I barely had time to breathe before I was dragged into my first class, Taming Fundamentals. The lecture hall was massive, with rows upon rows of seats arranged in a circular formation around a central training area. Enormous banners depicting the Five Great Beast Tamers lined the walls, their legendary creatures painted in glorious detail.
Most of the students had already taken their seats, their beasts resting beside them. Some had wolves, others had falcons, and one girl even had a floating jellyfish-like creature that pulsed with blue light.
And then there was me.
Sitting awkwardly in the back row.
With a pocket-sized apocalypse dragon curled up on my desk like a lazy cat.
The moment I walked in, whispers erupted all around me.
"That's him."
"The one with Argonax?"
"No way, it has to be a trick. How can a guy like that tame something so strong?"
"Maybe the beast is broken or something."
I tried to ignore them, but their words stung. It wasn't like I asked for this! If anything, I was just as confused as they were.
The door slammed open.
A tall woman with striking silver hair and piercing red eyes strode into the room, her presence commanding immediate silence. She wore a high-collared coat, her every step precise and calculated.
"Welcome, first-years," she said, her voice sharp as a blade. "I am Instructor Seraphis, and in this class, you will learn the foundation of what it means to be a Beast Tamer."
A massive shadow loomed behind her. A terrifying, multi-eyed wyvern with glistening obsidian scales slithered into view, its golden eyes scanning the students hungrily. A few students gulped audibly.
"Rule number one." Seraphis snapped her fingers. The wyvern let out a low, bone-rattling growl, sending shivers down my spine. "Your beasts are your partners, not your tools. If you treat them like mere weapons, you will not survive."
She began pacing. "Rule number two: Respect the bond. A weak bond leads to weak results. The strongest tamers are those who understand and trust their beasts."
Her eyes flickered toward me.
"Which brings us to today's first lesson: Understanding the Natural Hierarchy of Beasts."
She gestured, and a floating rune manifested in the air, forming a complex chart.
"In the wild, beasts follow a strict hierarchy. At the bottom are Common Beasts—the kind that most beginners start with. Things like Wind Hounds or Ember Foxes."
Several students nodded in understanding.
"Above them, we have Greater Beasts—creatures that have evolved through experience and battle. These are the ones most tamers aim to train."
She waved her hand, and the rune shifted. "Then, we have Mythic Beasts—rare, powerful creatures that only the best tamers can control."
I could already tell where this was going.
"And finally…" She snapped her fingers again. The rune changed, and the entire room darkened as a terrifying silhouette formed.
"Primordial Beasts."
The very air seemed to tremble at her words.
"These creatures are beyond mortal comprehension. They are not trained. They are not tamed. They exist outside the natural order, acting on their own will. Only the strongest beings in history have ever formed a contract with one."
The room was deathly silent.
Then, Seraphis turned to me.
"Which brings us to the biggest mystery of the year."
My stomach dropped.
"How did a nobody like you tame Argonax, The Devourer?"
I could feel every single pair of eyes drilling into me.
I opened my mouth. "Uh—"
BOOM.
Before I could say another word, the training hall doors burst open.
A group of senior students strode in, led by none other than Garron Blackfang, the guy who challenged me earlier.
"Apologies for the interruption, Instructor," he said with an arrogant smirk. "But we've come to witness something important."
Seraphis raised an eyebrow. "And what might that be?"
Garron pointed at me. "A fraud is sitting in your classroom."
The entire room tensed.
"I want to see if he's actually worthy of his beast," Garron continued, cracking his knuckles. "So I'm moving up our duel."
He grinned.
"We fight. Right now."