Apocalypse: King of Zombies Chapter 1317: They Still Got Away

Outside the perimeter of the Fallen Star City compound, the Fallen Star Guard stood in a tense, silent formation, completely blocking the entrance.

Footage of the creatures from the Void Realm had circulated, showing horrors that no human on Earth, in their current state, could hope to withstand. Even though more than half of them had achieved Stage B, each guard felt an undeniable certainty: mere moments, perhaps not even a single skill, would be all it took for those Void Realm monsters to end them.

And the Fallen Star Squad? On paper, their team was only one Tier superior. But a single Tier meant little when facing such nightmarish opponents.

Despite their usual unwavering faith in the Commander, a heavy sense of unease weighed on their hearts. This anxiety was the driving force behind their insistence on accompanying the squad earlier – not for glory, but out of fear that the Commander and the rest wouldn't be sufficient.

Regrettably, their request had been denied. Now, their only recourse was to wait at the compound gate, ready to mobilize the instant any assistance might be required.

Then—

Figures streaked across the sky in the distance. Several Flamebirds materialized, hurtling towards the city at a terrifying velocity.

The moment the Guard recognized the fiery forms, their faces transformed, illuminated by a sudden surge of hope. "It's the Commander—the Commander and the others have returned!" "Yes! They won! They truly achieved victory!!"

A wave of raw, unrestrained excitement washed over the assembled crowd. The return of the Fallen Star Squad signified one undeniable truth: the clash had concluded with triumph.

Previously, the squad's missions were frequent, but the Guard remained largely unaware of their specific objectives. The vast disparity in power back then made any knowledge feel abstract and unreal.

This occasion, however, was markedly different. This time, they possessed a clear understanding of the formidable adversary the squad had confronted, which had fueled their profound fear. And yet... the squad had still emerged victorious.

In that instant, a profound realization struck them: the true prowess of the Fallen Star Squad far surpassed what their surface observations had suggested.

On the ramparts above, Miles observed the approaching Flamebirds, the tension etched between his brows finally beginning to ease. "Of course," he murmured. "The Captain never fails to impress me."

The actions of the Fallen Star Guard earlier were not coincidental; Miles had orchestrated them from the shadows. He had provided the video footage they’d all seen and disseminated the information about the Fallen Star Squad’s imminent engagement. This was how the entire sequence of events had been initiated.

He had a strategic reason for this. The Fallen Star Guard’s strength had been escalating too rapidly, nearing the point where they could challenge the established hierarchy. Miles didn’t suspect outright betrayal, but he understood that sudden power often bred overconfidence. This wasn't born of malice, but of human nature.

Furthermore, some among them possessed sensory abilities, allowing them to gauge the power levels of the Fallen Star Squad. This led to a perilous line of thought: "So, the supposedly untouchable Fallen Star Squad is only one Tier above us?" Such a mindset was detrimental and required correction.

The Captain would likely dismiss such subtleties. Miles, however, could not afford to do the same. He seized this opportunity to vividly and undeniably demonstrate the sheer terror of the Void Realm’s denizens, and by stark contrast, how profoundly the Fallen Star Squad had surpassed everyone else.

Moreover, Miles was aware of Ethan’s ultimate trump card: Dopey. Ethan would not have committed to the mission if he lacked absolute certainty. And, as expected, Miles’s expectations were met. The Fallen Star Squad had returned victorious.

Following this event, the squad’s standing in the minds of these Guards would be elevated to celestial heights, shrouded in an even greater aura of mystery.

In a mere blink, the Flamebirds were directly overhead, commencing their descent above Fallen Star City.

"The Commander returns!" "Glory to the Commander!" The Fallen Star Guard’s heads tilted back as they bellowed at the top of their lungs, their chant resonating like thunder against the sky.

The spectacle visibly surprised Ethan and his companions. Ethan leaned over the Flamebird’s back, his brow furrowed as he gazed down at the assembled crowd. "Why are you all gathered here? Don't you have other duties to attend to?"

"Commander, we..." The Fallen Star Guard members lowered their gazes, unable to meet his eyes. Miles smoothly intervened. "Captain, please don't fault them. They were simply concerned for your safety."

"Concerned about what?" Ethan scoffed, shaking his head dismissively. "They were nothing more than creatures that crawled out of the Void Realm. It's not as though we haven't dealt with Void Realm monsters before."

Miles’s expression remained impassive, yet his voice adopted a deliberately nonchalant tone. "So... how did it go?"

