Re: Apocalypse Game

The fourth night had finally descended upon them, and a total of over 4,000 players representing the four servers had stationed themselves along the Roman walls. Their mission was to guard the six strategically positioned garrisons that spanned over a vast 10-mile-wide wall.

As the players gathered, a sense of anticipation filled the air.

After the fierce battles they had endured in the preceding nights, many among them had dared to hope that tonight's undead onslaught might be less severe. Unfortunately, their optimism was swiftly crushed.

In the distance, a chilling cry went up:

"They are coming! They are coming!"

All eyes turned toward the horizon, and what they witnessed an unending wave of undead zombies poured across the plains, rushing tirelessly toward the walls. The sheer number of undead was staggering, exceeding their expectations. Panic and apprehension rippled through the ranks of the defenders.

In the midst of this impending chaos, a notification popped up to the players:

[You Have Received an E-Level Quest: Guard the Gate]

The game's mechanics were at play once more, directing the undead hordes toward a specific target—the garrisons. This forced the players to defend specific sections of the walls, leaving them vulnerable to relentless waves of undead.

Yet, despite the dire circumstances, the defenders summoned their courage. A rallying cry echoed through the ranks: "Do not falter! Those mindless zombies won't be able to climb these walls!"

Indeed, defending the top of the 5-meter-high walls offered a considerable advantage when facing these types of undead. The zombies relied on the assistance of their fallen comrades to create makeshift ladders and breach the walls. As long as the defenders held their ground, the walls provided a relatively secure vantage point.

However, just as the players began to grow complacent and adapt to the situation, a new and unsettling sight appeared on the horizon.

[Skeleton]

[Type: Inhuman]

[Rank E+]

####

[Skeleton Warrior]

[Type: Inhuman]

[Rank D-]

These new undead were horrific sights to behold, with only remnants of flesh clinging to their bony frames. They appeared as warriors, clad in tattered leather armor, and brandishing crude weapons and shields. Despite sharing the same high HP and defensive capabilities as the zombies, they were a rank higher, granting them enhanced agility.

"Shoot them!!"

The sound of firearms echoed across the battlefield as bullets rained down upon these skeletal adversaries. While the zombies served as grim meat shields, the skeletons maneuvered between them with surprising speed, deftly scaling the walls to engage the players in close combat.

"Don't let them climb!"

A frantic call to action rang out among the defenders as they struggled to repel the encroaching skeleton horde. With at least a few thousand undead converging on each garrison, the sheer numbers, combined with the appearance of these agile skeletons, raised concerns about the magnitude of the undead threat they would face during this round. The officers and leaders couldn't help but swiftly disregard the number Axel's estimate during the meeting.

####

Similar situations unfolded on the northwestern front at Fort Sterling. Thousands of undead, including both zombies and agile skeletons, were relentlessly climbing the hill toward the old garrison walls.

[You Received E Level Quest: Guard the Gate]

This quest served as a bonus reward, motivating players to concentrate their efforts on protecting the gate from the approaching undead horde.

Lieutenant Marsh assumed command of the left side of the walls, Lieutenant Sanderson of the Charlie company took charge of the right side, and Vicky was entrusted with the central defense, including the vital task of safeguarding the gate.

As the grotesque creatures drew nearer, anxiety gripped Vicky, the brunette girl who stood atop the central walls. Her voice trembled as she inquired, "Where is Alan?" She looked at the young man next to her and asked "Where's your Mr. D?"

Daniel, wielding axes in both hands, replied, "He hasn't come out of the workshop yet."

With the gruesome creatures closing in, the beautiful brunette couldn't contain her concern. "Ugh! I hate these repulsive creatures! They're disgusting!" Vicky exclaimed, her frustration evident. She then added, "They're here! Get ready!"

As per the plan, when the undead horde approached within a hundred meters of the walls, a coordinated barrage of arrows and bullets rained down upon them. These shots successfully took down dozens of undead before they could even reach the trenches located 20 meters away from the walls. The trenches began to fill with the writhing masses of undead, hindering the progress of those behind as they stumbled over the piles of their fallen comrades.

