Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

[ Initializing Fortification Protocols… ]

Soon, a golden barrier flashed into existence around the perimeter of the fortress.

If there were still some Zombies hiding inside, they would be pushed back because of the territory's special effect.

Indeed, a few Zombies who were lingering at the walks, trying to climb started shrieking as they were forcefully expelled beyond the borders…

Thud… Thud… Thud…

Their rotting hands could only uselessly strike the energy field that the barrier had generated...

Nonetheless, the changes didn't end there.

After some time, all the people inside the shelter noticed the ground trembling as changes were even more dramatic!

Crumbling towers reforged into reinforced watchtowers, manned by phantom sentries until real defenders took their posts.

The courtyard's bloodstained stones were replaced with polished, defensive pavings, and could no longer be recognized…

The five broken Ballista turrets also started repairing themselves along the wall as massive bolts also started appearing… They weren't included in the Advanced Shelter Crystal effect but they were simply repaired.

Lastly, there were another five cannons reconstructing themselves on some key locations of the walls!

But the most striking change was the central keep—where the previous Eclipse Wraith's throne was located…

At this time, Shane and the rest of the group were looking at the brand-new command center of the Fortress where the Shelter Crystal was also located.

Soon, the shaking of the ground finally stopped and Shane also received the final notifications from the system.

[ Territory Name: New Genesis Fortress ]

[ Crystal Energy: 80% – Charging… ]

[ Current Effects: ]

[ Strong Fortress Active – All defenders gain +30% reaction speed, and +20% stamina retention. Defensive Armaments gain +30% power and operate at 120% efficiency.

[ Repulsion Field Active – Low/mid-tier zombies barred entry. High-tier zombies were deterred. ]

Shane then checked the Repulsion Field and received added information about the three Barrier Generators at 100% charge.

Raze couldn't help but feel impressed after seeing the changes in the Fortress. It was definitely a huge change and the place seemed livable at this point…

"Well, that's a good start. Are you also going to set up a Portal here?" Raze asked.

"That's right… I still have one last set of Gate Stones here. I hope I can get more of them soon." Shane muttered as the Gate Stones weren't something impossible to acquire.

The Gates Stones were items he had obtained from the Anima Civilization. These stones were products of some alien technology, so with the existence of the Anima Store, he believed that he had a chance of purchasing them in the future if he had enough money to spend.

Shenlong then looked at the window from the command center as he observed the shelter...

"This will make holding the territory far easier. Are you going to assign me here or should I return to the Eclipse Domain?" Shenlong asked.

Shane thought for a moment as he recalled his Legendary Recruits.

In the Springriver Manor, there was Shinja the Stormblade… Together with Eldric the Strongest Scavenger, Lady Seraph and her Knights, and many others, he believed that it was the second strongest shelter. After all, Raze and the others had also recruited people from Legendary Recruitment Stones and had them stationed in the Manor.

On the other hand, the Silver Mine Camp that Diana manages also had Legendary Recruits. However, these recruits weren't from him. They were recruited by Diana herself, Minerva, and Tieria.

As for the Eclipse Domain, it had the smallest number of Legendary Recruits because they were already filled with high-level defenses...

Turrets, Cannons, Ballista, flamethrowers, Barriers, Elves, and other weapons that fuel…

As for the Legendary Recruit that was stationed there, that would be Kale the Gladiator, and Shenlong the Monk at the moment.

"I think it's a good idea… However, it will only be a temporary thing… Maybe for a few months since I want to arrange some rotations after everything has settled down." Shane said as he thought that the others probably wanted to be stationed in other shelters to change the atmosphere.

After all, being in one familiar place for a long time could be suffocating…

***

In the meantime, the rescued civilians, who were still weak because of starvation and dehydration, were all elated about the changes in the surroundings.

The terrible smell of bloody earth was now gone and the place seemed a lot more livable compared to before…

The place no longer looked like a huge tomb but a true fortress!

They were still feeling afraid due to the terrible experience they had in this place but seeing the Fortress clean, with repaired buildings, and defensive armaments at the ready, they couldn't help but look forward to their future.

In the meantime, Nia immediately began organizing the temporary quarters for the rescued people…

Well, they still had to be checked by Anna just in case they were infected by Zombie Virus.

Aside from that, Otto and Sona worked together on activating the shelter's resource generators. Apparently, they had discovered hydroponic farms, water purifiers, and solar-energy panels in an area near them…

These things were additional benefits from the Advanced Shelter Crystal that didn't need to be mentioned by the system at all.

One of the freed hybrids, a teenage boy with circuitry under his skin, approached Tundra.

Tundra seemed to be the most approachable person because of his easy-going personality.

"You… you're really letting us stay? Can I ask what kind of work I should do?"

The young man wanted to be useful as he felt that this was a great chance for a new life. He didn't want to be experimented once again and living together with his saviors might really give him a life that he had dreamed before.

Tundra glanced at him, then at Eve, who stood silently observing.

"I'm not really sure… However, just think that this isn't just my shelter anymore. It's yours too."

Tundra paused for a moment as he let the young man absorb his words before he continued.

"It means that you have to fight when the time comes… or do something for the benefit of the shelter. You'll find out more about it soon. Right?"

The boy's eyes hardened. "Arial… My name's Arial, senior… You're right. It's now my shelter too!

***

Time quickly passed and it had already been a week since Shane and his raid team conquered the Dreadnight Fortress that was New Genesis Fortress.

The first thing Arial did when he woke up was reach for the medicine vial on the crate beside his bed. The liquid inside was thick, silver-blue, and tasted like burnt metal mixed with bitter herbs.

It was supposed to stop his body from rejecting the circuitry knitted into his veins—but it still left his tongue numb for an hour.

He swallowed it fast and winced. It doesn't feel good but he had to do it until Doctor Anna found a permanent solution.

"Ugh…"

There was a slight pain that came. It was a sharp, electric jolt down his spine as the medicine took effect. His fingers twitched as the circuitry within his skin was triggered for a bit before calming down.

Doctor Anna said the pain would fade in time and if even Arial was skeptical, he decided to just have some faith with their saviors.

By the time he reached the mess hall, it was already filled with activity…

"Haa~"

The scent hit him first—real food. Not stale rations he was eating when he was still an experimental subject.

The shelter was actually able to obtain, real eggs, fresh bread, and even coffee! It was incredible. He heard from the others that the eggs came from a Marketplace that only Foreign Survivors could access. It was such a place that he wished he could also access someday.

In any case, he grabbed a tray and joined the line.

A few familiar faces nodded in his direction.

They were also hybrid humans like him.

One of them was Hazel, the woman with serrated bone blades, and Bon, a man with metallic parts on his body.

No one talked much. Most were still learning how to be human again.

At this time, Arial sat at the end of a long table beside Mirae—a girl his age who had the least number of experiments done on her body. Lucky.

Aside from her left eye and spine being modified, there was nothing else. Instead of undergoing 20 or 30 surgeries, she only had six surgeries which was the lowest count among the hybrids.

Anyway, she was already done eating and was just sketching in a notebook, blueprints filling the page.

"What's that?" He asked.

"Shelter expansions," She answered. "Shane wants housing for two hundred more people in two weeks. "

Arial nodded, mouth full of eggs. "Guess we're building today…"

He didn't question why Mirae was helping with the sketches since he also knew that she was very smart.

Mirae smiled seeing Aria's face and nodded. "Guess you're carrying the heavy stuff."

Arial didn't mind as he chuckled at this. He was actually looking forward to this job since it was something he could do for his new home!