Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 609: Peak Sage Tier Level

Chapter 609: Peak Sage Tier Level

After defeating the Level 18 Dino Warrior energy construct, Vlad felt the familiar tug of spatial manipulation as he was transferred to yet another library floor. The weight of excitement in his chest grew more intense as he understood that the knowledge contained in these Sage-level books could directly bolster his cultivation, which still lingered at the Guardian Tier. Any insight into Sage-level methods would be a boon to his foundations, paving the way for future breakthroughs.

When the swirling light receded, Vlad immediately noticed that this floor differed greatly from those he had visited at lower levels. Instead of the dozens of shelves, there were a mere seven here. Each shelf contained fewer than fifteen books.

Approaching them carefully, Vlad observed the delicate inscriptions above each shelf. Some were straightforward enough: one bore an emblem of a sword and shield, implying martial or warrior-focused techniques. Another displayed a fireball, likely indicating a mage or elemental path. But a few were less obvious: one portrayed radiant light pouring down from the sky, suggesting divine or holy arts, while another depicted an array of shifting geometric shapes whose meaning was not immediately clear.

[You have passed the Peak Guardian Combat Trial. You may choose one book. Any attempt to bypass these restrictions by magical or other means will lead to immediate expulsion.]

The robotic voice echoed again, and A glowing number 1 appeared above Vlad’s right hand, confirming the single-item limit. He narrowed his eyes, aware that each new level of the library imposed tighter restrictions. Yet these constraints mattered little if he could continue using his A.I. Chip to copy the texts without physically removing them. Stepping closer, he extended his hand toward the runic barrier guarding the nearest shelf.

Reaching through the intangible field, he allowed his fingertips to brush the spine of a tome. Immediately, he summoned the scanning tendrils of the A.I. Chip. Even though there were so few books here, the knowledge within them felt dense, layered, and labyrinthine. The scanning process took notably longer, requiring nearly five full minutes just to complete one shelf of fourteen volumes.

"Good thing I only need to copy the data," Vlad murmured to himself. "If I had to actually decipher these Sage-tier tomes on the spot, I could be stuck here for weeks...maybe even months."

With a final mental command, he moved to the next shelf, spending another careful stretch of time scanning each tome.

Over the course of thirty-one minutes, he repeated this process for all seven shelves, storing every bit of data in the A.I. Chip. Only then did he withdraw, exhaling with relief at having gathered so much high-tier knowledge without triggering any alarms.

Satisfied, Vlad turned and returned to the runic platform in the center of the floor. He took a moment to center himself, regulating his breathing. By his estimation, nearly two hours had passed since the group had first entered this ancient library.

Clenching his fists in determination, Vlad spoke clearly, not waiting for the robotic voice to prompt him.

"Peak Sage Level."

As with every prior transition, the library floor dissolved into brilliant light, and Vlad found himself in the familiar boundless white dome. Only, this time, the tension was palpable. The energy swirling before Vlad condensed into the same horned Dino Warrior shape—massive muscles, a colossal battle-ax, but this time, the aura emanated equal to that of a Vorometallicae Sage!

Vlad felt a bead of sweat forming on his brow even before the fight began. He channeled his energy, activating his Mark of Cain to augment his strength.

Vlad knew he had to finish this battle quickly; while his raw power allowed him to take down Sages, he now needed to do it very fast, adding a new layer to the challenge.

[Begin!]

A thunderous boom reverberated across the dome as the Dino Warrior charged, ax raised high. Vlad mirrored that aggression, lunging forward with his sword. The weapons collided in midair, creating shockwaves powerful enough to ripple the blank, featureless ground. Sparks of energy surged outward in all directions, crackling like miniature bolts of lightning.

Narrowing his eyes, Vlad twisted his body in a flowing motion, redirecting the ax’s downward momentum and deflecting it to the side. Without pausing, he slashed toward the Dino Warrior’s neck, hoping to end the fight in a single stroke. But this was no ordinary Guardian construct. With reflexes befitting a genuine Sage-tier entity, the Dino Warrior jerked its massive shoulder up, blocking the lethal blow meant for its neck.

A titanic impact followed, sending the Dino Warrior skidding back. A deep gash now marred its left shoulder, splitting muscle down to the bone. Rallying, the Dino Warrior shifted its stance, battle-ax still in its grasp, as the wound did not seem to hinder its battle power.

However, the next second the construct’s wounded shoulder began to quiver, and the gash there started to expand, flesh and bone crumbling into shattered fragments. The Dino Warrior’s left arm hung limp from the shredded socket.

Vlad’s cold smile betrayed the cunning advantage he possessed. The Mark of Cain did its job flawlessly. As the Dino Warrior’s body withered, a fresh influx of energy flooded into Vlad, bolstering his strength.

The fight continued for a few minutes, with more and more wounds appearing on the Dino Warrior. The energy construct was strong, but with only one functioning arm and a grievous injury on the other, the Dino Warrior lacked the speed it needed to defend itself fully.

The battle climaxed as Vlad swung his sword in a precise arc and plunged the blade through the creature’s chest, releasing a concentrated burst of energy that disintegrated its torso from the inside out.

Breathing heavily, Vlad let out a shaky sigh of relief. The strain of channeling so much power in such a short interval had begun to weigh on him. Nevertheless, he smiled. He had succeeded. The Dino Warrior vanished in an eruption of glowing fragments, and the endless white around him dissolved.

He found himself standing on yet another level of the library—but there were no shelves in sight this time. Instead, nine massive spheres of pulsing plasma hovered in midair, each radiating a kind of cosmic power that felt far beyond Vlad’s immediate comprehension. Colors shifted along their surfaces, forming swirling patterns that hinted at extremely older and profound energies.

The library’s disembodied voice echoed once more.

[You have passed the Sage Combat Trial and reached the Peak Sage Level. Before you are the Soul Worlds. Each sphere contains a unique pinnacle technique passed through direct spiritual imprinting. Place your hand within a Soul World, and you will receive a basic description of its knowledge. You may choose one of them for full imprinting.]

"Soul Worlds..." Vlad repeated the words, leaving his lips in a hushed tone.