Apocalypse: becoming the hidden Ruler

Kaia's ability, Holographic Vision, could link the whole team into a shared mind-space—one thought, one sight, one voice.

"Before we move, Kaia—scan the perimeter," Wesley added. "If Axel's still in the area, pull him out."

At this level, Axel wasn't just useless—he was in danger of being accidentally wiped out in the crossfire.

Wesley's voice hardened. "We move now. Execute the plan."

A car pulled up outside Crowe's Institute.

Beau and the others instinctively turned their heads, eyes widening as she stepped out.

Caroline.

They knew full well this woman could crush them like insects, yet none of them could look away. It wasn't just her overwhelming beauty—though she had that in spades. It was the way she moved. Every sway of her hips carried danger. Every glance felt like a loaded weapon.

"Quit staring and get back to work," Crowe barked, scowling at them before hurrying over to meet her. He led her inside the institute like a loyal dog.

Axel kept his head down, giving instructions to the work robots like a seasoned machine operator. His time under Crowe's supervision was a far cry from the Steel Serpents—it was suffocating. There was barely a moment to breathe, let alone train. And with Crowe hovering constantly, there was no chance he could use the life crystal.

She's back again, Axel thought, glancing toward the building. She's been in there longer than usual. I wish I could hear what they're talking about. After the exam, I'll have something real to report to the Whisper Syndicate.

But suddenly, his head buzzed like a thousand bees had just flown through his skull.

He froze.

Something was probing into his mind. It wasn't painful—yet—but it was invasive, foreign, like someone had cracked open the door to his consciousness.

"Hey, Axel."

The voice came from inside his head. Playful. Teasing.

"Who—!?"

"It's me, your sister Kaia~ Hehe, you looked so scared just now."

Kaia?!

He couldn't see her, but the moment she spoke, he remembered her ability. Holographic mind-linking—she was talking directly into his head. Good thing he had strong mental discipline. Anyone else might've screamed out loud.

"Crowe's the target this time," Kaia said. "We're launching the operation. Find a chance to slip out."

They're going to hit Crowe? Axel's heart skipped a beat. Here? In the city? Are they insane? What about Morris?

"No time to explain. Just move."

"Wait—no!" Axel's instincts screamed at him. He looked toward the institute. "Caroline's here. She's inside with Crowe. You can't go in."

A long pause. Then Kaia's voice again—sharper now, serious.

"…What?!"

Even through the psychic link, he could feel the tension.

Caroline. One of Morris's personal elites. A top-tier awakener—probably close to peak Level 5, if not beyond. Vince, Rosaline, Wesley… even combined, they weren't ready for her.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

And worse: if a fight broke out, Morris's other agents would swarm the place in minutes.

"Shit. That changes everything." Kaia's voice was tight. "Thanks, Axel. You just saved all our asses. We're pulling back until she leaves. You stay sharp. If you get a chance, slip out—don't take risks."

Outside the Institute, the strike team had already taken position. Vince, Wesley, Rosaline, Kaia—they were ready. All waiting for Kaia's psychic go.

Then, her voice rang out across the mental link: "Abort. We've got a problem."

Wesley stiffened. "What's wrong?" His voice was low, urgent.

"We just got word—Caroline's inside the Institute. We can't proceed."

"…You've gotta be kidding me." Wesley wiped the sweat from his brow, his pulse hammering. That single piece of information had flipped the whole mission on its head.

There had been no intel suggesting she'd be present.

"Lucky bastard's inside at the right time," he muttered. Wesley added, taking a breath. "Alright. Hold positions. We wait."

Time ticked by, minute after minute. The street looked calm—eerily calm. But beneath that quiet surface, every player was already in place, waiting for the signal to strike.

Then Wesley finally saw her.

Caroline.

She stepped out of the gates of Crowe's Institute with that same seductive poise, her every movement oozing dangerous allure. Without a glance at her surroundings, she slid elegantly into a waiting car.

Wesley's voice came through the mental link, steady and commanding. "Everyone listen up. Attack in three minutes. Proceed as planned."

There was no time to reach Axel again. Kaia, perched in a high-rise nearly a kilometer away, monitored the entire institute through her psionic field.

"Commence the full assault," he said. "If you can't take him alive—kill him."

The moment Wesley gave the word, Rosaline—hidden on the edge of the street—opened her eyes. Her pupils had turned a piercing, icy blue.

In an instant, a wave of devastating Force energy erupted from her.

Inside the institute, Axel could feel the tension coiling tighter by the second.

Crowe had just returned from seeing Caroline off, already tinkering with one of his infernal machines. There was no way Axel could ask to leave right now without raising suspicion.

He went through the motions, moving materials like any other laborer—but his senses were on high alert.

Then he felt it.

That familiar surge of overwhelming Force. Strong. Focused. Coming fast.

Crowe reacted before anyone else, jerking his head toward the disturbance, his hunched frame suddenly taut with alarm. "What the fuck is that?!"

Outside, Beau and the others stopped what they were doing, frozen as they watched frost crawl across the institute's outer walls. Ice crystals spread like veins of lightning, wrapping the building in an instant.

The institute's internal defense systems lit up, red flashing lights painting the walls like blood splatter.

"Warning: hostile forces detected."

"Warning: Level One security breach!"

The alarms shrieked through the halls. Axel winced, the high-pitched noise buzzing in his ears.

But from the outside? The institute just looked sealed off and cold—business as usual for Crowe, known for his bizarre experiments. Most residents of Sin City wouldn't even raise an eyebrow.

Inside, though, it was chaos.

A deep instinct screamed in Crowe's mind—Move! Without hesitation, mechanical pulleys activated beneath his feet, sending him skimming sideways just as—

BOOM!

A massive impact rocked the floor. Right where Crowe had been standing, the alloy plating was now cratered under the weight of a monstrous figure.

Nearly three meters tall, it looked like a giant gorilla, built of rage and muscle. Its fur was thick, dark, and matted, its eyes locked on Crowe with primal hatred.

Axel ducked into cover, heart pounding. Even beneath the transformation, he recognized him.

Wesley?!

Crowe didn't waste time gawking. Panic overtook him as he began frantically tapping the buttons embedded in his suit, activating every defense protocol he could.

Wesley lunged forward—but before he could close the distance, a barrage of automated combat robots burst out from hidden compartments, guns blazing. Red bullets and missiles filled the air, creating a metal storm that roared through the chamber.

"Jesus Christ!" Wesley grunted, weaving through the onslaught. Even with his monstrous strength, that many shells could chew through him if he wasn't careful.

Then—just as suddenly as they appeared—half the robots stopped moving.

There was a single whoosh in the air.

A blur moved past the hallway. The robots stood frozen for a beat—then crumpled to the ground, one by one.

Each unit had been neatly sliced apart.

Electronic smoke drifted through the ruined hall, and out of the haze emerged a tall, slender figure. In his pale, steady hands, he held a gleaming rapier. His expression was unreadable—neither joy nor sorrow.

"Hurry it up," he said flatly.

Axel nearly shouted in relief. Captain—Vince!

But neither Vince nor Wesley even glanced in his direction. When the ice dome first slammed into place, Axel had already bolted, ducking behind one of the safer buildings nearby. He knew better than to stick around when heavy hitters like these started throwing punches.