Finishes lb6 part one. Receives no grail.
"The hell, Nasu? I need my grails dammit!
That aside, a bit of a slower chapter, to wind things down a bit.
And Lily is a tad thirsty..err, appreciative, yes!
'Thunk'
By now, the rhythmic nature of the sound had all but delegated to background noise.
'Thunk'
In fact, Lily could almost liken it to a lullaby—
'Thunk!'
"Eeep!" she did not let out a panicked squeak and she would kick anyone who said otherwise on the shin! Her kicks were serious business too as that stinky idiot. Eyelashes could attest to!
Still…
"Mistress?"
But her lady ignored her, locked in yet another argument with her sister.
'THUNK!'
And still the sound continued to get stronger.
Pursing her lips, she shot to her feet and nodded. If nobody else would do anything, then it was up to her, wasn't it? She'd seen and felt the result of hesitation before and she wouldn't make the same mistake again.
Taking a deep breath, she straightened out the tiny swim skirt, and after covertly checking out that her dark waterproof bra and its pad…accessories remained firmly in place, she stepped away from the arguing sisters in front of the patio of sir Silver Fang's Dojo and followed the trailing dirt path, the short winding route leading her to a small clearing a scarce few meters below the Dojo itself.
"Ah, hello there, little one."
Lily puffed out her cheeks.
She was not little!
She was perfectly average! No! She was, in fact, better than most in her age group and never skipped her daily bottle of milk!
Take it back, you tall, dark-skinned, well…well endowed…
With each word, her mental tirade kept losing steam and Lily's shoulders kept sagging lower and lower.
"Did you need something?" the white-haired no good princess asked, kind if somewhat shy smile on the woman's face as she leaned towards Lily.
Why are you making it so hard for me to hate on you?!
Still. Lily was a professional and the right hand of lady Fubuki! And so…
With a deep breath, she smoothed out her features and flashed a smile on the…bigger woman's face and nodded.
Think of the money and the prestige, Lily. Think of how proud your parents and lady Fubuki both would be and don't fret over the fact that sir Zero seems to pay more attention to lady Tornado and this…hussie over me and lady…Fubuki…argh!
"Little one?"
The princess' concerned voice drew her back with a blink.
"Ah! S-sorry! Just…Just lost in thought! Ehehehe…"
"I see…"
She clearly didn't
'Thunk'
"And miss Kisha?"
"Yes?"
"My name is Lily."
The woman blinked and nodded. "I see, apologies, Lily, but I was not aware."
Let me hate youuuu!
"S-so, have you seen, sir Yuha?" she asked, and Kisha's face grew troubled.
"Ah…My lord is…" the woman raised a hand, pinching her nose and letting out a sigh. "He's back there…" she said and gestured behind her, where Lily found that the woman indeed spoke the truth.
For sir Yuha was—
"He's been like that ever since yesterday," Kisha helpfully added. "Any moment not spent training with either your master, the old monster or the scary green one, he spends it down here."
Lily opened and closed her mouth a couple of times in quick succession.
"You mean to tell me…"
Kisha let out a sad sigh.
"Indeed, all of those felled trees and the ones still standing with an…indentation in their trunk? A result of my lord repeatedly slamming his head against them.
She tried to speak, and yet words failed her.
"—uckin —ammit—" and sir Yuha kept mumbling to himself.
"And no one has been able to convince him to stop?" she squeaked…asked, asked!
Kisha shook her head.
"No. I'm afraid not. The old monster and the scary green one, along with your master have already tried, as I've said. And yet whenever they ordered him to take a break, or whenever everyone else fell asleep last night, he made a beeline straight to here and, well…" the woman shrugged her shoulders.
So, sir Yuha is that angry with himself over the danger the hussie… Kisha blinked and flashed her a kind smile and Lily wilted like her namesake, giving it up as a lost cause, for the bigger woman reminded her quite a bit of some large naïve dog. She sighed. Over the danger Kisha was in yesterday?
A tiny smile spread across Lily's lips. Sasuga! As expected of Perfect Zero!
"Well, if everyone else tried, I'm gonna give it a shot as well!" she said, and Kisha shrugged.
"By all means, little one, and I hope you succeed, for it is distressing seeing my lord like that."
"Lily! L-i-l-y!"
The woman gave a sheepish chuckle and rubbed the nape of her neck.
"Right! Apologies."
Lily rolled her eyes and with a huff, stepped towards the hero currently attempting to make new and exciting advancements in the lumberjack profession.
