Cub 080: He Ate Zao Zao’s Candy and Said It Tasted Bad

The wind swept up sand and gravel, brushing roughly against Little Chu Zao’s cheek.

The cub’s pupils widened slightly, his body suddenly shielded.

The huge sound of collision buzzed in his ears, almost numbing him.

Anya, in that instant, spun to strike back, but rushed too hastily, still having to shield Little Chu Zao. The force from the massive collision made the cub smell blood; the next moment, in the violent impact, both sides of the collision were flung away by the force.

Everything nearby was swept along, too.

The candy in the cub’s pocket spilled out in the chaos, scattering everywhere.

Anya’s wings snapped open behind him, releasing the little cub, his whole body slamming into the mountain of the mining planet, while the other figure, like a shell, crashed heavily into the not-far-off gathering area of the human race on the mining planet.

The earlier peace was instantly shattered.

Dust flew up, alarms blared suddenly.

“Huh?”

That voice full of malice sounded a bit surprised.

Revealing itself in a cloud of dust.

A tall human figure, the slightly curled leopard tail behind him, non-human beast eyes glimmering faintly in the swirling smoke.

Seemed stronger than he’d imagined?

Storm thought to himself.

He looked again at Little Chu Zao, whose whole body exuded an enticing aroma of flesh and blood that he’d sniffed out from afar.

The cub stood frozen, still gripping the innocent big bird in his hands, looking dazed, his curls tousled by the waves of force, his cheek scratched by flying gravel and pebbles.

Little uncle…?

The cub let go, the big white bird in his hand flapping away in panic, the little one turning to look anxiously behind him.

Anya’s urgent charge had been too disadvantageous, even if he’d defused much of the force, in an instant, he was thrown far off, and there was no sign of movement in the dust.

“Tsk—”

Storm licked his injured arm.

In the clash of that bizarre mental power, his arm had exploded instantly, blood splattering everywhere.

That kid wasn’t badly hurt, just flung a bit far. The real trouble was his own.

Storm glanced at the candy wrapped in paper that he’d grabbed by chance in the chaos.

He casually tossed the candy in his mouth, chewing it—wrapper and all—a few times—

“Not tasty.”

Storm commented.

Well, at least there were plenty of people here; Storm swept a lazy glance at the crowd behind him.

At this moment, the humans here included Holy Cas people, as well as other drifter planet residents temporarily settled here.

Those eyes were vicious, not the eyes for looking at living creatures, but at food. Especially since a Crown Clan member had been flung away—one who could single-handedly stand against an entire beast army.

For that instant, everyone was instinctively terrified, even too weak to run.

Of course, the first to be eaten would certainly be this ‘nestling’ who’s lost his protection.

Storm had only just taken a step forward.

“Cough cough cough—”

Under the collapsed eaves, someone in the crowd shouted—

“Protect little highness!”

“Yes, protect little highness—His Highness Anya will be back any moment—”

A Holy Cas person jolted awake, roused by the shout; this was their moment of negligence, but most had energy weapons at their waists or backs.

At the same moment, the Holy Cas people tried to fight back.

This cry also roused the others besides the Holy Cas people.

“Crazy! They’re completely crazy, these Holy Cas people—”

“What are they made of?! Didn’t they see that Crown Clan has already lost?”

“Go, go—run! Let’s run—”

This group of lunatics happened to buy them more time.

The little cub was also jolted awake.

He suddenly turned to look at everything, the surroundings a mess.

At that moment, everything around seemed to slow in the little cub’s eyes. Wen Qingfeng’s head was bloody, fallen on the ground, shielding Wen Qingyu, who shouted angrily and tearfully, firing an energy gun.

These energy guns could harm beasts to a certain extent, but for stronger ones, such weapons wouldn’t do—it needed an energy cannon from mechas or starships.

For Storm, these guns were child’s play, but combined in a barrage, they still hurt and annoyed him.

Hey hey hey—he’d thought mental power here was puny as ants, yet the weapons were quite something. A little more force, they’d have broken his defenses.

Storm turned irritably, swinging at them—

Might as well eat them first, restore some stamina, then finish off those two Crown Clan with wings.

