Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

Soon, Taylor’s gauntleted hands smoked… A form of corruption had begun eating through the metal!

”Tsk… This is getting bad...” Taylor couldn’t help but feel frustrated as she swiftly removed the gauntlet from her hands.

Then, Bridget barely had time to raise her staff before a whip-like appendage coiled around it…

Her staff was wrapped by the dark tendrils that the Zombie Lord had summoned!

This was already beyond the powers of Zombies that they knew… It was like they were facing a Dark Magician instead!

Soon, her bone staff splintered like cheap kindling, and the backlash of her own storm magic detonated in her face.

Boom!

She hit the ground hard and blood trickled from her nose… The explosion was too near her face!

Bridget was severely injured, but thankfully, she still had her Safety Protection Token with her, and soon, the Fast Regeneration and its Barrier from the Token had protected and cured her.

At this time, they heard Roscoe’s choked gasp.

Apparently, a spear-tipped tendril had punched clean through his abdomen! This tendril lifted him off his feet like a puppet.

His bow clattered to the ground as black veins spidered outward from the wound… He was also getting infected and he needed the anti-virus serum immediately…

They could see how his skin was taking on the paleness of a week-old corpse!

Not good!

They watched as his mouth worked soundlessly and his fingers twitched toward the arrow still nocked in his quiver—

”ENOUGH.”

Finally, Shane had arrived, and his shout was, of course, filled with Titan’s Roar!

This move weakened the dark tendrils and allowed everyone to escape with their remaining strength.

”I miscalculated your strength. You’re not just any Zombie Lord.” Shane muttered as he stepped forward…

His sword—the Reinforced Bone Sword, obtained from the powerful Necromancer’s den,—erupted in blinding white flames, the heat was so intense that the nearest tendrils recoiled like scorched vines…

They could not get closer to Shane at all.

Prov turned slowly. His grin widened as he saw Shane coming at him…

”You’re finally here.”

”You want a fight?” Shane said as he removed his robe…

Soon, his runic tattoos along his arms could be seen… They were Tattoo Marks that he had just purchased this morning!

They were Normal, Master, and Legendary Tattoo Marks worth 20, 50, and 100 Reputation Points respectively.

[ Normal Tattoo – ”Raven’s Eye”

[ Skill Unlocked: ”Death’s Glimpse” ]

Effect: Grants momentary precognition ( 2 seconds ) when an attack is imminent, allowing the user to react instinctively.

Limitation: Can only trigger once per 30 seconds. ]

This Raven’s eye was on Shane’s left forearm… The ability may not seem that great with his many detection skills and Cloud’s existence, but Shane liked how it could help him sense any type of attacks coming at him.

[ Master Tattoo – ”Ouroboros Serpent”

[ Skill Unlocked: ”Cycle of Ruin”]

Effect: Converts 10% of damage taken into stored kinetic energy, which can be unleashed in a single counterattack.

Limitation: Maximum storage capacity = 1 lethal hit’s worth of force. ]

With his incredible defense and ability to take a lot of damage, this ability was already so incredible for him.

Lastly, the most expensive tattoo mark.

[ Legendary Tattoo – ”Stormlord’s Brand”

[Skill Unlocked: ”Heaven’s Wrath”]

Effect: Summons a localized storm ( 30ft radius ) for 10 seconds, where every step the user takes triggers chain lightning, arcing between enemies and stunning them briefly.

Limitation: Drains stamina rapidly; overuse risks cardiac overload. ]

Needless to say, this ability was too strong. Unfortunately, it doesn’t consume Spirit Points or Mana at all. It consumes Stamina and it wasn’t something he could easily refill.

***

Just like that, Shane and Prov faced each other…

Prov tried, but the blackened tendrils of corruption no longer dared to approach—not with the blinding white flames of Shane’s Reinforced Bone Sword…

”Interesting…”

Prov tilted his head as he realized that Shane was indeed suited to be the ruler of this Fortress.

”You’re different from the others,” he mused… ”I can tell that your shelter will be worthy to be corrupted by my powers.”

Shane didn’t answer that talkative Zombie Lord... His grip simply tightened around his sword as he readied for the battle.

Soon, Shane’s Flash Step carried him forward… He held his sword tightly and thrust it toward Prov’s throat! The Zombie Lord barely swayed aside, but Shane anticipated the dodge—his Raven’s Eye tattoo granted him a split-second glimpse of Prov’s next motion.

