First Ranking Match Experience + Vegeta Affection Points + ??%!

In his rented room, Lin Xia placed a steaming bowl of instant noodles on the table.

He then ate the noodles with chopsticks in one hand, while examining a piece of human-shaped chocolate in the other.

This chocolate was sculpted with lifelike detail, and its template was none other than Zhang Heng, who had come looking for trouble earlier.

It was about ten centimeters in size, just right to fit in a pocket and carry around.

"I never expected... I never expected," Lin Xia raised his eyebrows, "that these things, after being turned into chocolate... aren't for Buou to eat, but for me!

If my health drops during a fight, I can just take out a piece of chocolate and eat it... and be back at full health?"

Lin Xia guessed that perhaps because Zhang Heng's strength was too low, Buou had judged him as instantly defeated.

That's why this piece of chocolate had persisted.

[Ding!]

[New Mission: Reach Bronze 1 in 48 hours!]

[Mission Reward: Eye of Insight!]

[Eye of Insight: Can view details after unlocking!]

[Friendly Reminder: This skill is a unique divine skill, please do not miss it, host!]

[Remaining Time: 47:59:59]

"Cough cough--!" Lin Xia was so startled by the sudden system announcement that he almost choked to death on his instant noodles.

Immediately after, recovering, his eyes lit up as he repeated: "A unique divine skill!?"

Although Lin Xia couldn't yet see the effect of this [Eye of Insight].

Since the system said so, he had to obtain it!

"Reach Bronze 1 rank..."

Lin Xia put the Zhang Heng-turned-chocolate into his pocket, then opened his status panel.

In the bottom left corner, there was an option called [Ranked Match].

Upon opening it, he found his rank was Black Iron 1 (0 Victory Points).

In this world, after successfully awakening, the ranked match system would be unlocked.

Everyone's default starting rank was Black Iron 1.

To increase rank, one had to play ranked matches, earning Victory Points for each win.

It was worth noting that there were no AI opponents in these matches; they were all real players!

Who you matched with depended on luck, though the rank difference usually wasn't too large, unless you were particularly unlucky and matched with someone several ranks higher...

Once Victory Points reached 100, one could advance to the next rank.

Below Master, each rank had 3 sub-tiers (1-3).

According to the system mission, Lin Xia needed to advance 3 ranks within 48 hours.

"I need to test the intensity of ranked matches quickly."

Lin Xia wiped his mouth, his expression turning serious.

Although losing a match wouldn't result in death.

Victory Points would still be deducted.

This was why many people had negative Victory Points.

"Buzzzzzz!"

Lin Xia's status panel vibrated.

He noticed the icon with [Mail] had a red dot.

This indicated a new unread message.

As soon as Lin Xia opened it, a luxurious and noble golden envelope animation popped out.

[Congratulations on your admission to Imperial University... Please report to the school on December 8th at 9 AM!]

[...Class assignments will be based on your rank upon enrollment!]

Lin Xia didn't seem particularly excited upon seeing the admission letter.

After all, as an SSR awakened individual, he fully met the admission requirements.

"Classes are assigned tomorrow morning, I need to hurry and improve my rank, aiming to get into Class 1, which has the best resources!"

Lin Xia suddenly felt motivated.

Based on previous years' standards, as long as a new student reached Black Iron 2 with 50 Victory Points or more, they would pretty much secure a spot in Class 1!

This was also because, in this world, neither ranked matches nor personal duels granted experience points.

To level up, one had to explore Secret Realms in the wild.

And entering a Secret Realm wasn't easy; at least, newly awakened individuals couldn't enter without going through a cumbersome process.

Therefore, reaching Black Iron 2 in the freshman ranking tournament is considered the mark of a genius.

[Initiate matchmaking?]

[Yes/No]

"Start!"

As soon as Lin Xia tapped confirm, he saw the interface begin the matchmaking search.

About five seconds passed.

[Match found!]

[Loading...]

[Loading complete!]

[Current map: Ruined City!]

"Whoosh--!"

A ring of light lit up beneath Lin Xia's feet.

The next moment, his surroundings rapidly blurred.

When his vision cleared, the familiar furniture and walls were gone.

In their place were ruins filled with the haze of gunpowder.

The streets were pockmarked with craters, and the high-rise buildings were dilapidated, as if they had just been baptized by war.

Lin Xia frowned; he knew the ranking tournament would teleport both parties into an alternate space.

But he hadn't expected this alternate space to be so realistic.

It truly felt like some city in reality...

He could even smell a thick scent of blood.

However, Lin Xia hadn't seen a single soul so far.

He tried to take a step forward.

But he found he couldn't move.

"The ring of light beneath my feet hasn't dissipated yet; could that be why I can't move?"

Lin Xia guessed to himself.

Just then, accompanied by a loud bang, a beam of light appeared about a dozen meters away from him.

As the beam gradually faded, an identical ring of light appeared.

Standing on the ring was a robust youth nearly 190 centimeters tall.

The youth wore a topknot, his expression cold, his eyes staring sharply at Lin Xia.

But what drew the most attention was his inverted-triangle physique, which looked like a sculpture from ancient Greece.

The reason it was so clear was that the guy wasn't wearing a shirt...

"Tch, exhibitionist."

Lin Xia curled his lip and looked down at his own thin arms. "I've already awakened the Saiyan constitution, so why am I still so skinny?"

[Talent won't carve muscles for you; if you want a good physique, you must train diligently!]

The system's voice rang out.

Coincidentally, the ring of light dissipated at that moment.

Lin Xia also realized he could move freely.

He observed that the youth opposite him had the same realization, leading him to guess that this guy was likely playing his first ranked match too.

"Please go easy on me."

The youth spat out the two words expressionlessly.

He then pressed his palms together, the veins on his biceps bulging, and flames ignited in his eyes out of thin air, followed by his entire body being enveloped in a golden flow of light.

[Awakening Card: Holy Monk]

[Grade: S]

[OVR: 71]

"Bl... Blind Monk?!"

Lin Xia looked at the youth's appearance and was reminded of a character from a game in his past life.

It was a perfect recreation!

The only difference was that this guy was neither bald nor blind.

"As expected of a rigorous matchmaking system, it even found me an S-rank awakener..."

Lin Xia stretched his limbs, intending to reveal his own stats as well.

"Whoosh--!"

As soon as the youth finished transforming, he didn't say another word. He stomped off the ground and his sandbag-sized fist shot towards Lin Xia with a whistling sound!

"Thump!"

Lin Xia firmly gripped the fist with his left hand.

Immediately, the look of wanting to finish the fight quickly on the youth's face was replaced by shock!

"Your strength isn't bad..." Lin Xia's stern face slowly emerged from behind the fist. "But if this is all the strength you have, the battle is already over."

[Show-off Success!]

[Vegeta's Affection +20%!]