The dawn sky over the Verdant Wildlands shimmered with soft golden light, illuminating a landscape of towering trees, jagged cliffs, and hidden valleys. This area was notorious even among Azure Sky Academy veterans—a place where only S-rank or higher Beast Masters dared tread, for wild Mythical beasts roamed freely.
Today, the academy had arranged a new challenge: the First Mythical Hunt. Selected students, including Ethan, would enter the Wildlands to hunt, capture, or fend off actual wild Mythical beasts. For most, this was a terrifying prospect; for Ethan, it was an opportunity.
Beside him, the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox flicked its tails in anticipation. Each tail shimmered faintly in the morning light, sparks of golden energy dancing across its bronze fur.
"Stay alert," Ethan whispered. "This isn't a training ground anymore. Everything here can kill you… or test your limits."
The fox's nine tails swayed, responding to his unspoken thoughts. They were ready.
Entering the Wildlands
Ethan led the group through the dense forest. His Eye of All Things scanned continuously, recording the presence, levels, and bloodlines of every beast in the area.
[Wild Beast Scan]
Redfang Wolf – Bloodline: High Silver, Level: Platinum 3
Thornback Serpent – Bloodline: Silver, Level: Diamond 1
Emerald Stag – Bloodline: Low Gold, Level: Gold 9
Shadowfang Panther – Bloodline: Silver, Level: Platinum 2
The other students muttered among themselves, clutching their weapons or beasts in anticipation. Most were S-rank, confident in their strength, but tension hung over them like a heavy fog. The Verdant Wildlands had a reputation: no one left unscathed.
Lucas, still nursing the humiliation from the previous S-rank challenge, walked beside his Steel-Armored Wolf. His eyes were narrow slits, full of rage and determination. "This time, Cross, you won't get away with your tricks. I've been preparing. My wolf has trained for weeks since that last match."
Ethan didn't respond. His attention was on the forest, on the subtle movements of the beasts around them, and on the fox, who flicked its tails in a rhythmic pattern, sensing every vibration, every heartbeat of nearby creatures.
First Encounter
A sudden rustle erupted in the underbrush. A low growl reverberated through the trees. Before anyone could react, a massive Redfang Wolf leaped out, fangs bared. Its silver-red fur glistened under the sun, eyes burning with predatory intelligence.
"Attack!" shouted Lucas. His wolf lunged, metal claws gleaming.
Ethan's calm response contrasted sharply. "Fox, assess and counter."
The fox's tails flared simultaneously. Tail one tripped the Redfang Wolf mid-air with a whip-like strike. Tail two struck the ground, sending a shockwave that staggered Lucas's wolf. Tail three and four ignited in bursts of golden flames, forcing the predator back.
Ethan activated Evolution Talent. Instantly, the fox's hidden bloodline surged, channeling dormant power. Sparks of golden energy flickered along its nine tails, flames roaring higher. The Bronze-bloodline fox accelerated to Diamond-level, its strength and speed increasing exponentially.
The Redfang Wolf hesitated, sensing a dramatic surge of aura. It had faced many S-rank students and Platinum-level beasts, but nothing like this.
With a subtle flick of his hand, Ethan executed Fusion. His body intertwined with the fox, sharing every muscle, every sense, every latent skill.
The world slowed. Every movement of the wolf, every intention of the beast, every weakness became visible. Tail five lashed out, striking the wolf's jaw with precision. Tail six swept the ground, knocking it off balance. Tail seven formed a barrier, intercepting the counterattack. Tail eight and nine ignited a continuous barrage of golden flame, pushing the wolf to the edge of retreat.
Lucas stumbled. "What… is this…?"
Ethan's eyes glowed faintly. "This is the truth you couldn't see before, Lucas. Fusion isn't just power. It's perfection in motion."
The Redfang Wolf let out a final howl, retreating into the forest. Its presence left an imprint in the earth, a warning to any other predator that dared challenge Ethan.
Hidden Dangers
The hunt was far from over. The Verdant Wildlands were alive with unseen threats. Thornback Serpents coiled silently on tree branches, Emerald Stags darted through the foliage, and Shadowfang Panthers stalked in the shadows.
Ethan's Eye of All Things detected them first. He whispered commands to Flame Fox, tails flicking in response.
