BOOM—

The Vulture Chief snapped back to his senses, glanced at the golden gleam crashing against the earthen wall, and sneered.

’Julian is just an Eight-Marked Beastman, and he’s already badly injured after two days of grueling battle. In his current state, how could he possibly break through the earthen wall and save his clansmen? If this keeps up, I won’t even have to lift a finger.’

As the Vulture Chief mulled this over, he decided against watching from the sidelines. A vicious glint flashed in his eyes as he suddenly dove, his talons gleaming with a deadly light. It looked as if they would strike Julian’s vital points and rip his flesh apart in the very next instant.

’Now that I’ve made my move, I can’t give The Goldeagle Clan any chance for a last-ditch comeback.’

’Once Julian is dead, The Goldeagle Clan will fall into disarray. What would there be to worry about then?’

Julian sensed the ferocious killing intent diving toward him. His gaze sharpened, but instead of turning to defend himself, he simply shrouded himself in a protective layer of his Gold Attribute and resumed his assault on the earthen wall. ’Just a few more hits, and I’ll definitely break through!’

’A serious injury is unavoidable, but my clansmen must be saved!’

’I brought them here, so I will take them home!’

Julian wasn’t defending himself; he’d left his back wide open. A predatory light gleamed in the Vulture Chief’s eyes as he stared fixedly at Julian’s neck. His talons could easily snap his neck!

’The Goldeagle Tribe... is finished.’

Layers of Earth Attribute light pulsed around the Vulture Chief’s talons, radiating a thick killing intent.

Just then, a deep, piercing cry echoed through the heavens.

Hearing this cry, both familiar and strange, Julian froze. His gilded golden eyes shot upward to see a Goldeagle tearing through the sky. It was enormous, its gold-and-red feathers more dazzling than the setting sun.

Julian remembered that ever since he was a child, he’d had a Brother who was the pride and joy of the entire clan.

He was tall, valiant, and astonishingly talented—a rare mutant Goldeagle.

He had adored his Brother’s unique gold-and-red feathers. His first hunt, his first flight—his Brother had taught him everything. In his heart, as long as his Brother was around, there was nothing to fear.

But later, his Brother formed a Contract and left the tribe with his female.

He told himself it was normal. He shouldn’t be sad; he should be happy for his Brother. After all, his Brother’s female was gorgeous—the most beautiful female in all of Norfell. In the future, he would have his own descendants to carry on the bloodline of The Goldeagle Clan.

The Goldeagle Tribe never interacted with outsiders. They remained in their territory year-round, cut off from the outside world.

It wasn’t until the Oasis Tribe was annihilated and Evangeline’s vile reputation spread that he learned the truth: his Brother had had his Feather Wings broken and his Star Pattern shattered. He personally traveled to The Oasis but couldn’t find his Brother. All trace of him had vanished.

He knew all too well that a shattered Star Pattern meant being unable to ever assume one’s beast form again, or even return to the tribe.

Julian stared unblinkingly at the great gold-and-red bird, a watery sheen welling up in his gilded eyes.

His Brother was back.

The Nine-star Extreme Realm.

Drake soared in on outstretched wings, his descent whipping up fierce gales. The Vulture Chief, stunned, abandoned his attack on Julian and rapidly retreated. His eyes, however, remained glued to Drake, his face a mask of utter disbelief.

’Drake, the most talented Beastman in the Goldeagle Tribe... he’s actually recovered his strength?!’

What’s more...

The Vulture Chief’s gaze locked onto the center of the great gold-and-red bird’s forehead. There, a crimson nine-star pattern was interwoven into a complex sigil, exuding an aura of mystery and gravitas. The Nine-star Extreme Realm.

’This Beastman whose Star Pattern was shattered didn’t just recover his strength—he leaped all the way to become a Nine-Marked Beastman!’

The Nine-star Extreme Realm was the pinnacle of power that all males pursued. Once achieved, one could lead their clan to rapid growth, conquer vast territories, claim the richest hunting grounds, and raid for the most beautiful females!

The Nine-star Extreme Realm... a state he had only dreamed of reaching. He never imagined that in the span of just a few days, three individuals would achieve it, one after another!

And all three of them were young males, at that?!

The Vulture Chief felt his head spin. He looked at the approaching Drake, gnashed his teeth, and let out a sharp cry to the heavens. He led his clan in a swift retreat, not daring to linger for a second. With someone at the Nine-star Extreme Realm present, all their schemes had become a complete joke.

Drake looked at the earthen wall. With a single flap of his Feather Wings, he summoned a biting gale that tore down the cracked remnants of the wall Julian had been attacking. Freed from their prison, the trapped Goldeagle Beastmen took to the sky, gasping for breath.

When they saw Drake, every single one of them froze in astonishment.

In the entire Goldeagle Tribe, there was only one Goldeagle with gold-and-red Feather Wings.

"Stay here." Drake’s gaze landed on Julian. After giving the order, he shot off in the direction the Vulture Clan had fled. He was incredibly fast, becoming a streak of gold-and-red light that vanished in pursuit.

Julian quietly watched the spot where Drake had vanished, an extremely complex expression in his gilded eyes.

Meanwhile, the other Goldeagle Beastmen stared after Drake’s receding figure, chattering excitedly among themselves.

"Is that really... really Drake? I’m not seeing things, am I? Wasn’t his Star Pattern shattered?"

"His Star Pattern wasn’t just shattered! Over some matter with the Goldeagle Tribe, the Vulture Clan tortured him beyond recognition! I thought he’d already gone to see the Beast God. How did he suddenly recover? And... he’s a Nine-Marked Beastman, right? He is, isn’t he?"

"Haha, who cares about all that? Did you see the Vulture Clan fleeing with their tails between their legs?"

"Exactly! Our Goldeagle Tribe now has Drake, a Nine-Marked Beastman, and our leader with his Eight-Star Pattern! Who would dare bully us now?"

...

Every Beastman of The Goldeagle Clan was overjoyed. Having such powerful leaders meant their clan’s territory and influence would expand greatly. From now on, whether it was the rainy season, the Cold Season, or any natural disaster born from the Beast God’s wrath, they would be able to survive!

Listening to the beastmens’ chatter, a faint smile touched Julian’s gilded eyes.

「As the last rays of twilight were devoured by darkness, Drake returned.」

In his talons, he carried a massive Vulture. Its dull gray feathers were sparse, and blood trickled from its body, dripping like rain from the sky. The Goldeagle Beastmen waiting there were momentarily stunned by the sight.

Julian quickly went to meet him. He stared at the Vulture’s corpse in Drake’s talons for a long moment before murmuring, "Dead, just like that?"

For a moment, his expression was distant. The Vulture Chief had committed countless evils and had been a constant adversary to The Goldeagle Clan. To think he had died so suddenly, gone to meet the Beast God... From now on, no one would ever be able to threaten the Goldeagle Tribe again.

Drake tossed the Vulture’s corpse from his talons to Julian, who caught it.

"Take it back. Hang it up," Drake’s voice was deep and reserved, yet his words were chillingly indifferent.

Julian fell silent for a moment. Just as he was about to speak, his pupils suddenly contracted.

A moment ago, a gust of wind had swept past, ruffling the gold-and-red feathers on Drake’s back and seeming to reveal a slender figure nestled there. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

A very familiar figure.

Julian’s throat bobbed, his eyes refusing to look away for even an instant. "Brother, she..."

Drake glanced sideways at Julian, his deep, gold-and-red eyes revealing no emotion.

After a long pause, he spoke, his voice low. "Do you want to be her male?"