Beyond the Apocalypse-Chapter 999: Vlad and Akai vs Astarion

Thanks to the advanced surveillance features that covered every inch of the Doomsday World, it did not take long for the group to locate the presence of the Voroe Lord.

The enemy made no effort to hide; his energy was like a beacon blazing across the sky. It was as though he was deliberately calling out to them, daring them to challenge his supremacy. To him, hunting intruders was beneath his dignity. Let them come to him. Let them die before his feet.

What appeared before the eyes of Vlad, Ouroboros, and Akai was a being of terrifying majesty—a towering, humanoid figure wrapped in thick, jagged plates of obsidian. His body was a fusion of blackened metal and molten vitality, a grotesque harmony of power and corruption. Beneath the armor, glowing red musculature pulsed like living magma, threads of crimson energy weaving through cracks in the dark shell. Even from a distance, the trio could feel the oppressive weight of his strength.

His claws were like blackened spears, his limbs bristling with sharp protrusions that glinted under the dim, blood-red light. Every movement radiated the lethal precision of a predator, one that existed solely to destroy. His face was monstrous, a gaping maw lined with serrated teeth, eyes burning with infernal light, and a crown of short, twisted horns that shimmered faintly with energy.

Vlad’s hands curled into fists as he measured the being’s power. The enemy before them was not merely a Lord; he was an exceptionally powerful one. Not yet on the level of Nebolex or the other High Lords of Hell, but close, frighteningly close.

"So you are the insects that have been causing trouble for us," the Voroe Lord said. His voice echoed across the sky like the rumble of distant thunder—ancient, hollow, and dripping with contempt. "You should be proud. You made those old fools send me, Astarion, to take care of you. That alone should be enough honor for you to die with smiles on your faces."

As his words ended, Astarion’s energy began to draw inward, his aura collapsing into himself as his massive body expanded. His metallic muscles bulged and hardened, his form growing denser as waves of raw power radiated from him. The sky darkened as storm clouds gathered overhead, lightning writhing within them like serpents.

Vlad’s gaze flicked toward Ouroboros. A single eye socket was open on his forehead. Without hesitation, the True Depravita of Greed transformed into a streak of psychic energy and shot forward. In the next instant, his essence fused seamlessly into Vlad’s soul.

A violent tremor shook the firmament.

Vlad’s aura erupted like a volcanic storm, skyrocketing beyond comprehension. His body began to morph, white fur, harder than steel, rippled across his flesh. His fangs sharpened, and his fingers elongated into claws that gleamed with dark fire. The power of Ouroboros’ Lord-tier body flowed through him, amplifying his physical might to terrifying levels.

The transformation ended in less than a heartbeat. A shockwave of raw energy exploded from Vlad’s body, sending ripples of force through the air that shattered the clouds above. The entire sky seemed to quake under the presence of the newly fused Depravita.

Akai’s eyes widened in shock and awe. He had never seen anything like it. To witness the two True Depravitas fusing into a single entity—it was no wonder Vlad was feared across worlds. Now he understood the secret behind his strength. Yet there was no time to dwell on the revelation. Against a being like Astarion, even the slightest distraction could mean death.

Focusing his will, Akai let his aura surge. Flames and lightning coiled around him, intertwining like twin dragons. A massive halberd materialized in his hands, its shaft forged of crimson light, its blade pulsing with energy dense enough to warp space around it. Power condensed within him until it felt as if an ocean had been compressed into a single drop—immense, concentrated, and blinding.

Vlad cast him a quick glance and nodded. He could sense the precision of the Faelara Prince’s control, the depth of his Law, a mastery that rivaled even the most disciplined of Lords.

"So there are two Lords," Astarion growled. His voice held neither fear nor doubt. If anything, the gleam in his obsidian eyes only sharpened, and the cruel smile that split his face widened. "Good. Perhaps now, I can at least enjoy myself."

Without another word, the Voroe Lord surged forward. The impact of his movement cracked the air like thunder, releasing a shockwave that fractured the very fabric of space.

