Original subtitles

In my first life, Truth, the black dragon, betrayed me on stage just for

power. He watched savage claws tear me to pieces.

In my second life, Eden, the tiger, left me behind for silly vanity.

Beasts ate me alive.

In my third life, Luca, the white wolf, caved into his family's demands.

His cowardness sent me straight to hell.

Three lives, three brutal deaths, all at the Academy's big annual tournament.

Then I opened my eyes a fourth time.

The crowd's roar hit me like a wall.

I was back.

Right on the day of the Covenant ceremony.

There they stood at the front of the line.

Truce, Ellen, Luca.

The absolute strongest.

Right now, they're still young. They look up at me with those bright,

innocent eyes.

Everyone thinks I'll pick one of them again. I am the genius tamer, after all.

They have no idea.

I had poured my heart and soul into raising them, only to be stabbed in the

back. Not again.

I take a deep breath and walk right past them. If the strongest always betray me,

fine. I'll pick an underdog this time. A female beast.

The whole crowd gasped as I walk all the way to the very end of the line.

There, curled in the dirt, was a tiny female beast covered in stut. A low

-blood ash bear.

She was filthy, starving, and glaring at me like a scared little feral thing.

I knelt down and gently reached out my hand.

Will you make a covenant with me?

Is Eliza out of her mind?

giving up elite bloodlines for a useless, low-blood ashbear.

Behind me, Truce's smug smile freezes.

Eden's eyes flare with anger.

Luca takes a shocked step forward. I don't care if they mock me. I press my

palm down to form the Concentric Covenant. Then, a deafening alarm

shrieks through the entire hall. The magic circle violently wiggles, spinning

completely out of control.

The mana storm ripped through the hall.

Violent energy shattered the restraints.

A nearby beastman lost its mind and lunged straight at me, fangs out.

Death again.

I closed my eyes, waiting for the hit, but a tiny grey blurt leapt in front of

me. It was Leela, my scrawny little ash bear. She was shaking like a leaf, but

she used her own tiny body to block the blow.

Blood sprayed everywhere.

A deep gash tore across her back. She collapsed into my arms, whippering, but

her little paws clung to me for dear life.

Up on the platform, the headmaster looked down, cold as ice.

He said, Elena, this ash bear can't even defend herself.

She's trash.

Tamer B urged, The Covenant isn't locked yet! Ditch her and pick a real beast!

Hera stood benign, her lips curled in a smug sneal. My three ex-beasts just

watched, their eyes full of disgust.

I held Leela tight against my chest.

Her heartbeat was getting weaker and weaker.

I pressed my hands against her back, desperately trying to keep her alive.

Then, I stood up and glared right back at the crowd. The Covenant is done.

She's my bondmate.

I'll never abandon her.

The mentors laughed.

My classmates whispered and pointed, looking at me like I was insane.

But down in my arms, Leela gently nudged my palm with her head.

Trute, Eden, and Luca couldn't stand that I ignored them for a nobody.

They cornered me the second I walked back.

Eden was furious, his eyes burning with a toxic possessiveness. He yelled, Cut

the attitude, Elena.

What future do you have with a trash bear?

Covenant with me instead.

He stepped closer, reaching out to grab my wrist. He almost touched me.

Right then, Leela, who had been nibbling bark at my feet, snapped.

Her eyes turned savage. She let out a terrifying deep growl and lunged. With a

sickening crunch, Leela bit down hard on Eakon's wrist.

Eden screamed.

Truth and Luta went pale, shifting their forms to swarm us. Truth snarled. You

useless piece of trash! You're dead!

I drew my magic dagger in a flash, shielding Leela and warning them. Touch

her, and I'll end you. Get lost!

Seeing I wasn't playing around, the three jerks chickened out, exchanging

panic glasses before scrambling away in humiliation.

Time to reward my brave little hero. I pulled out my rare magic crystal, hoping

to help her absorb a little mana, only for Leela to snatch it and crunch it

down like a piece of candy.

My jaw hit the floor.

After swallowing the crystal, she didn't learn any cool spells at all.

Instead, she just let out a loud burp and fell fast asleep on the spot.

Seriously?

