Karn’s gaze was intense.
It cut through the hall, ignoring everyone else and landed squarely on Atticus.
When their eyes met, it was as if sparks ignited between them.
Those standing between them felt an involuntary shiver down their spines, and they immediately started casting glances around to locate the source of the unease they felt.
The two, however, didn’t seem to care. Neither of them radiated any killing intent; they simply stared, almost as if they were the only two in the hall.
‘Does he want to fight me?’
Atticus couldn’t guess what was going through Karn’s mind. He could remember this same intense gaze, just before Karn was teleported away after his defeat at the finals.
“Your performance during the Nexus was phenomenal. You’re truly amazing, Apex Karn.”
Various youths surrounded Karn, showering him with different words of praise, and yet he ignored all of them completely.
His focus remained solely on Atticus as he began to walk toward him with a calm, unreadable expression.
“Apex Karn?”
Seeing this, Atticus shifted his glass into his left hand, his right hand subtly inching toward the hilt of his katana within his trench coat.
Although his gaze remained calm, his mind was already racing, envisioning thousands of scenarios, strategies forming on how he could swiftly end the battle should Karn initiate a fight.
Noticing the scene, those nearby started inching away with their eyes wide.
They considered humans as inferior. However, it didn’t change the fact that a battle between those two monsters would likely level the hall, taking them along with it.
Finally, Karn closed the distance, stopping directly in front of Atticus. The other apexes across the room fixed their eyes on the two, quietly observing.
After all, Karn had lost to Atticus in the finals— a fact many of the youths were bitter about. None of them would be surprised if Karn too was still bitter.
A large space had opened around them, and just as the anticipation for a fight began to rise, Karn abruptly stretched out his arm for a handshake, his expression as impassive as ever.
Everyone, Atticus included, stared at Karn’s outstretched hand in mild disbelief. What was he planning? Was he setting up a sneak attack or trying to neutralize Atticus’s mana with a handshake? They were lost.
Regardless, despite the doubts, Atticus could see it in Karn’s eyes— there was no ill intent.
Atticus extended his hand, grasping Karn’s in a firm handshake. Neither broke their intense eye contact, the air around their handshake trembling.
After a few silent seconds, they released their hands, still saying nothing. Karn then turned and walked back to his original position.
The murmurs occurred immediately and they were relentless as the youths around them erupted into quiet chatter.
Many couldn’t help but wonder what the handshake meant— did this handshake mean they were now allies? Was Karn, a member of a superior race, actually acknowledging Atticus? The speculations grew as the significance of the gesture rippled through the room.
But the two who had started the whole thing returned to their own business as though nothing unusual had happened.
Karn resumed casting intense glares at those surrounding him, while Atticus continued observing his surroundings.
The hall was brightly lit, and a soothing melody played softly in the background, giving the space a classic vibe, especially with the elegant attire worn by the youths.
Each youth had a distinct style and physique, considering their diverse races, but one thing was certain: they were all dressed with a sense of refinement and class.
‘Looks like the Dimensari weren’t trying to mess with us, then,’ Atticus thought as he glanced at the other apexes.
They were dressed elaborately and they each stood out from the crowd. It was clear they were the main characters of the banquet.
In his brief scan of the room, Atticus’s gaze unexpectedly locked onto Carius’s. For just a moment, an intense killing intent flooded the hall, radiating from both of them.
But just as quickly, they both looked away, ignoring each other as though the nothing had happened.
‘How boring.’
A minute passed as Atticus continued to stroll through the hall. Despite his handshake with Karn, the other youths still kept their distance, but Atticus didn’t mind. If anything, he was frustrated at a completely different thing.
‘I wonder how far I’d be in my space element training if I were doing something useful instead of attending this pointless banquet.’
As the calming music resonated throughout the hall, someone finally approached him.
“Hello there, I’m Lirae Bloodveil.”
Atticus turned to his side to find an incredibly beautiful girl looking at him with a subtle smile, her hand extended in greeting.
He was mildly surprised but masked it well. He hadn’t had any interactions with the Vampyros apex before, nor had he fought her during the Nexus. Whatever her intentions were, he found it hard to believe they were harmless.
“Hi there, I’m Atticus Ravenstein. It’s nice to meet you,” he replied, extending his hand and shaking hers. Just as he moved to let go, he noticed she hadn’t released her grip.
“A gentleman should kiss the hand of a lady he finds attractive,” she remarked smoothly, a seductive smile appearing on her lips. “Am I not attractive enough for you?”
Atticus’s eyes widened slightly. What was going on?
Nevertheless, he saw no reason to be impolite to someone who hadn’t shown him any disrespect.
“Of course,” Atticus replied, leaning down to kiss her hand lightly.
Lirae’s smile widened as she watched him. As he atood up straight, she waved over a server.
Unlike Atticus, Lirae was a member of a superior race, her authority was absolute. The server quickly approached, and Lirae grabbed a drink from the tray, offering it to Atticus as she noted his nearly empty glass.
“You’re almost finished,” she observed casually.
Atticus hesitated but then accepted the glass with a nod, though he didn’t drink from it immediately.
“So, you find me attractive, huh?”
