Apocalypse: becoming the hidden Ruler

A few minutes later, Axel stepped out of the bathroom in his full Obsidian uniform—crisp black jacket, tailored pants, the team insignia displayed proudly on his chest. The outfit sharpened his features, made him look taller—like someone reborn.

"So damn handsome!" Kaia and Annabelle both lit up instantly.

"This kid's going to be trouble," Millers muttered. "A real threat."

After dinner, Vince called Axel over in private and handed him a slim, matte-black memory stick.

"This has everything—combat training methods, original vein cultivation techniques, all of it. If you get stuck, ask us anytime. Just don't share it. You'd owe more than your life's worth if this leaks."

He tapped the lapel of Axel's uniform.

"That suit's a gift from the Syndicate. It can withstand attacks from a first-class Awakener—classified E-tier combat gear. The 'E' means there are better ones out there, but you'll have to earn or pay for those yourself."

Axel ran his fingers over the memory stick, a slight frown on his face. Nothing's free in this world, he thought. And without money, moving forward is damn hard.

"We're heading out on assignment tomorrow," Vince said. "But we've booked a hotel for you and Annabelle. Stay in Everton for a few days."

"Your original veins aren't stable yet. They could regress at any time. You have to start training—fast."

"Someone will take you to Shiverstone soon."

Hearing the name made Axel's heart tighten with anticipation. After facing Maxen, he realized just how far behind he still was. He looked at the memory stick again.

This was the start of something serious.

.....

Axel had never been one to waste time. That night, alone in the hotel room, he opened the original vein cultivation method.

Much like the Body Forging and Meditation techniques, this one was simple—stripped of any excessive jargon or convoluted theory. Clear, precise, and incredibly practical.

Whoever compiled this knew exactly what the hell they were doing,* Axel thought. They must've had a terrifying grasp of Awakening mechanics.

"The first part's about expansion… already done that."

He flipped to the next section.

"The second part—consolidation."

Detailed diagrams of the human body's internal structure appeared, with the original veins clearly labeled and color-coded. It even outlined the proper force flow paths with clean, unbroken lines.

Axel's furrowed brow gradually eased. According to the method, he had to guide his internal force through the original veins and weave shallow force threads along them—like spinning a delicate web.

"So that's how it works..." Something clicked inside him.

It reminded him of Body Forging, but with a critical distinction. Body Forging toughened everything—muscles, bones, skin. But this? This was focused. Intentional. It strengthened only the original veins without over-reinforcing them—too much, and they'd harden, stalling future growth.

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Smart. Whoever wrote this clearly thought far ahead.

He leaned back, letting out a breath. Wonder if the War Academy has something like this?

A few days ago, his classmates were still complaining that everything at the War Academy cost money—information, practice rooms, even basic cultivation materials.

"Progressing in the Syndicate is a hell of a lot faster…"

By the time the sun rose again, Axel was soaked in sweat, his body aching—but the foundational webbing of his original veins had been laid.

> Stream-level veins could regenerate a tenth of your force every hour.
> River-level, a fifth.
> Flood-level, a full third.
> And Torrent-level... they could regenerate half your force in an hour.

Axel stared at the numbers with something close to awe.

The gap was staggering. Maybe it didn't mean much right now, when you could use Origin Stones to recharge—but in a real fight? No one's giving you time to fish around for recharge supplies.

He sank into introspection.

> Physique: 679/681
> Force: 668/677
> Spirit: 665/680

Since leaving the City of Sin, his stats had climbed steadily. Now, he was nearly ready for the next step.

For a second-level Awakener, the main goal was to widen the original veins. Once the force couldn't push them any further—that was the signal to begin solidifying them.

If your force surpassed 600 at that point? You could step into the ranks of third-level Awakeners.

"Good thing I've still got some life crystals left…"

The fourth-tier crystal he'd earned back in the City of Sin had been used while he was unconscious. The one from Maxen was only half-consumed. He had a few smaller fragments too.

Annabelle had made progress as well. Her ability now reached upper-tier, first-level. Axel had tested it himself. He gave her the crystal shards and kept half of Maxen's for himself.

"Time to start the combat method training."

With his veins stabilized and little time before he was scheduled to leave for Shiverstone, Axel decided against returning to Dune. Fortunately, Everton had a Whisper Syndicate training base. Once he picked up the basics, he could test his techniques there.

The combat method folder was massive. Dozens of files. Written manuals. High-res videos. The whole thing was meticulously categorized—boxing, kicking, evasive movement, weapons.

Each was divided into two levels: Basic and Advanced. A bright red warning at the top read:

> "Do not attempt advanced techniques until you've mastered the basics. You will only injure yourself—or worse, stall your development."

Axel nodded to himself. It made sense. Vince had told him even elite members still practiced the fundamentals.

He scrolled carefully through the options before settling on Basic Leg Techniques. In a fight, speed and footwork were life-saving.

There were twelve listed kicks—each with detailed breakdowns and slow-motion demonstrations.

He started with the whip kick.

> "Straighten your instep. Shift your center of gravity to the right leg. Use the waist and abs to drive the thigh, then snap the calf across. Visualize your body like a segmented whip—every joint is a link in the chain of impact."

The person in the video demonstrated. The kick detonated the sandbag instantly.

"Holy shit…" Axel muttered.

According to the instructor, that he only used the first-level inferior force. And it still hit like a truck.

Axel trained for hours, pouring himself into the movements. By the end of the day, he had destroyed two sandbag posts.

The gym manager wasn't amused.

"…Sorry," Axel said sheepishly, retreating to his hotel room.

He had kept training daily—until his body screamed for rest. One evening, he collapsed onto the bed and closed his eyes, mentally running through the forms.

Without meaning to, he slipped into introspection again.

And what he saw stunned him.

Three shadows stood beside the towering ancient tree. Their faces were indistinct, blurred like unfinished sketches, but Axel recognized them immediately—by their silhouettes, their posture, the energy they carried.

Orion.
The assassin from Sin City.
And Maxen.

They didn't breathe. They didn't shift. They just stood there like holographic ghosts, frozen in time.

Axel's gaze moved to Orion, the one on the far left. Almost instinctively, his thoughts locked onto him—and the projection responded.

Orion moved.

He stepped in with his left foot, lowered his center of gravity, twisted at the waist, and lashed out with a vicious whip kick from his right leg.

As the movement played out, key insights flooded Axel's mind—how to shift weight, where to focus the force, when to pivot. It wasn't just seeing the move—it was feeling it. Like muscle memory he hadn't earned. For a moment, Axel stood there stunned.

Then the realization hit him. This… this is from the life crystals. Holy shit.

All three of them—Orion, the Sin City assassin, and Maxen—had been absorbed into his crystals. Their life energy, their combat experience, all of it had become fuel for Axel's development. If their level was high enough, their skills transferred.