Chapter 177

[Third Person's PoV] 

Delta's long, white hair and tail flowed like waves in the night wind. She let out a thunderous howl, as if announcing her presence to the entire world.

Her fierce red eyes locked onto Shadow, eyeing him like he was a delicate piece of meat. With a low growl, she leaped at him.

Zeta cursed under her breath as she saw Delta charge at Shadow. Just as she was about to intervene, Delta pounced on Shadow and wrapped her legs around him.

"BOSSU! DOESN'T DELTA LOOK AMAZING?" Delta exclaimed, her face beaming with a cheery, innocent expression.

Even with just her legs around him, Delta supported herself effortlessly. She leaned back slightly and flexed her muscles. "Look, Delta feels stronger! Delta feels amazing!" she said excitedly. Grabbing a handful of her hair, she wrapped it around her face. "Look, Bossu! Delta's fur is white! Isn't that weird?"

Zeta, who had been watching, let out a sigh of relief, but soon began grumbling at Delta's antics.

"Hehehe, Bossu, is Delta pretty?" Delta giggled mischievously, her long wolf ears twitching as she batted her eyelashes at him.

Shadow smiled and ran a hand through her long, wavy white hair. "You look very beautiful, Delta."

"Hehehe," Delta giggled, swaying from side to side.

Shadow then gave her a light pat on her ample backside. "We have company."

Delta pouted but obediently jumped down, standing beside Zeta as she examined her sharp claws.

From the skies, Bellion, Beru, Igris, and Lucifer descended, with Lucifer carrying Sillad wrapped in a purple light chain, dangling from his shoulder. 

As they approached Shadow, Lucifer delivered Sillad to his feet and knelt with a bow. "My lord, we have brought you the perpetrator."

"I can see that. Good work, all of you. You've managed to take down a Monarch," Shadow nodded approvingly.

"Your praise is wasted on us, my lord. We are merely doing what is expected," Lucifer replied.

Beru then looked at Shadow with hopeful eyes. "My King, may we watch you torture him?"

Shadow patted Beru's head. "Sorry, Beru, but I have other plans for him."

"Oh…" Beru responded, a bit disappointed.

Sillad groaned as he slowly regained consciousness, feeling weak and powerless.

"Ashborn," Sillad spat, venom dripping from his tone.

He then turned his gaze to Delta, confusion crossing his face. "Rakan, I didn't take you for someone who would join our enemy, much less switch into the vessel of a girl," he scoffed.

Delta looked up at Shadow, tilting her head in confusion. "Bossu, is he an idiot? Hey mister, Delta's not sure who this 'Raga' you're talking about is, but Delta has always been Delta. Don't get Delta's name wrong again, or Delta will kill you," she warned, her glare fierce.

Sillad's face twisted in utter confusion as he turned back to Shadow. A look of horror spread across his features. "That's not Rakan... What the hell have you done? Why do I feel the power of the Beast Monarch in her?"

Shadow crouched down to Sillad's eye level, grabbing his hair and forcing him to meet his gaze. Sillad winced as Shadow smirked and casually shrugged a shoulder.

"Oh, you know, having the same people be the Monarchs for so long was getting boring. So, I decided to mix things up. I convinced him to pass the mantle—"

*Boom!*

Shadow suddenly slammed Sillad's head into the ground with such force that it created a powerful earthquake, forming a large crater where Sillad's head had struck.

Shadow released a satisfied sigh as he saw Sillad's face caved in. He flicked his hand, clearing the blood from his knuckles. He healed Sillad just enough to bring him back to consciousness, lifting him by the hair once more. Sillad's face contorted in pain as he awakened.

"Sorry, sorry. I tried to hold back. I mean, you understand why I did it—you went after my daughter and wife, after all—"

*BOOM*

Another thunderous punch landed, causing another small earthquake. Shadow healed Sillad once more. This time, tears streamed down Sillad's face, all of his teeth gone, his nose malformed.

