Chapter 67 : Apex Privileges, Dwarven Threats, and a Sticky Situation

Alden had Draven in a solid headlock, not letting him slip away no matter how much the short stack struggled beneath his grip.

“Let me go!” Draven hissed, legs flailing.

“Not until that bastard explains why I’m restraining a royal dwarf!” Alden barked, confused.

Right on cue, the door to the nearby classroom opened with a gentle hiss, and out walked Ethan, Seraphina, and Charlotte.

“What in the goddess’s name…?” Ethan muttered, blinking as he caught sight of the bizarre scene unfolding.

Seraphina tilted her head. “Wait… isn’t that the dwarf who walked in with Alex during the orientation? I thought they were friends.”

Charlotte narrowed her eyes. “If they were friends, why is he running like Alex has a bounty on his head?”

“Maybe he does,” Ethan offered helpfully.

Alden loosened his grip and glanced at Draven, who had stopped struggling and was now just staring at Alex like he was facing a personal demon.

“Hey!” Alden snapped at Alex, annoyed. “Why’d you tell me to stop this guy? He looks like you traumatized him, not the other way around.”

Alex placed a hand over his chest, face wounded in mock betrayal. “Alden, how could you say that? Draven and I are the best of friends. Right, Draven?” He turned to the dwarf with the most exaggerated puppy eyes imaginable.

Draven stared at Alex for a full two seconds, then looked away and started to whistle.

The audacity.

Alex blinked, offended. “Come on, it was one mistake! I was being led astray by that moon-fix—”

“We almost died, you maniac!” Draven snapped. “If the professor hadn’t shown up when he did, we’d be flower food!”

Alex shamelessly waved it off. “But we’re alive, aren’t we? That’s the important part! No harm, no foul.” He threw an arm around Draven’s shoulder. “Besides, near-death experiences build character!”

Draven sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Look, I could let it go,” he said quietly, eyes narrowing slightly. “But I really need to think this through.”

He leaned in a bit, voice dropping further.

“You’ve made enemies of almost every noble in the academy… and their commoner lapdogs aren’t far behind. Just being seen around you is asking for trouble.”

He straightened, expression serious now. “I don’t mind a little chaos, but I’m not signing up to be collateral damage in whatever storm you’re brewing.”

At that, Alex stepped closer to Draven, his expression unreadable. He leaned in and whispered just loud enough for only Draven to hear, “I know about the breach you orchestrated on the Arcane Forge’s system. That hidden hacker you thought no one would find out about? I know it was you.

And I also know you pinned the blame on your brother.

One report to your father, the Dwarven King, and you’ll be banished faster than you can hack a system.”

Draven stiffened.

His eyes widened. A drop of sweat rolled down his temple. “How… how do you know that?!”

Alex just gave him a sly wink.

Draven immediately knew one thing—this guy was not ordinary.

In a complete 180-degree turn, Draven threw himself at Alex, locking arms with him like they were childhood pals.

“Alex, my brother! Of course we’re friends! I would go to war with you, into the abyss itself, through realms unknown and trials unforgiving! Let’s go to the cafeteria! I’m starved!”

The entire group stared at the sudden transformation.

“Yep, he definitely threatened him with something shady,” Seraphina muttered.

“Most definitely,” Charlotte said with a smirk.

Ethan leaned toward Alden. “A hundred thousand credits says Alex blackmailed him.”

“I’m not betting against facts,” Alden replied.

Ava stared at Alex with a growing sense of horror and awe. “He… he’s terrifying,” she whispered, inching closer to Seraphina.

Seraphina patted her head. “Don’t worry, he’s not a bad guy.”

Only Charlotte kept a thoughtful gaze on Alex, her eyes narrowing. ‘What kind of dirt does he have on a dwarven prince? And how did a commoner even get that information?’

She glanced to her side and noticed Ethan was staring at Alex too.

Suspiciously.

Alex, meanwhile, clapped his hands loudly. “Now that all misunderstandings are settled—” (they weren’t), “—let’s grab something to eat!”

—

The cafeteria was located on the 9th floor, a sprawling, multi-level atrium of elegance and grandeur. Tall arching windows overlooked the floating training arenas and gardens below, while enchanted chandeliers of starlight floated across the ceiling.

The floors were made of polished obsidian marble veined with glowing silver, and countless tables—ranging from sleek modern booths to luxurious long tables for the cadets (For those who could afford it)—filled the area.

Dozens of food stations lined the perimeter, each one manned by top-tier chefs or enchanted constructs. A massive illusionary menu floated in the center of the hall, cycling through thousands of dishes—some from distant corners of Etheron, some from other civilizations, and even a few exotic options from Zenith itself.

As long as you had C.P. — Consumption Points — you could order anything in existence.

