Apocalypse: becoming the hidden Ruler[English]

“There’s still time,” a scruffy Awakened growled. “Find a weak point. If we move together, we can break through.”

Luke and Ferdinand exchanged a glance—then both looked toward Axel.

A massive invisible pressure radiated from Axel’s position, covering a five- or six-meter radius. No one could get close to the five who were still cultivating.

“If we leave,” Luke said quietly, “they’re dead.”

Mario shook his head furiously. “That’s not my problem. I’m leaving. Anyone coming with me?”

Several people hesitated, glancing between Luke and Ferdinand.

“We’re staying,” Luke said slowly. “But we won’t stop anyone who wants to go.”

Ferdinand stared at him. “Are you insane? If they leave, how are we supposed to protect Axel?”

Felicia nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah! My brother’s right!”

Luke nearly lost it. These two are completely hopeless. How the hell did Ferdinand make it into the elite squad?

“Axel and the others are close to waking up,” Luke snapped. “Once they do, breaking out will be easy. Leaving now is suicide.”

Before Ferdinand could argue, Luke stepped behind him and twisted his arm hard.

“Ow—shit!” Ferdinand hissed, rubbing it. “…Alright, fine. You’re right. Once Axel wakes up, we can break out without losing anyone.”

The others finally settled down.

Truth be told, Luke hadn’t expected them all to stay.

What he was really afraid of was this: if people panicked and rushed out now, they’d provoke the beasts into a full-on assault.

He glanced back at Axel, jaw tight.

Hurry up, he thought.

Please… wake up already.

From above, the entire hillside looked like a colossal whirlpool, a living vortex that endlessly dragged Abyss’s Origin Force into its core.

At the center of that vortex sat Axel.

Around him, a massive ring of mutated beasts had formed—layer upon layer, closing in.

......

“Damn it… where did all the Awakened go?”

“If we can’t find them soon, we should retreat.”

Two figures whispered anxiously, brows knotted as they watched the mutated beasts cautiously probing toward the hillside.

Elsewhere—deep beneath the Infinite Cold Cave, at the bottom of an icy pool—an elderly man with ash-gray hair sat cross-legged beside three skeletons the size of mountains. Thin strands of crimson light flowed continuously from the bones into his body.

Suddenly, the crimson light thickened.

The old man’s eyes snapped open. With overwhelming Force, he seized control of the energy, forcing it into himself.

Chaotic ripples spread outward.

“Soon,” he murmured. “Almost there.”

He closed his eyes once more.

......

Three days later, staring at the mutated beast horde with the naked eye, despair settled heavily over the crowd.

“I shouldn’t have listened to you!” Mario’s voice shook, tears welling up. “We’re never getting out of here!”

In just three days, the encirclement had tightened dramatically. Not only had the radius shrunk to about five kilometers, but the number of mutated beasts had surged past one hundred and fifty. Level-five beasts formed the core, with countless level-four beasts trailing behind them like scavengers.

“Just… wait a little longer,” Luke said, though even he no longer sounded confident.

Ferdinand and Felicia couldn’t smile anymore.

“Even if Axel wakes up now…” Ferdinand swallowed hard, staring at the beasts. “It might already be too late.”

Felicia clutched her brother’s clothes, her face pale. “Being eaten by mutated beasts is terrifying… If they’re going to eat me, I hope they just swallow me whole. Don’t chew, okay?”

Her words turned several already-white faces a sickly green.

“What the hell are you scared of? I’m not dead yet!” Ferdinand snapped, stepping in front of her.

Felicia shook her head violently. “If Brother Axel wakes up, we still have hope. You don’t give me any sense of security at all.”

At that moment—

The immense Origin Force behind them suddenly vanished.

At the same time, the strange plant fragrance reached its absolute peak.

“ROAR!”

The mutated beasts went berserk, as if injected with some kind of stimulant. Their howls shook the ground.

