Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

After some consideration, Shane decided to purchase the two other cauldrons.

The Stoneheart Crucible and the Vileglass Cauldron weren't as expensive as he thought.

After that, Shane took one more stroll through the market, picking up a Crystal Stirring Rod with additional effects that give potion success rate, two jars of Ember Dust for future advanced recipes, and some beast-hide satchels of preserved reagents. This was also for Anna and other medical practitioners.

***

Shane had already secured what he came for, but the market of Ivory Gear Shelter had a way of dragging even the most disciplined into its charm...

He planned to leave as soon as he finished his task, but as he kept seeing interesting things, he wandered deeper into the trading lanes, where the scent of molten metal faded into something stranger…

He soon entered an area filled with the odor of machine oil mixed with fresh ink, leather polish, and rusted air…

He had just entered the heart of the Ivory Gears, where inventors, mad geniuses, and desperate Survivors showcased their wares.

The first stall Shane passed was covered in banners of rotating gears and flashing sparks. A mechanical mannequin sat on the counter with its arm clicking with hydraulics as it waved…

"Mara's Augment Clinic – Limbs That Outlast the Apocalypse!"

It was the sign written above the store. Obviously, this was one of the shops that had provided Lysandra and the others with supplies of advanced prosthetics.

Inside the open-front stall, a bald woman with mechanical fingers adjusted a steel knee joint with ease. Hanging behind her were replacement arms, legs, and even torsos.

They were all crafted from ironwood, magnetite, or spirit-infused steel.

There was nothing like this in his shelter at all… Even if Kang Zhen had also sent some merchants in his territory, they were only simpler items… After all, he wanted to get more traffic in his Ivory Gear Shelter as well.

Anyway, aside from 'normal' limbs, some limbs were meant for killing. He could fold blades within fingers, firearm limbs, and other hidden weapons...

Still, most of the displays were meant to attract people. They looked elegant, carved with gold patterns or fitted with hidden compartments for useful actions.

One prosthetic hand even snapped its own fingers, producing a tiny flame like a lighter.

It was quite simple, but there were certainly a few people who would want something like this.

"They're all fully customizable…" Sandara, the bald female merchant, called as Shane slowed in front of her store.

"Customizable?" Shane repeated.

"Yes… It depends on what the customer needs… Like autonomous twitch-response, spirit-channeling compatible, and immune to most corrosion. We have a first-time buyer discount and also discounts if we confirm that you're part of an ally!"

Shane smiled. "I'll keep it in mind. But how can you determine that?"

"Easy… You must show your Permanent Resident Token… Only Survivors with that Token can claim the discount." Sandara replied.

Shane was surprised as he swiftly showed his Permanent Resident Token, the token he made for every resident. It was smaller than the combat tokens he had created and quite easy to hold.

These tokens were just a bit larger than coins and had minimal effects as he only infused them with some protection Skills to ensure that they won't get easily destroyed or copied.

"That's right… You're from an allied Shelter then..." Sandara replied as she saw Shane's token.

On the other hand, Shane himself didn't imagine that his identity tokens would become useful in this shelter as well.

It seemed that Kang Zhen had decided to implement this rule to show his kindness and willingness for a deeper relationship with his shelter.

It was quite an amazing feeling.

Still, Shane could only note about this shop as he didn't really need anything from it.

He just planned to mention this to Anna and the other physicians, just in case they had patients who needed limbs.

After all, potions and pills wouldn't make them grow a limb. They could only be used to close wounds and heal injuries unless they obtained a Legendary or Mythic Tier alchemical product.

Just like that, Shane continued on his way…

Next came a stall that gave him pause.

Children's laughter echoed, quite unusual in the Apocalypse.

A ring of children sat around a puppet show stage, where tiny, self-moving dolls enacted a battle between a Zombie Lord and a group of adorable survivors.

The stage was manned by an old man in a leather apron and goggles… At the shop, there was a sign at the top, and Shane learned what place it was.

"Gramps Fibb's Wonder Store – For Kids Who Remember Joy."

On display were dozens of automaton toys… There were mice that danced, frogs that could scatter glitter, and dragons that flapped their wings and squeaked, "Roar!"

