Chapter 1

In the scorching summer heat, cicadas were calling out desperately from the trees outside. Although the air conditioner was blowing cold air, and the teacher was speaking enthusiastically at the front of the classroom, the students below inevitably showed a clear divide.

Some were propping up their chins with their hands, yawning incessantly, blinking their eyes, and struggling to fight off the overwhelming drowsiness. Others had simply laid their heads on the desks, giving up the fight and emitting light snores. However, for Du Yuqi, he was completely separate from these two groups.

He was a third-year student at the National Western University's Medical School. He looked extremely exhausted, with clear red marks on his face and neck, and even signs of his hair being singed by flames. His forehead was wrapped in white bandages, and he emitted a distinct medicinal smell. It seemed as if he had just survived a serious car accident.

For some reason, Du Yuqi's expression at this moment looked as if he had lost all hope, as if he had just received a "good person card" from a girl. He appeared to be listening listlessly, but his eyes were actually focused blankly on a spot about thirty centimeters in front of his desk.

In fact, even the yawning classmate sitting next to him thought there was nothing there except a "Anatomy" textbook, and even if he reached out to touch it, he would not feel anything.

However, for Du Yuqi, there was a very strange small object there, exuding a sense of primordial, bizarre, and mysterious energy, much like a legendary altar!

The altar had a very unique appearance, roughly the size of a washbasin, shaped like a monstrous claw reaching out from the void, pointing skyward. The tendons and bones were prominently visible, appearing blood-red, with strange electric sparks swirling around it, constantly appearing and disappearing.

The claw had only three toes, with black, sharp claws that were very long. Its surface was covered with a thick layer of dark green, dense scales, giving a sense of primitiveness and savagery. In the center of the claw, which was pointing skyward, there was a peculiar symbol that seemed like both text and a mark, evoking a sense of solemnity and reverence.

Each time this altar appeared, it would resonate strangely with a mysterious red scar on Du Yuqi's chest. This was probably why Du Yuqi could see and touch this object, while others completely ignored it as if it were air.

Suddenly, the claw-shaped altar slowly clenched into a fist, and light shone through the gaps in its clenched hand, eventually materializing into several black objects. A piece of information naturally surfaced in Du Yuqi's mind:

"Taraku Tapa member Fuyi sacrificed five pieces of hard, black bread, hoping for a creature to accompany her in a brief, ordinary battle. Contract type: Slave."

"Do you want to respond to this summoning?"

As this information appeared, the claw-shaped altar in front of Du Yuqi opened again, returning to its previous shape. In the center of its palm, five pieces of hard, black bread appeared. These things looked more like bricks than bread, dry and unappetizing, and biting into them would likely chip a tooth.

After about a minute, the five pieces of hard, black bread slowly disappeared, as if evaporating into the air. Another piece of information appeared:

"A young Heder of the Heder clan responded to Taraku Tapa member Fuyi's summoning, and the contract was successfully established."

After about ten seconds, the claw-shaped altar clenched again, then opened, and a rather worn and old badge appeared in its palm.

"Whirlwind Summoner: Li Lan sacrificed a Mage Lynn's seal, hoping for a creature to respond to her summoning. Contract type: Equal."

"Do you want to respond to this summoning?"

Du Yuqi's eyes moved, looking at the seal with a blank expression. Although it was worn, it had a sense of historical depth, clearly an ancient artifact that could be worth something, certainly better than black bread.

However, after a full 120 seconds, there was no response, and the badge disappeared.

"No summoned creature was interested in this offering. This summoning failed, and the summoner's magic power has decreased..."

Next, another item appeared on the altar:

"GBL Church Priest Pant sacrificed a bull demon's hard horn."

"Outside, there is a violent storm, and the fireplace is stewing the meat of an Ice Tiger, but there is no firewood. I hope a fire elemental can squat under the stove for an hour. Thank you very much."

"Pant specifically summoned a fire elemental to assist in cooking, requiring a gentle and patient personality."

"A newborn fire elemental of the Yad Yan clan (indestructible) responded to the summoning."

"......"

Immediately, the altar repeated the clenching and opening motion, and a unique stick appeared in the shining light, along with a crystal that looked clear and transparent, as if made of red carnelian.

"Nature's Will Elder: Blackmos sacrificed a small red crystal and a black bamboo Eastern staff (high-energy electric version), specifically summoning a Green Goblin Warrior, requiring at least second-level strength and proficient in the following core abilities: continuous throwing and ice bolt. Contract type: Slave."

"More than ten Green Goblins met the criteria and responded to the call, so the five strongest were selected for the summoner Blackmos to choose from."

...

Seeing the clear, transparent, red crystal that looked like it was made of red carnelian, Du Yuqi was instantly reminded of painful memories. He buried his forehead on the desk, his hands buried in his hair, and his whole body trembled slightly. After a while, he groaned:

"Oh God, is this ever going to end? Can you just let me be?"