Apocalypse: King of Zombies Chapter 1289: Now It’s Our Turn

With a gesture towards the heavens, Henry unleashed a cascade of white light that descended like a barrage of swords, impaling numerous crimson birds in quick succession. This was his light-elemental ability, Rain of Light, finally granting him area-of-effect power. For the first time, he appeared to be a formidable force in a group engagement.

Beside him, Sean clenched his fist and directed a punch skyward. A colossal, spectral fist materialized in the air before smashing into a gathering of the red birds, causing them to fragment and disperse upon impact. This was his specialized ability, Solidified Energy, providing him with a potent ranged attack that hit with immense force.

Ethan, observing this with admiration, turned to await Chris’s contribution. Chris, however, remained stationary, appearing rather helpless with his hands seemingly unusable. Ethan blinked, activating his True Sight to assess Chris. A moment later, he sighed and shook his head in understanding. Chris, it seemed, had a peculiar aversion to ranged combat. Despite reaching Stage B, he still lacked any significant long-range offensive capabilities. His Stage B skill was a pure enhancement, temporarily doubling his strength for a brief ten-second duration. Furthermore, his evolved ability continued this trend, granting a 50% strength boost to attacks while invisible. Combined with his black-edged weapon enhancement, his burst damage would be devastating, but it left him vulnerable in situations like this.

Lacking a ranged arsenal, all Chris could do was direct a furious glare at the sky. While his Corrupting Spear technically qualified as a ranged attack, its corrosive nature was designed for prolonged damage. It wouldn't be effective for instantly dispatching the birds, and using it against a dense swarm would merely deplete his mental energy.

Henry and Sean’s assaults created the desired chaos above. The flock reacted with agitated screeches, intensifying their aggression and assaulting the protective dome with all their might. Yet, the barrier held firm, resembling an unyielding turtle shell. They could strike the birds, but the birds could not touch them, a situation proving immensely frustrating for the swarm.

Witnessing this dynamic, Ethan made a swift decision. With a surge of intent, he dislodged the birds attempting to corner him and propelled himself towards the dome. Daggers began to spin in a tight vortex, harmonizing with Henry’s descending light and Sean’s energy blasts. Within moments, the airspace around the dome transformed into a lethal zone, with crimson bodies plummeting in heaps. Ethan harbored no illusions; the protective dome was robust, but sustained assault from tens of thousands of attackers would eventually breach any defense.

“Ethan!”

“Captain!”

A noticeable wave of relief washed over those inside the dome upon seeing him, their gazes then shifting to the dagger beneath his boots. Mia exclaimed, “Telekinetic flight?!” A collective sense of awe emanated from them. Ethan grinned, “Heh. Pretty slick, right?” Skinny Pete, captivated, responded, “Insanely slick.”

Chris appeared on the verge of an outburst, pleading, “Ethan—can I do it too?” His voice conveyed a sense of desperation. Having endured the limitations of his short reach, he yearned for flight above all else. While Flint and the other mounts possessed flight capabilities, at their Tier 12-13 level, venturing out would result in instant incineration. If Chris could achieve flight like Ethan, he could ascend and engage the birds directly.

Ethan hesitated, replying, “I mean... technically, yeah. But I’m the one controlling it. If I get distracted and lose focus, I might accidentally send you straight to hell.” Chris’s expression turned grim. “…Don’t care,” he declared instantly. “Let me try. I’m gonna lose my mind if I have to keep standing here.” Ethan let out a snort. “Fine. Come out.”

“Done!” Chris turned, calling out, “Henry—shield me!” With a flick of his wrist, Henry conjured a Divine Shield, enveloping Chris in a radiant layer of light. Henry’s Stage B shield now appeared and felt significantly more formidable. Garrick carefully widened a section of the dome just enough. Chris slipped through the opening.

