Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

No one else noticed the presence of the covert rat, and it was perfectly understandable considering the skill it had...

Kael just felt happy since he knew what this rat could do for them despite being so small.

Just like that, he turned to the battle that was still going on.

Nearby, the second pair had already collided. A Phoenix Phalanx’s fighter drove his knee into the gut of a Super Soldier, forcing him back. But the soldier retaliated with a headbutt, splitting skin.

Just like that, blood dripped, yet neither of them stopped. They locked arms, and each of them was trying to overpower the other!

The third duel was the most brutal. The last Super Soldier and Phoenix warrior circled with their boxing stance... The Phoenix fighter struck first with a series of punches that battered the soldier’s chest and jaw. But the Super Soldier absorbed the blows, with his body like iron.

Soon, he charged forward, tackling his opponent to the ground, then started raining him down with strikes until the Phoenix warrior rolled free.

After a few moments, both rose again and started another bout!

***

Minutes passed, and each clash seemed more violent than the last. The crowd was silent now, watching with awe as they realized how many this battle was...

This was a street fight and something that made their blood boil! Some of them even wanted to join in and help the one they were favoring!

However, it didn’t take long before they realized that the Super Soldiers were built different.

They were people who were just relying on Survivor Skills or Talent... As a matter of fact, they didn’t rely on disciplined training and muscle building as well.

They were all this powerful because of the drugs and potions they consumed!

It was simply too unfair for the warriors of the Phoenix Phalanx!

One by one, the Phoenix warriors began to feel exhausted.

The first was soon pinned, unable to break free from the Super Soldier’s crushing grip.

The second staggered, blood pouring from his nose, his knees buckling. The third fought desperately, but his strikes grew slower, his defense weaker.

The Super Soldiers pressed harder, their endurance unmatched. They had been bred for war, trained to fight without rest, their bodies engineered to withstand punishment.

Finally, with a thunderous slam, the last Phoenix warrior hit the ground. He tried to rise, but his arms gave out!

Just like that, the duel was over.

”Whoa!”

”That’s unexpected!”

”Good match!”

The crowd erupted after seeing the decisive victory of the Super Soldiers.

Survivors cheered, admiring the manly battle just now.

The Super Soldiers stood tall... Although bruised and bloodied, they showed that they were truly strong.

Tara’s expression was unreadable. She had expected her warriors to dominate, but the duel had proven otherwise.

The Armored Car remained with Jaxon, Kael, and their men.

Jaxon stepped forward.

”The car stays with us. And you owe us money...”

Tara’s lips curled into a thin smile. ”Fine. You’ve earned it.”

As they thought that it was finally over, her expression had shifted... It was no longer mocking, but she seemed to be looking at them with great interest.

”You’ve proven yourselves... Few can stand against Phoenix Phalanx’s chosen warriors. You’re strong, disciplined, and clearly more than ordinary survivors...”

Hearing these phrases, Kael and the others already guessed what she was about to say next... and they weren’t wrong.

”Join us. With your strength, you’ll rise quickly. I’ll grant each of you an Epic Set if you join us now and if you win another trial under our banner, you’ll get more than that... Armor, weapons, and accessories... all forged from our finest resources. You’ll never lack power again. I’m sure that your current Clan will not give you something like this for free...”

The survivors around them murmured in awe. An Epic Set was no small promise.

Jaxon’s eyes squinted as he heard this.

”Epic gear, huh? Sounds tempting. But we’re not mercenaries for hire.”

He replied, hiding the fact that he was part of the Eclipse Revenant... As a matter of fact, this might be her true intention... to find out their affiliation.

Then, Kael spoke. ”We fight for our own cause. Not yours.”

The Super Soldiers stood firm behind them, bruised but unyielding.

Tara’s smile thinned. ”You’ll regret refusing...”

Jaxon stepped closer. ”I don’t think so... We’ve already chosen our path. And it doesn’t lead to you.”

There was a moment of silence, but Tara didn’t press further.

She had seen enough of their strength to know forcing them now would risk more than she was willing to lose. With a flick of her hand, her soldiers withdrew.

”Fine,” she said. ”But if you stay too long, you’ll find yourselves crushed under our banner.”

Just like that, Jaxon, Kael, and the super soldiers left the shelter quietly.

