Apocalypse: King of Zombies

”Something’s wrong! Something must have snuck in!” The Bone-Claw Zombie King quickly realized what was happening.

At the same time, every zombie in the city let out a feral, blood-curdling howl and began converging from all directions.

The once silent night was completely shattered.

The entire city stirred with chaos.

Following the Bone-Claw Zombie King’s command, the zombies began searching for the intruder. Among them were elite zombies, leaping between buildings with the agility of apes, their movements swift and precise.

But amidst the turmoil, the Bone-Claw, Cat-Faced, and Pregnant Zombie Kings all turned their gazes toward the direction where Blaze had mysteriously vanished. A sense of unease crept into their hearts.

Overhead, a thick cloud drifted across the sky, blotting out the once-bright moonlight.

Darkness engulfed the world.

The night wind howled, carrying a chilling edge. On the street ahead, a tall, slender figure began to materialize, slowly emerging from the shadows.

”That’s...” The Bone-Claw Zombie King frowned, his gaze locking onto the figure’s strikingly handsome face and pristine white shirt. Recognition dawned on him.

It was Ethan.

The three Zombie Kings were stunned. They hadn’t expected the Zombie King from across the river to infiltrate their territory. Though they were cruel and ferocious by nature, they couldn’t help but grow cautious, their expressions tense as if facing a formidable enemy.

”This is our turf. He wouldn’t dare cause trouble here, right?” The Pregnant Zombie King glanced behind her. The massive zombie horde was closing in, an unstoppable force that no individual could hope to withstand. This gave her a sliver of confidence.

But Ethan’s expression remained cold and indifferent. He showed no fear. Instead, he began walking toward the three Zombie Kings, step by step.

”What’s he doing?” The Bone-Claw Zombie King instinctively took half a step back.

The Pregnant Zombie King’s face twisted in disbelief. ”No way... Is he seriously planning to attack us on our own turf?”

Before the words had fully left his mouth, Ethan’s eyes flashed with a crimson glow. In an instant, the terrifying Domain of the Dead unfolded, unleashing an overwhelming pressure that swept across the area like a tidal wave.

To the three Zombie Kings, Ethan stood alone, but behind him, it was as if a sea of blood churned and roared, radiating an oppressive, suffocating aura.

Then, with a sudden burst of speed, Ethan’s figure blurred, rushing toward them like a violent storm, carrying an unstoppable momentum that made it hard to breathe.

”Retreat!” The Bone-Claw Zombie King roared, his voice sharp with urgency. He darted backward at full speed, trying to escape the crushing pressure of the Domain of the Dead. His plan was to regroup with his elite forces before engaging Ethan head-on.

The Cat-Faced and Pregnant Zombie Kings followed suit, retreating nearly 500 feet in a panic.

But.

To their surprise, Ethan didn’t pursue them. Instead, he stopped beside the corpse of Pointed Nose, casually waved his hand, and collected the body.

”I told you I wouldn’t leave you a single one. And I meant it.”

”You...” The Bone-Claw Zombie King stared in shock, his expression frozen.

A wave of humiliation surged through him.

Ethan had only come to retrieve a corpse, yet he had managed to scare them into retreating so far.

By now, the streets of the city trembled as countless zombies gathered, forming a massive horde that surged toward the scene. Their grotesque faces began to emerge from the shadows of the street corners.

Some of the elite zombies climbed onto rooftops and walls, crouching like rabid beasts, their glowing eyes fixed on the ground below.

Ethan scanned his surroundings, assessing the situation. He decided it wasn’t worth the risk to stay any longer.

”Alright, I’ll finish you off next time... See you around.” He tilted his head back slightly, his tone calm, as if stating an undeniable fact.

Then, in the blink of an eye, his figure vanished without a trace.

”Damn it!” The Bone-Claw Zombie King clenched his teeth so hard it felt like they might shatter. He knew there was no way to stop Ethan now, and the humiliation burned deep in his chest.

