Chapter 1197: Returning to the Real World and the Axis

The officials exchanged stunned looks as Shane entered the bustling kitchen, where cooks were preparing simple meals for the shelter’s residents.

Everyone thought that it was something serious.

Perhaps, there was a huge problem in the kitchen... Maybe a spy or some dangerous enemy was hiding there...

However, looking at Shane’s expression, that didn’t seem to be the case.

In the kitchen hall, the smell of stew and bread filled the air.

Soon, Shane reached into his storage and pulled out crates filled with fresh and strangely large seafood... fish, crabs, shellfish, and even exotic sea creatures from the islands he had visited.

The kitchen fell silent as they saw everything...

When the lids were lifted, everyone was able to see the items clearly.

They were creatures unlike anything they had seen before.

It didn’t take long before they managed to inspect all of them.

Rainbow‑scaled lobsters, with their colored shells...

Shellfish with translucent carapaces like living crystals.

Fish with double sets of eyes...

Crabs the size of shields, looking more like weapons than food.

Even sea serpents no longer than a man’s arm were there, and many more!

The cooks froze as they saw the unusual seafood variety... They had never prepared anything like this before.

Arial’s face paled. "Lord Shane... these... these look mutated. Are they infected by the virus? Are they even edible?"

They were right to worry about that since Shane was also worried about this at first.

The cooks hesitated.

Some of the soldiers who had followed Shane into the kitchen instinctively reached for their weapons, as if expecting the seafood to leap out and attack.

Shane only chuckled. "Relax. They are not infected. These creatures are from the islands... the sea itself has changed... maybe due to a virus or even the existence of mana itself.... but not everything born of mutation is poison."

He picked up one of the colored lobsters and held it up for all to see. "The spiritual energy in their bodies is natural. It strengthens the flesh, makes it richer, more nourishing. I’ve already tested them myself."

Arial swallowed hard, still unconvinced. "But they look... dangerous."

Shane’s smile widened. "Well... They’re dangerous to catch... but once cooked, they are delicacies."

The others could only nod as they prayed that they wouldn’t upset their stomach later.

"Alright... That’s enough to doubt me. I want this cooked for later. Prepare feasts, prepare dishes you’ve never tried before. I want to celebrate tonight!"

Finally, the kitchen erupted in excitement.

For months, meals had been limited to dried meat, grains, and vegetables. Fresh seafood was a luxury only a few people had tasted since the apocalypse began.

After all, even with the Blue Haven Shelter and a few fishing spots that they had obtained for themselves, it wasn’t enough to feed thousands of people living in their various shelters.

As a matter of fact, they were already raising the price of such food, but they no matter what, they were always being sold out.

"Leave this to us, Lord Shane!"

The cooks immediately set to work... their fear slowly turned to excitement. Already, one of them reached for a knife, testing the flesh of a glowing fish.

The blade slid cleanly, revealing meat that smelled fresh, not rotten...

"So... they’re safe. Good!"

Just like that, their knives soon started slicing through the ingredients as pots began to boil and spices were quickly prepared.

Seeing that everything was proceeding as he planned, Shane left the place. He was truly in a good mood right now.

Arial and the other officials followed Shane...

"My lord... the defenses, the trade routes, the reports..."

Shane waved them off.

"All of that can wait. I’m sure you have those things discussed with Raze and Cloud, right? Just follow their suggestions for now."

"We understand..." Arial said as he had indeed consulted Cloud about this through their connection.

Soon, word spread like wildfire... Shane had brought seafood from the islands, and a feast was being prepared!

No one knew exactly why Shane was in such a good mood, or what the true purpose of the celebration was. But his presence alone and the promise of a feast were enough to lift spirits.

***

Shane then left the kitchen with a satisfied smile...

Then, for now, he wanted to see something that mattered even more to him than factories or reports... the botanical garden.

Though New Genesis Shelter was dominated by factories and workshops or the fabrication lines for Mech Frames, Warden Units, exosuits, and countless other machines of war... Shane had insisted that a vast garden be built at its heart.

