Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 528: Conquering Oceanis

Chapter 528: Conquering Oceanis

The news that Freya and the Vikings had departed Terra spread across the land like wildfire, rippling through the army. Many speculated about how the loss of such powerful allies might affect the ongoing conquest.

Indeed, the Vikings’ prowess had been instrumental in certain operations, and without them, the speed of expansion could suffer. Yet few believed that their absence would truly endanger the ultimate success of the Xaos Kingdom.

After all, the threats they currently faced were significantly weaker than the kingdom’s core forces; even the strongest of the alien leaders had only just reached the Guardian Tier, while the Xaos Kingdom boasted five individuals capable of challenging Sages head-on.

Still, curiosity and concern flourished. Soldiers wondered how the Xaos King would respond to Freya’s departure. He had been open about his partnership with the Viking princess, and such a majestic woman leaving—even temporarily—could break the spirit of the strongest of men. Some whispered worries that he might slow his relentless drive for conquest. But these fears proved unfounded.

No more than an hour after the pillar of light whisked Freya and her warriors back to Valhalla, Vlad returned to the battlefield, wielding an overwhelming momentum that left even his seasoned troops astonished. The Depravita of Wrath launched himself straight into the heart of demonic hordes comprising hundreds of thousands of alien creatures. He tore through them single-handedly, leaving the rest of the Xaos troops to seal away the vanquished souls.

Without pause, Vlad sped to a nearby human outpost and unleashed the full might of his power. Fire and lightning raged in the skies, carving a trail of brilliance that made him resemble an avenging deity. The mere sight of it emboldened his allies and destroyed any form of resilience, making the job of diplomats like Chief Counselor Alonz far easier when persuading local forces to join the Xaos Kingdom.

Inspired by their king’s display of might, the Xaos Forces seemed to enter a state of overdrive. Warriors and Mages pushed themselves harder, surpassing their usual limits in order to maintain the staggering pace Vlad set.

Monsters that had terrorized the countryside were subdued or annihilated. Aliens bent on resisting the Xaos Kingdom were captured and sealed. This blitz of conquest accelerated even further once Overlord took the lead in organizing the new recruits from Oceanis into specialized combat and support brigades. Those local forces who joined the Xaos Civilization found themselves integrated into a seemingly unstoppable wave of power that rolled across the continent.

Within a mere half-year of Freya and the Vikings’ departure, the Xaos Kingdom had already secured dominion over Oceanis’s outer and middle rings. They now pushed relentlessly into the continent’s core, methodically capturing territory and bringing city after city under their banner.

Demons and angels alike trembled at the unstoppable approach of the Xaos Forces. Some tried to cluster together and break through the encirclement, but escape was impossible. They were inevitably captured alive, their souls sealed or dispatched to the Xaos Kingdom, where Overlord would dissect their powers and bloodlines to strengthen the kingdom.

Human settlements encountered along the way faced a different fate. So long as their leaders agreed to join the Xaos Civilization, assimilation was almost immediate.

Amara had spent months traveling across Oceanis to dismantle the reigns of corrupt despots and tyrants who abused their fellow humans. Only those genuinely interested in the well-being of their people were left in positions of local authority. This approach helped the Xaos Kingdom greatly, making even reluctant human enclaves more receptive to an alliance.

The climax of the Oceanis Conquest arrived when the Xaos Forces reached a massive human settlement at the continent’s heart. It was a radiant city, built on the shores of a shimmering lake and protected by towering walls that rivaled those of the Strong Hammer State. However, unlike other bastions that relied on a single, formidable leader to guide the populace through constant danger, this city was overseen by a council. During times of war, councils often faltered due to sluggish decision-making and political squabbling, but this one was unique.

The five individuals sitting on this council were siblings—quintuplet brothers—collectively known as the Five Stars. Their city, formally referred to as the Five Star Kingdom, had endured years of conflict precisely because of its leader’s impressive wits, wisdom, and logistic skills, which borderlines in the divine.

Each brother possessed only modest personal power—none had surpassed Level 9 Champion—but together, they had guided their city through countless threats. As Vlad drew near, these five men stood at the main gate, awaiting his arrival with a calm confidence few others could muster in the face of the Xaos King’s army.

Vlad himself gazed down from his vantage point, focusing on the quintuplets with keen interest. They were unremarkable in appearance: black-haired, brown-eyed men whose auras did not hint at overwhelming strength. Yet, there was a quiet resolve and a strange synchronicity in their bearing that intrigued him. Moreover, each brother bore a fragment of a World King Candidate Mark on his forehead, as if the Plane Will saw them as one entity with five distinct souls.

"I am Vlad, the Xaos King," he declared, his voice echoing across the plaza. "I have come to liberate this continent and guide all human forces toward peace and prosperity. Join the Xaos Kingdom, and you will become part of our civilization. You will enjoy the same rights and protections granted to those living in the heart of my domain."

Behind Vlad, the vast Xaos army stood in ranks that stretched as far as the eye could see. Among them were figures like Torin and Raylan. The Five Stars glanced at one another, eyes filled with sharp understanding, measuring the power of the king before them and the sincerity behind his words. In less than five seconds, they bowed in unison. Their voices blended seamlessly, as though they shared a single mind.

"We accept your command and leadership. We gladly join the Xaos Kingdom!"

Their swift decision took Vlad by surprise. Many leaders he had encountered required thorough negotiations or displays of might to coerce. Yet these five took but a brief moment of silent communication before declaring their loyalty. He parted his lips to speak again, but before any words escaped, he sensed a stirring in the very air.

In a burst of radiance, the World King Candidate Marks on each brother’s forehead glowed white-hot, then split away as shimmering beams of light. These five beams converged on Vlad, merging with the mark that existed above his own brow.