Apocalypse: King of Zombies Chapter 1307 1307: Another Protagonist

Ethan’s head throbbed as he gazed at the unnatural tear in the fabric of reality. The Void Realm’s proximity to Fallen Star City was concerning; should any entity emerge, Fallen Star City would bear the brunt of the initial assault.

‘Must we relocate again?’ Ethan pondered, a wave of weariness washing over him. Yet, he quickly dismissed the thought. If a truly cataclysmic monster were to appear, escape would be futile. Where they ran would merely dictate whether they perished sooner or later. He resolved to focus his energy on increasing his strength instead.

Only absolute power could overcome any obstacle. Fleeing was never a solution.

“Let’s go,” Ethan declared, his voice firm. “We’re heading to the Stonepeak City compound.”

Everyone mounted the Flamebird, and they ascended into the sky, charting a course toward Stonepeak City’s base.

Currently, if Ethan and his team were to significantly advance their cultivation, their sole viable option, apart from utilizing the ritual circle for enhancement, lay within the Void Realms.

Of the known Void Realms, they had already explored the others.

Riverton City’s Void Realm was now inaccessible, and Ethan still lacked the confidence to brave Clearford City’s Void Realm.

He shuddered, recalling how their previous encounter, despite the immense distance, had resulted in severe injuries from a mere glancing blow. The memory alone sent shivers down his spine.

He had initially estimated the terrifying beast to be around Stage A (Tier 24), but the more he contemplated it, the more he suspected its power level was even greater. He was determined to avoid provoking it if at all possible.

With those realms off the table, the only remaining accessible Void Realm was the one connected to the Stonepeak City compound.

The existence of the Stonepeak City compound’s Void Realm had been verified.

However, its precise location was a closely guarded secret, known only to Stonepeak City’s leadership. Even emissaries from Atlas City had inquired but received no information.

Stonepeak City’s leadership possessed formidable strength, enough that they held no fear of Atlas City.

Despite this, Ethan remained optimistic.

He believed they would share the information if asked.

…

Stonepeak City compound.

Nestled within Stonepeak City, it stood as the sole non-governmental Safe Zone, an anomaly alongside Fallen Star City.

Its very presence exuded an aura of significance and hidden power.

Deep within the sprawling mountain range behind the Stonepeak City compound lay a distortion in space—a grotesque warping of the world itself.

This anomaly served as the gateway to the Stonepeak City compound’s Void Realm, and it was the secret behind Oliver and his faction’s rapid ascent.

At that precise moment, Oliver emerged from the Void Realm, his face alight with exhilaration.

“Boss—did you achieve a breakthrough?”

“Yes,” Oliver confirmed, his voice brimming with triumph. “Tier 15.”

“This place is truly a blessing,” one of his subordinates exclaimed, eyes shining. “The ambient mysterious energy is incredibly dense. Coupled with the Energy Absorption Technique provided by Atlas City, our cultivation speed is practically meteoric.”

“Ha!” Another subordinate chuckled, practically vibrating with excitement. “At this rate, we’ll soon eclipse that so-called Fallen Star Squad!”

The mention of the Fallen Star Squad caused the surrounding chatter to cease momentarily.

That name carried an immense weight.

They had once harbored the belief that with access to this Void Realm, their strength would surpass all others.

Instead, the Fallen Star Squad had relentlessly suppressed them, leaving them struggling to gain ground.

While they had undoubtedly established a significant compound through their own efforts, the Fallen Star Squad’s base was recognized as the most formidable within the entire Atlas Federation.

After acquiring the Energy Absorption Technique, they had anticipated that the Void Realm’s rich mysterious energy would allow them to surge ahead of everyone else.

Then, the Fallen Star Squad proceeded to annihilate the Yamato Empire.

Though the video footage prevented them from precisely gauging the Fallen Star Squad’s strength, one conclusion was undeniable.

The Fallen Star Squad was demonstrably stronger than them.

And the difference was substantial.

Oliver’s elation from his breakthrough evaporated, replaced by a deflated expression, the subordinate’s words casting a pall over his mood.

