《Primordial Devourer》


 Failed Contract.

    "Great, just what i fucking needed. Another sermon on beast contracts." Auron slumped in his seat, tapping his pen against the desk in a slow, deliberate rhythm¡ªanything to drown out the headache forming behind his eyes.


    Instructor Harwin was at it again¡ªpreaching about beast contracts like it was the fucking meaning of life.


    His eyes¡ªbrilliant violet, sharp yet distant¡ªlooked around the room where students eagerly soaked up every word spilling from Instructor Harwin''s mouth.


    Harwin adjusted his spectacles for the hundredth time, his lips curling like he was savoring his own words. His voice¡ªthin, creepy, and endlessly self-important¡ªscraped against Auron''s patience like nails on glass. And yet, he spoke like every sentence was pure gold.


    Here we go again. Harwin adjusted his cuffs, his voice swelling with the self-importance of a man delivering the secrets of the universe. "Power, wealth, influence¡ªbeasts determine it all."


    The class nodded like brain washed sheep, eyes shining with near-religious reverence, eating it up.


    Auron? He''d rather choke on his own spit.


    He stared at the ceiling, eyes half-closed, posture lazy. Whatever nonsense Harwin was preaching today wasn''t for him. The world had already made it pretty damn clear where he stood.


    ***


    Harwin kept yapping. "As is common knowledge, beasts are ranked by their strength, each realm divided into nine levels. And those ranks are as follows!" His tone rose dramatically, as if he were delivering some epic grand revelation instead of the same speech he''d given a thousand times before.


    While tapping on the board, where glowing inscriptions detailed the beast ranking system. Auron had seen it a thousand times before. Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum¡ªblah, blah, blah.


    Harwin basked in the admiration of his audience. "Most of you, if you''re lucky, will reach the Silver Realm in your lifetime. A fortunate few may ascend to Gold. As for Platinum? Perhaps one in a hundred thousand no....one a million achieves such a feat."


    His gaze shifted to Auron, eyes glittering with condescension. ""And of course, some students¡ªdespite every advantage, every lesson¡ªstill fail to form a contract. A tragic waste, really."


    The class erupted into smug snickers and not-so-subtle glances. All which Auron had long grown accustomed to. Yet.


    Auron''s lips twitched, amusement flickering across his face. ""Damn, Instructor, if I didn''t know any better, I''d think you were personally offended by my existence.".


    A few chuckles rippled through the class, but most were nervous attempts to stay on Harwin''s good side.


    Young Master Raventor," Harwin sighed, shaking his head like he was disappointed on a cosmic level. "Even the laziest students form a contract eventually. Yet here you are, still empty-handed. Perhaps¡­ some people simply aren''t meant for greatness."."


    "greatness, huh?" Auron leaned back, lacing his fingers behind his head with a lazy grin. "I prefer to think of it as avoiding disappointment. At least I don''t have to grovel at the feet of some oversized chicken just to feel powerful."


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    More laughter followed, though the mockery was split with genuine amusement this time. Auron had learned long ago that people loved to see authority put in its place. Even if only for a moment.


    The instructor''s face twitched with irritation, but he forced himself to continue. "Now, for those who actually wish to learn something of value¡ªContracts."


    He tapped the board, displaying another glowing diagram of a ritual circle shimmering with radiant inscriptions. "The process of taming. A ritual that binds a beast''s essence to your soul. A true partnership, if successful. A violent death, if not."


    Auron closed his eyes, feigning sleep. He''d heard it all before. The lectures, the pitying looks, the endless prattle about how his failure to contract a beast would leave him rotting in mediocrity.


    Whatever. Let them keep their illusions of grandeur. The world had already labeled him a failure, a waste of potential. And maybe that was true. Maybe he really was just a walking disappointment waiting for his inevitable fade into obscurity.


    But a part of him¡ªthe part that refused to stay down, even after every humiliating lecture and sneer¡ªstill held on.....He just had to find his path, which was apparently not linked to the dazzling world of beast contracts.


    Speaking of which.


    "The dazzling world of contracts," Auron muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes as Harwin continued to spew his well-rehearsed sermon. "Bind a beast''s soul to your own and hope you don''t get fried in the process. Fascinating stuff."


    "Careful, man. Harwin''s gonna burst a vein if he hears you slandering his precious art of ''groveling before beasts,''" snickered Dante Crestfall, his voice a lazy drawl that somehow carried weight. The broad-shouldered guy, seated next to him had the build of a brawler, wild dark hair, and bronze eyes that always seemed half-asleep. His laid-back attitude was a massive middle finger to the academy''s obsession with discipline and excellence.


    "You already poked the old bear once today. Twice, and he''ll slap you with detention. Again."


    "Let him try. I think he likes me too much for that." Auron shot his friend a grin, his violet eyes glinting with mock arrogance. "After all, I''m the academy''s most dedicated failure. Can''t let down my fanbase."


    "And yet, here I am, still allowing myself to be seen with the likes of you two," Lyra Ashford''s voice was cool, but the playful lilt betrayed her amusement. She was seated on Auron''s other side, her chestnut hair pulled into a neat high ponytail, and her vivid green eyes focused yet somehow never missing a word of their ridiculous conversation.


    "Oh, right. Miss ''Top-of-the-Class-and-Future-Legend'' Ashford." Auron groaned, pretending to shield his eyes. "Your brilliance is blinding, Lyra. Some of us mere mortals have weak constitutions, you know."


    "quit joking around ," Lyra replied with a smirk. "Though I''m not sure if that''s resilience or sheer stupidity."


    "Maybe both," Dante chimed in with a shrug. "Probably both."


    Their chat was a welcome distraction from the frustration burning in Auron''s chest. The academy was brutal to anyone who dared to fall behind. Even the smallest success was celebrated, while failure was treated like a disease.


    Unlike Dante, who had already formed a contract with a Bronze-level Steelback Boar, and Lyra, whose Frost wolf boasted low-tier Silver strength, Auron was the academy''s legendary flop. The Raventor who couldn''t even bond with an Iron-ranked beast.


    And as if to rub salt in the wound, Instructor Harwin''s voice thundered through the classroom, his gaze zeroing in on Auron.


    "Alright, settle down." Harwin''s sharp tone silenced the room. His eyes practically dripped with disdain. "Today, we''ll be performing practice contracts with the Iron-ranked creatures provided by the academy. For those of you who haven''t managed to forge a bond yet..." His gaze locked on Auron, lips twitching with false pity. "This is your last chance before the end-of-term assessments."


    The words hit like a bucket of ice water, but Auron kept his indifferent mask intact. It wasn''t like he hadn''t heard worse before.


    Dante leaned over, voice low. "You good, man? Don''t let that fossil get under your skin."


    "As if I''d give him the satisfaction." Auron forced a smirk. "Though if I fail again, I might actually have to think of something else.''"


    "Don''t joke about it," Lyra snapped, but her eyes were laced with concern. "If you can''t form a contract soon, they might force you to leave the academy. You know that, right?"


    "Good thing I''ve never been a fan of following the rules." Auron''s grin widened, but the humor didn''t reach his eyes. "If the academy kicks me out, I''ll just have to find another way to make the world grovel at my feet."


    Lyra didn''t seem convinced, but she let the subject drop. Dante, on the other hand, patted Auron''s shoulder with the sympathy of someone who had no clue how to actually be sympathetic.


    The class shuffled into the Contracting Hall, a grand chamber buzzing with energy. Runes glowed on the polished stone floor, forming intricate circles meant to guide the bonding process. Iron-ranked beasts paced inside their cages, eyes glinting with a mix of fear and aggression. The air was thick with tension, like a storm waiting to break.


    "Step forward when your name is called." Harwin''s voice echoed against the marble walls, broken up by the occasional growl or snarl from the beasts. "If you fail, move aside. We have no time to waste on incompetence."


    Dante went first, solidifying his bond with his Steelback Boar like it was as easy as breathing. Harwin gave him a satisfied nod. Lyra followed, her Frost wolf''s icy aura flaring with a dazzling glow under her command.


    And then...


    "Auron Raventor," Harwin''s voice oozed with contempt. "Let''s see if you can finally prove you''re not just a waste of space."


    "Oh, don''t worry. I''ve been practicing." Auron stepped forward, eyes gleaming with fake confidence. "Practicing the art of disappointing you, that is."


    The instructor''s glare was an added bonus.


    The cage creaked open, releasing an Iron Wolf. Its silver fur bristled.


    Auron drew a deep breath, his fingers tracing the contracting ritual circle''s patterns with desperate precision. Energy swirled around him, ethereal tendrils stretching from his soul toward the beast''s wild essence.


    Power surged between them¡ªsharp, electric, alive. The wolf''s gaze locked onto his, something ancient shifting beneath its amber eyes. Auron reached for it, heart pounding¡ª


    Then, like snapping a fragile thread, it was gone.


    The beast recoiled, snarling. The contract collapsed. And in its place, Auron felt nothing. No power. No connection. Just the cold sting of failure.


    Harwin''s laugh cut through the silence like a knife. "Once again, the Raventor name fails to live up to its reputation."


    Auron let his smirk linger, even as failure burned under his skin. "Well. That was fun. Let''s do it again sometime¡ªmaybe next year."

 Primordial Awakening.

    Back in his room in the middle of the night.


    Auron sat on his bed, his gaze locked on the faint, silvery glow of moonlight seeping through the narrow window. His thoughts were a storm of frustration and desperation. The day''s failure had struck him harder than he cared to admit. He had tried to establish a contract with a beast, only to have the attempt fail miserably before his very eyes.


    "Harwin''s sneer clung to him, every word replaying like a brand seared into his skull." As much as Auron despised the instructor''s words, the truth behind them stung even worse. He was weak.


    But weakness was not a condition he would tolerate. Not now. Not ever.


    He clenched his fists. For a brief, fleeting instant, he had felt something. A sensation unlike anything he had experienced before.


    No, it wasn''t the beast he was trying to contract. It was something else. Something buried within himself. The wolf had been nothing more than a Failed attempt to grasp a power far greater. And yet, that power had stirred, if only for a moment.


    He needed to confirm it.


    The night''s chill seeped into his bones as he rose from his bed and slipped into his clothes. His movements were precise, deliberate. He was not about to let failure define him. Not while there was still another path to pursue.


    The academy grounds stretched out before him like a shadowed maze. The bitter cold of midnight wrapped itself around the ancient oaks.


    Auron slipped past the dormitory guards, his footsteps light, his breath steady."


    His destination was ahead. The Abandoned Hall¡ªa forgotten ruin hidden deep within the academy''s neglected grounds. It was a place shunned by students and teachers alike, its crumbling walls and desolate corridors a testament to a time long past.


    But, to Auron, it was more than a ruin. It was a sanctuary for the desperate. A place where he could test his limits away from the prying eyes of those who would dismiss him.


    He pushed open the rotting door, its creak swallowed by the silence. Dust swirled in the moonlight as he stepped inside, his footsteps echoing against the cracked stone floors.


    Now, with the darkness pressing in around him, Auron prepared to face whatever lay within himself.


    Whatever it took, he would seize that power.


    Auron''s footsteps echoed as he strode deeper into the Abandoned Hall.


    He dropped to his knees in the center of the shattered chamber, "His hands trembling with desperation, but it didn''t matter."


    "I felt something," he whispered to the empty darkness, his voice trembling but laced with determination. "During that ritual with the Iron Wolf¡­ something reached out."


    But not the wolf. No, that beast was nothing more than a hollow echo. What he sought lay deeper. Caged within the depths of his own soul.


    Auron''s fingers clenched into fists, his knuckles whitening as his body trembled from the effort of simply keeping himself calm. His mind was a battlefield of doubt and defiance, every failure taunting him like a cruel specter.


    But something within him refused to yield.


    He inhaled slowly, his eyes slipping shut as he forced himself to abandon the broken ritual circle. He needed no intricate symbols or formalities. No, what he needed was to confront the darkness clawing at the edges of his consciousness.


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    What if the ritual was never about drawing power from something external? What if it was meant to awaken something already within him?


    The idea was madness. Or perhaps it was brilliance. Auron didn''t care which. All he cared about was proving that he was more than some weak, talentless fool.


    He took another deep breath, sinking into himself. Letting his senses blur, his consciousness spiraling inward like a vortex. His heartbeat slowed, his breathing steadied.


    The world around him faded into nothingness. Only the darkness remained.


    It was there, lurking beneath the surface. A pulse. Faint but undeniable. Heavy and relentless, like the heartbeat of something far greater than himself. It throbbed with a power that sent chills down his spine. A force both terrifying and alluring.


    His eyes snapped open, but he wasn''t seeing the hall around him. Instead, his vision was flooded with darkness, an endless abyss where the faint glow of his own soul flickered like a candle in the void.


    He reached for it. Stretched his mind toward that pulse, his thoughts tearing through the darkness like claws. Desperation clawed at him, his resolve sharpened by the bitter taste of failure.


    following this move, pain flooded his senses, originating from his soul as if he was being punished for entering somewhere forbidden.


    But he didn''t pull back. Instead, he gritted his teeth and pushed forward.


    "Is that... all you''ve got?" he snarled into the darkness, his voice a hoarse growl.


    "I don''t care what you are," Auron spat, his words defiant even as his soul trembled under the voice''s might. "If you have power, then I''ll take it. Whatever it takes."


    Right after he voiced those words he almost immediately regretted them


    "Pain tore through him¡ªbones fracturing, veins burning like frostbitten steel. His mind buckled, sanity slipping through his fingers.


    But even as his consciousness fractured, something held on. A burning defiance that refused to be snuffed out.


    The agony built to a crescendo, his entire being splintering¡ª


    "The pain faded. Auron lay on the cold stone, chest heaving, body trembling."


    But something was different.


    A thrumming energy now pulsed within him, fierce and untamed. His senses were sharper, his body lighter. His muscles hummed with newfound strength, his mind clearer, hungrier. And the voice¡­ it still lingered, a shadow at the edge of his thoughts.


    Auron''s lips twitched into a weary, triumphant grin. Whatever he had just awakened, it was real. And it was his.


    Just as he steadied his trembling breath, the air around him grew heavy, thick with an unseen force that coiled around his very soul. His heart pounded as if it had been shackled by icy chains, a suffocating presence pressing down on his entire being.


    Then, it came.


    A splitting headache as if his head was being pried open, followed by a cold, emotionless voice whispering into the depths of his mind.


    [The Primordial Beast Assimilation System has awakened.]


    [Initialization complete. Tracking host''s growth and recording all progress.]


    Auron''s eyes widened, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. What the hell was this? "Panic clawed at his chest as his mind scrambled to make sense of the words."Was this some sort of twisted hallucination brought on by his desperation?


    "No¡­ no, I''m not losing my mind," he muttered to himself, his voice shaky and strained. But the words didn''t feel like his own. They felt like something... implanted.


    Was this a side effect of whatever he had just done? His fingers dug into the cold stone floor as if the sensation would anchor him back to reality. But reality itself seemed to be warping, molding itself to something alien and unnatural.


    Just as he was about to convince himself he was hallucinating, more words carved themselves into his consciousness.


    [The Primordial Beast Assimilation System allows the host to acquire attributes from beasts personally slain. Attributes are directly incorporated into the host''s essence, enhancing strength, speed, senses, or other qualities depending on the beast defeated.]


    [The stronger the beast, the greater the reward. But be warned¡ªfailure will not be forgiven.]


    The words drilled into his mind with relentless precision. Cold. Unfeeling. The language of something far removed from humanity.


    "This isn''t real. It can''t be." Auron''s breath came short, hands gripping his head. "Think. THINK.". His instincts screamed at him to reject the presence coiling around his soul. The thing calling itself a "system."


