Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

Chapter 73  The Manor's Defense

After Shane departed to explore the shadowy depths of the abandoned mines, Gene, the only Knight of Springriver Manor, assumed his vigilant watch over the sanctuary he has now called home. His armor gleamed faintly as he patrolled the perimeter, a silent sentinel against the undead scourge.

Meanwhile, within the forge's fiery embrace, Leo, the blacksmith, hammered diligently, forging the foundations of their future stronghold. Nails, wires, and metal spikes took shape under his skilled hands, along with robust hammerheads and sharp spear tips, destined for the defense of their expanding territory.

Harper, on the other hand, had just finished his daily crafting ritual. With deft fingers and an Exceptional Grade Pocket Knife, he transformed simple wood into intricate items such as torches, benches, wooden spikes, cups, plates, and others, each bearing the mark of his meticulous craftsmanship.

Then, in her secluded laboratory, Anna, the healer of their group, was currently focused on her task. Her hands moved with practiced ease as she concocted potent medicines and tonics from the bounty of herbs they had gathered. Her expertise would soon bring them stability in their small Shelter.

But it was not just the humans who kept the Manor safe. Lucky, the Border Collie with a fierce heart and a keen nose, was an invaluable ally. His barks were a clarion call, alerting them to any dangers unseen.

It was during one such routine day that Lucky's barks shattered the calm. Lucky's max-level Tracking Skill had detected an anomaly—six Scavengers, their intentions were unknown.

Gene donned his full armor, took the lead to confront them after confirming that the others had already been informed of the visitors... With a sword in hand, he strode forth to confront the intruders, his voice booming across the distance. "Stop right there!" The six figures halted, the wooden fence and the cleverly hidden traps outside the estate were also holding them at bay.

Indeed, Gene warned them to stop not just because he didn't know them but because they could really be caught by those traps they'd prepared.

***

Cassius and Mara looked at the intimidating armored knight with confusion...

They were not scared of the man as they believed that with that armor, he would be very slow and easily killed if two or three of them worked together. It wasn't because they underestimated the knight, but because they were simply confident in their skills after killing numerous zombies and survivors.

The armor might be awesome when dealing with Zombies, but against humans, it would be the cause of his demise. "I can tell that there are other people hiding in those houses… Let's be careful." The leader whispered.

He was Cassius.

He was a towering figure with a jagged scar running down his left cheek, and had an air of menace about him. His eyes, cold and calculating, missed nothing. His attire was a patchwork of leather and metal, cobbled together from past conquests, and he carried a machete that had seen more than its fair share of battles.

Beside him, Mara's presence was no less formidable. Her raven hair was pulled back into a tight braid, accentuating her sharp features and the sly smirk that seemed permanently etched on her lips. She wore a long coat that had been stitched together from various materials, giving her a deceptively disheveled appearance. In her hand was a crossbow, its bolts tipped with a substance known only to her.

The other four behind them had somehow similar looks but a less intimidating presence. Together, they seem to spin a tale of hardship as they start talking…

"Sir! We need water! It's been two days since we last had water!"

"Can you also spare us some food? We're starving!"

"We will leave immediately if you help us a bit! We won't be forgetting this, and we'll return the favor once we've gotten better."

"Please help us this time!"

Their voices were laced with despair that could almost be convincing—if not for the glint of avarice that betrayed their true intentions. They spoke of lost homes and desperate hunger, all the while edging closer to the Manor's defenses.

Gene, clad in his armor, watched them with a warrior's focus. He subtly looked at where Harper and Anna were hiding, each ready to spring into action at his command. Those two are the ones carrying the Revolvers that Shane had given them. However, as Gene's eyes looked elsewhere and didn't answer their pleas, the Scavengers' impatience grew, their facade cracking as they realized their ploy did not have the desired effect.

In a moment of reckless decision, Cassius gave a subtle nod, and all Scavengers surged forward, only to be met with the Manor's cunningly placed traps. "Aaahhh!"

