When children in Gantasia turn fifteen, they can enroll in specialized schools—whether it's a Magic Academy, Adventurer's School, Demon School, or regular schools.
But most people dream of attending the Beast Tamer Academy. Beast tamers can harness the abilities of magical creatures for their own use, including physical prowess, magic spells, and various useful knowledge.
They say graduates from the Beast Tamer Academy excel in any field they choose. They fight better than adventurers, cast magic as well as archmages, and can even produce goods like regular school graduates.
Those who master the art of beast taming can achieve almost anything in this world.
This was certainly the dream of Ray Landroll, a fifteen-year-old orphan who had worked every job imaginable since birth to save up for tuition. He had dreamed since childhood of becoming great, of living a comfortable life.
"Ray! Here's your pay. And don't forget to dump that Trihorn dung while you're at it, you moron," said the fat, pot-bellied uncle who owned the large cattle farm, slapping some money onto the young man's head as he sat milking a large three-horned cow.
Ray quickly grabbed his head before the money could fall, then pulled out his magic wallet to absorb the coins.
**Received: 9,000 G**
"Thank you, Uncle Roger," he beamed.
The fat uncle made an annoyed face and waved his hand dismissively. "You're fifteen now. Go wherever you want. I've got new workers. I'm sick of seeing your face."
"Yes, Uncle Roger. Thank you for taking care of me all this time," Ray beamed again.
-----
At noon, Ray wheeled his three-wheeled cart full of cow dung out of Uncle Roger's lush green farm into the dense forest. But as he was passing through the outskirts of Lugana town, snickering laughter echoed from behind him as he pushed his cart.
"Hahaha! Look at that orphan kid! Has to work up a sweat hauling dung every day. Absolutely disgusting. Right, guys?"
A tall purple-haired boy in an expensive suit spoke to his twin lackeys—bald, skinny sidekicks flanking him.
"Exactly, Master Jason. The smell is so bad it reaches all the way here. So stinky even dragons would run away," the left lackey told Jason.
"He probably can't get into Beast Tamer Academy like Master Jason. With that ugly face, even regular schools probably wouldn't accept him," the right one added. Then all three boys laughed mockingly at Ray.
Ray tried to ignore them as he continued pushing his cart, focusing on his final day of work.
He knew he had saved enough for tuition and would probably get to study like everyone else. He was proud that he could earn his own school fees. Better to let Jason be shocked when he saw him at the same school.
"What are you laughing at, you little orphan brat?" The purple-haired boy in the expensive suit straightened his tie arrogantly.
"Nothing much. I just find it funny that you guys have parents but still act so badly toward others. It's really cute," Ray beamed.
"You little brat! You want a beating, don't you? Come out, Vega!" Jason furrowed his brows and gritted his teeth angrily before opening his magic leather bag and summoning his beast.
It slithered around the purple-haired boy's neck and arms in a menacing fashion.
**Name: Vega**
**Beast Species: Frostfang**
**Level 9**
**HP: 200 MP: 40**
**Element: Ice**
**Rarity: B-Rank**
**Info: A demonic ice serpent. A solitary creature rarely seen by humans or other living beings. Prefers to hunt alone. Often uses ice powers to freeze prey, coils around victims, then devours them whole.**
**Skills: Ice Bite, Frost Breath, Constrict, Blood Drain**
"Heh, you're dead for sure. Master Jason's Fortter family has raised rare beasts like Frostfangs for generations. You're definitely dead, dung boy!" Jason's lackey said as their leader grinned wickedly.
He cast the spell: "Spirit Fusion!"
The snake coiling around Jason's neck slowly merged with his right hand, transforming into a long, flowing ice serpent head. It reared up and hissed threateningly at Ray.
But he wasn't afraid. "Alright then, Jason," Ray beamed, pulling out his own bag to summon his beast.
"Come out, Geed!"
**Name: Geed**
**Beast Species: Fluffy**
**Level 3**
**HP: 130 MP: 30**
**Element: Normal**
**Rarity: D-Rank**
**Info: A playful, curious creature that loves exploring its surroundings. Enjoys bonding with friends and has a melodious voice for communication.**
**Skills: Danger Sense, Kick, Sing**
A small squirrel-rabbit hybrid appeared in Ray's hand. It tilted its adorable head toward him before nuzzling softly against the young man's cheek, making him unable to stop smiling.
