Kael didn’t sleep much that night.The little border town of Edgewood was quiet, everyone had laughed at the parasite kid and gone home to tell their families. He lay on his creaky bed in the tiny rented room above the blacksmith’s, one arm behind his head, staring at the warped wooden ceiling. Fenrir curled up on the floor like a shadow, breathing steady now, the scrawny pup already looking a fraction less pathetic.The Beast Evolution Nexus floated in his mind, blue and crisp, mocking him gently.Bonded Beasts: 1 – Fenrir (Shadow Wolf Pup – Low Mortal Rank+)Stored Talents: Shadow Fang (Basic), Flame Strike (Low Grade)Mutation Energy: 12% accumulated from first channelNext mutation threshold: 40%Kael grinned in the dark. Twelve percent just from dumping Flame Strike into the wolf once. Not bad. Not bad at all.He could still feel the echo of the parasitic link with Renn Tarvos, that brief, electric tug when he’d ripped the flame talent right out of the bully. Renn would wake up t

The outer testing ground of Azure Academy stretched wide under the late afternoon sun, a massive dirt arena ringed by stone bleachers already half-filled with senior students and curious instructors. Flags bearing the academy crest snapped in the breeze. The air smelled of sweat, and beast musk.Kael stood near the back of the group of new arrivals, arms loose at his sides. Fenrir sat beside him, broader now, the patchy iron scales along its shoulders catching the light like dull metal. The wolf’s single eye scanned the arena with quiet hunger. A few other hopefuls shot nervous glances their way, but most kept their distance.A tall proctor in blue robes stepped to the center platform, voice amplified by a wind talent.“Welcome to the preliminary selection! Today we test basic combat compatibility and talent synergy. You will face academy-trained beasts or paired opponents in controlled matches. Win or show exceptional control, and you advance to the inner exams. Fail, and you go home

The arena buzz still hung thick in the air when Kael stepped off the sand. Students leaned over the bleachers, pointing, whispering loud enough that he caught every word. “Did you see that wolf catch fire?” “He copied Seraphina Blaze’s talent, in one fight!” “That parasite thing is actually broken…”Fenrir walked beside him, shoulders rolling with new weight. The phoenix patterns on its scales still glowed faintly orange-red against the black iron, flames reduced to low embers that danced along its spine. Every few steps the wolf shook itself, sending sparks scattering across the ground. It looked bigger, meaner, and far more alive than the half-dead pup from the woods just days ago.Kael kept his face neutral, but inside his blood was singing. Rare Grade. Eternal Phoenix Rebirth. That single copy felt like striking gold in a sewer. He could already imagine Fenrir tanking hits that would kill most beasts, then healing mid-fight like nothing happened.A proctor caught up to him at the

The afternoon sun beat down harder on the inner arena, turning the sand hotter underfoot. The number of spectators had grown, senior disciples now filled the observation towers, and a few instructors lingered on the edges with crossed arms and sharp eyes. The easy morning matches were over. This was where the academy weeded out the weak for real.Kael stood on the edge of his assigned platform, Fenrir at his side. The wolf’s breathing was steady, but its body hummed with barely contained energy. The chimeric mutations had settled into something almost elegant in their brutality: iron scales veined with phoenix red, void-dark claws that left faint black trails, small lightning arcs dancing along the horn tips whenever Fenrir shifted its weight.The proctor called the next pairing.“Kael Draven versus academy disciple Vance Korin!”A tall, broad-shouldered guy stepped onto the opposite side. Vance had the look of old money, perfect posture, expensive leather bracers, and a massive Thund

The platform felt smaller with the crowd pressing in so close. Whispers buzzed like insects, bets being made, predictions flying. Most still favored Zephyr Kane. He was third-year, ranked inside the top fifty, with a Sovereign Wind Dominion talent that had already crushed plenty of challengers.Kael didn’t care about the odds.He cared about that Rare talent waiting inside the Wind Sovereign Eagle.Zephyr stood relaxed on the opposite side, silver hair barely stirring in the breeze his eagle created just by existing. The massive bird perched on a stone perch, wings half-spread, eyes sharp as blades. Wind currents swirled lazily around its feathers.“Last chance to back out, parasite,” Zephyr called, voice carrying easily. “Once we start, I won’t hold back for your border-town feelings.”Kael gave a small shrug. “Appreciate the concern. Let’s begin.”The proctor raised her hand, then dropped it. “Fight!”The eagle launched first.Sovereign Wind Dominion activated instantly. A violent g