Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

Toby wiped the sweat from his brow, pausing for a moment to admire the steady rhythm of his pickaxe as it struck the rock wall deep within the silver mine.

He was only 22, but his experience as a miner made him seem older. Life in the Silver Mine Camp had been brutal before Shane took over.

They had worked as enslaved people with no hope, no food, and no rest. They were barely getting the leftovers of their previous owners.

During that time, the workdays had stretched for 16 grueling hours, with barely enough time to sleep, let alone eat. But now, things were different.

He straightened up, feeling a strange sensation of satisfaction.

His hands gripped the pickaxe with ease and his body moved efficiently thanks to his Pickaxe Mastery Skill.

Every swing felt more natural, more powerful, and today, his Luck was on his side. Toby had struck a particularly rich vein of silver ore, which glittered in the bright Light Orb. Previously, they were only using a dim torchlight, which made it difficult for them to see their surroundings, and thus, it would increase the danger in the cave...

However, Shane arranged for them a set of Light Orbs to make the place as bright as the morning.

'Perfect!'

The skill boosted his yield, and he felt a small surge of pride in knowing that he was making a real difference.

'Lord Shane said that there will be a performance bonus if I hit a jackpot like this… Kehehe… I just need to report to the manager.'n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Although this achievement wasn't completely his, he was still the one who had acted on it.

As he thought of making a report, there was already a person coming up to him.

This manager was a beautiful but humble woman who had recently arrived at the camp. Her name was Loreen…

Currently, there are three managers in the Silver Mine. Loreen was one of them, and Klara and Laura were the other two. Seeing Loreen approaching him, he immediately knew that she was already aware of what he had found. It seemed that it was one of her skills.

In any case, this was a good thing for everyone since no one could steal their achievement with such incredible managers around.

Toby never expected mining to feel rewarding.

It had always been a means to an end, a way to survive. But ever since Shane had arrived, everything had changed. They no longer worked to exhaustion; instead, the work shifts had been cut down to a manageable eight hours.

Not only that, but they were fed regularly—three meals a day, something that seemed impossible in their former lives. And the food wasn't just scraps or thin soup. It was real, hearty meals that gave them energy and strength.

Toby could still taste the warmth of the soup he had eaten earlier that morning, and his body felt stronger than ever.

'I think it's true… Lord Shane was not joking around…' He mused.

Apparently, Lord Shane had even distributed diluted recovery potions to them on the first day, explaining that they were mixed with dragon's blood.

Many of them laughed it off. They believed that it was possible to have such recovery potions but not Dragon's Blood that only came from the legends…

Of course, Toby had also been skeptical at first, but after observing himself for the past few days, he felt a vitality return to his limbs, as though years of malnutrition and overwork had melted away. This would not happen with cheap or diluted recovery potion at all… Explore hidden tales at empire

His body, once thin and frail, was regaining its strength. For the first time in years, he wasn't just surviving—he was living.

The camp was different now too. When Toby had first arrived, it had been a grim, makeshift camp, trailer track, filled with gloominess.

The fences were weak, and every time some Zombies would pester them, they all couldn't help but worry. It felt like the zombies could tear through at any moment.

But in just a few days, the place had transformed under Shane's leadership.

Walking back toward the surface of the mine, Toby could see the changes happening all around him.

The once-dilapidated camp was turning into something that looked more like a fortress. The fences had been reinforced with thick wooden beams and metal plating.

Shane had organized the workers and instructed them on how to fortify the camp's defenses. They had even started setting up traps along the perimeter.

Watchtowers were being constructed, allowing lookouts to see far into the distance, and guards had been recruited to protect them from the undead.

What surprised him even more was the appearance of the two Automated Turrets at the center of the camp. It was mounted on top of the mysterious building…

'I wonder what's in there…' He mused.

His eyes wandered to this building at the center of the camp. It had risen out of the ground, thanks to the Shelter Crystal that Shane had used. The stone structure looked really solid and made of black stones…

This time, he saw a group of workers transporting things inside… It seemed that they were already using it as a storage facility for the mined silver.

'Right… I guess you need a huge warehouse for this…'

Rumors had spread that Shane planned to turn the camp into a hub for weapon production—specifically silver weapons. It was to combat the Vampires that would invade them in the future.

Toby smiled to himself, knowing that the silver he was pulling out of the mine would soon be forged into bullets and blades that might save their lives.

"Hey, Toby! You hitting a good vein today?" called one of the other miners, a man named Molly, who had been working alongside him since the early days.

"Yeah," Toby replied, holding up a chunk of silver ore. "Luck's on my side today. This one's rich." Toby said. He decided to keep quiet about Rylen's ability because of the instructions given to him.

Apparently, only three of them with Pickaxe Mastery had been informed about Rylen's ability… They were told about 18 spots where there might be huge chunks of ores. But they were only given a general direction and weren't told how deep it could be.

Nonetheless, Molly whistled in appreciation. "No wonder. With that Pickaxe Mastery of yours, you always seem to find the good spots."

Molly actually had an important skill as well. It was called Ore Identification. Even if he couldn't see the ore, as long as he touched it, he would be able to identify it.

Toby shrugged, though he couldn't help but feel a bit of pride. It wasn't just the skill—it was the fact that, for the first time in his life, he felt like his talents were being used for something worthwhile.

Under Shane's rule, they were no longer forced to work without end for nothing. They were working for themselves now, for a future that didn't feel so bleak.

The camp was safer, they were healthier, and there was hope.

As Toby and Molly made their way back to the surface, they passed by Spencer Blakely, the camp's mysterious expert.

"Good afternoon, Sir Spencer…"

Spencer was an odd figure in his suit, always looking out of place among the rough miners and survivors. But Lord Shane had brought him in for a reason.

Spencer was a weapons expert, and he had already started setting up a forge to begin crafting silver weapons.

Toby had heard him discussing plans to make silver bullets, something that had the entire camp buzzing with excitement. After all, they all informed that everyone would be given a weapon for their own protection.

The idea that they would soon have the means to defend themselves from Zombies or even other evil people was thrilling.

Toby paused as he watched Spencer give instructions to a few workers setting up the forge before they continued toward the camp's new mess hall.

It was a sturdy wooden building that had also been constructed in record time. Inside, the smell of cooked meat and fresh bread filled the air.

"I wonder where this meat came from… It's really been a while…" Gareth muttered. After all, they couldn't hunt deer or even a bear in the forest.

"That's not important. It's tasty and safe to eat. That's enough… But I guess it tastes like pork."

Toby said as his stomach growled in anticipation.

The food here was leagues better than anything he'd had while he was a slave. He grabbed a tray, filling it with roasted vegetables, bread, and a hearty stew.

Sitting down with his meal, Toby reflected on how far they had come. In just a few days, their lives had gone from miserable and hopeless to something that felt almost... normal.

There was still danger, of course. The next zombie wave was approaching, and the threat of vampires might come soon. But now, they had a leader who cared for them, a fortress to protect them, and soon, weapons that could give them a fighting chance.