While another powerful male might overshadow the other males, having one more High Rank Beastman would bring greater protection to the females and cubs of their tribe—and even the surrounding tribes. And for that, they were happy.
"I don't know, it just feels like your condition has been getting better and better ever since you met that little female, Lan Cang. Then again, heheh, who wouldn't want to hunt more prey and earn more Crystal Stones for a cute girl like that? You don't want her running off with some other male, do you?"
"Oh, right. That little female doesn't seem to have a mating mark yet. Don't tell me you two haven't bonded after all this time?" someone teased, nudging his arm as they walked. "You've got the inside track. If you don't make a move soon, another Male Beast will."
"We're short on time. What are you all jabbering about? Get a move on!" Tu Zhu snapped coldly.
The men stopped talking and focused on traversing the deep forest.
"Lan Cang. You take a few men and search the West Forest. I'll take the rest and search to the south. The terrain there is more complex, and there's a waterway that leads straight to the tribe. If a sentient High-level Star Beast uses our absence as a chance to feint an attack, the females and cubs back in the tribe will be in danger."
Tu Zhu was the captain of the search party, so he had the authority to assign his men.
The West Forest was remote, and it was unlikely any Star Beasts would head that way, but sending a few men to check wasn't a bad idea. The southern route was clearly the greater risk and required more hands. No one had any objections.
...
Sang Luo was on edge after returning to the tribe. When night fell, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep. 'Lan Cang used to be a Mercenary, taking on even more dangerous jobs, and he always made it back alive,' she told herself. 'Even if he can't beat those Star Beasts, he definitely knows how to protect himself. I shouldn't worry so much.'
She tried to reassure herself, but still found herself going to the old Clan Leader's home every few days to ask for news.
One day, before she even reached the Clan Leader's house, she saw several Elders rushing toward it. That dreadful feeling welled up inside her again, and she hurried to follow.
The atmosphere inside was exceptionally tense and grim.
A messenger Eagle Beast was kneeling on one knee. "Lan Cang… he's lost control again!" he reported.
"Hasn't he had it under control all these years? Why would he suddenly lose control?"
The Clan Leader was furious. He had no children of his own and had always treated Lan Cang as his successor, never minding that he was an outsider. But three years ago, Lan Cang had suddenly lost control and gone on a rampage. His rank plummeted, reducing him to a low-level beast, and the Clan Leader had no choice but to name Tu Zhu his successor instead.
Seeing Lan Cang's condition gradually improve lately, finally emerging from that dark cloud, had brought the old Clan Leader great relief. How could this happen again? 'Sigh... Is the tragedy from three years ago going to repeat itself?'
"We don't know the details. Two other Beastmen were with Lan Cang. They said they were attacked by a powerful Star Beast in the West Forest. He covered their escape, but he didn't make it out himself. In the middle of the fight, his power went out of control again." The Eagle Beast's voice was filled with worry. "Clan Leader, should we send someone to bring him back? If he loses control this time, he'll likely suffer complete genetic regression. When that happens… he'll become nothing more than a mindless, savage beast!"
Sang Luo had been with the tribe for over a month, so she knew a little about the "genetic frenzy" that affected Beastmen. She had even seen a Fourth Rank Beastman exiled from the tribe after suffering an attack.
She didn't know the exact cause, but the affliction seemed to only affect male Beastmen.
The more talented and powerful the Beastman, the more susceptible they were to genetic frenzy. They would regress into mindless, primal beasts with drastically shortened lifespans, ultimately dying of exhaustion.
The only way to mitigate the genetic frenzy was through mating with a female.
The higher a female's Level, the stronger her calming abilities.
A female of too low a Level would have no effect on a powerful male's frenzy. She wouldn't even be able to successfully bear his offspring.
This was why, unlike low-level Male Beasts who desperately pursued any female, the most genetically gifted males were extremely cautious when choosing a mate. Unfortunately, females were not only rare, but their cultivation Levels were also far weaker than the males'. It was incredibly rare to even find a female who had awakened the power of her Beast Pattern.
It was said that many of the continent's Beast Kings remained single to this day, unable to find suitable mates to bear their children. Some ancient clans had gone a thousand years without a single new birth and were now on the brink of extinction.
"*Cough*. You're here. About Lan Cang…" The Clan Leader trailed off, seeing Sang Luo leaning against the doorframe, her face pale. She had obviously heard the terrible news.
Some of the other Beastmen proposed dispatching a rescue party to bring Lan Cang back.
The old Clan Leader took a deep breath before making the difficult decision. "Have the search party continue to focus on tracking the rogue Star Beast. Everything else… is to be ignored."
The Star Beast was the Kordo Tribe's greatest threat. Splitting their forces now would only give the creature an opening. If that happened, all the females and cubs of the tribe would be the ones to suffer.
Compared to a single male whose rank had already fallen, the females and cubs were the key to the tribe's survival. They had to be the priority, no matter what.
Besides… even if the old Clan Leader didn't say it, everyone else knew the truth perfectly well.
Lan Cang's innate talent was too great. If he fell into a genetic frenzy, there wasn't a single female in the entire tribe compatible enough to help him.
Surviving his first genetic rampage with only a drop in his rank was a fluke.
Luck wouldn't strike twice.
This time… he was doomed.
Sending more people to bring him back now wouldn't save him; it would only lead to more casualties. After all, a Beastman who has lost control to genetic frenzy is no different from a rampaging, powerful beast. They only know how to attack and destroy, unable to recognize friend from foe.
Losing a mate was a terrible thing, and the old Clan Leader turned to comfort the young female, only to suddenly realize—
The female was gone?!
"Quickly! Find her!"