2026-05-20 05:21:48The first-year ranking board was carved into a massive stone pillar at the center of the academy plaza. Names glowed faintly in ranked order, updating automatically as students challenged each other and won or lost combat matches.
Knox stood in front of it, Ignis perched on his shoulder, and scanned down the list. Rank 1: Kael Drenor Rank 2: Elena Solis Rank 3: Thorne Veylan The names continued downward, each one representing someone who had proven their strength through official academy combat challenges. Knox kept scrolling until he found his own name. Rank 487: Knox Morales He stared at it for a moment. A hundred and eighty seven ranks to climb, in thirty days. A student walked past and saw Knox looking at the board. He snorted. "Good luck with that bet, Morales. You will understand something soon." Knox ignored him. He studied the ranking system posted beside the board. Combat rankings could only be climbed through official challenge matches. Completing missions, attending classes, or earning high test scores did not affect combat rank directly. That meant if Knox wanted to reach the Top 300, he would need to fight and win. Knox looked at Ignis. Challenging anyone now would be stupid. Ignis had no usable combat skill yet. The gravity attribute was still locked, and neither of them understood how to activate it. Fighting ranked students with just basic commands and weak manifestation would be suicide. He needed to get stronger first. Knox turned away from the ranking board and walked toward the academy mission hall. The mission board was located in a large stone building near the training grounds. The hall was crowded with students studying mission postings, arguing over assignments, and negotiating team formations. Knox pushed through the crowd and reached the board. Missions were divided by difficulty and pay. High-ranked students took escort contracts, beast hunts, and resource gathering in dangerous zones. Low-ranked students were left with the scraps: cleaning duty, message delivery, herb sorting, and pest control. Knox scanned the available missions. Most of them paid poorly, but they offered something more valuable than money. Field experience. Real combat situations, even against weak beasts, would help him and Ignis grow faster than sitting in classrooms. For a moment, Knox wondered why he had even bothered making the bet with Crane. He could technically grind missions like this, save money slowly, and pay tuition himself. Then he remembered. The system mission gave him Dragon Points and unlocked Gravity Control training. Crane paying his tuition would save him time, money, and effort that he could invest into getting stronger instead. And if he reached the Top 300, it would force the academy to take him seriously. If there were two paths forward, Knox saw no reason not to use both. He reached for one of the lower-tier mission slips. Mission: Swift-Horn Rabbit Extermination Location: Academy Herb Garden Objective: Remove Swift-Horn Rabbits damaging mana herb crops Estimated Count: 15-20 rabbits Reward: 50 silver coins Rank Requirement: None Knox pulled the slip from the board. A student nearby noticed and laughed. "Rabbit duty? Seriously?" Another student grinned. "That's the bet guy, isn't it? The one who thinks he can reach Top 300?" "He's doing pest control now? That won't help him win ranked fights." Knox folded the mission slip and walked toward the mission counter without responding. The mission clerk stamped his slip and handed him a small sack. "Bring back proof of extermination. Rabbit horns will do. Good luck." Knox walked out of the mission hall, ignoring the laughter behind him. The academy herb garden was located on the eastern edge of campus, surrounded by low stone walls and filled with rows of carefully cultivated mana herbs. The plants glowed faintly with stored energy, their leaves shimmering in different colors depending on their type. An older man in gardener's robes stood near the entrance, arms crossed, looking annoyed. "You're the one taking the rabbit mission?" the supervisor asked, his tone skeptical. "Yes," Knox said. The supervisor looked at Knox, then at Ignis perched on his shoulder, then sighed. "You're bottom-ranked, aren't you?" Knox did not answer. The supervisor shook his head. "Swift-Horn Rabbits are weak, but they're fast. Extremely fast. Their horns let them dash in short bursts, and they've been eating the young roots of our mana-sweet herbs. Several students already abandoned this mission because the rabbits are too annoying to catch and the reward is too low." "I'll handle it," Knox said. The supervisor gave him a doubtful look but stepped aside. "Garden's yours. Just don't damage the herbs and watch out for the rabbit leading them." Knox entered the garden, Ignis still on his shoulder. The rows of mana herbs stretched out in neat lines, their leaves glowing softly in the afternoon light. Knox walked slowly between the rows, scanning for movement. Then he saw it. A small white rabbit crouched near a patch of mana-sweet herbs, nibbling at the roots. Its body was about the size of a house cat, with soft