The little cat yowled and flailed its paws in protest, clearly displeased.
Kael couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. This creature has some nerve—completely unafraid of me, even demanding my help!
Its personality was undeniably unique, and it might actually have some dragon blood in its veins.
When the cat noticed Kael's amused expression, it bristled even more, extending its claws in a half-hearted threat. "What kind of human are you? A true gentleman would rush to aid a lady in distress!"
A lady?
Kael nearly laughed aloud. This cat's vanity knew no bounds. Still, as he studied its graceful posture and silky fur, he had to admit—it was rather elegant, at least by feline standards.
The cat's emerald eyes darted about, its tail flicking back and forth with restless energy as it continued waving its tiny paws.
Finally, Kael decided to humor it. The little creature was just too entertaining to ignore.
Stepping forward, he channeled a wisp of mana into the cat's body, guiding the residual energy from the Mana Gathering Array. What seemed like a negligible amount to him was a veritable feast for the small feline.
Kael's earlier assessment proved correct—the cat's strength barely reached Sixth-tier, though its intelligence rivaled any human's. More intriguingly, its mana pathways were structured unlike any ordinary magical beast's, further supporting its claim of draconic heritage.
Could it really be a cross between a dragon and a…
Kael shook his head, dismissing the absurd thought. Instead, he focused on the cat's cultivation. Under his guidance, its mana circulation stabilized, and its power surged—reaching the peak of Sixth-tier, just a step away from Seventh-tier.
Not bad at all. Many humans would kill for such natural talent, yet here was a cat outpacing them.
This creature was truly one of a kind—sentient, articulate, and gifted with an innate ability to detect treasures. Its combat prowess might be lacking, but its utility was undeniable.
"Heheh! This lady has finally reached the peak of Sixth-tier! Just one more step to Seventh! Truly, I am the unparalleled genius of the Dragon Cat lineage—none can rival me!" The cat declared, licking its paw with exaggerated pride.
Kael sighed.
Yep. Definitely a vain cat.
"Hmph! You're not completely hopeless, human. Since you helped this lady, I'll graciouslyconsider you a friend!" The little cat squinted at Kael, completely unfazed by his overwhelming power. Instead, it waved a paw with shameless familiarity.
Kael didn't know whether to laugh or sigh.
"Now that we're friends, where are my gold coins and gemstones?" In a flash, the cat leaped onto Kael's shoulder, letting out an exaggerated meow as it extended its claws—utterly brazen in its demand for treasure.
Not only was this creature unbearably vain, but it had also inherited a dragon's most infamous trait: an insatiable lust for gold and anything shiny.
Yep. A greedy, narcissistic cat through and through.
Kael couldn't help but smirk at its antics.
When he didn't immediately comply, the cat bared its tiny fangs again. "Don't make me claw you to death, you stingy human!" Its eyes darted around schemingly.
This guy's strong, it thought, and that Magic Crystal Staff proves he's loaded. If I can just squeeze some gold out of him...
A dreamy grin spread across its face, a thin line of drool glistening at the corner of its mouth.
Kael stared. This cat is unbelievable.
Snapping out of its fantasy, the cat bounced eagerly on his shoulder. "Human! Tribute your gold and gems to this lady! I'm the last Dragon Cat alive—a peerless genius! Sponsor me today, and when I ascend to true dragonhood, I might just protect your puny mortal self!"
"Ascend to dragonhood?" Kael scoffed. "How long have you been cultivating?"
"Eighteen glorious years!" The cat puffed out its chest. "Eighteen years to reach the peak of Sixth-tier! Such unrivaled talent!"
By magical beast standards, this was impressive—their lifespans tripled humans', and reaching near-Seventh-tier in two decades was no small feat.
But comparing innate talent?
Kael simply smiled.
"Do you know how long I've been cultivating?" Kael teased, deliberately provoking the little cat.
"Hmph! At least a decade or two, right?" The cat held up a tiny paw, counting. "You're a Ninth-tier expert—reaching that level in just ten-odd years is decent enough..."
"Try one year." Kael smirked. It was true—he'd only been in this world for a little over a year.
"WHAT?!" The cat nearly leaped out of its fur. "Impossible! Even with my peerless talent, it took eighteen years to reach Sixth-tier! How could a mere human—" Its voice cracked with indignation, its entire body radiating wounded pride.
"I thought I was the genius of the Dragon Cat lineage... yet here I am, outdone by some... some human!" The cat slumped, its voice dripping with melodramatic despair.
Kael couldn't help but laugh at its repeated use of "mere human." For once, the cat was so distraught it even forgot to demand gold or gems, sighing theatrically like a tragic heroine.
"...But even if my talent pales next to yours," the cat suddenly perked up, tail arching haughtily, "I still outshine you in charm and uniqueness!"
Kael resisted the urge to flick it off his shoulder.
This cat's energy is exhausting.
Just then, the feline's ears twitched. Its playful demeanor vanished, replaced by sharp alertness. "Strange... There's an intense mana fluctuation nearby..."
"Mana fluctuation?" Kael frowned, immediately expanding his spiritual sense to scan the area.
Yet even with his near-monstrous perception, he detected nothing amiss.
That's... concerning.
If he couldn't sense it, but the cat could—
This little creature's instincts really are extraordinary.
A living radar, indeed.
But now wasn't the time for admiration. The discrepancy meant one of two things: either the source was still far beyond normal detection range, or—
Whoever it is surpasses even my abilities at concealment.
Both scenarios warranted caution.
Could it be... the Renault Family?
After killing Lucian—whose body undoubtedly bore tracking magic—Kael had expected retaliation. This might be it.
Kael's mind raced. Swiftly, he donned the human skin masks—two layers of them—that he'd obtained from Toms before leaving Refi Territory for precisely such contingencies.
With the masks overlapping, discerning his true features became virtually impossible. Even a Tenth-tier expert would, at most, detect that he was disguised—but never pierce through to his actual visage.
"The energy signature's getting closer!" the cat yowled, fur standing on end.
Closer?
Without hesitation, Kael activated Levitation Flight, his body streaking through the air like a meteor.
He'd barely cleared the area when—
Whoosh!
A figure materialized where he'd stood moments prior.
Kael's eyes narrowed as he looked back.
The newcomer was a middle-aged man with an icy demeanor—handsome in a severe way, exuding an air of authority. The resemblance to Lucian in the brow and jawline confirmed it: this had to be from the Renault Family.
But what truly gave Kael pause was how the man hovered effortlessly in midair, completely unbound by gravity.
A Tenth-tier powerhouse.