Apocalypse: King of Zombies

The only reason Ethan didn't kill them was because he figured these two zombies might still be useful. He could turn them into tool-zombies—basically undead errand boys—to help him search for the stone slabs.

After all, the meteor shower had scattered debris over a huge area. And when it comes to grunt work, more zombies means more manpower… or corpse-power, in this case.

"How many zombies do you have under your command?" Ethan asked.

"My command? Uh… you're looking at 'em," Jerky replied, then immediately looked embarrassed.

"…This is it?" Ethan stared at the lone zombie standing beside Jerky, feeling a bit speechless. So this was it? Just one sad little minion?

Some "Overlord" he was. Talk about underwhelming.

Then again, in a place like Albuquerque, it made sense. Regular zombies had a hard time forming any kind of organized horde.

Ethan deactivated his Domain of the Dead and pulled out the Star Map slab with a flick of his wrist.

"You guys ever seen anything like this?"

"N-No…" Both zombies stared at the slab, eyes wide and unblinking, clearly stunned.

The slab was etched with strange, intricate patterns, and two Radiant Crystals embedded in it shimmered with a dreamlike glow, casting a soft, otherworldly light.

Under that glow, the two zombies could feel their cells buzzing with energy, their bodies beginning to evolve faster. But there was a downside… they were suddenly starving. Their hunger for flesh and blood surged to unbearable levels.

"I need you two to help me find more slabs like this," Ethan said bluntly.

"Oh…" Jerky nodded quickly, not daring to say no, though he looked a little troubled. "Thing is, I'm running on fumes here. My energy's almost gone. I could devolve at any moment—lose all sense of self and start attacking other zombies. I'd turn into a Black-Skin Zombie."

"That's not a problem," Ethan said without missing a beat. He casually tossed two raw steaks onto the ground.

The zombies froze, stunned. The smell of fresh beef hit their senses like a freight train, triggering every primal instinct they had. The temptation to devour was overwhelming.

For zombies who'd been surviving on the occasional gecko for the past month, steak was basically a miracle.

"Steak… is this really for us?" the smaller zombie asked, eyes wide.

"Yeah. Go ahead and eat," Ethan nodded.

"Thanks, boss!" the dry-skinned zombie shouted, then immediately dove in, tearing into the meat like a starving animal.

"Uh…" Jerky blinked. That guy switched sides fast. No pride at all.

"Boss, I'm digging in too. From now on, I'm yours. Whatever you say, I'll do it," Jerky added quickly, grabbing his steak.

He took a bite—and instantly, his whole undead soul felt like it was floating. The steak was tender, juicy, and rich. Pure bliss.

"So damn good!" In just a few seconds, both zombies had scarfed down their steaks. The hunger eased a bit, but it was clear they were still craving more. They looked up at Ethan with hopeful, pleading eyes.

Ethan got the message loud and clear. "Find me more slabs, and I'll keep the steaks coming."

"Got it, boss! You can count on us!" Their eyes lit up with excitement, practically bouncing with energy.

Of course, Ethan wasn't about to let them eat their fill just yet. A little hunger kept them motivated. But still, two zombies weren't nearly enough. It was like trying to fill a swimming pool with a teacup.

"Are there any other zombies in this city who've evolved enough to think for themselves?"

"Oh yeah, definitely!" Jerky nodded eagerly.

Because of extreme hunger, most zombies didn't dare gather in groups. If one of them lost control and turned into a Black-Skin Zombie, it could trigger a massacre. Plus, the city was crawling with those things. If regular zombies grouped up, they'd be easy targets.

So instead, they all hid out in secret spots, scattered and isolated.

Ethan figured it was time to round them up. If he could get them all working together, he'd have a much better shot at finding the slabs. No point wasting any potential resources.

"Take me to them."

"Right away, boss!" Jerky said, practically saluting.

"Oh, and one more thing," Ethan added, "Besides the Black-Skin Zombies, are there any other monsters in this city?"

Jerky shook his head. "Nope. If there were, the Black-Skins already ate 'em all."

"Got it." Ethan nodded. So the Black-Skin Horde had basically taken over the city. Not because they were particularly strong, but because they were relentless. Mindless. Like rabid dogs that never let go once they locked onto a target.

Any creature with even a shred of intelligence would avoid picking a fight with them.

Jerky continued, "But out in the desert, beyond the city, there are still monsters. They hide under the sand and ambush anything that gets too close."

"I also heard there's an oasis deep in the desert. Supposedly, there might still be humans living there. I haven't seen a human in ages… they're like mythical creatures now."

As they talked, the group moved through the city, searching for other scattered zombies.

Luckily, the Black-Skin Horde had been lured away earlier, so this part of the city was relatively safe for now.

…

At that moment, Mia and the others were still on the run, and to say they were frustrated would be an understatement.

Those damn Black-Skin Zombies were like a bad rash—relentless, impossible to shake. Even after they'd escaped the city, the bastards just kept coming.

"Jesus! You're zombies, ever heard of territorial boundaries?" Chris muttered through gritted teeth, cursing under his breath.

They'd made it out into the desert now. All around them stretched an endless sea of golden sand, rolling dunes as far as the eye could see.

At least the weather was calm—no wind, and the sky was a clear, brilliant blue.

On any other day, it might've been a beautiful sight. But right now, none of them had the luxury to enjoy it. Off in the distance, sleek black shapes were still chasing after them, closing in fast.

"They're tracking us by scent," Mia said, breath steady but tense. "If we can get out of their smell range, we might be able to lose them."

"Great. And how big is that range, exactly?" Brandon asked, lips pale. He'd lost a lot of blood earlier while they were breaking through the horde.

Mia shook her head. "No idea. Guess we'll find out."

"..." Chris and the others exchanged looks. Not exactly the most comforting answer. How far would they have to run to find out?

Luckily, they were all Awakeners with crystal cores, which meant they had enhanced speed and stamina. As long as they kept moving, they should be okay.

"Run, Uncle Chris! Run like the wind!" Brandon called out, trying to keep the mood light.

Chris's stubborn streak kicked in. "Fine! Let's see just how far those freaks can sniff."

"Wait…" Mia suddenly slowed to a stop, her brows knitting together as she stared ahead, eyes sharp and focused.

"What is it?" the others asked, alarmed by her sudden change in pace.

They followed her gaze—and their expressions quickly shifted to confusion and surprise.

Up ahead, the desert stretched out like a golden ocean, but something was off. One of the dunes was rising—swelling, almost like it was breathing.

And it was moving. Not just shifting in the wind, but actually gliding across the sand at a steady pace. A soft rustling sound followed in its wake, like something slithering just beneath the surface.

Sean narrowed his eyes, scanning the scene with a calculating look. "Guys… that sand pile's moving on its own. It's like a giant loaf of bread on the move!"

"That's not the sand moving," Mia murmured, not taking her eyes off the dune.

"There's something underneath it…"

...