The dense canopy of the Beast Forest swallowed the sunlight, leaving long shadows that danced across the uneven ground. Birds of strange colors flitted between the branches, while the calls of unseen beasts echoed from the darkened underbrush. The forest was alive—hungry, dangerous, and unpredictable.
Azure Sky Academy had designated this forest as the next phase of training for all awakened students. Today was the Survival and Hunt Exercise, a test designed to push both Beast Masters and their contracted beasts to the limits. It was a proving ground where talent, courage, and instinct collided.
"Remember," Instructor Raymond called out as the students gathered at the edge of the forest, "the objective isn't just to hunt. It's to survive, to demonstrate coordination with your beasts, and to identify hidden threats. Failure to return will result in immediate suspension from the next training rotation. You've been warned."
The students nodded, some with excitement, some with trepidation. Wealthy heirs gripped the collars of their high-bloodline beasts, their confidence oozing. Poorer students clutched their Bronze or low-grade companions, already sweating under the pressure.
Ethan Cross adjusted the strap of his satchel and crouched to stroke the Flame Fox's fur. "Stay alert," he murmured. "We'll need to be fast, but careful."
The fox's eyes glimmered, reflecting the faint light of the forest floor. Its tails swished with growing energy. Black Iron 4 wasn't weak, but here, instincts mattered more than raw level.
Into the Forest
The students fanned out in pairs and small groups. Lucas Greystone strutted ahead with his Steel-Armored Wolf at Black Iron 6. He smirked at Ethan as he passed.
"Cross," he sneered, voice echoing, "don't get lost. You wouldn't survive five minutes out here with that weak little fox of yours."
Ethan didn't respond. He simply adjusted his grip on the fox's small harness, feeling its heartbeat as they entered the dense shadows.
Immediately, the forest tested them. Thick roots twisted across the paths, unseen pits waited to trip the unwary, and strange insects with paralyzing venom buzzed near unsuspecting students.
Ethan's Eye of All Things activated subtly, scanning the surrounding area.
[Beast Scan: Nearby Threat]
Species: Iron Thorn Wolf
Bloodline: Silver (Mid)
Level: Black Iron 7
Potential Evolution: Diamond
Notes: Highly aggressive, packs move in coordinated attacks.
Ethan's gaze softened. "Stay calm. Don't show fear."
The fox crouched low, muscles tensing. Its sixth tail flicked subtly—a warning only Ethan noticed. The fusion bond between them pulsed faintly, and Ethan felt a rush of instinctual awareness, guiding him through the tangle of roots and shadowed paths.
First Encounter
A sudden rustle from the bushes. Ethan froze. The fox's ears flattened, and a low growl rumbled from its throat. From the shadows, a pack of Iron Thorn Wolves emerged, three in total, teeth bared, eyes glowing.
Lucas, a short distance away, laughed. "Looks like the forest is giving you a taste of reality, Cross. My wolf will handle them first."
But before he could even move, the fox leapt forward. Its bronze fur glimmered as faint embers trailed behind each tail. With a fluid motion, the first wolf lunged—only to find itself dodging unpredictably as the fox vanished, reappearing behind it with a lightning-quick bite.
Ethan's heartbeat synced with the fox's. He whispered, almost involuntarily, "Now!"
The fox struck again, each bite precise, targeting pressure points it shouldn't have known. Yet, Ethan felt it all as if it were his own limbs—Fusion Talent feedback. The wolf yelped, retreating slightly.
Lucas's jaw dropped. "What?! How did a Bronze fox—"
The second wolf charged. Flames flickered along the fox's sixth tail, and in an instant, Ethan felt the Evolution Talent awaken, accelerating the fox's latent growth. A brief surge of power, and its fur glowed brighter, movements sharper. It struck again, leaving shallow scorch marks along the wolf's flank.
Ethan's eyes narrowed. "Keep pressure on the lead. Don't let them circle."
The fox darted, dodged, and struck in perfect synchronization. Its sixth tail now flared brightly, leaving streaks of ember in the dim light. Each strike, though not fatal, displayed Black Iron 4-level power enhanced by hidden Mythical potential.