Vlad and Akai launched upward at the same moment, their auras blazing like suns. The sky became a battlefield of light and shadow. Despite never having fought together before, the two displayed startling coordination. Vlad’s sword slashed from the left while Akai’s halberd cleaved from the right, forcing Astarion to split his attention.

Yet the Voroe Lord’s reflexes were monstrous. Obsidian fists collided with both weapons, deflecting the strikes with explosive force. The clash unleashed a pulse that shook the world, tearing apart the clouds and splitting the ground below.

For several seconds, the combatants strained against one another, the raw power pressing outward in waves of distortion, before all three were hurled apart by the sheer magnitude of their clash.

Vlad recovered midair, twisting gracefully to regain balance. His eyes glowed a blinding white as he unleashed a beam of concentrated energy that ripped through the atmosphere like a spear of annihilation.

At the same time, Akai thrust his halberd forward, transforming the torrent of fire and lightning around him into a blazing plasma cannon. The beam roared toward Astarion, powerful enough to erase mountain ranges in an instant.

Astarion’s eyes narrowed. He had no time to evade. Yet even with destruction surging toward him, there was no trace of fear—only cold, arrogant certainty.

"BOOOOOOOOOOM!"

The sky erupted. The explosion consumed everything in sight—a storm of fire, plasma, and psychic light so vast that the horizon itself seemed to dissolve. Shockwaves tore through the air, flattening entire mountain peaks.

For a moment, it seemed as though the battle was over.

But then, the fire began to fade.

The flames dissipated, revealing a massive cocoon of flawless obsidian floating in the heart of the blast. Cracks of crimson light pulsed through its surface, then receded. Slowly, the cocoon unfurled like the petals of a dark flower.

Astarion stood within it, utterly unharmed. Not a single wound marred his armor. His expression was calm—almost amused.

The Voroe Lord’s jagged smile widened, his obsidian face twisting into something both regal and monstrous. Without warning, he lunged toward Akai, moving faster than before—so fast that his body became a streak of black lightning cutting through the sky. The air shattered around him, the sound of his movement echoing like thunder.

Vlad reacted instantly, flashing forward in a burst of psychic energy, but even his enhanced speed could not intercept the Voroe Lord in time. Yet distance was not a barrier to someone who commanded the very fabric of space.

Focusing his will, Vlad drove his sword into the air itself. The weapon vanished into the void, and immediately, dozens of blades burst forth from the seams of reality along Astarion’s path. They materialized like shards of light and shadow, slicing through the air to intercept the charging Lord.

Astarion snarled, his eyes flashing. He clenched his fists and swung them in wide, sweeping arcs. Each motion shattered several of the conjured blades, sending fragments of distorted energy scattering across the battlefield. He refused to stop his advance, plowing through the storm of swords with relentless fury.

Just as he was about to reach the Faelara Prince, another wall of swords appeared before him—this one thicker, denser, a barrier woven from countless overlapping spatial edges.

"Hmph! Nothing can stop me!" Astarion roared, his voice echoing through the sky. Power surged from his body in a blinding wave as he rammed his way through the barrier, breaking it apart piece by piece.

But when he emerged on the other side, the smile on his face froze.

Waiting for him was not a helpless prince, but a warrior ablaze with divine wrath.

Akai had not stood idle while Vlad set his trap. Every heartbeat, every breath, he had poured his energy into his halberd—filling it with the condensed fury of his fire and lightning. By the time Astarion shattered the final layer of swords, the weapon glowed like a miniature sun, vibrating with apocalyptic power.

"Now!" Akai roared, his voice crackling with energy. He swung the halberd in a single, perfect arc, striking straight into the Voroe Lord’s chest. The weapon tore through obsidian armor and flesh alike, releasing a blinding explosion of fire and lightning that lit the sky.

The impact sent Astarion hurtling backward, a trail of black smoke and blood marking his descent. He crashed through the air, roaring in fury and disbelief.

Before he could recover, another figure appeared behind him—Vlad. Moving faster than sound, the True Depravita of Wrath slashed his sword across Astarion’s back.

The blade’s energy burned not only flesh but soul. Astarion screamed, a sound that carried both rage and agony, as the essence of death itself flooded his mind.