Apocalypse: King of Zombies Chapter 1245: The Eightieth Step

After Aurora remained sprawled on the 70th step for a complete two minutes, a soft force raised her up and eased her beyond the Celestial Stairway’s boundary.

In the very next moment, energy flooded toward her from all directions, surging into her body like a raging torrent.

She didn’t need to draw it in deliberately. It flowed directly and fused into the crystal core within her mind.

Aurora was already at the pinnacle of Tier 9. In an instant, she shattered into Tier 10—her aura continuing to skyrocket wildly.

Tier 10 peak.

All present believed that marked the conclusion.

Yet her strength persisted in climbing.

Soon afterward, amid the shocked gazes of everyone, Aurora charged directly into Tier 11—with the energy showing no signs of halting.

It continued flooding until it elevated her straight to the peak of Tier 11, at which point it finally subsided.

"This... this is too insane?" somebody whispered. Disbelief etched every single face.

Grace had described it earlier, yet witnessing it firsthand still seemed utterly surreal.

"Peak Tier 11... just like that? She overtook us all?" Skinny Pete stammered, his mind struggling to process it.

"My god," Big Mike grumbled. "We almost died countless times to reach our levels, and she just ascends some stairs and surpasses me completely. That’s absurd."

Chris exhaled deeply, his gaze fixed firmly on Aurora. "That’s the true meaning of opportunity. This is the sort of mind-blowing chance that transforms lives. Press on. Climb higher if possible. The greater the height, the massive the reward."

"Yeah." The rest nodded vigorously, clenching their jaws as they pushed forward relentlessly.

Aurora regulated her breath, then shook her head with a wry helplessness.

"Yeah... I truly can’t measure up to you monsters."

Her nature was laid-back, though, so the irritation faded quickly.

"You all can do it. I’m descending first!"

With those words, Aurora spun around and dashed back downward.

Shortly thereafter, the second individual reached their breaking point.

Vivian. Step seventy-three.

The towering, Amazon-like woman had been cursing furiously in her mind the entire duration,

yet the crushing pressure offered no mercy. Ultimately, even she could press no further.

Two minutes passed before the identical gentle force shifted her outside the stairway’s limit.

Next came the energy—innumerable strands gushing into her frame.

Terrifying power inundated her, though her excitement fell far short of what it ought to be.

For she had still been defeated.

Had it been a loss in sheer strength, that would’ve been acceptable. Such was life’s harsh truth.

But to lose on endurance?

That weighed heavily in her gut.

Worsening it was the fact that all nine members of the Fallen Star Squad had outclimbed her. Even the seemingly fragile Emily had ascended beyond her position.

Vivian struggled to accept that blow.

What escaped her knowledge was that each Fallen Star Squad member had tempered their physiques via the Body Refinement Technique. For Vivian to achieve this far was already extraordinarily remarkable.

Yet regardless of her resentment, facts remained unmoved.

She lagged behind them.

Energy thundered within her, elevating her level by level.

Tier 10 peak...

Tier 11...

Tier 11 peak...

And the influx persisted.

Bridging peak Tier 11 to Stage C (Tier 12) demanded a colossal energy reserve—an outrageous quantity.

But through that unyielding deluge, Vivian was propelled upward regardless.

Her aura swelled, fractured, and burst forth.

She vaulted into Stage C with a ferocious surge—emerging as the second human Stage C expert following Ethan.

Vivian remained seated motionless on the ground, evidently immersed in the empty mental realm selecting her fresh skill.

After some time, her eyes fluttered open. The shadows on her expression had vanished—usurped by raw exhilaration.

In truth, she hadn’t anticipated this ascent hurling her from Tier 10 directly into Stage C. The velocity of that advancement was staggeringly over-the-top.

And from her look, she appeared quite pleased with the newfound power acquired upon entering Stage C.

"Thank you," Vivian expressed with genuine gratitude, glancing upward at Ethan atop the stairs.

She recognized the reality: without trailing Ethan’s path, she never would’ve advanced this far.

Grace had only attained step forty-two. Even assuming Vivian slightly outmatched Grace, she’d max at around fifty—no possibility of nearing step seventy-three.

And stopping in the fifties meant no entry into Stage C.

Vivian reflected deeply.

Competitive and prideful by nature, she’d always strived to demonstrate equality with any man.

And she had succeeded—at least against most males.

Yet confronting the Fallen Star Squad revealed the truth: this peak was insurmountable for her.

If surpassing them proved impossible...

Then she would align with them.

"You guys keep pushing!" Vivian shouted to those still ascending the stairway. Then she rose and made her way down.

As Vivian underwent her breakthrough, the others relentlessly clawed their way higher, step by grueling step.

At this moment, each step had become utter torment.

Ethan arrived at step seventy-nine. He gazed upward at the stairs ahead, his face solemn.

Having ascended so high, the pattern was clear to him now. The pressure leaped sharply with every single step.

Step eighty promised yet another massive barrier.

Not even he would tread upon it lightly.

He turned to glance behind.

The Fallen Star Squad clung close, as tenacious as always.

Emily's endurance shocked Ethan.

He figured she'd drop first.

Yet she'd endured this far—and frankly, she seemed stronger than a few others. This completely baffled him.

Sudden realization struck.

Her power replenished stamina and mental strength. She must have been regenerating while climbing.

Though abilities couldn't extend outward due to the ritual circle, she could still apply it to herself freely.

Ethan mused, nearly in admiration.

This was fortunate indeed. The Celestial Stairway's rewards were extraordinary—the longer the squad persisted, the greater their gains.

Ethan locked his gaze on the 80th step, drew in a deep breath, and ascended.

Fearsome pressure crashed down without warning.

His knees gave out. His frame plunged down hard, as though an unseen fist aimed to pulverize him into the stair. Agony lanced through his head, vision swimming.

Ethan clamped his teeth and hauled himself erect once more.

He pressed forward—still driving upward.

Resting now would shatter his rhythm. Momentum was crucial.

"Captain, you’re insane," a voice gasped from behind.

Vivian and Aurora below watched with undisguised amazement.

Step seventy had overwhelmed them. Step eighty lay far beyond their comprehension.

Ethan advanced, and Chris trailed right after.

The force battered Chris savagely. Nearly pancaked, he caught himself on his elbows as vertigo surged through his skull.

Chris ground his jaw tight, then abruptly chomped his own tongue.

That burst of pain shocked him alert.

"Up...!" he bellowed.

Veins throbbed on his arms while he dragged his body upward bit by bit. Teeth gritted, he lunged forward in Ethan's wake.

Skinny Pete behind inhaled sharply and mounted the 80th stair as well.

The pressure hurled him face-first into the stone. Blood trickled from his mouth's edge.

Skinny Pete pondered in a stupor.

But it stayed merely an idea.

For a Fallen Star Squad member, giving up held no place in his mind.

He lay crushed against the stone past a full minute, wrestling back bodily control. Hands planted, arms quivering, he shoved upward and claimed his next step.

The others mirrored this struggle.

Nearly every climber on the 80th stair was bashed down, immobilized like they bore immense weight. Yet each bore through—fueled by iron will and forged physiques—rose again, and continued the ascent.