Apocalypse: King of Zombies Chapter 1329: I Never Said I’d Let You Go

After loading every dead body into his spatial storage ring, Ethan finally took his sweet time retrieving the satellite phone and placing a call to Maxwell.

Maxwell answered with haste.

"He's heading back towards Riverton City," Maxwell stated. "Likely attempting a retreat."

"Retreat?" A smirk played on Ethan's lips. "At a time like this? Well... best of luck with that."

He ended the call, then stepped onto two levitating daggers and propelled himself forward, aiming for the old Void Realm entrance situated near Riverton City.

Meanwhile...

The Stoneborn leader was in full flight, his every movement screaming of desperation—because his life was indeed on the line.

At this critical juncture, he no longer cared if he led that catastrophic human back to the Stoneborn.

His own demise was imminent. To fret over anything else was utterly absurd.

As long as he could make it back to the Eldoria continent, he was confident he could devise a plan. In the direst scenario, he would seek assistance from other high-tier races.

He pushed his speed to its absolute maximum.

Traveling onward, he overtook shambling zombies that moved like animated corpses. He didn't even decrease his pace, dismissing them as mere background elements.

Before long, he reached his destination.

He braked sharply—and then froze, his momentum abruptly halted.

The location where the Void Realm entrance was supposed to be was simply... gone. An emptiness prevailed.

Just vacant air remained.

The Stoneborn leader stared at the void as if his vision had betrayed him.

"Where did it go?"

"Why... why isn't it here anymore?"

His mind reeled, unable to comprehend the situation. Everything had been perfectly normal when he traversed through. How could it vanish without a trace?

But then, a new question, far more chilling than any fear, struck him.

His heart plummeted into a dark abyss.

He had initially believed he had discovered a vulnerable new world ripe for exploitation.

Instead, it had transformed into a ghastly graveyard.

More than twenty comrades had accompanied him on this venture.

Now, he was the sole survivor.

And with the passage sealed...

He understood escape was no longer an option.

Just as if on cue, a sharp ripping sound tore through the atmosphere.

A silhouette descended from above.

It was Ethan.

Ethan's telekinetic flight offered incredible speed, making it exceptionally efficient for travel.

"I informed you the entrance was sealed," Ethan stated, looking down at him. "You chose not to believe me. Do you believe me now?"

The Stoneborn leader tilted his head back, his eyes red-rimmed with desperation. "How did you accomplish this?"

"Don't ask me." Ethan offered a casual shrug. "I haven't a clue."

This particular statement was, at least, entirely truthful.

The Stoneborn leader's jaw tightened. He drew a ragged breath, struggling to force the words out. "We harbor no animosity towards each other. We merely... found ourselves in this place by mischance. We never harmed a single human in your world. Why must you annihilate us?"

Ethan's expression turned impassive. "Oh, please. You didn't kill anyone because you were unfortunate enough to encounter me the moment you emerged. Had you met someone else, can you honestly claim you would have acted with restraint?"

He let out a scoff. "Don't feign innocence with me."

"..."

The Stoneborn leader's throat convulsed. "Then what is it you desire? What must I do to earn my freedom?"

Ethan regarded him for a long moment. "Plainly put? I'll grant you your life."

The leader's eyes widened abruptly.

"But you must answer a few questions. If I find your responses satisfactory... I may reconsider."

"Truly?" The Stoneborn leader's voice trembled with fragile hope.

"Indeed."

"Very well. Inquire."

Ethan raised a single finger. "First question. Your so-called Eldoria continent—how vast is it? How many formidable cultivators reside there?"

Despite himself, the Stoneborn leader's chest swelled with pride. "Eldoria is immense. Vastly larger than your world, I assure you. As for powerhouses... there are more than you could possibly fathom—"

"I requested an answer," Ethan interjected coldly, "not a boastful display of superiority."

The Stoneborn leader's face spasmed. "You—"

"What?" Ethan's voice grew sharp.

He casually released Dopey from his storage.

The instant Dopey materialized, the Stoneborn leader's spine seemed to buckle. All his bravado evaporated as if an unseen plug had been pulled.

