Zane's hands were clenched at his sides, trembling slightly—not from fear, but from the frustration bubbling deep inside him.
"I'm well aware of my own shortcomings," he said, his voice rough but steady. "You don't even have to remind me. I bet every single trainee here already knows my name by now. The guy who died several times… just because of gravity."
He let out a bitter chuckle and looked away.
"The same guy who took nearly two weeks to climb the same damn mountain others scaled in minutes. Hell, I couldn't even open a stupid door without your help."
His fists tightened even more, knuckles going white.
"What I'm trying to say is—no one knows how pathetic I am more than I do. I live with it every second. But I'm not going to give up. Not yet. There's a reason I came here… and I won't stop until I reach that goal."
There was a short silence.
Onilia watched him closely. Then she slowly stepped forward, her arms falling to her sides. Her face softened just a little.
"I wasn't saying that to belittle you," she said gently. "Or to make you feel small. I haven't known you very long, but it's already clear—you're the type who'd rather roll over and die than give up. You never quit… even when gravity was crushing you into the dirt, even when the mountain looked impossible. That's why…"
She paused and placed a hand on her chest.
"…that's why I chose to stay with you."
Zane blinked, surprised by the calm in her voice.
A cool breeze drifted into the room, fluttering the curtains behind her. The crystal lights overhead pulsed gently with soft blue light. The tension in the air shifted, no longer heavy—but uncertain.
"What… what do you mean?" Zane asked, curiosity flickering across his face.
Onilia looked up at him, brushing a few strands of damp hair behind her ear. Her eyes were steady.
"I don't know why you decided to attempt the Master's training. Maybe it's personal. Maybe it's foolish. But I've made my choice. I'll partner with you. I'll help you adjust to things here."
She looked down for a brief second, then back at him.
"In return… if a day comes when I need your help, I hope you'll stand by me too."
Zane was silent for a moment.
Then he shook his head.
"I refuse."
His voice was calm—but firm.
He stepped closer, stopping just a few inches away from her. He looked her straight in the eye.
Onilia's brows furrowed slightly. "Why?" she asked, her voice low.
Zane sighed, frustration returning to his face. His expression was a strange mix of weariness and honesty. The kind of look someone wore when they were tired of playing games.
"Be honest with me, Onilia," he said, his eyes locked on hers. "If there's something you want from me—just say it. I don't care what it is. I'll do it. I just want you to stop hovering around me like this. I don't need a partner out of pity or some hidden agenda. Just tell me what you want."
Zane had never trusted anyone—not his teachers, neighbours and definitely not his family.
The only exception—the only person who ever meant anything to him—was his little sister.
Ariel.
The world had always turned its back on him. Even when he was thrown out of the house like garbage, no one cared. Not even his own blood. His father, cold and controlling, had made sure Ariel couldn't lift a finger to help. He watched her closely, kept records of everything she bought, made sure no money found its way to Zane.
Still, she found ways. Small ones.
She sent him little amounts of money when she could, quietly, carefully. It was never much, but to him, it was everything. It wasn't about the amount—it was about where it came from.
He never wanted anything from his father, never. But Ariel's money? That was different. That was her heart in a folded bill. Her love, crammed into every coin.
With that, Zane had enrolled in a school.
He barely managed to afford a single room—just enough to survive. His room was tiny, barely more than a box. The walls were chipped, the ceiling leaked when it rained, and the floor creaked with every step. Still, it was his. A roof over his head. A place to crash after dragging himself through each exhausting day.
But life was never kind.
He remembered getting sick once—so sick he couldn't even get up from the bed. And even then, no one came. No knocks. No one checked in, not even his so called classmates. He was invisible. Forgotten.
So now… now, on this strange planet where gravity threatened to crush his bones, some alien girl kept helping him again and again—and what? He was supposed to believe she was just being nice?
Bulshit.
Zane looked at Onilia. Her eyes, calm and unreadable, stared back at him with that same quiet look she always wore. But he couldn't understand it. He couldn't trust it.
His chest felt heavy. His throat dry. Slowly, he stepped toward her.
"From the moment I arrived," he said quietly, "you've continued to help me—over and over again."
He took another step forward, standing right in front of her.
"I know the only reason the other trainees haven't picked on me is because of you. You're always there. You're strong, respected, maybe even feared. And me… I'm just the weak one. A malnourished guy who got bullied in school. "
He laughed softly, bitterly.
"It's always been a universal rule—the strong bully the weak. But how could they, when you're always there—ever-present by my side? Where I come from, people help only when they expect something in return. That's how the world works. That's the rule. No one gives for free. No one's kind just to be kind."
He looked down at her hand, then gently took it into his own. His grip was light, almost hesitant, like he was afraid she might pull away.
He met her eyes.
"So please, Onilia… be honest with me."
His voice was quiet but serious, raw with emotion.
"What do you expect to gain from me?"
After a long pause, she finally spoke.
"You're right, Zane," she said quietly. "I did want something from you… but not anymore."
Zane blinked. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Onilia took a slow breath. Her fingers twisted as she sat on the bed, then relaxed. "The system we live in… it's not fair. It's never been. Everyone talks about ranks and power, but they forget the cost. Losing a Ranking Competition doesn't just mean your planet falls—it can mean losing everything."
Zane's brows pulled together. "What do you mean by everything? And why are you telling me this now?"
She looked up at him, and the light caught her eyes, making them shine like deep oceans.
"Besides risking your own life," she said slowly, "you also risk losing what's most precious to you. I'm part of the current Ranking Competition, and my opponent's already been decided. If I lose…" She paused. "I lose my family. My home. My planet."
Zane's eyes widened, and he took a step forward. "W-what? You're participating? But… you're Apex-ranked. There's no way you'd lose, right? Why would you come here if something that important was at stake?"
Onilia gave a soft, almost bitter chuckle.
"There's still time before the battle. And I'm not invincible, Zane. I wasn't born Apex. I awakened as a Beta. I had to claw my way up, one step at a time. Alone." She stood, her tone hardening. "Being the only Awakened in my family means if I fail… they'll be sold into the Universal Slave Market."
She stood, taking a few steps toward the window, her voice dropping. "It's a horrible place. Where people who've lost their freedom are bought and sold like objects, treated however their new owners decide. And the victor… can do whatever they want with my planet. They could destroy it, enslave it, drain it of all its resources. It'll no longer belong to us."
Zane stood frozen, his heart thudding painfully in his chest. "That's insane…"
He stared at her, struggling to understand the weight she was carrying. The way she'd trained beside him, stayed patient with him, protected him—even smiled—while all this was going on… it suddenly felt unreal.
"But why come here?" he asked again, quieter this time.
Onilia turned, her hair catching the light as she faced him. "Because I needed more strength. I heard the Master's training broke almost everyone—but the five who survived it… became legends. Beings whose power could shake existence itself."
Her voice trembled, just barely.
"I wanted that power. I needed it. And I thought… maybe I could find others too. Allies. People who could stand with me when the time came."
Zane swallowed hard. "So who are you fighting, exactly? What kind of opponent could make even you afraid?"
Onilia's smile faded.
Her sapphire eyes locked onto his, and her voice dropped to a whisper.
"The Destroyer," she said. "The Apex… of Apexes."