Apocalypse: King of Zombies Chapter 1278: They Sent the Monsters… Now We Visit Them

The following morning, within the most opulent residence in the Nova City compound…

Fallen Star Squad had already risen before dawn, diligently packing their provisions and performing a final gear check before exiting their quarters.

Ethan, ever the man of swift decisions, wasted no time once the plan to invade the Yamato Empire was set. The moment they emerged from the main entrance, they encountered Rowan and his contingent approaching them.

“Ethan, you’re departing this early?” Rowan inquired, a flicker of surprise on his face.

“Affirmative,” Ethan responded with an air of nonchalance. “We’re embarking on a journey to the Yamato Empire.”

“Oh.”

“Wh—? Yamato?!”

A moment of stunned silence followed as Rowan and his crew struggled to comprehend his statement. Then, their eyes widened in unison, fixing their gaze upon him.

“You intend to travel to the Yamato Empire?!”

“Is there an issue?” Ethan asked, his confusion genuine.

“N-no. No issues whatsoever.”

Rowan paused, then cautiously probed further, “Um… Ethan, may I inquire about the purpose of your visit?”

“To ascertain if any Infernals remain and to eliminate them,” Ethan stated as casually as if discussing a routine chore. “And to settle matters with Yamato while we’re at it.”

“!!!”

Rowan and his associates intensified their stare.

They were astonished by his calm demeanor while discussing the potential annihilation of an entire nation.

“Ethan,” Rowan blurted out, his voice laced with growing agitation, “do you have a contingency plan?”

Ethan regarded him as if the question defied logic. “You believe I require one?”

“Uh…” Rowan cleared his throat, visibly flustered. “Indeed. Given the formidable might of Fallen Star Squad, any concerns are surely unwarranted.”

Then, unable to contain his burgeoning excitement, his hands began to rub together in anticipation. “Say—may I accompany you? I could document the entire expedition.”

“Negative,” Ethan replied curtly. “At your current cultivation level, you would be reduced to mere ash the instant you encountered an Infernal.”

“…A valid point.”

“Then perhaps, at the very least, allow me to record the events?” Rowan pressed, his earlier reserve vanishing. “I desperately wish to witness your dismemberment of their forces.”

He no longer resembled the commander of the compound, but rather an ardent fan, radiating a palpable desire to observe the Yamato forces being utterly devastated.

“Our objective is combat, not tourism,” Ethan retorted, rolling his eyes. “Who has the leisure to film?”

“It will integrate seamlessly with your operations, I assure you,” Rowan quickly promised, then pivoted and commanded someone behind him, “Go fetch the miniature HD camera. Immediately!”

“Yes, sir!” The subordinate departed with haste.

Moments later, he returned, a diminutive, gleaming device held aloft. Rowan seized it and presented it to Ethan with the reverence one would offer a rare gem.

“Ethan, this is the latest mini-cam. Simply affix it to your attire. A single press initiates recording—it will not impede your actions in the slightest.” He fixed Ethan with an expectant gaze.

With a sigh, Ethan shook his head before accepting the device. He then passed it to Henry. “You keep hold of it. If circumstances permit, capture some footage.”

“Understood!”

“Very well, let us depart.”

“May fortune favor your endeavor,” Rowan called out, a wide grin on his face. “I eagerly await the spectacle of your conquest.”

Several colossal flying beasts descended from the heavens, landing gracefully. The squad mounted without hesitation. A second later, the creatures took flight, ascending rapidly and vanishing into the sky.

Rowan observed their diminishing forms with profound envy, murmuring, “Truly… I yearn to witness it myself.”

“General,” a middle-aged man standing nearby commented, “no offense intended, but you are no longer in your youth. Undertaking such a journey might prove perilous.”

Rowan directed a sharp glare at him. “If you lack the wisdom to speak appropriately, then remain silent.”

“Yes, sir.”

Rowan produced a satellite phone and dialed Maxwell.

“Maxwell. Fallen Star Squad has just set course for the Yamato Empire.”

“What?!” Maxwell’s voice on the other end spiked dramatically in shock. “When did they depart?”

“They’ve just taken flight,” Rowan relayed. “Their stated objective is to bring Yamato to account for unleashing the Infernals.”

“…”

“I’ve equipped them with the latest mini-cam. Coordinate with the satellite command center to establish a live link—we require an immediate feed.”

“Understood. I shall initiate the setup forthwith,” Maxwell replied, his tone hardening as he shifted into operational command. “Once live, I will broadcast the footage to every compound. Morale has been low lately; this could serve as the potent surge of inspiration the populace desperately needs.”

