Dawn arrived with the harsh clang of bells echoing across the Academy of the Skybound.
Dan jolted awake, his heart pounding. Beside him, Tae groaned and pulled his thin blanket over his head.
"Five minutes..." Tae mumbled.
"We don't have five minutes." Dan was already on his feet, pulling on his Academy-issued training clothes—simple gray tunic and trousers that marked him as Low Resonance. Elite students wore blue. High Resonance wore white. Lords wore crimson trimmed with gold.
The color coding made sure everyone knew exactly where you stood.
Dan splashed water on his face from the basin in the corner, then summoned his spore cloud. It materialized reluctantly, still sluggish this early in the morning.
"Combat class first," Dan muttered, checking the schedule posted on their door. "Survival Grounds, Arena Three."
Tae finally sat up, his Common Plant manifesting as vines along his forearm. "They're really throwing us straight into combat on day one?"
"Apparently."
"That's insane. Most of us barely know how to use our beasts."
Dan thought of the week he'd spent training in secret, following Riu's manual. "Some of us had more time to prepare than others."
Tae gave him a strange look but said nothing.
***
The Survival Grounds occupied the Academy's western section, a massive complex of training arenas carved directly into the mountain. Arena Three was an open-air platform surrounded by stone seating, similar to the Platform of Ascension but designed for combat rather than ceremony.
When Dan and Tae arrived, dozens of students were already gathered—mostly Low and Elite Resonance, with a handful of High Resonance students observing from the upper tiers.
And there, standing apart with her silver-white hair gleaming in the morning sun, was Riu.
Her Celestial Wyvern had grown again overnight—now easily the size of a small house, its starlight scales shifting between midnight black and silver. Golden lightning crackled across its spine with barely restrained power.
She noticed Dan immediately, those golden eyes locking onto him with unmistakable interest.
Dan looked away quickly, heat rising in his cheeks.
"Is that Riu of the Stormborn?" Tae whispered, awed. "She's even more intimidating in person."
Before Dan could respond, a sharp voice cut through the crowd.
"ATTENTION!"
A man strode into the arena—tall, broad-shouldered, with scars crisscrossing his face and arms. His beast, a massive **Iron Wolf** with fur like brushed steel, padded beside him. The wolf's eyes glowed amber, and its presence radiated danger.
Silver-rank, level 4.
"I am Instructor Kwan," the man announced, his voice carrying effortlessly. "I oversee Combat training. Some of you are here because you have talent. Others are here because attendance is mandatory." His gaze swept across the Low Resonance students. "I don't care which you are. In my arena, you fight, or you fail."
He gestured to the platform. "Combat class is simple. You will face opponents of similar Resonance Grade. Victory earns points. Defeat teaches lessons. Refusal to fight earns expulsion."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"First match!" Instructor Kwan consulted a tablet. "Tae of the Greenwood family, Resonance 2.8, versus Mira of the Stoneheart family, Resonance 2.9."
Tae's face went pale. "Already?"
Dan gripped his shoulder. "You can do this."
"My plant can barely do anything—"
"Then make it enough."
Tae swallowed hard and walked toward the platform, his Common Plant manifesting as vines along both arms now. Across from him, a stocky girl with a Stone Mouse perched on her shoulder climbed the steps.
Her mouse was Bronze-rank, level 1—not much stronger than Tae's plant, but with better offensive capabilities.
The match began.
Tae tried to use his vines defensively, creating barriers, but the Stone Mouse burrowed through the ground and emerged behind him, striking with surprising speed. Tae went down hard, his plant recoiling.
"Match over," Instructor Kwan announced. "Tae, you relied too heavily on defense without establishing any offensive pressure. Mira, you telegraphed your burrowing approach. Both of you need significant improvement."
Tae limped back to Dan's side, nursing a bruised shoulder.
"I told you," Tae muttered. "Useless."
"You lasted longer than I expected," Dan said honestly.
"Thanks. I think."
More matches followed. Most were between Elite Resonance students—competent, trained, their beasts working in coordination with their summoners.
Then Instructor Kwan's voice rang out again.
"Dan of the Woodhelm family, Resonance 1.3, versus Kael Stonefist, Resonance 4.2."
Dan's blood ran cold.
