...beast invasion.
It appears there had been an Incident in the middle of our school premises.
The sky darkened unnaturally as figures emerged from the smoke and flames outside the school grounds. A group of ferocious beasts, led by what appeared to be an Adapted-level Boss and an Apprentiece-level Mini-Boss charged into the school premises. Among them were Iron Clawed Wolves, Rock-skinned Boars, and a towering Flame Bear, radiating power and hostility.
[Beast: Steelhide Basilisk]
Classification: Young Beast (Adapted II)
Level: 22
Health: 480/480
Strength: 28.5
Agility: 21.8
Intelligence: 15.1
Soul Power: 10.7
Skills: Steel Skin (Lvl 7), Petrifying Gaze (Lvl 6), Poison Breath (Lvl 4)]
A wave of dread washed over me. This thing was leagues above me—an apex predator among Young Beasts. Even the strongest tamers at our school would struggle against it.
My stats and Kas's combined wouldn't scratch its hide. Yet, somewhere deep inside, a fire was lit.
[George Carter - Apprentice Tamer I]
Level: 4
Strength: 3.6
Agility: 3.8
Intelligence: 4.1
Soul Power: 4.0
For a moment, the crowd surged, and I lost sight of the beast. But then, I noticed him—Ben Kingster, the so-called strongest student of our school, standing defiantly in the courtyard. His confidence was unshaken as he glanced at his beast.
[Beast: Red Iron Bull]
Classification: Young Beast (Adapted I)
Level: 18
Health: 350/350
Strength: 14.1
Agility: 12.8
Intelligence: 2.7
Soul Power: 11.0
Skills: Horn Charge (Lvl 10), Berserk (Lvl 2), Taunt (Lvl 6)
"Stay back," Ben shouted, addressing the fleeing students. "I'll handle this."
Handle this? His arrogance almost made me laugh. Even with his Beast Assimilation Talent granting him 20% of his beast's power, he was outclassed. But I had to admit, his courage—or recklessness—was impressive.
Muriel Ros intervened, stepping between Ben and the beast. Her own Tamer Aura flared, a sign of her rank. I activated my Analysis Ability again.
[Muriel Ros]
Adapted Tamer II
Level: 22
Strength: 15.4
Agility: 13.7
Intelligence: 14.2
Soul Power: 19.5
"Ben, step down," she ordered, summoning her beast—a Silverclaw Hawk—from its taming sphere. The hawk spread its wings, its feathers gleaming like blades.
But Ben shook his head. "This is my chance to prove myself. I can take it down."
The Steelhide Basilisk roared again, and chaos erupted. The ground beneath it cracked as it charged toward the school, its eyes glowing with an ominous green light.
As Muriel engaged the basilisk, Ben joined the fray, his Red Iron Bull slamming into the beast's side with a Horn Charge.
The impact created a deafening crash, but the basilisk barely flinched. It countered with Petrifying Gaze, forcing Ben to retreat before he could be immobilized.
Meanwhile, I clenched my fists, watching from a distance. I was outmatched, outclassed, and useless in this situation.
"Everyone, form defensive lines and protect the younger students!" shouted Muriel Ros, her commanding voice cutting through the chaos.
The students scrambled, some summoning their beasts to fight while others froze in fear.
I could feel my adrenaline surge as I looked at Kas, who coiled tightly around my arm, ready for action.
[System Alert!]
[A temporary quest has been generated.
Emergency Mission: Defend the Martial School
Objectives:
Defeat 5 enemy beasts.
Assist in the evacuation of non-combatants.
Survive the Mini-Boss encounter (Optional).
Rewards:100 EXP, ? Academy Points, and Emergency Contribution Points.]
-Kas, we're diving in. I tought
Let's show them what we're made of," I said, determination surging through me.
As I sprinted toward the battle, I spotted a lone Iron Clawed Wolf, separated from the pack.
[Iron Clawed Wolf
Level: 5
Health: 120/120
Strength: 6.5
Agility: 6
Soul Power: 2
Skills: Slash (Lvl 4), Howl (Lvl 3)]
"Kas, Venom Bite!" I commanded. Kas struck with precision, his fangs glowing faintly as venom seeped into the wolf's bloodstream.
[-30 HP (Venom Damage), -5 HP (Poison Effect)]
The wolf howled and lunged at me, but I activated Animal Stance: Unity, dodging its claws and delivering a spinning kick to its ribs.
[-20 HP]
The battle raged for a few more moments until Kas's Coiling Strike landed the finishing blow.
[Iron Clawed Wolf Defeated!
+50 EXP (Double EXP from Cross-Level Bonus)]
The sounds of combat filled the air as I fought alongside other students. I managed to take down two more beasts, narrowly avoiding injury thanks to quick reflexes and Kas's support.