I had to pick her up and carry her all the way home.

I tucked her into the little bed right next to mine. Watching her sleep, I

couldn't help but smile.

She really risked her life for me today. Even if she's weak forever, I don't

care. At least she's actually loyal.

In the dead of night, I woke up, drenched in sweat.

Leela had crawled under my clanket, and her little body was burning.

I tossed the blanket aside to cool her down and asked, Does it hurt, girl? She

didn't respond.

Panic set in. What if something was seriously wrong with her? I scooped her

up, rushing outside into the cool night breeze.

Then it hit me. Her wounds healed right after she ate earlier.

Could food be the key to her recovery?

I tried feeding her every scrap of food I could find in the cabin.

Nope. Lips locked tight. She refused to eat a single bite.

What do I do?

Suddenly, I felt a warm, wet nudge on my chest.

Leela was nuzzing and sucking right against my chest.

Wait. We're bound by a sacred covenant now. Is this... Even appropriate?

My face turned bright red, but I held her close anyway.

Her temperature started to drop. If this is what it takes to save her, whatever.

Soon, her fever broke completely, and her breathing grew steady and deep.

Only two days left until the Academy's assessment.

Elite beasts like Truth and Luca can already turn into humans and use

advanced magic effortlessly. Meanwhile, Leela can't even manage a basic

transformation. I can't help but worry. Is she going to be safe?

Assessment day. Right on schedule.

On the stage, everyone else is showing off. Fireballs, wind blades, ice storms.

The crowd goes wild. Then it's our turn. Hundreds of eyes watching. She can't

even manage a basic run. And Leela? Still stuffed from yesterday. She plops

down on the cold stone and falls fast asleep.

Instead, still stuffed from yesterday. She plops down on the cold stone and

falls fast asleep.

Drool pooled everywhere.

And in her sleepy haze, she even began chewing on the proctor's boot. High top,

the headmaster's face darkened. He slams his gavel down. Zero points. Elena's

beast has absolutely no potential for evolution.

Unranked.

The whole hall bursts into harsh, deafening laughter.

Oh my god, she failed the assessment completely?

And she calls herself a genius tamer? Total joke.

Serves her right for picking trash.

Should have picked truce or ebon.

Then Syrah struts out, flanked by my three ex-beasts, blocking my way.

Syrah neeks. Oh, look at the great prodigy tamer. Now reduced to a circus

act with a lazy bear?

Truth adds.

Trash belongs with trash. I just stare at all those mocking faces.

Then, squaring my shoulders, I knelt down and scooped sleeping Leela into my

arms. Let them laugh.

I held my little bear tight and walked off the stage, one firm step at a time.

But Syrah isn't done with me yet.

Sarah wasn't about to let us walk away.

She blocked our path with beast guards.

She smugly pulling out a priceless high-rank magic crystal. It glowed with

pure, dense magical energy. She waved it in our faces.

Her eyes dripping with malice, she said, See this? Only elite beasts deserve

this. You and your trash bear belong in the dirt.

She wanted to humiliate me, but she had no idea Leela is a bottomless pit.

The second Leela smelled that manna, her eyes popped wide open.

A tiny grey blur shot through the air. She swallowed the priceless crystal like

a piece of candy.

Sarah stared at her empty hand. Then she completely lost it, screaming.

Ah! My crystal!

You filthy beast!

Sarah turned to her beast guards and ordered, What are you waiting for? Cut

open her belly and get it back!

Giant beast guards bared their fangs, lunging straight at Lila. No way in

hell. I whipped out my dagger and threw myself right in front of them, shouting,

Just try it! I glared, murder in my eyes. That actually made them freeze.

Then the headmaster showed up with his goon squad. Without asking a question,

he passed judgment.

Destroying Academy property is unforgivable.

Disciplinary squad, kill the beast and rip its bones out. The guards drew their

weapons. A massive blade came crashing down straight at Lila.

Just as the guards closed in, weapons raised, Syrah suddenly held up her hand

to stop them.

She looked down at me and sneaked.

Killing her now is way too easy.

Syrah slammed down paper right at my feet, demanding, Sign this.

Jewel me at the annual tournament.

