Apocalypse: King of Zombies Chapter 1246: As Long As the Captain Keeps Climbing

On the Celestial Stairway above, the entire Fallen Star Squad was utterly soaked. Sweat had completely saturated their clothing.

Heavy droplets continued to drip from their brows, splashing onto the steps.

At this stage, none could maintain a full upright posture. Each push to the next step demanded their utmost effort. The immense pressure repeatedly slammed them down—yet they clenched their jaws and struggled back to their feet.

Step by grueling step.

Vivian and the rest below gazed at their figures in shocked quiet.

The Fallen Star Squad’s iron will struck them like a thunderbolt.

Those defiant outlines seemed unbreakable, even if the heavens collapsed upon them.

Ethan leading at the forefront stood out the most.

Each of his steps brought excruciating torment, yet none wavered. As their captain, he embodied true resolve. His rigid back—unbent like an iron rod plunged into earth—instilled a fearsome assurance throughout the team.

Though several had obviously reached their breaking point, zero members opted to surrender.

At last, Ethan halted his unyielding advance at the eighty-ninth step.

The ninetieth step loomed ahead, an even more formidable barrier.

Ethan inhaled deeply and planted his foot upon it.

“Boom—”

A thunderous blast erupted right by his ears. For the first time, Ethan buckled. His knees crashed against the stone, hands thrusting forward to support against the surface.

All eyes fixed on him anxiously, holding breath, hoping he’d rise once more.

Moments dragged on endlessly.

Chris, battling upward relentlessly, arrived at the eighty-ninth step as well.

Veins bulged across his frame. Blood trickled from his lip’s edge. His gaze burned crimson, wild with strain.

Those trailing him fared no better. Most advanced now solely on sheer stubbornness—a final strand of resolve binding them.

Suddenly, Ethan stirred.

Bit by painstaking bit, he hauled himself erect from the stone.

Once risen, he advanced once more.

An even fiercer force descended, blocking his path to the following step.

Ethan lifted one foot…

…yet the second stayed rooted, as if anchored to the stair.

Time ticked away mercilessly.

Abruptly, Ethan let out a savage roar and surged strength into his limb, propelling his form ahead.

He hauled himself onto step ninety-one.

“Hiss…”

Vivian and her companions below widened their eyes in shock.

The Fallen Star Squad drew in gasps themselves.

“Captain…” a voice rasped, mix of chuckle and gasp. “Your pace is getting a little hard to follow!”

They figured Ethan would halt at ninety.

No one foresaw him pressing onward.

With Ethan surging higher now, the burden on those behind intensified—like their leader dragged them into uncharted depths.

Chris fixed his stare on Ethan’s back, sucked in a breath, and resolved himself.

He mounted step ninety.

“BOOM—!”

The force crushed him down.

Chris struck the stone without rebound. Motionless, unable even to raise his head. Sensation as if his form ground to dust. His head pounded with torment, brain on the verge of exploding.

“…So this is my limit,” Chris mused inwardly, lids drooping closed.

The team grasped it at once.

Chris had ceased his ascent.

He merely needed to hold for two minutes here and claim the prize.

If ninety already proved this brutal…

They couldn’t fathom the enormity of his impending gain.

“Whoa…!”

Chloe below exclaimed suddenly.

All whipped their gazes upward—and witnessed it plainly.

Ethan had scaled yet another step.

“Holy shit! Captain’s insane!” the squad chorused nearly together.

Chris’ pain-pinched eyes snapped wide. He beheld the relentless shape before him.

“Ethan…” he murmured, a blazing fire relit in his stare.

Ethan persisted in battle.

What excuse then for his own surrender?

As focus glued to Ethan, Chris’ form began shifting—excruciatingly slow, barely perceptible. Gradually, he shoved himself upright.

When spotted, he already stood tall again.

Yet his appearance horrified.

Blood coated him fully, crimson beads oozing from pores as pressure wrung him internally.

Expressions shifted in alarm across faces.

“Chris! Are you trying to get yourself killed?” Henry bellowed.

“Chris, staying on step ninety is enough!” another hollered. “You’re already incredible—don’t push it! You’ll die!”

Chris merely twisted his lips into a lopsided grin.

Regardless, he advanced.

Crack!

A crisp, gruesome crack echoed—bone fracturing from overload. Step ninety-one overwhelmed Chris’ frame.

One foot ascended.

The second lagged, quivering on the prior step like leaden weight.

Witnessing this, Henry—fresh on eighty-nine—decided swiftly and heaved onto ninety.

“Pff—”

Henry spewed a mouthful of blood and slumped down flat. The overwhelming soul-level pressure made his vision blur wildly, as if blackout loomed right there.

His own state didn't matter to him one bit.

One hand shot out, clutching Chris's leg—jammed on the step below—and he kicked off healing the shattered bone without delay.

“Henry… thanks,” Chris rasped out.

Henry hacked a cough, blood bubbling at his lip's edge. “Tch… between us… don’t say stupid things…”

“Hang in there,” Henry squeezed through gritted teeth.

His eyes flipped back, and he blacked out completely.

“Aaah—!”

Chris bellowed furiously. He pumped power through his frame, as though shredding his very limits.

Thin cracks spiderwebbed over his skin. Blood oozed forth.

Yet his stance held firm and unyielding.

In a savage thrust, he yanked that final foot upward and slammed it onto step ninety-one.

“Pff—”

Both feet planted, Chris hurled up blood. Darkness swallowed his sight, and he crashed down on the stone.

Chloe watched from below, tears already brimming in her eyes.

“They’re… really risking it all.”

The girl next to her seemed stunned and bewildered. “They’re already this strong. Why push even harder? For just one more step… even if it kills them?”

Grace exhaled softly. “Maybe that’s precisely why they’ve grown so powerful.”

Vivian’s expression froze solid.

Her prior defiance—I won’t lose—had evaporated. In its place burned pure, grudging admiration.

She’d once convinced herself the Fallen Star Squad owed their strength to sheer luck. That Ethan’s ability made all the difference. That sans him, she’d outshine them easily.

No more did she hold that delusion.

Folks with such unbreakable will were no mere mortals. Far from it.

Aurora, nearby, sank into quiet reflection.

Maybe this is why Dad insisted I join them, she mused inwardly.

Two minutes passed, then that mild force shoved Chris and Henry aside.

Next instant, endless energy torrents hammered into their bodies.

Their realms blasted skyward in a flash—smashing into Stage C (Tier 12) immediately.

Still the energy raged on, relentlessly piling strength upon strength.

Stage C early…

Stage C mid…

Stage C peak…

Tier 13!

Tiers skyrocketed like a freight train off the rails, showing no halt even at Tier 13.

Tier 13 early…

Tier 13 mid…

Tier 13 peak…

Tier 14!

Henry’s breakthrough halted at Tier 14.

Chris’s energy stream persisted, driving him further—to Tier 14 mid-stage.

Just a single step apart…

…but spanning a full sub-realm chasm.

That’s precisely why Chris strained so desperately.

Not only did it shape their present Tier—it would boost their mysterious energy uptake forever after.

Amid the energy rush, both stirred awake. They now perched silently on the ground, stares vacant—obviously lost in the void space, picking fresh skills.