Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 280: Vlad vs Lamorto (II)

Chapter 280: Vlad vs Lamorto (II)

Lamorto’s eyes remained cold and calculating as he sized up the human standing before him. The immense power radiating from Vlad was undeniable, perhaps even greater than his own, which came as a real shock since he could not understand how a human could grow so fast in a New World.

However, as an Abyssal demon, fear and hesitation were foreign concepts. Any trace of doubt was ruthlessly purged from his mind, replaced by a singular focus on the battle ahead.

Lamorto’s gaze briefly flickered to the Xaos soldiers and the small yellow cat wreaking havoc on the demonic beasts farther down the battlefield. The power unleashed by the small group, especially the cat, was enough to put him in danger, but they were too far away to interfere in his fight with Vlad.

A twisted smile curled across the Abyssal’s face as he turned his attention back to Vlad. Thousands of his demonic Champions surrounded the battlefield, and he felt confident in his advantage.

"Hmph, so what if you’re strong? Let’s see how you handle all of us!" Lamorto sneered, preparing to unleash the full might of his forces to overwhelm the young man before him.

But before he could give the command, screams of agony echoed from the back of the horde. Lamorto’s eyes widened in disbelief as he saw a group of warriors tearing through his army from behind.

Leading them was a young woman adorned with tribal tattoos. She moved with fluid grace as she crushed demon Champions with her mace and sent others flying with her shield. Beside her was a fearsome fiendish werewolf, his claws ripping through demons and his powerful kicks blasting them apart.

Behind the duo were twenty-four additional warriors, less mighty but equally relentless. Together, they carved a path of destruction, overpowering demon Champions with brutal efficiency.

"Impossible, impossible, impossible," Lamorto muttered, repeating the word as if it would somehow make sense of the chaos unfolding around him. How could his forces be attacked from both sides with such overwhelming power?

Before he could process the shock, Vlad made his move. Leaping from the mountainside with the grace of a predator, arcs of lightning crackling around his figure, Vlad hurtled toward the Abyssal. With a thunderous swing, he brought his massive bastard sword down toward Lamorto, the weapon glowing with deadly energy.

Lamorto’s instincts kicked in just in time. Despite his shock, he dodged the blade by a hair’s breadth. The force of the swing sent shockwaves through the air, splitting the ground beneath them. His mind snapped into full focus, all distractions vanishing as he locked onto the only thing that mattered—surviving this fight.

"I will crush you!" Lamorto roared, his body swelling in size. He grew to an imposing seven meters, his hands transforming into bone-covered claws that glinted with lethal sharpness. His demonic power surged, and his aura darkened, a manifestation of his intent to destroy.

Vlad’s eyes narrowed as he observed the Abyssal’s transformation. The increase in size and power was impressive, and the intensity of Lamorto’s fighting spirit made it clear that this would be no easy battle. He had hoped to break the demon’s resolve quickly, but it was clear this would be a prolonged and brutal fight.

Taking a deep breath, Vlad channeled his Force, feeling it surge through his body, enhancing his endurance and stamina. His heartbeat intensified, and he activated Heart of Wrath with a surge of energy.

"THUMP!"

Vlad’s strength spiked as his heartbeat quickened, pushing him to the edge of his limits without harming his internal organs. He needed just enough power to match Lamorto’s newfound strength.

Both warriors reached their peak and lunged at each other, their movements fueled by raw power and unrelenting will.

"BOOM!"

The battlefield shook with the clash of their attacks. Vlad’s lightning-charged bastard sword met Lamorto’s bone claws in a thunderous display of metal against bone. Sparks flew as their strikes collided, sending shockwaves rippling through the air.

Vlad’s superior speed and skill allowed him to evade Lamorto’s brute-force attacks, moving around the Abyssal with deadly precision. However, Lamorto’s strength was overwhelming. Each swipe of his claws carried the force to shatter buildings. Though Vlad’s sword deflected the blows, the power behind each attack made his arms tremble. With every exchange, the ground beneath their feet cracked and crumbled, charged with the energy of their collision.

Vlad ducked beneath a wide slash from Lamorto’s claws, his lightning-fast reflexes keeping him just out of reach. He retaliated with a swift strike to the demon’s side, his sword crackling with energy as it sliced through the air.

"Ahhhh!" Lamorto grunted in pain as Vlad’s sword cut into his flesh, but his thick demonic hide absorbed much of the impact, leaving only a shallow wound.

"Is that all you’ve got, human?" Lamorto taunted, his voice filled with venomous hatred. He swung his clawed hand in a downward arc, aiming to cleave Vlad in two. Vlad leaped back just in time, the claws grazing his armor and sending sparks flying.

Vlad remained silent, his focus unwavering. He trusted in his instincts and the guidance of the A.I. Chip. His eyes glowed with intense, focused rage as he surged forward, his sword cutting through the air with terrifying speed.

For every advantage Vlad held in agility and precision, Lamorto countered with raw strength. Each time Vlad struck with his blade, Lamorto responded with crushing blows that sent tremors through the earth.

Their fight was a balance of skill and power, with neither able to fully overwhelm the other. Their relentless exchange of blows tore the battlefield asunder, a testament to the sheer force they wielded.

Vlad’s lightning-enhanced strikes were fast, his movements calculated and efficient, guided by the A.I. Chip. He sought weak points in Lamorto’s defenses, trying to wear him down. However, Lamorto’s resilience was staggering, and his demonic energy shielded him from the worst of the attacks.

Time seemed to blur as the Abyssal and Depravita clashed again and again, each strike echoing across the battlefield like thunder.