Apocalypse: King of Zombies

After estimating how long it would take the Pyrathi to arrive, Miles put away his phone.

”Pull the guards from the gate. Replace them with members of the Fallen Star Guard.”

”What are you...?” The others looked confused.

”Don’t worry about it. Just do as I say.”

”Yes, sir.”

The Stage B guards were quickly withdrawn and replaced by the Fallen Star Guard, every member of which had reached Tier 35 of Stage S.

Miles nodded in satisfaction, then raised a pair of binoculars and looked into the distance.

Before long, a group of red figures appeared on the horizon. Under everyone’s tense gaze, they approached at incredible speed.

The Pyrathi stopped when New Atlas came into view, astonishment showing on their faces.

Ever since arriving in this world, they had seen nothing but ruin. The city occupied by the Nivari had already been one of the better places they’d found.

They hadn’t expected a city this magnificent to exist here.

”Patriarch, this city is perfect,” the High Elder said excitedly. ”We should take it and make it the Pyrathi’s new home.”

The other Pyrathi agreed. They were clearly impressed by the city.

Zareth was tempted as well, but he gave the situation more thought.

Any race capable of holding such a grand city couldn’t be weak.

In the past, that wouldn’t have mattered to him. Whatever caught the Pyrathi’s eye belonged to them.

In Pyrelia, the Pyrathi had stood above every other race. All others had been forced to bow before them.

They had carried that same arrogance into this world, looking down on every race they encountered.

Then the Nivari had taught them a painful lesson.

This wasn’t Pyrelia. The Pyrathi were no longer invincible.

That was why Zareth didn’t immediately order an attack.

The Nivari had only managed to occupy a ruined city, yet the race living here had kept New Atlas intact. Zareth refused to believe they could have done that without considerable strength.

”Patriarch, what are you hesitating for?” the High Elder asked anxiously. ”If we don’t claim a city this good now, someone else will take it.”

”Then why hasn’t anyone taken it already?” Zareth asked, turning toward him.

”Maybe they’ve been lucky and no powerful race has discovered it yet,” the High Elder replied uncertainly.

”The Void Realm passages have been open for days. How could a city like this remain undiscovered? Look at the blood and the signs of battle below. This place has already been attacked more than once.

”Yet the city itself is still completely intact. Do you honestly think the race inside is weak?”

”Well...”

”Even if they have some strength, they can’t possibly compare to us,” the High Elder said stubbornly. ”The Pyrathi are the dominant race of Pyrelia. Not every random race we encounter can stand on our level.”

”Have you already forgotten the lesson you just learned?” Zareth asked coldly. ”If I hadn’t arrived in time, every one of you would have died there.”

The High Elder immediately lowered his head, not daring to argue.

”Follow my lead when we get there. Don’t say anything reckless,” Zareth ordered.

”Yes, Patriarch.”

On the wall of New Atlas, Miles lowered his binoculars with a faint smile.

He couldn’t hear what they were saying, but their expressions told him enough.

This might be easier than he’d thought.

Led by Zareth, the Pyrathi soon arrived outside New Atlas’s main gate.

The sight of the guards lining the wall startled them.

Every single one was Tier 35.

For most races, Stage SS and Stage SSS fighters were their strongest assets, and there were rarely many of them. Stage S made up the backbone of a race’s fighting force. They were normally deployed only during battles or on important missions.

Some races used Stage S fighters as gate guards, but it was uncommon. Stage A guards were the norm.

Yet this city’s guards were all Stage S—and every last one of them was Tier 35.

At last, the Pyrathi understood why Zareth had been so cautious.

The race controlling this city was anything but simple.

”What business do you have in New Atlas?” Miles asked evenly, as if the two dozen Stage SSS fighters before him were nothing special.

Zareth looked toward him, but his attention was immediately drawn to Theron, Abyron, and the others standing nearby.

One peak Tier 47 and two Tier 47s!

His heart sank.

These are the people they send out for a casual meeting?

Zareth took a deep breath and spoke respectfully.

”I am Zareth, Patriarch of the Pyrathi. How should I address you?”

”Miles, Captain of the New Atlas Guard,” Miles answered proudly.

The others gave him strange looks, clearly wondering why he had suddenly demoted himself to guard captain.

Still, if that was the story he wanted to tell, they would play along.

”So you’re the guard captain. I see.” Zareth’s gaze shifted toward Theron. ”Then which of you is in charge here?”

He clearly assumed Theron was New Atlas’s leader, though Theron and the other two powerful figures seemed somewhat different from the people around them.

”The Commander and the rest of our senior leadership are in the middle of a meeting,” Miles said. ”There’s no need to trouble them with something this minor.”

Even a peak Tier 47 isn’t the Commander?

Zareth’s heart sank further. He turned to Theron.

”Then who is this?”

”My bodyguard,” Miles replied naturally. ”He’s responsible for protecting me.”

”...”

A peak Tier 47 is just his bodyguard? Even their guard captain has someone like that protecting him. Then what kind of monster is their real Commander?

Zareth was already considering retreat.

Just how powerful was New Atlas?

”You still haven’t told me why you’re here,” Miles said coldly. ”If you won’t explain yourselves, I’ll have to assume you intend to harm New Atlas and order our Stage SSS army to execute you on the spot.”

Zareth’s heart lurched.

The words Stage SSS army left far too much room for imagination.

”Please, don’t misunderstand. We have no hostile intentions toward New Atlas.” Zareth quickly raised his hands and spoke with utmost courtesy. ”We came here in pursuit of an enemy. We believe he may have slipped into your city. If you could hand him over to us, we would reward you generously.”

”Patriarch,” the High Elder whispered, ”the person we’re chasing seems to belong to the same race as them.”

Zareth stiffened.

”There’s no one here matching your description,” Miles declared. ”And even if there were, anyone who enters New Atlas is under our protection. No one takes people from my city.”

”Well...”

Zareth’s expression shifted repeatedly.

In the past, anyone who dared speak to him like that would have died on the spot.

Now, the more overbearing Miles acted, the more wary Zareth became.

In the end, he could only answer respectfully.

”Then we must have been mistaken. Forgive the intrusion. We’ll leave immediately.”

With that, Zareth led the Pyrathi away as quickly as they had come.