All Chapters of The Apex: Ascend or Be Consumed: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

I posed in the cross-legged sitting position. It was called the “legend sitting” in this codex, and it was meant to center one’s energy, aligning body and mind for optimal focus. At first, it felt awkward because my muscles were protesting against every subtle shift, but gradually, a strange calm began to settle over me. The air around me seemed to thrum and tiny sparks of flames kept flickering at my fingertips as I breathed in. With each inhale, I felt an intense connection forming. I didn't know if I was merging or transcending. Whatever was happening was beyond my understanding. And then I realized: mastery wasn’t just about strength or technique. It was resilience. Discipline. Continuously invoking the fire inside until it answers your call. I summoned the pale-blue flames, coaxing them from my chest into my arms and hands. Each attempt left me trembling. After a while, it felt like I was running a relay all by myself, passing the baton from one desperate version of

I hadn’t used my disk when I left the peony garden. Irina knew about it from the last time we met, but how could I possibly say the disk had embedded itself into my hand like a living thing? Even the thought of explaining it to Lucan and the rest of the Circle made my stomach knot. And the school… if they knew, how could I possibly face them?The power of the array hummed under my skin. It feels boundless, endless, and expansive. It was as though the entire world had shifted closer, everything within reach. I knew deep inside me that his array had greatly improved. More than Dominic could ever achieve.Now, it felt like I could teleport myself anywhere and tear space apart with nothing but a thought. The depth of that power surged through me, intoxicating and terrifying. They already tell different tales about me. They’d call me a monster. A walking bomb. If they learned about this, they would surely push me out completely or would they see me as an important person?The thought fl

“Don’t bother. You’d fail the first test.” I grumbled a response to her last words. Naryssa feigned a wounded look, pressing a hand to her heart. “And what test is that?” “Keeping a straight face when I threaten to burn you,” I said and abruptly stretched out my hand. Pale-blue flames flared to life, dancing across my fingertips. For an instant, Naryssa stilled. The playful light in her eyes dimmed. It was replaced by sharp recognition. Her smile wavered, the confidence slipping just long enough for me to glimpse the truth behind it. I caught the flicker of fear that crossed her face—the kind that came from instinct, not reason. “Juno…” she whispered, her voice trembling ever so slightly. I closed the tiny space between us, letting the flames curl higher, their glow reflecting in her wide chocolate brown eyes. She instinctively stepped back, and a ghost of a smile tugged at my lips. When my voice came out it was soft and almost a warning. “You should stay away from me, Naryss

The familiar pull of his energy surrounded us and before I knew it, we were standing in a room I’d never been in before. I could tell we were in his villa because of the high windows and polished marble floor. But I've never been in his dining room. Warm light spilled in and with a flicker of his hand, the long table ahead of us revealed dishes that looked almost too perfect to touch. “You made all this?” I asked, my eyes wide. “I did,” he said simply. “They’ve gone a bit cold, but…” He lifted his hand, and soft heat spread through the air until steam rose from the plates. “…I can fix that.” I blinked, astonished. “How did you even find the time to cook all this and still manage to lecture?” “I came here right after leaving your suite,” Lucan said, glancing over the food. “I thought you’d be in the Hall, and I’d bring you here to eat after. But you weren’t there.” “I was tired,” I lied smoothly. “That’s why I didn’t go.” “Didn’t you use the Aetherpills I gave you?”

I wanted to confront him, to drag the truth out of him no matter how much it hurt. But I knew I couldn’t. I wasn’t strong enough to force an explanation, and if he didn’t want to tell me, he’d simply steer the conversation, or tell me something safe. I didn't know what made me go against them in my previous life, or how they were still alive to see me in another life, but I knew I hadn't expected them to abandon me and let me die alone. The more I think, the heavier my eyes get. Lucan caught me dozing off. “You’re tired,” he said, his deep, sharp voice lowering. “I’m fine,” I mumbled, resting my chin on my hand. “No, you are not.” I opened my mouth to speak but he had crossed the room. I felt the shift in the air as he came closer, then the sudden weightlessness when he lifted me from the couch I was seated on. “Lucan—” “Don’t argue, Juno” he said firmly, but in a gentle tone. “I know you didn't sleep enough over the weekend,” I didn’t fight him. Couldn’t, actually. I wa