Interstellar Beast World: All My Husbands Are Powerful and Rich!-Chapter 36: No one gets left behind

Rory stared down at the small vial resting in her palm, then slowly lifted her gaze to the tall Rank Seven male Etherian standing before her. For a brief moment, her thoughts completely stalled, as if her mind had short-circuited.

Her brows drew together in confusion.

"Why would your leader send you to protect me?" she asked bluntly. "I don’t even know anyone from the Interstellar Hunter Alliance."

The man answered without hesitation, his tone calm and respectful.

"Our leader is Jasper Lachman," he said. "He is your suitor."

Rory blinked.

Once.

Twice.

"Jasper...?" she echoed faintly.

For a heartbeat, the words didn’t register. Then they hit her all at once.

Jasper—leader of the Interstellar Hunter Alliance?

Gina’s jaw dropped as if she’d just seen a ghost walk out of the forest.

At the same time, a cold, sinking weight settled deep in Dax’s gut.

Oh. Perfect. Just perfect.

If Dax remembered correctly—and he always did—the leader of the Interstellar Hunter Alliance hailed from the Violet Obsidian bloodline, an elite Ophidian clan. They were one of the most influential forces in the outer territories. A massive portion of Starlight Prime Tech’s beast meat, energy cores, and rare herbs flowed straight through their hands.

Seriously, Jasper? Dax thought grimly. You couldn’t mention that tiny little detail—that you’re an Ophidian powerhouse? Way to bury the headline.

Now that Rory understood the Alliance team wasn’t a threat, she dropped all pretense of courtesy. Her composure snapped into sharp focus.

"This isn’t the place to talk," she said quickly. "It’s too dangerous out here. We’re going inside that cave—now."

There was no time for debate.

She grabbed Dax’s arm and broke into a run, pulling him with her as the others followed close behind. Thirty exhausting minutes later, they crammed themselves shoulder to shoulder inside a narrow, damp cave carved deep into the mountainside.

The ground outside shuddered violently.

Each tremor was stronger than the last.

The beast tide was almost on top of them.

Rory moved fast. She withdrew the two vials provided by the Interstellar Hunter Alliance, along with her own Rank Eight scent-masking potion. Without hesitation, she applied several drops to every person present—then scattered more near the cave entrance, carefully obscuring their trail.

She didn’t just protect herself. She didn’t just protect Gina.

She protected everyone.

"We came here together," Rory said firmly, her voice steady despite the thunderous rumbling outside. "So we survive together. No one gets left behind."

Gina’s mate and the three Alliance members froze.

They had already prepared themselves for the worst. Protecting a female—especially a huntress—was etched into their instincts, their code, their very bones. None of them had expected Rory to use such precious resources on them.

Neither had Dax.

He glanced at her silently.

She had held onto his hand the entire sprint up the mountain—her grip tight, unwavering, never once loosening even when the ground shook beneath their feet. Not once had she considered letting go.

Gina’s eyes shimmered with tears. She squeezed her partner’s hand and spoke with quiet conviction.

"She’s right. We stick together."

Her mate swallowed hard. Gina had always treated her mates like family—and now Rory had done the same.

The Rank Seven Alliance male broke the silence.

"We’ll make it," he said. "Mr. Mandian sent word. He’s already on his way. Peak Rank Nine."

Dax exhaled slowly.

That guy moves fast, he thought. Guess Jasper doesn’t waste time.

He tightened his hold on Rory’s hand and murmured close to her ear,

"Female Master, I’ve got you. I won’t let anything happen to you."

If Jasper doesn’t make it in time, he added silently, then to hell with hiding. I’ll show them exactly who I am.

Rory had protected him every step of the way. There was no chance—none—that he would let her fall for his sake.

Rory nodded, her expression calm despite the danger pressing in from all sides.

"I trust Jasper," she said. "And I trust you."

Even as she spoke, her mind continued to calculate.

A level eight beast doesn’t mean certain death, she reasoned. With all of us combined—and the equipment I have—we might survive.

Five years of surviving alone had carved one truth into her bones: never rely completely on anyone else.

Jasper might arrive too late.

Dax was strong—but Rank Five alone wasn’t enough against a monster like that.

So it’s on me, she thought grimly. Like always.

A thunderous roar tore through the air outside, shaking dust loose from the cave ceiling. Stones tumbled down the mountainside.

This was it.

The closest Rory had come to death since landing on this cursed planet.

One minute dragged by.

Then two.

Then five.

Then ten.

Suddenly, a roar so powerful it rattled her bones echoed through the mountain.

Dax reacted instantly, throwing himself in front of her, his body shielding hers completely.

Outside, a pack of Level Six beasts thundered past the cave entrance. Then the air itself seemed to rupture.

A crushing wave of energy slammed into the mountainside like a freight train.

No one moved.

No one even breathed.

So this... Rory thought numbly, is the power of a level eight beast.

The pressure rolled over the mountain again and again, as if the monster were sniffing the earth itself, searching.

Time stretched endlessly.

At last—after what felt like an eternity—the oppressive aura began to fade.

The level eight beast hadn’t found them.

Relief hit Rory so hard her legs gave out. She collapsed onto the cold stone floor.

"Female Master!" Dax was instantly at her side, panic flashing in his eyes.

"I’m fine," she said, forcing steady breaths. "My legs just... gave out."

She stayed still for a moment, willing her racing heart to slow.

Gina wasn’t doing much better. She clutched Rory’s hand with trembling fingers.

"Since my awakening," she whispered, "I’ve never been this close to dying."

Rory managed a tired smile. Her body was exhausted—but her mind remained sharp.

Dax handed her a potion. She drank it, then gently nodded for him to release her hand.

Gina’s Rank Seven mate rose to his feet, voice firm and controlled.

"I’ll take point. When I give the all-clear, you move."

He turned to Dax.

"You’re Rank Five. It’s too dangerous for you out there. I’ll handle it."

There was no insult in his words—only hard truth.

A Rank Five male Etherian stepping outside now would be courting death itself.