Chapter 9: I Really Am Just A Monster
Zar barely spent any Lifespan over the last half a year, so it had naturally built up to a point that exceeded anything he had saved up before. Of course, he had the very tempting urge to just blow it all on multiple occasions, but with his indomitable will, he resisted temptations.
His goal was to keep gathering enough Lifespan to surpass the 1,000-year mark. Then and only then would he go on a purchasing spree, upgrading everything he could.
On a side note, there was something he had been meaning to try with the Shadow Beasts: he wanted to forcefully evolve them.
You see, his Shadow Beasts were unable to naturally become stronger. This meant that they stayed just the way they were from the very moment they were converted into Shadow Beasts.
'However, as much as I'd like to evolve them in whatever ways I can, I just don't see any benefits in doing so right now,' Zar thought. 'I replace them quite often, what with all these secret Demon Beast hideouts I'm now discovering. Thus, wasting Lifespan on upgrading them would turn out to be just that—a waste.'
"Well, whatever," he shrugged. "I suppose I'll just save it for another time. Perhaps when I finally escape this damned place—"
BOOOOM!!
Snapping Zar out of his stupor was a thundering explosion so loud and damaging that it caused stalactites to loosen and fall from the moist stone ceiling. A powerful attack had clearly just gone off near him, and it seemed to have come from...
"Where I sent my Shadow Beasts." Zar's blue eyes grew colder, realizing that a small chunk of his Innate Energy had been drained, a clear indicator of a Shadow Beast restoring itself after death. "Those Hunter Therians actually dare to slay my non-hostile Shadow Beasts? Is it a death wish they have...?"
FWIP!
Blurring from his spot, Zar reappeared a few dozen meters above where his Bear Shadow Beast restored itself. From there, he could see the scene below unfold.