Chapter 1278 - 857: Beastman_2

Chapter 1278: Chapter 857: Beastman_2

But before the concept of Beastman was solidified, these races couldn’t possibly form a single group.

Just as various beasts can’t become one tribe.

For example, wolves and rabbits—do you expect these two races to form a community?

It’s utterly unreasonable and doesn’t conform to the rules of Nature.

Yet Beastmen themselves are not naturally born; carnivorous Beastmen also eat greens.

Herbivorous Beastmen also enjoy meat.

Essentially, Beastmen are merely human sub-species with animal traits, not beasts.

The first generation Beastman King unified them as Beastmen based on their animal characteristics and, using his talent and ability combined with the global situation at the time, successfully grouped most Beastmen into one race.

He established the Beastman Empire.

This is the origin of the Beastman Empire.

Not all beast-like races joined this group.

Like Minotaurs, Centaurs, and Snake-men.

Within the concept of Beastman, you could call them Beastmen, but they would certainly resist it.

In such a land of Beastmen.

The Rabbit Race tribe—Turnip Root.

From the low mountain hills, overlooking "Turnip Root"—this Rabbit Race tribe town resembles a peculiar cluster of mushrooms scattered in the gentle valley.

Unlike the erect brick and wood houses of Humans, most homes here are half-buried in the ground, exposing rounded roofs or partial walls. The roofs are covered with thick turf and frost-resistant moss, providing insulation while appearing simple and natural.

Wisps of smoke curl up from chimneys, adding a touch of life to this quiet place.

Doors and windows are small, either round or arch-shaped, painted bright colors like colorful beads on a green carpet.

In the center of the town, the houses are more densely packed around a slightly larger, entirely above-ground building—the town hall.

Winding paths connect individual homes to the central square.

On the outskirts of the town are vast, neatly cultivated fields, like a giant green and orange checkered carpet covering the valley.

Leafy greens grow in tidy rows, orange carrot tops sway gently in the breeze. Additionally, there are some robust root vegetables and sprawling medicinal herb fields.

This is the lifeline of the Rabbit Race, and it is their rationale for existing as the Empire’s "Farmers" and "Sentinels."

Beastmen have some specialties according to their beast traits, but they also develop some unsuitable weaknesses accordingly.

Just like the Rabbit Race.

Beastmen can generally be divided into two categories.

Humans with beast traits, and beasts with human traits.

Like the Wolf Race, you can see them as wolves who stand upright.

Also, consider the Rabbit Race, who appear as people with rabbit ears and tails.

The Rabbit Race has some rabbit characteristics.

Long ears, keen hearing, excellent jumping ability, and swift running advantage, all while being petite.

Average height is about 1.55 meters.

Focusing on this rabbit gathering place.

Walking along the path into "Turnip Root," a warm, busy yet peaceful atmosphere greets you.

The air is filled with the faint scent of soil, grass, baked goods, and herbs.

The laughter of children—a few fluffy young Rabbit Beastmen chasing each other between houses, their long ears joyfully bouncing up and down as they leap.

They dive in and out of burrows, mimicking the Warrior Charge, or gesture archery with small wooden sticks, emitting crisp, pleasant laughter, as if any worry is far from them.

A few adult Rabbit Race Farmers, carrying hoes or buckets, walk towards the fields, mostly wearing simple linen clothes, with some dirt staining their attire.

A few women sit on wooden stumps by their doors, skillfully weaving baskets or handling freshly pulled carrots from the ground, while speaking in soft tones.

They discuss this year’s harvest or someone’s newborn litter, releasing gentle laughter from time to time.

Their rabbit ears occasionally twitch sensitively, listening to the surrounding sounds.

Along the town’s edge and main roads, Rabbit Race Militia on patrol can occasionally be seen.

They were similar to human militia, dressed in lightweight leather armor, with short swords or daggers at their waists.

The difference was that their main weapons were the bows slung across their backs or several throwing spears, their eyes vigilantly scanning the wilderness around them, with long ears serving as natural early warning radars.

