Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 490: Domination of the rest of the world

Chapter 490: Domination of the rest of the world

Fafnir, the immense fire dragon of molten scales, nodded softly upon hearing Vlad’s last words. He offered no spoken response, choosing instead to keep his thoughts private while he watched the weary soldiers gathering the remains of their fallen.

Hours ago, this place had been ravaged by unending conflict, drenched in the blood of both humans and Leviathans. Now, it stood as a somber memorial to the price of survival: men and women kneeling beside the still forms of their comrades, preparing them for one final journey home.

Standing aloft the draconic head, Vlad noted the subdued compassion in Fafnir’s gaze. Despite the dragon’s towering size and overwhelming power, the Depravita of Envy was newly forged, a being unversed in the complexities of human emotion. Yet something in Vlad’s explanation had sparked a deeper awareness within him: humanity’s bonds were not merely about duty or survival—they were also about risking heartbreak to discover hope.

At last, the grim task reached its end. No corpses remained scattered on the trampled soil; each had been carefully placed in magically conjured coffins, ready to depart for their homeland, where friends and relatives would offer a final farewell.

Vlad, satisfied by the completion of this solemn chore, raised his voice so all could hear. "My soldiers, rest now. The war is over, and soon we will return home."

Those words from the Xaos King ignited tired smiles on many faces. Under the guidance of their generals and captains, the troops began leaving the decimated battlefield. Some stumbled away half in a daze, searching for any patch of grass or soft ground where they could collapse into genuine rest—the first since setting foot on this continent.

It took little time before the war-torn plain fell nearly silent, leaving behind only a handful of individuals: Jormgundr, Freya, Overlord, Grand Marshal Anglius, King Viserin, Major General Theodor, the Royal Guard, and Vlad himself, perched upon the living furnace that was Fafnir.

No longer worried about causing panic among thousands, those who remained allowed their curiosity to surface. They had marched across unknown lands, faced monstrous creatures, bled, and sacrificed under Vlad’s leadership. Now, with the Leviathan threat ending, they had a right to know the truth behind the massive draconic shape that still dominated the skyline.

Vlad understood their silent questions and the doubts in everybody’s mind and knew he needed to asnwer them. Lowering his voice, he addressed the group plainly. "His name is Fafnir. He is the Depravita of Envy, born of the spirit once tangled inside this obsidian obelisk and part of my own soul."

A ripple of tension coursed through those listening. At the mention that this colossal fire dragon carried traces of Leviathan lineage, a sharper caution edged their gazes.

These warriors had fought an inconceivable war to exterminate the Leviathans, losing friends and loved ones on the way. The idea that a fragment of that old enemy might linger—even in new form—could only stir wariness.

Fafnir, seeing their reactions, showed no surprise. He had sensed that humans who had waged so many battles to halt Leviathan’s devastation would not easily accept even a hint of that legacy.

Vlad gave them time to absorb his words before continuing. "Yes, Fafnir’s origin is complicated, but he’s a new life form now, free of any crimes his ancestors may have committed. He’s also recognized by Terra’s Will as one of its own."

Those present noticed a faint glow on Vlad’s forehead, the mark of the World King’s Candidate. They observed that the same cosmic favor stretched out, in some intangible way, to encompass Fafnir. In a single moment, the onlookers realized the planet’s will—long known to harbor unrelenting hatred toward aliens—had acknowledged the dragon as a true son of Terra. It was proof that he’d severed his ties to the Leviathan legacy, becoming something entirely reborn.

For a few seconds, silence reigned as each figure tried to grasp the enormity of the revelation. Eventually, the A.I. Chip Clone took the initiative, his voice calm, betraying no inner turmoil, "I believe we can all agree that the Leviathan Race has been extinguished from the world."

Freya, Jormgundr, Ouroborus, Anglius, King Viserin, and Theodor glanced at each other, and after a few moments of deep contemplation, they nodded in solemn unity. The monstrous threat that had overshadowed Terra for so long was gone.

Overlord, seeing their tacit agreement, continued with unhurried precision. "Could I ask whether your true body is the dragon we see here or the obelisk itself?"

Fafnir’s fiery gaze narrowed. Something about the Divine Avatar triggered a subtle unease in him, a reaction from his instincts, though he could not name it. Yet, when Vlad inclined his head, signaling trust, Fafnir obliged.

"The core of my soul resides in this body. However, part of my mind remains within the obelisk, linked through the Hive Mind. I can still control the obelisk and use its biomass to create bioweapons."

A flash of excitement lit Overlord’s eyes for the briefest instant, quickly concealed by his usual composed demeanor. He looked to Vlad again. "Fafnir is the first member of his own race. Given his characteristics and abilities, I propose we name that race the Thiamatos Race."

Vlad’s gaze sharpened. To many, Overlord’s suggestion might come across as a benevolent gesture, but Vlad knew Overlord’s strategic nature too well.

By naming Fafnir’s lineage "Thiamatos," Overlord aimed to sever any associations with the reviled Leviathans, preserving trust and preventing the army from harboring lingering ill will toward this new creature. After all, the mere mention of Leviathan ties could doom any attempt at acceptance. Moreover, the presence of leftover "biomass" in the obelisk, combined with Fafnir’s capacity to forge new bio-weapons, made it paramount that this new race carry no stigma from the past.

A moment later, Vlad nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, Thiamatos Race suits him well."

"Excellent," Overlord declared. "With that settled, there’s a more pressing matter to discuss."

Instantly, Freya, Jormgundr, Ouroborus, Anglius, King Viserin, and Theodor exchanged perplexed glances. The Leviathans were no more. How could there be any matter overshadowing that victory? But Overlord pressed on without delay.

"The domination of the rest of the world."

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End of Book 5. The war at the end of the world / The rise of the king of Leviathans