Chapter 17: A Shift in Tempo


    <hr>


    The Morning of the Selection


    Axel woke up with a strange feeling in his gut.


    It wasn’t fear, exactly.


    More like the weight of something inevitable.


    By the end of the day, the twelve fighters for the Apex Tournament would be announced.


    By the end of the day, he would know if he was one of them.


    Tempo, curled up at the foot of his bed, stirred as Axel sat up.


    The little monkey blinked once, then twice, stretching out his limbs in a way that seemed… oddly deliberate.


    Axel rubbed his face. “You good, buddy?”


    Tempo paused, his golden eyes locking onto Axel’s with an intensity that wasn’t usually there.


    Then, very clearly—


    “Yes.”


    Axel froze.


    “…What?”


    Tempo tilted his head. “Yes. I am… good.”


    Axel stared.


    Tempo had always been expressive, always communicated through gestures, sounds, and the occasional mischievous fart noise.


    But this?


    This was new.


    This was speech.


    Tempo scratched his chin, looking vaguely intrigued by his own words. “Hm. Strange. That felt… easier than before.”


    Axel’s brain short-circuited.


    He grabbed Tempo by the shoulders. “Dude. Are you—are you suddenly talking now? Like, full-on?”


    Tempo hummed thoughtfully, like he was testing out his own voice. “Not sure. Feels… different.”


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    He tapped the side of his head.


    Axel’s holo-band beeped.


    <blockquote>


    Cipher Beast Bond Update:


    → Intelligence Surge Detected


    → Neural Processing Capabilities Enhanced


    </blockquote>


    Axel’s mouth went dry.


    “…What the hell?”


    Tempo grinned. “You sound shocked.”


    Axel let out a strangled laugh. “You—YOU SOUND LIKE A FREAKIN’ PROFESSOR.”


    Tempo chuckled. “Strange, isn’t it? My thoughts feel… clearer.” He flexed his fingers, testing his motor control. “I believe our bond evolution has unlocked new cognitive pathways.”


    Axel could not process what was happening.


    Yesterday, Tempo was barely speaking in single words.


    Today, he was explaining neural pathways.


    This was too much.


    “…Do you still do fart noises?” Axel asked dumbly.


    Tempo smirked. “Of course. But now? Strategically.”


    Axel threw a pillow at him.


    <hr>


    Processing the Change


    After a very confusing morning of watching Tempo analyze his own intelligence like a scientist who had just discovered himself, Axel decided he needed help.


    Which was how he ended up dragging Tempo to Iris.


    The moment she saw Axel’s panicked expression, she sighed. “What happened now?”


    Axel pointed at Tempo. “Fix him.”


    Tempo folded his arms. “There is nothing to fix. I have simply… upgraded.”


    Iris’s eyes widened. “Wait. Is he… speaking clearly now?”


    Axel gestured wildly. “YES.”


    Iris, instead of freaking out, leaned forward, fascinated. “This is incredible.”


    Tempo grinned. “I agree.”


    Axel slumped into a chair. “You guys are both nerds.”


    Iris ignored him. “How do you feel, Tempo? Can you think faster? Do you remember more?”


    Tempo tapped his temple. “Yes. My awareness has expanded. I can recall past battles with greater clarity. Analyze patterns more efficiently.”


    Iris nodded, taking notes on her holo-tablet. “That makes sense. Bond-based evolution isn’t always physical. Some Cipher Beasts develop greater instincts, others—like Tempo—gain intelligence.”


    Axel blinked. “So… this is permanent?”


    Iris smiled. “Looks like it.”


    Axel sighed. “Great. My Cipher Beast is now smarter than me.”


    Tempo smirked. “To be fair, that wasn’t a high bar.”


    Iris snorted.


    Axel glared. “I hate both of you.”


    <hr>


    New Strength, New Problems


    Tempo’s increased intelligence changed a lot of things.


    His combat movements were sharper, more strategic. He could now predict attacks better, analyze enemy fighting styles, and—worst of all—lecture Axel on his mistakes.


    “Your reaction time is still slow,” Tempo said during training.


    Axel panted, wiping sweat from his brow. “I’d like to see you do better.”


    Tempo casually dodged three incoming attacks from a training drone without looking.


    Axel glared. “I take it back. You suck.”


    Tempo bowed. “Thank you.”


    Rook, watching from the sidelines, was howling with laughter. “Oh, I love this. Your own Cipher Beast is roasting you!”


    Axel groaned. “I regret everything.”


    But deep down?


    He knew this was huge.


    Tempo wasn’t just stronger.


    He was becoming something more.


    And with the Apex Tournament approaching, Axel had a feeling this was only the beginning.