The Hero Becomes the Duke's Eldest Son

Translator: Marctempest

Editor: Rynfinity

Chapter 182

"Leo, you should return to the Red Cat Tribe's village first."

The disturbances caused by the Eastern Divine Serpent and the appearance of the Black Tiger Tribe needed to be reported as soon as possible.

However, it was also crucial to send warnings to the other Divine Beasts. Therefore, Aden had Leo ride a griffon and sent him ahead to the Red Cat Tribe's village.

*Keieeeek!*

In the meantime, Aden and Unknown mounted the wyvern under the control of the Serpent Divine Beast and took off.

The wyvern carrying Aden and Unknown flew at full speed towards the southernmost part of the eastern forest.

During the flight, the Cat Divine Beast spoke skeptically.

"Honestly, convincing that wolf from the south is going to be difficult. Even if you tell him to flee, he won't listen."

"Why do you think so?"

"Divine Beasts hold their sanctuaries as dear as their own lives."

The reason was simple.

Divine Beasts were able to ascend to their lofty positions and reach the realm of transcendence because they had accumulated pure mana in their sanctuaries for long periods of time.

Beasts that consumed the elixirs grown in naturally mana-rich areas became spiritual creatures, and over centuries of accumulating pure natural mana, these spiritual creatures transcended the limits of their species to become Divine Beasts.

In other words, the sanctuaries were the source of a Divine Beast’s power.

Moreover, the sanctuaries were also the places the Divine Beasts had called home their entire lives.

"For us, the sanctuary is akin to the only 'world' we've known, from the time we were insignificant beings until now. Asking us to abandon our sanctuary is akin to asking us to forsake our precious world entirely."

"A world that's precious to oneself…"

"Of course, if it seemed like their life was at risk, they might reluctantly leave, but the wolf from the south has an intense attachment to his sanctuary. He won't easily abandon it."

"That's why I can't stand stubborn mammals. They're such an inferior breed."

At that moment, Unknown, who had been listening to the Divine Beasts' conversation, spoke to Aden with a serious expression.

"What will you do if the Divine Beast refuses to flee?"

"What else? If words don't work, I'll forcefully drag them away. There's no reason to leave them behind to give our enemies an advantage."

"Yeah, I figured you'd say something like that. Ouch! What was that for?"

"Just didn't like what you said."

Meanwhile, the Cat Divine Beast frowned at Aden's straightforward answer.

"Do you think it'll be that easy? The wolf is the strongest among us…"

"The strongest?"

"The wolf has lived for over a thousand years. I've heard that even a thousand years ago, he had already ascended to the position of a Divine Beast. He's the oldest Divine Beast of the Great Forest. Overpowering him will be impossible."

"Reluctantly, I have to admit, that mammal is unnecessarily strong."

If the two Divine Beasts were saying this in unison, then the wolf must indeed be incredibly powerful.

Still, it was not an option to turn back without meeting him in person.

The Cat Divine Beast suddenly exclaimed.

"There it is! That's the wolf's sanctuary!"

The sanctuary of the wolf, known by the moniker 'The Silver Wolf that Tears the Sky,' lay before them.

"Hmm?"

However, as Aden and Unknown gazed at the sanctuary, confusion flickered across their faces.

Unknown looked at the sanctuary and murmured in amazement.

"Whoa! What is this? A city in the middle of the jungle?"

Indeed, it was as he said.

The sanctuary of the wolf Divine Beast appeared to be an ancient city, long abandoned and overgrown.

However, Aden was surprised for another reason.

"Could it be…?"

In the center of the ruins stood a temple built in a very familiar architectural style.

Although the temple had partially crumbled due to the passage of time, the large emblem carved into it was still identifiable.

*Keieeeek!*

The wyvern landed on the ground.

Aden dismounted and examined the emblem etched on the temple's façade.

"…As I thought."

The symbol represented a blazing flame— the emblem of the Sacred Fire Order.

A dry laugh escaped his lips.

"Hah, who would have thought I'd find it here…"

The first Grand Temple.

The very place that had initially led Aden and his companions to venture into this unknown forest.