If you win, all is forgiven.

But if you lose... Syrah paused, casting a murderous glare at Leela. Your useless

bear gets fed alive to my beasts.

And you?

Get out of here. The annual tournament.

That's where I died three times before.

I used to think my beasts just betrayed me on their own.

But now, seeing how hard Syrah is pushing, was she the puppet master

pulling the strings all along?

I looked at the paper, then at Leela, who was clinging to me tight. To save

her, and to find the truth.

I didn't hesitate.

I bit my fingertip, and slammed my bloody print down.

Deal. Syrah burst into wild laughter, but my gaze remained icy.

Let her laugh. This time, nobody gets to betray me. Nobody gets to destroy me.

Training for the tournament?

Total disaster.

Leela didn't learn a single combat move.

All she did was eat.

Still, since I chose her, I promised to give her everything, so I taught her the

most important survival skill.

Run fast when things go wrong! The success rate was pitifully low, but

survival means a fighting chance.

Finals day.

The wind howls.

Syrah stood opposite me, casting a shady forbidden spell behind everyone's right

bleeks. Completely out of control, it lunged straight at me! Wait a second.

This setup. It's the exact same ambush that killed me in my past three lives.

The beast pinched me down.

Pain shoots through my chest.

I cough up blood on the cold stone.

Go to hell, Elena!

Fangs dripping with drool, inches from my throat.

So, my time was up again. I glanced at Lila, waving at her to run.

Then, I closed my eyes. Suddenly, the ground shook. A deafening roar rattles

the entire arena. My eyes snapped open. Little Lila was growing, fast, swelling

into a giant beast. She stomped toward me, shaking the ground with every step.

The crowd gasped. And Lila?

She just opens her mouth and inhales the entire magical storm like a snack.

Everyone freezes. Total silence.

A blinding flash of black gold light erupted from her body. The bear form

melts away as the glow faded.

A stunning, towering warrior woman stood right in front of me. Stunning, wrapped

in wild, primal power.

With total chill, she grabs the monster pinning me with one hand and tosses it

away like a toy.

Blood splattered at her feet as Leela slowly raised her head.

Her icy golden eyes locked onto Syrah.

Total silence across the arena. The mocking laughs?

Gone. Leela standing tall in her stunning new form. Her aura made every

elite beast in the stands shake.

Syrah scrambled backwards, tripped over her own feet and hit the dirt. Monster!

She's a monster! Dad, kill her, now!

The headmaster's face turned black.

All guards, hear my command.

This beast has a forbidden bloodline. Kill her!

Before they could pounce, Leela's black gold light flickered out. She swayed,

coughed up blood, and collapsed.

Eating all that crazy mana overloaded her system.

Dozens of poison darts shot straight at her.

Without a second thought, I threw my arms wide and shielded Lila with my own

body. If you want her, go through me first.

At that exact moment, Leela gritted her teeth, gathering her last ounce of

strength. She grabbed my waist, turning into a grey blear. We smashed right

through the guards and out of the arena.

Turns out, the escape drills I taught her actually paid off.

As we ran, I looked back at Syrah, and it hit me.

Syrah isn't scared of Leela.

She is terrified of what Leela just unleashed.

Devour.

Alarms shrieked across the academy, and every exit was locked down instantly.

I hid in a dusty corner of the library, holding Leela. Out in the halls, Syrah's

shrill voice blasted through the speakers.

Elena, hand over that monster, or you'll be expelled.

Leela curled up on my lap. Her grey fur looked completely dull and lifeless.

I knew that if they caught her, they'd tear her apart.

I forced myself to calm down. I needed a plan.

Three lives of pain taught me one thing.

When you're trapped, you hit the enemy right where it hurts. I pushed the doors

open and stepped out alone.

Syrah stood there with her beast guards.

Syrah! Why was a forbidden spell used in an official tournament?

I am a master tamer, and I almost died!

The guards started whispering.

She's right.

Why did an uncontrolled beast show up?

Her Aunt Forbidden spell's strictly banned.

If I report this to the Magic Council right now, how long do you think your

dad lasts as headmaster?

Her face went pale.

She knew she was busted.

