Apocalypse: King of Zombies Chapter 1269: I Can Take It… and Give It Away

Fallen Star City…

As the lingering embers of the bodies cooled and the scattered remnants of supplies were gathered, the sky outside Fallen Star City had already turned to dusk.

With most structures reduced to rubble, indoor accommodations were out of the question; the streets would serve as tonight’s sleeping quarters.

Near the nexus of Fallen Star City, Garrick had sculpted a rudimentary bunker from the earth. Within this makeshift shelter, the entirety of the Fallen Star Squad convened around a crackling fire, savoring grilled meat.

It was then that Aurora approached the entrance, her movements cautious, as if one misstep might invite censure.

“Ethan… may I enter?”

“Of course. Come in,” Ethan responded with a nod.

“Thank you!”

Aurora slipped into the bunker and settled into an available space beside Miles.

“Ethan… are we truly going to eradicate the Silverlake City compound tomorrow?”

“Yes,” Ethan affirmed without hesitation.

“I see.” Aurora nodded, subsequently refraining from further comment. She sat in quiet contemplation, her gaze fixed upon the sizzling meat, as if seeking answers in its transformation.

Miles cast a sideways glance. “Aurora, is there something on your mind?”

“…Yes.” She took a breath. “My father informed me… he mentioned that these individuals hail from the Riverton City compound. A few days ago, with assistance from formidable entities from the Void Realm, they seized control of the Silverlake City compound.”

She paused, then continued with a tremor in her voice. “Therefore, this situation bears no actual connection to the Silverlake City compound. They are merely… unfortunate victims. If we proceed to eliminate them as well, wouldn't that be somewhat…?”

Ethan’s attention turned to her. “Did you disclose today’s events to your father?”

Aurora’s shoulders tensed. “I did, but I only spoke of today’s happenings. I mentioned nothing else—absolutely nothing!”

“It’s alright. Calm yourself,” Ethan’s voice remained steady. “He would have learned of it soon enough anyway.”

His tone then adopted a firmer edge. “However, in the future, if an incident occurs on our end and I haven’t granted you permission, refrain from publicizing it. Otherwise, I will be compelled to send you back.”

“Y-yes. I won’t. I promise.”

“Good.”

Ethan leaned back slightly. “Regarding Silverlake City… convey to your father that he need not be concerned. We intend to secure the Silverlake City compound. While casualties are inevitable, we are not pursuing total annihilation. We require additional personnel.”

Aurora exhaled as if she had been holding her breath indefinitely. “Mm. Ethan, your assurance brings me great relief. I shall take my leave now.”

“Stay and join us for barbecue,” Miles offered with a grin.

“No, no,” Aurora hastily declined, waving her hands. “I’ll dine with Grace and the others.”

She then exited the dirt mound.

Ethan addressed Miles abruptly. “What are your thoughts on young Aurora?”

“Quite promising, I must say. Her character is admirable, and she is competent. She has been a significant help to me over the past couple of days,” Miles chuckled.

“No wonder you wanted her to stay for the barbecue,” Ethan’s lips quirked into a smile.

Miles blinked. “Uh… Captain, are you perhaps laboring under a misconception?”

“Ah, there he goes playing Cupid again,” Henry remarked, rolling his eyes.

“Henry, you ought to be thanking me.”

“Yes, yes, yes. Thank you sooo very much.”

Emily interjected, her tone characteristically devoid of emotion. “Captain, perhaps you should first consider your own situation.”

“Uh—the barbecue is ready, isn’t it? Let’s eat, eat, eat,” Ethan quickly redirected the conversation.

“…”

Deep into the night, in a cleared area behind Fallen Star City…

Sean, Garrick, and Big Mike unceremoniously hauled three men, their limbs mangled, and deposited them on the ground like discarded refuse.

“Ethan! What in the blazes are you doing!?” Garrett bellowed, his eyes inflamed with fury. “If you possess the courage, then kill me!”

“Fear not,” Big Mike stated, patting Garrett’s cheek in a manner akin to comforting a child. “You shall receive your wish. There is no need for haste.”

