Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle Chapter 1128: The Vampire and the Priests

The Vampire rumor spread like wildfire, and the World Chat soon erupted in heated debates. Survivors who endured Statham's rule recalled the nightmare with sharp clarity, while skeptics waved off the reports as overblown tales.

Naturally, plenty of folks craved stirring up arguments, yet the World Chat imposed strict limits per Survivor. Most had just 3 messages daily, whereas higher-level ones enjoyed 7 to 10 slots.

[ Halden (Sector 11): Vampires again? Shane killed Statham, the Vampire Lord. That was confirmed. The attacks stopped. This is just people panicking over blood‑draining Zombies or something… ]

[ Corvus (Sector 17): Exactly. Not every ability that drains blood makes someone a vampire. There are parasite‑type Survivor Skills out there. Survivors exaggerate. ]

[ Elira (Sector 4): Don't dismiss it. I think I fought one myself. Pale skin, red eyes, faster than a Hunter Zombie. It also knows how to retreat. When it bit my comrade, it drained blood and even Spirit Points, you know? That's not a normal Survivor Skill. ]

[ Brann (Sector 1): Spirit drain? That's impossible unless it's a high‑grade talent. Sounds like you're making it up. ]

[ Nyssa (Sector 20): No, Elira's right. I saw one too. Silver knives barely scratched it, but a silver bullet dropped it. That's classic vampire weakness. ]

[ Fenric (Sector 18): Silver weapons again? I thought that business died after Statham fell. If they're working, maybe the rumors are true. ]

[ Oren (Sector 5): Or maybe you think silver works because you're scared. Survivors see what they want to see. ]

[ Liora (Sector 14): Don't forget Shane's fight with Statham was confirmed by hundreds of Survivors. That wasn't a "zombie with blood skills." That was a Vampire… If one Vampire Lord existed, why not more? ]

[ Garrick (Sector 20): But wouldn't they have attacked already? It's been months. If Vampires were still around, we'd see organized raids. Instead, it's just scattered sightings. ]

[ Maelis (Sector 9): Maybe they're rebuilding. Vampires are patient hunters. Just because they're quiet doesn't mean they're gone. Did you not watch Vampire Diaries? ]

[ Thorne (Sector 2): The fuc k is that? I don't buy it. Survivors love drama. Call someone pale with a blood talent a "vampire" and suddenly it's scary. Next thing you know, silver bullets are overpriced again. Right! This must be someone's way to sell silver bullets! When Statham fell, the business owners must have been crying. They spend so much making those and now, they're just rotting in the warehouse. ]

[ Veyric (Sector 16): Hmm… Interesting theory. I like it. However, I'd rather waste Zombie Cores on silver than risk being drained alive. If they're real, we're in trouble. ]

[ Selwyn (Sector 7): Think about it. If Shane killed one Vampire Lord, maybe others stayed hidden. Statham wasn't the only monster out there. ]

[ Idris (Sector 19): Or maybe Alexander succeeded in his evil plan. I heard he's experimenting with blood‑draining Zombies. Wouldn't that explain it better if there are too many of them? Zombies mimicking vampire traits. ]

[ Calira (Sector 12): That's worse! Imagine Zombies with vampire abilities. No wonder people are panicking. ]

[ Torric (Sector 13): Either way, the fear is real. Vampires or not, survivors are dying from blood loss. Call it what you want, but the threat exists. ]

[ Joren (Sector 6): I say they're real. But I kinda wanted to obtain their powers as well. Like that Bat Swarm or Bat Transformation… Though I want to be a daywalker. That sun weakness is just too terrible. ]

[ Kestrel (Sector 6): Dream on… Your Talent to grow hair almost infinitely is already good enough. Anyway, I say it's fake. Survivors exaggerate. Until I see fangs and coffins, I won't believe it. ]

[ Miriel (Sector 10): Fangs? Coffins? This isn't a fairy tale. Vampires here are predators, not bedtime stories. ]

[ Daxen (Sector 13): Debate all you want. If they're back, Shane will deal with them again. He already proved it once. ]

[ Shane (Sector 20): … ]

[ Travis (Sector 20): LOL! ]

[ Daxen (Sector 13): … ]

[ Kestrel (Sector 6): … ]

[ Torric (Sector 13): … ]

Shane's cryptic three dots sparked a massive trend in the World Chat right away.

