Chapter 3
The ceremony gradually came to an end.
One by one, the students finished their awakenings—some filled with joy, others crushed by disappointment.
The air still buzzed faintly with leftover spiritual energy, the shimmer of the Awakening Crystal fading into a dull, quiet glow.
Principal Gu Qingheng slowly stepped forward, his white robes fluttering as his gaze swept across the crowd of nervous, excited faces. Though old, his voice carried the power to silence the restless whispers.
"Students," he began, his tone calm but commanding, "today marks a turning point in each of your lives. Whether you awakened F-rank or S-rank… remember this—your rank does not define your destiny. It merely shows how far your potential can reach."
He paused, letting his words settle in.
"Next week, the academy will open the gates to the Secret Realm Trial. Prepare yourselves well. Your performance there will determine your path forward. Use this week wisely—train, recover, and understand your awakening."
Applause rippled through the crowd, though some students were too preoccupied with their disappointment to clap. Others were still clustered around the higher-ranked awakeners, showering them with praise and envy.
Ye Fang stood at the edge of the field, his expression unreadable.
He had already endured the whispers, the laughter, the pity.
"Useless dragon tamer," they said.
"Even SSS-rank can't save him."
But his face remained calm—eyes sharp, posture straight, as if none of it mattered.
Inside, however, his thoughts were cold and cutting.
Useless, huh… Let's see who's laughing in the end.
When the speech ended, the students began leaving in groups—chatting excitedly about future academies or complaining about their luck.
Ye Fang quietly turned away, hands in his pockets, walking alone down the cobbled street that led out of the academy.
The late afternoon sun hung low, painting the streets gold. Dust glimmered faintly in the air, and the city's noise slowly swallowed the silence left behind by the ceremony.
He passed by market stalls and murmuring crowds until he reached a small apartment complex—simple, two rooms, walls slightly cracked but clean. It wasn't much, but it was home.
When he opened the door, a cheerful voice greeted him.
"Brother! You're back!"
A girl rushed forward—Ye Yue, his little sister. Sixteen years old, with hair as silver as moonlight and eyes that carried a gentle warmth. Her beauty was ethereal, almost unearthly, but her smile was what truly shone.
She looked up at him with bright anticipation.
Ye Fang's expression softened slightly—the cold mask easing, if only for her.
"Yeah. I'm back."
Ye Yue grinned and motioned to the table. "Dinner's ready. You're just in time."
He nodded and sat down. The aroma of freshly cooked rice and soup filled the room.
Ye Fang didn't say much, quietly eating as his sister watched him, as if trying to find the right words.
She hesitated, then looked down. "Brother… your awakening…"
Ye Fang paused for a moment, then set his chopsticks down. His gaze remained calm.
"SSS-rank."
Her eyes widened in disbelief, a spoon slipping from her fingers. "SSS…?"
He nodded once. "Dragon Tamer."
The room fell silent.
For a few seconds, Ye Yue didn't move. Then she finally found her voice—soft, trembling with shock and confusion.
"Th-That's incredible, Brother! You awakened SSS-rank talent!"
Her excitement was genuine, but as the word Dragon Tamer sank in, her expression faltered slightly. She had read enough to know what it meant—uncontrollable, impossible, cursed.
Ye Fang could see the worry in her eyes, but he didn't explain.
He didn't need to.
He simply reached out and patted her head gently.
"It's fine," he said quietly. "Don't worry about me."
Her eyes glistened slightly. She smiled through her unease and nodded.
"You'll definitely make it, Brother. I believe in you."
For a moment, warmth touched the cold air of the small room.
Then, Ye Fang stood up and went to his room.
He sat down on his bed, leaning back against the wall. His eyes were calm, but inside, a storm of questions stirred.
Dragon Tamer… everyone called it useless. But why would the heavens give me something so rare if it was truly worthless?
Then, a sudden sound echoed in his mind—mechanical, clear, impossible to ignore.
[Ding!]
Welcome, Host, to the Dragon Taming System.
Ye Fang froze. His pupils contracted slightly.
[System Initialization Complete.]
SSS Talent Detected — "Dragon Tamer" Successfully Bound.
The voice was cold, mechanical, but precise.
A faint golden-blue light flickered in front of him, forming a transparent panel that hovered in mid-air.
Lines of glowing text scrolled across its surface.
[Novice Gift Received.]
Reward: SSS-Rank Random Dragon Egg ×1.
Talent Bonus: Dragon Affinity +50%. Permanent Stat Link — +30% of Dragon's Strength, Spirit, and Constitution.]
Ye Fang's breath slowed. His mind was steady, but his heartbeat grew heavy.
A system…
He had read about awakeners blessed by strange phenomena, but none like this.
[System Notification: The SSS-Rank Random Dragon Egg has been sent to the System Warehouse. Host may check the warehouse at any time.]
With a thought, Ye Fang opened the warehouse interface.
The glowing panel expanded, showing a small inventory space surrounded by ripples of energy.
At the center of it rested a single egg.
It floated gently above a platform of light, wrapped in waves of golden-blue aura that shimmered like starlight over water.
The shell was patterned with faint, shifting lines that pulsed softly—as though breathing.
Ye Fang's eyes narrowed.
He reached out, and as his fingers brushed the edge of the light, the system chimed again.
[Item Identified: SSS-Rank Random Dragon Egg]
The air in the room grew heavier for a heartbeat—then fell still.
A faint pressure brushed his chest, cold yet ancient, like something watching him from beyond the veil of reality.
Ye Fang stared at the egg, its quiet glow reflecting in his sharp eyes.
A small, cold smile curved his lips.
So this is what the world calls useless…
The faint hum of energy filled the air, a rhythm that seemed almost alive.
The egg pulsed once, as if answering his thought.
Ye Fang's gaze deepened, his voice low and calm.
"Then… let's see what secret you're hiding."
The light dimmed slightly, the room returning to silence.
But even then, the strange presence lingered—something sleeping, something waiting.
Outside, the moon rose higher, pale light spilling through the cracked window.
And beneath that quiet glow, Ye Fang sat alone—his eyes locked on the mysterious egg that shimmered faintly in the darkness.
A faint sound brushed the edge of his mind.
Not a voice, not quite a whisper—more like a sigh carried from another world.
...found you...
Ye Fang's breath caught for an instant. His eyes flickered open, sharp as blades.
But the room was silent.
Only the egg pulsed gently, the faint light rippling once more before fading completely.
The silence returned, heavy and infinite.
Ye Fang's gaze lingered on the egg one last time.
Then he leaned back, eyes half-lidded, as the moonlight traced his cold expression.
Somewhere deep within that unhatched shell, something stirred.
Something ancient.
Something waiting for its master.