Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle Chapter 4: Assistant

[ You have attained 2 Exp Points for concluding your exploration. ]

[ Alert: Exiting the Springriver Manor perimeter will result in the loss of your Beginner Protection. ]

[ Remaining Time: 70:55:10 ]

"So earning experience points is this straightforward, huh?" Shane whispered, interrupted by a flurry of new notifications.

[ You have finished exploring this zone. ]

[ Your Territory Lord talent has triggered. ]

[ You have the option to claim this region as your private territory. ]

[ Do you wish to assume control of this land? ]

[ Yes ] [ No ]

Shane knitted his brows while staring at the fresh prompts. While he had anticipated his Territory Lord talent would eventually manifest, he lacked any idea of the actual method.

It surprised him how effortlessly it triggered; he had braced himself for complex requirements like drafting maps or calculating exact dimensions to stake his claim.

"Yes..."

He committed to the claim without a moment of hesitation.

Considering his complete lack of a map and the uncertainty of finding another location, securing this spot was the only logical course of action. The entire area was veiled in thick fog, leaving him dependent on the faint glow of scattered objects to navigate.

Furthermore, the virtual screen warned that once his beginner protection expired, zombies would emerge, culminating in a full-scale Zombie Wave after one week.

The system suggested fleeing the waves, but Shane lacked a destination. Where could he possibly run?

This realization forced him to conclude that he must hold his ground and defend his position. If the strategy faltered, he might then look into desperate escape tactics to endure the wave, or perhaps...

"I suppose a bunker is in order," Shane muttered as the final sequence of notifications flooded his view.

[ Congratulations! You now possess the Springriver Manor, a former bastion of prosperity. ]

[ Territorial Information: Infrastructure: 1 Manor House ( 35% ), 1 Church ( 60% ), 1 Warehouse ( 75% ), 1 Granary ( 74% ), 1 Mill ( 72% ), 1 Smithy ( 65% ), 1 Marketplace ( 79% ), 1 Stable ( 80% ), 5 Serf's House ( 40% ) Resources: Wood, Iron Population: 1 Culture: 2 Remarks: A deteriorating estate blanketed in corrosive fog, toxic to this continent's natives. ]

Shane scrutinized the blue interface, quickly grasping that the percentages represented the structural integrity of his buildings. As for the hazardous fog, he remained unbothered, his outsider status granting him immunity.

Unable to improve the state of his territory immediately, he retreated into the vacant warehouse for shelter and opened his Inventory.

"Inventory..."

Fortunately, the system responded instantly to his command.

[ Weapon Gift Pack, Food Gift Pack, Shelter Gift Pack, Memory Sphere x25, A.I. Assistant ]

A glowing blue display appeared before him. He opted to retrieve a Memory Sphere, causing an orb glowing with an ethereal light to phase into existence. He caught it instinctively, startled by its weight—it was light, nearly as insubstantial as crumpled paper, yet cold to the touch.

[ Memory Sphere 1: Locked ]

"Seriously?"

Shane stared at the notification in frustration. With a shake of his head, he slotted the sphere back into the interface. With no time to waste on disappointment, he selected the A.I. Assistant, only to find a mysterious black box marked with a question mark.

'If it's an A.I. Assistant... perhaps it takes the form of a sprite, like in those classic games?' he speculated while watching the item manifest.

Whoosh~

The box shimmered and transformed before his eyes, spiraling into the shape of a wristwatch.

Accepting the result, he donned the watch. Immediately, a vibrant green display pulsed in the air, distinct from the system's previous generic tutorials.

[ A.I. Assistant Cloud is initializing... ]

[ Retrieving stored user data... ]

[ Activation Successful. ]

[ Greetings, Shane Wells. As Anima's sole compatriot, I, Cloud, am now your dedicated A.I. Assistant. How may I assist you? ]

Listening to the smooth, synthetic voice, Shane felt he had struck gold.

"Cloud, explain everything you know about me. What is happening? Why do I have these strange titles following the errors? What has become of me?" Shane demanded. He felt like a stranger in his own skin.

[ Shane Wells, your previous instructions explicitly restricted the disclosure of such sensitive details. However, your own Memory Spheres hold the key to uncovering your past. ]

"Why would my past self be so difficult?" Shane grumbled. It would have been far simpler if Cloud simply gave him a debriefing.

It was deeply annoying that he still had to jump through hoops to unlock his own memories.

"Very well... tell me how to unlock these Memory Spheres."

[ Advancement is required. You shall gain Memory Sphere 1 upon reaching level 5, and Memory Spheres 2 and 3 at level 10. These were your specific instructions. ]

"Tsk... did I leave any other inconvenient conditions behind?" Shane sighed.

[ Indeed. Prior to your departure via artifact, you left a final instruction for yourself. ]

"A message? Out with it."

[ "Do not survive the Apocalypse. End it." ]