Chapter 782: Second Ancestral Land of Beast Taming Nox turned toward the source of the loud footsteps. Several robed figures in different-colored garments stepped into the courtyard with grim expressions. Each robe represented a different class, Mage, Knight, Healer, Assassin, Warrior, and so on. They were priests. Priests from the various temples of the Vermilion Kingdom. Ria’s face darkened instantly. "Great... they actually came." She had been expecting something like this from the start, and the priests did not fail to disappoint her. Adrian sighed and stepped forward, but Nox lifted a hand slightly; he would deal with this. Adrian hesitated, but since Nox was the founder of the Beast Taming class in this generation, he decided to let him handle it in his own way. The leading priest was a tall middle-aged man with silver streaks in his hair. On his chest was the warrior symbol identifying him as a Warrior Priest. Beside him, the Mage Priest clutched his staff tightly, and the others formed a semi-circle, blocking the entrance. The lead priest raised his voice, loud enough for all the kids to hear. "What in the world is going on here?! Why has no one shown up at our temples for Awakening?!" His voice echoed across the entire courtyard. The kids flinched but did not step back. They stood firmly behind Nox, as if instinctively knowing that he was the reason they had a future. Another priest—a woman in the blue robe of Water Mages—pointed accusingly at Nox. "You! Beast Tamer boy! Whatever stunt you’re pulling is jeopardizing the future of all other classes! Do you realize our temples are EMPTY today?! Not a single youth came for their Awakening!" "That has never happened before," the Healer Priest added sharply. "Not once in centuries!" A few murmurs rippled through the crowd, but no one moved. Nox’s face remained emotionless, completely unbothered. He simply blinked at them. "Okay," he said calmly. The priests froze, unable to process what they were hearing. "...Okay? Okay?! That is all you have to say?!" Nox shrugged lazily. "They chose Beast Taming. Simple. There’s no problem here." The Warrior Priest’s face twisted. "You... do you understand the consequences of an entire kingdom choosing ONE class? Do you understand the imbalance this causes?" "That’s none of my concern," Nox said, expression blank. Adrian coughed into his hand to hide a smile. Right then, another priest stepped forward. "Beast Tamers are not even a mainstream class! How do you expect these children to survive on the battlefield when faced with serious enemies?!" Nox folded his arms and spoke in a flat tone. "I think they’ll survive just fine." "Besides," he added with a tired sigh, "even if the entire world becomes full of Beast Tamers, I honestly don’t care." The courtyard sucked in a collective breath. Some of the adults struggled to maintain calm. While the kids looked like they wanted to cheer, the priests looked like they wanted to faint. "Are you mad?!" the Mage Priest shouted. "If other classes die out, the whole balance of the world collapses!" Nox nodded casually. "Yeah. And?" The Guardian Priest trembled. "And...?! Do you mean to say you WANT the other classes to go extinct?!" Nox kept silent. But that silence was enough to show what was going through the dark-haired youth’s head. Ria covered her mouth, finding the whole interaction quite interesting. Adrian closed his eyes in a long inhale. The kids almost screamed but somehow held it in. Nox rolled his shoulders. "Call me selfish, call me whatever... but Beast Taming has done more for this kingdom in two months than your classes have done in decades." The priests stiffened, offended. But they couldn’t refute it. They really couldn’t. The ants alone had rebuilt half of Cromwell. Nox’s pets had fought monsters and defended the borders during the demonic invasion. Yes, the other classes had contributed as well, but their contribution paled in comparison to the Beast Tamers’. Nox stepped forward slightly, his aura subtly pressing down. "Let me make this simple," he said, his tone dropping cold. "Every single child standing here came of their own free will." Ria nodded instantly and added, "That is correct. As priests, we can guide, but we cannot force. There is freedom of choice in the Vermilion Kingdom. And they chose this." The lead priest clenched his fist. "Even so--! Even so, the influence you are spreading is too extreme! We can’t allow—" "You can’t allow?" Adrian’s calm voice interrupted. The priests fell silent. The king’s presence alone was enough to make them bow their heads. Adrian turned his gaze slowly over them. "You seem to forget which kingdom you stand