Apocalypse: King of Zombies

”Roar…”

The Glacial Bear blew out a mouthful of white mist. It spread over Dopey’s position like a rolling cloud, swallowing the whole area—

and in the next heartbeat, Dopey was frozen solid in place.

Then a massive ice pillar formed in the Glacial Bear’s palm. It swung the pillar like a club and brought it down on Dopey’s head.

”!!!”

Everyone’s eyelids twitched.

”Is it seriously going that hard?!”

”BOOM!”

The ice pillar nailed Dopey dead-on, smashing the ice prison around him to pieces—and slamming him straight into the ground like a meteor.

The Glacial Bear looked like it was about to relax for half a second.

Then Dopey’s body kicked up again.

No injuries. Not even a scrape.

It shot forward with lightning speed, appearing right in front of the Glacial Bear. Its fist was already on the way.

The Glacial Bear’s eyes flashed with shock again. It clenched its own fist and punched back.

”Thud…”

A heavy, muffled impact echoed.

The Glacial Bear slid back three steps—

while Dopey was launched more than a hundred feet away.

One clean clash. The difference was obvious.

In raw power, the Glacial Bear was clearly stronger.

But Dopey didn’t hesitate for even a breath. The moment it stabilized, it charged right back in.

The Glacial Bear stopped bothering with ice abilities altogether and met it head-on with pure physical strength.

”Thud-thud-thud—!”

The deep collisions came nonstop.

They’d fully entered close-quarters brawling now. Every exchange boomed low and heavy, like a hammer striking the inside of everyone’s chest. Even standing far away, it was uncomfortable—like the air itself was vibrating.

Each time they collided, Dopey got blasted back.

And each time, the Glacial Bear was forced to give ground a few steps.

But Dopey didn’t get tired.

It didn’t feel pain.

It didn’t hesitate.

Every time it was sent flying, it would be back a moment later, charging again like a machine that only knew one command: hit.

Again and again.

After more than a hundred punches, the one who started to look strained first… was the Glacial Bear.

Seeing Dopey rushing in yet again, the Glacial Bear spat out another breath of white mist and froze it in place—

then it turned its head and roared at Ethan.

”…What’s that supposed to mean?” Ethan asked, confused.

”It says it’s done,” Skinny Pete translated quickly. ”It’s not fighting anymore.”

”Oh. Good.” Ethan nodded, and only then realized how tight his shoulders were. He exhaled hard, relief hitting him like a wave.

Once Dopey cracked the ice again, Ethan immediately ordered it to stop.

If they kept going and something happened to either of them, that would be a disaster. Ending it here was the best outcome.

Dopey’s performance had shocked Ethan… but it also gave him a clear read on its real strength.

Just like he’d suspected, Dopey’s true combat power was around peak Tier 35.

Stronger than most ordinary Tier 35 beings, but not truly across the line into Stage SS at Tier 36.

But Dopey’s physical body?

That was absurd.

Even the Glacial Bear couldn’t break its defense.

Ethan guessed Dopey’s body had been tempered by some special method inside that altar—refined over countless years until it became this kind of monster.

And for Ethan, that was nothing but good news.

If that was the case, then most Stage SS powerhouses probably couldn’t do a damn thing to Dopey either.

Just thinking about it made Ethan’s heart race, a thick sense of security filling his chest.

The Glacial Bear stared at Dopey, standing there motionless, and looked both annoyed and helpless.

It was stronger—clearly stronger.

But it still couldn’t do anything to the other guy.

That feeling was the worst.

Off to the side, the roc watched Dopey with open wariness in its eyes.

It had felt that dangerous aura from the soulless thrall before… but it hadn’t expected it to be this terrifying.

Up on the distant city wall, Nerissa and the rest of the Azure Nereids had watched the entire spar from start to finish—and inside their chests, it felt like a tsunami had hit.

They’d thought the Glacial Bear was already invincible.

But that ”unremarkable” figure—Dopey—had gone toe-to-toe with it without losing.

Didn’t that mean this city had two Stage SS-level combat forces?

