Chapter 164 164: Levelled up!!

Words : 1765 Updated : Sep 19th, 2025

Noah pulled off the VR headset, blinking as the real world came back into focus. A faint hum still echoed in his ears—the lingering phantom sensation of battle, of adrenaline surging through his veins. The arcade lights flickered around him, a contrast to the dark, digital world he'd just left behind. The place was still buzzing, students hunched over consoles, locked in battles of their own. But none of them had done what he just did. A smirk tugged at his lips as he stepped out, hands sliding into his pockets, the cool night air hitting his skin. The campus was still lively, but he barely noticed. His focus was elsewhere. [System Profile] [Name: Noah Eclipse] [Level: 20] [Class: Void Oracle] [Health Points: 600/600] [Void Energy: 950/950] [Experience: 8,500/10,000] [Talents:] Void Summoning [SSS RANK] Perfect Echo [Sealed] Self-Regeneration [B RANK] [Enhanced Skills:] Void Blink (Level 6) – Shorter cooldown, longer range (Cooldown: 4 seconds) Null Strike (Level 3) – (-100) Void Absorption (Level 3) – Can now absorb a wider array of energies including electricity. Entropy Touch (Level 3) – Stronger decay effect. [Attributes:] Strength: 57 Agility: 65 Vitality: 54 Intelligence: 73 Wisdom: 68 Noah whistled, scrolling through the numbers. Level 20. He'd doubled his strength in a single day. 'This is insane.' Not that he was complaining. Everything he theorized about Elder Genes was true—what happened in the game happened to him in real life. His body felt stronger, his reactions sharper. Every battle, every skill he honed in the digital world was now a permanent part of him. The question was—how far could he push this? Noah grinned to himself as he stepped onto the main campus path, phone buzzing in his pocket. He knew exactly where he was heading next. Noah glanced at the sky, the fading hues of orange and violet signaling the arrival of evening. He had spent hours inside Elder Genes, completely immersed in the fights, the thrill, the victories. And now, reality was sinking back in—he had to move. The selection process was about to resume, and he needed to be there. Still, something nagged at him. His body felt different. It wasn't just the usual post-VR disorientation—it was something else. His limbs felt lighter, his breathing more controlled, his vision sharper. He had leveled up drastically inside the game, and the last time this happened, his real-life body adapted to match it. That meant... 'My speed, my power—how much have they changed?' A sly grin spread across his lips. There was only one way to find out. Noah turned down a nearby alley, one dimly lit and devoid of people. He didn't want to draw attention to himself—not until he knew exactly what his new capabilities were. If his strength had skyrocketed as much as he suspected, carelessness could expose everything. Taking a deep breath, he squared his stance. His muscles coiled, anticipation thrumming in his veins. Then— Boom! The ground cracked beneath him as he kicked off, his body disappearing from where he stood. A gust of wind followed in his wake, rustling loose papers and debris as he streaked down the alley like a shadow. Noah blinked. He was already at the other end. His chest rose and fell as he turned around. His eyes darted to the spot he had just left—a full fifty meters away. And it hadn't even felt like he was pushing himself. 'Holy shit...' Excitement bubbled in his chest. He had always been fast, but this? This was insane. His new stats were no joke. But this wasn't enough. He needed to test more. Taking a step back, he exhaled and shot forward again—this time, focusing purely on speed. Faster. Faster. Each stride felt effortless, his body moving like a well-oiled machine. He zigzagged through the narrow passage, stopping instantly on command, his momentum barely affecting his control. His agility had jumped to an entirely new league. And the craziest part? He still wasn't going all out. He clenched his fists, flexing his fingers. 'At this rate... I might actually be able to hold my own against speed talent users,.' But that was for later. Right now, he had places to be. Noah dusted himself off, straightened his jacket, and turned back toward the academy. Time to really see what today's selection had in store for him. Noah made his way straight to the training hall, weaving through the academy corridors with purpose. The moment he stepped inside, his eyes swept across the familiar faces already gathered. Sophie was there. Lucas as well. Oba and Bailey—all Year Three students. The atmosphere was still charged with energy, but the crowd had thinned compared to the previous day. Some had likely given up after the first match, realizing they weren't cut out for this. Others, however, were still here—determined, hungry for victory, and ready to fight their way to the top. This was just the selection stage, and already, things were getting intense. Noah's attention shifted to the massive digital holographic scoreboard floating at the front of the hall. Names and point tallies were listed in separate sections for Year One, Year Two, and Year Three. His gaze naturally landed on Year One's rankings