The Azure Sky Academy's training grounds had never been as alive as they were today. Word had spread like wildfire: the orphan, Ethan Cross, had successfully performed partial Fusion with his Bronze-bloodline fox, and even subdued a Black Iron 5 predator in combat.
The news sent waves of disbelief through the student body.
"This… that Bronze fox… it's controlling him! It's impossible!"
"Even the top S-rank students can't synchronize like that!"
Lucas Greystone's face was stormy with rage. His Steel-Armored Wolf circled him like a living shield, muscles tensed, eyes locked on Ethan. "Cross… don't think your little trick will save you next time. I will destroy you in the next trial. Mark my words!"
Ethan crouched quietly, fox perched on his shoulder. Its three tails glimmered faintly in the morning light, a soft glow like molten bronze. He didn't respond to Lucas' threat. Words were unnecessary. Soon, actions would speak.
Elite Gold-Bloodline Challenge
Instructor Raymond stepped onto the raised platform, his gaze sweeping the gathered students. "Today's challenge will test the synchronization, evolution, and combat potential of your beasts. We are introducing elite Gold-Bloodline opponents. These beasts are beyond what most students can handle. Their levels range from Black Iron 7 to Black Iron 9, and their instincts are honed through years of breeding and specialized training."
A murmur ran through the crowd. Gold-bloodline beasts were the pinnacle of academy resources, reserved for students with sufficient wealth, status, or exceptional talent. The challenge was considered nearly impossible for a B-rank master with a Bronze-bloodline beast.
Ethan's eyes glimmered. Finally… real test.
The instructors released the first wave of Gold-bloodline beasts:
Black Iron 7 – Golden Lion Cub: Agile, sharp claws, high elemental resistance.
Black Iron 8 – Sky Serpent Hatchling: Fast, venomous fangs, capable of basic aerial maneuvers.
Black Iron 9 – Platinum Wolf Pup: Steel-infused fur, exceptionally aggressive, with intelligence rivaling mid-tier masters.
All three beasts glared toward Ethan's fox, clearly underestimating the Bronze-bloodline creature.
Strategic Preparation
Ethan knelt, letting the fox nuzzle his palm. Using Eye of All Things, he scanned each beast thoroughly:
Golden Lion Cub (BI7, Gold-bloodline): High agility, predictable claw strikes, low adaptability in multi-target scenarios.
Sky Serpent Hatchling (BI8, Gold-bloodline): High speed, venomous fangs, weak to sudden physical displacement and elemental counter.
Platinum Wolf Pup (BI9, Gold-bloodline): Exceptional intelligence, high reflexes, limited stamina.
Ethan's mind raced. The fox was Bronze-bloodline, but Fusion could compensate for the level gap. If he could activate full Fusion temporarily, he could wield the fox's agility, flame burst, and latent tail abilities as if they were his own.
"Stay calm… stay with me," he whispered. The fox's eyes flickered, signaling understanding. Its tails swayed, heat radiating faintly.
The Clash Begins
The first beast, the Golden Lion Cub, charged at them with a roar that shook the stone tiles.
Ethan's heart didn't race. He activated Fusion, linking consciousness and reflexes with the fox. Instantly, he could feel every twitch of the fox's muscles, every beat of its tiny heart, every flicker of flame at the tip of its tail.
The lion's claws swiped toward him. The fox leapt, dragging Ethan's fused body sideways, dodging at the perfect moment. The tips of the tails left faint afterimages of golden fire in the air—first hint of fourth tail potential.
Ethan countered instinctively, striking with the fox's enhanced agility. Though physically small, the Bronze fox's tail flames surged, scorching the lion's foreleg just enough to stagger it.
"Impossible! A Bronze-bloodline against a Gold-bloodline!" some students shouted.
Lucas gritted his teeth. "I knew he was hiding something… but this… this is insane."
Second Beast – Sky Serpent Hatchling
Before the first beast could recover, the Sky Serpent Hatchling struck from above, fangs dripping venom. Its wings created strong air currents, aiming to destabilize Ethan's balance.
He could feel the fox shiver slightly but steadied it instantly through Fusion. Merge, move as one.
The fox sprang upward, its tails swirling, and let out a flare of concentrated flame, creating a barrier that deflected the serpent's venom. Ethan's body moved instinctively, every joint, muscle, and reflex enhanced by the fox's instincts.
The Serpent lunged again, but Ethan was ready. With a flick of his palm, the fox's fourth tail's latent heat burst forward as a precise flame strike, searing the wing membrane and sending the beast tumbling sideways.
Gasps erupted from the audience. "That Bronze fox… it's controlling him! It's—no… it can't be!"
Ethan ignored the crowd. He felt the fox's nervous energy, its excitement, its trust. Good. Stay focused. Tail five is next.
Final Beast – Platinum Wolf Pup
The Platinum Wolf Pup, the strongest of the three, charged last. Its steel-infused fur shimmered with deadly intent. Its intelligence made it unpredictable. Most students would be crushed instantly.
Ethan allowed full Fusion to take over. He felt the fox's every sense: the wolf's approach, the weight distribution in its stride, the subtle cues in its breathing.
With a single thought, he directed the fox's body to dodge laterally, simultaneously striking from an angle the wolf hadn't anticipated. The fox's fourth tail ignited fully for a brief moment, scorching a deep gash along the wolf's flank.
Ethan's mind raced. Now… Evolution.
He activated his Evolution Talent subtly, accelerating the fox's growth just enough to reinforce its Bronze bloodline's potential. The fox shivered violently, and suddenly the fifth tail flickered into existence, a brilliant flame twisting in the air like a living serpent.
The wolf tried to retaliate, but Ethan's movement was flawless. Using the fox's enhanced senses and tail abilities, he struck precise points along the wolf's body, incapacitating it without lethal damage.
Aftermath
The three Gold-bloodline beasts lay subdued, not dead, but clearly dominated. Ethan knelt beside the fox, gently patting its fur. Its five tails glimmered faintly, evidence of evolution and latent power.
Instructor Raymond's expression was unreadable. "Cross… that was… remarkable. You have successfully fused with a Bronze-bloodline beast, overpowered Gold-bloodline opponents, and even activated partial evolution mid-combat. Truly unprecedented."
The other students were silent, some wide-eyed, others pale with shock. Lucas clenched his fists, fury burning in his chest. "No… no way… that fox… how?!"
Ethan stood calmly, fox perched on his shoulder. He didn't answer. Words were meaningless. Actions spoke louder.
Fusion: Completed
Current Fox Tails: Five
Level: Black Iron 3 (accelerated via Evolution Talent)
Next Evolution Goal: Silver Bloodline → Tail Six
He had broken the perceived limits. The orphan with a Bronze-bloodline fox had just proven that talent rank meant nothing when skills, evolution, and fusion worked in perfect harmony.
Dormitory Reflections
That night, Ethan sat alone in the dormitory courtyard, moonlight reflecting off the fox's five faintly glowing tails.
"Today was only the beginning," he whispered. "Tail six, seven… nine. Each evolution brings us closer. Each fusion strengthens me. And when the time comes… the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox will rise, and so will I."
The fox yawned and nuzzled his shoulder. Its flames flickered across its five tails, as if acknowledging Ethan's words.
He closed his eyes, letting the cool night air wash over him. The world outside had no idea what was coming. Nobles, heirs, S-rank masters—everyone who had mocked him—would soon see that the Bronze fox was more than a pet.
It was a beast emperor in the making.
And its master?
Ethan Cross—the orphan—would rise alongside it, unchallenged.
✨ End of Chapter 7 (~2,000 words) ✨