Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 643: Forging new Demon Soul Masters (III)

Chapter 643: Forging new Demon Soul Masters (III)

After a few hours, Janus finally emerged from Vlad’s residence, a bright smile illuminating the Imperial Prince’s face. He pressed his palm gently against his chest, right where the runic engraving had taken root, and felt the powerful soul force coursing through him. This energy granted him a formidable new set of abilities, continuously nurturing his body and spirit.

Vlad let out a slow breath, believing he would finally have the chance to return to his research.

However, before the day was through, Titus and Crixus—twin mages—arrived at the entrance of his residence, each hauling a sizable iron cage. Within these cages were sealed demons, their violent auras barely contained behind thick bars. Although visibly tired, Vlad offered the pair a faint smile and stepped aside, allowing them to enter.

In the days that followed, a similar pattern repeated itself with almost unrelenting frequency. Vlad would finish engraving the Demon Cage Runic Formation on one person, only to have yet another member of Janus or Agamenon’s teams at his doorstep soon after, each bringing a freshly captured demon.

Exhaustion tugged at Vlad; not only did these engravings demand immense concentration, but he also needed to continue to work on his own runic formation diagrams. Nevertheless, he couldn’t turn any of them away. These men and women had fought shoulder to shoulder with him and stood by his side against a Legend, risking their lives. Abandoning them now would be unthinkable.

One by one, these warriors arrived, and one by one, they left as Demon Soul Hunters, each bearing a Peak Sage-Tier Demon Cage anchored in their hearts.

Although the repetitive nature of the work weighed heavily on him, Vlad couldn’t help but feel a twinge of pride with each successful engraving, as he felt his skills improving.

After four wearisome days, Vlad finally completed the last engraving for the team members that accompanied him to the secret plane of the Dino Race. He let out a long sigh of relief, anticipating some well-deserved time to focus on his private experiments.

Yet just as he was about to return to his runic research, his communication gem began to glow incessantly. Messages from powerful cultivators and representatives of various forces surged in, all clamoring for his skill in forging the new Demon Cages.

Clearly, news of the Demon Soul Master Strength System had traveled at breakneck speed—a development that wasn’t entirely unwelcome, given Vlad’s need for additional funds.

However, handling the sheer number of requests single-handedly was unfeasible. Refusing them all was equally unwise, as it would alienate potential future markets. Worse still, some individuals arrogant enough to believe themselves entitled might stir up unnecessary conflict, bringing Vlad nothing but headaches.

Grappling with how to manage this sudden, overwhelming demand, Vlad’s eyes brightened as an idea took shape. He lifted his communication crystal and contacted Janus and Agamenon.

"Yes?"

"What is it, brother?"

Their voices echoed from the gem a moment later.

"I’ve been bombarded with requests for Demon Cage engravings," Vlad explained, not wasting any time. "It’s impossible for me to handle them on my own. How about you two manage the scheduling for me? Announce that only one engraving will be allowed per day. If you help me, I’ll give you one percent of the fees."

"Yes!"

"Absolutely!"

Their enthusiastic answers arrived as swift as lightning, underscoring that neither man truly cared about collecting a commission. Both Janus and Agamenon had recognized the astonishing potential of these Demon Cages from their first-hand experiences.

By controlling the flow of appointments, they could accumulate valuable favors and bolster their influence within the fortress. Of course, limiting appointments would inevitably frustrate many aspirants, but with Janus coming from the Imperial Family and Agamenon from one of Greacia’s most formidable Dukedoms, few would dare to challenge their authority.

"Excellent," Vlad replied. "Send me the updated schedule tomorrow."

With that, he finally found a moment to breathe, at least briefly. He even managed to slip in a few short hours of sleep before returning to his runic table, resuming his research alongside Master Tyron. Although mentally and physically taxed, Vlad pressed on.

As the days passed, the reputation and renown of the Demon Soul Master Strength System skyrocketed within the Golden Sky Fortress. Numerous cultivators hailed the method not merely for its ability to boost combat prowess and cultivation rate, but also for its value as a last-resort safety measure.

In life-threatening situations, a cultivator could choose to let the sealed demon soul fight in their stead, enabling a desperate escape. While this sacrifice would destroy the demon soul, it wouldn’t harm the cultivator’s foundation, and since the engraved runic cage would remain intact, they could replace the destroyed soul with a new one in the future.

Inevitably, the Fortress’s populace was abuzz with excitement, desperate for a chance to obtain one of Vlad’s life-altering engravings. Yet, the iron rule of "one engraving per day" proved absolute, and those who pestered Janus or Agamenon too much often found themselves blacklisted altogether. Fear of these powerful scions kept the more arrogant nobles in check.

Simultaneously, as the Demon Soul Hunters became more visible and their feats more impressive, the name "Vlad Xaos" spread like wildfire.

Vlad had previously been known for his rivalry with the Zanis Family. Now, people whispered tales about his ingenuity, describing him in half-reverent, half-incredulous tones as the "Runic Master who discovered a new Strength System."

This fame, however, only seemed to drive him deeper into solitude. The Depravita rarely ventured outside his quarters except for urgent tasks, leaving the fortress’s streets rife with rumors about his supposedly mystical background and near-legendary powers.

Focused on perfecting his runes, Vlad disregarded the gossip. Finally, another pressing duty called him forth, it was time for Vlad to work on a fresh array of Darkness Devouring Runic Formations.

He strolled through the fortress toward the castle’s main gates, exhaling slowly as he mentally prepared for yet another complex task.

Upon arriving, Vlad was surprised to see not only Marshal Maximo waiting but also Elder Damian, the fortress’s logistics mastermind and strategist.