The arena darkened.
As the spectral spider descended from its mist cocoon, a chilling cold spread across the Trial Field. The crowd watching from the observation spires fell silent. Even the most talkative tamers held their breath.
[Enemy: Deathmist Widow – D+ Rank Spirit Beast]
Type: Assassin/Illusion/Poison Hybrid
Skill Set: Cloaking Shroud, Paralytic Fang, Soul Stitch Web
Tamer: Whisper of the Fallen Veil
Combat Style: Spirit Conduction – Direct Mind Control Link
Kazuki Ren narrowed his eyes.
Across the glowing ring, the girl tamer whispered without moving her lips. Her long hair floated unnaturally in the air. Her eyes 'milky and unblinking' glowed faintly purple.
"Nyx," Ren said low, "she's not controlling that thing with commands. It's mental. If we let her get inside your head, it's over."
Nyx's twin tails flared, blue fire dancing across the edge of his shadowy fur. He crouched low, body half-phased between light and darkness.
The Deathmist Widow shimmered and vanished.
[WARNING: Spirit Assassin has entered Phase Cloak]
Detection: LOW
Reaction Delay: 1.2 seconds unless skill is triggered
Then
SHRIEK.
A white blur launched from behind Nyx, fangs glinting, legs stretched wide.
Ren barely had time to react.
"VOIDSTEP, NOW!"
[Skill Triggered: Voidstep (Short Range Blink)]
Cooldown: 6 seconds
Nyx vanished, and the spider struck only air, webbing exploding across the ground.
"Smart," Whisper murmured. "But predictable."
[Status Alert: Cloaking Fog – Arena visibility reduced by 40%]
Effect Duration: 2 minutes
Additional Danger: Web Tracking Active
Ren's breathing slowed. The fog pressed in, and Nyx was no longer visible.
"Switch to Instinct Sync."
[Instinct Sync Active – Sensory Range Shared]
[Boost: Reflex +7%, Weak Aura Pulse Detection]
Through Nyx's senses, Ren saw flashes, tiny vibrations, tremors in the air, threads moving across stone.
There.
"Three o'clock. Vertical strike. Phantom Pounce, feint left, slash upward!"
Nyx reappeared in a flurry of motion, striking through a nearly invisible arc of air.
A sharp cry rang out.
[Enemy Hit: Partial Reveal – Widow takes 17% damage]
[Counterattack Incoming: Soul Stitch Threads!]
Silver-blue lines burst outward in a web-shaped rune.
"Jump—above it!"
But even as Nyx leapt, two threads snagged his hind leg.
[Status Effect Applied: Binding Curse – Speed -20%]
[Beast Core Stability: 84% → 66%]
"Damn," Ren hissed. "She's weaving a soul-binding field."
Whisper's lips curled into a faint smile. "Give in, outsider. Spirit beasts cannot be outmaneuvered by mortals. Your beast will fall like the others."
Ren exhaled.
"No."
His hand rose to the air, fingers folding into a pact sign.
"System—initiate Beast Bond Override."
[Permission Granted: Temporary System Boost Engaged]
Soul Bond Surge: Fusion Pulse Activated
[Skill Unlocked: Shadow Reversal – Phase Counterstrike (One Use)]
Condition: Must be in direct contact with soul-type trap or curse.
Ren's and Nyx's bond flared like a beacon. The soul threads binding Nyx snapped, not from struggle, but from overload. The fusion pulse rebounded along the strands like lightning.
The Deathmist Widow screeched in agony, its illusions shattered.
Nyx landed hard, his fur flaring, eyes wild.
"NOW! Final move!"
[Skill Activated: Phantom Pounce – Stacked with Voidstep Slash]
[Critical Angle: Rear Jaw Open]
Nyx surged forward in a trail of pure darkness, twin tails fanning behind like banners of void. In a single sweeping arc, he struck beneath the spider's face, and leapt through it.
CRACK.
The creature shattered into spirit fragments, its body dissolving into mist.
Whisper stumbled, clutching her head. Her bond link cracked, and the field faded.
[Second Opponent Defeated!]
Combat Time: 5:52
Skill Use Efficiency: 81%
Bond Sync: +4%
[Ready for Final Opponent?]
Y/N
Ren stepped into the light as the fog cleared. The crowd was no longer quiet. Whispers swirled.
"He beat Whisper of the Veil…"
"That was a spirit assassin!"
"His beast countered a soul link trap…"
Sela, the instructor, smiled for the first time.
"Well then. Looks like we've got ourselves a real contender."
She raised her hand.
"The third and final challenger will be a special selection… personally approved by the Academy Council."
Across the arena, the final gate opened.
And from its glowing maw stepped a tall youth clad in silver-white robes, a crimson sword at his back. His eyes were calm, predatory, and far too familiar.
[Final Challenger: Riku Dawnblade – Official Rematch (D+ Rank)]
System Note:
Special Trial Condition Activated – Personal Rivalry Match.
Win Requirement: Dominate Victory (No draw accepted)
Stakes: Public Reputation, Ranking Boost, Tamer Class Promotion
Ren exhaled sharply.
"Of course it's him."
Nyx growled, already stepping forward.