    But the words didn''t fade. They lingered like a curse, refusing to release their hold on him.


    "Why¡­?" he rasped, his fists clenching until his knuckles turned white. "What even are you?"


    Silence. No answer. Whatever this system was, it was no sentient entity¡ªjust a mechanism that had latched onto him like a parasite.


    Panic morphed into frustration, his thoughts crashing against one another in a chaotic frenzy.


    The thing had said something about growth and rejection. But what did that even mean? Would it kill him if he couldn''t satisfy its demands?


    He stumbled backward until his back hit the rough stone wall. His breaths came out shallow and ragged.


    "Think, damn it. Think." His fingers pressed against his temples as if he could force clarity through sheer will.


    A sickening realization twisted his gut. Whatever ritual he''d just performed, whatever madness had compelled him to seek power from within himself¡ªit had worked. But the cost¡­


    "I asked for power¡­" Auron whispered, his eyes darkening with the weight of his own desperation. "And this... thing answered."


    The system''s words lingered in his mind. Kill. Grow. Absorb. A brutal, simple truth."


    What was the system''s motive? Why did it even exist? Was it some sort of test? A curse? A gift? The lack of answers left him cold and unsettled.


    But the more he thought about it, the more a twisted logic began to solidify in his mind. This power... this system... it hadn''t just appeared out of nowhere. It had responded to his desire. To his desperation. To the darkness he had clawed for.


    If he rejected it now, then all his efforts would be wasted. And he would be left with nothing.


    His breathing slowed. His heartbeat steadied. And something within him¡ªsomething deep, primal, and unyielding¡ªbegan to stir.


    "Fine," Auron growled, his voice low and filled with a dangerous resolve. "You want me to kill and grow stronger? Then I''ll do it. Whatever the hell you are, I''ll make you my tool. Not the other way around."


    "Auron exhaled, slow and measured. His ambition wasn''t madness. It was clarity, sharpened by suffering ."

 A Hunter is born.

    Auron stepped out of the abandoned hall, the night air biting at his skin. His thoughts hadn''t yet settled¡ªfailure, frustration, and now¡­ a spark of possibility.


    Auron exhaled. Strength through killing? It sounded crazy¡ªbut if it worked, who cared?


    "Maybe it''s not such a terrible thing," he muttered to himself, hands shoved in his pockets. The weight of his failure still hung over him, but now, a sliver of hope had cracked through the gloom. Maybe there was another way, maybe there was a chance for him to grow strong without having to become some beast-tamer.


    His footsteps slowed as he entered a quieter part of the academy grounds, a small alleyway he often took as a shortcut. The darkened corner seemed like the perfect place for his thoughts to wander. But just as he took a deep breath, a scurrying sound caught his attention.


    A rat.


    Auron''s eyes squinted. It was small, gray, and ran across the cobblestones, unaware of the person watching from the shadows. His gaze flickered back to the path ahead, but for some reason, he couldn''t tear his eyes away from the rat.


    Should I?


    .


    A crazy idea struck him. If the system was real, why not test it?


    Without thinking twice, Auron kicked a small stone toward the rat, startling it. The creature froze, turning its beady eyes to him for a brief second before it darted toward the shadows.


    "Not so fast," Auron muttered to himself, a grin forming at the corners of his mouth. His fingers twitched, and before he knew it, he grabbed a small rock from the ground and tossed it toward the rat with surprising precision. The rat yelped, its tiny body tumbling as it collapsed onto the cobblestone.


    Auron''s heart raced as he stared at the dead rat. Nothing happened immediately, but then¡ªa notification.


    You have successfully killed a beast. You have gained 1 Attribute Point.


    Auron blinked. What?


    His pulse quickened as the familiar, robotic voice echoed in his head. That wasn''t a fluke, right? His hands began to shake, excitement flooding his veins.


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    "Wait, does this mean...?"


    An attribute point! The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. This was it. This was his ticket to power. The system was real¡ªhe wasn''t insane.


    Auron let out a short, breathless laugh. One rat, and he was stronger? This was insane.


    Reveling in the absurdity of it all.Wasn''t this a bit too good to be true. He could just keep killing things¡ªanything. Maybe even beasts! Hell, he might be able to take on a bear at this rate¡ªat least, that''s what his imagination told him.


    He ran a hand through his hair, breathless. This was real. One rat, and he was stronger.. "I''m actually doing this," he muttered, still chuckling. "This is happening."


    A voice cut through the night, dry and unimpressed.


    "Well, well, well," the voice purred. "Here I was wondering what someone does when they fail to form a contract with a beast. Didn''t know I''d turn them into a perverted rat killer."


    Auron froze mid-laugh. He turned sharply toward the voice, his stomach dropping. There, stepping out from the shadows, was a girl¡ªno, a woman¡ªwith an aura of grace and power that made her seem almost otherworldly. She was dressed in the academy''s standard garb, but even in the low light, it was clear she held herself with an undeniable air of authority.


    Her eyes, sharp and calculating, fixed on him. Her long, dark hair framed a face that could stop traffic. But it was the smug little smirk on her lips that made Auron''s heart skip.


    "I¡ªuh," he stammered, his face burning hot. His brain, suddenly fried from the rush of the system''s reward, couldn''t form a coherent thought.


    She tilted her head, her smirk widening. "You''re not just failing at beast taming; you''re going full-on rat-hunter, huh? What''s next? "


    Auron''s mind raced to come up with something witty, something that would stop this from being the most embarrassing moment of his life, but nothing came. "It''s not like that... I mean, I wasn''t... I wasn''t actually¡ª"


    "Sure," she interrupted, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Sure, you weren''t. I can see how killing innocent rats is totally normal. Really impressive."


    Auron''s face went redder, blushing. "I wasn''t¡ªno, I mean, I was just testing something, and¡ª"


    "Right." She crossed her arms, clearly amused by his struggle to explain himself. "Testing something, huh? You know, I didn''t think I''d see the day when someone who couldn''t even form a contract with a beast decided to take up rat murder as a hobby."


    Out of all the failures here, you might be my favorite."


    She took a step forward, her heels clicking softly on the stone, her blue eyes never leaving his face. "But hey, whatever works for you. It''s not like you''re going to get far with that kind of power."


    Auron swallowed hard, his mind racing for a retort, but it wasn''t coming. He had no idea how to respond. This was no random student. This was someone important¡ªsomeone who definitely didn''t belong in the same class as him. Elora Greyson, unlike him, had formed a contract with a steel wolf from a golden bloodline. It wouldn''t be too far-fetched to say she was a heavenly prodigy, assured to at least reach the Gold realm. She looked far too refined, too polished to be mingling with the likes of him.


    "Well," she said, giving him one last, piercing glance, "I hope your special hobby gives you the thrill of what you want. But I doubt it."


    And with that, she turned sharply on her heel, walking away with the same grace and confidence she had displayed upon entering.


    Auron stood there, staring at the spot where she had been, the laughter from earlier dying in his throat.


    "Great," he thought bitterly. "Now I look like a total idiot."


    He rubbed his hands over his face, sighing deeply. The sting of embarrassment still clung to him as he turned away and started to head back to his room. But his mind didn''t wander long before it was once again consumed by thoughts of the system.


    If the system had really just given him an attribute point from killing a rat, what else could it do? He''d have to test it more. Maybe next time, he could go for something bigger. A few more kills, a few more points. There had to be more to this system than he realized.


    But for now, he needed some time to think. Auron hurried to his room, the world around him blurring as he tried to make sense of everything.

 A Hidden Path.

    Auron stumbled into his room, barely able to contain his excitement. The world outside seemed brighter now.


    His room was dimly lit, something he preferred. It was nothing special, and yet it felt like a palace compared to the years he''d spent in the shadows, neglected and forgotten. His fingers twitched in anticipation as he closed the door behind him, muttering to himself.


    "I can''t believe it... A rat. I killed a rat and got stronger." He laughed, the absurdity of it all still sinking in. "I''m officially a certified rat slayer,i love you system!."


    As the word "System" left his lips, something strange happened. A soft, mechanical beep echoed in the room, and before he could process it, a glowing screen appeared in his line of vision. It was... a notification?


    "System Interface?" Auron muttered, blinking in disbelief.


    The screen was enchanting and sterile, but it hovered there, an undeniable presence. It didn''t feel alive, didn''t seem sentient¡ªjust a blank, impersonal tool. But that didn''t stop Auron from staring at it in awe. The text was simple, listing out his stats in a way that almost made him laugh.


    SYSTEM INTERFACE


    Name: Auron Raventor


    Title : (Certified Rat Slayer)


    Race: Human


    Class: None (yet)


    Beast Contracts: 0


    Attributes:


    Strength: 3 (Below average but better than nothing.)


    Agility: 2 (A journey you''ll never start unless you actually try. But hey, who needs agility when you have..... whatever it is you have.)


    Intelligence: 5 (Knowledge is within you, though often overshadowed by a tendency to forget where you put it.)


    Charisma: 2 (Who needs friends, right?)


    Endurance: 2 (Your stamina is a whisper of a dying ember.)


    Luck: 7 (The threads of fate are twisted in your favour.)


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    Unallocated attribute points (1)


    Auron blinked again, his mouth going dry. His stats were so... underwhelming. But that didn''t matter. What mattered was the attribute point in the corner of the screen, sitting there like a golden nugget of potential.


    He grinned, clicking on the small "Attribute Point" icon.


    The screen shifted, showing a list of his attributes. With the tap of a finger, he could allocate the point to any of them. Strength? Agility? Charisma? Well, he wasn''t exactly charming... and luck, with a score of 7, seemed high enough to carry him through. He hovered over Strength.


    "Strength, huh? Gotta get stronger. If I could''ve taken on a iron rank bear by now, I could probably¡ª"


    Auron froze. Bear? Where was he even going with this? He wasn''t thinking rationally at all. Still, the idea of pumping up his strength had a certain appeal. But then again...


    "What about luck?" he muttered, tapping the screen again. "Maybe my luck will carry me to something even better. Like... a big, dangerous beast that just happens to stroll by and decides to give me its powers. Could happen, right?"


    His finger hovered between Strength and Luck, indecision fighting with pure impulse. He imagined himself buff and unstoppable¡ªno, too obvious. But what if luck could make the next encounter with a beast even easier? After all, he''d already struck it lucky once.


    "Yeah, screw it," he said, chuckling to himself. "Let''s go with luck."


    With a tap, the attribute point was added. Auron stared at the screen, watching the numbers shift slightly. Luck now had a value of ( 8.)


    "Now I''m feeling lucky," he said, unable to suppress a grin. He sat back in his chair, feeling a sense of accomplishment despite the ridiculousness of the entire situation.


    But even as he basked in the glory of his newfound power, a nagging thought crept into his mind. The system¡ªwhat was it really? Could it be trusted? It didn''t feel quite right, almost like it was too convenient. Too good to be true. Auron''s fingers twitched at the thought, and a deep, uncomfortable suspicion started to grow within him.


    His mind wandered to darker places then. What if this wasn''t just a tool for gaining power? What if it was some sort of trap? What if¡ªhe chuckled darkly at himself¡ªhe was just some sort of test subject? What if the Raventor family had orchestrated all of this to see how far someone like him could go without forming a contract with a beast? They''d probably be laughing at his failure, watching from the shadows as he spiraled into madness, a puppet in their game.


    He shook his head, trying to rid himself of the thought. "No," he muttered. "No, I''m not some pawn in their sick game."


    But even as he said the words, they didn''t seem to make him feel any better. The memories of the Raventor family''s cruelty hit him hard. How they''d dismissed him, left him to rot in the academy while they paraded their perfect beast-tamers around like prized show animals. He could almost hear the sneering voice of his so-called "mentor," Lord Severin Raventor, echoing in his mind.


    "You''ll never amount to anything, Auron. You should be thankful you even have the chance to learn from us."


    Auron''s fists clenched as the anger bubbled up again.


    "If the system really lets me get stronger like this... maybe I won''t need a beast to stand at the top."


    He grinned wickedly. That''ll show ''em. They''ll wish they''d never crossed me.


    But even as he reveled in the absurdity, another thought flickered across his mind¡ªsomething more practical. The library. He''d been meaning to visit the academy''s library to learn more about the world beyond his tiny corner of it afterall some knowledge had been restricted from him by the Raventor''s


    What was it they said again, "Some knowledge was best kept away from weak and fragile minds, since it was incomprehensible to them."


    Damn! Those stupid Bastards.


    He also needed a decoy that didn''t raise suspicions.


    After all what was he supposed to say when he inexplicably gained strength?


    He couldn''t say he was a one in a million years prodigy right?


    Wait, could he?


    "Nah," he muttered, standing up and stretching. "Tomorrow. I''ll go to the library, figure out this whole world. Maybe I''ll even figure out how to get stronger without relying on these stupid beasts."


    Auron paced around the room for a few moments, his mind whirling with possibilities.


    One thing was certain, though¡ªhis path was just beginning, and it was going to be one hell of a ride.


    But for now, he had to sleep on it."Tomorrow, he''d hit the library. After that? He''d push this system to its limits."

 Beast Core.

    The sparse rays of sunlight slipped into Auron''s room, tugging him out of sleep. He groaned, "Ugh, it''s morning already?" Reluctantly, he dragged himself out of bed. Though his body protested, his eyes sparkled with something he hadn''t felt in a long time¡ªexcitement.


    But he couldn''t afford to raise suspicions. This world worshipped beast tamers. Their contracted beasts weren''t just fighting partners; they were living, breathing power-ups. As beasts grew stronger, their tamers'' physical capabilities enhanced to superhuman levels. Why bother struggling through the grueling, injury-ridden journey of martial arts when you could just let your overpowered pet handle the dirty work?


    To everyone else, martial arts was a desperate path reserved for those who failed to contract beasts. Pathetic weaklings trying to gain power through unorthodox means. People like him.


    But unlike them, he had the Primordial Assimilation System. And that changed everything. Of course, if anyone found out he had a system that allowed him to devour the essence of beasts and convert it into power, he''d probably end up dissected for research.


    No, he needed a cover. Martial arts would be his excuse when his strength inevitably skyrocketed. After all, no one paid attention to the struggles of a failure.


    Slipping into his academy uniform, Auron left his room and made his way through the bustling halls of Glaivemire Beast Tamer Academy. The lush greenery surrounding the academy looked like a paradise. To him, it was just a cage¡ªone the Raventor family had tossed him into after he failed to contract even iron-ranked beasts.


    Approaching the grand library entrance, Auron spotted the librarian, a young woman with sleek black hair and a stunning figure, lounging casually behind the front desk.


    "Uh, hi. I''m looking for scriptures related to martial arts... Are there any?" he asked, trying to sound as casual as possible.


    The woman looked up, surprise flashing in her strikingly beautiful eyes. She arched a delicate eyebrow, her lips curling into a playful smirk. "Now that''s something you don''t hear every day. Are you sure you''re ready to walk the path of martial arts? After all, it''s a road paved with danger and poor life choices."


    Her mild and gentle tone threw him off. He was so used to mockery that simple kindness at this point felt like a trick.


    "Danger and poor life choices?" he chuckled. "Sounds like I''m right where I belong."


    The librarian''s smile widened, amusement flickering in her gaze. "Well, I suppose that makes you a perfect fit. Follow me. The martial arts scriptures are buried deep in the ''why-would-anyone-waste-their-time-here'' section."


    "Fitting."


    She led him through rows of towering shelves, their wooden frames creaking like they were groaning at the absurdity of anyone actually visiting this forgotten section. Dust coated everything, the air thick with the scent of old scriptures and dead ambition.


