The air of Zerathia, the grand capital, didn't just hum with life — it growled.
It was in the crackle of distant lightning arcs leaping between spires of white marble. In the sharp tang of ozone blending with the rich, smoky scent of roasted meat from street vendors. It coiled in the pit of Jax Wilder's stomach, a gnawing, electric thing that felt half like fear… and half like fire.
Fifteen hundred thousand years of legacy, they said. Of beasts, of bloodlines, of power traced back to when humanity first danced with the wild heart of nature and made it their own. Most inherited fragments — a falcon's gaze, a wolf's endurance, a tiger's claws. Enough to claw their way up society's brutal hierarchy.
Jax inherited two beasts. And yet, he stood on the lowest rung.
A noble in name alone, his family's influence had long since withered to ash, their estate barely more than a crumbling ruin on the outer isles. Other nobles — the true elites with shining crests and glittering lineage — saw him as less than dirt beneath their boots.
Let them look down, Jax thought, adjusting the worn strap of his satchel, leather frayed at the edges. They'll be looking up soon enough.
Before him, the Beastborn Academy loomed.
Spiked towers scraped the sky like claws. Stone walls engraved with writhing animal motifs pulsed faintly with magic. Behind its massive obsidian gates poured a flood of students — heirs of powerful houses, royalty adorned in shimmering silks, and prodigies boasting rare, dual-beast affinities. Their presence crackled like static in the air.
Jax's heartbeat thundered beneath his ribs.
A girl flashed past, iridescent wings humming with impossible speed — hummingbird aspect, no doubt. Her body blurred, bending light itself around her.
Nearby, a towering boy with the physique of a bear hefted a marble bench with casual ease, muscles rippling beneath his coat, his steps shaking the cobblestones.
Further still, faint tendrils of electricity danced across a silver-haired youth's skin — electric eel bloodline crackling in full display.
Jax's hazel eyes narrowed, the world subtly shifting. Shimmering light patterns bloomed across students' bodies, invisible to ordinary eyes — a polarized spectrum only he could see. Hidden signals. Deceptive camouflage peeling away under his Unveiling Gaze.
His wild heart thudded harder.
He pushed through the crowd, a lone figure in simple, stitched clothing. The arrogant murmurs coiled like smoke.
He ignored them.
Dorm 639, they'd told him. Report to Student Services. Find your dorm. Learn your place.
The service building gleamed like obsidian ice — cold, sharp, unmoving. Behind a polished black counter, a woman with hawk-like eyes surveyed him. She didn't just look at him — she dissected him.
"Name and purpose," her voice sliced the air.
"Jax Wilder. Admittance." He slid his Academy summons across the counter.
Their fingers brushed. A faint pulse of heat surged from his palm — the barely healed cut from that morning already closing, skin pink and whole once again. His body devouring its own reserves to stitch him back together.
Her eyes narrowed, intrigued — or suspicious. It didn't matter.
"Dorm 639," she stated coolly, passing him a smooth slate of dark stone etched with runes. "Class Alpha-7. Combat Fundamentals. Training begins tomorrow. Don't be late."
He took the slate, fingers curling around its cool surface.
His entire body thrummed — from the burn of the cobblestones to the weight of destiny perched on the Academy's looming spires.
Let them sneer. Let them doubt.
He was here now.
Jax Wilder. Dual-beast. The lowest noble. But not for long.
The real battle begins tomorrow.
Jax Wilder's Status Window
Name: Jax Wilder
Affiliation: Beastborn Academy Student (Lowest Tier Noble)
Primary Animal Aspects:
Mantis Shrimp
Axolotl
Grading (Current):
Strength: B+
Agility: B
Endurance: B
Beast Affinity: A
Stamina: C+
Mana: D
Abilities:
Mantis Shrimp – Explosive Might & Unseen Sight:
Devastating Strike (Kinetic Amplification): Strikes with astonishing speed and force, creating cavitation bubbles that release immense heat (8,000°F), sound (218 decibels), and concussive force. Can shatter hardened materials, crack armor, or incapacitate enemies without direct contact.
Localized Sonic/Thermal Bursts: Focused sonic and thermal outputs to disorient or internally damage foes.
Reinforced Physiology: Bone and tissue structure withstands immense forces without self-injury.
Unveiling Gaze (Polarized Light Vision): Perceives hidden signals, sees through camouflage, detects stress distortions and bio-signatures.
Axolotl – Extreme Regeneration:
Unmatched Healing: Rapid recovery from physical injuries, including deep wounds and broken bones.
Limb & Organ Regrowth: Perfect regeneration of lost limbs, severed spines, and internal organs without scarring.
Cellular Mastery: Continuous self-optimization at the cellular level.
Drawbacks:
Fatigue & Energy Consumption:
Metabolic Drain: Major healing drains energy, causing exhaustion and vulnerability. Requires immense caloric intake.
Strike Exhaustion: Repeated high-intensity strikes rapidly deplete energy reserves.
Collateral Damage & Precision Issues:
Environmental Destruction: Strikes can cause unintended structural damage or bystander harm.
Limited Stealth: Sonic booms reveal his position instantly.
Sensory Overload:
Polarized Vision Overload: Complex lighting environments can overwhelm his senses, leading to disorientation or migraines.