Apocalypse: King of Zombies

At nine sharp, Ethan, Chris, Henry, Sean, Big Mike, and Skinny Pete were up and moving. They packed light—just the essentials—and headed out without wasting time.

...

Target Supermarket

”Tommy, you and the others stay here and guard the place. Don’t let anyone get close,” Connor said, glancing over the group stationed at the entrance.

”Relax, boss. We’ve got it locked down,” Tommy replied, puffing up with confidence. ”No one on this campus’s dumb enough to mess with us anyway.”

Connor gave a curt nod. ”Alright. We’re heading out.”

He turned to leave with his squad—but stopped short when he spotted a group approaching from down the street.

His brow furrowed. He squinted, then his expression darkened.

”It’s them?”

Sure enough, Ethan and his crew strolled right up to the supermarket entrance. Ethan eyed Connor with a flicker of recognition. ”Huh. Have we met before?”

Chris gave a dry chuckle. ”Yeah, we have. Remember when we were switching dorms? These guys tried to recruit us.”

”Oh, right,” Ethan said, snapping his fingers. ”That’s why you looked familiar.”

Connor’s face twitched, cycling through a few expressions before settling into a tight smile. ”My bad, Ethan. Didn’t realize it was you guys that day. So… what brings you here?”

”Nothing much,” Ethan said casually. ”We’re out of food. Figured we’d swing by the supermarket, see what we could find.”

Connor’s smile froze. Then, with effort, he forced it back into place. ”Ah… well, you might not know, but this store’s already under our control. Might want to try somewhere else.”

Ethan tilted his head. ”Pretty sure this place doesn’t have your name on the deed.”

Connor gave a short laugh. ”Come on, Ethan. It’s the apocalypse. Ownership doesn’t mean anything anymore. It’s about who holds it. You know how it works.”

”Sure,” Ethan said, nodding. ”So you’re saying this place is yours now.”

”Exactly.”

”Great. Then lend us some food. Not much—just enough to fill our packs.” He gestured at the backpacks slung over their shoulders.

”...”

The crowd behind Connor shifted, their expressions turning sour. Tension rippled through them like a pulled wire. They were already stressed about dwindling supplies, and now these guys wanted a handout?

A few looked ready to snap, but a tall guy in the back shot them a warning glare, and they held their tongues.

Connor inhaled slowly, deeply, trying to keep his temper in check. His smile was gone now, replaced by a tight-lipped grimace. ”Ethan, you’re too late. We’re out of food ourselves. That’s why we’re heading out to scavenge.”

”Oh, then go ahead,” Ethan said breezily. ”We’ll just take a look inside. If there’s really nothing left, we’ll move on.”

He stepped forward.

Connor moved fast, blocking his path. The friendliness was gone from his voice. ”Don’t push it, Ethan.”

”Push what?” Ethan said, blinking innocently. ”We’re just asking to borrow a little food. No need to be stingy.”

”We’ve got nearly two hundred people to feed,” Connor snapped. ”There’s nothing extra to give. You should leave.”

Ethan sighed, then smiled. ”Well, if you’re not willing to share, I guess I’ll just have to declare this place mine. Like you said—whoever holds it, owns it. So… you guys can go now. We’re taking over.”

”...”

Connor let out a low, humorless laugh. ”You know, people say your team’s the one group on campus no one should mess with. I’ve always wondered why. Today, I get to find out.”

He raised his hand.

”Surround them!”

At his command, the crowd surged forward, forming a tight ring around Ethan and his crew.

Ethan sighed and shook his head. ”Man… I said we just wanted to borrow some. Why do people always make me play the bad guy? I’m not a damn bandit.”

”Take them down!” Connor barked, lunging at Ethan with a machete.

He didn’t get far.

Boom—

A dull thud echoed across the lot as Connor’s body went airborne, crashing through seven or eight of his own men like a human wrecking ball before skidding to a stop.

The rest of Ethan’s crew moved in instantly. Chris swung his barbell bar in a wide arc, sending bodies flying like bowling pins. No one could even get close.

”Tier 4?!”

Connor groaned, dragging himself up from the pavement, his face twisted in disbelief as he stared at Ethan.

He was Tier 3 himself. And yet, Ethan had launched him like a rag doll with a single kick. That kind of power… there was only one explanation.

Tier 4.

But that didn’t make sense. Everyone was still clawing their way toward Tier 3—how the hell had someone already broken through to Tier 4?

And it wasn’t just Ethan.

Connor’s eyes darted to the others. The fight was a massacre. His people were getting tossed around like they were made of paper. It wasn’t even close.

They were all Tier 3 or higher.

”Stop! Stop fighting!” Connor shouted, panic creeping into his voice.

What the hell are we even fighting for?!

His people hesitated, then began backing off, the fight draining out of them as fast as their confidence. They’d seen enough. These guys weren’t just strong—they were monsters.

”Danny,” Connor said, voice low and tight. ”Go get them some food.”

”Yes, sir.”

Danny didn’t waste a second. He bolted into the supermarket and came back hauling several crates of bread and crackers.

”See?” Ethan said with a grin. ”Could’ve skipped the whole brawl.”

Connor didn’t reply. What could he say? He never imagined they’d be this strong.

Ethan tossed a few backpacks onto the ground. ”Fill ’em up. And two bottles of water in each side pocket.”

Danny nodded quickly and called over a few others to help. No one dared drag their feet.

Within minutes, the packs were stuffed and zipped. Danny handed them over, his voice cautious. ”Is… is this okay?”

”Perfect. Thanks.”

Ethan slung a pack over his shoulder, gave a little wave, and the six of them strolled off like they owned the place.

Which, for all intents and purposes, they did.

The crowd watched them go, a collective breath finally released. But under the relief, there was a bitter sting. Six people had just walked in, humiliated them, and walked out with their food.

Connor clenched his fists, eyes burning. ”One day… I’ll make them pay for this.”

Beside him, Miles—his second-in-command and the team’s strategist—shot him a sharp look. ”That kind of thinking? It’s dangerous. You’ll drag the whole team into a hole we can’t climb out of.”

Connor turned to him, scowling. ”You think we’re not their equals?”

”No,” Miles said flatly. ”We’re not. Not even close. They’ve reached a level of strength with just a handful of people that most teams in the world couldn’t dream of. Tier 4, Connor. Be honest—if I gave you five more days, could you reach that?”

Connor didn’t answer.

”Exactly,” Miles said. ”So let it go. We lost some food, that’s all. A few backpacks’ worth—what, enough to feed fifty people for one meal? It’s not worth risking the entire team. You’re the leader. That means thinking about the big picture, not your pride.”

Connor’s jaw tightened. ”But I can’t just swallow this.”

”You’ll have to.”

”...”

He said nothing more. But the fire in his eyes didn’t go out.

...