Apocalypse: becoming the hidden Ruler[English]

Scott’s lips curved faintly—half amusement, half regret.

“He’s the most gifted person I’ve ever seen. If we could offer him to our master, he would be delighted.”

He shook his head. “Unfortunately, he’s hiding in Everton and refuses to come out. At this rate, by this time next year, he’ll reach Level Six.”

The Saints felt a chill run through them.

That pace reminded them of someone else—Sethan, head of the Survey Corps.

Their only true failure.

The one time they had almost been captured.

“Level Six or not,” the man in the pheasant mask scoffed, “we’ve killed ordinary Level Six Awakeners before.”

Scott shook his head. “Ordinary Level Six Awakeners aren’t comparable to a peak Level Five genius. And Axel is beyond even that.”

He turned his gaze to Savannah. “I’ll be leaving Everton for a while. I won’t be able to track him personally. How’s your spacetime worm?”

Savannah pouted, looking mildly aggrieved. “Unstable. Sometimes it responds, sometimes it doesn’t. But we’re sure he hasn’t left Everton.”

She shrugged. “Luckily, they haven’t eradicated the spacetime worms. Once Axel leaves the city, I’ll find him quickly.”

Scott nodded. “If only he weren’t in Everton…” He paused, then shook his head without finishing the thought. “Keep monitoring him. Even if the chances are slim.”

“Yes!”

Minutes later, the ruined village fell silent once more. Only the chirping of insects and distant birds suggested that anything still lived there.

.....

“Mr. Axel, please follow me.”

Axel hadn’t expected Mr. Instrument King’s collection to be located on Everton’s main street—right beside the national museum.

The interior was vast. One half resembled an ancient city, filled with antique architecture and relics from forgotten eras. The other half was a hyper-modern technological zone, far more advanced than even the old Crowe Academy.

“This is the Celestial Artifact Exhibition Hall,” said the guide—a young woman in her early twenties. “Tell me which item you require, and I’ll register it.”

She stepped respectfully to the side.

“No wonder Level Nine Awakener,” Axel murmured.

The hall was cylindrical, towering upward. Hundreds of celestial artifacts were arranged alphabetically, stacked like spiraling stairways toward a distant apex—almost like a sanctuary.

“Rock spinal cord.”

“A fire spirit.”

“They really do have everything…”

Celestial artifacts were notoriously difficult to preserve, yet each item here was sealed within a custom device, preventing even the faintest aura from leaking out.

Axel released his spiritual perception.

Feedback surged in from every direction.

“…That’s strange.”

He extended his perception further, brushing each zone in turn. Almost every artifact responded to him in some way. Some weak, some strong—but all reactive.

That didn’t align with what Sergio had said.

Normally, an Awakened could only resonate with artifacts aligned to their attributes.

“Mr. Axel?” The guide stepped closer, curiosity evident. “Is something wrong?”

“I… don’t know which spiritual treasure suits me best,” Axel admitted.

“I see.” She nodded knowingly. “Please wait a moment. I’ll consult the curator.”

Not long after, she arrived at the curator’s office.

An elderly man with gray hair sat behind the desk, a pipe clenched between his teeth as he casually read a newspaper.

“Mr. Lionel,” she said respectfully, “Axel seems to be having trouble choosing an item.”

Lionel lowered the paper and smiled faintly. “Can’t find anything that fits him?”

He tapped the edge of his pipe against the desk. “That kid’s awakened talent is All Things Simulation. It’s powerful, but flawed. He can imitate countless abilities, yet rarely perfects any single one.”

“These spiritual objects are all sealed,” Lionel continued. “It’s normal that he can’t sense them properly. Here’s what we’ll do—give him temporary clearance. Let the artifacts release their aura for a short time. That should make his choice easier.”

With that, Lionel stood and headed for the collection hall alongside the attendant.

What he didn’t expect—what completely defied his assumptions—was that Axel could sense them. Every single one of them.

That was precisely why Axel couldn’t choose.

“Axel, hello,” Lionel said warmly upon arrival. “I’m Lionel, assistant to Mr. Instrument King.”

