Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

The pilot chosen for the first test wasn’t one of the new recruits.

Instead, it was Sheena Asuka, and she was already known as a Skybreaker pilot. Her reputation could not be ignored among all the pilots.

Despite being new with the Skybreaker, she had apparently flown through storms with it and survived several lightning strikes, making her legendary among the group of pilots... Now, she would be the first to take the Sea Mech into the water.

Sheena climbed into the cockpit and immediately felt relaxed...

Engineers checked the seals, technicians ran through the systems, and supervisors gave orders to ensure nothing was overlooked.

Shane watched from the platform, waiting patiently for all the checks to be completed.

Right now, he couldn’t help but recall the time when he was still in the A.I. Rebellion. There were also Mech Frames like these, and he had even stolen several of them during that time to be given to his team of ”rebels.”

This time, however, he had a team of people able to create them instead...

”Don’t overdo it, Sheena...”

”This is just a trial... Just normal maneuvers.”

”Be careful! There are Zombies out there!”

The others couldn’t help but cheer or voice out their concern as they watched Sheena get ready.

Shane smiled as he could feel the anticipation in the air. This wasn’t just a test of steel after all, this was another step towards the future that he had planned for the new era...

Whom~

Suddenly, the mech’s systems powered up with lights flickering across its frame.

The crowd murmured as the machine shifted and its joints had soon started moving...

Slowly, under Sheena’s control, the prototype stepped toward the water.

”All clear!”

Soon, Sheena saw the sea stretched beyond the dockyard, it seemed dark and endless from her point of view.

She also saw the waves lapping against the reinforced hull of Providence, anchored nearby, as if waiting to witness the trial.

”This is easy...”

Soon, Sheena’s voice came through the comms, steady and confident. ”Systems stable. Beginning entry.”

The mech lowered itself into the water, its massive frame sinking beneath the surface.

For a moment, there was silence over the dockyard. Then the monitors lit up, showing the mech moving under the waves. Its limbs adjusted, its balance held, and its sensors responded!

The crowd erupted in cheers.

”It worked!”

”Cool! Please go deeper!”

Shane didn’t smile, but his eyes gleamed.

This was only the beginning. The Zombie Apocalypse had taken the land, the skies, and even the seas, but now, with machines like this, the seas would no longer belong to monsters.

***

The monitors continued to track the prototype as Sheena guided it deeper into the waters. The crowd held its breath, watching every movement.

Inside the cockpit, Sheena adjusted the controls with practiced ease.

The mech’s arms moved steadily, its legs pushing against the currents as it advanced further from the dockyard.

She tested the thrusters, shifting direction, then rotated the torso to simulate combat maneuvers.

”Hmm... It’s a little stiff when underwater, but it’s doable....” Sheena muttered as she easily compared the mech with the Aegis and Valiant Mechs...

Still, even if it was stiff, it was understandable considering the resistance brought by the water...

The machine still responded smoothly, its balance holding even as the waves grew stronger.

”Hydraulics stable... response time is also good...” Sheena reported calmly through the comms. ”Feels heavy, but manageable.”

She guided the mech into a wide turn, then crouched it low before rising again, testing the joints.

The enchanted armor held firm... After about five minutes of moving around, she confirmed that there were no leaks, no strain. Engineers watching the readings nodded in satisfaction.

Then, as she pushed further out, it didn’t take that long before she left the safe zone... Soon, the sensors picked up movement.

Shadows darted beneath the waves.

”Contact,” Sheena said, her tone sharpening.

The monitors lit up, showing the shapes of sea zombies closing in.

They were in the forms of sharks, slarks, and other creatures swam toward the mech. Their eyes glowed faintly, and without a doubt, they were driven only by hunger.

Of course, this was also noticed by the sentries on the wall.

The crowd murmured in alarm, but Shane remained still, as he knew that there weren’t any high-tier Zombies around that he should be worried about.

The first zombie shark lunged, its jagged teeth scraping against the mech’s leg.

It was definitely a strong bite but the enchanted armor held. The creature was repelled instantly, unable to pierce the plating.

”Well... That’s elf enchantments for you...” Sheena muttered.

