Chapter 56 : Acknowledgement

Chapter 56: Chapter 56 : Acknowledgement High above the Earth, nestled amidst the clouds and suspended within the azure vastness of the sky, stood the magnificent Zenith Academy—a structure so grand, so mythical, that it defied the boundaries of imagination. Floating islands interconnected by glowing energy bridges, crystalline waterfalls that flowed into nothingness, and towers so tall they pierced the very sky made up the architectural marvel of the academy. The air shimmered with the hum of powerful enchantments and ancient technology—an ethereal blend of magic and science. Zenith Academy wasn’t just a place of education—it was a realm of legends. Countless figures who had shaped the world—kings, queens, innovators, war generals, and world-renowned heroes—all had once walked these very paths. To many across the world, the academy was a dream too distant to reach. It was a temple of destiny where only the chosen few were allowed to step in. And today, 2,000 cadets had done just that. They had earned the right to learn in a place others could only dream of. As the light faded and the ground beneath stabilized, a collective exhale filled the space. "Haaaaaah... it’s over." "WE MADE IT!" "I—I’m alive... We did it!" The reactions were electric. Some students collapsed onto the smooth marble floor, laughing hysterically. "I made it, Mom! Your son made it!" one cadet shouted at the top of his lungs, tears streaming down his face. Others cried softly, embracing their teammates. There were high-fives, shouts, and exhausted chuckles. But then, the air shifted as a powerful presence flooded the auditorium, taking everyone’s attention. The atmosphere grew heavy—like gravity itself had intensified. A silence spread like wildfire across the room as a single presence made itself known at the center stage. There stood Aldric Verlane, the Headmaster of Zenith Academy. A living legend. He radiated power. "Damn..." Alex muttered from the crowd, a wide grin plastered across his face. "This old man really knows how to make an entry. He even looks more badass appearing like that." Aldric’s gaze shifted to him for a moment, as if he had heard him, surprising Alex. But just as quickly, his gaze shifted to all the candidates present. Alex wasn’t grinning only because of Aldric’s entry, though. No. He was grinning because he had done it. He had achieved something that only legends in this world had achieved. Rank 1. He had done it. He had shattered expectations. No longer just a background character in someone else’s tale—he was here to make his mark. He defeated the prodigies. Hell, he even beat the protagonist. But then just as quickly his attention shifted to Aldric. Aldric spoke, his voice deep and commanding, yet oddly warm. "Congratulations," he said, "Cadets." That single word echoed in the chamber. Not candidates. Cadets. A buzz rippled across all the cadets, filling their chests with pride. They had made it. "You’ve survived your first war—that we call the Zenith Entrance Exam. From over one million hopefuls, you 2,000 have made it here today. I have no doubt it was hell. Many of you were pushed beyond your limits. You fought, bled, and endured. And you stand here not by chance—but by your own merit, because you proved that you are the chosen ones in a herd of one million candidates." Some cadets straightened up with pride. Others wiped tears from their eyes. "Some of you may feel," Aldric continued, his tone sharpening, "that the exam was unfair. That nobles had more resources—better training, enchanted gear, secret techniques. And you’re not wrong." Whispers spread across the room. Heads nodded. "But remember this, Cadets..." His voice echoed. "Life. Has. Never. Been. Fair." Aldric stepped forward, eyes sweeping across the room. "Those who believe in fairness live in a fantasy. The world is ruled by power, by determination, by those who choose to rise despite the odds. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you’ll begin your path to greatness. You may have started with nothing—but that changes now. What you become here will shape your future. Whether you were born a prince or a pauper, it doesn’t matter anymore. Power does not bow to titles. Power bows to resolve. And here in this academy, status and rank do not matter—even if you were a beggar before coming here. It’s all irrelevant now. Because moving forward, you will forge your own paths and choose what to become." The cadets listened in stunned silence. Some clenched their fists. Others whispered: "...Damn, that’s motivational." "...No excuses now." "...I’ll prove myself." "Zenith Academy will give you the tools—but you will decide what to build." Then, with a nod, Aldric finished: "Your instructors will guide you from here. Good luck, Cadets." And with that, he vanished—like smoke in the wind. "Holy crap," someone muttered. "That was better than a war speech." Another chuckled. "He sure knows how to fire up a crowd. If he ran for president, I’d vote twice." Then, a minute later, the stage shimmered again. And a new presence stepped forward. The crowd stilled again. Selena Vega. "Holy mother of—" "Now that I’ve been admitted to Zenith Academy, I’d fail an exam just to see her scold me." Even the girls were stunned. "Is this what perfection looks like?" Some whispered in admiration. Some in envy. "Congratulations, cadets," Selena said, her voice cool and confident. "You’ve broken through the first wall of success. You’ve passed the Zenith Entrance Exam—a feat many dream of, but few achieve." She let the words settle. "However, this