Re-Awakened :I Ascend as an SSS-Ranked Dragon Summoner - Chapter 177

Chapter 177: Albright vs Lila
Sophie came back from the kitchen, still clutching the bottle. Without a word, she held it out to Noah.

He glanced at it, then shook his head. “I’m good.”

She exhaled. “Suit yourself.” Taking another swig, she set the bottle down and leaned against the counter.

“So… dragons and wyverns?” She gave him a flat look. “What is this, a movie?”

Noah smirked. “Their names are Nyx—the dragon—and Storm, a wyvern.”

She blinked. “Alright. I’ll bite. Where exactly did you find these… dragons?”

Noah leaned back. “It’ll sound strange, but I hatched them both.”

Sophie snorted. “Excuse me?”

“I found Nyx as an egg in the cave during that Cat 3 beast fight you heard about. And as for Storm… well, that was Cannadah.”

Her expression wavered between disbelief and amusement.

“So right now,” she said slowly, “you’re telling me you have two dragons.”

“Yep.”

“Where are they?”

“In my Void Domain,” Noah said simply.

Sophie squinted. “The hell is that?”

“A different dimension from Earth that only I can access.”

She let out a breath, pressing her fingers against her temples. “Can they come out?”

“Yes.”

Her eyes lit up. “Really?”

“But not right now.”

She frowned. “Why?”

“Storm is evolving, and Nyx is keeping watch.”

Sophie tilted her head. “Evolving? Like how beasts evolve?”

“Yeah. Something like that.”

She ran a hand through her hair, tying it back into a loose ponytail. “And when Storm is done… will you summon them?”

“Yes.”

Sophie exhaled. Then, she smiled.

“This… this is massive.”

Her gaze turned thoughtful.

“If you have all these abilities, Noah… you might be the first SSS-ranked soldier in human history.”

She paused.

“…I mean, unless there’s some classified military superhuman hidden in redacted files.”

She frowned. “Which, honestly? I doubt.”

Noah nodded. “Yeah. That could be true.”

He leaned forward, voice quieter.

“But I can’t just walk out and reveal my powers.”

Sophie met his gaze.

He was serious.

“I need to do it in a much safer way.”

Sophie nodded, arms still crossed. “Yeah… you can’t just walk out and reveal everything now. That’d be contradictory.”

She exhaled, tilting her head slightly. “I get it. You made things complicated for yourself from the start. Not that I think anyone would blame you, but… because you started with a lie, it’s all a tangled mess now.”

Her gaze softened. “But I understand why. You had no one guiding you.”

She let out a small, dry chuckle. “Which is still your fault, by the way. You never talked to anyone about it.”

Noah gave a lopsided smile. “Yeah… that’s fair.”

Sophie sighed. “Look, I feel you. But you need to come out strategically now.”

She tapped her fingers against her arm. “And I do have a plan for that.”

Noah raised a brow. “Oh?”

“But first,” Sophie continued, “does anyone else know?”

Noah exhaled. “Back on Cannadah, when we fought the Harbingers… Lucas saw me use my powers. Micah, too.”

Sophie nodded. “So Lucas and Micah know.”

She tilted her head. “Who else? Kelvin?”

Noah shook his head. “No. I haven’t told Kelvin yet.”

Sophie immediately threw up her hands. “What?!”

She stared at him like he’d grown another head.

“Noah—Kelvin is literally your best friend. Why the hell would you keep this from him?”

Noah rubbed his temples. “I don’t know. I just… didn’t.”

Sophie scoffed. “The one guy who could’ve helped you. He’s a genius! If you’d just told him—”

“I know,” Noah cut in, sighing. “And once again, you’re right.”

His shoulders slumped slightly. “But like I said, I didn’t think too much about it. I just wanted…” He trailed off, then shrugged.

“…I wanted as normal of a life as a teenager could get in a world full of constant threats.”

Sophie’s irritation faded slightly. She watched him for a moment before exhaling.

“Fair enough.”

She sat back. “Revealing yourself means more expectations. If you’re not ready for that, that’s fine.”

She leaned forward, eyes serious. “But try seeing it from the other end.”

Noah looked at her, waiting.

Sophie’s lips pressed into a firm line. “I’m in no position to tell you how to serve humanity.”

