Bro, I'm not an Undead!

GUUM! GUUUM!

"Dear Quintess! What in the world is that?!"

"Aaargh! Run!"

"Why aren\'t the Capital Knights doing anything?! Why don\'t they kill it?!"

"It\'s going to flatten our houses at this rate!"

A great ape moved regally through the wide streets of the capital of Pelian.

Its size was immensely intimidating.

It wasn\'t an overreaction by the crowds to flee and curse it as they clung to their loved ones, after all, most people were used to attaching the march of a twelve-meter-tall beast to senseless destruction, and in truth, that usually was the case.

It didn\'t help that the greatest city in Pelian had endured several attacks by the Carven which had been warded away swiftly by the most powerful band of Capital Knights this generation had ever known, propagating the bias further.

Of course, Azila didn\'t care for the notions that the humans held. He didn\'t care for their fears or worries.

They were such fickle creatures anyway. Well, most of them.

On the sides of the street that he languidly pranced, flanked by great, rising buildings that mostly served as stores and displays for business, rows of Capital Knights decked in silver armor stood at the ready, but did not emit hostile intent. They, unlike the ignorant masses, were trained to distinguish between common beasts and guardians that emerged from Sacred Forests.

This wasn\'t a new thing, after all. It was common eighty millennia ago, rather four, for humans to communicate with such creatures.

As such, the Knights allowed the majestic beast to pass while keeping caution in their pockets.

Azila audibly scoffed, but deep down, he was impressed that there were still humans who were this educated.

Eventually, the screaming and flailing common folk prone to panic, also started to notice that this visitor did not mean any harm.

The first indicator, was its steps. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Despite the impact the ape\'s fists had as they hammered the ground, the wide, clean brick road was no damaged at all. There was a concise rhythm to the beast\'s movement as well.

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Better yet, rather than looking like a vicious, mad abomination, the great, ape, which featured an equally great mane around its neck, had clean, glinting black fur wreathed in golden runes that were so vibrant they seemed to move in mesmerizing patterns. There was even a sweet scent that seemed to waft from this fur, which smelled like a mix of cinnamon, mint and banana.

The most bizarre yet interesting feature about this animal, though, was the great crown of light which floated over its head.

A faint star was lit in the middle of this crown, its luminance different from that of the crown itself. It seemed to hold some significance. Some grave description that brought on a calm to this section of the city.

As Azila continued to saunter, the reception he received from the different individuals from different parts of Agmold told him a great many things.

Just like beasts, indeed, not all humans were the same.

Of course, his purpose here was not to learn about the supposed superior races of this world.

His goal soon flourished in sight

The Royal Mansion.

His path was blocked by several, mighty experts before he could move beyond a certain point, though.

Even a regal, intelligent beast had to explain why it suddenly walked into the personal domain of the King.

Azila obliged. Unlike his visits to his superior, Karima, humans seemed to regard meaningless protocol. Maybe it was because they held to absurd standards that didn\'t give all authority to the strongest around.

Pathetic.

The Great Mane Mountain Ape suddenly began to shrink in as ordinary of a fashion as one could think of until he was the same height as the tallest of the Royal Guards who blocked his path.

Using a high-level communication ability, he expressed his intent and one of the guards obliged, offering to lead him into the Royal Palace so that he could speak to whom he wished to speak.

Surprisingly, by the time Azila reached the throne room, the individual whom he wanted to speak to, was already there. Well, only Azila noticed this.

When it was only him and this figure left in the room, Azila comfortably sat on the thick, clean carpet and spoke:

"For a while, I thought it was beyond me to come and visit you so casually, O Asthon."

A short bow that came after these words revealed the Great Mane Mountain Ape\'s respect for this figure.

His respect for the bird that sat casually at the head of the empty throne ahead of him.

It was a small bird, yet it had an air about and a smell that didn\'t fit in the mansion, in this city, or in this nation.

It was a bizarre little thing.

"Oh dear, Azila. How many years has it been? Your rich blood has kept you alive for this long? Truly fitting of your breed, I see," the bird opened its beak and responded in a shrill voice.

Azila wore a smile at the recognition. There was reminiscence in his eyes. However, the warmth within them quickly died.

"Ashton. Would you entertain my inquiry? Why have you, the infamous Trueworth Bill chosen to reduce yourself to this state for so long?"

The bird\'s beady black eyes shook and it tilted its head.

"Reduce myself? Whatever do you mean? Dear child, I have only increased from what I was back then."

"Increased?" Azila said, confused. "Do you have any idea how many years have passed since you made a covenant with that man from so long ago? How does babysitting his entire lineage and ensuring that his bloodline retains the throne serve you exactly?"

Ashton bounced to the left on the head of the throne. He might have easily been mistaken from a common robin.

"I see you have ascended," the bird said.

Azila frowned. He didn\'t get an answer.

"Yes. I finally managed to reach you. Hence why I am here to speak with you," he responded.

The Trueworth Bill remained silent for a while.

"Few among us know what it truly means to ascend, Azila. I know you don\'t either, and neither does Karima or any other beast on this continent or the next that has actually managed to ascend. Ironically, those that haven\'t ascended understand the true essence of it. We beasts are like… roots. We don\'t show ourselves in most cases, but we do a lot of heavy lifting. That is our design. Our counterparts, humans, Sif and Giants. Among them are leaves and fruit. A product. The product."

Azila scowled and stood from where he sat.

He understood Asthon\'s analogy quite well. Frankly, he had feared this was what he would hear today of all days, when he came to seek help and wisdom.

"You mean we are stepping stones for humans?!"

"Ah. There it is. Brutish pride," Ashton said with a cackle that sounded much like that of a crow. "Your immediate thought is to spit on the very thought of being below a human. A beast like you, with esteem and reason would rather be equal to them or above them. Well, that is not the way of the beast nor that of a root."

Ashton, the Trueworth Bill, bounced off the throne and dropped to the floor.

"I know several beasts from back in the day who began to understand the true essence of being a beast. The patience it demands. You remember Feem, that conniving dog, Onun that filthy bear, and Dellan that sly, ever-grinning fox? What did they all make of themselves?"

Azila quelled his rage and thought on these words.

All these beasts…

What had they chosen to do since the Grand Wars? Oh, right.

"They came into the service of powerful humans," Azila replied.

Ashton cackled.

"More specifically…"

Azila sighed.

"They made themselves guardians of human legacies."

"Precisely!" Ashton screamed and he flapped his wings. "It seems like they earned nothing for all these years they spent waiting for seekers of the legacies they guard, but I should ask, what becomes of a fruit after it is spent? Say an apple that turns ripe and remains unplucked. What happens to it, my dear Azila? What happens to its flesh and seed?"

The great ape gnashed his teeth.

"They falls to the ground… where the roots lie."

The Trueworth Bill cackled again.

"Indeed. Now tell me. That greedy fox who spent a quarter of his life guarding the Immoral\'s tomb… He might have been far less gifted than you in the beginning, but where is he now?"

Azila strained.

He knew the answer, but he didn\'t want to admit it.

---

[Author\'s Note]

We will be returning to the \'Race For Edagon\', the second from last major arc of this volume. This is easily my most ambitious arc yet. So much is going to be happening, and I hope I can make it all palatable.

With that in mind, the next chapter is an Index of sorts to help you navigate through many of the individuals and powers of the cast following our protagonist.

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