Cronus' system: Against the gods

Chapter 16: A Noble Beauty and A Date

The day was bright, and the atmosphere at the academy was filled with the usual hustle and bustle of students moving between classes, gossiping about the latest events, and some occasionally trying to sneak in some extra training. Rex was in the middle of his own preparations, gearing up to deal with the kaiju monster that had been looming over his thoughts ever since his strange encounter with Cronus.

"Alright, time to kick some kaiju ass," he muttered to himself as he walked toward the exit of the academy grounds.

But just as he was about to leave, the sound of whispers and the clamor of excited voices made him stop in his tracks. It wasn't unusual for students to talk about new faces, but the energy of this particular moment felt different. Rex could feel the shift in attention — all eyes seemed to be drawn in one direction. Curiosity piqued, he turned his head slightly and noticed what had caused the commotion.

Walking toward the academy's main entrance was a girl, but not just any girl. She was stunning, the kind of beauty that made time slow down for everyone watching. Her long silver hair shimmered under the sunlight, cascading down her back in perfect waves, and her pale blue eyes seemed to hold an ethereal glow. She wore an elegant academy uniform, tailored perfectly to her lithe frame, but it was clear that she was no ordinary student. Every step she took was graceful, with an air of nobility surrounding her.

"Who is she?" one of the students whispered in awe.

"She must be from one of the noble families!" another said, excitement lacing their voice. "Look at her, she's practically glowing!"

Rex raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by the spectacle everyone was making. Sure, she was beautiful, but the whole "noble family" thing wasn't new to him. He had dealt with bigger issues in the past week such as time travel, god-like powers, and impending death. A pretty girl? He could handle that.

Without hesitating or second-guessing, Rex turned and casually began walking toward her, cutting through the crowd as if he didn't notice the dozens of eyes now shifting between him and the girl. The other students looked at him in shock. They whispered in disbelief, wondering who this guy was to even dare approach her so boldly. Some girls gasped, while others narrowed their eyes, secretly hoping he would make a fool of himself.

But Rex? Rex didn't care.

He strolled up to her with the same casual air he always carried. He wasn't one to overthink these kinds of situations. What was the worst that could happen? If anything, he might just get a good story out of it.

When he was only a few steps away, the girl finally noticed him approaching. She paused, tilting her head slightly as if to assess this bold individual who seemed unaffected by the waves of attention she was commanding.

Rex stopped right in front of her, hands in his pockets, and flashed a confident smirk. "Hey. So, I'm Rex, and I was just thinking..." He paused dramatically, glancing up at the sky before looking back at her with a playful grin. "Why don't we go out on a date tomorrow?"

A collective gasp erupted from the crowd, and the tension thickened as everyone awaited her response. No one had ever been so direct with a noble before, especially not someone as seemingly powerful and mysterious as her. Rex could practically feel the disbelief radiating from the onlookers.

The girl blinked, her expression unreadable at first. For a moment, it seemed like she was processing his audacity. But then, to the shock of everyone — including Rex, though he'd never admit it — a soft smile spread across her lips.

"Sure," she said simply, her voice melodic and calm. "Tomorrow sounds perfect."

Rex raised an eyebrow. "Really? Great.

"Deal," she responded, still smiling, seemingly unfazed by the crowd's collective meltdown. Without another word, Rex gave her a casual nod and began walking away, just as nonchalantly as he had approached her.

The crowd was frozen in place, mouths agape, as they watched Rex casually stroll away after securing a date with one of the most beautiful girls they had ever seen. Murmurs broke out in every corner as students tried to make sense of what had just happened. How did he just... ask her out like that? And why did she agree so easily?

"Did she seriously just say yes?"

"Who is that guy?!"

"I think I need to sit down..."

Rex smirked to himself, hearing the flurry of reactions behind him as he made his way out of the academy grounds. "Well, that was easy," he mused.

But before he could fully enjoy the moment, Cronus's familiar voice echoed in his mind. "Harbinger, you seem to be distracted from your goal. Are you forgetting about the kaiju threat?"

Rex shrugged. "Relax, Cronus. I've got time. Besides, a guy's allowed to have some fun, right?"

Cronus sighed. "I hope your confidence isn't misplaced."

Before heading off to confront the kaiju, Rex decided to give the girl one final glance, activating his God's Eyes to scan her. He wasn't expecting much — maybe some basic stats, just enough to gauge who she was. But when he focused his gaze on her, he was met with an empty screen, except for one detail.

Name: Seraphina Valenbrook.

And that was it. No stats. No abilities. Nothing. Rex's eyes widened slightly, though he quickly masked his surprise.

"Seraphina Valenbrook, huh?" he muttered under his breath, walking away. "That sounds... powerful."

"Indeed," Cronus responded. "If you cannot read her stats, it means her abilities far surpass yours."

Rex frowned, though he tried to play it cool. "Well, she did agree to go out with me. Guess she can't be that tough."

"Do not be so arrogant," Cronus chided. "Strength is not always reflected in how one carries themselves socially."

Rex shrugged again. "Whatever, I've got bigger problems to deal with right now. Speaking of which, let's go deal with that kaiju."

With that, Rex headed out of the academy, leaving the stunned crowd behind as they continued to buzz about the mysterious new girl and Rex's unexpected move. He made his way to the edge of the city, where the kaiju had killed him the previous day or today. Ugh...when will I stop this?!!!

As he walked, he couldn't help but chuckle to himself. "A date with Seraphina tomorrow, and kaiju-slaying today. Not a bad week, huh?"

Cronus, however, was less amused. "Do not let your personal endeavors distract you from the task at hand, harbinger."

"Relax, old man. I've got this under control."

Soon, Rex reached the outskirts, where the atmosphere became eerily quiet. The sun had dipped slightly in the sky, casting long shadows across the deserted streets.

Rex cracked his knuckles, readying himself for the battle ahead. His thoughts briefly flashed to Seraphina and the strange sense of mystery she carried. Who was she, really? And why couldn't he see any of her stats?

"Maybe I'll figure that out on our date tomorrow," he mused. "But for now..."

He turned toward the distant sound of destruction, his eyes narrowing in focus.

"...Let's take care of this kaiju."

Cronus's voice hummed in his mind, the tone filled with a sense of both warning and amusement. "You walk a dangerous path, harbinger."

"Danger's my middle name," Rex replied with a grin. "Let's go."

With that, he sprinted forward, running just like he had done, though the mystery of Seraphina lingered in the back of his mind. Tomorrow would certainly be interesting.

But today, it was time for a monster hunt.

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