Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 262: War inside the walls (II)

Chapter 262: War inside the walls (II)

Jerom crashed into the ground, his Holy Energy Ward barely holding up against the force of the impact. Dust and debris swirled around him as the divine energy flickered, protecting him from what could have been a devastating blow. Though the ward had saved him, there was little time to recover. His instincts screamed as a barrage of attacks hurtled toward him from every direction.

Jerom’s eyes widened as he beheld the onslaught. Two massive, twisted vortexes of spinning daggers and crackling electricity spiraled toward him, their blades gleaming as they sliced through the air, charged with lethal energy. Following close behind were arrows infused with shadow energy, each pulsing with killing intent. If that wasn’t enough, dozens of smaller projectiles containing explosive magical energy streaked through the sky like comets, their trails glowing with deadly radiance.

Without hesitation, Jerom gripped his staff with all his strength. The holy artifact responded to his call, glowing with divine power as he activated its Peak High Champion Spells stored within. Massive wings of pure Holy Energy burst forth, spreading wide and enveloping him in a protective barrier. The wings radiated brilliance as they curved inward, forming an impenetrable cocoon around the Pope.

The spells collided with the barrier in a deafening explosion. Fire, lightning, and shadow energy raged against the holy wings, the impact sending shockwaves across the battlefield. For a moment, the ground seemed to tremble under the might of the attack. As the flames and energy dispersed, the tattered remains of the Holy Energy wings were visible, broken, and singed by the combined force of the spells.

Those wings, which could have resisted an air strike capable of disintegrating an entire town, were nearly shattered by the vortexes, arrows, and explosive projectiles, showing just how much power the casters had unleashed.

With a soft flicker, the wings dissipated, revealing Jerom. His robes were untouched, and no visible wounds marked his body, but the lack of injuries did little to quell the rage in his heart after being ambushed.

The Pope of the Church of Glory’s sharp and focused eyes scanned the enemies surrounding him. He immediately recognized the group—they were the same ones he had attempted to eliminate back at Strong Hammer Military Base.

"Insignificant ants, you dare to attack me, the Pope of the Church of Glory. I am the voice of the Goddess in this apocalyptic world, and you should be kissing my feet!" The rage and stress reverted Jerom’s mind to its most basic state, one of a narcissist who needed to bully others to feel important.

Pure coldness appeared in the eyes of Mirena, Frank, and Roman as they heard those words and stared at the old man with unrelenting killing intent. Their runic armor glowed, amplifying their power, and their Bloodline Abilities surged within them. Their Demon Souls enhanced every aspect of their existence, pushing their strength far beyond that of ordinary Champions.

The rage and hatred the members of the Royal Guard had suppressed for so long were finally unleashed, and they would not stop until they got their revenge.

Vlad watched the scene from a distance, nodding with a satisfied smile. It had been decided that the task of eliminating Jerom, the Pope of the Church of Glory, would fall to Ouroboros and the three long-range casters of the Royal Guard.

It was fitting for the Royal Guards to exact vengeance, as Jerom took Cazan from them. As for Clasius, the remaining member of the Royal Guard on the southern front, wielding a massive bastard sword and shield, he had been tasked with leading the rest of the Obsidian Phalanx and ensuring that no one could interfere with the battle.

Clasius grinned as he watched the Pope surrounded by the Depravita of Greed and the Royal Guard. He was confident in his friends’ victory and ready to do everything in his power to prevent any interference.

"Let’s kill them all!" Clasius roared, activating his Gift, Runic Set, Bloodline, and Demon Soul, rallying his forces as they clashed with the elite battalion of the Azarin Empire on the southern front. Steel met steel, and the sound of battle filled the air as Clasius and his soldiers fought with relentless ferocity.

With everything going according to plan, Vlad turned and raced toward the center of the capital of the Azarin Empire. A solemn expression crossed his face as he understood that his victory could end the war and save thousands of lives—but his defeat could spell the end of the Xaos Kingdom.

