"That child Albis, she really is talented."
"Even I couldn't detect their movements."
Frey hadn't noticed the movements of the Three Beastketeers, but that didn't affect Treyni and Violet's ability to monitor them in real time.
"However, something still happened to them."
"What?!"
Carrion immediately tensed at Frey's words. "Explain clearly. What happened to them?"
To Carrion, the Three Beastketeers were like younger siblings.
And the other beastfolk were youths he deeply trusted.
Now, hearing that something had gone wrong with them, Carrion's heart clenched with unease.
"Don't worry. Their lives aren't in danger for now."
"Still alive? That's good…"
Carrion exhaled in relief. For a moment, he had thought they were already dead.
As long as they were alive, there was hope.
"What exactly did they encounter?"
"Is this the reason you came to see me?"
"No. I came to see you, not for those things."
Frey raised her hand and gestured for Carrion to attack. "A detailed explanation would be too troublesome. Let's use the method you like best."
"Communicating with fists?"
If it had been before, Carrion, as a martial artist, would have immediately agreed.
But after learning that something had happened to Albis and the others, he was more desperate to know their exact situation.
However…
Sometimes, exchanging blows was the fastest way to understand each other's will.
"How far are we going with this?"
"As far as you want."
"If you're capable enough, you might even get to see my Ultimate Skill."
"Ultimate Skill!"
Carrion exclaimed in shock. "You actually mastered that power?"
"Who knows."
"If your strength is too weak, then whether I have an Ultimate Skill or not won't matter to you, will it?"
"Hmph."
Carrion snorted. "You're really underestimating me, Frey!"
Having made up his mind, Carrion no longer waited for Frey to make a move. He immediately activated the Lion King's strongest state, Beasts Transformation.
The Beasts Transformation drew out the beastfolk genes residing in Carrion.
Beasts didn't just include felines and canines.
In theory, even fish in the water, birds in the sky, and reptiles underground could be considered beasts.
However, that theory came from Earth's scientific classifications.
In the Cardinal World, due to the different origins of species, beastfolk generally didn't include insects, fish, or reptiles.
The latter two were classified as dragon branches and were fundamentally different from traditional "beasts."
"Using Beasts Transformation, huh?"
Frey looked at Carrion, whose body had transformed drastically. He was now more muscular, and a pair of hawk-like wings had sprouted from his back.
"Come on, let me see how much you've improved over the years."
"You're too arrogant, Frey!"
Carrion knew there might be a gap between their strengths, but being looked down on like this still made his blood boil.
"Beast Particle Cannon!"
Golden magicules gathered in front of Carrion.
This move was a technique he had painstakingly trained for many years. By forcing spiritual particles to collide and rupture, it unleashed a fearsome amount of energy.
That was why Carrion had named the move the Particle Cannon.
Even in a place like the Cardinal World, its destructive power rivaled that of a nuclear bomb.
"Still not dodging?"
Carrion paused for a moment, watching Frey's position carefully.
She had chosen an ideal spot to stand, with only a desolate plain behind her, as if she had prepared a stage for Carrion's big moment.
"No need."
Frey's reply made Carrion furious.
But seeing her serious expression, Carrion realized she truly intended to receive his full-power attack head-on.
"Then I hope your Ultimate Skill is worth your arrogance!"
He didn't intend to kill Frey. The hostility between them was only superficial.
This was just a spar. There was no need to go overboard.
So Carrion adjusted the trajectory of the Beast Particle Cannon slightly, making sure it wouldn't deal a lethal blow.
Boom!
The next moment, a golden beam of light shot toward Frey at invisible speed.
"Heh…"
Frey's lips curled up faintly.
She thought to herself that she hadn't looked after this troublesome little brother Carrion all these years for nothing.
"Unfortunately, your vision is still too narrow."
She calmly watched the approaching Beast Particle Cannon.
The trajectory, which was invisible to others, appeared in her eyes as if time had slowed down by hundreds or even thousands of times.
"Weak."
Raising her hand, she casually struck the Beast Particle Cannon with a backhand.
Boom!
The destructive energy embedded in the cannonball was forcefully swatted away by Frey, sent flying toward a plain in the distance, all under Carrion's astonished gaze.
Rumble...
Flames soared into the sky. The earth shook with a thunderous roar as black smoke and dust erupted, reducing a small group of hills into ruins.
Only a massive crater remained, displaying the terrifying power of Carrion's move.
"How is this possible?!"
Carrion's pupils shrank as he stared fixedly at Frey.
He couldn't understand.
His all-out attack hadn't even managed to make Frey take a single step back. She had deflected it like it was nothing...
Was the gap between them really this big?
Carrion didn't want to believe it. Not long ago, they had been evenly matched in strength.
But now, just because of one awakening, the difference between them had grown this vast?
"You can't accept it, just like that?"
Frey looked at Carrion as he hovered in the air and gave him a teasing smile.
"The mighty Lion King is wearing the expression of a scared kitten. How disappointing."
"Frey!!!"
Carrion couldn't accept this humiliation.
He summoned the Beast King Spear, his magicules surging by another 100,000, then charged directly at Frey.
If magic attacks didn't work, then he'd settle it with close combat!
The idea was solid, but Frey had already seen through everything.
Clang!!
Recalling the previous battle between Rimuru and Kyoya, Frey extended a finger and pointed at the tip of Carrion's thrusting spear.
Boom!!
The ground split. The cliff collapsed.
But Frey didn't move an inch. It was as if her entire body had become part of the space itself, immovable.
"What?"
After two full-power attacks, even Carrion's steady heart wavered slightly.
(To be continued.)