Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle Chapter 1155: The Phase One

"Bomb!" Tundra issued a warning so the defenders could prepare for the coming impact.

Soon, the defenders observed as he launched the charged stone into the densest cluster of zombies.

Indeed, the bomb was merely a stone, a testament to Tundra’s Talent...

Whom~

Suddenly, the very air warped around them.

An abrupt gravitational pull began to drag the creatures inward. The Jumpers on the verge of leaping, the Spitters mid-spew of acid, and even the Thralls clawing at the walls, all felt the effect!

They could only utter fleeting shrieks as their bodies were violently yanked together! It all happened so swiftly!

Their limbs became hopelessly entangled with one another. For a brief moment, one section of the battlefield seemed to collapse, converging into a single infinitesimal point.

Then...

The implosion detonated with cataclysmic force.

Bones snapped, bodies crumpled inwards, and acid sacs burst in sprays of grotesque fluids. As the dust settled, dozens of enemies lay mangled within a newly formed crater, their offensive momentum utterly broken.

The ramparts erupted into a chorus of cheers.

"By the gods..." Nika whispered in awe. "He just erased half the attacking wave."

Caesar grinned as he witnessed the display. His shield, still coated in acid, had been saved significant damage by the implosion, preserving much of his energy.

"Hoho... Now that's the kind of ally we needed."

However, the onslaught did not cease.

More thralls advanced, their colossal mouths gaping wide. Simultaneously, additional Spitters from the rear continued their barrage of acid projectiles.

"Don't stop!" Tris commanded from his position on the tower. "Phase One isn't over yet!"

Tundra, undeterred, was already preparing his next attack. He retrieved another stone, this one imbued with a Cryo-Stasis Charge, and hurled it into a mass of thralls scaling the walls.

A wave of freezing mist instantly engulfed them. Tundra repeated this tactic several more times, impacting a vast area just beyond the main gate!

Their movements drastically slowed, their limbs began to stiffen, and those directly struck were flash-frozen mid-climb.

Seizing this opportune moment, the fort's enhanced warriors moved in, swiftly hacking apart the incapacitated foes before they could thaw.

"Frozen vampires... now that's more like it!" Garron roared with laughter, cleaving one of the encased creatures in two.

While they possessed methods to freeze individuals, those were typically single-target skills employed by their Survivors. This wide-ranging freezing ability was an immensely valuable asset to them!

"We're moving in!" Asta, the commander of the Super Soldiers, declared.

Moments later, they too descended from the ramparts. Their enhanced physiques, formidable armor, potent tokens, and advanced weaponry instilled in them the courage to confront the charging enemies head-on and support the Warden Units!

They landed amidst the frozen adversaries... With their blades and fists, they effortlessly tore through the slowed thralls and zombies!

"Push them back!" one Super Soldier bellowed, plunging his sword deep into a Crusher's chest.

The Warden Units advanced with perfect formation...

Their blades also sliced through any enemy that managed to reach the gates with alarming ease...

Acid splattered against their mechanical bodies, sizzling and causing minor surface damage but leaving no significant marks. Even the Super Soldiers endured acid impacts, yet their specialized armors and Aura Sentinel Tokens rendered the attacks negligible.

Soon, even the fort's enhanced warriors stationed on the ramparts felt the urge to descend and join the fray!

However, they received orders to remain on the ramparts and specifically handle the Jumper Zombies and any swift-moving Thralls attempting to scale the walls.

Nevertheless, thanks to the presence of the Warden Units and Super Soldiers on the ground, the defenders on the walls no longer needed to raise their shields to block acid projectiles; the majority of the Spitter Zombies were occupied engaging the army below.

At this juncture, Shane decided it was time to enter the battlefield... Unlike Tris and the numerous commanders of the Fort, he had no concerns regarding Spirit Point expenditure or physical exhaustion.

At this moment, even if the conflict were to persist for an entire week, he wouldn't suffer fatigue, thanks to the multitude of drugs and potions he had consumed.

"Let me join the fight!" Shane announced, simultaneously activating his own Survivor Skill.

[ Lightning Surge Lv5: Channels raw electricity through the body, releasing a concentrated blast forward...

This Skill, which he acquired after defeating Hendryx, proved to be exceptionally potent... Against the Thralls, its effectiveness was undeniable!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Shane focused his devastating attacks solely on the Thralls at this moment!

With his powerful addition to the battle, the conflict transformed into a symphony of pure destruction.

Tundra continued to unleash bomb after bomb, each explosion dramatically reshaping the battlefield.

The Super Soldiers maintained their resolute control of the ground, ensuring the zombies could not advance further.

The Warden Units fought relentlessly, their blades efficiently cutting down any zombies that charged towards the gates.

Meanwhile, the fort's enhanced warriors engaged enemies atop the walls with their weaponry.

Boom!

Shortly thereafter, Tundra deployed his Corrosive Venom Bomb, which detonated into a noxious mist that dissolved both the armor and flesh of the zombies in the rear ranks...

The zombies positioned further back were helpless as their bodies melted away, creating significant breaches in the enemy horde.