“Axel… you’re finally awake.”

A calm, almost lazy voice came from behind.

Luke and the others shuddered and spun around.

Sergio and Terrence were already on their feet, stretching casually. Their joints cracked like firecrackers.

Axel, seated at the center, slowly opened his eyes. “Didn’t you all just wake up too?”

He glanced around at the unfamiliar faces, confused.

Nigel gave a bitter smile. “We were awake a while ago. You’re the real monster—absorbing that much Origin Force.”

Axel’s eyes gleamed.

They had cultivated for nearly fifty days.

His body had hit its limit—every attribute had broken past 20,000. After that, nearly all of his Origin Force had been poured into the Ancient Tree of Heaven.

Once a natal treasure fully manifests, an Awakened’s combat style changes fundamentally.

Different natal treasures meant entirely different battle philosophies.

Axel and the others were now only one step away from the peak of Level Five—and Level Six.

If this weren’t Abyss, if not for the constant threat of killing intent, they would have broken through already.

“Axel! You’re finally out!” Felicia bounced forward, eyes shining.

Axel blinked. “Uh… and you are?”

“I’m your biggest fan—and also a colleague from the Whisper Syndicate! Nice to meet you!” She confidently stuck out her hand.

Axel hesitated, then awkwardly shook it.

“Heyhey. I touched Axel’s hand.”

Ferdinand’s face darkened as he grabbed Felicia by the ear and yanked her back. “Stop embarrassing yourself! Look around!”

“We might die any second!”

Axel finally looked up.

Only then did he truly see it—the mutated beasts surrounding them from all directions.

“Axel,” Luke said, stepping forward, “you must’ve obtained some kind of high-grade spiritual plant. These beasts are here for it. We’ve been stuck here for over forty days.”

“Mr. Luke,” Axel said politely, “long time no see.”

Luke nodded. “You’ve all grown stronger. Ferdinand’s at the peak of Level Five now—strongest among us.”

He took a breath. “The situation’s urgent. You six will act as the spearhead. If you can tear open a gap, we might have a chance to escape.”

Everyone turned toward Axel and the others, eyes filled with hope.

Mario hurriedly added, “You—you can’t refuse. We stayed this long to protect you!”

Axel waved his hand lightly. “Relax.”

“You can run, of course we’re tense!” someone snapped.

“Axel,” Luke frowned slightly, unease creeping in. He didn’t recognize Sergio or the others—but what unsettled him was their expressions.

They looked… relaxed.

Too relaxed.

“That’s not a good sign,” Luke thought grimly.

“Enough talking. Want to try it?” Axel glanced at the other four.

Nigel was already bouncing on his heels, barely holding it together. “Axel, I seriously can’t take it anymore. I’ve never had a chance like this to go all out. Let’s move.”

Terrence said nothing. He simply slipped on his brass knuckles, the metal clicking softly as flames licked along his arms.

“Let’s test our limits,” Sergio said with a grin. “If we wipe out enough level-five mutated beasts, Abyss will be a lot safer.”

Axel nodded. “That’s the awareness I’d expect from a great family.”

With that, he stepped forward—straight toward the densest cluster of mutated beasts.

Watching the five of them split up and walk off so casually, Luke, Ferdinand, and everyone else stood frozen.

“Are these guys… fucking insane?” Mario muttered, collapsing onto the ground.

“Ferdinand, go help—” Luke started.

Before he could finish—

Five overwhelming auras of Force erupted at once.

Kenneth’s mechanical legion unfolded in an instant, spreading outward like a steel flood. Artillery roared. Explosions tore through the horde. Level-five mutated beasts fell in droves, howling as their bodies were ripped apart.

Terrence charged straight into the mass of beasts, wreathed in flames, moving like a human-shaped disaster. Wherever he passed, mutated beasts were smashed, torn, or burned to pieces.

Sergio and Nigel were a step slower, but even they met almost no resistance.