Chapter 242: Chapter 242 : Return (1)

[ A few moments ago ]

The massive auditorium of Zenith Academy roared with energy, though now an eerie silence filled the air. Thousands of students—from the newest first years to the most seasoned third years—sat frozen in their seats.

Every eye was locked onto the enormous holographic screen suspended at the center, projecting the intense battle taking place for the title of Apex.

Three figures dominated the display—three monsters in human form, each one representing terrifying potential. Ethan Williams, Alden Crestvale, and the masked warrior known as Lucifer Morningstar.

Gasps echoed earlier in the match, but now there was only stunned disbelief. None of them had expected to witness a fight like this. The clash wasn’t between first years—it was a war between veterans who looked like they had survived countless bloody campaigns. Explosions of energy, dimensional distortions, sword slashes that tore through reality itself—every move could have flattened cities.

But what truly terrified the audience wasn’t Ethan or Alden.

It was the masked figure moving among them like a phantom. He wasn’t fighting them. He was playing with them.

Lucifer Morningstar.

The name itself sent chills down spines.

No one could speak. They just stared as this mysterious first-year toyed with two of the strongest prodigies of the generation. The duel for the Apex had turned into a demonstration of domination.

On another side of the auditorium sat Seraphina, Lily, Ava, Charlotte, Elaria, Ophelia, Rey, Lilia, Alicia, and Evelyn. Every one of them was glued to the holographic display, watching with wide eyes.

Seraphina clenched her hands tightly, her voice trembling. “How could this be happening? Ethan and Alden… getting beaten like that?”

Her gaze turned to Charlotte, her usual calm replaced by concern. “If this match keeps going like this, then I’m afraid—”

She stopped herself. She didn’t dare to finish. Because she knew the support from the Elven faction depended on both Ethan and Alden’s success. And right now, it looked like both of them were going to lose.

Charlotte’s eyes narrowed. Her elegant face was unreadable, but her clenched fists gave away her emotions. She had heard the name Lucifer Morningstar before—rumors of a prodigy who appeared out of nowhere—but this was the first time she had seen him in action.

And it left her speechless.

’How… how can someone like this exist?’ she thought, staring at the screen. ’He’s beating not one but two avatars—Ethan and Alden… like they’re nothing. What kind of monster is this?’

She felt her chest tighten as she remembered other strange events recently.

’First Lilith promised to support me. Now this happens. Just what’s going on?’

She exhaled softly, whispering to herself, “You can do this, guys… just don’t lose now.”

But as she watched Ethan and Alden fail to coordinate, she covered her face with one hand and groaned.

“It’s hopeless.”

Meanwhile, Lily was on the edge of her seat, her small hands clasped tightly in front of her chest. She was cheering softly, her voice cute and sincere.

“Come on, Brother Alden, you can do this…”

Alicia, sitting right beside her, couldn’t help but smile. She reached over and hugged Lily close, pressing her against her chest.

“Aren’t you just the cutest thing here?” she cooed affectionately.

But after a few seconds, Lily started tapping her arm repeatedly.

“Mmmph! Mmph—!”

Evelyn sighed and rolled her eyes. “You’re suffocating her, Alice.”

Alicia immediately released her, looking worried. “Oh no, are you okay, Lily?”

Lily took deep breaths before nodding, her face red. “Yes, big sis, I’m okay…”

Alicia smiled in relief—just as a loud shriek pierced the quiet.

Ophelia shot up from her seat, hands clutching her head. “Nooo! How could it be!? My darling got eliminated!”

The entire group’s attention snapped to the screen. Ethan’s avatar had vanished into motes of light.

Seraphina’s eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn’t even speak.

Silence fell over the auditorium—until Alicia, of all people, broke it with a suspiciously cheerful tone.

“How unfortunate,” she said, smiling faintly.

Charlotte glanced at her older sister. “Big sis… why do you look happy even though Ethan got eliminated?”

She turned back to the holographic screen. “And look, Alden’s losing too!”

