Countdown to War
One Month Left
Noah sat in his room, looking at the countdown timer on his system screen.
[Time Until Fight with Ryan Carter: 30 Days]
He clenched his fists.
Jace had been tough. But Ryan? Ryan was different.
He was the school's strongest fighter, the captain of the boxing club, and the same guy who had humiliated Noah countless times before.
Defeating him wouldn't just be a win.
It would be revenge.
And this time, Noah did not lose.
---
System Upgrade
[System Notification: New System Feature Unlocked!] [Training Simulation Mode Activated!]
Noah's eyes widened. "Training simulation?"
[Description: This mode enables the host to simulate battles against previous opponents, study weaknesses, and enhance combat efficiency.]
A smirk crept across his lips.
This is a game-changer.
---
First Simulation: Jace Calloway
Noah engaged the mode, and in a flash—
He was once again in Warehouse 13, facing Jace.
The crowd, the lights, the tension—it was all real.
Jace cracked his knuckles. "You again?"
[Simulation Start!]
Noah charged forward, throwing a quick jab—but this time, he was testing something.
Jace dodged with ease, just as before.
Good. Now I know his reaction speed.
He replayed the fight the next two hours, studying Jace's patterns, countering quicker, hitting harder.
By the end of the simulation—
Noah could beat Jace within one minute.
He breathed out, soaked in sweat.
This system… it's my key to winning.
---
School Tension
The next day, Noah walked into school, and something was different.
People were watching him.
Whispers followed him through the halls.
"That's him."
"He actually beat Jace…"
"No way, right? A nerd like him?"
Noah ignored them and walked toward his locker—
Only to find Ryan waiting for him.
The hallway fell silent.
Noah met his gaze, refusing to flinch.
Ryan smirked. "So, you're not running away. Good."
Noah folded his arms. "Why would I? You're the one who should be afraid."
A flash of mirth crossed Ryan's features. "Confidence, huh? Let's see how long that lasts."
He advanced on him, his voice dropping. "One month. Work hard, nerd. Because when we clash…"
"I'm going to kill you."
Noah didn't flinch. "Then you'd better not hold anything back."
Ryan flashed a grin before he turned and left the hallway vibrating with tension.
Noah breathed out.
One month. I have one month to ensure I'm strong enough.
And he would be.
---
Training Begins
Noah didn't waste any time.
Each morning, he practiced the Training Simulation Mode, battling Greg, Mira, and Jace, studying their moves and perfecting his own.
Each afternoon, he exercised, developing endurance and strength.
Each evening, he studied boxing, watching Ryan's past fights, committing his movements to memory.
His stats rose day by day.
[Strength: 25 → 30] [Speed: 28 → 34] [Endurance: 20 → 27]
It wasn't sufficient.
Ryan had trained for years. Noah had 30 days.
He needed more.
Unfinished Business
Noah glared at his reflection in the mirror, his body sore from relentless training. His muscles were tighter now, his reflexes quicker, but in his heart—he knew it was still not enough.
Ryan was no street thug. He was a professional boxer, trained and merciless. Even with the System, if Noah did not challenge himself to beyond what he could handle, he would not have a chance.
He curled his fists. I need to be quicker. Stronger. Wiser.
A new System message popped up.
> [System Notice: You have unlocked the Adaptive Growth Feature.]
(Fighting superior foes enables quicker stat growth.)
Noah's eyes widened. So the stronger the foe, the more I benefit?
That meant if he continued to fight simulations against weaker foes, his growth would stagnate.
He needed to fight someone stronger.
---
A Sinister Plan
Noah browsed the simulation options.
Greg. Mira. Jace.
They had been good training, but he had already surpassed them.
Then his gaze settled on a name.
Ryan Carter.
The System had logged Ryan's movement from the previous fights Noah had watched.
If I can fight him in the simulation and study his moves…
Noah breathed in and chose his opponent.
> [Simulation Start: Opponent – Ryan Carter]
The world changed at once, and Noah was within a boxing ring.
Ryan stood opposite him, arms crossed, his face cold and impassive.
"This is going to be fun," the simulated Ryan sneered.
> [Fight Start!]
---
Confronting the Strongest
Ryan acted first.
Quick!
Before Noah could move, a vicious left hook crashed into his ribs.
BAM!
Noah gasped as agony ripped through his body.
Then—
CRACK!
A right uppercut smashed into his chin. His head spun, and before he could even catch his breath—
SMASH!
A final crushing straight punch sent him crashing backward.
[Simulation Over.]
Noah collapsed on the floor, his head reeling.
What… the devil… was that?!
The battle took less than five seconds.
Ryan's punches were too quick. Too accurate. Too powerful.
Noah ground his teeth, forcing himself up.
> [Restart Simulation?]
-----
His fingers shook over the confirmation button.
Then he clicked it.
> [Fight Start!]
-----
Ryan struck again.
And again—Noah lost in an instant.
Then again.
And again.
By the tenth try, he could hardly survive ten seconds.
---
Breaking the Pattern
I can't just respond—I need to anticipate.
Ryan's power was overpowering, but his blows weren't arbitrary. They had a rhythm.
Jab, hook, straight.
Jab, hook, uppercut.
Feint, dodge, counter.
He's a boxer. His movements have a pattern.
Noah memorized each pattern as he battled time and again.
By the twentieth try, he dodged a punch.
By the thirtieth try, he deflected a hit.
By the fiftieth try, he landed his first blow.
[Adaptive Growth Activated!]
[+2 Strength]
[+3 Speed]
[+2 Endurance]
A smile crept across Noah's battered face.
This is working.
---
Real-World Progress
The next morning, Noah entered the school gym, his muscles still aching from the simulations.
He wrapped his hands and stood in front of the punching bag.
Exhale. Concentrate.
He punched a jab.
Boom!
A straight punch.
CRACK!
A left hook.
BANG!
The whole punching bag vibrated violently.
Several students near him stopped their training to look.
"Wait… isn't that the nerd?"
"No way. That strength—"
Noah breathed out, sweat running down his forehead.
I'm getting there.
But this was only the beginning.
29 days left until the fight with Ryan.
And Noah Carter was far from done.
---