Amestris City, Amestris No.1 High-Level Beast Taming School.
Class 4, Senior Division.
The bell had barely stopped ringing when the homeroom teacher's voice cut through the room.
"Anyone who plans to register for the martial arts exam, come to my office after class to fill out the forms."
With that, he gathered his notes and walked out, leaving the class buzzing.
"Brother Riven Ashwood, want to walk home together after school?"
Riven turned at the familiar voice. Behind her stood Elira Vayne, her neighbor and childhood friend—tall, graceful, and impossibly radiant beneath the fading afternoon light. Her long, black hair shimmered like silk, framing a smile that could have melted steel.
Elira wasn't just another pretty face. She was Amestris No.1 High's undisputed goddess—top of the class, admired by all, and bonded with a phoenix-tailed blue luan bird, a beast of noble blood. Beauty, brains, and brilliance—she had them all.
Riven sometimes wondered what it was like to live as effortlessly adored as Elira.
Their families had known each other for years. After Riven's parents passed away, Elira's family had practically adopted her. The two had grown up like siblings, though that closeness often earned Riven more resentment than affection from their classmates—especially from those infatuated with Elira.
"Hey, Riven Ashwood," a sneering voice called from the front row. "You're not thinking of taking the martial arts exam too, are you?"
Riven didn't even look up. She knew that voice—Oscar Lidi, loud, arrogant, and utterly insufferable.
When she didn't respond, laughter echoed from behind her.
"Hah! Don't tell me Riven Ashwood, the class weakling, wants to sign up for the martial arts exam. I wouldn't even feed his pathetic little bug to my Flaming Lion."
The class snickered. Oscar Lidi leaned back in his chair with a smug grin, basking in the attention. His family was wealthy, and his bonded beast—a Fiery Lion—was a mid-grade spirit beast, the kind that radiated power and privilege.
"What's your problem, Oscar?" Elira snapped, glaring at him.
He raised his hands, mockingly innocent. "Nothing, Lingling. I'm just saying, not everyone's cut out to be a beast tamer."
Her frown deepened.
In this world, the Martial Arts Exam wasn't just another test—it was the gateway to destiny. The only way to enter a Beast Tamer Academy, to become someone capable of commanding spirit beasts and wielding power beyond human limits.
Centuries ago, Earth—known now as Blue Star—had been invaded. Strange spatial rifts tore open across the skies, spilling creatures from other planes. Conventional weapons failed miserably, and humanity was nearly wiped out.
Then came the first Beast Tamers, people who could form contracts with those mysterious creatures, blending human will with beastly might. They turned the tide, saving Blue Star from annihilation.
Now, Beast Tamers stood at the top of society. Power, money, respect—everything flowed to them.
Which was exactly why the martial arts exam meant everything. Pass it, and you entered a new world. Fail, and your future was ordinary, forgettable.
Oscar smirked. "Face it, Riven. You're not Beast Tamer material. You'll be lucky to find work washing dishes after graduation."
His lackeys burst into laughter.
"Yeah, Elira, you should hang out with better company," one of them added. "Maybe someone like our Brother Dali, eh?"
"Don't call me sister-in-law," Elira snapped coldly. "And stop insulting Riven. Whatever he chooses, I'll support him."
Oscar's expression didn't change. He'd long since learned not to take Elira's words too seriously.
He leaned back in his chair with a lazy smirk. "That's fine. Once we're both at Beast Tamer Academy, she'll realize just how far beneath me that good-for-nothing really is."
Riven's chair scraped softly against the floor as she stood up. Her voice was calm, almost indifferent.
"Who said I'm not taking the martial arts exam? I'm definitely signing up this year."
The room fell silent.
Every gaze turned toward her.
Then came the laughter—sharp, mocking, cruel.
"Ha! You? You can't be serious!" one of Oscar's lackeys howled. "With that pathetic little worm of yours? Please, if you pass the martial arts exam, I'll write my name backwards!"
"Forget passing," Oscar said with a snort. "If he can even register successfully, I'll do a handstand and run laps around the playground!"
The classroom erupted again.
Riven ignored them all. She didn't raise her voice or argue back. She simply gathered her things, her expression unreadable, and walked out.
It wasn't anger that drove her. It was conviction.
She wasn't the same Riven Ashwood they thought she was.
Three days ago, Riven Ashwood had transmigrated into this body—a strange, miraculous twist of fate. The original Riven had been average in every way: weak, untalented, ordinary. But when the new Riven arrived, everything changed.
The fusion of souls had awakened something extraordinary within her. Her spirit energy had transformed, her power deepened, and another talent—one unknown to anyone—had emerged.
Now, she could feel it humming beneath her skin, waiting to be unleashed.
The mockery of others didn't matter. The sneers, the pity—they were noise.
All that mattered was the exam.
Riven's steps echoed through the empty hallway as she made her way toward the teacher's office.
Knocking softly, she pushed the door open.
"Teacher, I'd like a registration form for the martial arts exam."
The homeroom teacher didn't even look up at first. "Fill in your details. Tomorrow—"
Then she paused, recognizing the voice. Her gaze lifted, and her brow furrowed.
"…You? Riven Ashwood? Are you here to get the form for Elira Vayne?"
Riven shook her head. "No, it's for me."
The teacher blinked, then frowned. "You're joking, right? You want to sign up yourself?"
"I am."
A long silence followed.
Finally, the teacher sighed and rubbed her temples. "Listen, Riven. The martial arts exam isn't something you can just take on a whim. You need physical aptitude, beast synchronization, spirit resonance… things you don't have."
"I know what I'm doing," Riven replied steadily.
The teacher's patience thinned. "I don't have time for this. Go back to class. Don't waste my—"
"I'm not wasting time," Riven interrupted, her tone quiet but firm. "Please, just give me the form."
For a moment, the teacher hesitated, staring into those determined eyes.
The girl she'd once known as timid and self-effacing now radiated something different—an unshakable calm, a quiet fire.
After a tense silence, the teacher sighed. "Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you."
She slid the registration form across the desk.
Riven took it, her fingers closing around the paper like it was the first solid step on a long, perilous road.
As she turned to leave, the teacher called after her, almost reflexively.
"Riven… what changed your mind?"
Riven paused at the door, her back to the teacher.
"Nothing changed," she said softly. "I just stopped pretending to be someone I'm not."
Then she walked out, leaving the teacher staring after her, a faint, puzzled frown on her face.
---
Outside, the late afternoon sun painted the courtyard gold.
Students passed by in groups, laughing, chattering, alive with teenage energy. Somewhere behind her, Riven could still hear the faint echoes of Oscar's laughter, the jeers, the whispered mockery.
But she didn't care.
Because deep within her chest, where the soul of the new Riven Ashwood merged with the old, something powerful stirred.
The dormant thread of power she'd awakened after transmigration shimmered faintly—an energy unlike anything this world had ever seen.
Riven clenched her fist.
This exam wasn't just a test. It was the beginning.
Her chance to prove that even the weakest bug could defy fate.