Desmond’s eyes, previously fierce from pain, were momentarily dazed.
Little Chu Zao, who had squeezed in to see what was happening, was also stunned.
There was no light in the room, only a bit of daylight filtering in through the not-quite-sealed window.
Inside was a mess; a specially-made shackle was fastened to his wrist—only one, not for total restraint, just to limit his range of movement, and at the moment slick with blood from his struggle.
He had an extremely strong self-healing ability, but the wound had healed and torn open over and over, forming layers of skin that looked painfully raw; in some places, the shackle had worn down to bone, and blood flowed down his wrist into his sleeve, soaking half his clothing.
Like a trapped beast, he was fixed in a corner, forearm veins bulging from exertion, looking ferocious.
Yet, teetering on collapse, he appeared somewhat fragile.
One big and one small, two somewhat similar sets of brows and eyes met, both surprised by the other’s appearance.
“What are you doing here?”
Desmond spoke first, his weak voice full of hostility.
A locked-up beast was still a beast, the earlier laziness gone, only viciousness left.
“Get out, you don’t belong here.”
The almost completely sealed environment made it clear that Desmond did not want to be seen at a time like this.
Or rather, in such moments of vulnerability brought on by mysterious power surges, everyone tacitly avoided each other.
But Little Chu Zao didn’t know that, and after days of relative freedom here, he happened to squeeze in during this gap.
Desmond, bloodied and fierce yet fragile, looked over with undisguised aversion.
“Awuu—”
Startled by the reaction and the intense rejection, the polite little cub instantly realized his blunder. He struggled to retreat, and with a push from his paws outside, the fluffy little head disappeared at once.
Desmond’s breathing grew heavier.
He hung his head, suppressing his fury, preparing to get up and reseal the window.
He staggered, blood dripping from his fingers.
He’d been seen—but whatever—
It was just a little thing; no threat, no problem.
As for whether he’d scared it?
Desmond thought over Chu Zao’s actions—so what if it was scared off? Didn’t concern him, no need to care.
It was always the same: just act fierce and the little ones automatically run away, nothing to it.
Why hadn’t Dan tossed this little critter out yet?
Efficiency was just too low.
Desmond walked with a slight stumble and daze.
Just as he was about to reach the window, the little fluffy head that had just disappeared suddenly squeezed back in.
An illusion?
Desmond froze, instinctively wanting to rub his temples.
But too late—the little one he’d chased off just rolled right in, landing and half-crouching as a pretty youth, looking up at him.
Chu Zao saw Desmond was barely able to stand.
He’d always felt strangely about these people—especially Desmond sharing his great-grandfather’s name. Maybe because of that, Chu Zao somehow couldn’t really dislike them.
And his current miserable state.
“Are you okay? Does something hurt?”
Chu Zao sounded a little awkward.
For a polite cub, coming back after being chased off decidedly crossed a line.
He scratched his cheek, honey-colored eyes raised.
Desmond finally realized it wasn’t an illusion.
He pressed his fingers to his aching temples, speaking with no kindness.
“Didn’t I tell you to leave? Do you know where you are, what’s going on here? You just squeeze in whenever? Didn’t your guardian ever teach you?”
Apparently there was a flaw in this cub’s upbringing.
Not surprising—this kid showed up alone in their usual haunts, that in itself was proof.
Desmond looked at Chu Zao, full of irritation—he didn’t want anyone to see him like this. No one could empathize with them, so why did this cub come back after leaving?
“Of course my guardian taught me.”
Chu Zao couldn’t help but retort, pretty brows drooping slightly.
But clearly, it was this guy who was suffering. When telling him to scram, Chu Zao could feel his emotion—desperately reaching outward.
“If you don’t really want me gone, just be honest. Why are all you elders like this, do you hit some special switch when you get older?”
Chu Zao muttered—seriously, just like those stubborn elders in his clan: act scary but are actually brittle and miserable.
He’d almost left, but feeling Desmond’s despair, he came back again.
Why did everyone live so bitterly?
