[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-apocalypse-king-of-zombies":3,"chapter-apocalypse-king-of-zombies-apocalypse-king-of-zombies-chapter-402":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Apocalypse: King of Zombies",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},696483,930,"Chapter 402 402: Day three of missing the boss...","apocalypse-king-of-zombies-chapter-402",402,"\u003Cp>As soon as the words left his mouth, the air went dead silent. No one said a thing—they all just turned to look at Chris in perfect sync.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait... why are you all looking at me like that?\" Chris blinked, eyes wide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brandon shrugged. \"Whoever brought it up should go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chris panicked. \"W-Wait, hold on! Uncle Chris here's getting up there in years, my knees aren't what they used to be. Plus, you know, you can control blood—this is right up your alley!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brandon raised an eyebrow. \"Controlling blood over that kind of distance? That'd drain a ton of energy. I'm one of the main fighters here—I'd rather save my strength to kill more monsters.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chris: \"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ethan chimed in after a moment, \"Let's not worry about it now. Someone'll end up doing it when the time comes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fair enough,\" the group nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chris muttered to himself, Yeah, someone will... just please don't let it be me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, they got ready to head out, planning to return to Albuquerque and stick to the plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just then, Thomas and Jenny walked over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We heard you're going monster hunting,\" Jenny said, her eyes clear and sincere. \"We want to come with you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone looked a little surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chris jumped in, \"Jenny, are you worried about me? Don't be—I'll be fine, seriously.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jenny shook her head. \"No, it's not that. You saved me and my daughter last night. I can't just sit back and do nothing while you're risking your lives today.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly,\" Thomas added. \"We might not be strong, but we can help however we can.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ethan gave a small nod. He didn't object.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More tools in the toolbox, the better...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright then, let's move.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They stepped out of the building. Outside, people were still hard at work, rebuilding what was left of their homes. The damage from last night was clearly heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in the crowd, a young man with sausage-thick lips shot a glance at Ethan, eyes narrowing as he watched them head toward the edge of Oasis. He quickly nudged the guy next to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's go. We're following them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A short while later, Ethan and the group had left Oasis behind. Endless dunes stretched out before them, the wind howling through the air, kicking up clouds of dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The morning sun was brutal, beating down on them with a searing heat that made their skin sting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ethan could feel it—there was a group trailing them from behind. Human. Judging by the aura, it was Logan and his crew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Ethan didn't say anything. He let them follow—for now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chris brought up the rear, his eyes locked on Jenny's back. Her figure was graceful, curves in all the right places.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jenny's not just beautiful—she's got a good heart. Grateful, loyal. She knows how dangerous Mosca Peak is, and she still came to help us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brandon glanced back. \"Yeah... and what's that got to do with you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chris looked offended. \"What do you mean? Who else would it have to do with?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brandon deadpanned, \"Black-Skin Zombies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chris scoffed. \"No way!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then he paused, thinking it over. Jenny hadn't really shown any interest in him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now that I think about it... she's always been kinda cold toward me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brandon snorted. \"Well, duh. Her husband just died. She's still grieving. And you're already trying to flirt with her? Honestly, the fact she didn't stab you says a lot about her patience.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chris blinked. \"Oh... yeah, that makes sense.\" He nodded slowly, like a lightbulb had gone off. \"She's still mourning. That's why she can't accept me yet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guess I'll have to find a way to help her move on from her husband's death...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They kept chatting as they walked, their footprints trailing behind them across the endless desert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the way, they ran into a few monsters, but they were low-level—Thomas took care of them without breaking a sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, after crossing a ridge, a ruined city came into view. Buildings lay in crumbled heaps, the whole place a picture of desolation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The city was huge—its edges lost in the horizon. Here and there, dark shapes flickered across the broken structures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We're back...\" Chris muttered, a strange mix of nostalgia and dread in his voice. Last time, they'd been chased out of here by Black-Skin Zombies, forced to flee for their lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, from deep within the city, the occasional guttural roar echoed through the ruins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jenny, have you ever seen a Black-Skin Zombie before?\" Chris asked, his tone casual but with a hint of anticipation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jenny shook her head. \"No, I've only heard about them. People say there's a type of zombie in Albuquerque that's especially vicious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chris nodded, eyes narrowing slightly. \"You'll see them soon enough. When they swarm out all at once... it's terrifying.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh...\" Jenny gave a small nod, her expression a mix of curiosity and unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You guys stay here,\" Ethan said from the side, his voice calm but firm. \"I'll go into the city alone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the plan—get a sample of Black-Skin Zombie blood first, then lure them out. If too many people went in, it'd draw attention and increase the risk of something going wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now that's what I call a good gig,\" Chris muttered, stretching out as the others agreed and settled down to rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Up ahead, Ethan walked alone toward the ruins of Albuquerque.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But on a sand dune not far off, a few figures lay flat on their stomachs, peeking over the edge, eyes locked on Ethan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Logan, why's he going into Albuquerque by himself?\" one of them whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No idea,\" Logan replied, eyes narrowed. \"Maybe he's feeding himself to the Black-Skin Zombies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His lackey frowned, thinking it over. \"Should we... follow him in?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Logan turned to him with a look like he was talking to a toddler who just tried to eat sand. \"Are you out of your damn mind?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't even hesitate. \"We're not going anywhere near that place.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Albuquerque was crawling with Black-Skin Zombies. Their sense of smell was razor-sharp—they could sniff out a human from blocks away. And once they locked onto you, it was game over. They didn't stop until you were dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Logan had zero interest in becoming zombie chow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the city, Ethan activated his Domain of the Dead, cloaking himself completely. Not a trace of his presence leaked out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few Black-Skin Zombies passed nearby—thin-limbed, skin stretched tight over bones like dried leather—but they didn't notice a thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ethan moved silently, scanning the area with his senses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still had some of his own people in Albuquerque. The ones he'd left behind. Jerky and Slick were the top dogs among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hope they're still alive, Ethan thought. Would suck if they got eaten by those freaks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There weren't many places in the city safe enough to hide. After a quick sweep, Ethan locked onto their energy signatures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were holed up in the basement of an old shopping mall. The space was huge—big enough to hold hundreds of zombies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that's exactly what was down there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jerky and Slick had been gathering every zombie they could find, trying to build a proper horde. Their goal? Reclaim dominance and rebuild the Zombie Horde.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But lately, morale had hit rock bottom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Day three of missing the boss...\" Slick muttered, lying on his back, staring at the cracked ceiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't worry,\" Jerky said, trying to sound upbeat. \"We just gotta keep working. Gather more zombies. When he comes back, we'll surprise him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slick glanced around the room. \"This is the surprise? We've got, what, four hundred zombies? Most of them are starving. A bunch are already halfway to turning into Black-Skin freaks.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This isn't a surprise—it's a horror show. We're barely stronger than the bottom-feeders on the outskirts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We'll get there,\" Jerky insisted. \"If only the desert didn't have all those mutated monsters, we could expand outward.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just mentioning the desert beasts made them both shudder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where the hell is the boss, anyway?\" Slick muttered, worry creeping into his voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>",1343,"2026-06-02T09:29:06.388Z",1,"novelbin.me","d5054bb1d539943813c92ba34a846c472fb636ee3d6ac5d2106da78ec5408a71","apocalypse-king-of-zombies-chapter-14","apocalypse-king-of-zombies-chapter-13",1329,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fapocalypse-king-of-zombies-cover.jpg"]