Chapter 16

Meanwhile, in a lavish room somewhere in the Werebeast nation, there was a young werebeast girl with red eyes and shoulder-length bluish-purple hair, her small frame almost childlike. Her large, fox-like ears and tail, paired with a beautiful, serious face and a kimono tied with a large ribbon at the waist, gave her a strikingly delicate look. Right now, this seemingly loli princess gazed solemnly toward the place where Riku and the Black Hawk had fought.

"Such powerful energy… and close by."

Those words slipped from her lips as she wondered what might be happening.

At that moment, Riku was making his way toward the werebeast nation.

This time, he finally didn't run into any trouble along the way, so it only took him three or four hours to get close to the hidden werebeast forest.

"One, two… five werebeast sentries, huh?" Riku's sharpened senses immediately picked out the patrol's positions, and he frowned.

If possible, he didn't want to use the Divine Escape Talisman just yet. He'd rather save it for sneaking into the Dragonia or Gigant races' domains maybe even get a Diamond Chest. Sure, it was dangerous, but fortune favours the bold.

Given his current strength, sneaking into the werebeast capital just to get a Platinum Chest using the talisman seemed like a waste.

"Oh well, let's try the normal way first." After a moment's thought, Riku disguised himself, wrapping his entire body in a special black cloak that masked his scent.

With everything in place, Riku moved out. Even now, he knew that facing an entire race head-on was unrealistic, especially when there was still a hidden powerhouse—the werebeast princess—lurking among them.

Once ready, he set off under the cover of night, soaring high above the ground. Werebeast's senses were sharp, but at that altitude, dressed in black, he blended in with the night; ordinary sentries stood no chance of spotting him.

Soon, he hovered above the grandest building in the werebeast nation and began his descent.

So far, so good. Riku felt relieved.

"Who's there!?"

A cold, sharp voice suddenly rang out, and Riku stiffened.

Boom! Without hesitation, knowing he'd been discovered and that it was probably the werebeast princess herself, Riku blasted down through the air, smashing straight through the palace roof into a brightly lit room.

"Enemy attack! Protect Her Highness, the Princess!"

"Damn it! Which race is this who dares to invade!?"

Alarms blared. The whole werebeast palace erupted in chaos as everyone rushed to defend the princess.

"Who are you? You look human, but no human can fly or wield power like this." The young werebeast in the kimono stared him down, her red eyes icy.

"You must be the werebeast princess." Riku's golden eyes narrowed, ignoring her question as he spoke with certainty.

"I am indeed the princess of the werebeasts. My name is Hatsuse Fia. And yours?" she replied coldly.

"Hatsuse Fia… Hatsuse Izuna…" Riku's eyes flashed as he studied the girl's features so similar to Hatsuse Izuna, six thousand years in the future. Could she be her ancestor?

"And your name?" Hatsuse Fia pressed.

"Just call me Riku, little miss." Riku replied with a sly smile.

In the blink of an eye, his body blurred he charged straight at Fia.

But Fia's eyes merely glinted; though surprised by his speed, she didn't flinch. In fact, Riku swerved at the last second, landing several meters to her right, looking elated.

"What is your goal? You don't seem to have any hostility toward me," she asked in a steady voice.

"If I said I'm just here sightseeing, would you believe me?" Riku answered absently as he quietly opened the brilliantly glowing Platinum Chest beside him.

The werebeast princess didn't attack, which surprised Riku, but he welcomed it. After all, his main goal was just to open the chest. Things were going more smoothly than expected.

"Are you mocking me?" Fia said, her voice turning frosty.

Her hair seemed to bristle as an intense aura erupted from her. This pressure far stronger than even the Black Hawk!