Chapter 87 - Man vs. Beast Part 2

"Yes, general," Cao Wei nodded and relayed his orders as Lu Shu left and returned to the war tent where General Han Jian, Li Jiro, and Matsuda Ken waited. After a while, the two lieutenant generals and his two marriage candidates arrived and they all sat on the war table with General Han Jian's own lieutenant generals.

"I assume you all heard the report," Lu Shu said.

"Yes, Your Highness," Han Jian nodded as the others also agreed. "I always knew the Hyperion wouldn't just let us waltz to their lands so easily."

"Indeed. The Hyperion had always been a race that conquered and used offense as a defense," Ivy nodded.

"Uncle Liao always said the boss of the magical beasts would not fall. Who knew it would betray its own kind to survive," Rian said, frowning. "My uncle is currently conferring the news to Ancestor Lu Feng. It seems my uncle was more concerned for me than I expected. I told him I would be fine."

"I already told Lu Feng but the girl speaks the truth," Spook said in his mind. "He already spread his spirit sense all over Giant's Chain. It seems humanoid Hyperion are on the island. He said to warn you that some of them might be experimented Hyperion and that they must have been sent here to test their worth."

"Your Highness?" Han Jian asked as Lu Shu was quiet.

"I received a report from my ancestor. It seems humanoid Hyperion are on the island. We are not going to face mindless beasts or ones that think like a pack. We must expect the enemy to have an intelligence near ours," Lu Shu warned.

"What is the plan?" Lu Gong asked.

"For now, we rest and re-supply with some of the resources here. Let the soldiers get used to their magical beasts and for reinforcements to arrive to replenish our forces. General Han Jian, I thank you for assisting us in taking the valley," Lu Shu said, nodding his head in gratitude to the general. "This war meeting is dismissed.

"Your gratitude is more than enough, Your Highness. I thank you for allowing me to be of service. Be careful on the next island," General Han Jian said and left with his lieutenant generals.

"By your leave, general," the others said and all left except for Rian.

"My lord said you are dismissed," Bakura said as its hand grasped its katana.

"I guess he doesn't want the Two-Headed Magma Hound meat," Rian said and started to leave.

"Wait!" Lu Shu cried, the taste of the meat in his mind. "Bakura, take Hao to my tent and let it rest."

"She's bribing my liege with meat. This vixen is a threat," Bakura thought as it picked up Hao and left.

"So you want to speak with me or eat the meat?" Rian teased.

"Both. Now that I am at the tenth stage. It is time I start awakening the power of my spirit reactors. You, who come from an ancient clan and even gave me a book about it, should know more than me," Lu Shu answered truthfully.

"Oh," Rian said, feeling a little happy and sad as she heard his answer. "Okay. We'll talk as we eat. We have the entire night to talk about it."

As Rian started setting the table, Bakura had stepped outside the tent and was noticed by all the people nearby.

"Where is Rian and Lu Shu?" Ivy asked.

"Another distraction," Bakura muttered as it answered. "The master's business, this lowly vassal cannot reveal. All I can say is that it requires a meal. I have urgent business to do on my lord's behalf. I must make haste before Hao awakens after feeding on so many magical beasts."

"The competition has already begun," Ken grinned as he and Jiro heard from a few feet away.

"I wouldn't date a girl from the ancient clans," Jiro said as he fingered the bead necklace on his neck. Inside was a human woman's head with long vermillion hair. It seemed almost alive and one would feel a shiver down his spine if he looked at the bottom of the head. He would see the blood circulate around the broken fragment of the spine containing the neck of the head.

"What's that necklace?" Ken asked as he saw what was inside the bead necklace. "Is that a head? No wonder you hate the Li Clan so much. Was she someone you knew?"

"No. This bead has nothing to do with my clan. Years ago, the Hyperion were searching for something. This bead was hidden at the sight. Based on the impressions on the altar, there are three more. However, someone his this bead in the root wall near the altar. Whoever did must have gotten a bead as well," Jiro said.

"Do you know who did?" Ken asked.

"I have a clue but my mind can't believe he was the one," Jiro said. "I just know that the Hyperion are deceived and do not know they really need five. A five-star point formation is quite powerful and mysterious. I believe there should be five."

"So who do you think Lu Shu will fall for?" Ken asked as he saw Ivy clench her fist and walk into the tent.

"Honestly, I don't know. Rian is very beautiful. Of course, Ivy has an advantage as she seemed to know Lu Shu and might even be his classmate from her academy. I forget the name," Jiro said as he was friends with her. He hated his clan, but his uncle still had him interact with the clan and do his responsibilities.

"I do not understand why humans," Bakura said as it laid Hao next to the demon blood pool. "You've been with the master for a long time. How do I get rid of the distractions?"

"It's a human thing called love, opposite to the feeling that created us. Who knows? Anger, hatred, and vengeance made us. What would love, kindness, and forgiveness make?" Wraith shrugged as it exited Hao's shadow.

"That is unacceptable," Bakura said as it would have blanched if it had any flesh.

"Living creatures with souls have feelings of love. As they are more intelligent, they don't just pro-create with any opposite gender they feel the need to mate with. They develop relationships," Wraith said. "The more intelligent, the more they seek a companion. It is their way."

"Will my lord be swayed by those vixens?" Bakura asked. "He must kill the leader of the magical beasts."

"That has nothing to do with it as he will obviously kill it. However, the master's type of woman....you should know as you have his memories due to our bond with him. His desire for meat and the power to protect what he wants, and how he lives his life, is what drives him. He would not desire a weak woman he would need to protect," Wraith answered.

"Magical beast meat did make him pause and change his judgment," Bakura said as it remembered how his lord reacted upon hearing about the meat Rian had. "I must return and protect my liege."

"He should learn to relax," Wraith sighed as it spread its eight legs and hopped into the pool while Bakura left to save his master..