SSS Rank: Strongest Beast Master

The secret of the dying serum was a heavy stone in Jonah's gut. He walked through the Academy halls, seeing everything through new eyes.

The nation was running on a dying battery, and all anyone could talk about was the tournament.

The annual Tournament of Ultra Awakened was the Academy's biggest event, a showcase of the strongest and most promising students who had achieved the Rank Three Badge. The entire campus was buzzing with an electric, festive energy. Banners in the Academy's colors hung from every spire, and students gathered in excited groups, debating who would take the top prize.

"Everyone's betting on Draven," Vanessa said, falling into step beside Jonah as they walked towards the main battle arena. She had a datapad in her hand, displaying the tournament brackets. "After his performance at the Dragon's Tooth, his popularity has skyrocketed. He's the favored competitor by a huge margin."

Jonah nodded, a genuine smile touching his lips. "Good. He's earned it."

He saw Draven near the entrance to the arena, surrounded by a small group of admirers. He looked different. Taller, somehow. He caught Jonah's eye and gave a sharp nod. A gesture of mutual respect between equals.

Jonah was technically eligible to compete, but the Headmaster had quietly pulled him aside. "Your role is no longer that of a competitor, Jonah. You are a national asset. Observe. Learn. But do not reveal the full extent of your power in a schoolyard brawl."

He was fine with that. He had bigger things to worry about than a trophy.

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The massive arena was filled to the brim with thousands of excited students, teachers, and even some visiting leaders. The crowd's noise was immense, a wave of noise and thrill that washed over them as they sat.

The opening ceremony began with a dazzling display of magic. Mages created glowing fireworks that exploded into the shapes of mythical beasts, and Warriors performed feats of strength, breaking massive stone blocks with a single punch.

Finally, the Headmaster went to the stage. The crowd got very quiet as his voice was heard all over the arena.

"Welcome, students, honored guests, to the Tournament of Ultra Awakened!" he began, his voice ringing with authority. "Today, we celebrate the strength of a new generation! The strength that has defended our nation for over a century!"

He paused, letting the cheers wash over him. Then he held up a hand for silence.

"For that century," he continued, "we have believed that we stood alone. We believed our path was the only path. Today, we learn that we were wrong."

The crowd made confused noises. Jonah sat up straight. He looked at Vanessa, and she looked puzzled too.

The Headmaster's voice filled the air. "For the first time in a hundred years, the Silver Phoenix Empire from across the sea has broken its long isolation! They have sent us an envoy, a student from their own academy, to participate in our tournament as a gesture of goodwill and a test of strength!"

The shock hit at once. The whispers turned into a loud roar of disbelief. Another nation? Another academy? It couldn't be true. It went against all they had ever learned.

As the chaos grew, the Headmaster raised his voice. "Let us welcome our guest! Please, Let's welcome, Ariana of the Silver Phoenix Empire!"

All eyes turned to the main entrance.

A lone figure walked into the arena.

She was a girl, perhaps a year or two older than Jonah. She wore a simple uniform of white and silver that stood in stark contrast to the Academy's practical gear. Her long hair was tied back in a simple braid, and her face was calm.

She didn't seem intimidated by the thousands of staring eyes. She just walked to the center of the arena and gave a short bow to the Headmaster.

A senior student, a tough looking Warrior, scoffed loudly from a few rows down. "What's she going to do? Throw glitter at us?"

As if in response, Ariana held up her hand, palm open. There was no chant, no glowing runic circle. There was only a soft, humming sound. A pure white light gathered in her palm, and with a soft shing, it became solid.

It was a sword. A long, elegant blade made not of steel, but of pure light. It didn't burn; it simply was buzzing with a controlled power Jonah had never felt before. Then, with a flick of her other wrist, a round shield of the same pure light appeared on her arm.

The entire arena fell silent.

Vanessa leaned in, whispering to Jonah, her voice full of impressed understanding. "There's no beast signature… it's not a manifested weapon like Draven's. It's pure mana manipulation, but the form… it's so stable. How is she doing that?"

Jonah didn't know, but he felt it. This was a different kind of magic. Not borrowed from the essence of a beast. Not awakened by a violent ritual. This was something else. Something pure.

Ariana let the sword and shield dissolve back into motes of harmless light. She turned her calm, intelligent eyes to the section where the Rank three Badge competitors were seated, her gaze looking over Draven and the other top students.

"I am honored to be here," she said, her voice clear and carrying easily across the silent arena. "I have come to learn from you, and to test my strength against yours."

It wasn't a threat. It was a simple, polite, and confident statement of fact.

The world had just gotten a whole lot bigger.

Jonah looked at this girl, this unbelievable messenger from a nation that shouldn't exist. She used magic they couldn't understand. He was supposed to be the hope for his nation's survival, the key to solving the slow decay of their power.

And now, a brand new player had just walked onto the board. He had no idea if she was a friend, a rival, or something else entirely.