CHAPTER 811: DOME PROYECT

The following weeks on the Asaris Continent were marked by an unending cycle of bloodshed and fire. Explosions lit up the skies daily, turning night into day and land into ash. Every day, more and more standard Exilion soldiers flooded the continent. They died by the hundreds of thousands—but to the High Commander, that was not a concern.

The numbers were inconsequential. As long as more troops could be summoned, sacrificed, and replaced, their deaths were considered a necessary cost. For every explosion, not only were powerful enemies—those Reaper monstrosities—taken out, but entire sectors of the continent were also tested.

If there was a cloaked fortress or hidden stronghold anywhere, these blasts would eventually reveal it. The sheer magnitude of the detonations had the power to destabilize or shatter cloaking formations, making it easier for the Zanis Command Center to pinpoint the enemy’s location and launch a decisive strike.

Deep within the Dragon Spine—the stronghold of the Xaos Kingdom—Overlord, Vlad, and the kingdom’s highest-ranking generals stood in silence. In the center of the war chamber, a detailed virtual projection of the Asaris Continent hovered, flickering with symbols and lines representing the constant movement of enemy forces and the regions already reduced to smoldering ruins.

"At this rate, it won’t be long before they narrow down our location," Grand Marshal Anglius said in a calm tone. "They’ve already blown a good portion of the continent to pieces."

Though his voice remained composed, a thin sheen of loathing flickered in his eyes—barely restrained but unmistakable. Anglius was no stranger to war. Even before the Ascension of Terra—before monsters and demons flooded the world—he had been a general among men, a veteran of countless brutal campaigns. Warfare ran through his blood like fire.

To him, soldiers were brothers and sisters. War was not just about conquest but about trust, honor, and bringing your comrades back alive. The idea that Exilion’s commanders were using their own troops as suicidal weapons—turning them into ticking bombs—was revolting. It wasn’t just dishonorable; it was a grotesque perversion of everything he believed war should be.

Vlad saw the barely contained fury within Anglisu. Truthfully, he shared it. Though he himself had come to Exilion as an invader, with every intention of conquest, there were lines even he found difficult to ignore. But he would not waste time on hypocritical rhetoric. The enemy may be using monstrous tactics, but that didn’t change their role. They were still the enemy. His objective remained the same.

"How is the Dome Project progressing?" Vlad’s voice was sharp, cutting through the silence as he turned his gaze to Alonz—the Chief Counselor of the Xaos Kingdom.

Alonz was the one responsible for overseeing one of the most vital operations of the invasion. The Dome Project required a level of strategic finesse and logistical coordination so complex that even most Legends would struggle to comprehend it. Ordinarily, such a task would have been entrusted to Overlord, but with him preoccupied commanding thousands of Reapers across the continent, the responsibility had fallen to Alonz.

Alonz stood with a straight back and clear eyes, understanding the weight of the trust placed upon him. "Everything is proceeding according to schedule, my Lord. The Dome Project will be fully operational in time."

Vlad gave a single nod. Alonz was not the type to make empty promises. If he said it would be ready, then it would be.

Still, despite the reassuring update, a grim expression settled over Vlad’s face. His eyes drifted to the generals and commanders standing with him.

"Even if we manage to establish our foothold in Exilion," he said slowly, "it’s clear that expanding our reach will be far more complicated than anticipated."

He didn’t need to elaborate. Everyone in the room understood what he meant.

Subjugating the world had always been part of the plan. Typically, it would be a straightforward process. Mortals and Champions could be indoctrinated, controlled through technology and fear. And if they rebelled, they could be quickly subdued.

But not now.

If even ordinary citizens could be implanted with explosive compounds—willing to sacrifice themselves in mass—then conquering them was no longer just a military effort. It became a game of cat and mouse with living bombs. One wrong step, and a single suicide attack could destroy an entire garrison, flatten a city, or wipe out a strategic supply line.

