Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 374: The fortress is completed

Chapter 374: The fortress is completed

Everybody was advancing extremely fast, filling Vlad’s heart with thrill. The stronger they became, the better their chances of defeating the Dark Hunger. Finally, Vlad turned his focus inward, aware that he had gained a significant amount of Origin Force after that last attack. After all, even if the drones provided very little Origin Force individually, he had directly killed more than fifty thousand and wounded many more.

"Scan me," he commanded the A.I. Chip, and the familiar robotic voice soon echoed in his mind.

[Beep! Scanning the Host...

Name: Vlad Xaos

Race: Human?

Class: Warrior / Demon Soul Master

Level (Energy): 12

Level (Body): 16

Lineage: Thunder Lord (Champion Tier)

...

Stats:

Strength: 310.2

Agility: 170.6

Vitality: 334.1

Energy Pool (Force): 16.8

...

Racial Skills: Heart of Wrath

Bloodline Ability: Lightning Forged Charge

Gift: Samsara Typhoon.]

---

Like Jormungandr, Vlad had also experienced constant energy expenditure and recharge, which helped him improve his level. His body had already managed to break through the Guardian Tier.

Actually, he could have kept pushing it forward, maybe even reached Level 17 already, but he was currently focused on improving his Depravita Sky. If he managed to break through the next evolution stage in his Depravita Path, his Life Level would rise even higher than the Guardian Tier, and that was just one of the many things he would attain. It was extremely wise to follow that path.

Although they achieved a great victory, there was something that deeply disturbed Vlad: the absence of the Leviathan Elite Units—the ones that nearly caused his downfall shortly after gazing at the Leviathans’ Obelisk. Those creatures were much more powerful than the normal Leviathan insect-humanoid warriors and could match the Lords of Horror in physical power and fighting abilities. Given their strength, one would think that the hive mind would use them in their incursions.

Of course, Vlad was happy that they had not appeared; after all, their presence would have definitely caused the death of many of his soldiers. But he could not help but wonder: if they were not here, what were those elite units doing? There was the possibility that their numbers were too few, and the hive mind required too many resources to create them, so they were kept as a secret weapon. But there were also other options that cast a deep frown on Vlad’s face.

"Ahhh, there is no point in endless speculation. I can only work with what I have and strive for the best," Vlad shook his head, washing away those useless thoughts. He gazed once more at the blazing and scorched forest beneath him.

The battle was over, but that did not mean everything was done, as the soldiers were currently in the process of gathering the corpses of the aerial drones and insect-humanoid hybrids. The aerial drones’ meat could be useful to the Lords of Horror, and Overlord had developed techniques to harness the shells of those creatures into weapons and armor. As for the insect-humanoid hybrids, those were either saved for Ouroboros, who could best use their meat, or Freya, who sacrificed those she killed to the Primordial God of Bloodshed and Battle, Odinvaldr.

The soldiers were very efficient, removing the corpses in less than half an hour, leaving behind only the bodies of useless drones inside the forest. Vlad’s eyes grew sharp as the soldiers finally retreated from the blazing forest. He raised his hand, generating a sphere of demonic flames before releasing it into the forest, enhancing the power of the fire and making sure there would be no biomass left for the Leviathans to retrieve.

When everything on the battlefield was finally taken care of, the Xaos forces and Turkin soldiers returned to the fortress surrounding the narrow passage in the Molted Range.

"Rest for an hour and then continue with your work," Vlad’s voice echoed across the air as the army reached the fortress. Everybody was tired and exhausted and could have easily fallen asleep on the ground, but no one dared to defy the words of the Xaos King. They all nodded, showing solemn expressions full of awe and admiration.

Vlad was not trying to be harsh with them or overexert them, but it was paramount that the fortress was completed before they could take a proper respite. It was true that they had killed hundreds of thousands of Leviathans, but that was not even 1% of their total number or power, as their forces spread across an entire continent. Seeing the determination in his soldiers, Vlad nodded back before guiding his demonic eagle to a distant part of the forest where Jormungandr, Freya, and Grand Marshal Anglius were resting.

As he landed on the ground and gazed at the group, Vlad showed a kind smile and allowed himself a moment of relaxation. The group all shared small smiles as they began to chat among themselves as friends who had not seen each other in a very long time, the shadow of war vanishing for a small moment.

While talking with the Viking princess and the golden giant, Vlad couldn’t help but turn toward Ned. The white giant was the leader of the Lords of Horror, the most elite unit of the Xaos Kingdom, so he had the right to participate in the gathering of higher-ups, but he did not.

It was not that Ned was trying to keep his distance, but his social skills had not exactly improved after the transformation into a Lord of Horror. His mind was honed to be on alert at all times, and his emotions were put in a state of stasis most of the time. The transformation had made him a weapon, and he could no longer adjust to civilian life.

Vlad knew all that, and he felt somewhat conflicted about the condition of the Lords of Horror. But all those men understood the price they were paying and were more than willing to do it to protect their home and the Xaos civilization.

Vlad, Freya, Jormungandr, and Anglius shared laughter as they relaxed for a moment, but soon the hour came to an end. They all rose, as did the tens of thousands of soldiers in the fortress, and they continued their work. The stronghold had been near completion before the Leviathans arrived, so it did not take long before everything was finished.

Stone walls rose to impressive heights, their surfaces etched with intricate magic matrices that glowed faintly in the dimming light, strengthening them against the Leviathans’ assaults. The walls were reinforced with magic metals, making them extremely resilient.

Magma-filled trenches formed an ominous first line of defense, their bubbling contents ready to consume any who dared cross. Enhanced by Vlad’s demonic fire, the magma burned hotter and more fiercely than ever, emitting heat so intense that it created shimmering waves in the air above.

Watchtowers soared above the walls, giving lookouts a clear view of the surrounding terrain. The towers were equipped with scanning devices and communication devices linked to Overlord, ensuring that any movement from the Leviathans would be detected instantly.

Inside the fortress, barracks and supply depots were arranged efficiently, allowing soldiers quick access to resources and rest areas. The layout of the fortress allowed for rapid mobilization, with wide thoroughfares that enabled units to move swiftly to any point along the walls.

Natural barriers like cliffs and steep slopes were incorporated into the design, making it difficult for the Leviathans to approach from certain angles. The soldiers had also constructed subterranean tunnels that acted as escape routes or means to launch surprise attacks should the need arise.

Vlad walked along the top of the walls, observing the final touches being added with the small yellow cat on his shoulder. Soldiers moved with purpose, their fatigue overshadowed by a sense of accomplishment. The fortress was not just a defensive structure; it was a symbol of their foothold in the Monsoon Continent, a beacon of resistance against the Dark Hunger.

Freya joined him on the wall, her gaze sweeping over the fortifications. "It’s impressive," she remarked.

Vlad nodded. "It will serve us well. The Leviathans won’t find it easy to break through here."

"Do you think they’ll attack soon?" she asked.

"Possibly," he replied. "But we won’t be caught off guard. Overlord’s surveillance will give us ample warning."

"Still worried about the elite units?" Jormungadr inquired, noticing the contemplative look on Vlad’s face.

"Yes," Vlad admitted. "Their absence is troubling. I can’t shake the feeling that the hive mind is preparing something."

"We will be ready for everything." Determination and purpose glowed in the small yellow cat eyes as he uttered those words.

He smiled slightly. "Indeed we will."

As night fell, the fortress glowed softly with the light of the magic matrices and the fires from the magma trenches. The soldiers settled into their routines, some resting while others stood watching.

Vlad descended from the wall and made his way to the central command tent, where Overlord’s projections flickered over maps and strategic plans.