Jax Wilder wove through the chaotic arteries of Beastborn Academy, the hallways pulsing with voices, footsteps, and raw, unfiltered ambition. His boots struck the stone floor with a quiet rhythm as he traced the brass placards leading him deeper into the dormitory wing.
Dorm 639.
The last rung on the ladder. His so-called sanctuary. He found the door—a battered, unremarkable slab of oak, its surface scuffed, the metal latch tarnished with age. He exhaled once and pushed it open.
The smell hit first.
It was an aggressive cocktail of stale food, unwashed linens, and something faintly musky, like damp animal fur left to rot. His gaze swept across the room, lips twisting with faint disgust.
Clothes were strewn like casualties of a forgotten battle. Socks, tunics, cloaks—forming little mountains on the warped wooden floor. Books teetered in precarious stacks along shelves and desks, and a cracked window rattled as wind hissed through. The faint glint of metal scraps and broken gear littered one corner.
"Well, look what the Wild Heart dragged in," a voice declared, rich with mockery but not malice.
Two figures looked up from the chaos. One, tall and lean with wild, snow-white hair, lounged on a rickety desk like it was a throne. The other, average height with unruly black hair and a crooked grin, was attempting to juggle apples—and failing, judging by the bruised fruit rolling across the floor.
"Our last den mate," the black-haired one greeted, retrieving his apple with an exaggerated bow. "Welcome to the most prestigious disaster zone on campus."
"Sylas Renn," he added, tossing the apple once before biting into it. "Resident snake. Watch your ankles."
The tall one hopped down with catlike grace, amber eyes gleaming. "Kael Voss. Wolf bloodline—keen senses, better reflexes, above-average hair. You?"
Jax shrugged off his satchel, eyes glinting with subtle amusement. "Jax Wilder," he answered, tossing his bag onto the least contaminated bed. "Shrimp."
A pause.
The apples stopped mid-juggle. Kael's brow arched slightly. For a heartbeat, Jax braced for the usual sneers.
Instead, Sylas grinned, fangs flashing. "A shrimp? Good. People underestimate shrimp. Some of them can punch harder than a lion, you know."
Kael laughed softly, nodding. "We've all got surprises under the hood. No judging here."
Relief flickered in Jax's chest. Genuine acceptance was rarer than dual-beast bloodlines around here.
He gestured vaguely to the disaster zone. "We sleeping tonight, or you two plan to juggle apples 'til dawn? Ceremony's in the morning."
"He's got a point," Kael agreed, stretching lithely, joints popping. "Better to face tomorrow well-rested."
"Lights out it is," Sylas declared, flopping onto his mattress. "Goodnight, mates. Try not to dream about getting vaporized on day one."
Jax settled into his bunk, surprisingly soft despite the squalor. The Academy's distant hum thrummed through the walls—ambition, rivalry, fear—a living, breathing beast.
Tomorrow, the hunt begins, he thought, eyes slipping shut.
Dawn at Beastborn Academy
The sun sliced through the cracked window, painting stripes of gold across the floor. Jax stirred, groaning as he registered movement—his roommates already halfway dressed, crisp uniforms replacing last night's mess.
"Rise and shine, shrimp," Sylas teased, pulling on his jacket. "We march to our doom together."
"Doom? Optimistic," Kael chuckled, adjusting his collar. "Come on, Jax. Ceremony waits for no one."
Jax rolled out of bed, pulling on the academy-issued tunic. The material was coarse but practical. His boots hit the floor, his heartbeat falling into step with his roommates as they slipped into the tide of students.
The courtyard seethed with bodies—commoners brimming with nervous energy, nobles preening in embroidered finery, and prodigies flaunting rare animal traits. The Academy thrummed with potential—and with hierarchy.
A figure in lion-trimmed robes ascended the stage—the Headmaster, a towering presence whose voice could grind stone to dust.
"Welcome to Beastborn Academy," the Headmaster bellowed, eyes sweeping the crowd like a hawk sizing prey. "Here, your lineage grants opportunity—but your strength determines survival."
Teacher after teacher followed, offering hollow encouragements, veiled threats, and ominous promises of rigorous trials.
Finally, a severe woman with steel-gray eyes stepped forward. Her presence silenced the crowd.
"Before we conclude, meet your elite," she declared. "The six most powerful first-years, chosen from noble bloodlines."
Six students ascended the platform, wrapped in immaculate robes and arrogance. Their presence rippled through the courtyard like a storm.
"Show-offs," Sylas muttered, crossing his arms. "All nobles, all pampered."
Jax's gaze lingered. "Who's the deadliest?"
Sylas grinned, gesturing subtly. "Zyra Silverthorn. Top-tier house, genius-level control. They say she has two beast aspects. Almost unheard of."
Jax tracked the silver-haired girl—beauty carved from ice, posture honed to perfection.
"Is her hair silver because of her name, or the name because of her hair?" Jax mused, smirk curling.
"Don't joke," Sylas warned, though a laugh hid behind his words. "House Silverthorn's no joke. Rumor is, she's lethal even by noble standards."
Zyra stepped forward, delivering a poised speech as the crowd hung onto every syllable.
The ceremony concluded, the crowd dispersing. Students herded towards their first classes.
Fate, it seemed, enjoyed irony—Jax, Sylas, and Kael shared Class Alpha-7.
Together, they plunged into the Academy's beating heart.
Jax Wilder's Status Window
Name: Jax Wilder
Affiliation: Beastborn Academy Student (Lowest Tier Noble)
Primary Animal Aspects: Mantis Shrimp, Axolotl
Grading (Current):
Strength: B+
Agility: B
Endurance: A
Beast Affinity: A- (Hybrid powers are rare, indicating high affinity)
Stamina: C+ (Due to regeneration drain)
Mana: D (Not a primary power source, but reflects general energy reserves)
Abilities:
Mantis Shrimp – Explosive Might & Unseen Sight:
Devastating Strike (Kinetic Amplification): Cavitation bubbles release immense heat, sound, and concussive force—can shatter armor or stun foes without contact.
Localized Sonic/Thermal Bursts: Focused bursts to disorient or damage internally.
Reinforced Physiology: Ceramic-like bones/tissues withstand immense forces.
Unveiling Gaze (Polarized Light Vision): Sees through camouflage, illusions, and detects hidden signals or bio-signatures.
Axolotl – Extreme Regeneration:
Unmatched Healing: Rapidly recovers deep wounds and broken bones.
Limb & Organ Regrowth: Perfect regeneration without scarring.
Cellular Mastery: Continuous self-optimization at the cellular level.
Drawbacks:
Fatigue & Energy Consumption: Major healing causes exhaustion; requires immense caloric intake.
Strike Exhaustion: Repeated high-intensity strikes deplete energy rapidly.
Collateral Damage & Precision Issues: Strikes can unintentionally harm bystanders or structures; sonic booms reveal position.
Sensory Overload: Complex lighting can overwhelm polarized vision, causing disorientation or migraines.