I stepped forward, my gaze cold as ice.

My beast only acted to protect me.

Call off the guards!

Or I leak the truth, and we both go down.

Syrah grinted her teeth, utterly defeated, and waved the guards away.

I carried Leela back to our dorm.

I didn't push her about what happened.

Instead, I quietly pulled out the medicine and gently tended to her

wounds. Leela looked up at me with watery eyes, letting out a soft whimper.

As long as I'm breathing, nobody touches you.

After a few days, Leela finally recovered.

She can now turn into a human whenever she wants.

Yet, she remains so innocent and curious about the human world. She's still super

innocent and curious about everything.

Whenever I talk to another Taner, she puffs out her cheeks and squeezes right

between us, like a jealous little puppy.

She is different from my ex-beasts. I gave those three everything, but they

were never satisfied.

They cast me aside, despised me and betrayed me, leaving me to die alone.

But Leela is different. When danger hits, she always jumps in front of me

first. I snuck her out to the night market, buying her favorite snacks and

telling her all about my dark past.

One night, I brought back some wine, and Leela tried human liquor for the very

first time.

After just some shots, her cheeks turned bright pink.

She looked at me with soft, dreamy eyes.

That night... Wrapped in a warm, tipsy haze, we held each other tight on our

tiny bed. No master and beast stuff, just real, pure love.

In the dead of night, I woke up screaming, shivering and drenched in

cold sweat from nightmares of my past deaths.

Leela immediately wrapped her arms tightly around me from behind, warming

me up and chasing away the fear. I turned to look at her. For the first

time, I felt like I wasn't fighting this cruel world alone. I let my guard down

and just cried.

Leela, will you ever leave me? Never.

I'm scared. What if... What if you just walk away for power, just like they did?

Elena, I'm not staying just because you're my tamer.

I'm here because I love you.

I chose you.

Even if it is dangerous?

Even if we might die?

Always. We fight together.

I held her tight, but Cira's evil face kept flashing in my mind.

She won't stop here.

I need to find dirt on her before she strikes again.

The next day, I uncovered an ancient book in the restricted archives of the

library. It revealed a brutal truth.

A standard master-servant covenant stands absolutely no chance against the

Academy's forced dissolution.

Once Syrah pulls the strings, she can sever my connection with Leela, sending

her away and exiled into the wild. There was only one way to protect Lila.

Ancient blood bond.

Using the tamer's heartblood as a catalyst, it binds two lives, souls, and

mana completely.

Live together, die together, one destiny.

But when I shared this decision with Lila, she shook her head in sheer panic.

No! That means if I get hurt, you'll feel my pain!

And if I die, you die with me!

I smiled, taking her hands and pressing them against my heart.

I spent three lives being betrayed by the ones I gave everything to.

But with you, I'd willingly give it all again.

Because I believe in you.

Leela's eyes welled with tears.

Just like the helpless little bear she used to be, she snuggled gently into my

chest. She bared her fangs and gently nipped my skin, sipping a drop of my

heartblood. A blinding gold light exploded through the room. Intricate,

glowing marks burnt onto the backs of our hands.

Our heartbeats instantly synced into one, but the crazy blast of magic from

our bond shook the entire academy.

Within seconds, heavy, rushed footsteps pounded down the hallway. Open the door.

Syrah kicked the door open and barged in, only to find me reading in bed while

Leela snoozed beside me.

Damn it!

I know that massive mana surge came from this exact room!

Search all you want, but once you're done, get the hell out.

I'm trying to sleep.

Thanks to the stealth magic from our blood bond, they found absolutely

nothing. Syrah had no choice but to storm out, fuming. Using knowledge from

my past lives, I started secretly investigating the Academy's covenant

rituals. Late at night, Leela and I snuck into the restricted crystal forge.

The sight before me made my blood run cold.

Hundreds of low-blood beasts were locked in heavy chains.

Their mana and life force were being brutally drained straight into a giant

core crystal.

This stolen power was used to strengthen elite beasts like Truce, or refined into

rare magic crystals sold exclusively to the wealthy elite.

