diff --git a/inc/logic/logic.ascension.lua b/inc/logic/logic.ascension.lua
index ecd95d4..4e9fac1 100644
--- a/inc/logic/logic.ascension.lua
+++ b/inc/logic/logic.ascension.lua
@@ -145,6 +145,11 @@ function Ascension.draw_flash()
   local flash_color = (pulse > 0.5) and Config.colors.white or Config.colors.light_grey
   rect(0, 0, sw, sh, flash_color)
 
+  local cx = math.floor(sw / 2)
+  local cy = math.floor(sh / 2)
+  Print.text_center("Level Up!", cx, cy - 12, Config.colors.black, false, 2)
+  Print.text_center("One step closer to ascension", cx, cy + 6, Config.colors.black, false, 1)
+
   if _flash_timer >= _flash_total then
     _flash_active = false
     Ascension.start_fade()
diff --git a/inc/system/system.ui.lua b/inc/system/system.ui.lua
index 87f70c3..a02b448 100644
--- a/inc/system/system.ui.lua
+++ b/inc/system/system.ui.lua
@@ -9,53 +9,79 @@ function UI.draw_top_bar(title)
 end
 
 --- Draws a menu.
+--- Items with header=true are drawn as non-selectable section headers in small font.
 --- @within UI
 --- @param items table A table of menu items.<br/>
 --- @param selected_item number The index of the currently selected item.<br/>
 --- @param x number The x-coordinate for the menu (ignored if centered is true).<br/>
 --- @param y number The y-coordinate for the menu.<br/>
 --- @param[opt] centered boolean Whether to center the menu block horizontally. Defaults to false.<br/>
-function UI.draw_menu(items, selected_item, x, y, centered)
+--- @param[opt] scroll_offset number 0-based index of the first visible item. Defaults to 0.<br/>
+--- @param[opt] visible_count number Maximum number of items to draw. Defaults to all.<br/>
+function UI.draw_menu(items, selected_item, x, y, centered, scroll_offset, visible_count)
+  scroll_offset = scroll_offset or 0
+  visible_count = visible_count or #items
+
   if centered then
     local max_w = 0
     for _, item in ipairs(items) do
-      local w = print(item.label, 0, -10, 0, false, 1, false)
-      if w > max_w then max_w = w end
+      if not item.header then
+        local w = print(item.label, 0, -10, 0, false, 1, false)
+        if w > max_w then max_w = w end
+      end
     end
     x = (Config.screen.width - max_w) / 2
   end
 
-  for i, item in ipairs(items) do
-    local current_y = y + (i-1)*10
-    if i == selected_item then
-      Print.text(">", x - 8, current_y, Config.colors.light_blue)
+  local current_y = y
+  for i = scroll_offset + 1, math.min(#items, scroll_offset + visible_count) do
+    local item = items[i]
+    if item.header then
+      Print.text(item.label, x, current_y, Config.colors.dark_grey, true, 1)
+      current_y = current_y + 8
+    else
+      if i == selected_item then
+        Print.text(">", x - 8, current_y, Config.colors.light_blue)
+      end
+      Print.text(item.label, x, current_y, Config.colors.light_blue)
+      current_y = current_y + 10
     end
-    Print.text(item.label, x, current_y, Config.colors.light_blue)
   end
 end
 
---- Updates menu selection.
+--- Updates menu selection. Skips items with header=true during navigation.
 --- @within UI
 --- @param items table A table of menu items.<br/>
 --- @param selected_item number The current index of the selected item.<br/>
 --- @param[opt] x number Menu x position (required for mouse support).<br/>
 --- @param[opt] y number Menu y position (required for mouse support).<br/>
 --- @param[opt] centered boolean Whether the menu is centered horizontally.<br/>
+--- @param[opt] scroll_offset number 0-based index of the first visible item. Defaults to 0.<br/>
+--- @param[opt] visible_count number Number of visible items (for mouse hit zones). Defaults to all.<br/>
 --- @return number selected_item The updated index of the selected item.
 --- @return boolean mouse_confirmed True if the user clicked on a menu item.
-function UI.update_menu(items, selected_item, x, y, centered)
+function UI.update_menu(items, selected_item, x, y, centered, scroll_offset, visible_count)
+  scroll_offset = scroll_offset or 0
+  visible_count = visible_count or #items
+  local n = #items
+
+  local function find_selectable(start, dir)
+    local idx = start
+    for _ = 1, n do
+      if not items[idx].header then return idx end
+      idx = (idx - 1 + dir + n) % n + 1
+    end
+    return start
+  end
+
   if Input.up() then
     Audio.sfx_beep()
-    selected_item = selected_item - 1
-    if selected_item < 1 then
-      selected_item = #items
-    end
+    local prev = (selected_item - 2 + n) % n + 1
+    selected_item = find_selectable(prev, -1)
   elseif Input.down() then
     Audio.sfx_beep()
-    selected_item = selected_item + 1
-    if selected_item > #items then
-      selected_item = 1
-    end
+    local next_i = selected_item % n + 1
+    selected_item = find_selectable(next_i, 1)
   end
 
   if x ~= nil and y ~= nil then
@@ -63,15 +89,23 @@ function UI.update_menu(items, selected_item, x, y, centered)
     if centered then
       local max_w = 0
       for _, item in ipairs(items) do
-        local w = print(item.label, 0, -10, 0, false, 1, false)
-        if w > max_w then max_w = w end
+        if not item.header then
+          local w = print(item.label, 0, -10, 0, false, 1, false)
+          if w > max_w then max_w = w end
+        end
       end
       menu_x = (Config.screen.width - max_w) / 2
     end
-    for i, _ in ipairs(items) do
-      if Mouse.zone({ x = menu_x - 8, y = y + (i-1) * 10, w = Config.screen.width, h = 10 }) then
-        return i, true
+    local current_y = y
+    for i = scroll_offset + 1, math.min(n, scroll_offset + visible_count) do
+      local item = items[i]
+      local step = item.header and 8 or 10
+      if not item.header then
+        if Mouse.zone({ x = menu_x - 8, y = current_y, w = Config.screen.width, h = 10 }) then
+          return i, true
+        end
       end
+      current_y = current_y + step
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/inc/window/window.menu.lua b/inc/window/window.menu.lua
index 3c5c55d..5013d18 100644
--- a/inc/window/window.menu.lua
+++ b/inc/window/window.menu.lua
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ local _anim = 0
 local _menu_max_w = 0
 local ANIM_SPEED = 2.5
 local HEADER_H = 28
+MenuWindow._scroll_offset = 0
 
