Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

Alora Virellan, Third Princess of the Virellan Royal Line, had lived within Shane’s shelter for nearly a year now.

To most, she was simply another recruit, but she remembered vividly the day she and her knights or protectors had been pulled from the gray fog.

At that time, her kingdom was collapsing under the endless tide of zombies. The palace walls had fallen, the banners of Virellan burned, and she and her loyal guard, three shieldbearers, three swordsmen, three archers, had fought desperately to survive.

They were about to be overwhelmed when the fog descended, swallowing them whole.

No one knew how long they had wandered inside that strange mist.

Time seemed suspended, and the world outside had muted.

And then, suddenly, they were standing in Shane’s shelter, summoned through the Master‑Grade Recruitment Stones.

Ten lives saved, ten warriors given a second chance...

Now, even though the Virellan Kingdom was gone, they had to ensure that they would at least keep their various technique alive...

Although its name meant little here, Alora was still proud of her family... She may not be treated as royalty, but it didn’t matter.

She was still a Master‑Grade Recruit...

”I can accept being a Master-Grade at the very least.” Alora muttered.

She had seen the Epic‑Grade and Legendary‑Grade recruits, and they were terrifying. Compared to them, she was still quite lacking...

Still, she stood above the Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Exceptional recruits. That was enough.

Over the months, she and her team fought countless zombie raids.

They proved themselves, and Shane acknowledged her leadership.

Now she commanded a brigade of fifty.

Fifty survivors who had consumed potions brewed from dragon blood, who had strengthened themselves, and also consumed Aegis Serum.

Unlike the crude Super Soldier Serum, which warped bodies into hulking forms, the Aegis Serum refined strength without destroying beauty.

Alora liked it. She remained graceful and her charm remained intact. She would not become some kind of hulky Super Soldier.

And now, after several months of efforts, her brigade had been granted permission to hunt a Zombie Lord without the help of any Foreign Survivors.

Before, they were only allowed to hunt Zombie Kings, and even if they hunted Zombie Lords, that would only happen as a support...

Foreign Survivors, or those strange outsiders who had arrived in this world with their own talents like Shane, still had a final say in such matters...

”We can finally hunt on our own...” Alora muttered.

With her fifty warriors, trained in Aura and the Virellan Sword Technique, they were ready.

Still, before battle, Alora sought calm.

She walked through the streets of the Eclipse Domain, until she reached the Mana Brew Café.

The café was warm, filled with the scent of roasted beans and mana‑infused brews.

Indeed, unlike the Zeustify Coffee Shops and others, this Café that was owned by Clara, a Foreign Survivor and a Barista, had access to Elven Coffee Beans.

They were basically the specialty here, imported through Shane’s connections with the Elves.

Alora adored them. The taste was rich, layered with faint mana that soothed her spirit.

Cling~ Cling~ Clink~

She entered, and the staff bowed slightly. Not because she was a princess, that title meant little here, but because she was respected.

Her brigade’s reputation had increased a lot after being able to find a precious salt mine and clearing various missions.

In any case, Alora ordered her usual... It was a cup of Elven Coffee, brewed strong, with a hint of mana crystal dust sprinkled on top.

She sat by the window, gazing out at the bustling shelter.

Survivors moved around while Warden Units patrolled steadily. It was quite calm despite knowing the fact that the Eclipse Revenant had been targeted by other clans.

”Shelter Leader Shane is a monster. I don’t think anyone can win against him.” Alora muttered as she had seen Shane in action before.

She just couldn’t imagine someone like that, who could fly, who had mythical items, powerful pets or companions, terrifying bio-armor, and so many Survivor Skills would actually be defeated by anyone.

Thanks to that, she had no worries about them at all.

For now, she sipped her coffee, savoring the warmth.

Instead, her mind drifted back to the plans she had in order to defeat the Toxic Zombie Lord they had to face...

Aside from being toxic, this would be stronger, faster, and more cunning than the Kings she had slain.

At the very least, she was not afraid and her brigade was ready.

”I just hope I didn’t miss anything...” She muttered.

Since this would be her first time without any support from the Foreign Survivors, she felt a little worried.

