SSS Class Awakening: I Can Forge My Beast Soul Avatars
Chapter 22: Training with Mr Crosswell

Chapter 22: Training with Mr Crosswell

They all arrived at the training site in strict formation, lined up neatly from the male to female rows.

As usual, the grounds were packed with students from other class ranks training, sparring, and competing. Even their rivals from Class 5D were present nearby. However, Class 5E paid them no attention; Mr. Crosswell’s practical session was far more important than a few annoying faces.

"Alright, class! We’ll start with basic drills to warm up, then switch to a hardcore training regimen to crank up the heat a bit," Mr. Crosswell announced with infectious enthusiasm.

He turned to Seraphine, a small smile playing on his lips. "Do you finally want to train with the others today?"

She shook her head with a single, firm gesture, silently rejecting the offer.

"Okay..." Mr. Crosswell nodded, acknowledging her response without pressure. He then turned his gaze toward Atlas.

"You two may step aside — I have special drills prepared specifically for you." He offered a quick wink alongside a subtle smirk.

Atlas raised an eyebrow, thoroughly confused, but obeyed regardless. I wonder what the wink was for. Is there something I’m supposed to know that I don’t?

The pair stepped to the side, watching as Mr. Crosswell demonstrated a series of morning warm-up drills for the rest of the class — side-to-side bounds, dynamic body stretches, and rapid push-ups designed to sharpen reflexes.

"Do you really think we can win against Class 5D? The odds are stacked against us," Seraphine murmured, her arms folded tightly across her chest as they watched.

Atlas turned to her briefly before returning his gaze to the training field. "Well, that depends entirely on how this week goes and how our opponents play their cards next week," he responded in a calm, steady voice.

The only variable I’m sure of in his equation is that he’s using the two weakest students in his class, Atlas thought. As for what will actually happen during the duel, I can’t say for sure. But everything will come to light by the end of the week.

"I just hope we don’t end up embarrassed because of our decision," Seraphine muttered under her breath.

"I promise you, we won’t," Atlas assured her, keeping his tone firm despite his own internal uncertainties. "Things will work out in our favor in the end. We just need to play our part and train relentlessly."

Seraphine nodded, and the two returned to watching the drilling lessons in silence.

After a short while, Mr. Crosswell finished setting up the main class and walked over to them, wiping a light sheen of sweat from his forehead.

"You good, sir? You look tired already," Atlas teased, flashing a bright, white-toothed grin.

"Haha, very funny," Mr. Crosswell replied sarcastically.

Then his expression straightened, turning dead serious. "Have you found your partner for the duel yet? What’s the tactical plan? And more importantly... have you managed to summon a beast yet?"

The flurry of questions betrayed his genuine concern. Even though he took pride in his students’ bond and determination, he couldn’t help worrying about how this high-stakes gamble would ultimately play out.

Would they face public humiliation, or would they rise to the occasion and finally overcome their limitations? He simply didn’t know.

"You don’t have to worry yourself, sir. Everything is under control," Atlas said, offering a reassuring smile to calm the instructor down. "I’ve got things planned out, and I’ve also secured a suitable partner for the duel. It was just a thought earlier, but now I’m certain of it."

He paused, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "And as for my beast? You wouldn’t believe what I just pulled off."

Mr. Crosswell stared at him silently for a long moment, sizing him up and searching his eyes. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh and let the mystery slide.

"Fine. Come on, show me what you managed to pull," Mr. Crosswell said, ushering them toward an isolated corner of the training grounds reserved for introductory practice. "What was it, a dragon?"

"Well, no, it wasn’t a dragon. Actually, I’m not entirely sure what to classify it as myself," Atlas corrected, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.

Mr. Crosswell gave him a bewildered look before glancing at Seraphine, who merely offered a helpless shrug.

With a deep breath, the instructor gestured to the open space. "Okay, show us. Might be just the confidence booster we need to get someone else out of their shell."

Atlas nodded and mentally summoned his system panel.

[Forge Complete.]

[Congratulations, Host. Your first Beast Soul has been successfully forged.]

Beast: Wolf

Size: Medium

Role: Scout

Elemental Affinity: Shadow

Additional Affinity: Bone

Appearance: Greyhound

Name: Unnamed

Bypassing the secondary notifications waiting in his queue, Atlas jumped straight to the core command prompt.

[Unnamed. Would you like to summon your beast?]

Yes, he responded without hesitation.

[Forge complete. Manifesting Beast Soul into physical space...]

[Basic tutorial quests completed. Check the Quest tab or mark as read.]

System messages flooded his field of vision as the summoning sequence initiated. A dense, swirling cloud of white mist abruptly erupted across the ground before him.

The mist spun faster and faster, infused with pulsing dark and golden energy, until a shape began to materialize within the vapor.

