God-Tier Awakening: The Dead Can Still Level Up

Chapter 61: Shock

Wuxia floated near the window and looked toward Xingluo, who lay sideways across the bed while scrolling through her phone.

Her mother had sent several messages reminding her to eat properly, while her father asked how the competition was going and when she would return home.

Su Lan complained about how rarely she replied before asking about the military base, the competition, and whether she had met anyone interesting. Ruan Mei only asked whether everything was going smoothly.

Xingluo assured her parents that she was fine, told her friends the competition had gone well, and ignored the rest of Su Lan’s questions before placing the phone beside her pillow.

Wuxia looked around the room. "It really happened."

Xingluo adjusted the pillow beneath her head. "What happened?"

"You became a military captain."

She shrugged and picked up her phone again. "It is not that shocking after what happened."

After leaving the recovery pod, Xingluo had been summoned to Death Eye’s office for questioning.

The office was on the upper floor of the command building, overlooking the training grounds. A worn black blade and a repaired shield rested near several old military photographs, and Xingluo recognised a younger Death Eye standing among different squads.

Death Eye sat behind his desk, while Professor Liang occupied a chair to the side. Two officers stood near a floating screen displaying footage recovered from the residential compound.

The recording stopped on Varkhiel standing between the Green Priest and the contestants.

Death Eye looked toward Xingluo. "Tell me about your summon."

She had expected the question. A Level 86 first-transition Awakened possessing a summon capable of confronting someone near the third transition was already difficult to explain.

The footage also showed Varkhiel protecting the contestants and continuing to fight even after suffering severe damage.

Death Eye replayed the moment red runes spread across Varkhiel’s armor and his strength suddenly increased.

"Where did you obtain it?"

"From a summoning scroll inside a dungeon."

One of the officers turned toward her. "Which dungeon?"

"It was not registered."

Xingluo explained that several beasts had chased her while she was training outside the city, forcing her into an unfamiliar region. She found a hidden dungeon during the pursuit and entered because returning outside would have meant being surrounded.

According to her story, she cleared the dungeon and received the summoning scroll as its final reward.

She mixed real details from several experiences into the explanation. The hidden dungeon existed, and she had recently returned from dangerous territory with a sudden increase in level.

She only concealed everything connected to Wuxia, Rahk, the Eternal Night Basin, and Varkhiel’s true origin.

Death Eye leaned back slightly. "You cleared a dungeon that rewarded a summon capable of matching a Green Priest?"

"I do not know how strong it originally was," Xingluo replied. "The scroll may have been sealed or damaged when I found it."

Professor Liang spoke before either officer could question her further.

"Dungeon rewards do not always match the difficulty of the dungeon. Some are inheritances or objects left behind by powerful Awakened."

Death Eye glanced toward him. "You believe her?"

"I said it is possible."

Xingluo looked at Professor Liang before Death Eye returned his attention to the recording.

"The summon became several times stronger during the fight. Explain that."

"I formed a contract with it through the scroll, but I do not understand all its abilities yet," Xingluo said. "The red runes appeared after it was heavily damaged. It may be a temporary combat state."

That part remained close to the truth. Varkhiel had activated his second state, but she left out Wuxia’s Descent and the fact that he had taken control of the Soul Sentinel.

The footage changed to the moment Varkhiel caught the Green Priest’s scythe and threw him through the wall.

Professor Liang looked toward her. "Can you summon it now?"

"No. It was almost destroyed while blocking the explosion."

Death Eye tapped the desk. "What about the two dragons?"

"They were connected to the same scroll, Varkhiel could summon and control them, but I cannot call them out properly while he is recovering."

Wuxia had helped her prepare the explanation before the questioning. It allowed the military to believe that Varkhiel and the Twin Demon Flood Dragons were part of the same summoning ability.

Death Eye continued asking about the dungeon’s location, the beasts that had chased her, the appearance of the scroll, and the conditions required to form the contract.

Xingluo answered using details from places she had visited and beasts she had fought. Even if the military investigated, they would only confirm that she had entered several dangerous regions before returning at Level 86.

Death Eye remained suspicious, but he had nothing that directly disproved her story.

"When the summon recovers, bring it here."

Xingluo nodded. "I will."

"I also want to examine the scroll."

"It disappeared after the contract formed."

The officers exchanged another look, but Death Eye did not continue. Varkhiel could not currently be summoned, and the scroll no longer existed according to her explanation.

Before Xingluo left the office, Death Eye informed her that the competition had been cancelled. The deaths, damage to the residential compound and ongoing investigation made continuing the remaining rounds impossible.

Later that day, the surviving contestants were gathered, and Death Eye awarded Xingluo the military rank of Captain.

Several people were dissatisfied with the decision. Some believed the highest reward should not be given when the competition had ended early, while others argued that most of Xingluo’s contribution had come from her summon.

However, no one dared question Death Eye openly. Qin Haoran’s behaviour also changed after seeing Varkhiel fight, he still watched Xingluo with the same predatory interest, but there was now a layer of caution beneath it.

During the following days, he remained near his followers and kept his distance whenever she entered the same area.

Xingluo changed her position and rested the phone against her stomach. "I am exhausted."

Wuxia looked at her. "You have spent the last few days lying in captain-grade quarters."

"I was questioned for three hours."

"Three days ago."

"I also fought during the attack."

"You spent most of that time supporting Varkhiel."

Xingluo turned toward him. "You could not have used Varkhiel without my soul link."

Wuxia paused. "That is true."

"Then let me rest."

The surviving contestants had remained inside the base while the military completed its questioning and security checks. Those with serious injuries were still receiving treatment, while everyone else had been assigned temporary quarters.

The delay had also given Xingluo and Wuxia time to discuss the Oracle’s warning.

The Ninefold Star Descent would begin seven days after they received the Fate Star Token. Three days had already passed inside the city base, leaving four before the trial opened.

They still did not know where the trial would take Xingluo, how long it would last, or what she would need to do after entering.

The Oracle had only confirmed that Wuxia could accompany her as the Dead Star without explaining what the title meant.

Xingluo stared at the ceiling. "They should let us leave soon."

"They might let the others leave," Wuxia replied. "You are more complicated."

She turned toward him. "My explanation worked."

"Professor Liang made it possible for them to accept it temporarily."

"He only said it was possible."

"That was enough."

Someone knocked on the door before Xingluo could answer, she sat upand checked the display beside the entrance, Professor Liang stood outside.