The moment that clicked, Nerissa’s brain basically blue-screened.

The Azure Nereids were one of the top races in Eldoria’s Southern Region. Yet their entire race didn’t have a single Stage SS existence.

And this human city—something she’d originally dismissed as weak—had two Stage SS-level fighters?

It was beyond absurd.

Compared to the Azure Nereids’ shock, the people of Fallen Star City were a lot calmer.

To them, anything involving Fallen Star Squad had stopped being surprising a long time ago. No matter how outrageous it looked, if it was them… somehow, it just made sense.

Besides, most of the citizens didn’t even really understand what kind of existence the Glacial Bear was. That level was too far away from their world.

Once the spar ended, Ethan immediately put Dopey back into his spatial storage ring, then led the two feral beasts toward Fallen Star City.

As he neared the gates, thunderous cheers erupted from every direction.

”Commander!”

”Commander!”

”That was insane!”

”You’re a damn legend!”

”Welcome home, Commander!”

The voices overlapped, rolling through every corner of Fallen Star City like a wave.

The Azure Nereids women were startled by the sheer volume—some of them even got swept up and shouted along.

Nerissa watched Ethan walking at the front, her expression complicated.

Yeah… I need to be a lot more polite with him from now on.

He genuinely had the power to wipe them out.

She’d originally thought staying in Fallen Star City meant she was helping these humans. But now?

Who was helping who… that was suddenly not so clear.

Back in the compound, Ethan had Miles arrange a full-on barbecue feast the moment they stepped inside.

He’d promised the Glacial Bear that once they were back, it would eat as much as it wanted. He couldn’t go back on that—if this Glacial Bear got angry, Fallen Star City would be the one paying for it.

Dopey could fight it, sure… but it couldn’t stop it.

That night, Miles turned the central plaza of Fallen Star City into a massive open-air grill yard.

Fallen Star Squad, the second-tier members of Fallen Star, several high-ranking Azure Nereids, and the five white-furred apes all gathered together.

Grill after grill was lined up, whole mutant beasts slowly rotating over open flames.

The Glacial Bear and the five white-furred apes stared at the roasting meat like they were about to drool through the stone.

Maybe it was because they were all white-furred, but the Glacial Bear and the apes seemed to hit it off. They roared back and forth at each other, ”chatting” like old buddies, having the time of their lives.

Off to the side, Ethan and the others sat around with drinks, talking and laughing.

A scene this relaxed… you probably couldn’t find it anywhere else on Earth except Fallen Star City.

”Ethan,” Nerissa said, her worry creeping into her voice, ”this time you killed so many elite fighters from different races. You’re going to provoke them. I’m afraid that when the dimensional rift opens again, the major races will unite against Fallen Star City.”

”How big are these races?” Ethan asked. ”And how strong?”

”Nine races came through this time,” Nerissa replied. ”The Sylvans and Stoneborn are the strongest among them. Both have Tier 34 powerhouses. The others are weaker, but they still have Tier 30 fighters in their ranks.”

Ethan chuckled. ”Only Stage S, then? I thought Eldoria’s races would be more impressive.”

Nerissa’s brows knitted. ”That is exactly the kind of thinking that gets people killed.”

Her tone sank, turning heavy.

”This was only their first wave. If the rift opens again, they won’t come so casually next time. Dozens of Stage S fighters are already dangerous. Hundreds could threaten even a Stage SS beast.”

”And that’s only the top layer. Across those races, there are millions of fighters above Stage A. If they pour into this world, Fallen Star City won’t be able to treat it like a small problem.”

Ethan’s smile faded a little. ”Fair point.”

”So how strong are the Azure Nereids, then?” Ethan asked, curious.

”Our Azure Nereid Matriarch has long been at peak Tier 35,” Nerissa said, a note of pride slipping in. ”We also have over fifty Stage S experts in the clan. Those races don’t dare provoke us lightly.”

Ethan leaned back, looking way too relaxed. ”Then we’re good. If they really try something, you guys can just show your faces.”

”…”