"Believe me, with my phoenix, I can do the same. Not to mention our Emperor—he might as well vaporise such a zone with a single charged attack. And the shockwave would travel far greater than that."

Brant clicked his tongue, exhaling through his nose.

"Fine, fine. At least we get to pretend we're doing something for the common people."

"Now you're talking," Lu said flatly. "We're killing more than 150,000 of our youths just for an experiment. We have no right to talk about their safety."

"Well, we have no choice," Brant said, his tone turning sombre. "We need to decrease the power saturation cap of our race so stronger individuals are born quicker."

"Or," Lu added, almost mockingly, "we just capture more territory and increase the saturation bar of our existence itself."

"Don't joke," Brant snapped, slamming his palm against the desk. The sharp crack echoed through the room. "Is your brain already caught up with your body? If that were easy, we might as well capture the whole Skadrial back—but we can't."

"King-tier beasts pop up every now and then like street dogs, declaring parts of land as their territory, then proceeding to destroy any cities that fall under them, which further allows the saturation ceiling of beasts to go higher, making more space for high-ranked beasts to pop up. If I say humans are in the worst situation of all, I mean it. At least the Elves' saturation cap keeps growing—they have a large continent spawned in one place, making it easier to swallow nearby territories and expand safely, while still deploying adequate forces when attacked."

His voice slowed, frustration simmering beneath it.

"But humans… our disintegrated territories."

Brant trailed off, thoughts colliding in his mind.

"I mean, we have made some progress consolidating territory, but not much. The one advantage we do have is the reproduction rate. How much was it? In just the last century, we increased by around two billion. It's thanks to people like you having such great vitality—after all, even an old timer like you has six kids—kuhum."

Lu stopped himself, clearing his throat before abruptly changing the subject.

"Anyway, why don't we just blow up some crowded cities and blame it on the demons? We need to decrease the saturation level anyway. One inner city population houses nearly a million people, and some core cities even reach fifty million."

"I know it's hard on the heart, but we're already killing so man—"

Brant cut him off.

"That's not how the law works. If we kill our own by ourselves, that portion of the power bar simply disappears. People need to die by other means—beasts, natural causes, or other races. The world doesn't support mutual destruction."

"Then allow them to be razed by beast attacks?" Lu interrupted again.

"We need our people to feel safe under the Emperor's rule," Brant shot back. "Otherwise, you know humans—it won't take long before ignorant people start forming multiple small kingdoms and empires. Eventually, that will lead to the eradication of our race due to power disintegration."

"Then why don't we let demons kill them for real?" Lu asked.

A vein pulsed on Brant's temple.

"Old fart, get out of your hole and use the benefits of being a Commander(5-star)," Brant snapped. "Even I, as a 4-star, know this. Being killed under the influence of a demonic aura is the same as being killed for nothing. It doesn't reduce our race's power saturation meter at all—their share just gets deleted from humanity and directly benefits the demons instead."

Lu's veins bulged along his temples as he lifted his head, forcing himself to meet Brant's gaze head-on.

"Fucking dustbag," Lu snarled. "Don't think I don't know you keep sucking the feet of the Aurelius Beast Academy's Principal just to get fed scraps of information. Or do you actually believe someone wearing a four-star badge could dig up things like this on their own?" His voice sharpened further. "Especially when you go around hiding your real strength."

He leaned forward, eyes burning. "Forget that— even information about the World Dragon should be restricted to Kings. Don't go blabbering about this anywhere. If I hear a single rumor traced back to you, I'll personally turn you into the ash you resemble."

Brant scoffed, unfazed.

"What did you say, asshole? Sucking the Principal's feet?" He sneered. "I only suck my wife's. Not like you—running around, oogling every pretty face you see." He tilted his head mockingly. "What was it they used to call you again? Pyro Pervert? I've got to say, it suits you. Really captures your personality."

Lu's face flushed a furious red as the humiliating nickname resurfaced—one he'd earned in more than a few core cities thanks to his lecherous reputation.

"So," Lu growled, teeth grinding, "your time's finally up, huh? Let me grant your wish and send you back into the soil."

As he spoke, his palms began to glow, a dull crimson light bleeding through the air as heat rippled outward.

Brant responded instantly. Water surged around his body, swirling in tight currents, the moisture in the room answering his call. Then—

Both forces vanished.

The pressure snapped away as quickly as it had formed. The two men stood locked in place, jaws clenched, neither willing to escalate further. Their strengths were too evenly matched. If they truly fought, Thalor City would be reduced to rubble long before either of them fell.

"Tsk." Lu clicked his tongue in irritation.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he shifted gears. "By the way, what are you planning this time to earn the Principal's favor?" he asked casually. "I heard you've been eyeing that emerging couple."

"Hmph." Brant snorted. "Why should I tell you anything?"

"Heh. Didn't the boy die?" Lu said, feigning indifference. "I'll admit, he was ridiculously promising—scoring that high while still under thirty. Promising isn't even the right word. He might've been a once-in-a-generation prodigy." His lips curled. "But what good is talent when you're dead?"

"He's not dead," Brant replied flatly. "I got it confirmed."

"Confirmed by who?" Lu shot back. "Don't tell me you bribed the mage in charge of metal plates to declare him dead, just to divert attention."

"Why would I do that, you idiot?" Brant said. "I got the confirmation from the girl herself."

Lu blinked. "From the girl? How?"

This time, Brant smirked.

"How should I put it… ah, right." He chuckled softly. "How could a lecherous bastard like you—who jumps at every woman he sees—figure it out? Soul bond. That's how she knew."

Lu's eyes widened.

"Soul bond?!" he barked. "Don't joke with me. I may be old, but I'm not senile."

"Suit yourself," Brant said dismissively, already turning away.

"Wait—seriously?" Lu muttered, half to himself. "What the hell… is that even possible in this day and age?"

Brant didn't answer. His footsteps faded as he exited.

---

—Colossus Back—

"AHAHAHAHA—!"

Leo threw both arms wide, laughing freely as the wind rushed past him, filling his lungs, brushing against his skin.

"This is so fucking peak."

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