Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 423: Into Kylen Country

Chapter 423: Into Kylen Country

Three days after the Kuro Mountain Battle had ended, thousands of soldiers marched out from the massive volcano that saw the death of millions of Leviathans, beginning their journey south of Karman Country toward the border of Kylen Country.

These men and women had fought with everything they had for several days, pushing themselves beyond their limits time and time again, subjecting their bodies and minds to immense stress. It was understandable that marching once more into battle was not an easy task. Yet, their eyes were full of determination and focus as they advanced. They were the elite of the elite, the best of the best—soldiers trained to the extreme, with a discipline that knew no weakness. Seventy-two hours of rest were more than enough for them to prepare to march once more into war.

Of course, it was not just discipline that fueled their relentless willpower but also the knowledge that they were fighting for a cause greater than themselves. They marched under the leadership of a man many saw as a God-King—a leader capable of coursing across the sky like a shooting star, evoking oceans of magma to flood his enemies, or shooting fire from his eyes that could melt the brain of a beast larger than a whale.

While the Xaos Faith had spread quickly among the civilians, its influence was much slower among the military. These were people already capable of supernatural feats, not to mention that many of the higher-ups had seen the Xaos King when he was just beginning his path. However, faith started to rise rapidly as Vlad performed more and more astounding deeds on the battlefield, his power and abilities rising beyond what they believed possible.

Grand Marshal Anglius and Major General Theodor knew very well how the Xaos King felt regarding being considered a deity. They had prohibited public displays of worship within the military ranks, allowing soldiers to practice their beliefs in the privacy of their homes. They wanted to maintain discipline and prevent any distractions that could arise from fanaticism.

But at this moment, the leaders of the Golden Wave Legion and the Shadowstrike Legion cared little about matters of faith as they led their soldiers forward. Their eyes were sharp and full of focus. It was impossible to hide an army of this size, so they knew a battle would arise as soon as they reached Kylen Country. That was their goal—to draw the Leviathans’ attention—but it did not diminish the tension and dangers they would face.

As the army advanced several hundred kilometers and lost sight of Kuro Mountain, piercing sounds emerged from the left flank. At first, the soldiers grew wary, raising their weapons as they suspected that a battalion of drones was coming at them.

"At ease! They are allies," Grand Marshal Anglius’ voice boomed across the ranks, his authority instantly calming the troops.

The soldiers lowered their weapons, curiosity replacing tension as they watched hundreds of fist-sized spheres with spider-like legs moving across the terrain at shocking speed, advancing toward the border.

"What in the world are those?" a young soldier murmured to his comrade.

"Never seen anything like it," the comrade replied, eyes wide.

The higher-ups exchanged knowing glances. They recognized these devices as Overlord’s Sentinels—the scouting weapons developed by the A.I. Chip Clone. Their prototypes were deployed with great success during the establishment of the Xaos Kingdom’s borders, and the final units were now being used in the Monsoon Continent.

Each Sentinel could move at incredible speeds, carrying advanced scanning sensors capable of detecting movement several kilometers away, perceiving vibrations in the earth and disturbances in the air. Their scouting power was so formidable that no one doubted Overlord when he declared that the presence of the Leviathans in Karman Country was over.

According to the plan, the Sentinels would move forward to detect the weakest points along the border for the Xaos Forces and Turkin Riders to strike, while keeping an eye on the surroundings. It was important that they drew attention if the plan was going to work, but also crucial that they could retreat without being surrounded by Leviathan swarms.

After two and a half days of relentless marching, the human forces reached a massive river. The soldiers’ eyes grew sharp as they understood that crossing this river meant leaving Karman Country and once again entering a place dominated by the Leviathans.

Grand Marshal Anglius raised his hand, signaling the troops to halt. "We rest here," he commanded.

The soldiers dropped their packs, some kneeling by the river to refill their canteens, others sitting on rocks to rest their weary legs as they channeled their energy. Despite their fatigue, there was a steely resolve in their eyes.

Major General Theodor approached Anglius. "Any word from the Sentinels?" he asked quietly.

"Not yet," Anglius replied, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "But it won’t be long now."

Hours passed as they waited. The sun began to dip low in the sky, casting long shadows across the landscape. Finally, the communication gems embedded in the glove of the golden giant glowed softly. A detailed map of the Leviathan forces in the northern part of Kylen Country materialized before them.

Anglius studied the holographic map intently, his eyes scanning the positions of enemy units, terrain features, and potential routes. A profound light arose in his heart as he formulated the next move.

"Prepare to move out," he ordered, turning to his officers. "We cross the river at first light."

The Shadowstrike Legion, 1,000 soldiers of the Golden Wave Legion, and 3,000 Turkin Riders all assembled, ready to follow the golden giant into Kylen Country.

As dawn broke, the forces began to cross the river. The water was cold, but that did not affect people with a vitality like theirs. All of them were ready to fight at the first sign of danger.

Once the entire force had crossed, Grand Marshal Anglius raised his hand and clenched his fist before pointing forward. The soldiers recognized the signal. Without a word, they ignited their energy, a collective surge that seemed to make the very air hum. They marched forward at full speed, a disciplined and formidable force.

The nearly five thousand soldiers, bursting with energy and running at hundreds of kilometers per hour, definitely made a ruckus. Trees swayed from the gusts of their passing, and the ground trembled under the weight of their strides. But Grand Marshal Anglius did not care about stealth; their objective was to be noticed.

Not even five minutes later, a shattered city appeared on the horizon, its broken towers and crumbling walls a testament to the devastation wrought by the Leviathans. The city teemed with monstrous forms—Leviathans crawling over the ruins like insects over a carcass.

The eyes of the monsters immediately focused on the approaching human forces. The hive mind recognized the incursion into Kylen Country. Instantly, a flurry of activity rippled through the Leviathan ranks as they began to coordinate a response.

But before the hive mind could even finish formulating its strategies, a barrage of spells rained upon the city. Fireballs, lightning bolts, and arcs of pure energy descended like a wrathful storm, laying waste to structures and butchering a significant portion of the Leviathans in mere moments.

"Surround the city! Kill them all!" Grand Marshal Anglius shouted, his voice cutting through the cacophony of battle.

The soldiers moved with practiced precision, fanning out to encircle the city. Turkin Riders galloped on their swift mounts, their lances gleaming. The Shadowstrike Legion flashed foward, ready to strike from unseen angles. The Golden Wave Legion advanced steadily, shields raised, and weapons at the ready.

If the city had contained only drones, the hive mind would have cared little about their fate, as the loss of a hundred thousand of those creatures was negligible. But inside were dozens of Leviathan warriors and several hundred aerial units. Such a loss would definitely hurt the Leviathans—something the golden giant was counting on.

Within the city, the Leviathans scrambled to respond. Warriors barked commands in guttural tones, drones mobilized, and aerial units took to the skies. The hive mind considered the most effective maneuver; a direct clash was unlikely to end well for them, so escape seemed the prudent choice.

However, just as the Leviathans were trying to establish a defensive formation inside the city, five figures descended from the sky, each bursting with power.

Miranda, Amara, Frank, Roman, and Clasius crashed into the middle of the city, their landings sending shockwaves through the ground. Without hesitation, they unleashed their attacks in all directions—swords slicing through chitinous armor, spells erupting in explosions of light and sound, arrows finding their marks with deadly precision. Black blood spilled everywhere, the acrid smell of Leviathan ichor filling the air.

Being in the middle of a Leviathan swarm was incredibly dangerous, but the quintet had grown much more powerful after the battle at Kuro Mountain. They moved with confidence and synergy, covering each other’s weaknesses and amplifying their strengths.