The grand ceremonial hall of Silvercrest Academy stretched three stories high. Murals of a warrior riding a dragon, a mage commanding a phoenix and a knight bonding with a griffon covered the biggest part of the wall.
It had been a month since Nathan transmigrated into this world, into the body of a kid who shared his exact name. Nathan Cross.
He was sweating so much now that he wiped his sweaty palms on his uniform for the third time in thirty minutes. Around him, his classmates buzzed with excitement.
"I'm hoping for at least a D-Grade Flame Wolf," one student whispered. "My brother got one during his graduation. He's already working for the Goldbar Guild!"
"Flame Wolf? Please." A girl flipped her hair. "I've been preparing my whole life. Father said our family bloodline attracts lightning-type beasts. I'm aiming for a B-Grade Storm Eagle at minimum."
Nathan kept his gaze fixed on the massive summoning circle at the hall's center.
In this world, everything was determined by your first summoning. The beast you contracted at graduation would define your future: career prospects, social standing, marriage options and the most important of all; your class and initial skills.
Strong summoners got recruited into high-ranked guilds, explored high-ranked dungeons, lived lives of wealth and adventure.
Nathan was ranked 199th out of 200 students, with F-Grade magical aptitude. Almost certain his future was bleak.
But as a transmigrator, he held onto one hope of someone awakening a cheat system.
"Now then!" Headmaster Wilhelm's voice boomed across the hall, amplified by magic. The elderly man stood beside the summoning circle. "The moment you've all been waiting for! Today, you forge bonds that will last a lifetime. Today, we discover your true potential!"
The students erupted in cheers. Above them, in the spectator section, sat parents, nobles, and guild recruiters, leaning forward eagerly.
"We'll proceed in alphabetical order," the headmaster continued. "Remember, the circle will call forth a beast compatible with your soul. Do not be disappointed if your partner isn't what you expected. A true bond transcends rank!"
Polite words, Nathan thought. Everyone knew the truth. The rank of the summoned beast was all that mattered.
Every summoned beast fell into nine ranks from F to SSS, and within each rank a summoned beast could level up to their level cap and evolve if the proper conditions are met, but Evolvable Summons as extremely rare and hard to meet.
Alongside summoning, this world also had classes. When someone went through their first summoning, they also received a class influenced by their summoned beast that determined how they fought and what skills they could learn. Basic classes included Warrior, Mage, Archer, Healer, and Magi-Engineer. As people level up, their classes might evolve too: a Warrior might become a Knight or Berserker; a Mage could advance into an Elementalist or Warlock.
Beyond these were special classes like Dragon Knight, Shadow Assassin, Necromancer. All rare and powerful, with stricter conditions to unlock.
Because of this system, a person's class shaped their entire journey, affecting how their summons grew and deciding how far they could rise.
The ceremony began. One by one, students stepped into the circle and channeled their magic. Each student materialized their summons and then moved onto the tablet that registered their class and skills.
F-Grade Shadow Cat, Awakened class: Mage.
E-Grade Flame Hawk, Awakened class: Warrior.
D-Grade Crystal-Shell Tortoise, Awakened class: Warrior.
All fell between F and D grades which was typical and expected. B-grade and above were the ones worth noting.
Then came Derek Stone.
He walked to the summoning circle like he owned it. Broad shoulders, blonde hair, a face that made all the girls swoon. His family owned three small sized guilds. His older siblings had all summoned B-Grade beasts.
The circle flared as Derek channelled his mana into it, Flames erupted upward, forming a pillar that drew gasps from the crowd.
When the flames dispersed, a salamander stood beside Derek, red-skinned and wrapped in flickering fire.
"B-Grade Salamander!" Professor Helena announced, her identification magic orb glowing. "Excellent! An impressive Fire-Type Beast! Mr. Stone has also awakened the unique class: Magic Swordsman!"
