Evolving

After talking with Protector, the group began their journey back home. As they walked, Lith couldn't help but voice his concerns. "You're not really going to awaken that wolf, are you?"

"I am going to do that," Leon nodded and confirmed.

"But what if it attacks us after evolving?" Trion asked, worry etched on his face.

"Yes, the Byk wasn't even awakened and it was strong enough to push you," Tista chimed in, supporting Trion's concern.

Leon shook his head and said, "Beasts are different from us humans. That's why I talked about an oath. For them, it is sacred. As the Rye said, if they take an oath, they will never go against it."

"But what if it was lying?" Lith asked, stopping in his tracks.

"He didn't lie," Leon said with confidence.

"How do you know that?" Lith gritted his teeth and pressed on, Trion looking worriedly between them while Tista tried to prevent them from fighting.

"Just trust me this once," Leon replied, and Lith stomped his foot in frustration before storming off.

"You are a fool," Lith muttered as he walked away.

'Well, buddy, he was like an father to you in the original, but I can't say that,' Leon thought as he watched Lith's retreating back.

Shaking his head, Leon and the others continued their return to the village in silence.

After returning home, Leon and the others handed over the corpses of the Byk and deer to Selia. She sold everything of value, taking a 25% commission. This not only helped them earn money but also gained them merits for eliminating a threat to the county.

The next day, Leon decided to visit Trawn Woods again. Lith warned him against blindly trusting the beasts, but Leon nodded and still went to meet the Protector, much to Lith's frustration.

Upon reaching the woods, Leon saw the Protector accompanied by two more beasts. One was a Gylad, a stag magical beast standing over two meters (seven feet) tall at the shoulder and weighing at least nine hundred kilograms (2,000 pounds). Its fur was light brown with shades of blue. The other was a Shyf, a puma magical beast as big as a tiger, with a shoulder height of one and a half meters (five feet) and weighing over three hundred kilograms (660 pounds). It had honey-colored fur with shades of green.

"The Gylad is the king in the north, Lifebringer, while the Shyf is the king in the south, Reaper," the Protector introduced.

Both beasts nodded as they looked at Leon. "You seem too innocent to be called Scourge," Lifebringer said, his voice sounding like a middle-aged man to Leon.

"We can always talk about titles later. First, I want to know if you can really evolve us?" Reaper asked, his brown eyes staring into Leon's.

Leon shook his head and said, "Evolving involves a complex process, so I'm not 100% sure. The only thing I can assure you is that I can initiate your awakening. Whether you survive it or not is up to you," he replied.

Holding their breath, both Lifebringer and Reaper fell silent while the Protector seemed to be deep in thought.

"You didn't mention this last time," the Protector asked.

"The reason I offered it was because you didn't have much time. So even if you were to die, I wouldn't feel as bad," Leon replied honestly.

The Protector nodded, then said, "How about you help me, then? If I survive the awakening, you can evolve us. If not, I will die," he said.

"We can't take this risk," Lifebringer interrupted before Leon could respond.

"Yes, we don't even know whether we can trust him or not," Reaper nodded and pointed his paw at Leon.

Leon looked at them seriously and said, "Trust is something that is built over time. I've made my offer, and the decision lies with you. If you want to take the chance, I'm here to help. If not, then that's your choice."

Hearing Leon, the Protector nodded and said, "I am ready."

Lifebringer and Reaper frowned but remained silent, respecting the Protector's decision.

Leon nodded and began to search the Trawn Woods with the others. 'If I remember correctly, there's a mana geyser around here somewhere,' he thought. Using his Life Vision, it didn't take long for Leon to find it, as it shone like another sun in his vision.

Reaching the spot, Leon instructed the Protector to keep performing magic while he gave him a breathing technique he had selected from the Arkham library, 'Lone Wolf Pride.' It originally belonged to a mercenary named Lone Wolf who once challenged and lost to Arkham. Leon chose it and modified it to suit a beast's body with his Analyst talent, then passed it to the Protector.

Protector listened to Leon and began to breathe as instructed while utilizing magic from one spell to another. Soon he felt the mana core Leon talked about, and then he whimpered.

