Apocalypse: King of Zombies

Under their combined assault, the Voltari Patriarch soon followed his wife in death.

Every powerful Voltari who had entered this world was wiped out. After dominating Dawnreach for countless years, the Voltari had brought themselves to ruin with a single bad decision.

The other races were probably attacking them already.

Everyone wanted a piece once the mighty fell. That was true in any world.

And given how aggressively the Voltari had treated the other races, they couldn’t have been popular in Dawnreach. Now that their strongest fighters were dead, their enemies would be fools not to wipe them out.

But that was no longer Ethan’s concern.

New Atlas had won its first major victory.

It had been an incredibly difficult battle, but they had won.

The entire city erupted in celebration.

Perhaps the battle had given off such a terrifying presence that nothing else from the Void Realm dared approach. Even after the fighting ended, no new creatures appeared. Ethan could finally breathe a little easier.

Still, he didn’t let down his guard.

The lack of new arrivals only meant there were no stronger Void Realm creatures nearby. It didn’t mean none existed elsewhere on Earth.

No one knew how many creatures had entered the planet. They had encountered a race as terrifying as the Voltari almost immediately, so Ethan had no doubt that even stronger races were out there.

They still couldn’t afford to relax.

At least the battle had considerably strengthened New Atlas’s forces.

Not only had Theron, a peak Tier 47 fighter, joined them, but so had Dahlia, the marked woman and a Tier 47 fighter in her own right.

Dahlia had also planned to return to her own world after the battle.

Naturally, Ethan had no intention of letting her leave, so he sent Abyron to persuade her to stay.

He had been prepared to keep her here by force if Abyron failed.

To his surprise, Abyron merely asked her to stay, and she agreed immediately.

Ethan couldn’t help giving the two of them a strange look.

He then had Miles send people to clear the battlefield while the rest of them returned to New Atlas.

The city’s residents lined both sides of the road to welcome them home. Excitement shone on every face.

Miles had already arranged a feast to celebrate their victory.

Along the way, the warmth and enthusiasm of the Atlas Federation’s people finally caused even Theron’s perpetually stoic expression to soften a little.

When they reached the dining hall, they found a huge table covered in delicious food. Theron and the others weren’t the only ones tempted. Even Ethan swallowed at the sight.

Miles had clearly ordered the kitchen to pull out all the stops. Ethan himself had rarely enjoyed a feast this lavish.

It didn’t take long for him to figure out why.

Miles was obviously trying to convince Theron and Dahlia to stay. He had probably arranged the cheering crowds along the road as well.

The man certainly thought fast. None of the other Fallen Star Squad members could compare with him in that regard.

Everyone enjoyed the meal. It was Theron and Dahlia’s first time tasting food from the Atlas Federation, and they practically licked their plates clean.

Even Theron’s stiff, corpse-like face broke into a faint smile. He had clearly enjoyed himself.

Dahlia looked just as satisfied.

Ethan wondered if she would still leave if he offered to let her go now.

After the meal, Miles arranged accommodations for everyone while Ethan returned to the Beast Enclosure.

The Beast Sovereign and the others were enjoying their own feast.

They were too large to eat indoors with everyone else, so they had returned to their enclosure after the battle.

Naturally, New Atlas hadn’t neglected them. Roasted meat had been prepared in advance, with more than a hundred people cooking for them on-site. The beasts ate as the meat came off the fire, their mouths slick with grease and their expressions full of satisfaction.

”How is it, Beast Sovereign?” Ethan asked with a smile. ”Food okay?”

”Haha! Not bad at all. The food in your world is so good, I’m starting to lose my appetite for those foreign races.” The Beast Sovereign looked thoroughly pleased.

”Glad you like it. And thank you. Seriously.”

Without the Beast Sovereign and the others, New Atlas would have fallen.

The Beast Sovereign immediately looked annoyed.

”I don’t like hearing that from you. Do we really need to thank each other?”

”That’s right, Ethan,” one of the other Outland Beasts said between bites of roasted meat. ”You saved our Beast Sovereign’s life and did so much for our kind. This was nothing. You don’t have to be so polite.”

”Haha, all right. I won’t hold back with you from now on.”

Honestly, Ethan had never been all that polite in the first place.

”No need. If something comes up, just call us,” the Outland Beasts said readily.

”Good.”

Ethan nodded and waved a hand. A pile of corpses appeared on the ground.

”We collected quite a few Stage SSS corpses from this battle. These are all Tier 47. I promised them to you, so here they are.”

The beasts’ eyes lit up.

”Haha! Ethan, you’re the best! Now that’s generous!”

”I knew coming here would pay off,” the Dire Bear said, deeply moved. ”We came to help you, but somehow we’re the ones benefiting in the end. Ethan, you’re a really good guy.”

”Yeah, and you have people roast meat for us every day. Life here is great.” The Frostfox looked eagerly at the Beast Sovereign. ”Can I apply to stay here permanently? I don’t really want to go back anymore.”

”Me neither...” the other two Outland Beasts said, looking at the Beast Sovereign with equal anticipation.

”...”

”I don’t want to go back either,” the Beast Sovereign said helplessly. ”But shouldn’t you ask whether Ethan even wants you here?”

The beasts immediately turned their hopeful gazes on Ethan.

”Haha! If you want to stay, you can stay as long as you like,” Ethan said. ”But aren’t you worried about the Eldoria Continent?”

”Worried about what?” the Beast Sovereign scoffed. ”Those top races have already been destroyed. Our territory still has plenty of Stage SSS Outland Beasts. If anyone should be worried, it’s the foreign races.”

”But it’s fine. I already gave orders. Our beasts can come down from the mountains now and then to eat a few of them, but not every day. We won’t eat them all.”

”...”

”All right. If you’re not worried, you can stay in New Atlas. Food and lodging are included. All you have to do is protect the city.”

”Haha! Don’t worry. This city is our home from now on. If anyone comes here looking for trouble, we’ll wipe them out!” the beasts promised, thumping their chests.

A smile tugged at Ethan’s lips.

Outland Beasts really were the best. Give them a few benefits, and they would become completely devoted to you.

”All right, enjoy your meal. I’m going to look around elsewhere.”

”Go on, then.”

The beasts waved him off, their attention already fixed on the Stage SSS corpses.

”Think these would taste better roasted?” the Dire Bear asked, licking its lips.

”Better not. What if the heat cooks away all the energy in them? Just swallow them whole.”

”Fine.”