Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 529: Leaving Terra (I)

Chapter 529: Leaving Terra (I)

Vlad’s eyes widened as he felt his World King Candidate Mark surge with newfound power. In the span of a heartbeat, the emblem on his forehead flared, releasing waves of golden radiance that coursed through his entire being. For one breathtaking moment, the world around him seemed to vanish, replaced by a boundless, floating sea of golden energy.

Thousands—perhaps millions—of streams of luminous power extended like tendrils from all directions, forming an intricate web that both fueled and restrained the golden sea. Though Vlad had never beheld such a spectacle before, he instinctively knew he was witnessing the living manifestation of the Plane Will itself.

"Gorgeous," he whispered, voice trembling with awe. But just as he uttered the word, the vision vanished. Reality returned with the abruptness of a shattered daydream, leaving him back facing the Five Star Kingdom.

Silence dominated the scene. Soldiers from the Xaos Forces and citizens of the Five Star Kingdom stood transfixed, stunned by the sudden burst of brilliance emanating from Vlad’s figure.

Although Vlad himself was equally taken aback by the experience, he was also elated. He had longed for this strengthening connection with the Plane Will—a key step in his pursuit of his ultimate goal. However, there was a time and a place for everything, and right now, he needed to focus on the task at hand. The stability of the newly integrated territory was paramount.

Gathering his composure, Vlad turned to the quintuplet rulers who called themselves the Five Stars. A solemn expression settled on his face. The transfer of the power of the World King Candidate Mark signaled their sincere desire to merge with the Xaos Kingdom. Still, it felt unusual that the deal had happened so quickly, without any negotiation, resistance, or demands. Vlad had to be certain there were no hidden agendas or misunderstandings.

"Why was it so easy for you five to relinquish your authority?" he asked, his gaze sharp. "You’ve barely seen a fraction of the Xaos Kingdom’s true might, nor do you fully understand our nature. Yet you handed over your power without hesitation."

As one, the Five Stars turned to face Vlad. Their voices blended into a single resonating tone, a hallmark of their uncanny unity. "Our Gift is called Quantum Mind. It allows our brains to operate at what we can only describe as quantum speed—something beyond even the supercomputers of the pre-apocalyptic era."

Vlad’s eyes widened further. It was enough of a surprise that five individuals shared the same Gift. But the notion that these Gifts conferred near-limitless cognitive capacity was staggering. As the implications sank in, Vlad frowned slightly, pondering the practicalities.

"If that truly is your Gift," he began, "how can you speak and act so coherently? Your bodies should not be able to withstand the impulses your brains generate. Not to mention that your souls would risk collapsing under the strain."

While it was true that the mental acuity of Sages and Legends could reach extraordinary heights, matching the computational power of advanced machines, such beings also possessed bodies and souls tempered enough to endure that level of processing. These quintuplets, by contrast, stood only at Champion level—nowhere near the heights of a Sage.

The Five Stars smiled in unison, and the Third Star spoke with a gentle nod, "It’s true. For a single mind, trying to function at quantum speed would lead to madness or catatonia. Our saving grace is that we have five separate souls linked together. The strain of our Gift is shared among us, allowing each of us to bear only a fraction of the burden."

Vlad studied them carefully, noting the clarity in their eyes. "Fascinating," he said softly. "It seems destiny truly favors you."

He paused, reflecting on what he had learned so far, but he did not lower his guard. His original question remained unresolved: Why surrender so quickly? The Five Stars, sensing his unspoken curiosity, continued without prompting.

"Through our network of scouts and sensor equipment, we had already compiled significant data about Oceanis. We tracked your movements and studied how you handled each city or settlement. The results spoke for themselves." They paused, gesturing discreetly toward Torin, who stood among Vlad’s retinue. "Your actions and the alliances you formed were enough to convince some of the most stalwart defenders of Oceanis to trust you. We concluded that if your words and deeds were good enough for them, they were good enough for us."

