The More They Love Me, the Stronger I Get

Chapter 005

The hallway of the Spirit Martial Academy was a microcosm of a world in transition. As the bell’s chime faded into a hum of white noise, the floodgates opened. Students poured out of their respective classrooms—Class 2-Spirit being the most scrutinized of them all—filling the corridors with the scent of ozone, expensive fabric, and the underlying tension of the upcoming Awakening Ceremony. In this environment, social status wasn't just measured by who your parents were, though the Shaw family’s billions certainly provided a formidable foundation. It was measured by potential.

Leo Shaw moved through this sea of humanity like a shark through a reef. He felt the weight of every gaze—the envious stares of the boys who lacked his resources, and the lingering, speculative looks from the girls who were drawn to the sudden, magnetic shift in his aura. He was a man who had mastered the art of being the center of attention long before he had ever set foot in The Grand Dominion. In his past life, he had thrived on this energy, using it to navigate the complex social mazes of the corporate and romantic worlds. Here, it felt even more potent, amplified by the literal power of the Spirit Air that vibrated in his very marrow.

He was making his way toward the elite administrative wing when the rhythm of his walk was interrupted. A leg—long, slender, and possessing the kind of athletic definition that spoke of thousands of hours in the training hall—stepped out from behind a decorative marble pillar, barring his path.

Leo came to a halt, his eyes tracing the line of the limb. It was a masterpiece of human physiology, the skin a sun-kissed, porcelain white that seemed to glow under the overhead Energy Screen lights. It was a leg that didn't just walk; it commanded space. His gaze traveled upward, past the frayed hem of denim shorts that accentuated a pair of hips built for both speed and power, arriving finally at the face of the interloper.

It was Monica Bailey.

Leo knew her, of course. In a place like Forest City, where the social elite were as interconnected as a neural network, it was impossible not to know of the "Bright Sun" of the Bailey Family. He had seen her photos on the academy’s internal forums, usually captioned with breathless praise about her beauty or her rising rank in the Nirvana Ranking. But seeing her in the flesh was a different experience entirely. There was a vibrancy to her—a raw, kinetic energy that the digital images failed to capture.

[Ding! System synchronization complete! Target Goddess identified: Monica Bailey.]

The Loli Voice chirped in his mind, sounding like a mischievous child who had just found a new toy.

[Initial Affection Level: 60%. Awarding 60 System Points!]

[System Note: Host, your reputation precedes you! Even before a formal introduction, the 'Reborn Prince' of the Shaw family has already captured her curiosity. To a girl like Monica, a man who evolves is far more dangerous than a man who is simply born strong.]

Leo’s lips curved into a suave, effortless smile. He didn't look like a student caught in a prank; he looked like a man who had expected this very moment.

"You know, Monica," Leo began, his voice dropping into a low, smooth baritone that seemed to vibrate in the narrow hallway. "I’ve seen your photos online, but they really don't do you justice. Especially not that leg. If beauty were a crime, that limb would be a life sentence."

Monica didn't pull back. Instead, she leaned further against the pillar, the angle of her body a deliberate provocation. She let out a soft, melodic laugh that carried the confidence of someone who was used to being the most interesting person in the room.

"Is that so, Leo?" she countered, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of amusement and challenge. "I didn't realize the academy's top theorist was also such a silver-tongued poet. I came here to see if the rumors were true—if the 'Playboy of Forest City' had actually turned into a martial arts prodigy, or if it was all just a clever PR campaign funded by your father’s bank account."

She tilted her head, a lock of her dark, silky hair falling over her shoulder. "So, tell me, Shaw. Do you just have a good eye for 'visuals,' or are you as brave as the stories say? I'm standing right here. If you’re as daring as they claim, why don't you see if that leg is as real as it looks? Touch it. If you dare."

Leo’s eyebrows shot up. This was a direct escalation, a game of "chicken" played with high-stakes social currency. In the old world, a move like this would be a prelude to a romantic entanglement. Here, it was a test of character—a way to see if he possessed the "dominance" required of a future High Ascendant.

