One by one, the students stepped up to the Awakening Obelisk to undergo their Class Awakening.

  However, the rest of the students weren't nearly as lucky as Tate.

  Those capable of awakening as Combat Classes were a minority after all; most only awakened Support Classes, destined to remain commoners for the rest of their lives.

  On average, only about twenty students per class managed to become Combat Classes. Around thirty awakened as Support Classes, while the remaining ten or so became Crafter Classes.

  Although Crafter Classes were rare, the profession required a massive influx of materials to grow, making it far from a coveted prize.

  Some students from underprivileged backgrounds even burst into tears upon awakening as Crafters. Without the funds to develop their professional skills, they would have been better off as Support Classes—at least then they’d have a viable trade.

  All in all, the Awakening ceremony was a mix of joy and despair.

  After a long wait, it was finally time for Lucian’s class to step up.

  The first ten students to go up all awakened as Lifestyle or Crafter Classes without exception, leaving a look of embarrassment on Quentin's face.

  While Awakening held an element of randomness, failing to produce even twenty Combat Classes would reflect poorly on his competence as a homeroom teacher.

  It had to be said—having ten students in a row fail to land a Combat Class was a terrible start for Lucian’s class.

  Lucian was the eleventh student to head up.

  As a top student, Quentin held high hopes for him.

  Quentin patted Lucian on the shoulder, offering a word of encouragement. "Give it your all. You have to awaken a Combat Class. Make us proud!"

  "Don't worry, I will." Lucian gave a small smile and walked toward the Awakening Obelisk.

  He closed his eyes, preparing for the process.

  The middle-aged Cleric began chanting, and soon, a brilliant light from the Awakening Obelisk swallowed Lucian whole.

  A split second later, a thunderous dragon’s roar echoed across the campus grounds, instantly silencing the rowdy crowd.

  "ROAR—!"

  The roar boomed like a clap of thunder, sending tremors through the very ground.

  Every eye turned toward the light-enveloped Lucian, faces pale with shock.

  Nothing like this had happened during any previous Awakening. Was someone about to awaken a Hidden Class?!

  Amidst the speculation, a pillar of light erupted from the center, piercing the heavens and shattering the clouds above.

  "Rumble—!" A deafening boom followed as the wind howled. The rising light began to expand and stretch as it ascended.

  Finally, the light coalesced into a hundred-meter-long dragon, soaring and circling high in the sky.

  "Holy sht, a dragon! How is there a dragon at a student's Awakening?!"

  "Idiot, that's an anomaly! These visions only appear during the Awakening of a Hidden Class! This kid’s luck is insane—he’s actually getting a Hidden Class!"

  "Dragons are god-tier beings. Only the strongest humans have ever glimpsed them in those inaccessible Forbidden Zones. They aren't creatures humanity can afford to provoke. For a Hidden Class to be related to a dragon... that's just broken."

  "I heard that ten years ago, someone had a similar anomaly. They ended up as a Dragon-blood Warrior with a literal draconic bloodline. Now they’re one of the Dragon Federation’s top powerhouses. Don't tell me we’re seeing another Dragon-blood Warrior today?"

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  "Who knows? But with a Hidden Class, his future is already way beyond our reach..."

  Every student and teacher watched on, a mix of pure shock and burning envy.

  The dragon circled once more before letting out another roar, then dived straight toward the spot where Lucian stood.

  A massive explosion shook the air. Gale-force winds swept outward, forcing the crowd to stumble back.

  The blinding light finally dissipated, signaling the end of the ceremony.

  As the haze cleared, Lucian’s figure reappeared before the crowd.

  Suddenly, a loud crack rang out. A figure launched itself from the school’s administration building like a cannonball, landing next to Lucian with a heavy thud.

  A burly old man with white hair stood there. Everyone at Riverport Third Academy recognized him instantly—it was Principal Barret.

  He was a Level 38 Warrior who had already undergone his 2nd Class Advancement to become a War God. In Riverport City, his strength was undisputed.

  "Kid, what’s your class? Is it Dragon-blood Warrior? Or maybe Draconic Mage?!" Barret grabbed Lucian’s arm, his voice trembling with excitement.

  It was clear that although Barret had not attended today’s Class Awakening ceremony, he had been keeping a close eye on the proceedings. When Lucian awakened as a Hidden Class, Barret could no longer contain himself. He rushed forward, desperate to know exactly what the boy's class was.

