Although the Rhinoceros Men were rough and impulsive, they weren't stupid—especially their leader, Sethric. He might appear slow-witted on the surface, but in truth, he was a shrewd and calculating man with a mind as deep as a well.
While everyone else was busy eating and drinking, Sethric had already gathered intel on the Black Flag Territory from the Golden Monkey People.
He learned that the leader of Black Flag Territory was of a higher rank than himself, and that they had recently destroyed the powerful Serpentkin tribe—an event that had caused quite a stir.
Who would dare challenge Black Flag Territory lightly?
Sethric's eyes darted as he silently calculated his next move. Then, once again, that simple, honest smile spread across his face, making him appear as harmless as ever.
He ordered his men to pack up the unfinished cassava mush, then shouted to his tribesmen,"The Taurens are honored guests—they've come to accept us as brothers! We must treat them well!"
At his command, the tribe began preparing more meat. Sethric pulled out a jar of monkey wine he had traded from the Golden Monkey People and busied himself with hospitality.
Jacob looked at the feast and a flash of disdain passed through his eyes. He thought to himself that the rhinos must've emptied their coffers to lay out a spread like this.
Still, the fruit wine wasn't bad, and the meat looked fresh—wild game of this quality wasn't easy to come by.
He took a sip of the monkey wine, and his eyes lit up—it was indeed excellent. The alcohol flowed smoothly across his tongue, warming his body from the inside out.
The atmosphere at the table gradually grew lively. Cups were raised, laughter echoed—but before long, one by one, the Taurens began to sway and then slump to the ground.
"You…" Jacob tried to stay upright, bracing himself on the table, but his head spun. He fell heavily onto the stone table, knocking over a bowl of meat with a loud crash.
Sethric kicked aside the collapsed Tauren, cursing under his breath,"Idiot." Then he grabbed a piece of meat and stuffed it into his mouth.
He had to admit, the meat really was delicious.
What Jacob and the others never imagined was that the meat they had just devoured with such delight… was their own riding beasts.
...
Liliana burst into the command hall through the pouring rain and pulled Draven toward the stone hut. Draven had been studying a map and looked up in confusion.
Once they got inside, he finally learned that the Eyebrow-Patterned King Serpent was showing signs of change.
Viola and the others had gathered around the serpent's small nest. It had been covered in heavy animal hides before, but now the covers had been pulled back—
and the Eyebrow-Patterned King Serpent was glowing.
A soft, earthy yellow light enveloped its body. Cracks had begun to appear along the petrified surface of its skin. Viola's voice was full of concern as she asked,
"Draven, is it about to evolve?"
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Draven, though he'd never witnessed the Eyebrow-Patterned King Serpent's evolution before, could clearly sense the shift in its aura—something only a high-level chieftain could do.
He nodded, anticipation written across his face as he joined the others in silent vigil.
Minutes ticked by. The cracks spread further, and the serpent's stone-like body looked ready to shatter at any moment.
Suddenly, a powerful wave of magic burst outward and rippled through the air.
Draven reacted instantly, channeling his own power to suppress the surge—
otherwise, the newly reinforced stone hut might have collapsed on the spot.
Even so, everyone except Sylvia and Viola felt a wave of discomfort wash over them, as if their bodies were reeling from the blast of magical force.
Draven's heart clenched. He immediately activated his bloodline power to lift the Eyebrow-Patterned King Serpent and rushed toward the training ground—
as if carrying a bomb that might explode at any second.
Once there, he gently placed the serpent on the ground and backed away several steps.
Just as he came to a halt, an even stronger wave of magical energy erupted, making the ground beneath them tremble.
A burst of ochre light suddenly flared, so intense it was blinding. Even with the torrential rain and rolling thunder, the light was so piercing that people could barely keep their eyes open.
Draven slowly lowered the hand shielding his face, frowning as his eyes struggled to adjust to the brilliant glare.
He carefully sensed the presence of the Eyebrow-Patterned King Serpent and began walking toward it.
The once rigid, seemingly petrified serpent now lay in fragments—its body broken into chunks of stone.
Between the cracks in the shattered stone shell, there was a faint glimpse of new serpent skin, glowing with a soft, gentle sheen. Draven quickened his pace and crouched to get a closer look.
There, writhing clumsily among the broken remains, was a slightly shorter and thicker version of the Eyebrow-Patterned King Serpent. It was struggling to emerge from the fractured shell, its movements awkward, but its aura noticeably deeper and more restrained—like it was adjusting to its newfound power.
Before Draven could examine it more closely, the smaller serpent suddenly opened its mouth and, without hesitation, swallowed the broken pieces of its old petrified shell. As if afraid someone might steal it, it devoured the shards decisively and efficiently.
Draven couldn't help but pat its head, a mix of resignation and amusement in his gesture. Since its advancement, this Eyebrow-Patterned King Serpent had clearly become slyer and more intelligent.
Getting it to cough anything up in the future probably wouldn't be so easy. At the same time, its evolution had also made communication between it and Draven far smoother and more direct.
Through their bond, Draven clearly sensed the serpent transmitting a wave of hunger.
"You little glutton," Draven muttered as he gave it another pat, then waved his hand to send it off to hunt on its own.
Magical beasts had to forage for their own food—he wasn't in the habit of hand-feeding them. If it couldn't manage that much, then starving to death would be its own fault.
Like a flash of lightning, the Eyebrow-Patterned King Serpent blurred into motion and disappeared into the distant forest in an instant.
Draven raised his brows slightly, a trace of surprise in his heart. Its speed had clearly increased after the evolution—impressive.
Thinking this was good news, he stood in the cold rain, letting the water run down his hair and shoulders. Hands clasped behind his back, he turned and walked toward the stone house.
When he stepped inside, Viola looked up and asked,"Has it completed its evolution?"
Draven gave a simple nod."Yes, it's done."
...
Meanwhile, Jacob finally stirred and slowly regained consciousness. His head throbbed like it was splitting apart, and nausea surged as he forced his eyes open.
Looking around, he realized with horror that he and all his companions had been tightly bound. Panic surged through him. He began to struggle with all his might, even attempting to activate his bloodline power, but it was no use.
Suddenly, a heavy wooden stick slammed down on his head. The sharp pain sent a flash of darkness across his vision.
Jacob's eyes snapped open in fury, seething with rage as he glared at the Rhinoceros Man standing before him—Sethric, the subordinate now daring to defy him.
"Sethric! Do you have any idea what you're doing?" His voice was loud and defiant. Even as a prisoner, he refused to accept such humiliation.
But Sethric, clearly impatient, swung the wooden stick again. With a dull groan, Jacob's eyes rolled back, and he passed out.
Sethric tossed the stick to one of his men, then pointed at Jacob and said,"See that? Whenever someone wakes up, give them a good whack on the head."
"Just one hit—is that enough?" asked a tall, dopey-looking Rhinoceros Man, scratching his head in confusion.
Sethric shot him a glare and said coldly,"If one isn't enough, hit them again!"