"They need a place to breathe, to rest, to remember what life feels like." Shane muttered before.

And so, despite the endless hum of machinery and the clang of forges, the botanical garden stood as a sanctuary.

It was large and took up a huge space across several blocks. They were now filled with trees, flowers, and streams sustained by special irrigation.

Survivors came here to rest, meditate, or simply walk among greenery. After all, going outside the shelter could still endanger them.

Shane and Arial walked side by side toward the garden.

Arial, still unsettled by Shane’s unusual cheer, finally spoke. "My lord... forgive me for asking, but why are you in such a good mood today? You seem... different."

Shane chuckled softly.

"Because I’ve uncovered something. Not everything, but enough. The truth about this world is finally beginning to reveal itself."

Arial’s eyes widened. He had access to Cloud’s database... Shane’s AI assistant had gathered countless fragments of knowledge from foreign survivors, piecing together mysteries of the apocalypse.

Arial knew how vast and confusing those records were.

"The truth? Do you mean... about the Lord of the Realms? The way to end the Apocalypse? Or perhaps the Cross‑Apocalypse events... or even the Gray Fog?"

All of them were mysteries that haunted survivors.

Shane’s smile deepened, though his tone grew more serious. "You could say so. But it’s more than that. It’s about returning to our previous world."

Arial stopped in his tracks, stunned. "Returning...? You mean... going back?"

Shane looked at him calmly, then patted his shoulder.

"Don’t worry. It’s not as if we’re going to abandon this realm."

Well, he couldn’t really reveal everything since much of it was still based on clues, fragments of memories from his past lives...

Nonetheless, the idea of returning to the old world made Arial fear something...

Still, he couldn’t really stop the Foreign Survivors if they wanted to return.

They then resumed walking, and soon the gates of the botanical garden opened before them.

Shane stepped inside, and he was stunned.

The garden was alive with thick mana. The plants looked really healthy but what shocked Shane most was the towering figure at the center.

"The World Tree..." Shane whispered.

It was young, but already immense, its trunk was thick and its branches were already stretching high...

It was growing fast!

Shane blinked, astonished.

"Wait... did I plant one here? I must have forgotten. I haven’t visited this garden in a while."

He stepped closer, gazing up at the tree. The sight filled him with awe. The World Tree was more than a symbol... it was a source of life, a producer of mana that could heal and protect. To see one growing here, in the heart of New Genesis Shelter, was beyond his expectations.

Around the tree, several elves rested on the grass... They looked so peaceful.

They probably had to come to bask in the mana, to meditate beneath its branches. T

But then Shane’s eyes widened further.

"Axis..." he muttered after seeing his fairy companion. She was hovering near the branches and he almost failed to recognize her!

She had grown larger, her wings were glowing with radiant light, and her aura also seemed stronger than before. Axis turned, her eyes meeting Shane’s, and she flew toward him with a joyful cry.

"Shane!" she exclaimed, her voice ringing like a bell. "You’re back!"

Shane reached out, and Axis landed lightly on his shoulder. He studied her carefully, marveling at how much she had changed. "You’ve grown... stronger. Bigger."

Axis giggled with her wings fluttering. "The World Tree nourished me. Its mana flows through me now. I’ve been waiting for you."

Arial watched in silence, overwhelmed by the sight. The World Tree, elves resting peacefully, and a fairy companion who had grown larger than his palm...

Shane stroked Axis’s hair gently. "I see... so this garden has become more than I imagined. I guess it’s better for you to stay around here instead of staying within the pocket dimension."

He looked around, taking in the elves, the glowing flowers, the streams, and the towering tree.

"I guess you’ve really worked hard to make this place this amazing... Good work, Axis. Is there anything you want?"

Axis nodded eagerly. "Hehe! I will keep growing this place even without a reward... I just want the World Tree to develop peacefully. I hope it will spread its roots and protect the shelter."

Shane chuckled softly. "I will make that happen. But I’m curious... Are you going to grow to a human size or something?"