The moment I saw the creature standing right in front of me, I felt the ground should open up and swallow me. The laughter did not stop. Each of the students kept laughing at me. Their fingers pointed at me in unison and for a moment, I felt the ground should cave under me. Out of everything in the world… I got a rat. I stood there, frozen, staring at the tiny creature at my feet. It looked up at me and squeaked again, like it was happy to see me. That only made it worse. “HAHAHAHA!” Jack’s voice rose above the others. “I knew it! I knew you were trash!” he shouted, holding his stomach as he laughed. “A rat? Seriously? Even the system hates you!” More laughter followed. Some students covered their mouths, trying to hide their smiles. Others didn’t even bother. I couldn’t lift my head. The embarrassment was just out of this world. My hands were shaking from the shame I had just bestowed on my father and the lineage that expected more from me. “Silence!” Mr. Thomas’ voice

Have you ever wished everything was just a dream… one you needed to wake up from? I have. Because just a few months ago, I had everything. Money, respect. A name that opened doors without effort. But now? Now I was lying on a thin, creaking bed inside a cramped cubicle that barely deserved to be called a room. The ceiling above me was stained, cracked in places, like it had given up on life just like I had. I let out a slow yawn, stretching lazily, my body heavy from exhaustion. BANG! The door slammed open so violently it bounced against the wall. I jolted upright instantly, my heart racing as my sleepy eyes snapped toward the entrance. A man stood there. He was short and thick. A pot belly pushing against his worn shirt with sweat glistening on his forehead. His face twisted with irritation, lips curled in disgust as his eyes locked onto me. “Where is my rent for two months?!” he barked, his voice loud enough to shake the walls. I blinked, still half awake. “Rent…?” I

As I walked out of the building, everything felt unreal. One minute, my pet had been tiny and fragile, and the next, it was soaring above the ground with wings.I bent down slightly, my gaze fixed on the small creature perched on my shoulder. “You just saved us back there… what are you?” I whispered. It let out a soft, squeaky sound and nudged against me, jumping lightly on my shoulder as if it was proud of itself.We had won the match, but victory didn’t change the fact that I was still broke. My stomach rumbled, and I glanced at my wrist—no timer, no system alert. That was a relief. Maybe now I could focus on something practical: finding a job and a way to feed myself.Then, a system message popped up.[ System Message ][ Cash Prize Unlocked Due to Special Death Delivery ]A smile tugged at the corner of my lips. I glanced at my pet, who perched calmly on my shoulder, its tiny wings folding neatly behind it. I stopped walking, my heart pounding as I anticipated the amount.[ System

The creature that stepped out behind Dan was nothing like I had imagined.It wasn’t just big.It was monstrous.Its body was thick and muscular, covered in jagged, stone-like scales that shifted slightly as it moved, grinding against each other with a low, scraping sound.Each step it took cracked the ground beneath it, leaving its feet imprints in the arena floor.Its head was shaped like that of a wolf—but twisted, elongated, and armored. Rows of sharp teeth gleamed beneath its curled lips, and those glowing red eyes burned with a savage, almost intelligent hunger.A low growl rumbled from its chest.The sound alone made my legs feel weak.“Stone Fang Wolf,” someone whispered from the crowd.“No way… that’s a mid-tier evolution…”“He’s been hiding that this whole time?”My throat tightened.Mid-tier.That meant… even at Tier 5, his pet was already far stronger than it should be.Dan casually rested his hand on the creature’s head,completely unbothered by the terrifying beast beside

The moment Ivy walked away, I couldn't help but ponder on what she said. On the bright side, I was happy. Maybe my father was finally going to recognize me for once and stop seeing my awakening as a bad thing. On the other hand, I was a bit scared. Jack had never challenged me. If he was going to get into the competition, then it was likely that I was going to face him. I didn't move.My hands trembled slightly as I held the small, fragile body of my pet. Its breathing was faint… uneven… like it could stop at any moment.A part of me wondered how a small rat could suddenly grow into a dragon. Just one person was powerful enough to conjure a powerful pet. My father. “No… no, stay with me,” he whispered, his voice cracking despite himself.For a moment, the noise of the arena faded. None of it mattered when my pet was trying so hard to cling to life. I know what is going to happen to me if I lose my pet. I would be stuck. I was going to lose my way home and probably live the re