"Take care of her for me."
A blue-haired boy, Rocky, said in an even voice, giving an order to his old butler, who quickly nodded in hopelessness and sadness.
"I swear I'll protect the little lady at any cost."
He trusted that old man. After all, he regarded him as his second father—the one who had raised them ever since they were born into this world.
Then he glanced at his little sister. His eyes filled with anxiety as he gently stroked her head, trying to ease her worry and fear.
"You gotta obey Cole, understand?"
The little girl, Ida, who shared a face similar to her brother's, held his hand tightly, shivering, and looked up at him with tearful eyes.
"Brother… Can you go with me?"
Rocky met Ida's pleading gaze, his heart heavy with heartbreak and bitterness. He slowly pulled her into a warm embrace, holding her tight before speaking in a trembling voice.
"I can't."
Rage stained his mind as he remembered those bastards who had pushed them into a corner.
The Branch Clan.
Everything had begun one year ago—the day their parents sacrificed themselves in the final battle against the Pride Demon King.
They died like heroes of this world, and all the world was grateful to them. Everyone admired them and their clan.
The Stephens Clan, one of the three great clans in the world.
Yet the consequences of their deaths came swiftly. The bastards who had been waiting for this moment—the moment the clan leaders died—finally made their move.
They began to bare the fangs they had hidden while his parents were alive. Vicious, sly snakes, concealing their ambitions deep within their hearts.
Therefore, his parents had made no preparations for such a thing… no, he could tell they never believed their deaths would come.
The Branch Clan slowly devoured everyone who had once supported his parents, using money and power. All of them turned out to be traitors.
Finally, this day came—the main branch of the clan was about to collapse.
"Woof! Woof!"
His eyes gleamed sharply as he heard Jack's warning bark. He glanced at Cole and nodded.
Cole nodded back in understanding. They had discussed this before. He wouldn't allow Ida to do anything foolish in case they tried to use Rocky as a hostage.
"Go!"
"Brother!" Ida screamed in desperation as the old butler restrained her and forced her to run.
Rocky let out a sigh before forcing himself to turn back. His gaze was sharp and lifeless as he stared into the distance.
Ida would be fine. After all, he had sent her to the Fletcher Clan—also one of the three great clans.
Rocky's friend would protect her. Still, unfortunately, his friend's parents didn't want to interfere in the troubles of another great clan. So after many attempts and connections, they only agreed to shelter Ida.
She was still young and naive, not a threat to the Branch Clan. They could protect her for a time, even if the branch tried to kill her.
However, he and his big sister weren't that lucky.
They would be erased.
"Grrr…" Rocky's Shiba growled as people began to approach. Before long, the dog enlarged itself to three meters tall, every line of muscle bulging beneath its gilded armor.
Its maw stretched wide, revealing long, sharp fangs, ready to tear the enemy to pieces. Not only that, its armor began to emit an aura of threat far greater than any ordinary one.
A Knight Shiba, level 20.
That was his clan's unique innate ability—an ability that allowed him to craft empowered armor from the void for his beast… an ability no normal clan could possess.
He scowled as four young men emerged from the shadows.
Joe Stephens.
Shawn Stephens.
Jeff Stephens.
Cuthbert Stephens.
Shawn and Cuthbert weren't a problem—he could handle them easily. But Jeff was.
He was the second son of that fucking traitorous clan leader.
"Tch, looks like his sister got away… Should I chase her, young master?" Joe said to Jeff, glancing at Rocky from the corner of his eye.
Jeff said nothing. He merely stared at Rocky's Shiba with cold eyes before raising a hand.
"I want that dog's head. It'll make a beautiful mounted trophy for my collection."
He didn't care about Rocky's little sister. What he cared about was the first son of the main clan.
Humiliating him by killing his beast would be a great achievement. That son of the main clan was nothing but useless trash.
Cuthbert, Joe, and Shawn smiled maniacally as they summoned their beast.
