NOVEL WEB Chapter 459: Subduing
The psychological warfare was as devastating as the physical assault. Arthur wasn't just defeating the Golden Manes—he was destroying their pack structure, their confidence, and their leader's authority through humiliation that transcended mere violence.
From his position at the clearing's edge, the Golden Beetle watched the unfolding massacre with eyes that reflected absolute shock and disbelief. This was nothing like he had expected when he had warned his master about the legendary pack's capabilities. In all his years of territorial observation, he had never witnessed anything that approached this level of one-sided dominance.
The legendary Golden Mane King—a creature that had ruled these forests for decades through sheer power and brilliance was being reduced to nothing more than a helpless spectator to his own pack's destruction.
The beetle's voice was in full awe as he processed what he was witnessing.
"Master's power... it exceeds every calculation I had made. The legendary pack that hunted down everyone who dared kill their kin... they are now the ones being hunted." The beetle muttered with growing reverence.
Meanwhile, perched somewhere next to the golden beetle, comfortably, Aether watched the proceedings with obvious excitement and fascination. The small void dragon's eyes tracked each flying Golden Mane with the attention of someone discovering new entertainment possibilities.
"Ooh! Master, that one spun like a top!" Aether exclaimed with delighted enthusiasm as another Golden Mane went sailing through the air in a perfect spiral. "And that one looked like he was trying to fly! Do Golden Manes normally try to fly, Master?"
Arthur's response was a chuckle as he eliminated another pack member with a well-placed uppercut. "Not normally, Aether. They're just learning some new mobility techniques."
The Mane King attempted to maintain his protective formation, roaring desperate commands to reposition his remaining subordinates. His voice carried notes of panic that had never existed before, each command becoming more frantic as his options continued to diminish.
But every time the surviving Golden Manes tried to establish defensive stability, Arthur would teleport into their midst and scatter them again with violence that made their coordination attempts meaningless.
CRASH! BANG! THUD!
"Master, Master! When you knocked those three Golden Manes down in a line like that, it looked really cool! What do you call that?
Arthur responded as he continued dismantling the golden manes with ease. "We call it...bowling, Aether."
"...Bowling! I want to try bowling when we get back to your world!" Aether bounced excitedly on his spot as he observed the elimination.
Arthur smiled at his companion's enthusiasm while delivering a devastating kick that sent another Golden Mane careening into his packmates. "I'll make sure we set up a bowling alley for you, Aether. You seem to have a natural appreciation for the sport."
More Golden Manes joined their unconscious pack-mates in various states of defeat, their golden forms scattered across the forest clearing like discarded toys after a child's tantrum. The king's attempts to shield them became increasingly frantic and less effective as Arthur's teleportation made conventional protection impossible.
The Golden Beetle's shock deepened as he watched the legendary Mane King—a creature he had genuinely feared for years—reduced to desperately lunging at empty air while his subordinates were eliminated around him.
"Your devotion to your pack is admirable," Arthur observed conversationally while delivering a devastating uppercut that launched another Golden Mane into the canopy above. "Unfortunately, devotion without power is just prolonged suffering."
CRACK! WHOOSH!
"Ooh! That one went really high!" Aether clapped his tiny claws together with pure joy. "Master, do you think he'll come back down soon? Or will he get stuck in the trees like a kitty?"
The Mane King tried desperately to intercept Arthur's next attack, his legendary speed allowing him to reach the targeted subordinate just as Arthur materialised. But instead of engaging the king directly, Arthur simply teleported away again, leaving the massive predator to tackle empty air while another pack member was eliminated from a completely different angle.
SLAM! CRASH!
Arthur's movements never seemed hurried or desperate. Each strike was delivered with calmness.
The Mane King's increasing desperation only served to highlight Arthur's complete control over the engagement's tempo and direction.
The Golden Beetle found himself reconsidering everything he thought he knew about power hierarchies in the region. His master wasn't just superior to the Golden Manes—he was operating on a completely different level of existence that made legendary rank seem quaint by comparison.
"Halfway done," Arthur announced with obvious disappointment rather than satisfaction.
"I have to admit, this is far less entertaining than I thought it would be. My summon, the Golden Beetle, had really given you guys too much credit. I had thought that you would put some more effort, but it seems like you are nothing but house cats at best."
Aether giggled at the comparison, his small body vibrating with amusement. "House cats! Master, you're so funny! Though I think house cats might put up more of a fight than these big kitties!"
The remaining Golden Manes had begun showing signs of crippling fear. Even their legendary king's protection had proven insufficient against an opponent who could strike from any direction without warning.
The Golden Beetle's mind struggled to categorise what he was witnessing. In all his observations of conflicts, he had never seen a legendary-rank creature reduced to such complete helplessness.
The problem was that the Mane King was clearly closer to creating his domain than Arthur, yet despite that, he was still losing.
The Mane King's reputation, built over decades of successful hunts and territorial expansion, was being destroyed in real-time.
The Mane King's roars had taken on notes of desperation now, his previous arrogance replaced by the growing realisation that he was witnessing the complete destruction of everything he had built over centuries of dominance.
"Master, when you grabbed that Golden Mane and threw him at those other ones, it was like... really cool," Aether exclaimed.
Arthur accepted the compliment while eliminating another pack member with a casual backhand.
"Don't worry," Arthur called out with mocking reassurance as he eliminated another pack member with a casual kick that sent the creature spinning through multiple tree trunks. "I'll save you for last. I want you to experience the full scope of your failure before we conclude our business."
THUD! CRASH!