Several hours later, Rao Wu stood atop Fort Drakon’s ramparts with Olek, gazing at the beastkin outside.

Olek sighed as he looked at the silent, but terrifying warriors. “Rao Wu, I never got a chance to say this.” The fox-hybrid took a deep breath, and then looked into Rao Wu’s eyes. “Thank you, really. I once thought we’d never get away from our fate, but here we are.” Rao Wu wanted to object, but Olek stopped him with a raised hand. “This is not the first time we’ve planned our escape, but until now we’ve always lacked a certain spark to get us to do the impossible.”

Olek smile turned bitter as he turned to look at the hybrids sleeping in the courtyard. “It may seem like we were all gung-ho about this plan, but the truth is we were terrified. Every one of us, including Boss Denuchi.” Olek paused and then added, “No, the Boss was probably the most frightened of all of us. He’s always been the type to blame himself for his teammate’s deaths. This time things went smoothly, but one wrong move, and all of us would have died with no way out.” Olek looked at Rao Wu and asked, “Have you ever felt that type of fear?”

Rao Wu softly shook his head. His warped fear of death was an unfortunate side effect of being raised in the jungle. He saw his life and those of others as a continuous cycle in the jungle’s survival of the fittest. The strongest live, while the weakest perish. The youth did not hold his life in high regard. How could he then fear death?

“I thought so,” Olek murmured. “This time, your fearlessness saved us, but you can’t continue like that. Everyone needs fear. And most importantly, everyone needs to cherish their lives. It’s the only one we have, after all.” Olek smiled and then ruffled Rao Wu’s hair. “Think about it. How can you care for others, if you can’t even care for yourself? And you want to be an Emperor?”

Rao Wu scratched his cheek in embarrassment. “I’ll think about it, thanks.” He waited, and then added a few seconds later, “I’m also thankful, you know? I didn’t know humans and beastkin were so powerful. I wouldn’t have gotten the Shaman’s Orb without your help.”

Olek smiled, but then frowned as he asked a question that had been bothering him. “What did you want the Shaman’s Orb for, anyway? You just gave it back in the end.”

Rao Wu laughed. “I don’t think I can be specific. Let’s just say I needed it to pass a test.”

Olek’s brow rose and he stealthily pointed at the strange lycan seated at the courtyard’s center. “It has something to do with that strange guy, right? Be careful, kid. There’s something off about that guy. I can’t even sense his power.”

Rao Wu grimly nodded. “I know.” Rao Wu’s brief interactions with the test so far let him know that the being in charge of it had to be more powerful than anything in the human realm.

Olek was about to give another warning when his ears picked up sounds. The hybrid rushed to the rampart and peered into the dark horizon. His instincts proved correct as a series of floating fireballs slowly appeared in the distance.

Soon, a beastkin delegation wielding burning torches appeared.

“Yes!” Olek’s eyes widened with joy when he saw the bound hybrids walking alongside the beastking. Denuchi, the only unbound hybrid walked in front with Rubik with a thin smile.

Denuchi looked at the rampart and waved, signaling Olek to call the rest.

“Guys, wake up! Denuchi’s here!” Olek shouted to the crew as he jumped down from the rampart and then made his way through the drawbridge.

Ramy, Akeme and the rest woke with a start and quickly ran out of the Fort with Rao Wu in tow.

Rao Wu and the hybrids stopped a few meters from the moat to ensure Rao Wu maintained his leverage, while Rubik stopped three meters away from Rao Wu.

“I brought the hybrids, child,” Rubik stated with a severe gaze. He hated the idea of freeing the hybrids, especially when one considered how many lives they took. Unfortunately, the elders prioritized the Shaman’s Orb above all. He had to get that back, no matter the cost. “Hand over the orb.”

Ramy handed Rao Wu the Shaman’s Orb, and he smiled as he looked at Rubik. “Not yet. Let the hybrids go. I’ll give it to you when they’re far away.”

Rubik’s gaze narrowed. “What’re you planning?”

Rao Wu shook his head. “Nothing. It’s just, what’s stopping you from chasing them down and killing them again after I give it to you? I’ll hand it over when they’ve fled far enough.”

“You—” Rubik growled in anger, but he could not refute Rao Wu’s point. How could he? That was indeed his exact plan. He would play nice until Rao Wu gave up the Shaman’s Orb, and then hunt down the escaping hybrids.

Rao Wu opened his mouth in surprise and shock. “Wait. You were really going to do that!?” He glanced at Akeme and muttered, “You were right.”

Akeme revealed a sardonic grin as he glared at Rubik. “Humans and beastkin. Don’t trust either one. Beastkin like to claim honor, but they’re the most ruthless ones. There’s a reason humans hate them so much. You bastards weren’t exactly benevolent when you were the strongest race.”

“Shut up, abomination!” Rubik growled in anger. He had half a mind to slaughter all the hybrids, but he could not risk Rao Wu carrying out his threat. So, he pointed at the hybrids in custody and ordered with a disgusted grunt, “Free the prisoners.”

The other beastkin were clearly displeased as they carried out the order. They cut the ropes, and then watched with apparent anger as the hybrids shouted with joy and hugged each other.

Rubik, enraged by the harmonious scene, growled and then shouted, “Get out of here!” Every second the hybrids remained added to the time he had to wait for Rao Wu to return the Shaman’s Orb.

The hybrids knew better than to push their luck. They quickly rallied around Denuchi, who already had an escape route in mind.

