A century ago, following the end of a legendary war, one of the most powerful guardians betrayed the world. He possessed the ability to command and tame beasts—more effectively than any other. He became known as the Beast King. His objective was clear: global domination at any cost.
The remaining guardians eventually broke free from his influence. Only three guardians survived, and together they established the Kingdom of Tara, constructing 60-foot (18-metre) walls to shield its citizens from the Beast King's forces outside.
Humanity had long possessed superhuman abilities. Those capable of wielding such powers were known as Mages. They could manipulate elements such as plants, water, energy, lightning, fire, earth, ice, and more. While every human carried a latent mage seed, awakening it required significant strength, discipline, and time. Kyle, unfortunately, had none of these qualities.
An academy was created to train teenagers who had successfully awakened their mage seeds, enabling them to refine their abilities and prepare for a possible invasion by the Beast King and his beast army. The Kingdom housed a modest population of approximately 200,000.
The Kingdom was governed by a political body known as the Board of Leaders, divided into two tiers: the High and the Low. The High comprised three primary leaders with full authority, while the Low consisted of five subordinate members who acted under the High's directives.
Kyle sat in a chair, fixated on his tablet, absorbed in gaming. He was an avid fan of games and comics, and idolised the Kingdom's most famous female model, Sofia Burton. Widely considered the nation's most desirable woman, she had an overwhelmingly male fanbase. The reason was simple: she was exceptionally attractive with a curvaceous figure. For Kyle, her mid-sized breasts were the key factor in his obsession.
After five straight hours of gameplay, Kyle remembered a pending quest assigned by the system, which was under a time limit. The problem was locating the quest target. He typically sneaked beyond the Kingdom walls to scavenge beast crystals left behind by other Mages. Exiting the Kingdom without authorisation from the Kingdom Walls Department was a capital offence, punishable by death regardless of age. Kyle had narrowly escaped execution more than once. He dismissed the thought and turned to gaze out his window.
It was already late. Citizens were returning to their homes. Kyle turned on the light and went to bed, anticipating the following day's exam.
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The test day arrived.
Kyle woke up and checked the clock beside his table.
"5:30 AM. The test is at 9 AM. I'm going back to sleep."
Fifteen minutes later:
"5:45."
He dozed off again.
When he next awoke:
"What?! 9:15?! I'm freakin' late!"
He leapt out of bed, rushed through a shower, and bolted out of his room, still dressing while running toward the Mage Academy.
Upon arrival, the security guard at the gate demanded his identification. Kyle tapped his wristwatch, activating a holographic interface displaying his name and photo. He was granted entry.
In the academy's large open field, nearly a hundred students were already assembled, exchanging names and forming groups. Aware of his limited social prospects, Kyle joined a quiet group of introverts sitting by a table. They welcomed him politely. One boy attempted a joke, which was entirely devoid of humour or logic. Strangely, the others burst into awkward laughter. Kyle watched, unimpressed and confused.
"Right… this clearly isn't for me," he thought, rising from his seat and heading to the queue alone.
At the front stood a large white crystal mounted on an altar. A man stepped forward, appearing to be in his mid-forties. He had short, dark brown hair, greying at the temples. His hazel eyes bore faint green flecks. Wrinkles and lines gave him a distinguished look. Dressed in a crisp white shirt with rolled sleeves, a fitted navy blazer, charcoal grey trousers, and polished brown leather shoes, he exuded a clean, professional image with a touch of relaxed refinement.
Kyle stared at him in admiration.
The man began to speak in a calm, low tone—yet his voice reached everyone clearly, presumably through the use of a magical ability.
"Welcome, new Mages. My name is James. You may simply call me James. In front of me is a Mage Ranking Crystal."
He placed his hands on the crystal. It immediately glowed bright red. A screen above it displayed: Rank A.
Kyle's eyes widened. The most formidable Mages ranged from Rank B to Rank O. That meant James could likely defeat two Rank B-class beasts unaided.
James removed his hand and continued.
"This crystal assesses and displays your mage rank via colour coding. As you saw, it glowed red for me, indicating Rank A. Each of you will now approach and place your hands on it."
The first girl stepped up. When she touched the crystal, it glowed blue, and the screen read: Rank C. She walked away smiling. Rank C was respectable, though not elite.
One after another, the students came forward. Approximately fifty were ranked D, thirty ranked B, and fifteen achieved Rank A.
Then came a girl carrying a soul weapon—a weapon infused with the spirit or consciousness of a sentient being. Hers was a sword forged from the fang of Zyrax, a legendary black dragon. Such a weapon created a strong psychic bond with its wielder, granting immense power at the risk of soul corruption.
Kyle—and everyone else—was stunned. Dragons were extraordinarily rare, especially Rank O-class dragons. Only the wealthiest mage families could obtain such relics.
She appeared to be Kyle's age, around 5'2", with a petite build. Her features were soft and youthful, with large doe-like eyes and radiant skin. Her long brown hair flowed in gentle waves. Her attire, including a fur-lined white jacket likely made of silk or satin in a regal shade, reflected affluence and noble lineage.
As she placed her hand on the crystal, it glowed the same deep crimson red as it had with James.
"Impressive. Rank A," James said, smiling.
The crowd stared in disbelief. Another Rank A.
Kyle, meanwhile, was trembling. The idea of sparring with her—even hypothetically—was terrifying. She would obliterate him instantly.
Finally, it was Kyle's turn.
He stepped forward and placed his hands on the crystal.
James's eyes widened.
The crystal glowed.