King and Commanders

"Ru... Runa!"

Runa hugged Lina tightly.

"Yes, mom, It's me!"

Both daughter and mother broke into tears. Lina held her daughter's face, looking at it in an exuberant manner and started kissing her all over her face.

"Oh, my love, I missed you so much!"

Runa didn't reply because she had already lost all her strength and couldn't stop sobbing.

While they were immersed in the elation of their unexpected reunion, a bulky figure came from behind and stood near them. He waited until they calmed down a bit and proceeded to speak.

"Runa, you said you were not captured, then how did you come here?"

Runa didn't want to let go of her mother, she retorted without looking at the bulky, tall figure.

"A savior saved us, he backed and encouraged us, and we waged a war on the orcs. In the end, we defeated their King. Now, no one will fight one another and both Orcs and Beastfolk will live in peace under one King."

"Oh, so that savior claimed himself as King after saving us?"

"No, he is not a cruel oligarch, he chose a King from us. Old man Daan is the new King."

Lina shouted in shock.

"What?"

Runa understood their bewilderment. Who would ever imagine that someone like Akash would arrive out of nowhere and be this generous? No one from the beast tribe, including herself, had believed it until it was done.

Lina looked behind at the figure.

The bulky figure's eyes widened as well.

"Runa, could you please give us the details about the whole incident from the beginning?"

Runa began from the time when Akash was wandering in the Beast Valley and how he smashed an entire mountain with a single punch. Then, she told them about the fort crumbling because of Akash's stomp. She didn't even leave the fact that an orc pissed his legs and ran. The epic battle of Daan and Duglu, and the evolution of Sohrab and herself.

This entire story baffled them.

"Runa... what you just said... is it really true?"

Lina asked dubiously.

Runa wiped her tears and replied with a big silly smile.

"Yes, mom. You can confirm it outside."

The joy was beaming from her smile, Runa's jolly face cleared all of Lina's doubts.

The bulky figure spoke again.

"What a gentleman, please take us to him."

Runa nodded and complied.

"Sure."

The figure worryingly asked another question.

"By the way, how is Danny's condition, I mean King Daan's condition?"

Runa finally thought to look at the figure that was asking her these questions and asked him something that had been puzzling her since the beginning.

"Yes, he is okay but who are you?"

Lina shook Runa's shoulder and reprimanded her in a harsh voice.

"RUNA, don't talk to him so rudely!"

That startled Runa causing her to look at him again. That figure looked familiar.

"You... are you perhaps..."

~A few hours later~

Everyone had gathered outside the cave after their reunion. They all stood in two parts, on one side were 4000 orcs and on the other side were 2500 beastpeople.

Akash looked at them all and felt apprehensive about having to teach every single one of them and the likely migraine accompanying the experience. He equipped his golden cloak to which everyone gaped in awe.

Akash flew to the sky, terrifying all of the ones on land for they'd never seen a person do such a thing.

As a matter of fact, a normal tamer could only fly when their star dwelling expanded to a certain degree and their cosmic power would grow with their dwelling. Subsequently, they would then start to master the art of cosmic powers.

Since every natural thing was made of cosmic power albeit with varying quantities, tamers who mastered it could control the air and the surrounding space, utilizing it for flight. The stronger one is, the more they can control and use.

Around 80 percent of tamers learn flight when they reach the Star Knight realm, with the exception of those who are born with a Wind Law or learned it themselves before as they can easily use it for the same effect.

Akash was a rare case. He was only at the 1st Star realm, yet his cosmic powers were equal to that of a Star God. Additionally, he had also already mastered flight as he was at the Star King realm tamer in his previous life.

Everyone watched Akash flying through the sky.

Akash made an announcement with a loud voice.

"Those who think of themselves as smart and strong, come forward!"

Everyone was as silent as the dead.

Akash's ears twitched, he heard heavy footsteps from the crowd. After feasting on the blood of Ancestor Tiger, Akash's senses had improved by leaps and bounds.

The one who came out was someone that no one had expected.

A giant bulky beastman looked upon Akash as he did the same.

"Anyone else?"

"Me!"

Someone from the orcs raised his hand. He stepped forward and in the midst of that, another one followed suit.

The one who raised his hand was the Orc King's brother, Botal Langmachi, and the one who had accompanied him was Zanda, the guard of the cave.

