Ape-X stood frozen, his mind racing as his body adjusted to the monster's essence. He could feel the new power coursing through him—his skin hardened like armor, his nails sharpened into claws, and his vision became sharper, allowing him to see every detail, even in the dim light of the dust-filled battlefield.
The students still hadn't moved. Their gazes, once filled with indifference or mockery, were now a mix of awe and fear.
"D-Did he just… eat that thing?" one of them muttered.
"He took it down in one hit," another whispered.
But Ape-X barely heard them. He flexed his fingers, feeling the raw strength in his body. This wasn't just strength—this was **evolution**. His "Eat" ability wasn't about getting fat. It was something far more terrifying. He didn't just eat. **He consumed. He adapted.**
His childhood friend, the girl he had saved, stirred beneath the rubble. Her voice was weak but relieved. "X…?"
Her voice snapped him back to reality. Without hesitation, he rushed to her side, lifting the debris as if it were made of paper. His strength was far beyond what it had been before. He gently helped her up, his eyes scanning for any injuries.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
She nodded weakly. "Yeah… thanks to you."
The admiration in her eyes made his heart pound, but before he could respond, the academy guards finally regained their composure. A team of them rushed in, surrounding Ape-X with weapons drawn.
"You! Step away from the girl!" one of them barked.
Ape-X frowned. "What?"
Another guard pointed at the monster's corpse. "You **ate** it. That's not normal. What the hell are you?"
The students backed away, murmuring among themselves. Just moments ago, they had ignored him, mocked him. Now, they were afraid of him.
**This is why I never wanted to show my power.**
Ape-X clenched his fists. He had just saved them, and yet they were treating him like a threat. Was it because his abilities were unknown? Because they feared what they didn't understand?
A heavy hand landed on his shoulder. He turned to see a tall man in a black coat—one of the academy's higher-ups. His face was unreadable, but his eyes studied Ape-X with keen interest.
"You're coming with us," the man said. "We need to talk."
Ape-X glanced at his friend, who looked worried. He took a deep breath and nodded. He had just begun to scratch the surface of his power. If he was going to understand what he truly was, he needed answers.
And maybe, just maybe—he would finally learn why he was different from everyone.