"No! Wait!"

Pitfalls disguised beneath layers of foliage opened beneath their feet, ensnaring them with nets that sprung from the ground. Clank! Clank! Clank!

The air was filled with the sound of clanging metal as tripwires triggered hidden snares, sending arrows, or wooden pikes, flying towards the intruders.

"Ugh! It hurts! Help!"

"Please stop this!"

The Scavengers' cries of surprise and anger echoed through the air as they found themselves caught in a web of traps that Shane and the rest had prepared for the Zombies.

Harper and Anna stood ready, weapons drawn, as the Scavengers struggled against their restraints. Although they were confident with the traps, they didn't want to underestimate the experienced Scavengers.

Nonetheless, it was a scene of chaos, and they couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief, knowing that the traps they had prepared were able to stop the intelligent humans

It means that those mindless zombies were more susceptible to their current traps!

As the dust settled, Gene stepped forward, his voice resonant and clear, "You chose the path of deceit and now bear the consequences. Our Shelter will not fall to the likes of you." The Scavengers, ensnared and defeated, could only glare in helpless fury, their plans undone by the very traps they had hoped to evade. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

***

In the aftermath of the skirmish, the Springriver Manor stood resilient, its defenses unbreached. Leo and Harper were certainly proud of themselves as they were the ones who had contributed the most to the traps that were laid out around the estate…

"That worked really well… I guess even Runner Zombies would die from it." Harper muttered as he saw what had just happened.

"Right… We should slowly start replacing those wooden spikes as well. I'll make more metal spikes…" Leo nodded as he couldn't help but feel excited that his creations could kill.

The six Scavengers, ensnared by the cunning traps, lay in various states of defeat. Cassius and Mara, the de facto leaders, bore only superficial wounds because they allowed their subordinates to go first.

Their expressions were a mix of frustration and begrudging respect, while the others were not so fortunate; two had met their end instantly, their lives claimed by the pitfall trap's ruthless efficiency.

The other two had their feet mangled and stomach pierced by the wooden arrows.

"Gene… Let's not kill them yet." Anna suddenly declared, surprising the others momentarily.

Anna, with her healer's compassion, saw an opportunity not only to aid the wounded but also to test the efficacy of her latest concoctions. With Gene's nod of approval, the others worked together to pull those in the pitfalls and were caught by traps. Of course, this was done after confirming that they were no longer carrying any weapons. Soon, Anna brought the two heavily injured Scavengers into her laboratory with Harper's help. With her tonics, the two surviving men, writhing in pain, were soon under the soothing influence of her expertly crafted remedies. Their groans subsided, replaced by a dazed tranquility as the potent mixtures began their work.

However, Anna doesn't look satisfied as she notices the changes in their eyes and the rise in their body temperature. It seemed that her tonics could cause fever as well!

Gene, meanwhile, stood watchful and contemplative. He knew that Shane's input was crucial in deciding the fate of these would-be invaders. "We'll hold them until Shane returns…" He declared, his voice carrying the weight of command. "Their lives are his to judge." Cassius and Mara, now bandaged and begrudgingly compliant, were escorted to a secure area under the watchful eyes of Leo. They were actually put in the forge tied on a pillar. The heat inside will earnestly make them weak! After some time, the day waned, and the people returned to their tasks after fixing the traps that were destroyed.

Gene patrolled the perimeter, his sword sheathed but his senses alert. Harper resumed his woodworking, the rhythmic sounds of carving filling the air. Leo's forge roared back to life, and the scent of molten metal started to spread within the small estate.

As the night fell, a solitary figure emerged from the darkness. It was Shane, his silhouette unmistakable against the fading light. Gene's eyes, weary from vigilance, sparked to life as he recognized the familiar gait of the Manor's master. The leader of their Shelter, the beacon of their hope, had returned, and he didn't seem to be alone!