The Fourth Star took over, seamlessly continuing the conversation. "Besides, your power is so immense that if you desired to harm us, we would stand little chance of resisting. Therefore, the most logical course of action was to align with you willingly, so we could protect our people from within the Xaos Kingdom—rather than be crushed."

Vlad nodded in understanding, looking each brother in the eyes. Although they made it sound simple, he knew that the quantum processing of their combined minds had doubtless run countless simulations in the seconds before they knelt.

The idea that these five could rival even Overlord’s computational capabilities intrigued him. Such logistical experts could dramatically accelerate his conquest of the other continents, especially now that Oceanis was firmly under his banner.

"Excellent," Vlad declared, his voice echoing across the courtyard. "Because of your skills and having saved so many people, I grant you all the titles of Five Stars Marquesses, rulers of the Five Stars State under the aegis of the Xaos Kingdom."

Cheers erupted from the civilians and soldiers within the city walls. A change in leadership often incited tension and unrest, yet keeping the Five Stars in power relieved most of those anxieties. The quintuplets bowed deeply, a gesture of solemn gratitude.

"We will honor this title," they pledged together, "and we will use every facet of our Gifts and powers to advance the Xaos Kingdom."

Smiling, Vlad motioned for them to stand. With a single sweeping gesture from his hand, the massive Xaos army stationed around the city began to disperse, marching toward the remaining uncharted zones in the core of Oceanis. Their orders were to cleanse the land of any remaining threats, ensuring peace for all new citizens of the kingdom.

A contingent of engineers and craftsmen remained behind, entering the city with crates of supplies. They distributed cubes of preserved monster meat—an abundant resource in the Xaos Kingdom’s domain—to bolster local provisions. To Vlad’s delight, the city’s population did not seem malnourished or plagued by disease, a testament to the Five Stars’ excellent governance, so there was no need to hand over red pills. He couldn’t help but admire their organizational prowess.

Within days, a Proto Xaos To0wer rose in the center of the city. Once it was fully operational, the Five Stars immediately began interfacing with Overlord through a specialized magic communication system. Their eyes sparkled with a rare enthusiasm as they pushed their Gift to its limits, exchanging data at unimaginable speeds with the Xaos Kingdom’s central A.I. Chip Clone.

Vlad observed this new alliance with satisfaction. He could practically feel the synergy blossoming between the quintuplets and Overlord, a melding of brilliant minds that would only strengthen the kingdom’s power.

...

Several days later, Vlad stood high in the sky, gazing out over the transformed landscape. His lips curved into a faint smile as he surveyed the Five Stars State. No matter which direction he looked, every settlement, fortress, and outpost was under the control of the Xaos Kingdom.

Oceanis—once home to nearly half a billion souls and governed by a dozen or more separate countries—was now unified. The alien threats had been eradicated, the Monsters were subjugated, and all human enclaves had joined the Xaos Civilization.

In theory, Vlad was now the uncontested ruler of half the world. Terra consisted of six continents, and he held dominion over three of them—an achievement so monumental that few others could hope to parallel it. Yet Vlad felt neither complacent nor satiated. Instead, he brimmed with resolve. This victory was the foundation for an even grander ambition.

He ascended higher before dashing into the distance. After a brief flight, he reached the summit of the highest mountain in Oceanis, a craggy peak wreathed in swirling clouds. A sharp wind buffeted him, icy cold yet invigorating. Standing on a narrow ledge, he raised his head to the sky. The World King Candidate Mark on his forehead flared brilliantly, its golden radiance piercing the surrounding mist.

"Plane Will!" he roared, voice crackling with raw power. "Hear my call—answer my summons!"

Thunder rumbled across the horizon. Beneath Vlad’s feet, the mountain trembled as though caught between awe and terror. The skies above him dimmed, then split with a colossal burst of light. High in the firmament, swirling arcs of golden energy formed intricate patterns reminiscent of the vision he had seen earlier—a sea of radiance and an endless network of streaming power.

For a tense moment, everything hung in silence. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath. Then, a vast pressure descended upon the mountaintop, pushing against Vlad’s chest and shoulders like a giant’s hand.