Apocalypse king

The Longest Night

ROOOOOOOAR!

The first wave of zombies crashed into the barricades like a tidal wave.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The metal gates trembled violently.

Screams immediately erupted among the survivors.

"There are too many!"

"Oh God..."

Arthur stood at the front line, gripping his machete tightly.

Thousands.

There were too many.

This was no longer a battle.

It was a siege.

"Everyone, stay calm!" Arthur shouted.

"Follow the plan!"

His voice snapped many people out of their panic.

The survivors quickly moved into position.

Men armed with pipes and makeshift spears guarded the entrances.

Others carried supplies and treated the injured.

Even the children were helping by bringing water and bandages.

No one wanted to die tonight.

BOOM!

A zombie climbed over the wall.

Arthur immediately rushed forward.

Slash!

Its head flew into the air.

Before the body even hit the ground—

Three more zombies followed.

Bang!

Bang!

The Thunder Pistol fired twice.

Blue lightning exploded.

Burnt corpses fell to the ground.

But more zombies continued coming.

Endlessly.

DING!

---

Zombie Eliminated.

Experience +2.

Zombie Eliminated.

Experience +2.

Zombie Eliminated.

Experience +2.

---

Notifications continuously appeared.

Arthur ignored them.

There was no time.

"Left side!"

Kenji shouted.

Several zombies had broken through a weaker barricade.

Arthur immediately rushed over.

The survivors fought desperately.

A middle-aged man smashed a zombie with a hammer.

A young woman stabbed another with a kitchen knife.

Fear was still present.

But now—

They were fighting.

Because behind them was home.

ROOOOOAR!

A massive zombie suddenly leaped over the wall.

It landed heavily in the courtyard.

Everyone froze.

Another mutant.

Its body was bloated and covered in strange red veins.

DING!

---

Name: Brute Mutant

Rank: F+

---

The mutant immediately grabbed a survivor.

CRACK!

Blood splattered.

People screamed.

Arthur's eyes narrowed.

He charged.

The Brute Mutant roared and threw a punch.

BOOM!

Arthur crossed his arms.

The impact sent him sliding backward.

Strong.

Very strong.

The mutant attacked again.

This time—

Arthur dodged.

Slash!

His machete cut deeply into its side.

The creature roared in pain.

Then—

A blue bolt shot past him.

Bang!

The mutant staggered.

Arthur blinked.

Aiko stood nearby holding the Thunder Pistol's spare battery pack.

"...Support."

Arthur smiled slightly.

Even injured—

She still insisted on helping.

The mutant roared again and rushed toward Aiko.

Arthur's expression changed.

Too fast.

However—

Before he could move—

Yuna suddenly swung a metal pipe.

Bang!

The attack barely did damage.

But it distracted the mutant.

"You ugly monster!"

Yuna shouted.

The mutant turned toward her angrily.

Arthur immediately seized the opportunity.

Slash!

The machete sliced through its neck.

The mutant collapsed.

DING!

---

Brute Mutant Eliminated.

Experience +100.

---

Yuna exhaled heavily.

"...I almost died."

Arthur chuckled.

"You did well."

Yuna grinned proudly.

Then she looked at Aiko.

"See? I saved your future husband."

"...!"

Aiko's face instantly turned red.

"W-What husband?!"

Even in the middle of the apocalypse—

Yuna still found opportunities to tease them.

Arthur sighed.

Another loud crash echoed.

BANG!

The main gates finally began bending inward.

The survivors' faces turned pale.

"They're breaking through!"

Arthur looked outside.

The sea of zombies stretched endlessly.

And then—

His pupils contracted.

Several figures were approaching.

Five mutants.

No.

Six.

Their red eyes glowed under the moonlight.

The pressure they emitted was terrifying.

DING!

---

Warning!

Multiple elite mutants detected.

Survival Probability decreasing.

Current Estimate:

26%

---

Arthur frowned.

Twenty-six percent.

That was terrible.

The survivors noticed his expression.

Fear slowly spread.

"...Can we really survive?"

"...Leader..."

Children started crying again.

Arthur looked around.

Everyone was exhausted.

Injured.

Terrified.

Yet they were still fighting.

For a moment—

He remembered the old world.

The crowded streets.

People complaining about work.

Simple, ordinary lives.

Who would have thought those days would become precious memories?

Arthur slowly raised his head.

No.

He couldn't give up.

Not now.

Not when everyone was depending on him.

DING!

---

Condition Met.

Leadership exceeds requirement.

Special Skill Available.

【Inspiring Speech】

---

Arthur immediately accepted.

A warm energy spread through his body.

He climbed onto a vehicle.

Everyone looked toward him.

Even the zombies seemed to slow.

Arthur looked at the frightened faces before him.

Then he spoke.

"I know you're scared."

Silence.

"I am too."

Many survivors widened their eyes.

"Our enemies are stronger."

"They are more numerous."

"They want to tear us apart."

His voice became firmer.

"But look around you."

People unconsciously looked at one another.

"A few days ago, we were strangers."

"Some of us were trapped."

"Some had lost our families."

"Some had already given up."

Arthur clenched his fists.

"But today..."

"We are still here."

His voice echoed across the shelter.

"We built this place together."

"We protected each other."

"We laughed together."

"This shelter..."

"...is our home."

The survivors stared at him.

Some began tearing up.

Arthur pointed toward the approaching horde.

"And I refuse to let anyone take it away."

Silence.

Then—

A middle-aged man slowly raised his weapon.

"So do I."

Another survivor stepped forward.

"I'll fight too."

More voices followed.

"We'll protect our home!"

"We'll survive!"

"We're with you!"

The atmosphere instantly changed.

Fear turned into determination.

DING!

---

Inspiring Speech activated.

Morale greatly increased.

All survivors gain temporary buffs.

Combat efficiency increased.

Loyalty increased.

---

Arthur smiled.

This...

This was leadership.

Not power.

Not fear.

But hope.

Aiko looked at him with gentle eyes.

For a moment—

She almost forgot the monsters surrounding them.

Under the crimson moon—

Arthur looked like someone destined to stand above others.

Someone worthy of being followed.

Someone worthy of...

Her cheeks suddenly became warm.

Yuna noticed immediately.

And smiled.

Then—

ROOOOOOOAR!!!

The six elite mutants finally arrived.

The ground trembled.

One was enormous.

Another had four arms.

One crawled like an animal.

And at the center—

A humanoid mutant slowly stepped forward.

Unlike the others—

Its eyes were calm.

Intelligent.

It looked directly at Arthur.

Then—

It smiled.

Arthur felt chills.

This thing...

was dangerous.

Very dangerous.

The humanoid mutant slowly raised its hand.

Instantly—

Thousands of zombies roared.

The final assault had begun.

BANG!!!

The main gates exploded.

The horde surged forward like a black flood.

"Everyone!"

Arthur raised his machete.

His eyes became sharp.

"Fight!"

The survivors shouted.

Weapons were raised.

Hearts pounded.

Tonight—

They would either survive...

Or die together.

As Arthur charged into the endless sea of monsters—

Aiko watched his back.

Then—

Without thinking—

She whispered.

"...Come back safely."

The words were so quiet that even she barely heard them.

Yet her heart beat faster.

Because for the first time—

She realized something.

She wasn't only worried about her leader.

Or her savior.

Somewhere along the way—

Arthur had become someone precious to her.

Someone she didn't want to lose.

The realization made her cheeks turn red.

But there was no time to think.

Because the apocalypse was roaring before them.

And the longest night...

had only just begun.