The Academy's prestigious reputation was a total lie. It was just a disgusting

parasite feeding on the weak. Watching those poor beasts whipper in pain,

Leela's eyes flared golden. Her primal instincts kicked in. She opened her

mouth and swallowed a whole mananode. The magic circle collapsed.

Dozens of caged beasts broke free instantly.

I pulled her back in a panic. Leela, stop!

We need to get out of here right now!

Not yet. We can't strike yet.

The Headmaster has run this academy for decades.

Taking him down without solid proof is suicide.

My plan is to secretly rescue more beasts as I can, while hunting down the

evidence that will destroy them for good.

For the next two weeks, Leela and I snuck into the Crystal Forge every

night. We quietly freed one after another chained-up beasts.

Looking at these scared little creatures, I didn't force them to obey

me or force them to join my fight.

I just opened the gates and looked them in the eyes.

If you want to stay and help us expose the truth, come with me.

If you're scared, run.

Your life is yours to choose now.

Almost all of them chose to stand with us.

Our secret little army was growing fast in the dark. But our sabotage soon

caught Sarah's attention.

Without that stolen manor, her elite beasts weren't getting their daily

feast.

She went totally ballistic, locking down the campus and sending guards to patrol

day and night. Useless! All of you!

The man has been down for three days, and you still haven't caught the

culprit. Go and search!

To throw her off our trail, I intentionally left a big UC clue during

our next move. I had Liza drop a tiny shard of a rare magic crystal, making it

look like some petty thief was just greedy for shiny loot.

Syrah took the bait hook.

So, someone wants to play thief instead of training their beasts.

Fine. I'll host an even grander gala, and catch every single rat in one go.

Desperate to secure her family's grip on the academy, Syrah is ready to play

dirty. She's planning to launch a massive, forbidden, transfer ritual at

the upcoming tournament gala.

In one sweep, she will drain the life force of nearly a thousand low blood

beasts to supercharge her elite squad. Thanks to a leaked document from our

insider, I knew the exact time and place.

Late at night, Leela and I hunched over the files, planning our final strike.

Leela gently nudged my shoulder, her eyes flashing with a wild, protective

fury. Pippi won.

Should we just crash the gala and smash the ritual?

I shook my head, a cold smirk tugging on my lips.

Nope. We let her start it.

Let her think she's win.

The higher she climbs, the harder she falls. This time, I'm taking her down

for good.

With the plan set, Leela and I split up to lay our final trap.

But as I slipped through the corridors, three giant shadows stepped out of the

darkness, blocking my way.

Truce, Eden, and Luca.

The three of them came close and cornered me.

Open your eyes!

Who are you really dying for tonight?

Truce ground, picking them up. Eden and Luca crowded in, their eyes opening as

they read the clause, stating clearly that once the ritual ended, their

covenants would be stripped and their mana reassigned.

Luca turned pale as death.

No.

Sira promised we'd be the most noble beast leaders in the Academy.

I stared at them, cold and indifferent.

She wants puppets.

Once the ritual's done, you think you're worth anything to her?

They froze, totally shaken, though they still couldn't fully believe it.

Just then, the guards ambushed us from both ends of the hall, trapping us

completely. Take all suspects into custody.

Truce tried to fight back, but stopped dead when he saw the tranquilizer

cannons aimed right at them.

Before we could even react, all four of us were dragged straight to the central

hall. Inside the hall, the elders and noble lords were already seated.

Draped in fancy robes, Syrah stood high on the stage, looking down at us like

criminals with a smug smirk. Her eyes locked onto me. Perfect.

All the little pests in one place.

Elena, let's see you fight back without your useless bear.

Slowly, she raised her staff.

A blinding, crimson bloodlight flared, enveloping the entire hall.

Syrah has no idea that this entire ritual is a trap I laid just for her.

The moment she activates that circle, there is no turning back.

She thinks she's a genius, setting up a massive ambush to trap Leela the second

she strikes.

She wants to force a covenant on Lila and use her devour ability.

The Grand Central Hall is packed tonight, glowing with light.

Elders, nobles, and thousands of tamers have gathered.

Cira stands on her high platform, looking down.

Elena, tonight is the end for you and your trash bear.

