Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 379: Level 18

Chapter 379: Level 18

Vlad’s eyes were cold as he sought to sever the right arm of the Special Unit Leviathan. Just as the halberd’s blade was about to reach the whip-like appendage, the plasma composing it solidified, transforming into a muscular arm just like the left one.

"BOOOOOOM!"

A massive kinetic explosion erupted as the halberd connected with the solidified plasma. While it made a deep cut, it did not manage to sever the limb. To make matters worse for Vlad, the Special Unit Leviathan’s feet clawed into the ground, preventing its body from being sent flying into the air.

Vlad didn’t have time to be shocked by the transformation of the Leviathan’s right arm, for the left one came crashing toward him with momentum that broke the sound barrier.

"Damn it!" Vlad cursed. Unable to evade or use his weapon to block the blow, he focused all his Force and lightning into his left arm just before the impact.

"BOOOOMMMM!"

Another kinetic explosion occurred, but it landed directly on Vlad this time, sending the Depravita of Wrath hurtling through the ground. He crashed through the earth for over five hundred meters before finally stopping his uncontrollable tumbling, using his halberd to anchor himself.

[Beep! Warning! Three ribs are broken. Internal bleeding detected.]

A rueful smile appeared on Vlad’s face as blood leaked from his mouth. His left arm had survived the blow thanks to channeling all his Force and energy into it, but the impact was so intense that it reverberated through the rest of his body, leaving him with severe wounds.

To make things even worse, Vlad’s deep cut on the Special Unit’s right arm was useless. The next second, the arms transformed back into fluid plasma in the form of whips, and the left arm underwent the same transformation.

The Special Unit Leviathan did not wait. It immediately dashed toward Vlad, the left and right whips moving at supersonic speed, lashing toward the Depravita of Wrath with overwhelming momentum.

"THUMP!"

Vlad’s heart burst, the Heart of Wrath filling him with strength, allowing his body to move despite the damage—just in time to avoid the whips.

"BOOOOM!"

A massive kinetic blast occurred as the tips of the whips struck the ground where Vlad had stood a second ago, the ground shattering for a radius of nearly fifty meters, leaving nothing but dust. Vlad couldn’t help but think about what would have happened to his bones if that whip had landed on him, but there was no time to dwell on such thoughts as the Special Unit Leviathan chased after him relentlessly.

He moved at a shocking speed, using all the power of his lightning and pushing his reflexes to the limit. Vlad weaved between the whips with incredible skill, each movement precise and calculated. At times, he used his halberd to redirect the whips that were about to land on him, deflecting them with sharp, fluid motions.

One whip slashed diagonally, aiming for his torso. Vlad spun to the side, his halberd clashing against the plasma, sparks flying upon contact. He slid under another incoming strike, the wind from the whip’s passage ruffling his hair. Rising swiftly, he vaulted over a horizontal sweep, flipping in mid-air and landing gracefully behind the Leviathan.

Despite keeping up with the Special Unit Leviathan’s attacks, Vlad felt his muscles burning and his energy depleting at an alarming rate. He knew he wouldn’t be able to last much longer at this pace.

"Its moves are impressive," he muttered, breathing heavily. "I can’t keep evading forever. I am already on my last leg."

After ten minutes of intense fighting, a glimmer of hope arrived as the voice of the A.I. Chip finally echoed in his mind.

[Beep! Scanning force has overcome blockage! Displaying data of Special Unit Leviathan:

...

Race: Leviathan

Level (Energy): --

Level (Body): 18

...

Stats:

Strength: 529.6

Agility: 327.4

Vitality: 500.7

Energy Pool: --

...

Note: Target doesn’t contain an energy pool, just like other Leviathans. Power relies solely on physical might and biological abilities. The heart and brain are covered by a hard shell that is resistant to heat, lightning, and shockwaves.]

Vlad continued dodging the whips, but a part of his mind focused on the data. He couldn’t help but frown.

"Those stats... overwhelming high," he thought, realizing the Leviathan possessed a Guardian Tier Life Level. "And with unique defenses around its vital organs, it’s clear this thing was designed specifically to fight me, Jormungandr, and Freya."

"No wonder the halberd infused with lightning did nothing when it struck its chest!" he cursed inwardly.

Red trails began to appear in his vision—the markers from the A.I. Chip predicting the trajectory of the Special Unit’s attacks now that it could finally scan its movements.

"At least that’s some help," Vlad murmured.

He dodged the end of a whip, moving back at the last second to avoid being crushed, then immediately rolled across the ground to evade the second attack. The assistance from the A.I. Chip reduced the pressure he was facing, but it only helped him cope; it didn’t eliminate the immense danger he was in. With every passing second, the situation grew more perilous.

Powerful explosions echoed in the distance, and it was clear that the fight between Freya and the Leviathan’s warriors had reached its zenith. But Vlad couldn’t afford to look her way.

"I have to find a way to end this," he thought desperately.

Suddenly, the creature changed tactics. The plasma whips solidified, forming two bulging arms once more. Vlad’s eyes widened as the Leviathan clasped both palms together with immense strength.

"What’s it doing?"

Before he could react, the Leviathan palms generated a sonic wave that tore through the air.

The ground beneath Vlad’s feet cracked as the shockwave rushed toward him, ripping apart the terrain.

"Ah!"

Caught off guard by the sudden attack, and with the A.I. Chip unable to predict it, the shockwave struck his body, sending him flying backward.

He tumbled across the ravaged landscape, finally skidding to a halt against a jagged rock formation.