Apocalypse: King of Zombies

A pack of Ironback Rats came prancing into the battlefield on quick little steps, snorting as they went, and made a beeline for the barbecue.

The other mutant beasts actually backed off as the rats approached.

Clearly, most of them had fought these ”harmless-looking” goofball rats before—and knew better than to underestimate them.

In the end, the Ironback Rats brazenly marched right up to the grills in front of everyone. They curled their tails around the roasted meat, hoisted it onto their backs, then snorted and trotted off like the entire battlefield belonged to them.

The Titan Ape leader’s face twisted with hesitation.

If it swung, it could definitely smash a few of them.

But it was already covered in wounds. And if an Ironback Rat’s tail spine pierced it, that poison…

Forget it. Sometimes you swallow your anger and live.

Just as everyone started to believe the roasted meat was really going to end up in the Ironback Rats’ hands, the ground suddenly began to tremble. Several tall, towering figures stepped into the battlefield.

The instant the mutant beasts saw them, the brawl ended like someone had cut the string. Everyone scattered and ran.

The Titan Ape that had been protecting Sophia abandoned her and bolted, too.

But the Titan Ape leader that arrived a moment later grabbed Sophia in one huge hand, tossed her over its shoulder, and carried her away.

Even now, it didn’t forget to bring the woman with it. That pretty much proved the Titan Ape leader was seriously invested in her—or maybe he’d developed a taste he wasn’t willing to lose.

On the spot, only the Ironback Rats were left—shaking like leaves. They wanted to run, but their legs were short and their speed was pathetic.

As for what could cause an effect like this… no need to guess.

It had to be the white-furred apes.

The forest might have other Stage C (Tier 12) mutant beasts somewhere out there, but in this region, only the white-furred ape was Stage C.

The mysterious energy in this pocket world was thin. To break into Stage C, you basically had to be something with an absurdly rare bloodline.

The white-furred apes clearly were.

And creatures like that were usually few in number. There probably weren’t many white-furred apes in the entire forest.

Even so, the white-furred apes were the true apex predators here. Every single one of them was terrifyingly strong.

When Ethan saw those massive figures again, his chest tightened.

”Captain,” someone whispered, ”is one of them the Stage C white-furred ape you mentioned?”

”Yeah.” Ethan nodded, eyes fixed on the field. ”The one in front is Stage C. Everyone be careful—don’t make a sound.”

”Got it.”

The white-furred apes didn’t spare the other mutant beasts a glance. Their eyes locked immediately onto the Ironback Rats carrying roasted Bloodfang Wolf meat.

They were here for the roasted Bloodfang Wolf too.

They’d eaten plenty of Bloodfang Wolves before. But roasted Bloodfang Wolf? That was new. And that smell… it was unreal.

The Ironback Rats, who’d been strutting around like kings a second ago, instantly deflated.

Without hesitation, they curled their tails around the roasted meat and—faces full of forced eagerness—offered it up to the white-furred apes like tribute.

The white-furred apes seemed to be in a good mood. They didn’t bother taking revenge. They accepted the meat and started tearing into it on the spot.

Sure, the roasted wolves were charred from not being flipped.

But for white-furred apes that had eaten raw meat their whole lives, the first taste of cooked meat hit them like a revelation.

It was insanely good.

So good it practically made them fall in love.

While the white-furred apes were busy eating, the Ironback Rats took off for their nest.

That speed—no exaggeration—had to be a new all-time record for their species.

Luckily, the white-furred apes were too busy enjoying the meal to bother with them, and the rats got away clean.

Seven roasted Bloodfang Wolves disappeared into the mouths of eight white-furred apes in no time at all.

Afterward, they even licked the grease off their hands, looking unsatisfied, like they could’ve kept going.

Then the white-furred apes wandered over to the grills and started inspecting them.

Unfortunately, the fire had gone out during the chaos of the fight, and none of them knew how to make fire. They studied the grills for a long time, but clearly didn’t figure anything out.

Now the entire mountain hollow was basically empty. Aside from the corpses, only the curious, childlike white-furred apes remained…

Well—those, and Ethan’s group hiding up in the cave.

Watching the white-furred apes below, an idea suddenly popped into Ethan’s head.

It was dangerous. He wasn’t sure whether it was worth the risk.

”What is it, Ethan?” Chris whispered.

Ethan kept his voice low. ”Those white-furred apes seem kind of obsessed with roasted meat. Do you think we could use barbecue to lure them into cooperating with us?”

”Hell no—Ethan, don’t do that!” Big Mike nearly jumped out of his skin. ”That’s Stage C mutant beasts! One slap and we’re paste. Cooperate with them? You’re asking to die.”

”Yeah, Captain, forget it.” The others were shaken too. ”It’s way too dangerous. We should leave while we can!”

Ethan hesitated.

If they left, it had to be right now—before the Titan Apes regained their senses and went back to blocking the Void Realm exit.

But if they left now, all those bodies below… all those crystal cores… they’d be forced to abandon them.

There were Tier 10 crystal cores down there.

Just thinking about not taking them made Ethan feel like he wouldn’t sleep tonight.

And if they wanted to loot the crystal cores, they could only do it after the white-furred apes finally left.

But looking at the white-furred apes, who the hell knew when that would be? If they waited too long and the Titan Apes returned to the exit, then the escape window they’d worked so hard to create would slam shut again.

Still…

If he could use barbecue to strike a deal with these white-furred apes…

Then not only could they harvest the crystal cores at leisure—they might even use the white-furred apes’ strength to wipe out the Titan Apes.

A Tier 11 core, plus more than ten Tier 10 cores.

If he got those, he could jump straight to Tier 11.

The temptation was enormous.

With that kind of profit on the table, maybe this risk was worth taking.

And Ethan could tell—these white-furred apes genuinely loved roasted meat.

They’d even happily scarfed down the burnt ones. If he grilled a few pieces properly—crispy outside, juicy inside—wouldn’t that hook them instantly?

The only real worry was that the moment they saw him, they’d skip the negotiations and just smack him dead.

The other problem was communication. No shared language—how was he supposed to make them understand what he wanted?

After thinking for a while, Ethan looked at the others. ”How about this… you guys leave the Void Realm first. I’ll go try.”

”No.” Mia shot it down immediately. ”It’s too dangerous. Even with Teleportation, we don’t know what abilities Stage C mutant beasts have. What if they have something that counters your Teleportation? Fallen Star Squad can’t lose you.”

”Yeah, Captain.” The others piled on. ”It’s insane. One Stage C—Tier 12—and seven Tier 11 white-furred apes. Any one of them could beat the shit out of you. Don’t gamble your life.”

”I’ve thought it through.” Ethan’s voice turned firm. Once he’d decided, he wasn’t backing off. ”Stop trying to talk me out of it. Be good—leave first.”

”Captain…”

”Then I’ll stay too,” Big Mike said, swallowing hard. He was scared, but when it mattered, he still stepped up. ”If you actually reach an agreement, you’ll need a fire for the barbecue. I’ll stay and help.”

”No need.” Ethan grinned. ”I’ve got a lighter in my spatial storage ring.”

”…”

Big Mike went quiet.

”Alright,” Ethan said, waving them on. ”While the Titan Apes still haven’t recovered, get out of this pocket world. If you hesitate, you might not make it out later!”

”…Fine,” someone said reluctantly. ”Captain, be careful. If it can’t be done, don’t force it. Staying alive comes first.”

”Yeah.” Ethan nodded. ”Relax—I’m very attached to my life.”