Not far below the stage, Truce, Eton, and Luca stand in chains, their eyes

torn with conflict.

They didn't warn Ciri about my move. That means they made their choice.

The magic circle came alive, and a crimson glow engulfed the entire hall.

Dozens of low-blood beasts bound to the pillars screamed in agonry as their mana

was forcibly drained from their bodies, transforming into streams of crimson

energy that surged toward the platform above.

The crowd gasps, and even the elders exchange uneasy, shocked glances.

Suddenly there was a loud bang. The ground began to shake.

A giant gray shadow drops, crashing hard right in the center. Everyone looks up,

mouths wide open. The ash bear they all laughed at slowly gets to her feet.

Instead of charging Syrah, Lila opens her jaws wide and swallows the outer

magic barrier whole.

The barrier shatters into pieces.

The chained beasts slowly open their eyes, regaining their senses.

One by one, the awakened beasts start snapping their chains.

Up on the stage, Syrah's face drains of all color. What is happening? The magic

circle spirals completely out of control.

Syrah completely snapped. To forcefully suppress the chaos, Sarah bites her

tongue and spits her own blood right onto her staff.

Boom. Corrupted dark veins crawl up her staff.

It's the forbidden spell.

Blood sacrifice plunder. Her face worts in total madness.

Shut up!

All of you!

No one ruins my plans!

She thinks crushing Leela will bury her sins forever.

Big mistake.

She has no clue that hidden in the dark corners of the hall, my projection

crystals are recording every single frame and broadcasting her behavior live

to the entire Academy Square outside.

On the giant screens across the Academy Square, Syrah's twisted face and her

illegal spellcasting were exposed for every student and mentor to see.

That's a forbidden spell!

Syrah's actually draining their life force!

My god, she's trying to strip the bloodlines of elite beasts too!

The crowd erupted into chaos as panic and fury surged through the arena. The

rescued beasts shattered their chains, charging forward. The nobles and

witnesses drew their weapons, pointing at the stage.

Syrah's face turned pale.

But in her sheer terror, she whirled on us.

It's a lie! This is all fake!

Elena is conspiring with these beasts to attack the Academy!

Kill them! Now!

But this time, not a single one moved to help her.

I stepped forward, eyes cold.

I didn't bring up my past three deaths.

Unprovable history is a useless weapon.

Instead, I tossed down the signed confessions I'd gathered over the weeks.

With the crystals recording everything, she had zero escape.

Sira, the evidence is right here. Just keep lying.

Sira stared at the papers.

She looked at Truel and the others, who just stood there, refusing to help.

She knew she was done for.

Despair drove her completely insane.

She glared at Leela, her eyes burning with greed.

If I'm going down...

I'm taking that ancient beast's power with me!

Syrah muttered a spell.

Suddenly, a massive, freezing control circle draped over us. A storm of dark

roots violently slammed into the marks on our hands.

Syrah is trying to use forbidden magic to tear my bond with Leela apart,

forcing her into absolute slavery.

The magic backfires hard, tearing my soul to pieces.

Helena, run!

Leela let out a painted growl. To shield me from the blast, she snaps our mana

link, taking the entire force of the control spell by herself. The extreme

agony turned her eyes pitch black. Her ancient power inside her went wild, and

blood dripped from her eyes.

Watching Leela push himself to the brink just to protect me, I couldn't stand by

and do nothing.

The blood bond means we live and die together.

How could I ever leave her?

Leela, we are not letting go this time. I poured every drop of my mana and life

force into jumping forward.

Sensing my choice, our bond flares with a blinding golden light. We grab each

other's hands, risking our very lives against the suffocating storm of dark

runes. But the forbidden magic is too strong. The dark runes crawl like

poisonous vines, slowly eating away at the golden marks on our skin. We both

spit blood.

The world spins, and we crash onto the cold floor.

Looking at us lying in a pool of blood, Syrah bursts into a manic, evil laugh.

Go to hell, both of you.

She stepped closer, reaching out her hand to grab Leela.

The second Syrah's forbidden spell pierced Leela. A brutal backlash lurched

through my veins. My soul felt like it was being ripped apart, my vision

drowning in red. Through the chaos, Syrah's crancestick, mocking laughter

echoed alongside Leela's choked, agonizing growls. Alina, run!