"A dare?" Leo’s smile widened, becoming something sharper, more predatory. "Monica, you should know by now that I never turn down a challenge. Especially one with such... exquisite rewards. If you're not going to flinch, then I certainly won't hesitate."

Without a second of doubt, Leo stepped into her personal space. The air between them grew hot, thick with the scent of her strawberry perfume and the faint, metallic tang of his own awakening Spirit Power. He reached out, his fingers hovering just inches from the smooth, warm skin of her thigh. He could see the slight tension in her muscles, the way her breath caught in her throat as he called her bluff.

But just as his fingertips were about to make contact, Monica gave her body a sinuous twist. She retracted her leg with the grace of a cat, stepping back and putting a few feet of distance between them.

"Not so fast, Leo Shaw!" she teased, her face flushing a light, attractive pink. "I said 'if you dare,' not 'now is the time and place.' You’re certainly not as shy as the old rumors suggested. Most boys in this academy can’t even look me in the eye without stuttering, yet here you are, ready to help yourself like you own the place."

Leo retracted his hand, showing no sign of embarrassment. He merely adjusted the sleeve of his blazer, his posture radiating a calm, unbothered confidence. "You asked if I dared, Monica. I was simply providing the proof. I'm a man of action, after all. Why waste words when we can get straight to the point?"

Monica’s expression shifted, the playful teasing being replaced by something a bit more substantial—a look of genuine calculation. "I like that about you, Leo. Action is a rare commodity in a city full of talkers. Which brings me to why I actually stopped you."

She stepped closer again, her voice dropping to a whisper that was meant only for him. "I'm in a bit of a situation. Nothing I can't handle, but it would be significantly easier with someone of your... resources and 'unique perspective' helping me. After school today, I'll be waiting at the main gate of the Clearspring Academy. If you're brave enough to show up, I might actually let you finish what you started just now."

She didn't wait for a response. With a playful wink and a lingering glance that traveled the length of his body, she turned and walked away, her ponytail swaying rhythmically with every step.

Leo watched her go, a quiet chuckle escaping his lips. 60% affection, indeed, he thought. She’s not just looking for a bodyguard; she’s looking for a partner in crime. And she knows exactly which buttons to push.

The system’s Loli Voice giggled. [Host, she's a clever one! She's using her charm to scout your capabilities. If you help her solve her 'little problem,' those affection points will skyrocket. Plus, she's an A-tier talent in the Metahuman World. Having her in your corner would be a strategic masterpiece!]

Leo shook his head, clearing his mind of the strawberry scent. He had a more immediate engagement to attend to. He continued down the hallway, entering the high-security zone of the administrative wing. The air here was colder, filtered through advanced Spirit Energy Screen systems that scrubbed the air of impurities and monitored the biological signatures of everyone who entered.

He reached the door to May Lewis’s private office—a suite that was more of a luxury lounge than an academic workplace. The door recognized his palm print and the unique resonance of his Spirit Power, sliding open with a soft, expensive hiss.

He barely had a chance to register the interior before a hand—slender, yet possessing the grip strength of a professional martial artist—clutched the lapel of his jacket. He was yanked into the room with a force that would have sent a normal student sprawling.

Thud.

The door slammed shut behind him.

Leo found himself pushed back against the soft, leather sofa that lined the wall. Above him stood May Lewis—or Sonya Sutton, as he knew her in the private moments of their shared history. She had discarded her professional blazer, and her white blouse was slightly unbuttoned at the collar, revealing the frantic pulse at the base of her throat.

She wasn't looking at him with the cold distance of a professor. Her eyes were burning with a fierce, crimson light. She raised her right hand, and with a soft whoosh, a ball of intense, flickering red flame erupted in her palm. The temperature in the room spiked instantly, the heat of her Vermilion Bird Fire causing the air to shimmer and distort.

