(Mi…..Miko…..Miko!)

“Wah?!”

Miko quickly sprung to his feet when he heard a shout in his head.

(I finally got through to you!)

“Hm? Tiamat? What are you shouting about? I was enjoying a well deserved nap you know.”

He said as he started to stretch his body.

(Don't give me that! Do you know how long I've been trying to get through to you?!”

“Actually, I don't. How long have I been in here?”

(What? You don't know how long you've been there? What were you doing?)

“Hm…I don't know.”

(………)

At the Summit Of The Gods.

Tiamat was observing Miko with a solemn expression.

“Something isn't right.”

She watched as Miko lazily stretched his limbs.

“There's something off about him. The aura he gives off is different than usual.”

Even though she said that she couldn't tell what was different.

“Ugh!”

Miko suddenly bent over holding his stomach.

(Miko?! What is it?!)

“I'm starving!”

(…….)

“This isn't a joke, Tiamat. I really feel like I'm dying of hungry.”

Miko then fell to his knees while holding his stomach.

(Well, it doesn't seem like you're messing around.)

“Why would I be messing around? I'm seriously starving!”

Miko forced himself to stand up and scanned the area.

“There!”

He spotted a 2ft tall boar with 4 eyes. He suddenly felt strength as he moved towards the boar.

“?!”

By the time the boar noticed Miko, it was already too late.

With a single slash from his claw the boar’s head flew off its body. Miko grabbed it and sunk his fangs in it.

(…….)

Tiamat watched as he savagely devoured the boar’s head and then moved to the body.

He was like a beast with the way how he ripped the flesh to pieces and soak his face and hands in blood.

After eating his filled Miko stood up and walked away from the boar.

(Seriously, what happened to you?)

“Hm? Ah, I can use Qigong now.”

Miko held his fist out and started emitting a dark glow.

(Really? Then that's explain your appetite.)

“Does Qigong affect my appetite?”

(It takes up a lot of energy when in use, so Qigong users burn calories at an abnormal rate which results in an increase in appetite.)

“Is that so?”

‘But that doesn't explain his beastly behavior earlier. As I thought, something must've happened to change him. The old Miko was arrogant, mischievous, and reckless, but he still felt human. But….’

Tiamat watched as Miko chased a two head monster and ripped one of its head off and showed it to the monster.

‘This Miko gives off a dangerous feeling like a monster in human skin. Well, with him covered in scales and having a horn in the center of his head, I guess his currently behavior fits him perfectly.’

Even though she was curious, she knew that Miko wouldn't tell her. So she decide to observe for the meantime.

*Bam!*

“Ugh?!”

“Ace?! You!”

“Wait, Hina! Don't just run in like that!”

*Bam!*

“Guh?!”

Sora moved to catch Hina who was blown away by a kick.

They were inside a white room that looked like it stretched forever, and they desperately fight against a boy who was not even 10 years old. He had purple hair, blue eyes, and a handsome face.

He was Aeon Dragna.

“Is that it? I haven't even warmed up properly.”

He spoke with a teasing tone.

Sora glared at him and helped Hina to her feet.

“T-Thanks. I'm okay.”

Said Hina.

“Ace, you alive?”

“Shh! I'm playing dead.”

*Bam!*

Ace was suddenly kicked off the ground like a ball.

“Don't be lazy.”

Said Aeon.

“[Resound]!”

Sora popped beside and tried to hit him with his palm.

However his palm hit air.

“Sneak attack isn't bad.”

*Bam!*

Sora suddenly felt like his body was crushed as he was sent flying.

“But sometimes you move so fast that your brain can't keep up, which creates a small opening in your defenses. You should fix that.”

While he said that, he caught several knives that Hina threw at him and threw them back.

Hina skillfully dodged them and charged towards him.

“Isn't that fighting style outdated?”

*Bam!*

Aeon instantly cut the distance and punched her in the stomach.

“Guh?!”

She fell to her knees and he stooped down in front her.

“Hey, why aren't you transforming using your powers? It would've increased your chances of landing a hit if you did.”

“I-I'm not using it.”

“Why? Is because of Nami? If so, it's a waste.”

Aeon stood up and looked down on her.

“What if I told you that your ‘child’ was still alive?”

“?!”

Hina immediately looked up when she heard that.

“What do you-?!”

*Bam!*

She was lifted off the ground with a kick and bounced on the ground a few times.

“I can't believe you fell for such a simple provocation. If I was an enemy I could've split you in two just now.”

Hearing that, Hina struggled to her feet.

“Y-You son of a-?!”