A thunderous applause filled the hall. Derek's parents stood in the VIP section, beaming with pride and excitement
"Not bad," Derek said with a cocky grin, running his hand along the salamander's scales. "I was hoping for S-Grade, but I suppose this will do. And Magic Swordsman? Sweet." Then he placed his arm on the salamander's head and the beast dissolved into red smoke that seeped into a summon mark that had appeared at the top of his hand.
"Such arrogance," a student muttered beside Nathan.
But Derek's summoning was nothing compared to what came next.
"Elise Winterhart!" the headmaster called.
Silence fell as Elise walked forward. The Only Daughter of the Winterhart family, a family of the best ice mages across the country. A top student and the girl whose beauty and magic aptitude made her the subject of countless rumors and fantasies.
She glided toward the summoning circle, her silver hair catching the light and icy blue eyes staying calm and focused.
The moment she channeled her mana into the summoning circle, the temperature dropped. Ice shards formed in the air, creating a swirling blizzard that forced students to step back. The magical pressure was immense.
When the ice cleared, a massive figure stood beside Elise. Eight feet tall, humanoid, its body made entirely of ice that shone like diamond. A Frost Golem.
The hall erupted.
"A humanoid monster!"
"That's A-Grade at minimum!"
"I heard only one in ten thousand summoners can contract humanoid types!"
Professor Helena's hands trembled as she held up the identification orb. "A... A-Grade Frost Golem! Miss Winterhart, this is wonderful! Humanoid monsters possess heightened intelligence! Though her awakened class is just Mage, her summon more than makes up for it!"
Even the headmaster looked impressed. "The Winterhart bloodline never ceases to amaze. Congratulations, Miss Winterhart."
Elise bowed gracefully. For someone who just achieved something great, she wasn't smiling. She simply gestured as the Frost Golem dissolved into her own mark.
More summonings followed. More beasts. More applause. No other B or A grades, just a few C Grades.
Nathan's stomach tightened as his turn approached.
"Nathan Cross!"
His legs felt weak as he walked toward the circle. He heard the whispers, the jeers. Everyone knew he had F-Rank magic aptitude. The student who only got into Silvercrest because his late parents were decorated Tower Climbers.
"This should be entertaining," Derek's voice carried across the hall as Laughter followed.
Nathan stepped into the circle. The runes felt cold beneath his feet. He placed his hands on the floor and channelled every ounce of mana he could spare.
ButNothing happened.
Seconds ticked by. Students grew restless. Nathan gritted his teeth and poured more mana into the circle.
Still nothing.
"Perhaps Mr. Cross's magic aptitude is too insufficient for...!" But just then before Professor Helena could speak any further, the summoning circle erupted.
Brilliant golden light flooded the hall causing students to shield their eyes. The magical pressure was overwhelming, stronger than Elise's.
"Impossible!" the headmaster gasped. "That level of magical energy...!"
Runic symbols swirled around Nathan in the air as the light intensified.
Then, just as suddenly as it began, it vanished.
Nathan stood in the circle, breathing hard, his entire body trembling from magical exhaustion.
And before him stood... a bunny.
A little green-furred bunny. Soft ears protruding from the top of its head. A fluffy tail twitching. Large green eyes staring at him curiously.
There was an absolute daunting silence in the hall before someone laughed.
Another joined. And another. And Within seconds, the entire hall was roaring with laughter.
"A bunny!" Derek wheezed. "All that magic phenomenon for a bunny?!"
"Weakest monster race in existence!"
"I can't believe it! The weakest student gets the weakest monster!"
Even Elise, standing off to the side, looked at Nathan with something that might have been pity.
But Nathan barely heard them as his eyes focused on what was floating before him, visible only to him, was a translucent blue screen.
[SYSTEM INITIALIZED]
[Congratulations! You have summoned: Bunny Girl #001]
[Race: Bunny Beastfolk]
[Level: 1]
[Rank: F-Grade (Evolvable)]
[Note: Additional summoning slots available. Current limit: 5 Bunny Girls]
Nathan stared at the screen. Then at the bunny, who tilted her head and twitched her nose.