 --- Calculates the animated x position of the menu block.
 --- @within MenuWindow
@@ -45,6 +46,17 @@ function MenuWindow.draw_norman()
   spr(305, nx + 32, ny + 64, Config.colors.transparent, 4)
 end
 
+--- Adjusts _scroll_offset so the selected item is within the visible window.
+--- @within MenuWindow
+function MenuWindow.ensure_visible()
+  local sel = Context.current_menu_item
+  if sel <= MenuWindow._scroll_offset then
+    MenuWindow._scroll_offset = sel - 1
+  elseif sel > MenuWindow._scroll_offset + 5 then
+    MenuWindow._scroll_offset = sel - 5
+  end
+end
+
 --- Draws the menu window.
 --- @within MenuWindow
 function MenuWindow.draw()
@@ -56,9 +68,19 @@ function MenuWindow.draw()
     MenuWindow.draw_norman()
   end
 
-  local menu_h = #_menu_items * 10
-  local y = HEADER_H + math.floor((Config.screen.height - HEADER_H - 10 - menu_h) / 2)
-  UI.draw_menu(_menu_items, Context.current_menu_item, MenuWindow.calc_menu_x(), y, false)
+  local menu_x = MenuWindow.calc_menu_x()
+  local arrow_cx = math.floor(menu_x + _menu_max_w / 2)
+  local y = HEADER_H + math.floor((Config.screen.height - HEADER_H - 50) / 2)
+
+  if MenuWindow._scroll_offset > 0 then
+    Print.text_center("^", arrow_cx, y - 8, Config.colors.light_blue)
+  end
+
+  UI.draw_menu(_menu_items, Context.current_menu_item, menu_x, y, false, MenuWindow._scroll_offset, 5)
+
+  if MenuWindow._scroll_offset + 5 < #_menu_items then
+    Print.text_center("v", arrow_cx, y + 52, Config.colors.light_blue)
+  end
 
   local ttg_text = "TTG"
   local ttg_w = print(ttg_text, 0, -10, 0, false, 1, false)
@@ -72,8 +94,8 @@ function MenuWindow.update()
     _anim = math.min(1, _anim + ANIM_SPEED * Context.delta_time)
   end
 
-  local menu_h = #_menu_items * 10
-  local y = HEADER_H + math.floor((Config.screen.height - HEADER_H - 10 - menu_h) / 2)
+  local menu_x = MenuWindow.calc_menu_x()
+  local y = HEADER_H + math.floor((Config.screen.height - HEADER_H - 50) / 2)
 
   if _click_timer > 0 then
     _click_timer = _click_timer - Context.delta_time
@@ -87,8 +109,9 @@ function MenuWindow.update()
     return
   end
 
-  local new_item, mouse_confirmed = UI.update_menu(_menu_items, Context.current_menu_item, MenuWindow.calc_menu_x(), y, false)
+  local new_item, mouse_confirmed = UI.update_menu(_menu_items, Context.current_menu_item, menu_x, y, false, MenuWindow._scroll_offset, 5)
   Context.current_menu_item = new_item
+  MenuWindow.ensure_visible()
 
   if mouse_confirmed then
     Audio.sfx_select()
@@ -186,6 +209,12 @@ function MenuWindow.ascend_debug()
   GameWindow.set_state("ascend_debug")
 end
 
+--- Triggers the Level Up flash animation for testing.
+--- @within MenuWindow
+function MenuWindow.level_up_flash()
+  Ascension.start_flash()
+end
+
 --- Refreshes the list of menu items based on current game state.
 --- @within MenuWindow
 function MenuWindow.refresh_menu_items()
@@ -200,6 +229,8 @@ function MenuWindow.refresh_menu_items()
   table.insert(_menu_items, {label = "Credits",   decision = MenuWindow.credits})
 
   if Context.test_mode then
+    table.insert(_menu_items, {label = "Debug Menu",         header   = true})
+    table.insert(_menu_items, {label = "Level Up Flash",     decision = MenuWindow.level_up_flash})
     table.insert(_menu_items, {label = "Audio Test",         decision = MenuWindow.audio_test})
     table.insert(_menu_items, {label = "To Be Continued...", decision = MenuWindow.continued})
     table.insert(_menu_items, {label = "DDR Test",           decision = MenuWindow.ddr_test})
@@ -212,11 +243,14 @@ function MenuWindow.refresh_menu_items()
 
   _menu_max_w = 0
   for _, item in ipairs(_menu_items) do
-    local w = print(item.label, 0, -10, 0, false, 1, false)
-    if w > _menu_max_w then _menu_max_w = w end
+    if not item.header then
+      local w = print(item.label, 0, -10, 0, false, 1, false)
+      if w > _menu_max_w then _menu_max_w = w end
+    end
   end
 
   Context.current_menu_item = 1
+  MenuWindow._scroll_offset = 0
   _click_timer = 0
   _anim = 0
 end