A wolf, a lion, and a hyena—levels 18, 19, and 22. All of them wore silver armor, nothing like the gilded armor on Rocky's Shiba.
Stephens Clan's innate abilities were split into four tiers:
Diamond armor
Gilded armor
Silver armor
Bronze armor
His father had been one in a hundred centuries, the only one to ever forge diamond armor. That was why his father had stood at the peak of mankind… until he died.
Everyone had expected him to be the next one to possess such an ability, yet unfortunately, he could only forge gilded armor.
Even though it was impressive compared to the average, for him, it was deeply disappointing. Still, to deal with those summons, it wasn't a big problem.
With gilded armor, his Shiba had the power to take on three beasts of the same level.
Then a mocking, pompous voice echoed.
"It's such a disgrace."
In the blink of an eye, a streak of light flashed from nowhere. Rocky's Shiba collapsed lifelessly, its severed head rolling to Jeff's feet.
"A diamond armor?" Rocky muttered.
Jeff smirked and nodded.
"That's right."
Then he glanced at his underlings.
"Cuthbert, Joe, drag him to me. And Shawn—skin that dog. It'll make a warm shirt."
"Yes, sir. His beast's dead, from now on he's just an ordinary human… no, just a piece of shit."
Soon, Cuthbert and Joe began to attack Rocky.
Despite struggling to fight back, Rocky had no chance against the summoner's absolute power.
Five minutes later, Joe and Cuthbert dragged Rocky's battered body toward Jeff.
Jeff glanced at Rocky's bruised body with full scorn. He had waited a long time for this day—the moment he could reveal his true potential, proving he was a hundred times greater than trash from the main Clan.
He smirked as he brutalized Rocky.
''You should know your place… useless trash. Your fucking parents were a bunch of worthless fools, kind for nothing. They were stupid to show such things to everyone.''
Then he delivered a heavy kick to Rocky, as if he were nothing more than a pile of rags.
''But thanks to their kindness, the branch Clan has such an opportunity today.''
Ting!
Ting!
Jeff suddenly smiled and slowly took a snail out of his pocket—a communication snail used in this world. Through it, signals could be sent between paired snails across hundreds of kilometers.
''Found her?'' Jeff asked.
''Yes, young master. I've seen her.''
Jeff chuckled, looking down at Rocky, who clearly understood what the snail had said.
''You hear that? I'll capture your pretty sister and send her to a brothel. I want her to become a bitch.''
However, his expression twisted in pain as he felt Rocky's enraged grip clamp around his ankle.
''Get your dirty hands off my precious body!'' Jeff screamed, kicking Rocky away and sending him tumbling like a broken puppet.
''Let him suffer in pain,'' Jeff ordered his underlings.
''Yes, sir!'' The three underlings nodded at the same time. They, along with their beasts, slowly approached Rocky to torment him.
Their beasts fought to maul Rocky, as if three children were fighting over a toy, each pulling at a different part.
Meanwhile, Joe, Shawn, and Cuthbert relentlessly delivered punches and kicks to Rocky, barking with joy and satisfaction.
''Hahaha! You trash!''
''This is the taste of punching the main Clan!''
''This is so funny.''
Jeff nodded in contentment, but once again, the snail rang. He clicked his tongue and pressed the snail's head.
''Don't kill the son of the main Clan. We already have a deal.''
Jeff frowned.
''What? Are you kidding me? Why must we stop?''
''Just stop. It's your father's command.''
Jeff sighed and glanced at Rocky. Indeed, he couldn't go against his father's orders, but it wasn't a big deal.
He didn't care much about useless trash. A genius like him—why would he need to bully trash to feel satisfied?
''Stop. Don't kill him.'' He commanded his underlings coldly.
Ting!
Ting!
''Again? What's wrong now?'' Jeff grumbled.
''We failed to capture the third daughter of the main Clan. The Fletcher Clan has been protecting her.''
Jeff scowled as the relentless bad news piled up.
''Fine. It's not a big deal. Return to the Clan.''