Re: Apocalypse Game
chapter-174

The battlefield was a scene of complex strategy, orchestrated by the collaboration of three servers: Paris, Cairo, and Bangkok. A meticulous plan had been crafted, and it unfolded with precision.

In the initial phases, the plan unfolded as follows: The Roman forces, superior in their combat prowess, were given the upper hand, allowing them to triumph in the early clashes. The French players capitalized on this, leveraging the opportunity to target and eliminate thousands of barbarians during their retreat.

Following this stage, a calculated countermove was executed. Thai and Egyptian players, launched their offensive just as the Roman leaders were strategically drawn away from the central battleground. This tactical maneuver ensured that players from the Bangkok and Cairo servers had their chance to engage the Romans and tip the scales in their favor.

As night descended upon the battlefield, the dynamics had shifted dramatically. Amidst the carnage, only 2,000 Roman legionnaires and 8,000 barbarians remained, locked in a desperate struggle against a formidable and newly risen force of 15,000 undead.

The scales had shifted dramatically, and the battlefield had become a nightmarish arena of survival and annihilation, where the undead outnumbered the living, and the outcome remained uncertain amidst the chaos.

In a grim turn of events, to ensure the safety of the players and to execute a critical part of their plan, the French players had prepared an extensive amount of oil, discreetly hidden beneath a bed of dried grass across the field before the battle even started. This preparation had come about through a cooperative effort between the support teams of all three servers.

As the battle continued, all players were instructed to withdraw to designated safety zones and wait for a prearranged signal. Axel Arnebout, the French noble overseeing the operation, watched the battlefield with a sense of satisfaction. Pride swelled within him as he observed the unfolding strategy.

With a sense of purpose, Axel drew his bow, ignited an arrow, and released it into the night sky. The blazing arrow served as the signal for what was to come. In response, all players—both Egypt and Thai— followed the cue with their prepared fire arrows.

The night sky above the battlefield was quickly adorned with a mesmerizing, firefly-like constellation of flame, as arrows and torches ignited the oil-soaked grass below. What had once been a battleground of tumultuous conflict was now consumed by a relentless inferno.

Minutes elapsed before Alan reached the scene, and as he did, the night was still ablaze with chaos and destruction. The undead and humans writhed in the inferno, their anguished cries merging into a chilling chorus of despair. The fields were in a state of pandemonium, with hundreds of terrified individuals frantically attempting to escape the encroaching flames, and thousands meeting their tragic end.

Artorius, could not bear the horrors unfolding before him. He cried out in agony, his voice a desperate lament, and without hesitation, he hurled himself into the midst of the blaze. He aimed to rally and rescue as many of his men as possible from the clutches of the relentless fire.

"NO! Artorius, don't!" Alan's voice rang out in an urgent plea, his attempts to stop the man proving futile.

As Alan watched the brave knight charge into the inferno, he couldn't help but acknowledge a grim truth. The fire, while devastating to humans, was notably less effective against the undead. The brilliant plan to engulf the battlefield in flames had the potential to backfire swiftly, and the consequences of their actions remained uncertain amid the relentless chaos.

On the northern side of the battlefield, 700 Bangkok players and 300 from Cairo stood witness to the roaring flames, their eyes alight with excitement as they watched their Gamelink interfaces blink with notifications of earned points and experience. The thrill of victory was tangible in the air, and cheers resounded through their ranks.

However, the jubilation was short-lived. Their collective exuberance gave way to apprehension as a horrific sight unfolded before them. Emerging from the blazing inferno came hundreds of [zombie warriors]. Their charred, scorched bodies were barely recognizable, yet they were undeniably animate, driven by a relentless hunger for carnage. The undead warriors advanced, threatening to ravage anything in their path.

On the southern side, a similar dread-inducing spectacle transpired. Hundreds of [zombie knights] appear from the smoke, charging relentlessly at the escaping Roman soldiers. The scale of the undead onslaught was staggering, and panic began to grip those who had initially reveled in the conflagration's aftermath.

Amid the chaos, Captain Thierry, the commander of the French army, was struck by surprise and uncertainty. He turned to Axel for advice "Mister Axel, what should we do now?"

In response, the French nob;e maintained an air of calm resolve and offered a rallying cry to his troops. "Do not falter," he declared with unwavering confidence. "There were only hundreds of them, and they are at the end of their health! Keep fighting and get more points!"

With a single sentence, Axel managed to reignite the spirit of the French players. Fear and doubt gave way to determination as they quickly rallied and prepared to confront the relentless onslaught of undead hordes.

Firearm shots rang out, weapon strikes, and spells were unleashed with renewed vigor. As Axel had predicted, the undead, their health already depleted by the earlier inferno, proved to be easier targets. The rewarding satisfaction of each successful kill spurred the living players on, motivating them to press forward despite the unexpected escalation of the battle.

Although the number of undead was more substantial than initially anticipated, it was still a manageable fight, especially with the unexpected assistance of hundreds of Roman soldiers who had rallied to join the fray. Their combined efforts created a formidable line of defense against the encroaching undead horde.

Yet, it was as if the game's mastermind knew the players' strategy and adapted to it. The sky overhead grumbled ominously, and rain began to pour down. The sudden onset of rain felt inexplicable, and frustration reverberated among the players.

"What! This is a joke!!" Axel exclaimed, voicing the disbelief at the situation.

The falling rain came with an ominous twist. As the flames were extinguished by the downpour, thousands of undead warriors and knights, their ranks swelled, marched relentlessly toward the players on both sides.

Amid the torrential rain and the relentless advance of the undead, an unexpected and chilling event unfolded. A shrieking sound pierced the air, emanating from the top of the northwestern hill. All eyes turned to witness a lone rider whose eyes seemed to glow eerily. The sight of this figure sent shivers down the spines of those who beheld it, and anxiety coursed through the ranks.

Alan certainly knew who it was. The figure was the Necromancer, the one responsible for all the undead rising.