Ethan replied as if discussing trivial matters. "Twenty-five manifestations. We eliminated seventeen. Eight managed to escape."

"!!"

A stunned silence stretched for half a second among the guards below—then erupted into a frenzy.

"As we expected from the Commander—unbelievable!"

"The Commander is a legend!"

Ethan made a dismissive gesture, the matter already settled. "Alright, enough. Get back to your duties. You still have work to do later—don't keep blocking the gate."

"Yes, sir!"

They responded in a unified roar before dispersing, breaking off into small groups as they ambled away, their voices overlapping in excited chatter.

"How strong do you reckon those Void Realm beings really were?"

"No clue, but they were definitely above Tier 20. Just seeing them unleash their abilities gave me chills. At least four or five Tiers higher than us."

"Seriously. So how on earth did the Commander defeat them? Those monsters were terrifying, and he still took them down?"

"Your guess is as good as mine. But that's our Commander. It's obvious he has some insane trump card up his sleeve. You can't measure him with common sense—a jump of a few Tiers is probably nothing to him."

"...I see. And here I was thinking I was finally closing in on the Commander and the rest of the team. Turns out, I'm nowhere near."

"Please. The Fallen Star Squad is the strongest unit on Earth, end of story. Everything we have now is thanks to the Commander's training. How could we possibly compare?"

"Exactly. We just need to stick close behind them, and eventually, we'll reach the pinnacle too."

"Damn right."

Once the guards had finally cleared out, Ethan and his companions headed back towards their quarters.

Miles's gaze kept drifting towards Ethan, a barely concealed worry etched on his face. "Captain. Your injury—are you absolutely certain you're alright?"

He had secretly reviewed the combat footage that Atlas City had shared. He knew precisely how brutal that engagement had been.

"I'm fine," Ethan replied. "Just feeling a bit spent. Give me a few days, and I'll be back to normal."

"I'll have them prepare a nutrient-rich mutant chicken stew for you," Miles stated instantly. "You need to recover your strength."

"Mutant chicken stew?" Big Mike's eyes lit up with childlike enthusiasm. "Damn, I want some too!"

"Get lost," Miles shot him a stern look. "We only raise a few of those special chickens. If you eat it, what will the Captain have?"

"That stuff is incredibly potent," Big Mike argued, his expression deadly serious. "I'm worried the Captain might not be able to handle its effects."

Chris chuckled. "Handle it? What's there to be scared of? Mia's right there to take care of him, isn't she?"

"..."

Ethan let out a forceful cough, abruptly halting the teasing spiral. "Ahem. We're getting sidetracked."

Mia's face flushed bright red. She shot both Chris and Big Mike a glare fierce enough to bore holes through them.

"Uh—right," Chris stammered, suddenly finding the floor exceedingly interesting. "Business. Serious business."

Miles’s demeanor immediately sobered. "Captain, concerning the ones that managed to escape... we need to deal with them swiftly. Those beings are far too dangerous. No matter where they flee, they will undoubtedly cause widespread disaster."

"Yeah." Ethan nodded in agreement. "I'll rest for two days, then I'll take action."

His current physical condition was dire. If he were forced into another fight of that magnitude right now, there was a significant chance he might actually perish.

Furthermore, Dopey couldn't be allowed to stray too far from his side, which meant it was incapable of undertaking the mission solo. If they intended to eliminate those survivors, Ethan would have to go himself—hence, the urgent need for recovery.

"But don't worry too much," Ethan added reassuringly. "Those Void Realm creatures don't consume people. Even if they reach another settlement, they'll likely keep a low profile... or perhaps seize control of the inhabitants, turning them into their thralls."

Miles's frown deepened. "Captain, my primary concern is that they might return to summon reinforcements. Based on what we've witnessed, there must be a multitude of formidable monsters lurking within the Void Realm. If they manage to bring allies back, we won't be able to stop them."

Ethan's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Yes. That is indeed my greatest fear as well. However, Atlas City reported that those eight didn't head towards the Void Realm entrance. They actually moved in the opposite direction—away from it. I'm unsure of their reasoning."

Chris pondered for a moment before speaking up. "Could it be they lack confidence against Dopey? Like... they're afraid that if they lure Dopey back there, it might annihilate their entire clan?"

"That's a distinct possibility," Ethan conceded with a nod.

"Rest assured," he declared. "I've already instructed Atlas City to maintain surveillance on them. Should they begin moving towards the Void Realm entrance, I will depart immediately."

Miles gave a firm nod. "Understood."