The forest gave way to open sky as Ren stepped onto a floating stone platform etched with ancient symbols. Wind swirled around him, carrying faint trails of spiritual energy. Nyx padded beside him, now in his evolved Voidfang Alpha form, twin tails flowing behind like wisps of smoke.
Above them, the sky shimmered.
A glowing ring activated beneath their feet.
[Teleportation Protocol Engaged]
Destination: Starroot Beast Tamer Academy – Outer Gate Sector
Status: Approved Candidate – Rank: Unranked
Estimated Arrival: 00:00:07
Ren adjusted his collar and took a deep breath. "Let's see what kind of monsters this academy trains."
FLASH.
They reappeared on a skybound plaza of white stone and floating arches, suspended above clouds and mountains that pierced the heavens. Hundreds of teleport circles surrounded them, each pulsing with arrivals, beast tamers from every region of the continent.
And every one of them was stronger than Ren.
[WARNING: Power Disparity Detected. Average Tamer Rank: D.]
[System Suggestion: Maintain Low Profile Until Trial Access Begins.]
Ren ignored the warning.
He wasn't here to hide.
Dozens of gazes locked onto him, some curious, others dismissive. They saw the unranked badge on his cloak and assumed what they always did.
Another weak outsider hoping for a miracle.
"Move, newbie."
A red-haired youth in silver armor shoved past him. A massive eagle-like beast hovered behind him, its wings pulsing with fire.
[Beast Identified: Emberclaw Hawk – D-Rank, Flame-Fused Type]
Tamer: Riku Dawnblade
Affiliation: Noble House – Dawnblade Sect
Ren didn't react, until the hawk screeched at Nyx.
Nyx growled once, low and lethal.
Ren raised a hand. "Stand down."
Riku snorted. "You're in the wrong place, peasant. This academy isn't for people who tamed puppies in the woods."
Ren's eyes didn't leave his. "Better a wild cub than a trained parrot."
Gasps echoed around them. Several tamers turned to watch.
Riku's eyes narrowed. "What did you say?"
[Duel Invitation Received]
Challenge Type: Beast Showcase Duel – Limited Time
Rank Restriction: OPEN (Outer Trial Exception Rule)
Accept? Y/N
Nyx stepped forward on his own.
Ren smirked. "I guess that's a yes."
Outer Arena – Ten Minutes Later
The beast arena roared with noise. It wasn't an official battle, just an initiation clash. But word spread fast.
Unranked newcomer challenges Riku Dawnblade?
That's suicide.
Yet there Ren stood, hands in his pockets, while Nyx growled low at his side. Across from him, the Emberclaw Hawk flapped its wings, ready to rain fire on the arena.
[Beast Bond Established – Full Sync]
[Nyx: Voidfang Alpha (E-Rank) – Bond Loyalty: 100%]
Skills: Phantom Pounce, Shadow Howl, Voidstep (Short Dash)
The signal flared.
"Begin!"
The hawk launched skyward and dived in immediately, flames coating its feathers.
"Burn him down!" Riku shouted.
[Enemy Skill Activated: Feather Storm – AoE Flame Pierce]
Ren didn't flinch.
"Nyx. Pounce."
The wolf-beast vanished in a blur of shadows.
BOOM.
The storm hit nothing.
Nyx reappeared behind the hawk in mid-air, kicking off a runestone to strike from above with ghost-claws glowing.
SLASH!
The hawk screamed and spiraled down.
[Critical Hit!]
[Status Effect: Wing Damage – Flight Compromised]
Riku's eyes widened. "No, keep flying!"
But Nyx didn't let up. He landed before the hawk could recover, his form a streak of blue-black shadow. Two more strikes and the creature collapsed, pinned to the stone floor.
[Victory Achieved.]
[Challenge Duel Result: Kazuki Ren – Winner]
Public Reputation: +13
Title Gained: "The Wild Unranked"
Gasps turned to murmurs.
"Who is he?"
"That beast, was that shadow-type?"
"Where did he come from?"
Ren turned, cloak fluttering in the wind. "Let me know when the real trial begins."
And he walked off, leaving Riku humiliated in front of half the academy.
[New Mission Unlocked!]
Starroot Trial Entrance Exam – Begins in 24 Hours
Objective: Defeat 3 Ranked Beast Tamers
Reward: Academy Badge (Official) + Inner Ring Access
Ren cracked his knuckles.
"Let's see how far this code can take us."
The floating courtyard was silent again, too silent.
After the crowd cleared and the humiliated Riku Dawnblade was escorted away, Kazuki Ren finally had a moment to breathe. He sat on the white stone steps that curved along the eastern ridge of Starroot Academy, with Nyx curled beside him like a shadow-inked sentinel.