Around him, students gasped.
"That's not fair," someone whispered. "Kael's Elite Resonance—nearly High!"
"They're trying to make an example of the mushroom boy."
"This is going to be brutal."
Dan's jaw tightened as he walked toward the platform. His spore cloud drifted beside him, gray and unimpressive compared to the magnificent beasts around him.
Across the arena, Kael climbed the steps with a vicious grin. His Crimson Salamander had grown since the awakening ceremony—now the size of a large dog, flames wreathing its body.
Bronze-rank, level 2.
"Finally," Kael sneered. "I've been waiting for this."
Dan said nothing, focusing on his breathing. He couldn't win this fight through power. Kael's salamander was faster, stronger, and capable of ranged fire attacks.
But Dan had something Kael didn't expect.
Training.
"Begin!" Instructor Kwan's command rang out.
Kael's salamander attacked immediately, spitting a sphere of fire directly at Dan's chest.
Dan dove sideways, rolling as he'd practiced in the woods. The fireball scorched the stone where he'd been standing, leaving a blackened crater.
"Running won't help you!" Kael laughed, directing his salamander to attack again.
This time, three fireballs came in rapid succession.
Dan couldn't dodge them all.
So he didn't try.
He called his spore cloud forward, willing it to expand as Riu's manual had taught him. The cloud spread wide, forming a thin barrier between Dan and the flames.
The fireballs hit—and the spore cloud *absorbed* them.
Not completely. Dan still felt searing heat wash over him, singeing his clothes and reddening his skin. But the worst of the damage was filtered through the spores, breaking down the fire's energy and converting it into... something.
The crowd gasped.
"What the—" Kael's smile faltered.
Dan forced himself upright, ignoring the pain. His spore cloud glowed slightly brighter now, fed by the absorbed fire energy.
"Is that all?" Dan called out, his voice steady despite the agony. "Fire tricks?"
Kael's face twisted with rage. "You think you're clever? Let's see how you handle this!"
The salamander charged, flames erupting along its body. It moved with frightening speed, claws extended.
Dan stood his ground.
At the last possible second, he activated the technique from Riu's manual: Spore Dispersal.
His spore cloud exploded outward, filling the air with gray particles. The salamander plunged directly into the cloud—and immediately began coughing, its flames sputtering.
The spores weren't toxic. But they clogged the salamander's respiratory system, disrupted its fire generation, created a choking haze.
Kael stumbled back, his connection to his beast flooding him with its distress.
Dan didn't waste the opportunity.
He charged forward—not at the salamander, but at Kael himself.
His fist connected with Kael's jaw.
The punch wasn't powerful. Dan only had 10% increased physical strength, barely noticeable. But it was enough to send Kael stumbling, breaking his concentration.
The salamander's flames died completely as its summoner lost focus.
Dan pressed his advantage, landing two more quick strikes before Instructor Kwan's voice cut through the arena.
"ENOUGH!"
Dan stepped back immediately, breathing hard. His spore cloud collapsed back to its normal size, drifting beside him.
Kael sat on the ground, nose bleeding, his salamander wheezing beside him.
Silence.
Then the crowd erupted.
"Did he just—"
"The 1.3 beat the 4.2?!"
"That's impossible!"
Instructor Kwan studied Dan with unreadable eyes. "Unconventional tactics. Targeting the summoner rather than the beast. Effective use of environmental disadvantage." He paused. "Dan wins."
The words echoed across the arena like thunder.
Dan barely heard them over the pounding of his heart. He'd won. Against all odds, against a vastly superior opponent, he'd actually won.
Kael scrambled to his feet, face purple with humiliation and rage. "You cheated! You attacked me directly—that's not allowed!"
"There is no rule against attacking the summoner," Instructor Kwan said coldly. "In real combat, your enemies won't limit themselves to your beast. Dan understood this. You did not."
"But—"
"Silence. Return to your position."
Kael limped away, shooting Dan a look of pure hatred.
Dan descended the platform, his legs trembling with adrenaline. Tae grabbed his arm, eyes wide with disbelief.
"You actually did it," Tae breathed. "You beat an Elite."
"Barely," Dan managed. His skin still burned from the salamander's fire, and exhaustion was setting in fast.
