Chapter 19 Ability detected…

Words : 1717 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

[Alert: If the host fails to provide sustenance for the dragon, it will independently seek nourishment.] ... After drying off, Noah stepped out of the bathroom, mind racing. The clock was ticking – less than an hour to feed a hungry dragon. 'What did that warning mean? Nyx finding its own food source?' The thought made him uneasy. Would it step outside of the domain to get it? Wait, could it even do that? He didn't even want to find out. The last thing he wanted was nyx to be anywhere outside the domain searching for its own food in a military academy. He knew that alone could end up being disastrous. He glanced at Kelvin, who was absorbed in his tech setup – a maze of holographic displays and custom-built devices that Noah had learned not to question. Noah stepped out of the bathroom, still mulling over the system's warning. He found Kelvin hunched over his workstation, surrounded by screens and gadgets. 'Less than an hour before Nyx starts hunting. In a military academy. Great.' He watched Kelvin fiddle with what looked like a modified security scanner. An idea started forming. "Hey Kelv," Noah said casually, leaning against his bed. "What's the most secure place in the academy?" Kelvin didn't look up from his work. "Base vault, obviously. Although from my experience, the teachers staff room can be pretty secure too. But it's the base vault. They keep all the confiscated items and high-grade equipment there." He paused, fingers hovering over a circuit board. "Why?" "Just wondering if someone could actually break in there." That got Kelvin's attention. He spun in his chair, eyes narrowing. "You doubting my skills?. Look, everyone knows the vault's security got an upgrade," Kelvin mentioned casually, not looking up from his screens. Noah for one was part of "everyone" and didn't know this information but kelvin apparently did. "They're testing some new defense protocols. Pretty impressive stuff." Noah paused. "The one in the base?" "Yeah. Apparently, they've got some fancy new containment units for beast cores and weapons." Kelvin's fingers danced across a holographic keyboard. "The kind of security that would give even third-gen tech users trouble. But hey, you think I can't crack it?" Noah shrugged. "Didn't say that. But it's got to be impossible, right?" "Nothing's impossible with the right tech." Kelvin's eyes lit up with that familiar gleam – the one that usually preceded their most questionable decisions. "Want me to prove it?" 'This was almost too easy,' Noah thought. "You're serious?" Noah raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise at where kelvin was heading with this talk. "Middle of the day?" "Best time. Guards are switching shifts. Plus..." Kelvin reached into a drawer and pulled out what looked like a small metal disc. "Been working on this. Dampens ability detection fields. Not perfect, but it'll give us a window." Noah studied his friend. Kelvin might be first-gen, but his talent for tech was undeniable. And maybe he just liked trouble altogether "How long?" "Five minutes prep. We go to the east storage" [Time Remaining: 50 minutes] "Deal." 'Too easy.' Just to really sell it, he added out loud. "Kelvin, you're not serious about this, are you?." "Dead serious." Kelvin was already pulling up schematics. "Look, the vault's running a beta security grid. Basic stuff for the outer layer – motion sensors, heat detection. But the inner protocols..." He grinned. "That's where it gets interesting." Noah moved closer, studying the displays. "Interesting how?" "Ability-based barriers. Smart systems that detect and counter specific power signatures." Kelvin's voice took on that focused tone he got when deep in his element. "Most first-gens like me couldn't touch it. But I've got something they haven't planned for." He pulled out what looked like a modified data chip. "Been working on this beauty for weeks. Should create just enough interference to slip through their detection grid." 'Perfect,' Noah thought. 'With his tech covering the outer security, we should have no problem!'@@@@ "You're actually considering this," Kelvin said, watching Noah's face. It seemed even a part of him knew this idea was crazy. Breaking into the base vault was an insane thought to begin with but actually planning to go ahead with it? Only he, kelvin, thought he had the balls to. Noah checked the time. Forty eight minutes left. "Maybe I am." "Who are you and what have you done with my responsible roommate?" "Let's just say near-death experiences give you perspective." Noah grabbed his jacket. "You coming or not?" Kelvin was already packing his gear, practically vibrating with excitement. "Oh, this is going to be good." 'Yeah,' Noah thought, remembering the hungry dragon waiting in his domain. 'It better be.' --- A few moments later, they stepped out of their room into the dorm hallway, conversations hushed. Noah caught fragments of whispers, felt the weight of stares looking in his direction. First year dorm block, of course they'd recognize him. He was the guy that got all their hardwork thrashed in the bin. "—the one who survived—" "—heard his heart actually stopped—" A group of boys from 1C huddled near the stairwell, their conversation dropping as Noah and Kelvin passed. Noah recognized one amongst them, Marcus Chen among them, his usual sneer firmly in place. 