Apocalypse: King of Zombies

Everyone crept up to the edge of the altar, getting close enough to really feel the presence of that gigantic skeleton—well over a hundred meters tall. Even as nothing but bones, it still pressed down on them like a mountain.

If it had been alive… how insane would that have been?

From skull to tail, the entire frame was locked down with heavy chains. No question—this mutant beast had been put through hell before it died.

They cautiously reached out and touched the bones. Smooth under their fingers, like polished jade.

”This thing… it feels like an art piece,” Sean said, awed. ”If this was before the apocalypse, archaeologists would lose their minds.”

”Yeah.” Chris nodded, eyes narrowing. ”Feels like it’s tough as hell.”

He pulled out a dagger, black edge flaring along the blade, and chopped down at one of the toe bones.

Nothing.

The strike didn’t even leave a scratch.

Chris tried again. And again. The bone stayed slick and pristine, like the blade had never touched it.

Everyone stared, stunned.

They all knew how sharp Chris’s edge was. For something that lethal to fail to leave even a mark… that was ridiculous.

”This isn’t just hard,” Chris said, voice tight with disbelief. ”This is stupid hard.”

”I’ll try.” Ethan reached into his spatial storage ring and drew his poleaxe, then swung it hard into the leg bone in front of him.

Boom.

A dull, heavy impact echoed out. Ethan staggered back a few steps, his arm going numb from the recoil.

The others rushed their eyes to where he’d hit—

—and found the same thing: perfectly smooth bone. No damage at all.

This time, everyone’s expression changed.

These bones had been sitting here who-knew-how-long, and they were still like this. Just how strong had this monster been when it was alive?

”If we could turn this skeleton into weapons,” Sean muttered, half in reverence, ”that’d be absolutely insane.”

”Yeah, but it doesn’t look like we can do a damn thing to it.” Ethan shook his head, helpless. And a skeleton this massive wasn’t exactly something he could toss into a spatial storage ring.

Since the bones were a dead end, their attention shifted down to the altar itself.

Nobody knew what material it was made from. Complex patterns were carved across its surface—dense, interlocking lines that spread over the entire platform, linking to nine pillars. Every line eventually converged into a single groove at the center.

”What is this?” someone asked, curiosity pulling them closer as they stared at the carved network.

”Feels like some kind of ritual circle,” Henry guessed.

”A ritual circle?” Eyes widened all around. But after everything they’d already seen, it didn’t exactly feel impossible. A ritual circle showing up here almost made sense.

”Henry’s right.” Ethan nodded, accepting it. ”That’s probably exactly what it is.”

He looked at Henry. ”What do you think it was used for? You’ve studied this stuff more than any of us.”

Henry pointed at the central groove. ”Likely to extract energy from this mutant beast to nurture something. All the energy routes here. There should be something underneath this spot—unless it’s already been taken.”

At Henry’s words, Ethan activated [True Sight] immediately and looked down through the altar.

What he saw—or rather, what he couldn’t see—made his heart sink.

He couldn’t see through it at all.

Whether it was the altar’s material or the formation itself, this was the first time Ethan had ever run into something like this.

”I can’t see what’s underneath,” Ethan said grimly. ”Looks like we’ll have to find a way to smash this altar and check.”

”Wait!” Henry said quickly. ”Let me take pictures of the ritual circle first. I want to study it when we get back.”

”Fine.” Ethan nodded.

”Who’s got a phone?” Henry looked around. ”And it needs to have battery.”

”I do.” Big Mike dug an iPhone out of his pocket and handed it over.

Chris turned a slow grin on Big Mike. ”You actually carry this around? Be honest—are you using it to secretly watch porn?”

”N-no…” Big Mike’s face went red, all the way to his ears.

Chris’s eyes widened. ”Holy—so it is true. Alright, tell us. How much you got in there?”

”I… I don’t have that much,” Big Mike muttered. ”Just… a few files.”

Chris stared. ”A few files?”

”O-only like… ten-something gigs.”

”Holy shit!” Chris said, putting on a righteous expression. ”People like you need to be condemned.”

He paused, then added with absolute seriousness, ”Watching porn and not inviting the rest of us.”

”...”

”What kind of ’little movies’?” Emily leaned in, looking genuinely curious. ”I wanna see too.”

Chris choked a little. ”Uh… Emily. That’s not really something girls should watch.”

”Hmph. Fine. If you won’t show me, I’ve got my own.” Emily pulled out her own phone and waved it smugly.

”Mia, tonight you and I are watching together!”

Mia: ”…..”

”Alright, enough.” Ethan rubbed his forehead like he could physically push the headache away. ”Henry, hurry up and take the pictures.”

”Yeah.” Henry nodded.

He hopped up onto one of the pillars, raised the phone, and started photographing the altar from above.

”Big Mike,” Henry called, squinting. ”It’s too dark. Give me some light!”

”Got it.”

Big Mike lifted a hand and fired a few fireballs into the air. The cavern below lit up instantly, shadows snapping back against the walls.

A moment later, Henry finished and jumped down.

”Ethan, I got them.”

”Good.” Ethan’s gaze stayed locked on the altar, his expression heavy.

This thing was probably on the same level as that skeleton. Smashing it wasn’t going to be easy.

Ethan grit his teeth, sprang up, gripped his poleaxe with both hands, and brought it down on the altar with everything he had.

Clang—!

A massive ringing sound exploded through the cave. Ethan’s palms split at the webbing from the shock. His poleaxe flew out of his hands, and the rebound force sent him rocketing backward—

—straight into the rock wall behind him.

”Captain! You okay?” Everyone sprinted over.

”I’m fine.” Ethan shook his head and hauled himself up, messy and bruised, trying not to look as wrecked as he felt.

He flexed his numb fingers and hissed, ”This damn thing is hard.”

They all stared at the altar. Not even a scratch.

Yeah. Hard didn’t begin to cover it.

”Captain, let me try,” Garrick said. ”No matter how tough it is, it’s still basically earth-type. I should be able to wreck it from the inside.”

”Alright.” Ethan nodded and stepped aside.

Garrick walked to the altar’s edge, planted both hands on it, and triggered his ability.

Nothing happened.

Seconds passed. Then more. The altar didn’t budge.

”So even you can’t?” Someone let out a disappointed sigh, and it spread through the group.

”Wait.” Ethan pointed sharply. ”Look—there’s movement.”

Everyone leaned in.

Sure enough, part of the carved pattern had warped—barely, but visibly, like something underneath was being forced out of alignment.

”Oh—there is!” Their eyes lit up.

”Come on, Garrick!” Voices rose as they started cheering him on.

By now, sweat was pouring off Garrick’s forehead. Even with the perfect match of ability, breaking this altar was clearly brutal.

Emily stayed close, continuously restoring his stamina and mental energy.

More than ten minutes later, under Garrick’s relentless output, a crack finally appeared on the altar’s surface—thin as a hair.

The moment they saw it, excitement flashed across every face.

The crack was tiny… but it was hope.