The training camp of the Shin Kingdom was unusually tense.
Soldiers surrounded the field, forming a wide circle. In the center stood Precious, calm and expressionless. Beside him was Rex, while Dhuma hovered slightly above the ground, his wings half-spread, radiating arrogance.
Dhuma's voice thundered across the field.
"I… the great Dhuma, King of Sky, join you—your humans' army?! Hmph! Kid! I am the guardian beast of this kingdom. That doesn't mean I will join your human force and follow whatever you say. Speak while knowing your place!"
Rex's eyes narrowed.
"How dare you talk like that to my master!"
"Hmph."
Dhuma looked away with clear disdain, as if the people before him were beneath his notice.
Nearby, one of the commanders whispered in shock.
"So he really is the guardian beast…"
The atmosphere tightened.
Then Precious spoke calmly.
"So… what do you want?"
Dhuma's eyes sharpened.
"A lowly human like you—what can you even offer me? I am not something you can buy with money!"
Precious answered without emotion.
"I only want you to protect this kingdom from enemies."
Dhuma scoffed.
"Protecting it is already my duty. I will do that. But I will not join your army, brat."
Precious sighed lightly.
"Ah… no. I want you inside this army."
Dhuma's expression darkened.
"You punk!"
He raised his fist and lunged toward Precious—
But before the attack could land, the ground exploded.
A gigantic creature burst out from below.
A massive earth worm, nearly twenty to thirty meters long, tore through the soil.
Dhuma instantly jumped backward, dodging the sudden attack. Precious and Rex also moved aside with ease.
At the same moment, Precious casually teleported the nearby soldiers away from danger, placing them behind a protective barrier.
The battlefield cleared.
Now only three figures remained in the center—
Precious and Dhuma hovering in the sky, and Rex on the ground.
The giant worm twisted across the earth below them.
Rex expanded his body, growing to nearly thirty meters.
Precious looked toward Dhuma.
"So… who's that? Your friend?"
Dhuma's wings flared.
"Friend? Impossible. That's my enemy!"
The creature's appearance was monstrous.
Its skin was dark brown, covered in small white spikes. Four yellow eyes glowed along its head, and its circular mouth was filled with countless sharp teeth.
The worm roared.
"I finally found you, Dhuma!"
Dhuma's eyes burned with fury.
"Pikeke! You bitch!"
"This is your last day," Pikeke hissed. "Prepare yourself!"
Without hesitation, the two ancient beasts attacked.
Dhuma raised one arm toward the sky.
Lightning gathered around his body.
"Thunder Arrow!"
A bow of pure lightning formed in his hand. A crackling arrow appeared on its string.
With a sharp motion, he released it.
The thunder arrow streaked toward Pikeke.
But the worm instantly dove underground, disappearing just before the strike.
A moment later—
The earth exploded again.
Pikeke burst out directly beneath Dhuma.
"Roaring Fang Ray!"
Rows of monstrous fangs shot from her mouth like a barrage of blades.
They struck Dhuma midair.
"AGH—!"
The Sky King staggered under the impact.
But he immediately rushed forward.
His leg glowed with a bright yellow aura.
"Flying Jet Kick!"
The kick slammed into Pikeke's body.
The ground cracked violently, dust exploding into the air as the worm was thrown backward.
From a distance, Rex watched the battle.
"Master… don't you think you should interfere and stop them?"
Precious folded his arms, watching calmly.
"Hmm… why? Battles between ancient beasts aren't something you get to see every day. Let's enjoy it."
Rex fell silent.
Just then, the two commanders rushed over from the ground.
They couldn't fly, so they stood below the battlefield, shouting upward.
"Prince Precious! Please stop those two! If this continues, the entire camp will be destroyed!"
"Yes, milord! Please stop this fight!"
Precious sighed again.
"Ah… fine."
With visible disappointment, he floated forward.
His voice turned slightly sharp.
"Hey. Stop this fight. Your battle is destroying this place. My soldiers will die."
Both Dhuma and Pikeke glanced toward him.
Pikeke sneered.
"Just a little punk."
Then they ignored him and resumed attacking each other.
Punches, kicks, fangs, and claws clashed again.
Precious blinked slowly.
"…Hm?"
Suddenly—
Time slowed.
The entire battlefield moved as if trapped in syrup.
Dhuma's attack slowed to a crawl.
Pikeke's body moved inch by inch.
But Precious moved normally.
In a flash, he appeared beside Dhuma.
With a single finger—
Tap.
Then he vanished and appeared beside Pikeke.
Tap.
A second later, Precious returned to his original position.
Time resumed.
Both beasts suddenly crashed into the ground.
"AGH!!"
The impact shattered the earth beneath them.
All the soldiers stared in shock.
Commander 1 stammered.
"What… just happened? How did they both fall?"
Rex crossed his arms proudly.
"That's my master for you. His speed is so fast that even Dhuma couldn't see him move."
Commander 2's eyes widened.
"What?! Prince Precious did that?! Amazing!"
Rex chuckled smugly.
Dhuma slowly stood up.
What…? he thought. That kid hit me? That speed… how is a mere human faster than me?!
Nearby, Pikeke was equally confused.
What just happened? How did I fall from the sky…?
Both beasts regained their footing.
Precious looked at them calmly.
"Okay. Now stop fighting and listen carefully."
He paused.
"I want both of you to join my army."
Pikeke snorted.
"Hmph. A mere human pig can't order me. I only follow my master's commands."
Precious stepped closer to her.
"I don't know who your master was," he said calmly, "but he's probably been dead for a long time. And I don't care about your past."
A strange pressure filled the air.
Pikeke suddenly felt uneasy.
