Apocalypse: King of Zombies

Blood gushed out in torrents as the boy let out a gut-wrenching scream.

This wasn’t an isolated incident—it was happening all over the lab.

In an instant, the entire facility was filled with screams of terror, guttural roars from the zombies, and the chaotic sound of people running for their lives. Panic spread like wildfire.

People flooded into the hallways, pushing and shoving in a desperate attempt to escape. The crowding quickly led to trampling, but no one cared anymore. Fear had taken over, and all they could do was run.

”Why are people turning into zombies?!”

”It must be the zombie virus! It’s been leaked!”

”What? That’s impossible…”

”…”

A group of people huddled together, their faces pale with fear as they whispered among themselves. But before they could process what was happening, a zombie lunged out from behind, tackling one of them to the ground and tearing into their flesh.

Of course, not everyone was running. Some of the Awakeners had already stepped up to fight the zombies.

Since the zombies had only just mutated, they weren’t particularly strong yet.

One of the Awakeners swung his blade with precision, splitting a zombie’s skull clean in half. Black, viscous blood splattered across the pristine white walls, leaving a grotesque stain.

”Let’s go, guys! Take them down!” he shouted.

”Got it!” the others responded in unison.

Working together, they methodically cut down the zombies in the area. It wasn’t until no more zombies emerged that they finally allowed themselves a moment to breathe.

The hallway was littered with mangled corpses, and the walls were smeared with blood. One of the fighters, his face splattered with gore, hurried over to a sink. He turned on the faucet and began frantically washing his face, scrubbing away the blood.

Unbeknownst to him, some of the water droplets entered his body through his nose or eyes.

”Man, I need a drink to calm down,” he muttered.

Still parched from the intense fight, he cupped his hands under the running water and gulped it down greedily.

Meanwhile, his teammates were still discussing the outbreak.

”Where the hell did this virus come from?”

Just then, a lab technician came sprinting toward them, gasping for breath. ”We’ve figured it out!” he blurted out, panic evident in his voice. ”Anyone who’s drunk the water is mutating! The water supply’s been contaminated. Someone must’ve taken the zombie virus from the main lab and dumped it into the system!”

”What?! Someone poisoned the water? Who would do such a thing?!” The group erupted in outrage, their anger boiling over.

But the man who had just washed his face froze in place. His body stiffened as if struck by lightning, and he stood there, dumbfounded.

What?

There’s a virus in the water?

Why didn’t anyone say so earlier?!

…

The zombie virus outbreak was a catastrophe. Determined to get to the bottom of it, the Awakeners decided to investigate the source. They headed straight for the main lab.

As they approached, a faint smell of smoke wafted through the air. It was coming from the direction of the lab.

”Is something burning?”

”I’ll check it out. Stay here.”

The lead Awakener’s face darkened with anger. Only a handful of people had access to the vault. Whoever was behind this was going to pay—he’d make sure of it.

Striding forward, he entered the code to unlock the lab’s main door.

With a loud click, the door slid open. But what he saw inside stopped him dead in his tracks.

The fire had spread from the vault, engulfing half the lab in roaring flames. Amidst the inferno stood a tall, imposing figure. His sharp features were illuminated by the flickering light, his expression cold and unyielding. In his hand, he held a gleaming tachi, the blade catching the firelight in a way that made him look almost otherworldly.

”Hello there,” Ethan said, his voice calm and detached. With a swift motion, he swung the tachi, slicing through the necks of several humans in one clean arc.

Beside him was a young zombie girl, feral and vicious. She leapt onto one of the Awakeners, pinning him to the ground and tearing into him with savage bites.

Ironically, this was the very man who had captured her and brought her here.

The remaining Awakeners screamed in horror as Ethan methodically cut them down.

His presence radiated an undeniable authority, the kind that only a Zombie King could possess. His mental energy extended outward, connecting with the surrounding zombies and bending them to his will.

With the lab in ruins, Ethan turned and walked out, his steps unhurried.

The blood-soaked hallway stretched before him, and behind him, zombies began pouring out of every room. They followed him like a macabre parade, their numbers growing with each step he took.

”Oh my God! Run! Run!” A few Awakeners in the hallway caught sight of the scene and were utterly terrified. Without a second thought, they turned and bolted, not daring to linger for even a moment.

