Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 212: Azarin Empire’s capital

Chapter 212: Azarin Empire’s capital

It would be a horrible and gruesome death, but no one would wonder too much about it. The world was now full of new flora and fauna, and while some plants could enhance your vitality and heal crippling wounds, others had the opposite effect.

After ensuring that the two soldiers would not become a problem in the future, Vlad led the small yellow cat and the viking princess out of Ortun Town before summoning the demon soul and rising into the air, flying away.

Vlad wanted to thoroughly understand the Azarin Empire and the Church of Glory’s impact on ordinary people, so he visited other towns near Radiance City. What he saw was similar to Ortun Town: people lived their day-to-day lives, making sure to pray to Goddess Lucia four times a day.

Disappointment and disgust appeared in Vlad’s eyes as he saw how easily people fell into the embrace of faith. They were willing to kill their neighbors just because they were told those people were inferior and tainted the world.

The extent of the indoctrination was staggering. Entire communities were bound by a fervent belief in the Great Truth, instilled deeply by the Church of Glory. Children recited prayers with zeal, adults discussed divine mandates with unwavering conviction, and the elderly enforced religious dogma with the same zeal they might have once reserved for family traditions.

Along with the disappointment, Vlad’s face was also annoyed. It was clear now that the people living in the towns around Radiance City would not surrender easily, and a good portion of them would march into battle if told that was what Goddess Lucia wanted. Zealotry was not limited to a few extremists but was a widespread, deeply-rooted phenomenon.

When it came to killing soldiers, there was no hesitation in Vlad’s heart. Those were men who had chosen to enter the battlefield. But if thousands of women, old men, and children marched toward him, he honestly did not know if he had what it took to butcher them all. The prospect of facing civilians who believed they were fighting for a divine cause was a grim and unsettling one.

Unfortunately, just leaving them behind was not an option. To kill Goddess Lucia, Vlad needed to reach the core of the Azarin Empire, the capital at the center of Radiance City. The forces of the Xaos Kingdom could not leave several towns full of people ready to attack them. Those places need to be taken down and their populations put under control before advancing.

Vlad knew that even if his forces could manage to avoid fighting civilians, the presence of these zealots posed a significant strategic risk. They could provide intelligence to the enemy, sabotage Xaos Kingdom operations, or even rally together to form a militia that could harass and delay the advancing army. The logistical nightmare of dealing with hostile civilians in occupied territory was another factor that weighed heavily on his mind.

Suppressing the zealots without turning the Xaos Kingdom into tyrants was another issue. Brutal repression could lead to long-term resentment and resistance, undermining any hope of stability in the region, which was not good. After taking down the Azarin Empire, he would take control of this place, and that would become very difficult if everybody hated him.

Vlad knew he would not come up with an answer easily, so he did not waste his time and marched forward, heading to the capital of the Azarin Empire.

After another few days of flying, the trio finally saw a fortress nearly twice the size of the Silent Wind Military Base. The capital of the Azarin Empire also had white walls, just like the towns, but these were dozens of meters high, and the magic formation that covered them made even Vlad frown. The Depravita of Wrath did not enter the capital’s airspace, watching from a distance and analyzing for any weaknesses with the help of the A.I. Chip.

[Beep! Analyzing fortifications!

...

...

White walls are a massive magic artifact. Their endurance will allow them to withstand the barrage of Champion Tier Spells, and even High Champion Tier Spells will have a hard time harming them.

...

The walls incorporate a multi-layered reinforcement structure, combining physical durability with powerful magic wards. This makes them impervious to most conventional attacks and highly resistant to even the most potent magical assaults.

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They contain hundreds of offensive magic formations capable of shooting a barrage of Mortal Tier Spells in all directions. These formations can be activated remotely and are designed to cover ground and aerial threats, ensuring a comprehensive defense against assault.

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A small energy field is detected around, functioning as a defensive measure. This field is capable of scanning for any unauthorized entry and providing real-time updates to the central command. The energy field is finely tuned to detect anomalies in both physical and magical forms, making stealth or disguise attempts nearly impossible.

...

Additionally, the energy field has a secondary layer of protection that can trigger countermeasures if a threat is detected. These countermeasures range from immediate alarms to the activation of additional defensive spells aimed at neutralizing intruders before they can pose a significant threat.]

It became immediately clear just how high-level these fortifications were, far more powerful than the ones surrounding the other towns. Vlad was right to stay far from them. He wanted to know more but was wary of the power of the people inside the capital.

After thoroughly scanning the white walls, Vlad led the demon to summon into the distance and descended to the ground, staring at the small yellow cat and the viking princess.

"We have learned a lot from our journey. I now have a map of every new town and their state, as well as an understanding of the condition of the people and the strength of the Azarin Empire’s capital defenses." Vlad’s eyes were sharp as he recounted their progress before a solemn and sharp expression appeared on his face. "However, to make this journey a success, we need to test the capital’s offensive power."