A Shadowfang Panther lunged from the canopy. Its Platinum 2 level and Silver-bloodline made it deadly for ordinary hunters. But Ethan was anything but ordinary.
Tail one struck with the speed of lightning, breaking the Panther's momentum. Tail two sent a controlled flame strike, disorienting it. Tail three restrained it with a whip-like coil. Tail four through six delivered multiple simultaneous attacks, each strike precisely calculated.
Ethan felt the fusion amplify his instincts. Every movement of the fox was mirrored in his body. Every reaction, every counter, was a heartbeat ahead. The Panther yowled in frustration, unable to land a single strike.
"Too easy," Ethan murmured softly, a small smirk forming.
A Glimpse of Mythical Power
Suddenly, a tremor shook the ground. From a nearby cliff emerged a Mythical Bloodline Beast—a Silver Dragon, Level Diamond 4. Its scales shimmered with ethereal light, eyes radiating intelligence and hostility. Even the S-rank hunters froze, recognizing the danger immediately.
Ethan's heart beat faster. This was beyond any training, beyond any test. His fusion extended fully, tails igniting with divine flames. Flame Fox evolved once more, pushing the Diamond-level closer to its potential ceiling.
He activated Eye of All Things, scanning the dragon's full data:
[Wild Dragon Scan]
Bloodline: Silver
Level: Diamond 4
Evolution Path: Platinum → Gold → Mythical
Hidden Potential: Mythical-level (detected, but unknown final form)
Ethan smiled faintly. The fusion shared all sensory input with the fox, and instinctively, he calculated the strategy. He could force an evolution acceleration, potentially pushing the fox to fully Myhthical bloodline in the midst of combat.
"Prepare," Ethan whispered. Tail one ignited, tail two blocked, tail three aimed at the dragon's underbelly. The rest coordinated flawlessly.
The dragon roared, launching a torrent of fire toward the group. Lucas and other S-rank students barely dodged, retreating. Ethan and Flame Fox stepped forward, fully fused, and the tails deflected the inferno while closing distance.
Tail nine struck the dragon's wing joint. Tail seven and eight delivered simultaneous blows to its chest. The fox's accelerated evolution talent flared, veins of gold spreading across its bronze fur as it reached the final stage of Mythical Nine-Tailed Celestial evolution—for the first time in combat.
The dragon faltered, shocked by the sudden spike in power. Ethan's fusion and strategy allowed him to control the battlefield with unparalleled precision.
Victory and Awe
With a coordinated nine-tail strike, the dragon collapsed, barely alive but subdued. The S-rank hunters stared in disbelief. No one had ever seen a B-rank hunter dominate a wild Diamond-level, near-Mythical beast.
Instructor Raymond, observing from a distance, nodded. "Ethan Cross… the Hidden Beast Emperor has begun to awaken. The Mythical Hunt has proven what we feared and hoped. His fusion, evolution, and perception talents—fully realized—are unmatched at his apparent rank."
Lucas fell to his knees, clenching his fists. "Impossible… no one should have this power!"
Ethan de-fused, kneeling beside Flame Fox. Nine tails swayed, their glow dimming to a warm golden shimmer. He looked at the dragon, now subdued but alive. "You'll recover… and one day, you might become a worthy opponent."
The fox nuzzled his hand, a quiet affirmation of trust. Together, they had faced true Mythical-level threats and emerged unscathed.
The Path Forward
The Verdant Wildlands were silent once more, save for the occasional rustle of leaves and distant calls of wild beasts. Students whispered, their eyes wide with awe.
Ethan gazed toward the horizon. He knew this was only the beginning. The Mythical Hunt had tested him and the fox, but beyond the Wildlands lay ancient beasts, hidden clans, and bloodlines even he had yet to witness.
"Every step forward, every evolution, every fusion… we grow stronger," Ethan whispered. "The world will see… the Hidden Beast Emperor is coming."
Flame Fox flicked its nine tails, each tail swaying like a banner of fire and gold. Its presence radiated absolute dominance, a warning to all who dared to challenge them.
And in the distance, unseen by all, another creature stirred—its eyes glowing with curiosity and hunger. A creature whose existence would soon intersect with Ethan's rising legend.
The hunt had ended, but the true battle for supremacy in the empire had only just begun.
✨ End of Chapter 19 ✨