Primal fury and hunger tried to overwhelm Maxine's will as her body rapidly increased in size. However even after fully transforming, she was still in control, but she knew that she needed to eat in order to maintain it. Her gaze landed on the quilled velociraptors that were stumbling over themselves as they turned around and fled in the direction they just came from.  

Maxine chased after them and picked up the closes beast before tearing it apart with eleven of her heads. Her remaining head was keeping an eye on the fleeing quill velociraptors. They literately launched their quills out of their backs as if they were attached to crossbows and they hit her like a shotgun blast. 

Dozens of barbed quills lodge themselves into her flesh and caused her immense pain. It made it very difficult to maintain control as she quickly gained on the beasts. She was continuously bombarded with those quills and lost multiple eyes. Once she was in bite range, she picked up the poor beast and brought it to her other heads. It cried out in pain for only a moment before her heads tore it apart and swallowed down the chunks of flesh. She felt disgusted at this, but it was still far better than eating a sapient being.

As the beast's flesh reached her stomach, she felt like she gained more control over her hydra form. This needs to be done if I'm to figure out how to gain mastery over this form.

She continued to chased down the other quilled velociraptors as her rapid regeneration dislodged the numberous quills sticking out of her flesh. She devoured the quilled velociraptors at a greater and greater pace, but her control was beginning to slip out of her fingers for some reason. She realized too late that she had over indulged her instinctive need to feed.

She fought against it desperately by trying to stand still, but her hydra instincts forced her to chase after the fleeing beasts. She could only watch as she devoured all of the quilled velociraptors in the area, before she was able to gain control long enough to revert back to her shadow lord form.

She stood in place reviewing in her mind what she had done wrong. Over indulging in my instincts while fully transformed can cause me to loose control, but not indulging them can also make me loose control. The trick is to find the right balance of the two. Once I find that balance, i can start trying to master my hydra form. I don't want to end up just being a mindless beast that only knows how to eat. I really do not look forward to this. 

Maxine quickly checked her cultivation and it had risen again to silver rank eight. However when she tried to cultivate, none of her cores would accept any more energy. It figures there is a limitation to my full hydra form's version of cultivation. Perhaps I need a rest period to 'digest' the energies I absorbed. As long as it doesn't take more than a month, I'm fine with a bit of waiting. I can always train my combative skills in the mean time.

Maxine made sure her Shadow's Embrace armor was covering her before she sent out her spiritual sense out to find more beasts or four-horned kanzils to fight. However most of the beasts had fled the area, except for a strange silver stage wolf radiating mana that had tribal tatoo-like patterns on it's fur. Huh? Most mana using beasts use long range breath attacks, but this guy just oozes the feel of an up close fighter. That's almost unheard of. They are extremely rare according to daddy's notes. Their hide can be used to make powerful armor and their blood and bones can be used in alchemical recipes. I wonder how it makes itself so strong when it can only use mana.

Maxine's curiosity was piqued and she shadow stepped beside the beast. As expected, it reacted by trying to bite her head off, but she immobilized it using shadow tendrils. Her suspicions were instantly confirmed as it struggled to free itself. It was just as strong as a beast that uses ki. 

"Don't worry big fella," Maxine said soothingly as the wolf growled threateningly at her approach, "I'm not going to hurt you. I'm just curious as to why you are so strong." Her words had zero effect on soothing the wolf, but she really didn't expect them to. 

She carefully probed the beasts fur and hide with her spiritual sense to look for the reason this beasts was so physically powerful. She found the trick due to the tribalistic tatoo-like patterns on it's fur and hide. They were drawing in mana and constantly refining and strengthening the fleshy body of the wolf somehow. It was brilliant. If I could do the same for my own flesh, I would be a lot stronger physically without doing anything, but I don't exactly like the idea of tatooing my whole body. Some of those markings would overlap on some very sensitive areas and I doubt it would work for me anyways. It's probably a species specific trait. Hmm, I could try experimenting with it on coreless constructs just to see the effect.  

