Apocalypse: King of Zombies - Chapter 210

Chapter 210: A terrifying ability
Sophia’s breath hitched, her heart skipping a beat as the realization struck her like a bolt of lightning.

“That Zombie King… it’s the undisputed ruler of Los Angeles!”

“What?!” Her secretary’s eyes widened in shock, her face pale with disbelief.

She had heard of the Zombie King of Los Angeles before. It was a terrifying entity that had wiped out both Jessica’s and Griff’s squads. Its infamy was well-documented, and the information had already been uploaded to headquarters.

Sophia’s brows furrowed deeply as she abruptly stood up from her chair.

“Quick! Alert the entire city. Initiate maximum alert and enter top-level combat readiness. Gather all Awakeners and send reinforcements to Alexander!”

“Y-yes, right away.”

The secretary hesitated for a moment, stunned by the urgency of the situation. It was the first time she’d seen such a serious response. Realizing the gravity of the matter, she quickly dashed out of the office to relay the orders.

Sophia sat back down, her expression still tense. Her fists clenched tightly as her eyes reflected deep contemplation.

“Damn it! I should’ve realized it was him sooner.”

The theft of the X and Y viruses, the slaughter of multiple Awakeners—it was all too clear now. That Zombie King had emerged to hunt.

But before Sophia could delve further into her thoughts, the secretary returned, barely three minutes after leaving.

“Sophia, we’ve lost contact with Alexander.”

Sophia froze. Her expression darkened.

…

Meanwhile…

Ethan’s Domain of the Dead swept through like an unstoppable tide. Countless wooden tendrils froze mid-air, as if someone had hit pause on reality itself.

With both hands gripping his blade, Ethan descended from above, slashing downward with immense force. Flames erupted along the blade’s edge, scorching everything in its path. The fiery arc extended dozens of feet, severing the wooden roots entirely—and in the same motion, cleaving Alexander in two.

Blood sprayed through the air as an A+ grade crystal core fell into Ethan’s grasp.

The other two members of Alexander’s team struggled desperately, but it was futile. They too met their end at Ethan’s hands.

With Alexander’s squad annihilated, the remaining armed personnel were nothing more than lambs to the slaughter.

Zombies swarmed them, dragging them down and tearing them apart. Their screams of despair echoed through the city, only to be drowned out by the relentless horde.

The Operation King Hunt team, sent to track down Ethan, was completely wiped out—devoured by the ravenous undead.

“Hell yeah! Finally got my revenge! They thought they could control me? Not a chance! Today, I, Locomotive, am still the king of San Bernardino!” Locomotive was ecstatic, his heart brimming with satisfaction.

The Elegy Zombie King and several other zombies began to gather around Ethan. “Boss, the humans are all taken care of. Where to next?”

“It’s time to move,” Ethan said, his gaze shifting toward the depths of the city. In the distance, faint alarm sirens wailed. The humans had gone into full lockdown mode. There wouldn’t be much more to gain here.

Ethan had no intention of taking on thousands of Awakeners head-on.

“We’re heading back to Los Angeles.”

“Got it.” Elegy nodded without hesitation. She was sticking with Ethan, no matter what.

Locomotive hurried over as well. “Boss, you’ve gotta take me with you!”

“What? I thought you were staying here to rule San Bernardino?” Ethan asked casually.

“No way, no way!” Locomotive shook his head frantically. The humans were furious right now, and if Ethan left, he’d be the one they’d come after. They’d probably grind him into paste just to vent their anger.

“I’m coming with you!”

“Alright, fine,” Ethan agreed.

Locomotive, having been injected with two types of evolutionary viruses, was a formidable asset—a top-tier fighter in his own right.

With that, the Zombie Horde began their departure, following the abandoned railway tracks from the train station as they made their way toward Los Angeles.

But they hadn’t been gone long when a swarm of drones appeared in the sky, circling the train station area and scanning the surroundings.

Moments later, human forces began arriving from all directions.

Their eyes swept over the scene—a battlefield littered with destruction and the remnants of a fierce fight. But of the zombies, there was no trace.

“Report, Sophia. The zombies at the train station have completely vanished. It looks like they’re heading toward Los Angeles along the abandoned railway. Should we pursue them?”