    "These are the ones," she said, gesturing to the neglected scrolls and worn-out tomes. "Most of it''s just beginner stuff, but who knows? Maybe you''ll find a hidden gem in all this mess."


    "Thanks." Auron gave a genuine smile.


    "Don''t mention it. And hey, if you start coughing up blood from some ridiculous training technique, don''t come crying to me," she added with a wink before sauntering off.


    ***


    As Auron flipped through a dusty tome, a loud, stupid laugh echoed through the library.


    "Wait, ain''t this the trash of Glaivemire Academy."


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    Auron glanced up. Marcus and his two bootlickers were leaning against a nearby shelf, their smug grins practically begging for a punch.


    Of course. His reputation must''ve put out a beacon for idiots.


    "Finally realized the path of beast taming isn''t for losers, huh?" Marcus sneered, arms crossed like he expected applause for his originality. "What''s wrong? Couldn''t handle a real beast, so you decided to settle for pretending to train like some lowlife martial artist?"


    His lackeys burst into laughter like it was the funniest thing they''d ever heard.


    Auron raised an eyebrow, his voice calm and lazy. "You''re right, Marcus. Beast taming isn''t for losers." He let the words hang, then added, "Which is why you''re still struggling to get your stupid iron wolf cub to listen to basic commands, huh?"


    The lackeys'' laughter choked into awkward coughs.


    Marcus''s eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening. "You''ve got a sharp tongue for someone who can''t even form a contract. Better watch yourself, trash. One wrong step, and you''ll end up regretting it."


    "Regret?" Auron tilted his head, smirking. "That''s something I''d feel if I spent all day bullying someone just to make myself feel better. But hey, whatever helps you sleep at night. You''re probably exhausted from all that puppy training."


    Marcus''s face turned crimson, his fists clenching. But instead of throwing a punch, he just spat out a final, "Watch your back." and stormed off with his goons.


    Auron shook his head. "What a motivational speech," he muttered before turning back to the scrolls. His fingers continued flipping through the ancient texts, his focus sharpening.


    But as he continued reading, he realized something. A few months ago, he probably would¡¯ve just stayed silent, let Marcus have his fun. Now? He was pushing back.


    Maybe I¡¯m already channg.


    ***


    Looking closely now Auron realized the library was more than just a sanctuary of knowledge; it was a monument to humanity''s obsession with beasts.


    Ancient records of mythic creatures in battle, or what Glaivemire beast tamer academy regarded as mythical creatures, adorned the walls, and bronze statues of legendary beast tamers stood like silent guardians.


    Yet, the martial arts section was shoved into a dusty corner treated like a weird uncle nobody wanted to acknowledge.


    Auron skimmed through a scroll titled "The Art of Flowing Qi: Basics for Beginners." Its contents were vague, filled with passages like "The body is the river, the Qi the water. Let it flow or drown in stagnation."


    "Right, because that clears things up," Auron muttered, rolling the scroll up and shoving it aside.


    He was about to grab another tome when a deep voice interrupted his search.


    "Didn''t expect to see someone actually here."


    Auron looked up to see a young man about his age, thick brows and broad shoulders giving him a rugged look. His uniform was wrinkled, but his gaze was sharp.


    "Name''s Roderick. What''s yours?"


    "Auron."


    "Never heard of you."


    "Can''t say I''m surprised."


    Roderick chuckled. "Heh. Fair enough. You actually looking for martial arts stuff, or just trying to escape the noise?"


    "A bit of both, I guess."


    "Smart move." Roderick sat on a nearby stool, folding his arms. "Most people see martial arts as a joke. But I''ve always been curious. Figured if I can''t form a contract, might as well learn how to punch something real good."


    "Sounds like a solid plan," Auron replied, lips twitching into a smirk. "Though I hear most martial arts manuals are just vague philosophies. You know, ''Feel the Qi,'' ''Become one with nature,'' all that nonsense."


    "Yeah, that''s why it''s fun. Trying to turn nonsense into something useful."


    For once, Auron felt like he''d met someone who actually made sense. And Roderick''s words stuck with him¡ªturning nonsense into something useful. Just like what he was trying to do with the system.


    "Anyway," Roderick continued, "I''ll leave you to your weird scroll-hunting. But if you ever wanna spar or compare notes, look me up."


    Auron nodded, genuinely appreciative of the offer. Maybe not everyone at this academy was a jerk.


    As Roderick wandered off, Auron returned to his search. Just then, his eyes caught a worn-out book shoved behind a row of thick, dusty tomes. Its cover was faded, but the title was barely legible: "Blood and bones: Fundamentals of Body Tempering."


    He flipped it open and started reading. Unlike the other manuals, this one actually seemed practical. Descriptions of breathing techniques, muscle conditioning, and something called Iron Vein Training¡ªa method to refine viscera toughen the body through repeated exposure to strain etc. It wasn''t the magical beast-taming way of growing stronger, but it was something.


    And it made sense. All of it.


    "Find something good?"


    Auron glanced up to see the librarian from earlier, her eyebrow raised in mild interest.


    "Yeah. This one actually explains things instead of just throwing poetic riddles at me."


    She laughed softly. "Well, good luck. The only people who''ve ever read that book were either desperate or insane. Or both."


    "Guess I''m the lucky third option."


    "Well, if you say so. By the way, I forgot to introduce myself earlier. My name''s Lyra."


    "Auron," he replied, even though she probably already knew.


    "I know. Everyone knows." Her lips twitched, a hint of sympathy in her eyes. "But good to see you''re not moping around like most people in your situation. You''ve got some fight in you."


    "More than you think," Auron said, rolling up the book with a smirk.


    "Try not to break yourself, though," she called after him as he made his way toward the exit.


    Leaving the library, he felt genuinely optimistic.


    Before he could continue, a loud argument broke out nearby. Two students were wrestling over a beast egg, each accusing the other of trying to cheat them out of a contract.


    Auron rolled his eyes. Yet another reminder of how ridiculous the academy could be.


    But as the argument continued, something caught his eye. One of the students dropped a crystal, its surface shimmering with faint inscriptions. A beast core.


    And not just any beast core¡ªAuron''s system reacted to it. He could feel it in his bones, like a magnet pulling him closer.


    "Oh, crap," the student muttered, patting his pockets in a panic.


    Before anyone could notice, Auron''s hand shot out and snatched the crystal,in a swift motion as if he''d done it a thousand times.


    "Well," Auron thought as he slipped the core into his pocket. "Maybe luck really is on my side."


    However he didn''t lag, rushing back to his room, because the moment his hand made contact with the beast core crystal a notification screen had popped up in his line of vision


    (Do you wish to absorb a skill from the beast core crystal?)


    <<Yes>> <<No>>

 Chapter 6: Iron Skin.

    Auron slammed the door behind him, tossing the beast core crystal onto his desk with a smirk. The notification still hovered before him.


    Muttering, "System," the familiar interface appeared before him.


    SYSTEM INTERFACE


    Name: Auron Raventor


    Title: Certified Rat Slayer


    Race: Human


    Class: None (yet)


    Beast Contracts: 0


    Attributes:


    Strength: 3 ()


    Agility: 2 (A journey you''ll never start unless you actually try. But hey, who needs agility when you have... whatever it is you have.)


    Intelligence: 5 (Knowledge is within you, though often overshadowed by a tendency to forget where you put it.)


    Charisma: 2 (Who needs friends, right?)


    Endurance: 2 (Your stamina is a whisper of a dying ember.)


    Luck: 8 (The threads of fate are twisted in your favor.)


    Unallocated Attribute Points: 0


    (Do you wish to absorb a skill from the beast core crystal?)


    <<Yes>> <<No>>


    He rolled the crystal between his fingers, eyes narrowed. "Alright, system. What am I dealing with here?"


    (Analyzing beast core crystal... Please wait.)


    Moments later, text filled his vision.


    (Analysis Complete.


    Beast Core: Emberwolf (Iron Rank).


    Skill: Iron Skin ¨C Temporarily hardens the user''s skin, significantly enhancing defense against physical attacks. Overuse may cause stiffness and reduced mobility.


    [Skill evolution possible.])


    Auron''s eyes gleamed with interest. "Skill evolution, huh? So, this isn''t the end of it."


    He leaned back, fingers drumming against the table with calculated precision. This was power. Not just some basic trick like the others flaunted with their little beasts, but real personal power. Something he could mold, strengthen, refine.


    "Defense, huh? Sure, offense is supposedly the best defense, but what if your enemy''s strength vastly outstrips yours? At least with defense, you''ve got a chance to survive. Maybe even turn the tables."


    He weighed the risks with surgical precision. The description mentioned stiffness, but if he trained it right, maybe he could minimize that drawback. And if he couldn''t? Well, even the trade-off was worth it if it kept him alive. Beasts rushing at him expecting an easy snack only to have their teeth broken¡ªjust the thought of it made his blood rush with excitement.


    "Alright. Let''s see what you can do." Without hesitation, he tapped <<Yes>>.


    Heat surged through him like liquid metal, the pain both excruciating and intoxicating. His skin tightened, every fiber of his being straining as if being reforged by a brutal, unseen hammer. But through the agony, his mind remained sharp. Analytical.


    When the pain faded, he felt... denser. His skin was the same, but something had undeniably changed. The air felt cooler against him, every movement slightly heavier but not enough to concern him.


    (Skill successfully absorbed: Iron Skin.)


    He glanced at the progress bar.


    (Progress: 0.0% [Skill evolution possible.])


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    The system was practically begging him to push the skill''s limits. And he''d do just that. After all, what was the point of having power if you didn''t push it to its absolute breaking point?


    Auron''s grin twisted into something cruel. "Perfect. Now, let''s see who''s really untouchable."


    Except... a glaring problem hit him square in the face. He couldn''t just rush out and start hunting beasts recklessly to accumulate attribute points.Although he hated to say it, he had to be brutally honest with himself, to admit, most of the ferocious iron ranked creatures around Glaivemire would turn him into minced meat faster than he could say "Iron Skin."


    "Alright, let''s start small. Very small." His gaze shifted downward. "Rats. Loads of disgusting little rats."


    Sure, it was humiliating. But the system hadn''t specified what kind of beasts he had to fight. Just beasts. And rats were technically beasts, right? Pathetic, squirmy, little beasts.


    It was like exploiting a bug in the system.


    Auron''s smirk returned, tinged with a self-aware sort of madness. "What''s the harm in a little rat massacre?"


    His plan was simple: Lure them out, smack them down, test his shiny new skill, and rake in progress points. Low risk, high reward. A masterful, if somewhat shameful, strategy.


    "Well then, filthy rats, prepare to face your new overlord. And by ''overlord,'' I mean the guy who''s gonna stomp you flat."


    He couldn''t help but chuckle to himself. Sure, it was a lowly beginning. But every empire needed a foundation, even if that foundation was built on the broken bodies of oversized rodents.


    "Who knows? Maybe I''ll get a fancy title out of this. Like... ''Rat Slayer Supreme.'' Now that has a nice ring to it. Argh, what am I even thinking? It''s like I''m some kind of perverted rat slayer.The things I do for strength..."


    ***


    Meanwhile, as Auron was busy plotting his nightly rat-slaying escapades, an entirely different scene was playing out within the Dean''s office.


    Around an intricately carved mahogany table, figures of authority gathered, each radiating powerful auras, at least most of them did. Their expressions grim


    "How are the preparations coming along?" A burly, middle-aged man draped in a black robe spoke with authority. His voice carried the weight of command, silencing the room in an instant. This man was none other than Dean Darius, the overseer of Glaivemire Beast Tamer Academy. But it wasn''t just his title that earned him respect¡ªit was his sheer strength. The beasts he had tamed had long surpassed the gold realm and crossed into the elusive platinum realm, a rank many could only dream of reaching in their entire lifetimes, a feat that demanded respect.


    Instructor Howard straightened his posture, his gaze firmly fixed on Dean Darius. His tone was respectful, almost reverent. "All preparations have been completed, sir. The end-of-year assessment setup is ready as per your instructions."


    "This year''s assessment is going to be quite fascinating," a familiar, slightly playful voice chimed in. If Auron had been present, he would''ve immediately recognized her as Lyra, the librarian. Her lips curled in a smirk as if she were already anticipating the tournament to come.


    Dean Darius''s mouth twisted into a smile, though his eyes remained hard. "Good, good. It''s time to weed out the hidden gems and promising beast tamers." His voice dropped, turning cold and deliberate. "I trust you all understand why this year''s assessment is different. The top ten participants will represent Glaivemire in the upcoming competition against the other academies for control over the newly-discovered secret realm."


    The mere mention of the secret realm brought a ripple of excitement and tension throughout the room. It wasn''t just an honor. It was a life-changing opportunity.


    "Now," Dean Darius continued, his gaze sweeping over the instructors like a hawk. "Present to me our most promising talents. Begin with Elora Greyson. I hear she is quite the prodigy, having contracted a beast with a golden bloodline."


    The instructors, who had been silently brooding up until now, suddenly came to life. Their chatter was a mix of admiration and jealousy, each of them eager to present their finest students and gain the Dean''s approval.


    But even as the meeting continued, not a single one of them realized the potential of a certain ''rat slayer'' wandering the academy grounds at night, chasing strength in his own peculiar way.


    The meeting carried on, instructors throwing around names and accomplishments. Each tried to make their own students sound like the next beast-taming legend. But through all the chatter, one name kept coming up with a sense of reverence.


    "Elora Greyson," Instructor Howard declared, his voice filled with admiration. "She''s undoubtedly the strongest talent we''ve seen in years. Contracting a Steel Wolf with a golden bloodline at her age is nothing short of remarkable."


    The other instructors nodded, some with admiration, others with poorly-disguised envy. The reputation of Elora Greyson was no secret within the academy. She wasn''t just a star; she was,uhm what was it again? yeah like practically the entire damn constellation!


    Dean Darius nodded thoughtfully. "Keep a close eye on her progress. With talents like her, Glaivemire''s reputation will only continue to grow."


    Meanwhile...


    Auron had managed to slip out of his room undetected, blending into the usual academy chaos with the skill of a seasoned low-key dude. If anyone asked, he was just another bottom-feeder scurrying around looking for a place to hide from the day''s training. Just a harmless loser with nothing better to do.


    It was a role he''d played for so long it almost felt natural.


    He wove through crowds of students, keeping his head down and his expression blank. It was a calculated move¡ªwalking among them made his nighttime rat-slaying activities look less suspicious. After all, why would anyone suspect someone who looked so painfully ordinary?, well although not ordinary enough as a guy with a preceding reputation as the trash of the Raventor bloodline, ordinary was not quite the word..


    "Just a failure at day," he muttered under his breath with a smirk. "But the supreme slayer of rats by night."


    But there was a flaw in his genius plan. For some reason, rats weren''t as plentiful as he''d imagined . It was like someone had tipped them off that he was coming.


    "Come on, it''s not like I''m asking for a frieking dragon," he grumbled as he checked the dark corners of the academy grounds. "Just a bunch of disgusting, rodents. How hard can it be?"


    Auron''s search stretched on longer than expected. Every crevice, every shadowed nook he inspected seemed to be empty. As if the rats had developed some sort of sixth sense for his murderous intentions.


    "Pathetic little cowards," he scoffed. "What''s next? Am I going to have to start leaving cheese as bait? No, that''s too desperate. Gotta maintain at least a sliver of dignity."


    He wandered deeper into the academy grounds, his eyes sharp, his senses on high alert. His goal was to find at least five rats. A small number, sure, but it was enough to test the limits of his new skill, not that he particularly needed it to slay rats but what he was really looking forward to was the attribute points he could acquire to strengthen himself as much as possible before he stepped up his game to hunt iron ranked beasts.


    Besides, if he could grow stronger just from rats, then who knew what the future held?


