Apocalypse: King of Zombies

Central Region…

When the Verdantborn and Glamourkin High Elders returned from the Netherveil Range and reported what had happened, both Patriarchs felt a chill run down their spines. They immediately contacted the other pinnacle races and called an emergency meeting.

Inside the Grand Hall of the Celestials…

”That’s everything we know. Does everyone understand the situation?” The Verdantborn Patriarch had just finished recounting the entire incident.

The other Patriarchs reacted in very different ways.

”You’re saying the Netherfang Tiger was already dead when your people arrived, and its body had been torn apart?” one asked.

”That’s right.”

”And you suspect those humans?”

”We do. They’re the only possible culprits.

”No more than an hour passed between receiving the final messages from our people and our High Elders reaching the Netherveil Range. To kill the Netherfang Tiger and tear its body apart in such a short time, the attacker would have to be at least Tier 44.”

”If the humans had someone that powerful, why would they let a group of Stage SS fighters chase them all over the continent?” the Thundari Patriarch asked skeptically.

”Well…”

”Perhaps they were deliberately hiding their strength,” the Glamourkin Patriarch said. ”Their goal is to provoke a war between the races of the Eldoria Continent and the Outland Beasts. Pretending to be weak would serve that purpose.”

”That group already revealed itself in Galeborn territory,” the Umbrans Patriarch said. ”They possess plenty of unusual abilities, but their actual forces consist of one Tier 39 fighter, several who have only recently reached Stage SS, and a few who are still Stage S. How could they possibly kill the Netherfang Tiger?”

One of his own men had been killed by Ethan in Galeborn territory, so the Umbrans Patriarch had received his final memories. He had also sent people to investigate afterward and knew the group’s strength well.

”What are you implying?” The Verdantborn Patriarch frowned. ”Do you think we’re lying?”

”Who knows?” the Thundari Patriarch said blandly. ”A Stage SSS crystal core is an irresistible temptation, even to a pinnacle race. It wouldn’t be surprising if your people got greedy. Blaming the humans afterward would force every race to share responsibility for what happened.”

”You… That’s a blatant accusation!” The Verdantborn Patriarch trembled with rage.

”Hmph. None of us were there, so who can say what truly happened? Either way, I don’t believe those humans have a Stage SSS fighter.”

”That’s enough,” the Celestials Patriarch interrupted. ”I trust the High Elders of the Verdantborn and Glamourkin. They wouldn’t do something like that.

”The question isn’t how the Netherfang Tiger died. It’s already dead. What matters now is how we deal with the Beast Sovereign.”

”They caused this mess. Let them deal with it,” the Thundari Patriarch said with a cold laugh.

”Dealing with the humans is everyone’s responsibility,” the Glamourkin Patriarch replied coldly. ”Sending our people to the Netherveil Range was a decision we all agreed on. How did it suddenly become our problem alone?”

”If you hadn’t killed the Netherfang Tiger, none of this would’ve happened.”

”I already told you, we didn’t kill it!”

”Enough!” the Celestials Patriarch snapped. ”I called you here to find a solution, not to argue.”

”What solution is there? The Beast Sovereign must be furious by now. We should prepare for all-out war.”

”If we’d already decided to fight, there would be no reason for this meeting. We would simply fight.

”The real question is, how confident are you that we can win? The Beast Sovereign alone can suppress several of our strongest fighters. Even if we ultimately defeat it, our losses will be catastrophic.

”I called this meeting to see if there’s a way to resolve the situation without fighting,” the Celestials Patriarch said gravely.

”There is one way,” said the newly appointed Emberborn Patriarch. ”Hand over the Verdantborn and Glamourkin High Elders. They’re both stronger than the Netherfang Tiger. Two Stage SSS fighters in exchange for one should satisfy the Beast Sovereign.”

The former Emberborn Patriarch had died at the Beast Sovereign’s hands, yet the Emberborn had been unable to avenge him. Naturally, the new Patriarch wanted the other races to experience the pain of losing Stage SSS fighters too.

”Don’t even think about it!” the Verdantborn and Glamourkin Patriarchs said firmly. ”We will never hand over our own people. If that’s what this alliance intends to do, our races will withdraw and refuse to participate in any future pinnacle-race affairs!”

The impact on their people would be devastating, and neither race could accept the loss of a Stage SSS fighter.

”We can’t do that,” the Gildari Patriarch said. ”Our advantage in Stage SSS numbers is already limited. If we sacrifice two more, we’ll be placed in an even worse position.

”Besides, if we surrender our own people whenever something goes wrong, there won’t be any need for a war. The Outland Beasts will swallow us piece by piece.”

”Agreed,” the Celestials Patriarch said. ”If we did that, the other races would lose all faith in the alliance.”

The Emberborn Patriarch rolled his eyes.

No one had said that when their Patriarch died.

”Then I have no other solution. With the Beast Sovereign’s temper, it won’t listen to our explanations. War may be our only option.”

”Then let’s fight! What the hell is there to fear? I’ve been sick of that Beast Sovereign for years. With all the Stage SSS fighters among our races, why should we be afraid of it?”

”Whether you believe me or not, I’ll warn you one more time,” the Glamourkin Patriarch said coldly. ”The humans have at least one fighter above Tier 44 hidden among them. Their goal is to provoke a war between the Eldoria races and the Outland Beasts.

”If we go to war, whoever wins will still have fallen into their trap. Once both sides are exhausted, the humans may emerge to reap the rewards. So don’t speak of war so casually.”

The Patriarchs frowned.

Whether they admitted it or not, they all feared humanity. Otherwise, the appearance of a few humans wouldn’t have caused such panic.

Most of them still didn’t believe the humans had killed the Netherfang Tiger. But after hearing the Glamourkin Patriarch’s warning, they could no longer dismiss the possibility.

”Are the humans still in the Netherveil Range?” the Celestials Patriarch asked.

”We don’t know. They were there when our High Elders arrived, but they may have left by now.”

The Celestials Patriarch considered the situation before making a decision.

”Then this is what we’ll do. The Umbrans, Acerans, Glamourkin, and Verdantborn territories are all relatively close to the Netherveil Range. Your four races will combine your forces and search for the humans. Spare no effort. No matter what it takes, you must find them.

”As for the Beast Sovereign, the Thundari Patriarch, Gildari Patriarch, Soulkin Patriarch, Sigilari Patriarch, and I will go speak with it again. We’ll see if there’s another way to resolve this matter. We should avoid war if at all possible.

”But if the Beast Sovereign still refuses to listen to reason, the five of us are all Tier 47. We have no reason to fear it.”

”Agreed!”