Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle Chapter 1223: The Mysterious Shelter

The crowd held its breath as Marlon landed lightly after being attacked by Hanes, who had been winning using a single move so far...

He was fast, precise, and lethal... He truly was the Silent Fang, and he lived up to his reputation. Hanes then flexed his shoulders as he remained calm, waiting for the next strike.

"Hmph..."

Marlon charged forward again, as he used his hands like a knife!

Still, Hanes blocked one, then another, with his forearms absorbing the blows.

The third strike slipped past, grazing his cheek, but Hanes didn’t flinch. He stepped in close, using his size and strength to press Marlon back.

Thud!

The crowd gasped as the two collided, Marlon tried to escape, but Hanes caught his arm before he was able to...

Ha!

With a sudden turn, he slammed Marlon into the ground.

Bam!

The impact echoed across the arena, the protection around it started glowing to absorb the shock.

"Whoa! He floored Marlon!"

"No one’s ever thrown him like that!"

"So that unknown Hanes is the winner."

"It’s not yet over!"

Marlon rolled to his feet instantly, and his movements remained fluid as if he was unaffected.

However, there was definitely blood on his nose!

But he didn’t dare rest as his leg whipped toward Hanes’ ribs.

Hanes braced, absorbing the strike, then countered with a push that sent Marlon sliding backward.

The Silent Fang didn’t feel pain from that as it was only a push... However, he felt humiliated by that basic move and charged again!

This time, his fists hammered against Hanes’ guard, each strike faster than the last.

But Hanes endured, his body easily absorbed the punishment.

Then, with perfect timing, he stepped forward and drove his shoulder into Marlon’s chest.

Thud!

The force lifted Marlon off his feet. He crashed into the barrier and just like that, the match was over!

The crowd cheered at the sight!

"He sent him flying!"

"Marlon’s done!"

Marlon tried to rise, but his legs buckled... and soon, the announcer raised his hand. "Winner... Hanes!"

"Well... He’s an assassin. He relies on his dagger as his main weapon. It’s not really surprising."

"That’s true. He should be proud to reach this stage without a weapon or poison."

"Good match!"

"Well done, Marlon! You did great!"

The arena shook with cheers as Hanes’ injury closed immediately. It meant that he had a Skill that allowed him to regenerate so quickly.

Now that he had defeated Marlon the Silent Fang with nothing but physical skill, he felt more confident to win the tournament.

Just like that, by the end of the day, the top eight were confirmed.

Butcher Bae, the Zombie King slayer.

Neri of the Nightblade Clan, assassin of Vampire Counts.

Daymos Stormbreaker, the wyvern breaker.

Korrin the Bone‑Eater, survivor of Vampire Knight duels.

Ronan the Iron Monk, who fought bare‑handed against a Zombie Lord.

Maribel of New Haven, who burned through a vampire coven.

Hanes, the quiet newcomer who had advanced with ease.

Asad, the mysterious fighter whose effortless victories stunned the crowd.

The announcer declared that tomorrow, the quarterfinals would begin.

This time, all matches would be held in the same massive arena, one after another, so the crowd could witness every clash.

***

After the announcement, the eight were escorted from the arena to a nearby mansion reserved for finalists.

The building was grand, obviously to impress the top eight.

Furthermore, there were servants ready as they bowed to the fighters. Soon, they guided them to their rooms.

Each chamber was luxurious... soft beds, steaming bathwater, fresh clothing, and trays of food prepared by skilled cooks.

Servants were assigned to each fighter, ready to assist with whatever they needed.

Of course, most of them weren’t unfamiliar with this luxury. However, they were all still happy to receive such treatment after a long day...

No cold nights, no simple meals, and no fear of sudden attacks.

The mansion just gave them warmth, safety, and rest.

Nonetheless, though they could have eaten alone, all eight chose to gather in the dining hall.

The long table was set with roasted meats, fresh bread, fruits, and wine.

The atmosphere was surprisingly relaxed.

Hanes sat quietly, expecting some tension, perhaps hostility.

But instead, the others were calm, even cheerful.

"Interesting..." Hanes muttered.

