Chapter 448: Inhumane weapons of war
Vlad’s eyes were sharp and cold as he watched the distant missiles streaking through the sky. He knew full well that these missiles did not carry any conventional explosives but something far more nefarious and dangerous. Had this weapon been intended against any other human force, he would have opposed it with every fiber of his being. Yet, in this dire situation, he reluctantly accepted its use. The stakes were too high. The Leviathan Race threatened the survival of the entire world, and no measure, however terrible, could be entirely dismissed.
The missiles nearly vanished from Vlad’s sight before they finally landed somewhere deep in the Ztan Country. He focused intently on the distant horizon, waiting to see what would happen. The moment the missiles touched the ground, they did not explode with fire or shrapnel. Instead, their metallic shells opened with a silent mechanical grace, releasing a dense gray fog that began to rise extremely fast into the sky.
Even though the human forces were tens of kilometers away, all the soldiers could see the fog covering the distant landscape. Those who understood the nature of that fog gulped nervously, but they did not lose their composure. They retained calm in their hearts, aware that Vlad and Overlord had planned this carefully. The wind currents pushed the gray haze deeper into the Ztan Country, carrying this silent menace into enemy lands.
Vlad glanced at Jormungandr and Ouroboros, nodding to the two other Sky Seed Depravitas before dashing forward. With shocking speed, he coursed through the air, leaving the rest of the army behind. He positioned himself inside the gray fog, his energy flaring around him like a protective shield. He was ready to isolate himself from the fog’s influence if it proved harmful, but he first needed to test its effects. Considering that as a Depravita, his vitality was overwhelming, and his immune system was nothing short of monstrous, he could afford to take this risk.
Vlad stood silent for a moment, recalling that Overlord had already tested the gray fog in controlled environments. Still, if he was going to lead hundreds of thousands of soldiers through it, he wanted first-hand confirmation. Determination appeared on his face. Finally, he took a deep breath, allowing the gray fog to enter his lungs. Immediately, dizziness assaulted him, accompanied by a brief wave of nausea. He staggered slightly in midair, but the feeling vanished almost instantly. Other than that brief discomfort, he felt nothing else.
Of course, Vlad would not rely on his personal experience alone. He knew he had long since shed much of his humanity, becoming something far greater—a Depravita. The soldiers behind him were still human, albeit enhanced, so he needed a representative test subject from among their ranks. He had something even more powerful at his disposal to ensure everything was right.
"A.I. Chip," he commanded silently in his mind.
Immediately, the faithful robotic voice echoed in his consciousness:
[Beep! The gray fog is not harmful to the Host’s body.]
Vlad smiled faintly at this confirmation, but he knew he could not use himself as a perfect template for the rest. He focused once more and sent a message:
"Come here. Be careful."