“… Weak!”

In one easy swing, I broke through their lousy defenses, breaking their mediocre forms.

In another strike, I sent pangs of pain coursing through their bodies.

“Not yet!”

Another hit sent another painful sensation running through their bodies.

Even as they struggled to exchange blows with me, my fluid movements were too much.

Controlling every portion of my body, while getting rid of excess movements, made me much faster and more efficient compared to the two.

‘Serah, you call yourself a Mage, but your Magic Attacks are too simple.’

Being focused on destructive ability wasn’t healthy.

Why?

‘What makes her different from Martial Artists?’

“You’d be mistaken for a Martial Artist… but you’re too mediocre to be recognized as an expert.” I mocked Serah, swinging my blade down at her feet.

She yelped, falling to the ground.

Seeing this, Gerard became enraged and charged at me with full force.

‘Gerard, your Martial Arts Techniques are non-existent. We opened the eyes of your race to the advantages of Martial Arts in exchange for an Alliance, but it seems you didn’t deem it fit to learn it properly.’

His superior ability and sheer Mana already made him invincible among his people. Obviously, Martial Arts would be considered unnecessary to him.

However—

“I can see all your movements. Pathetic!”

—When facing someone with equal or superior strength, it was possible to completely turn the tides of battle with Martial Arts.

Even though I was weaker than the two of them, the way I handled them so easily was proof of that fact.

“Is this all you have to offer?” I asked them once again, staring at them as they fell to the ground.

My grip on my blade was tight, and I was prepared for yet another show of resistance. However…

‘… Looks like I broke them already, uh?’

Serah and Gerard crumbled to the ground, completely beaten.

With that, my bloodcurdling battle with the two immensely powerful opponents came to a close.

The winner was none other than me.

************************

“Eat it,” I told my loyal vassal.

He obeyed my words and swallowed the white pill.

>SHUUUUUUUUU<

Instantly, the Mana in his core began to dilute, turning pure white instead.

“Now, just leave the rest to me.” I pressed his body and diverted all the escaping Mana to form another Mana Core.

“T-this is—?!” Gerard bulged his eyes as he felt his internal energy being diverted to another spot.

“Do you understand now? This is the measure you’ll be taking for yourself. You should understand how it works quickly.”

Beastfolk had their bodies attuned to receiving Mana, so they were very conversant with the flow within them.

Once I opened Gerard’s eyes to what he needed to do, it wouldn’t be long before he could do it on his own.

‘Internal Mana Manipulation is their forte, after all.’ I smiled.

“With this, I’ve cured your curse… as agreed.”

Upon hearing my words as I finished his treatment, Gerard bowed to me in his buck-naked form.

“I thank you so much… m-master!”

“You don’t need to call me that. As long as you understand where you stand, that’s more than enough.” I spoke to the bowing being.

“You are still the respectable Beast King, so act like one.”

He only bowed deeply.

‘I guess there’s no need to inform him of the Soul Brand I infused along with the White Pill.’

Jane and I reforged the Soul Brand we once had, so I was able to learn its composition from her.

By simply adding the Spell properties to the Pill, I was able to ‘Brand’ Gerard.

‘He’s sincerely grateful and loyal. Good.’ As I thought, absolute strength was the best way to handle things.

“Well, let us return. I’ve already repaired your Palace, and everyone there is safe. So, don’t worry.”

“T-thank you so much!” Gerard’s gratitude soared even higher.

It felt weird having a Beastfolk—especially the Beast King himself—as my subordinate, but it didn’t feel too bad either.

“Also, let’s get you something to wear. You look pretty weird like this.” I fished out a nice-looking kimono for the Beast King… as well as a nice pair of pants.

“This should do for now. Get dressed quickly.” With that, I turned from him and glanced at the second object of my attention.

‘So, how should I handle her?’

Serah Crimson was standing in a corner, looking very depressed. The loss must have shaken her more than expected.

But, wasn’t this a good thing? Just like Aloe Vida, people tended to appreciate it when someone pulled them from a deep slump.

Besides, with this, I would be able to obtain a massive powerhouse for myself.

‘I used up a great deal of energy earlier… but the results were worth it.’

Even though I could approach her at the moment, it wasn’t the ripe moment yet. I had to give it time…

‘Sink even deeper, Serah. Once you’ve gotten to the abyss… I’ll pull you back up.’

Of course, I intended to fulfill my matchmaking promises for her as a bonus. As long as she understood who was whose superior, there was going to be no hitch in our relationship.

“I’m done!” The Beast King’s voice caused me to sharply turn in his direction.

“Very good.” I smiled.

Donning a blue Kimono and black trousers, the brown-haired bearded man looked even better than the first time I saw him.

Both Serah and he were healed using my Magic, so they were perfectly fine.

“Also, I think I’m getting the hang of this multiple Cores thing. I’ve made five now.” He smiled at me.

‘Already?!’ Considering how it took me so many years to get such a number, I almost bashed my head in envy.

Curse or not, their race was too broken.

Fortunately, I had my Soul Brand on him, so he was forever linked to me—of course, in servitude.

Obtaining the Beast King was only the beginning, though.

‘There’s a whole lot of people here. Might as well leverage on that.’