The academy felt different.
Whispers followed me wherever I walked.
Students who once laughed now lowered their voices.
Those who used to block my path stepped aside without realizing it.
Fear had replaced mockery.
I could feel it.
Even the air seemed heavier.
Inside the main hall, Elder Qin stopped in front of a sealed door.
"Wait here," he said.
The door closed behind him.
I stood alone.
The system panel appeared.
[DING!]
Status Update.
Fear Value detected from surrounding individuals.
Passive Growth activated.
Power +3.
I raised an eyebrow.
"So fear works too."
The door opened again.
Elder Qin returned, his gaze sharper than before.
"Zhang Wei," he said, "your growth defies logic."
I remained silent.
"Tell me," he continued, "how did a Mortal become a peak Enhanced overnight?"
I met his eyes calmly.
"Opportunity," I said.
"And effort."
His lips twitched.
"A vague answer," he said, "but acceptable."
He turned and began walking.
"Follow me."
We arrived at the inner training grounds.
Only core students were allowed here.
As soon as I stepped inside, several gazes locked onto me.
Cold.
Evaluating.
One of them scoffed.
"So this is the joke who broke the ranking stone?"
Another laughed softly.
"He doesn't look special."
I ignored them.
The system chimed.
[DING!]
Detected hostility.
Optional Quest Available.
Dominate a Core Student (Medium)
Reward:
+1 Skill
+1 Rank Chance
Accept?
"Yes."
The core student stepped forward.
Tall. Muscular. Confident.
"I'm Han Luo," he said, cracking his neck.
"Rank: Enhanced. Late-stage."
He smiled.
"I'll go easy on you."
The moment he moved—
I vanished.
Gasps echoed.
I reappeared behind him.
My palm struck his back.
A shockwave exploded.
Han Luo slammed into the ground, coughing blood.
Before he could rise, I stepped on his chest.
Hard.
Cracks spread beneath him.
"I don't need you to go easy," I said calmly.
"I need you to remember this."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then—
[DING!]
Quest Completed.
Skill Acquired:
Shadow Step (Active)
Effect:
Short-range instantaneous movement.
Rank Chance increased.
My power surged.
The watching students took a step back.
Elder Qin stared at me in disbelief.
Fear.
Respect.
And something else.
Interest.
He exhaled slowly.
"From today onward," he announced,
"Zhang Wei is promoted to Core Student."
The hall erupted.
No laughter.
Only shock.
I turned away, expression calm.
Inside, I smiled.
This was just the beginning.