Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 428: Taking down the Harvesters (III)

Chapter 428: Taking down the Harvesters (III)

The battle raged in the skies, with Vlad at its epicenter, his body cloaked in blazing fire and lightning that surged with relentless ferocity. The aerial drones swarmed around him like locusts, their attacks ineffective against his armor yet frustratingly disruptive. They obstructed his vision and disrupted his movements, giving the Elite Units perfect opportunities to strike from blind spots. Despite their overwhelming numbers, Vlad’s resolve was unshakable.

With a burst of energy, Vlad propelled himself forward, fists clenched and crackling with lightning. His speed and strength were unparalleled, each movement precise and devastating. He dodged a razor-sharp claw aimed for his neck, twisting mid-air and slamming his fist into an Elite Unit’s torso. The creature’s carapace cracked under the force, sending it spiraling downward, but before he could press his advantage, two more Elite Units descended upon him, claws seeking flesh.

Vlad twisted his body, his lightning-infused kick meeting one of the attackers mid-air, obliterating its head. The other Elite Unit attempted to grab him, but he used his momentum to twist free, firing a concentrated bolt of lightning into its chest, incinerating the creature. The swarm, however, was relentless. The Elite Units coordinated flawlessly, creating openings for their allies while covering their weaknesses. It was like fighting a singular, coordinated entity, one of the most terrifying aspects of the hive mind.

"I need to get closer to the ground," Vlad muttered, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the battlefield below. The Harvesters were his primary target, and he couldn’t allow them to escape with the biomass. Yet, every time he tried to descend, the swarm tightened around him, forcing him back into a defensive position.

A roar erupted from Vlad as he surged downward, fists glowing with fiery energy. He punched through the drones, scattering them like debris, his speed creating shockwaves that rippled through the air. An Elite Unit appeared in his path, claws extended, but Vlad intercepted it with a lightning-fast uppercut, shattering its jaw and sending it crashing to the ground. Another Elite Unit lunged at his flank, but he spun and unleashed a devastating roundhouse kick, the force of which sent the creature careening into a group of drones, obliterating them in a fiery explosion.

Finally, Vlad broke through the swarm’s tight formation and positioned himself above a Harvester. His eyes glowed as a searing beam of energy erupted from his gaze, slicing cleanly through the Harvester’s massive body, setting the biomass within ablaze. Flames erupted from the creature, and it let out a guttural scream as it collapsed, spilling its contents across the ground.

A triumphant smile crossed Vlad’s face, but it was short-lived. Two Elite Units capitalized on his momentary vulnerability, their fists slamming into his chest in unison. The impact sent him hurtling upward, tumbling through the air as he regained control. While the attack hadn’t damaged him severely, it pushed him further away from the battlefield, making it more difficult to strike again. Igniting his energy once more, Vlad dived back into the fray.

---

On the ground, Freya and Ouroboros were locked in their own brutal battle. Surrounded by waves of Leviathan warriors and swarms of aerial units above, the duo fought with unyielding determination. Freya’s mace slammed into an insect-humanoid hybrid, crushing its exoskeleton and sending it sprawling. She raised her shield just in time to block a clawed strike from another warrior, the impact rattling her arms but leaving her unscathed.

Nearby, Ouroboros tore through the swarm with his claws, his movements a blend of raw strength and feral agility. He ducked under a Leviathan’s swing and countered with a devastating upward slash, severing its torso. Another enemy lunged at his back, but he spun around, catching it by the throat and slamming it into the ground with bone-shattering force.

Despite their prowess, the constant attacks from all sides began to take their toll. Small wounds accumulated on their bodies, blood seeping through torn armor as they pushed themselves to the limit. The Leviathan warriors were relentless, their attacks coordinated and precise, always aiming for weak points or blind spots.

"We need to end this quickly," Freya shouted, her voice strained but resolute.

Ouroboros nodded, his fiery eyes locking with hers. They both reached into their space rings, retrieving small orbs. Without hesitation, they crushed the orbs, releasing a dense, shimmering fog that spread rapidly above them. The aerial units hesitated, recognizing the fog as the same substance that had turned the skies into a blazing inferno during the Kuro Mountain War.

The hive mind calculated the risk, assuming the humans wouldn’t dare ignite the fog with so many aerial units overhead. It was wrong!

Freya and Ouroboros exchanged a determined glance before sparking the fog with a burst of energy. Flames erupted instantly, covering their figures and consuming hundreds of aerial units in a fiery explosion. The heat was unbearable, but the duo didn’t falter.

Emerging from the flames, Freya and Ouroboros used the chaos to build momentum. Freya’s shield deflected incoming attacks as she charged forward, her mace swinging with devastating force. She leaped onto a Harvester, her weapon glowing with a radiant light as it crashed into the creature’s head, obliterating it. Ouroboros followed suit, his claws ripping through another Harvester’s tough hide and tearing it apart.

The Leviathan swarm roared in fury, converging on the duo. Aerial units and warriors surrounded Ouroboros, pinning him down before he could make another move. Freya tapped into her bloodline, her eyes glowing fiercely as she summoned a surge of strength. She spun around, her mace generating a powerful arc of light that struck the belly of a nearby Harvester, tearing it open. Biomass spilled onto the scorched ground as the Harvester let out a dying wail.

With the destruction of another Harvester, the Leviathan forces grew even more desperate. Yet, Freya and Ouroboros smiled despite their injuries. They had reduced the number of Harvesters to eleven, their combined efforts crippling the hive mind’s plans. Above, Vlad joined them in their grim satisfaction, his fiery energy flaring as he prepared to press the attack.

The battlefield burned with chaos and determination as the trio resolved to destroy every last Harvester. The hive mind’s most precious resource would be denied, no matter the cost.