Vlad was delighted with the exponential growth of the Xaos Kingdom. Every expansion of their borders brought an influx of resources—materials to forge new armor and weapons, ingredients for potent potions, and rare elements for crafting advanced runes.
These resources fueled the creation of new soldiers and amplified the strength of those already in service. The cycle of growth was self-sustaining and accelerating.
There was little Vlad needed to say to the A.I. Chip Clone. Overlord had surpassed him in tactical brilliance and administrative acumen. As an artificial intelligence entity, Overlord continually improved the more it focused on a task, and it had been dedicated to warfare and kingdom-building for over two years now.
"Excellent work," Vlad said, acknowledging Overlord’s efforts. He knew praise meant nothing to the A.I., but he felt compelled to express his appreciation before moving on to his next task.
Reaching into his space ring, Vlad retrieved the orb he had taken from Aola. The smooth, luminescent sphere pulsed faintly with an inner light. "I need you to analyze this," he instructed, holding the orb up so Overlord could scan it. "It’s supposed to contain the core of a Divine Avatar that has been nurtured with souls. I want to know if there’s a way to take control of it."
A sharp glint appeared in Vlad’s eyes as he uttered those last words. The idea of forcefully seizing control of a Divine Avatar was considered heresy in many worlds, enough to earn a death sentence in higher planes. But Vlad cared little for the opinions of others, especially zealots who became slaves to gods indifferent to their existence.
During his journey back, Vlad had attempted to probe the orb with his own A.I. Chip, but aside from isolating it, he could do little more. Perhaps Overlord, with capabilities surpassing his own, could succeed where he had not.
"Please place it into the energy pool, Prime Master," Overlord responded promptly. "I will isolate it and begin my analysis. I will report back as soon as I have formulated a course of action."
Vlad nodded and carefully placed the orb into the designated energy pool at the center of the room. As he did so, he observed a shimmering energy force field forming around it, severing any external signals. Though the Divine Avatar within appeared inactive, one could never be too cautious when dealing with gods.
With that task underway, Vlad turned his attention to the small bag Ouroboros had handed him earlier. Opening it, he found dozens of space rings taken from the angels they had slain. Beside him, Jormungandr joined him in sorting through the rings.
Together, they began to extract the treasures within. Jormungandr focused on items useful for his alchemical pursuits: rare herbs, mystical essences, and exotic components. Vlad, on the other hand, selected materials essential for his runic experiments.
As they sorted through the wealth of resources, Vlad and Jormungandr couldn’t help but smile. The angels had indeed been elite forces, carrying wonders that would now fuel the Xaos Kingdom’s advancements.
"With this," Jormungandr said, his tail swishing with excitement, "I’ll be able to continue purifying the Devil Bloodlines and venture into brewing some new potions I’ve been contemplating. What about you, Boss?" He glanced at Vlad with curiosity, eager to hear about his next endeavor.
Vlad returned the smile and placed a hand over his chest, where the core of his Runic Set resided. "I intend to evolve the Inferno Comet Runic Set," he declared.
Jormungandr’s eyes widened in astonishment. "You mean advancing it beyond Peak Rank 2?" he asked. The Inferno Comet Runic Set was already a formidable creation. Elevating it further would mean reaching Rank 3, equating to a Runic Set with power rivaling the Guardian Tier.
"Boss, have you already become a Rank 3 Runic Master?" There was clear awe and wonder in Jormungandr’s eyes. Even with the assistance of the A.I. Chip, achieving such a level in so short a time was extraordinary.
Vlad chuckled softly at the cat’s reaction. "I have the runic diagrams in my mind thanks to the help of the A.I. Chip, and my abilities should be sufficient to achieve success," he replied modestly. "But I can only call myself a Rank 3 Runic Master after I have successfully completed the evolution."
Jormungandr nodded solemnly, a sharp determination lighting up his gaze. A flash of fighting spirit appeared as he gathered his selected resources. "I will see you soon," he declared, heading toward his laboratory.
Vlad watched him go, amused by the small yellow cat’s enthusiasm. He was certain that Jormungandr would attempt something remarkable in his own right. But there was no time to lose; Vlad gathered his own materials and proceeded to his laboratory to begin his work.
Vlad arranged the materials inside the runic laboratory on a large, circular workbench. The room was dimly lit, the air thick with arcane energies and the scent of rare minerals. He closed his eyes, allowing the A.I. Chip to overlay intricate runic diagrams within his mind.
"Display the simulation for the evolution of the Inferno Comet Runic Set to Rank 3," he commanded silently.
[Beep! Simulation displayed.]
Vlad took a deep breath as the runic set appeared on his mind. His eyes were still closed as he immersed himself in the intricate patterns of the evolved Inferno Comet Runic Set.
The complexity of the runes was staggering; each symbol was interconnected with the next, forming a vast network of power that required absolute precision. Crafting one of the Rank 3 Runic Sets from his Second Past Life’s memories would have been simpler, but that was not his path. The Inferno Comet Runic Set had proved its might through countless battles, and he was determined to elevate it to new heights.
Opening his eyes, Vlad summoned the holographic projection of the runic diagram into the air before him. The luminous symbols floated and rotated, glowing softly around the dimly lit laboratory. He began to dissect each layer of the design, focusing on the flow of energy between runes, the balance of elemental forces, and the potential points of instability.