The halfway mark of the third trial had passed, and tension crackled in the air like static before a storm. High above the five arenas, within the observation deck of the Holy Beast Bond Master Academy, Long Yi's gaze lingered on the two Phoenix-bonded girls standing proudly in Arena 2. Their coordinated power, elemental balance, and graceful dominance had caught even the sharpest of eyes. But as their performance settled in her mind, her attention shifted elsewhere. Something—or rather, someone—had started to stir her interest more than expected.
With a tilt of her head, she turned to the giant screen depicting Arena 4. Her eyes narrowed with both curiosity and quiet anticipation. "Let's see how the unknown Dragon Bond Master, Lan Zhen, is performing," she whispered.
Battle Arena 4
Arena 4 was unlike any of the others. All 25 candidates present were Spirit-Forged Bond Masters, each one wielding a minimum of one bonded beast and years of clan training or self-honed technique. But the playing field was no longer even. Towering trees had been scorched or flattened. Deep craters pockmarked the earth. Screams, roars, and explosions echoed as Tier 1 beasts clashed with the candidates.
Amid the chaos stood Lan Zhen and Lei Wei, backs to each other, surrounded by fallen beasts and steaming terrain.
"Thunder Dragon Claw!" Lei Wei roared, his arm electrifying with arcs of thunder as he plunged his claw through a giant iron boar.
"Unknown Dragon Claw!" Zhen's voice followed, darker in tone. His strike erupted with a dark red-and-gold aura, the claw-shaped energy shredding through a leaping flame hawk.
Lei Wei panted, a grin splitting his face. "Zhen, your claw is ridiculous. Stronger than mine for sure."
Zhen merely shook his head, wiping sweat from his brow. "No, not stronger. It's only because you're helping that we've brought down fifteen Tier 1 beasts already."
As the two paused for breath, the arena revealed a darker plot. In the forested corner of Arena 4, twenty candidates lurked in hiding. Their bond beasts were crouched low, and their expressions twisted with scheming malice.
One boy—tall, wiry, and cold-eyed—stepped forward. Yan Wu.
He addressed the group in a low voice. "Zhao Xiong made his command clear. We hurt Lan Zhen badly enough to make him fail, and we're rewarded."
A few others glanced at each other uncertainly.
"But Lei Wei is with him," one muttered. "He's from the Lei Clan. we cannot do anything to him."
Yan Wu nodded. "Exactly. That's why we split them. Seven of us go after Lei Wei. Don't hurt him—just keep him away. The rest of us? We hurt Lan Zhen down."
The others nodded, smiles creeping across their faces.
Back near the river, Lei Wei handed Zhen his empty water flask. "Stay here. I'll refill these."
"Thanks," Zhen said, sitting against a cracked stone slab.
As Lei Wei vanished into the trees, movement drew Zhen's attention. His eyes scanned the clearing—and narrowed.
A group of at least thirteen candidates emerged, led by Yan Wu. From the shadows of the trees to the cracks in the rocks, they were closing in like predators.
At the River Side
Lei Wei reached the water's edge, crouching to fill the flasks. That's when he felt it. A sudden shift in the air pressure. Instinct flared—and he spun.
Seven candidates blocked his retreat.
He straightened slowly, water dripping from his fingers.
"So. Zhao Xiong's dogs," he said with a calm edge.
One of them grinned. "You're sharp. We're not here to hurt you. We're just going to keep you here long enough for your little friend to fail."
Lei Wei's expression didn't change, but thunder rolled faintly in the clouds above.
"You lot underestimate Zhen too much. He's not just strong—he's clever. And he's my best friend."
The candidates laughed. One cracked his knuckles. "Doesn't matter. He's alone now."
Lei Wei smiled faintly.
"But… it's a pity."
"Pity?"
Lei Wei lifted one hand. "You forgot where we are."
Lightning danced across his skin.
"We're near water."
A sudden surge of lightning exploded outward. "Thunder Dragon Claw!"
Electricity ripped through the shallow river, stunning several attackers. The clash began, furious and bright.
Back in the Arena
Yan Wu approached, his aura flickering crimson.
"Well, look who's tired," he mocked. He said "rank 10 spirit forged master with dragon bond, Lan Zhen". "You've done well, Lan Zhen. But Zhao Xiong said hello."
Zhen stood up slowly. The weight of fatigue pulled at him, but his eyes glinted with focus.
"You're going to gang up on me?"
Yan Wu smirked. "We're just following orders."
The thirteen charged.
Zhen's body moved before his mind fully registered. He dashed between blasts of fire and earth, ducked beneath a lightning swipe. Then, he stopped.
He turned.
"Who said I was running?" he whispered.
His aura erupted.
"Unknown Dragon Claw!"
A shock wave burst from his strike. The dark-reddish golden dragon claw carved through the air—seven candidates were launched into the air, crashing into trees and stone.
The remaining attackers froze. Zhen's eyes glowed—deep reddish, threaded with black and gold. His dragon aura surged like a storm.
Yan Wu stepped back, visibly shaken. "what's with his dragon claw??? his bond power is low right now, but why his bond skill is this powerful?!"
The others broke by watching lan zhen's destructive dark reddish golden dragon claw and his deadly dark reddish eyes. Panic overtook them.
They fled.
Zhen's aura dimmed. He swayed.
Then a hand caught his shoulder.
"Drink," Lei Wei said.
Zhen drank deeply. "What took so long?"
"Had to clean up some garbage," Lei Wei answered.
Zhen blinked. "Garbage?"
Lei Wei chuckled. "Don't worry about it."
Observation Platform
Tai Zhi was speechless. "That… was a one-versus-thirteen."
Long Yi's expression was more complicated—equal parts pride and curiosity.
"I've figured something out," she said quietly.
Tai Zhi looked at her. "What is it?"
"His dragon bond. It's like mine."
"…Pure Darkness?"
Long Yi nodded. "Yes. But it's not just pure darkness. There's something ancient—primal—in his bond."
Tai Zhi's eyes widened.
A horn echoed.
The one-hour mark was over. The trial had ended.
Out of the 125 candidates, only 70 had survived the ordeal.
The Third and Final Trial—the Survival Arena—was complete.
The path to the Holy Beast Bond Master Academy had been opened.
Lan Zhen and his friends real journey is about to begin..