Speeding the entire of that day familiarizing with his new weapon, Lumine, Thomas had dinner out in the city all by himself then went to sleep.
His plan was to get acquainted to as much of the city he could, luckily most tribes weren't all that powerful. At least, few of the beasts here were stronger than a pear 1-star Master Adept.
Fortunately Thomas found a place that sold a drink very much like coffee, and so he went there almost everything and just like now was sitting on the beast-friendly chair while sipping on his "hot coffee" and enjoying this beautiful morning.
Another thing he was happy about other than finding something to drink was that he didn't feel any bloodlust or action coming from the evil aura inside him. Ever since taking in trace of Lulu's bloodline, his baleful aura stayed mostly quiet unless he started to engage in acts of violence, then it would flare up just like always.
On the way out, Thomas had a quick look around, bough some snacks and walked back all the way.
It was still very early in the morning and upon returning, the Earthly Core residence appeared especially lively when he left was now full of tension. This was due to the family meeting that was occurring soon and everyone was heading towards the field behind the stone mansion.
"Did you hear? Chief's third brother who was out in Glamadon is back and didn't return. We lost all contact with them, some say the city was wiped out. the tribes living in the outskirts of the city and the mountains are all terrified."
"I others talking about it. Some said it's the Krias, but even they should be all that powerful, right?"
Throughout the path to the courtyard, the young lions would whisper incessantly and Thomas couldn't help but hear what they had to say. Soon, he got the general idea about what was happening. Glamadon as one of the three free cities of the alliance was also the closest to the domain of the Krias, a powerful tribe whose lands summed up all the free cities.
Thomas recalled having heard about this tribe before, and remembered they seemed to be involved with the Xamak Mountain's Ghost Ape Tribe as well the thing with the Earthly Core lions.
As he got closer, the doors opened and the tribe head followed his wife and two brown Bears covered in red stripes. The experts of the Battle Heart Tribe, Thomas was sure since both seemed around the 1-star master adept level.
These battle-hungry beasts who were the highest raking tribe of Aaron had an innate ability of getting stronger the more hurt they get so they would purposely look only for strong foes so to enable their growth.
"See, they are finally out."
"Right? Look at the chief, he's so grumpy. It must be very serious."
Roar*
To the whispers of the crowd, the lion chief roared demanding silent to which all his tribesmen followed without question.
With the two bears standing behind in silence, Kajaha continued. " Some time ago, the higher council of the free cities lost all contact with one of our cities. The scouts in the outside posts found out that Glamadon, fourteen towns up north and a total of a hundred tribes were lost as well every single beast in a area of a hundred miles away from the city walls."
"We tried contacting the outside world but there was nothing so Aaron is now in a state of emergency. In one month our union of the free cities will be forming an extermination force with the goal of the threat that is the Krias to all other beasts in this land. True, enemy is powerful and they are many, but we are more. Let's show the Krias and to all of them that we Lions are the true kings of the wild!"
Roar* Roar*
On the back, Thomas wasn't all that impressed by the speech. Well, they were beasts. He couldn't expert a Oscar worthy speech coming from the head of a beast tribe.
Only the lions though otherwise as they all rose on two paws and started roaring to the sky.
Then Thomas noticed Kajaha gave him a quick look before leaving to the stone manor. Thomas understood it was a sign for him to come inside and followed.
The other lions didn't seem surprised at all as they were already used to him, and while some were still curious about his appearance. As for how Thomas had the scent similar to a tribesman, they couldn't quite understand.
But well, he's not the only one with such an appearance anymore since the third miss Lulu had been seen more than once running around in her young lady form so a quite a few speculations about Thomas had swiftly spread between the younger lions.
"Brother!" A beautiful brown-haired young girl jumped on his arms as soon he walked inside the room.
"Lulu, calm down." Thomas struggled to put Lulu down on the ground and sighed to himself. This little lioness had grown fond of him a lot faster than her youngest sister Nana, even to the point of addressing him as a brother.
"Fine, but we will play later." The young girl then left his arms and when she fell on the floor, she was a lioness once again. She then leaped over him and left like a lightning streak.
'She's really lively.' Thomas already felt his body ache the moment he heard the word "play". His previous experiences during the past few days, he knew sparring this youthful beast would be inevitable just as the fact he would then need a couple days of rest afterwards.
"I'm glad you're here." Kajaha who was alone with the two Battle Heart Bears nodded to him and turned to the two beasts behind him. "This is Ries, the human I spoke to you. From his own words, he's a species evolved from monkeys, a type of primate. But as you can see, he's exchanged some bloodline with my daughters which gave him a traces of my own bloodline."
Right, Thomas had already told Gask and Nana back then he's a human. It was the easiest way out and using mixing in some truths he told he's truly a descendent of the primates who have evolved to his current appearance.
Well, he has a lion's ears and tail coupled with demonic power so he could barely be counted as part of the human race especially since it's human nature to hate on anything that is unique from the rest.
One of the bears carefully inspected Thomas and after a couple seconds nodded excitedly with his head. "Great, this guy is quite something. He's constant tanking in the power of the sun almost endlessly, some I only ever seen plant-type beasts do."
"Ries, a person like you must have guessed. These two are the Mooin and Mooak, six-star beasts and elders of the battle heart tribe. They will be in command of Aaron's side of the extermination force. The reason I asked them to meet you is because..."
"The person I'm looking for is with the Krias? I know my enemy already though so. His species are mortal enemies with mine and he won't stop until slaving all my kind so I can't let him live. If he's with them, then it's only right I join you to fight the Krias. The only thing I ask is to leave this person to me."
The two elders exchanged glances then the elder from earlier tapped Thomas on the shoulder then laughed as he passed a letter over to the youth. "Great, will be counting on you then. Come by tomorrow morning in the location specified in this letter."