It was the evening on the third day since they’d entered the Beastlands when the atmosphere changed. The temperature increased instead of dropping, and the mana currents around them twisted in agony. The Beastmen halted in unison and looked into the sky. It looked like the trees were pulled aside, the canopy shoved in all directions to make space for a humongous, winged lion-

As it descended, the lion seemed to cover the sky in its entirety, the darkness of the night acting as an extension of its onyx-colored fur. The lion’s wings were made of dark violet feathers, resembling obsidian fragments wreathed in dark flames, just like the creature’s mane.

Melissa and the Imperials stiffened while three nobles buckled over, their legs caving in as a wave of pressure swept across the envoy. Even Percy’s hand twitched, ready to draw the Syreablade at any moment if necessary, but something in the winged lion’s eyes told him it wouldn’t be necessary. The lion studied them like prey, but there was no killing intent. No bloodlust. No hunger.

“The Beast King,” Percy muttered while something deep within him stirred. His Essence had been triggered by the wave of pressure. It commanded Percy to accept the challenge and retaliate. To show him who the strongest creature in the lands of the beasts was. However, Percy didn’t make a move. He subdued the pride blossoming in his chest while his eyes remained glued to the monstrosity of a beast.

My behavior has been weird since…since I awakened the Azure Dragon’s bloodline. No wonder the Old King told me to be careful.

Percy reminded himself.

I awakened a dragon’s pride alongside its power when I unsealed [Dragonblood]...There are always drawbacks to gaining great power…

The lion crashed to the ground, stirring the soil around them. As the wave of dirt passed by them, a hulking figure covered in scars appeared in the winged lion’s place.

The man had pitch-black hair, vibrant purple eyes, and small obsidian-feathered wings sprouting from his back. He was incredibly muscular, and his muscles flexed excessively with every step he made. Yet, one thing about the man was odd.

His face looks much more human than expected.

There had been a bunch of Beastman with a human-like face rather than a beast’s, but Percy had noticed that they were usually weaker than the rest. He couldn’t tell if that was normal or if it was a coincidence that the weakest challengers had been those with a human’s face, but one thing was certain.

The man approaching him with a smile on his lips was dangerous. He was smiling, but his eyes were those of a predator. He was the Beast King.

Percy’s hair stood up to its end, and his blood started boiling. His Essence resurfaced, trying to convince him one last time to change his mind, but Percy prevailed. He stared at the Beast King, who turned to him to look deep into his eyes. A flicker of curiosity appeared in his eyes.

“They really sent us one of their cubs,” He growled quietly, but everyone in the vicinity could hear his deep, charismatic voice easily. It traveled far and created the intended effect.

The remaining Beastmen kneeled right before the Beast King released a thunderous roar into the forest. Percy swallowed hard, his left leg trembling slightly, but he wasn’t as bad off as the remaining nobles. Their legs caved in, and they slumped to the ground.

He’s subduing my people.

Percy realized as the Imperials followed suit. Heavy pressure descended upon the Imperials, pushing them to the ground one after another. However, it wasn’t until the pressure washed over Melissa and Fiona before Percy intercepted.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

He stopped suppressing the Azure Dragon’s Essence within him, and a deep growl escaped his lips.

“Oh?” The Beast King’s attention pulled back to Percy. Fiona and Melissa breathed in relief as the pressure pulled back, but the concern in their eyes didn’t disperse. If anything, their worries grew as Percy stepped forward, the mana inside him surging out as if he were about to challenge the Beast King.

The Beast King appeared before Percy all of a sudden. One moment, he stood ten meters before Percy, and in the next, they stood face to face.

“This is interesting,” The Beast King reached out for Percy and grasped his mana before the crown prince could respond, “You are more than a mere human.”

He nodded as if satisfied with what he perceived, “That is good.”

Did I overreact just now? No, that shouldn’t be it. But why is he acting nice all of a sudden? He tried suppressing everyone, demonstrating how strong he was just a moment ago. So why is he acting like this?”

“Strike me with all you’ve got,” The Beast King ordered in a tone that allowed no refusal, “If you came to find me with the sincere desire to solve our kingdoms’ discrepancies, you will show me your conviction. Now!”

Percy’s eyebrows arched, but he didn’t reject the Beast King’s command. Quite the contrary. The corner of his lips curled upward as his Essence surged through him, filling him with the desire to beat the Beast King. At the same time, Percy’s rationality ushered him to do as the Beast King said.

Thus, both natures occupy his body. He and the blood of the Azure Dragon were of the same opinion.

“If that’s what you wish for, Your Majesty,” Percy responded, ignoring Melissa’s groan from behind.

He stepped back while focusing on his hatred toward the Devil and his frustration with the current situation. The Devil was already problem enough, but their trouble with the Beastlands, caused by some idiotic slavers, was at least as troublesome.

The more he thought about their issues and how easy it should have been to solve one of the kingdom’s greatest problems, the more agitated Percy became. Under normal circumstances, it would have been bad to let loose, but not right now. Percy allowed the Azure Dragon’s Essence to go wild while unsheathing Dragon Fang.

The Beast King steadied his feet as the Syreablade appeared in his hands, glimmering crimson in the darkness of the early night. However, he only dug his claws deep into the ground when Percy activated [Berserk]. The emotions he’d unleashed fueled Percy’s body with power as they intensified. It wasn’t a pleasant experience to feel his emotions this intensely, but Percy knew it was necessary.

Everything might crumble if he couldn’t inflict sufficient damage on the Beast King or impress him with his attack. Nothing was certain, but if he messed up now, it would surely cause some damage and make it more difficult to please the Beast King. Negotiating any deals in the future, once the slavery issue was taken care of, would be incredibly difficult if he failed here.

Everything depended on the next strike.

Percy focused on his emotions and allowed [Dragonblood] to do whatever it wanted. He spread out his feelers to use [Master of the Blade] actively and activated [Silent Reaper] for a quarter of a second. That was all Percy needed to move forward. The first step was dead silent. Nobody could hear anything as Percy executed the first movement sequence.

He transformed into a flash, his skin shimmering azure as his mana gushed out in a flood. The Beast King stared at him calmly, but [Hawk Eyes] depicted a series of clues hinting the Beast King took him somewhat seriously. The King’s claws dug deeper into the ground before Percy reached him.

Dragon Fang transformed into a flash, leaving behind an eerily cold trail as [Cyromancy] was applied to the blade. The blade whizzed toward the Beast King’s head in the heat of the moment, but Percy didn’t even think about slowing his attack. The Beast King had challenged him multiple times. It was only fair to repay the favor.

Dragon Fang’s razor-sharp blade collided with the Beast King, but instead of beheading the monstrosity, Percy’s attack was stopped mid-swung. The blade struck the Beast King’s arm, which had transformed. It was coated in pitch-black fur, wreathed in black flames, and covered in an additional armor, an armed guard, made of a material strong enough to resist the attack.

Yet, instead of blocking the attack entirely, Percy applied enough force to drive Dragon Fang deep into the Beast King’s forearm, nearly cutting the arm guard with a single strike.

“Not too bad,” The Beast King nodded, pulling his other arm back before fully punching Percy in the solar plexus.