded. The wolf beastman and a cat beastman then spoke in quick succession:
"I am Steven."
"I am Josh!"
Sunny acknowledged both with a nod, then shifted his gaze to the General, who stood near the door, trembling visibly.
"Come here," Sunny commanded.
"Me?" The General asked, a flicker of shock in his eyes, but seeing the stern look on Sunny’s face, he quickly stepped forward. Gosh! The man before him killed a Celestial rank with just a glance, what can he do?
"How many soldiers do we have?" Sunny asked.
"Ten... Ten thousand," the General stammered, his voice betraying his fear.
"Good." Sunny flicked his wrist, and a dagger materialized in his hand. He then tossed it before the General, where it landed with a soft thud.
"Take out both your eyes, or kill yourself with it."
"....!?!!"
The man was stunned, his face paling. He quickly dropped to his knees, pleading, "My King!!! I was wrong!! Please forgive me!!"
"Forgive you? You were ordered to throw your Queen into the dungeon, and you were ready to do it! I know those fools pay you money! But your actions led to this," Sunny stated, his voice devoid of emotion.
"My King!! I am the only one who can lead the soldiers! No one else can!!" the General cried, looking up at Sunny with desperate eyes.
"I already have my generals. You are not needed! Now decide," Sunny said flatly, his decision unwavering.
"This?"
Seeing that his pleas were falling on deaf ears with Sunny, he turned to Josephine, his last hope. "My Queen!! Please!! Forgive me! I will do anything!!"
"Then take your eyes or kill yourself!" Josephine’s voice was surprisingly cold.
"My Queen! I will do anything, please, I have a family! I know you aren’t wicked, please!" he begged, his voice cracking.
Josephine rose from her seat and walked down the five steps leading to the thrones, stopping directly in front of him. She squatted down, picked up the dagger, and extended it to him.
"Do it... At least you will be alive for your family," she said, her voice chillingly calm.
"You!!"
Enraged by her cold indifference, the General lunged at her. ’If I take her as a hostage! I can escape!!’
WHOOSH!!!
Everyone present saw only a flash. The General collapsed to the ground, blood gushing from a newly split throat.
Josephine stood still, blood dripping from the dagger in her hand.
"Having mercy on your enemies will only get you killed. I already learned my lesson," she muttered, her eyes hardened.