2: The Mythical Awakening**
"Ye Fang!"
The examiner's voice echoed across the awakening grounds, cutting through the chatter like a blade through still air.
The crowd quieted. Every gaze turned toward the silver-haired young man standing among them—calm, unreadable, his faintly violet eyes holding neither fear nor expectation. The six heirs smirked from their places, waiting for another chance to ridicule him.
Ye Fang walked toward the crystal sphere at the center of the stage, each step measured and steady. His figure seemed out of place among the restless crowd—a still lake among waves.
He stopped before the crystal.
The old examiner, Gu Qingheng, adjusted his robe and spoke gently, "Place your hand on the crystal and let your qi flow. May fate favor you, Ye Fang."
Without a word, Ye Fang pressed his palm against the glowing orb.
For a moment, nothing happened. The crowd began to murmur.
Then—
BOOM!
A deafening sound tore through the air. The sky, which had been bright and clear, darkened in an instant. Clouds churned violently, twisting into a vortex above the academy. Wind howled through the awakening grounds, forcing everyone to shield their eyes.
"What's happening!?"
"The sky—it's black!"
Panic spread among the younger students. Those unfamiliar with mythical awakenings screamed, believing the world was ending.
But the teachers and high-ranking officials stood frozen—not in fear, but in awe.
"This… this pressure… it's not possible…"
"Could it be… another mythical-level awakening?"
Lightning split the heavens, followed by the echo of an ancient roar that shook the very ground. A golden dragon's shadow soared through the swirling clouds, its wings stretching wide enough to blot out the sun. Then came another—azure scales glinting, eyes burning with thunder—and then another, wreathed in ice and mist.
Dragons.
Majestic, divine beings that existed only in the oldest of legends.
The sky was filled with them—flames, frost, lightning, shadows—each one bowing slightly toward the academy before vanishing into the vortex.
The spectacle lasted barely two minutes, but to everyone watching, it felt eternal.
Then, as suddenly as it began, the sky cleared. The clouds dispersed. The sunlight returned, golden and warm, as if nothing had happened.
Silence blanketed the awakening grounds.
Gu Qingheng's wrinkled hands trembled. "Th-this… this pressure just now… was it truly…"
The principal and several high-ranking elders rushed from the stands. "Ye Fang!" one demanded, voice quivering. "What is your awakening? Is it the "Draconic Mage"? Or perhaps the "Dragon Knight"?"
The two most coveted powers in the world—abilities that allowed humans to wield a fragment of dragon power.
The crowd held its breath.
Ye Fang looked at the glowing crystal beneath his hand. The light within it was no longer blue or red or gold—it was pure, blinding white, pulsating like the heart of creation itself.
He slowly exhaled. "No," he said, voice calm but heavy. "It's… Dragon Tamer."
For a heartbeat, silence reigned. Then came the laughter.
"Pfft—Dragon Tamer!?" Zhao Wenzhou burst out laughing. "That's not even a real combat path!"
Mo Cheng doubled over. "You mean the useless one? The talent that's never succeeded in history?"
Even the teachers looked stunned. One of the elders muttered, "That ability… it's impossible to use. Dragons will never acknowledge a human as their master."
The six great heirs were overjoyed, sneering in unison.
"See? Even heaven mocks you, Ye Fang."
"An SSS-rank trash! What a joke!"
"Dragons don't bow to insects like us. You'll die before you ever tame one!"
Their laughter spread like wildfire through the crowd. Students whispered and pointed. The earlier awe turned into mockery and scorn.
Ye Fang stood motionless amid the noise, his hand still resting on the now-dim crystal.
He had dreamed, even if just for a moment, that fate would grant him strength to avenge his fallen family. Instead, it had handed him a curse disguised as a miracle.
Why?
Was the destruction of my clan not enough? Must even heaven laugh at me now?
His fingers clenched. The laughter around him faded, drowned beneath the thundering beat of his heart.
Then—
[Ding!]
A cold, mechanical voice echoed within his mind.
[System Initialization Complete.]
[Congratulations, Host, on successfully awakening the SSS-Rank "Dragon Tamer" talent.
Binding the Legendary Dragon Taming System… complete.]
Ye Fang's pupils shrank. "A… system?"
No one else seemed to hear it. The crowd continued mocking, unaware of the glowing panel now hovering invisibly before Ye Fang's eyes—symbols and runes dancing in shifting light.
[Novice Gift Granted:
SSS-Rank Random Dragon Egg (Sent to System Warehouse)
Innate Talent: "Draconic Affinity" —Permanently increases the Host's affinity with all dragon species. Enables emotional and spiritual resonance.
Passive Trait: "Dragon's Pact" — Permanently gains 30% of a dragon's total Strength, Defense, Spirit, and Constitution once bonded.]
Ye Fang's heart pounded, but this time, it wasn't from despair.
So this… is my true awakening.
The system's faint hum seemed to echo his thoughts, like an ancient machine stirring from a thousand-year slumber.
Tip:Host may access the warehouse at any time to inspect the dragon egg.
The words faded, leaving only silence in his mind.
Ye Fang slowly lowered his hand from the crystal, the faint afterglow of white light fading from his palm.
From the stands, Gu Qingheng sighed. "What a pity… to waste such a rare SSS awakening on a useless path."
The principal nodded gravely. "The heavens are whimsical indeed."
Ye Fang stepped down from the stage. The crowd parted, whispers trailing behind him like shadows.
"SSS rank, and still worthless."
"What a joke. All that commotion for nothing."
"Guess the Ye Family's curse continues."
The heirs smirked, satisfied with his humiliation.
But Hei Yue, standing quietly among them, didn't join in. Her crimson eyes softened, and she stepped forward.
"Ye Fang," she said gently. "Don't listen to them. I… I know this isn't the end for you."
He paused. For a moment, her voice seemed to pierce through the cold haze around his heart.
Then he nodded once, faintly. "Thank you."
She smiled sadly, wanting to say more, but the words never left her lips.
He turned away, walking toward the edge of the awakening ground. His back was straight, his steps soundless, but an invisible storm churned within him.
Behind his calm eyes, the glowing system panel shimmered again.
High above, the clouds drifted apart, revealing the sun once more. But for Ye Fang, the world had already changed.
The laughter of the six heirs no longer reached him. The crowd's pity was meaningless.
Because deep within his soul, something ancient stirred—something that had slept for centuries, waiting for a mortal worthy enough to bear its will.
The path ahead was uncertain, but one truth burned bright within his heart:
The dragons would return.
And when they did, the heavens themselves would tremble at his name.