Reborn With the God-Tier Spirit Beast System

Chapter 3: The Legendary Awakening

The Awakening Crystal exploded before Zhao Ming could take another step. A pillar of golden light burst through the ceiling of the grand hall, forcing thousands of students to shield their eyes. The floor trembled beneath the overwhelming spiritual pressure, while ancient runes carved into the marble walls awakened one after another, illuminating the academy in a dazzling sea of gold. Gasps echoed from every corner. Someone screamed.

Others dropped to their knees. The pressure pouring from the crystal wasn't merely powerful; it was divine. Principal Gu's calm expression shattered. His eyes widened as he stared at the blazing crystal. "...Impossible." No ordinary Spirit Beast had ever produced such a phenomenon. The golden beam pierced the clouds above the academy, becoming visible across the entire capital. Outside, citizens abandoned busy streets to stare skyward. Inside the royal palace, a silver-haired minister looked toward the academy with disbelief.

"An S-Class..." Far above the city walls, ancient detection arrays activated simultaneously. The heavens themselves seemed to announce the birth of a legend. Inside the Awakening Hall, Zhao Ming remained perfectly still. His heartbeat was steady. He had seen this before. He had celebrated it before. He had mistaken it for a blessing before. Not this time.

The crystal continued radiating endless light until a graceful silhouette slowly emerged from within. Six radiant wings unfolded with breathtaking elegance. Snow-white hair flowed like silk beneath the golden glow. Eyes as clear as polished sapphire swept across the hall with quiet confidence. Every movement carried indescribable nobility.

She looked less like a Spirit Beast and more like a goddess descending from heaven. Students forgot to breathe. Some instinctively lowered their heads. Others stared in complete admiration. One young girl whispered with tears in her eyes. "She's... beautiful." She truly was. Her appearance inspired hope. Her smile promised salvation.

Her presence alone made despair seem impossible. Yet Zhao Ming felt nothing except cold disgust. Because he had seen another face beneath that smile. He had seen ambition. He had seen greed. He had seen betrayal. Her name echoed through his memories like a curse. Seraphina. The Celestial Angel. The legendary S-Class Spirit Beast is destined to become one of humanity's strongest companions. Or so everyone believed.

The beautiful angel floated gracefully toward Zhao Ming. Her expression radiated warmth. Gentleness. Perfect sincerity. To everyone else. To Zhao Ming... It looked rehearsed. The same smile she had worn on the battlefield moments before abandoning him. The same eyes that had watched Lilith die without showing the slightest emotion. Not one detail had changed. Even after returning to the past... She still wore the same mask.

"So..." Seraphina said softly, her voice flowing through the hall like music. "You are the one chosen by fate."Thunderous applause erupted. The students could barely contain their excitement. "She spoke! "She actually acknowledged him "She's incredible!" A teacher stumbled forward, nearly tripping over his robes. He bowed deeply before Zhao Ming. "You are destined to become the strongest Beast Master in history!"

The declaration ignited another wave of celebration. Several instructors followed his example, lowering their heads in respect. Principal Gu himself couldn't hide his excitement. "The academy has waited three hundred years for another S-Class awakening. "The heavens truly favour our kingdom." Even the academy's emergency bells began ringing. Not in warning. In celebration.

A few moments later, hurried footsteps echoed outside. The massive doors burst open. Several royal guards rushed inside, their crimson cloaks fluttering behind them. Following them came three kingdom officials dressed in ceremonial robes embroidered with dragons. One of them immediately examined the crystal's remaining energy before speaking with trembling excitement. "It has been confirmed."

"The Spirit Beast is S-Class. "The Royal Court will personally record this awakening." Students looked at Zhao Ming with open envy. Some admired him. Others hated him instantly. Lin Wei pushed through the crowd with an enormous grin. "I knew it!" He grabbed Zhao Ming's shoulder. "You actually did it!"You've become a legend!" Zhao Ming didn't answer. His eyes never left Seraphina.

She floated closer, studying him with quiet curiosity. Something was... different. She couldn't explain it. According to destiny, this human should already be overwhelmed with joy. Instead... His eyes held neither excitement nor gratitude. Only silence. Only caution. Only... Disappointment. An unfamiliar feeling stirred inside her. For the briefest moment, uncertainty crossed her flawless face. It disappeared almost instantly. She smiled again.

"My name is Seraphina. "I accept your contract." Golden symbols spread across the floor. Ancient contract circles emerged around Zhao Ming. A sacred melody filled the hall as heavenly feathers drifted gently through the air. The contract had begun. Everyone watched with anticipation. This was history. Future generations would remember this exact moment. No one noticed Zhao Ming closing his eyes. Behind his calm expression, memories surged like a violent storm.

He remembered carrying Seraphina through deadly battlefields. He remembered risking his life to obtain treasures that strengthened her bloodline. He remembered standing between her and impossible enemies countless times. Then... He remembered her final words. "I simply chose the winning side." His fists tightened. The cheers surrounding him slowly faded into silence inside his mind. Another memory replaced them. Lilith. Covered in blood. Smiling through unbearable pain. "Master... "I finally protected you..."

His breathing grew heavier. Then came her final request. "If there's another life..."Please choose me again..." His chest ached. That tiny voice carried more warmth than every promise Seraphina had ever spoken. He slowly opened his eyes. The contract circle continued shining. Seraphina extended her hand toward him. "Together," she said gently, "we shall reshape this world." For a fraction of a second, Zhao Ming almost laughed. Reshape the world? She certainly had. She had reshaped it into a graveyard.

Around him, everyone waited. Principal Gu smiled proudly. The royal officials prepared official documents. Teachers whispered excitedly. Students stared with admiration. Han Tianyu's face twisted with jealousy. No one imagined the impossible. Only Zhao Ming knew the truth. An S-Class title meant nothing. A beautiful face meant nothing. Power without loyalty was merely another weapon waiting to turn against its master.

His greatest mistake in his previous life had not been trusting Seraphina. It had been believing talent mattered more than character. Never again. He looked directly into Seraphina's eyes. For the first time... The angel's perfect smile faltered. She sensed something she couldn't understand. Why...Why wasn't this human accepting her? Why did his gaze feel... final?

The golden contract symbols reached Zhao Ming's feet. One more step. One touch. History would repeat itself. Instead... Zhao Ming took a slow step backwards. The movement was so unexpected that the hall fell strangely quiet. Principal Gu frowned. "Zhao Ming?" Seraphina's brows knitted together. "What are you doing?" Every eye remained fixed on him. His voice was calm. Clear. Without the slightest hesitation. "I refuse." Silence. Absolute silence.

The golden contract shattered into countless fragments of light. A feather drifted slowly to the marble floor. Nobody moved. Nobody breathed. Even Seraphina stood frozen, unable to comprehend what she had just heard. No Beast Master had ever refused an S-Class Spirit Beast. No one had ever rejected the greatest blessing the heavens could bestow. Thousands of stunned eyes remained fixed on Zhao Ming. And in the suffocating silence that followed, fate itself seemed to hesitate.