Apocalypse: King of Zombies Chapter 1272: From Today On… This Is Fallen Star City
Ethan’s sudden appearance right before them caused the three monstrous figures to furrow their brows deeply, their bodies instinctively tensing.
“Cheap tricks,” one of them spat out. “I don’t believe it. You’re not even Tier 12—just how formidable could a piece of trash like you possibly be?”
Monroe let out a scoff. A colossal fist formed from dark energy materialized in the air above, then plummeted toward Ethan as if it were a falling mountain.
Ethan’s lips curled upwards.
With a mere thought, a silhouette materialized instantly in front of him. It raised a hand and with effortless grace, swatted the shadowy fist aside—
—causing the entire blast to dissipate like wisps of smoke.
“!!!”
Monroe and the other two froze mid-motion, their eyes widening to their limits, their countenances shifting to wariness in the blink of an eye.
They attempted to gauge the newcomer's power.
Nothing registered. It was as if the figure possessed no power whatsoever.
This, however, only amplified their unease.
For something that could effortlessly deflect Monroe’s Dark Fist with a casual backhand should not register as “nothing.”
Ethan’s tone turned icy. “Dopey. Eliminate them.”
Facing three adversaries, one of whom was a Tier 20 powerhouse, Ethan was disinclined to risk his own life merely to make a statement. A trump card was held for a reason.
The instant the command escaped his lips, Dopey became a blur, streaking forward.
One moment, it stood beside Ethan. The next, it was already before Monroe, delivering a straightforward, brutal punch devoid of any wasted movement.
Monroe’s expression contorted. A shield of dark energy materialized abruptly before him, and he launched himself backward at maximum velocity.
It was too late.
BOOM.
The shield disintegrated as if it were brittle glass. The fist continued its trajectory unimpeded, driving directly into Monroe’s form.
THUMP.
The sound was deep and resonant. And then, Monroe detonated.
Flesh and gore erupted outwards in a horrifying bloom, fragments scattering across the ground.
“!!!”
Every onlooker turned rigid, their eyes wide with sheer, unadulterated disbelief.
Not far away, the primary battlefield continued its furious roar—skills flared, lives were extinguished—but in this immediate vicinity?
An absolute silence descended. The kind of quiet that makes your own ears ring.
“H-how…?”
“Aren’t those lords meant to be invincible…? How was he obliterated with a single strike…?” Darren stammered, as if his own mouth refused to accept the words.
Even Malcolm’s frenzied visage froze.
He had not received the spectacle he had craved—his “lords” overwhelming the enemy. Instead, he had borne witness to their strongest member dissolving into a mist of flesh and blood.
He was simply… stunned into blankness.
“Flee!”
The remaining two grotesque figures snapped out of their shock and, without a second thought, prioritized their own survival.
Ethan’s gaze fixed upon them. “One for each.”
He teleported instantaneously before one of them. His poleaxe blazed with dark energy as he brought it down with immense force.
“Just you?” The grotesque figure’s lips twisted into a cruel semblance. Dark energy coiled around his fist as he lunged directly at Ethan.
He harbored fear towards Dopey. He did not fear Ethan.
Ethan emitted a cold, chilling laugh. “Underestimating me…” His eyes narrowed menacingly. “…carries a price.”
BOOM!
A deafening explosion rocked the very ground, akin to a lightning strike at point-blank range. A gaping crater materialized where they had stood.
The grotesque figure’s body was violently rent asunder, torn into pieces that lay strewn within the pit.
On the other flank, Dopey had concluded its engagement even more swiftly.
The final grotesque figure—unfortunate enough to be its designated target—was already reduced to a bloody pulp.
Ethan clicked his tongue and offered a shake of his head. “Such a waste of potential pet food.”
He then casually returned Dopey to his spatial storage ring.
Around them, the high-ranking officials of the Silverlake City compound stood dumbfounded, their faces etched with abject horror.
In their perception, those “lords” were utterly untouchable. Yet, they had been annihilated like mere insects.
What then, did this make Ethan and the entity he had summoned?
Ethan, disregarding their stupefied stares, strode directly towards Malcolm. He lightly, almost insultingly, patted Malcolm’s face.
“What—still contemplating vengeance for your son?”
“You…” Malcolm’s mouth opened, but no sound emerged.
“Forget about vengeance.” Ethan’s voice remained devoid of emotion. “But I can arrange for you to join him.”
He dispatched Malcolm without any further ceremony.
His task completed, Ethan teleported back onto the peregrine falcon, Flint. He gazed down at the pandemonium below, his voice clear and decisive.
“Conclude this swiftly.”
“Yes!”
The instant Ethan’s words resounded, the Fallen Star Guard below seemed to accelerate their efforts. The Silverlake City compound’s forces immediately faltered under the intensified assault. The battle decisively shifted to a one-sided affair, with Fallen Star City’s over twenty thousand soldiers advancing and decimating hundreds of thousands, progressively pushing them back, leaving a carpet of corpses in their wake.
