Re: Apocalypse Game

208  Catacomb

"Urgh!! It won't budge!!" grumbled Darcy the Bear, a veteran French player with a B+ Strength, as he struggled in vain to push the stone door open.

Cammie, the woman with blue hair, couldn't help but chuckle at his futile efforts. "You dumbass, it's not dusk yet! Of course, it won't open!"

With the understanding that they had to wait for the right time, the group turned their attention to Axel, looking to him for guidance. According to the timer displayed in the game link, they had 45 minutes until the gate would open. Axel made the decision to suggest that the group take a short break to pass the time. Meanwhile, Cachelos decided to send Cade, the Archer, and a few scouts to explore the area and gather information.

"Smart move," commented Gabriel, the Bishop, nodding in approval.

All the veterans in the group were seasoned survivors, and even before entering the tomb, they had already begun considering their escape plan. With just one hour remaining before nightfall and an army of undead standing between them and Camelot City, they understood that their options were limited. They had two main choices: find a secure route back to the city or hunker down inside the tomb.

With this in mind, Cachellos took the initiative to analyze the structure of the stone catacomb. Depending on how events unfolded, he planned to take decisive action, including potentially destroying the entrance to the tomb. His goal was to secure the group inside and wait patiently until dawn when the round would conclude.

Alan, who also possessed extensive experience in playing the game, had made similar preparations. He had scouted the area, including the cliffs and the river leading to the sea, before returning with his own notes.

As Alan rejoined the group, the sun had already disappeared below the horizon. With dusk settling in, the tomb suddenly came to life, its ancient markings glowing with an eerie luminescence. This time, with a gentle push, the door swung open effortlessly, revealing the mysterious depths of the catacomb.

Axel swiftly organized his group of knights. Ten knights were stationed outside the tomb, while the remaining 20 took their positions at the forefront, ready to clear the path for the players as they ventured deeper into the catacomb.

The tunnel leading down stretched for approximately 100 meters before finally opening into a vast chamber that spanned a thousand square meters. As they entered, torches adorning the walls automatically ignited, revealing the expanse of the chamber.

In the center of the room stood an imposing coffin, its presence commanding attention. However, the walls of the chamber were marred by a series of ominous holes, each containing lifeless bodies.

Moments after they all entered the chamber, an eerie whispering chant filled the air. The veterans quickly understood the gravity of the situation and what might unfold next.

Cachellos reacted swiftly. He drew his twin blades and raised his voice to command the group, "Prepare for battle!" The tension in the chamber grew palpable as everyone readied themselves for the impending confrontation.

As anticipated, the chamber began to tremble, and the corpses lining the walls stirred with movement. More than a hundred lifeless forms, resembling zombie warriors, slowly emerged from their resting places. However, these were no ordinary undead; there was an unsettling strength in their forms, visible cold air escaping their mouths, and eerie blue lights emanating from their empty eye sockets.

A notification flashed across the players' game links:

[Draugr]

[Type: Inhuman]

[Rank D+]

These creatures were two levels above the skeleton warriors, one level superior to the Britannia knights, and only one level below the NPC champions. These were the elite guards of the king, reanimated through potent magic.

Facing a hundred of these formidable creatures would spell disaster for most players, but not for these seasoned veterans. Their expressions morphed into eager grins, filled with anticipation for the rewards that defeating such high-ranking foes would bring.

"FIGHT!!!" Chacellos's command rang out, and the group surged forward, weapons at the ready, prepared to take on the formidable Draugr.

A swift and chaotic battle erupted within the chamber as humans clashed with the Draugr. The sounds of spells being cast, the echoes of fiery explosions, and the clash of swords and spears reverberated through the cavernous space.

Much like all undead adversaries, the Draugr possessed substantial health pools, boasting over 400 HP each, along with commendable strength and agility. This made landing a decisive blow on them no easy feat. Fortunately, their weaponry was rather crude and prone to shattering after just a couple of exchanges.

Seizing an opportune moment when the Draugr's defense weakened, Alan swiftly executed a powerful strike using his [RingWraith] weapon.

Equipped with '[Strength Gauntlet],' Alan's strength had been enhanced from D to C-, granting him a 20% boost in base damage. Coupled with his mastery in swordsmanship and the additional benefit of [Minor Blessing], Alan managed to inflict a hefty 148 points of damage with his initial strike. He followed up with two more rapid strikes, relentlessly attacking the Draugr until the formidable foe finally succumbed to its injuries and collapsed.

[You have received 400 XP and 200 Survival points]

The Draugr proved to be an even more lucrative source of rewards than the skeletons, offering more than double the experience points and survival points. This motivated the veteran players to press on, eager to slay as many of these formidable foes as possible.

However, as they battled their way through the undead horde, a sudden disturbance in the chamber caught their attention. The massive coffin at the center of the room began to shake violently, and from within emerged a monstrous figure.

[Draugr General]

[Type: Inhuman]

[Rank: B-]

This colossal foe was one of the four Undead Generals that needed to be defeated. Its abrupt appearance significantly heightened the difficulty of the battle, adding a new layer of challenge to their already perilous situation.