At the Grand Assembly Hall of Mysticrium Academy,
The colossal Rune-screen in the Mysticrium Academy's Grand Assembly Hall pulsed with the image of a majestic black stallion ascending into a shimmer of light, consumed by the contracting golden aura of a Beast-Ring. The moment Kael successfully established his contract with the Tier IV: Arcane Protector, Duskmane, the room, filled with the most brilliant minds and powerful professors of the academy, erupted not in chaos, but in a sudden, hushed reverence.
The spiritual elegance of the confrontation had captivated them all. It had not been a clumsy display of mana-bursts and brute force, but a profound, spiritual test—a true display of Rune-Beast mastery. The Duskmane, a creature known for its judgment of character, had chosen Kael, a triumph far more significant than any forceful capture.
"Observe the spiritual resonance," Professor Varen, a renowned specialist in Mystic-type Rune-Beasts, murmured, adjusting the monocle over his eye. His voice, usually booming, was filled with astonished awe. "The transfer was instantaneous. No resistance. The Duskmane—a Rune-Beast that requires eight stringent Rune Requirements and a purity of heart to even tolerate—welcomed him. This Kael... this boy is not merely talented; he is a prodigy of spiritual integrity."
Professor Jian, the strategic expert who had been following Sebastian's movements with intense fascination, leaned forward, his analytical mind already dissecting the scene. "The contract is impressive, Varen, but look at the coaching," he countered, pointing a sharp finger at the now-empty clearing where Sebastian stood watching. "Sebastian knew what the Duskmane required. He didn't send in his Thunderjaw Wyvern or his Stribane Tiger. He allowed Kael to fight with a pure heart and a restrained hand. The choice of the Umbralwing for tracking, the use of the Grizzly to provide a target for the Duskmane's defensive abilities—it was all designed to prove Kael's non-aggressive intent. Sebastian's true genius lies not in his own power, but in his ability to identify and nurture the unique strengths of those around him."
A ripple of eager murmuring spread through the specialist section of the hall. The value of Kael, already high due to his formidable Rune-Beasts, had skyrocketed. He was teachable, powerful, fiercely loyal, and most importantly, possessing the spiritual purity required for the rarest of bonds.
Professor Elara, who focused on the political and diplomatic aspects of Rune-Beast training, voiced the consensus that was forming. "The boy needs to be a disciple of the Grandmaster program immediately. His potential is wasted on general studies. More than his talent, it is his character that is the prize. He demonstrated honor and patience. I would teach him the art of soul-binding, the language of the Aethel Runes..." She trailed off, her eyes shining with desire.
The head of the Mystic Arts faculty, a stern, elderly woman named Archon Tyrus, brought the discussion to a sharp halt. "Patience, my colleagues," she commanded, her voice cutting through the hall's clamor. "Do not let avarice blind you. This Kael is still operating under the shadow of his master—the masked student, Sebastian. We do not know the nature of their relationship, nor the ultimate goal of Sebastian's plan. He just orchestrated the theft of a Seraphaquor and now facilitates the noble bonding of a Duskmane. His influence is immense, perhaps paramount."
"Indeed," Professor Jian agreed, his voice thoughtful. "To interrupt now would be to ruin the experiment. Sebastian's next move will tell us everything. Will he seek a companion for himself? Will that companion be a creature of similar spiritual grace, or one of aggressive, unmatched power? We must wait. The Trial is his stage, and we must be silent observers until the curtain falls."
The professors, though burning with the desire to claim Kael as their own, reluctantly settled back, their eyes glued to the screen. The immense potential of Kael, and the strategic mystery of Sebastian, was too valuable to risk for a premature claim. They would wait, their collective breath held for the next chapter of the masked prodigy's plan.
Back in the Shady Grasslands, the tension of the confrontation had evaporated, replaced by the profound tranquility of a successful bond. Sebastian and Kael sat on the dew-kissed grass, sharing a simple but satisfying lunch. The air still hummed with the gentle, calming aura of the Duskmane, who had chosen to materialize and rest beside its new master.
"You performed admirably, Kael," Sebastian said, handing his companion a flask of water. "The Duskmane is a Rune-Beast of immaculate spiritual integrity. You saw its strength lies not in force, but in the purity of its own essence. You fought the right battle, not the one your instincts told you to."
Kael, his face alight with humble pride, carefully stroked the Duskmane's magnificent mane. The horse-like creature nuzzled its head against his arm, a profound wave of gratitude and loyalty washing through their newly established bond. "I owe it all to your guidance, My Lord. I would have likely sent the Grizzly to smash it to pieces if you hadn't warned me. The feeling of its Luna Grace... it was like having a thousand years of doubt washed away."
The clearing was filled with their assembled Rune-Beasts, a sight that emphasized the growing strength and complexity of their "family." The Seraphaquor, now the undeniable Tier V anchor, rested majestically a short distance away, its celestial energy subtly mixing with the gentle, protective aura of the Duskmane.
Sebastian's Stribane Tiger and Thunderjaw Wyvern watched the Duskmane with respectful curiosity, acknowledging its power and spiritual purity. The Springshoot Panda, having recovered its energy, was happily sharing a piece of fruit with the Stoneclaw Grizzly.