"Keep it up!" Tris shouted from the tower, his voice now resonating with renewed hope. "We can hold them!"

Concurrently, the other sections of the fortification were also repelling enemy assaults...

While the initial onslaught's ferocity wasn't quite as intense as later attacks, it remained terrifyingly potent, made manageable only by the timely assistance of the Elves, Shinja, Chaloem, and their allies in bolstering the Fort's defenses.

Hours bled into one another, the relentless waves of enemies showing no sign of abating.

Three hours into the grueling Phase One, the defenders, though battered and bloody, had miraculously avoided succumbing to vampirism or zombification.

The sheer exhaustion was palpable, forcing even the elite Super Soldiers to adopt a defensive stance, their positions ceded to the more resilient Enhanced Warriors and Warden Units.

Nevertheless, with Tundra and Shane providing crucial support, the defenders could afford brief respites, replenishing their strength with healing potions as needed.

The primary concern remained the structural integrity of the ramparts and walls.

"It's damaged..." Caesar murmured, his gaze fixed on the scarred and dented fortifications. A more formidable onslaught from zombies and vampires could pose a serious threat.

Yet, his immediate attention was demanded elsewhere.

The relentless tide of zombies continued to swell.

There was no respite whatsoever!

Caesar stood resolute, his shield deflecting a barrage of acid.

"Don't squander your strength! There's no pause in this assault! Unleash your skills if your Spirit Points have recovered!"

Nika, wiping a smear of blood from her cheek, nodded in agreement.

"If this is merely Phase One, I shudder to imagine what Phase Two will unleash upon us."

"Don't tempt fate like that," Hannah cautioned, expertly loosing another arrow into the skull of an approaching thrall.

Tundra, however, remained largely unperturbed by the ongoing siege.

He was armed with a considerable supply of bombs!

Deploying them sparingly, only when the defenders faced imminent overwhelm, he conserved them for the impending arrival of the Dragonoids.

After all, Caesar's intelligence indicated that these Dragonoids might possess the resilience to withstand his potent Explosive Fire Bombs.

***

Meanwhile, high above the chaotic battlefield, utterly concealed from the defenders below, a solitary figure hovered in the inky blackness of the night sky.

His long, flowing robe billowed in the wind, yet his form remained eerily motionless.

Beneath the shadows of his hood, crimson eyes surveyed the unfolding pandemonium.

As the figure observed the relentless struggle, a flicker of surprise crossed his face. The thralls fought with desperate ferocity, the zombies charged with suicidal abandon, and corrosive acid rained down relentlessly, yet the fortress stubbornly held its ground.

For five arduous hours, he intently watched.

The defenders of Draconic Fort proved to be far more formidable than anticipated.

The enhanced warriors battled without fatigue, the Warden Units endured grievous damage with stoic resolve, and every single Foreign Survivor contributed valiantly to the defense.

A subtle smile played upon the robed figure's lips.

"Impressive. They possess a remarkable endurance. This particular Shelter must harbor exceptionally potent blood."

As the seventh hour marked its passage, the enemy waves finally ceased their assault.

A profound silence descended upon the battlefield, punctuated only by the pained groans of the wounded.

Survivors slumped against the ramparts, diligently consuming potions, tending to their injuries, and effecting repairs on their damaged equipment.

Efficiency was paramount, as Phase Two was anticipated imminently.

He then observed the phased retreat of the seemingly tireless humanoid automatons!

The enigmatic figure couldn't suppress a low chuckle.

"Ah... so even the machines have their operational limits. This is indeed the opportune moment."

It was true; the Warden Units were indeed powered by specialized Power Cores. Once depleted, their functionality would cease entirely.

Their energy reserves required replenishment.

Nonetheless, the mysterious figure slowly raised a pale hand, and simultaneously, the disembodied voice of the System echoed once more through the air...

[ Phase Two Begins! ]

The very ground trembled as new abominations emerged from the distant horizon.

Leading the charge were the High-Tier Zombies: towering Tyrants with grotesquely bulging muscles, swift Hunters wielding elongated, razor-sharp claws, skittering Lickers with their prehensile, whip-like tongues, and nigh-unstoppable Juggernauts whose heavily armored forms could shrug off even direct RPG impacts!

Following in their wake marched the Low-Tier Vampires! These were no longer the mindless thralls of before but true, blood-born creatures of the night. Their eyes burned with a malevolent red glow, and their hands pulsed with raw, crimson energy.

This time, these formidable Vampires commanded potent blood-based abilities!

With a mere flick of their wrists, they conjured spears formed from solidified blood essence! They could also manifest sinuous whips or resilient shields fashioned entirely from blood!

And then, the sky itself grew darker still, as if a new, ominous eclipse had begun.

In mere moments, monstrous wyverns descended from the heavens, their vast wings beating with the force of thunder!

Their piercing screeches disoriented the more vulnerable survivors as the terrifying wyverns began to circle ominously above the fortress! They hung there, a constant, palpable threat, poised to dive upon the defenders at any given second!