    But just as he was about to give up and try another area, he spotted one. The rat was nibbling on something near a discarded scroll in the shadows.


    Auron''s grin returned. "Target acquired. Now, let''s see how tough this ''Iron Skin'' really is."


    Just as he took a step forward, something prickled at the back of his neck. An instinct honed from countless days of being mocked, ridiculed, and occasionally ambushed kicked in. Someone was watching him.


    He cast a quick glance over his shoulder, his expression indifferent. But what he saw made his eyes narrow slightly.


    Elora Greyson. The so-called ''prodigy'' everyone couldn''t shut up about. What was she doing here? And why the hell was she staring at him like he was some sort of particularly amusing puzzle?


    She hadn''t approached him, though. Just watching from a distance, her gaze curious, almost entertained. Like she''d caught a glimpse of something interesting but hadn''t yet decided whether to poke it with a stick.


    "Tch. Another nuisance," Auron muttered under his breath, pretending not to notice her as he continued on his hunt. If she wanted to stalk him, fine. Let her witness a little of his nightly work. Maybe then she''d get bored and leave him the hell alone.


    Still, he kept his expression calm, his actions steady. Elora Grayson''s presence might be an inconvenience, but it wasn''t going to stop him. Not when he was so close to testing his newfound power.


    Auron had rats to slay. And he wasn''t about to let some golden bloodline princess interfere with that.

 Chapter 7: The Forbidden Art of Lazy Grinding

    Auron stared at the wriggling rat with a twisted grin.


    "Alright, little guy. You''ve got two choices. Help me acquire attribute points, or... well, there''s only one choice, really."


    The rat looked up at him, its beady eyes twitching in panic as if it somehow understood its fate. Auron''s fingers clenched around the small rock in his hand. His heart thumped with twisted excitement. Sure, this wasn''t exactly the most dignified way to get stronger, but hey, power was power.


    He hurled the rock down, and with a faint squeak, the rat lay still.


    [You have slain a Rat. 0.1 Attribute Points awarded.]


    "Wait¡­ that''s it?" Auron blinked at the notification. "0.1? What is this, a freaking scam?!" He kicked the tiny corpse in frustration. "All that effort for a decimal of a point? What about the last time he got a full attribute point for slaying a rat?


    Maybe it was a first-kill bonus thing, or maybe¡­ these rats are just weak trash."


    He scratched his head, his frustration quickly fading into something else. A glint of cunning flashed in his eyes. "No¡­ no, this isn''t so bad. I just have to kill ten of these little bastards to get a full point. And if the system rewards me for killing them, maybe there''s another way to exploit it."


    Auron''s grin widened, his thoughts tumbling over each other in excitement. "This skill of mine¡­ Iron Skin. It''s supposed to improve the more I use it, right? But what if I don''t have to do anything?"


    He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "If I can activate Iron Skin and keep it on while I sleep, wouldn''t that be like gaining experience points while doing absolutely nothing?" His grin turned almost feral. "I''ve discovered a damn bug. The laziest power grind in existence,He could be a legendary overpowered figure just by sleeping."


    Auron laughed quietly to himself, earning a few strange glances from students passing by in the distance. Not that he cared. As far as he was concerned, the whole world was just a stepping stone to his power.


    "Just you wait, rats. Soon, I''ll be a walking fortress."


    His internal monologue was rudely interrupted by a familiar feeling¡ªthe itch of being watched. He didn''t need to turn around to know who it was. Elora Greyson, the golden-bloodline princess with her ridiculously overpowered Steel Wolf. Why was she always around when he was on his rat-slaying escapades?


    He shot her a quick, dismissive glance. As usual, she was just standing there, staring at him with a raised eyebrow and a hint of amusement, like she was watching some sort of bizarre street performance.


    "Are you always this creepy?" Auron called out, not even bothering to hide his irritation. "If you''re here for a show, at least throw me a coin or something."


    Elora chuckled lightly. "You really are something else. Lurking around here at night, killing rats¡­ I mean, most people would try hunting something a bit more¡ªoh, I don''t know¡ªimpressive?"


    "Sorry, I like my prey weak and pathetic. Makes me feel better about myself," Auron shot back.


    "Hm." Elora folded her arms, an almost curious look crossing her face. "You know, for a supposed failure, you sure seem¡­ determined. Maybe even a little smart."


    Auron shrugged. "Wow, high praise. I''m almost touched."


    Elora looked like she was about to say something else, but her attention suddenly shifted to a smug and creepy voice approaching from behind.


    "Hey there, baby. Are your parents bakers? ''Cause you''ve got some hot buns."


    Auron''s eyes twitched in pure secondhand embarrassment. Some wannabe macho dude had strolled over, all puffed-up chest and greasy hair, armed with the kind of confidence only true idiocy could produce.


    Elora''s expression went from curious to disgusted so fast Auron nearly burst out laughing. The dude, however, either didn''t notice or was too dense to care.


    "I''m serious," the greasy dude continued, flashing what he probably thought was a charming grin. "You''re so hot, even my beast wants to make a contract with you."


    Auron gagged. "Now that''s just sad. And cringe. Mostly cringe."


    Elora , restrained the urge to beat the crap out of him . Instead, she turned on her heel and began walking away, clearly having lost all interest in both Auron and the greasy moron.


    "Well, that''s one way to chase her off," Auron mused with a smirk. "Congrats, buddy. You managed to do what a whole pack of rats couldn''t¡ªannoy her into leaving."


    "Shut up, loser," the dude spat, finally noticing Auron''s existence. "At least I actually tried."


    "Tried what? Being cringe?" Auron snickered. "I mean, that''s gotta be a talent all on its own."


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    The guy shot him a glare before storming off, muttering something about "filthy trash from the Raventor bloodline" and "women who don''t appreciate greatness."


    "Yeah, sure. Greatness," Auron snorted, turning his attention back to his hunt. But he couldn''t quite shake off the irritation of getting only 0.1 points per kill. At this rate, he''d have to massacre a small rodent city just to make any real progress.


    Then again, if his theory about Iron Skin was correct, then his grind just got a whole lot easier. All he needed to do was find a quiet place, activate the skill, and get some beauty sleep.


    "Alright," he whispered to himself, eyes gleaming with determination. "Time to exploit the hell out of this system."


    He began searching for more rats, his steps quick and purposeful.


    ****


    Back in his dimly lit room.


    Auron paced around like a mad scientist on the verge of a breakthrough. He''d been out hunting rats for hours, only managing to scrape together 0.4 attribute points for his trouble. Worse, the rats were getting harder to find¡ªas if they had some sixth sense warning them of the imminent genocide.


    "Stupid rats. You''d think this academy was training exterminators, not beast tamers." He tossed the bloodstained rock on the floor , flopping down beside it with a dramatic sigh.


    But tonight wasn''t about the rats. No, tonight was about his new brilliant theory. Iron Skin¡ªthe skill that could be his ticket to power. If his hypothesis was right, he could leave it running while he slept and accumulate experience without lifting a finger. It was genius. Revolutionary. A masterstroke of efficient laziness.


    He couldn''t help but chuckle to himself. "If I pull this off, I''ll be the laziest powerhouse in existence."


    Sitting up, he wiped the sweat from his forehead, as if the sheer brilliance of his plan was enough to make him break out in a sweat. With a gleam of determination in his eyes, he activated the skill.


    [Skill Activated: Iron Skin (Level 1)]


    A familiar sensation spread through his body, his skin hardening subtly beneath the surface. It wasn''t like wearing armor, but more like his flesh had gained the density of toughened leather. It wasn''t exactly comfortable, but it wasn''t unbearable either.


    "Perfect. Now just¡­ stay active," Auron muttered, as if coaxing the skill to cooperate. He kept his eyes wide open, daring his body to shut it down from fatigue. Seconds ticked by, then minutes. A dull, throbbing pressure began to build, as though his skin itself were vibrating. Sweat collected at his temples, but he forced himself to ignore it.


    Five minutes. Ten. He bit his lip, the tension crawling through his muscles. Just as he thought he might lose focus, a notification popped up.


    [Skill Progress Increased: Iron Skin (0.6%)]


    "Yes!" Auron almost shouted, clenching his fists triumphantly. "I knew it! Just gotta keep it on long enough, and the progress racks up."


    His grin widened. If ten minutes earned 0.6%, then an entire night could give him a serious boost. All he needed was endurance¡ªboth physically and mentally. He took a deep breath, trying to normalize the prickling sensation coursing through his skin.


    "Alright. Step one: Tough it out. Step two: Sleep. Step three: Wake up overpowered."


    He let out a chuckle, reveling in his own brilliance. He layed back on his bed, allowing his body to relax despite the tension building through his skin. As his eyelids grew heavy, he couldn''t help but imagine himself waking up with Iron Skin leveled up several times over.


    "Sleeping my way to greatness¡­ who would''ve thought?"


    He activated Iron Skin once more, determined to push it as far as he could.


    "Sweet dreams, Auron. May your laziness be forever fruitful."


    ***


    Days blurred into a mess of endless naps and twitchy muscle aches. Auron''s room had turned into some twisted training chamber where comfort met torture. His only companions? A bloodstained rock and the absurdly stubborn determination to milk his ''Iron Skin'' skill like a broke farmer squeezing his last cow.


    He squinted at his modified system interface.


    [Skill Progress Increased: Iron Skin (12.6%)]


    "Damn, it''s slow. Like trying to sharpen a sword by rubbing it against a pillow," Auron muttered, rubbing his sore arms. But the progress was there. And it was free. Sort of. If free meant waking up feeling like he''d been body-slammed by a bear.


    "Whatever. I''ll sleep my way to the top if it kills me."


    Suddenly, a loud banging rattled his door, followed by an familiar voice.


    "Auron! You in there, man?" Dante''s booming voice echoed through the room, sounding way too lively for this hour.


    "Leave me alone. I''m dead. My ghost will haunt you if you open that door," Auron groaned, rolling over to hide his face in his pillow. His body ached from last night''s grind session ¡ª or more accurately, sleep session.


    "No can do, bro. Lyra''s losing her mind thinking you''ve died or something. I told her you were just being your usual slacker self, but you know how she is."


    Auron felt the irritation building. Dante''s talent for turning concern into annoyance was downright magical. Still, Dante was his friend. Kind of. And Lyra¡­ well, she was more like the academy''s unofficial pest control officer who couldn''t leave him alone.


    The door creaked open, and in walked Dante and Lyra. Dante was his usual upbeat self, grinning like he''d just scored a free meal. Lyra, on the other hand, looked like she''d aged ten years from worry.


    "There he is. The legendary shut-in himself," Dante said, plopping down on the chair like he owned the place.


    Lyra''s frown could curdle milk. "What''s wrong with you, Auron? You haven''t been showing up to classes. Not even to get laughed at. What''s going on?"


    "Just been¡­ training. You know, honing my skills and all that." Auron waved a lazy hand, trying to act casual.


    "Training? You?" Lyra''s eyes narrowed, like she was trying to figure out if he was joking.


    "Believe it or not, yeah. I''ve been working on something special," Auron said, letting a smug grin slip onto his face.


    Dante raised an eyebrow. "Special, huh? Please tell me you didn''t try to contract a beast and get kicked in the face again."


    Auron rolled his eyes. "No. I''m trying a different approach. One that doesn''t involve making myself the laughingstock of the academy."


    Dante chuckled. "Good luck with that. The only way you''re not getting laughed at is if you somehow become stronger than all those beast-taming freaks."


    "Exactly."


    Dante''s smirk faded. "Wait, you''re actually serious?"


    "As serious as a Raventor can be. Speaking of which, you wouldn''t happen to have any beast cores lying around, would you?"


    "Beast cores?" Dante frowned. "The hell are you planning, man?"


    "Just¡­ research. You know, expanding my horizons."


    "Those things are expensive as hell, Auron. Even the cheapest Iron-ranked beast cores go for more than we make in a month."


    Auron''s shoulders slumped. Damn, there went his backup plan, to think carrying the Raventor name would at least earn him a decent allowance, but damn those bastards who were miserly as hell. The rats weren''t going to cut it forever, and he needed something stronger to push his Iron Skin skill to the next level. But if beast cores were that pricey, he''d have to find another way.


    "Yeah, figures. Guess I''ll just keep doing things my way for now."


    "What''s your way?" Lyra pressed, crossing her arms. "Because right now, it looks like you''re doing your best impression of a corpse."


    Auron forced a grin. "Let''s just say¡­ I''ve discovered a new form of cultivation. Sleep Training."


    "That sounds like something only you would come up with." Lyra huffed, eyes rolling so hard Auron wondered if they''d pop out of her head.


    "Hey, call it what you want. It''s working."


    Dante shook his head. "Alright, dude. Just don''t turn into some kind of lunatic. You''ve already got that ''crazy shut-in'' look going on."


    "Noted. Now, if you two are done playing concerned parents, I''ve got training to get back to."


    Lyra huffed but didn''t protest further. Dante just laughed, clapping Auron on the shoulder before they both left, murmuring something about him being a lost cause.


    As soon as they were gone, Auron let out a relieved sigh. Friends or not, he didn''t have time to waste on them right now. Not when he was on the verge of something big.


    He flopped back onto his bed, activating Iron Skin again. The familiar sensation of his skin hardening felt almost comforting now.


    "Alright. Back to business."


    The days continued to blur. Eat, nap, Iron Skin, repeat. The progress crawled at a snail''s pace, but it was progress nonetheless.


    Finally, on the seventh day of his insane regimen, something miraculous happened.


    [Skill Progress Increased: Iron Skin (99.9%)]


    Auron''s eyes widened. "I''m¡­ I''m almost there." His heart pounded like a war drum, excitement surging through him. Just one more push, one more sleep session, and he''d reach 100%.


    He lay back, his mind spinning with wild thoughts. Would the skill evolve? Would it just get stronger? Either way, it didn''t matter. Whatever it took, he''d find out.


    But he knew one thing for sure. If this plan worked, the next step would be something far riskier than hunting rats.


    He was going after real prey. Iron-ranked beasts.

 Chapter 8: Skill Evolution.

    Auron stared at the shimmering number on his system interface like a gambler on the verge of hitting the jackpot.


    [Skill Progress Increased: Iron Skin (99.9%)]


    He let out a short villainous laugh that probably would''ve concerned his roommates if he had any. "Oh, sweet, glorious, cheap progress! Just a little more, and I''ll be one nigh indestructible bastard."


    He''d lost count of how many times he''d jumped onto the bed, activated Iron Skin, and let his body endure the slow, brutal grind of progress. The soreness from lying still for hours was almost insane. Every muscle ached, his joints creaked, and his mattress... was his only true companion .


    But all of it was worth it. At least, that''s what he kept telling himself.


    He was Coming soon to dropping his title of a desperate loser ."


    He pushed himself off the bed, groaning as his limbs protested. The aches were still there, but it was all just noise compared to the anticipation surging at his mind. He knew he was on the brink of something big.


    "Now then. Let''s get this over with."


    He activated Iron Skin again, feeling the familiar sensation of his skin hardening like iron. And then he collapsed onto his bed, letting himself drift off into unconsciousness.


    The sleep was restless, his dreams a series of twisted, nonsense. Rats, training, beast cores he couldn''t afford, Dante''s annoying grin, and Lyra''s scowl all swirled together in a chaotic mess.


    And then he woke up to the sound of the system''s voice.


    [Skill Progress Increased: Iron Skin (100%)]


    [Skill Evolution Possible. Would you like to proceed? Yes / No]


    Auron''s eyes snapped open, the grogginess from his sleep vanished, followed a rush of excitement. "Evolution? Now we''re talking!"


