Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 246: Two gifts

Chapter 246: Two gifts

After Ouroboros finally defeated the High Champion Monster Elephant, the Royal Guards and the rest of the battalion joined the demonic werewolf, and all of them adopted a military formation as they gazed at the dark crow in the sky.

Vlad sent the signal, and the demon summon calmly began to descend until it reached the ground, where he dismounted and gazed at the group with sharp eyes.

"Hail King Vlad!" Ouroboros and all five Royal Guards shouted in unison, soon to be followed by the warriors behind them, who performed deep bows full of respect and awe.

Vlad nodded to the group and made them rise before focusing on their bodies and energy pools. He could feel the very deep and pure energy running through their flesh and blood and a massive Sea of Consciousness that made it clear they still had a lot of potential left to exploit. Soon, his eyes turned to the strongest of them, the Depravita of Greed, and the power of the A.I. Chip burst forward.

[Beep! Analyzing target!

...

Scanning of target completed.

...

Name: Ouroboros

Race: Canine?

Level (Energy): 6

Level (Body): 11

Class: Warrior

Lineage: Hell Champion (Champion Tier)

---

Stats:

Strength: 70.9

Agility: 44.2

Vitality: 77.6

Energy Pool: 4.7]

Vlad’s eyes widened as he was amazed by the immensely fast improvement of Ouroboros during the past six months. He managed to not only reach the High Champion Tier but also surpassed Level 5, becoming a full-fledged Champion in the Level System.

It was clear that the Depravita of Greed had done an excellent job taking advantage of his Depravita Racial Ability, nurturing his body, and heeding Vlad’s advice, using the Origin Force to boost his Sea of Consciousness, allowing his energy pool to rise fast and steady, establishing a great and solid foundation.

And Ouroboros was not the only one that brought Vlad pleasant surprises, as he could feel how Mirena, Clasius, Amara, Roman, and Frank had all improved immensely these past six months, with their bodies nearing the High Champion Tier and extremely pure energy pools extremely, granting terrific control over their energy flow.

Finally, Vlad’s gaze turned to the fifty-six soldiers behind Ouroboros and the Royal Guards. Of the initial sixty members that formed the battalion, four had perished, and those that remained had become truly seasoned warriors, all of them exuding an aura of silent killing intent. They could attack with monstrous ferocity and, the next second, adopt a flawless battle formation, not making a single move and waiting for the following command.

"Everybody, I cannot express with words how happy I am to see the strength of this battalion. I do not doubt that you have truly pushed yourself to the limit." Vlad’s voice was full of joy and praise, making all the soldiers clench their fists out of bliss.

"I brought you a gift, a system of strength that will allow you to take the souls of demons and make them a part of your power!" As Vlad shouted those words, the Demon Cage Runic Formation in his chest began to glow, and in the next second, black tendrils emerged from it and soon took the form of a massive four-meter-tall skeletal dark summon.

Awe, shock, and wonder filled the hearts of Ouroboros, the Royal Guards, and the rest of the battalion as they saw that massive demon summon emerge from Vlad’s chest. The dread and apprehension regarding sealing a demonic soul in their bodies immediately vanished. For this group, the Xaos King was the framework for power, they just needed to follow his steps, and there would be no limit to their growth.

Vlad showed a wide smile as he saw the desire and thrill in the eyes of the soldiers, and just as their hearts were about to calm down, he waved his hand, making fifty-three crystal flasks with Devil Champion Tier Bloodlines appear in front of him. "I have also brought for you Champion Bloodlines, to raise this battalion’s power to the next level!"

All the soldiers in the battalion could not help but clench their fists with awe and overwhelming excitement as they saw those bloodlines. They had seen the power a Devil Champion Bloodline could grant by watching the Royal Guards and wanted one more than anything.

It was only now that Vlad truly allowed the people to digest all the news and calm down before speaking again. "There are not enough Champion Bloodlines for all, and the one that will decide who gets one will be Overlord."

The soldiers all nodded as they heard those words. Overlord was in constant communication with their battalion, guiding them through their campaigns in Knight City, and flawlessly distributed the resources they managed to obtain. If there was one entity that could make a truly objective analysis, it would be Overlord.

Vlad was happy to see the acceptance in the eyes of the soldiers. Of course, he was not just going to let three of them become significantly weaker than the rest since that would mean they would most likely die, as they could not endure the same pressure as the rest of the group.

"For those that do not obtain a Champion Bloodline, I will grant you a Runic Set. While it will not improve your cultivation speed, the enhancement in battle power will be just as impressive." There was a sharp light in Vlad’s eyes as he uttered those words, having already planned everything.

Any shred of anxiety faded from the hearts of the soldiers as they heard the part about the Runic Set. It did not matter now if they were picked or not for the Bloodline, as the Runic Set was just as amazing.

"Time is of the essence. When I call your names, you will come to me, and I will engrave the Bloodline Matrix in your bodies." Vlad shouted, his eyes sharp, making the soldiers adopt serious expressions. He then turned toward Ouroboros and the Royal Guards and nodded to the group.

The moment the Depravita of Greed and the Royal Guards saw Vlad’s signal, they sprang into action with practiced precision. After a quick nod of understanding, they approached the High Champion Monster Elephant’s massive corpse, ready to harvest its invaluable resources.

Ouroboros led the effort, using his claws honed to razor-sharp perfection. His muscles flexed under his thick fur as he sliced through the tough hide, revealing the rich, marbled meat beneath. The Royal Guards followed suit, each moving with a blend of strength and skill that spoke of their long experience in such tasks.

They worked in unison, each with a specific role in dismantling the enormous creature. The air was filled with the rich, metallic scent of the beast’s blood, which was carefully collected in large containers to be processed into potent potions. Every part of the High Champion Monster was a treasure, and nothing was wasted.

Meanwhile, Vlad turned his attention to the soldiers, who stood in eager anticipation. His rune-crafting abilities had advanced rapidly thanks to the continuous work of the past few months. He began the intricate process of engraving the Bloodline Matrix into the bodies of the fifty-three soldiers selected to receive the Champion Bloodlines.

Each engraving was done with the utmost care, making sure the full power of the bloodline would integrate into their flesh and soul. Vlad’s hands moved with precision as he inscribed the complex runes onto the soldiers’ skin, infusing them with the potent energies of the bloodlines.

All the soldiers remained perfectly steady, ignoring the pain and only focusing on the power that would soon course through their veins. Their bodies glowed briefly as the new power settled within them.

After four days, Vlad finished engraving the Bloodline Matrix but did not rest and instead turned his focus to those who did not receive a bloodline. Vlad kept his word and crafted Rank 2 Runic Sets into their bodies. These sets would enhance their combat abilities, providing them with a formidable edge in battle, and allowing them to keep up with the rest of the battalion.

As dusk fell, and all the soldiers had either Bloodline Matrices or Runic Sets engraved in their bodies, the camp was transformed into a scene of celebration. The air was thick with the savory aroma of roasting meat. Soldiers sat together, sharing stories and laughter as they feasted on the succulent meat of the High Champion Monster Elephant. Vlad sat with Ouroboros and the Royal Guards, and all of them began to laugh as they chatted.

It was an event with a joyful aura, full of delight, something odd to see in a post-apocalyptic world, much less in a place like Knight City, where there was danger and monsters lurking in all directions.

After eating and drinking to the point they almost burst, Vlad had a good night of sleep, allowing his mind and body to relax and rest, something he would need for the next mission.