first. There he was—among the top 10. His decisive knockout victory yesterday had earned him 5 points, placing him high on the board. Some students had 3 points for dominant wins, while others sat at 1 point for draws. The lower part of the list was filled with 1s and 0s—losses, the names of those who had already begun their downward spiral. Noah quickly scanned the list for familiar names. Adrian Albright – 5 points. Lila – 5 points. (Not surprising in the slightest.) Cora – 3 points. Erica Vasquez – 5 points. (The first to earn 5 last night.) Most of the top contenders were from Class 1A. Only Noah, Cora, Lila, and Adrian were strong representatives from 1B, while Erica was the only real powerhouse from 1C. Not bad. But the real action was unfolding in Year Three's section. Noah's eyes flicked to the third-year rankings, and sure enough, the number one student in the academy, Lucas Grey, was also number one on the board. No surprise there. Oba was holding a solid spot in the top 10, while Bailey was a fierce contender as well. Then there was Sophie. She had scored 1 point for her draw, meaning she was further down the list. Noah exhaled quietly, stepping closer. Without a word, he reached out and rubbed her hands in reassurance, a silent gesture meant to console her. Her response? Pure excitement. "Look at you," Sophie grinned, tilting her head toward the board. "Top 10 in your year? My boyfriend is killing it." Her teasing tone held nothing but pride. Noah smirked, shaking his head. "Still a long way to go." She squeezed his hand, unwavering. "Yeah, but you're on the right path." Her faith in him was unshakable. His upperclassman girlfriend could do no wrong. Mr. Rourke, the 1C homeroom teacher, stepped forward, his sharp eyes scanning the gathered students with a rare, approving expression. He wasn't the type to give out praise lightly, which made his next words even more significant. "Well done," he said, his voice carrying through the hall. "Yesterday, many of you showed remarkable skill, determination, and the courage to step onto that stage. Today, you stand here once more—proving that you're willing to fight for your place to represent this academy against the best from other schools." He let that sink in, his gaze shifting from Year One to Year Two and then to Year Three. "With that said," Mr. Rourke continued, "today's qualification matches will now begin." The moment he finished speaking, the randomizer on the digital display came to life. Names flashed across the screen in rapid succession before settling into place. Three rings. Three years. Every year had its own battlefield, and each match would take place simultaneously. And just like that, the evening was underway. Noah and Sophie stood side by side, watching the fights unfold. Some were hard-fought battles, others were quick, decisive takedowns. The tension in the hall was fever high, a mix of nerves, excitement, and anticipation. They cheered for the victors, offering nods of respect even to those who had lost. Sophie, ever empathetic, sighed softly at one particular match. "Man... Some of them gave everything they had, only to go down at the last second." Noah nodded. "It's tough. But that's the game." An hour passed. Neither Noah's nor Sophie's name had been called yet. Oba had gone up and dominated again, claiming another 5 points for yet another knockout victory. Bailey, too, had crushed his opponent without breaking a sweat. It was clear now—the top 25 students weren't playing around. They weren't here just to compete—they were here to win. Lucas, the reigning number one, still hadn't been called yet. Meanwhile, the Year Two fights were proving to be wildly entertaining, showcasing a wide range of powerful abilities and unorthodox fighting styles. But then, the attention of the entire hall shifted. Because the Year One ring had just displayed a highly anticipated name. Lila. --- Her opponent barely had time to react. The match began— —and instantly, Lila flattened them. Without lifting a finger. Her telekinesis crushed her opponent to the ground in an instant, as if gravity itself had betrayed them. And the most chilling part? She did it with a smile. While looking directly at Noah. Noah felt the weight of her stare, but he didn't react. Lila stepped out of the ring, her energy bubbling with excitement as she practically skipped over to where Cora was waiting. They high-fived, both grinning. Noah wasn't surprised. Cora was a battle junkie, the type to live for moments like these. His classmates were a wild bunch of characters. --- Sophie smirked beside him, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Your girlfriend is really strong, huh?" she teased. Noah sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "She's not my girlfriend." "Oh?" Sophie raised an eyebrow. "Then why is she looking at you like that?" Noah didn't respond. Instead, he refocused on the remaining matches. One by one, the fights concluded. And then— The randomizer started up again. Names flickered across the Year One section. This time, when the list settled— His name appeared. Noah Eclipse vs...

Chapter 164 164: Levelled up!!

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