'THUNK!'
Although, Lily had her doubts whether this new form would catch on.
"S-sir Yuha?" she tried, receiving no answer.
She tried again. And again.
'THUNK!'
The tree above them shook ominously and Lily, eyes narrowing, let out a fearsome growl!
And promptly deployed her secret technique!
"Yuha, you lout!" she cried as her left foot sped forward, impacting with the back of Yuha's unsuspecting leg.
"Eek!"
"Wha—oh, hey Lily, what's up? Is it time for training again?" the Idiot asked, granting a stay of execution to the poor tree and gazing at her with surprise. "And—Lily?"
"Y-yes?" she asked with a barely contained sniffle.
"Forgive me for saying this, but you look about to cry. Did someone hurt you?"
Yes! Your leg that feels about as dense as that skull of yours! What are you made out of you doofus!
She shook her head.
"No…I'm…" her poor toes throbbed. "I'm fine! Y-yes!" she let out a weak chuckle as Yuha gazed at her with suspicion for a few moments longer before sighing and nodding in acceptance, and her heart clenched as he stared at the poor and already much abused tree.
Forgive me, little one! It seems we must go all out on this day! She cried inside, sending words of mental consolation towards her right foot.
But, luckily for them all, with a sigh, Yuha turned and focused back on her.
"So, Lily, have they sent you as a messenger? Are my masters summoning me back for more training?"
Lily bit her lip as she shook her head. For despite her aching toes, the urge to giggle was almost too strong.
Sir Yuha, you are a hot piece of ass…err, I mean, great! Yes, great man! And yet…you are a dense doofus! Who the hell talks like that?
"Oh…" the man's shoulders slumped, and he cast another forlorn glance at his leafy prisoner, the tree seeming to shudder at his gaze before he smiled at her. "Well, if that's the case…Was there something I could help you with, Lily?"
Yes! Notice me and lady Fubuki you big dummy!
But that would not be a wise thing to say. Unbecoming of a young…still blossoming lady!
"Yes!" she said with a fierce growl—why was Yuha smiling? She placed her hands on her hips. "Please tell me why've you been making Mistress worried and have been pilling abuse upon abuse on all these poor trees?"
At her words, Yuha's shoulders slumped, and he cast another glance at the tree, whose leaves seemed to sway in worry.
Lily's eyes widened. "A-and…"
He focused back on her with a blink.
Think Lily, think! What does the dense dummy like that can distract him?
She thought back to what she knew of the man and for a worrying moment, nothing came to mind, but then—
I know!
"I was also wondering if you'd agree to…train me?" she trailed off, unsure if this would work.
The himbo blinked and cocked his head.
"Train you?"
Causing Lily to huff and cross her arms under her…promising chest! And smirked, for even if but for an instant, Zero's eyes were drawn to her.
So you can notice girls other than lady Tatsumaki! A miniature version of Lily did a chibi dance within her mind at the apparent success. For even if lady Fubuki and Tatsumaki both had forbidden her from joining Zero under high gravity, and thus ruining her scheme and reason both for wearing swim-wear, so as to avoid ruining her normal clothes by sweating, she'd at least confirmed that the big dummy wasn't Tatsumaki-sexual alone.
…and as for her disastrous attempts to do martial arts katas in the periphery of the high gravity zone, or at least what she imagined they looked like, hoping to draw the man's eye…well, the big idiot had been too engrossed in his own training and the sisters wouldn't speak a word of it to anyone so she wouldn't have to take…measures.
"Y-yes!" she said and uncrossed her arms, slapping her palms together in a praying gesture and leaning forward a tad, spying another fleeting glance from her prey as her lip trembled and her eyes watered, even adding a sniffle to top it all. "Please?"
"L-lily! N-no, stop t-that…" the man tried weakly, and she sniffed again.
"Blast it…" he murmured and, sighing, nodded. "Fine, very well."
"Yes!" she squeaked. Jumping and pumping a fist into the air.
"Freakin puppy eyes."
Heh. She still got it!
"But."
"Eh?" Zero's words caused a foreboding feeling in her heart.
"Y-yes?"
The man crossed his arms and stared at her.
"If you wish for me to train you, then answer me this: why me and not say, Bang."
She opened her mouth, but he barreled on.
"I assure you, Sensei would welcome you. But that aside, even more importantly. Why do you wish to learn how to fight?"
