CHAPTER 70: EX 70. SHOULDERS

The silence stretched for just a heartbeat too long, long enough for every cadet in the hall to notice that something wasn’t right.

Vanguard Rebecca’s gaze had briefly darted toward the crowd of cadets, her expression unreadable as her mind processed the message she had just received.

She had been about to announce the third rank—Elizabeth.

But just as she opened her mouth, a silent notification from her interface flickered across her vision:

[Notice: Cadet Elizabeth Queen has been extracted from the arena under executive clearance. Not currently within Arena premises.]

Rebecca’s brows subtly drew together.

"Extracted? Without my knowledge?" she thought, eyes scanning the crowd again just to be sure.

And indeed, Elizabeth was nowhere in sight.

"What could be important enough for her to leave in the middle of the ceremony?"

A flicker of irritation crossed her features, not from concern, but from being left out of the loop. She was a Vanguard, after all. A top-ranking officer. Yet decisions were being made above her head, and that didn’t sit well.

But she quickly shook it off.

"It must be important. They wouldn’t bend protocol for just anyone." And although Rebecca was a powerhouse on the battlefield, even she could admit she didn’t shine in administrative finesse. She had learned long ago not to question everything outside her scope, especially when it came to Federation secrets.

"Anyway, there’s no point in pausing for someone who isn’t present."

She adjusted her stance and raised her voice again, but the cadence had shifted slightly, clipped and careful.

The cadets noticed.

They whispered among themselves. Why did she pause? Who was supposed to be third?

Leon’s sharp eyes narrowed.

"Don’t tell me..." he thought, "...she’s just now realizing Elizabeth isn’t around?"

He frowned, his thoughts shifting between disbelief and frustration.

"Is she really that unserious... or is something bigger going on?"

Leon’s instincts leaned toward the former, but a quiet, creeping unease remained.

Meanwhile, Rebecca cleared her throat and spoke again.

"Due to a special situation," she announced, her tone now neutral, "we’ll be skipping the third rank... and moving directly to the cadet in second place."

The hall fell silent instantly.

The air grew dense with anticipation.

Everyone could tell, something wasn’t right.

But whatever it was, Rebecca wasn’t offering answers.

She continued.

****

Rebecca’s voice echoed through the grand selection hall, crisp and commanding.

"The cadet in second rank has proven that victory in the Federation is not achieved by brute strength alone..."

"...but also by clarity of thought and decisive action in moments of chaos."

A wave of quiet spread through the room as her next words struck home.

"This cadet not only activated the Guardian Override, but also relayed critical intelligence regarding the appearance of the demon, potentially saving countless lives in the process."

She paused, her eyes scanning the hall with a hint of pride.

"This cadet is none other than... Adrian Peer."

At once, the shimmering screen in the center of the hall shifted. The second rank cleared with a glow of soft gold, revealing Adrian’s name for all to see.

The crowd erupted.

Thunderous applause roared across the chamber as cadets cheered the second-ranked prodigy.

Some clapped with genuine admiration, others in quiet awe. After all, Adrian had risen from humble beginnings and now stood near the top of the most competitive selection in recent Federation history.

As Adrian walked onto the stage, his expression remained composed, stoic, but proud. He stood tall, his dark uniform immaculate, every movement deliberate and confident.

Rebecca smiled faintly as she met his eyes.

"You did exceptionally well, Cadet Peer," she said, extending the medal.

"Thank you, Vanguard," Adrian replied calmly, bowing his head slightly as she placed the silver-gilded medal around his neck.

He moved to stand beside Eleanor and Eden, his presence adding weight to the already distinguished trio. Eleanor gave a small smile, Eden gave a short nod, but all of them felt it:

This was a moment that would go down in Federation history.

Then... the room fell silent once again.

All attention turned toward Rebecca.

She didn’t speak immediately.

The very air in the hall seemed to still, cadets holding their breath in anticipation. Every eye was fixed on the woman who had become a legend in their hearts over the past few days.

Rebecca raised her head slightly, her expression sharpening like a drawn blade.

Then she spoke, her voice low, but filled with weight.

"And now... for the undisputed first place."

The room froze.

No one moved.

No one dared even whisper.

Every cadet, whether proud or anxious, braced themselves as the name that stood at the pinnacle of the Selection was about to be revealed.

Rebecca’s voice rang out with slow, deliberate power, her tone quieting even the hearts of the proudest cadets.

"This cadet... has shown unmatched potential."

A hush swept across the hall as every ear tuned in. The weight behind her words pulled them in like gravity.

"In the face of death, he stood unwavering. He was the one who delivered a critical blow to the demon, allowing me the opening to end it."

Gasps echoed faintly across the room. Murmurs of disbelief and awe stirred, but no one dared speak aloud. Rebecca wasn’t finished.

"He was also the one who cleared the path to the Guardian Override, guiding those around him through chaos with clarity and force."

She paused, for breath, for gravity, and for the moment to settle.

Her next words struck like thunder.

"I am honored... to have stood on the same battlefield as this cadet. To witness his resolve firsthand."

Another pause.

"This cadet is no other than, Leon Kael."

Silence.

Utter, absolute silence.

Only the steady, unhurried footsteps of a single figure echoed through the vast chamber.

All eyes turned.

As Leon Kael walked forward.

There was no smirk on his face or pride in his steps. Just calm, quiet strength, like a blade sheathed but not dulled.

Not a single cadet spoke. They didn’t have to.

Every person in that hall had seen what Leon had done. His name wasn’t just known, it was carved into memory.

After what they’d witnessed during the Selection, anyone who didn’t know the name Leon Kael could only be two things: braindead or brilliantly ignorant.

As he ascended the stage, the silence became reverent. It wasn’t just awe, it was recognition.

Rebecca, with a faint smile, met his eyes and placed the golden medal around his neck. She said nothing.

She didn’t have to.

The weight of the entire Selection rested on Leon’s shoulders, and he had carried it with quiet, terrifying ease.