Apocalypse: becoming the hidden Ruler[English]

Black mechanical armor wrapped his body, sleek and angular. A golden metal mask covered his face, and flames burst intermittently from beneath his feet as he descended.

“You’re the Level Five Awakeners from Abyss, correct?”

The mask slid open automatically, revealing a sharp, handsome face. He looked to be around thirty-seven or thirty-eight, his gaze proud and unyielding.

“Zachariah?” Kenneth raised an eyebrow.

Zachariah scanned the group and nodded in satisfaction. “Kenneth of the Goldleaf family. Sergio’s here too. Good.”

“That means my plan is already more than halfway complete.”

Zachariah was the most outstanding figure of his generation in the Silverwyn family—a mid–Level Six Awakener with a rare mechanical talent.

“I was leading a Ministry of Defense unit against the mutated beast horde,” he continued. “But your parents were worried about you being trapped in Abyss.”

“So they told me to wait outside.”

“Once you’re out, you’re to return to your families immediately and stay out of the mutated beast battles.”

Zachariah stood at the center of the group, posture straight, expression cold and arrogant. He slipped effortlessly into a commanding role, as if this were already his operation.

“I’ve been waiting,” he continued calmly. “The space around Abyss started fluctuating, so I went to investigate and was teleported outside the walls. I spent a few days traveling back and just happened to run into you.”

He smiled faintly, confidence dripping from his tone.

“This is Willow of the Stormrider family—my assistant. You’ve met her before.” He waved a hand impatiently. “No more wasting time. We’re forcing a passage back to Krythos.”

“Hurry up and thank Mr. Zachariah,” Willow added sharply, her brows knitting as she looked at the stunned group. “If he weren’t here, you’d probably still be wandering the wilderness.”

“Wait.”

Sergio stepped forward, his voice firm. “Zachariah, this isn’t something we can rush. Are you aware of the current situation around Krythos?”

Zachariah’s expression stiffened slightly.

“I was outside Abyss,” he replied coolly. “Of course I know.”

“Axel,” Sergio said, turning. “Explain.”

Axel briefly summarized what he had seen—the scale of the mutated beast horde, the abnormal distribution, the presence of high-level threats.

As he finished, Willow’s face finally changed.

“So many mutated beasts gathered in just a few days?” she murmured. “And… Level Seven mutated beasts?”

Zachariah’s expression darkened. He stared at Axel with open suspicion.

“You’re Axel?” His voice turned sharp. “Are you certain what you’re saying is true? This isn’t the place to spout nonsense.”

“I have no reason to lie,” Axel replied calmly.

“Then explain this.” Zachariah’s eyes narrowed. “You just advanced to Level Six. How could you possibly infiltrate that deeply into the horde?”

“Axel has his own methods,” Sergio interjected. “Let’s not pry into that.”

“No.” Zachariah waved his hand dismissively. “Explain clearly, or we proceed according to my plan.”

He sneered slightly. “You’re all too young. You like to overthink things. Just follow orders.”

Willow nodded in agreement. “Exactly. Don’t exaggerate to sound impressive. Besides, if you really encountered a Level Seven mutated beast, you wouldn’t be standing here.”

Zachariah smiled faintly at Axel. “You’ll have time to prove yourself later. Right now, don’t show off.”

Sergio and Terrence exchanged looks, their expressions subtly changing.

If Zachariah truly pushed Axel too far… there was a real chance he’d die one day without ever understanding why.

“If you don’t believe me,” Axel said flatly, “you’re free to leave. We’re not going.”

Zachariah’s facial muscles twitched. Confident in his strength. Confident in his information.

The top experts of Krythos had already left the city to hunt Venerable-level mutated beasts. How could Level Seven creatures still be lurking outside the walls?

“You think you can’t walk?” Zachariah snapped. “Do you speak for everyone?”

He released his Force without restraint.

“Don’t get arrogant just because you have talent. You’ve got a long way to go.”

A massive armored phantom materialized behind him.