She let that sink in before continuing.

“But I do know one thing.”

She met his gaze head-on.

“The world could use someone like you.”

She paused, letting her words settle between them.

“Someone with your strength.”

Noah exhaled, leaning back against the counter. “You know… I was never running from the war against the Harbingers to begin with.”

Sophie tilted her head. “Oh?”

Noah’s gaze darkened slightly. “They took my parents.”

A beat of silence passed between them.

His voice was quieter when he continued. “They’re on the Ark now. Devoting their lives to humanity because of this war.”

Sophie let out a short laugh—one that lacked humor. “Right. Devoting their lives.”

She shook her head, a wry smile creeping onto her lips. “Noah, you don’t have to be modest.”

She folded her arms. “If I’m allowed to say it… your parents are dicks.”

Noah let out a small chuckle at that, but Sophie wasn’t done.

“Yes, I get it—dedication to the war is important. But abandoning their own child for what?” She gestured vaguely. “What’s it been? Almost ten years now?”

She scoffed. “That’s insane to think about.”

She leaned against the counter, shaking her head. “The war isn’t going to end in one night. And humanity won’t fall in one night either.”

Her tone was sharp. “They could do both. They could fight for the cause and still be parents.”

She exhaled, then raised her hands in mock surrender. “But hey, not my call. Right?”

Noah smirked. “In all fairness?”

Sophie raised a brow. “Yeah?”

He shrugged. “I agree. My parents are assholes.”

Sophie blinked, caught off guard. “Wait—seriously?”

Noah chuckled, stepping closer. “Yeah. Seriously.”

Sophie opened her mouth to reply, but before she could—

He pulled her into a kiss.

Soft. Slow. One hand cupping the back of her head, the other resting on her waist.

Sophie barely had time to react before he pulled back, just enough to whisper—

“You, however…”

He brushed his thumb against her cheek.

“Are the best girlfriend in the world.”

They both chuckled, the weight of the conversation momentarily lifting.

Sophie tilted her head, a teasing glint in her eyes. “So, I’m possibly dating the strongest soldier in human history right now?” She smirked. “And they said you were the lucky one to have me? Which—by the way—I’ve always disagreed with.”

Noah laughed, shaking his head. “One—there are tons of people stronger than me.”

As he said this, his mind drifted elsewhere. To a particular pink character.

The one person he knew was still leagues ahead.

But then he returned his gaze to Sophie, his smirk softening into something more sincere.

“But… I’d still argue that I’m the lucky one.”

Sophie exhaled, running a hand through her hair. “Well, let’s hold onto that thought. We need to get back to school.”

Noah nodded. “Yeah. Third round of the tournament selection process.”

Sophie stretched, rolling her shoulders. “They’ve probably started by now.”

Noah glanced up at the darkening sky. “Yeah… we should hurry.”

Something about today felt different.

He felt lighter.

Telling Sophie had relieved something in him. His secret was no longer just his.

And Sophie… she was wise. Wiser than people gave her credit for, beyond that pretty face of hers.

He’d always known that.

But now? Now he realized he never had to hide from her in the first place.

Yes, the system was new.

Yes, everything had happened so fast.

But he should have told someone.

Now, at least, he knew better.

And that left one more person.

Kelvin.

His best bud.

Kelvin deserved to know too.

But for now—for now—he had to head back.

Back to the academy.

Back to the third challenge.

And back to winning his fight—to keep moving forward.

They slipped back onto campus arriving at the academy’s grand hall.

Inside, the tournament selection was already in full swing.

Cheers and shouts echoed off the high ceilings, the energy in the air filled with excitement.

Up in the senior division ring, Lucas was dominating.

The number one student of their year stood tall, his lightning ability crackling around him as he pressured his opponent with relentless attacks.

But Noah’s eyes flicked to the first-year division.

Another match was underway—one that was far more interesting.

Adrian Albright versus Lila Valentine.

Noah smirked. Oh, this he had to see.

Except—just as he was about to find a seat—he felt a light touch on his shoulder.

A presence behind him.

His body tensed on instinct, but before he could react—

A voice, cool and firm.

“Eclipse.”

Noah turned.

Standing there, arms folded, eyes sharp as a blade—

Miss Brooks.

She didn’t waste words.

“Come with me.”