(XXV) Forbidden Beast Master

The brilliant white light illuminating the altar suddenly vanished and was replaced by a powerful blue force emanating from the altar. The aura exploded from the altar, expanding rapidly as it enveloped the three people who stood around it.

As the blue aura discharged from the altar, the air around it crackled with energy. The force seemed to pulsate and grow in intensity until it was almost blinding in its brightness. The three people standing around the altar shielded their eyes but couldn't help but marvel at what was happening before them.

Suddenly, there was a loud bang, and fireworks shot out from the stage in a myriad of colors. The fireworks exploded in the air, creating a stunning display visible against the bright morning sky. The crowd cheered and clapped, clearly delighted by the spectacle.

At the same time, the stone altar began cracking, rapidly spreading across the surface. The sound of the cracking stone was deafening, and the crowd exclaimed in shock as it exploded, creating a potent smokescreen that enveloped Leon.

The smokescreen billowed out, obscuring everything in its path, making it impossible to see what was happening inside.

George released his aura, the shockwave dispersing the dust as it revealed him standing before the pope and Leon holding the sword's hilt, staring bewildered. 

A masked and hooded apparition appeared before the young man. He wore a dark purple cloak with designs etched across the entire surface over a black martial artist's uniform.

He stared at Leon momentarily before speaking in an unknown language and using his hands as he talked. After a lengthy explanation, he vanished, leaving Leon confused. 

He looked around, but none of the other NPCs witnessed the brief appearance of the apparition.

[Global Announcement: Congratulations to Leon Astrahart for being the first to unlock the ultra-rare class: Forbidden Beast Mage!] 

The notice appeared as a massive window in the sky, but the shocking revelation came when all of the NPCs behind him began repeatedly pointing towards it and asking questions.

[Primary Class Unlocked!]

[Forbidden Beast Mage]

[Rank: EX]

[The Magical Beast Mage was a powerful class originating from the Vandine Empire following experiments injecting bestial energy directly into their agents and allowing the soldiers to manipulate the power of magical beasts directly. Following the Gran Terra Uprising, all agents were killed, and the class was lost to time.]

[Closed-Beta System upgraded! Beast Mage System installed!]

[Bestiary Expanded! All 39,435,758 magical beasts revealed!]

[Beastial Arte Charges Expanded. Arte Slots +2]

[Bestial Artes Upgraded! When equipped, Beastial Artes will provide attribute points and additional benefits!]

[Secondary Class: Beastmaster will now grow at half the rate of the Primary Class.]

[Sword of the Beast King received!]

[Tier: Artifact]

[Bound to Leon Astrahart]

[Level: 1]

[STR +1, END +1, AGI +1, INT +1, WIS +1]

[Beast King Set: 1/12 - Collect more items within the set to unlock additional effects.]

Equipment is separated into five tiers, Basic, Uncommon, Enhanced, Rare, and Legendary. However, a sixth tier, known as artifact equipment, could not be removed from a character no matter the means and grew in power as the player did. 

'Oh, shit!' Leon thought to himself as he stared at the weapon's information. He turned to look up, noticing his father walking toward him with a domineering presence. 

George reached for his hand, grabbing the long, curved sword from his son's hand, but as soon as it left Leon's grasp, it vanished before returning. 

"Unhand the sword, Leon!" He shouted, glaring down at his son.

"I can't! It won't let me!" He countered, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he stared back fearfully. 

The King attempted to seize the legendary sword several times before losing his temper and unleashing his aura as it expanded beyond the ceremonial site. 

"ABOMINATION!" The pope shouted, causing George to release his aura. Everyone turned to stare at the holy man, who pointed at Leon.

"You are no heir of the Astraharts! You are a demon! Dirty dog of the Empire!" He shouted, amplifying his voice with his mana.

The pope was one of the few people who actually knew the entire truth behind Gran Terra's history, the church having passed down knowledge from previous generations. 

"He is a cursed being!!!" The pope shouted, stumbling backward as he continued to wag his finger at Leon, "He will bring nothing but death and despair to Gran Terra!!!"

"Silence!" George shouted, his aura choking the pope as the elderly man fell to his knees, clutching his throat as he silently gasped, desperately trying to inhale air. 

"You would dare speak ill about my progeny?" The King asked as he stood over the pope, glaring down at him. A squadron of paladins rushed over and wearily stood between the King and their leader, holding their weapons at the ready; however, this only agitated George even more.

"You would point a weapon toward your king!?!" He boomed, unleashing his unrestrained aura, which suffocated the entire ceremony, forcing the whole congregation to their knees, unable to control their actions.

The pope struggled as he reached into his vestments, pulling out a small idol and raising it; he was released from the pressure of King George's aura as he gasped deeply. 

"You stupid, insignificant, pissant!" The pope yelled, expanding the artifact's influence as it freed the paladins from the King's pressure, "It is by our grace that you and your family remain in power! You would defy us?"

"Stand down and surrender to your king!" George demanded, placing his hand on the hilt of his massive blade on his waist, "I shall not ask again!"

"You think we are scared of you?" The pope asked, laughing maniacally, reaching into his robes and pulling out a vial, "Paladins! Kill everyone!"

He popped the cork before smashing the idol against the ground. The sphere rapidly expanded, trapping everyone within its influence as he downed the vial.

The squadron of paladins reached into their armor and produced a similar vial, drinking them as they followed the pope's orders. 

The paladins began to writhe in pain and agony as their bodies began to mutate. Their pure white clothing shredded as they grew in size several times, their bodies becoming demonic and bestial as their heavenly armor was embedded into their skin, tendons latching to them. 

Wings protruded from the pope's back as his vestments fused with his lower body, and he began floating. His once pure white clothes became stained with purple, red, and gray hues. 

"Kill them all!!!" He shouted in an ethereal and demonic voice, throwing his arms out as the demonic paladins below unleashed deafening roars and leaped from their positions around the barrier.

"Father!" Alec shouted, blocking an attack from one of the demonic paladins. He imbued his sword with divine power, and it produced a powerful and searing white light.

"Protect the nobles!" George shouted, turning to Franc, "Protect the commoners!"

"Yes, father!" The two nodded in unison as they moved to follow his orders. The King activated his ability, creating two powerful swords. He wrapped an aura around all three blades and launched them toward the demonic pope. 

Leon conjured a spear, axe, and mace with [Spirit Weaponsmaster] as he drew his sword. Dashing toward a paladin with all five weapons, a volley of spirit arrows landed before him.