“Boss, don’t let it get to you,” another subordinate interjected, shooting a glare at the previous speaker. “Sure, we’re still behind them, but with this Void Realm, we’ll catch up—steadily, if not quickly.”

“It’s not discouragement,” Oliver replied with a wry smile. “I’ve simply accepted the reality. The chasm between us and them is… vast.”

Oliver, possessed of both confidence and pride, was no fool.

Following the onset of the apocalypse, he had leveraged his protective armor ability to rapidly assemble a crew, carving out their territory amidst the ensuing chaos. Subsequently, their discovery of this Void Realm had considerably eased their progression. They had methodically bolstered their strength, much like fish navigating familiar waters.

He had genuinely believed he was destined to be the central figure of the world's end.

As it turned out, he was merely background scenery.

No matter how brilliantly he performed, he was insignificant compared to the Fallen Star Squad. This realization struck him profoundly, causing him great pain.

It stung deeply.

However, his mindset remained resilient. Despite the blow to his pride, he did not let it fester into animosity.

Their advancement to that level simply meant they possessed greater capabilities than he did. He could be proud, but he was also capable of acknowledging when others were superior.

"Let's go," Oliver stated, releasing a breath. "We've spent enough time in there today. It's time to depart."

"Understood!"

The assembled group rose and exited the Void Realm collectively.

Their number exceeded twenty, individuals who had followed Oliver from the outset and had endured to the present moment.

They were formidable as well, with most reaching the impressive levels of Tier 13 or 14.

Truthfully, had they managed to unearth the Energy Absorption Technique within this very Void Realm, their current tiers would arguably be far surpassed, given the dense, mysterious energy permeating the area.

Following Atlas City's public release of the Energy Absorption Technique, they had virtually resided within the Void Realm on a daily basis. Their Tier advancements escalated at an astonishing rate.

They had just re-entered the compound when an individual noticed several crimson figures in the distant sky, hurtling towards them with immense speed.

Oliver narrowed his eyes, produced a pair of binoculars, and focused his gaze.

His expression transformed instantaneously.

"It is them."

"Who?" the others inquired, their attention immediately converging on Oliver.

"The Fallen Star Squad," Oliver declared with a grave tone.

"—!"

A wave of astonishment swept through the group. They had been discussing the squad mere moments ago, and now they were physically present.

"What is their purpose here?" someone questioned, mirroring the collective bewilderment.

"I am uncertain," Oliver responded. His voice sharpened noticeably. "When we encounter them, none of you are to speak out of turn. I will handle all communication."

Considering the notorious reputation of the Fallen Star Squad, extreme caution was imperative.

This reputation extended beyond mere strength; they were known for their overbearing conduct, behaving less like cultivators and more like ruthless brigands.

"Yes, boss." A chorus of firm affirmations followed. It was apparent they were all well-acquainted with the squad's notoriety.

The approaching newcomers were advancing rapidly. By the time their brief exchange concluded, they had already entered the airspace directly above the compound.

The sentries at the Stonepeak City compound were poised to react, but the instant they identified the fiery-red avian creature, they froze and lowered their guards.

By this point, the Flamebird had become widely recognized, serving as the unequivocal emblem of the Fallen Star Squad.

And the squad accompanying it instilled widespread fear; who would dare to impede their progress?

From atop the battlement, the guard captain compelled himself to project his voice upward. "Are you… are the Fallen Star Squad visiting us?"

A voice, calm and direct, emanated from above. "I would hardly term it a 'visit.' Yes, we are the Fallen Star Squad. Is your commander available?"

"He is! He is!" The guard captain nearly stumbled in his haste. "Our commander has just returned. I will escort you to him immediately."

"Excellent."

Ethan offered a nod. Subsequently, the group descended from the Flamebird, landing within the confines of the city.

The guards gazed upon the individuals they had previously only seen depicted in media. One by one, their faces illuminated with a mixture of excitement and apprehension.

"Ethan, and all members of the Fallen Star Squad—this way, please!" The guard captain hurried forward, taking the lead position without delay.

"Very well."

They proceeded to follow him deeper into the compound.