The Family's Future Is in Your Hands!

At dusk.

The clouds on the horizon burned like fire.

The ground was littered with the corpses of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of demonic beasts. The beast tide that had lasted several days was over.

Li Qi flew through the air atop his shield, lowering his head to look at the people in the defensive zone below. It's finally over.

Compared with the surrounding defensive zones, the one he was stationed in had suffered very few casualties. Only several people had died in the beast tide, thanks to his constant rescues.

All of them had fallen on the first day of the beast tide, when the demonic beasts had been at their most numerous and the fighting at its fiercest.

"After several days of intense battle, it's time to reap the rewards."

Looking at the demonic beast corpses before the first defensive line, Li Qi murmured softly.

Those demonic beast corpses were valuable materials for weaker tribes. In particular, Apprentice Level Nine demonic beast corpses were difficult to obtain under normal circumstances. Only after a beast tide could they be acquired in large quantities.

"Twelve! Thirteen!"

Li Qi called his two younger brothers and headed back to the family. They had no intention of taking part in the upcoming distribution of materials.

They performed well in this beast tide. Once they complete their first Beast Tide Trial, they'll be considered adults and qualified to receive names of their own.

On the way back, Li Qi looked at his two exhausted younger brothers and felt greatly comforted.

These two younger brothers had average Martial Artist talent within the family, with physical abilities at Apprentice Level Six.

Someone like Li Qi, who could suppress Planetary Level demonic beasts while still at the Apprentice Level, had never existed in the Ross Family before. He was a special case.

Especially after obtaining the Sky-Breaking Sword, he had killed two Planetary Level demonic beasts during the beast tide. Even Planetary Level Martial Artists might not have achieved such results.

After returning to the family, his two younger brothers first underwent physical examinations before their parents took them home. After washing up, they would consume Purple Orange Fruit and fall asleep to restore their condition and heal any hidden injuries they might have sustained.

"Eleven! Well done!" Garibuel came to Li Qi's side and praised him. "Twelve and Thirteen are only physically exhausted. They aren't injured."

"I think Eleven protected Twelve and Thirteen too well!" Derrick walked over. "This first Beast Tide Trial may not necessarily be a good thing for Twelve and Thirteen."

"How is that not a good thing?" Huo Lu, the eldest father, also arrived. "I think Eleven did nothing wrong.

"Not every child has Little One and Eleven's talent and strength. Seventh, your way of thinking is too extreme."

Huo Lu looked at Derrick and sighed inwardly. Seventh's personality is too stubborn. Perhaps that is why he influenced Eleven...

Hearing this, Derrick shook his head slightly and said nothing more before turning and leaving.

Watching his father's departing back, Li Qi also felt that his father's way of teaching had problems.

For example, he had been made to serve on patrol while still at the Apprentice Level. He had heard that his father had once brought his eldest brother to the grasslands to fight carnivorous demonic beasts.

"Eleven, your father admires your second father the most." Huo Lu patted Li Qi on the shoulder. "He believes that only by letting you witness the cruelty of the grasslands can you become true powerhouses and change Kuka Planet's current state in the future."

"Change Kuka Planet's current state?" Li Qi was puzzled.

"Yes, change Kuka Planet's current state." Huo Lu said wistfully, "That is what Second wants to do."

Li Qi was confused. Second Father wants to change Kuka Planet's current state? Why?

"Enough, don't think too much about it. Go back and take a proper bath." Huo Lu slapped Li Qi on the back and joked with a smile, "I can already smell you. You stink!"

"Huh?"

Driven away with that slap, Li Qi raised his hand and sniffed himself. He did smell a little.

After returning home and washing up, the somewhat hungry Li Qi went to the family dining tent. He had barely taken a few bites when he heard his eldest father's voice.

"All adult family members, meeting!"

After swallowing the food in his mouth, he headed toward the family's main tent.

All the adults currently in the family were there. Twelve and Thirteen, who should have fallen asleep after completing their first Beast Tide Trial, were there as well.

The moment Li Qi entered the spacious main tent, he sensed that something was wrong.

The three people at the end of the tent all stood frozen, sorrow evident on their faces.

"Let everyone watch a recording." Grandfather Royce gestured to his eldest son, Huo Lu, beside him.

Huo Lu stepped forward several paces and activated a projection from the communicator on his wrist.

A light screen appeared, and with it came a handsome face stained with blood!

"Big Brother!"

Seeing that familiar face, Li Qi's heart clenched with a terrible sense of foreboding!

"I am Ailik Ron Royce. If you find this recording, please pass it on to my family."

The moment Ailik spoke in the recording, everyone watching felt their hearts tighten!

The image shook, and only part of a bloodstained garment appeared on the light screen. Ailik was placing the communicator recording the image at a distance.

As Ailik stepped aside, a woman lying on the ground appeared on the screen, covered by a pink blanket.

She had a delicate, beautiful face, but her complexion was pale and bloodless. Only the trace of blood at the corner of her mouth marred her beauty.

She lay there quietly like a sleeping beauty, making one reluctant to wake her.

"Daya!"

Looking at the beautiful woman lying quietly on the ground, Li Qi remembered her name.

Why did Daya end up like this?

From what he could see, Daya was probably...

Ailik stepped back into the light screen and carefully gathered Daya, who lay on the ground, into his arms.

"The United Training Camp was attacked by a beast horde led by several Stellar Level demonic beasts. At their head was a Stellar Level demonic beast with a domain!"

Ailik spoke from within the light screen, his tone lifeless.

Li Qi was stunned. Several Stellar Level demonic beasts! And one with a domain! How is that possible?

The United Training Camp was located at the core of the grasslands, where mid- and high-level Planetary Level demonic beasts roamed. Demonic beasts that had only recently entered the Planetary Level generally operated in the inner region.

At regular intervals, the United Training Camp would conduct trial missions, allowing the students training there to hunt Planetary Level demonic beasts in teams!

With such systematic hunting, even if Stellar Level demonic beasts were born, there should be at most one or two.

How could several Stellar Level demonic beasts appear, with one of them even comprehending a domain!

Ailik's voice came again. "Daya is dead. Like the other companions, she died in the demonic beasts' attack.

"Many instructors fled. Only a few remain fighting the Stellar Level demonic beasts. They won't hold out for long..."

Boom!

Before he could finish, a tremendous explosion sounded from the light screen.

Ailik turned his head to glance at it, then continued speaking toward the screen. "For a time, I deeply hated Father!

"I hated him for refusing to flee in the face of a Universe Level opponent, for insisting on staying when there was clearly no hope..."

He lowered his head and gently stroked his lover's hair in his arms, his tone bitter yet relieved. "Now, I understand."

Roar!

A demonic beast's roar sounded.

Ailik ignored it, his words filled with apology. "I'm sorry, Grandfather! Seventh Father!

"And all of you, my family! I have failed your expectations."

He carefully laid down the lover in his arms, as though afraid that even the slightest movement would wake her.

Clang!

Ailik stood up, reached beyond the frame, and pulled out a greatsword before turning and resting it on his shoulder.

With the greatsword on his shoulder and his back to everyone, only half of his bloodstained face was visible. "I am going to do something! Something worth risking my life for!"

After giving Daya one final tender look, fiery red light began to spread from the front of his body, rapidly extending like flames until it covered him completely!

Boom!

Like exploding flames, the fiery red light spread outward from Ailik, instantly engulfing the entire room!

The air twisted within the fiery red radiance. Every object was scorched by the intense heat, and wisps of green smoke rose.

Before the fiery red light consumed the room, Ailik's final words reached everyone's ears!

"Eleven! The family's future is in your hands!"

The first volume ends tomorrow.