I am Just an Average Tamer

The soft golden rays of morning filtered through the thick canopy of the forest. Birds chirped in the distance, occasionally drowned out by the low growls of beasts echoing deeper in the woods.

The arena, once eerily silent under the moonlight, was now buzzing with life. The seats that stood empty the previous night were quickly filling up with excited spectators, the hum of chatter rising like a growing storm.

"Hey, did you see that monster Rudo took down yesterday?"

"Yeah, man. I nearly pissed myself just looking at its face."

"That spirit wolf of his is insane."

"No doubt he's gonna make to the top 10."

"His spirit is best."

"Best? Please. Lei Mei's way stronger, her spirits are on another level."

"Seriously? She hasn't even fought anyone yet. How would you know?"

"Tch. I can just tell by looking."

"Heh, you're just drooling over every pretty girl in the arena."

"Am not."

"Simp."

"I said I'm not a simp!"

Laughter rippled through nearby seats as the banter continued.

Across the coliseum, more and more spectators poured in, some holding food, others waving banners of their favorite participants. The energy was electric.

Within minutes, the stadium was packed.

A man dressed in a deep navy robe stepped onto the main arena stage, a polished sound artifact in his hand.

He brought it to near his lips, and opened his mouth.

His voice, crisp and booming, echoed across the grounds.

"Good morning, everyone!"

The crowd stirred. Whistles. Claps.

"Welcome back to Day Two of OUR Academy's Entrance Trials!"

"As you all know—today is the FINAL DAY. And what you're about to witness… are the finest young talents of this generation battling it out for glory!"

"So, take your seats, hold onto your snacks, and don't even blink—because you won't wanna miss a second of what's coming."

He raised a hand theatrically.

"Now then… ARE YOU GUYS READY?!"

The arena exploded.

"YEEAAAHHH!!"

"Let's goooo!!"

"BRING IT ON!!"

"Show us Lei Mei!!"

"Princess Rashira's gonna smoke everyone!"

With a casual flick of his finger, the giant crystalline viewing screens around the stadium shimmered to life.

Dozens of magical feeds flared up.

Each one showing different trial zones across the forest-maze.

Blades clashed. Beasts roared. Spells illuminated the dark undergrowth in flashes of elemental fury.

"You see that girl? She's my daughter—MOMMY LOVES YOU, DEAR!"

"Go, my boy! Make your papa proud!"

"Do it, bro! If you win, I'm gonna confess to my crush today!"

"Let's goooo!"

The arena thundered with an eclectic mix of chants, cheers, and personal war cries. The Trials were in full swing, and the real show was just beginning.

Back in the cave...

"Ugh…"

Kai stirred awake, groaning as he rubbed his sore arms. His body ached, but he sat upright and took a moment to steady his breathing.

Sitting cross-legged, he closed his eyes and began to meditate, letting his internal energy flow and stabilize.

After a few minutes, he stood, his gaze falling on Corrin—snoring loudly with his mouth wide open, a trail of drool glistening at the corner of his lips.

Kai sighed and walked over, nudging Corrin's side with his boot.

"Oi. Wake up."

Corrin groaned and rolled to the side, scratching the spot Kai had nudged.

"Just five more minutes…" he mumbled.

Kai narrowed his eyes.

Smack!

He kicked Corrin square on the back, sending him rolling a few feet on the dirt.

"Ouch! What the hell, man?!" Corrin shot up, rubbing his back with a pained expression.

Kai shrugged nonchalantly.

"You weren't waking up when I tried nicely."

Corrin scowled.

"You could've tried again—"

"Shut up. We're already behind."

Kai motioned towards the edge of the cliff where sunlight spilled through.

Corrin squinted into the distance. His expression darkened.

"Oh, shit. The miasma's gonna catch up to us soon, huh?"

Kai nodded.

"Yeah. And don't forget we still need to collect those damn tokens before the trial ends."

With a wave of his hand, the magical barrier dissipated. The protective shimmer vanished into the air like mist.

Without another word, Kai stepped toward the cliff and leapt off, vanishing into the thick foliage below.

Corrin blinked.

"What the hell, man?! Wait for me, Mr. Cool Guy!"

Then he jumped, disappearing into the forest after his partner.

[< Falcon's Sight activated!>]

As Kai vaulted from one tree to the next, the world shifted.

Colors dimmed. Shapes sharpened.

The sway of leaves slowed, each detail etched with eerie clarity.

No branches obscured his view, no foliage masked movement—only clean, unobstructed sightlines, as if the forest had parted for his eyes alone.

