Drake’s eyes flickered, and his Adam’s apple bobbed convulsively along his taut neck, an incredibly alluring sight.

Just as he was about to speak, Evangeline leaned down, her soft, red lips pressing against the most ghastly scar over his heart.

A shiver wracked Drake’s body. His long fingers unconsciously tightened on the edge of the bamboo table as an unnameable emotion churned in his eyes.

Julian jerked upright, staring at Evangeline in disbelief, as if her red lips had been branded over his own heart.

"From now on, I’ll make sure you never get hurt again."

Evangeline looked up at Drake, her slender fingers gently tracing the sharp contours of his lean face. Her voice was alluringly soft. "I’ll protect you."

Drake’s lips tightened as he stared at her intently. After a long moment, he reached out, took her by the wrist, and shook his head. His voice was hoarse but firm. "I’m the one who should be protecting you."

He was her male. No matter what happened, he had to be the one to shield her.

Their gazes met and held, a silent current of emotion flowing between them.

Julian, on the other hand, was staring dazedly at Evangeline. ’Any other female would never say something like that—that she would protect her male.’

Evangeline tilted her head, a sly smile playing at the corners of her eyes. "Since you’re going to protect me, then..."

Before the words were even out of her mouth, she had picked up an outfit and begun to dress him.

Drake’s tall, straight figure was clad in a close-fitting black outfit. The dark Battle Armor settled over his chest, the Mystic Iron Bracelets clasped around his wrists, and the Girdle cinched his lean, powerful waist. He looked like a fully drawn bow, brimming with latent power.

His long, golden-red hair was bound by a Silver Crown, with a few stray strands falling around his face, giving him an imposing air.

Drake already exuded an air of reliability, but dressed in his Battle Armor, he was on another level. When his golden-red eyes swept over, his gaze was utterly arresting, carrying the force to move mountains. ’If this were ancient times,’ she thought, ’he’d be the perfect candidate to lead an army into battle.’

Evangeline gently tapped her chin with a fingertip, slowly circling Drake as if admiring a masterpiece.

Drake’s brow furrowed. He glanced down at the Armor on his body. "Does it look weird?"

Julian, standing to the side, was completely dumbstruck. Compared to what other males wore, this awe-inspiring Armor was much more aligned with their sensibilities. He loved it too. ’An outfit like this,’ he thought, ’is even more formidable than a beast form.’

"Not at all. It’s just missing something," Evangeline said with a light laugh.

With a flick of her wrist, a silver spear materialized in her hand.

A serpentine dragon coiled around the shaft, and the red tassel on its tip rippled like a wave of blood.

Drake’s expression froze for a moment as the heavy spear settled into his grasp.

Before Drake could speak, Julian had already stepped forward to gently stroke the spear. He ran a fingertip lightly over the spearhead, and a line of blood instantly welled up on his skin. It was far sharper than even a beastman’s claws.

He asked in stunned disbelief, "What is this?"

Evangeline raised an eyebrow, replying nonchalantly, "A Red Tassel Spear. It’s a type of weapon."

Julian stared at the spear, his eyes gleaming with a feverish light.

As the leader of his tribe, he instantly understood what this so-called Battle Armor and this new weapon represented for the Beastman Continent.

’If every Warrior in the tribe could possess such things... forget conquering Norfell, it wouldn’t even be difficult to wage war beyond it. The prestige of the Goldeagle Tribe would sweep across the entire Beastman Continent!’

Julian’s gilded eyes shimmered, as if he could already see the totem of the Goldeagle Tribe etched into history for all time.

Evangeline shot him a sidelong glance, taking in the ambition churning in his eyes.

She tapped the spear with a fingertip, producing a clear, ringing sound. "Don’t get any ideas," she said coolly. "I’m giving these things to Drake because I trust him. If these weapons were to spread across the continent, it would only lead to endless war and bloodshed."

