Apocalypse: King of Zombies Chapter 1292 1292: Now We Know What We Are

A full half hour passed as Chris and the others diligently harvested crystal cores. This included every creature they had personally slain, along with the Flamebirds Ethan had managed to fell while luring enemies.

The group was still in the process of tallying their spoils when the sky above abruptly plunged into darkness once more.

An immense swarm of red birds was rapidly approaching their position.

Instantly, everyone sprang to their feet, weapons drawn and aimed, eyes fixed on the oncoming aerial assault.

Sean furrowed his brow. "Chris… do you think Ethan succeeded? Could this be them bringing the Flamebirds back?"

"Perhaps," Chris responded, his posture remaining tense. "But don't let your guard down. Staying cautious is still the wisest course of action."

"Right."

As the returning Flamebirds drew nearer, the palpable tension began to dissipate.

It was then they spotted Ethan and the rest of the team riding on the backs of the leading birds.

"So, it worked," Mia exclaimed, relief washing over her, quickly followed by a surge of excitement.

Skinny Pete let out a jubilant whoop. "Ha! When our captain takes charge, failure is impossible!"

The massive flock descended, landing with a symphony of clicking talons on the stone ground as their vibrant red wings folded. Ethan, along with Henry and Skinny Pete, dismounted from a Flamebird's broad back.

"Captain, you're absolutely insane," Big Mike declared immediately, his voice dripping with exaggerated admiration.

However, his eyes were practically alight with excitement as he gazed at the incredible number of Flamebirds.

From this point forward, traveling would be an exercise in pure style and efficiency. The sheer thought of it brought a giddy smile to his face.

The others were no less enthralled, each member of the group scrutinizing the flock as if children were selecting new bicycles.

There were so many of them, more than enough for everyone to have their own mount, with plenty left over.

Ethan approached Chris. "Did you finish gathering the cores?"

"Yep. All done," Chris confirmed, gesturing to a nearby spot. "Including what we killed here and what you brought down, we've got just over three thousand. They're all gathered right over there."

"Good," Ethan acknowledged, sweeping the accumulated crystal cores into his storage ring.

As for the fallen Flamebird bodies, he allowed the remaining birds to deal with them.

The Flamebirds showed no hesitation whatsoever.

It seemed consuming their own deceased comrades was not an issue for them, likely a common practice in a world as harsh and starved as this.

Ethan surveyed their surroundings once more, the same oppressive, dark-red landscape stretching endlessly in every direction. The mountains were stark, bare rock, devoid of any greenery, not even a patch of moss.

He couldn't even begin to speculate on the intricacies of the food chain in such a desolate environment.

"Rest up," Ethan instructed. "Then, everyone needs to report the skill they acquired at Stage B to the group. We need a clear understanding of our combat capabilities."

"Understood."

They formed a loose circle, and Ethan produced some food. They ate and conversed, finally able to relax and converse.

Chris spoke first. "My new skill is a buff. It has a short duration, but it's incredibly potent—it instantly doubles my strength. However, it only lasts for ten seconds."

He tapped his chest. "Additionally, my ability evolution provides a fifty percent damage boost while I'm invisible. Combining these effects means my burst damage output will be absolutely devastating."

"Damn," Sean remarked. "Chris is going to be our specialist for taking down high-tier monsters."

"Seriously," Skinny Pete chimed in. "That's some serious boss-killer energy right there."

Chris let out a hearty laugh. "Yeah, yeah. That's probably my main role. In a large-scale swarm battle, you guys definitely outperform me."

"Then leave the swarm fights to us," Mia stated dismissively.

Ethan gestured towards Henry. "Henry?"

Henry scratched his cheek. "You've already seen my new skill—it's a light-element Area of Effect ability called Rain of Light. The damage it deals is quite substantial."

He then grinned. "And my healing ability has also evolved. I can now regenerate severed limbs. So, if any of you idiots lose an arm or a leg, don't panic. I can practically grow you a new one."

Big Mike's face lit up with elation. "Holy—Henry, I adore you! That means I can just go all out now!"

"Go wild if you must," Henry replied dryly. "I can regrow limbs, but I can't regrow your brain. If your head gets severed, I'll just help by collecting the remains."

"…Okay," Big Mike said, his enthusiasm instantly deflating. "Never mind then."

"It sounds like Calvin's injured arm might actually be fixable now," Ethan chuckled lightly.

"Later, I'll check in with Miles about his recent conduct. If he's finally managed to curb that bleeding-heart tendency, we'll heal him. If he remains the same… then we'll have to leave it as is. Let that arm serve as a permanent reminder."

"Agreed," Henry concurred.

Ethan turned to Sean with a smile. "Sean's upgrade is quite remarkable. Tell everyone about it."

Sean nodded. "Alright."

"My Stage B skill is what I just demonstrated—energy solidification. It allows me to perform ranged attacks."

He raised a hand, carefully choosing his words. "And my ability evolution has added something else: a metal-elemental ability that enables me to condense metallic elements into tangible objects. I can shape these into various forms."

A look of astonishment spread across everyone's faces.

"…What exactly does that mean?" Big Mike inquired.

