Apocalypse: King of Zombies Chapter 1204: Damn… Respect

Upon their arrival back at Fallen Star City, Ethan and his comrades finally gathered the strength to unwind. Requirements for micromanagement within the compound were non-existent, and the slaughter of zombies no longer demanded their direct participation.

Presently, the apex of the surrounding zombie threat hovered only around Tier 10. Given the presence of twenty thousand Tier 9 Enhanced troops securing the perimeter, Ethan’s elite inner circle was relieved of any manual labor.

As a result, they spent the ensuing days roaming the nearby hills to hunt high-Tier mutant beasts, while dedicating their nights to the distillation of mysterious energy to elevate their personal Tiers.

Although they had hoped to encounter Tier 11 mutant beasts, their quest proved futile after days of exhaustive searching. They did, however, eliminate several Tier 10 creatures crossing their path, showing no mercy.

Skinny Pete was entirely preoccupied with preparations for the white-furred apes, lacking the focus required to command additional mutant beasts.

Success arrived on the fourth night since their return from Harrison City; Chris, Skinny Pete, and Sean collectively achieved a breakthrough to Tier 11.

At noon on the following day, Ethan sought out the troop of white-furred apes. Having followed Goldie and their companions during the initial foray, the apes had steadfastly refused to re-enter the mountains after the team returned from Harrison City.

They likely found the local forest less hospitable than their previous habitat. Unable to force the issue and daring not to antagonize them, Ethan allowed them to occupy the mansion complex’s expansive central courtyard.

The white-furred apes had consumed the majority of the mutant beasts hunted in the mountains over the previous few days. Consequently, Ethan’s spatial storage ring was nearly depleted of Bloodfang Wolf carcasses, making a daily feast of roasted wolf unsustainable. The remaining portion was reserved for this very occasion.

Ethan approached the white-furred apes with a warm smile. “Come along. I’ve prepared something special for you today.”

The apes’ eyes brightened, and they scrambled upright with immediate enthusiasm. Through prolonged cohabitation, they had mastered the nuances of Ethan’s speech. Furthermore, their trust had deepened to a point where suspicion was entirely absent.

Ethan led them toward a clearing behind the mansion estate. Recognizing the creatures' fixation on barbecue, Miles had commissioned a massive grilling platform specifically for their benefit. Chris and the others were already busy peeling the pelt from the Bloodfang Wolf carcasses.

Seeing the return of their favorite meal, the apes exhibited immense excitement. Despite consuming a wide variety of roasted flesh from the wild, the Bloodfang Wolf remained their preferred delicacy.

They had assumed the supply was exhausted, yet here it stood replenished. The carcasses were soon positioned on the racks, and the crew proceeded with practiced efficiency—turning the meat, basting, and applying a blend of seasonings, supplemented by a unique, added component.

The roasted feast was completed shortly thereafter. The white-furred apes, unable to restrain themselves, grabbed the meat and began to consume it with voracious speed.

“Slow down, or you might choke,” Ethan remarked. He then retrieved a bottle of high-grade bourbon from his spatial storage and offered it to the ape leader. “Go on, have a taste.”

The leader eyed the bottle with curiosity, clearly oblivious to its utility. Ethan laughed, drew another bottle, uncorked it, and took a deep, deliberate swallow.

“Ah… that hits the spot.” He coughed, feeling the burn, yet his complexion beamed with pure satisfaction. Intrigued, the ape leader accepted the bourbon, mimicked Ethan’s movements by uncapping the bottle, and downed the contents in one fluid motion.

“Damn. Respect,” Ethan remarked, offering a thumbs-up.

“Roooar…” The leader gasped for air repeatedly, tears starting to stream from its eyes. The other apes watched, puzzled.

After a moment, the ape leader recovered, smacked its lips in appreciation of the finish, and upturned the empty bottle before glancing at Ethan with obvious desire.

“Well, I’ll be,” Ethan muttered with amusement. “I never took you for a drinker.” He chuckled and produced more bottles for them. The remaining apes hurried forward, and Ethan, in a show of generosity, produced a substantial stockpile for them to claim.

He had fortified the bourbon with extra spirit that morning. The alcohol content was potent enough that he wasn’t worried about them consuming it; rather, he hoped for their indulgence.

Excited, each ape grabbed a bottle and followed their leader’s lead, chugging the spirit down in one go. Watching the scene, Chris and the others winced involuntarily.

A moment later, all the apes were tearful, panting with tongues lolling from the heat. Some reached for seconds while others declined, turning their attention back to the roasted wolf. It appeared the white-furred apes mirrored humans in their varying tolerance and preference for spirits.

Regardless of their interest, Ethan had anticipated both outcomes. Minutes passed, and the apes began to collapse on the grass, one by one. Ethan smiled and motioned for Skinny Pete to approach the leader. After much shaking, the creature’s eyes flickered, bleary and unfocused.

Skinny Pete immediately initiated his Beast Control. Whether due to the alcohol or fatigue, the leader offered no resistance, and the command was solidified. However, a flash of pallor crossed Skinny Pete’s face.

“Holy hell,” he whispered, startled. “The sheer internal strength of this beast is massive. It’s certainly no average Tier 12. If I hadn’t reached Tier 11, the mental blowback would have been catastrophic.”

“Naturally,” Ethan agreed. “Their bloodline grants them power and resilience far beyond other beasts of the same Tier. It’s exactly why I had to employ such a devious tactic.”

Skinny Pete laughed heartily. “We’ve hit the jackpot. With my current mutant beast squad, I feel as though I could conquer anything.”

Thanks to the consistent supply of Tier 10 remains, Nugget the golden eagle and Goldie the Bengal tiger had progressed to Tier 10. Together with the power of the Stage C (Tier 12) white-furred apes, their collective brute force now eclipsed that of the Fallen Star Squad.

“Can you sustain control over more avian mutant beasts?” Ethan inquired with a smirk. “We require two additional flying mounts.”

“Two?”

“Correct. With Emily joining the squad, we have nine people even without counting Miles. Four mounts are insufficient; we aren’t just going to hang from their talons for the duration of the flight.”

“Fine,” Skinny Pete sighed with a pained expression. “But given the mental toll of controlling the leader, we will have to settle for Tier 9 specimens.”

“That is acceptable,” Ethan replied. “Tier 9 is more than sufficient for transport, and they are easier to locate. Let us go. We shall deploy Nugget and the others to scour the ranges. We need these mounts before our departure for Atlas City tomorrow.”

“What about these guys?” Chris asked, gesturing to the slumbering apes.

“They will be fine. They shall wake after several hours,” Ethan stated. Shortly after, the team vaulted onto the backs of their mounts and vanished toward the mountain forests.

They traversed over fifty miles throughout the afternoon, methodically clearing range after range until they secured a Tier 9 vulture and a Tier 9 owl. Because Nugget and his companions were now Tier 10, their oppressive presence had forced the Tier 9 creatures to hide; it was only through Ethan’s True Sight that they were identified.

Overwhelmed by the Tier 10 and Tier 11 beasts, the two flying mutants lacked the means to resist. They were subdued quickly, and Skinny Pete solidified his control. At last, the Fallen Star Squad possessed a complete compliment of flying mounts.