Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 694: True Depravita

Chapter 694: True Depravita

Karot’s eyes glimmered wickedly, filled with savage joy and murderous intent, as he prepared to deliver the decisive blow. His bladed fingers flexed eagerly, poised to end the struggle once and for all. But then, unexpectedly, the cocoon surrounding Vlad trembled violently, sending a deep, resonant heartbeat echoing across the battlefield.

"THUMP!"

Shock and astonishment rippled visibly across the faces of Voroe and humans alike. Whatever transformation Vlad had been pursuing seemed to have reached completion far sooner than anyone anticipated—barely three minutes had passed, far short of the promised five.

A subtle, knowing smile crept onto the faces of the Sky Seed Depravitas, who stood frozen in the grip of ice. They knew their leader well. Vlad had never been one to foolishly reveal his true intentions or accurate timelines to the enemy. This was all part of his intricate and cunning plan, designed to lull his foes into a false sense of security.

Yet, any excitement or relief was abruptly swept aside as the cocoon trembled again, this time violently, sending forth a powerful shockwave of dark plasma in every direction.

Karot gritted his teeth in pain as the destructive energy seared his flesh, nearly forcing him to retreat. Summoning every ounce of his considerable power, the Voroe Legend stood firm, determined not to lose this critical moment.

Even though his vision was obscured by the chaotic energy, he could clearly sense the source of that heartbeat. Without hesitation, his deadly fingers thrust forward, piercing the core of the cocoon just moments before it erupted into an explosive wave of impenetrable darkness that engulfed everyone’s vision.

A tense, heavy silence fell over the battlefield, freezing humans and Voroe in place. Everyone stared intently into the swirling darkness, straining to see the outcome. Their suspense didn’t last long—the dark wave receded rapidly, revealing two figures locked in a deadly embrace.

The hearts of the Graecia forces sank in horror and despair. Karot stood triumphant, his sharp, bladed fingers embedded deeply into Vlad’s chest, exactly where his heart would be. A fatal wound—undeniably lethal even for beings of legendary might.

Unlike the horror of the humans, Karot’s face twisted into a wide, ecstatic grin, reveling in victory. He had delivered the killing blow. The mighty Depravita of Wrath was surely finished.

Yet, amidst this absolute despair, Vlad’s voice calmly echoed out.

"That hurt."

Just two simple words, yet their impact was catastrophic. Every warrior, human and Voroe alike, froze. Karot’s confident expression quickly melted into shock and disbelief. He couldn’t fathom what he had just heard, nor the tone with which those words were spoken—casual, almost disdainful.

Slowly Karot raised his head and met Vlad’s gaze. Instead of the vacant stare of death he expected, he found eyes blazing with unearthly power, filled with contempt, and very much alive. Horror, profound and overwhelming, flooded Karot’s senses, his instincts screaming desperately for him to flee from this unnatural being. But it was already far too late.

Before Karot could pull his bladed fingers from Vlad’s chest, Vlad seized his wrist in an iron grip, immobilizing him completely. Vlad’s free hand formed a blade-like stance, then struck forward swiftly, piercing through Karot’s chest in a single devastating thrust!

Karot’s eyes widened in disbelief, frozen with shock even as his life rapidly drained away. As darkness swallowed him, he still could not grasp how this reversal had happened, how his certain victory had transformed into his doom in a mere instant.

After finishing the Voroe Legend, Vlad casually removed Karot’s bladed fingers from his own chest, casting the corpse aside without ceremony, allowing everyone a clear view of his transformed figure. All eyes locked onto him, drawn irresistibly by the overwhelming aura he exuded.

The Depravita of Wrath had changed dramatically. He now towered impressively, over three and a half meters tall, his body radiating a ghostly white glow, as flawless as sculpted marble. His sharp white hair glistened softly, illuminated by faint starlight—a stark contrast to his eyes, now burning fiercely like twin golden supernovae.

Yet, even this incredible change was only the beginning.

Crimson fractures, intricate and glowing like celestial veins, spread across his body, radiating immense, otherworldly power. His physique had grown lean yet terrifyingly muscular, exuding an aura of controlled, unimaginable strength.

Black and crimson tendrils extended from his form, swirling and intertwining into shadowy wings—not feathered, but formed of dark energy and molten void. These tendrils concentrated around his left arm, the one used to pierce Karot’s chest, forming an intimidating, shadow-black carapace marked by veins that pulsed and glowed intensely, reminiscent of violent solar flares.

But even more astonishing than this powerful transformation was what occurred next: The lethal hole Karot had inflicted upon Vlad’s chest—the blow clearly piercing his heart—healed itself before the eyes of every astonished witness. Within moments, there was no sign it had ever existed.

"Hahahahahaha!" Vlad threw his head back, laughter erupting from his chest, a sound of pure, unbridled exhilaration. His laughter reverberated powerfully across the battlefield, resonating deeply with the hearts of his allies, filling them with awe and hope.

Vlad was thrilled, basking in his newfound power, for he had finally ascended to become a True Depravita. Even mortal wounds—such as a pierced heart—held no meaning now.

Excitement surged through him as he sensed countless profound transformations occurring within his body and soul, mysteries he eagerly anticipated exploring. However, exploration would have to wait—there was still a battle to finish.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, Vlad raised his blazing eyes towards the sky, locking onto the form of Asuru, the wingless ice-draconic Legendary Vorometallicae, whose shocked gaze met Vlad’s own with barely-contained panic.

Vlad took a single step forward, vanishing instantly and smoothly, without disturbing even the slightest ripple in space. He reappeared immediately before Asuru, who barely managed to summon an ice barrier in sheer desperation.

Vlad’s arm surged with dark power as tendrils coalesced into an armored carapace, empowering his strike exponentially. The blow shattered Asuru’s ice shield effortlessly, hurling the Legendary Voroe violently to the ground.

As the Graecia forces witnessed this incredible sight—the seemingly invincible Voroe Legend cast aside like a broken toy—they heard Vlad’s voice erupting across the battlefield, filled with fierce authority and unstoppable fury.

"Kill them all!"