Apocalypse: King of Zombies Chapter 1201: The Strongest Force on Earth

Ethan and his companions indulged in a grand, lavish feast within the mansion that evening.

Miles had certainly not exaggerated—the culinary experts he recruited were absolutely superb. In truth, their skills even eclipsed Ethan’s own. Everyone present ate until they were completely unable to consume another morsel.

It wasn't as if they had been facing starvation since the apocalypse began, but a culinary display of this caliber? This was a rare occurrence.

"Man... that was absolutely incredible," Big Mike remarked, vigorously rubbing his stomach.

"Are you feeling satisfied now?" Ethan chuckled. "Then you can handle clearing the dishes later."

"Aren't those chefs here specifically for that?"

"They just prepared a massive banquet for you, and you honestly have the audacity to expect them to scrub the dishes as well?"

"..."

Once the group had enjoyed their fill of food and drink, they retired to bed early.

Deep in the dead of the night, they crept out of their rooms and ascended to the roof to gaze at the stars and draw in the mysterious energy, striving to elevate their Tiers.

In all honesty, having a rooftop specifically designed for this purpose was the height of luxury. Reposing on a lounge chair was infinitely superior to shivering on a cold, unyielding floor.

Not once had they missed a night of soaking up that celestial mysterious energy. Following these last few days of effort, Ethan had already begun his push toward the pinnacle of Tier 11.

Chris and the remaining members were busy gathering their reserves, preparing to ascend to Tier 11 in one definitive leap. Even with the techniques found in the book, it was expected to take another week or so.

At the current moment, they lacked Tier 11 zombies or mutant creatures to hunt, making this steady cultivation their only viable way forward.

The others, however, were not in any particular hurry. Their combat capabilities already significantly outclassed typical survivors. The one individual who really dared not slack off was Skinny Pete—he held a critical responsibility.

He was tasked with maintaining dominance over the white-furred ape leader.

However, to command a Stage C (Tier 12) alpha ape, Skinny Pete needed to stabilize his own cultivation at Tier 11 first. Failing that, he risked losing his grip on the creature, which would inevitably result in a lethal backlash.

Fortunately, the dynamic between them and the apes remained cooperative for the time being. This method of control served as a necessary insurance policy, as the white-furred ape pack possessed strength too immense to leave entirely to chance.

This habit wasn't exclusive to their inner circle. At this very hour, nearly everyone within Fallen Star City was engaged in the same practice—reclining on rooftops to absorb mysterious energy to improve their status. In fact, every single residence in Fallen Star City featured a flat roof specifically for this purpose.

This infrastructure stood as a primary reason why the collective strength of Fallen Star City was so formidable.

The only exception resided with Jaxon and his newcomers, who had only recently arrived and remained lost in deep, untroubled sleep.

Unless Miles issued a direct order, no one dared to reveal the methods transcribed in the book.

Bright and early the following morning, Miles gathered the entirety of his twenty thousand Enhanced soldiers.

He kept his message brief: members of the Fallen Star Squad had braved dangerous territories to recover a supply of crystal cores meant for everyone.

These twenty thousand soldiers had been personally vetted by him, chosen for their unwavering fidelity, so he felt no need for lengthy oratorical flourishes.

With a wave of his hand, he activated his [pocket dimension] ability, conjuring the crystal cores out of their extradimensional storage.

As a literal mountain of high-Tier crystal cores manifested before them, the entire assembly stood struck by astonishment.

"No way... am I hallucinating? Tier 8 and Tier 9 crystal cores stacked up like a literal hill?!"

"If we are truly awake, then yes—those are indeed Tier 8 and Tier 9 crystal cores."

"Gulp..."

"Tier 9 zombies are nearly extinct these days. Where could the Base Commander and his team possibly have collected such a massive quantity?"

"It seems impossible, yet... considering it is the Base Commander, it makes perfect sense!"

"Exactly. The Base Commander transcends humanity. He is basically a god!"

"Quiet down now," Miles interjected sharply. "Cease the shouting. Form into lines and receive the crystal cores you each require to advance to Tier 9."

"Hell yeah!"

"We thank the Base Commander! We thank the Deputy Commander! Thank you to the illustrious Fallen Star Squad!"

