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All races held deep reverence for their creators. The Forestborn's god, Kaainas, had been killed by the War God, who devoured his divine essence. Though the Forestborn had dreamed of revenge, the power gap was too enormous. Forget defeating the War God—they couldn't even stand up to a single Flügel under him.
Maybe Riku could take down a Flügel. But to beat the War God? That still felt like a fantasy.
Still, even if it felt humiliating, even if it made her ashamed, Shinku saw a glimmer of hope in Riku's presence.
Maybe, just maybe… as Jibril said, this human truly had infinite potential.
"Lord Riku, as long as you don't treat us as disposable pawns, we Forestborn will join your alliance. We'll become the blade in your hand, and help you kill the War God." Shinku took a deep breath and spoke sincerely.
"Pfft—!" Jibril burst out laughing the moment Shinku finished, staring at her with obvious ridicule.
Fia sneered as well, glancing aside in disdain.
"What's so funny, Jibril?!" Shinku snapped, her face stiffening with anger.
"Oh my, I just think you Forestborn are exactly what I thought—ignorant country bumpkins with inflated egos," Jibril replied, totally unbothered.
"I don't think you people realize what situation you're in," Fia said coldly.
"There's no comparison here," Shubi added cryptically.
"You—!" Shinku's expression changed. Anxiety surged as she nervously glanced at Riku, who still wore a blank expression.
"You Forestborn don't seem to get it. I'm not asking you to join the alliance. I'm ordering you," Riku said flatly.
That single sentence left Shinku completely speechless.
The rest of the Forestborn exploded with fury.
"An order? That's going too far!" Shinku gritted her teeth. Being ordered to join felt like a slap in the face, a humiliation beyond words. How could they accept this, knowing they might be discarded at any time?
"Everyone has choices. Yours have already decided your outcome," Riku said indifferently. "Honestly, your strength isn't even necessary. If you don't accept the order, I won't force you."
"—What!?" Shinku and the other Forestborn were stunned. Even the beastkin around them were caught off guard.
Only Jibril and Fia stayed calm, a bit of obsession gleaming in their eyes. Shubi's face was still expressionless, but her eyes flickered slightly.
"Lord Riku… are you serious?" Shinku asked nervously. Something felt off. Was he really this easygoing?
"You don't want to follow my order? Fine. But to make sure none of you backstab us later, I'll just wipe out the entire Forestborn race. Not a single one left alive," Riku said flatly.
"WHAT?!" Shinku froze like she'd been dropped from heaven to hell. This was pure tyranny—no escape, no mercy. He really would do it.
"Lady Shinku, let's fight him!"
"Yeah, screw this guy! Bring it on!"
In a flash, the Forestborn were boiling with rage and pride, shouting in defiance.
"Shut up! All of you!" Shinku suddenly snapped back to her senses and shouted in panic.
Her voice immediately silenced them.
"We'll join the alliance. We'll follow your orders," Shinku said bitterly. For the sake of her people, this was the only choice.
"Lady Shinku!!"
"But we still have—!"
Before they could finish, Riku sneered and pulled out an unfinished Void Zero Gear from his storage.
"You mean this thing? It's a bit complicated, but if I give it to the Ex-Machina, I bet they'll finish it even better than you could."
"This… that's the Void Zero Gear! How did you…?!" Shinku's eyes went wide as she stared at the massive glowing sphere, completely stunned.
The rest of the Forestborn turned pale. Their trump card… had already been taken.
They had nothing left to fight with.
"Please forgive our disrespect, my lord. We forest elves are willing to join Lord Riku's alliance as a whole. We'll follow orders without question and pledge our complete loyalty." With a bitter face, Crimson knelt to the ground without hesitation and offered her allegiance.
"We'll… obey your command. We submit."The rest of the forest elves followed, faces pale and hopeless as they lowered their proud heads and knelt.
With their trump cards gone, what did they even have left to fight with? Just like Riku said—they were now irrelevant.
"Good. From now on, you're mine and Fia's maid," Riku said flatly, pressing a hand on Crimson's head.
"I understand… Master…" Crimson's expression shifted again and again before she finally responded weakly.
"Mm, not bad." Riku nodded in satisfaction, turned, and walked back to Fia and the others, leaving the forest elves behind—kneeling and looking completely drained of spirit.
"Hehe~ Master, that was so cool and dominant! You've got me totally hooked. Say, why don't you punish me too, Master~?" Jibril drooled slightly at the corners of her mouth, eyes sparkling like a lovestruck maniac.
"Hmph! Riku is my husband! You're just his servant, so stop trying to seduce my man!" Fia frowned, grabbing Riku's hand as she glared daggers at Jibril. "Since you're my husband's servant, that makes you my servant too. I order you to stay away from him!"
"Ara~ But I only take orders from Master. I don't care about anyone else's. And you, little beastkin girl, you've got a long way to go~" Jibril snorted back.
Their eyes locked, and sparks practically flew between them.
"Riku, I wanna play a game," Schwi interrupted at just the right moment, her sudden words making both Fia and Jibril suspicious.
Play a game? What kind of game? That was always a loaded question.
"Ahem, let's talk about it later. This area's got heavy elf activity—it's not safe to stick around here," Riku said with an awkward laugh. If Fia found out what kind of game it really was, things would blow up for sure. As for Jibril… she'd probably find a way to join in no matter what.
"Hmph!!! You idiot husband!" Fia pouted with a gloomy expression. Her instincts told her this wasn't that simple.
"....."