Apocalypse: King of Zombies

The Crimson Count’s body was nothing short of monstrous—his regenerative powers were downright freakish. Even if you chopped off his head or pulverized his heart, he wouldn’t die right away.

The only way to truly kill him was to rip out his crystal core.

But that insane healing came at a steep cost. After his head reattached to his body, the blood aura around him noticeably dimmed. That one strike from Mia hadn’t finished him off, but it had taken most of his life with it.

”Now... it’s finally time for the slaughter.”

The Crimson Count turned his gaze toward the entrance of the shelter, a cruel smile twisting his lips. Behind him, the zombie horde surged forward like a tidal wave, the air thick with the stench of bloodlust.

The human Awakeners standing guard went pale as sheets. Cold sweat poured down their faces. Despair hit them like a punch to the gut.

”It’s over... Mia’s dead... Robert’s down too... our shelter... it’s finished...”

”Why... why is this happening?!”

”So this is it... we couldn’t escape the jaws of the undead after all?”

”No... no, this can’t be real!”

”...”

Grief and hopelessness spread like wildfire. Everyone stood frozen, overwhelmed by a crushing sense of powerlessness.

Up ahead, the Crimson Count loomed tall and imposing, leading an army of the dead that crept closer with every step.

The zombies were practically vibrating with excitement, their faces twisted in bloodthirsty glee. They were ready to kill—more than ready.

Caw—caw—caw—!

Suddenly, a black shape streaked across the night sky—a raven, crying out in a series of sharp, mournful screeches.

The sound was piercing, like a funeral bell tolling in the darkness, echoing endlessly through the air.

”Huh???”

The Crimson Count narrowed his eyes and tilted his head toward the sky, something about the moment setting off alarm bells in his mind.

The humans looked up too, holding their breath.

Time seemed to freeze.

Then, a figure in white slowly emerged from the shadows. His face was cold, his eyes distant. He didn’t spare the Crimson Count a glance, nor did he acknowledge the terrified humans.

Without hesitation, he walked straight toward Mia’s broken body.

Ethan knelt beside her, his gaze dropping. She was covered in blood, her body shattered, deep cracks running through her skin. Her bones were crushed. She looked like she’d been through hell.

But in her eyes—those bright, stubborn eyes—there was still a faint glimmer of life. Just a flicker. Her breath was barely there, her soul already halfway gone.

”I’m sorry... I got here too late.”

Ethan’s voice was soft—softer than usual, touched with something almost like guilt.

Mia stared up at him, dazed. Her eyes dimmed further, but seeing him brought a trace of peace to her face. Like she’d been holding on just for this.

”Ethan...”

”Yeah?”

He answered gently.

She opened her mouth, struggling to speak. Every word was a battle. But she’d seen him. That was enough to ease some of the pain.

”...This is all your fault.”

”.....”

With those final words, her pupils dilated. The last spark of light in her eyes faded. Her breath stopped.

She was gone.

Ethan stood there, unmoving, staring down at her.

The world went silent.

”You’re not allowed to die like this...”

He raised his hand and slowly clenched it into a fist. His nails dug into his palm, piercing the skin. Blood welled up, dark and thick, dripping between his fingers.

Under the moonless sky, the crimson drops shimmered with an eerie glow. They fell onto Mia’s wounds, seeping into her broken body.

She was too far gone. Her crystal core had shattered. No normal healing could save her now.

So Ethan gave her his blood.

Whether it would work or not—he didn’t know. But he had to try.

When it was done, he pulled his hand back. The wound in his palm closed instantly, leaving no trace.

”I’ll avenge you.”

He whispered the words, then finally turned to face the Crimson Count. His expression was blank, but his eyes burned with a savage, predatory light.

”Uh...”

The Crimson Count’s brow furrowed. He actually took a step back—instinctively.

”A Zombie King... avenging a human? That’s rich!”

”You’re dead today.” Ethan’s aura surged, his hair lifting in the air as if caught in a storm.

A crushing pressure exploded from him, rolling out like a tidal wave. Everyone—human and zombie alike—felt their hearts seize in fear.

The Crimson Count’s face darkened, blood energy swirling around him like a storm.

Two peak-level Zombie Kings, now locked in a deadly standoff.

The final battle was about to begin.

But just as the tension reached its peak, a sudden roar tore through the sky. From the horizon, several aircraft streaked across the heavens like falling stars, heading straight for the summit of Mount Elbert.

LORN had arrived.

He leapt from one of the crafts, landing hard in the middle of the battlefield, his presence like a thunderclap.

”Let’s see where you run to now!”

LORN’s eyes locked onto Ethan, burning with fury.

”You really had the guts to play me? Hand over the spatial key—now!”

”If it weren’t for you... I wouldn’t have been late,” Ethan muttered, his voice low, but his aura flared even stronger.

The power of the Domain of the Dead erupted from him like a tidal wave. The ground cracked open, boulders shattered, and the very air trembled—as if a natural disaster had descended.

Both the Crimson Count and LORN staggered slightly under the pressure. But with their monstrous physiques, they held their ground.

They exchanged a glance—and in that instant, an unspoken agreement was made.

They had a common enemy now.

LORN had made up his mind the moment he arrived on Earth: forget the vampires for now—Ethan had to die first.

”Perfect timing...” the Crimson Count thought to himself. He’d been worried that, wounded as he was, he might not be able to take Ethan alone. But now, with a powerful ally at his side, the odds had shifted.

”Hmph! You seriously think you can take on both of us at once?” LORN sneered. ”You’re out of your damn mind!”

ROOOOAAARRR—

Ethan didn’t answer.

Instead, a deafening roar echoed from the distance.

A massive swarm of black crows surged through the sky like a living storm cloud, their wings beating in unison.

And beneath them—an ocean of the undead.

Hundreds of thousands of zombies surged forward, a vast, seething tide of death that stretched as far as the eye could see. The ground trembled beneath their march.

Dark mist billowed into the air, and somewhere within the chaos, the distorted wail of an electric guitar ripped through the night like a battle cry.

This was it.

The final war, at the top of the world.

The roars of the undead shook the heavens.

”Boss! We’re here!” Bulldozer bellowed, his massive frame charging through the horde like a wrecking ball.

”Let’s make this a bloodbath!” Laura’s voice rang out, her figure a blur as she darted toward the summit like a shadow in motion.

PhD was there too, his white lab coat flapping in the wind. A glint flashed across the lens of his monocle.

”Time to show off a little...”

Above his head, dozens of modified zombies launched forward like fireworks, trailing flames and sparks as they soared through the air.

Behind him, the ground thundered as an army of chrome-plated mechanical zombies marched in perfect formation. The full force of the cyber-zombie legion had been unleashed.

”The path to domination is right beneath our feet! We’re taking the top of the world!” Big Ears shouted, his voice filled with passion and fire.

The zombie horde surged like a tsunami. Vines writhed across the ground, blooming with delicate pink flowers, while fungal spores drifted lazily through the air above.

One by one, the other Zombie Kings made their entrance.

At the summit of Mount Elbert, everyone watched the scene unfold below—eyes wide, breath caught in their throats. Some trembled with awe. Others with excitement.

”They’re here... all of them are here!”

...