"Everyone, do you think he'll come back alive?"
"I doubt it. Maybe he'll just come back as an empty shell."
"Scary… Do you think the principal is really that harsh?"
"Alex is doomed this time."
When the speech finally ended, everyone left with a mix of excitement and regret.
Bob scratched his head. "Normally he's already kind of weird, but today… don't tell me he actually caught some strange disease?"
Storm Training Room.
"Alright, talk. What was that just now?"
The principal adjusted his wig, sighed, and sat back on the leather sofa.
"I got cancer." Alex said with a straight face.
"Hm?" The principal raised a brow, checked Alex's body, then kicked him square on the butt.
"Still lying? Add ten more laps later!"
"Oww!" Alex clutched his butt. "I didn't even say what kind of cancer!"
"What kind?"
"The cancer of love."
"..." The principal fell silent.
He shook his head. "Back to the point. The Beast Contract Oath was taught the day you enrolled.
You're already in your second year. You'll awaken your beast tomorrow. How can you forget this stuff?"
Alex shook his head. "I don't even know what a contract beast is."
After all, in his previous life he was studying English, math, and physics.
And he was a total slacker—except for being handsome, good at flirting, and living off women.
Then he suddenly transmigrated, and now the school had become a Beast Taming Academy.
The principal took a deep breath, face turning serious.
"Maybe you really hit your head. Fine, I won't argue. Tomorrow is your awakening day. Rest well tonight."
Alex's eyes lit up. He got away with it? Pretending to be sick really worked!
"Thank you, Principal! I'll definitely remember this lesson! I will make the same mistake again—"
"Yeah, yeah, off you go."
The principal rubbed his scalp, already planning which store sold the best hair-growth potion.
Only after Alex left did he frown.
"Wait… what did he just say?"
Alex walked out of the training room and ran straight into a crowd of gossiping students.
The moment they saw him, gasps broke out.
"It's Sleep-Talker Guy! He made it out alive!"
"And without a scratch? The principal went easy on him?"
"Tch, what a clown. He got lucky this time."
Alex ignored them and asked where the computer lab was. The moment he got the answer, he dashed there.
He needed to understand this world first!
After all, to flirt with girls and live off them, he had to know what women here liked.
Since he'd already transmigrated, it was time to unleash his full potential.
Ladies, here I come!
He reached the computer lab and pushed open the door.
A teacher frowned. "Student, the lab isn't open after school."
"I got cancer," Alex said proudly.
The teacher froze.
"Well… in that case, use it. You can even sleep here if you want."
Then he quickly grabbed his bag and left, glancing back three times before finally disappearing.
Alex sat down, opened the computer, and just as he was about to type, a plain-looking boy walked up.
"Alex! So this is where you were! What are you doing, watching videos?"
Alex looked at his face, and memories flickered.
Bob—his friend, a guy who dreamed of being a chef. Very unusual in this beast-taming world.
"Bob, is it still 2025?"
Bob's eyes widened. "What are you talking about? It's Awakening Year 1038."
Alex finally relaxed, then opened a website. A flood of headlines smacked him in the face.
"Best game in the world! League of Beast Masters new season starts!"
"New realm discovered! Monsters are mainly lightning-type! Recommended for Beast Tamers ranked 8th grade or higher!"
"Shocking! Famous Beast Taming University principal has 108 lovers! 8 of them are men!"
"Flame High School produces SS-ranked Contract Beast! Devouring Sky Serpent! Student already accepted by top universities!"
Alex scrolled nonstop, drowning in information.
Thirty minutes later, Bob was already slurping noodles while Alex had a decent grasp of this world.
This planet had been similar to Earth a thousand years ago.
Then one day, portals from another dimension appeared worldwide, spewing monsters.
Humans also awakened new powers, bonding with beasts to fight back and protect mankind.
But there was a catch: at age 17—second year of high school—everyone awakened their first Contract Beast.
That first beast decided everything. If it was A-rank or higher, the future was full of potential.
But if someone awakened a chicken, dog, or pig? They'd never be able to enter portals, fight monsters, or advance in rank.
That person's dream of being a Beast Tamer was over—they'd just live an ordinary life.
Because of this, Beast Tamers held the highest status in society. They could even have multiple wives.
"Multiple wives…"
Alex read it out loud.
Then burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! This world is tailor-made for me!"
Bob frowned. "Don't get ahead of yourself. That privilege starts at 8th grade Beast Tamer. We're not even 9th grade yet."
Alex covered his face. "Your vision is too small! 8th grade? That's nothing!"
"One day, I'll be 1st grade… no, beyond 1st grade! I'll be the Supreme Beast Tamer! Wahahaha!"
Bob sighed. "Yep, his brain really is broken."
Alex grabbed his shoulders. "Tomorrow's the awakening, right?!"
Bob nodded. "Yeah, but don't get too excited. Strong beasts are rare. Even in a school of hundreds, there might only be five A-ranks at most."
"And honestly, I don't think either of us are those geniuses…"
Alex grinned. "No ambition! If you don't believe in yourself, how will the heavens favor you?!"
"I, Alex, am destined to be the Beast King!"
The next day.
Inside the Awakening Hall, the principal held up a crystal orb.
"Students! The moment that decides your entire life has come!"
"Step forward, the first one! Rex!"
A blond boy strolled up with a cocky grin, waving his hands as if he owned the place.
Gasps rose from the crowd.
"Rex is so handsome! No wonder he's the heir of a big family!"
"He looks so strong… his Contract Beast must be amazing too!"
"Rex! Can I have your number?"
Alex curled his lip. "Tch, not like he's better-looking than me."
That instantly drew stares of surprise. After all, Rex had a huge influence at school—very few dared to talk back to him.
Some girls even opened their mouths to scold Alex, but the moment they saw his face, they stopped.
"…Actually, he is pretty handsome."
Alex smirked. This body had perfectly inherited his past life's good looks.
Rex placed his hand on the crystal orb. A green vortex lit up.
Girls shrieked again.
"Green! That's an A-rank beast! I knew Rex was the best!"
"Kyaa! Rex! I'm free tonight! Want to come over?"
"Shut up! Get in line if you want to date him!"
Soon the girls were fighting amongst themselves.
Rex just smiled confidently, waved at them, and tossed out name cards, which were instantly snatched up like treasure.
Moments later, a massive bird that looked like a golden hawk flew out of the portal.
It screeched, circled a few times, then landed proudly on Rex's shoulder.
The principal nodded with a smile.
"Not bad. An A-rank Gale Hawk. Great speed, deadly strength. Your future looks very bright."
Amid cheers, Rex stepped down, handing out his number left and right.
The girls went wild, practically clawing at each other.
Alex's eyes turned green.
"Why? It's just an A-rank! Big deal! There are still three higher tiers above that!"
Bob tugged at his sleeve.
"Keep your voice down. Their reaction is normal. A future Beast Tamer means guaranteed wealth and status."
Alex glared at the crystal orb.
"Hmph! Just wait until I awaken an SS, SSS… or even the legendary X-rank! Let's see their faces then!"
Bob opened his mouth but decided not to argue.
The ceremony continued.
B-rank [Ironhide Rhino]!C-rank [Spark Squirrel]!B-rank [Windshadow Wolf]!D-rank [Rockshell Turtle]!A-rank [Violet Thunder Serpent]!!
One by one, students stepped down—some brimming with pride, some calm, and others depressed.
Then the principal paused. He had spotted a familiar name.
"Next… Alex!"