My Idle Dragonic System : Apocalypse descends

---

The three of them moved deeper into the ballroom, weaving through clusters of elegantly dressed guests who couldn't help but cast curious glances at the striking trio.

Everywhere they walked, whispers followed.

"That's Scarlett… and Alex… but who's the man in red?"

"Never seen him before… what a presence…"

Max, as always, seemed completely unfazed by the attention. His crimson suit caught the glow of the lanterns above, his calm, confident bearing making him appear almost untouchable—like a predator who owned the ground he walked on.

Alex, for his part, was clearly enjoying himself. He smirked knowingly as people's gazes lingered on Max, as if quietly savoring the quiet ripple his friend caused among Gui Nan's carefully curated audience.

Scarlett tried to focus on keeping her own expression neutral, but inwardly, she felt her heart quicken every time she caught sight of Max from the corner of her eye. His easy composure, his deliberate movements, the faint, unspoken challenge in the way he carried himself—it all gnawed at her, breaking through her usual iron control.

---

At the center of the rooftop, a vast marble dance floor gleamed under the glow of enchanted crystal chandeliers. Couples were already swirling gracefully to the music of the string quartet, their dresses and suits catching the light in a dazzling display of wealth and power.

Max paused as they reached the edge of the floor, his gaze sweeping the room with faint curiosity. Then, he turned slightly toward Scarlett, his voice low but distinct.

"What do you say?" he murmured, offering his hand. "Will you give me the honor of a dance?"Max asked. In his last life he once worked at an entertainment bar because he was hard-pressed for money, so he learned how to dance disco and some other dances and he's quite a professional at it.

Scarlett blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Around her, she could feel the stares sharpening. She knew full well Gui Nan was watching from the far end of the floor.

But something inside her sparked at the quiet confidence in Max's eyes.

Her lips curved into a faint smile.

"Why not," she replied, slipping her hand into his.

---

They stepped onto the marble together, the music swelling around them as they began to move.

At first, Scarlett took the lead out of habit—elegant, calculated steps meant to impress, to keep up appearances. But after just a few moments, she realized that Max was subtly steering her instead, his movements fluid and self-assured, guiding her through the turns and steps as if the two of them had been partners for years.

The world seemed to fade away for a moment.

Scarlett felt her chest tighten—not just from the dance itself, but from the strange, exhilarating sense of ease that came from moving with him. He wasn't just a good dancer. He made it feel effortless.

"You… are full of surprises," she murmured, her cheeks warming ever so slightly.

Max just gave her a faint, almost mischievous smile in return.

"I could say the same about you."

From the sidelines, Alex watched with folded arms, a wide grin on his face as he caught the faint scowl growing on Gui Nan's.

"Ah… looks like my friend's already stealing the show," Alex thought to himself, chuckling softly

---

As the dance drew on, more and more pairs cleared the floor, leaving Scarlett and Max at the center, their crimson and wine-red figures commanding the room.

Scarlett felt her breath catch as Max leaned in slightly during a turn, his voice just above a whisper.

"You're… breathtaking. And not just tonight. I hope you know that."

For a fleeting second, Scarlett forgot where she was, her heartbeat loud in her own ears.

When the final note of the quartet rang out and the dancers stopped, the rooftop erupted in polite applause. Max gave her hand one last gentle squeeze and placed a kiss on it before releasing it, stepping back with his usual unruffled poise.

Scarlett, meanwhile, could still feel the heat lingering in her cheeks.

From across the room, Gui Nan's glare was unmistakable now.

And Alex? He just shook his head in amusement, muttering under his breath:

"Oh, this night just got very interesting . Max really knows how to make things lively" Alex chuckled lightly.

---

After the dance, Max remained where he was, an island of stillness amidst the swirl of nobles and merchants. A crystal glass of deep crimson wine balanced delicately in his hand, and he swirled it with practiced ease, eyes half-closed as he tilted it under his nose to savor the bouquet. The faint notes of aged oak and wild berries brought a faint, knowing smile to his lips — one of the small, refined habits he'd carried over from his past life as a connoisseur of finer things.

But just as he lost himself in the aroma and taste, a cold, familiar voice intruded in his mind.

[Host should prioritize growing stronger instead of indulging in trivialities. You have no idea what calamity looms over this world.]

Max's golden eyes snapped open, his smile fading into a thin frown. He lowered the glass slightly and responded in thought, his mental tone sharp.

'Then tell me about this calamity.'

Silence.

The voice of the system fell quiet, leaving only the soft strains of the orchestra in the air. Max's gaze hardened, and he thought grimly: Seems like I'll have to grow stronger, fast… even if I have to force the answers out of it later.

