The crystalline platforms that ringed the arena shimmered once—then began disassembling midair.
—-
🎙️ "Notice: All static platforms will later retract. All combatants must engage fully aerial.
—-
Altitude: One hundred feet above Federation Academy. Gravity tethers disabled."
⸻
📍 SKY STADIUM – COMPETITOR GATE SEVEN
——-
Height: 100 ft above Federation Academy Central Campus
Mystic surged upward like a myth incarnate, clouds splitting in her wake as Fan Yumei stood balanced near her glowing fin spine.
The upper sky shimmered with violet runes, layered with storm-hardened qi seals and scanning drones. As they approached the launch deck, the system lit up in concentric rings.
🎙️ "Aerial Division Competitor Identified: Fan Yumei."
Mystic touched down with a graceful boom of compressed thunder, and Fan Yumei stepped forward, boots clicking against the crystalline platform.
A tall obsidian-glass pillar rose from the center, flashing her name across a rotating ring of glyphs.
———
🔹 [Mythic-Class Entry: Mystic – Storm Whale]
🔹 [Master: Fan Yumei – Division 6, Soul Function Type]
🔹 [Sky-Class Arena Access Granted]
———
The system pulsed with a soft chime.
Above her, a spherical Federation drone dropped into hover mode, spiraling with glyphlight and pulsing a sharp, synchronized tone across the tier.
———
🎙️ "Combat Protocol Update: Federation Division Beast Battles — Mandatory Briefing Initiated."
———
A ring of light expanded outward, forming a holo-panel array directly in front of her and the dozen other competitors warming up. Even Mystic stilled, her fins drawing inward like focused radar.
⸻
🧾 Official Beast Battle Format – Federation Combat Division Protocol Update
———-
🔹 Eligible Participants:
———-
• All registered Beastmasters, Beast Healers, Beast Tamers
• Any student with a bonded soul beast, magical beast, or mythical beast
• Applies regardless of class rank or division
• Participation is mandatory for qualifying students
———
🔹 Match Format: Two Rounds
———
• Round 1: Beast and master fight as a coordinated unit
• Round 2: Beast fights under mental command only
— Master may give orders but cannot enter combat physically
— Telepathic, gestural, or rune-based command allowed
———
🔹 Victory Conditions:
———
• Based on reflex synergy, tactical instinct, beast reaction time, and qi communication fidelity
• Raw power alone will not win battles
• Points awarded for flawless command execution, intuitive bonding, and combat recovery use
———
🔹 Additional Notes:
———
• Energy snacks, qi supplements, and minor healing tonics are authorized between matches
• Beasts may be summoned in multiple matches — strategic stamina planning is advised
• Federation observers will be tracking bond resonance scores and sync latency
———
Mystic hovered closer. Her aura pulsed once—recognition. The whale was hungry for the pressure.
———
🔹 Match Draw and Frequency
———
• Opponents assigned via random draw
• No division filters — elite and common classes mixed
• Beasts may be summoned across multiple matches
• Endurance is part of the test
———
Fan Yumei glanced at the screen reflecting her matchup against Tian Rou.
"No filters," she echoed, jaw tight. That explained the difficulty spike in round one. There was no mercy round here. No warm-up.
⸻
🔹 Victory Conditions & Scoring
——-
• Judged on:
– Reflex synchronization
– Combat instinct between beast and master
– Command latency and bond fidelity
• Power alone is insufficient
• Bonus points awarded for:
– Mid-battle recovery execution
– Adaptive command strategy
– High qi resonance under pressure
Mystic hovered closer. Her aura pulsed once—recognition. The whale was hungry for the pressure.
⸻
🔹 Authorized Between Matches:
———
• Qi snacks and tonic vials
• Minor healing agents
• No artificial power boosts
• Strategic stamina planning encouraged
Fan Yumei remained perched at the viewing edge, visor still tuned into match telemetry.
——-
🎙️ "Notice: All static platforms will now retract. All combatants must engage fully aerial. Altitude: One hundred feet above Federation Academy. Gravity tethers disabled."
