Apocalypse: King of Zombies

For the next stretch of time, Big Mike and Garrick went all-out from the backs of Golden Eagle Nugget and Dire Eagle Pebble.

Ethan, meanwhile, rode Peregrine Falcon Flint in wide circles, searching the surrounding area.

Down below, the zombies realized pretty quickly that throwing rocks wasn’t doing anything anymore, so they gave it up. Then the whole mass started accelerating, breaking into a run toward the compound.

Big Mike and Garrick kept making trouble in front of them, but it didn’t accomplish much.

The horde had clearly received an order. They ignored the harassment completely and charged straight for Clearford City’s compound like nothing else mattered.

There wasn’t much the two of them could do about it. They could only keep spamming abilities—killing what they could, while they could.

But against a horde of 3+ million, what they were doing barely registered.

Big Mike’s [Rain of Flames] was still decent—one cast could wipe out over a hundred zombies at a time.

Garrick’s falling rocks were a lot more limited. One boulder might only crush seven or eight.

They were working themselves to the bone, but compared to the scale of the horde, it was still just a drop in the sea.

And Ethan… still no word.

Watching the zombies get closer and closer to the compound, both of them felt their stomachs knot with anxiety.

Inside the Clearford compound…

General Cross and Michael’s group were just as tense.

”Report!” A scout rushed in with an update from the front line. ”The horde is less than 9.7 miles from the compound. Based on their current speed, they’ll reach us in under an hour!”

General Cross’s jaw tightened. ”Ethan and his people are still out there?”

”Yes. Ethan is searching for the Zombie King. His two teammates are using flying mounts to kill zombies nonstop.”

The scout hesitated, then forced the words out. ”But… the zombie numbers are too huge. They’re strong, but they can’t significantly affect the overall situation.”

General Cross nodded, his expression turning even heavier. He waved the scout off.

”Understood. You can go.”

”Yes, sir!” The soldier saluted and hurried out.

Michael practically paced in place. ”General Cross, have you decided yet? Are we pulling out, or are we holding? We need a decision now. If we wait any longer, we won’t be able to leave!”

”…” General Cross rubbed his face and let out a long sigh.

”Moving three hundred thousand people isn’t simple,” he said quietly. ”Even if we shake the horde, the commotion alone will draw in more zombies and mutant beasts on the road. By the time we reach somewhere else, how many of those three hundred thousand would still be alive? Unless there’s truly no other choice… I don’t want to take that step.”

Colonel Mitchell didn’t try to comfort him. He just spoke plainly. ”And if we hold… honestly, I don’t have any confidence.”

”I know.” General Cross looked up, a hard edge settling into his eyes. ”So we gamble.”

”Gamble?” Michael stared.

”Yeah.” General Cross’s voice turned firm. ”We gamble that Ethan can find the Zombie King.”

Colonel Mitchell’s expression darkened. ”But they’ve been searching for a long time. If they still haven’t found it, that means it’s hidden extremely well. And we’ve got less than an hour before the horde reaches the compound. Is that really enough time?”

No one in the room looked optimistic.

”If there isn’t enough time…” General Cross slammed a palm down. ”Then we buy him time.”

He stood, voice cutting through the room.

”Notify all combat units and every Enhanced in the compound—move to the Silverstone River and block the horde there. Bring every heavy weapon we have. We’re intercepting them at the riverbank!”

A few people’s eyes went wide.

”Give up the wall advantage and meet them in the open?”

”Yes.” General Cross didn’t blink. ”We can’t let the zombies reach the compound. Even if Ethan kills the Zombie King, if the horde is already at our gates, they’ll still keep attacking the city.”

”Understood.” Colonel Mitchell nodded, serious now. ”I’ll make the arrangements.”

He hesitated. ”But the troops will follow orders, even the reserve forces. The problem is the civilian Enhanced. Asking them to voluntarily go fight millions of zombies… that’s going to be messy.”

”The compound is at the point of life and death,” General Cross said coldly. ”Whether they want to fight or not, they’ll fight.”

He swept his gaze across the room. ”Most Enhanced will step up. The small number of selfish ones—offer them enough benefits and they’ll move. As for anyone who refuses to help, or tries to run when it’s time… blacklist them. Permanently. They never set foot in Clearford City again.”

”Yes, sir!”

Within minutes, the entire compound lurched into motion.

Squads of soldiers rushed to assemble in the central square, one formation after another snapping into place.

At the armory, heavy weapons were rolled out one after another—heavy machine guns, mortars, and more. Then higher-tier Enhanced soldiers simply shouldered the equipment and carried it off like oversized luggage.

Across the compound, groups of civilian Enhanced were rounded up and assembled.

But the moment they heard they were being sent to intercept a million-zombie horde, heads started shaking like dashboard bobbleheads.

Then they heard the rest.

Less than an hour.

That was all the time they had before the horde reached the compound—and when it did, Clearford City would be wiped off the map.

The crowd went quiet.

Because everyone understood one basic truth:

If the compound falls, no one survives.

This compound was their home. If it was gone, surviving in the apocalypse would become brutally difficult—maybe impossible.

After a tense stretch of silence, someone finally stepped forward.

”Director Vaughn, I’m willing to go with the military and stop the zombies!”

”Director Vaughn, I’m willing to go!”

”Director Vaughn…”

More and more Enhanced spoke up. But there were still a few who didn’t move, faces tight with indecision.

Director Vaughn raised his voice, cutting through the murmurs. ”This is the moment that decides whether Clearford City lives or dies. I hope everyone will step up.”

”The military promises this: any Enhanced who fights in this battle—if we survive this disaster—will be rewarded with one crystal core one Tier higher than your current Tier.”

”Tier 5 Enhanced get a Tier 6 crystal core. Tier 6 Enhanced get a Tier 7 crystal core!”

That did it.

Excitement flashed across faces all over the crowd. And the ones who’d been hesitating finally clenched their jaws and stepped forward too.

In no time, the overwhelming majority had committed to moving out with the military to intercept the horde.

Only a tiny handful still hung back with that detached, ”doesn’t concern me” attitude.

In their heads, the plan was simple.

If the compound held, they’d keep living here.

If it didn’t… they’d run early.

But just as they were congratulating themselves, Director Vaughn spoke again.

”Thank you to everyone who’s willing to fight. Clearford’s compound is our shared home. To fight to protect it—you’re the best of us.”

He let that land for half a beat, then his tone turned sharp.

”As for those who refuse to fight, I won’t force you. But if you won’t fight for Clearford City, then after this disaster, Clearford City won’t welcome you either.”

”Anyone who doesn’t participate today will be permanently expelled from Clearford City.”

Instantly, the crowd erupted.

”Director Vaughn’s right! People like that deserve it!”

”They’ve been enjoying the compound’s protection this whole time, and now that the compound’s in danger they want to hide? I can’t stand that kind of coward!”

”Exactly. Kicking them out is letting them off easy. We should throw them into the horde and let them see what it’s like without a compound!”

”Yeah!”

The anger rolled through the crowd like fire.

That tiny group who’d tried to sit it out turned pale, faces ugly with embarrassment and fear. In the end, they had no choice but to step forward too.

”Who said we weren’t fighting?”

”Yeah! When the real fight starts, we’ll be even braver than you!”

Seeing that, Director Vaughn finally breathed easier. He lifted his arm and shouted, voice ringing out across the gathering.

”Since everyone is willing—then… move out! Fight for our home!”

”Fight for our home!”