Re: Apocalypse Game

Chapter 184 Defend the Gate

As Alan fiercely swung his chainsaw blade around, the grotesque scene before him unfolded in vivid detail. The putrid stench of rotting flesh filled the air as the mass of undead creatures closed in on the gate. The moonlight illuminated their decaying forms, casting eerie shadows on the battlefield.

Among the advancing horde, the most ominous figures were the [Revenants - rank C]. These nightmarish entities possessed 1000 HP each, their ancient, rusted armor clinking ominously as they moved. Their ghastly, skeletal faces were hidden behind visored helmets, adding to the terror of their appearance. Their movements were deliberate and calculated, a stark contrast to the mindless frenzy of the zombies around them.

The relentless barrage of firearms and arrows from the defenders delayed the Revenants' advance, but it couldn't halt their inexorable march entirely. They pressed on, undeterred by the chaos and death that surrounded them.

Amid the chaos, Milo and his gang of convicts leaped down from the wall, drawing the attention of one of the Revenants. On the other side of the gate, the two champion NPCs, Percival and Dagonet, engaged another Revenant in combat. Their shining armor and skilled swordsmanship clashed with the malevolent undead knight, creating a mesmerizing and deadly spectacle.

This left only one Revenant to pass through and attack Alan, who stood ready with his roaring chainsaw blade, determined to protect the gate and his comrades from the impending doom.

Alan found himself in a challenging situation as his skills were on cooldown, leaving him with limited offensive options. He quickly switched to a more defensive stance, equipping his [Shield of White Knight ] to block incoming attacks while waiting for the right opportunity to strike.

The Revenant, a formidable foe with 1000 HP and a high-defense armor, relentlessly pressed its attack. Alan skillfully parried the undead knight's strikes with his shield, minimizing the damage he received. Each blow from the Revenant's broadsword was met with a resounding clang as it struck the shield.

[Stabbing: Block attack, Received 8 damage]

[Stabbing: Inflicts 88 damage]

[Stabbing: Block attack, Received 9 damage] 

Alan knew that the Revenant was a tough adversary and that playing it safe was the best course of action. He couldn't afford to get overwhelmed by the Revenant's powerful attacks, as the consequences could be fatal.

[Stabbing: Block attack, Received 7 damage] 

[Stabbing: Received 42 damage]

As Alan's skill cooldowns gradually counted down, he remained focused and vigilant, his eyes locked on the Revenant. He knew that timing would be crucial in this battle.

Finally, as his skills became available once more, Alan wasted no time. He activated his active skill, [Shadow Strike], a technique that allowed him to move with incredible speed and precision. In an instant, he positioned himself behind the Revenant, exploiting its momentary vulnerability.

With the element of surprise on his side, Alan launched a critical attack from the sneak position. His blade struck true, causing the Revenant to stagger under the unexpected assault. The Revenant's armor offered little protection against the precision of Alan's strike.

[Stabbing: Lethal Attack. Inflicts 96 damage]

[Critical hit inflicted from sneak attack, 68 damage]

Capitalizing on the moment, Alan followed up with a rapid flurry of strikes using [Blade Frenzy], a skill that allowed him to unleash a barrage of attacks in quick succession. The burst of damage overwhelmed the Revenant, and it struggled to defend itself against the relentless assault.

With a final, powerful strike, Alan vanquished the formidable foe. The Revenant's HP plummeted, and it collapsed to the ground, defeated.

[You have killed the Revenant]

[You have received 2000 XP and 1000 Survival points]

[You received one rare chest]

In the midst of the ongoing battle and with no time to celebrate their victory over the Revenant, Alan quickly signaled to Vicky. She understood his command and nodded, giving the signal for the next phase of their defensive strategy.

Swiftly, arrows were fired into the trenches below. The arrows were not ordinary; they were tipped with flammable substances. As they struck the ground, sparks ignited, and flames erupted, spreading rapidly along the 300-meter-long trenches.

The night was suddenly illuminated by the fierce blaze, casting an eerie and fiery glow over the battlefield. The wall of fire created by the burning trenches acted as a barrier, instantly incinerating dozens of undead that attempted to cross it. The intense heat and flames proved to be a formidable deterrent, effectively splitting the advancing horde in two.

