Chosen Mate of the Beastmen Empire by Lewis Reed

Chapter 406 Chapter 406

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The ground shook, mountains trembled. Rolling dust swallowed the whole valley, blotting out the sun. Everyone inside turned blind, unable to see a thing.

People were animals too, after all. When danger hit, some bolted in a panic, others curled up in despair, leaving it to fate.

A chunk of them had already taken the worst of it-knocked out bleeding by the blast, vision black, ears ringing. They couldn't dodge falling rocks or even the trampling feet of their own in the chaos.

The newly minted old chief got clocked by a chunk of debris too, his head splitting open. Ignoring the pain, he sat there horrified, hearing horns and war cries from outside.

When a couple of soldiers finally grabbed him and hauled him to the army, he twisted around. As the dust cleared, he saw the aftermath-his pupils shook, hands and feet trembling like a sieve.

The stone wall was gone, smashed to bits. The cliffs on either side weren't pressed tight anymore-a massive gap had been ripped open, surrounded by scattered boulders big and small.

"Heaven's thunder. Divine punishment," the old man mumbled. "The mountain god's pissed."

The soldier gripping one arm was from Hilltop City, clueless about barbarian talk, and asked the local soldier on the other arm, "What's he muttering about? You get it?"

“Uh, uh,” the local guy frowned. "He says they've sinned, and the mountain god's done protecting them-now it's punishing

them."

"They sure have sinned! Killed so many of our innocent folks-they should've died ages ago!" Hilltop City soldier nodded sagely, then shook his head. "But wait, no- the general's wife set off something to blast the mountain open. What's that got to do with a mountain god?"

The local soldier scratched his cheek. "He's just babbling nonsense."

"The general's wife's gotta be a fairy from the heavens, not the mountains!" said the Hilltop soldier.

"You're right." The local soldier nodded.

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everyone thought that was way too few, urging him not to underestimate the enemy. Everyone knew attacking was tougher than

boom later, those barbarians turned to jelly- scared out of their wits. The first wave that stumbled out running got picked off easy by the soldiers waiting outside, no fight in them. The rest

were meeker than sheep

ranks-Nyx even tried to shut it down herself, but it got her more worshippers, even the maids and old ladies

now, plus Pale Wolf's fighting chops, she'd make a solid rebel leader. But the guy on

all she had to do was say it-the little cat would roll right into her lap, begging to step down and be her pet. They were all family-Nyx

rebel streak, and neither did Erik. But

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Chapter 406

deputies down to Kellingtown merchants and gentry. all sending their wives and daughters

for glory, others loyal to the crown, ready to dash off a secret report to

a poker face but sorted them all out in her head, jotting them down in

to the Emperor

to Hilltop City, she squeezed in some sightseeing around Kellingtown. No photos, so she sketched a few quick drawings and grabbed some local

jealousy jar by

palace tributes. So Nyx poked around the wild instead- skipping risky mushrooms but picking flowers and plants no

potted a few others. They were simple but

flower crown, and the palace cat

a few days, Nyx got restless, wanting to stretch out more. One night, on a whim, she poked Erik's rock-hard arm

and the word "ride. Suddenly wide

up? Like before the

red-too bad it was dark, no lights, and Nyx couldn't see a thing. She didn't sense the danger. "Sitting

thinking Pale Wolf forgot she could handle a horse. She reached out,

closer to beasts. Feeling that soft touch on his chest, Erik's dark eyes glinted like a wolf's. His

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like this. She fed the home beasts plenty, didn't starve