The Duskmane, meanwhile, was engaging in its integration ritual. It used a soft pulse of its Luna Grace ability, a wave of soothing, non-magical energy, to gently touch Kael's other companions. The Umbralwing, always tense and shadowy, seemed to relax slightly, its smoky edges softening. The fierce demeanor of the Boulder Fang momentarily calmed. It was an unspoken promise: I am here to protect and heal, not to conquer.
As they ate, Sebastian, ever the strategist, outlined the next phase. "Rest now, Kael. This bond requires stabilization and rest. But we must use this momentum. The competition will be searching for the Duskmane and finding only the aftermath of your success. We disappear now, before they can rally."
Sebastian brought up the holographic Rune-scroll again, displaying the final target for this phase of their plan. The image was the stark opposite of the Duskmane: a bulky, fearsome creature wreathed in ash and igneous rock, its body glowing with molten energy.
"Our next target is the Tier IV: Ignarok," Sebastian stated, his voice now crisp and commanding. "It is a creature of pure, elemental aggression. No spiritual tests, no purity of heart required. It demands dominance, control, and absolute power. It is the antithesis of your Duskmane." He glanced at Kael. "It is my turn."
The respite was brief, efficient, and restorative. Within the hour, the camp was packed, the Rune-Beasts were either recalled or prepared for the journey, and Sebastian and Kael were moving again. Their destination was the volcanic region in the heart of Trial Island Theta—the Fiery Lands, a hostile, unforgiving landscape perpetually bathed in the aggressive aura of primal fire magic.
The journey was a brutal contrast to the soft, mystical serenity they had just left. The ground quickly changed from the cool, damp earth of the Shady Grasslands to hard, cracked rock. As they moved closer to the heart of the island, the temperature began to climb, slowly at first, then rapidly, until the air itself seemed to shimmer with the oppressive heat.
Sebastian used the transition to its fullest advantage. He immediately dispatched his Storm Hawk to scout ahead, its lightning-wreathed body able to withstand the elemental volatility of the higher altitude. He then activated his own innate Stormwright talent, creating a subtle, invisible field of ambient moisture and cooling wind around himself and Kael, mitigating the initial scorching assault.
"The air is saturated with fire mana," Sebastian explained, his gaze fixed on the rising plumes of smoke ahead. "It will drain the mana of any non-fire or non-earth-aligned Rune-Beast rapidly. We must maintain a steady pace. Kael, use your new companion. The Duskmane's spiritual energy can act as a shield against the elemental aggression."
Kael, eager to test the power of his new companion, nodded. He released the Duskmane, whose luminous form pulsed with a protective, soft light. The Arcane Protector used its Luna Grace ability not for healing, but as a calming agent against the violent elemental atmosphere. The spiritual energy of the Duskmane, a fusion of shadow and mystic light, acted as a soothing balm, creating a micro-environment of tranquility that pushed back against the volcanic fury.
Their squad moved like a well-oiled machine. The Azure Zephyrex flew low, using its wind affinity to continually push the sulfur-laced air away from their path. Kael's Stoneclaw Grizzly and Boulder Fang took the lead, their earth-based resilience perfectly suited to the rocky, heat-drenched terrain. The heat, however, was immense, an oppressive weight that felt like a physical hammer blow.
After hours of relentless trekking, the landscape became a monochromatic vision of black and red. Rivers of glowing, solidified magma scarred the earth, and the ground was perpetually hot, forcing them to jump across cracked rock formations. The air was thick with the acrid smell of sulfur and ash, and the sky above was a hazy, dark orange, choked by the volcanic smoke.
Sebastian and Kael ascended the treacherous slopes of the outer caldera, the volcano itself now looming above them like a furious, slumbering titan. Plumes of thick, dark smoke billowed from its peak, casting a perpetual shadow over the immediate region. The heat was now unbearable, forcing even the earth-aligned beasts to pant heavily.
"We are close," Sebastian announced, pulling his hood tighter against the rising thermal currents. "The Ignarok favors the molten rivers near the upper caldera. It is a creature of fire and molten rock. It does not think; it burns."
They reached a ridge overlooking a vast, sloping plain of black obsidian rock that fed into a flowing river of slow-moving, glowing lava. The sight was terrifyingly beautiful, a place of creation and annihilation. The heat radiating off the lava river was a palpable, aggressive force that threatened to scorch their very skin. This was the Fiery Lands, a place where only the strongest and most volatile creatures could survive.
Sebastian stopped at the edge of the ridge, his eyes narrowed as he scanned the desolate, burning landscape. His expression hardened, shifting from the calm mentor of the earlier hours back to the cold, calculating strategist. The Ignarok would not be won with gentle persuasion or a pure heart. It would be taken by demonstrating superior power and unwavering dominance.
As Sebastian prepared to draw his own Rune-Beasts—the Thunderjaw Wyvern and Stribane Tiger—for the confrontation, a massive shadow shifted in the distance, near the slow-moving river of molten rock. A hulking, vaguely reptilian form rose up, its body composed of glowing, cracked igneous rock, with fissures running along its hide that glowed with liquid fire. It let out a soundless roar, a vibration of raw heat and power that rattled the very ground beneath Sebastian's feet.
The Tier IV: Ignarok had been found. It was large, aggressive, and waiting. Sebastian adjusted the Beast-Ring containing his newly acquired Seraphaquor, a cold glint in his eyes. The time for soft approaches was over.