While fire alone couldn't permanently stop the relentless undead, it bought the defending players precious time. The burning trenches created a temporary obstacle, forcing the undead to navigate through the flames cautiously. This pause in the enemy's advance allowed the players to catch their breath, regain stamina, and tend to the wounded.

The siege battle was a true test of endurance and resilience. It required the defenders to hold their ground in a long and grueling fight, making use of every advantage and tactic at their disposal to withstand the relentless onslaught of the undead.

As the second wave of undead approached, Alan faced them head-on, making use of his dual weapons, the [King's Sword] and his chainsaw blade. However, wielding two weapons simultaneously came at a cost, as he incurred a penalty status.

[Damage and Accuracy penalty 20%]

This penalty could normally be mitigated by the [Dual wield] and [ambidextrous] skills, which allowed for more effective use of dual weapons. Unfortunately, Alan lacked these skills. Nevertheless, the sheer number of undead in the vicinity made precision less critical, and the penalty to damage wasn't a major concern. In fact, the advantage of wielding both weapons simultaneously allowed him to achieve a higher overall damage output.

With a sword in one hand and the roaring chainsaw blade in the other, Alan fought with fervor, cutting down undead foes left and right as they closed in on the gate. His dual-wielding style was unorthodox but highly effective in the chaotic melee of battle.

Alan relied on his agility and maneuverability to weave through the sea of undead, striking as swiftly and frequently as possible. With the two champion knights serving as his protectors, he maximized his offensive capabilities, racking up kills while maintaining a solid defense. Alan's primary responsibility was to ensure that both NPC knights remained in good condition, periodically healing them as needed.

This strategic approach allowed Alan to neutralize the immediate threat posed by the Revenants and accumulate a significant amount of experience points (XP) in the process. Over the course of an hour, he continued his relentless assault, keeping the gate area secure.

Suddenly, a familiar voice cut through the chaos. It was Dylan, accompanied by his group of engineers.

"Alan! They're ready!"

In response to Dylan's signal, Alan called out to all the players outside the gate, instructing them to return. Vicky tossed him a rope, which he used to climb back over the gate. As he reached the other side, he saw it—a palm-sized ball with a traditional fuse protruding from it.

[Homemade Bomb]

[Type: Explosive]

[Rarity: Common]

[Attributes: Firepower 80-160]

[Effect: Area damage 10-30 (5 meters)]

[Able to Bring Outside the Game: No]

[Remarks: Don't make this without proper supervision]

The [Homemade Bomb] was a product of the engineering team's special project, a traditional explosive device crafted from materials scavenged in the area. As it was a prototype item that hadn't been tested previously, Alan, with his high HP and defense, volunteered to handle it. With the fuse lit, he held the bomb cautiously before hurling it toward the amassed horde in front of the gate.

There was a tense ten-second wait before the bomb finally detonated, producing a deafening boom and sending several undead flying in various directions.

KABOOMMM!!

[Impact: Lethal Explosion inflicted 210 damage]

[Impact: Explosion inflicted 148 damage]

[Impact: Explosion inflicted 78 damage]

Thanks to Alan's [Pyromaniac] Title, he dealt an extra 35% damage with the bomb. While it wasn't powerful enough to instantly kill all the undead unless they had low health points, the sheer number of undead gathered together allowed Alan to inflict roughly 3,000 HP in total damage with a single bomb.

Impressed by the effectiveness of the homemade bombs, Alan inquired, "Good! How many do you have?"

Johnny, the leader of the project, presented a box filled with 20 of the bombs. Alan turned to Vicky with a smile and complimented her, saying, "You have done a great job on this gate, you may continue."

Confused, Vicky asked, "Alan! What are you doing?"

Seeing that the undead in front of him had dwindled, Alan decided to run along the walls and threw his new toy toward an area with the most concentrated undead.

KABOOM! KABOOM!

Multiple explosions occurred, killing dozens of undead and wounding hundreds of them. Unfortunately, not all the bombs successfully exploded. There was even one that exploded too soon, damaging a third of his HP. It appeared that the project needed more improvements.

Nevertheless, the explosions once again provided a much-needed break for the players to regain their stamina and heal their wounds. The hordes continued to assault for another hour until it gradually lightened, and there were barely any undead seen at dawn.

[You have passed the fourth night]

[3 more nights to survive]