Astra did not dodge.
Instead, she summoned a layer of protective armor around her body in an instant.
Husa's claws struck the armor—and shattered against it, leaving not even a scratch.
The wolf staggered back, his own nails cracked and bleeding slightly.
But he refused to yield.
Gathering energy at his fangs, he lunged again, aiming to clamp down on Astra's tail.
Before he could close the distance, Astra swung her tail once more, catching him squarely in the mouth and sending him tumbling across the ground in a rolling heap.
She stepped forward calmly, placed one enormous hoof on his chest—pinning him firmly but not crushing him—and looked down.
"Do you admit defeat?"
Husa remembered the terrifying power of that hoof from the earlier crater and spike trap.
He nodded immediately, voice low and submissive.
"roar.."
He was intelligent enough to know she would not kill him—not with even stronger presences watching over the continent—but he also had no desire to keep getting beaten.
He would bide his time and seek revenge later if he became stronger.
Astra lifted her hoof and sat comfortably on a nearby stone platform.
"Okay. From now on, you are my subordinate. You will follow my orders—understood?"
Husa nodded without hesitation.
Astra then spoke again, voice carrying across the clearing.
"Call all the beasts here within one hour. Go."
She closed her eyes and settled into a comfortable posture.
Husa rose quickly, shook the dirt from his fur, and bounded off to carry out the command, his tail low but his mind already turning towards his task.
On the other side, high above the forest clearing, the Heart Clone and the family watched the entire scene unfold in silence, their presence completely hidden from the beasts below.
Kamal shook his head in amazement and let out a soft laugh, still processing what he had just witnessed.
"I didn't know Astra was this domineering and powerful. I always thought she was peaceful—gentle, you know? Haha."
Neelam covered her mouth and laughed quietly beside him, her eyes still wide from the display of raw strength.
Sanya and Rudra remained completely shocked, staring down at the battlefield with open mouths—the fight had felt like watching an immersive movie, every crash and roar so vivid it made their hearts race, yet it had all been real and happening right in front of them.
Rudra suddenly grew quiet, his small face turning thoughtful as he remembered all the times he had playfully annoyed Astra—pulling her ears, climbing on her back.
A worried thought crossed his mind: Astra won't hit me with her tail like that, right? Or step on me?
Sanya, meanwhile, stared down with a completely different expression—her eyes shone with determination and longing.
When can I become this strong? she wondered silently, clenching her small fists as she imagined herself wielding that kind of power one day.
Then the family watched as all thirty-two beasts slowly gathered in the clearing, moving quietly and respectfully around Astra, who rested on her stone platform without a care in the world, eyes half-closed in lazy contentment.
Husa, the snow wolf, stood at the front, not daring to wake her, while the other beasts remained perfectly silent out of fear for husa.
After a short while, Astra slowly opened her eyes, scanning the assembled beasts with a calm, commanding gaze.
"I am your king from now on," she declared in a deep, resonant voice that echoed across the clearing. "You are all my subordinates. If anyone has a problem with that, speak now."
Husa stayed silent, head slightly bowed.
The other beasts followed his lead without hesitation—if their leader had no objection, neither did they.
Just like that, Astra became the undisputed beast king of the continent.
At that moment, the Heart Clone revealed himself, stepping forward with the family appearing behind him.
The instant the beasts sensed his presence, all thirty-two dropped their heads low and trembled—not toward Astra, but toward the Heart Clone.
Astra, still sitting proudly, thought at first that the bowing was all for her, and a smug, satisfied look crossed her face.
But then she sensed the familiar aura and turned quickly.
Her eyes lit up with joy.
She bounded over at once, tail swishing happily.
"Master! Did I do well?"
The Heart Clone nodded warmly and reached out to pat her massive head, his touch gentle.
Astra leaned into it, clearly enjoying the praise.
Husa and the other beasts stared in stunned disbelief.
So this overwhelmingly powerful being—the one who had just crushed their strongest warrior—was merely a direct subordinate of an even greater existence?
The realization sent fresh waves of awe and fear through them.
The Heart Clone looked down at Astra with quiet affection.
"Do you want to stay here, or come with us for space exploration?"
Astra didn't even hesitate.
"Master, I'll go with you! I've already made them my subordinates—there's no more fun here for now."
With that settled, the Heart Clone gestured lightly.
The family stepped back through the gate, exiting the Beast Continent entirely.
The continent returned to its peaceful state—beasts dispersing slowly into their territories, the artificial sun continuing its gentle cycle, and the vast wilderness humming with quiet life once more.