Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

Shane stared at the Representative for several seconds, but there was no interest in his expression. The offer of ten Alpha Gene Serums per month might have been valuable under normal circumstances, yet he couldn’t bring himself to care about it right now.

Two of his people had disappeared inside this facility, and until he knew what had happened to them, no negotiation was going to matter.

”I don’t care about your offer right now,” Shane finally said. ”Tell me where Sylas and Sandara are.”

The Representative remained completely still before answering in the same calm, mechanical voice.

[ I am unable to determine their current location. ]

Shane’s expression darkened.

”You just admitted that your security systems captured them.”

[ That is correct. However, the automated defensive systems operating in certain sections of the First Citadel function independently. I do not possess direct control over all of them. ]

”Then order them to release my people.”

[ I cannot do that. ]

”Then what if they’re dead?”

There was another brief pause before the Representative answered.

[ If they have perished, I cannot retrieve them unless their remains are located within an area accessible to my systems. ]

Shane’s expression became genuinely cold...

”So, in other words, you can’t help us at all.”

[ That would be an accurate assessment. ]

The Representative continued speaking as though it had just explained an ordinary limitation of its system.

[ My authority is limited to specific sections of the First Citadel. The security systems responsible for your companions’ disappearance are outside my control. Therefore, I cannot guarantee their recovery. ]

Tundra couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

”That’s convenient. You want us to leave, but you can’t even tell us what happened to the people your facility captured.”

The Representative didn’t respond.

Shane looked at it for several seconds before making his decision.

”We’re not leaving.”

The atmosphere inside the enormous chamber immediately changed.

A series of mechanical clicks suddenly echoed from the surrounding walls.

”Everyone, prepare yourselves,” Shane muttered.

The Representative remained in place as several sections of the metallic walls suddenly opened. Hidden doors slid apart, revealing additional machines stored inside recessed chambers.

War Automata stepped out first, followed by several Specter Automatons and Bloodforged Automatons.

Max’s mechanical fingers slowly curled into fists.

”So much for the peaceful negotiation.”

The Representative finally spoke.

[ Your refusal to leave the First Citadel has been classified as continued intrusion. Defensive measures will therefore resume. ]

”Then let’s settle this.”

The machines immediately charged.

This time, however, Shane’s group was already prepared.

They had experienced the First Citadel’s defensive systems firsthand, and none of the machines appearing before them possessed abilities they had not already encountered.

Tundra immediately scattered bombs throughout the chamber while Max rushed toward the approaching War Automata. Jillian’s melodies spread across the battlefield, strengthening everyone’s bodies, while Lyra continuously used talismans to protect the group from attacks that managed to slip through their formation.

Meanwhile, Shane moved alongside them while Cloud continuously provided information about the machines’ movements...

”Cloud... We really have to hack this place. Find a way to fully control this Citadel. Should we capture that Representative?”

[ It’s useless. Once the Representative gets captured, the Main A.I. in this Citadel will just cut off the trail. I need another Terminal hidden behind the main Pillar. ]

”The one at the center? Perfect!” Shane muttered.

They finally had a goal!

Still, they had to deal with these Automatons.

The battle continued once more, and since they understood the weaknesses of the machines, the additional reinforcements were unable to turn the situation around.

One War Automaton after another was destroyed, while the Specter Automatons were quickly exposed by Minerva’s warnings and Tieria’s mechanical eye.

The Bloodforged Automatons lasted slightly longer because of their regenerative abilities, but Max and Tundra quickly destroyed their mechanical cores after Tieria identified their locations.

Within several minutes, the final machine collapsed.

The enormous chamber finally became quiet again.

Shane slowly turned toward the Representative who was still watching...

”Now, tell me—”

He suddenly stopped.

Cloud’s voice came through his wristwatch.

[ Master. I have detected two unidentified biological signatures approaching from behind the Representative. ]

Shane paused as everyone immediately turned toward the far end of the chamber.

A previously invisible section of the wall suddenly separated, revealing a hidden passage behind it.

Two figures slowly emerged from the darkness.

At first, nobody thought much of them.

Their bodies appeared almost identical to the Bloodforged Automatons they had just fought.

Pale biological tissue covered portions of their bodies, while mechanical components had been integrated directly into their limbs and torsos. Faint red energy flowed through their bodies, giving them the same disturbing aura as the Vampiric hybrids.

But then the two figures stepped fully into the light.

Shane froze.

One of them had long black hair and a face that was impossible to mistake.

Shane’s breathing stopped for a moment.

”Sandara?”

Her face was pale, and more than half of her body had been replaced with mechanical components.

Beside her stood another figure.

An Elf...

His body was covered in the same mechanical and biological modifications, yet his face remained unmistakably familiar.

Sylas.

The Legendary Elf who had been recruited by Shane now stood before them, looking like a Bloodforged Automaton.

At this point, even Tundra, who normally had something to say in situations like this, remained completely silent.

Shane stared at the two figures for several seconds before slowly turning toward the Representative.

His voice was quiet, but the anger behind it was unmistakable.

”You turned them into this?”

The Representative remained motionless as if it didn’t hear Shane’s voice.

Shane’s fists clenched tightly.

At that moment, the negotiation was completely forgotten.

He no longer cared about the Alpha Gene Serum, the Spirit Stones, or whatever secrets the First Citadel contained.

They had taken two of his people.

And now they had turned them into monsters.

Shane’s killing intent exploded throughout the chamber.

”I don’t care who owns this place. I’m destroying the First Citadel.”

As soon as he said this, the battle began!