Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

Shane silently closed Sparky’s status window.

He was satisfied with the System’s evaluation. It had exceeded even his expectations as the pet learned more than two skills, which should be the limit of normal pets.

The little Thunderbird that had once hatched from a Common-grade Pet Egg had unknowingly surpassed the limits the System had originally set for it.

Looking at the enormous creature standing proudly before him, Shane couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction.

It wasn’t because Sparky had become powerful, it was because Sparky had grown.

It had survived countless battles, accompanied survivors from one shelter to another, and gradually become a guardian that many people had come to rely on.

Shane gently patted the Thunderbird’s beak once more.

”You’ve done well.”

”CAWWWW!”

Sparky answered with another cheerful cry before affectionately rubbing its head against Shane one last time.

The surrounding Clan members couldn’t help but smile at the sight.

Even Max chuckled.

”I swear... he only listens to you.”

Shane simply smiled.

”He’s always been like that.”

After another few moments, Sparky finally spread its enormous wings before leaping into the air.

A powerful gust swept across the surroundings as the massive Thunderbird ascended into the sky. It circled above the floating island once before settling atop one of the tallest watchtowers overlooking the shelter.

From there, it silently watched the surroundings like a faithful guardian.

Shane followed Sparky with his eyes until the Thunderbird disappeared into the distance.

Then his gaze naturally shifted beyond the shelter.

Toward the colossal metallic structure embedded within the floating island.

The reunion had momentarily distracted everyone from the true reason they had gathered here... the ancient facility remained exactly as Sylas had left it.

Fortunately, there was no need to rush.

Sylas’ reconnaissance had already confirmed that the War Automata showed no signs of hostility. As long as nobody approached the entrance, the towering machines simply remained at their designated positions, faithfully guarding the enormous metallic doors.

That meant they still had time to gather everyone and organize themselves.

More importantly, they now had the time to enjoy a moment of peace together before stepping into another unknown.

Shane withdrew his gaze from the distant facility and turned toward the others.

”We’ll head over after everyone has eaten.”

Nobody objected.

The group soon made their way toward one of the larger buildings inside the Mist Shelter, where a meal had already been prepared.

Just like that, the members of the Eclipse Revenant Clan gathered for a moment.

The dining hall had long since become one of the busiest buildings inside the Mist Shelter.

Large wooden tables had been pushed together to accommodate everyone, while the aroma of freshly cooked food filled the spacious room.

Unlike the emergency rations they had grown accustomed to during the early days of the Apocalypse, the dishes covering the table were surprisingly extravagant.

There was roasted meat from the livestock within one of the Clan’s settlements, grilled mystic fish caught from the a controlled lake, freshly baked bread from Mist Shelter’s own ovens, vegetable stew, roasted potatoes seasoned with fragrant herbs, baskets of fresh fruits harvested from the Fairy Realm, and even several desserts prepared by the settlement’s cooks.

A few bottles of fruit wine and freshly brewed tea were placed at the center of the table as well.

For anyone else, it would have looked less like preparations for a dangerous expedition and more like a celebration.

Max was already helping himself before everyone had even finished sitting down.

”I knew coming here early was the right decision.”

He grabbed another slice of roasted meat without the slightest hesitation.

”The cooks here are getting better every time I visit.”

Minerva sighed as she calmly cut a piece of meat for herself.

”They’re getting better because you keep volunteering to taste everything.”

”That’s called quality control.”

”It’s called stealing.”

”I’m protecting everyone from bad cooking.”

Shane chuckled as he took his seat.

It felt... strangely familiar.

Around the table, conversations gradually began overlapping.

Tieria spoke with Sandara about the recent expansion of their shelters, exchanging reports on food production, new Survivors, and the increasing number of outside Survivors joining their forces.

Jillian discussed the medical department’s latest discoveries, mentioning several new potions and medicines that had become possible after studying plants brought back from the Fairy Realm.

Nearby, Lyra carefully placed several beautifully crafted talismans onto the table.

”I almost forgot.”

She pushed them toward Shane.

”Aya asked me to give these to you.”

Shane picked one up.

The talisman was far more refined than the ones Aya had made before. Intricate silver runes had been marked into the paper itself, while faint energy flowed beneath its surface.

”It took her quite a while to make these,” Lyra explained. ”She said they’re specifically designed for exploring unknown ruins.”

Shane nodded appreciatively before storing them inside his System Inventory.

”They’ll definitely be useful.”

Across the table, Max had somehow started explaining his newest mechanical upgrades to Tundra.

”...so if I redirect the excess energy through the secondary conversion chamber—”

Tundra frowned.

”What’s a conversion chamber?”

Max blinked.

”You don’t know?”

”...Should I?”

Max looked genuinely surprised.

”You really don’t?”

Before Tundra could answer, Max raised his mechanical arm with an excited grin. ”Look.”

A faint mechanical click echoed from somewhere inside his forearm. The metallic plates along his wrist shifted apart one after another before sliding sideways, revealing a hidden compartment that had been seamlessly integrated into the mechanical limb.

Without the slightest hesitation, Max reached inside.

Everyone’s eyes followed his movements.

A moment later, he pulled out a spoon... then a fork.

Finally, he retrieved a neatly folded table napkin and carefully placed all three items on the table as though he had just demonstrated some incredible technological breakthrough.

”I built extra storage space.”

For several seconds, nobody said a word.

Shane looked at the utensils lying neatly on the table before slowly lifting his gaze toward Max.

”...You turned your arm into a drawer?”

Max looked genuinely offended by the description.

”It’s a multifunctional storage system.”

”That’s a drawer.”

”It sounds much cooler if you don’t call it that.”

Even Tundra got curious as he inspected the mechanical arm with genuine curiosity.

”You actually keep your utensils inside your arm?”