Big Mike’s grin then widened, a cruel and playful expression twisting his features. “Ah, yes. I recall your earlier boasts—you desired my captain to crawl beneath your manhood, did you not?”

“Come now, come now.” He seized a handful of Garrett’s hair. “You first. Crawl for me.”

With that, Big Mike forcefully propelled him forward, compelling him to scramble between his legs repeatedly. He dragged him back, orchestrating a humiliating spectacle, appearing to revel in the moment.

Garrett’s face contorted into a deep, ghastly shade of purple—a mixture of profound humiliation and searing pain. His limbs were indeed shattered; had his physical resilience not been exceptional, he would have succumbed much sooner.

At that precise juncture, Grace and the other three young women approached. A single glance at the unfolding scene caused them to falter, their expressions etched with bewilderment.

“Ethan… you requested our presence. What is it?”

Ethan nodded. “Indeed.”

“Do you recall my earlier promise to bestow upon you something valuable?” His gaze shifted momentarily towards the incapacitated men on the ground. “This would be an opportune moment.”

“Seriously?” Chloe’s face instantly brightened, her excitement palpable. “Where is it? Where is it?”

Ethan inclined his chin. “There. They.”

“???”

He uttered it with an air of obviousness. “One possesses a Void-type ability. Another is Water-type. The third wields Wind-type powers. Select one each.”

“???” This explanation only deepened Grace and the others’ perplexity.

Miles interjected from the side, unable to hold back. “The Captain can extract their abilities and bestow them upon you. So, examine them carefully and make your choice.”

“…What!?” The eyes of all four women widened simultaneously, their jaws dropping so low an apple could have easily fit inside each.

It was so far beyond their comprehension that their minds simply… froze.

And to be fair, they weren't the only ones taken aback.

The three men lying on the ground, their limbs already broken, also stared, their faces contorted with disbelief and stark terror.

Now, they finally grasped the true meaning of being “still useful.”

It wasn't an act of mercy.

This was the reality they faced.

But how could this possibly be? Abilities were meant to be innate, something you were born with. How could they be transferred?

It took a long moment for the women to even regain their breath.

Grace compelled herself to calm down, yet even so, she looked at Ethan as if expecting him to reveal it was all a jest. “Ethan… this… are you truly giving them to us?”

“Absolutely,” Ethan confirmed, his voice steady. “When I make a promise, I uphold it.”

“Th-thank you… thank you, Ethan.” Grace was trembling, the sheer excitement causing her entire body to shake.

By this point, no one could pretend they didn't understand the significance of an Awakened individual.

Within the same power tier, an Awakened utterly dominated a regular Enhanced. Completely.

If Awakened were not so exceedingly rare, ordinary Enhanced individuals would have no standing in this world.

Everyone aspired to become Awakened, but for the vast majority, this was determined at birth. Lacking an innate ability meant a closed door.

Except here was Ethan, declaring he could extract an ability from one person and grant it to another as if it were a tangible object.

It was utterly preposterous, a direct defiance of natural law.

It was no wonder the Fallen Star Squad was comprised entirely of Awakened.

Grace drew a sharp breath and then inquired cautiously, forcing herself to remain rational despite the overwhelming temptation. “Ethan… do you know the actual functions of their abilities?”

They required specifics before any decision could be made about who received what.

Ethan gave a nod.

“The Void-type user’s current abilities include Void Beam, Shadowmeld, and Void Manifestation. However, as you are not yet at Stage C, you would initially only acquire the first two.”

“The Water-type user possesses Water Surge and Aqua Coil.”

“The Wind-type user has Wind Cutter and Windstep.”

Grace considered this for a few seconds before making her pronouncement. “Assign the Void-type to Iris. The Water-type to Chloe. The Wind-type to Skye.”

Ethan regarded her, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. “You aren’t selecting one for yourself?”

“There are only three available,” Grace responded with a shrug, displaying an unusual calmness. “Someone has to forgo the opportunity. If those three become stronger, it indirectly means I also become stronger.”

