Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 118: Demonic forest

Chapter 118: Demonic forest

Vlad, equipped with the A.I. Chip, was using its monitoring function to scan the surroundings. However, the chip’s readings were unsettling. It detected only fauna mutated by demonic energy, and nothing more. There was no sign of enemies or monsters, but that only deepened Vlad’s frown. There was clearly something dangerous—they just couldn’t see it.

’Where is the enemy? I can feel a presence as if they are surrounding us, but I only see trees and vines.’ Just as that thought crossed Vlad’s mind, a meaningful light appeared in his eyes as he looked once more at the vines with shock.

"The vines and trees... they’re mutated creatures!" Vlad’s voice rang out, filled with shock and realization. The entire forest seemed to respond, trembling in acknowledgment of his discovery. The next second, the vines began to rise from the ground while the trees’ branches extended, all of them attacking the group.

[Beep! Spirituality has been detected in the trees and vines! Plant-type monsters mutated by demonic blood energy!]

’A little late, don’t you think!’ Vlad couldn’t help but curse in his mind as he heard the warning of the A.I. Chip. Still, he knew the chip was not to blame; it had done its job, but the timing was off. Only now, when the plants were in full attack mode, the chip detected their spirituality.

"Jormungandr!" Vlad did not waste time, making a second sword appear. The moment the small yellow cat jumped onto his shoulder, the weapons began to move at shocking speed, generating a dome of cutting energy, severing all the vines and branches that attacked them.

The small yellow cat did not waste time as he opened his mouth, unleashing arcs of lightning that spread in all directions, diminishing the pressure that Vlad faced.

Freya and Grey Hawk were not slow. They moved as soon as they heard Vlad’s warning, the young woman and old Viking putting their backs against each other as they began to fight against the vines and tree branches. The mace and shield struck all the branches and vines, blasting them, while torrents of frost energy emerged from the old Viking’s hand, freezing everything around him.

The young man and cat were attacking with immense power, but the vines seemed to have no end. The Viking duo was having a harder time as the speed at which they could kill was slower than the other two, and in less than a minute, vines began to slash into them.

A painful expression appeared on Grey Hawk’s face as one of the vines managed to bite onto his shoulder with so much strength that it pierced his muscles. Immediately, rage appeared in the viking as he clasped his hands, and his totems began to glow as he channeled his Magic and totemic energy into the next spell.

"Frost Nova!" A swirling vortex of icy winds and snow surrounded the old Viking and Freya. This vortex grew rapidly, expanding outward, freezing the vines and branches that neared the duo, allowing them to breathe.

However, neither Freya nor Grey Hawk relaxed as this was just a temporary measure. The vortex froze the vines, but more would keep coming, and while the spell was powerful, it consumed a massive amount of energy, so the old viking would not be able to keep it active for long.

Vlad’s sword moved faster and faster, but he was also reaching his limits, his muscles burning as he pushed his body beyond its natural capabilities. There was a burning rage in his eyes as he felt the onslaught of the mutated monsters and saw how they wanted to devour him, just like they had done with all the other life forms that dared to enter their domain.

The wrath in Vlad’s heart burned with more and more power as he grabbed the small yellow cat on his shoulder and turned toward the young woman. "Catch!"

Freya’s eyes widened as she heard Vlad’s voice and saw how the young man threw the small yellow cat toward her. She was at a loss for words but did not hesitate as her Force and totemic energy burst, covering her body as she jumped forward.

The vortex of ice harmed the young woman, but her energy provided enough protection to allow her to grab Jormungandr in midair. She shattered all the vines that attempted to surround them before jumping back into the void inside the ice vortex.

A small smile appeared on Vlad’s face as he saw Jormungandr safely inside the ice vortex, allowing him to let his rage explode without restraint.

Freya, Jormungandr, and Grey Hawk were safe inside the vortex of ice, but throwing the small cat out of danger had left an opening, and the trio saw how the vines immediately covered Vlad’s entire body.

The small yellow cat and the young Viking woman saw demonic vines wrapping around Vlad’s figure. Terror and panic appeared in their eyes as they could not even see an inch of his body. However, their fear did not last long. In the next second, a wave of heat spread in all directions, and they saw Vlad jumping dozens of meters into the air, destroying all the vines around his body.

Vlad reached the peak of his ascent, rising over twenty meters above the trees. His entire body glowed as the Infernal Comet Runic Set flooded it with explosive, fiery, demonic energy.

"I AM WRATH!" Vlad’s voice boomed, his body ablaze with fiery energy as arcs of red energy emerged from his body and soul. His Depravita Ability surged, amplifying his strength and power through his unbridled rage. The flames burst forth with even greater intensity, setting the air around him ablaze.

Vlad resembled a meteorite of raging fire in the air as his body began to descend with explosive energy. His power was immense, even higher than the one Arasbus triggered when using the ability, but even that was not enough for the young man.