“Did we just waste ten days for that?” Melissa asked, fuming in anger.

The air around her was chilly, and tiny crystals formed around her as the Tundra Behemoth, Duke, traveled with fast strides through the Beastlands’ forest. The Tundra Behemoth leaked, reciprocating Melissa’s anger by conjuring larger ice crystals in the surroundings.

The crystals dropped to the ground and melted, but the message was clear: Melissa was furious.

“I am also confused, angry even, but the result is all that matters, don’t you think?” Fiona’s Holy Triceratops was trodding next to Duke, though it was having difficulty following the Tundra Behemoth’s massive strides.

At last, the royal envoy had started their trip back to the Kainesh Kingdom. They were supposed to be satisfied since they completed their mission. However, Melissa and some nobles fumed in anger nonetheless.

They had been pushed aside, forced to stay in the Beastlands much longer than necessary. After all, the negotiations ended less than ten minutes ago. No. The negotiation started less than ten minutes ago and ended after five minutes…Or was it only one minute later?

Could they call their chat with the Beast King negotiations in the first place? It was utter nonsense. A waste of their precious time!

Melissa was angry, yet a part of her was relieved as well. Even though the negotiations had been postponed repeatedly, the Beast King ended up giving them much better ‘conditions’ than they could have hoped for.

…

The Beast King arrived in the envoy’s little camp ten minutes earlier. It hadn’t been long since Percy finished his daily training routine, but he had had enough time to wash up, read the reports relayed from the border settlements again, and chat with the remaining members of the royal envoy before the Beast King joined them.

“It might not be easy to become friends. The Beastmen and Humans have been fighting for a long time, but I hope we can put our hatred aside to–...” Percy started, but the Beast King interrupted him rudely.

“I know what you’re trying to say, and I agree. The Devil is dangerous. He might focus on the Kainesh Kingdom due to the sins of your race, but if we allow the Devil to regain his power by wreathing the Kainesh Kingdom in chaos and destruction, we will be the next. The Devil made clear that he doesn’t want us to be allies,” He cleared his throat and stretched out his massive paw.

“That’s why we will be allies for the upcoming war. The Apex have been very supportive of my decision. The Beast Legions will prepare for an all-out war with the Devil and join your fight when the time is ripe.”

Percy stared starstruck at the Beast King, not a single word escaping his lips.

“But once the Devil dies, we will go our separate ways again. That is final!” He grumbled, turning around to leave again.

The Devil was not only mankind’s enemy. He was far from a mere national threat. No. The Devil, as weak as he may be now, was a threat to the mortal realm. Especially after the things the Devil’s subjects had done to the children of the Beastlands, they were considered the Beastmen’s enemies as well!

Percy understood that sentiment. He had been hoping that it would come to this. That had been his deepest hope. Nonetheless, he didn’t feel great that it had to come to this.

“Thank you….and I’m sorry for what happened to your people…and that it came to this. It would have been great if we had decided without all of this. If we could have rescued all of them, it would have been the best…”

Percy was still living in regret. He had concluded, understanding that he gave his utmost – much more than most would have done in his stead – but a trace of regret still lingered in his chest.

“Are you still thinking about the children you couldn’t save?” The Beast King asked lightly, “Don’t look at me like that. Your face says it all. I am also sad. I don’t think of myself as cold-hearted, but we can do nothing about this situation. We saved as many as we could, removed the threat endangering the peace between the Beastlands and the Kainesh Kingdom, and we are trying, and will always be trying, to find solutions to help the demonified children.”

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The Beast King shrugged, “The demonified children are away and fueled by anger. We sent them to Mythics with suitable Ancient Powers to restrain them, hoping to teach the children how to control their demonic nature. It will be difficult, but it might work. If it doesn’t work, we can always adjust our plans and develop something new.”

He smiled at Percy, “But I am glad you feel like this. It might sound cruel, but I am happy to see a human suffer so much for our sake.”

