Chapter 3 - The Book of Infinite Beasts
Moonlight bathed the abandoned training grounds in pale silver.
The academy, so lively during the day, had fallen into silence.
Only the rustling of leaves and the chirping of night insects disturbed the stillness.
Kai Dragonbane sat cross-legged beneath an ancient oak tree.
Beside him, the tiny silver fox slept peacefully, exhausted from the humiliation it had endured earlier.
Kai couldn't sleep.
Every laugh.
Every insult.
Every mocking glance replayed in his mind.
He clenched his fists.
"Strength..."
"Without strength, kindness means nothing."
Just then—
A warm golden light spread across the ground.
The mysterious black tome emerged from Kai's chest, floating silently before him.
Its cover was made of an unknown black metal, engraved with countless beasts—dragons, phoenixes, wolves, leviathans, and creatures unlike anything Kai had ever seen.
At its centre was a single ancient symbol.
An eye surrounded by nine stars.
The book slowly opened by itself.
Golden letters appeared on the first page.
Book of Infinite Beasts
Owner Confirmed: Kai Dragonbane
Authority Level: Beginner
Kai's heart pounded.
"So... this wasn't a dream."
More words appeared.
Scanning contracted beast...
A beam of golden light enveloped the sleeping fox.
The little creature stirred but didn't awaken.
Several moments later...
The scan ended.
Kai's eyes widened.
---
Beast Information
Name: Unnamed
Race: Unknown
Current Grade: Common
Current Stage: Infant
Bloodline Status: Dormant
Potential: Unmeasurable
---
Kai blinked.
"Unmeasurable?"
The academy's crystal had declared the fox almost worthless.
Yet this mysterious book was telling a completely different story.
More pages turned.
Hundreds of glowing branches spread across the parchment like a giant tree.
Each branch displayed a different future.
---
Evolution Paths
- Crimson Flame Fox
- Frost Moon Fox
- Shadow Phantom Fox
- Thunder Spirit Fox
- Celestial Nine-Tailed Fox
- Void Sovereign Fox
- Origin Beast Fox
- ??? (Locked)
- ??? (Locked)
Kai stared in disbelief.
One beast...
Dozens of possible evolutions.
"I've never heard of anything like this..."
Normally, a beast's evolution was determined by its bloodline.
Changing that destiny was considered impossible.
Yet the Book offered countless possibilities.
The final page glowed brightly.
---
First Evolution Requirements
Target: Crimson Flame Fox
Requirements:
- 10 Fire Spirit Herbs
- 1 Ember Crystal
- Defeat 20 Fire-type beasts
- Build complete trust with contracted beast
Success Rate: 100%
Kai read the last requirement again.
Build complete trust.
He looked at the sleeping fox.
The tiny creature had trusted him from the very beginning.
Perhaps...
That was the true key to becoming stronger.
---
A soft yawn broke the silence.
The fox opened its golden eyes and tilted its head.
"Kyuu?"
Kai smiled.
"I think..."
"We just found our path."
The fox happily jumped onto his shoulder.
---
From that night onward...
Kai never wasted a single hour.
While other students slept, he trained.
Every evening, he carried heavy stones around the academy walls to strengthen his body.
Every dawn, he practised footwork until his legs trembled.
He studied beast anatomy in the library.
He memorized monster habits.
He learned survival skills from old expedition journals.
The fox trained beside him.
At first, it could barely run a single lap.
After a week...
It could outrun several academy hounds.
Its injured paw slowly healed.
Its movements became lighter.
Its instincts sharper.
More importantly...
The bond between Kai and the fox deepened.
Without speaking, they began to understand each other's intentions.
A glance.
A gesture.
A heartbeat.
That was enough.
---
Late one evening, Kai discovered another ability of the Book.
Whenever he defeated a beast during training, faint streams of golden energy flowed into its pages.
The book recorded everything.
Every battle.
Every wound.
Every improvement.
It was not merely a guide.
It was growing stronger alongside him.
---
Days turned into weeks.
Kai remained in Class F.
The academy still mocked him.
Lucien Ashcroft continued to ridicule him whenever their paths crossed.
But Kai never responded.
He simply trained harder.
Because he knew something they didn't.
The weakest beast...
Was no longer weak.
---
One rainy afternoon, as Kai and the fox finished another exhausting training session, the Book suddenly appeared without being summoned.
Its pages flipped wildly.
Scarlet warning symbols covered the parchment.
A single message slowly emerged.
Emergency Quest
A rare Fire Spirit Herb has bloomed inside the Forbidden Beast Forest.
Time Remaining: 24 Hours
Reward: First Evolution Opportunity
Kai's eyes narrowed with determination.
The Forbidden Beast Forest was strictly off-limits to first-year students.
Entering without permission could result in expulsion.
He looked at the fox.
The fox met his gaze with unwavering resolve.
Kai smiled.
"Looks like our real training begins tonight."