"What are a couple of idiots. Why didn't you kill them?" Raya asked.

She had been looking forward to having her first R7 meat and Muku just let them go. That really sucked.

"Have you already forgotten what mother said?! We shouldn't go around finding trouble as we did back home. It's not even nearly as worth it. Plus we aren't clear on the situation here yet. So we can't be high profile. Not to mention what happened to Layla. Should I go on?" Muku replied.

"Okay, okay, stop. I get it. But I do hope that we won't completely stop killing. Even if we can love without eating, I don't want to. I want to know what R7s-8s-9s and so on taste like. Even if you don't help me get them, I'll do it myself" Raya spoke seriously.

It couldn't be helped. She was a natural-born predator after all. The apex predator of all species in fact. So expecting her to stop eating meat even when she didn't need to was nothing but wishful thinking.

"Don't worry. We're not turning into monks or something. I'm just saying that we need to be careful right now as we figure out the terrain" Muku reassured.

"Oh, okay. Good then" Raya replied in an appeased voice.

"Now that that's done. Let's get out of here" Muku spoke then within warning, he and the girls went back into the embryo.

...

"What the. Why did you do it so suddenly?" Jade complianeturtd after being caught off guard.

"I was just being careful in case we were being traced okay?. We still don't understand what happened with Layla. Was it really a Monarch or just a strong beast? Either way, we couldn't linger around that place too long" Muku replied.

"Fine" Jade gave in to logic.

"Now before we talk about anything. Can you tell us how you found out about that weird bug on Layla's neck?" Muku asked Emily.

"Umm, I'm not sure. From the moment Layla started acting weird, I just felt disgusted when I looked at her and felt an intense urge to destroy her. Of course, I would never do such a thing. And I didn't say anything since we were doing other things. But I kept my eye on her. It was then I realised that it wasn't her I was disgusted by, but something on her. So I used my fire to destroy any foreign object on her or any of us just to be safe. That's when the whole fiasco happened" Emily replied.

"How did our clothes not get burnt then?" Jade asked.

"Because I counted them as part of you like I always do. Why would you ask such a dumb thing you pervert?" Emily snapped at Jade lightly.

"Oh," Jade replied and moved on.

What she and Emily didn't notice was how most of the others had embarrassed looks on their faces.

This was because they had thought the same thing as Jade. They just didn't ask it.

But hearing Jade getting insulted made them feel like they were being insulted too.

Fortunately, no one would ever know.

"Anyway. The situation is really weird. And for now, there's nothing we can do apart from leaving our safety up to you Emily. If you sense anything wrong with any of us, tell the others immediately and figure out what to do.

"Okay. I'll do that" Emily nodded as she agreed.

"Good. Now with that done. Let's move on to a situation that's definitely in our hands. I'm sure you all heard what the two beasts said. What do you suggest we do now? Should we gamble and go in or play it safe and stay here?" Muku asked the others for their opinions.

"I say we take the risk. There would be no point in coming here if we didn't go there. After all, there are probably not many R7s here even if we want to take the inefficient KP path. And the divine mana isn't thick enough for proper cultivation" Audrey voted for taking the risk.

Something very rare from the lady who almost always chose to play it safe.

Her words were something you'd expect from Jade instead.

"I'm with her" Jade readily supported her.

{Of course you are} The others thought at the same time.

"Me too" Raya supported Audrey as well. Something that was also expected.

After that, the others expressed their willingness as well.

While some, like Hope and Emily were initially super timid before the apocalypse, they had long adopted and their temperaments also adjusted to the new life they were living.

Now something being dangerous Didi deterred them. They would figure out if it was worth it or not first before deciding. And this was definitely worth it.

Things didn't look good for their home world. So strength was a must if they wanted to do something about that. Even if they didn't care about the world, they cared about the people.

Mostly the people in their group, but Jade also had her brothers somewhere in the world.

For those reasons, they needed power.

"Well... I can't say I didn't expect this honestly. Y'all keep getting more and more passionate every day," Muku commented in a pleased tone.

Whether his words that had a double meaning were said intentionally or not was unknown. Some of the girls just glared at him with blushes on their faces but didn't say anything.

"However, just being willing to take risks isn't a plan. So we need to think of something before we go through. What will be our first move after going through? Are we going to go in swinging or are we fleeing upon entry?" Mukunl asked.

"I suggest we fight it out. I doubt the guards will be that strong" Jade suggested.

She couldn't wait to fight her real first R7 even if it was a group of them.

"Sounds great... Until a second later when we're surrounded by thousands of them because we caused a commission and it takes beings like us less than a second to traverse millions of kilometres" Layla rebated.

This time there wasn't any provocation in her voice like that time she was "possessed".

She was just being her usual analytical self.

"Ah... Flee?" Jade switched on the spot.

No matter how much of a battle junkie she was. She didn't want to die such a stupid death.

She wouldn't mind dying while fighting. But it has to be a heroic death with a credible reason.

"Fleeing can't be easy either. They likely prepared for both scenarios" Lisa chimed in.

As an experienced commander and leader, she would have prepared for both scenarios had she been in charge. So she figured there was no way ancient beasts didn't prepare for it too.

"That makes sense. Is there a way to make it through without being caught then?"

Jade replied and asked a question to no one in particular.

"I have an idea. I don't know if it will work though" Freya spoke up.

"Sure let's hear it. I'm sure it's great" Muku encouraged.

"Umm. Well, what if we all stay in here and Mu..leader goes through alone? And immediately upon arriving on the other side he comes back inside. After that, we stay inside for a few days until their guard goes down and they think he escaped. Then we jump out at once and take out a few of them wheel scanning the situation. If there's an opening, we run. If not, we will retreat again after making a smoke screen of sorts. How does that sound to you all? If it's a bad plan then I forget I said anything" Freya spoke with a bit of hesitation but clearly.

"Wow! What a great plan! Let's do it" Jade was the first to support the plan.

Honestly, it seemed like she just wanted to go no matter what. But the plan really wasn't bad.

"As Jade so excitedly said. That's a great plan, Freya. I love it. And are you really still too shy to call me by my name? What kind of wife is so shy of their husband? Aren't we already an old couple?" Muku supported the plan and took some time to tease Freya while he was at it. She just made it too easy after all.

"Shameless" Raya commented while the others nodded their heads in agreement.

Muku really didn't care about time and place. They were literally having a serious conversation and he dared to flirt?

Freya shyly looked away without saying anything.

But the joy in her eyes from being called "wife" was very evident.

It was burning so much that the others figured that if they weren't present, she would have long thrown herself into Muku's arms.

They rolled their eyes at how she had bold thoughts but a timid personality. But then again, isn't it how it usually went with "innocent" girls?

Maybe that's why they were so liked by many men. It was an interesting contrast they had with themselves.

"Cough. Shut up. I'll go now. Wait for the good news" Muku spoke and quickly escaped the scene before they all started teasing him.

And so, the girls stayed there chatting while Muku executed the plan.

While they looked relaxed, they were ready to pounce at any moment. Which was their base setting at that point in time really...