Her hands had then moved quickly. The mech’s arm swung, smashing the shark aside with brutal force. Another slark tried to bite into the shoulder joint, but its teeth broke against the reinforced steel.

”Armor integrity confirmed,” one of the engineers announced.

Sheena pressed forward. The mech’s weapon systems activated... Just like that, the harpoon launchers and reinforced blades were used...

With precise movements, she skewered one of the slarks, then tore through another with a sweeping strike.

In just a few moments, the water turned black as the low‑tier zombies were cut down. Seeing the black matter of the zombies floating, the crowd erupted in cheers.

”She’s tearing them apart!”

”Those things can’t even scratch it!”

”Unbelievable!”

Sheena’s voice came through again. ”Targets neutralized. Armor untouched. This mech is more than ready.”

She advanced further, deliberately drawing more of the mid‑tier zombies toward her. A cluster of terrifying fish‑forms swarmed, but none could breach the enchanted plating.

She dispatched them one by one with ease.

Within minutes, the zombies around were cleared...

After several more minutes of tests, Sheena finally guided the mech back toward the dock. ”First test complete. The Sea Mech is combat‑ready...”

The dockyard erupted in applause. Workers shouted in pride, soldiers raised their fists, and even the merchants cheered as they had seen something unbelievable today.

Shane didn’t smile, but his eyes were filled with satisfaction...

Humanity, or maybe just his clan, had taken another step forward. Now, he felt more ready to search for Eden Island...

***

In the meantime, within the New Genesis Shelter, the Pilot Trainees were still being trained by Gomez every day, but they were also enjoying various perks of living there.

They could enjoy various entertainment in the taverns and even some music and performances from Jillian and others.

After all, the Zombie Activity had already greatly lessened.

Still, the day quickly passed, and their training intensified. The simulation pods started testing them on various combat scenarios...

There were even some underwater navigation, evasive maneuvers, and weapon deployment.

The pilots learned to fire mana cannons, launch harpoons, and manage energy reserves, to ensure that they wouldn’t just drown if they failed to monitor their energy consumption...

”Remember,” Gomez shouted during one session, ”the sea is not forgiving. You’d have to monitor the pressure, currents, and monsters... everything wants to kill you down there and your mech is your lifeline. You have to understand your mech very well...”

Just like that, their training days continued for several more days as their sync rates climbed steadily. Amon reached near-perfect stability, and he was the first to reach the 80% mark...

The younger male pilot, Ryn, also started finding balance. Still, it could not be denied that Kira, the short-haired woman, excelled in combat drills since her reflexes were sharp.

As for Lyn, she was actually able to maintain control for long periods without losing focus... It shouldn’t take long before she can reach the 80% mark as well.

By the end of the third week, the pilots were no longer strangers.

They were part of the New Genesis family. Workers and soldiers alike had gotten a lot closer, knowing that together they were shaping history.

One evening, after a long day of training, the group gathered again for dinner.

The pilots sat among the workers, laughing and debating names once more. It felt like just another calm night, the kind where they could talk about small things, maybe visit the tavern after, then sleep peacefully before another day of drills and welding.

But suddenly, alarms blared across the shelter.

Wang! Wang! Wang!

Suddenly, red lights flashed, and the sound echoed through the halls. Everyone froze, as bowls and cups left untouched.

They waited for the instructions that would soon follow.

As expected, the comms crackled and they immediately heard Arial’s voice...

”New Genesis Shelter has been raided! The granary was emptied, ten Warden Units disappeared, and several Turrets and Mana Cannons vanished without a trace!”

Shock spread quickly. Workers looked at each other in disbelief, pilots stood up from their seats, and the once‑warm atmosphere turned cold.

Those things vanished without a trace?!

Everyone knew that the New Genesis Shelter was probably the safest Shelter out there with numerous high-ranking Survivors gathered here.

With the number of Warden Units, layers of Barrier Generators, Automated Turrets, and various Talented Survivors, no one should be good enough to rob them...

However, it didn’t take that long before they realized who the culprit was...

As a matter of fact, he was even bragging about it in the World Chat!