All destruction and chaos.

Little uncle, missing.

The crown atop Little Chu Zao’s head flashed twice, then abruptly burst into flames, instantly turning into black fire.

No!

Little Chu Zao stretched out his hand, and in a flash, his little bow and arrow appeared.

Bow drawn, arrow loosed—

A black blaze shot out instantly.

But after all, he was only five, still a cub—

His arrows didn’t have the destructive power of Feeney’s, nor the speed of other Crown Clan.

If the cub’s attack was deliberately dodged, it would indeed be easy.

Storm sensed the power in that arrow—not strong, but beast instinct told him—best not to touch it, or it’d be trouble.

Storm easily dodged aside.

“Heh, just a weak brat—but as a sign of respect, I’ll make sure to eat you up, not leaving a single marrow—”

Zao Zao had practiced countless times with parents present—archery, combat, dodging, hiding his presence…

Of course.

He knew, at such a distance, his speed could never truly threaten the enemy.

All this barely took a moment, given the Holy Cas people’s reaction time, the shouting, and the arrow’s flight—it was only a matter of seconds.

In those seconds, Chu Zao had realized this.

So, as soon as his arrow was shot, the cub instantly hid his presence and moved.

His little hand clutched his little bow tightly.

Now, no one stood before him.

It wasn’t like before, shooting his Cupid’s arrow from afar and waiting for his parents to fix things.

Could he do it?

The cub felt a bit afraid, a little anxious; childish tears welled up by instinct but the little cub forced them down.

Deep in his memory, there were always traces of being suppressed—

Gentle, compliant, timid, blend into the group, never stand out—however others treat you, you should learn to accept, and become an angel.

But the system had said—Zao Zao could do it, only Zao Zao could.

Baba, teachers, and Zao Zao’s family and friends had all said—

Once, in a sunny afternoon, the little cub lay across his desk, looking up with big eyes at Hel, who held a book: “Teacher, Zao Zao only knows love and peace. Doesn’t that seem unlike a little Crown Clan?”

Hel had been surprised then: “Why think so? Zao Zao, you don’t need to think like that. The Crown Clan’s abilities are widely varied. We just chose to fight now, so that’s the kind you see. Don’t listen to such nonsense.”

And Third Uncle’s smiling voice seemed to ring behind him, his hand, as during training, gripping the little hand: “As an archer, you need to increase strength, aim, agility—and then focus, hold your breath. Of course, if you can’t handle things from afar, we aren’t above rushing up close.”

Little Chu Zao hid his presence, and as Storm turned to face the Holy Cas, he acted fast.

He heard a clinking sound by his ear like chains colliding.

The others hadn’t gotten far.

They looked back.

With the Holy Cas people—

The Crown Clan’s abilities were outstanding, even for a five-year-old cub.

Before Storm could reach out, that little figure—the little highness always cute and needing protection in their eyes—had already charged up to Storm, the little wings on his back seeming to stir up a whirlwind, in swirling sand and dust, under everyone’s shocked gaze.

The cub raised his little bow, aiming at Storm’s face.

His tender childish voice rang out loudly—

“You can’t bully little uncle or hurt Zao Zao’s friends!!”

Zao Zao won’t allow it!

For a moment, Storm even looked surprised—

Came right to the door?

Storm watched the power in the cub’s hands, weighing within a breath whether to parry or dodge.

In the end, Storm opted to dodge for now.

“Little highness!!”

Wen Qingyu shouted.

They attacked again, energy beams firing.

This was a scene that, to non-Holy Cas people, was hard to understand.

The ‘leader’ of Holy Cas got into trouble and didn’t hide—they stood in front of the Holy Cas, and none of the Holy Cas people showed any sign of fleeing, determined from the start to risk death.

Zao Zao’s arrow flew, power surging for a moment—maybe it was just Storm’s misperception, but for that instant, the cub’s black-flaming bow seemed to grow, and his psychic weapon, like his crown, stretched outward. What had been just a single arrow began to appear multiple—though it passed in a blur.