He was running out of candy.
Desmond could hear every word—
Older?
He was a bit speechless, staring at little Chu Zao.
The little one was rummaging through his pockets.
He came up with some bright-wrapped candy.
Chu Zao stayed alert—he could turn into a white ball and slip out in an instant from this spot, and he wasn’t too close—still four or five steps away.
He looked up at Desmond.
“Haven’t eaten for days, have you? Candy, for you.”
Eating sweets made him happy and eased anxiety.
Others might not be like that.
But Chu Zao’s sensitivity to emotions made him instantly aware of Desmond’s state; the candy was just an excuse to give Desmond a way out.
With so many elder relatives, all stubborn and toughing it out, Chu Zao was skilled at handling them.
Ha—Candy?
Desmond wanted to sneer.
Did he look like the type who needed candy?
Only a half-grown youth like the one before him would need such pointless comfort.
Desmond was about to refuse.
But looking at Chu Zao’s “I’m giving you an out, hurry up and take it” expression—
Desmond, rarely, was left a little stiff. His sharp, proud face twitched faintly.
“Why don’t you run?”
Desmond finally crouched to Chu Zao’s eye level.
“No real need.”
Chu Zao pushed the candy over, perfectly at home with elders.
“You don’t seem like bad people, no need to be so tense. That’s what my teacher taught me.”
That gentle socializing was really something Hel taught, but for the usually aggressive Crown Clan, there were big caveats—if someone was unapproachable or unappreciative, Amos would just bulldoze through anyway, didn’t matter.
In some ways, the whole galaxy loved and hated Holy Cas—admired how they did things and handled the Aberrant Beast Legions, but hated their unreasonable ways in a power struggle.
Desmond sneered, noncommittal.
Eyeing the candy pushed his way, his voice was pained but still lazy.
“Didn’t your guardian teach you that being too soft in a place like this can get you killed?”
“If I had to run, I’d get away.”
Just get hurt, that’s all.
Chu Zao muttered.
“Eat up, a bit of sweetness might make you feel better.”
Chu Zao looked up, still crouched, propped on his hands, watching Desmond.
“Huh—”
Desmond scoffed, eyeing the cub’s shimmering gold crown, gently swaying.
Its soft glow and the youth’s gentle lines—especially now, chin cradled by hands—made him even cuter, and, in the dim room, the crown was the brightest thing of all.
He didn’t quite get what this floating mini-crown was; he just picked up the candy, eyes down.
“No one can ever truly empathize, especially someone your age. Too young, you know nothing.”
“I know plenty.”
Chu Zao watched Desmond take the candy; the vicious aura seemed to ease a bit, whether through distraction or something else, Desmond looked less tormented.
Chu Zao glanced at the gap behind, ready to leave.
“It’s natural not to empathize, but my family’s had plenty of such things; I’ve got to find my way home soon, don’t even know if my coming-of-age ceremony will be on time. After so many days, I should be worried. When can I leave? Or can I at least come along when you go out? You should know by now we’re not at odds. Of course, I’ll take care of my own safety, don’t trouble yourselves.”
At the words “find a way home,” Desmond unconsciously reached out, but just then, the little guy turned back into a white fluffball, snapping him out of it.
How had such a half-grown cub ended up here?
Desmond withdrew his hand, listening to the cub’s urgency to leave—and felt a strange, unspeakable emotion.
Like some elder who had waited a long time, only for the younger one to run off—was that all?
Such a feeling was weird indeed.
Truly, the kid wasn’t very old, not even at his coming-of-age, just recently born compared to Desmond, and not even afraid of him—actually evoking a touch of benevolence.
Hah, how ridiculous.
“Go out? It’s not out of the question. You did pop up in our territory after all. We consider everything.”
The little fluffball let out a noise in response, knowing full well not to get impatient in a place like this.
As Desmond watched, the little white ball flapped its wings, waved at him, and slipped out through the window crack.
