Gathering Husbands with a System in a Game Like World [BL]
Chapter 15: The Beast Emperor

Chapter 15: The Beast Emperor

The Mistfang Tyrant stood completely still, its red eyes fixed intently on the wall of white mist ahead, the savage confidence it had shown only moments before now entirely gone as it waited in perfect silence.

Kai noticed the sudden change immediately.

"It stopped," he said quietly.

Lucien frowned beside him.

"It isn’t attacking us anymore."

The beast’s full attention had shifted away from them toward the thick fog, it was as though something far more important had captured its focus.

Heavy footsteps echoed through the mist, each one seemed measured and unhurried, carrying an unmistakable sense of confidence that suggested whoever approached had no reason at all to fear the apex predator standing before them.

The mist began to ripple and part, not from any wind but from the sheer presence of something enormous moving steadily through it.

Then a bolt of bright blue lightning flashed across the white curtain, followed immediately by a powerful roll of thunder that shook the entire forest as the fog split apart dramatically.

A colossal griffin emerged from within the mist, standing over six meters tall with silver-black feathers that shimmered with streaks of crackling blue lightning, and every powerful beat of its massive wings sent violent gusts sweeping through the clearing that drove back the unnatural fog in wide waves.

Lucien’s eyes widened in recognition.

"That’s a Thunder Griffin," he whispered, his voice filled with both awe and disbelief. "And not an ordinary one... I’ve only read about creatures like this in the oldest records, it’s the strongest variant."

Of course Kai knew this, this griffin costed a whole lot of game coins to unlock as a familiar in the game.

The griffin stepped forward, causing the ground to tremble beneath its massive talons, and for the first time since the battle began, the Mistfang Tyrant actually retreated, taking one hesitant step backward and then another, the monster that had slaughtered veteran adventurers without hesitation now clearly backing away from this new threat.

Only after Kai’s eyes adjusted to the brilliant lightning did he finally notice the figure seated calmly upon the griffin’s back, a young man perhaps a few years older than himself with ash-gray hair that reached his shoulders and shifted gently in the breeze created by the griffin’s wings, his golden eyes sharp and unwavering as they rested solely on the Mistfang Tyrant.

He wore a long forest-green coat reinforced with dark leather armor that looked both practical for travel and elegant enough to reveal noble craftsmanship, and there was no sword at his waist, no bow, no spear, and no staff, only a simple silver whistle hanging from a chain around his neck.

The system activated instantly.

[Scanning...]

[Name: Rhydian Valeheart]

[Race: Human]

[Profession: Beast Tamer]

[Rank: SSS]

[Title: The Beast Emperor]

[Danger Assessment: Extremely High]

[Recommendation: Do not provoke.]

[Role: Husband Candidate???. Anti Hero?]

Kai blinked in surprise at the information. This was only the second SSS-ranked husband candidate he had encountered outside the system’s direct information, and the gap between Rhydian and everyone else on this battlefield was obvious without the system needing to say another word.

Rhydian was actually a very popular in game character, but Kai had only knew him from afar he never really got the chance to unlock Rhydian’s features.

Lucien whispered in quiet awe, "That’s Rhydian Valeheart, the Beast Emperor, the youngest beast tamer ever recognized by the Empire. They say no magical beast willingly challenges him because his reputation alone commands respect across the entire continent."

Rhydian slowly slid from the griffin’s back, his boots landing softly upon the earth while the Thunder Griffin remained protectively behind him, its feathers still crackling with restrained lightning.

For a brief moment Rhydian glanced toward Kai and Lucien, his golden eyes confirming that they were both still alive and unharmed, before his attention returned fully to the Mistfang Tyrant as nothing else in the world seemed to matter in that moment.

"You’ve caused quite a disturbance," he said in a calm, almost conversational tone. "You crossed three territories, destroyed two villages, and killed every hunting party sent after you."

The Mistfang Tyrant answered with a furious roar that shook the surrounding trees, but Rhydian remained completely unmoved.

"This hunt ends here."

The beast lowered its massive body, muscles tightening visibly beneath its black fur threaded with glowing violet veins as it began circling slowly and searching for any possible opening.

