Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 264: To the Imperial Castle

Chapter 264: To the Imperial Castle

After shouting those words, Ouroboros adopted a low sprinting stance, his claws digging into the ground, back arched like a coiled predator. Instantly, he dashed forward with such explosive speed that he generated a deafening sonic boom, the shockwave rippling across the battlefield. Jerom barely had time to react, his eyes widening in shock as he hurriedly cast a defensive spell.

"Holy Guard!"

A cocoon of radiant Divine Power enveloped the Pope, glowing with the intensity of pure light. The cocoon shimmered, its protective layers meant to withstand even the blows of a High Champion-tier attack.

The defensive spell was extraordinarily powerful, especially for something hastily summoned. Yet, as Ouroboros closed in, his lips curled into a wicked grin since he knew it would not be enough. The full momentum of his sprint propelled his palms forward, smashing into the Holy Guard with terrifying force.

"CRACK!"

The cocoon of Divine Power, designed to resist overwhelming assaults, fractured instantly under the power of the Depravita of Greed’s palms, shattering like fragile glass. Jerom was sent flying backward, his body tumbling through the air before crashing into a small building in the distance with a thunderous impact, blasting it to pieces.

The Pope barely had a second to rise from the debris of the building he had just destroyed with his own body before another wave of attacks came at him from both sides.

Frank unleashed a volley of explosive magma spheres from the left—fiery projectiles that glowed like molten suns, each one pulsing with destructive energy. From the right, Mirena conjured six massive drills made of revolving metallic blades, each cloaked in crackling dark lightning. They sped toward Jerom with lethal intent, aiming to tear him apart from both angles.

Jerom forced himself to regain control of his energy, his instincts flaring as he summoned his Divine Power once more to save his life.

"Holy Shields!"

Two massive, golden shields materialized around him, each glowing with the brilliance of High Champion-tier magic. The magma spheres collided with the shields first, followed by the dark lightning-infused drills. Explosions erupted upon impact, the sheer force of the attacks sending shockwaves across the battlefield.

Jerom’s eyes widened in disbelief as he saw cracks forming along the surface of his Holy Shields in less than a second. These spells, imbued with immense power, should have been able to withstand nearly any assault from foes beneath the High Champion level. Yet here they were, being torn apart!

Now that the Royal Guards had fully unleashed their Gifts, Devil Champion Bloodlines, Rank 2 Runic Sets, and their Demon Souls—combining their powers in perfect synergy—their attacks had reached the destructive threshold of Level 11, capable of overcoming the defenses of someone as powerful as the Pope of the Church of Glory.

Jerom knew he needed to act fast, to reinforce his shields before they crumbled under the relentless pressure. But then his instincts screamed danger once more. He realized there was one more enemy who had yet to strike.

Frantically, Jerom searched the battlefield for the archer, his staff glowing as he prepared to unleash a counterattack—but there was nothing. Confusion set in as he scanned his surroundings, only to realize the danger was not around him—it was above.

A shadow loomed overhead, and Jerom looked up just in time to see Roman hovering in the sky with his demonic eagle wings spread wide. His bow was drawn back, an arrow crackling with dark energy and wind swirling around it, charged with every ounce of his power.

The arrow was released.

The instant it left the bow, it transformed into a massive tornado, gray wings of wind and shadow spinning violently within its core. The tornado arrow tore through the air with unimaginable speed, slamming toward Jerom like a storm incarnate.

"¡BOOOOOOM!"

The impact was catastrophic. Jerom was thrown from the epicenter of the tornado’s destructive force, his body rolling across the battlefield. A sharp pain surged through him, and blood spewed from his mouth in thick, heavy spurts. His divine aura flickered, the once-bright glow of his Divine Power now dimming as the weight of the attack settled into his bones.

Even though Priests had more resilience than typical mages, they did not possess overwhelmingly powerful bodies. Enduring such a potent attack without magical protection was catastrophic.

