Re: Apocalypse Game

"You could have stopped this!" Axel's furious shout echoed through the cavern as his 30 veterans found themselves cornered by the formidable duo of Morgana and Merlin. Though the legendary NPCs might not boast the 10,000 HP of a Dreadnought, they possessed something arguably more terrifying.

The Vampire Lord, with its ice claws and incredible speed, wielded skills capable of one-shotting even the most seasoned veteran players. The dire consequences became evident with the swift death of one of the veteran players.

"Maddox is down!!"

As the fallen player's name rang out in the cavern, panic spread among the veterans. The realization that their comrades could be swiftly taken down by these formidable foes induced a sense of fear and urgency.

Meanwhile, Merlin, now bearing the title of Dark Magus, unveiled a new offensive capability. With a ten-second channeling time, he unleashed the spell [Area of Decay]. The tomb's surroundings transformed into toxic smoke, poisoning anyone unfortunate enough to pass through it. The once strategic battleground, filled with pitfalls and barricades, now favored the legendary NPCs, leaving the veterans struggling to adapt to the sudden shift in the dynamics of the battle.

"We should kill that Magus first!" shouted Cachellos, directing a barrage of bullets towards Merlin. His logic was clear – eliminate the Magus, who appeared to be the more vulnerable target. However, their tactics were thwarted as the Vampire Lord swiftly arrived, seemingly aware of their intentions, and took a protective stance in front of Merlin.

"Dammit!! Stay close, stay in formation!!" Cachellos barked, attempting to regain control of the situation. Gabriel, the Bishop, took decisive action by casting his specialty [Holy Circle: Sanctuary]. The high-level spell enveloped the area in divine energy, not only boosting the players' health significantly but also cleansing them from poison.

This act, however, made Gabriel the primary target for Morgana. The Vampire Lord glided through the players, bypassing a few to target the Bishop directly.

"Protect the Bishop!!" The cry echoed through the cavern, as the players scrambled to shield Gariel from the impending assault of the Vampire Lord.

Darcy Manon, his bear-like form strategically placed himself as a living shield to protect his team leader from the relentless assault of Morgana. The Vampire Lord, with blinding speed, weaved through the chaos, her ice claws slashing through the air with deadly precision. Darcy's high-defense capabilities absorbed a significant portion of the blows, but even his formidable form couldn't escape the substantial damage inflicted by Morgana.

Florent, sought to counter Morgana's swiftness with his spear. Had Florent unleashed his powerful spear skill, [Forest of Spears], the bear-like player might have succumbed to the attack.

"Dammit, she's too fast!!" Florent frustration echoed through the cavern.

Meanwhile, Merlin had completed another spell, [Rock Bullets], launching multiple rocks that showered toward the players. While not the highest-damage spell, it proved devastating for some players who were yet to fully recover, claiming the lives of two veterans simultaneously.

The horror escalated as the three fallen veterans respawned as Revenants, adding more adversaries to the already challenging battle. The situation grew increasingly dire for Axel and his remaining forces.

Most of the veterans proved adept at handling Revenants in one-on-one combat, but they had to remain vigilant, constantly watching for ambushes from either Morgana or Merlin.

Axel, observing the intense battle from the back, began assessing their chances. Sensing Axel's thoughts, Alan spoke up, "You might win, but at what cost?"

Zencher, frustrated and agitated, delivered a harsh kick to the wounded Alan. "Let me kill this piece of shit," he growled.

However, Axel intervened, stating, "No... he's already dying. Killing him would only waste your points."

Afterward, with Axel's strategic shift, the battlefield dynamic swiftly altered. The spotlight turned solely onto Morgana, the Vampire Lord. The Death Knights joined forces with the formidable werewolf duo of Marcus and Jason. This tactical alliance effectively restricted Morgana's mobility, creating a virtual barricade that narrowed her options. Simultaneously, the group's damage dealers, comprising Nash the Tempest, Cade the Archer, Cammie the Blue Blaster, and even the versatile Cachelos, unleashed a relentless barrage of long-

range attacks on the vampire.

The air crackled with magical and elemental energies as spells, arrows, and bullets surged toward Morgana. The once strategic battleground now echoed with the symphony of combat, a chaotic crescendo of ranged assaults. With over twenty players relentlessly focusing on Morgana, her once formidable health rapidly dwindled, teetering on the edge of critical levels within a matter of minutes. The cavern reverberated with the intensity of the assault, creating a tense atmosphere that hung thick in the air.

"Watch out!!" The warning echoed through the cavern, a futile alert as Morgana unleashed yet another terrifying skill, [Drain Blood]. The sinister ability claimed the life of another unfortunate veteran, the siphoned life force simultaneously bolstered the Vampire Lord by 20%. The harrowing battle persisted for an agonizing five minutes. With no one explicitly guarding Merlin, four additional veterans succumbed to the onslaught. However, in a moment that carried a semblance of victory, Morgana, the Vampire Lord, fell to a final critical attack from a silver rapier, piercing her from behind.

[Morgana the Vampire Lord is defeated] rang out in the game, marking a momentary respite for the beleaguered veterans.

As the system announced their rewards, Axel's eyes fixated on a particular prize—the coveted [Book of the Dead]. The noble's grin widened as he held the book in his hands, deeming it worth the sacrifice of the ten fallen comrades.

"The Dark Magus next!!" Axel declared with determination.

Twenty veterans closed in on Merlin, and with Morgana absent to shield him, the Magus's health rapidly diminished. The intense battle claimed the lives of two more veterans before Merlin reached a critical state. Sensing the impending danger, the Magus decided to unleash a powerful spell that shook the entire chamber with a massive earthquake. Rocks cascaded from above, injuring some of the veterans. Witnessing a massive crack forming above them, Axel's conviction solidified.

"He's trying to bury us all together!" Axel's decisive command echoed through the cavern as he urgently directed all the veterans to evacuate the chamber. Large and small rocks tumbled within the confined space, closing off any escape routes. Alan, immobilized and resigned to his fate, could only accept the inevitable as the relentless cascade of rocks surrounded him.

[Impact: Received 62 damage]

[You have died.]

In those fleeting moments before darkness overcame him, Alan was surprised to realize that his consciousness persisted within the game. As the suffocating weight of the rocks pressed down on him, a peculiar sensation enveloped him, and a notification flashed in his mind:

[Bloodline mutation complete]

#####

Author Note:

I owe you all an explanation for the slow update. The truth is, my father gave some money to my wife to start a new business, and I have been busy setting it up for her. It involves a lot of legwork and traveling. Unfortunately, three years of writing has left me physically unfit for such tasks. I have been so tired that I find it very hard to focus on writing. My apologies, and thank you for your patience. Give me a few more days to return to daily updates.