Get out of here! In my past three lives, I always fought alone and ended up in

pieces.

Not this time. I'll never let the person I cherish most suffer in the dark.

I squeezed Lila's freezing hand, gritting my teeth so hard they bled. We

are one.

Don't fight my power.

Let our minds merge.

In that instant, the blood bond erupted in a blinding golden light. Instead of

fighting the pain, I weaponized it, driving my mind straight into the heart

of this wicked spell.

Sweeping through the darkness, Lila and I finally found it, the core energy

node. Now, Lila!

Crush it!

Leela opened her jaws, eating the core man a whole. At that exact second, I

swung my dagger and slished the invisible rutic chains. A colossal

energy storm detonated in the center of the arena. The blast slammed Syrah back,

sending her crashing onto the floor and spitting blood.

Leela and I are back as well.

We both hit the ground, drenched in blood.

The chain reaction from the shattered array swept through the entire academy.

The glowing runes atop fluckered out one after another, and the haze cleared from

the eyes of the beasts who had been stripped of their minds and enslaved for

battle. Years of suppressed rage erupted all at once.

Angry roars echoed everywhere as massive iron cages were smashed to pieces,

plunging the Academy into absolute chaos.

In the chaos, I saw the Headmaster's face twist as he sent cruel orders to

Truke, Eland, and Luca. What the hell are you doing? Suppress these beasts!

Kill them! But as the three tried to channel their covenants, a black glow

flared on their hands. They realized that Sarah had secretly planted a

forbidden curse in their contracts.

If they triggered the suppression, their own souls would be ripped away, turning

them into mindless puppets.

So...

We were just disposable tools to them, from the very start.

Trute collapsed to the ground, completely shepherded. Meanwhile, Lila

and I leaned on each other, stumbling our way into the Academy's dungeons.

We smashed open every iron door, freeing hundreds of low-blood beasts.

Looking at those trembling creatures, I braced myself against the wall and

called out to them.

The gates are open!

Revenge or freedom, it's your choice now!

More and more beasts tore free from their chains, roaring as they charged

toward the grand stage.

The Empire Serra had built collapsed.

Chaos erupted in the hall.

Falling debris and raging beasts sent the nobles screaming for their lives.

Sarah stood with disheveled hair, her eyes filled with madness and despair,

pointing at me and Leela. She yelled at the squad and elders.

It's them!

Elena and that filthy traitor beast!

They've gone mad!

They're conspiring with the beast to destroy this academy!

Truce. Elin! Luca!

What are you waiting for?

Step up and accuse them! Tell everyone what they have done!

Sira tried to pin her crimes on us to save her own skin.

Too bad for her. Dead silence filled the hall.

Truth slowly raised his head, all his old arrogance completely gone.

Right in front of the elders and the whole faculty, he ripped his prestige

crest off his chest and slammed it at Sira's feet.

Enough, Sira.

We're done taking the fall for you.

Elin and Lucas stepped up right beside him, pale but totally steady.

We admit we helped her for fame and glory, but today's revolt happened

because Syrah and the Headmaster used forbidden magic!

Beast after beast gathered around us, roaring and crying out every single dark

secret. The Headmaster and Syrah were totally cornered, with nowhere left to

run.

The bloody nightmare finally ended when the Magic Council stepped in.

With the Academy on lockdown, Leela and I were hidden away in a cozy cabin to

recover. She leaned against me quietly while I rubbed her shoulders.

But then I caught sight of that glowing golden mark on her hand. An instant

guilt hit me.

I took her hand.

Leela, this blood pact saved us, but it tied your soul to mine.

In my past lives, I hated being played by destiny.

I'm not using this bond to rob your freedom.

I looked straight into those gorgeous golden eyes.

I swear, I'll find a way to break it.

And once it is done, you can run as far as you want.

Leela froze.

Then she grabbed my hand so hard I thought my bones would snap.

She stared at me, tears of rage welling up. At picture one, I'm not going

anywhere. Before I could process that, she lunged and bit my lip.

Pure, wild passion.

