Apocalypse: King of Zombies

As the shout rang out, a large group of people hurried over from the distance.

The moment the surrounding Security Force saw who it was, they visibly jolted, then quickly parted to make a path.

Ethan narrowed his eyes as he watched them approach.

The real authorities had finally shown up.

This group was mostly Tier 9, with several Tier 10 Enhanced mixed in. A lineup like that could only mean the people who actually ran the compound were stepping in personally.

And Ethan spotted General Maxwell Kane in the crowd.

…Yeah. Out of all the high-level people in Atlas City, Maxwell was basically the only one he recognized.

The man at the very front also looked familiar—like someone Ethan had seen on TV back before the world ended.

They reached the scene. Looking at the wrecked street and the bodies, the leaders up front all frowned.

”Out of control!” Dominic Hale’s face was twisted with fury. ”You’ve gone too far. So this is how it is—you really don’t give a damn about the compound.”

He swept an arm at the carnage and turned toward the others. ”You all see it now, right? These people are lawless criminals. They’ve been here one day and they’ve already killed this many—killed even the Compound Security Force. If we let them stay, the compound will be thrown into chaos!”

Charles Whitaker’s expression was just as ugly. He looked straight at Ethan. ”Ethan. Did your people do this?”

”Yes,” Ethan said simply, and nodded.

Charles’s eyes hardened. ”Explain yourself.”

”Nothing to explain,” Ethan said. ”Some idiot harassed my teammate. I handled him.”

Then his gaze shifted past them to the lines of uniforms. ”As for the Security Force—they struck first. We were defending ourselves.”

”Amazing.” Benjamin Caldwell’s face reddened with anger. ”Calling this self-defense? Killing freely inside the compound, ignoring compound law, even killing Security Force—do you really think you’re above the law?!”

Ethan’s expression went cold. ”You’re welcome to try me.”

Dominic sneered. ”No more hesitation. Their nature is rotten. Now that they’ve got some strength, they’re even more arrogant and brutal. People like this are poison. Leaving them alive is just inviting disaster!”

Charles drew a slow breath, his jaw tight. ”Then take them.”

”Wait!” Maxwell stepped forward immediately. ”Charles, I think there may be a misunderstanding here.”

”A misunderstanding?” Dominic snapped, pointing at the bodies. ”Maxwell, you’re still trying to cover for them? There are bloody corpses lying right here, and you’re telling us it’s a misunderstanding?!”

Maxwell’s mouth opened—then shut. For once, he had no clean words to put in front of that.

Charles sighed, gaze heavy. ”General Kane, I know you’re thinking about the Atlas Federation. You don’t want internal conflict. But you also know this—if we can’t keep order inside, how do we resist what’s outside?”

His voice sharpened. ”Their actions have already seriously undermined internal stability. If we don’t deal with them, how do we calm the people?”

”Charles!” Maxwell’s tone turned urgent. ”Do you understand what happens if we actually fight them?”

”I do,” Charles said firmly. ”They’re strong. If we move, our losses could be severe. But what war doesn’t cost something? If paying a price buys stability for the Atlas Federation, it’s worth it.”

Maxwell let out a bitter laugh. ”I’m afraid we’ll pay the price… and still not be their match.”

Dominic whirled on him, eyes blazing. ”What the hell are you saying, Maxwell? You’re giving them way too much credit. Even if all of them are Tier 10, so what? With our strength, why would we fear them?”

Maxwell stared at him. ”And what if they’re not just Tier 10?”

”…!”

Dominic’s lips curled. ”Not Tier 10? What, Tier 11?” He laughed coldly. ”Maxwell, even if you want to protect them, don’t insult us with something that stupid. Tier 11? Ask yourself—do you really think that’s possible?”

Charles frowned. ”General Kane, you’re saying they’re above Tier 10. Do you have evidence?”

”No,” Maxwell admitted. ”But I can feel it. They’re not as simple as Tier 10.”

”…..”

Charles exhaled, looking tired. ”General Kane, I know you’re close with them. If you truly refuse to act, then the Kane Family can withdraw.”

Dominic immediately cut in. ”No. The Kane Family has the most top-tier fighters. General Kane can step back, but Kane Family forces must participate.”

Benjamin nodded, pressing the advantage. ”Agreed. Three families have already approved action—this decision is settled. General Kane, are you planning to violate the Five Families’ alliance?”

Maxwell’s brows were knotted tight, caught in a deadlock.

Right then, Ethan’s voice cut through again.

”General Kane, don’t torture yourself over it. If they want to fight, let them come.” His eyes were cold, his tone casual. ”Today, I’ll rearrange the entire power structure of Atlas City’s compound.”

”What an arrogant little shit,” Dominic snapped, practically thrilled. ”Do it—move!”

The instant he spoke, the Hale Family’s Enhanced surged forward from behind him, charging straight at Ethan’s group.

”Move!” Charles and Benjamin both raised a hand.

Whitaker and Caldwell forces went in as well.

”…” Gabriel let out a long sigh. Cornered, he lifted his hand in a helpless gesture. The Mercer Family’s Enhanced followed suit.

Then, almost in sync, the leaders turned and looked at Maxwell.

”General Kane,” Dominic said sharply, ”I hope you understand where you stand.”

Maxwell’s face twitched. You could see the fight in him. In the end, he clenched his jaw.

”This… the Kane Family will not participate.”

”!!”

Dominic’s eyes blew wide with rage. ”Maxwell! That’s an open violation of the Five Families’ pact! We can remove you from your post on the spot!”

”Remove me, then.” Maxwell’s voice turned hard. ”It’s the apocalypse—what does a title even mean anymore? If you want to throw your lives away, fine. But don’t drag the Kane Family with you.”

After speaking, Maxwell stepped back several paces.

”You—!”

Dominic gritted his teeth. ”Fine. Even without the Kane Family, we can still take them. Just wait—after this, the other four families will sanction you!”

He snorted, but at this point there was no backing down.

Very quickly, a wave of Tier 9 Enhanced surrounded Ethan’s team, with five Tier 10 Enhanced mixed in.

The compound actually had seven Tier 10s—two belonged to the Kane Family. With Maxwell withdrawing, those two didn’t move, leaving only five.

Then, after the Tier 9s and Tier 10s took position, another large group of Tier 8 Enhanced rushed in from behind.

Every one of them carried a Tier 9 laser weapon, muzzles leveled straight at Ethan and the others.

Ethan’s group didn’t move the whole time. They stood there watching the setup like it was a performance.

Ethan honestly wanted to see what Atlas City’s compound could really do.

If they were still Tier 10, he’d be nervous. But they were all Tier 11 now. There was nothing to fear.

All you could say was—going into that Void Realm near Clearford City had been dangerous as hell, but it had also let them completely widen the Tier gap between themselves and everyone else.

Riches really did come from risk.

Seeing no one else stepping forward, Ethan smiled slightly.

”That everyone?”

”Hmph. Quit bluffing.” A Tier 10 Enhanced at the front let out a cold snort. ”Kill them!”

The moment the order dropped, everyone struck at once.

Tier 9 and Tier 10 weren’t anything like Tier 6 or Tier 7. Skills slammed forward in dense waves—violent, heavy, and fast—ripping toward Ethan’s group from every angle.

Ethan’s mouth curled.

”Alright then,” he said coldly. ”No reason for us to be polite anymore.”

He lifted his hand.

”Move.”

”Got it!” Chris said, voice light.