Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 326: The end of the demons

Chapter 326: The end of the demons

Vlad’s eyes were sharp as he gazed at the towering figures exuding immense power. Their presence alone could tip the balance of any battle, making him frown. ’What are they doing here? Were they sent to learn from these creatures as well? Does a Legendary Demon from the Abyss have some connection with them?’

All sorts of questions arose in Vlad’s mind. Of course, there was a good chance they had just appeared in the Monsoon Continent by coincidence—after all, sending troops to a new plane was no easy feat. Ultimately, Vlad decided to wait, observing their behavior to figure out what exactly was happening.

The horde had just surfaced and appeared to be assessing their surroundings. Their confusion was evident as they barked orders and pointed in various directions. Vlad’s eyes sharpened as he realized they had no idea where they had appeared.

However, the Depravita of Wrath’s attention was drawn to the distance as he heard the sound of thousands of pincers scraping against the ground, accompanied by the buzzing of wings.

The demonic horde also noticed, their eyes widening as they saw the distant horizon darken. In the next second, swarms of drones advanced toward the demons like an unstoppable avalanche. Thousands upon thousands of the small, insect-like creatures surged forward, accompanied by hundreds of aerial drones swooping down from the skies.

The demons recoiled in surprise. These were not enemies they were familiar with. The Abyssals shouted commands, rallying their troops to prepare for combat. There was no time for deliberation—the battle was inevitable.

The two forces collided with a deafening crash. The drones moved with mechanical precision, their formations flawless. Ground units swarmed the demons’ front lines while aerial drones dived from above, creating chaos and disrupting the demons’ ranks.

Vlad watched intently, his vantage point providing a clear view of the unfolding carnage. The demons fought back fiercely. Demon Champions wielded massive weapons, cleaving through swaths of drones with each swing. They unleashed dark spells, summoning flames and shadowy tendrils that tore through the enemy.

Yet, for every drone destroyed, more seemed to take its place as they continued arriving from the distance. The hive’s coordination was impeccable. Drones sacrificed themselves to create openings, allowing others to strike vital blows. Their lack of fear and pain made them relentless.

’It seems that the larger their numbers, the better their coordination and skills. Their destructive power increases exponentially with their size,’ Vlad thought, a cold shiver running down his back as the realization struck.

One of the Abyssals, a hulking beast with obsidian armor and burning eyes, let out a thunderous roar. He slammed his fists into the ground, causing pillars of fire to erupt, incinerating dozens of drones. Another Abyssal, wielding a spear crackling with dark energy, leaped into the fray, spinning ferociously as he decimated clusters of aerial drones.

The third Abyssal, cloaked in shadows, began chanting in an ancient tongue. A vortex of dark energy formed above him, sucking in nearby drones and crushing them within its swirling depths.

Despite their formidable power, the Abyssals were visibly taken aback by the drones’ efficiency and sheer numbers. The creatures exhibited no signs of fatigue or fear, adapting to the demons’ tactics with alarming speed.

Vlad’s mind raced. ’Each of those Abyssals shows strength higher than a Level 12 High Champion, yet they’re struggling against these creatures. Just where did these monsters come from?’

The battlefield became a maelstrom of chaos. Demons and drones clashed relentlessly, the ground littered with the remains of both. The air was thick with the scent of blood, punctuated by the sounds of shattering exoskeletons and dying screams.

A group of two hundred demon Champions found themselves pushed away from the main horde. Soon, the drones swarmed them from all sides, exploiting any gap in their defenses. The Champions fought with demonic ferocity, but they began to fall one by one.

The Abyssals roared in fury as they saw so many of their elite fall, unleashing their full power. The one with obsidian armor summoned a massive inferno, scorching the earth and turning hundreds of drones to ash. The spear-wielding Abyssal created shockwaves with each thrust, obliterating any drone unfortunate enough to be caught in his path. The shadow-cloaked Abyssal’s vortex grew larger, consuming everything within its reach.

Yet, the drones persisted. They adapted their strategies, focusing on isolating the demons and cutting off their support. Aerial drones targeted the Abyssals directly, forcing them to divert their attention from aiding their troops.

Vlad clenched his fists. ’At this rate, both sides will suffer immense losses.’ It was clear that the hive and demons had endured heavy casualties, but his eyes grew sharp as the next thought struck him: ’However, those creatures can replenish their numbers simply by devouring their dead and the demons.’

A chilling realization crossed Vlad’s mind: ’There is no such thing as a pyrrhic victory for them. As long as they win, their losses don’t matter.’

Not for a second did Vlad consider intervening. The demons were his enemies, and while he didn’t like seeing the hive grow stronger, remaining hidden was paramount. He continued observing, hoping to glean more information about the hive’s capabilities and the Abyssals’ intentions.

As the battle raged on, it became evident that the drones were gradually gaining the upper hand. Thousands surged from the distance, reaching from all directions. The demons’ numbers dwindled, and their formations began to crumble. The relentless assault left them with little time to recover or strategize.

The Abyssals, though powerful, showed signs of exhaustion. Their attacks became less frequent, and their movements slower. In contrast, the drones remained tireless, willing to sacrifice dozens just to land a wound on the demons.

A moment of hesitation flickered across the obsidian-armored Abyssal’s face. He exchanged a glance with his companions, a silent understanding passing between them. With a defiant roar, they unleashed one final, combined attack.

The ground trembled as their powers converged—a massive explosion of fire, darkness, and raw energy erupted, decimating a vast swath of drones. The shockwave rippled through the valley, momentarily halting the hive’s advance.

Seizing the opportunity, the remaining demons began to retreat, fleeing toward the west, where fewer drones blocked their path.

Vlad watched as most of the drones chased after the demonic horde while around twenty percent remained behind, consuming everything in sight—demons and their own kind alike. There was no such thing as caring for their wounded; if the injuries hindered their abilities, they were consumed.

A somber expression appeared on Vlad’s face as he observed the drones chasing the demonic horde, seemingly driving them into the ruins of a shattered town. The place was too far away for a clear view, even for him, but he heard the echoes of massive explosions inside the village after the demons entered.

It seemed the battle had restarted, and it didn’t last long. Silence soon followed. Vlad saw the drones emerge from the town a few minutes later, surely having consumed the demons’ full biomass.

’They led the demons into an ambush,’ Vlad thought, clenching his fists as he recognized the hive’s improving abilities. He gazed at the town with curiosity, wondering what type of creatures had been hiding there.

Unfortunately, no matter how much he wanted to learn about the hive’s capabilities, that wasn’t his mission. After the drones moved out of the way and the A.I. Chip confirmed it was safe to advance, Vlad continued on his journey.