"Ronnie," whispered Ronnie in a hushed tone, "the impending exam will soon reach its conclusion; we must hold our ground until time runs out."
In a blaze of fire, the mighty dragon suspended itself mid-air behind the crimson-haired man.
A silent understanding passed between the two adversaries, an unspoken desire for a battle entwined their thoughts, yet neither took a step forward.
"To think Lord Arkus would choose a mere child over one of his own; how utterly disappointing," said the Liege of Frost.
Michael returning to his former self, devoid of the zombie-like visage, retracting his claws and extinguishing the red glow in his eyes. He stood there, an ordinary human garbed in a somber black vest.
"And I presume you must be Bezant? The ruler of bees and ants? More like the ruler of insects," sneered the enigmatic figure, causing Bezant to walk past Michael, his tattered wings and elongated antennae trailing behind him.
Bezant halted, gazing into the rift forged by Zombiak, casting a malevolent glare of bloodlust upon the two figures before him.
As the pieces fell into place and Michael pieced together the words, a realization struck him with crystal clarity: Bezant longed for his demise.
It became apparent that the individual responsible for bestowing upon Michael the powers of the zombie Liege must have been the cause of Bezant's partner's demise.
Killing Michael, consumed with vengeance for the former zombie Liege, would serve as a vindication of justice for Bezant. Thus, if Bezant acted solely out of retribution, did that make him the savior?
And if Bezant was the harbinger of salvation, who were those two, boasting with the audacity of a simmering pressure cooker?
A resounding thunderstorm erupted, the heavens crackled with bolts of ebony and cerulean lightning, capturing the attention of all present, including the two enigmatic rulers.
"Hmm... it appears the other Liege has sensed the boy's presence," remarked the cold-hearted figure, surveying the red-blooded eclipse that enshrouded the skies.
'Other Lieges... are there more lurking in the shadows? How many of them are malevolent?'
Michael pondered to himself, but Bezant, who stood fifty meters away, responded as if whispering directly into Michael's mind.
"All of them... all ten Lieges, except for the zombie Liege. You, however, are an exception. And since you resemble him so closely, they shan't hesitate to exact their 100,000-year-awaited vengeance," Bezant proclaimed.
Micheal remained undeterred and unafraid, much to Bezant's surprise. It was a surprise, after all, since Bezant expected this human insect to quiver like all the others and likely perish from fear.
Little did Bezant know, this human insect might prove to be even more formidable than the former zombie Liege.
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Bezant had detected a glimmer of humanity within the late zombie Liege, a weakness. However, this one...
"This one possesses no affinity for humankind, his heart brims with ruination and villainous notions," Bezant mused.
-[The Survivors Will Now Be Transported to the Academy in One Minute]
"Let us hope that this moment does not transpire into an eternity," Ronnie silently mused to himself.
Their collective attention was seized by the icy-footed strides of the Frost Liege, freezing nearby trees and even a titan foolish enough to interrupt his path.
"Surrender yourself, Michael, and perhaps you will escape unscathed," the cold figure commanded.
Michealangelo smirked, locked eyes with Bezant, and intuitively understood that Bezant would stand by any decision he made.
In a fraction of a second, Michael's black vest emanated a crimson glow, mirroring his eyes and fiery tresses.
To the astonishment of the Frost Liege, Michael had the audacity to raise his middle finger in defiance, a smirk adorning his face. Bezant disappeared, but not before issuing a warning to Michael.
"Don't think we're pals; I shall still claim your life."
-[The Survivors Have Now Been Transported to the Academy]
"Until we meet again, losers," Ronnie finally found the courage to speak, no longer deprived of his ability to breathe for more than two seconds.
———
With a resounding thud, four survivors found themselves seated on the ground, their eyes fixed upon the towering structure before them.
This environment, encapsulated within a round holographic shield, created a sense of protection, albeit within a shattered world.
Adorned with a red and black emblem of a fiery fist, the shield contained a billion civilians, shielding them from the ravages of the apocalypse beyond its transparent blue surface.
Sharing bloodied clothes, bruised faces, and expressions of relief, the survivors exuded an air of resilience and anticipation for what lay ahead.
Ronnie, in his customary childish manner, uttered, "Yo Cassie... didn't think you'd make it out alive."
Cassie, brushing off the remark, retorted, "Getting hold of this girl is no easy task."
A male survivor chimed in, mocking Cassie, "And I managed to catch her and tie her up in a tree," causing Cassie to jump in surprise.
As the group contemplated their next steps, Ronnie's words jarred the somber atmosphere, reminding them of the six members they had lost during the exam. The weight of their absence commanded a profound and solemn silence.
Suddenly, a man with fiery red hair materialized before them, dressed in a sharp black and red suit. Sporting a cold and piercing gaze, he addressed the students, prompting them to snap into a salute posture, standing up straight.
"Greetings, students," he began.
His unexpected appearance left the students stunned, their hearts pounding with a mix of anticipation and reverence.In a commanding voice, he declared.
"You have successfully passed the grueling exam. However, instead of starting as level one students, you will be automatically upgraded to level three cadets of the apocalypse."
In an instant, the four students received automatic level-ups, their statuses changing before their eyes, a testament to their progress and growth.
-[Ronnie Has leveled Up To level Three Apocalypse protector class]
-[Congratulations Senior:]
-[Micheal Has leveled Up To level Three Apocalypse protector class]
-[Congratulations Senior:]
-[Brian Has leveled Up To level Three Apocalypse protector class]
-[Congratulations Senior:]
-[Cassie Has leveled Up To level Three Apocalypse protector class]
-[Congratulations Senior:]
Filled with gratitude, they couldn't help but appreciate the system's commendations. However, Ronnie, ever the light-hearted one, dared to ask the question lingering on their minds—when they would finally get to eat.
Laughter filled the air, even breaking the cold demeanor of the apocalypse sergeant, who smirked at their innocent inquiry.
"Yes, it is true that many students are here for the meals, and some are here to fight against the apocalypse. But tell me, junior cadets, what are you here for?" he posed.
Ronnie, ever the honest one, spoke on behalf of the group, "Honestly, sir, we're here for the food, right guys?"
Cassie and Michael exchanged glances, fighting back laughter, while the apocalypse sergeant's stoic expression seemed to waver momentarily.
"Ah, there always seems to be a joker among the group," he remarked. "You will receive meals after successfully completing our daily deadly missions."
Ronnie's swallow was audible, his anticipation quickly tempered by the daunting knowledge of the perils that lay ahead.
"Now, for the time being, clean up," the sergeant commanded, his tone final.
Just as he was about to leave, he turned around with a final warning for Michael.
"Mr. Michael, I don't want you spawning any zombies here, and remember... the ladies in the academy admire men with armies. But I don't want you causing any trouble with your flirtatious nature, no smutting around"
He cautioned, sending shockwaves through the group as the realization sank in that Michael possessed the ability to spawn zombies.
However, Michael brushed off the suggestion of no smutting around. He smirks and mused silently to himself.
'Ain't nobody gonna tell me how to live my life, beauties here I come'
While Michael and Brian followed the apocalypse sergeant, Cassie and Ronnie shared a moment of resignation and understanding. Cassie could only look at Ronnie, who offered a brief response:
"Long story..."