Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle Chapter 1193: The Outside and The Dark

Because of the upcoming winter, the road beyond the Omega Stronghold stretched into misty hills and foggy plains...

Still, it wasn’t a big inconvenience for Mages...

Merlin walked with his staff in his hand, while using his Mana Sense to scan the horizon without relying on what his eyes could see. After all, they had a limited field of view with the mist around them.

Alex, on the other hand, followed close behind. His pack was heavy with supplies since he didn’t want to rely too much on his System Inventory, as it could be too slow to operate.

Anyway, their journey had three purposes.

First, it was for Merlin to explore the land in hopes of regaining fragments of his lost memories.

Then, he also wanted to learn more about the world he had entered, and lastly, to ensure Alex’s training continued without compromise.

Merlin could not recall much of his past, but one thing remained clear in his mind... as a high‑ranking mage, his apprentices had always been strong.

He would not allow Alex to be a failure. His name was on the line, even if his memories were not.

As they traveled, the path was far from safe. Giant Zombies roamed the wilderness...

Their huge bodies were destroying the roads and trees as they passed across plains.

Merlin and Alex encountered them often, and each time, Merlin’s command of the elements reduced them to ash. Lightning bolts shattered their skulls, firestorms consumed their rotting flesh, and torrents of water drowned their staggering bodies.

Alex assisted when ordered, but Merlin often handled the larger threats alone, since he was also experimenting with his Spells.

He wanted to create new spells and testing them against powerful Zombies was definitely one of the best options out there.

Yet Merlin was strict.

One evening, as they crossed a ravaged village, a Licker Zombie crawled from the shadows, its elongated tongue whipped on the ground!

Thud!

Merlin raised his staff but stopped himself. He turned to Alex.

"This one is yours," he said firmly. "No Survivor Skills. Only magic. If you are to be my student, you must rely on spells."

Alex’s eyes widened. "But Master--"

"No excuses. Just fight!"

Alex wanted to complain more since he hadn’t equipped his Battle Gear just yet, and furthermore, he couldn’t use his other Skills.

However, the Licker didn’t give him the time to complain.

The Licker charged with its tongue, hoping to entangle Alex...

However, Alex steadied himself, channeling mana through his veins.

He raised his hands, forming a crude barrier of flame.

WHoosh~

The creature seemed to have a little bit of intelligence as it recoiled from the flame... However, that seemed to be only an instinct since the Zombie pressed forward again.

Alex then put some more distance as he gathered his mana to form a bolt of lightning!

"Take this!"

Bzzt!

It struck the Licker’s chest, staggering it.

However, it wasn’t enough. The two of them continued to fight without a winner!

The battle was tense.

Alex’s spells were clumsy, his control was imperfect, but he was determined to succeed!

"Ugh... Why are you so tough?! Just die already!"

He conjured shards of ice, piercing the creature’s limbs...

Then, as soon as he found an opportunity, he finished with a surge of wind that hurled it against a wall.

Thud!

Finally, the Licker collapsed, twitching, before dissolving into silence.

Breathing hard, Alex turned back. He wanted to brag about how he defeated the high rank Zombie without using other Skills and only relying on the basic ones!

However, as soon as h saw his master, he froze.

"W-what?"

Merlin was already standing calmly atop a mound of undead corpses. They were zombies that had dared to attack his master while he was busy fighting.

The old mage had destroyed them all without breaking a sweat.

Alex swallowed, realizing the gulf between them.

Merlin’s eyes softened and noddd... "You did well. But you must be faster and stronger. Magic is not forgiving."

"Yes, Master!" He answered.

At this time, days passed in this rhythm.

Each encounter became a lesson. Alex fought lesser zombies alone, honing his spells, while Merlin handled swarms and abominations.

Together, they carved a path through the wilderness, their bond of master and apprentice growing stronger.

On the fourth day, they reached the outskirts of a Neutral Shelter that was on the map....

Its walls were modest, but it was still about 3 meters high with several watch towers around... Its banners marked with no clan insignia...

For weary travelers, it was a place of rest, food, and safety. Alex’s face lit up at the sight. "Finally... a place to rest."

But as they approached, a figure stepped into their path.

This figure was cloaked and hooded.