    He slammed the mental ''Yes'' button like it owed him money, cause it damn did for all that sore grinding, it was time he cashed in.


    The sensation that followed was... unpleasant. His skin turned and twisted, like a thousand invisible needles were stabbed into his skin, twisting, reshaping and reforging him into something entirely different. His muscles spasmed, his jaw locking so tight his teeth threatened to crack. His eyelids fluttered uncontrollably, his body fighting against the change."


    But the pain only made him grin. This was progress. Real, undeniable progress. And nothing thrilled him more.


    [Skill Evolved: Iron Skin ¡ú Stone skin (0.0%)]


    [Description: Your skin has been tempered into something far more resilient. Provides enhanced durability and partial resistance to physical damage. Progress can now be increased through combat or prolonged activation.]


    Auron let out a strained laugh, his voice sounding like gravel. "Stone skin huh? That''s got a nice ring to it. And now I can boost it through combat, too. Which means..."


    "It''s time to go hunting."


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Iron-ranked beasts. Real prey. The kind that wouldn''t die from a single stone flick but would make him work for every shred of strength he could scrape off them.


    "Alright, System, show me my status panel" Auron muttered, a twisted grin stretching across his face. "Let''s see how far this madness can go."


    SYSTEM INTERFACE


    Name: Auron Raventor


    Title : (Certified Rat Slayer)


    Race: Human


    Class: None (yet)


    Beast Contracts: 0


    Attributes:


    Strength: 5 (Below average but better than nothing.)


    Agility: 4 (A journey you''ll never start unless you actually try. But hey, who needs agility when you have..... whatever it is you have.)


    Intelligence: 6 (Knowledge is within you, though often overshadowed by a tendency to forget where you put it.)


    Charisma: 2 (Who needs friends, right?)


    Endurance: 4(Your stamina is a whisper of a dying ember.)


    Luck: 8 (The threads of fate are twisted in your favour.)


    Unallocated attribute points (0)


    Although he had been focused on his legendary training of grinding in his sleep, didn''t mean he had forgotten to exploit the hell out of his system which so far had resulted in a fair upgrade to his stats cause he was damn sure he''d need them for his next part of the plan.


    ***


    Meanwhile, as Auron walked out of his room, Lyra Ashford and Dante watched from a distance. Dante couldn''t help but voice his concern. "You sure about this, Lyra? I don''t think stalking Auron is a good idea. With the end-of-year tournament coming up, shouldn''t we be practicing¡ª"


    "Oh, come on!" Lyra cut him off with a smirk, barely hiding the curiosity sparkling in her emerald eyes. "Auron''s changed a lot since he failed to form a contract. Call it a woman''s intuition."


    Dante stared at her flat chest, about to say ''girl''s intuition'' instead, but the glare Lyra shot him made him swallow his words.


    "Yeah, sure. But remind me again how stalking is supposed to help. Everyone has their secrets, you know."


    "Quit messing around, Dante," Lyra snapped impatiently. "Besides, I wasn''t asking for your help. Even if you didn''t agree, I''d beat you until you tagged along."


    Dante sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Ugh. Women. If only my Steelback Boar wasn''t weaker than your Frost Wolf."


    They continued to trail behind Auron, determined to uncover his "big bad secret." But Dante''s irritation morphed into curiosity when he saw where Auron was heading.


    "Wait¡­ isn''t that the Academy''s exit?" Dante asked, his brows furrowing. "Why is Auron leaving the academy?"


    Auron, meanwhile, was too lost in his thoughts to notice Dante and Lyra tailing him. The allure of his new skill occupied his mind, driving him forward.


    As he approached the academy''s outer edge, he encountered a shimmering barrier¡ªan invisible wall meant to protect the academy from the wilderness. Beyond it, a wasteland stretched out , a brutal contrast to the pristine paradise of Glaivemire Academy. It was as if his entire life here had been a sheltered illusion.


    But those thoughts were irrelevant. Gritting his teeth, Auron crossed the barrier with steeled resolve.


    "This¡­ is the outer area where most Iron-ranked beasts live," he muttered to himself.


    Back at the barrier, Dante''s voice trembled. "What the hell is he doing? Did he just give up on life and decide to finish himself off? We need to drag his ass back here before he gets eaten!"


    "Wait!" Lyra hissed, grabbing Dante''s arm. "Something feels off. Auron doesn''t seem like he''s here to commit suicide. The Auron I knew wouldn''t just give up like that."


    "But he hasn''t formed a contract with any beast," Dante said, glancing at her in disbelief. "He''s basically served himself up as a snack to the wild Iron-ranked beasts out there!"


    Their comical argument faded into the background as Auron marched further away from the barrier. After walking a fair distance, he finally spotted his first beast.


    A wild cat. But given its massive, two-meter frame packed with pure muscle, it looked more like a bear.


    A grin crept onto Auron''s face. "Activate Stone Skin."


    His skin darkened to a bronze luster, a sensation of unyielding strength flooding his senses. His body felt solid¡ªlike steel forged by the world''s most brutal blacksmith.


    "Alright, kitty-kitty," Auron voiced out. "Let''s dance."


    The wild cat growled, its muscles coiling before it lunged at him with speed that blurred in his vision.


    "Damn¡­ The system wasn''t joking when it said my agility was crap," Auron grunted as the beast''s jaws clamped down on his forearm. Only, instead of tearing through flesh, its teeth met something far more unyielding.


    Auron stared, wide-eyed. The wild cat looked just as confused as he did. Its iron-sharp teeth were biting into what felt like a solid slab of stone.


    The absurdity of the moment made Auron burst into laughter. "Hahahaha! You thought your baby teeth could pierce this daddy''s armor?"


    Before the beast could react, Auron raised his arm and slammed it down on the wild cat''s head. Over and over, he bashed the creature with merciless strikes until it collapsed to the ground, lifeless.


    Then, the notification came.


    You have slain a initial Iron-ranked beast!


    Gained 2 Attribute Points in Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Charisma, Endurance, and Luck.


    Auron''s grin widened to the point of madness. His laughter echoed through the barren landscape, sounding more like the maniacal cackle of a third rate villain who had just stumbled upon his golden ticket.


    "Well, well, well. It looks like this bug in the system is my lucky break," Auron whispered, his voice trembling with excitement, he could already feel his body becoming stronger as a warm sensation flooded his body after he acquired the attribute points.


    Meanwhile, back at the barrier, Lyra and Dante watched in utter disbelief.


    "T-This¡­ How¡­?" Dante stammered, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.


    Lyra''s expression was similarly dumbfounded, but she quickly tried to rationalize the madness she''d just witnessed. "Wait¡­ did he¡ª Could he be some sort of prodigy? One of those freaks who just gets stronger from sleep or sheer luck?"


    Her theory fell flat as the image of Auron''s shit-eating grin came to mind. No prodigy looked that smug. Whatever was happening to him¡­ It was definitely something else....

 Chapter 9: Devour.

    Feeling the surge of power coursing through his veins, Auron muttered, "System," and the familiar interface popped up into view.


    SYSTEM INTERFACE


    Name: Auron Raventor


    Title: (Initial Iron Rank Hunter.)


    Race: Human


    Class: None (yet)


    Beast Contracts: 0


    Attributes:


    Strength: 5 + 2 ? 7 (Strong enough to lift... your hopes.)


    Agility: 4 + 2 ? 6 (A journey you''ll never start unless you actually try. But hey, who needs agility when you have... whatever it is you have.)


    Intelligence: 6 + 2 ? 8 (Knowledge is within you, though often overshadowed by a tendency to forget where you put it.)


    Charisma: 2 + 2 ? 4 (Who needs friends, right?)


    Endurance: 4 + 2 ? 6 (Your stamina is a whisper of a dying ember.)


    Luck: 8 + 2 ? 10 (The threads of fate are twisted in your favor.)


    Unallocated Attribute Points: 0


    Skills:


    Stone Skin: Progress (1.0%)


    Before he could assess the changes, a sudden notification flashed in front of his eyes.


    (Ding! Congratulations to the host for defeating a beginner Iron-ranked Wild Cat. Do you wish to devour its essence and merge with one of its attributes?


    <<Yes>> <<No>>)


    "Devour its essence...?" But before he could contemplate further, his curiosity was replaced by a familiar cold creeping sensation of being watched, again.


    Auron''s eyes narrowed. "Who the fuck''s there?"


    Dante and Lyra, who had been previously hiding in the shadows, emerged from the edge of the Academy''s protective barrier, eyes locked on him like he was some sort of monster.


    "The hell was that?" Dante asked, voice sharp with disbelief. "You just killed a fucking Iron-ranked beast... with your fucking bare hands!"


    Lyra''s gaze was glued to the bloodied beast, her face pale but her curiosity blazing. "And that skin... thing. What the hell did you do? No beast contract, no weapons, and you just smacked that thing to death like it was nothing."


    Auron''s expression twisted into a cold, mocking smirk. "Would you believe me if I told you I''m a once-in-a-millenium prodigy?"


    Dante''s brows shot up. "Bullshit. Ain''t no prodigy just gets their ass handed to them by everyone at the academy."


    Auron shrugged, his eyes glinting with a new sense of pride. "Maybe I''ve been hiding my true talent. Playing weak, letting all you guys feel good about yourselves. Ever thought of that?"


    Lyra folded her arms. "Bullshit. What the hell did you just do?"


    Auron''s smirk widened.


    He turned his back on them, his shoulders radiating indifference. Their curiosity was pointless. He couldn''t risk exposing the system, at least not yet.


    Lyra''s voice was tight, suspicion glinting across her emerald eyes. "Whatever that was, it wasn''t normal martial arts. What was it ?"


    He chuckled, voice dripping with a teasing tone. "And why the fuck should I tell you?"


    Dante''s fists clenched, his eyes blazing. "You fucking son of a..."


    ***


    Unable to crack Auron''s mocking smirk and taunting remarks, Dante and Lyra finally backed off, their gazes lingering as if trying to burn holes through his back before they stormed off"


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    Auron let out a sharp breath, as he looked back at the dead wild cat. "Now, where were we?"


    He glared at the prompt, his mind racing. The idea of devouring the beast''s essence was new why hadn''t this notification appeared when he slew rats? Was it that they were too weak and had nothing to offer him or did the beast he wanted to devour have to be stronger than he was ?


    Discarding those thoughts Auron focused on his present situation, there was no point racking his brains over questions he couldn''t acquire answers to now.


    Power was power. And he needed every drop of it.


    "Yes."


    (Ding! The wild cat possesses the following attributes:


    Strength: 15


    Agility: 20


    Endurance: 12


    (Select which attribute to devour:


    <<Strength>> <<Agility>> <<Endurance>>)


    Auron''s eyes swept over the options, his fingers clenching and unclenching as he weighed his choices. Strength was tempting, making him a more efficient killer. Endurance would give him the stamina to withstand tougher fights in the future.


    But Agility...


    The way the beast had moved¡ªswift, precise, lethal. Those reflexes were almost what kept it alive, if it hadn''t foolishly lunged at him, plus it was an added back up measure, what if he encountered a beast he couldn''t easily handle, he''d have to rely on his agility to escape.. And now, that agility was about to belong to him.


    "Agility," he said, his voice a cold whisper.


    The moment he made his choice, a surge of energy radiated from the wild cat''s body, swirling in the air like a tangible orb before spiraling toward him.


    It floated towards him before it inexplicably merged with his body.


    Images flashed before his eyes¡ªvivid and life like. The wild cat''s life, its hunts, its instincts. Every ounce of its speed and cunning now unraveling and merging itself into his very soul.


    "Auron''s body trembled as raw speed poured into his veins. The system''s cold voice echoed in his mind¡ª ''Agility increased by 20 points.'' And he felt every single one of them."


    Auron''s senses sharpened, his body trembling as if trying to adapt to the sudden influx of power. He could feel it, the beast''s very essence had merged with him.


    His heartbeat resounded in his ears, the world seemed to slow around him as his surroundings became more clearer.


    And then... silence.


    Auron stared down at his hands, his lips curling into a dark, satisfied grin. He felt light, his movements smoother, faster¡ªlike his body had been remade for speed itself.


    "This... this..... power....this was real power.


    overwhelmed by the sudden rush of power, Auron glanced at the system interface before him again.


    SYSTEM INTERFACE


    Name: Auron Raventor


    Title: (Initial Iron Rank Hunter.)


    Race: Human


    Class: None (yet)


    Beast Contracts: 0


    Attributes:


    Strength: 5 + 2 ? 7 (Strong enough to lift... your hopes.)


    Agility: 6 ? 26 (+20) (Your body now moves like instinct. Can you keep up?)


    Intelligence: 6 + 2 ? 8 (Knowledge is within you, though often overshadowed by a tendency to forget where you put it.)


    Charisma: 2 + 2 ? 4 (Who needs friends, right?)


    Endurance: 4 + 2 ? 6 (Your stamina is a whisper of a dying ember.)


    Luck: 8 + 2 ? 10 (The threads of fate are twisted in your favor.)


    Unallocated Attribute Points: 0


    Skills:


    Stone Skin: Progress (1.0%)


    Damn.


    Auron clenched his fists, feeling the subtle shift in his body. It wasn''t overwhelming¡ªhe wasn''t like suddenly a god among men¡ªbut it was there, creeping beneath his skin, waiting to be fully unleashed.


    His veins pulsed, his muscles felt denser, and his perception sharpened.


    The world itself seemed to slow down just a fraction, his reflexes finally catching up to the instincts that had always been just a step ahead of his capabilities.


    This power... it was almost addictive.


    No¡ªit was fucking damn right addictive!


    With this , wasn''t he about to ascend like a rocket, straight to the top?


    His lips curled into a grin, wild and full of a manic thrill.


    But then, reality hit him like a slap to the face.


    Sure, he was no longer completely useless. But what about those guys in the academy?


    Most of them had formed beast contracts at a young age, their paths to strength laid out before them like a carefully paved road. Even the weakest of them in his class had at least advanced to the Bronze Realm, their beasts acting as extensions of their will, enhancing their abilities.


    And the geniuses?


    People like Elora Greyson and Lyra Ashford were already leagues ahead. Their beasts had ascended to the Silver Realm, forming terrifying bonds of strength, speed, and elemental mastery. Some of them could flatten small mortal armies with their contracted beasts alone.


    And here he was, still groveling, fighting Iron-ranked beasts in the dead of night like a damn scavenger.


    Auron exhaled sharply, his fingers twitching. No. That was about to change.


    The Primordial Beast Assimilation System¡ªthis cheat-like, broken system¡ªwas his path forward. He wouldn''t follow the rules of this world. He wouldn''t be shackled by the academy''s rigid system of beast taming.


    He was about to advance through an unconventional means, a path no one in this world had ever walked before.


    A path that didn''t require contracts.


    A path where he would be the beast.


    As these thoughts swirled in his mind, something dark and exhilarating took root in his chest. A slow, creeping laugh built up from his throat, then erupted into a full-blown chuckle.


    "Hahahaha hahahaha hahahaha!"


    A third rate villainous grin stretched across his face.


    "Interesting..." he muttered, his voice dripping with anticipation.


    He raised a hand, flexing his fingers. His Stone Skin skill had barely begun its progression, but if this system worked as he thought it did, then he could accelerate its growth. He just needed to keep using it¡ªkeep pushing himself.


    Auron''s mind raced, contemplating on what he was about to do next.


    Yes, his agility had skyrocketed. Yes, he was now faster than before.


    But speed alone didn''t make him strong.


    He looked at his stats again, the excitement in his veins cooling.


    Strength: 7.


    Endurance: 6.


    He scoffed. That''s it. That''s all I have.


    If he fought an actual experienced Iron-ranked beast or a well-trained tamer, this speed wouldn''t mean shit if he couldn''t even take a hit.


