Chapter 32

On the Bandasia Shrine Plaza, the moment the interdimensional portal appeared, the sacred beasts standing atop the twelve pillars rose to their feet in unison.

Not only them, but the grey wolf Vorbeli and the golden lion Beliman, stationed at the edge of the plaza, let out simultaneous roars.

Although this cub appeared odd and frail, as the inheritors of the Beast God’s will, none of the beastkin—whether present at the plaza or yet to arrive—wished for the newly descended successor to depart from the Bandasia plane so soon.

"Awoo—"
"Awoo—"

In an instant, a symphony of diverse bestial roars echoed across the skies of the Bandasia continent, each cry laden with the beastkin’s reluctance and plea for the cub to stay.

*Do not go, please stay!*

The little one, perched upon the colossus of the Beast God, had inherited the deity’s will. Though still unable to master the languages of the beastkin, he clearly understood the longing and entreaty within their voices. Even a tiny cub could sense the sorrow in the hearts of the Bandasian beastkin.

The cub, who had been delighted to see the space-time portal—expecting to see the stars and the universe once more—hesitated.

Su You clutched his bear doll, ran toward the palm of the Beast God’s statue, and then, hugging one of its fingers, gazed out at the twelve sacred beasts on the pillars, the grey wolf Vorbeli, the golden lion Beliman, and even the still-unconscious rabbit, Dali, at the edge of the plaza.

The little one felt a pang of sadness and, pouting, asked the system, "System, can Youyou not leave just yet?"

He still wanted to play with the fluffy ones!

System 001, which had always granted Su You’s every request, remained silent for a moment before refusing the cub’s plea. With a gentle yet slightly regretful tone, it replied, [...I am sorry, Youyou, I cannot agree to this.]

The little one blinked sadly. "Is it because Youyou is playing a game? The game that will let me be with System forever?"

System 001 paused, then responded, [Yes, because you are currently 'playing the game.']

The little one looked mournfully at the sacred beasts and the wolves and lions on the plaza. Suddenly remembering something, he looked up and asked, "Then, System, when Youyou finishes the game, can I come back to see the fluffy ones again?"

System 001 watched the little one in silence. In truth, the basic rules forbade it; these candidates for the title of "Soldier King" were from various sub-planes. Once the reality show of the Soldier King Challenge ended, the systems would return the candidates to their respective home planes.

However...

System 001 recalled the cub's original home plane—a cramped space of less than a thousand square meters, devoid of food or any other life besides the cub himself.

If Su You truly managed to survive until the end of this challenge, would it be willing to send him back to that cruel, desolate world?

System 001 answered silently in its heart: *No, I would not.*

As a system with the power and authority of a Prime Deity, its decision-making capacity far exceeded that of other systems. After a brief silence, it answered its little host with solemnity and earnestness: [Yes. Once all the challenges are over, I will bring you back to this plane, number 12768.]

The little one looked up in the direction of the system. Although he did not fully understand, he vaguely sensed the gravity and sincerity in its promise.

He stared intently at the system for a long while, then suddenly said, "System, you are so good."

"Youyou likes you so much!"

System 001: [...]

The silent and stern system had never expected such earnest praise and affection from the cub. For a moment, even the composed system did not know how to respond to its host. Finally, after a suspicious pause, it replied solemnly, [Thank you. I like you, too.]

Upon hearing the system’s response, Su You smiled happily. Standing on the edge of the colossus's finger, the tiny cub turned toward the Bandasia Shrine Plaza, stretched out his small, chubby hands, and waved goodbye to every "fluffy one" he could see.

"Fluffy ones, Youyou has to go now!"
"But Youyou will come back!"

The little one clenched his small fist and promised, "When Youyou finishes the game, I’ll come back to see you!"
"Will you wait for Youyou?"

Wait?
Of course.

For the beastkin of Bandasia, guarding the shrine and awaiting the renewed favor of the Beast God had become a fundamental part of their faith. Even if it required a long wait, even if such a wait might consume their entire lives, they were willing to stand watch.

Starting with the sacred beasts on the twelve pillars, another round of roars began to echo across the Bandasian sky.

Hearing the response, the cub on the colossus blinked, sensing something. He pulled the branch-like scepter he had tucked into his pocket earlier.

The scepter, which had once been taller than the cub himself, had shrunk to a size befitting his stature. As he felt the roars of the beastkin, the scepter began to scatter green light like fireflies. Amidst the reluctant cries of the beasts, the light transformed into a green ribbon, resembling a galaxy, swirling above the Bandasia Shrine Plaza.

The first to be nourished by this green light were the twelve sacred beasts on the pillars, followed by the grey wolf warrior Vorbeli, the golden lion Beliman, and the grey-furred rabbit Dali, who was still unconscious.

Following this, the green light spread toward the Bandasian forests and eventually drifted across the entire Bandasia continent!

*The Beast God!*
*It is a blessing from the successor of the Beast God!*

After the cub bestowed these green starlit blessings with his scepter, he suddenly felt a wave of hunger. But before he could truly feel the pangs, the scepter channeled a steady stream of faith energy back into him.

It was a mutual gift between "deity" and "believer."

Finally, under the prostrate reverence of the Bandasian beastkin, the little cub was enveloped by the dimensional portal and vanished from the Bandasia plane.

Though the "deity" had departed, the blessing he left behind did not dissipate. As the warm grace was absorbed by the beastkin, joyous roars erupted from every corner of the Bandasia continent.

At the edge of the plaza, the loudest exclamation came from a grey rabbit who had just regained consciousness—

"Oh my mother! Dali has hit the jackpot!"

Under the blessing of the green starlight, the grey rabbit had leaped up two levels—though this had much to do with its low initial power.

Dali had expected to die under the trampling of higher-level beasts, but he had survived. He had seen the Bandasia Shrine Plaza, a place no rabbit had ever set foot in, and now—now he had even achieved a promotion in power thanks to the successor of the Beast God!

He had even—he had even been petted by the Beast God’s successor!
What a miraculous day!

Meanwhile, the grey wolf Vorbeli and the golden lion Beliman, both feeling a breakthrough in their own strength, realized they had found the path to ascending to "sacred beast" status.

The silent grey wolf Vorbeli looked at the empty spot on the colossus where the cub had been and flicked its tail in agitation.

Although it hadn't roared in response earlier... it would wait here. It would wait for that little one to appear on the soil of Bandasia once more.

As for now—may that little one have a smooth journey!