Chapter 311: Message from the boss

Words : 2313 Updated : Oct 3rd, 2025

Noah had re-entered his domain and brought back everyone. Now the Eastern Cardinal stadium erupted with cheers. People rushed toward them—rescue workers, civilians, EDF soldiers—all shouting and clapping. Noah blinked against the sudden onslaught of attention, his companions already retreating to the safety of his domain. "They did it! They actually did it!" someone shouted. A woman fell to her knees, sobbing with relief. "My apartment—my children's photos—everything is still there!" The reality of what they'd accomplished slowly sank in. People who moments ago had been evacuating, certain they'd lost everything, were now realizing their homes still stood, their possessions intact, their lives preserved. "Noah Eclipse!" A news reporter thrust a microphone toward him. "Is it true you single-handedly disabled the bomb?" Another pushed forward. "Sources say you're a first-year from Academy 12. How did you—" "Academy 12?" someone else interrupted. "Isn't that where Lucas Grey is from?" The murmurs spread through the crowd like wildfire. "Noah Eclipse... wasn't he said to have no combat ability just months ago?" "I heard he Re-Awakened as an SSS-ranked talent!" "First Lucas Grey, now this kid? What are they feeding them at Academy 12?" Before Noah could formulate a response, a familiar voice boomed across the plaza. "MAKE WAY FOR THE PRODIGY! THE ONE! THE ONLY! NOAH ECLIPSE!" Kelvin burst through the crowd, arms spread wide in a theatrical gesture. His eyes sparkled with manic energy as he slipped into his hype-man persona. "Ladies and gentlemen!" Kelvin announced to the gathering crowd and hovering news drones. "You are in the presence of GREATNESS! Noah Eclipse, my BEST FRIEND, just saved HALF A MILLION LIVES with his GALAXY BRAIN!" Noah groaned, though he couldn't suppress his smile. "Kelvin, please..." "Did Noah Eclipse just save us all? YES HE DID!" Kelvin continued, unabated. "Is he the most humble hero you'll ever meet? ABSOLUTELY!" More reporters surged forward, questions flying faster than Noah could process. "Mr. Eclipse, how exactly did you neutralize the thermobaric device?" "What abilities did you use?" "Are you going to work with the EDF or start your own faction down along the line?" Noah opened his mouth to answer when uniformed EDF soldiers formed a protective circle around him. "No questions at this time," a stern-faced officer announced. "Please step back." Through the parting crowd, Commander Owen approached, his uniform still in tartars from the chaos of the day. He stopped before Noah and raised his hand in a crisp salute. "Mr. Eclipse," he said formally. "On behalf of the Earth Defense Force and every citizen in this sector, thank you." Noah returned the salute awkwardly, unused to such formality. Commander Owen turned, acknowledging each of Noah's friends with similar salutes. "Mr. Kelvin, Miss Reign, Miss Rowe, Mr. Grey. Your teamwork and courage today saved countless lives." Lucas nodded curtly, returning the salute with practiced ease. Sophie stood a bit straighter, her eyes briefly lingering on the EDF insignia before she returned the gesture. As the crowd continued to press forward, a familiar voice called out. "Eclipse, a moment." Miss Brooks stood at the edge of the commotion, her usual stern expression softened slightly. Noah excused himself and followed her to a quieter spot beneath a twisted metal sculpture that had somehow survived the day's events. "I always knew you were special, Eclipse," she said, her voice uncharacteristically gentle. "But not this special." Noah shrugged, suddenly feeling like he was back in her classroom. "I just did what anyone would do." "No," she said firmly. "You did what only you could do. And now, more than ever, I expect great things from you." Noah straightened instinctively and saluted her, the gesture coming naturally after the day's events. Miss Brooks shook her head, reached out to lower his hand, and then, to his shock, returned his salute with perfect form. "This isn't the classroom anymore," she said with a small smile. "Out here, you've earned that respect." She turned and walked away, leaving Noah temporarily speechless. --- Hours later, after debriefings and medical checks, the students of Academy 12 boarded transport shuttles back to campus. The mood was a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration—students devastated by the event but buzzing with stories to tell. "Did you see how Noah just transported everyone to that place?" "I heard he absorbed the explosion somehow..." "They say