Chapter 7

Chapter 7 Theon and Zayne were both touched, but they still stuck to the rules. However, Nyx insisted they join her for the meal, and after a brief exchange of glances, they gave in and sat down, eating with a little more restraint than usual.

The ingredients on the planet were from specialized Resource Planets. Those planets were free of industrial pollution, where food was naturally grown. These ingredients were not only healthier than anything Nyx had eaten back on Earth, but the flavors were way better.

The potatoes were savory, the tomatoes were juicy, and the asparagus was crisp with a refreshing aroma.

The ribs had been grilled until their surface was crispy. Wrapping itself around the rich potato, the meat tasted even more indulgent. The beef brisket practically melted in their mouths, soaking up all the tomato goodness, leaving them craving more.

Both males were completely stunned by the “home–cooked” meal Nyx had described. They’d expected the dishes to be decent, but not this astonishing!

Growing up on nutrient drinks, with the occasional visit to high–end restaurants, they thought they knew what “good food” tasted like. But after trying this, they realized just how badly they’d been wasting ingredients all along.

Sitting in front of Nyx, the two of them were doing their best to maintain some level of decorum, but their focus was entirely on the food.

For Nyx, having someone to share the meal with made her appetite a bit better than usual, though she still ate less than most would.

She finished first, excused herself, and got up from the table. The moment her footsteps left, the atmosphere shifted. Theon wasted no time to grab the last three pieces of ribs off the plate and add another piece of potato to his own plate. Zayne quickly scooped up the last of the tomato beef stew, leaving only a sad little pool of broth and two lonely chunks of beef, along with some shredded tomatoes.

It wasn’t that the fried asparagus wasn’t good–it just wasn’t their thing. Both of them were carnivores type at heart, and even though they were in human form, their dietary preferences still leaned heavily toward meat.

Still, they didn’t completely ignore the veggies. They divided the asparagus evenly between them and polished it off.

Once the plates were cleared, Theon arranged his portion artfully, snapped a few pictures with his Intelligent Brain, and sent them off to Felix.

Theon: [Nyx cooked. They are amazing.]

Felix was stunned when the message came through. His rebellious nephew, who barely ever bothered to contact him, had not only rejected his calls twice today but was now sending him a message out of the blue.

Felix clicked open the message, and as he had expected, it was about Nyx.

A female cooking?‘ Felix’s mind went into overdrive. ‘Is Theon crazy? How could he let a female cook? What if she poisoned him?

But then he saw the pictures, and his eyes widened.

12:28 Sat, Feb 8 BBB.

Chapter 7 24., 69%_ The Intelligent Brain didn’t just send the image itself–it also captured the smell and transferred it as data. Basically, pictures now came with a full–on sensory experience.

In simple terms, pictures in this era could carry the smell together when they were delivered to the other party.

As Felix stared at the pictures, the rich, tantalizing scent of the food hit him hard. His stomach betrayed him and started growling loudly in response. He cursed under his breath, embarrassed.

Felix made another video call to Theon.

This time, Theon answered soon, clearly too relaxed to care. He was lounging back on his bed like a content lion after a good meal, his posture anything but the rigid, commanding general he usually was.

Seeing his relaxed state, Felix said with a chuckle, “Good for you, Theon. Letting a female cook for you? Are you trying to get thrown in jail?”

Theon replied, “Nykie instructed me, and I just did the cooking. Don’t worry, I’m not going to jail.”

He sounded like a kid bragging about a new toy with a grin on his face. “We’re thinking about doing this for all our meals from now on. She says she’ll teach me more recipes.”

“From now on?” Felix’s smile faded, and his expression grew serious. He stared at Theon for a long while before finally speaking, “You don’t have a future with her.

“Nyx is a great female, the kind every male dreams of having as a partner. I get why you’re so obsessed with her. Young guys like you always fall headfirst into love and want to drown in it.

“But Theon, your Loss of Control Index is currently at 74, not even 64. If it were that, maybe I’d buy into your little fairy tale.

