Apocalypse: King of Zombies

News that powerful intruders had broken into the Dragonspire City compound spread instantly, throwing the entire place into chaos. Countless people rushed toward the scene.

Before long, the base of the wall was packed with people. But perhaps out of fear of the Stage SS intruders, they kept their distance and made no attempt to attack.

Ethan and the others stood atop the wall, calmly watching the crowd below.

A path soon opened through the masses, and a group of Cathay Republic officials approached from the rear.

All seven of the Cathay Republic’s remaining Stage SS fighters were with them.

Four held positions of immense authority. Naturally, when the Cathay Republic obtained Stage SS crystal cores, those people had received priority. The other three had been promoted outside the normal order because their abilities were exceptionally powerful.

The moment they arrived, their attention locked onto Ethan’s group. One look was enough to change their expressions.

These weren’t Void Realm creatures.

They were people from the Atlas Federation!

A terrible possibility occurred to them.

If people from the Atlas Federation had already reached Dragonspire City, then Briggs’s attack must have... failed.

Their hearts sank.

How could a force as powerful as Briggs’s have lost? Had the Atlas Federation truly become that strong?

That was impossible!

”Mr. President, those nine are... incredibly powerful.” The Chief of Staff beside Orin swallowed hard. She possessed a detection skill and had immediately tried to assess the intruders, only for the results to drain the color from her face.

”How powerful?” the officials asked.

Forcing down her fear, she answered quietly, ”Eight of them are Stage SS. The ninth... I can’t read him at all.”

”What does that mean?” Everyone’s eyes widened.

”It means he’s beyond the limits of my detection skill,” she said, her voice trembling.

Orin and the others went pale.

The Chief of Staff was Stage SS herself. If even she couldn’t assess him, then didn’t that mean...

The thought sent a shudder through them.

”Go get His Lordship!” Orin whispered urgently to one of his guards.

”Yes, sir.”

The guard hurried away.

While Orin’s group studied the intruders, Ethan and the others were looking them over as well.

”Why does that old man look familiar?” Ethan wondered aloud. ”I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere.”

”Of course you have,” Henry said, exasperated. ”That’s Orin Vale, president of the Cathay Republic. He used to be on TV all the time.”

Ethan could remember almost anything else, but when it came to people’s faces, he was hopeless.

”Oh, right. That’s why he looks familiar.”

Ethan nodded and vanished.

He reappeared directly in front of Orin, startling everyone around him.

”Protect the president!”

The nearby fighters immediately moved in front of Orin, watching Ethan warily.

”Get out of my way,” Ethan said coldly. ”If I decide to kill him, none of you can stop me.”

The terrifying pressure coming from him filled their faces with fear, but their duty kept them from backing down.

”What, our captain’s word isn’t good enough for you?” Chris and the others came over, staring coldly at the so-called elites.

One of the Stage SS fighters spoke up. ”I admit that all of you are extremely powerful, but this is the Dragonspire City compound. We have a Stage SSS fighter protecting us. I suggest you don’t push this too far.”

”Are you threatening us?”

Ethan smiled. Light flashed in his eyes as he unleashed Soulbane Gaze without holding back.

The Stage SS fighter froze. His eyes went blank, and his presence rapidly faded. A moment later, he toppled stiffly to the ground.

Everyone from the Cathay Republic stared in horror.

Ethan had killed a Stage SS fighter with a single glance. The man had died without a sound.

How terrifying was that? Just how powerful was Ethan?

The fighters shielding Orin had been determined to show their loyalty, but the moment Ethan looked at them, their courage vanished. They hurried aside.

Ethan walked straight up to Orin and smiled.

”Your subordinates don’t seem very loyal.”

”D-Don’t get cocky,” Orin said, forcing confidence into his voice. ”Our Stage SSS powerhouse will be here any minute.”

”Oh, we can deal with him when he gets here. For now, let’s settle our business.”

Ethan smiled again.

”I’m curious. What made you think sending people to attack the Atlas Federation was a good idea? Were things going too well for the Cathay Republic?”

”I...” Orin opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Inside, he was already falling apart.

If I’d known the Atlas Federation had someone like you, nothing could’ve convinced me to send them!

”Sir, there may have been a misunderstanding,” the Chief of Staff quickly interjected. ”President Vale wasn’t aware of any of this.”

”Really? So you knew about it?”

Ethan turned his gaze on her, making her heart jump.

”N-No, I didn’t know either. They... they acted on their own. Yes, that’s right. They made the decision without us.”

”Ah. Got it. You’re throwing them under the bus,” Ethan said with complete seriousness.

”Well, if no one’s willing to admit who was behind it, I’ll just wipe out all of you.”

The Cathay Republic officials recoiled in terror.

”Sir, you may be extremely powerful, but this compound is under the protection of a Stage SSS fighter,” Merrick said hastily. ”If you do this, you’ll make an enemy of His Lordship.”

”Where is he, anyway?” Ethan asked casually. ”What’s taking him so long?”

A voice came from the distance.

”Were you looking for me?”

A figure approached from the rear of the Dragonspire City compound, walking through the air.

The sight of him sent everyone in the compound trembling with excitement.

They were saved!

”Your Lordship! Save us!”

Ethan turned toward the approaching figure, surprise appearing on his face.

Human? No. The eyes are different.

And he’s at the peak of Tier 47. This could be a little troublesome.

Only a little, though. Ethan wasn’t afraid of him.

The Stage SSS fighter studied Ethan’s group with equal surprise.

”Humanity already has enough enemies. Since you are human as well, why are you slaughtering your own kind?”

”Looking human doesn’t mean we’re the same species,” Ethan replied calmly.

”Hmm?”

The Stage SSS fighter frowned. He looked from the people of the Cathay Republic to Ethan’s group.

There really were subtle differences between them.

And strangely enough, Ethan’s group looked more like the humans he remembered.