The uproar in the lecture hall slowly ebbed away. Rowan Grant's eyes lingered on Levi, his brows knitting ever so slightly.
"Levi, don't let disappointment consume you."
His voice carried a note of comfort, but beneath it lay an undeniable thread of doubt.
"The path to taming dragons is… indeed treacherous. But persistence is never without hope.
Even if you fail to bond with a dragon, you could still try to tame other magical beasts."
Yet even as he spoke the words, Rowan let out an inaudible sigh.
On the continent of Arancia, a Beastbinder's talent didn't strictly limit them to a single type of creature—but once they bonded with a beast outside their Affinity, everything suffered: synergy, strength, even loyalty.
Worse still, magical beasts that resisted the blood-sealed mark of one's true Affinity could turn traitor at any moment.
Only beasts bound to the very core of a Binder's talent could fight with unwavering devotion—until death itself.
…
Levi quickly steadied his thoughts.
He didn't immediately respond to the cold, mechanical voice in his mind. This crowded classroom was no place to converse with… it.
"I'm fine, Professor. I just… need a moment to think."
His words were calm, almost distant. He returned to his seat, eyes drifting toward the window, letting his thoughts churn behind an unreadable expression.
Sensing his mood, his classmates refrained from bothering him.
Time passed, and the Awakening Ceremony soon drew to a close.
Rowan exhaled a long, heavy breath, scanning the room.
"That will be all for today. You may return to your dormitories to familiarize yourselves with your new abilities—or head out to try taming magical beasts.
Tomorrow at nine sharp, all students must return to the Academy. At that time, you will be given a unified opportunity to form your first contract—ensuring that each of you leaves with at least one bonded companion."
His gaze, almost unconsciously, settled on Levi once more before he sighed and turned to leave.
The moment Rowan stepped out, the atmosphere in the classroom shifted—buzzing with renewed energy.
"Haha! My family already has my contract target lined up!"
"I used to think Ant Affinity was weak… but now? Better that than an empty Dragon Affinity."
"An ordinary apprentice contracting a dragon? Dream on!"
"Dragons… they stand above all living beasts!"
The words weren't spoken with direct malice, yet they rippled through the air, leaving an undercurrent of discord.
Levi frowned—not from offense, but because he simply disliked noise.
Without a word, he rose to his feet and left the classroom.
Eyes followed him as he walked away—
Some had already marked him out of their social circle.
Some looked on with sympathy.
Others, with quiet schadenfreude.
After all, in this continent, those born to noble bloodlines and wealthy clans might—through staggering wealth and perilous means—manage to obtain a dragon hatchling.
But for an ordinary man?
The odds of contracting a dragon were as close to zero as the stars were far away.
…
Following the cobblestone road of South Hill City, Levi walked for nearly an hour before reaching his home on the outskirts—
A weathered, three-story stone house in the sparse and aging quarter of the city, where most residents were elderly loners or struggling commoners. Here, everyone knew everyone.
He pushed open the heavy wooden door, stepped into the dim interior, and went straight to the worn long bench in the living room.
In his heart, he called out:
"System… are you there?"
[Ding— This system is called the Infinite Dragon Fusion System, bound to all matters of the dragon race.]
[Every seven days, the host will receive a dragon hatchling.]
[The host may collect any materials and fuse them with dragons.]
[You may fuse dragons granted by the system, or those you contract yourself.]
[Different fusion materials will grant dragons entirely new abilities and forms—the higher the grade, the greater the transformation.]
[The system contains a "Dragon Soul Bazaar," where treasures can be exchanged for points; there are many ways to earn points, which the host will learn in due time.]
[The above are the system's core functions.]
Levi listened in silence, and then, the corner of his lips curved upward.
"The Infinite Dragon Fusion System… perfectly matched to my talent.
A dragon hatchling every week… my so-called 'empty' Dragon Affinity is no longer hollow."
In Arancia, if anyone learned of this, their soul would likely flee their body in shock.
A sudden thought struck him.
"Right… there was also an activation gift pack. Open it."
[Ding— Activation gift pack opened successfully!]
[Congratulations, Host has obtained: Starting Funds — 1,000,000 gold coins.]
[Congratulations, Host has obtained: One Eastern Dragon Hatchling.]
[Congratulations, Host has obtained: One Physique Tempering Elixir.]
[Congratulations, Host has obtained: Rare Material — Flame Lion King's Claw.]
[Congratulations, Host has obtained: Rare Material — Earth Giant Turtle's Shell.]
[Congratulations, Host has obtained: One Ability Extraction Chance.]
With the final chime, six rewards appeared before him.
On the floor lay a curled, sleeping dragon hatchling, no more than a meter long. Its emerald-green scales shimmered softly under the lamplight. Warm breaths puffed gently from its nostrils, while its long twin whiskers dangled and twitched faintly from time to time.
Beside it sat a crystal vial filled with inky-black liquid, a lion's claw wreathed in crimson flames, and a heavy turtle shell—its obsidian surface etched with earthy yellow runes.
As for the million gold coins, they had already slipped silently into his personal vault.
[The Ability Extraction Chance may be used at any time.]
Levi reached out, fingers brushing over the Eastern hatchling's smooth scales.
A sense of unprecedented certainty welled up inside him.
This time… he held the key that fate had handed him.