Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

As the battle of the two giant Clans was getting closer, several people in the region were also making their move...

After all, there seemed to be dedicated people following the traces of the Floating Fortress and were able to know its location.

Indeed, far from the walls of the Overlord Clan’s shelter, the land was not as empty as it seemed. There were already many hidden eyes watching, waiting for the clash of titans to begin.

Among the rocks of a nearby hill, a lone figure could be seen.

It was not Travis himself, but one of his clones, sent to observe.

The Rank 3 Clan Leader of the Drakeheart Vanguard had no intention of missing the spectacle of Rank 1 and Rank 2 colliding.

At this time, his clone’s eyes gleamed faintly, recording every movement, every preparation that was happening.

Travis wanted to know how Shane’s Floating Fortress would fare against Lancelot’s great defense. Knowledge was power, and for the Vanguard, this battle was a lesson written in blood.

After all, he had seen this shelter block a total of five Zombie Lords attacking at the same time. It means that it was truly a capable fortress, and it had definitely improved several more times after the Red Night Event and the Auction Event.

It wouldn’t be surprising if they already had new weapons that could deal with the Floating Fortress.

It didn’t end there, closer to the treeline, Richard of the New Haven Clan stood watch.

He was no ordinary scout of the Clan. He was a Bishop, one of the most powerful healers. Natalie, his Clan Leader, had sent him here in secret.

New Haven owed much to Shane since he was one of their biggest trading partners, and his survival meant their prosperity.

Richard’s task was simple, if Shane was in danger or if his soldiers began to fall, Richard would intervene. Although he probably wouldn’t need to, he was ready to mend wounds and restore strength. He also prayed silently that this battle would end in Shane’s favor.

Further back, hidden in the forest, Lex, Clan Leader of the Rank 7 Ironclad Collective, had arrived in person.

Indeed, one of the Clan Leaders themselves arrived!

Lex was together with his fifty hidden guards. They might not be wearing heavy armor, but they were equipped with black fabric that perfectly hides them in the shadows...

”The Floating Fortress is finally here... Why are you so late, Shane? You should start the war now...” Lex muttered as he looked at the sky.

Lex’s plan was not to fight head-on. He would wait and watch the battle...

And when Rank 1 and Rank 2 had torn each other apart, when both Shane and Lancelot were weakened, he planned to strike.

”Let them bleed each other dry,” he whispered to his men hidden behind him...

”When they’re exhausted, it’ll be our time to profit!”

But Lex was not the only one with such thoughts.

Deep underground, tunnels had already been carved in secret, and Alexander Thorn had been waiting for three days!

Once, he had been the Rank 1 Survivor in the Leaderboard.

However, as the Apocalypse continued, Shane claimed the title, and it was followed by Asad, who also had incredible leveling speed with his cheat-like Talent...

Nonetheless, Alexander had not forgotten the taste of power, nor the humiliation of losing it. Now, he had brought three hundred of his elite men, all hardened survivors with Talents from Rare to Epic and all loyal to his cause.

They all waited in silence, weapons ready, waiting for the start of the battle above.

Alexander’s plan was similar to Lex’s. When Shane and Lancelot clashed and got exhausted, he would emerge from below, striking like a serpent.

Although the battlefield was not yet alive, the predators had already gathered.

While the Overlord Clan prepared behind their walls and Shane’s Floating Fortress drew closer through the clouds, the rest of the Clans were waiting in silence...

The war was not just between Rank 1 and Rank 2. It was a feast, and every hungry wolf was waiting for the first drop of blood.

***

Hidden beneath the earth, inside the ribcage of his Bone Scorpion, Asad opened his eyes.

His wraiths had already mapped the outer defenses, and now, with the Floating Fortress drifting into range, it was time to coordinate.

He then used the Clan Chat to inform them of his plans.

After all, the Floating Fortress had already been exposed, and there was no need to wait for Shane either... It wasn’t like Shane would be the first one to attack.

[ Asad: Fortress in range. Commence bombardment. ]

As soon as he said this, he also made his move.

