CHAPTER 815: REBELLION

All manner of thoughts surged through the minds of the generals and high-ranking officials of the Xaos Kingdom as they heard Vlad’s chilling directive. Transporting the captured Exilion soldiers to the Obelisk could only mean one thing: their bodies would be used as biomass in the creation of new Thiamatos units—more Reapers.

Overlord, for his part, was extremely pleased with this path. To him, it was not merely logical—it was optimal. Efficient. Ruthless. Precise.

"Understood, Prima Master," came the reply, formal and unwavering.

With that, all matters concerning the Asaris Continent were settled. The region had become their absolute dominion. The armies of Exilion were shattered. The Zanis family’s influence had been uprooted, their command structure disoriented and disarmed. There was nothing left on the continent that could threaten Xaos rule.

However, this victory was only a foothold—just the beginning. The true conquest was yet to come.

"There are nineteen continents in total across the world of Exilon," Overlord began, his voice sharp, calculated, and authoritative. "Some of them possess terrain so treacherous, so inhospitable, that mobilizing soldiers below the Guardian Tier is nearly impossible. The environment is so extreme, they remain nearly devoid of civilization—populated only by monsters and raw, untamed wilderness."

As he spoke, a new virtual screen materialized in the center of the command chamber. The holographic map of Exilon shimmered to life, and three specific continents—each located to the west of their current position—glowed with heightened intensity. These regions lay distant from both the main Exilon military formations and the central command center held by the Zanis family.

"I’ve designated these as Tier III Continents," Overlord continued. "They have no known military outposts, no active strongholds. Securing them should be relatively simple."

The assembled generals all nodded in agreement. Every one of them had studied the detailed intelligence files on Exilon. They were well aware of the hostile conditions that plagued these remote territories—scorching heat, poisonous winds, or frigid wastes ruled by apex predators. They have only worked as training grounds. Until now.

"They would be easy to claim," said a deep voice from the left side of the table. It belonged to Chief Counselor Alonz. "But I must ask—what value do they hold? Taking those regions will not bring us closer to the Zanis strongholds or their planetary defense cores. If anything, it risks spreading our forces thin. The move is not... strategically sound."

The room fell momentarily silent as all eyes turned toward Overlord. Everyone knew the A.I. Chip Clone always had a deeper reason for every move. He never acted on impulse.

Overlord nodded slightly in acknowledgment of Alonz’s concerns. "In terms of traditional conquest, you’re absolutely right. On paper, it makes little sense. And that is precisely why it will confuse our enemies."

He shifted the projection, highlighting key points within each of the Tier III continents—regions marked with vast deposits of energy crystals, dense forests of rare resources, and roaming populations of powerful monsters.

"They will question our motives, unable to understand why we would move away from their central command zones. Meanwhile, we will begin harvesting natural treasures and neutralizing the monster populations. These monsters provide both biomass and energy for the Thiamatos Obelisks, increasing our production of Reapers while avoiding direct conflict with the explosive-blooded soldiers of Exilion."

The generals’ expressions shifted—confusion giving way to realization.

Pacifying resource-rich zones and exterminating dangerous fauna was typically a post-war activity, done when victory had been secured. But Overlord was suggesting they begin now, in regions where resistance would be minimal and gains would be tangible.

"They fear our power," Overlord continued. "Their suicide soldiers will have great difficulty reaching those territories. So they will wait, hoping that time favors them. They will assume we are wasting our strength. But we are not. We are building."

He turned to Vlad and gave a slight bow of the head.

"Until I discover a way to neutralize the explosive agent embedded in the Exilion population, this is the most efficient use of our resources. Our soldiers remain active. Our forges keep burning. And every monster we slay is another piece of material for the Obelisks. But there is a second purpose for taking those lands..."

Overlord’s eyes glinted with cunning as a wicked smile curved across his face.

"It’s about the rebellion."