white fur and a single spiraled horn on its forehead that glowed faintly blue. Ignis's body tensed. "Easy," Knox muttered. "Don't rush it." Ignis launched off Knox's shoulder anyway. The rabbit's horn flashed bright blue. WHOOSH! The rabbit vanished in a burst of speed, reappearing five meters away. Ignis crashed face-first into the dirt where the rabbit had been, dirt smearing across his snout. Another rabbit darted past from behind, its horn flashing as it dashed toward a burrow and disappeared underground. Ignis pushed himself up, shook his head, and growled in frustration. Knox crouched down and scratched Ignis under the chin. "Hmmmmm, chasing them won't work. They're too fast." I can catch them, Ignis said stubbornly through the bond. "Not like this," Knox said. "We need to be smarter." Knox stood and walked slowly through the garden, observing the rabbits instead of chasing them. He counted at least six visible at a time, all moving between the herb patches and their burrows. He watched their patterns carefully. The rabbits' horns glowed right before every dash. They always fled toward familiar burrows. They avoided the bitterroot patches entirely, probably because the smell was too strong. And after each burst of speed, they paused for a second or two, catching their breath. Knox crouched beside Ignis. "We can't match their speed, so we control where they run." How? Ignis asked. Knox pointed at a cluster of burrows near the mana-sweet patch. "Block those. Then use bait to lure one into a narrow area where it has fewer escape routes. I'll cut off one path. You cover the other." Ignis tilted his head, listening. Knox gathered several flat stones and quietly blocked two of the burrow entrances. Then he plucked a few mana-sweet leaves and placed them in a narrow gap between two rows of herbs. He positioned himself on one side of the gap and gestured for Ignis to wait on the other. A rabbit appeared, drawn by the scent of mana-sweet leaves. Knox stayed perfectly still. The rabbit hopped closer, sniffing the bait. Then it noticed Knox. Its horn flashed blue. The rabbit dashed—but Knox had already moved to block its escape path. The rabbit twisted mid-dash and bolted toward the only open route. Right where Ignis was waiting. Ignis lunged. His claws slammed down on the rabbit's back, pinning it to the ground. The rabbit struggled for a moment, then went still. I got it! Ignis said, his voice excited through the bond. Knox walked over and crouched beside them. "Good. Now—" He stopped. Ignis's behavior had changed. The drake's ember-orange eyes locked onto the rabbit, and his pupils narrowed into sharp slits. Saliva dripped from his mouth, and Knox felt a sharp, instinctive hunger pulse through the bond. It was not normal hunger. It felt deeper, primal, like Ignis's body recognized something inside the rabbit that it desperately wanted. Knox frowned. "Ignis?" Ignis did not respond. He lowered his head toward the rabbit, his breathing quickening. Then words appeared before Knox's eyes. [High Affinity Detected] [Compatible Beast Essence Found: Swift-Horn Rabbit] [Essence Assimilation Mission Generated] Knox's breath stopped. The system expanded, showing more details. Mission: Swift-Step Foundation Objective: Assimilate Swift-Horn Rabbit Essence Required Count: 10 Progress: 1/10 Reward: Trait: Burst Step Dragon Points +5 Possible Bond Echo: Echo Step Knox stared at the notification. Essence assimilation. Ignis could gain traits from compatible beasts by consuming their essence through the Vault system. This was not just a pest control mission anymore. If Ignis gained Burst Step, they would finally have a mobility tool for combat. Something they could use in ranked fights. Knox looked at Ignis, who was still staring at the rabbit with intense focus. "Eat it," Knox said quietly. Ignis did not need to be told twice. He tore into the rabbit, and as he consumed it, faint traces of blue light seeped from the carcass and flowed into Ignis's body. The progress count updated. Progress: 1/10 Knox stood and looked across the herb garden. There were at least fifteen more rabbits here, maybe twenty. He had come here for money. Now he was staying for power. Knox reset the stone traps and picked more mana-sweet leaves. "Let's keep going," he muttered. Ignis looked up at him, his eyes still glowing faintly with blue traces, and nodded. They worked together, repeating the strategy. Knox blocked burrows, set bait, and cut off escape routes. Ignis waited, lunged, and caught the rabbits one by one. It was slow and exhausting. Several rabbits still escaped, and Ignis missed more times than he succeeded. But with each attempt, Knox felt Ignis reading his intent faster through the bond. Their timing improved and their coordination tightened. The progress count rose. Progress: 3/10 Progress: 5/10 Progress: 7/10 The sun was starting to set when Knox wiped sweat from his face and crouched beside another blocked burrow. Ignis crouched low in the herbs across from him, his eyes fixed on a Swift-Horn Rabbit nibbling at the bait. The rabbit's horn flashed blue, preparing to dash. Knox signaled. Ignis lunged.