”Skeleton King,” he commanded, and the huge figure of bone rose from the soil. It even had a crown of ribs glowing on its head!

Around it, Bone Soldiers clawed their way out of the ground, with shields of marrow and blades of sharpened femurs in their hands.

It didn’t end there... Five Mummy Lords stepped forward with their bandages inscribed with curses.

Each raised a staff, summoning hundreds of lesser mummies that swiftly moved into formation. Their hollow eyes burned with green fire, and soon, green miasma started spreading!

It was a miasma that kills the living, but it didn’t affect the undead!

Just like that, the ground itself seemed to tremble as Asad’s army emerged.

Then, behind them, skeletal warhorns were triggered...

The Bone Scorpion’s claws snapped open, releasing volleys of bone spikes that arced toward the Overlord Clan’s outer defenses!

Asad’s attack was the first to arrive!

Then, the Skeleton King roared, its roar shaking dust from the walls, and the Bone Soldiers surged forward without care for the traps being triggered!

These bone soldiers were meant to destroy such traps in the first place!

At the same time, Mummy Lords spread their curses... They were using hexes that sapped strength from defenders on the walls.

Their minions hurled crude spears and stones, each infused with dark energy that corroded barriers and burned flesh.

It was a tide of death, pressing against the shelter from below!

However, the barrier of the outer wall wasn’t easily destroyed...

Asad’s eyes gleamed in the dark...

’Let the Fortress rain fire from above. I will rot them from the ground.’ He mused.

***

In the meantime, as soon as people in the Fortress heard Asad’s command, they also started.

High above, the Floating Fortress shifted into battle mode.

Cannons rotated outward, with their mana-infused barrels glowing with condensed energy.

A single shot from this cannon may cost a single High-Grade Mana Crystal, but that didn’t matter...

Siege ballistae mounted on the fortress’s decks also locked into position...

Then, the first volley came.

A rain of plasma shells and mana-charged projectiles screamed down from the sky, like falling stars!

Boom! Boom!

The night lit up with explosions as they slammed into the Overlord Clan’s outer walls.

But the shelter was ready.

The Barrier Master Gatheris raised his hand, and several more spherical domes shone into existence. The Great Knight Monuments were also activated!

They are projecting protective barriers that absorbed the brunt of the impact.

Then, the Overlord Monuments burst with crimson energy. Suddenly, their shockwave auras rippled outward to disrupt the trajectory of incoming shells.

The walls cracked under the strain, stone and steel shuddering, but the barriers held...

From the courtyards, defenders retaliated.

Ballistae fired upward, enchanted bolts exploding mid-air to detonate plasma shells before they reached the walls.

High-level survivors loosed arrows infused with Spirit Energy, piercing through the bombardment and shattering smaller projectiles.

Javelins hurled by Aura Knights streaked into the sky, colliding with incoming ordnance and dispersing their force.

Of course, those with long-range Survivor Skills were also activated in unison... Skills like wind barriers, flame detonations, and others were activated, all aimed at intercepting the rain of destruction.

For eight relentless minutes, the sky became a storm of fire and light.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

The Floating Fortress unleashed wave after wave with its cannons that didn’t seem to run out of ammunition...

The fortress’s artillery was pounding the defenses below without rest!

Shockwaves rippled across the battlefield, and it was even shaking the ground where Asad was hiding. He could feel the vibrations even through the Bone Scorpion’s shell.

***

Inside the shelter, soldiers screamed as the shockwaves tore through their personal barriers. Though the walls stood, the force actually reverberated inward.

Warriors staggered, blood dripping from their ears and noses as their bodies were battered by concussive blasts.

It was like they were being attacked by sound-based abilities!

Still, the monuments protected them continuously.

The Great Knight Monuments restored stamina to the weary defenders, and their injuries were also slowly healed...

Finally, after eight minutes, the bombardment ceased.

It was due to the overheating of the cannons used by the Fortress.

Smoke and dust were all over the shelter. Even the miasma was partially cleared because of the bombardment...

Nonetheless, the Overlord Clan’s shelter survived the first assault!

However, they were all just starting!