Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 418: The condition of the continents (I)

Chapter 418: The condition of the continents (I)

Freya’s rising aura drew the attention of everyone on Kuro Mountain. A radiant energy enveloped her, pulsing with increasing intensity as the power of the totems covering her skin grew higher and higher. Of course, no one dared to get near her; they understood that for the Viking civilization, their interaction with the Primordial God was sacred. They watched from a respectful distance, maintaining a reverent silence as they observed the unfolding spectacle.

The intricate tattoos etched across Freya’s skin began to glow brighter, the symbols shimmering with ethereal light. The energy they held was rising to new heights, escalating with each passing moment. But that was not all—a new power emanated from them after a few seconds. A powerful and radiant red glow emerged from the Viking princess, flooding the air with a metallic taste and expanding for thousands of meters. The blood of nearly everyone on Kuro Mountain and its surroundings trembled in response.

Vlad and Jormungandr’s eyes narrowed as they felt the sudden surge. Shock appeared in their expressions as they sensed how even their own blood seemed to quiver under Freya’s crimson radiance. It was not hard for the duo to understand that the crimson glow was a manifestation of the Viking princess’s new bloodline. What shocked them was that it seemed to surpass their own.

While Vlad and Jormungandr had never paid much attention to their bloodlines, due to their growth and ascension in the Depravita Path, theirs had evolved into the Guardian Tier. So, for Freya’s bloodline to make theirs tremble, it could only mean it was on a higher level!

A wide smile spread across the young man’s face, mirrored by the small yellow cat beside him. They gazed at the Viking princess’s growth with thrill and delight. After all, the stronger Freya became, the more Leviathans she would be able to vanquish in the future.

Finally, after half an hour, the last iota of essence taken from the Special Unit Leviathan flawlessly merged into Freya’s totems. The radiant glow surrounding her began to stabilize, the pulsating energy settling into a steady aura that enveloped her form. The bloodline aura coalesced around her, signifying the completion of the ritual.

Freya opened her eyes, a sense of enlightenment shining within them. She took a deep breath, and in the next moment, pure light flowed through her skin, making her seem like a divine saint. The metallic taste in the air dissipated as the bloodline power coursed flawlessly through her veins and under her control.

Under everyone’s gaze, she pointed her finger toward a distant boulder perched on a neighboring peak. A small beam of energy flashed forward at a shocking speed, a streak of light that crossed the distance in an instant. The beam struck the massive rock, and with a resounding explosion, it shattered into countless fragments, debris scattering in all directions.

Gasps of shock and awe erupted from those witnessing the display. The sheer power demonstrated was incredible. Soldiers exchanged amazed glances, and whispers spread through the ranks.

"Did you see that?"

"Unbelievable!"

"Her power has grown immensely!"

Those with high enough cultivation levels recognized that it was not merely explosive might. The reason for the explosion was that the beam had deposited so much energy into the boulder in such a short time that it vaporized part of the target instantly. This created an explosive effect due to the rapid expansion of vaporized material.

Vlad and Jormungandr were particularly impressed. They could not restrain their curiosity. Now that the ritual was over and the A.I. Chip had gathered all the information it could, the duo redirected their focus, scanning the young Viking princess’s body.

It did not take long for a robotic voice to echo in their minds as the A.I. Chip processed the data:

[Beep! Scanning target.

Target scanned successfully.

...

Name: Freya

Race: Viking

Level (Energy): 15

Level (Body): 18

Life Level: Guardian Tier

Class: Warrior / Totems

Lineage: Light Type Bloodline (Pseudo Sage Tier)

...

Stats:

Strength: 554.5

Agility: 441.7

Vitality: 499.5

Energy Pool (Force): 24.5

Energy Pool (Totem): 42.4

...

Note: Bloodline and Totemic Power are in the process of adjusting and stabilizing. Upon full integration, the target’s Life Level will rise to the Sage Tier.]

