Today was a crucial day for all teenagers around the world, where their fate would be decided by what they summoned.
If they summoned a knight or anything powerful, even a low creature like a goblin… then congratulations to them, because their lives would be changed completely. They would enter the world's main academy — trained, protected, and even more than that, they would become rich, gain high status, and grow into strong individuals even if their original place was at the very bottom of society.
Why was there such a huge favor for summoners?
Because summoners in this world were extremely rare— and more importantly, the world was on the verge of collapse. So, they were priceless.
Just looking at each professor's tense expression whenever a student stepped out of the ritual site without summoning anything of value… There was only disappointment and worry written across everyone's faces — professors and students alike.
The principal stood firmly near the ritual site. He slowly rubbed his goatee and glanced coldly at the students who had just failed the ritual without showing much emotion. But in truth, that calm look was just a fake mask barely hanging on his face.
As the 300th student failed the summoning, sweat finally began to slide down his temples.
"It's harsh and disappointing,"
The old principal let out a deep, upset breath and lightly shook his head. However, his expression brightened slightly when he noticed a student stepping up the stairs, heading toward the ritual circle.
"He's Wesley's son. Maybe he'll summon a wolf just like his father. The only question now is—what potential will his summoned creature have?"
The young student named Tyler, wearing a pompous and arrogant expression, stretched his legs out confidently as he approached the ritual circle.
He cleared his throat a couple of times and adjusted his collar. And again. Some students around him were already feeling annoyed, but he didn't quit his stupid showmanship until the principal gave a short cough in warning.
Finally, he shouted, focusing his mind and controlling his mana for his first summoning.
"Sure enough, a grey wolf."
The principal wasn't very surprised at first, but just a few seconds later, the corner of his lips lifted.
"Well done, kid. You're stronger than your father. Your summoned creature's potential is… Awakened Potential."
Yeah, that was definitely something to be proud of.
The potential of summoned creatures consisted of four levels:
Dormant Potential
Awakened Potential
Ascendant Potential
Transcendent Potential
Normally, most summoners' creatures only had Dormant Potential, making them nothing more than ordinary beings without intelligence — no different from wild monsters. But from Awakened up to Transcendent Potential, their summoned creatures would possess human-like intelligence.
It was actually a huge advantage in combat and cooperation.
"A-Awakened Potential?" Tyler nearly stammered in shock, but his expression quickly shifted to joy and smugness.
He smiled with delight and turned his eyes toward another student standing below the ritual site, waiting for their turn next.
Not exactly, If anyone actually noticed that student closely, he hardly looked like a normal one. He was rather tall but emaciated, and on top of that, he was shackled by the neck and cuffed at the wrists. He truly looked more like a slave than a person with basic civil rights.
He coughed a few times, then lifted his tired, dark-circled eyes and glanced at his owner.
"No surprise…"
Actually, he wanted to yell some curses back, but he knew for sure his owner would punish him if he did… and honestly, he wasn't even healthy enough to spit out a full, forceful sentence.
He had been suffering from Mana Circulation Disorder ever since he was born into this damned world—a sickness, a destiny he could never escape unless he gained a proper summoned creature. Only through connecting with a summoned being could his mana core form and cleanse the polluted mana in his veins. Without that, he would never live past 30… just like his parents, who sold him to a noble family when he was three, praying he might enter the main academy to change his fate—or just sell him to have some pitiful amount of money.
In contrast to unfortunate low commoners, arrogant nobles were completely different. Born into wealthy and powerful families, they breathed purified air from a kind of precious artifact until the summoning ritual began in teenage—so they weren't sick like him. But that cost a ridiculous amount of money. A slave like him, wanting to breathe those air with them? Impossible.
"A–Ascendant Potential? HAHAHA… What luck for us humans!"
The nameless slave snapped awake from his daze and looked back up at the ritual site.
He stared at the summoned creature, his eyes widening in shock—not only at what kind of creature it was, but also at the blinding light radiating from it.
He wasn't the only one stunned. Countless expressions and emotions rippled through the arena, where students and professors watched in awe.
"A Stoneborn Knight? She, having silver hair, seems to be the daughter of the Leonard Clan's leader—one of the three legendary clans?" a professor muttered, frowning as he analyzed the summoned being.
"Yes… it's her. Dana Leonard," another professor confirmed, admiration obvious in his voice. He didn't even bother hiding the jealousy in his eyes as he stared at the girl.
Whispers erupted everywhere once her identity was confirmed.
Meanwhile, the nameless slave simply observed her with a light curiosity—someone he could never even dream of approaching. She was gorgeous, clad in magnificent silver armor that even if it looked like it had endured battles big and small.
"Guess she's not just sitting in a glass cage like other nobles… Yeah, a legendary clan wouldn't waste their potential bloodline."
He then turned his gaze toward the Stoneborn Knight, who knelt with unwavering loyalty before her summoner.
He'd heard plenty of tales about the three legendary clans—their leaders having reached the pinnacle of humanity and the very core of this world.
''No surprise.''
Fortune? She had it.
Huge background? She had that too.
High Potential? Also hers.
Everything came to her so easily… as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
Right now, he felt more bored and bitter than jealous—unlike everyone else.
"I hope I can summon something useful…"
The nameless slave slowly dragged himself toward the ritual circle. At this moment, for some reason, he remembered his parents.
He didn't know whether he should thank them or be angry at them.
If his parents hadn't sold him, he would've already died with them at the border of the world—where monsters from the dungeons flooded endlessly, the main reason this world was on the brink of collapse and environmental decay.
He didn't miss his parents at all. After all, he wasn't old enough to understand parental love when they sold him. He couldn't even remember their faces anymore.
And even worse… he didn't know his own name. More precisely, he had forgotten it as he grew up, since the noble family always called him "nameless slave."
Now, he really looked like a slave, a nameless slave.
His breath turned ragged as he approached the ritual circle. Dizzy, he forced what little mana he had through his brittle veins, trying to summon with the aid of the circle ritual .
After nearly a minute of struggling, he finally succeeded.
But the nameless slave's vision was still blurry from the strain.Despite his hearing still being fine, he could only make out the mocking and curious voices of the students below.
He failed? No… clearly not. He had done it. He had successfully summoned a creature.
So, he gasped for air and asked weakly,
"Sir… what is my summoned creature? Please… tell me."
Silence.
The old principal sighed, looking at the boy with sympathetic eyes. He didn't want to crush the slave's final hope… but the truth was still the truth.
"A massive stone egg. Your summoned creature is a massive stone egg. It's so useless. I'm sorry, boy… but don't despair too much. This isn't uncommon."