Vlad watched the Draco Leviathan Lord vanishing into the distance, its dark silhouette retreating swiftly across the sky. He did not give chase. Although it was difficult to admit, he was not confident that he could kill it, especially not deep in Leviathan territory, where countless creatures would be waiting at every turn. Instead, Vlad hovered high above the battlefield, his gaze drifting downward to observe the chaotic scene below.
The ground forces were still engaged in a brutal struggle, but from what he could see, the human army was clearly obliterating the Leviathans. There was no immediate need for Vlad to intervene; the soldiers were dominating, driving the last remnants of the swarm into corners where they would find no escape.
He took a deep breath and began to calm his raging energy. The Heart of Wrath that had fueled his combat with the Leviathan Lord was now deactivated, and Vlad focused on circulating his energy through his body to stabilize his condition. At the same time, he sent a message through his A.I. Chip to Ouroboros and Jormungandr, informing them of what had just transpired. The wounds he had received were severe—he did not delude himself about that—but he knew well that as a Sky Seed Depravita, as long as his heart and brain remained intact, all other organs would heal with time.
It took a few minutes for his blood flow to return to normal. His bleeding slowed and then stopped. Of course, there was still extensive damage. Many of his muscles and tendons had snapped during the clash, and his bones had suffered multiple fractures. Nearly every part of his body screamed with pain. However, Vlad was not without options. With a wave of his hand, he took out several healing pills and swallowed them. Almost immediately, a healing energy coursed through him, soothing the worst of his injuries and knitting flesh back together.
"A.I. Chip, fuse the Depravita Aura with the healing energy," Vlad commanded.
The response was immediate and precise. Under the guidance of the A.I. Chip, what remained of Vlad’s Depravita Aura merged with the energy of the healing pills. The result was astonishing. The healing power skyrocketed far beyond what he had expected. Muscles that had been torn apart began restoring themselves almost instantly. Tendons slid back into proper position, and fractured bones fused. Vlad’s eyes widened at the sensation. He had known Depravita Aura could serve as a fuel for many abilities and powers, but he never expected it to so drastically enhance healing as well.
"Amazing!" Vlad murmured, genuinely shocked. Without this accelerated recovery, he would have needed weeks of rest before returning to his peak condition. That was a luxury the Depravita could not afford now that the war neared its final stages. But here he was, recovering strength at a remarkable pace, each breath feeling steadier, each movement causing less pain.
While Vlad remained in the sky to focus on his healing, the battle on the ground carried on. Major General Theodoro and the nineteen Bloodline Soldiers returned their full attention to exterminating the Leviathan forces. The humans, already riding high on victory, pressed their advantage. Dark blood and cracked shells blasted in every direction as the soldiers went on a rampage, cutting through the drones and insect-humanoid hybrids as if they were nothing more than brittle shells waiting to be crushed. Within a short span, the battlefield fell silent; no Leviathan was left alive to challenge them.
"Excellent job, Major General Theodoro!" Vlad’s voice echoed from above. Theodoro and the other Bloodline Soldiers were gasping for air, having pushed themselves far beyond their usual limits. The aftereffects of the Berserk Pills they had taken were beginning to course through their veins, leaving them exhausted and sore. Yet when they heard their king’s words, they straightened up, standing at military attention, and bowed to Vlad’s distant figure. The pride and admiration in Vlad’s smile was genuine. If not for these warriors, he might have faced a far more difficult situation.
"Burn the corpses and then mount on demon souls. We will surround the border and regroup with the rest of the forces," Vlad commanded.
Major General Theodoro narrowed his eyes thoughtfully at the order. Moving deeper into the south of the Wendy Country might have been more efficient, but Vlad’s decision made sense. The Draco Leviathan Lord presented a huge threat, and they could not be sure there were no more powerful creatures lurking somewhere ahead. Speed was crucial, but so was careful positioning and a swift regroup.
"Yes, my King!" Theodoro acknowledged. Without delay, he issued commands to the troops. They gathered the corpses of the two million Leviathans they had just killed, building a massive pyre that soon lit the battlefield with eerie, flickering flames. The acrid smell of burnt chitin and charred flesh filled the air.
Once the grim task was done, the forces mounted on demon souls—creatures that, though slower than the soldiers, allowed them to recover their energy during the journey.
Jormungandr and Ouroboros moved across the sky, their sharp eyes scanning the horizon for any hint of approaching threats. They knew the Draco Leviathan Lord had been severely wounded by Vlad’s efforts. Even with the hive mind’s remarkable ability to heal its units’ wounds at breakneck speed, it seemed unlikely that this formidable creature would reappear in the coming days. Yet the duo could not shake off a lingering sense of danger. They had advanced for days now without encountering fresh Leviathan forces. It was as if the hive mind was pulling its armies back, regrouping further south, biding its time for a grand counterstroke.
The battalion kept advancing for a few more hours, the tension mounting with every step. Soldiers remained alert, scanning the terrain and bracing themselves for any sudden attack.
Finally, the sound of pincers echoed in the distance—an unsettling, chittering noise. Everyone in the advancing force stiffened, their eyes darting toward the source. Moments later, they spotted a massive swarm approaching. Its sheer size was unimaginable. The writhing mass of drones, insect-humanoid hybrids, and aerial units filled the horizon. It was so immense that it seemed it could swallow entire mountains.