It has been a month since the fight against Kaeris. Honestly, I didn't expect to be forced into a tournament, and now I've even been given an elite member uniform a surprise, to say the least.

  I sighed as I stared at the classroom ceiling. Of course, thanks to that tournament, no one calls me useless anymore because of my illness.

  Still, what's with my title, Ashbound? I get that it refers to my skills being close to fire-based, but the "bound" part just seems to highlight my illness. Honestly...

  The professor entered the classroom and began checking attendance.

  Her name is Jane Anaka, and her specialty is the beasts beyond the wall the creatures that every race will eventually have to face in battle.

  She started her lecture.

  "Hello, class. Today, I will be teaching you about beasts, starting from Rank 1 to Rank 10. These beasts are completely mindless, killing anything in their sight.

  From Rank 11 to Rank 15, they gain some intelligence, and from Rank 16 to Rank 20, they become smart enough to form their own strategies. The highest-ranked beast ever recorded in history was Rank 20.

  Now, I'm sure you're curious about the difference between these higher-ranked beasts and us. It comes down to their cheat-level regeneration, lack of pain receptors, and insatiable lust for death and destruction. Unlike most races even those with similar abilities their regeneration is on a whole other level.

  For example, take a look at this beast."

  She turned on the projector, displaying an image of a creature that eerily resembled a dog.

  "It looks like a dog, but it is anything but a dog. This is the weakest of the beasts.

  It has only the most basic abilities-cheat-level regeneration, an insatiable taste for blood, and a complete lack of pain receptors.

  Now, I'm sure you're wondering how to kill it.

  The answer is simple: destroy the core within its body. However, that's easier said than done, since the core can be moved anywhere the beast wants. Even if you destroy its head, it will still be alive and regenerate.

  Luckily, there's a weakness. If the body is damaged enough, the core will detach itself and form a new body from scratch. This is why we say its regeneration is at a cheat level.

  The best time to destroy the core is when it is reforming. When the body regenerates, the core always reforms the head first. That is the moment when it is at its weakest.

  Of course this is just one of the ways.

  I hope you all understand this, especially since this is just a Rank 1 beast. The higher the rank, the faster they regenerate and the more durable their core becomes.

  The core's properties can vary depending on the type of beast you face, but the concept remains the same. Their weakness will always be the core so if you can destroy it, do it."

  Professor Anaka then shifted the topic to rankings within the school.

  "Similar to beasts, we also have rankings within this academy. The rankings are as follows:

  Apprentice Rank

  Advanced Rank

  Adept Rank

  Experienced Rank

  Elite Rank

  Expert Rank

  Grandmaster Rank

  Right now, all of you are at the Apprentice Rank, while the majority of students aren't even at that level yet. This is because your abilities or talents are superior. But don't get arrogant there are people who aren't in this room yet who will rapidly surpass you. Be humble. All you have is a head start.

  And also the school ID given to you is registered with your blood if it ever shatters we will assume your dead and send someone sufficiently strong to collect your corpse or find out what is the cause of death.

  Now, let's compare the school's ranks to beast rankings:

  Apprentice Rank: Can handle Rank 1 to 5 beasts

  Advanced Rank: Can handle up to Rank 10 beasts

  Adept Rank: Can handle up to Rank 13 beasts

  Experienced Rank: Can handle up to Rank 16 beasts

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

  Elite Rank: Can handle up to Rank 17 beasts

  Expert Rank: Can handle up to Rank 18 beasts

  Grandmaster Rank: Can handle up to Rank 19 beasts

  Unfortunately, if a Rank 20 beast appears, it takes 20 to 30 Grandmasters to defeat it. This shows just how terrifying they are.

  However, there is one special rank within the Grandmaster tier: the Legend Rank. Those who achieve this title are capable of fighting Rank 20 beasts alone.

  Each rank in the school has multiple levels. For example, the Apprentice Rank has 9 levels. The same applies to the Grandmaster Rank.

  Here's the breakdown:

  Apprentice Rank: 9 levels

  Advanced Rank: 9 levels

  Adept Rank: 9 levels

  Experienced Rank: 9 levels

  Elite Rank: 9 levels

  Expert Rank: 9 levels

  Grandmaster Rank: 9 levels, with Legend Level at the top

  Keep this in mind, as your progress in these rankings will determine how well you can handle the dangers that lie ahead."

