Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 352: Genetic Coding

Chapter 352: Genetic Coding

There were many things Vlad needed to take care of right now, but before making a single move, he sharpened his focus and turned to Overlord once more.

Vlad’s gaze was sharp, cutting through the dimly lit underground level as he stood before the core code of Overlord.

The A.I. Chip Clone had generated a massive change to Xaos Kingdom, so he wasn’t about to trust blindly again after everything that had transpired. Even if Vald had accepted the plan of godhood, that did not mean he was fine with it and would not allow something like that to happen again.

Before making any move and allowing the Overlord to proceed with its plans, Vlad needed answers. Even if everything the A.i. Chip Clone did was for the Xaos Kingdom’s progress and safety, it could easily turn into someone Vlad could never accept, so he needed to understand all the new moves.

"What are your plans for the Divine Force?" Vlad asked, his voice steady but firm. He had no time for games or cryptic responses. The stakes were too high.

Overlord, incapable of lying to its Prime Master or disobeying his commands, responded immediately. "I have two main goals. The first is to use half of the Divine Force to supercharge the alchemy and runic factories. This will significantly increase the production of weapons, armor, and potions that will bolster the frontlines."

There was a brief pause. Although devoid of fear or hesitation, Overlord seemed aware that his following statement might not be as well-received. Still, there was no way to conceal the truth from Vlad, so it continued, "The second half will be used for Genetic Coding projects."

Mirena, Frank, Roman, Amara, and Clasius exchanged puzzled looks as they heard the term "Genetic Coding." Though they were educated, the idea of genetic engineering seemed irrelevant in the post-apocalyptic world they lived in. With the collapse of the laws of physics as they had once understood them, any mention of genetic manipulation felt outdated, even absurd.

However, Vlad, Jormungandr, and Ouroboros knew better. They had knowledge from Vlad’s second past life, memories that revealed Genetic Coding to be a powerful, albeit specialized, profession. Like Runecrafting and Alchemy, it held immense potential but required materials that could not be found in Terra. That was why neither Jormungandr nor Vlad had focused on it before. It had seemed impossible to practice. But with the introduction of Divine Force, a new possibility arose.

Vlad’s eyes narrowed. If Overlord was involving itself with Genetic Coding, it meant there was more at play. Judging by Overlord’s initial hesitation to reveal everything, the plan went beyond simply utilizing divine energy for production. He waited, silently commanding Overlord to continue.

"I intend to develop viruses that will target the Leviathans," Overlord said, its tone clinical. "They will be highly contagious, designed to spread among their ranks, using their numbers against them."

Frank and Clasius couldn’t contain their excitement. Their eyes lit up with enthusiasm, and they both shouted before they could stop themselves.

"Amazing!" Frank exclaimed.

"Can that really be done?" Clasius added, his voice full of awe.

To them, using viruses to weaken or eliminate the Leviathans was a brilliant and innovative strategy. The idea of defeating such a monstrous enemy without sacrificing countless lives was nothing short of miraculous. But as the two soldiers celebrated the concept, they began to notice the silence around them. They frowned, confusion settling in as they looked at Vlad and the others’ somber expressions.

Vlad, sensing the tension and misunderstanding, sighed deeply. His voice was low and grave as he explained, "That plan is extremely dangerous."

Though Vlad was usually guided by a strong sense of ethics when it came to warfare and the subjugation of human forces, the Leviathans were different. He had no reservations about wiping them out by any means necessary. However, viruses were a complicated weapon to wield.

"For a virus to be powerful enough to affect life forms like the Leviathans, there is a high chance it could become unstable and spread to other life forms—humans included," Vlad continued, his tone now heavier with the weight of potential disaster.

The moment Clasius and Frank heard this, their excitement evaporated, replaced by the same worry that had already plagued the others. There was no point in winning the war if, in the process, they unleashed a plague that could consume all life on Terra.

Vlad fell silent as he weighed the risks and benefits of using such a dangerous tool. On one hand, the virus could potentially cripple the Leviathans, offering a path to victory without further massive loss of life. But on the other hand, it posed an equally great danger. A virus unleashed on a battlefield was not easily contained.

"Overlord," Vlad finally spoke, his voice cutting through the silence, "your capabilities as a Genetic Coder—how high are they?"

"I could be considered a Rank 3 Genetic Coder, Prime Master," Overlord replied. "My abilities are nearing their peak now that I can use Divine Force in my creations."

Vlad nodded, not surprised by the A.I.’s response. Overlord’s computational capabilities and energy pool had likely reached the Guardian Tier, given the immense resources it had at its disposal. After a moment of contemplation, Vlad made his decision.

"Proceed with developing the viruses," Vlad said, his tone measured, "but I will personally analyze them before any form of implementation."

A meaningful light crossed Vlad’s eyes as he added, "Also since you are a Genetic Coder, I have an idea. I will discuss the details after we finish upgrading the Runic Sets."

"Understood, Prime Master," Overlord replied without hesitation.

With the discussion handled, Vlad turned and motioned to Jormungandr, Ouroboros, and the Royal Guards. "Let’s head to the rune laboratory."

As they moved through the underground of the Xaos Tower, the tension from the earlier conversation began to fade. The stark contrast between Overlord’s cold, calculated logic and the emotional weight that burdened Vlad left an unsettling atmosphere.