The players had their eyes fixed on the screen, patiently waiting for the system to reveal the details of the fourth trial. Despite their curious expressions, their heartbeats quickened with fear as they awaited the trial title that would determine their fate.
Ding!
(Fourth trial title: Monster Apocalypse.)
"Monster apocalypse? We're doomed," exclaimed a man from the group of ten who had joined Axel's team earlier.
Ding!
(The primary goal is to eliminate the fourth pawn. Only then will the monster apocalypse come to an end.)
(Note: The identity of the fourth pawn will not be revealed to you. You must discover it on your own for this challenge.)
"We're in serious trouble, times two. I mean, seriously? Our fate hinges on the fourth pawn. If we can't take out the fourth pawn, then we're all doomed," Rosa exclaimed, heaving a sigh of frustration.
Ding!
(There are a total of seventeen players, grouped together. Other players have also been grouped.)
(As a group, at least one member from your team must kill the fourth pawn. If a player from a team kills the fourth pawn, their other team members will be saved, while every other group that fails to kill the fourth pawn will be killed.)
"Come on, we only have one pawn here and numerous players. The system just wants to kill everyone and leave only seventeen people alive," Logan yelled, his anger evident in his tone.
"What? What do you mean by that? Are you saying that if a member from a group succeeds in killing the fourth pawn, all his group members would be saved, but the other groups who failed to kill the fourth pawn would all be killed? Asked Ave, her body tensed as her gaze remained fixed on the system.
"You mean all other players that are grouped like us would all be killed once a single member from a single group succeeds in killing the fourth pawn?" asked Rosa, with a shocked and bewildered expression.
(Yes, Rosa and Ave, you're both correct! Once you are able to kill the fourth pawn before any other group does, then you win.)
"This is insane. How many groups are formed then?" asked Florence, her gaze fixed on the system, eagerly awaiting an answer.
(More than a million people are being grouped into a total of seventeen members each.)
"This is brutal, man. This fourth trial is even more harsh than the previous ones," said Logan with a dejected face.
"We have to find the fourth pawn before the other team does. There won't be any hints, our luck depends solely on us," exclaimed Livi, her expression frightened and scared. "We're all in deep trouble."
"The mention of a monster apocalypse is already terrifying me. Everyone knows that the word "monster" signifies danger, bloodshed, and horror," Logan said, pacing back and forth with a hand on his head in frustration. "How will we even identify the fourth pawn?"
Ding!
(Warning: The fourth pawn could be a member of your team or another team.)
"What? Anyone could be the fourth pawn. This system is driving me crazy," Rosa said, her expression serious as she scanned every player in the supermarket. "We're not just watching out for monsters, but also for the fourth pawn who is already among us. If I'm right, that fourth pawn will also want us dead, along with every other team member."
"Axel, this is not good," Ave said into Axel's ear. "Do you think Lionel is the fourth pawn?" she asked, causing Axel to furrow his brows. He shifted his gaze to Lionel, who in turn locked eyes with Axel.
"I don't know. Just be careful," Axel replied, breaking his gaze with Lionel and turning his attention to Ave, touching her hair.
"Is this the time for a lovey-dovey display?" Livi yelled as soon as her gaze fell on Axel and Ave, causing them to quickly pull their hands away from each other.
Ding!
(The fourth trial is now beginning. Wishing you all the best of luck!)
The city was transformed into a battlefield as the sound of growls and screams filled the air. Debris and rubble littered the streets, and the sky was dark with smoke and ash. Gunfire and explosions reverberated through the streets, and the air was heavy with the smell of burning and decay.
The ground trembled as a massive creature with loud growls made its presence known, sending shockwaves through the earth. The air was filled with the thunderous pounding of its footsteps, creating a sense of impending doom.
The players were unsure about the creature responsible and seemed uninterested. They all moved backward away from the supermarket exit, fear and fright written on their faces.
"Close the door!" ordered Logan, who began stacking the supermarket door high with the help of Rosa, Livi, and Florence.
"We're in trouble. I knew it. Looks like we're all going to die in this fourth trial," said Livi, her voice trembling with fear as she continued stacking the supermarket door high.
"We need to keep our voices down if we want to survive. Let's stick together, okay?" Florence said, her calm and reassuring eyes belying the fear racing through her heart.
Peering through the stacks at the supermarket exit, Axel saw thousands of monstrous giants chasing after the other players.
The monsters are enormous, towering over 30 feet in height. Their skin is a patchwork of grey, covered in boils and pustules. Their faces are contorted, with sharp teeth and yellow eyes. Their limbs resemble tree trunks, thick and sturdy, with bony protrusions sticking out at odd angles. Their odor is overpowering, a combination of decay and rot that lingers in the air. They move slowly through the wasteland, crushing everything in their path. Their movements are sluggish, but their strength is undeniable.
They leave deep, massive footprints behind them, leaving scars on the earth. The sound of their breathing is like the roar of a storm, filling the air with their presence. Their very existence poses a threat to all who inhabit the world.
The players huddled together in makeshift shelters, their eyes wide with fear and their faces gaunt with hunger. They were like ghosts, haunted by the past and terrified of the future. All they could do was wait and hope for the monsters to pass them by. But deep in their hearts, they knew that this was only the beginning of the end.
"What the hell is that?" Axel murmured, his eyebrows raised in shock.
(The rotting giants.,)
"The rotting giants?" Livi exclaimed, her mouth hanging open in disbelief. "Of course it's rotten, emitting that putrid, rotting stench," she added, covering her nose with her hand.
"I don't want to die!" said a lady from the ten group earlier, her eyes filled with tears that began to roll down her cheeks while the other players ignored her, rolling their eyes at her.
Ding!
(That's the first monster apocalypse you'll be experiencing. Seems like the fourth pawn is taking things slow.)
(The next monster is about to show up.)
The system announcement was soon followed by a dark smoke coming in through the door, surrounding the seventeen players. Only two sets of glowing red eyes pierced through the gloom, raising fear in the players' hearts. Soon, the players began to fall into a deep slumber caused by a notorious cloud of gas.
"What is happening to us?" asked Axel, in a weak state, with his eyes about to close.
(That's the smog demon.)
"What's that again?" asked Axel, still trying to keep his eyes open.
(The Smogdemon is a ghostly, shadowy figure barely visible against the smoky backdrop of the world it inhabits. It has no discernible features other than glowing red eyes that pierce through the gloom. It drifts through the air, a silent and sinister presence. When it gets close to its prey, it emits a noxious cloud of gas that causes intense hallucinations and disorientation.)
(Those who encounter the Smogdemon often find themselves lost and confused, wandering the desolate landscape until they succumb to the toxins. The Smogdemon is a deadly and elusive foe, one that must be avoided at all costs.)
"We're screwed, right?" Axel asked, his voice barely above a whisper, before finally losing consciousness.