Apocalypse: King of Zombies Chapter 1236: The Name That Terrified Atlas City

The following morning, residents began streaming out of Atlas City successively, making their way back to their personal bases.

In this apocalyptic world, fortunes could reverse in the blink of an eye. No one wished to remain absent for long, with their home compounds vulnerable to attack at any instant. Numerous individuals, immediately after exchanging for crystal cores, were eager to depart right away.

Certain folks were truly captivated by the Void Realm close to Atlas City’s compound and chose to linger for a closer inspection.

Despite learning it had been thoroughly looted, such an unprecedented space still ignited intense curiosity among them.

Ethan and his companions were also preparing to exit Atlas City’s compound. Their destination was the Void Realm that Grace and the rest had stumbled upon.

Ethan regarded that location with utmost seriousness.

Based on Grace’s team’s account from the previous night, this Void Realm stood apart from previous encounters.

It held no treasures. Nor did it harbor any other life forms. Only a Celestial Stairway ascended endlessly—the higher one climbed, the greater the rewards.

This prospect alone captivated everyone utterly. They simply had to witness it personally.

Yet prior to that, Ethan had to detour to Fallen Star City. He carried numerous items to deliver, particularly the laser cannon. That massive piece occupied excessive space—he yearned to remove it from his inventory without delay.

At dawn that day, Ethan departed Atlas City’s compound alongside Garrick.

He included Garrick because one additional item required retrieval.

And that item was the skeleton interred beneath Atlas City’s Void Realm.

Previously, they lacked the means to handle it. But now, with Dopey at their disposal, his power should effortlessly shatter that skeleton.

Once dismantled, those bones could serve as instant weapons. A skeleton of such immensity could equip thousands.

The pair navigated to the Void Realm entrance as if familiar from countless visits.

The entrance guards scarcely raised their gazes, permitting the duo to proceed unhindered.

Last time, Garrick had merely refilled the top nine feet of soil, rendering re-excavation far simpler.

Soon enough, they returned to the subterranean chamber under the Void Realm.

Ethan unleashed Dopey, passed him the poleaxe, and directed him toward the enormous skeleton before them.

Dopey showed no reluctance. Seizing the poleaxe, he leaped forward and commenced ferocious chops.

Right before their astonished gazes, the skeleton—which had withstood their full onslaught without a single dent—shattered beneath Dopey’s blows, splintering into fragments that scattered noisily across the floor.

“So it’s not that the weapon wasn’t good enough,” Ethan muttered, half laughing at himself. “It’s that we weren’t.”

The identical poleaxe. In Ethan’s hands, it failed to mar the surface. Yet Dopey, with minimal effort, reduced it to rubble.

This highlighted the sheer horror of Dopey’s power—vastly surpassing theirs in every way.

“Captain,” Garrick said, eyes gleaming with a fresh notion, “if Dopey’s this strong, should we take him to that Void Realm by Clearford City and kill that scary mutant beast you saw last time?”

Ethan’s face betrayed a flash of allure.

However, the recollection sent chills crawling over his scalp, prompting a firm headshake.

“No. That thing is way too terrifying. Even if Dopey can hold it off, we can’t.”

During that encounter, the mutant beast had merely glanced from afar, yet it inflicted grave wounds on him. Confronting it directly… the thought was unbearable.

Dopey needed to share the same area as him. For Ethan to deploy Dopey against it, he’d have to enter that Void Realm too—and that spelled certain doom.

Any assault on that monstrosity must await Ethan’s power growth—to a level where he could endure one strike at least.

“Leave it alone for now,” Ethan declared. “It hasn’t emerged to wreak havoc. No need for us to stir it up.”

“…Alright.” Garrick nodded.

Shortly, Dopey had fully disassembled the skeleton.

Ethan swiftly gathered the strewn bones into his spatial storage ring.

To accommodate them, he first withdrew several items.

No alternative—the ring brimmed to capacity.

The pillars, Ethan reluctantly abandoned temporarily. Space simply wouldn’t allow.

However, the iron chains encircling the pillars—Dopey ripped those free and crammed them into the storage ring too.

With tasks complete, they ascended from the underground realm below the Void Realm. Garrick employed his earth-type ability once more, seamlessly restoring the terrain.

Exiting the Void Realm, the pair mounted Peregrine Falcon Flint and soared toward Fallen Star City.

Among their flying mounts, Flint boasted the highest speed, making him Ethan’s usual choice.

Meanwhile, within Fallen Star City…

Miles gazed down thoughtfully at Harris. “So Stonebridge City’s compound is attempting to pull in our people?”

“Yeah.” Harris gave a nod. “These past few days, we’ve been sweeping zombies near Stonebridge City. Today, a squad from Stonebridge City’s compound tracked us down. They insisted we merge with them—boasted about government support, claiming it’s the only ‘legitimate’ option. They even tried flipping our own members.”

“And how did you handle it?” Miles inquired.

“We ignored them,” Harris replied.

Miles’s lips quirked. He appeared ready to slap somebody.

“They’re burrowing a tunnel beneath our wall, right outside Fallen Star City, and you let them live?”

“Uh…” Harris faltered. “What we discovered is that Stonebridge City’s compound is truly government-built and operated. Plus, it’s massive—nearly three hundred thousand residents. Flipping out on them outright… might not be wise.”

“Scared of what?” Miles barked. “Hear me out. You’re Fallen Star City folks. Hold your heads high. Whoever dares mess with you, take them down—no questions asked. Doesn’t matter if it’s a big compound. Even a huge one—if they target Fallen Star City, we eliminate them regardless.”

“Yes!” Harris stood tall, his response crisp.

Miles nodded. “Excellent. As Fallen Star City members, don’t shame us out in the field. Everyone knows Commander Ethan and the Fallen Star Squad are constantly on missions—but do you grasp their influence beyond our walls?”

“I… don’t,” Harris confessed, shaking his head. Yet his eyes blazed with eagerness.

Miles grinned.

“Think of it like this. You’re familiar with Atlas City’s Five Great Families?”

“Yeah. Pre-apocalypse, they ruled Atlas City like kings.”

“Correct. Post-apocalypse, those five clans controlled Atlas City’s compound together. But one crossed Ethan, and boom—five turned to four. Ethan’s crew still thrives in Atlas City’s compound. Now you see—the Commander’s massive clout out there.”

Harris went rigid.

His eyes bulged, shock plastered on his face as if glued there.

He’d always figured Ethan’s team was powerful, but not to this insane level.

Annihilating one of Atlas City’s elite families within their fortress—what sheer dominance!

Even wilder, Atlas City couldn’t retaliate. The mere thought ignited his veins.

“Deputy Commander,” Harris declared, tone firm with determination, “we get it now—what needs doing.”

“Good.” Miles’s stare sharpened. “I aim to forge a squad unbreakable—not only in strength, but in spirit. For now, you can’t fully back Ethan and his team. But I envision the moment you stand with them as the city’s iron spine.”

“Rest assured, Deputy Commander!” Harris shot back instantly. “Fallen Star Guard is surging ahead wildly. That day’s coming soon, I’m sure!”

Miles nodded decisively. “Mm. I trust you.”