Kyro kept his gaze fixed on the egg as it gave a faint twitch, still showing no signs of cracking open.

It was small enough to rest securely in one hand, its smooth surface interrupted only by fiery patterns that glowed with a subtle light.

“This egg still isn’t breaking,” Kyro muttered. “Do you think it took my blood, or is the beast inside going to attack me when it hatches?”

Erynn shook her head. “If the creature inside didn’t want to bond with you, the egg wouldn’t have reacted at all. But this one has responded, so I’m sure it’s accepting you as its partner.”

The egg trembled again, its faint glow pulsing rhythmically, yet the cracks on its surface remained tiny.

Frustrated, Kyro channeled more of his mana into the egg, hoping to speed up the hatching process. Despite his efforts, the egg offered no further reaction.

“Erynn, what do you think about taking it out of the forest?”

Erynn gave a quick nod. “That might be our best shot. The egg could need a stronger source of mana to hatch completely. But we’re running out of time—we can’t stay here much longer.”

With deliberate care, Kyro lifted the egg, cradling it in his hands as they made their way out of the forest.

Even with all his precautions and patience, the egg stayed stubbornly unchanged. It continued to tremble faintly, but there was still no further sign that it was ready to hatch.

Kyro and Erynn stepped out of her room, walking down the dormitory corridor and heading outside.

Their presence together immediately became the subject of whispers and speculation among their peers.

Kyro carried the mysterious black egg in his arms, its faint glow drawing curious stares, while Erynn held her white rabbit, Lumi, nestled comfortably in her arms.

Not many people knew that Kyro and Erynn had been childhood friends, so their apparent closeness surprised more than a few onlookers.

But what truly captured everyone's attention was the black egg Kyro was carrying.

“What do you think Kyro’s holding? Is that his magical beast? Did he finally manage to form a contract?”

Nearly everyone at the academy was aware that Kyro was the only student who hadn’t succeeded in forming a beast contract yet.

“But why is he walking with Erynn? Could it be that she used her special access to help him get into Eterna Forest?”

“Damn it! How is that possible? I’ve never seen them together before.”

“Do you think Erynn heard about Kyro’s situation? Maybe she personally offered to help him? Everyone knows Erynn is kind to everyone.”

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

“No! I won’t allow it! Kyro, that useless guy, has no business being near Erynn!”

Erynn's popularity as the academy’s top student and most beautiful girl was undeniable.

Her beauty, often compared to that of a goddess, captivated the hearts of many male students.

They vied for her attention, each hoping to win her over, but none had succeeded in getting close to her.

Erynn’s visible closeness with Kyro only deepened their frustration and fueled their resentment toward him.

“Wait, don’t you think something’s strange? Why hasn’t that egg hatched yet?” someone asked.

“Normally, if a contract is successful, the egg would break and the contracted beast would emerge.”

“That’s true! Could it be that the egg didn’t actually want to bond with Kyro, and he forced it by taking it out of the forest?”

“Damn it! If that’s the case, he’s putting himself in danger.”

“Hahaha, honestly, I’d be happy if that were true. Kyro deserves a lesson!”

News of the incident spread quickly throughout the academy. It wasn’t surprising—Kyro and Erynn were both well-known students, though for completely opposite reasons.

Someone rushed to inform Robert about what had happened with Kyro.

He slammed his desk with a loud bang. “What did you say?! Where is he now?”

Robert immediately left the classroom, flanked by four of his usual provocateurs. Together, they stormed toward Kyro.

Before long, Robert stood face-to-face with Kyro and Erynn. The commotion quickly drew a crowd of students eager to witness what would unfold.

Robert was a prominent figure in the academy, known for his Epic-grade magical beast and the immense wealth of his family.

When he arrived, Robert burst into laughter. “Hahaha! So, this ‘magical beast’ of yours is just that useless egg?! Hah! It suits you perfectly!”

“Look at it—it doesn’t even want to hatch. Haha!”

“I bet it’s just some worthless egg he picked up at random,” one of Robert’s friends chimed in.

Robert stepped closer to Erynn. “Erynn, why are you wasting your time helping him? You should know it’s pointless. This idiot has been in the academy for two years now and still hasn’t managed to form a single contract!”

He continued, “I suggest you stay away from him. Who knows? You might end up tarnishing your reputation because of him.”

Kyro remained silent, standing calmly in his spot, showing no reaction to Robert’s taunts.

“Did you come all the way here just to mock him? I don’t think it’s your place to tell me who I can or can’t associate with,” Erynn said.

Erynn’s patience was wearing thin. She reached for Lumi, ready to command her rabbit to transform.

But before she could act, something warm stopped her. Kyro’s hand gently rested on her arm.

“Erynn, stop,” he said. “Let me handle this.”

Robert sneered. “You fool. I’ll show you exactly where you belong—beneath me. You don’t even have time to change your mind now!”

“Robert, don’t you think you’re talking way too much?”

Everyone was stunned by Kyro’s words. It was something no one had ever expected from the original Kyro.

The original Kyro wouldn’t have dared to look his opponent in the eye, let alone stand up to someone like Robert, who had tormented him relentlessly.

Robert, on the other hand, was visibly irritated. His expression darkened as he barked an order at his crow. “Do it! Show him his place!”

The crow, circling above, prepared to unleash its deadly screech. Kyro braced himself, ready to endure the noise.

But before the attack could begin, a blinding light erupted from the egg in his arms.

The brilliant glow illuminated the entire area, forcing everyone to shield their eyes with their hands. The sheer intensity of the light captured everyone’s attention, silencing the murmurs and taunts.

Kyro held the egg with one hand while covering his eyes with the other, struggling to process what was happening.

The cracks on the egg’s surface began to spread.

The crowd stood in breathless silence.

At last, the egg shattered completely. From within emerged a four-legged creature, its sleek black fur streaked with fiery red patterns that seemed to flicker like embers. It moved, glancing around warily as it worked to shake off the bits of shell still clinging to its body.