Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle - Chapter 979

Capítulo 979: For the Sea

Although Shane received a message like that, he couldn’t just go back…

Shane had other appointments, and one of them involved infusing tokens with powerful skills. Since their population just kept increasing, Shane also had to create more Identity Tokens.

Whether they were Resident Tokens, Merchant Tokens, Guard Tokens, Temporary Tokens, VIP Tokens, or many others, he had to work on them all.

This was also his way of getting more control over his territory, and it helped his guards, warden units, and other officials when dealing with people.

As for the tokens that had special skills, like the Safety Protection Tokens and others, those are mostly being given as rewards or even a form of salary for many other workers.

Because of that, Shane ensured that he had more than 5,000 of them a few days later.

“Though I don’t mind doing this… I have to change the Identity Tokens if our population reaches hundreds of thousands.” Shane helplessly smiled at this thought.

***

In the meantime, while Shane was busy with his tasks as a Clan Leader, Vasco’s days at Blue Haven were consumed by the docks.

He had actually been assigned by Fiona to improve a ship instead of creating a new one, since it requires a lot more resources and money.

However, improving an airship would be a lot easier since the base was already there.

“This is already decent…” Vasco muttered.

The Coastal Runner Ship was indeed sturdy enough to survive at sea, but after he learned what Shane and Fiona planned for its future, he knew it wasn’t ready for the kind of voyages they envisioned.

Vasco’s mornings always began early…

He would wash quickly before the sun even rises up… Then, he’d grab a bowl of porridge, bread, and other food from the mess hall, and head straight to the docks with a mug of bitter tea in hand.

The dockhands had already learned his habits.

“Morning, Master Vasco,” one of them called, a young survivor named Ruel.

“Morning… Hah… It’s getting colder.” Vasco grumbled as he felt like he was already getting old.

Every morning, Vasco walked to the shipyard with his tools strapped across his back.

Survivors greeted him with respect since he wasn’t just another recruit, but a master shipbuilder and the leader in the dockyard.

“Right… Get the barrels ready. Today, we seal the hull properly. The expansion should be more than enough…” He instructed.

By mid-morning, the dockyard was already filled with life. You could hear hammering and the laughter of the workers.

Vasco worked alongside the crew. To be exact, he was leading it himself.

He wasn’t the kind of master who just gives orders from a distance. He carried planks, tightened bolts, and showed the younger workers how to listen to the ship’s frame.

“Tap it here,” he told a girl named Mina, handing her a mallet.

“Hear that hollow sound? That’s a weakness. Fill it with resin, and the sea or the zombies won’t eat through it…”

Mina nodded eagerly, proud to be learning from the shipbuilder himself.

Lunch break was always simple. They have fish stew and bread and Vasco insisted everyone eat together.

“A hungry worker makes a broken ship…” He said while sitting cross-legged on the dock planks with the crew.

They swapped stories, joked about the cannons, and teased Vasco about his obsession with the ramp of the Coastal Runner.

“Master Vasco, you’ve tested that ramp more than the cannons,” Ruel laughed.

“And when you’re running from sea zombies, you’ll thank me for it,” Vasco shot back as he really liked that special feature of the Coastal Runner.

Then, afternoons were for the ship’s engine room. Vasco actually learned from a couple of elven technicians that Shane had sent here for help…

Although he couldn’t copy their Mana infusion, he asked several questions, scribbled notes, and argued about efficiency…

Thanks to that, he slowly learned more how these elves operate…

“Too much mana, and the engine surges,” he said.

“Too little, and it stalls,” an Elf replied.

“Exactly. Balance. Ships live on balance… Awesome.” He muttered.

By evening, Vasco would sit on the deck, wiping grease from his hands… He was tired, but he really liked what he was doing.

At dinner, other people often joined him, curious about his craft.

He could only talk about other ships he had built before the apocalypse, the storms he had previously survived, or even mistakes he had learned the hard way.

Just like that, when night fell, Vasco would return to his quarters. He was always exhausted but satisfied.

After several days of relentless effort, the work was finally done.

“We did it!” He announced.

The ship had changed. Its hull, once plain iron, was protected by a mana-treated coat. It was enhanced to resist both saltwater and the corrosive touch of Sea Creature Zombies.

The defense cannons had been repositioned and adjusted…

Ruel and Mina had tested them earlier. They were even laughing nervously as the recoil of each cannon shook the deck a little. Still, Vasco was now satisfied that the cannons could fire faster and cover blind spots.

There were also some changes in the engine room and it was mostly done by the elves…

The Elves had taught Vasco much, and though he couldn’t replicate their magic, he had learned enough to stabilize the system. The ship could now rush forward with greater speed, yet conserve energy for long voyages.

And the rapid deployment ramp, Vasco’s obsession, had been enhanced and tested dozens of times.

“Let me see the improvements!” Fiona said as she got the list of improvements from Vasco.

[ Coastal Runner Ship (Improved)

Hull: Reinforced with mana-treated coat, tougher against sea creature strikes and corrosion.

Capacity: Expanded barracks, now hold 42 passengers comfortably.

Cannons: Increased to 8 with faster reload, and wider firing arcs.

Engine: Enhanced by Elves. 30% more efficient, with emergency burst mode.

Ramp: Strengthened hinges, widened for faster deployment, tested for reliability.

Extras: Observation mast with enchanted lenses, ballast system for storm stability, three extra Barrier Generator. ]