The Beast Within Blazes!
The energy in my body was beyond control. It surged and boiled like an untamable force, making every muscle tingle and my bones hum with new power.
I curled my front paws against the bed, feeling the air between my toes. Light. So light. The concentrated mana from that durian the night before, mixed with the steady Earth Dragon bone I gnawed every single day, must have been doing something to me. My body felt alive, coiled spring-tight and ready to explode.
“Kyah~…”
But why wasn’t my belly shrinking? I’d used miracles a lot lately, and now even the weight loss was lagging behind. How annoying.
“Kyaung~”
My skin itched like crazy. I rolled around on the bed, tail spinning like a propeller. I wanted to run. I wanted to feel the wild, the open sky, the chase. The primal instinct inside me was roaring, pounding to break free.
This cramped palace yard was no place for a proper hunt. I’d never get a decent nap here.
The door burst open with a bang. Kailian stepped in, red eyes shining with worry.
“Blanc? Our Blanc’s awake? Time for breakfast.”
She scooped me up in those strong arms, pressing soft kisses to my head, her scent warm and steady like home. Right behind her, Tower Master Rosalia hurried in, clutching a crystal ball for recording.
“Your Highness, the Divine Beast’s condition is unstable. His heartbeat is 1.5 times faster than normal, and his basal metabolic rate is in overdrive.”
“Shut up. He’s just in top condition. Right, Blanc?”
Kailian’s voice was full of that sweet, imperious tone she always used when baby-talking me. I slipped from her arms, streaked to the door, and began scratching at it with both paws.
“Kyaang! Kyah~!”
Let me out. I’m going to lose my mind! I want to hunt! I want to hunt so badly!
My ears drooped. My tail whipped around like a helicopter blade. I kept glancing between the door and Kailian, begging.
“Oh? You want to go outside? You want a walk?”
Kailian’s eyes sparkled. She’d already understood.
“Because of the turian? Your energy is overflowing, huh? You want fresh air? Fine, let’s go! I’ll pack a lunch for a picnic.”
“Kyaung~…”
I preferred hunting over picnics. But she was already telling the maids to pack the basket, face flushed with excitement.
“Hey, Tower Master. Grab the luggage. Pack his snacks.”
“Why am I the porter?”
“If you don’t like it, disappear into the Magic Tower.”
“…”
I devoured my breakfast in record time while the attendants prepared. The meat was gone in three gulps.
“Kyaaaang!”
“S-Sir Divine Beast, please eat slowly… You’ve already finished everything…”
“Kyah~!”
More! Bring more!
We finished packing and headed for the northern forest, one of the hunting grounds managed by the imperial family.
We crossed the entrance and settled in a sunlit clearing with soft grass.
“Perfect spot. Lay out the blanket.”
Rosalia’s hands trembled as she unfurled the picnic mat. I stretched, bones popping with new elasticity.
“Oh my, the weather is lovely today. Did the Divine Beast go for a walk?”
Saintess Lina appeared as if she’d been waiting. She sat gracefully at one corner of the mat, sipping tea with perfect poise.
She still uses the hidden mage trick?
I tilted my head, suspicious. Was Lina really the saintess? While I was wondering, Kailian shot her a sharp glare.
“Hey, how did you follow us? Did the maids call you?”
“No, no. While praying in the morning, I felt the Divine Beast’s presence and simply decided to take a walk… It was a divine revelation.”
“Kyah~?”
You planted something on me?
Lina waved cheerfully, completely shameless.
I’ll have to check that later with Rosalia.
“Wow, a stalker with no rival.”
Kailian clicked her tongue in disbelief, but couldn’t send her away. Lina just smiled sweetly, as if nothing had happened.
“Well, sit. Just don’t bother Blanc.”
While the attendants set up tea, I stepped onto the grass and sniffed. Earthy scent. Grasshoppers chirping. The sharp, wild odor of beasts carried on the wind. It was nothing like the lunch aroma—pure, thrilling, primal.
My heart thundered. Blood raced like it was hitting the gas pedal.
“Kyo!”
Time to go hunting!
I bolted without looking back. Kailian’s voice followed from behind.
“Eh? Blanc! Where are you going?! You can’t go too far!”
“No need to worry. I’ve attached tracking magic to him and activated detection magic for dangerous magical beasts nearby.”
I didn’t stop. The excited body didn’t listen to reason anymore.
Thud, thud, thud!
No sensation of feet touching ground. Trees blurred past like I was sliding on air. This was it. This was freedom.
I sliced through the forest, leaping from trunk to trunk, bounding over rocks. My body was feather-light! Earth Dragon bone in my skeleton, turian energy exploding through every muscle.
I ran like a madman for who knew how long. Suddenly the entrance of the forest was long gone. I was deep inside now.
“Kyah~…”
If the butler finds out… I’ll be scolded.
