Chapter 17 - The Hidden Assassin
The applause had barely faded when the arena announcer called the next match.
Kai remained in the waiting area, but his attention was no longer on the tournament.
The crimson warning from the Book of Infinite Beasts still lingered in his mind.
An enemy has entered the academy.
His instincts screamed that the danger was real.
The little silver fox quietly climbed onto his shoulder.
"Kai... someone is watching us."
Kai pretended not to react.
"Can you tell who?"
"No..." the fox replied. "But the feeling is cold... like a snake hiding in the grass."
---
In the highest spectator stand...
A middle-aged merchant adjusted his straw hat.
No one paid him any attention.
His clothes were plain.
His face was ordinary.
His aura was perfectly concealed.
Yet beneath his sleeve rested a jet-black needle no longer than a finger.
One scratch...
One drop of Soul-Eater Venom...
And even a Beast Master would die within minutes.
The assassin smiled faintly.
"The Divine Temple never fails."
---
Meanwhile...
Headmaster Aldric frowned.
His Mythic Sky Dragon, resting behind the arena, suddenly lifted its head.
The dragon sniffed the air.
A low growl escaped its throat.
Aldric placed a hand on its scales.
"What is it?"
The dragon looked toward the audience.
Someone...
Did not belong there.
---
The next few matches passed quickly.
Elena Frost defeated her opponent without taking a single step.
Her Frost Lynx froze the entire battlefield.
Rowan Ashford's Storm Hawk won through overwhelming speed.
Soon...
Only eight contestants remained.
The crystal scoreboard changed.
Quarterfinalists
- Lucien Ashcroft
- Elena Frost
- Rowan Ashford
- Kai Dragonbane
- Marcus Vale
- Iris Moon
- Darius Kane
- Felix Thorn
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Kai had reached the Top Eight.
---
The Book shimmered.
Mission Complete
✔ Reach Top Eight
Reward Received
Ancient Beast Skill
Spirit Step
A movement technique that temporarily conceals the user's presence while greatly increasing speed.
Kai felt a stream of warm energy flow through his legs.
Without moving, he instinctively understood the technique.
"Useful..."
---
The announcer's voice echoed.
"Quarterfinal Match One!"
"Kai Dragonbane versus..."
"Darius Kane!"
A tall young man carrying twin curved swords entered the arena.
Beside him walked a sleek black panther with emerald eyes.
Unlike Victor, Darius showed no arrogance.
He bowed respectfully.
"I've watched your previous battles."
"You deserve to be here."
Kai returned the bow.
"Thank you."
"Let's have a good match."
---
The referee raised his hand.
"Begin!"
The Shadow Panther disappeared instantly.
"So fast!"
The audience gasped.
Kai closed his eyes.
Instead of searching with his vision...
He activated the newly acquired Eye of Insight.
The world changed.
Faint streams of energy appeared in the air.
One of them moved rapidly behind him.
"Left!" the fox warned.
Kai smiled.
"I know."
Spirit Step.
His figure blurred like a ghost.
The panther's claws sliced through empty air.
The crowd stood in astonishment.
"What technique was that?"
"I couldn't even follow him!"
Darius's expression became serious.
"So you've been hiding another trump card."
---
High above the arena...
The disguised assassin narrowed his eyes.
"Now."
As everyone's attention focused on the duel...
He flicked the black needle toward Kai.
The tiny projectile was completely silent.
Invisible.
Too small for ordinary eyes to detect.
It raced through the air toward Kai's neck.
At that exact instant...
The Crimson Flame Fox's ears twitched.
Its Beast King's Aura flared for the briefest moment.
"Kai!"
Time seemed to slow.
The Book exploded with crimson light.
Lethal Threat Detected.
Kai instinctively twisted his body.
The black needle grazed his shoulder instead of piercing his neck.
THUNK!
It buried itself deep within the arena wall.
The stone surrounding it instantly turned black and crumbled into dust.
The spectators screamed.
"What was that?!"
"Poison!"
The Headmaster's eyes flashed with fury.
"Seal the arena!"
The academy gates slammed shut with a thunderous boom.
Instructors summoned their beasts.
The Mythic Sky Dragon roared, its voice shaking the heavens.
For the first time in decades...
The Imperial Beast Awakening Academy entered full combat alert.
Amidst the chaos, the disguised assassin calmly stood up.
His ordinary appearance melted away like smoke.
Beneath it stood a man dressed in black robes embroidered with a crimson six-winged emblem.
He looked directly at Kai.
A cruel smile crossed his lips.
"So..."
"The Ninth Beast Sovereign truly exists."
Then, before anyone could stop him...
Six black portals opened behind him.
From each portal stepped a masked Beast Hunter.
The tournament...
Had become a battlefield.