Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle Chapter 1152: Red Mana and Phase One Starts!

Shane found himself within the cave, his gaze fixed upon the corrupted mana crystals...

He hesitated, a wave of apprehension washing over him.

He had previously attempted to venture deeper into this mysterious place, only to be halted by an unseen entity from within.

He was informed that he wasn't yet ready, and shortly after, he lost consciousness, awakening back in the external world and abruptly ending his exploration of this pocket dimension.

"I'll remain in this area, alright? I have no intention of going any deeper. Could you please permit me to gather some crystals?" Shane called out, announcing his presence to the spirit or sentient being residing within the cave.

While unsure if his words would be acknowledged, he felt it was worth the effort.

Receiving no response from the enigmatic presence inside, Shane interpreted the silence as implicit consent.

As he advanced a few meters into the cave, the corrupted energy intensified, pulsing like a heartbeat, and the air vibrated with palpable instability.

It was perilous, yet it represented an unparalleled source of power.

He recalled Caesar's stern warning... Dragons, he remembered, infused their attacks with mana corruption. Frost that could freeze entire mountains, poisons that lingered menacingly for days, lightning that fractured nerves, and fire that melted even enchanted steel... all of it was tainted with this corrupting essence.

If these crystals shared a similar nature, then perhaps they could be transmuted into formidable weapons, capable of mirroring or even countering the dragons' own devastating might.

He wasn't entirely certain of the outcome.

However, based on his previous experiences, particularly during his battle against the Vampire Lord in the Fairy Realm's Invasion, he had a few educated guesses.

""

Naturally, he wasn't solely contemplating undertaking this venture himself. Yet, with his unique set of Survivor Skills and innate Talent, he believed it might be achievable. At the very least, he would require minimal assistance from other specialists in the field.

Still, the concept carried significant risk, as the corrupting influence could easily infiltrate the wielder, twisting their spirit energy beyond recognition. Nevertheless, the potential rewards were too immense to dismiss.

"Wait... We have enough elves on the ship... I believe they could manage this more effectively," Shane mused aloud, recalling the few elves who had joined their cause.

Given their maritime journey, it was understandable that elves accustomed to forest life would find life at sea uncongenial.

Consequently, Shane had been unable to invite a large number of them on this particular expedition.

"Right... They should be capable of accomplishing something with this."

With that thought, he vividly pictured a shield, fortified with purified corruption, one potent enough to withstand the dragons' formidable psychic assaults...

Perhaps, they could also fashion arrows tipped with shards of the red crystal, designed to pierce dragon scales and infect the beasts with their own volatile essence.

Even a simple barrier array, energized by these crystals, might suffice to disrupt a dragon's mana flow long enough to force it to the ground.

Yet, he remained acutely aware of the inherent dangers.

Interacting with corruption without adequate preparation could lead to his crippling, or worse.

He would necessitate the elves' specialized purification arrays, secure containment seals, and possibly even alchemical concoctions to stabilize the volatile crystals.

As Shane surveyed his surroundings, he observed that the fairies and other small creatures remained at the cave's entrance, observing him with undisguised curiosity.

It was understandable; they avoided this particular cave for a reason... Their inherently pure essence naturally repelled the cave's corrupting influence...

However, Shane was not constrained by their limitations.

He promptly retrieved a pickaxe and began the process of harvesting the Red Mana Crystals...

***

After dedicating half a day to his endeavors within the Fairy Realm, Shane finally emerged back into the outside world.

He awoke, performed a few stretches, and then joined the others for their morning meal.

"It seems everyone is making preparations for the upcoming event," Shane commented to himself.

Indeed, the inn buzzed with a frantic energy as everyone busied themselves acquiring necessary supplies...

Even his own team found themselves interacting with an increased number of merchants, as they were also facilitating the transfer of resources back to their mainland shelter via the system's trade function.

While a tax in zombie cores was levied for each transaction, it posed no issue at this juncture.

After all, even with the Clan Storage readily available, not all items could be stowed there, and only specific resources were accessible to members stationed on the mainland.

Following the departure of the morning rush, Shane sought out Caesar.

"You've returned already?" Caesar inquired, expressing surprise at Shane's reappearance.

"Well, listen carefully..."

He then proceeded to articulate his strategic proposal, requesting authorization for himself and his contingent to infiltrate the Draconic Fort on the pivotal day of the Cross-Apocalypse Event.

Defending their ship against three distinct enemy types simultaneously would prove excessively challenging; consolidating their forces presented a more viable approach.

Shane clarified that their entry would occur exclusively on the day of the event itself, and they would bring their armaments, ensuring no feelings of vulnerability prior to the confrontation.

