meat mixed with the heavy, musky scent of pheromones. The stone steps around the square were packed with

, draped in a stunning snow-leopard pelt,

tely swarmed by a group of burly wolf warrio

darkest, most remote corner of the square, pressing her back against a r

arrying game was met with shrieks and cheers from the females

ingling with the crowd. A few drunk, low-ranking males stum

agger sliding into her palm. The b

en dye on her face. He recoiled, spitting on the ground.

back into her sleeve, h

. "All hunting parties have returned," he announced.

opped. All parties

hispering nearby. "That genetic a

ells were decaying anyway. It's

d to pivot. She had to find the stupidest, most con

ee-for-all, a loud, agonizing creak echoed across the square.

antly. Every head turned toward t

nd of something massive bein

Half his face was painted red, his silver hair plastered to his forehead. His mi

agged with relief.

ehind him. It was a Blade Beast, three times the size of a normal one. Its thr

dragged it forward and let go, allowing the immense carcass to crash into the center of the

ssion froze. Even Chie

are, his voice a low, gravelly growl

Nobody t