The award ceremony was grand.
Colored confetti rained down from the sky as Lucas stood on the highest podium.
The Mayor of Azure City personally handed him a giant cardboard check.
[$100,000]
"Young man," the Mayor smiled, patting Lucas's shoulder vigorously. "You have a bright future. Azure City is proud to have a genius Necromancer like you. If you need any support from the City Hall, just ask."
"Thank you, Mayor," Lucas accepted the check calmly.
He knew that if he were still F-Rank trash, this fat Mayor wouldn't even look at him.
This was the reality of power.
Beside the money, the Principal of the Hunter Academy handed him a golden key.
"This is the key to the 'City Armory Library'," the Principal said respectfully. "You can pick one Rare Skill Book of your choice."
Lucas took the key. This was what he truly wanted. A skill book was worth way more than money.
As Lucas stood there, enjoying the cheers of thousands, he scanned the crowd.
Blake was gone. The bully had likely fled the stadium in shame before the match ended.
Elena, the Ice Princess, stood in the corner. She caught Lucas's eye, blushed slightly, and nodded her head in respect.
Lucas smiled back faintly.
Everything had changed. In just one day, he went from "Trash" to "King".
...
[Back Home. 8:00 PM.]
Lucas threw his body onto the soft bed.
"Hah... finally over."
"Master," Seraphina materialized beside him. She wasn't tired at all. In fact, after defeating the Ice Phoenix, she looked even more radiant. "That ice bird tasted terrible, but its energy was useful. I recovered 1% of my true origin."
"Only 1%?" Lucas sat up. "You really are a bottomless pit."
He grabbed his phone. The banking app notification popped up.
[Balance: $105,200]
Seeing the six-figure number, Lucas finally felt safe.
"With this money, I can buy High-Quality Mana Potions. I can buy better gear."
But then he remembered the evolution requirement for Seraphina's next stage:
[Requirement: $1,000,000 equivalent resources.]
Lucas's smile froze.
He was still $900,000 short.
"I need to go to bigger cities," Lucas muttered. "The newbie dungeons here are too low-level. They don't drop valuable items anymore."
He decided. After picking his skill book tomorrow, he would apply for the "National Hunter University". Only there could he find resources to feed his Dragon Empress.
"System! Show me my current status!"
"Summarize everything!"
[Ding! Status Window Opened]
[Name: Lucas]
[Class: Necromancer (Unique - Abyssal Sovereign)]
[Level: 5]
[Title: City Champion (Fame +500)]
[Attributes]
Strength: 25 (Normal: 10)
Agility: 30
Intelligence: 45
Mana: 5000/5000
[Summoned Units]
Seraphina (SSS-Rank Abyssal Dragon Empress)
State: Young Adult Form
Loyalty: 100 (Max)
Combat Power: Can rival a Level 20 Elite Boss.
[Skills]
Shadow Cloak (Lv. 2): Stealth & Speed Boost.
Basic Dagger Mastery (Lv. 3): Lethal close combat.
Conqueror's Aura (Passive): Weak enemies will fear you instinctively.
[Current Wealth]
$105,200
Key to Armory Library
Elena's Affection (Hidden Item)
Looking at his stats, Lucas clenched his fist.
"This is just the beginning."
"I will stand at the peak of this world. Anyone who stands in my way... Seraphina will burn them to ash."
"Of course, Master."
Seraphina hugged him from behind, her wings wrapping around them both like a protective cocoon.
"I will make you the King of the entire world."
(To be continued...)