Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle Chapter 1114: Vasco and Katrina

The dockyard at Blue Haven Shelter was currently buzzing with a multitude of laborers. Even though Providence had reached completion, an array of secondary projects still demanded attention.

Stacks of timber rose high around the shipyard, while crates filled with metal beams, nails, and various essential tools were scattered about the site.

Vasco, the master shipwright, navigated through his team while casting a critical eye toward the other vessels belonging to Shane.

His mission remained unfinished; every ship required comprehensive upgrades to survive an encounter with the undead Sea Creatures.

Merely possessing a single formidable vessel in the dock was far from sufficient.

"Replicating this level of craftsmanship without assistance from the Elves will be impossible," Vasco murmured to himself. Although the Ironcrest Timber arriving from the Ironcrest Clan across the ocean would offer exceptional quality, the materials provided by the Elves possessed a truly singular, almost mystical nature.

They even displayed supernatural properties at times.

Regrettably, the Elves were occupied with many other responsibilities, and their contribution to the construction of Providence had already been a significant concession.

Throughout his career, he had built countless ships, but Providence was entirely different. It wasn't just a vessel; it was an engine of war.

"Hmm?"

Vasco spotted the spherical AI, Cloud, rolling toward his position.

The peculiar device had become Shane’s silent supervisor for every endeavor. While Vasco had grown accustomed to its presence, the sight of it rolling about remained inherently amusing.

Workers routinely cleared a path, avoiding the sphere unless their duties required interaction.

"Cloud... She is ready for the waves. The hull is reinforced, the sails are fully enchanted, and the experts have finalized the weaponry. Yet, I keep pondering... is there more I can contribute? I am no technician, Cloud. Do you see room for further upgrades?"

Cloud responded almost instantaneously.

[Providence’s structural integrity is confirmed. You may now prioritize optimizing operational efficiency.]

Vasco raised an eyebrow. "Operational efficiency, is it? I am all ears..."

Having long accepted that his own shipbuilding knowledge had fallen behind the times, he was more than happy to heed advice from Cloud or other specialists.

The sphere drifted closer to the ship, seemingly conducting a scan.

[Suggestion: Implement automated docking guidance for Trident units. Current manual alignment presents a risk of damaging the Mech Frames. Sensor‑based rails would decrease deployment errors by 42%.]

Vasco let out a grunt. "Guidance rails... aye, that holds water. Humans cannot align such heavy machinery during a storm. Sensors will perform the task more reliably. It is a shame we just installed the manual gear... regardless, I believe you are correct."

Cloud pulsed once more.

[Suggestion: Integrate an Elven-crafted, mana‑powered energy grid beneath the deck. This would offer stable recharging for mechs and sustain defensive operations, while preventing power overloads during combat.]

Vasco’s eyes widened in realization.

"A grid? Like the arteries of the ship, directing power where it is needed most. That is brilliant. But can we truly pester the Elves? I recall meeting them before; they are terribly proud creatures. I have no desire to negotiate with them again. Will you be handling the correspondence?"

[Shane will supply the necessary Mana Crystals, while the artifact required to harness them will be provided by Elandor, the Legendary Archmage under Shane’s command.]

By this stage, their dialogue had begun to attract onlookers.

After all, the prospect of more labor was draining even just to listen to!

Vasco ignored the whispers and continued his questioning. These were merely conceptual inquiries; Shane still held the final authority regarding the budget and allocation of labor.

Months of bureaucratic hurdles likely stood between him and starting another massive upgrade for Providence.

"What else have you got?"

[Suggestion: Install an AI‑assisted navigation array. Consider utilizing enchanted gyroscopes and star‑tracking sensors to enable predictive routing, allowing the ship to bypass storms and hazardous territories.]

Vasco let out a dry laugh. "So you intend to steer us away from danger before we even spot it. That is worth more than a dozen lookouts combined. Do you have anything else in store? I intend to pitch these ideas to Shane upon his return..."

