Percy didn’t remember getting hurled into a thick tree trunk. He perceived everything around him as hazy and could barely make out Fiona bending over him. Beads of sweat trickled onto Percy’s face, but he barely sensed anything. All he could perceive was pain. His abdomen was tense, and it felt like something pressed tightly against his stomach.

A warming hue shrouded him, but Percy felt cold nonetheless.

He hit me.

Percy realized way too late and scoffed. That wasn’t a good idea, as searing pain spread through his abdomen.

Did he punch through my abdomen or what? No, that shouldn’t be it. The Dragonscale armor protected me.

Percy regained clarity thanks to Fiona’s extensive healing within seconds and looked down at his chest. The Dragonscale armor was still there, and there wasn’t a hole in his abdomen, but the azur-silverish metal was now decorated with a beautiful dent. It showed a deep print of the Beast King’s fist, a mark of the beast’s tremendous power.

“I should have engraved some enchantments on you,” Percy patted the armor and tried getting up. His back was still hurt from getting smashed into the tree, but Fiona’s Ego healed him miraculously. He felt good enough to sense the immense discomfort of the fist-shaped dent pressing into his stomach.

Do I want to know my chances of surviving the Beast King’s punch without Dragonscale? Probably not. I don’t think I would like the answer.

He shuddered and coated Dragonscale in mana to store it in his spatial ring. There was no way to move around comfortably with a massive fist-shaped dent in the armor. Still, Percy summoned the armor again, ignoring Melissa’s shouts directed at the Beast King – Percy had no clue how she was still alive, given the glimpses of curses he heard her throwing at the Beast King – and re-summoned Dragonscale.

[1,000,000 Prosperity has been consumed.]

[Durability reached its limit. [Self-Repair] is overflowing with Prosperity.

[Self-Repair] will be interwoven into the essence of Dragonscale.]

Initially, Percy didn’t plan to engrave the enchantment on Dragonscale. Both his grandfather and father were certain the royal metal wouldn’t break or shatter no matter what was about to happen. They were certain Percy wouldn’t encounter someone strong enough to break Dragonscale. And if he met a monstrosity of that level, someone who destroyed Dragonscale like it was a piece of paper, the destruction of his armor would be his smallest worry.

Maybe that would have been the case if the Beast King didn’t punch him with full force. Unfortunately, that was what he did. His timing couldn’t have been better either. It could take weeks before they returned to the capital, where the only blacksmith who could handle the royal family’s alloy resided. The Dwarf was the only one who could handle Dragonscale, which was nice when you spent most of your time in the royal palace but annoying while you were out of the kingdom.

[Self-Repair] was certainly useful, but it wasn’t something Percy would have engraved on an armor like Dragonscale. Then again, Percy could have engraved many more runic enchantments on Dragonscale much earlier. Instead, he’d invested in the Monster Cards. Dragonscale had never been on his priority list.

It is how it is.

Percy shrugged and stored Dragonscale in the spatial ring where it would be supplied with Percy’s mana to repair itself. Only then did his attention turn to the Beast King. Even though Melissa was still cursing at him, the Beast King smiled.

“That’s a great weapon you have there,” was the first thing the Beast King said when Percy regained his senses. Melissa turned around and sighed in relief, seeing that Percy was fine. He couldn’t be in bad condition if he could stay on his feet. Fiona was much worse off, her golden hair drenched in sweat and stuck to her pale face.

Melissa rushed to Fiona, and a potion appeared in her hands, whereas Percy’s eyes landed on Dragon Fang. The Beast King had pulled the blade out of his damaged arm guard and studied it intently.

Stolen novel; please report.

That’s mine!

Percy declared in his mind while lifting his hand. Dragon Fang heard his call and tremored violently in the enemy’s hands. The Beast King could have applied more force to hold onto Dragon Fang, but he let go and watched in interest as Dragon Fang returned to its owner. The blade flung through the air and landed smoothly in Percy’s hands.