He tilted the glass to his lips and downed the rest of the wine in a single, measured swallow.

And just then — the music stopped.

All eyes turned toward the grand staircase at the far end of the hall as Gui Nan appeared at the top landing. Dressed impeccably in a royal blue suit, its silk fabric catching the chandelier's light in rich ripples, Gui Nan descended one step at a time. His glossy black hair, combed to perfection, gleamed like polished obsidian. His every move radiated the careful poise of someone who'd spent his life being watched.

But Max noted the subtle tension in Gui Nan's jaw as he swept his gaze across the crowd — and saw Scarlett.

Their eyes locked for a brief moment, and Gui Nan's lips curved into a calculated, charming smile. He held her gaze just long enough to make it seem intentional before letting it drift elsewhere — landing, at last, on Max.

Max, however, didn't even spare Gui Nan a glance.

That tiny, dismissive slight burned in Gui Nan's chest like acid, but he didn't let it show. His smile never wavered, though his knuckles tightened faintly around the stem of his wineglass.

And then she appeared behind him — Gui Shu.

She moved like liquid midnight. A tall, statuesque figure at 1.80 meters, her long black hair cascading in a straight, glossy waterfall to her waist. Her gown was a deep garnet silk, clinging to her hourglass figure, slit high on one side to reveal a toned, graceful leg with each step. Her skin was pale, almost porcelain under the warm light, her features sharp yet strikingly beautiful — a beauty that didn't merely invite admiration, but demanded it.

Her dark eyes, cold and assessing, scanned the room like a scanner seemingly taking everything happening around her in. Every noble she passed either bowed slightly or averted their gaze, as though her presence alone made them uncomfortable.

If Gui Nan was polished steel, then Gui Shu was a rose with thorn hiding it's wildness.

As the two siblings reached the bottom of the stairs, Gui Nan raised his glass high, his smile still in place though his voice carried an undercurrent of arrogance, and the faintest bite of superiority.

"I'm grateful for all of your presence here tonight," he began, letting his gaze linger meaningfully on Scarlett as he spoke. "Your effort to please me is not unnoticed. Rest assured, I intend to ensure none of you regret gracing my party with your time. This," — he raised his glass higher — "is my toast to you all."

He sipped slowly, savoring his own words as though they tasted sweet.

Around the room, polite smiles were plastered on the faces of the nobles and merchants present. Not one of them looked impressed, but they all raised their glasses nonetheless and echoed the toast with muted enthusiasm before returning to their own conversations the moment he turned away.

The orchestra resumed their melody. The hollow charm of the moment dissolved as the guests quietly retreated back into their familiar little circles, already resuming their whispered deals and thinly veiled gossip.

Scarlett had already moved to greet a cluster of high-ranking merchants — the lifeblood of her family's business empire in Taurus City — her poise flawless as ever. Alex hovered nearby, engaged in light chatter with two minor nobles he recognized vaguely from the capital, his easy grin making him seem more relaxed than he actually was.

And Max…

Max stood by the glass wall at the edge of the ballroom, his crimson silhouette reflected faintly against the star-strewn cityscape beyond. He stood still, hands clasped behind his back, his golden eyes seemingly lost in the view — though anyone who looked closely enough would have seen the faint smirk at the corner of his lips seemingly delighted about something.

Gui Nan's jaw tightened as his gaze followed Scarlett, then Alex, then finally fell once more on Max.

" He didn't even look at me. Not once". He thought

Gui Nan's smile faltered for the first time all night.

His polished shoes clicked quietly against the marble floor as he strode toward them — Scarlett, Alex, and Max standing too close to one another for his liking. His entourage stayed behind, recognizing that this approach was meant to look casual… though nothing about Gui Nan's sharp, deliberate movements truly were.

Stopping just within arm's reach, his eyes locked on Scarlett's profile.

"Scarlett," Gui Nan called smoothly, his voice cutting through the low murmur of conversation around them.

The name hung in the air, drawing Scarlett's attention as she turned with perfect composure — though her smile didn't quite reach her eyes when she saw who it was.

Max remained by the window, swirling the wine in his glass, his dull scarlet gaze drifting lazily toward Gui Nan at last — finally acknowledging his presence. But the faint, knowing smile that curved his lips made Gui Nan's chest burn hotter.

Gui Shu, meanwhile, stood a few paces back, watching silently, her dark eyes fixed on Max as though she were studying something far more interesting ,appealing and dangerous than it appeared.

🌟🌟🌟

Please guys, leave a review so I can know where I should improve my novel writing cause this my first novel. Also don't forget to encourage me at least with power stone if you are enjoying my novel.🥺🥺

Thank you 😎