Noah Green stood at the center of the Royal Beast Academy's Grand Hall, his seventeen-year-old frame rigid as he faced the towering Crystal Beast Altar. The marble floor beneath him gleamed under the enchanted lights, reflecting the flickering blue sigils that pulsed with energy each time a student bonded with their first beast.
The air was thick with excitement. Today was the day. The most important moment for every aspiring Beast Tamer, the moment they formed their first contract and the moment that decided their future.
For everyone else, it was the beginning of something great.
For Noah, it was his last chance.
The student before him, a tall boy with an arrogant smirk, stepped forward and placed his palm against the altar. Light flared, golden energy swirling around him. The sigils glowed brighter, responding to his presence. The next moment, a majestic Thunder Hawk emerged from the swirling magic, its wings spreading wide as electric sparks crackled through the air.
A round of cheers and applause filled the hall.
"Another high-tier beast!" someone gasped.
"He's from the Fenwick family. Of course, he'd get a powerful beast!"
Noah exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders. 'I can do this, I have to do this.' He thought as he moved forward.
Then, the murmurs started.
"Look, it's him again…"
"This is his third attempt. If he fails again, he's done for."
"He should just leave. Even the weakest beasts don't want him."
Noah clenched his fists but forced himself to focus. It didn't matter what they thought. What mattered was proving them wrong.
He stepped forward, his dark green eyes locked onto the glowing altar. His reflection stared back at him from the smooth crystal surface and he could see a lean but well-built young man with sharp features and unruly dark hair that never seemed to stay in place, no matter how much he tried. He placed his palm against the cold surface, feeling the energy swirl beneath his fingertips.
The altar pulsed and the sigils flickered, then dimmed. Nothing happened.
For a second, silence filled the hall. Then a single chuckle broke through the quiet, followed by a wave of laughter.
"Three times, and still nothing?" The voice was smooth, amused, and painfully familiar.
Noah turned slightly and his gaze locked onto storm-gray eyes of Kane Smith. The academy's rising star. The young talent and the heir of the prestigious Smith Beast Clan. Everything Noah wasn't. His golden uniform gleamed under the hall's lights, and beside him, his Stormfang Tiger stretched lazily, completely unbothered by the attention its master was receiving.
Noah ignored him and turned back to the altar. He pressed harder, willing something to happen. Anything. But the crystal remained dull and lifeless, as if mocking him.
'Please. Just this once, Let me have this' Noah murmured to himself but the crystal remained dull and lifeless.
Master Robert Blackwood, the Academy's Head Instructor, stepped forward. He was a tall, broad-shouldered man in his late fifties, his piercing blue eyes scanning Noah with the same cold detachment one might give a broken tool. He wasn't unkind, but he had no patience for failure.
"Noah Green," his deep voice carried across the hall, silencing the remaining chuckles. "You have failed to form a contract for the third time."
Noah's breath caught.
"You are hereby expelled from the Royal Beast Academy." The cheers that followed were deafening.
Noah felt the words like a punch to the gut. ' Expelled! Just like that' His dream was gone and his future was ruined. He had sacrificed everything for this moment, he spent years training, memorizing every taming technique, studying every known beast species, and pushing himself until exhaustion. And all this just got nothing.
"This isn't fair." His voice was steady, but his hands trembled at his sides. "Let me try again."
Master Blackwood's gaze didn't waver. "Enough. The academy has no place for those without talent."
Noah's jaw tightened. His mind screamed at him to argue, to demand another chance. But before he could open his mouth, another voice cut in.
"Wait, let's not throw him away so quickly."
The room stilled.
Kane Smith strolled forward, his smirk widening. "Instead of expelling him, why not give him one last chance?"
Master Blackwood's frown deepened. "This is not a game, Kane."
"Of course not," Kane said, spreading his arms dramatically. "But isn't it tradition that students can attempt bonding in the Wild Trial Grounds?"
Murmurs rippled through the hall.
Noah's stomach twisted. The Wild Trial Grounds was a massive, untamed forest where only the strongest survived. Normally, students entered under supervision, using their training to tame their first beast in a controlled environment but Kane wasn't suggesting that, he was suggesting Noah to be sent in alone.
Blackwood studied Kane for a moment before turning to Noah. "Very well. If you can survive the Wild Trial Grounds and form a contract before sunrise, you may remain."
Noah barely had time to react before he was grabbed by two academy guards and dragged outside. The last thing he saw was Kane's smirk and the laughter of the students as the massive iron gates of the Trial Grounds slammed shut behind him.
The Wild Trial Grounds stretched before him, a never-ending sea of trees shrouded in thick mist. Shadows flickered between the branches, and somewhere in the distance, a beast howled.
Noah exhaled sharply. He was at the center of danger with no weapons, no guidance and there was no second chances. He had only time, until sunrise to do the impossible.
Suddenly, something growled in the distance. Noah's instincts screamed at him to run but he was too late, a massive figure emerged from the darkness. He could see it, it was a Shadow Panther.
Its sleek black fur gleamed under the moonlight, but its movements were sluggish. Blood dripped from a deep gash along its side, its left leg barely supporting its weight.
' It must have been attacked by something stronger.' Noah's breath caught. This was his moment, his only last chance.
Ignoring his fear, he took a step forward, raising a trembling hand. He needed to connect with it, show it he wasn't a threat.
The panther's ears twitched.
Noah focused, summoning every little spiritual energy he had left. "Come on," he whispered. "I know you can feel it. Let me help you…"
The Shadow Panther's eyes snapped open then it lunged at him
Noah barely dodged, throwing himself sideways as sharp claws sliced through the air inches from his face. He hit the ground hard, pain jolting through his ribs. Blood dripped from a shallow cut along his arm.
The panther circled him, its golden eyes glowing in the darkness. It wasn't just injured, it was desperate and it wasn't going to let him leave alive.
Noah struggled to his feet. If he didn't do something now, he was dead.
Before Noah could react, the trees behind them twisted violently as the new threat emerged, a massive Beast Bear tore through the underbrush, drawn by the scent of blood.
Noah's heart pounded violently.
The bear was at least three times his size, its muscles rippling beneath thick fur. Its claws could cut through steel.
The Shadow Panther let out a weak snarl, trying to stand its ground. But Noah could see it. The beast was too wounded to fight.
Both of them were going to die.
"No!"
A wave of desperation, anger, and fear surged through Noah. He refused to let this be the end.
And then as if something had heard him or seen his courage, voice echoed inside his mind.
[Infinite Evolution System Activating…]
His vision blurred as a glowing blue text filled the air before him.
[Beast Fusion Available. Do you wish to merge with the Shadow Panther?]
Noah's breath caught.
This wasn't a normal taming ability. This was something else entirely. The Beast Bear roared, preparing to strike.
Noah had no time to think, he made his choice.
"YES!"
Immediately, light exploded around him as Pain ripped through his body.