The armored car moved and passed the gates easily. The residents of the shelter actually watched them go, as some of them were thinking that it wasn’t the end yet, but unexpectedly, the Phoenix Phalanx had truly left them alone...

***

Inside the car, Kael finally contacted Lysandra.

[ Kael: Lysandra... Someone from the Phoenix Phalanx tried to take our car. We fought her duel and won. We might be being followed, so we’ll try to lose them. Anyway, Blue Salt is under Phoenix control now. It’s up to you if you want to conquer it later. For now, our focus stays on scouting their main shelter. ]

The reply came swiftly.

[ Lysandra: Understood. I heard the Fiona’s Rats should be there by now. Anyway, our convoy is still moving. If the conditions allow, we might arrive earlier. ]

Kael nodded, closing the channel.

In the armored car’s dim interior, movement suddenly stirred. Eight small rats, not including the one in Kael’s pocket, crawled out from hidden compartments, their eyes glowing faintly with mystical light.

They scurried across the floor, up the seats, and onto the dashboard, each perfectly synchronized.

Jaxon smirked. ”Fiona’s handiwork.”

Kael watched them with quiet satisfaction. ”Our best information‑gatherer. If anyone can uncover Phoenix Phalanx’s secrets, it’s her.”

Actually, they already had a method of their own if these rats failed to arrive in time... They actually brought scouting scopes, echo mapping scrolls, and others.

Still, the rats weren’t ordinary creatures. Each was a vessel and could be controlled remotely by Fiona, their clan’s master of covert intelligence.

Through them, she could listen, observe, and infiltrate places no human could reach.

If there was an emergency, they heard that she could even commence a Rat Swap for 500 Spirit Points. It had one day cooldown, but it was certainly super useful during an emergency.

Squeak... Squeak...

Already, the rats were spreading out, slipping through cracks in the car’s armor, darting around... Their mission was clear: gather intelligence on Phoenix Phalanx’s movements, patrols, and supply lines once they arrived at the main shelter later on...

Kael smiled. ”Let’s see what Fiona finds. If Ghoul Shelter is as fortified as we think, we’ll need every scrap of information before we strike.”

***

After a few hours, Kael raised a hand. ”Stop here.”

The driver eased the vehicle to a halt.

Jaxon then stepped out to look at the surrounding area and nodded. ”Let’s hide the car around here...”

Together, they maneuvered the armored car off the road, pushing it into a space between two trees.

Then, branches and camouflage nets were pulled over the frame... Then, they actually disguise it as nothing more than a mound of forest debris. The vehicle’s engine was also silenced, and its systems were shut down to avoid detection.

Well, they couldn’t just use this car as they were already getting close to the Phoenix Phalanx’s shelter.

They would have to walk from here from now on.

The Super Soldiers tightened their vests and checked their gear. Seeing that everyone was ready, Jaxon pulled out a small pouch, revealing three Stealth Talismans etched with Aya’s runes. He handed them out, the faint glow fading as each one activated.

”Stay close,” Jaxon muttered. ”No noise, no flashlights... If Phoenix patrols catch even a glimpse of us, we’re done.”

Soon, the talismans shimmered faintly before cloaking their presence. Their footsteps softened, their outlines blurred, and even their breathing seemed to vanish into the forest air.

At the same time, the rats climbed onto their shoulders, nine in total, as they would serve as their spies later on...

Just like that, the group advanced slowly, moving through the dense forest. Although they didn’t have a map, the rats had incredible senses, and they just had to follow them.

***

After nearly an hour of careful progress, Kael raised his hand.

”Hold.”

Through the undergrowth, the faint glow of lanterns revealed the first outpost of the shelter... It was a forward defense station positioned along the path to Ghoul Shelter. It was their first line of defense.

Five Phoenix Phalanx guards stood watch... but what made Kael’s eyes widen wasn’t the soldiers.

Leashed to a heavy iron post was a Siren Zombie. It had pale skin and a thin body like what they remembered, and its mouth, which was like a megaphone, was unmistakable...

”Wow... They’re using a Siren Zombie as a guard dog... Or maybe for a signal? That thing is loud after all.”

The creature’s eyes scanned the forest. Even restrained, its presence was terrifying. Everyone knew Siren Zombies could emit a shriek that disoriented and shattered minds, drawing survivors into madness.

Jaxon agreed to Kael... ”You’re right. That’s not just a guard. It’s an alarm system. If it screams, the whole shelter will know we’re here.”