Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

Shane had just finished a long battle, and the pain he felt at that time was real. Although he was fine now, he still couldn't forget how terrible that feeling was.

Layla then brought some skewers she had purchased in the nearby stall… It was certainly tasty, but the price of five skewers for three Zombie Cores was just too much. It doesn't even have any effects at all aside from being delicious.

Nonetheless, Shane just decided to enjoy it since it wasn't every day that he could eat such great food. Most of the time, it would just be enough to fill his stomach.

"This place is nice…" Shane muttered as he drank a cup of cold brew iced tea.

Diana smirked. "Told you. Oh, and you should check out the viewing zone. It's not just for watching the battles—it's interactive. You can search for specific people or even replay your own fights."

Shane's brows rose. "Huh. That's interesting…"

Layla laughed. "Yeah, it's how everyone knows about your fights. Look, there are some screens showing your early battles. They've probably been replaying it on a loop since you arrived. Many of them were interested in your Automated Turret, though…"

Shane groaned, slumping in his seat. "Fantastic. So much for privacy."

Diana smiled at this. "Don't worry… We also learned the secrets of other top rankers. Travis, that guy really has some clones with him. No wonder he was online in the chat 24/7."

Layla gently nodded at this. "Yes… He probably has some clones assigned to just monitor the Regional Chat in shifts… There's also Alexander, who can use lightning… There's Asad with an army of undead. He's really scary… He's using some sort of Grimoire to amplify or summon his undead… There's also Natalie, Lesley, and others…"

Layla and Diana then explained to Shane what they had witnessed from the battles of other Survivors.

This information made Shane feel relieved since he wasn't the only one who had his secrets revealed.

Then, after a few minutes, Shane found himself unwinding.

The waiting zone's design was clearly meant to soothe both body and mind. The food was surprisingly high quality, ranging from roasted meats to fresh fruits and decadent desserts. The only problem was their expensive price, so they had to keep it in mind, or their winnings in the Challenge Event might just be wasted here.

Anyway, Shane appreciated the surroundings. The fountains glowed softly as night fell. It was truly a beautiful sight as it created sparkling reflections across the area.

Of course, no one was sleepy as a few Survivors he didn't know would sometimes approach Shane to congratulate him or simply express their admiration, though most kept a respectful distance after seeing his less-than-enthusiastic responses.

Shane also met a few of his Clan Members like Tundra the Terrorist, Jillian the Bard, Lily the Wood Elementalist, Elsa the Water Elementalist, and even Max the Warrior, who was Layla's closest friend.

For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Shane allowed himself to relax. His body might have been pushed to its limits, but here in the waiting zone, he could recharge and prepare for whatever came next.

After familiarizing himself in the Waiting Zone, Shane decided to return to some areas he had previously found interesting. Well, while looking around with Diana and Layla, he noted a few places he planned to revisit.

Shane soon wandered alone through the lively waiting zone…

"I should be around here…" Shane muttered, rubbing his chin. "Might find something interesting to kill time."
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As he strolled past rows of shops offering various items, gear upgrades, and even exotic refreshments, his eyes fell on a peculiar store hidden away in a quiet corner.

The shop's entrance was draped with dark curtains, and above it hung a sign: "The Serum Emporium—Unlock Your True Potential." The mysterious allure piqued his curiosity.

Entering the shop, Shane found himself surrounded by shelves lined with glowing vials, each labeled with alluring descriptions.

"Crimson Strength Serum: Unleash unparalleled physical power. +5 Strength"

"Azure Agility Serum: Move faster than the wind. +5 Agility"

"Verdant Vitality Serum: Endure the impossible. +10 Vitality"

"Silver Spirit Serum: Awaken hidden energy reserves. +30 Max Spirit Points"

Shane's eyes lit up after seeing this. He was indeed right that this area was quite interesting. No wonder there were a lot of people gathering here a while ago…

The shopkeeper, a wrinkled old man with closed eyes but an unsettling grin, greeted Shane. "Ah, a new customer. Welcome! Perhaps you're here to prepare for your return or simply to indulge in the finest enhancements?"

Shane picked up a vial glowing with a faint green light. "Verdant Vitality Serum, huh?" He squinted at the price tag and nearly dropped it. "One thousand Zombie Cores? This is daylight robbery!"

Although Shane had a lot of money, this price was just too expensive. It might be a lot better to buy expensive weapons to hunt Zombies and level up.

The shopkeeper chuckled. "Quality comes at a price, my friend. And in the challenges you've faced, every advantage counts, doesn't it?"

Looking around, Shane noticed only a handful of people browsing, their expressions mirroring his own as they debated the cost. Certainly, they all have the money to put two or three of them… However, once they did that, they would feel poor once again.

That was certainly not a good feeling after just earning a lot of Zombie Cores from the Challenge Event's reward.

Just then, as he was contemplating what to do, he heard someone call him out.

"Well, if it isn't the famous Shane," said an unfamiliar man, approaching him with a smirk.

Shane glanced over his shoulder and recalled the man's name… Well, he had seen a few people watching his battles in the viewing screen. This person had several clones with him during his battles and was truly a strong Survivor because of that.

"Mhmm… Are you Travis? I heard you reached Level 51."

Travis rolled his eyes as he didn't expect Shane to comment on that…

He'd probably feel proud if the others would say that, but since Shane reached Level 60, it sounded like he was looking down on him, although he didn't mean to.

"Don't remind me. Those Armored Tyrants weren't just tough—they were vicious."

He then gestured to the serums to change the topic. "Thinking about buying one? I figured you of all people wouldn't need them."

Shane snorted. "I've got the skills, sure, but even skills have their limits. Problem is, these prices are insane."

Shane didn't mind being friendly with this person since he also knew from the chats that this man had really done what he had said during the early days of the Apocalypse.

He really created a huge and powerful clan that could protect a lot of people under his territory. Travis was certainly a good leader who wasn't just thinking about his own strength but also about others.

He was completely unlike Shane, Asad, and many other strong Survivors who only wanted to protect themselves and a small group of people.

Travis picked up a shimmering silver vial. "Tell me about it. This Silver Spirit Serum caught my eye, but at 1,500 Zombie Cores? I might as well sell my soul."

Of course, Travis was just exaggerating since he could really purchase a few of them if he really wanted. Nonetheless, they both just laughed, and Shane leaned against the counter.

"What's your plan, then? Saving up for one? Did you hit the limit already? You'll need the breakthrough potions for that. This serum won't have any effect otherwise."

Travis shrugged. "I'm good… It's tempting. I mean, these serums could be useful to my closest aides… The enhancements are permanent, you know. This can be a huge investment for the future.

Shane smiled at this. "That's true… That's why I'm also hesitating. After all, a single serum is still equal to a few level-ups." Shane muttered. After all, the drop rate of strength enhancement potions has recently become truly rare.

It seemed that because of his high level, the drops of the Zombies had also become limited.

If he wanted to get some decent Zombie drops, he had to challenge stronger Zombies… The Lord-Tier Zombies might be the best option for that.

At this time, the shopkeeper finally chimed in as he decided to persuade his potential customers.

"Ah, indeed… That's the beauty of these serums. Their effects are subtle at first but grow stronger over time. You'll find yourself increasing two or three points of your Status to be extremely difficult. Once you experience that, you will recall the serums you failed to purchase and regret that you dismissed them. So, I recommend you buy them now since you might not have a chance like this again."

Travis looked back at Shane. "You've got enough Zombie Cores, don't you? I mean, you cleared Level 60. That's gotta be a fortune right there."