Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 347: Leviathans

Chapter 347: Leviathans

Book 5 - The war at the end of the world / The rise of the king of Leviathans

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After a day of much-needed rest, the forces of Xaos awoke with renewed determination. Their bodies ached, and their minds were heavy with exhaustion, but the respite had given them the strength to face the monumental task ahead. They gathered once more at the destroyed mountain range, where molten rock and flames still dominated the landscape. The sight was awe-inspiring and terrifying—a reminder of the destruction they had unleashed to halt the advancing hive and a warning of what lay ahead should they fail to secure this critical barrier.

Molten rock covered every inch of the range except for a narrow path left intentionally in the middle.

Vlad knew the cooling lava would soon harden, turning the impassable terrain into a pathway open to any life form, including the weaker drones, which would surely swarm through in endless numbers during the next assault. This couldn’t be allowed.

Vlad, Jormungandr, Freya, and the mages with affinities for earth and fire gathered at the front lines. Their mission was clear: transform the mountain range into a self-sustaining sea of lava, a natural barrier so fierce that even the drones would hesitate to cross it. But this was no simple task—destruction was easy; creation, especially something of this magnitude, required immense effort, focus, and precision.

The mages began chanting in unison, their hands glowing with power. Together, they summoned magma from deep within the earth’s core, pulling it up to the surface. The ground rumbled as molten rock surged through the broken valleys and crevices, filling every gap with rivers of fire.

Jormungandr leaped into the air, unleashing powerful blasts of lightning and fire. His strikes superheated the surrounding rock, directing the molten flow in perfect synchronization with the mages’ efforts. Freya, wielding a massive sword like a conductor’s baton, created channels for the lava, carving new paths with each swing of her blade.

At the center of it all stood Vlad, his eyes glowing with intense focus. He channeled the power of the Inferno Comet Runic Set, summoning the full force of his Guardian Tier demonic fire. With a single motion, he extended his hands toward the lava, sending waves of dark crimson flames into the already boiling landscape.

The fire Vlad unleashed was no ordinary flame. It was an inferno of unparalleled intensity, capable of melting even the hardest rock into a molten pool. The ground beneath him warped and shifted, its very nature bending under the weight of his power. The heat radiating from his flames was suffocating, raising the temperature of the entire area to unimaginable levels.

The mages gasped as they felt the raw energy pouring from Vlad. His Guardian Tier fire merged with their spells, amplifying the lava’s intensity and transforming the molten sea into something more—a living force that would burn for decades.

The task was grueling. Hours passed as the warriors and mages poured their energy into shaping the range into an impregnable sea of fire. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and the air crackled with energy as the heat became nearly unbearable. But they pushed forward, knowing failure wasn’t an option.

At last, after what felt like an eternity, the transformation was complete. The mountain range had become a vast sea of molten rock and fire, stretching miles in every direction. Only a narrow path remained open—a single passage between the lava flows, left for strategic purposes.

Breathing heavily, Vlad wiped the sweat from his brow and smiled as he gazed at their creation. The sea of lava roared beneath him, its heat radiating outward in powerful waves. It was a natural barrier that even the hive would struggle to overcome.

"We’ve done it," Vlad said, his voice filled with pride. "This will hold them back."

Jormungandr landed beside him, his yellow eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Not bad for a day’s work."

A sense of triumph filled Vlad’s heart as he admired the sea of magma, but his expression soon turned serious when he focused on the narrow path between the flows. Leaving it open was a calculated risk.

They would eventually need to march into the Monsoon Continent, and this path would be the only means of advancing their army toward the obelisk at the heart of the hive. Blocking it would trap them, limiting their future options.

"I’ve made sure it’s easy to seal the passage with Echo Bombs if necessary," Vlad explained to his companions. "We can collapse at any time if the situation demands it."

He glanced toward the Xaos forces and Turkin soldiers who rested nearby. Their faces were still streaked with soot and exhaustion. Although they smiled, Vlad could feel the weight of the hive’s looming presence pressing down on their hearts.

The fear was palpable. The soldiers had fought bravely, but in the quiet moments of reflection, the magnitude of the enemy they faced became overwhelming. The hive was an unknowable force, an endless tide of death that had already consumed an entire continent. That dread, the fear of the unknown, was growing inside them.

’We don’t even have a proper name for them,’ Vlad thought, his eyes narrowing as an idea formed. A cunning and decisive light flickered in his gaze, and his aura flared, gathering everyone’s attention.

"Everyone, hear my voice!" Vlad called out, his tone sharp and commanding.

The mages and warriors—all, whether Xaos or Turkin—turned to him, their focus entirely on the Depravita.

"I understand the dread that fills your hearts," Vlad continued. "The fear of the unknown. But allow me to ease some of that burden."

His voice rang across the battlefield, clear and resolute. The tension in the air began to lift as the soldiers listened intently, waiting for his following words. If there was anyone who could shed light on the hive’s mysteries, it would be the Xoas King.

"The enemy we face—the one we have come to know only as ’the hive’—has a name. They have an identity," Vlad announced, pausing briefly. "They are the Leviathans."