First-year students sat next to elite seniors, and the atmosphere was a buzzing blend of excitement, rivalry, and hunger. You could hear everything from idle gossip to strategic debates between squad leaders.

Draven’s eyes sparkled. “I almost forgot how amazing this place is. I’m going to order a plate of lava-roasted wyvern ribs with frost-melon glaze.”

Alex raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like a stomachache waiting to happen.”

The cafeteria was a spectacle. A multi-floor dome of shimmering crystal and silver alloy, floating chandeliers casting ambient light. Transparent floors revealed the many cooking zones staffed by kitchen AIs and magic constructs.

No matter your taste—intergalactic seafood, Dwarven brews, Elven cuisine, or plain Earth-style burgers—it had everything.

And the best part? The moment Alex and his group walked through the front entrance, every eye turned to them.

All of them were from the Special Class. All of them were good-looking. All of them walked like they owned the place.

The crowd collectively thought the same thing:

The cool kids have arrived.

As Alex and his group entered the Zenith Academy Cafeteria, a hush fell over the hall. Students turned to stare, recognizing the elite members of the special class walking together like a parade of young legends.

Ethan, Alden, Seraphina, Charlotte, and Draven were used to such attention and barely reacted. They walked with calm confidence, like it was just another day.

Alex, however, reveled in it.

Head held high, a smug grin on his face, he soaked in the stares like they were applause. He even gave a cheeky finger-gun to a group of gaping first-years.

‘So this is what it feels like to be one of the popular ones,’ Alex thought smugly.

Beside him, Ava looked overwhelmed. She shrank slightly under the weight of the crowd’s eyes until Seraphina leaned down and murmured, “Ignore them. They’ll move on.”

Ava nodded, comforted.

They found a luxurious table, and after some casual banter, someone finally brought it up.

“So, what was that all about?” Ethan asked, glancing at Draven.

Before the dwarf could say a word, Alex covered his mouth with a too-big smile. “We just got lost before orientation, ended up in the forest, fought a few beasts. A professor helped us out. No biggie.”

Draven gave him an exhausted glare. He didn’t even try to make the lie convincing.

Still, no one pushed for the truth. It was too funny watching Alex try to cover it up.

Charlotte suddenly clapped her hands. “Let’s celebrate Alex becoming the Apex! He should pay for lunch.”

Alex choked. “Eh?”

Ethan and Alden exchanged sheepish grins.

“He’s the richest among us now,” Alden said innocently.

“Totally,” Ethan added. “Let’s see… what’s the most expensive thing on the menu?”

“Try the Dragon-Steak wrapped in Stellar Silver Truffle Sauce,” Seraphina chimed in, grinning.

Alex stood up, slamming the table. “I’m NOT paying for all of you!”

Everyone except Ava gave him a terrifying look.

“YES. YOU. ARE,” they said in unison.

Alex wilted back into his seat. “I’m not scared. I’m just… reserving my energy.”

Draven snorted. “Sure you are, Apex.”

Reluctantly, Alex got up and pointed at Alden. “You’re coming with me!”

“Nope!” Alden replied instantly, arms folded. “You made your bed. Go lie in it.”

“Take Ava,” Charlotte suggested sweetly. “She could use the experience.”

Ava froze. “W-what?”

Seraphina nudged her. “You’ll be fine. Just try.”

Ava gulped, then slowly stood up. “O-okay.”

Alex sighed dramatically and pulled out a scroll to jot down everyone’s order.

“Two Thunderboar Cutlets, a Starlight Egg Tart, Kraken Ink Pasta, lava-roasted wyvern ribs with frost-melon glaze, and a bottle of Crimson Dew—” He squinted at the orders. “Are these orders or a spellbook?!”

Only Ava’s order was reasonable—breaded veggie bites and strawberry juice.

He looked at her with teary eyes. “You’re a gift from the heavens.”

When the final tally came in…

2.5 Million C.P.

Alex’s soul left his body.

So what if I’m rich? I prefer profiting from others, not the other way around…

So what if he had a 4-million C.P. monthly limit. The perks of being an Apex.

Muttering like a condemned man, Alex strode to the counter with Ava.

Of course, as Apex, he didn’t need to wait in line.

“Order for… Apex Dragonheart,” he grumbled.

Ava nodded beside him, trying to stay calm.

But just as they finished, they felt multiple presences behind them.

Before either could react—

SPLAT!

Something gooey, sticky, and reddish-brown splashed onto their heads.

Spaghetti. No, worse—Elven Honey-Goo Pasta with molten cheese and jelly garnish.

Ava gasped as it oozed down her hair.

Alex stood still, a drip sliding down his silver locks.

His expression turned cold.

Dead cold.

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