Apocalypse: King of Zombies

”You don’t accept it? Then suck it up and get the hell out of here!” Director Vaughn snapped, his voice like a whip crack.

Was this guy brain-dead? Couldn’t even read the damn room?

You think I’m covering for them? I’m trying to save your dumb ass, you idiot!

You think you can mess with these people?

But of course, good intentions were always mistaken for favoritism.

Rourke’s face darkened even more. In his mind, Vaughn’s reaction only confirmed his suspicions—this group must have some secret connection with the director. Maybe even some shady deal going on behind the scenes.

His stubborn streak flared up. ”Director Vaughn, as a leader of this compound, I expect you to uphold true fairness. Otherwise, how can you expect people to follow you? I’m asking the military to stay out of this. Let us settle it ourselves.”

”Settle it?” Vaughn’s face turned stormy. ”The only thing you’re gonna settle is your own damn funeral!”

He was fuming now. If Ironfang Squad didn’t have some value, he wouldn’t even be wasting his breath.

He shot a quick glance at Ethan’s group. They were just standing there, watching the whole thing like it was a street performance—calm, even a little amused. No sign of anger.

That gave Vaughn a bit of relief.

He turned back to Rourke, voice low but firm. ”I’m telling you—drop it. Walk away. This ends here.”

”No way!” Rourke growled, digging in his heels.

His parents had died early in the apocalypse. His little brother was all he had left.

He’d clawed his way up, pushing his strength to the limit, all so he and his brother could finally live like kings in this broken world.

And now, just when things were finally turning around, his brother was dead.

There was no letting that go. Even if it killed him, he’d get revenge.

Vaughn’s chest heaved with frustration. In the end, he could only sigh. You can’t save someone who’s hell-bent on dying.

He turned to the man standing beside Rourke—the captain of Blazefury Squad. ”Axel. You’re getting involved in this too?”

Axel gave a helpless smile. ”Sorry, Director Vaughn. He paid too well. I couldn’t say no.”

”Paid more than your life’s worth?”

Axel’s expression shifted. ”What’s that supposed to mean?”

”Nothing,” Vaughn said coldly. ”Just walk away. Don’t get yourself killed.”

Axel’s heart skipped a beat.

He wasn’t stupid. The way Vaughn was acting… something wasn’t right.

And then Ethan finally spoke, his voice calm but edged with impatience. ”Director Vaughn, maybe you should sit this one out.”

Vaughn stiffened. He caught the subtle shift in Ethan’s tone—and immediately backed off.

”Understood. Since both sides want to handle this privately, I’ll stay out of it.”

He stepped back without another word.

He was technically in charge of managing Enhanced affairs, but if these idiots wouldn’t listen, there was nothing more he could do.

The fact that Ethan had let him talk this long was already a huge show of respect.

Axel watched the exchange, and a chill ran down his spine.

Director Vaughn—one of the top officials in the compound—was afraid of them.

Afraid.

That alone forced Axel to reevaluate everything he thought he knew about this group.

But Rourke, blinded by rage, didn’t notice any of it. Seeing Vaughn step aside, he lit up with satisfaction.

”Hmph. No military interference now. Let’s see how cocky you are without someone to hide behind. Today, you’re all dying with my brother!”

He raised his hand. ”Attack!”

But before anyone could move, Axel suddenly spoke up.

”Rourke… this is your Ironfang Squad’s business. I’m out.”

Rourke froze. ”What?”

”I’m not getting involved. I’ll return half the payment you gave me.”

”You son of a bitch! You playing me?!”

”Think what you want,” Axel said calmly. ”But take my advice—don’t let revenge cloud your judgment.”

With that, he gave Ethan and his team a respectful bow, then quickly moved to stand beside Director Vaughn.

Ethan didn’t stop Axel from backing out. They had no real grudge with the guy—if he wanted to walk away, that was his shot at staying alive.

Director Vaughn let out a quiet breath of relief.

At least he’d saved one.

But Rourke’s heart was sinking fast.

Everything about this group screamed danger. The way Vaughn backed off, the way Axel bailed… it all pointed to one thing—these people weren’t normal.

But he’d already crossed the line. There was no turning back now. He’d made his move, and there was no retreating from it.

”Attack!” he roared. ”I don’t believe they can survive against this many!”

At his command, the Ironfang Squad surged forward. Nearly three hundred Enhanced drew their weapons—blades, guns, and everything in between. Skills lit up the air as over twenty Tier 6s launched their abilities toward Ethan’s group.

Garrick stepped forward and casually waved his hand.

A thick wall of earth erupted from the ground, slamming into place in front of them. Every single skill slammed into it—and fizzled out.

Not a scratch.

The Tier 6s froze, eyes wide.

What the hell was that wall made of?

Even Axel, standing off to the side, flinched. The crowd watching from a distance gasped.

One wall. Just one. And it had tanked the combined assault of more than a dozen Tier 6 Enhanced.

That wasn’t just strong—that was terrifying.

Director Vaughn, on the other hand, wasn’t surprised at all. He muttered under his breath, ”Come on… they’re all Tier 8 minimum. And you idiots thought you could take them with Tier 5s and 6s?”

Ethan glanced at the attackers, then said quietly, ”Kill them all.”

He’d already given them a chance. They didn’t take it.

No reason to hold back now.

Might as well use this to send a message—make sure no one else got any bright ideas.

”On it!” Big Mike grinned, raising a hand.

A blazing curtain of fire erupted from the sky—[Rain of Flames]—and came crashing down on the crowd.

The moment the heat hit them, panic exploded. People screamed and scattered, trying to run.

But the ground beneath them suddenly gave way—massive sinkholes opening up, swallowing dozens at once.

Then the flames hit.

Screams turned to shrieks. Then silence.

Rourke stood under a black energy shield, barely holding it together as the firestorm raged around him. His face was pale, eyes wide with horror.

Gone was the arrogance. All that remained was raw fear.

He’d never imagined—not in his worst nightmares—that these people were this powerful.

All around him, Ironfang Squad members were turning to ash.

And for the first time, regret hit him like a punch to the gut.

Why the hell did I provoke these monsters?

He could feel it—this wasn’t just a loss. This was annihilation.

The shield cracked.

Then shattered.

And the flames swallowed him whole.

In less than a minute, Ironfang Squad—over two hundred Enhanced, including twenty-plus Tier 6s and a Tier 7—was gone.

Reduced to ash.

Garrick waved his hand again. The ground sealed up, smooth and clean. The ashes buried. Like nothing had ever happened.

But the dozens of witnesses?

They’d never forget.

The silence was suffocating. Everyone stared, stunned, not even daring to breathe too loud.

Last time, when Ironfang Squad picked a fight, Ethan’s group had only sent two people. They’d killed a few Tier 5s—nothing too shocking. Most people just thought they were bold for killing inside the compound.

But this?

This was different.

This time, it was a full-on squad—two hundred-plus Enhanced, including real heavy hitters.

And they were wiped out in under a minute.

Buried, even.

And only two people had lifted a finger.

From the sheer power of their abilities, it was obvious—both were Tier 8 Awakened.

That realization hit like a hammer.

The entire compound had over a million people… and only three Tier 8 Awakened.

This squad had eight people total.

Two of them casually stepped up—and both were Tier 8 Awakened.

And neither of them was the leader.

What kind of monsters were the rest?

What kind of monster was their captain?

Just thinking about it made everyone’s scalp tingle.