Pilate Yeshua’s eyes narrowed as he monitored his soldiers’ chase through the narrow tunnels. Usually, he would not charge so blindly through the booby-trapped tunnel, but he was confident that the beastkin would not harm their kind just to kill him. As a result, this was the best time to pressure the beastkin. Once he reached the city, his men would take the children and elderly hostage to force the other beastkin’s surrender.

Pilate Yeshua was so assured of his victory that he ignored the youth who knocked down every torch he passed. In the captain’s eyes, these attempts to blind his men were useless so long as light remained ahead.

“Wait,” Yeshua suddenly slowed down as his eyes widened in shock and fear. “I’m not the target!” He immediately looked at his back. Within the darkness behind him were the forty-something remaining Soul Apprentices who did not have soul pets to defend themselves. He had them lag to prevent them from getting inadvertently killed.

But, what if someone from the beastkin bypassed the main force and snuck upon them?

No, or more accurately, something!

“Aaah!”

“Damn it!” Yeshua yelled in anger as he spun his steed around and then charged toward the Soul Apprentices. Unfortunately, before he could make it, four more screams rang out in quick succession. Precisely around the same time, cries rang out from the main force as released hybrids launched sneak attacks on their allies.

Yeshua got caught in two minds. Should he save the Soul Apprentices to reduce the hybrid dissent, or save his men on the frontlines? “Aah!” During his momentary pause, several more screams emerged from both ends. Even more hatefully, some of the main force’s cries came from ambushed humans.

The humans’ pained cries quickly made up Yeshua’s mind. The hybrids were expendable, but humans far less so. Enraged, Yeshua gave up on the Soul Apprentices and then shouted, “Company, Retreat! It’s an ambush!”

Following his orders, the soldiers gratefully scrambled to flee back the way they came. Yeshua, meanwhile, summoned a Ravager Bear. The giant monstrosity stood at over three-meters-tall with muscles strong enough to shatter steel. As soon as it appeared, it let out a savage roar and then charged at the hybrids and their soul pets.

Boom!

The Ravager Bear immediately showed its prowess as it tore several soul pets to pieces. Several hybrids swung their blades in retaliation, looking to hack the monster to pieces. Clank! Unfortunately, the only thing they received was a shock as their weapons bounced harmlessly off the monsters’ powerful skin.

Irritated by the hybrids’ attack, the Ravager Bear roared and then slapped a hybrid so hard her head exploded into tiny chunks. It then crushed another’s shield underfoot before biting his head off. With the Ravager Bear in the lead, the humans began to retreat.

Some of the still controlled hybrids wanted to retreat with the humans, but the Ravager bear turned on them just as quickly, seemingly eager to destroy them too.

“Wait! Don’t leave us!” A contracted hybrid shouted as he tried to bypass the Ravager Bear. At this rate, they, too, would die alongside the non-contracted hybrids! He couldn’t even attack the Ravager Bear because the slave contract recognized the Ravager Bear as an ally to humans.

“I gave you bastards a chance.” Pilate Yeshua was well and truly furious. This campaign was his most significant loss since the start of his career. How many human soldiers had he lost in what should have been a routine mission? And all because of these damned hybrids! “You dared to rebel just because your contractors died? Do you take humans for fools!? Your contract is with the human empire, not a single soldier!” The captain descended from his steed and drew out a sword as he approached the hybrids. “Today, I’ll make an example of you lot. Rejoice, your souls will teach one final lesson to your kind around the world. Think of how many lives you’ll save.” Finished with his speech, Pilate Yeshua pointed his sword at the hybrids and then shouted, “Finish them!”

“Roar!” The 3rd-Phase Ravager Bear and Globe-Trodding Demon Steed charged into the hybrids’ midst and began wreaking havoc in their ranks. The Ravager Bear tore the hybrids and soul pets’ limbs apart, while the Globe-Trodding Demon unleashed debilitating illusion techniques that made the hybrids view their allies as enemies.

“Damn you, Pilate!” A hybrid cried after breaking through the soul pets’ formation. The wolf-hybrid, who’d already lost an arm to the Ravager Bear, shed bloody tears as he swung at Yeshua.

Yeshua’s through the helmet’s slits viewed the hybrid with disdain. “That’s Captain to you, vermin.” Spltch!

“Uaakk!” The wolf-hybrid cried in pain as Yeshua’s sword drew a sharp line across his chest. Blood spurted out of the hybrid’s chest like a fountain as he weakly collapsed to his knees.

Yeshua snorted as he raised his sword. “This is how you should be. On your knees in front of your gods.” With an angry shout, Yeshua swung down. “DIE!”

