Chapter 79 No failure

Words : 1194 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

The morning sun painted the city in shades of gold as Sophia's core-powered Clexus glided silently through the streets. The vehicle's energy matrix hummed softly, drawing power from the refined beast core in its engine block - a luxury few could afford but perfectly normal in her world. Noah watched the city transform from the sleek upper district to the familiar silhouette of the academy. Last night felt like a dream - the kind you don't want to wake up from. The memory of her silk sheets, their conversations that had stretched into the early hours, the way she'd laughed at his terrible attempts at cooking breakfast... "You're smiling again," Sophia said, her eyes on the road but a knowing grin playing at her lips. "Am I?" "Haven't stopped all morning." The academy gates recognized her vehicle immediately, barriers parting without the usual security checks. The morning crowd was already gathering - students rushing to early classes, others heading to training sessions. She pulled up near the year one boys' dorm, the vehicle settling into hover mode. "This is you." Noah could feel the eyes turning their way. A third-year's luxury vehicle wasn't exactly subtle, especially not with him stepping out of it. He caught snippets of whispered conversations, saw phones already recording the moment. "See you around, Eclipse," Sophia said, just loud enough for the nearest observers to hear. The way she said his name carried echoes of last night's intimacy. Noah's smile widened. He couldn't help it. Even as he felt the weight of dozens of stares, the usual pressure to maintain his carefully constructed image just... didn't matter. He walked toward the dorm entrance, aware of but completely unbothered by the attention. Someone whistled. Someone else started typing furiously on their phone - no doubt updating the academy forums. A group of second-years stopped dead in their tracks, openly staring. None of it touched the bubble of contentment surrounding him. The dorm's climate control hit him as he opened the door, bringing with it the familiar sounds of morning chaos - showers running, people arguing over bathroom time, music playing from various rooms. He closed the door behind him, still smiling, and turned to find Kelvin fresh from the shower, towel around his waist, toothbrush frozen halfway to his mouth. His roommate stared at him, then at the clock, then back at him. Water dripped onto the floor as Kelvin processed the scene before him. "You..." Kelvin started, then stopped, eyes wide. His tablet pinged repeatedly, notifications cascading across the screen faster than the water dripping from his shower-damp hair. His eyes darted between the device, the wall clock showing 7:45 AM, and Noah's unmistakably satisfied expression. "Good morning, Kelvin!" she said, her voice carrying clearly down the hallway. Her eyes slid past Noah as if he were invisible, and she walked into the classroom with deliberate grace, her ponytail swinging. Noah and Kelvin exchanged glances. "Women," Kelvin mouthed with an exaggerated eye roll. They entered the classroom to find it already humming with energy – both literal and metaphorical. Several students were practicing small ability techniques under their desks, creating tiny light shows or floating their pens. All activity ceased when Noah walked in, replaced by poorly concealed stares and whispers. But before anyone could say anything, Miss Brooks walked in, and every student snapped to attention. She commanded presence effortlessly, her black hair pulled back in a severe ponytail that somehow made her look both strict and striking. Her dress was professional but highlighted her figure in a way that made several students adjust their collars, and her heels clicked authoritatively on the floor. The corset detail of her dress added a subtle edge to her otherwise conventional teacher's attire. "Good morning, class," she said briefly. Miss Brooks turned to the electronic board, its holographic surface coming to life at her touch. The class fell silent, though not entirely because of her announcement. Her figure-hugging dress and corset detail had most of the boys transfixed, while even the girls couldn't help but admire how she carried herself with such deadly grace. "Today," she began, her voice carrying that familiar steel edge, "is going to be special." Her fingers danced across the board, bringing up a projection of Earth's current quadrant system. The eastern sector glowed prominently, highlighting their district. "The Annual Military Academy Competition is approaching." She turned, scanning the classroom with those piercing eyes. "As I'm sure you've heard from your seniors, our academy consistently ranks second in the eastern sector. Second." The way she said it made it sound like a curse. Noah shifted in his seat. Next to him, Kelvin had stopped fidgeting with his crafting tools, all attention focused forward. "For those who don't know," Miss Brooks continued, "this competition covers everything from direct combat to beast crafting, core manipulation to harbinger defense strategies. Everything you've been learning here." The projection changed to show previous competition footage – students facing simulation harbingers, others performing complex beast core extractions. "This year will be different for two reasons." She held up one perfectly manicured finger. "First, we're not aiming for second place. This year, we take first and advance to the globals." Her second finger joined the first. "And second, I want the majority of our representatives to come from this class. From 1B." Murmurs broke out across the classroom. Noah caught Lila sitting straighter in her seat, her eyes intense with focus. Several other students were exchanging looks – some excited, others nervous. "The official announcement will be made at noon today." Miss Brooks's voice cut through the whispers. "Training will commence after the annual gala next week. Following that, the selection process begins." Her lips curved into a small, dangerous smile. "You'll be competing against 1A and 1C for spots. I hope I haven't been wasting my time training failures." The silence that followed was heavy with implications. Noah's mind raced. 'Representatives from 1B?' He glanced around the classroom, wondering who would step forward. His own situation was complicated. Commander Albright's accusations rang in his ears – the suspicious looks, the pointed questions about his "true" abilities. The system he'd been hiding, the power that wasn't recorded in any academy database... Getting involved in the competition would mean more scrutiny, more chances for someone to notice something wasn't quite right. Miss Brooks began gathering her materials and walking straight for the door. Just as she reached the door, she paused. "Eclipse!" Her voice cracked like a whip. "See me outside." Noah's stomach dropped. Kelvin shot him a sympathetic look as he stood, straightening his black blazer. Around him, he could feel the stares of his classmates – some curious, some concerned, and Lila's gaze following him with particular interest. As he walked toward the door, he couldn't help but wonder if this was about the competition... or if Commander Albright had finally shared his suspicions with other faculty members.

Chapter 79 No failure

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