Beyond the Apocalypse-Chapter 989: Proactive

Nebolex’s eyes widened in disbelief. The spider-like Devil Lord could feel the Divine Power radiating from Vlad’s sword even before it struck—pure, searing light condensed into killing intent. But what truly unmade him was not that power.

It was fear.

Fear, as he saw Alioth turn and flee.

There had been a pact between them. A soul-binding contract forged in the blood of the Third Layer, sealed under the eyes of their infernal sovereign. If one of them broke it, they would suffer a backlash that would wound their essence for centuries. Yet Alioth had done it anyway.

The dragon had chosen survival.

Nebolex’s many eyes trembled with rage, but he had no time to curse or lament. Overlord, sensing the sudden shift, acted instantly. The A.I. Clone dismissed Durendal, summoning Gram in its place.

The sword blazed like a newborn star as Overlord struck with everything he had.

A thunderous explosion followed, a burst of solar flame that tore through the void. The blast hurled Nebolex’s colossal body backward, scorching his carapace and leaving a glowing wound across his chest.

And before he could recover—before his limbs even realigned—Vlad appeared.

The True Depravita of Wrath hovered before the wounded Devil Lord, his six wings spread wide. The Eye of Gluttony on his forehead burned with a crimson spiral, drawing in every fragment of energy in the surrounding space.

All of it converged into his blade.

He swung once.

The sword cut deep into the side of Nebolex’s neck, severing muscle, shattering bone, and carving through layers of devil essence.

"AARRRGHHHHHH!"

The Devil Lord’s scream echoed across the void. His vast body convulsed, spewing rivers of black ichor that burned like oil in the void. Death essence seeped into his soul, corroding his consciousness, flooding his mind.

Driven by pure instinct, Nebolex struck back.

His massive claws swept forward in a desperate, all-consuming blow. The cooldown of Quantum Expanse had not yet reset, forcing Vlad to block. The collision of claw and sword created a shockwave that rattled the stars. Vlad was sent hurtling through the void, his wings crackling with lightning.

But before a single breath could pass, he stabilized himself. The glow in his eyes intensified. His aura blazed even fiercer—fueled by exhaustion, yes, but also by exhilaration. The more he fought, the stronger his wrathful energy became.

Nebolex, however, saw no purpose in continuing.

The battle was lost. The invasion had failed. Even Alioth had fled. If he stayed, he would die here.

The spider Lord turned, tearing open a rift in space, his remaining limbs thrashing violently as he escaped toward the infernal realm. The blood streaming from his wounds formed trails of crimson fog behind him as he disappeared into the dark.

Vlad and Overlord did not pursue.

To an observer, it might have seemed as though their sole concern was protecting the planet. And that was true—but there was more to it.

As soon as the last trace of the Devil Lords faded, Vlad’s composure broke. His entire body trembled as the wratful energy drained away. The power he had wielded, the Divine Power drawn through the Xaos Tower, had placed a staggering strain on his body. His veins burned, his muscles tore and mended in the same instant, and his soul throbbed under the weight of divinity.

Had the battle continued even a few minutes longer, he would have been forced to retreat to Terra, leaving Overlord to face the Lord alone.

With a final exhale, he let go of his battle state. Darkness flickered across his wings as he reappeared within Terra’s atmosphere.

The world beneath him was calm once again.

Moments later, the other four True Depravitas—Freya, Jormungandr, Fafnir, and Ouroboros—emerged from his form, materializing around him. Overlord descended beside them, his eyes pulsing faintly.

Overlord’s voice was calm, mechanical, yet faintly reverent.

"There were no casualties among civilians or soldiers. Structural destruction across the cities is minimal. Total energy expenditure for defensive weaponry stands at 14.88% of planetary reserves. Consumption of available Divine Power: 27%."

Relief spread through the group. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Despite the magnitude of the invasion, no one had died. The protocols Overlord had established—evacuation systems, layered barriers, automated response drones—had functioned flawlessly. The elite warriors who had fought the Devils all had Legendary Demon Souls at their command, so their survival skills were exceptional.

Even the energy cost, though heavy, was acceptable. Replenishing it would require vast wealth and several months of planetary production, but it was a small price to pay for survival.

Vlad allowed himself a small, weary smile. The Xaos defenses had proven themselves beyond expectation.

