Apocalypse: becoming the hidden Ruler[English]

He started down the street, Kaia still teasing Millers as they followed. Axel quickened his pace to walk beside Charles.

Up close, Axel could see it—the sweat beading along the old man’s temple, the uneven rhythm of his breathing.

“Mr. Charles…”

Charles managed a tired smile and waved him off. “I’m fine, Axel. I can still keep going.”

Without another word, he reignited his psychic energy. A faint aura of power rippled through the air, carrying a sense of grounded steadiness that belied his exhaustion.

Axel trailed behind, fingers tightening around the Life Crystal in his pocket. The Force here in the shallow dream was thin—hard to replenish, nearly gone. He had just tried drawing from it and found the crystal could still absorb some.

He didn’t know what kind of effect that might have in this dream world—but at this point, it didn’t matter.

“We never promised to take Valerie alive anyway,” he muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing.

Around them, the dream city continued to crumble. What had once been a bustling metropolis now looked like a ruin stripped bare overnight. Buildings collapsed into dust, but the skeletal streets stretched endlessly into the haze.

Kaia caught up. “Mr. Charles, once we pull out the captain and the others, how do we actually leave?”

Charles slowed his steps, looking back over the broken street they’d walked. “Valerie’s true form is hidden somewhere inside this shallow dream,” he said. “There was only two ways—either she devours everyone’s dreams and forces her way out, or we find her true body and destroy it here.”

He looked forward again, eyes clouded with thought. “Once we wake Vince and the rest, we hunt her down. Otherwise, even if we escape, the Havoc Division and Embercrag units will die in here.”

His tone was grim, heavy with the weight of responsibility.

Just then, a glowing sign appeared ahead—a battered internet café called Giant, its door plastered with a faded poster: Deposit 30 yuan, get a 200 yuan bonus.

“Phoenix?” Millers blinked. “Don’t tell me the guy’s an esports junkie.”

Charles gave a nostalgic little chuckle. “He’s got good taste in entertainment. Let’s go.”

They stepped closer. Charles brushed his fingers against the café door, and the world shimmered again—suddenly, the sharp tang of cigarette smoke and the salty-sour scent of instant noodles filled the air.

To most people, it would smell unpleasant. But to anyone who’d ever been a broke student, it was the smell of youth.

“Insufficient balance, please top up.”

“Manager! One cup noodles and a sausage!”

“It’s past midnight, anyone staying for the night shift?”

The familiar chaos of an internet café filled their ears—clattering keyboards, bursts of laughter, the hum of endless games flashing across the screens.

“This place looks ancient,” Millers murmured, scanning the cramped rows of computers.

Charles nodded softly. “When Phoenix was younger, his family was poor. He used to do part-time jobs just to help them get by. Back then, when his classmates went online to play, he’d stand outside and watch, dreaming of joining them someday.”

They walked toward the back, where a bulky man sat grinning ear to ear in front of his screen.

But instead of a game interface, the monitor was filled with several scantily clad girls dancing to pop music.

“Ah,” Millers said, his mouth twitching. “I suddenly feel a lot better about my own dream.”

Kaia tilted her head, blinking at the screen. “Wait… are those 2D avatars?”

Axel and Millers exchanged a look, both struggling to reconcile the image of the burly, no-nonsense Phoenix with the guy currently drooling over animated girls doing a 2D dance routine.

“So that’s what this crap is called—2D dance,” Charles muttered. “I’ve caught this guy watching it a few times. Honestly, I thought he and Millers shared the same hobby—porn.”

Millers froze mid-grin, his expression twisting. “Whoa, hold up. What the hell does that have to do with me?”

Charles raised a hand without looking back, his face perfectly straight. “Relax, I know you’ve changed. Just let me handle this.”

He placed his palm gently on Phoenix’s shoulder, and his mental power surged outward. After bathing in the Dragon Pond, Phoenix had become a peak Level-4 Awakener—stronger than ever. Charles figured pulling him out of the dream would be as easy as waking Kaia.

He was wrong.

Within seconds, sweat rolled down his forehead. The lights in the internet café flickered, the air itself trembling.

“Mr. Charles!” Axel stepped forward, alarmed.

Charles panted, face pale, and waved him off. “I just… need a minute.”

“Mr. Charles must be exhausted.” Axel reached for his Abundant, ready to feed him some energy—

—but Kaia beat him to it. “We can’t just stand around and let him burn himself out,” she said, tossing her lollipop aside. “If that’s the case… then it’s my turn to make a fool of myself.”

“Huh?”

All three men turned toward her in confusion.

Kaia loosened her collar just a little—enough to flash a sliver of pale skin—and squared her stance, her expression suddenly serious.

“Millers,” she said, “play some music.”

Millers blinked. “What?”

“Music!”

He scrambled for his device. “A-Alice!”

“Online,” replied the tiny mechanical drone perched on his shoulder.

As pulsing electronic music filled the café, Kaia closed her eyes and unleashed her Force, linking her consciousness to Phoenix’s dream. Her body began to move, fluid and precise, every step hitting the rhythm perfectly.

She danced.

The cramped aisles of the internet café suddenly felt charged. Kaia’s small frame moved with unexpected grace—cute and alluring at the same time.

Axel’s throat went dry. Millers’ jaw literally dropped.

“Wh—what the hell…” Millers muttered, inching closer for a better look.

Axel coughed sharply. “Move another step and she’ll break your legs.”

Millers scowled, torn between fear and fascination. I’ll take the beating, he thought grimly. But then he remembered his “reformed gentleman” image, coughed twice, and forced a fake laugh. “Ha… ha… what are you talking about? I’m not even watching.”

He turned away righteously—then immediately peeked again out of the corner of his eye.

Charles exhaled weakly, half amused, half incredulous. “Kaia… are you sure this is how you want to do it? Maybe I should—”

He didn’t get to finish.

A crack of thunder split the air. Lightning flashed across the ceiling, and the gamers sitting at nearby computers began to vanish, one by one.

The smell of instant noodles and cigarette smoke faded. The walls trembled. The neon lights flickered out.

In moments, the bustling café dissolved into silence.

Charles blinked, stunned. “Well… that actually worked.”

Kaia was breathing hard, her face flushed and slick with sweat, but she still managed a triumphant grin. “So, Master,” she said between breaths, “still think I’m not amazing?”

Charles couldn’t help but chuckle.

Phoenix, meanwhile, stood up stiffly, sweat pouring down his neck. When their minds had linked, he’d heard the familiar beat of an old anime dance track—and then seen Kaia herself moving to it.

When he realized everyone had seen it too, his entire face turned crimson.

“Phoenix, buddy,” Millers said with a laugh, slinging an arm around his shoulders. “Don’t be shy. Once this mission’s done, I’ll take you to a bar with Mr. Charles. We’ll expand your horizons.”

Phoenix’s ears twitched. “No thanks,” he muttered. “I, uh… I’m more of a watcher than a participant.”

“I—wait, what?” Millers sputtered.

Everyone else burst into laughter.

Phoenix was awake, and for once, everyone’s spirits had lifted.

As they stepped out of the café, the ground shook violently. The surrounding buildings crumbled into dust, vanishing into the mist.

“The shallow dream’s shrinking again,” Charles said softly, watching the ruins collapse. He glanced at Kaia, a trace of pride flickering in his weary eyes. She had surprised him—truly.

“Now there are only two left,” Millers said. “The Captain and Rosaline. But where the hell are they?”