Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 404: One million nine hundred thousand and forty-two

Chapter 404: One million nine hundred thousand and forty-two

The eyes of all the Leviathans glowed with murderous might and an intense desire for slaughter as they marched after the retreating human forces. The hive mind was unwilling to give them a moment of respite, eager to take advantage of their exhaustion and completely annihilate them.

Earthquakes and landslides were no longer viable options for the defenders; they were now so high upon Kuro Mountain that such tactics would harm the humans as well. It would be months before the volcano could recharge, making a new volcanic eruption and rivers of lava out of the question. It seemed there was nothing the human forces could do to stop the charging swarm of drones.

However, there was no way Overlord would not have planned for this. Once all the human forces crossed the wall into the summit of Kuro Mountain, he sent the signal. Fifty Lightning Mages raised their hands and began to chant their spells, their voices harmonizing into a powerful incantation. As their chanting reached a crescendo, they unleashed torrents of lightning that crackled and arced with raw energy.

The Leviathans noticed the sudden surge of magical activity, but the hive mind was confident. There was no way fifty Lightning Mages could halt the advance of millions of drones. But then, the hive mind observed something unexpected—the lightning was not targeting the swarm directly but instead was shooting upward into the sky.

Both Leviathans and humans gazed upward, drawn to the massive cloud of smoke that had been covering the sky and extending across the inner ring of Kuro Mountain. For weeks, the volcano had been releasing that smoke, wild energy charged within it, but without control or guidance, it remained in a static position—a sleeping giant waiting to be awakened.

As the lightning from the Mages fused into the smoke clouds, the electrical charges within grew more and more powerful. The clouds began to roil and churn, darkening ominously as energy built up to a critical point.

Suddenly, a deafening crack echoed across the mountain.

"BOOOOOOOM!"

After that thunderous blast, massive arcs of lightning began to fall from the sky. They flooded the inner ring, each bolt carrying immense destructive power. The lightning struck with indiscriminate fury, obliterating anything in its path. Drones were incinerated instantly, their exoskeletons exploding under the sheer force of the electrical discharge.

The use of this natural phenomenon surprised the hive mind. However, while the lightning arcs were overwhelmingly powerful, they were simply too spread out. Thousands of drones would die in the march, but many more would reach the walls to the summit. Recognizing this, the hive mind sent the signal, and the Leviathans continued their relentless advance across the lightning-streaked terrain.

The Xaos Forces and Turkin soldiers watched as the swarm kept pushing forward despite the lightning barrage. Yet, they showed no fear. The next moment, the wall that divided the summit from the inner ring began to glow. Intricate magic matrices appeared all around it, their lines and symbols pulsating with energy.

These matrices did not unleash energy blasts but instead acted as colossal lightning rods. They drew the arcs of lightning that filled the area, redirecting them away from the summit where the human forces resided. Simultaneously, they channeled the captured electrical energy into the wall itself, electrifying its surface to a lethal degree.

A chorus of agonized shrieks filled the air.

"SHRIEEEK!"

The sound of the drones’ pain echoed as they were electrified and incinerated from the inside out upon approaching the wall. Their bodies convulsed violently before collapsing into smoldering heaps. The electrified barrier forced the swarm to finally halt its march.

Coldness and hatred appeared in the eyes of the Leviathans, especially in the wiser ones like the Special Unit and the Behemoth. The hive mind was simply outraged. Over and over again, they faced obstacles, and no matter how many times they adapted, the enemy strategist kept deploying different paths and maneuvers.

No matter how enraged the hive mind was, its wisdom and intelligence prevailed above all else. It quickly assessed the situation and recognized the futility of pressing the attack under these conditions. So, it sent the signal, and the swarm of Leviathans began to move back, away from the domain of lightning that was the inner ring.

The Xaos Forces and Turkin soldiers were finally able to take a breath and relax their bodies. Overwhelming exhaustion appeared on all of their faces as they allowed themselves a moment to rest. Many slumped against the walls or sank to the ground, muscles trembling from fatigue.

"The Lightning Arc will last for nineteen hours. Use the time to rest and prepare for the last clash," Overlord’s voice echoed across the summit through the communication gems that all the soldiers carried. His tone was calm and measured, providing a strange comfort amidst the chaos.

A moment later, his voice came through again. "Total number of Leviathans left: One million nine hundred thousand and forty-two."

The soldiers could not help but smile widely upon hearing this. Some couldn’t hold back tears that welled up in their eyes. They had fought like madmen, pushing their bodies and souls to the limit, killing with all they had, resisting pain and exhaustion. They had seen many of their brethren lost under the relentless swarms, but all their hard work and sacrifice had paid off. Less than two million Leviathans were left—a staggering number, but it was the goal they had aimed for before the final clash if they wanted a chance to attain a true victory.

Freya showed a small smile as she observed the thrill and happiness in the soldiers’ eyes. She was acutely aware of how difficult these last couple of days had been for them. The battles had been brutal, and the losses were heavy. Yet now, as they approached the end, the light of victory was something everybody welcomed. The morale boost was essential; she knew they needed every bit of hope they could muster for the final confrontation.

Suddenly, she turned to the side and noticed the white werewolf walking toward her.