[System Notification]You have discovered a new skill: Elemental Vortex.
Your ability Ability has levelled up to 3
your MC Cells has increased 50/50EXP Gained for defeating the opponent : 25Total EXP: 55/200
Quinn was stunned at the sudden message that flashed before his eyes.
While inside the game, something had awakened—a reserve of hidden power. The vortex he casted had erupted with overwhelming force, spinning around Nate violently, but it had only lasted for seven seconds before vanishing. And it was able to completely obliterate his opponent, even so the hammer strike did the most job.
Even so, Quinn felt stronger. He smiled faintly. At least I earned something this time.
Logging out, he returned to reality. The day was already over, and Quinn made his way back to the dorms.
"I guess it's about time I visit the tech guy," he muttered to himself.
At Logan's room, Quinn stepped inside without hesitation.
"Hey, Logan."
As usual, Logan sat slouched in front of multiple screens, dark circles under his eyes. His fingers clattered across the keyboard until finally, with a long sigh, he leaned back as his new project sparked to life.
"What brings you here?" Logan asked, voice tired but playful. "And you didn't even tell me about the system you've got running."
"Oh, about that…" Quinn rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry. I was caught up with the portal outing and the VR game. Haven't had the chance."
Logan raised an eyebrow. "So, the system's really helping you grow stronger?"
"Seems like it. Though it hasn't given me any new abilities, I keep… ( thinking about vampire stuff. And that strange blonde man I saw)." Quinn kept most of those thoughts to himself.
Logan leaned forward. "Alright then, what do you need from me?"
Quinn lifted his wrist, showing his watch. "I was wondering if you could help me with this. Look—my ability level went up from 2 to 3 in just a few days, an d i think the system has helped this time. But if this is going to happen again i dont think that people would think i am normal and i don't want to attract unnecessary attention."
Logan's eyes lit up with interest. "Of course I can help. Easy fix."
Taking the watch, Logan released a swarm of tiny mechanical spiders that immediately began working on it. Within minutes, he handed it back.
"Already done?" Quinn blinked.
"Yep. Customized it for you. Now, if you tap three times, your watch will continue to display Level 2. If your ability level rises again, the real number will show—but you can switch it back anytime with the same tap."
Quinn exhaled in relief. "That's… perfect."
Logan smirked. "Though, I am curious how much can you grow now with the help of a system, maybe i think i should also develop such a system, but still i dont know who managed to create such a powerful AI." He shrugged and returned to his project.
Quinn stared at him for a moment. That's twice now he's helped me without asking anything in return.
"Hey, Logan… if you ever need anything, just tell me. I'll do my best."
----
The final week before the portal outing arrived, and excitement spread like wildfire. Students were pushing themselves harder than ever in preparation.
Combat classes continued as usual under Sergeant Leo and Faye. After one particularly grueling session, Leo barked out in his booming voice:
"Choose your sparring partners. Then, you'll regroup with your assigned teams."
The students began mingling, pairing up eagerly. But just as things settled, a commotion broke out near the stage.
All eyes turned as two figures squared off.
It was none other than—Fex versus Leo.
Quinn's jaw nearly dropped when he saw who was stepping onto the stage—Sergeant Leo himself. And his opponent? Fex. A vampire. This was no coincidence. This was the first time Quinn would witness just how strong a vampire truly was.
Leo raised his hands in a classic stance, calm and steady. Fex, in contrast, kept his arms loose at his sides, circling with sharp eyes. The atmosphere thickened as the two waited for the other to make a move.
Fex struck first, throwing rapid punches—head, chest, body. Yet Leo deflected each with ease, palms redirecting every strike. Fex increased his speed, slipping one blow past Leo's guard, but Leo countered with a sudden heel kick to the head. The crowd roared in surprise; this wasn't the usual spar.
As the exchange intensified, Fex's strength grew unnaturally, his blows heavier than a normal human's. Leo, blind but sensing energy through his unique ability, read Fex's movements before they happened. No matter how fast Fex pressed forward, Leo was always a step ahead, punishing with precise kicks.
Finally, Leo landed a crushing axe kick that floored Fex. Gasps spread—had the teacher gone too far? But Fex stirred, bloodied nose bent. Leo admitted he had underestimated the boy, even confessing that if a blade were involved, Fex would be dead.
Instead of lashing out, Fex bowed respectfully. "Thank you for the lesson." His composure shocked Quinn, who had half-expected him to lose control.
When asked about his style, Fex claimed his family had trained martial arts to compensate for weak abilities. The students murmured, surprised—his watch only displayed Level 1. Some began eyeing him as potential for their portal teams, though doubts lingered about his lack of equipment.
Of course, none knew the truth: the watch could never measure a vampire's power.
The first lesson Leo chose to drill into them was simple: kicks. He broke them down one by one, showing each movement slowly before snapping it out with speed. The class tried to mirror him step by step, though for most, the motions felt clumsy and stiff.
Quinn, however, adapted faster than the rest. His body, honed through endless hours with the blade family and by his system's stat boosts, responded with surprising ease. What others fumbled through, Quinn executed with a fluid precision that caught Leo's eye and was quite happy.
But when Leo glanced at Fex, his excitement waned. The vampire wasn't putting in the same effort. It wasn't carelessness; Fex knew firsthand how effective Leo's techniques were. Yet his people were bound by tradition—vampires had cultivated their own combat styles for centuries, and altering them with human methods would only bring him trouble. So, he went through the motions, but nothing more.
Leo covered three core kicks: the roundhouse, delivered sharply from the side; the straight front kick, executed with both dominant and off-foot; and finally the axe kick, where the leg was raised high and brought crashing down with the heel. Each student practiced under his watchful gaze, groaning and stumbling, until sweat beaded on their brows.
When the drills ended, Leo clapped his hands sharply. "Enough solo practice. Pair off—you'll test your techniques against one another. After that, we'll move into group coordination with the elemental users."
A hush spread across the room. The warm-up was over. Now the real training would begin.
----
Meanwhile, Duke had just finished a call with someone."Whatever you're hiding, Quinn… it won't stay yours for long," he muttered with a cold smile, setting the phone down. "Good luck—you'll need it."