"Please calm your anger because there may be just a misunderstanding here, birdman Goddess. If it's possible, may we find out what we did wrong to earn your divine wrath?" Leigh spoke with courtesy to represent his father. He knew his father wasn't in a good mood to talk with a cool head.
"Birdman Goddess, huh? Looks like you and your clan didn't do your homework properly." Elysia slightly shook her head. She was somewhat surprised that the commotion involving the Goddess of Light did not reach the Beast Continent, or rather, the Pyrogressive Lion Clan.
"Did I say something wrong? Aren't you an unknown Goddess from the Beastkin Race?" Leigh looked at his father for a clue, but he didn't get a response indicating that he was wrong.
"As a matter of fact, I'm a human. I don't know if you've heard of me or not. Why would a clan like yours want to rule over this central region? Cut the short, I came because of my companion's misery you caused." Elysia squinted her eyes and gave a faint smile, but it would look different for the fire lions.
"Ah, err..." Leigh became awkward and was at a loss for words. He was wrong in the use of the name.
"Human Goddess? Your companion? That white tiger? So, you want to say that you came to avenge the Winged Tiger Clan by exterminating us? How can a divine being like you involve himself in such a mundane thing!? Mortals solve problems with mortals. You don't have to interfere!" Ernest snapped in a fury.
So, there wasn't any misunderstanding. The intention was clear. Bad news to Pyrogressive Lion Clan, a cunning winged tiger managed to become a divine being's companion just for revenge.
"Heh, who said I'm here to annihilate your clan? You all are just nobody. It'll dirty my hands. But, what gives you the confidence to order me?" Elysia smirked and started looking for the Winged Tiger Clan, or rather Theo and Leila. She even searched underground because she could only see foreign winged tigers on the surface.
Vanessa was a little nervous about getting into the role, but everything had been discussed, and it was time for her to join the stage.
"Your clan forcibly picked up two brown winged tigers last week. Tell me, where did you imprison them? I won't forgive you if they get hurt, even if it's just a little!" Vanessa shouted as if she was about to fly forward and pounce on the enemies.
"Oh, two brown winged tigers? Who are you to them?" Ernest felt a little relieved because it seemed that this divine being would not slaughter his clan.
"I am Vanessa, the first daughter of the Beast Emperor you killed eleven years ago! Today is the day you will be punished for all your sins!" Vanessa got a bit excited to introduce herself.
"So, you are the daughter of that loser. Our clan won in the coup, and the victor is the one in power. You are nobody to talk to me if it wasn't for the divine being beside you. It surprises me that you managed to convince a divine being, a human above that, to help you take revenge." Ernest smirked to insult the irritated winged tiger.
"You! How dare-" Vanessa wanted to scream because her emotions were about to explode, but her master immediately stopped her.
"Why can't my companion talk to you? You should be honored to talk to her. I've found the two brown winged tigers in question. That's a bit surprising because you imprison them deep underground. Do you intend to torture them for days?" After saying that, Elysia swung her hand gracefully toward the south of the imperial palace.
*Boom*
An explosion occurred and blew away a big building. As a result, it created a relatively large hole in the ground.
Elysia used her magic once again carefully to bring the two tigers out unharmed right after she broke their shackle.
Meanwhile, Theo and Leila were confused and completely shocked. They didn't know what happened, but an explosion just occurred and blew away the dungeon.
Fortunately, no one was injured. However, Both Theo and Leila were brought flying into the sky by an unknown power. They couldn't do anything but resign themselves to fate.
"Huh? Little Vanessa? What are you doing here? And the person next to you is..." Leila's eyes opened wide to see where she and her husband were being taken.
She didn't dare to believe it, but she was sure that Vanessa had come for revenge by asking a divine being for help!?
"Aunt Leila, Uncle Theo... You, you are injured... Are these filthy fire lions torturing you in the dungeon? I, we have come to help you." Vanessa stammered a little to see that her family had lots of new wounds, maybe scars from torture.