Maybe I’d say, fine, just stick to desk work, stay off the battlefield, and keep your emotions in check.”

Felix’s gaze was steady as he went on. “But 74? That’s way too high. You can’t hold it together for long. Are you just gonna waste your life and your efforts before?”

“Nyx might like you,” Felix admitted, his voice softening. “You’re the youngest major general in the empire, and I’ve got your back. You’ve got a brilliant future ahead of you.

“But she’s not going to like a lion that can never turn back into a man. And the lion may lose its mind and doesn’t even recognize her. Worse still, the lion may attack her like a stranger Theon’s expression turned gloomy, his fists clenching at his sides. He retorted, “Nyx will undergo a second awakening. She will have mental power.”

Felix sighed, the weight of the conversation hanging in the air. “You’re an S–level male. An A–level female’s mental power won’t be enough to calm you down. Less than 2% of females even reach A–level mental power. Do you really think she can do it?”

Theon fell silent, the truth settling like a cold stone in his chest.

Felix added, “A–level females don’t have trouble finding partners And even if they can comfort a male, they’re only allowed a few.

There are always more males than available females. Times running out for you, Theon.”

Felix’s voice shifted slightly, the usual forcefulness replaced by something more vulnerable. “Theon, we’re family. You’re all I have.”

The Lane family had always been small in number. As if they were cursed by something, the Lanes died on the battlefield, 2/4 12:28 Sat, Feb 8 BGB.

Chapter 7 08., 69%_ from illness, from accidents, and most of all, died from bestialization. And now, Theon was facing the same fate.

+23 Felix’s voice was final as he delivered his last command. “You can be reckless in everything else, but not this. I’ve got a list of available A–level females with partner slots open. Take a look and find one you like. Go after her immediately. Don’t waste another second.”

The communication ended on a sour note, as the two men hung up, each feeling the sting of the disagreement.

Theon shut his eyes, his mind a whirl of chaos.

He thought of the soldiers he’d seen succumb to bestialization on the battlefield–those who lost all reason, who couldn’t tell friend from foe, and who attacked without mercy.

The image of them, mindless and savage, haunted him. He couldn’t help but fear that one day, he’d become a beast, with no dignity, no humanity left to hold onto.

He needed mental calm. But the awakening rate for A–level mental power was so low, and the chances of Nyx being the one to help him were almost nonexistent.

Theon knew Felix made a point, but he just couldn’t accept it.

Theon’s mind raced, frustration and unease tightening in his chest. His breathing became shallow, and his eyes were bloodshot with growing panic.

His Loss of Control Index continued to climb. The moment it reached 80, the alarm sounded. A shrill warning beeped from his Intelligent Brain, and it notified his emergency contact, Felix, in an instant.

In the blink of an eye, Theon’s form changed, and the man was gone. Where he had stood, a massive lion now prowled, his clothes torn and his senses wild. With a roar, he smashed through the window and leaped from the second floor, bounding into the night.

Zayne heard the alarm and rushed over, but he was already too late.

He picked up Theon’s Intelligent Brain from the floor and quickly made a call to Felix. “Marshal Lane, it’s Zayne. Theon has shifted into beast form. He broke the window and ran off. Based on the traces, he’s headed southeast. There’s no major damage or blood in his room.”

Bestialization was different from a normal transformation. While some beastmen could shift willingly, retaining their human minds, bestialized ones were closer to true animals, their human reasoning completely gone.

A lion in full beast form was devastating, and once it lost control, the destruction was catastrophic.

The search for Theon was underway, with law enforcement and other departments mobilizing in full force.

Zayne also joined the search team, but before heading out, he took a quick look at Nyx. She was fast asleep, undisturbed by the chaos that had erupted around her. Zayne tiptoed out, leaving her in peace.

Later that night, Nyx was in a deep, hazy sleep when she felt something soft and furry brush against her face.

12:28 Sat, Feb 8 BBB.

Chapter 8 Chapter 8