Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 395: New units (II)

Chapter 395: New units (II)

Viserin led his riders across the seething mass of drones, his demonic mount’s hooves crushing Leviathan bodies beneath them. His twin swords flashed like lightning, sundering any drone that dared approach.

Suddenly, a chill ran down Viserin’s spine—a coldness that pierced through the heat of battle. His instincts screamed danger. Without a second thought, he leaped from his demonic steed. Below him, the ground cracked and shattered, massive fissures spreading outward. From the ruptured earth, monstrous creatures emerged, breaking through like nightmares made flesh.

Viserin landed nimbly, rolling to absorb the impact. He turned just in time to witness his demonic mount being obliterated. A monstrous, beetle-like creature the size of a horse had surfaced where his steed once stood. It was armored in a dark, chitinous exoskeleton adorned with jagged spikes. Glowing red eyes pierced the dust and smoke, and massive spiked claws dug into the ground. Curved mandibles and horns made it look ready to consume anything in its path.

The creature’s mandibles snapped shut with a sickening crunch, reducing the demonic mount to nothing more than dark ichor that seeped into the broken ground. Before the Turkin King could react, the Armored Leviathan’s body trembled violently. Sharp, spiked projectiles erupted from its exoskeleton, shooting in all directions like deadly shrapnel.

With lightning-fast reflexes, Viserin crossed his swords in front of him, deflecting the incoming projectiles. Each impact sent a jolt up his arms, but he held firm.

Unfortunately, not all were as strong as the Turkin King. Around him, chaos erupted. The deadly spikes pierced through armor and flesh, felling more than a dozen Turkin soldiers in mere seconds. Demonic mounts reared and screamed before collapsing, their forms disappearing into the broken soul force.

And the horror didn’t stop there. Dozens of Armored Leviathans burst forth across the battlefield, emerging among the Turkin riders with terrifying suddenness. Each one unleashed a barrage of spikes upon surfacing, turning the area into a deadly zone. They swung their massive claws and mandibles, cutting down riders and mounts alike with brutal efficiency. In a single swipe, hundreds of Turkin soldiers were slain.

Viserin’s heart pounded as he took in the devastating scene. The disciplined ranks of his riders were thrown into disarray. Screams of pain and terror filled the air as the drones swarmed them from all directions, emboldened by the sudden appearance of the Armored Leviathans.

Across the battlefield, Grand Marshal Anglius, Major General Theodoro, and Freya noticed the upheaval. They exchanged grim looks, their expressions reflecting shock and urgency. The emergence of these monstrous creatures was entirely unexpected—a trump card played by the hive mind that was costing them dearly.

"Those creatures came out of nowhere!" Theodoro exclaimed, his grip tightening on his weapon.

"They’re targeting the Turkin riders, disrupting our entire flank," Anglius said, his jaw clenched. "We need to act fast."

Freya’s eyes narrowed as she watched the carnage unfold. "We can’t let this continue. If we lose the Turkin riders, our position becomes untenable."

The scenario was a nightmare for any general. The battlefield had turned into a bloody mayhem, human casualties rising every second. The hive mind had outmaneuvered them, and determining the right course of action seemed almost impossible amidst the chaos.

Luckily, they had someone who could see beyond emotions and in purely logical terms regardless of the chaos. Not even two seconds after the Armored Leviathans appeared, the communication gems embedded in every soldier’s gauntlet glowed intensely with those of the Golden Wave and Shadowstrike Legion glowing blue.

Without hesitation, Grand Marshal Anglius, Major General Theodoro, and all members of the Golden Wave Legion and Shadowstrike Legion retrieved small, azure pills from hidden compartments in their armor. Swallowing them swiftly, they felt a surge of energy flood their bodies. Their fatigue evaporated as their muscles swelled with newfound strength.

"Forward! Extend the lines!" Anglius roared, his voice echoing over the battlefield.

The soldiers moved with renewed vigor, forming a thin yet extremely long wave that stretched across the battlefield. They charged into the fray, weapons blazing with energy. They carved a path through the Leviathan forces, their formation slicing through the enemy like a blade.

As they advanced, they enveloped the embattled Turkin riders, providing a protective barrier. Viserin looked up in surprise as Anglius and Theodoro appeared beside him, cutting down an Armored Leviathan that had been bearing down on him.

"Retreat to the inner walls! We’ll cover you," Theodoro shouted.

Viserin nodded, his respect for his allies deepening. "Turkin riders, fall back in an orderly fashion! Regroup at the inner walls!"

The Turkin soldiers’ communication gems glowed grey, signaling the retreat order. Despite their shaken state, the riders responded with discipline. They began to pull back, fighting defensively as they moved toward the safety of the inner walls.

Meanwhile, the Golden Wave Legion and Shadowstrike Legion continued their relentless assault. Drones fell in droves, and even the formidable Armored Leviathans found themselves overwhelmed by the coordinated attacks.

But the enhancement was temporary. Less than five minutes later, the gems of Anglius, Theodoro, and their soldiers glowed grey—a signal to begin their own retreat. They had to make the most of the remaining time the enhancement provided.

"Time to pull back!" Anglius commanded. "Maintain formation!"

They executed a strategic withdrawal, and their movements were calculated to prevent any gaps the Leviathans could exploit. As they retreated, they continued to inflict maximum damage on the enemy, using the last vestiges of their enhanced power.

The hive mind observed the battlefield with cold calculation. It recognized the humans had used some form of temporary enhancement. Anticipating that the humans would weaken once the effects wore off, it pressed the attack, determined to capitalize on the opportunity.

Leviathan drones swarmed forward with renewed ferocity. Aerial units swooped down, targeting any stragglers. The Armored Leviathans lumbered ahead, their spiked projectiles ready to unleash devastation.

But the A.I. Chip Clone was one step ahead. As the human forces reached the safety of the inner walls, Overlord’s voice resonated once more.

"Prepare for volcanic detonation. All units, brace for impact."