Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 525: Summon from Valhalla

Chapter 525: Summon from Valhalla

Freya’s eyes widened in shock as she stared at the burning scroll suspended in midair. The ominous flames seemed to defy the wind, burning with an intensity that demanded her full attention.

For a brief moment, the Viking Princess felt an overwhelming sense of dread wash over her, her mind racing to comprehend the implications of this event. Every fiber of her being knew what the scroll symbolized—a message from Valhalla, one that could not be ignored.

Her thoughts spiraled, pulling her away from the chaos of the battlefield. In that moment of distraction, the Abyssal demon, writhing on the ground with shattered bones and searing pain, sensed an opportunity. Ignoring his grievous injuries, the demon summoned the last vestiges of his strength and lunged at Freya with a claw aimed directly at her throat. If he was to perish, he would drag the enemy commander with him.

But the demon underestimated her instincts.

Before the claw could make contact, Freya’s hand shot up like a thunderbolt, gripping the demon’s wrist with unrelenting force and tightening the grip with so much strength that she shattered everybody in hand.

The young woman’s piercing eyes, now cold and brimming with unrestrained fury, bore into the Abyssal’s. For a fleeting moment, the demon felt true terror, as if he were in the presence of a Lord from the Abyss.

Freya could not care less about the through of the Abyssal, and with a single decisive motion, she drove her foot into his head. The force was cataclysmic, reducing his skull to a bloody pulp.

The Viking princess stood over the lifeless body, breathing heavily. A deep frown etched itself onto her face as she surveyed the carnage. She hadn’t meant to kill him. The demon’s soul could have been extracted and sealed, a critical resource for the Xaos Kingdom. Yet the fury and confusion ignited by the scroll had clouded her judgment, leading to an irreversible mistake.

Taking a long, steadying breath, she forced herself to refocus. Origin Force surged from the Abyssal corpse and surged into her Soul Dimension, calming the tempest within her. Though the scroll was of great importance, the demons on the battlefield demanded her attention first. Only after their souls were sealed would she allow herself to address the message.

While Freya battled demons, the Strong Hammer State was undergoing a transformation unlike anything its people had ever witnessed. The celebrations following the integration into the Xaos Kingdom lasted for nearly two days, a time of joy and renewed hope. But soon, the engineers and architects of the Xaos Kingdom set to work, bringing the might of their technology and magic to bear.

Torin, the newly anointed Marquess of the Strong Hammer State, worked tirelessly alongside them. Though his people had fortified the city with admirable skill, the enhancements brought by the Xaos Kingdom were on a completely different level. Towering walls were etched with intricate runic matrices, each one designed to repel not just hordes of demons and monsters but even attacks from Peak Guardian Tier life forms. The once-simple fortifications now bristled with magical energy, forming a near-impenetrable shield around the city.

At the heart of the city, a Proto Xaos Tower rose like a beacon. It housed a copy of Overlord, the artificial intelligence that managed day-to-day operations and disseminated advanced knowledge to the populace. Through Overlord’s guidance, cultivation techniques and magical skills were taught to the people, ensuring that they could defend themselves and thrive.

The Xaos Kingdom also began introducing the Demon Soul Master Strength System, a revolutionary way to harness the power of sealed demon souls. Initially, soldiers and officials were given parchment tools that allowed them to channel demon energy without direct integration. Full access to the system would come later, once the people acclimated to the concept of controlling demonic forces.

Vlad himself contributed to the city’s enhancements, inscribing massive runic patterns designed to draw energy from the surrounding environment. This influx of energy transformed the city into a cultivation haven where practitioners could train at an accelerated pace. Watching the changes unfold, Vlad couldn’t help but smile. Just days ago, these people had lived in constant fear of the monsters lurking in the darkness. Now, children slept peacefully, and families dared to dream of a brighter future.

As Vlad surveyed the bustling city, his communication gem began to glow. Placing his hand over it, he heard Freya’s voice, her tone carrying a weight that immediately caught his attention.

"We need to talk. Can you come to see me?" Her voice was steady but tinged with an uncharacteristic solemnity. Vlad frowned slightly, sensing the gravity of her words. "I’m on my way," he replied without hesitation.

The gem’s locator revealed Freya’s position atop a distant mountain range. Fire and lightning erupted from Vlad’s body as he launched himself into the air. Sonic booms echoed across the land as he streaked through the sky like a meteor, his speed surpassing anything the Strong Hammer citizens had ever seen.

In less than twenty minutes, Vlad reached the mountains. His sharp eyes immediately spotted Freya standing atop the highest peak, her silhouette framed against the sky. Her long hair flowed in the wind, and her armor gleamed under the sunlight. Yet, there was an undeniable sadness in her posture.

Vlad landed softly, his aura subdued. As soon as his feet touched the ground, Freya moved toward him. Before he could speak, she wrapped her arms around him in a firm embrace. Vlad was momentarily taken aback but quickly returned the gesture, holding her close. They stood in silence, the weight of unspoken emotions hanging heavy in the air.

After what felt like an eternity, Freya stepped back, her eyes meeting his. They were filled with both sorrow and determination.

"My time to return to Valhalla has come," she said, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions within her.

Vlad’s expression shifted, his usually calm demeanor replaced by a flicker of surprise. Though he had known this day would come, hearing it aloud hit him harder than he had anticipated.