'Great. More drama,' Noah thought, but kept walking. He wasn't in the mood for whatever Marcus had to say about 1C's performance in the hunt. Outside, the afternoon sun cast long shadows across the academy grounds. Noah checked his comm device. [Time Remaining: 45 minutes] "So what's the actual plan?" Noah asked as they walked. "The vault's restricted. We can't exactly walk in." Kelvin grinned, pulling up a schematic on his data pad. "See that maintenance shaft?" He pointed to a service entrance near the base's west wing. "It's used for routing power to the vault's security systems. Dad's company installed it last year." "Sure," Noah agreed, knowing the conversation would never happen. He reached for a beast core, acutely aware of both the time pressure and his friend's growing suspicion. 'Sorry Kelv. Some secrets have to stay secret.' [Time Remaining: 30 minutes] Just as Noah reached for the beast core, his fingers made contact with the crystalline surface. [Item Detected: Level 2 Frost Wolf Core] [Options Available: 1. Store in Void Storage 2. Convert to Dragon Feed Please select desired function.] 'Wait, what? Void Storage?' Noah's eyes widened. The core had seemingly vanished at his touch, yet he could somehow sense its presence, as if suspended in a pocket of darkness. [Scanning Complete] [Additional Beast Cores Located: - Level 3 Thunder Boar (Unstable) - Level 2 Wind Serpent (Damaged) - Level 2 Frost Wolf x3 Energy Output Analysis Available] 'The system can analyze energy signatures too?' Noah marveled briefly at the implications. This was way more advanced than he'd initially thought. "Got it out of your system yet?" Kelvin whispered, still focused on his pad. "Because we've got about forty seconds before the next security sweep." "Almost," Noah replied, reaching for another Frost Wolf core. Each one disappeared at his touch. [Items Added to Void Storage] [Current Contents: 3x Level 2 Frost Wolf Cores] [Convert to Feed? Y/N] 'This is insane,' Noah thought. 'No physical evidence, no trace. The system's perfect for...' He stopped that train of thought. Best not to get too ambitious too quickly. "Noah!" Kelvin's urgent whisper cut through his wonderment. "Time's up!" [Warning: Security Sweep Imminent] [Time Remaining for Hatchling: 25 minutes] "Coming," Noah said, backing away from the shelf. His mind was still racing with the possibilities. A scanning system that could analyze energy signatures, instant storage capacity, and the ability to convert items into dragon feed – all hidden within his void abilities [Scanning Complete] [Additional Items Located: - Prototype Void Cannon (Level 4) - Enhanced Beast Suppression Field Generator (Level 3) - Crystalline Energy Amplifiers x5 (Level 3) - Anti-Beast Combat Gear Set (Level 4) Warning: High-level equipment detected] Noah's eyes widened as he took in the vault's contents. Rows of advanced weaponry lined the walls, each piece more impressive than the last. 'A single Level 4 Void Cannon could've taken down that Stonewall Behemoth in seconds,' he thought, studying the sleek black weapon. 'And they keep these locked away while students face Level 3 beasts with basic equipment?' [Detailed Analysis Available: Void Cannon - Military-grade weapon capable of channeling concentrated void energy. Effective against targets up to Level 5] "Noah!" Kelvin's urgent whisper snapped him back to reality. "You're staring at those weapons like they're made of gold. What gives?" "Just thinking," Noah muttered. "That beast in the cave... with gear like this, it wouldn't have stood a chance." Kelvin glanced at the weapons, then back at his pad. "Yeah, well, good luck getting access to those. They're reserved for actual military operations." He paused. "Though I guess after what happened to you, maybe they'll consider upgrading our hunt equipment." 'Too late for that,' Noah thought, reaching for another beast core. 'But at least now I know what we're up against. And what we're missing.' [Time Remaining: 25 minutes] [Security Sweep Approaching] They needed to move, but Noah took one last look at the vault's arsenal. Somewhere in the academy, someone had decided students should face deadly beasts without access to proper equipment. He wondered if Miss Brooks knew about this. 'Next time we face a Level 3,' he thought grimly, 'I'm making sure we're better prepared.' As they made their escape, using the same route they'd entered, Noah couldn't help but smile. 'Maybe being a Void Walker has more perks than I thought.' He just hoped Kelvin wouldn't ask too many questions about his sudden interest in beast cores. But that was a problem for later. Right now, he had a hungry dragon to feed. [Would you like to convert stored items to Dragon Feed? Y/N] 'Soon, Nyx,' he thought. 'Dinner's almost ready.'

Chapter 19 Ability detected…

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