Apocalypse: King of Zombies Chapter 1306 1306: Ten Thousand Strong

Following their return from Atlas City, Ethan immediately commenced the decomposition of crystal cores.

Within the ranks of the Infernals, Tier 16 entities constituted the largest segment, thus Ethan possessed an abundance of Tier 16 cores – nearly two hundred thousand in total.

He also had approximately a hundred thousand Tier 17 cores and slightly over ten thousand Tier 18 cores.

Conversely, Tier 15 cores were notably scarce. Only a few thousand remained from the early days, acquired during their battles with Flamebirds; subsequently, virtually none were obtained.

While these figures appeared staggering on paper, they diminished considerably when distributed among twenty thousand members of the Fallen Star Guard.

To advance from the early stage to the peak within a single Tier, relying solely on crystal cores, required the consumption of ten cores.

For twenty thousand individuals to ascend one full Tier, that equated to a demand of two hundred thousand cores.

Only Ethan's Tier 16 stockpile could sustain such expenditure. The other Tiers lacked the capacity to support twenty thousand individuals advancing simultaneously, regardless of the circumstances.

Ethan found himself in a quandary.

If he insisted on elevating all twenty thousand simultaneously, their advancement would likely plateau at Tier 16 at best, and this would still necessitate the breakdown of a substantial quantity of higher-Tier cores.

However, what if he focused on just ten thousand?

Then, he could almost directly propel that select group to Stage B.

He meticulously recalculated the figures in his mind.

With 200,000 Tier 16 cores, a portion could be allocated for decomposition into Tier 13 to 15 cores, enabling the advancement of all twenty thousand soldiers to Tier 15 peak.

The remaining Tier 16 cores would then be sufficient to advance ten thousand of them to Tier 16 peak.

His 100,000 Tier 17 cores could then elevate those same ten thousand soldiers to Tier 17 peak.

And the remaining 10,000 Tier 18 cores would be just adequate to propel them into Stage B.

After careful consideration, Ethan made his decision: prioritize the advancement of ten thousand individuals first.

There was simply no comparison.

Two thousand... no, twenty thousand Tier 16 soldiers sounded formidable, but ten thousand Stage B combatants represented an entirely different caliber of power.

And once he commanded ten thousand Stage B fighters, he could lead them to decimate the Infernal territories within that dark red world accessible through the Mount Fuji crater.

At that juncture, why would he ever concern himself with a shortage of high-Tier cores again?

Infernal tribes typically numbered in the tens of thousands, with a single tribe often boasting at least one to two thousand Stage B fighters.

Facing such a force? Ethan's nascent group would be incapable of handling it alone.

But with ten thousand Stage B subordinates, the outcome would be drastically altered.

The instant this realization dawned on him, Ethan acted without delay.

The majority of the Fallen Star Guard remained at Tier 13, although many were at late-stage or peak, indicating a reduced need for Tier 13 cores.

Ethan utilized five hundred Tier 16 cores, breaking them down into over sixty thousand Tier 13 cores, thereby elevating every member of the Fallen Star Guard to Tier 13 peak.

Following this, he employed eight thousand Tier 16 cores, decomposing them into two hundred thousand Tier 14 cores, and consequently raised the entire Guard to Tier 14 peak.

Subsequently, he consumed forty thousand Tier 16 cores, transforming them into two hundred thousand Tier 15 cores, and pushed everyone to Tier 15 peak.

In total, 48,500 Tier 16 cores were expended to advance the entire contingent of twenty thousand Fallen Star Guard members to Tier 15 peak.

Beyond this point, he could no longer afford to boost everyone uniformly.

From the twenty thousand, Ethan meticulously selected ten thousand members for further advancement – prioritizing those with superior combat experience or those who had ascended higher on the Celestial Stairway.

He then expended one hundred thousand Tier 16 cores to elevate these ten thousand to Tier 16 peak.

Next, one hundred thousand Tier 17 cores were utilized to propel them to Tier 17 peak.

Finally, the last ten thousand Tier 18 cores served to propel all ten thousand into Stage B.

This entire process spanned nearly three full days.

With the emergence of ten thousand Stage B combatants, a mysterious energy surged through Fallen Star City like a tempestuous tide. An overwhelming pressure permeated the compound, so potent it induced involuntary tremors, leaving individuals bewildered by their own reactions.

Stage B.

In other compounds, such a level represented an existence beyond even audacious fantasy.

And within Fallen Star City?

There were now well over ten thousand such powerhouses.

For the Fallen Star Guard, the preceding few days felt akin to a dream.

