Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 431: Time to start the offensive

Chapter 431: Time to start the offensive

Hundreds of kilometers away from the shores of Kylen Country, a young man, and a small yellow cat emerged from the waters. Vlad and Jormungandr were exhausted, their bodies heavy from the intense battle they had just fought. Yet, broad smiles spread across their faces, a mixture of relief and triumph lighting up their eyes.

It was true that three of the Harvesters had managed to escape, but the amount of biomass contained within those was insignificant compared to the colossal losses the Leviathans had suffered around the shore.

"Well," Vlad began, his voice hoarse but filled with satisfaction, "we did it."

Jormungandr nodded, his small form bobbing slightly with the movement of the water. "Three escaped, but considering we destroyed twenty of them, I’d say that’s a victory."

"Agreed," Vlad replied, more than happy with the outcome. After all, their attacks manage to take down more than just Harvesters. They also take down more than half of the Elite Units. As for the Leviathan warriors and aerial units, less than thirty of the former remained, and the combined efforts of their group had eradicated more than twenty thousand aerial units.

While the Depravitas and the Viking princess had sustained wounds and pushed their energy pools to the point of exhaustion, none of them had suffered serious injuries. They hadn’t been forced to consume powerful drugs with dangerous side effects that could incapacitate them for weeks. No matter how one looked at it, the mission was a great success.

Vlad turned to look at Jormungandr, concern flickering across his features. "How are you feeling?" he asked.

The small yellow cat glanced up, his eyes reflecting fatigue. The transformation into the World Snake had been an extremely powerful spell that consumed not only a massive amount of energy but also two streams of Depravita Aura. It had placed immense pressure on Jormungandr’s soul and body.

Calling the World Snake a Sage Tier Spell would not be wrong, which was why it was so powerful and also so dangerous to use. Only someone like the Depravita of Gluttony, with an energy pool at the Guardian Tier, could wield it.

"I’ll be fine after resting for a day," Jormungandr replied. He was pale and endured a splitting headache, but thanks to his vitality and Depravita Constitution, he would heal soon.

Vlad nodded appreciatively. "You did great."

Jormungandr managed a weak smile. "Just doing my part."

Without further delay, Vlad placed the small yellow cat gently atop his head before beginning to swim. The vast expanse of water stretched out in all directions, but with the help of his A.I. Chip, it was easy for Vlad to find the right path. He knew exactly where to go.

According to their plan, Freya and Ouroboros were to be the first to leave. Limited to moving on land, the duo would make several turns to lose any form of tracking, ensuring they weren’t followed. Vlad and Jormungandr, on the other hand, headed into the ocean, where the figure of the World Snake could hide underwater as they escaped.

The cool water was a balm to Vlad’s weary muscles. Swimming was easy for him, and each stroke was methodical and efficient. The rhythmic motion allowed him to regain his stamina and restore his energy pool.

Hours passed, and finally, a cliff appeared on the horizon. The rugged rock face jutted out of the water.

Vlad felt the surge of energy within him. His reserves had healed enough, and he was able to defy gravity once more. Rising into the air with the small yellow cat perched securely on his head, he ascended to the top of the cliff. As they landed softly on the grassy edge, two figures awaited them.

Freya and Ouroboros turned as they sensed their approach, smiles breaking across their faces as they saw that Vlad and Jormungandr were safe.

"Glad to see you two made it," Freya said warmly. Her wild aura seemed calmer now, her tribal tattoos faintly glowing in the twilight.

Ouroboros, the fiendish werewolf, nodded in agreement. "We were starting to get worried."

Vlad returned their smiles but quickly grew serious. A sharpness appeared in his eyes as he addressed them. "How did things go with Anglius and the incursion forces?"

There was no way Vlad would have forgotten about the group that had acted as a beacon for the attention of the hive mind. Their diversion had managed to draw more than half of the Leviathan forces from the shore into the heart of Kylen Country. Had it not been for Grand Marshal Anglius and the rest of the elites, the difficulty of their mission would have been much higher, and it would have been hard to say if they could have taken down even half of the biomass shipment.

Freya’s expression softened as she saw the flash of concern in Vlad’s eyes. She quickly answered his question. "They were forced to delve very deep into Kylen Country to draw so much attention from the hive mind. The moment we started our attack on the shore, they immediately began to pull back. The hive mind attempted to trap them, but Ned and the Lord of Horror were able to strike the Leviathans from behind, generating an opening for Grand Marshal Anglius and the rest of their forces. They are already back in Karmn Country and suffered less than one hundred casualties."

Vlad let out a sigh of relief, a wide smile spreading across his face. "That’s excellent news." Although every soldier lost was a heavy burden—war demanded such sacrifices—a hundred casualties from a force of nearly five thousand was something he could accept.

Jormungandr allowed a moment to enjoy the good news before directing his mind back to the war. "What is our next move, Boss?"

Vlad’s eyes immediately sharpened, and flashes of light crossed through them before focus emerged. He looked at each of his companions in turn, his expression resolute.

"First, we will return to Kuro Mountain," he declared. "We must regroup and gather our full military power."

Jormungandr, Freya, and Ouroboros adopted solemn expressions as they heard that last part. It could only mean one thing.

"It’s time to start the offensive."