Chapter 175
LATE
IAM had done it.
He'd survived the Stranger Phenomenon—and with it, crossed the line from novice to experienced—without his head exploding. A feat that, despite how casually he now tried to take it, wasn't something most could claim.
It felt surreal.
This marked a turning point in any ascender's life. This was when your journey truly began—when you stopped being just a normal person with a bit of magic and became a full-fledged ascender.
For IAM, this was only the beginning. And something deep in his gut told him that the road ahead would be anything but easy.
From here on, every step would be steeper, every fall more painful, and every breakthrough a little harder to earn.
Now that he had stepped into the realm of the experienced, it was finally the right time to start sword training with Henry.
Back when IAM was still a novice, the gap between them had simply been too wide. And with Henry, who had made it clear he wasn't used to teaching anyone how to use a sword. His methods of explaining and teaching IAM might be a little rough round the edges.
He was the kind of person who believed the best way to learn was through doing—and in this case, through sparring.
But with Henry's combat ability being significantly higher, there had been no point in sparring before. IAM wouldn't have stood a chance. Henry would either overpower him instantly, leaving nothing to learn—or worse, hold back so much that the entire exercise would become meaningless.
Now that IAM was both physically and mentally stronger, he would finally be able to keep up—at least somewhat—and actually learn something from their sessions.
With IAM not being a genius, this was the time—perhaps the only time—to begin serious training with his peers before they advanced to the same level and left him in the dust. If he wanted to grow, to survive and to truly walk the path of an ascender, then he had to use every small advantage he had.
And right now, this level advantage was one of those rare advantages. It might not last, but while it did, he had to squeeze every drop of growth from it. Every second mattered.
IAM glanced around at his surroundings, letting the moment settle in. Almost immediately, he could feel it.
The world felt different.
He struggled to describe it even to himself, but as he looked around, everything felt… more. The floor beneath him felt more solid. The air felt denser, more alive. His senses were elevated.
His hearing, his sight—he could feel a change in all of them. It was like there was no veil between him and the world anymore. It was like someone had adjusted the lens of his perception, and now everything had snapped into sharp, overwhelming focus.
More than that—his sense of being felt higher. Fuller. As if he was no longer just in his body but commanding it completely.
It was difficult to put into words, but IAM knew one thing for sure: he had changed.
His core, his avien, his understanding—it had all crystallized into something new. And now his body was responding.
There was a raw energy surging inside him. His limbs were lighter, his breathing felt easier, his mind was sharper. He felt as though he could run for miles without tiring. As though he could punch through a wall just to see if he could.
IAM clenched his fists slowly, testing the new tension in his muscles. His body didn't just feel stronger. It felt like it belonged to him in a way it never had before.
He stood up—only to immediately collapse to the ground with a dull thud.
Right. He had completely forgotten.
It was normal to feel weak right after ascending. The surge of power, the heightened senses, the overwhelming energy—it was all deceptive. His core had changed, but his body hadn't caught up. He hadn't stabilized yet.
Even if it felt like he could tear through stone, the truth was: he could barely stand.
Grimacing, IAM reached out, his fingers scrabbling at the table's edge. He dug his nails into the wood, using it as leverage. His arms trembled with effort. A grunt slipped from his lips as he tried to pull himself upright—but his body refused.
He let himself fall back into the chair with a heavy sigh.
Only then did he notice the state he was in.
His clothes clung to his skin, soaked with sweat. Every muscle ached with the kind of deep, internal soreness . His head throbbed faintly, and his skin burned with the heat of strain—both physical and mental.
The toll of enduring the Stranger Phenomenon, the pressure of resisting his own hands, and the violent reshaping of his core had left him completely drained.
What he needed now was rest.
His head dropped forward, chin brushing his chest as he slumped in the chair. The world around him pulsed faintly with silence.
Just a few minutes. He'd just close his eyes for a little while…
And within the dim solitude of the reading booth, IAM drifted quietly into sleep's warm embrace.
...
"I'm actually kinda concerned… what the actual fuck is going on," Reuel whispered, leaning slightly toward Yohan, who sat beside him. His voice was low, almost drowned by the quiet of the classroom, but his unease was clear.
Yohan furrowed his brow, his eyes scanning the room. "I… I don't know," he admitted softly. "It's really weird. He's not anywhere, and I have no idea where he could've gone."
Henry, sitting on the other side of Yohan, leaned closer, his voice just above a whisper. "So… let me get this straight. You guys woke up and he wasn't here? And he even left his phone behind?"
"Yeah," Reuel replied, his voice tight with frustration. "I just don't get it. Where would he even go? Do you think… do you think he could've been kidnapped?"
For a moment, the three of them fell into silence.
Finally, Yohan spoke, his tone hesitant. "Or… maybe the pressure got to him, and he… quit? Just left?"
"No way!" Reuel's voice snapped louder than he intended, startling Yohan slightly.
Vanessa, who had been quietly observing the group, paused mid-sentence. Her cold eyes met Reuel's. He shivered and quickly cleared his throat, muttering, "Sorry about that."
Vanessa ignored him, letting her gaze sweep the room, as if scanning for someone she would appear. She adjusted her glasses, the metal frames catching the light, and was just about to speak when the door suddenly slammed open with a heavy, echoing bang.
She turned sharply, her eyes narrowing instinctively. A figure stood in the doorway. "Sorry I'm late! I had a meeting with another instructor," the student said cheerfully, brushing past the threshold.
Vanessa gave a brief nod, acknowledging the interruption, and the student moved to take a seat without further ceremony.
Reuel scrunched up his nose, frowning. "I thought that would be IAM… Has he actually just disappeared into thin air?"
Before Vanessa could speak again, the door slammed open again, louder this time. Her expression flickered briefly, showing slight annoyance.
A student stepped inside, breathing hard, chest rising and falling rapidly, clearly as if they had been running. Every step echoed in the quiet room.
"Sorry I'm late, Miss Vanessa," came the familiar voice.
It was IAM.