The Fight with Ryan Begins

Noah hardly had time to respond.

Ryan's fist flew through the air, headed straight for his face.

Too quick.

Noah's reflexes hollered at him to get out of the way. He flung himself back, his feet scrambling to catch up with his brain's instruction.

Whoosh!

The punch glided an inch past his cheek, but its sheer velocity made the air ruffle past his face.

Noah fell back, his heart racing.

Ryan cracked his knuckles. "You ducked? That wasn't bad.

[New Mission Unlocked: Survive 3 Minutes vs Ryan Miller.]

[Reward: Strength +2, Agility +2,???]

Survive?

Noah balled up his fists.

Ryan was going about this as if it was some kind of test.

Good.

Noah would show he wasn't a weakling any longer.

---

The First Punch

Ryan did not dilly-dally.

He advanced—quick—and tossed another punch, straight for Noah's ribcage.

Noah turned himself, just able to get his forearm up to block the attack.

BAM!

A lightning bolt of pain shot through his arm.

It stung like being smacked by a metal bat.

Ryan smiled. "Not terrible, but still too slow."

A knee flashed toward Noah's belly.

No time to shield.

No time to step aside.

Move!

In the blink of an eye, Noah sidestepped using Rapid Footwork.

Ryan swung wildly and missed.

For the first time, Noah spotted a gap.

Automatically, he retaliated.

---

Noah Fights Back

Ryan had hardly finished his assault when Noah punched him in the ribs.

It landed.

Ryan didn't even wince.

But Noah glimpsed something—the tiniest flash of shock in Ryan's eyes.

For the first time, Ryan was serious about him.

System Notification:

[Time Left: 2 Minutes 30 Seconds]

Noah clenched his jaw.

He could do this.

But then—

Ryan's grin expanded.

And he disappeared.

---

The Monster Awakens

Noah's gut screamed.

Where did he go?!?

Then—agony.

A nasty knee stabbed his stomach.

Noah gasped, the air torn from his lungs.

Before he could move—

A palm strike crashed into his chest.

He stumbled back, dazed.

Ryan hadn't vanished.

He had moved quicker than Noah could follow.

"Not bad," Ryan said, rolling his shoulders. "But not good enough."

Noah gripped his stomach, trying to stand.

Ryan wasn't merely strong.

He was a monster.

---

The Will to Stand

System Notification:

[Time Left: 1 Minute 30 Seconds]

Noah could hardly breathe, but he refused to fall.

Ryan clicked his tongue. "Still standing?"

A corner of him seemed to be impressed.

Noah wiped blood off his lip. "That all you got?"

Ryan's smile broadened.

"Fine. Let's have more fun."

---

Pushing Beyond Limits

Ryan attacked again, but this time—

Noah noticed it.

He had seen Ryan's pattern.

The blows were coming fast, but Noah evaded them.

Left. Right. Back up.

He wasn't merely responding.

He was keeping pace.

His reflexes were quicker.

His actions were keener.

And Ryan realized it.

Ryan's smile faded. "Tch. You're adapting fast."

Noah grinned. "Guess I'm a quick learner."

Ryan sped up.

The attacks came harder, sharper, faster.

System Notification:

[Skill Activated: Endurance Boost]

Noah felt it—

The hits still hurt, but his body wasn't breaking down.

He was lasting longer.

Ryan was finally fighting seriously.

---

The Final 30 Seconds

Ryan rushed forward.

Noah saw it coming, but his body was too slow.

Ryan's fist came straight for his face—

And then—

BOOM!

The gym doors slammed open.

Both Ryan and Noah stopped cold.

A fresh voice spoke up:

"That's enough."

Noah turned back.

And his eyes widened in shock.

Xander.

The golden-eyed kid stood in the doorway, folded arms.

Ryan clicked his tongue. "Tch. Timing's bad."

Xander approached. "If you keep taunting, he won't be able to battle them."

Ryan sighed and backed away. "Fine. We're leaving now."

System Notice:

[Mission Complete: Lasted 3 Minutes against Ryan.]

[Reward: Strength +2, Agility +2, New Passive Skill: Endurance Boost]

Noah fell to his knees, struggling to catch his breath.

He had lived.

But now… he had more questions than answers.

---

A Secret War?

Xander stood Noah up.

"You managed better than I thought," he said.

Noah wiped at blood on his lip. "What are you talking about?"

Ryan spun around, eyes serious. "You're tougher, Noah. But this school is not so much about being at the top."

Xander nodded. "There's something more going on. And you've just stepped into it."

Noah's chest constricted.

What are you talking about?"

Xander smirked. "You'll see soon enough."

Ryan gave Noah one final glance.

"You've got potential. But in order to survive…"

His eyes grew darker.