Because Storm had already begun to withdraw, Little Chu Zao’s draw was incomplete, and only one arrow shot out, straight for Storm’s most vulnerable eye.

Brave indeed.

But still—so slow—

Storm thought.

Suddenly, a louder clanking of chains sounded in his ear.

*

Meanwhile, in space.

A short alert sounded—coming from the Holy Cas mining planet.

Following the odd aura, Amos had found many lifeless starships, now spreading his wings, tracing the path ahead until he heard the alert.

He frowned, changing course in an instant.

Comms echoed with others’ voices.

Feiman: “What’s going on? Why is there no movement from Anya’s side?”

Feeney: “Where’s Zao Zao? Second bro, are you with Zao Zao? The Holy Chalice Clan is having trouble; mainly, their chief, Caverno, can’t hold on. The elders say because the clan chief’s power is unique, so I’ll just take them toward you. Oh, right, I told the medical center—brought his son Derrick over too, maybe for a last meeting? Let this young chief see what their family’s ability’s about.”

Feeney even gave a sarcastic laugh—what a hellish joke.

Lien: “I haven’t gone far, turning back now—”

Meilun: “Wait, where’s my Zao Zao baby? Any word!!”

Kaman: “No word. Save your breath, just listen.”

Amos assessed the situation.

“I’ll be there quickly—Anya’s there, it’ll be fine.”

He said this, but his face was cold and dark.

“Sort out the Holy Chalice Clan as you see fit, everything else we can talk about after.”

“Okay.”

“True that, Anya’s all prickly but he’s really dependable—”

Holy Cas mining planet #78.

“Drip—drip—”

Droplets of blood hit the ground.

“Wha…t…?”

Storm’s voice was low, incredulous, muttering—an arrow flaming with black fire was embedded in one of his eyes.

His body was bound in place by countless silver-black chains, with no way to dodge.

The arrow was almost turning to ashes.

A hollow bloody pit left him screaming out in pain.

“Don’t just randomly switch targets…”

A voice sneered with malice and impatience, cold and menacing.

“You must be the new beast commander my second brother mentioned, the one that might have evolved?”

Amidst the dust, someone landed, wings unfolding behind them, scattering the ashes.

A silver-black crown shone dully, scarlet eyes radiating killing intent.

Chains twined twice around the white wrist dripping fresh blood—black, white, red—an extreme contrast.

And blood dripped from those silver-black chains.

With a malicious, mocking grin, he added,

“Turns out you’re just a brainless jerk. One after another all nuts—eat more brains before showing up, okay? My eyes are burning—oh, but I’ll give you credit for letting Zao Zao style you up a bit. The rest—simply ridiculous.”

Countless sharp spikes burst out from the silver-black chains, impaling Storm, who failed to react, only to have Anya yank hard, silver-black chains stained crimson.

Anya moved in the next instant.

“You…you…you…”

Damn, damn, damn—

That sweet flesh and blood so close, yet he couldn’t eat it.

Why, why—

Is this the power of Crown Clan?

Crown Clan should be more similar to humans, right? Even if they have wings and strange psychic power—there couldn’t possibly be such strong ones.

Just like those powerful forces in the contamination zone blocking their progress—roars, scarlet eyes, more like ferocious, savage beasts than they were—could it be, that power was from Crown Clan?

The arrogant Storm, for the first time, felt his hair stand on end.

He broke free desperately, retreating suddenly—

The chains were too tight, escaping would cost dearly.

Droplets of blood and hunks of flesh flung off, sliding down Anya’s now blood-red silver-black chain.

Storm hung in midair—

He staggered, fending off Anya’s attack, flying higher.

Their powers clashed in the air.

The collision of mental force made weaker minds buzz painfully.

Anya didn’t dare stray far from the cub.

The thing was different from normal beasts, too fast; Anya wasn’t the fastest Crown Clan, nor could he guarantee this freak was the only one.

Every Crown Clan member had their own powers and strengths—only Amos was a true all-rounder.

Little Chu Zao had used up too much power in that shot, piercing the beast’s psychic defenses—now feeling exhausted, panting hard. Seeing Anya, his little face almost crumpled, tears about to fall, wanting to punch Anya with tiny fists—Zao Zao was scared stiff.

