Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

[ Glen: If Eclipse Domain calls for migration, I’ll pack my Clan immediately. Pride means nothing under a red moon. ]

[ Franco: Same. Better to work under Shane than become corpses under the Red Night. ]

[ Bella: ...But what if he doesn’t accept any more people ]

[ Kian: Then pray. ]

[ Ruel: Forget pray... Start digging, start forging, start stockpiling. We’ve got 72 hours. Use them or die. ]

[ Lina: I heard people in World Chat are offering thousands of cores just to board his Floating Fortress. Is that true? ]

[ Tundra: Shane could probably retire from zombie hunting if he just rents out hammocks. He’d be super rich. ]

[ Glen: Hammocks? You think he has hammocks? He probably has golden beds with silk sheets up there. Anyway, aren’t you part of his Clan? ]

[ Hazel: Stop exaggerating. But seriously... Shane, if you’re reading this, some of us are willing to pay. ]

[ Franco: Forget pay. If I have to scrub toilets up there for 48 hours, I’ll do it. Just let me in. I don’t have much with me. ]

[ Yara: My clan has crystals. If he accepts those, I’ll throw in three right now for my family. ]

[ Noel: Don’t get your hopes up. He doesn’t babysit weaklings. ]

[ Bella: Then he babysits us while we die? No thanks. If there’s even a 1% chance to buy survival, I’ll take it. ]

Everyone was worried since the Red Moon Event details were clear.

The fact that the Zombies would have increased strength and the Zombie Lord would be lurking around, that would certainly be a huge disaster.

Nonetheless, Shane proceeded with the idea he had just read from the chat.

[ Shane: You guys saw the begging, right? 500 cores per person. I could make a fortune just letting people sleep on the deck. ]

This was a message within the Clan Chat, and every member could read it.

As soon as they saw it, they couldn’t help but laugh. Shane was right, this was an opportunity to earn money.

[ Raze: Sleep on the deck? They’d fight over broom closets if you let them. Charge them as much as you want, Leader. ]

[ Asad: Cores are fine, but think bigger. Ask for Item Upgrade Crystals. Way rarer. Way better. ]

[ Shane: Whoa~ I didn’t know you’d be this cruel, Asad. xD ]

[ Asad: Hey, I’m serious. Imagine... 200 crystals or is that too much? Maybe 50 or something? That’s a lot of gear upgrades. We’d steamroll everything after the Red Night.

[ Raze: Or make it flexible. 300 cores and 30 crystals. Give the poor bastards an option. ]

This time, Tundra, Layla, Max, and other members also added their own suggestions about the payment they could accept.

[ Shane: What’s next, should I ask for their firstborn? ]

[ Asad: Depends. Can their kid swing a sword? ]

Everyone laughed at this.

[ Raze: Don’t tempt him, Asad. He’ll seriously consider it. ]

[ Shane: ... ]

[ Asad: You’re considering it, aren’t you? Just ask for Recruitment Stone or something. ]

[ Shane: Maybe. ]

[ Raze: Anyway, cap it. Fortress max is 500 people, right? For outsiders? No more than 200. Otherwise, the toilets explode before the zombies get us. ]

[ Asad: Did you have some toilet issues here before I joined? Maybe the apocalypse’s greatest fear is the clogged plumbing. ]

[ Shane: Fine. 200 it is. ]

Just like that, Shane decided to give a chance to the nearby Survivors first. He didn’t send a message to the World Chat. He decided that only if they didn’t fill the 200, that would be the time to send a message in the World Chat.

***

[ Shane: Attention, Regional Survivors. I’ll make this clear. My Floating Fortress can take in 200 outsiders during the Red Night. ]

[ Shane: Entry fee will be 500 Zombie Cores OR 50 Item Upgrade Crystal per person. ]

[ Shane: Those who wish to join, send Me, Raze, or Asad a Message. Then, you will receive a private message from us. If you don’t receive one, you’re not selected. Don’t spam. Don’t beg. ]

[ Shane: Only 200 will be accepted. That’s final. ]

[ Lina: He really said it! I’m ready—take my crystal! ]

[ Franco: 500 cores... robbery. But I’ll pay. Better broke than dead. ]

[ Yara: Finally! My family has a chance. Shane, I’ll wait for your message. ]

[ Travis: Question. Do we bring our own food or is it an all-inclusive zombie apocalypse package? ]

[ Shane: Travis? Are you serious? Wait, how many Clones do you have? You’re in world chat and in Sector 17, right? Anyway, bring your own food. Fortress isn’t a hotel. We can give you some coffee and bread but that’s it. ]

[ Glen: Thank you! Our craftsmen would be safe there... ]

[ Bella: Everyone shut up and start grinding. You’ll need every core to pay the ticket. ]

The chat exploded with noise...

Now that they have a chance to enter Shane’s floating fortress, they couldn’t help but feel excited.

Shane only smirked, already imagining 200 people lining up to buy a seat in his fortress.

***

In the meantime, Natalie had several informants within Sector 20 and learned about the Regional Chat logs where Shane had started selling ”tickets” to his Floating Fortress.

’Did he actually buy that thing knowing this would happen?’ Natalie mused.

She then shared the information he had just found to the members of the Survivor Pact.

Joy, leader of Dawnspire Order, gave a short laugh.

”That man... ruthless, but brilliant. While others panic, he turns the event into profit.”

Sarah of Verdant Vanguard nodded.

”He has the Floating Fortress, but we are also strong, right? Our defensive bunkers could house hundreds more if we clear out the lower levels.”

Ilia of the Crimson Wake Clan agreed.

” Oh? So why not follow his example? Nearby survivors will pay anything for safety. Cores, crystals, rare materials... let them. It strengthens us and weakens potential rivals.”

Donvar of the Black Iron Pact Clan liked this idea. ”My shelter’s bunkers are empty. We could easily convert them into barracks. If they pay, they stay. If they don’t, the Red Night decides their fate. Let’s copy Shane.”

Natalie smiled at their idea.

”If we do this, it must be handled carefully...”