But he'd won.
Around him, Low Resonance students stared with newfound respect. Elite students whispered among themselves, reevaluating the "mushroom boy" they'd dismissed.
And in the upper tiers, Riu watched with a slight smile, her golden eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
Her wyvern rumbled approvingly.
***
The rest of Combat class passed in a blur. Dan watched other matches, noting techniques, weaknesses, patterns.
When the bells finally rang, signaling the end of class, Instructor Kwan called out one final announcement.
"Today's performance determines your initial combat ranking. Rankings will be posted tonight. The top ten receive additional training resources. The bottom ten receive remedial sessions."
He paused, his eyes finding Dan.
"And for those who think today's victory guarantees future success—remember that every opponent learns. Surprise tactics only work once."
The dismissal was clear.
Students scattered, heading toward their next classes. Dan checked his schedule: Beast Evolution Theory, followed by Essence Cultivation Basics.
He started to leave when a voice stopped him.
"Dan."
He turned to find Riu standing there, her massive wyvern behind her. Up close, the creature was even more imposing—each breath sent ripples of electricity through the air.
"You used the manual," Riu said. It wasn't a question.
"Every technique I could understand," Dan admitted.
"And you adapted them mid-combat. Impressive." She tilted her head. "How much pain are you in right now?"
Dan blinked. "What?"
"Your skin is burned. You're favoring your left side. You're probably running on pure adrenaline." Riu pulled a small vial from her satchel. "Healing salve. It won't fix everything, but it'll help."
Dan took the vial carefully. "Why do you keep helping me?"
"Because you're interesting." Riu's golden eyes met his. "Most people with your Resonance Grade would have given up already. Or accepted their limitations. You're doing neither."
"I don't have a choice."
"Everyone has a choice." Riu turned to leave, her wyvern following. "You're choosing to fight. That's worth supporting."
She paused at the arena exit. "Oh, and Dan? Kael has an older brother. Third-year student. Elite Resonance, 5.8. He won't appreciate what you did to his little brother."
Dan's stomach sank. "Great."
"Just a warning." Riu disappeared into the crowd.
Dan stood alone in the empty arena, clutching the healing salve.
One victory.
One enemy.
And seven years, eleven months, and twenty-nine days left at the Academy.
***
That evening, Dan applied Riu's salve in the privacy of his dorm room. The burns faded from angry red to dull pink, the pain receding to a manageable ache.
Tae watched from his bed, his Common Plant coiled around his arm. "You know everyone's going to be talking about you now, right?"
"I know."
"Kael's friends will come after you."
"I know."
"And you still think this is better than just keeping your head down?"
Dan looked at his spore cloud, hovering silently beside him. The luminescent mushrooms glowed faintly in the darkening room—brighter than they'd been this morning, fed by the absorbed fire energy.
"My father lost his leg defending the northern border," Dan said quietly. "He never complained. Never gave up. Never stopped fighting." He met Tae's eyes. "I can't shame him by doing less."
Tae was silent for a long moment. Then he smiled—small, but genuine. "You're insane. But I respect it."
A knock at their door interrupted them.
Dan opened it to find a messenger—an Academy servant holding a sealed envelope.
"For Dan of the Woodhelm family. From the Headmaster's office."
Dan took the envelope with trembling hands. The servant departed without another word.
"What is it?" Tae asked.
Dan broke the seal and read the contents. His eyes widened.
"Well?" Tae pressed.
Dan looked up, expression caught between disbelief and dread.
"The Headmaster wants to see me. Tomorrow morning. Before classes."
"Is that good or bad?"
"I have no idea."
But as Dan lay in bed that night, unable to sleep, his mind raced with possibilities.
Had he broken some rule by attacking Kael directly?
Was his victory being challenged?
Or had the Headmaster noticed something else—something about his spore, his techniques, his potential?
His spore cloud pulsed softly in the darkness, patient and silent.
Tomorrow would bring answers.
But tonight, Dan allowed himself one small moment of triumph.
He'd won his first real battle.
Against impossible odds, with the weakest beast in history, he'd proven that Resonance Grades weren't absolute.
It was only one victory.
But it was a beginning.
And sometimes, that was enough.
---
To be continued...