After staying in the hospital for a few days, Kael made a swift recovery thanks to Kylon’s passive ability, he then decided to visit his mentor and check on his recovery process. Kael stepped quietly into Cain’s recovery room, still unsure how to face him. Cain was propped up against his pillows, wrapped in fresh bandages, wincing every few breaths, but still somehow smiling like he always did after a good fight.

  Kael rubbed the back of his neck.

  “Hey… I’m sorry about messing you up this badly,” he said, guilt heavy in his voice.

  Cain didn’t hesitate.

  “It’s fine,” he said simply. “I’m the one who pushed you that far. And honestly? You exceeded every expectation I had.”

  He winced, then laughed. “Your Spirit Overdrive even beat mine. That’s insane.”

  Kael looked down, still uneasy. He couldn’t shake the guilt of putting his mentor, the man who trained him, into a hospital bed.

  “I have some—”

  But Cain raised a hand, cutting him off.

  “No need to apologize,” he said, firm but warm. “You did amazing. I wouldn’t expect anything less from my successor.”

  Kael froze.

  “S–successor?”

  Cain nodded, his expression shifting to a serious, almost proud softness.

  “I’m not retiring from the frontlines. But… I need someone to take over my new unit. Lead them. Guide them. Mold them.”

  Kael’s eyes went wide.

  “N-new unit? L-leader?”

  Cain chuckled.

  “Let me explain the real reason for the hunting-ground duel. Those sergeants who fought the other cadets, they’re my teammates, veterans. They’re retiring. So, I opened positions to form a new frontline squad. I needed to know who was worthy enough to lead them.”

  He looked Kael straight in the eyes.

  “And that’s you.”

  Kael’s heart raced, shock, disbelief, pride, terror all mixing together.

  Before he could process it, his belt pocket sparked, literally bursting with yellow light.

  A tiny electric sprite zipped out, buzzing around Kael’s head.

  “Holder, I’m so happy for you! You’re the best holder ever! Leading a team is gonna be SO much fun!”

  Zatz chirped excitedly, crackling like lightning fireworks.

  Then—

  FWOOOSH.

  Blue and red light flared.

  Kylon grew into a winged Komodo-sized dragon, scales shimmering like sapphire glass.

  Kawa emerged beside him, Ostrich-sized, dragon-like tail with feathers burning with ember-like glow.

  Kawa puffed out his chest proudly.

  “Zatz, that is not how a Prime should behave! A Prime must remain dignified and sophisticated at all times.”

  Zatz made a raspberry sound made of static.

  “You’re always no fun.”

  Kylon placed a clawed wing between them.

  “Enough. Our holder is speaking with his mentor.”

  Kael, once proud and excited, now looked like he’d swallowed a brick.

  His three Prime Spirits… out in the open… in full form and in front of his mentor.

  Cain watched calmly.

  Then he laughed.

  “Don’t look so shocked. I already suspected you were hiding something big. Honestly, I thought you had at least a White or Black tiers hidden away.”

  He nodded at the three beings.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  “But this… Prime Spirits? Three? It all makes sense now. Your strength, your power, your potential.”

  Kael almost panicked, until Cain added:

  “Don’t worry. Even if the whole academy, heck, even if the whole world learns your secret, you’re under the protection of the Smith family.”

  He smirked.

  “So, breathe, Kael.”

  Kael finally exhaled, relief crashing through him like a wave.

  He wasn’t alone.

  He wasn’t exposed.

  He wasn’t in danger.

  He had a team.

  A mentor who believed in him.

  And three Primes who chose him.

  The next day, the cadets visited Cain during his recovery. Kael, Kyle, Takeshi, Natalia, Serafina, and Anya stood gathered around the room. Cain, still sore but recovering, sat upright on his bed with a calm smile.

  He cleared his throat.

  “First of all, thanks for coming. And, congratulations. All of you passed the Hunting Ground Mentor vs. Mentee activity.”

  The room erupted in cheers. Serafina nearly jumped, Kyle raised both fists in the air, Takeshi let out a quiet but proud grin, Natalia and Anya breathed with deep relief. Even Cain chuckled at their reaction.

  Then he lifted a hand. “Kael. Come here.”

  Kael stepped to his mentor’s side.

  Cain continued, “In a few days, the Academy will host a send-off event for the sergeants you fought in the Hunting Ground. They’re officially retiring.”

  The cadets nodded respectfully, those sergeants pushed them to their limits.

  Cain inhaled, then delivered the heavy news.

  “And since my old frontline squad has officially disbanded… I formed a new one.”

  He pointed at the group.

  “You six. You are my new squad.”

  The room froze.

  Serafina blinked rapidly. “W-wait—us? All of us?”

  Cain nodded, then placed a hand on Kael’s shoulder.

  “And Kael will serve as your leader.”

  Kael’s eyes widened again even though he had heard it the day before. The others’ reactions exploded:

  “What!?” Kyle choked.