Although their equipment was far less sophisticated than the empire’s main battle groups, their gaze held a sense of pride and tenacity in assuming the responsibility of protecting their homeland.

Passersby would cast looks of respect and assurance their way.

This harmonious pastoral scene was a brief moment of peace earned through the Rabbit Race’s hard work and cautious survival.

However, peace is always disrupted.

A commotion arose on the outskirts of the town.

Several strong and ferocious riding wolves, spewing hot breath, bore wolf warriors clad in iron armor, massive in build, barging into the peace of "Turnip Root" like a filthy black wind.

Wolf warriors are typical beastmen with human features, essentially beastlike beastmen, possessing the traits of a beast—Rabbit Race are demi-human beastmen.

These wolves were almost like giant wolves walking on two legs, with exposed fangs and fierce eyes.

At the forefront, a leader carried on the shoulder a tattered yet menacing wolf head banner, indicating they were part of a recruitment group from a powerful tribe.

The faces of the passing Rabbit Race residents turned ashen instantly, their eyes filled with a fear that ran deep to the bone.

Sounds of joy and laughter abruptly ceased, children screamed, "Mom, I’m scared."

Then they were quickly pulled back inside the house or shielded behind adults.

Farmer women clutched their baskets or babies tightly, trembling.

The fear was almost palpable.

The street quickly emptied, leaving only small overturned buckets and fallen vegetables.

The wolf cavalry swaggered through the narrow street, their mounts’ sturdy four paws stepping on the soft dirt road, producing a heavy, muffled sound.

Their gaze brazenly swept over tightly shut doors and windows and the trembling residents.

One of the wolf soldiers glimpsed a few fresh carrots in a basket by a door, picked one up casually, took a bite, and then spat it out with disgust.

"Pfui! Such an earthy taste, inedible!"

Casually, he hurled the remaining half onto the ground and stepped over it.

Watching the trembling Rabbit Race girl he had robbed.

Mouth open, tongue out, even drooling.

In his eyes was not ’lust’ but ’appetite.’

"You look way more delicious than those carrots, hehehe."

He intimidated with a shrill laugh.

The rabbit girl curled up in terror.

But that was all; this wolf did not really take a bite.

Perhaps such phenomena existed hundreds of years ago, but after the establishment of the Beastman Empire, this had long since been absolutely forbidden.

Nevertheless, it didn’t stop the wolves from using it for intimidation because, in their eyes, these Rabbit Race members were ’food,’ just not the kind that ends up in their stomachs.

Another wolf soldier saw an elder holding a freshly baked flatbread, grinned viciously, snatched it, stuffed it in his mouth, and munched noisily, crumbs dropping from his mouth, vaguely commenting, "Dry as a bone, only fit for livestock."

The old Rabbit Race bore silent indignation, tears of humiliation welling in his eyes.

The leader’s strongest mount, with drooling fangs, stared intensely at two little rabbit cubs being held tightly by their mother at the street corner, still shaking, a low growl of desire emanating from its throat.

The wolf leader atop its back laughed heartily, patting the mount’s thick neck with a coarse palm, "Alright, don’t rush, my precious."

"Once the business is done, on our way out... pick two tender ones as you like. These long-eared ones reproduce like bugs, missing a couple won’t be missed."

His adjutant issued a shrill laugh of agreement, "Exactly, it’s fine to give our little darlings a snack too, these rabbits have no other skills but are indeed prolific, like never-ending goblins."

A nearby small house, an elderly rabbit came out to witness the scene.

His characteristic rabbit red eyes showed no fear; he had seen such scenes many times.

A girl peeked from behind the door frame, stretching out her long rabbit ears to secretly watch those fearsome wolf packs.

The elder tapped the rabbit-eared head with his carrot cane, "Don’t fear them, they won’t be arrogant for long... go, to the guild, bring them this message."

The rabbit girl nodded, turned, and ran, bounding with great speed.

Under such blatant threats and humiliation, the wolf cavalry, like iron wheels grinding over the ground, finally arrived at the town center—the rugged stone-built council hall entrance, the only one above ground.