Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

The courtyard outside Soft Bread Shelter was finally quiet, save for the wind brushing against the wooden walls.

At this time, there were lanterns all over the place, casting long shadows across the stone terrace where Shane and Merlin stood facing each other.

Meanwhile, Alex lingered at the edge with his staff clutched tightly.

He was about to witness a battle between the two powerful mages. He couldn’t miss anything like this at all.

Whoosh~

Suddenly, Merlin’s cloak glowed briefly as he lifted his staff...

It seemed as if he had just finished casting some enhancement spells.

”Shane... As you said, this is not a real battle,” he said calmly. ”Only a test. Well, show me what a mage relying on a mysterious system feels like.”

Shane smirked, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword. ”Haa... I have experience as a traditional mage, you know? Anyway, let me see what a true mage can do then...”

Merlin laughed as he looked at Shane’s sword...

It was not a wand or staff, but he could tell that Shane possessed mana and could use magic.

”I’ll take the first move then...”

Merlin moved...

Snap!

With a snap of his fingers, a ring of fire ignited around Shane!

The flames rose in a circle!

Shane reacted instantly, activating Arcane Veil... One of the skills he had obtained after absorbing his Memory Spheres related to Fairy Realm!

Soon, a barrier that dulled the heat and slowed the flames’ appeared...

Shane then dashed forward with Armored Dash, breaking through the ring!

Whoosh~

Merlin chuckled as he saw Shane coming out like a comet... ”A clever shield. But shields burn too.” He raised his staff, and lightning struck from the sky, hitting the ground where Shane had just stood.

Boom!

Shane rolled aside, using Five‑Meter Jump to vault over the blast.

He landed with a twist and triggered a simple Horizontal Slash aimed at Merlin’s side.

But the old mage was already gone... his body blurred, and he was replaced by a phantom image. Shane’s blade cut through nothing but air!

”Ohh... Is that Afterimage Burst...” Shane muttered, recognizing the trick.

He then turned and focused with the help of his Heightened Awareness...

Just like that, a faint hum of mana betrayed Merlin’s true position.

”Found you...” Shane muttered as he evaded Merlin’s attack...

Whoosh~

Merlin appeared behind him, but it was too late...

”You learn quickly. But you’re still slow, Shane!” Merlin muttered as he unleashed a Fire Surge!

It was a wave of flame roaring toward Shane.

”You’re holding back...”

Shane said as he crossed his arms... With his Resilience Skill and other defensive abilities in his arsenal, he was confident to tank the flame!

Boom!

As expected, his skills worked overtime, and his body even glowed faintly! He was absorbing the brunt of the fire just fine!

Then, as he pushed the flame and countered with Energy Wave, his sword channeling raw force that blasted through the flames, dispersing them completely into embers.

Alex gasped. ”Master, he’s pushing back your fire!”

Merlin was also impressed. ”Interesting.”

Shane then continued...

He wanted to see how great his Grandfather was!

After all, he would be outside most of the time... He wanted Merlin to stay safe as one of his only relatives alive.

Because of that, he wanted to grasp Merlin’s strength so he no longer had to worry about him, even if he left him to his own devices.

”Show me more!” Shane shouted as he used both Double Thrust with Vortex Spin, his blade moving in a blur...

Merlin then raised a barrier of lightning!

The old mage’s defense held, but Shane’s defenses were too strong, and he was barely forced to step back.

”Not bad,” Merlin admitted. He lifted his staff high, and the sky darkened.

”I’ll increase my strength for a bit... Be careful!”

”That’s what I like to hear!” Shane answered.

Soon, thunder rumbled and arcs of lightning formed into a storm above.

”But can you withstand this?”

Suddenly, the storm descended. Bolts of lightning rained down, striking in rapid succession.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Shane’s instincts told him to back away!

Just like that, he invoked Shadow Step, vanishing into a blur of movement, reappearing behind Merlin. His sword swung in a Silent Execution, aimed at the mage’s back!

This skill might be meant to kill his target, but he could tell that Merlin was shrouded with a thick shell of mana!

He needed to find a way to break that before being able to even threaten the old man...

’This should at least rattle you, right?’ Shane thought...

Bang!

A surge of mana erupted, forming a Flame Ward that exploded outward.

”Y-you...”

Shane was blasted back as he slid across the stone. His sword arm trembled as the heat started searing his skin.

