Rise of the Crusader

‘Kindly, step out of the mansion, the envoys of the big three are waiting for you.” Raphael read the message out loud.

Even though the message added ‘Kindly’ Raphael wasn’t that gullible to step out, the next move he made after reading the message was to look through the camera outside.

As he then stared at the camera, his eyes couldn’t help but twitch.

“Metabeasts,” Raphael muttered upon seeing those outside.

They were six meta-beasts standing out of the mansion, with each excluding a frightening aura around their body.

It wasn’t that the beasts were letting that aura off their body intentionally, but it was just that, it had always been like that for them.

Growing up in a New Age city had its own traits.

Raphael called to Gus, he balled his hand into a tight fist, completely ready for any scene that was going to occur, and with a nod from him and Gus, the door opened.

.....

Upon seeing Raphael, three of the beasts chuckled, while a smile appeared on the faces of the other three.

“If it isn’t the great Raphael, Queen. I have heard a lot of things about you, and it’s a pleasure to finally get to see you.”

The beast who spoke was a four-armed ape with a very muscular frame. The ape stood seven feet fall, and as he stared at Raphael, there was a smile on his face.

Raphael slowly turned from the four-armed apes, and stared at the abnormally tall ostrich and then the crocodile that had spikes all over its body.

“You like what you see, isn’t it?” Said the female kangaroo.

An eyebrow was raised by Raphael, he shook his head, and then faced the beast that seemed to be strongest among the six of them.

The beast with the upper body of a man, while his lower body was that of a horse. On the beast, shoulder was a falcon, who kept seizing Raphael from head to toe with it thought rather unknown.

“Why don’t we come in to discuss what we are here for.” The half-beast-half man said.

Responding to the beast, Raphael shook his head.

“That won’t be necessary, you might as well as tell me what you’re here for now,” Raphael replied.

After Raphael spoke, the six beasts glanced at one another, and after seeming to have communicated telepathically, the half-beast-half-man spoke.

“We are the representative of the big three in the academy, and we are here to present the offers which we have in place for you in the city.” The beast said.

He then handed Raphael a piece of paper, and after the first paper got to Raphael, he received two more papers.

Raphael’s face lit up upon seeing what was written in the paper, and as he stared at the other, he was unable to hide how astounded he truly was.

Unbeknownst to Raphael, upon seeing his reaction when he saw the papers, the beasts were elated.

As they were representative of the cabal, the student council, and the bratvas, they had been informed that Raphael joining one of them was very essential.

They had to secure him at all costs.

And written in those papers were offers that each of the big three promised Raphael if he were to join them.

“So, what do you say, Raphael? Will you be joining the cabal, the brats, or the student council?” The half-beast-half man spoke.

As the beast spoke, Raphael stared at the papers in his hand.

It would be a lie to say that he wasn’t flattered by the resources the three of them were willing to give to him, especially in New age city.

As the city flocked around with students from each division, the big three promised to give me a shop in the city, where he would be able to create any gadget he wants, as well as sell them.

To both beasts and mankind… It was up to his choice.

Adding to that, whoever he chose promised to grant him complete immunity in the city. Even the king of beasts would be prohibited from making a move on him.

Mind you, the king of beasts was of SS-Rank.

The offer caused Raphael to reevaluate his stance on the big three of the academy, if they weren’t bluffing about their statement of the king of beasts, then they were more dreadful than he thought of them.

“Do I have to pick one of you now?” Raphael inquired.

The beasts glanced at one another again, but this time around it took a bit longer before they turned toward Raphael.

“No,” The half-beast-half man replied. “Take all the time you want.”

Raphael nodded his head, he turned around and was about to enter the mansion when he felt a movement behind him.

He abruptly paused, turning towards the beast, “What do you think you’re going?”

“Going in with you! We will wait until you have made up your mind on which one of us, you will be joining.” Said the four armed apes.

Raphael’s eyebrows furrowed, and as it didn’t seem to be like they were joking about it, he heaved a deep breath.

Raphael was then about to speak when a hiss came from Gus.

“H-How can you…” The four armed apes stuttered as he had Gus speak.

Clearly, he wasn’t expecting Gus to be capable of speaking to them, having considered him as a pet. And as he stared at the other beasts, who were just as astounded as he was, he moved his gaze back to Gus.

“You’re also a meta beast.”

As Gus responded to that question with a prideful nod.

The expression on the six beasts changed very quickly, after Gus’s reply. They appeared very excited, and slowly the half-beast-half man walked towards Raphael.

“May I?”

Before Raphael would even reply, Gus flew to the man’s hand immediately.

The five beasts gathered around quickly, with each of them then staring at Gus as though he were a priceless gem.

“You’re also an S-Rank beast!” After uttering those words, the man shook his head, “That isn’t right! You seem stronger than most S-Rank, so…”

Gus continued to nod its head, and upon the look on its face, the beasts around it soon realized something.

“You’re very close to SS-Rank.” The half-beast-half man exclaimed.

And responding to the beast, Gus said, “Now, you know.”