Likewise, his Body Type had undergone a massive change.

’But this should be good enough for now.’

After all, Lince had no desire to once again attract the attention of the world’s Mana Will too quickly, let alone be suppressed by the planet’s rules.

So, upon halting, Lince’s form instantly changed.

For the first time in a long while, Lince once again took on a human form.

He floated in mid-air with a faint smile, then abruptly shot off toward a point on the horizon.

——————

"Lord Elder."

"Those long-eared bastards are here again!"

"If we still refuse to submit this time, it looks like they’re going to make a move against us."

In the tribe of the Rabbit-headed People, inside a simple wooden hut, more than a dozen elders sat gathered around a bonfire.

"Damned Dark Elves!"

"Ever since those bastards started worshipping some Deity from who-knows-where, they’ve grown more and more brazen!"

"Here on the Eastern Continent, over the past century or so, they’ve already wiped out the tribes of several different peoples."

"And I have no idea why the great Dragon Race Inspectors continue to turn a blind eye to all this!"

one Rabbit-headed elder said, his face contorted with fury.

"All right, it’s one thing to curse the Dark Elves, but we should be careful about bad-mouthing the Dragon Race."

"Besides, the great Dragon Race Inspectors wouldn’t concern themselves with such trivial matters."

"After all, according to the legends of our people, our world is somewhat special. As long as it’s not some tyrannical powerhouse from an outer realm arriving in our world, the Dragon Race will turn a blind eye to some unknown Pseudo-Gods or lesser deities."

"What’s more, the Eastern Continent is home to a multitude of Races. Even if this matter were to be managed, it should be handled by the Tiger Race from the largest nearby city-state."

"Don’t they have three Deities within their Race? And our tribe has offered the Tiger Race a great deal of tribute over the years. If you ask me, we should go directly to the Tiger Race and ask them to intervene on our behalf."

another Rabbit-headed elder added persuasively.

"The Tiger Race? I doubt that’ll work."

"Do you think it’s possible the Tiger Race doesn’t know the Dark Elves are running rampant in this region?"

"The way things have developed, I suspect the three Deities of the Tiger Race must not have fared well against the outer-realm Deity those Dark Elves worship."

"So I’m guessing they can’t even fend for themselves. Why would they be able to step in for a minor Vassal Race like us?"

The Elders of the Rabbit-headed People argued amongst themselves, clearly vexed by the situation and unable to reach a consensus.

"Sigh. At this point, we have no other options."

"After all, our people were born as a Lower-Rank Species, making Ascension to Divinity incredibly difficult."

"Just relying on a bunch of us old men with one foot in the grave, there’s no way we can easily escape this crisis."

"If you ask me, we should stop fantasizing that someone from our younger generation will be able to achieve Ascension to Divinity."

"Let’s just be decisive and pick a stronger Race to become completely subservient to. At the very least, our Race could then obtain one or two slots for Pseudo-Gods (Demigods) from the Deities of an Upper Race."

"Unacceptable! That’s trading our entire Race’s future for temporary security, isn’t it?"

"Even as a Lower-Rank Species, as long as we don’t become vassals to another Race, we still have a chance at Ascension to Divinity. But once we do, according to the continent’s unwritten rule, we will be forever barred from it."

"That’s right. Although Ascension to Divinity is difficult, we can’t completely sever that path."

"I say our entire Race should just abandon this territory. So what if we become a nomadic Race?"

"As long as we’re willing to endure a harder life, it doesn’t matter if we live in a barren desert or even a swamp. We must keep the hope of our entire Race alive."

"..."

The entire room was filled with the clamor of the Rabbit-headed People arguing, clearly unable to reach a consensus.

But what none of the Rabbit-headed People could have anticipated was that while they were busy deliberating, the Dark Elves were already prepared.

That was right.

From the moment the Dark Elves had sent someone to "notify" the Rabbit-headed People, they had, in fact, already been preparing to enslave the entire Rabbit-headed People Race.

Giving them time to discuss things?

That was just a simple ploy.

It was all to give the Rabbit-headed People time to recall the Strong Persons of their race who were away, providing the Dark Elves the opportunity to wipe them all out in one go.