He glanced ahead—

The forest path was clear. Birds scattered in the distance. The occasional beast flinched at his passing blur.

Then he looked behind—

The miasma.

A roiling wall of shadowed mist, clawing its way through the undergrowth like a beast with no face.

It twisted trees in its path and consumed light, an unnatural fog thick with decay and whispers.

"Tch," Kai clicked his tongue.

No good. It was picking up speed.

He turned his gaze northeast—

There.

A flicker.

Just past the tall ridge beyond the withered tree.

Movement.

Three figures—

One kneeling near a beast.

One hiding behind a mossy boulder.

Another climbing a slope with a token in hand.

Kai's eyes narrowed.

He blinked once, locking in their positions. His lips curled into a faint smirk.

[< Beast Synchronization: Activated!>]

[< Select from available synced skills!>]

➤ Shadow Ball

➤ Echo Ball

➤ Thunder Roar

➤ Groundbreaker Slam

➤ Thunderclap

Kai narrowed his eyes, weighing pros and cons for each one of them.

'Thunderclap.'

[< Ding! >]

[< Temporary Skill: Thunderclap acquired!>]

[< Thunderclap: A burst-movement skill. Upon activation, the user channels condensed electrical energy into their muscles and nerves, allowing for an explosive short-range dash at blinding speed also immobilizes the others in the range. Leaves behind electrical trails and a minor shockwave at the point of acceleration. >]

"Oi," Kai said, his voice flat, eyes still forward.

"Hmm?" Corrin replied, glancing up.

"Try keeping up."

Corrin blinked. "Huh—?"

[< Thunderclap activated!>]

CRACKLE!

Sparks surged around Kai's legs, arcs of lightning licking his boots.

WHOOSH!

He vanished in a thunderous flash, scorching the bark of nearby trees, static pulsing through the air as charred leaves fluttered down behind him.

Corrin staggered back, shielding his face from the shockwave.

"The fuck!?" he coughed, blinking through the haze of crackling air.

He stared down at the smoking path Kai left behind.

"Tch...And here I thought I was the reckless one."

----

"Is it secure?" asked a short, wiry boy crouched near a rock.

His eyes darted around with nervous tension, a pair of knives clutched in his hands, already slick with grime.

The tallest of the trio, a bulky girl with a greatsword strapped to her back, growled low.

"Stop whining, Tek. We've got one of the tokens. That's all that matters." She wiped a trickle of blood from her brow and adjusted the satchel slung over her shoulder.

Just a few paces away, the third member, lean and pale, with strange runes glowing faintly across his arms, knelt beside a limp beast. His hand hovered just above its fur.

"It's almost ready," he muttered. "One more channeling and I'll have this spirit bound. A wild Windspike Crawler like this? It'll give us an edge if we run into anyone else."

Tek peeked around the moss-covered boulder again, wiping his forehead. "Forget spirit binding! We need to move. The miasma's getting close, and we've already seen two teams wiped out.

That thing melts flesh."

The girl snapped, "And running blindly will only get us ambushed."

They fell into a tense silence.

Birds fluttered overhead. Branches creaked.

Then, suddenly—

The air trembled.

Crackle.

A faint pulse of static.

The pale rune-boy's head snapped up. His eyes widened.

"Do you hear that?"

Too late.

BOOM!

A thunderous roar cracked through the forest, echoing off trunks and stone.

Then—

Whoosh!

Lightning.

A bolt of it.

No—

A man.

Kai.

He blurred into existence like a flash of vengeance, his eyes sharp and cold, arms tucked low and ready.

Trails of smoke curled behind him, scorched branches still hissing with static discharge.

"Shit—"

Tek barely raised his blades before Kai struck. One dagger. One twist.

The boy gurgled and collapsed, his weapons clattering uselessly to the ground.

The rune mage shouted, raising his hand to unleash a spell—

But Kai was already there.

A surge of electricity burst from his palm—

The rune-boy's scream was cut short as volts danced through his nerves, dropping him like a puppet with cut strings.

The sword girl roared, swinging her massive blade in desperation. "You bastard!"

Kai ducked under the arc, slid behind her, and drove his elbow into the back of her skull with a sickening crack.

She dropped.

Silence.

Smoke drifted lazily through the trees. The charred scent of ozone filled the air.

Kai stood amid the fallen trio, calm and steady. No wasted movements. No mercy.

He knelt, pried the glowing token from the girl's satchel, and stood up again.

"Got one."