(A/N: This title can link both to the novel and to me. I apologise for not giving much information on my disappearance, and honestly, I don't have much of an excuse for not posting. I had some irl problems at the start of my hiatus, but I got too lazy to hop back into writing this novel. This is mainly due to me having another 'secret' project and the fact that I was slowly falling out of love with this novel. It was meant to be a practice piece in the beginning anyway, but I have seen a few comments that inspired me to come back and not leave this on the backburner. I'm not promising you guys a schedule, but I will post a chapter every few days. I don't plan on making this a novel that exceeds 200 chapters, so the story is basically 50% completed. Once again, I apologise for my absence. Also, play the circle of life for this chapter ;)
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Raikou sped back to the others. They were camping out under a huge tree. The Buer Kingdom didn't employ the concept of hotels, so temporary visitors usually slept outside. It didn't seem to be an issue, because as beasts they preferred being out in the open.
His body began to change and with a few cracks, he was back in his normal form.
"What are you doing!?" Satella looked around in alarm. A human within these walls would cause an attack.
"I was being cautious because of the transcendents, but it seems I don't have to worry about those old bastards." He winked and scooped up Shimba. "Come, I will take you to meet someone." He ushered them all along and ran towards the castle.
Shimba looked up expectantly at Raikou's face while they ran. Raikou smiled at him and nodded his head. The cub seemed to understand what he meant and his eyes lit up.
They reached the castle gates and came to a halt.
"Mufasha! Come out!" Raikou inhaled and shouted as loud as he could. His shout brought the attention of everyone in the vicinity and their glares felt hot on his skin.
"It seems shouting their king's name without any honorifics or respect really doesn't sit well with them..." Ghost remarked.
At that moment, an overwhelming presence approached them.
"You're Shcar, right? Call your king out. Maybe if I say please, you will do it. Pretty please with a cherry on top. Will that do it?" Raikou laughed and held tightly onto Shimba. The cub was shivering with fear in the presence of Shcar. It almost confirmed who the perpetrator in his attempted murder was.
Shcar looked at the cub within Raikou's arms with a menacing light. He tried to hide his shock and anger, as he didn't want to bring attention to his involvement in the attack.
"How audacious. To call my older brother's name without respect, you must be executed. Who let a human through walls!" Shcar's deep voice resounded through the kingdom as he roared.
"Stop clammering on and open these gates, you old codger." Ghost snarled and began banging on the gate.
Shcar struggled to keep his calm as he opened the gate.
He lunged forward and attacked Raikou.
Raikou casually dodged his attacks while holding Shimba within his arms. While yawning, he exclaimed, "You're going to have to do better than that. I can move like this for as long as you want."
Shcar's anger finally shot out as he readied a skill. At that moment, he heard a roar.
"The king is here!" The onlookers were all talking amongst themselves while witnessing the majesty of Mufasha who let out the powerful roar.
"Shcar! Stop at once!"
"Brother! He has committed actions worthy of death. I must kill him." Shcar refused to call Mufasha by his title of king. It showed the rebellion that was going on within him.
"He is with me. If you touch him, you are going against your king." Mufasha asserted his authority. His body gave off an aura that most would submit to.
Shcar was unwilling but he finally stepped down. The anger within his eyes hadn't dimmed and was slowly festering more and more.
Raikou jumped onto a nearby rock and lifted Shimba upwards with both hands. Every beast turned its attention over to him and looked on at the peculiar looking cub.
"The son of the king has returned!" Raikou shouted.
His aim was to bring out all the conspirators of the attack on Shimba.
Looking over, he saw tears welling up in the king's eyes. Everyone saw his glistening eyes and realised that Raikou was not lying.
"My son..." Mufasha walked over slowly while wiping his eyes. "My son!" He roared to the skies and took the cub from Raikou's hands.
Shimba looked at his father with emotion. The familiar warmth comforted him and he nestled in his arms.
"I am unworthy. I couldn't protect you from our enemies. Accept my apology, please." Mufasha whispered in his son's ear. "As the king of this kingdom, I will do right by you."
"EVERYONE! Bow to your prince!" Mufasha's majestic voice resounded through the kingdom.
Thud
A monkey beast was the first to drop to its knees. Following it, everyone slowly began dropping.
The sounds of everyone falling to their knees was like music to Raikou's ears.
"This is how it should be..." Mufasha laughed. "You are the prince! Whoever opposes you, opposes me!"
His thinly veiled threat didn't go unnoticed by Shcar who was still standing by the castle gates. However, he still refused to bow and just smirked at his brother. After all, he still had the king's father in law to back him up.
"Tsk. Some people refused to accept the goodwill of others." Malakas shook his head and sighed.