Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 568: Urion Zanis

Chapter 568: Urion Zanis

With everything taken care of, the Sky Seed Depravita nodded and flashed back to the Golden Sky Fortress. It was time to heal in a safe place, recover their strength, and display their hard-earned trophies—the corpses of the Voroe Sages they had just slain. Furthermore, it was nearly time for Vlad to engrave a new Darkness-Devouring Runic Formation following his deal with the Golde Sky Fortress Marshal.

The fortress was neither close nor too far, and since the area was under the dominion of Graecia’s forces, they had no need to cloak their energy. Without fear of detection, they moved at full speed, tearing through the skies like streaks of light. The wind howled around them as they crossed thousands of kilometers, and after six relentless hours of flight, they once again found themselves beneath the golden flaming sky of the fortress.

Thanks to their military badges, they faced no obstacles when entering through the massive fortress gates. The golden path beneath their feet glowed faintly as they walked through the outer ring, advancing with confident strides. Their presence drew the eyes of many, their battle-worn figures exuding an undeniable aura of strength and accomplishment. They marched straight into the middle ring, their goal clear—the Logistics Military Center.

Once inside, they were greeted by Oliver, the quartermaster, who immediately recognized them. It was impossible for him to forget their group after having met them just days ago.

"Good day, Barons. How may I be of service today?" Oliver inquired, his voice polite yet tinged with curiosity.

Vlad stepped forward with a wide grin, exuding confidence. "We’re here to confirm our kills."

Without hesitation, he waved his hand, summoning four Voroe corpses from his space ring. They floated in the air before him, their lifeless forms still emanating residual energy. The sight immediately caught the attention of everyone in the building. Conversations halted, and all eyes turned toward the display of dead Sages. The energy signatures within the corpses were unmistakable—these were powerful Sages, and now they lay defeated.

Many of the spectators nodded in acknowledgment, understanding that slaying a Voroe Sage was no small feat. However, some onlookers remained unimpressed, thinking it was only natural for a group of four Sage-tier life forms to be able to take down three Voroe Sages.

But their assumptions were quickly shattered.

Jormungandr, Ouroboros, and Fafnir each followed Vlad’s lead, waving their hands in turn. The first two produced three Voroe Sage corpses each, while Fafnir presented four. One of the corpses the fire dragon had brought forth was merely an elephant’s head, but it was still enough to be counted as a confirmed kill.

A stunned silence filled the Logistics Military Center.

Realization dawned upon the gathered onlookers—the four Sky Seed Depravita had slain a total of fourteen Voroe Sages!

Gasps rippled through the hall. Shock, disbelief, and admiration filled the expressions of those present. A killing speed like this was simply unheard of, an achievement that no newcomer had ever attained before. The fact that they had emerged from such battles still standing, their vitality strong, and no sign of damage to their life force made it all the more impressive.

Murmurs spread like wildfire as speculation ran rampant. Where had these warriors come from? What was their true level of strength? How had they managed such an extraordinary feat?

Oliver, despite his years of experience, was just as astonished as the rest. However, he quickly composed himself, maintaining his professional demeanor. Taking a deep breath, the quartermaster activated a verification crystal, scanning each corpse to confirm their authenticity. The process took only seconds before he turned back to them with a wide smile.

"The corpses have been verified. Your Killing Merits have been added to your profiles. Would you like to exchange the corpses for military credits?"

At the quartermaster’s question, Vlad, Ouroboros, and Fafnir exchanged glances before turning toward Jormungandr. The three Sky Seed Depravitas had little use for the Voroe Sages’ corpses and were more than happy to trade them for military credits. However, before finalizing the decision, they had to check if Jormungandr needed any for his alchemical research.

If Jormungandr’s alchemy abilities advanced to Rank 4, he would be able to forge weapons and armor far superior to their current equipment. Ensuring his growth was of utmost importance to the team.

Jormungandr’s sharp golden eyes carefully scanned the corpses. After a few moments of contemplation, he pointed to three of them.

The Sky Seed Depravita nodded in agreement, setting those aside for the alchemist while preparing to exchange the rest for military credits.

However, just before the transaction could be completed, a voice rang out across the hall.

"Wait a moment."

The speaker was a young man with golden hair, piercing blue eyes, and a luxurious robe embroidered with intricate patterns. Everything about him radiated nobility, wealth, and authority. He carried himself with an air of self-importance as he approached the Sky Seed Depravita, his posture exuding arrogance.

Vlad narrowed his eyes slightly, a small frown appearing on his face. He didn’t appreciate the commanding tone with which the man had addressed them, as though he had the right to order them around.

"Who are you, and what do you want?" Vlad asked, his voice firm and devoid of deference. Since the other party had shown them no courtesy, he saw no reason to be polite.

The golden-haired man hesitated for a brief moment, clearly unaccustomed to being spoken to in such a manner. However, his composed smile quickly returned as he continued moving forward.

"I am Urion Zanis of the Zanis Family of the Graecia Empire and also the emissary of the Zanis Association in the Golden Sky Fortress," he declared, his tone carrying an air of superiority.

Vlad’s eyes narrowed as he saw how the atmosphere in the hall shifted. More murmurs erupted as recognition set in among the bystanders. While for him, the Zanis Family meant nothing, it was clear they were an important force in the empire.