"Man, that was therapeutic," Shadow said with a satisfied grin. "The first one was for my daughter, the second one was for my wife—"

*BOOM*

"This one is simply because I don't like you."

*BOOM*

"This one is because you came to my world."

*BOOM*

"This one is because your face is a crime against my eyes."

*BOOM*

"And this one... just because it's so much fun!"

Delta leaned towards Zeta as they watched Shadow continue his assault. "Bossu is really mad."

"Yeah, no kidding. They went after Celeste. I'm a bit mad at them myself," Zeta replied.

Delta nodded in agreement. "Delta knows what you mean."

Beru was seen clapping his hands excitedly, cheering Shadow on as blood splattered everywhere.

All that remained of Sillad was a torso, his head reduced to a bloody pulp on the ground, blood staining the earth.

As Shadow wiped the blood from his face with the back of his hand, the others soon joined him, carrying the corpse of Querehsha.

"Ah, Beta, just the person I was looking for," Shadow said with a smile.

Beta pointed to herself in confusion. "Me? Wait, why does Delta have white hair?"

Shadow nodded. "Yes, you and Eta. I transferred the power of the Beast Monarch to Delta. I'm planning to do the same with the Frost Monarch and Plague Monarch—those will go to you and Eta, respectively."

Shadow's words sparked curiosity and interest in Beta and the others, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"Beta, let's start with you," Shadow smirked, prompting Beta to step forward with a determined expression.

Shadow placed a hand on Sillad's lifeless body, and just like before, light particles began to drift from Sillad's corpse into Shadow. Unlike Rakan's particles, however, these were a pale blue. Sillad's body gradually shriveled as the essence was siphoned away, until, with a sudden burst, the remains of Sillad exploded into snow.

Shadow then placed his thumb on Beta's forehead, initiating the transfer of power. Beta grunted in pain as her skin slowly took on a light blue hue, her short silver hair growing longer as she herself grew taller. Her elven ears became sharper, and the air around her began to chill, snowflakes forming on her skin. A powerful blast of cold air swept over the group, causing everyone to shiver.

When the process was complete, Beta exhaled a frosty breath and opened her eyes, now shaped like snowflakes. "My mana... It's increased," she murmured, realizing she could now control ice with just a thought.

"Congratulations, Beta. You are now officially the Monarch of Frost, Queen of the Ice Elves," Shadow announced.

Next was Eta, who floated before Shadow with a tired expression. "Can I take a break when this is all over?"

"Would it make you feel better if I let you sleep in my shadow?" Shadow asked, intrigued.

Eta nodded eagerly. 

As before, Shadow siphoned the power from Querehsha's body, now releasing green particles of light, and transferred them to Eta. She grimaced in pain, grunting, "Is this what it feels like when I experiment on others? I can see why they don't like it."

Her skin turned a pale green, as though she were falling ill, and her hair shifted to a brighter green, matching her newly vibrant eyes. Her ears, like Beta's, sharpened, and her nails became fully black and razor-sharp. Her lips darkened, as though painted with black makeup, and her entire appearance grew more sinister—sensual in a toxic way, like a deadly seductress. Her body strengthened and grew taller, reaching the peak of physical perfection.

Eta examined her nails with a frown. "Black isn't really my color... I'm more of a wine-red girl, but I'm too lazy to change them," she muttered as the transformation finished. Unbeknownst to her, she was releasing toxic fumes from her body, prompting everyone to keep their distance.

Shadow, however, merely smiled. "Congratulations, Eta. You've become the Monarch of Plague, Queen of Insects."

"Ew..." Eta wrinkled her nose before shrugging. "Caring is too tiring. Now, let me sleep," she said, hugging her floating pillow and smiling contently.

Shadow shook his head in amusement, but his attention was quickly drawn elsewhere.

In the distance, he saw Rose sever Mordred's hand with a swift strike, then deliver a final, graceful cut through his neck, leaving Mordred in shock.

"Finally, this shit is over," Shadow sighed, feeling a wave of relief wash over him.

(Images)

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