Before they joined the rest, Olek, Ramy and Akeme specially thanked the little fox responsible for their escape.

Denuchi was the last to bid goodbye. The veteran warrior walked over to Rao Wu and then knelt down so he was level with Rao Wu’s eyes. “I don’t have enough words to describe how happy I am right now. All I can say is that I will always owe you one for as long as I live.” Denuchi glanced over Rao Wu’s shoulder to see the strange lycan sitting in the distant courtyard. “I can tell there’s something special about you, kid. Your destiny’s much greater than the rest of us. One day, your actions won’t just change the destinies of a measly squad like ours, but the fates of entire nations.”

“Of course,” replied Rao Wu with a confident grin. “I’ll be the Emperor of Soul Pets, after all.”

Denuchi chuckled, but his gaze was steady, revealing his belief in Rao Wu’s crazy claim. “I can’t talk about strength to a future Emperor—that goes without saying. If there’s one thing I hope you learned from your time with us, it’s the importance of your heart.” Denuchi softly jabbed Rao Wu’s chest and then continued, “No matter how dangerous things get. No matter how many setbacks you suffer, and how much pain you endure, never let your heart get corrupted.” Denuchi softly smiled. “Your brain’s a bit off, but you have a kind heart. As long as you listen to your heart, you won’t go astray.”

“What are you—”

“Right now, your heart can only hold a few people at a time,” continued Denuchi. “I look forward to the day when your desire to protect those close to you extends even to strangers.”

Rao Wu blinked in confusion. “Why would I want to protect strangers?”

Denuchi, however, chuckled and ruffled the child’s hair. “I can’t tell you that. Everyone’s reason is different. I just hope that, just as your heart grew to accept us, it will one day grow even wider on your path to becoming an Emperor. Only a vast heart can bring peace to this world.”

Rao Wu still did not understand, but he nodded, which seemed to satisfy Denuchi.

“Alright, kid,” said Denuchi as he rose to his feet. “Take care of yourself, Rao Wu. May we meet again.” He saluted the child, and then marshalled the hybrids. “Come on, guys! Let’s get out of here, move!”

The healthy hybrids supported the injured as Denuchi led them deep into the horizon.

Rao Wu watched until the hybrids disappeared from sight, and then turned his gaze to Rubik. With an even smile, he said, “Now, we wait.”

Rao Wu had told Rubik he needed twelve hours despite having twenty-four hours to ensure he could wait long enough for the hybrids to reasonably outrun any pursuit. Fortunately, his decision proved to be the right one. It was painfully obvious that Rubik would have chased the escaped hybrids if given the opportunity.

So, Rao Wu waited another four hours before he finally smiled and stretched out his hand. He looked into Rubik’s eyes as he said, “Don’t hate me for this. I couldn’t let you chase them.”

“A beastkin helping hybrids over his kind.” Rubik snorted, but he didn’t have the heart to hold any more anger. He just wanted to take the Shaman’s Orb and get out of there as quickly as possible.

Rao Wu did not bother correcting Rubik’s imperception. There was no need to add more fuel to the lycan’s simmering rage. Rao Wu glanced at the horizon where a stream of red had begun washing over the land. With a smile, he tossed the Shaman’s Orb at Rubik. “I don’t know anything about your histories, so I can’t really advice you. But, my Uncle always tells me it’s important to have as many friends as possible. Otherwise, you won’t realize how important they are until its too late for regret.”

Rubik caught the orb and then looked at Rao Wu with a narrow gaze. “Tells? I thought the humans killed off you entire family?”

Rao Wu chuckled and shrugged. “Tells, told. Does it matter?” He then waved and said, “Oh, yeah. One more thing. Denuchi told me to give you guys this fort as a peace offering. That’s why we’ve left the gates open. You can station a squad here to ambush any army that attacks your town from behind.”

Rubik’s eyes narrowed. “That hybrid did?”

Rao Wu nodded. “To be exact, Akeme told me. But, Denuchi was the one who gave him the idea. What do you think? Is it enough to make up a little?”

Rubik snorted. “I know what you’re doing. Peace between hybrids and beastkin is impossible. Give it up.”

“You’ll never know until you try.” Rao Wu shrugged and then walked over the drawbridge. “But don’t worry even if you can’t. One day, I’ll make sure there’s peace with my fists. Just stay alive until then so you can see that.”

Rubik stared at Rao Wu with disbelief as the youth walked over to the strange lycan at the courtyard’s center.

The two exchanged a few words, and then a blinding pillar of light consumed both their figures. Seconds later, the light pillar disappeared along with Rao Wu and the strange lycan.

Rubik’s brows furrowed as he looked down at the Shaman’s Orb. “Peace, huh.” Rubik shook his head and then quickly ordered a small squadron to take over the fort while he returned to Lazuli Caverns with the Orb.

As it turned out, a second Beast Extermination Squadron (reinforcements Yeshua called in before he reached the fort) besieged Fort Drakon at sunrise. Fortunately, the soldiers inside the fort were able to wait it out until reinforcements returned from Lazuli Caverns.

If Rao Wu were here, his mouth would have widened in shock. Who would have guessed his empty threat was true?

Rubik and the beastkin, however, were immensely grateful. Rao Wu’s warning (empty threat) and the fort saved their lives. So, in honor of the child, they freed the captured hybrids, leading to a strange change that began swept over the realm.

But… that is a story for another time.