"...Please, continue," he said hastily, his demeanor completely altered.

"That's more like it."

Ethan raised a second finger. "Second question. Who is the strongest individual on Eldoria?"

"I have no knowledge of that," the Stoneborn leader admitted.

Ethan's eyes narrowed fractionally. "You...?"

"I genuinely don't know." He swallowed audibly. "The Stoneborn are merely a mid-tier race on Eldoria."

"Numerous races exist there. Some possess unimaginable strength, yet they seldom intervene. No one truly ascertains the apex of their power."

Ethan's brow furrowed. "You're only mid-tier?"

"...Yes." The Stoneborn leader nodded, the admission clearly paining him—yet he made no attempt to conceal the truth.

It was an undeniable fact.

A heavy sensation settled in Ethan's chest.

It appeared that **Eldoria** was even more formidable than he had initially suspected.

He suppressed the thought and continued forward.

"Third question," Ethan announced. "You mentioned our language is the common tongue of humanity. This implies... your world also harbors humans?"

"We once did," the Stoneborn leader replied. "But not anymore."

Ethan's eyes intensified. "Explain why."

"They were eradicated."

"...By what?" Ethan's gaze grew sharper.

The Stoneborn elder paused briefly before continuing. "Humanity possessed talents that instilled too much fear. The other species perceived them as a threat, compelling them to unite and bring about humanity's extinction."

"Too terrifying?" Ethan furrowed his brow. "I don't perceive humans as particularly talented."

The leader of the Stoneborn regarded him as if he had just consumed something deeply unsettling.

He appeared on the verge of verbally lashing out at Ethan then and there.

However, he suppressed the urge, speaking instead in a hushed, measured tone.

"Humans possess the ability to cultivate power drawn from the stars... thereby acquiring unique capabilities."

"Most other races are restricted to awakening or learning skills associated with a single attribute," he elaborated. "Take us Stoneborn, for instance – we can only awaken earth-type abilities."

"But humans diverge. Through the power of the stars, they can attain a multitude of abilities. Multiple elements. Multiple attributes."

His gaze briefly shifted towards Ethan.

"Even rare abilities—such as those involving space and time—become attainable."

Ethan did not overlook that fleeting glance.

The Stoneborn leader proceeded, "Therefore, yes. The other races harbored fear towards humans... and consequently, they eliminated them."

"The humans on Eldoria were not indigenous to this world," he added. "They originated from elsewhere. While their numbers were not vast, their power was substantial. Nevertheless... when hundreds of races united their forces, extinction became an unavoidable outcome."

Silence descended upon Ethan.

It wasn't due to any sentiment for Eldoria's humans. They were not his people.

His thoughts turned towards Earth.

Should the Void Realm passages re-emerge and Eldoria launch a full-scale invasion... the same fate that befell Eldoria's humans could potentially befall his own world.

Ethan contemplated.

Without sufficient strength, a future was unattainable; one was simply erased.

He was uncertain when the Void Realm passages would reopen, nor did he know how much time remained.

This left only one logical course of action.

Become stronger—by any means necessary.

The Stoneborn leader cleared his throat deliberately. "I have responded to all your inquiries. Therefore... you will permit me to depart now, correct?"

Ethan blinked, his expression unreadable. "Permit you to depart? When did I ever suggest such a thing?"

The Stoneborn leader's face contorted in disbelief. "You—!"

"You stated that if I answered your questions, you would let me go!"

"You heard what you wished to hear." Ethan shook his head, a look of genuine confusion on his face. "I said that if you answered truthfully, I would... I never promised I'd let you walk away free."

The Stoneborn leader's voice escalated. "Are those not one and the same?!"

"No." Ethan's smile reappeared, sharp and chilling. "Allowing you to leave implies your departure."

"Choosing not to kill you means... I can incapacitate you."

He tilted his head slightly.

"Or perhaps allow you to persist in an altered state."

The Stoneborn leader's eyes narrowed. "What do you imply by that?"

"You will soon discover," Ethan replied softly.

He then turned his head.

"Dopey." Ethan's voice turned icy. "Proceed. Break him—but do not kill him."