Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 491: Leaving the cradle

Chapter 491: Leaving the cradle

Book 6 - Leaving the cradle

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"The domination of the rest of the world."

Those simple words, carried by Overlord’s calm and measured voice, took Vlad and the others utterly by surprise. They had just finished the greatest and most grinding war of their lives, a conflict against the Leviathan Race that had consumed years, drained their bodies and weighed heavily on their minds.

The thought of yet more conflict—another campaign, this time not to save the world but to rule—felt unthinkable to many of them. And yet, as they looked at Overlord, they recognized that the A.I. Chip Clone did not experience human fatigue. He analyzed the problems ahead, the opportunities at hand, through a lens that transcended mortal exhaustion.

Overlord watched the complicated expressions crossing their faces. There was a trace of impatience beneath his collected demeanor, but as always, his tone remained steady. He had never been one to mince words. "I realize the continuous fighting across the Monsoon Continent has exacted a severe toll on your bodies," he said, "and more importantly, on your minds. Yet, we cannot overlook the critical importance of unifying Terra’s other four continents under a single banner before we reach the higher dimension."

A solemn light flickered in the eyes of Vlad and his companions as they heard him speak, and none of them could negate the logic behind those words. They had battled the Leviathans, but Overlord’s words implied that even greater dangers might wait in the hidden reaches of other planes—Abyssal realms, Celestial domains, or more alien marauders.

A hush settled over the group. Each recognized that their victory over the Leviathan Race, for all its grandeur, only ensured Terra’s survival. Long-term stability was anything but guaranteed. And so, compelled by Overlord’s logic, they listened carefully to what he would say next. It took Overlord only a small glance to confirm that he held their attention, and he continued, explaining his perspective.

"Right now," Overlord said, "there must be multiple factions and organizations scattered across Terra’s surface. Some are led by humans who might be persuaded to join us without the need for bloodshed. Yet others are likely controlled by angels or demons who are waiting to reach the higher dimension to call for their masters. At present, we’re isolated from the greater universe, meaning our adversaries cannot request reinforcements from their home planes. But that isolation won’t last forever."

Vlad gave a small, reflective nod, a gesture that signaled understanding. Yes, the planet’s "isolation" was temporary—he could almost sense the ticking of a cosmic clock. If they postponed action for too long, legendary powers from the Abyss or the Heavens could arrive the instant Terra crossed the threshold to this higher dimension, forging alliances with any local group that shared their aims. That would throw the planet into a fresh tumult, undermining everything they had worked so hard to secure.

Overlord’s gaze flitted across the faces of Vlad, Freya, Anglius, Theodoro, Jormugandr, Ouroborus, and the rest of the higher-ups of humanity. "If we unify the entire world before arriving in that higher dimension," he said gravely, "we’ll be able to hold firm against any invasion or meddling from the ancient planes that already reside there. Right now, our military might is without parallel on Terra—more than enough to decimate any force or faction left on this planet—so we must seize this chance."

That mention of "our military might" carried Overlord’s usual composure, yet an undercurrent of excitement flickered in his eyes, barely perceptible unless one knew him well. Vlad recognized that forging Terra’s unity under the Xaos Civilization aligned with Overlord’s prime directives, the very reason for the A.I. Chip Clone’s existence: to guide, strategize, and protect. Overlord’s brilliance had steered them through the Leviathan crisis, and it now propelled them toward a new, more ambitious horizon.

Vlad shifted his gaze from Overlord to the rest of his inner circle, measuring their responses. Then, in a measured voice, he asked, "What does everyone else think?"

A profound hush fell. Each individual weighed Overlord’s words carefully, acutely aware that they now stood at a crossroads for the entire planet. Eventually, Grand Marshal Anglius spoke up. Among all of the present, he possessed the greatest wealth of military knowledge, having orchestrated countless battles before the start of the apocalypse as part of the military of the Constantine Country.

