The Villain's Apocalypse-Chapter 56: Dean

Chapter 56: Dean

swish–!

He vanished from the entrance gate and reappeared inside a completely new area. It was a wide hallway, even wider than the one in the Royal Palace. The hallway was surrounded by sturdy white pillars crafted from some unknown material. Each pillar bore strange (ᛒ)-shaped runes etched across their tops and bottoms.

’Is that a Bluetooth symbol?’ he chuckled inwardly, a rare flicker of nostalgia warming his chest. The rune bore a striking resemblance to something he hadn’t seen in ages.

Above him, dozens of massive chandeliers and lanterns hung in elegant clusters, illuminating the vast corridor with radiant, gentle light. The chandeliers were immense—each easily twice his size.

’That’s... pretty big.’ He thought, wandering around the hallway.

His gaze then shifted downward to the sprawling marble floor beneath his feet, which was covered in intricate, ancient carvings and mesmerizing patterns that pulsed faintly with ambient mana.

’Hmm...the mana density here is almost on par with the Royal Palace. Maybe even higher,’ he mused, a small smile curling his lips. ’The Academy really is the ideal place for growth and cultivation.’

Moments later, Celestine appeared with a soft hum of space magic, landing a few steps behind him. She nonchalantly brushed her silky crimson hair over one shoulder and met his gaze with a calm, unreadable look.

They stared at one another for a moment before Cassian broke the silence.

"Where are we?"

"We’re inside the Main Building," she replied, walking past him with effortless poise. "Follow me. We’re running late."

Cassian gave a slight nod and followed behind. After a short walk, they arrived at a massive assembly of teenagers, all around the ages of sixteen to eighteen. The students looked vastly different from one another, dressed in a variety of noble, formal, and even eccentric outfits. Expressions ranged across the spectrum—some were excited, some confident, others anxious or aloof.

And amidst them all, Cassian von Luminaire stepped forward, standing out like the sun in the night sky.

The moment Cassian stepped into the hall with the other students, dozens of gazes turned toward him.

Whispers erupted instantly.

"Isn’t that...?"

"The Crown Prince?!"

"He’s really here..."

Unlike them, Cassian walked with composed, effortless grace—his golden eyes gleaming, his posture refined, and not a trace of hesitation in his steps. His regal dark-gold attire shimmered faintly beneath the radiant chandeliers, and Genesis’s obsidian-black scabbard swung gently with each step.

Some stared in awe.

Others narrowed their eyes.

There were even a few who scoffed, not out of disdain, but self-preserving arrogance, trying to convince themselves that he wasn’t as impressive as the rumors claimed.

Cassian paid none of them any mind. He had already expected this. Fame came with pressure, and with pressure came eyes.

’It’s starting.’

He recalled how the original cast first met in this very hall. A chaotic introduction, alliances and rivalries forming, hidden talents clashing in silence.

Now that he was here, things would inevitably diverge from the original plot.

Celestine stopped near a raised marble platform at the front of the gathering.

"Stand here," she instructed Cassian, motioning beside her. "You’re one of the representatives."

"Representative?" he echoed with a faint smile. "How unexpected."

"I didn’t say it was optional," she replied smoothly.

Cassian sighed and complied. He stood there silently while the crowd buzzed in low murmurs. Despite the lackluster presence of the previous Cassian within the Empire, he was still very popular among the citizens. They were always curious about the future Emperor who would inherit the throne someday.

"He looks quite different..."

"Yeah, he doesn’t resemble the rumors at all..."

"What rumors?"

"The rumors of him being a cold and eccentric person. In fact, he looks quite the opposite with that handsome smile across his face."

Cassian simply searched for the main characters within the crowd, while ignoring those useless comments about him.

’It will take a while to find them.’

More professors began appearing through portals at the sides—some old, some young, all exuding tremendous power. They stood in an arc behind the platform.

Then—thump.

The sound of a staff hitting the ground echoed like a thunderclap, spreading throughout the entire hallway.

The crowd instantly fell silent.

An old man walked up the stage, each of his steps echoing with strange resonance. He had a long flowing robe adorned with stardust-like embroidery. His beard was silver, trailing down to his chest, and his blue eyes gleamed with wisdom, as though he was some kind of ancient being who have experienced a lot of things in his life.

Even Cassian felt a slight tremor run down his spine.

’That’s...’

"The Dean," Celestine whispered beside him, "Zeraphiel Solrain—the strongest known Magus of this era."

Zeraphiel stood tall, yet every fiber of his being radiated ancientness. Not frailty—but time-worn power, as if he had seen countless lifetimes pass by like fleeting moments.

"Welcome," he finally spoke, and his voice alone seemed to calm the air around them, resonating deep within their souls.

"Each of you has been chosen from thousands across the Empire. Some by merit, some by lineage, and some by fate. You stand now at the entrance to SolHaven Academy—not merely as students, but as the next pillars of this fractured world."

A pause.

"I will not coddle you. Nor will I waste your time with empty words. Growth demands pain. Power demands sacrifice. You will face both in the days ahead."

Cassian narrowed his eyes, taking in every word.

"I see hope in your eyes," Zeraphiel continued. "Good. Hope is fuel. But remember this—hope alone will not save you from what’s coming."

That last sentence struck like a hammer. Cassian’s gaze sharpened.

’Did he notice something?’ He thought, feeling Genesis tremble slightly under his grasp.

Zeraphiel’s eyes flickered toward him, just for a second. But in that moment, Cassian felt as though his soul had been laid bare.

"And now, let the sorting begin."

The floor beneath them rumbled.

Several grand doors at the far end of the hall creaked open—revealing five enormous crystal pillars, each glowing with a different color: Red, Blue, Green, White, and Violet.

"Approach the central dais one by one," a voice instructed. "Your mana, essence, and potential will determine your House."

’So it begins... the House Selection Ceremony.’

Cassian straightened his back. The Academy arc was finally starting, and now, he had officially entered the storyline. From here on out, he would have to remain careful about his identity as well as his powers.

’Inspect.’

[STATUS SCREEN]

Name: Zeraphiel Solrain

Title: The Archsorcerer Supreme

Race: Human (Awakened)

Age: 55

Energy Source: Mana

Elements: Storm

Main Stage: Sublimation

Sub Stage: Divine

Rank: Supreme

’Truly a monster...’ He whispered, sneaking a glance at the Dean’s old face. This old man’s true powers were unfathomable, perhaps even approaching legendary status.

Shaking his head, he lifted his head and stared at the multi-colored pillars.

"It’s time to meet them." He smiled, taking a step forward.