Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 381: To the border

Chapter 381: To the border

Ultimately, Vlad, Freya, and Jormungandr decided not to give chase. The encounter with the Special Unit Leviathan was a stark reminder that they could never grow overconfident or lower their guard in the face of the hive mind. Just as human forces were improving and growing stronger, so were the Leviathans. If they didn’t keep pushing themselves harder, the hive mind would surpass them, and Terra would belong to those creatures.

There was a somber expression on the trio’s faces. Even though they had achieved their goal, they felt that the path forward was becoming more and more complicated. But unfortunately, there was no time for them to dwell on those thoughts as they immediately began to move.

Vlad and Freya moved at shocking speed, soon reaching a distant cave hidden behind a waterfall—a perfect place to hide their scent and presence. As soon as the duo reached this safe haven, they adopted meditative positions on the ground and began to circulate the raging energy inside their bodies. The young man and the Viking princess sought to stabilize their energy and the condition of their bodies as soon as possible to diminish the strength of the backlash they would suffer once the effect of the Berserker Pill wore off.

Jormungandr, on the other hand, stood at the entrance of the cave, his eyes sharp and pupils narrow as he surveyed for any sign of danger. Unlike Vlad and Freya, the small yellow cat had not been forced to consume the dangerous pill, so it would be up to him to keep guard until the two recovered.

After an hour and a half of meditation, Vlad and Freya’s bodies trembled uncontrollably, blood leaking from the corners of their mouths as their internal organs felt like they were burning and freezing at the same time. The Berserk Pill had granted them overwhelming power despite being on their last legs, so the aftermath was equally potent. Luckily, since they had made sure to control their condition from the start, Vlad and Freya were able to manage their state, and after a few minutes, their bodies calmed down—the pressure on their internal organs fading and their blood returning to its normal flow.

Of course, while their condition stabilized, that did not mean they were fine since they were still extremely weakened and would be like that for quite some time. Vlad and Freya looked at each other; their faces were pale, and their exhaustion was evident. They just nodded to each other before continuing cultivation, trying to recover as fast as possible since they still had a job to do.

Jormungandr remained at the entrance, his eyes sharp. He slowly cultivated his energy so that it would be at its peak and ready to fight at any second. The sound of the waterfall masked any distant noises, but he didn’t let his guard down.

As the night wore on, shadows danced across the cave walls. Jormungandr’s ears twitched at every rustle of leaves or distant howl. His thoughts drifted back to the encounter with the Special Unit Leviathan.

"We can’t let our guard down," he muttered to himself.

After two and a half days, Vlad finally opened his eyes. The Depravita of Wrath clenched his fists and felt how strength had returned to his body.

[Beep! All damage done to the body through the fight and the backlash from the Berserker Pill has been healed. Body and soul dimensions in optimal condition!]

Vlad couldn’t help but smile as he heard the robotic voice of the A.I. Chip in his mind, but his expression soon turned serious as he saw that Freya was still in the process of healing.

"Mmm, I guess it makes sense my recovery is faster," he thought. "My Depravita Constitution is already approaching the next level, and my Depravita Sky will soon evolve, so my body and physique are growing beyond the limitations of normal flesh and blood."

Freya’s eyes opened the next second as she sensed that Vlad had finished his cultivation. She was a little surprised to see the young man had recovered so quickly but did not dwell on those thoughts for too long. She nodded and stood up.

"How are you feeling?" Vlad asked, concern evident in his voice.

"I’m getting there," Freya replied, stretching slightly. "Not fully healed, but I can fight."

Vlad glanced at her and could see her intent to continue the mission immediately instead of waiting to fully heal. While she was still far from completely recovered, she could fight, and with two of them in peak condition, they could face most threats and escape if things turned dangerous. So he accepted.

"Alright," he said. "But be careful. Remain behind me and Jormungandr until you are at your peak."

Freya gave a small smile. "I will."

They would have to travel for several days, and there was a good chance Freya would be completely healed by the time they faced any new threat, so Vlad did not delay things.

The small yellow cat, young man, and Viking princess carefully exited the cave, their eyes sharp as they surveyed the surroundings before dashing forward.

---

They continued coursing through the Karman Country, moving through different forests and broken cities, always alert. The once-thriving cities now stood as silent monuments to the past—crumbling buildings overtaken by nature, streets cracked and overgrown.

They navigated through dense forests, the canopy above filtering sunlight into a mosaic of shadows and light. The underbrush was thick, and every rustle could signal danger.

"Stay close," Vlad whispered, his eyes scanning the surroundings. He knew that the hive mind had found ways to counter their A.I. Chip’s scanning force field, and while they managed to overcome it with the Special Unit, the hive mind might have new methods.

Jormungandr’s eyes were incredibly sharp at every turn. His ears perked up at the slightest sound.

"There’s movement ahead," he murmured.

Freya tightened her grip on her weapon. "Leviathans?"

"Possibly," Vlad replied. "Let’s take a detour."

They used the terrain to their advantage, moving silently through the shadows, avoiding open spaces, and always staying downwind to mask their scent.