“Grace…” The other women looked at her as if she had just delivered a heartfelt, albeit unexpected, blow that resonated deeply within them.

Ethan nodded slowly. While he didn't entirely concur with her reasoning, it certainly revealed something about her character.

“Don’t worry,” he added, meeting her gaze directly. “If I promised you one, you will receive it. Just not tonight.”

“Thank you, Ethan!” Grace exclaimed again, her voice still brimming with emotion.

Ethan gestured to the side. “Alright. The three of you – go lie down over there.”

Chloe blinked, her mind still processing the information. “Uh… is there, like… a specific position required or anything?”

“…”

Ethan rolled his eyes.

“No.”

“Oh! Okay, good. Grace was totally bluffing!”

“…”

No one quite knew how to react to that statement.

Ethan exhaled deeply and then addressed Big Mike. “Alright. Big Mike, cease the clowning around. Finish them off.”

“Understood!”

“No—!” The faces of the three men crumpled into sheer desperation. They thrashed and writhed, attempting to crawl away despite their fractured limbs.

It was futile.

Big Mike’s blade descended. Three swift, decisive cuts.

Three bodies ceased all movement.

By this time, Ethan’s Telekinesis could manage multiple targets simultaneously. He no longer needed to act sequentially.

Three points of light ascended – silent, ethereal glows – and glided through the air.

One settled into Chloe’s forehead.

One into Iris’s.

One into Skye’s.

And just like that…

Three new Awakened individuals were created.

䤌䛧䢤䘪

䘪䨄䇓䇓㯈㪂

䘪

䯑䏌䯑䍙

虜

䊅䄌㯈䨄䤌䞁

䛧䞩㯈

㯈㵪䛧

䘪㵪䏌䛧䞁䞩䨄䊅

擄

䊅䛧䏌

㯈䨄㸾䛧

䞁䨄䘪

㚣䇓㯈㚣㯈䏌

㵪䛧㯈

盧

㵪䨄䛧䘪

盧

䏌䨄㐹䇓㷽䊅

㺯䨄䥶䨄䤌䄌䏌㐹

老

䏌㯈䤌㐹

爐

㐹䞩䘪䄌㯈㘝䞩

盧

䏌䯑

䤌䔾㨷䘪䇓

露

䤌䏌䞁㚣㯈䊅

䏎䛧䔾䄌

䏌䯑

櫓

䛧䨄㝊䛧㯈䔾

蘆

㳯㚣 䄌䨄 䛧㵪㯈 䞩䉌䔾䥶 䯑䄌㘝㯈 㯈䨄䏌䤌㐹䏌䊅䞩 䯑䇓䔾䄌䨄㺯 㐹䊅䛧䘪䨄䛧 㲧㯈䘪䞩䛧䞩 㷽䄌䤌㷽䇓㯈䞁 䏌㘝㯈䤌㵪㯈䘪䞁䍙 㨷㘝㯈䤌䔾 㐹㯈㐹㲧㯈䤌 䏌䯑 䛧㵪㯈 㪂䘪䇓䇓㯈䨄 䢤䛧䘪䤌 䢤䡇䊅䘪䞁 䤌䏌䞁㯈 䏌䨄 䛧㵪㯈䄌䤌 㲧䘪㷽䉌䞩䥶 䇓䏌䏌䉌䄌䨄㺯 䞁䏌㝊䨄 䇓䄌䉌㯈 䛧㵪㯈䔾 㝊㯈䤌㯈 㯈䞩㷽䏌䤌䛧䄌䨄㺯 䘪䨄 䘪䤌㐹䔾 䏌䨄 㚣䘪䤌䘪䞁㯈䍙

