The Beast is the Throne

At the foot of the Sacred Mountain.

The Samo Kingdom, finally grasping the gravity of the situation, mobilized their forces to counterattack. However, they were too late – the Star Luo Kingdom had already penetrated deep into Sele Kingdom territory.

This time, the circumstances were different. The royal Samo family, driven by desperation, advanced with reckless abandon, sparing no expense in their assault. They swiftly breached the defenses of Stone Forest City, the formidable fortress falling to their onslaught.

In a matter of days, they had carved a path of conquest straight to the foot of the Sacred Mountain.

According to the Star Luo Queen's original plan, the Sky Temple had been prepared to mount a stalwart defense using the Star of Death.

The natural barrier of the Sacred Lake coupled with the strategic advantage of the Sacred Mountain's terrain should have been enough to hold out for at least a day or two.

But fate had other plans. Two days before the Samo Kingdom's army arrived, disaster struck.

The Star of Death, in a shocking turn of events, burst forth from the Sacred Lake. Uncontrollable and destructive, it ravaged the fishing grounds within before crawling onto land and lumbering off into the distance.

Their desperate calls fell on deaf ears; it never looked back.

Panic swept through God-Servant City and the Sky Temple like wildfire.

"How could this happen?"

"The Star of Death... out of control? It's inconceivable!"

"We're doomed. All is lost."

A palpable sense of dread gripped the people of God-Servant City. Without the Star of Death, their chances of survival plummeted.

Their worst fears were soon realized.

Within mere hours of the Samo Kingdom's army's arrival, as the Desert Worm began its assault on the gates of God-Servant City, a stream of people was already fleeing through the back roads.

The foot of the Sacred Mountain became a sea of refugees.

They abandoned the Sky Temple and forsook God-Servant City, their faith shattered.

Had it not been for their reluctance to damage the Sky Temple, the Samo Kingdom could have seized the city even more swiftly.

Suddenly, the distant surface of the Sacred Lake erupted in massive waves.

A terrifying beast emerged from the depths, its iron helmet-like body slamming into the earth. The impact carved a thousand-meter trench in the ground, kicking up violent clouds of dust.

With this single, devastating strike, the Sele Kingdom's forces at the mountain's base were thrown into chaos, their ranks shattered.

"Hiss!"

From the ground, a black magic fern sprouted with unnatural speed. In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a colossal plant, a hundred meters tall, its tendrils entangling the Sele Sea Spirit.

This was the Samo family's other beast — the Moon Magic Fern, unique among the Ruhe beasts for following the path of plant evolution.

"Woo woo!"

A bone-shaking rumble emanated from beneath the Sacred Mountain. The earth split open as a monstrous worm bored its way out, immediately engaging the Samo family's Desert Worm in fierce combat.

The timely arrival of the Burrowing Demon Worm and the Sele Sea Spirit tipped the scales, momentarily stemming the tide of battle.

On the distant horizon, dust clouds billowed as the armies of the Star Luo Kingdom and the Volcano Duchy raced back to join the fray.

Atop the Burrowing Demon Worm's head stood Henir, his sword raised high, pointing towards the controller of the Desert Worm. The transformation he had undergone was staggering; power had reshaped him, imbuing him with a confidence and authority that bordered on the divine.

"King of the Samo family," Henir's voice boomed across the battlefield.

"You have two choices. Destroy God's hall and face us in a final battle here if you dare."

He paused, his eyes glinting with challenge.

"Or retreat now, ending this war. The choice is yours."

The Samo family's king, unruffled by Henir's provocation, calmly inquired, "Where is the Xilong family's queen?"

Henir, his face a mask of composure, lied smoothly: "Her Majesty is consolidating our hold on the Sele Kingdom. She'll return with the Sky Beast at any moment."

The Samo Kingdom's king's eyes narrowed. "Strange. The reports I've received suggest the Star Luo Queen is dead."

Henir's laughter echoed across the battlefield. "The Sele family, in their desperation to draw you into this conflict, will fabricate any tale."

"Preposterous!" Henir scoffed. "What power could the Sele family possibly possess to harm our great Queen of Star Luo?"

Doubt flickered across the Samo Kingdom king's face. How could the weakest of kingdoms, the Sele, with just one beast at their command, possibly vanquish the mighty Star Luo Queen?

The air grew thick with tension as neither side moved.

The Samo family, for all their bravado, dared not desecrate God's hall or God-Servant City. Yet to remain here, deep in Star Luo territory, was a fool's errand. Every moment they lingered played into their enemy's hands.

Weighing their options, the Samo Kingdom found neither the opportunity nor the resolve to wage a final battle at the Sacred Mountain's base.

After a tense standoff, they made their choice. With heavy hearts, they withdrew their forces.

As the Samo Kingdom's army retreated, jubilant cheers erupted throughout God-Servant City.

"Her Majesty the Queen has returned!"

"Our Queen is back!"

"The Samo Kingdom flees! Victory is ours!"

The streets of God-Servant City overflowed with ecstatic citizens, their celebrations spilling out from the temple grounds.

Even the nobles and soldiers who had fled in fear now hurried back, eager to welcome the triumphant army.

Yet their joy was built on a lie. For it was not their beloved Queen who had returned.

