Chapter 176

[Third Person's PoV] 

As Shadow hovered above, observing the fierce battle between Rose and Mordred, a familiar, exuberant voice caught his attention.

"OOOOH BOOOOSSSUUUUU!!!"

He looked down to see Delta enthusiastically waving at him, a large grin on her face. Beside her stood Zeta, both of them with Rakan's lifeless body laid out between them. His head rested atop his chest, a grim trophy of their recent victory.

Zeta smiled up at Shadow, her hands casually tucked into the pockets of her Shadow Garden jacket. Shadow couldn't help but smile back as he descended to meet them.

"Hey, you two. I hope you enjoyed your fight," Shadow greeted, patting both of their heads.

"It was sooo much fun!" Delta exclaimed, mimicking her fight with animated punches and kicks. "It went like bam! And then BOOM! And then pow!" She finished with a satisfied sigh, her tongue slightly poking out as her shoulders slumped in contentment.

Zeta rolled her eyes at Delta's exaggerated retelling, while Shadow chuckled, finding her enthusiasm amusing.

"So," Shadow began, glancing between them, "who earned the title of Beast Monarch?"

Delta immediately pointed at Zeta with suspicion. "Zeta's being weird and let me have it! I don't trust it!"

Zeta sighed dramatically. "If I keep being in your presence, my eyes might roll out of their sockets." She then added, with a hint of exasperation, "I gave it up for two reasons. One, like I already told you, you damn stupid mutt—I don't want that dog anywhere inside of me. You can have him for all I care. A stupid animal mixed with a stupid animal... You two were practically made for each other."

Delta growled and tackled Zeta, "Stop calling me names, you lazy cat! I'll bite you!"

Zeta hissed back, "You better not! I don't want to get rabies from you! Who knows how many diseases you have!"

Their playful brawl kicked up a cloud of dust, the two of them rolling around as they growled and hissed at each other. Shadow sighed, watching the spectacle with a mixture of amusement and mild exasperation.

He reached into the dust cloud, grabbing both Delta and Zeta by the scruff of their necks, pulling them apart. They continued to snap at each other, so he repeated the process a few times, slowly bringing them closer, only for them to start tussling again. After a few rounds, he set them down to the side, firmly but gently.

"Cool it, girls," Shadow warned, his tone calm but authoritative. The two instantly calmed down, their competitive spirits momentarily subdued.

Shadow turned to Zeta, curiosity piqued. "You mentioned two reasons for not wanting the Beast Monarch's power. What's the other one?"

Zeta's expression softened slightly, her tail swaying back and forth in a rare display of happiness. "I want something else in return if I give it up to the mutt," she muttered.

"You know you don't need this as a bargaining chip," Shadow replied, his voice reassuring. "If you want something, just ask, and I'll do whatever is within my power to make it happen."

Zeta's smile widened, her earlier aloofness replaced by a rare moment of genuine contentment. Her tail continued to wag, a silent acknowledgment of how happy she was. 

"So, what is it?" Shadow asked, curiosity in his voice.

Zeta hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I want to spend more time with you... just you and me, no one else. Without being interrupted."

"What! That's not fair!" Delta protested immediately. "I don't want his power if it means I have to give up time with Bossu! You can have his power for all I care if it means being with Bossu."

Before Delta could continue, Shadow gently took Zeta's chin and leaned in, giving her a deep kiss. Zeta went on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck, melting into the moment. Delta crossed her arms and pouted as she watched, feeling left out.

When Shadow pulled back, he looked into Zeta's eyes and said, "Zeta, honey, if you ever just want to spend time with me, just come to me. I'd be more than happy to spend time with you. And need I remind you that you spend most of your time on missions, which is why our time together is so rare." He kissed her on the forehead, his tone soft and reassuring.

Delta, still pouting, mumbled, "Delta wants to spend time with Bossu too..."

Shadow ruffled her hair affectionately. "Delta, out of all my girls, I spend the most time with you. The others want to spend time with me too, you know."

Delta grumbled but eventually nodded. "Delta supposes you're right... It can't be helped if Delta's your favorite," she said with a smug grin, casting a not-so-subtle glance at Zeta. Zeta's eye twitched, but before she could respond, Shadow intervened.

"So, just for confirmation, Zeta, are you sure you want to give this power to Delta?" Shadow asked, turning serious again.

Zeta sighed internally, thinking, 'I feel like I'm going to regret this, but whatever.' She nodded her head.

With her confirmation, Shadow knelt beside Rakan's corpse and placed his hands on it.

"Series of Sins: Greedy Ambitions," he whispered.

White and black particles of light began leaving Rakan's body, flowing into Shadow. As the energy transferred, Rakan's corpse withered, turning gray and skeletal before crumbling into dust.

Shadow then approached Delta, placing his thumb gently on her forehead.

"Series of Virtue: Charity," he intoned.

The energy that had entered Shadow now began to flow into Delta. She growled in pain, her face contorting as sweat rolled down her forehead. "Bossu, it hurts so much," Delta whimpered.

Shadow sighed, his voice soothing despite the situation. "I know, Delta, but just hold on. I'm effectively changing your entire race."

As the transformation continued, Zeta felt an overwhelming power radiating from Delta, sending a shiver down her spine. She watched in awe and concern as Delta's hair began turning white from the roots, her tail lengthening and whitening as well, along with her wolf-like ears. Delta's aura of power surged, growing more intense with every passing moment.

Delta's painful roars echoed through the area, prompting Zeta to cover her ears. She watched as Delta grew taller, her muscles expanding before becoming more compact, her body adapting to the newfound power.

Delta opened her eyes, revealing a pair of fierce, red beast-like irises. She gazed up at the moon and let out a powerful, primal howl. A brilliant white aura exploded from her, sending Zeta flying backward. Shadow, however, stood firm, his cloak billowing against the force.

When the energy subsided, Delta stood huffing and puffing, exhausted from the intense transformation. She looked toward Shadow, who smiled warmly at her.

"Congratulations, Delta," Shadow said, his voice filled with pride. "From this moment forward, you can proudly call yourself the Beast Monarch, the Queen of the Beastial Kingdom!"

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