Apocalypse: The Ice King Returned

Chapter 36: Exile

No one expected Eric to do that. By the time they had any time to react, the young man was screaming. He was taken to the ground and the creeper baby tore into his stomach, exposing his intestines as blood spilled out and mixed with the corrosive acid.

Oh my god.

As much as Elena thought she was trained for anything, she cried out for the boy and tears rolled from her eyes from the shock.

The monster yanked out the boy’s organs and feasted on them.

The boy struggled to escape, by screams being drowned by his own blood. His cries grew fainter and fainter until he let out a dying breath. His body only twitched as the light behind his eyes went dark.

Eric was pinned under the young boy’s body, covered in blood. The end of an intestine flopped back on his face. Eric didn't dare move. His eyes were wide as the boy’s warmth faded away until he was no more than an empty corpse.

Eric was alone, trembling. Only fear, hatred, and reluctance could be seen in his eyes.

Everything happened in an instant, and the others all felt chills ringing through their spines. No one could have predicted that Eric would do such a thing. They could only hold their breath and keep quiet.

While the creeper was still chewing into the boy’s corpse, Luther fired a frozen arrow that was meant to keep the creeper distracted.

As soon as he fired the arrow, he ran at the baby with his sword extended.

This time he didn't miss. The blade caught the monster’s hind legs, slicing them right off. With a roar, the creeper leaped away with only one uninjured limb left. It ran lengthways for some distance and then lunged fiercely toward Luther, though its balance was very far off from normal and its speed had diminished.

"You’re no more dangerous than a zombie now.”

Luther was ready to kill the creature. He took the nail gun in his hand and pointed it at the monstrous baby that was charging toward him.

With a muffled thud, the creeper was shot dead, a nail halfway protruded into its forehead.

Eric cried out and Luther kicked him in the face.

"If you put any of us in danger, I will personally throw you at the first horde of zombies we run into."

The others caught their breath and stared at Eric, their eyes shooting daggers.

Eric had now seen Luther's ability, and he shut up when he was kicked. He pushed the young man in front of him in panic.

Eric's eyes were bloodshot, and he replied, "I didn't mean to. I was just protecting myself."

"Eric," Elena snapped angrily, "I would have never guessed you were such a bad person. When you first joined our team, Ethan gave you his own food. How could you do such a terrible thing?"

"I... I was just protecting myself. I was scared. I didn't want him to die. Elena, really, I made a mistake. I didn’t mean to do that. Please, forgive me." Eric sniveled and cried out his apology, but they all looked at him coldly. It left a pang of distress in his heart to be looked down on with such contempt.

"When you bring Ethan back to life, I’ll forgive you." This left everyone silent for some time.

The group looked over at Ethan's mutilated body, and their hearts were filled with unbearable sadness.

"Eric, you can’t be with us anymore." Oliver gritted his teeth and couldn’t even look him in the eyes. He knew if he looked at Eric, he would only want to kill him. If he was not exiled as a stranger, he’d be attacked as an enemy.

Oliver then walked over to Ethan's body and sat at the boy’s side. It had only been a few days, but the team seemed to work well together until now.

At the very least, they all had mutual concern for each other And Ethan was a warmhearted teenager, bringing hope and laughter to their faces.

Oliver shut Ethan's eyes. "Ethan, go on to a better life to a world that has not been destroyed and decayed.”

Luther watched Oliver do this without a word, even though he had already heard the echoes of nearby zombies. In doomsday, not all survivor teams were cold-blooded and heartless. Only an emotional team like this one could group together and make it through the worst that doomsday had to offer.

Of course, people must first be able to survive. Regardless of heart and teamwork, all survivors need the skill to survive and fight.

Luther got caught up in the thought that one day he would have to build a team to reach the top of the mountain and build a base. He would have to choose between strength and humanity. However, after doomsday, those with strength would be damaged to an extent by doomsday. Everyone would be. Considering this big plan he created, there was a lot to consider.

"Oliver, it's time to go. The horde is getting closer,” Elena said.

Oliver got up. "Let's go, just the four of us. We have to get those weapons."

Their original team of six has been reduced to four after Ethan died and Eric was exiled.

After being kicked out, Eric was afraid, knowing he was doomed to die alone. Listening to the roar of the zombies, a shiver ran up his spine. But after a moment of panic, his fear turned into anger, and his heart pumped louder in his ears.

"Zeke was bitten by a zombie. You killed him to protect yourself. I only took Ethan to protect myself. So why? Why can't I protect myself as you did?"

"You’re all hypocrites who just want me dead. Well, I’ll show you. I’ll show you all"

Eric's eyes were clouded, and he muttered to himself. He seemed to become another person. His eyes were cold, and he went in the direction the others had left.

-----

"Luther, thank you very much. Without you, we would all be dead. What did you do before doomsday? Were you a soldier, or some sort of martial artist?" To get everyone out of this gloomy atmosphere, Oliver, as their leader, struck up a conversation.

"Yeah, Luther, you had excellent control when you fought that creature. You must be a very skilled fighter." Elena added. She had been closest to him as he fought the monster, so she had seen his form and style better than the others.

"Well, I appreciate your kindness. I'm an Erazer, too. And I know a lot about the art of the blade.” Luther replied flatly.

"You know, I told you I would be here to protect you, but I think I had it backward." Oliver scratched his head in embarrassment.

"Help! Please help me!"

They heard a voice cry out.

Luther squinted. Fifty meters away, a ten-foot-tall mutant was chasing a man. The man was Eric, whom they had left behind.