Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 702: Legendary Demon Cage Runic Formation

Chapter 702: Legendary Demon Cage Runic Formation

Vlad had a tremendous amount of work ahead of him, so his eyes were sharp, focused, and steady. He was determined to handle any distractions swiftly, enabling him to return to the single most important task, growing strong enough to handle whatever the Void Heart Stronghold sent his way.

"Come in," he commanded calmly yet firmly.

Immediately, the gates swung open, and Valeria, Scipius, and Cato stepped forward into the room. The expressions on the trio’s faces were visibly pale, a stark indication of their internal turmoil.

Their heads were lowered, deliberately avoiding direct eye contact with the Depravita of Wrath, fearful of triggering the wrathful gaze that had burned holes through dozens of Sages as if they were piles of wood.

Once they had reached a distance of approximately five meters from Vlad, they silently sank to their knees and sat submissively on the floor. Their eyes remained fixed firmly downward in an explicit display of complex submission.

They had witnessed firsthand the unimaginable power the Depravita of Wrath had unleashed on the battlefield. The image of him killing a Legendary Vorometallicae with a single thrust of his hand was burned permanently into their minds.

Such overwhelming power had left no room for doubt; they stood absolutely no chance against him.

True, each of them belonged to influential families with Legendary-level figures of their own. Yet those mighty figures were distant, unavailable for protection at this crucial moment.

They also knew that, given the chaotic circumstances, no new Legendary reinforcements would arrive at the Korokor Stronghold anytime soon. This stark reality meant that Vlad had become the undisputed authority of this fortress, and had full control over their lives.

If Vlad desired their deaths, he possessed countless ways to achieve it without consequence. No one would dare raise a voice or a finger in protest.

They had come specifically to plead for mercy, yet the fear gripping their hearts prevented them from speaking. Thus, they sat in heavy silence, waiting desperately for Vlad’s permission to speak.

Vlad himself felt mildly surprised at their state of abject submission. Thanks to his psychic powers, he sensed the tumultuous storm of emotions swirling in their hearts—fear, regret, anxiety, and above all, helplessness. As he contemplated their situation, a slight frown appeared on his face.

He was not one inclined toward forgiveness. Vlad had always been someone who remembered even the smallest grievances. Under ordinary circumstances, especially given his current formidable power, he would not hesitate to annihilate this trio who had caused him trouble in the past.

However, circumstances had drastically changed. He was now the acting leader of the Korokor Stronghold, and exercising his authority to settle personal vendettas would severely damage the unity and morale of the army.

Leadership demanded restraint!

After a heavy silence that pressed further upon the trio, Vlad finally released a deep sigh and spoke:

"Ahhhh... raise your heads."

Only then did Valeria, Scipius, and Cato dare lift their gazes slightly, nervously looking toward Vlad’s sun-like eyes, blazing with a cold, penetrating intensity.

"You three have connections to the Underworld, correct?"

The sudden question clearly startled them. Vlad referred to the shadowy, illegal organizations that flourished beneath the empire’s civilized facade—networks dealing in assassinations, black market exchanges, forbidden knowledge, and covert manipulations.

Even mere association with these shadowy organizations constituted a serious offense, punishable by death or worse.

But none of the trio dared lie to Vlad.

"Yes, Lord," they responded immediately, voices trembling slightly but clearly honest.

Vlad nodded slowly, satisfied with their sincerity. "Good. Had you lied to me, there wouldn’t have been a second chance."

These chilling words deepened their anxiety, yet they remained silent, waiting for further instructions.

"Use your resources and connections. Investigate the Legend who fled during the battle," Vlad ordered firmly. "I want to know everything there is about him—his background, his intentions, his secrets. Uncover all of it."

Confusion flickered briefly across their faces. Although they personally despised the cowardly Legend who abandoned everyone, they saw little value in investigating further.

After all, higher-ranking figures at the Golden Sky Fortress would undoubtedly handle the deserter eventually. However, they didn’t dare question Vlad’s reasoning and quickly nodded in agreement.

"You have exactly one month to confirm my suspicions. If you succeed, I’ll forget all past grudges between us."

Upon hearing these words, deep worry surfaced on their faces. Vlad clearly held deep suspicions, yet he didn’t elaborate. Consequently, the trio understood that they would need to investigate every minute detail of that Legend’s life, leaving no stone unturned, and without guidance from Vlad, they would have to invest substantial resources and favors.

