Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 371: The Xaos King has arrived

Chapter 371: The Xaos King has arrived

Finally, after five hours of marching, the Lords of Horror emerged from the narrow path of the Molted Range, stepping into the eerie expanse of the Monsoon Continent, the domain of the Dark Hunger.

Due to their incredible speed, the Lords of Horror could have traversed the path in less than twenty minutes. However, they maintained a steady pace, marching as an army. Tight formation and constant vigilance of the surroundings were essential; any misstep could be fatal in these treacherous lands.

Immediately upon crossing the passage, the Lords of Horror moved forward, adopting a defensive formation around the entrance. Their towering figures stood like sentinels, eyes scanning the horizon with unblinking focus. An attack from the Leviathans at this juncture, with the soldiers still confined within the passage, could prove disastrous. Their presence was a bulwark against such a threat.

Fortunately, the Golden Wave Legion managed to cross without incident. No waves of Leviathans came to intercept them, which struck many as odd. The area surrounding the Molted Range was completely empty, an unusual quiet that bred unease among the ranks.

Grand Marshal Anglius surveyed the landscape solemnly. "It’s too quiet," he muttered. "I don’t like it."

Freya approached him, her gaze sharp. "Perhaps the Leviathans depleted their northern forces in that last assault," she suggested. "They might not have anticipated our swift advance. After all, it was unlike our previous patterns."

He nodded thoughtfully. "Overlord must have calculated this," he said, a hint of admiration in his voice. "His strategic foresight is remarkable."

Wasting no time, Anglius issued commands. "Set up the communication tower immediately," he ordered. Dozens of men from the Golden Wave Legion sprang into action, unloading equipment and beginning the construction. "The rest of you reinforce our defensive formation around this area alongside the Lords of Horror."

Thousands of soldiers clad in golden armor nodded to the command of Grand Marshal Anglius, marching forward and generating a golden barrier around the Molted Range, protecting the passage.

The communication towers of the Xaos Kingdom were state-of-the-art devices integral to their military operations. Implementation was straightforward and swift. By the time the last of the Turkin soldiers had crossed the Molted Range, the tower was operational. It stood two and a half meters tall—a sleek, black metallic structure with a small crystal embedded at its apex.

As the crystal atop the tower glowed, a scanning force spread across the area, surveilling the surroundings. Within moments, Overlord had a clear picture of their environment. Communication gems all soldiers wore pulsed with light as commands and information flowed from the A.I. Chip Clone.

"Begin fortification procedures as per standard protocol," Overlord’s voice resonated in their minds. "We need a stronghold capable of withstanding a full-scale Leviathan assault."

Without hesitation, the soldiers burst into motion.

The Xoas forces found themselves on a gentle slope, the Molted Range’s fiery peaks looming behind them. The ground was warm underfoot, residual heat seeping up from the magma flows beneath the surface. The narrow passage they had just traversed was their lifeline and the only path back, so it was paramount to protect it unless they wanted to be trapped inside the Monsoon Continent.

Working in unison, the soldiers began to transform the terrain. Earth mages summoned walls of stone from the ground, raising formidable barriers on either side of the slope to protect their flanks. Fire mages manipulated the latent magma, channeling it into defensive moats that glowed with molten menace. Warriors with immense strength hauled massive boulders, positioning them strategically to create choke points and bottlenecks.

"Reinforce the barricades!" a lieutenant shouted, overseeing a team of soldiers as they erected sharpened stakes along the outer perimeter.

"Archers, set up your positions on those elevated platforms," another commanded.

Freya coordinated the efforts of the mages. "We need overlapping fields of fire," she instructed. "Focus on creating kill zones that will maximize the Leviathans’ casualties when they attack."

The fortress began to take shape—a blend of natural terrain and engineered defenses. Stone walls rose to impressive heights, their surfaces etched with magic matrices to strengthen them against the Leviathans’ assaults. Magma-filled trenches formed an ominous first line of defense, their bubbling contents ready to consume any who dared cross.

Throughout this, the Lords of Horror stood vigilant at the edge of the slope. Their mission was clear: guard against any immediate threats while the fortifications were underway. Their senses were on high alert, scanning for the slightest hint of danger.

