Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 276: Incoming horde (I)

Chapter 276: Incoming horde (I)

The earth began to tremble a few hundred meters away from the encampment around Nagan Mountain. The rumbling grew more potent, and soon, a massive head broke through the ground. The creature resembled a colossal worm, its body covered in a crust of hardened earth. Its glowing red eyes scanned the defenses, a calculating look etched into its monstrous face as it surveyed the fortifications.

Suddenly, a voice cut through the air from behind the earthworm demon Champion, chilling in its calmness. "Have you seen enough?"

The demon’s eyes widened in shock. It twisted its massive head to look back, only to see a young man standing behind it. The man’s eyes were darker than the night, filled with a cold, unyielding intensity that made the demon’s heart tremble with pure dread.

Instinctively, the earthworm demon Champion began to retreat, burrowing back into the ground, hoping to escape through the tunnel it had emerged from.

Unfortunately for the demon, before it could get far, the young man sneered, his lips curling in disdain. Without hesitation, he clenched his fist and slammed it into the ground with immense force.

"¡BOOM!" "RUMBLE!"

A seismic shockwave exploded from the impact, violently shaking the earth. The ground shattered beneath the force of the blow, sending cracks ripping through the terrain. A scream of agony echoed from beneath the earth as the tunnel collapsed in on itself.

Vlad walked forward, reached into the broken ground, and dragged the massive earthworm demon Champion to the surface, gripping it with ease as though handling a lifeless doll. His cold, piercing eyes met the demon’s terrified gaze, his voice calm but carrying an authority that left no room for defiance.

"How many? From which direction? How far away?"

There was no need for elaboration. The intensity in Vlad’s eyes made it clear that the demon understood the full weight of the question. Fear crept into the demon’s mind, and with its will shattered by the overwhelming presence before it, the earthworm demon Champion offered no resistance.

"Two hundred thousand... Northwest... One thousand kilometers."

Vlad’s eyes narrowed as he absorbed the information, his expression growing more solemn. Though the demon offered little in the way of details, Vlad could easily extrapolate the information he needed. A demonic horde of that size would include thousands of Champions, each a considerable threat.

Without a word, Vlad waved his hand, summoning a parchment that materialized in the air. Dark tendrils shot out from the parchment as it unfurled, wrapping around the demon Champion’s body. The tendrils pierced through its flesh, draining its soul, life force, and vitality in an instant. The demon let out a final, pitiful shriek before its body withered into a husk.

Vlad tossed the desiccated carcass aside without a second glance, his gaze now fixed toward the northwest. His face remained expressionless, but the intensity in his eyes reflected the seriousness of the situation.

He had just emerged from his recovery inside the Demonblood Molten Essence the day before, having healed from the grievous damage caused by the Heart of Wrath. He had been walking around the mountain, trying to find a moment of peace, when the A.I. Chip detected the demon’s presence.

Vlad let out a small sigh, frustration gnawing at him. "It seems I can’t even have a moment of peace," he muttered under his breath. But his irritation quickly faded, his focus sharpening. There was no time for rest now.

"Scan me," he commanded the A.I. Chip, and the familiar robotic voice soon echoed in his mind.

[Beep! Scanning the Host...

---

Name: Vlad Xaos

Race: Human?

Class: Warrior / Demon Soul Master

---

Level (Energy): 10

Level (Body): 15

Lineage: Thunder Lord (Champion Tier)

---

Stats:

Strength: 96.9 --> 150.2

Agility: 61.6 --> 91.2

Vitality: 110.2 --> 163.5

Energy Pool (Force): 6.4 --> 8.4

---

Racial Skills: Heart of Wrath

Bloodline Ability: Lightning Forged Charge

Gift: Samsara Typhoon.]

Vlad smiled, satisfied with his progress. He had already reached Level 9 while marching toward the Azarin Empire’s capital. After his battle with the God of Glory and Fame, which pushed him beyond his limits, and the weeks of healing inside the Demonblood Molten Essence, he had risen to Level 10, with his body advancing to Level 15.

Suddenly, Vlad’s eyes grew sharp as he sensed an approaching presence. His tension eased when he saw the familiar figure of a small yellow cat with flaming wings emerging from behind him.

Despite sacrificing his Devil Bloodline during the battle against the God of Glory and Fame, Jormungandr’s power had only grown. His energy pool now rivaled that of a High Champion!