“Indeed,” Rowan confirmed with evident satisfaction. “Proceed.”

High above the vast, unyielding ocean, several gargantuan, mutated flying creatures sliced through the atmosphere.

Ethan and his companions surveyed the undulating expanse of water below from their mounts.

The sea appeared tranquil on its surface, yet it possessed the unsettling aura of an abyssal chasm, capable of engulfing all. Its sheer immensity weighed heavily upon their spirits.

“Captain…” Skinny Pete murmured, his voice strained as he gazed at the deep blue void stretching out beneath them. “How formidable do you surmise the denizens of this ocean to be?”

“I haven’t the faintest clue,” Ethan replied. “Humanity barely comprehends the mysteries of the sea. Seventy percent of our planet is covered by water—the life teeming beneath its surface remains largely unknown. Following the apocalypse, marine life would undoubtedly mutate at a pace far exceeding terrestrial organisms.” His gaze remained fixed on the vast ocean. “Even with our current capabilities, we cannot afford to be complacent.”

“Is it… that dire…?” someone voiced their concern.

They had scarcely finished speaking when the ocean below erupted violently.

A colossal column of water surged skyward, and a shadow of unimaginable size breached the surface. It opened a maw so vast it defied reality.

A terrifying vortex pulled at them from beneath. For a fleeting moment, it felt as though their bodies were being drawn downward, as if the force of gravity had suddenly doubled.

Peregrine Falcon Flint and the other airborne mutant beasts exerted all their might, their wings beating furiously as they ascended rapidly—another thousand feet—before the pull finally relented, allowing them to break free.

“Good heavens,” Big Mike exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief. “What in the world is that?!”

“It appears to be… some kind of whale?” Chris swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “But its sheer magnitude is beyond comprehension.”

“Ethan—what tier is it?” everyone inquired in unison, their attention unanimously shifting towards him.

“Tier 16,” Ethan stated, his expression grim.

The tier itself was not the source of their apprehension.

What truly instilled fear was the existence of Tier 16 lifeforms already inhabiting the ocean.

This was not some distant Void Realm. This was still Earth. Everyone commenced from the same starting point.

Indeed, he had achieved Stage B—Tier 18—yet their ascent had not been through measured progression. It was the result of sheer luck, seized opportunities, and an unrelenting series of perilous battles.

Most settlements—with the exception of Fallen Star City—did not even possess a single Stage C (Tier 12) entity. Their most formidable combatants barely reached Tier 11.

Meanwhile, in the ocean’s depths, something that emerged from the same cataclysm had already attained Tier 16.

This stark reality cast a chilling pall over everyone’s spirits.

“It seems the sea holds far more than we ever realized,” Sean remarked softly.

“Yes.” Ethan let out a single breath. “Let’s maintain a higher altitude.”

He had no inclination to engage such a formidable entity. While he likely possessed the capability to vanquish it, the current situation below remained uncertain, and initiating a conflict over the open ocean was an invitation to unnecessary peril. A Tier 16 creature was simply not worth the risk.

The ocean was not his chosen arena. Combat within its watery embrace would be disastrous.

Once they ascended to a greater height, no further threats emerged from below.

They proceeded at maximum velocity towards the Yamato Empire.

Directly measured, Nova City was not an insurmountable distance from Yamato—a mere few hundred miles.

It was the ocean that transformed this proximity into a formidable natural barrier.

However, with their flying mounts, the journey transformed. They traversed it in just over thirty minutes.

As the desolate remnants of the Yamato Empire came into view below, the spectacle was… gratifying. For reasons unexplained, it simply was.

Their flight continued onward.

Everywhere beneath them, the land was infested with zombies. Based on the sheer density, Yamato appeared to be in an even more dire state than the Atlas Federation.

After approximately ten more minutes, they finally identified a sizable compound. Judging by its sprawling layout, it must have housed a substantial population.

Their mounts executed a precise arc through the sky, descending towards the settlement.

Almost instantaneously, pandemonium erupted from below—shouts, blaring alarms, and utter chaos.

Then, anti-aircraft cannons whirred to life, and a volley of projectiles streaked upwards towards them.

Yet, the barrage did not persist.

Mid-flight, each projectile faltered, veered as if guided by an unseen will, and hurtled back towards the compound.

“BOOM! BOOM! BOOM—!”

A cacophony of thunderous explosions reverberated against the walls.

In the subsequent moment, the compound’s primary gate had simply ceased to exist, reduced to pulverized debris.