CHAPTER 803: STEPS FOWARD

From the distance, Freya and the thousands of Xaos soldiers stood motionless, gazing upon the colossal devastation with a mixture of awe, shock, and dread.

The destruction of Azalisk Stronghold was visible even from where they stood—light from the explosion still flickering across the horizon like a dying star. And yet, despite the apocalyptic sight, the one responsible for it all approached them with calm composure, his face expressionless, his eyes cold and calculating.

To him, the fall of one of the Zanis Family’s most vital fortresses in the Exilon World meant nothing more than a mission completed.

Their original plan had been meticulous and calculated: a guerrilla-style infiltration meant to cause chaos within the stronghold while an elite strike team quietly disabled the Interstellar Teleportation Formation. It was a clean, efficient strategy—designed to minimize casualties and maximize results. But Overlord had proposed a different path.

He hadn’t offered details—only a command.

"Be ready to act if the plan appears to fail."

And then, without further explanation, he vanished into the heart of the stronghold.

It was only when they saw the meteorite descending from the void like divine judgment that the Xaos soldiers began to understand the scope of his plan. Their awe quickly transformed into stunned silence.

Overlord didn’t speak to their fear, didn’t pause to explain. Whether they looked at him with reverence, wonder, or terror, it made no difference. He simply gave a curt nod to Freya.

"The mission is complete. Time to retreat."

Freya nodded back, her expression solemn. "When it comes to raw power or commanding presence, he’s not as overwhelming as Vlad," she thought, "but when it comes to strategy, manipulation, and sheer precision—no one in the Xaos Kingdom can compare."

Without delay, Overlord, Freya, and the rest of the Xaos forces began their withdrawal. Every movement was calculated. They erased all traces of their presence, masking residual energy signatures.

In their retreat, they left ruin in their wake. Bridges were collapsed, roads flooded, and mountain passes sealed with landslides. Forests were set ablaze, and magically-triggered avalanches buried major supply routes.

These acts might not have been enough to stop powerful individuals like Guardians or Sages, but they would certainly cripple the flow of war machines, reinforcements, and supplies. Every obstacle added valuable hours—perhaps even days—of delay to the Zanis military response.

Now, with all three major strongholds destroyed and the Interstellar Teleportation Formations eliminated, Exilon was effectively cut off from the outside galaxy. A global field of silence blanketed the world. No signals escaped, no orders were received.

And yet... the war had only just begun.

Exilon remained a fully militarized world, crawling with millions of elite troops and hundreds of millions of regular soldiers. Each fortress was a war machine in itself.

If just a fraction of those troops—say, a hundred million Champions—were marshaled under the command of seasoned generals and hurled at Dragon Spine, where the Xaos forces had established their temporary stronghold, the consequences would be catastrophic.

Vlad had no illusions. If the Zanis Family was willing to sacrifice wave after wave of their troops, the endless tide could slowly grind away the defenses of the Xaos Kingdom. Legends would survive. Everyone else—Sages, Guardians, and foot soldiers—would fall.

The cost for the Zanis Family would be astronomical.

But the Xaos leadership knew—Zanis would pay it without hesitation.

Though the first phase of the campaign had been a massive strategic success, the true war would engulf the entire world. And in that kind of war, a single mistake could spell the collapse of their entire campaign.

Just like Overlord’s team, Vlad and Jormungandr had also made sure to sabotage every road, tunnel, and magical passage they encountered on their way back. Their retreat was just as systematic—flooded ravines, collapsed plateaus, cursed zones—all designed to slow the advance of any Zanis retaliation force.

After weeks of travel, the scattered Xaos units finally returned to Dragon Spine, the heart of their underground staging grounds.

Exhausted, bloodied, and drained of energy, the soldiers trudged into the gates. For many, their knees gave out the moment they passed into the safety of the warded perimeter. Some collapsed outright. Even the most hardened veterans sank to the ground, no longer able to carry the weight of their armor—or their memories.

There was no judgment. No reprimand.

The general in charge said nothing.

It was understood.

Rest was a need. And they had earned it.

But rest was not a luxury afforded to everyone.