When the undead finally reached the walls, the support team was ready and waiting. Armed with large rocks, they hurled them down upon the approaching horde, causing chaotic and bloody collisions among the zombies. Long pikes were wielded by the defenders, pushing the undead back down into the ground and impaling those unfortunate enough to get too close.

As the defenders were preoccupied with the relentless assault of the zombies, the skeletons made their sinister appearance. Marching with an eerie and unnatural grace, they advanced across the macabre piles of zombie corpses, using them as a gruesome bridge to reach the walls. With agile dexterity, the skeletons began to climb the walls, their bony fingers finding purchase in the rough stones.

The defenders' initial confidence waned as they faced this new threat. The skeletons were faster, more agile, and posed a greater challenge than the lumbering zombies.

"Fight!" Vicky's commanding shout echoed along the walls, rallying the defenders to take action against the relentless onslaught of climbing undead. With determination in her eyes, she cast [Minor Blessing] upon herself—a spell she had learned at Alan's recommendation. The blessing enveloped her in a radiant light, enhancing her combat abilities and turning her into a formidable fighter on the walls.

Beside her, Daniel stood vigilant, ready to defend her flank at a moment's notice. To her left, Milo and his convict group fought with unwavering intensity, while on the other side, Merle and his redneck group battled fiercely to hold back the advancing undead.

The defenders fought valiantly to halt the relentless assault, but then a new threat emerged. From the treeline atop their horses, a group of [Revenants] appeared. There were ten of them, charging toward the gate with a singular objective: to destroy it.

Vicky shouted out a name and a hail of piercing bullets was unleashed from the figure with fiery red hair standing atop the citadel. The bullets found their marks, knocking down the revenants one by one as they closed in. When they reached closer, Merle joined the barrage, raining down bullets to support the defense.

Despite their efforts, half of the revenants managed to reach the gate and began pounding on it with their superhuman strength. It was only a matter of minutes before the gate would give way to their relentless assault.

Firearms alone wouldn't be enough to completely halt their advance; players needed to intervene directly, risking their lives to confront these formidable foes. In a moment of hesitation, Vicky struggled to make the difficult choice of selecting players for this perilous task. However, her dilemma was short-lived as a familiar voice suddenly rang out.

"Sorry, I'm late!"

The figure that had just arrived at the wall wasted no time and immediately jumped down into the midst of the undead horde that had gathered before the gate. To the astonishment of everyone present, it was Alan, and his entrance brought an air of surprise and hope. What caught their attention the most was the new metallic arm attached to his body.

At the end of his mechanical arm was a unique item—a menacing mechanic chainsaw.

[Chainsaw Blade]

[Type: Sword Weapon]

[Rarity: Uncommon]

[Attributes: Damage 28 - 38 when activated (40 - 48)]

[Effects: 30% Armor penetration bonus]

[Equipment Rating: 22]

[Able to Bring Outside the Game: No]

[Remarks: Requires gasoline to activate]

Though it might have seemed unconventional, the chainsaw was classified as a sword weapon, which allowed Alan to maximize his mastery of it. With a swift pull of the lever, the motorized sound of the chainsaw roared to life, its blades spinning rapidly.

As the zombies and skeletons lunged at him, Alan moved with incredible speed and precision, wielding his chainsaw like a seasoned warrior. He unleashed his sword skill, [Swift Blade], swinging the roaring saw at their heads.

[Stabbing: Inflicts 126 Damage]

[Stabbing: Inflicts 122 Damage]

[Stabbing: Lethal Attack. Inflicts 178 damage, Target dies…]

The chainsaw proved to be a formidable weapon, dealing substantial damage, and should be particularly effective against the heavily armored revenants that had reached the gate.

"Come here!!!"

Alan roared, leaping fearlessly into the midst of the towering undead. With a flurry of strikes that combined [Blade Frenzy] and [Power Strike], he dismembered the revenant's head, dispatching it in a lethal blow.

[You have killed the Revenant]

[You have received 2000 XP and 1000 Survival points]

Alan's arrival breathed new life into the players who had been defending the gate. His fearless actions inspired courage, prompting some to join him in, jumping down from the wall into the battle against the undead.