"Rory, let’s go hunt so beasts together."
Jasper’s voice carried effortlessly over the roar of the battlefield, calm and assured, as though the chaos around them were nothing more than background noise to him.
He moved through the swarm with terrifying ease, every step precise, every motion economical. The surrounding beasts barely even registered as threats in his presence anymore.
Rory followed his gaze, then lifted her hand and pointed toward a distant cluster moving along the edge of the clearing.
"Over there," she said, eyes bright with intent. "Those level five beasts. I want to take them down myself."
With Jasper watching her back, she could finally let loose. No restraint. No second-guessing. This was the perfect chance to test her own limits, to sharpen her instincts, and push her strength further than before.
"Understood," Jasper replied imdiately, a spark of approval dancing in his eyes. He inclined his head in a brief nod—obedient in posture, yet razor-focused in spirit.
His massive tail swept around her in a protective arc, lifting her smoothly from the ground and carrying her through the worst of the turbulence before setting her down with surprising gentleness on solid terrain again.
"Enjoy yourself," he murmured close to her ear. "And don’t worry about anything––you’re safe with ."
"I know," Rory answered without hesitation, eting his eyes. "I trust you."
As his overwhelming aura withdrew, the suffocating pressure that had blanketed the battlefield lifted all at once. The level five beasts—monts earlier pinned flat to the dirt by instinctive terror—slowly staggered back to their feet. They had no idea they had just stepped into their final monts.
Water rippled beneath Rory’s boots, spreading outward in smooth, deliberate waves. A heartbeat later, streaks of red lightning snapped across the surface, crackling with lethal energy and bathing the ground in an eerie glow.
Jasper’s eyes widened, just slightly. But he still felt a tinge of amusent curling in his heart.
Dual ability user?
Even among elites, dual-ability users were very rare. A female with that gift was sothing spoken of in rumors and legends, stirring wild imagination in every male.
Across the clearing, Dax hurled the last struggling level seven beast toward Gina’s squad, then turned—just in ti to see Rory in motion. Water and lightning spiraled around her in perfect harmony, a living storm wrapped in human form.
He surged forward instinctively, intent on closing the distance.
He never made it.
Jasper’s tail lashed out like a battering ram, slamming into Dax with devastating force. Dax crashed heavily into the ground, rolled, and sprang back to his feet with a snarl, fury burning in his eyes.
Jasper’s expression never changed––he didn’t even blink.
"Rory said she wanted to handle these herself," he stated calmly. "Don’t interfere."
If Rory hadn’t been watching, that fox would already be halfway buried.
Rory?
Dax’s gut twisted sharply as he frowned. This damn serpent had the nerve to call the Female Master by na!
"She’s Rank Four," Dax snapped, stepping closer. "You’re really letting her face level five beasts alone? What if she gets hurt?" His voice cut cold and sharp, like a warning. "If the Female Master is injured, can you handle that responsibility? Step aside. I’ll support her."
Jasper didn’t move an inch.
"With here," he said evenly, "she won’t be."
He understood Dax’s intent perfectly—posturing, showing off, trying to insert himself into her space.
Their gazes locked.
Invisible pressure exploded between them, raw energy crackling through the air. Nearby beasts collapsed instantly, bodies trembling as they pressed flat against the ground. Only the small circle sheltered within Jasper’s coiled tail remained untouched by the clash of wills.
Rory noticed none of it.
She was lost in her rhythm.
Lightning pulsed around her like a second heartbeat. Three beasts already lay motionless. Two more staggered, bleeding heavily, movents sluggish and desperate.
She stepped lightly across the rippling water, red sparks flaring beneath her feet as she gathered power. A sharp jolt raced up her leg as she leapt.
Lightning flared beneath her boots midair, solid as stone.
A blade of pure energy ford in her hand—brilliant, vibrant, and humming with restrained destruction.
She swung.
Crack.
One beast’s head separated cleanly, smoke curling from the cauterized edge. Seconds later, the second collapsed in a heap.
When the last body fell, Rory imdiately crouched to extract the beast cores, movents efficient and unhurried. Both males watched from a distance in silence. The way she fought—precise, composed, devastating—was lethal in a way that was almost srizing.
Incredible, Jasper thought. The Female Master doesn’t just fight well. She dominates.
Before Rory could fully pocket the seventh core, Jasper’s tail wrapped gently around her waist, lifting her once more into his arms. She let out a soft gasp of surprise.
Across the clearing, Dax’s jaw clenched hard.
Again? Seriously? That damn serpent always beats to it.
Cradled against Jasper’s chest, Rory was completely unaware of Dax’s reaction. She secured the cores at her belt and looked up at Jasper with a bright grin.
"All done," she said. "I think I can handle a few more level five beasts."
A warm smile flickered across Jasper’s face.
"Whatever you want, Rory."
"Female Master, I’ll co with you too!" Dax called out quickly, stepping forward.
Rory froze.
Only then did she realize he’d seen everything. Heat rushed to her cheeks as she noticed she was still half-curled in Jasper’s arms.
"Hah... Dax, you’re here too," she said, forcing a laugh. Then she lowered her voice, mortified. "Jasper, please put down."
Being carried like this in front of everyone was far too much. If they’d been alone, she might not have objected—but this was different.
Jasper didn’t move.
"Didn’t you say you wanted more level five beasts?" he replied calmly. "Carrying you will be faster."
Then he lifted his gaze to Dax.
Dark purple eyes glead with unmistakable challenge, a slow, confident grin tugging at the corner of his mouth as the tension between them thickened once more.
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