Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 622: Hunter’s Guild (I)

Chapter 622: Hunter’s Guild (I)

The eyes of everyone present widened in disbelief and horror as they witnessed the terrifying entity descending from the mountain peak.

It was an enormous Dino Warrior, over one hundred meters tall, entirely forged from a dark metallic alloy that reflected a menacing gleam under the burning sun.

With astonishing speed, completely at odds with its massive form, the gigantic construct charged toward the chaotic battlefield below, leaving shockwaves rippling through the air.

The giant’s eyes shone ominously, two fiery red gemstones that seemed to pierce through the very souls of every cultivator on the battlefield. A chilling robotic voice resonated clearly across the devastated cityscape, delivering a cold and merciless verdict.

"Invaders detected. Origin unknown. Response: Repel or annihilate."

Dread swiftly invaded the hearts of all who heard the voice. Each cultivator present instinctively recognized that this metallic beast’s strength was not merely at the Legendary Realm—it vastly surpassed the abilities of any being who had just recently ascended to that level.

As the realization dawned upon them, a single instinctive command thundered in their minds with unambiguous clarity.

"RUN!"

Although these warriors had been locked in brutal, life-and-death combat moments ago, none harbored the slightest delusion about their ability to withstand the terrifying might of this towering monstrosity. In the face of such a colossal threat, survival was the only meaningful priority, and escape became their singular focus.

Yet amidst the panicked chaos, one group of individuals reacted differently—the Sky Seed Depravitas.

Vlad, Jormungandr, Ouroboros, and Fafnir exchanged knowing glances, fully aware of the extreme danger they now faced. After all, they had barely managed a victory against a Peak Sage Dino Warrior energy construct in the Library’s combat trails, and the enemy before them now was unquestionably far beyond that previous adversary.

Nevertheless, the stakes were higher than ever, and this desperate moment also represented their greatest opportunity. Treasures awaited them, and to claim them, they were willing to embrace even mortal danger.

Vlad exchanged a quick, meaningful look with Jormungandr, silently conveying a crucial message. The small yellow cat understood immediately, recognizing their shared intention.

"Back to the portal!" Janus shouted urgently.

"We must escape!" Agamemnon echoed, equally alarmed.

The members of their respective teams swiftly nodded, gathering together and preparing to retreat.

Unlike Janus and Agamenon, however, Valeria, Scipius, and Cato prioritized their own survival above all else. Without uttering a single word of warning to their followers, they vanished down the mountainside, confident their teams would follow suit if they possessed any sense of self-preservation.

Indeed, their team members were not fools; they instantly grasped the severity of their predicament and began a mass exodus toward the mountain base.

Even Decimus Zanis, arrogant and prideful, hurried to flee. No matter how high his self-regard was, he understood the futility of battling such a powerful Legendary construct.

However, Decimus had barely traversed three hundred meters when a sudden barrage of lightning-infused fire arcs cut across his path, instantly halting his momentum. His eyes widened in disbelief and anger as he identified his attacker: none other than the small yellow cat.

"Are they trying to trap me here and feed me to that Legendary Dino Warrior?" Decimus thought furiously, his suspicions solidified further as Vlad, Ouroboros, and Fafnir quickly closed ranks around him, blocking any avenue of escape.

In the mind of the scion of the Zanis Family, the intentions of the Depravitas were clear; they intended to use the chaos to eliminate him permanently.

From afar, Agamenon frowned deeply, unable to comprehend why Vlad would go to such extreme lengths to target Decimus at the moment like this. For a split second, he hesitated, weighing his options. A decisive resolve flickered in his eyes, and he appeared ready to turn back and aid Vlad’s group.

Before he could do so, Vlad’s calm voice echoed clearly across the battlefield, reaching Agamenon instantly.

"Brother, don’t worry. We’ll be fine. Just keep the portal open."

Agamenon paused, eyes locked briefly with Vlad’s confident gaze. Without further hesitation, Agamenon nodded firmly, turning away and diving rapidly down the mountain, honoring Vlad’s request.

Unlike Agamenon’s display of loyalty and friendship, no ally from Decimus’s side lingered to offer assistance. Even Valeria, who had previously displayed affection towards Decimus, sprinted away without a second glance, moving swiftly like a startled gazelle toward safety.

Decimus noted their abandonment with contempt, sneering bitterly at the retreating backs of his so-called allies.

"If we remain here, we’ll all die!" Decimus shouted desperately, attempting to reason with the four Depravitas surrounding him. But his pleas were met only by their fierce, determined eyes, burning with undisguised killing intent.

"You ants!" Decimus roared furiously, realizing that negotiation was impossible. Without another word, his form suddenly burst into shadows, vanishing instantly.

However, the heightened senses of the Depravitas effortlessly tracked his movements, aided by their hidden A.I. Chips.

In unison, Jormungandr and Fafnir swiftly turned toward their left flank and simultaneously unleashed a devastating torrent of lightning, fire, and ice.

"BOOOOOM!"

A massive explosion erupted, forcing Decimus’s shadowy form back into visibility. Shock filled his eyes; he could not comprehend how the Depravitas had detected his exact location so swiftly and accurately.

Before he could regain his composure, Ouroboros appeared suddenly beside him, delivering a powerful, crushing kick directly to his chest.

The blow sent Decimus hurtling through the air, smashing violently into a towering building. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth as he felt his internal organs shake painfully, yet there was no time to assess the damage. Immediately, his eyes widened in terror as he saw Vlad charging toward him, his sword blazing with a destructive, sundering force.

To complicate matters further, the Legendary Dino Warrior was mere seconds from reaching their position.

"Dammit!" Decimus roared, desperation fueling his movements. He quickly dove deeper into the building, hoping to evade the incoming attacks and perhaps use the complex terrain to hide from the Dino Warrior.

Yet his escape only encouraged the Depravitas. Their eyes glittered with sinister triumph as they raced forward, following Decimus relentlessly into the shadowy interior of the damaged building.