I am the Only Son of Nyx

Kai waited on the other side of the cloudy barrier.

Nobody could see into the room he was in, but he could see what was happening outside.

He was really nervous right now. His heart was pounding against his ribcage—and cold sweat already began to wet his back. Even though he had battled in front of a crowd earlier, this was completely different.

Earlier, his mind was distracted by the battle.

Adrenaline also helped him ignore his surroundings.

But right now, there was no distraction or adrenaline that would help him calm down.

"So many students..." He whispered inwardly—noticing that either side of the top floor was full to the brim. It felt like there were more students, too. Maybe it was the cramped place that made it seem that way—but this notion only made him even more nervous. "Calm down... Calm down. It would be embarrassing if they realized that my legs are shaking."

All the people he had killed would’ve cursed him if they saw him right now.

A cold-blooded killer being nervous about being in front of a crowd? Pathetic.

Regardless, this was the first time for Kai to be the center of attention like this.

Soon, he heard the knock on the door, which was the cue for him to walk out.

He inhaled deeply through his nose to calm his nerves, and then exhaled through his mouth.

Once he was ready, he stepped out of the room.

Almost instantly as he emerged from the room, the crowd erupted once again. Some cheered, some whistled—and some were outright howling. Kai never expected them to be this excited for him, but then again, life has its way of changing drastically.

He had already learned that lesson from when Bella was taken away from him.

Kai shook his head.

It was no time for him to think about that—this moment was for celebration.

He pushed away the negative thoughts and focused only on the moment.

"What am I supposed to do again?" Kai asked, turning to the grey-masked Angel to the right.

"Go to the Chancellor," the grey-masked Angel replied. "And you’ll be guided there."

Kai nodded and walked towards the bridge.

Before he even stepped on it, the Red Prince Insignia he already wore on his uniform suddenly lit up with a red light. The bridge reacted to it, recognizing that the star of the moment was going to walk on it.

Flames erupted along either side in a sudden, roaring cascade, licking ceilingward.

It maintained its height for a few seconds—before dissolving into a swirling storm of flaming rose petals that drifted downward like a blessing from the sky. Naturally, the additional petals made the entire scene even grander.

Kai moved through the fire and petals with measured steps.

His gaze fixed straight ahead, unshaken by the chaos of celebration that thundered around.

Every single student boomed. And the sound they made was a living thing—a wave of voices that crashed against the marble walls and shook the very air with excitement and shock. Kai crossed the bridge like a hero returning from an impossible war in triumph.

Flaming petals fell around him in sheets of crimson.

Light caught the red dragon mask and the black and red of his uniform.

And the bridge thrummed with every step he took.

As he walked across the bridge—he took a moment to glance left and right, basking in what could only be described as a marvellous sight that felt more than well-earned. When he’d first entered the academy, he had been a pariah.

Now, he was hailed as their champion.

Someone who’d make a difference in the Second Sky.

Had anyone told Kai that the view of the students toward him would change drastically like this in mere months, he would’ve assumed that it was fantasy. He was a Lesser Angel. Making a change like that was simply impossible.

But he did it anyway.

It was difficult—his mind had to go through some dark places to survive, yet it was worth it.

Seeing the scene right now felt like everything happened for this exact reason.

For him to achieve a strong footing in the sky.

Kai reached the other side after taking his time and saw that the others were there.

As part of his group, they were placed closest to where he was walking.

Bree was the one who moved first. She broke from the others and closed the distance in a rush, throwing her arms over his shoulders and pulling him into a fierce embrace, catching Kai off guard entirely.

Her voice was soft against his ear, and it trembled with genuine happiness and even pride.

"You did it." She whispered. "Never doubted you once. I’m so proud of you."

Kai held her for a moment—his hands gentle against her back and then tried to pull away.

His smile froze when he realized she wasn’t letting him go.

"Erm... Bree, everyone is watching."

"Just a few seconds more."

Once she finally let go—Kai cleared his throat awkwardly, and then his gaze shifted to Matilda. She stood tall, arms crossed, and her eyes were unreadable. But then, she gave him a firm and acknowledging nod.

For her, that was enough.

In her silence, there was more respect than any words could carry.

The boys came next.

Dorian and Bryan both grinned like fools behind their masks as they pulled Kai into quick, rough embraces that spoke of something intimate. That night, when Kai was being tortured in the isolated chamber, the three had shared their worries through jumbled words.

And now, those worries were no more.

Kai succeeded in winning the tournament.

And like a patch of sand against a gush of wind, all problems were swept away alongside it.

"Remember your promise," Dorian whispered. "I’m wearing the mantle after you."