Even Shane had to admit—some of them were spirit-infused, subtly magical. He picked up a small soldier doll with real cloth armor. It saluted him with a metallic click.

'This is well made…' Shane thought to himself, impressed by the craftsmanship.

Of course, he already knew that the Ivory Gear Shelter specializes in these types of work… However, he still couldn't help but appreciate them.

A little girl tugged her mother's hand nearby. "Mama, look! That one looks like Uncle Shane!"

Shane blinked. He didn't expect someone, much less a child, to recognize him.

However, his confusion was quickly answered as the store owner also recognized him…

Gramps Fibb grinned after seeing Shane. "Ahem… I've sold a few 'Shane' dolls this month... Survivors like you are heroes to the kids, whether you want to be or not. Well, I must say that you look like the statues I've seen in your shelter."

It seemed like this person had visited Eclipse Domain before and had seen many of his statues or monuments that the sculptors made.

"…Great," Shane muttered, unsure whether to be honored or mildly horrified.

He didn't even bother asking for a royalty fee for using his face and just left the place before any more kids recognized him.

***

After some time, the innocent charm of the market had finally faded as Shane entered a row of heavy tents patrolled by private guards.

'Now.. This looks serious…' Shane mused.

Apparently, he had just entered the Weapon Bazaar, where neutral arms dealers, mercenaries, and weaponsmiths sold everything from modified bows to what seemed like rail gun parts.

The place wasn't noisy, but there were a few people outside the shops looking for customers.

"EMP rounds—disable Mechanized Zombies in one shot!"

"Custom machetes made from Tyrant Zombie's Bone!"

"Blood-reactive bullets for Blood Hunter Zombies!"

They were all interesting shops… Although he knew that Mechanized Zombies existed, he didn't expect that there was already an answer for them.

They were all interesting items, and even if he wouldn't buy them for now, he planned to mention this to their Supply Officer… the butlers.

Soon, Shane stopped at one of the nearest shops.

"Jayrus' Munitions…"

Inside, a one-eyed dwarf was displaying a shotgun with a rotating barrel and a crossbow that reloaded itself with compressed spirit cartridges.

This dwarf wasn't a mythical dwarf from the Fairy Realm, the old guy seemed to be just small, through genetics, or maybe even a curse. He wasn't sure.

"What's this?" Shane asked, pointing to a cube-shaped grenade.

"Flashburst Bionade. Designed to blind Zombies without hurting your eyes. Great for rescue missions." The little old man tossed it into the air like candy.

Seeing that Shane wasn't too impressed and simply nodded, he continued.

"You want real firepower? Try our Ice Mines. Zombie legs go snap-snap." He said while gesturing with his hands as if he were snapping a twig.

Shane chuckled. He ended up buying a bundle of Ice Mines and some Flashburst Bionade. Then, he also found ammunition for shotguns and rifles and purchased them as well after learning how cheap they were.

Shane spent a lot more time in this place than he thought… He visited those selling EMP rounds, machetes, and even reactive bullets.

It had been a long time since he had done his shopping spree, and he didn't expect to enjoy it as much as he did.

***

Eventually, the streets shifted again, less noisy now and felt more familiar.

Wooden signs. Handmade tarps. Folded chairs. These were not stalls run by Shelter personnel or neutral merchants… these were owned by Survivors like him.

He recalled that it was mentioned by Kang Zhen before. They had bought small plots here in Ivory Gear Shelter, using their hard-earned Zombie Cores and Spirit Stones to create something of their own.

He passed a humble booth labeled:

"Eli's Preserves – Handmade Jam with Wild Mutant Fruit!"

There was no electricity, only preserved glass jars stored in frost-charmed crates. The vendor, an old woman with a scar down her cheek, gave him a nod.

"Try the Dragon fruit juice…" she said. "It can only be bought in our System Exclusive Store."

'Dragon fruit?' Shane gently nodded as it was indeed not something he had seen aside from the System Store.

There seemed to be no harm in helping her, so Shane planned to buy… But to Shane's surprise, it was actually quite expensive!