Noah had no idea how long he had been asleep, but one thing was certain—it was the best rest he had experienced in months. As he slowly regained consciousness, he became aware of his surroundings. He was back in his room. His muscles ached slightly as he sat up, but a wave of relief washed over him, knowing the worst was behind him.
His first instinct was to check on his body, to make sure everything was as it should be. Closing his eyes, he focused inward, and a deep sense of satisfaction filled him as he confirmed the presence of the three cores now thriving within him. One was nestled in his mental conscience, another pulsed steadily in his heart, and the third was securely positioned at his navel. Each core radiated a powerful energy, a testament to his successful advancement. He had Arnold to thank for that. Without his help, Noah wouldn't have been able to consolidate his progress so quickly. At least now he didn't need to worry about slipping back down to the Intermediate Stage—unless, of course, he made the foolish decision to use the Limit Breaker Martial technique.
Thinking of Arnold, Noah felt a flicker of irritation. He couldn't be bothered with whatever reaction the so-called Nolan genius had after their fight. People like Arnold, who let their arrogance and pride cloud their judgment, always grated on his nerves. Noah had once been like that, he realized with a grimace, but life had quickly taught him to shed those toxic traits. Not without some painful consequences, though—consequences that still lingered in his memory.
Shaking off those thoughts, Noah pushed the memories to the back of his mind. It wasn't worth dwelling on. He got out of bed and headed toward the shower, feeling the cool floor under his feet. As the cold water cascaded over his skin, refreshing and grounding, he brought up his Star Record, ready to check his progress.
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Name: Noah
Age: 13
Class: Assault-type Battlesoul Master
Battlesoul Grade: 2 Emperor Grades
Battle Strength: 1st Level of the Adept Stage
Bloodline: Half-dragon
Path: Triad (Body, Essence, and Soul)
Pseudo-Intent: 4th Tier
Battle Arts:
(Registered) Void Step – Space-type Art
(Registered) Violent Storm Sword – Neutral-type Art
(Registered) Gravity's Will – Gravity-type Art
(Self-registered) Azure Dragon Art – Body-type Art
(Registered) Spatial Edge – Space-type Art
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Repository
Training room booking
Booklist
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Credits: 53,000
_
Noah nodded in satisfaction, a sense of accomplishment washing over him. The tournament had been tough, but it was all worth it. His Star Record spoke volumes of his growth. However, one thing still nagged at him—his Gravity's Will Art. He had outgrown it. Despite its utility, he felt like he was wasting his gravity affinity on something that didn't fully exploit his potential. Thankfully, he had come across a new Art that seemed to fit what he needed. It still had the Push and Pull abilities he valued, but it came with a higher price—17,000 Credits.
_
The World – 17,000 Credits*
A versatile Art for attack, defense, and support, possessing four skills with varying Essence consumption depending on mastery and usage.
_
It was expensive, but Noah was confident it was worth the investment. He had the Credits now, so without hesitation, he made the purchase. As soon as he confirmed the transaction, he sat back, waiting for the delivery. The Art would soon be his, but to his surprise, a knock came at the door.
When Noah opened it, he was greeted by the imposing figure of his teacher, Liam Maine. The man's shadow loomed over him, but Noah's expression remained unreadable.
Liam stood there for a moment, his dark eyes locking onto Noah's. Without a word, he crushed a token in his hand, sending a pulse of Essence into the air. The wave of energy was absorbed by Noah's Star Record, signifying the completion of the Battle Art's delivery. "You put on quite a show," Liam finally spoke.
"The tournament was broadcasted?" Noah asked, although the answer was already clear. Whether or not it had been publicly shown didn't matter much to him—his enemies would have found out about his actions regardless. The only upside was that now, even his seniors at the academy would think twice before trying to disturb his peace.
"Indeed," Liam replied, stepping into the room without invitation and making himself comfortable on the couch. "You've shocked quite a few people. Teachers included." He paused, studying Noah's composed demeanor. "Now tell me," he began again, his tone more serious, "why did you choose the Triad Path?"
"Because I could," Noah responded simply. His decision had been calculated, and he had no regrets. The potential drawbacks of walking the Triad Path didn't concern him. He was confident in his ability to overcome any challenges that came his way.
Liam sighed heavily, leaning back into the couch. "Normally, I'd try to talk you out of it—maybe even force you onto a different Path—but I can't. Not just anyone can walk the Triad Path. The Academy Board has already decided to leave you alone. Still, are you sure? Even if you make it to the Exalt Stage, it could take a lot longer than your peers, giving them time to surpass you."
"It doesn't matter," Noah replied, his silver eyes meeting Liam's. "I trust in myself. At the Intermediate Stage, I could fight beasts of the Adept Stage. Now, at the Adept Stage, I defeated Arnold and his team, skipping seven levels in the process. And I didn't even use my full strength in that fight. He was just a practice dummy." There was a slight edge of condescension in his voice when he mentioned Arnold, and it wasn't unwarranted. Noah knew he could easily defeat him again if the need arose. "By the time I reach the peak of the Adept Stage, I'll have the strength to challenge Exalt Stage masters—even the geniuses from Starlight Academy."
Liam listened quietly, then smiled. "The younger generation is getting gutsier," he chuckled, standing up. "If you say it like that, it's hard to doubt you. Things have been getting boring around here anyway." He headed for the door, leaving a lingering echo of his voice. "Give me a good show, kid."
Noah stared at the closed door for a moment, then turned his attention back to his newly acquired Battle Art. "I will."