Chapter 1: The Day of Awakening

“First of all, congratulations to everyone—today marks the day you reap the rewards of your eighteen years of hard work!”

“It is also the day you awaken your professions!”

“From tomorrow on, I will no longer be your teacher.”

“But before you go, I must remind you: although what you’ve learned in class is theoretical knowledge, it is the distilled experience of countless human ancestors, tested and paid for with blood and life!”

“Some professions may sound powerful, but if your family’s circumstances aren’t ideal or your own talent isn’t outstanding, do not force yourself into them!”

“Throughout all history, those who have succeeded by sheer force of will alone are fewer than can be counted on one hand!”

“Don’t risk your future on the examples of mere exceptions!”

In the Seventh District, Third High School, Class 4 of the senior year, the homeroom teacher spoke earnestly from the podium.

“If your strength is above average, choose Warrior if you can!”

“If your agility is high, become a Ranger!”

“If your spirit is outstanding, go for Mage!”

“If none of your attributes stand out, then pick a life profession! Work in the rear to provide essential supplies for those on the front lines.”

“If all your attributes are high and your family is wealthy, then follow your family’s arrangements—at that point, your life is beyond my guidance.”

“Now, someone might ask: Teacher, what if my attributes are high, but my family is poor?”

“Then become a Paladin!”

The homeroom teacher answered without hesitation.

“High attributes likely mean you have considerable talent. As long as you can grow, your future achievements will not be mediocre.”

“But limited family resources mean you’ll have to venture into dungeons often, fighting for vital resources to level up.”

“Paladins can endure, they can fight, and they can heal.”

“They are also widely recognized as the profession with the strongest survivability!”

“Choosing Paladin means your chances of an early death are the lowest.”

“Some of you may worry: does picking such a survival-focused profession make you look weak?”

“Wrong! Completely wrong!”

The teacher’s gaze grew stern, his voice sharp.

“There is nothing shameful about survival! Only by living can your potential be realized!”

“Only by living can you contribute to humanity!”

“If you die, then you truly have nothing!”

“Now, one final question for you all: if your family is well-off but your attributes are poor, which profession should you choose?”

At this, the whole class burst into laughter.

“Summoner!”

“Exactly.”

The teacher nodded.

“If your talent is lacking but your family is rich, then Summoner is your best bet.”

“Of course, I do not mean to belittle the Summoner profession, nor do I think its potential is lacking.”

“On the contrary, Summoner can reach heights beyond most other professions!”

“But… if your summoned creatures die, all your effort is wasted, like drawing water with a bamboo basket. More importantly, the slots for summoning are lost permanently.”

“Most summoned beasts are not intelligent, and in dungeons, they can easily perish for any number of reasons.”

“Worst of all, you could end up with all your summoning slots filled by low-potential beasts!”

“A high ceiling, but a terrifyingly low floor.”

“For students from less affluent families, Summoner is a thankless choice.”

“However, if you have money and your own stats aren’t great, then trying your luck with Summoner isn’t a bad idea.”

“As for ‘talent’… it’s far too nebulous. I don’t advise you to pin your hopes on something so uncertain.”

The teacher shook his head, evidently not putting much stock in talent.

After changing profession, you not only gain professional skills, but also have a chance to acquire a talent.

Although the odds aren’t low, most of these talents are minor and unremarkable.

Moreover, even a high-level talent might not suit your chosen profession.

There was once a Mage who gained the high-level “Berserk” talent.

That Mage nearly considered ending his life to change profession!

“I’ve said enough. You all should have a good sense of your own situations by now, so I’ll stop nagging.”

“The time is nearly here—head to the plaza and gather. Remember my words.”

“The choice of profession will shape your entire life! Don’t act rashly or think you know better than everyone else!”

“Alright, class dismissed!”

…

As the teacher left, the class erupted.

“We’re finally changing professions! Hooray!”

“With my height at one eighty-five, even if my strength isn’t above ten, it must be at least seven or eight. Becoming a Warrior is a sure bet for me.”

“My memory is decent, always in the top three for exams—my Spirit stat shouldn’t be low.”

“So you’re going to be a Mage?”

“No, I’m aiming for Priest. Mage gear is too expensive for my family, but Priests don’t need much equipment and can quickly join a team, which means less burden at home.”

“Yeah, your family situation is pretty tough.”

“Funny, I was thinking of becoming a Priest too.”

“You? Why? Your family isn’t poor.”

“You don’t get it. As a healer, I can hold the ladies’ hands in the name of treatment, hahaha…”

“Nice.”

“Hey, Song Qi, what about you? Any plans? I felt like the teacher was hinting pretty hard at Paladin for you just now.”

“Me? I haven’t really decided yet. I’ll see what my awakened stats look like first.”

The young man named Song Qi replied with a smile.

“You don’t need to hesitate, if I recall, your sister’s a Warrior, isn’t she? You might as well follow her path.”

“Yeah, and I hear she’s already over level thirty? With your own sister leading the way, you’ll have a much smoother journey as a Warrior. Nothing to hesitate about.”

“I’ll decide when the time comes.”

He laughed it off, brushing aside the topic.

Song Qi, class president of Senior Four.

His grades were always in the school’s top ten, and he was also well-built.

Almost everyone believed he would be a rare talent, with both high Strength and Spirit!

But his family’s circumstances were far from ideal.

Besides his parents, he had an older sister.

The four of them squeezed into a thirty-square-meter apartment on the city’s edge.

Their meals had long consisted of bland soups with little salt or oil.

Only in recent years, after his sister became a Warrior, survived several dungeons, and joined a fixed team, did things improve somewhat.

Now there was occasionally meat on the table.

Song Qi’s health had only started to recover in the last few years.

But they still hovered on the edge of poverty.

Clearly, the teacher’s earlier heartfelt advice was meant for him.

But this time, Song Qi would disappoint his teacher.

He not only wouldn’t choose Paladin, but would also go against the teacher’s strong advice and pick Summoner.

The reason was simple.

What he had never told anyone: Song Qi was actually a transmigrator.

When the original Song Qi was still just an embryo, he had crossed over into this body.

As part of the standard transmigrator’s package, he had also received a system.

“System, open my panel.”

Ding!

A crisp chime sounded in Song Qi’s mind, and a pale blue panel appeared before him.

Name: Song Qi

Profession: Not yet awakened

Level: 0 (not yet chosen)

Strength: 7

Constitution: 9

Agility: 8

Spirit: 12

Free Attribute Points: 0

Equipment: None

Talents:

Divine Summoning (activates upon choosing Summoner)

Herculean Strength (activates upon choosing Warrior)

Elemental Affinity (activates upon choosing Mage)

Fleetness (activates upon choosing Assassin)

…

Skills: Not yet awakened

Items: None

Available Quest: Choose any profession

Evaluation: An obscure figure, but possesses an extraordinary gift for the path of summoning.