I felt lighter, but where was I?
Surrounding rocks. A dark, ominous cliff. And at the base, a pitch-black cave mouth.
“Sniff.”
Thick, greasy scent oozed from inside. Territory mark. The stench of a top predator. My instincts screamed danger, but my heart whispered… Let’s go in. It’ll be fun.
“Kyaung!”
Let’s go!
Tail swaying, I padded inside the cave.
“Blanc isn’t here? Did he go too far? Hey, are you watching properly?”
Kailian paced, worrying, chewing her nails. Lina sipped tea elegantly.
“The Divine Beast is overflowing with energy right now. He’ll be back any second, chasing rabbits like always.”
“That’s right. Our little one is so curious. He’s probably chasing a rabbit right now.”
Kailian sat back down, sighing.
“Tower Master, confirm Blanc’s location.”
“Yes, he’s still within range, but the speed is so extreme the coordinates—”
Rosalia’s eyes widened behind her monocle.
“What happened?”
“The Divine Beast’s signal stopped at the nearby Iron Bear cave.”
“Iron Bear…? You mean a real Iron Bear?”
Kailian shot to her feet in panic.
“Yes. It’s the Iron Bear’s habitat… but he probably just went in and came right back out. Bears aren’t active this time of day.”
“Hey! Why didn’t you say that sooner?! We’re going right now!”
Kailian grabbed her sword and charged forward. Lina set her teacup down and followed.
“Iron Bear… You’ve caused another incident, my little Divine Beast.”
I walked deeper into the cave, eyes adjusting to the dark. Scattered bones of long-dead beasts littered the floor.
Grrrroooom…
Deep vibrations rolled from the back. I froze and crept forward slowly.
Two glowing red eyes. The size of a dinner plate. Black, rock-hard hide. Razor claws scraping stone.
It’s a bear.
“Kyaung~!”
You’re a female bear, aren’t you?
It was napping, irritated by an intruder on its sleep. Annoyed.
“Krrr…?”
Those eyes looked down at me—a fluffy white fist the size of a fist. It probably thought a snack walked in on its own.
No threat value. It swatted at me lazily, like swatting a bug.
“Kyaung~”
Hey. Bite me. Go on, bite!
I puffed my tail and snarled.
Only then did the bear actually look at me. My hunt prey? It dared ignore me?
“KROARRRR!!!”
The roar shook the entire cave. Dust rained from the ceiling. The volume was insane.
To any normal animal, that sound would have stopped a heart. To me, it sounded like a baby crying for milk.
“Kyah~”
Kailian’s killing intent? I couldn’t be scared by a bear’s roar.
I approached on all fours, ears twitching. The bear stood, body towering four meters.
BOOM! BOOM!
Each step shook the ground. It raised one massive paw, swinging it like a wrecking ball.
Too slow. Way too slow.
WHOOSH—!
The paw sliced the air above my head. I kicked off the ground and launched skyward.
I dove under its jaw and slammed my whole body’s rotational power into my front paw.
Earth Dragon bone and turian energy exploded through my muscles.
“KYAAAAANG!”
THUD!
The cave echoed with the impact. My soft hammer struck its jaw. The bear’s head snapped back at a grotesque angle. Its red eyes rolled back, whites showing.
KUUUUUUNG!
The house-sized body collapsed like a sack of bricks. The cave floor trembled as if an earthquake had struck.
One strike. Instant kill.
I landed, shook my paws, and trotted over to check on it.
“Hoo~”
Good. My jelly is safe.
I sniffed the bear’s nose. Jaw broken, completely out cold.
Hah. This is the power of a Divine Beast.
I looked at the massive carcass and grinned happily. The attendants would finally admit I was amazing now.
No more being treated like a kid.
I grabbed the bear’s hind leg and dragged.
“Ugh…!”
Heavy. But I could manage.
Drag, drag, drag.
I pulled the Iron Bear out like a general returning from battle.
The maids would be so impressed.
“Blanc! Blanc! Where are you?!”
Kailian’s panicked voice echoed as I emerged from the cave. I’d gone too far without them noticing… again.
I hesitated, worried about getting scolded, but then remembered the bear.
“Kyah~!”
I roared a short warning toward the clearing and burst through the bushes.
“Blanc!”
Kailian spotted me and rushed forward, stopping just in time.
“Kyaung~”
I’m back.
I dropped the bear right at her feet with a heavy THUD.
The ground shook.
The attendants stared with mouths wide open, alternating between the giant carcass and me.
Impressed?
I’d brought something amazing after all.
“This… is a bear… right?”
“Iron Bear… That’s an unusually strong magical beast…”
Rosalia adjusted her monocle with a trembling hand.
I jumped proudly onto the bear’s belly, tail wagging, and sat like a king.
Hmph.
I lifted one front paw.
See? One strike. I won. Come on, praise me!