Re: Apocalypse Game

The air was filled with the sounds of gunshots, cheers, and excited chatter. The facility was designed to accommodate multiple batches at the same time, with 20 players in each batch. Alan and his group of five, along with Merle and his group of six, were all part of the same batch, which added to the intensity of the competition.

As the first mission, target practice, commenced, the participants eagerly prepared themselves. The challenge was divided into three categories: close-range moving target, 100 meters, and 300 meters. Each player was given 10 shots to showcase their marksmanship, and their scores would be determined based on their accuracy. A hit target earned them 10 points, while a bullseye scored 20 points. However, any missed target would not count toward their score.

With the signal from the overseeing NPC, the virtual targets resembling moving enemy combatants appeared in the lanes. The close-range moving target challenge was designed to test speed, accuracy, and agility, making it an ideal category for Alan. His [Small Weapon (Expert)] skill, bestowed him with a 50% increase in effectiveness when using handguns, which includes both damage and accuracy.

Alan's confidence was evident as he skillfully took aim and fired his 10 shots, each hitting the bullseye with precision.

[10 x 20 scores = 200 scores]

His flawless performance drew the attention of his opponent, Merle, who acknowledged the impressive display, saying, "Not bad for a school teacher!" It became apparent that Merle was no ordinary player; he too achieved the same perfect score.

The redneck group, known for their gun enthusiast nature, also demonstrated their shooting prowess, with an average score of 140. However, Alan's companions didn't fare as well as they had hoped:

Milo - 100 scores

Daniel - 90 scores

Luis - 70 scores

Vicky - 110 scores

Vicky, the beautiful actress, was disappointed with her performance and playfully complained to Alan, "You should have told me… I would have used a handgun too, you know."

Alan responded with a knowing smile, recognizing that the handgun would prove to be a disadvantage in the upcoming rounds. Meanwhile, Merle, the Crimson Gunner, observed the proceedings from a distance, eagerly anticipating Alan's potential failure.

The second phase of the target practice challenge was the 100 meters test, a range that pushed the limits of normal human eyesight and was also the maximum firing range for handguns. Even for rifles with a much further range, precise aiming was essential to achieve good results. Every participant was fully focused on the targets, except for Merle, who confidently fired his shots without hesitation.

Tar! Tar! Tar!

Merle's shots were precise, hitting 8 bullseyes and 2 normal hits, earning him a total of 180 scores.

"Now show me what you can do, teacher," he taunted, eager to see if Alan could match his performance.

Alan remained calm and composed as he aimed at the target. Before he started shooting, he activated his active skill, [Eagle Eye]:

[Increase 100% sight on small weapon targets for one minute] [Cooldown: 10 minutes]

With his skill active, Alan's perception and aiming abilities were greatly enhanced. He began firing his shots with confidence and precision.

Tar! Tar! Tar!

In just 10 shots, Alan scored 9 bullseyes and one normal hit, totaling 190 points.

The result was enough to irritate the Crimson Gunner, who couldn't believe that he had scored lower than a mere school teacher. At the same time, Alan's outstanding performance boosted the confidence of his companions, allowing them to achieve a slight increase in their scores.

The tension in the air was palpable, and the normally noisy audience fell silent in astonishment. No one had expected that someone would be able to match the famous Crimson Gunner's skill. Whispers and murmurs filled the training ground as people wondered,

As the audience pondered the identity of this exceptional player, Alan's name became a topic of interest among the spectators.

Alan's display of marksmanship had certainly made him stand out in the crowd. As the rounds progressed, more and more people paid attention to the group he was in, curious to see how far he could go.

The challenge had turned into a thrilling spectacle, and the once overconfident Crimson Gunner was now more determined than ever to prove himself superior.

The final challenge of the target practice was to shoot at targets placed at a distance of 300 meters, a range that exceeded the effective firing range of handguns and even pushed the limits for rifles. Merle, once again, exuded confidence as he prepared to take his shots. He activated his [Soldier Spirit] skill to boost his range and accuracy, and with focused precision, he managed to hit 5 bullseyes, 4 hits, and one miss, earning a total of 140 scores.

"Let's see what magic you can conjure this time!" Merle taunted Alan, curious to witness his performance at such a challenging distance.

Unlike the previous rounds, Alan didn't have any new tricks up his sleeve. Instead, he patiently waited for his [Eagle Eye] skill to come off cooldown. With the skill active, Alan aimed carefully and fired his shots at the distant targets.

Tar! Tar! Tar!

This time, Alan scored only 5 hits, and one of them happened to be a lucky bullseye, resulting in one of the lowest scores among the batch, comparable to Luis.

Despite this, Alan's combined performance throughout the target practice challenges still earned him the second-place position in the batch:

[Rank 1 - Merle Rook - 520 scores]

[Rank 2 - Alan D Angello - 450 scores]

As the exciting competitions came to an end, the audience erupted into cheers, impressed by the display of shooting skills they had witnessed. However, in contrast to the enthusiastic crowd, the Crimson Gunner wore a condescending expression on his face as he looked at his opponent.

He couldn't hide his arrogance as he remarked, "Is there any point in doing the next test?!"

#####

The training ground was teeming with participants, and there were hundreds of players present, all with the same goal in mind—to test their skills and earn valuable mission rewards. The atmosphere was electric, with excitement and tension hanging in the air.

Among the batches of players, the appearance of the Crimson Gunner's name drew most of the attention. Almost all the spectators gravitated towards the group Alan was in, eager to witness the showdown between the renowned veteran and the mysterious, skilled sharpshooter.

"Anyone here know the other guy?" a curious onlooker inquired, trying to gather information about Alan.

"I thought he was a beginner, but he actually matched the Crimson Gunner!!" another person exclaimed, amazed at the surprising performance.

"Any civilian could pay their way to train in any shooting ground though, but I'm pretty sure he's going to suffer in the obstacle test," someone speculated, not fully convinced of Alan's abilities.

"That's right!" agreed another spectator, unsure about what to expect from the unknown competitor.

Whispers and speculations spread through the crowd as they looked at Merle and Alan's scores from the target practice challenges. Some were doubtful of Alan's true skill level, while others were genuinely impressed and intrigued by the unexpected competition he brought to the table.

Amidst the buzzing chatter, Alan's calm and composed demeanor caught the attention of a few observant individuals. They noticed how he remained unfazed by the pressure and the presence of the Crimson Gunner, which only added to the mystery surrounding him.

As the anticipation grew, more and more people gathered to watch the upcoming obstacle test. They were eager to witness whether Alan could maintain his competitive edge and prove himself against the veteran. The atmosphere was charged with excitement, and all eyes were fixed on the starting line, waiting for the challenge to begin.

The obstacle test required players to showcase not only their shooting accuracy but also their speed, strength, and ability to handle pressure in a high-stress environment. The course involved running three kilometers up and down the hill, carrying a weighted bag, before charging toward a designated area where they would navigate through obstacles, including barricades, and engage in shooting multiple short and long-distance targets.

As Alan and Merle approached the starting line, a palpable tension filled the air. Spectators and participants alike were eager to witness this intense face-off between the Crimson Gunner and the enigmatic newcomer.

With a confident and taunting smirk, Merle bumped Alan on the shoulder. "I'll go first. Let me show you how it's done," he said with a hint of superiority in his voice.