The Psychopathic Beast Emperor-Chapter 71: Outer Sect Disciples of the Shadow Fang Sect

Elder Hakar let the noise burn itself out... He stood there with his staff grounded against the stone, the hieroglyphs along his arms dim but watchful, until the courtyard slowly remembered where it was and who stood before it. One by one, voices died, breaths steadied, and eyes lifted to look at him.

Only then did he speak.

"Silence."

The word landed like a seal.

"You have all witnessed the ranking," Elder Hakar said evenly. "But rankings alone do not determine one’s future in the Shadow Fang Sect."

He raised his staff hand, and the projection above then shifted, names sliding aside, forming new columns marked with ancient sigils.

"Because of the outstanding performance of this batch," he continued, "the Elders have reached a rare consensus."

A ripple of tension moved through the participants.

"Those who failed at the first trial yet still remain within the sect’s grounds will be accepted as Outer Sect Disciples. They will receive standard resources, standard training, and no backing... unless proven worthy of such."

A sharp divide was drawn with a single sentence.

"Those who passed the Trial of Survival," Elder Hakar went on, "will be eligible for direct selection by the Elders of the Shadow Fang Sect... and will become direct disciples, though they are still outer disciples."

This time, the reaction was not noise. It was a shock.

Exildra’s knees nearly buckled. She had passed. It was at this moment that it hit her. She had really done something great. This was just the beginning of what she was going to do!

Gabi’s pupils dilated, his scales shimmering after he heard the declaration. He had come here, thinking that he would fail at the first trial, but he shocked even himself. Not only did he pass the first trial, but he also moved on to the second, the third, and even came up as the seventh-ranked participant out of eleven participants.

That was a huge feat for someone like him.

Lily’s tail flicked sharply behind her at the declaration, but the only thoughts in her mind were, ’Let me get chosen by the same elder as Bahamut!’

Unfortunately for her, it wasn’t possible.

Sel remained still, like he saw it coming.

Bahamut tilted his head, listening carefully, already sensing the subtle shifts in aura gathering at the edges of the courtyard.

Elder Hakar’s gaze swept over them.

"There are exceptions," he said.

The hieroglyphs flared, changing to form some names.

"Bahamut and Sel."

Every eye snapped to the blindfolded boy and the elf.

"By the decree of the Chief Elder, both will be placed under Elder Silvia."

Up in a tall building in the courtyard, where all the elders had gathered, Silvia’s blue robes stirred slightly as she inclined her head once, antennae glowing faintly. Her gaze lingered on Bahamut a second longer than necessary... measuring, calculating, and curious.

Murmurs broke out again back in the courtyard, but were quickly silenced by Elder Hakar’s raised hand.

"Now... the remaining selections."

The projection rearranged itself, names floating free once more.

"Exildra."

Exildra stiffened when her name was projected and announced. Her eyes instinctively moved towards Bahamut.

They were going to be separated...

"You will be taken in by Elder Iset."

Exildra could only nod her head and smile wryly. It wasn’t like she wouldn’t be seeing Bahamut. They would just be under different masters... right?

"Gabi."

Gabi stepped forward instinctively.

"You are selected by Elder Baset."

From behind, Gabi felt himself exposed bare before something more dangerous than the beasts he faced in the trial. In an instant, his scales hardened, while he let out a low growl.

"HAHAHAHA! I chose right!" A loud laugh broke the sudden silence, making everyone instinctively turn towards the source. Seated on a statue close to the seating area was a beastkin man in robes, laughing like he was watching a circus.

"You reacted like a prey that refuses to die! That is just perfect!" Elder Baset exclaimed bluntly, his yellowish bestial eyes glowing as he spoke.

Gabi swallowed, then bowed deeply. Elder Baset just smiled at this while his eyes travelled towards the blindfolded boy, who seemed to be staring at him. The boy was smiling like a predator who had met a fellow predator, causing Elder Baset to smile back at him.

