Chapter 173: The Constellations Who Stayed: Part 1

Ten years had passed since the invasion of Double X’s world, and while some of the Constellations had eventually returned to their original worlds, others had decided to remain in this unfamiliar land. After all, there were plenty of reasons to stay, ranging from the vast territories available for expansion to the opportunities that the conquered world presented, and for several of these powerful beings, returning home simply wasn’t worth the trouble.

Among those who chose to stay was the Beast Emperor, Estoa.

"Ah, this is the life!"

Estoa leaned comfortably against the back of his enormous mount, casually biting into a red apple as the giant beast carried him across the vast grasslands.

The creature beneath him was a King Beast, a monstrous existence whose massive body could easily crush ordinary creatures beneath its feet, yet it moved with surprising gentleness whenever its master was riding on its back.

The wind swept across the grasslands, carrying the scent of fresh vegetation and distant rivers. From his elevated position, Estoa could see herds of beasts roaming across the plains, their silhouettes occasionally disappearing behind the rolling hills that stretched toward the horizon.

"This world is much better than I expected," Estoa remarked, taking another bite of his apple. "Back in my original world, traveling between continents was such a hassle, especially when you had to cross the ocean for days just to reach another piece of land. Here, I can travel across enormous territories without having to worry about getting stuck on some miserable island in the middle of nowhere!"

The King Beast responded with a deep roar that shook the surrounding grasslands.

"Hahaha! Exactly!"

Estoa laughed, seemingly understanding the meaning behind the creature’s response despite its inability to speak. He patted the beast’s enormous head before throwing the apple core into the distance, where it landed harmlessly among the grass.

"Although, I wonder what the others are doing right now."

His gaze shifted toward the distant mountains, where several enormous structures had been established over the past decade. Each of the Constellations who had chosen to remain had their own reasons for doing so, and Estoa was curious to see how they had adapted to their new surroundings.

Perhaps he would visit them later.

For now, however, he had no intention of abandoning his comfortable journey across the grasslands.

Far away from the Beast Emperor’s territory, a magnificent kingdom stood upon the slopes of a towering mountain.

Its enormous walls followed the natural contours of the mountain, while countless buildings had been constructed across the ridges and elevated plateaus. Grand staircases connected the different sections of the settlement, and several towers rose above the clouds, their white stone surfaces gleaming beneath the sunlight.

This was the kingdom established by the Sky Devourer.

Unlike the Beast Emperor, who preferred roaming across the vast grasslands, the Sky Devourer had chosen to build a permanent home for herself and her followers. The mountain offered an excellent defensive position, while its elevated terrain provided plenty of space for the griffon race to establish their nests and settlements.

However, the most remarkable feature of the kingdom wasn’t its architecture.

It was the creatures living within it.

Griffons soared across the sky, their enormous wings casting shadows over the buildings below. Some carried supplies between the mountain’s different settlements, while others perched upon the towers, observing the surrounding territories with their sharp eyes.

For the goblins living beneath their rule, the griffons were extraordinary creatures.

"Look at them! They’re so cool!"

Several young goblins stood beside a stone railing, watching a griffon glide effortlessly through the air. Its wings spread wide as it circled the mountain before landing gracefully upon a nearby platform, barely making a sound despite its enormous size.

"I wish I could fly like that!"

"Then grow wings!"

"Do you think it’s that easy?!"

The young goblins immediately began arguing, their voices growing louder as they imagined themselves soaring through the clouds. Some even started attaching feathers to their arms, attempting to imitate the griffons they admired so much.

Of course, their attempts were utterly useless.

Nevertheless, their fascination didn’t disappear.

Over the following years, several goblin craftsmen had begun experimenting with artificial wings, hoping to create equipment that would allow them to glide or even fly through the air. Their earliest attempts were crude, consisting of wooden frames and stretched fabric, but the goblins continued improving their designs with each failure.

After all, if the griffons could fly, why couldn’t they?

At least, that was how the young goblins saw it.

Meanwhile, the Sky Devourer stood upon a balcony overlooking the magnificent kingdom, watching as several griffons landed upon the nearby platforms. Her servants remained behind her, patiently awaiting her instructions while she examined the settlement she had established.

"In this world, we don’t have to worry about other creatures ruling the skies," she remarked.

One of her servants lowered his head.

"Indeed, Your Majesty. The mountain provides us with an excellent position, and our aerial forces can monitor the surrounding territories without much difficulty."

The Sky Devourer nodded.

Back in her original world, the skies had never truly belonged to her people. Powerful dragons and other aerial creatures had constantly challenged their dominance, forcing the griffons to fight countless battles just to preserve their territories.

Even when they managed to secure a victory, another threat would eventually emerge from beyond the horizon.

But here, things were different.

The conquered world offered an opportunity to establish a kingdom without facing the same endless struggles, and the Sky Devourer had no intention of wasting it.

"Continue expanding the kingdom," she ordered. "I want our territory to become even more prosperous over the next decade."

"As you command."

She turned her gaze toward the distant horizon, where the clouds drifted peacefully around the mountain peaks.

For the first time in a long while, she could enjoy the sight of the sky without immediately searching for an enemy hiding within it.

DISCORD IN DESCRIPTION!