Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

The survivors of Soft Bread Shelter whispered among themselves as they watched the two figures... the floating mage and the other flying survivor stand side by side. No one knew if they were friends or rivals. Their auras were overwhelming, and the tension between them was definitely present...

Yet, since they weren’t fighting, the people assumed they must be together.

After a few moments, they saw the two sides talking with each other.

Relief spread quickly.

The defenders opened the gates wider, welcoming the three into their modest shelter.

Leaders hurried forward, bowing deeply, offering what little hospitality they could.

”Please,” one said nervously, ”use my house to rest. It is humble, but it is yours for the night.”

Merlin finally turned his attention and nodded. Shane also accepted the goodwill with a faint nod. Alex followed, still wide‑eyed from the spectacle of power he had witnessed. Soon, the three were seated inside the leader’s home.

It was modest, as it was only made of wood, but it was still clean and seemed to be reinforced by a special formation.

The group was silent for a while until Shane broke it..

”You’re indeed my grandfather... You can’t remember?”

He had already said this at the gates, but Merlin had denied it then. Now, Shane repeated the words, hoping for a different answer.

Merlin’s brow furrowed. ”I told you before. I lost fragments of my memory after entering the Gray Fog. Being summoned again... it tore pieces away. I cannot recall what you claim.”

Shane sighed, leaning back against the chair. ”Then let me remind you.”

Alex glanced between them, sensing the gravity of the moment. He already had a gist of this information through the Guild Chat, but listening to it in person sounded absurd.

After all, Merlin was from the Gray Fog.

Still, he heard Shane’s tone soften, almost nostalgic.

”You were a graverobber, remember? You used to sneak into tombs and ruins, laughing at the traps while I followed behind, terrified. You said the dead had no use for treasures, so why not take them? You carried sacks of relics like they were groceries.”

Merlin tilted his head, intrigued but unconvinced.

He had never thought of himself as having such a terrible way of living! He thought of himself as a righteous mage who would bury even his enemies as a sign of respect.

”Go on.”

Shane chuckled faintly. ”There was that time you stole a jeweled dagger from a politician’s crypt. You waved it around, pretending to be a knight, until the blade snapped in half. You laughed so hard you nearly fell into the pit trap beside us.”

Alex burst out laughing, unable to hold it in.

”Ahh.. Sorry about that. Master, you did that? Pretending to be a knight? I can’t imagine.”

Merlin’s lips twitched, though his eyes remained distant. ”Pretending to be a knight, huh... Considering some of my combat spells that reinforce swords and armor... It sounds like something I might have done.”

Shane smiled as he continued... ”And the gifts. You gave me so many. Trinkets, charms, even cursed rings you swore were lucky. But the last gift... the bracelet. The one with the mysterious stones. That wasn’t just stolen, was it? That was deliberate. You gave it to me because you knew I’d need it.”

Merlin’s gaze sharpened. ”Mysterious stones... You lost me. But I seem to recall some memories of three specific stones. Interesting... Can you tell me more about it? Or at least, what else did I give you?”

Shane nodded, recalling the memories vividly. ”There was the time you handed my aunt a cracked amulet, saying it would protect her from ghosts. It didn’t. I heard she was haunted for weeks. You laughed and said, ’Well, at least the ghosts will keep you company.’ Something along those lines.”

Alex laughed again, clutching his stomach. ”Master, you really said that?”

Merlin’s expression changed. He couldn’t tell if Shane was just messing with him. There was nothing like this at all. However, the details Shane was giving him were just too good.

He couldn’t help but start to believe!

Shane continued, as he also believed that as long as he shared what he knew about Merlin, there would be a chance for him to recover his lost memories!

At the very least, there was no harm in trying!

After all, there was no way for another person other than his Grandfather to have a similar face!

”I heard from father that you once gave him a pouch of coins, but every coin was counterfeit. He tried to buy bread, and the baker chased him out with a broom. You said it was a lesson... that not all treasures were worth spending. Something like that.”