And now, it was clearly time!

BOOM!!!

A terrifying roar suddenly erupted throughout the Rabbit-headed People’s tribe!

"What’s happening?!"

The expressions of the Rabbit-headed elders inside the hut froze, but in the next instant, they turned grim as they seemed to guess what was happening.

"It’s terrible!"

"Elders, the Dark Elves are attacking!"

"There are so many of them, so many long-ears!"

"They have us surrounded!!!"

A Tier Nine member of the Rabbit-headed People rushed in from outside, reporting in a panic.

"Damn it!!!"

"It’s only been three days! There’s still most of the ten-day deadline left."

"We’re finished. It seems we’ve fallen into their trap."

"What do we do? Should we organize the younger members of the tribe to try and break through the encirclement?"

"What kind of stupid question is that?"

"Go! Now!"

The next moment, the Rabbit-headed elders inside the hut shot up into the sky.

At the same time, they shouted for the younger members of their race to gather around them!

But at that very moment, a Saint from the Dark Elf Race who had long been lying in wait, along with three Demigods, suddenly descended from the heavens!

"Heh heh."

"Ignorant Rabbit-headed People, abandon all resistance!"

"You have no chance."

"Surrender, and my race will guarantee the lives of your entire people."

"But if you resist... Hmph, then I can’t say for sure what will happen to your entire Race."

A Saint Tier Dark Elf hovered arrogantly in the air, issuing a final ultimatum to the leading elders of the Rabbit-headed People.

Looking at this Saint Tier Dark Elf, and then at the three Demigod Elves hovering even higher behind him, the spirits of the Rabbit-headed elders plummeted.

"I knew it!"

"I knew it! We should have moved away from here long ago. Now it’s all over."

One of the Rabbit-headed elders let out a grief-stricken cry.

Wars between Races on this continent were brutal affairs.

Even though the Dragon Race had a rule that wars could not lead to the complete annihilation of another Race, even without that rule, it was rare for any Race to completely wipe out a defeated foe.

After all, what was the point of annihilating a people when you could enslave them?

Besides, even powerful Races with the ability and inclination to wipe out another people wouldn’t do so lightly.

After all, the continent was home to a multitude of Races.

If any Race ever did so, it would be much harder to get other Races to surrender or become their Vassals in future wars.

After all, who’s to say you wouldn’t just turn around and slaughter them all!

Moreover, the Dragon Race Inspectors themselves would intervene in such matters.

Therefore, under normal circumstances, a race would not be annihilated.

Of course, it was commonplace for the entirety of a defeated Race to be enslaved.

Everything seemed to be set in stone.

The elders of the Rabbit-headed People were so desperate they were about to surrender.

But at that very moment, a clear, crisp voice suddenly rang out.

"Oh, you long-ears sure talk big!"

"Are you really thinking of wiping them out?"

"Since when can a group from a Lower-Class Race act so arrogantly?"

"All right, you long-ears can go on back to where you came from. The Rabbit Race is under my protection!!!"

The clear voice echoed through the sky.

Instantly, all eyes turned to one spot.

It was only then that everyone saw that the one who had spoken was a young girl of the Rabbit Race.

"You!..."

The Saint Tier Dark Elf who had just spoken was about to retort angrily, but in the next moment, his mouth and nose were bound shut by an inexplicable Power.

He was stunned for a moment before noticing one of the three Demigod Dark Elves shooting him a look.

He wisely chose not to speak again.

And when he looked again, he saw the young Rabbit Race girl, who had been standing on a rooftop, suddenly transform into a pure-white Giant Dragon amid a blinding flash of light!

This was a Bright Giant Dragon, a member of the Dragon Race whose Attribute was Light.

It was also one of the few Royal Family Bloodlines within the Dragon Race.

"The Dragon Race?"

All the surrounding Dark Elves stared with wide eyes.

Even the Elves on the ground, who had been continuing to hunt down the surrounding members of the Rabbit Race, came to a halt.

Meanwhile, positioned even higher in the sky, Lince happened to be watching this scene unfold.