Chris snapped his fingers, illuminating the concept. "It's simple. Sean has effectively become a portable equipment crafter now. He can forge weapons and armor."

"No way?!" several of them exclaimed simultaneously.

Sean let out a sigh, his expression shifting from pride to resignation. "Yeah."

He sounded rather dejected, as if his newfound skill didn't directly enhance his combat prowess. It effectively meant his role was now to be the squad's designated blacksmith.

Mia leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "How potent are the weapons you can forge?"

"It depends on my current cultivation level," Sean replied. "I'm at Stage B right now, so anything I craft should be sufficient for dealing with Stage B enemies. However, if pitted against someone significantly stronger than me… it likely wouldn't withstand the strain."

"That's still incredibly significant," Henry chimed in. "By the time our equipment starts to fall behind, we'll be counting on you."

Sean gave a single nod. "Understood. No problem."

Ethan lightly tapped the ground. "Additionally, upon our return, I want you to forge a substantial amount of high-quality weapons and stockpile them within the Fallen Star City armory. Allow the Fallen Star Guard to trade merit points for them."

"Consider it done," Sean confirmed.

Ethan then turned his attention. "Skinny Pete. It's your turn."

Skinny Pete's face contorted as if he'd just bitten into a sour lemon. "I'm completely screwed…"

"Both of my skills are non-combat oriented."

"Stop your whining and just state them," Chris interjected.

Skinny Pete raised two fingers. "My Stage B skill is… a form of sensory perception. It allows me to sense things preemptively."

A hush fell over the group.

"…Sense what, precisely?" Big Mike inquired slowly.

"For instance, if a significant event is imminent, I should be able to feel its approach beforehand."

"…What?" Mia echoed, incredulous.

Sean furrowed his brow. "That sounds rather… mystical."

"Yeah," Skinny Pete admitted, "I agree it sounds mystical, but that's the nature of the skill."

Ethan nodded, his expression growing serious. "Never underestimate that. An ability of that nature is quite rare. It will likely prove to be extraordinarily useful."

Big Mike smirked. "Congratulations. You're a fortune teller now. I bet you'll be uncannily accurate."

Skinny Pete shot him a glare. "Shut up."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "And your ability evolution?"

Skinny Pete hesitated for a moment before blurting it out quickly, as if tearing off a bandage. "It's… also peculiar. I can glimpse into the thoughts of others."

Everyone's attention instantly focused on him.

"…Pardon me?" Chris asked.

"You must be joking," Henry stated, his composure suddenly becoming tense.

Skinny Pete raised both hands defensively. "Wait—there are limitations. It only functions on individuals weaker than myself."

A brief pause ensued.

"And you're absolutely certain it only works on those below your cultivation tier?" Sean pressed, his eyes narrowing.

"Yes," Skinny Pete confirmed. "Anyone stronger than me, or even at the same tier, I cannot perceive their thoughts."

A collective sigh of relief swept through the group.

"Thank heavens," Mia murmured.

Big Mike pointed at Skinny Pete, as if accusing him of a grave offense. "Absolutely not. New rule: I'm never letting you surpass me in cultivation tier again."

No one chuckled, as the underlying thought resonated with everyone present.

Should Skinny Pete ever advance beyond them in cultivation, being near him would feel akin to standing exposed in a public square.

The prospect was genuinely unsettling.

Frankly, it made Ethan's True Sight ability seem quite mundane in comparison.

Ethan regarded Skinny Pete with a prolonged gaze, impressed despite himself. While neither of Pete's newly acquired abilities directly amplified his offensive capabilities, both were precisely the type of "strategic" powers that possessed the potential to sway the outcome of an entire war.

Ethan gave a single, decisive nod. Indeed. This young man would prove significant in future conflicts.

His attention then shifted to Big Mike. "Alright, Big Mike. It's your turn."

Big Mike straightened his posture as if he had been anticipating his moment in the spotlight. "Heh. This time, I've made a comeback."

Upon returning to Stage C, the two skills he had acquired had left him in a state of depression for days. This latest one, however, finally felt like a genuine victory.

"My new Stage B skill is Toxic Rain—you all witnessed its effects. Quite potent, wouldn't you agree? Vast area of effect, complete saturation."

He spread his hands wide, effectively marketing his ability. "The damage output is somewhat modest, I concede. It's not exceptional against enemies on par with or exceeding my cultivation level. However, against weaker targets? It's absolutely devastating."

His grin intensified. "Think about… those Yamato adversaries."

"The next time we confront those wretched Yamato scum, I'll unleash a few Toxic Rains, and we'll effectively be eradicating an entire settlement."

No one voiced any disagreement.

In terms of large-scale area-of-effect abilities, Toxic Rain possessed the most extensive range they had encountered thus far.

Big Mike's previous Rain of Flames and Garrick's Meteor Storm covered an area of perhaps… three to four thousand square feet? A single activation might eliminate a few hundred individuals, at best.

However, Toxic Rain operated on an entirely different scale, extending well beyond one hundred thousand square feet. It wasn't difficult to envision one activation poisoning ten to twenty thousand individuals.

A few more activations…

Indeed. The notion of a "city wipe" was not mere hyperbole.