Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 679: Level 20

Chapter 679: Level 20

Vlad’s eyelids twitched slightly before finally opening, revealing his intense, dark-red eyes that now glimmered with renewed vitality. His body felt heavy and residual exhaustion lingered within every muscle, but the severe pain from before had faded considerably.

The Depravita exhaled deeply, assessing his internal condition carefully before murmuring to himself, "By tomorrow, I should be fully recovered."

A small smile appeared on the Depravita of Wrath’s lips as he sensed the revitalized energy coursing through his veins. Turning his gaze slightly, Vlad’s attention shifted to the small yellow cat nearby.

Jormungandr’s expression was intensely focused as he wielded a delicate magic blade, skillfully slicing open the hardened skull of a Vorometallicae Sage.

The small yellow cat’s movements were precise and surgical, carefully extracting the brain without damaging it and placing it carefully into a specially prepared container. Around him were numerous similar containers, each holding more brains and hearts harvested from their defeated foes.

The grisly scene, though grotesque, only widened Vlad’s smile. In each harvested organ, he saw progress—a direct path toward his evolution into a True Depravita. Every Sage-level brain and heart meant one step closer to achieving the power necessary to save Freya.

Suddenly, Vlad’s expression sharpened, and his eyes narrowed as his spatial perception expanded beyond his residence walls. His consciousness detected thousands of unfamiliar figures walking through the streets and courtyards of the Korokor Fortress. These new presences had clearly arrived while he slept.

"They are reinforcements sent from the Golden Sky Fortress," Jormungandr said quietly, noticing Vlad’s reaction without raising his head from his delicate work. "They arrived a few hours ago. Almost all of them are Guardian-tier warriors, but each is equipped with specialized armor designed to synchronize their energy fields, vastly increasing their durability and collective strength."

A glint of understanding flashed in Vlad’s eyes as he absorbed this information. Indeed, merely three hundred Sages were far from sufficient to sustain prolonged battles against the relentless Voroe assaults. Even small losses accumulated rapidly, potentially eroding their forces over time.

Ordinary Guardian warriors would stand little chance in a Sage-tier confrontation, which was evident from the Voroe Guardians’ catastrophic losses. But with specialized equipment and sophisticated energy formations, Guardians could be significantly empowered, explaining why the reinforcements had taken so long to mobilize.

Vlad was pleased to see this critical improvement in their defenses, yet his expression quickly hardened once more, focusing on his primary goal. His piercing gaze returned to Jormungandr, and the small yellow cat immediately understood the unspoken request.

Without hesitation, Jormungandr took out a small vial containing a dark, viscous liquid, its surface shimmering ominously.

"I already prepared a test batch while you were unconscious," Jormungandr explained solemnly. "Consume it and analyze its effects thoroughly with your AI Chip. If it works as intended, I’ll proceed using these harvested organs. Otherwise, I’ll need to refine the formula."

Vlad nodded firmly, immediately adopting a meditative position. He steadied his breathing and centered his mind, ensuring his body, energy pathways, and mental clarity were at peak condition. Then, without hesitation, he swallowed the potion in a single gulp.

The dark liquid reached his throat, but instead of traveling down into his stomach, it instantly phased into his Soul Dimension.

A violent tremor erupted within his soul.

The Soul Dimension had been constructed using the Law of The Light, a structure diametrically opposed to the chaotic energies of The Darkness contained within the potion.

Vlad’s face turned deathly pale as the collision of opposing forces sent searing pain radiating throughout his being. Yet he didn’t lose focus. Summoning every ounce of his formidable willpower, he guided the volatile liquid toward the radiant Depravita Seed suspended high above in his soul’s sky.

The majestic seed remained unmoved despite the terrifying chaos swirling around it. Instead, it emitted a powerful devouring force, greedily absorbing the dark potion. Bit by bit, the chaotic energy integrated into the Seed, fortifying it steadily until nothing remained.

Relief surged through Vlad’s heart, and a broad smile stretched across his lips. The experiment was successful. He immediately transmitted the analyzed data recorded by the AI Chip directly to Jormungandr.

The small yellow cat’s eyes flashed with excitement and satisfaction. Without wasting another moment, the duo nodded simultaneously and began their meticulous work, determined and unified in purpose.

Over the next few months, Vlad’s routine became simple yet ruthlessly efficient. He immersed himself in his studies as a Runemaster, tirelessly striving to craft the Legendary-Tier Demonic Cage Rune Formation. Concurrently, he consistently consumed the dark potions prepared by Jormungandr, steadily increasing the power and density of his Depravita Seed.

On the battlefield, Vlad’s fury became an unstoppable force. He deliberately channeled the pure essence of wrath, allowing its raw intensity to guide every strike. His brutal rampages shattered enemy formations, leaving chaos in his wake and carving openings that Graecia forces exploited without mercy.

Together with the newly arrived Guardian reinforcements, Vlad’s presence became pivotal, dramatically bolstering the stronghold’s combat capabilities.

This routine carried on for six relentless months.

One day, Vlad sat quietly in his residence, consuming yet another freshly refined black potion. Outwardly, little had visibly changed—his muscular build remained solid, his expression as cold as ever. Yet internally, massive transformations had occurred within his body and soul.

After fully assimilating the latest potion’s energy, Vlad’s eyes sharpened. Calmly, he issued a mental command.

"System, perform a scan."

Almost immediately, a mechanical voice echoed clearly in his consciousness-

[Beep! Scanning the Host....

Name: Vlad Xaos

Race: Human/Depravita

Class: Warrior/Demon Soul Master

Level (Energy): 19-->20

Level (Body): 21-->22

Level (Demon Soul Master): Sage Tier

Lineage: Endless Horizon Monarch (Legendary Tier)

Life Level: Sage Tier

...

Stats:

Strength: 2943.2 -->3355.6

Agility: 1444.5 --> 1679.4

Vitality: 3702.8 --> 4100.1

Energy Pool (Force): 244.3 --> 312.3

...

Racial Skills:

Heart of Wrath

Burning Eyes of Fury

...

Demon Soul Skill:

-Void Flesh

-Void Step

...

Bloodline Ability: Sphere of Spatial Domain

...

Sage Ability: Astral Singularity Body

...

Gift: Samsara Typhoon

...

Depravita Aura: 5/5 Waves.

...

Note:

-Host’s body and soul are constantly being nurtured by the demon soul’s force, exponentially enhancing cultivation speed.

-Host’s flesh has been altered with a unique component similar to the one found in the flesh of the Leviathan King’s exponentially enhancing endurance and resilience to both physical attack and spells.]