The academy arena had never felt this heavy.
Sunlight barely reached the stone walls. The crowd filled every seat. Instructors stood in high towers above, watching like vultures waiting for a fall.
This was not a normal Guild Trial.
Kael felt it the moment he stepped into the circle.
The ground had a different energy. Faint. Twisted.
A trap disguised as ceremony.
"Kael of Orien. Rank Zero. No official beast bound. Do you still wish to attempt the Trial"
The voice echoed across the field.
Kael raised his head.
"I do."
Laughter rippled through the crowd. Even some instructors looked away to hide their smiles.
The examiner stepped back.
"Your challenge is a solo bind. You must summon and control a beast within the time limit. Failure results in expulsion."
A stone gate rumbled open.
From the darkness came a low growl.
Not a rat. Not a bird. Not a weak summon.
They had released a mid tier Class C beast. A black tusked lizard hound with molten red eyes and a cracked horn. Its breath steamed the ground. Its hunger was wild.
Kael understood instantly.
They wanted him to die here.
The beast charged.
Kael did not run.
Instead, he closed his eyes.
The mark on his arm pulsed.
And this time... he spoke.
Not aloud.
Inside.
"Come."
A soundless tremor passed through the circle.
The lizard hound halted mid step. It sniffed the air. Then whimpered. Backed up.
Something darker had arrived.
Shadows twisted around Kael's feet. Not smoke. Not flame. Something ancient. The crowd leaned forward.
A shape began to form behind him.
Wings.
Eyes.
Chains floating in the air.
The arena lights dimmed.
From the center of the circle rose a beast that did not roar... it whispered.
And everyone heard it.
Even those who should not have.
Far away in the heart of the capital, inside the vaults of the Grand Guild Hall, a crystal cracked.
High Lord Vernos stood from his seat.
"What was that"
A seer collapsed behind him.
"The Abyss... it blinked"
Back at the arena, Kael opened his eyes.
Silver light poured from them.
The Class C beast had dropped flat to the ground. Trembling. Refusing to move.
The summoned shadow behind Kael tilted its head.
It did not need to fight.
It only stared.
And everything weaker knew to bow.
Kael stepped forward.
Trial complete.
No one spoke.
Not even the examiner.
Because they had seen something that did not belong in this world.
And they were afraid.