Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 322: Aerial monsters

Chapter 322: Aerial monsters

Freya and Jormungandr’s eyes burned with focus and determination as they led Ouroboros, the Royal Guards, Viserin, and the forty Turkin soldiers forward at peak speed.

Every muscle strained, every breath measured—they knew that reaching the hive fast was paramount. Vlad’s chance to infiltrate beyond the border of Karman Country without detection depended on them drawing the monsters’ full attention. They had to become a terror so great that the hive would fixate solely on them.

Their relentless pace would normally lead to exhaustion, but Jormungandr’s space ring, brimming with potions, proved invaluable. Each member of the group carried elixirs that could rejuvenate them instantly, allowing them to fight for hours non stop, even if they had been on the brink of exhaustion moments before. The impending backlash from the potions was a problem for another time.

After nearly half a day of running—crossing abandoned towns and weaving through dense forests—the group approached the massive, murky expanse of the Agada River. The river’s dark waters flowed sluggishly, polluted and thick with waste. Suddenly, Jormungandr raised a paw, signaling the group to halt and take cover behind a formation of jagged rocks.

"What is it?" Freya whispered, her eyes scanning the riverbank.

Jormungandr’s fiery eyes narrowed. "They’re here." Thanks to the A.I. Chip, the small yellow cat could detect presences others could not.

Emerging from the river’s depths was a swarm of the insect-like drones they had encountered. However, this time, new, more formidable creatures were among them. These monstrosities were a grotesque fusion of ants and crabs, with horrifying insectoid features that made them true nightmares—three times larger than the normal drones.

They possessed bulky, armored exoskeletons dripping with dark, viscous liquid, likely their own corrupted black blood or some eerie secretion. Jagged, spiked ridges covered their shells, enhancing their terrifying appearance. Massive claws, reminiscent of crab pincers, menaced from their sides—sharp and menacing, capable of crushing anything in their path. These claws also dripped with the same black liquid, adding to their monstrous aesthetic.

Their bodies were supported by multiple segmented legs, each ending in hooked, barbed points that allowed them to move swiftly and with deadly precision. The creatures’ heads were truly insect-like, with large, bulbous compound eyes reflecting a soulless, predatory intelligence. Sharp, jagged mandibles jutted from their mouths, ready to tear apart prey.

Most striking of all were their tattered, translucent wings, covered in a slick, glistening layer of black fluid that dripped continuously. The wings suggested they could fly, adding agility and an extra layer of terror to their fearsome forms.

Freya’s grip tightened on her mace, her knuckles whitening. "Those new drones are much more powerful. They are truly made for battle."

Jormungandr nodded grimly. "They must have learned from our previous encounter. Those flying ones are likely meant to target me."

As the creatures rose from the river’s edge, it was like watching a dark tide swell. Their numbers were staggering, their forms so densely packed that they cast a shadow over the land. A sense of dread settled in everyone’s hearts.

Jormungandr’s eyes sharpened. It would be easy to hide, but that was not why they came here. He glanced at the group and made a swift signal with his paw. Instantly, everyone sprang into action, retrieving metallic spheres from their space rings. Each warrior filled their hands with the orbs, waiting for the command.

Viserin eyed the spheres curiously. He had already been informed of what they were and their use, but the description had been simply too shocking. However, there was no time to question now as he simply focused and acted according to their plan.

The creatures continued to emerge at an alarming rate. Just as they spread out along the riverbank, Jormungandr gave a sharp nod. In unison, the group hurled the metallic spheres toward the horde. The orbs arced through the air, faint engravings of lightning and fire glowing along their surfaces.

The monsters barely had time to register the incoming objects before the spheres detonated. Each individual explosion was modest, but as they erupted close to one another, their energies combined synergistically.

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!"

Over a hundred spheres exploded simultaneously, unleashing a massive conflagration of fire and lightning. The sky blazed with elemental fury as the explosion consumed the front lines of the horde.

The Turkin soldiers gaped in awe. It was their first time witnessing the might of the Echo Bombs, and the devastation was overwhelming. Over three thousand monstrous creatures were instantly obliterated, their forms disintegrating amid the roaring flames and searing bolts of electricity. The shockwave blasted others in all directions, scattering the once-cohesive swarm.

"God damn!" Viserin could not help but shout, as that might was beyond his wildest dreams. It was even greater than the artillery of the world before the apocalypse. Immediately, massive streams of Origin Force emerged from the destruction, rewarding the killers.

However, they did not have time to focus on the rewards. The Agada River began to churn violently. From its dark depths, hundreds of aerial monsters started to appear, undeterred by the fate of their kin. Their aerial forms were evident despite the dirty waters.

"There’s no end to them!" one of the Turkin soldiers exclaimed, fear creeping into his voice.

Before the aerial monsters could take flight, Jormungandr sprang into action. He soared into the sky, the halo of blood above his head pulsing as it channeled immense energy into him. Hovering above the river, he opened his mouth wide.

"Lightning Storm!" The Depravita of Gluttony roared with all his strength as his energy exploded.

From his maw, dozens of colossal arcs of lightning descended, striking the river with ferocious intensity. The water became a conduit for the electricity, amplifying its destructive power. Massive blasts erupted as the lightning spread in all directions, electrocuting the creatures en masse. Waves of steam rose as the river’s surface boiled.

Through his A.I. Chip, Jormungandr detected that another thousand creatures had perished, and most importantly, he had taken down a large percentage of the aerial ones.