Chapter 150 The selection begins

Words : 1111 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Noah and Lucas walked side by side, their footsteps in sync as they left the Year 3 training area. The air was thick with the faint smell of sweat and burnt energy from previous training sessions, but Noah barely noticed. His mind was locked on one thing—what came next. Lucas, hands in his pockets, glanced at him. "You sure about this? If it's just money, I can give you whatever you need." Noah shook his head immediately. "No. I appreciate it, but I want to earn it. For once, I'd like to work for my own money instead of getting handouts." Lucas exhaled sharply, tilting his head like he was debating whether to argue. Then he gave a small nod. "Alright. I'll set things up. Just make sure you hold up your end of the bargain." Noah breathed out slowly, feeling some of the tension in his chest ease. 'That's one thing taken care of.' Now, he was ready. All that was left on his agenda for the day was the combat area—where the tournament selection process was being held. It was time to prove himself. Noah made his way to the combat area along with Lucas and a few others. Oba and Bailey were with them, ranked 15 and 13, respectively, from the Cannadah trip. They were part of the remaining eight ranked students who had survived that mission. No sign of Micah Reeds, the rank 5. Noah was thankful for that. The other ranked students were particularly quiet, which didn't surprise him. Lucas murmured something about them "not being fully over the Cannadah experience," that they "felt they didn't deserve to show their faces in public." That was one way to look at it. But to Noah, it just felt like self-pity. Yes, a lot of students died. It was tragic. But nobody was to blame for that. They were soldiers, in training. They weren't obligated to protect each other. That much he'd learned over the past few weeks. But it was still the right thing to do. It was expected of them. While Noah wasn't exactly a fan of those who ran away, leaving just him and Lucas to defend against a one-horn—and then, later, a two-horn—he also knew he couldn't judge them. Fear made people act differently. Right now, though, his focus was elsewhere. There was a long-ass line of students ahead. Machines were set up, scanning students as they stepped forward. Each person's name, year, and awakening level were entered into the system. Once recognized in the school records, they were officially signed up. This wasn't the real tournament—just the selection process. It was an opportunity to declare your interest in representing the school. Lucas, however, had other ideas. He wasn't about to stand in line with everyone else. Protocol was protocol, sure. But sometimes, rules could be bent. And in this case, flexing your rank wasn't exactly frowned upon. Without hesitation, Lucas walked straight past the line, taking the other ranked students with him. Noah didn't follow. Lucas only realized it once he was already at the front. He turned and saw Noah still standing in line. Frowning, Lucas walked all the way back to him. "What the hell are you doing?" he asked, voice low but firm. "Come on, let's go sign in." Noah hesitated. It didn't seem fair to him. Lucas, however, didn't look like he was in the mood for a debate. With a sigh, Noah stepped out of the line. But not without noticing the glares sent his way. Year 1 students like himself. Even some Year 2s and 3s. His upperclassmen. He could already tell—they weren't happy about it. As they walked, Lucas shot Noah a look and shook his head. Then, without looking away, he asked, "Isn't that the crazy chick you told me about?" Noah sighed. "Yeah... but she's a friend regardless." Deep down, he felt indebted to her. He had no reason to be cruel. She felt how she felt about him. He had made his stance clear, and if she chose to keep acting unhinged, that was her decision. He was simply going to move past that orbit. Noah then turned to Lucas, changing the subject. Lowering his voice, he asked, "So... your girlfriend not signing up?" Lucas smirked. "Who?" Noah arched a brow. "Amanda, of course." Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire Lucas laughed. Oba and Bailey, who had been chatting nearby, also burst out laughing. They'd clearly been listening the whole time and now turned toward Lucas, waiting for an answer. Lucas, however, dodged the bullet entirely. "Amanda, my friend, didn't say if she was signing up or not." Everyone gave him a look. It was obvious to everyone that something was going on, but Lucas would never admit it. Before anyone could push further, Lucas smoothly changed the subject. "So where's Sophie? Your girlfriend?" Noah stiffened slightly, about to answer— But a familiar voice behind them cut in. "I'm here." Sophie walked up to Noah, their eyes meeting as tension spaeked in the air. For a brief moment, their hands brushed against each other—a fleeting touch—before separating just as quickly. Neither of them spoke. Neither of them knew what to say. Lucas, of course, had no such hesitation. "Look at you two—so smitten." He chuckled, shaking his head. Then, turning to Sophie, he asked, "Did you sign up?" Sophie sighed, then glanced at Noah before answering. "Yeah... I'm just trying my luck. So, I did." Noah blinked in surprise but didn't dwell on it. If she had changed her mind, that was her choice. He had bigger concerns at the moment—namely, the crowd of students now gathering in a single spot. At the front, Mr. Rourke, the homeroom teacher for Class 1C, held a microphone. Clearing his throat, he began: "Errr... ehm. All students willing to try out, please take your places. The event is about to start." The murmurs in the crowd died down. He went on to explain that an algorithm would randomly generate matchups, and once paired, students would enter the ring to begin their qualification journey. "For efficiency's sake, we have three rings available. This means multiple fights will take place simultaneously." The line outside was almost finished. It was time. Noah exhaled, feeling a strange sensation creep over him—the feeling of being watched. His gaze subtly shifted to the side. And there she was. Miss Brooks. Standing at a distance, watching him with a knowing smirk.

Chapter 150 The selection begins

Comments (0)