After detecting the earthworm demon earlier, Vlad had instructed Jormungandr to fly around Nagan Mountain’s perimeter to check for other scouts. The small yellow cat landed gracefully, shaking his head as he approached Vlad.

"I detected no other demons," Jormungandr reported calmly. "Either the earthworm came alone, or others were here and left before they could be detected."

Vlad’s expression grew solemn as he nodded, contemplating the next steps. He turned back to Jormungandr, his voice steady. "Two hundred thousand demons are approaching Nagan Mountain from the northwest. They’re about three weeks away. They likely know about the Level 14 Abyssal’s corpse at its peak, but that doesn’t matter. We must handle them before they arrive."

Jormungandr’s eyes sharpened. A solemn expression crossed his face as he considered Vlad’s words. Then, a flash of insight struck him. "They haven’t passed through Twin Peak yet. We could use the terrain there."

Vlad’s lips curved into a sharp smile. Twin Peak was the perfect location for an ambush—narrow, isolated, with plenty of natural cover. He nodded at Jormungandr’s suggestion and immediately shifted his focus to the A.I. Chip.

"Overlord," Vlad communicated telepathically, "there’s a horde of two hundred thousand demons heading toward Nagan Mountain. We have three weeks. Which forces can make it in time?"

Overlord’s network extended far, thanks to the communication pillars spread across their territories. Within moments, the ancient voice of the A.I. Chip Clone responded.

"Most of our forces are currently spread across Canvas Stronghold and the Azarin State. They will not reach Nagan Mountain in time. However, Lady Freya, Ouroboros, the Bloodline Soldiers, and the Royal Guards are stationed in Xaos City. They can march forward immediately, along with three hundred Champions."

Vlad frowned at the response. While the Xaos Kingdom had over ten thousand highly trained Demon Soul Masters, only three hundred Champions could be spared. With Nagan Mountain far from Xaos City, even the mightiest army was limited by logistics.

Vlad sighed, but his resolve hardened. Freya and Ouroboros were formidable on their own, and they had a powerful force with the Bloodline Soldiers and Royal Guards. Three hundred Champions would be enough to form a defensive line to hold the demonic horde—at least temporarily.

Moreover, three thousand Viking and Xaos soldiers were stationed around Nagan Mountain. If they used the terrain wisely, they could further bolster their defenses.

"Good," Vlad muttered. "Have Freya and Ouroboros prepare for ambushes. The rest of the forces must arrive in two weeks."

"Understood," Overlord’s voice echoed.

Vlad turned to Jormungandr, who had been listening silently. "Freya and Ouroboros are in motion. We’ll meet them at Twin Peak to set the ambush."

Jormungandr nodded, his eyes unwavering. "What about the Abyssal?" he asked. "If it’s aware of us, it could complicate things."

Abyssals were not mindless like common demons. They had wisdom, making them more dangerous.

"If it breaks ranks and moves against us, we’ll kill it and cut off the snake’s head," Vlad said. "They have no choice but to follow their route to Nagan Mountain."

Jormungandr considered Vlad’s analysis and nodded in agreement before they moved. The two Depravitas marched for several days until finally arriving in the Twin Peaks.

The terrain gradually shifted from the rocky outskirts of Nagan Mountain to the imposing grandeur of Twin Peak, a natural stronghold that towered over the surrounding lands like a pair of sentinels guarding the pass.

Twin Peak was a marvel of nature’s raw power. Two enormous mountain ranges rose on either side of a wide valley path, their jagged peaks piercing the sky like the fangs of a beast.

The mountains were sheer and steep, their dark, ancient stone covered in patches of hardy vegetation that clung stubbornly to life. The slopes were treacherous, scattered with boulders and loose rocks that could easily crush anything caught in their descent.

Between the two towering mountains lay the narrow valley known as the "Throat of the World." The path that wound through it was no more than a few hundred meters wide at its broadest point, and in some sections, it narrowed to barely fifty meters. The ground was rough and uneven, scattered with loose stones and crags that made travel difficult for any large force.

The path twisted and turned, making it nearly impossible to see far ahead, and the sheer cliffs that flanked the pass created perfect hiding places for an ambush. This was a natural choke point, a perfect killing ground for those who knew how to use it.