Imperial Standard Time, 14:35. Seventh Assault Garden Area VI, the special demi-human ward. The beastman warriors gathered in the vast biotope’s forest. There was a total of thirty-eight of them, all armed, their eyes glinting savagely.
“Ancient warrior people, let your instincts guide you and do battle!”
The Lord of Beasts, Gazoth Hell Beast, let out a loud roar, to which the beastman warriors all howled in response, their battle cries shaking the trees of the forest.
This was the Lord of Beasts’s unique ability, Beast Howl. The sound of his roar, charged with mana, awakened ancient bloodlust in his minions, rousing their latent instincts. This made their already robust bodies bulk up, turning each of them into fearsome warriors.
This was the power of the Great Demon Beast Corps, which terrorized the world a millennia ago as the vanguards of the Dark Lords’ Armies.
“Ooh, and worthy prey just so happened to come by.”
Gazoth looked up, his fangs bared. All of a sudden, a swarm of Voids appeared in the sky, likely drawn to the surge of mana filling the woods.
“Intrepid creatures, eh? Or maybe they just know no fear.”
His steel-like fur stood on end, glowing silver. A gale of wind brewed in his outspread hands.
“Nnngh… Lord of Beasts Rumbling Fist!”
Brrrrr!
The Area VI Float trembled. The shot of compressed, swirling air single-handedly blew away a few hundred Voids. The beastmen warriors stared in blank amazement. However—
“Tsk. Weaklings.”
Just as the Lord of Beasts clicked his tongue—
■■■■■■■■■■■■…!
A massive winged shadow streaked through the sky.
“…? Is that a dragon?” Gazoth smirked, his golden eyes glinting.
He could tell from its aura—this creature was on another level.
“I might actually have fun with that one…” He turned to look at the beastmen. “I’ll go after that thing. You guys let loose around here.”
He kicked against the ground, producing a powerful thud as he leaped away. Covering hundreds of meltes in a single bound, he landed on a rooftop.
“Now then…” He looked around for the dragon monster. “Huh?”
But instead, he spotted a human figure standing atop the rooftop’s fenced edge. A white-haired young man dressed in a priest’s garb.
“Well, if it isn’t the Lord of Beasts himself. Fancy running into you at a place like this…”
“…The hell are you?”
As Gazoth glared at him with his lone eye, the young man bowed his head courteously.
“An apostle of the goddess, Nefakess Void Lord.”
“I know that name. You’re one of Azra-Ael’s people.”
“Yes, I did serve him a thousand years ago.”
“Hmm…” Gazoth cocked an eyebrow. “Everyone’s rising from the dead around here, aren’t they? What, are you looking to join my side now?”
“Not at all. Quite the opposite, in fact.”
“…The opposite?”
“You will become ours, Lord of Beasts,” Nefakess said, and snapped his fingers.
Tree roots appeared out of thin air and tightened around Gazoth’s limbs.
“…What kind of trick is this?”
“This would be the Archsage of the Six Heroes, Arakael Degradios…”
“…What?”
“I was able to retrieve part of the hero’s soul, after he fused with the Holy Tree. Mankind’s cutting-edge technology was able to revive him.”
“…!”
The roots holding Gazoth in place glowed with pale mana.
“I’ll be using you for an experiment for a new weapon of ours, Lord of Beasts.”
“Hah. You’re one funny man.” Gazoth smiled indomitably, baring his large fangs. “But if I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t underestimate a Dark Lord.”
✦ ✦ ✦
“…Tessera.”
“Don’t worry. Leo will come save us…”
As their orphanage was surrounded by Voids, Tessera did her best to keep the children’s spirits up. The monsters attacked while Phrenia, the owner of the orphanage, was out shopping. Children who didn’t evacuate in time were hiding inside the building, cowering under their blankets.
Tessera was only eight years old and just as scared as anyone else. But she wasn’t allowed to cry.
I’m the oldest one here…
Getting to her feet, she peeked out the window. The stone statue set at the gate was reduced to pieces. That statue had been there for as long as Tessera could remember, but when the monsters the grown-ups call Voids showed up, it suddenly came to life and started moving, fighting to defend the children.
But now, the statue was shattered to bits.
“…?!” Tessera let out a screech despite herself.
A large, snakelike creature appeared on the orphanage’s front lawn. Its eyes swerved, meeting her gaze.
“Aah…”
The monster’s large tongue slipped out, licking its lips. It slowly crept closer, opening its jaws.
“…L-Leo and his friends are going to beat you!” Tessera said firmly, despite the tremble in her voice.
But then—
“Child though you may be, I applaud your faith in my lord.”
Whoosh!
“…Eh?”
A whistling—the sound of the wind being cut—could be heard, and the serpent monster’s head went flying.
Whoosh, whoosh!
The head was then cut into three in mid-air, then into six, and fell to the ground.
“…Wh-what?” Tessera froze up in shock.