Chapter 17: Peak Stage
The air in the dormitory was thick with the scent of old parchment.
Evan sat cross-legged on his bed, the heavy velvet curtains drawn tight to create a makeshift sanctuary. In the palm of his hand, the Five Minute Qi Reducing Blood Worm had gone dormant, its orange, bee-like body fading into a dull grey now that its job was done.
Inside his body, the real storm was brewing.
For the last week, Evan hadn’t slept really much. His A-Rank aperture was a swirling the crimson Qi. Unlike the other students who struggled to scrape together enough Qi to even put a single crack on the walls of their aperture.
Crack.
The sound echoed only in his mind, sharp as a breaking bone. The silver wall of the middle stage cracked and a new dark silver wall, representing the peak stage had formed. The feeling was intoxicating, like a starving man who hadn’t ate in days was finally sitting before a feast.
He had done it. In two weeks he had reached Peak stage, just as Harry had expected.
’Yes! I finally did it!’
As soon as he reached Peak stage the system gave a message.
[ Quest Completed ]
[ Leveled up ]
[ Stage upgraded ]
[ Stage : Peak ]
[ Special Reward : + 2 stats ]
Evan seeing the two stats got a bit excited and opened the attributes section
[ ATTRIBUTES ]
[ Strength : 6 ]
[ Stamina : 5 ]
[ Stats available : 2 ]
He put one stat in the strength attribute and one in the stamina. Turning Strength into seven and Stamina to six.
He let out a long, shaky breath. He felt powerful, but the weight of the secret was getting heavier. He pulled back the curtains and saw Santiago sitting on the floor nearby, obsessively polishing a small dagger. Hannah was nowhere to be seen, likely in the common area trying to convince someone else that Teacher Paul was a misunderstood genius.
’Santiago.’, Evan hissed.
Santiago looked up dropping his dagger, his eyes widening
’What’s up?’
Evan hopped down from the fifth-level bunk, landing silently. He leaned into Santiago’s ear
’I hit the peak.’
Santiago froze.
’The peak of what?’
’The Fledgling Stage, you idiot.’, Evan whispered.
Santiago’s jaw hit the floor. He grabbed Evan by the shoulders.
’Are you insane? It’s been days! Most people take months just to put three or four cracks and You’re at the peak? well you do have that A-Rank Talent so what can I say.’
’Whatever.’ Evan said, glancing toward the door. "Where’s Hannah?"
’In the library looking up ’How to be a better Class President,.’ Santiago scoffed, though his hands were still shaking.
’Good. Don’t tell her. She’s nice, but she talks more than a parrot. If she finds out, the whole Academy will know by breakfast.’
Evan nodded.
’Keep the Qi Reducing Worms ready. I’m going to need to look like a struggling C-Rank even more now. The more power I have, the harder it is to hide.’
’Well my father is an elder that is why he knows that you’re an A-Rank, he is helping as much as he can but the Sect doesn’t have so many basic Qi reducing Blood Worms, I think you should cultivate to the Second rank called Awakened as soon as possible. You will be much safer after the academy.’
Miles away from the stone walls of the Academy, a grand carriage carved from black willow wood rolled silently over the dirt path, being pulled by four Skeletal rides
Inside, the atmosphere was far more dignified. Elder Xuan sat enveloped in his silk robes. Opposite to him sat Harry, the man who had been acting like a big brother to Evan.
Harry stared out the window at the passing silhouette of the mountains.
’The air is getting colder, we’re nearing the border of the Spectral Sect’s influence.’
’Let them watch.’, Elder Xuan said, his voice like grinding stones.
’They wouldn’t dare strike a carriage bearing the flag of the vampire sect.’
Harry turned away from the window, his expression turning serious.
’Lord Elder, about the boy. Evan. It has been several days since he entered the sect. The reports say he is keeping his head down, acting like a naive student.’
Elder Xuan smiled, a rare and terrifying sight.
’A wise predator hides its claws. He was born with an A-Rank, Harry. Most elders in this sect have B-Rank.’
’You think he’s progressed?’ Harry asked.
’I don’t think, Harry. I know the Law of Heavens.’ Elder Xuan replied, tapping his cane on the floorboards.
’An A-Rank talent doesn’t walk rather it soars. By my calculations, provided he hasn’t died of boredom in that Awakened Paul’s hand to hand combat class, the boy should have reached the Peak Fledgling Stage by tonight.’
’If he reaches the Awakened Stage before the first month is up, the sect won’t be able to hide him anymore., what if he joins the abyss path again?’
Elder Xuan looked at Harry with eyes that had seen centuries of slaughter.
’Then he will be the most beautiful disaster this world has ever seen. But I have faith in him, he will become the Supreme leader someday.’
Back at the Academy, Evan was unaware about the high-stakes conversation happening in the carriage. He was currently standing in the hallway, trying to look exhausted as Hannah approached him with a stack of books.
’Evan! There you are!’ she said, her blonde hair bouncing on her back.
’I found a book on the history of the Iron Men Sect. Did you know they once fought a Vampire Elder to a standstill using only their bare hands? It’s fascinating!’
Evan put on his best tired student face, rubbing his eyes.
’That’s great, Hannah, but you see I only have a C-Rank talent.’
Hannah’s face softened with pity, the exact reaction Evan wanted.
’Oh, don’t worry! Everyone moves at their own pace. I’ll help you study. We can go to the gardens tomorrow!’
Santiago, standing behind her, caught Evan’s eye and gave a subtle thumbs up.
Evan smiled weakly, but was happy inside his heart because this was the perfect disguise.