“This…”

Sophia’s expression shifted between hesitation and frustration. Her jaw tightened as she wrestled with the decision. After a long pause, she finally made up her mind.

“Forget it. Pull back.”

“Understood. Pulling the team out!” the young man responded decisively.

Sophia couldn’t risk sending people after Ethan. She knew all too well how terrifying the zombie nest in Los Angeles was. If they provoked the entire horde, it would spell catastrophic disaster.

But then there was the other issue… How was she going to explain the loss of the X and Y viruses to headquarters?

…

For now, Ethan had no intention of launching a full-scale assault on San Bernardino. Sure, his horde of 15,000 elite zombies could easily overwhelm the 1,000 or so human Awakeners stationed there. But there were too many unpredictable variables.

If Genesis Biotech from neighboring cities sent reinforcements, things could get messy fast.

And then there was another problem.

Lurking around the edges of his territory were parasitic creatures, waiting for an opportunity to strike. These monsters were vicious and relentless. They had already overrun an entire city once, and their current numbers were unknown. If Ethan moved his entire force, there was no guarantee his home base wouldn’t be taken over in his absence.

So, for now… it was better to play it safe. Build strength. Grow stronger.

That was the only way to feel secure.

Leading his Zombie Horde, Ethan followed the railway tracks, leaving the San Bernardino area behind. The landscape ahead was bleak and desolate.

This place had once been a bustling hub of human life, filled with skyscrapers and busy commercial streets. Now, everything was in ruins. Abandoned cars littered the roads, buildings lay in rubble, and the air was thick with the stench of decay and abandonment.

On either side of the road, where neighborhoods and parks once thrived, there were now only broken signs, overgrown weeds, and the occasional derelict shop. Streets that had once been alive with activity were now eerily silent, haunted by the echoes of a world long gone.

The scene was one of utter devastation.

Scattered among the ruins were stray zombies, aimlessly wandering. When they spotted Ethan’s horde, they let out guttural growls and snarls, their voices like the barking of feral dogs.

These zombies belonged to smaller, fringe factions, guided by a different Zombie King.

Locomotive’s eyes narrowed, his gaze sharp with irritation. “These punks… still daring to act tough? They must be eyeing my title as the ruler of San Bernardino.”

“They’re from San Bernardino too?” Ethan asked casually.

“No, no!” Locomotive shook his head. “They’re from Rancho Cucamonga. That place has its own Zombie King, a pretty strong one. He’s always causing trouble for San Bernardino. He even tried to get me to team up with him once to take down Genesis Biotech. But back then… well, of course, I couldn’t agree to that!”

“Oh? Afraid your head would explode?” Ethan asked bluntly.

“Uh…” Locomotive looked awkward, clearly not wanting to dwell on the topic.

Ethan understood the situation well. While Sophia might seem to have a firm grip on San Bernardino’s resources, the surrounding cities were like hungry wolves, always watching for an opportunity to strike.

Still, none of the other Zombie Kings had the guts—or the ability—to raid human resources as directly as Ethan did.

Locomotive continued, “Boss, that Zombie King from Rancho Cucamonga is no joke. He’s got this freaky ability called Dream Invasion. He can enter people’s dreams and kill them without leaving a trace. He’s been a real headache for Genesis Biotech, constantly harassing them. I heard he even drove a few of their people insane. Honestly, his strength is probably on par with mine…”

“Dream Invasion?” Ethan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. That was definitely… unusual.

It sounded like a form of psychic attack—something that could infiltrate a person’s subconscious.

A terrifying ability, no doubt.

For humans, it was practically unstoppable. How could you defend against something that attacked you in your sleep? But for zombies? It was far less effective. Zombies didn’t sleep. They didn’t dream. That kind of power was almost useless against them.

As they talked, the group continued their journey.

Before long, they reached the outskirts of Los Angeles. The setting sun bathed the city in a golden, almost blood-red hue, casting long shadows over the ruins.

A few black crows circled overhead, their wings cutting through the crimson sky. Their occasional caws echoed in the stillness, adding to the apocalyptic atmosphere.

Below, Los Angeles lay silent and still, like a slumbering giant.

The air was heavy with an eerie calm.

…