Starting Out As The God of Beasts

The scent of fresh Varanite and sacred Myrrh hung heavy in the air of the newly erected Saint Jarden Cathedral.

High above, the massive, structural glass dome filtered the late afternoon sun, casting sharp, emerald beams across the sprawling nave.

The outer world was locked out; the heavy, iron-reinforced doors were barred from the inside by elite Sun Tiger guards.

This was the first joint assembly of the Feral Domain’s dual pillars: the Tempest City Administration and the Church of Varanus.

They gathered around a massive, circular stone table carved directly out of the cathedral’s altar floor.

The atmosphere was thick with a tense, solemn gravity.

On one side sat the Administrative Authority.

Lord Manuses, the newly evolved Holy Solar Griffin-kin, his massive, metallic-gold wings tucked tightly against his back, his sharp eagle eyes scanning the room with terrifying, Martial Lord pressure.

The first of his kind.

By his side sat Commander Trojan, his armor immaculate but his expression stern, holding a parchment map detailing the borders of the Hudeii Desert.

Alisa sat with her legs crossed, the newly appointed Director of Mandraxx, sitting quietly in the shadows, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the table as her mind mapped out hidden information networks.

She occasionally stole glances at everyone in the room.

On the opposing side sat the Religious Authority.

Elder Croak, the High Priest of the Church, his towering, black-chitinous beetle plate armor humming with a low, sub-audible vibration.

Alpha Eurenia sat by his left, the Crusade Captain, her Wolf-kin ears twitching at every echo in the massive hall.

And by his right sat Alpha Brenda, the newly sworn Commander of the Inquisition, looking visibly uncomfortable in a holy sanctuary but maintaining a sharp, predatory posture.

"We have received reports from our scouts confirming the intentions of Yeren City." she exhaled a deep sigh.

"They wish to form a trade network with us right?" Commander Trojan asked.

"Yes. That’s correct" Brenda answered.

"The southern Raksha City remains neutral, their gates closed to our spies" Alisa chipped.

"If the great Yeren City seeks to form a trade network with us, it’s because they’ve seen our power and they desire our Varanite blocks and the Varanium metal" Alisa continued.

"Our miners are producing them at high quantities" Mayor Manuses explained to the Religious Authority.

Roy had formed a unique structure of governance in Tempest City.

The Adminstration had the authority to regulate foreign laws and operations while the Religious Order focused on the internal laws.

But under certain circumstances, they both interfere with each other’s authorities.

This is to keep the two sides in check. Not one should possess absolute control over Tempest City.

Both sides also has to brief the other when it came down to certain special decision making such as war declaration.

But the Mayor still holds the executive power to declare war.

"That is good" High Priest Croak smiled, "The eastern Yeren City is often targeted by the Troll King because of their immense wealth"

"But the Troll King hasn’t invaded them due to their strength, they’re rich and powerful at the same time"

"It won’t be bad forming a trading network with them" the High Priest stated, "I agree" Alpha Brenda chipped.

"Apostle Jarden seeks to unite all beastmen of Hudeii Desert under the banner of the Church" she smiled, "This is the best chance we have"

"Let’s start by taking control of the biggest city Yeren then move to Raksha" she tapped her fingers on the table.

"What do you think, Director Alisa?" she turned her attention towards Alisa, "I’m also in support of the trade network" Alisa answered.

"This is the beginning of our expansion phase. Yeren City is the safe haven for all beastmen to thrive in"

"They’re our perfect choice but there are quite the numbers of Orcs and Ogres walking their streets" Alisa’s eyes narrowed "You should know how filthy those things are" she growled.

"Lord Varanus loathes them and so we must wipe them out" she clenched her fist.

"What are you suggesting?" Alpha Eurenia asked.

Since she’s a fighter.

She barely understood anything about politics, but what she did know is to destroy anything her god loathes.

"Well" Alisa inhaled deeply, "We’ll dispatch a group of ambassadors to Yeren, but I’ll sneak in some Mandraxx agents"

"You’ll send over a few crusaders, they’ll be supporting my assasins who will be taxed with the execution of those filths" she stated.

