Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 307: Vlad vs Aola (I)

Chapter 307: Vlad vs Aola (I)

Vlad opened his mouth and retrieved a space ring that had been hidden there. Swiftly, he sent the orb inside before pulling out his armor and swords.

The obsidian metallic armor expanded across his body, perfectly accommodating his physique. Gripping both swords tightly, Vlad gazed at Aola with coldness and killing intent. She had deceived an entire town into surrendering their souls, preying on their despair and hope, and who knew how many more had fallen to her tricks. There was no way he would let her leave this place alive.

Aola felt similarly resolute. She knew it would be better to die than to return without the orb; the wrath of the deity she served was not something she or her family could withstand.

With a single thought, a thin white armor spread across the angel’s form, perfectly suited to her body. Vlad’s eyes narrowed as he observed the armor—it was impressive, equal to his own Peak Rank 2 Alchemy Artifact. But what she drew next surprised him even more.

In Aola’s hand appeared an exquisite halberd. It wasn’t large or cumbersome, perfectly balanced for her stature, and the energy emanating from it was immense. The weapon’s edge resonated with a power that triggered Vlad’s instincts.

"A Rank 3 Alchemy Artifact?" Vlad muttered, his gaze sharpening as he analyzed the weapon. He recognized that the piercing and slashing capabilities of the halberd were formidable enough to threaten his life.

Silence reigned for a few tense seconds as the Depravita and the angel gauged each other. Then, in a burst of motion, they lunged forward at shocking speeds—Vlad leaving arcs of red lightning in his wake while Aola streaked like a beam of light.

"BOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!"

Their initial clash was cataclysmic. The sword met halberd in an explosion of lightning, fire, and luminescence that spread in all directions.

Vlad’s arms trembled under the force of the impact, the sheer power behind Aola’s halberd nearly overwhelming him. The weapon’s speed granted it immense momentum, each swing accompanied by a massive wave of energy.

Aola wasted no time. She twisted her halberd with deft precision and launched a swift attack from the left. Vlad barely managed to bring his second sword up in time, the clash sending sparks flying. The force pushed him back, his boots digging furrows into the ground as he slid.

She pressed her advantage, unleashing a flurry of strikes. Her movements were a blur, the halberd cutting through the air with lethal grace. Vlad parried and dodged, his lightning-enhanced speed barely keeping pace. He channeled demonic fire into his blades, the crimson flames licking along the edges as he countered with his own series of attacks.

They weaved through the forest, using the terrain to their advantage, jumping into the trees to increase the maneuvers they could achieve. Aola leaped onto a low-hanging branch, propelling herself forward as she brought her halberd down in a powerful overhead swing. Vlad crossed his swords above him, absorbing the blow, but the impact shattered the tree’s trunk on which he was supported, causing him to drop to the forest floor.

Rolling to avoid a swift thrust aimed at his heart, Vlad retaliated with a horizontal slash at her midsection. Aola spun away, the tip of his sword grazing her armor and leaving a faint scorch mark. She countered by sweeping her halberd in a wide arc, forcing Vlad to duck as the blade sliced through the massive rock behind him, leaving a flawless, thin cut.

The battle intensified. Vlad dashed forward, red lightning crackling around him as he aimed a thrust at Aola’s shoulder. She deflected it with the shaft of her halberd, twisting her body to bring the weapon’s butt end around in a surprise attack. The strike caught Vlad in the side, his armor absorbing most of the impact, but a sharp pain radiated through his ribs.

Gritting his teeth, Vlad unleashed a burst of demonic fire from his left sword, forcing Aola to retreat a few steps. Seizing the moment, he surged upward, slashing downward with both blades. Aola crossed her halberd above her head, blocking the attack, but the force drove her knees into the ground.

Vlad’s eyes were cold as he caused the fire from his swords to burst forth, the scorching heat surging toward Aola. But she did not lose focus; she unleashed a burst of her own energy, allowing her halberd to repel the swords.

The angel did not stop with just repelling the swords; she slashed with all her power and speed toward Vlad’s face. He managed to dodge at the last second, but still, the sharp energy of the halberd managed to make a small cut in his helmet.

Vlad immediately retaliated, swinging his swords from left and right toward Aola’s neck, intending to bisect her. She moved back just in time to save herself, though a cut mark still appeared on her armor.

After that intense exchange, the Depravita and the angel broke apart, circling each other warily. Blood trickled from a shallow cut on Vlad’s cheek. Aola’s armor bore several scorch marks and minor dents, and a thin line of blood seeped from her neck.

Without warning, Aola lunged forward, feinting a thrust before spinning and aiming a slash at Vlad’s legs. He jumped to avoid it, flipping mid-air and blasting a bolt of red lightning from his mouth. Aola deflected the bolt with her halberd, but the explosion obscured her vision with smoke.

Using the cover, Vlad appeared behind her, swords poised to strike. Sensing his presence, Aola twisted just in time, the halberd’s blade intercepting his attack. The resulting shockwave flattened the grass around them.

"Enough!" she shouted, releasing a burst of energy from the halberd that pushed Vlad back.

Aola soared into the air, gathering radiant light around her weapon. With a powerful swing, she unleashed a crescent-shaped beam of energy. Vlad crossed his swords, channeling demonic fire and lightning into a protective barrier. The beam collided with his defense, sparks and flames erupting upon impact.

The force pushed Vlad back dozens of meters, his feet digging trenches into the earth until he crashed into a massive boulder.