The Empyreal Gem Master

Green gold feathers lay scattered all around as they were mixed with blood.

Vishpala lay there defeated as she felt a tight and unbreakable golden line bind her very being, rage and resignation coursing through her as she couldn't even resist.

But in the next moment…

BOOM!

A flood of inexplicable power coursed through the established connection as her extremely low life force felt like it was ignited into a fiery flame!

Her life! Her energy!

It all exploded upwards rapidly from the inexplicable golden connection binding her as her rage turned into utter shock.

Her injuries rapidly healed.

And she could swear that her mind saw two twinkling stars flash ever so brightly.

And then…a thin blue membrane began to cover her feathers that shone more lustrously than ever before.

Not to mention her very body feeling the coursing tendrils of crimson lightning that felt like a part of her!

This…this…!

BOOM!

From the crater she was in, her figure exploded out with magnificence and glory.

Green and gold brilliance permeated, but the allure of red also arose as behind her already vibrant feathered wings, crimson wings made of pure light formed from her back.

Two pairs.

Four wings.

It was akin to a Phoenix undergoing rebirth and coming out the other side indescribably stronger- but in this case, it was a Peacock.

"YAA!"

Her cry reverberated out across the battlefield as it caused sharp winds to form.

The Beasts who heard this cry felt their souls shudder as they bowed down in fear- not a single Beast rushing out or escaping anymore!

What was a Beast Lord?

This was a Beast Lord!

In the skies, a vibrant Peacock with green, gold, and red feathers floated with pristine majesty, the bejeweled Gem Armament in the form of a crown she had never gotten the chance to use currently spinning above her head.

Her eyes cleared up from the euphoria of it all as sheer incredulity descended in her mind.

She looked at herself.

Her body that she knew she could enlarge to be multiple times larger than it was right now.

And her life force…it was all just so unbelievable!

But the reason for all of it was a single thing.

That golden line of connection.

Oh, that golden line!

It tightly bound her as when she followed it, it was bound to a single man who stared at her calmly from the shoulders of a Winged Orc.

She looked at him as she felt her heart shudder.

She looked towards his chest as she sought to understand.

She knew that at this moment, she had effectively become bound to this being as a slave.

She had seen Gem Masters who took control over others and enhanced their power with their support Gems.

Beast Masters.

Summoners.

Necromancers.

There was a wide variety, and their slaves were, at times, much stronger than they were.

But…this was to an extent.

To an extent.

What happened to her after she became a slave was just unrealistic!

She knew this very well since her life force alone was what…four or five times greater than before?

This was impossible by itself, and yet as her will permeated across the thin blue armor covering her, she estimated it to be giving her the protection that was 5 times as much as her life force.

What the fuck even was that?!

She estimated that even if a Tier 8 Beast King came, she should be able to contend with them no problem!

Even though she was only a Tier 7 Beast Lord, she felt like right now, even her brother with his terrifying power could be someone she could match.

'Ah…!'

She suddenly remembered.

Her brother.

She flashed towards the man who had made her slave as her pride as a Beast Lord still remained, her figure arrived before him as she asked what was on her mind.

An explanation of what could make her current change possible.

"Are you…a Variant Gem Master?"

…!

The question was a simple one, but it caused the distant figures of Azazel and Claire to open their eyes in shock.

As for Alexander, he floated towards the radiant Peacock while beckoning with his hands as he replied.

"Why do you ask that?"

He was beckoning, but Beast Lord Vishpala turned her head sideways in confusion as she replied.

"That's the only way your power can be explained. And even then, it still doesn't make sense. There are some truly terrifying Variant Gem Masters, especially within the Royal Beast Clans and Mythical Beast Clans, but no Variant Gem Socket that would have an enhancement effect as terrifying as this. And…what are you beckoning for?"

…!

Variant Gem Masters!

Azazel and Claire Asmodeus looked at each other in shock.

Were those the same Gem Masters that they considered to have Defective Life Sockets?

That they themselves were defective?

Of course, they never asked Alexander himself how exactly his Gem Sockets were, simply trusting him.

But from the words of the Beast Lord, Variant Life Sockets were actually unique and powerful, and this seemed to apply greatly to Alexander!

Alexander who at this moment pointed to the crown above the Beast Lord as he answered her as to why he was beckoning towards her.

"It seems we have lots to talk about, but first- hand that over."

…!

The eyes of the Beast Lord constricted.

Her Gem Armament?

This…

She wanted to say that this was her prized possession. That she was given under strict instructions to never lose it!

She hadn't even gotten the chance to use it as she was getting pummeled, and now…

She spoke to herself with resignation as the crown on her floated away and shrunk in size, going towards her new master.

"What use will this be to you when you already have so much power…"

She whispered this to herself, but she felt like the terrifying man ahead of her heard it as he raised his calm eyes towards her.

She hurriedly gave away the crown as she began to worry.

She began to worry about her brother…and her Peacock Beast Lineage if ever they had to face this terrifying being.

How many of them will end up like her today, or even worse?