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[So what do you want us to do?]

Dustin couldn't hide his greed anymore and asked the purebred cordollian. The giant reptile's pitying gaze faded away.

All Dustin could think now was making a quick deal and feeding himself while the others, including Logan, were still steeped in otherness. Because after observing the purebred cordollian for a while, Dustin realized that his manner was distinctly different from humans, so he concluded that he shouldn't treat him the way humans do, and just shot him a daring question. Dustin had decided that while he feared the change, he would embrace it rather than reject it. 

[Haha! What a wild guy! That's a good question! I've been wondering if any of you would dare to ask me questions!]

The purebred cordollian let out a short, rumbling laugh, the human equivalent of a roar, and seemed to like Dustin's short-tempered, brash demeanor.

While the Cordollians were a strictly hierarchical society, they were not a formal race in language or behavior. Rather, they didn't mind being a bit of an ass, as long as they obeyed orders and proved themselves worthy. What mattered to them was how much they contributed to the thriving of the pack, not how well they memorized the finer points of etiquette.

The only reason Dustin's throat wasn't ripped out was because he was quick enough to realize that, while he might ask some pretty rude questions, he hadn't done anything against 'the will of the Cordollians'.

[You half-humans are still weaker than us... But there is a way for you to prove your worth as little more than carnivores. Find a breeding female, impregnate them, and increase the number of our brothers! The more offspring you produce the stronger you will become!]

"What, that's absurd..."

Logan's face paled at the mention of impregnation. It was probably something he would have shrugged off if it didn't have a stinging edge to it, but he had already sinned against his father. He guessed it must be something to do with the smell emanating from his father.

[Bring me eggs, and I will grant you prosperity. If you look around, you'll find some half-humans that can give you offspring, so do your best.]

[You've been talking in circles here... So, if we bring you eggs, how does that make us prosperous? Does that mean we don't have to worry about food?]

Dustin, like Logan, frowned at the mention of impregnation. His mind fled right away to his father waiting for him at home.

Reminding himself that his father was waiting for him kept his instincts in check and allowed him to regain some semblance of human reason. Dustin resumed his uneasy stare at the purebred cordollian.

[I see, you half-humans are simplistic. Prosperity is not as simple as having a full stomach. It also allows you to shed your half-human status and enjoy a little more shit.]

Dustin and the purebred cordollian's gazes met in midair. They were talking normally, but they were engaged in an invisible battle, each threatening to break the other's dominance. Dustin demeaned the creature to the status of a mere predator who was satisfied with only a full stomach, while the creature looked down on him for being a half-human.

The cordollian was quite happy to challenge Dustin. Such belligerent individuals were the ones who seemed to have the best chance of surviving for long. He was sure he'll be seeing him for at least a few more weeks.

[You will know once you breed your female, although it will take more energy and resources than you think. You'll have to work real hard to protect them. But do you think you can do that? You're not even yet ready to fight beast! Let alone protect your female! To be accepted as one of us means to be able to defend your own nest!]

Logan took note of the purebred cordollian's use of the word beast; the dismembered raw meat before him was certainly not human flesh, it must be some sort of giant beast.

[Well, there's no point for me to explain more. Because more than half of you here now will get eliminated in a few days. But if you are able to prove that you can survive without being slaughtered, I have orders from the Lord to help you build a nest.]

[......]

Logan tried to muster up the courage and was about to ask a question this time, but the cordollian cried out in a rumbling voice.

[I have mercy on you. Eat to your heart's content and let your nature awaken, and if at any time you realize your inability to even hunt for yourselves, be moved to pledge your allegiance!]

Logan's eyes narrowed at the purebred's evil smile. There was something about the creature's face that struck fear into his heart, making him forget what he'd been trying to ask a moment ago. And the fact that he could read such an expression on the face of a purely reptilian creature came as a shock.

While Logan stood frozen in fear, the other mutants, who had been listening to the cordollian's speech without saying a word, walked forward one by one, hesitant at the mention of meat.

Dustin, who had been eagerly asking the question, was hesitant to step forward. It occurred to him that the purebred had purposely cut off Logan's question. He felt bad for his brother but there was nothing he could do.

Someone cautiously crouched down in front of the dismembered meat, his hand grasping the dripping flesh. The meat was still warm. At first, he resisted the urge but seconds later, he devoured the flesh. Causing the others began to follow suit.

Logan gulped a chunk of saliva. The crunching and tearing of flesh made him even hungrier but he just stood at a distance, unable to join in.

"Dustin, what are you doing?"

Dustin knew in his gut that there was no point in resisting the urge. He repeated the word 'slaughter' over and over again in his mind. It bothered him that the purebred didn't use the word kill, execute, or punish, but rather 'slaughter'. Dustin realized that he hadn't encountered any other creatures before arriving at this clearing, except for that noisy cordollian.

That meant some people must have met their end somewhere.

And in this situation, refusing to eat the food offered by the cordollians was surely more offensive than talking back or asking daring questions. After a moment's thought, Dustin tugged on Logan's arm and walked toward the meat.

He and his brother had indeed competed for their father, but they were family. He didn't want him to die.
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