ROAR!
A deafening bellow shook the entire arena.
From the black portal, a colossal figure emerged. Its skeletal frame stretched nearly a hundred meters, the size of a skyscraper. Its jagged spine rose like a row of obsidian blades, and its ribs formed a monstrous cage that pulsed with a flickering soul-flame.
Its massive skull, large as a truck, lowered menacingly toward the stage.
Wang Yu's pupils shrank. What the hell—Zombie… Greymon?
No. He shook his head. That thing didn't carry missile launchers on its back.
This was something far more terrifying—
A Bone Dragon.
A creature that could level an entire city with ease.
Gasps erupted across the field.
"An A-rank undead… a Bone Dragon!"
"No wonder he's the number-one genius of Qin City High!"
But then, another shout rang out.
"No—look again! That's not a regular Bone Dragon… that's the Bone Dragon King!"
The crowd's eyes widened as the beast's ribs spread wide, revealing a pair of gigantic bone wings. With a thunderous beat, the monster lifted into the sky.
The air froze.
"W-Wings… that's no A-rank. That's an S-rank undead—the Bone Dragon King!"
The arena fell into stunned silence before exploding into chaos.
If A-rank was one-in-a-thousand… S-rank was one-in-ten-thousand.
It had been decades since Qin City had seen such a genius.
"Wang Yu was recognized by an S-rank!"
Even Chen Yurou, the so-called prodigy who had contracted the Death Reaper, stood slack-jawed. She had thought her A-rank contract would narrow the gap between them. Instead, the distance only grew wider.
On the VIP stage, influential figures rose from their seats, their faces alight with shock. Leaders of undead clans, corporate tycoons, even the president of Qin City Necromancer University himself—every single one of them stared at Wang Yu as if he were a priceless jewel.
"Excellent talent. Our Qingshan Necromancer University will take him," one principal declared.
"Ha! Too late. Tianyun University will offer him full tuition, plus a massive scholarship," another snapped.
"We'll add a personal mentor… a senior beauty to accompany him," one bargained shamelessly.
"We'll provide an instructor… mature and charming," another countered.
The two nearly came to blows on the spot.
But the old man in the central seat—headmaster of Qin City Necromancer University—merely adjusted his glasses, a faint smile on his lips.
"Gentlemen, there's no need to argue. Wang Yu is already one of our special recruits. The deal was settled before the ceremony even began."
The rival principals' faces darkened. Still, none dared challenge him openly. Behind Qin City University stood not just prestige, but the full weight of the Great Xia Nation.
Meanwhile, Wang Yu stood on the stage, heart pounding as he gazed at the soaring Bone Dragon King.
An S-rank… I really pulled it off. At last, a transmigrator's worth some face!
The corners of his mouth curled uncontrollably. Everyone knew what an S-rank contract meant—state sponsorship, unlimited resources, a guaranteed future as one of Great Xia's strongest defenders.
Simply put, Wang Yu had made it.
But just as his smile reached its peak—
BOOM!
The summoning circle blazed again. Another dark portal tore open beside the first.
"H-Huh? Another undead chose me?" Wang Yu froze.
By contract law, only one undead could be bound. Even if dozens chose you, you could only pick one. Still, curiosity forced him to wait. What if this one's even stronger than the Bone Dragon King?
The crowd erupted in disbelief.
"Two undead fighting over the same contractor?"
"It must be another monster on par with the Bone Dragon King!"
The second portal cracked wide. From the darkness strode a towering figure clad in black, spiked armor carved with glowing runes. A long spear forged of dragonbone gleamed coldly in its grip. Beneath it marched another bone dragon, snow-white and majestic, carrying its knight like a king of death.
The audience went mad.
"The Bone Dragon Knight! Another S-rank!"
"Two S-rank undead—both choosing him?!"
"Unfair! Totally unfair!"
Students below shouted enviously.
"Brother Wang, you can only take one! Give the other to me, yeah?"
"Exactly! I'm tall, dark, handsome—tell the extra S-rank to look my way!"
Their shameless whining nearly made Wang Yu choke.
But truthfully, he was torn. Bone Dragon King or Bone Dragon Knight? Both were titans among undead. Choosing between them was like picking between the throne and the crown.
Before he could decide—
The VIP seats shook with tension.
"Principal Qin, name your price. Let Wang Yu attend Qingshan University."
"Forget that. We'll double whatever they offer!"
Principal Qin only smiled thinly. "Gentlemen, some treasures cannot be bought. And besides—do not insult me. Behind me stands the Great Xia Nation."
The others could only sigh bitterly.
Back on stage, the principal of First High looked at Wang Yu with fatherly pride.
"Have you made your decision, Wang Yu? Either choice will place you among the world's peak."
Wang Yu nodded. "Yes. I'll choose—"
But before he could finish, the summoning circle flared yet again.
A third gate materialized.
The audience screamed.
"Another one?!"
"What monster could rival two S-ranks?!"
The portal opened…
And out stumbled a scrawny, ragged figure.
A zombie.
Skin green, fangs crooked, clothes in tatters. Its dull eyes glowed faintly as it groaned.
The crowd fell silent.
"…A zombie? Really?"
"Bruh. Waste of hype."
Even Wang Yu nearly laughed. A garbage zombie? At a time like this?
Of course he'd still choose between the two S-ranks. Who in their right mind would pick a C-rank?
But then—
[System Binding Complete.]
[Please contract the zombie. Reward: Jiangshi Bloodline unlocked.]
Wang Yu froze.
A voice rang in his head.
His golden finger had finally arrived.
After three years of waiting…
But seriously? Contract… the zombie?