Apocalypse: King of Zombies

On the battlefield, Ethan’s gaze locked onto the grotesque, bloated figure of the Zombie King, Butcher. The thing was bizarre—its massive gut had arms growing out of it.

No doubt, this was an Aberrant Zombie.

Right now, it was in a frenzy, charging straight for Elias’s squad.

”Well, isn’t this convenient...” Ethan mused, watching the so-called ”reinforcement” barrel toward the battlefield. It almost felt like the damn thing was here to help him.

Butcher’s goal was obvious—it was after the high-grade crystal core.

Yeah, not happening.

Ethan activated his stealth ability, slipping into the chaos as he made his way toward the action. This was his specialty—snatching crystal cores right from under everyone’s noses.

Meanwhile, the human forces were crumbling, barely holding their ground.

With Jacob’s retreat order in place, Elias’s squad had no choice but to fall back alongside the Genesis Biotech Awakeners. They couldn’t afford to go head-to-head with the Zombie Horde.

But the undead weren’t about to let them go so easily.

A fast-moving elite zombie lunged forward, its claws snatching the ankle of a strong, dark-haired young man in the squad.

”Agh—!” The zombie’s jaws unhinged, sinking its rotting teeth deep into his heel.

”Shit...” The young man sucked in a sharp breath, cold sweat dripping down his forehead. The searing pain drained the color from his face.

If he were at full strength, he could’ve easily shaken the thing off—or just crushed its skull with a single kick.

But he was exhausted.

”I got you!” His girlfriend flashed forward, her dagger gleaming as she drove it straight through the zombie’s skull.

The undead twitched, then went limp.

She immediately turned to check his ankle—her face paled. Blood was gushing from the wound, the bone exposed. The bite had severed his Achilles tendon.

”I’ll help you walk!”

”Forget about me! Just go!” The young man’s voice was firm, his expression resolute. The situation was dire, and with his leg crippled, his chances of survival were slim to none. He refused to drag her down with him.

”No! If we leave, we leave together!” Her lips trembled, tears welling in her eyes.

He turned to look at her—just a few seconds of hesitation, and more zombies were already closing in.

His jaw clenched.

Then, without another word, he threw himself forward, arms outstretched, straight into the oncoming horde.

”Go! Now!” His roar cut through the chaos.

The zombies swarmed him instantly, their claws tearing into his flesh, their teeth ripping him apart. Blood splattered in every direction as his screams echoed through the battlefield.

Within seconds, he was gone, swallowed by the horde.

The girl bit down on her lip, forcing herself to keep running, even as tears streamed down her face.

Elias saw his teammate fall, and his chest tightened.

They were losing too many people.

But then—his mental radar flared with a warning.

A massive presence was closing in.

His head snapped around just in time to see Butcher—the bloated, grotesque monster—charging straight for the girl.

”Sarah! Watch out!” Elias shouted through the comms.

But she was too shaken, too lost in grief.

She barely had time to react before—

BAM!

It was like getting hit by a speeding truck.

Her body launched through the air, flipping over thirty feet before she crashed onto the ground, rolling several times before finally coming to a stop.

And where she had just been standing—

Butcher loomed.

”Tsk, tsk, tsk... I almost feel bad for you.”

”Damn it...” Sarah’s fingers dug deep into the reddish-brown dirt, her arms trembling as she pushed herself up from the ground.

The Zombie King standing before her—this monstrosity—was the reason her boyfriend was dead.

Her eyes hardened, filled with cold determination. She reached for the dagger at her waist.

”If you won’t let me leave... then I’ll take you down with me!”

”Heh. I’d love to see you try.” Butcher sneered, his grotesque face twisted with mockery.

Sarah was a speed-type Awakener. Compared to the others, she hadn’t burned through as much stamina—she still had some fight left in her.

Her dagger flashed, her resolve unwavering, as she lunged at Butcher. Her movements were blindingly fast, leaving behind afterimages as she closed the distance.

Butcher’s predatory eyes locked onto her. He sidestepped, dodging at the last second.

The blade barely grazed his cheek.

Sarah didn’t hesitate—she twisted mid-air, reversing her grip and thrusting straight for the back of his skull.

Butcher spun around, his massive hand shooting forward.

SMACK!

His fingers clamped around her wrist, stopping the dagger just an inch from his forehead.

No matter how hard she pushed, the blade wouldn’t budge.

Desperate, Sarah lashed out with her free hand, her fingers aiming straight for Butcher’s eyes.

But—

SNAP!

Her other wrist was caught just as easily.

”Keh keh keh...” Butcher’s eyes narrowed, his grin twisted with sadistic amusement.

Sarah struggled, her body tensing as she tried to break free. But his grip was ironclad.

They were locked in a stalemate.

Or so she thought.

Because Butcher had a third hand—one that grew from his gut.

And in that moment, it lunged forward.

SLAM!

His clawed fingers dug into her stomach.

”A-AAAHH!”

A chilling numbness spread through her body, paralyzing her limbs.

That third hand—his Dread Claw—was his true weapon. Once it touched its prey, it sapped their strength, leaving them helpless.

”Sarah!”

From a distance, Elias’s heart clenched. Another teammate was about to die.

”Captain! Should we go back for her?!” The ice-type Awakener beside him asked, her voice urgent.

”We can’t save her.” Elias shook his head, his voice grim.

The horde was too close. If they turned back now, they’d all die.

”We have to go. Now.”

”...Alright.” The ice Awakener nodded, not sparing another glance as she turned and ran toward the city.

At that moment—

Ethan arrived.

The first thing he saw was the young man’s corpse, still surrounded by zombies, their rotting jaws tearing into his flesh.

Butcher’s minions.

”Alright, that’s enough.”

Ethan’s figure flickered into view.

SHING!

His Tachi sliced through the air—zombie heads flew, black blood spraying as their bodies collapsed.

Then, with a wave of his hand, Ethan collected the young man’s corpse.

Butcher sensed something was wrong.

His head snapped around—

And he saw Ethan stealing the crystal core.

His rage exploded.

”KILL HIM!”

The surrounding zombies howled, charging at Ethan.

But they were nothing to him.

SLASH. SLASH. SLASH.

In just a few swings, they were dismembered, their limbs and torsos hitting the ground in bloody chunks.

Ethan didn’t stop.

He strode forward, his Tachi dripping with blackened blood, heading straight for Butcher.

”W-What the hell...”

For the first time, Butcher’s expression changed.

A cold fear crept into his gut.

He released Sarah, turning to flee.

But—

Something grabbed his leg.

He looked down.

It was Sarah.

”Let go!”

Butcher raised his foot—

STOMP!

His heel crashed into her back.

CRACK!

Sarah coughed up blood, her face twisted in agony.

But her grip didn’t loosen.

Her eyes burned with defiance.

She refused to let go.

”Hey.”

Ethan’s voice was calm.

”Don’t step on my food.”

FWOOOSH!

His Tachi ignited, flames dancing along the blade.

Then—

SWIPE!

The flaming arc sliced through Butcher’s gut.

His third hand—his Dread Claw—was severed in an instant.

”AAAAAAGGHHH!”

Butcher’s screams tore through the battlefield.

His bloated stomach split open, spilling fat, intestines, and bile onto the ground.

The stench of burning flesh filled the air.

And Ethan—

Didn’t even blink.

...