The morning mist hung low over Azure Peaks, shrouding the jagged cliffs and forests in a ghostly veil. Birds cawed in the distance, but their song was drowned out by the tense atmosphere of the training field. Word had spread across the academy like wildfire: Ethan Cross and his Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox had defeated a high Platinum-level Crimson Roc. The result was unprecedented, shocking the entire school.
It didn't take long before the academy decided to send S-rank hunters to test Ethan's strength officially. Not for punishment, but to measure how a B-rank orphan could challenge the upper echelons of the academy. Some students envied him, others feared him, and the instructors themselves were curious.
The Arrival of S-Rank Hunters
By mid-morning, a group of six S-rank students appeared at the edge of the training grounds. Their presence was commanding. Each exuded a pressure that made lesser students stumble instinctively. Their beasts—ranging from Gold-bloodline wolves, Silver-bloodline dragons, to a Platinum-level serpent—were chained to their control, massive and menacing.
"Ethan Cross," one of them, a tall girl with piercing blue eyes, called out. "Word is, you've stirred the Azure Peaks. We're here to see if the rumors are true. Prepare yourself."
Lucas, standing at a distance with his Steel-Armored Wolf, scoffed. "Ha! So the academy sends a few S-ranks to clean up the orphan? About time. Let's see if that mutt really deserves the spotlight."
Ethan's expression remained calm, unreadable. He crouched beside Flame Fox, now fully grown into its Nine-Tailed form. The tails swayed gently, a quiet warning that Ethan was far from ordinary.
"Stay close, little one. Trust your instincts," Ethan whispered. The fox flicked its tails, sparks of golden energy flaring faintly in response.
The Battle Field
The instructors had cleared the training arena, giving the S-rank hunters and Ethan a massive open ground, filled with jagged rocks, uneven terrain, and trees for cover.
Instructor Raymond raised his hand. "This will be an official challenge. Survival is expected. Do not hold back unless your beast or human partner is critically injured. Ethan Cross, demonstrate your control, your fusion, and your evolution. S-rank students, show restraint, but remember—this is a test of dominance."
The six S-rank hunters nodded. Their beasts growled, sensing a formidable opponent.
Ethan took a deep breath. He activated Eye of All Things, scanning every hunter and their companion.
[S-Rank Hunter Analysis]
Hunter 1: Gold-bloodline Wolf – Level Diamond 3
Hunter 2: Silver-bloodline Dragon – Level Platinum 2
Hunter 3: Platinum Serpent – Level Platinum 3
Hunter 4: High Gold Griffin – Level Gold 4
Hunter 5: Gold-bloodline Lion – Level Diamond 2
Hunter 6: Silver Phoenix – Level Platinum 1
Ethan noted strengths, weaknesses, attack ranges, and potential counterattacks. All data streamed into his mind with instant clarity, courtesy of his Mythical Talent.
[Flame Fox Status]
Bloodline: Mythical
Level: Diamond 3
Evolution Path: Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox – Full Fusion Activated
Tails: 9 (All active, synchronized)
Flame Fox's presence alone radiated immense pressure. The S-rank hunters instinctively realized they were no longer facing a mere B-rank.
Opening Moves
The Platinum Serpent lashed forward, fangs dripping venom. The Gold Wolf charged with a pounce calculated to crush. The Phoenix flared, wings spreading fire in anticipation.
Ethan reacted instantly. Partial fusion activated, sharing all nine tails' perception and movement. Tail three swung like a whip, knocking the serpent aside. Tail four formed a defensive barrier, deflecting the Wolf's charge. Tail five and six ignited in precise bursts, forcing the Phoenix to retreat mid-air.
"Do not underestimate them," Ethan whispered. "Every attack must count. Tail seven, strike from above. Tail eight, target weaknesses. Tail nine, guard my flank."
Flame Fox responded with synchronized precision. Every tail operated semi-independently yet perfectly coordinated with Ethan's body. The ground trembled with the sheer speed and power of their movements.
The other hunters hesitated. They had expected an ordinary B-rank. Instead, they were facing an opponent with the power of an evolved Mythical beast fused to a human—the perfect synergy of speed, strength, perception, and control.
