Comment and coupon givers, thank you all! Episode 231
71. Magic Beasts and Peace 230 – Magic Beasts and Peace #4
A beam of light burst through the thick, dark clouds in the sky. As I looked up, there was a Gryphon flapping its wings.
“Hey, White One! Hurry, take this Ambrosia and let’s get out of here!”
It was none other than Chino. The little rascal I had forgotten amidst all this chaos appeared, carrying Cairo’s treasure in its mouth.
“Looks like things just got interesting!”
I had been enduring this uproar to retrieve the hidden Ambrosia in Jupiter’s rocky Olympus, but now that Chino had brought it, I had no reason to stay in this messy quagmire.
Bam, bam, bang!
“d*e! d*e! Today marks the end of this long fight, Jupiter!”
Azidahaka stomped on Jupiter, putting all its weight into each blow, leaving the ground shaking. Gone was its usual majestic speech; it had transformed into a monster wreaking havoc without a care.
The Gryphon, Jupiter, was accepting every attack with a somewhat dazed expression as if surrendering to the madness.
“Does history repeat itself…? Just like my daughter, stealing fruit from a father, like Juno…”
Even as bl**d spewed from his mouth and his skin was torn, Jupiter muttered incomprehensible phrases.
“This is the end!”
Whoosh.
Azidahaka raised its front paw high. Its sharp claws gleamed ominously, evoking thoughts of a guillotine.
“Now, just d*e already!”
With that twisted statement, Azidahaka’s paw lunged toward Jupiter.
“……”
The man, Jupiter, closed his eyes with an air of resignation, as if giving up on everything. Was this really the end of the domain struggle between these two beasts, which had drawn bl**d countless times before?
Crunch!
In that instant, Jupiter’s body shot up into the sky like a bolt of light.
“Gah!”
Azidahaka, with its paw still lifted, got smacked in the jaw and fell over with a thud.
Boom!
Thunder roared as Jupiter soared into the heavens, clutching sparkling gems in each arm along with the unconscious Gryphon Chino by the nape.
“Such toughness! Can’t you all just collapse comfortably for once?”
I lifted my gaze to see the dazzling figure of Jupiter. Narrowing my eyes against the blinding radiance, Jupiter held the Ambrosia high above his head.
“A pair of treasures symbolizing immortality. This one is the gem responsible for destruction, Ambrosia. I think I’ll sweep this desert, no, this world away!”
Swoosh!
With Jupiter’s grand proclamation, torrents of rain began to pour from the sky, relentless enough to knock you off your feet. The raindrops were thick and powerful, making it feel like sharp fingers were poking you painfully.
Even someone with tough skin like me felt it; for someone delicate like the girl Leaf, it was as if she were screaming in agony.
“Ugh! This is terrible!”
“Look out! It’s going to flood! Flood!”
Both the Gryphons and the humans from the Golden Mercenary Group hunting them fell helplessly to the ground, overcome by the crashing deluge.
The drainage system in the arena was blocked with debris and mud, so the water rose up to our ankles, creating a mini flood.
“My chin…”
Azidahaka, who had been floored by Jupiter’s uppercut, struggled to rise again. However, its giant form gradually shrank, reverting to the shape of a horned woman.
“I’m out of magical power. How am I supposed to stop that monster now? At this rate, the desert will be entirely submerged!”
Azidahaka fretted as it watched Jupiter, causing strange weather phenomena. Jupiter looked down at us from the sky, breaking into a wide grin.
“Nobody can stop me! Watch closely, soon all you know will crumble, and only my name will remain in this world!”
With the ability to manage rain, thunder, and wind, Jupiter indeed looked like an omnipotent god. Was this how it was during Noah’s flood?
I tightened my front paw and swung it, unleashing a sharp wind that parted the raindrops as I aimed for Jupiter’s neck.
Just as it seemed to connect…
“Useless!”
A violent gust of wind suddenly blew in, nullifying my attack.
“Long-range attacks lose power as I go. It’s a problem. How do you bring down a beast that can fly?”
