Re: Apocalypse Game
chapter-96

The successful ambush sent a burst of notifications cascading across Alan's Gamelink. Each beep and flash representing the culmination of their hard-fought efforts.

[You have killed multiple soldiers]

[You gained 4600 XP and 2300 survival points]

[You gained 1400 XP and 700 survival points]

[You gained 2200 XP and 1100 survival points]

The smoke from the explosions hung in the air like a grim curtain. Alan, Merle, and Rose watched as the haze acted not only as evidence of their recent victory but also as a signal to all in the vicinity. Within moments, the silhouettes of Delta Company and the 13th Militia could be seen moving on the horizon, shifting their formations in response to the changed battlefield.

Alan took a deep breath, the scent of gunpowder and burnt earth filling his nostrils. "It's time for us to leave!".

Merle nodded, his fingers still wrapped tightly around his weapon, sweat dripping from his brow. Rose, eyes always vigilant, scanned their surroundings, ensuring that their escape route remained clear.

The pathway the Nazi forces wanted to use was no longer an option. It had transformed from a discreet track into a debris-strewn battleground, flanked by Delta Company and 13th Militia on both sides. Any approach or march from this path would now be suicide.

Watching their progress from a distance, Alan saw how the Nazi forces decided to search for an alternative route, and they began migrating further north.

Once again they were met by the determined resistance of other militia units holding the high ground. With their options dwindling, and fatigue setting in, the Nazi forces were funneled into the dense, shadowy forest where Alan's second part of the plan waited.

Almost two hundred of the weary Nazi troops hesitantly approached the forest's edge. Even in their state of exhaustion, they maintained some semblance of strategy, sending out a few scouts ahead. But fatigue and the weight of the earlier battles made their efforts rushed. Their hasty recon meant they wouldn't catch the traps Alan had laid out, and the terrain's secrets remained safe, for now.

Alan watched them, a predatory glint in his eyes. This forest was his home turf, and he was about to turn it into a Nazi graveyard.

Under the cover of the dense foliage, Alan moved with a silent grace. He was a shadow among shadows, the dim light from the setting sun barely revealing his form. Merle and Rose followed suit, their steps equally discreet, a testament to their countless hours of stealth training.

Reaching a predetermined point, Alan saw what he was looking for: a massive stack of dried branches and leaves, expertly concealed by the forest's natural undergrowth. He'd spent hours preparing this.

He whispered, every word dripping with anticipation, "This is it, get ready."

Without any further warning, Alan pulled out his [Lighter], the tiny flame contrasting sharply with the impending inferno it was about to birth. As he lit the stack, an amber glow began to spread, crackling as it consumed the dried materials.

Within moments, what started as a flicker grew into roaring flames that clawed their way up, sending tendrils of smoke skyward. The sharp smell of burning wood cut through the forest, alerting everyone in the vicinity.

"Fire! Fire at our back!!" came the panicked shouts from the Nazi troops. Their calls of alarm intermingled with the sound of burning foliage, creating a cacophony of chaos.

The flames served their purpose: a distinct, unmistakable signal. From hidden trenches and makeshift bunkers, two dozen players emerged like wraiths from the mist, their fingers ready on their triggers. A unified hail of gunfire echoed in the forest.

TRATATATA TRATATATA.

The ambush was meticulously coordinated, attacks converging on the Nazis from two angles. To the left was Vicky, her team moving with ruthless precision. And to the right, the rednecks, their guerrilla tactics proving equally deadly. The initial onslaught left dozens of Nazis either dead or grievously injured.

A guttural roar broke through the din, signaling the Nazi forces to regroup. Their leader, a tall figure with a presence that commanded attention even amid the chaos, barked out orders.

"Stop worrying about the fire, start shooting! There aren't many of them!"

His words served as a rallying cry, and the Nazi forces began to respond, their guns turning towards the direction of the players, preparing to mount a counteroffensive.

With the Nazi forces now alerted and retaliating with force, Vicky wasted no time. She executed Alan's instructions to the letter, signaling her team to retreat further into the dense forest. The leafy canopy and undergrowth provided cover, masking their movements and leaving behind only ghostly echoes of where they once were.

