The vibe inside Apex Academy had changed.
After they announced the Top 10 everyone got really anxious. Now that students knew where they stood they had a goal… and a clear idea of how much work they still had to do.
For Kael this realization felt super heavy.
There were the gods to think about.
The ranked students.
A world that was way more dangerous than he thought.
He stood quietly near the academy courtyard staring up at the sky.
"You're thinking much " Lyra said.
Kael turned around.
Lyra walked toward him her silver hair shining softly in the sunlight. She carried her spear casually. Her eyes were sharp as always.
"You've been quiet since yesterday " she added.
Kael sighed.
"Just thinking about what Valeria said " he replied.
Lyra crossed her arms.
"About the Top 10?"
"And the gods " Kael said.
For a moment they just stood there.
Then Lyra smiled a little.
"Good " she said.
Kael blinked.
"Good?"
"Yeah " Lyra said. "Fear means you understand the situation."
She stepped closer.
". Don't let it slow you down."
Kael nodded slowly.
Before he could say anything—
A loud announcement echoed across the academy.
"All selected students report to the Main Gate immediately."
Lyra raised an eyebrow.
"That doesn't sound like a class " she said.
Kael frowned.
"Let's go " he said.
The Main Gate of Apex Academy was huge.
Dozens of instructors stood nearby.
In front of them…
A large armored transport vehicle waited.
Several students had already gathered.
Among them—
Rex.
He leaned against the vehicle looking bored.
"Took you enough " he said as Kael and Lyra approached.
Lyra smirked.
"Missed me?"
Rex rolled his eyes.
"Not even a little " he said.
Before their usual argument could start—
A cold presence entered the area.
Aurora Nightvale.
The moment she arrived the temperature seemed to drop.
Students instinctively stepped aside.
Kael watched her carefully.
Now… she felt different.
Stronger.
More dangerous.
Instructor Valeria stepped forward.
Her expression was serious.
"You have been selected for your external mission " she said.
Murmurs spread instantly.
"Mission already?" someone asked.
"We just joined!" another student said.
Valeria continued.
"A hidden structure has appeared outside the city " she said.
She activated a hologram.
A dark image appeared in the air.
An ancient stone temple… half buried underground.
"This is believed to be a Divine Ruin " she said.
The word alone made the atmosphere heavy.
Lyra's expression became serious.
"A ruin connected to the gods…"
Valeria nodded.
"These ruins contain relics, beasts… and sometimes…"
She paused.
"…something worse " she said.
Kael's heart tightened.
"Your task is simple " Valeria said.
"Enter the ruin " she said.
"Clear any threats " she added.
"And return alive " she said.
Rex smirked.
"Sounds easy " he said.
Aurora spoke for the time.
"It won't be " she said.
Everyone looked at her.
Her eyes were focused on the hologram.
"This ruin is emitting energy " she said.
She turned slightly.
"That means something inside it is still active " she said.
Silence followed.
Valeria nodded.
"Correct " she said.
She looked at the group.
"That is why I chose all of you " she said.
Kael.
Lyra.
Rex.
Aurora.
"The strongest first-year students " she said.
Kael clenched his fists slightly.
This wasn't training anymore.
This was real.
Valeria pointed toward the vehicle.
"Move out " she said.
The journey was quiet.
The armored vehicle sped through the outskirts of the city heading toward a mountainous area.
Inside tension filled the air.
Rex sat with his arms crossed.
Lyra looked out the window.
Aurora remained silent.
Kael closed his eyes.
He could feel it again.
That strange energy.
This time…
It was reacting to something outside.
Something… calling to it.
After an hour the vehicle stopped.
The doors opened.
Cold air rushed inside.
The group stepped out.
In front of them stood the ruin.
It was massive.
Broken stone pillars rose from the ground.
Dark energy leaked from cracks in the structure.
At the center—
A giant staircase led downward into darkness.
Lyra whispered softly.
"This place feels… wrong " she said.
Rex grinned.
"Good " he said.
Aurora stepped forward without hesitation.
"We're wasting time " she said.
Kael followed.
Step by step they descended into the ruin.
The deeper they went…
The darker it became.
The air grew heavier.
Then—
A sound echoed.
Grrrrrr…
Kael stopped.
"So we're not alone " he said.
Red eyes suddenly appeared in the darkness.
One.
Then two.
Then dozens.
From the shadows…
Monsters emerged.
Their bodies were twisted.
Their eyes glowing with energy.
Lyra tightened her grip on her spear.
"Divine beasts…"
Rex cracked his knuckles.
"Finally " he said.
Aurora's eyes turned cold.
"Stay focused " she said.
The creatures. Charged.
Kael stepped forward.
Blue energy ignited around him.
His heart began to race.
This time…
It wasn't fear.
It was instinct.
The monsters rushed toward them.
And Kael whispered quietly—
"Let's begin " he said.
The moment—
The battle, inside the ruin exploded.