Apocalypse: King of Zombies

Sean charged forward like a raging tiger, his fist slamming into Serpent-Eye's chest with a dull thud. The impact sent Serpent-Eye flying 50 feet through the air.

"Damn it! This idiot!" Serpent-Eye muttered through gritted teeth, clearly furious. Sean's abilities were a natural counter to his own, and it was driving him mad.

Justin, watching the scene unfold, was starting to panic.

The opposing side wasn't just made up of Laura, Shadow, and other troublesome Zombie Kings—they also had Sean, one of the key figures from Refuge 002.

His gaze darted around, and he noticed Ethan had already shattered the water prison that had been holding him. Ethereal blue light particles floated around Ethan as he stepped forward, each step radiating an oppressive, terrifying pressure.

And not far away, a slender girl with a katana slung over her shoulder was approaching at a leisurely pace, her calm demeanor only adding to the tension.

"FUCK!" Justin cursed under his breath. The lineup on the other side was insane.

He had originally planned to swoop in and reap the benefits after the others had worn each other down. But now, it was clear—he wasn't dealing with a wounded fish. He was staring down a shark, and it was about to devour everything.

"It's over… Everything's over."

Meanwhile, Marina and the other Awakeners were on high alert, their eyes locked on Ethan. No one dared to let their guard down for even a second.

"Stay sharp, everyone! During the fight, make sure to wrap your bodies in energy. Don't let him pierce through and rip out your crystal cores directly."

"Got it!"

The group responded in unison, their voices tense but resolute.

Energy surged around them, their auras growing stronger by the second. One of them formed a layer of ice armor over their body, radiating a bone-chilling cold. Another's body flickered with flames, the heat distorting the air around them.

This was a fight to the death, and the Awakeners were pulling out all the stops. But this kind of heightened state burned through energy fast—they couldn't keep it up for long.

"Not bad…" Ethan muttered, a faint smirk on his lips. At the same time, his eyes glowed with a crimson light as he unleashed his full power—Domain of the Dead.

A crushing wave of energy erupted outward, spreading across a radius of several hundred feet.

Everything caught in the domain—trash cans, streetlights, even abandoned cars—shattered instantly, as if disassembling themselves. The scene before them was one of utter destruction, like the end of the world.

Marina and the others were caught in the storm, their hair whipping wildly as they struggled to hold their ground. Their faces were grim, their bodies straining against the overwhelming force. It felt like even the slightest lapse in focus would result in them being torn apart.

"This is insane!"

"How does he have this much power?"

"Could he be… an S-Class Zombie King?!"

The group was paralyzed with fear, their minds racing. And as Ethan's tall, pale figure drew closer, the pressure only grew more suffocating.

"I… I can't hold on any longer!"

A fire-element Awakener let out a desperate roar, flames erupting around his body as he burned through the last of his energy. His entire form ignited, transforming him into a blazing inferno. With everything he had left, he charged at Ethan, his fist engulfed in fire.

Ethan didn't dodge. Instead, he raised his hand and met the attack head-on, exuding an air of absolute dominance. In the Domain of the Dead, he was the undisputed ruler.

BOOM!

The collision sent a deafening shockwave through the air. The fire-element Awakener's body exploded under the sheer force, his flames extinguished in an instant. His final act of defiance became a fleeting burst of brilliance before fading into nothingness.

A red crystal core shot out from the remains of his body, spinning through the air. Ethan caught it effortlessly, his fingers closing around it. Without hesitation, he brought it to his mouth and swallowed it whole.

Warm energy coursed through Ethan's body, flowing into every fiber of his being.

The Domain of the Dead consumed a lot of energy when fully unleashed, so replenishing it on the spot was only practical.

A collective gasp echoed through the battlefield. Fear gripped everyone's hearts, reaching a suffocating peak. Some were so overwhelmed by the looming specter of death that they mentally collapsed, giving up any thought of resistance.