"Who would have guessed that the first Grand Temple was being used as the sanctuary of a Divine Beast?"

In fact, it seemed like a fitting place for a true sanctuary.

At that moment, a shadow suddenly fell over the surroundings.

‘What’s this?’

Did the clouds roll in?

As he pondered that thought, a voice suddenly rang out, without warning.

"I came out because I sensed intruders."

"…!"

It was a voice that carried an inexplicable sense of detachment from all worldly matters, yet it resounded with the grandeur of the heavens and earth.

Instinctively, Aden and the others looked up.

"Ho, holy…!"

"Hmm…"

"Master Seere exclaims, ‘Wow!’ in admiration!"

Unknown was too stunned to close his mouth, and Aden let out a low hum.

"It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such familiar faces."

It wasn't a cloud.

A colossal silver-furred wolf, towering above them with piercing blue eyes, was gazing down at them.

The wolf was so massive that it stood over 20 meters tall.

A cold sweat formed on the back of Aden's neck.

"Is this really a wolf…?"

He had never seen such a gigantic wolf in his life.

Considering that Choco's maximum size when enlarged was 6 meters, this wolf was more than three times larger.

Seeing the wolf, the Cat Divine Beast, Miao, called out cheerfully.

"Wolfie! You're safe!"

"Miao, you’ve become quite cute since I last saw you. It’s been a while, too, Jormungandr."

"Hmph. I wasn’t particularly eager to see you, wolf."

The Divine Beast of the Silver Wolf Tribe, known as 'Fenrir,' the Silver Wolf that Tears the Sky, stood before them.

---

For Aden, this was the first time he had encountered a fully intact Divine Beast that hadn’t lost its divinity.

Because of this, he had to completely revise his previous underestimation of the Divine Beasts.

'So this is what a Divine Beast is.'

Just by looking at it, he felt a natural sense of reverence welling up inside him.

While it was difficult to compare it directly to the Mad Dragon, a being that seemed to embody the very violence of nature itself, Fenrir still felt nearly as formidable, though perhaps just slightly less so.

Either way, it was clear that even the current Master Aden couldn’t hope to compete with such an existence.

Now, Aden understood why the Cat Divine Beast and the Serpent Divine Beast had spoken as they did.

‘So, this is the true nature of transcendence.’

Aden and the Divine Beasts explained their situation to Fenrir and advised her to flee for her safety.

"Humans who steal the power of Divine Beasts… Indeed, if Miao and Jormungandr were both captured, then I suppose I’m at risk as well."

The Silver Wolf Divine Beast, Fenrir, calmly acknowledged the possibility of her defeat.

Despite being the strongest of the Divine Beasts of the Eastern Forest, she was surprisingly not an arrogant wolf.

She was fully aware that she, too, could die.

However.

"That said, I have no intention of leaving this sanctuary."

Just as things seemed to be going smoothly, they hit a snag.

Aden frowned.

"Why not?"

It was incomprehensible to him why she would choose to stay, knowing full well that she could die.

In response, the wolf Divine Beast spoke.

"I still have a mission to protect this temple. Until that mission is complete, I cannot leave."

"A mission?"

The wolf Divine Beast’s eyes glinted with an ancient longing, as if recalling distant memories.

"In this place lies an arrangement left by my master long ago for the sake of future generations. He asked me to protect this arrangement until a rightful one appears to awaken it."

Aden understood what the wolf Divine Beast was referring to.

‘A holy relic of the Sacred Fire Order.’

Judging by the context, the master that the wolf Divine Beast mentioned was likely the Lord of the Sacred Fire.

This place was, after all, an ancient temple of the Sacred Fire Order.

"When that arrangement awakens, I will be able to meet him once more. I eagerly await that day, and that is the final attachment I cannot forsake, even after becoming a Divine Beast."

Meet him once more?

Aden was about to ask what she meant by that when the wolf Divine Beast suddenly turned her head to look at something.

"And it seems we are already too late to flee."

At that moment.

"Whoo! It looks like there were some early guests!"

A playful male voice, laced with mischief, echoed out.

