Interstellar Beast World: All My Husbands Are Powerful and Rich!-Chapter 47: Dark Shadow

Jasper’s usual gentleness was shattered completely.

The calm, restrained male who once spoke softly and smiled easily was gone, replaced by a terrifying fury that twisted his features into something dark and unrecognizable.

A violent, self-destructive madness burned behind his eyes, as though he were one breath away from tearing the entire forest apart with his bare hands. His black-violet irises were rimmed with a frightening crimson, veins standing out starkly as he glared at Dax.

"You’re right," Jasper said slowly, his voice low and fractured, each word carrying the weight of hatred and regret. "If my secret arts had completed faster, Rory would already be safe."

Dax stiffened. He hadn’t meant to push Jasper this far—never this far. He knew better than anyone how deeply Jasper cared for Rory, how that worry gnawed at him until reason itself began to unravel.

"Don’t do this," Dax said urgently, stepping forward despite the danger. "Don’t destroy yourself over this, Jasper. I know you want to protect the Female Master more than anyone else alive."

He forced himself to steady his breathing.

"Our beast marks are still intact," Dax continued. "That means the Female Master is alive—for now. She’s still safe."

Jasper’s fists trembled.

"This forest isn’t that large," Dax pressed on. "I’ve already summoned my people. Between them and your Interstellar Hunter Alliance team, we’ll find her. We will."

Dax was panicking too, but unlike Jasper, he clung desperately to logic. As long as the bond marks remained unbroken, Rory was still alive somewhere. That knowledge was the only thing keeping him upright.

Yet even so, the memory burned painfully in his mind—Rory standing alone against a Rank 11 Chitinid, bloodied but unyielding, screaming at him and Jasper to run. He had never seen a female willingly place herself between death and a male. The mixture of admiration and heartbreak nearly crushed his chest.

Before Dax could say another word, a purplish-black serpent tail lashed out with terrifying speed.

The blow struck him squarely, hurling him through the air. Dax barely had time to gasp before his body slammed into the ground, rolling violently before coming to a stop.

"Jasper, have you lost your mind?!" Dax shouted, shock and fury colliding as he looked up.

Jasper didn’t answer.

He lunged.

In an instant, Jasper had Dax pinned against a tree, one hand locked around his throat. His crimson eyes burned with unmistakable killing intent.

"I was wrong," Jasper snarled. "But you—hiding your rank and identity while getting close to Rory—you’re no better than I am!"

Dax clawed at Jasper’s wrist, struggling to breathe as the pressure tightened.

"I—I’m the Female Master’s suitor," he rasped. "If you kill me... she won’t forgive you when she comes back."

The words only made Jasper’s grip tighten further.

Spots bloomed in Dax’s vision. Just as darkness threatened to swallow him whole, Jasper suddenly released him and flung him aside like discarded trash.

"Pray," Jasper said coldly, towering over him, "that Rory is unharmed. If she’s been hurt, I swear—you will not escape the consequences."

Dax collapsed to the ground, clutching his throat as he struggled to breathe. He looked up weakly at Jasper, voice hoarse and broken.

"If she’s truly hurt... you won’t need to punish me," he said. "I’ll never forgive myself either."

***

Meanwhile, Rory guided her Gravicar out of the valley and back into the dense forest beyond.

The trees here grew thick and oppressive, their towering trunks blotting out most of the light. Unstable energy fields pulsed erratically through the area, interfering with technology and making it impossible to continue driving. With a sigh, Rory pulled over and retrieved the nauseated Burnt dumpling from the vehicle.

The moment she stored the Gravicar into her band, a sudden chill ran down her spine.

A black figure stood ahead.

Rory froze instantly, every instinct screaming danger.

Kather, clutched awkwardly at her waist, felt terribly dizzy. With his abilities suppressed and his senses dulled, he hadn’t noticed the figure at all. His stomach churned violently.

This female is a menace behind the wheel, he thought miserably. He had never encountered anyone who drove so disastrously. Even the soldiers under his command—who piloted warships and hurled comrades around during brutal drills—weren’t this bad. That battered old Gravicar looked like something manufactured two centuries ago. Was it seriously still operational?

Uncomfortable and disoriented, Kather shifted in Rory’s hand, hoping to crawl somewhere more stable—perhaps her shoulder.

Before he could move, Rory lightly tapped his head.

"Don’t move," she whispered. "There’s danger."

Her tone instantly sobered him. Though mildly offended by the tap, he obeyed.

Only then did Kather notice the black-clad figure ahead. Even from a distance and in the dim light, recognition hit him like a lightning strike.

Paros.

The mad lord of the Dragon Kind.

What in the stars was Paros doing in Veridan City instead of lounging arrogantly within the Dragon Palace?

Kather shrank deeper into Rory’s palm, heart pounding. He couldn’t allow Paros to notice him—not like this.

Rory, unable to identify the figure clearly, took a cautious step backward, attempting to retreat silently.

Too late.

The moment her foot moved, the figure vanished—and reappeared directly in front of her.

"Why were you running from me?" Paros asked, his sharp gaze sweeping over Rory from head to toe.

Before she could answer, he produced a pink healing potion and held it out to her.

"Good," he said coolly. "You’re not severely injured. Drink this."

"Paros?" Rory exclaimed, finally recognizing her familiar suitor. Relief washed over her, loosening the tension in her shoulders. She didn’t take the potion immediately. "What are you doing here? You were so far away earlier—I thought you were another Chitinid!"

She’d been terrified.

When she still didn’t reach for it, Paros uncapped the vial himself, gently lifting her chin and pouring the liquid down her throat.

Rory froze, completely speechless.

Meeting her blazing glare afterward, Paros awkwardly looked away, his voice dropping as he explained, "It’ll heal you faster. I’m leaving Veridan City soon, but before that... I need another mental comfort session."

"So you came all this way just for that?" Rory rolled her eyes. "Why didn’t you just say so?"

If he had, she would have taken the potion without hesitation.

The potion was incredibly potent. Within minutes, warmth flooded through Rory’s body as her injuries vanished completely.

Paros said nothing more.

What he didn’t say was the truth—that he had rushed here the moment his subordinates reported that Rory had encountered a Rank 11 Chitinid.