Shen Tian had always believed that medical examinations were harmless.
That belief died the moment three Federation officers escorted him into a white, circular room filled with humming machines, glowing runes, and enough scanners to make him feel like a suspicious package at an airport.
"Lie down," the medic said flatly.
Shen Tian lay down.
The silver fox lay on his chest.
"No pets allowed on the platform," the medic added without looking up.
The fox narrowed its eyes.
Shen Tian immediately sat up. "I mean—emotionally speaking, he's more like… support equipment?"
The medic stared.
The fox yawned.
"…Fine," the medic muttered. "If it bites anyone, it's your responsibility."
The fox smirked.
Machines whirred to life. Rings of light descended from the ceiling, passing through Shen Tian's body inch by inch. The sensation was uncomfortable—like being judged by physics itself.
Then the first screen flickered.
BLOODLINE ANALYSIS: ERROR
The technician frowned. "Run it again."
They ran it again.
BLOODLINE ANALYSIS: INCONCLUSIVE
"…That's odd," the medic said.
The silver fox's tail flicked once.
Shen Tian felt a faint warmth ripple through his chest.
A third scan began.
BLOODLINE CLASSIFICATION: ADAPTIVE HUMAN (LOW TIER)
EVOLUTION RANK: 1 (UNSTABLE)
THREAT ASSESSMENT: MINIMAL
The room relaxed instantly.
"Lucky kid," one of the assistants muttered. "Survived a Rank 1 boar with trash genes."
Shen Tian smiled politely while internally screaming.
Trash genes? Excuse you. These genes had survived death twice.
The fox leaned close to his ear.
'I interfered,' it chittered quietly. 'Your halo doesn't like being measured.'
Shen Tian swallowed. "You can… do that?"
The fox's eyes gleamed. 'Spatial authority isn't just for moving things.'
Before Shen Tian could process that horrifyingly vague statement, a second machine rolled forward—this one sleeker, darker, with warning symbols etched along its surface.
"Companion scan," the medic said. "Spirit beast classification."
The fox stiffened.
Shen Tian opened his mouth.
The scan fired.
Lights flared.
Then—
SPIRIT BEAST ANALYSIS: SILVER FOX
BLOODLINE: UNKNOWN (LOW THREAT)
EVOLUTION POTENTIAL: LIMITED
The technician blinked.
"…That's wrong," he said slowly.
The fox sneezed.
The screen stabilized.
CONFIRMED
The medic shrugged. "Cute, at least."
Shen Tian exhaled so hard he nearly passed out.
As they escorted him out, the fox hopped onto his shoulder and whispered:
'They can't see me yet.'
"…Yet?" Shen Tian echoed.
The fox pretended not to hear.
The academy summons arrived that afternoon.
Shen Tian stood in the evaluation hall surrounded by dozens of students—some glowing with elemental fire, others with metallic skin or beastial features. He felt painfully normal in comparison.
The silver fox sat on the railing behind him, swinging its tail.
"Next—Shen Tian," the examiner called.
He stepped forward.
A crystal orb descended, humming softly.
"Place your hand on the sphere," the examiner said.
Shen Tian did.
The orb pulsed.
Once.
Twice.
Then cracked.
The entire hall went silent.
"…Oops," Shen Tian said.
The fox covered its face with its paw.
The examiner stared at the shattered orb. "That crystal can withstand Rank 3 pressure."
Shen Tian panicked. "I swear I didn't squeeze it!"
The system chimed.
[Passive Trait Triggered: Adaptive Pressure Response]
[Bloodline Output Auto-Limited]
The orb reassembled itself.
Gasps echoed.
"…Repaired?" someone whispered.
The examiner cleared his throat loudly. "Equipment malfunction. Move along."
Shen Tian walked away on legs that definitely did not feel like his own.
As he returned to his seat, a quiet announcement rippled through the hall.
"All candidates selected for Restricted T3 Training will receive notice by nightfall."
Shen Tian froze.
Restricted.
T3.
Training.
The fox leaned close.
'This is where you stop hiding,' it said softly. 'And where I start helping properly.'
Shen Tian didn't ask what that meant.
Because deep down, he already knew.
And for the first time, the thought didn't terrify him.
It excited him.