The sound of endless explosions from guns and grenades reverberated through the ruins of what remained of New York City, signifying utter destruction. The once towering skyscrapers, symbols of human ingenuity, had all succumbed to the flames, while the air was thick with the acrid smell of gunpowder and the sickening stench of death.
Humans and monsters alike were trampled and crushed under the relentless onslaught of Insectoids, emerging from every direction.
Giant spider-like creatures traversed the shattered roads with alarming speed, their metallic legs tearing through the debris of countless vehicles.
Amidst this chaos, the last group of survivors stood their ground at Times Square, finding shelter behind a makeshift barricade of broken-down cars they had laboriously arranged.
Anxiety and fear were etched on their faces, for the number of horrifying monsters was overwhelmingly superior, rendering any notion of a fair fight futile.
"KILL THOSE FUCKING BUGS!!!" roared a survivor, as heavy machine guns, high-caliber sniper rifles, and flamethrowers unleashed a barrage of firepower upon the oncoming horde.
Every available firearm was utilized, the survivors resorting to every means necessary to defend themselves against the insatiable bloodlust of the charging monsters.
Among a group of ten individuals, a man stood at the forefront, brandishing a gleaming laser blade.
[Name: Alan D. Angello]
[Player ID: 2035-2008X83]
[Level: 99]
[Survival Points: 150,250]
Alan's ammunition had long been depleted, leaving him wholly reliant on a radiant sword he had stumbled upon in his previous game—a lightsaber.
While effective against the undead, it proved woefully inadequate against these colossal Arachnids, their bodies far surpassing the reach of his slender weapon.
Nevertheless, Alan fought valiantly, slicing through the relentless swarm of bugs, aware that he stood among the last survivors—a beacon of hope for mankind.
"ALAN!! We've lost the first platoon! The General is dead, and you're in charge now!" bellowed a figure beside Alan. It was Dylan O'Connor, an African American enclosed within a towering 3-meter mecha armor, relentlessly firing its Gatling gun.
[Name: Dylan O'Connor]
[Player ID: 2035-1128X57]
[Level: 99]
[Survival Points: 120,780]
The deafening sound of the Gatling gun echoed across the battlefield as Dylan issued his command. "ARGHHH!! There are too many of them! This is impossible! How can anyone win this?"
The news of the General's demise shattered the platoon's morale. Recognizing the urgency, Alan swiftly took control of the situation.
"Double back! Regroup with the third platoon!" he commanded, and the others followed suit.
Under Alan's leadership, the ten individuals moved in a disciplined formation, navigating through three blocks of unmitigated chaos until they reached Madison Avenue, where half a dozen fighters were still locked in combat.
The convergence of the two platoons attracted an even larger swarm of insectoid monsters, converging upon their position.
Sensing the critical moment, Alan shouted, "CINDY! NOW!!"
Alan's voice echoed through the chaos as he watched Cindy, the powerful sorceress, begin her incantation. Her short, blonde hair glimmered in the sunlight as she chanted the words, her body levitating off the ground.
[Name: Cindy Reed]
[Player ID: 2035-0781X87]
[Level: 99]
[Survival Points: 138,990]
Cindy's presence commanded attention as her power surged.
"Spirit of fire, I call you forth to destroy and burn away anything that hinders my path. I call upon you now!" Cindy's voice rang out, carrying a mix of determination and urgency.
As her chant reverberated through the air, Cindy stretched her arms out towards the sky, summoning a red circle adorned with intricate magical runes and within moments, a massive pillar of polar fire erupted from the ground, swiftly engulfing the surrounding area.
[Magic circle: Fire pillars]
The fiery vortex tore through the streets, reducing everything in its path to mere ashes. The insectoid creatures, caught off guard by Cindy's devastating magic, had no chance to escape. Hundreds of them were instantly consumed by the raging flames, their bodies disintegrating in the intense heat.
Dylan, the mecha fighter, couldn't contain his excitement at Cindy's display of power. He shouted in exhilaration, "Great job Cindy!" his voice joining the cheers of the other fighters.
However, their joy was short-lived as the ground unexpectedly shattered, giving way to a ten-foot, pitch-black beetle-like creature that emerged beside Dylan.
The monstrous insect latched onto Dylan with its massive pincers, crushing his body in a horrifying display of strength.
"DYLANN!!"
Alan, filled with a mix of shock and determination, leaped onto the creature, his lightsaber drawn. With swift precision, he plunged the weapon into the creature's vital spot, delivering a lethal blow.
[Stabbing: Lethal Attack. Inflicts 880 damage. Target killed…]
[You killed Elite monster]
[You gained 10000 xp]
[You gained 2000 survival points]
Ding!
[You have reached the maximum level]
The system notifications flashed in Alan's vision, confirming his victory over the elite monster. But the victory was hollow. He couldn't save Dylan, and the sight of his friend dissipating into energy particles weighed heavily on his heart.
[Dylan O'Connor is Dead]
Alan's grief quickly transformed into anger as he turned his attention back to the swarming horde of insectoids. Fueled by his fury, he unleashed a fierce assault on the bugs, slashing and striking with relentless determination. But no matter how many he defeated, the swarm only grew stronger, their numbers seemingly limitless.
