Assimilation

He struggled to force 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-rank powerhouse. How unfairly the heavens treated him!

The other Catfolk warriors beside him stood with their mouths agape, staring blankly at the fire clouds 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 icy as he lifted his head high. Looking at the Catfolk chief, his voice turned several degrees colder. "Catfolk! You should understand why I have said so much! My master is an exalted supreme being. Submitting to my master is your highest honor! What are you still hesitating for? Must we slaughter every last one of you before you are willing?!"

At this moment, not only were the Catfolk warriors standing atop the gate tower present, but another Catfolk Greatswordsman had arrived as well.

All the other Catfolk swordsmen had already understood what was happening. A fourth-rank powerhouse had come to attack!

Hearing Mize's voice, cold as a sword and brimming with killing intent, they looked at one another. Their eyes were filled with horror and fear.

Although fourth rank and third rank were separated by only one major realm, the gap in power between them was not merely tenfold. That was why fourth-rank beings could name themselves, while third-rank ones could not.

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

"Big brother! Let's fight them! So what if he's a fourth-rank Grand Mage!"

On the gate tower, a burly second-rank Catfolk swordsman roared loudly. His face had flushed red, and as he glared at Mize, his eyes burned with rage, every hair standing on end.

"That's right! Chief, didn't you lead us out of the kingdom so we would no longer live like oxen and horses, suffering humiliation at every turn?"

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

"Stop arguing! Whatever the chief says, we'll do!"

The third-rank Greatswordsman who had initially confronted Mize and the others stepped out, barking impatiently. His gaze was icy, like blade after blade of ice, sharp enough to cut.

"That's right. We'll all listen to the chief!"

The many second-rank warriors nodded vigorously. Their gazes toward Miuo were filled with determination and trust.

Seeing the fearless expressions of his brothers, who were willing to live and die together, the Catfolk chief suddenly let out a long sigh and gave everyone a deep bow.

"Chief! What are you doing?!"

Everyone was alarmed and hurriedly moved aside, not daring to accept such a solemn bow.

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

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

But he was not alone!

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

He spun around abruptly, determination in his eyes, and shouted, "Open the gates!"

As Avilan watched the gates of the Catfolk camp slowly open and a group of Catfolk come out to greet them from afar, a faint smile appeared on his face. A hundred second-rank swordsmen and two third-rank Greatswordsmen.

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

"My lord, we are all targets of pursuit by the Munk Kingdom deep within the Messiah Forest. Are you not afraid of being implicated by recruiting us?"

Standing several yards away from Mize, the Catfolk chief glanced at the terrifying Zhou Yu and spoke in a steady voice, neither servile nor overbearing.

Avilan's expression did not change. He had already guessed as much. A third-rank Greatswordsman was considered a local powerhouse around here. Was there any need for one to become a bandit nearby?

He was merely a third-rank swordsman. How powerful could those pursuing him possibly be?

Besides, before long, Despair Fortress's strength would rise dramatically. 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 in a hundred battles.

"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 cupped his fists deeply. "The Catfolk pay respects to my lord!"

When Zhou Yu saw them kneel, she hurriedly stepped aside and revealed Avilan behind her.

When Zhou Yu saw them kneel, she hurriedly stepped aside and revealed Avilan behind her.

"This is the one you are to swear loyalty to—the great and exalted supreme Lord Avilan."

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

The Catfolk chief only froze for a moment before kneeling and paying his respects.

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

He should be able to protect them. This was likely the greatest piece of fortune they had encountered since escaping.

"We pay respects to Lord Avilan!"

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

Clearly, they did not possess the Catfolk chief's instinctive sense for 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 would immediately be resolved.

"Catfolk chief, step forward."

While all the Catfolk were packing up the camp and preparing to relocate, Avilan suddenly called out.

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

The first time was unfamiliar; the second came naturally.

Kneeling the first time might have been difficult, but the second time did not feel nearly so difficult.

"Your subordinate greets the exalted supreme lord."

"Mhm. In the name of Avilan, Lord of Despair Fortress, I bestow a name upon you. 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, making every part of him feel indescribably comfortable.

"Miuo thanks the exalted supreme lord."

This time, Miuo prostrated himself completely upon the ground, offering Avilan the highest salute. He then slowly crawled to Avilan's battle boots and kissed them.

"Work hard."

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

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

As for the remaining Ogres, Avilan's order was to leave no prisoners alive. That 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 did not know what fate awaited them.