"My King," Anglius said, turning to Vlad with unwavering respect. "Overlord’s perspective is logical. As of now, our forces should be more than enough to overrun and subdue every territory on Terra. I doubt there’s any single group or faction—human or otherwise—capable of resisting our might. I say this not as an idle boast but because our strength has skyrocketed in these final years, and I honestly believe no other force in Terra has reached a level even close to ours."

He paused, scanning the eyes of his comrades. Freya, Jormungandr, Ouroborus adm the others each offered slight nods. Indeed, the Xaos Civilization’s capacity had grown faster than any other known human force. Before they ever faced the Leviathans, they were already well ahead of the Turkin Kingdom in terms of soldier training, discipline, technology, and weaponry. Then came the Leviathan threat, which compelled them to make leaps in advancement. Their entire civilization had thrown its resources into survival, forging breakthroughs at a simply incredible speed.

"Right now," Anglius continued, "with no external powers to hinder our movements, we could integrate every remaining human kingdom into the Xaos Civilization, offering them better conditions under our banner. As for alien enclaves, we can root them out entirely, wiping out any group that might threaten Terra’s stability."

Those present nodded yet again. It sounded like a grand plan: forging a single, unified rule over Terra, ensuring peace, and preventing chaos.

Then, as if to underline a potential problem, a quiet voice pierced the air with a pointed question. "What about the human organizations that do not wish to join the Xaos Kingdom?"

A ripple of tension crossed the group. They all turned to face the questioner, King Viserin of the Turkin Kingdom. The Turkin Kingdom was another sovereign realm in Terra and was not really a subject of the Xaos Kingdom. But during the Leviathan War, that distinction hadn’t mattered: they all fought the same mortal threat. However, now that the war had finished, the relationship between the two kingdoms hung in the air.

Vlad regarded the Turkin King squarely. "Does the Turkin Kingdom intend to remain an independent force?"

At once, the air grew thick with apprehension. If the Turkin Kingdom resisted assimilation, it could quickly spiral into a confrontation. Everyone there understood that a direct conflict between the Xaos Kingdom and the Turkin Kingdom would end swiftly in Xaos’s favor. After all, Overlord himself had trained the Turkin riders and could easily break them in a battle, not to mention that the trio of Sky Seed Depravitas alone could upend any major opposition if it came to war. Yet the notion of turning on longtime allies sat poorly with them, stirring an unspoken dread.

Viserin’s eyes held unwavering resolve. He answered Vlad’s question calmly. "What if we do want to remain separate?"

The tension in the air was almost palpable. Just days before, these men had fought side by side, forging deep bonds in the crucible of war. Anglius, Theodoro, and the rest showed complicated expressions since attacking the men and women with whom they had shed blood just a few days ago would be a great blow to the morale of the soldiers.

But Vlad responded without hesitation. "Without you and your people," he said, "we never could have beaten the Leviathan Race. If you want to stand alone, I’ll respect that. Keep your domains, and we’ll never intrude on how you govern yourselves."

Surprise coursed through the small gathering. Vlad clearly wanted to unify the planet yet he refused to force the Turkin Kingdom’s hand. Grand Marshal Anglius exhaled a small, audible sigh of relief, just like everybody else.

King Viserin studied Vlad for a moment, his expression softening with understanding. "I suspected you’d say something like that," he admitted in a gentle voice. Then, in a gesture of respect that none could have anticipated, he bowed on one knee and lowered his head. "In that case, I and my people will gladly join the Xaos Kingdom and call you King."

The change was immediate. As soon as Viserin gave those words, the mark of the World King’s Candidate on his forehead began to glow. It shifted into a blazing stream of golden light that shot across the space, merging into the identical mark glowing upon Vlad’s brow. A sudden surge of brilliance pulsed between them, intensifying the power radiating from Vlad.

They all sensed the significance. The last major sovereign realm in the Asani and Monsoon Continents that wasn’t formally part of the Xaos Civilization had just bent the knee willingly. It was not conquest or subjugation but a gesture of trust among war-forged allies. Freed from the specter of further conflict on their home continent.