I turned my gaze to the Gryphons and dragons.
“It’s the end.”
“It’s hopeless. No one can stop that guy.”
The injured and exhausted Gryphons and dragons could only lift their heads to stare up at the sky.
The raindrops crashing down on them formed tiny waves of despair.
“White One, come here!”
Leaf, sheltering under Yingyi, gave me a nod.
Hidden beneath Yingyi’s natural umbrella, Azidahaka and I watched as everyone floated past.
“Gross.”
As a magical beast who had experienced all sorts of horrors, seeing the world crumble in real-time was a first for me.
“Is this all my fault?”
Truth be told, I had lived like a rotten beast for my own survival and gain, but some faint pity and conscience still lingered within me.
Watching the flickering candlelights of life get snuffed out by the cold rain and wind made me slightly reflect.
I never imagined that this madman Jupiter would go this far—trying to bring down the tower he himself built.
“Some folks lose it when pushed to the extreme, it seems.”
While lost in thought, Azidahaka quietly spoke up.
“Even if it weren’t you, this author’s fate was sealed. Within them, feelings of inferiority and destructive desires have swirled like a tempest for ages.”
Azidahaka’s eyes glowed red. Knowing it had superior vision and insight, I found some measure of trust in its words.
“What do we do now? I can’t just sit here!”
Leaf trembled, cold and soaked. She was right; we couldn’t just watch as the world flooded.
But scanning for an exit yielded nothing helpful.
“Ugh, I can’t see!”
“One’s going to d*e! It’s going to flood!”
Gryphons and the humans from the Golden Mercenary Group were unable to get a grip amidst the relentless rain, falling flat on the muddy ground.
The drainage system in the arena had clogged up, flooding our ankles like a mini deluge.
“Ugh, my chin…”
Azidahaka strained to get up after getting KO’d by Jupiter. Gradually, its grand body shrank down, reforming as a horned woman.
“Oh, no… my magical power is depleted. How do we stop that guy? If this keeps up, the entire desert will be underwater!”
Azidahaka stomped anxiously, watching the bizarre weather events caused by Jupiter. Jupiter gazed down at us and burst out laughing.
“None can thwart me! Just watch as all you know crumbles to dust, only my name left behind!”
Jupiter looked like an omnipotent deity, able to wield rain, lightning, and wind. Was this what Noah’s flood felt like?
I tightened my front paw and slashed the air, creating a sharp wind that cleaved through the rain.
Right as my strike was about to hit Jupiter…
“Not a chance!”
A sudden gale washed away my attack.
“Ranged attacks lose power the further they go. How am I supposed to bring down someone who can fly?”
I swiveled my head to gaze at the Gryphons and dragons.
“It’s game over.”
“All is lost. Nobody can compete with that man.”
The bloodied and exhausted Gryphons and dragons merely stared up at the rainy sky, void of any hope.
Raindrops falling on their bodies sent ripples of despair surging forth.
“White one, come here!”
Leaf, shivering in the rain under Yingyi’s shelter, waved her hand towards me.
Oozing with dread, Azidahaka and I huddled under Yingyi’s makeshift umbrella, watching as everyone drifted by.
“Disgusting.”
Though I had endured all sorts of horrors as a magical beast, experiencing the world dramatically crumbling in real-time was a first.
“Is this all because of me?”
Despite having lived like a vile beast solely for my survival and gain, I still had a tinge of compassion and conscience within me.
Observing the flickering life candles being snuffed out one by one in the bitter wind and storm made me reflect a bit.
I’d never thought that this lunatic, Jupiter, would take things to this level, trying to sabotage his own tower.
“Some people really lose it when pushed to their limits.”
While I was in deep thought, Azidahaka broke the silence.
“Even without you, this fractious author was fated for this outcome. Within them has festered a storm of inferiority and a destructive urge since ancient times.”
Azidahaka’s eyes shimmered with a red hue. Given its superior insight, I found myself believing it.
“What should we do? We can’t just let the world drown!”