In the midst of the chaos, a young brown-haired kid named Daniel, sensing the open gap left by Dylan's demise, leaped forward. With a swift motion, he tore off his shirt, revealing a transformation that stunned everyone. He morphed into a dark-furred, three-meter-tall creature—a half-man, half-wolf hybrid.
HOWLLL!!!
[Name: Daniel Judge]
[Player ID: 2036-1257X67]
[Level: 80]
[Survival Points: 81,880]
The monstrous form of Daniel wreaked havoc among the insectoids, his claws and powerful arms tearing through their ranks.
For a brief moment, the line of defenders reformed, pushing back against the onslaught. But the respite was short-lived, as the insectoids quickly regrouped and overwhelmed them once again.
Just as the defenders struggled to hold their ground, dozens of flying bugs swooped down from above, catching them off guard.
"WATCH OUTT, Bugs from above!"
Alan's warning was drowned out by the chaos as the airborne insects targeted the fighters. Among their victims was Cindy, still recovering from her previous exertion. The insects lifted her into the sky, tearing her apart in a gruesome display.
Ding!
[Cindy Redd is Dead]
Seeing another one of his companions die, Alan's fury reached its peak. He channeled his rage into his strongest skill, activating his special skill.
[Psychic power: Mind Blast]
The force unleashed by Alan's pushed back the surrounding swarm of bugs, sending them flying dozens of meters away. Some unfortunate creatures were crushed under the sheer power of the blast, reduced to grotesque piles of mangled bodies. However, as the dust settled, Alan's attention was drawn to the other corner of the battlefield.
To his horror, he witnessed the dark-furred wolf creature, Daniel, being mercilessly pummeled by the insectoids. Alan sprinted towards him, desperate to intervene, but once again, he arrived too late. The wolf-like form of Daniel reverted back to his human state, his limbs torn apart and lifeless.
"I am sorry, Mr. D. I am sorry…"
Trembling, Daniel uttered his final words before taking his last breath.
Ding!
[Daniel Judge is Dead]
The loss of his comrades weighed heavily on Alan's heart. One by one, his men had fallen to the unending swarm of bugs. The best of humanity had been brutally torn apart and devoured by these relentless creatures.
Gripped by madness and grief, Alan swung his weapon frantically, slashing at the incoming horde.
"Die, all of you! Dieee!" Alan's voice echoed with a mixture of anguish and desperation.
In that moment of chaos, a flash of memories flooded Alan's mind. Regrets and mistakes haunted him as he battled on, wishing he had the chance to rewrite history.
As the swarm closed in, Alan seized his last fleeting moment, lighting a cigarette—a small act of defiance and a reminder of the past.
[Name: Cigarettes]
[Type: Miscellaneous]
[Rarity: Common]
[Attributes: None]
[Effect: Reduce fear and anxiety]
Taking a puff, he closed his eyes, thinking of the images of two important females in his life.
"At least I get to join you two now," Alan whispered to the imaginary figures of his loved ones.
[Slashing: Received 120 damage]
[Slashing: Received 90 damage]
[Status: Critical]
The final moments of Alan's life unfolded tragically. The bugs tore into him, slashing and ripping his body apart. The screens displaying the battle showed his gruesome demise, broadcasting the image to people all over the world.
Ding!
[Alan D Angello is Dead (Survival Point -100,000)]
[Apocalypse Game]
[Year 7, Round 6]
[Objectives - Failed]
[All players are penalized with -100,000 survival points]
[Calculating final survival points in progress…]
[Players alive - 0]
[Game Over!]
Humanity had once again failed in their struggle for survival, and the weight of this defeat was felt by people across the globe.
####
It had been seven years since the alien invasion, and Earth's population was subjected to an annual "Apocalypse Game." One million individuals, chosen from the brightest minds of the world, were forced to participate in virtual simulations of apocalyptic scenarios.
The absurdity of the invasion was apparent as humanity fought back, but their resistance proved futile. The invaders demanded that all rounds of the game be completed for them to leave Earth in peace. Each year, the world watched in terror as loved ones were sent to their deaths, with less than 5% managing to return from the games.
Alan's fate mirrored that of countless others.
After his in-game body was dissected, he suffered a significant loss of survival points, plunging him into negative territory.
With the objectives of the game not achieved, he once again lost a large amount of points.
Ding!
[-100,000 survival points].
He had only gathered a little over 150,000 points by the end of the game and if his point turned negative, it would only mean one thing.
His real physical self would die, triggered by the brain-crushing effects of the full dive VR machine. Alan had resigned himself to this fate until an unexpected message shattered his expectations.
[You are the last survivor of the apocalypse games, you are given a special reward]
"Reward? What's good a reward for when you die."
[Regression in progress]
'What?!"
There was no answer to his confusion, only a mind-splitting screeching sound in his brain, followed by an unexpected familiar sound.
Riiiiiiiingggg!!!
It was the sound of a school bell.
Alan opened his eyes standing in front of a group of high school students, and one was calling out at him.
"Mr D! Mr D, are you alright?"