Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

Chapter 57  Foraging

Anna woke up in the shelter with the warm rays of sunshine gently caressing her face. She stretched her arms and yawned, her first thought being of Lucky. As she opened her eyes, she immediately scanned the room for her beloved dog. Lucky was like family to her, and she always made sure to look after him. 'It felt warmer nowadays…' Anna thought as she walked to the door and opened it. There, she saw Lucky waiting for her outside, wagging his tail. He was her dog and her best friend.

"Come here, Lucky!"

Anna hugged him and petted him for a moment. Lucky even licked her face and barked happily. Anna laughed and talked to her dog, "Good morning, Lucky. Are you ready for today's adventure?"

Today was a special day as she had been tasked with gathering herbs and other materials in the forest behind the Manor. Knight Gene would accompany her, and of course, Lucky would be by her side. Lucky had a unique ability with a Tracking spell that allowed him to smell the scent of Zombies or other Survivors, making Anna feel confident and secure. Well, this was also the reason why Shane allowed them to work on this task.

She quickly cleaned herself by taking some water from the wooden container that Shane had made before. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Currently, they have five big wooden water containers that Shane fills from time to time. There was a wooden lid on it, and Anna confirmed that it was filled to the brim. With these containers, they don't have to request water from him every time they need some water.

She quickly got ready and confirmed she had all the necessary equipment. With her Nail Bat in hand, a fully loaded revolver on her waist, a backpack on her back, and wearing a comfortable Scavenger Shirt and Pants, she was ready for the adventure ahead.

She walked out of the church and saw Gene waiting for her by the gate. 'Shane mentioned that he had excellent swordsmanship skill… I hope it is true.' Anna mused as she observed the man. Gene looked handsome and strong with his equipment. However, she couldn't help but think that his armor was a bit uncomfortable and may not be the best for tasks requiring mobility. Nonetheless, since they were dealing with zombies, it did make sense to have a shin guard, leather armor, arm guard, and even a pauldron to protect himself from being bitten.

After giving Gene a gentle nod, Anna turned her attention to Shane, who had prepared hot bread and a cup of water for her. After having a quick meal, Anna was prepared to go.

"We're going now!" Anna called out to Shane, waving her hand to confirm that they were prepared. Shane also waved his hand and reminded them to be careful. He wasn't too worried at all. 'Did he scout the area already confirmed there are no dangerous zombies?' She mused.

With Lucky eagerly leading the way, they set off into the forest, with Gene walking close by, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.

***

The forest was behind the Manor, where the shelter was located. It was a large and dense forest full of trees and plants, and there were even sounds of insects or perhaps animals if they observed the place. Shane warned them that there could be Zombies around the area, but they were mostly hidden and quiet. They'd probably only come out when they sensed prey or danger.

As they ventured into the forest, they could tell that the air was filled with the earthy scent of the trees, and there was, indeed, the sound of birds chirping. 'The birds aren't affected by the outbreak… I wonder if there's something about them that can't turn them into zombies…'

Lucky was actively checking the area, his nose to the ground, as they moved through the underbrush. Anna spotted various herbs and materials along the way, each with their own unique properties and uses. However, she hadn't taken them yet as some of them were still too young or they weren't that important yet.

She couldn't just take any herbs. She needed to take those that they needed, and she had a list of them.

"Excuse me, Miss Anna… I don't think there are too many zombies around here. I might be able to help you look or collect some herbs or plants that we need." Gene said as he realized that Shane had indeed cleared this area already.

 There were signs of Shane's axe and even bullets that had torn through some trees.

Anna then looked at her list and replied. "Okay, let's see... Some herbs are difficult to identify but I think you know some of them like mint, lavender, rosemary, sage, and thyme. They are good for making tea, which can help with stress, sleep, digestion, and immunity. We also need some aloe vera, chamomile, calendula, and comfrey. They are good for making salve, which can help with wounds, burns, inflammation, and infection. We also need some ginseng, ginger, garlic, and turmeric if we can find them here. They are good for making tonic, which can help with energy, blood, pain, and infection. And we also need some mushrooms, berries, nuts, and honey. They are good for making food, which can help with nutrition and get us decent meals… But that may be too much… I don't think we can find those here." Anna replied.

This long answer almost made Gene dizzy, but he still nodded.

"I… I'll try." Gene could only reply. Finding herbs wasn't that difficult with Anna since she had Level 10 Herbalism Skill. However, Gene doesn't have one, so it will certainly be tough.

At this time, Lucky suddenly barked, and he sniffed the air and the ground. "Ahhh… Wait, I think Lucky found something…" Anna spoke softly.

Lucky seemed to have picked up a scent as he ran ahead. He was looking for the herbs and materials that Anna wanted. Of course, he was also looking for any zombies or other survivors that might be nearby. Anna and Gene followed Lucky as he led them deeper into the forest. Then, they walked for a while, until they reached a clearing.

"Incredible…" Anna muttered softly.

Even Gene realized that they had just found a treasure trove!

They may not have found the common herbs or plants they were looking for, but they were lucky enough to find some precious ones that were probably being sold in an expensive price in Shane's Survivor Store.

Soon, Anna carefully collected Blue Sage, known for its healing properties and ability to soothe pain. The vibrant purple flowers of the Nightshade plant were also gathered, which were used to create poisons and antidotes. "Oohh… Aren't we lucky this time? Did the previous lord of the Manor plant all these rare herbs here?" Anna couldn't help but feel shocked as she realized that there were too many precious herbs not too far from the Manor. It wasn't even very hidden and was only blocked by trees and rocks.

At this time, she also found some Red Root, a powerful herb used to increase stamina and energy, and added it to her collection. There were quite a few of them and ready to be collected.

Her bag was already getting filled to the brim with all these precious herbs! 'Shane will definitely be surprised… These things are worth 5 to 10 Zombie Cores in his store last time!' Anna thought as she also came across a rare patch of Ghost Fern, a plant known for its ability to conceal one's presence once consumed. It was a valuable herb for stealthy maneuvers.

As they continued their search, the peaceful atmosphere was suddenly shattered by the unmistakable groans of Runner and Walker Zombies!

"I'll handle it!

 Gene's instincts immediately kicked in, and with lightning speed, he drew his sword, the glint of steel catching the sunlight as he swiftly engaged the undead creatures.

Anna's heart raced as she watched in awe as Gene charged forward without fear! His skillful swordplay was a sight to behold. She realized that Gene was indeed an expert with the sword!

As the zombies charged at them, roaring and snarling, Gene met them head-on, slashing and blocking with his sword and small shield!

His movements were precise, and his strikes were powerful and deadly, like a warrior. He cut down the Runners with ease, slicing their throats and limbs. He bashed the Walkers with force, breaking their skulls and ribs. Anna could not help but put down her revolver as she realized that Gene was a one-man army. At the very least, he was an unstoppable force in front of low-tier Zombies!

Nonetheless, a few more Walker Zombies appeared!

Lucky, sensing the impending danger, positioned himself in front of Anna, barking fiercely and ready to leap into action. Anna, though prepared to assist if needed, knew she was in capable hands with Gene. She watched as he moved with a controlled ferocity.

The sound of swords clashing against decaying flesh echoed through the forest as Gene dispatched the zombies in a few minutes!