Infernal Entity: Evolving With My Demonic System-Chapter 50: Apex Predetor

Chapter 50

At first, there was silence in the weapons chamber. Everything was halted as everyone took time to process what this mean looking second-year student had just said

Then the murmuring started. Low voices rose from every corner of the room. The confused first-years whispered to one another while keeping their eyes fixed on the group of second-year students standing at the entrance.

No one understood what was happening. This was the first time second-year students entered the first-year building and that alone was unsettling.

Marc had been standing beside the glass dome terminal one moment, overseeing the fight. The next, he was standing directly in front of Kaiden Lee.

Axel blinked because he hadn’t seen Marc move.

There was no flash or distortion. There wasn’t even any sign of teleportation like Kaiden’s ability. It was as if Marc had simply... crossed the distance without walking through it. A different kind of movement that was controlled.

Axel could just use the ID skill on him and figure out what it was, but he didn’t. He was more focused on Kayden Lee

Marc’s voice was calm, but there was an edge to it.

"What is the meaning of this?" he asked. "You’ve interrupted an active training session."

Kaiden smiled politely, though there was nothing polite about it. It was more of a teacher-student courteous smile, not that it mattered.

"There’s an event being hosted in the second-year building," Kaiden replied. "All first-year students are required to attend."

Marc frowned at him.

"An event?"

"Yes," Kaiden answered. "Think of it as an orientation. There will be proper welcome for them to the Oval Academy."

The words sounded harmless, sure but Axel and Rick knew better.

"You can’t halt my class for games."

"This isn’t a game, Teach. This is quite serious."

There was a pause on both ends, then Kaiden leaned slightly forward and spoke in a lower tone.

"You know the rules," he said. "You can’t stop this..."

Whatever rules be was talking about might have been a real thing because Marc stayed silent for a few seconds. Then, to everyone’s shock, he stepped back.

He turned to face the students. "Sparring session is over," he announced. "All first-years will now proceed to the second-year block immediately."

A simultaneous "what?" Erupted from all the students.

It didn’t make sense.

Second-years having authority over first-years was normal. Everyone knew that. But teachers too?

Marc was clearly powerful. Axel could feel it. There was no way he was some low-grade mutant who could be pushed around but yet, he backed down.

Whatever rule Kaiden had mentioned... it wasn’t normal.

This place was getting crazier by the day.

The glass dome slid open with a soft hiss and axel stepped out alongside Kinsey.

She glanced at him as they walked. "Do you have any idea what this event is about?"

Axel hesitated because he had a suspicion. A strong one.

Ares.

But suspicion wasn’t proof.

"No," he lied still. "I don’t."

Kinsey slowed her steps and looked at him strangely. "That’s weird."

"Why is that weird,"

"I could have sworn I saw you coming out of the second-year building last night."

’What? She saw me there?!’

Kinsey stared at him for a second longer then turned away without another word and walked off into the crowd.

Axel stood there and unease started twisting in his gut.

’How did she know that? What exactly did she see?’

Before he could think further, Rick grabbed his arm.

"Come on. Let’s go."

Axel nodded and followed him.

Together, they headed toward the second-year building, not knowing what awaited them inside.

....

"What is going on?" one of the first-year students asked as the massive steel doors leading into the second-year building slowly slid open.

The setting was the same as before. Long hallway that stretched almost endlessly and pockets of room on each sides, left and right.

"I’m not sure..." another student replied, scratching his head. "That second-year said it was an event, right? Let’s just see what it is."

"I don’t like this..." someone else muttered under their breath.

The unease was shared by many, though not everyone voiced it.

The first-year students began filing into the second-year building. Axel and Rick walked along with them, blending into the crowd. The hallways felt familiar to the two of them. They had walked these paths before, under different and also similar circumstances. But for the rest of the first-years, this place felt alien and quite oppressive.

The walls were darker here. The lights were dimmer. Everything about the second-year block felt like it was meant to remind people where they stood in the hierarchy.

