Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 317: The dark hunger (I)

Chapter 317: The dark hunger (I)

The group gathered within the town ruins, setting up a temporary camp. The Xaos forces spread out, maintaining a constant watch while the Turkin soldiers prepared themselves for the night. Despite the eerie calm, no one could shake the tension that lingered in the air. They had stumbled upon something far worse than they had anticipated.

Vlad sat at the edge of the camp, his mind racing. Whatever had consumed the life here wasn’t natural. The hunger it demonstrated was terrifying, and its ability to leave no trace behind was even more so. He glanced over at Jormungandr and Ouroboros. The two Depravitas were using their A.I. Chips to monitor the surroundings, their expressions mirroring his own concerns.

Freya approached Vlad, her brow furrowed in thought. "What do you think we’re dealing with here? What could devour everything—demons included—without leaving a single trace?"

The viking princess hailed from a powerful civilization in the higher dimension. Her knowledge of the universe was extensive, yet even she had no clue about the type of entity they were facing.

The truth was, Vlad’s insight was even deeper. While he did not know the higher dimension, in his Second Past Life, he had reached the peak of the universe and encountered myriad life forms, yet none like the ones affecting the Monsoon Continent.

Vlad’s eyes remained fixed on the horizon as he spoke. "I don’t know. But whatever it is, it’s not something we’ve encountered before. It’s not just a predator—it’s something worse. A force that consumes without discrimination."

Freya fell silent, digesting his words. The unknown was more terrifying than any enemy they had faced, and the fact that even Vlad—who remained calm even in the presence of gods—now showed a solemn expression made the danger all the more palpable.

As the night wore on, the camp remained on high alert. The forest around them was unnervingly quiet, the usual sounds of nocturnal creatures absent, replaced by an oppressive silence.

"Ahhh, I’ll get some sleep. Wake me if anything happens," Freya said, letting out a small sigh before retreating to find a quiet place within the camp.

Vlad stayed where he was, his eyes sharp as the feeling that they were coming closer to the entity behind this destruction grew stronger. Luckily, the night passed in silence without incident.

At dawn, Vlad rose and signaled for the group to prepare to move. "We’ll continue our search," he said. "But be ready for anything."

They packed up quickly, the tension in the air palpable. They all knew that whatever force lay ahead was a dangerous monster. But turning back was no longer an option—they had to uncover the truth or risk this unknown threat spreading beyond the Monsoon Continent and into their own lands.

Vlad led the group with a determined stride, his eyes constantly scanning the surroundings. It soon became clear to everyone that simply pushing deeper into the Monsoon Continent might not be the best approach to finding the entity responsible for the devastation. If the creature—or whatever it was—had already consumed everything in its path, they might be chasing shadows.

"We need to think strategically," Vlad announced, halting the group momentarily. "Advancing straight ahead might only lead us into barren lands where nothing remains. If the entity has moved on, we’ll find no traces left to study."

Vlad paused, considering potential solutions. "Any suggestions?" He wasn’t arrogant enough to think only he could come up with an answer. A good leader maximizes the efficiency and abilities of his people.

Viserin gazed eastward. "We should head east for several hours. If this entity is moving in a pattern, there’s a chance it hasn’t reached that area yet. We might find signs before it strikes—or even intercept it."

Vlad and the others nodded. The logic was sound. By moving east, they increased their chances of encountering untouched regions where they could gather information or perhaps spot the entity before it caused more destruction.

Clearly, the Turkin Kingdom’s leader was an experienced hunter, and his skill and wisdom were not to be underestimated.

With unanimous agreement, the group adjusted their course. They traversed the landscape for hours, the scenery gradually shifting as they moved away from the desolate areas. The oppressive silence began to lift, replaced by subtle signs of life.

As they crossed a dirt road and entered a small forest, Vlad allowed a faint smile. "Do you hear that?" he asked.

Freya listened intently. "Insects," she confirmed.

"Exactly," Vlad replied. "This area hasn’t been touched yet. Whatever we’re dealing with hasn’t reached here."

The group felt a slight easing of tension. The presence of insects meant the ecosystem was still intact—at least for now. But it also meant they were closer to the danger.

"We must go deeper," Vlad said solemnly, his eyes sharp and determined. "If the entity is moving this way, we might catch it before it advances further—and finally get a glimpse of what we’re dealing with."

They proceeded through the forest, the canopy above casting dappled shadows on the ground. The path led them to the outskirts of another town. Though they had yet to leave the trees’ cover, they could already see the settlement and hear the sounds of movement.

Movement meant life, but that didn’t necessarily mean people. As everyone wondered what had happened in the town, Jormungandr descended from above, landing lightly beside Vlad.

Vlad raised a hand, signaling the group to stop as he turned to the small yellow cat. "What did you see?"

"Small creatures—thousands of them. They’re swarming the streets and buildings." There was a solemn light in Jormungandr’s eyes, and he no longer dared to rise to the sky for fear of being detected.

Vlad’s expression hardened. "Everyone, stay alert. We move in cautiously."

The group advanced through the forest toward the town, the subtle sounds of scuttling becoming louder and more intense. Finally, they saw them, the entities that had raced across the villages and forest and left not a single drop of blood or insect in their path.