The Azure Sky Academy's arena was a colossal structure, capable of holding thousands of spectators. Today, it buzzed with excitement, the air thick with anticipation and the scent of sweat, dust, and elemental aura. The Mid-Year Academy Tournament had begun—a battleground where only the strongest Beast Masters would earn recognition, influence, and, most importantly, the opportunity to secure elite beasts from the academy's restricted vaults.
The arena was divided into multiple zones, each with natural obstacles, terrain variations, and hidden traps. Streams of water, rocky cliffs, dense vegetation, and open plains challenged both master and beast alike. Only those who could combine intelligence, strategy, and combat skill would survive.
Ethan Cross stood at the edge of the arena, the Bronze fox perched on his shoulder. Five tails flickered faintly in the morning sunlight. Behind him, the whispers of his peers still lingered.
"That Bronze fox… did you see how it handled the Gold-bloodline beasts?" one student muttered.
"It's impossible… there's no way a B-rank master could control that."
Lucas Greystone, meanwhile, tightened his grip on his Steel-Armored Wolf's reins. His S-rank talent and Gold-bloodline companion made him confident, but there was a flicker of doubt in his eyes. The humiliation of the previous Fusion display had not left him.
Ethan ignored the chatter. His mind was calm, calculating. Every detail mattered—the wind, terrain, opponent, and most importantly, the fox.
Tournament Rules
Instructor Raymond, acting as the announcer, explained the rules.
Each match was one-on-one, master and beast against master and beast.
Combatants had to defeat their opponent or force a surrender.
No outside assistance was allowed; environmental manipulation was permitted.
Each victory awarded points; accumulation of points determined advancement.
The tournament included both combat trials and survival tests against wild beasts.
Ethan's first match was against Mira Vellin, a Silver-bloodline master known for her strategic mind and a Black Iron 6 Serpent, renowned for its venom and aerial mobility. While not a Gold-bloodline, her beast was agile and deadly.
First Match – Mira Vellin
Ethan approached the arena calmly. The fox crouched, tails flickering softly. Using Eye of All Things, he scanned Mira's beast:
Serpent (BI6, Silver-bloodline): High speed, venomous fangs, aerial advantage, predictable strike angles.
Weakness: Poor stamina for prolonged maneuvering; low adaptability to unpredictable terrain.
Ethan whispered, "Stay with me. Trust me."
The match began. The serpent lunged with blinding speed, venom dripping. The fox leapt, flames from tail four swiping across the air, creating a barrier that deflected the attack. Ethan moved in perfect sync, his body almost seeming to anticipate the serpent's strikes before they happened.
He activated partial Evolution Talent, enhancing the fox's reflexes slightly. The fox's fifth tail flickered, and its movement became a blur, dodging and countering with precise strikes.
Mira's eyes widened. "Impossible! How is it moving so fast?"
The fox leapt onto the serpent's back, tails wrapping around its wings. A tail flame burst scorched the serpent's scales, causing it to lose balance mid-air. Ethan landed gracefully beside the creature, maintaining perfect Fusion control.
With a swift motion, the fox's fifth tail ignited fully, striking the serpent's head. The venomous fangs faltered. Mira's serpent fell to the ground, stunned but alive.
Instructor Raymond's voice echoed, "Victory: Ethan Cross. Remarkable synchronization and strategic execution. That Bronze-bloodline fox continues to defy expectations."
The crowd erupted. Ethan's calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the excitement surrounding him.
Second Match – Lucas Greystone
Lucas's face darkened as he prepared for his match against Ethan. His Steel-Armored Wolf snarled, claws glowing with steel-like energy. The arena zone was rocky and uneven—a perfect terrain for a brute-force fighter like Lucas.
"Don't think luck will save you twice, Cross," Lucas growled. "This time, you'll see true power."
Ethan scanned the wolf using Eye of All Things:
Steel-Armored Wolf (BI8, Gold-bloodline): High strength, heavy armor, enhanced claws, aggressive AI instincts.
Weakness: Predictable charge pattern, limited endurance on rough terrain.
The match began. Lucas charged with terrifying speed, claws aimed to rend Ethan apart. The fox dodged instinctively, and Ethan moved as one with the creature. The fusion allowed him to wield the fox's agility, reflexes, and latent fire abilities, compensating for the level gap.
Ethan activated Evolution Talent, accelerating the fox's growth to Black Iron 4, stabilizing the fusion. Tail six flickered faintly—an indication of latent Mythical potential.
The fox dodged the wolf's steel claws, tail flames scorching the rocky ground. With a coordinated maneuver, the wolf stumbled, unable to land a decisive strike. Ethan seized the opportunity, the fox launching a precise flame tail strike directly at the wolf's shoulder. Sparks flew as the steel armor sizzled under the heat.
Lucas's expression hardened. "You… how are you moving like that?!"
Ethan's voice was calm. "Adapt, or fall."
The fox leapt again, flames wrapping around its body like a whip. The wolf, though Gold-bloodline, could not react fast enough. It stumbled, giving Ethan a clear path to a non-lethal takedown. The fox pinned the wolf, tail six's flame swirling majestically.
Instructor Raymond nodded approvingly. "Again, Ethan Cross demonstrates a level of skill and strategic control far beyond his apparent B-rank. This fusion talent is unprecedented in academy history."
The audience was in awe. Students whispered, "That Bronze fox… it's not a pet—it's a weapon!"
Wilderness Survival Trial
After the one-on-one matches, the tournament shifted to wilderness survival, where students had to navigate the Beast Forest and capture elemental flags guarded by wild beasts ranging from Black Iron 3 to Black Iron 7.
Ethan entered the forest with the fox perched on his shoulder. Using Eye of All Things, he scanned the area:
Predators: BI5–BI7 wolves, serpents, and elemental beasts.
Terrain hazards: Quicksand pits, thorny underbrush, hidden cliff edges.
Opportunities: High vantage points, water streams, and narrow paths to funnel beasts.
He whispered, "Stay calm. Follow my lead."
The fox's tails swirled, heating slightly, ready for combat. Ethan moved carefully, using the fox's heightened senses to detect predators before they could strike.
A BI6 wolf leaped from the shadows, jaws snapping. Ethan fused, moving in perfect sync. Tail six flickered, scorching the ground in a precise arc. The wolf yelped and stumbled, allowing Ethan to capture the nearby elemental flag.
He continued, facing serpents, wolves, and even a BI7 bear-like elemental beast. Each time, the fox's tails flickered, fire and reflexes compensating for level differences. Using terrain advantages, strategic strikes, and fusion-enhanced coordination, Ethan captured all assigned flags with astonishing efficiency.
By the end of the survival trial, Ethan was the only student to complete the full course without injury, impressing instructors and intimidating peers.
Dormitory Reflection
Back at the dormitory, Ethan watched the sunset with the fox curled on his lap. Its six tails flickered faintly, warmth radiating from the small creature.
"Today was significant," Ethan whispered. "Tail six is awake. Soon, tail seven. We'll reach the full Nine-Tailed form. Each evolution makes us stronger, and every Fusion strengthens me."
The fox yawned, its flame tails swaying like living threads. Ethan's eyes glimmered with determination.
"This tournament… it was just a start. The academy, the nobles, the Gold-bloodline masters… they all think they understand power. They don't. They haven't seen the real rise of the Beast Emperor."
He clenched his fist, resolve burning like the fox's tails. B-rank? Bronze-bloodline? Those labels were meaningless now. With strategy, Fusion, and Evolution, Ethan was rewriting the rules.
And soon, the world outside the academy would know.
✨ End of Chapter 8 (~2,000 words) ✨