Apocalypse: King of Zombies

On the far side of New Atlas, a group of figures concealed themselves behind a small hill and watched the city from a distance.

”Let’s see whether New Atlas is truly that powerful or if this is all an act,” Zareth said coldly. ”If I find out they were bluffing, I’ll burn every last person in that city alive!”

Being scared into retreating was a humiliation. Only their deaths could wash it away.

Just then, the High Elder cried out, ”Patriarch, look! What is that?”

Zareth followed his finger, and shock spread across his face.

An enormous figure had flown out of the city. It circled once through the air before descending again.

That brief glimpse was enough to make Zareth’s entire body go rigid.

”A peak Tier 47 Outland Beast!” the High Elder said, his voice trembling.

”That Outland Beast is stronger than I am,” Zareth said grimly.

Everyone fell silent.

This was the first time they had ever heard their Patriarch admit that someone was stronger than him.

They also knew he would never say such a thing lightly.

”There was someone on its back,” one of the elders said. ”I think it was the guard captain who spoke to us earlier.”

”I saw him too.”

Several others nodded. With their strength, the distance was no obstacle.

”Could that Outland Beast be his... mount?” another elder asked, eyes wide.

Silence fell again.

As unbelievable as it seemed, what other explanation was there?

A peak Tier 47 Outland Beast as a mount?

What kind of absurd extravagance was that?

”We’re leaving. Now,” Zareth said.

The other Pyrathi didn’t hesitate. They fled as fast as they could.

This time, they were genuinely terrified. They finally understood that no matter how strong they were, there would always be someone stronger.

The Pyrathi had ruled Pyrelia for countless years. They had believed themselves powerful enough to crush any race.

Now they realized how narrow their view had been.

Using a peak Tier 47 Outland Beast as a mount was beyond anything they had ever dared imagine.

They could never come back here. Otherwise, they might die without even knowing how.

Still, perhaps they could lure their enemies here...

Inside the Beast Enclosure in New Atlas, Miles climbed down from the Beast Sovereign’s back and looked at it gratefully.

”Thank you, Beast Sovereign!”

”I only agreed to carry you because you were doing this for New Atlas,” the Beast Sovereign replied coldly. ”This was the first and last time.”

”Of course. It will never happen again,” Miles promised.

”Good. Have them deliver what you promised as soon as possible.”

”Don’t worry. I’ll arrange it immediately.”

”Then leave.”

”Yes.”

Miles respectfully withdrew.

As soon as he left the Beast Sovereign’s territory, Chris and the others crowded around him.

”Miles, that was incredible! You actually rode the Beast Sovereign! The Beast Sovereign! The most powerful being in all of Eldoria!”

”So? What did it feel like riding the Beast Sovereign?”

Everyone looked at him curiously.

Miles shook his head helplessly. ”What’s there to say? Sitting in a Toyota Corolla and sitting in a Rolls-Royce is still sitting in a car. The only real difference is how you feel about it.”

”That’s a huge difference!”

”If you want to experience it so badly, go ask the Beast Sovereign yourself.”

”Uh... no thanks.”

”How did you convince it to let you ride it?” Chris asked curiously.

As the sovereign of every Beast in Eldoria, the Beast Sovereign was incredibly proud. It would never casually allow someone to ride on its back.

”It wasn’t that difficult. The Beast Sovereign cares about New Atlas. As soon as I explained that it was for the city, it agreed.”

”Really?”

”Well... that, plus several tons of barbecue.”

”Several tons?”

”Yeah.”

”...”

”All right, the Pyrathi are truly gone this time, but we still can’t let our guard down. The Void Realm passages remain open, and more powerful races are entering Earth every day.”

”We need to stay alert, especially now that the Captain is at a critical point in his breakthrough.”

”Yes, sir.”

”That’s all. Get back to whatever you were doing.”

”All right.”

The group soon dispersed, while Chris, Mia, and Emily returned to the Commander’s Residence.

The moment they stepped inside, Emily turned to Chris.

”Tell us what ability you gained at Stage SSS. What gave you the nerve to claim you’re as hard to kill as the Captain?”

Chris grinned. ”It’s not an empty boast.”

”My Innate Ability evolved from Ethereal Form into Null Form. Once I activate it, I effectively cease to exist. No attack can harm me, and nothing can trap me because I can pass through absolutely anything.”

”I don’t know what those above Stage SSS might be capable of, but within Stage SSS, no one can keep me from leaving,” Chris declared proudly.

”!!!”

Both women stared at him in shock.

”That’s ridiculously overpowered!” Emily swallowed hard.

”An ability that powerful must have some limitations,” Mia said.

”It does.” Chris sighed. ”While I’m in Null Form, it’s as if I don’t exist. Other people can’t attack me, but I can’t attack them, either. It also drains far more mental energy than Ethereal Form. At my current level, I can only maintain it for a little over ten minutes.”

”But unlike Null Form, Ethereal Form was only a partial state of nonexistence. Enemy attacks accelerated the drain on my mental energy, and an attack too far above my level could empty it instantly.”

”That’s why I nearly died last time. The Galeborn Patriarch was far stronger than me. His attack instantly drained all my mental energy and forced me out of Ethereal Form.”

”Null Form is different. Once I activate it, no attack can affect me. I might only be able to maintain it for a little over ten minutes, but that’s more than enough time to get almost anywhere. That’s why I said no one can stop me if I decide to run,” Chris said confidently.

”That limitation barely matters. You can do a lot in ten minutes.” Mia nodded. ”No wonder you said your ability to survive is comparable to the Captain’s. Honestly, yours might be even better. The Captain still gets himself trapped in dangerous situations all the time. With Null Form, that won’t happen to you.”

”Exactly. So you don’t need to worry about me. I can go anywhere I want now,” Chris said with a smile.

”Good. Then we’ll leave all our future crystal cores to you,” Emily said immediately.

”...”

”By the way, what Stage SSS skill did you get?” Mia asked.

Chris grinned. ”Null Form might be powerful, but my new Stage SSS skill is the one that was truly made for me.”

”What skill?” Both women leaned in curiously.

”A spatial-type ability—Riftstrike!”

”A spatial-type ability?”

The two women stared at him in surprise. He had gained another spatial-type ability.

”What does it do?”

”Once I lock onto a target, Riftstrike lets me ignore the distance between us and instantly appear beside them to attack. The strike carries spatial power and deals double damage.”

”That skill is how I collected so many crystal cores.”

”That’s incredible!” Emily said excitedly. ”It really is perfect for you.”

”Yeah.”