“Ah—sir—” Axel began, about to explain.

Lionel waved a hand dismissively. “No need to be nervous. I’ll release the artifacts’ auras and activate my detection instruments at the same time. Even if you still can’t sense them, my equipment will identify the one most compatible with you.”

“That works.” Lionel’s solution sounded reasonable, so Axel didn’t bother correcting him.

Soon, both Lionel and the attendant exited the hall, leaving Axel standing alone at its center.

“Axel,” Lionel’s voice echoed over the hall’s speakers. “I’m activating the system. Release your spiritual power.”

Axel closed his eyes and let his spiritual power surge outward.

Hiss—crackle—hum.

One by one, the seals on the spiritual artifacts activated. Auras of every color and texture spilled into the vast cylindrical hall, intertwining and swirling through the layered space like a living storm.

Axel’s spiritual power spread to fill the entire chamber.

In that instant, every aura reacted.

Not one.

Not a few.

All of them.

Each spiritual artifact seemed to find its destination, surging eagerly toward Axel’s spiritual presence.

Axel instinctively spread his arms. Deep within him, the Ancient Tree trembled violently, radiating a raw, insatiable hunger.

He remained motionless, eyes closed, immersed in the overwhelming resonance.

Outside the hall, Lionel and the attendant stared at the surveillance feed in stunned silence.

“Tell me I’m hallucinating,” Lionel muttered.

Hundreds of celestial artifacts were actively releasing their auras—as if queuing up to be chosen.

The containers housing them vibrated gently, spiritual energy spiraling wildly throughout the hall.

“This… this is real,” the attendant whispered. “He can sense all of them. Does that mean every single artifact is compatible with him?”

Lionel swallowed hard as his instruments confirmed it.

“Yes,” he said hoarsely. “It’s real.”

Then—

Something went wrong.

Several beams of condensed light suddenly broke free from the chaotic swirl, shooting straight toward Axel’s body.

“Spiritual artifacts seeking their master?!” Lionel’s jaw dropped.

Three beams struck Axel.

Two vanished almost instantly.

The third latched firmly onto his hand.

Axel opened his eyes in shock.

Moments earlier, when his spiritual power expanded, the Ancient Tree had abruptly awakened—and before he could even react, the other two beams had already been swallowed whole.

He didn’t even know what they were.

Buzz.

All the containers slammed shut simultaneously. The swirling energy vanished, leaving the hall eerily still.

“You little bastard—do you have any idea how badly you’ve screwed me?!” Lionel rushed inside, grabbed Axel, and scanned him furiously before slumping in despair.

“Two drops of pure primal energy liquid… and a Thunder Punishment Stone.” Lionel stared at him as if at a walking disaster. “You swallowed three spiritual treasures!”

“How the hell am I supposed to explain this to Mr. Instrument King?!”

“…Huh?”

Axel glanced at the Thunder Punishment Stone embedded in his hand. Internally, he was thrilled. Externally, he looked stricken with guilt.

“H-How could this happen?” he said weakly. “I swear, I didn’t mean to…”

Bullshit. Lionel shot him a furious look—but he knew, deep down, that Axel wasn’t lying.

That didn’t make the situation any less of a nightmare.

“Stay here,” Lionel growled. “I’ll go explain this.”

Watching the old man storm off, Axel finally let out a slow breath.

Deep inside him, the Ancient Tree pulsed with terrifying energy.

It wasn’t something he could control—not yet. Whatever it had absorbed was being used to repair itself.

“Mr. Instrument King… something happened.”

On the other side of the screen, Mr. Instrument King didn’t even look up. Several puppet soldiers stood in front of him, half-dismantled, as he meticulously adjusted their components. He treated them like living artworks, constantly fine-tuning parameters while muttering under his breath.

“Piercing… levitation… self-repair…”

“When Axel sensed the celestial spiritual objects, three of them were actively absorbed into his body. I—”

“Is that it?” Mr. Instrument King waved a hand impatiently. “Don’t bother me with trivial nonsense. Just tell the kid he owes me a favor in the future.”

The call ended.