"Don’t forget about mine," Bryan added. "The exclusive training chamber is mine."

"Yeah, yeah, I didn’t forget about that." Kai shook his head in disbelief. Even before he was in possession of those things, these two already talked about them as if those things were already theirs, even before him. "Thanks for visiting me that night; I really needed it at that time."

"Hey, don’t get sentimental. Strong face. Don’t be gay."

"Said the person who couldn’t beat the gay allegation."

"Thank the Gods we’re being watched, or else I’d be slapping both of your asses."

"Beat—both of our asses. Don’t say beat. It sounded fucking wrong."

Kai pushed them aside and continued.

He had seen the Chancellor pay his respects to the dragon statue, and did the same thing. He stopped, looked up at it, and then placed a hand on his chest before he moved forward toward the Chancellor, who was waiting by the massive bowl.

Inside the massive bowl, the crimson fire raged.

For a second, Kai stared at it and then shifted towards the Chancellor.

"Here," the Chancellor offered him a knife of crimson steel. "Put your blood into it."

Kai didn’t hesitate.

He pressed the knife against the palm of his hand, watching his skin break against the sharp steel before blood spilled. Not knowing how much was the appropriate amount, Kai cut a bit deeper and then hovered his hand above the raging crimson fire.

Blood slid between his fingers and down his palm.

Kai squeezed and then let a good amount fall.

Swoosh—!

Almost instantly, the crimson fire surged.

It roared and flared upward in a column of brilliant crimson that cast the entire hall in shades of blood. A coiling dragon was forced as the heat pulsed outward in a slow, powerful wave—and every person present felt it.

Of course, the massive bowl was not a normal one.

It was a mysterious bowl that was said to bring good fortune by offering blood to the Gods.

To be precise, his blood that was dropped into the massive bowl was an offering made to Ares, for martial strength and courage. Athena, for wisdom and strategy. And lastly, to Nemesis to ensure the new Red Prince did not let his power fester into arrogance—and forget to do good for the academy.

And the brighter the fire raged, the better the good fortune became.

But as the crowd marvelled at the crimson fire, a spark of darkness bloomed within it, and the fire died in an instant. It happened too fast for most eyes to catch—Most likely nobody saw it. Nobody but Kai, who sensed it.

And he had a thought about what this darkness was.

Is she mad that I gave up my blood to the Gods? Might be.

Once that was done, Kai turned around to face the crowd and took three steps forward.

The hall fell into a reverent silence as Dean Lincoln stepped forward.

In his arms, held with the careful grace of a man bearing something sacred, lay a folded mantle.

It was not any other mantle—but it was the original Eventide Mantle of Lifeblood. Worn only for the investiture of a new red prince. Reserved for the student who had proven themselves above all others and was the undisputed strongest of the year.

Slowly, deliberately, Dean Lincoln went behind Kai.

He raised the crimson mantle, its folds caught the firelight like liquid blood, and then lowered it onto Kai’s shoulders. The dragon-shaped clasp clicked open with the soft precision of utter, flawless craftsmanship.

Dean Lincoln’s hands moved with care, guiding the straps over Kai’s chest.

And then, with a final, resounding click, the clasp locked.

Kai immediately felt the heavy weight of the mantle.

It was more than the sheer weight of the mantle—but also the weight of legacy, of expectation, of power. The mantle was warm, and it settled over his shoulders and covered only one side of his body.

For one suspended breath, Kai felt the world shift beneath him.

The crowd, the fire, the vast hall—everything sharpened into impossible clarity.

As of this moment, he was seeing through the eyes of the strong.

The students looked at him differently. Some with marvel, some with envy—and some with anger. The strong were always watched like this. He had never been the one standing here, as he had always been the one staring, the one looking up.

Now, he was looking down.

Another dean approached the Chancellor.

He bore a pillow upon which rested a crown of crimson steel laurel.

Its edges were delicate and sharp as the mantle it matched.

The Chancellor took it in both hands with solemnity, moved to stand in front of Kai, and raised the laurel above Kai’s head. Kai bowed his head and closed his eyes as the weight of the crown descended, cool and unyielding against his brows, matching the size of his head perfectly.

Like he was meant to wear it.

Roan. Barbara. Chester. Due to the unnatural victories against the participants of the Dragon Ring Tournament, Kai became Red Prince in front of the entire academy.

"I bestow upon you the title of Red Prince," the Chancellor’s baritone voice rang out, carrying across the hall like a tide. "Rise, Red Prince Kai."

He straightened his spine and squared his shoulders as the Chancellor walked to the side. And when he opened his eyes, the world appeared different. He shed the shell of a Lesser Angel.

And then, he embraced the Red Prince.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!