Apocalypse: King of Zombies

Outside the compound…

After the Flamebirds burned tens of thousands of them to death, the Seorin Republic people finally got the message.

Ethan didn’t keep slaughtering them. He left the Fallen Star Guard posted outside the walls to lock the place down, while he took the Fallen Star Squad and flew deeper into the compound to hunt for Awakened.

They searched as they moved. Near the compound’s center, they finally spotted what they’d been looking for—

A huge group of Enhanced, lined up in formation, guarding the outside of a grand hall like their lives depended on it.

These guys were clearly stronger than the cannon fodder on the perimeter. And mixed in among them were more than a dozen Awakened.

Ethan’s mouth tilted. ”So that’s why there weren’t any Awakened outside. They’ve all been holed up here.”

He glanced at his team. ”Let’s go. Take those dozen-plus Awakened first. Don’t accidentally kill them—those are nonrenewable resources.”

”Got it.”

The squad jumped off their Flamebirds and landed right in front of the Seorin group.

The Seorin elites flinched. But when they realized it was only a handful of people—and the fire-breathing Flamebirds hadn’t come with them—their nerves settled fast.

These were the strongest fighters Seor City had. Confidence was basically their religion.

They couldn’t handle those terrifying birds, sure. But a few humans on foot? That was different.

A glint flashed through their eyes.

If we control these few… can we force the rest to surrender?

With that thought, they exchanged looks, then spread out and surrounded Ethan’s side.

The Fallen Star Squad paused, collectively taken aback.

Big Mike scratched his head. ”Uh… I think we’re getting treated like pushovers.”

”Seems like it,” someone said, half-laughing.

People always said the Seorin Republic were confident.

Seeing it up close, yeah—no exaggeration.

A young man stepped forward. He was dressed fashionably, almost flashy, with a delicate face, a swishy vibe, and earrings in both ears. He snapped something out sharply:

”Ya! Palli-palli!”

Ethan looked at Skinny Pete.

Pete sighed. ”He says we’ve got a lot of nerve—coming here with only a few people.”

”Oh.” Ethan nodded like he’d heard something mildly interesting.

Then—

Smack.

Ethan flicked his hand.

The young man got slapped so hard he literally flew. He spun a full three-sixty in the air and slammed into the ground.

That wasn’t a warning slap, either.

That was heavy.

Ethan dusted his palm. ”Annoying to look at.”

If the guy hadn’t been Awakened, Ethan would’ve slapped his head clean off.

”!!”

The Seorin fighters exploded in anger.

”Jugeo!” someone roared.

In the next second, the whole group surged forward, killing intent on their faces. Skills lit up one after another, flooding toward Ethan’s squad.

Ethan shook his head, bored. He drove a kick into the guy charging first.

The man shot backward like a cannonball—crashing into the people behind him and sending a whole cluster flying.

Ethan pointed at the dozen-plus Awakened in the mix. ”Don’t kill those ones. Everyone else? Do whatever.”

”Gladly.”

Chris and the others grinned and waded in.

They didn’t bother with abilities. They didn’t pull weapons.

They just used their fists.

Bang—bang—bang!

Meat-on-meat impacts cracked through the air. Bodies lifted, flew, and slammed back down.

It felt good—clean, direct. Ethan almost got why Dopey loved punching things so much.

These Seorin elites might’ve been top-tier in their own country, but in Chris’s hands, they were trash. Honestly, most of them weren’t even as strong as the average decent Enhanced back in the Atlas Federation.

Within minutes, the ground was covered—dead, injured, groaning piles of people.

”Stop!”

A thunderous shout cut through the chaos.

Behind the Seorin fighters, the hall’s massive doors suddenly swung open. Several high-ranking Seorin officials stepped out.

The one in front—a middle-aged man—spoke in Federation Standard, his voice tight with forced authority.

At the sound, the remaining Seorin fighters immediately halted and retreated, quickly forming up in front of the officials like bodyguards.

Chris and the others didn’t press the attack. They simply backed off and took position behind Ethan, watching.

”Oh?” Ethan tilted his head at the newcomers. ”So the real boss finally shows up. Introduce yourself.”

”The Atlas Federation…” Choi Tae-jun’s Federation Standard was pretty clean. ”What are you doing here?”

”Borrowing some supplies,” Ethan said with a grin. ”And borrowing a few people while we’re at it.”

”…”

Choi Tae-jun’s face tightened. ”The Atlas Federation is that rich, isn’t it? What—your supplies still aren’t enough, so you came all the way to my Seorin Republic to ’borrow’?”

Ethan shrugged. ”Come on. Who ever has enough supplies?”

”Hmph.” Choi Tae-jun’s voice went icy. ”Seorin Republic has nothing to lend you.”

”Yeah… that’s not really up to you.” Ethan smiled.

He didn’t even look away. ”Keep going. Cripple those twelve Awakened and take them with us.”

”Gladly.”

Chris and the others started forward again, wearing the kind of grin that made people’s skin crawl.

”I’d like to see you try!” Choi Tae-jun roared.

Right then, a group of people came sprinting in from the distance. And behind them—

More than a dozen bizarre-looking creatures, moving with an ugly, predatory ease.

Choi Tae-jun’s anger twisted into a cold smile. ”You think having a little strength means you can run wild on Seorin Republic land? Today, I’ll show you what happens when you offend the Seorin Republic.”

Ethan’s group didn’t even bother listening.

Their eyes locked on the creatures behind the runners.

”Void Realm creatures?”

”Yeah,” someone said, tone turning sharp. ”So Seorin Republic did get hit. They’ve just been hiding them here.”

”Wait—why are Void Realm creatures mixed in with Seorin people?”

”Who knows,” another person said. ”Maybe the Seorin higher-ups did what Garrett did and became their servants.”

”Wouldn’t surprise me.”

Someone glanced at Ethan. ”Captain—what Tier are they? They don’t look that strong.”

Ethan took one look and answered like he was reading off a receipt. ”About the same as the Infernals. Tier 22, Tier 23.”

”Oh.” The squad’s interest instantly dropped. ”I thought they’d be tougher. Look at that idiot acting all smug.”

A moment later, the group of Seorin officials and the monsters arrived.

Choi Tae-jun’s expression flipped instantly. He pasted on a bright, respectful smile and hurried up as if he’d been waiting all day.

”Honored Ones—you’re here.”

The green-skins nodded arrogantly, not even bothering to hide their contempt.

Choi Tae-jun pointed at Ethan’s group, then made a crude slashing motion across his throat.

”These are the people causing trouble, sirs. And there’s a much larger group outside saying they’re going to wipe you out!”

The dozen-plus green-skins understood immediately. Their eyes went cold as they stared at Ethan and the others.

They could tell Choi Tae-jun was trying to use them as his knife.

They came anyway.

They’d been living like kings here. And now someone dared show up and disrupt their good life?

That alone was reason enough to kill.

And honestly, it was a perfect excuse to show off—remind these humans what fear tasted like, so they’d serve them even better.

But as the green-skins sized Ethan’s group up, their brows slowly drew together.

For some reason…

They were sensing danger.

One of them narrowed his eyes, unease flashing across his face.

Impossible.

This world’s power level is trash. No way anyone here can threaten us.

I must be imagining it.