Becoming the God of Death [Progression] [Ruling Class] [LitRPG]

Everyone dreams of awakening a powerful Class. At Blackthorn Academy, students hope to become legendary warriors, powerful mages, divine healers, and heroes whose names will be remembered for generations. Silas Blackwood has the same dream. Until his Awakening Ceremony arrives. Instead of a prestigious Class, Silas awakens Soul Reaver—a mysterious Class that hasn't appeared in generations and is widely considered useless. His first abilities seem strange rather than powerful. Soul Speaker allows him to communicate with the souls of the dead and form contracts with them. Soul Mend allows him to seize a recently departed soul and restore it to its body, provided a contract is made. The academy sees a worthless Class. Silas sees something he doesn't understand. Then, on his first night at the academy, he meets Thomas—a dead student whose soul is slowly fading away. Silas becomes the first person capable of hearing him. And when Silas saves Thomas, he discovers that not every soul becomes a familiar. Thomas becomes his first Guide—a contracted soul who retains his identity and accompanies Silas on his journey. But Thomas isn't the only thing waiting for Silas beyond death. Far beyond the mortal world, the gods are locked in an endless war. And the God of Death is dying. His divine realm, the Underworld, is falling into chaos. His armies are scattered. His enemies are closing in. And with his final strength, the dying God of Death searches for his successor. He has found him. Silas Blackwood was never meant to be an ordinary academy student. The Soul Reaver Class is not a blessing granted at random. It is an inheritance. Silas has been chosen to become the next God of Death. But before he can inherit the throne, he must learn what it means to command souls, forge contracts, build an army, and shape the Underworld itself. He will meet warriors who died centuries ago. Monsters whose souls refuse to fade. Heroes forgotten by history. Kings who refuse to kneel. And souls that may be far more dangerous than the living. Everyone at the academy believes Silas awakened the weakest Class imaginable. They couldn't be more wrong. Because Silas isn't going to become the strongest student at Blackthorn Academy. He's going to become the ruler of everything that comes after death. His journey begins with a single soul. But it will end with a throne.