Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 641: Forging new Demon Soul Masters (I)

Chapter 641: Forging new Demon Soul Masters (I)

The rhythmic echoes of ingredients melting and runic inscriptions crossing vast sheets of parchment resonated throughout Vlad’s residence.

The Depravita of Wrath wasn’t alone in this meticulous task—Tyron, the old Runic Master, accompanied him. Together, the two were engrossed in a profound undertaking: modifying the Demon Cage Runic Formation so it could seamlessly integrate with weapons, granting them formidable powers.

However, what appeared straightforward in theory was proving extremely complex in practice.

Unlike a living being endowed with consciousness and will, a weapon lacked sentience, demanding that the power of the demon soul be etched deeply enough within its essence to be summoned effortlessly by the wielder’s mere thought. Vlad and Tyron had already devoted a week to perfecting this new Runic Diagram, yet completion remained frustratingly elusive.

Nevertheless, they weren’t discouraged. Both understood that pioneering work of such complexity required time, patience, and countless incremental improvements. Each minor breakthrough filled their hearts with anticipation and excitement.

Vlad, in particular, was vividly aware of the immense potential market this innovation could create. After all, a warrior was limited by a singular physical body, but weapons were numerous. By enabling Demon Cage-infused weapons, he envisioned remarkable profits.

Tyron, meanwhile, held little interest in wealth or fame. His driving motivation lay solely in the pursuit of mastery. Every small improvement was a step toward personal excellence, something he valued far above material gains since it was connected to his cultivation base.

Vlad wasn’t solely focused on the Demon Cage Formation. He dedicated considerable effort to refining the Darkness Devouring Runic Formation. This project, however, he pursued alone. However, Vlad respected Tyron and doubted the old master’s potential betrayal; such powerful and sensitive secrets simply couldn’t be shared carelessly.

The Depravita of Wrath understood that trust had limits, especially concerning formations that could affect the entire market of the Greacia Empire and antagonize the powerful Zanis Association.

Just as the two Runemasters prepared to begin another intense session of meticulous work, Vlad suddenly sensed someone approaching the door of his residence. Slightly irritated by the interruption, he stood, frowned briefly, and moved swiftly to answer it.

To Vlad’s surprise, the visitor turned out to be Agamenon, whose wide smile betrayed his excitement. Beside him stood an imposing, metallic box, clearly containing something significant.

"Brother, I brought you a demon," Agamenon announced proudly.

Realization immediately flashed in Vlad’s eyes, accompanied by slight embarrassment. He had been so immersed in his studies and experiments that he’d nearly forgotten his arrangement with Agamenon and the other Sages regarding Demon Cage materials.

"Of course," Vlad said with a clumsy smile, recovering his composure swiftly. "I’d almost forgotten. Come inside."

Stepping aside, Vlad motioned Agamenon indoors, not wishing to keep his friend waiting unnecessarily.

As Agamenon entered, he cast a glance around and could not hide a slight look of awkwardness. The residence was in disarray—broken runes, discarded parchment, and scattered materials were everywhere. It was clear evidence of how engrossed the two Runemasters had become in their project, leaving them unconcerned with tidiness.

"Let’s discuss this privately," Vlad suggested, motioning for Agamenon to follow him to an isolated room. He deliberately avoided disturbing Tyron, who was deeply engrossed in analyzing runic patterns.

Upon reaching a quieter, more secluded room, Vlad nodded, signaling Agamenon to proceed. Without hesitation, the young scion of the Solaris Family unlocked the heavy metallic box, revealing its formidable contents—a massive obsidian-crystal demon standing nearly five meters tall.

Thick metallic stakes pierced deeply into the demon’s body, restraining its immense power. Yet, despite these precautions, Vlad felt waves of intense heat emanating fiercely from within the creature.

"This demon is named Lorkar," Agamenon explained, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "A Peak Sage Abyssal Demon, his ability to conjure and control Abyssal Fire perfectly complements my own battle techniques." Agamenon’s imagination ran wild with the prospect of blending the demon’s sinister fire with his own brilliant golden flames.

Understanding perfectly, Vlad nodded approvingly. Carefully removing the imprisoned Abyssal from the box, he positioned it securely atop a sturdy metallic table.

As he observed Lorkar closely, Vlad could easily perceive the depths of hatred and fury burning in the demon’s eyes. Yet, compassion was nowhere within Vlad’s heart.

Demons routinely invaded other worlds, spreading carnage, devastation, and despair. Vlad had personally witnessed entire civilizations annihilated by their brutality—cities razed, innocent people massacred mercilessly, lives devoured. To him, every ounce of the demon’s suffering was well-deserved.

Without hesitation, Vlad produced his legendary runic pen, its tip glinting ominously. With precision and unwavering focus, he began meticulously engraving the Soul Extraction Runic Formation across Lorkar’s obsidian flesh.

Each stroke of the pen sliced deeply, carving through crystalline muscle and bone alike. Despite the demon’s immense strength, the restrictive stakes rendered him utterly immobile, forcing Lorkar to endure the unbearable torment silently.

Vlad’s hand moved steadily, his gaze unyielding and sharp, his concentration flawless. He worked with deliberate care until the final intricate rune was flawlessly etched. Then, with resolute purpose, he channeled his energy into the formation’s core, activating it.

Agamenon watched in awe as the runic formation erupted into radiant brilliance, illuminating the room. The demon’s eyes bulged, filled with unimaginable pain and despair, as every fragment of his life essence and spiritual force was mercilessly drawn into the formation’s center. Gradually, Lorkar’s imposing figure crumbled, leaving behind nothing but an empty husk and a pulsating sphere of dark, volatile plasma.

[Beep! Soul Integrity: 81.9%.] The familiar mechanical voice of Vlad’s A.I. Chip reverberated clearly through his mind. Satisfaction spread across his face.

"It’s slightly less potent compared to my previous extraction," Vlad murmured thoughtfully, understanding the reason. "But it’s still impressive. After all, my initial success was exceptional, thanks to the extraordinary durability of that Legendary Demon Soul. Nevertheless, anything exceeding eighty percent integrity is more than sufficient, with negligible loss in power."

Satisfied with the results, Vlad turned decisively toward Agamenon. With a nod, he gestured for the young Solaris scion to reveal his chest, preparing himself to engrave the Demon Cage Runic Formation directly upon him.