“Neat trick,” The Beast King praised, but he looked rather unimpressed as he added, “I don’t think I’ve seen a weapon like this before. A heirloom of your family, I’d guess. Not bad. Your family dotes on you. That makes sense. You’re not too bad. You might be strong enough to injure me once you reach the Ascended rank.”

Dex and the other Beastmen in the vicinity looked at their king in surprise at that comment.

“Maybe I should kill you now,” The Beast King added with the same lackluster attitude, but neither Melissa nor the Imperials took the Beast King’s commentary lightly. Melissa retrieved her Wand Artifact and prepared herself to call upon Duke in its strongest form while the Imperials unsheathed their Sword Artifacts. The nobles tensed up but also prepared for the worst-case scenario.

“Don’t be such a pain in the ass. I won’t kill him,” The Beast King uttered with a shrug, “Since we have the same goal.”

That didn’t sound too great, but Percy was glad the Beast King was willing to leave him alive. That had to be enough for now.

“Your father is weaker than you. Interestingly, he allowed you to leave the kingdom. He is weak, but he knows what talented Cubs need. A challenge that allows them to grow. You are strong already; your mind and blood are more than acceptable, but you also lack a lot.”

Percy was unsure how to respond to something like that. He never considered himself perfect and knew that he was far from perfect. However, he was trying to make up for his lackluster knowledge and experience by hard work. That had to account for something, right?

“I wouldn’t consider my father weak. He might be a bit rusty, but…” Percy tilted his head.

“He is not a born fighter. You might be one, though. You aren’t like these pampered brats and noble worms,” The Beast King said in a matter-of-fact tone.

Percy shrugged, “I never really thought about what I could be. I have indeed had many dreams since I gained access to mana, but nothing worked out as I had planned. That’s why I decided to go with the flow.”

“That’s also why I joined the envoy. I came here on a whim, more or less, and want to ensure humans and Beastmen can maintain peace,” Percy added, “Let’s capture those bastards who kidnapped the Beastmen to ensure your peoples’ safety.”

“Why?” The Beast King asked.

“‘Why’ what?”

“Why do you want to capture them?”

Is he asking me why I want to capture the slavers instead of killing them, or why I am trying to help them search for the slavers? Isn’t the answer to both obvious?

Percy was bewildered but answered as calmly as possible nonetheless, “For one, I hate slavery. I never understood why anyone would like or approve of such nonsense. It’s disgusting and goes against my moral code. Second, I don’t like people threatening the people of entire kingdoms with their stupid acts. If they wish to stir trouble, they should break each others’ heads.”

“Is that all? I think there is more to it,” The Beast King pointed out, which Percy nodded. Melissa stepped forward, looking like she wanted to intercept, but Percy was already on it.

“I hope we can become allies against the Demon threat. One of the Devils will soon leave the Seven Hells and descend upon the mortal realm. I cannot tell you the exact date because I don’t know it, but it won’t be long if I’m not wrong…I saw it.”

Now, it was time for Melissa to look confused at him. She was never good at composing herself and stared blankly in his direction.

But Melissa wasn’t alone. Even the Beast King was confused, “You saw it?”

“I saw it in a dream,” Percy confirmed. He could tell how that sounded. Nobody would believe a stranger about some danger lurking in the danger just because they saw it in a dream. Even worse was that the Beastlands didn’t have many issues with Demons. It didn’t make sense to believe him, yet the Beast King did not show any signs of doubt or confusion. All he did was listen.

“A dream?”

“Yes. Please don’t underestimate this dream, either. The Devil told me he would be coming.”

This time, the Beast King’s eyebrows arched, “Why would the Devil do that?”

Percy had already come much farther than he could have hoped for. He expected the Beast King to stop him, saying he was spouting nonsense.

But the Beast King was listening.

This was his chance.

“Do you know what the Devil’s Touch is?” Percy asked, “Because that connects me to the Devil.”