Beyond the Apocalypse

The A.I. Chip Clone’s train of thought was simple and direct as he surveyed the battlefield: corpses. Tens of thousands of them are lying inside the coffins. To Overlord’s mind, each body held biomass, especially given that most of these fallen had been powerful warriors. Their physiques would yield far more usable material than any ordinary individual. From Overlord’s perspective, it was a logical solution to replenish the obsidian obelisk.

Yet, just as the idea took form in Overlord’s consciousness—imagining how these fallen fighters might be re-purposed—he sensed a freezing wave coursing through his divine body as if an icy wind had lashed his soul. Glancing up, he found himself on the receiving end of a unified gaze of disapproval from Vlad, Jormungandr, Freya, Ouroborous, Grand Marshal Anglius, and other influential figures in the Xaos Kingdom. Their eyes conveyed unyielding coldness, a ferocious rejection of the notion that their fallen comrades should be harvested like mere supplies.

From Overlord’s purely logical perspective, their reaction seemed illogical. By all rational measures, these were simply inanimate bodies whose souls—the core of individual existence—had already departed. If there was a pressing need for biomass, why not utilize what was right there?

However, Overlord knew humans did not always act according to logic. They were driven by attachments, by love and brotherhood, by intangible bonds that compelled them to honor the fallen. Even if it made no sense from a strategic vantage, it was how they chose to live and what they believed in.

The A.I. Chip Clone let out a small sigh, shaking his head as if to dispel the fleeting thought. He then refocused on Vlad. The unspoken message was loud and clear: Suggesting the use of their own fallen for biomass was beyond the pale. Instead, Overlord quickly turned to a different possibility.

"Currently, we have a lot of Leviathan corpses in Xaos City," he said calmly. "I kept them as a reserve of food for Ouroboros, but now they’d be more useful repurposed to give birth to Thiamatos."

That statement made Vlad’s harsh expression recede somewhat, acknowledging Overlord’s shift away from the taboo idea. Leviathan corpses, after all, were alien. The notion of recycling those monstrous did not bother anyone. It was, in fact, an appealing strategy. Vlad turned to Ouroboros, the Depravita of Greed, and upon seeing his nod of consent, the Xaos King turned back to Overlord.

"Right now, what we need most is a large military force," Vlad said, "not just a few strong powerhouses. So we’ll follow your suggestion. Also, any demons or angels that die during our future conquests will be handed over to Fafnir. That way, he can increase the Thiamatos Race numbers."

Though the prime directive regarding demons and angels was to capture them alive—so they could be sealed, or so their bloodlines and souls might be utilized—inevitably some would perish in combat. If their corpses could bolster the Thiamatos Race, there was little reason not to do so.