Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

”The First Citadel?”

For several seconds, nobody replied to the entity...

Soon, Shane found himself staring at the humanoid figure...

They had expected many things when they entered the First Citadel.

An alarm would have made sense. Another group of War Automata appearing from the darkness would not have been surprising either. Considering that they had just destroyed fourteen machines guarding the entrance, Shane had even expected the entire facility to immediately treat them as hostile intruders.

What they hadn’t expected was a welcome.

”Welcome to the First Citadel, Survivors.”

Max then frowned as his senses warned him.

”Wait...”

He looked toward Shane before turning his attention back toward the mechanical figure.

”Did that thing just welcome us? I don’t feel good about it”

Tundra’s expression was equally strange.

”Makes sense.”

Tieria’s mechanical eye was already operating at maximum capacity. Countless streams of information passed through his vision as the artificial eye carefully examined the mysterious humanoid machine standing before them.

”There is an active intelligence system inside it.”

Cloud immediately responded through Shane’s wristwatch.

[ Confirmed. However, I cannot determine whether the voice originated from this unit or from the facility’s central system. ]

Shane didn’t answer immediately.

”Could it be that the War Automata weren’t protecting the facility from us?” Natalie asked quietly.

”That’s possible,” Shane replied. ”Or this guy has a different level of authority.”

The mechanical figure remained completely motionless.

It didn’t raise a weapon or move toward them.

It simply stood there, as though it was waiting for them to do something.

Sylas was still somewhere nearby, completely concealed from sight, while Minerva carefully examined the surroundings.

”I don’t sense any hostility from that machine,” Minerva said.

She paused for a moment before adding, ”But that doesn’t mean we’re safe.”

Shane nodded since that was exactly what he was thinking.

They had already entered an unknown facility belonging to an ancient civilization. Even if the machine standing before them had no immediate intention of attacking, there was no reason to assume that every system inside the facility would have the same attitude.

In any case, Shane took another step forward.

The machine didn’t react as he continued walking until he was several meters inside the facility, and only then did the others begin following him.

The moment the last person crossed the threshold, however, the enormous metallic doors suddenly slammed shut behind them.

BOOM!

Everyone immediately turned around.

”What—?”

Before Max could finish speaking, a tremendous pressure descended upon the entire corridor.

It came without warning.

The air itself seemed to become heavier as an invisible force pressed down upon their bodies from every direction.

Even the strongest members of the group could immediately feel the change.

Shane’s expression changed.

”Defensive formation!”

His command came almost instinctively.

Everyone reacted at once.

Jillian immediately activated one of her prepared melodies, and a wave of spiritual energy spread through the group. The effect strengthened their bodies while simultaneously helping stabilize their minds against the strange pressure that had suddenly filled the corridor.

Minerva’s eyes also checked the surroundings...

Her combat precognition had already activated.

”Incoming!”

Her warning came barely a second before several figures suddenly emerged from the walls.

They were almost impossible to see.

Unlike the War Automata outside, these machines possessed much slimmer bodies that had clearly been designed for speed rather than durability.

Their metallic bodies were covered in a dark material that seemed to absorb the surrounding light, making them extremely difficult to distinguish from the walls.

Their movements were also almost completely silent.

Several mechanical arms unfolded from their bodies, revealing sharp thin blades designed for killing rather than prolonged combat.

”They’re assassins!” Sylas’s voice suddenly came from somewhere behind the group.

At almost the same moment, one of the machines appeared directly beside Travis.

Its blade shot toward his neck.

Minerva immediately reacted.

”Down!”

Travis ducked without hesitation.

The blade passed above his head and struck the wall behind him, leaving a deep mark across the ancient metal.

Travis rolled away while Tieria’s mechanical eye immediately locked onto the machine.

”Three meters to your left!”

Sandara’s bowstring snapped.

Twang~

An arrow flew through the air and struck the assassin-type machine directly in the shoulder.

The impact forced the machine sideways, but it didn’t fall. Its body turned as it quickly attempted to regain its balance.

”These things are fast!” Sandara shouted.

Max had already moved.

The Tempest Cloak activated around his body, and a faint surge of wind and lightning surrounded him as his figure blurred from his original position.

A moment later, he appeared directly in front of the machine that had attacked Travis.

His mechanical arm swung forward!

The Voidpiercer Gauntlet activated at the moment of impact, allowing his fist to penetrate the machine’s armor far more easily than an ordinary physical attack should have been able to.

BOOM!

The assassin-type machine was sent crashing into the wall.

Its body struck the metal with enough force to leave a visible dent.

Max immediately grabbed it by the neck.

”Got you.”

The machine’s head suddenly opened.

A small blade shot directly toward Max’s face, but his enhanced vision reacted almost instantly.

Max tilted his head to the side, allowing the blade to pass beside his cheek before he slammed the machine against the floor.

”Okay. These things are definitely trying to kill us.”

[ You have eliminated a Specter Automaton. ]

Another assassin suddenly appeared behind him, but Lyra reacted immediately.

She threw three talismans into the air, and they transformed into streaks of energy before wrapping themselves around the machine’s limbs.

”Bind.”

The talismans activated simultaneously, restricting the machine’s movements and slowing it down enough for Lyra to draw her bow.

She released the arrow.

It struck the machine directly in the exposed section of its neck.

Then, Sandara’s next arrow arrived almost immediately afterward, striking one of its optical sensors and causing its movements to become noticeably more erratic.

That was enough for Sylas... The Legendary Elf suddenly appeared behind the machine.

And before it could react, Sylas severed its legs, causing the entire machine to collapse.

However, there were still many more.

The facility had intentionally allowed them to enter because of this trap...

It had waited until everyone was inside before sealing the entrance and activating its internal security system.

”Don’t let them surround us!”

Shane’s voice immediately spread throughout the corridor, and finally, Tundra stepped forward...

His Terrorist Talent would have to be used to deal with this!

Soon, invisible bombs were triggered as Tundra snapped his fingers.

The corridor erupted in a series of explosions.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The blasts weren’t powerful enough to seriously damage the facility itself, but they were more than enough to throw several assassin-type machines into the air.

One after another, the ancient machines began falling...

However, as they thought that there weren’t any more problems, they heard Shane’s voice...

”Incoming Vampires! Ready your Holy Weapons!”