After witnessing these two orcs answer Akash's call, three beastpeople came forward, not willing to be outdone by orcs. Runa and Sohrab were at the front and behind them was a female Centaur. She was one of the five beastpeople who were in the deeper part of the cave including Lina and the bulky beast.

In total, 6 people came forward, 4 beastpeople and 2 orcs.

Akash glanced at them before looking back at the rest.

"The rest of you can leave, whereas you six can meet me tomorrow."

Botal bowed and replied.

"Yes, My King!"

The rest did the same as well.

~The Next Morning~

Akash was in the room of Daan, the latter had already woken up and they were talking about some important matters. Akash smiled at Daan and spoke.

"You fought bravely."

Daan lowered his head and scratched it.

"All thanks to you, My King."

"I will bestow upon you a gift today."

Daan raised his head in surprise.

"A gift! For me? I will gladly accept it!"

Akash looked at the door before continuing.

"Save your happiness for later, you will cry in a few moments."

Daan was puzzled.

"I don't understand."

"Don't worry. You will know soon."

Outside the house, five figures were standing at attention, waiting for the order to come in. The sixth one was missing.

A giant black character arrived almost out of breath after sprinting here. He swiped his forehead with his finger, clearing all the sweat, and put one hand on Zanda's shoulder.

"Whooo! I overslept. How goes everything, brothers?"

It was Sohrab.

No one replied, Runa gave a sharp angry glare at him and gritted her teeth. Zanda, whose shoulder was supporting a big and thick arm, looked at Sohrab.

"What's up?"

Sohrab asked Zanda.

"You are too big."

Zanda replied

"Ahh, thanks, buddy."

Sohrab said while smiling and slid his arm around Zanda's neck and gave him a one-handed hug.

"You're welcome, but my shoulders are small. So, I would appreciate it if you kept your hands to yourself."

Zanda expressed his discomfort… expressionless.

Inside the house, Akash was keeping an eye on them. Waiting for all six to gather until he finally gave a loud order.

"All six of you, come inside!"

Sohrab rushed into the house first as if he had been eagerly waiting for a long time already.

Akash pretended to ignore him and looked at Daan.

"As I said, I'll reward you for your impressive accomplishment… By training you into a tamer like myself!"

Daan was overjoyed, he was about to thank him but Akash stopped him with a hand sign and continued.

"There will be 6 more people under you, you will be the King and they will be Commanders."

Akash looked at the six braves and beckoned them.

"Come here and introduce yourself to the new king, one by one."

Sohrab stepped forward as he was the first one to enter. He kneeled and introduced himself.

"My name is Sohrab Khan and I am a beastman of the Minotaur Tribe. I pledge my loyalty to King Daan Godlyn and our savior."

Following this, Sohrab rose and stood to the side.

The second one was Zanda. He came forward, kneeled and did the same.

"My name is Zanda Dubin, in the entire Orc Village, only Orc King Duglu and his brother Botal could rival my strength. I pledge my loyalty to the new king, King Daan Godlyn and the savior."

Zanda stood near Sohrab. Sohrab hit Zanda's shoulder with his own and commented with a grin.

"That was a nice introduction but mine was more honest and resolute, and he is our savior, not yours. Would you like some introduction lessons? I will give you one for free, as a token of our friendship."

Zanda glared at him with a side-eye but remained silent.

The third one was Botal.

"I, Botal Langmachi, pledge my loyalty to the new King and the powerful warrior."

Runa came in fourth.

"My name is Runa, daughter of Russ and Lina. I pledge my loyalty to the Old Daan and our savior."

Daan laughed loudly at her.

Dann was unfamiliar with the next one, a female centaur.

"My name is Kaki Bajor, I was imprisoned when our leader, Badmushk Godlyn, got defeated by the orcs. Now that I am free, I pledge my loyalty to King Daan Godlyn and our benefactor."

Akash stood still like a statue.

"… I remember you from back then. Can you tell me about my father and brothers?"

Kaki smiled and replied.

"You should ask him yourself."

Daan was muddled.

The last of the six came forward, a bulky beastman with a tall build, the one who had questioned Runa before.

He knelt down.

"My name is Shahdar Godlyn, the oldest son of the previous beastfolk leader, Badmushk Godlyn. I pledge my loyalty to our savior and..."

He raised his head to see Daan and continued.

"And to my little brother, Danny."

Daan didn't budge an inch, he couldn't believe his eyes. He knelt just like Shahdar and the dam of his eyes broke as he said.

"El... eldest... brother."

Akash sighed

"I told you that you would cry."