She stared at him like he was an idiot and to his good credit, the man blinked and uncrossed his arms, rubbing his neck with one, coughing into the other.
"Err, what I mean to say is…" he coughed again. "Ahem. Aside from fighting monsters, which from what the internet and Fubuki say both, you are already quite proficient in doing—"
So he had searched about her!
Yeees~ It's all coming together! Hehehe~
"Why do you wish to learn martial arts in general?"
The lewd smile that was starting to form vanished. Her visage turning serious as she thought about her answer, thinking about what to reveal and what not. For even if sir Yuha was goofy at times, she could somehow tell the man was oddly serious about this.
Please, please, please! Say something along the lines 'cause it looks cool!' so I can turn you away! I'm not that good of a teacher and besides! I need to go back to moping…err, ponder my next move through manly brooding! He touched the bark of the tree, giving it a loving caress. Worry not, my love, I'll be with you soon, and you're already proving more resilient than those weaker wooden skunks!
Seriously! What had he been thinking, powering up like that and busting out his entire arsenal in front of the martial Uchiha expy?
Oh. That's right. He hadn't.
Instead, he'd let his dick do the thinking. And by his dick he meant his battle instincts, those both cultivated by his time in Basic as well as the much stronger implanted saiyan and arcosian ones.
More the fool he for believing he'd been ready for them. Cause as Illidan liked to say, in the end he'd proved that, he was not, in fact, prepared for the battle-lust.
He'd have to take steps to address it. In fact, he already had a couple of ideas, but that was for later.
"Now, that's a tough one…" Lily mumbled, and he glanced at the girl, biting her lip in thought. Before at last she blinked and stared at him, eyes shining with conviction, and Yuha held up a hand. For something had caught his eye.
"Apologies. One moment Lily," he said, inclining his head and then frowned as he stood tall and crossed his arms.
"Princess!"
"Eep!" Kisha's startled yelp all but confirmed it and he sighed. "Why are you not training? I thought I agreed to let you 'watch over me' during the night as long as you were training with that weapon of yours. And given that it's no longer night and you are not training…"
"B-but it's hard!" the girl whined, and he raised an unimpressed eyebrow.
Seeing that he would not budge, the princess let out a dejected sigh.
"Fine!" and with a pout stretched out her arm, beginning the process of summoning and re-summoning her inherited weapon.
The grind was sacred, and he'd accept no slackers in his line of sight! Besides, if the girl wanted to join him in another battle in the future and prove useful? She couldn't take her sweet time retrieving and activating Rhongo.
Lily's snicker drew his attention back on her, and he smiled at the girl.
"Again, apologies for that," he said, and she smiled back, her cheeks a tad rosy. Was she ill, perhaps? He glanced up and frowned. It can't be heatstroke, for even if the sun is bright, it's not that hot today and she is wearing rather err…revealing clothing. He gave himself the equivalent of a mental slap. No. Get it together, idiot. There's no way Lily or anyone else would be interested in my bug like ass, and also, I don't have time to worry about that!
Focusing back on the girl and letting none of his thoughts show, he gestured with one arm.
"You were saying?"
Again, Lily's eyes shone with determination, and, for some reason, that filled Yuha's heart with joy and he felt his cheeks pull into a tiny smile of their volition.
"Sir Yuha,"
"Just Yuha…Or Zero, if you prefer, please."
The girl shuddered.
"Yuha. You asked why I want to learn martial arts, and why from you and not from someone else, right?"
He nodded.
"Well, the truth of the matter is that…that…" the girl took a deep breath. "It has to do with why I am a hero in the first place." The girl blushed and stared at the ground. "In truth, I am not a grand hero with the ideals to match like you, and the Psychic sisters."
Oh, kid…you'd change your tune quickly if you knew the truth…
"For you see, I started in this business after noting I had power. That I was stronger than my classmates by far and thus, I could help my…my…parents by working as a hero and the salary that comes with it. And then, I met a true hero in lady Fubuki and, well…" she sighed. "A silly reason to be a hero, eh?"
Hearing the girl's dejected tone, he shook his head.
"Far from it."
"E-eh?"
Her startled look made him smile.
"Seeking a better life for yourself and your precious people is not a sin, Lily."
Oh, sweet Marika! Where is this bullshit coming from?!
He knelt in front of the girl, putting a hand on the girl's shoulder. "And besides, whatever the reason you started down this path, you still want to help save people, yes?"
The girl nodded so fast that for a moment Yuha worried her head would unscrew itself.
"Un!"
