As Livana's voice echoed through the Whispering Forest, every cadet stiffened. Their breaths caught in their throats, their eyes darting between each other, waiting—hoping—that someone else would volunteer first. The weight of the moment pressed heavily on them.

Livana smiled gently. "Don't be afraid. It's a simple process of binding with a spirit."

With a flick of her finger, radiant golden runes spiraled across the ground, forming a massive magic circle. Ancient symbols glowed faintly, weaving and twisting as if alive. The circle pulsed once—thrum—and the cadets felt a strange tug deep in their souls.

"This," Livana continued, "is your link to the Spirit Realm. Once you step into this circle, your soul will travel there. You will have five minutes. In that time, a spirit may choose to bond with you and become your companion. If no spirit accepts you, then… tough luck."

Gasps and whispers ran through the cadets.

"But don't be discouraged," Livana said, her tone firm yet kind. "A spirit bond does not make you invincible. There are many other paths where one can excel. Remember—this is not the end, but a beginning."

She pushed her glasses up her nose, her sparrow spirit chirping softly on her shoulder. "One at a time, each student will step forward. Who will be first?"

Silence. Nobody moved. Nervous glances, bitten lips, shifting feet.

Alden clicked his tongue. "Scaredy cats." He stepped forward confidently, his cloak fluttering slightly as the forest wind brushed past.

Livana clapped her hands lightly. "That's the spirit. Come forward, Mr. Alden."

---

A voice echoed in Alden's mind, deep and serpentine. [ You're excited, aren't you? ]

Alden smirked inwardly. 'Well, you did tell me I can get a high-ranking spirit since I'm your avatar now.'

Ouroboros's chuckle reverberated through his mind. [ You're right about that. ]

Livana's voice broke through his thoughts. "Mr. Alden, stand in the circle."

He obeyed, stepping into the glowing runes. The magic circle lit up beneath his boots, tendrils of golden light reaching toward him.

"Now focus," Livana instructed. "Your soul will be pulled into the Spirit Realm. Remember—you will only travel there in your soul form. Your physical body will remain safe here."

The cadets leaned forward, listening closely as Livana continued.

"If a spirit does not choose you, you will return unharmed. But do not wander too far once you arrive—it is dangerous. Spirits may see you as an intruder and attack your soul. Never attempt to force a bond—it will destroy you."

Alden nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

He closed his eyes, steadying his breath. Slowly, he lowered himself to sit within the circle, crossing his legs. He gathered his will and focused.

Suddenly, he felt a strange pull—like threads being unraveled from his chest. His soul was being drawn outward, slipping free from his body. His vision blurred, darkened… then exploded into light.

---

When Alden opened his eyes, he was no longer in the Whispering Forest.

The Spirit Realm stretched out before him—vast, endless, breathtaking.

He stood in the middle of an emerald forest where the trees glowed faintly with crystalline veins. Rivers of silver water flowed across mossy ground, glowing like moonlight. In the skies above, majestic beings soared—spirits in every form imaginable.

A flock of sparrows with wings of shimmering flame.

A herd of unicorns, their horns radiating rainbow light.

Wyverns with translucent scales darting through the clouds.

A colossal stag with antlers like branches of gold.

The air itself seemed alive, singing with ancient whispers. Alden's lips parted slightly. 'So this is… the Spirit Realm…'

He almost forgot himself in the beauty of it, but Livana's warning echoed in his mind. He quickly gathered his focus and began releasing his aura.

At once, the world responded.

The forest fell silent.

Dozens—no, hundreds—of spirit eyes turned toward him. Some filled with curiosity, some wary, others with faint hostility. Alden's soul blazed brightly in this world, marking him as an intruder… or a potential master.

His pulse quickened. But he took steady steps forward, locking eyes on a single spirit—a massive lion cloaked in radiant golden fur. Its mane burned with faint light, and each of its steps left glowing paw prints behind.

The lion growled deeply as Alden approached, the sound echoing like thunder across the forest.

Alden stopped, standing tall.

The golden lion circled him, its glowing eyes sharp and penetrating. Then, to his shock, it spoke.

"Human. Do you intend to form a bond with me?"

Alden's chest tightened. 'When I was little… I always wanted a lion… as a pet—''He caught himself, shaking his head. "No. Not as a pet. As a companion. So what do you say? Will you come with me on this journey?"

The lion paused, scrutinizing him with eyes that seemed to see through his very soul.

Moments stretched into eternity.

Finally, the beast rumbled, its voice carrying a weight that shook the air. "Very well, human. Your soul carries strength… and resolve. I see no reason to object."

It lowered its massive head. "I acc—"

Before the golden lion could finish, a piercing screech tore through the Spirit Realm.

The sound was so sharp and suffocating that the very trees bent under its weight. Birds of flame scattered, unicorns bolted into the silver rivers, and wyverns fled skyward in panic. Every spirit in sight ran, their eyes filled with primal terror.

The golden lion, who had just been about to accept Alden's offer, froze. Its muscles stiffened, its golden mane bristled, and its radiant eyes widened.

It took a cautious step back. "You… who are you?"

Alden blinked in confusion. "Huh?"