"Ahhh... I believe I grasp your reasoning, and it is quite sound. Even if you were to relocate to another island, you might encounter equally hostile inhabitants. Very well, let us deliberate on this matter."

Caesar offered a chuckle before departing to discuss the proposal with Tris and their other associates.

Shane received Caesar's positive response...

"They agreed!" Caesar declared, giving a thumbs-up. Having received the items from Shane earlier, he was convinced of the man's trustworthiness.

"Excellent!" Shane exclaimed, clapping his hands. He was prepared to return if their entry was denied.

Caesar then offered further details.

Tris, in reality, was eager for additional defenders to protect their sanctuary.

He even proposed a method for concealing the ship.

"We can hide them?!"

"Indeed!" Caesar confirmed with a grin.

Tris explained that a natural cove, formed by towering stone cliffs, offered sufficient concealment. With the addition of nets and coverings, the vessel could become entirely invisible.

As long as no living beings remained aboard, zombies, vampires, and dragonoids would overlook it during the designated event.

Shane expressed his sincere gratitude.

***

Shortly thereafter, Shane returned to his vessel and briefed his crew on the strategy.

With that matter resolved, his attention shifted to another group: the elves on board.

These were not the fabled Legendary Elves, but rather ten of the thirty Epic Elf recruits he had previously assembled. Leading them was Mystra, a composed and beautiful commander adorned in a mage's robe.

Shane convened them on the deck and addressed them directly.

"I need to ascertain your capabilities with the red mana crystals against dragons," he stated.

"Those red mana crystals?"

Mystra and the other elves exchanged glances.

They were aware that Shane had collected some previously. In the past, they had processed small quantities for explosives. However, their eyes widened as Shane accessed his inventory, revealing sack after sack of the red mana crystals.

The deck became bathed in a red glow from the sheer abundance of them!

The sacks could no longer contain their luminescence!

Mystra stepped forward. Fortunately, having received the World Tree's blessings, they felt no apprehension about being surrounded by the corrupted crystals.

"Hmm... We have worked with fragments before, but this... this quantity is sufficient to attempt something far greater. While the corruption is unstable, stabilizing it could allow us to craft weapons that turn a dragon’s very essence against itself."

Another elf elaborated, "Explosives were merely a crude application. With this much material, we could construct arrays—barriers capable of disrupting mana flow, or arrows imbued with corruption to infect scales. However, this will necessitate sealing rituals. Without them, the crystals would inevitably consume the wielder."

Shane listened with focused attention, nodding in understanding.

He had harbored suspicions about the elves' potential for this task, and their confident assertions now confirmed his beliefs.

"We will require time, seals, and alchemical assistance. But if you seek weapons that can contend with dragons, this is an exceptional starting point... With these crystals, we can transform corruption itself into your greatest ally," Mystra declared with a smile.

***

Ten days elapsed swiftly.

Preparations were finalized, sanctuaries reinforced, and novel armaments were forged.

Precisely as dawn broke, Shane received a new dispatch from the System.

It signaled the official commencement of the Cross‑Apocalypse Invasion Event!

[ The Cross‑Apocalypse Invasion Event Has Finally Begun! ]

[ Attention, Survivors! The countdown has concluded. The Invasion is now active. ]

Event Duration: Spanning 24 hours, structured into three progressively challenging phases.

Phase One (Currently Active): Mid-tier zombie hordes, augmented by vampire thralls, are converging upon survivor shelters across the globe.

Phase Two: Elite mutated zombies, bolstered by formidable vampire lords and wyvern packs, will launch their assault once Phase One is resolved.

Phase Three: Dreaded Apocalypse bosses, including Zombie Kings, Ancient Vampires, and powerful Draconic Beasts, will spearhead coordinated assaults during the climactic final stage.

[ Ranking System Activated ]

Global Shelter Rankings are now operational.

Accumulate Invasion Points by vanquishing adversaries, safeguarding civilians, and minimizing damage to structures.

The highest-ranked shelters will be rewarded with System-recognized relics intrinsically linked to cross-apocalypse lore, bestowing permanent enhancements.

[ Secret Quests Unveiled ]

Survivors may discover hidden objectives throughout the invasion. Successful completion of these quests will grant rare crafting materials, unique talents, and specialized fortification upgrades.

These secret quests are not pre-announced. Exploration, bravery, and ingenuity are key to their discovery.

[ Crucial Warning ]

The invasion's difficulty dynamically adjusts based on shelter size and established defenses. Larger shelters will confront more potent bosses and a wider array of combined enemy forces.

Survivors are reminded: dragons, vampires, and the undead will not engage in isolated combat... Their assaults will be meticulously coordinated!

[ Brace yourselves, Survivors. Phase One commences now. The battlefield eagerly awaits your arrival. ]