Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 375: Conquering the Karman Country

Chapter 375: Conquering the Karman Country

Inside the command tent, Freya, Jormungandr, King Viserin, Ned, and Grand Marshal Anglius were already gathered. Anglius no longer towered at an overwhelming size that surpassed the twelve-meter height; he had reduced his height to a little over four meters. He achieved this thanks to a small rune that decreased his stature.

While practical, it wasn’t particularly comfortable for the Grand Marshal. It required a constant supply of energy, so he only kept it active during occasions when his massive size was a problem—after all, not every building could accommodate someone of his usual height.

Vlad nodded to everyone as his eyes focused on the maps spread across the table in the center of the room. His gaze was sharp as he spoke in a solemn voice. "It is true we have attained a victory against the Leviathans, but everything will become harder from this point on. The hive mind now knows of our power and will be ready the next time we clash. Not to mention that deep inside the Monsoon Continent, there are Leviathans much more powerful that could put even my life in danger."

Freya, Jormungandr, Grand Marshal Anglius, Viserin, and Ned adopted solemn expressions as they absorbed his words. As the military’s higher-ups, they had access to all the information about the Leviathans that Vlad had gathered during his expedition into the Monsoon Continent. Yet, the young man’s reminder was still an eerie indication of just how hard this war would be.

Vlad didn’t want to crush their spirits or sow hesitation in their hearts. Still, before they put any plan or strategy into motion, he needed them to understand how different things would become and to remember the type of enemy they were facing.

Despite the somber aura, it didn’t take long for Freya, Anglius, Jormungandr, Ned, and Viserin to show renewed sharpness and determination, their hearts and souls ready for anything.

Vlad smiled as he saw the resolution in his generals and nodded before speaking again. "Our forces are currently far from enough to start an incursion into the heart of the Leviathan hive, and it will be a few weeks before the Xaos forces spread across the Asani Continent converge here. So our goal right now is only the Karman Country."

Everyone in the room nodded; that was the wisest move at the moment. If Xoas forces managed to secure the entire Karman Country, they would have a base from which all logistical maneuvers could begin.

Once their goal was clear and everyone was on the same page, the holographic table in the middle of the command center glowed. The image of the Karman Country appeared, dividing into three sections, alongside the tiny holographic figure of an old man.

"The Karman Country is a small nation, but there is still a lot of ground to cover, and we have little to no information about the current movements of the Leviathans in the area," the hologram stated.

The tiny old man was none other than Overlord. All the generals adopted solemn and sharp expressions. While the Xaos King was the highest authority and his commands were above everyone else’s, it was already an unwritten rule that when it came to military maneuvers and logistical decisions, Overlord was in charge.

Vlad didn’t have a problem with this arrangement. Despite his recent issues with the A.I. Chip Clone, he admitted that Overlord was better when it came to warfare, and he was sure Overlord would always prioritize the lives of the soldiers.

"The first step will be reconnaissance, and this will be divided into three teams," Overlord continued. He then turned toward King Viserin, highlighting a portion of the map. "King Viserin, you and your top five hundred warriors will form the Short Wave. Your mission is to move across the terrain in a radius of five hundred kilometers surrounding the stronghold."

Viserin’s eyes narrowed as he heard the command, and he performed a profound nod. He was not a fool and understood very clearly that his forces were far from the most powerful, but what they did have was speed and dexterity. Exploring the surrounding area before a mobilization made perfect sense.

Overlord did not waste time and immediately focused on Ned, the leader of the Lords of Horror, as a more distant part of the Karman Country was highlighted. "Captain Ned, the Lords of Horror will mobilize to Kuro Mountain. It was once a dormant volcano and will serve our expansion well. You must reach that place and secure it. In case enemy forces are too strong, maintain formation and wait for reinforcements."

There was no hesitation in Ned’s eyes as he nodded. He was a weapon and only needed a target to strike—simple as that.

Finally, Overlord turned toward Vlad. Unlike the others, the command was delayed for a few seconds, as if the A.I. Chip Clone was questioning its decision, but it did not last long as he continued. "Xaos King, you, along with Lord Jormungandr and Lady Freya, will march to the Karman Bridge, destroy it, and then move deeper until reaching the border."

Vlad acknowledged the assignment with a firm nod. The Karman Bridge that Overlord was referring to was one of the key points in crossing through the terrain of the Karman Country. Without it, it would become much harder for the ground drones and humanoid hybrids to move through the terrain.

Of course, the loss of the bridge would also hinder the movement of the Xaos Forces, but their number was much smaller, and they only needed one path to move through the country.

The room was filled with a sense of purpose as everyone absorbed their missions.

The Overlord concluded, "The rest of the forces will remain in the stronghold, securing the Molten Range’s path."

As the holographic projection faded, Vlad looked around at his assembled leaders. "We all have our roles. You have the rest of the night to rest. Let’s execute them with precision and dedication."

"Yes, Your Majesty," they responded in unison.

With that, the meeting adjourned, and each person left to prepare for their respective missions. The war against the Leviathans was entering a new phase, and they all understood the gravity of the situation.

---

Two figures moved at a shocking speed through the Karman Country. One was a young man clad in obsidian armor, a small yellow cat perched on his shoulder; the other was a beautiful young woman wearing leather armor made from the skin of High Champion Monsters.

Vlad and Freya were conserving their energy, relying solely on their physical might, yet their speed was astonishing. Sharpness gleamed in the eyes of all three as they gazed at the massive bridge in the distance, stretching for hundreds of kilometers. They only slowed down and concealed their auras, using their surroundings to hide their presence as they approached.

Vlad, Jormungandr, and Freya’s eyes grew even sharper as they stood one thousand meters away from the bridge and saw it flooded with Leviathans. Nearly fifty thousand drones swarmed the structure—a number that posed little threat to them—but there were also five thousand aerial drones and fifteen insect-humanoid warriors. All of them were in a state of stasis, eyes closed and motionless. As Vlad’s A.I. Chip scanned them, he realized their vital signs were similar to hibernation.

The Leviathans’ energy consumption was minimal; their heart rates had slowed to barely perceptible beats, and their body temperatures had dropped significantly. Metabolic activity was reduced to the lowest possible level, allowing them to conserve energy while remaining ready to activate at a moment’s notice. This state of suspended animation made them appear almost lifeless to the untrained eye, but Vlad knew better.

A small frown appeared on the young man’s face as he understood that the most likely reason for such behavior was that they were saving energy, waiting for stronger forces to arrive and join them before advancing. Vlad analyzed the situation, trying to figure out their next step. He could use the Inferno Comet Runic Set and crash into the middle of the bridge with overwhelming power, killing many of the Leviathans and creating a huge hole in the bridge, but that would only destroy a small portion of it. Their goal was to bring down the entire bridge, which would require a more strategic approach.

Vlad turned to Jormungandr and carved the outline of the Karman Bridge onto the ground, indicating specific points. "You must weaken these points if we want a complete collapse of the bridge. Since you can fly and use long-range attacks, you’re the best for the job," he communicated.

The small yellow cat nodded as he heard Vlad’s voice echo in his mind, thanks to the A.I. Chip. After that, Vlad turned toward Freya. While he couldn’t speak telepathically with her, he used hand signs to relay the message and explain their roles. The Viking princess adopted a solemn expression as she nodded, tightening her grip on her mace.