Apocalypse: King of Zombies

Early the next morning, a massive column of more than twenty thousand people poured out of the ruined Fallen Star City and set off.

Up in the sky, five enormous flying mutant beasts circled overhead. Every member of the Fallen Star Squad rode on their backs, looking down like they were escorting an army on parade.

On the ground, the ones leading the march were Fallen Star’s ”reserve unit”—the city’s second echelon—made up of Vivian, Calvin, Aurora, Grace, and several of Fallen Star City’s top brass.

In that group, Vivian was Stage C. Aurora was Tier 11. Grace was Tier 11. Everyone else was Tier 10. And aside from Grace and Aurora, all of them were Awakened.

Behind them came over a thousand Tier 10 Enhanced.

And the rest?

All Tier 9 peak Enhanced.

That was Fallen Star City’s fighting strength.

While other compounds were still patting themselves on the back because synthetic crystal cores had let them add a few dozen—maybe a hundred—Tier 9 Enhanced…

Fallen Star Guard’s ”minimum standard” was Tier 9 peak.

While other compounds threw parties because they’d finally trained up a single Tier 10 Enhanced…

In Fallen Star City, Tier 10 combat power was practically everywhere.

And that still wasn’t counting the Fallen Star Squad.

If you added the Squad into the mix, it wasn’t even a fight anymore. It was straight-up a dimensionality drop—like bringing a gun to a caveman brawl.

The huge crowd pushed toward Silverlake City compound at a fast, steady pace. Their momentum alone threw off a pressure that made the zombies and mutant beasts along the way keep their distance, unwilling to get anywhere close.

Meanwhile…

Atlas City’s compound.

Maxwell and the others gathered in the conference room again first thing in the morning.

Today was the day Fallen Star City would attack Silverlake City compound.

Nobody in that room was treating it lightly.

Normally, a small compound with only a few tens of thousands of people trying to take on a major compound of over two million was basically suicide.

But if it was Fallen Star City?

Different story.

They didn’t even know exactly how strong Fallen Star City was—but the fact it shared the name ”Fallen Star” with that squad was enough to make it terrifying.

Because this was the compound of the Fallen Star bandit squad.

At this point, they weren’t even debating who would win.

They were just praying Fallen Star City wouldn’t kill too many people.

Maxwell’s satellite phone rang. The scout he’d sent to Silverlake City compound overnight—someone stationed there specifically to watch—was calling in.

Maxwell snatched it up, answered immediately, and hit speaker.

”General Kane! We’ve spotted Fallen Star City’s people—they’ve already entered the Golden Delta area!”

”How many deployed?” Maxwell asked.

”Looks like… a little over twenty thousand.”

”Whew…” Everyone in the room let out the breath they’d been holding.

Twenty thousand. That should be… manageable.

”But, uh… General Kane.” The voice on the other end turned hesitant, strange. ”These twenty thousand might be… different.”

Maxwell frowned. ”Different how?”

”They’re moving too fast. Unless every single one of them has a movement-speed skill—which feels unlikely—then based on their pace… it’s very possible all twenty thousand of them are… Tier 9 and above.”

”What!?” Maxwell and the others shot to their feet, eyes wide.

They understood exactly what that meant.

Atlas City had the best resources. They had synthetic crystal core tech. And not long ago, they’d even traded with other compounds to get a bunch more crystal cores.

Even so, they only had a little over two thousand Tier 9 fighters total.

And now a ”small” compound with just a few tens of thousands of people was showing up with more than twenty thousand Tier 9 Enhanced?

Ten times their number.

The room went dead quiet for a second as everyone forced themselves to breathe and not lose it.

”Of course…” someone muttered. ”Ethan’s compound. Freakishly strong, like always.”

”No—wait!” The scout suddenly shouted again, panic edging into his voice.

Everyone’s hearts clenched. ”What now!?”

”I’m watching their faces—they all look relaxed. This speed… it’s not even their limit. Which means their strength might not stop at Tier 9!”

”!!!”

Maxwell’s voice snapped sharp, no hesitation. ”Notify Silverlake City compound immediately. Tell them to surrender. Everyone. No one is allowed to resist.”

”…General Kane,” the scout said, sounding trapped, ”they’re not taking our orders anymore.”

Maxwell’s jaw tightened. He already knew why.

”The people from Riverton City compound won’t listen,” he said coldly. ”But the original Silverlake City compound should. That was a government-built compound—they still answer to The Atlas Federation headquarters.”

He leaned toward the speaker, voice hard. ”Make sure they understand this: do not resist. If they surrender, maybe we can keep the casualties down.”

”Yes, sir!”

Silverlake City compound…

Garrett and the others still hadn’t come back after an entire night, and none of their calls would go through. The Riverton City compound higher-ups who’d come over were getting more and more uneasy by the hour.

Even Monroe and the other ugly-looking freaks from the Void Realm couldn’t sit still. They paced, restless, eyes dark.

”Marek didn’t lose, right?” one of the grotesque figures said, frowning.

”No chance,” another replied immediately. ”In this world, nobody can threaten him. He probably just found something interesting over there.”

Monroe’s brows knitted tighter. ”Wait a little longer. If they still aren’t back today, we’ll go over there ourselves.”

”Fine.”

While they were stewing in worry, a message was quietly spreading through the original Silverlake City survivors—passed from mouth to ear like contraband.

”Atlas City sent word. If someone comes to attack the compound today, surrender. Don’t resist—whatever you do.”

The news left people confused… and then, strangely, excited.

Riverton City compound had forced their way into Silverlake with brutal methods. The locals hated them, but they’d swallowed it because the other side was stronger and resistance felt like suicide.

Worse, the few powerful, ugly monsters living in the compound’s center were sick in the head.

They liked drinking children’s blood.

Every day, Riverton’s people delivered them fresh blood. Every day, a few more kids were slaughtered.

Everyone inside the compound lived on edge, never sure whose family would be next.

So when they heard someone was coming to attack, their first reaction wasn’t fear.

It was hope.

If somebody could kill that group, the Silverlake locals would welcome them with open arms—roll out the red carpet, the whole thing.

But…

The moment they remembered the strength of those grotesque figures, the excitement soured into dread.

Was there really anyone who could beat them?

As the message spread, it was inevitable it would reach the Riverton higher-ups too.

”Someone’s attacking the compound?”

”Heh. Sounds like they’ve never died before.”

”With those lords here, even Atlas City would get wiped out if they showed their faces.”

”Good.” Someone’s smile turned sharp. ”Perfect timing. Let these idiots give up on their little fantasies.”

Around noon, not far outside Silverlake City compound…

The Fallen Star City force slowed to a stop.

Ahead of them, the compound rose up like a massive fortress-city, walls stretching wide. The sight lit a fire in everyone’s eyes—pure, hungry battle intent.

”So this is Silverlake City compound.” Ethan gave it a quick once-over. ”Not bad.”

Of course, it couldn’t compare to Atlas City’s compound. But it was still a lot bigger than Clearford City—no surprise, with over two million people living here.

Ethan’s voice dropped, cold and clean. ”Move. We push straight through. Anyone who resists—kill them.”

”Yes!”

The moment the order fell, the twenty-thousand-plus surged forward, breaking into a fast charge toward the walls.

Up on Silverlake’s ramparts, the guards spotted a huge mass in the distance—people, a lot of them—running straight at them at a terrifying speed.

The alarm went up immediately.

”Enemy attack!”