Apocalypse: King of Zombies

Cathay Republic...

By now, the Dragonspire City compound had expanded to several times its original size.

Like the Atlas Federation, the Cathay Republic had gathered all its survivors into a single compound. With a Stage SSS fighter stationed there, Dragonspire City was arguably the safest place on Earth.

The Cathay Republic had fewer survivors than the Atlas Federation, but its population still exceeded ten million.

Using the threat of their Stage SSS fighter, they had also forced quite a few Void Realm creatures into their service. These creatures came from species without a Stage SSS fighter of their own. Faced with one, they had no choice but to submit.

The leading species that did have Stage SSS fighters couldn’t be intimidated so easily. Still, with none of their strongest fighters present, they didn’t dare openly oppose the Cathay Republic. Their only option was to stay far away from the Dragonspire City compound.

As a result, there were practically no Void Realm creatures within several hundred miles of Dragonspire City.

The Cathay Republic sent its new servants into the major mountain ranges to hunt Outland Beasts. Over the past few months, its strength had grown at an explosive rate.

No wonder its leaders had become so overconfident.

At that moment, the Cathay Republic’s leadership was gathered in the white palace at the center of Dragonspire City.

”You still can’t reach Briggs and his team?” President Orin Vale asked with a frown.

”No. They sent one message after arriving in the Atlas Federation, but then the cell signal was blocked. Even their satellite phones can’t get through,” one of the officials reported.

”There’s no need to worry, Mr. President,” Merrick, the man in charge of military operations, said confidently. ”With Briggs and the others leading that many Stage S fighters, they can crush any force on Earth. The Atlas Federation never stood a chance.”

His confidence wasn’t unfounded.

There were only a handful of Stage SS fighters on the entire planet. Each one stood at the very top of Earth’s power structure.

They had sent five of them on this mission. Against that kind of force, the Atlas Federation could only be crushed.

As for the possibility that the Atlas Federation had Stage SS fighters of its own, Merrick considered it nearly impossible.

The Cathay Republic knew better than anyone how difficult it was to reach Stage SS.

They had sacrificed nearly ten thousand Stage S Void Realm creatures just to kill one Stage SS Outland Beast, finally allowing them to produce their first Stage SS fighter.

After that, they had searched almost every mountain range in the Cathay Republic. No one knew how many Void Realm creatures they had lost before finally killing twelve more Stage SS Outland Beasts. That was how they had managed to create over a dozen Stage SS fighters.

Could the Atlas Federation do the same? Did it have enough fighters to throw away?

They were all humans from Earth. The Cathay Republic knew exactly what humans could accomplish on their own. Reaching Stage S was already the limit. What could the Atlas Federation possibly have used to stop Briggs and his army?

”I know all that, but I still don’t like being unable to contact them,” Orin said.

”You’ve had too much on your mind lately, Mr. President. I guarantee we’ll receive news of the Atlas Federation’s fall soon. What you should be thinking about now is what to do with its people.”

”We already decided that, didn’t we? If they submit, we let them live as our slaves. If they refuse, we wipe them out. The Cathay Republic is the only master Earth needs.”

”Hah! Sounds good to me.”

”By the way, how has that lord been lately?”

”The same as always. He spends every day absorbing mysterious energy to raise his Tier. He still eats the food we deliver, though.”

”Good. Whatever happens, we cannot neglect him. He is the key to the Cathay Republic’s domination of Earth.”

”Don’t worry. We understand.”

”Good.”

While they were still discussing their grand future, a dimensional rift suddenly opened above the Dragonspire City compound.

A group of figures emerged from it and landed atop the city wall.

The guards spotted them immediately. Their eyes widened, and they hurriedly pulled out their radios to report the intrusion.

”So this is the Cathay Republic?” Chris surveyed the compound. ”I’ve got to admit, they’ve developed the place pretty well.”

”Yeah, it’s impressive,” Sean said quietly. ”No idea how they got lucky enough to land the protection of a Stage SSS fighter.”

”That’s how opportunities work,” Ethan said with a smile. ”We’ve had our share. So have they.”

The others nodded.

A large force of Cathay Republic soldiers rushed toward the wall and quickly surrounded them.

A captain stepped forward.

”Who the hell are you?”

Ethan frowned. With a casual wave of his hand, a blade of light flashed out and killed the captain instantly.

”You don’t get to ask the questions here. Bring me your boss.”

The surrounding soldiers stared in disbelief. None of them had expected Ethan to kill someone inside the Dragonspire City compound.

”Fuck!”

The soldiers cursed and unleashed their skills, bombarding Ethan’s group with attacks.

”Oh? You’ve actually got the nerve to fight back?” Big Mike mocked.

”Stay out of this. They’re mine!”

A pair of translucent wings appeared behind him, carrying him high into the air. A moment later, his entire body erupted in flames.

”Blazing Ground!”

Terrifying flames surged out of him, engulfing everything within several hundred feet.

”Argh!”

Screams rose from below as entire ranks of Cathay Republic soldiers burned to ash.

When the flames finally disappeared, not a single person remained within several hundred feet of Big Mike except Ethan and the others.

Big Mike landed and ran a hand through his hair.

”Well? How’d I look?”

”Badass,” Skinny Pete said. ”Though the smoking-hair look could use some work.”

Big Mike glared at him. ”Keep talking, Pete. I’ll burn every hair off your body while you’re asleep.”

Skinny Pete immediately raised both hands. ”Okay, okay. The hair looks great.”

”Damn right.”

”Stage SS!” shouted one of the soldiers who had escaped the flames. ”He’s Stage SS!”

”Sound the alarm! A Stage SS fighter is attacking!”

A piercing alarm soon echoed throughout the Dragonspire City compound. Countless Cathay Republic soldiers began rushing toward the wall.

Orin and the other officials heard the alarm from the conference room and immediately went outside.

They had barely emerged when a soldier came running toward them.

”Mr. President, we have a crisis! A Stage SS fighter has broken into the compound!”

”Stage SS? Are you certain?”

”Yes! They killed thousands of soldiers as soon as they arrived. Only a Stage SS fighter could unleash a skill that powerful.”

”Why would a Stage SS fighter dare attack Dragonspire City?” Orin frowned. ”Don’t they know we have a Stage SSS fighter protecting this compound?”

”Who cares why?” Merrick said coldly. ”If they came here looking for trouble, they won’t be leaving.”

”Let’s go see for ourselves.”