Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

Shane, still protected by the Legendary Mask, moved quietly through the bustling streets of Blue Haven Shelter.

His disguise kept him anonymous, and though Vasco, the shipwright, was calling out excitedly, searching for him to show off a newly built warship, Shane simply passed by.

Vasco’s enthusiasm was genuine, but Shane had other priorities. Today, he wanted to see the World Tree with his own eyes.

’I’ll check your ship later, Vasco...’ Shane mused.

He then entered the greenhouse, and as soon as he did so, he felt how the air was thick with mana. The towering World Tree was at the center with its branches glowing faintly with silver‑green light.

’Still feels the same...’

The shelter’s atmosphere felt calm, protected, and refreshing.

Shane’s eyes softened as he took in the sight.

Near the pond at the base of the tree, he noticed a familiar figure... Axis, his small fairy companion.

’So she’s here... I guess this is the youngest World Tree then...’

She floated lazily above the water, wings shimmering faintly.

She stirred, opening her eyes briefly to glance at him. But seeing only a disguised human, she dismissed him with a sleepy blink and returned to her slumber.

Shane smiled faintly beneath the mask. Even Axis, sensitive to mana, hadn’t detected his true identity.

He walked closer to the tree, studying its aura.

The mana flowing from it was pure, steady, and protective. No anomalies, no corruption, no disturbances. The World Tree was doing exactly what it was meant to — shielding the shelter, nourishing its people, and radiating calm energy. Fiona’s reports had worried him, but here, at least, everything seemed normal.

Satisfied, Shane turned to leave.

But just as he stepped out of the greenhouse, his Territory Lord Talent suddenly activated.

The talent was actually triggered now! It was the recruitment cycle where every five days, there would be a recruitment for free!

A gray fog rolled across the shelter... It was thick and heavy, blanketing the walls and part of the streets...

’The fog has gotten stronger...’ Shane mused after seeing how it was able to bypass the shelter’s barrier.

Survivors paused, whispering curiously, but none panicked. They had seen this phenomenon before. It was the sign of new arrivals, chosen by Shane’s Talent.

Shane stood still, watching as the fog thickened outside the gates.

Slowly, a silhouette emerged. A lone figure stepped forward, crossing into the shelter as the mist parted.

Indeed, another recruit had arrived...

Shane had seen this numerous times, and he wasn’t really that excited anymore, unlike the first few ones he recruited...

However, more than a couple of years had already passed.

Only about 3% of his summons, maybe even lower, would actually be super useful...

After all, this phenomenon happens in all shelters...

In short, if he had 5 shelters, he’d get 5 recruitments every 5 days for free!

And he had more than 5 shelters under his name!

Still, the crowd was excited to see new faces... They are curious about the newcomer.

’Let’s see...’

Shane, still disguised, observed silently. He decided not to show himself, as he was also curious how they were managing the recruits here...

***

The gray fog parted slowly, and from it stepped a lone figure.

Unlike the usual recruits that came from the fog, their minds were scarred by endless battles against zombies, this man was quite different.

His eyes remained clear as he studied his surroundings... His movements showed that he was ready to run away if needed.

He was not confused, nor did he look like someone rescued from a collapsing world of the undead.

His name was Reese.

Furthermore, his memories were not of a land consumed by zombies. His homeland had been overrun by demons instead!

’It’s really happening... This is no longer the fog... This is not a dream!’

He remembered the last moments before the fog claimed him.

The skies above his world had burned red, the ground split open with rivers of fire, and hordes of Avarice Demons had surrounded him.

Their terrifying forms were filled with greed and hunger... After they had closed in, claws reaching for his flesh, he knew he’d be dead...

After all, the Avarice Demons arrived after he fought a Devil... To survive, he had fought desperately, praying to a deity, but there were too many.

Just as their talons were about to tear him apart, the gray fog enveloped him.

Others around him had not been saved.

He alone had been pulled away. That fact gnawed at him, filling him with questions.

’Why me? Why only me?’

Inside the fog, time lost meaning. He wandered through endless mist, unsure if minutes or centuries had passed. Then, a voice spoke... It was quite commanding.