Leila had just opened her mouth to speak, but her husband immediately preceded her. Theo exclaimed in worry, and at the same time, feeling a bit complicated. "What do you have in mind, you stupid tiger!? What does it take for you to ask a divine being for help? Did you sell your soul just to take revenge and save us?"
"Heal." Elysia cast her healing magic on the two injured winged tigers. She got a complicated expression from Theo and Leila because they didn't know her by her current form, but she had expected it.
"I, I can explain it later. For now, we are here to find out the truth about my father's fate after that ambush battle, and also for revenge!" Vanessa tried to explain her position.
"Sigh... you really spoiled a lot of our plans, Little Vanessa. But, alas, let it be. You need to explain everything to us about this later, okay?" Leila caught her breath and flew between her husband and Vanessa.
"Un." Vanessa nodded.
"So, what do you want to do next? Launch a coup d'etat and bring the Winged Tiger Clan to power in this region once again? I need to say this, but our clan isn't what it used to be, Little Vanessa." Leila spoke softly and tried to get Vanessa to understand the current situation.
"Yeah, those mentally weak tigers have become slaves and minions of those fire lions." Theo grumbled and just sighed in the end. His clan had long since lost its glory.
"I know that, but we need to punish those sinners. My master and I are here for that purpose." Vanessa muttered in a mosquito-like voice, but Leila could hear it because of their close proximity.
"Little Vanessa, did you change masters? Why did you do that?" Leila turned pale at once because she thought the worst-case scenario. Terminating a contract with a recognized master after an oath was a taboo and fatal thing for beasts.
"No, it's not like that. I- that, just-" Vanessa stuttered because she couldn't give a proper explanation at this moment. But, her master was here to mediate that and return to their primary objective.
"Didn't you want to ask about your father, Vann? Why don't you do that now in my stead?" Elysia felt that the fire lions were impatient to wait for the tiger's conversation. Hundreds of fully armored beasts were also already in their formations. They were just hiding and waiting for further orders.
"All right." Vanessa ran away from her uncle and aunt to return to her master's side. She stared at the fire lions with hatred. "Tell me, what did you do to my father after you killed him eleven years ago?"
"Little Vanessa, I advise you not to know what happened after that tragedy. However, your father's body is buried in the imperial cemetery, next to your mother. The Pyrogressive Lion Clan still keeps your father's Energy Core for a reason." Leila immediately stopped Vanessa. Only deep hatred would come from knowing the truth.
"Is that so? Hm, fine. So, where did you keep the late emperor's Energy Core, Beast Emperor Ernest?" Elysia made another decision after considering Leila's intentions and for Vanessa's good.
"You think I'll tell you that? Wait until the Beast God finds out about this commotion. You as a divine being have come to wreak havoc on his territory." Ernest smirked as if he was on the superior side.
"Hmm..." Elysia used her sacred vision once more. Elena also helped to find it.
A red energy ball was extremely rare, but that was also what made it easy to find after scanning the entire imperial palace thoroughly.
'Found! It's in a hidden chamber, umm, a bedroom, maybe? It's on the first floor underground and placed on the altar, Ely.' Elena found the thing Elysia was looking for easily.
'Thank you. Now, we're going into stage two, right?' Elysia immediately checked the direction she was pointing, and sure enough, a red Energy Core was there.
'Yes! Perhaps, we will get a bit of resistance and confrontation with the Beast God and his entire clan. Are you ready for that, Ely?' Elena gave a wink.
'I will do my best.' Elysia gave a confirmation.
'As a villain, yes? We came as bad guys for some parties, you know~' Elena teased Elysia a little.
'...' Elysia was at a loss for words to reply. She just glanced back at the fire lions with a subtle smirk.
"That's better. I'm also waiting for the Beast God to come here because it will make things easier for me. But well, you don't have to tell me anything. I know where it is, and I'll take it without your permission." Elysia ignored Ernest's arrogant expression.
She stretched out her hand towards the imperial palace and clenched her fist as if she was holding something. Then, she withdrew her hand.
At that moment, a red Energy Core shot rapidly toward the sky. It pierced through everything in its path like a bullet that could cut through walls and steel, without exception.