Chapter 32: The Late Apex
The next morning...
Sunlight slowly crept through Vee's window.
It landed directly on his face.
Vee frowned.
He turned away.
The sunlight followed.
He pulled the blanket over his head.
"...Five more minutes."
Silence.
Five minutes later...
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Vee's eyes snapped open.
He sat upright.
"...What time is it?"
He looked at the clock.
His eyes widened.
"OH, NO."
He jumped out of bed.
"THE BLOODLINE GATE!"
Then he remembered something else.
"Cedric!"
He froze.
"...Oh, I'm definitely dead."
Vee sprinted through the Academy halls.
His hair was messy.
His uniform was barely buttoned.
He was still trying to put on one shoe.
Students turned as he ran past.
"Isn't that the Apex?"
"Why is he running like that?"
"Is he being chased?"
Vee shouted from down the hallway,
"MY BED IS MY ENEMY!"
He finally reached the designated training arena.
Cedric was already waiting.
Arms crossed.
Expression cold.
He looked at Vee from head to toe.
"...You're late."
Vee was breathing heavily.
"Good morning to you too."
"The duel was scheduled thirty minutes ago."
Vee looked around.
"Did anyone start without me?"
Cedric's eyebrow twitched.
"You were supposed to be here."
"Technically, I am here."
"Late."
"But here."
Cedric sighed.
"You're unbelievable."
Vee smiled.
"Thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"I'll take it anyway."
The official stepped forward.
"Both challengers are present."
"Begin."
Cedric immediately drew his sword.
Vee raised his own.
The fight began.
CLANG!
Cedric attacked with a sharp horizontal slash.
Vee blocked.
Cedric followed with a thrust.
Vee dodged.
Another strike.
Another.
Vee jumped backward.
"You're really energetic this early in the morning."
Cedric's expression remained cold.
"You've been wasting time."
"That's because I'm talented at it."
Cedric attacked again.
Vee parried.
The two exchanged blows across the arena.
Neither gained a clear advantage.
Cedric was more technical than Darius.
His movements were calculated.
He didn't lose his temper.
He didn't rush.
He waited.
Observed.
Adapted.
Vee's eyes narrowed.
"He's exactly like I remember."
"Cedric doesn't fight with emotion."
"He fights like he's solving a puzzle."
Cedric suddenly changed his rhythm.
Vee blocked a strike that wasn't meant to hit him.
The real attack came from below.
Vee jumped.
"Nice!"
Cedric frowned.
"Stop complimenting me."
"Why?"
"It makes fighting you irritating."
"That's the nicest thing anyone has said to me today."
The battle continued.
Ten minutes.
Twenty.
Thirty.
The two continued exchanging attacks.
Vee glanced toward the Academy clock.
His expression changed.
"...Wait."
Cedric attacked.
Vee blocked.
"Isn't the Bloodline Gate opening now?"
Cedric's eyes narrowed.
"Yes."
Vee immediately pushed him back.
"Then why are we still fighting?!"
"Because you accepted the duel."
"...That's a terrible system."
Cedric attacked again.
Vee blocked.
"Can we call this a draw?"
"No."
"Half a draw?"
"No."
"A very competitive friendship?"
"Absolutely not."
Vee sighed.
"You're difficult."
Eventually...
Vee finally found an opening.
Cedric swung.
Vee stepped inside his range.
CLANG!
He knocked Cedric's sword away.
Before Cedric could recover...
Vee's blade stopped beside his neck.
Silence.
The official raised his hand.
"Winner..."
"Vee Ashford!"
Vee immediately turned toward the exit.
"Great!"
"Now let's go see the Bloodline Gate!"
Cedric stared after him.
"...Does he ever take anything seriously?"
By the time Vee reached Special Zone One...
The class was already seated.
Professor Selene stood at the front, explaining the Bloodline Gate.
"...When the gate opens, the bloodline energy will spread throughout the chamber."
"It will react differently to every student."
"Some may experience pain."
"Some may experience visions."
"Some may awaken abilities they never knew they possessed."
The door suddenly opened.
Vee walked in.
Everyone turned.
His hair was still messy.
His uniform was crooked.
And one shoe was untied.
Professor Selene stopped speaking.
She looked at him.
Then at the clock.
Then back at him.
A smile slowly appeared on her face.
"Ah."
"The Apex has finally arrived."
The entire class burst out laughing.
Vee froze.
"...Good morning?"
Professor Selene folded her arms.
"Did you perhaps confuse the Bloodline Gate with your bed?"
The class laughed even harder.
Leon nearly fell out of his chair.
Aurelia covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Vee placed a hand over his chest.
"Professor..."
"Yes?"
"I was conducting an extremely important experiment."
Professor Selene raised an eyebrow.
"What experiment?"
Vee nodded seriously.
"Determining whether my bed could defeat the Apex."
The classroom exploded.
Even Professor Selene laughed.
"And?"
Vee sighed.
"...It won."
Leon shouted,
"THE APEX HAS BEEN DEFEATED!"
Everyone laughed again.
Vee pointed at him.
"Enjoy your victory while you can."
Professor Selene shook her head.
"Sit down, Vee."
Vee walked toward his seat.
As he passed Aurelia, she whispered,
"You overslept again."
Vee whispered back,
"It's becoming part of my personality."
Aurelia smiled.
"Apparently."
Vee finally sat down.
Professor Selene continued.
"The Bloodline Gate will open in a few minutes."
Vee's expression became serious.
He remembered the strange pulse he had felt during his meditation the night before.
Thump.
His hand unconsciously moved toward his chest.
"What exactly is hiding inside me?"
The answer...
Was waiting behind the Bloodline Gate.