The rematch was coming.
The final gate closed with a heavy clang, and the temperature across the arena spiked several degrees.
Riku Dawnblade walked forward, his platinum crest gleaming on his shoulder, silver-white robes trailing behind him like the cloak of nobility. His Emberclaw Hawk circled overhead, larger now, wings edged with crimson flame.
He wasn't just angry.
He was upgraded.
[Final Trial Battle – Activated]
Opponent: Riku Dawnblade (D+ Rank)
Beast: Emberclaw Hawk – Flame-Fused Variant (Enhanced)
Skills: Feather Storm | Blazing Dive | Sunflare Armor (New)
Objective: Total Victory (No Draw Accepted)
Bonus: Title Upgrade + Core Badge Promotion
Sela's voice echoed through the dome.
"This is a ranked honor match. Winner receives official Tamer Class recognition. Begin!"
Riku's smile was razor-thin. "Still standing after those weaklings? Good. Now I get to burn you down properly."
Ren cracked his knuckles, voice even. "You couldn't last two minutes last time."
Riku raised a hand. "Hawk, burn the skies."
The Emberclaw Hawk shrieked and burst into flame, launching upward and spreading its wings. Fire rained down like a meteor shower, every feather a burning blade.
[Skill Activated: Flame Plume Rain – AoE Zone Suppression]
Danger Rating: High
Evasion Time: 2.1 seconds
"Nyx, circle left, evade low! Phantom Pounce to the third blind spot!"
The wolf-dragon beast vanished mid-run, reappearing between two falling feathers. He zigzagged under the flaming barrage, narrowly avoiding direct hits.
But Riku wasn't finished.
"Blazing Dive!"
The hawk tucked its wings and dove at Nyx like a living meteor, flame trails searing the air.
Ren's eyes narrowed.
"Voidstep! Feint right, then Shadow Howl!"
[Stacked Command Confirmed – Execution Boost +8%]
[Skill: Shadow Howl – Effects: Fear, Disruption, Illusion Scatter]
Nyx teleported, just enough to dodge, then let out a guttural, echoing howl. Black soundwaves rippled outward, warping the space mid-flight.
The Emberclaw Hawk shuddered mid-dive and veered off-course.
CRASH!
It smashed into the arena wall, rebounding with a pained screech.
[Enemy Status: Staggered – 3 seconds vulnerability]
[Opportunity Detected – STRIKE]
Ren raised his hand. "Now. Go full fusion."
[Beast Link Fusion: Partial Sync – Prototype State]
Duration: 30 seconds
Bonus: Reflex +40% | Fusion Skill Available: Voidstep Fang
Ren's body shimmered with Nyx's ghost aura, his arms lined with ethereal claw shapes, eyes glowing pale violet.
He dashed forward, his movements fluid, shadow-enhanced.
Riku growled. "You want real power? Sunflare Armor!"
The hawk ignited again, flames wrapping around it like golden plating.
[Skill: Sunflare Armor – Converts 40% damage to aura shock]
Caution: Direct melee will cause heat backlash.
Ren saw it.
And smirked.
"Then I won't strike the armor. I'll strike the light itself."
He blinked forward, just a blur in the wind.
Voidstep Fang – Spiral Slash!
He appeared directly under the hawk, and twisted, claws ripping through the underside of its glowing wings, where the armor hadn't fully formed.
BOOM!
A shockwave exploded outward as the attack connected. The Hawk screeched, fire unraveling from its wings.
It collapsed in the air, smashing into the arena floor with a dull thud.
Silence.
Then
[Opponent Beast: KO Confirmed]
[Match Result: Kazuki Ren – Complete Victory]
[Trial Completed!]
– Beast Codex Tier Increased
– Tamer Class: Bronze Ranked Initiate
– Title Earned: Shadow Fang of the Trial
– Award Unlocked: Core Academy Badge
– Beast Affinity Upgrade: Shadow +5%, Spirit +2%
– Public Reputation +33
Riku didn't speak.
He stared at the smoldering remains of his beast, fists trembling, lips parted in disbelief.
Ren turned without looking back.
"Train harder. Or don't challenge me again."
He left the arena, Nyx walking beside him with calm, regal pride.
Starroot Outer Gate – Candidate Hall
Sela met him at the exit platform.
She handed over a dark steel badge, etched with three beasts coiled around a radiant core.
"You're now an official part of Starroot Academy," she said. "Bronze Rank. Core Access granted. And… you'll have eyes on you from now on."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "Eyes?"
"Some will want to recruit you. Others… will want to erase you."
Ren tucked the badge into his cloak and smiled faintly. "Let them come."
[New System Mission Available:]
Faction Invitation Incoming – Choose a Path
Option 1: Wyrmfang Combat Hall (Offensive Cultivation)
Option 2: Moonveil Codex Division (Beast Theory & Evolution)
Option 3: Rogue Path – No allegiance. Forge your own guild.
Time Limit to Choose: 48 hours
Reward: Legacy Key Fragment
Ren stared at the choices, then at the distant, floating towers of the academy's inner sanctum.
The Trial was over.
Now… the war of factions began.
End of Chapter 5