Swish~
The shadow blade, formed from the remnants of the dragon's shadow, tore through the nearby magical beasts with ease.
Around August, the forest floor was littered with the carcasses of various magical creatures. He was deep within a dense forest, and his purpose here was straightforward: to hunt magical beasts and gather nutrients for his little treasure. While the magical beasts were not particularly valuable, every bit helped.
August was also on the lookout for rare treasures and magical artifacts, hoping that luck might lead him to something extraordinary.
The area was swarming with Shadowclaw soldiers carrying out hunting missions. August's approach was ruthless; he left no creature alive, not even the smallest beast.
August had little regard for this world. He was here for enjoyment, fully aware that his stay was limited to just one year. Although he had not yet spent a full year with the system, August intended to make the most of this time.
The power system in this world was significantly weaker compared to that of DanMachi and High School DxD. More importantly, August had yet to encounter any true rivals here, which allowed him to operate with confidence.
Given his unmatched strength, he felt free to indulge his desires without restraint. As the number of slain magical beasts increased, August's power grew stronger, bolstered by the dominion of the Demon King.
The souls of the slain beasts became his sustenance, while their bodies served as nourishment for the World Tree saplings. August's strength was undergoing a gradual transformation through this process.
Swish~
Suddenly, a Shadowclaw soldier raced from a distance and knelt before August.
A message was conveyed to August. Though the shadow soldiers couldn't speak, they could relay information through their shadow powers.
"Hmm? A village has been discovered? And it's a centaur village?" August said, puzzled. "Why would a centaur village be in a dense forest? Aren't they usually found on the plains?"
This world was indeed chaotic and confusing.
Nevertheless, since the village had appeared, August was not one to let it slip by.
Guided by the Shadowclaw, August traversed through the layers of dense forest and arrived at the village.
The village had been surrounded by Shadowclaws, and it was not large—only a handful of homes in total. All the centaurs had been gathered together.
August glanced around and noted that most of them were elderly, weak, or infirm—about twenty centaurs in total. Half of them were male, while the remainder were mostly children and elders.
Among the young, there were only three, and only one of them caught August's interest.
"Who are you? Are these black-clad individuals your subordinates?" the lead male centaur demanded sharply. It was understandable; their village had been suddenly surrounded, and everyone was forced together, which was a significant indignity.
August assessed the centaur; there was no trace of magic power, indicating that their strength was likely only at the second or third tier—far too weak.
"I'm here hunting. I didn't expect to find a centaur village in this forest; it's quite a pleasant surprise," August replied.
"What did you say?"
"It's nothing much, just a bit of surprise."
"Our village does not welcome you. Please leave."
August tightened his grip on his spear, but the scene before him appeared utterly foolish.
Swish~
The shadow blade, formed from the dragon's shadow, swiftly sliced through the weapon, cutting it into eight pieces.
"A weakling brandishing a weapon against a stronger opponent is a provocation. If I were to kill you, it would be entirely justified. Do you understand?" August said coldly.
"Damn you~"
The centaur, seething with rage and showing clear disdain for August, was clearly furious. Yet, the overwhelming presence of August and his watchful Shadowclaws forced him to swallow his anger.
August paid him no mind and turned his attention to the centaurs, particularly focusing on one female centaur.
"What is your name?" August inquired.
Upon hearing August's question, all the centaurs looked at each other before their gazes settled on the most beautiful centaur among them.
This immediately stirred a storm of anger. The male centaurs glared at August with fierce hostility. The woman in question was considered the goddess of their village, and the male centaurs were infatuated with her. The fact that an outsider dared to scrutinize their goddess in such a manner infuriated them, but their fury was futile—anger from the powerless was laughable.
"Shianus~"
Shianus responded slowly, though her expression remained cold towards August, much like the others.
(Note: For those who might recognize the name, it was from a popular monster girl anime years ago.)
"Shianus? That's a lovely name. How about a trade?" August proposed.
"A trade?" Shianus asked, intrigued.
"Yes, I find you quite appealing. Will you come with me?"
The male centaurs were incensed. The audacity of this human was beyond the pale.
"Damn human, are you insulting us centaurs? Shianus would never—"
Swish~
Before the centaur could finish, a shadow flashed, and the centaur who had previously had his weapon shattered by August now had his head severed.
Blood sprayed out like a fountain, staining the surrounding grass.
"In this world of the survival of the fittest, the weak have no voice."
Without even glancing at the fallen centaur, August's tone was remarkably indifferent, carrying an air of absolute authority.
This action immediately intimidated the centaurs. Even the previously enraged male centaurs were silenced by the threat to their lives; the concept of their goddess was irrelevant in the face of such danger.
"Now, let's continue our discussion."
"What do you want?" Shianus asked.
"Join me, and I can offer you everything you desire—power, wealth, authority, status—everything will be within your grasp," August offered.
"And what would be my role?"
"As my collection, a centaur that belongs solely to me."
The statement was almost as offensive as an insult. Shianus was initially enraged, but soon had to acknowledge her helplessness.
Clink~
At that moment, a golden ripple appeared beside them, and a large amount of gold coins fell to the ground.
"This is ten thousand gold coins. If you agree to come with me, these coins can stay with your village," August said.
August noticed that the centaurs' living conditions were dire, not much different from those suffering in remote mountain villages.
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