Apocalypse: King of Zombies

Under Henry’s treatment, Ethan’s injuries healed in no time.

He hadn’t suffered any serious damage. The acid in the whale’s stomach had eaten away a lot of his flesh, but the wounds were mostly superficial. With Henry around, they were easily dealt with.

Ethan took out the crystal cores he had collected that day, along with the remaining half of the tuna carcass, and sent the fish to the kitchen.

The day had been rough, but the haul was worth it.

Including the five crystal cores they had collected on land, they had obtained fourteen in total. More importantly, Ethan now had a Tier 44 crystal core. It should be enough to raise him to Tier 43.

It might only be a single Tier, but that one-Tier increase would give him the power to kill Tier 44 opponents. With the Deadlock Dimension and the others supporting him, he might even be able to take on a Tier 46.

That gave them far more room for error.

Tier 46 was already near the upper end of Stage SSS, and fighters at that level were rare. If Ethan could contend with one, their chances of survival would rise considerably.

”Still not enough.”

Ethan stared at the crystal core in his hand.

”We’ve got another day and a half. Everyone can absorb crystal cores today. Tomorrow, I’ll take Abyron out and get a few more.”

He distributed the Stage SS crystal cores among the others, then returned to his room with the Tier 44 core.

Absorbing it would take at least a full day. There was still half of today left, plus the entire night. He should be finished by tomorrow morning.

The Commander’s Residence fell silent again as everyone focused on absorbing mysterious energy and increasing their strength.

Miles alone remained outside, completely swamped with work.

The passages to the Void Realm would reopen in a little over a day, and New Atlas had countless preparations that required his attention.

As the only human-controlled city left on Earth, the pressure it would face was easy to imagine.

Miles had so much to do that even with all the commotion Ethan and the others had caused over the past two days, no one had caught so much as a glimpse of him.

He couldn’t contribute much when it came to the highest-level battles, but the low- and mid-level fighting depended entirely on his planning.

New Atlas might have had over ten million residents, but compared to the countless worlds beyond the passages, that population was nothing more than a drop in the ocean.

No one knew how many Void Realm creatures they would be facing. Miles had to make every possible arrangement in advance.

No matter how busy he became, however, he would never disturb Ethan and the others. They had agreed long ago that Ethan’s only responsibility was to keep growing stronger. Miles would handle everything within the compound.

Fortunately, Maxwell and the others were helping shoulder some of the burden.

At that moment, Miles was conducting a meticulous inspection of the ritual circle he had installed while building the city.

He had poured nearly all his effort into it. The ritual circle would be New Atlas’s final line of defense, and he couldn’t afford to overlook a single flaw.

”Miles, is this ritual circle stronger than the one in Fallen Star City?” Aurora asked quietly as she followed him.

”Yeah. I spent countless days and nights improving the design. Of course it’s stronger than Fallen Star City’s,” Miles said confidently.

”Then... can it withstand attacks from a Stage SSS?”

”I’m not sure, but Captain Ethan and the rest of the Fallen Star Squad will deal with any Stage SSS enemies. That isn’t our concern. My goal is to stop the overwhelming numbers of Void Realm creatures.”

Miles continued, ”Aside from the Fallen Star Guard and the Fallen Star Corps, the only Stage S fighters in New Atlas are the small groups each regional compound focused on training before the merger. Everyone else is below Stage S. There’s no way a force like that can stop an endless horde of Void Realm creatures.”

”That’s why this ritual circle is so important,” he said seriously.

”Mm-hmm. Miles, you’re incredible. No wonder even my father is always praising you.” Aurora gazed at him with open admiration.

”General Kane gives me too much credit. Without his people helping, New Atlas would probably be in chaos.”

Miles shook his head and continued inspecting the ritual nodes.

”Miles...” Aurora’s eyes dimmed. ”Do you think we’ll survive this disaster?”

”Before the captain and the others returned? Honestly, I wasn’t confident at all. But now that they’re back, I think we have a chance.”

”Then... Miles, if—if we make it through this, what do you want to do most?”

”Sleep,” Miles answered without hesitation.

He hadn’t closed his eyes in days.

”...”

”What about after you sleep?”

”I want the captain to take me to see the other worlds. I’d like to experience the different places and cultures out there.” Longing crept into Miles’s voice.

”Have you ever thought about settling down and starting a family?” Aurora asked, finally mustering her courage.

”There’s no rush for that. I’m Stage SS now, and I hear Stage SS fighters can live for thousands of years. Starting a family this early sounds like asking for trouble.”

”...”

Aurora stamped her foot.

”I’m going to hang out with Grace and the others.”

She turned and left.

Miles raised his head and watched her go, the corner of his mouth curving upward.

”Trying to bait me into that conversation? I’m not some clueless idiot like Big Mike. Women only interfere with my ability to think straight.”

All of New Atlas entered a state of emergency preparation.

Everyone knew another disaster was about to descend upon them. Determination filled every face.

Aside from the people from Fallen Star City, the residents from the other compounds had all experienced life under the rule of Void Realm creatures. They had been trampled on and treated like livestock. Every time they remembered those days, it felt like reliving a nightmare.

They never wanted to endure that again.

New Atlas was their final line of defense.

Even if it cost them their lives, they had to hold the city.

The next morning, Ethan emerged from seclusion at Tier 42.

He didn’t waste any time. Using Riftwalk, he left New Atlas with Abyron, who had fully recovered to his peak condition.

The two stepped out of the dimensional rift high above the ocean.

Abyron Evercrest stared blankly at the endless expanse of water beneath them.

There had been no sea this vast in his original world. The largest bodies of water there had only been lakes.

”Uh... Ethan, why did you bring me here?”

”Call me Boss.”

”Uh... Fine. Boss, why did you bring me here?”

Abyron was a man of his word. Ethan really had restored him to his peak, so Abyron had no choice but to acknowledge him as his boss.

”We’re fishing.”

”Fishing?” Abyron looked confused.

”Don’t ask so many questions. Just follow me, and remember to suppress your presence.”

”All right.”

Ethan then led him around aimlessly above the ocean.

It wasn’t until an enormous shark erupted from the water that Abyron finally understood what Ethan had meant by fishing.

They were using themselves as bait to catch the big ones.