"You little brat," she hissed, her voice a mixture of genuine anger and a deep, underlying possessiveness. "Do you think you’ve finally grown enough wings to fly away from me? Sleeping in my class is one thing—I know you’ve memorized the textbooks until you could recite them in your sleep—but acting like a smitten puppy with Yuna Lynch right in front of me? Are you trying to see how long it takes for me to lose my mind?"

She lowered the flaming hand until the heat was licking at the fabric of Leo’s shirt, the orange glow illuminating the sharp, handsome lines of his face. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't burn that smug look right off your face, Leo Shaw."

Leo didn't flinch. If anything, he relaxed into the cushions of the sofa, a lazy, amused grin spreading across his face. He reached out, his fingers brushing against the wrist of the hand holding the fire. He could feel the raw power of her Tier 5 cultivation, the sheer kinetic energy of a woman who was a ranked master in the West Martial Military District.

"Careful now, Sonya," Leo teased, using her personal name with a familiarity that would have shocked the rest of the academy. "If you burn me now, who’s going to take care of you during those long, lonely nights? You’ve gotten used to having me around to keep things... interesting. If I'm gone, you'll just be another bored officer with nothing to do but grade papers and fight Abyss Crocodiles."

The fire in Sonya’s hand flickered, the intensity of the heat wavering for a fraction of a second as her cheeks flushed a deep, involuntary red. "You... you arrogant brat! You think I need you for 'happiness'? I could have any man in the Grand Dominion with a snap of my fingers!"

"But you don't want 'any man'," Leo countered, his voice dropping to a whisper. He sat up slightly, closing the distance between them until their foreheads were almost touching. "You want the only man who isn't afraid of your fire. You want the man who knows exactly what you’re like when the blazer comes off and the 'Ice Queen' mask cracks."

Sonya stared at him, her chest heaving with exertion. The flame in her hand died out, replaced by a lingering trail of smoke. She let out a frustrated growl, shoving him back into the sofa with a half-hearted push.

"You're going to be the death of me, Leo. I swear it," she muttered, turning away to walk toward her desk. She smoothed her hair, trying to reclaim the professional dignity that had evaporated the moment he walked through the door. "I should have let the Headmaster suspend you. It would have made my life a lot quieter."

"But also a lot more boring," Leo added, standing up and straightening his clothes. "So, why the summons? Aside from your desire to vent your jealousy, I assume there's a reason you dragged me in here with enough force to break a rib?"

Sonya sat down in her leather chair, her expression finally returning to something resembling professionalism. She reached into a drawer and pulled out a single sheet of A4 paper, sliding it across the mahogany surface toward him.

"The Awakening Ceremony is being moved up," she said, her voice grave. "The higher-ups in the West Martial Military District have detected a massive energy surge in the Netherlands. The Beast Tide is coming earlier than expected, and they need to identify this year’s top talents as soon as possible. They’re looking for candidates for the Nirvana Spirit Tower program."

Leo picked up the paper, his eyes scanning the technical jargon and the red "Confidential" stamp at the top. It wasn't just a change of date; it was a list of projected "High-Potential" students. His name was at the very top, highlighted in gold, followed closely by Yuna Lynch and Monica Bailey.

"They’re watching you, Leo," Sonya said, her eyes fixed on his. "Not just because of your father’s money, but because of your recent performance. If you awaken a high-tier talent, you won't just be a student anymore. You'll be a target—for the Fiend Sect, for the other major families, and for the military. I need to know... are you ready for that?"

Leo looked at the paper, then back at the woman who had been his guardian, his mentor, and his most dangerous distraction. He felt the cold, destructive power of the Nihility Divine Thunder humming in his core, waiting for the moment of release.

"Ready?" Leo asked, a dark, confident light dancing in his eyes. "Sonya, I’ve been ready since the day I arrived in this world. The only question is... is the world ready for me?"

He folded the paper and tucked it into his pocket, his mind already spinning with the implications of the accelerated timeline. The game was moving faster now, and the stakes had just been raised from schoolyard drama to a global theater of war and power.

But as he looked at the beautiful, fiery woman sitting across from him, Leo knew one thing for certain. No matter how dangerous the world became, he was going to enjoy every second of the conquest.