Reincarnated as a Snow Leopard with a System

The fluorescent lights of the classroom buzzed faintly, their hum blending with the monotone voice of the teacher explaining quadratic equations. Aria Lin sat at the back, her pen tapping rhythmically against her notebook. Her long black hair framed her face, but her eyes stared blankly ahead, unfocused. Numbers and formulas filled the chalkboard, but her mind was elsewhere.

Aria was quiet by nature, invisible to most of her classmates. It wasn't that she disliked people, but after years of being ignored or used, she had learned that silence and distance were safer. At seventeen, she excelled academically, but no one cared. She wasn't the girl people remembered; she was the one they only noticed when they needed something.

"Aria," a soft whisper broke through her thoughts. She glanced up to see Maya Chen, one of the most popular girls in school, sitting in the row ahead. Maya turned halfway in her seat, flashing an easy smile. "Can I borrow your notes? Just for a second."

Aria hesitated briefly, then slid her notebook forward without a word. Maya grinned, flipping through the pages. "You're the best," she said, but her tone was distracted, almost dismissive. Aria stared at the empty space in front of her, suppressing the pang of bitterness that always came with these moments. It wasn't the first time someone had used her, and it wouldn't be the last. She wasn't Maya's friend, just a convenient helper.

The school day passed in a blur, and soon Aria found herself walking home alone. The autumn air was crisp, and the evening sun cast long shadows across the sidewalk. Her mind wandered, as it often did, to the years before her parents' accident. Life had been different then—warmer, safer. Now, she lived with an aunt who barely acknowledged her presence. She didn't resent it; she had grown used to being overlooked.

As she passed the park, laughter drew her attention. A group of students gathered near the pond, their voices carrying through the still air. Aria paused, curiosity tugging at her. She recognized the group: Maya and a few of her friends, clustered around a younger girl who looked pale and uncomfortable.

"Come on," Maya was saying, her tone light but insistent. "It's just a joke."

The younger girl clutched her backpack tightly, shaking her head. "I don't want to..."

Aria's stomach twisted. She knew that look—the wide eyes, the trembling hands. The girl looked like a cornered animal.

"Don't be such a baby," one of the boys said, his voice dripping with mockery. "It's not like we're asking for much. Just go in and get it."

Aria stepped closer, her heart sinking as she noticed the murky pond behind them. Something metallic glinted in the water—a bracelet, maybe—and the group had surrounded the girl, laughing and urging her forward.

"Leave her alone," Aria said, her voice sharper than she intended.

The laughter stopped abruptly, and all eyes turned to her. Maya's smile faltered, replaced by a flicker of annoyance. "And who asked you?"

"She doesn't want to do it," Aria said, standing her ground. "Why don't you just leave her alone?"

For a moment, the group exchanged uncertain glances. Then Maya smirked, her expression shifting into something sly. "Fine. If you care so much, why don't you do it instead?"

Aria blinked. "What?"

Maya gestured to the pond. "Go get it. You're always acting like you're better than everyone else, right? Prove it."

The others chuckled, their earlier cruelty redirected toward her.

Aria's fists clenched at her sides. She wanted to walk away, but the younger girl's wide, tear-filled eyes rooted her in place. Letting out a slow breath, she stepped forward. "Fine."

She dropped her backpack on the ground and approached the pond. The water was dark and still, reflecting the dim light of the setting sun. The chill in the air intensified as she waded in, the muddy bank squelching beneath her shoes. Her classmates whispered and laughed behind her, but she ignored them.

The cold seeped through her clothes as she reached the glinting object. It was a bracelet, tangled in a clump of weeds at the bottom of the shallow pond. Aria reached down, her fingers numbing as they closed around the metal.

She turned back to the group, holding up the bracelet. "Happy now?"

They erupted into laughter, and Maya waved dismissively. "Sure. Thanks for the show."

Aria's jaw tightened as she began wading back toward the shore. Her clothes were soaked, and the freezing water had sapped her strength. But she held her head high, refusing to let them see her discomfort.

The next moment, her foot slipped. The muddy bottom gave way, and she stumbled backward, her arms flailing as she tried to regain her balance. A startled cry escaped her as she fell, the freezing water swallowing her whole.

The laughter stopped abruptly, replaced by panicked murmurs. Aria struggled, her limbs thrashing as she tried to push herself up, but the mud beneath her hands shifted and sank. The cold was paralyzing, stealing the breath from her lungs.

Above the surface, someone shouted, but their words were muffled, distorted by the water. Her chest burned as she held her breath, her vision blurring. Fear surged through her, sharp and suffocating.

She reached out blindly, but there was nothing to grab onto. The surface grew dimmer, the light fading as the darkness closed in.

Her thoughts fragmented, memories flickering like broken images: her parents' laughter, the quiet loneliness of her room, the unspoken regrets that lingered in her heart.

If I had another chance...

The cold claimed her, and everything went still.

When Aria opened her eyes, she wasn't in the pond anymore. She floated weightlessly in an endless expanse of black, her body light as air. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the faint echo of her own thoughts.

A voice rang out, cold and mechanical: "Analyzing soul compatibility..."

Aria's breath hitched. "Who's there?"

"Error detected. Reassigning parameters. System prototype detected: Beast System."

"System?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

"Host identified: Aria Lin. Preparing transfer."

Before she could question the voice, a bright light engulfed her, and the void shattered. Her consciousness faded, leaving only the faint echo of the voice behind:

"Survival probability: 3%. Good luck, Host."