The Road to Victory

Pushing Beyond Limits

Noah faced his mirror, his sweat-soaked hoodie clinging to his torso. His breath was gasping, ragged, his muscles screaming, his knuckles sore from the long hours of shadowboxing and push-ups. His body had altered in only a few weeks—his arms had lost the padding, his posture was stronger, and there was a cutting intensity in his eyes that wasn't there before.

But something still didn't feel right.

He balled his hands into fists, gazing at himself in the mirror.

"I'm getting stronger. but am I really ready?"

Brawling with Jace had been a brutal trial, but Ryan was an entirely different animal. He wasn't merely powerful—he was brutal. He was a master at destroying opponents before he even stepped into the ring. The image of Ryan sneering down at him, taunting him in front of the entire school, still seethed deep inside Noah's brain.

He couldn't let that happen again.

He wouldn't let that happen again.

A sharp beep from the system brought his focus back.

> [Time Until Fight with Ryan Carter: 27 Days]

The countdown was moving too fast.

Then, another notification popped up.

> [New System Feature Unlocked: Mirror Match Simulation]

[Face your strongest opponent—Yourself]

Noah raised an eyebrow. What the hell?

A smirk tugged at his lips.

"Let's see what I'm really capable of."

---

Facing Himself

>[Simulation Start: Opponent – Noah Carter]

The instant he triggered the mode, the familiar environment of Warehouse 13 appeared around him. The smell of sweat and concrete filled his nostrils, and the flickering lights cast ominous shadows.

And then, there he was.

Facing him across the ring was… himself.

Not any version of himself—this was Noah Carter in his absolute prime.

Same razor-sharp stance. Same intense glare. Same reflexes.

But something was different.

The instant their eyes locked, the other Noah didn't wait.

BAM!

A vicious jab almost caught Noah's jaw. He just managed to avoid it, rolling sideways.

SWOOSH!

A second attack came—a kick straight at his ribs. Noah deflected it, but his arms trembled from the impact.

"Damn… This isn't me. This is me at my best."

His quickest.

His strongest.

His deadliest.

> [Fight Start!]

Noah took a deep breath. "Fine. Let's do this."

---

The Hardest Fight Yet

The battle lasted for what felt like an eternity.

Every time Noah attacked, his mirror self countered perfectly. Every time he dodged, his mirror self adjusted and struck faster.

It was like fighting a version of himself that knew all his weaknesses.

A punch to the ribs—pain exploded through his body.

A knee to the stomach—his breath hitched.

A roundhouse kick—he barely blocked in time.

His mirror self smirked. "Is this all you've got?"

Noah wiped the sweat from his forehead. His whole body cried out in fatigue. But he was not going to give up.

"If I can defeat this version of myself… I can defeat anyone."

Clenching his teeth, Noah charged forward.

Left feint. Right hook. Spin kick.

At last—he connected.

His mirror self stumbled backward, eyes wide with shock.

Noah grinned. "I win."

The simulation went dark, and Noah stood in his room, his body covered in sweat.

His stats appeared before his eyes.

> [Strength: 30 → 33]

[Speed: 34 → 38]

[Endurance: 27 → 31]

------

He let out a breath, his heart racing.

"This system… it's my key to winning."

------

An Unexpected Message

Just as Noah was about to dive into another training session, his phone beeped.

Xander: Meet me. Café near your house in 10 minutes.

Noah furrowed his brow. Xander wasn't the kind of guy to randomly text people. He only called when something was serious.

Inquisitive, Noah took his hoodie with him and left.

---

The Meeting at the Café

The café itself was tiny and nestled between a used bookstore and a laundromat. Inside, the air was filled with the aroma of roasted coffee beans and fresh pastry.

Noah entered, taking in the location until he saw Xander sitting in the back corner.

He had black coffee in his cup, a thick black book placed in front of him.

Noah came over and sat across from him. "Okay, what is this about?"

Xander didn't mess around with formalities. Instead, he nudged the book across the table to Noah. "Take it."

Noah scowled and took it. The cover was worn, as if it had been passed down through generations. But the title was prominent in bold silver letters—

"The Art of Combat: Mastering Every Fighting Style."

Noah's hands gripped the book tightly. He had heard of this one before. It was the stuff of legend among underground fighters, with the finest techniques from boxing, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, counter-fighting, and so on.

This was worth a fortune.

He stared up, bewildered. "Why are you giving this to me?"

Xander sighed. "Because you're not strong enough yet."

Noah gritted his teeth, ready for an insult, but Xander wasn't teasing him.

"You're getting better," Xander conceded. "Quicker than I anticipated. But Ryan? He's not only a combatant. He's a tactician. He toys with his opponents, makes them question themselves before he demolishes them."

Noah remained quiet, his hold on the book growing tighter.

If you want to win," Xander went on, "you need something more than raw strength. You need strategy. Technique. This book will instruct you in the best moves—the ones that finish fights in seconds."

Noah thumbed through the pages. The intricate drawings of footwork, defensive positions, and counterattacks were unlike anything he had ever looked at. His system improved his physical skills…

But this was actual knowledge.

Xander sat back. "I don't normally assist people. But I detest seeing potential wasted. So don't let me down."

Noah closed the book and looked at Xander. "Thanks."

Xander grinned. "Don't thank me yet. Demonstrate to me that you're worthy of it."

Noah got up, holding the book tightly.

This was no longer about revenge.

This was about showing himself that he could get stronger—without depending on the system.

And when the time arrived—

Ryan Carter would regret ever underestimating him.

---