This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange

Unfortunately, recently the college declared that all students were forbidden from leaving the premises and all students outside had been recalled. Therefore, Kain was unable to take on any missions to test out the strength of the newly upgraded Vespirae.

Kain was in a private room at the school training ground using their equipment to analyze the increase in strength for the Vespirae Guards after the breakthrough. There were 13 guards now after the upgrade, and there were 6 more eggs to be hatched in the star space until Queen could reach the maximum of 18 for an orange-grade Vespirae Queen.1

He also formulated a training plan, using some of the training plans given to Bridge by the Wolfblood Dojo, to help improve their aim, speed and penetration power.

Thankfully, Queen was quite intelligent and was able to direct them adequately, so that Kain could have his mind wander.

Particularly focusing on how to drag Barret into his business venture.

Beep-Beep-Beep

Suddenly a piercing siren rang through the air, and the training room was bathed in a flashing red light.

"Ahhh! Please tell me you guys didn't break anything!" Kain turned to look at his contracts frantically. However, they looked as confused by the sudden alarm as Kain.

Thankfully a message was kind enough to solve his doubts.

"Attention students, this is Vice Chancellor Windermere. We have received confirmation that a beast tide is swiftly approaching Dark Moon City. However, do not be alarmed. According to our current intel it is currently classified as a level 4 beast tide, and the strength of the spiritual creatures should not exceed Blue-grade."

'Really?! Don't be alarmed?! If I run into one of the few blue-grade creatures I'll die within seconds.'

"All beast-taming students are urged to take immediate action to defend the city. Unawakened students of academic majors are to return to their dorms and remain there until further notice. At the front of your dorms, you will meet a professor of the faculty who will divide you into squads and brief you on your assigned area of reinforcement and task.

Please cooperate fully and follow their instructions precisely."

As the announcement concluded, Kain could hear a flurry of movement coming from the hallway. Kain too also left the training room and made his way back to his dorm building.

On the way he could see that the entire college had fallen into an anxious atmosphere. However, some of the older students who had likely already experienced a beast tide were putting on their gear with practiced efficiency, while the first years, after seeing their seniors, began to fumble nervously with their equipment with shaking hands as they ran towards the location of their dorms.

Professor Aelinor Night, a stern-faced instructor with a reputation for being no-nonsense, stood in front of the top 5 dormitory. She glanced at her watch, then turned to face the 20 students gathered before her—the top 5 of each year.

"Typically, you would be divided into squads of 20, but considering that only 20 of you actually reside here, all of you have been automatically sorted into a single squad. The captain of your squad is Ezra Vauss. Here is your squad's assignment." The senior with sandy brown hair and gold eyes that broke up his fight with Lysander previously stepped forward to receive the assignment.

Nobody raised any objections. After all, he was the captain for the team that represents the team at the national competition as well.

"Arrange yourself into a single file! We don't have all day. Each of you will receive a single Elixir of Vitae. As long as you are alive, it will heal all of your injuries. These elixirs are incredibly expensive, even by the university's standard.

Therefore, each of you will only be given one, it is expected that it would only be used in life threatening instances where you are unable to access a healer.

"You will also receive 10 Spiritual Elixirs to restore your spiritual power. However, please note that they are ineffective when used more than once within 12 hours. Therefore, please don't waste an additional elixir trying to restore your spiritual power after the first time."

After handing out the elixirs, Professor Night left. Kain and the others all turned to face their squad captain.

Ezra Vauss surveyed the group with an air of authority that left no room for hesitation. His gaze swept over each member with a level of scrutiny that made Kain shift slightly. Ezra had a presence that commanded respect, and his reputation for not only his combat skills but also his leadership was well-earned.

Kain especially respected him. At a college where the child of a noble or upper-class member of society could be easily hit from casually throwing a stone, Ezra was just from an ordinary low- to middle-class family. Apparently, the only beast-tamer in his family before him was a grandfather who only reached 3-stars.

Similar to Kain he awakened an S-class affinity, although his is a rare space-type affinity, one of the affinities that Kain desperately wanted. In recognition for his talent, he was thankfully sponsored by his home city's mayor who supplied him with a high-quality space-attribute initial contract, and the rest was history.

"Alright, listen up," Ezra's voice cut through the air. "As the top 5 students of each year, we've been assigned to reinforce one of the areas expected to be the heaviest hit by the beast tide—the main gate of the city. Ensure that you do not venture too far away from the squad. First-years in particular, stay close together. Jade and Oliver, you two will be travelling with the first-years."

"Yaayyy!" Two voices rang out at the same time. Probably the only two individuals that would be excited for baby-sitting duty.

Fortunately, or rather unfortunately, Kain recognized them. Jade was the green-haired annoying senior that he ran away from on the first day of classes. While Oliver was the red-headed instigator during his conflict with Soren. Neither were exactly the epitome of calm and dependable seniors. But at least their strength should be decent is they're both in the top 5 of their year.

"Let's go!" Ezra called out, and everyone followed him through Dark Moon City to the Main gate.

As they marched, Kain's mind raced. The Vespirae and Eve were now at orange-grade, and the guards' performance during the training had shown great promise, but facing a level 4 beast tide was a different challenge entirely. He was still utterly hopeless in the face of green-grade spiritual creatures, much less blue-grade ones.

All he could do was pray that he wouldn't be so unfortunate to run into any creatures at that level.

He also sent out an extra prayer for Bridge and the others that they were hopefully at a much safer location.