”ROAR—”

A horde of zombies surged out from behind Ethan, pouncing on the fleeing Awakeners and tearing into them. Their screams of agony mixed with the guttural roars of the undead, echoing through the long, empty corridor.

Ethan approached a room where zombies were being held. With a single swing of his tachi, he slashed through the reinforced glass. The pane shattered instantly, crumbling into fine shards.

The zombies inside snarled and howled, immediately rushing out to join Ethan’s growing ranks.

These weren’t ordinary zombies. Some had been used for experiments, injected with X and Y viruses, making them elite fighters with formidable combat abilities.

Among them was a particularly unique zombie—already at a B-rank. It had evolved to possess a higher level of intelligence. Unlike the others, it stood quietly in its cage, waiting for Ethan to break the glass.

”Boss,” the B-rank zombie said, lowering its head in submission the moment it was freed.

Ethan gave a small nod. ”Let’s go.”

”No,” the zombie replied, its glowing, predatory eyes flickering with a strange light. ”I acknowledge you as my leader, but I can’t go with you.”

”Oh?” Ethan tilted his head slightly, studying the zombie. ”Why not?”

”They’ve implanted a micro-bomb in my skull,” the zombie explained, its tone tinged with regret. ”If I stay with you, I’ll put the entire group at risk. When the Awakeners come, I’ll take them down with me.”

Genesis Biotech had anticipated the possibility of these experimental zombies escaping. To maintain control, they had surgically implanted bombs in their heads, ensuring they could be neutralized if necessary. The zombies injected with X and Y viruses were far too dangerous to be left unchecked.

”How cruel,” Ethan muttered, his gaze narrowing as he examined the zombie. Sure enough, there was a triangular scar on its skull, crudely stitched back together, resembling a watermelon that had been sliced open.

”No matter,” Ethan said calmly. ”I’ll take care of it.”

With a swift motion, Ethan swung his tachi. Using his Domain of the Dead ability, the blade phased through the zombie’s skull without harming it, extracting a thumb-sized micro-bomb in the process.

In the blink of an eye, Ethan stored the bomb in his spatial storage ring.

”Huh?” The zombie blinked, momentarily stunned. It could feel the absence of the bomb in its head.

How… how was that even possible?

Its glowing eyes flickered with a renewed intensity, its monstrous face twisting into an expression of pure rage.s… they would pay for this.

Ethan’s army continued to grow as they tore through the lab, leaving destruction in their wake.

The scene outside the lab was no less chaotic.

The entire safe zone shared a single water supply system, which meant that the infection had spread rapidly among the general population. Ordinary survivors were turning into zombies at an alarming rate.

One moment, people were chatting casually, discussing their families and daily lives. The next, someone would suddenly transform into a bloodthirsty zombie, attacking the person next to them.

The streets were filled with chaos—people being chased, tackled, bitten, and devoured. The air was thick with the sounds of snarling, screaming, and desperate cries for help.

The safe zone’s defense forces had already mobilized. Numerous Awakeners who had condensed crystal cores, along with hundreds of armed personnel, were fighting to contain the outbreak. Their goal was to suppress the chaos as quickly as possible and minimize casualties.

Leading the charge was an A-rank Awakener named Isaiah Carter. Known for his immense strength, he was part of the first-tier combat force, just below The Four Knights of Bernardino.

”Move it! Take these zombies down as fast as you can! If Sophia finds out about this mess, we’re all going to pay for it!” Isaiah barked, his voice sharp and commanding.

”Yes, sir!” his subordinates responded, redoubling their efforts as they hacked and shot their way through the horde.

But soon, something felt… off.

”Isaiah,” one of his men called out, his voice laced with unease. ”These zombies… they’re not acting mindless. It’s like someone’s directing them. Could there be a Zombie King involved?”

”What?” Isaiah frowned, his expression darkening. ”A Zombie King? Already? That’s impossible… or at least, it should be.”

But as he turned toward the direction of the lab, his eyes widened in shock.

A massive horde of zombies was marching toward them. They weren’t stumbling or charging mindlessly—they moved with eerie coordination, their steps deliberate and purposeful. Among them were elite zombies, their movements sharper and more precise than the rest.

And at the front of the horde stood the Zombie King.

Tall and commanding, he walked with an air of unshakable confidence. His pristine white shirt was spotless...

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