Synchro Sovereign: Ace of Duel Academy

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The sun dipped low over Duel Academy, casting golden hues over the lighthouse perched near the shore. A gentle breeze carried the scent of saltwater and the rhythmic crashing of waves against the rocks below. At the base of the lighthouse, Alexis stood with her arms crossed, her expression serious as she conversed with Zane.

Zane, the top duelist of Obelisk Blue, leaned against the railing with his usual composed demeanor. He listened as Alexis recounted the recent bizarre events—the strange monkey duelist, the abandoned dorm incident, and, most notably, Ace's involvement in all of them.

"You're saying Ace fought off armed men?" Zane asked, raising an eyebrow.

Alexis nodded. "Yeah. It was insane. He didn't even hesitate. He just stepped in like it was nothing."

Zane narrowed his eyes, recalling what he had learned about Ace Romanov after his duel with Syruc. The young Russian was a prodigy in both dueling and strategy, an individual who always calculated his moves before acting. But when it came to Alexis, it seemed logic was thrown out the window.

"It's strange," Zane said after a pause. "Ace doesn't strike me as the type to take unnecessary risks. Yet, every time you're involved, he doesn't hesitate."

Alexis frowned. "What are you getting at?"

Zane smirked slightly. "It's almost funny. Before, he was like a snake—cold, manipulative, and never in danger. Now, he's more like a loyal hound. Sure, a hound that will tear your throat out if you cross him, but still…"

Alexis chuckled, but before she could respond, the conversation was cut short. Unbeknownst to them, Swordsoul of Mo Ye had been lurking in the shadows, eavesdropping. However, in her usual impulsiveness, she didn't listen to the entire conversation before darting off in a panic to tell Ace.

—

Back in his dorm room, Ace sat at his desk, absentmindedly flipping through a book on advanced dueling tactics. His focus, however, was elsewhere—specifically on the information Syrus had gathered for him earlier in the day. Before he could dwell on it further, Swordsoul of Mo Ye materialized before him, flailing her arms wildly.

"Ace! It's bad! It's really, really bad!" she exclaimed.

Ace arched a brow. "What is?"

Mo Ye took a deep breath. "Alexis is already dating someone!"

The book in Ace's hands snapped shut, his cold blue-green eyes darkening. "What?" His voice was eerily calm, but the tension in the air was palpable.

"I overheard her talking to Zane," Mo Ye continued. "She was telling him everything, and the way they were talking—it was so obvious!"

Ace's fingers tapped against his desk in thought. "Zane Truesdale…" he murmured. A cruel smirk played at his lips. "So that's how it is. Interesting."

Behind him, Swordsoul Sinister Sovereign - Qixing Longyuan materialized, his presence exuding an ominous chill. "If this Zane is in the way, remove him," he suggested, his voice devoid of emotion.

Ace hummed in thought. "Snezhka and Mishka haven't had a new chew toy in a while…"

Shaman of the Tenyi chuckled from her place in the room. "Oh, dear. You're really considering it?"

"Of course not," Swordsoul Strategist Longyuan interjected smoothly. "That would be reckless. There are better ways to handle this, ways that don't involve… bloodshed."

Ace leaned back, fingers steepled under his chin. "You're right, as always. No need for something so messy. I'll handle this differently."

He turned to the small communication device on his desk and called Syrus. "Syrus," he said smoothly. "I have a favor to ask."

—

The next day, the promotion exams were held. Ace barely broke a sweat securing his place in Obelisk Blue. Syrus, despite having the skill to advance, declined his promotion—exactly as Ace had subtly pushed him to do. Jaden, ever the unpredictable element, watched the duels unfold with his usual enthusiasm.

When the dust settled, Alexis found Ace leaning against a nearby tree, arms crossed. She approached him with a smirk. "Congrats on making it to Obelisk."

Ace inclined his head. "Of course."

Alexis chuckled. "You free tomorrow? It's the weekend, and I figured we could hang out."

Ace's gaze flickered with amusement. "Are you asking me on a date, Rhodes?"

She rolled her eyes. "Don't get ahead of yourself."

—

The next morning, their day started with a morning jog. Alexis still can't believe Ace is human sometimes, they jogged 8 miles, sure they weren't going fast, but still, Ace didn't break a sweat while she is currently panting like a dog. Afterward, they returned to her dorm, where Alexis prepared breakfast.

She soon discovered something amusing—Ace couldn't cook. At all.

"You're kidding," Alexis said, staring at the mess he had made in her kitchen.

Ace scowled. "I've never needed to. I have people for that."

Alexis burst out laughing. "Oh, this is gold. The great Ace Romanov, helpless in the kitchen."

 Ace argued. "I'm not helpless. I'm just… better suited to other things."

"Like burning water?" Alexis teased.

Ace huffed. "I see no reason to develop skills that are unnecessary for my lifestyle."

They spent the afternoon in the library, where Ace helped Alexis fine-tune her deck. He even purchased a few rare Cyber Angel cards for her.

When he handed her Cyber Petit Angel, Alexis's eyes widened. "This is really rare… Are you sure?"

Ace smirked. "Consider it an investment."

Alexis didn't know that the card contained a duel spirit that was glaring daggers into Ace at the moment, and Ace was certain it would be useful to her in the future.

—

Ace finally broached the topic weighing on his mind as the sun set. "So, tell me about Zane."

Alexis blinked before laughing. "Oh my god, you're jealous."

Ace scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous."

Mo Ye grinned. "Right, because wanting to feed Zane to your snow leopards for no reason is completely normal."

His duel spirits erupted into laughter, even Swordsoul Sovereign - Chengying shaking his head with amusement.

Ace was now blushing like a tomato and muttered "Shut it."

Alexis turned toward him and asked "What did you say?"

Ace sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Nothing."

Alexis leaned closer, her voice dropping to a teasing whisper. "For the record, Zane's like a brother to me. So, you can stop being so jealous."

Ace glanced at her before smirking. "Good."

As they walked back to the dorms, Alexis couldn't shake the feeling that, despite his cold exterior, Ace was truly warming up to her. And she found that she didn't mind it one bit.