I'm here because I want to be, not because of some stupid contract.

My heart did a free fall.

I wrapped my arms around her neck and pulled her right back in. No lies, no

betrayals, just the two of us, completely hooked.

Leela, I love you.

Cornered madmen are always the most dangerous.

Stripped of her beasts and facing a council investigation, Cira totally

snapped. In the middle of a raging thunderstorm, she snuck into the depths

of the Forbidden Zone and forced open the oldest, scariest control array.

Blood-red lightning tore the sky apart. She wanted to drain the life force of

every single beast in the academy before the council arrived.

She was going to use all that stolen power to wipe out the school and rule

the ruins.

Leela and I felt the shift in the magic instantly.

Ignoring our wounds, we bolted straight toward the Forbidden Zone.

We bolted straight toward the Forbidden Zone.

Holy shit!

She's trying to take the whole school down with her! On our way, we helped

evacuate trapped students and beasts, while projecting the array's live feed

straight into the sky.

We wanted everyone to see her total madness.

When we kicked the door down, Sarah was standing right in the middle of a bloody

pool, pitch-black veins crawling up her neck.

She let out a crazy, screeching laugh the second she saw us. You're just in

time! Did you really think you won, Elena?

Once I devour this ancient trash beast, I'll become a god.

You're all dying with me.

A torrent of violent crimson chains shot out from the floor, pinning Leela and me

right in the center of the array.

The bloody chains wrapped around us like vipers, burning straight into our skin.

High on the stage, Sarah sneered, trying to rip Leela's ancient bloodline right

out of her body. Give it to me! That power belongs to me!

Leela groaned in pain, but I didn't panic. I just squeezed her hand and

grinned. Hey, remember how we wrecked that small node before?

Leela got it instantly.

Instead of fighting the pull, we pushed our blood bond to the absolute max.

I closed my eyes, shoving my mind straight into the crazy runic web.

Leela, three steps to the left. Eat it. Got it.

With a fierce roar, Leela stopped resisting and opened wide.

Like a bottomless black hole, she sucked all that energy right back down her

throat. Syrah freaked out as the mana flow reversed, panicking. She pumped her

own life force into the spell.

No! This is impossible!

Impossible!

Big mistake.

The harder she pushed, the worse the backlash hit her.

Leela funneled the stolen magic right back to me, and I used it to hack the

array's core to pieces.

Three massive explosions blew the core hubs apart.

The wild wave of backfiring mana swallowed Cira whole.

Cira screamed as her own forbidden spell drained her dry, leaving her a withered

husk in the ruins. And that ancient system that had enslaved countless

beasts for ten thousand years finally turned to ash.

Three months later, dawn broke over a whole new world. The Magic Council

completely wiped out the Headmaster's faction and banned the slave bond system

forever. Our once dreary academy was finally reborn.

Tamers and beasts weren't master and slave anymore, just equals, building a

new life together.

Truth, Eden, and Luca chose to stay in our new rescue squad, spending every day

making up for their past mistakes.

As for Leela and me, we politely turned down the Council's offer for high

-ranking positions. In our quiet little yard, Leela, dressed in super-sharp

hunter gear, was excitedly packing our bags.

I walked up behind her, and gently struck the glowing gold-red bond mark on

the back of her hand.

The old bond system is gone now.

If you want, I can remove this mark for you right now.

Lila froze, turned around, and gave me a playful glare. She grabbed my hand,

locking her fingers with mine, her eyes full of endless devotion.

Even without this mark, even at the end of the world, I'd still choose you.

Hearing those sweet words, I couldn't help but smile and wrap my arms around

her neck.

Leela, I love you. No more betrayal.

No more crazy schemes.

Just two souls, bound forever.

Bags packed, we pushed open the academy gates and stepped out into a huge, wide

-open world of total freedom. Suddenly, a messenger hawk swooped down, dropping

a blood-stained distress note right into my hand.

It said wild beasts were being hunted down by a rogue evil squad deep in the

dark forest.

Leela tilted her head, her golden eyes flashing with excitement as she grinned

at me. Want to go check it out? I squeezed her hand tight and nodded with

a huge smile under the bright morning sun.

Let's go.