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

Watching Nyx chase after the Harbinger core, Noah settled against a towering oak tree. His injured arm throbbed, reminding him of just how close that fight had been. Too close.

'Time to see exactly where I stand.'

[Status Check Initiated]

[Name: Noah Eclipse]

[Level: 8]

[Class: Void Walker]

[Talents:]@@novelbin@@

Void Summoning [SSS RANK]

Perfect Echo [Sealed]

[Skills:]

Void Blink (Level 3) - Enhanced range and reduced cooldown

Null Strike (Level 2) - Increased damage and void energy efficiency

[Attributes:]

Strength: 24 (+5)

Agility: 28 (+6)

Vitality: 20 (+4)

Intelligence: 27 (+3)

Wisdom: 22 (+2)

The numbers confirmed what his aching body already knew. Physically, he was nowhere near the elite. His strength barely matched a regular third-year student, let alone monsters like Lucas.

'Been relying too much on tricks,' he thought, watching Storm chase his tail in the distance. 'Null strike saved us back there, but against a two-horn...'

That's when the delayed notifications from the scout fight finally demanded his attention:

[Quest Complete: Survive Harbinger Scout Encounter]

[Bonus Objective Achieved: Eliminate Target]

[System Notice: User has significantly exceeded performance parameters]

[Calculating Reward...]

[SPECIAL REWARD UNLOCKED: Class Evolution Available]

[Warning: Evolution process requires 45 minutes]

[Warning: User will be completely vulnerable during evolution]

[Accept Evolution? Time remaining to accept: 14:32]

Noah smile knowingly. 'This was why the domain felt like the right choice.'

He had to retreat here after seeing this the first time outside the domain. The system claimed he'd be vulnerable during the evolution. And not being vulnerable alone in itself was a great risk against the Harbinger he fought. He was going to do it. He was going to accept.

A loud chirp drew his attention. Nyx had caught the Harbinger core, and something was happening. The dragon's small form began to glow with an intense red light.

'Perfect timing, buddy. We'll evolve together.'

With careful movements, Noah began removing his level 3 gear. Each motion with his injured arm sent spikes of pain through his shoulder, but he persevered. The reinforced boots came off first, followed by the chest piece.

[Evolution Accept?]

[Warning: Final Confirmation Required]

'No going back after this.' Noah settled into a comfortable position, his back against the oak's sturdy trunk. Above him, leaves rustled in a wind that didn't exist. Somewhere in the distance, Storm watched his brother Nyx begin to transform.

[Evolution Initiated]

[Estimated Time: 45 Minutes]

[User Status: Vulnerable]

[Domain Protection: Active]

As darkness began to envelope him, Noah's last conscious thought was of the battle raging above. 'Hold on, you idiots. Either you survive long enough for me to save you, or you die knowing I tried.'

Then the void took him, and the evolution began.

----

Meanwhile, outside on the Island, far from the clearing where they'd sighted the Harbinger, there was a cave and a couple students were gathered there.

The cave mouth gaped like an open wound in the island's northern face. Inside, the air was thick with the metallic scent of blood and the soft green glow of healing magic. Lila watched another student stagger in, supported by two others. The numbers kept growing.

"Over here!" She gestured with her hand, telekinetically clearing a space near the wall. Her power felt stretched thin, like an overused muscle, but she kept working. "Lay him down next to Cora."

Mai and June, their newly discovered healers, were already running on fumes. Their hands trembled as they worked, green energy flickering like dying flames. Two more students saved, dozens more waiting.

"We can't..." Mai's voice cracked as she finished stabilizing another wound. "We can't keep this pace up, Lila."

She hadn't seen Kelvin since they split up an hour ago. He'd mentioned something about checking other areas for survivors, but that was before everything went to hell. Before the screaming started.

'If he ran, I can't blame him,' she thought, directing another group of wounded to an open space. 'Smart choice, really. Get as far from this nightmare as possible.' But she couldn't leave. Not with so many injured. Not with Cora barely clinging to life.

Lila's eyes drifted to Cora's unconscious form. The stout girl's chest barely moved, her dark hair matted with blood and dirt. She'd been the first to charge the Harbinger, brave and foolish and so terribly unprepared.

"Why did you have to play hero?" Lila whispered to her teammate's still form. She brushed a strand of hair from Cora's face, remembering how the girl had always rushed ahead in a fight..."Always first into the fight..."

A pained groan from another corner drew her attention. More injured arriving. Always more.

'Micah was right,' the thought came unbidden, bitter as medicine. 'If we'd all stood down when he suggested... but no. We had to prove ourselves. Had to show we weren't cowards.'

Her mind wandered to Noah, as it had been doing with increasing frequency. The last glimpse she'd had of him - taking that hit from the Harbinger before she'd dragged Cora away. When she'd returned to the clearing later, there'd been only destruction.

"He's fine," she said aloud, earning a confused look from June. "Noah, I mean. He has to be."

"The quiet kid from 1B?" June's hands glowed as she worked on another student. "The one who..."

"Who survived the Category 3 with me." Lila's voice grew stronger with the memory. "You should have seen him. Anyone else in our position would be panicking, hell I was. But him, he just... adapted. Calculated. Survived."

Just yesterday, he'd taken down the bore mole that had given their whole team trouble. Made it look almost easy. But this...

'This is different,' a small voice whispered. 'Beasts are one thing. Harbingers...'

She shook her head, dispelling the doubt. The cave's shadows seemed to deepen as another student was brought in, adding to their growing collection of the broken and dying.

"We need to contact the base camp," she announced, standing. "The healers are almost drained, and we're running out of space. There have to be more healers there, more supplies..."

But the words felt hollow. They all knew the truth - they were isolated, cut off. Whatever was happening on this island, they were on their own.

'Come on, Eclipse,' she thought, staring out the cave mouth at the darkening sky. 'Pull off another one of your impossible survivals. We could really use a miracle right about now.'

The sound of distant combat echoed across the island. Something was still out there, still hunting. And their safe haven felt anything but safe.