Counterattack
The High Gold Griffin, realizing its allies were faltering, dove at Ethan with talons aimed for his torso. Ethan spun, tails weaving around him defensively. He felt the fusion's power surge. Every claw strike, every feathered slash was calculated before it happened, instinct and foresight merged as one.
Tail one flared, striking the Griffin's wing. Tail two fired a rapid flame burst at the feet of the Gold Lion. The Serpent attempted a coil attack, but Tail three's whip intercepted mid-air, forcing the serpent to recoil.
Ethan's strategy was simple but brutal: divide and conquer, exploiting each hunter's strengths against them. His Nine-Tailed Fox fusion allowed him to simultaneously defend, attack, and anticipate multiple threats.
The battlefield became a blur of golden flames, claw strikes, and debris. Students watching from a distance could barely follow the action, their mouths agape. Lucas, for the first time, looked truly afraid.
Full Fusion Unleashed
Realizing partial fusion was not enough, Ethan decided to push limits. Full fusion initiated. His body merged completely with Flame Fox. His muscles burned with energy, his perception extended beyond human limits, and every tail operated with intelligence and autonomy.
The S-rank hunters immediately sensed a shift. Pressure intensified, like a weight pressing down on their chests. The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox's aura was no longer subtle—it dominated the arena.
Ethan targeted the Platinum Serpent first. Using fusion-enhanced reflexes, he dodged its fangs, countering with a precise strike from tail three. The tail hit a critical joint, temporarily paralyzing the serpent.
Next, tail four and five launched a combination strike, forcing the Phoenix into a defensive hover. Tail six delivered a high-speed lashing strike, knocking the Griffin off balance. The Gold Wolf attempted to charge again, but tail seven and eight combined in a spinning flame attack, leaving the Wolf dazed and injured.
Ethan's mind, in complete sync with Flame Fox, assessed the battlefield: remaining threats were manageable. Tail nine formed a shield around his back, protecting against any unforeseen attack.
The S-Rank Retreat
The hunters, despite being elite, realized they were completely outmatched. Their coordinated attacks had failed. One by one, their beasts suffered minor injuries and fatigue.
"Hold… hold position!" the blue-eyed girl ordered. But even she could see the futility. Ethan's fusion form moved too fast, countering every strike before it landed.
Finally, the Platinum Serpent hissed, retreating after suffering multiple strikes. The Phoenix flared its wings but could no longer coordinate attacks effectively. The Gold Wolf and Griffin staggered, exhausted and overwhelmed.
Ethan, still fully fused, unleashed a controlled tail storm, forcing the remaining beasts into a defensive retreat. The S-rank hunters, realizing the danger, called off the challenge.
"You… impossible," the girl muttered. "No B-rank should have… this level of fusion and control…"
Ethan slowly de-fused, standing tall with Flame Fox at his side. The tails flickered, flames dimming, but the aura of a Mythical beast still lingered.
Aftermath
Instructor Raymond approached, a rare smile on his face. "Ethan Cross… you've done what no B-rank could ever do. Defeat six S-rank hunters, survive unscathed, and demonstrate full fusion mastery. Your progress is extraordinary. I have no doubt the academy will mark you as a prodigy of Mythical potential."
Students whispered among themselves, shock and awe painted across their faces. Lucas, kneeling with his wounded Steel-Armored Wolf, glared at Ethan, hatred burning in his eyes. "This isn't over, Cross. I'll make sure of it…"
Ethan paid no attention. He knelt beside Flame Fox, gently stroking each tail. "Every battle… every fight… brings us closer. One day, we won't just survive. We'll dominate."
The fox purred, tails swaying with a quiet golden glow. The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox's potential had just been glimpsed by the academy, but the world beyond the Azure Peaks remained unaware.
Ethan gazed toward the horizon. Higher-level Mythical beasts, powerful clans, and ancient secrets awaited. But for now, he had proven that B-rank was just a label, not a limit. The fusion of human and Mythical beast was unstoppable.
And deep in his mind, a single thought burned: the trials ahead would only sharpen their strength. The Hidden Beast Emperor's path had begun in earnest.
✨ End of Chapter 18 ✨