*Bam!*

But just before she could curse at Aeon, something crashed into her.

“Ugh…..Luka?!”

When Hina checked what it was, she saw Luka laying on the floor with blood leaking out her mouth.

“Ah, sorry about that.”

When Hina looked up she saw a slightly older Aeon standing next to the kid Aeon.

“She and her friends caught me off guard for a sec, so I accidentally used too much force.”

After a closer look, Hina could see the members of Fate laying on the ground not too far away.

“Hm? They were able to catch you off guard, 10-year-old me?”

“I feel ashamed, 8-year-old me.”

The two Aeon said to each other.

“Looks we underestimate them.”

A new Aeon appeared out of nowhere. He was older than his other two selves.

“Let me take care of both groups.”

“13-year-old me, huh. Then we’ll leave it to you.”

The two Aeons took out an hourglass from their pockets and placed it on the ground before disappearing.

The new older Aeon scanned the room and looked at everyone who laid on the floor.

“Then, shall we get started?”

“What? Aeon isn't here?”

Said Momo.

She was sitting in front of Nova, who was aiming a camera at her.

“Yeah. I found the kids around Miko interesting, so I sent him to the capital. Well, that and he's constantly complaining that he has nothing to do.”

He suddenly multiplied and surrounded Momo while taking pictures.

“They should be in his [Time Palace] right now.”

“Hmm. That explains why I haven't seen him around lately, but I didn't expect him to leave when things are just about to get juicy.”

“Oh, you figure out that the old man is planning something?”

“Of course. He invited Sherry out of the blue, and he also made Kimiko return by taking away Miko. It's true that Miko reached out to us, but I believe Gramps was gonna send for him anyway. The fact that he didn't restrain Auntie Sasha here and let here go without a fuss was because what he's planning is so big that he doesn't know if he can protect her when everything goes down.”

“As expected of my flesh and blood. You're really smart.”

Said Nova, who was using his clones to set up lighting, changing the background behind Momo, and instructing her how to pose.

He was conducting a professional photoshoot.

“Oh, how's Miko coming along?”

“I don't know. I decided not to check on him until the six months period is over.”

“Is that so? I wonder if I should teach him Qigong along with you.”

“You can't teach, Uncle. Did you forget that I wasn't able to tie my shoe until I was 8 because of you?”

“I thought it would've been cooler to do it with magic rather your hands. The Old Man agreed with me.”

“See? You two have forgotten what it felt like to be weak. If I let you teach him you'll skip the basics and ruin his Qi foundation.”

“Well, I guess you're right.”

“So leave Miko to me. I might not be a god among mortals like you two, but I'm still the #1 in my generation.”

Momo said proudly while posing for the camera.

“Alright. Now about some pictures in your real form?"

“No way. I prefer my child form. This way I won't look like my mother. You guys always get emotional when you see it.”

“Sonia…”

Nova suddenly looked depressed and stopped taking pictures. He then started drinking while facing a wall.

He then poured some of the liquor on the floor and clasped his hands and prayed.

“Oi, she isn't dead!”

Momo shouted.

*Bam!*

“Kaah!”

“Go to hell, you stupid monkeys!”

*Bam!*

Miko slammed his leg into a monster and rip it in two.

He was surrounded by dozens of monsters that looked like spider monkeys with wings.

He was inside a jungle area. The trees were at least 100m tall, and Miko was battling the monkeys while jumping through these trees.

*Bam!*

He jumped and kicked a monkey’s head off.

“Kaah!”

A monkey attacked him from behind and wrapped itself around him.

“Shit!”

The monkey started falling downwards as if aiming to drop Miko on his head.

“Fuck off!”

*Bam!*

A dark glow spread out and blew the monkey to pieces.

Miko grabbed a nearby tree branch to stop himself from hitting the ground.

He then jumped and stepped on a monkey used it as footing to move upwards.

He jumped from branch to monkey to branch climbing higher.

When he reach to the top of a tree he was surrounded by a dozen flying monkeys. They all rushed at him at once.

He immediately did a handstand and spun his body while swinging his legs.

*Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!*

Miko's legs slammed into the monkeys and rip them apart like he was a blender.

He then brought his feet back to the tree top and jumped upwards.

He right hand then had a dark glow with streaks of white in it.

“I call this the Fuckoff Punch!”

He swung his fist downwards and a pillar of black and white light shot towards the trees.

*BOOOM!*

The light devoured the trees and the monkeys and blew it all away.

“Crap!”

Miko's body suddenly stiffen and he was unable to move.

He fell and crashed into the ground.