Maxine retracted her spiritual sense and left a large pile of meat with a few silver stage cores on top of the pile as a form of thanks to the beast. "Take that as my apology for giving you such a scare," Maxine said before shadow stepping away from the wolf and releasing it.

She didn't pay anymore attention to the wolf and returned back to her hiding spot in the hospital basement. However she quickly discovered that she had guests. Specifically, the night elf elder, Evensong, had returned and he looked very anxious.

"Ahh, there you are," elder Evensong said in a relieved tone, "My people have accepted your proposition."

"That's great," Maxine said cheerfully, "Allow me to notify my father."

"Of course," elder Evensong said politely.

Maxine closed her eyes and reached out with her mind to her clones. She checked with their hearing to see if Guan was nearby and luckily, he was brushing her clone's hair. 

She formed a thread of her spiritual sense and ran it along one of her hairs to touch his skin. He immediately connected his spiritual sense with hers, [I thought it was made clear that you weren't supposed to contact me through your clones.]

[This is a special exception, daddy. I found a world tree being guarded by night elves. You're practically the only person that can guarantee their safety,] Maxine explained and she sent him this worlds coordinates, [And you are practically the only person that won't get too greedy and kill the world tree by accident.]

Guan was silent for a few moments before he replied, [Thank you for letting me know about this, Maxine. I will let all know that these elves and their world tree are under my protection.]

[Thanks, daddy,] Maxine said gratefully, [How are Silky and Emily doing?]

[They're doing fine. Silky made a fine choice for a husband in Lanitherin. He rarely leaves her side and treats her like the treasure she is,] Guan said praisingly, [Now go. You've taken a big enough risk by contacting me.]

[Alright. Thank you, daddy. Bye,] Maxine said before pulling herself back to her main body and she looked directly at Elder Evensong before saying, "He will let it be known that your world tree and people are under his protection."

"Thank you," elder Evensong said gratefully as he bowed his head, "My people were greatly concerned when the world tree was discovered by a group of young humans lead by a young male named Aziel Kelborn. He kidnapped two of our young women before fleeing. I fear he will notify his elders and that is why we sought out a patron."

"Thank you for being honest," Maxine said calmly, but inside she was furious, "When did this happen?"

"A few hours ago," elder Evensong replied.

"I will rescue those two girls and punish that idiot for his stupidity," Maxine said firmly. 

"Are you sure that's necessary to punish him?" elder Evensong asked fearfully, "Won't they just release them after it's revealed that your father is our patron?"

"No, I don't think that arrogant asshole will release them. That's why it's necessary for me to punsih him," Maxine said with a terrifying calm, "That and my father will do far worse to that idiot than I will in an attempt to rescue them."

Maxine didn't give elder Evensong another moment to argue as she instantly locked onto Aziel Kelborn. He was showing off his new 'slaves' to his male friends, whom gave him disgusted looks. The two poor night elf girls were terrified. 

She created a bubble of her energies around herself and another one just behind Aziel Kelborn to teleport to his location. Both the hood and mask of her Shadow's Embrace armor were on as she stalked right up to him. His friends rapidly retreated when they saw the look in Maxine's eyes. 

"Maxine?" Aziel Kelborn said in confusion when he turned around just before Maxine punched him as hard as she could and snatched the dimensional pouch off of his waist with her other hand. He was sent flying and was caught by elder Miyan whom appeared out of nowhere. 

"Why did you attack my student?" Elder Miyan demanded. Maxine ignored her as she grabbed the slave collars on the necks of the night elf girls and removed them by teleporting them off using her energies. 

"It's alright. I'm going to send you to elder Evensong. He will take you home safely," Maxine said reassuringly to the elven girls in forest elf as she wrapped them both in a bubble of her energies and sent them to the basement of the hospital.

"Answer me," Elder Miyan said in a harsh tone as she tried to pressure Maxine with her superior strength.

