Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 569: Shadow Laws?

Chapter 569: Shadow Laws?

Of course, even if the figure was of a meaningful background, there was no way Vlad would simply bow down to them or ignore blatant disrespect. He met Urion’s gaze with sharp, cold eyes.

"You did not answer my question."

Another wave of shock crossed Urion’s face as he realized that, even after revealing his family name and prestigious role, the group showed no sign of deference. They did not flinch, nor did they lower their heads as many others would.

Hmph, a bunch of country bumpkins, Urion thought bitterly, though he maintained his composure. His voice remained sharp and commanding as he continued, "Those corpses can be transformed into powerful weapons and armor. Hand them over to the Zanis Association, and once we sell the products we forge from them, we will pay you a commission of 25%."

Vlad didn’t know whether to laugh or scoff at the audacity of the statement. Urion was essentially demanding they surrender their hard-earned kills in exchange for nothing but a mere promise of future payment—and only a quarter of the profit at that. What amused Vlad even more was that he could tell that, in Urion’s mind, he was genuinely being generous.

"Ahhh." Vlad sighed, shaking his head. It seemed that no matter where one went, even in a world that was essentially a giant battlefield, there were always people like this. Rather than waste more time with Urion, Vlad simply turned away from him and addressed Oliver, the quartermaster, handing over all the corpses Jormungandr would not need.

"We will exchange these corpses for military credits."

Urion’s eyes widened in disbelief. Not only had Vlad ignored his words, but he had outright dismissed them as meaningless. He was unused to this kind of treatment, and his shock only grew when he noticed the way some of the people in the Logistics Military Center were reacting—many were covering their faces, trying to stifle their laughter as they watched him make a fool of himself.

"You dare to disrespect the Zanis Family!?" Urion roared, his voice full of both anger and humiliation. He lashed out, grabbing Vlad by the shoulder. However, the moment he made contact with the Sky Seed Depravita, a wave of horror washed over him.

A vision coursed through Urion’s mind—one in which his own arm was severed and flying through the air. This was not an illusion but a premonition of what would happen next. The moment Vlad felt the unwanted touch on his body, his eyes glowed with killing intent.

Vlad was in a foreign land filled with killers and murderers. Any display of weakness would mark him as an easy target for bullying, and the only way to prevent that was by making it clear that provoking him came with dire consequences.

Without hesitation, Vlad’s hand formed a blade stance, a thin layer of lightning and fire coating his fingertips as he slashed toward Urion’s elbow, fully intending to bisect the arm.

However, just as Vlad’s attack was about to land, Urion’s shadow trembled violently, and a figure emerged from it.

The entity was a hulking man covered in strange tattered robes. His speed was breathtaking, and in an instant, he managed to push Urion back while raising his free hand to intercept Vlad’s strike.

The moment Vlad’s attack landed on the man’s palm, his eyes widened. Even though it was a fast and improvised strike, it was still powerful—yet, the instant it made contact, all the energy it carried vanished. The fire, the lightning, and even the kinetic force behind the blow seemed to be swallowed by the shadows that enveloped the man’s body.

Vlad’s gaze sharpened as he took a measured step back, his eyes glowing with a newfound sense of seriousness. That was not a simple Sage Ability—it was something far more profound, something ethereal.

"The Laws." That thought crossed Vlad’s mind as he instinctively adopted a battle stance. The rest of the Sky Seed Depravitas followed suit, their energy flaring in preparation for a potential fight.

The tension in the building immediately escalated, and no one dared to approach. If a battle erupted here, the destructive aftermath would be unimaginable.

For a moment, the Sky Seed Depravitas and the shadow-cloaked man simply stared at each other, measuring each other’s strength and abilities in silence.

"What are you waiting for? Kill them!" Urion suddenly screamed, his bloodshot eyes revealing both fury and fear.

The shadow figure’s face was obscured by the dark mist covering his body, but there was a visible frown in his posture upon receiving the command. Fighting inside the Golden Sky Fortress was strictly forbidden—unless one was provoked, such as in Vlad’s case when Urion grabbed him. Furthermore, the shadowy warrior could sense a dangerous aura emanating from the strange group before him, and he was uncertain whether he could claim victory.

However, refusing a direct order from an emissary of the Zanis Association was equally problematic.

Just as it seemed that battle was inevitable, the massive gates of the Logistics Military Center burst open with a resounding boom.

A towering man, standing nearly three meters tall, strode into the hall. His hair was jet black, and a deep scar marred the right side of his face. His very presence commanded authority.

"Who dares to fight in the presence of the Royal Knights!?" the man bellowed, his voice carrying an undeniable weight.

The man was none other than William, the Royal Knight who had previously escorted Agamemnon and Vlad to meet Marshal Maximo.

His cold, piercing eyes swept across the room, locking onto Urion and his shadowed guardian. Without waiting for a response, he unleashed a suffocating pressure that spread across the entire building, making even the air itself feel heavy.

The silence that followed was absolute.

Urion, who had been brimming with arrogance moments before, suddenly found himself at a loss of words. The Royal Knights represented imperial authority, and he did not dare to challenge it.

Vlad and his comrades, on the other hand, remained composed. Though they could feel the weight of William’s aura, they knew the man was not here to pressure them.