Infinite Wallet System
Chapter 49 - 48: Storm Beneath the Mask

Chapter 49: Chapter 48: Storm Beneath the Mask

The morning sun filtered through the large arched windows of the academy’s eastern tower, spilling golden light onto polished marble floors. Riku Aoyama stood alone in one of the training chambers, his breathing calm, focused. He had been up since dawn—again—not because he had to be, but because something in him refused to stop. Not anymore.

The system notification from the night before still lingered in his mind:

> [System Mission: Build Momentum – Strengthen reputation through public duels or displays of skill. Progress: 2/5]

He had already made waves by excelling in several classes and dismantling a minor disciplinary gang on school grounds. But now the stakes were climbing. Everyone was watching, especially the elite circles and academy instructors who once considered him an outlier.

He moved with purpose, each swing of his blade guided by instinct honed through both experience and system-bought enhancements. Sweat glistened across his collarbone, trickling down to his chest. He wasn’t just practicing—he was preparing.

"You’re too early for this room," a voice called from the entrance.

Riku turned. It was Ayumi, the silver-haired student council secretary. She wore a fitted blouse tucked into a plaid skirt, sleeves rolled up as if she’d just left a strategy meeting. Her tone was teasing, but her eyes were sharp.

"And yet you’re here too." Riku smirked.

She walked in and folded her arms. "Word is you’ve been busy showing off your ’genius’ lately. The teachers are saying you’ve got the most potential out of everyone in our year."

He gave her a tired smile. "Only because I know what I want."

She studied him a moment longer, eyes narrowing with subtle interest.

> [System Alert: Affection Detected – Ayumi Kurosawa: Curiosity Level Increasing.]

Ayumi suddenly tossed a practice spear toward him. He caught it in one hand, surprised.

"Then prove it. Duel me. If you win, I’ll let you in on something bigger than you think."

"And if you win?" he asked.

"Then I’ll decide what you owe me." Her smile hinted at mischief.

They faced each other. The air grew charged.

> [Combat Simulation Initiated. Match Rules Set: Light Injuries Allowed. Winner Determined by Disarm or Surrender.]

The duel was swift but fierce. Ayumi moved with deceptive grace, her thrusts fluid, her footwork precise. But Riku—empowered by the Physical Sync Upgrade and Skill: Reflex Boost Lv.2—danced around her, countering with ease.

He whispered a skill under his breath:

"Phantom Step."

He vanished briefly, reappearing behind her. Before she could react, he gently tapped the flat end of the spear against her side.

"Point. I win."

Ayumi blinked, genuinely surprised. She dropped her weapon and stepped back, brushing strands of hair behind her ear.

"Fine. You’ve earned it." She took out a slip of parchment, handing it to him.

Riku read the coordinates printed in runic text. "This is..."

"An invitation. Underground tournament. Hidden beneath the academy archives. Forbidden, but lucrative. And more importantly—dangerous."

His curiosity was piqued.

---

Later that evening, Riku returned to his dorm suite, greeted by the flicker of soft candlelight. Kira was already there, lounging on his bed in casual loungewear, her eyes tracking him.

"You’re late," she said.

"Got challenged. Won. Got invited to something weird."

She sat up. "Define weird."

Riku handed her the parchment. Kira’s brows furrowed.

"Underground tournaments again? You know those things are crawling with mercenaries, spies, and sometimes even corrupted users."

"Exactly why I’m going."

"Then I’m coming too."

He didn’t argue. If anyone knew how to protect his back, it was her.

> [System Bonus Activated: Companion Slot Engaged – Kira Aozora: Combat Partner Confirmed. Bonus Stats Applied in Duel Mode.]

---

Later That Night

In the shadowy depths of the academy’s restricted sections, Riku and Kira descended into the forbidden archive corridor. The stone steps spiraled downward endlessly before giving way to a wide underground plaza lit by arcane torches.

Combatants of various shapes and sizes stood around, all in plain clothes or concealed under cloaks. Magical restraints inlaid into the walls pulsed gently, keeping fights contained.

A masked announcer stepped onto a raised platform.

"Tonight, we welcome new blood. And from what we’ve heard, he’s something special!"

Riku stepped forward.

> [New Mission Unlocked: Win 3 Underground Duels. Bonus: 500 Points + Mystery Crate]

His opponent emerged—a hulking brute clad in leather wraps, wielding dual axes.

> [Opponent Identified: Grizzar the Scarred – Rank C Threat.]

Riku’s muscles tensed.

"Let’s dance."

The bell rang.

Grizzar charged forward with the brute strength of a war beast. But Riku, ever nimble, activated:

"Skill: Iron Thread Bind."

Invisible threads shot from his fingers, wrapping around Grizzar’s ankles mid-charge.

"Skill: Pulse Breaker!"

A sharp vibration exploded from his palm as he struck the brute’s shoulder, dislocating it with one calculated move. The crowd gasped.

But Grizzar roared and broke the threads, swinging wildly.

"Danger Sense Lv.1 – Triggered."

Riku ducked, then leapt high and activated another skill:

"Aerial Drive."

He spiraled in midair and landed a spinning kick to the back of Grizzar’s neck. The brute crumbled.

Silence. Then wild applause.