"Then it matters little what your reasons for becoming a hero were. What matters is your actions as you keep going forward. Not your private thoughts and doubts," he said with one last pat and stood back up, leaning against the bark of the tree. "Still, what does that have to do with choosing me, and mind you, I have some suspicions, but I want to hear it from your mouth."
Hah! What idea? I haven't got the faintest clue as to why she would choose me or what her motivations have to do with it!
"Heh! Silly Yuha, playing with a maiden's heart~" the girl said with a wink and he felt a stab of panic pierce his breast.
Shit! She's teasing me! Is…is she suspecting something?!
Lily took a deep breath and turned serious eyes on him.
"I want to be a hero. I want to help people. That's why I want to learn martial arts. To get stronger and thus avoid having to make my parents and lady Fubuki cry. And as to why do I want to learn under you?"
Did she…naaaah…
"Well…Yuha, learning that you were apprenticed under mighty King himself came as somewhat of a surprise, to be sure."
What the?! How fast does the rumor mill in this hellhole work? I spouted that bullshit but yesterday! …And who the fuck leaked it? It was Charanko, wasn't it? That's it! Kicking his ass in our next bout and calling it 'training'.
"But while impressive, that had little to do with it," Lily smiled. "Now I know I might not look it, but I have a keen eye for fighting styles even if…I am less than…err proficient in any of them," the girl said with a sheepish chuckle and Yuha smiled. "So. So!" Lily pointed a finger at him. "I can tell that you, mister, are very skilled in a great many deal of fighting styles! So, why would I choose sir Silver-Fang, who is greatly skilled don't get me wrong, when I can learn from a master of many styles instead!"
Yuha's jaw hung low.
How the hell did she figure that out?
"Especially when I can have the younger, hotter model, ehehehe~"
She can't have caught more than the tail end of my fighting with the subterraneans, at best. And in my fight against sperm, I did not utilize my skills to the extent I did yesterday…like a complete moron. So…how—Wait.
"What was that, Lily?"
"E-eh? What do you mean?" the girl asked with an innocent smile.
Right, probably nothing. Still, the question remains.
"How did you figure that out, Lily?" he asked, and she stared at him as if he was an idiot. Making him feel about two inches tall.
No! Don't send me back into the manlet favellas!
"Zero…sir, you do realize that I've been by my mistress' side every time she subjects you to higher gravity and I've been watching you train and go through kata after kata, yes?"
…Oops?
He winced and nodded. Conceding the point.
"Right, you've got me," he said. "And yes, it is the truth that I happen to be somewhat of a master of martial arts myself," he said, and Lily blinked.
Right. No memes in this Marikaforsaken hellhole, at least none of the familiar ones. He was very fond of the ones staring Best Girl, suffice to say.
He sighed. "Now, I'll be blunt. I'm not that opposed to training you, Lily."
He was! He very much was! Not out of any sort of pride or wanting to keep his techniques secret or any such rot.
After all, with his rate of growth and innate abilities, what did he care what the people of this place did with Ki. It's not like they'd be able to harm him soon enough. And even if they somehow blew up the planet, he could survive just fine. But still, he'd prefer the planet remained unblown, for it was where all his friends…meatshields! He meant meatshields,where.
And if they didn't blow it up? Well, stronger meatshields to buy him time to power up and survive were always welcome.
So, no, it wasn't out of pride or anything of the sort.
No.
It had more to do with the simple fact that he his teaching skills were shit! No. Not 'the shit'. Just shit.
"Still, are you sure you want me to be your teacher?"
But Lily looked determined.
"Un!" the girl nodded.
And given that he had little reason to outright deny the heroic girl…
He sent a prayer to the echoes of the martial artists residing in his cells and who were the source of his strength, skills, and techniques.
Please help me be somewhat of a good teacher. Please!
A flash of insight caused him to inwardly cackle.
And I guess I also can bug, heh, Bang for help as well. For the old fart is actually a good teacher!
"Very well, then," he said at last and Lily glowed.
"You mean…"
"Yes." Yuha nodded. "I accept you as my student."
"Yatta!" the girl jumped and let out another cute squeal.
"So, when do we begin, Sensei?" Lily asked, and he smiled. He liked her enthusiasm.
"Now."
"Eh?"
He pushed off the tree and started walking, Lily hurrying to keep up as they passed Kisha, the girl letting out a relieved sigh and letting Rhongo sink back into the ground as she in turn joined them as they climbed back up towards the Dojo.
