Apocalypse: King of Zombies

New Atlas...

Miles stared at the satellite feed, his expression grim.

Abyron and the others had intercepted several groups from different worlds, but many more were still flying toward New Atlas.

”We need to divert more of them. Otherwise, the Beast Sovereign and the others will be under too much pressure.”

But there were no more Stage SSS fighters to send.

”Mia and Emily are the only ones left, and I can’t send them. They’d never make it back, and the Captain would skin me alive.”

Miles rubbed his temples.

”We still don’t have enough powerful fighters. I wonder how much longer it’ll take the Outland Beasts from Eldoria to get here.”

While he was struggling to come up with another plan, Damien arrived with a woman.

”Deputy Commander, I have good news,” Damien said eagerly.

”What is it?” Miles looked at him in confusion.

Damien stepped aside and introduced the woman behind him.

”This is Eira of the Rimekin. When the Commander saved Goldcrest City, he specifically let her people stay and help defend it.

”After the Commander left, they kept their promise. They continued protecting Goldcrest City, and when races from the Void Realm attacked later on, the Rimekin helped drive them back every time.”

”Oh? I knew about that, but I’ve been so busy lately that I never got the chance to properly meet you.” Miles stood and greeted her politely. ”Hello. I’m Miles.”

”Hello, Deputy Commander. I’m Eira,” she replied, somewhat nervously.

In the past, she might not have been openly arrogant toward humans, but she would have naturally felt superior to them.

Now, standing before one of New Atlas’s highest-ranking leaders, she was actually nervous.

Back in Goldcrest City, she had only agreed to stay because she feared Ethan’s strength. At the time, she hadn’t known whether the Void Passage would open again, so remaining in a human city had been her safest option.

When Goldcrest City was merged into New Atlas, she and her people had come along.

New Atlas’s strength had surprised her, but not enough for her to take it too seriously.

Then Ethan and the others returned, and everything changed.

One Tier 47 fighter after another had appeared, overturning everything she thought she knew.

Most shocking of all was Ethan. He had only been Stage S when she first met him, yet he had returned as a Stage SSS fighter.

That was when she finally realized that humanity’s rise could no longer be stopped.

After the Void Passage opened, the Rimekin’s strongest fighters naturally entered this world as well.

Eira simply hadn’t decided whether she should call them to New Atlas.

She wanted the protection of humanity’s growing power, but New Atlas was already strong. If the Rimekin came now, they would merely be adding to an already impressive force, and Miles might not place much value on them.

She had spent the past few days hesitating.

Then she learned about New Atlas’s current crisis and decided to take a gamble—a gamble that the city would survive.

Helping someone in their hour of need was worth far more than offering support once the danger had passed.

If the Rimekin came to New Atlas’s aid now, perhaps there would be a place for them here in the future.

So she had sought out Damien and asked him to bring her to Miles.

”What brings you here at a time like this, Eira?” Miles asked without revealing anything.

He had already guessed the likely reason, but he wanted her to say it herself.

”Our strongest fighters have already entered this world,” Eira said. ”New Atlas seems to be facing some trouble. I came to ask whether the Rimekin could be of assistance.”

”Do the Rimekin have any Stage SSS fighters?”

”Yes. Our Patriarch is Tier 47, and seven of our elders are also Stage SSS, ranging from Tier 42 to Tier 46.”

Delight showed on Miles’s face.

”That’s wonderful. If the Rimekin are willing to help us, you’ll always be honored guests in New Atlas.”

”It would be my honor to help. I’ll contact my people and have them come immediately.”

”Thank you.”

As Eira left, Miles smiled.

Of course he understood what she wanted, but her goals aligned perfectly with his own.

If New Atlas wanted to rise, it couldn’t make enemies of every other race. Those willing to become allies should be welcomed.

Miles looked back down at the tablet in his hand.

”Eight more Stage SSS fighters. That should be enough to delay these two groups from the Void Realm.”

He continued studying the map.

”Huh. Chris is moving fast. He’s already gotten two more races to fight each other. In that case, he can handle these other two groups as well. If you’re good at something, you get more work.”

”Theron has already killed three. If I’m right, the rest will start running once he kills one more. I need to tell him not to chase them and move on to the next group.”

”Abyron’s side will take a while longer, and another group is already heading toward them. Hopefully, they can finish off the Vesari before it arrives. Otherwise, they’ll have to find a way to turn the two groups against each other. If they can’t, they’ll be in serious danger.”

Miles’s attention shifted to the largest formation on the screen.

”This group is the real problem. Forty Stage SSS fighters, and we don’t even know how many of them are at peak Tier 47.”

He rubbed his temples again.

”The Beast Sovereign is the only one who can hold them off. I just hope it won’t blame me for setting it up afterward. Not that I have a choice.”

”And these groups will have to be left to the three Stage SSS Beasts. Hopefully, Outland Beasts are tough enough to last until the Captain finishes his breakthrough.”

Miles sighed.

”This is only the first wave. There are still plenty more on the way.”

”The Pyrathi must still be spreading the rumor. At this rate, they’ll never stop coming.”

His expression grew even grimmer.

”If the first wave isn’t dealt with before the next one arrives, none of our people may make it back.”

”Captain, you need to hurry.”

Stonefield State...

The Kethari had already reached the area.

They were among the fastest groups heading toward New Atlas.

Along the way, they had encountered several other races from the Void Realm, but ignored every one of them.

They had only one target: the peak Tier 47 Outland Beast.

They had pushed forward at full speed the entire way. Even when they heard the sounds of battle nearby, they hadn’t slowed down to investigate. All they cared about was reaching their destination before someone else claimed the Beast.

Since the Kethari ignored the other races, no one dared provoke them either.

There were forty Stage SSS fighters in their group. Who would be foolish enough to pick a fight with them?

Some groups had even reconsidered their plans after seeing the Kethari.

Trying to compete with such a force for a peak Tier 47 Outland Beast would be suicide.

With no one daring to stand in their way, the Kethari reached Stonefield State without incident. New Atlas was already close.

”Faster! We’re almost there!” the Kethari Patriarch called out excitedly.

”Right!”

The Kethari accelerated again.

Just then, an enormous figure flashed past in the distance.

The entire group stopped dead.

”That presence...”

”Peak Tier 47!”

”Could that be the Outland Beast from the rumor?”

”What else could it be?” The Kethari Patriarch’s face flushed with excitement. ”Why are you all standing there? After it!”

The Kethari immediately raced after the enormous figure.