Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 505: A million demons

Chapter 505: A million demons

The Xaos forces continued their advance through the ocean, leaving devastation in their wake for any Monster horde foolish enough to challenge their might. With Jormungandr and Ouroboros aiding the Thiamatos units, no obstacle could slow their progress. Every attack from the Monsters only served to grant more biomass, which would later fuel the creation of additional units.

After fifteen grueling hours of continuous movement, the soldiers aboard the massive warships finally caught sight of land on the horizon. A collective wave of relief and excitement swept through the ranks as they realized they had reached their destination: the Oceanis Continent. This distant landmass, surrounded by the unrelenting ocean, marked the first phase in their grand campaign.

High in the sky, Vlad observed the approaching shoreline, a smile briefly gracing his lips. However, the expression quickly faded as his sharp gaze picked up movement across the shore. More than a million demons were clustered along the coast, their chaotic energy radiating like a palpable storm.

"Hmm," Vlad murmured, his voice carrying an edge of contemplation. "It seems the demonic presence in Oceanis is far stronger than I anticipated."

The sight of such a massive horde so early in their campaign was surprising, but it did not stir fear in Vlad’s heart. He simply shifted his attention to the largest warship leading the fleet, the one commanded by Overlord. The A.I. Chip Clone, attuned to Vlad’s silent message, opened his eyes and activated his Omniscient Gaze, the skill enhanced by the infusion of Origin Force and Divine Force after the Leviathan War.

Overlord’s eyes glowed with unparalleled intensity as his vision pierced through the shore, scanning the entire region despite the immense distance. The power required for this technique was immense, but Overlord’s upgrades allowed him to use it for a few precious seconds without suffering debilitating backlash.

Within moments, Overlord pinpointed the location of every powerful demon within the horde, their positions, and their distribution across the battlefield. His mind seamlessly connected with the computational cores controlling the warships. The runic matrices that adorned their surfaces began to hum with life, channeling energy into the ships’ weapons.

As the runes flared to life, the demonic horde finally noticed the approaching fleet. A cacophony of guttural roars and screams erupted from the shore, a manifestation of their chaotic minds brimming with rage. Unlike common demons, however, three Abyssal demons within the horde displayed wisdom. Their instincts warred with the incomprehensible sight before them. The warships defied their understanding, as they believed the technological advancements of humanity had been lost in the apocalypse.

The Abyssals, however, quickly suppressed their confusion. They barked commands, their guttural voices rising above the chaos, instilling a semblance of order among the unruly masses. The horde began to arrange itself into crude formations, their chaotic nature tempered by the authority of their leaders.

Unbeknownst to the demons, their efforts were futile.

The warships made their move. Massive cannons emerged from the hulls of the colossal vessels, their barrels glowing with concentrated energy. The power of the runic formations surged through them, coalescing into spheres of white energy. Without hesitation, the cannons unleashed their payloads, and thousands of these energy spheres rocketed toward the shore at supersonic speeds.

The Abyssals’ eyes widened in horror as the blazing projectiles hurtled toward their ranks. Their instincts screamed for survival, and the three powerful demons unleashed their energy in a desperate bid to shield themselves. But the destruction that followed was unlike anything they had anticipated.

When the spheres reached the shore, they didn’t explode in fiery blasts. Instead, they burst into waves of searing white lightning that cascaded across the entire beach. The demonic horde convulsed violently as the lightning infiltrated their nervous systems, scorching their bodies from the inside out. The agony was so intense that the demons clenched their fists and teeth with such force that they tore their own flesh.

Vlad observed the scene with cold detachment. Not a shred of pity crossed his face as he watched the demons writhe in torment. He understood their nature all too well—merciless, brutal, and unrepentant in their savagery. This was the justice they deserved.

One by one, the demons collapsed to the ground, motionless but not dead. The lightning had been specifically calibrated to disable rather than kill. According to Overlord’s calculations, even Mortal Tier demons would endure the effects for twenty-four hours before their bodies succumbed to the damage.

Cheers erupted aboard the warships. Awe, excitement, and relief coursed through the soldiers as they realized that the once-daunting horde—a force that would have required days of relentless battle to defeat just a year ago—had been neutralized in under five minutes.

Of course, the soldiers were aware that such overwhelming power came at a cost. The energy expenditure for the attack was immense, and it would take considerable time to recharge the warships for another assault of this magnitude. But for now, the victory was sweet, and their spirits soared.

As the warships reached the shore, the soldiers disembarked with precision and purpose. Each one carried parchments infused with sealing magic. Moving with practiced efficiency, they approached the fallen demons, spreading the parchments on the ground beside the incapacitated creatures.

High above, Vlad watched with satisfaction as tendrils of magic emerged from the parchments, snaking toward the demons’ bodies. The tendrils latched onto the creatures, consuming every last trace of their existence before sealing their souls within the parchments.

A broad smile crossed Vlad’s face. This was the first step in the grand plan—the Threefold Path for Demons, Angels, and Monsters. Each soul sealed represented a step closer to a world remade in the vision of the Xaos Civilization, not to mention that the soldiers also gained a significant amount of Origin Force every time one of the demons perished.

The soldiers worked tirelessly, their movements synchronized as they carried out their grim task. The once-chaotic shore, teeming with demonic energy, was now eerily silent, save for the hum of magic and the disciplined movements of the Xaos forces.