[Flame Bear-Mini-Boss
Level: 8
Health: 300/300
Strength: 15.2
Agility: 8.1
Intelligence: 3.5
Soul Power: 6
Skills: Flame Charge (Lvl 6), Burning Roar (Lvl 5), Immolation Aura (Lvl 4)]
Suddenly, a massive shadow loomed over the battlefield. The Flame Bear had broken through a couple of student's defense.
I locked eyes with the beast, my heart racing.
"George, don't!" a familiar voice shouted. It was John, standing a few feet away with his Horned Tiger growling beside him.
"You think you can handle that thing?" he asked mockingly.
"I don't have to think," I replied, activating Madness. My stats surged as the skill took effect, and Kas's eyes gleamed with an eerie light.
[Stats Doubled Temporarily: Strength 7.2, Agility 7.6, Intelligence 8.2, Soul Power 8]
"Kas, it's time to go all out!"
The fight with the Flame Bear was about to begin.
The Flame Bear roared, sending a shockwave through the battlefield. Its massive body lumbered toward me, flames flickering from its fur as it bared its teeth. I could feel the heat emanating from its body, the air growing hotter with every step it took.
"Kas, Coiling Strike!" I commanded, my voice steady despite the rising tension in my chest.
The White Eyed Snake responded instantly, coiling with incredible speed before launching himself at the bear's leg. Kas's fangs sank into the bear's hide, but the beast barely flinched. It let out a deafening roar and swiped at Kas, forcing him to retreat.
[Kas's HP: 38/80]
I cursed under my breath. The Flame Bear was tough, and Kas had taken a hard hit. But I wasn't about to back down. Not now, not when I had a chance to prove myself. I could feel the madness coursing through my veins as my body surged with power. The world around me seemed to slow down, the bear's movements becoming easier to predict.
"Now, Kas!" I yelled.
With a flash of motion, Kas darted forward again, this time going straight for the bear's eyes. I followed up with a quick dash, my body moving faster than it had ever done before.
The Flame Bear growled, trying to retaliate with a swipe, but I was already in motion, spinning to the side, narrowly avoiding its claws. I closed the distance and delivered a punch to the beast's side, exploiting the opening Kas had created with his fangs.
[-35 HP]
The bear staggered but recovered quickly, its Immolation Aura flaring. Flames erupted around it, making it harder for me to approach. I could feel the heat as the aura intensified, pushing back anyone who dared come near. I gritted my teeth and activated Animal Stance: Unity, raising my agility to avoid the fire as I closed in.
[Animal Stance: Unity - Boosting Agility by 40% for 15 seconds]
Kas darted in, his venomous bite sinking into the bear's throat as I followed up with a series of strikes, hammering into its flank. Every blow felt like hitting solid stone, but I wasn't going to stop. I needed to end this.
The bear thrashed violently, trying to shake us off, but the venom had already begun to take its toll. I could see it weakening, its movements slower, its flames flickering. The poison was working.
"Come on, just a little more!" I muttered to myself.
As if hearing my thoughts, Kas bit down harder, his fangs glowing with even more intensity. The bear's legs buckled beneath it, and with a final, agonized roar, it collapsed to the ground.
[Flame Bear Defeated!]
I stood there, panting, my body trembling with exhaustion. The sudden rush of victory, combined with the lingering effects of Madness, made my head spin. I hadn't expected it to be so intense, but there was no time to rest. I quickly checked the system message.
[You have received +150 EXP]
[You have earned Emergency Contribution Points]
[Quest Completed: Defend the Martial School]
[Bonus Reward: 50 Academy Points]
I wiped the sweat from my brow and turned to see Ben Kingster charging in, his Red Iron Bull slamming into the back of an approaching Iron Clawed Wolf.
The beast was knocked off balance, but not before it slashed at the bull's side. Ben growled in frustration, but the beast's thick hide absorbed most of the damage.
Ben's expression was fierce, but as I looked at him, I couldn't help but think about the difference between us. His beast was strong, yes, but I could see the hesitation in his eyes. He wasn't fully in control yet.
"Nice job, George," Ben called out, his voice begrudging but respectful. "That bear would have flattened any other student."
"Don't get cocky," I replied, my voice sharper than I intended. "This is just the beginning."
I wasn't here to make friends or win approval. I was here to grow stronger, to prove that I could rise above the limitations of my starting point.
The battle with the Flame Bear had shown me just how much potential I had, but I knew I couldn't rely on raw power alone. Strategy, patience, and control were just as important as strength.
As the dust settled, I looked around the battlefield. The remaining beasts were being handled by other students and teachers, but the air was thick with tension. Muriel Ros, who had been keeping the Steelhide Basilisk at bay, looked toward me, her eyes narrowing with a mix of curiosity and approval.
"Good work, George," she said, her voice calm but with a hint of admiration. "You've shown remarkable growth today. Keep this up, and you might just surprise everyone."
I nodded, though my thoughts were already racing ahead. This was just a taste of what was to come. There would be stronger beasts, tougher battles, and more challenges. I could feel it deep inside: the fire to grow stronger, to rise above everyone who had ever doubted me.