The Xilong family's monarch and their Ruhe beast had been lost in the devastating battle with the Sele Kingdom.

A young priest of the Sky Temple, surveying the scene below, felt a chill of unease.

"Where is the Sky Beast?" he murmured, his eyes widening in realization. "That's... the Grand Duke of Volcano's Burrowing Demon Worm!"

As the victorious army entered God-Servant City, the Sele Sea Spirit glided into the Sacred Lake, taking up the mantle once held by the Star of Death.

The Burrowing Demon Worm, with Henir astride it, ascended the road towards God-Servant City and the Sky Temple. Their progress was slow, almost reverential, as if undertaking a sacred pilgrimage.

Before his return, Henir had capitalized on the chaos following their great victory. With the Star Luo Kingdom's army left leaderless, he seized his chance. Using the Queen's death as justification, he purged the military ranks, capturing most officers and reorganizing the forces under his own banner.

The more unstable elements of the Star Luo Kingdom's army were strategically left to garrison the newly conquered Sele Kingdom.

These soldiers, rootless in the Star Luo Kingdom and now surrounded by hostility in Sele lands, had no choice but to follow Henir's orders, guarding his latest acquisition.

Henir himself returned at the head of a formidable force – the Volcano Duchy's army bolstered by those Star Luo Kingdom units that had first pledged their loyalty to him. Every soldier now marching into the city was under his command.

As Henir entered God-Servant City, a tidal wave of adulation swept through the streets.

"Grand Duke Henir!"

"Grand Duke Henir!"

"Grand Duke of Volcano!"

"Lord Henir!"

In their eyes, Henir was a conqueror who had not only subdued the Sele Kingdom but also avenged their beloved Queen.

Now, he had transformed once more – this time into the savior of the Sky Temple and God-Servant City.

But perhaps most terrifying of all was the raw power at his fingertips: two Ruhe beasts, now under his control.

As Henir and his army approached the palace, members of the Xilong family stepped forward, their faces etched with concern.

"Where is Her Majesty the Queen?" they demanded.

Without a word, Henir dismounted from the Burrowing Demon Worm. With solemn grace, he shouldered a stone coffin and walked into the palace.

He explained that the Sky Beast had undergone its final transformation, reverting to the primal form of a Ruhe beast. Though the Queen's remains were lost, they had recovered precious relics from among the Sky Beast's shed parts – the Xilong family's crown and the Yinsai scepter.

The sight of the stone coffin sent shockwaves through the assembled Xilong family members and nobles of God-Servant City. Their faces contorted with disbelief and horror as they recoiled from the grim symbol of their worst fears.

"It can't be!"

"Impossible!"

"How could this happen?"

"This must be some cruel deception. Her Majesty can't be dead!"

Henir closed his eyes, his voice heavy with feigned sorrow. "Her Majesty the Queen, in her quest to reclaim the Sele Kingdom and restore the glory of Yinsai... has fallen in battle."

Ignoring the outcry around him, he carried the Queen's stone coffin into the palace.

With deliberate ceremony, he placed the Star Luo Queen's stone coffin upon the throne. Then, grasping the Yinsai scepter, he took his place beside it.

In that charged moment, the returned commanders began to speak up, one by one.

"The Grand Duke of Volcano has avenged our Queen," one declared. "With the Xilong family's royal line broken, internal strife brewing, and enemies at our gates, I propose that the Grand Duke serve as regent in this time of crisis."

Another voice joined in support: "Indeed, Her Majesty trusted the Grand Duke above all others. He alone can guide us through these turbulent times."

"The Grand Duke of Volcano is the true heir to the Star Luo Queen's vision," a third proclaimed.

For the Xilong family's lesser branches, this turn of events was intolerable.

One of their number leapt forward, his voice rising in accusation against Henir.

But Henir, standing resolute beside the throne with the Yinsai scepter in hand, remained impassive. He offered no response, letting the tension build.

Suddenly, a commander within the palace spoke up: "Her Majesty's death was no accident. There were traitors within the Sky Temple priest group – how else could the Ruhe beast have lost control?"

His voice grew harder as he continued, "Someone in the priest group betrayed her, and they must have had help within the Sky Temple itself."

Turning to the Xilong family member who had spoken out, he snarled, "Your outburst now only proves your guilt. You must have had a hand in Her Majesty's death!"

The accusation ignited a powder keg of emotion. Voices rose in a furious chorus:

"Seize the traitor!"

"Let him face judgment!"

"For Her Majesty – vengeance!"

Before the accused could protest, frenzied soldiers surged forward. They struck him down and dragged him away, his cries lost in the uproar.

The soldiers' murderous fervor sent chills through the assembled nobility. The once-proud members of the royal bloodline and the haughty nobles now cowered in fear, not daring to utter a word of dissent.

With Henir's army encircling the city and the overwhelming might of two Ruhe beasts – the Burrowing Demon Worm and the Sele Sea Spirit – at his command, the Xilong family found themselves powerless. They huddled together, trembling like quails before a storm.

Henir had long since seen through to the true nature of these people.

His words from before echoed with newfound truth: the so-called royal bloodline families were nothing without their beasts. Strip away that power, and their claim to the throne crumbled to dust.

The beast is the throne itself.