Beastmen Kings At My Feet [Reverse Harem] - Chapter 20: Chapter 20

Meanwhile, Matthew was anxiously waiting in the Central District, constantly glancing around, hoping to catch even a glimpse of Veronica.
But the universe wasn't on his side. Instead of the reunion he had been hoping for, he was met with something completely unexpected.
Just as he was staring ahead, fully focused, a beastman suddenly charged at him with lightning speed. The attack came so fast that Matthew didn't have time to react.
A heavy punch landed squarely on him, knocking him off balance and sending him crashing to the ground.
Chase stormed over, roaring with fury. His eyes were filled with rage and disappointment as he grabbed Matthew by the collar and shouted, "Matthew, where's my Mistress? Didn't you say you'd protect her?"
Matthew was overwhelmed by Chase's intensity. He lowered his head, speechless. He knew he had failed to protect Veronica. He hadn't taken enough precautions, and because of that, she had ended up in danger.
The air turned deathly still, as if even breathing too loudly would break the silence.
Even Leonardo, standing nearby, didn't try to stop Chase. His chest was full of the same anger and disappointment. If anything, he wanted to land a punch himself, just to let out some of the fear and fury that had been eating at him.
Lying on the ground, Matthew felt the sharp ache in his body and the heavier weight of guilt pressing down on him.
He knew exactly how badly his mistake had endangered Veronica. He swore he'd find her no matter what and make it right.
He struggled to his feet, his eyes burning with determination, ready to keep searching for any trace of Veronica.
Just as Joshua and the others finished cleaning up the scene and were about to take Veronica back, they suddenly noticed the black crystal. Joshua didn't move hastily and just studied it closely.
Veronica spoke from the side, "That crystal's weird. When I stared at it earlier, I suddenly felt really dizzy."
Joshua's expression turned serious. He thought, 'Looks like these Interstellar Raiders got their hands on some kind of secret weapon.'
While Veronica was speaking, she seemed to be drawn to the crystal again. As the dizziness started to rise in her mind once more, another burst of light flared from her body, snapping her back into clarity.
Joshua's gaze was full of shock and curiosity. He kept his eyes fixed on Veronica, as if trying to see through whatever was happening inside her.
Veronica, in that moment, looked unusually calm. Her eyes were shut tight, almost like she was asleep. But deep inside, a powerful layer of defense had begun to quietly awaken.
The surrounding females all showed looks of surprise, exchanging glances with one another as if silently sharing their thoughts about Veronica's awakened defensive power.
For a moment, the air was filled with an unspoken energy, as if everyone was quietly rejoicing over this unexpected blessing that had come to Veronica.
Joshua, too, felt a surge of relief. He thought this might actually be a blessing in disguise.
He'd been worried Veronica might suffer serious injuries in the fight, but now, it seemed her awakening had not only granted her powerful defenses, but also allowed her to survive the danger unharmed.
So, Joshua decided to take Veronica back to the Central District for a more thorough evaluation.
But just as they were about to leave, Veronica suddenly collapsed.
Joshua's chest tightened. He rushed over to check on her and found that while her breathing was steady, her face had gone pale—clearly, she had burned through too much psychic power.
Joshua didn't dare waste a second. He picked Veronica up and raced straight back to the Central District.
By the time they arrived, Matthew, Chase, Leonardo, and the others had already rushed over after hearing the news.
When Matthew saw Veronica lying in Joshua's arms, his first reaction was relief—but the moment he noticed her unresponsive state, his heart clenched tight.
"What happened to her? Is she hurt?" Matthew asked urgently.