Reborn With the God-Tier Spirit Beast System

Chapter 2: The Day Fate Repeats

The hall erupted into applause before Zhao Ming could steady his breathing. The sudden thunder of thousands of voices crashed against his ears, pulling him away from the impossible sight before him. Students filled every row of the vast Awakening Hall, their eager conversations echoing beneath a ceiling carved with ancient runes that shimmered like stars. Golden banners bearing the crest of the Azure Spirit Academy hung from towering pillars, while the enormous Spirit Awakening Crystal floated at the centre of the arena, radiating waves of pure spiritual energy.

Everything looked exactly as he remembered. The polished marble floor. The scent of incense is drifting through the air. The nervous excitement on every young face. Even the warm morning sunlight pouring through the stained-glass windows was identical. For a terrifying moment, Zhao Ming wondered if he had finally died and this was nothing more than a dream crafted from regret. Then he looked down. His hands were no longer stained with blood.

The scars covering his arms had disappeared. The broken fingers that had never fully healed in his previous life were whole again. He slowly clenched his fists. Strength flowed through muscles that had not yet been tempered by countless battles. His heart pounded violently. "I'm really back..." The memory of Lilith's final smile flashed through his mind. "Please... choose me again..." His chest tightened.

He searched the crowd desperately until he found her. She stood near the rear of the hall, separated from the dazzling Spirit Beast projections that floated around the awakening platforms. Unlike the majestic dragons, celestial wolves, and elemental phoenixes proudly displayed to inspire the students, Lilith remained almost invisible. Small black wings rested uneasily against her back. Tiny crimson horns peeked through soft silver hair.

Her eyes never met anyone else's. Whenever someone glanced in her direction, she instinctively lowered her head. She already expected rejection. Zhao Ming swallowed hard. In his previous life, he had barely noticed her until much later. He had been consumed by the glory of awakening Seraphina, believing that possessing an S-Class Spirit Beast meant destiny itself had chosen him. How blind he had been. His gaze lingered on Lilith a moment longer.

"This time... "You won't be alone." A deep voice echoed across the arena. "Silence." The command carried spiritual pressure strong enough to quiet thousands of students instantly. At the highest platform stood the academy's principal, Elder Gu. His white robes fluttered despite the still air, and the golden crest embroidered over his heart gleamed beneath the crystal's light.

"The Spirit Awakening Ceremony," he declared, "is the most important day of your lives." Every student straightened. "Talent may open the door to greatness, but your Spirit Beast will determine how far you can walk beyond it."

With a wave of his hand, hundreds of glowing symbols rose into the air. Dragons. Phoenixes. Sword spirits. Ancient beasts. Celestial guardians. Each illusion drew gasps from the crowd. "There are five known grades of Spirit Beasts," Elder Gu continued. "From F-Class to S-Class. History remembers only those fortunate enough to contract beings of extraordinary potential."

The audience nodded eagerly. Everyone knew the stories. Kings were born from S-Class contracts. Empires rose because of legendary Spirit Beasts. No one spoke about the countless F-Class beasts abandoned every year. No one cared. Except Zhao Ming. "You've all been taught the biggest lie in this world." His eyes narrowed. "Potential isn't decided by rank. "It's decided by loyalty."

A familiar laugh interrupted his thoughts. Loud. Confident. Arrogant. Zhao Ming's body stiffened before he even turned around. There he was. Han Tianyu. The eldest son of the Han Clan. The young noble who, in Zhao Ming's previous life, had purchased Seraphina after Zhao Ming's death and used her power to establish one of the strongest factions in the empire only to be betrayed by her years later.

Han Tianyu wore expensive robes stitched with silver thread, surrounded by admirers eager to earn his favour. He hadn't changed. Neither had the smug smile on his face. Fate had returned every piece to its original place. Only one person no longer belonged. Zhao Ming. Because he remembered everything. He remembered kingdoms burning. He remembered friends screaming. He remembered Lilith dying in his arms. His breathing became uneven.

A hand landed on his shoulder. "You look terrible." Zhao Ming turned. Lin Wei. His childhood friend. Still carefree. Still alive. Still unaware that, in another timeline, he would sacrifice himself defending refugees during the Third Beast Tide. Lin Wei frowned. "You're shaking." Zhao Ming looked at him for a long moment. How many people here were already walking toward death, only he remembered? How many smiles would disappear?

How many promises would be broken? His throat tightened. "Because today..." He glanced toward the Awakening Crystal. "...the world changes." Lin Wei blinked. "What?" Zhao Ming smiled. "You'll understand someday." Before Lin Wei could ask another question, the Awakening Crystal pulsed.

The light filling the hall deepened from gold to brilliant white. Every conversation ceased. Elder Gu raised both hands. "The ceremony begins." One by one, students stepped forward. Some awakened ordinary wolf spirits. Others contracted elemental birds, armoured bears, and blade mantises. Cheers erupted whenever a B-Class beast appeared. An A Class contract brought the audience to its feet. Hours passed. Names were called. Destinies were decided.

Each awakening followed the exact sequence Zhao Ming remembered. Every success. Every disappointment. Every tear. Every celebration. Nothing had changed. Until the future waiting inside the crystal reached him. His pulse quickened. He knew what would happen. The moment his hand touched the crystal, Seraphina would emerge in a storm of celestial light. The academy would celebrate.

The kingdom would rejoice. His legend would begin. And eventually... Everything would collapse. Not this time. Never again. A strange warmth spread through his chest. Invisible to everyone else, faint golden letters shimmered briefly before his eyes. Regression Stability: Confirmed. God-Tier Spirit Beast System... Synchronisation: 3%. The message vanished before he could react. His heartbeat accelerated.

"It's real. "The system came back with me." A cold smile touched his lips. Destiny had given him another chance. He would not waste it. At the front of the hall, Elder Gu unrolled another section of the golden scroll. The arena fell silent once more. Every student leaned forward. Every teacher watched the list.The old man's voice echoed through the chamber. "Next..." He paused. "Zhao Ming." The Awakening Crystal blazed like a newborn sun. And somewhere deep within its endless light... Someone was already waiting for him.