Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle Chapter 1238: Weird Behavior

[ Void Shard Fragment ( Legendary ): A fragment harvested from the core of a fallen Void Beast.

When embedded into a weapon or equipment:

Grants , a destructive shockwave released upon impact.

Additional effects scale depending on the host equipment.

When used as a forging core, it enables the construction of advanced magical constructs. ]

[ Warning: Unprocessed fragments emit corruptive resonance. Prolonged contact destabilizes weak minds.

Symptoms: hunger, aggression, violent impulses. Process immediately to avoid contamination. ]

He remembered the warning clearly.

The fragment was notorious for corrupting anyone who tried to handle it for too long.

That was why he had entrusted Diana and the fortress smiths with the task.

Hearing that it had been successfully forged into a glove, Shane felt a surge of anticipation.

An item like this could change the tide of battle.

A glove infused with Void Pulse would allow him to channel destructive shockwaves with every strike, amplifying his combat power far beyond normal limits.

Furthermore, this didn’t include the other effects it would have depending on the glove’s materials.

[ Shane: A glove... perfect. ]

[ Shane: Send me the details. I’ll test it myself soon. As for the payment, is it really okay to just assign them five Warden Units as their guards and servants? ]

Apparently, these androids or Warden Units were a highly sought-after commodity in their eyes.

They also get powered or charged easily, either through Power Cores that could be easily found now, thanks to the many Neutral Shelters producing them or through other means like Spirit Stones.

Apparently, a huge batch of them could now use Spirit Stones as batteries thanks to the Elves’ innovation.

[ Diana: Wait? You think that’s not enough! That’s Five Wardens! That’s already a lot! Brother, you’re spoiling them. Do you know how many people in the fortress would kill for even one? ]

She was exaggerating, as no one would really kill for it, but she just wanted her point to come across.

[ Shane: They earned it. Well, I know that processing that shard wasn’t easy. If they can handle Void corruption without losing their minds, I want them motivated. ]

[ Diana: Hah, motivated? They’ll be bragging about having mechanical servants polishing their boots. ]

Diana could already imagine what those five would do if they managed to get one Warden for their own usage.

[ Shane: Better than bragging about going insane. ]

[ Diana: True... but still, you’re too generous. You always hand out rewards like candy. ]

[ Shane: And you always complain... Haha... Just let it be. ]

[ Diana: Haaa... It’s because someone has to keep you grounded. You’re the Lord, but you forget that resources aren’t infinite. ]

[ Shane: Resources can be replenished. Skilled smiths who can stabilize Void Shards? That’s rare. I think I will be finding more of them soon. ]

[ Diana: ...Fine. You win. But next time, I’m charging you extra. ]

[ Shane: Extra? You’re my sister. I thought family discounts were a thing. ]

[ Diana: Family discounts? Please. You’re lucky we didn’t demand ten Wardens. ]

[ Shane: ...Noted. ]

Shane chuckled as he finally closed the window...

Diana’s sharp tongue hadn’t changed, but her efficiency was unmatched.

The Void Shard Glove was finally his... an item of equipment that might be really helpful...

With Fiona’s vigilance, Diana’s resourcefulness, and his own many soldiers, Shane felt secure.

The Fairy Queen might be plotting something as the elves whispered prayers, but with Void power in his hands and Super Soldiers at his back, his dominion was unshaken.

***

Shane finally closed the interface of his Skill Fusion system late into the night.

The process had taken hours... carefully dismantling redundant skills, fusing compatible ones, and basically resetting his collection until every slot felt optimized.

Shadow Step had been merged with Armored Dash, creating a hybrid movement skill that gave him both speed and evasive bursts.

Other combinations had been refined as well, leaving him with a leaner, sharper arsenal.

By the time he was finished, his mind was exhausted but satisfied.

The next morning, he decided to take a different kind of step.

Rather than diving into another battle or system adjustment, Shane reached for his Legendary Mask.

The artifact shimmered in his hands, its surface rippling like liquid shadow.

"I should check what’s really going on..."

With a thought, his features shifted, his aura dimmed, and his presence became someone else entirely. The mask didn’t just hide his face... it cloaked his identity, altering his voice, posture, and even the subtle resonance of his mana.

"Time to see for myself," he muttered.

He had read Fiona’s reports, listened to various strange incidents, and checked loyalty percentages through his Territory Lord Talent. But numbers and words weren’t enough. He wanted to observe the elves directly, without them knowing their lord was watching.

Disguised, Shane walked through the bustling corridors of Blue Haven Shelter.

"Mhmm..."

There seemed to be a new Merchant Caravan that had entered the shelter.

It was definitely a good thing to have more supplies...

Yet his eyes were fixed on the elves. They moved quite differently indeed.

However, it wasn’t really that surprising...

Shane then drifted closer, unnoticed, watching as a group of elves repeated sword drills until sweat poured down their faces.

Not one hesitated.

Another cluster of healers chanted in perfect harmony, their mana weaving into flawless patterns.

Even the smiths hammered with rhythm as they continued working harder.

Shane’s disguised eyes squinted... Fiona had been right... They were different. They were now stronger and more focused.

Yet he sensed no rebellion, no malice.

Their loyalty to him remained intact, but if he were to guess, their devotion was already directed elsewhere...

Soon, Shane realized something as he couldn’t help but lean against a wall... For now, he had to come up with countermeasures...

Then, as he was walking around, he heard the two elves whisper in a nearby tree...

Shane heard their conversation, and just like that, he pieced the information together.

"The Queen will make her move soon," one murmured. "We must be ready."