Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

”What... is that?”

Standing in the center of the chamber was a gigantic humanoid machine.

It was roughly twelve meters tall... Its body was towering over everything around it. Unlike the Sentinels she had encountered earlier, this machine was clearly designed for direct combat. Its thick metallic armor covered every part of its body, while massive mechanical joints connected its arms and legs.

But what caught Fiona’s attention wasn’t its size.

It was the color.

The entire machine was covered in golden armor!

Fiona’s eyes immediately widened.

”That’s a Mech!”

She had seen Shane’s Mechs before.

The Aegis Series served as powerful land-based combat machines, while the Valiant Series specialized in aerial combat. The Trident Series, meanwhile, had been designed for naval warfare.

They were among the strongest weapons available to Shane’s forces, and their trained pilots could turn them into terrifying weapons on the battlefield.

Fiona had always thought they were incredibly cool and, of course, she already had one of each series since she asked them for payment in various missions she had completed.

Nonetheless, she never expected to find one of her own.

”Avalon, is that a Mech?”

[ Correct. ]

Fiona’s excitement immediately returned.

”Can it still operate?”

[ Yes. ]

She almost jumped.

”Really?!”

[ The unit is currently in standby mode. Its primary systems remain functional, although several components require maintenance. ]

Fiona stared at the golden machine.

”So I have a new Mech too...”

She couldn’t help smiling.

Then she noticed something strange.

There was only one.

Unlike Shane’s military forces, which possessed multiple Mech units and trained pilots, the First Citadel appeared to have only a single machine of this type.

”Why is there only one? This is too stingy...”

[ This unit is a prototype command-class combat platform. Only one was constructed. ]

Fiona’s eyes sparkled.

”A prototype?”

[ Correct. Its capabilities exceed those of standard combat platforms. However, due to its unique construction, mass production was never considered practical. ]

Fiona slowly approached the machine.

The golden armor reflected the lights of the chamber, making the enormous humanoid machine look almost like a giant golden knight.

She couldn’t help grinning.

”Then I’ll take good care of you.”

She looked toward Avalon.

”Can I pilot it?”

[ Administrator authorization confirmed. ]

A faint blue light suddenly appeared beneath the Mech’s feet.

[ Pilot access has been granted. ]

Fiona’s smile became even wider.

”Ugh... I want to see how it works, but let’s explore this place first... What’s beyond that door?”

Though she wanted to pilot it right now, she decided to rein in her impulse and explore this First Citadel a bit more.

[ It’s the greenhouse. ] Avalon answered.

”Perfect!”

Just like that, Fiona decided to check the place and soon, the doors opened.

Fiona stepped inside and immediately stopped.

A vast underground greenhouse stretched before her.

Artificial sunlight illuminated rows of plants growing beneath the ceiling. Most of the vegetation had already died, but several plants were still alive despite the facility being abandoned for countless years.

Fiona slowly approached one of them.

It looked like an ordinary fruit tree at first glance, but its leaves were unusually dark, and several strange fruits hung from its branches.

”What is this?”

[ Anima Nutrient Fruit Tree. ]

”Is it edible? Wait... Why would the Anima Civilization even need these?”

They were machines after all!

However, Avalon’s answer made sense....

[ Yes, the fruit is edible. However, its primary purpose was not food production. ]

”Then what was it used for?”

[ The fruit contains a highly concentrated combination of nutrients, growth factors, and adaptable biological compounds. The Anima Civilization used these compounds as raw materials for biological research, genetic enhancement, regenerative medicine, and the production of specialized biological weapons. ]

Fiona’s expression became strange.

”Biological weapons?”

[ Correct. The same biological properties that allow the fruit to rapidly provide nutrients and support cellular regeneration can also be modified for offensive applications. ]

Fiona stared at the tree.

”So this isn’t really a normal fruit tree.”

[ Correct. It was specifically cultivated as a biological resource. ]

Fiona looked at the dark leaves and strange fruit again.

”Then why did they make it look like a normal tree?”

[ Psychological and environmental considerations. The Anima Civilization believed that maintaining familiar biological structures improved the mental stability of personnel or captured living beings within isolated facilities. ]

Fiona was silent for a moment.

”...They made military biotechnology look like a garden.”

[ That is an accurate description. ]

Fiona couldn’t help laughing.

”Of course they did.”

She looked at the surrounding greenhouse again.

”So what else can we make from these?”

[ If the agricultural sector is restored, the fruit can be processed into nutritional supplements, regenerative compounds, medicinal substances, genetic enhancement materials, biological research catalysts, and several restricted biological weapons. ]

Fiona’s eyes immediately lit up.

”Restricted?”

[ Yes. Some biological weapons require higher administrator authorization. Their production facilities are currently inaccessible to you. ]

Fiona’s excitement didn’t disappear.

Instead, she smiled.

”So even the plants here are hiding secrets.”

[ That is correct, Administrator. ]

”Okay... Let’s talk about what I can access... How much food could it produce if we restored the agricultural sector?”

Avalon paused.

[ At full capacity, the agricultural sector could provide sufficient food for approximately 84,000 individuals. ]

Fiona’s mouth fell open.

”Eighty-four thousand?”

[ Correct. ]

Fiona looked around the enormous greenhouse.

She had originally thought the Floating Island was simply a convenient place for Mist Shelter to exist.

Now she understood that it could become something much greater.

It could become a self-sufficient settlement capable of supporting an enormous population.

”We definitely need to restore this place.”

[ Understood, Administrator. ]

Fiona continued exploring.

Every new area revealed something else.

There were medical facilities containing advanced surgical equipment that could potentially treat injuries that modern technology could not handle.

There were manufacturing facilities capable of producing mechanical components.

There were energy storage facilities containing ancient power cells.

There were laboratories filled with automated research equipment.

And as Fiona continued exploring the research facilities, she gradually realized that something was strange.

The Anima Civilization seemed to have been far too focused on creating more Floating Islands.

There were entire laboratories dedicated to researching their construction, along with countless blueprints, automated production facilities, and research archives related to the technology required to build them.

Fiona couldn’t help but find it suspicious.

”Why were they so focused on creating more Floating Islands?”

She immediately asked Avalon.

For several seconds, the A.I. remained silent as it accessed the archived records.

Then Avalon finally responded.

[ According to the surviving records, the Anima Civilization began mass-producing Floating Islands in preparation for a predicted global catastrophe. ]

Fiona’s expression became serious.

”What kind of catastrophe?”

Avalon’s voice remained calm.

[ The Deep Sea Apocalypse. ]