Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle Chapter 1269: Not Hidden

The journey to the Eclipse Domain took almost three weeks.

Although humanity had reclaimed portions of several highways during the past year, traveling between major shelters was still far from safe. Zombies roamed the forests, even a horde of them continued drifting across abandoned cities, and Vampires occasionally established temporary nests inside ruined towns.

Even experienced Survivor groups couldn’t afford to lower their guard for even a single day.

Fortunately, Rain had prepared well before leaving Little Rock Shelter.

Nearly thirty members of the Silver Crest Clan accompanied him on the expedition.

Most were veteran Survivors who had fought alongside him for years, and with several Mages, Rangers, and close-combat specialists traveling together, their group possessed enough strength to overcome most dangers they encountered along the journey.

Still, by the time the silhouette of the Eclipse Domain finally appeared on the horizon, everyone unconsciously relaxed.

"There it is..."

Rain said as his eyes turned cold.

Even from several kilometers away, he could already tell that the rumors surrounding the Rank One Survivor’s territory had not been exaggerated.

The walls surrounding the shelter were unlike anything he had ever seen.

Rather than being constructed from some normal concrete, he saw enormous metallic walls stretched across the shelter like a true impregnable fortress.

Then, the watchtowers were placed at regular intervals along the perimeter, each occupied by armed sentries scanning the surroundings.

Rain had seen well-defended shelters before... Little Rock Shelter itself wasn’t poorly protected, but compared to what stood before him now...

The difference was obvious.

As their group continued approaching, the surrounding defenses became increasingly elaborate.

Several smaller outposts had been established far beyond the main walls, creating multiple defensive rings around the Eclipse Domain. Every road leading toward the shelter eventually converged at one of these checkpoints, ensuring that nobody could approach the territory unnoticed.

One of the sentries standing atop the outpost spotted them almost immediately.

A signal was raised.

Within moments, several guards emerged from the checkpoint and calmly blocked the road ahead.

"Halt."

The command wasn’t loud, but it made Rain instinctively slow his pace.

His companions did the same.

Rain’s eyes naturally swept across the checkpoint as he evaluated the guards stationed there.

Their equipment alone was enough to surprise him.

The rifles they carried were clearly military-grade weapons unlike the improvised firearms commonly seen in Neutral Shelters, while the armor covering their bodies appeared to have been manufactured as complete sets rather than assembled from salvaged pieces.

However, those weren’t what caught Rain’s attention the most.

Standing silently beside the guards were several humanoid figures made entirely of metal.

Their movements were perfectly synchronized.

Their glowing blue eyes quietly observed every member of the Silver Crest Clan without displaying even the slightest trace of emotion.

Rain’s expression stiffened.

"Warden Units..."

He had only heard stories about them.

Artificial soldiers created by the New Genesis Shelter.

Machines that could fight tirelessly without fear, fatigue, or hesitation.

Rumors claimed they possessed strength comparable to elite Survivors.

Seeing one standing only a few meters away was an entirely different experience.

Rain discreetly counted them...

"Six."

There were six Warden Units stationed at this single checkpoint alone.

The leading guard stepped forward before speaking calmly.

"Welcome to the Eclipse Domain. Routine inspection."

Rain simply nodded.

Every shelter had its own regulations, and considering the reputation of this place, he had no intention of causing unnecessary trouble.

The inspection began immediately.

One after another, the members of the Silver Crest Clan stepped forward while strange metallic devices emitted faint blue light as they scanned each person’s body.

Rain frowned slightly when one of the guards directed the scanner toward him.

"What exactly are you checking for?"

"Zombie Virus."

The guard answered without looking up from the device...

"We’re also scanning for Demonic Corruption, Vampire Blood Contamination, parasitic organisms, and several other known infections."

Rain couldn’t help raising an eyebrow.

"So this thing can detect all of that?"

"It can’t..."

The guards didn’t have to answer but it meant that there was something else scanning them.

The answer came so casually that Rain found himself momentarily speechless.

Back in Little Rock Shelter, infected Survivors were usually identified through observation and repeated medical examinations. Entire quarantine zones had been established because nobody could determine whether someone carried an infection until symptoms finally appeared.

Meanwhile...

The Eclipse Domain had apparently reduced the entire process to a scan that lasted only a few seconds.

No wonder they were willing to allow so many outsiders to enter.

Once the inspection was complete, another guard approached carrying a small metal case.

"Entry fee."

Rain had already heard about this.

Five Zombie Cores per person.

Without complaint, he handed over the required payment for his group.

The guard quickly counted the cores before passing each of them a temporary identification badge or token.

"Visitors are prohibited from causing disturbances within the shelter. Any disputes should be reported to the Security Department."

Rain accepted the badge before nodding.

"I understand."

A loud mechanical rumble echoed throughout the area as the massive gates slowly began opening.

The moment Rain stepped through them...

He felt as though he had entered an entirely different world.

The streets were broad and remarkably clean, with orderly rows of buildings extending as far as he could see.

Shops displaying various materials, enchanted equipment, firearms, mutated herbs, and mechanical devices lined both sides of the road, while Survivors walked through the streets with expressions so relaxed that Rain almost forgot they were living in the middle of the Apocalypse.

What surprised him even more was the level of security.

Patrols constantly moved throughout the streets, but they weren’t composed solely of ordinary guards.

Some wore full-body combat armor that made their mere presence quite intimidating...

Super Soldiers...

Rain recognized them immediately.

Walking beside them were Warden Units, silently patrolling the streets as naturally as human guards.

Humans.

Enhanced humans.

Machines.

The three coexisted as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Then something else caught Rain’s attention.

A young Survivor casually walked past while a massive silver wolf followed obediently at his side.

Nobody looked twice.

Further ahead, a woman carrying groceries chatted with several friends while a Crimson Falcon rested comfortably on her shoulder. Near the marketplace, several children laughed as they chased after a small beast no larger than a puppy, while an enormous bear lay peacefully beside a restaurant, lazily accepting scraps from passing customers.

Rain slowly stopped walking.

"...They don’t hide their pets?"