Apocalypse: King of Zombies Chapter 1249

Suddenly, one individual within the retreating group cried out, "Halt!"

The mutant tiger, poised in mid-leap, stopped dead in its tracks.

Its entire form quivered. It was immediately apparent: this was not mere caution, but sheer terror.

Then, a slender man advanced towards the beast.

Before the astonished eyes of everyone present, he nonchalantly approached the tiger's face.

And that fearsome mutant tiger… simply collapsed to the ground, trembling, too afraid to even offer resistance. Its former ferocity had vanished as if it had never been.

Skinny Pete smirked. "Excellent timing. My power just surged, and I was beginning to find managing Goldie and the others too simple. And now, you arrive, offering yourself to me."

"From this moment, you shall keep Goldie company."

He smiled, and his Beast Control ability activated, instantly subjugating the mutant tiger under his command.

At Tier 14, subduing a Tier 11 mutant beast was a trivial matter. He didn't even need to weaken it severely beforehand.

Once the bond was established, Skinny Pete gently patted the tiger's head before effortlessly mounting its back, as if it were the most natural action in the world.

All those present, with the exception of the Fallen Star Squad, remained frozen in disbelief.

That monstrous creature… had just been tamed. Just like that.

The hardest hit were undoubtedly Jared and his small contingent.

Their eyes were wide, their faces rigid—as if reality had just delivered a harsh blow.

"…Go," Jared commanded in a low tone.

Following his words, they turned and made a swift departure.

Meanwhile, Ethan seemed to sense something. He cast a glance in the direction Jared and his group had departed, a slight curve gracing the corner of his mouth.

Grace was already interrogating the individuals they had rescued.

According to their accounts, they had ventured up the mountain to hunt, as was their custom, when a mutant tiger unexpectedly launched an ambush.

The tiger possessed immense strength, leaving them with no option but to flee for their lives until they reached their current location.

"I can hardly believe a Tier 11 mutant tiger resides up there," Grace remarked, still visibly shaken.

It was providential that Ethan and his team were present. Had it been solely her group… it required little imagination to comprehend the dire outcome.

A tiger-type beast far surpassed an Enhanced individual of the same Tier in power. And they themselves were only Tier 10, moreover, they were not Awakened with Innate Abilities. Confronting such a foe was simply beyond their capabilities.

The group proceeded back to the compound.

Jared approached them, a broad smile on his face, as though he had never been away.

"Grace, you've returned!"

"Yes," Grace acknowledged with a nod. "Arrange for dinner. Ethan and the others must be famished."

Following their ascent of the Celestial Stairway in the Void Realm, every single participant had been utterly depleted. Sustenance was not a luxury but a necessity at this juncture.

"Understood," Jared replied, nodding before turning to make the necessary arrangements.

"Wait," Ethan's voice interjected.

Jared halted his movement.

Grace turned, a puzzled expression on her face. "What is it?"

Ethan did not respond to Grace. His gaze remained fixed on Jared. "That tiger—you orchestrated its appearance here, didn't you?"

Jared's smile evaporated, replaced by a frown. "I haven't the faintest idea what you're referring to."

A man positioned behind Jared stepped forward, his tone sharp. "Ethan, while you are a guest here, you cannot simply make accusations."

"Ethan…" Grace began hesitantly. "Are you quite certain it isn't a simple misunderstanding? Jared has always dedicated himself to the compound's welfare. I cannot fathom him engaging in such actions."

Ethan let out a quiet, mirthless chuckle. "A mutant tiger holds little significance for us. However, I detest being manipulated."

He tilted his head slightly. "Still unwilling to speak?"

"Skinny Pete. Make him talk."

"With pleasure," Skinny Pete responded with a grin. "My ability has reached a new level—a perfect opportunity to test it."

He locked eyes with Jared.

Before Jared could even react, his expression became vacant, as if an internal switch had been flipped.

Ethan's voice was cold. "You arranged for someone to lure the tiger here, correct?"

"…Yes," Jared confirmed with a stiff nod.

Grace and the other women's eyes widened in shock.

"Why?!" someone exclaimed.

Jared's emotions flared suddenly, his voice escalating even under the compulsion, laden with resentment. "Because of you!"

