Bastards Ascension: A Playground of Gods
Chapter 71: Dealing with intruders

Chapter 71: Dealing with intruders

Castan stood abruptly from his seat as a blazing golden-yellow light flared outside the castle window.

A cruel smile crept onto his face as he stared at the brilliant flames—flames that dragged him back to that year.

The year when everything changed.

"Alexa... you made a mistake coming back," he muttered, his grin widening, eyes gleaming with a dangerous, almost manic glint.

But then—he felt it.

A sharp sting shot through his chest.

He coughed into his hand, and when he pulled it back, his breath caught.

Red.

A smear of blood stained his palm.

His eyes widened in sudden realization.

’That bitch...’ he thought, fury flashing in his gaze.

’She killed Amaya!’

His connection with his beast had been severed.

And he knew exactly who it was—Amaya. One of his most cherished beasts.

He had never sent her on dangerous missions. Not because she was weak, but because he had a soft spot for her.

She wasn’t his most powerful summon—far from it—but she had been the first beast he ever tamed.

Their bond had grown over the years. But as time passed, Amaya slowly dropped in rank among his companions.

While still skilled and competent, her strength no longer matched the level he needed to keep pushing forward.

Still, he relied on her for reconnaissance and transport. Her unique teleportation magic made her invaluable in certain situations.

Now she was gone.

Rage burned in his eyes as the realization sank in—Amaya had been killed. And not just by anyone, but by the very beast who had once refused to bind with him.

The same beast who had mocked his strength during his sealing ceremony.

Alexa.

The name alone made his jaw clench.

She was arrogant. Overbearingly prideful. And he hated her for it.

But deep down, he couldn’t deny her strength.

In truth, she had been his greatest source of motivation.

The reason he pushed himself to his limits, obsessed with power.

After his father’s death, Castan had challenged his older brother in a brutal death match. He won. And in doing so, claimed the title of King of the Elves.

He had traveled across realms, taming beasts of immense power, strengthening his forces—yet he could never seal Alexa.

She had fled after aligning herself with the man responsible for his father’s death. Together, they trapped the beast elves within this forsaken realm, locking Castan in with them.

Now, his growth had hit a ceiling. He was limited to the beasts he already possessed, with no access to the outside world to expand his strength.

And it was all because of her.

Alexa.

The beast who had once defied him... had now destroyed the one thing he still held dear.

Castan watched as the last traces of the golden flame faded into the night. His eyes burned—not with fear, but with fury.

Then, slowly, a wicked smile crept across his face.

’It’s a good thing I prepared for this day,’ he thought to himself, shutting his eyes for a moment.

When he opened them again, he stood in another place entirely.

A space devoid of light.

The air here was thick—oppressive. Suffocating to most.

But to Castan, it was familiar. Comfortable.

He stood in the heart of the darkness, motionless for a beat as he surveyed the realm.

With a swift motion, he wiped the blood from the corner of his lips.

"Bestia Venire," he said, his voice calm and unwavering.

From the shadows, four pale-blue flames sparked to life.

They hovered in the air, casting an ethereal glow that pushed back the darkness in flickering pulses.

And then, behind the dancing flames, a figure began to take shape—first like mist, then gradually solidifying.

She stepped forward.

It was a girl—or something resembling one. But one look was all it took to know: this being was no human.

She emerged like a wraith stepping from the veil, her presence both elegant and imposing.

She wore a sleek, high-cut bodysuit of black and sapphire, clinging to her body like liquid shadow. Silver-blue patterns curled along her thighs and hips, reminiscent of foxfire frozen mid-dance. Flowing silk sleeves trailed from her arms like ceremonial ribbons, each one embroidered with faint, glowing runes.

From just above her lower back, three long, elegant tails swayed in rhythm—each tipped in shimmering azure.

Her silver-white hair cascaded down to her waist, adorned with crystal pins shaped like blooming frostflowers. Her foxlike eyes, sharp and icy, held a calm expression—neither hostile nor warm. It was the gaze of a predator disguised in royalty.

But the moment her gaze fell on Castan, everything changed.

