Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 359: Lords of Horror

Chapter 359: Lords of Horror

"You want us to help you forge Rune Knights, Boss?" A confused expression crossed Jormungandr’s face as he spoke. There was no doubt that Rune Knights were helpful, but they weren’t exceptional. Given the powers and abilities normal warriors of the Xoas Kingdom gained through the Demon Soul Master System and their bloodlines, Rune Knights would barely make a difference in the kingdom’s overall power. The only result of such a plan would be a waste of resources and time.

Vlad noticed the small yellow cat’s expression and smiled as he shook his head. "Of course not. Rune Knights are already antiquated. However, the notion behind them is what gave me the idea. In essence, you use the power of professions to elevate a normal warrior to a much higher degree of power, which is what I seek—but on a much larger scale."

Jormungandr’s and Overlord’s interest rekindled as they heard these words. The Depravita of Gluttony and the A.I. Chip Clone listened intently to Vlad’s following explanation.

"I seek to use our abilities as Rune Masters, Alchemy Masters, and Genetic Coders to reforge the warriors from the inside out." A sense of excitement gleamed in Vlad’s eyes and voice as he shared his vision. "We will make them absolute—help them break their limits, allow them to endure even the harshest environments and the most terrifying enemies. They will rise above all others, becoming an army that even the Dark Hunger will crumble beneath!"

Vlad paused to calm his excitement. His eyes grew sharp and focused as he continued to explain the core principles. "These new warriors will be forged using my unique genetic constitution as a base, providing them with a framework that can endure the changes we will bring to them. They will rise as Dominous Horroris."

A flash of realization crossed Jormungandr’s eyes as he gasped in shock and awe. "Lords of Horror... You want to create artificial Depravitas?"

Vlad’s broad smile confirmed it. Depravitas were the most powerful race Vlad had encountered, and that spoke volumes considering the millions of years of experience from his second past life’s memories. However, despite how impressive they were, becoming one was incredibly complicated. Vlad had no way of sharing the Origin Depravita Ritual with others, and the Seven Sins Ritual had too many limitations. He had always sought a way to fix that, but it had been impossible until Overlord unlocked his Genetic Coder abilities.

"What do you think?" Vlad asked, turning toward the energy pool at the center of the underground level. The project could only begin if Overlord could help with his genetic engineering abilities.

The A.I. Chip Clone remained silent for a few moments before finally speaking. "I should be able to generate a seed of your genetic mapping, but it would be best if I have the information of all three Depravitas within the kingdom."

Vlad was a little surprised; he had expected that his own body and soul would be sufficient. But he didn’t question Overlord’s advice. Despite his complex feelings toward the A.I. Chip Clone, he admitted Overlord’s competence.

"Hmm, I sent Ouroboros away thinking we wouldn’t need him. Is he far away already?"

"No, Prime Master. I sent the Royal Guards to battle as soon as you finished with them, but Ouroboros is still within the city. I directed him to a warehouse where we have the corpses of High Champion Monsters for him to consume and grow stronger. He has yet to finish, so we could call him back if you agree with my planning."

"Do it," Vlad immediately agreed.

The A.I. Chip sent the message to the fiendish werewolf and turned its focus back to the duo. "Prime Master and Lord Jormungandr, it would be best to connect my consciousness with your A.I. Chips. This will allow me to tap into their computational abilities, improving the speed at which the genetic template is finished and ensuring it aligns with your future goals."

Vlad and Jormungandr nodded, and the next moment, they felt Overlord connecting with their A.I. Chips. Once everything was in order, the young man gazed at the small yellow cat, and both entered the energy pool that held Overlord’s code.

Immediately, the Depravita of Wrath and the Depravita of Gluttony felt an overwhelming force seep into their bodies and spirits. Instantly, robotic voices echoed in their minds:

[Beep! Scanning force is flooding the soul of the host. Deploy countermeasures?]

Their A.I. Chips sent warnings, but Vlad and Jormungandr deactivated the countermeasures, allowing Overlord’s full power to scan them. They closed their eyes, letting the process carry on.

