Apocalypse: King of Zombies

”Big Mike, burn the bodies. We need to move—now.”

”Got it.”

Big Mike nodded. With a flick of his hand, flames roared to life. In the span of a few breaths, the corpses were reduced to ash—so clean it was like they’d never existed.

Off in the distance, Nerissa watched with a helpless look.

These people… they really didn’t hesitate.

Ethan led everyone back to her, smiling like they’d just finished some light warm-up.

”Now we can go to your place.”

Nerissa sighed, rubbing her forehead. ”Normally, scouts like that don’t go out unprotected. Before they leave, their elders plant a special imprint in their minds. If they’re killed, the imprint sends the last scene they saw—right before death—back to whoever placed it.”

She looked at Ethan, expression tight. ”That’s why people from powerful races can run missions anywhere and act like they own the world.”

”So yeah,” she finished, voice dry. ”They already know what you did. Their higher-ups probably know you’re here. And they’ll send people to hunt you down—soon.”

Ethan shrugged. ”Doesn’t matter. Even if we didn’t kill them, humans are still going to be ’kill on sight’ in Eldoria.”

Nerissa didn’t argue. She couldn’t.

Ethan’s gaze swept the area. ”Let’s go. We leave this place first.”

”…Alright.” Nerissa nodded, still looking like she’d swallowed a headache.

A second later, Ethan Riftwalked again. A dimensional rift opened, and the group slipped inside—vanishing from the Southern Region like a bad dream.

By then, the higher-ups of the major races had already received the alert.

And the moment they realized their people had been slaughtered, fury erupted.

The higher-tier races were the worst—so angry it was practically choking them.

It had been who knows how many years since anyone dared kill their representatives.

Whoever did it clearly didn’t fear them at all.

Then the details came in.

The killers were… humans.

That single word detonated across the networks of power.

Humans were still alive?

And the moment they showed up, they started killing?

Was this revenge?

Worry crept into the faces of more than a few old monsters. Because back then, the human race had been terrifying—one race standing against the top factions of all Eldoria, and still managing to cripple several of them.

That legacy had left scars Eldoria never really healed from.

But fear didn’t mean mercy.

For even more races, the first thought was simple:

Erase them.

Don’t let humanity have even the slightest chance to crawl back out of the grave.

Before long, experts from every Region began moving toward the Southern Region.

Meanwhile, Ethan and the others had already arrived in Azure Nereids territory.

In the Southern Region, Azure Nereids really did count as top-tier.

The Southern Region had no Stage SS at all—the ceiling here was Stage S.

And Azure Nereids? They had three at Tier 35 peak, plus over a hundred more Stage S-level powerhouses.

No wonder Nerissa had spoken with so much confidence.

If you ignored the outside Regions, Azure Nereids could practically walk sideways through the Southern Region.

Their domain was beautiful: a massive lake stretching out like a mirror. Every home was built of wood, raised over the water on stilts and walkways. The whole place looked comfortable—almost peaceful enough to make you forget Eldoria was a world that ate the weak alive.

The Azure Nereids’ territory spanned a little over a hundred square miles, home to several hundred thousand of them.

Of course, Azure Nereids weren’t an all-female race.

They had males, too—only the males were drastically weaker and far less talented than the females.

So the entire society was female-dominated. The males had almost no status, weren’t allowed to leave the domain, and mostly existed to run errands and keep the bloodline going.

The instant Nerissa brought Ethan and the others inside, the whole domain exploded into motion.

Every major race cared deeply about the vanguard teams they’d sent to the dimensional rift. Everyone wanted to know what was on the other side.

At first, Azure Nereids had also kept people stationed near the passage, waiting for Nerissa’s return. But as weeks turned to months with no movement, the Matriarch had finally ordered them pulled back.

So when Nerissa and her squad suddenly appeared in the heart of the domain, the reaction was immediate—pure, uncontrolled excitement.

And then the second shock hit:

They’d brought humans with them.

That left the entire clan stunned.

In the end, the Azure Nereid Matriarch herself came out—along with several elders—to receive them in person.

In the middle of the Azure Nereids’ lake sat a small island.

And at the center of that island was a massive, luxurious building. It was still made of wood like everything else here, but the craftsmanship was on another level—elegant lines, layered terraces, sweeping eaves, the kind of place that didn’t need stone or gold to feel expensive.