The instant he exited, attacks converged upon him from all directions – fire, burning feathers, and intense heat akin to a blast furnace. However, the Divine Shield absorbed it all, leaving Chris unharmed. Ethan subtly directed his mind. A dagger shot beneath Chris’s boots. Chris immediately stepped onto it, and the dagger ascended rapidly, carrying him upward. Ethan had gained proficiency, ensuring a stable ascent – a stark contrast to his initial clumsy attempts. Even for Chris, experiencing flight via a dagger for the first time, balance was not an issue at their current level.

Within moments, Chris was airborne in the open sky. Precisely as anticipated, the shield protecting him, after enduring an immense barrage of attacks, finally disintegrated. Ethan was already formulating his next move, but Chris preempted him by stomping off the dagger. He executed a downward kick, launched himself forward, and vanished mid-air.

Suddenly, a crimson bird convulsed as if struck by a heavy object. Its head then cleanly detached, and its body plummeted from the sky towards the rocky terrain below. And then, the sequence repeated itself.

Once more.

Redbirds were obliterated one by one, their lifeless bodies plummeting like stones from the sky.

A grin stretched across Ethan’s face.

He alone could perceive the unfolding chaos; everyone else was oblivious.

Chris, completely unseen, leaped from one bird to another with frenzied agility, using them as temporary platforms while expertly severing their necks.

Ethan watched, thoroughly amused.

A soft chuckle escaped him before he ceased his vigil.

With a swift teleport, Ethan rejoined the safety of the protective barrier. He deployed over a hundred daggers, concentrating solely on offense and obliterating any threat within his reach.

The sheer exhilaration of unleashing his power without any need for defense was intoxicating.

However, while the others reveled in the fight, Garrick was on the verge of a cardiac event, rapidly consuming crystal cores.

The protective dome drew directly from his mental fortitude. The more intense the swarm's assault, the quicker it depleted him.

Before long, the final group successfully completed their advancements.

Emily’s eyes fluttered open; she saw Garrick’s ashen countenance and instantly connected with him, channeling mental energy to him with all her might.

Garrick exhaled slowly. "God… you’re finally finished. I was about to collapse in another minute or two."

With Emily's support, he finally seemed capable of drawing a full breath.

Emily rubbed her cheek, a trace of guilt in her expression. "Um… sorry, Garrick. Deciding on my skill took a bit longer than anticipated."

"It's alright," Garrick replied, still recovering from the strain. "No one chooses their skills lightly."

A chorus of agreement rippled through the group. They all faced the same dilemma – their power was on the line. Even without Ethan’s unique insight into skill specifics, they had to rely on instinct and careful deliberation. Hesitancy was completely natural.

Big Mike lifted his head, his irritatingly smug expression firmly in place. "Alright. Now it’s our turn."

He initiated his attack without delay.

The sky above grew dim, and then a precipitation began.

It wasn't ordinary rain.

The drops sizzled upon contact with the redbirds, eliciting plumes of white smoke from their feathers. The birds shrieked in agony, their movements becoming erratic.

Every eye turned to Big Mike in stunned silence.

"Hold on," Skinny Pete interjected. "Weren't you a fire-elementalist? Since when did you acquire water-based abilities?"

Big Mike flashed a grin. "Heh. It's a fantastic skill. The direct damage isn't overwhelming, but its area of effect is vast, and it carries poison. Incredibly useful."

Ethan offered a nod of genuine approval. "Yeah. That’s a solid choice."

Big Mike’s Toxic Rain didn't obliterate any targets instantly…

…but it plunged the avian swarm into utter pandemonium. The redbirds, consumed by panic, flapped their wings furiously and beat a hasty retreat into the distance.

They… fled.

"Thump."

A heavy impact resonated against the ground.

A split second later, a figure materialized on the rocks below.

"Holy crap!" Chris bellowed, clutching his posterior and fixing a look of profound betrayal upon them. "Who the hell decided to unleash Toxic Rain?!"

All eyes slowly, deliberately, shifted towards Big Mike.

Big Mike blinked, utterly bewildered. "What? Chris, why were you up there?"

Chris’s face flushed crimson, veins bulging in his neck.

"BIG MIKE!" he roared, his voice echoing through the mountain passes. "I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!"