    He thought back to the fight just now. The only reason he won was because the wild cat was reckless. If it had played defensively, if it had dragged the fight out, if it had landed multiple clean hits¡­


    Would I have survived?


    Auron clenched his jaw. The answer was obvious.


    No.


    His heart pounded with frustration. He was still weak. A single bad matchup, a single mistake, and all this power would mean nothing.


    Auron sucked in a slow breath. Alright. Calm down.


    This wasn''t a loss.


    He had gained a something, but he still needed to sharpen it. If he learned to control his speed¡ªif he trained his instincts, his reaction time, his ability to use this agility properly¡ªthen he''d truly become dangerous.


    For now?


    He was just a faster punching bag.


    His fingers curled into a fist. Not for long.


    Auron turned his gaze back toward the academy, his mind already shifting gears.


    It was time to train.


    Perhaps... more Iron-ranked beasts?


    His grin widened.


    The safe zones around Glaivemire Academy kept most beasts at bay, meaning he''d have to walk away far from the perimeter he had already advanced, to find stronger iron beasts . It was more risky, sure. But he had already defied the academy''s norms by refusing to rely on a beast contract. He had already broken the first rule of this world.


    Why stop now?


    The night air felt electric, charged with the possibilities ahead. Auron took a deep breath, the lingering scent of dirt, damp stone, and distant trees filling his lungs. This was it. This was the moment he''d been waiting for.


    Power was no longer just a dream.


    It was his reality.


    With one last glance at his system interface, Auron exhaled and took a step forward.


    And immediately regretted it.


    His body blurred. One step felt like ten. The ground blurred beneath him. His breath caught¡ªtoo fast, too much. He skidded, the next second, he was several feet ahead of where he''d intended to move.


    "What the fu¡ª!"


    He gritted his teeth. Damn it. This is going to take getting used to...

 Chapter 10: Breaking the limits

    Auron wiped the smirk out of his face, scowling at his own feet. Speed was great. Speed without control? A death sentence.


    He had barely adjusted to his advanced-powered footwork, and here he was, stomping through the outskirts of the academy''s safe zone, hunting for more trouble.


    And trouble came slithering.


    He wasn''t even sure what hit him. One moment, he was walking through the wastelands . The next¡ª


    BOOM.


    Something big had rammed into him like a runaway truck. He bounced off a tree , landed on his back before he slowly fell off.


    ¡­I think my ribs are now my lungs.


    The moment he tried to move, pain flared through his entire body .


    Oh yeah. Something had definitely tried to turn him into paste.


    His ears rang, his vision blurred, and somewhere in the darkness, a low hissing sound made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.


    Auron slowly, very slowly, turned his head.


    That''s when he saw it.


    A Procan Python.


    Not just any iron ranked Python.


    By the size of it looked like a fucking Peak Iron-Rank Procan Python.


    Seven meters long, built like a weapon of mass destruction, covered in green scales that glistened in the moonlight. Its head was wide, eyes gleaming like molten gold, and its muscular body coiled slowly, like it was relishing the moment before striking again.


    "¡­Why do I feel like I''m about to be part of the food chain?"


    Auron tried to get up.


    The python did not like that.


    It lunged.


    Auron threw himself sideways a second too late.


    Jaws clamped down on his shoulder.


    Pain exploded through his body as twin fangs sank into his flesh.


    His system flickered.


    [Stone Skin: Progress 5.4%]


    Auron''s first thought wasn''t about survival.


    It was, "¡­Huh. That went up pretty fast."


    His second thought was drowned out by screaming agony.


    Auron twisted, trying to break free, but the python''s grip tightened.


    His left arm went numb.


    His feet dangled off the ground.


    The python was lifting him, shaking him like a toy, trying to crush his bones.


    He thrashed wildly, panic bubbling up.


    Then¡ªhis system dinged again.


    [Stone Skin: Progress 8.2%]


    "¡­Wait. Is this thing training me?"


    Another sharp squeeze.


    [Stone Skin: Progress 10.4%]


    Auron''s brain short-circuited.


    For a solid two seconds, he considered letting the snake thrash him around a little more.


    ¡­Wouldn''t that mean faster skill progression?


    ¡­Wouldn''t that make him tougher?


    Then the pain hit him again, and his survival instincts kicked back in.


    "Nope. Dumb idea. Very dumb idea."


    With his free hand, he swung a Stone Skin-coated fist straight at the python''s eye.


    CRACK!


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    The beast screeched and loosened its grip just enough.


    Auron wrenched himself free, hit the ground like a sack of potatoes, and rolled away, panting.


    He barely had a second to breathe before the python lashed out again.


    Auron dodged on instinct.


    His body, now far faster than he was used to, reacted before his brain did.


    Which would''ve been great¡ªif he had control over it.


    Instead, his foot caught on a root.


    He tripped.


    He ate dirt.


    The python''s tail slammed down where he''d been standing half a second ago.


    Auron coughed, spat out leaves, blood, and disappointment.


    "¡­Cool. So my speed is officially faster than my coordination. That''s great. Just fucking great."


    The python, realizing it missed, coiled again.


    Auron forced himself upright.


    His shoulder throbbed. His legs felt weak. His breath was ragged.


    And this monster?


    It was looking at him as if he was it''s fucking dinner.


    The beast lunged again.


    Auron dodged¡ªon purpose this time.


    The python''s jaws snapped shut where he had been standing.


    But Auron had seen something.


    When it attacked, it exposed its throat.


    A weakness.


    Auron lunged forward.


    His Stone Skin-covered fist drove straight into the python''s open mouth, smashing into the soft flesh of its throat.


    CRACK.


    The beast convulsed.


    Auron hit the ground, rolled, ignored the agony in his body, and pushed forward.


    His instincts screamed at him.


    Now. Kill it now.


    He sprinted.


    The python, still stunned, didn''t react in time.


    Auron''s foot planted on its coiled body.


    He launched himself into the air.


    His fist crashed down onto the python''s skull.


    The impact rattled his bones.


    The python jerked, but still it wasn''t enough, but this was where his speed came to play, if one punch wasn''t enough then ten, if ten punches didn''t do the trick then a hundred.


    Engulfed with blood, Auron repeatedly bashed the procan pythons skull, his fists were a blur of motion unable to endure any longer the procan python twitched¡ªthen went still.


    Auron hit the ground hard.


    For a moment, he just lay there, chest heaving, body aching, mind processing what just happened.


    Then¡ªhis system flickered.


    [Stone Skin: Progress 25.8%]


    He groaned.


    "¡­I actually should''ve let it beat the crap out of me a little longer."


    His arms trembled as he pushed himself upright.


    His shoulder was a mess.


    His legs ached.


    And yet¡ª


    He felt stronger.


    Auron exhaled, then let out a weak, half-mad chuckle.


    He was still alive.


    He won.


    Barely.


    He looked at the python''s corpse, then at his bloodied hands.


    This was what it took.


    This was how he''d get stronger.


    His fingers clenched into fists.


    ***


    Before anything else, Auron glanced at the notification screen that popped up after killing the procan Python.


    (Ding! Congratulations to the host for defeating a Peak Iron-ranked Procan Python. Do you wish to devour its essence and merge with one of its attributes?


    <<Yes>> <<No>>)


    Procan Python (Peak Iron-Rank Beast) ¨C Stats


    Race: Beast (Iron-Rank)


    Rank: Peak Iron


    Strength: 25 (Enough to crush boulders and snap bones like twigs.)


    Agility: 10 (Fast in short bursts, but predictable patterns.)


    Intelligence: 2 (It thinks about food and murder. That''s about it.)


    Charisma: 1 (A face only a mother python could love.)


    Endurance: 18 (Can take a ridiculous amount of damage before dying.)


    Luck: 3 (Dumb luck kept it alive. Until now.)


    Lying there, staring at the corpse of the Procan Python, Auron took a shaky breath. His whole body ached, his vision swam, but his mind? Sharp as ever.


    The system''s devour option hovered in his interface, waiting.


    [Devour an Attribute from the Slain Beast? Choose One.]


    Strength: 25 (You too can be built like a monster.)


    Agility: 10 (You''re already faster than your own balance, do you want to die?)


    Intelligence: 2 (Become the smartest rock in the academy.)


    Charisma: 1 (Yes, let''s become uglier.)


    Endurance: 18 (Good if you enjoy being punched.)


    Luck: 3 (A downgrade, you moron.)


    Auron rubbed his temple. "Why does my system sound like it actively wants to insult me?"


    He glanced at his own stats. He was already fast. His endurance sucked. But his strength?


    Right now, he could kill iron ranked beast and win fights. He needed to start breaking bones.


    His grin turned sharp. "Yeah. Give me that Strength."


    [Strength +25 Applied.]


    Auron''s whole body seized up.


    ***


    SYSTEM INTERFACE


    Name: Auron Raventor


    Title: Initial Iron Rank Hunter


    Race: Human


    Class: None (Yet)


    Beast Contracts: 0


    Attributes:


    Strength: 7 + 2 (Iron-Rank Bonus) + 25 (Devour) ? 34


    (Your fists are now wrecking balls. Try not to punch walls¡­ or people. Or both.)


    Agility: 26 + 2 ? 28 (You''re too fast for your own good. Literally.)


    Intelligence: 8 + 2 ? 10 (Big brain, but still dumb decisions incoming.)


    Charisma: 4 + 2 ? 6 (You''re slightly less terrifying. Slightly.)


    Endurance: 6 + 2 ? 8 (You can actually take a hit now. Progress?)


    Luck: 10 + 2 ? 12 (At this rate, the universe is actively favoring you.)


    Unallocated Attribute Points: (0)


    The moment the Strength boost hit him, Auron nearly blacked out.


    His muscles cramped violently. It felt like someone had poured molten iron into his veins. His arms twitched uncontrollably, and when he clenched his fists, the ground beneath him cracked slightly.


    His breathing was ragged. His own weight felt unfamiliar. Standing up was weird, like his legs were too light, yet too heavy at the same time.


    His speed and strength were now wildly imbalanced. Before, he was too fast for his balance. Now? He could break through obstacles but lacked the fine control to stop himself properly.


    Auron staggered, took a few deep breaths, and let out a bitter laugh. "I swear, if I punch a door and it explodes, I''m gonna be pissed."


    Auron groaned and collapsed onto the dirt. A forced recovery period.


    He''d just hit the peak of Iron Rank in Strength.


    ***


    Auron lay on the forest floor, staring at the dark sky above. Every breath felt heavier, but there was an undeniable thrill coursing through him.


    He clenched his hand again, watching the dirt beneath his fingers crack. Holy shit.


    He''d gone from barely competent to bone-crushing menace in one move.


    The system wasn''t lying¡ªhis fists really were wrecking balls now. The problem? His brain hadn''t caught up. His body felt both absurdly powerful and ridiculously uncoordinated. If he wasn''t careful, he''d end up launching himself into a tree just by sneezing too hard.


    The system chimed again.


    [Warning: Your current power far exceeds your body''s natural adaptability. Movement efficiency reduced until full adjustment is complete.]


    "Yeah, no kidding," Auron muttered, shifting slightly. His body felt like it belonged to someone twice his size, a walking slab of muscle that didn''t quite know how to maneuver properly yet.


    Still, this was good. More than good.


    With this level of strength, he could actually fight without running calculations on how much he''d get his ass kicked first.


    His thoughts were cut short when a rustling sound reached his ears.


    Auron tensed, his instincts kicking in despite the sluggishness of his new power. He forced himself into a crouch, wobbling slightly as he adjusted to the unfamiliar weight distribution.


    Shit. Who''s there?


    He turned his gaze toward the noise, barely peeking over the underbrush and spotted two academy students with their backs turned, scanning the area.


    Elya''s posture was stiff, her hand hovering near a beast summoning token on her belt.


    "I swear I heard something," her friend whispered


    "You hear things all the time," Elya muttered. "We''ve been standing here for hours, Calla, admitt it we''re really lost, i told you we shouldn''t have sneaked out of the academy at night."


    Calla huffed. "Fine. But if something jumps out and mauls us, I''m blaming you."


    Auron exhaled slowly. Alright, I need to get out of here before they start actively looking.


    He turned, careful not to make any noise¡ª


    Snap.


    A twig broke beneath his foot.


    Auron barely had time to curse before both girls turned sharply.


    "Who''s there?!" Elya barked. Her free hand shot to the summoning token. A flicker of energy surged around her fingers.


    Auron, not a fan of unwarranted attention did the most logical thing he could think of.


    He ran.


    Sort of.


    Instead of a smooth escape, his new strength sent him rocketing forward at an angle he absolutely did not intend. He swerved too hard, overcorrected, then¡ª


    THUNK.


    Face-first into a tree.


    Silence.


    Auron groaned against the bark. "Godsdammit."


    Elya and Calla, now sprinting toward him, skidded to a stop.


    "What the hell¡ª" Calla started, eyes wide.


    Elya, however, was quicker. "Identify yourself!"


    Auron turned slowly, trying to regain his composure. He wiped the dirt off his face, squared his shoulders, and adopted the most nonchalant expression he could muster.


    "¡­Evening, ladies."


    Silence.


    Calla blinked. "Did¡­ did you just run into a tree?"


    Auron considered his options. He could lie. He could try to talk his way out of this.


    Or he could just commit.


    He crossed his arms, standing as straight as he could despite the slight wobble in his legs. "Yes."


    More silence.


    Then Calla snorted.


    Elya, however, wasn''t as amused. Her eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"


    Auron sighed. No way out of this now.


    "Just a guy out for a stroll," he said casually. "Maybe hunting a bit. You know, normal stuff."


    "In the dead of night?" Elya''s hand didn''t leave her summoning token.


    Auron shrugged. "I like a challenge."


    Elya''s stare turned colder. "You''re a student, aren''t you? What''s your name?"


    Before he could answer, Calla''s gaze dropped to the ground behind him¡ªand her expression shifted from amusement to full-blown alarm.


    "¡­Elya." Her voice was tight. "Look."


    Auron followed her gaze.


    The corpse of the Procan Python still lay there, its massive form twisted and broken, its head caved in.


    Elya''s eyes widened. "Holy¡ª"


    Auron sighed.


    Time to make things more complicated.

 Chapter 11: Moonlight schemes

    Across from him, the two girls stood frozen, eyes darting between his dirt-smudged face and the corpse of the Procan Python.


    Silence stretched.


    "D.....did....y.you... kill that beast ?


    Which division.... and..... year are you in the academy ."


    Auron sighed.


    Elya, the more serious of the two, narrowed her eyes. " Who are you?"


    Auron had about three seconds before this two little cuties questions got significantly worse. He needed to redirect the focus.


    "You''re asking a lot of questions for two girls sneaking around in the middle of the night," he said, tilting his head. "Lost, are we?"


    Elya stiffened. "We''re not lost¡ª"


    Calla groaned. "We''re so lost."


    Elya shot her a glare, but Calla just crossed her arms and huffed. "Come on, Elya, we''ve been wandering in circles for over an hour! If we don''t find our way back, we''re gonna have to sleep in a tree!"


    Auron raised an eyebrow. "You might, but I doubt you will survive the night." He rubbed his temple. "I assume you''re from the academy?"


    "Obviously," Elya muttered. "Glaivemire Beast Tamer Academy, First-Year Division."


    The academy was split into different divisions based on experience and ranking. First-years were fresh recruits, still training and proving themselves. Second-years had contracts and battle experience. Third-years were either prodigies on the verge of graduation or failures clinging to the academy desperately.


    Then there was him.


    Auron Raventor, a third-year with zero beast contracts and the academy''s favorite punching bag¡ªat least until he got his hands on a system that let him devour power instead of taming it.