"First off, I detest slavers and if you havn't noticed, I'm a half-elf. He should be grateful that I didn't kill him for enslaving my distant kin that have treated me so well," Maxine said coldly without seeming to be bother by elder Miyan's display of power, "And second, I just saved him and his entire clan by freeing those two from your depraved clutches."

"What do you mean by that?" Aziel Kelborn demanded as he regained his senses, "No one has ever been able to stop me from doing what I want."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Do you want to know why real women won't give you the attention you crave?" Maxine asked him rhetorically without bothering to answer his question, "It's because you're an immature spoiled brat. No woman wants to be attached to an overgrown child. The only reason they show you any attention to you at all is because of your apparent wealth. Beyond that, you are not worth their time."

"You!" Aziel Kelborn roared angrily as he freed himself from elder Miyan and glared at Maxine murderously.

"The truth hurts doesn't it?" Maxine asked mockingly. Aziel Kelborn charged at her, but Elder Miyan knocked him out with a simple motion of energy before he even crossed more than a handfull of feet. She quickly caught him in mid-air.

"While I agree that young Aziel shouldn't have enslaved those girls, you also shouldn't have attacked him," elder Miyan reprimanded Maxine. 

"Those girls that he enslaved were night elves. Do you have any idea how rare they are?" Maxine asked angrily, "Those two girls could've been the last two female night elves for all you know and he could've damn them to extinction because he was thinking with his dick!"

"What?" elder Miyan asked softly in disbelief, "Night elves have been extinct for ages."

"You are mistaken. They've been hiding on this world for some time," Maxine explained, "Now before any more of your students do something stupid, I suggest you tell them not to bother the night elves and to notify the Alliance of their existence before the end of the day. As you know, Alliance laws strictly prohibit the enslavement or harm of endangered races." But those laws don't stop greedy assholes from doing it anyways. Still, it will buy some time for daddy to spread the word that the night elves are under his protection, but knowing him, he will have told the Alliance before elder Miyan can do anything. I doubt anyone would be so overwhelmed with greed that they would risk angering him.

"Very well," elder Miyan said calmly, "A piece of advice for you: you should treat those stronger than yourself with more respect. Eventually, someone will teach you a very painful lesson."

"Understood," Maxine said and turned around to see the Guardian Mothers had just arrived. Meanwhile, elder Miyan had already left with Aziel Kelborn.

"You already saved them?" Sandra asked in surprise.

"Yes," Maxine answered, "I detest slavers with a passion."

"So do we," Sandra agreed, "But those girls weren't any kind of elf I've ever seen."

"They are a very rare type," Maxine explained, "It's best I don't tell you for now. It's to avoid any unnecessary trouble."

"I understand, but where is Aziel? Did you kill him?" Sandra asked almost hopefully.

"I punched him. After that, I sent those two elven girls to safety just before Aziel had a fit of rage. Elder Miyan knocked him out before he did something stupid," Maxine said, "I think she took him to your ship, but I'm not sure. Why do you ask?"

"He's my fiance," Sandra said sadly. 

"Political marriage?" Maxine asked while wincing slightly.

"Yes," Sandra replied in a depressed tone, "His clan insisted on the marriage in exchange for numberous resources." Damn, I would rather runaway and never look back rather than marry that piece of shit. 

"And what's stopping you from running away?" Maxine asked.

"Because I can't. His father planted a spiritual mark on my core to prevent that," Sandra said dispairingly.

"Wow," Maxine said in surprise, "I didn't expect them to be that cautious." Well, on second thought, I can definitely see them doing that. They clearly know that that Aziel is a very undesireable man. They had to essentially throw money away just to find him a bride.

"That's not all, either," Sandra said sadly, but her mood quickly improved, "At least, I made contact with you. Maybe if you come back with me to my clan, they might cancel the marriage with him. My clan is in desperate need of an alchemist."

"I'll think about it," Maxine replied, "But I won't guarantee anything." I don't want to be an alchemist for her clan, but I can at least humor her since she's keeping my identity secret from the other Guardian Mothers.

"Perhaps we could talk it over some tea?" Sandra asked hopefully.

