Chapter 487 - Ruler
Alex and the rest were both scared and confused when they heard the black jaguar.
"You… you are a human. This can't be true. What is going on?" the jaguar asked as it was itself confused as well.
Suddenly, a fearsome aura spread out from the jaguar making even the Emperor himself cower in fear. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead as he finally realized just how wrong he was even after figuring out that the jaguar was stronger than him.
'This is like nothing I've sensed before. Not even grandfather ever lived enough to be this strong,' he thought.
It didn't need to be mentioned just how badly the others were suffering.
"Did you do something to deceive me, human? Speak up or I will kill you right now," the jaguar said.
The Emperor and the other two turned to look at the jaguar only to see a truly angry face of his.
The puma who said that he was just an observer in this event, slowly came forward. A wave of similar anger appeared on its face as well.
"Let's kill them all," he said, striking fear in the heart of all 7 that were there.
"No, we need to make sure we are wrong first," the jaguar said. He then turned around to the 7 and asked, "Speak up, what is going on here?"
The emperor didn't exactly know why the jaguar was angry, but seeing how it didn't seem to be here for a human, he asked, "are you not after this child?"
The jaguar turned to look at Alex properly once more and a bit of hesitation arose in his heart. "I don't know. Who is this and why did you bring him here?"
"I didn't bring him," the Emperor said.
"I came here on my own," Alex said, with a really pale face. "You are here for me, so take me and leave them alone."
The Emperor and the other 2 saint realm experts looked back in shock to see Alex even able to speak. It was hard for even the emperor to speak given how much suppression they were under due to the jaguar's aura. And yet, a kid that wasn't even in the True realms could speak up under such conditions.
The jaguar and the puma were certainly surprised as well. The jaguar slowly looked up and down at Alex, with the thousands of beasts that were cowering in fear behind him as well.
"The one I'm looking for does appear to be you. But this has to be a mistake because we aren't looking for any sort of humans. We want nothing to do with your kind," the jaguar said.
"Then what are you here for if not me?" Alex asked.
"For our own kind. I'm here to take back the one who has our lord's bloodline. I do not know why it appeared on you human. However, It seems I must take you back to see what is happening." The jaguar said.
"If it appears to be deception on your part, I will come back to destroy your entire empire," the puma threatened from behind.
"There is no deception here," Alex said. "I came here because I could sense the feeling of something calling me towards the south. Every time this feeling appeared, the beasts appeared along with it."
"To protect the ones I cared about, I chose to give myself up," Alex said.
The jaguar and the puma's face suddenly changed. The puma disappeared from where he stood and appeared right next to Alex, smelling him a little.
"Where is the feeling coming from? Show me," the Puma asked.
"I can't move," Alex said.
The puma released his own aura and countered the jaguar's aura, allowing Alex and the rest to move again.
"Show me," he said.
Alex nodded and pointed towards the southeast direction. "That's where the feeling is coming from," Alex said.
Puma looked in shock and went back to the jaguar. "What's going on? That human child is accurately locating the palace," the puma asked.
"I do not know. Is there something wrong with the fountain perhaps?" the jaguar asked.
"No way," the puma said. "Every single one I found was accurate. There is nothing wrong with the fountain. Besides, this is our last chance. The fountain won't work after today."
The jaguar's face soured when he heard that. Lady Ren had indeed given such an assessment, which was the reason the two of them had decided to team up together for this time.
"So we take him back, right?" the jaguar asked.
"We have to. If the fountain isn't wrong, then he has the bloodline of our Lord," puma said.
"Can it really be that this human was born to be the king of our people?" the jaguar asked.
The two of them were speaking softly, but they were in no way quiet. Alex could clearly hear them say the words 'bloodline', 'lord', and 'king', and a distinct feeling rose in him.
'It can't be!' he thought as he felt a sense of clearance in his mind. He seemed to have finally realized that they weren't here for him.
They were here for Pearl.
'These feline beasts are here for Pearl? But why? Are they his family? Are they taking him back?' Alex wondered and looked back up to listen to the beast's talk.
However, they weren't talking anymore. Instead, they were staring directly at him.
'Shit!' Alex thought when he realized that his shocked expression had given away that he knew something.
"Speak up, or we won't be very merciful," the puma said.
"No, I won't," Alex said. There was no way Alex was going to let them learn about Pearl without first learning their intentions properly.
"I might have an idea as to who you are looking for, but you will have to tell me what you want with him," Alex asked.
"You know who we want?" the jaguar asked with surprise. "Spill it."
"Right after you," Alex said, not budging a bit. The Emperor and the rest were clearly surprised to see Alex stand up to a battle of words against the saint beasts.
"Yu Ming, stand down," Ma Rong whispered to him from the side. Her heart was leaping out of her ribcage when she saw her disciple speak with a saint beast like that. It wouldn't even require the beasts to make a move if they wanted to kill him at any point.
"Human child, you have no room to order us around. Tell us what you know, or we will kill all 7 of you," the puma said.
"I know you can," Alex said. "But I just heard that this is your last chance. If you don't want your last chance to be a failure, then tell me who you beasts are and what you want with him."
Anger flared in the puma's eyes and he decided to kill them all. However, just then, a voice appeared out of nowhere.
"STOP!"
A third saint realm aura appeared from beyond the two beasts as a white beast appeared from behind them.
Alex looked behind and saw another feline beast appear, only this time, Alex couldn't help but be surprised by her appearance.
'A White Cat, just like Pearl,' he thought as he looked at the female cat appearing in front of them.
"Did your fathers never tell you how much the lord cared for his people?" the White Cat asked the two beasts.
The two male saint beasts were much stronger than the female saint beast, and yet they still lowered their head when they saw her approach.
"Lady Ren, why are you here? You shouldn't be out of your chambers," the two of them said.
"A day or two out won't hurt me," Lady Ren said. She then turned to Alex and looked at him.
"Hm… this certainly is weird. Why do you have my husband's aura on you? Are you perhaps someone from outside?" she asked.
Alex's heart skipped a beat when he heard that. 'She knows about the real world? Is she a player? Or is she someone with knowledge of a world existing aside from this one?' Alex wondered.
"No, you can't be from the outside," Lady Ren answered herself. "Your cultivation isn't high enough to make those sort of travel. This certainly adds to the mystery of why you have my husband's aura then."
"It's someone else you guys want, but I won't tell you the location until I know what you're up to," Alex asked.
"Oh, so you not only know that we are looking for a beast, but also know that beast's location? Adding onto the fact that you have the aura on you… am I correct in assuming that you've bonded with the beast?" Lady Ren asked.
Alex's face paled when he realized that he had given away his hand. He looked left and right, trying to think of a way to avoid any sort of tragedy.
"Don't fear, child. We aren't here to harm you. We are just here for the beast, and once we get the beast, we will leave," Lady Ren said.
"How can I believe you?" Alex asked, still fearing.
"Young man, we have no other choice," the Emperor said. "We are in their palm now. Whether they want to squeeze us, or gently lay us down on a bed of flower, it's their choice now."
"However, if it's any consolation, that Jaguar said the same thing to me on the first day they arrived in the capital too," the Emperor said.
"Why do you want him then?" Alex asked.
"This continent has been without its ruler for a long time now.. If your friend is worthy, he shall be the next king of the entire Western Continent."