’The Chief Elder’s intuition is terrifying! This boy is a monster!’ Inwardly, Elder Baset was shocked. Except for Elder Hakar, everyone here was reacting in a different way to his aura. Even Sel’s face was pale, but Bahamut was just smiling back at him.

If that wasn’t a monstrous reaction, then he would be blind not to see it!

"Lily." Elder Hakar just went on with his job, ignoring the staring contest between the two beasts... that’s what he thought. Elder Baset and Bahamut were somehow alike. They would have been a great pair, to be honest, but...

"Lily, you will be under Elder Derek."

Lily didn’t react. She just nodded absent-mindedly, her gaze on Bahamut, and especially on Exildra.

"Aerith."

Aerith straightened sharply.

"You will be taken by Elder Tankuht."

Aerith bowed, his fists clenched in determination.

’I will surpass Bahamut!’

"Rex. You are selected by Elder Frugo."

Rex nodded solemnly to the information.

"Yuka and Yuko."

The twin wolfkins stiffened together, their gazes sharp.

"You will be taken jointly by Elder Anutach.""

They felt a sharp gaze on their bodies, which made them stiffen like they’d been frozen in time. They could swear they saw a jackal’s smile!

Elder Hakar then let the final names settle.

"Wilson and Aria."

"You will be under Elder Caron. The rest of the elders chose not to select disciples, so you two will be under one elder," Elder Hakar said, his voice neutral.

Aria lowered her head, her fingers trembling. She felt a bit disappointed, but at least she got chosen by an elder.

Wilson, on the other hand, exhaled slowly, accepting it. All he wanted was to be recognized and maybe have a duel with Bahamut, to see how he would fare against him.

After all, Bahamut reminded him of his friend. He was also blind, but talented, and was brought into the sect without even a test or a trial. He got direct access due to the recommendation of the girl in a veil.

Wilson would never forget how happy he felt that day. He had promised to get into the sect by all means, and he had succeeded. Soon, he would meet his friend, but he had to be recognized first.

"It is decided," Elder Hakar concluded. "From this moment onward, your paths diverge."

The courtyard felt different after the declaration.

Lines had been drawn, fates anchored. Inner sect disciples, sent by the elders, arrived to take in the new direct disciples to their residences.

Elder Silvia had accepted ranks one and two, two formidable individuals in their own right.

The Shadow Fang Sect would see a change that had never been seen before since the establishment of the sect!

...

In a room, far from the courtyard, two people sat, drinking tea. One was in golden robes with long blonde hair and blue eyes that gave him an angelic presence. The other wore only dark clothes with long black hair that fell to his waist. Even his eyes were covered by his hair.

Elder Derek and Elder Caron.

"What are you up to, Derek? This is a first," Elder Caron inquired in confusion at his friend’s actions.

"You mean the girl?" Elder Derek asked with a smile.

"Yes. Why did you choose her?"

"I wanted the blind boy. He reminds me of my lovely Ren. I was preparing Ren for my next advancement, but he had to go and die. I wanted Bahamut or whatever he calls himself, but he was given to Silvia, so I chose the fox."

"But, how would she help you? Don’t you feel disgusted at women?"

"Don’t you realize it? Foxes and elves share certain similarities, especially the females. Once they set their eyes on a man they want, nothing would stop them from getting that man! Didn’t you see how the fox looked at the boy?"

"So you plan to get him by using the girl?"

"Exactly! Isn’t it perfect?" Elder Derek smiled menacingly, showing the kind of devil he was.

"And how sure are you that you would win? The boy is unhinged..." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"You are thinking too much, Caron. The boy is a beast. And beasts are mindless. Look at how he saved the elf of his own accord. It will be the same way with the fox. He will come to save her..."

"And what of her background? She’s dangerous."

"Oh? The Kuramas? Don’t worry about it. Nothing will happen. She’s the first Kurama I’ve seen after a hundred years, ever since the Fox Queen, Empress Kitsune, banished them. They are weak.

If they were as powerful as they were five hundred years ago, do you think she would come to this sect?"

...

A/N:

Wishing you a Happy Val’s Day. Spread the love around, and spread some to me, too!

Hehehe...