”You must aid the Foreign Survivors. Eliminate the enemies that brought the Apocalypse.”

The words echoed in his mind, even searing themselves into his soul. Before he could respond, the fog shifted, and a massive gate appeared before him.

Reese stepped forward, the mist parting to reveal towering walls and a guard stationed at the entrance. The guard’s eyes focused on him...

He was being assessed.

”Name? What are you?” the guard demanded.

Reese hesitated for a moment, then answered firmly. ”Reese. a Demon Hunter.”

The guard’s expression change in surprise. ”Demon Hunter? That’s... unusual. Most recruits are survivors of the undead. Very well. Show me your skills. We need to know what you can do.”

Reese nodded. He understood the system well enough... skills defined worth.

The guard explained further...

”You don’t need to show everything. Just tell me the names of the skills you’ve mastered. High mastery, unique abilities. That’s what matters.”

Reese closed his eyes, recalling the voice in the fog, recalling how the system works...

Slowly, the list of his abilities surfaced in his mind.

”I’ll tell you the ones at Level 10,” he said. ”The ones I mastered.”

Reese’s Demon Hunter Skills

[ Skill: Demonbane Strike Lv10 ]

A perfected combat technique designed to pierce demonic armor and flesh. At its highest level, the strike channels purified energy into the blade, allowing it to bypass resistances and deal critical damage against demon‑type enemies.

”This was my bread and butter,” Reese explained.

”Every strike carried the weight of years fighting demons. At Level 10, it works really well even against Armored Demons...”

[ Skill: Hunter’s Instinct Lv10: A passive ability that heightens perception. At maximum mastery, user could sense demonic presence within a wide radius, even through walls or illusions.

”I could feel them before I saw them,” he said. ”No demon could hide from me. Their corruption leaves a trail, and I learned to follow it.”

[ Skill: Purge Shot Lv10 ]

It was a ranged technique using crossbows or firearms. At Level 10, the shot carried purifying energy, exploding on impact to cleanse demonic corruption and burn through their ranks.

”This was how I kept them at bay...” Reese explained. ”One shot could clear a path, even against hordes. It wasn’t just damage... it was purification.”

[ Skill: Demon Seal Lv10 ]

”It is a rare skill, more ritual than combat.

At its highest level... I can inscribe seals that weaken demons, binding their strength or slowing their advance.” Reese explained.

”This one took years to master,” he admitted. ”It’s not flashy, but it turns battles. A sealed demon is a weakened demon. And a weakened demon is a dead one.”

[ Skill: Blood Resistance Lv10: A passive trait developed from surviving countless battles. The user’s body resists demonic toxins, curses, and corruptive blood. ]

”They tried to poison me, curse me, infect me,” Reese said. ”But I endured. My blood became resistant. Their tricks stopped working on me...”

Finally, Reese mentioned the last askill...

[ Skill: Executioner’s Will Lv10: A mastery of focus and resolve... ]

At its peak, Reese could push past fear, fatigue, and pain, fighting with just his will to survive.

”This is what kept me alive,” he said simply. ”When others fell, I kept moving. When demons thought I was broken, I rose again. At Level 10, it will keep you alive for a long time. ”

The guard’s eyes widened as Reese listed each skill.

Around them, murmurs spread. Survivors were impressed.

Demon Hunter skills were rare, unheard of in their world. Most recruits carried abilities tied to survival against zombies, not demons...

”Sounds strong...”

”Without a doubt...”

Reese finished his explanation as he looked at the guard.

”These are the skills I mastered. They’re not meant for the undead. They’re meant for demons. But if the voice in the fog was true, then perhaps they’ll serve against whatever enemies caused this Apocalypse.”

The guard nodded slowly. ”You’re different. The fog must have chosen you for a reason. Demon Hunter... we’ll see how you fit into this war.”

Shane, still disguised among the crowd, listened carefully.

His eyes narrowed beneath the mask.

Reese was unlike any recruit he had seen before.

His skills were specialized, and his background was also quite unique.

A survivor of demons, not zombies. And the voice he heard in the fog was no longer telling them to fight against Zombies...

It was now Enemies who caused the Apocalypse!

That was something Shane had never encountered.