"That’s interesting" Alpha Eurenia’s lips curled faintly, "That’s a deal, anything that Lord Varanus loathes must be purged"

Elder Croak was about to speak when the space directly above the center of the circular table violently distorted.

The air pressure dropped to absolute zero in a fraction of a millisecond.

A brilliant swirl of golden-crimson mana particles erupted upward like a fountain of sparks, and Roy materialized out of thin air.

Everyone tensed up at the sight of the Apostle.

He no longer needed to hide his Transformation ability since they all considered him to be above the Martial Lord’s realm.

Shapeshifting was versatile skill to a cultivator but it was common.

He stood casually on the surface of the stone table, his hands slipped into the pockets of his tailored black coat, looking down at his assembled council with a lofty, predatory grin.

The entire room instantly stood up, chairs scraping against the polished stone floor.

"Praise be to the Apostle," Elder Croak intoned, his massive obsidian claws pressing against his chest.

The rest of the council bowed their heads in absolute, unified reverence.

"Sit," Roy spoke smoothly, his level voice effortlessly commanding the room.

He stepped off the table, his boots making no sound as he took his place at the head of the circular assembly. "Alisa is correct. All non-beastmen are vile to the God of Beasts, so they must be purged, starting now..." he paused.

"We are rewriting the script."

[Ding!]

The status window shimmered before his eyes.

[All six dedicated followers has been registered]

[Deploying Divine Blessings]

A blinding flash of transparent cyan light erupted from Roy’s hand, fracturing into multiple glowing light-spheres that floated gently toward each leader around the table.

[Notice....]

[Your dedicated followers are blessed Spectral War Cry skill]

[Your dedicated followers are blessed with Blade Tempering Physique skill]

[Your dedicated followers are blessed with Supreme Battle Instinct skill]

[Alpha Eurenia is blessed with an active skill: Tempest Dragon’s Breath]

[Alisa is blessed with an active skill: Shadow Possession]

Roy extended his right hand, palm upward.

Everyone could feel the sudden warmth of his divine skill blessing.

But none spoke, they watched.

Commander Trojan," Roy murmured, waving a hand, one of the orbs materialized into a golden runed Longsword.

The Sixth-Grade Solar Cleaver.

The light-spheres all contained divine relics he had purchased from the Divine Market.

Commander Trojan caught the Solar Cleaver thrown towards his direction.

The moment his hands grabbed the sword’s tilt, "This....this power" Commander Trojan felt a resonating pressure from the divine relic.

It was devouring his mana at a rapid rate, but he quickly suppressed it thanks to his high sun-affinity.

"This is Lord Varanus’ gift to you, cherish it and use it to cut down his enemies" Roy advised,

"I’ll cherish it with my very life" the Sun-Tiger man bowed.

"I pledge to only cut down the enemies of this Church with this blade" Commander Trojan pledged before the Apostle.

Roy nodded, he materialized the Ring of Shrouded Ledger next and sent it to everyone’s fingers.

"This belongs to y’all" Roy stated, everyone thanked him and sang praises to the God of Beasts.

Next, he sent the Fifth-Grade Abyssal Sight-Glass towards Alisa who caught the pair of monocles.

"It’s yours" Roy said.

"Praise be to the God of Beasts for his kindness upon us" she giggled, "Yes...praise be to the God of Beasts"

"Lord Varanus is benevolent, he blesses those who are his loyal vassals and has proven their worth to him"

"The harder you work....the more blessings you will receive" Roy stated. He turned his gaze towards Alisa "Now....let’s focus on Yeren City"

"Alisa...." he called.

"Yes?" Alisa straightened her back in anticipation, Roy turned to face the rest of the cultivators.

"We will be venturing into Yeren City as ambassadors of Tempest" he smiled, "Just you, I and Eurenia"

"During this trip. We’ll also focus on your cultivation..."

"It’s time you two became Martial Masters"