"Axel..." Rick whispered, nudging him slightly as they walked. "Do you know what this is about? It’s about Ares, isn’t it?"

Axel did not answer immediately. His eyes stayed forward as his mind raced.

"I think so," he then said quietly.

Rick swallowed saliva as the confirmation did nothing to calm him.

The crowd continued moving until they reached another set of doors at the end of the hallway. When those doors opened, a low gasp rippled through the room.

Beyond them was a massive glass dome.

It was similar to the one used during Marc’s training sessions, but bigger and stronger. Built for something far more brutal.

Inside the dome, two figures stood.

One of them was Ares.

He was bloodied. Bruises covered his body. His clothes were torn in several places, stained dark with dried blood. One of his arms hung awkwardly at his side, and his breathing was uneven. He looked like he should have been on the ground already.

But he was still standing... barely.

Across from him stood a second-year student, who was untouched and calm, rolling his shoulders as if he was warming up.

"It’s... His tournament is the event. " Rick whispered. His voice trembled as he remembered what led to this in the first place.

Guilt washed over him all over again. He lowered his head, blaming himself for everything. If only he had been stronger. If only he had not dragged Ares into trouble. If only—

Axel noticed it but said nothing. His attention was locked on the glass dome.

Why was the academy allowing this?

That was the thought in his mind. This event was unsanctioned so it shouldn’t even be happening.

Just then, a tall figure stepped forward from the second-year side of the room.

It was Drax.

Axel recognized him immediately. His system had been unable to not identify who he was. Just his name. No stats, nothing. Just an empty void where information should have been.

That alone told Axel everything he needed to know. Drax Tan was dangerous.

Every second-year student around him had their collar tags turned off. Their levels were hidden. Their abilities were basically masked. It was a deliberate move on their end.

Axel made a mental note to ask Aurora about Drax later, if he turned her back on. And even then, he doubted she would be helpful.

Drax stopped near the front and spread his arms slightly, his posture relaxed but commanding.

"Welcome," he said, his voice echoing through the chamber. "First-year students."

The murmuring slowly died down.

"My name is Drax Tan. I imagine you are all confused. That is understandable."

He turned slightly and gestured toward the glass dome.

"Your classmate, Ares, committed an act of disrespect," Drax said calmly. "He threatened his seniors."

A few students gasped. Others looked away.

"In this academy," Drax went on, "disrespect has consequences. However, I am merciful. Ares was given a chance to escape punishment."

Drax raised a finger.

"If he defeats seven out of ten fighters, he is free to leave. That sounds fair right?"

It wasn’t really a question of whether it was fair or not. No one had the guts to say the word, "Unfair"

Then, a voice from the crowd of first years asked.

"Well, how many has he won?"

The tone was casual. Unbothered... almost bored.

Axel didn’t need to look to know that it was the Electrokinetic Queen speaking.

Drax turned slowly toward her and walked closer, stopping just a few steps away.

"What did you say?" he asked.

Nile met his gaze without fear. "I asked how many fights he has won."

There was a brief pause.

"This is his last fight," Drax said. "If he wins, he walks out."

That meant only one thing. He had already won six and lost three.

Rick’s eyes widened. A spark of hope lit up his face.

"Six..." he whispered. "He can do this. He can win one more."

Drax noticed the change in Rick’s expressio from a distance and he smiled.

"No!" Drax said calmly. "He will not win this one."

"And how do you know that?" Nile asked

"Because I am the one who set up this tournament. Ares was always meant to lose."

Axel’s heart sank as he heard Drax speak. The thing is, he had already moved closer to the glass dome earlier, stopping within five feet. Just close enough to use the ID skill Ares’ opponent.

And the result? It wasn’t promising...

[Name: Luke Fern]

[Age: 18]

[Race: Human-Mutant]

[Ability: Pyrokinesis]

[HP: 30/30]

[Level: Apex 1]

"Bloody hell..." he muttered under his breath.

"He’s fighting an Apex 1 Firestarter... He’s fighting a damn Fern."