It took less than five minutes for Ouroboros to appear on the underground level. Without a word, he entered the energy pool. Just as with Vlad and Jormungandr, Overlord connected with Ouroboros’s A.I. Chip, tapping into its power as he continued his work.

Overlord’s power surged as the full might of his computational abilities focused on the three Depravitas. He had already developed great skill in analyzing spiritual forces—demonstrated by his success in examining the souls of Dmitry and Jerom, isolating the pieces of God’s soul within them, and mimicking its power.

However, in those cases, he could freely manipulate their souls, which was not possible with the trio. This task was much more complex. Yet, the A.I. Chip Clone was designed to improve and evolve, with each task pushing him beyond his previous limits.

Overlord began by delving into Vlad’s genetic code. Streams of data flowed through his consciousness as he mapped every nucleotide and sequence that defined Vlad’s unique Depravita constitution. The complexity was staggering. Vlad’s DNA was a labyrinth of enhancements, mutations, and ancient codes that intertwined human genetics with something far more powerful.

As Overlord scanned deeper, he encountered layers of genetic material that shimmered with ethereal energy—a blend of physical and spiritual essence. These were the markers of Vlad’s soul, intricately woven into his being. Overlord carefully mapped these sequences, ensuring he captured their essence without disturbing the delicate balance.

Next, Overlord turned his attention to Jormungandr. The small yellow cat’s constitution was equally intricate, filled with Depravita enhancements that made him a perfect conduit for gluttony-based powers. Overlord’s systems were pushed to their limits as he integrated both the physical and spiritual data of the Depravitas. The energy pool’s glow intensified, Divine Force pouring into the process to sustain the monumental task.

When Overlord moved on to Ouroboros, the fiendish werewolf’s genetic structure offered new challenges. His physical form had undergone countless adaptations, making his body a lethal weapon. Overlord ensured that his mapping captured not just the brute strength but also the spiritual resonance that allowed Ouroboros to wield such power with deadly precision.

As the final sequences were compiled, Overlord began constructing the genetic seed—a blueprint for the artificial Depravitas, the Lords of Horror. The seed would allow ordinary warriors to be transformed, their bodies and souls enhanced to wield powers once thought exclusive to the most formidable beings.

The process was delicate and required massive amounts of Divine Force. Overlord integrated safeguards and adaptive mechanisms into the seed, ensuring that the genetic enhancements would not destabilize the recipients. Each seed would allow the warriors to gradually adjust to their newfound abilities.

Finally, after five days, the immense energy radiating from the energy pool—a manifestation of Overlord’s computational process—began to calm. The three Depravitas felt the overwhelming scanning power that had flooded every part of them retract.

Vlad opened his eyes and glanced at Jormungandr and Ouroboros. The trio nodded to each other. Though they felt somewhat uncomfortable, there was no damage to their bodies or souls.

"Prime Master, the task is completed," Overlord’s voice echoed across the underground level. "I have the genetic mapping of you three, and I believe we can use it to generate the Genetic Template for the Lords of Horror."

A wide smile appeared on Vlad’s face. As long as they could establish the genetic foundation, the Lords of Horror could be born. Now, the only questions were how strong they could become and how much their constitutions could endure.

The three Depravitas emerged from the energy pool, their figures illuminated by its light. Overlord’s voice echoed again, this time addressing Ouroboros. "Depravita of Greed, you may return to your training. Once you finish, join the Royal Guard at the western border. The area must be secured as soon as possible, as we need to use the respite before the Leviathans’ next attack to solidify our borders."

Ouroboros nodded. His curiosity about the Lords of Horror remained, but he understood that time was of the essence. Without delay, he turned to Vlad and Jormungandr.

"Master, Big Brother," he said respectfully.

"Stay safe," Vlad replied, his eyes filled with authority and concern.

Jormungandr gave a slight nod. "We’ll see you soon."

After bidding farewell, Ouroboros left the underground level, his footsteps fading into silence.

Overlord immediately refocused on Vlad and Jormungandr. "Prime Master, shall we proceed with the next phase?"

"Yes," Vlad responded firmly. "There’s no time to lose."