"Chase after them!" The Nazi leader's voice rang out, tinged with frustration. The command was immediate, desperate even. But the thickening smoke from the fire, now billowing into an opaque curtain, rendered visibility almost non-existent. The forest had transformed into a labyrinth of shadows and illusions.

"Find them!" he roared, unwilling to admit the looming sense of dread as his men stumbled aimlessly.

But instead of finding the retreating players, the Nazi soldiers were met with yet another cruel surprise. As they moved, the ground beneath would occasionally give away, swallowing unsuspecting soldiers into deep pits lined with sharpened stakes. Groans of pain punctuated the air, mixing with the stifling smoke.

"We are being played! We need to retreat!" one officer shouted, his voice filled with urgency.

But even as they attempted to retrace their steps, the forest was unforgiving. Muffled gunshots broke the eerie silence, each one targeted and lethal.

TAR! TAR! TAR!

With every echo, another Nazi soldier fell.

Panicking, they tried locating the concealed shooters, but the shadowy depths of the forest offered countless hiding places. And then another round of shots.

TAR! TAR! TAR!

"From above! In the trees!" a soldier yelled. Almost instinctively, guns were raised, and bullets sprayed into the overhead branches and leaves, hoping to hit the elusive shooter.

Yet, amidst the hail of bullets, a silhouette gracefully jumped between the trees, evading their shots. Rose, with her [Monkey boots], had turned the forest canopy into her playground. The boots granted her unparalleled agility, and from her elevated vantage point, each shot was precise and lethal.

As the Nazis continued their desperate gunfire towards the trees, more silenced shots emerged from the shadows. Alan and Merle, masters of stealth with their high [sneak] skill, began picking off the enemies one by one. Their positions were ever-changing, making it nearly impossible for the Nazi forces to pinpoint their locations.

Together, the trio leveraged the disarray, maximizing their kills and pressing the advantage. The smell of gunpowder, the stifling smoke, and the chorus of gunfire encapsulated the forest in a nightmarish haze.

"Dammit!" The Nazi leader's voice cracked as the weight of their dire situation began to press down on him.

Amidst the chaos, the Nazi soldiers responded with a frantic hail of gunfire, their bullets shredding leaves and splintering branches as they tried desperately to hit the shadows moving amidst the trees. As they darted about, looking for a way out, a rallying cry pierced the thick canopy.

Vicky, seizing the momentary distraction, led her group back into the fray, unleashing a deadly barrage that further reduced the already dwindling Nazi numbers before once again retreating.

"Do not let them escape again!!" The shout was almost desperate, filled with the raw emotion of a leader watching his forces being decimated.

Yet, as the Nazi leader and his remaining troops pursued Vicky's elusive group, the forest had yet more surprises in store. More traps, expertly hidden and deadly effective, awaited their every step. But just when they thought they had finally closed up to Vicky's group, another force emerged from the thickets.

Milo and Daniel, standing at the forefront, led a brigade of reinvigorated players. Their weapons of choice weren't guns, but rather the heft of swords and the solid assurance of shields. With a ferocious battle cry, "Attack!!!", they charged headfirst into the already beleaguered Nazi forces.

It was a sight to behold. Where bullets and explosions had been the dominant forces earlier, now it was the clang of metal against metal, the grunt of hand-to-hand combat, and the determination of warriors in close quarters. The terrain, with its natural obstructions, gave the melee fighters of the 17th Militia a distinctive edge. The thick smoke that once hindered vision now became their ally, masking their movements and making each strike a surprise.

As minutes turned into what felt like hours, the fierce brawl took its toll. The fatigue of the Nazi soldiers, combined with the relentless onslaught and the treacherous landscape, tilted the scales irreversibly in favor of the 17th Militia. By the time the echoes of battle started to wane, the forest floor was strewn with the casualties of war.

Of the 200 Nazi soldiers who had initially ventured into the forest, not a single one emerged. The trees, once silent witnesses, now bore testament to the valiant efforts of the 17th Militia and their glorious victory.