Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

Shane didn’t mean to offend the bartender since he really had no idea what to order since there was also no menu or listing of whatever he could order.

However, it seemed that the bartender didn’t like his words. Nonetheless, she only snorted and poured him a murky brown liquid that smelled like fermented grain… and regret.

’What is this?’

Shane mused as he also looked around. Soon, he confirmed that everyone was drinking the same thing. They seemed to have no issues drinking it, so it must taste good…

’Let’s see…’

Shane took a sip—and barely suppressed a grimace.

”Ah?”

Compared to Bart’s finely crafted ales, this was like a normal ale mixed with grassy earth. Thankfully, the ale was still drinkable.

Shane still drank it and although it tasted bad at first, it was certainly something that you could get used to if you had some other salty food to go with it.

At this time, while he was considering whether to increase his sales of ales in this place, he noticed a group of fighters or warriors entering the tavern. Shane noticed that their armor was dented and there were still traces of smeared dirt or even blood on their clothes.

After finding a table, they immediately collapsed on their chairs because of tiredness before calling for drinks.

He could easily guess that they were one of the Zombie Extermination Squads of the Black Gold Outpost.

Shane didn’t think too much of them but his sharp ears caught their conversation.

”I’m tellin’ ya, that Wild Shelter ain’t normal… Let’s just give it to the First Squad.” A skinny man with a scar across his nose said as he didn’t seem to like their chances of conquering that Wild Shelter.

”Ugh… That’s true… Since when do skeletons use turrets and explosives anyway?!” A woman with a sniper rifle strapped to her back couldn’t help but complain as well.

Shane’s fingers stopped around his mug.

Turrets and explosives?

This matter wasn’t actually unusual. After all, the skeletons were still controlled by a Necromancer. It means that whatever weapon those skeletons have, they would all depend on the skills of the Necromancer.

Nonetheless, he was really curious about these Necromancers and their way of procuring weapons and other resources. Unfortunately, Raze had already gotten rid of the Wild Shelters near the Springriver Manor and Silver Mine Camp.

As for the ones in the Eclipse Shelter, there weren’t a lot of them. After all, the Zombies around sector 20 weren’t easy to deal with. Even without their involvement, they would normally get flattened by Giant Zombies passing by.

After listening for a while, Shane finally made a decision as he slid from his stool and approached their table.

”You mind if I join you?” He asked.

The squad leader, a veteran with a mechanical eye, sized him up.

”You’re a new recruit here? I don’t recognize you… Are you going to buy us a drink?” The man replied as he didn’t really mind Shane to join them. But seeing his neat clothes or attire, he could tell that he was a new recruit or a new visitor.

Shane smiled. ”A visitor… I can buy you drinks… But you have to tell me more about this Wild Shelter…”

”Good!” The leader of the squad said.

Apparently, his squad was Team 5 of Black Gold’s Zombie Extermination Force. There were a total of 14 of them in this squad like any other teams.

However, only five of them here were the oldest members of the group.

”It’s about three northeast,” the female sniper said as the drinks Shane ordered arrived. ”A Necromancer holed up in an old military bunker. But here’s the problem—the bastard’s got tech!”

Shane’s interest sharpened. ”What kind?” It was too surprising that they were using technology. What he needed to know was what level of technology it was.

”Automated turrets. Ten of ’em. Mounted on the walls, covering every angle,” the scarred man said. ”And his undead? They’re not just mindless skellies. We’re talking Dullahans riding skeletal warhorses! How could we destroy those turrets? We needed more firepower! However, that Necromancer also has Skeleton Mages throwing fire and ice… If we wanted to get close, there’s also Skeleton Knights, and they would just appear from the ground.”

Shane also paused for a moment after hearing this.

Dullahans weren’t easy opponents. If they were supported by turrets, mages, and knights, it wouldn’t be surprising if a squad of 14 Survivors weren’t able to conquer this Wild Shelter.

With the addition of Skeleton Knights that could pop out from the ground, it was no wonder they were planning to hand this mission over to Team 1.

