Apocalypse: King of Zombies

A shroud of pitch-black energy cloaked Robert’s entire body, making his tall, lean frame seem even more imposing. His eyes—bright as stars—locked onto the man with braided dreads and the others, gleaming with a cold, focused intensity.

Night Legend activated.

In an instant, all of Robert’s stats surged exponentially. His power skyrocketed to S+ level, and the pressure radiating from him grew heavier by the second, like a storm about to break.

The man with braided dreads and his crew felt a chill crawl up their spines. Something was off.

”His aura… it changed,” one of them muttered, unease creeping into his voice.

”No idea what that is…”

”Probably just trying to act tough. Don’t overthink it. Let’s take him out fast and go back up Slade.”

”…”

One of them—a speed-type Awakener—gripped his short blade and lunged forward, aiming to end it quickly.

But Robert’s gaze snapped to him. His star-like eyes sharpened.

”Justice… delivered.”

Lightning Blade crackled in his hand, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished—gone like a flash of lightning streaking across a desolate battlefield.

The moment he passed the Black Hand Legion member, his blade swung in a clean, horizontal arc.

The strike was so sharp, it sliced through the man’s neck like a knife through a watermelon. He froze mid-step.

”Ugh…”

The man’s face went slack, eyes wide with shock and disbelief. Then, with a sickening tilt, his head slid off his shoulders. Blood sprayed across the ground.

His headless body collapsed with a heavy thud.

”He’s dead…”

The rest of the group recoiled in shock. None of them had even seen what happened—it was over in a flash.

But seeing their comrade drop like that, killed in a single strike, sent a wave of fear crashing through them.

”How the hell did he get this strong?”

”Is this his awakened ability…?”

”What do we do?”

”…”

Robert didn’t give them time to think.

His figure blurred, leaving behind ghostly afterimages that flickered like shadows under the night sky.

”He’s coming! Stop him!” the man with braided dreads shouted, panic rising in his voice.

His teammates reacted instantly, channeling their powers. Elemental energy surged around them—ice walls and earthen barriers sprang up in defense.

But Robert’s katana danced through the air, slashing in rapid Z-shaped arcs. The Frostwall shattered instantly, chunks of ice exploding in every direction.

He tore through their defenses like a beast unleashed, cutting down anything in his path. In a flash, he was in front of them again.

With a swift horizontal slash, his katana cleaved through another enemy’s forehead, dropping him instantly. Their numbers were thinning fast.

The man with braided dreads was gripped by terror. He could feel death closing in, creeping toward him with every step Robert took. In the face of this darkness, they were powerless.

”Shit! We underestimated him!” he cursed internally.

But it was too late. That crackling katana was already growing larger in his pupils, the sound of thunder humming in his ears.

…

Robert tore through the Black Hand Legion’s elite like they were nothing—like slaughtering stray dogs in the dead of night. They didn’t even have a chance to fight back.

From a distance, Slade caught glimpses of the massacre. His jaw clenched, brows furrowed tight.

”They’re getting wiped out this fast…?”

”What the hell is going on with these people?”

But he couldn’t afford to be distracted—not with the woman standing in front of him. She was even more terrifying than Robert.

Mia noticed his glance and shot him a look of her own.

”Quit staring. It’s just a few bodies. What’s so interesting?”

”Crazy bitch…” Slade muttered under his breath.

Easy for her to say—they weren’t her people getting butchered. The ones he brought were all top-tier, elite members of the organization, each with the potential to reach S-rank.

Mia smirked. ”If you like watching so much, how about I give you a front-row seat?”

With that, she lunged forward, katana in hand. The blade sliced through the air with a shriek, her single-handed strike crashing down like a guillotine.

Slade didn’t dare take it lightly. He immediately activated his Shadowmancy.

But Mia only paused for a heartbeat before breaking free of the shadow’s grip. Her blade kept coming, relentless.

Slade’s eyes went wide. He raised his broken blade to block, desperation in every movement.

CLANG!

The clash rang out like a scream of metal. Pain shot through his hands—his grip cracked open, blood seeping from his palms.

”Why the hell is my Shadowbind getting weaker?” Slade’s mind raced, trying to make sense of it. But the answer hit him like a punch to the gut.

”No… it’s not that I’m getting weaker. She’s getting stronger!”

The woman in front of him—Mia—was radiating raw, violent energy. Her bloodlust was practically tangible now. Whatever ability she was using, it was powerful as hell.

If he wanted to beat her, he’d have to outlast her—wait for her body to hit its limit.

But could he even hold out that long?

Slade glanced down at the broken blade in his hand. The edge was chipped all over, jagged and dull—completely wrecked. Compared to her weapon, his was a joke.

Mia didn’t give him a second to breathe. She launched herself at him again, this time gripping her tachi with both hands, bringing it down with brutal force.

Slade scrambled to block, raising his ruined blade—

CRACK!

The sound was sharp and final. His sword snapped clean in two under the weight of her strike.

And her blade didn’t stop there.

Shhk!

It bit deep into his shoulder.

”AAAHHH—!”

Slade screamed, the pain ripping through him like fire. He instinctively hunched forward, both hands clamping down on the blade embedded in his flesh.

Blood poured from between his fingers, soaking his arms. He looked like a man being crucified.

”Feel it,” Mia whispered, almost tenderly.

Then she channeled her power.

The lightning crystal core embedded in her body flared to life, arcs of electricity dancing along her blade.

And straight into his wound.

”GRAAAHHHH—!”

Slade’s scream shot up several octaves, raw and inhuman. It was the kind of sound that made your skin crawl.

The tachi, now crackling with lightning, was still lodged in his shoulder, sending volts straight into his nerves. The pain was beyond anything he’d ever felt—sharp, searing, endless.

Smoke curled up from the wound, carrying the acrid stench of burnt flesh. There was even a faint smell of roasted meat.

Mia raised her blade, ready to twist and finish it—slice his head clean off.

From a distance, Sophia’s expression tightened. Her brows furrowed, lips pressed into a thin line.

”Slade’s about to die…”

”But he can’t die. Not yet.”

”What do I do…?”

Her mind spun, calculating, searching for options.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Black Hand Legion was practically wiped out. Robert had torn through them like a storm—bodies littered the ground, not a single one left standing.

Then she spotted Selene.

The girl stood frozen, watching the chaos unfold with a dazed, distant look in her eyes. She hadn’t moved an inch.

”Selene! Help him!” Sophia shouted.

”Uh…”

Selene blinked, snapping out of her trance. She still hadn’t fully come to terms with joining the Black Hand Legion. Part of her was still on the fence.

If she stepped in now, there’d be no turning back.

”I… I…”

”Don’t hesitate!” Sophia snapped. ”If you don’t help now, we’re all dead. In this world, hesitation gets you killed. You want to survive the apocalypse? Then act fast. Be ruthless. No room for second-guessing. Now move!”

”…Okay! Fine!” Selene clenched her jaw, steeling herself. Sophia was right—there was no time for doubt.

She bolted forward.

As an S-rank speed-type Awakener, she moved like a blur. In the blink of an eye, she was at Mia and Slade’s side.

With a swift upward slash, she knocked Mia’s tachi free from Slade’s shoulder.

Whoosh—

Slade gasped, finally able to breathe again. The electric torture stopped, and the pain, while still brutal, dulled just enough for him to stay conscious.

But Mia turned her head slowly, her icy gaze locking onto Selene.

”So… you’re stepping in now?”

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