CHAPTER 844: TAKING CARE OF THE ABOMINATIONS

A deep frown immediately spread across the faces of the generals and high-ranking officials of the Xaos Kingdom as they processed the outcome of Overlord’s analysis.

Yes, there were ethical implications—after all, men, women, and children were being transformed into those monstrous abominations—but this was war. Their emotions had to be set aside. They couldn’t afford to dwell on pity or horror. The most troubling revelation wasn’t just what these creatures were, but what they used to be.

They were human.

That fact alone introduced a terrifying possibility: thousands more could be undergoing the same transformation at this very moment. And if the enemy had the ability to mass-convert the population of Exilon into these nightmarish horrors, the threat level had just escalated beyond all prior comprehension.

If the enemy could field vast numbers of monstrous soldiers with both intelligence and raw power, then the scales could quickly tip out of their favor.

Worse still, there was no clear path to stopping the process.

They understood the nature of the Ruinous Powers and how they could enhance people and twist their minds, but they had no idea who their agents were on Exilon—or what form they had taken. Without that information, any countermeasure would be a shot in the dark.

The notion of launching a full-force invasion to take control of the remaining continents was quickly dismissed as foolish. The enemy had already proven itself powerful, especially during the battle at the Ice Cube Fortress. If they were lured into an open-field confrontation without a solid plan—or worse, if they fell into a trap—hundreds of thousands of lives could be lost in a single campaign.

The only rational option was a systematic approach. Anything else risked losing everything they had fought so hard to build.

As tactical discussions began to surface among the Xaos Kingdom’s commanders, Cezar, who had been silently listening from a corner of the war chamber, suddenly leapt to his feet. His eyes widened in horror, and he trembled as a message was relayed through the communication gem embedded in his space ring.

Vlad and the other commanders immediately turned toward him, their expressions growing grim. Cezar was not a man who reacted to fear easily. He had proven himself calm, collected, and unshakable under pressure. The fact that he now looked shaken to his core sent a chill through everyone present.

Cezar took a deep breath, steadying his nerves, and then turned to face Vlad.

"The cities, towns, and settlements across all nine continents under the Zanis Family’s control are under attack," he said, his voice low but filled with urgency. "Those creatures... they’re everywhere."

The room fell silent.

Vlad’s eyes narrowed. They had expected these monstrosities to be preparing for war, but for the infection to spread so fast and on such a massive scale? It was staggering. It also meant one thing: someone—or something—was coordinating this chaos with an intellect capable of strategic and logistical mastery, possibly even surpassing Overlord himself.

"Some population centers are being completely overrun," Cezar continued. "In others, they’re simply appearing out of nowhere. No warning, no sign. Just... carnage. And the number of affected zones is growing by the hour. It won’t be long before they reach every corner of those nine continents."

His voice cracked. The anguish in his eyes was unmistakable.

These were his people. The very citizens he had led in rebellion to protect. The ones he had sacrificed for. And now they were being transformed into living nightmares before his eyes. And there was nothing he could do to stop it.

All he could do now was look to Vlad and the others, hoping that they could stop the bleeding.

Vlad could feel the weight of every gaze in the room. They all turned to him, waiting for direction. Waiting for a path forward.

The transformation needed to be stopped—not only to save lives, but to prevent the enemy’s numbers from growing further. All kinds of thoughts and strategies flooded Vlad’s mind. How to counter this catastrophe without losing everything they had built. The burden felt crushing, the weight of an entire world pressing on his shoulders.

But still, Vlad did not flinch.

He remained resolute, his eyes growing sharper as he turned toward Jormungandr and Ouroboros.

...

A few minutes later, Vlad flashed across the sky, over the continent that contained the heart of the Zanis Family’s military power.

Two glowing eyes had formed on his forehead—one belonging to the True Depravita of Gluttony, the other to the True Depravita of Greed. Fusing with two True Depravitas granted Vlad a colossal surge in power—enough to confront even world-ending threats—without overwhelming his mind and soul.

His eyes burned with icy resolve as he flew toward one of the afflicted cities, its location pinpointed using intelligence from the Rebellion.

When he arrived, his heart sank.

Blood and death had consumed the city.

Every trace of human life was gone. All that remained were the towering shadows of buildings and the ocean of abominations that flooded the streets. The massacre had only just concluded, and now the creatures were preparing to spread outward in search of their next victims.

But then—the sky cracked open.

A storm of dark energy and lightning erupted above, blotting out the sun. Winds howled, clouds twisted, and lightning pulsed like a heartbeat across the firmament.

Then came the explosion.

"BOOOOOOOOOOM!"

A titanic arc of black lightning crashed down, vaporizing dozens of the creatures instantly. It was only the beginning. More arcs rained down like divine judgment, each blast striking with a precision and ferocity that sent shockwaves through the city.

Despite their grotesque appearance, the abominations were not mindless. They possessed awareness—intelligence—and they instantly attempted to flee from the storm.

But Vlad was already one step ahead.

He flashed across the battlefield, wielding his sword with impossible speed. With a single, sweeping motion, he carved a massive crater around the city’s perimeter, releasing destructive flames that surged upward in a roaring wall.

The fire danced with power—an unholy inferno that sealed the creatures inside.