Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 391: Hidden assets

Chapter 391: Hidden assets

Finally, after nearly twenty minutes of relentless retreating—clashing and using all they had every second—the Golden Wave Legion was nearing the walls of the massive stronghold at the base of Kuro Mountain. Every muscle in their bodies screamed with exhaustion, but the sight of the towering fortifications ignited a flicker of hope. As soon as they moved past those walls, they would be able to rest, regroup, and prepare for whatever came next.

However, just when everything seemed to be reaching a momentary respite, things became even more dangerous. Without any warning, a wave of drones suddenly surged toward the frontline of the Golden Wave Legion. These creatures packed themselves one over the other, forming what seemed to be a ten-meter-tall wall.

Grand Marshal Anglius immediately acted. His eyes narrowed, and his grip tightened on his massive halberd. Taking a decisive step forward, he swung the colossal weapon with all his might. The blade cleaved through the wall of drones, shattering their bodies and sending fragments flying in all directions.

But as he sundered those drones, shock appeared in his eyes. Hidden within the wave were nine Leviathan warriors. These formidable insect-humanoids must have been hiding among the drones, moving stealthily through the ground and only rising with the wall at the last second.

Before Anglius could raise his halberd again, the Leviathan warriors lunged at him in unison. Their combined weight and strength bore down on him, pinning him to the ground, dust and debris swirling around them.

Dread and shock spread among the members of the Golden Wave Legion as they saw their Grand Marshal subdued. The Leviathan warriors were High Champion-level, and even Anglius, with all his strength, would not be able to endure their assault.

Unfortunately, no matter how much the golden warriors wanted to do something, none of them were able to move fast enough or with enough strength to stop the Leviathan warriors. The sheer chaos of the battlefield and the relentless tide of drones hindered any immediate rescue.

Or at least, that was what everybody thought when suddenly, sixteen golden warriors who had been close to the frontlines made their move. Until now, their power and abilities had been similar to those of the rest of the soldiers of the Golden Wave Legion. But now, their speed simply skyrocketed. Their bodies enlarged, muscles bulging beneath their armor as they clashed with the Leviathan warriors.

The insect-humanoids were shocked to see this group’s speed. The warriors appeared before they could deliver a lethal blow to the golden giant. However, the Leviathans’ eyes remained cold; they were confident in their ability to take down normal soldiers from the Golden Wave Legion. One of the Leviathan warriors swung its massive claw toward one of the men, the strength and power behind it enough to crush any Champion-level opponent.

Yet, the man caught the claw mid-swing, stopping it entirely. The Leviathan warrior’s eyes widened in surprise, but before it could react further, the man drove his right fist forward, piercing the creature’s chest. The Leviathan let out a shriek before collapsing. The same happened with the other eight insect-humanoid warriors—all of them perished under the might of these men.

Awe appeared in the eyes of the Xaos forces. The soldiers watched in astonishment as the sixteen warriors stood tall amidst the fallen Leviathans. Shock assaulted the hive mind at the unexpected strength of this group.

Things became clear the next second. The sixteen men’s golden armor began to fade, shimmering before transforming entirely. In its place was pristine white armor, gleaming under the harsh sunlight, along with massive swords. It was evident to all now that these sixteen men were the Lords of Horror disguised as normal soldiers from the Golden Wave Legion. They had been waiting, hiding their power until the moment it was needed the most.

Even Grand Marshal Anglius was shocked by the presence of those men. Rising to his feet, he looked at them with surprise and gratitude. Overlord told him that the Lords of Horror would have a special mission in the first clash and nothing else. Although being kept in the dark was uncomfortable, the golden giant understood that to trick the hive mind, Overlord had to trick his own forces as well.

"Pull back now. We will hold the line," Ned, the Captain of the Lords of Horror, spoke in a sharp and calm voice. His gaze was steady, exuding confidence that eased the tension among the soldiers. Without hesitation, the Golden Wave Legion began to retreat toward the stronghold, their formation disciplined despite the chaos around them.

Ned then glanced at the Shadowstrike Legion forces on the top of the walls. Seventeen of those men, who had been struggling to regain their breath and showing utter exhaustion, suddenly rose. Any sign of tiredness faded as their armor changed into battle suits. With swift movements, they kicked off the ground, leaping through the air until they were side by side with their brothers.

Freya and Theodoro exchanged glances as they saw this transformation. A rueful smile appeared on their faces as they realized they had been deceived just like Grand Marshal Anglius. The Viking princess did not recognize those men but was told by Overlord that they were new additions brought by Theodoro. Meanwhile, the Major General had been informed they were additions brought by Freya. It was now clear that the A.I. Chip Clone had layered plans within plans, always having countermeasures in place that were capable of tricking even the hive mind.

"Fuego de Horror!" Ned and the Lords of Horror did not waste time. They raised their hands, and massive shockwaves of fire erupted from their palms. The scorching waves incinerated the drones that approached them, turning the front lines of the Leviathan forces into a sea of flames. The intense heat warped the air, and the screeches of the burning drones filled the battlefield.

With the immediate threat momentarily subdued, they drew their massive swords. Each swing cleaved through multiple drones. The ground shook beneath their feet as they held the line, providing the Golden Wave Legion and the Turkin riders the crucial time needed to make it into the massive stronghold.

Only after the last of the soldiers made it inside did the Lords of Horror receive the signal. Without a moment’s hesitation, they activated their boots and rose into the air. Kicking off invisible platforms, they propelled themselves backward, crossing over the walls and landing gracefully atop the fortifications.