At the core of the stronghold, inside the high command tent, the leaders of the Xaos Kingdom had already convened. This was the true center of power—those who bore the greatest authority, and also the heaviest burdens. They consumed the largest share of the kingdom’s resources, yes—but they were also the ones who could never afford to rest, even after victory.

Vlad stood before the virtual map of Exilon, watching as red dots continued to multiply. There were far more than he had expected—more than their original intelligence had accounted for.

He frowned.

Shortly after returning, Jormungandr had used his abilities to devour the soul of Warden Felix, extracting every memory, every secret. It had helped expand their understanding of Zanis military structure and Exilon’s layout.

Yet even with that knowledge, the map was overwhelming.

The three primary strongholds were gone, yes—but thousands of secondary bastions remained. Each might lack the power, but collectively, they represented a significant threat.

And the bad news did not end there.

A Zanis Family scion had been sent to Exilon and was present just before the Silence Towers activated. It was the High Legend that Vlad fought.

If that person failed to return soon...

The Zanis homeworld would notice and would definitely sent forces to investigate what is happening.

"Even if those sent by the Zanis Family to investigate the situation became trapped on Exilon and unable to contact their homeworld, they will still become powerful reinforcements for our enemy, making things much harder." Vlad’s voice was calm yet firm, and his eyes held a solemn gravity that filled the room. "I can defeat any one of them individually, provided I unleash my full strength and fuse with the other True Depravitas. However, I am just one man. I cannot be the sole foundation of our military strength."

His words echoed quietly but profoundly among the gathered leaders, who nodded gravely in agreement. They understood the weight behind his statement. Having a figure with overwhelming power was undeniably crucial in warfare, but relying solely on such an individual would be extraordinarily naive. A single powerhouse could shift battles, but one warrior alone could not dominate or sustainably control an entire world.

To truly conquer and hold Exilon, a systematic approach was necessary—a structured and disciplined method of warfare designed not only to overwhelm the enemy but also to consolidate victories and maintain long-term control. Conquest meant more than simple annihilation; it required occupation, governance, and subjugation of the populace. It involved expanding borders strategically, fortifying positions within conquered lands, and ensuring any enemy incursions were swiftly identified, isolated, and exterminated.

For such a task, infantry soldiers—foot soldiers who could patrol and secure territory—were essential. So too were advanced weaponry systems, surveillance arrays, energy supply networks, defensive fortifications, and logistical infrastructure. Vlad’s role as the spearhead of the Xaos army was unquestioned, but a spear alone, without a unified and disciplined force behind it, would break under pressure.

"Now that we have successfully sealed Exilon within a Silence Field," Grand Marshal Anglius interjected, his voice sharp and authoritative, "it is time to deploy the bulk of our forces. Even if the Zanis forces manage to detect the activation of our Interstellar Teleportation Formation, they can do nothing to sabotage it or warn their homeworld. The field ensures total isolation."

The assembled generals and strategists nodded their agreement, recognizing the wisdom of immediately reinforcing their foothold before the enemy regrouped. Yet, amidst this consensus, one voice cut through, cold and precise, changing the atmosphere of the room instantly.

"I disagree," Overlord stated calmly, his mechanical voice devoid of emotion, yet filled with an unsettling certainty. "I believe our first priority should be teleporting in the biological weapons."

Immediately, the air seemed to grow colder, tension thickening as every gaze shifted to the A.I. Chip Clone. Everybody understood that anytime Overlord declared a path forward, it was based on flawless calculation rather than impulse, but they also understood that it could mean to follow such a bloody and brutal path, that even in times of war, it was unacceptable.

The True Depravita of Wrath’s narrowed his eyes cautiously, his tone measured but wary. "Explain your reasoning."

Overlord stepped forward slightly, his expression unchanged as he continued. "Deploying biological weapons first will significantly disrupt enemy logistics and cohesion. Exilon is a heavily militarized world with substantial infrastructure and manpower. A targeted assault with our biological weapons drain enemy resources, and they will act as a shield for any surprise attack or weapon that the Zanis Family might have, sparing the Xaos soldiers. I assure you, they will do the job perfectly."