    "Right. And you two geniuses thought a midnight stroll outside the academy walls was a great idea?"


    Elya crossed her arms, looking unimpressed. "We were training."


    "Training to get lost?" Auron smirked. "Because you''re doing a fantastic job."


    Calla coughed, covering another laugh, while Elya scowled. "We wouldn''t be lost if Calla hadn''t insisted we take a shortcut through the eastern path."


    "How was I supposed to know it led away from the academy?!" Calla huffed. "Besides, you''re the one who said, ''Trust me, I have a great sense of direction!''"


    Auron sighed. "Alright, alright. I get it. You''re lost, you''re blaming each other, and you still haven''t figured out how to get back." He pointed over his shoulder. "The academy''s that way. Try not to walk into any more trees."


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Calla eyes brightened. "Really?!"


    Elya, however, wasn''t buying it. She eyed him suspiciously. "And how do you know that?"


    Auron smirked. "Because unlike you two, I didn''t flunk survival training."


    Calla grinned. "See? I told you we needed a guide!"


    "You did not say that!" Elya snapped.


    Auron ignored their bickering, stretching his arms as he fully explored his new strength. His muscles still felt stiff, but at least he wasn''t toppling over like an idiot anymore.


    "You two should head back before someone realizes you''re missing," he said. "The instructors will eat you alive if they find out you left the academy at night."


    Calla''s face paled. "Oh crap. If Instructor Dain finds out, we''re dead."


    Elya groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "This is your fault."


    "Excuse me¡ª"


    Auron tuned them out, his focus shifting back to the corpse of the Procan Python. He still had a problem¡ªhis strength upgrade had left him ridiculously overpowered for his current skill level. If he wasn''t careful, he''d end up crashing through walls .


    Which¡­ admittedly had its appeal.


    Auron smirked to himself. "Alright, you two. Go on, get back before you end up on tomorrow''s missing students list."


    Calla saluted him dramatically. "Aye aye, Hero."


    Auron blinked. "Hero?"


    Calla grinned. "Well, you did save us from getting lost aand managed to kill a Big bad beast, right?"


    Elya sighed. "Let''s just go."


    As they turned to leave, Auron exhaled. He still had work to do, after all he was no Hero, just a guy with ambitions, dark ambitions. He had the strength¡ªnow, he just needed to control it.


    But first he redirected his gaze back to the Procan python, approaching it''s head where beast cores were located,


    he began rummaging," Come on, come on, give me a fucking beast core,"


    After all it was a peak iron rank beast and the odds of finding beast cores increased significantly with the increase in strength of ranked beasts.


    Of course this odds did not usually tend to play favourably on iron rank beasts.


    Just as he was about to abandon the corpse of the Procan python all hope dashed away, he noticed a small blue orb shimmering with faint inscriptions, a fucking beast core huh?


    Turns out his luck attribute wasn''t for show.


    The familiar system interface had popped up again in his line of vision the moment his hand had come in contact with the beast core.


    (Do you wish to absorb a skill from the beast core?)


    Ignoring the notification, Auron placed the beast core in his pocket, for now he had more pressing issues to take care of.


    First, go back to the academy cause he was tired as hell, he felt like he could sleep forever, Also find a quicker way to learn how to control his strength, if he couldn''t control it now at the iron rank didn''t it mean he''d just be a walking apocalypse, unable to control the power he wielded which in that case wouldn''t be too good for him.


    Shifting his thoughts back, Auron walked back to the Academy, while making a mental note he couldn''t afford being weak any longer, Hunting at night was dangerous and if he didn''t have the skill and strength to back


    him up he''d end up serving himself for dinner to some beast out there.


    The world out there was harsh and to survive he had to be smarter.


    ***


    Back at the academy, Auron was faced with another problem.


    For a normal student, sneaking back in would be a nightmare.


    For someone who could probably rip the gate off its hinges? A test of restraint, that is if the gate hadn''t been reinforced, but that wasn''t a chance he was willing to take.


    He scanned the perimeter, making sure no patrolling instructors were around, then took a deep breath and moved.


    His body surged forward¡ª


    Too fast.


    His feet barely touched the ground before he overshot his mark, forcing him to twist midair and grab onto a ledge¡ªone that crumbled the moment his fingers clenched.


    Auron bit back a curse, landing in a crouch. The impact sent tiny cracks spiderwebbing beneath him. He exhaled through his nose.


    "Right. Need to dial it down before I punch a hole through my own damn dorm."


    Meanwhile.


    Behind him, on the highest balcony of the instructor''s tower, a figure of a young lady could be seen gleaming under the moonlight revealing a pair of crimson eyes gleaming with curiosity.


    Instructor Lena Rune.


    One of the strongest individuals in Glaivemire Beast Tamer Academy.


    By all logic, her petite frame should have made her look fragile, but that illusion shattered the moment she moved.


    Her instructor''s uniform¡ªa sleeveless, high-collared coat with silver trims¡ªwas form-fitting, emphasizing the dangerous contrast of soft curves on a body built for war. She leaned against the balcony, hips shifting lazily, but her gaze? Nothing that hinted a lazy demeanor.


    Her silver hair, long enough to brush against the floor, swayed as the night breeze toyed with it, giving her an almost ethereal look. Combined with her porcelain skin and doll-like face, she could have been mistaken for something inhuman¡ªa celestial beauty sculpted from moonlight itself.


    But that face? Deceptive.


    The real Lena was a predator wrapped in silk.


    And right now? She''d found something interesting.


    "Peak Iron Rank? Already?" She tilted her head, silver strands cascading over her shoulder like liquid moonlight. "Oh, Raventor¡­ what exactly are you hiding?"


    Her fingers drummed lazily against the balcony , but her mind was sharp¡ªcalculating. A discarded heir, a failure of a beast tamer, and yet here he was, slipping back into the academy, his presence radiating a strength that should have taken months to cultivate.


    Fascinating.


    "And here I thought your bloodline had finally rotted."


    She exhaled, the smirk on her lips deepening. Oh, this was promising. Perhaps this forgotten little Raventor had some use after all...

 Chapter 12: Mysterious senior ?

    Auron collapsed onto his bed the moment he entered his dimly lit room.


    Tonight, there would be no Stone skin grinding. No late-night experiments to squeeze out an extra fraction of an attribute point, just pure sleep.


    Before his mind could drift, a notification flickered in the corner of his vision.


    [System Notice: Passive growth is limited. Continue active training for greater efficiency.]


    Auron grunted.


    "Yeah, yeah¡­ shut up."


    ***


    Morning at the Academy


    Hours passed fast before rays of sunlight flittered in Auron''s room.


    The academy erupted into a familiar morning buzz¡ªstudents preparing for classes, beast tamers training their beasts and first-years desperately trying to establish themselves.


    At the Academy''s cafeteria designated for first year students, two young women occupied a table near the window.


    Calla and Elya, were seated, while a spirited expression was etched on Calla''s face as she spewed nonsense nonstop,"Did you even see that dead beast that was next to him, it''s humongous size?!, I bet it was a silver ranked beast and that guy? He just¡ª bam!¡ªkilled it like it was nothing! Too bad we weren''t there to see how he killed it."


    Elya who was seated next to her shifted restlessly on her seat and sighed repeatedly as she looked at her friend as if she was looking at a lost cause.


    "Calla, aren''t you exaggerating a bit, i did some research and the beast we saw was an Iron ranked Procan python."


    "... What Procan Python nonsense?" she scoffed, crossing her arms. "You must''ve seen it wrong. There''s no way something that massive was only Iron-ranked. That thing was practically a mountain with scales!"


    Elya rolled her eyes. "Or maybe you just have a broken sense of scale."


    "And you have a broken sense of gratitude!" Calla shot back, animatedly pointing a finger at Elya''s forehead. "Aren''t you supposed to be thankful¡ª"


    ***


    While Calla was spouting gibberish nonstop, A young man seemingly in his early teens, sporting black curly hair and the standard pristine Glaivemire beast tamer academy garb approached Where Calla and Elya sat .


    Mind if I sit?" he asked.


    Without waiting for a reply, he slid onto the bench beside Calla, casually eliminating all personal space between them, clearly this was a guy with an awfully thick face.


    Calla stiffened.


    Elya sighed.


    Cedric, heir to some important family had arrived.


    Unable to hide the lust burning in his eyes he looked at Elya .


    "So what are you talking about so spiritedly ladies....."


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    Before he could even finish Calla shot him a resentful glare before moving further from him and voiced out," None of your business Cedric, now get out of here."


    "Argh, still sore about last time, i told you it was a mistake, my Viper really didn''t mean to hurt your Snow fox during the last sparring session," While flashing a grieved expression.


    What did you expect, as a rich second generation heir, he''d studied all forms of pick up lines, this was just easy mode.


    Calla who had just been angry, looked at Cedric her big blue eyes widening in mock surprise, "Really?"


    Elya, who had been sipping her tea with barely veiled amusement, glanced between them. She knew Calla well enough to recognize the exact moment her friend''s temper started to boil.


    "You expect me to believe that?" Calla growled, turning fully toward him now, her blue eyes burning with accusation. "Your Viper just accidentally lunged at my Snowy Fox''s throat?!"


    Cedric held up his hands defensively, slipping into what he probably believed was an ''honest and sincere'' expression. "Come on, Calla. You know how aggressive my beast can be¡ª"


    "It was just instinct!" Cedric pushed, flashing what he likely thought was a winning smile. "Besides¡­ I''d never want to hurt you. I''d do anything for a beauty like you, Calla."


    For a brief moment, silence fell over the table.


    Then Calla smiled.


    A sweet, soft smile.


    Cedric''s heart soared.


    "Really, you mean anything ?" Calla voiced out sweetly


    "Of course", Cedric voiced out hurriedly.


    The technique was fucking working.


    And then¡ª


    "Then shut the fuck up and roll out of here, you fucking retard!"


    Cedric''s mind short-circuited.


    "W-wait¡­ what?"


    "Did I stutter?" Calla leaned in, voice dropping into a predatory whisper. "You think you can mess with my Snowy Fox and flirt your way out of it? You think I''d just let that go?"


    Cedric opened his mouth.


    Nothing came out.


    Elya, quietly watching, sipped her tea. "Should''ve seen that coming," she murmured.


    Silence stretched across the table.


    Cedric''s brain lagged. His pickup lines had never failed this disastrously before.


    His mouth flapped open. Closed. Open again.


    He needed a counterattack. A quick comeback. Something to salvage his dignity, unable to come up with one, he did the next best thing.


    He needed to make a dramatic exit. Something that would make him look cool, unbothered.


    He shot to his feet, chair screeching loudly against the floor. Too loudly. Heads turned. He flipped his hair, with all the fake nobility he could muster, declared,


    "Y-you know what, ladies?! You¡­ you''ll never find a man like me!"


    Calla tilted her head, then grinned. "That''s the whole point, dumbass."


    "No, wait¡ªwhat I meant was¡ª" He took a step back, wildly gesturing. His foot, however, had other plans.


    It caught the edge of the table leg.


    And he tripped.


    Hard.


    His foot caught on the table leg, sending him sprawling onto the cafeteria floor with a thud that echoed through the room. The surrounding students went silent for half a second.


    Then the laughter started.


    Someone snorted. Another outright cackled. A beast companion¡ªa small wind fox laying on a tamer''s shoulder¡ªlet out a high-pitched yap, which only made it worse.


    Cedric scrambled up, his face burning. "Sh-shut up! I¡ªI did that on purpose!"


    Elya took a slow sip of tea. "Oh? You practicing falling for more women?"


    Calla grinned. "You must be. ''Cause you sure as hell aren''t standing on business."


    Cedric twitched. He was losing.


    One last shot. One last comeback.


    But before that.


    Someone snorted.


    Then another.


    Then the room erupted.


    "HOLY SHIT¡ªDID HE JUST FACE-PLANT?!"


    "BRO HIT THE GROUND SO HARD HIS ANCESTORS FELT IT."


    "Cedric took ''falling for her'' way too seriously."


    Cedric froze.


    Then ran.


    There was no recovering from this now. The sooner he made his exit the better it would be.


    "Straight into the doorway. But before leaving, he shot them one last glare. Nobody had ever humiliated him like that before. He''d be back for payback¡ªjust you wait!"


    Then he made his tragic escape.


    "Wow," Elya murmured, stirring her tea.


    "That was a dramatic exit."


    Calla on the other hand unfazed by the spectacle she had just unleashed folded her arms, her expression turning uncharacteristically serious.


    ""That''s it. I''m finding him."


    Elya raised an eyebrow. "Who?"


    Calla exhaled in exasperation. "The guy who saved us last night, obviously!"


    Elya tilted her head. "I mean¡­ technically, he didn''t really save us. He just pointed us back to the academy, and we ran like our lives depended on it."


    Calla scoffed. "And that''s exactly why we owe him. We were completely lost, and he gave us a way out." She leaned forward, voice dropping slightly. "Not to mention¡­ that corpse."


    Elya hesitated.


    She didn''t want to admit it, but the beast''s body had been brutalized. No clear cuts, no external wounds, just a crushed husk. Something had obliterated it.


    And they hadn''t seen a single other person nearby.


    Just that one senior.


    Calla tapped her fingers against the table, lost in thought. "He didn''t stick around. Didn''t ask for thanks. Just told us to get moving and vanished."


    She clenched a fist.


    "I don''t know who he is, but I''m gonna find him. At least to say thanks."


    Elya sighed, rubbing her temples. "Yeah, good luck with that."


    Calla narrowed her eyes. "What''s that supposed to mean?"


    Elya shrugged. "Maybe he''s a ghost or something."


    Calla scoffed. "Ghosts don''t slay giant beasts and then act like it''s no big deal."


    Elya smirked. "You sure? ''Cause that''s exactly what a ghost would do."


    For the first time, Calla hesitated.


    Then, with renewed determination, she slammed her hands on the table. "Doesn''t matter. Ghost, senior, whatever¡ªI''m gonna find him."


    Elya sighed again, leaning back in her chair. "I mean, do you even hear yourself? ''I''m gonna find him''¡ªlike that''s an easy thing to do." She gestured around.


    "There are hundreds of seniors at the academy, Calla. What''s your plan? Walk up to each one and ask, ''Hey, did you casually kill a giant beast last night and then disappear into the shadows like some kind of legend?''"


    Calla crossed her arms. "I''ll know him when I see him."


    Elya snorted. "Right. Because mysterious, powerful seniors just casually walk around waiting to be thanked."


    Calla huffed, but Elya smirked. "Face it. Unless he magically appears in front of you, you''ve got no chance."


    Meanwhile, somewhere else in the academy¡­


    Auron sneezed.


    He frowned, rubbing his nose.


    "¡­Someone better not be talking about me."

 Chapter 13: New Instructor.

    Meanwhile, somewhere else in the academy¡­


    Auron sneezed.


    He frowned, rubbing his nose.


    "¡­Someone better not be talking about me."


    just as he was about to go back to sleep, his peaceful morning was rudely interrupted by an urgent knocking on his door. No¡ªnot knocking. This was the sound of someone who had decided doors were merely a formality.


    BANG!


    Auron''s door slammed open, the sudden impact rattling his already half-asleep brain. His survival instincts kicked in, and before he could think, his hand had already reached for the nearest throwable object¡ªa stone, his previous weapon of choice when slaying rats that he had yet to discard.


    "Rise and shine, Raventor."


    A voice, smooth yet firm, cut through the grogginess in his head. It wasn''t loud, yet it carried a hint of authority.


    Auron groaned, shoving his face deeper into his pillow. "Go away."


    Silence.


    Then¡ª


    VRIP!