> [Victory. Duel 1 Complete. Points Earned: 200]

Kira ran up beside him. "That was reckless."

"But effective."

They shared a quick grin. One down. Two to go.

---

Meanwhile...

In an ivory tower far from the arena, a hooded figure stared at a mirror reflecting Riku’s fight.

"Another system user... but he’s not like the others," the figure muttered.

Behind them stood a young noble with sharp eyes and a sharper sneer.

"Shall I introduce myself to him?"

"Not yet. Let him think he’s rising safely. Then we strike."

The game was only beginning.

---

Back in the dorm that night

Kira lay beside Riku, her head resting on his chest. The aftermath of battle still buzzed through their minds, but for now, there was peace.

"You know this path isn’t going to be easy," she whispered.

"Good. I’d hate for it to be boring," Riku replied.

She chuckled softly. "Then rest. You’ll need your strength for the next fight."

He closed his eyes.

> [System Save Point Created – Progress Logged. New Rewards Pending.]

Tomorrow, the underground called again. And this time, the stakes would climb higher than ever.

---

Riku Aoyama found himself walking through the academy halls with a strange air about him. It had been nearly two weeks since his return from Verdant Hollow, and life at Shirogane Academy had subtly shifted. Not dramatically, but enough for someone with a keen sense of perception to notice. He had not only changed emotionally and physically, but there was also a new aura about him—calculated confidence, like he understood something others didn’t.

The rumors were beginning to grow around campus. He had topped several recent tests despite having been gone for days. During training sessions, he sparred with both class A and B students without showing fatigue, his movements sharp and methodical. His classmates noted how his presence seemed to shift the energy of a room. Some admired him, others were intimidated, and a few were starting to envy him.

What most didn’t realize, of course, was that Riku was using his system in ways that were almost imperceptible. His Mental Sync Protocol with Kira allowed for subtle mental conversations, discreet planning, and emotional support. It made things easier, smoother. And his new passive skills from the Verdant Hollow questline made him sharper, faster, and increasingly aware of his surroundings.

Still, Riku maintained a low profile. He knew better than to flaunt his advantages.

During one afternoon class on magical theory, Professor Kaede Yukishiro called on him unexpectedly. "Riku Aoyama, can you explain how elemental imbalances affect tier-3 enchantments?"

There was a slight murmur in the class. The topic was something only top students usually tackled.

Riku adjusted his collar and stood slowly. "When an enchantment draws too heavily from one elemental source without balance, the mana circuit begins to degrade. For tier-3 enchantments, this degradation creates resonance feedback that can destabilize not just the spell but also the caster."

Professor Kaede smiled. "Exactly. You may sit."

A few students turned toward Riku, some whispering. He could hear snippets like, "How does he know that?" and "He wasn’t even here last lecture."

Later that day, as Riku made his way to the library, Ayumi caught up to him.

"You’re really on a roll lately," she said, walking alongside him. "Even the teachers are starting to look at you differently."

"I guess I’ve just been focusing more," Riku replied, giving her a half-smile. He noticed the way her eyes lingered a moment longer than usual. She’d grown warmer toward him ever since they partnered in the previous mock battle class.

"They say people change after a trip," Ayumi mused, nudging him slightly. "What happened in Verdant Hollow anyway?"

Riku hesitated. "A lot of thinking. And some... opportunities."

She tilted her head. "Opportunities, huh? That sounds vague."

He gave a short laugh. "Maybe one day I’ll tell you. When you’re ready for the truth."

Ayumi raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further. Instead, she changed the subject to something mundane, like the food in the cafeteria being worse than usual.

Meanwhile, in another part of the academy, whispers started circulating in the staff room.

Head Instructor Goro Tanaka had received a report. It detailed student performances over the past few months. Riku Aoyama’s name had a glowing record—exceeding expectations, improving at an impossible rate, and making connections with other top-tier students.

"Keep an eye on him," Goro said, handing the report to Vice Principal Isamu. "We might have a genius or a troublemaker."

Isamu nodded. "Or both."

Elsewhere, Kira was in the academy’s greenhouse, tending to rare herbs as part of her elective class. The glow in her eyes reflected contentment, but she also kept an eye on the academy’s rumor mill. People were watching Riku now. Some with admiration, others with suspicion. Her connection to him remained a secret, but more than once she had deflected questions from nosy students.

That evening, Riku sat on the rooftop, staring at the academy from above. His system buzzed softly in the background.

> [New Notification: Weekly Bonus Unlocked - Adaptive Reflexes Lv.1] [Current Points: 2,150] [Inventory Updated: 1x Stealth Cloak (Rare), 1x Skill Ticket, 2x Random Draw Coupons]

He thought back to Verdant Hollow, to the sense of freedom, exploration, and danger. Here, things were becoming...political. Every move he made gained more attention. Every improvement risked exposure.

Kira arrived moments later, climbing up beside him and settling in.

"You feel it too, right?" she asked.

"Yeah," he said. "Eyes everywhere."

"Maybe it’s time to plan the next move."

Riku nodded. "I have a feeling things are going to escalate soon."

She leaned her head against his shoulder. "Whatever comes, we face it together."

He smiled. "Together."

Far below them, shadows stretched longer than they should have. And in the dark corners of the academy, unseen figures began to stir.