C3 Summoning Ceremony!

On September 1st at 9 AM, at Jiangnan Third High School's gymnasium, a striking sight awaited in the center. A three-foot-high platform, shrouded in black, loomed with eighteen steps ascending from each direction. Atop this platform sat a cylindrical stone altar, two meters in diameter and one meter tall, its surface polished to a sheen. This was the revered pet altar, a rarity found only within the confines of ruins of S level and above.

On Orithyia, reaching the age of eighteen marked a significant milestone for students. With a mere drop of blood, they could invoke the pet altar's ancient magic to summon a pet. The variety of pets was vast, but the true prize lay in calling forth a battle pet with combat prowess. Such a feat could swing open the doors to the prestigious Beast Tamer University, provided the pet's innate quality was not subpar. A pet with low potential would struggle to advance, its progression agonizingly slow.

Pets were classified by a thirteen-star system. From one to six stars, they were deemed black iron beast tamers; seven to nine stars, elite beast tamers; ten to twelve stars, overlord beast tamers; and those with thirteen stars or more ascended to the divine level. A pet's quality was a measure of its potential for growth. For example, an elite 7-star pet could reach no higher than its designated tier without the intervention of a skilled pet breeder. Elevating a pet's quality demanded a substantial investment of both money and effort, and the higher the pet's level, the more challenging the task became.

Pet breeders were a rare breed themselves, their cultivation arduous and their status exalted. Symas, having once achieved the rank of a black iron 3-star pet breeder in a past life, was intimately familiar with their formidable earning potential. With the resources of the Void Territory at his disposal, he was confident that his breeder level could soar to elite status or beyond. An elite pet breeder was a celebrated guest in any corporate circle within the cities of the Trintis Dukedom.

Symas belonged to Class Three, where thirty-seven students stood, but only thirty had the ability to summon pets. Of these, half the pets lacked suitability for combat, devoid of any battle skills. Such pets relegated their owners to the more administrative branches of the Beast Tamer University, such as the logistics or pet manufacturing colleges, rather than the front lines of battle where the true glory lay.

In their entire third class, only six students had combat-capable pets, and Symas, from his past life, was among them. He had summoned a Fire Vine with a black iron 3-star rating, equipped with battle skills like Flame Blessing and Serpent Strangle. Typically, a battle pet would have one to three black iron level skills.

To have more than three skills, a pet breeder's expertise was necessary, and the cost of developing a pet's skill was steep. Breeders at the black iron level simply lacked the capability for such cultivation.

"Symas."

"What's on your mind?"

"Don't stress. You've consistently topped the class in theory, never slipping. You're sure to summon a formidable battle pet."

With a slap on the shoulder, Idod snapped Symas out of his daze and back to reality. Idod stood beside him, the picture of ease, speaking with a carefree air.

Idod had already confirmed his aptitude within his family's company, a surefire black iron 5-star or higher, with at least an 80% chance of summoning a battle pet—a sure bet.

Seeing Symas, once the class's top student, lost in thought, Idod sensed his nervousness. After all, everyone was on edge; this was a moment that could define their entire lives.

Though a black iron summoner could contract up to three battle pets, aside from the free summon provided by the Dukedom during the grand ceremony, even the cheapest pet baby in stores cost over a million federal coins—a price out of reach for most affluent families.

"No worries, Idod. You have an old butler back home, don't you?"

"How do you know about him?"

"I saw him once when he came to pick you up from school. But be cautious around him; he doesn't seem to look at you quite right."

Symas gave a sideways glance to Idod, who was grinning obliviously. Remembering that Idod was destined to be assassinated after the summoning ceremony, he felt compelled to offer a friendly warning.

Idod was his current desk mate, always bringing along plenty of treasures. He had even gifted Symas a pet encyclopedia worth tens of thousands of federal coins. When Symas met his end at the hands of the Dark Order, he mourned deeply; Idod was a childhood friend with a heart of gold.

He had his first brush with the world's dark underbelly, an experience that altered the worldview of many of his classmates.

"Butler Austin."

"Something amiss? You must be joking. Butler Austin has been with our family for nineteen years."

Idod's surprise quickly gave way to laughter.

"You know Uncle Callahan, right? He's the one who taught me about the psychology of microexpressions. Just be cautious, and don't get betrayed by someone you trust."

"Uncle Callahan, I'm aware."

"A beast tamer with a black iron six-star battle pet, who has withstood over a dozen beast waves."

Idod's smile faded as he regarded Symas's earnest demeanor. He seemed to be looking at a completely different person.

"I'll heed your warning. Thanks for the heads-up."

Idod nodded in acknowledgment.

He realized he had let his guard down a bit too much in the days following the company's internal review.

"You're suggesting that it's the black..."

Idod paused, a realization dawning on him. He bowed his head, his pupils shrinking as he was about to speak.

But before he could articulate his thoughts, Symas's hand came to rest on his shoulder, silencing him mid-sentence.

Those few words were enough to sow doubt in Idod's mind, and that was sufficient. He wasn't naive; a little caution never hurt.

Symas left without further comment, leaving Idod alone with his thoughts, his expression heavy with concern.

The summoning ceremony was about to commence. This year, the Jiangnan Third High School's ceremony was presided over by an elite Demon Hunter from the Beast Tamer Association.

The piercing call of an eagle echoed from above the stadium.

A majestic golden feather eagle, with a wingspan of nearly twelve meters, descended, its presence commanding the awe and aspiration of all the students watching.

To have a battle bird pet that could fly through the heavens and vanquish foes from afar was the dream of many high schoolers.

The golden feather eagle, an elite seven-star creature, was adorned with black feathers save for a tuft of gold on its head, lending it an air of regality.

With each beat of its wings, the grass around the central altar of the stadium was visibly flattened by the force.

Zhao Sha Mo leapt from the back of the golden feather eagle, landing on the altar with the precision of a marker pole. He swept a cool gaze over the many students gathered before him.

"Fellow students, my name is Zhao Sha Mo, an elite beast tamer with the Jiangnan Beast Tamer Association. I'll be presiding over this summoning ceremony. Let's skip the formalities and proceed directly to the aptitude test," he announced.

With over three hundred individuals awaiting their turn in the stadium, and only one altar available, time was of the essence.

Zhao Sha Mo's presence served a dual purpose: to oversee the proceedings and to deter any ambitions the Dark Order might harbor. Historically, the Dark Order had launched assaults on summoning ceremonies, primarily coveting the pet altars. These altars were scarce, each one wrested from the clutches of formidable monsters within the S-level pet relics.

"What are you standing around for?" he barked.

"Let's begin with the top-ranked student from Class One."

Zhao Sha Mo, standing nearly six-foot-three in his deep brown trench coat beside the altar, called out. A slender girl in a black and red school uniform approached the pet altar, her steps unsteady.

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