Cloud proceeded to offer further suggestions, all of which were well within the capabilities of Shane’s resources via the Anima Store and his Elven allies.

While some proposals, such as biometric wards for tracking crew fatigue, seemed less urgent given the incredible resilience of their current personnel, others were highly attractive.

Vasco felt particularly inclined to pursue upgrades regarding evacuation boats, additional barrier generators, and propulsion boosters to maximize the vessel's speed.

***

Meanwhile, Katrina had lost all track of time since her arrival at Blue Haven Shelter.

Life within these walls offered a profound sense of tranquility that felt worlds away from the constant, nail-biting survival she had endured at Waterfall Shelter.

Back then, her Animal Summoner Talent was purely a tool of war. Wolves, aggressive bears, and other predators served as her only allies... Every precious Spirit Point had to be measured out with the precision of a surgeon.

Blue Haven, however, was a true bastion.

Warden Units patrolled the outskirts, Mech Frames stood vigil in the hangars, and sophisticated turrets monitored the perimeter. Furthermore, Level 50 Survivors and hulking, battle-hardened Super Soldiers wandered the grounds.

Merely observing those muscle-bound soldiers filled Katrina with a sense of security she hadn't known in ages.

For the first time in this apocalypse, she didn't feel the need to summon deadly beasts to defend her own life.

Instead, she had been granted a modest pasture.

It was a simple, fenced-in plot near the border of the settlement, featuring a humble shelter fashioned from salvaged wood.

Yet to Katrina, it represented a magnificent opportunity to demonstrate the true versatility of her Talent.

She had transitioned her efforts away from combat summons toward gentler creatures like rabbits, goats, and chickens.

Previously, she would never have wasted precious Spirit Points on such defenseless animals; one zombie attack would have ended them instantly.

But the world had changed. Secure in her environment, she could focus on livestock that provided sustainable food sources like milk, eggs, and meat.

While she couldn't feed everyone, her produce served as a valuable reward for the most deserving members of the clan.

"I must reach a higher level, at least to catch up with the output of Mr. Wadsworth’s farm," Katrina thought, reflecting on her experiences at Springriver Manor.

She knew that Shane’s other shelters were also experimenting with husbandry. Even with their large-scale efforts, they managed to support roughly a hundred people.

She still lagged behind in her progress.

However, she was certain that if she remained diligent, she would match the Manor’s efficiency within a month.

"Alright everyone, gather around!"

That morning, Katrina knelt by her goat, balancing a wooden bucket between her knees. She hummed a melody, a faint memory of pop music from the old world, letting the familiar rhythm steady both her own nerves and the animal’s.

Collecting milk had transcended being a mere chore; it had become a personal ritual of grounding.

The goat shifted its hooves in the dirt, though it made no move to resist. The animals were accustomed to her touch and responded to her presence with complete calm.

Psshh~

A steady stream of warm, foamy milk hit the bottom of the pail. It carried a fresh, wholesome scent that anchored her to the present moment.

Nearby, her chickens scratched rhythmically at the earth. She had spent a considerable amount of Spirit Points to summon them, but the cache of eggs in the nearby basket proved the investment was sound.

Katrina offered a soft smile at her bounty.

"A fine harvest for today..."

Shane’s decision to purchase her resources for the settlement store, rather than simply claiming them, meant the world to her. Receiving modest payment through the system not only provided her with supplies but validated her purpose.

After finishing her task, she set the bucket aside on a stone and wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead. She looked out toward the distant dockyard.

The chorus of workers, the clang of timber, and the sight of Cloud drifting through the chaos were constant reminders of the shelter's vitality.

Blue Haven never slept.

A faint metallic chime pulled her back to reality. She turned around to see the familiar spherical shape of Cloud rolling right toward her.

"Cloud? Has something gone wrong?" she asked, her curiosity piqued by the sudden arrival of the enigmatic AI.