Chapter 20 - The End of the Beginning
The sky burned with gold and crimson.
From the academy grounds, every student watched in stunned silence as the Celestial Roc battled the monstrous creature emerging from the abyss.
Each clash shook the earth.
Mountains cracked.
Storm clouds scattered across the horizon.
Yet not a single attack reached the academy.
The Roc was deliberately drawing the monster away.
---
Headmaster Aldric landed beside Kai.
The Mythic Sky Dragon folded its wings, breathing heavily.
The old Headmaster looked toward the distant battle before turning to Kai.
"Are you injured?"
Kai shook his head.
"No, Headmaster."
Aldric's sharp eyes lingered on Kai for a moment.
He had seen too many strange coincidences surrounding this young man.
The Beast Tide.
The Mirror Shrine.
Now the appearance of a Divine Beast.
Yet he asked only one question.
"Did the Celestial Roc speak to you?"
Kai hesitated.
Then nodded.
"It told me to become stronger."
Aldric smiled faintly.
"Then listen."
"There are very few beings in this world worthy of ignoring."
"The Celestial Roc is not one of them."
---
Meanwhile...
The surviving Beast Hunters gathered around their wounded leader.
The Nightmare Lion struggled to stand.
One of the hunters knelt.
"Our mission has failed."
The leader's face twisted with hatred.
"No."
"We have confirmed his identity."
He looked toward Kai.
"The Ninth Beast Sovereign lives."
"That knowledge alone is worth today's losses."
A black portal opened behind them.
Before disappearing, the leader pointed at Kai.
"We will meet again."
"The next time..."
"You will have nowhere to run."
The six Beast Hunters vanished into the darkness.
---
Hours later...
The academy had finally fallen silent.
The injured were treated.
The damaged arena was sealed.
The tournament was officially suspended.
Students gathered in small groups, discussing everything they had witnessed.
One name echoed across every conversation.
Kai Dragonbane.
Not because he had defeated the strongest opponents.
But because he had remained calm while everyone else panicked.
He had rescued students.
Protected an ancient guardian.
And somehow earned the respect of beasts far stronger than himself.
---
That evening...
Kai returned to the old oak tree overlooking the academy lake.
The little silver fox lay beside him.
"You're famous now."
Kai laughed.
"I was hoping to stay unnoticed."
"Too late."
The fox flicked its tail playfully.
"Heroes never stay hidden forever."
Kai skipped a stone across the lake.
"I'm not trying to be a hero."
"I just don't want innocent people to suffer."
The fox smiled.
"That's exactly why you are one."
---
The Book of Infinite Beasts appeared one final time.
Golden pages turned slowly.
Then brilliant words filled the air.
---
ARC COMPLETE
Awakening Academy
Major Achievements
✓ Contracted the Silver Fox
✓ First Evolution → Crimson Flame Fox
✓ Cleared the Mirror Shrine
✓ Earned the Mirror Guardian's acknowledgement
✓ Entered the Top Eight
✓ Survived an assassination attempt
✓ Received the blessing of the Celestial Roc
Authority Level: Intermediate
Current Beast: Crimson Flame Fox
Bloodline Awakening: 5%
---
A new page unfolded.
Unlike the previous ones, this page displayed a map.
It stretched far beyond the kingdom.
Towering mountain ranges.
Endless deserts.
Floating islands.
A vast ocean.
And at the very centre of the world...
A colossal tree whose branches reached into the stars.
A single location pulsed with golden light.
The Dragonbone Frontier
---
Next Main Quest
Travel to the Dragonbone Frontier.
Objective: Enter the Hunter's Expedition and obtain the first Dragon King's Relic.
Reward: Unlock the Second Beast Contract.
---
Kai stared at the map.
"So..."
"The academy was only the beginning."
The fox stood beside him, its eyes burning with determination.
"Then let's see how big this world really is."
At that very moment, far beyond the borders of the kingdom, inside a cavern carved into the skeleton of an ancient dragon...
A young woman with long silver hair slowly opened her eyes.
A snow-white wolf rested at her side.
She looked toward the distant horizon and whispered,
"So... another Beast Sovereign has awakened."
A faint smile crossed her lips.
"I've waited ten years."
The wolf lifted its head.
"Will you finally leave the frontier?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
"It's time to meet Kai Dragonbane."