The cafeteria buzzed with life, filled with the clatter of trays, clinking utensils, and the hum of countless conversations. The space was wide and elegant, with rows of long enchanted tables that refilled food automatically. Golden lamps lit up the room with a warm glow, and the scent of spiced meat, fresh bread, and fruity mana drinks lingered in the air.
At one of the central tables, Alex and his group sat huddled together, half-eaten meals forgotten as the conversation turned serious.
"So," Alex began, looking at each of them. "What should we do? If we're not careful, we could get seriously hurt."
Miranda crossed her arms. "But can't we just fight him? I mean, there are four of us and just one of him."
Zane chuckled, shaking his head. "Miranda, trust me. Second-years are no joke. Most of them are at Adept rank, and the real monsters? They're already at Advanced. We can't even infuse mana into our attacks yet, let alone face someone like that."
Kirito leaned back in his seat. "Let's just lay low and avoid trouble. We stick together, move smart, and get stronger in the meantime."
Alex nodded in agreement. "True. Let's head to our next class—"
A loud chime suddenly echoed through the cafeteria, catching everyone's attention.
[Announcement: All students, both elemental and physical path, are to proceed to the Weapon Arena immediately.]
The group exchanged looks.
"Well, that's new," Zane muttered, standing.
---
The Weapon Arena was massive, built like a modern-day coliseum. Its high walls enclosed a wide open space filled with sparring circles, target dummies, and racks of various weapons. The reinforced floor beneath their feet shimmered slightly with mana-inscribed barriers, designed to absorb damage and prevent accidents.
Standing at the center was Instructor Rago—a tall, muscular man with stern eyes and a large scar running across his left brow. Strapped across his back was a massive greatsword unlike anything the students had ever seen.
The weapon was a masterpiece.
The blade was forged from obsidian-black metal, its edges jagged like a beast's fang. Glowing crimson circuits ran along its surface, pulsing with a life of their own. A powerful crystal was embedded at the hilt, giving the weapon a faint but undeniable aura of menace. It was not just a sword. It was a Beast Tech Weapon.
Rago's deep voice echoed through the arena.
"I assume you've all heard about your upcoming dungeon outing."
Students murmured in agreement.
"Last time, I had you spar with basic practice weapons. But today, we move on to something far more serious."
He unstrapped the greatsword and held it before the class.
"This," he said, "is a Beast Tech Weapon. A fusion of beast crystal and technology. On the battlefield—whether you're facing beasts, void spawn, or even enemy humans—you won't always have the luxury of using your abilities or mana. Overuse can crack your ability core. Your mana can run dry. But your weapon…" He lifted the greatsword high into the air.
"That's what won't betray you."
With a sharp hum, the sword lit up in a brilliant red glow. A powerful wave of pressure swept across the arena, thick and suffocating. Students staggered, some even fell to a knee. The very air trembled.
"Whoa…" Alex muttered, eyes wide. "All that… just from a weapon?"
Instructor Rago's voice boomed across the arena as he rested his hand on the hilt of his massive greatsword.
"During the war with the Voidspawn," he began, pacing slowly in front of the gathered students, "humanity learned a bitter truth—our regular weapons didn't work on them. Not even on mana beasts. Our strongest blades shattered like glass, and bullets bounced off their hide like raindrops."
The students leaned in, curiosity etched on their faces.
"But our scientists didn't give up. After years—no, decades—of trial and failure, they made a breakthrough. They discovered that if we combined the body parts and energy crystals of beasts with advanced technology, we could forge weapons… and armor… that actually worked. That was how Beast Tech weaponry and equipment came to life."
He paused, then added, "And just like beasts, these weapons and armors are ranked by the power and rarity of the creature used in crafting them."
Rago turned and pointed to a screen that displayed a tiered system:
Beast & Beast Tech Rank System
D-Rank: Standard-grade, used by field agents and academy graduates.
C-Rank: Enhanced tech-beast fusion gear, reliable for experienced combatants.
B-Rank: Military-grade and elite squad-level gear. Effective against high-level threats.
A-Rank: Crafted from rare, dangerous beasts—only accessible to top-tier warriors.
S-Rank and above: Legendary materials, often Strong beast-derived. Extremely rare and powerful—unstable even in untrained hands.
A student raised his hand, eyes wide. "Sir… do you have a Beast Tech armor?"
Rago chuckled and unbuttoned a portion of his shirt. Beneath, sleek armor gleamed under the lights—deep obsidian with embedded crimson lines running like veins across the chest. Tiny pulse emitters glowed at the shoulders, and small runic engravings faintly shimmered with residual mana.
"This," he said proudly, "is a B-Rank Wyvern-Tech Combat Plate. Light, durable, and strong enough to tank an high-tier ability skill at close range."
He straightened and let the shirt fall back into place.
"Beast Tech armor enhances your physical stats, boosts your ability's output, and—more importantly—can be the edge you need when your mana runs dry or your ability core is strained. Trust me, when you're surrounded by bloodthirsty beasts or ambushed by a Voidspawn squad, you'll be glad you had this on."
Rago's gaze swept the class, a wicked grin tugging at his lips.
"Now enough talking," he said, drawing the sword from his back in a smooth motion. It lit up instantly, a red aura flaring around it. "Who's ready to spar"