Beyond the Apocalypse-Chapter 586: Cousin

Vlad, Jormungandr, Ouroburo, and Fafnir did not hesitate as they dashed toward the group, reaching them within seconds. The moment they arrived, Agamenon, Zalasar, and the others turned their attention toward them, their eyes widening in undeniable surprise.

Their reactions were not unwarranted. The armor and weapons adorning Vlad and his group were of unparalleled craftsmanship. Even in their passive state, Agamenon and the other could feel the armor’s extreme durability and the weapons’ overwhelming destructive power.

Agamenon and the rest of the group all came from an influential background, having access to power equipment thanks to their massive wealth and connection, yet it seemed their armor and weapons were not any better than those four.

"Impressive," Agamenon remarked, his eyes gleaming as he studied their gear. "These armors surpass at least ninety percent of the equipment forged by Rank 4 Alchemists in the fortress."

His gaze then turned to Jormungandr, the small yellow cat, and his expression shifted to one of realization.

"I assume this is your work, Master Jormungandr?"

The small feline smirked, his tail flicking slightly as he gave a satisfied nod. "You have good eyes, boy. That’s right—I forged our equipment."

At those words, the woman and the twins turned their full attention to Jormungandr, curiosity flashing in their eyes. They had already heard about this peculiar group before.

After all, the Sky Seed Depravitas were the ones who had clashed with the envoy of the Zanis Association, had their leader summoned by Marshal Maximo, and were regularly handing over Voromettalice Sage’s corpses as if they were nothing more than common materials at the Logic Military Center. Their presence had already stirred countless discussions among those with power and influence.

Agamenon noticed the growing interest in their eyes and promptly took charge of the introductions before further speculation could arise.

"Forgive my manners," he began. "These are my friends I told you about—Vlad, Jormungandr, Ouroburo, and Fafnir. They are part of the Depravita Race."

After speaking, Agamenon turned to face Vlad before continuing.

"And this—" he gestured toward the woman, "is Lady Hadriana, a Paladin from the Church of Light."

At the mention of the Church of Light, Vlad, Jormungandr, and Ouroburo instinctively sharpened their gazes. The relationship between the Xaos Kingdom and the gods was not exactly friendly, as on more than one occasion they had clashed with them or their followers.

However, they were not blinded by prejudice. After all, Freya was also a devout follower of a god, and she was one of their most trusted allies. To categorize all followers of the divine under one label would be foolish.

Thus, the Sky Seed Depravitas simply clasped their hands together in a respectful nod toward Hadriana. The golden-haired Paladin returned the gesture, her expression neutral yet watchful.

Seeing that the interaction had gone smoothly, Agamenon smiled before shifting his focus to the twins standing beside Hadriana.

"As for these two," he continued, "they are Titus and Crixus, sons of the Sky Reaper Marquis. They are powerful Sage Mages in their own right and have already begun touching upon the Laws."

The twins beamed with pride, their confidence evident as they exchanged glances.

A hidden sharp light crossed Vlad’s eyes. Understanding the Laws—even at a shallow level—meant their spells would carry supernatural effects far beyond ordinary magic.

It explained why their energy felt so refined and potent. Even if they had only barely grasped the fundamentals, that alone would give them an edge over most high-ranking mages.

With introductions complete, Agamenon wasted no time.

"We should head to the meeting point. We don’t want to be late. Follow me."

Everyone nodded in agreement before following Agamenon and Zalasar.

Much to the Sky Seed Depravitas’ confusion, Agamenon dove straight into the polluted river. They weren’t the only ones puzzled—Hadriana and the twins also hesitated for a moment, apparently unaware of this path.

It became clear that Agamenon and Zalasar had kept the actual entrance to the secret plane hidden from everyone.

It wasn’t unusual. One never knew who might be listening, and if the location were leaked, thousands of Sages would march toward the plane in pursuit of its riches.

The group dived deeper and deeper until they had traveled over a thousand meters beneath the surface. Finally, Agamenon made a sharp turn, leading them toward a hidden underground cave.

The area resembled a massive bubble beneath the water, completely untouched by the polluted liquid of the Narrow Sea.

The moment they entered, Vlad and the Sky Seed Depravitas tensed.

There were already people inside.

A group of nine figures stood waiting. However, the one who drew the most attention was a young man with short white hair and golden eyes.

He was unbelievably handsome, his features almost ethereal, but what truly stood out was the aura surrounding him.

A powerful force radiated from his very blood, exerting an invisible pressure upon everyone who focused on him.

An overwhelmingly powerful presence.

Even though the young man remained still, the sheer intensity of his energy made it immediately clear—he was exceptionally strong.

Instinctively, the Sky Seed Depravitas prepared themselves.

If a battle were to break out, they would need to strike hard and fast before their opponent could gain an advantage.

However, just as the tension in the air was about to escalate, Agamenon’s voice cut through the cave.

"Everyone, relax. They are friends."

The young man with white hair turned toward Agamenon, a faint smirk playing at his lips before he descended gracefully to the cave floor.

Then, he took a few steps forward, his golden eyes shimmering with amusement and familiarity.

"Cousin, long time no see."

Agamenon grinned in response.

"It has indeed been a long time."

In the next instant, the two men clasped forearms, their grip firm as they nodded in mutual respect.

Vlad, however, narrowed his eyes—not because of their familiarity, but because of the word ’cousin.’

Agamenon belonged to the Solaris Family, a prestigious lineage. But his mother was said to have Imperial blood.

And if this golden-eyed man was his cousin...

"So that means this man is..."

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