The senior teacher's voice cut through the morning chill as the students gathered before the shimmering portal.
"Remember, be vigilant. The secret realm's outer zone holds only small beasts, but don't push too far into the middle or inner zones just yet. Those are for more experienced beastmasters."
The class nodded, eyes bright but cautious. The portal hummed softly, its surface rippling like water.
Leon felt Ember stir inside his awakened beast space. Her three tails flickered with anticipation, fanning out like lazy flames. At his side, Layla's Tiki ruffled her feathers eagerly.
Just then, Jacob approached with a confident grin.
"So, what beasts did you two hatch? I'm dying to know."
Leon exchanged a glance with Layla before answering, "Ember's a fire feline—claw strike, bite, and fireball. And Layla's got Tiki—a fiery bird with peck, claw strike, and fiery gust."
Jacob's eyes sparkled mischievously.
"Not bad. I can't reveal mine here, but wait till we enter the realm. I'll show you my pet. It's a secret for now, but trust me, it's handsome."
Leon raised an eyebrow, smirking.
"Handsome, huh? Can't wait."
Jacob laughed and then settled quietly beside them as the portal shimmered.
Together, they stepped through and the world shifted.
---
The outer zone unfolded into a vast wilderness dotted with ancient trees and low hills.
The air was thick with a wild energy—tense but alive.
A low growl caught their attention.
"Be ready," Layla whispered.
Suddenly, a group of savage beasts emerged: small but fierce creatures twisted by the realm's dark energy.
They had glowing eyes and snarling jaws.
Leon glanced at his beast codex, calling up details on one of the creatures:
Race: Rabid Hare
Level: Early Iron
Skills: Quick Bite, Furious Dash
Ember's tails flicked.
Leon commanded, "Claw strike!"
The fiery feline's sharp claws slashed through the air, tearing at a hare before it could dart away.
The hare lunged back with a Quick Bite.
Ember dodged gracefully, countering with a Bite attack that sent a burst of flames scorching the beast's fur.
Nearby, Layla's Tiki took flight, screeching fiercely.
"Peck, then fiery gust!" Layla ordered.
The fiery bird swooped down, pecking a rat and following with a gust of blazing wind that knocked several small beasts off balance.
"Got one!" Leon grinned.
The others swarmed, but Ember unleashed Fireball—a blazing orb that exploded among the attackers, reducing them to ash.
With each beast they felled, a faint glow pulsed around Leon and Layla.
"This is the heavenly reward," Leon murmured.
"The world rewards us for cleansing these evil beasts."
Layla nodded.
"And as the beasts get stronger, the reward grows too. We'll level up faster once we reach the next zone."
Jacob, watching, finally grinned and said, "Time to reveal my beast."
With a dramatic flourish, he spread his arms wide as if unveiling a masterpiece.
From the shadows of his awakened beast space, a sleek figure stepped forward—a lithe feline with dark, shimmering fur that seemed to absorb the light.
Leon's codex beeped, automatically scanning.
---
Shadow Lynx
Gender: Male
Grade: High
Level: Early Iron
Skills:
Claw Strike: Quick slash with sharp claws.
Silent Pounce: Silent leap to surprise the enemy.
Shadow Veil: Brief invisibility within shadows.
Talent: Nightstalker's Grace — boosts evasion and critical hits in dark areas.
Evolution Route:
1. Shadow Lynx (Iron Rank)
A swift, elusive feline cloaked in shadows. Specializes in ambush and speed-based combat.
2. Nightshade Panther (Bronze Rank)
Gains heightened agility, sharper claws, and improved shadow manipulation. Can blend into surroundings and silence its movement completely.
3. Umbral Revenant (Platinum Rank)
A terrifying predator of the night. Its presence distorts light, and it can create shadow clones and pass through walls of darkness.
4. Voidwalker (King Rank)
A legendary beast said to dwell between dimensions. It phases through reality, unleashing silent devastation. Hardly seen, only felt as death approaches.
Evolution Requirement – Shadow Lynx → Nightshade Panther:
Beast Rank: Peak Iron
Bond Strength: Excellent or higher
Core Materials Required:
Shadow Essence Crystal ×1
Panther Claw Fragment ×3
Night Bloom Herb ×5
Condition: Must defeat at least 10 enemy beasts without being detected before each kill
Next Evolution Requirement: To be unlocked at a later stage.
---
Leon's eyes widened as the codex displayed more details than it had before.
"How did it… change?" he wondered silently.
He'd need to check what had updated later.
Jacob beamed proudly.
"Handsome, right? Just wait till he evolves."
Leon smirked but couldn't hide his respect for the lithe beast.
"Nice skills."
---
As the three pressed forward, more savage beasts attacked—tiny rats with ferocious bites, rabid hares dashing swiftly, and snarling foxes with clever claw strikes.
Each was corrupted by the lingering evil energy, mindless in their hatred.
Leon kept an eye on his codex, quickly scanning their foes:
Rabid Rat: Early Iron — Bite, Quick Dash
Rabid Hare: Early Iron — Quick Bite, Furious Dash
Savage Fox: Early Iron — Claw Strike, Bite
With each kill, Leon and Layla felt the subtle pulse of growth—the heavenly way of rewarding their cleansing efforts.
It was quiet but undeniable.
Jacob fought skillfully alongside them, his Shadow Lynx weaving through shadows and striking with deadly precision.
Hours passed in a blur of fire, claws, and soaring wings.
The group's movements became sharper, their coordination smoother.
Leon glanced at Layla.
"We're getting stronger."
Layla smiled.
"Good. We'll need it."
The outer zone wasn't easy—but it was only the beginning.
---
As the sun dipped low, the portal's shimmer beckoned them back.
The teacher appeared, nodding approvingly.
"Well done today. Remember, the middle and inner zones hold tougher foes. Don't rush."
Leon took one last look at Ember and Tiki, then at Jacob's shadowy companion.
The training had just begun, and the secret realm still held many mysteries.
What challenges awaited beyond the outer zone? And what secrets did Jacob's beast truly hide?