Lucas Grey took down fifty Purge operatives by himself..." Noah tuned out the chatter, leaning his head against the cool window as buildings streaked past. Sophie sat beside him, her fingers loosely intertwined with his. Neither spoke—no words seemed adequate for the day they'd experienced. --- The familiar walls of his dorm room felt surreal after everything that had happened. Noah sat cross-legged on his bed, watching as Kelvin tinkered with components of his combat suit spread across his desk. "You know," Kelvin said, without looking up from his work, "a month ago I was worried about getting past not having a boner in Miss Brook's class. Now we're out here saving cities." Noah laughed softly. "Life comes at you fast." "Too fast." Kelvin twisted a screwdriver with expert precision. "One minute you're a regular Academy student, the next you're an SSS-rank talent with a pet dragon." "Storm is not a pet," Noah corrected automatically. "And neither is Nyx." "Tell that to Storm when he demands belly rubs." They fell into comfortable silence for a few minutes, the only sound the occasional click of Kelvin's tools against metal. "I need to tell you something," Noah said finally. "About Gigarose." Kelvin's hands stilled. "The woman who took you during the attack?" Noah nodded, his expression darkening. "I don't think she's human, Kev. The way she overrode my system... it was like nothing I've ever experienced. Like she had administrator access to my own body." "You think she's Purge ?" "I think she's something else entirely," Noah said quietly. "And next time, I need to be ready. I can't let her control me like that again." Kelvin set down his tools and turned to face his friend. "We'll figure it out. We always do." Noah's reply was interrupted by a soft chime from his phone. He glanced at the screen. *Meet me outside? - Sophie* "Duty calls?" Kelvin asked with a knowing smile. Noah rolled his eyes. "I'll be back. Don't blow anything up while I'm gone." "No promises!" --- Sophie was waiting on one of the stone benches that dotted the Academy grounds. The evening air carried the scent of synthetic pine—the Academy's attempt at recreating nature within its walls. She looked up as Noah approached, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Hey," Noah said softly, sitting beside her. They sat in silence for a moment, shoulders barely touching. "I keep thinking about my father," Sophie said finally, her voice steady despite the weight of her words. "About how easy it was for him to betray everything he stood for." Noah nodded, giving her space to continue. "He used to tell me that Reign was a name that commanded respect in the EDF. That it meant something." She laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Now it's just another word for traitor." "You're not your father, Sophie." "I know that," she said firmly. "He chose his path. I'm choosing mine." Noah reached for her hand, relieved when she didn't pull away. "And what path is that?" "I hope I get the call soon," she said. "I want to be in the field. Active duty." Noah blinked in surprise. "But I thought—your probability powers—" "Are unstable and unpredictable? Yes." She sighed. "But with the Reign name being what it is now, my options are... limited. Getting an office position or even being recruited into the data division would mean extensive background checks, scrutiny at every turn." "That's not fair. You haven't done anything wrong." "Life isn't fair," Sophie said simply. "Besides, maybe this is for the best. Maybe being in the field is exactly where I need to be." Noah squeezed her hand. "Well, if anyone can handle it, it's you." She turned to face him, her eyes reflecting the soft glow of the campus lights. "They've confiscated everything—the house, the accounts, even most of my personal items for 'investigation.' All I have left is my Clexus, and that's only because it's in my name." "You still have us," Noah said softly. "You still have me." Sophie leaned forward, pressing her lips against his in a gentle kiss. When they parted, her smile seemed more genuine. "I should get back," she whispered. "Early orientation tomorrow for potential call ups," They stood together, hands lingering before reluctantly separating. Noah watched her walk toward the girls' dormitory, a strange mixture of pride and worry settling in his chest. The next day, morning light filtered through the half-closed blinds, casting striped shadows across Noah's face. He groaned, reaching blindly for his phone to silence the alarm. As he blinked away sleep, a notification on his screen caught his attention. He