The sun had barely crested the horizon when Ethan returned to Azure Sky Academy from the Verdant Wildlands. The forest still echoed with the distant roars of wild beasts, but the academy itself was abuzz with whispers of disbelief and speculation. Students crowded around, some awed, others terrified.
Even the instructors had never witnessed a B-rank Beast Master dominate a near-Mythical beast in live combat. Yet, Ethan moved calmly through the throng, Flame Fox perched on his shoulder, its nine tails swaying like banners of gold in the morning light.
Lucas, sitting on the steps of the main hall with his Steel-Armored Wolf, glared daggers at him. "You—how?!"
Ethan didn't respond. His gaze was fixed ahead, serene but calculating. He had no intention of arguing with those who could never comprehend what they had just seen. The hidden truth of his talents—Fusion, Evolution, and Eye of All Things—was his alone.
A Mysterious Visitor
By mid-morning, an unexpected visitor arrived at the academy gates. Clad in black robes embroidered with a silver phoenix, the stranger exuded an aura of authority and lethal skill. The air seemed to thrum with energy as he strode past the guards, who instinctively bowed.
"Eighteen-year-old Ethan Cross," the stranger's voice was calm but carried an unyielding weight. "I've come from the Shadow Fang Clan. Your recent actions in the Verdant Wildlands have caught the attention of the clans. You are no ordinary B-rank."
The students gasped. The Shadow Fang Clan was one of the top ten Beast Master clans, known for cultivating elite hunters and controlling rare bloodlines. Their involvement always meant serious consequences—or opportunities.
Ethan remained still, observing the man with his Eye of All Things. Within moments, he had scanned him:
[Beast Master Scan]
Name: Kieran Blackthorn
Talent Rank: S-rank
Specialization: Beast Fusion and Stealth Tactics
Known Bloodline Beasts: Shadow Wolves (High Silver), Phantom Panthers (Silver), Void Falcons (Low Gold)
Hidden Skills: Unknown
Ethan tilted his head slightly. "So, the clans are taking notice. Tell me… why come here personally?"
Kieran's eyes flicked to Flame Fox. "Because of him," he said, his gaze sharp. "Your fox… that Bronze-bloodline creature is no ordinary beast. The aura, the growth… it's approaching Mythical. Few in history have possessed such a creature at this age."
A murmur swept through the students. Some stared in awe, others in disbelief. Even Lucas's wolf shivered, as though sensing the gravity of the moment.
Ethan's lips curved slightly. "I see. And you come as a friend… or a test?"
Kieran's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Both. The Shadow Fang Clan rarely intervenes, but you… and your fox… have drawn my interest. If you are willing, we have a proposition. Your talents could be refined beyond what your academy can teach."
Ethan considered, knowing full well that alliances were double-edged swords. "And if I refuse?"
Kieran's expression hardened. "Then… you remain a target. Not just for the clans, but for wild Mythical beasts, mercenaries, and hunters who seek to claim the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox for themselves."
Ethan's gaze didn't waver. The truth was clear: the world had already taken notice of him. From this point onward, enemies would lurk in every shadow. Allies were valuable—but trust was earned.
Training Beyond Limits
After Kieran departed, Ethan returned to the dormitory. The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox padded beside him, its tails brushing against the stone floor like flowing rivers of fire.
He sat cross-legged in the training courtyard. "We need to grow stronger," he murmured, eyes scanning the fox's aura.
[Beast Status]
Name: Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox
Bloodline: Mythical
Level: Diamond 7
Tail Count: 5/9 awakened
Abilities: Fire Manipulation, Extreme Agility, Precognition (latent), Fusion Synchronization
Ethan placed his hands lightly on the fox. "Fusion. Let's see what you've truly got."
The fox's tails ignited with golden flames. In a burst of light, Ethan fused with the beast. Instantly, he felt the surge of power—the strength, agility, speed, and instincts of a fully evolved creature flowing through him. His body became a living extension of the fox, moving with preternatural precision.
He ran across the courtyard, dodging and weaving through simulated obstacles. Each movement was flawless, each leap calculated. With Fusion, he could combine his intellect and the fox's raw instincts into a single, unstoppable entity.
After hours of training, sweat dripping, the fox's tails flicked lazily as Ethan de-fused. His body was exhausted, but his mind was sharper than ever. He had pushed the fusion to a new level, syncing more than ever with the fox.
This level of training was unseen even among S-rank hunters, and yet, Ethan remained calm. This was only the beginning.
A New Threat
That evening, while the academy dormitories quieted, a distant howl shattered the night. The sound was neither wolf nor fox—it carried an otherworldly resonance, the roar of a creature that shouldn't exist at this level.
Ethan activated Eye of All Things, scanning the surroundings. The readings shocked him.
[Beast Scan]
Name: Unknown
Bloodline: Mythical
Level: Diamond 9
Evolution Path: Platinum → Gold → Mythical
Abilities: Unknown, potentially realm-shattering
It was approaching fast, its aura sending tremors through the earth. Ethan's gaze met Flame Fox's. The fox's tails bristled, each tail igniting in anticipation.
"They call it the Night Howler," Ethan murmured. "A Mythical beast that even the S-rank hunters avoid… but it seems curiosity brought it here."
He clenched his fists. The first real test of his Fusion, Evolution, and Eye of All Things would come tonight.
The Night Howler Emerges
The creature tore through the shadows, massive and terrifying. Its body shimmered with dark, ethereal energy, eyes glowing with malevolent intelligence. Its presence warped the forest, bending the trees and rocks as it ran.
Ethan and Flame Fox stepped forward. His fusion ignited instantly, nine tails flaring like solar flares. He could feel every muscle, every nerve, every instinct of the fox flowing into him.
The Night Howler leapt from the darkness, claws extended, ready to crush.
Ethan countered with precision. Tail one struck the creature's leg, tail two aimed at its torso. Tail three through six created a barrage of synchronized strikes, blending flame and force. Tail seven and eight blocked incoming attacks, while tail nine delivered a finishing blow.
The creature recoiled, shocked by the unexpected speed and strength. It had faced hunters, S-rank Beast Masters, and yet none had moved like this—a single being fused with a Mythical creature, perfectly synchronized, every strike calculated.
Ethan smirked. "You're strong… but you don't know me."
He activated Evolution Talent, accelerating the fox's latent power. Golden energy surged through both of them, enhancing every attack, every movement.
The Night Howler, sensing danger, howled—a sound that split the night sky. And yet, it did not flee. Instead, it lunged again, more cautiously this time, testing the limits of Ethan and Flame Fox.
Aftermath
Hours later, the Night Howler had retreated, leaving the dormitory courtyard eerily silent. Students who had witnessed the battle whispered in disbelief. Even S-rank hunters could not compare to the combination of Fusion and accelerated evolution.
Ethan de-fused, Flame Fox curling at his side, nine tails swaying calmly. His body was exhausted, but his mind was alive with strategies, predictions, and plans.
"This is just the beginning," he whispered. "Clans, Mythical beasts, and hunters… none of them understand what's coming."
He looked at the horizon. The Hidden Beast Emperor had awakened fully in the eyes of the world.
And tomorrow, the empire would start to notice.
✨ End of Chapter 20 ✨