Alexandra could only reply, "Damn."
She was, quite literally, speechless. Her thoughts raced as she considered the implications. Maybe it’s not a good idea to ss with these kids until we’ve gotten close enough.
Just then, Dean said sothing that made Alexandra forget all about her earlier plans of forcing the boys to call her "Aunt." He said, "Oh shit, I guess you really are an aunt. I forgot about Zein and Zia."
Alexandra’s gaze sharpened imdiately. She asked, "What babies?"
Dean hesitated, unsure how to explain the connection between the babies and Alexandra. After a mont’s thought, he gave up and replied, "It’s complicated, so don’t ask how. But the boys’ step-siblings were recently born. They also carry the old man’s bloodline. It’s quite pure, just a little less so than yours."
Alexandra’s confusion deepened. She managed to ask, "What?"
Before Dean could answer, she continued, "The boys’... step-siblings... have the Vitali Bloodline? How? Weren’t their godparents the ones who adopted them? Godparents with no blood connection to them whatsoever. So how do their real children carry the Vitali Bloodline?"
Dean opened his mouth to reply but then shut it again. He didn’t know how to phrase it without giving away too much. Alexandra still didn’t know the truth about the Neo-Nephilims, and he wasn’t about to spill everything in front of the Imperials. Finally, he said, "It’s complicated. I can’t say much more."
Chandra, observing the exchange, quipped, "Those seem to have beco Dean’s favorite words lately."
Dean shot him a look, his eyes silently asking, ’What did I ever do to you?’
Then it hit him—he had suppressed Chandra with his power just the day before. Sighing, Dean turned away and said, "Chandra, isn’t it ti for you to leave?"
Chandra frowned, confused, until the floor beneath him disappeared. A portal had opened, swallowing him whole.
Ramses whistled, "Damn, that was cold."
Diane, who had been mostly silent until now, spoke up. "I want to leave as well."
Dean nodded and turned to Bjorn. "What about you? Staying or leaving?"
Bjorn replied, "I’ll be heading back. Clearly, your boy was onto sothing. It’s ti to make so changes."
Diane pitched in as well, "I guess you were right, Dean. It seems that our children have indeed beco arrogant. It’s ti to remind them that their ancestors earned this glory and that they will have to as well."
Dean raised a brow, surprised at how well Bjorn and Diane were taking everything. "Alright. I’ll see you soon."
With a wave of his hand, Dean opened two portals—this ti in front of Diane and Bjorn, not beneath them. They stepped through, and the portals vanished behind them.
Ramses looked at Dean and asked, "What, you’re not even going to offer a way out?"
Dean smirked. "Well, I thought you wanted to et Zeke. My bad."
Ramses suddenly yelled, "Wait!"
Dean paused mid-motion, his hand hovering as he prepared to open yet another portal under Ramses.
"You’ve got to stop doing that," Ramses complained.
"Stop doing what?" Dean asked innocently.
"This," Ramses said. "Opening portals under people randomly."
Dean tilted his head, feigning confusion. "But I don’t do that..."
Ramses opened his mouth to argue, but Dean finished his sentence for him. "...to anyone except you four. And occasionally Zeke."
Ramses gave him a long, exasperated look. He wanted to ask if they were Dean’s friends or his worst enemies. After all, they were rulers of entire regions, and this was downright humiliating.
Their attention shifted back to the arena, where the Dean of the War Academy, Nico, had appeared to congratulate the top ten cadets—or, in this case, the top five. Zeke claid first place, Cass second, and Erik third, as he was technically the third-last cadet eliminated. Unfortunately, Erik was still unconscious and unable to receive his award. "She" placed fourth, while fifth place was shared among the remaining students who had all fallen unconscious simultaneously.
The rankings weren’t aningless; they determined military ranks. Zeke’s first-place win had earned everyone a significant boost. At least, that’s what he told Cass. As the top rank holder in both theory and physical examinations, Zeke gained an additional privilege: the right to form his own squad rather than being forced to lead one he didn’t want.
As he reflected, Zeke had a sudden realization. I’m not a good leader, am I? Scamr, sure, but leader? Back in Murim, I conned my teammates into joining a cult. The only reason they survived my company was because they either had Divine Beast Bloodlines or were Divine Beasts themselves, making their vitality absurdly resilient.
He frowned. Even as the head of the Divine Demonic Cult, I left vague instructions and let the Demon Monarchs do most of the work. As for Murim as a whole, all I did was introduce modern social constructs to an otherwise backward society. But even that was just to harvest Faith. Then again, I did turn them all into Neo-Nephilims—a far superior race. None of them will ever be diocre again.
Cass interrupted his spiraling thoughts. "What are you thinking so seriously about?"
Zeke blinked. "Nothing much. Just realizing I’m a much better god than I am a leader."
Cass stared at him, stunned. He thought he’d beco immune to Zeke’s antics, but apparently, he was wrong.
"Zeke," Cass said, his voice heavy with exasperation.
"What?" Zeke replied, genuinely confused.
Cass said, "When we’re in the Academy, could you, I don’t know, think before you speak? I’d like to make so real friends without being labeled as the handso older brother of the unhinged kid."
Zeke said nothing, rely staring at him.
Cass shrugged. "What? I’m not wrong."
Before Zeke could retort, Dean’s voice cut in. "He really isn’t."
Zeke turned, his expression flat, to see Dean standing with a woman he didn’t recognize and the Southern Emperor.
In an emotionless tone, he said, "Gee, thanks, Uncle Dean. I’m thrilled you’re proud of for winning first place."
Ramses sent a ntal note to Alexandra: Told you he was a feisty one.
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