<Data Crystals/>

The fight intensified from there, a whirlwind of plasma and motion. We moved like blurs across the arena, each strike faster and more precise than the last. 

Cason's attacks were relentless, his scythe carving arcs of destruction through the air, but I matched him step for step, my dual blades a flurry of counterstrikes and feints.

The arena itself seemed to groan under the strain of our battle, the simulated environment flickering as we pushed it to its limits. Each clash sent bursts of energy rippling outward, illuminating the space in flashes of red, gold, and black.

Finally, there was a brief pause in the chaos, both of us breathing hard but grinning like lunatics. "Not bad, rookie," Cason said, twirling his scythe with practiced ease. "You're giving me a real workout."

"You're not so bad yourself," I replied, wiping a bead of sweat from my brow. "But don't think for a second that I'm done."

"Good," he said, his grin widening. "Because neither am I."

And just like that, we charged at each other again, plasma weapons blazing, both determined to see who would come out on top.

In an instant, everything froze as if time itself had been halted. The air around us grew still, and a faint, familiar chime echoed in my ears.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION:]

Congratulations to all surviving rookies.

Phase two has now ended.

All surviving rookies will be transported to the final phase in 30 seconds.

A countdown timer materialized in my HUD display, its digits ticking down steadily.

Hearing the announcement, Cason lowered his plasma scythe and laughed heartily. 

"Looks like our little spar ends here, rookie. You've got some serious potential. Let's meet again soon—maybe next time, we won't be interrupted." His grin widened, genuine and almost friendly despite the ferocity of our earlier battle. 

He tossed his tag toward me with a casual flick of his wrist. "As promised," he said, flashing a confident grin that seemed to say, I always keep my word.

Before I could respond, his form began to shimmer and break apart, disintegrating into particles of light until he vanished entirely.

And just like that, my fight with Cason Linus—the S-Rank Plasmancer known as the God of Death—was cut short. The intensity of our clash left me both exhilarated and slightly disappointed. 

There was so much more I wanted to test against him.

I deactivated the Aegis Bastion, its towering form powering down with a soft hum. The once-imposing structure began to collapse in on itself, folding seamlessly until it resembled a sleek, compact steel briefcase. 

I picked it up and stored it in my storage space together with my Vanguard Strikers which also returned to their dormant state, shrinking into compact modules.

As I finished, Atlas approached me, his eyes wide with disbelief. 

"Holy shit, Noah. I didn't know you could fight like that—and against him! The God of Death! The God of Death!" He emphasized the title, awe dripping from every word as he slapped my back with a wide grin.

"That was phenomenal!" he continued, his expression a mix of amazement and excitement. "Are you really a C-Rank?" His gaze searched mine, as if trying to decipher the truth.

No, I thought to myself, suppressing a smirk. But instead, I shrugged and replied casually, "Yes. I am."

As the timer neared zero, another notification appeared, this time from my Codebreaker system.

[MISSION COMPLETED]

Objective: Survive Cason Linus (Plasmancer) Attacks.

Status: Success.

Rewards have been distributed.

You currently have two unopened rewards.

I exhaled deeply, letting the tension from the fight drain away. "Right. Two rewards," I muttered under my breath. "Guess this mission was worth the risk after all."

Before I could dwell on it further, the countdown hit zero, and my vision blurred as the system initiated the transfer to the final phase.

We were transported to a grand stage arena, its expansive layout illuminated by a bright, artificial glow. A crowd of other surviving rookies stood scattered around, their expressions ranging from nervous tension to grim determination. 

The atmosphere was thick with a mix of anticipation and unease.

As Atlas and I stepped forward, I noticed how their gazes locked onto us. Whispers spread through the group like wildfire, and I could feel the weight of envy and fear in their stares. 

Those who had witnessed my clash with the seniors, particularly Cason, the so-called God of Death, regarded me with a mix of awe and caution. 

Others, unaware of the specifics, had faces etched with hostility or skepticism.

"Looks like we're quite popular now," Atlas chuckled, though his tone carried a trace of unease.

I nodded slightly, aware of the reason. We were in the lead—our points were significantly higher than most teams. That alone was enough to stir resentment.

From the corner of the room, I overheard snippets of conversation.

"That's them," someone murmured, pointing subtly in my direction. "The Technomancer guy is no joke. I saw him fight with the God of Death—they seemed equal in strength."

A shocked gasp followed. "The God of Death? You mean Cason? And he survived?"

"He's lucky," another voice interjected, dripping with disdain. "He's got high-rank weapons and armor. For a C-rank, relying on external things won't get him far. You'll see."

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd, and I could feel the shift in the air. Hostile glares and contemptuous smirks turned in my direction, each one daring me to prove myself.

I smirked, refusing to be fazed by their judgments. They could say what they wanted. Let them underestimate me. By the end of this, they would all know just how wrong they were.

Atlas leaned closer, muttering under his breath, "Ignore them. They'll eat their words soon enough."

I gave a small nod, my smirk widening. That's right, I thought. By the end of the day, I'm going to win this.

I decided to review the rewards I earned after completing my mission with Codebreaker. The anticipation of unlocking a new sub-skill was exciting, but one particular reward immediately caught my attention—data crystal.

From what I knew, data crystals were versatile and invaluable resources. They could substitute for missing data components in crafting or upgrading, and their importance in the awakener ecosystem couldn't be overstated.

The idea of being able to create data crystals with my abilities one day intrigued me. If I could do that, it would be a game-changer.