Re: Apocalypse Game

Chapter 181 Shared Objective

The meeting continued with Axel urging all players to work together in the defense of the Roman wall and to share garrisons to hold out until the end of the round. This collaborative approach was in line with his strategy to consolidate their forces and strengthen their defensive positions.

In truth, it had always been Alan's plan to reinforce the Roman walls and garrisons as a means to survive the round. However, when he realized that they didn't spawn inside Roman territory or were automatically part of the Roman faction, he quickly shifted to Plan B. Alan had rallied the Wolverines and directed them to an old, abandoned garrison located about 30 miles northwest of the wall. This location had been chosen as the safest place to gather, and it had the approval of Captain Carter. Consequently, most New York server players gathered there and proceeded with the prepared plan.

Now, with Axel's takeover of the Roman troops and the support of the other two servers, the players from the New York server were asked to vacate the garrison and join the collaborative defense effort. 

"If you truly believe that the number of undead will be overwhelming, then we need the 3000 American players more than ever." Axel used Alan's argument to bolster his demand.

Alan couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as he observed Axel stepping into such a prominent leadership role. He harbored reservations about the decision to leave the old garrison, particularly in light of the significant project they had been undertaking there. However, Alan recognized that the final judgment rested with Captain Carter, and he had to trust her judgment in this crucial matter.

Understanding the larger context was paramount. This was a game where victory could not be achieved by a single server or nation acting alone. It demanded a global alliance of players working in concert to overcome the challenges presented by the virtual world. Rejecting Axel's offer of cooperation outright wasn't a viable option for Captain Carter.

To Alan's surprise, Captain Carter replied, "We will, indeed, offer our support for the defense, but we cannot withdraw all of our players."

Axel seized the opportunity to inquire further, "How many players are you willing to commit to this effort?"

Captain Carter took a moment to weigh her response before stating, "I believe that sending 1000 players would be a fair and substantial contribution."

This number seemed to strike a balance in her mind, a number comparable to the total number of other servers's players. It's a substantial show of support without depleting their garrison entirely. However, not everyone in the room was pleased with this decision, and the murmurs of discontent were unmistakable.

"Look at the Americans, acting so mighty, sending 1000 players as if it's nothing," remarked one leader, his tone laced with mockery.

Captain Thierry of the French military added his voice to the chorus of skepticism. "American, you are full of tricks. Why do you insist on staying in that old garrison?"

The young Egyptian leader chimed in, speculating, "A secret, perhaps? something that allows you to survive with such huge numbers?"

Captain Carter maintained her composure in the face of these comments, aware that their decision was being met with skepticism. 

She addressed the suspicions by explaining that there were no secrets and considering the way most games were publicly broadcasted, they had no intentions of withholding any advantages for themselves.

With a nod of approval from Captain Carter, Alan seized the opportunity to provide a more detailed explanation. Using the map and figurines at his disposal, he constructed a compelling case for the strategic importance of the old garrison in guarding the western flank. Using its natural defense structure it would help in decreasing a huge number of undead.

Despite Alan's persuasive argument, Axel remained unwavering in his stance. He countered with his perspective, emphasizing the need to reinforce teh full length of the Roman wall and its six garrisons. Axel outlined the distribution of responsibilities among the servers: the Bangkok and Cairo servers would take the eastern wall and they would be responsible for the two eastern garrisons, while the French, with the assistance of Roman soldiers, would oversee the central walls and its other two garrisons. Axel deemed it crucial that the American players take charge of the remaining two garrisons to secure the western walls.

"I need you to hold those western walls at all costs," Axel stated firmly. "Failure to do so would put all of us in jeopardy. Therefore, I expect a minimum of 2000 players to commit to this defense effort."

Axel's insistence on needing that many players frustrated Alan deeply. He couldn't help but feel annoyed, knowing that if they hadn't sacrificed Artorius and his soldiers, they wouldn't be in this predicament. Now, the French noble was essentially forcing their hand, and they had to fill the gap.

Despite his strong dislike for Axel and the situation, Alan realized that he couldn't let the man lead the rest of the players to their potential demise. Alan understood the importance of ensuring as many players as possible survived for the next round. Therefore, he gave Captain Carter a nod of agreement, acknowledging the necessity of supporting the French server's defense efforts.

With the meeting's main topics addressed, attention turned to the progress of the bonus quest, [finding the source of darkness]. Axel briefly mentioned that his veteran player had obtained some potential clues while tracking a lone rider. However, he made it clear that the information wouldn't be shared until its authenticity was confirmed.

Alan couldn't help but feel that Axel was keeping valuable information close to his chest, following a need-to-know basis strategy. It was evident that Axel was controlling the flow of information and had decided that the Americans weren't among the privileged few who needed to know the details just yet.

Fortunately, Alan had little concern for the bonus quest involving the lone rider. He had heard about the quest mission related to finding the origin of the necromancer in his previous life, however, Alan had his hands full with the bonus quest he was pursuing. On the other hand, He knows that the necromancer would only appear on the final day, and the real question was whether they would have the power to defeat him when the time came. 

With the meeting's discussions now behind them, Captain Carter issued a decisive command, stating, "Alright then, it's settled. Let's focus on eliminating as many undead as possible." The time for action had arrived, and they were all determined to confront the challenges of the game head-on.

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Within an hour, players from all four servers prepared themselves to depart for their designated garrisons. Before leaving for their designated garrisons, Alan took the opportunity to seek out the surviving Arthurian champion knights. He intended to gather information about the hidden quest [The Legendary Sword of Light] and hope to learn more about the fey village from them.

Unfortunately, only two out of the twelve champion knights had survived the battle. One of them, named Dagonet, was not forthcoming with any information and had a [Normal] NPC status relation to Alan.

However, the other surviving champion knight was Percival, who had fought alongside Alan during the battle. Alan approached the knight, expressing his relief that he was safe and offering condolences for the loss of his commander.

Percival, with a [Elated] relation status, responded in a much friendlier manner. When Alan inquired about the sword, Percival's expression changed, and he asked,

"Do you hold our king's sword with you?"

Alan looked at the sword he had received, "You mean this sword?"

He realized that the knights always considered Artorius as their King, and when he showed them the sword, both champion knights, Percival and Dagonet, gave him a proper knight salute with one knee on the floor. They addressed him with utmost respect, saying, "Lord, I know where the village is. Please let me follow you on this quest."

Alan certainly wasn't a fool to decline such an offer from champion NPCs. After he accepted, he noticed that the relationship status between him and both knights suddenly changed, indicating a newfound camaraderie and loyalty.

[Your relationship status with Dagonet has increased from Friendly to Trusted]

[Your relationship status with Percival has increased from Elated to Trusted]

With the newfound loyalty of the champion NPCs, Alan now had two additional members in his group and the location of the elusive fey village. Unfortunately, the village lay even further north, a daunting 60 miles deep into territory that had reportedly become an undead-infested wasteland.

Before embarking on this quest to find the village, Alan knew that proper preparation was essential. To gather more information and resources, he decided to join the troops in visiting the old garrison first.

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