Alicia froze, her smile twitching as her breath hitched. “M–Me? I’m not happy at all!” she stammered, looking away.

Evelyn, sitting beside her, smirked. “Oh, really? Because you were smiling even though your brother’s about to lose. Don’t try to deny it.”

Alicia turned to glare at her. “I’m not!”

Evelyn crossed her arms. “You are.”

“I’m not—you’re imagining things!” Alicia shot back quickly.

Maybe you’re just jealous.”

Evelyn’s mouth twitched. “What did you just say?”

The two best friends leaned closer, arguing in low but sharp whispers, completely ignoring the crowd’s tension.

Then Ava suddenly leaned forward, her cheerful voice cutting through the tension.

“Hey, look! The duel’s over! Looks like Alden won!”

All heads turned back to the screen.

Alicia’s expression instantly changed—from relief to sheer dread.

Her eyes widened as she saw the masked warrior—Alex—completely engulfed in black flames.

Evelyn smirked at her side. “What’s wrong, Alice? You don’t look happy. Isn’t this what you wanted? Your brother won.”

Alicia didn’t respond. Her gaze stayed fixed on the holographic screen, her body trembling.

’No… it can’t end like this,’ she thought. ’Damn it, Alden. If you’ve eliminated him, then two people will die today prepare yourself.’

A few seconds later, the crowd collectively gasped.

On the holographic display, Alden’s head was suddenly severed from his body. His figure disintegrated into countless glowing fragments, fading from the virtual arena.

Everyone was speechless.

Lucifer Morningstar had won.

Alicia’s heart skipped a beat. She clenched her fists to stop herself from cheering because she knew Alex was still hiding his identity. But before she could even exhale in relief, her joy twisted into fury.

Her eyes darkened.

’You reckless idiot… you’ve done it again.’

——–

In the center of the holographic screen, the intense flames enveloping Alex’s form began to subside.

His body, which had been glowing with heat, appeared to have fully adapted to the agonizing process.

As the fire finally receded, the shocking sight of a melted, ruined sight of the coliseum was all that remained of his clothes, the masks he wore, and the bracelet that had maintained his false appearance.

Completely stripped bare, the person who came into view was someone that the audience could not have expected in their wildest dreams.

Alex stood naked, completely exposed.

His hair, now a flowing mane of pure, shimmering silver.

His eyes, an intense, vibrant electric blue, shook slightly, giving the dizzying illusion of galaxies and swirling stars trapped within their depths.

His face, freed from th mask, As hi handsome feautures came into view—a symphony of sharp, chiseled features that spoke of both strength and delicate artistry.

Below his neck, his physique was a masterpiece. Every muscle was well-toned and honed from relentless training, carved into a perfect form that didn’t rely on bulk but on lethal efficiency.

A collective, shuddering sigh rippled through the auditorium. Most of the girls in the audience became slack-jawed, a few actually starting to drool at the sight of his perfect physique.

Then, suddenly, the audience’s gaze shifted lower, settling between his legs.

That sent another, far greater shockwave through the entire auditorium.

A shaking third-year cadet pointed a trembling finger at the unforgettable sight below Alex’s waist, the appendage hanging there, a monumental presence that truly made him look like a dragon of a man.

The cadet’s voice was a barely audible rasp as he muttered, “Is… is that real?”

Another cadet, his eyes wide with utter dread, stammered to his friend, “T-tell me that guy has three legs! That… that would be more believable!”

His friend, just as shocked but attempting to maintain a shred of bravado, smacked him on the back of the head. “Just because you’re small doesn’t mean every guy’s junk is that small!”

Almost simultaneously, nearly all of the girls in the auditorium let out a massive, audible gulp as they stared, transfixed by the holographic screen.

“Close your eyes, you hear me!” one boyfriend barked, aggressively covering his girlfriend’s eyes with his hand, only to be met with a muffled, “what are you doing I can’t see anything!” and the beginning of a bickering match.

On ankter side, the shock was no less intense. Seraphina, Eliaria, Lilia, Charlotte, and Alicia all took a huge gulp. Their faces were instantly, vividly red.