Their smiles widened as they realized it was just a matter of time before Freya’s Life Level would rise to the Sage Tier. This advancement would allow her to fight by their side in the coming battles, significantly increasing the pressure they could exert on the Leviathan swarm. Of course, completing the evolution of a bloodline might take years or even decades, but Freya had access to Origin Force, which could expedite the process exponentially.

Freya herself was radiant with joy. She felt the power of her new bloodline coursing through her veins, the very essence of her body and soul ascending to a new level. During the battle on Kuro Mountain, complicated emotions had stirred within her. More than once, she had felt that her power was insufficient. But now, with the rise of her Totemic Path and bloodline, she felt the strength to stand among the highest echelons once more.

She glanced toward Vlad and Jormungandr, who were resting atop the mountain. Without hesitation, her body glowed with light as she dashed toward them. Her speed was astonishing, reaching levels that only those with reflexes at the High Champion Tier could follow. It was clear to all that the new bloodline had an amazing effect on the speed of the viking princess.

Vlad smiled as he saw Freya appear before him, nodding to the young woman as she settled beside them. Jormungandr flicked his tail in greeting.

"Impressive display," Vlad remarked, his eyes reflecting genuine admiration.

Freya smiled. "Thank you. I feel... renewed."

Jormungandr purred, "Your growth is remarkable. The Leviathans won’t know what hit them."

She grinned. "I look forward to testing this new power against them."

The trio rested together, focusing on their energies while the rest of the army attended to the aftermath of the battle. There were millions of Leviathan bodies to deal with, so even with thousands of soldiers working in unison, it was going to take some time.

Massive fires ignited around Kuro Mountain as the bodies of more than five million Leviathan drones were consumed by the flames. Dark plumes of smoke rose into the sky, forming ominous clouds that blotted out the sun. The heat was intense, and the crackling of burning flesh filled the air. Vlad and Jormungandr had added their flames to the inferno, their combined powers accelerating the incineration process.

Despite the nauseating smell of burning Leviathans, a sense of grim satisfaction permeated the human forces. Watching the grotesque creatures reduced to ash marked the end of a massive incursion that had threatened their very existence. Their victory was hard-won, and the flames symbolized a purging of the menace that had loomed over them.

With the remains of the drones taken care of, the human forces could finally allow themselves a moment of respite. For the regular soldiers, this meant rest and recovery. The atmosphere was a mixture of relief and subdued celebration.

However, rest was a luxury not afforded to the leaders. The highest-ranking officers and generals gathered in a large tent at the peak of Kuro Mountain. Inside, a metallic table dominated the space, maps and documents spread across its surface. Above them, a small metallic orb hovered silently, before Overlord’s voice emerged from it.

"I have sent Sentinels across the region to survey the terrain," the A.I. Chip Clone announced. His voice was calm but also carried a faint sense of thrill. "It seems that we are clear of Leviathans."

Wide smiles appeared on the faces of Grand Marshal Anglius, Major General Theodor, Freya, Jormungandr, and King Viserin as they heard those words. The Sentinels were a new artifact forged by Overlord, and their scanning abilities were formidable. With them, they could be certain that no hidden Leviathan swarms remained, or at least none large enough to pose a significant threat.

"Excellent news," Anglius declared, his armor gleaming even in the tent’s subdued light. "Our forces can secure the area and begin fortifying our position."

"Indeed," Theodor agreed. "This victory gives us a strategic advantage."

However, amidst the general relief, Vlad remained pensive, a solemn expression on his face. Noticing this, the others exchanged glances, concern growing.

"Is something troubling you, Your Majesty?" Grand Marshal Anglius inquired.

Vlad sighed softly, his eyes never leaving the map. "The fight for Kuro Mountain was immense, to say the least," he began. "The hive mind of the Leviathan Race revealed several trump cards and powerful units, including the Divine Leviathan. Yet despite everything, we did not see any sign of the Elite Leviathans."

A hush fell over the group as they considered his words. Although none of them had faced an Elite Leviathan, they knew they were incredibly powerful, and there should be dozens of them or maybe even more.