Apocalypse: becoming the hidden Ruler[English]

Charles inhaled deeply, his tone growing solemn. “Rosaline… I think I know where she is. As for Vince, I’ve got a few guesses. But first, we wake Rosaline.”

He started forward, but froze when he noticed Axel standing beside him, holding out the Abundant.

“Mr. Charles,” Axel said quietly, “you’re not refusing this time. You won’t have the strength to save Rosaline without it.”

Charles hesitated for a moment under Axel’s steady gaze, then nodded. “All right, Axel. Do what you can.”

“Abundant!”

“Explosive Energy!”

Abundant was known for healing physical injuries, but it could also patch up damaged mental power. Explosive Energy, on the other hand, was a raw burst skill—it could supercharge Force output and even temporarily raise total mental capacity. And right now, Axel could tell the latter would work better on Charles.

The moment Axel’s Awakening Technique flowed into him, Charles felt it—like a pump firing to life inside his chest. Axel, meanwhile, felt as though his own energy were being sucked dry. His face turned pale in seconds; the drain from using Explosive Energy was brutal.

Charles, who had been calm until now, finally lost his composure. His entire body trembled as that terrifying surge filled him, flooding through every nerve.

What the hell… how much Force does this kid have?

He turned to stare at Axel like he was some kind of rare beast. His mental fatigue vanished in an instant—and even more shocking, his limit had increased. Temporarily, sure, but it was enough to make even a veteran like Charles catch his breath.

“That’s enough, Axel,” Charles said, clapping him on the shoulder. His voice shook slightly, tinged with awe. “That’s more than enough to bring Rosaline back.”

Millers, Kaia, and Phoenix just gawked at Axel as if he’d grown another head.

“Axel… are you level five?” Millers asked, half whispering.

Axel exhaled weakly, his smile wry. “Not yet.”

The three fell silent, then gasped almost in unison.

“Holy shit,” Millers muttered. “The kind of foundation you have—”

Pushing levels too fast could wreck your core. Expanding your Primal Meridians early on mattered more than raw power growth. Yet Axel had both.

“Axel barely managed to beat Terrence last time,” Phoenix said quietly. “So… they are on another level.”

Phoenix was talented himself—his Force compression was nearly at the limit of two thousand, genius-tier even in the War Academy. But what he’d just sensed from Axel… made him feel utterly outclassed.

“It’s different now,” Axel said, grinning faintly. “I’ve grown since then.”

The truth was, the rock spinal cord and Vernon’s life crystal had changed him—his defense, endurance, and total Force output had all skyrocketed. He could feel it deep in his bones. If he faced Terrence again, he was sure he could take him down even without relying on fire spirits.

Of course, Terrence wouldn’t have been idle either. The thought made Axel’s blood stir. He was looking forward to that rematch.

“We’re here,” Charles said suddenly.

They had walked out of the busy streets into a narrow, aging neighborhood. The air felt still. On the first floor of an old apartment block, the window ledge held several flower pots. The soil inside was cracked and dry; a few wilted stalks hung limp over the edge.

“Rosaline’s dream won’t be simple,” Charles murmured. “Kaia, stay sharp—we might both need to step in.”

Though Charles’s complexion had improved, his eyes remained tense, alert.

The five of them entered the dim corridor. Charles expanded his mental field, scanning the surroundings. Their footsteps echoed softly—and with every step, the world seemed to shift.

The cracked walls brightened. The silence filled with faint sounds of life—elderly voices chatting, children laughing and chasing each other. The red sky softened into a pale, rainy yellow. The air smelled of wet earth and grass after a storm.

They reached a doorway. Charles pushed it open gently.

Inside sat a girl at a small table, ladling out steaming bowls of rice. She looked sixteen, maybe seventeen—young, delicate, her smile bright and open. Beside her stood a young man a few years older, wearing a faded green apron as he cooked. The air was warm, peaceful, filled with the aroma of home.

On the balcony, pots overflowed with flowers. A small TV flickered in the corner. Every corner of the place radiated ordinary, comforting life.

“Is that Rosaline?” Kaia whispered. “And the guy… her boyfriend?”

“No,” Charles said softly. His gaze lingered on the girl’s face—so alive, so different from the cold, sharp woman he knew. “That’s her brother.”

They stepped closer, unseen by either of the two.

The man sat across from Rosaline. His features resembled hers—same sharp chin, same clear eyes—but there was gentleness in his every move. He scooped a bit of food for her, smiling as they talked.

“Brother,” the younger Rosaline said, her voice light, “the Rough Stones you gave me last time are still enough. You shouldn’t go into the wilderness again.”

The man chuckled. “You’re in your final stretch before exams. You’ll burn through Stones faster than you think. We’ll talk after you get into the War Academy.”

Rosaline’s eyes gleamed with hope. “Just one more year. Then I’ll be a senior. It’s gone by so fast.”

Her brother glanced toward the old family photo hanging on the wall. The photo was faded, the colors yellowing with age. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “If Mom and Dad could see us now—two Awakeners—they’d be proud.”

The two chatted softly, laughter echoing through the small apartment.

Axel and the others stood in silence. None of them had ever seen Rosaline like this.

In Axel’s memory, she was always cold, composed, a bit sharp-edged. She cared about him, sure—but affection from her always came through stern words and hard training.

It was hard to imagine that once, she’d been this gentle, this bright.

Charles was silent for a long moment before finally exhaling.

“Everyone,” he said quietly, “I’m going to try to pull her out.”

This time, he drew on his full psychic strength. The air rippled, and the entire room began to tremble.

The two figures at the table—the young Rosaline and her brother—stopped eating at once. The man turned to her with a soft smile.

“Rosaline,” he said gently, “I believe you’ll become an extraordinary Awakener.”

His gaze lingered on her face for a moment, deep and steady—and then his outline began to blur, fading at the edges. The tremors in the room grew stronger.

Rosaline froze, confusion flashing across her young face. Then her eyes filled with panic. She shook her head violently, rushing forward to clutch at his sleeve.

“Brother—don’t go. Please, don’t leave me!”

But the man only smiled, the kind of warmth that could melt through any grief. His body continued to fade.

Then, from the fragile frame of the young Rosaline, a sudden wave of psychic power exploded outward.

“Don’t go!”

The word tore through the air like a detonation.

The shockwave hit everyone. Axel and the others coughed up blood on the spot. Charles’s face went crimson as he fought the recoil, veins bulging along his temples.

Two immense forces of will clashed head-on inside the small apartment—Rosaline’s desperate psychic grip, and Charles’s relentless pull to break it. The man’s image wavered between solid and smoke as the floor buckled beneath them.

“Rosaline, wake up!” Charles roared, pouring every shred of his spirit into the struggle. The walls groaned. Windows cracked.

“Brother…” Rosaline’s voice trembled, her power surging again.

Axel, Millers, and Phoenix could only stand there helplessly; none of them were Psychic Awakeners, and their interference would only make things worse.

Kaia rushed forward, pressing a hand to Charles’s shoulder, her own mental force flaring to life. The air warped as their two energies intertwined, battering against Rosaline’s.

The man’s fading silhouette trembled—and then, at last, began to dissolve. He smiled one last time, a gentle, farewell smile, before vanishing into a thin, golden haze.

The dream broke.