Theor’s body flew through the air.
He bounced across the arena floor like a skipping stone striking water, thudding over and over again, before finally being launched past the boundary of the arena and slammed into the wall connected to the spectator seats.
BOOM!
The impact shook the stands so hard that the audience itself jolted.
The watching beastkin could not shut their gaping mouths.
Some even wondered for a brief moment if Theor had died from that single blow.
Serious injuries during duels were common.
But death—that was different.
Even if a beastkin killed another member of their own tribe, it created issues.
But here, an outsider human—Ludger—might have just killed a member of the Great Chieftain’s bloodline.
That would be a political catastrophe.
Of course, Ludger understood this perfectly.
Which was why, when he struck Theor, he had deliberately and precisely adjusted his power.
So the disaster the spectators feared would not come to pass.
—At least, assuming Theor had been incapacitated by that strike.
GRRRRRRRRR...
A low, chilling growl reverberated through the cloud of dust.
Countless beastkin in the stands perked up their ears and tails in unison.
The moment they heard that viscous, murderous sound, their animal instincts screamed a warning.
“He’s alive?”
“No... more than that, this sound is...”
It wasn’t hard to guess the source.
It was Theor.
“I meant to let him quietly fall asleep with one clean hit... but he seems to be a bit tougher than I expected.”
Ludger murmured that as he calmly stepped to the side.
At the same moment, a streak of red shot straight through the space he had just been standing in.
BOOM!!
From one end of the arena wall to the other.
Something had fired across like a cannonball, embedding itself in the opposite wall—before turning its head and glaring at Ludger.
GRRRR...
It was Theor.
But he no longer resembled the Theor from moments before.
“Hm. So this is the full beastification your people use.”
When a beastkin fully awakens the beast within ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) them, their bodies shift toward the animal side—no longer merely human with ears or a tail.
In full beastification, the ratio becomes nearly fifty–fifty... or even more beast than human.
Now Theor’s entire body was covered in red fur, a great mane flowing down his back—
a massive crimson leopard-beastkin.
“A fine match for Hans, I suppose.”
Of course, Hans, once bitten, transformed into a form that was eighty percent beast.
If he wished, he could even tap into the power of primordial beasts or the Jevodang monstrosities.
In truth, Hans might be closer to a beastkin than the beastkin themselves.
Thinking of that, Ludger was once again struck by how absurd Hans’ potential truly was.
But thinking about Hans can wait. The one in front of me is the priority.
In full beastification, Theor had lost every last shred of rationality.
Claws and talons dug into the wall, he lifted his head and locked burning eyes onto Ludger.
The only things radiating from him were hostility and murderous intent.
The beast aura around him was so intense that it almost looked like red heat haze rising off his body.
But to Ludger, it was nothing more than a cat hissing adorably.
He had fought opponents far beyond this—no way something like this would frighten him.
“A creature that won’t listen... must simply be put to sleep quickly.”
Ludger aimed his staff and fired a piercing stream of concentrated mana.
FWOOOM.
Sensing the danger instantly, Theor moved.
CRACK!
His claws stabbed into the wall, and he sprinted along its surface, defying gravity.
Ludger fired again, and again, sending mana blasts streaking toward him.
But Theor dodged everything, leaving red afterimages behind.
His speed has increased... and so has his reaction time.
Perhaps his beast instincts told him the mana blasts were dangerous.
Judging that direct line attacks would no longer work, Ludger shifted tactics.
If “points” and “lines” failed, then he would use a “surface.”
SZZZZZZT!
A vast net spread through the air—woven with arcs of violet lightning crackling through its threads.
As the electric net fell toward Theor, he raised his two claws and lunged forward into it.
SLASH! SLASH!
The claws Ludger had cut earlier had regrown to twice their length, effortlessly slicing the lightning net apart.
Sliding across the arena floor, Theor launched himself at Ludger.
Wind pressure roared behind him, red afterimages trailing as he closed in instantly.
With the intention of tearing through the barrier itself, he raised both arms—
THUD!!
A massive black hand burst from Ludger’s shoulder and slammed down on Theor’s head.
Grrrnnn...!!
On instinct, Theor raised both arms to block the crushing force.
“Who decided mages are weak in close combat?”
Around Ludger, black shadows writhed.
Behind him, a colossal form rose—
Ater Nocturnus.
“Oh my god.”
“What is that...?”
The audience could only stare.
A gigantic shadow beast had suddenly emerged behind Ludger.
Their shock was understandable.
“Holy—”
Even Taishia was stunned.
She had heard of Ludger’s magic beast...
but she had never imagined it possessed such overwhelming power.
As Ludger’s realm had risen, Ater Nocturnus had grown in proportion.
Given Ludger’s current level, Ater Nocturnus was likely the most powerful magic beast on the entire continent.
With one hand pinning Theor to the ground, Ater Nocturnus extended its other arm and seized his body entirely.
Theor tried desperately to struggle free—
but he could not break away from the beast that held him in a single hand.
Ater Nocturnus gazed at Theor for a brief moment.
Then—
BOOOM!!
It slammed him into the ground.
BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!
Not once, but repeatedly—
pummeling him into the arena floor until it shattered into fragments.
The unbreakable beastkin arena cracked, then collapsed into rubble.
Everyone watched in silence.
At last, Ater Nocturnus opened its hand, letting Theor’s limp body fall.
