Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 417: Freya’s rise

Chapter 417: Freya’s rise

For several hours, the Xaos Forces and Turkin riders rested upon the blood-soaked slopes of Kuro Mountain. The stench of blood and death permeated the air. Yet, the exhaustion they felt was so overwhelming that they could have slept surrounded by garbage without a problem.

As the sun rose once more, casting golden hues across the scarred landscape, it marked the beginning of a new day. Gradually, the soldiers began to awaken, feeling their energy and stamina returning. Muscles still ached, and wounds throbbed, but the rest had done wonders for their weary bodies.

Grand Marshal Anglius was among the first to rise. He stood tall, stretching his limbs and taking a deep breath of the crisp morning air.

Turning to face his troops, Anglius spoke in a thunderous voice that echoed across the mountain. "Golden Wave Legion and Turkin riders, gather all the Leviathans’ drones in a pile at the base of the mountain!" he commanded. "Also, burn and clean all the blood in the surroundings. We must not leave even an iota of biomass of the Leviathans behind!"

His words carried authority. Even though they had gained complete control over Karman Country, it was paramount to deprive the enemy of its fuel. Every ounce of biomass left behind was another drone for the hive mind to control. The Leviathans could recycle their fallen, turning them into new soldiers to continue their relentless assault.

The soldiers of the Golden Wave Legion responded immediately. Despite their fatigue, they moved with purpose. Alongside tens of thousands of warriors from the Turkin Kingdom, they began the grim task of collecting the millions of Leviathan corpses strewn across the mountain and its surroundings.

Meanwhile, Major General Theodoro stood atop a rocky outcrop, his sharp gaze assessing the battlefield. Raising his voice, he called out to his troops.

"Shadowstrike Legion! Let’s focus our efforts on the aerial units and the insect-humanoid hybrids!" he shouted, his voice carrying over the clamor of activity. "We must be careful with the carcasses, as these will not be incinerated."

Hundreds of soldiers turned their attention to him, nodding in acknowledgment. Unlike the standard drones, the aerial units and insect-humanoid hybrids had value beyond the battlefield. The aerial units could be dismantled by Overlord’s machinery and factories back in Xaos City, and their components could be repurposed to make weapons and armor. As for the insect-humanoid hybrids, they were of particular interest to Ouroboros.

"Gather all the aerial units into empty space rings that can be sent back to Xaos City," Theodoro continued. "And pile up the bodies of the Leviathan warriors separately."

"Major General Theodoro," Ouroboros said in a deep voice. "Send the Leviathan warriors back to Xaos City as well."

Theodoro was surprised by the request but did not question it. "Understood," he replied, giving a sharp nod. He turned back to his troops. "Redirect efforts to collect everything into your space rings. We leave nothing behind."

Vlad stood a short distance away, observing the interaction. His eyes narrowed as he heard the command from Ouroboros. Activating the power of his A.I. Chip, he focused it on the werewolf.

[Beep! Scanning target.

Target scanned successfully.

...

Name: Ouroboros

Race: Canine?

Level (Energy): 12

Level (Body): 18

Life Level: Guardian Tier

Class: Warrior / Demon Soul Master

Lineage: Hell Champion (Champion Tier)

...

Stats:

Strength: 450.4

Agility: 250.4

Vitality: 480.6

Energy Pool: 15.7]

Vlad studied the data with keen interest. Ouroboros’s physical stats were impressive. Reaching the peak of the Guardian Tier in such a short amount of time could only be described as beyond amazing. His strength, agility, and vitality were all exceptional, reflecting his prowess on the battlefield.

However, Vlad noticed a discrepancy. Just as Jormungandr lacked in physical talent, the Depravita of Greed lacked in energy talent, which was why his energy pool was just at Level 12. Even with his massive soul force and talent as a Depravita, his body could not grow stronger because his soul was holding him back.

"Consuming massive amounts of life force and vitality won’t help Ouroboros grow stronger," Vlad mused to himself. "So it makes sense he would send the insect-humanoid carcasses back to Xaos City, where Overlord can use them to make weapons and armor."

He recalled that Ouroboros had kept the massive body of the Behemoth for himself. The moment his soul force met the requirements, he would have all the energy and nutrients needed to allow his body to break through to the next level.

Satisfied with his analysis, Vlad turned his gaze elsewhere. His eyes settled on another of the strongest warriors present—Freya. She stood at the bottom of the mountain, away from everybody else. In front of her lay the headless corpse of the Special Unit Leviathan she had slain during the battle.

Vlad’s eyes immediately grew sharp as he turned toward Jormungandr. The duo shared a meaningful glance, their mutual understanding evident without words. Together, they focused the full power of their A.I. Chips on the young woman.

It was clear to both Vlad and Jormungandr that Freya was about to perform a ritual. She intended to offer the corpse of the Special Unit Leviathan to the Primordial God of Bloodshed and Battle, Odinvaldr. There was nothing wrong with the viking princess using the Special Unit Leviathan in this way; after all, even if she had received help, it was her kill.

The reason Vlad and Jormungandr focused on her was that they wanted to obtain information regarding the Totemic Path of Power. The last time Vlad attempted to analyze it, his A.I. Chip simply lacked the power to comprehend the complex forces at play. But now, with its capabilities enhanced, there was a chance they could uncover the secrets behind her power.

Freya was oblivious to their scrutiny. Upon ensuring she was alone, she closed her eyes and began to chant in a strange tongue—a language ancient and mystical.

Her voice was melodic yet powerful, the words resonating with an unseen force. As she chanted, invisible power began to gather around her. The air shimmered, and a faint aura enveloped her form. The energy seemed to respond to her call, swirling and intensifying.

The corpse of the Special Unit Leviathan began to react. Every single iota of energy and force inside the creature was being drained, siphoned away by Freya’s ritual. The once formidable body started to wither, collapsing inward as its essence was extracted. In moments, nothing remained but ash, scattered by a gentle gust of wind.

The absorbed energy flowed into Freya’s totems—symbols of her devotion and power. They glowed with a radiant light, pulsing with newfound strength.