But peace wouldn't last long.
[New Objective Countdown: 23:15:46 Remaining]
Mission: Starroot Trial Entrance Exam
Goal: Defeat 3 Ranked Beast Tamers
Status: Not Yet Attempted
Ren tapped the edge of the glowing interface. "Three ranked tamers in under 24 hours…"
A little ambitious, even for him.
[System Analysis: Host is currently below average tamer rank, but above average in combat synergy and beast potential.]
[Estimated Probability of Success: 56%]
Note: Success rate may increase based on target selection and tactics.
"Great. Barely a coin flip."
Nyx gave a low growl that Ren interpreted as: Challenge accepted.
Then, footsteps.
Two figures approached the edge of the courtyard. The taller one wore half-plate armor etched with gold, while the shorter was cloaked in mist-blue robes.
"Unranked or not," the armored one said, "you've caused a stir, newbie."
[Tamers Identified:]
Name: Vayne Lith
Rank: D+
Beast: Thunderfist Ape – Earth-Lightning Hybrid
Name: Sela Arkwright
Rank: D
Beast: Mistshade Fox – Illusion/Spirit Type
Affiliation: Trial Proctors – Outer Ring Instructors
Ren stood.
"You here to throw me out or test me?"
Vayne cracked a smile. "Neither. We're here to explain the rules."
Sela raised a slender hand, conjuring a floating sigil in the air.
A circular arena formed around them, a barrier dome laced with runes and spiritual code. Inside, the air shimmered with suppressed force.
[Arena Type: Triple Trial Field – Candidate Format]
Challenge: Defeat three ranked opponents of escalating strength.
Win Conditions: Knockout, Submission, or Complete Beast Collapse
Reward: Academy Core Badge, Access to Resource Pavilion, Official Ranking
Penalty: Temporary ban from Inner Sectors (7 days)
"First match starts now," Sela said coolly. "Opponent: Kairon Vell."
A platform opened across the arena.
A boy no older than Ren strode in, cloak flowing, a saber at his hip, and a sly grin on his lips.
"Let's see if the puppy bites."
[Opponent Identified: Kairon Vell – Tamer Rank D]
Beast: Steelhide Lizard (F+) – Heavy Defense, Minor Metal Breath
Formation: Defensive Pressure – Counter Build
[Battle Start]
Objective: Defeat First Challenger (1 of 3)
Ren exhaled. "Nyx. Defensive rotation, wide flank."
Nyx didn't wait. He blurred into motion, circling left.
Kairon grinned. "Don't bother. Steelhide, Crush Formation!"
A massive grey lizard the size of a horse stomped forward, its hide glinting like living iron.
It belched a blast of silvery vapor 'metal mist' and stomped toward Nyx.
[System Warning: Mist = Tracking Marker]
[Status Debuff if Contacted: -10% Agility]
"Nyx, Phantom Pounce!"
In a blink, Nyx warped behind the beast and struck at the hind legs, only to bounce off the thick armor plating.
[Attack Deflected – Damage Negated]
[Defense Rating: 87%]
Kairon laughed. "That thing's a wall. Give up."
But Ren's eyes gleamed.
"Then I'll just break the foundation."
[Skill Activated: Voidstep → Phantom Pounce Chain]
[New Passive: Beast Combat Intelligence – Adaptation in Real Time]
Nyx darted forward again, not at the legs, but the joints where armor shifted when it moved.
Slash.
Slash.
Bite.
Strike.
Metal cracked.
The lizard roared and spun, only to meet a final strike under the chin, critical hit.
[Beast Core Disruption: Combat Capability Lost]
[First Opponent Defeated!]
[Time Elapsed: 2 Minutes, 34 Seconds]
[Bond Sync +2%]
[Reputation +4]
[Ready for Opponent 2?]
Y/N
Ren stepped forward, wiping sweat from his brow. "Send the next."
Sela nodded. "Good. Most don't survive the first fight."
The next gate opened, and out stepped a pale girl with sunken eyes, clad in priestly robes.
"Candidate Two: Whisper of the Fallen Veil Beast: Deathmist Widow."
A massive, spectral spider descended behind her, its body cloaked in ghostly silk, eyes glowing blue.
[WARNING: Spirit Beast – Type: Assassin/Poison Hybrid]
Threat Level: D+
Battle Mode: Phased Kill
Ren's lips tightened.
Now it was getting real.
He turned to Nyx, who crouched and snarled, fangs glowing with pale blue fire.
"I'll cover your eyes. You watch my back."
The spider screeched.
The Trial resumed.
And death itself came crawling out of the mist.
End of Chapter 4