And as the group gazed toward the horizon, where the blackened corpses of countless Devils lay strewn across the continents, their expressions shifted—from relief to hunger.

The spoils of victory were fantastic.

The bloodlines of the slain Devils could be extracted and refined, granting new strength to soldiers across the kingdom. Their corpses could be offered to the Tiamathos Obelisk, birthing thousands of new drones.

The Nightmare Universe, too, had fed well. It had devoured the souls and minds of hundreds of thousands of Devils, growing more terrifying with every meal.

Yet even amidst the triumph, solemnity crept back into their hearts.

They had survived—but barely. And now, they knew without doubt that another enemy was watching them.

If Terra had not evolved...

If the World Heart had not merged with it...

If the Devil Lords had managed to teleport directly onto the surface...

Millions would have perished before they even had time to react.

The thought silenced them all.

Vlad finally spoke, his voice hoarse but steady.

"Rest. Recharge your energy. We’ll meet in the Xaos Tower in six hours."

The others nodded. Each True Depravita had suffered immense spiritual exhaustion; even their souls needed recovery. They dispersed, vanishing one by one into streams of energy that returned to their domains.

Only Overlord remained.

He glanced toward the empty sky, his gaze devoid of emotion yet strangely contemplative. Unlike the others, he had no need for rest. His mind did not know fatigue, nor did it entertain dread or despair.

He processed data, evaluated outcomes, optimized survival.

Fear, after all, served no purpose, so he simply chose not to feel it.

---

Vlad stood at the core of the Xoas Tower, joined by Freya, Jormungandr, Fafnir, Ouroboros, and Overlord. Six hours had passed since the end of the infernal invasion—six hours of quiet recovery and meditation.

It wasn’t much time, but it had been enough.

The True Depravitas had steadied their spirits, allowed their souls to cool after the storm of wrath and fire. Their wounds, physical and spiritual alike, had begun to mend. Now their minds were clear once more—cold, sharp, and ready to calculate.

Vlad’s voice broke the silence, firm and commanding.

"Our first priority is to analyze exactly how many forces are targeting us. We can’t afford another surprise attack like this. If we hadn’t all been present, those Devils could have unleashed a catastrophe that would’ve burned this world to ash."

His tone was heavy, edged with restrained fury. The others nodded in grim agreement.

Overlord stepped forward, his eyes glowing with faint lines of blue code.

"The logic aligns, Prime Master. I’ve already begun using the commercial networks of the Empire to search for information. I’ve placed a bounty on any intelligence regarding coordinated movements or alliances directed against the Xaos Kingdom. The reward tiers are high enough to attract attention from multiple high-level civilizations. It won’t take long before we start receiving results."

Vlad’s expression softened slightly.

"Excellent. We can offer great prices and even Lord Tier Runic Sets and weapons if they can bring us detailed knowledge of those against us and what their plans are. Then we can prepare before they even think of striking."

For the first time since the invasion, a flicker of satisfaction appeared in his eyes. The battle had been brutal, but their response was working. The world was adapting, and now so would they.

"For now, we can leave Hell be. After that defeat, I doubt they’ll dare to move against us soon. The Devil Lords will turn on each other before they ever think of attacking again—each trying to shift the blame for their failure. Not to mention that they would definitely try to take advantage of the weaknesses of Nebolex and Alioth. If we are lucky, a war will arise in the Third Layer that will keep them busy for a long time"

A faint smirk tugged at Freya’s lips.

"Let them devour each other. It will save us the trouble."

Vlad gave a single nod.

"As for Heaven, we stay cautious. They’re powerful, yes—but their arrogance is even greater. It’s rare for their Lords to move directly, and when they do, they take ages to deliberate. Emanon will do his best to put them against us, but it will take him a while to convince them that Metatron is really dead. We’ll keep watch and be prepared in case they make a move, but they’re not our immediate concern."

He paused, his eyes narrowing as the atmosphere grew heavier.

"Our focus now must be Antorus and the Vorometallicae."

At the mention of those names, the temperature seemed to drop. Even the light of the tower dimmed, as if recoiling from the weight of the words.

The corrupted Vikings and the Voroe lords had forged an alliance, and both had sworn vengeance against the Xaos Kingdom. Their armies were growing, and with their slave caste nearing completion, it would not be long before they launched a full-scale offensive.

"We’ve been reacting long enough. No more waiting for our enemies to reach us. From now on, we are the storm."