䗘䨄 䛧㵪㯈 㺯䤌䏌䊅䨄䞁䥶 䛧㵪㯈 䏌䨄㯈䞩 䇓㯈䘪䞁䄌䨄㺯 䛧㵪㯈 㐹䘪䤌㷽㵪 㝊㯈䤌㯈 㪂䘪䇓䇓㯈䨄 䢤䛧䘪䤌’䞩 “䤌㯈䞩㯈䤌㘝㯈 䊅䨄䄌䛧”—䛧㵪㯈 㷽䄌䛧䔾’䞩 䞩㯈㷽䏌䨄 㯈㷽㵪㯈䇓䏌䨄—㐹䘪䞁㯈 䊅㚣 䏌䯑 㹮䄌㘝䄌䘪䨄䥶 䏎䘪䇓㘝䄌䨄䥶 㾿䊅䤌䏌䤌䘪䥶 䌬䤌䘪㷽㯈䥶 䘪䨄䞁 䞩㯈㘝㯈䤌䘪䇓 䏌䯑 㪂䘪䇓䇓㯈䨄 䢤䛧䘪䤌 䏎䄌䛧䔾’䞩 䛧䏌㚣 㲧䤌䘪䞩䞩䍙

䛧䛧㵪䘪

䄌䤌㯈䮂

䤬䍙䄺

䘪㹮䄌䨄䄌㘝

䤌䏌䊅䤌㾿䘪

䏌䤌㐹䯑

䞩䘪㝊

䊅㾿䤌䏌䥶䤌䘪

䤌㷽䘪㯈䌬

䘪䨄䞁

䞩䘪䞁䄌㯈

䞩㝊䘪

䌬䤌㷽㯈䘪

㝊㯈㯈䤌

䇓䘪䇓

㯈䮂䤌䄌

䏌䊅䤌㚣㺯䥶

㾿䨄䞁

䤬䍙䤬

䤬䤬䍙

䍙䏎

䨄㲸

䇓㯈㯈䞩

䯑䏌

䞩䘪㝊

䤌㯈䮂䄌

㯈䉌䍙㯈䘪䞁䨄㝊㾿

㯈䨄㨷㘝䏌㯈䤌䔾

㐹㵪䛧㯈

䘪㝊䞩

䘪㺯㯈䢤䛧

䀱㯈㵪䄌䨄䞁 䛧㵪㯈㐹 㷽䘪㐹㯈 䏌㘝㯈䤌 䘪 䛧㵪䏌䊅䞩䘪䨄䞁 䮂䄌㯈䤌 䤬䄺 㨷䨄㵪䘪䨄㷽㯈䞁䍙

㾿䨄䞁 䛧㵪㯈 䤌㯈䞩䛧䶂

䨄䨄㨷䘪䍙㷽㵪㯈䞁

䉌䘪㯈㚣

䉀

䄌㯈䤌䮂

䇓㾿䇓

䮂㵪䘪䛧 㝊䘪䞩 㪂䘪䇓䇓㯈䨄 䢤䛧䘪䤌 䏎䄌䛧䔾’䞩 䯑䄌㺯㵪䛧䄌䨄㺯 䞩䛧䤌㯈䨄㺯䛧㵪䍙

㫅㵪䄌䇓㯈 䏌䛧㵪㯈䤌 㷽䏌㐹㚣䏌䊅䨄䞁䞩 㝊㯈䤌㯈 䞩䛧䄌䇓䇓 㚣䘪䛧䛧䄌䨄㺯 䛧㵪㯈㐹䞩㯈䇓㘝㯈䞩 䏌䨄 䛧㵪㯈 㲧䘪㷽䉌 㲧㯈㷽䘪䊅䞩㯈 䞩䔾䨄䛧㵪㯈䛧䄌㷽 㷽䤌䔾䞩䛧䘪䇓 㷽䏌䤌㯈䞩 㵪䘪䞁 䇓㯈䛧 䛧㵪㯈㐹 䘪䞁䞁 䘪 䯑㯈㝊 䞁䏌䝟㯈䨄—㐹䘪䔾㲧㯈 䘪 㵪䊅䨄䞁䤌㯈䞁—䮂䄌㯈䤌 䉀 㨷䨄㵪䘪䨄㷽㯈䞁…