As soon as anyone checked the window, those dots stared back. The intrigued had no choice but to scroll upward for the full story.

***

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Right then, the church bells of Smart Haven Shelter tolled gently…

Their chimes drifted over the courtyard, drawing a handful of survivors for dawn prayers.

In plain white robes, Ezekiel glided among them, beaming warmly. Though not top-ranked, fellow priests relied on him deeply.

Service filled Ezekiel's every day.

He cared for battle-worn soldiers fresh from zombie clashes, dispensing blessings and solace.

His Skill made his palms shimmer with soft healing light, sufficient for sealing wounds and easing bruises, yet powerless against deeper losses.

Lost toes, chopped fingers, mangled limbs… such damages lay beyond him. Instead, he offered prayers, stressing that scars marked their bravery.

Once the injured were steady, Ezekiel headed to the graveyard.

Neat rows of plain markers dotted the soil, each capped with a stone.

"May the Sun God guide your spirit," he whispered, concluding the burial rite.

Nearby, kin and comrades lingered—some in tears, others hushed.

Even briefly, Ezekiel's words brought them comfort.

Ezekiel bore his own mark of hardship, of course.

Once a Combat Priest fighting alongside those troops beyond the shelter walls.

Tragically, a zombie ambush claimed his left foot half a year back.

Fortune smiled, though—tech from Ivory Gear Shelter granted a flawless mechanical replacement, letting him stride as before.

This cutting-edge prosthetic amazed: sleek, quick to respond, built to last.

Still, Ezekiel never shook the agony of that loss. He saw the limb as both gift and grim lesson in survival's price.

Fellow priests ribbed him lightly about it.

"Brother Ezekiel! Your foot outpaces ours. You ought to spearhead the next hunt." He chuckled, waving it off.

"Fighting's your domain. Mine lies here, tending the hurt and heartbroken." Such modesty won their hearts, positioning him as their unspoken head.

***

Life in Smart Haven Shelter held more than just gloom and grief, naturally…

Entertainment lightened their load in various ways.

Priests broke bread as a group…

They swapped tales from youth, poked fun at survivor oddities, and devoted hours to World Chat and Regional Chat…

Yet Ezekiel favored listening over chatting, unchanging as ever…

One night, a novice priest inquired,

"Do you think Aura can truly be learned by us? We are healers, not warriors."

They'd just learned of Natalie's scheme to dispatch them.

Ezekiel grinned, initially skeptical, but Aura's power changed his mind—he yearned to master it at any cost!

"Ahem… Natalie mentioned the monks call Aura discipline. Healing demands discipline too. If monks wield Aura in their flesh, why not us? Aura might amplify our blessings."

The group nodded, fired up by his view.

Anyway, kids from time to time popped into the church, drawn to the priests.

Offspring of scavengers, neutral shelter families, roving traders, and more…

Ezekiel greeted them kindly, sharing easy hymns and demonstrating safe candle-lighting.

His prosthetic foot never failed to captivate.

"Does it hurt?" a kid wondered.

"No, it doesn't hurt. It lets me walk, like your shoes let you dash." The child beamed, content.

Weeks flew by, bringing the official participant roster at last.

Twenty priests—mostly ex-Combat Priests—got picked for the Eclipse Domain journey.

Natalie honored Shane's terms, and departure loomed.

In the church hall, the priests assembled, buzz of thrill and anxiety thick.

Ezekiel earned the lead spot. Natalie polled for a leader, and fingers unanimously jabbed his way.

"Alright… It's you then." Natalie declared.

Rank aside, his reliability sealed it. He bowed low to the Clan Leader, accepting gracefully.

"I will do my best, Clan Leader." he vowed.

"Yes. Say that to them…" Natalie urged, nodding toward the other 19 priests.

"Of course," Ezekiel replied, facing his companions. "Let's remember that we'll go there not for ourselves alone. We go to learn, so that all priests may grow stronger."

Natalie's smile bloomed; she grasped instantly why they picked him. She didn't know these priests one-on-one—too many—but this man inspired full confidence.

Outfitting kicked off without delay. Priests stowed gear in their Inventories...

At long last, the day dawned.

Smart Haven Shelter's command center housed the Portal Hall—once the Armory—now primed...

Guards kept watch, maintaining calm.

Natalie showed up, eyeing Ezekiel and the priests... "You will represent us," she stated.

"Learn well. Return stronger."