"S-sensei, what do you mean?" Lily asked at last.
He cocked his head and blinked.
"What I said. No reason to delay your training when you are already perfectly dressed for the occasion and we have the perfect training ground at hand, is there?" his eyes fell on the girl.
"Lily?"
"Yes?"
"Maybe I am mistaken, but your weapon of choice is a three pointed staff, yes?"
"Un!" the girl nodded, and he nodded in turn.
"Ok, as your Sensei, my first order, at least during training and until you can safely switch in the field. Drop it. No student of mind will be caught dead wielding such crap before they are a master themselves and can safely handle it."
"Huh?! Why?!"
The image of an angry sword loving Australian came to mind.
"Because nunchucks are a shitty show off weapon and a plain old stick or spear is a much superior weapon."
"B-but my staff is not a nunchuck…"
"That abomination of yours is not a stuff, and an extra segment does not stop it from being a nunchuck. I'm surprised you've done so well with it for so long."
"My King is right, you know?" Kisha added further causing the girl's shoulders to slump just as they came into view of the Dojo's patio…and a pair of still arguing sisters, both of which blinked and paused, turning towards them with Fubuki smiling.
"Ah! Lily. I see you managed to get the Idiot out of his funk."
His brows furrowed. What funk?
Unbeknownst to Yuha, in the clearing behind them, a lone tree shuddered in relief and wailed at the fate of his felled fellows.
"Good job and… Lily? What's wrong?"
The girl let out a sniffle.
"My staff…"
Despite her prodigious power. Inspite of her best attempts to shield herself.
Psykos could still feel tiny beads of sweat all across her face and body.
Still, she let none of her apprehension and…worry show on her face as she confidently strode across the blackened stone path towards the seated figure. And with the rivers of magma flowing on both sides, bubbles of super-heated material popping with a disquieting sound as they flung deadly pieces left and right as well as the small hellish red waterfalls dripping from cracks in the ceiling…well, all that coupled with the oppressive aura of the realm, one that was straining even her to stand in?
She had a reason to be worried, let's just say.
Her heels clacking against the black stone that was hot enough to cook a normal human in seconds. Psykos, passing the silent praetorians who regarded her through infernal eyes, came to a stop in front of the curiously white steps leading up to a rough obsidian throne, bowing before the slouching figure that regarded her with indifference, the man shaped being toying with the hilt of his sword as he did.
"Greetings and salutations, lord of the burning crags, I—"
The reclining man sighed, and Psykos winced. For the man's mere exhale slammed into her like a punch, causing her protective barrier to flare into view for an instance.
Right, the creature is not a man, she reminded herself. Despite looking like one, and quite the handsome specimen to boot. Short dark hair, riveting blue eyes, a manly scar to the left side of his face and a small stubble.
And coupled with his armor…
"Why have you come, Esper?" he asked, voice bored and Psykos was forced to greet her teeth at the man…creature daring to not use her name. Oh. I will enjoy breaking you when I've grown strong enough.
"My lord," she replied instead, bowing low again with a sickeningly sweet smile. "Merely to ascertain whether you received my missive and to ask as to your answer, for I received no reply. Perhaps it was lost in—"
"No."
"My…lord?"
The man fixed with burning eyes, the blue shifting and giving ground to a hellish glow, and Psykos tensed.
"Your…missive, was not lost. My lack of answer was answer enough. I want no part in your games, Esper."
"But—"
"Esper." He said, a hint of irritation finally entering the man's voice. "I've been courteous and received you only due to the old pacts. My honor demands that I honor them. But, you are not an overworlder, not truly," he said and pierced her with his eyes, the man's lips curling into a scowl. "And I dare say you are nearing the point of not even being human. So, begone from my sight lest I remove you permanently." The grip on his sword tightened, and the metal blazed in warning for a moment.
She licked her lips.
"Very well, but, if I may, I bid you reconsider, for think of the riches you could acquire and how likely victory is after all, you won't be fighting alone—"
The man snorted and laughed.
"Riches? Victory? Woman, do you take me for as big a fool as Shinkaio?" he leaned back on his throne and waved his arm expansively. "I rule the molten earth. Fire is my domain. Of what use are your…'riches' to me when through fire and earth and if I but wish it, I can acquire all the stones you surface dwellers and the ones who dwell underground fret over?" He shook his head. "No. The answer is no. I honor the pacts, unlike that fool and Shinkaio."
She opened her mouth.
