Apocalypse: King of Zombies

Ethan released the Deadlock Dimension. He and the scattered remains of the Netherfang Tiger reappeared inside the enormous cave.

Fortunately, this cave belonged exclusively to the Netherfang Tiger. There were no other Outland Beasts around. Otherwise, the sight would’ve scared them senseless.

Ethan looked over the pieces strewn across the ground. After a moment’s thought, he roughly pieced the body back together. At least now anyone who saw it could tell it was the Netherfang Tiger.

Once he was done, Ethan dusted off his hands and left the cave.

Not far from the Netherfang Tiger’s lair, an enormous black panther was dozing on the branch of a massive tree.

The panther suddenly sensed danger. It snapped awake, its entire body tensing as it scanned the surroundings.

”Pretty alert, aren’t you?” Ethan said with a smile.

He gave it no chance to fight back or call for help. Absolute Stasis activated, and a single strike from his poleaxe killed it.

After extracting its crystal core, Ethan headed in another direction.

The closer he got to the Netherfang Tiger’s lair, the stronger the Outland Beasts became.

That made things much easier. He wouldn’t have to search the entire mountain range for high-tier targets.

It wasn’t long before Ethan found another Tier 41 Outland Beast.

No setup. No warning.

He opened with Absolute Stasis and Annihilation Strike, killing it before it even realized what was happening.

Ethan stored the crystal core, swallowed a Stage S core to replenish his mental energy, and continued searching for his next target.

Just then, the entire Netherveil Range erupted into chaos. Roars echoed across the mountains from every direction.

”Hm?” Ethan frowned.

”Did they already discover the Netherfang Tiger’s death?

”That shouldn’t be possible. There weren’t any Outland Beasts nearby when I left.”

He soon learned the real reason.

The beasts hadn’t discovered their ruler’s death. They had sensed the arrival of powerful outsiders.

Two figures were striding through the air in the distance, approaching the Netherveil Range at incredible speed. The Outland Beasts had begun causing a commotion the moment they spotted them.

Ethan looked surprised.

”They got here that fast?”

He quickly found a dark place to hide.

No sooner had he concealed himself than an Outland Beast appeared nearby, racing toward the Netherfang Tiger’s cave. It was clearly going to warn its ruler that powerful enemies had arrived.

Ethan’s eyes lit up.

”You’ll make one more. That should be enough.”

Without hesitation, he activated Absolute Stasis and appeared beside the beast. One Annihilation Strike killed it instantly.

Ethan extracted its crystal core, then immediately used Riftwalk to escape.

The instant he vanished, the two Stage SSS fighters in the sky turned toward his former location.

”Did you feel that spatial fluctuation?” the Verdantborn fighter asked.

”You felt it too? Then it wasn’t my imagination.” The Glamourkin fighter frowned. ”Let’s take a look.”

The two figures vanished and instantly reappeared where Ethan had been.

”Hm?”

They frowned at the freshly killed Stage SS Outland Beast on the ground.

”Whoever did this just left.”

”And they used a spatial-type ability. It has to be one of the humans. They really are still hiding in the Netherveil Range!”

”They killed a Tier 41 Outland Beast in an instant. It seems we still underestimated their strength.”

”Yes, but now that we’re here, they won’t be running around much longer.”

”Agreed.”

”Let’s find the Netherfang Tiger and ask what happened first.”

The two figures vanished again.

Only after they were gone did several Outland Beasts cautiously approach.

When they saw the dead Tier 41 beast, they flew into a rage.

The two Stage SSS fighters soon arrived near the Netherfang Tiger’s cave.

”Netherfang Tiger! Show yourself!”

A deep voice rolled across the mountains, frightening the nearby birds and beasts into trembling.

But even after the echoes faded, there was no response.

The two Stage SSS fighters frowned.

”Netherfang Tiger! The High Elders of the Verdantborn and Glamourkin are here. Come forth at once!”

”…”

Still no answer.

Several high-tier Outland Beasts nearby wanted to enter the cave and alert their ruler, but none dared move after seeing the other beast killed moments ago.

Besides, the visitors were loud enough that their ruler had obviously heard them. There was no need to deliver the message. If the Netherfang Tiger refused to come out, it clearly didn’t want to see them.

The two Stage SSS fighters’ expressions darkened when the Netherfang Tiger continued to ignore them.

Both of them were stronger than the Netherfang Tiger. They had come here in person, yet this beast was still putting on airs.

It infuriated them.

”What now?” the Verdantborn elder asked with a frown.

”If it won’t come out, we’ll go in and find it,” the Glamourkin elder said coldly.

”Fine.”

They flashed to the cave entrance and walked straight inside.

The Netherfang Tiger was only Tier 42. Either one of them was stronger, so they had nothing to fear.

But the moment they entered the cave, the sight before them left them stunned.

An enormous body lay on the ground, its pieces haphazardly fitted back together.

The arrangement was a complete mess, but they could still make out the remains of a giant tiger.

”Is that… the Netherfang Tiger?” The Verdantborn elder’s eyes widened in horror.

”I… think it might be.” The Glamourkin elder swallowed, sounding uncertain.

”How is that possible? The Netherfang Tiger was still a Stage SSS beast! Who could kill it? And its entire body was torn apart. This wasn’t just a defeat—it was completely overpowered!” The Verdantborn elder’s expression turned grim.

The Glamourkin elder furrowed her brow. Even she had no idea what to do.

Then a thought occurred to her, and her expression changed.

”This is bad. We need to leave!”

”What’s wrong?” The Verdantborn elder hadn’t caught on yet.

”The Netherfang Tiger is dead. We’ll be the prime suspects!”

”!”

The Verdantborn elder’s face changed.

”Go!”

They rushed out of the cave and flew high into the air. Countless Outland Beasts below were staring fixedly at them, making their hearts sink even further.

”What do we do now?”

”We return and report this to our Patriarchs. This could become a major crisis. We need to prepare as soon as possible.”

”Agreed!”

The two figures sped away.

Once they were gone, a group of Outland Beasts gathered outside the Netherfang Tiger’s cave.

”Roar…” Boss?

”Roar…?”

They called out repeatedly, but received no answer.

Several Stage SS Outland Beasts exchanged glances before cautiously entering the cave.

Moments later, earth-shaking roars of grief and fury erupted from within.

”ROAR!”