The morning sun spilled across the eastern skies of Shrek University, glinting off soaring storm eagles and domed towers. The dew shimmered with faint spirit energy as an ethereal fog crawled between the carved beast statues dotting the training plaza. The Bloodmoon was behind them, but its shadow lingered—subtle, but sharp, like an invisible wound.
Kiyanotoka Ash stood atop the balcony of his newly upgraded quarters, sipping from a steaming cup of spirit-leaf tea. He wore a light training robe, black with red trim, tied casually at the waist. His white hair rustled in the breeze, and his piercing blue eyes scanned the horizon.
Behind him, Thamuz snored atop a heated platform, curled up like a giant ember-scaled cat. Zephyrion perched on a reinforced air perch near the ceiling, head tucked beneath a wing. Whiskerflip was inside the bedroom, where he'd found a heated blanket and refused to move from it for the last two hours.
"Lazy beasts," Kiyanotoka muttered with a smirk.
But he couldn't blame them. The Bloodmoon Trial had pushed them all to the edge. They'd earned their rest.
---
🏠 Living Comforts
Kiyanotoka's quarters, a reward for his third-place finish in the Final Trial, were far superior to the dorm rooms the first-years suffered. He had his own personal beast chamber, a small indoor arena with anti-spirit wards, enchanted cooking tools (though he rarely cooked), and a modest gold allowance that let him buy rare beast treats, gear, and scrolls.
More importantly, he now had time—time to train his beasts, meditate, and investigate his body cultivation further.
> [ BODY LEVEL: FLAME CORE ADEPT – LEVEL 3 ] [ TALENT: CORE FLAME PULSE – REFLEXIVE COUNTERFLARE (UNLOCKED) ]
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👥 Side Story: The Bureau of Trial Rankings
"Third place?"
An elder in blue robes slammed the parchment onto a table. "That's impossible. The boy had no record before this semester!"
Lady Mei raised a brow. "And yet he subdued three spirit beasts under Bloodmoon disruption, stabilized their synchronization mid-battle, and left with nearly full health."
A younger instructor spoke up. "His Flame Core pulses like a mature cultivator's. And he might not even be done evolving them."
Whispers filled the room.
"Then we watch. Closely."
---
⚒️ The Spirit Market Excursion
Armed with gold cores and a quiet day on his schedule, Kiyanotoka visited the lower-tier Spirit Market, hidden beneath the university's central plaza.
"I need dragon-scale weaves, a focus orb, three Stormfeather flasks, and... spirit-scented soap," he said to the merchant.
"Fancy boy," the stall keeper muttered. "You bringing your whole beast crew to a date or something?"
Kiyanotoka shrugged. "Depends if they behave."
Behind him, Thamuz grunted and sneezed smoke onto a stack of wooden cages. The merchant quickly rang up the purchase.
"Thanks, come again. Or not. Preferably not."
Whiskerflip blinked behind the counter and stole a snack.
"Whisker!"
---
🦴 Training: Evolution Nearing
Back at his arena, Kiyanotoka held his palm over an obsidian ritual stone as Thamuz stood before him.
> [ THAMUZ: EVOLUTION LEVEL – 92% ] [ CONDITION: HEART TEMPERING REQUIRED – FIRESTORM BOND TEST PENDING ]
"Thamuz," Kiyanotoka said quietly, "you ready to try it?"
The dragon let out a low growl, more curious than aggressive.
Behind them, Zephyrion swirled the air into a perfect ring and leapt through it mid-flight, training precision. Whiskerflip was replicating Kiyanotoka's fighting stance on a plush pillow, much to no one's surprise.
---
😂 Side Joke: Fuyue's Visit
Fuyue arrived mid-training, arms crossed.
"Your dragon just barbecued your dummy."
"I call that performance art."
"And your rabbit just slapped Jin with an illusion tail."
"Maybe he deserved it."
She looked around. "Your living quarters have a massage orb, three temp-controlled beds, and a tea brewer that hums?"
"I didn't ask for luxury. It found me."
Fuyue sighed. "You're impossible." But she didn't leave.
---
🎯 Power Flex: Challenge from a Senior
Word of Kiyanotoka's success had spread. Too much.
He was summoned to Training Dome 5. Waiting there was Riken, a 3rd-year known for his aggressive spirit—a duel specialist.
"New boy," Riken said. "You flaunt dragons. But how do you command them?"
Kiyanotoka didn't flinch. "With presence."
"Then show it."
Riken's spirit beast, an armored Rhino Cat, charged.
Thamuz appeared with a roar that cracked the arena wall. Zephyrion followed, hurling a wind pulse that threw the cat off balance. Whiskerflip blinked in, headbutting Riken from behind.
The duel lasted twelve seconds.
The arena record.
---
🧩 Worldbuilding: Sects and Paths
In the eastern pavilion, Kiyanotoka studied scrolls about spirit paths:
Three Paths of Mastery:
1. Beast Dominance – Subjugate and enslave beasts. Often violent. Forbidden in many sects.
2. Tamer's Command – Form mutual contracts through resonance.
3. Symbiotic Cultivation – Merge soul threads with beasts for joint growth. Rare and dangerous.
Kiyanotoka's approach had started as Tamer's Command, but his bond with Thamuz... was becoming something more.
> [ SYNCHRONIZATION: 61% → 63% ] [ NEXT UNLOCK: BEAST-FUSED OVERDRIVE (UNKNOWN) ]
---
💘 A Quiet Walk
That evening, Kiyanotoka and Fuyue walked beneath spirit lanterns.
She asked, "Are you really planning to fight in the Nexus Tourney?"
"If I want answers... it's the only path."
"You're hiding something. I can feel it."
"I'm hiding everything."
She looked at him for a long time. "Then I'll stay by your side until you trust me with it."
Kiyanotoka paused. "Then... I hope I never lose that side."
Their hands brushed. No words were needed.
---
🐉 Beast Growth Snapshot
1. Thamuz – Fire Dragon (Juvenile)
Evolution: 92%
Skills: Emberstorm Arc, Crimson Roar, Flame Veil
Passive: Internal Furnace (burn damage -> stamina)
2. Zephyrion – Storm Roc
Evolution: 66%
Skills: Thunder Dive II, Static Aegis, Wind Sharpening
3. Whiskerflip – Sylph-Hare
Evolution: 89%
Skills: Chaos Trick, Rapid Step III, Phase Split
Passive: Reflex Copy (mimics motion within 0.4s)
---
📊 Stats Panel – Kiyanotoka Ash
Class: Spiritual Beast Master (Hidden: Body Flame Cultivator)
Body Level: Flame Core Adept – Lv. 3
Known Techniques:
Core Flame Pulse
Breath Condensation Guard
Tri-Link Focus
Emotion Tether
Reflex Channel
Resources:
1400 Gold Cores
Beast quarters
Beast-specific scroll archive access
Fire Silk Cloak
Flaws:
High emotional repression
Mild beast over-reliance
Attracts political enemies
---
🔚 Chapter End Scene
In the final scene, a masked figure in black robes gazed into a glowing scrying orb.
"His synchronization is rising too quickly. He's close to achieving Tri-Beast Harmony."
A growling voice replied, "Then he must break. Before the Tournament."
"Let the next trial come early."
The orb shimmered, showing Kiyanotoka—resting peacefully, unaware.
But danger was already moving.
---
End of Chapter 27 – Word Count: ~4000