Supreme BeastTamer: I Can Copy and Upgrade Skills 10x!

Back in the Cromwell Barony, things were very peaceful since the last battle.

No demons had been sighted close to the town's perimeters, and this gave the soldiers and denizens a moment of respite from the constant fights.

Still, just to be on the safe side, the Awakened were on high alert, patrolling the walls.

The makeshift tents were still placed outside.

Inside the town itself, the survivors from the neighboring kingdoms had integrated with the Cromwell populace very well. From the resources they had gotten from the dimensional rift in their town, they were able to afford more buildings.

Moreover, during the past months—when it seemed as if the Cromwell Barony would fall—the Ant Queen had ordered her colony to build a hidden underground shelter.

Even Nathan wasn't aware of this, not even Nox, her master.

As of this moment, Nathan stood in one of the large open areas of the underground shelter with a speechless look on his face.

"When did you say all this happened again?" he asked, barely controlling his shock.

"Three months ago," she said. "When the fourth wave attacked, I was afraid we wouldn't be able to hold for long, so I had this place built as a large resort."

"..." Nathan was speechless for some time. Despite the development in Cromwell Town, with more survivors coming in, the town was beginning to become crowded and less conducive for the inhabitants.

The Baron's eyes glittered with excitement. "But with this place, we can ease the burden. You're such a genius!" Nathan praised.

"It's nothing. I'm just fulfilling Master's orders," the Ant Queen spoke casually.

"Orders?" Nathan raised a brow.

The Ant Queen nodded her insectoid head. "Yes, from Master. Before he left, he asked me to protect all those close to him. I'm simply following those orders."

'Did he anticipate the attack even before we knew it?' To be honest, people like Nathan had known something was brewing ever since the king introduced that god.

Yet they never anticipated that a portal would open, pouring out demons.

'Well, whether he anticipated it or not… the good thing is we survived,' Nathan thought, exhaling deeply.

He looked around the vast underground space again—rows of chambered tunnels, irrigation canals, and even light-bearing crystals embedded in the ceiling.

Nathan shook his head with a bitter smile. "It's honestly crazy how your kind was once considered monsters."

The Ant Queen's antennae twitched. "We are still monsters, Baron Nathan. Just loyal ones."

That sent a chill down his spine.

Still… he couldn't deny the truth in her words. These "monsters" had saved them. If not with strength, then with foresight. Something the nobles and armies of the human kingdoms clearly lacked.

"I should probably tell the others about this place," he said and quickly left. Some time later, he informed his core members, and slowly, some of the survivors were brought there.

The underground space was very spacious with a towering roof. It looked like something that had taken years to build, and those who came from other towns began to praise the Cromwells.

With so many survivors staying below, the city became less crowded and convenient once more.

---

On the wall...

At this moment, while the Awakened were trying to keep everything orderly and safe, the skies above them darkened.

Whistle! One of the wall patrol guards whistled as he looked up.

"Fortunately, the underground settlement was built. With this number of people pouring into the city, it would've been full, and people would be forced to sleep on the streets."

By now, everyone knew that whenever the dragons returned, they brought back survivors.

Suddenly, one of the guards pointed out with a frown. "Wait... are those flying carriages?"

The others squinted, and their eyes filled with confusion.

Flying carriages were runic marvels—they were very expensive and rare. Even to ride one, talk less of owning one.

The Western Region was known for being one of the most backwater regions in the Vermilion Kingdom. There was no way one of those was just casually lying around.

At this moment, sensing the presence of the dragons, Nathan and the others had come outside as well.

However, unlike the guards who had spent the majority of their lives in the West, the elders were quickly able to identify it.

"What is the royal flying carriage doing here?" Celine frowned.

"Let's not jump to conclusions yet... Since the dragons are accompanying them, there should be a reasonable explanation for this," said Boris.

Meanwhile, within the carriage, Adrian looked out from the windows, watching the city. From his vantage point, he noticed the dragons stationed right outside the walls, the well-structured architecture that didn't pale compared to those of the Armstrong.

"The walls... they're all intact." Adrian's eyes glinted.

Of course, there were signs of a fierce battle right outside the town, but the town itself seemed untouched by all the chaos.

"Is that an ant?" Ria, also admiring Cromwell Town, pointed, blinking rapidly.

Adrian leaned forward and squinted.

Sure enough, below he spotted a series of worker ants going about their day, doing menial tasks and bringing orderliness to the town.

Everyone, including the soldiers, was shocked. It was the first time they were seeing humans and ants coexisting like this. It looked beautiful and... strange.

"Is this really the Cromwell Barony?" one of the younger soldiers inside the carriage muttered in disbelief.

Even the most skeptical of the bunch couldn't help but gawk at the orderly streets, clean pathways, fortified walls… and the massive insect creatures working alongside humans like it was the most normal thing in the world.

"They have a functioning colony of ants running logistics…" Ria said again, as if trying to convince herself. "This isn't some illusion, right?"

Adrian didn't answer. His gaze was fixed on the people walking about. Survivors from different kingdoms mingling freely. Traders selling wares while children ran across one another. It was a stark contrast to the chaos outside these walls.

Suddenly, Nox's dragon dove down, and the rest followed, including the carriages.

When they landed, Nathan, Elvin, Hans, Gordon, Celine, Boris Fanum, Bridget, and Aina were already waiting for them.