I am Just an Average Tamer

She extended her hand with poise.

"If you ever need anything... come to the top floor of the Administration Hall."

Kai took her hand briefly.

"...Kai."

"I know," she said with a subtle grin. "I make it a point to keep an eye on potential troublemakers."

Corrin raised an eyebrow. "Wait, are we the troublemakers here?"

Riven laughed, arms behind his head. "I mean, technically, we were being good this time."

Seraphyne smirked, gave Stromoen one more glance, then turned on her heel. Her beasts followed, their footsteps soft yet imposing.

Scene: The Final Trial Begins – "Domain of War"

Location: Azurean Trial Grounds – Core Arena, 4th Layer

Time: Morning, just after sunrise

The Academy's amphitheater had transformed.

Gone were the narrow platforms and isolated dueling zones. Instead, the central arena expanded into a vast, open battlefield surrounded by shifting terrain—plains, shallow streams, rocky hills, and dense ruins carved with glowing symbols.

Hovering above it all were crystal orbs, dozens of them, floating like watchful eyes. Inside each orb was a rune that would pulse upon capture.

> This was the final trial.

"Claim and hold."

Thirty-two finalists stood at the perimeter, all ranked within the top 40 of the entire exam. The rest had been filtered out.

A booming voice echoed across the arena, belonging to none other than Professor Talon Graves, the Head of Trials.

> "Each crystal orb is tied to a magical beacon. Touch it once to claim it. Keep it under your control for five minutes, and your score rises."

> "Beware. Orbs can be stolen. Foes can ambush you. If you're downed or removed from the field, you lose all claimed points."

> "One hour. Survive. Fight. Conquer."

He raised his staff—and the ground beneath the contestants lit up with teleportation runes.

> "Let the final trial… begin."

---

❖ Kai's Drop Zone – Broken Ruins (Northwest Sector)

A flash of light deposited Kai onto a stone platform suspended over cracked ruins choked with roots and vines.

The wind howled low, carrying tension like static.

> Vex appeared instantly at his side.

Vael circled overhead.

Stromeon thudded to the earth, sparks crackling along his horns.

Kai crouched, eyes darting.

> "Vael, scout. Vex, shadows. Stromeon, anchor the zone."

The orb was close—hovering ten meters away atop a crumbling archway. He moved with silent precision, weaving through rubble and taking up position beneath it.

> "Now," he whispered.

Vael dove. Stromeon leapt. Vex blinked.

In seconds, the orb pulsed—claimed.

But the moment it did, three nearby auras flared.

> "Figures," Kai muttered. "It begins."

---

❖ Aria's Zone – Forested Ridge (Southeast)

Aria landed in a serene glade surrounded by tall trees. She immediately dropped into a stance, sensing the magic flow in the earth.

> Her Ironfang Panther prowled.

Her second beast—a Galehorn Elk—stepped out from behind a tree, antlers glowing with wind runes.

Her third—a Sunveil Hawk—screeched overhead.

She placed one hand on the ground.

> "Steady… Feel the rhythm."

A pulse guided her to the orb nestled within a tree hollow.

She whispered, "Take it."

Her hawk swooped down and activated the orb.

Claimed.

Then, shadows moved across the glade.

---

❖ Rashira's Zone – Stream Crossing (South)

Rashira panted slightly. Water splashed as her Riverwake Serpent slithered through a shallow stream, curling protectively around a glowing orb atop a mossy boulder.

Beside her, her other two beasts—Thistle, a plant-type fox beast, and Glimmare, a tiny bioluminescent fae-drake—hovered in position.

She clutched her staff tightly.

> "W-we got one," she mumbled.

But then—

BOOM!

A fireball exploded a nearby tree.

From the treeline emerged Damar, a flame-cloaked warrior-tamer with a direwolf trailing flames.

> "Hope you're ready to lose it, princess."

Rashira's hands shook—but her eyes lit up with focus.

> "Thistle. Trapline Bloom. Glimmare—blinding pulse!"

The forest erupted into chaos.

---

❖ Cassian's Zone – Stone Plateau (Center)

Cassian grinned as he parried a blade strike from a brute wielding an axe.

His twin swords danced, deflecting each blow with fluid grace. Behind him, two orbs already hovered in protection.

His third beast—a Steelmane Lion—leapt forward with a roar, knocking the brute aside.

> "This is almost too easy," Cassian mused, wiping a cut on his cheek.

Another challenger stepped up—a bow user with a camo beast.

Cassian laughed.

> "Let's make it fun, then."

---

❖ Kai – Under Siege

Three combatants emerged from the ruins, surrounding Kai.

The first—a long-range caster.

The second—a beast-summoning knight.

The third—an assassin cloaked in smoke.

Kai clicked his tongue.

> "Split and pin me, huh?"

His eyes flashed.

> "Stromeon. Disrupt."

"Vex. Circle behind."

"Vael—on me."

Stromeon slammed his tail down—Thunder Roar erupted, shaking the stone.

The caster flinched. The knight charged.