Ouroboros, Mirena, Frank, and Roman shared a glance, broad smiles spreading across their faces as they watched their hated enemy struggle, bloodied and broken. They had wounded the Pope of the Church of Glory, and now they intended to finish what they had started.

Without a word, the four charged at Jerom with everything they had, their combined might ready to drain away all the life and energy from their enemy.

...

As Ouroboros and the Royal Guards pursued the bloodied and battered Jerom, something equally critical was unfolding in the heart of the Azarin Empire’s capital.

At the center stood the towering imperial castle, a fortress of unimaginable grandeur. Its spires reached toward the heavens, symbolizing the might of the empire and serving as the seat of the Emperor himself. The walls shimmered with magic-infused stone, radiating a sense of grandeur and majesty.

It was an impressive structure, no less awe-inspiring than the thirty-meter-tall walls surrounding the capital. Five figures stood before this fortress, each exuding determination and pure killing intent.

Freya allowed a cold smile to grace her lips. She had finally reached the heart of the capital, accompanied by four of the strongest Bloodline Soldiers. From the start of the war, her mission had been clear: guide the Shadowstrike Legion across the walls, penetrate the capital, and once her legion faced the enemy army, lead a small elite group to destroy the heart of the Azarin Empire—the Emperor Dimitry.

The imperial castle was the most logical place to find Dimitry. However, this was not the sole reason Freya had come here. From the moment the siege began, Overlord’s crystal eyes had been surveilling the capital, and the Emperor had not once left the castle.

Some might interpret Dimitry’s behavior as cowardice, but Freya knew it wasn’t that simple. Her instincts warned her that the castle was more than just a structure, and what awaited inside was the fight of her life.

She turned to the four Bloodline Soldiers beside her, their expressions equally resolute. They were among the most powerful warriors in the Xaos Kingdom, their strength far surpassing that of ordinary Champion Demon Soul Masters. They weren’t far behind the Royal Guards in power.

At her silent command, the four men activated their Bloodlines, Runic Sets, and Demon Souls in perfect unison.

The air around them crackled with energy as their power surged. Their Bloodline Abilities caused their auras to expand, each one radiating raw might. Their Runic Sets glowed with dark symbols, amplifying their combat abilities to incredible levels, while their Demon Souls enhanced both their physical and mental strength.

But they didn’t stop there. Each of the Bloodline Soldiers pulled out a small flask containing a black liquid and swallowed it. Immediately, their faces paled, and their heartbeats seemed to slow. It was a Rank 2 Alchemy Potion designed to enhance survival. They could recover from almost anything as long as their heart and brain remained intact. The potion’s recoil would be harsh, but they understood the importance and danger of this mission.

Freya nodded in approval, sensing their readiness. She took a deep breath, gathering her own power. Unlike most of the warriors in the Xaos Kingdom, Freya did not possess a Runic Set or a Demon Soul.

Vlad had offered her a Runic Set and a Demon Soul, but her totemic powers interfered with their proper function. However, this wasn’t an issue for Freya—the Totemic Path of Power provided equally powerful enhancements.

Freya’s energy began to circulate within her, a potent blend of raw Force and totemic power that burned bright and fierce. The ground beneath her trembled slightly as her massive aura manifested at full power. Her body thrummed with strength, her muscles tensing as her energy exploded outward, ready to be unleashed at any second.

Her eyes focused coldly on the towering gates of the imperial castle. This moment was critical. The gates were reinforced with powerful enchantments and layers of protective wards designed to repel even the strongest of enemies. But for Freya, they were not an obstacle.

As her power reached its peak, Freya dashed forward. Her movements were swift and controlled, each step carrying the full weight of her energy. She raised her mace high, the weapon glowing with the fury of her totemic power. When she reached the gates, she struck with all her might.

"¡BOOOOOOM!"

The impact reverberated through the air, a thunderous explosion that echoed across the castle grounds. The mighty gates, reinforced though they were, couldn’t withstand Freya’s blow. The enchanted metal twisted and shattered, pieces of the once-impenetrable barrier flying in every direction. In an instant, the entrance to the imperial castle lay in ruins.