in. Freedom of choice is the foundation of Vermilion’s laws. If our children choose Beast Taming... then that is their future." The priests lowered their heads but didn’t leave. They couldn’t leave without attempting once more. The lead priest took a deep breath, then looked up, holding the king’s gaze. "Your Majesty... even with freedom, this situation is far too unnatural. Every single child choosing this one class? This is a threat. Not to us, but to the balance of the entire kingdom. Today it’s Vermilion... tomorrow, other kingdoms. This class will create enemies." Nox finally grinned. "That’s fine. I’ve created worse enemies before." The priests stiffened as if stung. "And besides..." Nox continued with a casual wave of his hand, "if they awaken Beast Taming, that’s their path. I’m not forcing them. No one is. Not a single child was threatened, coerced, or pressured. In fact, most of them arrived here excited. Their interest is genuine." The Water Mage Priest looked conflicted. "Even so... if this continues, our temples will decline. Our gods may... punish us." Nox blinked. "What’s that got to do with me?" "You—! You are unbelievable!" the lead priest snapped. In his head, he had slaughtered Nox a thousand times. He inhaled, controlling his anger, then bowed stiffly. "We... cannot stop them, then. We acknowledge that. But remember this—when the backlash comes, the temples will not shelter you." With that, the priests turned around in frustration and marched out of the courtyard, their faces dark with conflict. The moment they left, Adrian exhaled. "That was more peaceful than I expected." Ria hummed softly. "They’re scared. Not just for themselves... but because they see the future. A future where their temples crumble." Nox didn’t comment. He didn’t need to. Everyone could already see it. Beast Taming had come to stay. The awakening ceremony resumed afterward. One after another, kids placed their hands on the statue. A soft glow radiated each time. And then... Ding! [You have awakened as a Beast Tamer!] More and more children awakened. It took only an hour for the courtyard to explode into celebration. Nox watched quietly, a small smirk tugging at his lips. Within two hours... every single person there awakened. Every. Single. One. Even those who had been unsure. Even those who doubted. Even those who thought they lacked talent. The statue glowed brightly, its divinity pulsing like a heartbeat. Ria stared speechlessly. "This... this is insane..." Adrian could only nod. "Vermilion will never be the same." But it didn’t end there. Not even close. Because from the distant gates of the royal island, where the temples were built,a messenger ran inside, panting loudly. "Your Majesty!!! More citizens, hundreds, no, thousands, people from neighboring towns are coming!! They’re forming massive lines outside the northern wall!!" Nox blinked in surprise. Ria’s jaw dropped. Adrian’s lips parted slightly. "You mean... they’re here to... awaken as well?" "Yes, Your Majesty!" the messenger gasped. "The news... it spread too quickly! The moment word got out that awakening was easy and force-free... all the other regions moved!" A deafening roar echoed from outside the temple. The people of Vermilion—and even those from outer towns and tiny villages—were flooding in. The future generation had chosen. Beast Taming. And it was only the beginning. Nox went to the balcony and stepped outside. His jaw tightened faintly. Below him... Thousands. Tens of thousands. A sea of people stretched across the plains, waving, shouting, and pressing forward like a tidal wave. "Lord Nox! Choose me!" "I want to be a Beast Tamer!" "I brought my son!" "I brought all my children!" "We came all the way from South Town just to awaken!" "Please, let us join too!" Nox stared, stunned. Even he hadn’t expected this kind of fanatical uproar. Jack, standing quietly to the side, shook his head in disbelief. "This is... too insane..." he muttered under his breath. But it was real. Everywhere his eyes turned...people. ALL of them wanted the Beast Tamer awakening. And why wouldn’t they? It required no special affinity, No rare bloodline, No noble heritage, No talent. Only sincerity. Only desire. Only heart. Nox exhaled softly. "Looks like Vermilion is joining Cromwell in becoming a land of Beast Tamers." L Ria smirked. "Do you regret it? Are you scared Vermilion Kingdom will compete with the ancestral home of Beast Tamers? Nox smirked in return and shook his head lightly. "Not at all." He turned to the crowd and raised his hand to the roaring masses. His voice thundered out. "Those who wish to awaken—form your lines! Today, Vermilion joins the new era!"