Suddenly, tears welled up and began streaming down Seraphina’s and Charlotte’s cheeks, overwhelmed by an inexplicable mix of emotionsas they recognised the silver haired figure instantly.

Nearby, Ava was crying too as she saw alex, frantically closing Lily’s eyes with one hand and her own with the other. Lily struggled wildly, screaming, “What’s happening? Let me look!”

Then, a cadet in the front rows screamed, “Hey! Is that Alex? He’s alive!”

The spell of mesmerized shock broke instantly. All the girls, their previous awe momentarily forgotten, screamed in unison:

“Kyaaaaa! He’s not dead! Our Prince is alive!”

A huge commotion erupted in the auditorium. The cadets could barely process that Alex was still alive, let alone the revelation of his appearance.

Alicia finally snapped out of her daze. Mana began violently leaking from her body as she shrieked with every ounce of strength she possessed.

“Turn off the projection, this instant!” she commanded.

Then, she whirled towards the auditorium, her voice dropping to an icy, terrifying tone.

“Leave the auditorium this instant if you want your legs and eyes to remain where they are! Especially the girls!”

Everyone, almost crushed under the weight of her sheer, palpable aura, frantically nodded their heads and started sprinting toward the exit, a panicked, surging tide.

—–

Meanwhile, Alex was standing buck naked in the destroyed coliseum.

His system’s voice echoed in his mind.

’[ Host, the aura farming we did all this time has gone to Shit— ]’

’Stop. Don’t say anything,’ Alex interrupted, his mental voice laced with exhaustion and mortification.

Then, his body began to dissolve into motes of brilliant white light. He was teleported away, vanishing from the platform.

The next moment, his body materialized in a magic circle within the virtual combat facility of the Zenith Academy.

Just as he fully materialized, a package was thrown at him, hitting him straight in the head.

Alex immediately caught it, then realized he was still completely naked.

He looked up and saw Selena Vega standing before him. Her face was a vibrant shade of red, and she took a visible gulp.

“Congratulations on winning the duel,” her voice came out, surprisingly commanding, as she abruptly turned the other way.

“I have prepared some clothes for you. They will suit you perfectly for this occasion.”

Saying that, she walked away at the speed of lightning, leaving Alex alone.

“Wait!” he called out, but she didn’t stop.

’I want to dig myself a hole and never come out of it. The world just got a glimpse of perfection that I never wanted to reveal.

What a sinful guy I am,’ he thought with a heavy sigh.

He opened the package, and his eyes brightened up instantly as he saw the stylish, pristine clothes that he was all too familiar with . He immediately changed into them.

A voice came into his head.

’[ Host, your identity has been revealed. Aren’t you worried about that?

The Cult was already investigating that incident. Before, they merely suspected it and were trying to find you for reasons who knows why. Now, they will attack you soon enough, I’m sure of it. ]

’I am sure I killed that Veyron guy using the sixth form, but it looks like before dying, he somehow gave the Cult some clues,’ Alex conceded mentally.

’[ I think you’re right, host. After all, a guy that killed two powerful avatars and injured a Grandmaster, surviving a fight against it… they must have seen you as a huge threat, ]’ the system replied.

’Well, can’t do anything about the spilled milk,’ Alex sighed. ’And things are different from before. I have huge backers like Alyssa and Miss Serena by my side. And money is also not a problem.’

’And I’m sure Alyssa and Selena will protect Lily. But I will take some precautions just in case.’

Alex was pulled out of his thoughts when a figure came screaming towards him.

“You perverted bastard! I knew it was you! I knew it!”

Alden came running toward Alex with a murderous glare. Alex gave another huge sigh.

’yeah. I forgot about him too.’

Suddenly, instead of hitting Alex, Alden tackled him into a tight hug. Tears streamed down his eyes, and he tightened the hug even more, making it difficult for Alex to breathe.

’Yeah, I was right. Brother and sister really are alike… just creating problems for me,’ Alex thought, rolling his eyes fondly.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep