Chapter 783: Celebration
Five beams of radiant light streaked down from the sky and touched the soil of Terra. In the next instant, the Depravitas materialized.
Joy immediately lit up their faces. Wide smiles broke across the young man, the small yellow cat, the white werewolf, and the light-fire dragon. Despite the wonders they had witnessed and the worlds they had traveled through, Terra was their home.
It was the planet of their birth, their origin. And nothing—no matter how vast or powerful—could replace the grounding feeling of standing on their own soil, breathing its air, and feeling its wind against their skin.
Even Freya, who had originally come from Valhalla, couldn’t help but smile warmly. Radiance shone from her face as she looked out over the land. Terra had become her true home—the place where she had formed deep friendships, where she had experienced the most transformative Chapter of her life, and where she had met the man she loved.
This was their kingdom. And they would protect it, nurture it, and raise it to stand tall among the stars—until Terra was counted among the highest civilizations in the universe.
With a confident smile, Vlad gestured toward the sky. The Depravitas nodded, and together, they soared upward, flying toward Xaos City.
It didn’t take long to reach the capital. As they approached, they saw that little had changed since their departure for Valhalla—except for one notable detail. Two entities floated motionless beside the towering structure of the Xaos Tower. Each of them was a perfect replica of Vlad in every physical detail, and the powerful energy radiating from their bodies marked them as High Legends.
These were no mere illusions or clones.
Those were Automatons—constructs Vlad had obtained during the campaign in the Land of the Three Calamities. Jormungandr had modified them, giving them the precise appearance of the Xaos King himself.
According to Overlord’s strategic input, it was the most logical choice. If these guardians were to serve as sentinels at the heart of Xaos City, then having them mirror the King would strengthen the people’s faith and solidify the visual image of authority and divine strength.
It was not just a tactical decision—it was symbolic, calculated to reinforce the growing power of the Xaos Faith.
Thanks to their training and strength, the Depravitas easily suppressed their auras and made their way discreetly into the command center deep within the Xaos Tower where Overlord was waiting.
The A.I. Chip Clone, as usual, sat in meditative stillness. His eyes were closed, his soul and consciousness fused into the tower’s systems, monitoring the entire kingdom with unparalleled efficiency. At the same time, he was nurturing his body and spiritual core using Divine Power.
But the moment the Depravitas arrived, Overlord opened his glowing silver eyes and stood.
He bowed deeply to Vlad.
"It is a pleasure to see you return, Prime Master."
Then he turned and offered a respectful nod to the other Depravitas.
There was no question about where Overlord’s loyalty lay. His directives, etched into his core code upon creation, placed Vlad above all others. The others didn’t mind. Overlord might possess intelligence and even growing wisdom, but he was, in the end, still an A.I. Chip—his purpose defined by order and function.
Vlad didn’t waste time with ceremony. He connected his A.I. Chip directly to Overlord, transmitting all critical information regarding their new mission and the upcoming planetary invasion.
Although this was a top-level military secret—and sharing such intelligence outside of imperial clearance was considered treason punishable by death—that restriction didn’t apply to Overlord. As Terra’s chief administrator and defense coordinator, he had to be fully informed. And besides, he was bound by protocols that prevented any form of unauthorized disclosure.
After analyzing the vast stream of data, a sharp light passed through Overlord’s eyes. His processors worked at impossible speeds as he synthesized the details of the operation, then asked a direct question:
"When will the information about the target world arrive, and when must we initiate our operation?"
"According to Marshal Maximo," Vlad replied, "we can expect the strategic intelligence within the next couple of weeks. It should arrive alongside the team responsible for constructing the interstellar teleportation formations that will allow us to silently infiltrate the target world."
Even now, Vlad didn’t know the name of the world they would be invading. That alone revealed the level of secrecy surrounding the mission.
"As for when we deploy," he continued, "we’ll receive that directive soon as well. My guess? No more than two months. Things are already in motion."
Overlord nodded, his processors humming as he simulated hundreds of scenarios in seconds. Then, to everyone’s surprise, he spoke again:
"The first thing we must do... is organize a celebration."
The Depravitas exchanged puzzled glances.
A celebration? When they were about to march into interstellar war? Every minute was precious—shouldn’t they be preparing for battle instead?
But then, as they considered the deeper implications, it started to make sense.
Vlad had been absent for years. Although his influence and authority remained unshaken, the hearts of people were fragile and easily swayed by uncertainty. The realm had enjoyed peace during his absence. To tell them now that they were about to march into a foreign war might be met with resistance, confusion, or fear.
A celebration would change that.
It would serve as a public reminder that their king had returned—stronger, wiser, and now armed with the might of entire galaxies. A festival would rekindle national pride, reinforce faith, and unify their spirits. The sight of the returning king and his divine companions, back from a distant realm, would anchor hope in the people’s hearts.
It would make recruitment easier.
Deployment smoother.
And morale unbreakable.
Vlad smiled faintly. The wisdom of Overlord once again proved invaluable. He could match the A.I. Chip Clone in terms of troops movement and war strategy, when it came to human psychology and the understanding of collective thinking, Overlord was superior.
"Alright then—let’s do it."
Vlad’s voice rang out clearly, a broad smile spreading across his face as he spoke. Though he understood that time was of the essence, he also recognized the importance of uniting the world through a shared moment of pride and triumph. Letting the people celebrate wasn’t a waste—it was a strategic necessity. After all, what better way to show how far they had come?
Just a few years ago, Terra had been a fractured world. They had cowered under the threat of demon hordes, fled from monsters of unspeakable power, and fallen prey to the deceptions of angels who cloaked cruelty in divine words. Back then, survival was a desperate scramble.
But now?
Now, they stood tall. Unchained. Proud. Empowered.
They were free to choose their own path—free to rise, not through submission, but through sheer might and unbreakable will. And that alone was worth celebrating.
Overlord nodded in acknowledgment and immediately sprang into action.
Before the day ended, massive virtual displays began to shimmer in the skies above Xaos City. A golden projection hovered like a celestial banner over the capital, its light visible for miles. Then, one by one, similar displays appeared in every populated city and town across Terra.
People from all walks of life looked up, confused at first, shielding their eyes from the strange radiance. Murmurs rippled through the streets, families paused their meals, children pointed toward the sky, and warriors laid down their weapons for a moment of stillness.
And then—they saw him.
The young man with white hair, pale but noble features, and eyes that glowed with the brilliance of the sun itself. For many, it was the first time seeing him in motion, in real time. His portraits had long adorned public buildings, and stories of his deeds had spread far and wide, but now he was truly here.
Vlad—the World King. The Prime Master of Xaos. The man who had led Terra out of the shadows and into the light.
He stood tall, clad in his black and crimson robes that shimmered with celestial energy, a symbol of both power and legacy. When he began to speak, his voice did not echo—it resonated. The very air seemed to carry it to every soul across the planet.
"My people," Vlad began, "I have returned."
A wave of emotion swept across those watching—relief, hope, pride. He continued:
"I left not to abandon you, but to grow stronger—for all of us. I walked through foreign worlds, faced beings of unimaginable might, and forged bonds with warriors who now stand by my side. I faced trials that could break even the gods, and I returned not only whole—but greater."
"Today, we celebrate—not just my return, but our rise. We are no longer the broken. No longer the hunted. We are the ones who will shape fate with our own hands."
He raised a hand toward the sky, and behind him, the image of Terra itself appeared—glowing, thriving, powerful.
"This day will be remembered as a moment of unity. Let joy fill your hearts. Feast, laugh, sing, and celebrate—for our future is no longer one of fear, but of glory. This is our time!"
"Let the world celebrate the rise of Terra and the might of the Xaos Kingdom!"