Re: Apocalypse Game
chapter-124

The outer part of Calumet was a sprawling area separated from the inner town by a river that encircled the entire town. Despite the D company's successful crossing of the river, the majority of the town—about 70% of it—still lay within the inner part. It was in the northeast corner of this inner town that the town hall had been transformed into the nerve center of the Nazi occupation, serving as their headquarters.

Now that D company had established a bridgehead by crossing the river, they found themselves confronted with a formidable challenge. Within the inner town, a total of 28 Nazi outposts had been strategically positioned. Each of these outposts was heavily fortified, manned by more than 200 well-armed Nazi soldiers. This formidable force didn't even account for the relentless patrols that roamed the area, making every step fraught with danger.

This marked the beginning of the true grind. Alan, alongside his 400-strong force, approached their first target: a supermarket that had been converted into a veritable fortress by the Nazi occupiers. As they neared, a notification chimed on their game links, revealing the activation of a hidden quest.

[Hidden Quest Activated]

[You received E level quest: Clear out Nazi outpost]

This hidden quest represented a true treasure trove of opportunities within the game. It promised not only a sense of accomplishment but also valuable rank rewards. Without hesitation, the 400 players surged forward, storming the supermarket that was now teeming with 200 Nazi soldiers.

They descended upon their foes, clashing in fierce combat. Amid the chaos, they remained vigilant, keeping an eye out for any approaching Nazi patrols that could reinforce their enemies.

Inside the outpost, the lure of untouched items proved tempting to some players, drawing their attention away from the battle and toward the opportunity to loot the supermarket's shelves. However, Alan remained resolute, his sights set on the office room at the rear of the supermarket. This was where the Nazi officer and his three formidable SS Elite guards awaited.

Working in perfect coordination, Alan's core team—composed of Merle, Daniel, Milo, and Rose—swiftly neutralized the enemy forces within the office room. Their efforts yielded two uncommon drops as a reward: a [Brawler Jacket] that boosted Milo's hand-to-hand combat capabilities and a [War axe] that enhanced Daniel's attack speed. Yet, despite their success, Alan's quest for his third note continued to remain elusive.

[You have successfully cleared out the outpost]

[You have completed E level quest]

[You received E rank reward x1]

[You received 1000 survival points, 1000 XP]

[07:25]

The rewards and loot dispelled any doubts in the players that still had lingered regarding Alan's ambitious plan. However, due to the size of their army and varying levels of contribution, not all participants achieved an E rank; some received an F rank instead.

As they stood amidst the spoils of their victory, one of the sergeants accompanying Marsh's units inquired about their next move, asking, "Where to next?"

The euphoria of their previous victory had their spirits soaring, but Alan knew that it was time to elevate their efforts to another level. He addressed his troops, his voice carrying the weight of his leadership and conviction.

"To maximize our benefits, we need to split into two teams," Alan announced. Before any objections could arise, he quickly marked two outposts on their map that were conveniently located close to each other. "I believe we can handle this. If we encounter any large enemy forces, we can reinforce each other."

With a unanimous decision, the troops agreed, responding with determination, "Let's go!"

With this plan in motion, the company was divided into two units, each heading toward its designated outpost. They would embark on the same hidden mission, each team assigned to a different location—one in a museum building and the other in a library. While these sites didn't promise bountiful loot, both teams would receive more E-rank rewards than F-rank, igniting their excitement for what lay ahead.

[08:08]

During this time, updates from the military radio hinted at the progress of Alpha Company and Bravo Company. They had successfully cleared the outer part of their respective sections of town and were advancing deeper into their designated outposts. What had started as a cooperative effort now turned into a race to secure as many outpost rewards as possible. Nevertheless, Delta Company maintained a significant lead.

[09:40]

With determined resolve, the Delta Company conquered two more outposts, but their stamina began to wane. Alan spurred them onward, revealing their next target: a police station and a clinic. The former promised a cache of weapons and ammunition, while the latter held a trove of essential medical supplies. Seeing the promise of looting the much-needed items, the units suddenly gained their vigor back.

However, these outposts were more substantial and heavily defended, both inside and outside.

For this mission, the two units collaborated, tackling one outpost after another and sharing their hard-earned loot. Alan's E rank rewards had accumulated to five by this point. Yet, despite their continued efforts and five additional SS Elite soldier eliminations, his quest for the elusive third note remained unfulfilled. A sense of despondency began to creep in as he grappled with the possibility that he might never complete this chain quest.

As the troops stood amidst the remnants of their latest triumph, the question lingered in the air: "Where should we go next, Alan?"

Alan couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency as he glanced at his game link, registering the new data that appeared before him:

[11:02]

[6 hours and 58 minutes left to stop Nazi Invasion]

[Updating current players: 3,582]

[Updating Nazi soldier: 7,345]

The numbers caused a knot of concern to tighten in his chest. In response, Alan chose a relatively safer outpost a fortified warehouse building. This decision raised eyebrows among some of his sharper comrades like Kenny and Merle, who wondered about the change in strategy.

However, their questions were soon answered as events unfolded. Just as they successfully cleared their eighth outpost, a new notification flashed across their game links:

[11:40]

[Updating Nazi soldier: 7,000]

[You have successfully killed enough Nazi members, to ensure their invasion a failure]

[You have completed the main Quest]

Initially, this notification should have brought joy and relief to the team. It signified the completion of their main quest and the impending failure of the Nazi invasion. Yet, the jubilation was short-lived as the next part of the message left everyone stunned:

[Secondary Quest: take control of Calumet in process]

[Updating quest parameter]

[With the increasing threat, the Nazi Empire decided to call on reinforcement to guard their new Nazi base]

An unsettling tension permeated the group. As the realization of the secondary quest's commencement settled in, they heard the unmistakable roar of engines in the sky. Heads turned upward in unison, eyes fixed on the ominous sight.

"It's a NAZI airplane!! Are they sending more reinforcements?!" one voice cried out.

"No, it's a fighter plane!!" another exclaimed.

To the group's astonishment, the fighter plane unleashed a relentless barrage of gunfire down onto the streets below, and bombs rained down indiscriminately. Panic gripped the scene, and the [military radio] soon buzzed with frantic reports of multiple player casualties, drowning out the once-resounding cheers of victory.