’Food, drink, and daily necessities are one thing, but weapons? Absolutely not.’

’The Beast God’s will watches over this land. If the balance were broken and the Beastman Continent fell into chaos, it would surely draw the attention of the Beast God. At that point, her mission would be as good as failed.’

Julian’s gaze darkened, his eyes lingering on Evangeline’s profile for a moment.

’Without even looking at him, she had seen right through him.’

He frowned. "I really don’t understand you sometimes. You have this kind of power in your hands, and yet..."

Evangeline adjusted the pauldrons on Drake’s armor, then turned to Julian. Her narrow eyes were calm as she said, "I’m just a female. I have no ambition to dominate the Beastman Continent. Having all the beasts of the world bow to me would mean nothing."

At this, she glanced back at Drake, brushing a hand through her long hair as a radiant smile bloomed on her face. "All I want in this life is to have litter after litter of cubs with my male, hunt during the day, and at night..."

She paused, giving Drake a meaningful wink. "...fight."

Drake’s breath hitched, his golden-red eyes fixed on her.

Julian, however, winced and clenched his fists tightly.

"There." Evangeline looked at Drake with satisfaction and curled her lips into a smile. "Perfect!"

Julian turned to leave the bamboo hut without a word, but suddenly heard Evangeline’s voice behind him. "Julian, want to join us? We can get a picture together."

Julian whirled around, his gilded pupils contracting as he stared at Evangeline in astonishment.

His gaze raked over Evangeline’s face like a blade as he tried to find any hint of condescension, pity, or mockery in her eyes.

But there was none.

She just stood there, a faint smile on her lips, her eyes clear and untroubled.

Julian’s Adam’s apple bobbed. The pent-up frustration in his chest suddenly vanished. ’He had thought she wouldn’t have prepared anything for him.’

*

’Julian had a sharp, youthful energy about him. And while he was completely captivated by Drake’s Battle Armor, his way of thinking was dangerous. Evangeline certainly wasn’t going to style him as a young general. Besides, it would clash with Drake’s look.’

Evangeline narrowed her eyes, studying Julian for a long moment. She stared so intently that he grew flustered, and a pair of brilliant golden Feather Wings sprouted from his back.

"Alright, I have an idea," Evangeline nodded. She placed a hand on his shoulder, and her distinctly female scent wafted over to him. Julian went rigid as a statue, letting her do as she pleased.

Evangeline’s fingers wove through his golden hair, undoing his high ponytail and quickly fashioning it into several exquisite braids.

Then, she produced another outfit, shoved it into his arms, and pulled Drake out of the bamboo hut.

The moment Evangeline stepped over the threshold, she was dazzled by the sight before her.

A huge bonfire blazed in the clearing, surrounded by a crowd of handsome men striking various poses. In the firelight, they looked like a flock of preening peacocks, utterly magnificent.

As she was taking in the scene, the door to the bamboo hut suddenly opened from within. The first thing she heard was the crisp chiming of bells.

Evangeline’s brow twitched. She turned back to see a dazzling flash of gold unexpectedly fill her vision.

The young man’s golden hair was woven into numerous small, fine braids, interspersed with tiny silver bells. A dark band was wrapped around his forehead, and his gilded eyes shone with a brilliant light. His lean figure was outlined by a low-key yet luxurious Myojen-style outfit, and layers of silver ornaments chimed with his every move. Before her stood a handsome, wild-looking Myojen youth.

Julian stared at Evangeline as he stepped out. The firelight caught his many silver ornaments, scattering tiny flecks of light around him like a field of fallen stars.

The corners of Evangeline’s lips lifted. ’Yep,’ she thought, ’I really am cut out to be a stylist. I know how to bring out beauty to its fullest potential.’

’A perfect fit!’

Thorne shot Julian a dangerous look and sneered.

Evangeline lifted her chin slightly, full of energy. "Alright, everyone, one by one! I guarantee these shots will be fantastic!"