Cybernetic Beast Taming In A Game-like World

Jethro's eyes fluttered open, a familiar scent of aether and antiseptic stinging his nose. He lifted his head with effort, slowly pulling himself to a sitting position.

On his lap, Scorch was curled warmly, deep in sleep. Jethro sighed. "Another visit to the healthpost in only two days. My account is not gonna survive this…

"Eh, I'll just add it to my queue."

His gaze shifted leftward, and to his surprise, he found someone standing there, looking down at him impassively.

It was Kaden Steelmark, the handsome Head of House with the ponytail resting on one shoulder and his Bolt Hopper perched on the other.

Jethro couldn't think of any reason why so he just asked the question.

"What are you doing here?" he said, head drawn slightly backwards.

"What did I tell you about this place, kid?" Kaden asked, his voice angrier than Jethro anticipated. "What part of staying clear of trouble and avoiding clashes with high ranks did you not get?"

Jethro's eyes slowly widened, glistening with recognition. "I knew I recognized you from somewhere," he murmured. "You're the guy who spoke to me during the license sharing."

"And it looks like you didn't listen to a single word," Kaden snapped. "First day of school and you punch a Class A Black-Rank tamer. What do you have, kid? A deathwish."

"He was making fun of Scorch. I was defending my mechbeast," Jethro shot back.

"Your Red Lizard is the lowest ranked mechbeast in Beastcorp Academy's history," Kaden retorted. "He's meant to be made fun of. That's how it works, kid. That's how life works. What you're also meant to do is take it.

"Take it like the loser you are here to be, because the other option is to get punched so hard that your entire body explodes from lightning magic it can not contain, and your Soul Core fractures, killing you and damaging your mechbeast's core."

Jethro fell silent, his eyes quivering at Kaden's angry face.

"Listen to me, kid." Kaden drew closer. "You don't throw a punch because you are angry, or because you're hurt. You throw a punch because you know that when you do, the receiver is going to get knocked down and won't come back up."

His gaze intensified. "I warned you about this place. That was just a tip of the iceberg, kid. No one cares about you here. No one. You're not a noble, you're not related to one, you're not talented, you're not skilled, you have no teacher, you have no credits, and your mechbeast is the lowest ranked in the Academy. You are bottom of the pile of rubble. That is your place."

Jethro shook his head, his annoyance growing. "That's what you think, but I'm not. I can't let that be who I am."

"Well then why don't you do something about it, huh?" Kaden said. "Why don't you apply for those Core expanding programmes? Why don't you train? Cultivate? So that when you punch someone, they actually feel some kind of pain.

"But in the meantime, know your place and stay out of trouble." Kaden was panting hard, his eyes moving through Jethro's rigid face. "That way you can stay alive."

They were silent for a moment, their breathing filling the room. Even though this guy had just said some really harsh things to him, Jethro didn't feel any kind of hatred for him, he wasn't even angry at him, more at the words. Because… they were true.

"Why do you care?" Jethro asked him, his voice like a whisper.

Kaden was still for a while, before sighing and lowering his gaze. He stood straight, arms folded as he gazed down at Jethro. "You are hopeless. You think that you're different but you're completely uninteresting and you have nothing at all going for you."

Jethro's eyes twitched. This time, Kaden was actually getting him angry.

"That's what I would have said before I found out that you survived the villain of Nebulon," Kaden added.

Jethro's brows raised.

"You. The one everyone least expected. You escaped the Conqueror. You defeated a tamer two ranks above you with nothing but brains, and you had the audacity to punch a freaking Class A Black-Rank."

A look of silent admiration appeared on Kaden's face. Now, Jethro was confused. "I thought you were angry about that a second ago."

"Don't get me wrong, Red Eyes." Kaden replied. "I still think it was a stupid thing to do. But Nyro had it coming. And even though he almost punched the life out of you, he'll never get rid of the shame of getting sucker punched by a Grey Rank."

Jethro lowered his gaze to hide a smirk while Kaden kept looking down at him. Like he was thinking.

"Fine. You've convinced me," Kaden said abruptly. "I'll teach you how to fight."

Jethro snapped his gaze up at him. "What? But I never asked you to?"

"Really? Kaden raised a warning brow. "Because I clearly remember you begging desperately for me to help you so you know what to do next time someone is trying to hit you in the face."

Jethro sat still, his heart thumping. If this guy was being serious… No, he had to ask first. "Are you being serious?" he questioned.

Kaden looked him squarely in the eyes. "Kid, I'm not a fan of repeating things that I say."

Jethro lowered his gaze thoughtfully. This was the chance he was looking for earlier: a chance to learn how to fight. And to learn from a Class A Black-Rank tamer who Kekius said came second to Fenris Harkson in last year's Mechbeast Games. That was an amazing opportunity. He couldn't let it slip away for whatever reason.

He lifted his face and caught sight of the Bolt Hopper quietly perched on Kaden's shoulder, peering back at him with its bulby black eyes.

Concern narrowed Jethro's eyes.

"What's wrong with him?" he asked Kaden.

Kaden frowned briefly, glancing at his mechbeast. "What do you mean? Sparkle is fine."

Jethro looked at Kaden and then at the mechrabbit. It might have to do with the knowledge he now possessed but Jethro could clearly see something wrong with the Hopper.

It showed micro-tremors that only his eyes could notice, and the bulby black eyes were flickering constantly.

Not just that, but Jethro could sense a lag between the Hopper and Kaden's connection, suggesting a weakened bond and damaged Soul Contract.

Most likely caused by Kaden's first mechbeast unconsciously monopolizing the aether channels amongst all three cores, leaving a fragile connection between Sparkle the Bolt Hopper and Kaden the master.

Jethro thought for a moment then looked up at Kaden. "If you do teach me how to fight, then I'll help you with your mechbeast."

Kaden scoffed, looking at Jethro like he'd lost his mind. "Listen, kid. I raised an Imitator Leopard to Grade C, Black Rank. I think I can handle a Bolt Hopper."

Jethro pulled out from the bed, placing Scorch on his shoulder. "Then you wouldn't mind accepting the deal." He faced Kaden. "Nothing to gain, but there's nothing to lose either."

Kaden gazed at him silently, wondering what this wide-grinned kid was up to now. "Keep your head up. I'll let you know when the first lesson starts. Come alone."

Jethro nodded once. "I will."

"Now get on to your next class," Kaden commanded, turning away.

Jethro hesitated. "What about the health bill?"

"Your friend took care of it," Kaden replied. "Dr. Dreamlake's kid. He was here with a smaller kid and a girl."

Jethro frowned. The smaller kid was probably Oand, but the girl...

"What girl?" he asked.

Kaden waved a nonchalant hand. "I don't know, kid. The princess. The one with the Deathclaw."

Hearing that, Jethro's heart skipped a bit, before he turned around and stepped out of the health post into the corridor. "See you around then."

But as he walked down the corridor to the next class hall, only one thought occupied his mind:

'Padva had come to see me?"