This was where the Azure Nereids’ upper ranks met to make decisions.

Right now, inside the hall, the Azure Nereid Matriarch sat with her elders. Nerissa was there as well… along with Ethan and the Fallen Star City crew.

At the seat of honor sat an elegant, mature woman in richly embroidered robes. She was undeniably beautiful, but what hit harder was the quiet authority in her eyes—calm, heavy, the kind that made people lower their voices without realizing it.

This was the Azure Nereid Matriarch.

Seraphine Tideborn.

On either side below her sat ten older Azure Nereids powerhouses—five on the left, five on the right.

The Ten Great Elders.

None of them were weaker than Tier 34.

Ethan and the others were seated on the opposite side. In front of them was a spread of ”delicacies.”

Yeah.

Azure Nereids’ idea of delicacies.

A few unfamiliar fruits, plus thick-cut slices of raw fish—so thick it was basically sashimi slabs.

Nerissa had told them this was the highest level of hospitality her clan could offer.

Staring at it, Ethan finally understood why Nerissa’s group had nearly lost their minds the first time they ate in Fallen Star City.

Compared to this… human food really was criminally good.

”Welcome, friends of the human race,” Seraphine said, lifting a cup of fruit wine toward Ethan and the others.

The elders followed, each raising their cups in unison.

Ethan lifted his as well. The group clinked their cups lightly in the air, then drank.

Ethan’s eyes sharpened a little.

Okay—food aside…

This wine was actually excellent.

”I never thought I’d live to see humans with my own eyes,” Seraphine said, and there was real emotion in it. ”The Azure Nereids have deep ties to your people. Knowing humanity wasn’t truly wiped out… it makes me happy.”

She paused, then added warmly, ”You should stay in Azure Nereids territory. If nothing else, in the Southern Region, no one will dare lay a hand on you.”

Nerissa nearly facepalmed on the spot.

Matriarch… you can’t just say that out loud…

”Thank you for the kindness, Matriarch,” Ethan said, polite but firm. ”But we’ll pass on living here. We didn’t come to Eldoria to vacation.”

Seraphine studied him. ”Then what brings you to Eldoria Continent? If it’s within our abilities, perhaps we can help.”

”We’re here to get stronger,” Ethan said. ”If you have any suggestions, I’m all ears.”

”This…” Seraphine hesitated, and for the first time her composure showed a crack of awkwardness. ”If you were Stage B or Stage A, I could offer some paths.”

”But Stage S…”

She gave a small, helpless smile. ”To be honest, I’m not much stronger than you. If there were some simple method to raise power at your level, I would’ve used it long ago.”

”Fair,” Ethan said, nodding. Then he went straight to the point. ”Do you know where we can find Stage SS Outland Beasts?”

”Stage SS…” Seraphine’s brows drew together. ”I do know of some.”

But her tone hardened immediately.

”If you’re thinking about targeting the Stage SS crystal cores in their heads, I advise you to give up right now.”

”The gap between Stage SS and Stage S is enormous,” she said. ”And beasts, in general, are stronger than intelligent races at the same Stage. Unless you have a whole group of Tier 35 peak experts moving together… that’s suicide.”

She didn’t stop there.

”More importantly, the major races of Eldoria have already signed an agreement with the Beast Sovereign. Stage S and above are forbidden from attacking Outland Beasts. In exchange, Stage S and above Outland Beasts won’t attack the major races either.”

Ethan frowned. ”Why sign something like that?”

”Because without limits, it becomes a catastrophe for both sides,” Seraphine said evenly. ”Our experts want their crystal cores. They want our bodies. If it spirals, everyone bleeds.”

”Alright,” Ethan said.

Then, like it was the most natural thing in the world, he continued, ”But that agreement is between your Eldoria races and the Outland Beasts. It has nothing to do with me. Just tell me where the Stage SS ones are.”

Seraphine’s eyes went cold. ”No. Humans are also intelligent beings. You also cultivate by upgrading the constellation chart in your mind to raise Tier. You fall under the agreement.”

”If you break it and the Beast Sovereign is enraged… the consequences will be unimaginable.”

Ethan’s eyes lit up.

”Unimaginable how?” he asked, leaning forward with obvious interest.

”…”

Seraphine stared at him, completely speechless.

The instant she said ”disaster,” this man looked less afraid—and more excited.