"Geed, Spirit Fusion!" The Fluffy's body merged with Ray, sprouting brown rabbit ears on his head and a cute, fluffy squirrel tail behind him.
"Hahaha! Just a measly Fluffy that you can catch anywhere in the forest? What could it possibly do to me?" Jason laughed.
"Well, something like this, Jason. Kick!" Ray called out his skill.
Then he pushed his cart away at high speed, leaving all three boys standing there dumbfounded in the dust.
-----
At Lugana Forest, amid the sound of waterfalls and the scent of fresh air, surrounded by lush green trees…
"Hmph, just wait, Jason. I'll fight you someday when I'm ready," Ray sat resting by the flowing waterfall, the blue pond reflecting sunlight. He pulled out some bread to share with little Geed sitting on his lap.
"Wouldn't it be nice, Geed? If I ever get rich, I'll definitely buy better bread for you to eat. And no one will look down on us anymore. Let's work hard together for that day."
The little fluffy-eared creature on his lap nodded enthusiastically, chirping "Geed geed" cutely for Ray, before they clinked their bread together and munched in unison.
"Sigh… Alright, back to work. This is the last time. Tomorrow I can finally apply for the exam and follow my dreams," Ray picked up a shovel from his cart to dig a hole for burying the animal waste.
But suddenly, a roar echoed from behind, making his hair stand on end. The air shook and trembled. Leaves scattered everywhere. The pond rippled in waves. Ray slowly turned around to find a massive black dragon perched atop the waterfall, baring its fangs.
It roared, breathing blue fire from its mouth, battling a red flame phoenix soaring through the sky above.
The young brown-haired boy stood stunned at the sight of these two legendary beasts. They were breathing fire at each other in a fierce battle. The black-scaled dragon on the waterfall shot blue flame sparks and claws, while the phoenix below breathed orange-red fire.
Both forces clashed in midair, pushing against each other until the flame streams scattered. Nearby trees and grass slowly burned from the heat.
Strong winds whipped Ray's hair backward.
Ray raised his arms to shield his face, holding Geed protectively against his chest.
But finally, after their long power struggle, the blue flames overwhelmed the orange fire. The phoenix, not yet fully mature, was defeated. It fell down, its wings burned by the blue fire.
It crashed right in front of Ray's eyes. He froze, unable to do anything. He remembered from legends that if a phoenix didn't die from its own fire, it couldn't resurrect.
The black dragon flapped its massive wings from atop the waterfall down to the ground below. Its weight caused a small earthquake. It growled in its throat, hoping to kill its sworn enemy while still young, before opening its jaws menacingly to finish off the other side.
Ray thought he should do something to help, and he had an idea. He fused with Geed into his fluffy form, then used "Kick" to boot the cart full of Trihorn cow dung, splashing it all over the black dragon's face and nostrils.
Waste splattered across the black-scaled dragon's body. The cart shattered. The giant reptile shook its head in torment from the stench before flapping its wings and flying back up into the sky, disappearing.
Ray let out a huge sigh of relief, wiped his forehead, and returned to human form, carrying his rabbit as before. Additionally, he rushed over to check on the phoenix's condition, which was suffering and near death.
"This is bad. If I don't help quickly, it'll be terrible," Ray opened his magic bag item by item until he found healing potions. He poured them onto the phoenix bottle by bottle until he used every bottle he had.
In his head, he forgot to think about how much money it cost, even though he was actually poor. He just wanted this phoenix to survive if he could help it. Little did he know that the one in his arms was sensing the sound of his heart.
Finally, it stopped suffering and slowly opened its small eyes to gaze at him intently.
**You have gained the Phoenix's Trust**
**You have been chosen as the Phoenix's Tamer**
**Please name…**
Ray was shocked and then overjoyed, nearly beside himself, before naming his first legendary beast:
"N…Nixie!"
**You have received a new beast**
**Name: Nixie**
**Beast Species: Phoenix**
**Level 25**
**HP: 500/25000 MP: 400/10000**
**Element: Fire, Light**
**Rarity: S-Rank**
**Info: A legendary creature with fewer than ten left in the world. It's said they may build their dwellings in the blazing depths of the sun and have immortal lifespans. Wherever they fly, they leave golden feathers in their wake.**
**Skills: Flame Breath, Sacred Fire, Wings of Light, Wind Dance, Heat Absorption, Resurrection from Ashes, Phoenix Heal**