During the night the meal stored within Shao's stomach began to break down rapidly. Slowly, converting the excess nourishments of calcium carbonate in his diet into raw material and basic resources. Helping his little tortoise's exoskeleton to grow much bigger and thicken up slightly.

Such tortoise shells have three distinct layers and are almost composed entirely of calcium carbonate and keratin, with a slight small margin quantity of other proteins.

《Skill proficiency has reached a designated amount. Skill 「Reinforced Exoskeleton Lv1 」acquired.》

Soon after the vibrant rays of sunlight spread over the horizon, casting a shadow behind the fixed alignment of stone, which is their nest. As one by one the little tortoise begins to wake up, starting their day, by doing their daily routine.

The three tortoises, the underlings of the great Kaan, each gathers around and surround the petite small figure of little Reya. Whilst, she was sleeping quite soundly and happy next to Shao. An evil devious smile would appear on each of the three tortoises faces, making them almost seem like the bad guys or the villain of the story.

Poking their heads, and headbutting the small fragile figure of Reya in her sleep. Waking her up almost entirely, scaring her into a state of fright, as she cries out begging to them to stop.

"Stop... Please stop! Not anymore..."

"Why should we."

"You're weak and worthless."

"Nothing but a burden on our family."

The three tortoises said in unison, as they continue to harm the little tortoise Reya. Looking at how pitiful of a figure she is. Reya cried out to Shao for help. Backing away and bumping into Shao's tortoiseshell, in a desperate attempt to wake him up.

Shao then groggily wakes up, causing a small drift in the sand, as his large body twice their overall size, rise from underneath the ground. The three tortoises then uttered out a cry of surprise, backing away slightly from the frightened Reya. Almost like they were afraid to anger this big fellow.

Shao then quickly survey his surroundings, observing the situations at hands, before he could make a proper decision. However, something sparked up his interest. It was the crying figure of Reya, lying next to him, in tears.

Right beside her, a couple of feet away were the three troublemakers.

Shao was indeed quite suspicious of the three triplets, not because they were troublemakers. They were indeed followers of Kaan, that is why they were labeled as troublemakers. Since they all blindly follow Kaan's leadership, without thinking for themselves. Their names were Ron, Dein, and Kai.

"So what is the problem here? And why are you crying, sis?"

To reassure himself of the situation, and confirm it himself. He asked his sister nicely to get her perspective. But she was still crying rather profusely, finding it quite hard to form a full proper sentence, without even stuttering.

"They... They..."

However, someone else butted in. Talking in place of Reya, who couldn't speak properly on her own. Lin was the eldest sister in the group, second to Shao and Kaan that is. The lone wolf who hunts and scavenge for food by herself, similar to what Shao was before.

"They each gang up on her. Bully her. Treating her quite horribly. You could even ask her, herself. Am I right?"

The three tortoise brothers were quite hesitant, now becoming scared out of their wits. Slowly, retreating backward away from the brother-sister duo.

"Is this true. Did they hurt you?"

Shao asked with a rather concerned look on his face, as he looks at the slight injuries on Reya's body. There were indeed many bruises and cut wound on her body and web feet. He thought that they were the results of the fight with the Sea Cricketeer.

Looks like he was a bit wrong there.

"Yeah..."

Reya said it in a very timid voice while trying to keep her crying to a bare minimum. She looks up at Shao, with her still teary eyes. Seeing the sight of Shao's figure growing cold, his eyes fuming with rage, burning in anger for her instead.

"Why you little... Do you not care about family. You even willing to harm your own brethren. Your own blood and relative. You're even worse than monsters."

Shao then charges straight at the three troublemaker brothers. Instead of using his usual skill bite to deal some damage. He uses his webbed feet that has increased a bit in length after he leveled up and grow in size, whacking the three troublemaker brothers, straight in the face. Sending one of them flying, tipping over onto the side, or even fall onto their backs, humiliating them in front of the rest of the group.

《Skill proficiency has reached a designated amount. Skill 「Anger Lv1 」acquired.》

Kaan was indeed angered at the result of the loss of his minions. Luckily they were not dead since this was not a life and death battle. Deep down he felt a sense of comradery and admiration for Shao, for being overpoweringly strong, and different.

But a loss is a loss. Being the leader of a bunch of losers is much worse, than not being a leader at all. How could he keep the status of Leader if he were to do nothing?

Even if it were to fight for a false sense of justice. Then so he will do it, even if it were to make him a villain.

He sought of understands the feelings and message that Shao was trying to convey across, but he denies it almost entirely. In order to make himself seem a lot more self-righteous in a way.

"How dare you pick a fight with my minions? Are you trying to pick a fight with me? I will definitely kick your sorry ass, you runt."

Kaan then tries in an attempt to belittle Shao. Trying to enraged him so he would attack, just like he did to the three little troublemaker brothers. But Shao remains unfazed and walks back quietly to Reya, trying to cheer her up as they leave to hunt for something to eat.