"Let's keep moving," Joey said with a smile. "With Flutter gone, the rest of the journey should be smooth."
He trusted Kite.
No doubt it was the rifle that took out Flutter—
only that kind of long-range strike could've ended an airborne enemy that fast.
Joey analyzed it.
Despite Kite always groaning about bad draws, Joey figured he was just humble-bragging.
Somehow, his weapons always turned out perfect for the situation.
Against hordes? Scythe.
Against elites? Katana or Rifle.
Kite's luck? Maybe it was skill disguised as chance.
Meanwhile, inside the royal palace in Peijing,
Neferpitou leaned against a column, a wicked grin forming on her lips.
She'd found a new prey.
Flutter's final transmission:
A skeletal battle-tank that explodes. A silver-haired youth who killed him.
The intel wasn't detailed—
But it was enough to send a shiver of excitement through her tail.
"Perfect. I want to shred them right now. Nyaa~"
Her aura flared—
sinister, lethal, and gleeful.
"You shouldn't,"
a calm, lilting voice responded, accompanied by a soft violin melody.
Shaiapouf.
Another Royal Guard.
He stood nearby, immaculate in tailored clothes, playing his violin with mournful elegance.
A pair of delicate antennae twitched atop his head.
"Whether they're a trap or pretending to be bait doesn't matter.
Our duty is to protect the King. That's all."
Pitou tilted her head.
"But the King's pawns are… a bit useless. Still, fine.
Just a bit of playtime wasted.
Let's send Leol's crew. If they kill anyone—good.
If not, we'll crush them when they arrive. Nyaa~"
She tucked away her phone.
With Flutter's death, her only line of contact had been via cellular signal—
not her usual En-based telepathy. That lack delayed intel.
And this wasn't the first time Pouf had denied her a chance to hunt.
Nearby sat the last Royal Guard.
Towering. Red-skinned.
Menthuthuyoupi.
The only Guard born of Magical Beast genes.
He sat at the center of the palace staircase like a guardian golem,
watching all who approached the King's chambers with a predator's stillness.
"Are you sure it's safe? Letting those rats get closer? They're plotting something."
He rarely spoke—
but when he did, his deep voice echoed like thunder.
His body always seemed seconds from eruption.
"As long as my En covers the entire palace, no one will get near the King. Nyaa~"
Pitou smiled, tail flicking with confidence.
"True," said Pouf, placing a hand over his chest in reverence.
"Besides, His Majesty may soon tire of these games and take the field himself."
"That new girl… she's not as easy to beat as the rest," Youpi muttered.
"Even though the King's improving rapidly, her skill in Gungi is impressive."
"His Majesty will win the next few rounds," Pouf said with unwavering faith.
"Hopefully," Youpi replied.
"I sense some strong ones among the intruders.
If the King spares them, I'll be happy to devour the leftovers."
"Depends on the King's appetite, Nyaa~" Pitou mused.
She glanced out the palace window—
And what she saw was grotesquely beautiful.
In the courtyard stood ten massive trees,
each one covered in pulsing, meaty pods.
Five hundred per tree.
Over five thousand humans suspended in embryonic cocoons.
"These were the chosen ones," Pitou whispered.
"Selected from the first day of culling."
Soon, they'd awaken as puppets, fully enslaved by her Terpsichora.
Loyal weapons for the King—
slayers of their former kin.
And this was just day one.
"If no one had interfered, we'd have thousands more by now,"
Pitou muttered.
"Then we'll let these batch hunt new stock," Pouf added, utterly detached.
It wasn't even murder to them.
It was like trimming the lawn.
"They taste good," said Youpi, licking his lips.
"Perfect food for His Majesty."
"They should feel honored," said Pouf, almost tearful.
"To become one with the King... how beautiful."
Meanwhile, just kilometers from the palace, in the city of Peijing—
Leol, formerly the lion-chimera Hagya, lowered his phone.
"Shirin," he called.
The girl behind him—
a quirky-looking Chimera Ant with twin pigtails and a mischievous air—tilted her head.
"Seems like it's your turn."
With Flutter dead, Shirin was now his only spy left.
"But I'm not made for combat," she protested, pouting.
"You won't have to fight," Leol replied.
"Just lure them to a spot. I'll handle the rest."
"Aren't we waiting for Welfin?" she asked.
Leol hesitated.
"Yeah… We'll move when he arrives.
We can't let more intruders get too close."
Flutter had transmitted a fair bit before dying.
Enough to show the enemy's numbers exceeded the number of Division Leaders.
And that meant danger.
If not for his debt to Pitou, Leol would have preferred to cut and run.
But he wanted the King's favor.
He couldn't abandon that dream now.
"Damn it… I never should've sent Flutter after Cheetu."
He clenched his phone.
Clearly, the enemy had been watching Flutter for some time.
Probably since that reconnaissance on the drug plant.
And that silver-haired bastard?
He should've been dead—crippled by Pitou.
Now he was whole again.
"They have a healer… A good one."
Surely, Pitou realized that too.
She'd even diverted a huge number of puppet soldiers recently.
Likely to hunt that mysterious healer.
Add in that explosive ability, the smoke-shaped soldier,
and the man who stood against Pitou herself—
Leol was starting to feel a little… outmatched.
"Damn… My abilities aren't enough."
He clutched his phone tighter.
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For this week I will do more release depending on the power stones !
100 Power Stones = 1 chapter (in addition to the daily update)
So give stones if you want mooooar !