Apocalypse: King of Zombies Chapter 1187: He Could’ve Been a King

Under Skinny Pete's firm hold, Leonard ended up revealing all his secrets. Ethan managed to extract the hidden technique from him as well.

Indeed, labeling it as 'secret' hardly lessened its depravity.

This was a perverse technique that compelled the transformation of living individuals into entities resembling ambulatory cadavers—undead servants.

The method savagely awakened the body's hidden capacities. Should the transformation prove successful, the resulting thrall often emerged stronger than in its previous existence, retaining any supernatural powers it once possessed.

Yet the true allure—the aspect the Hale family prized above all—was the utter lack of independent thought in a perfected thrall. Devoid of its own desires, it followed the commands of its master without question.

"No surprise this scum had the nerve to target us," Skinny Pete grumbled, visibly rattled. "If he'd managed to succeed, his status would have soared in no time!"

"Exactly." Ethan's tone remained steady. "Dangle enough gains before a person, and reason flees. He played his role convincingly enough. Just didn't anticipate my preemptive strike."

"If it'd been a more gullible type," Skinny Pete added, "his pitch about beautiful ladies and fine meals might've hooked them."

"Mm." Ethan gave a nod. "Fortunate we kept our guard up. Or we'd have become his marionettes."

Skinny Pete exhaled deeply, as if only now grasping the narrow escape. "So, Ethan, what's our next move?"

"End him. I'll collect what I can, and then we depart."

"Fine." Skinny Pete paused, then scowled. "But if he perishes... won't chaos engulf this entire base?"

"It won't," Ethan replied curtly. "The operations here are already structured. His death will see another rise to lead. At most, Atlas City dispatches a successor. That's not our concern."

"Understood."

Skinny Pete dipped his head affirmatively, then thrust his spear decisively.

Leonard perished instantly.

The top leader of a base housing millions—formerly a Deputy Base Commander—toppled rigidly into an expanding stain of crimson.

In this doomsday world, he might have reigned supreme.

A single miscalculation, and remorse never crossed his mind.

Ethan gave Leonard no further thought. Instead, he began ransacking the mansion.

This seemed to be Leonard's personal abode, filled with various items. Though much held little value to Ethan, certain pieces did catch his interest.

Unusual seeds. Rare remedies. Ripe produce.

Ethan lacked such supplies himself, so naturally, he claimed them.

For Ethan, departing a location without spoils simply didn't happen.

Beyond the mansion, Enhanced forces had encircled it. Heavy weapons like AT-4s and numerous cannons had been positioned, all muzzles aimed squarely at the structure.

However, with Leonard presumed captive by foes, and the prior squad's fate serving as a dire warning, no Enhanced risked a hasty assault. They maintained their perimeter, poised to fire should the assailants emerge.

The issue lay in the prolonged quiet.

The eerie stillness set nerves on edge.

"Captain, maybe we should charge in and check?"

"You aiming to doom Colonel Hale?" the captain barked. "Not unless you're sure you can extract Colonel Hale safely!"

"I'm not..."

"Then hold your ground and execute your duties!"

"But suppose they... harm Colonel Hale—"

"Calm down. They lack the guts." The captain's voice lowered, laced with conviction. "This is Goldcrest City. Slaying its highest officer—even a Tier 10 Enhanced would hesitate."

"They're likely bargaining conditions," he went on. "Our role is to secure the zone and ensure they can't escape."

"...Right."

Within the mansion, Ethan completed his thorough search of all areas. Satisfied that nothing valuable remained, he ceased.

Next, he invoked [True Sight] to assess the exterior circumstances.

His forehead creased.

"What's wrong, Ethan?" Skinny Pete inquired, puzzled.

"Enhanced are swarming outside," Ethan explained. "They've probably surrounded the entire vicinity."

Skinny Pete scoffed. "So? Think a horde of sub-Tier 9 Enhanced can bar our way?"

"That's irrelevant." Ethan shook his head. "Many are military personnel simply obeying directives. With Leonard deceased, engaging them serves no purpose."

He regarded Skinny Pete. "Summon Pebble as well. We'll take to the skies."

"Sure!" Skinny Pete agreed and began signaling for Pebble.

Accompanying Skinny Pete's parents, relying solely on Nugget for flight proved insufficient. The two seniors couldn't balance unaided atop Nugget—support from behind was essential—thus requiring a minimum of two aerial carriers.

Soon, alarmed cries echoed anew from outside. Shortly thereafter, Pebble barreled into the mansion too.

"One per mount. Time to go!"

"Got it." Ethan and Skinny Pete each lifted an elderly figure—still fully encased in carapace protection—and leaped onto the backs of Pebble and Nugget.

From the moment Ethan had sealed Skinny Pete's parents within the Ironback Rat's armor, he hadn't released them.

Primarily, he feared stray shots piercing the mansion from outsiders.

Additionally, he preferred shielding the elders from gruesome sights.

Moreover, the armor excelled even aloft, warding off harsh gusts.

As soon as they settled in, Golden Eagle Nugget and Dire Eagle Pebble surged upward. They shattered through the mansion's ceiling, ripping a massive breach, and vanished into the horizon.

The outer Enhanced witnessed this, their expressions shifting abruptly. They stormed the mansion—

—only to halt abruptly upon discovering Leonard's corpse sprawled on the ground, as if thunderstruck.

"It's finished... Goldcrest City is on the brink of turmoil."

Not one had imagined the intruders bold enough to eliminate Leonard.

"Captain! Weren't you certain they wouldn't kill him?!"

"How was I supposed to predict that?" the captain bellowed. "Those pair are madmen! With Colonel Hale slain, Atlas City won't overlook this outrage!"

"What now, then?"

"Dispatch messengers—immediately. Establish communication with Atlas City!"

"On it!"

Meanwhile...

Golden Eagle Nugget and Dire Eagle Pebble ferried Ethan and Skinny Pete to their prior landing site.

Flint awaited them there.

Peregrine Falcon Flint's wounds lingered severely, yet his condition had improved markedly.

"Ready to take flight?" Ethan questioned.

"Chirp..." Flint responded with a call, then flapped his wings, looped through the sky once, and descended.

"Impressive recovery," Ethan remarked. "You owe me some gratitude—I didn't plunge the blade too far earlier..."

"..."

"Fine. Since flight's possible, we're off. Back home, Henry will tend to you."

With that, they embarked once more, bound for Clearford City.

The journey passed uneventfully. No obstructing mutant avians crossed their route.

Yet their tranquility didn't extend universally.

At the Hale family stronghold in Atlas City...

Alexander Hale, the reigning patriarch, was enjoying his coffee when a senior attendant burst in abruptly.

"Master! Disaster has struck!"

Alexander's brow furrowed. "What occurred?"

"Trouble in Goldcrest City—your son Leonard is dead!"

"What?!" Alexander leaped upright. "Explain everything!"

"A report just came from Goldcrest City. Two individuals from Clearford City visited today. They clashed with Leonard and ultimately slew him!"

"!!!"

"Leonard had reached Tier 9," Alexander growled, his voice strained. "Guarded by another Tier 9. How did they manage it? Unless... Tier 10 involvement?"

"Affirmative. That's the assessment."

Alexander's gaze turned icy. "Their current location?"

"They fled atop two enormous birds..."

"...."

Alexander placed his cup down with evident disdain. "Connect me to Clearford City. Immediately."