Apocalypse: becoming the hidden Ruler

But he hadn't. He was stuck—dangerous, powerful, but forever trapped at the peak of Level One. "God is jealous of talent," Grayson muttered.

On the sidelines, Elijah and the others watched in stunned silence. Just two days ago, they'd stormed into Sin City, winning their first battle without much trouble. That had made them cocky. But today—

This fight slapped them back to reality. If there were Level One fighters like this lurking in Sin City...

Had they underestimated this place? Esme frowned. "Are we sure he's just Level One?" she muttered.

No one answered. It was Wesley who finally spoke, his tone serious. "He's still Level One."

"I don't sense any absorption of Force." At Level Two, awakeners could directly absorb Force from their surroundings.

Harrison was just that damn skilled. "They've both honed their techniques to the absolute limit."

Back in the arena, Axel looked battered. His clothes were in shreds, his body covered in wounds. He looked like he'd been torn apart—

But he wasn't panicking. His close-fitting armor had absorbed most of the damage. The blood and torn fabric were just for show. Superficial wounds.

And Axel was waiting. He was tracking Harrison's movements, getting used to his speed. Waiting for that one moment—

That single misstep. Swish! Harrison's claws slashed toward Axel's left side—

And then Axel struck. Like a viper. His hand shot forward, fast as lightning, reaching for Harrison's arm—

"He's that fast too?!" Zachary, watching from above, broke into a cold sweat. It was only by instinct alone that Harrison jerked away, dodging at the last second.

"Why did he retreat?" someone in the crowd murmured.

"Isn't that guy seriously injured?"

"He should've finished him off!"

But Harrison ignored the noise. He kept his eyes locked on Axel. And then—

He spoke. "Your defense is incredible."

"Everyone here thinks you're just getting beat down."

"But I can feel it." His dull eyes flickered. "You're not panicking."

"You're watching. Waiting." Harrison exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "You're a cautious one. Smart." He smiled. "And that's why I won't make any mistakes."

"I will slowly grind you to death." His voice wasn't arrogant, he wasn't taunting. He was simply stating the truth.

Axel understood. Harrison wasn't just trying to kill him. No, he was relishing this fight. It was rare to find an opponent of equal strength, someone who could push you to your limit without simply overpowering you.

Maybe this was why Harrison spoke so much during their fight. Not out of arrogance—

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But because he had finally found a worthy opponent. It would be laughable to call it mutual respect. They were just Level Ones, after all.

If Orion had been here instead—someone who had just stepped into Level Two— Harrison would've picked him apart in minutes.

Axel wiped blood from his face, flicking it to the ground. He didn't respond. There was nothing to say. Harrison was smart—too smart.

He never overcommitted. Every time he landed a hit, he would back off immediately, avoiding any reckless exchanges. Instead of trying to overwhelm Axel, he was wearing him down, forcing his injuries to pile up— Until he couldn't fight back anymore.

With Harrison's speed, even landing a single counterattack was nearly impossible. And shooting? Forget it.

But Axel wasn't helpless. He already had a solution in mind. Unlike Harrison, he didn't feel any bond between warriors. He wasn't here to enjoy the fight. He was here to survive. And to survive— He had to kill him.

Crunch. Crunch.

A sharp cracking sound filled the arena. Harrison had pulled out a pill, tossing it into his mouth and chewing. Axel's eyes narrowed.

"Exotic Beast Pill." He recognized it instantly. It was the same pill the hotel owner had mentioned.

"What the fuck?! He's using pills?!" Gabriel nearly ripped his own shirt, his voice boiling with rage. "He's already winning, and now he's cheating?!"

Nearby, Esme let out a low scoff. "Idiot." The truth was clear to anyone above Level Two.

Harrison had an unfair advantage— But not because of the pill. His inhuman speed meant Axel could never land a direct hit. Axel had more raw Force, more explosive power—but what good was it if he could never connect?

Meanwhile, Harrison's consumed Force could be replenished with pills. But Axel? His Force was draining. His blood kept flowing. And his mental focus—constantly tracking, dodging, and reacting—was slowly deteriorating.

If this continued… The outcome was already decided.

And Harrison knew it. With a fresh boost of energy, he attacked again—and the fight shifted even further in his favor.

Axel's movements were getting slower. The wounds were catching up to him. Before, he could block or deflect most of Harrison's attacks. Now? He was only managing half.

Slash.

Another deep cut opened across his shoulder.

Drip. Drip.

Blood ran down his fingertips, staining the dirt beneath his feet. His breathing grew heavier. His body was covered in wounds.

Axel had considered waiting for an opening, trying to counter at the perfect moment. But the problem was—

Harrison was too damn careful. Any time Axel so much as hinted at a counterattack— Harrison would immediately retreat. Even when Axel left massive openings on purpose, he wouldn't take the bait.

He wasn't interested in flashy victories. There were no ego-driven risks. He had made his game plan—

And he was sticking to it. Step by step, grinding Axel down. That cold-blooded patience— That absolute control— It was more terrifying than his raw strength.

"The War Academy doesn't train people like this." Wesley sighed, watching from the sidelines. He had graduated from the War Academy. He had seen dozens of so-called geniuses. Some of them had reached Level Three, even Level Four—

But 90% of them didn't have Harrison's instincts. This wasn't something you learned in a classroom. This was something forged through countless life-or-death battles.

On the battlefield, Harrison exhaled. He glanced at Axel. "If you don't use your awakening skill, you have no chance." His voice was calm— Almost disappointed.

Harrison wasn't taunting Axel— He just didn't understand him. Why was Axel still hiding? His awakening skill—the ability to suddenly recover physical strength—was no secret. Axel himself had to know that.

Back when he killed Pork Nine, he had exposed that ability. So why was he still treating it like a trump card?

Harrison wasn't stupid. If he was going to use it, he might as well do it now and test his luck— Before it became completely useless.

But at this point— Harrison had already torn into him three times. His claws had sunk deep, severing multiple tendons.

Axel wasn't in the same shape as when the fight started. Even if he unleashed his awakening skill now— The effect would be severely weakened.

Harrison could already see the end. And honestly— He was a little disappointed. Axel hadn't surprised him nearly as much as he'd hoped.

"Maybe you're right." Axel's voice was hoarse, his lips curling into a bitter smile.

Harrison didn't react. His cold gaze never wavered. "You're always acting," he said flatly. "At the beginning, I scratched your left hand—but you hid it from me."

"To most people, that would mean you were trying to hide the injury."

"But I know better."

"You wanted me to think your hand was injured."

"In reality, you were fine—waiting to set a trap."