Apocalypse: King of Zombies Chapter 1210: A Flicker Beneath the Ruins

Inside the Void Realm…

A world in ruins stretched out before them. Shattered walls and tumbled-down buildings filled the landscape in all directions, with utter desolation meeting the gaze everywhere.

Ethan along with the rest materialized within the Void Realm. Surveying the devastation, none among them displayed much shock.

As anticipated, this Void Realm resembled the initial one they had ventured into—a fractured, fading world once more.

Yet it differed in that the previous Void Realm had clearly aged far more.

During that earlier visit, nearly all architectural remnants had crumbled into powder. In this place, the debris remained recognizable debris. One could still make out former shapes.

This fact alone revealed volumes. The two Void Realms hailed from different eras—a vast temporal divide separated them. Thus, this one ought to harbor more remnants than the prior.

However, upon scanning a Void Realm evidently ransacked clean by Atlas City, they could merely shake their heads in resignation.

The looting had been so absolute that even a rodent would depart weeping.

Atlas City had not skimped on their plunder. They had scoured it thoroughly.

Thus, all eyes turned to Ethan. In such straits, their sole reliance rested on his [True Sight].

Ethan wasted no time on chatter. He triggered [True Sight] and began scrutinizing every inch meticulously.

Truth be told, he harbored scant optimism himself. Still, since they had arrived, a thorough check was worth attempting.

Chris and the team didn’t idle about. They fanned out and commenced their own searches.

This Void Realm dwarfed the last in size, naturally prolonging the exhaustive sweep. Hours passed in their hunt.

Beyond the Void Realm, Ryan lingered with patience.

Sebastian had departed alongside his crew. The display of power had shaken him to the core—he needed to confer urgently with his grandfather.

A mere one or two Tier 10s posed no threat to the Hale family’s present might.

But nine Tier 10s?

That demanded grave consideration.

At that instant, within a chamber at the Hale family manor…

Alexander Hale and Dominic Hale occupied the seats of honor.

Beneath them, Sebastian recounted the events in detail.

By the conclusion of his report, both Alexander and Dominic wore knitted brows.

“Nine of them are all Tier 10,” Alexander remarked, glancing at Dominic. “Do you believe that’s feasible?”

Dominic pondered briefly, then replied gravely, “It strains credulity, yet Ryan wouldn’t fabricate such a claim.”

He hesitated, evidently baffled. “Atlas City boasts vast resources—plus crystal core fusion technology. Even today, their Tier 10 count remains limited. How then did those individuals achieve it?”

“Perhaps they’re all Awakened,” Sebastian suggested, “with extraordinarily potent abilities.”

Alexander dismissed it with a headshake.

“Even so, they shouldn’t outpace Atlas City. My hunch is… they accessed a special space much sooner than us. And reaped abundant rewards within.”

Dominic and Sebastian nodded at this. The logic rang undeniably true.

Little wonder they beelined for the special space upon reaching Atlas City.

“Grandpa,” Sebastian pressed, barely containing himself, “what’s our next move? Shall we overlook Uncle Leonard’s demise?”

“Absolutely not,” Alexander replied icily. Then his gaze ignited with sharper, ravenous intent. “Moreover… should we subdue them, the Hale family could seize total dominance over Atlas City’s compound.”

The thrall-creation technique stood as the Hale family’s paramount gain from the special space.

Having invested resources lavishly, their human trials yielded staggering advances.

And their prior assumption held: thrall conversion required the subject to possess at least Tier 10 power.

To execute it, the Hale family surrendered their sole Tier 10 crystal core to a remote kin—bearing Hale blood and gifted with an ability.

This kin imagined a windfall had struck. Thrilled near suffocation, he assumed Alexander at last prized his power.

He failed to grasp that Alexander coveted his flesh.

The instant he ascended to Tier 10 marked his torment’s onset.

One goblet of wine slid down his gullet, and he slumbered eternally.

Or rather, more precisely…

His form roused.

Yet his mind vanished.

This marked the Hale family’s inaugural thrall success—and it ensnared them utterly.

Post-transformation, a thrall eclipsed its living prowess. A fresh Tier 10, reborn as thrall, vastly outstripped ordinary Tier 10 Enhanced. Their assessments pegged it nearing Tier 11.

Thralls ignored agony. Fear eluded them. Above all… absolute loyalty reigned. No treachery, no schemes.

This fervor gripped the Hale family in thrall-making mania.

That single thrall could overwhelm three or four Tier 10 Enhanced simultaneously.

They had presumed the foes numbered two Tier 10s—negligible.

Capturing them promised two near-Tier 11 thralls, catapulting their strength.

But this revelation stunned—and electrified them.

The adversaries were entirely Tier 10.

Converting all nine into thralls? No rival family could rival them.

The prospect set the room’s trio ablaze with fervor, faces alight.

“We must scheme meticulously,” Dominic cautioned, tone somber once more. “Nine Tier 10s demand caution. For any shot, alliances with other families are essential.”

“What if the others refuse?” Sebastian scowled. “The Kane family seems allied with them already. Aid from that quarter is impossible.”

“Then this elder shall make personal calls,” Alexander declared, resolute yet composed.

Returning to the Void Realm…

Ethan and his comrades scoured for five hours, yielding zilch. The Void Realm—bar scattered ruins—had been stripped to bare earth.

“Damn,” Big Mike muttered. “They didn’t search. They sterilized it.”

“Atlas City overflows with everything but room,” Mia sighed. “Manpower and gear abound for them. Scavenging scraps post-raid? Fat chance.”

By then, hope had ebbed for all.

All save Ethan.

He persisted deliberately, probing inch by inch.

[True Sight] had blazed unceasingly for five hours straight. His eyes ached, verging on hemorrhage.

Just as Ethan neared surrender…

His stare locked sharp.

Beneath the final rubble heap, a glimmer pulsed—an energy undulation.

It emanated from profound depths below. So subtle that without fanatical vigilance, [True Sight] would have overlooked it.

“There’s something…?”

His look alone rallied the others, who rushed up invigorated.

“Yeah,” Ethan confirmed, thrill lighting his features. “Buried deep underground.”

After endless toil… a discovery at last.

“Then let’s dig already!”

Excitement surged through them. They brandished close-combat arms and assailed the ground frenziedly, hacking and pounding. Pent-up from fruitless hours, they unleashed wildly.

“Uh…” Garrick murmured. “My ability can reform the landscape.”

Digs halted abruptly.

“Hell—why didn’t we think of that?”

Weapons stowed hastily, all eyes fixed on Garrick.

Garrick flashed a sheepish smile, then pressed his hand to the soil.

Instantly, the ground parted and shifted. A chasm yawned beneath—plunging ever deeper.

Chris chuckled. “That’s the stuff. Garrick’s power saves the day.”

Ethan parted his lips.

He meant to warn: It’s insanely deep. [True Sight] can’t pierce to identify it.

But their zeal silenced him.

Let them excavate.

No point dousing the fire… for now.