Apocalypse: King of Zombies

Clearly, he’d been infected by the mutant virus—and now he’d turned.

Gavin’s vision was drenched in red. Though fragments of memory still clung to his mind, a savage, bloodthirsty hunger had taken over.

He stared at Lily ahead of him, Adam’s apple twitching. Saliva, tinged with blood, dribbled from the corners of his mouth, stringing down in thick, sticky lines.

”So... hungry... I’m starving!”

His voice was hoarse, guttural—more beast than man.

Lily turned, and the moment her eyes met his, her tear-filled gaze froze. Her face went pale with terror.

”Gavin, you…”

”I... I can’t stop it. I really can’t—RAHHH!” Gavin let out a feral roar and lunged at her.

The man who once risked everything to protect her was now charging to devour her. That’s how vicious the mutant virus was—it didn’t just twist the body, it crushed the soul.

Even love, once thought unbreakable, was now reduced to nothing. Gavin had become a full-blown monster.

Lily stared at the man who had once saved her life, now coming at her like a predator. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Gritting her teeth, she raised her blade and swung it at his neck.

Shhhk—

That familiar face flew through the air.

His headless body collapsed with a heavy thud.

But this wasn’t an isolated tragedy. All across Mount Elbert, similar scenes played out—soldiers and survivors, eyes brimming with tears, forced to cut down their own comrades who had turned.

Everyone hated these bloodthirsty creatures with every fiber of their being...

But the zombie horde kept coming, wave after wave, relentless. Humanity fought back with everything they had—and kept falling.

”Mmm... not bad. This place is actually kinda fun.”

Ravena, covered in dust and grime, stood halfway up the mountain. Her cold eyes scanned the battlefield, noting the clusters of human fighters.

Only now did she start to believe... maybe Sophia wasn’t a traitor after all.

Her cruel gaze locked onto a group of human squads.

”Well then... let me show you some love... HAHAHA!” Ravena let out a twisted laugh and launched herself forward like a hurricane.

An SS-rank powerhouse—she was on a whole different level.

The humans felt it instantly. Their breath caught. Every hair on their bodies stood on end. It was like being hunted by a predator—pure, primal fear.

”Wh-what the hell is that?!”

”Is she... a mutant Zombie King?!”

”She’s coming! Stop her—now!”

Crystals embedded in the Awakeners’ bodies flared to life as they activated their powers.

The ground rumbled. Walls of ice and stone erupted from the earth—Frostwalls, earthen barriers—rising to block her path.

”That’s it?” Ravena sneered.

With nothing but brute force, she smashed through the defenses. The Frostwalls shattered, the stone walls exploded into debris.

She tore into the crowd like a tiger in a flock of sheep. Her claws slashed through necks, sending heads flying.

Or she’d drive her fingers straight into someone’s chest and rip out their heart.

Screams filled the air. Panic spread like wildfire.

Behind them, the zombie horde grew even more frenzied, howling with excitement. They surged forward, tackling humans to the ground, tearing into flesh with gnashing teeth.

”Wanna live? Beg me,” Ravena said, towering over a wounded Awakener, her voice dripping with mockery.

The man clenched his jaw, eyes darting around—everywhere he looked, his teammates were being devoured. Despair filled his heart... but then, a flicker of resolve.

”Then I’ll take you bastards with me!”

Flames erupted around him, his body igniting in a blaze of fury. With everything he had left, he charged forward, becoming a roaring fire dragon aimed straight at the horde.

”Ooh, got some fight in you, huh?”

Ravena looked unimpressed. With a casual swipe of her claws, she slashed across his throat. Her razor-sharp nails tore through flesh like paper.

The flames died. Blood gushed from his mouth. And with that, the fire of his life went out.

Zombies swarmed in immediately, ripping him apart, feasting on his remains.

”She’s terrifying! That’s a Zombie King?!”

”She’s way too strong—we can’t hold her!”

”Forget it, we need to fall back!”

