Chapter 464: You... who the hell are you?

Chapter 464: You… who the hell are you?

The Awakeners from Genesis Biotech were charging in from the rear, drawing titanium-alloy machetes that gleamed as they sliced through the air, aiming straight for his head.

The strike was vicious—clearly meant to kill in one blow.

“FUCK!”

The Black Hand Legion lieutenant cursed under his breath, jerking back just in time.

The blade missed his forehead by a hair—way too close for comfort.

The Black Hand Legion weren’t exactly known for their patience or diplomacy. These guys were all hotheads, and this one was no exception. His temper flared instantly.

“You’re dead, asshole!”

With a snarl, the lieutenant swung a brutal right hook that landed square on the Genesis Biotech Awakener’s skull. There was a sickening crack as the man’s head caved in, and his body went flying, limp and lifeless. No way he was getting up from that.

The rest of the Black Hand Legion didn’t hesitate. Seeing the fight break out, they drew their weapons and jumped into the fray.

“They came looking for trouble—cut them down!”

The two sides clashed in a brutal melee. The Black Hand Legion fought like rabid dogs, ruthless and unrelenting, quickly taking down several Genesis Biotech Awakeners.

But then, from the back, elemental energy surged.

Genesis Biotech’s Awakeners raised their firearms, crystal cores embedded in the weapons glowing brightly—they were fully charged and ready to fire.

Energy blasts of all colors tore through the air like a storm, raining down in a relentless barrage.

The Black Hand Legion was instantly overwhelmed. Some didn’t even have time to scream before they were blown apart, bodies shredded into pieces.

Chaos erupted across the battlefield. Screams, roars, and the thunder of exploding energy filled the air. It was a bloodbath.

Ethan stood a short distance away, watching it all unfold in silence.

The scene reminded him of something from his childhood at the orphanage—back when he used to play in the woods behind the building. There were always black ant nests out there.

He used to catch red ants and drop them into the black ant nests just to watch them fight. It was fascinating. He could sit there for hours, totally absorbed.

This? This was exactly like that.

“Nice. Let ’em tear each other apart.”

Not only had he successfully linked up with the Genesis Biotech Awakeners, but they were also wiping out a Black Hand Legion outpost in the process. Two birds, one stone. Double the payout, half the effort.

Sure, the crystal cores from these guys weren’t much use to him anymore in terms of personal power, but they were perfect for recharging his Crystal Core Armament.

His last fight with Nightbane had drained over a thousand B-grade crystal cores—massive loss.

Plus, the PhD’s enhancement project might need more cores down the line. He couldn’t afford to waste any.

Back on the battlefield, bodies were dropping left and right. Severed limbs flew through the air, blood sprayed in every direction.

Both sides were in full berserker mode now—no holding back.

Not that Ethan had stirred the pot on purpose. Genesis Biotech and the Black Hand Legion already had bad blood. They hated each other’s guts. This was bound to happen sooner or later.

The Black Hand lieutenant was a strength-type Awakener, and he was going toe-to-toe with Wade. They were evenly matched, trading blows with no clear winner.

But the Black Hand Legion’s gear was garbage compared to Genesis Biotech’s. Their weapons couldn’t hold up—blades snapped left and right.

Meanwhile, Genesis Biotech’s nano-combat suits offered decent protection, and their crystal-core firearms were just on another level. It was a total mismatch.

In less than five minutes, the Black Hand Legion had already lost over half their men.

“Hah! You call that a fight? You think you can ambush us with that sorry excuse for a crew?”

“What?” the lieutenant barked, confused.

They were the ones who’d started this—how the hell was he the one being ambushed?

He dodged another strike from Wade, but before he could recover, two energy blasts came screaming down from above. Eyes wide with panic, he crossed his arms to shield himself.

BOOM! BOOM!

The twin explosions sent him flying dozens of feet through the air. He landed hard on his ass, smoke rising from his scorched body. Blood trickled from several wounds, his skin charred and torn.

If he hadn’t been a strength-type Awakener with a reinforced body, he’d be nothing but a smear on the ground by now.

In terms of raw strength, he wasn’t any weaker than Wade.

But the enemy’s gear was just too damn good. He glanced back and saw that most of his men were already down—only twenty or thirty were still standing, barely holding on.

Frustration boiled in his chest. He felt more wronged than a saint on trial—this was a total shitshow he never signed up for.

And just then, Wade lunged at him, clearly going in for the kill.

The Black Hand Legion lieutenant panicked and threw up his hands.

“Wait—wait! I surrender! Don’t kill me!”

Wade didn’t slow down. His eyes were cold, his voice colder. “Should’ve thought of that before. Regret’s a little late now, don’t you think?”

The lieutenant’s face twisted in desperation, on the verge of tears. “What the hell did I even do?! I was literally sleeping at home, and suddenly we’re under attack! I swear, I wasn’t trying to ambush you—this is all a huge misunderstanding!”

“Bullshit,” Wade snapped. “Then why the hell were you conveniently right here?”

“…” The lieutenant was speechless. This guy was impossible to reason with.

“Dude, this is Blackhand City territory. Where the hell else would I be?!”

“Blackhand City?” Wade’s brow furrowed. Something wasn’t adding up.

The lieutenant pressed on, seizing the moment. “Weren’t you guys heading out to intercept the zombie horde from L.A.? Richard’s Genesis Biotech is over there. This place is in the complete opposite direction. What are you even doing here?”

That hit Wade like a punch to the gut.

Opposite direction?

He’d had a weird feeling about their route for a while now. Even though Clint had said they were taking a detour, this was way off course.

His stomach dropped.

They’d been played.

“STOP!” he roared.

The battle ground to a halt.

The Awakeners behind him, panting and bloodied, froze mid-swing. They looked around, confused.

“What’s going on?”

“Weren’t we supposed to wipe them out?”

“…”

Wade didn’t answer. His eyes were locked on Clint, standing a short distance away.

The guy hadn’t lifted a finger the entire fight. Just stood there, calm as ever, like he was watching a show.

And that’s when it clicked.

Something was seriously wrong.

That wasn’t Clint.

Hell, it might not even be human.

Wade’s voice was tight, his throat dry. “Why’d you stop fighting?” he asked, staring at the man who’d led them here.

The fake Clint—Ethan in disguise—spoke coldly. “What, done already?”

He’d planned to lead them through a few more outposts, bleed them dry, then finish them off. But it looked like the game was up.

Wade swallowed hard, his voice trembling. “You… who the hell are you?”

The man smiled faintly. “Well, since you figured it out… guess there’s no point pretending anymore.”

As he spoke, his body began to shift—his features morphing, bones cracking, skin rippling.

In front of everyone, Clint’s form melted away, revealing Ethan.

The real Ethan.

The Zombie King.

The moment the transformation completed, the battlefield fell into stunned silence.

Everyone froze.

No one moved.

No one breathed.

Then came the whispers—barely audible, but thick with dread.

“L.A.’s strongest… the Zombie King…”

“It’s him… it’s really him…”

The face before them was infamous—burned into their memories. The one who led a hundred thousand zombies in a tidal wave of death. The most terrifying undead force in America.

Wade stood there, completely shell-shocked. His mind went blank.

He’d followed the Zombie King.

Trusted him.

Let him lead them.

The Zombie King had been their guide.

And now, they were standing in the middle of a trap he’d laid himself.

The horror of that realization hit like a freight train.

…