  “You’re serious!?” Takeshi added.

  Natalia clasped both hands over her mouth.

  Anya only smiled knowingly.

  Serafina swallowed. “But Lieutenant… what about you?”

  Cain smiled warmly. “I’m still on the frontlines. But I was promoted, to Captain. In two months, I’ll be commanding multiple squads. That gives all of you enough time to graduate and officially join the battle infantry.”

  That sent another wave of happiness through the group. Their belt pockets began glowing as their spirit creatures materialized to join the celebration.

  Kyle was almost crushed by a joyful tackle from his Dire Wolf.

  Serafina was nuzzled by her Panthera Atrox.

  Natalia hugged her coiling J?rmungandr around the shoulders.

  Takeshi received a graceful bow from his Jorōgumo.

  Anya was gently enveloped by Mischka, her Sky hawk.

  Cain raised his hand once more, this time, the mood shifted.

  “With Kael’s permission,” he said, “there’s one more announcement.”

  Kael nodded quietly.

  His belt pocket glowed. Zatz happily zipped out in sparks of gold. Kawa emerged in a swirl of crimson feathers. And Kylon spread his wings, in his dragon form, proud and majestic.

  Cain took a breath.

  “I announce before all of you, the first in over a millennium, Kael Santos, the world’s only Spirit User with Rainbow-Tier Spirit Creatures.”

  The room exploded into stunned silence.

  “This information will not go public yet, that’s why I made the addition to the spirit creature database about Kael’s third spirit creature, Zatz.” Cain continued. “General Ryker Smith and the Smith family agreed. Kael is under our protection.”

  The cadets stared at Kael like they were witnessing a living legend.

  All except Anya, who crossed her arms and shrugged.

  “I already knew,” she said casually. “Since the evolving beast-type abberant incident. I just promised Kael that I would keep his secret.”

  Everyone whipped their heads toward her.

  “You WHAT!?” Kyle shouted.

  Anya nodded. “I figured out when I was coming to help Kael at that moment.”

  The other cadets were overwhelmed, but awe and pride quickly replaced their shock. Having a leader with prime and rainbow-tier spirit creatures didn’t intimidate them, it filled them with hope.

  If Kael was their leader, then their future could only shine brighter.

  The spirit creatures all turned toward Kael with pride.

  And for the first time, the newly formed squad stood together, not just as cadets…

  …but as the next generation of the frontlines.

  Cain leaned back against his pillows and exhaled slowly.

  “For now,” he said, “I want all of you to spend time with your mentors before they officially retire. Enjoy your remaining days with them.”

  The cadets nodded respectfully. One by one they said their goodbyes and left the room, Kyle, Takeshi, Natalia, Serafina, and Anya. Their excited chatter faded down the hallway.

  Only Kael remained.

  He let out a long, shaky sigh of relief.

  “I… didn’t know how they’d react,” he admitted. “About my spirit creatures.”

  Cain smirked knowingly.

  “You worry too much. Those cadets have been through thick and thin with you. All of you have tasted hardship, pain, victory, and failure together. There's nothing left that would break your bond.”

  Zatz zipped forward, laughing.

  “Yeah, Holder! I’m pretty sure all the fun you had together outweighs the shock and jealousy.” Zatz twirled mid-air. “They’ll be fine. Probably.”

  Kawa strutted forward proudly, chest puffed out, feathers shimmering.

  “I am finally glad to show my true form,” he said. “Even if I am currently small, I am still majestic!”

  Before Kael could respond, Kylon’s tail swung without warning—

  thwap—

  hitting Kawa square on the back of the head.

  “You don’t have to reveal the size of your ego just because you can reveal your body,” Kylon deadpanned.

  Kawa spun around, feathers flaring. “Why you damn lizard—!”

  Zatz pointed at both of them, laughing so loud he nearly sparked the curtains.

  “You two look like babies!”

  Kylon and Kawa snapped toward him in perfect unison.

  “WE CERTAINLY ARE NOT!”

  Kael pinched the bridge of his nose. “All of you, behave.”

  The three immediately froze, though Kawa still glared at Kylon, and Zatz still shook with quiet snickers.

  Cain watched the chaotic trio with their holder, an amused smile showed on his face.

  For a moment, his gaze softened, deep, faraway.

  In Kael’s awkward sincerity, in the way the spirit creatures bickered but stayed close, in the unspoken loyalty binding them…

  Cain saw someone else.

  His brother.

  Cain’s fingers curled slightly over the bedsheets as he thought:

  “Abel… If you were still alive, you would’ve loved this kid. He’s just like you. Kind. Determined. And always surrounded by chaos.”

  A quiet warmth settled in his chest.

  Kael didn’t notice, he was too busy stopping Kawa from trying to claw Zatz.

  But Cain kept smiling.

  Because for the first time in years, he felt something Abel left behind:

  Hope.