Apocalypse: King of Zombies

”Are people from the Cathay Republic always this hotheaded?” Miles asked, glancing calmly at the furious Briggs.

Briggs forced down his anger. ”Are you the Atlas Federation’s current leader?”

”More or less. For now, I have a say in what happens in New Atlas.”

”Hahaha! Is the Atlas Federation so desperate that you had to put some wet-behind-the-ears kid in charge?” A tall, slender white man beside Briggs burst out laughing.

The instant he finished speaking, all twenty thousand Fallen Star Guards drew their weapons. Their killing intent crashed over him, cutting off his laughter.

”No one insults him and lives!”

The deafening roar and crushing pressure made the man take an involuntary step back. He immediately wanted to recover his nerve, but one look at those bloodthirsty eyes changed his mind.

In the Fallen Star Guard, Miles stood second only to Ethan.

In some ways, he mattered even more to them. Ethan had spent relatively little time with the guards, while Miles had personally overseen almost all of their training and development.

They would not tolerate anyone insulting him.

The Cathay Republic fighters stared in shock. These people clearly weren’t to be trifled with.

Even Maxwell and the others were taken aback. They hadn’t realized just how much respect Miles commanded among the Fallen Star Guard.

It was a good thing all of them supported him as New Atlas’s administrator. If anyone had been foolish enough to oppose him, they might not have lived to see the next morning.

Miles raised a hand, and the guards immediately sheathed their weapons. Their eyes, however, remained fixed coldly on the man who had mocked him.

”All right,” Miles said, turning to the five Stage SS fighters. ”Why are you here?”

”We...”

For a moment, none of them knew how to answer.

They had expected the sight of five Stage SS fighters to frighten the Federation’s leaders. Then they could demand submission from a position of unquestioned superiority.

Instead, Miles seemed completely unaware that they were Stage SS. His indifference threw off their entire performance.

”Ahem.” One of the older men cleared his throat. ”Allow me to introduce us. I’m Stefan. This is Briggs, and these three are Idris, Oleg, and Thiago. All five of us are Stage SS fighters.”

He emphasized the rank heavily, as if worried Miles might not hear it.

”Oh.” Miles looked puzzled. ”And?”

The five stared at him.

They were Stage SS fighters. Was that really all the reaction they were going to get?

A little shock was the bare minimum of respect their rank deserved.

Unfortunately, Miles remained perfectly calm. They might as well have introduced themselves as Stage D.

”If you’re not going to tell us why you came, then you should leave,” Miles said. ”There are too many of you, and we don’t have enough food to host you.”

He bluntly dismissed them.

If not for the five Stage SS fighters, he would have ordered the Fallen Star Guard to wipe them out on the spot.

The gap between Stage S and Stage SS was simply too great. If the three hundred-plus Tier 35 Awakened of Fallen Star’s second echelon fought with everything they had, they might be able to kill one or two Stage SS opponents. Five, however, was a different matter. Even if they won, the second echelon would suffer devastating losses.

Unless there was no other choice, Miles wanted to avoid a battle.

The five Stage SS fighters’ faces darkened.

”We came here for a reason, of course,” Stefan said. ”The Cathay Republic and the Atlas Federation are now the only two sovereign powers left on Earth. Our president sees no reason for us to remain separate. Uniting against the Void Realm creatures is the proper course.”

”Oh?” Miles put on an astonished expression. ”The Cathay Republic wants to submit to the Atlas Federation?”

The five men fell silent.

”You’re the ones submitting to us!” Briggs snapped.

”Not interested.” Miles waved him off. ”You should head home. And try not to make jokes like that again. They might get you hurt.”

Briggs glared at him.

”I’m not negotiating with you. I’m informing you of what will happen. Submit, and some of your people may survive. Refuse, and New Atlas will no longer have any reason to exist.”

The expressions of everyone from the Atlas Federation turned grim.

Miles alone remained composed. He gave Briggs a dismissive glance.

”You think you can do that?”

”You don’t have what it takes.”

”Hmph. The Atlas Federation is stronger than we anticipated,” Briggs admitted. ”But if you think this is enough to stand against the Cathay Republic, you’re gravely mistaken.”

”We have more than ten Stage SS fighters and tens of thousands of Stage S fighters. More importantly, the Cathay Republic has the backing of a Stage SSS powerhouse. What could you possibly use to fight us?”

Stage SSS!

Everyone’s expression changed. For the first time, even Miles lost his composure.

He had already guessed that the Cathay Republic must have latched on to some powerful Void Realm creature to develop so quickly. At most, though, he had expected a high-tier Stage SS fighter.

He had never imagined it would be someone at Stage SSS.

An existence at that level was completely beyond his ability to handle.

Seeing the Federation’s reaction, Briggs and the others finally regained their confidence.

”Well?” Briggs sneered. ”Still think you can stand against us?”

”Anyone can make wild claims,” Miles shot back. ”You say you have a Stage SSS powerhouse, so we’re supposed to believe you? In that case, the Atlas Federation has a Stage EX powerhouse.”

Miles knew they probably wouldn’t lie about something so easily disproved, but he still wanted confirmation.

”I knew you wouldn’t believe us.” Briggs took out a phone. ”No matter. To crush the last of your hopes, I’ll let you witness the might of a Stage SSS powerhouse for yourselves.”

He played a video.

It showed the moment the Stage SSS powerhouse had intimidated countless Void Realm creatures before descending upon the Dragonspire City compound. The footage had been captured by one of Dragonspire City’s high-definition security cameras. Every detail was clear, including the shock on the faces of everyone present.

As Miles and the others watched, they became almost certain the footage was genuine.

There really was a Stage SSS powerhouse in Dragonspire City.

Their hearts sank.

They had no way to fight an enemy at that level.

Had these Cathay Republic bastards won the lottery? How had they managed to gain the favor of such a powerful being?

”Do you believe us now?” Briggs asked coldly. ”You’d be wise to submit. Become our slaves, and under the protection of a Stage SSS powerhouse, at least some of you might survive. Refuse, and the Atlas Federation will be wiped out. Just like every other nation, you’ll disappear from Earth forever.”

”Oh.” Miles shrugged. ”Not bad. The VFX are pretty convincing.”