The lion growled low, voice shaking. "Are you… an Avatar?"

Alden tilted his head, amused. "Amazing… how did you sense it?"

The lion's eyes narrowed, teeth bared. "You fool. Whose God's Avatar are you?!"

Alden hesitated for a second, then decided there was no point in lying. "His name is Ouroboros."

The lion froze. Its majestic face twisted into something Alden never thought he'd see on such a noble spirit—raw fear.

"Fuck."

Alden nearly stumbled backward. 'Did that lion just swear…?'

The screech came again, louder this time, shaking the entire realm like an earthquake. The golden lion snarled. "You should have told me before, you damned fool!"

And then—it vanished. Completely.

Alden was left alone, stunned. "What the fuck… he ran away?! After all that?!"

---

A booming laugh echoed in his skull, shaking his very thoughts.

[ Hahahahahaha! Boy, you really are special… if you managed to catch *his* attention. ]

Alden clenched his fists. 'What the hell are you talking about?! I have less than a minute left, and all my hard work convincing that lion just went to waste—because of you! Care to explain?!'

The voice of Ouroboros hissed with amusement. [ What, can't you see it yourself? Look closer… here he comes. ]

A chill crawled down Alden's spine.

The trees before him split apart, the ground cracking as an enormous shadow fell over the forest.

Then, a massive head emerged.

Obsidian scales laced with molten cracks glowed like rivers of magma. Twelve molten eyes burned, each like a miniature sun staring straight into Alden's soul.

Its breath was fire, but not normal fire—chaotic flames that warped the very air, making reality ripple. Horned ridges crowned its skull, and a mane of pure inferno blazed down its back like a wildfire given flesh.

The Spirit Realm itself seemed to shudder.

[ Veytharion, ] Ouroboros's voice whispered, oddly reverent. [ The Basilisk of Calamity himself. What a lucky bastard you are. ]

Alden's breath hitched. His lips trembled as he stared up at the colossal serpent-dragon. 'What the… what the actual hell is this thing…?'

Veytharion lowered his head, molten eyes narrowing at him.

Alden forced a shaky smile and croaked, "H… hi."

The next moment, the beast roared—a deafening sound that shattered the silence, making Alden's bones quake. It lunged forward with terrifying speed, its molten eyes burning directly into him.

Alden's instincts screamed. He squeezed his eyes shut. 'Shit shit shit shit shit he's gonna swallow me whole!'

------

Outside, in the Whispering Forest, Livana checked her pocket watch. Five minutes had passed. She frowned. "Strange… Alden hasn't returned yet."

Students whispered nervously.

Suddenly, Alden's eyes shot open in the circle. He gasped sharply, clutching his chest and sucking in frantic breaths. "Haaah… haaah… what the hell… I thought he was going to swallow me alive…"

Charlotte, Ava, and Seraphina rushed toward him.

"Are you okay?!" Seraphina asked, eyes wide.

"You didn't fail, did you?" Ava pressed, worry flashing in her emerald eyes.

Alden, still shaking, gave them a trembling grin. "No… I managed to form a bond. But for a moment… I thought I was done for."

The three girls exhaled in relief. Then Ava and Charlotte smacked him on the head at the same time.

"You dumbass!" Ava scolded. "Don't scare us like that!"

Charlotte pinched his ear. "You almost gave us a heart attack!"

Alden rubbed his head with a sheepish grin. "Ow—hey, careful. I've got a spirit bond now, you know."

Ava smirked. "Oh yeah? Where is he then? Don't tell me he's some tiny butterfly or something."

Her words barely left her mouth when a searing heat filled the air.

The serpent-shaped tattoo on Alden's neck ignited, glowing with golden fire.

Two enormous, glowing yellow eyes opened—projected into the very air above him. They weren't illusionary; they radiated such terrifying pressure that the ground cracked beneath the students' feet.

Ava froze. "Wh… what the—"

Her words caught in her throat as the full silhouette of Veytharion manifested behind Alden's bofy. A colossal serpent-dragon hybrid, eyes burning like suns, body coiled like a mountain of fire and stone. The sheer presence of it crushed the air.

Ava's body shook violently. Then—her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed into Seraphina's arms.

Other cadets screamed. Some tried to run, but their legs gave out.

Livana's sparrow spirit flapped furiously, trying to release calming waves, but even it trembled in the shadow of Veytharion.

Alden… burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! Look at your faces!" He doubled over, only to get smacked repeatedly by Charlotte's fists and kicked in the shin by Seraphina.

"Idiot!"

"What the hell are you doing!"

He collapsed to the ground, groaning, and turned his head toward the massive serpent still looming above him.

"Oi, dumbass," Alden muttered through gritted teeth. "Make yourself smaller before they kill me ."

Veytharion blinked, then shrank rapidly. In seconds, the mountain-sized serpent had compressed itself into a sleek, serpent-like creature the size of a python.

Its molten eyes softened, and it slithered up Alden's arm before licking his bruised cheek affectionately.

The crowd was silent.

Then Livana burst into laughter. Her voice rang through the forest, light but full of awe.

"Congratulations, Mr. Alden. You have successfully formed a bond… and not just any bond. A very special one indeed."

-------

A/N:

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