Apocalypse: King of Zombies

”Take them out,” Ethan said calmly. ”Clear the zombies first.”

”On it.”

Everyone jumped out of the truck and charged straight into the horde.

The man being chased saw them move and immediately stopped running. When he got a good look at Ethan’s group, his eyes lit up. Then, instead of running to safety, he sat down right where he was, started treating his wounds, and watched them fight.

That made Ethan even more curious.

Most people, when someone steps in to block a zombie horde, would sprint toward safety without a second thought. Staying put? That was basically suicide. And Ethan didn’t believe for a second that someone who’d survived this long didn’t understand that.

But a few hundred zombies were nothing to Ethan’s crew. In just a few minutes, they wiped them all out.

Ethan had Big Mike and the others dig out the crystal cores and clear the road, while he, Chris, and the rest walked over to the man.

Seeing them approach, the man stood up and gave a small nod. ”Ethan. Thanks.”

Ethan studied him. ”Have we met before?”

”Yeah. I was a student at Starlight State University too. We crossed paths a couple of times.”

”Oh, I remember now,” Henry said from the side. ”You were with Connor’s team.”

”That’s right. Name’s Miles.”

”I remember Connor’s group had over two hundred people. What happened? Why are you the only one left?” Ethan asked, the memory clicking into place.

Miles was quiet for a moment, then said, ”After we left campus, we went to the government Safe Zone. Connor… joined them. I didn’t want to, so I left on my own.”

Ethan raised an eyebrow. ”Why didn’t you want to join?”

Miles shook his head. ”If it were the pre-apocalypse government, I wouldn’t have hesitated. But the so-called government now? It’s already rotten. One man’s selfish dictatorship. Join them, and you’re just cannon fodder.”

Ethan’s eyes narrowed slightly. Smart guy.

”Making it all the way from the Safe Zone to here on your own? That’s impressive.”

Miles gave a bitter smile. ”Barely made it out alive.”

Ethan looked at him again. ”Something’s been bugging me. When you saw our truck earlier, why’d you turn and run the other way instead of toward us?”

”In the apocalypse, people are scarier than zombies. If I kept running from the zombies, I might’ve had a chance. But if I ran toward strangers? I’d be dead for sure.”

”Then why didn’t you run once we started fighting?”

”You stepped in. If I ran then, you’d feel uneasy about me. I’d still end up dead.”

Ethan’s surprise deepened. Just a few sentences, and this guy had already earned his full attention.

This one’s a keeper, Ethan thought. Does Connor even realize what kind of talent he let slip through his fingers?

If Ethan ever did build a compound, he’d need someone to handle the logistics. He had no interest in getting bogged down with endless management headaches. And this guy? He was perfect for the job.

Ethan smiled. ”So, where were you planning to go?”

”Out of Starlight City. As far from the city as possible. Find some rural area and build up slowly.”

Ethan’s eyes lit up. Same plan as mine.

”You’re only Tier 5. Getting out of Starlight City alone is basically impossible. So how about it? Interested in joining the Fallen Star Squad?”

It was the first time Ethan had ever extended an offer to someone who wasn’t Awakened.

But Miles was worth it.

As for powers? That could be fixed.

”You guys?” Miles looked at Ethan.

”Yeah.”

”Why recruit me? I’m nowhere near your level.”

He’d seen them fight. Most of them were Tier 6, and many were clearly Awakened. That alone had shaken him to the core—though he didn’t show it on his face.

He knew for a fact that before he left, neither the government nor the military had a single Tier 6 Awakened.

Yet here was a group of students from the same university as him, just seven of them, and they’d already surpassed the government.

He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t tempted.

But he wasn’t the type to jump in blindly just because he was impressed. He needed to understand his own value first.

”I’m planning to set up a compound out in the countryside,” Ethan said bluntly. ”What I’m missing is someone to manage it. And you? You’d be perfect. If you join the Fallen Star Squad, I want you to take charge of running the compound.”

”Managing a compound? You could probably handle that yourself,” Miles replied. After all, anyone who could lead a team strong enough to crush the government wasn’t someone he thought would struggle with logistics.

Ethan shook his head. ”Honestly? I’m focused on getting stronger. I don’t want to get bogged down with day-to-day crap. As for the others… they’re great in a fight, but managing a compound? Not their thing.”

Miles raised an eyebrow. ”If your goal is strength, why bother building a faction at all? Wouldn’t it be easier to just stay as a small squad?”

”I’d love to,” Ethan said with a dry laugh. ”But these days, if you don’t have a faction, people treat you like a doormat. We were just minding our business at home, and someone decided to fire an AT-4 at us. So yeah, we had to come out here and return the favor. If we had a real force behind us, that kind of crap wouldn’t happen.”

”...”

Miles glanced at the truck. ”All this stuff—supplies?”

”Yup. Revenge trip, might as well bring back some loot while we’re at it.”

”You didn’t… wipe out a whole compound, did you?”

”Pretty much.”

”...”

Miles went quiet for a moment, then looked Ethan dead in the eye. ”Starting a compound is basically declaring independence. The government won’t tolerate that. If the day comes when they try to bring all the compounds under their control—what will you do?”

”Take it over? Let them try,” Ethan said, voice firm and eyes sharp. ”This compound is mine. I don’t care if it’s the government or anyone else—no one touches it.”

”But what if they come at you with heavy weapons? We can’t match that firepower,” Miles said.

Ethan’s expression didn’t waver. ”That won’t be a problem. Once we hit Stage D, heavy weapons aren’t that scary anymore. And by the time that day comes, we’ll be past Tier 7. If anyone dares come for my compound, I’ll burn their whole base to the ground.”

Miles stared at him, taking in the confidence, the absolute dominance in Ethan’s gaze. Then a smile slowly spread across his face. He extended his hand.

”Thanks for the trust, Ethan. I accept. I’ll join the Fallen Star Squad. And when we build that compound, I’ll give everything I’ve got to make it the number one force in the apocalypse.”

There was fire in his eyes now.

In a world like this, someone like Miles was never going to settle for obscurity. He’d always dreamed of doing something big. Originally, he’d planned to support Connor and build something together—that was part of why he’d refused to join the government.

But Connor had let him down.

So he’d walked away.

Now, standing in front of Ethan, he felt that fire reignite.

Ethan smiled too and reached out, gripping Miles’s hand firmly.

”Welcome to the Fallen Star Squad.”

Miles looked at him seriously. ”Ethan, you’re not worried I might stab you in the back someday?”

”Not at all,” Ethan said. ”Anyone smart enough to join the Fallen Star Squad knows better than to betray us. And you? You’re no idiot. But if you ever did turn on me—doesn’t matter where you run, I’d find you. And I’d kill you.”

Miles nodded, then said solemnly, ”As long as everything you’ve said is true, then I, Miles, am with you for life.”

”Good,” Ethan said, grinning. ”Welcome aboard.”

...