Vlad’s gaze sharpened instantly. Reports from Exilon had mentioned a rebel group that opposed the tyranny of the Zanis dynasty. However, intelligence indicated that their main force had been crushed in a recent massacre—one that occurred during Vlad’s assault on an Interstellar Teleportation Formation.

Given their apparent weakness and disorganization, Vlad had dismissed the rebels as irrelevant. The Xaos Kingdom was not a liberator; it was a conqueror. There seemed no point in contacting a group of shattered idealists with no land, no army, and no influence.

Overlord could sense the skepticism in the room and offered a reassuring smile.

"When I used my genetic larvae to seize control of the scientists inside the Azalisk Stronghold," he explained, "I uncovered a curious detail. One of them was a rebel operative. Their presence there was not accidental."

The room grew still. Overlord continued, his voice quiet but sharp as a scalpel.

"They are not a ragtag band of idealists. That’s simply the face they show to the world—to downplay their threat and reduce the intensity of the Zanis family’s retaliation. In truth, they are deeply embedded, fiercely disciplined, and incredibly resourceful. They are not gone. They are hiding, waiting."

At this point, Overlord turned toward Vlad, his expression calm but calculated.

"The group that was butchered near Katu Prison, where Prime Master shattered the Interstellar Teleportation Formation, was not discovered by accident," he said evenly. "They revealed themselves intentionally, sacrificing their lives. In doing so, they once again lulled the Zanis family into a false sense of security, making them believe there was nothing left to worry about."

The room fell into stunned silence. Even the most seasoned generals and strategists could not hide their surprise. A force capable of infiltrating the enemy’s most important research center—staffed by agents so devoted they would willingly offer themselves up for slaughter—was not one that could be dismissed. Their determination and commitment went far beyond fanaticism or simple brainwashing. To act with such purpose, to die with such conviction, required a cause—a belief in something greater than themselves.

"They are not fools or idealists," Overlord continued. "They are wide and willing to die for what they believe. And that makes them dangerous."

He gestured toward the virtual display, which now shifted to show several remote areas within the Tier III Continents.

"According to my calculations, and based on the information extracted from one of the spies at Azalisk Stronghold, the headquarters of the rebellion is most likely hidden near those locations. With their assistance, we could accelerate our conquest significantly. They already have underground networks, informants, and knowledge of Zanis strongholds that we could exploit. And as for how to gain their cooperation... I have already devised several options."

A moment of quiet followed before a voice broke the stillness.

"But how will we find them?"

The speaker was a small yellow cat. Despite his unassuming appearance, his insight and authority commanded deep respect from everyone in the room.

"If they are truly as good at hiding as you claim, and so paranoid, it won’t be easy to locate them," he added, his tail flicking thoughtfully.

Overlord turned toward Jormungandr and nodded in agreement.

"You’re right," he said. "Which is why... we won’t look for them. They will come to us."

That statement caused a ripple of surprise across the table.

"I am certain they have already seen our power," Overlord continued. "They’ve witnessed the collapse of the Exilion armies, the destruction of the Zanis infrastructure, and the sheer might of the Xaos war machine. They will want to use us. To them, we are not liberators, but an opportunity—an unstoppable force that could break their enemies in ways they never could. They will reach out."

The generals began nodding in agreement. It made sense. A hidden resistance force would seek powerful allies, especially if their own numbers were too diminished to act directly. They would not reveal themselves easily, but they would watch. And when the time came, they would act.

Vlad analyzed all that information before finally noodling. "This is a good plan. Those people had been waiting for centuries for a chance to regain control over their worlds. Of course, they will not really trust us. As a matter of fact, they might see us as sacrificing pieces on their board, but as long as we are smarter and stronger than they are, we will be fine."

Smiles full of confidence appeared on all the generals as they nodded. They were not looking down on the rebels, as to survive this long and trick the Zanis Family so torogutty, they were special. However, they had Vlad, who could level entire continents with his power, and Overlord, whose mind was always ten steps ahead.