Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 632: Facing a Legend

Chapter 632: Facing a Legend

The Sky Seed Depravitas could feel the moment the Legendary Dino Warrior ceased its pursuit, but neither Vlad, Ouroboros, nor Fafnir dared to slow down. They kept running at full speed, pushing their bodies and abilities to the limit. If, for any reason, the Dino Warrior decided to chase them again, they would be doomed. Only once they were entirely out of this dimension would they allow themselves to relax.

Their speed was unmatched, and since they had avoided all unnecessary confrontations along their path back, it wasn’t long before the portal out of the secret plane came into view. Wild grins spread across their faces at the sight of their escape route.

Without hesitation or delay, the Sky Seed Depravitas lunged through the portal, instantly transitioning from the secret plane back into the underwater cavern. However, the moment they arrived, their smiles vanished, and their eyes sharpened with intensity.

The atmosphere in the cavern was tense, a silent but palpable hostility filling the space. On one side stood Agamenon and Imperial Prince Janus’s teams, their expressions composed but watchful. On the opposite side were Valeria, Scipius, and Cato, their groups standing rigid, their tension unmistakable.

The instant the Sky Seed Depravitas appeared, all eyes locked on them.

Janus and Agamenon’s expressions shifted into pleased smiles, but the same could not be said for Valeria and her allies. They had all seen the Sky Seed Depravitas chase after Decimus into the depths of the city. Their return alone—without Decimus—was a message in itself.

Something had gone terribly wrong.

Vlad paid no mind to Valeria’s darkening expression or the suspicion in her gaze. Without hesitation, he led Jormungandr, Ouroboros, and Fafnir toward their allies.

"Brother, you actually managed to escape the Legendary Dino Warrior! Amazing!" Agamenon exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine admiration. He didn’t ask for details about the battle; he simply acknowledged Vlad’s accomplishment.

"Hahaha, it was a very close call," Vlad admitted with a carefree chuckle, clapping Agamenon’s shoulder. "If we hadn’t found a way to distract it, who knows how long we would have been trapped inside that place?"

He laughed, but his words carried weight. Their escape had been anything but simple.

"We should return to the Golden Sky Fortress," Vlad added, already considering their next move.

"Hmph, who do you think you are to give orders?" Valeria sneered, her sharp gaze filled with hostility as she glared at Vlad. "Besides, we still need to wait for Decimus."

Vlad turned to her, his expression turning cold and indifferent.

"What’s the point of waiting for a dead man?"

Silence instantly swallowed the cavern.

The implications of Vlad’s words crashed down on the gathered warriors like a mountain.

Everyone had assumed that the Sky Seed Depravitas had merely locked Decimus away or incapacitated him in some way. After all, Decimus was a Peak Sage—an individual who had stepped into the realm of Laws, armed with powerful treasures and immense battle experience. The idea that he could be killed so easily had never crossed their minds.

And yet, Vlad’s words left no room for doubt.

His right hand slowly rose, and in his finger, gleaming under the dim light of the cavern, was Decimus’s spatial ring.

A hush fell over the assembled teams.

There was no way Decimus would have willingly handed over his spatial ring. There was only one explanation for why Vlad had it now.

"You damn bastard!" Valeria’s voice erupted with fury, her rage igniting like an inferno. "Do you have any idea what you’ve done!?"

But beneath her wrath, there was also fear.

A scion of the Zanis Family became part of her team and perished. Once word of this reached the Zanis Association, the consequences would be severe—not just for her but for her entire lineage.

She wasted no time. With a sharp, swift motion, she drew her sword, blue flames flickering violently around the blade.

Vlad showed no fear. His cold gaze remained steady as he summoned his own sword into existence, its edge gleaming ominously.

Tension skyrocketed.

The rest of the teams did not remain idle. Warriors on both sides instantly fell into battle stances, their weapons drawn, ready to engage at a moment’s notice.

Unlike before, however, the balance of power had shifted.

With Decimus gone and several warriors from Valeria’s team having perished in the battle at the inner ring, her side had weakened significantly. Even Scipius and Cato had suffered losses. On the other hand, Janus and Agamemnon had not lost a single warrior.

Scipius and Cato exchanged a silent glance before subtly nodding. A battle here would be disastrous for them. Slowly, they eased their stances and signaled their teams to do the same.

They didn’t care about Decimus’s death. His fate didn’t concern them.

Seeing herself abandoned, Valeria felt a surge of cold rage and betrayal. Her eyes flicked toward Scipius and Cato with seething hatred, but in the end, she had no choice. Gritting her teeth, she lowered her weapon and looked away.

Janus and Agamenon followed suit, motioning for their warriors to stand down.

The cavern remained thick with unspoken hostility, but no one was in the mood for further confrontation.

Without another word, the teams retrieved the Key Cubes that maintained the portal to the secret plane. With their business concluded, they left the underwater cavern, swimming toward the surface.

As they emerged from the polluted waters of the Narrow Sea, the Sky Seed Depravitas couldn’t help but grin.

The expedition was over.

They had gained a tremendous amount of wealth, including Decimus’s treasures. Despite all the dangers they had faced, they had come out on top.

But before they could savor their success—

"RUMBLE!"

A massive pressure descended from the sky.

The weight of it was suffocating, pressing down upon them like an invisible force of nature.

Dark clouds gathered overhead, spiraling chaotically as immense energy radiated outward for kilometers.

Every warrior present froze, their bodies instinctively locking up under the terrifying aura.

Slowly, they turned their eyes toward the sky.

A lone figure hovered above them—a thin man clad in tattered robes, his presence exuding an overwhelming sense of power. His face remained obscured by shadows, making his features impossible to discern.

But there was no doubt about it.

This was no Sage.

A solemn light flickered in Vlad’s eyes as he whispered a word.