The Elite Beast Master Program had only just begun, but the students were already facing challenges far beyond the classroom. The academy instructors had selected a special mission for the elite ten: a real-world hunt in the Forest of Echoes, a massive expanse teeming with Platinum- and low Mythical-level beasts.
Ethan Cross stood at the edge of the forest, Flame Fox curled at his side, tails flickering faintly in anticipation. The mist that hovered over the ancient trees seemed alive, whispering secrets of the beasts that lurked within.
Instructor Raymond's voice carried across the clearing. "This is your first external mission. Survival depends on your skill, your bond with your beast, and your ability to adapt. Hunt, track, and neutralize your targets. The team with the highest success will receive advanced rewards—beasts, training tools, and rare resources. Failure… could result in serious injury or worse."
The students exchanged glances. Platinum-level creatures roamed freely here, and a single misstep could prove fatal. Most of the S-rank elites tightened their grips on their beasts' collars.
Ethan, however, remained calm. His Eye of All Things immediately activated, scanning the environment, listing every beast in the vicinity, their bloodlines, levels, and potential evolution routes.
[Forest of Echoes – Beast Scan]
Emberhawk: High Silver, Level Black Iron 6, evolution → Platinum
Shadowfang Wolf: High Silver, Level Black Iron 5, evolution → Platinum
Thornback Lizard: High Bronze, Level Black Iron 7, evolution → Silver → Gold
Ancient Vine Serpent: Low Silver, Level Black Iron 8, evolution → Silver → Platinum
Ethan's mind calculated probabilities. These creatures were dangerous. Even seasoned S-rank students could die if they underestimated them.
Flame Fox's tails flicked, a faint golden glow emanating from each one. Six tails active, three latent. Its senses were heightened, instincts sharpening as if it could already predict the movement of the forest's hidden predators.
Entering the Forest
The students split into groups of two or three. Lucas immediately paired with his Steel-Armored Wolf, striding confidently into the shadowed trees. "Cross," he called over the wind, "don't think this hunt will save you. That fox of yours won't last five minutes here."
Ethan didn't respond. He merely advanced, Flame Fox moving silently by his side. Every leaf, every branch, every distant rustle registered in his Eye of All Things.
[Target Acquired – Shadowfang Wolf Pack]
Number: 5
Bloodline: High Silver
Level: Black Iron 5
Combat Behavior: Aggressive, territorial
Weakness: Sensitive to fire-based attacks, predictable pack hunting patterns
Ethan knelt briefly, whispering to Flame Fox. "Shadowfang pack ahead. Six packs detected near the eastern ridge. Use tails two and three for reconnaissance, tails four and five for defense, tail six for attack. Stay silent."
Flame Fox nodded almost imperceptibly, then melted into the underbrush. Its movements were silent, predatory, and calculated.
The First Kill
The pack appeared suddenly, charging from the trees with snarls and gleaming claws. Most students would have panicked. Ethan's fusion talent activated almost instinctively. He merged partially with Flame Fox, feeling every beat of its heart, every shift in muscle, every flicker of instinct.
He became both master and beast, doubling reaction speed and predictive capability. As the lead wolf lunged at him, Ethan sidestepped, and the fox's tails swept in a spinning arc. One wolf crashed into a tree, another was forced to retreat.
Lucas watched in disbelief from a distance. "Impossible! That B-rank… controlling a Bronze fox… taking down my wolf pack?"
Ethan barely spared him a glance. His attention was entirely on the hunt. Every wolf, every movement, every counterattack was accounted for. He could see the Shadowfang's pack hierarchy, strengths, and weaknesses instantly through the Eye of All Things.
With a flick of his hand, he directed the fox. Tail six lashed out, igniting a controlled flame strike that forced the pack to scatter. One wolf, wounded, fled toward Lucas's group. The ensuing clash between Lucas and the injured wolf allowed Ethan and Flame Fox to maintain the advantage.
Hidden Evolution
Once the Shadowfang pack was neutralized, Ethan activated his Evolution Talent subtly. The fox's bronze bloodline shimmered, evolving rapidly.
