The Minotaur Lord is heartless?

[POV: The omniscient Akashic Records]

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<Wyvern Pass>

Lumiere scanned the battlefield with a frown etched on his face.

The once mighty minotaur army had dwindled to a paltry few, and Lumiere couldn't believe his luck.

His eyes darted toward the distance and he could see Serena in the distance, her petite figure almost lost in the vast landscape before him.

Lumiere waved at her, and she dutifully lowered her head in a show of respect.

"Take over, Mimosa," Lumiere said, turning to his trusted ally. "I'm joining the others to approach the Minotaur Lord."

Mimosa nodded, her eyes flicking over the battlefield as she sized up their opponents.

Lumiere watched as Fasit approached the minotaurs, the intense heat emanating from her body creating a visible haze in the air.

He knew that this was going to be a battle to remember.

Fenghis saw Fasit approaching from a distance and felt a chill run down his spine.

He knew she was a formidable foe, and even with his superior strength, he didn't want to risk his life. "Skarz!" Fenghis barked out. "Retreat, now!"

"But, father," Skarz protested, his fists clenched. "I want to fight, I want to help!"

Fenghis glared at his son, and a vein bulged on his forehead. "If you stay, you and the rest of the minotaur army will be nothing more than dust under her feet. Now, retreat!"

Skarz reluctantly ordered what was left of the minotaur army to move back, his heart heavy with defeat.

Lumiere watched with bated breath, his hands folded in front of him.

The stage was set for an epic battle.

Fasit, fighting for the honor of her people against the minotaur lord.

Serena looked at Lumiere, and they exchanged a meaningful glance. They both knew that they would only intervene if things went south.

The tension hung thick in the air, and all eyes were fixed on Fasit as she stood tall, ready for battle.

Fasit stopped about five meters away from Fenghis, her intense gaze fixed on him as they engaged in a hostile confrontation.

Fenghis looked at Fasit, his eyes darting towards her hair, which was different from the usual black that Grygans usually had.

"What happened to your hair? I know grygans always have black hair," Fenghis asked, suspicion evident in his voice.

"(H-He... he's really asking about that now?)" (Lumiere)

Fasit narrowed her eyes, "Thanks to my great lord, Lumiere, I have evolved beyond the average grygan. I am now more powerful than ever, and I want to use this power to protect my people from the tyranny of the minotaurs of Andarbani territory."

Fenghis scoffed, "Serving Lumiere is a sign of weakness. How can monsters bow down to a human child? The thought of it angers me."

"You do not understand the power of Lumiere," Fasit retorted. "He is not just any human child. He is our great protector, and he has saved us from an unending calamity."

Fenghis snarled, "Even a goddess could do that! We do not bow down to anyone, especially not a human child!"

Lumiere, who had been observing the conversation, decided to intervene. "How do you know that Serena is a goddess?" he asked Fenghis calmly, causing both Fasit and Fenghis to turn towards him.

Fenghis hesitated for a moment, but then scowled. "It is not relevant. What is relevant is that we should not serve humans. We are monsters, and we should exercise our power and dominance accordingly."

Lumiere shook his head, "I disagree. We must work together, humans and monsters, to create a better world for all. Only then can we truly achieve peace."

The tension in the air was palpable, as the two leaders glared at each other. The outcome of their battle would not only affect themselves, but the fate of their respective communities as well.

"Now, if you still choose to fight, I will en—" (Fenghis)

"Again, Fenghis... I asked you a question, courtesy demands you answer." Lumiere interjected.

Some would think this wasn't the best time to ask such a question, but it was.

If someone could identify Serena as a goddess simply by looking at her in her mundane form, then it raised some concerns. Concerns about their secret.

"You're an arrogant one boy." (Fenghis)

Lumiere had gestured for Serena to calm down as the insult to his name was getting to her.

"Arrogant? No. Discrete? Yes." (Lumiere)

Then,

Fenghis explained to Lumiere and Serena that minotaurs had the unique ability to discern the nature of an individual's mana to the point where they could even determine their race.

Even dark elves could do something similar, but instead they could determine one's class.

"What do you hope to gain by causing all of this havoc?" Lumiere asked Fenghis, his eyes locking onto the monster's.

Fenghis let out a loud, unforgiving laugh.

It was so loud that the ground beneath them trembled.

"Just his laugh is causing this?!" (Mojito)

"That's nothing special... he's still a barbarian." (Serena)

"You're right... every last one of them." (Mojito)

Unfazed, Lumiere continued to stare at Fenghis, who returned the gaze with an even more hateful stare.

"I hope to gain what every monster deserves," Fenghis replied finally, his voice low and menacing. "Power, respect, and control over our own destiny."

Serena stepped forward, her fists clenched tightly. "And what about Lord Lumiere? Doesn't he deserve power and respect as well?"

Fenghis snarled, "He is a mere human child. What could he possibly understand about the power of monsters?"

Lumiere remained calm, his hands folded, and his eyes closed as he spoke. "I understand more than you think, Fenghis. But I also understand the importance of working together instead of fighting against each other. Together, we can create a better place for all."

Fenghis narrowed his eyes, "And what makes you the one to lead us?"

Lumiere opened his eyes, revealing a powerful aura that surrounded him.

It was like a tempest.

"My heart and my desire for peace. I will do everything in my power to bring about a world where humans and monsters can coexist peacefully." (Lumiere)

The tension in the air was palpable, and everyone held their breath as they awaited Fenghis' response.

Would he put his pride and hatred aside to join forces for a better future, or would he continue to cling to his desires for power and control?

Hell no.

Fenghis did not agree to Lumiere's proposal, and he made his feelings clear.

He believed that Lumiere was the proudest person he'd ever met, and he was not convinced that Lumiere's aspirations for greatness were truly noble.

However, Lumiere refused to back down, telling Fenghis that he did not understand the true nature of power.

"You think power is all about control," Lumiere said. "But power is so much more than that. Real power comes from the ability to inspire others and work together for a brighter future. It's about making a positive impact in the world."

Fenghis laughed cruelly at Lumiere's words. "You're such a naive child," he said. "Power is about taking control and crushing anyone who gets in your way. Everything, even other people's lives, is just a resource to be used. If I ever have the chance to gain true power, I will take it, no matter the cost."

Lumiere was taken aback by Fenghis' words. "Even at the cost of your own son's life?" he asked.

Fenghis smirked. "My son is just another expendable resource," he said. "If he can't surpass me, then he's as good as useless."

"(F-Father?)" (Fenghis)

Skarz, Fenghis' son, felt the words sting like a knife.

He knew his father did not value him as a son, but to hear him say it out loud was still crushing.

Meanwhile, Fasit, Mimosa, Mojito, Serena, and Sangria (from afar) watched with disgust.

They could not believe that anyone could be so callous and selfish.

"He's scum.." (Mojito)

"I can't believe someone can be so cruel," said a grygan. "Indeed!" another spoke up.

"The monster that I thought was the worst there is nothing compared to you!" Serena shouted, her fists clenched in anger.

Fenghis merely laughed in response. "You just don't understand the world, little goddess," he said. "In the end, power is all that matters. And I will do whatever it takes to claim it. And I'll start by ruling the entire northern region of the Great Forest."

Lumiere clapped gradually, and then halted, "Is that so?" a smug smile appeared on his countenance.