"Hey..." Alex said as the stranger blocked the road with deliberate silence.

Merlin’s eyes narrowed. He studied the figure, not recognizing the face, but something deeper stirred in him. The aura, the presence... it was unmistakable.

"What’s a Dark Elf doing here?" Merlin asked, his voice low.

The hooded figure stiffened, her expression hardened.

She pulled back her hood just enough to reveal sharp features, her eyes glowing faintly with arcane light.

"You really lost your memories..." she muttered, her tone carrying both disbelief and sorrow.

Alex glanced between them, confused. "Master... you know her?"

Merlin’s grip tightened on his staff. He didn’t know her name, but he knew her race.

The recognition was instinctive, buried in the fragments of his forgotten past. Dark Elves were rare, powerful, and often tied to ancient conflicts.

He was also unsure about his connection with the elves...

The woman’s frown deepened. "You don’t remember me. You don’t remember what we fought for. That’s... troubling."

The air grew tense. Alex felt the weight of her words...

There were definitely some troubles brought by Merlin’s past. However, it was far more complicated than he had imagined. Merlin’s silence confirmed it.

The Neutral Shelter was just behind her, but the path forward was blocked. The Dark Elf’s presence was no coincidence. She had been waiting for their arrival.

"So... What do you want? Why are you blocking our path?" Merlin said.

At this time, the Dark Elf didn’t answer, unsure why Merlin couldn’t recall them. She was obviously trying to process this information.

Sigh~

In the end, the Dark Elf could only shake her head.

Merlin knew she was disappointed, but there was nothing he could do.

He lost memories. There were only fragments of battles, allies, and enemies he had had before. He couldn’t recall details, but he knew one thing... this meeting was no accident.

Alex whispered, "Master... what do we do?"

Merlin’s eyes locked on the Dark Elf before answering... "We can just ignore her... Look, the shelter’s open for us... Let’s go."

The Dark Elf’s gaze lingered on him as they left her sight... "I will remind you... of who you once were."

***

Raze had reached the Little Rock Shelter earlier than Merlin and Alex.

Her dragon, Roan, was just on her right arm’s tattoo at the moment.

Nonetheless, the place was quite safe with its guards wary all the time, but not hostile.

From her vantage point near one of the watchtowers, she caught sight of the encounter unfolding at the road.

Merlin stood with his apprentice, Alex, facing a hooded figure.

Even from a distance, Raze recognized the aura... a mystical Elf.

The standoff seemed dangerous, yet no battle erupted. Instead, she saw Merlin and Alex pass through the gates without issue, leaving the Dark Elf behind.

Raze exhaled as she felt that she had seen enough.

"Good... no need to step in," she muttered.

Soon after, she settled into one of the shelter’s small taverns.

Her noodles arrived steaming hot, and she tied her red hair into a ponytail before digging in....

"Nice..."

The warmth of the broth was comforting after days of travel.

When the bowl was empty, she patted her belly, satisfied.

This time, they opened her Clan Chat Window. A familiar conversation thread appeared.

[ Shane: If it’s really my Grandpa Merlin... Please take care of him until I return. ]

[ Raze: Got it! ]

She tapped the interface, sending another message.

[ Raze: I saw him just now. He looks strong, but... I’m not sure if he’s the same man you described. Anyway, he met with the Dark Elf. ]

[ Shane: I see... It’s a pity his memories are fragmented. Maybe he’s just not the same as before, but if even he’s not Grandpa Merlin, it’s okay. ]

[ Raze: Got it. Alex is with him. The kid’s clumsy but determined. Merlin’s training him hard. ]

[ Shane: Haha! So he’s a full-pledged mage now. Good ]

[ Raze: Should I stay close? Or keep my distance? ]

[ Shane: Stay close enough to watch, but don’t interfere unless necessary. Merlin can just walk his own path. ]

[ Raze: Understood. I’ll shadow them from here. ]

Raze closed the window.

She had seen the way Merlin carried himself even when faced with the Dark Elf...

"Memories lost... but strength remained the same, huh," Raze whispered. She then rose from her seat and adjusted her cloak...

At the same time, she suddenly felt nervous. A powerful figure seemed to be observing her every move!