Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 325: A elite demonic horde

Chapter 325: A elite demonic horde

Vlad’s eyes narrowed as the A.I. Chip’s alert echoed in his mind. Carefully advancing, he gazed upon a massive bridge marking the end of Karman Country.

His breath hitched at the sight before him. Thousands of drones covered the terrain, with hundreds more sporting wings on their backs, monitoring the bridge and making it virtually impossible to cross undetected.

’They’re mounting a guard here,’ Vlad thought, his brow furrowing in concentration. ’Are they trying to stop people from entering the mainland of the Monsoon Continent or prevent others from leaving?’

Vlad shook his head, dismissing the thought. The motive didn’t matter now. Alternate routes existed, but they led through open fields where hiding his presence would be nearly impossible. It was either cross the bridge or turn back.

After a few moments, his eyes regained their calm. His breathing grew shallow as he settled into a patient wait. Seconds become minutes, and minutes turn into hours. The sun began its descent, casting long shadows across the landscape.

Finally and without warning, the drones guarding the bridge all rose simultaneously, turning their attention eastward before bursting into action. The massive hive of over five thousand drones resembled a moving shadow as they spread across the ground.

A small smile appeared on Vlad’s face. "Thank you, Jormungandr, Freya," he whispered. He knew his forces and the Turkin soldiers had successfully drawn the hive’s attention.

[Beep! The path is clear to advance,] the A.I. Chip confirmed.

Without hesitation, Vlad dashed forward. He crossed the bridge without making a single sound, his speed overwhelming yet controlled. In less than a minute, the Depravita reached the other side and dove toward a rocky outcrop that concealed his figure. He pressed himself against the cold stone, scanning the area for any lingering threats.

A sharp light appeared in Vlad’s eyes, and he understood that the journey ahead would be fraught with danger. The hive’s influence was vast, and he needed to remain undetected.

"Now I’m in the Kylen Country. One step forward, several more to go." Vlad took several breaths, regulating his breathing as he prepared to continue.

The forest beyond the bridge was a labyrinth of towering trees and twisted vines. Vlad moved with calculated precision, blending into the shadows cast by the dense canopy. When he heard the distant chittering of drones, he climbed into the treetops, leaping silently from branch to branch. His movements were fluid, almost ethereal as if he were part of the forest itself.

At one point, he reached a roaring waterfall cascading into a deep ravine. The mist created a natural veil, and the thundering water masked any sound he might make. He descended the slippery rocks, the icy water soaking his armor, but he ignored it, glad it would help obscure his scent from any creatures nearby.

Emerging on the other side, Vlad found himself at the edge of a vast river. Chunks of ice floated downstream, remnants from the snow-capped mountains visible in the distance. The river was too wide to cross directly, and swimming would expose him.

Spotting submerged rocks just beneath the surface, he carefully timed his movements. He crossed the river with swift, graceful leaps, each step landing silently on the slick stones.

As night fell, the temperature plummeted, but that was no problem for someone with his vitality. Vlad traversed a frozen tundra, the ground crunching softly under his feet. The moonlight reflected off the snow, illuminating the barren landscape.

In the distance, he spotted silhouettes—drones patrolling the area. Lowering his body temperature with the A.I. Chip’s assistance, he became nearly invisible to their thermal detection.

Navigating through a narrow mountain pass, he hugged the shadows. The path was treacherous, with steep drops on either side. Loose rocks threatened to betray his presence with the slightest misstep.

His focus intensified, each movement deliberate and precise as he finally passed through Kylen Country, crossing the border into the next—Kenia.

The Kenia Country Vlad entered was characterized by towering plateaus and deep canyons. He used the natural formations to his advantage, descending into crevices when drones passed above him.

The creatures were becoming more numerous, their patrols more frequent, making it clear he was getting closer to their origin. The air was thick with tension, and the sense of being hunted was ever-present. Yet, Vlad’s eyes remained sharp, a smile on his face as the plan was working.

On the third day inside Kenia Country, as dawn broke, Vlad reached the base of a massive mountain range. The peaks pierced the clouds, their snow-covered summits glowing in the early light. He began his ascent, the climb demanding but manageable for someone of his abilities.

Halfway up, he found a narrow ledge that offered a panoramic view of the valley below. He paused to catch his breath, his gaze sweeping over the landscape. Just as Vlad was about to move forward, his instincts triggered, and he quickly hid, covering his figure and keeping his eyes trained on the terrain.

Far below, the earth began to crack and split. Fiery fissures snaked across the ground, and from them emerged thousands of demons!

Their grotesque forms varied—some with twisted horns, others with leathery wings or barbed tails. The air filled with the stench of sulfur, and the distant echoes of guttural roars reverberated as they crossed the portal into Terra.

Vlad’s eyes widened as he took in the scene. "A demon horde," he muttered.

Although surprised, it wasn’t entirely unexpected. The Abyss already knew of Terra and had managed to send their forces. The closer Terra came to completing its ascension into the higher dimension, the harder it would become for the Abyss to send troops. Yet it seemed some Legendary Demon thought it worth the cost.

As the bulk of the demonic horde rose, Vlad’s eyes narrowed. ’This is no ordinary horde.’

Over ten thousand demons marched in formation. While the bulk consisted of demonic beasts, a significant portion—at least twenty percent—were demon Champions. But most shockingly, leading them were not one but three Abyssals, each of them radiating the aura of a powerful High Champion!