Apocalypse: King of Zombies

Having learned from last time, Ethan didn’t dare use Deadlock Dimension casually.

With Abyron there, they attacked the instant the shark breached the surface. It died before it even understood what was happening.

Ethan split open its head, removed the crystal core, and smiled.

”Now this is an easy way to collect crystal cores.”

Abyron stared at the core in his hand with surprise.

”No wonder you’ve grown so strong so quickly. There are actually Stage SSS Outland Beasts down there!”

”These sea creatures have nothing to do with how fast we advanced. I only started hunting here two days ago.”

”Oh.” Abyron nodded, then asked in confusion, ”If there are Stage SSS Outland Beasts down there, why waste time luring them to the surface? This is too inefficient. Why don’t we just go down and kill them?”

”Go down there?” Ethan gave him an amused look. ”Why don’t you try it?”

”All right.”

Abyron was nothing if not straightforward. At Ethan’s suggestion, he immediately dove headfirst into the ocean.

”...”

Ethan didn’t even have time to stop him before he vanished beneath the surface.

”Poor honest bastard. He hasn’t experienced the ocean’s cruelty yet.”

Ethan had barely finished speaking when the surface exploded with a thunderous boom.

A bedraggled figure shot out of the water. A massive open mouth followed close behind, along with several thick tentacles.

”You still dare chase me up here?” Abyron snorted.

A colossal blade formed from energy in the air and slashed down.

With a wet rip, the enormous mouth split in two. The blade immediately swept sideways, severing every tentacle.

Ethan Teleported over, plunged a hand into the octopus’s bisected head, and pulled out its crystal core in one smooth motion.

Abyron stared at him, speechless.

”So?” Ethan asked with an amused smile. ”Was the ocean fun?”

Abyron shook his head with a bitter smile.

”Not at all. It suppressed my strength too much. That thing nearly trapped me.”

”Your method is better, Boss.”

”Haha. Glad you understand.” Ethan grinned. ”Come on. Let’s keep fishing.”

”All right.”

The two resumed wandering above the ocean.

This method wasn’t particularly efficient, but at least it was safe.

They stayed more than three hundred feet above the surface. Generally, only sea creatures at Stage SS or higher could reach them at that altitude, so anything that came after them was guaranteed to be at least Stage SS.

However, Stage SS and higher sea creatures were still rare compared to the ocean’s immense size, and some refused to take the bait. Like real fishing, it required patience.

Fortunately, Ethan had nothing else to do that day. He was happy to wait them out.

And wait he did—for the entire day.

They crossed the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans, covering three of the world’s four great oceans. Their haul was considerable.

They also encountered danger.

Even with Abyron, a Tier 47 fighter, the two of them still nearly died at sea.

It wasn’t because any individual creature was stronger than Abyron. Several sea creatures with unusual abilities had attacked them at the same time. Ink covered the sky, seawater surged upward, and a pitch-black hole caught them completely off guard.

Ethan barely escaped using Absolute Stasis and Teleportation, while Abyron relied on his own space-crossing ability.

Ethan had asked him about it afterward. Abyron’s skill was indeed a spatial-type ability called Spatial Stride. It could cross a greater distance than Ethan’s Teleportation, but it was slightly slower to activate.

Ethan vanished the instant he used Teleportation. Abyron, on the other hand, had to take a step.

Teleportation was better suited for combat, while Spatial Stride was more useful for pursuit or escape.

Ethan had also taken the opportunity to learn more about Abyron’s skills.

Just as the Dread-Eyed Lion had said, Abyron’s abilities were exceptionally powerful. In his era, he had been considered a true genius.

Aside from Spatial Stride and Soul Partition, Abyron possessed an extremely powerful ability called Energy Constructs. It was what allowed him to shape energy into the giant hands, fists, and spears he frequently used.

He also had Crushing Pressure, the skill he had used to kill the Netherfang Tiger. It converted energy into invisible pressure and had crushed the tiger until it burst. The skill was devastating against anyone weaker than Abyron, but far less effective against someone stronger.

Then there was Armor Piercing, a metal-type ability that increased a weapon’s penetration. That was why Abyron preferred shaping his energy into spears when he attacked.

His final ability was a special skill called Damage Dampening, which reduced a portion of the damage he received.

Ancient humanity had never had anything like Awakened. Instead, they randomly gained a new ability every time they advanced a Stage.

Abyron was now Stage SSS and possessed seven skills in total, all of them highly practical.

Of course, he still couldn’t compare to Ethan and the other Awakened. They naturally possessed twice as many skills as ancient humans.

That advantage was the key reason Chris and the others could kill enemies above their own Tier.

As for Ethan, fighting above his Tier had long since become routine.

The two continued hunting until the sky was completely dark.

By the end of the day, Ethan had collected nine Stage SSS crystal cores and more than thirty Stage SS crystal cores, including one at Tier 43.

With these cores, the Fallen Star Squad could gain at least three more Stage SSS fighters.

The expedition had been an overwhelming success.

When Ethan and Abyron returned to New Atlas, everyone else had already finished absorbing their crystal cores. Even Chris had emerged from seclusion, reaching Tier 41 as expected.

The others had all reached Tier 37, while Sean had advanced to Tier 39.

All ten members of the Fallen Star Squad were now gathered in the Commander’s Residence. Maxwell, General Cross, and the other compound leaders had assembled there as well.

Tonight would be crucial.

If their calculations were correct, The Crimson Star would appear again at midnight. When it did, the passages to the Void Realm would reopen.

They would finally learn what kind of challenge awaited them.

Everyone looked grim and tense. Even sitting on the couches, they couldn’t keep still.

”Scared?” Ethan asked with a smile.

”Scared? Hell no,” Big Mike declared. ”If I die, I die. I’m going down swinging.”

”Honestly, I’m nervous,” Maxwell said firmly. ”But afraid? Not anymore. We’ve reached the point where there’s nowhere left to retreat. All we can do is hold the line to the very end.”

”Exactly,” General Cross agreed. ”Whether we live or die, as long as we give it everything we have, we’ll have no regrets.”

”Why’s everyone so tense?” Ethan laughed. ”New Atlas is a serious force now. What do we have to be afraid of?”

He turned to Miles.

”Tell the kitchen to make us something good tonight. We’ll have a proper meal, then head up to the roof and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime view.”

”You got it!”