Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

A few moments ago, Shane was informed about the intruders within the mining site...

He could send other groups inside, but since they weren’t sure about the identities of the enemies, he decided to go by himself to ensure a higher chance of victory.

As for the matters outside the shelter, he just let Max and Diana deal with it since they were already used to fight against Zombie Hordes anyway...

Shane moved quickly... He just used his Phantasm Rush and Force Breaker, allowing him to be silent and also fast at the same time...

As soon as he entered the mining site, he followed the traces of battle... He noticed the green crystals that were left behind by the intruders and thought that they were just markers to ensure they wouldn’t get lost...

Soon, he arrived at the cavern that smelled of ore and sweat. He used his Veiled Steps this time together with his Shadow Hunt to ensure that he wouldn’t be seen...

He passed through a few unconscious or dead bodies of the miners.

Shane knew that after the Red Night Event, there were many Miners who had died in the process... He couldn’t help but clench his fist after seeing more casualties on their side... They really had to pay this time!

Soon, he noticed two figures crouched by the vein and they seemed to be placing more green crystals or so... Seeing that he wasn’t noticed, Shane didn’t hesitate.

He took out the ice darts in his Inventory and they were supposedly Mk.V’s darts... They were built to slow Zombies or freeze them if they were weaker...

Then, he aimed for speed and precision.

It happened so quickly... Two shots, two impacts. Lesley’s Dark Magician Set flared to defend the wearer after detecting the danger... But the dart’s piercing strength was simply too high, for it failed to block the dart!

Thud! Thud!

”Nice...” Shane muttered as he saw his darts hit their targets...

He also noticed Kara was still trying to hide herself through her Talent, but it only lasted for a second as she fell unconscious as well.

”Ho~ They have nice defense...” Shane muttered that instead of freezing completely, the darts just induced a paralytic sleep, enough to drop them both to the floor. Indeed, there was no frostbite and they didn’t seem cold to the touch at all.

The effect of the Ice Darts wasn’t as good as he initially thought.

Still, it would buy him enough time to tie them up.

Shane moved in, clipped two Prisoner Anklets II from his inventory...

They were cheap gear from the Reputation Store, five RP each...

[ Prisoner Anklet: A compact containment band that was made to suppress and report a captive’s status.

Suppression: All Talents blocked; Skills operate at 20% effectiveness.

Stats: -30% Agility, -50% Spirit Points Capacity.

Fail state: If the anklet is physically removed without proper deactivation, it emits a high-energy blast. ]

With these anklets, he locked them on.

It was quick, efficient, and easy to use...

Soon, the anklets beeped, and he was informed by the system that it had successfully suppressed the two... It was at this point that the rest of the miners and guards woke up, thanks to his Aura Sentinel that he had activated...

Then, Cloud informed him of bad news...

[ The green crystals have been identified. They’re toxic crystals, and they were activating now. Recommending immediate evacuation. ]

”Ahh...” Shane didn’t hesitate as he swiftly looked at the rest of the people inside the cavern...

”Evacuate now! Everyone out. Carry those unconscious!” Shane shouted. There were even a couple of miners who carried the two captured women as well.

The toxic mist was spreading, and it could be fatal!

They had to be quick!

Just like that, a few miners had abandoned the tools. However, seeing that there weren’t enough people to carry the unconscious, they used carts to pick up the others.

But the other teams carried the nearest spirit tones.

Shane then listened to Cloud on what they had to do... They needed to seal the cavern and use neutralizer items if they had...

”Hurry... I will collapse the cavern’s entrance!” Shane shouted. ”Dump anything that’s contaminated... Don’t try to save equipment. Save yourselves and your friends!”

Some miners still grabbed whatever they could carry, but as he shouted those words, they didn’t look for their precious Tier 5 Pickaxe anymore...

As they moved, the other Toxic Crystals along the way had also started activating!

Now, the problems weren’t just the cavern they were in... Even the tunnels were spewing out toxicity!

”Just abandon the site! Leave the rest. The toxicity can affect Spirit Veins...” Shane was reminded after seeing a few miners who were hesitating to leave the site...

Whatever’s left is trash anyway, so even if it hurts to abandon this Spirit Stone Mining Site, he had to do it...

Shane then ordered the Miners who were carrying the two to monitor the anklets on their right foot... He was worried that the two would wake up during the chaos...

As the toxic mist was already creeping into the outer tunnels, Shane didn’t wait for confirmation.

As soon as the last group of miners crossed the threshold, he turned back toward the entrance.

”Everyone clear?” he asked.

Cloud responded immediately.

[ All registered units have exited the cavern. No life signatures detected inside. ]

”Good.”

Shane raised his hand and gathered energy into his palm. The ground beneath the entrance trembled slightly as his skill activated.

”Energy Wave.”

A burst of force slammed into the rock floor, cracking the foundation and destabilizing the supports. Dust and loose gravel exploded outward as the shockwave rippled through the cavern mouth.

Then...

”Force Breaker!”

He stomped down with full power as the ground split and the ceiling above the entrance groaned, then collapsed inward with a crash.

Boom!

Just like that, stone, steel, and dust buried the passage completely.

No one would be able to enter again without excavation gear and a full detox team.