As the smoke slowly dissipated, a strange and imposing creature stood revealed, leaving all three onlookers completely speechless with their mouths agape.

This is... definitely not how I pictured it in my head, Atlas thought in awe.

"Uhm... am I the only one seeing this? Are you absolutely sure that’s a beast?" Mr. Crosswell asked, squinting to make sure his eyes weren’t deceiving him.

Seraphine was too stunned to speak, staring wide-eyed at the entity.

There must be some kind of glitch, because this can’t possibly be a standard beast summon...

The creature looked like a wolf that had clawed its way back from the underworld. It possessed a sleek, greyhound-like frame covered in a shaggy coat of inky-black fur that bristled with raw, shadow energy.

Straight through the dark fur, key elements of its skeletal structure were exposed — a pristine white bone skull for a head and a pronounced ribcage curving along its spine like natural plate armor.

Its skeletal jaw was set in a perpetual grin of sharp teeth, and burning within its left socket was a single, intensely glowing red eye.

It crouched low to the ground, tail bristling, its obsidian claws digging into the turf as if ready to pounce at a moment’s notice.

"Remind me again — where exactly did you summon this thing from?" Mr. Crosswell inquired, his mind thoroughly boggled by the sheer sight of the creature.

"I’m... not entirely sure myself, sir," Atlas admitted, staring back at it in confusion.

Cassandra strolled over to their corner, clearly uninterested in the repetitive warm-up drills Mr. Crosswell had assigned to the main group.

"Aw, that actually looks like a very cute puppy..." she purred, taking a step closer to give it a gentle pat.

The moment she extended her hand, the creature interpreted it as a threat. It let out a low, guttural growl that made her freeze and step back, opening its bone jaw wide to reveal multiple terrifying rows of shadow-infused teeth.

Instinctively, Atlas crouched low and gently rested his palm on the bone plate above its snout. "Easy there..."

Stay calm, stay calm, he reassured himself internally as he stroked its head. It’s your beast partner. It’s not going to eat you. Just keep rubbing gently...

Under his touch, the intimidating creature suddenly coiled, rolled over onto its back, and dropped to the grass, exposing its belly for more rubs.

"Wow..." Cassandra muttered, blinking in surprise. "What are you going to call it? Have you decided on a name yet?"

"She’s right," Mr. Crosswell added, recovering his composure. "Giving your beast a proper name deepens your soul bond and improves synergy. You should give it a shot — preferably something reasonable."

Atlas stared down at the creature, lost in thought. He hadn’t planned out a name beforehand, but looking at its exposed skeletal features, the choice felt obvious.

"Skull," Atlas declared casually. "His name will be Skull."

"Are you sure? Because that’s a little on the nose..." Cassandra pointed out with a chuckle.

Atlas had already made up his mind and had no desire to spend all day brainstorming synonyms.

"Yeah, I’m sure." He nodded firmly down at the wolf.

The system immediately recognized the intent and finalized the registry:

[Beast Type: Grey Wolf (Shadow/Bone)]

[Name Registered: Skull]

[Soul Bond increased by 20%.]

[Soul Essence regeneration rate increased by 15%.]

Atlas read the floating text, his fingers still automatically scratching Skull’s belly. Wow, all that just for giving it a name? Guess the bond system really is that strict.

"Alright, enough admiring the new recruit," Mr. Crosswell interrupted, clapping his hands together. "We need to get to training immediately. You can bond with him properly later; right now, we have work to do."

"Right, sir," Atlas agreed, rising to his feet.

Skull immediately flipped over and scrambled up alongside him, his tail wagging furiously as he panted with his tongue out, begging for more head pats.

Mr. Crosswell then turned his attention back to Seraphine, who had managed to compose herself while they were registering Skull.

"Well, Seraphine, I suppose it’s your turn now," Mr. Crosswell said gently, attempting to lift her spirits.

"You can’t keep hiding your abilities forever. Eventually, you’ll have to fight alongside your partner, and today is the day to break that barrier."

"He’s right, Seraph," Cassandra chimed in supportively. "You might feel like your beast isn’t the strongest, but if you never train with it, it’ll never have the chance to grow."

"They’re right," Seraphine murmured, a new glint of determination kindling in her eyes.

"Even Atlas managed to summon his beast today. I can’t keep pretending mine doesn’t exist anymore. Even if it’s considered weak, I just have to train harder with it."

Atlas watched her in complete bewilderment. Wait, what are they talking about? She’s had a beast this whole time and just kept quiet about it?!

Seraphine closed her eyes, taking a deep, rhythmic breath. The next second, her hands moved in a fluid series of intricate hand signs.

A soft, radiant aura gathered around her fingers, and out of thin air, a magnificent presence began to materialize before them, leaving Atlas completely frozen in shock.

"Woah!!"