"I don't see why not," Maxine answered. 

"Thank you!" Sandra said happily.

"Don't mention it. Now are you guys going to mobilize against the four-horned kanzils any time soon?" Maxine asked.

"Not yet," Sandra said, "We are only here to help in the defense of this particular city. There are five other ships that are helping the other battlefronts."

"Oh, I didn't know that," Maxine said, "But it's good that you are not actively attacking them. It would mean a higher chance of capture and you DO NOT want that. Those creeps have a tendancy to rape women to death and eat them afterwards." All of the Guardian Mothers paled as soone as Maxine finished speaking. 

"Please, tell me you are joking," Sandra said fearfully. Do these people seriously not do any kind of research? 

"Afraid not," Maxine replied, "It's one of the reasons why I've chosen them to train my combat skills against. They're monsters in humaniod form that need to be eliminated."

"I agree," Sandra said and she turned to the other Guardian Mothers, "You guys go back to the wall. I'll join up with you after I have some tea with Maxine." They nodded their heads and flew off. However two young women remained and they didn't have any badges at ther waist. They must be Sandra's bodyguards. Or they are making sure she keeps her chastity.

"Just lead the way," Maxine said and noticed several gold stage draconic warriors were watching her. But they weren't moving to capture her. It seems that they were already told just to watch me for now. I'm actually surprised that Cassandra isn't doing it herself.

"Of course," Sandra said as she took flight and Maxine followed behind her.

Sandra lead her into a large skyscraper and somewhere on the fiftith floor was her room. It was the same one Maxine was in before when she delivered the healing potions. However for some reason, it felt like there was a different feel to the room than before. Thankfully, her bodyguards stayed outside of the room.

"It looks like your bodyguards don't mind us being in the same room," Maxine commented once the door closed.

"They're not exactly my bodyguards," Sandra corrected, "They're here to make sure I don't get too close to any men. That asshole Aziel wants a virgin bride."

"I'm glad I don't have to put up with that kind of irratation," Maxine commented.

"I know and I'm jealous of that fact," Sandra complained, "You have a super powerful father that makes sure you are happy. He would never forced any kind of marriage on you. My father couldn't care less about my happiness. He sees me only as a tool to use, and my brothers are treated as valueable jewels. It's unfair."

"Nothing in life is," Maxine said sadly.

"Yeah," Sandra agreed sadly, but perked herself up as she moved towards a tiny kitchen attached to the room, "Now I promised you some tea."

"That you did," Maxine said as she took a seat at the only table in the room, "So, how do you intend to get out of that marriage?"

"There are only three ways to do it: I reach the peak of gold stage, find someone powerful to back me or get pregnant with someone else's child. Since I can't interact with any men, the last choice is nearly impossible," Sandra explained as she worked in the kitchen, "And reaching the peak of gold stage before the wedding next year is not possible for someone like me. I only have the other option available to me." She was looking hopefully at Maxine as she set a tea cup infront of her.

"Sorry, but no. I don't know you well enough to ask daddy to do that," Maxine said firmly as she sipped the tea. 

"I know, but that's something we can work on," Sandra said happily and Maxine saw a strange look flash over Sandra's face for a brief moment.  

"I can't promise anything," Maxine replied.

"I know, but just know that I'm willing to do anything to avoid being with that bastard," Sandra said as she sat down and stroked the top of Maxine's hand. Oh, so that's why she wanted to be alone with me.  

"I'm sorry, but my heart belongs to Emily," Maxine said gently.

"That doesn't mean you can't have another lover," Sandra said eagerly, "In fact, a good number of the Guardian Mothers are lesbians. A few of them want to be part of your harem." Okay, the fangirls have officially gone from an irratation to down right creepy territory. I'm definitely going to keep my distance from them once the shadow lord shows up.

"I don't want a harem," Maxine asserted, "The only one I want is Emily."

"But are you not at least curious how it would be like?" Sandra asked hopefully.

