Re: Apocalypse Game
chapter-67

In the sprawling expanse of the warehouse, shadows played on the walls as Alan and his team worked diligently, filling bags with an arsenal of weapons and ammunition. The metallic clinks of bullets and gun parts created a continuous rhythm that underscored their sense of urgency.

Alan, with his meticulous nature, had spent days formulating this plan. Merle was assigned the task of leading a secondary team into the strategic location of the port that could be their ticket out of this hellhole.

The group's primary objective was straightforward: Find and secure a discreet location for the weapon drop-off. Vicky would perch atop an elevated point to relay any signs of danger to the team. Milo would ensure the weapons safely descended to their rendezvous point.

Then there was Merle's individual mission: he would use the shadows to his advantage and separate from the group, aiming to stealthily hijack a boat. This vessel wasn't just a means of transport; it represented hope. With the city teeming with Nazi patrols, the waterways provided the safest route of escape.

Time seemed to blur as more and more bags, heavy with their deadly contents, glided smoothly down the ropes. Milo, on high alert, had devised a series of hand signals. Whenever a patrol loomed close, he would gesture, prompting an immediate halt in operations until the threat passed.

"6th bag received!" The update echoed in the vast space, marking their progress.

However, the momentary peace was shattered as the piercing sound of gunfire resonated from the front entrance. Instantly, the atmosphere grew tense. The two redneck guards posted outside were engaging with an enemy force.

Cursing under his breath, Alan's eyes flashed with frustration. "Damn it, too soon!" His voice held a note of urgency. Directing Daniel to stay on task, Alan's footsteps echoed loudly as he descended to the first floor. The scene that met him was one of chaos. Luis, eyes wide with terror, was clearly unprepared for the sudden assault. Beside him, the two other rednecks, fingers hovering over their weapons, looked ready to rush out and join the fray.

Wasting no time, Alan commanded with a voice of authority, "No! Stay put and continue packing. I'll deal with this!" Without waiting for a response, he bolted towards the entrance, mentally preparing for the confrontation that lay ahead.

Emerging from the building's relative safety, Alan's heart raced as he was met with a scene of chaos. Spread across the yard, a formidable force of at least two dozen soldiers, moving with discipline, closing in. The two rednecks, Boyd and Ruth, were desperately trying to fend them off but were clearly outmatched, their positions compromised as they found themselves pinned behind a wooden box.

Swearing under his breath, Alan quickly sized up the situation. "Damn, this is worse than I thought!" he murmured. However, his years of experience had taught him to remain calm in the face of adversity. His resolve hardened, and with a swift, fluid motion, he pulled out his Glock 17 from its holster. In the midst of flying bullets and chaos, he fired at the closest assailant, the deafening report of the gun echoing in the courtyard.

Simultaneously, with practiced ease, his other hand lobbed three rounded objects into the midst of the soldiers. Recognizing the danger, Alan's voice roared above the din, "Take cover!!". Three massive explosions followed in quick succession, scattering debris and sending a shockwave rippling across the grounds.

The tactical display flashed rapidly:

[Impact: Explosion inflicted 64 damage]

[Impact: Explosion inflicted 105 damage]

[Impact: Explosion inflicted 98 damage]

[Impact: Lethal Explosion inflicted 172 damage… target killed]

[Impact: Lethal Explosion inflicted 179 damage… target killed]

[You gained 400 XP and 200 survival points],

Alan's strategy had been effective. Two soldiers lay motionless, while others were severely injured. He quickly understood that the increased damage from the blasts was a result of his special [Pyromanic] Title, which amplified the grenade's destructive power by 35%.

Using the momentary advantage provided by the explosions, Alan yelled to Boyd and Ruth, "Get inside now!" But disaster struck. As Ruth made her dash towards the entrance, a bullet struck her leg, sending her crashing to the ground. Without hesitation, Alan covered the distance between them, providing suppressive fire to keep their adversaries at bay. He then hoisted the injured Ruth into his arms and carried her inside to safety.

Inside, he immediately applied medical gauze to Ruth's wound to stem the bleeding. The frantic atmosphere was palpable, with every member of the team knowing that time was of the essence. "How many bags?!" Alan demanded.

"10 bags!" came the urgent reply.

With determination, Alan instructed, "You two, move to the roof," pointing to the injured Ruth and a younger redneck named Wyatt. Their escape route was above, and they needed to ascend quickly.

But Alan knew they were far from safe. More bags needed to be transported, and he positioned himself to guard the entrance. Drawing his damaged, sawed-off shotgun, he prepared for the next wave of soldiers. The first unfortunate soul to breach the doorway was met with the full force of Alan's weapon. The loud blast echoed in the enclosed space, and the display flashed again:

[Shooting: Lethal attack Inflicts 162 damage.. Target died]

[You gained 200 XP and 100 survival points],

Despite its worn condition, the shotgun's sheer power, enhanced by Alan's firearm proficiency, dealt a fatal blow. But he was acutely aware of its limitations. With only one shot left and no time to reload, Alan braced himself for the next imminent confrontation.

The second soldier barreled into the warehouse just as Alan's shotgun clicked empty. With no rounds left and a lethal assault approaching, he quickly shifted tactics. Drawing his sword with a fluid motion, Alan met the soldier with a fierce and decisive strike. The blade's gleam was momentarily overshadowed by the falling body of the intruder.

"Retreat! To the stairs!" Alan's voice carried a clear command. Directing the group to ascend to safety, he strategically retreated himself, using the numerous crates strewn about as cover to shield himself from the barrage of bullets. In this brief respite, he managed to reload his shotgun. But even as he pumped a round into the chamber, another soldier made the fatal error of attempting entry from the main doorway. With a deafening boom, the soldier met the same fate as his predecessors.

Yet, Alan's respite was short-lived. His acute [Enhance Sense] picked up faint footfalls, signaling an impending ambush from the flanks. A larger group was encircling the warehouse, making his position increasingly untenable. Shooting rounds of suppressive fire, Alan dashed towards the stairwell, urging his comrades to make a swift retreat to the roof.

From his elevated vantage point, the situation became painfully clear. The warehouse was swarming with soldiers, all moving in formation, their fingers itching at triggers. Alan's heart raced, but his mind remained sharp. Knowing that this could be their last stand, he frantically rummaged through his bag, pulling out all the grenades he had. With a rapid motion, he yanked out the pins and hurled them towards the incoming horde.

As he bolted towards the roof's edge, a scene of chaos played out below. But amidst the bedlam, Alan noticed Luis, the Mexican man, dangling precariously from a fraying rope. Without a second thought, he lunged, grabbing hold of Luis just as the world below them erupted in a massive inferno.

KABOOOMMM!!!

The earth-shattering explosion rocked the very foundation of the warehouse. The concussive wave jolted Alan, pain surging through him as shrapnel tore into his flesh. The blast's force severed the rope, and in a heart-stopping moment, both men found themselves plummeting through the air, crashing into the building adjacent.

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