CHAPTER 34: THE CREATURE THAT CHOSE VEE
The entire Bloodline Realm suddenly became silent.
Vee stood completely still.
The creatures surrounding him had stopped moving.
Then—
THUMP.
The ground trembled.
THUMP.
A second tremor shook the forest.
THUMP.
Something was approaching.
Vee slowly turned his head.
"...Please tell me that's someone's bloodline."
Leon stared into the distance.
"...That's not a bloodline."
"What is it?"
"I have absolutely no idea."
Aurelia looked toward the forest.
Her eyes widened.
"Something is coming."
The trees suddenly bent outward.
Leaves exploded into the air.
Then...
A brilliant light appeared between the trees.
Something stepped out.
Everyone froze.
It was magnificent.
Its body possessed the elegant shape of a dragon, covered in smooth, radiant scales that shimmered between gold, silver, and crimson.
Two enormous wings stretched from its back.
But they weren't ordinary dragon wings.
They were covered in brilliant phoenix feathers.
A long, powerful tail swept behind it, ending in blazing golden feathers.
Two majestic horns curved backward from its head.
Its eyes glowed with an ancient golden light.
Fire gently danced around its body.
At the same time, tiny golden feathers floated through the air around it.
It looked like a perfect fusion between a legendary dragon and a legendary phoenix.
Beautiful.
Majestic.
Terrifying.
Vee stared.
"...Wow."
Leon swallowed.
"What... is that?"
Professor Selene's voice suddenly came through their communication crystals.
Her voice wasn't calm anymore.
"Everyone..."
"Remain where you are."
"Do not provoke that creature."
Vee looked at her through the crystal.
"Professor?"
There was a pause.
Then—
"I don't know what it is."
Everyone went silent.
Vee's face changed.
"...You don't know?"
Professor Selene replied,
"No."
"That creature isn't recorded in the Academy's Bloodline Records."
Vee slowly looked back at it.
"...That's comforting."
Then something even stranger happened.
The silver wolf lowered its head.
The stone bear dropped onto one knee.
The flame serpent curled itself against the ground.
Even Aurelia's Solar Wind Phoenix lowered its magnificent head.
Every creature...
Was bowing.
Vee's eyes widened.
"...Why is everyone kneeling?"
Leon stared at him.
"Not everyone."
He pointed.
"They're bowing to that thing."
Vee looked at the magnificent creature.
Then at himself.
Then back at the creature.
"...Oh."
The creature took one step forward.
BOOM.
The ground trembled.
Another step.
BOOM.
Vee slowly backed away.
The creature's golden eyes locked onto him.
They stared at each other.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three.
Vee smiled nervously.
"Hello?"
The creature tilted its head.
Vee raised a hand.
"I'm Vee."
The creature took another step.
Vee took another step backward.
"Okay..."
"Personal space."
The creature suddenly lowered its body.
Vee's eyes widened.
"Wait."
"WAIT."
The creature launched forward.
BOOOOM!
Vee turned around.
"AAAAAAAH!"
He started running.
The entire group froze.
Then Leon burst out laughing.
"THE APEX IS RUNNING!"
Aurelia covered her mouth.
"Vee!"
"HELP ME!"
The creature chased him.
Vee sprinted through the forest.
Branches flew everywhere.
Leaves exploded behind him.
The creature moved with terrifying speed.
Vee glanced backward.
It was gaining on him.
"WHY IS IT SO FAST?!"
Leon shouted from far behind,
"Maybe it likes you!"
"THAT'S NOT HOW I WANT PEOPLE TO SHOW AFFECTION!"
Everyone started laughing.
Even Aurelia couldn't hold it anymore.
Vee jumped over a fallen tree.
The creature easily flew over it.
Vee looked backward.
"...Oh, come on!"
It landed directly behind him.
Vee screamed.
"WHY DOES IT HAVE WINGS?!"
The creature roared.
ROOOOOOOAR!
Vee sprinted even faster.
"I TAKE BACK EVERYTHING I SAID ABOUT THIS PLACE!"
Students watched from a distance as the terrifying creature chased the supposedly strongest student in the Academy.
The same Vee who had defeated dozens of challengers.
The same Vee who had fought Kai to a draw.
The same Vee who had defeated Darius.
Was now running for his life from a beautiful magical bird-dragon.
Leon was laughing so hard he could barely breathe.
"I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!"
Aurelia laughed.
"He's actually scared!"
Professor Selene watched the scene in disbelief.
"...The Apex."
She slowly covered her face.
"Running away."
Vee continued sprinting.
"STOP CHASING ME!"
The creature accelerated.
"THAT MEANS STOP!"
It accelerated again.
Vee looked back.
It was almost beside him.
"WHY ARE YOU SO FAST?!"
He suddenly remembered something.
"Wait..."
"If every creature bowed to it..."
"And it's chasing me..."
Vee's eyes widened.
"...Don't tell me."
The creature opened its enormous wings.
Vee stopped.
"...You're not trying to eat me, are you?"
The creature stopped too.
It stared at him.
Vee stared back.
Silence.
Then...
The creature slowly lowered its enormous head.
Vee blinked.
"...Huh?"
It moved closer.
Vee cautiously reached out his hand.
The creature didn't attack.
Instead...
It gently pressed its forehead against his palm.
Golden light erupted.
WHOOSH!
The entire Bloodline Realm trembled.
Every creature lowered itself even further.
Vee stared at the creature.
The system suddenly appeared.
DING!
SYSTEM ALERT
An unknown legendary bloodline entity has recognized the Host.
Bloodline compatibility: ???
Classification: UNKNOWN
Warning: This bloodline does not exist in the original timeline.
Vee's eyes widened.
"...Of course."
He looked at the magnificent creature.
"You couldn't just choose something normal, could you?"
The creature gave a low, gentle growl.
Vee sighed.
Then smiled.
"...You're beautiful, though."
The creature's golden eyes glowed brighter.
Behind them...
Everyone was still staring in shock.
Aurelia whispered,
"Vee..."
Vee turned.
"Yeah?"
"...I think it chose you."
Vee looked at the creature beside him.
Then at the countless beasts kneeling before it.
He swallowed.
"...I think you're right."
For the first time...
Vee wasn't laughing.
Because he realized something.
Whatever bloodline this creature carried...
It was something the original story had never seen before.