Many on the opposing side began to lose their will to fight. And when Big Mike and his cadre launched a sudden offensive, wiping out Silverlake’s leadership in a single decisive sweep, any remaining semblance of cohesion shattered. The defeated soldiers commenced scattering, desperately attempting to flee for their lives.
But then—
From within the compound, a massive wave of Enhanced individuals surged forth, effectively blocking all escape routes. They intercepted the fleeing multitude, and some even began to strike them down on the spot.
The whole scene was so outlandish that the inhabitants of Fallen Star City paused, momentarily bewildered by what they were witnessing.
Then, gradually, their gazes shifted upwards, towards the heavens.
A voice, devoid of emotion and firm in its command, descended from above. "Those who have just appeared – eliminate them all. The remaining matters will be addressed subsequently."
"Understood!"
The Fallen Star Guard resumed their offensive, their weapons and unique abilities a blur of motion.
In the end, the entire engagement was concluded in under twenty minutes.
A staggering number of over two hundred thousand Enhanced individuals who had joined the conflict were annihilated.
Out of this total, a significant portion, numbering one hundred and seventy thousand, hailed from the Riverton City compound.
The remaining sixty thousand were comprised of Silverlake locals who had sided with Garrett.
When the brutal extermination finally ceased, the landscape resembled a scene ripped from the underworld – shattered stone, lingering smoke, viscous blood, fine ash, and a grisly accumulation of bodies where streets once lay.
Every soul who bore witness to this carnage felt an icy dread course through their veins.
The remnants of Silverlake City compound's Enhanced soldiers stood huddled together, a trembling mass, their eyes locked onto the formidable presence of the Fallen Star City contingent.
Within a distressingly short period, Silverlake had already endured two devastating calamities. Twice, the city had been submerged in a tide of blood. Any resilience they might have retained had been worn away to the point of imminent collapse.
Presently, they appeared akin to condemned criminals awaiting their final judgment – filled with apprehension, diminutive in stature, and bracing themselves for the inevitable next assault.
The compound had undergone yet another change in authority, and they had no inkling of the nature of their new overseer.
One certainty remained in their minds: the individuals before them possessed the capability to eradicate hundreds of thousands without a flicker of hesitation.
They dared not contemplate resistance. The disparity in power was glaringly evident. Those monstrous, terrifying beings – whom they had once considered invincible – had been dispatched with contemptuous ease. How could anyone present possibly contend?
Yet, a solitary sliver of reassurance offered a meager comfort.
These new arrivals were, after all, human. Just like themselves.
Not the abhorrent abominations that reportedly preyed upon the blood of children.
In comparison to such horrors, nearly any alternative seemed like a benevolent act of mercy.
Ethan surveyed the multitude of faces – the clenched jaws and quivering hands – and for the first time, he conceded that Aurora might have been correct.
These individuals were indeed in a pitiable state.
"Remain calm," Ethan's voice resonated, amplified to reach all ears. "We intend no harm to you. Your actions just now – turning against them – have earned you your continued existence."
Allowing his words to settle in the heavy air, he then raised his voice further.
"Effective immediately, the Silverlake City compound shall be known as Fallen Star City! You are all now citizens of Fallen Star City. Irrespective of your past affiliations, from this moment forward, you will adhere to the laws of Fallen Star City. Do you comprehend?"
"We comprehend!" the assembled throng responded, their voices a clamor of desperation and relief.
"Excellent." Ethan's tone sharpened, becoming more severe. "Bear this in mind: the regulations of Fallen Star City supersede all else. Not even the headquarters of The Atlas Federation possesses the authority to intervene. Any individual who violates these statutes shall face execution. There are no exceptions."
"Yes!" they echoed again, a unified roar.
Ethan offered a single, decisive nod.
"Do not despair. Before long, you will take pride in being a member of Fallen Star City."
He gestured dismissively, signaling the end of his address. "Very well. Miles will now address you. From this point onward, all matters concerning the compound will be managed by Deputy Commander Miles."
And with that, Ethan departed without a moment's hesitation.
He found no enjoyment in large gatherings, and certainly none in delivering lengthy orations. If there was anyone adept at galvanizing a populace – while simultaneously tightening their reins – it was Miles, not himself.
Silverlake was an expansive territory, which implied the presence of numerous challenges. Hidden adversaries. Individuals harboring personal aspirations.
Even setting aside other concerns, a substantial number of individuals from the Riverton City compound were still intermingled within the populace. That particular entanglement required meticulous untangling.
Furthermore, the administration of a significant compound entailed a thousand vexations that Ethan had absolutely no inclination to shoulder.
Let Miles grapple with the complexities for a time.
With the Fallen Star Guard firmly established within the compound, it was highly improbable that anyone would be capable of instigating significant unrest.