  "Now, if you want to know your specific level at the Apprentice rank, it's as follows:"

  Rank 1 Apprentice: Bennett Anderson (Human)

  Rank 1 Apprentice: Kaeris Elarion (Elf)

  Rank 2 Apprentice: Ayaka Karasuha (Tengu)

  Rank 2 Apprentice: IronFang Bloodfury (Ogre)

  Rank 2 Apprentice: Kivolak Ashbane (Wendigo)

  Rank 3 Apprentice: Aiko Tsukino (Kitsune)

  "That is everyone's rank in the class. And as usual, since you're all elites, there are so few of you in the class. Unfortunately, this year's batch is pretty weak. Normally there are at least 20 elites, but this year there are only 6."

  "Any questions?"

  Ayaka eagerly raised her hand and asked the teacher,

  "Hey, teach, when will we get combat training instead of all this paper-bound talk? I'd rather experience those so-called beasts!"

  The teacher smiled gently and responded,

  "Now, now, Ayaka, don't be too impatient. It won't be long before combat training starts, alright? So, relax and focus on training your magic and your body until then."

  "Good, then for today we will be studying the Rhyhound. As you can see, it eerily resembles a dog, and I know I'm repeating myself since I already presented it earlier when talking about ranks. Anyways, this is a Rank 1 beast. It's as big as a car, and like every other beast on this list, it has the classic cheat-level speed healing. Even though it's slower than higher ranks, it's still unfathomably fast.

  It lacks pain receptors, meaning regardless of injury, it won't feel it.

  Lastly, it has a core which can traverse the whole body. This is the target as long as you're able to eliminate the core, it pretty much kills the beast.

  Now, as for its appearance, the Rhyhound is a beast that eerily resembles a dog, but beneath its familiar appearance lies a chilling and unnatural nature. About the size of a car, its sleek, shadowy fur and muscular body make it a formidable predator.

  This will be the beast all of you will be fighting next week in your first combat lesson, so make sure to prepare yourselves."

  Soon after class is dismissed, we are allowed to do what we want. As the teacher said, we're not their babysitters. Since we're all grown adults now, we should be able to do our own research and training.

  I left class after this and went to the school's library to get the bestiary for Rank 1 to 10 beasts.

  Back at my dorm room, I started researching the Rhyhound. I began by looking at its weaknesses, or the ways to make it easier to kill:

  The Rhyhound's core can exit its body and regenerate a new one. While this process is fast, it still requires a few seconds to several minutes to form a new body, starting with the head. During this transition, the core is vulnerable, and fighters could strike at it. Although the Rhyhound's regeneration is fast, there's a brief moment of vulnerability where it lacks a functional body.

  While the Rhyhound regenerates incredibly fast, it's not instantaneous. Even though it starts with the head, the full regeneration of the body can take several minutes. During this time, the Rhyhound will not be fully functional and is vulnerable to attacks. Fighters could potentially exploit this moment by attacking the core or incapacitating it before the Rhyhound completes its regeneration, even though the window is short.

  The Rhyhound is driven entirely by instinct and destruction. It lacks the capacity for higher reasoning or strategy, and it is so focused on chaos that it is extremely predictable. This can be used to its disadvantage, as fighters can lure it into traps, use its aggression to lead it into confined spaces, or simply manipulate its actions by feeding into its destruction-driven nature.

  Although the Rhyhound can regenerate rapidly, overwhelming damage can temporarily slow its regeneration. While the process won't stop entirely (thanks to its near-infinite energy supply), the sheer volume of damage can slow it down for a brief period. This gives fighters a chance to disrupt or destroy the core while the Rhyhound's body is still in the process of rebuilding itself.

  Even though the Rhyhound's core can move freely within its body and regenerate new bodies, it still needs to transfer energy to regenerate. If the core is confined or blocked in some way, it might struggle to continue regenerating or may even be temporarily unable to rebuild itself. Traps or environmental obstacles that slow or restrict the core's movement could give fighters an opening to attack.

  The Rhyhound is driven purely by destruction and does not understand self-preservation. It will attack without thinking, even when the situation isn't in its favor. This lack of instinct for survival makes it predictable and exploitable by skilled fighters. For example, fighters could bait it into dangerous environments or exploit its lack of adaptability to gain the upper hand in combat.

