Lord Of Beasts

Liora’s construct was impressive: a giant beacon of light floating high up in the sky and impossible to miss. Even from miles away, it had to be visible and would hopefully draw in those among their squad who had survived.

As cruel as it was, the remaining C Ranks hadn’t even crossed their minds and weren’t a priority for them. And to Ethan, there was only one person he was hoping to see, and they coincidentally were one of the strongest people who had entered the gate.

Thankfully, it didn’t take long.

After a couple of minutes of him nervously pacing, while the others focused on resting and recovering, there was a sudden presence approaching their way incredibly quickly.

Before any of them could even react, there was a pink blur, with Seraphina appearing amongst them excitedly after bursting across the open void. Then there was a spatial distortion, and Elara emerged, her eyes glowing red and her body leaking immense energy.

It rolled off her in waves, heavy and oppressive.

She had somewhat recovered from unleashing her ultimate attack, enough to even drag Rowan along with her, since his abilities didn’t allow for the best manoeuvrability.

Just being beside her was suffocating, her crimson power violent and unruly.

However, Ethan didn’t care, and the moment he saw her, he burst forward without hesitation, moving impressively fast even without assimilating with any of his beasts. He did not care about the others, about the situation, about the energy radiating from her; he was just happy to see that she was alive.

’I mean, I was pretty sure she would be, but...’

He smiled to himself as he pulled her into a tight hug, despite seemingly still being possessed by the Blood Demon within.

’Her eyes are fully red, and that power... that thing has to be in control.’

Ethan still spoke honestly and didn’t let go.

”I’m glad you’re okay.”

For a moment, he froze and prayed that the woman he was so glad to see didn’t suddenly pierce a hole in his chest with a blast of red.

But unlike he expected, he was embraced back.

Elara had stood there with her arms at her sides awkwardly, her face flushed red almost as much as her blood-dyed eyes. Then, after hearing Ethan’s voice in her ears, she couldn’t help but squeeze him back.

It was rare that he wasn’t joking around or being sarcastic.

’I’m glad you’re okay too,’ she thought to herself, unable to sign it to him.

”Aw, look at your lovebirds. I wouldn’t mind holding the offspring of a Lord’s vessel,” the demon within her spoke, ruining their sweet reunion.

She pulled away from Ethan suddenly, her face somehow becoming even more red. If she became any more flustered, her head might explode. It was amusing to see, but equally terrifying, considering the power she was wielding.

But even that suddenly disappeared.

Her eyes returned to normal, and the overflowing mana was suppressed within her body, as if losing control of it due to being so embarrassed.

Ethan stepped back nervously, but seeing her back to normal and in such a state, he couldn’t help but smile.

’She really is cute like that. And either that demon inside her likes me, or she was in control of its power?’

He was glad either way.

Ethan then turned and gave both Rowan and Seraphina a nod, acknowledging them both, also glad they were alive for his own sake.

Kaela watched, then raised a brow.

She had given them a moment to enjoy their reunion, and it was a heartwarming sight, but now it was her turn to tease him about it.

”What a cute couple. You’re together, right?”

Ethan shook his head, turning to face the woman who sported an evil smile on her face.

”How come I didn’t get a reaction like that?”

He smiled.

”Who would be happy to see you?”

She laughed and stepped forward as if to confront him, but brazenly, Ethan also did so.

The air shifted.

For a moment, it looked like they were about to fight.

It was insane that he had even dared to do so, but after seeing him eat beast meat and the rest of his craziness, there was little he could still do that would surprise them.

’The first time we met, she threw me into the air like I weighed nothing before catching me and carrying me around like a kid. But now I feel like I could take her, especially in her current condition.’

Both of them had loony smiles on their faces, matching each other’s craziness.

But deep down, they both knew they weren’t going to actually fight, and they were more so just joking around and sizing each other up.

That was until Kaela did something unexpected.

She grabbed him and pulled him into a hug, but it was a little different from the one he had enjoyed with Elara.

Ethan froze, his brain not functioning.

Kaela had tiptoed and yanked his head down, burying his face straight into her giant chest that was mostly bare after her skimpy clothes were torn further in her battle.

’What the fuck is going on?’

He wasn’t sure what to think or do, and he would be lying if he said he didn’t like it.

’My little friend down there definitely is.’

But he didn’t need to react.

Elara rushed forward and pulled him back, stepping forward, glaring and protective.

’Thank god. Any longer, and I wouldn’t be able to control that monster that hasn’t had action in a minute.’

Kaela laughed.

”If you don’t want him, I’ll take him.”

The two A Ranks stared each other down, the tension sharp and real.

Ethan stood between them.

It genuinely looked like they were about to face off against each other, their auras flaring weakly. The last time they had done so, they had destroyed a part of the city, and it was only possible to stop them because of the S Rank that swooped in.

Everyone else watched silently, amused, on edge, and most of all, jealous.

Meanwhile, the man in the centre of it all raised his hands, trying to diffuse the situation in his own questionable way.

”Listen, there’s more than enough of me to go around,” he said. ”You two want some too?”

He glanced at Liora, then at Seraphina.

The tension instantly snapped, and rather than being fought over, he was now being attacked.

Elara struck first, a clean smack to the back of his head.

Then chaos erupted as they all jumped him: insults, hits, kicks.

Ethan curled up on the ground, laughing.

’This would be a kinky dude’s dream.’

He took another hit and let out a dramatic groan, though it didn’t really hurt.

’Getting beat up by four pretty women...’

Another kick.

’Worth it.’

He grinned through it all.

’Maybe I should change my Title to Lord of Ladies.’

Eventually, they stopped and let him get back up, grazed but smiling.

Of course they hadn’t been hitting him as hard as they could, and if they had, he definitely wouldn’t have been cheesing as he was.

The mood felt lighter now, and that had been his goal all along.

Ethan dusted himself off, cracked his neck, and looked around at the odd but powerful clearing squad.

”Alright.”

His expression sharpened.

”Let’s move.”

Because jokes aside, Phase Three had begun, and time was of the essence...