Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 335: One million seven hundred thousand and forty-nine drones

Chapter 335: One million seven hundred thousand and forty-nine drones

Jormungandr soared above the massive mountain range that divided the Monsoon Continent from the Asani Continent, his sharp, solemn eyes gazing into the distance. What lay before him could only be described as a black sea in motion.

Millions upon millions of black drones surged forward, packed so tightly together that not a single speck of ground was visible beneath them. The sheer density of their numbers transformed the landscape into a twisting, undulating mass, like a colossal swarm of locusts blotting out the earth itself. The only things untouched were the trees, which the drones navigated around as though they were immovable stones in a river’s path, careful not to shatter them in their wake.

The hive’s meticulous care around vegetation, contrasted with their absolute disregard for sentient life, filled Jormungandr with questions. There had to be a reason why they cared so much about one and saw the other only as food. But now was not the time to dwell on them.

The drones moved with unnerving synchronicity, their countless pincer legs clicking in unison, creating a cacophony that echoed like the drums of an approaching storm. Their dark exoskeletons gleamed under the dim sunlight, reflecting an eerie sheen that added to the foreboding atmosphere. As they advanced, the ground trembled under the weight of their collective march, a relentless tide intent on consuming everything in its path.

The massive wave surged north toward the mountain range, and its goal was clear: the Asani continent and the rich biomass it contained. The hive must have likely already devoured the Moonson Continent’s organic biomass, and now they were ready to claim the lives of every man, woman, and child in Turkin Country, expanding their reach from there.

It had been less than two months since Jormungandr returned from Karman Country—far too little time to gather an army large enough to hold back the millions of drones now advancing. Yet, the small yellow cat showed no fear. His gaze was cold, his determination unwavering as he kept his eyes locked on the hive, his presence hidden among the clouds above.

The drones pressed forward, reaching the base of the mountain range. While this rugged terrain would have been a significant obstacle for most humanoids, the creatures’ small bodies and countless pincer legs allowed them to traverse it effortlessly. They scuttled over steep cliffs and jagged rocks with mechanical efficiency, their movements disturbingly fluid.

Jormungandr didn’t blink, not wanting to miss a single moment. He watched as the drones swarmed over the mountains, their sheer numbers resembling a dark, seething mantle spreading across the landscape. From his vantage point, it appeared as though a shadow was creeping across the earth, ready to consume everything in its wake.

Translucent-winged aerial drones moved alongside their ground-based counterparts. Despite their ability to fly, they stayed low, conserving energy. It seemed they would only take to the skies when absolutely necessary, perhaps due to the immense stamina required for sustained flight.

A small, knowing smile tugged at Jormungandr’s lips as he observed this, but his expression quickly hardened when he spotted the hive’s warriors at the rear. Dozens of towering, humanoid-insect hybrids had yet to reach the mountains, but their presence was unmistakable.

Their twisted forms and deadly appendages marked them as far more dangerous than the expendable drones. There was no way the small yellow cat would have forgotten how a few of these hybrids caused so many deaths during his last battle in the Karman Country.

"They’re using the drones as cannon fodder," Jormungandr muttered. "Scouts and disposable tools to wear us down."

The drones continued to swarm through the mountains, the sound of their pincers scraping against the rocks growing louder—a haunting symphony of impending doom. The air itself seemed to vibrate with the hum of death and destruction. As they were about to crest the mountain range and glimpse the lands beyond, Jormungandr’s eyes glowed with fierce intensity.

For a brief moment, silence enveloped the land—a calm before the storm. Then, suddenly, a blinding light erupted from beneath the ground, piercing through the rocks with overwhelming brilliance.

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!"

An explosion of unimaginable magnitude tore through the mountain range. The detonation was so powerful that it triggered a massive earthquake, the ground splitting open as shockwaves rippled outward. Flames and lightning surged in all directions, engulfing the drones in a cataclysmic inferno. The mountains trembled and began to collapse, with massive boulders crashing down amidst the chaos.

Drones were incinerated instantly, their exoskeletons liquefying in the searing heat. Others were blasted into the air, their limbs torn asunder by the force of the blast. The sky darkened as debris and ash billowed upward, blotting out the sun. The air was filled with shrieks of agony as the swarm was decimated.

The once imposing black sea that covered the mountains was now a maelstrom of destruction. Shattered carapaces and severed limbs rained down, littering the scorched earth with the remnants of the annihilated horde. Rivers of molten rock flowed where the mountain had been torn apart, consuming any stragglers that had survived the initial blast.

Jormungandr’s eyes widened in awe, even as a cold satisfaction washed over him. He had devised this plan and was the creator of the tools, but the sheer scale of devastation wrought by the Echo Bombs far exceeded his expectations. The amount of explosives placed within the mountain range was nearly a hundred times what had been used to breach the walls of the Azarin Empire’s capital. The result was nothing short of staggering.

[Beep! One million seven hundred thousand and forty-nine drones have been eliminated], the robotic voice of the A.I. Chip echoed in Jormungandr’s mind.

Streams of golden Origin Force surged toward him and the others who had been instrumental in planting the Echo Bombs. The energy invigorated his body and mind, yet even in the face of overwhelming rewards, Jormungandr’s focus remained sharp.

"They’ve lost a great portion of their cannon fodder," the small yellow cat thought, "but the real threat still stands."