  While the Rhyhound's regeneration is quick, it can still be delayed by overwhelming amounts of damage. If large amounts of physical or energy-based damage are inflicted in rapid succession, it can slow the regeneration process temporarily. While the Rhyhound will eventually regenerate, the disruption gives fighters a limited window to strike at the core or prevent full regeneration.

  While the Rhyhound is capable of regenerating its body even after severe damage, the core still requires time to transition and begin forming a new body. If the core exits the body and starts forming a new body elsewhere, there will be a brief moment of transition where it is not fully protected by a physical form. This transition phase is a critical vulnerability that can be exploited by fighters who understand the regeneration cycle.

  Hmm, interesting and quite detailed. Then again, it's Rank 1, so there's much more experience fighting it since it's a common beast. Now, what are its strengths?

  Despite being the slowest of Rank 1 beasts, the Rhyhound's regeneration is still incredibly fast and nearly "cheat-level." It can regenerate lost body parts, heal wounds, and rebuild itself from near-total destruction with terrifying speed. Even if severely injured, it can recover almost instantly, making it nearly impossible to permanently incapacitate or kill without destroying its core.

  The Rhyhound draws on an infinite energy supply from the surrounding environment, meaning it never runs out of energy. This ability allows it to regenerate its body endlessly, no matter how much damage it sustains. The Rhyhound does not suffer from fatigue, hunger, or any physical limitation related to energy expenditure, making it an unrelenting force in battle.

  While it always regenerates starting with the head, the Rhyhound is still capable of regenerating its body from any state of dismemberment. It can even form entirely new bodies with the same strength, size, and function. This adaptability makes it incredibly difficult to destroy completely, as long as its core remains intact, it can keep coming back no matter how much physical damage it sustains.

  The Rhyhound lacks pain receptors, meaning it does not feel pain from injuries. It can sustain grievous wounds or have limbs severed without experiencing any hindrance in combat. This gives it a significant advantage in battle, as it is unaffected by the psychological or physical limitations that would cause most creatures to hesitate, retreat, or slow down when heavily injured.

  The Rhyhound's primary instinct is to destroy. It will relentlessly pursue destruction and chaos without pause, making it a constant threat. Its aggression knows no bounds, and it will never tire, retreat, or hesitate. This drive ensures it is always on the offensive, putting tremendous pressure on its enemies and keeping them on their toes.

  While its regeneration is fast, the Rhyhound is also incredibly durable in the first place. Its muscle mass, bone structure, and overall body composition are designed to withstand massive amounts of damage. Even before its regeneration kicks in, the Rhyhound can endure physical hits and withstand impacts that would be lethal to most creatures. This makes it highly resistant to typical attacks, especially when it's in combat with lesser-ranked beasts or unprepared fighters.

  The Rhyhound's core can move freely within its body, giving it the ability to shift locations in response to damage or combat needs. This flexibility allows the creature to evade damage, relocate the core to less vulnerable spots, and adapt to changes in the battle. Its ability to move the core also gives it an edge in terms of adaptability, making it harder for fighters to predict and target it.

  The Rhyhound is an imposing, muscular creature capable of immense physical strength. Its size makes it a powerful force in combat, with enough strength to overpower most opponents, crush obstacles, and cause widespread destruction. This physical prowess makes it a formidable opponent in any physical confrontation.

  Due to its lack of fatigue and constant drive for destruction, the Rhyhound can chase and hunt down enemies without ever slowing down or needing to rest. It can track, corner, and overwhelm its prey without stopping, making it difficult to escape from once it locks onto a target. The creature's endurance and persistence ensure it will never give up in a fight.

  The Rhyhound never needs to rest, eat, or sleep, thanks to its infinite energy source and its drive to destroy. This makes it perpetually combat-ready, able to fight indefinitely without any risk of exhaustion. It can engage in prolonged battles without slowing down, wearing down its opponents simply by outlasting them.

  Hmm, damn. Fighting these kinds of beasts every day is terrifying, and it's only a Rank 1 beast! And every single one has the abilities of the Rhyhound, meaning each one could be more dangerous. Ugh, whatever. I'd better train with larger targets to get a feel for it before the combat test next week.

  Chapter 5 End