"Let me put this in a way you understand. I suffer from sexual indifference. Meaning I don't find men or women attractive and I select my partner based on my emotions alone. I can't just have sex with someone I don't care about. I would find the whole experience disgusting," Maxine explained. 

"But, but, I thought you were bisexual," Sandra said weakly, "You looked so intimate with Patrick Mason while he carried you and you seemed to be a little too close to Alice Adams."

"You mistook my intentions. At the time, Patrick was one of the few men I felt safe around and Alice is just a very close friend, almost like a sister," Maxine explained, "I had no sexual feelings for either of them." Definitely not going to tell her that I wanted to fuck Patrick at one time. Just the thought of it now makes my skin crawl.

"I see," Sandra said reflexively.

"I can understand the confusion, though," Maxine said, "Earthlings do behave strangely at times."

"It isn't only earthlings, but you're right," Sandra agreed.

"Anyways, you're a lot different than I expected out of a fan," Maxine commented to change the subject, "I was expecting you to be giggling out of excitement for half of our talk." Sandra smiled in response.

"Actually, I'm controlling myself," Sandra admitted, "I want ot leave a good impression."

"You did fine when we first met," Maxine said.

"I didn't know it was you though," Sandra said defensively, "I didn't treat you the proper way at all."

"It's fine," Maxine said in amusement, "I didn't mind it at all."

"Still, you're the young miss of the Kavros clan and Poison Emperor Guan's daughter. You should get the royal treatment, not just sit in these stiff chairs and drink this lousy tea," Sandra expressed herself. 

"I said it's fine," Maxine repeated herself, "I never liked living in luxury. I prefer simpler things."

"I ... didn't know that," Sandra said softly.

"Enough of that. Weren't you going to convince me to be your clan's alchemist?" Maxine asked.

"Yes, but I don't think my clan has anything that you couldn't get yourself," Sandra said honestly, "My clan is nowhere near as powerful or wealthy as the Kavros clan. Why do you think my father wants me to marry Aziel?"

"I see," Maxine said and finished off her tea to give herself a moment to think.

"Unless you have a gender inversion potion, I don't think you can help me at all," Sandra said sadly, "I have things I can trade for it, but there are just never any on the market." Oh? It seems daddy's latest potion is rather popular.

"I have one of those," Maxine answered, "Can you show me what you have?"

"Of course!" Sandra said excitedly and placed several different items on the table. One was a bangle that deplayed a kite shield made of energy. It was in interesting item, but not something Maxine was interested in. There were a few other defensive items. But Maxine was most interested in the herbs and seeds Sandra presented. All of them were extremely rare. I think I will take all of those. There are several that are used in the gender inversion potion. That potion is at the very peak of what a potion can do. It would be good to see where I stand alchemy-wise, but I doubt I can make one without failing a lot. It's unlike any potion I've ever made before.

"I'll take the herbs and their seeds," Maxine said as she took the herbs and their seeds before placing the gender inversion potion on the table.

"Are you sure that's all you want?" Sandra asked, "Gender inversion potions are extremely expensive and no one knows how to make them." Daddy and I know how. 

"I'm sure," Maxine said confidently. 

"Alright," Sandra said as she picked up the potion and looked at it hopefully.

"If there's nothing else, I should really head back and rest up," Maxine said, "I'm expecting there to be fighting soon. I only came out to save those night elves." It's not a lie. Transforming into a hydra drained me quite a bit. I need to get some rest to recooperate both mentally and physically. 

"Not right now," Sandra said and quickly put the potion away, "And thank you for this."

"You're welcome," Maxine said and quickly opened a portal back to the hospital basement, "Bye."

"Goodbye," Sandra said softly as Maxine walked through the portal and closed it behind her. She quickly placed a soft mattress on the floor and meditated on top of it. It was at that moment Maxine realized something had been off. Why arn't the four-horned attacking recklessly like they usually do? I don't think they are afraid of elder Miyan. There are records of them attacking immortals enmasse. Is it possible they are waiting for reinforcements? Or is something else going on?