Apocalypse: King of Zombies Chapter 1240: A Terrible Miscalculation

Just before dawn the following morning, Ethan and his companions rose early.

Ethan grabbed one of the crystal-core synthesis machines, picked up two satellite phones nearby, and then bid farewell to Maxwell.

Following that, the Fallen Star Squad departed from Atlas City’s compound alongside Grace and the other three women, as well as Vivian and the three individuals she had brought, all heading towards Golden Valley State.

Their compounds were all located in Golden Valley State regardless, meaning they shared the same path.

Vivian intended to investigate the Void Realm that Grace had described.

And they weren’t the only ones joining.

Aurora Kane tagged along as well.

To quote her, she aimed to “gain some field experience.”

Ethan truly couldn’t fathom Maxwell’s reasoning for allowing her to leave with them so readily. However, Aurora possessed a reliable personality. In recent free moments, she had frequently visited their lodging, mingling and bonding with the group. By now, she felt like one of them, so Ethan saw no reason to object.

Moreover, Ethan had already intended to form a second-tier combat team, and Aurora made an excellent prospect.

Her Tier 6 ability—gravity manipulation—had been tested, yielding brutal outcomes. Properly applied, it could shatter an enemy’s combat prowess.

Even more crucially, perhaps due to her military background, Aurora lacked any hint of fragility or pampering. In battle, she turned savage.

Her power had reached the pinnacle of Tier 9 already. According to Ethan’s judgment, she would likely breakthrough to Tier 10 in mere days.

Though Tier 10 fell short of the Fallen Star Squad’s “entry standards,” for the second echelon, she fit perfectly.

Ethan’s strategy remained straightforward: prioritize resources for the Fallen Star Squad. Leftovers would support the second echelon next. Remaining scraps would then flow to the Fallen Star Guard.

As in the current situation—Tier 10 crystal cores held no value for the Fallen Star Squad anymore, making them ideal for the second-tier members.

Thanks to Henry’s ritual circle, they had continuously drawn in mysterious energy via it. The entire team neared the Tier 11 summit. A little more time, and Tier 11 crystal cores would become irrelevant too.

However, the group size this time proved excessive. Five flying mounts fell short.

True, Nugget and the rest could theoretically dangle extra passengers from their talons—but such a method suited only brief flights. On an extended trip like this, clinging to a bird’s claws invited certain death.

Disregarding flocks of mutant birds, the relentless wind would shred anyone after prolonged exposure.

Thus, they opted for overland travel.

For such a powerful assembly, foot travel would span just days. It suited ideally—they could harvest superior crystal cores by slaying high-Tier zombies and mutant beasts en route, while scanning for Void Realm portals.

With the itinerary confirmed, the team swiftly set off toward Starlight City.

Grace’s base sat in a small town south of Starlight City, where their discovered Void Realm entrance also lay.

Upon exiting Atlas City’s secure zone, zombies reappeared in view.

These undead no longer wandered solo or in pairs. Instead, they roamed in hordes—dense packs prowling the devastated highways.

Sticking to their timeline, Ethan generally steered the group clear of major swarms. Halts occurred solely for Tier 9 or superior zombies.

Tier 9 crystal cores served to power the ritual circle, rendering them perpetually valuable.

Dispatching a Tier 9 zombie posed no real challenge.

Ethan rode Flint in for the strike. A dive, poleaxe slicing the sky—one precise blow, done. Crystal core seized, then swift retreat before tangling with the mob.

Swift. Effortless. As if practiced endlessly.

Vivian and her followers watched in awe.

Little surprise the Fallen Star Squad struck such fear. Against such prowess, competition seemed impossible.

Typical teams, even elite ones, required full assaults to fell one high-Tier zombie. Deploy a big force, crash the horde, assess the target’s might from its resistance, then encircle with top warriors to wear it out.

Hence, even elite bases expended massive time and manpower for a single Tier 9 crystal core.

Ethan simply targeted, soared in, decapitated, and withdrew—often in less than sixty seconds.

Utterly effortless.

Truly. Contrasting strengths enraged one against the world quickest.

Under Ethan’s guidance, the journey resembled a leisurely stroll far more than a perilous apocalyptic march. Zombies infested the land, but they traversed it like rulers of the path.

Vivian and her companions finally grasped, for the very first time, the true sensation of belonging to the Fallen Star Squad.

Ethan's power was genuinely nothing less than a total exploit.

His presence skyrocketed everyone's survival chances dramatically, and when specific Tier crystal cores were needed, he could simply jab at the map and declare, There. It was pure cheat-mode gaming.

That risky notion kept surfacing in Vivian's mind—and even among Grace's crew: Why not abandon our bases and stick with Ethan from now on?

Aurora had already resolved to enlist with the Fallen Star Squad. At this point, her determination had intensified beyond measure.

The main factor was her father Maxwell's full backing.

Her arrival today proved she'd secured his consent. Truth be told, Maxwell craved it even more than she did—he was eagerly wishing for her to successfully infiltrate the Fallen Star Squad.

While Ethan's team journeyed with absurdly carefree ease…

Fallen Star City received some unwelcome intruders.

From the compound's watchtower, a sentry abruptly noticed a huge throng advancing on the walls. Caution sharpened his features.

Redwood County lay far off the beaten path already. Fallen Star City was even more isolated. Apart from Jaxon's refugee band escaping Harrison City, visitors were virtually nonexistent.

Yet this distant group showed no signs of being refugees.

They crept forward stealthily, avoiding open approach. Their stealthy caution hinted at sinister motives.

The guard called downward to a figure below.

“Report to the Deputy Commander now. A large group is nearing our compound, and they look anything but friendly!”

“Understood.”

Meanwhile, Andrew had gathered thousands of elite fighters from Stonebridge City Compound, stealthily closing in until Fallen Star City loomed nearby.

He'd just returned from Atlas City to Stonebridge before spinning back toward Redwood County with his force. The grueling pace had worn even him down.

But upon spotting Fallen Star City's enormous fortifications—and the bold steel plaque proclaiming “FALLEN STAR CITY”—Andrew froze momentarily.

“Shouldn't this have been Redmont City?” he grumbled. “Did they change the name?”

This was meant to be a outpost from some forgotten hamlet. However, these walls' grandeur… they surpassed even Stonebridge City Compound in size.

Then a subordinate yanked his sleeve, gesturing at the massive laser cannon perched over the main gate.

“Andrew… what in the world is that?”

Andrew traced the pointing finger. His eyebrows furrowed tightly.

“Isn't that… a cannon?”

“But they're no official Safe Zone. How'd they acquire a cannon?” the man hissed. “And that design's completely unfamiliar.”

Another swallowed hard. “Andrew, reckon it's powerful?”

Andrew sneered. “Just for show. See that stubby barrel—how potent could it possibly be? You're all Tier 7 and Tier 8 Enhanced. Why fear it? It's merely a plaything.”

“Right… got it.”

Andrew glanced aside. “Golden Eagle. Climb that tree and scout the compound's population.”

A lanky man from the rear nodded. His Tier 6 Eagle Vision allowed distant sight, earning him the moniker Golden Eagle.

“On it.”

Golden Eagle ascended a close tree's peak and peered at the compound.

After a prolonged gaze, he descended.

“Andrew, I scanned it. Not many folks within. Some till fields, others handle crafting and building—mostly ordinary folk. Probably thirty to forty thousand at most.”

“So the walls are oversized for nothing,” Andrew remarked, a sinister grin forming. “This place is inferior to a minor compound.”

He raised his hand. “Advance. We storm in, seize control of all inside—quick as lightning.”

“Yes!”