Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle Chapter 1171: Alex and the Training with the Old Mage

The subsequent morning saw the gates of the Omega Stronghold swing open to welcome a familiar presence.

It was Alex, a runner known for his swiftness, though his true gift lay in his Leaper Talent which granted him extraordinary speed...

For now, he entered with a wide grin and a significantly large backpack.

Within this pack were commodities that could not be contained within the System Inventory.

These items had been languishing in storage across various allied shelters... Ranging from unused robes and enchanted trinkets to, most crucially, several crates of Mana Crystals.

He had personally committed to their delivery, thus bypassing the exorbitant trade tax that had caused considerable frustration among many clans.

"Whoaaa..."

This marked only his second excursion into the Stronghold, and the panorama before him almost rendered him speechless.

On his previous visit, the fortress had been imposing yet subdued, its courtyards still adapting to their new roles.

Now, it vibrated with life.

The central courtyard teemed with activity.

Merchants had established makeshift stalls lining the primary thoroughfare, offering roasted meats, steaming bowls of savory broth, and fruit skewers coated in sweet syrup.

Survivors congregated in large numbers, their laughter mingling with the sound of bartering, while the echoes of ongoing construction resonated from the periphery.

Fewer children were present than one might anticipate, yet some could be seen darting between the stalls, clutching bread rolls or sampling sweet elixirs concocted within the Vineyard Dome.

Alex surmised these families hailed from the recently established Neutral Shelters.

Gradually, his pace diminished, his gaze wide with astonishment.

"Wow..." he murmured, "It certainly wasn't like this before."

He passed a vendor selling talismans meticulously carved from Spirit Stones, each emitting a subtle luminescence.

Another stall presented charms fashioned from zombie cores, purported to offer protection against nightmares.

Furthermore, the intoxicating aroma of spices and woodsmoke permeated the air, prompting an involuntary smile from Alex. The Stronghold had transcended its function as a mere fortress; it was undeniably blossoming into a city.

As he ventured deeper, his attention was drawn to mercenaries relaxing near the training grounds, diligently maintaining their weaponry and recounting tales of lucrative contracts.

Artisans, laden with bundles of fabric, navigated the pathways, while smiths transported heavy ingots towards the Auto-Forge. Everywhere he looked, there was a palpable sense of movement, purpose, and vitality...

"This place..." Alex whispered, his voice filled with awe, "it's truly thriving."

He even found himself contemplating a permanent relocation here... After all, observing its continued development held a certain appeal... Moreover, he was keenly aware of the stronghold's formidable defenses...

Not even the catastrophic Cross-Apocalypse Event had managed to breach its formidable walls.

Admittedly, several Barrier Generators had been compromised, yet the primary walls and the Goldsteel Ramparts themselves had withstood the onslaught.

"I need to speak with Tieria... Is he currently in his office?" he inquired of a nearby guard.

"Sir Alex? He has been anticipating your arrival. Allow me to escort you, Sir." one of the recruited guards responded promptly.

Accompanied by the soldier, he proceeded towards the command center.

Tieria was present, his mechanical eye seemingly focused on analyzing the various reports spread across his desk.

Alex offered a slight bow as he carefully placed his backpack on the floor.

"Commander Tieria," Alex began, his tone laced with palpable excitement, "I've brought some valuable items. Mana Crystals, enchanted armaments, robes... goods that might pique the old man's interest. Where can I find him?"

Tieria looked up, a smile gracing his lips as he observed Alex's evident enthusiasm.

Indeed, the pursuit of arcane knowledge was a universal aspiration...

"Are you contemplating becoming his apprentice, perhaps?" Tieria quipped playfully.

However, contrary to his expectation of a simple laugh, Alex actually paused, scratching his head thoughtfully. "Ahem... Who can say? It's possible I possess the aptitude..."

Tieria was visibly taken aback.

"W-what...? Very well. Merlin is currently located at the training grounds," Tieria stated, waving a dismissive hand, eager to move past the unexpected admission.

Alex's eyes sparkled with renewed eagerness. "The training grounds? You don't mean... he's practicing his magic there, do you?"

Tieria offered a subtle nod. "See for yourself."

Without needing further encouragement, Alex was already in motion.

He navigated the corridors with haste, guided by the distant sounds of exertion and the palpable hum of energy.

Upon entering the training grounds, his jaw visibly slackened.

There stood Merlin, suspended slightly above the ground, his robes billowing as arcs of azure mana swirled dynamically around him.

Facing him were five heavily armored Super Soldiers, each outfitted in the formidable Epic-Grade Tyrant Set.

Their advanced armor provided them with exceptional resistance to magical assaults...

The intense bout was already in full swing.

