Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle Chapter 1208: The End of the Duel and the Army

Merlin descended from the air, his staff cancelling the storm above...

He stood before Shane with his eyes fixed on the Bio‑Armor on his body...

"This armor... it is remarkable," Merlin said, voice filled with curiosity. "But it is raw and imperfect. It adapts well, but without guidance, it may consume more than it gives."

Shane tilted his head. "You think you can refine it?"

Shane asked while looking at the World Tree Staff in Merlin’s hands.

Without a doubt, it was the staff he ordered to be given to the old mage. After all, that would help him increase the man’s trust and loyalty to his shelter.

Anyway, with this staff in hand, a traditional mage like Merlin would be able to bring out its full might, unlike him and other foreign Survivors.

If Merlin said he could actually refine his Bio-Armor, he wouldn’t doubt it at all.

Merlin nodded. "I can channel elemental resonance into its core. Fire, lightning, and spirit energy woven together. It will learn faster, strengthen faster, and perhaps even shield your mind against sound‑based attacks."

Shane’s eyes widened. "You can do that?"

Merlin raised his staff and decided to act instead of answering...

"Stand still. This will sting."

"Wait... Shouldn’t I remove this first? Are you going to refine it while I’m still---"

He couldn’t even finish his sentence as Merlin finished his casting!

Shane braced himself.

Anyway, Shane was not feeling it...

The Bio‑Armor rippled as Merlin extended his hand, channeling pure elemental mana into the plates. Flames licked across the armor, lightning danced along its edges, and spectral chains wrapped around it briefly before fading!

"Whoa~"

The armor actually absorbed it all, trembling as though alive.

Alex gasped. "Master, you’re feeding it your magic?"

He couldn’t help but watch in awe as his master showed him something absurd.

Perhaps, if he could learn this trick, he could find another source of income!

"Maybe I can become an Enchanter if I learn that..." Alex muttered.

Meanwhile, Merlin’s voice remained calm. "I’m not feeding it. It’s an enchantment that teaches this Bio-Armor what to do. This construct learns by exposure. I am accelerating its lessons."

The Bio‑Armor pulsed brighter, its sheen was shifting from dull steel to a faint iridescence.

Soon, Merlin was done.

"Check it out..."

"Let’s see..."

Shane flexed his arm, feeling the difference immediately.

The armor was lighter, yet stronger, and his movements flowed more naturally.

"It feels... incredible," Shane muttered. "Like it’s part of me, not just covering me."

Merlin lowered his staff, satisfied with the result. "Good. Now, let us see how the improved armor fares in battle."

Shane grinned, raising his sword. "Oh? Round two, then."

***

Just like that, they fought once again!

Merlin lifted his staff once more, eyes gleaming. "Prepare yourself."

Shane nodded as he decided to rely heavily on his Bio‑Armor this time...

In any case, it had already adapted to the mana that still lingered in the air.

Soon, he dashed forward with Armored Dash...

Boom!

The ground cracked beneath his boots as Merlin countered instantly, conjuring a Lightning Spear that shot toward him.

"Dodge this if you can!"

"I don’t have to!"

Shane then raised his blade, invoking Telekinetic Storm.

The spear shattered mid‑air, fragments of lightning dispersing harmlessly. He followed with Phantasm Rush, his figure splitting into three illusions that surrounded Merlin!

"Oh..."

Merlin was impressed. "That’s better... I’ll increase my strength by another notch. Be careful."

He then spun his staff, unleashing a Flame Cyclone that engulfed all three images. Two phantoms vanished, but the real Shane burst through the fire... From this, his Bio‑Armor glowed as it absorbed the heat.

"Not bad," Shane muttered, swinging in a Vortex Spin.

His blade whirled like a storm, forcing Merlin to raise a Barrier of Sparks.

The clash sent shockwaves across the field, shocking all the onlookers.

Alex shielded his eyes, awestruck. "They’re shaking the entire shelter!"

Merlin pushed Shane back with a surge of lightning, but Shane countered with Spirit Shackles. These ethereal chains lashed out to bind Merlin’s arms.

Merlin then broke them with a burst of fire, yet the delay gave Shane an opening.

He attacked once more with Soul Rend, his sword glowing with spectral energy.

This move supposedly targets the opponent’s soul directly, but Merlin’s staff met the strike!

It was the power of the World Tree’s branch!

