Apocalypse: King of Zombies Chapter 1311 1311: Then It Happened

It took Ethan and his companions a substantial amount of time, well over an hour, to ascend back from the pit.

The primary reason for the delay was the collapsed shaft, which had become completely obstructed. Their progress relied entirely on Garrick's efforts to clear a path inch by painstaking inch—a significantly more arduous task than excavating downwards.

Nevertheless, thanks to Garrick's presence, they eventually made it back to the surface without encountering any severe peril.

Upon witnessing their emergence, a complex emotion briefly crossed Oliver's face. Despite this, he approached them with a smile, as if no unusual events had transpired.

"Ethan—thank goodness you're finally out. When that pit caved in, it nearly gave me a heart attack," Oliver said.

"Yeah," Ethan replied, brushing dust from his attire. "We ran into a small snag."

Oliver paused for a moment before inquiring, "I really need to know… why did you dig that deep? Was there something valuable down there?"

"Mmm-hmm," Ethan responded with a smile. "There was indeed treasure."

Judging by Oliver's expression, Ethan could accurately surmise his thoughts. However, there was absolutely no way Ethan would permit anyone else to lay eyes upon their recovered prize.

"And truthfully," Ethan added, maintaining a casual tone, "we only acquired it because you led us here. Had you not done so, we wouldn't have had the opportunity to claim it."

"I wouldn't go that far," Oliver quickly countered. While a trace of bitterness was discernible to a keen observer, he prevented it from breaching the surface of his voice. "Having the chance to assist the Fallen Star Squad is an honor for me."

His subordinates, however, lacked Oliver's composure. Their expressions grew somber one by one.

Anyone would be incensed if something in their possession was forcefully taken.

Ethan observed their reactions keenly.

He had to concede that Oliver possessed considerable character. He knew when to yield. Resentment was evident in his eyes, certainly, but no outright hatred. It was clear he had come to terms with the situation.

After a brief contemplation, Ethan reached into his spatial storage ring and retrieved dozens of Tier 16 crystal cores, extending them towards Oliver.

"I'm the type of person who prefers to keep things straightforward," Ethan stated. "You did assist us this time. Please accept these. They should be sufficient to elevate your strength considerably."

"Are these… Tier 16 crystal cores?!" Oliver and his men exclaimed, their gazes fixed on the pile in Ethan's hands, eyes wide with astonishment.

"So many of them…" Oliver swallowed audibly. "All of this… for us?"

"Indeed," Ethan confirmed with a nod. "Consider it fair compensation. That Void Realm likely won't possess such potent mysterious energy going forward."

"However, with these crystal cores, accelerating your cultivation will be far more efficient than slowly absorbing ambient mysterious energy."

"Atlas City possesses technology for crystal-core decomposition," Ethan continued. "Inquire about it there. Once you process these, your compound will be capable of producing numerous high-Tier Enhanced individuals. And for yourselves—Tier 16 cultivation is now within your immediate reach."

"…Incredible."

Oliver and his followers exchanged glances, each reflecting the same profound astonishment.

Previous accounts had painted the Fallen Star Squad as ruthlessly domineering—taking whatever they desired and eliminating any who dared to refuse.

Yet, Ethan's current actions starkly contradicted those widely circulated narratives.

"In that case…" Oliver finally spoke, choosing not to refuse, as doing so would have been utterly illogical. "Thank you."

Merely by a rough estimate, there had to be sixty to seventy cores in the collection.

With this windfall, Stonepeak City compound's overall power would see a dramatic surge.

The loss of their rich cultivation environment was indeed significant—but obtaining such a substantial quantity of high-Tier crystal cores certainly alleviated the sting.

Oliver had always demonstrated a keen ability to assess circumstances. If a situation was beyond his influence, he would concentrate on solidifying what he could control.

And these crystal cores represented tangible, practical power that he could secure.

As Oliver accepted the cores, Ethan offered a single, satisfied nod.

"Fortify your base," Ethan advised. "The current era of the apocalypse is more complex than it appears. I trust you will endure until the very end."