"You need to get a lot stronger. In a hurry."

And with that, he walked off.

Noah stood there, fists balled up.

He wasn't fighting bullies anymore.

There was something more.

Something beneath the surface.

And he was in the thick of it.

The real fight was just getting started.

---

Noah's body protested with each step as he trailed behind Xander out of the gym. His legs were like lead, and his ribs ached from Ryan's vicious pummeling. But through it all, one thing was certain—he had lived.

And Xander had questions.

"Where are we headed?" Noah gasped, still winded.

Xander didn't look back. "Someplace quiet.

Noah's head was spinning. Ryan had teased something more. Xander knew more. And why had they both treated him as if he was in on it?

His hands curled into fists. He needed to know what was going on.

---

A Hidden World

Xander took him through the rear of the school, around the parking lot, and to an old, dilapidated storage building along the perimeter of the campus.

The building appeared abandoned.

Xander took out a key and opened the door. "Inside."

Noah hesitated for a moment but entered.

The room was poorly lit, filled with old desks, chairs, and bookshelves covered in dust. It smelled of old wood and lost secrets.

Xander rested against a desk. "Okay. You've got questions, I'm sure."

Noah folded his arms. "You think?"

Xander chuckled. "Fine. Let me explain. You just fought Ryan. He's the strongest fighter in the school—or at least, that's what most people think."

Noah narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean 'most people'?"

Xander's golden eyes gleamed. "There's another level to this school, Noah. A hidden world that most students don't even know exists."

A chill ran down Noah's spine.

"What kind of hidden world?"

Xander smirked. "Ever heard of the Underground Tournament?"

---

The Underground Tournament

Noah scowled. "A tournament?"

Xander nodded. "Not a tournament like Ryan's. It's the actual hierarchy of this school. The most powerful students don't bother to fight openly like Ryan does. They fight in secret."

Noah's breath caught in his throat.

"So Ryan isn't the most powerful?"

Xander's smirk grew wider. "Not even close."

Noah's head spun. He'd just barely beaten Ryan. If there were more powerful fighters out there, what hope did he have?

Xander went on, "The actual rulers of the school run the tournament. If you desire power, if you wish to alter your destiny, you must fight your way up."

Noah paused. "And why are you telling me this?"

Xander's eyes turned cold. "Because you don't have a choice."

System Notification:

[New Main Quest: Enter the Underground Tournament]

[Objective: Qualify for the Underground Tournament in 7 Days]

[Failure Consequence:???]

Noah's chest constricted.

The System had just pushed him into this.

---

A Race Against Time

Noah's thoughts were racing. He survived Ryan by the skin of his teeth. How was he going to defeat even more powerful ones in a week?

Xander examined his face. "You're panicking."

Noah frowned. "Gee, I wonder why."

Xander laughed. "Don't worry. I'm not here to see you fail. I'm here to train you."

Noah opened and closed his mouth. "Wait. you're going to assist me?"

Xander shrugged. "Call it an investment."

Noah scowled. "Investment in what?"

Xander's smile disappeared. He moved in closer. "You."

Noah felt a chill run down his spine.

"I watched your fight with Ryan," Xander went on. "You could've been defeated within a minute. But you adjusted. You grew stronger—quickly."

Noah's fingers curled. Was it because of the System? Or was it because of something else?

Xander's tone went lower. "You're different, Noah. And I don't think Ryan is the only one who realizes that.

Noah swallowed. "What are you saying?"

Xander stood up straight. "I'm saying there are people observing you right now. People who are interested. Some want to try you out."

His golden eyes turned dark. "Others… may want to kill you."

Noah's stomach knotted.

This was no longer about revenge.

This was about living.

---

The First Challenge

Xander threw something at Noah. He just managed to catch it in time.

A tiny black card.

On it, there were only two words:

"Warehouse 13."

Noah's eyes came up. "What's this?"

"Your first fight."

Noah gasped. "What?"

Xander folded his arms. "The Underground Tournament doesn't just accept anyone. You have to test yourself. That card is your invitation to the entrance exam."

Noah stared at the card.

This was moving too quickly.

Last week, he was nobody. Now he was being pulled into a secret universe of fighters and covert tournaments.

He breathed deeply.

Then he gripped the card.

He wasn't going to back down now.

---

Seven Days Until the Fight

Noah trained harder than ever for the next week.

Xander pushed him to his limits—teaching him new moves, studying his weaknesses, and making him fight smarter, not harder.

Each day, the System rewarded his improvement.

System Notifications:

[Agility +1]

[Strength +1]

[New Skill: Reflex Boost]

Noah's body was transforming. He was quicker, stronger, quicker on his feet.

But would it be enough?

---