Panic overtook the survivors. Hearts pounding, they turned and fled, scrambling up the mountain toward the summit.

Ravena’s lips curled into a smirk—she loved the thrill of the hunt.

Run, little mice... but where do you think you’re going?

She crouched low, muscles coiling like a panther ready to pounce.

But just as she was about to spring forward, a calm, clear voice rang out from the direction the survivors were fleeing.

”Not sure if I can hold her off... but I’ll try.”

”Huh?”

Everyone turned, startled. Standing atop a massive boulder ahead was a lone young man.

He wore a black trench coat, collar pulled high to hide his chin. His eyes sparkled like stars, sharp and focused. With a smooth motion, he drew a katana from his back—the blade etched with a single word: Justice.

It was none other than Robert—the edgy teenager with a flair for the dramatic.

Ravena tilted her head, intrigued. She hadn’t expected anyone to step up and block her path. Her interest piqued—this one might be a fun kill.

”Ooh... come on then. Let me show you some love,” she purred, voice dripping with mockery.

In a flash, she moved—nothing but a blur, afterimages trailing behind her like smoke.

Robert’s eyes narrowed. He leapt from the boulder, katana raised high, and brought it down with a powerful arc.

The strike was fast. Heavy. Precise.

Ravena didn’t dare take it lightly. Her fingers curled like iron hooks, and she raised her hand to meet the blade.

CLANG—!

The impact rang out like a bell, steel on steel. The force of it sent a shockwave rippling through the air.

The humans who had been fleeing stopped in their tracks, stunned.

”Holy crap... that Zombie King just caught that strike with her bare hands!”

”Is Robert gonna be okay?”

”I dunno... that looked like his best shot.”

Everyone held their breath, tension thick in the air.

Ravena’s smirk deepened. That little exchange told her all she needed to know—this human wasn’t anything special.

But then Robert looked up, eyes glowing with intensity.

”Witness my Thunderfang—nothing can stand against it!”

The lightning crystal core embedded in his katana flared to life. Electricity surged across the blade, arcs of lightning crackling wildly, splitting the air with a deafening snap.

With a roar, he poured all his strength into the next strike.

The katana—forged from meteorite steel and embedded with an S-rank crystal core—sliced downward like a bolt of divine judgment.

Ravena’s smug expression vanished. A sharp pain shot through her hand. She tried to retreat—but she was a fraction too slow.

The electrified blade slashed across her chest, tearing open a deep gash. The wound sizzled, flesh charred and blackened.

She staggered back, eyes wide, head lowered as she stared at the exposed bone beneath the scorched flesh. Her brow furrowed in fury.

Robert stood tall, katana in hand, voice steady and cold.

”Look at you—burnt to a crisp, covered in dirt. You don’t look like much of a badass to me.”

”...”

A vein bulged on Ravena’s forehead. That dirt and grime—those were from the trap she’d walked into at Genesis Biotech’s North American HQ. Just thinking about it made her blood boil.

”You little shit... I’ll kill you!”

...

The two clashed again, blades and claws flashing in a blur of motion.

But elsewhere, the tide was turning against humanity.

With the Crimson Count’s adopted children joining the fray, the human forces were being overwhelmed. Defensive lines crumbled. Screams echoed as more and more fell to the ravenous undead.

Chris and the others had retreated to the summit.

This was it—their final stand.

Mia and the top-tier Awakeners from Refuge 001 were stationed here, guarding the last line of defense.

”The zombies are pushing through! They’re almost on us—we can’t hold them much longer!” Chris reported urgently.

Mia simply nodded, calm as ever. As if she’d expected this.

Chris glanced behind them—just past the barricades was the entrance to the shelter. Inside were women, children, and unarmed survivors.

If the zombies broke through... it would be a massacre. And judging by how things were going, their chances of victory were slipping away fast.

”Mia... do you think Ethan will come?” Chris asked suddenly.

Mia’s expression faltered. She paused, then slowly shook her head.

”I don’t know...”

...