Beyond the Apocalypse

Vlad nodded silently to Jormungandr’s words, a solemn expression forming on his face. While his cultivation and the Xaos Kingdom’s military power had grown significantly in strength, the threat of angels and demons was still very present and could not be underestimated. If devils from Hell were added to the mix, things would become even more complicated.

However, Vlad did not jump to conclusions. His sharp gaze swept across the group before him. "We must prepare for every possibility. Don’t let your guard down, and ask for help if something feels off. Let’s explore the town thoroughly so we can get a better sense of what happened. Only then will we decide our next move."

"Understood!" everyone shouted in unison at the command of the Xaos King, swiftly moving into action.

Vlad, Jormungandr, Freya, Ouroboros, and the Royal Guards descended into the streets, moving through the empty, desolate town in search of clues. The silence was suffocating as they split up, inspecting buildings and every corner of the lifeless town, trying to piece together what had transpired.

After several hours of meticulous exploration, the group reconvened on the rooftop, each holding fragments of a puzzle that seemed impossible to solve. They had explored the homes where the townspeople once lived. The townspeople were not wealthy nor did they enjoy many commodities, but food and water were plentiful, and the houses were well-kept, indicating that the town had been spared the worst ravages of the apocalypse.

"What protected them?" Freya wondered aloud. "A powerful warrior, maybe? Or perhaps the alien and powerful Monster never ventured into this area."

Jormungandr shook his head. "It doesn’t really matter right now. What is important is that thousands of people are dead, but there are no signs of a struggle. It doesn’t make sense."

Freya immediately nodded at the words of the small yellow cat. Indeed, that was the most disturbing part. The town was filled with corpses, yet there wasn’t a single sign of resistance. No overturned furniture, no weapons drawn in defense. It was as though the entire population had quietly accepted their fate.

Vlad frowned, trying to comprehend the situation. For so many to die without any visible wounds or evidence of resistance was beyond anything they had encountered. It suggested a level of coercion that was deeply troubling.

"This looks like a mass suicide," Vlad muttered, his gaze dark and contemplative. "Almost as if they had asked for it."

After a pause, he made his decision. "Let’s expand the search. We need to examine the surroundings for any tracks. Someone must have left this place alive, and even if they’re not the culprits, they may hold the answers we need."

The group nodded in agreement, splitting off again. Vlad dashed toward the eastern edge of the town, moving at an impressive speed. The A.I. Chip within him scanned the area thoroughly, allowing him to cover large areas quickly. The barren land offered no clear signs of what had occurred, but Vlad didn’t relent.