Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle-Chapter 1068: The Facility

After inspecting the surroundings a bit, they confirmed that it was safe to approach the gate.

It was a massive metal door scarred by time but still intact.

Shane crouched, examining the lock mechanism. He tried his Lockpicking Skill, carefully working the tumblers, but the system prompt flashed in his vision...

[ Lockpicking Skill Lv10: Attempt Failed. ]

"What?" Shane was shocked as he didn’t expect that a Level 10 Skill like this would fail.

He tapped his wristwatch, activating Cloud, his A.I. assistant. The holographic interface flickered to life above his wrist.

"Cloud, analyze the door."

The A.I.’s voice was calm, mechanical.

[ Analysis complete. No active power source detected. No electronic locks to hack. No traps present. Recommendation: brute force entry. Door integrity: 78%. Suggest caution... The door may still serve as shelter for wanderers or survivors. ]

"Ahhh... That makes sense. Brute force."

Shane nodded. "Alright. We’ll force it open, but don’t destroy it completely."

"Let me..."

Shinja stepped forward as he planned to push it open.

"Let’s do it together."

Brion also placed his polearm aside and soon, they pushed, slammed, and struck until the lock gave way with a grinding shriek.

Thud!

The door creaked open, but remained intact enough to be closed again.

Cough! Cough!

Inside, the air was stale, heavy with dust.

After waiting for some time and the dust cleared, they finally entered the building.

As they stepped through, Shane’s vision lit up with a long system notification.

[ Congratulations! You have discovered a Classified BioGenix Research Facility. ]

[ Facility Codename: Icarus Ascension Complex ]

[ Classification: Tier‑Omega Research Node ]

[ Primary Focus: Project Icarus (Genetic Ascension) ]

[ Description: This facility was constructed by the World Government in collaboration with BioGenix Corporation. Its purpose was to advance humanity beyond natural limits through genetic rewriting, synthetic augmentation, and transhuman evolution. ]

[ You have received 5,000 Experience Points and 50 Reputation Points. ]

"Project Icarus?!"

Shane was stunned as he checked the notification. He knew very well about the three projects of the World Government before.

The others immediately glanced at Shane and asked what he knew about this place.

His mind immediately drifted back to the fragments of records they had uncovered in other ruined BioGenix facilities.

He remembered the first one clearly.

"Yes... Shinja and others must’ve heard of this already, but there were three large projects started by the World Government before... The first was the Project Prometheus or Cybernetic Integration. It is the fusion of human tissue with advanced nanotechnology..." Shane muttered.

The plan had been ambitious, almost impossible, yet disturbingly logical.

From this project alone, they learned that it had three phases to complete the integration. The first was the Neural Implant, a nanotech designed to enhance reaction speed to near‑precognitive levels.

Soldiers would move before their enemies even thought to strike. The second was the Onyx Bone Implant, reinforcing skeletons until they could withstand even tank rounds. And finally, the Phoenix Organ Implant, a terrifying concept that gives self-regenerating organs that could heal fatal wounds in minutes.

Shane shook his head as he explained.

"They wanted to make men into machines... but all they made were corpses or even those Mech-Type Zombies."

His thoughts shifted to the second project.

The second project, on the other hand, was Project Eclipse. After not getting good results in the first project, they decided it was time for Controlled Viral Mutation.

This one had been stamped with a biohazard symbol when they found the records. It was a warning that even BioGenix’s own researchers seemed to fear.

Shane remembered the files he had skimmed, the way the words had chilled him.

It was not about enhancing humans, but about weaponizing the Z‑Virus itself!

Ultimately, this seemed to have created the Zombie Leaders, Kings, or even Lords! Zombies that control other Zombies were the result of this project!

Apparently, the first phase was the Reaper Strain, a variant that targeted specific DNA, allowing certain zombies to be controlled.

The second was the Valkyrie Protocol, infecting subjects but halting decay, creating immortal, obedient undead.

And the final phase, the Necroforge, aimed to reanimate dead tissue as programmable combat drone soldiers, controlled by neural chips.

Shane clenched his fist as he recalled this. "They tried to turn the plague into an army."

Finally, his memory turned to the most dangerous of them all, and related to this building, Project Icarus, which aims for Genetic Ascension.

’Transhuman evolution.’

The World Government had wanted to rebuild humanity, not just survive the apocalypse, but ascend beyond it.

The first phase was the Adonis Code, rewriting human DNA to eliminate disease, aging, and fatigue.

The second was Titanblood... They produced synthetic hormones that increased muscle density by 1000%, turning ordinary men into living juggernauts. And the third was the Icarus Gene, granting photosynthetic energy absorption, removing the need for food or water entirely...

If this Project Icarus had actually succeeded, then it wouldn’t be surprising if the Cult was led by these people.

In the meantime, the team listened in silence as Shane recalled the projects.

Now, standing inside the Icarus Ascension Complex, Shane felt that they would find something very important here...

The team spread out cautiously, weapons ready.

The silence was unsettling at first, since there were no zombies, no guards, just the echo of their footsteps.

The lounge area was the first they encountered.

There were dust-covered couches lining the walls and overturned tables scattered across the floor.

A cracked vending machine stood in the corner, its glass shattered, but inside were still sealed nutrient packs long expired.

Posters of BioGenix slogans hung crookedly as well...

"Tomorrow’s Humanity, Today."

"Creepy," Roscoe muttered, brushing dust off a chair. "Feels like they just walked out one day and never came back."

The others could only nod and agreed to that.

Next was the administrator’s office. Filing cabinets lined the walls, most drawers were already forced open, papers were scattered across the floor...

Shane picked up a folder, yellowed with age.

It contained fragments of genetic sequencing charts, notes about

"Adonis Code trials," and a stamped seal that said, ’CLASSIFIED – LEVEL OMEGA.’