Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

"Hmm… That's not a Zombie Wolf?" Elara muttered in frustration after seeing the notification. Although the Zombie Dog had some loot that she needed as well, they weren't that important right now.

Apparently, Elara had been hunting Zombie Wolves in her area since they could drop a unit of Wolf Hide. The drop rate was low, but in her estimate, it was just 1 out of 10 . It was quite decent.

Well, it wasn't that bad at all compared to the drop rate of Item Upgrade Crystals, which was probably 1 out of 100.

Elara then looked at the time and knew that it was time for a break. She could not overwork her body since she was still evolving with the Elven's Blood… It consumes too much stamina to assimilate with the blood after all.

After looting the Zombie Dog, she quickly brought out the fruits she had collected earlier and opened the Chat Board to get more information about what was going on around her and also see if there were private messages from her friends.

"No message from that blacksmith, huh… Does he lack some Item Upgrade Crystals as well? Ugh… Just where do I get a steady supply of those crystals…" Elara muttered.

She had been trying to find a steady source of Item Upgrade Crystals since she had a special use for it. It was completely different from how other Survivors use them.

Because of that, she obviously required plenty of them. Unfortunately, most of these people with skills to acquire Item Upgrade Crystals planned to use it for themselves, or they were already under the protection of some other strong Survivors.

Elara then turned her attention to the World Chat…

[ Travis ( Region 1 ): Brave Survivors... I am Travis of the Drakeheart Vanguard Clan, the very first Clan on the Continent!... ]

"Ohhh~ A Clan! Impressive!" Elara couldn't help but comment after seeing the World Chat.

First of all, the World Chat Feature and Clan Feature would appear at the same time when they reached Level 10.

In her perspective, anyone who managed to reach Level 10 at this stage was definitely skilled. For those level 11 and 12, they were surely among the elites, considering the amount of experience points they have to collect to level up even once... If someone was higher than that, they were definitely top rankers like her!

They were surely Survivors with Epic or Legendary Talents… Or perhaps, they were in an area teeming with Zombies that could be easily killed with their talent.

Anyway, she believed that Travis had gathered quite a decent force if he was able to spare 100 Zombies Cores and 5 Reputation Points for the creation of the Clan.

"But I think I should still wait after the Auction…" Elara muttered. She believed that the auction that would come in a few more days would be a "game changer."

She believed that the things she'd learn and acquire there would give her a better understanding of how she should survive in this Apocalypse World.

For now, these three Survivors with Legendary Talents made sure to recall Travis's name…

However, as they thought of closing the World Chat, they saw that another message had been populated, and they couldn't help but read it.

[ Shane ( Region 1 ): I'm trading my 120 Item Upgrade Crystals. 30 Crystals for 1 Unhatched Pet Egg. First come, first serve. Price is non-negotiable. ]

As the sun was hung up in the sky, each of them paused in their tasks, drawn to the glowing screens in front of them. Shane's message on the World Chat flickered before them…

"This…"

Aria's feline eyes narrowed with interest. Caelum's sprites even seemed to buzz with excitement as they felt Caelum's excitement. On the other hand, Elara's keen senses tingled with anticipation.

They were all different, separated by vast distances and circumstances, yet the simple trade offer sent by Shane made their eyes wide.

Shane was basically helping them create a Master Grade Item with this trade offer!

The thirty Item Upgrade Crystals could advance an Exceptional Grade Item to Master Grade! This also saved them from killing about three thousand low-tier Zombies!

Luckily for them, they actually have Unhatched Egg they received from hidden quests. The reason they weren't completing the hatching process yet was that they would have to feed it, and a certain number of Zombie Cores or other materials would be required to hatch it.

Furthermore, they believed that they could get better pets!

After all, a Survivor could only bind 1 Pet according to the system.

If they found a better Unhatched Egg, they would just regret it, and they might choose to kill their current Pet so they could bind a new one.

"Mhmm… I wonder why he needed so many Unhatched Egg… I think he's losing in his trade. I'm sure even if he offers 20 Crystals, people will still accept it. Furthermore, Survivors can only bind a single pet. He shouldn't have other use for these eggs."

The three Survivors with Legendary Talents thought the same.

Nonetheless, they swiftly messaged Shane for the trading process.

***

A few hours ago, when Shane escorted the two survivors and two scavengers into the confines of their shelter, a ripple of surprise occurred among the current residents.

After all, Lucky just started barking, alarming them that there were new people he had never seen before.

Because of that, they had to stop with their work and readied for any battle that might happen.

Nonetheless, there was no sense of worry after they heard from Gene that Shane was bringing new people.

Shane's competence as a leader had long been established. There was no way Shane was being held hostage right now… They believed that Shane had truly recruited people instead.

"Mhmm? They're being tied by Shane…" Anna muttered as seeing them through the binoculars.

Well, the arrival of outsiders was still unexpected, and the fact that they were bound suggested they had posed a threat to Shane and had been subdued instead!

Upon entering Shane's camp, the four newcomers were taken aback.

Before them stood a formidable estate, more akin to a fortified manor than a mere shelter.

There were tall wooden walls, expertly constructed and reinforced, loomed overhead.

The perimeter was also a labyrinth of traps, each designed with lethal ingenuity to deter intruders and kill the undead.

"Sir Shane…"

Patrolling the grounds was a figure that commanded attention—a full-armored Knight, Gene, whose presence alone was a deterrent.

In his grip was the Serrated Reaper Blade, its edges glinting ominously in the light. He was like a guardian who could bring swift retribution to any who dared challenge the sanctuary's peace.

"What? Are those humans?"

"No way… They're more like Tyrant Zombies to me!"

The sight of Cassius and Mara, the two Super Soldiers, instilled a sense of awe and fear in the hearts of the newcomers.

It was their first time seeing such humans.

They didn't know that Cassius and Mara were not mere humans; they were warriors made for battle, their frames massive and muscles bulging just their gaze already scared them as they possessed an undeniable aura of power.

The newcomers, still bound and now thoroughly intimidated, could only speculate about the strength and resources of this survivor camp.

It was clear that Shane had built not just a shelter but a camp that could surely go against the chaos of the world outside!

In the meantime, Shane observed the newcomers' reactions to Cassius and Mara with a knowing grin. "Impressive, right?" he remarked, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly in amusement.

He then guided the four captives to a section of the shelter they hadn't expected—a newly renovated laboratory.

This was Anna's domain, where the many ingredients they collected outside or bought in the store are being kept. Of course, this was also the new place where they kept the secrets of Project Z2.

Indeed, the ampules were safeguarded in this place.

The laboratory was a stark contrast to the barbaric defenses outside. It was clean and very well maintained since all the contents of this laboratory were important. The medicines were also here after all.

Anna greeted everyone as soon as they entered.

She didn't put off her smile even after seeing that the four were simply captured by Shane.

"Welcome…"

She said, her voice echoing slightly in the sterile environment.

"I guess you're about to become part of something much greater than yourselves." She muttered as she knew the reason why Shane brought them here!

The four looked at each other with a mix of apprehension and curiosity as Anna seemed to know something that they obviously didn't.

"I'll let you handle this again."

Soon, the ampules were revealed. It contained a potent concoction of nanotechnology and bio-enhancers capable of altering their very physiology.

One by one, they were injected with the serum.

As the liquid entered their bloodstream, they felt an immediate rush of heat, as if their bodies were awakening from a deep slumber.