When the first rays of light from the rising sun pierced through the night.

The city lord brought Asgela to a cave.

There was an altar in the center of the cave, and bright red liquid was flowing down it.

The environment looked extremely sinister under the sunlight.

“We’re still lacking the blood of two more Beastmasters.”

The city Lord looked at the blood pools around the altar and said slowly, “Locke and Hathaway are the perfect candidates for this!”

After the invasion of the Daemons from the previous night, all the foreign Beastmasters residing in Mountain City had perished.

Their blood, as well as the blood of the Daemons that had been vanquished, had flowed flowed into the altar via magical arrays.

“Congratulations to the city lord for advancing into a Stage 4 Beastmaster!”

Asgela congratulated him from the side.

The city lord turned to look at him and asked, “Have all the Daemons been annihilated?”

Asgela immediately replied, “None of the Daemons from last night survived!”

“Very good.” The city lord revealed a sinister smile.

“Get Accius to deal with Locke and Hathaway as soon as possible.”

…

The day had just dawned when Locke and Hathaway woke up.

Accius had already prepared breakfast for them.

“After breakfast, I will go to the city lord’s residence and make things clear.”

During breakfast, Accius said listlessly.

“Okay.”

Locke nodded slightly.

He was not particularly bothered.

After all, he had no plans to stay in Mountain City.

Whether or not Accius could resolve this issue mattered little to him.

“Accius!”

Suddenly, while the three of them were eating their breakfast comfortably, a domineering aura surged out like a tide, and it caused the people around them feel as if a mountain was pressing down on them, making it extremely difficult for them to breathe.

“My lord!?”

Accius’ expression changed, and he immediately stood up to look in the direction in which the aura had originated from.

“Oh?”

Locke was immediately interested.

‘Has the city lord, who has been making my stay troublesome thus far, come looking for me?’

In the next moment, the three of them saw a dignified-looking middle-aged man wearing dazzling black armor and carrying a heavy sword on his back appear from the horizon.

He flew towards Accius mansion. He seemed to be flying very slowly, but in the span of two breaths, he had arrived at his destination.

“My lord… didn’t you say that you would give me three days?”

Accius looked at the city lord who was standing on the wall and asked.

“Locke is an extremely evil person. If he escapes 3 days later, how would you answer to the millions of citizens residing in Mountain City!” The city lord shouted sternly.

“That remains to be seen… Ah!”

Before Accius could finish his words, the city lord struck out with his palm. A bolt of lightning shot out from his palm and struck Accius dead on.

“Stop!”

Locke shouted.

The city lord did not stop. He only glanced at him indifferently.

“I’m your target, right? Come at me then, for what reason are you attacking your own subordinate?”

Locke’s gaze met the city lord’s calmly. Despite the city lord’s overbearing aura, Locke showed no fear. In fact, Locke was standing tall and proud.

“Okay.” A bright light flashed in the city lord’s eyes as he turned his attack towards Locke.

The lightning in his hand was like an ancient beast as it pounced towards Locke.

“Divine Dragon!”

Locke roared.

At the same time, an earth-shattering dragon’s roar rang out from his body.

“Roar!”

The Dragon’s roar contained a terrifying amount of mana. Its sound waves turned into a ripple and scattered the city lord’s lightning.

The city lord was hit by the backlash of his attack, and as a result, he lost his footing slightly.

This caused shock to appear on the city lord and Accius’ faces.

‘He’s capable of repelling the city lord!’ Accius exclaimed in his heart.

He was a Stage 3, Rank 1 Beastmaster himself. Even so, he needed to use every single ounce of his strength to stand a chance against the city lord.

On the other hand, Locke seemed to be very relaxed. He did not even summon his Battle Beast.

Locke’s strength had flew completely under his radar.

So much so that he had even assumed that Locke was being framed.

Once again, seeds of doubt were planted in Accius’ heart as he began to consider Locke as a culprit behind the Daemons’ invasion of Mountain City.

‘Was the city lord right? Have I been protecting an evildoer?’ Accius’ state of mind was shaken, and his eyes gradually became lifeless.

“It seems that you are rather strong.” Upon regaining his footing, the city lord looked at Locke coldly and said.

“Your strength is very average.” Locke replied indifferently.

This made the city lord feel as if he had been looked down upon.

The city Lord was furious and shouted, “Die, you!”

In the next moment, his entire body emitted a dazzling golden light, and a 30 meter tall figure appeared behind him.

The giant figure gradually solidified. It had a green face and sharp fangs. There were several bolts of lightning surrounding its body, making it seem like a Thunder Monarch.

At the same time, the system’s interface appeared in Locke’s line of sight. It contained information regarding the Battle Beast before him.

Battle Beast Name : Thunder Giant

Battle Beast Attribute : Lightning

Battle Beast Quality : Purple Gold1

Battle Beast Level : Stage 3 , Level 7

Battle Beast Talent : Thunderous Reign

Battle Beast Skill : Lightning Combo, Thunder Dragon Strike, 100,000 Volts

‘A high-level Stage 3 Battle Beast? Interesting…’ Locke muttered to himself.

“Divine Dragon!”

Locke shouted.

A giant dragon’s figure soared into the sky from his body.

It looked up at the sky and roared.

All the mana within a 100,000-mile radius surged towards it.

The Divine Dragon’s figure gradually solidified. When it spread its wings, its huge body blotted out the sky and covered the sun.

At the same time, the majestic dragon’s might filled the sky and earth, and made all the Battle Beasts submit to it.

All the battle beasts in Mountain City silently knelt on the ground and worshipped it.

Even the city lord’s Thunder Giant had a look of fear in its huge blue eyes.

“Are you afraid?”

The city lord had a telepathic connection with his Battle Beast that had enabled him to sense its state of mind.

He had raised the Thunder Giant for several years, but this was the first time he had ever felt such an emotion.

“What kind of Battle Beast is that?”

The city lord looked up at the huge figure in the sky.

Due to the sunlight, he could not see the Battle Beast’s figure properly.

“Roar!”

Following its roar, the dragon to Locke’s side.

It was at this point that the city lord finally saw what species Locke’s Battle Beast was.

‘A dragon!?’

The city lord and Accius both exclaimed in their hearts.

In this world, no one could form a contract with the dragon race.

Even if there was, they should not have appeared in a second-rate city like Mountain City.

“I wonder if your Stage 3, Level 7 Thunder Giant is capable of holding up against my Stage 3, Level 6 Divine Dragon,” Locke’s figure slowly rose and landed on top of the Holy Dragon’s head.

The city lord sneered and said, “Rumor has it that the combat strength of dragons is extraordinary. I shall put that rumor to the test today.”

“I hope you won’t regret that remark,” Locke said coldly.

“Chain Lightning!” The city lord’s expression suddenly changed as he gave the order.

“ROAAR!”

The Thunder Giant roared and raised both of its hands to gather mana. As a result, a sea of lightning began to congregate around it.

1 Seems to be a new quality

/ rank for Battle Beasts