Apocalypse: King of Zombies Chapter 1220 1220: They Were Wrong

Members of the Fallen Star Squad pulled out their weapons, effortlessly deflecting the approaching skills as if swatting at mere fireflies.

Next, they charged straight into the throng.

Boom. Boom. Boom…

Deafening thuds echoed repeatedly. Corpses burst apart instantly or flew skyward as if struck by a massive vehicle.

To others, Tier 9 Enhanced were beasts, yet before them, they appeared utterly like regular humans.

"What?!"

"How is that possible?!"

Charles, Dominic, and their companions gaped in astonishment, eyes bulging.

Indeed, Tier 9 shouldn't overpower Tier 10. However, a Tier 10 battling Tier 9 ought not to result in instant kills with every strike.

More than a dozen Tier 9 Enhanced combined could surely topple a Tier 10 Awakened.

Over a hundred Tier 9 Enhanced had been sent in. Victory had seemed assured.

The events unfolding now shattered all their prior assumptions.

"Don't tell me…" a voice murmured hoarsely. "Maxwell was right. Are they truly Tier 11?"

Charles and Dominic shared a glance, mirroring the horror in each other's stares.

Soon, confirmation arrived.

Suddenly, a Caldwell Tier 10 Enhanced lunged without notice, launching a direct ambush. He rushed at Emily, evidently viewing her as the weakest link.

His dagger neared Emily's back by mere inches when—

Emily reacted as though she had foreseen it.

She whirled around, delivering a smooth reverse slash.

Sword clashed against dagger amid a piercing scrape of steel.

The Tier 10's blade was evidently high-quality; it survived the clash intact.

Yet the gripping hand shattered.

Tier 10 power paled against Tier 11—particularly since the Fallen Star Squad had long tempered their bodies using the Body Refinement Technique methods from that tome.

Though Emily joined after the rest, she had practiced it extensively. Her sheer bodily strength surpassed most Tier 11 Enhanced.

The Tier 10 Enhanced withdrew swiftly, his features contorted in shock.

"Tier 11…!"

"Trying to run now?" Emily's gaze iced over. "Too late."

Perhaps from her time among the Fallen Star Squad, even the mild-mannered Emily had adopted their ironclad principle: show no quarter once engaged.

Fail in your assassination attempt, and no retreat is allowed.

Though the Tier 10 retreated rapidly, Emily outpaced him. In an instant, she bridged the gap and thrust her blade directly ahead.

The Tier 10 whipped his arm.

An earthen barrier surged up between them—a Tier 6 earth ability.

Yet scarcely had the barrier solidified before Emily's sword sliced through it effortlessly.

The point drove right into his torso.

Moments after, the earth barrier crumbled, and the Tier 10 crumpled lifelessly.

That swift clash struck spectators like a thunderbolt.

A Tier 10 Enhanced—slain in seconds.

Doubt vanished entirely.

Tier 11 they were. Minimum.

An oppressive aura blanketed the field. Moments-earlier yellers fell silent abruptly.

Charles's posture slumped, as if his choice had instantly withered him.

"…We were wrong," he rasped. "We made a mistake."

Dominic appeared unwilling to believe, his expression frozen in denial.

Solely Maxwell retained composure.

Since first encountering Ethan's crew, he had sensed it—they exceeded Tier 10.

Hard to articulate. Such instinct arose only from veterans of countless near-death scraps, attuned to peril's form.

Regrettably, none heeded him.

Now, consequences mounted.

"Stop. There's no point fighting anymore." Charles sighed deeply.

"No!" Dominic snarled, eyes reddened. "Since we've started, we can't stop now. We haven't lost yet. So what if they're Tier 11? Use the laser cannon—we can still blow them to hell!"

"You want to destroy the compound?!" Maxwell barked.

"At this point, who cares?" Dominic retorted. "Atlas City's compound can't let outsiders act this wild. If we don't deal with them today, how will anyone respect us if we let them just walk away?!"