But he didn’t—the little cub still held up his bow.

He seemed to have grasped something else just now—

The cub kept his bow raised, black fire still burning on his crown.

In that instant, his little bow extended larger; the several phantom arrows just now slowly solidified—he now gripped three psychic arrows in his hands.

And Storm realized what was wrong.

Too strong.

A single Crown Clan member was too strong.

If not for his speed and evasive psychic skills, that wounded Crown Clan would have killed him by now.

This was totally different from what Storm imagined—

If so, Storm could understand why, apart from scattered beast armies shrinking in contamination zones, no stronger beasts had come forth.

Yes, Storm felt too that these beast armies were too few—so breaking past the contamination line and rushing into this star region, that’s why he acted directly, but to go on like this, and he’d be wiped out too.

To command an army, he must hide. He’d already learned that there were few Crown Clan. He used to sigh, thinking of the rare chance to see such a species, but couldn’t eat many anyway.

But now—their numbers were their weakness.

Work the Crown Clan to death—still impossible to fully destroy or block the star cluster’s beasts.

He needed to find a chance to escape.

Storm quickly calculated.

Dodging messily, he triggered an emergency defense—the Holy Cas military’s cannons opened fire.

Warships pressed down, small starships or mechas flew from the bays.

This level of tech was also beyond Storm’s expectation.

“Zao Zao!”

The foe was too fast, but not that strong in attack; Anya managed to hold him, shouting.

Anya also realized: energy weapons did little damage to this thing; only psychic weapons could break defense and wound him.

Little Chu Zao was still aiming, still gathering strength, investing all his might into the arrows, their tails burning long in his little grasp—it was as if the small cub crushed fire itself. Amid racing wind and dust, he stood out, bright and clear.

Standing before the Holy Cas people.

Then, the little cub took a deep breath—

Held his breath, focused, concentrated—

Zao Zao knows how.

He picked the likely direction, the next move of the foe.

Zao Zao had learned it.

Lock them in—!

Finally, the cub pulled the bow to its limit, and let go.

In a daze, the cub saw something—big eyes going wide, cheeks stained with blood, some from Anya, some his own.

He reached out, grasping at the air, finally catching something—

Anya’s chains rushed in, blocking Storm’s retreat, forcing him to be struck by Chu Zao’s arrows in the next instant.

Storm faltered, pausing midair.

Anya seized the moment, a chain drove through the other’s chest.

The chain withdrew, ready to pierce again—

Now Anya was right in Storm’s face—

A black-flaming arrow punctured Storm’s chest, along with a gaping hole left by the chain.

This thing’s body was tough—

But it didn’t matter, he’d caught it now.

Anya was thinking, ready to deal a fatal blow.

But the next moment, Storm’s head suddenly changed—his head grew huge, furred and ferocious, then those massive fangs bit at Anya.

What the hell—

Anya started, and sprang back.

“Disgusting.”

In that moment’s gap, Storm escaped Anya’s chains—had to get out fast, gather all beast armies across the star cluster and surround this place!

With psychic power, Storm issued his orders, countless beasts charging Holy Cas.

Anya raced to intercept—but caught sight of something.

The little cub, after shooting three arrows, was exhausted, no longer drawing his bow.

But he gripped something, took off his crown, wound it around twice, with practiced movement.

The cub shouted super loudly at his crown: “Baba—”

Amos had arrived?

Anya was stunned for an instant, his chain switching from attack to total blockade, a volley of cub’s arrows flying by, Anya still hadn’t seen Amos.

Then he heard the cub again, after exhaustion, his body suddenly overheating, making him dizzy—pointing to the disgusting thing in midair, choking out with teary voice, sobbing: “He hit little uncle, he hurt little uncle—”

Then his voice broke a little, tears fell, sobbing sounds rang out; at that moment, the atmosphere around turned abruptly terrifying, only the cub’s voice loudly complaining.

“He also ate Zao Zao’s candy and said Zao Zao’s candy tasted bad.”

Anya: …?

Wait a sec, cub, was your point little uncle or the candy??