Apocalypse: King of Zombies

”Let’s go.”

Ethan led Abyron and Vaelrath to the entrance of the Void Realm. With a casual wave, he opened a dimensional rift in front of them.

”A spatial-type ability?” Abyron looked at him in surprise.

Ethan smiled and stepped through.

Abyron exchanged a glance with Vaelrath before they followed him in.

Moments later, all three emerged from the Void Realm.

Abyron stared in astonishment at the high-rises before him. Modern architecture was an incredible sight to someone from his era.

Miles and the others had put enormous effort into building New Atlas. With modern construction techniques and their enhanced strength, they had no need for machinery. Everything had been built by hand, yet every building was magnificent.

Ethan led them toward the Commander’s Residence.

Vaelrath’s enormous body and powerful presence drew plenty of attention along the way. However, once the people of New Atlas saw that the Commander himself was leading the beast through the city, they quickly relaxed.

Abyron spent the entire walk studying the buildings and the people around him. Sometimes he looked impressed, while at other times, he frowned.

Finally, he couldn’t hold back any longer.

”Are all the humans here this weak?”

”This world didn’t have any mysterious energy until recently, so no one could grow stronger. It’s only been a little over a year since mysterious energy returned. How strong do you expect them to be?” Ethan asked helplessly.

”Only a little over a year?” Abyron looked stunned. ”Then they’ve done remarkably well.”

He turned to Ethan. ”Did you start from nothing at the same time?”

”Yeah.”

”One year... and you reached Stage SSS.” Abyron didn’t know what to say.

”Don’t be too impressed. Almost all of us got here by consuming crystal cores. We haven’t had time to cultivate properly.”

”Does this world have that many Beasts?”

”It isn’t just Beasts. Mysterious energy returned to Earth a year and a half ago, and ninety percent of humanity mutated. Mutated humans also produce crystal cores, so there’s no shortage of them—as long as you survive long enough to collect them.”

Ethan glanced around the city.

”New Atlas might look crowded now, but the Atlas Federation used to have four hundred million people. Now only a little over thirty million remain.”

Abyron’s eyes widened.

”It seems the disaster you faced was no small matter either.”

”It wasn’t that bad compared to yours. Your whole world was shattered,” Ethan said, shaking his head. ”But Earth’s disaster is far from over.”

”Why do you say that?” Abyron frowned.

”For some unknown reason, this world is connected to many others,” Vaelrath explained. ”In about two days, those passages will open again. Countless creatures from other worlds will flood in. He’s right. This disaster is nowhere near its end.”

Abyron’s expression turned grave.

”So you want me to recover as quickly as possible because you need my help fighting them?” he asked Ethan.

”Why else would I do it? Don’t tell me you’re unwilling.” Ethan studied him closely.

”Of course I’m willing. Protecting humanity is my duty. These people may be the last surviving branch of the human race. Even if it costs me my life, I’ll make sure humanity lives on.”

”That’s more like it.”

Ethan pointed at him.

”But don’t be as stubborn and inflexible as that mule Theron Valaris. From now on, you listen to me. Whoever I tell you to kill, you kill. Got it?”

”...”

As they approached the Commander’s Residence, Ethan looked at Vaelrath’s massive body.

”I’ll have someone take you to the Beast Enclosure so you can hang out with the Beast Sovereign and the others. You’re too big for the Commander’s Residence. I don’t want you smashing my door on the way in.”

”No. I’m staying with Abyron!”

”What are you worried about? He’s been with me a long time. If I meant him any harm, I would’ve done something ages ago.”

”...”

Abyron gave Ethan a puzzled look. He clearly didn’t understand what Ethan meant by saying they had been together for a long time. Did the walk here really count as that long?

Still, he didn’t dwell on it.

”Go ahead, Vaelrath. I’ll be fine.”

”All right.” Vaelrath reluctantly nodded, then turned to Ethan. ”Kid, you’d better not mess with Abyron, or I’ll go pick on that Beast Sovereign of yours!”

”Feel free. Don’t hold back on my account.” Ethan grinned and beckoned a nearby soldier over.

”Commander.” The soldier greeted him respectfully.

”Take Vaelrath to the Beast Enclosure. Let him stay with the Beasts I brought back a few days ago. That way, he’ll have some company.”

”Yes, Commander.” The soldier nodded, then turned to Vaelrath. ”Please follow me.”

Vaelrath eyed Ethan suspiciously. Something about the kid’s smile seemed off.

Still, he didn’t think much of it and soon followed the soldier toward the Beast Enclosure.

”Let’s go.” Ethan smiled at Abyron and led him into the Commander’s Residence.

Everyone except Chris had finished their seclusion.

Most of the crystal cores had gone to Chris, so naturally, he needed more time to absorb them all. He probably wouldn’t emerge for another two or three days.

The others hadn’t received nearly as many, so a single afternoon had been enough.

As soon as Ethan returned, everyone crowded around him.

”Boss, where have you been? We’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

”Wait, why’d you bring Dopey out inside the city?” Big Mike asked excitedly. ”Did you rob somebody again and fill up all your spatial rings?”

”Doesn’t Dopey seem a little different?” Henry asked.

”I feel it too,” Sean said. ”It’s like there’s something there that wasn’t before.”

Ethan smacked his forehead.

He’d forgotten to warn them.

Abyron listened to their comments and noticed the way they were staring at him.

”You... know me?”

”Holy shit!”

The moment he spoke, everyone in the hall jumped.

”D-Dopey! You can talk?!”

”Wait... are you actually alive?!”

Abyron looked even more confused.

”Why would you ask that?”

”You—”

”Stop. I’ll explain.” Ethan helplessly cut them off.

There was no way he could keep this secret, and there was no reason to.

He explained Abyron’s situation to the others, then told Abyron what had happened to him after he became Dopey.

”Damn! You were dead for all those years, and you still came back to life?” Everyone stared at Abyron in amazement.

Abyron, meanwhile, silently processed everything Ethan had told him.

It took quite a while for him to accept that he had spent all that time as a thrall.

”So that’s why you seemed familiar.” Abyron smiled wryly at Ethan. ”I really have been with you for a long time.”

”Yeah, but I never treated you like a thrall,” Ethan hurriedly explained. ”I always saw you as a brother.”

”I believe you.” Abyron nodded solemnly.

This time, it was Ethan’s turn to stare.

He bought that so easily?

Were ancient humans really this gullible?

Abyron smiled when he saw Ethan’s expression.

”If you hadn’t considered me a brother, I wouldn’t be alive again.”