"That face, that hair color—are you Aden Remes? Ha! I can't believe I’ve caught such a big fish! The boss will be thrilled!"

Chaos’s warlock, Caliph, and his twelve Black Tiger Tribe warriors had appeared before Aden and his party.

---

The warlock, a handsome man with gray hair, was dressed in the black robe that symbolized his kind.

A bizarre tattoo, covering more than half of his face, was etched on one side.

Behind him stood a line of robust Black Tiger Tribe warriors with dark skin and black fur.

*Clap* The man clapped his hands with a wide grin.

"Oh! Right, it’s our first meeting, isn’t it? Let’s start

 with introductions."

Even with the massive wolf towering before him, the warlock didn’t show a hint of tension.

"My name is Caliph of the Sly. I’m one of the highest-ranking members of Chaos. There's no need for you to introduce yourself, though. You’re Aden Remes, right? The one who keeps meddling in our affairs!"

The Cat Divine Beast trembled as she hid behind Aden.

"It’s him! He’s the one who attacked me!"

"Oh? What’s this? The fragment of the Flame Cat Divine Beast? I thought you’d die from the fatal wound I gave you. Seems cat lives are really tough! Hahaha!"

Despite the warlock’s lighthearted and jovial demeanor, the atmosphere around them grew increasingly tense.

Aden frowned as he recognized the man.

‘Of all times, we had to run into him now.’

It was unfortunate timing.

Unknown was terrified and prepared to flee alone using his power at any moment.

The wolf Divine Beast, Fenrir, asked.

"Are you the humans who have been stealing the power of the Divine Beasts?"

"Yes, that’s right, wolf. Seems you’ve already heard about us."

"I am a she."

"Oh, really? Well, that doesn’t matter."

Caliph shrugged and smiled slyly.

"Male or female, as long as there’s divinity, it doesn’t matter."

He pulled out a mysterious stone from his robe.

It was a stone filled with an ominous darkness, as if it had emerged from the Abyss itself.

‘Is that the “stone”?’

The eerie stone that drained the power of the Divine Beasts and nullified their abilities.

*Keeeeeeeek-!*

As the stone emitted a writhing darkness, a screeching noise, like nails on a chalkboard, reverberated through the air.

Then, at that moment, the terrifying voice, the will of the “stone,” echoed in everyone’s minds.

"Jo...in...us…be...come...one…with...us."

Chills ran down Aden’s spine.

The wolf Divine Beast frowned.

"…It’s true. My divinity is not responding."

Ever since the man had taken out the stone, even when trying to use her powers, her divinity, which was the source of her abilities, wouldn’t move.

The powers that could summon natural disasters as easily as breathing were no longer at her disposal.

"But so what? Even without my powers, do you think you can kill me with just this small group?"

Fenrir's words made Aden unconsciously agree.

Summoning landslides or calling forth storms might be out of reach.

But even without using her powers, the wolf Divine Beast was still a massive 20-meter-tall wolf, formidable and powerful.

‘How do they intend to kill a Divine Beast with just one warlock and twelve Black Tiger Tribe warriors?’

As he pondered this question, Jormungandr, who was coiled around Aden's arm like a bracelet, spoke.

"Those guys killed my true body."

Aden then recalled the massive corpse of the white serpent that had spanned across a vast lake.

"And back then, that wretched snake left everything to those beastly creatures and just played around."

That meant.

These Black Tiger Tribe warriors had the strength and skill to bring down that enormous serpent.

"How will they kill her?"

Caliph of the Sly chuckled and wiggled his fingers.

"Like this."

He snapped his fingers, and with a click, the Black Tiger Tribe warriors drew their weapons—swords, spears, and more.

And then.

*Hwaaaaaat!*

A brilliant crimson aura blazed forth from their weapons.

It was Aura Blade.

Seeing this, Unknown shouted in shock.

"No way! They're all Sword Masters?"

Typically, even one Sword Master per nation was considered a great asset.

But now, standing before them, were twelve masters of the sword, each a superhuman warrior in their own right.

Caliph of the Sly laughed joyfully.

"Well then, let’s begin this delightful game."