Ethan, rarely one to initiate an all-out assault, moved like a phantom. In a flash, he appeared beside another Awakener, raising his hand and smashing their skull with brutal efficiency. He moved from one target to the next, harvesting lives like a cold, unfeeling killing machine.

Marina watched helplessly as her comrades fell one after another, unable to put up any meaningful resistance. A deep sense of powerlessness settled over her.

She glanced around. Behind her, Little Shadow and the other zombies were slaughtering the remaining humans with ruthless precision. To her right, Laura was cutting down survivors with terrifying ease.

The air was filled with a cacophony of screams, desperate cries, and the eerie, bone-chilling laughter of the undead. The scene was pure horror.

When Marina turned back, she froze. A pale, handsome face was now inches from hers. His crimson eyes seemed to pierce straight into her soul.

Before she could react, a large hand reached out. Her vision went black, and she lost consciousness.

Her lifeless body crumpled to the ground.

Ethan stood over her, holding a faint blue crystal core in his hand. Without hesitation, he popped it into his mouth. The core melted instantly, its sweet, pure energy flooding his body. Ethan savored the sensation, relishing the nourishment it provided.

By now, nearly all the human Awakeners had been wiped out.

Ethan retracted the Domain of the Dead, the crimson glow in his eyes fading as his expression returned to its usual calm and composed demeanor.

Meanwhile, Serpent-Eye was still being relentlessly pummeled by Sean. As a psychic-type Awakener, Serpent-Eye's physical strength was no match for Sean, who was in a berserk state.

"Getting beaten up by an idiot… unbelievable!" Serpent-Eye grumbled bitterly, his frustration mounting. He glanced around, searching for an escape route, but his heart sank when he saw the undead closing in from all sides. Shadow and Laura were among them, along with Bulldozer and the PhD zombie, who had just finished off Michelin and were now heading his way.

Above, flocks of red-eyed crows circled ominously. Some had blood-stained beaks, clutching pieces of snake flesh in their talons. After Mia had taken down the Spider Empress, the crows had feasted on the giant snakes like they were snacking on beef jerky.

Despair washed over Serpent-Eye. His subordinates were all dead, and Ethan's forces surrounded him on every side. A once-mighty overlord, he now found himself utterly cornered.

And then, Ethan began walking toward him.

Serpent-Eye's heart clenched in terror. The psychological trauma Ethan had inflicted on him was overwhelming. His body trembled as he muttered to himself, "Looks like… I have no choice but to use my last resort."

After a moment of hesitation, Serpent-Eye made his decision. He dropped to his knees with a loud thud, bowing his head so low it nearly touched the ground.

"Don't kill me! Please, don't kill me! I surrender! From now on… I'll serve you loyally!" he pleaded desperately.

"Oh," Ethan said, nodding slightly.

Hearing this, Serpent-Eye's heart leapt with hope. He cautiously raised his head to sneak a glance. Sean, Shadow, and the other zombies stood behind Ethan, but none of them made a move to attack him.

After all, survival was the key to a comeback.

Zombies had endless lifespans. As long as he stayed alive, there was always a chance to rise again. A great zombie could endure humiliation for the sake of survival.

"I swear, I'll follow you for the rest of my life. I'll never betray you," Serpent-Eye vowed again, his tone filled with sincerity.

"Maybe in your next life," Ethan said suddenly.

"ROAR—"

The horde of zombies behind Ethan let out a deafening roar and surged forward like a tidal wave, swarming over Serpent-Eye in an instant.

As the undead tore into him, Serpent-Eye flailed desperately, his hand reaching upward as if grasping for salvation. In his final moments, he was likely cursing Ethan in his heart: You bastard!

But soon, his outstretched hand fell limp, and his body went still.

Serpent-Eye was no more.

Ethan didn't spare him another glance. He turned and walked away.

In a nearby corner, a lone human remained.

The figure crouched on the ground, arms wrapped tightly around their head, face buried in their knees.
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He trembled like a fragile chick caught in a freezing wind.

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