Apocalypse Baby-Chapter 241: Proctor

Didn't matter how powerful the god was—Alex wanted to be in control of his body 24/7.

No exceptions.

"So... what do you say? Will you still refuse the meeting?" Adam's voice held a faint edge now. Less polite. More curious. Maybe even a little desperate.

Alex didn't flinch.

"Yes."

Adam blinked.

"You're not even going to consider it?"

"Nope." Alex's tone was flat.

Final.

Like he'd already moved on in his head.

Adam stared for a beat, clearly not used to hearing no.

Especially not when the Dragon Emperor was involved.

A quiet moment passed.

Then Adam let out a breath and shifted gears.

"You're not a new realm player..." He squinted, really looking at Alex now. "So how the hell did you get so strong so fast?"

Alex shrugged like it was nothing.

"Strong? I don't consider myself strong."

Adam narrowed his eyes.

Yeah. He wasn't buying that for a second.

"Well..." Adam leaned in slightly. "Your power is way beyond what anyone should be capable of in the tutorial. There's no way you're just some regular player."

"Is it? I don't think so," Alex replied casually.

Follow curr𝒆nt nov𝒆ls on fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com.

"Why are you trying to avoid the topic?" Adam asked, folding his arms.

"Am I?"

"You are."

"I don't think so."

"Stop talking like that."

"Like how?"

Adam let out a groan and facepalmed, dragging a hand down his face in pure frustration.

Alex grinned—inwardly, of course.

The guy standing in front of him was supposed to be this serious, deadly type with that whole silent-warrior energy.

Instead, he was flailing like a sitcom side character.

Way too dramatic. Not at all the mysterious badass from earlier.

Alex found it kind of amusing.

Seeing Adam casually chatting with a tutorial player, a wave of confusion spread through the crowd.

Especially among the new realm players.

They could feel it—Alex's energy didn't match a normal tutorial player's. But even still, why was Adam—the chosen candidate of the strongest deity—talking to him?

Whispers rippled across the arena.

Then, someone decided to step in.

A single figure broke away from a group of new realm elites and started walking toward them with confident, measured steps.

The nearby players let out low sighs.

"Ugh. Here comes trouble."

"Why's he getting involved?"

"Figures. He can't resist drama."

But of course they dare not voice out their dislike,

"Adam," the newcomer called out, voice smooth but sharp.

Alex turned.

A new player was approaching—tall and lean, dressed in flowing silver-and-purple robes that shimmered faintly with arcane energy.

Dozens of rings glittered on his fingers, each pulsing with power.

He had pale skin, long white hair that looked almost metallic, and an air of someone who thought very highly of himself.

Alex raised an eyebrow.

"Who's that guy?" he asked.

"Mikel Vladros," Adam responded with a heavy exhale, his tone low, almost reluctant.

"Vladros?" Alex repeated, his mind racing.

The name clicked in his head. It was familiar—he knew he'd heard it before.

He quickly checked his previous notifications.

[The Blood Monarch - Vladros demands a meeting with you]

[The Blood Monarch - Vladros demands a meeting with you]

Alex's eyes widened.

It was him alright.

The damn blood monarch.

Great, just what he needed.

Another candidate of a troublesome deity.

"What do you want, Vladros?" Adam asked, his voice flat.

Mikel tilted his head slightly, his pale eyes glinting with curiosity as he scanned Alex.

"Who is he?" Mikel asked, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Alex noticed that Mikel's gaze never quite landed on him, his eyes flicking past him like he wasn't even there.

Adam, on the other hand, was having a whole different reaction.

He casually placed a hand on Alex's neck, like they were best friends, and said, "He might be my new best friend."

Mikel, still not fully acknowledging Alex, raised an eyebrow and asked, "A candidate?"

"Possibly?" Adam replied nonchalantly.

Alex shot Adam a sharp, questioning stare. What the hell are you doing?

But Adam just grinned, completely unfazed.

Alex sighed in exasperation.

Seriously, this guy?

Finally, Mikel's gaze snapped toward Alex.

His eyes narrowed slightly as he scanned him up and down.

He scoffed, almost dismissive.

"Hmm. You're certainly not normal, but you're still weak. I see no reason why the Dragon Emperor would be interested in you."

Alex raised an eyebrow, unfazed.

"What's it to you?"

Mikel's lip curled into a sneer.

"I just find it... repulsing. That someone as pathetic as you think he's worthy of the Dragon Emperor's legacy."

Alex's brow furrowed in annoyance.

"You sound jealous."

"Jealous?" Mikel's tone was dripping with disdain.

Alex smirked, leaning slightly forward.

"Why? Isn't your deity enough? His feelings will be hurt when he finds out his son wants to kiss another daddy's foot."

Mikel's face twisted in fury.

"You bastard, you're quite gutsy."

Alex didn't flinch. He shot a sharp look back.

"And you're quite arrogant. It's repulsive."

Mikel's expression turned cold, his voice dripping with superiority. "Are you trying to provoke me?" He spoke as if addressing an insect beneath his boot. "You have no idea of the gap between us."

Alex raised an eyebrow, unbothered.

He casually bumped his fist into his palm with a taunting grin. "By all means, enlighten me. I haven't beaten up a new realm player before."

Mikel's face reddened with rage, his aura beginning to surge and crackle with raw power. The air around him grew heavy, vibrating with the intensity of his anger.

"You bastard!!"

But just as the tension between them reached its peak, a booming voice cut through the air like a whip.

"Enough!!"

The voice wasn't thunderous, but it carried an undeniable weight—each word cutting through the air like a sharp blade. Without any need for volume, it demanded attention. Every head snapped toward the source.

Emerging from the shadows, a figure in a flowing white robe adorned with golden swirls moved toward them. The robe shimmered as it caught the light, giving off an almost ethereal glow. But it was the figure's face that sent chills down Alex's spine.

Instead of a normal face, there was only swirling darkness—an endless void that seemed to twist and shift. It was unsettling, like staring into the abyss itself.

The figure moved to the center, its every step silent yet purposeful. The players instinctively formed a wide circle around it, the space crackling with anticipation.

"It's the proctor," someone whispered, their voice laced with awe.

Mikel, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, slowly reined in his aura.

With one last venomous glare at Alex, he turned and walked away, leaving the center open for the proctor.

Alex grinned.

His excitement grew as he stared at the calm figure standing motionless in the middle of the circle.

The tension in the air was palpable, and Alex couldn't suppress his thrill.

He knew what was coming next.

The first selection's about to begin.