World Keeper
Chapter 1249: Myriad Beasts

Dana’s eyes narrowed as she saw a small cluster of universes break off within the void from the rest of Sanction’s worlds. On close inspection, they were being carried by a single individual. Well, it was more akin to being dragged by the individual’s power.

Dana readied herself for a fight, studying the approaching individual. This was a woman who looked almost like a Lycan, with large, canine ears and a bushy tail. However, unlike Lycans, she similarly had large, pawed hands and feet, fur spreading across the lower half of her limbs.

When Dana recognized this woman, she let out a low sigh, signalling for the others that it was likely safe. This is their Origin of Beasts, one of the leaders of another group we contacted in the invasion. She transmitted to Chelsea and the others, who watched the woman approach curiously.

When the Origin of Beasts appeared before the tree, she placed her paws together and bowed her head. Greetings to the Masters of the realm. My kin and I wish to seek shelter beneath your tree, if you would allow.

Chelsea hesitated briefly, furrowing her brow. You can stay nearby, but don’t try to connect to the branches yet. We have to study the laws of your universes to ensure that there won’t be any critical conflicts with the world tree.

The Origin of Beasts paused, looking at Chelsea and tilting her head. Of course. My apologies for being presumptuous. May I know what the safe distance would be?

Chelsea glanced at Dana with a nod, and the latter gestured for the Origin of Beasts to follow her. If they needed to reactivate the defensive vine, she wanted to make sure that these new universes weren’t within striking range.

“So, we got another new beast race?” I asked with a light chuckle, watching as Dana escorted the new Origin to the far side of the tree.

Next to me, Terra gave a playful smile. “You could say that. Their race is known as the Myriad Beast Race. While it sounds like they compose multiple races, it is in truth just a single race with various differences.”

“When they are born, the people of the Myriad Beast Race appear as normal humans. It is only after they reach maturity that they can undergo what they refer to as atavism. Not quite an accurate term, but it’s one that has stuck with them since their history.”

“After they’ve matured, they can take on the trait of a single animal. This animal is decided by the first animal-based genetic material they consume, aside from their own race. Lyrica, the Origin of Beasts, consumed the meat of a wolf, judging by her appearance.”

“Various beasts will give different bonuses, whether it is their physical or mental ability. However… because their ‘base form’ looks so much like humans, it looks like the people of Hal Tua have taken a liking to them… so long as they don’t undergo atavism.”

My eyes widened, aghast at Terra’s explanation. She turned to look at me, blinking, before quickly shaking her head. “No! Gods no! Nothing like that! They either force the matured members of the race to take a strictly vegan diet, or they feed them human blood. If they consume the blood of a human, their atavism will lock them in a human appearance. For the rest of their lives, they’ll never have a chance to inherit their race’s power.”

“They will still have the wild demeanor of their race, but as long as they look human, that’s not a problem. Some people would even consider that a bonus. For that reason, members of the race that have undergone atavism with human genetics are well sought-after as companions, and are given treatment well above normal members of their race. Those who are worse off will actively seek this treatment as a way to escape their miserable fates.”

My lips pursed at that. “Sanction really didn’t manage his people well at all, if racism is still such a big thing with them…”

Perhaps it wasn’t as bad for me because of how many people there were that had ascended as energy beings, and could freely change their appearances, or because of how many different races we had. Still, I couldn’t imagine our current population treating a foreign race with such disdain.

Sorry for the cold reception, Lyrica. Dana sent with a smile, guiding the Origin of Beasts to a safe location. This tree is a new creation here. We don’t know for sure whether or not it will react adversely to being integrated with your universes yet.

Lyrica shook her head, a small smile on her face. You need not fret, Dana. I daresay that your people have treated me better than I could have hoped. Had the situation been reversed, others in my position would likely have not even entertained talks of cohabitation.

Dana pursed her lips when she heard that. Did they make a decision? She asked, referring to the council of ‘Masters’.

Not before I left. I informed them of the nature of your Administrator, just as you informed me. However, many of them are cruel tyrants, drunk on their own power. They have long forgotten how it felt to submit to a higher being. Lyrica informed Dana in a soft tone. My kin and I have no such issues. Since the beginning, we have been forced to submit, to be as sheep. Breaking away from them is certainly the highlight of my life.

Dana nodded her head at that. Would you be willing to stand with us to defend our homes? She asked, to which Lyrica readily agreed.

If I did not have such an intention, I wouldn’t have come to you so openly. She assured Dana, signalling her to lead the way back to the others.

