Naturalization

He struggled to spit out two words, his face already deathly pale.

Bitterness filled his heart. He had already fallen to such a state, yet he had still encountered a fourth-tier powerhouse. How unfairly heaven treated him!

The other Catfolk warriors beside him stood with their mouths agape, staring blankly at the cloud of fire in the sky before looking at Zhou Yu, who seemed like a Fire God descending upon the world. Their entire bodies trembled violently.

Mize's expression was cold as he raised his head high and looked at the Catfolk leader, his voice turning even colder. "Catfolk! You should understand why I have said so much to you! My lord is a supreme existence beyond compare. Submitting to my lord is your highest honor! What are you still hesitating for? Must we slaughter every one of you before you are willing?!"

At this moment, not only were the Catfolk warriors standing atop the gatehouse present, but the other Catfolk Great Swordsman had arrived as well.

All the other Catfolk swordsmen already understood what had happened. A fourth-tier powerhouse had come attacking!

Hearing Mize's voice, cold as a sword and brimming with killing intent, they exchanged glances. Their eyes were filled with horror and fear.

Although the fourth and third tiers were separated by only one major realm, the difference in their strength was more than tenfold. That was why fourth-tier creatures could name themselves, while third-tier ones could not.

This was not merely a difference in quantity, but a difference in quality.

"Big Brother! Fight them! So what if he's a fourth-tier Grand Mage!"

A burly second-tier Catfolk swordsman atop the gatehouse roared loudly. His face had turned red, and his gaze toward Mize burned with fury, his fur standing on end.

"That's right! Chief, didn't you lead us out of the kingdom so we would no longer live like beasts of burden and suffer endless humiliation?"

Another second-tier Catfolk warrior stepped forward, rage blazing in his eyes as he looked at the chief and growled hoarsely.

"Stop arguing! We'll do whatever the chief says!"

The Third-Tier Great Swordsman who had initially confronted Mize and the others stepped forward and shouted impatiently. His gaze was cold, like blades of ice that cut into those around him.

"That's right, listen to the chief!"

The many second-tier warriors nodded vigorously, their gazes toward Miuo filled with determination and trust.

Seeing the fearless expressions of his brothers and sisters, all prepared to live and die together, the Catfolk chief suddenly let out a long sigh and bowed deeply to them.

"Chief! What are you doing?!"

Everyone was shocked and hurriedly moved aside, not daring to accept such a grand gesture.

"My brothers and sisters, your trust in me fills me with shame!"

The chief's powerful body trembled slightly, his eyes reddening. If he had been alone, then even if he could not win, what would be wrong with fighting to the death?

But he was not alone!

Behind him were more than a thousand clansmen who had followed him across mountains and rivers, enduring countless hardships to reach this place!

He suddenly turned around, determination in his eyes as he shouted, "Open the gates!"

Watching the gates of the Catfolk camp slowly open and a group of Catfolk approach from afar, Avilan revealed a faint smile. A hundred second-tier swordsmen and two Third-Tier Great Swordsmen.

Though they were far inferior to the Horned Demon troops, they would be quite useful for maintaining order in the South District.

"My lord, we are all wanted by the Munk Kingdom deep within Messiah Forest. Aren't you afraid of being implicated by recruiting us?"

The Catfolk chief stood several yards from Mize. After glancing at the terrifyingly imposing Zhou Yu, he spoke in a deep voice, neither servile nor overbearing.

Avilan's expression did not change. He had already guessed as much. A Third-Tier Great Swordsman was considered a powerful figure in the area. Was there any need for one to become a bandit nearby?

And besides, he was merely a third-tier swordsman. How powerful could the ones pursuing him possibly be?

Furthermore, Despair Fortress would soon grow vastly stronger. Avilan was also very interested in the Munk Kingdom deep within the Messiah Great Forest.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.

"Hmph. From today onward, Despair Fortress calls the shots here. Whoever comes, dies!"

Zhou Yu spoke calmly, her bright eyes meeting the Catfolk chief's directly.

The Catfolk chief exchanged glances with several clansmen beside him, then immediately dropped to one knee and clasped his fists deeply. "The Catfolk pay respects to you, my lord!"

Seeing them kneel, Zhou Yu hurriedly stepped aside and revealed Avilan behind her.

Seeing them kneel, Zhou Yu hurriedly stepped aside and revealed Avilan behind her.

"This is the one you should pledge loyalty to—the great and supreme Lord Avilan."

Avilan stood there without moving, yet to the Catfolk before him, he seemed like a divine mountain towering into the clouds, impossibly lofty and beyond reach.

After only a brief moment of shock, the Catfolk chief knelt and bowed.

Although Lord Avilan had not used any power, he gave the Catfolk chief a terrifying feeling of utter despair.

He should be able to protect them. This was probably the greatest blessing they had received since escaping.

"We pay respects to Lord Avilan!"

The hundred second-tier swordsmen behind him followed suit and knelt. Though unwilling, the chief had made his decision, and they would certainly obey!

Clearly, they did not possess the Catfolk chief's sensitivity to danger.

"Good! All of you, get up. Pack your things. In half an hour, we return to Despair Fortress!"

Avilan smiled faintly. With all the Catfolk joining them, Despair Fortress's shortage of manpower was immediately resolved.

"Catfolk chief, step forward."

As all the Catfolk packed up their camp and prepared to relocate, Avilan suddenly called out.

Hearing this, the Catfolk chief immediately ran over and dropped to one knee.

The first time was unfamiliar; the second time came naturally.

Kneeling the first time might have been difficult, but kneeling a second time did not feel nearly as hard.

"This subordinate pays respects to the supreme lord."

"Mm. In the name of Avilan, Lord of Despair Fortress, I grant you a name. From this day onward, you shall be called Miuo."

The Catfolk chief froze instinctively and raised his head. Powerful demonic essence surged into his body from all directions, filling him with indescribable comfort.

"Miuo thanks the supreme lord."

This time, Miuo prostrated himself completely upon the ground and offered Avilan the highest form of respect. He then slowly crawled to Avilan's combat boots and kissed them.

"Work hard."

After saying that casually, Avilan waved his hand and left the remaining matters to Zhou Yu. He himself swaggered back to the tent.

The reason he had personally bestowed the name was that Zhou Yu had told him that naming these low-tier foreign races would not only grant them power, but also allow him to control them. Should they dare harbor betrayal, a single thought would strip them of all their power, including the power they originally possessed.

As for the remaining Ogres, Avilan's order was to leave no prisoners. So many Ogres should be enough for him to summon a batch of Horned Demons!

Half an hour later, nearly three thousand elderly, weak, women, and children of the Catfolk, filled with fear and unease, followed their former chief—now Chief Miuo—toward Despair Fortress. They had no idea what fate awaited them.