Meow!
The Meisha, whose wings had been broken, tail fractured, and limbs dislocated, let out a helpless wail, eyes filled with grief and indignation.
It couldn't understand why a once weak creature could suddenly grow so large and powerful, and why it was being so ruthlessly attacked. Did it have a grudge against this terrifying giant? It was the victim here! From beginning to end, it and its followers were the ones being beaten, and its territory was the one destroyed.
Thinking about this, the physically and mentally exhausted Meisha couldn't help but shed tears from its eyes. It felt utterly wronged. It had been quietly sleeping at home, doing nothing, when disaster struck.
"Hmm?" Muria, who had been about to deliver a final, crushing blow to subdue the Meisha, paused in surprise upon seeing tears in the eyes of the elegant creature. "Crying? Seriously? How pathetic!"
"Well, since you're crying, I guess I'll stop hitting you." The giant of light, towering ten meters tall, began to dissolve into sparkling light, which flowed back into Muria, revealing his now gaunt and somewhat emaciated figure.
Muria had paid a heavy price for this extraordinary burst of strength. He would be left weak for quite a long time and would need time to recover. If he faced the fully recovered Meisha in his current state, the situation would reverse, and he would be the one getting beaten.
To effectively handle a powerful force with finesse, one first needs enough strength to handle it. At the moment, Muria had none left, but the Meisha was already crippled, both physically and mentally, after being beaten so badly that it had started to cry.
"How about becoming my companion?" Muria squatted on the tearful Meisha's head and asked in an inquisitive tone.
"If you agree, nod. If you refuse, shake your head."
The Meisha paused upon hearing Muria's words, hurriedly shaking its head, but then froze. It quickly followed with a nod, then appeared confused. What was the difference between nodding and shaking its head?
"Perfect!" Muria, now thin and slightly sunken-cheeked, looked at the confused Meisha and nodded in satisfaction. "From today on, you're my companion. You already agreed, so no backing out."
The Meisha was even more bewildered. Muria didn't give it time to react. He repositioned its dislocated limbs, rolled it over so its back was facing up, and then climbed onto its back.
Following the methods of the Ikonians, Muria forcibly established a mental connection with the Meisha. Due to the creature's shattered morale from the fight, Muria met with almost no resistance and easily formed a unique contract with it.
Meow!
Feeling the mental bond with Muria, the Meisha let out a mournful cry.
"Enough, stop crying. Look at you, so pathetic," Muria said helplessly, kicking the creature's head. "You don't realize how lucky you are."
"To have me personally conquer you is the greatest honor of your life. Do you know how many creatures stronger than you begged me to take them in, but I couldn't be bothered?"
After saying this, Muria dismounted and began resetting the Meisha's dislocated limbs. Then, he turned his gaze toward the Ikonians who had been watching from afar and were slowly approaching. He waved them over.
The Ikonian named Baghdad, who was the first to arrive, quickly dismounted and cautiously looked at the sorrowful Meisha, feeling an overwhelming pressure.
"Lord Uhl, you've already…?" Baghdad began to ask.
"Yes, as you can see, this Meisha is now my companion." Muria placed his hand on the creature's tough, glossy purple-black skin.
"Congratulations, great King of Ayaré!" Upon hearing Muria's words, Baghdad knelt on one knee and bowed his head to Muria.
Every Ikonian knew of the ancient pact among the tribes living in the Ayaré Forest: anyone who could conquer the uncrowned king of the forest, the Meisha, would become the King of Ayaré.
All Ikonians dreamt of becoming a king, but even for the most elite, like Baghdad, it was a distant dream, let alone for an ordinary Ikonian.
Now, a young Ikonian had made the dream of ten thousand Ikonians a reality, signaling the birth of the King of Ayaré.
As Baghdad knelt to Muria, the other Ikonians who had arrived also dismounted and bowed, pledging their allegiance.
"Enough with the formalities," Muria said, waving dismissively, unimpressed by the display. He had been bowed to countless times and felt nothing special about it.
"Now, go inform the other Ikonians. Tell them to come and rescue the Meishas that I've injured and scattered across Yun Jian Peak. Be careful and try to save every Meisha."
After dismissing them, Muria added, "Oh, and I plan to form a Meisha cavalry. I will select the most outstanding Ikonians from the various tribes of Ayaré to join."
As the Ikonians rose, Muria revealed his first royal decree, instantly filling them with joy.
Those who had dared approach during the battle were undeniably among the most daring and capable of the Ikonians. Most were considered the elite of the forest. To them, Muria's decree meant that they could be rewarded with a Meisha as a companion.
With this enticing prospect, the Ikonians ran down Yun Jian Peak like they had been injected with energy, calling for their tribes to come help save their future mounts.
In the following days, Muria, weakened from his ordeal, stayed at Yun Jian Peak while the Meisha recovered from its injuries. He enjoyed the offerings and worship from the various tribes of Ayaré. The main reason for their enthusiasm was the promise that each tribe would receive at least one Meisha.
Not only Muria understood the principle of mutual benefit, but the simple and honest Ikonians did as well.
"Grand Elder!" Several days into his recovery, Muria met with the Grand Elder of the Tunan tribe, who had traveled a great distance, as well as his worried mother, Hida.
"Good, good, good!" The hunched old man smiled so much his eyes became slits as he looked at the Meisha, who was eating and drinking behind Muria.
"Uhl, how did you get so thin?" Muria's mother cried when she saw his current state, constantly touching him to check his condition.
"It's the side effect of a secret technique," Muria explained awkwardly, feeling touched by his mother's concern.
"Side effect? Will it affect your health? Your lifespan?" she asked anxiously.
"Don't worry, Mom. I'll just be weak for a while, but as long as I eat more, I'll recover. It won't affect my future at all," Muria reassured her with a smile.
After finally calming his mother, Muria turned his attention back to the Grand Elder. "Grand Elder, I have something to discuss with you."
"What is it? Speak," the elder said, still smiling.
"I've decided not to return to the tribe. I'm staying here at Yun Jian Peak," Muria declared.
The Grand Elder's smile froze, and his expression turned serious as he realized the weight of Muria's words. Then, after a moment, he slowly nodded.
"Yes, you are the King of Ayaré now. You shouldn't return to the Tunan tribe. It's time to establish your own tribe."
"Grand Elder, you misunderstand," Muria interrupted. "I have no intention of leaving or dividing the tribe. I only mean that I will stay here."
"Then, what do you mean?"
"I'd like you to relocate the entire Tunan tribe to Yun Jian Peak."
"That… but we've lived there for thousands of years. How can we abandon it?"
"We're not abandoning it, but building a better home for our people, giving them a brighter future! Not just the Tunan tribe, but I'll invite all the other tribes to move here. There's plenty of space for thousands of Ikonians to live together."
Muria laid out his vision, planning to unite the Ikonians of the Ayaré Forest under his leadership as quickly as possible.
"I see. I understand now. I will rally the youth of the Tunan tribe and begin the relocation," the Grand Elder agreed.
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