"I have toiled tirelessly for this compound. If you felt contempt for me, that's one thing. But why did you choose to entrust the entire compound to an outsider?"

"If you are capable of such callousness, then I shall be the one to claim ownership of this compound myself!"

"You—!" Grace's face turned pale with rage, her chest heaving.

They had rescued Jared themselves when they first arrived. They had provided him with resources, empowering him to rise once more…

And in the end, they had nurtured a traitor.

"That is simply human nature," Vivian remarked, placing a comforting hand on Grace's shoulder.

"Alright," Ethan's voice remained neutral. "Your foolish scheme did get us a new pet. But the instant you even considered making a move on us, your end was sealed."

Without another word, he casually kicked Jared.

Jared's body was flung backward as if struck by a speeding train. Upon landing, it was over; his internal organs had been completely pulverized. He was undeniably dead.

Grace parted her lips, seemingly about to speak, then shut them again. Ultimately, she remained silent.

"And those men too," Ethan added, gesturing towards the few individuals who had been standing behind Jared earlier. "Eliminate them."

"I—" Grace began.

Their faces instantly lost all color.

"Grace, this isn't our fault!"

"Please—please, we didn't do anything!"

They scrambled towards her, desperately pleading. They were familiar with Grace's soft heart. If they could just make her hesitate, perhaps she would spare them.

What they knew was Grace's inherent nature.

What they didn't know was the sheer efficiency of the Fallen Star Squad.

Before Grace could even finish her plea, a Wind Cutter blade flashed through the air.

Heads tumbled to the ground almost simultaneously.

For a fleeting moment, the area fell into an eerie silence.

The onlookers stared, utterly stunned.

Everything had transpired far too rapidly; their minds couldn't keep up with the speed of events.

These individuals were incredibly ruthless. A single misspoken word could lead to death.

"Let's go," Ethan said nonchalantly, as if he had merely brushed away an insect. "We're proceeding inside."

"...Yeah." Grace nodded, still a step behind, as if she hadn't fully grasped the situation.

It wasn't until they were within the compound that she suddenly regained her composure. She turned to those beside her and spoke, her voice firm and loud enough for all to hear.

"You all witnessed it. They attempted to lure a mutant tiger to kill us. For that, they were prepared to sacrifice numerous innocent lives."

She scanned the crowd, her eyes sharp.

"People like that—should they be put to death?"

"Yes! They deserve it!" someone blurted out eagerly. "They should die!"

"Right. They absolutely should," another quickly echoed.

Grace gave a single nod. "Then arrange for someone to dispose of the bodies."

"Understood."

Back inside the compound, Grace instructed them to prepare a celebratory feast.

Everyone ate their fill before retiring to their rooms to rest.

Ascending the Celestial Stairway had been an ordeal that was more than just physically demanding; it had drained them completely—body, mind, and spirit.

Ethan slept soundly until nightfall.

He then convened the Fallen Star Squad.

"Alright," he announced, surveying the group. "Tell me what new skill you acquired upon reaching Stage C."

Ethan possessed his own methods for discerning their abilities, but hearing their explanations would provide him with a clearer understanding of each member's thought process and combat style.

He had refrained from asking earlier due to Grace and the others' presence. Such information constituted the Fallen Star Squad's confidential trump cards.

Chris stepped forward first. "I'll go."

"Upon reaching Stage C, I gained a Void-type ability: Corrupting Spear."

He spoke with a steady voice, his eyes gleaming. "If it successfully strikes, the target's body becomes corroded. Anyone weaker than myself will essentially dissolve into a pool of blood. Even against stronger opponents, it can inflict severe injuries and significantly diminish their physical strength."

"It's not an Area of Effect skill, but I believe it suits me perfectly. It makes my damage output considerably more lethal."

"Furthermore, my invisibility ability has been enhanced. While invisible, I now sustain reduced damage."

Chris took a breath, his confidence growing as he articulated his capabilities. "With both enhancements combined… I believe I can defeat a Tier 15 opponent."

"Even Tier 16—I can pose a serious threat to them."

"Damn." Ethan gave him a thumbs-up. "That's seriously badass."