The Ace.
It wasn't just a title.
It was a symbol.
A mark of supremacy earned, not given.
An Ace stood at the pinnacle of their batch.
They weren't just the top student, they were the benchmark, the face of excellence that others chased and fell short of.
The academy held them up with pride, presenting them at major events, using their names to inspire, and intimidate.
With the title came privileges no ordinary student could touch-
Access to elite training grounds, restricted areas of the Grand Archives, first claim on rare resources, and personalized one-on-one mentorships from none other than the Vice Principal.
And on rare occasions… even a direct session with the Principal himself—a living legend.
One of the known 14 Apex-Core Rank holders.
Everyone wanted to become one. Everyone tried.
But to stand alone at the summit was not for the weak, the lucky, or the average.
Aces were feared, admired, envied.
They were not just students.
They were monsters in human skin.