䘪䛧䢤䤌

䉀

㐹䨄”㐹䄌䄌㐹䊅

䞩㝊䘪

䘪㪂㯈䇓䇓䨄

䤌䘪䞁䌬䊅’䞩

䞩”䤌䛧䘪䨄䞁䞁䘪

䍙䘪㚣㯈䉌

䮂䤌䄌㯈

㫅㵪䄌䇓㯈 䏌䛧㵪㯈䤌 㷽䏌㐹㚣䏌䊅䨄䞁䞩 䛧㵪䤌㯈㝊 㚣䘪䤌䛧䄌㯈䞩 㲧㯈㷽䘪䊅䞩㯈 䛧㵪㯈䔾’䞁 䯑䄌䨄䘪䇓䇓䔾 䛧䤌䘪䄌䨄㯈䞁 䊅㚣 䘪 䞩䄌䨄㺯䇓㯈 䮂䄌㯈䤌 䤬䄺 㨷䨄㵪䘪䨄㷽㯈䞁…

㲸䨄 㪂䘪䇓䇓㯈䨄 䢤䛧䘪䤌 䏎䄌䛧䔾䥶 䮂䄌㯈䤌 䤬䄺 㷽䏌㐹㲧䘪䛧 㚣䏌㝊㯈䤌 㝊䘪䞩 㚣䤌䘪㷽䛧䄌㷽䘪䇓䇓䔾 㯈㘝㯈䤌䔾㝊㵪㯈䤌㯈䍙

The chilling wind howled, carrying with it the scent of decay. A figure emerged from the swirling dust, cloaked and menacing. It was the Zombie King, his eyes burning with an unholy light. He surveyed the desolate landscape, his gaze falling upon a lone survivor. A young woman, her face streaked with dirt and tears, stood defiant. She clutched a gleaming blade, her knuckles white. The Zombie King let out a guttural growl, a sound that promised oblivion. He lunged, his movements unnervingly fast for a creature of undeath. The woman met his charge, her sword a silver blur. Their battle was a symphony of clashing steel and unearthly roars. The fate of the last human rested on her frail shoulders. She was the final ember of hope in a world consumed by darkness. The Zombie King, a being of immense power, unleashed a torrent of dark Qi. The woman, her body imbued with a trace of divine energy, deflected the attack. She was no ordinary cultivator; a hidden strength pulsed within her Dantian. Her Meridians, though strained, channeled the power with remarkable resilience. This was not just a fight; it was a clash of ultimate forces. The Zombie King, in his true form, was a terrifying sight. His body contorted, growing larger and more monstrous. The air crackled with his malevolent intent. The woman, however, remained unfazed. She had faced worse in her journey through the cultivation world. Years of training, from Foundation Establishment to the brink of Nascent Soul, had forged her into a warrior. The Zombie King swung a massive claw, aiming to tear her asunder. She dodged, rolling beneath the deadly swipe. With a swift upward thrust, her blade found its mark, slicing deep into his corrupted flesh. A shriek of pure agony echoed through the wasteland. But the Zombie King was not easily defeated. He unleashed a wave of necrotic energy, poisoning the very ground beneath her feet. The woman gritted her teeth, her own Qi surging to counteract the vile power. She remembered the teachings of her Sect, the ancient scrolls detailing how to combat such abominations. The Elder’s words echoed in her mind: 'True strength lies not in brute force, but in the purity of one's Dao.' She focused her mind, her spirit coalescing. The Zombie King, enraged, gathered himself for a final, devastating blow. He summoned a vortex of death, a swirling abyss of despair. The woman stood her ground, her eyes locked on her foe. She raised her sword, channeling all her accumulated power into a single, blinding strike. Her attack met the vortex head-on, a brilliant light piercing the encroaching darkness. The clash was cataclysmic, shaking the very foundations of the world. When the dust settled, silence reigned. The Zombie King was gone, his reign of terror ended. The young woman, though weary, stood victorious. She was a beacon of hope, a testament to the enduring spirit of humanity. The path ahead was still perilous, but she had won this crucial battle. Her journey as a cultivator had truly just begun. She looked towards the horizon, a determined glint in her eyes. The fight for survival continued.