Chapter 19: A Gathering of Beasts


    <hr>


    A Name Among Legends


    Axel Mercer never expected to see his name alongside legends in the making.


    But there it was.


    Apex Tournament Roster – Official Selections:


    <ol>


    <li>Jace Stroud – Storm Wyvern, Stratos</li>


    <li>Sienna Vale – Mirror Serpent, Lazuriel</li>


    <li>Ryder Voss – Gorehound, Brutus</li>


    <li>Leona Graves – Frost Titan, Tundrak</li>


    <li>Dante Moros – Shadow Stalker, Umbros</li>


    <li>Elara Caine – Phantom Moth, Veyna</li>


    <li>Orion Blackwell – Iron Drake, Tyranis</li>


    <li>Sylva Lin – Thorn Valkyrie, Eidrel</li>


    <li>Cassian Rho – Blood Raptor, Zyrix</li>


    <li>Valeria Nyx – Abyssal Wraith, Nocturne</li>


    <li>Axel Mercer – Cipher Monkey, Tempo</li>


    <li>Lysandra Hallow – Ember Siren, Calista</li>


    </ol>


    Axel stared at his name.


    His stomach twisted.


    The others on this list? They were elites.


    Jace? He was the academy’s golden prodigy. Sienna was a tactical mastermind. Ryder? A berserker with a beast to match.


    And Axel?


    He had a monkey.


    Tempo, perched on his shoulder, read the list over his head.


    “Hmm.”


    Axel side-eyed him. “What?”


    Tempo smirked. “They put our names below someone called ‘Lysandra Hallow.’ This suggests one of two things.”


    Axel sighed. “Here we go.”


    “One—our combat potential is deemed questionable.”


    Axel frowned. “And two?”


    Tempo’s golden eyes gleamed.


    “The organizers have made a terrible miscalculation.”


    Axel grinned.


    “That’s the spirit.”


    <hr>


    Sizing Up the Competition


    After the selection ceremony, the twelve fighters were given access to a private training sector, where they could finally get a look at who they’d be fighting alongside.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    Axel was already regretting it.


    Because these people?


    They were monsters.


    Jace, of course, was all business, standing near the edge of the field with Stratos curled behind him like a storm ready to strike. His piercing blue eyes scanned everyone, already calculating weaknesses.


    Sienna sat gracefully on a hovering platform, Lazuriel flickering in and out of visibility, her Mirror Serpent playing tricks on the light.


    Ryder was cracking his knuckles, laughing loudly with Leona, whose massive Frost Titan, Tundrak, loomed behind her like a moving glacier.


    Then there was Dante.


    Dante had barely moved since they arrived. His Cipher Beast, Umbros, a sleek Shadow Stalker, was so silent it felt like a ghost.


    Axel wasn’t sure if the guy even breathed.


    And then—


    There were the girls.


    Axel was doing fine until he actually got a good look at them.


    Elara Caine. Tall, elegant, with long silver hair that almost glowed under the artificial lights. Her Phantom Moth, Veyna, hovered above her shoulders, its luminescent wings pulsing with quiet menace.


    Sylva Lin. Lean and sharp-eyed, her arms crossed as Eidrel, her Thorn Valkyrie, flicked its petal-like wings, its blade-like appendages gleaming.


    And then—


    There was Valeria Nyx.


    Dark, wavy hair, piercing crimson eyes, and an expression that said, I will either fight you or flirt with you. Maybe both.


    Her Cipher Beast, Nocturne, was an Abyssal Wraith, its form shifting between shadow and substance, giving Axel the distinct impression it was watching him specifically.


    Valeria’s eyes swept over him.


    Then she smirked.


    Axel felt a cold chill crawl up his spine.


    Tempo leaned closer. “You’re in danger.”


    Axel swallowed. “Yeah. I noticed.”


    <hr>


    Rivalries and Challenges


    "Mercer."


    Axel turned—right into Jace’s intense stare.


    He barely had time to react before Jace crossed his arms, his tone unreadable.


    "Spar with me."


    Silence.


    Heads turned.


    Ryder grinned like this was the best thing he’d ever heard. Sienna looked mildly interested.


    Axel?


    Axel was already regretting existing.


    He let out a slow breath. "You serious?"


    Jace nodded. "I need to see how much you''ve improved."


    Axel raised an eyebrow. "Or you just want an excuse to beat me again?"


    Jace smirked. “Both.”


    Ryder clapped Axel on the back. “Oh, this is gonna be fun.”


    Axel sighed. “Define fun.”


    Leona leaned against Tundrak. “Fun means you surviving for at least a minute.”


    Axel groaned. “Great. Love the confidence, guys.”


    But even as he complained, he felt it.


    That flicker of excitement.


    The chance to prove that he wasn’t just some underdog thrown into the deep end.


    And Tempo?


    Tempo grinned.


    “We will not lose.”


    Axel smirked.


    “Damn right.”


    <hr>


    A Little Too Much Attention


    As Axel stepped onto the sparring field, he felt someone watching him.


    Valeria.


    Her arms were crossed, that damn smirk still on her lips.


    She leaned toward Sienna. "Think he can keep up?"


    Sienna adjusted her glasses. "He''s unpredictable."


    Valeria hummed. "Unpredictable is fun."


    Axel shuddered.


    This was getting complicated.


    And if the way Elara, Sylva, and Lysandra were also watching was anything to go by…


    It was about to get worse.


    Tempo noticed too.


    And the little monkey?


    Looked way too amused.


    Axel groaned.


    “I’m gonna die.”


    Tempo patted his head.


    “At least you’ll die surrounded by beautiful women.”


    Axel cursed everything.