Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 476: In the face of death

Chapter 476: In the face of death

Luckily for the Lords of Horror and the 19 Bloodline Soldiers, they were not alone in their fight against the Leviathan Elite Units. Just as the monsters were planning how to force the human back, five massive lightning metallic tornadoes and hundreds of spheres of burning magma crashed violently into their ranks. The impact of these attacks was so immense that even the enormous, durable bodies of the Elite Units could not withstand it. Many were consumed in blasts of molten energy and lightning, their screeches echoing as they toppled. Limbs and shells littered the ground, broken remnants of the once-mighty Elite Units.

Unfortunately for those monsters, it was only the beginning. In the next second, a rain of arrows charged with lethal energy rained down upon them with supernatural accuracy. The projectiles pierced through eyes and necks, delivering fatal wounds and dropping more of the Elite Units to the blood-soaked earth.

The moment before the final arrows could strike, a man wielding a massive sword and a woman cloaked in shadows entered the fray. The swordsman positioned himself before an Elite Unit, raising his weapon high. In the next instant, the blade descended with such overwhelming power that it seemed as if a meteorite were hurtling to the ground. The Elite Unit had no time to react and was crushed to a pulp beneath the cataclysmic strike. Nor did the devastation end there—when the sword impacted, it generated a colossal shockwave that sent four more Elite Units flying, their bodies maimed and shattered.

One of the Leviathan Elite Units, standing just outside the radius of the sword’s attack, narrowed its eyes as it fixated on the swordsman. It intended to retaliate, to strike in those few seconds of vulnerability after such a massive blow. However, before it could take even a step toward the man, a dagger slid through the back of its neck at the juncture where the skull and spine met. The creature let out a muted grunt before collapsing. Its life extinguished in an instant, all thanks to the woman who vanished back into the shadows just as quickly as she had appeared.

Mirena, Frank, Roman, Clasius, and Amara unleashed everything they had. They were the Royal Guard, those who stood by the side of the Xaos King. While none could dream of equaling the Depravita of Wrath, they were ready to burn their souls if it meant keeping the honor of their title intact. With the Royal Guard breaking the Elite Units’ formations, the Lords of Horror and the 19 Bloodline Soldiers were finally able to claim the lives of these monsters, reducing their numbers steadily. Each time an Elite Unit fell, the battlefield shook with the fury of a dying Leviathan. Roars and screams intermixed with the relentless clash of metal on chitin, forming a grim cacophony of war.

The Elite Units were extremely important to the hive mind because their power could shift the entire tide of battle. Recognizing that the Elite Units were dwindling under the assault of the human troops, the hive mind directed hundreds of thousands of drones and aerial units to their rescue. The swarm surged forward, an endless flood of claws and mandibles, hell-bent on saving the Elite Units from destruction. Yet the humans had prepared extensively for this final confrontation, and each clash reflected their foresight.

No sooner had those hundreds of thousands of Leviathan drones and aerial units marched to aid the Elite Units than King Viserin and tens of thousands of elite Turkin Riders charged in from the flanks. Their mounts, demonic souls under absolute command, charged without fear into the ocean of smaller Leviathans. Swords and spears flashed, blood spraying as the Turkin cavalry carved through the monsters. In so doing, they formed a massive barricade that isolated the Elite Units, ensuring that none could break the siege. The Leviathan swarm found itself locked in a life-or-death struggle, with no possibility of uniting forces.

Though the humans were dominating the battlefield, it would have been naïve to assume they were paying no price in blood. Casualties were piling up for both sides. A soldier dressed in black armor swung his sword, severing multiple drones, only for a dark claw to flash in retaliation. The speed of the claw was too immense for him to parry, and it tore through his chest and emerged from his back. Shock and terror flickered in his eyes as he gazed at the insect-humanoid hybrid that had just ended his life. Yet, in a final surge of raw determination, the soldier roared, summoning every ounce of strength left in his battered body to drive his blade into the monster’s face.

"Shirekk!"

The Leviathan warrior howled in pain. The sword did not have the power to pierce all the way into its brain, but the slash obliterated its eye, blinding it. In doing so, the soldier allowed five other black-armored men to rush in. They sank their swords into the Leviathan’s carapace, delivering fatal wounds that dropped it to the ground. With grim efficiency, they pulled their weapons free, sorrow flickering across their faces as they looked at their fallen comrade. Yet they had no time for mourning, not now. That was a luxury for those who survived after the war. They pressed on, weapons raised, adrenaline fueling their next surge into the ranks of the Leviathans.

Scenes like this played out across the battlefield. Every second claimed dozens of lives. Even the most elite divisions—whether from the Golden Wave Legion or the Shadowstrike Legion—could die at any moment to a stray claw or an unseen assault from behind. This war pitted the human forces against an enemy more than ten times their number, monsters that knew no fear of death. To imagine a conflict of this magnitude without grievous losses would have been beyond foolish. But the soldiers of humanity stood ready to give their all. In the face of death, they continued fighting with unwavering resolve.

Death was a constant, looming horror, enough to freeze the heart of any mortal. But the knowledge that everything they loved would perish if they failed was an even sharper terror. Thus, they fought on, accepting injury and even mortality if it meant giving Terra one final chance at victory. Blood stained the ground, blending with the remains of Leviathans, and the wreckage of a battlefield pushed to its limits. The screams, roars, and echoes of colliding steel formed an unholy chorus, horrifying and awe-inspiring.