Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle Chapter 1216: Travis’s Troubles

Ragnar noticed their eyes fix on the last wagons of the train, where cages rattled with the movements of captured low‑tier zombies.

Alex was in disbelief after seeing that... "What... are those for?"

Ragnar’s expression brightened as his tone carried pride. "Experimentation and utility. Travis ordered that we capture weaker zombies instead of wasting them. Some are used for alchemical research... extracting fluids, testing repellents, and studying mutations... Others are harnessed for labor. Their bodies are durable, and with the right restraints, they can haul steel or push carts. Dangerous, but efficient."

Before any of them could comment on that, he immediately added...

"Do you know the Zombie Repellant Candle? It works well against the Low-Tier Zombies, but even if you upgrade them, they can only repel Mid-Tier Zombies for a short duration. Any further upgrade would break them completely... However, our Zombie Repellent Perfume works perfectly against Low-Tier and Mid-Tier Zombies, lasting for 6 hours for each usage! It’s all thanks to our experiments!"

Merlin’s brows furrowed. "You’re turning the plague into a resource... That’s incredible."

Ragnar nodded. "Haha... We have some talented people here... We don’t just fight the apocalypse... we adapt to it since we don’t know when we can end this at all."

After that, he turned to the train again and satisfied their curiosity.

"The Vanguard Train hauls crude oil, steel, and food, but these wagons will always bring us zombies. Travis also believes that if we find a better way to control the lesser undead, we can weaken the Lords’ influence. Imagine turning their own army against them."

Shane nodded as he liked their idea of fighting against the Apocalypse.

While he was thinking of ending the Apocalypse through the help of past life’s memories and through the mystery of the Gray Fog, he liked how the others were adapting really well and doing their own thing to survive...

"It’s risky, but that’s impressive."

Ragnar gave a grim smile. "Every expansion of the tracks requires clearing miles of undead. Workers die. Supplies vanish. But with these captives, we learn how to repel, restrain, and maybe even redirect them. It’s not just transport... It’s survival through innovation."

He said this proudly, and he certainly should. This was a huge project...

As a matter of fact, Shane was only doing road construction projects with his people. It was quite impressive that they were doing train tracks instead.

"It must be hard to protect it... Those repellents must be costing you a lot."

"Ahhh... Thankfully, they’re cheap to make, so there’s no need to worry about that."

At this point, the train’s whistle echoed again, the cages rattling as the zombies snarled at the Survivors nearby...

***

As Shane, Merlin, and Alex followed Ragnar deeper into the Vanguard Fortress, the sheer scale of the shelter immediately impressed them...

The streets were lined with sturdy buildings.

There were workshops, warehouses, and barracks... all reinforced with steel plating to defend from acid spit of the Spitter Zombies or other attacks.

Furthermore, smoke rose from chimneys where crude‑oil engines powered forges and generators. The fortress was definitely not losing out, even if compared to Eclipse Domain.

Along the walls, defensive weapons dominated the view.

"Whoa..."

"That’s a lot... No wonder it can survive against Zombie Lords..."

They saw numerous heavy cannons mounted at intervals with their barrels angled outward toward the plains.

Machine guns were positioned on rotating turrets, ready to unleash suppressive fire at any horde that dared approach.

Most striking of all were the flamethrower emplacements... several dozen of them were also positioned to defend the shelter...

Well, with their abundant crude oil, it was no surprise that the Vanguard Clan had invested heavily in firepower. The scent of fuel lingered in the air and it wasn’t as uncomfortable as Shane and the others thought...

Still, Alex couldn’t help but feel impressed.

"They’re prepared for war..."

Merlin nodded...

"Fire is the most reliable weapon against the plague."

Shane simply observed, enthralled by the sheer coordination.

Yet what caught them off guard wasn’t the weapons, but the creatures.

"What?"

As they moved through the streets, they noticed survivors walking with pets and beasts at their sides. Wolves padded alongside hunters, their eyes were also strange, as if they had minor mutations. Birds of prey perched on armored shoulders, trained to scout the skies. Even reptilian creatures like lizards and scaled hounds slithered or stalked beside their handlers.

Ragnar grinned at their surprise.