[Flame Fox – Evolution Check]
Previous Bloodline: Bronze → Evolved
New Bloodline: Mythical
Level: Platinum 7
Nine-Tail Activation: 7 tails active
Combat Power: Exceeds S-rank Platinum-class masters
Flame Fox's fur glowed brighter, tails spinning faster, the flames more intense. It was no longer a mere Bronze fox. It was a Mythical Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox in early awakening, capable of challenging creatures far beyond the academy's ordinary level.
Ethan felt the surge of power flow through him. In fusion, he could now wield fire manipulation, enhanced speed, heightened reflexes, and instinctive combat strategies as if he were the fox itself. Every action was synchronized perfectly.
Rival Encounter
As Ethan prepared to scout for the next target, he sensed another presence. Lucas had tracked the injured wolf to Ethan's location. His face twisted with rage.
"You can't keep winning like this, Cross!" Lucas shouted. "I will surpass you—no, I will destroy you!"
Ethan remained calm, eyes scanning the forest. "You'll learn quickly… your arrogance is your weakness."
Lucas's Steel-Armored Wolf charged, but this time Ethan fully fused with Flame Fox. He moved with superhuman precision, dodging and weaving through the trees, countering attacks with lethal efficiency. One tail flicked, and a controlled flame swept the path, forcing Lucas's wolf to stumble.
The fight lasted minutes but seemed longer to the watching students. Lucas's wolf was eventually forced to retreat, its pride shattered alongside Lucas's confidence. Ethan simply stood, Flame Fox beside him, calm as the wind.
The Ancient Vine Serpent
Deeper in the forest, a sudden rustling drew attention. An enormous Ancient Vine Serpent, High Silver bloodline, Level Black Iron 8, slithered silently through the undergrowth. Its size was massive, and its coils could crush a tree trunk.
Even S-rank students hesitated, sensing the danger. Most would avoid such a creature entirely, but Ethan's fusion instincts immediately assessed the threat.
[Target Analysis – Ancient Vine Serpent]
Bloodline: High Silver
Level: Black Iron 8
Strength: Extremely high physical power, constriction, and poisonous fangs
Weakness: Fire-based attacks cause severe irritation and disorientation
Evolution Path: Silver → Platinum → Gold → Mythical
Ethan knelt, whispering. "Nine-Tails… time to show them our true power."
Flame Fox's tails swirled, creating fire arcs and defensive shields. Ethan partially fused, extending his senses into every movement of the fox. The serpent struck, but every coil, fang, and strike was predicted and countered. Flames licked at the serpent, forcing it to retreat and twist unnaturally.
Finally, the serpent fled into the dense forest, leaving Ethan and Flame Fox standing victorious. Their bond had grown stronger, their abilities pushed to new heights.
Return to the Academy
When Ethan and the other elite students returned to the academy, the courtyard erupted in whispers. "He… he actually defeated Black Iron 8-level beasts?"
S-rank students exchanged looks of disbelief. Teachers shook their heads, some smiling faintly, recognizing that Ethan was no ordinary B-rank orphan. Lucas remained silent, fury barely contained, plotting his next move.
Ethan walked calmly through the hallways, Flame Fox trailing, tails flickering faintly. He knew this was only the beginning. The forest had tested their limits and revealed new possibilities. Every battle, every fusion, every evolution brought them closer to the path of the Hidden Beast Emperor.
[Flame Fox Status – Post-Hunt]
Bloodline: Mythical
Level: Platinum 7
Fusion Mastery: 90% synchronization
Nine-Tail Potential: 7 active, 2 latent
Combat Power: Capable of challenging low Mythical-level S-rank masters
Ethan whispered softly to the fox, "This was only the start. The outside world is full of Platinum and Mythical creatures. Every hunt, every challenge… will make us stronger. We'll surpass every limit they set for us."
Flame Fox responded with a soft purr, tails flicking in agreement.
The whispers in the academy halls grew louder. The B-rank orphan had not only survived the first real hunt, he had emerged dominant, feared, and respected.
And deep inside, Ethan knew the true challenges lay ahead—beasts stronger than any academy could train against, rival masters who would not stop, and the untapped power of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox waiting to awaken fully.
✨ End of Chapter 16 ✨