Merlin raised a hand, unleashing a barrage of brilliant blue bolts that streaked across the battlefield...

These were Magic Missiles, characterized by their unerring accuracy...

Regardless of evasive maneuvers, the projectiles relentlessly pursued their targets.

The Super Soldiers reacted by raising their shields, effectively absorbing the impacts.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Explosive sparks erupted as the ground scorched beneath the missiles' point of impact.

One soldier initiated a charge, commencing a powerful horizontal sweep with his immense blade.

Merlin swiftly sidestepped, his movement defying his age with remarkable agility.

He uttered a single word, and a powerful gust of wind propelled him effortlessly into the air.

For a moment, he hovered, then descended with a burst of lightning that sizzled across the field.

The soldiers staggered but their armor absorbed most of the shock...

Still, the force was undeniable.

"Ha!" Merlin laughed, his voice filled with joy.

"It’s been too long since I’ve felt this alive! Come on!"

Another soldier charged with a spear, thrusting forward.

However, Merlin conjured a dome of mana...

It was Mana Shield!

The weapon struck harmlessly against it. Then, he retaliated with a wave of fire!

Whoom~

The flames roared across the training ground. The soldiers braced as their armor glowed, resisting the blaze. Unfortunately, the heat forced them back.

Alex watched in awe.

The old man wasn’t just casting spells... he was dancing with them, using various elements together with his incredible accuracy...

Soon, he shifted from fire to ice, freezing the ground beneath the soldiers’ feet, then shattered it with a bolt of lightning.

"Hahaha... This is it! This is how to use my Spells!"

He then soared briefly with wings of mana carrying him above their heads... However, it was just for a brief moment, before diving with another barrage of missiles!

The Super Soldiers, however, were no ordinary opponents.

Their Tyrant Sets granted them immense durability, and their training with the Monks allowed them to learn a bit of Aura!

One soldier slammed his shield into the ground, creating a shockwave that disrupted Merlin’s flight. Another hurled a weighted chain, forcing Merlin to dodge mid‑air!

Yet Merlin only laughed louder.

"Excellent! Push me harder!"

The soldiers grinned beneath their helmets.

"What an old man..."

"Masochist..."

"Haha! Bring it on!"

They were enjoying it too. For them, this was more than training... it was a rare chance to test themselves against true magic!

The clash continued, neither side yielding.

Merlin’s spells lit up the grounds in a multitude of colors... There were fireballs exploding, ice shards slicing through the air, bolts of lightning crackling across the field.

The soldiers countered with brute strength, shields raised, blades flashing, plus their coordinated formation!

At one point, Merlin conjured a storm of frost, encasing the soldiers in ice.

For a heartbeat, it seemed he had won.

But then, with a roar, they shattered the prison, their armor glowed as it resisted the chill!

They charged together, forcing Merlin to retreat, his shield was being forced to the limit as he absorbed the blows.

Alex couldn’t tear his eyes away. The old mage moved with grace as his laughter echoed across the grounds.

He wasn’t fighting to win... Without a doubt, he was fighting to feel, to remember what it feels like to be a Mage...

Indeed, as Merlin moved, each spell seemed to stir something within him, fragments of a past he couldn’t quite grasp.

Meanwhile, the soldiers were also exhilarated. They had faced countless enemies, but this was different. Merlin’s magic was unpredictable, vibrant, and seemed alive as they kept following their movements!

Every clash was like a test...

Minutes stretched into an hour with the battle raging like a dance.

Sweat glistened on the soldiers’ brows, with their armor scorched and battered...

Finally, Tieria arrived, watching from the sidelines.

His mechanical eye glowed faintly as he observed.

"See? He’s enjoying himself," Tieria murmured. "And so are they."

Alex glanced at him and nodded... He thought that Tieria was busy but it seemed that he was also curious.

"Commander... I think this is exactly what he needed. Look at him. He’s alive again."

Merlin landed lightly with his mana shield fading, his breath was now steady despite the exertion. He then looked at the soldiers, who saluted him with respect.

"Well fought," Merlin said with a warm voice... "You are strong. Stronger than I imagined."

One soldier chuckled. "And you, old man, are far more dangerous than you look."

Merlin laughed, shaking his head... "Dangerous? No no... I remember now how kind I am..."

The super soldiers just laughed it off...

At this time, Alex stepped forward with a smile. "Sir Merlin! I’m Alex... I brought you gifts from the various high-ranking officers of the Clan..."

Merlin turned. He didn’t recognize Alex, but he seemed like a nice guy.

"Gifts? For me?" He asked.

Alex nodded. "For you. It’s from the clan. You’re one of us now... Ahem, so... would you like to meet with a Necromancer? Actually, he requested a meeting with you."

The question just came out of nowhere...