Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

After closing the Clan Chat, Shane continued searching for the Secret Shop.

He passed through various mini stalls, shops, and wandering survivors who were still buzzing with energy after the end of the Grand Auction Event.

Some of them probably want to spend their remaining Auction Points before the event ends.

Well, they could not use it on the continent after all.

Because of that, many of these Survivors were just looking for something decent to use up their remaining points.

Nonetheless, Shane focused on his task as he relied on his Faerie Insight and high Perception to look for any signs…

His Faerie Insight came from the ability of the Elves, and thanks to that, his ability to search for hidden things was a lot more impressive compared to others.

Soon, he finally found what he was looking for.

Between two shabby stalls that most had ignored, a dirty curtain hung down over a makeshift stall. It looked pathetic compared to the clean shops nearby.

Furthermore, there was a handwritten sign that said:

[ CLOSED – BACK SOON ]

Most people dismissed it.

After all, these merchants are also people. They were probably off relieving themselves, or perhaps just taking a break, so it was not that surprising…

But Shane paused. Beneath that curtain was a trace, so faint, so subtle that only someone with Faerie Insight could notice.

It was such a faint trace of energy that didn’t belong to the normal stall of the Grand Nexus.

Shane finally smiled after realizing this.

‘That’s no toilet break. It’s definitely a secret shop… Or something similar to that.’

Without hesitation, Shane brushed the curtain aside and stepped in.

Whoosh~

What he brushed away wasn’t actually a curtain but some sort of illusion…

As he entered, the air changed instantly.

From the noisy Nexus outside, silence suddenly descended here. Then, there was only a dim lantern that was giving some light in this small stall…

‘This must be it…’ Shane felt confident that he had finally found this secret shop.

It was no wonder that it was so difficult to find.

After all, no one would really bother to look into an unguarded shop with a sign that says that the merchant would be back soon… They would normally just pass by and perhaps check the shop later on once the merchant was back.

Furthermore, that sign wasn’t even unusual. Shane had actually seen a few more such notices in various shops and stalls.

As Shane entered the shop, he noticed that behind the counter sat a man cloaked in black.

His hood covered most of his face, and Shane could barely see how the man was actually wrinkled, almost corpse-like.

“So you found me…” the figure said with an old voice… His tone was somewhere between amusement and approval. “Welcome to my Shop…”

On the counter, Shane saw exactly ten items laid out.

No more, no less. Each of them was placed on a purple cloth square…

They didn’t gleam like the treasures in the auction house. In fact, they looked almost plain, too plain. But Faerie Insight told him immediately that the aura hidden within each one was extraordinary.

It only means that the items seemed to have been suppressed or concealed deliberately.

The first one was a shard of obsidian stone… The second was a silver bell. Then, there was a vial of liquid that seemed to be both boiling and frozen at the same time.

The others were a scroll, a deck of cards, a pocketwatch, a pair of glasses, a folding fan, a book, and finally, there was also a pouch containing dozens of stones…

The secret shop was only selling ten items.

The hooded man leaned forward as he spoke to Shane.

“These are not wares meant for everyone. They call to those who should possess them. And you, outsider of the Fiend Continent… one or more of these things might just be meant for you.”

Shane didn’t say anything as he scanned the items without touching them.

Then, he opened his Clan Chat.

[ Shane: I found it. The Secret Shop. ]

[ Shane: There are only ten items inside. I’ve pinned my location. ]

[ Shane: Don’t come here in a huge number, or others might notice. Be subtle. Two at most, no more. ]

He then closed the chat and looked up at the shopkeeper, whose face remained mostly hidden beneath the black hood.

“Can I hold them to inspect?” Shane asked cautiously.

The old man chuckled softly and nodded.

“You may. But beware… each item holds its own weight. Some are harmless, some may test you. If you can endure their presence, then perhaps they are meant for you.”

Shane gave a short nod, then reached for the first item: the obsidian stone fragment.

The shard was cold to the touch, unnaturally so.

As soon as Shane held it, he realized what the shopkeeper was warning him about…

There was a whisper that entered his mind… To be exact, there were dozens of voices speaking all at once.

Still, Shane had done what he needed to do.

[ Void Shard Fragment: A fragment from the core of a fallen Void Beast. When embedded into a weapon, it permanently enhances its destructive power with Void Pulse, releasing shockwaves upon impact.

It can also be used as a core material in forging advanced magical constructs.

Side Effect: Holding it too long corrupts weak minds with whispers of hunger and violence. ]

Shane gently nodded after seeing the item.

It wasn’t a detailed description, but it was enough to get an idea of what it could do for him.

‘Not bad… a weapon enhancer or construction material. Either way, it’s useful.’

He set the shard down carefully, then picked up the silver bell.

It felt weightless, almost fragile in his hand, but the moment his fingers touched it, he knew that it was special.

For an instant, all sound in the shop vanished!

‘This…’ Shane was stunned as he didn’t even trigger any of its effects!