Desmond instinctively reached out, bloodied hand crinkling the candy wrapper, blood still dripping from a deep wound to the floor. He gave a snort, and popped the candy into his mouth.
Never had this candy before; the taste was indeed good.
But—was it just his imagination—
Desmond belatedly turned his head, rubbing his temples.
It seemed…it didn’t hurt as much as before?
The pain of that inexplicable force raging inside seemed to be receding.
Maybe, for some time now, it had been calmed a bit.
On impulse, Desmond looked at the wrapper in his hand.
A trace of confusion in his eyes.
Even after leaving his room, he was still dazed.
In the courtyard, Dan hurried by, arms full of berries, muttering about needing to fetch some meat later.
Suddenly, an oppressive aura made him turn instinctively.
He stared in shock—Desmond.
Dan’s berries dropped, his stance going defensive.
“Desmond, are you lucid?? Did you not lock yourself up in your room?!”
Desmond kicked a small rock at Dan.
“What’s with that face?”
“Whew—that’s good, you’re in your right mind.”
Dan breathed a sigh, still uneasy.
“If you weren’t, we’d never handle you; we’d have to move to another base.”
Desmond rolled his eyes.
“Where is everyone?”
“Most haven’t come back, Louisa’s in the kitchen, Annailin seems to really dislike that little guy, barely shown up these days, no clue where he’s hiding—”
Dan picked up the berries, glaring and distracted, sunset-gold eyes restless.
“What’s that about?”
Desmond looked at the berries in Dan’s arms.
Those shouldn’t have been easy to get, if he remembered right.
“What do you think?” Dan rolled his eyes, “Can’t let the little guy starve, right? And for the record, I’m like Annailin, not fond of the weird kid, it’s just since none of you care, and if he ran off and turned dangerous, you’d blow up—so I’m just handling it because I have to.”
Desmond stared at the pile of berries in silence.
Dan, meanwhile, was entirely confident.
Yes, nodded Dan, that’s all there was to it.
Desmond said nothing, and walked over.
“So what’s your deal? Why’re you out so soon? Scared me half to death.”
Dan followed Desmond toward the kitchen.
They could clearly sense Chu Zao’s location—still out and about, but hadn’t left camp.
“No idea.”
Desmond’s dead-fish eyes stared ahead, indifferent.
“I’m just fine now.”
“Oh, and about the kid—”
Dan thought, then couldn’t help but ask.
“Are we throwing him out?”
Desmond said nothing.
Sensing he was considering it, Dan spoke again by reflex.
“Hey, he’s not any threat, I don’t want to mind him either, but really, has he come of age? Seems their kind is decent, not monsters, not dragons. Throwing a cub out like that seems wrong? Not that I want to raise him—”
“You’re right.”
Desmond seemed to hear what he wanted, and nodded.
“I know you’ll object, and all, but—wait, what did you just say?”
Dan was mid mental-justification for his own odd behavior, but then realized Desmond had just agreed, and stared blankly.
They’d long forgotten their origins, just instinctively gathered together, and Desmond had, through ruthless strength, become the group’s leader.
With Desmond’s personality, he surely wouldn’t want the cub to stay.
Especially when he’d barely interacted with the kid.
But Dan never expected Desmond to be this way.
“The guardians are irresponsible, but we can’t just toss him out. Better to wait for his guardian to pick him up—safer, and we’ll have things to discuss.” Wasn’t it clear how dangerous it was to throw out a half-grown cub?
Desmond couldn’t help but think this, though he insisted, like Dan, it was because the cub’s guardian was unqualified.
Dan: ……
Buddy, did you really understand what I was saying?
Seems like you only heard what you wanted! Only responded to what you fancied!
Dan forced a smile, saying no more.
“As for the monster and dragon cleanup, I told him he could come along.”
Desmond said offhand.
Dan, full of question marks, followed for a few steps before it clicked.
“Wait, didn’t you go back and lock yourself in? When did you promise him that?”
How did he not know? Hey, hey—why are you walking so fast!!
*
At the same time.
Dragon territory.