Butcher Bae laughed loudly, tearing into a leg of meat.

"Permanent residency guaranteed! I don’t care if I win tomorrow... I’ve already got what I wanted!"

Neri smirked, sipping her wine. "Haha! That’s true! Top three? No thanks. That sounds like a burden. The Lord will probably give some impossible quest. I’d rather stay in the middle and enjoy my residency."

Hanes finally understood. They didn’t care about the Gate Stones like him. They were here to be truly part of the shelter.

After all, temporary residency costs a lot of Zombie Cores to be paid. But with the permanent residency, they would no longer have to pay exorbitant taxes.

Daymos Stormbreaker nodded. "She’s right. The rewards are tempting, but the requests tied to them... they’ll be heavy. I’ve fought armies before, but I don’t want to be chained to a duty I didn’t choose."

Ronan the Iron Monk was silent for a while, but in the end, he still nodded...

"The Lord seeks something specific. This tournament is physical only... no weapons, no armies, no destructive magic. That means the quest ahead requires raw strength. Whoever takes first place will be asked to face something that cannot be fought with tricks or spells. You should probably let me win this time."

The monk had a point since he was probably the best candidate for any physical task.

However, Maribel leaned back, her talismans glowing faintly at her side. "I don’t mind if you managed to win... For me, being in the top eight is already enough. Residency, protection, food... that’s more than most survivors ever dream of."

Korrin chuckled darkly while gnawing on a bone. "You guys are all interesting... Well, it’s a good thing you’re all not interested."

Asad sat quietly as well. He ate slowly, listening but not speaking much.

Hanes was quite similar. He watched him from across the table, wondering if Asad recognized him. However, it seemed that Asad was completely clueless.

Still, the conversation flowed easily...

Despite their reputations, the fighters were human here, also enjoying food and comfort.

Hanes even had an urge to recruit them into his Clan. However, they seemed to be too comfortable living in their current situation, so he decided to put it off for now.

As the night wore on, the eight finished their meal.

Some retired to their rooms, others lingered to talk.

Hanes also returned to his chamber, lying on the soft bed, staring at the ceiling.

Hanes mused as he didn’t want to trick Asad for too long.

***

The next day quickly passed.

The quarterfinals of the Martial Arts Tournament were about to begin, and the massive arena was already filled with spectators

Still, before the matches could start, the Clan Leader herself arrived.

Galatea, the leader of the Celestial Circle Clan, stepped onto the platform.

Her presence immediately silenced the crowd...

She raised her hand, and spoke to the people...

"Warriors, survivors, and challengers... today, you fight not only for rewards but for honor. Prove your strength, and you will be rewarded!"

The crowd roared in response, but before the first battle could begin, Daymos Stormbreaker versus Butcher Bae, the alarm suddenly blared.

A guard rushed forward, shouting, "Daywalker Vampires! They’re outside the shelter!"

Chaos rippled through the crowd.

Survivors were tense, but the Celestial Circle Clan moved swiftly.

The walls suddenly, and soon, a mysterious fog enveloped the entire shelter. It was not the gray fog of concealment that Hanes had heard about before — this was different, thicker, humming with strange energy.

Hanes felt the ground shift beneath his feet.

His senses noticed the changes in the air itself that seemed to warp. Then, in an instant, the sensation passed. He looked around, realizing the truth... their location had changed.

"The rumor... it’s true," Hanes muttered. "This shelter can move."

The people who also experienced this the first time were stunned, whispering in disbelief.

The Celestial Circle Clan had revealed their greatest secret... the ability to relocate the entire settlement to avoid danger.

Galatea raised her voice again...

"Foreign survivors, hear me well. What you have witnessed must never be spoken of outside these walls. This shelter can only accommodate a limited number of people. If word spreads, countless survivors will try to force their way in. We would be left with no choice but to remove residents to make space. Do not betray the trust you have been given."

Of course, no one wanted to be sent away from this shelter, so almost everyone nodded solemnly.

Just like that, the survivors swore not to divulge the secret.

Soon, Galatea lowered her hand.

"Good. Then let us continue. The tournament resumes. Daymos Stormbreaker versus Butcher Bae... step forward!"