Chapter 23: The Blood Behind the Glory
Forty-eight hours passed like a blur. When Julian opened his eyes inside the massive chrome-floored arena, the sight before him took his breath away.
It wasn't a campus event.
It wasn't a school competition.
This was war—disguised as a game.
Massive circular walls rose around him, glowing with digital lights. Screens streamed live stats and comments from thousands of anonymous spectators, both students and secret elites across the world. Above, a glass ceiling showed the stars—beneath it, students prepared to fight, not with fists, but with wit, skill, and manipulation.
Contestants: 200
Remaining Time: 6 hours
Challenge: Capture the Heartbeat Core from the Inner Circle
Julian stood dressed in a matte black tech suit with fingerprint sensors and thermal adaptation. A neon stripe ran down the spine—marking him as an "unknown" rank. Around him, the other contestants flexed their social standing and wealth.
Connor Vance walked in with gold-plated boots and a drone entourage.
Sasha Brume wore a glittering catsuit synced to her millions of stream viewers.
Hyo Jin, silent and calm, adjusted his AI drone, "Echo," who would fight for him.
Amirah Monroe wore nothing but a red silk coat and black lingerie beneath—her tactic? Seduction.
Julian? No gadgets. No entourage. No flashy entry.
Just his watch—and the burden of everything he had lost.
---
Elenora watched from behind a one-way mirror room, assigned as a special "Observer" due to her history. She sat with a team of corrupt officials and rich parents in suits—betting millions on who would rise and who would fall.
"He's a no one," one laughed. "Put ten grand on Connor."
"He's dangerous," Elenora whispered. "Put a billion on Julian."
They stared at her.
"I'm serious," she said, fingers trembling. "He doesn't fight for money. He fights because he has nothing left to lose. That kind of man either becomes a ghost… or a god."
---
In the Arena
Julian didn't rush.
The others sprinted toward the core.
He walked—slowly, eyes watching every detail. Every movement. Every betrayal.
A group of four students from the Political Science department already turned on each other. Sasha Brume livestreamed herself seducing a Literature student, only to stab him with a retractable tech-blade. Hyo Jin's drone exploded another team from the architecture faculty. Connor, flanked by rich boys, was heading straight to the core with zero resistance—until he saw Julian.
"Oh, look who they let in. Mr. Orphan."
Julian stared him down.
"Want another girl to cry over you on camera?"
Julian tilted his head. "You still mad Elenora never looked at you twice?"
Connor's face darkened.
The fight erupted.
Julian dodged a flying metal baton, rolled, and launched himself into Connor's gut. But the rich boy's reinforced suit took the blow. He smiled and pressed a button on his belt.
Pulse Shockwave.
Julian flew backward into a wall. Bones ached.
Blood filled his mouth.
The watch beeped.
Secret Task Activated: Counter the Inherited Technology
Objective: Disable Connor's pulse shock system using your surroundings. Bonus if done in 3 minutes.
Reward: Cloaking Patch for 2 minutes. Penalty: Public mocking – your defeat will be replayed across Zenith's networks 500 times.
Julian wiped blood from his lip.
He spotted the steam vent to his left, sparks flying.
He waited... baited... then just as Connor charged again, Julian kicked the broken steam pipe.
Hiss!
Steam burned Connor's suit sensors.
Julian used the moment—vaulted over him, yanked his shock belt, and electrocuted him with his own weapon.
Connor screamed.
The crowd above erupted in gasps and roars.
---
Miss Estelle and Mr. Langston sat in silent awe.
"He's not even using his full potential," Estelle whispered. "What is he?"
Langston crushed his whiskey glass.
"He's the real heir. We just don't know to what yet."
--
Julian made it to the inner circle, where only three remained:
Amirah Monroe, bleeding from her shoulder, still dangerous.
Hyo Jin, holding the heartbeat core.
Julian Vale, bruised, broken... but unyielding.
Suddenly, a loud chime.
Challenge Twist: Only One May Leave. Others Will Be Publicly Shamed and Banned from Elite Institutions.
Amirah stepped forward, smirking. "Boys, I say we share…"
Then she lunged at Julian.
He spun. Grabbed her coat. Pinned her against the wall.
"Wrong move," he whispered.
"Then end me," she moaned, smirking.
Julian yanked the heartbeat core from Hyo Jin's hand while the latter was distracted by Amirah's seduction attempt.
Lights exploded.
Julian's name lit up on every screen:
Winner: Julian Vale.
Title Earned: Dark Ace of Zenith
Level 3 Access Granted.
---
Julian sat on a bench, bleeding, panting, but smiling.
His watch blinked again.
New Secret City Unlocked: Nymeris – City of Shadows.
Next Task Will Begin in 48 Hours. Until Then… Rest. Or Prepare.
---
She patched his wounds quietly.
"You're not the same boy I met, Julian."
"I'm not the same because you gave me something worth bleeding for."
He reached for her face, traced the scar beneath her cheek.
Then kissed her.
And this time, she didn't pull away.
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