Lucas's wolf, despite its superior level, was struggling to adapt to the fox's unpredictable, almost intelligent movements. His smirk faded. "Impossible… how is it moving like that?"
Ethan didn't answer. His lips curved slightly. The fox was showing glimpses of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox's true instinct, though none of the tails beyond the sixth had awakened yet.
Unseen Danger
A low, vibrating growl echoed through the forest. Ethan's gaze flicked upward, scanning with his Eye of All Things.
[Beast Scan: Unknown]
Species: Shadow Serpent
Bloodline: Gold (Low)
Level: Black Iron 9
Potential Evolution: Diamond → Supreme
Notes: Ambush predator. Extremely lethal. Avoid direct confrontation.
"Shadow Serpent," Ethan muttered. "We can't fight that head-on."
He whispered to the fox, "Stay close. We'll use the terrain to our advantage."
The fox's ears twitched. Ethan guided it through a series of fallen logs and thick underbrush, leading the wolves into uneven terrain. The Iron Thorn Wolves struggled, claws scraping the stones, losing balance repeatedly.
The Shadow Serpent struck from above, fangs glinting. The fox leapt, spinning midair, flames streaking from its tails. A precise strike to the serpent's flank made it recoil, though it wasn't enough to kill.
Ethan felt the fox's power, the fusion feedback giving him a near-complete understanding of its strength and weaknesses. He directed each move silently, like a conductor guiding a symphony of motion.
The Turning Point
One of the wolves lunged from the left, teeth aimed at Ethan. Instinctively, the fox reacted, intercepting the attack and sending sparks of energy through its tails.
Ethan felt the energy surge, an almost violent feedback from the fox, reminding him of the fusion limit he could handle. Yet he didn't pull back. With a calm voice, he commanded, "Chain strike!"
The fox obeyed, moving in perfect harmony with Ethan's mind. Its sixth tail flared violently, and the wolf was sent tumbling back, staggered. The Shadow Serpent hissed and retreated into the darkness, recognizing stronger prey.
Lucas stumbled forward, disbelief etched across his face. "No… that's impossible! A Bronze fox… Black Iron 4… It shouldn't—"
Ethan knelt, brushing some leaves from the fox's fur. "You should count your blessings," he said softly. "We didn't even show our strength yet."
Lesson Learned
The forest echoed with the sound of retreating beasts. Other students had fared worse; some were scratched, some barely escaped, their beasts terrified. Yet Ethan and his fox emerged mostly unscathed, their bond stronger than ever.
Instructor Raymond approached, eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and respect. "Ethan Cross… your synchronization with that fox… remarkable. The way it moved, anticipated attacks… You are an anomaly for a B-rank."
Lucas ground his teeth, glaring. "Anomaly? This is impossible…"
Ethan stood silently, holding the fox close. Its sixth tail flicked, almost like a tiny flame of defiance against the world.
That night, as the students gathered back at the academy, tales of the forest spread like wildfire. Everyone whispered about Ethan and his "useless" Bronze fox—how it had survived Black Iron 7 wolves and a Gold-level Shadow Serpent with precision, intelligence, and terrifying coordination.
No one, of course, suspected the three Mythical Talents hidden within Ethan that made this possible:
Eye of All Things — knowing everything about nearby beasts, their bloodline, level, and evolution.
Evolution Talent — accelerating the fox's growth mid-combat, a surge that barely anyone could perceive.
Fusion Talent — connecting Ethan's mind and body to the fox, letting him utilize its instincts and abilities as his own.
The fox curled up beside Ethan that night, tails flicking softly, a sixth tail glowing faintly in the moonlight. Ethan stared at the ceiling of his dormitory, eyes sharp and unyielding.
"The world thinks we are weak… But soon, they will learn. Every tail, every evolution… will be another step toward the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox's dominance. And with you, we'll rise beyond all expectations."
The first day in the forest had proven something critical: power wasn't just talent, it was understanding, synchronization, and hidden potential. And Ethan Cross had all three in abundance, though no one else knew it yet.
✨ End of Chapter 9 ✨