Since the arrival of the Leviathans, the Monsoon Continent has been an odd place. Lush greenery sprawled unchecked, flora thriving in the absence of fauna. The air was rich with the scent of blooming plants, yet a heavy silence hung over everything—a silence born from the absence of animal life, all consumed by the Dark Hunger that reigned over the continent.

Hours passed, and the fortress grew more formidable. Yet, despite the lack of visible threats, the Lords of Horror remained uneasy.

Ned Anark, the Captain of the Lords of Horror, narrowed his eyes. "They’re watching us," he stated.

One of his lieutenants nodded. "Yes. Drones, hidden in the forest beyond. They’re out of our immediate reach."

"They’re gathering information," Ned observed. "We must be prepared."

Just as the stronghold neared completion—a structure capable of housing over a hundred thousand soldiers—a distant sound echoed across the landscape.

A low, rhythmic rumble.

The soldiers froze, their activities halted by the ominous noise. In the Monsoon Continent, sound could mean only one thing.

"Leviathans," Grand Marshal Anglius said grimly.

All eyes turned toward the distant forest. The trees trembled as a dark wave passed through them. From afar, it looked like a shadow engulfing the land, a relentless tide advancing toward them.

Within minutes, over ten thousand drones emerged from the treeline, and countless more were on the move. The approaching horde was staggeringly large, a living carpet of chitin and malice.

Murmurs of apprehension rippled through the ranks. The soldiers had faced the Leviathans before, but always with the advantage of terrain and prepared defenses. Here, on foreign soil, the psychological pressure was immense.

"We need to hold our ground!" Freya shouted, her voice cutting through the mounting fear. "Remember your training!"

Grand Marshal Anglius stepped forward, his towering presence a beacon of strength. "Form up! Archers ready! Mages to your positions!"

Despite their efforts, anxiety gnawed at the edges of the soldiers’ resolve. The Lords of Horror remained at the vanguard, unmoved by the growing threat.

Suddenly, before Anglius could rally his troops further, a black flash streaked across the sky above them. It came from the direction of the Asani Continent, moving at such a shocking speed that most could not discern its form.

Those with keen eyesight gasped. "Look!" a soldier exclaimed. "It’s a demonic flaming winged creature!"

The black flash soared over their heads, heading straight toward the advancing Leviathan horde. It hovered momentarily above the forest, a dark silhouette against the dimming sky.

Then, without warning, an arc of flaming red lightning descended from the heavens. It fell at an incredible speed, a searing lance of energy plunging into the heart of the forest.

The impact was cataclysmic.

A blinding flash enveloped the area, followed by a deafening explosion that shook the very ground beneath their feet. A colossal fireball erupted, towering into the sky like an angry sun. Flames roared outward in a massive wave, consuming everything in their path.

The forest was obliterated. Trees vaporized in an instant, reduced to ash and cinders. The Leviathan drones caught in the blast were torn apart, their bodies disintegrating under the sheer force of the explosion. Those on the periphery were sent hurtling through the air, limbs severed, exoskeletons shattered.

The shockwave rippled outward, a wall of compressed air that flattened the terrain for miles. Flames licked hungrily at the remnants, feeding on the devastation. The sky above was painted with swirling clouds of smoke and embers.

Silence fell, punctuated only by the distant crackle of flames and the faint echoes of destruction.

The soldiers stood in stunned disbelief.

"What... what just happened?" a Turkin soldier whispered, his voice barely audible.

A soldier from the Golden Wave Legion could not help but speak. "It was... like a small sun descended upon them."

As the smoke began to clear, the figure of the demonic winged creature became visible once more, hovering above the obliterated forest. The young man atop it was clad in dark armor. Beside him, the small yellow cat perched calmly, an air of casual indifference contrasting the surrounding chaos.

Ned’s gaze remained fixed on the distant inferno, but his voice echoed with power, loud enough for everybody to hear. "The Xaos King has arrived."

Whispers spread through the ranks. The presence of the Xaos King ignited a surge of morale among the troops. The fear that had gripped them moments before dissipated, replaced by renewed confidence.

Dozens of thousands of Leviathan drones had been decimated in a single strike.