These past few days, Chao Huangmu had been thriving amid brawling dragons, even picking up a few underlings. Now he paused at a stall.
Behind him, some dragons followed, appearing respectful, but eyes flickering with cunning malice.
Dragons were a mad, cruel race, fiercely territorial and unsuited to communal living, always wishing to subdue their own kind and wipe out all outsiders.
To them, Desmond and the others, as well as the monsters, were highly detestable.
Of course, they also hated each other.
Power ruled—whoever could beat the rest would command brief loyalty.
Chao Huangmu understood all this.
He could sense the bad intentions behind him—
But it didn’t matter; Chao Huangmu didn’t care.
He was just annoyed—head torturing him with pain, a voice screaming to purge everyone, especially… those golden ones?
The headache eased only when he unleashed his power.
Whatever, whatever—
Chao Huangmu smiled to himself.
As long as it helped with the headache, he’d do anything. Didn’t matter.
Chao Huangmu was never really a ‘good person.’
Now, he eyed a shiny thing at a dragon’s booth—a beautiful, honey-colored gem.
Under the faint daylight, it gleamed and sparkled.
He’d snatched plenty of shiny things lately, all sorts of treasures, but none appealed to him like this one did.
Chao Huangmu, to dragons, was overly slender, and—though he didn’t know why—always smiled. He had no plan to change that. To most dragons, he looked naïve and easily cheated.
“Want this?”
The dragon watched Chao Huangmu, eyes swirling, then at the red gem pinned to his ear and assorted accessories.
Obvious that the young man loved shiny things and didn’t mind carrying loads of gems and gold.
“Name your price.”
Chao Huangmu crouched, smiling, eyes glued to the honey-colored gem. His head throbbed for a moment, but this time no outburst; he just rubbed his brow lightly, gaze still on that pretty stone.
“You’ll have to give me this, and this, and this in exchange,” the dragon said slyly, pointing at Chao Huangmu’s belongings.
That thing? Worth trading all those dazzling gems?
The dragons behind Chao Huangmu stared wide-eyed.
Chao Huangmu didn’t care, tossed over a handful of items looted in recent brawls.
The dragons looked at him like a sucker.
He had fought like mad for those spoils, and now traded them for something not nearly as dazzling?
Utterly baffling.
But next second, all pity swung to the opposite dragon.
Because that one snatched up the shinies and hurriedly packed up the stall, making a practiced getaway.
“Hey—”
Chao Huangmu looked up by instinct.
“You took my gem.”
“Your gem? Don’t talk rubbish, they’re all mine here. Keep bothering, I won’t be nice—”
The dragon snarled.
Chao Huangmu tipped his head, expression turning cold—“Is that so.”
He murmured.
The dragon thought he’d caved and was about to jeer, when a giant black shadow covered him. He had taken dragon form, but this shadow was several times bigger, with golden beast eyes opening—cold and terrifying.
“If you like something, you have to snatch it yourself—”
Chao Huangmu had somehow appeared behind, stomping the dragon down with a crash—the dragon trembled, seeing the shadowed Chao Huangmu, his face twisted in pain as he pressed harder due to his headache.
He bent and picked up the gem he wanted, scooping up the rest of the shinies too, gazing with satisfaction at the honey-colored gem.
“What you snatch is truly yours.”
He pressed down harder.
The dragon didn’t have time to speak or struggle before being thoroughly crushed.
Chao Huangmu turned his bright smile on the stunned dragons: “Know where I can find more gems like this?”
He continued—after destroying anything in his way—“I want to build a big nest—”
“You, you’re not looking for a mate…what do you need a nest for?”
“A mate…?” The blood-soaked youth mused. “A nest is for storing shinies—why a mate?”
His expression darkened, becoming a little frightening: “To share my beautiful gems?”
The dragons shook their heads frantically.
“Those beautiful gems are probably, probably in the area where the aliens live—”
Aliens?
Chao Huangmu mused, his spiritual power retracting smoothly. He smiled brightly again: “Where do they live?”