    The blanket was ripped off him, and the morning chill rushed over his skin like a slap to the face.


    "The hell¡ª" He snapped upright, eyes narrowed and ready to unleash hell on whoever thought this was an acceptable way to wake someone up¡ª


    Only to freeze.


    Standing in his doorway was a lady.


    She wasn''t just anyone¡ªthere was something off about her, mostly odd.


    Her silver hair cascaded far too long, nearly brushing the floor as she leaned lazily against the desk beside his bed. Crimson eyes, unreadable yet oddly amused, studied him like he was a particularly interesting bug.


    Auron didn''t know who the hell she was and he didn''t particularly care.


    She tilted her head, watching his reaction. "Finally awake? Good. Get dressed."


    Auron blinked, his brain still booting up. "Who¡ª"


    "I''m your new instructor," she said simply.


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    His confusion deepened. "New instructor? What happened to¡ª?"


    "Harwin is dead."


    The words were delivered so casually that it took a moment to register.


    Auron frowned. Dead? He wasn''t particularly close to Instructor Harwin, but the man had been teaching at Glaivemire for years. The idea of him just dying out of nowhere felt¡­ wrong.


    And why was this the first time he was hearing about it?


    Something in his gut twisted.


    The woman in front of him sighed as if bored, stepping further into his room without waiting for an invitation. "You''re surprisingly slow in the mornings, huh?"


    Auron scowled. "Excuse me for not being thrilled about getting dragged out of bed by a complete stranger."


    The amusement in her gaze deepened. "Stranger? Oh, that won''t last long."


    That phrasing made his skin crawl.


    "Who are you?" he asked, voice carefully neutral.


    She smiled. Not the warm kind.


    "Lena Rune."


    The name meant nothing to him and for all he cared he was, utterly unimpressed.


    So this was his new instructor?


    She was tiny¡ªnot in a childish way, but in the kind of way that made him think a strong breeze could knock her over. Her silver hair, absurdly long, cascaded past her waist, looking way too well-maintained for an instructor. And those crimson eyes? Maybe they made her look mysterious, but to Auron, they just made her seem like some creepy weirdo.


    Honestly? She didn''t look like a teacher.


    More like some rich noble''s rebellious daughter who had wandered onto the wrong side of the Academy, straight into his room.


    "Alright, Miss instructor Mysterious, you broke into my room, stole my blanket, and ruined my morning. Now what?" he drawled, rubbing his face.


    Lena raised a delicate brow. "Your morning was already ruined the moment you decided skipping class was a good idea."


    Auron scoffed. "Skipping beast taming class, you mean. Forgive me for not being thrilled about a subject that''s about as useful to me as teaching a fish to fly."


    Lena didn''t react, just kept watching him with that unreadable amusement.


    Auron studied her again, taking in the impractical fairy-like hair, the doll-like face, and the complete lack of anything resembling authority.


    This was supposed to be his new instructor?


    He smirked. "You sure you''re not in the wrong place, princess?"


    A muscle twitched in her jaw.


    Interesting.


    "Because you really don''t look like an instructor," he continued, stretching lazily, making a show of not taking her seriously at all. "Where''s the scowl? The permanent air of misery? The tragic backstory that made you devote your life to teaching brats how to summon oversized lizards?"


    Lena stared at him. Then, with deliberate slowness, she took a step closer.


    Auron didn''t move.


    He wasn''t intimidated¡ªwhy would he be? She was barely taller than his shoulder, and honestly? He''d fought iron ranked beasts with more presence, plus given his latest achievement, he was more or less confident in his abilities after having roughly tuned in his strength so he didn''t break everything around him, his strength had partially integrated with him giving him the illusion he had always had it.


    "You''re awfully talkative for someone who should be getting dressed," she mused, completely unbothered by his antics.


    Auron smirked. "And you''re awfully delicate-looking for someone who''s supposed to be a teacher. Shouldn''t you be, I don''t know, scarred? Battle-hardened? Maybe missing an eye?" He gestured vaguely. "Instead, you look like you belong at some fancy noble ball, probably whining about the injustice of arranged marriages or whatever it is nobles do."


    Lena let out a soft laugh.


    Auron blinked.


    He hadn''t actually expected her to laugh. Usually, this was the part where people got flustered, annoyed, beat the crap out of him or threw something at him.


    But new instructor Lena?


    She just smiled¡ªtoo sharp, too knowing¡ªand stepped even closer.


    "Auron Raventor," she said, voice smooth. "What a glib little tongue you have."


    Auron''s smirk faltered.


    There was something wrong with her tone.


    Before he could process it, Lena moved.


    No warning. No windup.


    One second, she was standing lazily by his bed.


    The next?


    She was in front of him.


    Auron barely had time to flinch before a finger lightly tapped his forehead.


    And then¡ª


    Pressure.


    A crushing, suffocating weight slammed into him, like an entire mountain had just been placed on his shoulders. His knees buckled instantly, his body crumpling before he even understood what was happening.


    His breath hitched.


    What¡ª


    His mind screamed at him to resist, to push back, to fight¡ªbut it was useless. His muscles locked, his limbs refused to obey, and the air felt too thick to breathe.


    "She didn''t move. No weapons, no beasts. Just¡­ standing there. Staring."


    Looking down at him with that same unreadable smile.


    Auron gritted his teeth, his vision blurring at the edges. "T-this¡­ is cheating¡­what the fuck was this?"


    Lena crouched slightly, tilting her head. "Oh? But I thought I was delicate?"


    Auron hated the amusement in her voice.


    The pressure vanished just as suddenly as it came.


    His body sagged, lungs dragging in a desperate gulp of air as he stumbled back, heart pounding.


    Lena straightened, as if nothing had happened.


    "Get dressed, Raventor," she said lightly, turning on her heel. "I won''t ask twice."


    Auron stayed where he was, reeling.


    What¡­ the hell was that?


    He swallowed, watching her retreating form.


    Okay.


    Maybe she wasn''t just some random rich girl .

 Chapter 14: Secret Realm.

    Walking out of his room, Auron bathed in the warm sunlight that illuminated the whole academy as he headed to class, yet as he walked something played at the back of his mind


    Harwin was dead.


    Based on murmurs he overheard as he walked to class he gathered that the official report was "Instructor Harwin perished in a forbidden zone while conducting personal research."


    Bullshit.


    Auron knew it. Something just felt off.


    Harwin was a veteran instructor, not some clueless dumbass who''d wander into restricted territory and get himself killed. He was a bastard, but he wasn''t stupid.


    And yet, here they were, with his death being swept under the rug so cleanly that it felt planned. Not that he had some burning desire to uncover the truth, hell, the guy had made sure his life in the academy was a living hell, especially in his first year, he didn''t know whether to feel remorse or something for the man.


    Auron stepped into the classroom, and just like that¡ªall eyes were on him.


    A few whispers. A couple of looks that lingered too long. Not outright hostility, but something close. Disdain.


    And then¡ª


    "Holy fuck. The lost son has returned."


    Auron barely had time to react before an arm slapped across his shoulders. Dante, grinning like the bastard he was, pulled him in close, shaking his head with exaggerated disbelief.


    "You actually survived. I was about to start a memorial fund, man. Maybe sell ''Auron''s Last Words'' scrolls. Big business."


    Lyra, leaning against her desk, gave him an unimpressed look. "Tch. I bet he was just holed up in some corner pretending to be mysterious.


    Auron rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Real original, you two."


    Dante let out a mock gasp. "No denial. Interesting."


    Before Auron could retort, the mood shifted. The chatter in the room died down, conversation bleeding into silence.


    Lena Rune had arrived back in class.


    She stepped into the room, like she hadn''t forced her way into his life just this morning. Silver hair trailing behind her, crimson eyes sharp yet unreadable.


    Auron kept his expression blank.


    She didn''t spare him a glance, instead moving to the front of the class with an ease that made it seem as if she''d been here forever.


    "Instructor Harwin is dead," she said, no soft lead-in. "I will be replacing him."


    Silence.


    Auron felt the tension in the air tighten, a dozen unspoken questions trapped behind clenched teeth.


    Then, finally¡ª


    "How did he die?"


    The voice came from the back. Arthur, one of the bronze-rank beast tamers. Not someone Auron particularly cared for, but even he had the sense to ask the question everyone was thinking.


    Lena tilted her head slightly. "The academy has already given an official statement."


    Doran''s jaw tightened. "Yeah, but how did he really die?"


    Auron''s gaze flicked toward Lena.


    She didn''t react. Didn''t blink.


    Then¡ªa smile.


    Not the kind meant to reassure.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    The kind that said drop it.


    "Class begins now," she said smoothly. "Those still concerned about Instructor Harwin''s fate are welcome to visit the academy''s administration office for further inquiries."


    Translation: ask again, and I''ll make you regret it.


    Arthur scowled but said nothing else. The moment passed, and the academy did what it always did¡ªit moved on.


    Harwin was dead.


    A replacement had arrived.


    And life continued.


    But Auron wasn''t done.


    Something felt off. Not just about Harwin''s death, but about himself.


    Before he could contemplate on what it was, a system notification popped up.


    ***


    The text appeared in his vision, sharp and unfamiliar.


    The fuck?


    Auron frowned. This wasn''t something he''d activated. The system had never just given him something without an explicit reason before.


    And yet, here it was.


    He tapped on the prompt mentally, and instantly, his vision shifted.


    His mind raced, trying to piece it together, but before he could dwell on it¡ª


    ***


    "And now, onto business."


    Lena''s voice cut through his thoughts, dragging him back to reality.


    She turned to face the class fully, hands clasped behind her back. "With the year coming to a close, it''s time to prepare for the End-of-Year Assessments."


    Murmurs rippled through the room.


    Auron forced himself to focus.


    The assessment. Right. That was the real reason the academy didn''t have time to grieve.


    End-of-Year Assessments were brutal. Fail, and you''d be left behind. Pass, and you''d get stronger, move up, gain resources.


    And then there were the other rumors.


    The ones that said this year''s assessment was going to be different.


    More dangerous.


    More deadly.


    And now, with Harwin''s death?


    Auron had the sinking feeling that he wasn''t going to like what came next.


    Lena''s crimson eyes swept across the room, sharp as a blade, giving each student just enough attention to remind them that she wasn''t here to babysit them.


    She continued, this time, her tone crisp, "this year''s End-of-Year Assessment is no longer merely an internal ranking test.The top ten students will represent Glaivemire Academy against the strongest candidates from other institutions. The objective? To secure the rights to a newly discovered secret realm that, as of now, remains largely unexplored."


    A few students straightened in their seats. Others paled slightly.


    Auron?


    He just sighed.


    Of course, it had to be something troublesome.


    Lena clasped her hands behind her back, her presence dominating the room despite her calm demeanor.


    "This isn''t a death match, nor is participation mandatory. However, those who decline will forfeit any ranking advancements and the resources that come with them."


    Auron swore he could feel Dante shifting restlessly in his seat beside him.


    "Hold on." Dante leaned forward, his grin widening, muttering to himself. "You''re saying the top ten get to enter a freshly discovered secret realm, filled with god knows what kind of treasures, and people can actually opt out?" He clicked his tongue. "Damn, didn''t realize we had cowards in this academy."


    Lyra scoffed. "Or people who actually enjoy not dying."


    Lena ignored them. "The academy has already arranged the matchups. The top ten from each institution will face off against their counterparts in a structured tournament.


    There will be no random bloodshed, no unnecessary fatalities¡ªonly structured combat. However," she let the word hang, "I will caution against underestimating your opponents. They will not hold back, nor should you."


    Silence.


    Then¡ª


    "Sweet. When do we start?"


    Auron turned his head slowly toward Dante, who was practically beaming.


    Dante, why the hell were they even friends?


    Lena glanced at him. "Preliminaries begin in three weeks. The assessment will determine who qualifies for the top ten spots. Only those who prove themselves capable will advance."


    Auron sighed inwardly.


    Of course, it wasn''t as simple as just walking into the top ten. First, they had to fight tooth and nail just to get there.


    Glaivemire Academy never missed a chance to be a pain in the ass.


    "And the rewards?" Arthur asked, arms folded. He was still bitter from earlier, but he wasn''t stupid.


    Lena''s lips curved slightly. Not quite a smile. More of an acknowledgment.


    "Beyond the possible access to the secret realm?" she said smoothly. "Titles. Beast cores, resources. Preferential treatment. Direct recognition from high-ranking figures within the academy. And, of course, the opportunity to claim personal spoils from within the realm."


    The tension in the room shifted.


    The risk was high, but so were the rewards.


    Auron could already see it¡ªsome students growing determined, others apprehensive.


    And him?


    He was just debating how much effort he really wanted to put into this.


    Then, before he could spiral further into his internal debate¡ª


    He redirected his thoughts on the previous prompt that had appeared in his vision.


    He focused on it, and more details unfolded before him.


    [You have acquired a compatible beast core. Would you like to allocate its energy toward skill progression?]


    His gaze flicked toward his inventory¡ªhis bulging pocket, which contained the Procan Python''s beast core he had been carrying around.


    So there was another use of beast cores, huh?


    Unlike the direct absorption of skills, this should let him funnel the energy of a beast core into a specific skill to accelerate its progress.


    Auron exhaled.


    This¡­ was fucking big.


    If he could collect beast cores, he could essentially fast-track his skill development.


    No more waiting. No more relying on sheer repetition.


    A grin tugged at his lips.


    Now this was a proper exploit.


    "¡ªand that concludes today''s briefing."


    Auron barely snapped out of his thoughts in time to register Lena finishing her speech.


    She turned, dismissing the class with a nod.


    "The training will begin in earnest tomorrow," she announced. "You have the rest of the day to prepare yourselves."


    Students started murmuring again, some excited, some already strategizing.


    Auron was about to rise.


    "You. Stay behind."


    His head tilted slightly.


    Lena Rune was looking directly at him.


    Ah.


    Of course.


    Dante shot him a lazy smirk, clapping a hand on his shoulder as he strolled past. "First day back, and you''re already getting summoned for an exclusive one-on-one? Truly, a man destined for greatness¡­ or...a scandal."


    Auron sighed.


    And just like that, the classroom was left empty, leaving him alone with the woman who had somehow inserted herself into his life twice in one day.


    She regarded him for a moment before speaking.


    "You''re not going to ask why I had you stay behind?"


    Auron shrugged. "Would it change anything?"


    Lena let out a quiet chuckle.


    Smart boy.


    "No," she admitted. "But I thought I''d at least give you the chance."


    She leaned against the desk, crossing her arms.


    "You''re not a fool, Auron. And you''re not as weak as everyone thinks of you, are you?


    But I wonder¡ªdo you have what it takes to stand at the top?"


    Auron met her gaze, his expression unreadable.


    He didn''t answer immediately.


    Her eyes, sharp and knowing, studied him with a patience that felt almost predatory.


    After a long pause, he smirked.


    "I guess we''ll find out."


    Lena''s lips curled, slow and deliberate, like she''d caught the flicker of his thoughts and was in no rush to let him off the hook.


    "Yes," she murmured, voice low, velvety¡ªdangerous in the way only a woman who knew exactly what she was doing could be.


    Walking out of the classroom, Auron wiped out the smirk on his face as his violet eyes turned cold and calculating.


    For some reason, his new instructor had seen through his strength,"Had she seen him fight? or was she bluffing? He didn''t like either option. He liked mysteries even less, whatever the reason was, he couldn''t afford to be careless, he had at least learned from the Raventor''s never to trust anyone, you could only trust yourself and he sure as hell was not just about to trust some weird instructor he had just met cause she had just dropped some clich¨¦ lines. He was not living in some melodramatic drama.


    But first he had to confirm something, about the recently discovered function of his system, Beast core infusion.