"Lord Castan!!" she squealed, her voice suddenly filled with emotion.

She darted forward, her three tails fanning behind her.

"Please—I don’t want to be here again!" she cried, clinging to his arm like a child begging not to be sent to her room. "I want to come home!"

Her small fangs peeked from the corners of her mouth as her lips trembled.

Despite her ethereal beauty and regal presence, she now looked fragile—eyes shimmering with tears, face scrunched in pleading desperation.

It was almost enough to forget the overwhelming aura she had just exuded.

Almost.

"Mavira, you lazy fox... Tsk. You barely even try to bring down the gate, and now you’re whining again about going home just so you can sleep all day," a sharp voice snapped, echoing from the darkness.

Another figure emerged—her steps fierce, her presence fiery.

Her face was framed by a short snout, and long whiskers twitched with agitation. Though she walked on two legs in a mostly human form, her beastly features remained unmistakable. Her hands were still paws, tipped with razor-sharp claws that glinted faintly in the dim light.

She looked like a lioness in human form.

She walked with purpose, every movement graceful and controlled, unlike Mavira’s dramatic entrance. She didn’t throw herself at Castan. Instead, she stopped a few paces away, lowered herself onto one knee, and bowed her head with honor.

"Lord Castan, your faithful beast greets you," she said firmly, her voice filled with respect and strength.

Mavira scoffed from the side, narrowing her glowing eyes.

’I’ll get you after this, Kara,’ she grumbled via telepathic link, vanishing from Castan’s side and reappearing beside her rival. She dropped to her knees as well, mimicking Kara’s pose.

She didn’t want to anger Castan—especially now.

Kara didn’t even glance her way.

"You say that every time," she responded telepathically, amusement laced in her tone. "And yet... here we are. Hehehe."

Mavira clenched her jaw in frustration but remained silent.

Castan looked down at both of them with a calm, unreadable gaze. His voice, when it came, was low and icy.

"Mavira... it seems you’ve grown a bit too comfortable during your time away."

His golden eyes sharpened, their glow pulsing faintly with warning.

Mavira trembled under Castan’s intense gaze.

"I-It’s not true, Lord Castan! I’ve been doing my work, I swear!" she cried out, jolting upright and locking eyes with him, her voice desperate, her eyes glistening. "Kara’s just trying to get me in trouble! She wants you to punish me—she’s trying to manipulate you!"

Kara’s brow twitched, a visible vein pulsing on her forehead.

’This sly fox...’ she thought with rising fury.

"Manipulate him? You’re the one lying through your sharp little teeth!" Kara snapped, rising to her feet, her voice booming through the dark chamber. "How dare you accuse me of what you’re clearly doing?!"

"Am I lying?!" Mavira fired back, not backing down for a second.

The tension exploded between them, both shouting over each other in a flurry of accusations, growls, and sharp words.

Castan let out a long, tired sigh.

"Quiet, both of you."

His voice was calm—too calm—but it cut through the noise like a blade. Instantly, the two beasts snapped back into kneeling submission, heads lowered.

"What’s the status of the gate?" he asked evenly.

Kara rose slightly, swallowing hard before speaking.

"We’ve been using our strongest abilities to tear it open... but each time we manage to force a gap, it seals itself shut again—stronger than before," she said, her voice laced with concern. "It’s as though it’s adapting."

She braced herself for Castan’s reaction—but to her surprise, he remained still and composed.

’Just as I expected,’ Castan thought grimly. ’He used the Hell Gate Seal. That damned gate can’t be opened, not unless we use a god artifact... but he took my father’s spear when he left. The only one that could’ve done the job.’

A flicker of rage flashed in his eyes, but he quickly reined it in. He ran a hand through his golden hair, steadying himself.

’Still... if she found a way back here, then there must be a way out too.’

His gaze shifted back to Mavira and Kara.

"Mavira. Kara."

"Yes, Lord Castan," they responded in unison, lifting their eyes to him.

"Return to the castle," he ordered coolly. "We’ll have intruders to deal with... very soon."