After asking for more, he learned that Team 1 was a team composed of the strongest members of the Drakeheart Vanguard.

There were also fourteen members in this group, but all of them had levels above 45 at the very least.

Then, it was at this time that Shane recalled something related to his past experience.

”You said the turrets were automated. Did they only target living things?”

The sniper frowned. ”Now that you mention it… no. They ignored our scouting drones. Only shot at us.”

Shane frowned at this as he recalled something quite similar in the Fairy Realm Apocalypse. Shane recalled that in his second year in this Apocalypse, they had a Dark Elf enemy that could use corpses together with some Dwarven Tech to incorporate into his corpse army.

In the meantime, this Necromancer from the Wild Shelter seemed like he wasn’t just raising the dead. He was integrating them with machinery.

And if he could control turrets, what else could he control?

Tanks?

Drones?

An entire army of undead machines?

Shane stood up as he decided to ask Travis’ permission to check that place out. Well, this wasn’t his territory, so it wouldn’t be good if he just suddenly stole their prey.

”I’m going to check this out myself.”

The squad leader blinked. ”Alone?”

Shane gently nodded.

”I work better that way. Don’t worry, I’ll ask Travis for permission.”

Hearing that the man was addressing Travis so casually like a friend, they immediately realized that he was Travis’ guest and not just any visitor.

***

As Shane strode out of the tavern, and immediately sent a message to Travis. Thankfully, the man still had one of its clones glued to the Message Board, giving him a quick reply.

Thankfully, Travis didn’t mind as long as part of the loot would be given to the Shelter. This was because the group of scouts who had found it and the teams who had attempted to clear it had to be compensated for all the information they had gotten for the sake of the clearers.

Furthermore, the Shelter needed some resources as well to operate in this region.

Shane completely understood that, so he didn’t really mind compensating them.

Just like that, about an hour later, Shane stood at the collapsed highway overpass, gazing down at the Necromancer’s domain or bunker.

Just like what the reports said, the bunker was outfitted like a fortress on the outside.

There were ten outposts with ten automated turrets. In every outpost, there was a group of Skeleton Archers and a Dullahan in their mids.

On the other hand, at the very entrance of the bunker, there was another group of Skeleton Mages guarding it heavily.

Finally, there were scattered Skeleton Knights, Skeleton Warriors, and Skeleton Soldiers around.

It was definitely not going to be easy if you wanted to destroy this place and kill the Necromancer through normal means.

***

”Hmm?”

Shane had been moments away from infiltrating the bunker when the ground beneath him trembled.

Thud thud thud…

Shane immediately moved down and crouched lower behind the rubble. Then, his enhanced senses lock onto the source of the disturbance.

Four Giant Zombies, standing over four or five meters tall walking in the direction of the Wild Shelter!

”Armored Giant Zombies…” Shane muttered under his breath.

These weren’t just ordinary Giant Zombies—they were Zombies meant to tank fortresses because of their armor!

Indeed, they were designed to break fortifications. And they were heading straight for the Necromancer’s bunker!

”Ohh…” Shane immediately changed his plan as soon as he realized what was going on.

This was a gift.

He settled in to watch as the Armored Giant Zombies got into the range of the bunker’s defenses.

Then, the Necromancer’s forces reacted instantly.

Just like that, he saw the automated turrets unleashing a barrage of high-caliber rounds into the lead of the Zombie’s chest.

However, the Zombie’s armor was able to block the first wave of attack, so it didn’t stop.

But as soon as the Skeleton Mages raised their hands and joined the attack, the metal-plated hides of the Giant Zombies were crushed as flesh and bones splintered!

”Those mages are strong.” Shane muttered as he realized that these Mages were a lot more dangerous than he had thought.

If he was going to attack, he must first eliminate them since his Aura Sentinel and other barriers could handle the turrets and arrows of the Skeleton Archers…

Then, at this time, Shane heard the galloping horses…

The Dullahan on its skeletal steed had finally made its move!