After Lyrica left the group, they received a report that the World Tree Guild was similarly relocating, as was the smaller Stone Heart Guild. The latter was a small guild of dwarves with only a single universe, so nobody within the council really cared about them. Regardless, they were making it painfully clear whose side they had chosen, and several of the Masters were tempted to go and wipe them out just to send a message.

However, despite their bravado, nobody wanted to make the first move to provoke the other Administrator with a direct confrontation. At least, not alone.

Thus, they came to a consensus. Those willing to fight would gather a substantial army, led by the Masters themselves, and do their best to rope in the smaller guilds lacking Masters of their own. As long as they provided a few benefits, they could likely trick some of the smaller guilds into taking action without being fully aware of the risks.

As for the Masters that did not join the conflict, they would be making a public enemy of themselves by not attending. Any major guild that didn’t join the united front would be their next target.

This forced the Masters to choose a side, as they were no longer able to remain neutral. They could either join the foreign Administrator and fight against their own people, or they could fight this foreign power themselves. Unfortunately, this led to a unanimous decision for all remaining Masters of the realm to join forces.

They didn’t entirely trust the words spoken by the Master of Beasts, believing their own realms to be secure from prying eyes. As long as they acted covertly, surely there was nothing that the enemy Administrator could do to know their plans. It would only take a few days to get their forces gathered.

Within the void, time seemed to pass at a crawl. The Origins stationed to defend the world tree couldn’t take any time to rest, unsure when the other party would finally make their move. Moreover, they didn’t wish to take the initiative to launch the attacks themselves, because of just what that would entail.

Launching their own attack did not just mean storming a stronghold. It meant eliminating an entire universe from existence. Countless innocent lives would be lost, lives that not only didn’t take part in any hostilities, but were likely unaware of what was happening in the first place.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Lyrica’s lips pursed, and she sent a message to the other guarding Origins. Some traitors from my race are trying to open a transportation network from Hal Tua to my universes.

Chelsea looked over quickly, eyes wide. Are you able to stop them?

Lyrica gave a silent grunt, but nodded her head. All of our trusted members were recalled before I brought them over. After that, I used my authority as Guild Master to lock the travel paths. They might have some Extreme Gods or Masters on their side to try to forcefully open a path, but they won’t be able to slip in without my knowledge.

Chelsea nodded briefly, looking back at Hal Tua. They probably wanted to try their hand at sneaking around to our flank. If they could destroy the tree behind us, they probably think that they can kill our Keeper and end the battle immediately. That just shows how little everyone on that side knows about the Keeper.

Lyrica blinked at that, confused. Is it not a viable strategy? Kill the Administrator, and the battle ends. Though, from what Dana spoke of with me, it would not be the end they wish for.

The Keeper doesn’t currently exist in any realm. Chelsea said with a knowing smile. That tower of yours was probably made to give the illusion that he’s always there. However, a Keeper is only forced to be present during what you would refer to as a ‘dungeon break’, when you are invaded by another Keeper. At all other times, he can simply choose to oversee from another realm.

Lyrica’s eyes widened when she learned this, clearly unaware of this information. In reality, this one piece of information meant that there was no possibility for the Masters of Hal Tua to win. At most, they would be able to decimate these universes, but that would not earn their freedom.

Looks like they gave up on the flanking approach. Chelsea’s voice broke Lyrica out of her thoughts, looking back at Hal Tua. A dense army swarmed out of Hal Tua, their numbers beyond counting. From a glance, Lyrica knew that there must have been millions upon millions of prestige elites, thousands of Extreme Gods, and likely every remaining Master of Hal Tua.

Off to the side, Julia stretched her arm out. The void trembled around her as fifty red, wooden swords manifested in unison. Their very existence seemed to elicit a primal response from the void.

On the other side, Priscilla conjured a book into her hand, which opened and began to flip through the pages rapidly. Every page turned led to the creation of hundreds of golden knights.

Next, Dana created her army of shadow monsters. Philia joined Chelsea in establishing an array of turrets. Lifre split off a clone of herself, using it to create massive pillars of energy around their troops. The void rippled, and Tsubaki appeared together with Lena, both of them ready for battle.

Not wanting to be outdone, Lyrica hunched forward, activating her own powers. The void was filled with bestial roars as animals appeared to surround Lyrica. Some of them radiated light or electricity, others darkness or fire. Some had divine auras, and some held primitive weapons. Lyrica held nothing back, summoning all of her strongest creatures, knowing that this was a fight that she could not afford to take lightly.