Clang! “Fuck off!”

Yeshua’s brow rose in shock as he stared at the kafu blocking his sword. Then his eyes blazed with rage as he recognized the youth that threw his plans asunder. “You!”

Rao Wu’s muscles throbbed as he held back Yeshua’s sizeable broadsword with his dagger. The child’s eyes blazed with rage as he glared at the armored man. Just now, his body moved almost on instinct despite his mind wanting to remain careful. But, faced with Yeshua’s angry, disdainful gaze, Rao Wu did not regret his actions.

“You know, I didn’t care when you guys were busy killing each other,” muttered Rao Wu as he glared at Yeshua. “The weak suffer, while the strong rule—that’s the irrevocable law of the jungle. But—” Rao Wu’s eyes turned red with rage as he glanced over his shoulder at the Ravager Bear. “—Those who kill members of their pack are worse than scum. You don’t deserve to live.”

Yeshua’s eyes nearly burst out their sockets in stunned disbelief. “You dare to judge me based on your primitive law? Civilization has moved on from your archaic beliefs.” Yeshua’s left hand suddenly released the sword and traveled to his right hip. As the instant drop in pressure flung Rao Wu towards him, Yeshua pulled out a gun holstered to his left hip and pointed the barrel at the shocked youth. “This is the power of civilization. DIE!”

Bang!

Rao Wu sensed an overwhelming amount of danger the moment the gun appeared. Death seemed to scream at him from within the large barrel. The youth’s soul nearly left its body as Yeshua pulled the trigger, but just as the bullets exploded in the chamber, Xian Da burst out from the ground and smashed into Yeshua’s hand.

Clang! Clang! Spltch!

The bullets ricocheted off the cave walls and then struck a soul trainer behind Yeshua.

Rao Wu’s eyes widened when he saw the soul trainer’s abdomen explode like a watermelon. What the hell kind of weapon was that!?

Yeshua, meanwhile, glared at the Dusklight Wolf Cub in rage. This cub was responsible for killing his soul trainers and creating this giant mess. He would not let it escape! The Krogg Blaster could shoot four shells in quick succession. A single shot used up two shells, so Yeshua still had one shot.

Without hesitation, Yeshua immediately pointed the blaster at Xian Da. At this range, it did not matter how robust Xian Da’s defense was; the Dusklight Wolf would get heavily injured.

Rao Wu was still balancing his steps while Xian Da was falling from a height, so neither could alter their trajectory. It seemed all hope was lost as Yeshua squeezed the trigger with a sadistic glint.

“Return, Xian Da!”

“What!?” Yeshua’s scream mirrored the tunnel’s shock as they watched Xian Da disappear into a light ball that then went into Rao Wu’s chest. Realizing he’d been tricked, Yeshua screamed, “You! You’re a hybrid!”

Rao Wu balanced his steps and then revealed a sly smirk. “So what if I am?” Without another word, he shouted, “Come out! Ju Tu! Lu Lin!”

Yeshua nearly passed out in shock as the Steelback Ape reappeared with a Dryad by its side. “A Soul Student!? But you’re so young! Who are you!?”

“Ju Tu! Stall that bear!” Rao Wu ignored Yeshua as he swiftly gave out orders. He then glanced at the hybrids and shouted, “My Dusklight Wolf killed most of the Soul Apprentices! If you’re going to fight back, now’s the time. Kill as many humans to free our brothers as possible!”

The hybrids were shocked, but this was not the time to ask questions. As Rao Wu said, their only chance of survival was to push the humans back and escape. There was no telling what the beastkin would do to them if they got pegged in their territory.

“Push them back!” A stalwart wolf-hybrid roared as he charged ahead with his buckler raised. “As many as we kill, as many brothers we release!”

An enraged Yeshua quickly ordered his soul pets, “Kill them!”

“Die!” Ju Tu roared as it grabbed the Ravager Bear from behind. Unfortunately, it barely latched on before the bear spun around with incredible agility and slapped Ju Tu against the wall.

Boom!

Ju Tu coughed up blood, feeling like its chest had caved in. Fortunately, the Steelback Ape’s superior defense just barely saved its life. The enraged Steelback Ape pushed off the ground in fury and charged at the Ravager Bear.

Bam!

Ju Tu smashed into the Ravager Bear and wrapped its arms around its midriff, looking to lift it off the ground.

“Roar!” The Ravager Bear, however, proved to be too heavy for even Ju Tu. Rather than moving, it raised its paws and then smacked Ju Tu’s back, sending it crashing to the ground. The Ravager Bear swiped down to tear Ju Tu in half, but its claws bounced off the Steelback Ape’s back.

