Mushoku Tensei: Reincarnated as a Beast Race

The sound of blades cutting through the air, spells crackling, and coordinated shouts echoed through the forest. The smell of overturned earth and embers filled the air as around ten children faced a colossal creature: a land lizard nearly four meters long, with a rigid, sun-reflecting carapace.

A young Doldia with dark brown hair marked with lighter streaks and red eyes stood at the forefront, leading the attack. His serious gaze, rigid posture, and determined movements showed that he took his role seriously.

"Frontline group, distract it but keep your distance! Magic unit, attack with long-range spells!"

Rygar observed from the shadows among the trees, his sharp eyes following every detail of the scene.

"Good choice," he thought, analyzing the situation. "Engaging this creature in close combat would be suicide. But will they find a way to finish it off?"

"Lead it closer to the trees!" Kilian shouted as he ran, beginning to focus a wind spell.

Two young warriors followed his orders. One conjured a stone bullet that hit the lizard's face, grabbing its attention, while the other used a gust of wind to steer the already-injured creature toward the forest line.

Kilian had accumulated enough mana for his wind spell. Jumping between the trees, he leaped over the monster and shouted, "Wind Blade!"

He slashed in a perfect arc, his sword channeling the magic into the lizard's neck with surgical precision, severing its head. Blood oozed slowly, staining the grass as the creature collapsed with a muffled thud.

Rygar stepped forward from the shadows, clapping slowly, the sound drawing everyone's attention. The children turned to him, some sweaty and breathless, but all with a glimmer of pride in their eyes.

"Excellent work," Rygar said, satisfaction evident in his voice. "You coordinated your attacks well. Kilian, your leadership was impeccable. Doug, your use of magic was clever. Loin, be mindful not to overuse mana in your spells; it burns too quickly when overloaded."

The children nodded, some exchanging excited glances, others shy under the weight of his praise. Kilian, however, beamed with pride.

"Thank you, Chief!" he replied, sheathing his sword. "We just followed your teachings as best we could. We're not as strong as you yet, but—"

"Strength is just one factor," Rygar interrupted, his expression serious but kind. "You demonstrated teamwork, and that's something not easily learned. Keep it up."

The young warriors celebrated quietly, tending to their minor injuries. Rygar watched them for a moment, his thoughts drifting.

(They're growing quickly. Soon, they'll be able to face challenges that even veteran warriors would struggle with. Perhaps even more than that...)

The Iron Legion had grown far beyond what Rygar had envisioned when he first created it. What started as an experiment with children had now attracted adult warriors—veterans who volunteered to train under his leadership. He hadn't expected such acceptance.

"They trust me... but do they understand what I'm doing?" he pondered as he walked back to the village, hearing the distant sound of the children laughing and talking about the battle. "Training so many warriors and building a unified force could be seen as a political move. But here, everyone is just happy to see the tribe grow stronger. That's one of the advantages of the beast races..."

---

When he reached the village, he was greeted by the warm smile of his mother, Selene, who was busy carrying baskets of herbs and freshly gathered fruit.

"How was the training, dear?" she asked, handing him one of the baskets. "Did young Kilian do well?"

"He did. He's definitely talented," Rygar replied, taking the weight effortlessly. "They'll be ready if needed. The attacks have subsided, but we know it's only temporary. And I won't always be here to protect them."

Selene paused for a moment, her eyes narrowing as she studied her son's face.

"When do you plan to leave?"

Rygar hesitated but couldn't lie to her.

"Not yet. I hope to learn as much as I can from Verdia and Fendrel before I go, but maybe in a year or two."

"Then there's still time," she said softly. "Guide those children well—not just in strength, but in principles. You may be young, but I trust your wisdom to make the right choices."

Rygar nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility grow heavier on his shoulders.

Later that evening, after dinner, he headed to the clearing where he often trained alone. Under the faint light of the stars, he began conjuring wind magic around his body. He was working on perfecting his dream spell: flight. Inspired by the propulsion boots used by the North Saint in their battle, Rygar had developed ideas of his own.