Furthermore, that attack was supposed to push back Shane as well, but he actually held strong.

"You’ve grown sharper already. The armor is resonating with you."

Shane grinned. "Then let’s push it further!"

He activated Adrenal Burst, his speed spiking. He chained Silent Execution with Double Thrust, his strikes blurring into a deadly rhythm.

Merlin parried each blow as he also started smiling during the fight!

He was enjoying this!

"You fight like a warrior, not a mage... You’re not using your Mana really well."

Still, Merlin didn’t think that Shane was wasting his potential. As a matter of fact, he was impressed with how he managed to balance all of his abilities.

Shane then leapt back, raising his sword high.

"Energy Wave!" A blast of raw force erupted, tearing across the field!

Merlin countered with Thunderclap, the two forces colliding in a deafening explosion.

Boom!

The shockwave rattled the walls, forcing Alex to stumble.

"This isn’t sparring anymore... Wait... It might get dangerous... Master, Sir Shane!"

Merlin hovered above as he still wanted to continue.

"Then let us end this round properly." He raised his staff, summoning both fire and lightning together. A storm of flame and thunder swirled into a single devastating sphere.

Shane’s Bio‑Armor pulsed as he it was ready to take the hit!

However, he also invoked Aura Sentinel, his body glowing with protective light. "Come on then!"

Merlin hurled the sphere downward.

Shane met it head‑on... Even his sword glowed with Force Breaker!

With this Survivor Skill, he was confident to break Merlin’s attack!

As expected, the impact shook the ground, flames and lightning scattering in all directions.

For a moment, the courtyard was consumed by chaos.

When the smoke cleared, Shane stood firm, and his Bio‑Armor was still there...

Merlin hovered above, and this time, his expression was one of respect.

"You endured it," Merlin said softly. "Your armor... and you Skills. They’re incredible."

Shane exhaled, sweat dripping down his brow, but his grin remained.

"Guess you’ll have to try harder next time."

Merlin chuckled. "Perhaps. But for now, this round is yours."

Alex rushed forward, eyes wide. "That was incredible! Master, Shane... You both nearly destroyed the shelter!"

Merlin shook his head. "No. We restrained ourselves. But did you learn anything?"

"Ahem... I think so. I learned that escaping from people at your same level is the best choice." Alex said with a laugh.

Shane could only shake his head, and just like that, the three of them decided that it was enough and returned to the Soft Bread Shelter.

"You’re still not recalling anything about me?" Shane asked as they walked towards a nearby tea shop...

"Mhmm... It’s hard. However, it’s not really surprising if you’re really my Grandson. We have the same eyes after all." Merlin said with a laugh...

Soon, as Shane was about to change the topic and ask Merlin about the spells he could use, he noticed a rat running towards him...

"Fiona?" Shane muttered.

As soon as the rat had gotten closer, Fiona was indeed calling for him... It was through a strange telepathy used by the rat.

"Shane! I’ve been trying to contact you through the chat. Are you busy?! Anyway, there’s a Dragon Army heading towards your location!"

"What?" Shane frowned as he heard this.

"Did you provoke them? Maybe you did something to attract them? I’ve been following their movements for a few days, and they were heading to a Neutral Shelter. However, they suddenly changed their direction, heading towards your location."

"Ahhh? What? Did they get attracted by our battle?" Shane muttered. After all, that was the only reason he could think of. Perhaps, they sensed their mana and thought of checking out their place.

***

Meanwhile, one of the rats Fiona had sent scurried across the darkened plains, its tiny body weaving through grass and rubble.

Though small, its senses were at their peak, and through Fiona’s control, it carried her awareness forward.

Thanks to this rat, they confirmed that in three hours, the Dragon Army would reach the outskirts of Soft Bread Shelter. Aside from that, it had seen enough to send shivers down her spine.

From a hill overlooking the valley, the rat paused.

Below, the Dragon Army stretched across the land...

There were Lizardmen, Fire Salamanders, Lamias, Wyverns, Manticores, Drakes, Trolls, Ogres, and at the farthest back were the two Dark Elves!

Without a doubt, these two were the commanders... Fiona even noticed their eyes glowing faintly as if they could monitor the movement of the whole army through such eyes.

Still, Fiona needed more information, so the rat moved closer using various skills.

Because of that, they learned more about the Army’s strength and of course... their weaknesses!