The crowd hummed with palpable enthusiasm. Reaching Tier 9 was once an unattainable dream, yet now, it was within their immediate grasp. It felt almost surreal.

Slowly, they organized into multiple lines, stepping forward one by one to claim their share of the energy.

Each warrior took only what was needed for their individual growth, proving that not a single person acted with greed.

Everything they owed was linked to Fallen Star City. Without this city, they would have perished long ago in the chaos of the apocalypse—they would never have dreamed of standing here today, much less achieving this level of cultivation.

They viewed Fallen Star City as their true sanctuary. Naturally, they had no intention of abusing such a generous resource.

Fallen Star City existed differently than other compounds. Abundant resources were the norm here; many obstacles that plagued other settlements simply did not exist within their walls—a clear advantage of maintaining a smaller, yet elite, population.

Thus, Miles avoided the bureaucratic mismanagement seen in places like Clearford City, keeping control firmly within his own grip.

Nearby, Ethan and his inner circle observed the spectacle and offered silent nods of approval.

One had to give credit where it was due; Miles truly possessed the charisma to command loyalty. Looking into the eyes of these soldiers, Ethan could see their genuine devotion to Fallen Star City. Such people were reliable instruments in times of trouble.

Before long, the distribution finished. Miles gathered the remaining surplus and swept it back into his pocket dimension.

Perhaps it was the right time to bolster their official numbers once more.

Without delay, the soldiers sat down right where they stood, initiating their breakthroughs on the spot.

It wasn't a long process. Within moments, the entire force of twenty thousand had successfully leveled up.

Fallen Star City had just reached its ultimate zenith—twenty thousand Tier 9 Enhanced soldiers. Who could possibly stand against such a force?

Even Ethan and his squad felt their pulse quicken as they watched.

He was certain of the conclusion: once this show of force reached the public eye, it would shatter the current balance of the world.

Miles appeared equally energized.

"Since you have all successfully advanced to Tier 9, I have a mission to assign!"

"We have already purged the infected from the neighboring counties and rural outskirts. Our next target is Harrison City. Reports show the defenses there have finally collapsed—this is our window to strike!"

"I am giving you one hour to prepare."

"We set out for Harrison City precisely at 10:00 AM."

"Understood! Deputy Commander, have no fear—we shall complete the mission without fail!"

Twenty thousand voices erupted in a unified roar, their expressions bright with fierce anticipation.

With their newly elevated power, they hungered for a genuine confrontation—and now they would finally get one. The Deputy Commander truly knew how to satisfy their needs.

"Very well. However, be advised that Harrison City now hosts Tier 10 zombies, so remain vigilant."

"Relax, Boss, what is a mere Tier 10 to us? With an army of this size, what is there to fear?"

"Exactly. Tier 10, indeed. It used to be untouchable, but if it shows its face now, we will crush it into the dirt!"

"I appreciate that confidence," Miles said with a wry smile. "But you won't need to engage the Tier 10s directly. The Base Commander will be joining the fray—leading the Fallen Star Squad himself. Do not humiliate yourselves in his presence."

"The Base Commander is going to lead the charge?!"

"Incredible! We finally get to witness the Base Commander in action again. It has been such a long time!"

"Some of you might have seen it—we haven't had the pleasure yet. This time, we are watching everything."

"Haha, it will be a sight to behold!"

"Enough," Miles said, cutting through the excitement. "Go and rest. Regroup here at ten!"

"Roger that!"

The soldiers dispersed rapidly. Ethan and his companions walked forward to meet Miles.

"Captain, what is your assessment?" Miles asked, looking toward Ethan.

"Not bad at all," Ethan grinned. "Back then, we only dreamed of a Stage D army—Tier 6. Now, we have vaulted straight into having an entire army of Tier 9s."

"Indeed. And they will only continue to scale. A Stage C—Tier 12—army might not be as impossible as it sounds."

Ethan nodded solemnly. "I have no other requirements. I only have one: their loyalty must be absolute."

"Do not worry, Captain. I maintain a tight leash on all official ranks."

"Good," Ethan said, meeting his gaze. "I place my trust in you."