Apocalypse: becoming the hidden Ruler

He wasn't wrong. But Axel wasn't embarrassed.

Harrison studied him for a moment. "Now, I don't know if you're still acting or not," he admitted. "But in the end—it doesn't matter." With that, he pulled out another pill, popped it into his mouth, and swallowed it down like it was nothing.

Even now, when he looked completely worn down, he refused to lose his composure. But he knew— Harrison had seen through him. His tactics, his feints, his mind games— They were all exposed.

And yet— This fight wasn't over. Because Axel still had one last move.

Harrison's attack came again. Fast. Relentless. He wasn't flashy— He didn't need to be. His movements were like a predatory beast—fluid, controlled, lethal. There was no wasted effort. Everything was precise.

Hit. Retreat. Hit again. But this time— Axel's speed exploded.

Harrison's eyes widened slightly. "Now this is interesting."

Recharge. Axel's physical strength surged back, his Force restored. For the first time, he could keep up. And instead of dodging—

He ignored Harrison's claws as they pierced into his chest. Instead of defending— He went for an exchange of blows.

But Harrison had been expecting this. He wasn't about to let Axel trade injuries. At the last second, he withdrew his claws and flipped backward, retreating out of reach.

Just because he had seen Recharge before didn't mean he was going to fight Axel head-on.

No— Harrison was too disciplined for that. He would stick to his strategy. Step by step. Bit by bit. Wearing him down.

"Stop running, you fuck bastard!" Axel roared, his face flushed with fury. He ignored the wounds splitting open across his body. He ignored the blood gushing from his chest. He just kept charging. Kept swinging. Kept chasing.

Axel could only match him in speed when using Recharge. And chasing blindly? That was suicidal.

Axel was fighting like a man possessed. Like a street thug swinging wildly in a desperate brawl. No precision. No strategy. And just like that— His defense collapsed.

Harrison kept retreating, but not without attacking. Each time Axel lunged forward— Harrison left another wound behind.

A slash across his ribs. A deep cut along his thigh. A claw mark tearing through his side. At first, his attacks only left scratches and blood streaks. But as Axel's injuries worsened—

As his movements grew sloppier— Each strike drew more. More blood. More flesh. More pain.

Now, looking at Axel— There wasn't a single inch of his body left unscathed.

Axel—always composed, always calculating— Had lost his fucking mind. Like a cornered beast, he charged after Harrison, recklessly throwing himself into the slaughter. But all he was doing— Was getting shredded.

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Gabriel clenched his teeth, fists shaking. "Axel!" His hand hovered over his phone, ready to end the fight. "Just look at me—give me a damn signal! I'll forfeit for you!"

Up on the viewing platform, the three gang leaders watched in tense silence. Grayson, who had once admired Harrison, now felt a pang of regret. If only someone like him was under his command.

Zachary, on the other hand, was smirking, pleased that Harrison had once again shown the undeniable power of their gang.

But Declan— Declan watched Axel. Something felt… off. Something told him— This fight wasn't over.

"What a waste." Harrison sighed, watching Axel throw himself forward like a suicidal maniac. Every reckless move, every desperate attack— All it did was dig his grave deeper.

His Recharge state was burning out, draining what was left of his mental power and Force. His steps were faltering. His breathing was labored.

Harrison wasn't surprised. This had been the plan all along. From the very beginning, he had dictated the pace, controlled the battlefield, and even told Axel to his face: I will grind you down. And now— He had. Axel's wild eyes were full of rage, full of hatred—

And Harrison felt nothing. No excitement. No thrill. Just boredom. Another letdown. The first-level Awakener… Still couldn't surprise him.

Harrison still kept his guard up, but he knew— It was time to end this. His claws shot forward, lightning-fast— Straight into Axel's ribs. A sickening crack filled the air. Blood spurted. From this angle, Harrison could see inside him— Could see Axel's exposed internal organs.

And yet— Axel had moved just enough. Just enough to avoid a direct hit to the heart.

Harrison wasn't shocked. Everything was still within his control. Until— A bloodstained hand shot out— And grabbed him.

"You caught me again, huh?" Harrison's eyes narrowed. "Too late. It's over."

Axel's fingers tightened around his arm. But Harrison didn't dodge. What was the point? Axel was spent. In this state, he couldn't fight back anymore. This was nothing but his last struggle. Harrison moved to rip his arm free— To slit Axel's throat in the same motion.

But— His feet wouldn't move. He couldn't step back. His muscles locked up. Something was wrong. Harrison's eyes snapped wide.

A pulse of raw energy surged through Axel's body— A force that shouldn't be there.

"What the hell is happening?!"

"Why hasn't Harrison finished him yet?"

"Why is he just standing there?"

"What's the holdup? Kill him already!" The crowd didn't understand. But Grayson, Zachary, and Declan did. The three men shot to their feet. Their eyes were filled with shock— And just a bit of fear.

Because they could feel it. A monstrous power was erupting.

"Impossible." Harrison's pupils contracted. Right before his eyes— Axel's wounds were closing. Blood stopped leaking. Ripped flesh knitted back together. And that wasn't all—

Axel's Force was skyrocketing. Not just recovering— But returning to its absolute peak.

And the scariest part? It wasn't just his body healing. The mental exhaustion, the fatigue, the focus lost from prolonged battle— All of it was restoring, too.

His Recharge… is only basic level. But his Healing is intermediate. That was the choice Axel had made when he became an Awakener. A choice that he had kept hidden and only revealed once before— When he fought Orion.

Throughout the entire battle— Through all the blood loss, all the injuries— Axel had never once used Healing.

He had been saving it. Waiting. For this moment.

Intermediate Healing mended his wounds, Life Crystals restored a massive amount of Force. Recharge for his physical strength. And on top of that— Kaia's reserve mental power ignited inside him— Exploding forth.

Axel stood tall. His flesh was whole again. His breathing was steady. The madness in his eyes was gone. Replaced with something else. Cold. Calculating. Ruthless.

Harrison was the first to feel it. The sudden, impossible transformation in Axel. He even forgot to struggle. His body froze, his face twisted in sheer disbelief. "You…"

It didn't make sense. A man on the brink of death, barely standing moments ago— Now at full strength. How the fuck was this possible?!

But Axel wasn't about to stop and give him time to figure it out. From the start, he had been waiting for this moment. And now—

It was here.

CRACK. Axel crushed the Life Crystal Orion had left behind. Swallowed it. And his power— Exploded. Any advantage Harrison once had was gone. Axel had always been stronger. Now, he was just making it obvious.