is just the beginning. You will face many more challenges, and Zenith Academy exists to prepare you for them. Starting today, you are to be assigned temporary dormitories. Each room will have two cadets—male and female separate, of course. Take the next two days to recover, explore the campus, and prepare yourselves. Uniforms will be delivered tomorrow morning. Orientation will take place the day after—an event broadcast to the entire world." The cadets stirred. "The world will be watching... to see who rises, and who fades." Then her gaze, so casually cold, flickered for a moment—to Alex. His smile faltered for half a second. But her eyes moved on just as quickly. "And of course," she added, "the spotlight will naturally be on the top cadets of this year’s batch. Especially Rank 1." Murmurs rose across the hall. Some in awe. Some in envy. Others in quiet determination. Nobody knew who the Rank 1 was—hell, they didn’t even know who was in the top 20. "And as expected," Selena continued, "the top-ranking cadets will receive better dorms, access to high-tier training chambers, and more resources. Top 50 will be in the Special Class. But all of that will happen after the orientation. Until then, you will live in the temporary dorms and relax your minds and bodies—because you really need it." She gave a final smile. "Okay, that’s all. You are dismissed. Our staff will guide you towards your dorms." With a wave, she turned and left. Half the male cadets sighed like their souls had just left. "She’s unreal." "Step on me, Miss Vega." Alex watched her go and muttered with a smirk."I know I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: Damn... that ass is illegal." "YOU BASTARD!" Before Alex could turn to see who it was— Alden von Crestvale pounced like a hunting wolf, slamming into Alex’s side with the full force of pent-up frustration and noble athleticism. Alex yelped. "Agh! My spine!" After seeing who it was, Alex yelled, "You asshole! What happened to ’being a graceful High Noble’!?" "Grace went out the window when you blew us up with—both the human and vampire factions. Including the monster you unleashed on us," Alden growled, gripping Alex’s collar. Ethan strolled in behind them, the corners of his lips curved in a calm smirk. "You’ve really got a talent for pushing people’s buttons, Alex." Alex, now being lightly shaken by Alden, flashed a sheepish grin. "I call it... tactical misdirection." "You emotionally blackmailed us with Seraphina and Charlotte," Alden said, voice rising. Ethan nodded slowly, feigning disappointment. "Seraphina even told me, ’A true hero wouldn’t fall for such obvious bait.’" Alex shrugged. "That counts for something, right? Tactics... with a bit of flair." A moment of silence. Then—both Alden and Ethan groaned. Alden stepped back and crossed his arms. Ethan just shook his head. They exchanged a glance, and for a second, the air shifted—no more banter. Just unspoken understanding. Alden spoke first, tone steadier. "You outplayed us, Alex—and came out on top." Ethan added, eyes meeting Alex’s. "It wasn’t luck. You used your surroundings... even your enemies. You didn’t just fight smarter. You commanded." Alex blinked, the grin on his face softening. "So... you’re saying I’m awesome?" Alden groaned again. "Why do we even try?" Ethan gave a quiet laugh. "Because we still have hope he’ll stop being so damn smug. Just like you." Alden clicked his tongue. Alex grinned wider. "No promises." The two sighed in perfect unison. Then, both turned to him with identical smirks. "Okay," Alden began, "we acknowledge that you won..." "...but next time, you won’t be able to play your cheap tricks," Ethan added, patting Alex’s shoulder. "Cheap?!" Alex gasped. "I call them ’cost-effective genius strategies.’" Alden rolled his eyes. "Next time, you’re going down." Alex grinned, throwing an arm over both their shoulders. "Then I better make next time even worse." "You smug bastard!" Alden laughed, putting him in a headlock. "Trying to make us look bad in front of the world." "As if your ugly face needed help doing that," Alex grunted. Alden’s hold became tighter. Ethan laughed at that. "Hey, I’ll be number two any day if it means I don’t have to deal with the spotlight." They broke into laughter, drawing stares from nearby cadets. But they didn’t care because after everything they’d been through in the entrance exam, they deserved the moment. The entrance exam was over. And now... peace tasted sweet. But then... Alex paused. He felt it. A wave of powerful presences... heading straight toward him. He turned. A group of human and vampire cadets was approaching, all eyes locked on him. Then he noticed... Three beauties leading the pack. "Oh... crap." Alex blinked. "I almost forgot about them?" He turned to ask for help from Alden and Ethan, only to see that neither of them was standing there anymore. "Those two bastards." A group of cadets had gathered, both humans and vampires alike. But what truly drew attention were the three girls at the front—their identities and overwhelming beauty. One had long white hair and violet eyes, dressed in regal noble attire—Princess Charlotte Evans Avaloria. Another had crimson eyes and wore a gothic black dress—Lilith Noctis Bloodrose. And the last had icy blue hair and a beauty so mesmerizing that nearby candidates couldn’t help but stare—Seraphina Starlight. The white-haired one stepped forward with an icy smile that made Alex’s skin crawl. "Alex Dragonheart? We need to talk." Alex sighed. "...I knew it. Being rank one would come back to bite me in the ass."