Apocalypse: King of Zombies

As soon as the video call connected, Richard’s old, stern face filled the massive screen on the wall. His brows were furrowed, his expression grim.

”What the hell happened over there?”

”Richard... you wouldn’t believe it,” Nathan said, looking like a man betrayed by the universe itself. ”The two major zombie nests were about to go head-to-head. I was just about to swoop in and wipe them both out. But then... Sophia turned on the company. She brought people with her and teamed up with the Black Hand Legion.”

He sniffled dramatically, eyes glistening with fake tears. His performance could’ve earned him an Oscar.

Richard’s frown deepened, his face darkening even more.

”Sophia, she... damn it…”

”I’m sorry, Richard,” Nathan said, voice full of righteous regret. ”I failed to eliminate the Zombie King. I let you and the company down.”

”No, no—don’t say that,” Richard cut in quickly, shaking his head. ”This isn’t your fault. Not at all.”

He even tried to offer a few words of comfort.

After all, Sophia had taken a whole squad of elite operatives with her. Even if Nathan was a top-tier operator, you can’t cook a gourmet meal without ingredients. No way this was all on him.

Nathan nodded repeatedly, his face twisted in righteous fury. ”That damn Sophia! I won’t let her get away with this!”

”Yeah... I really misjudged her,” Richard muttered, clearly frustrated. ”But forget about her for now. You need to focus on your own situation.”

The battle between the two SS-class Zombie Kings had just ended, and now the Genesis Biotech branch in Los Angeles was completely surrounded by the undead. It was like standing on the edge of a cliff—one wrong move and it was all over.

”What’s the situation with the zombies? Any signs they’re about to attack you?”

”I... I don’t think so?” Nathan replied hesitantly. Truth was, he wasn’t sure at all.

Just then, the office door swung open. One of his subordinates, the guy in charge of monitoring the zombie nests, rushed in.

”Mr. Nathan! Bad news! The Los Angeles Zombie Horde is massing—there’s movement!”

”What?!” Nathan’s jaw dropped. His face went pale.

No way... Are they really coming for me?

If so, his days of kicking back and relaxing were officially over.

Richard saw the panic on his face and quickly tried to calm him down. ”Nathan, don’t panic. This is exactly when you need to stay cool. If it comes to it, I’ll send reinforcements right away.”

Nathan didn’t buy it for a second. Reinforcements? Against the strongest zombie nest in the entire U.S.? Who the hell could stop that?

And even if someone could, it was already too late.

But then, the subordinate continued, shifting the tone completely.

”No, wait—sirs, the horde isn’t heading this way. They’re moving... toward Texas.”

”...???”

Richard’s face on the screen turned into a giant question mark.

”Toward Texas?”

He’d just been trying to reassure Nathan, but now something clearly clicked in his mind. His face went ghost-white.

”Wait... they’re not coming for me, are they?”

”Uh... Richard, hey, don’t panic—”

”I gotta go. Emergency meeting.”

Before Nathan could say another word, Richard abruptly ended the call.

”...”

Nathan stood there for a moment, stunned, then let out a long, exasperated sigh.

Wasn’t he just telling me not to panic?

But then it hit him—and a grin slowly spread across his face.

If the Los Angeles horde was migrating en masse... that meant the danger was moving away from him. He was in the clear.

The worry lines on his forehead vanished. He turned, dropped into his office chair, kicked his feet up on the desk, and folded his arms behind his head like he didn’t have a care in the world.

”Let the good times roll...”

...

Los Angeles.

Bulldozer, Laura, and the other Zombie Kings were on the move, leading their elite undead squads out of their nests one after another.

It was the first time such a massive mobilization had taken place. Wherever they passed, blood and chaos were sure to follow.

Each of these Zombie Kings had reached S-rank strength—powerful enough to dominate on their own. Honestly, even the top dogs of other zombie nests probably weren’t much stronger.

But the one who seemed the most excited? That’d be Mist, from the Overlord Squad.

Why? Because he was originally from Texas. For him, this was like going home.

”Man, I wonder how my old crew’s doing,” Mist mused aloud. ”Maybe they’ve built something up by now?”

”You had a crew?” Big Ears asked, raising a brow.

”Of course I did,” Mist said proudly, nodding. ”I was a big deal back then. Had my own turf, my own boys. Back in the day, we were tearing it up—uh, I mean, valiantly fighting for survival. Real glory days.”

Big Ears chuckled. ”Well, I gotta see what your little minions are like when we get there.”

Mist grinned. ”Oh, and get this—boss said I don’t have to march with the horde. I’m flying straight there.”

”For real?” Shrimpy perked up, eyes wide.

Big Ears’ eyes lit up too. ”Damn, looks like after that epic battle, the boss is finally giving us some VIP treatment.”

Mist waved it off. ”Nah, it’s just ’cause I know the area. I’m gonna scout ahead, be the local guide.”

”Oh...” The others nodded in understanding.

”So... what about us?” Big Ears asked hopefully.

”Yeah, uh... this doesn’t really involve you guys,” Mist said bluntly.

Big Ears: ”...”

...

A few days later, Ethan had fully absorbed the crystal core. His strength was now solid, his body in peak condition.

It was time to move.

He was heading to Texas.

He’d been there once before—hunted down members of the Black Hand Legion, hijacked Genesis Biotech resources, and stirred up quite the storm.

Now, he was going back—with a vengeance.

Ethan’s figure flickered and vanished. In the next moment, he appeared on the street below. With a casual wave of his hand, a sleek, high-tech aircraft materialized in the middle of the wide road.

”Let’s go.”

”Right behind you, boss!” Mist had been waiting there, grinning ear to ear as he scampered up the ramp into the aircraft.

Nearby, Big Ears, Shrimpy, and Locomotive exchanged glances, their eyes full of envy.

”Boss, this thing looks insane,” Big Ears said, practically drooling. ”What’s it feel like to ride in one of these?”

Ethan glanced at him, immediately picking up on what he was hinting at.

”Get in.”

”Yesss!”

The three zombies cheered like kids on Christmas morning. They even jumped in place before scrambling aboard the aircraft.

With a satisfying click, the hatch sealed shut.

The engines roared to life, and in a burst of flame and light, the aircraft shot into the sky like a comet.

Inside, Big Ears and the others sat stiffly, eyes darting around the pristine interior. They didn’t dare touch anything, terrified they’d mess it up.

”It’s fine. Make yourselves comfortable,” Ethan said casually.

The three of them were instantly moved. If zombies could cry, they’d be bawling right now.

Boss is just... too damn good to us.

In that moment, they silently swore to themselves: once they got to Texas, they’d give it everything they had. Be the first into danger, the last to retreat. Blaze a trail for the boss and help him conquer new territory.

”You can count on us, boss. We won’t let you down,” Big Ears said, nodding with fierce determination.

Ethan gave him a sideways glance. ”Mm.”

Truth was, he only brought them along because their combat skills weren’t exactly game-changing. Marching with the main horde would’ve been pointless.

And since the aircraft had extra seats... might as well fill ’em.

No harm in giving the deadbeats a lift.

...