"Right... We have some incredible handlers of pets here... A hundred percent success rate. It only happened after he reached Level 60 though...

"We don’t just rely on steel and fire. Our people tame what they can. Pets, companions, even mutated beasts if they’re manageable. They serve as scouts, guards, and just morale boosters if they’re cute. Travis believes that bonds with creatures make us stronger."

Here, Shane realized Travis’ influence... That guy was definitely hands-on when he was taking care of his shelter and Clan.

Shane watched as some children played with smaller animals in the courtyards, while soldiers marched with disciplined hounds at their heels.

Shane’s lips curved into a faint smile.

"Impressive. You’ve built more than a fortress of war... you’ve built a community."

***

Soon, the group stopped near the central keep of the Vanguard Fortress. Ragnar then led Shane, Merlin, and Alex through the bustling compound until they reached a tall iron‑reinforced building. Inside, they immediately smelled the roasted meat...

It seemed that Travis’s office was more than just a command center... it was a place where guests were treated with respect.

The guards saluted as they entered, and Travis himself stood waiting.

Unlike the clone Shane had interacted with countless times, this was the original ma... Broad‑shouldered, tired eyes, but still radiating authority. His smile was genuine as he clasped Shane’s forearm.

"Brother. Finally, face to face." Travis said.

Shane returned the gesture with a grin. "Feels strange. I’ve spoken to you so many times, but only through your clone. Still, it’s good to meet the real one."

Travis chuckled. "The clone is me, with all my memories. But yes, there’s something different about standing here in person."

He gestured for them to sit.

Servants brought trays of food... roasted meat, bread, and vegetables grown in the fortress gardens.

Kai recognized some of these servants as actually slaves from the Auction Realm before...

Nonetheless, he didn’t dwell on it as he watched Alex dig in eagerly, while Merlin sampled the dishes with quietlu...

Shane also ate sparingly, but he noticed that Travis seemed to have a lot in his mind.

For a while, the conversation was light. They spoke of trade routes, the progress of the train project, and the growing strength of both clans. But soon, Travis’s expression hardened, and he spoke weakly...

"Your arrival here is actually perfect," he said. "I think we need to send away a dragon... or else, my secondary supply of crude oil will disappear."

Shane’s eyes narrowed. "A dragon?"

Travis nodded grimly. "Yes. One has decided to nest near the oil fields. It’s not attacking yet, but its presence alone is enough to disrupt operations. Workers are terrified. The pumps are slowing. If it claims the territory, we’ll lose access to half our reserves."

That wasn’t good at all since Shane was relying on his oil for a lot of his operations, including the Mech Projects, the Warden Project and others...

Merlin frowned. "Dragons are territorial. Once they settle, they rarely leave."

Shane nodded as he had Dragon Recruitment Stones... He knew it very well.

Travis tapped the table. "Exactly. That’s why we need to act now. Either drive it away or negotiate something. But if we do nothing, the crude oil supply vanishes... and without oil, the train, the flamethrowers, the engines... all of it collapses."

Alex swallowed hard. "So you’re saying... the fortress itself could weaken? But I heard you have a Dragon Blood"

Travis nodded. "We built this place on oil... Losing that field would cripple us. As for my Dragon Blood, it’s useless unless I transform into a real dragon, which isn’t exactly what I want since I will have trouble returning to normal..."

"Mhmm? You can get stuck as a Dragon?" Shane asked, and Travis nodded to confirm...

Shane leaned back, considering.

He remembered Sasha, the dragon he had just fought. Dragons weren’t mindless beasts... they had pride, curiosity, and sometimes even reason.

"Do you know what kind of dragon it is?"

Travis’s eyes narrowed. "Reports say it’s fire‑aligned. Large, crimson scales. It circles the oil fields at dusk, then lands near the pumping stations. It hasn’t destroyed anything yet, but the men swear it’s marking the territory."

Merlin’s staff pulsed faintly. "If it’s fire‑aligned, it may be drawn to the heat of the crude oil itself. The essence of flame resonates with such creatures."

Travis sighed. "That makes sense. But sense doesn’t solve the problem. We need a plan. I need your help... I’ll be generous with the reward if you help me..."