In Althea's personal dimension...

She and Muku's group appeared in what looked like a meeting room.

There was a huge table at the centre surrounded by chairs.

Everyone appeared beside the setting.

"Please, take a seat. I'll have my servants bring in some food. It's how you humans treat guests right?" Althea spoke while directing them to the chairs.

They all nodded and took their seats quietly.

"As we wait, can you tell us about what we just witnessed? That is if you don't mind" Muku spoke first.

"Straight to the point huh? I like it. And no, I don't mind. I did say I'd tell you about it after all" Althea replied in a jolly tone.

"Thank you very much" Muku thanked her before she said anything. It was so that she would be more willing to speak of course.

While he wouldn't completely go all out in bootylicking, he could do this much at least.

"Sure. So it's like this. You all came in through the abandoned zone... Well, let me go back a few thousands of years to a time when it wasn't like that. You see, there was a time when there was only one connection between the Beast World's lower and higher realms, which was that portal you came through. Back then, you could come through and choose whichever faction you wanted among the twelve rulers. But at some point, one clan got too powerful when too many beasts joined. The others didn't like that. So a fight broke out... Well, it was because the Monarchs allowed it otherwise it wouldn't have happened. In fact, they were behind the whole situation from the start by leading most beasts into one faction to see what would happen. After that, a civil war broke out easily. The twelve clans didn't like each other's existence anyway, so it wasn't hard" Althea began telling them the History behind everything. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

They were surprised by how she was really telling them but didn't say anything.

They figured Monarchs were fickle like that. Hell, even Mrs C who was beyond them was just as fickle if not more.

"Wait, why would the Monarchs do that?" Muku asked suddenly.

"I was about to get to that. Anyway, to answer your question, they were bored. They just like seeing the world burn I guess. And no, I wasn't part of the plan, I'm not that crazy... Don't look at me like you don't believe me. Killing off a few Monarchs because I was bored is completely different. After all, I didn't target weaker opponents. And fights amoung is are pretty common. I might have gone a bit too far, that's all" Althea defended herself even though no one accused her of anything.

She could practically taste the judgmental gazes so it was understandable that she would react like that.

"Okay. We believe you" Muku spoke just to appease her.

"Good. Now where was I? Right, after the fight, all of them lost many beasts and the Monarchs were appeased. But that place you came from was corrupted by all the ruthless killing to the point that any beast that went there would go crazy. So the Monarchs opened twelve other portals that led directly to the personal lands of the clans. Beasts are sent there based on their species and the process is automatic. Of course, it's unknown in the lower realm since there haven't been any chatterboxes from here in a long time. And on the other side, there's only one portal which separates internally so they have no way of knowing. It mostly doesn't affect them since they are sent where they would have likely chosen to go anyway. Of course, some who wanted to spice it up would be disappointed" Althea continued.

"Wait. We didn't feel anything when we could through though, did the effect disappear or something?" Muku asked curiously.

Technically, he was the only one who came through. But he wasn't going to say that. That would mean exposing the embryo, their only safe place at the moment if they play their cards right.

"That's simple actually. It doesn't affect humans. As for this dragon child here. I don't know why she isn't affected. Maybe she's an anomaly or something. Though it has declined over the years as well. But it's still strong enough for most" Althea explained.

"Okay. That's good. Now, you said that the R7s are sent over to where they would likely go... While that sounds fair. It doesn't eliminate the initial problem of one faction having too many members. In fact, it might make it worse. I wouldn't be surprised if one faction has at least twice the number of members the rest have at this point" Muku spoke.

"You're right. And it's not just one faction either. Out of the twelve factions, two have at least ten times the number of beasts compared to the others. But since everyone keeps it secret, no one knows who has what. They all think that they are the best, but none dare try anything because of the fear that they might be wrong. Such a mistake could lead to being wiped out completely if they expose weakness after all. Even the two strongest have no confidence in themselves. It's quite funny to watch honestly" Althea spoke with an amused expression on her face.

"Which are these twelve clans anyway?" Jade suddenly asked.

The way she did it didn't sound respectful at all. Muku's way was a lot more measured than hers. This made the others tense.

They realised that they probably should have covered this loudmouth's mouth a long time ago.

But it was too late now.

"Oh. I guess I didn't introduce them huh? Well, it goes like this, There's the Draconi, Tiga, Leoris, Taurus, Serpentine, Insectoid, Goatling, Lycan, Kitsune, Reptoid, Woodlings, and Orc-kind. There's a Monarch standing behind all of them too. But you don't need to know those useless fellows right? Though I feel like you have encountered at least one of them in some way..." Althea replied while looking directly at Jade.

She did seem offended but the way she looked at Jade seemed to have a hidden meaning they couldn't decipher.

"Okay. That makes sense. From that, I think it's obvious to everyone what is what. At least it seems obvious to me" Jade spoke while nodding her head.

The others nodded too. It was easy enough to figure out which species the clans leaned toward from the names alone. That is if it was by human standards, which it most likely was as the two groups seemed to be deeply linked.

"Oh? And I wanted to show you images of them too. Oh well, I guess if you understand it's okay" Althea spoke in a slightly disheartened tone as if she couldn't wait to show them images.

"It's fine to show us if you want. On another note, since the situation is like that, will the Monarchs not mess with them again?" Muku asked.

"Meh. I'm over it. It's funny you would ask that. It was the plan before the gate to the other world suddenly opened again. I mean, it requires the power of Monarchs to open, but that's only when we're allowed. Anyway, since they were given a new toy, they are now focusing on dealing with humans and see who can rule the world first through servants alone. If it's was for that, the internal massacre would have happened again a while back" Althea replied nonchalantly.

"What? How can they be so cruel to play with the lives of their subordinates like that? Those monsters" Emily suddenly cursed angrily.

While she was now willing to kill for her people and world, she was still against thoughtless killings. Especially if one's own is like this.

"Careful. I'm one of those monsters you speak of" Althea warned. Though there wasn't even a hint of anger on her face.

"Oh. Sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I misspoke" Emily immediately apologised.

"It's okay. I understand. I don't like what they do either. I'd rather we fight it out personally if we're bored. But they always say no ever since I killed those weak bastards from back then. Why did I have to be surrounded by such trash?" Althea lamented.

Muku's group couldn't help but smile wryly as they realised that she might not just be one of the strongest Monarchs but the strongest Monarch, period.

"Cough. I'm really sorry about that. But did you suggest that Monarchs do not have to attack our world but just do it because they are bored?" Muku asked, his fists tightening.

He was extremely angry inside. While the girls he grew to care about on a personal level had survived and thrived. He still lost most of his students and people he was familiar with from before the apocalypse.

So knowing that it was something that was done on a whim definitely made him angrier about it than he was before.

"Well, to a greater extent, yes. But that's not the only reason. We also need that planet to break through past our current limits. I mean, I'm the only one who has reached this limit but still. Maybe they are thinking ahead. I don't see the need though. We're already the strongest in existence. So why bother with getting more strength?" Althea replied.

Muku almost laughed at her misinformation. Did she really think they were the strongest?

Did she ask his mother's permission before deciding that?

Then again, it seemed Mrs C viewed Monarchs as ants unworthy to even know of her existence, so it was understandable that Althea thought the way she did.

"Ah. That makes sense" Muku spoke while trying to regain his wits and not do something dumb.

"Now enough of these one-sided questions. It's my turn to ask. Now you answer my questions. Tell me who is backing you. How did you get here? How are you so strong already and why does this one smell like that bastard Ares?" Althea suddenly asked many questions at once.

Muku's group was caught completely off guard. Especially by the last one.

What did she mean Jade smelled like Ares?...