  A Hidden Class, especially a Combat Class, was a momentous event. If one appeared, the entire Riverport Third Academy would bask in the reflected glory! The classes Barret just mentioned—the Dragon-blood Warrior and the Draconic Mage—were both powerful Hidden Classes related to dragons. If Lucian truly became one of them, his future would be limitless, and Riverport Third Academy would finally have a chance to be promoted to a key high school.

  Despite Barret’s burning gaze, Lucian showed little joy. He gave a respectful nod and spoke the truth. "It's a Dragon Tamer."

  "What?! A Dragon Tamer?!" Barret froze. A moment later, his face fell, twisted by a disappointment he couldn't hide.

  As soon as Lucian revealed his class, the gathered teachers and students erupted into a frenzy.

  "All that fuss, and he ends up a Dragon Tamer... What a waste."

  "Yeah, he would’ve been better off as a Summoner. The kid is doomed to be a nobody."

  While some felt pity, others couldn't help but gloat, their voices dripping with sarcasm. "Heh, and here I thought that massive spectacle meant something special! Turns out it’s just a Dragon Tamer. If I awakened such a 'powerful' class, I’d be dying of happiness!"

  "Oh, definitely! A Dragon Tamer—someone who commands dragons! Sounds badass, right? If I remember correctly, the Dragon Tamer is officially recognized as one of the three strongest Hidden Classes in The Dragon Federation, isn't it?"

  "Exactly! Even a Dragon-blood Warrior or a Draconic Mage can't compare to a Dragon Tamer. To awaken as one... man, I'm just so jealous, hahaha..."

  They weren't lying. Even though it was a Hidden Class, most people knew a thing or two about it. Classes like the Dragon-blood Warrior or the Draconic Mage merely possessed a trace of bloodline connection to The Dragonflight, allowing them to tap into a fraction of their strength.

  A Dragon Tamer, however, could command dragons in battle. The gap between them was monumental.

  But as the name implied, a powerful Dragon Tamer required one crucial prerequisite: you had to actually have a dragon!

  And what were dragons? In this world, they were essentially deities. Even the strongest humans were like ants before The Dragonflight. Only hatchlings had any chance of being captured and domesticated.

  But that was easier said than done. The places where The Dragonflight nested were designated as Forbidden Zones—places even top-tier human experts couldn't reach. Hatchlings were always guarded by their mothers; humans never stood a chance. Thus, taming a dragon was nothing more than a pipe dream.

  It wasn't that Dragon Tamers hadn't appeared in the eight-hundred-year history of The Dragon Federation. It was just that there had never been a Dragon Tamer who actually owned a dragon. Every single one of the class's skills was tied to dragons. Without one, the user was effectively crippled.

  This was why it was ranked as one of the three strongest Hidden Classes, but simultaneously, one of the most useless.

  It was the reason for the crushing disappointment on Barret’s face. A Dragon Tamer without a dragon had less combat power than a basic Summoner who could at least conjure fire or water elements from the start.

  Barret couldn't help but sigh. Eventually, he managed to offer some hollow comfort. "It's alright. It's still a Hidden Class with limitless potential."

  "Maybe you'll have a chance to encounter one of The Draconids in the future. If you can tame it, you'll still be a powerhouse..."

  As the words left his mouth, Barret felt a twinge of guilt. He knew he was talking nonsense. Even The Draconids were terrifying creatures that required several 4th-Advancement Experts to handle. These draconic beasts were covered in treasures; their carcasses fetched astronomical prices. If someone managed to hunt one down, why would they ever give it to Lucian to tame?

  Furthermore, until he got a dragon, Lucian was essentially dead weight. Without someone to carry him, even leveling up would be an issue. If his level remained low, there was no way he could ever tame a beast thousands of times stronger than himself. Lucian was likely destined to be an ordinary person—worse off than someone who awakened a non-combat lifestyle class.

  Lucian understood this perfectly. Though he was disappointed, having lived two lives made his mental fortitude far stronger than a typical teenager's. A flicker of regret passed over his face, but he simply nodded. "I understand."

  Barret patted his shoulder. "Go on home for now. The Awakening Trials are in a few days; you should still give it a shot. I’ve heard of you—you’ve always been at the top of your class, a star student here at Riverport Third Academy."

  "Even if your class is... difficult, if you work hard during the Awakening Trials, you might still get into a decent college. You'll at least have a chance to become a monster hunter, killing low-level beasts to make a living."