Although the spell was functional, it was still unstable. That night, he focused on improving its control.

"This took longer than expected. I guess Master was right when she said wind magic wasn't my strongest suit..."

Hovering a few meters above the ground, he felt a surge of energy flow through him, connecting him to the surrounding environment. Landing softly, he exhaled heavily but smiled.

"I'm getting there. Soon, I might even soar like the eagles that fly over the Great Forest."

Besides developing his flight magic, he had also been training to imbue his sword and fists with various magical enhancements. Now, he was working on accelerating his spellcasting as much as possible. However, his thoughts were interrupted by a familiar presence.

Fendrel, his Sword God Style mentor, stood nearby, watching him with crossed arms.

"You're playing around with magic too much, kid," Fendrel said. "If you want to reach Sword Saint level, you need to focus. No distractions."

"And what if my path is to combine the two?" Rygar challenged, his gaze unwavering.

Fendrel let out a short laugh.

"With your talent in both, I wouldn't doubt it. But for now, you need practice. Come on, let's spar."

Drawing his sword with his single arm, Fendrel gestured for Rygar to attack.

Rygar smiled, unsheathing his blade as the stars illuminated their makeshift battlefield.

---

The next morning arrived under a clear sky. The village buzzed with anticipation; today, the Sacred Beast—believed to one day save the world alongside the Hero—would be introduced to the tribe's leading members. Until now, the creature had been kept hidden, as it was still very young, and the tribe was contending with frequent attacks from slave traders.

Rygar, accompanied by his mentor Verdia and several elders, walked toward the sanctuary where the Sacred Beast was being safeguarded. His mind brimmed with curiosity and speculation.

"If the Sacred Beast is truly connected to the spirits of the forest, does that mean it has its own mana, or is it merely a conduit for the energy around it?" he pondered.

"And why does only one emerge each generation? Is it a natural phenomenon or... something more mystical?"

Verdia, noticing Rygar's furrowed brow, chuckled softly.

"Trying to uncover its secrets before you've even laid eyes on it, Rygar?"

He offered a faint smile.

"Perhaps. But you must admit, it's incredibly intriguing."

"Sometimes, mystery is what makes something valuable," Verdia said. "Not everything needs to be understood right away."

He nodded but knew his curiosity wouldn't be quelled so easily.

Upon reaching the sanctuary, Rygar felt a shiver run down his spine. A subtle but potent magical barrier enveloped the space. Inside, nestled comfortably, lay the Sacred Beast: a young, endearing creature with fur as radiant as freshly fallen snow. Its jet-black eyes shimmered with innocence and curiosity.

Rygar caught his breath. For a moment, he felt an inexplicable connection, not merely through sight but something deeper, almost spiritual.

"It's… incredible," he murmured. Was this awe something innate to his race's bond with the Sacred Beast? No wonder they revered it as divine.

Verdia approached, her gaze shifting between the creature and Rygar.

"The Sacred Beast is more than a symbol, Rygar. It is the link between our tribes and the spirits of the forest. Caring for it is a shared responsibility for all of us."

As Rygar met the Sacred Beast's eyes, a flicker of mana coursed through his body. The creature stared back with an intensity he'd never experienced, as though it were evaluating him. Then, without warning, the Sacred Beast wagged its tail energetically and trotted toward Rygar, leaping into his arms with a delighted bark.

"Sacred Beast?!" one of the caretakers exclaimed, rushing forward to gently guide it back.

Everyone present was stunned; the Sacred Beast had taken an immediate liking to Rygar. It barked again, and Rygar felt its energy settle into a calm rhythm. He wasn't sure what it meant, but he felt a strange sense of acceptance.

Later, after leaving the sanctuary, Rygar returned to the training grounds where the children of the Iron Legion were gathered. Kilian, Lisena, Taes, and the others were immersed in combat drills but quickly paused when they saw Rygar approach.

