Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 386: Adapting

Chapter 386: Adapting

Thousands of soldiers moved tirelessly around Kuro Mountain, enhancing the fortifications with everything they had. They could not allow the passage of the hive. Overlord had concentrated the full power of the military in this section, leaving the Molted Range unprotected. If they failed here, the hive would pierce beyond the Monsoon Continent and reach the Asani Continent.

If that were to happen, millions would have died before they could put a stop to the hive. None were more aware of the stakes than the Turkin soldiers, for the first to perish would be their friends and family. This was why more than fifty thousand soldiers were ready to give everything in this clash.

Soldiers were in constant movement until, suddenly, it happened.

-RUMBLE!-

The ground began to tremble, making everyone freeze as they looked into the distance. They saw a dark wave covering the ground, like shadows falling from the sky. Everyone knew it was an optical illusion forged by the millions of drones tightly packed around and above each other.

Theodoro, the leader of the Bloodline Soldiers and the co-captain of the Shadowstrike Legion could not help but adopt a solemn expression as he gazed at the massive army marching forward. He had heard reports and seen pictures, but this was the first time he witnessed them with his own eyes, and the Leviathans were monstrous. The numbers were simply too overwhelming.

However, even amidst distress and horror, he did not lose focus. He was not a civilian or a poorly prepared soldier but a man trained under the gaze of Overlord, like all other Xaos Forces. His mind was honed to endure this type of dread and distress.

"Time to fight, move to Battle Position A."

"Yes!"

Theodoro acknowledged the order as soon as he received it through the communication gem. With a single signal, the Shadowstrike Legion began to converge around him as they moved to the mountain’s base. The Bloodline Soldiers’ captain was not alone; Grand Marshal Anglius also received the command and began to march down the mountain with thousands of forces from the Golden Wave Legion.

The Turkin Soldiers were already on the outer ring, all using diverse kinds of mounts. These were different from the feral kind they used to have; they were all dark as if made of solidified black plasma. They were, of course, Demon Souls.

The Turkin Kingdom’s battle style was enhanced by using mounts, which was impressive in terms of speed and maneuverability. Unfortunately, beasts were not exactly reliable when facing the Leviathans due to the overwhelming and terrifying aura that those creatures projected. Overlord was aware of that, which was why he put great effort into gathering these tens of thousands of demonic beasts. While they were not impressive in terms of individual might, they could give Viserin and the rest of his forces an edge, which would be essential.

Under the guidance of Overlord, the full might of the Xaos Forces and Turkin soldiers reached the base of the mountain. Their eyes were sharp as they took deep breaths. The rumbling of the earth grew closer and closer.

Freya was among the soldiers, her presence one that many were currently relying on, as she was the strongest among them all, calming their hearts—especially now since the Xaos King and the Lightning Flame Grandmage were absent. The Viking princess’s eyes were sharp as she gazed at the hive, the grip on her mace tighter as she saw how they approached the large plain between them and Kuro Mountain. A menacing light appeared in her eyes, as well as in those of Grand Marshal Anglius and Major General Theodoro, for there was a hidden gift planted in that place for the hive.

However, just as the Leviathans were reaching the plain, they froze. The millions of pincers striking the ground no longer moved, their flawless coordination making the soldiers’ hearts skip a beat. What they saw next made them all frown.

Thousands of drones moved forward, forming several lines with exact precision, each drone placing itself exactly five centimeters apart from the next. Under the cold gaze of Freya and the other generals, they began to strike the ground and move forward in unison.

The drones’ pincers descended simultaneously, each sharp point piercing the earth in the exact same second. The sound was a singular, resonating thud that echoed across the battlefield. The drones advanced in perfect unison, their movements synchronized like a mechanical tide. Their legs moved in harmony, and their bodies swayed with calculated precision.

As their pincers struck, vibrations pulsed through the ground. The initial tremors were subtle, barely noticeable. But with each synchronized step, the reverberations grew stronger. The ground began to hum, a low-frequency vibration that rattled through armor and bones alike.

Cracks began to form in the earth behind the drones, thin at first but rapidly widening. The fissures snaked across the plain, spiderwebbing in chaotic patterns. Dust and small rocks danced on the trembling ground, and the air was filled with a tense, electric charge.

Suddenly, blinding lightning began to rise from the ground. Bolts of electric energy shot upward from the cracks, illuminating the battlefield with stark white light. The lightning arced unpredictably, some bolts connecting with others to form a jagged network of searing energy. The brightness was so intense that many soldiers had to shield their eyes.

"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"

Explosions erupted from the hidden charges beneath the surface. Fireballs blossomed among the Leviathan, each detonation sending drones flying and leaving scorched craters in the ground. The deafening blasts merged into a continuous roar, and the smell of ozone and burning blood filled the air.

Freya clenched her teeth as she witnessed the explosions of lightning and fire. The plain in the path toward Kuro Mountain had been packed with Echo Bombs, the goal being to ignite them as the bulk of the army was passing through. The plan was to kill hundreds of thousands of drones and perhaps even damage aerial units and insect-human hybrids.

However, the hive mind was already onto that. It could not detect the spheres nor hinder their activation, so instead, it moved in such a way that it forced the activation prematurely. By sending forward a sacrificial vanguard and synchronizing their movements to trigger the bombs, they minimized their losses. The move would take out some of their drones—a few thousand at most—inconsequential for an army of more than five million.