Beyond the Apocalypse-Chapter 1042: The True Depravita’s doubt

Vlad’s eyes sharpened as he clenched his fists, the space around him trembling in response to his restrained power.

"We collapsed the dimension that concealed the core of the tomb," he said slowly, his voice steady but heavy with intent. "Even a Paragon should be unable to reach it. However... I can still open a path to the tomb itself."

Overlord immediately continued, his tone calm and precise.

"And I carry within my body the essences required to unlock it."

At those words, the rest of the True Depravitas fell silent, their expressions turning solemn. Reaching the Dream of Madness was never the real issue. That much was now clear.

The real problem lay in what awaited them beyond that path.

Dream of Madness was an Empyrean.

Killing such a being was not merely difficult—it bordered on the impossible. Even with the combined might of the Six Sun Alliance, there was no guarantee they could achieve it. The sheer thought weighed heavily on everyone present.

Sensing the gravity of their silence, Overlord nodded slowly. Their reaction was appropriate. They understood the danger.

Still, matters were not as dire as they seemed.

"Dream of Madness is indeed an Empyrean," Overlord said, his eyes glowing faintly as data and probabilities flickered behind them. "However, the dimension that imprisoned him drained his strength for an immeasurable length of time. His awakening alone must have worsened that condition."

He paused, allowing the implications to sink in.

"He will be exhausted. Severely so. If we play our cards correctly, there is a genuine chance of success."

A flicker of relief crossed the faces of the True Depravitas. A weakened Empyrean was still a nightmare—but far more manageable than a fully restored one. Moreover, the Primordial God Tomb itself might still harbor secrets or remnants of power capable of tipping the scales in their favor.

Just as those thoughts surfaced, Jormungandr spoke up, unable to suppress his curiosity.

"Then what exactly is the Primordial God Tomb?"

The question resonated with everyone present.

What they had witnessed during their previous encounter made little sense. The place felt corrupted—twisted, as if something fundamental had gone horribly wrong. According to ancient records, the Primordial God was meant to be the foundation of that Divine Kingdom.

Yet when they reached the tomb, what they found was a broken, chained corpse.

And from it, Dream of Madness had emerged—desperate, frantic, eager to escape that tomb.

Overlord’s gaze darkened as he began to speak.

"This is only a theory," he said carefully. "But Dream of Madness may have been among the first Alien Rulers to search for a way into our universe."

The True Depravitas listened intently.

"The stronger the existence," Overlord continued, "the harder it is for them to cross the boundary between universes. To do so, Dream of Madness likely sacrificed nearly all of his power and essence. In that weakened state, he invaded the Primordial God."

A cold silence settled over the chamber.

"Slowly," Overlord went on, "Dream of Madness fed upon the Primordial God’s divinity. His power grew while the Divine Kingdom rotted from within. Corruption spread. Madness followed."

The pieces fit together far too well.

"Realizing his end was approaching," Overlord concluded, "the Primordial God may have sealed himself within the tomb, binding both himself and Dream of Madness inside—before the Alien grew powerful enough to escape on his own."

The eyes of the True Depravitas glowed as the theory settled in their minds. Though there was no concrete proof, it aligned disturbingly well with everything they had witnessed.

Vlad stepped forward, his presence radiating unyielding resolve.

"Then our goal is clear," he said. "We stabilize the situation here. We consolidate the power of the Six Sun Alliance. And when the time is right..."

His eyes burned.

"We make our move—and remove one of the rulers of the Alien Powers."

The others smiled faintly, stirred by the sharp determination in his voice.

Yet Overlord’s gaze narrowed.

A dangerous glint crossed his eyes.

"Use this time wisely," Overlord said. "Harness the surge of energy and spiritual force within your bodies. Aim for your next evolution. It will be crucial for what lies ahead."

Vlad nodded.

"That will be all," he said, dismissing the group.

The True Depravitas dispersed one by one, leaving only Vlad and Overlord behind.

The True Depravita of Wrath released a quiet sigh before turning toward the A.I. Chip Clone.

"Go ahead," Vlad said. "Say what you need to say."

Overlord studied him in silence for a moment before speaking.

"Your mentality is not suitable for a battle against Dream of Madness," he stated bluntly. "I detect doubt." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Vlad’s eyes narrowed slightly, though a faint smile curved his lips.

"We’re talking about killing an Empyrean," he replied. "Isn’t doubt a natural response?"

"No," Overlord answered immediately, his voice sharp and final.

"Understanding the difficulty of a task—and the sacrifices it demands—is normal. But if a Prime Master doubts whether he can succeed, then when the decisive moment arrives, he will hesitate."

Overlord’s gaze bored into Vlad.

"He will hesitate to commit to a killing blow. He will hesitate to gamble everything. And that hesitation is equivalent to death."

Vlad fell silent.

He considered the words carefully, then gave a small nod.

Without another word, he turned and returned to his chambers. With a wave of his hand, glowing runes materialized in the air as he resumed his cultivation and crafting.

He kept his mind occupied deliberately.

Because he knew Overlord was right.

Thankfully, compartmentalization was one of Vlad’s greatest strengths. As the True Depravita of Wrath, he buried everything else beneath layers of focus and intent, pouring himself entirely into his work.

"Now that I possess the soul force of a Lord-tier Demon Soul," he murmured, "I can forge far more powerful runes..."

A menacing light ignited in his eyes as an idea took shape.

Without hesitation, he began.

Extremely high-level runes formed in his mind—complex, dangerous constructs that strained even his reinforced soul. With the assistance of the A.I. Chip, he modified and optimized them, pushing their limits further with each iteration.

The process was brutal.

Even experimenting with the designs drained him immensely, forcing him to halt every few days to recover. Yet even then, Vlad did not truly rest. During those intervals, he forged additional Lord-tier Demon Cages, refusing to waste a single moment.

Time was gold.

And every second mattered if they were to stand a chance against an Empyrean.