Vlad moved extremely fast, crushing anything that would interfere in his path as he headed to the soul of the theocracy.

...

On the western front, a battle of epic proportions unfolded as the forces of the Shadow Strike Legion clashed with the four thousand soldiers of the Azarin Empire. From the moment the two armies met, it was clear which side held the upper hand. Despite being outnumbered four to one, the soldiers of the Xaos Kingdom were highly trained and skilled Demon Soul Masters. Each warrior was a force to be reckoned with, displaying high levels of power and combat prowess unmatched by their counterparts.

Leading the charge was Freya, commander of the Shadow Strike Legion. Her eyes were cold and filled with determination. Every move she made was precise, each strike calculated to cut through the enemy ranks with deadly efficiency.

The Bloodline Soldiers followed her without hesitation, their loyalty and belief in her strength unwavering after the events in Santana City. Together, they carved through the Azarin soldiers like a hot knife through butter, their combined power overwhelming any resistance.

The battle reached a turning point as Freya, and her Bloodline Soldiers pierced through the Azarin Empire’s ranks. Freya’s gaze met that of Major General Theodoro, the second-in-command of the Shadow Strike Legion. The two leaders nodded to each other, knowing it was time to move to the next phase of their plan.

Freya advanced, leading five of the Bloodline Soldiers deeper into the capital. Her mission was far greater than simply facing enemy soldiers; she needed to break the heart of the empire.

Theodoro stayed behind with the rest of the legion, engaging the thousands of Azarin soldiers in a fierce and bloody struggle. He knew that Freya’s success was critical, and it was his job to ensure that she could complete her mission without interference.

...

The Golden Wave Legion surged forward with overwhelming might on the eastern front. General Kallos of the Azarin Empire was a skilled tactician, using every ounce of his military acumen to maximize the strength of his forces. He placed Paladins and Priests at strategic points, fortifying the Azarin defense line with divine energy and tactical precision. Yet, despite his brilliance, the odds were stacked against him.

The soldiers of the Xaos Kingdom were simply too powerful. Every single one of them was a Demon Soul Master, none beneath Level 3. Their coordination was flawless, their strikes lethal, and their mastery over their abilities left the Azarin forces reeling. Each and every single one of the squad’s leaders was receiving feedback in real-time from Overlord, making their battle strategies beyond flawless.

To make matters worse for the Azarin Empire, the monstrous presence of Grand Marshal Anglius, the gargantuan giant of the Golden Wave Legion, dominated the battlefield. With every step, the ground trembled, and anything unfortunate enough to be in his path was crushed beneath his immense form.

Anglius was a force of nature, his massive body wreaking havoc on the Azarin defenses as he led his soldiers with precision and brutal efficiency. His Gift, Bloodline Ability, and Demon Soul enhancements made him nearly unstoppable. His size, combined with his speed, allowed him to plow through entire battalions. Stone walls, magical barriers, and even the holy wards of the Paladins shattered under the sheer weight of his assaults.

General Kallos watched with grim determination as the eastern front buckled. He had already lost hundreds of soldiers, and the Paladins and Priests, despite their best efforts, struggled to hold back the tide. His mind raced as he issued order after order, attempting to slow the advancing Xaos forces and prevent them from breaking through completely. Every tactic delayed the inevitable, but time was running out.

Grand Marshal Anglius, towering above all, pressed forward with single-minded determination. He was keenly aware that victory on the eastern front was all but assured, yet he allowed himself no moment of relaxation. His mission extended far beyond simply crushing the low level forces of the Azarin Empire. He was tasked with ensuring that the Golden Wave Legion swept across the capital, paving the way for the true objectives to be realized.

Anglius knew that both Vlad and Freya were engaged in their own critical missions, assaulting the soul and heart of the enemy. It was up to Anglius and the Golden Wave to overrun the city before their tasks were complete. Failure was not an option, and the stakes were too high for him to falter now.