Chapter 8
The Apex Academy courtyard was a canvas of shining marble tiles under soft morning light. Trimmed hedges surrounded polished statues of ancient mages. Flowering trees arched overhead, their petals drifting down quietly as a prelude to the day's chaos. Caelan stood among hundreds of examinees in a large arena, encased by tall white walls. The air buzzed with murmurs of anticipation, but Caelan's attention was on the semi-transparent screen floating in front of him.
✦ Status ✦
> [Caelan Crowndread ]
> Title: Third Prince of Valeborne
> Power Rank: E+
> Alignment: Villain
> Fate Status: Doomed
>
> ✦ Trait:
> — Monarch [Active]
>
> ✦ Passive Skills:
> — Enhanced Comprehension
> — Instinctive Dodge (Blessing)
>
> ✦ Affinities:
> — Water (Stable)
> — Lightning (Unstable)
>
> Combat Proficiency: Intermediate
> Mental State: Sharpened (Anxious)
> Reputation: Notorious
> [Blessing of the Guardian Wolf – Minor]
> Deity: Guardian Wolf of Hollowbrook
> ▸ Instinctive Dodge (Passive Skill) — Automatically dodges a fatal attack once every 12 hours.
His system came to life, the voice dry and amused.
[System]: Just don't try to use it like a shield. It's a one-time thing until reset.
Caelan was about to retort, but a sudden silence washed over the crowd. A man floated down slowly, dressed in regal white robes with glowing runes. His starlight-like eyes scanned the hopefuls. He needed no introduction.
Headmaster Albrecht Veylan, the strongest mage on the continent, and the one who selected this year's elite.
He raised a hand, and silence grew deeper.
"Welcome to Apex Academy. You are not here as nobles, commoners, or monsters. You are candidates. You wish to achieve greatness. Many of you will fail. Some of you will succeed."
His voice resounded through the courtyard like a divine announcement.
"Your first trial begins now."
He snapped his fingers.
The ground beneath Caelan's feet vanished into light.
He was falling.
'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH'
'This is terrifying, even though I know what's coming.'
The sky rushed past him, and below lay an endless jungle filled with monsters. Caelan twisted in midair, trying to orient himself. He had no wings, no slow-fall spell, only instinct and desperation.
'If I use Enhanced Comprehension, I can find a safe route to cushion my fall, even though the skill isn't meant for this.'
[Enhanced Comprehension: Maximum Output]
'That tree is the tallest; it can dampen my fall.'
He twisted in the air, positioning himself as he spread his arms to slow his descent. With a thud, he crashed through the canopy, each branch greeting him like the jungle's way of saying "welcome." Leaves tangled in his hair, something alive scampered down his cloak, and then—thud. He fell onto the moss with a dramatic wheeze, limbs sprawled like a discarded rag doll.
"Still... alive," he groaned.
Before he could fully stand, a distant roar echoed through the trees.
> [Trial of Apex — Round 1 Initiated]
> ▸ Objective: Survive and Eliminate
> ▸ Earn points by defeating monsters (Rank F to C) and students.
> ▸ Killing another candidate transfers all of their accumulated points.
> ▸ Trial Duration: 6 hours
Caelan took a breath. This was it. A battle royale, with monsters and crazies both in the mix.
He tightened his grip on the sword.
Somewhere out there, the true hero—Damon, the golden child of fate—was already slaying monsters and gaining momentum.
Caelan smiled bitterly. "Let's see how long a villain can last in a world meant for heroes."
He dashed into the underbrush, eyes scanning for movement.
The hunt had begun.