opened the message, read it once, then again. "What the fuck?" he whispered, sitting bolt upright. Across campus, similar scenes played out. Kelvin, already awake and calibrating a new design of the arm of his suit, nearly dropped his soldering iron when his phone chimed with an incoming message. "No way," he breathed, reading the text three times to ensure he wasn't hallucinating. Lucas, in the middle of his morning training routine, broke his perfect stillness to check the message that had interrupted his focus. His typically stoic expression gave way to genuine surprise. Sophie, styling her hair for her first day of orientation, paused with brush in hand as she read the message on her device. The brush clattered to the counter, forgotten. --- *Need to meet. Now!* Noah texted to the group. The responses came immediately. *Yes. Academy commons in 10.* - Lucas *OMG YES WHAT THE ACTUAL* - Kelvin *On my way.* - Sophie --- They converged on the common area, each looking like they'd dressed in a hurry. Kelvin still had sleep creases on one cheek. Sophie's hair was only half-styled. Lucas, naturally, looked impeccable despite the urgency. "So," Noah began, "who wants to go first?" They all exchanged glances, a mixture of confusion and excitement passing between them. Lucas cleared his throat. "I received a message from the Ark." The words hung in the air, heavy with implication. The Ark—humanity's greatest spaceship, the pinnacle of defense technology, the beacon of hope against extinction. Sophie and Kelvin exchanged a startled look. "I... I did too," Sophie admitted, her voice uncharacteristically timid. Kelvin adjusted his glasses, a nervous habit. "Same here. From the Ark." Noah opened his mouth to speak when footsteps approached from behind. They turned to see Lila walking toward them, her expression unreadable. "Why is everyone gathered here?" she asked. "I texted Noah to meet me." Noah blinked in confusion. "I thought this was a group meeting. Because of the messages." "Oh," Lila said, her posture stiffening slightly. "No problem. I can wait." Something in her tone made them all fall silent. Lila rarely sounded uncertain. "What's wrong?" Noah asked gently. Lila took a deep breath. "I'm leaving the Academy." Her announcement was met with stunned silence. "Why?" Noah asked. "Did you also receive a message from the Ark?" "No... not exactly." Lila's fingers twisted together nervously. "I'm leaving to hunt down my parents. To end the Purge once and for all." She looked around at their shocked faces. "I wanted to tell you all properly, especially you, Noah. Guess I killed two birds with one stone." "Lila, you don't have to do this alone," Sophie said immediately. "We can help you." "We're a team," Kelvin added. "Whatever you're facing, we face it together." Lila shook her head. "This is personal. I need to do this—not just for myself, but for my actual sister. She's still with them." The revelation landed like a physical blow. They knew the Rowes had experimented on Lila, creating clones of their own child for their twisted goal. But an actual sister, still in their clutches... "Your sister?" Lucas asked, his voice softer than usual. "Her name is Emma," Lila said, and for the first time, tears glistened in her eyes. "She's younger than me. They kept her because her manifestation was... more to their liking." Without speaking, they moved together, enveloping Lila in a group hug. She stiffened momentarily before relaxing into their embrace. "Come back to us," Sophie whispered. "Kick their asses," Kelvin added. "Be careful," Lucas said simply. When they finally separated, Noah walked Lila outside. The morning sun cast long shadows behind them. "I'm sorry to leave after everything," Lila said, wiping away a tear. "But I'll come back. We'll meet again." Noah pulled her into a final hug. "I know we will. I can find you anywhere in the world with my domain link, remember?" Lila chuckled through her tears. "Yes, I remember." She squared her shoulders and walked away, not looking back. Noah watched until she disappeared from view before returning to his friends. Lucas, Sophie, and Kelvin were waiting exactly where he'd left them, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity. "So," Lucas said after a moment, "did you receive a message from the Ark too?" Noah shook his head slowly. "No, strangely I didn't." Sophie looked confused at that moment. He pulled out his phone, displaying the screen to his friends. "I got a message from the Supreme General of the EDF."

Chapter 311: Message from the boss

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