Soren sat on the dorm room floor, legs crossed, staring at the tiny fox as if it held the secrets of the universe. The fox stared back, head tilted, golden eyes wide and curious. Kael leaned against his bed, arms folded, watching the scene with mild amusement.
"So," Kael said, "you're fighting Aldric Dawnhelm tomorrow."
Soren groaned and flopped backward onto the floor. "Don't remind me."
"He's the top-ranked noble student this year."
"Please stop reminding me."
"His beast is a young Sun‑Mane Lion."
Soren covered his face. "Kael, I'm begging you."
Kael shrugged. "Just being honest."
The fox padded over and climbed onto Soren's chest, staring down at him with the expression of someone who had no idea what was happening but was emotionally supportive anyway.
Soren sighed. "I'm going to die."
The fox chirped.
Kael pushed off the bed. "You're not going to die."
Soren peeked through his fingers. "Really?"
"Well… probably not."
Soren groaned again.
Kael smirked. "Look, you have a system. That's already better than half the students here. And your fox has extremely high affinity. That's rare."
"Affinity doesn't help when the opponent is a lion with glowing fire hair!"
Kael shrugged. "Then train."
Soren sat up. "Train? Train what? I don't know anything! I don't have skills! I don't have techniques! I don't even have proper clothes!"
Kael pointed at the fox. "Start with him."
The fox puffed up proudly.
Soren blinked. "Start… how?"
Kael rolled his eyes. "You're a beast‑tamer. Bond with your beast. Practice commands. Build trust. Even a weak beast can win if it listens well."
Soren looked at the fox.
The fox was currently chewing on his hoodie string.
"…we're doomed," Soren whispered.
Kael sighed. "Come on. Let's go outside."
Training Field 3 — Disaster Zone
The training fields behind the dorms were wide open spaces filled with wooden dummies, obstacle courses, and chalked circles for duels. Students practiced everywhere—some commanding beasts, others casting spells, others crafting items on portable anvils.
Soren stepped onto Field 3, clutching the fox like a teddy bear.
Kael pointed to an empty circle. "Start there."
Soren set the fox down gently. "Okay… um… sit?"
The fox sat.
Soren blinked. "Oh. That was easy."
Kael snorted. "Try something harder."
Soren cleared his throat. "Uh… roll over?"
The fox rolled over.
Soren gasped. "He's a genius!"
Kael pinched the bridge of his nose. "Those are basic animal commands, Soren. Try something combat‑related."
Soren nodded nervously. "Okay… um… attack?"
The fox blinked.
Then it trotted over and gently head‑butted Soren's shoe.
Soren stared. "That's… adorable. But not helpful."
Kael sighed. "Try focusing your intent. Beasts respond to emotion and clarity."
Soren took a deep breath. "Okay. Fox… uh… do something scary?"
The fox puffed up its fur, bared its tiny teeth, and let out the most squeaky, non-threatening growl in existence.
Kael burst out laughing.
Soren covered his face. "We're so dead."
The fox chirped indignantly and bit Kael's boot.
Kael yelped. "Ow! Hey!"
Soren gasped. "He attacked!"
Kael glared. "That wasn't an attack. That was a nibble."
The fox puffed up proudly anyway.
Soren knelt beside him. "Okay, buddy. We need something. Anything. A skill. A trick. A miracle."
A soft ding echoed.
A screen appeared.
[NEW BEAST SKILL UNLOCKED: FOX FLUFF (F‑Rank)]
Effect: Fox becomes fluffier.
Combat Use: Distracts enemies.
Cooldown: None.
Note: Host should lower expectations.
Soren stared at the screen.
Kael stared at the screen.
The fox fluffed up like a cotton ball.
Soren whispered, "We're doomed."
Kael nodded. "Yeah."
The fox chirped proudly.
Crafting Attempts
Soren paced in circles. "Okay. Beast skills are… not happening. What about crafting? Maybe I can make something useful!"
Kael shrugged. "Worth a try."
Soren opened his system inventory.
He had:
- 3 Starshrooms
- 1 handful of leaves
- 2 sticks
- A rock
- A fox
He sighed. "This is pathetic."
The fox chirped.
A new screen appeared.
[NEW CRAFTING RECIPE AVAILABLE]
Starshroom Snack (F‑Rank)
Effect: Slight affinity increase.
Side Effect: Tastes terrible.
Soren groaned. "I already made that!"
[HOST SHOULD MAKE MORE.]
"No!"
[AFFINITY IS IMPORTANT.]
Soren threw his hands up. "I need something that helps in a duel, not a snack!"
The system paused.
Then:
[NEW RECIPE UNLOCKED: MAKESHIFT FOX ARMOR (F‑Rank)]
Materials: Leaves, sticks, determination
Effect: +1 Defense
Durability: Very low
Appearance: Embarrassing
Soren stared. "Armor… made of leaves?"
Kael choked. "Do it."
Soren glared. "You're enjoying this."
Kael nodded. "Absolutely."
Soren sighed and got to work.
He tied leaves together with thin strips of bark, using sticks as tiny shoulder guards. The result looked like a kindergarten art project.
He gently placed it on the fox.
The fox froze.
Then it looked down at itself.
Then at Soren.
Then it let out the most offended chirp Soren had ever heard.
Soren winced. "I know, I know, it's ugly, but it gives +1 defense!"
The fox flopped dramatically onto the ground as if its dignity had been destroyed.
Kael wheezed with laughter.
Soren groaned. "This is a disaster."
A Spark of Hope
As Soren sat in the grass, head in his hands, the fox climbed into his lap and nudged his chin.
Soren looked down. "You're not mad?"
The fox chirped softly and curled up against him.
Warmth spread through Soren's chest.
A soft ding echoed.
[BEAST BOND LEVEL INCREASED]
[TINY FOX HAS GAINED +1 EVOLUTION POTENTIAL]
Soren blinked. "Wait… evolution potential?"
Kael leaned forward. "That's good."
Soren's heart raced. "Does that mean… he can evolve soon?"
Kael shrugged. "Maybe. Evolution usually requires a catalyst."
Soren looked at the fox. "A catalyst… like what?"
Kael smirked. "Something rare. Something powerful. Something you definitely don't have."
Soren deflated. "Of course."
But the fox nudged his hand again, eyes bright.
Soren smiled weakly. "Okay. Maybe we can do this. Maybe."
Kael clapped him on the back. "You have until dawn. Train until you drop."
Soren nodded.
The fox chirped.
And training began again.
Nightfall
Hours passed.
Soren practiced commands.
The fox practiced being fluffy.
Soren crafted terrible items.
The fox destroyed them.
Soren tried to meditate.
The fox sat on his head.
By the time the moon rose, Soren was exhausted, sweaty, and emotionally drained.
Kael stretched. "That's enough for tonight. Get some sleep."
Soren nodded weakly. "Yeah…"
He picked up the fox, who curled into his arms instantly.
As they walked back to the dorm, Soren whispered, "Tomorrow… we're going to get destroyed, aren't we?"
The fox chirped softly.
Soren sighed. "At least we'll die together."
The fox licked his cheek.
Soren smiled faintly.
"Okay… maybe we'll survive. Somehow."
He didn't believe it.
But the fox did.
And sometimes, that was enough.
The duel was only hours away.
And Soren was nowhere near ready.
But fate—and the system—had other plans.