Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

It didn’t take that long before the convoy from the Overlord Clan entered Sector 13...

Their vehicles rumbled across the cracked highway, kicking up dust and gravel as they advanced toward Silver Mine Camp.

They had fourteen squads, three heavy units, and two siege crawlers.

All packed into a column of reinforced trucks and armored personnel carriers...

At the front of the formation rode three Legendary Talent Holders...

Lesley sat in the lead vehicle, her eyes hidden behind tinted tactical lenses. Her Petrification Gaze Talent was active beneath the surface, suppressed for now but ready to trigger at a moment’s notice.

Apparently, after obtaining the Talent Upgrade Crystal, her Gaze became difficult to control, and a slight change in her mood could petrify the one in her light of sight.

”Keep the front clear... If anything jumps us, I’ll handle it.” She said calmly as they had been previously ambushed by Leaper Zombies...

Beside her, in the second APC, was Orlando, a broad-shouldered man with stone-gray skin.

His Golem Summoner Talent was famous within the clan... At this time, he was holding three compact summoning cores ready to be activated and summon his golems.

”I’m already itching for battle... I hope I can make Golems from Spirit Stones.” Orlando muttered as he imagined obtaining that Spirit Vein.

After all, with his talent, he knew that he’d be the best owner of that mining site.

The third was Kara. She was seated alone in a matte-black scout truck...

Her Super Stealth Talent allowed her and those in her surroundings to move undetected, even while speaking...

This was why no one had noticed them so far... Even the Neutral Shelters and Wild Shelters they passed through could only notice the dust trailing on the road.

”Still no hostiles,” Kara’s voice crackled through the comms.

Lesley nodded. ”Good. Keep sweeping. If you spot anything, mark it. Don’t engage.”

Behind them, the squads rolled in formation.

Squads 1 to 8 were standard infantry. Each one equipped with Tier 4 gear, rifles, and emergency kits. They were trained for perimeter defense, tunnel clearing, and escort operations.

Squads 9-12 were specialist teams. They had engineers, medics, and scouts. They carried mobile stations, drone kits, and environmental sensors. Of course, they also have Rare to Epic Talents that could be useful.

Squads 13 and 14 were elite strike units. They were handpicked by Lancelot himself. Each member were at least Level 50!

They were the ones who’d breach if Silver Mine Camp came under siege.

Then came the three heavy units...

[ Heavy Unit A: Steamroller Frame Team ]

There were six operators in exosuits designed for brute-force breaching. Each exosuit could lift a car and withstand direct explosive impact. It was something they purchased at the Auction Event before.

[ Heavy Unit B: Flamecaster Division ]

In this unit, there were six flamethrower specialists with pressurized tanks and reinforced suits. Designed for tunnel purges and anti-swarm tactics... The six of them were like six flametowers that could spit out fire for hours.

[ Heavy Unit C: Shock Barrier Crew ]

This heavy unit, on the other hand, was composed of five Barrier Operators used to create temporary walls and redirect zombie charges. With the five of them, they could easily build layered barriers and even in some extreme cases, they coud use Shelter Crystals to create a territory to block a swarm of low tier Zombies...

And finally, the two siege crawlers.

They weren’t vehicles—they were mobile fortresses.

[ Siege Crawler Type-7: ”Ironback” ]

It had eight wheels filled with iron plating... It has mounted turrets on both flanks and carries 40 troops! ]

[ Siege Crawler Type-9: ”Gravedigger” ]

Gravedigger, however, had a built-in mortar system. With this moving machine, they could rain the Silver Mine Camp with dozens of bombs every second!

Inside Ironback, a young squad leader leaned out the side hatch.

”Hey, you think we’ll get there before sundown?”

”Depends,” his partner replied. ”If Kara says the road’s clear, we’ll make it. If not...”

He glanced at Lesley’s vehicle.

”...then I hope she looks at whatever’s in the way.”

***

The convoy had just passed a collapsed overpass when Kara’s voice was heard through the comms.

”Visual contact. One hundred meters ahead. Wandering horde... Fire Zombies.”

Lesley’s eyes lit up.

”Fire types?” she asked, already leaning forward.

”Confirmed,” Kara replied. ”At least sixty. Scattered formation. No signs of mutation... Just the typical Fire Zombies.”

Orlando grunted. ”We could just roll through them.”

But Lesley was already unbuckling her harness.

”No,” she said. ”We stop.”

The convoy slowed as her command relayed through the chain. Trucks braked. APCs shifted into defensive posture, and the siege crawlers held position.

Lesley stepped out of her vehicle... She didn’t ask for help, but another squad already made their move to assist her.

The heat from the approaching horde could be felt in the air, and Lesley liked it...

Fire Zombies weren’t just dangerous, they were valuable. Unlike standard infected, they had a high chance of dropping Elemental Gems. And Lesley liked gems.

The ones dropped by the Fire Zombies were especially beautiful ones, rare ones. They were the kind that could be socketed into gear or just be used for luxury items.

”Don’t interfere,” she said calmly. ”I’ll handle this.”

Orlando leaned out of his APC. ”You sure? They’re fire types. They explode sometimes.”

Lesley didn’t answer.

She walked forward and adjusted her tinted tactical lenses, the only thing keeping her gaze from triggering prematurely.

The first line of Fire Zombie moved with their fiery or molten skin...

Then, Lesley’s eyes flashed.

A pulse of invisible force spread outward, and the entire horde froze mid-step.

Then, one by one, they turned gray... Slowly, stone started overtaking flesh as their fire was extinguished in an instant.

Petrified.

Just like that, a total of 63 Fire Zombies were petrified!

It happened so quickly, but this didn’t surprise the squad since they knew about her ability. The only thing that caught them off guard was the speed she had done it.

It seemed that her Talent had improved even more...

”Alright... They’re still alive... Just crush their heads and let me handle the loot...” Lesley said while pulling out a small bell from her pouch.

It was a specialized item designed to guarantee the gem she was after.