And the thought of such weapons falling into the hands of stronger hosts—like a Guardian, Sage, or worse, a Legend—was enough to shake even the most hardened strategist.

"The answer is simple, if you ask me," Overlord’s voice echoed across the chamber. Cold. Calculated.

The room fell silent again as all eyes turned toward the A.I. Chip Clone.

"We must eliminate any potential threat to our soldiers."

Though Overlord had phrased it diplomatically, the meaning behind his words was unmistakable: Kill everything in our path. Every man, woman, and child. Leave no one alive to ignite.

It was brutal logic. With no enemies left to trigger a surprise detonation, the Reapers and Xaos soldiers could operate without fear. No more traps. No more fiery deaths.

A long sigh escaped Vlad as he surveyed the room.

"We came to dominate their world," he said, voice low and fierce. "We will slaughter millions of their soldiers. We will shatter the earth and set the skies ablaze. To them, we are monsters."

The True Depravita of Wrath’s eyes flared with the fire, and yet, his voice did not rise with rage—it hardened with resolve.

"But even monsters like us must have a code. We will not butcher the weak. We will not annihilate the innocent. We will find another way. One that will not haunt us for the rest of our lives."

There was a moment of stunned silence in the war chamber. Then, slowly, one by one, the generals and high command of the Xaos Kingdom began to smile. Grim, determined smiles. They understood what Vlad meant.

They would not become the very evil they sought to destroy.

Overlord, meanwhile, simply nodded. To him, there was no meaningful difference between killing five hundred thousand soldiers and five hundred thousand children. A life was a life. But Vlad was his Prime Master. His word was law.

Seeing the determination and unwavering will in the eyes of his people, Vlad allowed himself a small, rare smile. He nodded slowly, his voice calm but firm.

"Then we know how to proceed. The enemy is sending millions of troops into our domain. While this places us in immense danger, it also presents an opportunity—a chance to strike a devastating blow."

As his words hung in the air, he turned his gaze toward Overlord and Alonz. The moment their eyes met, the two men reacted instantly. Overlord’s expression remained unreadable, but a faint glimmer lit up within his synthetic pupils. Alonz, on the other hand, allowed himself a wide smile as a thrill of excitement pulsed through him. He had already anticipated what Vlad was suggesting—and he relished the thought.

Without hesitation, both men bowed respectfully and exited the command center to carry out their tasks. There was no need for further instruction. They understood their roles and what had to be done.

The chaos consuming the Asaris Continent—fire, death, and constant detonations—was overwhelming. But to the Xaos Kingdom, it was merely the beginning of the war. The storm was still gathering, and now it was time to prepare for what would come next.

Across the continent, more and more Exilion soldiers flooded the land. Their numbers had swelled beyond ten million, spreading across hills, forests, and ruined cities like an unending tide. With every passing hour, more reinforcements arrived. A massive wave of zeal-driven Champions swept forward with chilling synchronicity.

There was no fear in their eyes—only cold resolve, strengthened by indoctrination and sharpened with carefully administered stimulants. The drugs coursing through their veins deadened pain and amplified loyalty, making them immune to fear, hesitation, or regret. Their High Commander had left no room for weakness in his ranks.

Thanks to his brutality, the soldiers were marching with unnatural discipline. And more importantly, they were getting close.

The true headquarters of the Xaos Kingdom’s forces had remained hidden for months through a mixture of cloaking technology. But the enemy had been relentless. Each detonation had been carefully calculated, each movement intended to narrow the possible hiding locations. Now, with the ten million-strong force tightening the noose, they were nearing their goal.

High Commander August stood before his command console, eyes gleaming with anticipation. He watched troop movements unfold across the strategic map, tracking columns of soldiers converging on the heart of the continent.

He smiled.

Victory, it seemed, was within reach. A matter of days and the location of the Xaos headquarters would be exposed. Then, with a concentrated assault, he could end the invasion once and for all.

But just as the taste of triumph touched his lips, the earth beneath began to tremble.

Not just a small piece. The entire continent was shaking!