Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 452: Into the Wendy Country (I)

Chapter 452: Into the Wendy Country (I)

A massive battle arose on the border between the Ztan and Wendy Country as two massive contingents of human forces converged from the flank upon a seemingly endless swarm of Leviathans. One of these human armies was led by a fearsome fiendish werewolf, and the other by a small yellow cat.

The enemy’s numbers could be counted in the millions, countless drones filling the fields, their bellies swollen with biomass that the hive mind hoped to reuse. Jormguandr and Ouroboros made their energies explode outward as they led their troops forward.

"World Snake’s Dive" The Depravita of Gluttony consumed all the energy around him, transforming into a massive three-hundred-meter-tall snake. This colossal serpent darted across the Leviathan ranks, scattering their formations and dispersing the enemy lines even further. Its gargantuan body carved a path through the swarm, each movement sending drones and insect-humanoid hybrids flying, creating the opening the human forces needed.

"Now. Attack with all you have!" Grand Marshal Anglius shouted as he seized the opportunity created by the World Snake’s rampage. He pushed deeper into the swarm, accompanied by hundreds of massive Xaos Tanks. These metallic titans of the battlefield unleashed furious bursts of energy from their cannons, blasting through Leviathan after Leviathan. The shockwaves tore through the enemy lines, and each explosion rattled the air, shattering countless drones and shaking the ground beneath the soldiers’ feet.

Freya stood at the forefront of these great war machines, her mace generating radiant waves of light that crushed the bodies of all Leviathans around her. Whenever she sensed the presence of a Leviathan warrior, she transformed into a flash of brightness. In the next instant, that unfortunate insect-humanoid hybrid’s body exploded into fragments under the weight of her fierce blows.

The opening grew even larger as thousands of warriors covered in golden armor marched in behind her. The Golden Wave Legion surged forward on the west flank, piercing deep into the enemy formation and spreading out in all directions. They filled the battlefield with relentless momentum, their armor reflecting the glow of flames and energy bursts alike.

The chaos and destruction on the east flank was no less intense. "Inferno Wolf Dive!" The Depravita of Greed roared as his entire body morphed into a massive thirty-five-meter-tall demonic wolf, bristling with darkness and destructive energy. With each stride, he tore through the Leviathan ranks, blasting all those in his path. Torn limbs and shattered shells flew in all directions as he carved a corridor of devastation through the swarm.

"Now it is our chance. Kill them all!" Not even a second later, King Viserin’s voice echoed across the battlefield. He led more than one hundred and fifty thousand Turkin riders straight into the heart of the Leviathan swarm. Their weapons and steeds mowed down countless foes, leaving trails of crushed and burned remnants in their wake. The human forces dominated the battlefield, striking the Leviathans from multiple angles, using every advantage to keep the hive mind’s brood off balance.

Still, anyone who assumed the battle was easy would be gravely mistaken. The Leviathans fought with monstrous ferocity. Despite the carnage inflicted upon them, they pressed forward. Their drones marched in endless waves, showing no regard for self-preservation. Aerial units and insect-humanoid warriors descended with suicidal madness, more than willing to give their lives if they could take at least one human soldier down with them. Their brutality weighed heavily on the human ranks. There were moments when human soldiers fell under the crushing tide of Leviathans, their armor rent by claws and mandibles, their weapons knocked from their hands.

Every loss was painful, a raw wound on the troops’ morale. Yet, Grand Marshal Anglius, King Viserin, and all the great generals of the army understood that such casualties were inevitable. This was the nature of war: a relentless grind of life against life, steel against chitin until one side collapsed. The human commanders accepted this truth grimly, stealing their hearts and urging their soldiers ever onward.

The battle raged for nearly four hours, each minute filled with screams, explosions, and the clash of weapons. At last, the last vestige of the Leviathan formation vanished from the battlefield, leaving only carnage in its wake. The countless drones and hybrids lay scattered, their bodies twisted and burned, their plans for biomass recovery thwarted.

Ouroboros and Jormungandr were extremely tired. They had consumed a huge amount of energy, stamina, and the full range of their Depraivta Aura to serve as the spearhead of the battalion. But despite their exhaustion, wide smiles spread across their faces. They had managed to kill over seven million Leviathans, preventing the hive mind from retrieving the biomass of all those drones that had perished under the Leviathan Virus. No matter how one looked at it, this was a monumental victory.

Of course, there was still much to do. The duo, though fatigued, did not lose focus. Jormguandr managed to rise into the sky, his aura drawing the gaze of the exhausted soldiers below. He surveyed the devastation and addressed them, his voice carrying firm resolve. "Collect the corpses of our fallen brethren! Burn everything else!" he commanded. There would be no time wasted on harvesting enemy remains.

"Yes, Lord Jormguandr!" the soldiers shouted in unison. Their voices echoed across the battlefield. With grim efficiency, they carefully collected the bodies of their friends who had perished. Each human corpse was handled gently, their fallen given respect and dignity. They would receive proper rest once the war was over. As for the Leviathans, the humans showed no mercy. Pyres rose swiftly as the soldiers set the countless twisted shells and insectoid limbs ablaze. Smoke and ash drifted upward, filling the atmosphere with a dark reminder of the cost of this hard-won victory.

It took less than fifteen minutes for the human forces to deal with the aftermath. A massive fire glowed behind their backs as they advanced once again, crossing the border into the Wendy Country and moving closer to the heart of the Leviathan Race. The reflection of the flames danced on their armor, illuminating their solemn faces. None of them spoke lightly. They all understood that the next fight would be the one that would determine the fate of the entire world.

If they were defeated in the Wendy Country, everything would be lost. The hive mind would reclaim its corpses, recycle its biomass, and restore its numbers. Then, it would spread outward once more, devouring the rest of the world, leaving no refuge for humanity or any other living beings.