His beastification dispelled midair.
He lay sprawled across the ruined arena, covered in wounds from head to toe.
WAAAAAAAHHHH!!!
The beastkin erupted in thunderous cheers, raising their arms high.
* * *
“What an amusing lot.”
Following Aidan afterward, Ludger spoke softly.
After all, he had just smashed one of their elite warriors in front of everyone.
Yet instead of anger, they were delighted that someone strong had appeared.
He didn’t quite understand it...
but at the same time, it suited the beastkin perfectly.
As they exited the arena, numerous beastkin shouted to Ludger or bowed to him.
“Hey, human! What’s your name?”
“You’re really strong!”
Even beastkin women approached Ludger, giving him sly, flirting smiles.
Their gazes burned with a certain... primal interest.
“Aaah. I knew this would happen.”
Taishy had expected this from the moment Ludger defeated Theor so decisively.
“You seem to know something?”
“Beastkin are like this. How do I put it... they instinctively like strong men.”
“Hard to understand.”
“They’re born warriors. To bear strong children, they want strong seed. Meet a strong man, and... well, their eyes roll back like that.”
Taishy cast a sideways glance at Aidan as she spoke.
Ludger immediately understood why Aidan had been so popular with beastkin women during his stay here.
After all—
he himself had now become the same sort of “target.”
Strong seed, hm. Typical beastkin logic.
Someone might call that barbaric, but in truth, humans weren’t very different.
Magical noble families chose spouses solely for magical talent.
Marrying strong mages to produce talented mage children—
it was the same concept.
Beastkin women seeking strong offspring,
and noble houses seeking magically exceptional heirs—
One group was merely honest about it, and the other pretended otherwise.
But fundamentally, they were the same.
They were about to resume their original goal—visiting the Great Chieftain’s residence—when a voice called out.
“I wondered what was causing such a commotion outside... this is honestly surprising.”
A familiar beastkin youth in traditional attire stood before them.
He looked at Aidan and Taishy, then widened his eyes when he saw Ludger.
“Could it be... you’ve returned?”
“It’s been a while, Leo.”
Aidan’s dear friend—and Ludger’s former student.
If Aidan had grown into a sturdy young man, Leo was the opposite.
He looked nearly unchanged.
Slightly taller, perhaps, no longer a complete child—
but compared to Aidan’s growth, the difference was enormous.
Ludger knew Leo resembled his mother, but not growing much in three years...
well, Taishy hadn’t grown much either, so he didn’t comment.
More importantly, judging from the mana aura radiating from Leo, his magical achievement over three years was remarkable.
“You’ve grown—remarkably so.”
“Not in appearance, though.”
Leo gave a short laugh.
Even seeing Ludger again, he remained composed—no fuss, no panic.
Ludger’s eyes flashed with subtle approval.
His heart had matured more than anything else.
Perhaps becoming the future son-in-law of the next Great Chieftain forced him to grow up.
Leo spoke.
“You’ve brought an honored guest, yet no proper greeting has been given. Come—allow me to escort you.”
“Ah—Leo, before that. The news outside...”
Aidan was about to explain the situation with Theor—
“It’s fine. Theor probably picked another ridiculous fight again.”
Leo already understood everything perfectly.
“You knew?”
“It’s hardly new. And with the cheering echoing all the way to my quarters, it was obvious.
Judging from all the stares in this direction—you won, right?”
“Yeah. Well, not me—our teacher.”
Leo nodded, unsurprised.
“Not just won. He must’ve crushed him.”
Learning that Ludger was Theor’s opponent, Leo could easily imagine what had happened.
“Theor won’t be able to lift his head around here for a while.”
Taishy snickered in satisfaction.
She enthusiastically explained the fight to Leo—
especially the part where Theor was slammed into the floor repeatedly.
Leo burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! A shame I missed it. I would’ve loved to see that.”
Theor always called Leo a brat and dismissed him.
Leo had endured it, ignored it...
and today justice had finally arrived.
“And he won’t be staying here much longer anyway.”
“What do you mean?” Aidan asked.
Leo replied:
“The raider group that’s been active recently—we found out who was backing them.”
“You mean Theor was...?”
“Yes. It took long enough. But this time, we’ve set the perfect trap. Look forward to it.”
Seeing Leo’s wicked grin, Ludger realized the boy had survived his own battlefield of politics and clan struggles.
“Anyway, enough useless talk. You came to see Iona, right? I’ll take you.”
“Well—also to see you.”
“I know. You don’t need to say it aloud, Aidan.”
Guided by Leo, they entered the huge tent where the Great Chieftain resided.
Inside were several beastkin warriors standing guard.
Having heard the commotion outside, they nodded respectfully at Ludger.
Respect for the strong—
that was the beastkin way.
They passed deeper into the tent.
Soon, a vast open space came into view.
And in it stood a woman dressed in traditional beastkin clothing.
“It’s been a while, Iona.”
“...Teacher?”
Iona’s eyes widened slightly.
For someone normally expressionless, this was a significant reaction.
But she was not alone.
Beside her stood a beastkin man in his fifties with overwhelming presence.
“Well then. What brings you here, stranger from beyond?”
Iona’s father—
the leader of all beastkin tribes united under one banner.
Great Chieftain Tellaron O’Vallie.
Like a towering lion, he gazed at Ludger with a piercing, weighty stare.