———
🎙️ [AETHER RING ACTIVE] – ROUND ONE ENGAGED
⸻
MATCH 1
—-
Xu Meilan vs. Rong Tu
• Xu Meilan's Beast: Diamond-Talon Razorkite (Rare-Class, Blade-Type)
• Rong Tu's Beast: Vortex Oxenwing (Uncommon-Class, Heavy-Type)
• Clash Type: Close-quarters brutal skirmish
Round 1: Razorkite darted through the dense air, talons slicing at Oxenwing's thick storm plating. Xu mirrored every feint and dive, their bond tight, muscles moving in sync. Rong Tu barked a sharp rune command; Oxenwing's armored wings slammed into Razorkite, staggering the lighter beast. But Razorkite twisted, slashing mid-flip, slicing through a wing ring.
Round 2: Xu stepped back; Razorkite lunged alone under Xu's telepathic commands. Oxenwing charged in heavy beats, attempting a crushing slam, but Razorkite darted with precise counters, exploiting the damaged wing. Xu's commands were crisp, adjusting tactics seamlessly.
Fan Yumei's thought: Too reckless. Xu relies on raw dive speed—won't last long against smart flyers.
⸻
MATCH 2
Ji Fen vs. Taro Wen
• Ji Fen's Beast: Cloudveil Shrieker (Mythic-Class Candidate)
• Taro Wen's Beast: Glideback Fang Raptor (Rare-Class)
• Clash Type: Disruption and stealth counterplay
Round 1: Shrieker screeched, cloud cover swirling as Ji Fen wove complex rune signals. The Raptor's agile flips countered, weaving silently. Taro Wen's gestures sharpened commands, his beast responding to subtle changes in qi pressure. Mid-spiral, Shrieker burst a sonic flare, rupturing the Raptor's formation.
Round 2: Ji Fen held the sidelines, shifting command telepathically. Shrieker darted, baiting the Raptor into traps of air pressure. Taro Wen's counter-strikes showed skilled prediction, but Shrieker's sonic pulses and swift maneuvers overwhelmed.
Mystic pulsed—amused.
⸻
MATCH 3
——
Qu Yanan vs. Serik Hao
• Qu Yanan's Beast: Solarback Scythe Falcon (Rare-Class, Fire-Light)
• Serik Hao's Beast: Wraith Coil Serpent (Uncommon-Class, Wind-Poison Hybrid)
• Clash Type: Elemental pressure and venom kiting
——
📜 MATCH ASSIGNMENTS RECEIVED
— ROUND 1 GROUPINGS —
——
📜 MATCH ONE – Fan Yumei vs. Tian Rou
🔥 Beast: Blaze-Titan Roc (Mythic-Class Candidate)
🔥 Specialty: Vertical Burn Collapse, Jetstream Compression Clashes
🔥 Note: [Ranked #3 among non-human bracket elites]
—-/
📜 MATCH TWO – Fan Yumei vs. Kelan Shu
🜁 Beast: Whisperwing Skystreaker (Uncommon-Class, Fast-Type)
🜁 Specialty: Displacement Speed Blinding, Echo-Shadow Flight Patterns
🜁 Tactical Rank: [Speed-Rush Strategy, Inconsistent Endurance]
📜 MATCH THREE – Fan Yumei vs. Dai Lihua
🜂 Beast: Jade-Talon Flame Hawk (Rare-Class)
🜂 Specialty: Midair Fire Mesh, Wing-Lash Burning Barrage
🜂 Tactical Rank: [Precision Striker, Close-Ranged Control]
Fan Yumei's brow twitched only slightly. Of course Tian Rou was first. No easing in. No time to gauge the field.
Federation didn't just want survivors. They wanted proof.
She placed her hand on the crystal gate, letting her qi signature bind to the match logs.
🎙️ "Competitor Fan Yumei – Match Queue Confirmed. Initial Ring: Aether 04. Commence in 16 minutes."
She turned toward the glowing atmospheric corridor that led to the warm-up skyfields. Below, the rest of the stadium vibrated with the storm of approaching matches.
Tian Rou's name glowed in bright red across her first bracket window.
Mystic pulsed behind her—half a cloud, half a goddess of thunder. Her eyes never left Yumei's.
Fan Yumei exhaled once, short and sharp.
"Then we begin with fire."
The wind curled upward as Mystic spread her fins again, lightning dancing across her storm-veined body. The battlefield was waiting.
"No excuses."