“A natal artifact…” Sergio muttered, his expression tightening.

Axel narrowed his eyes.

“I don’t need you to lecture me.”

His Force erupted.

The aura of the Origin Tree surged outward, roaring like a storm. Axel’s power shot straight into the sky, crushing Zachariah’s pressure in an instant.

Zachariah’s pupils contracted violently.

“Looks like the gap is still there,” Sergio sighed, glancing at the stunned Terrence and the others.

Beneath the armor, Zachariah’s body trembled. His handsome face darkened, and after a moment, he withdrew his aura.

“I’m not lowering myself to argue with you,” he said coldly. “The nation is in crisis. I don’t have time for this.”

It had taken him six years to reach Level Six.

Axel had barely broken through—and already possessed Force comparable in both quantity and quality.

Zachariah’s gaze flashed with hostility.

“What’s going on?” Willow snapped, glaring at Axel. “Why are you provoking Mr. Zachariah?”

“Everyone calm down,” Luke said quickly, coughing as he stepped between them. “Unity matters most right now.”

“Let me be clear,” Zachariah said, regaining his composure. “I don’t agree with him. If you come with me, we’ll be back in Krythos within three days—reunited with your families. Krythos needs us.”

“Mr. Zachariah’s right,” someone said. “I’m going with him.”

“Yeah. Staying out here helps no one. The beasts can’t surround all of Krythos.”

Seven or eight Level Five Awakened stepped forward. Zachariah and Willow visibly relaxed.

“Sergio, come with us,” someone urged. “Let Axel stay here—he’s probably just afraid to fight.”

Sergio exhaled slowly. “Sorry. I agree with Axel.”

Zachariah frowned and turned to the others.

“Mr. Zachariah, we’ll stay,” Nigel said cheerfully. “I usually follow Axel’s lead.”

Terrence and Kenneth silently stepped beside Axel.

Zachariah and Willow’s faces darkened immediately.

“And you two?” Willow demanded, glaring at Luke and Ferdinand. “Military men—are you afraid of battle too?”

Zachariah looked at them coldly, barely restraining his anger.

Before Ferdinand could answer, Felicia grabbed his arm.

“Brother, I have to stay with my idol.”

Ferdinand sighed helplessly.

Luke spoke seriously. “Mr. Zachariah, none of us are avoiding battle—least of all Axel. He’s made real contributions on the front lines. He’s not reckless. His judgment isn’t wrong.”

“So you think I’m an idiot?” Zachariah snapped. “A mid-level Level Six with no brain?”

Luke fell silent.

He didn’t have the status—or the strength—to argue further.

“Fine. If you want to rot in the wilderness, that’s your choice,” Zachariah said coldly. “The rest of you—come with me. Back to Krythos. We’ll support the defense, earn military merit, and get officially recorded. Unlike some people who could fight but choose to hide. Don’t worry—everything will be handled fairly.”

A few of the previously hesitant Awakened exchanged looks, then stepped toward him.

Twelve people stood at Zachariah’s side now. Eleven remained with Axel.

“Let’s go,” Zachariah said flatly. He didn’t spare Axel another glance before leading his group away.

Silence lingered after they disappeared into the snow.

“Aren’t you going to try to stop them?” Luke asked cautiously.

Axel stood with his hands behind his back, his tone calm and detached.

“What’s the point? People rushing toward death won’t listen to reason.”

What he didn’t say was this: if they forced their way back in, it would expose the presence of a large number of Krythos Awakened stranded in the wilderness. Once the mutated beasts realized that, any future attempt to return would be met with full vigilance.

“Then we need another plan,” Sergio said, exhaling heavily. “Zachariah and the others… they’re probably walking into a meat grinder.”

“If brute force is the only way to break through,” Cameron suddenly said, “then we do have another option.”

Everyone turned to him.

“What option?” Nigel asked.

“The City of Sin,” Cameron replied. “It’s also outside the walls—and there are plenty of powerful people there.”