Apocalypse: King of Zombies-Chapter 273 : How...how did he even get in here?

From the hallway outside came the chaotic sound of footsteps. Takeshi immediately led his team out.

He stood firm in the center of the corridor, gripping his katana with one hand. A cold gleam flashed across the blade.

"Mr. Takeshi! Help us!" Two Awakeners shouted desperately, their faces pale with terror as they sprinted toward him.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

Behind them, a massive horde of zombies filled the entire hallway. Due to the narrow space, they stumbled over each other, trampling and piling up like a flood bursting through a dam.

The scene was absolutely terrifying.

The zombies' blood-smeared faces twisted in rage, their savage roars echoing louder and louder.

The human Awakeners stood their ground, eyes sharp and focused.

"Ice Wall!" someone shouted. Instantly, freezing energy surged forward, forming a thick wall of ice that sealed off the corridor, attempting to halt the zombies' advance.

But there were simply too many zombies, and their strength was overwhelming.

They pressed against the ice wall relentlessly.

Cracks immediately spread across the ice with loud snapping sounds. It wouldn't hold for long.

"Find the Zombie King's location, now!" Takeshi ordered his subordinate urgently.

"On it!" A psychic Awakener responded, his mental energy rapidly spreading forward, scanning through the zombie horde to pinpoint the female Zombie King's position.

"Got her! She's about sixty feet behind the horde!"

"Good! Let's move. Split the horde first!" Takeshi commanded.

Two earth-element Awakeners behind him bit their tongues, forcing themselves to focus as they activated their powers.

Rumble!

With a series of thunderous noises, several thick earthen walls erupted from the ground, each about fifteen feet apart, instantly dividing the massive zombie horde into smaller groups.

"Huh?"

The Zombie Queen and her henchman, Mad Dog, found themselves perfectly trapped between two walls.

"These humans are damn tricky!" Her eyes narrowed angrily, realizing she'd fallen into their trap.

With the horde divided, their threat level dropped significantly. Sounds of fierce fighting echoed from the front, clearly indicating the humans had already engaged the separated zombies.

They planned to pick them off group by group.

"Boss, leave this to me!" Mad Dog shouted confidently. Bones rapidly grew from his arm, swelling into a massive, round hammer-like shape nearly twelve inches wide in seconds.

"Boom!" He slammed his bone hammer into the earthen wall, causing a loud impact.

But—

The wall was incredibly sturdy. It only dented slightly, cracks spreading around the impact point, but it didn't collapse.

"Uh..." Mad Dog froze awkwardly, embarrassment creeping onto his face.

"This wall's tough as hell. Probably an A-level Awakener on the other side. If I were just a bit stronger, I'd smash right through it."

Just then, a katana suddenly pierced through the wall from the other side, narrowly missing Mad Dog's face and skewering a zombie beside him.

Blood splattered all over Mad Dog's stunned face.

He stood frozen, completely shocked by the sudden attack. Just an inch closer, and he'd have been a goner.

The Zombie Queen frowned sharply, snapping at him, "What are you waiting for? Move!"

"Oh, right!" Mad Dog jolted awake, stumbling backward quickly.

Sure enough, the katana began slicing horizontally through the wall, instantly cutting down several more zombies.

At the same moment, the earthen wall crumbled away, revealing Takeshi standing there.

He held his katana firmly, eyes cold and deadly.

At his feet lay piles of slain zombies, their bodies twisted and blood pooling around them.

Behind Takeshi stood several other Awakeners, their murderous intent radiating fiercely.

"I've finally found you!"

"You bastard!" The Zombie Queen snarled viciously, lunging straight at Takeshi.

Takeshi swiftly raised his katana, parrying her relentless strikes. His blade was top-notch, incredibly sturdy. Sparks flew wildly as they clashed, their strength evenly matched.

"If my adopted son Daigo were here, you zombies wouldn't dare act so cocky!" Takeshi growled, slashing repeatedly.

He was also an agility-type Awakener, allowing him to keep pace with the Zombie Queen's lightning-fast movements.

At that moment, the psychic Awakener behind Takeshi unleashed his power again.

"Mental Barrier!"

A wave of psychic energy surged toward the Zombie Queen, instantly slowing her movements as if the space around her had solidified.

In a fight between experts, even a split-second hesitation was fatal.

"Now's my chance!"

Takeshi seized the opening, slamming his katana down onto the Zombie Queen's collarbone. But her undead body was incredibly tough, and the blade got stuck in her bone.

Without hesitation, Takeshi twisted his katana, aiming for her neck, intending to finish her off with one decisive slash.

The Zombie Queen's eyes flashed with savage fury. She reached out with both clawed hands, gripping the blade directly.

Blackened blood immediately poured from her palms, staining her ragged clothes.

"Boss!" Mad Dog shouted desperately, trying to rush forward to help. But a strength-type Awakener kicked him hard in the stomach, sending him flying backward and crashing onto the floor.

Even though the human Awakeners were exhausted, dealing with Mad Dog was still easy enough.

"Damn it!" Mad Dog gritted his teeth, hatred and frustration boiling inside him. If only he were stronger! Even just a B+ rank would be enough to help his boss.

He lifted his head, seeing Takeshi's face twisted with effort, gripping the katana with both hands and pressing it toward the Zombie Queen's neck.

The Zombie Queen desperately held onto the blade, resisting with all her might.

Blood continued to flow freely, and she could clearly hear the sickening sound of the blade grinding against her bones.

The situation was becoming dire.

Seeing the Zombie Queen restrained and no longer a threat, the humans behind Takeshi finally dared to step forward.

"Mr. Takeshi, I'll help you finish her off!"

"Hurry up!" Takeshi urged impatiently.

Though exhausted and trembling, the young Awakener clenched his teeth, gripping his blood-stained dagger tightly as he approached the struggling pair.

If he killed the Zombie Queen, the horde would collapse, and they'd survive!

His expression twisted with desperation and determination as he raised his dagger, aiming straight for the Zombie Queen's head, ready to deliver the killing blow.

"No!" Mad Dog screamed from the ground, eyes wide with panic and despair.

But just then, a figure suddenly phased through the ceiling above them, landing gracefully in the corridor.

"Wow, things got messy here, huh?" Ethan muttered casually, glancing around at the chaotic scene.

Right now, the humans were drained of energy, and the Zombie Queen was at her weakest—this was the perfect moment for him to step in.

The humans felt their hearts sink instantly. Just moments ago, they'd been ready to celebrate victory, but now their hopes crashed back down into despair.

Cold sweat drenched their backs, and a chill ran down their spines.

"Another Zombie King...? You've gotta be kidding me."

"How...how did he even get in here?"

"No idea, but this guy feels seriously creepy."

Takeshi's brow furrowed deeply, dread filling his eyes. History was repeating itself—every time he thought victory was within reach, something always went horribly wrong.

Suddenly, realization struck him, and his expression twisted in horror.

"This guy...he's the mastermind behind everything. He's been following us since the shelter..."

His voice trailed off, fear gripping his heart as he stared at Ethan.

...