Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

Merlin slammed his staff into the fissure, and soon, he triggered his Spell once more...

A new teleportation circle formed, this time outside Dravok’s reach.

The air started calming down as the portal was stabilizing.

Alex’s eyes widened. ”It’s working!”

But Nar charged forward with its scythe, descending toward the circle.

Shane intercepted, his sword clashing against the bone blade!

Boom!

The impact rattled his arms, but he held strong... ”Go!”

Merlin shoved Alex into the circle, then turned to Shane. ”Your turn!”

Shane nodded, but Seraxis hurled another lightning spear.

He barely turned aside, the spear grazing his armor, scorching his mantle. Thankfully, his Silver, his slime was still there as his added protection!

Shane staggered for a bit, but then he leapt into the circle.

Merlin then cast another spell targeting someone hiding not too far from this place before he followed...

Soon, the portal collapsed behind them... ultimately evading the last attacks of Zombie Lords.

Just like that, the battlefield fell silent for a moment before the Zombie Lords roared in frustration as their prey vanished.

On the other side, Shane, Merlin, and Alex stumbled onto solid ground, gasping for breath. The air was clear, the oppressive aura gone.

Alex collapsed, trembling. ”We... we made it.”

Merlin leaned on his staff, his face pale. ”Barely. If that bigmouth had pulled harder, we’d be gone.”

Shane exhaled, his grip tightening on the Moonveil Manablade. ”Whoever summoned them... this isn’t over. They’ll pay for this.”

The three stood together, exhausted... but alive. The duel was forgotten, but in the end, Shane believed that he had formed a nice relationship with the Dragon Lady...

To be honest, he thought that it would be a life and death battle against them after they had eliminated one of the Dragon Armies before. However, it seemed that these Dragons were a lot more interesting than he thought.

Perhaps, there could be a time when he’d really befriend them.

***

In the meantime, Sasha soared high above the battlefield with her crimson hair trailing like fire...

The six Zombie Lords roared below, frustrated that their prey had escaped. But Sasha’s eyes weren’t fixed on them anymore... she had already sensed the coward who had interfered.

Hidden among the ruins, Lucian of Nightfall Nexus smirked, believing himself safe.

His lure stone had worked perfectly, summoning the Lords to disrupt the duel. Yet he underestimated Sasha’s draconic senses.

”There you are...” she whispered, descending with a blaze of flame.

”Shit!”

Lucian’s eyes widened as Sasha landed before him, her aura pressing down like a tidal wave.

”You... dragon,” he hissed, stepping back as he needed to escape quickly...

Sasha’s smile was scary and she looked at him from head to toe... ”You ruined my entertainment. For that, you die.”

She charged with her claws forming as her human guise phased in and out with dragonfire. Lucian panicked, tearing a scroll from his cloak. The parchment glowed with, and soon, its effect was triggered.

”Vanish!” he shouted, ripping it apart.

In an instant, his body dissolved into light, disappearing from the battlefield. Sasha’s claws slashed through empty air with its flames scorching the stone where he had stood.

Her eyes squinted annoyed. ”A teleportation scroll... tch. Clever rat.”

Though he had escaped, Sasha burned his image into her memory... his face, his aura, the smug grin he wore.

”I’ll remember you, human. Next time, no scroll will save you.”

With the Lords still raging below, Sasha ascended once more, her mind already shifting to her father.

She would tell Lord Sato that the humans had been dealt with, that the duel had ended. The elves’ deaths mattered little... dragons cared only for strength and amusement anyway...

At the very least, she had acted, and that should be enough for her father.

Yet as she flew, Sasha’s lips curved into a smile. ”Shane... we’ll meet again someday. And when we do, we’ll finish our duel.”

Soon, she felt that returning was still a little too early...

So instead of returning to absorb the fire essence within the volcano, she decided to play a little longer. The humans had proven entertaining... far more than she expected.

Perhaps, she might discover more.

***

In the meantime, Ragnar, one of the elites of the Drakeheard Vanguard Clan, was returning from a Neutral Shelter where his caravan had just completed a trade.

The wagons creaked under the weight of barrels filled with crude oil, food supplies, and crafted gear — all vital for their fortress.

His men were relaxed, the route familiar, until Ragnar spotted something unusual ahead.

In the middle of a zombie‑infested zone, three figures walked leisurely.

They weren’t armored, weren’t tense, and weren’t even carrying heavy weapons. Instead, they wore comfortable clothes, strolling as if the undead around them were nothing more than scenery.