Merlin lowered his staff. ”You have incredible Spells... You just lack the right method to use them in real combat.”

Shane grinned, wiping sweat from his brow.

”I haven’t shown anything yet... I’ll be serious now!” Shane then raised his blade, channeling Spirit Shackles. Ethereal chains burst forth, wrapping around Merlin’s legs, binding him in place!

Merlin’s eyes widened. ”Spirit magic?” He raised his staff and soon, lightning surged to shatter the chains.

However, the shackles resisted as they glowed with spectral energy!

This time, Shane attacked with Soul Rend, aiming for Merlin’s chest!

”Tsk... You’re making this old man work hard...”

At the last moment, Merlin’s staff flared, and a Lightning Barrier erupted, catching the strike.

Boom!

Sparks flew as steel met pure mana. The clash echoed across the courtyard, forcing Alex to shield his eyes.

Crash~

The barrier shattered, but Merlin had already leapt back, hovering in the air with flight magic.

”Impressive. You wield mysterious abilities... But let us see how long you can keep pace.”

Shane’s breathing was heavy, but his grin remained.

He activated Adrenaline Surge, his muscles immediately tightened but at the same time, his speed had actually doubled...

Soon, it was proven with his dash forward!

It was not an Armored Dash, but he chained it with Shadow Hunt and Phantasm Rush!

With these skills working together, his figure splits into multiple illusions.

Merlin’s eyes tracked them calmly. ”Illusions? I’ve seen better.”

He raised his staff, and a Lightning Pulse erupted, dispelling the phantoms instantly. Only Shane remained, charging head‑on.

Their clash was fierce. Shane’s blade met Merlin’s staff!

Bam!

Merlin countered with a burst of flame, while Shane trusted his Resilience and also Elemental Resistance, enduring the heat!

”You’re too tough... Do you have some kind of Anti-Magic?”

Merlin was shocked at Shane’s ability to absorb his attacks!

Still, thanks to this, Merlin was increasing his strength!

With a wave of his hand, he struck with lightning!

”Alright... I’ve seen enough...” Shane said as he deflected with Telekinetic Storm!

Alex watched in awe. ”They’re evenly matched... but Master’s spells feel endless.”

Merlin, on the other hand, could only acknowledge Shane’s skills!

It was truly impressive.

Still, Merlin had an advantage...

”You rely on skills, Shane. They give you versatility, but they drain you quickly. A mage draws from the world itself.”

Shane gritted his teeth, invoking Nano Restoration to mend his burns.

Though this world wasn’t filled with mana, it was filled with life, and Merlin seemed to be capable of borrowing it!

”Then I’ll just keep adapting.” He swung his sword with Force Breaker activated!

Boom!

The impact of his strike shook the ground. Merlin staggered slightly, his barrier flickering.

The old mage smiled. ”Good. Very good.” He raised his staff, and the storm above condensed into a single massive bolt. ”But let us end this round.”

The bolt descended, striking Shane directly.

Boom!

His body glowed as Arcane Veil and Aura Sentinel activated together, shielding him from annihilation. The ground cracked, smoke rising.

”Ahh! That kinda hurts!” Shane complained as he had no other choice but to activate his Bio-Armor!

When the dust cleared, Shane was still standing, sword raised, and now, fully armored!

Merlin hovered above, staff glowing, his eyes filled with respect.

”That armor... Interesting... It feels alive.” Merlin muttered as he looked at the mysterious armor that instantly covered Shane’s entire body.

***

Shane chuckled as they paused the match...

”It looks cool, right?” Shane said as he flexed his gauntleted hand...

Merlin could see its plates shifting seamlessly with his movements.

”Bio‑Armor... When I call on it, it wraps me like a second skin. They’re stronger than steel but lighter than leather.”

Merlin gently nodded. Clearly impressed.

”A symbiosis between man and magic. Fascinating. It reminds me of the living armors... Hmmm... I think I’m recalling something about that.”

Shane nodded. ”That’s good to hear... This armor is something I really liked. The more punishment I take, the stronger it gets. Fire, lightning, poison... when it’s exposed to such elements, it learns. That’s why I can stand against you without being burned to ash.”

Merlin descended slightly, circling Shane like a scholar examining a rare artifact.

”I think I can help you improve that thing...”