Chapter 18 - The Battle for the Academy
The stadium descended into chaos.
Students scrambled for cover.
Instructors rushed to shield the younger disciples.
The six masked Beast Hunters stepped through the black portals, their robes fluttering in the wind.
Each wore a silver mask engraved with the symbol of a six-winged beast.
The leader smiled coldly.
"Our target is Kai Dragonbane."
"Anyone who interferes..."
"...dies."
A suffocating silence swept across the arena.
Every gaze turned toward Kai.
Even Lucien Ashcroft looked stunned.
"Why would assassins come for the weakest student?"
---
Headmaster Aldric took one step forward.
His silver robes billowed as an immense aura erupted from his body.
The ground beneath his feet cracked.
The Mythic Sky Dragon descended from the sky, its scales shimmering like polished steel.
The dragon's golden eyes locked onto the intruders.
Aldric's voice thundered across the arena.
"This is the Imperial Beast Awakening Academy."
"No assassin leaves this place alive."
The leader chuckled.
"Then we'll simply kill everyone who stands in our way."
He raised his hand.
"Attack."
---
The Beast Hunters summoned their contracted beasts.
A Shadow Mantis with blades for forearms.
A Crimson Vulture wreathed in black fire.
A Frost Serpent covered in icy spikes.
A Bone Hound with glowing blue eyes.
A Void Spider the size of a carriage.
And finally...
The leader summoned a towering black lion whose mane burned with violet flames.
The Book of Infinite Beasts appeared before Kai.
---
Threat Assessment
Shadow Mantis – Elite
Crimson Vulture – Elite
Frost Serpent – Elite
Bone Hound – Elite
Void Spider – Legendary
Nightmare Lion – Legendary
Recommendation: Do not engage.
---
Kai tightened his grip on his spear.
"We're outmatched."
The fox nodded.
"Then we protect people until an opportunity appears."
Kai smiled.
"Exactly."
---
The first Beast Hunter lunged toward the spectators.
Before he could reach them—
A bolt of silver lightning crashed from the sky.
BOOM!
The Mythic Sky Dragon slammed into the Shadow Mantis, sending it crashing through three stone pillars.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
"The Headmaster!"
---
Across the arena, Instructor Gareth released his contracted beast.
An enormous Iron Rhinoceros charged headfirst into the Bone Hound.
Another instructor summoned a pair of Wind Falcons that carried terrified children to safety.
The academy transformed into a battlefield.
---
Kai spotted a frightened girl trapped beneath fallen stone.
A beam from the collapsing arena roof was about to crush her.
Without hesitation—
"Spirit Step!"
Kai vanished.
To the spectators, he became a blur.
He reached the girl just as the beam fell.
The Crimson Flame Fox unleashed a burst of controlled fire, diverting the falling debris.
Kai lifted the girl into his arms.
"Are you hurt?"
She shook her head, tears in her eyes.
"N-no..."
Kai carried her to safety.
The Book glowed.
---
Hidden Mission Progress
Protect Academy Students
Current: 1 / 10
---
Meanwhile, Lucien watched from across the arena.
For the first time...
He wasn't looking at Kai with contempt.
He was watching with confusion.
"He ignored the battle..."
"He chose to save someone instead?"
---
The leader of the Beast Hunters noticed.
"So..."
"You truly inherited his ideals."
He slowly raised his hand toward Kai.
The Nightmare Lion opened its jaws.
A sphere of violet fire condensed before its mouth.
Headmaster Aldric shouted,
"KAI!"
But he was too far away.
The attack was already descending.
The fox stepped in front of Kai without hesitation.
"I'll protect you."
"No!" Kai shouted.
At that exact instant...
A deafening roar echoed across the heavens.
The clouds split apart.
A massive shadow descended from above.
Golden wings stretched across the sky.
Every beast—friend and foe alike—froze.
The Nightmare Lion took three involuntary steps backwards.
Even the Mythic Sky Dragon lowered its head respectfully.
The newcomer landed between Kai and the violet flames.
With one sweep of its radiant wings, the attack vanished as though it had never existed.
The creature turned its majestic head toward Kai.
Its feathers shimmered like molten gold, and its eyes held the wisdom of countless ages.
The Book of Infinite Beasts trembled violently.
Golden letters appeared across every page.
Supreme Beast Detected
Name: Aurelius, the Celestial Roc
Rank: Divine
Status: Guardian of the Eastern Sky
Then, for the first time since Kai had received the Book, every page turned blank.
Only a single sentence remained.
"The Second Trial has begun."