Lifebringer and Reaper stood up as they heard his cries.

Leon stopped them from approaching and said gravely, "It's beginning. Now it's up to the Protector."

They watched as a golden pillar of light erupted from the Protector, bound by another pillar descending from the sky. The Protector whimpered as his fur began to shed along with a black gooey substance.

After half an hour, the fully evolved Protector rested in his own puddle. After taking some breaths, he stood up, and Leon washed him with darkness magic, revealing his new majestic body.

The Protector's fur was now a radiant silver with streaks of gold, his eyes glowing with an ethereal light. He radiated a powerful aura that made Lifebringer and Reaper step back in awe.

The Protector now had two horns emerging from atop his head, membranous wings from his shoulders, and a flame-like mane around his neck.

"How do you feel?" Leon asked, genuinely curious.

Protector took a deep breath and said, "I feel... powerful. More than I ever have before."

Lifebringer and Reaper exchanged glances, their initial skepticism turning into curiosity and hope.

"What am I now?" Protector asked as Leon created an ice mirror for him.

"I don't know," Leon replied. "But if I get my hands on a Beast Book, I'll tell you later."

Protector nodded, then bowed and said, "You have my eternal gratitude. I take an oath: as long as I live, I will protect your family and your cubs."

Leon nodded and then asked Lifebringer and Reaper if they wanted to evolve as well. They nodded eagerly.

Leon helped them evolve too. Reaper transformed into a manticore, gaining a lion's body, bat-like wings, and a scorpion's tail. Lifebringer evolved into a Kirin, a majestic creature with a horse body, dragon-like body scales shimmering in various colors, and antlers adorned with glowing orbs.

"Thank you," Reaper said, flexing his new wings.

Lifebringer added, "We owe you a great debt. Your family will always have our protection."

Leon nodded in satisfaction and warns them of potential dangers of being an awakened " First and foremost never tell anyone it was me who awakened you, second dont rush it, if you rush your cores you will all due or much worse turned into abominations " hearing him the three beast nodded gravely and promised him they will never rush anything.

" by the way can I go to hour house, I would like to see your cubs" he asked Protector knowing his mate has just given birth to his children.

Protector nodded and then he jumped on Lofe bringer back. 

Others looked at him weirdly seeing this causing Leon to tilt his head and ask " what?"

Others looked at him weirdly, causing Leon to tilt his head and ask, "What?"

They shook their heads and began to move towards Protector's home.

It was a simple cave. Upon arriving, Leon jumped off Lifebringer's back and looked at the little furballs. Protector's mate growled, but a lick from Protector calmed her down.

Leon then went and grabbed each of them as he inspected them. He picked one out of the six children and showed it to Protector. "Can I take him with me?" he asked.

Protector didn't immediately reply. He grabbed his cub from Leon's hand and asked, "What is your purpose?"

"Well, he won't live long, so I want to see if I can refine his blood and help him survive," Leon said, getting straight to the point.

Protector nodded and gave his cub to him. "He was born weak. I knew from day one, he wouldn't live long enough, but if you could help him, then please," he said.

Leon nodded, took the little furball in his hand, and bid goodbye to the others as he began to return home.

On the way, Leon vanished into his Dream Space and put the grey furball down. It looked at Leon with its black beast eyes. Leon smiled as he rubbed its head, causing the little one to squeal in joy.

Leon then brought out a glowing bead and showed it to the little one. The furball looked at the rainbow-colored bead, gave it a lick, and wagged its tail, and then looked at Leon. Leon nodded and let him eat it.

After eating the bead, the little one fell asleep as blood leaked from him and formed a blood cocoon around him. Leon carefully observed the blood cocoon and left it as it was.

"I wonder what I would get," Leon mumbled as he exited the Dream Space.

The bead he fed to the little one was called the Myriad Bloodline Bestowal Pearl.

[Myriad Bloodline Bestowal Pearl]

Rarity: SSR

World: Beast Master

Description: Randomly grants a bloodline to a beast cub after feeding it to the cub, the cub will be eternally loyal to the one who feeds it.]

It was a reward he received after completing the hidden quest of killing his first magical beast.