Maxwell's visage chilled. "Hmph. The laser cannon is under my jurisdiction. Without my approval, who's touching it?"

Dominic's stare intensified. "Then I move to remove Maxwell Kane from his position as Commanding General, and transfer his authority."

He pivoted to Charles, urging fiercely. "Whitaker—back me."

Charles's face hardened. He breathed out, shaking his head. "Dominic, you're losing it. Drop it. End this."

Charles then faced Maxwell, tone uneasy. "General Kane… we acted too rashly. Can you… step in and help smooth things over with them?"

"….."

Briefly, Maxwell itched to unleash a tirade.

He had warned against action. They pushed ahead. Disaster struck, and now they sought his bailout?

Regardless of reluctance… evasion proved impossible.

Other clans had struck first. They alone retained mediation credibility.

Moreover, these formed the compound's vital fighters. Excessive losses would haunt Atlas City.

Maxwell rubbed his nose bridge. "First, have your people stand down."

"Alright." Charles agreed promptly.

He faced the fray and bellowed, "Everyone—stop!"

Whitaker Family Enhanced withdrew at once, falling rearward.

"Stop!" Gabriel yelled equally quick. Mercer Family troops disengaged smoothly.

Caldwell and Hale contingents eyed one another hesitantly. Front ranks lay in ruins—pullback shamed, persistence killed.

Dominic and Benjamin traded glances.

Ultimately, they gritted teeth, recalling their forces.

One issue remained—

Fallen Star Squad never halted merely because foes chose cease.

As they put it: Your halt concerns you. Our slaughter concerns us.

Thus, tardy Hale and Caldwell retreaters faced retribution.

Intended or otherwise, Fallen Star Squad—hitherto relying on raw might—unleashed abilities once solely those foes lingered.

Big Mike unleashed [Rain of Flames] anew, dropping Tier 9 Enhanced by droves.

Garrick's earth power had advanced to dreadfully streamlined—excavate, ensnare, entomb. Often, no fight traces lingered. It conserved burial ground too.

Sean's hands turned metallic fully. Accelerating fiercely, he morphed into a living siege engine, smashing foes weightlessly.

Skinny Pete's [Wind Cutter], Henry's [Void Beam]—all activated.

Hale and Caldwell ranks dwindled alarmingly swift.

"..." Dominic and Benjamin paled sickly.

"General Kane!" they yelled at Maxwell, tones fracturing. "Make them stop!"

Maxwell retorted sharply, "What do you want me to do? You think I can control them?!"

Still, he exhaled heavily, advanced, and addressed Ethan tensely. "Ethan… can you pause for a second?"

Amid turmoil, Ethan's serene voice emerged. "General Kane, give me a moment. Let me finish wiping these guys out, then I'll talk."

"….."

Dominic attempted retreat, yet Charles seized and barred him, compelling presence. Gazes refocused on Maxwell.

Currently, he alone might elicit reply.

Maxwell's head tingled. Still, he uttered firmly. "Ethan. I'm asking you—stop. Call them back, alright?"

Hope was slim. One prior Ethan encounter.

Yet astonishingly for Maxwell—

Ethan responded.

"I respect General Kane," Ethan declared firmly.

Then, amplified: "Everyone, stop."

Instantly, Fallen Star Squad withdrew. Abilities halted midway. They assembled rearward of Ethan seamlessly.

Maxwell paused momentarily.

Then, unbidden, he stood taller. First since chaos erupted, authority surged strangely. His command held weight.

Killings ceased, opposing leaders respired collectively, breath pent long. Viewing Ethan's team now evoked no rage.

Pure terror.

Charles advanced, features rigid with shame. "Ethan… can we find somewhere to sit down and talk?"

"I don't have time for that." Ethan replied evenly. "I stopped because of General Kane. That doesn't mean this is over."

Charles gulped. "Then… how do you want to resolve this?"

"Simple." Ethan raised a hand, aiming directly at Dominic and Benjamin.

"They die. And the Hale Family won't exist after today."