Interstellar Beast World: All My Husbands Are Powerful and Rich!-Chapter 39: Anything but ordinary

"These beasts were all brought down by Rory," Jasper said smoothly, his voice carrying that infuriating, polished confidence that made Dax’s eye twitch. "There’s no sense letting good resources rot in the dirt."

He turned his gaze deliberately toward Dax, the faintest curl of arrogance at the corner of his mouth.

"Dax, why don’t you help clean them up? You’re one of Rory’s suitors too, aren’t you? Surely you wouldn’t refuse her a little assistance."

Dax’s jaw clenched so tightly his teeth nearly ground together. The sound was sharp enough that Rory caught it even from where she was cradled in Jasper’s arms. She also caught the unmistakable glint of smug satisfaction in Jasper’s eyes.

He’s doing this on purpose again, she thought, torn between irritation and reluctant amusement. She wanted to scold him, truly—but compared to Dax’s constant maneuvering and silent competitions, her so-called "obedient" serpent was dangerously hard to resist.

Peeking out from Jasper’s embrace, Rory raised her voice.

"Dax, I’ll leave the carcasses to you. Once they’re processed and sold, I’ll split the profits with you fifty–fifty."

Dax’s fox tail twitched sharply.

Wonderful, he thought bitterly. She’s siding with the snake again.

Not only did Jasper get to carry her around like some prized treasure, now Dax was stuck doing all the backbreaking cleanup. Fantastic. Truly.

Fine. Let the smug reptile enjoy it while he could.

Starting a fight with another male in front of the huntress—or worse, outright ignoring her directive—wasn’t just foolish. It was suicidal.

Dax forced a tight, polite smile, his voice steady despite the fire burning in his chest.

"Serving the Female Master is my honor," he said carefully. "But if I stay behind to process the beasts... who will protect her?"

Rory answered with a gentle smile that cut deeper than any blade.

"It’s alright," she said softly. "Jasper is with me."

That one hurt.

Dax’s tail lashed once behind him before he brought it under control.

"You’re right," he replied through clenched restraint. "Jasper does have the advantage. He’s better suited to keep you safe."

Damn it, Jasper thought with a flicker of admiration. This fox can act. Almost convincingly, too.

He subtly shifted his stance, blocking Rory’s line of sight to Dax entirely.

"Since you’ve admitted it yourself," Jasper said pleasantly, "and acknowledged that I’m the better protector, you should get started."

His tone was polite—impeccable, even—but the hint of a grin beneath it made Dax’s fists twitch at his sides.

Then Jasper turned back to Rory, his voice immediately gentler.

"Rory, let’s find a few more level five beasts. Staying sharp is important."

Before she could respond, he gathered her close. His tail flicked once, and the world blurred as they vanished in a streak of dark-purple light.

A sly fox trying to outplay me? Jasper mused coldly. Not a chance.

He carried her straight into another pack of level five beasts, carefully regulating his aura—never overwhelming the field, always releasing just enough pressure to match her current limits.

Watching her fight stirred something fierce inside him.

Pride. Awe. A quiet, growing reverence.

By the time Dax finished processing the last pile of carcasses, another heap landed nearby with a heavy thud.

"Rory just took these down," Jasper called without even looking back. "Process them. Quickly."

Dax’s lip twitched.

This snake is unbelievable.

Jasper’s tail carved a glowing boundary into the earth, sealing off the area where Rory fought. His aura pressed against the air like charged static. Even someone at Rank Eight like Dax couldn’t force his way through that barrier.

Trapped outside the invisible wall, Dax shot the battlefield a furious glare before returning to his grim work, the distant sounds of Rory’s combat echoing in his ears. Each time she felled another beast, Jasper flicked the corpse toward Dax with casual precision, never once turning his head.

The horde stretched for miles, but the bulk of it was claimed by Gina’s squad and the Interstellar Hunter Alliance. The level five beasts, however, belonged entirely to Rory.

She fought like a living tempest.

Water rippled endlessly beneath her boots. Lightning split the air with deafening cracks. The scent of ozone clung thick and sharp around her. When it finally ended, nearly fifty beasts lay scattered at her feet.

Then her strength gave out.

Rory dropped to her knees, skin pale, body trembling.

Jasper was there instantly. His tail wrapped around her waist, steady and secure, easing her back against him as the chaos of the battlefield faded into a distant hum.

Two Level Four beast cores gleamed at his hip. He removed them and offered them silently.

Ordinarily, a Rank Four Etherian could only absorb energy from same-rank cores.

But Rory was anything but ordinary.

She shook her head and reached into her storage band instead, pulling out a glowing Level Five beast core.

"A Level Four core isn’t enough anymore."

Jasper’s brows knit together sharply.

"Wait—Rory," he said slowly. "You’re still Rank Four... aren’t you?"

He’d questioned it from the start. How could someone like him—a peak Rank Nine—be paired with someone supposedly so far below?

The truth slammed into place.

No chance she’s only Rank Four.

"I’m Rank Four," Rory replied calmly.

The Level Five core shimmered across her fingers as she absorbed its energy, the glow pulsing in time with her heartbeat. When it stabilized, she straightened from Jasper’s hold, retrieved another core, and continued without hesitation.

"It’s probably because of my dual abilities," she explained. "I’ve always needed stronger cores to recharge. That’s why I can fight above my rank."

Jasper’s pupils narrowed to thin slits.

"You can absorb two Level Five beast cores at once?"

Rory nodded lightly.

"Yeah. Two is just enough to refill me."

Silence stretched between them, thick with disbelief.

That shouldn’t be possible.

His voice lowered, concern threading through it.

"Rory... after taking in that much energy, do you feel strange? Dizzy? Unstable?"

Female Etherians with dual abilities were nearly extinct. Jasper had met only two in his entire life—and neither had ever done anything remotely like this.

Absorbing beast cores above one’s rank was unheard of. Absorbing two at once bordered on myth.

For most Etherians, even half of a same-rank core pushed dangerous limits.

"I’m fine," Rory said evenly. "I’ve always been this way."

Jasper placed a hand over hers, letting his energy sweep through her system, searching for any imbalance.

Only when he found none did the tension finally ease from his shoulders.

"This stays between us," he said quietly. "And our other mates. No one else can know."

"I know," Rory replied without hesitation.

She meant it.

She’d never shared this truth with anyone before. Jasper was the only one she trusted enough to speak it aloud, certain he would never weaponize it against her.

Her strength returned quickly, though her limbs still felt heavy. After a moment’s consideration, Rory decided to pause the hunt—for now.