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Chapter 20: The Hooktail Challenge
Knox arrived near the challenge arena for the afternoon session with Ignis on his shoulder. His body was stable after the mana pill and light training, but he was not fully fresh. The earlier tests had already dropped his mana, though it had recovered slightly to around 56/60. His wrist was wrapped, but the faint ache beneath the cloth told him it was not completely healed.He kept thinking about how fast Tobin had accepted the challenge. Tobin had a Rare-rank Hooktail Lizard, a higher rank, and more official match experience, yet he accepted instantly. That meant confidence. Knox understood this fight would not be like Venn. Venn had rushed because he was angry but Tobin had accepted because he believed he already understood how to beat Knox.The weekend challenge session had drawn students who wanted to watch fights. The crowd was not huge, but enough people pressed against the arena barriers to make the match feel public. Knox's name had started attracting attention after his defen
Chapter 19: Tobin Marr
Ignis crouched low, his claws scraping lightly against the ground. A faint shimmer of mana gathered around his legs before he shot forward two meters. The movement was fast, but the landing was still rough. Ignis stumbled once before steadying himself.[Burst Step Activated]Range: 2 metersControl: UnstableStability: ImprovingPrimary Cost: Ignis StaminaBond Mana Drain: 3Knox Mana: 54/60 → 51/60Knox felt the small tug through the bond and clicked his tongue. Ignis’s Burst Step did not use Knox’s mana the same way Echo Step did, but because the trait was still unstable, every forced activation pulled a little mana through their bond. That meant Ignis could not spam Burst Step freely either. If Ignis pushed too hard, Knox would feel the cost too.After that, Knox walked to one of the wooden training posts and placed his palm lightly against it. He did not try to activate Tremor Palm fully as that would be mana waste and stupid. Tremor Palm was different from Echo Step.Echo Step pu
Chapter 18: Names Above Him
Knox woke up late in the common dorm. Sunlight streamed through the window at an angle that told him it was already past morning. The other beds were empty. Most students were already outside enjoying the weekend. There were no classes today, no Professor Crane lesson, and no academy drills.Knox sat up slowly. His wrist still ached faintly, but the sharp pain from yesterday was gone. He flexed his fingers. Stiff, but functional. He checked his recovery status.[Recovery Status]Mana: 55/55Physical Strain:Lower Body Fatigue — ClearedRight Wrist Backlash — FadingMana Channels — StableRecommendation:Light activity permitted.Avoid repeated Tremor Palm activation.Knox dismissed the notification and looked at Ignis. The drake was still curled up near his pillow, breathing steadily. His legs twitched once, like he was trying to use Burst Step in his sleep. Knox did not wake him.Instead, Knox counted his silver. He pulled out the pouch from under his mattress and spread the coins on the
Chapter 17: The Wrong Kind Of Attention
Knox woke up alone in the common dorm with his wrist still aching from Tremor Palm. His palm felt numb, his fingers were slow to close, and his legs were still sore from the recent fights and mission. He checked his condition.[Recovery Status]Mana: 34/55Physical Strain: Lower Body Fatigue — MildRight Wrist Backlash — ActiveMana Channels — Slightly IrritatedRecommendation: Avoid repeated skill activation.Ignis was still sleeping close to him, his legs twitching once like he was trying to use Burst Step in his sleep. Knox did not wake him. He understood they were both tired and that challenging anyone today would be stupid. He decided today was for rest, food, and recovery.Ignis woke up minutes later, hungry. Knox pulled out a beast feed pellet from his pouch and handed it to him. Ignis sniffed it suspiciously and made a disgusted face through the bond.“The rabbit tasted better,” Ignis complained.Knox was annoyed because the feed cost him silver. “Then make your own money and
Chapter 16: When The Pulse Answers
As the first Tremor Mole went still inside the suppression sack, Knox felt the tremor pattern linger faintly in his palm. The system flickered.[Compatibility Detected][Progress: 1/?]Knox stared at the notification and waited. With the Swift-Horn Rabbits, Ignis had felt hunger the moment he pinned the first one. His instincts pulled him toward the essence. That hunger led to the Swift-Step Foundation and Burst Step. Knox expected the same reaction now. But Ignis only shifted his claws uncomfortably and looked away from the suppression sack. No hunger or pull.Knox frowned. If Ignis did not want the Tremor Mole, then what was the system reacting to?"Are you going to stand there all day?" Knox looked up. Serena stood near the next Moonroot bed with her arms crossed. Her expression was calm and unreadable, but her tone carried faint exasperation. "Whatever it was, you were waiting for, to happen," she continued. Her gaze flicked to the suppression sack, then back to Knox. "It did not.
Chapter 15: Beneath the Warmstone Greenhouse
Knox arrived at the Warmstone Greenhouse with Ignis perched on his shoulder.The building sat on the eastern edge of the academy grounds, half-buried into a slope to keep the temperature stable. Heat rolled out from the entrance, thick and damp. Inside, rows of herb beds stretched beneath curved glass panels that caught the afternoon sun.Moonroot beds lined the center section. The plants had pale silver-white roots that glowed faintly under the soil. Thin mana lines ran beneath them, feeding the roots with steady energy.Knox wiped sweat from his neck as he walked deeper into the greenhouse. The mission still looked like dirty pest work, but the system had reacted differently.When he accepted it, only one message appeared.[Compatibility Detected]Nothing else.No explanation or reward preview.Knox did not know what the compatibility meant, but he could not ignore it.A middle-aged man in work robes approached. His sleeves were rolled up, and soil stained his hands. He looked Knox
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