Apocalypse: becoming the hidden Ruler

But as he observed the streets, it finally clicked. The reason the slums back in Krythos were so violent was simple—no one was strong enough to enforce order. There were no rules, just survival.

Sin City was different. Someone powerful had already set the rules here, and everything operated under their control.

Axel glanced up at the sky. Whoever ruled this place wasn't watching the city 24/7. He hadn't been lying to Gabriel—outsiders like them stood out, and people had already taken notice.

It wasn't obvious. No one approached them or made a scene. But Axel caught the subtle signs—people sneaking glances, a few hushed phone calls. They knew the loopholes in Sin City's so-called order and were already planning to exploit them. Maybe they'd wait until nightfall. Maybe they'd lure them into some dark alley first. Either way, the hunt had begun.

Gabriel, blissfully unaware, sighed. "I don't see anything weird. C'mon, let's just find somewhere to lay low."

Axel shook his head. "No. We're staying in the downtown area."

"Huh? Why?"

"Hiding now would just make it easier for them."

Gabriel pulled his jacket tighter and mumbled something under his breath. He was starting to regret tagging along with Axel. Was this guy actually reliable?

Then, the fat man perked up, sniffing the air. "Damn, that smells good—I'm grabbing some food."

Axel didn't stop him. The best way to stay under the radar in Sin City was to act normal. And nothing was more normal than a fat guy getting hungry.

From the shadows, Axel kept watch. The moment Gabriel handed over his payment, the meat vendors' expressions shifted. It was quick—just a flicker of something between them. Then, they spoke a few words to Gabriel and handed him extra food, smiling a little too much.

Axel didn't miss the way the other vendors nearby suddenly looked over. Some exchanged knowing glances. Others whispered. And as Gabriel turned away, Axel caught the look in their eyes.

They were staring at his back the way a butcher looks at a pig before the slaughter.

Gabriel, oblivious, strolled back, grinning. "Man, this place is awesome! Smell this—it's amazing! My old man would never believe how much I'm eating here."

Axel grabbed his arm and yanked him into a nearby alley.

Gabriel blinked. "Uh… what?"

Axel kept his voice low. "What did you just say back there?"

"Huh?" Gabriel scratched his head. "Nothing? Oh, right—I found out you can't use regular money here. You have to pay with raw stones. And it's expensive as hell! Good thing I brought a ton."

Axel exhaled slowly. His fingers tightened around the skewers in Gabriel's hands.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Gabriel frowned. "Hey, if you're that hungry, just say so. I'll buy you another one."

Axel's expression darkened. "The food's poisoned. We're leaving. Now."

"No way, man! Those guys were nice. They even gave me extra!"

Gabriel hesitated, still looking at the skewers like a heartbroken lover. Axel sighed. This idiot was going to get himself killed. Maybe he needed a lesson.

"Fine," Axel said, stepping back. "Eat it, then."

Gabriel blinked. "Huh?"

Axel crossed his arms. "Go ahead. But if something happens, don't expect me to help."

Gabriel hesitated, then glanced at the food. It smelled incredible. Surely, Axel was just being paranoid. Right?

After a long moment of debate, Gabriel sighed.

Then, he bit into the skewer.

........

Dusk was settling in, but Axel still hadn't seen any sign of the so-called Cursed Eye, nor had he spotted any other candidates from the Whisper Syndicate.

Right now, he and Gabriel were sitting in a wooden tavern, surrounded by rough-looking men in their thirties and forties. The air was thick with the scent of dark homemade beer, roasted pork, and sizzling sausages. The whole place was alive with noise—boisterous laughter, the clinking of mugs, and the occasional drunken argument.

"Monkey, you're being real generous tonight. What's the occasion? You finally struck gold?"

"Ha! When was I ever stingy?" The man in question, a wiry guy with deep-set eyes and an excited grin, took a long swig from his beer before smacking his lips. "Let me tell you—I hit the jackpot last week. Ever heard of bloodthirsty wolves? Got my hands on over a dozen of their fangs. Traded 'em in for more than a hundred raw stones!"

Raw stones were worth two thousand apiece in Krythos. That meant Monkey had just made the equivalent of two hundred grand in cash.

Even though prices in Sin City were steeper than back in Krythos, a hundred raw stones was still enough for a guy like Monkey to live it up for a while.

At a nearby table, a group of six was deep in conversation, trading stories over drinks. One of them, a burly man with a thick beard, scoffed.

"You? Bloodthirsty wolves? Those things are as strong as a first-tier mid-rank Awakener. One-on-one, maybe you'd stand a chance, but against a whole pack? You must've gotten lucky."

Monkey's face turned red. He slammed his mug down. "Oh, screw you! Say that to my face outside, if you've got the guts!"

Another man, who had been quiet up until now, chuckled and shook his head. "Monkey just got in with the right crowd, that's all. His boss is a third-tier Awakener. Didn't bother with the fangs. So, yeah, Monkey's raking it in now."

Laughter erupted around the table as the truth came out.

"Ah, so that's how it is! And here I thought you took on a whole damn wolf pack by yourself."

"Hey, no shame in riding coattails, Monkey."

Monkey's face burned as he chugged the rest of his beer. "You assholes are just jealous."

The conversation carried on, filling the tavern with rowdy laughter and clinking mugs.

Meanwhile, Axel stayed quiet, absorbing the information.

Sin City was crawling with Awakeners, that much was clear. But most of them, at least the ones he'd seen so far, were low-tier. Guys like Monkey, a first-tier mid-rank Awakener, seemed to make up the majority.

Then, Gabriel groaned beside him. His face twisted in pain, sweat beading on his forehead. He clutched his stomach. "Shit… Axel, my stomach…"

Axel barely reacted. He'd been expecting this. The stall owner had swapped the meat at the last second—no doubt laced it with something. But it wasn't a lethal poison. If it was, Gabriel would've dropped dead on the spot, and that wouldn't have benefitted the bastards who sold it to him.

"Come here," Axel said, reaching for him. He was about to use his Healing ability when—

BANG.

The tavern door swung open.

A man in worn leather armor strode in, his unkempt hair hanging over sharp eyes. Behind him, a coquettish woman with a nice curvy figure sauntered in, casually twirling a butcher's knife between her fingers.

As soon as they stepped inside, their eyes locked onto Gabriel.

The man sneered. "Well, well. Look who it is. You little shit—you ate my food and tried to pay me with fake raw stones?! Did you think I wouldn't find out?"

Gabriel, still sweating and doubled over in pain, looked up in shock. His gut felt like it was being shredded from the inside. The realization hit him like a brick to the face—Axel had been right. These bastards had set him up.