Apocalypse: King of Zombies

Chris was speechless, a vein twitching on his forehead. Seriously? Now? Of all times? The guy was taking a dump? Maybe he shouldn’t have even asked.

”Watch out! It’s coming!” Brandon suddenly shouted.

That scraping sound of something climbing along the walls was back—louder, closer. Whatever it was, it was moving fast.

A wave of killing intent slammed into them like a freight train. A massive shadow lunged out of the darkness.

Chris’s heart clenched in fear.

Flames erupted around him again, and with a sweep of his arm, a torrent of fire burst forth like a blazing dragon, roaring down the corridor.

The searing light cut through the darkness, finally revealing the thing behind the shadow.

Its scales were pitch black, gleaming with a slick sheen, and ringed with bright yellow markings that made it look even more menacing.

It was a giant yellow-striped python—massive and terrifying. But the most horrifying part? Its mouth was wide open, and instead of a tongue, there was a human head sticking out.

The head was coated in slime, its hair and skin half-melted, chunks missing, like it had been rotting from the inside out. It was grotesque.

”What the hell is that?” Oliver asked, his voice tight.

”Some kind of fusion mutant,” Brandon replied grimly.

Apparently, this yellow-striped python had devoured a bunch of zombies and undergone a secondary mutation. But unlike the usual fusion zombies, this one wasn’t being controlled by the undead—it was the mutant itself calling the shots.

The python’s eyes blazed with fury, reflecting the firelight. Chris’s flames only seemed to piss it off more.

With a guttural roar, it lunged straight at them.

The fire in its path was snuffed out instantly, crushed under its sheer force.

This thing was no joke. Easily A+ class.

”What do we do?!” Chris panicked, his voice cracking.

”I got this!” Sean stepped forward, eyes locked on the beast. He activated his skill—Fearless Berserk—and launched himself forward, muscles bulging as he cocked his arm back and aimed a punch straight at the snake’s massive head, which was the size of a damn millstone.

BOOM!

The impact shook the entire underground ruin. Dust rained down from the cracks in the walls as the shockwave rippled through the corridor.

The python, despite its monstrous size and strength, actually staggered from the blow.

The others didn’t waste the opening—they rushed in to help.

But even with Brandon’s Blood Burst ability, he couldn’t get a grip on the thing. It was too wild, too strong.

Chris’s fire? Useless. It couldn’t even scratch the damn thing. They weren’t even in the same league.

”This thing’s a freaking tank!”

The python’s yellow eyes locked onto Sean. That punch had clearly pissed it off.

It opened its jaws wide and lunged at him.

To Sean, it felt like a freight train was barreling toward him. He could see straight down the snake’s gaping throat—and that disgusting human head inside its mouth.

The corridor was too narrow to dodge. With no other option, Sean threw up both arms to block.

WHAM!

The python’s jaws clamped down, but Sean caught them—one hand on the upper jaw, one on the lower.

Say what you will about the guy, but he was strong as hell. No matter how hard the snake thrashed, it couldn’t close its mouth.

The python writhed in frustration, slamming its body against the walls, making the stone echo with thunderous cracks.

”God, it stinks...” Sean grunted, holding the jaws apart. The stench pouring from its mouth was overwhelming.

Worse than his own crap, honestly...

The snake was beyond furious. The human head in its mouth slowly opened its mouth too—and then sprayed a thick stream of yellow liquid straight at Sean.

It was venom. Highly toxic. Even before the mutation, this stuff could paralyze or kill a grown man in seconds.

The liquid splashed onto Sean’s clothes with a loud sizzle, smoke rising as it burned through the fabric, leaving gaping holes.

”What the hell? Did it just piss on me?” Sean muttered.

His skin was tough, his body built like a tank, so the acid alone wasn’t enough to kill him. But the venom’s numbing effect started to spread fast.

A wave of tingling weakness surged through him, spreading from his arms to the rest of his body.

His grip faltered.

And in that split second, the python’s jaws snapped shut with a sickening CRUNCH—and Sean disappeared into its mouth.

”Shit!” The rest of the group froze, faces grim.

Chris looked panicked. ”You think Sean’s gonna get dragged off too?”

”He’s not Mia,” Oliver said, analyzing the situation quickly. ”He can’t just slice his way out. If that thing takes him, he’s screwed.”

”We’ve gotta save him!” Brandon growled, clenching his jaw. He yanked out his dagger and, without hesitation, slashed open the scabbed-over wound on his arm.

Fresh blood welled up instantly.

He couldn’t control the monster’s blood—but he could still use his own.

Just like he did when they fought the Black-Skin Zombies, he whipped his arm forward, and a blood-forged arrow shot out, slamming into the python’s massive skull.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The blood droplets exploded one after another.

The python let out a low, pained growl and recoiled slightly—but it still didn’t let go. It was stubborn as hell.

”Damn it... not enough blood. I can’t blow it open!” Brandon gasped, pale as a ghost. His lips were dry, and sweat poured down his face in thick drops.

Chris glanced at him and muttered, ”Man, your ability’s got a serious downside. Everyone else burns mana—yours burns blood and mana...”

”Can it with the sarcasm!” Brandon snapped, then suddenly lit up with an idea. ”You wanna save Sean or not?”

”Of course I do!” Chris shot back without hesitation.

Brandon nodded—then, without warning, whipped out the dagger at his waist and slashed at Chris’s arm.

”Then donate some blood. Call it a good deed.”

”Wait, what???” Chris stared at him, stunned. But before he could dodge, it was too late.

The blade sliced clean through his arm, and blood gushed out in thick streams.

Brandon didn’t waste a second. He raised his hand, seized control of the blood, and launched it straight at the monster’s face.

BOOM!

This time, the explosion was deafening. The python shrieked in pain, its roar echoing through the ruins.

And finally—finally—it let go.

Sean’s body slipped from its jaws and hit the ground with a heavy thud.

”Ugh... I’m numb all over,” Sean groaned. The venom was still in his system, his limbs stiff like a puppet’s.

But the python had retreated several meters, its head reeling. Half the scales on its face had been blasted clean off.

”RRAAAHHH—!”

The human head in its mouth let out a furious, guttural scream.

Chris clutched his bleeding arm, face pale. ”You seriously used my blood?!”

”It was for Sean,” Brandon said, not even trying to sound sorry.

They’d managed to pull Sean out—for now. But the danger wasn’t over. The python was still alive, still pissed, and they were clearly outmatched.

What the hell were they supposed to do next?

Brandon’s mind raced. His eyes flicked toward Oliver.

”Wait—why are you looking at me like that?” Oliver backed away instinctively, eyes wide with suspicion.

He was starting to realize... if Brandon kept developing his powers like this, he might be next on the blood donor list.

Across the room, the python locked eyes on Sean again. Its yellow pupils gleamed with excitement. It could sense they were running on fumes—worn out, desperate. It knew they weren’t getting away.

Bloodlust surged in its gaze as it prepared to strike again.

The three in the back tensed, bracing for the worst.

But then—suddenly—something shifted.

A shadow appeared between Sean and the monster, out of nowhere...

...