Their motive was obvious—it had to be that Holy Element Ring!

"Hand over the Holy Element Ring, or you’ll regret it!"

As the man spoke, a flock of crows screeched under the blood moon.

Their twisted crimson light cast faint shadows over the Contract Beasts forming before the group.

"Hey, Yiyi… run now…"

I turned to see that girl staring at me, her face tight with worry.

Instinctively sensing danger, I shook my head slightly.

Leaning close to her ear, I whispered, "Um… Master, we’re being watched too…"

The moment I finished, a blood-curdling screech tore from the distant sky.

I snapped my head around—a massive shadow dove like a blade from heaven!

"Yiyi! Watch out!"

Just as I raised my hands to cast a defense spell, she yanked me behind her.

Chanting with intense magic, she cried, "By my life, I resist—Earth Barrier!"

Crash!

The shadow slammed into the solid earth wall.

Cracks spiderwebbed across it from the impact.

"Damn… run, Yiyi!"

She grunted under the force, her brows furrowing.

The Earth Barrier couldn’t hold—it shattered instantly.

The shadow streaked past us.

Missed… no…

"Isn’t this the Crown Princess without a Contract Beast? Oh… wait, the one with that useless Milo Beast." A mocking voice cut from behind us. "Hand over what you bought, or face the consequences!"

Instantly, I and Master… that girl spun around.

A man in a black robe glared at us.

The shadow landed on his shoulder with a sharp cry.

Now I saw its true form: Frostblood Cuckoo.

Though named cuckoo, it carried phoenix blood.

This vicious Contract Beast fed only on living heartblood.

Its thirst made it swift and savage.

"Hmph!" His words stung—not just her, but me too.

Calling me useless was bad enough. Mocking Master… that girl?

"Since you know who I am," she snapped, "aren’t you afraid of my guards?"

"Guards? Haha, Princess, you’re clueless. Look around."

She scanned the area wildly, her face darkening.

Of course—he knew her identity and still struck.

Her guards were surely already dealt with.

"Be smart, Princess. Life outweighs mere possessions."

She stepped back, pressing closer to me.

Life mattered, true. But surrender our hard-bought prize?

No help would come. The distant auction house stayed shut, minding its own business.

I almost suspected they planned this robbery.

"Just a measly cuckoo, not a Crimson Dragon…"

As I hesitated, her whisper reached only my ears:

"Yiyi, as my strongest Contract Beast, treat this as combat practice before the Throne Struggle.

Team up with me—we’ll crush this bastard who insulted us both.

Don’t worry, I’ve got a teleportation scroll.

Just beat this foul-mouthed jerk down.

And remember—don’t expose ourselves, okay~"