"No. You've darkened my hall enough. Now begone from my sight, monster to be."
Gritting her teeth, she bowed one last time and, with as much speed as propriety and customs would allow, stomped off.
She knew this had been a long shot, but still she had to try. Even if the visions around the man swirled in a blurred mess.
Oh, I will enjoy breaking you… but now was not the time to try her luck against so strong a foe.
But, at the very least, the other tool was very much in place still and ready to do its part.
He watched his legions gather and his trusted lieutenants drill the disorganized gillheads into shape. It was slow going. And yet, they'd be ready in time.
After all, they hadn't had a proper war for centuries. And yet…
That surface dweller's words rang once more through his head and visions of carnage and pillage accompanied them.
His grin widened.
Oh, yes…at first he'd been dismissive of the woman who had a way with words and yet. As time passed, he was coming to see things from her point of view.
The little Esper had been right the more he thought about it. Plus, it didn't hurt that—
"Daddy~ Daddy~"
He blinked and glanced to the side of his throne to find his body's scale, his precious jewel approach.
"What is it, little scale?" he asked as his daughter came to a stop right next to him, her pink hair swaying and her green eyes glimmering.
"You are preparing for a war with the surface, yes?"
He nodded. "As I've told you before. Yes, little scale, why, do you perhaps harbor doubts as to our cause?"
His little princess scoffed and snorted, a bloodthirsty grin spreading across her face.
"Come on daddy, what sort of question is that?" she said with a huff, her hands flowing through the water to land on her hips as she glared at him and he chuckled.
"No, it's just…" his little scale blushed.
"Just?" he smiled encouragingly.
"W-well, I was wondering if you could perhaps… bring me a toy or two back?" she batted her eyelashes at him.
He laughed and reached out with a hand, ruffling his daughter's hair.
"Papa!" causing her to whine and pout as she playfully tried to shove his hand away.
Ah…his little scale was growing up too fast.
He nodded. "Consider it done, dear."
Making the girl squeal and swim close to hug him. "You're the best, papa!"
Indeed. Now though, as to her request…well, it was a good thing his daughter did not, strictly speaking, have a preference. So, that would make his job easier. He could grab a lot of surface dwellers without worrying about such pesky things as gender.
But…
His mind flashed back to the woman whom with her words, had set all this in motion.
Perhaps letting his little scale have her…fun first before he saw about making a little sister for his darling with the fetching Esper would also be nice?
He settled back on his throne and pondered the matter as his armies continued to amass and get back into fighting form.
He was the Beast King. And with the exception of the abomination, he was his lord's strongest and most loyal creation. Nay the strongest in the world!
So, it was with shame that he knelt before his distracted lord, the man busy 'pruning useless bits' out of the recovered material from the fight some days prior between the mutant and the weaklings.
Still, if nothing else, and it furthered his shame to think about it. With his lord so focused on his task and the slowly filling green syringe in the next room, perhaps he wouldn't chastise him that much over his failure.
He cleared his throat.
"My Lord."
"Mmh, yes, what is it, Beast King?"
His chest puffed at his lord, calling him by his title before it deflated as he immediately recalled his failure.
"I…" he lowered his head and slammed it into the room's concrete floor, startling his lord and drawing his eyes. "Forgive me, my lord, but I have failed you."
"Oh? Is that so?"
He would have nodded if his position allowed it.
"Yes!" he roared with shame. "Mosquito Girl has betrayed us. She fooled me and then decided to stop pretending before she killed some of my pride and made a run for it."
"Oho~ Interesting," His lord said, now even more focused on him.
"And would you say she was stronger than you remember her to be?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Interesting, very interesting…" the man murmured.
"Beast King."
"Yes!" he tensed, prepared for the well-deserved punishment.
"I task you with bringing her to me, alive or dead, it doesn't matter. But I want her mostly intact. Do you understand me?"
His heart swelled with joy at his lord's boundless mercy, for he wouldn't have been that merciful with any of his pride had they failed him. Sasuga Genus-sama!
"Sir, yes, sir!"
"Good. Now leave me. I have work to do."
Knowing an order when he heard it, Beast King climbed to his feet, and with a bow towards the focused scientist…
"This strand and those three next to it are clearly useless. Removed."
He spun about and departed. His heart blazing with determination.
Prepare yourself, you traitor!
In the background, the repercussions of Cuha's actions continue to mount. Perhaps it would have been better had he chosen to run and hide in the beginning...
But, he's an E-diot, so...