Their strength had augmented at a pace so astonishingly rapid, it seemed almost unreal.

It wasn't until they experienced the novel abilities conferred by Stage B – until these powers integrated into their very essence like a second heartbeat – that the reality truly sank in.

They had, against all odds, achieved it.

Exhilaration coursed through them, causing fists to clench so tightly that knuckles turned bone-white.

Trembling with elation, they regarded Ethan and his companions with an almost fanatical reverence.

Gazing upon the ten thousand Stage B powerhouses, and the remaining ten thousand fighters poised at Tier 15 peak, Ethan finally offered a nod of profound satisfaction.

Now, this… this finally provided him with a much-needed respite.

"Alright," he declared. "You all have achieved a significant breakthrough. You now possess the power capable of supporting Fallen Star City."

"This achievement came at a steep price. We braved the dangers of the Void Realm to acquire the crystal cores crucial for this advancement."

Thump.

Instantly, the entire Fallen Star Guard knelt as one, their right fists placed firmly on their chests.

"We pledge our lives to the Commander! We vow to safeguard Fallen Star City!"

A smile touched Ethan's lips as he nodded. "I have faith in you."

"Next," he instructed, "proceed to the Beast Enclosure and select a Flamebird to serve as your mount. From this moment forward, they will be your most trusted companions. Treat them with the utmost care."

"Flamebird mounts!!"

The Guard erupted in a wave of excitement.

To possess a flying mount, to soar through the heavens at will – this was the stuff of dreams. Every time they had witnessed the Commander and his elite squad traversing the skies with an air of absolute dominion, envy had gnawed at them relentlessly.

And now?

Now, they too would experience that freedom.

"For the Commander!"

A surge of energy propelled them forward as they sprinted towards the Beast Enclosure.

Ethan let out a soft chuckle and motioned for Skinny Pete to follow. Given the docility of the Flamebirds currently, there was little concern they would refuse to cooperate.

Once each member had chosen their mount, Ethan dispatched them to commence zombie eradication missions, allowing them to acclimatize to their newly enhanced abilities.

Such a monumental surge in power could render one clumsy if not properly integrated. Without practical application, they would never unlock their true combat potential.

Ethan's strategy was straightforward: once their capabilities were solidified, he would lead them into the Void Realm within the Yamato Empire to confront and eliminate the Infernals.

This endeavor promised the acquisition of millions of high-Tier crystal cores, a bounty so immense it bordered on the unbelievable.

While the Fallen Star Guard engaged in clearing zombies, Ethan and his companions journeyed towards the Void Realm situated outside Riverton City.

It was through this very entrance that those grotesque, nightmarish entities had emerged.

Garrett had utilized them to seize control of the Silverlake City compound.

Had that fool not made the fateful decision to venture to Fallen Star City and meet his demise, he might have successfully leveraged those monstrosities to conquer the other major compounds.

Following the conquest of Silverlake City, Ethan had ascertained the location of this Void Realm entrance.

However, he had refrained from entering.

The formidable strength displayed by those hideous humanoid creatures had instilled a deep sense of caution within him. If mere stragglers at Tier 19 could emerge, it was not difficult to surmise the extreme peril lurking within its depths.

Consequently, Ethan had established a vigilant presence here, preventing unauthorized entry and ensuring immediate notification should any further entities emerge.

Fortunately, thus far, no additional beings, aside from those few grotesque humanoids, had materialized.

Much like their counterparts on Earth, these dimensional rifts were concealed within the Void Realm itself. Without stumbling upon them directly, discovery would be virtually impossible.

Ethan fixated on the entrance, a palpable tension gradually coiling within his spine.

The Void Realm represented the most accessible pathway for him to ascend in power.

But this particular realm…

This one sent a shiver down his very core.

Suddenly, Skinny Pete's expression shifted dramatically – sharp and grim, as if ice-cold water had been doused upon him.

"Captain," Pete stated in a hushed tone, "do not enter."

Ethan's heart seized. "You sense something?"

Pete nodded, his face contorted with strain. "Yes. I can feel it. It is perilous within – profoundly dangerous."

"...Damn it."

A heavy weight settled in Ethan's gut.

So, his apprehension was not unfounded. The 'tier' of this Void Realm was exceptionally high. An environment so formidable that it could quite possibly harbor horrors far beyond anything they had encountered to date.

Ethan drew a slow, deliberate breath, then compelled himself to step back.

There was a time for confrontation.

And there was a time for survival.

In this critical moment, he chose to survive.