Kai blurred forward.

> Senbon needles flew.

Shadow flickered.

Dagger met steel.

Within seconds, one enemy was out cold. The orb remained under Kai's control.

But then—one of the crystal orbs above pulsed red.

> "Orb contested."

Kai's head snapped up.

Another presence. Strong. Silent.

From behind a pillar stepped Sevyr—the silver-haired elf with a sly grin.

> "Yo," he greeted lazily. "Fancy seeing you here."

Kai narrowed his eyes. "You going for my orb?"

> "Just saying hi. Maybe spar a bit."

His mage-beast, a Lunarfrost Specter, appeared in silence behind him.

> "I won't go easy," Sevyr smiled.

Kai's lips curled into a thin line.

> "Good."

---

❖ Final Flash – Elsewhere

High above the battlefield, the nobles and professors watched from a massive, enchanted scrying screen.

Selene leaned back in her seat, sipping wine.

> "Oh? Sevyr and Kai... now that's a pairing I'd pay to see."

Professor Ilyra squinted at another feed.

> "Is that Rashira holding against Damar? Alone?"

Headmaster Eldric said nothing, eyes fixed on a split screen showing Kai, Aria, and Cassian—all locked in separate battles.

The final trial had only just begun.

And the true storm… was still gathering.

Scene: Clash of Shadows and Frost – Kai vs. Sevyr

Dust drifted through the ruined air as Kai and Sevyr circled each other like dueling specters.

Vael perched high above, scanning. Vex vanished into the rubble. Stromeon stood coiled, thunder rumbling faintly in his throat.

Sevyr yawned theatrically. "You always look so serious. Relax, Kai. We're just playing a game."

Kai's eyes remained locked on Sevyr's every subtle movement. "Games don't end in blood."

Sevyr smiled wider. "Don't they?"

He raised a slender finger—his Lunarfrost Specter shimmered forward like a ripple in moonlight. Wisps of cold mist coiled around the battlefield as a chill descended.

> ❖ [Sevyr's Specter - Skill: Moonveil Mirage]

The battlefield warped slightly—ghostly afterimages of Sevyr flickering in and out across Kai's vision.

> "Illusion?" Kai muttered, slowing his breathing. "Tch. Then I'll rely on instinct."

The first blast came from behind. A shard of lunar frost grazed his shoulder, numbing the skin beneath.

Kai didn't flinch. He ducked under the next volley, rolled forward, and slashed—daggers aimed not at the image before him, but at empty air to the left.

> The real Sevyr parried, eyebrows raised. "Not bad."

Kai didn't respond. He lunged again, his movements tighter now—controlled. Each feint he threw was followed by a probing senbon strike. Each step calculated.

Stromeon barreled forward from the flank—Sevyr dodged gracefully, but his footing shifted.

> "Vael. Now."

From above, the Windsight Falcon dove—Sonic Dive activating mid-flight. The compressed wind struck Sevyr's shoulder, staggering him slightly.

Kai surged forward—daggers flashing.

For a moment, their blades clashed in silence. One graceful and fluid. The other razor-sharp and ruthless.

> "You're a fun dance partner," Sevyr grinned, panting. "Most people can't keep up."

> "I'm not most people," Kai growled, twisting his body mid-air as Vex blinked behind Sevyr—Phantom Slash arcing toward the elf's back.

But Sevyr turned at the last second, his Specter phasing into place to block it.

> ❖ [Specter - Skill: Frost Reversal]

A pulse of cold magic pushed Vex away, frost clinging to his shadowed form.

Still, Kai had seen enough.

> "He's clever," Kai thought, "but he's not pushing to win. He's testing me."

Kai disengaged, backflipping onto higher ground. "You're holding back."

Thistle was down, buried under scorched earth.

Glimmare fluttered weakly in her satchel.

Her Riverwake Serpent still stood—raging like a tide, hissing at the smirking Damar and his Flamewolf.

Thistle was down, buried under scorched earth.

Glimmare fluttered weakly in her satchel.

Her Riverwake Serpent still stood—raging like a tide, hissing at the smirking Damar and his Flamewolf.

Sevyr flicked a strand of silver hair behind his ear. "Observant. I'm not here to win, Kai. I'm here to see who deserves to."

His gaze turned serious, just for a breath. "And you're starting to convince me."

Then he winked. "Bye~"

With a snap of his fingers, his beast cloaked the area in mist. By the time the fog faded, Sevyr was gone.

Kai exhaled slowly. "What the hell is he planning…?"

---

❖ Scene: Rashira's Gamble

Blood stained Rashira's sleeve, but she didn't stop moving.

> Thistle was down, buried under scorched earth.

Glimmare fluttered weakly in her satchel.

Her Riverwake Serpent still stood—raging like a tide, hissing at the smirking Damar and his Flamewolf.

Thistle was down, buried under scorched earth.

Glimmare fluttered weakly in her satchel.

Her Riverwake Serpent still stood—raging like a tide, hissing at the smirking Damar and his Flamewolf.