“Argh…I'm so hungry.”

(Looks like even after two months after activating it, you still can't gauge the energy consumption rate.)

“I know. It depends on how much I eat before a fight.”

He sat up.

“I need a ton worth of food if I want to use Qi for a long period of time.”

He looked around and saw a few monkeys roasted by his attack. He stood up and walked over to them.

“It's a good thing that my stomach and sense of taste is like a dragon's or I wouldn't be able to stomach half the things in this valley.”

Saying so he started eating the roast monkeys.

It as been a total of four months since he's entered the Illusionary Beast Valley. Since that time he's fought his way almost 8,000 miles into the valley. Along the way his strength has seen a tremendous increase.

So much, he's broke into [B Class].

“The monsters are getting harder to beat the further I travel down the valley.”

Said Miko, who was walking while munching on a monkey leg.

(You should be entering the area with the strongest beasts. It's a good thing you've reached [B Class] otherwise you would immediately die when you reach there.)

“The valley’s strongest beasts huh?”

Miko reached an area that was overcast with black clouds. Red lightning struck the lands and a lot of ferocious roars could be heard in the distance.

“Hm?”

Miko looked up and saw a flock of monsters flying towards him. They didn't take long for them to land in front of him.

“Bugs?”

What landed in front of Miko was a group of insect humanoids standing on two feet like a human.

The insects looked at Miko and-

“What is this creature?”

“Ah, it spoke.”

Said Miko.

He walked up to the insects and said-

“Hey, are you Chimera Ants?”

The monsters looked at him confusingly.

(They're Insectmen. A type of monster mostly found on the Beast Continent.)

“Chimera Ants. Insectmen. What's the difference?”

“You bastard, who the hell are yo-?!”

*Bam!*

One of the Insectmen head was squashed by Miko's fist, when he approached him.

“W-Why did you do that?!”

One of the Insectmen shouted.

“Hm? No reason really. I just felt like it.”

*Bam!*

Miko thrust his fist through the monster’s abdomen and activated his Qi.

*Boom!*

The monster exploded before it could realize what was happening.

Miko turned to rest of them and said-

“Starting now, I'm your king. I demand three royal guards! And one must look a little like a cat!”

“Screw you!”

The monsters all rushed at Miko while shouting.

“What? You're all going against my will.”

*Bam!*

He rushed forward and rip a few insects with his claws and then crush one under his foot with an axe kick.

He then grabbed two by the face and swung them around like a pair of clubs.

“Then die!”

*Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!*

Miko swung the bugs around and used them to destroy their brethren.

When he realized that the insects clubs were destroyed he grabbed another two and swung them around.

He repeated this cycle until only a few insects remained.

“W-Wait! We give! We give! You're our king! All hail his majesty!”

The bugs started bowing down before him.

Miko looked down on them coldly and said-

“No, thank you. I have no need for such cowardly subjects.”

“Wai-?!”

*Splat!*

He crushed the monster’s head under his feet. He then swiftly killed the remaining bugs.

He then turned towards the overcast area.

“Guess I'll be king for the time being.”

Saying so, he walked towards it.

Two months later.

Momo sat at the end of the Illusionary Beast Valley.

“He's late.”

She said as she stared into the canyon.

“He didn't die, right?.....Nah, I don't see that happening.”

She stood up and dust herself off.

“I guess I'll go take a look.”

Saying so she jumped down into the canyon. She landed at the bottom and started heading into the dimension the valley was in.

The moment she entered the valley she was shocked by what she saw before her eyes.

“The hell?!”

There was a palace made of some shiny stone with lots of monsters around it. The monsters looked like they were acting as guards.

Around the palace were monsters sculpting statues of a reptilian being with a horn. And in the skies were monsters flying while forming letters spelling “All Hail The King!”

“What the hell?”

At that moment Momo stopped and saw something heading towards her.

It was a parade of monsters matching towards her. They stopped at her feet and divided themselves to make a path for a gigantic lizard.

The lizard was golden and had something resembling a throne on its back. Momo looked up and saw a reptilian being sitting there.

“Miko?!”

“Yo, Momo. It's been six months already?”

Miko lifted his hand and the lizard lowered itself so that he could get off using its head. The moment his foot left the lizard, all kinds of monsters stacked themselves on all fours by height, and acted as stairs for Miko to walk down.

When his feet touched the ground, he snapped his fingers and a couple birdlike monsters brought platters with meat before him. He took up a juicy meat and walked towards Momo who was stunned.

He spoke with a smile.

“I activated my Qi. What's next?”