Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 388: Deep into the swarm

Chapter 388: Deep into the swarm

The thousand riders of the Turkin Kingdom thundered forward with overwhelming momentum, their demonic mounts shaking the ground beneath them. The force of their charge created an immense pressure that would have unnerved any foe—but the Leviathans knew no fear. Drones surged to meet them, hundreds of thousands marching head-on, piling one upon the other to increase the force of their assault.

As the distance between the two armies dwindled to less than a hundred meters, a torrent of fireballs descended upon the Leviathan vanguard. Explosions erupted as thousands of drones were obliterated in a flash of fiery light. The attack, orchestrated by the Golden Wave Legion’s mages, didn’t significantly impact the Leviathan’s overwhelming numbers. Still, it was enough to create gaps in their otherwise impenetrable wall—a gift the Turkin riders did not waste.

With the Leviathan front hampered, the Turkin riders plunged into the opening like a hot knife through butter. Their demonic mounts trampled over the drones while the riders’ weapons pulsed with white energy. They unleashed their power with brutal efficiency, cleaving through anything in their path. From above, the battlefield looked like a river of white light slicing through the dark sea of drones.

Leading the charge was the Turkin King, Viserin. His body radiated a bestial might as he wielded two swords, his strikes blurring into a whirlwind of severing steel. Every movement left a trail of destruction, drones falling in heaps around him. His eyes burned with fierce determination, his muscles straining as he pushed himself to the limit. He knew that if the momentum of the charge faltered for even a second, they would be overwhelmed by the Leviathan drones, and his men would be devoured alive.

After pushing five hundred meters into the swarm, the communication gems embedded in the riders’ gauntlets began to glow. In the chaos of battle, words would be hard to convey, so instead, they received color signals—half of the soldiers saw a white light and the other half black. Without missing a beat, the white-marked soldiers veered left, and the black-marked riders turned right, flanking the Leviathan forces and creating paths through the mass of drones.

Their timing was impeccable, as they now approached clusters of aerial units accompanied by several Leviathan warriors. Had they collided with these elite forces, the formation of the Turkin riders would have been shattered. But by splitting at the right moment, they skirted the edges of danger, maintaining their advance and continuing to carve a bloody path through the drones.

Yet, the aerial drones and Leviathan warriors were not left unchallenged. Following the carnage left by the Turkin riders, a smaller force of less than three hundred soldiers charged toward these stronger Leviathans.

"Tsunami Impact!" Freya’s voice rang out over the battlefield as she slammed her mace into the ground before her. A massive wave of energy exploded forward, blasting away the Leviathans in her path. Without hesitation, the Viking princess lunged forward, her shield raised, her gaze fixed on a group of Leviathan warriors.

The Leviathan warriors responded with deadly precision, their multi-faceted eyes gleaming with murderous intent as they moved to attack from all sides. But before they could close in, nineteen individuals—each radiating devil bloodline power and demonic energy—appeared beside Freya, taking up positions to guard her flanks. They formed a spearhead, cutting through the enemy ranks with coordinated precision, while the rest of the Shadowstrike Legion held position ten meters behind, covering their rear.

Freya’s trust in these soldiers was absolute. She focused all her energy on the Leviathan insect-human hybrid before her, her mace glowing with an intense power. She struck with all her strength, and although the Leviathan warrior managed to use nearby drones as cover and dodge at the last second, it couldn’t escape unscathed. Its right shoulder and arm were obliterated, a testament to the Viking princess’s incredible strength.

With a swift kick, Freya sent the maimed Leviathan warrior flying backward, then used her shield to block an incoming strike from another warrior. She swung her mace once more, unleashing a gale that sent a dozen drones scattering.

The nineteen Bloodline Soldiers beside her weren’t as powerful as Freya. Still, each was a High Champion with a Peak Champion Tier Bloodline, making them formidable adversaries in their own right. Flames, lightning, and blasts of pure energy erupted as they fought, their teamwork flawless as they covered each other’s blind spots and pushed the Leviathans back.

The Shadowstrike Legion fought fiercely, each soldier pushing their body to the limits. With relentless attacks, they held off the encroaching Leviathans, preventing the drones from surrounding them. Their endurance and training showed as they forced their way deeper into the hive, refusing to yield an inch.

Freya’s mace clashed against another Leviathan warrior’s chitinous armor, sending spider-webbing cracks across its chest. She followed up with a shield bash, using her full weight to push the warrior off balance, while the Bloodline Soldiers struck with coordinated force to finish it off.

Behind them, the Shadowstrike Legion moved like a well-oiled machine, every soldier in sync with the others. They blocked incoming drones, protected the spearhead formation, and eliminated any Leviathans that managed to slip through. Their movements were honed from countless battles, their synergy so perfect that it seemed like a single entity moving forward.

Freya’s senses were sharpened to their peak as she led the charge, her every move calculated to keep the formation intact. She knew they could not afford even a moment of hesitation. She smashed another drone aside, glancing briefly at her allies to ensure they were holding strong. The stakes were too high—failure would mean the Leviathan swarm breaking through and advancing upon the Xaos forces’ stronghold. It was a weighty burden but one she bore without complaint.

Their progress was relentless. Each step forward left a trail of shattered drones and fallen Leviathan warriors. The battlefield was littered with remnants of chitin and black blood, but the Shadowstrike Legion did not falter.