twist of fate ch3

The midday sun beat down on Lu Chen's back as he trudged away from Dawnbreaker Academy, his shoulders slumped with disappointment. The words of the Principal – "All Common Grade students, please leave the academy grounds" – echoed in his ears, a cruel mockery of his shattered hopes. He walked with the other rejected students, a silent procession of dashed dreams, each one carrying the weight of their failure. His path led him towards the docks, towards the grueling labor that was his only means of survival. How would he tell Zili? The thought hung heavy in his heart, a lead weight dragging him down.

He was lost in his despair, his mind replaying the events of the morning, when a voice cut through his gloomy reverie.

"Hey, lil' kiddo. You're looking a bit worse for wear. What happened?"

Lu Chen jumped, startled by the sudden intrusion. An old man, cloaked and shrouded in shadow, stood before him, his face obscured by the deep hood. His eyes, however, were sharp and piercing, glinting with an uncanny intensity.

Lu Chen, still reeling from the academy's rejection, poured out his heart. He explained his hopes, his dreams, the crushing disappointment of his common-grade Beast Tamer ability. He spoke of his sister, of their struggles, of the weight of responsibility he carried.

The old man listened patiently, his expression unreadable. When Lu Chen finished, a faint smile played on the old man's lips.

"Well, now," the old man said, his voice surprisingly deep and resonant, "that's a bit of a pickle, isn't it?"

Lu Chen stared, dumbfounded. He expected pity, perhaps a consoling word, but not this.

"I'm recruiting you," the old man declared, his eyes twinkling. "Into the Dragon's Maw Guild."

The words hung in the air, heavy with significance. Lu Chen's jaw dropped. The Dragon's Maw Guild. One of the top ten guilds in Lucia, a legendary organization ranked seventh overall. He had heard whispers of their power, their influence, their legendary leader. To be considered, let alone recruited… it was beyond his wildest dreams.

The shock was too much. Lu Chen's vision blurred, his knees buckled, and he collapsed into unconsciousness.

He awoke to the soft caress of luxurious silk sheets. He was in a room far beyond anything he had ever known – spacious, elegantly furnished, and filled with an air of opulence. Before his eyes, a holographic panel shimmered into existence, its intricate details sharp and clear.

**Name:** Lu Chen

**Age:** 18

**Lv.:** 1

**Ability:** Common (Upgradeable)

**Class:** Beast Tamer (Upgradeable)

A voice, smooth and authoritative, echoed in his mind.

*Welcome to the Beast Emperor System, Host.*

*You have received your first-time Legendary Chest and 10,000 EXP. Your level has increased from 1 to 4.*

Lu Chen stared at the panel, his mind reeling. The Dragon's Maw Guild. A legendary chest. A sudden, inexplicable surge in power. His life, it seemed, had taken a turn so dramatic, so unexpected, that it felt like a dream. But the luxurious room, the holographic panel, the undeniable surge of power within him… it was all too real. His journey, it seemed, was far from over.

To be continued….

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