“Ugh!” Ju Tu, whose life was narrowly saved by its steel-scaled back, weakly grabbed and then pulled the Ravager Bear’s legs.

Caught off-guard, the powerhouse Ravager Bear lost its footing for the first time and fell on its back. Ju Tu was too weak to follow-up, but nearby soul pets quickly jumped in to land some cheap shots.

“Rooar!” The Ravager Bear quickly got to its feet and then reached out to grab the nearest soul pet. It choked the dog-like monster and then moved to skewer it with its left, but Ju Tu crashed into its side.

The Ravager Bear released the soul pet with a grunt and then turned to face the heavily injured Ju Tu with rage. Its eyes seemed to scream, ‘I’ll Kill You!’ as it turned and then charged at the Steelback Ape.

Ju Tu pounded its chest, refusing to back down from the challenge. It knew from Rao Wu that its role was to play the tank. It needed to soak up the Ravager Bears’ attention so the other soul pets could launch their attacks without worry. And so, Ju Tu crossed its arms as the Ravager Bear raked its claws across the Steelback Apes’s chest.

A loud explosion rang out, as the impact predictably knocked Ju Tu several feet backward. However, this time, the Steelback Ape’s arm came out unscathed, allowing it to return to the battle immediately. The reason for the sudden change was the vines wrapped around its chest and arms. Ju Tu sent an appreciative glance Lu Lin’s way as it utilized the makeshift plant armor to engage the Ravager Bear in close combat.

Strength-wise, Ju Tu was not too far behind the Ravager Bear. Ju Tu’s greatest worry was the bear’s claws. With the plant armor, Ju Tu could fight a bit more freely without fearing instant disembowelment.

Of course, the plant armor was not perfect. The Ravager Bear probably needed only four swipes in the same area to tear it to shreds. However, Ju Tu did not plan to make it easy for the bear.

While Ju Tu engaged the Ravager Bear, Rao Wu and Lu Lin fought a bitter battle against Pilate Yeshua. The youth’s strength was on par with the captain, but the man’s fighting skills surpassed the youth’s. As a result, Yeshua forced Rao Wu and Lu Lin on the defensive with several stringed attacks.

The regular blows Rao Wu could handle, but often Yeshua would buy time to unleash a super-move. The captain was not in the habit of yelling the names of his attack, but Rao Wu knew these were different because of the feeling that overcame him each time Yeshua struck.

At those times, Rao Wu felt like the world locked him in place, unable to move. Yeshua would then swing his sword in an unregular pattern, causing a massive burst of soul energy to escape the blade. These mega attacks were strong enough to shatter the cave walls, but Rao Wu suspected that the captain held back for safety.

Lu Lin defended Rao Wu at these dire moments with quickly raised tree trunks. Unfortunately, she was quickly running out of seeds, and Rao Wu’s injuries kept piling up despite her best efforts.

“Uakk!” Despite Rao Wu’s desperate ordeal, the youth still glanced at the nearby battlefield and frowned. Although Ju Tu put up a valiant fight against the Ravager Bear, buying the hybrids more time, the Globe-Trodding Demon Steed dominated its battle. The hybrids couldn’t resist its illusion techniques, causing them to fall quickly under its hooves.

If those hybrids died, the human forces would quickly overrun the rest!

Rao Wu, realizing the situation was turning dire, suddenly shouted, “Lu Lin, buy me time!” With those words, he suddenly spun around and charged at the Globe-Trodding Demon Steed.

“Where do you think you’re going!?” Yeshua rushed ahead to block Rao Wu, but the daint Dryad entered his path with determined eyes. Yeshua, already overcome by rage, did not spare the Dryad’s beauty a passing glance before roaring and slashing down, “DIE!”

“Grow!” Lu Lin tossed out ten of her last twenty seedlings and then channeled life energy through the ground. The seedlings rapidly grew into thick brambles that covered the tunnel, blocking Yeshua’s path.

Yeshua’s eyes turned red with rage as he hacked away at the brambles. “Think this can stop me!?”

Lu Lin ignored the raging man, and instead channeled all her energy into the brambles, rapidly healing any branch Yeshua broke, almost driving the man mad. Lu Lin swayed like a leaf in the wind, severely weakened by the rapid energy consumption, but she stubbornly held on, determined to help Rao Wu succeed.

Rao Wu, meanwhile, felt both his soul pets’ desperation as he charged at the Globe-Trodding monster. The youth gritted his teeth as he gripped the bone dagger. “I’ve only got one chance. Lu Lin and Ju Tu can’t hold on much longer.” With that thought, Rao Wu blazed across the tunnel in blinding speed.

