A Rat-Dragon System

THE AWAKENING

It was my fifteenth birthday!

I was a bit happy and anxious. In the Mu Xiang dynasty, we were known for bonding with a powerful pet system.

Each son and daughter of this powerful lineage carried power. My father always reminded me how lucky I was to be born his son.

He not only reminded us, but he also gave a strict command.

Any of his children who awakened a weak pet system animal was going to be disowned.

Thus, I felt scared.

The thought of being disowned at a tender age made my heart beat fast.

I got up early to take my bath and was soon on my way to school.

My school was one of the biggest in the city. It was crawling with lots of kids with huge pets and systems you could only dream of.

The school was in sects.

The weak and the strong.

The weak are those who awaken weaker pets and systems, while the strong awaken far better pets and systems.

The moment I was parked right in front of the school gate, my father turned from the wheel and looked at me.

"Happy birthday, boy! I will be on time today. Hopefully, you are going to make me happy," he said with a frown.

My father was the most feared man in the city. He awakened the most dangerous pet and system of all, making all the men fear him.

He was not only the leader of the Mu Xiang sect, but he was respected.

It was going to be dishonored on him if I awakened a weak system and pet.

I gulped down the thick saliva at the back of my throat. "Yes, Dad."

"See you soon," he said, and I immediately got off.

The moment he drove out of sight, I simply released the anxiety that had been pressing down on me.

I walked about to take a step when I heard a loud burst of laughter right behind me.

A kind of laugh that makes you want to throw up. I turned to see Jack.

My number one enemy. He was in the same class as me, and funny enough, he was also sharing his birthday date with me.

He was clocking fifteen with me.

"You should be scared! I heard he is going to disown you if you awaken the weakest system," he said, hitting me on the head.

"Fuck off, Jack!" I yelled.

The bell rang, and we immediately ran along.

The day went really nice until a man with a large belly walked onto the podium.

That was Mr. Thomas.

A man who managed to climb the ladder to success simply because his father runs the school. It has been passed from generation to generation, and now it is his.

He coughed slightly and stared at millions of kids standing before him.

"We all know what today is all about!" he shouted into the microphone.

In that moment, the school thundered.

Some students laughed.

Others stared at us.

We were the subject of attention, and I couldn't help but feel scared.

I stared at Jack, who seemed to be having a nice time. He was eyeing the only girl I had managed to date since I was in grade five.

Selena Gomez.

She was from a rich family, and she was also going to awaken her system today.

She looked at me and smiled.

That was comforting. At least, I knew someone was on my side.

"All students, move to the system hall!" the voice finally shouted.

The students moved like a swarm of bees, each of them trying to grab a seat.

As I walked, my heart thudded. I could feel the heat rising to my chest.

My phone beeped, and I saw it was my father.

"Where the hell are you? You should be in the hall by now!"

I clipped my backpack to my back and ran.

My father hated to be kept waiting. A virtue I learned from him.

The moment I walked in, the hall went dead silent.

I looked up and saw my father seated on the highest seat, his gaze grim.

He had this look that showed he was not to be messed with. A grace I enjoyed as his son.

But now, it seemed like it was tethering on thin ice.

Time froze for just a brief moment before things moved on again.

A special seat was assigned for the stronger pet systems, and a shallow and untidy place was arranged for the weaker systems.

I was neutral.

Undecided yet.

I immediately took a seat with Selena.

"You don't need to be nervous, Randon. Your family is known for awakening the strongest pets. I am sure you are not going to disappoint your father."

I gulped and nodded. I tried to hide my sweaty palms, which wouldn't stop releasing moisture.

Names were called from each department, and each student awakened whatever system pet they were cursed with.

"And finally, the Custodian department. Please come out towards the orb the moment you hear your name!"

An educator bellowed gently, holding a piece of paper.

John.

Mark.

Fiona.

Selena!

She walked towards the orb, and when she touched it, the ground shook. Water dropped, and slowly, a whale system pet appeared.

The crowd roared as Selena looked at me, pleased.

"Jack!" the man called yet again.

Jack gallivanted towards the orb and touched it. This time, we heard it.

A loud roar of a wild beast, and in that moment, a lion system pet appeared.

For a moment, it felt like all the animals had been selected, and I was left with the weaker ones.

"Randon!"

I stood up like a ghost, oblivious to my own name. As I walked, I could feel their gaze on me.

Each trying to picture what I was going to get.

"Place your hand on the orb," he commanded.

I stared at my father, who shifted uneasily in his seat.

My hand hovered above the orb and a strong lightening struck the heart of the school ground.

My heart pounded, beat fast but then, nothing.

No large roar, no slithering of a giant snake. No animal seen.

[SQUEAK!]

" What is that sound?"

" Omg! don't say!"

I could hear their talks. I clenched my fist into a ball. I heard the sound, and I almost fainted. I didn't awaken a mighty animal.

I had awakened the least of them all.