He twisted mid-swing, reversing his blade into a Vortex Spin… This Survival Skill of his was definitely a powerful move, and it forced Prov to block with his own sword.

The impact sent shockwaves through the ground, and the stone even started cracking.

Prov’s grin never wavered. ”Predictable.”

He then deflected Shane’s sword aside and lashed out with a kick—but Shane rolled with the blow, letting the force carry him backward as his Ouroboros Serpent tattoo was activated, absorbing the kinetic energy.

”You hit like a child,” Shane spat as he landed on his two feet.

Prov’s eyes narrowed as he heard Shane’s provocation... Then, he vanished.

Shane’s Heightened Awareness screamed a warning as Prov reappeared behind him, black miasma then started merging into a dagger aimed at his spine!

”Too slow,” Shane taunted as he triggered his Faerie Insight.

His body moved before his mind processed the threat, his sword intercepting the dagger which created a shower of sparks.

But Prov wasn’t done—his free hand clamped onto Shane’s wrist!

Shane’s flesh then started rotting instantly where they touched.

”Let’s see how you like my gift,” Prov laughed as he knew very well how strong his corruption was. It wasn’t like the Zombie Virus that takes time to affect the infected.

The corruption that he had was stronger and shouldn’t have any cure… At the very least, not that he was aware of.

Just like that, the corruption spread like wildfire, black veins then started crawling up Shane’s arm. But before it could reach his shoulder, Shane activated Nano Restoration, the nanites in his bloodstream burning away the decay!

Indeed, it was the special physique ability that he had obtained after he obtained all of his Memory Spheres from the A.I. Rebellion Apocalypse!

Then, Shane finally countered.

His knee slammed into Prov’s gut, followed by a Point-Blank Titan’s Roar that sent the Zombie Lord sliding back!

Boom!

Shane couldn’t help but smile seeing that the Zombie Lord’s ribs were visibly dented. He had definitely done a lot of damage just now.

The only concern was the Zombie Lord’s strong regeneration.

Prov wiped the black blood from his lips. Finally, his amusement had faded as he looked at Shane seriously... ”Enough games. You will die now, Ruler of the Humans.”

Just like that, Prov slammed his palms together, and soon, the battlefield was soon filled with dark energy.

The ground split open, and more tendrils, thick as tree trunks, surged upward! It was definitely a stronger version of his previous attack!

This Zombie Lord was definitely a Dark Magician of some sort to be able to do this!

Nonetheless, Shane didn’t flinch. He was not afraid of this Zombie Lord’s move at all.

”Bring it on!” Shane said as he decided what move to use…

To be honest, he had five aces up his sleeve to deal with this move of the Zombie Lord.

However, he decided to use his newest trick!

He slammed his sword into the earth, triggering Heaven’s Wrath!

Soon, the Stormlord’s Brand on his arm had ignited!

Then, lightning arcs started coming out of his body in a 30-foot radius.

The sky itself even seemed to howl as chain lightning started lancing through the tendrils, reducing them to ash!

Every step Shane took sent another bolt crashing into Prov, forcing the Zombie Lord to dodge!

Indeed, Prov was still afraid of lightning despite showing so much power!

But the toll was immense. Shane’s muscles burned as the tattoo drained his stamina.

However, Shane’s title, Top Challenger, was still there…

This Title that he got from the Boss Raid Event had three effects, and one of them was Double Spirit! This allowed him to have Stamina Boost!

However, it was not enough…

Prov noticed this and smiled…

”Tired already?” he taunted as he used his Dark Tendrils to block the lightning attacks from Shane… Then, his sword aimed for Shane’s heart.

Shane barely raised his blade in time, and the impact sent him sliding back.

”Dream on…” Shane said.

As he said this, he swiftly stabbed himself with an Adrenaline Injector!

[ Adrenaline Injector ( Rare ): An emergency syringe filled with a potent mix of stimulants and pain suppressants. When injected, it boosts stamina and temporarily enhances combat abilities by 300% for 10 minutes. ]

This item that was sold in the Random Store for 125 Zombie Cores was finally useful!

It was a 300 percent boost for 10 minutes! Because of this, he could use his Heaven’s Wrath longer!

”Let’s see who can last longer!” Shane said as he was ready to inject a few more drugs!