I Woke Up 120 Years After The Apocalypse-Chapter 29: Relic

"Is that him, the famous Akram? He’s so young... Younger than my son!"

"What’s with that arm? Is that a prosthetic?"

"So young and already so violent... That doesn’t bode well..."

Akram quickly understood that his new companions carried a significant amount of doubt toward him. Even though the weight of it pressed heavily on his shoulders, it didn’t frighten him. Instead, he stepped forward, straight into the spotlight.

He cleared his throat to capture their attention and silence the murmurs. With that single gesture, he made it clear who was in command.

"Alright. I know you’ve heard and seen a lot these past few days—especially these last few hours."

"Everything you heard is true."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. No one had expected such an answer, let alone for Akram to openly admit his fault.

"I killed Simeon, in a fit of rage."

Some people stiffened instantly, and the first objections rose up, overlapping with Akram’s words.

"Why?! We’re told you’re a genius, but how could a genius lose control over his most valuable asset?!"

"Because I’m immature."

The murmurs died down again. Once more, no one expected such an argument—especially one so counterproductive in the politics of this new world.

Admitting weakness was like digging your own grave. Akram knew that perfectly well, but he wasn’t stopping.

More voices rose. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Then why are you still here?! Baron, or even Elliot, are far more qualified than you to lead!"

Akram didn’t falter. He remained upright and calm, despite the accusations hurled at him.

"Ask them."

"Huh?!"

"Ask them why I’m the leader, and not them."

"I didn’t steal any power, nor did I claim it for myself. They voted for me."

"And why do you think that is?"

The crowd fell silent. Mouths that had been loud moments ago slowly closed.

"Because, even if my immaturity is real, everything you’ve heard about me is also true."

"I drove the bandits out of Vulkania."

"I crushed an army of over two hundred sand bandits at our gates, with forces fifty times smaller."

"I fought two bandit chiefs—and I survived."

"I forced Zarod of the Dunes to surrender. And I turned him into a trade ally."

"I invented, developed, and built the first autonomous generator of this new world."

"And all of that?"

"I accomplished it in just a few weeks."

Not a single sound came from the skeptics. No movement. Not even a blink. Every eye was fixed on Akram.

But he felt it—it wasn’t enough yet. These were still just words. He had to show them more.

"Now imagine what I could accomplish in months... in years?!"

He turned his gaze to the left and extended his hand in that direction, pointing at Lerius, who stepped forward to stand beside his Master.

"Zarod is no longer a Devil’s Dealer because of me."

Shocked exclamations followed. No one understood immediately where Akram was going with this, nor what his confident smile implied.

"I am a Devil’s Dealer—you already know that."

"What you don’t know..."

"Lerius, serial zero-one-zero-seven–zero-three. Immediate shutdown. Reprogramming."

Lerius deactivated instantly, collapsing onto his steel knees.

"I can manipulate and reprogram every relic I encounter."

"I am not the Devil’s Dealer of a single relic—

I am the Devil’s Dealer of all of them."

This time, voices exploded again. No one could believe such a claim.

"IMPOSSIBLE! He’s lying to us!"

"Yeah right! And we’re the rightful heirs of Raskam XIV!"

Akram cut through the noise by raising his voice.

"AND WHO DO YOU THINK I AM?!"

"Lerius, reactivate."

The shinobi-bot powered back on, systems coming online one by one, before standing upright in front of the settlers.

"Who am I, Lerius?"

"Doctor Akram Crimson, General Director of the Bio-Energy Research Department of the CME. One of the five most intelligent men in the world."

The hostility vanished, replaced by sheer fascination. Collectively, they finally understood where Akram was going.

"I am a relic too."

Akram knelt down slowly, with deliberate grace, then gently pressed his forehead to the ground before his new companions.

Elliot, Baron, and Leyla were stunned, the shock clearly written on their faces.

"I formally present my deepest apologies."

Embarrassment spread among the skeptics as they exchanged uneasy glances.

Akram stood back up, pushing himself off the ground.

"I will ask you for only one thing."

Every ear turned toward him, ready to listen—and for some, ready to accept.

"Give me a chance. Until the Oathbearers come to our gates."

"I will prove to them that I am worthy."

"That Vulkania is worthy."

"And I will prove to you that I am exactly who you were told I am."

For several seconds, silence weighed heavily on the assembly. No one dared challenge his words—they all felt sincere.

"...We can accept that. It was just a mistake, after all..."

"A mistake? He killed—"

"Shh! I believe him! I want to see my child grow up, and I think Vulkania is the best place for that. So I believe him!"

"Me too."

Akram smiled and turned toward his companions, who looked just as satisfied.

Yashyn stepped back into the spotlight, throwing an arm over Akram’s shoulder in his own way of congratulating him.

"Alright, lil’ bud, go get some rest. Because tomorrow we’re back to training—and in your current shape, you won’t prove anything to anyone!"

Akram laughed and nodded.

Turning around, he motioned for Nezra and Plumrol to follow him as he left the front of the HQ.

Leyla, Elliot, and Baron took over, guiding the settlers back toward the previously abandoned construction sites.

A few moments later, Akram and the two newcomers stood in front of the Research Center—or what remained of it after the fight against Kravash.

"This is the research center. This is where we’ll work, Nezra."

"I have a lot of projects to get started. I’m looking forward to working together."

Nezra looked over the state of the building, uncertainty flashing across her face as she stared at the split-open door.

"Me too, Akram. Very much so..."

Akram laughed, fully understanding her reaction, then continued walking, guiding his two companions to their next destination.

They reached the forge—or rather, what remained of it after the bandits’ rampage. Everything had been looted: armor, weapons, tools... The building itself was badly damaged, reduced to barely standing scraps.

The sign that once served as a landmark for the Vulkans dangled by a thread, a silent testament to the place’s dreadful condition.

Akram turned his gaze toward Plumrol. He expected disappointment—but what he saw surprised him.

Plumrol was crying. Thick tears rolled down his flushed cheeks, mixing with his beard.

"It’s beautiful..."

Akram and Nezra exchanged confused looks.

"I’ll rebuild everything myself... my own little forge..."

Plumrol turned toward the young leader, still weeping.

"Thank you, boss. Thank you!"

"Uh... you’re welcome?"

Plumrol had spent his entire life working in forges that were never his own, never creating something that truly belonged to him. That absence had followed him all his life.

Without realizing it, Akram had just fulfilled one of the greatest dreams of the blacksmith.

After being thanked by his two new companions, Akram finally returned to his quarters, exhausted.

When he opened the door, he was greeted by a presence he hadn’t expected.

Leyla, sitting on his bed, staring straight into his eyes.