"We will," Oliver affirmed, his voice resolute.

They departed from the Void Realm. Under Oliver's fervent hospitality, Ethan's group shared a final meal before proceeding out of the Stonepeak City compound.

Oliver remained stationary, watching their departure until they were completely out of sight—his gaze alight with a fierce, revitalized determination.

"Boss… even with that many high-Tier crystal cores, I still feel like we came out on the losing end," one of the subordinates commented. "With mysterious energy that dense, we would have reached Tier 16 eventually anyway. This feels like killing the source of our future prosperity."

Oliver glanced at him. "Greed can lead even a snake to attempt swallowing an elephant. This is likely the best possible outcome we could have achieved. Even without the crystal cores, what recourse did we truly have?"

"…Yes. You are correct."

"Boss," another subordinate inquired, "when Ethan mentioned the apocalypse isn't as simple as it seems… what do you believe he was hinting at?"

Oliver's expression turned grave. "Void Realms."

"It has already been verified that some Void Realms house monsters. So, consider this: if a Void Realm possesses an abundance of mysterious energy like ours, and it has existed for an extended period… just how terrifying do you imagine the inhabitants to be?"

"..."

A palpable chill slithered down everyone's spines.

"Numerous creatures from the Void Realms have already made their appearance on Earth," Oliver continued. "Those grotesque, man-like beings in Silverlake City. The Infernals dwelling in Nova City. Even the crimson avian companion the Fallen Star Squad utilizes for transport—all of these originated from Void Realms."

"If this trend persists, it is only a matter of time before an increasing number of Void Realm beings begin to spill onto Earth. And when that inevitable event occurs, survival will become considerably more challenging."

He ceased speaking for a moment, then let out a sigh.

"Frankly speaking… this might not represent a disadvantage for us. Even if we were to inhabit that Void Realm on a daily basis, it would still necessitate approximately a month to ascend to Tier 16. However, by utilizing these crystal cores, we can rapidly attain Tier 16. This, in turn, enhances our prospects of survival."

A subordinate slowly inclined his head. "When you phrase it that way… my anger has subsided."

"Good," Oliver's gaze intensified. "Bear this in mind: should such a catastrophic scenario truly arise, the Fallen Star Squad will serve as the primary trump card of the Atlas Federation. Under no circumstances can we afford to make them our adversaries."

"Who can say for certain," he added, his voice dropping to a low tone. "We might find ourselves in need of their assistance someday."

"Understood." The assembled group nodded with solemn agreement.

Concurrently, Ethan and his companions returned to Fallen Star City, immediately resuming their arduous training—absorbing mysterious energy with utmost dedication to elevate their Tiers.

With the energy crystal now in their possession, their progression indeed accelerated by several magnitudes.

And the moment Ethan produced that colossal energy crystal…

The concentration of mysterious energy throughout the entirety of Fallen Star City experienced a significant surge.

The increase was so profound that even during daylight hours—when the Nine-Star Dipper was not visible—individuals could still absorb mysterious energy.

It did not take long for the city's inhabitants to perceive this change.

Excitement erupted like wildfire.

The entirety of Fallen Star City was consumed by a fervent wave of cultivation and power augmentation.

Three days elapsed in this manner.

By the conclusion of this period, Chris and the others had all successfully advanced to Tier 19.

On the morning of the fourth day, Ethan convened all members of the Fallen Star Guard who had attained Stage B—ten thousand individuals in total.

Subsequently, every one of them mounted their Flamebirds and embarked on a flight towards the Yamato Empire.

This time, the objective was unequivocally defined: the Infernals.

With the formidable presence of ten thousand Stage B Fallen Star Guards accompanying him, Ethan's confidence soared to unprecedented heights.

However, just as they were exiting the airspace of the Atlas Federation—

Ethan's mobile phone began to ring.

It was Miles on the line.

"Captain—an incident has occurred at Riverton City's Void Realm. A contingent of humanoid entities has just emerged!"

Ethan's eyes immediately turned frigid. He did not hesitate.

"Execute a turnaround," he commanded.

"Return to base."