The scorched apocalypse arrived, bringing with it the Beastbound System.
Those with the highest SAT scores could claim the most powerful beast first. My younger sister and our parents forced me to give up the snow python, so I had to spend all my points on a fire fox instead.
The heat apocalypse soon ended, only to be followed by eternal frost. The three of them didn’t survive the frozen wasteland and turned into ice statues.
But the fire fox had always desired my sister. After her death, he plotted against me and got me killed.
This time, reborn with my past life’s memories, Sophie Jensen rushed again to snatch the fire fox. Perfect—that’s exactly what I wanted.
When I opened my eyes, I was sitting in front of my computer, checking my SAT results.
In my last life, just two days after the results came out, the apocalypse descended. The Midwest turned from scorched desert to frozen tundra as Earth’s temperature spiked higher and higher. People died in waves. Then, the System appeared, granting survivors a glimmer of hope.
The Beastbound System allowed everyone to bind with one beast. The higher your SAT score, the greater the chance of choosing a noble bloodline beast. Low scores meant taking whatever others left behind.
I didn’t even bother checking my score this time. I already knew from my last life. I had always done well academically, unlike my younger sister.
There were only two children in our family, but Mr. and Mrs. Jensen always favored Sophie.
I never argued over such petty matters, choosing instead to focus on my studies. My grades had always been top of the state.
Sophie, however, had been spoiled since childhood. Despite her poor grades, she always won our parents’ affection.
So in my past life, when it was time to choose my beast, she colluded with our parents to steal the snow python from me.
I knew this scene would repeat itself.
Sure enough, before long, my bedroom door burst open.
Sophie stormed in with our parents at her side.
“Clara, did you check your scores yet?” she asked bluntly.
“I did. I’m the state’s top scorer.”
Jealous hatred flickered in Sophie’s eyes.
Seeing her like that gave me a twisted sense of satisfaction. She loved looking down on me at home, flaunting the way our parents adored her. Yet here she was, forced to beg me sweetly for the beast.
My parents lit up at my words.
“Really? We knew our Clara would ace it. Top of the state!”
“That’s right. We’re so blessed. What a lucky break for the Jensen family.”
Their praise only made Sophie’s face twist with disdain.
“That doesn’t matter anymore. With the apocalypse here, grades can’t keep you alive. Survival is all that matters now.”
I sighed at her desperate attempt to douse my joy.
“But good grades mean I get first pick. Doesn’t that guarantee my survival?” I yawned, sounding utterly unconcerned.
Her face darkened. She realized she hadn’t come here to start trouble, but to take something.
Her expression shifted again and again, like a performer changing masks.
“Clara, you haven’t chosen your beast yet, have you?”
“Not yet. I just saw my score.”
“Then which one do you want?”
“That’s none of your business. They’re all top bloodline beasts. Any of them will do to protect me.”
At my words, her expression turned venomous.
“Clara, open the selection panel. I want to see what the top beasts look like.”
With her score, she’d never get near a top beast.
Mr. and Mrs. Jensen immediately revealed their bias again.
“She’s right, Clara. Show us the options.”
“You know Sophie’s grades aren’t great. Just let her have a peek.”
The three of them practically drooled as if they could already claim what was mine.
I opened the selection page.
Two images projected into the air: a massive white python coiled quietly in the snow, and a proud fire fox sitting tall on a rock.
The moment Sophie saw the fox, her eyes lit up.
While mine burned with fury.
