Clone Ascension

The investigation into Adrian Talbot’s death had never truly ended.Even now, weeks later, the name still lingered like a shadow over Linwood Royal Academy.

Back then, when Adrian and the three others failed to return from the Bloodsoil Forest, the academy’s military training unit had searched for them. They waited for days, calling out, combing through the forest, but found nothing. Eventually, with no clues and no contact, they had no choice but to return.

But the families of the missing students were not ordinary people.They refused to accept silence.

They stormed the academy multiple times, demanding answers.Under pressure, Dean Raymond Whitlock had dispatched more than a dozen teachers—experts in tracking and subterranean movement—to search the Bloodsoil Forest again.

This time, they found something.

Deep beneath the Thousand‑Shade Mound, inside a Burrow Spider nest, they discovered the remains of all four missing individuals.

It was impossible for four people to “accidentally” fall into a spider nest together.Someone had forced them down there.

The academy launched a full investigation.

They found traces of battle at the bottom of the Thousand‑Shade Mound.They found a freshly dug tunnel, just wide enough for an arm.They found deeper underground battle marks—poison residue, collapsed tunnels, scorch marks.

Most importantly, three thousand meters below the surface, they found the corpse of a Gravity Demon.Recently killed.Extract removed.Body saturated with toxins.

It wasn’t hard to connect the dots.

Whoever hunted the Gravity Demon…might also have killed Adrian Talbot and the others.

But there was no proof.The Thousand‑Shade Mound wasn’t a restricted zone—anyone could enter.The academy found nothing conclusive, only speculation.

They handed those vague guesses to the grieving families, paid compensation, and hoped the matter would fade.

It didn’t.

The families continued to pressure the academy relentlessly, and Whitlock’s headaches only grew.

…

“Did you find something?” Whitlock asked quietly.

Director Samuel Grant nodded grimly. His cousin—the Cocoon‑tier instructor who died with Adrian—was one of the victims. He had taken the case personally.

“Last night,” Grant said, “Master‑Class student Wen Jia fought someone in an off‑campus battle room. He saw a student from Dongli University—Evan Cole—use a skill that looked like Gravity Dust.”

Whitlock frowned. “Gravity Dust is rare, yes. But that proves nothing.”

Grant lowered his voice. “I checked. Evan Cole is a freshman at Dongli University. Their military training happened at the same time as ours. And he was in the Bloodsoil Forest during the exact period Adrian and the others went missing.”

Whitlock’s expression darkened.

Grant continued, “Think about it. Adrian dies in the Bloodsoil Forest. A Gravity Demon dies in the Bloodsoil Forest. And this Evan Cole just happens to learn Gravity Dust at the same time? That’s too much of a coincidence.”

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Whitlock shook his head. “Coincidence isn’t evidence. And you’re not even sure the skill he used was Gravity Dust.”

Grant gave an awkward smile. “Wen Jia isn’t experienced enough to confirm it. But tomorrow, I’ll send a student to challenge Evan. Once they exchange blows, we’ll know.”

Whitlock sighed. “Even if you prove he killed the Gravity Demon, that doesn’t prove he killed Adrian Talbot.”

“We don’t need proof,” Grant said coldly. “We just need to leak the information to Adrian’s family. Redirect their anger. Make them stop harassing us.”

Whitlock hesitated, then nodded slowly. “Fine. Handle it. I have other matters to attend to.”

…

The next morning.

Evan arrived at Linwood Royal Academy with Wendy Lewis and President Winston Hale. Today, they would finally meet the legendary Saint‑tier sovereign—Dr. Adrian Linwood.

The old man looked gentle, smiling kindly at the audience, but his presence alone commanded silence. His speech was short—mercifully so—and ended within minutes.

Evan followed Wendy and Hale out of the auditorium, ready to head straight to the airport.

Linwood’s leadership escorted all six national delegations toward the gate.Everything seemed normal.

Until a thin student stepped directly into Evan’s path.

“You’re Evan Cole?” he asked. “I’m Ryan Mercer, Master‑Class student of Linwood Royal Academy. I heard you’re strong. Fight me.”

Evan stared at him.

He had just endured a Saint‑tier lecture.He was mentally exhausted.He wanted to go home.

And now this?

“No,” he said simply.

Ryan blinked. “Why not?”

“Why should I fight you?”

“You don’t dare accept my challenge?”

“Pathetic provocation.”

Evan walked around him.

Two nights ago, he had fought in the battle arena because he felt like it.That didn’t mean he would accept every random challenge thrown at him.He had no time, no interest, and no reason.

Ryan looked helplessly toward Director Grant.

Grant stepped forward with a polite smile. “My apologies. Ryan is one of our prodigies. He gets excited when he sees a strong opponent.”

President Hale smiled. “No harm done.”

But he found it strange.Why was a director involved in a student’s challenge?

Grant seized the moment. “If you’re not in a rush, perhaps Evan could spar with Ryan. It would be a good exchange between our top students.”

Hale glanced at Evan.

Evan sensed something off.But refusing again would look weak—and rude.

He smiled. “A spar is fine. But it’d be more interesting with a wager.”

Ryan fell silent.This was beyond him.

Grant stiffened. He couldn’t use academy funds for this. If he paid personally, he didn’t want to offer too much.

Before he could respond, Hale laughed. “Evan doesn’t understand the rules. Director Grant, don’t mind him.”

Grant forced a smile. “No, no. Evan has a point. I’ll offer ten petals of Tomorrow Bloom as a small wager.”

For most Cocoon‑tier evolvers, that was valuable.For Evan, it was pocket change.

He immediately said, “Director Grant, I can’t let you pay out of your own pocket. I heard your academy has a Tier‑4 Thoughtfruit Tree. Why not use a few Thoughtfruits as the wager?”

Grant nearly choked.

This kid…Shameless.Greedy.Infuriating.

Thoughtfruit was priceless.The Thoughtfruit Tree was a centuries‑old treasure of Linwood Royal Academy.Even Grant didn’t have the authority to touch it.

Representatives from the other nations paused to watch.

Hale delivered the finishing blow. “Dongli University isn’t as wealthy as Linwood, but we can’t let you suffer a loss. If Director Grant offers a Thoughtfruit, Dongli will match it with a Rootless Dodder seed.”

Grant felt his scalp burn.He couldn’t refuse now.Not with six nations watching.

But he still didn’t have the authority.

Just then, Dean Whitlock arrived.

With a hearty laugh, he said, “Since President Hale is in such high spirits, Linwood will gladly accompany him. One Thoughtfruit is nothing.”

He ignored Evan’s earlier suggestion of “a few” and produced a single green, pinecone‑shaped fruit.

Hale nodded and produced a small, black seed—the Rootless Dodder.

Whitlock smiled. “We’ll arrange a venue for the spar.”

“No need,” Evan said, glancing around. “This place is spacious enough.”

A murmur rippled through the crowd.

A Thoughtfruit.A Rootless Dodder seed.Six nations watching.

The wager was set.

And the duel was about to begin.