Still, they had trained tirelessly, mastering Aura, refining their sword techniques, and consuming potions that bolstered their strength. She could only trust all the efforts they made to reach this level.

Alora smiled faintly.

’The Virellan Kingdom may be gone, but the Virellan Sword lives on.’

She thought of her shieldbearers, swordsmen, and archers, the nine who had been summoned with her. They were still by her side, loyal as ever.

Around them, forty more had joined, forming a brigade that carried her name. Together, they would carve a path through the undead.

The café door opened, and a few survivors entered, laughing softly. Alora watched them and recognized that they were monks!

She knew about their small group led by Chaloem, and they were all quite famous.

She heard that they had recently defeated a Zombie Lord with their small group.

”I will have the same achievement soon.”

She then finished her coffee and set the cup down gently.

The taste lingered for a while, and it was comforting. After paying, she finally stepped outside...

***

The next day, the brigade of fifty‑one did not march with trucks.

Every vehicle in the Eclipse Domain was already requisitioned by Raze’s division, and Alora had no intention of risking horses against Balanar, the Zombie Lord.

The Zombie Lord’s toxic gas could kill beasts instantly, leaving them as rotting flesh...

So they traveled on foot, each carrying their own gear.

They had also prepared gas masks that could cover their faces. It wasn’t just any mask but an enchanted one.

It could resist many types of poison, including the one that Balanar secretes...

At their belts hung vials of antidote and potions brewed from dragon blood.

They were prepared, but the air grew heavier the closer they drew to the abandoned city.

Despite the destination, their march was not miserable.

Alora’s brigade was wealthy by survivor standards. Their packs carried sumptuous rations. They had dried meats marinated in precious herbs, bread baked with tasty flour, and even preserved fruits...

When they rested, they did not gnaw on stale biscuits like common raiders. They cooked with soup...

On the second day of travel, they set up a small camp along the road.

Fires were prepared, pots simmered, and the scent of spiced stew filled the air.

They had divided their works...

Archers roasted skewers of meat, while shieldbearers brewed tea from special leaves. Alora herself sat with her swordsmen, slicing fruit and sharing stories of the Virellan Kingdom.

At times, their laughter was interrupted when Runner Zombies burst from the treeline.

The creatures sprinted with decent speed, but not that impressive for them...

Alora didn’t even have to act herself.

The one nearest to the Zombie just waved his sword and released an Aura Blade, and the runners fell in seconds, their bodies collapsing before they reached the fire.

Then, as they got closer and closer and reached the abandoned city, Jumper Zombies appeared more often...

They leapt from ruined rooftops from time to time...

Shieldbearers raised their enchanted shields, absorbing the impact, while archers loosed arrows that pierced skulls mid‑air.

The brigade moved like a single organism, trained and disciplined. Even when a Screamer Zombie wailed from the shadows, its cry summoning a small horde, Alora’s swordsmen advanced in formation, cutting them down easily...

At this point, Low-Tier and Mid-Tier Zombies were no longer a threat to them...

By the third day, they were able to get closer to the Zombie Lord...

In this area, more tall buildings could be seen... Some of them were even leaning already...

Furthermore, the streets were also filled with vines and rubble.

Soon, Alora waved her hand...

”Wear the masks now...”

Apparently, a faint green haze was closing in...

Alora adjusted her mask before taking a deep breath...

”This is it,” she said. ”Balanar’s territory.”

The brigade tightened its formation.

Archers took positions along the crumbling walls, shieldbearers formed the front line, and swordsmen flanked Alora.

Soon, every survivor’s Aura was released... It was their second protection against the Toxic Mist... After all, they couldn’t be too careful on this.

Just like that, they advanced cautiously...

At this time, however, there were no runners, no screamers, no jumpers. Only the faint hiss of gas drifting through the streets. No other zombie could probably survive in this condition...

Then, from the shadows of a collapsed cathedral, the enemy they were looking for had finally emerged.

Balanar.

The Zombie Lord towered above them, and surprisingly, it had a lifeless human body on its hand, and it seemed that they had disturbed his meal!