Several contracted hybrids’ soul pets tried to stop the youth, but Rao Wu jumped, slid, and weaved through the obstacles with a determined gaze. Within five seconds, he reached the Globe-Trodding Demon’s back and jumped, intending to sink the blade into the nape of the soul pets’ neck.

However, as if sensing his presence, the Globe-Trodding Demon suddenly turned around and glared at the youth. Its lips seemed to spread in an evil grin as its pupils revolved. [Dark Nightmare]!

The Globe-Trodding Demon unleashed Dark Nightmare, a hellish Dark-type illusion skill that forced the victim to relieve a terrible enemy. The skill rarely saw use in combat despite its extreme power because it took three seconds to prepare. From this alone, it was apparent the Globe-Trodding Demon had prepared for Rao Wu well in advance. It lured the child into a trap and now intended to finish off its prey.

Rao Wu’s cornea turned black as the Globe-Trodding Demon pulled him into the illusion. However, he only caught a glimpse of a strange woman with gray hair before a gargantuan power burst out of his soul and shattered the illusion.

Rao Wu was unaware, but in that very second, the silhouette of a mighty fox appeared around his body and let out an enraged growl. In a voice that sounded like a mix between Rao Wu and an ancient god’s, Rao Wu shouted, “Who dares blaspheme the trickster!? Who dares trick the god of tricks!?”

Rao Wu regained his sanity a moment later to find the Globe-Trotting Demon Steed staring at him in shock and fear, its mind momentarily fried by the aura’s might. Rao Wu, who was still airborne, thought nothing of it as he happily sunk his dagger into the Globe-Trodding Demon’s forehead.

The bone dagger broke skin and bone, eventually lodging inside the Globe-Trodding Demon Steed’s brain. Unfortunately, it then cracked at the hilt as Rao Wu yanked it out, revealing the soul pet’s toughness.

“NO!” Yeshua screamed, watching with bloodshot eyes as his soul pet collapsed. *Cough* Moments later, he coughed up blood as the Demon Steed’s soul space shattered. Yeshua glared at Rao Wu with pure hatred. The Demon’s Steed’s death restricted Yeshua to two summons until he healed the broken soul space!

Furthermore, since Denuchi occupied one soul realm, Yeshua was actually limited to one summon!

Yeshua wanted to tear Rao Wu to pieces, but he had to stow away his rage when he saw the surviving hybrids turn to gang up on the Ravager Bear. He could bear the Demon Steed’s death, but the Ravager Bear was his strongest soul pet! If it died, he wouldn’t be able to maintain his position as captain!

The enraged gritted his teeth as he glared at Rao Wu through the bramble thicket. One moment later, he cried out as he backed away, “All soldiers aside from Team 1, heed my Order. Execute Protocol 66!”

“Protocol 66!?” The soldiers balked in shock while the contracted hybrids suddenly turned white with fear.

“No! Not Protocol 66! Stop them!”

Unfortunately, despite the hybrids’ desperate cries, the human soldiers quickly chanted something under their breaths. One moment later, a brilliant red light stormed out of their chests and then smashed into several hybrids’.

Rao Wu watched in shock as massive red rings suddenly appeared around the contracted hybrids’ chest and then began shrinking.

“Kill them!” The contracted hybrids seemed to regain their freedom as they turned around and chased after the human soldiers, clearly intent on slaughtering them.

Yeshua, however, glared at the hybrids with disdain. “You chose your fate. Archon, return!” Following Yeshua’s shout, the Ravager Bear released the severely injured Ju Tu and then returned to its soul space.

Yeshua then raised his sword and channeled energy through it. “Enjoy your last breaths, scum.”

“No!” Rao Wu shouted as he moved to intercept the captain, but Yeshua resolutely slashed down, creating a giant fissure in the ground above and in the ceiling above.

Rrumble…

Yeshua glared at Rao Wu through gaps as rocks fell from the ceiling. “Run, little cub. Run. I will find you soon.”

“You!” Rao Wu could only watch with frustration as the rocks collapsed. Unfortunately, he could not wait around because the collapse began spreading. Gritting his teeth, he recalled Lu Lin and Ju Tu and then ran in the opposite direction. “Run! The cave’s going to collapse!”

The surviving hybrids fled the falling rocks, but quite a few stayed in the collapse with sunken eyes. Those hybrids all had one thing in common: The slowly-closing rings around their chests.

Rao Wu had many questions, but they had to wait until the group successfully escaped the crisis.