Ethan had entered their territory, taken what he wanted, and left behind a parting shot that dripped with disdain.

For a moment, anger, frustration, and helplessness swirled in the Bone-Claw Zombie King’s mind, a storm of negative emotions he couldn’t suppress.

”ROAR—” He threw his head back and let out a furious howl.

The surrounding zombies echoed his rage, their collective howls shaking the city to its core.

But in the end, it all felt like nothing more than... a futile outburst of anger.

...

Ethan used the stealth ability of his Domain of the Dead to move swiftly, his figure darting through the shadows. Before long, he crossed the river bridge and returned to his own territory.

Waiting for him were Bulldozer, Laura, Sprout, and the ”freelance zombie” Big Ears. Behind them, a sizable group of zombies had gathered.

They had heard the furious howls from across the river and assumed something major had happened. Many were ready to charge across the bridge to provide backup if necessary.

”Hey, boss, you’re back! So, was it humans on the other side?” Big Ears asked with a fawning grin.

”Not anymore.” Ethan waved his hand, and with a flick of his wrist, he released the ”prey” he had collected. Over twenty corpses tumbled out, scattered haphazardly on the ground. Among them were several cat zombies.

”Whoa!” Bulldozer’s eyes widened in amazement. He couldn’t help but admire Ethan. ”The boss is something else. Even on another Zombie King’s turf, he managed to snag this much prey. Not just the main course, but even some snacks...”

Ethan glanced at them and gave a quick reminder. ”Stay alert and keep an eye on the other side. I don’t know if they’ll lose their cool and try to charge over.”

The river bridge was a natural chokepoint—easy to defend, hard to attack. Any force trying to cross would be at a disadvantage.

”Got it, boss. Don’t worry. If they dare come over, I’ll wipe them out!” Bulldozer thumped his chest and promised with enthusiasm.

”Eat up.” Ethan’s figure vanished again, heading back to his high-rise home.

Fortunately, the other side didn’t make any rash moves. After a few howls of impotent rage, they quieted down, clearly deciding against an immediate attack.

With the tension easing, Bulldozer and the other zombies began their feast—a bloody banquet.

Big Ears, however, being a ”freelance zombie,” wasn’t part of the inner circle. He stood off to the side, watching the feast with drool dripping from his mouth.

He couldn’t help but feel envious. Since the apocalypse began, he’d never seen such a ”luxurious” spread.

”They’re already eating... Why hasn’t anyone invited me?” Big Ears muttered to himself, feeling awkward as he stood there, empty-handed.

After some hesitation, he shuffled forward, trying to find someone approachable. He nudged Bulldozer with his elbow, hoping to strike up a conversation.

”Hey, Bulldozer, didn’t you say before... if I needed anything, I could come to you?”

”Yeah, that’s right. What’s up?” Bulldozer turned to look at him.

”Heh heh heh...” Big Ears chuckled nervously. ”Mind if I... you know, join in for a meal?”

”Oh... sure, no problem! After all, you did help spot the prey earlier. You deserve a share.” Bulldozer nodded enthusiastically.

Big Ears’ eyes lit up with excitement. ”Bulldozer’s the real deal! A zombie of his word!” he thought, feeling a surge of gratitude. He rubbed his hands together like a fly, his face full of anticipation as he waited.

Bulldozer rummaged through the pile of corpses for a moment before casually pulling out a dead cat.

”Huh? Just this?” Big Ears froze, his excitement fading into disappointment. ”This is the ’good stuff’ you were talking about?”

Cat meat was notoriously sour. It worked as a light snack to whet the appetite, but it wasn’t exactly a delicacy.

Before Big Ears could say anything, Bulldozer snapped off one of the cat’s paws with a loud ”crack” and handed it to him.

”Here you go—’cat paw biscuits.’ You deserve it. Eat up, don’t hold back!”

”...” Big Ears stared at the paw, his face blank, a dark cloud forming over his head. ”Seriously? This is what I get?!”

The sting of disappointment hit him hard.

His heart ached.

...