But if this challenging task could keep them from Vlad’s killing list, it was undoubtedly worth every sacrifice.

"Thank you, Lord!" Valeria, Scipius, and Cato shouted in unison, lowering their heads respectfully before hastily leaving the residence.

As soon as the trio disappeared, a cold, sharp glint appeared in Vlad’s eyes. The assignment he had given them was crucially important.

Deep down, Vlad firmly believed that the Legend’s escape wasn’t an act of cowardice, but rather something far more insidious.

He vividly remembered the man’s reaction at the critical moment when the first Legend fell in battle. His expression wasn’t one of fear or panic. It was calm and calculated, as if he’d simply been waiting for this precise opportunity.

This wasn’t cowardice. It was treachery.

Although Vlad did not yet fully understand the motives behind the Legend’s actions, he instinctively sensed hidden plots brewing beneath the surface.

If Valeria, Scipius, and Cato could unearth the truth, Vlad was fully prepared to let go of any lingering grudges and grievances. However, if they failed, Vlad would not hesitate to uncover the truth himself—by any means necessary.

No longer willing to waste further precious time, Vlad swiftly waved his hand, releasing a powerful mantle of Depravita Aura across the walls.

Instantly, the residence was sealed from the outside world. Only another Depravita could possibly penetrate this barrier. Within this isolated sanctuary, Vlad could now entirely focus on the task before him.

He took his legendary runic pen in hand, and the instant it touched the high-quality parchment before him, his eyes glowed brightly with fierce concentration. Previously unsolvable problems now appeared deceptively simple, each runic complication unraveling effortlessly in his heightened state.

It wasn’t that the complexity had decreased—rather, Vlad’s cognitive power and insight had vastly improved, making previously impossible tasks easily manageable.

Days passed quietly yet intensely as Vlad worked continuously, driven by his unstoppable will and soaring ambition. Each passing day brought him closer to perfection, each night revealing a more potent and refined Demon Cage formation.

Finally, after seven days and nights of relentless effort, Vlad achieved a profound breakthrough.

"Boom!"

A controlled burst of pure energy radiated throughout the residence, vibrating with a powerful resonance that echoed softly. A wide, exhilarated smile appeared on Vlad’s face as he gazed down at the glowing parchment.

He had succeeded!

On the parchment lay a runic formation that had far surpassed the limits of the Sage level. It belonged now in an entirely different category—Legendary.

The runic formation emitted an aura of profound complexity and incredible power, representing a monumental leap in Vlad’s crafting capabilities.

"Hahahaha!" Vlad burst into genuine, ecstatic laughter, his voice reverberating with pride and joy. "At last, I’ve completed the Legendary Demon Cage!"

The timing of this breakthrough was perfect. Just as Vlad allowed himself to relax after seven exhaustive days, he sensed a familiar presence approaching—the small yellow cat.

The doors to Vlad’s residence smoothly opened of their own accord, and Jormungandr confidently entered the chamber. Floating around the small creature were six elegantly crafted boxes emanating extraordinary Legendary-level soul energy.

Vlad’s eyes widened immediately, sensing the incredible potency radiating from each box. "These must be the Legendary Demon Souls that Elder Damian had promised."

Jormungandr immediately noticed Vlad’s completed Legendary Demon Cage and smiled warmly, recognizing the significance of Vlad’s accomplishment.

Without wasting a second, the small yellow cat sent the boxes gently floating toward Vlad, encouraging him to examine them closely.

Vlad eagerly extended his senses into the boxes, and what he perceived inside thrilled him further. Within each box resided a powerful, cohesive demonic spirit—each exuding not only overwhelming soul energy but also clear signs of consciousness, wisdom, and a distinct ego.

"Hahaha! Excellent, truly excellent," Vlad declared enthusiastically. "The soul integrity of these demon spirits must exceed ninety percent!"

With such extraordinarily high soul integrity, Vlad knew without a doubt that the Legendary Demon Cage Runic Formation he had painstakingly crafted would be able to exponentially magnify his power.

Now, equipped with these invaluable demon souls, Vlad stood on the verge of an entirely new level of strength.

Unfortunately for the Depravita of Wrath, while he was eager to carry on, seven days of nonstop work on such complex runic formations had drained his body and mind.

Vlad and Jormugnadr smiled at each other, before the small yellow cat left the residence, going back to his work, while the man fell to the ground and entered a deep slumber, restoring his strength for the soul fusion.