Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle Chapter 1134: The Children and the Plant

At first, Asad's deathly aura permeated the chamber, sending the three children cowering into the cage's corner.

He might not have been ugly, yet his very being radiated pure death, striking sheer terror into their hearts.

"Ahhh... Sorry about that..."

He caught on right away. Inhaling deeply, he reined in the aura, causing the suffocating pressure to dissipate.

Moments later, he looked ordinary once more.

"Easy," he murmured gently, waving his hands toward the three... "I’m not here to hurt you. I’m Asad, and I’m a righteous Necromancer. Don’t be afraid."

Naturally, the three kids didn't trust his words alone.

Regardless, Asad spotted the rudimentary lock—mere iron bars held by a chain.

No magical seals or special devices protected it, given they were only children...

With a simple flick of his wrist, Asad smashed it apart.

The cage door swung open with a groan, and he beckoned them to freedom...

Yet the children stayed put, still wide-eyed with fear, their small frames quivering.

"Ooops... Wait."

He delved into his inventory, fetching out some blankets.

"Here," he said, tenderly wrapping them around the three little ones. They were completely naked, their skin ghostly pale from neglect and surely chilled to the bone.

Then, he rummaged through his Inventory again, handing each a chocolate bar and a bottle of water. "Eat... drink... You’re safe now."

The children paused just briefly. Sensing Asad acted unlike the rest, they devoured the snacks ravenously. Tears poured down their cheeks while they murmured their thanks.

Two boys and one girl... All far too young for this horrifying ordeal.

After a short while, Asad figured it was time to learn more.

He knelt low, locking eyes with them. "Where are you from?"

The oldest boy sniffled. "We... we were from Blue Bubble Shelter."

Asad's eyebrows knitted together. Blue Bubble Shelter was meant to be secure. He'd visited recently without hearing of any abducted children.

No quests existed urging a search for them either...

Curiosity burned within him unavoidably.

"Were you captured? What happened?"

The girl shook her head. By now, she was convinced Asad wasn't like those monsters.

Her voice quivered as she answered. "No... we were sold. Our parents... they sold us to these bad people."

"W-what?"

Those words slammed into him like a thunderbolt. He'd meant to take them home, but his fist now balled in rage.

Sending them back was impossible—they'd only get sold again, enduring more torment.

"Sold... by your own parents." He whispered under his breath.

The thought of parents committing such an act was beyond comprehension. "Haa~ Then there’s no going back."

The children sobbed even louder, yet Asad's voice grew kinder.

"Listen. You’re not going back there. Not ever. If you want, you can come with me."

The three didn’t hesitate. "Yes," they chorused. Blankets for warmth, food and water too... They'd follow this man without question.

Asad nodded. "Then I’ll do my best to protect you. But don’t be scared of my summoned creatures, okay?"

"O-okay!"

"Those skeletons and ghosts? They’re your summons?"

"Whoa... Are you the Master of Death?"

Asad let out a chuckle at that moniker and affirmed with a nod.

His gaze soon roamed over the devastated fortress.

Using his telepathic connection, he issued commands to his Skeleton Kings and Wraith Queen.

’

Like shadows in the night, the undead swept through the shelter, ransacking every corner.

Chests got forced open, storerooms ransacked clean, laboratories gutted entirely. Asad pressed further himself, uncovering proofs of Phoenix Phalanx’s horrors....

In a nearby room, rows of identical cages stood empty—the same kind that had held the children. A foul rot stench hung heavy, revealing the previous captives' grim fate.

"What the hell happened here?" Asad grumbled, observing it all via the shared sight from his wraiths and skeletons.

The girl overheard and murmured, "Our friends... they became fertilizer."

Asad went rigid. "Fertilizer?"

The boy nodded grimly... "They buried them under the fields. The plants... they grew through them."

Asad's fist tightened until his knuckles popped. The fields lay filled, and he hadn't realized those bodies were dismissed as mere fertilizer...

"Phoenix Phalanx..." He growled. "You’ve crossed a line. From now on, you’re kill‑on‑sight."

The Wraith Queen's thorough search soon revealed details about the plants—she even identified them...

Afterward, Asad fired off a private message to Jillian via the System’s chat.

[ Asad: Jillian, are you in the Eclipse Domain? Ask Anna if she needs Corpse Flowers. I’m not sure if I should destroy them or not. ]

The Wraith Queen had explained that these weren’t typical crops. The majority of Corpse Flower plants remained in early growth, yet their roots merged with corpses, drawing sustenance from death itself. In roughly 10 days, blooms might appear, and the Wraith Queen claimed those flowers held immense value for Dark Alchemists.

That said, several dozen stood ready for harvest right now... In truth, the Skeletons had discovered some already packed neatly into boxes.

Jillian wasted no time and rushed to the Laboratory to consult Anna.

Her response arrived shortly.

[ Jillian: Yes. Anna says she could use them. ]

Asad let out a breath. "Alright... Then at least this horror will serve a purpose."

He commanded his undead minions to delicately gather the blooming flowers, placing them into his inventory. The remaining ones he planned to collect later after their blossoms opened.

Regardless, the Corpse Flowers would reach Anna soon enough, though right now, his attention turned to the children...

He needed to protect them until safely escorting them to the Eclipse Domain, or maybe Springriver Manor, where rumors said plenty of children had lately assembled.