Beyond the Apocalypse-Chapter 1092: Unification plan (I)

A vortex manifested above the ancient citadel of Nebolex in the Third Layer of Hell. The air twisted violently as space folded inward, and a moment later, the figures of the True Depravita of Wrath and the White Death stepped out.

Both looked exhausted.

Their faces were pale, their auras dim, and their energies severely drained. Even though they had managed to attune their souls to the destruction and remain within the eye of the storm during the collapse of the Divine Kingdom, the event had been truly cataclysmic.

It had taken every ounce of their power just to prevent their bodies and souls from being crushed by the collateral forces unleashed by a dying world.

Vlad took a deep breath, allowing himself a brief moment of rest.

Then he focused on the golden eye on his forehead, and the next second, Overlord emerged.

The eyes of the True Depravita of Pride shone with intense light. Although he could not train his body while fused with Vlad, his soul had been fully conscious throughout the experience. He had absorbed the insights gained from witnessing the collapse of a Primordial God’s Divine Kingdom.

The growth was immense.

And it was not limited to him alone—the other True Depravitas had also benefited, their laws enhanced and their souls refined.

Vlad allowed himself a small smile as he sensed their progress.

But the expression quickly faded as his eyes sharpened.

His perception spread across the region, immediately locating the auras of the Sovereigns. They were gathered within Mephisto’s castle in Sector One.

Inside the fortress lay a massive pool of blood—one of the ancient Devil Lord’s training grounds. The liquid within was dense with vitality and infernal essence, capable of accelerating recovery at an extraordinary rate.

Submerged within the pool was the enormous body of Merlin, the Obsidian Dragon King.

Powerful waves of life force flowed continuously into his body and soul, repairing the catastrophic damage he had suffered.

"Good," Vlad murmured. "With that, Merlin shouldn’t suffer any lasting consequences from the battle."

He nodded, then turned toward the White Death.

There was no need for words as, with a single glance, the White Death understood what Xaos King’s intentions were and gave him a solemn nod.

They had achieved their immediate objective. They had crossed three layers of Hell, secured control over them, and used their resources to strengthen themselves enough to defeat Dream of Madness.

Now it was time to decide what came next.

Without wasting time, the two teleported to the castle in Sector 1 and joined the others.

Thanks to the rapid treatment he had received after the battle—and the immense vitality provided by the blood pool—Merlin’s recovery progressed quickly.

Three days after the collapse of the Primordial God’s Divine Kingdom, the Obsidian Dragon King finally opened his eyes.

Immediately, waves of pain surged through his body, especially around his waist, where Dream of Madness’s claw had torn him apart and split him in two.

The pain gradually subsided.

Through sheer willpower and resilience, Merlin pushed himself upright and rose from the blood pool.

He looked around at the Sovereigns gathered nearby.

Then he gave them a deep bow.

He remembered his condition clearly. Although he was still injured and would need several months before he could unleash his full power again, the fact that he had recovered this much already was remarkable.

Any other Lord who had suffered such injuries would have remained in a coma for decades. Even after waking, their cultivation would have fallen drastically.

By comparison, his outcome was excellent.

Vlad smiled when he saw Merlin standing. The Obsidian Dragon King’s recovery was far better than expected.

But as soon as Merlin stepped out of the pool, Vlad’s expression became serious.

His sharp gaze drew everyone’s attention.

"It’s time to talk about the future."

The Sovereigns turned toward him. Their expressions grew solemn as they nodded.

Vlad remained silent for a moment, organizing his thoughts before continuing.

"What we accomplished was something that could be called a miracle. We killed an Empyrean. That is a feat that places us above every other force among the Light and Dark factions."

The Sovereigns could not help but feel a surge of pride.

The battle had been catastrophic.

And they had won.

But before that feeling could settle, Vlad’s next words fell like cold water. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"However... it is not enough."

The room grew quiet.

"It is not enough to face the Alien Powers expanding through Valhalla and its domains."

The pride on their faces faded, replaced by grim understanding.

The Alien Powers were entities from beyond the known universe. Their strength exceeded anything that could be easily measured or predicted. The only reason they had not overrun everything already was because they were still partially confined within Valhalla’s domains by the will of the universe itself.

But that restraint would not last forever.

"Dream of Madness was an Empyrean," Vlad continued, his tone calm but firm. "But it was severely weakened. It had been sealed for ages. It entered the battle with multiple disadvantages."

He paused briefly.

"And the final blow came down to luck."

The Sovereigns remained silent.

"If not for the spark left behind by the Primordial God," Vlad said, "I would have died inside that domain of madness. And all of you would have followed shortly after."

He did not soften the truth.

They needed to understand how close they had come to total annihilation.

"We were fortunate," he finished. "We cannot rely on that happening again."

The weight of his words settled over the room.

"We need to grow stronger." Merlin’s deep voice carried a heavy tone. Having come closest to death, he understood their shortcomings better than anyone.

Vlad nodded immediately.

"If we continue advancing through Hell, we will face powerful enemies and obtain vast resources. That will strengthen us."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the group.

"But that alone is not enough."

The Sovereigns focused on him intently.

"We cannot raise only ourselves," Vlad said. "We must raise our armies as well."