W-Why am I feeling afraid…? These goosebumps…
Dhuma frowned.
"And why should I follow your orders?"
Precious turned away.
"Then tell me something."
He looked at both of them.
"Why are you two fighting?"
Dhuma answered first.
"Because her master and my master were once beast companions. They protected the Shin Kingdom together."
His voice hardened.
"But her master betrayed mine. My master killed him for betraying the kingdom. Then she killed my master for revenge."
He pointed at Pikeke.
"And now I will kill her for killing my master."
Precious listened quietly.
I must admit, he thought, humans in the past were quite powerful… summoning beasts like these.
At that moment, Kail, his mind skill, spoke.
"Yes. I have seen many powerful humans in the past. But almost all of them are dead now."
Suddenly Pikeke shouted.
"What nonsense are you talking about, chicken?!"
Dhuma's eyes burned.
"What did you call me?!"
"Your master didn't kill mine because of betrayal! Your master betrayed both the kingdom and my master!"
Dhuma laughed harshly.
"How funny, you little snake."
Rex blinked.
"Uh… me?"
"You ugly bitch!" Dhuma roared. "How dare you insult my master!"
"You chicken who wasn't even born properly!" Pikeke shrieked. "I'll kill you!"
"Try it!"
The tension exploded again.
But Precious suddenly spoke.
"Then tell me something."
Both beasts looked at him.
"Who said your master was the betrayer?"
Both answered at the same time.
"The king of Shin Kingdom at that time!"
Precious shrugged.
"Then it's simple."
"They lied."
Both beasts froze.
"What?" Dhuma said.
"And why would a king lie?" Pikeke demanded.
Precious answered calmly.
"Because your masters controlled you. You followed their orders. And you were extremely powerful."
He looked at them.
"That king probably thought that if he killed your masters, he could control you instead."
Silence fell.
"That's why he killed them," Precious continued. "And then declared them traitors."
Both beasts stared at him in disbelief.
"That… that's impossible…"
"Proof?" Dhuma demanded.
"How do you know what happened two thousand years ago?" Pikeke asked.
Precious shrugged again.
"Believe it or not. But humans are like that."
He looked toward the sky.
"When humans desire something, they try to obtain it—no matter the method."
"Greed. Ego. Overconfidence."
"Some humans cross their limits because of it."
He turned back to them.
"That king was probably the same."
Then he asked again.
"So… will you join my army?"
"You will get a special position."
"Each of you will command three hundred soldiers."
"Decide."
Both beasts growled uncertainly.
"Grr…!"
Rex suddenly spoke proudly.
"You'll benefit from this! My master is the strongest, kindest, most caring and calm person in this world—or even another world! Just join already!"
Dhuma hesitated.
"…Fine."
Inside his mind he thought:
This kid's speed is insane… I couldn't even react. Fighting him would be stupid.
Pikeke glared at him.
"What?! You're submitting to a mere human?"
Dhuma shrugged.
"I want to do it, so I will. If you don't want to, don't. Just shut your mouth."
Pikeke frowned.
I've known Dhuma for a long time, she thought. He wouldn't submit without reason…
Maybe this human is stronger than he looks.
"…Fine," she said.
"I'll join your force too."
Precious smiled faintly.
"Very good."
A moment later, Precious landed on the ground beside them.
"First thing," he said.
"Pikeke. Your name is terrible."
"And second—you can't join a human army with that body."
"So?" Pikeke replied. "I can't change my form."
"That's why," Precious said calmly, "I will evolve you."
"…?"
He thought for a moment.
"Your new name will be…"
"Ewah."
Rex grinned.
"My master's naming is never bad."
Suddenly Pikeke's body began to glow.
Brilliant white light surrounded her.
Her enormous worm body shrank.
The shape changed.
Bones shifted, limbs formed, and the glow slowly faded.
When the light disappeared—
A humanoid figure stood there.
Brown hair.
Four eyes, the same colors as before.
A human-like mouth… though rows of sharp teeth still filled it.
Her ears were replaced by small holes on the sides of her head.
Precious snapped his fingers.
Clothes appeared on her body.
"Now that's better."
Ewah looked at herself.
"…Hahaha. Wow."
Her voice had become softer too.
But suddenly—
BONK.
A fist hit Precious on the head.
"Ow—?"
The attacker was Lior.
"I finally found you!" Lior shouted. "Do you know how long it took to find your location?! Uncle Bit refused to tell me, so I had to beg R. Kizu again and again!"
Precious blinked.
"Do you know how worried everyone is? Me, Tety, Bety, big sister Tain, grandfather, and Pretty!"
Lior grabbed his collar.
"After mom and dad died, you just vanished! Sure, you're protecting the Shin Kingdom—but did you forget you still have a family?!"
Precious lowered his head.
"S-Sorry."
"Don't say that to me," Lior snapped. "Say it to Pretty and the others."
"…But I'm busy."
"We'll talk later."
Still holding Precious by the collar, Lior dragged him toward a nearby car.
Precious looked back at the others.
"You all should rest and continue training."
He pointed at Dhuma and Ewah.
"From now on, command is in their hands. Follow their orders."
"Yeah yeah," Lior said impatiently. "They'll manage. Let's go."
Everyone in the camp stood frozen in shock as Lior dragged their prince away.
Rex simply followed behind them.
Writer's Note
And that's the end of Chapter 200.
I tried to make the last part a bit funny because the previous chapters were quite dark and heavy.
Now only two more people remain to join this force.
Let's see who they will be.
Also—this marks 200 chapters of the novel.
It's been a long journey, and the story is still very long.
Stay with the story until the end.
And don't forget to comment your favorite moment from this chapter.
See you next time. Bye!