Ragnar narrowed his eyes.

”Survivors... strong ones. At least Level 60 or higher. No one else would dare walk like that here.”

As the caravan drew closer, recognition struck him.

One of the three was unmistakable... Shane, the Rank 1 Survivor, leader of the Eclipse Revenant Clan.

Ragnar immediately raised his hand, signaling his men to halt.

He stepped forward, his voice carrying respect.

”Lord Shane! What an unexpected encounter.”

Shane looked up, his expression shifting into a faint smile. ”Ragnar. I’ve seen you before. Travis’s man.”

Ragnar bowed his head slightly. ”Indeed. Our Clan Leader Travis has always valued our alliance with the Eclipse Revenant. His clones are stationed at your shelter for faster communication. It’s good to see you alive.”

Alex and Merlin just stayed silent as they weren’t familiar with the man.

Shane stepped closer. ”Is your shelter nearby?”

Ragnar nodded firmly. ”Yes. The Vanguard Fortress is less than half a day’s march from here. Join us... the caravan will take you safely through.”

Without hesitation, Shane agreed. ”Then we’ll travel together.”

They could probably use a faster method but it should be fine to take things slow sometimes.

Just like that, the caravan adjusted, welcoming Shane, Merlin, and Alex into their ranks. The survivors of Drakeheard Vanguard eyed the trio with awe, whispering about the Rank 1 Survivor walking among them.

As the wagons rolled forward, the uneasy silence of the zombie‑infested plains gave way to the steady rhythm of wheels and hooves.

The wagons themselves seemed to be using Zombie Repellent Scents, putting the low-tier Zombies at bay...

Shane then walked alongside Ragnar, exchanging brief words about trade routes and the state of shelters. Merlin listened intently, absorbing the details of the Vanguard Clan’s operations, while Alex marveled at the sheer organization of the caravan.

By dusk, the towering silhouette of the Drakeheard Vanguard Fortress rose against the horizon. Its walls were reinforced with steel plating, crude oil engines humming within, and watchtowers bristled with weapons.

Survivors were also busy across the battlements but their discipline was evident.

Ragnar gestured proudly. ”Welcome to the Vanguard Fortress. Here, strength and resourcefulness keep us alive. Travis will be pleased to know you’ve arrived.”

Shane’s eyes gleamed as he looked upon the fortress. ”Impressive. Your Clan has grown stronger.”

Merlin muttered under his breath, ”A fortress with an abundance of crude oil... fascinating.”

Alex simply stared, wide‑eyed. ”This place... is really interesting... Not as clean as the Eclipse Domain but... is that a train?!”

As the gates opened for them after the inspection, the caravan rolled inside, and indeed, there was a train passing through!

Even Merlin’s eyes locked on the massive train that thundered past on its limited tracks.

The iron beast seemed to be using crude‑oil engines, belching smoke as armored wagons clanked behind it.

Ragnar noticed Alex’s awe and chuckled.

”Ah, the Vanguard Train. Travis ordered its reconstruction... It’s one of our proudest projects.”

Merlin tilted his head, intrigued. ”A train... in the apocalypse? What purpose does it serve? How are the tracks?”

Ragnar gestured toward the wagons. ”It’s difficult but doable. We’re using it mostly for transport to our other shelters and allied clans... The tracks are short right now, only running between the fortress, three allied shelters and two Neutral Shelters. But it lets us move crude oil, steel, and food in bulk without risking dozens of caravans. Each has top-quality repellent scents to keep low‑tier and mid-tier zombies away. Also... the train’s speed makes it harder for Lords to intercept.”

Shane was also hooked on this technology...

Even if he had a floating fortress, mech frames, and warden units, trains were still special.

”They’re definitely efficient... It’s a good decision.”

Ragnar nodded proudly. ”Exactly. The plan is to expand the tracks further... connect more shelters, maybe even reach the Eclipse Domain someday. Travis believes it’s the future of survival.”

Alex grinned. ”That’s... insane. But brilliant.”

Merlin also nodded and muttered, ”A crude‑oil powered train... fascinating. Dangerous, but fascinating.”

Ragnar’s tone grew serious. ”For now, it’s limited. Every expansion requires clearing miles of undead, laying steel, and defending workers. But we’ll get there...”

Shane and the other two nodded... However, as they thought that this was all nice... They saw something absurd. At the last wagons of the train passing by, they noticed how it was filled with captured Low-Tier Zombies!

”What is that for?”