Leaf shivered, drenched and cold. She was right—we couldn’t just stand by and watch the world flood.
Yet, there was no sign of an escape anywhere in sight.
“Uh, my head may as well fly off! This is nuts!”
“Are we going to be okay?!”
The Gryphon brothers helped their wounded elder, Spotty Cerberus, to his feet. As he stood half-submerged, Spotty gazed at me with murky eyes.
“……”
His charred body twitched slightly as if trying to speak.
I approached him slowly, like I was in a trance.
“Where are you going, White One?!”
“Plan B. I’m taking what’s mine, and Jupiter will take what’s his.”
Splash, splash.
Wading through water up to my knees, I stood in front of the three-headed Spotty.
Wheeze, wheeze.
The fellow sounded as weak as a decaying old tree.
“… Promise… Pluto… revenge…”
Spotty’s hazy eyes locked onto Jupiter, swirling like dark clouds and stormy winds.
“Got it. I’ll keep my promise.”
Crack!
I opened my mouth wide and bit down hard on Spotty’s body. His brothers were horrified and rushed to stop me.
“What the heck are you doing?!”
“No, nooo!”
“White One, this is totally overboard, don’t you think?!”
Wham!
Spotty spat flames at them, freezing them in their tracks. He braced himself for what was coming, prepared to let me devour him.
To seek revenge, he was willing to be sacrificed. What determination brewed within this creature!
My wet fur bristled with heat, sensing the fiery energy flooding my body. It ignited my power, fueling every limb.
[Level Up!]
Name: White One
Species: Magical Beast lv. 21 → 22
Strength: 83 → 87
Agility: 95 → 102
Stamina: 75 → 81
Skills: “Omnivorous” “Strong Claws” “Low Frequency” “Stealthy Movement” “Invisibility” “Charm Dance” “Interbreeding” “Fire Speech” “Riding” “Destructive Force” “Flame Heart” “Roll” “Bounce Back” “Vitality Boost” “Sword Release” “Lion’s Roar”
Having consumed enough experience to level up, my body was radiating heat, drying off the rain-soaked fur in seconds.
The pinnacle of power.
It was truly the perfect opportunity.
As I devoured Spotty whole, I noticed a bright jewel rolling out from his body.
It was another gem called Nectar, known as the tears of stars. I gulped it down too, feeling an overwhelming sense of omnipotence wash over me.
Bursting with that newfound strength, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
“Let’s go, Yingyi!”
“Got it!”
Yingyi, the Cloudring, followed my command.
The true utility of this Cloudring wasn’t some candy cloud or a soft pillow for cuddling—instead, it served as my means of flying.
I settled on the giant cloud, already soaked but feeling as if nested in soft, fluffy cotton.
“Let’s do this!”
As Yingyi inflated its body, it lifted me into the air. For someone without wings like me, this was my only means to soar.
Yingyi, raised in the South Forest by O Kong, who had no means of flying, realized its true purpose and propelled me aloft.
As I rose into the air, Jupiter, busy destroying the world, noticed me and gritted his teeth.
“Crash down to the ground!”
Swipe, slash.
A sharp wind blade rushed toward us.
Yingyi shared thoughts in my mind, allowing me to communicate without needing to speak.
“Let’s do this!”
Yingyi gracefully dodged the gusts, moving like a well-oiled machine.
We can do it!
As I balanced atop Yingyi and sharpened my claws, I felt my will strengthen.
My trusty claws had saved my life countless times, and now, they were my pinnacle weapon.
We can do this!
With Yingyi’s roar, we accelerated, closing the distance between me and Jupiter until I could see his scowling face clearly.
“Get lost! You think you can break through the power of Ambrosia? You, the so-called king of beasts? Don’t make me laugh!”
Jupiter brandished the gem, Ambrosia, and unleashed a powerful shockwave with a sweep of his hand.
I leaped off Yingyi, deflecting the shockwave with my front paw, finally clawing at Jupiter’s torso.
Swish…!
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