"What's the Sacred Beast like, Chief?" Kilian asked, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"It's hard to put into words," Rygar replied thoughtfully. "It's powerful, but in a way that transcends physical or magical strength. It feels as though the forest itself is alive through it."

The children exchanged glances, visibly awed.

"Do you think we'll still be alive when the Hero appears?" Pursena asked softly.

"What are you talking about? Of course the Hero is the Chief!" Kilian declared confidently.

"Yeah, if there's any Hero who'll save the world, it's the Chief!" Linia chimed in.

The group burst into laughter, their camaraderie lighting up the training grounds.

---

After their session, Rygar headed to the makeshift arena where Fendrel awaited him. The grizzled warrior, who had taken it upon himself to instruct Rygar in the Sword God Style, stood with his blade already drawn, his stance as rigid as always.

"You're late," Fendrel grumbled, though there was a teasing undertone to his words.

"I was busy with the Sacred Beast," Rygar said, unsheathing his sword. "But perhaps it will inspire me today."

They faced off in an intense duel. Fendrel, despite missing an arm, was relentless. His skill as an advanced-level swordsman forced Rygar to constantly adapt his stances and movements, relying solely on the Sword God Style.

"You're already at the peak of advanced level," Fendrel said between strikes. "What's left is refining your Longsword of Silence until it becomes a Longsword of Light."

"I know, but it's a difficult barrier. I can see the path, but I can't seem to break through it."

---

Later that evening, as Rygar made his way home, he was interrupted by familiar voices. Linia and Pursena burst into his workshop, Linia bounding in energetically while Pursena trailed behind, chewing on a piece of meat.

"Chief! We finished today's drills!" Linia announced.

"But they were too easy," Pursena added, her tone casual.

Rygar chuckled. At four years old, their growth was astounding. The more he trained them, the more he recognized their talent—not only in magic but also in physical combat. Linia seemed drawn to the Sword God Style, while Pursena showed promise for the Water God Style. Finding a suitable instructor for that school of swordsmanship was now on his growing to-do list.

"Easy, huh? Then let's move on to something more advanced," Rygar said, leading them to a nearby field.

He picked up a short sword, channeling Frost Nova into the blade. With a swift horizontal swing, a wave of icy energy erupted, freezing the entire training ground.

"The trick isn't just channeling magic but controlling it. Your weapon should feel like an extension of your body. First exercise: reshape the magic after it's been created."

"That's simple!" Linia exclaimed, attempting to form a fireball and alter its shape midair, only for it to dissipate into embers.

Pursena tried using water magic and fared slightly better.

"Not bad for a first attempt," Rygar said, encouragingly. "But remember: this isn't just about strength or technical skill. It's about intent. If the magic doesn't flow naturally, it will never reach its full potential."

The two nodded, their eyes gleaming with determination.

"Do you think we can become as strong as you?" Pursena asked, her voice filled with hope.

Rygar hesitated for a moment before smiling.

"If you keep working hard, who knows? You both have immense potential. Just always remember the reason behind your pursuit of strength."

Deep down, he doubted they would surpass him—unless he allowed it. His own relentless training ensured his edge. Yet, with their talents, Linia and Pursena were destined to become pillars of the beast race. It would be his duty to guide them, ensuring they didn't succumb to needless arrogance, for that often led to ruin.

Current Status

Age: 7 years and 2 months

Mana Reserves: Emperor Level

Magical Skills:

Fire Magic: Advanced

Earth Magic: Advanced

Water Magic: Advanced

Wind Magic: Advanced

Healing Magic: Advanced

Detoxification Magic: Intermediate

Barrier Magic: Elementary

Howling Magic: Mastery

Combat Skills:

North God Style: Advanced

Sword God Style: Advanced

Combat with Natural Weapons (claws, instincts, etc.): Advanced

Battle Strength: High Saint-Level Warrior

Intellectual Skills:

Reading and writing in Beast-God and Human languages

Mathematics (University Level)

Practical Skills:

Excellent hunter, Good teacher, Terrible cook