Percy raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. He couldn’t. It felt like something stuck in his throat, forcing him to stay silent.

“Stay like this even after you ascend the throne and we…Nevermind. That is something we can talk about in the future. Maybe our paths will overlap then,” The Beast King smiled, slapping Percy’s shoulder firmly, “After we defeat the Devil.”

***

Percy and the royal envoy weren’t the only ones anxious about the sudden changes in the Moonlight Forest. The capital had been turned upside down.

“How long until the Kingsguard and Imperial are ready to depart?” The Minister of Defenses, a bald, chubby man, lacking a neck – his double chin covered his short neck –, roared into the royal palace’s courtyard.

Hundreds of maids and servants rushed through the courtyard, but only a handful paid attention to the Minister of Defenses. They were busy completing high-priority tasks for their masters.

“You’re late,” The old Weaponmaster of the palace responded. He walked up to the Minister of Defenses, his expression distorted in distaint, “The Kingsguard are already fully equipped, their Monster Cards replaced with the best Cards we could procure. The Imperials are also ready, though the Minister of Finances told us to wait. She hopes the crown prince will return in time to help with some upgrades.”

“This whore!” The Minister grumbled, pointing at the Weaponmaster with his sausage-like finger, “Who gave her the right to make decisions regarding MY department?!”

The Minister of Defense’s face was red like a tomato. It was also as wide as one.

“The Imperials are to depart with the Kingsguard!! What are you standing here idly for either way?!? Forward my order. NOW!”

The Weaponmaster’s lips parted, but he closed them again, hinting at a bow, and walked off, following the Minister of Defenses command.

The courtyard was already full of life but wasn’t the only place overflowing with life and work. The Kingsguard and Imperials weren’t the only military forces armed for war. They were only the tip of the iceberg, a massive iceberg, which was hopefully big enough to crush the impending dangers.

The Knight Orders were also preparing for an all-out war. Everyone was.

The Queen joined her mother’s work in the Alchemy Lairs of the Dragon Nest, helping the Grandmaster Alchemist mass concocting high-quality potions but also teaching the young Alchemists of the Dragon Nest. They may not be the greatest force, but every potion, whether Basic or Advanced, could make a difference between life and death on the battlefield. The more potions the kingdom’s forces had at their disposal, the more good people would survive.

The King didn’t join anyone. He was busy tending to the court, spreading news about the Devil’s heinous actions into the surrounding kingdom, hoping to receive news of reinforcement. His hopes were slim, but the chance was there.

Tending to the court didn’t end there. The King revealed everything they knew about the Devil, his powers, and how they could deal with him to the Pillars of the kingdom after ordering them to ready their forces for the upcoming battle. Every Gifted of a certain strength, capable of wielding an Artifact without dying – or endangering other Gifted – was requested to join the battle against the impending doom.

It was dangerous, and many good people would die, but it had to be done.

The King couldn’t remember when he last slept. Work and worries consumed his days, but they progressed, albeit too slowly for the King’s liking.

Last but not least, the Old King didn’t hide away. He took the reins of the Dragon Nest, accessed some of the remaining funds he’d hoarded, and purchased everything in Dragon’s Lair and other shops that could be of use. However, the most useful was the Dragon Knight Order.

The crown prince’s Order expanded quickly, but that wasn’t enough. Not if they were supposed to protect the heir to the throne against the Devil and his forces.

“We don’t have enough time, do we?” The Old King muttered under his breath.

He recalled how fast Percy had grown stronger and heard news of his achievements in the Beastlands, but that wasn’t enough. Not even the Syreablade, a weapon forged from their first ancestor, would change their fate.

“He is strong, has the Syreablade, and awakened the Azure Dragon’s blood. Only the first ancestor could do that…but that’s not enough.”

Worries plagued the Old King’s mind day and night, but he had a solution. At least, he hoped the idea that formed in his mind would solve all problems.

If not…

If not…they would have to find a different solution to salvage the Kingdom.