Lucien whispered to Kai without taking his eyes off the battle, "That’s how Rhydian fights. He doesn’t command his beasts with force. He forms true partnerships with them. They obey because they choose to, because they trust him completely."

Kai nodded, unable to tear his eyes away as the Mistfang Tyrant suddenly lunged forward with terrifying speed, its massive claws tearing through the earth where Rhydian had been standing only a heartbeat earlier.

Rhydian had completely changed his standing location in mere seconds

"His speed is insane" Kai thought.

The Thunder Griffin moved first in perfect coordination, launching into the air with one powerful beat of its wings as lightning exploded around its body. The beast’s claws struck empty ground instead, and a moment later electricity crashed down from the sky like a bolt from heaven. The Mistfang Tyrant twisted away just in time, but the blast still shattered stone and scorched a wide section of the clearing.

Rhydian raised two fingers to the silver whistle hanging from his neck and blew a single clear note that rang through the forest. The Thunder Griffin answered immediately, its wings spreading wide as a violent storm erupted around it, powerful gusts tearing through the battlefield and shredding the unnatural mist apart to restore visibility once more.

Lucien continued quietly, his voice filled with quiet admiration, "The fog is the beast’s greatest weapon. If it loses that advantage, its overall strength drops considerably because the mist itself amplifies its power."

The Mistfang Tyrant howled in frustration and released a thick wave of white mist from its jaws, the unnatural fog spreading rapidly and swallowing the clearing once again. Rhydian remained perfectly calm as the Thunder Griffin beat its wings furiously, trying to disperse the fog, but this time the mist continued expanding stubbornly.

Then silence fell for several long seconds until the fog finally began to thin. The Mistfang Tyrant was gone, leaving only shattered trees and deep claw marks behind as evidence of its presence.

Rhydian walked to the exact spot where the beast had stood moments earlier and knelt down to touch a drop of black blood soaking into the soil. The violet glow within it slowly faded away.

"...It escaped," he said quietly.

The Thunder Griffin lowered its massive head beside him and let out a quiet, disappointed cry. Rhydian gently rested a hand against its beak.

"You did well. It won’t get far this time."

Kai finally stepped forward, still processing everything he had just witnessed.

"Thank you for saving us."

Rhydian stood and looked at Kai properly for the first time, his golden eyes lingering for a moment beneath the edge of Kai’s hood.

"You remained remarkably calm," he observed. "Most people would have frozen in a situation like that."

Kai gave a small, honest smile.

"I was terrified. I just didn’t have the luxury to panic."

For the first time a hint of genuine amusement crossed Rhydian’s face.

"That’s a very useful habit to have."

The Thunder Griffin suddenly walked toward Kai with surprising gentleness. Lucien stiffened immediately.

"...Careful."

Even Kai instinctively held his breath as the enormous magical beast stopped directly in front of him. Its golden eyes studied him with open curiosity for several long seconds. Then, instead of any hostility, it lowered its head and gently nudged Kai’s shoulder in a surprisingly friendly manner.

Kai blinked in surprise.

"...Hello there."

The griffin let out a soft, pleased trill in response. Rhydian’s eyebrows rose ever so slightly in visible surprise.

"...Interesting."

Lucien looked between Kai and the griffin with clear astonishment.

"I’ve never heard of Argent approaching a stranger on his own like this."

"Argent?" Kai asked curiously.

Rhydian rested a hand on the griffin’s neck with clear affection.

"My partner."

Argent gave Kai one more gentle nudge before returning calmly to Rhydian’s side. The Beast Emperor looked at Kai once more, this time with genuine curiosity in his golden eyes.

The system chimed.

[Host seems to have captivated the affection of an SSS Rank Beast]

[Optional Side Quest initiated: Aquire an SSS Rank Beast Do you wish to undergo this task?]

Kai’s eyes widened "what? No!"

[Noted!]

"Most magical beasts are extremely cautious around unfamiliar people. Argent isn’t."

Rhydian chipped in.

Kai could only offer a small shrug.

"I don’t know why either."

Neither did Rhydian, but for the first time in many years his oldest and most trusted companion had shown clear interest in someone they had only just met.