Even Merlin chuckled at that, shaking his head. ”That sounds a bit too absurd. Hohoho...”

He said this, but it was as if he could tell that it was something he would do!

Shane wryly smiled and continued...

”And the bracelet... you told me it was my inheritance. You said, ’This will save you when nothing else can.’ I didn’t understand then. But now... I know you arranged my regression. You set me on this path.”

Merlin’s eyes glowed faintly in the firelight.

”I... cannot deny the weight of your words. My memories are fractured, but pieces stir when you speak. Perhaps you are right. Perhaps I am your grandfather.”

Alex grinned.”Regression?”

He couldn’t help but repeat those words, unsure whether he heard them right or not.

Merlin chuckled softly. ”If that’s the case... I wonder how I ended up here.”

Shane’s voice grew lighter and he nodded...

”I’m also curious, but in case you still can’t remember... you tried to teach me lockpicking? You said it was essential for a graverobber. I broke every lockpick within an hour. You laughed and said I had no talent at all.”

Merlin sighed as he really couldn’t tell.

”I may have been foolish then. But perhaps those days shaped me.”

Shane nodded. ”Probably... In the end, you weren’t just a graverobber for me. You were also my teacher, even if you didn’t realize it. That bracelet... it saved me. And now, here we are.”

Merlin nodded slowly.

There were still many questions in his mind, but he accepted this for now.

”Then perhaps fate has woven us together again. My memories may be broken, but your stories remind me of who I was. A thief, maybe a fool, perhaps... but also a grandfather.”

Shane wasn’t sure what to feel since he really wanted to know if he had a mage bloodline or something.

After all, it felt as if Merlin wasn’t just a mage after entering the Apocalypse. For some reason, Shane believed that Merlin was already a mage even before the Apocalypse happened!

Well, with the set of skills Merlin had, Shane couldn’t help but make such a wild theory.

***

For several days, Shane, Merlin, and Alex remained within Soft Bread Shelter.

The people treated them with reverence, but the three quickly realized something was unusual about this place.

Through conversations with the leaders and careful observation, they confirmed the shelter had not originated in the Zombie Apocalypse world at all.

It had been teleported here from another realm... most likely the Fairy Realm. The situation mirrored what had happened to Draconic Fort, that fortress which had been pulled from the Dragon Awakening Apocalypse into this zombie apocalypse.

The residents explained their history.

They were used to fighting goblins, kobolds, ogres, and other creatures of fantasy.

Their defenses, weapons, and tactics had been designed for those enemies. But against zombies... especially the sound‑type horrors like Screamers and Sirens, they were helpless. Their arrows and spears were ineffective...

Shane listened carefully.

So he decided to help. He sold them weapons in bulk, sturdy blades and reinforced bows, along with protection tokens that could ward off certain zombie effects.

The survivors were astonished at the quality, grateful for the chance to fight back with tools suited to this new world.

In return, Shane learned of the shelter’s specialty.

”Interesting...”

Apparently, their realm had gifted them with unique plants whose fibers could be woven into a fabric unlike any other.

It was called the Faelight!

It was light yet durable, resistant to tearing, and even carried faint magical properties.

Clothes made from this fabric were comfortable but also offered minor protection against elemental damage.

Shane immediately saw the potential.

He proposed a connection... ”You will supply me with this fabric in exchange for food, and other necessities that your shelter needs. Furthermore, I’ll send warriors here to protect your shelter. You’ll focus on your craft, and I’ll ensure you have buyers. Together, we’ll both benefit.”

The leaders agreed eagerly.

For them, it was salvation... protection from zombies and a chance to thrive again. For Shane, it was another alliance, another resource to strengthen his growing network of shelters.

Later, as the night settled, Merlin turned to Shane.

”Let’s spar... as a fellow mage.” Merlin said.

Shane’s eyes were filled with curiosity. ”You can tell I’m a mage as well?”

Merlin nodded. ”Yes. Mage against mage. Let us see what you’ve learned.”