Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 530: Leaving Terra (II)

Chapter 530: Leaving Terra (II)

Vlad stood atop the shattered peak, unflinching in the face of an ever-rising pressure. His gaze remained resolute, and his posture steady, even as the ground beneath him cracked and chunks of rock began to levitate—evidence of a power so overwhelming that its mere emergence distorted reality.

At last, the sky above him turned a brilliant gold, its radiance flooding the firmament and casting shadows in every direction. Silence hung heavily in the air for a few seconds as though the world had paused to witness the moment.

Then, an imposing voice echoed across the sky, its resonance like a thunderclap in Vlad’s ears.

"Singularity. Why have you summoned me?"

The vibration of those words struck like a colossal bell ringing inside Vlad’s ears. Blood would surely have trickled from his ears if he had not possessed a Sage Tier body and overwhelming vitality.

In that fleeting instant, the Depravita of Wrath realized that while the Plane Will was immensely powerful, it lacked the fine control to moderate its strength. Even a mere sentence spoken by such an entity could shatter the minds of weaker beings.

Other than shock at the Plane Will’s power, a flash of confusion touched Vlad’s expression.

’Singularity?’ he wondered briefly, not recognizing the term. However, such curiosity had to be set aside. Taking a steadying breath, he tilted his head toward the golden sky, eyes blazing with focused willpower.

"I wish to ask for a favor."

The majestic golden sky remained silent as if processing his words. Fortunately, the Plane Will did not leave him waiting long.

"You have cleansed half of my surface of the alien threat and eradicated the heretics who bowed to them," the voice rumbled. "You have even confronted a danger so monumental that, for a moment, I feared all would be lost."

Vlad held his breath as the Plane Will paused, lingering in the charged silence for a few seconds before continuing.

"Your merits entitle you to my help. But I am a Plane Will, subject to stringent restrictions. I cannot impose my power upon the world directly; I can only aid those who fight on my behalf."

Vlad had anticipated this limitation. If Terra’s Will could interfere freely, it would have simply obliterated the alien invaders on its own instead of granting Origin Force to chosen warriors. A slight smile curved his lips, for the Depravita of Wrath desired not direct action from the Plane Will but something far more strategic.

"I want you to send me to a Doomsday World," he declared.

A tremor passed through the golden sky, evidence that his request had indeed surprised the Plane Will. Vlad felt the unseen gaze of this colossal consciousness refocus on him.

"Do you wish to abandon Terra?"

The Plane Will’s voice was tinged with coldness, which didn’t surprise Vlad. It hated aliens and heretics fiercely, but it also had no affection for deserters. He raised a hand in a calming gesture, quickly clarifying his intent.

"Not at all. What I want is the power to protect my people, and a Doomsday World is where I can obtain it. I also want you to bring me back when Terra ascends to the higher dimension."

The chill in the Plane Will’s tone eased, though its curiosity was far from sated.

"If you leave Terra," it inquired, "you will not be able to continue growing as a World King Candidate."

A confident smile touched Vlad’s face. Pride shone in his eyes, born of the certainty he had gained from countless battles and victories.

"I do not need to keep rising in that way," he replied. "Even if I leave, there is no one here capable of matching me. And soon enough, my people will have the entire continent under their control."

The Plane Will seemed to mull over his words. Though it did not openly confirm Vlad’s statement, its prolonged silence implied agreement. After what felt like minutes of silent deliberation, its voice returned.

"I am indeed nearing the threshold of the higher dimension, so I have enough power to send you—and everything marked by your soul—to a Doomsday World and then retrieve you when the time is right."

Vlad’s heart leaped at those words, but he knew it was not final. The Plane Will had only stated its capability, not its willingness to grant his request. Aware of this, he maintained a calm demeanor, waiting for the true verdict.

"My knowledge of the higher dimension is gleaned only from ancestral memories," the Plane Will continued, "but I understand that Doomsday Worlds are treacherous beyond measure. If you remain here, your soul and energy will continue to grow under the nourishment of my Origin Force. Are you certain you wish to leave?"

Even Vlad, who had stared down the Leviathans and the might of alien hordes, felt a flicker of trepidation at the thought. A Doomsday World was no mere battlefield; it was a crucible of brutality, filled with creatures that could crush the Leviathan King as if it were a mere insect. But the seeds of dread and hesitation were drowned by his burning ambition, the same fire that had carried him through every hurdle thus far.

"I am not satisfied," he said, voice clear and resolute. "I want more power. I need more power, if I ever hope to overcome the obstacles the higher dimension will throw at me. I refuse to bow my head the moment some foreign powerhouse arrives at my kingdom’s gates."

Silence settled over the mountaintop once again, but the glow in the golden sky intensified as though the Plane Will were pleased by Vlad’s resolve.

In truth, Terra’s Will had always favored those who fought against overwhelming odds to protect its essence. Vlad’s determination, tempered by experience and unyielding in its pursuit of strength, evidently met that standard.

A minute passed—then another—until, at last, the enormous golden sea above him stirred. The ground below ceased its trembling, and the levitated rocks settled back to the earth.

Vlad maintained his stance, unwavering, sensing that the Plane Will’s final decision was near.