…
"Luo Qingxue, S-rank ability — Frostbound Ice Soul!"
The principal of No. 2 High School shouted in excitement, instantly shattering the dead silence of the awakening line.
"Holy crap! As expected of the school goddess Luo. An S-rank ice ability! How is Su Chen supposed to fight her three days from now?"
"Yeah… looks like that engagement between Luo Qingxue and Su Chen is definitely getting canceled after the duel."
"Not necessarily. What if Su Chen awakens an S-rank too?"
"Dream on. Do you think S-rank abilities grow on trees? Jiangbei Province has only had one in years. If Su Chen gets a B-rank, his ancestors would be smiling from their graves. Let's just hope he doesn't lose too badly…"
Amid the noisy chatter and admiration, Luo Qingxue stood calmly on the platform, her expression as cold as ever.
She slightly tilted her head, her gaze briefly sweeping across the boy waiting in line below, emotions flickering faintly in her eyes. Then she turned and gracefully stepped off the awakening stage.
Principal Wang Donglai suppressed his smile and raised his hand. "Quiet. Awakening continues!"
"Next, Lu Chuxue from Senior Class 6!"
…
Below the stage.
Su Chen frowned slightly.
"An S-rank ability, huh? The three-year promise hasn't even begun, and the difficulty's already cranked up?"
He sighed inwardly. Luo Qingxue had soared straight into the heavens. As a transmigrator, he should at least have some dignity, right?
Lowering his head, he stared at the engagement contract in his hand, his thoughts drifting.
Su Chen was a transmigrator. Three years ago, he had died suddenly after pulling an all-nighter binge-reading novels and woke up in this world—a martial realm plagued by monsters, where everyone could awaken supernatural abilities.
Awakened warriors fought beasts, protecting their homeland.
The moment he arrived in this world, Luo Qingxue's family demanded that he tear up the childhood engagement and annul the marriage.
A woman breaking off an engagement with a man—nothing could be more humiliating.
Was he supposed to just accept that?
No way.
If you don't fight for bread, you fight for pride.
Su Chen refused outright and proposed a three-year pact.
On his eighteenth birthday—today—three days after awakening his ability, they would fight.
If he lost, he would personally hand over the engagement contract.
If he won, the fate of the engagement would be his to decide.
"Brother Chen, thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west. Never bully the poor youth. I believe you'll awaken something good!" Han Xiaoli, a skinny boy standing behind him, patted his shoulder encouragingly.
Su Chen turned back, smiling faintly at one of his few friends. "Let's hope so. I just want my fate in my own hands."
The next second, a mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
[Ding! A living transmigrator detected. Slaughter System successfully bound.]
Su Chen froze—then his eyes lit up.
"System!"
The standard golden finger of transmigrators—those damn novels weren't lying!
From now on, my fate is decided by the system, not heaven.
[This system is the Slaughter System. By killing humans or monsters, the host gains Slaughter Points for enhancement.]
[Special rewards will be granted upon reaching certain thresholds.]
[Congratulations! Newbie Gift Pack acquired.]
[Reward: Qualification to awaken S-rank Dark-type ability. Companion Spirit Weapon — S-rank Death Scythe. 1,000 Slaughter Points.]
The system's voice sounded like heavenly music to Su Chen.
His fists clenched as excitement surged through him. Now he finally had the capital to fight Luo Qingxue in three days.
An S-rank ability!
There were barely any in the entire Dragon Nation.
Even if it was Dark-type—so what?
Come on! Dark-type users are insanely cool, alright?
Mysterious. Cunning. Deadly.
And with 1,000 Slaughter Points and a companion spirit weapon? This was practically a rocket launch.
Just as he was reveling in it, Principal Wang Donglai's voice rang out again.
"Next—Su Chen from Class 6, step forward for awakening!"
Su Chen took a deep breath, suppressing his surging emotions, and walked straight toward the platform.
His steps were light.
S-rank Dark ability, here I come!
"Brother Chen, go for it! I'll trade two centimeters off my second little brother if you get at least an A-rank!" Han Xiaoli shouted from behind.
Su Chen glanced back, deeply moved. "You're a real one. I've got this."
As Su Chen stepped up, the entire field buzzed again.
After all, he was the man engaged to Luo Qingxue—the S-rank genius.
His awakening naturally drew massive attention.
Standing before the awakening stone, the principal spoke gently, "Su Chen, don't be nervous. Just place your hand on the stone."
Su Chen nodded and reached out without hesitation.
The air grew tense.
"I hope this kid gets at least a B-rank," the homeroom teacher muttered worriedly.
He had taught Su Chen for three years. Mischievous, yes—but not bad-hearted.
If Su Chen awakened a low-tier ability and lost to Luo Qingxue, it might crush him for life.
"Let's see how fate treats him," the principal agreed.
Suddenly, a dangerous aura swept outward.
The Class 6 teacher stared at the awakening stone glowing with dark light. "This… dark glow—it's definitely a Dark-type ability, and not a low rank!"
"More than that," Wang Donglai said excitedly. "This aura alone shakes my heart. It's at least A-rank!"
Heaven bless Chuan City No. 2 High!
First Luo Qingxue, now Su Chen?
If this was another S-rank…
Resources next year would multiply—No, no—more resources for the students!
At that moment, Su Chen's eyes snapped open.
Black shadows surged like tides within his pupils.
In an instant, the world lost its color.
Light vanished as if strangled by an invisible hand, plunging the field into darkness.
Wang Donglai's face flushed red as he gasped. "A phenomenon… This is definitely a phenomenon! Without question—S-rank ability!"
Only S-rank awakenings caused phenomena!
Students below stood stunned, many instinctively stepping back.
Just standing in the darkness felt like being stared at by Death itself.
A suffocating pressure wrapped around them—cunning, terror, mortality—hallucinations stabbing into their nerves.
Even Luo Qingxue frowned slightly. "S-rank…?"
"Hmph. Just luck," her butler whispered. "And it's probably Dark-type. Nothing to fear. You'll win in three days, Miss."
Luo Qingxue ignored him, staring blankly at Su Chen.
On the silent, shadow-soaked awakening platform, a throne of darkness condensed from nothingness.
Su Chen sat down.
One leg crossed casually over the other, Death Scythe in hand. He lifted his chin slightly, his gaze sweeping across the crowd like living shadows, a lazy curve tugging at his lips.
This didn't look like a freshly awakened student.
It looked like a monarch returning from eternal night.
An Emperor of Darkness.
Seated upon his throne, overlooking all.
With just that single motion, the crowd lost control.
Several girls felt their legs go weak, cheeks flushing red, eyes filled with near-obsessive admiration.
The boys could only stare in envy.
Damn it.
Who said Dark-type abilities weren't cool?
…