---
The clouds above the Darian Kingdom gathered unnaturally fast, roiling like waves in the sky. A low rumble echoed over the capital city of Velaria, unsettling birds and sending whispers through the crowded plaza below. The sun was still high, yet the light dimmed—as if the heavens themselves paused to witness something... unnatural.
Down in the heart of the commotion, sixteen-year-olds from all over the kingdom stood in a broad circular courtyard paved with glimmering white stones. They were here for a single reason:
Awakening Day.
For the vast continent of Ezeran, this day marked destiny. At sixteen, every eligible citizen stood before a monument known as the Soul Cradle, an ancient relic that interfaced directly with the world's system and spirit ley lines. Here, their Class would be awakened, guided by their innate Talent—something discovered at the tender age of five.
For most.
In the farthest corner of the circle, hidden behind an arrogant noble youth and his entourage, stood a boy in tattered boots, his clothes several winters old, his dark hair tied messily with a frayed string.
Rael Verenth.
He had no noble blood, no known Talent, and no prior combat training. He was the son of a crippled farmer, once a knight, now forgotten. Eleven years ago, during the annual talent testing, Rael had lain sick with the plague that ravaged the countryside. The nobles quarantined his village and closed their doors, refusing even the most basic support.
By the time Rael recovered, the age window had passed. No second chances. No compensation.
Only scorn.
> "You don't even have a Talent. What are you doing here?"
> "He's just here to watch us awaken. Pathetic."
> "Trash born to trash."
Rael said nothing. His dark eyes stayed locked on the monument, glowing faintly in the center of the courtyard. His fists clenched behind his back, his nails digging into calloused palms.
> "I will awaken… even if the gods themselves stand in my way."
The line moved quickly. One by one, each youth stepped forward, placed their hand on the Soul Cradle, and watched as it responded with a burst of color.
A golden glow for a Warrior.
Blue for a Mage.
Crimson for a Berserker.
Green for a Rogue or Assassin.
White for a Healer.
Violet for rarer classes—those with noble bloodlines.
Cheers echoed from the crowd every few minutes. Parents cried. Guild recruiters took notes. Nobles smiled smugly.
Then came Rael's turn.
A hush spread through the courtyard. No one cheered. A few even laughed.
> "Don't waste our time, Null."
Ignoring them, Rael stepped forward. The Soul Cradle towered before him—an obsidian monolith taller than five men, engraved with runes that pulsed with a dull light. As he placed his palm on its cold surface...
Nothing happened.
Ten seconds.
Twenty.
Thirty.
Snickers erupted. Someone threw a pebble at his foot.
> "Knew it. He's a fake."
"Should've stayed in the fields."
"Nulls can't awaken. That's how the system works."
Rael closed his eyes.
> I am not a null.
I am not worthless.
Awaken, damn it... awaken!
A pulse.
Then, everything changed.
---
> [System Detected… Scanning Host.]
[Searching Class Affinity… Error. No Talent Found.]
[Override Triggered. Unknown Parameter Detected.]
Class Resonance: Accepted.
Legendary Class Identified — Spirit Contractor.
Talent Detected — Devour (Rare).
Initializing awakening… WARNING: Class type exceeds current Soul Cradle capacity.
Brace for synchronization.
Welcome, Rael Verenth.
---
The Soul Cradle exploded in a burst of blinding light and shadow, sending a concussive wave rippling through the crowd. Students were knocked off their feet. Guild representatives cried out. Instructors activated protective spells.
And at the center of it all, Rael hovered two feet off the ground, engulfed in a swirling vortex of black mist laced with glowing blue sigils. His eyes glowed faintly—silver irises with flecks of azure.
The system interface projected itself before him, visible only to his sight.
---
> [Status Panel – Rael Verenth]
Class: Spirit Contractor (Legendary)
Talent: Devour (Rare)
Level: 1 [F-Rank | Novice]
HP: 120
MP: 200
STR: 11
AGI: 13
INT: 21
TM (Total Might): 365
Skills:
Spirit Bind (★★★☆☆): Bind and summon the spirit of a defeated beast.
Devour Essence (Passive): Absorb energy from fallen entities, convert to EXP or MP.
Spirit Slots: 0/1
Combat Type: Hybrid – Summoner/Adaptive
Weapon Compatibility: All F-Rank class-based weapons
System Note: Due to Legendary Class Awakening, visibility of class to others has been temporarily cloaked.
Beasts defeated henceforth grant experience. Bestiary unlocked.
---
Then it stopped.
Rael landed softly. The Soul Cradle cracked, then shattered, collapsing into fragments that evaporated into glowing dust.
Silence.
One of the instructors—a C-Rank Mage—rushed forward, trying to probe Rael with a spell. It fizzled out.
The head of the awakening council stepped forward.
"W-what… class did you awaken?" he demanded.
Rael looked him dead in the eye.
"…Novice Summoner. F-Rank."
A lie.
The instructor squinted. "…There's no record of that class."
"Guess I'm just average," Rael said with a small smile.
The instructor frowned but said nothing more.
Behind him, whispers had already begun.
> "He destroyed the Soul Cradle…"
"No one's ever done that before."
"Is he cursed… or chosen?"
Rael walked out without looking back.
But deep down, something inside him had changed. The world had ignored him for too long. Now, it would have no choice but to watch him rise.
---
Later That Night – Academy Dorms
Rael stared at the moon from the Academy dormitory rooftop. In his hand was a rusty old training sword. Tomorrow, classes would begin. Combat practice. Stat evaluations. Ranking matches.
He couldn't reveal his class. Not yet. Legendary Class users were either recruited by powerful factions—or assassinated before they became threats.
He opened his system panel again and tapped on Devour Essence.
> "Every monster I kill gives me experience. And I can summon them after death..."
His stomach growled.
He had no food. He was assigned a non-combatant dorm.
> "Fine," he muttered. "Then I'll start with something small."
Rael slipped into the shadows, left the academy through the back garden wall, and sprinted toward the Outer Wildwood—a lightly patrolled forest that held low-tier F-Rank beasts.
---
Midnight – Wildwood Forest
The trees groaned with wind. In the distance, a wolf howled.
Then, glowing yellow eyes appeared in the bushes.
> [Fang Hound – F-Rank – Level 2]
HP: 90 | TM: 140
Aggression: Medium
Type: Beast – Element: None
The wolf lunged.
Rael ducked, rolled, and stabbed forward with his rusty blade. The Fang Hound grazed his side, tearing fabric and skin. Blood spilled.
> -18 HP
He gritted his teeth, kicked off a tree, and stabbed the hound through the chest.
> You have slain a Level 2 Fang Hound.
+120 EXP Gained.
Devour Activated – Residual essence detected.
> Would you like to bind this spirit? [Y/N]
> "Yes."
A glowing, ghostly wolf rose from the body and spiraled into Rael's palm.
> [Spirit Bound: Fang Ghosthound | F-Rank]
Skill Gained: Howl Slash (★☆☆☆☆)
Passive: +3 AGI when integrated.
Rael collapsed against a tree, breathing hard.
He was injured. Hungry. Exhausted.
But smiling.
> "This… this is just the beginning."
---