Re: Apocalypse Game

Chapter 172 NPC

In this Apocalypse game, champion NPCs were considered integral characters with the potential to significantly impact the game's progression. They often possessed unique statistics and abilities that could be invaluable to players. However, in scenarios like the one unfolding before them, the death of such an NPC would have precisely the opposite effect on the round's dynamics.

[Revenant - Rank C]

This sinister transformation completely altered the essence of these once-important NPCs. They now stood as towering figures, each one reaching a formidable height of three meters. Clad in menacing, full-body armor, they brandished massive swords and colossal shields. These elite undead beings bore no resemblance to their former selves, and their presence sent a shiver down the spine of anyone who gazed upon them.

There were four of these dreadful Revenants, all possessing a C rank, which meant they held power similar to the mutants Alan had battled in the previous round. Their mere presence invoked fear in those who witnessed them.

As the threat became clear, one of the Cairo players stepped forward to take charge. With fearless determination, he rallied his team of firearm-wielding players. "No fear! Kill them!" he shouted, signaling the start of a hail of bullets directed at the oncoming Revenants.

Nevertheless, these four Revenants were not the sole adversaries they had to confront. A hundred fallen knights, previously under the command of Artorius, were now transformed into [Zombie Knight - Rank D], a more formidable type of zombie compared to the warrior zombies. Additionally, nearly a thousand deceased villagers had turned into [Zombie - Rank E].

As the undead forces emerged, Alan noticed that the once stationary French players wasted no time and rode into action. It was almost as if they had been lying in wait for the appearance of the undead. However, none among them had ever witnessed the terrifying might of the Revenants.

With sweeping strikes of their massive swords, the Revenants displayed their capability to halt multiple riders at once, causing instant demise to the horses and sending players tumbling to the ground while losing a third of their HP.

"Watch out, they have sword skills!"

Some players chose to maintain a safe distance from these menacing creatures, while others, driven by their thirst for points, rushed recklessly towards the Revenants, hoping to secure a kill.

It became an all-out battle, with each participant fully engaged. Alan turned to Rose and spoke firmly, "Stay here and cover me." His words conveyed determination, and the girl responded promptly by dismounting from the horse. Alan then charged directly into the heart of the ongoing conflict.

His primary objective was the location where the last Roman group was holding out. Artorius, accompanied by two dozen of his men, was making their final stand right at the battlefield's center, surrounded by undead and players.

As Alan charged headlong into the thick of it, the cacophony of battle surrounded him. He could hear the screams of the undead, the thundering hooves of horses, the clashing of steel against steel, and the thunderous reports of firearms.

In the midst of this turmoil, Rose took up a vantage point and began picking off any threats that dared to approach Alan from the flanks. Her sniper shots were precise and deadly, and they effectively discouraged any would-be attackers from getting too close.

For the foes directly in Alan's path, he could only rely on his skills. With a swift and practiced motion, he let go of the horse's reins, drawing his [sawed-off shotgun]. The deafening blasts from the shotgun echoed through the battlefield as he fired two shots, the spray of buckshot ripping through the undead and players alike.

With no means to reload the shotgun, Alan swiftly replaced it with his [Glock 17] and began delivering headshots. His adept maneuvers enabled him to make it halfway across the battlefield, but his horse was struck, forcing Alan to abandon his mount, leaping high into the air and landing with remarkable agility near the besieged Roman knights

He was met with initial resistance from one of the NPC champions who moved to intercept him. Raising his voice to be heard over the din of battle, Alan urgently shouted, "My lord, I am here to help you!"

Alan closed the distance, using his neutral status to approach without being mistaken for an enemy. He reached Artorius and wasted no time, announcing, "I am a healer, and I can tend to Lord Artorius's wounds."

Understanding the gravity of the situation and recognizing Alan as the one who had warned him of the impending danger earlier, Artorius issued the command, "Let him near."

Upon receiving Artorius's permission, Alan acted swiftly, first using his [Medical Bandage] to stop the bleeding and provide immediate relief. The bandage effectively healed 90 HP within a short span of 1.5 minutes, offering Artorius some much-needed respite.

But Alan didn't stop there. He knew the situation was dire, and every bit of healing could make a difference. Alan cast the healing spell [Minor Heal]. The spell's base healing was a modest 5 HP every 2 seconds. However, Alan's unique combination of attributes and abilities gave him a significant boost. His D-level spirit provided a bonus of 6 points, granting a 60% enhancement, and his [Sage of Knowledge] title contributed another 30%, resulting in a total boost of 90%. This additional power meant the spell now healed for an extra 4.5 HP compared to its base values.

[Healing: 9.5 HP Recovered per second]

[Spirit points: 109/110]

In a mere 90 seconds, Alan managed to heal over 500 HP. The healing process took a significant toll on his mana reserves, depleting half of his available spirit points. Nevertheless, it was enough to restore Artorius from the brink of death. The legendary NPC had nearly 1,000 HP, and Alan's efforts made a considerable difference.

This act of healing not only saved Artorius's life but also fostered a positive relationship between them.

[Your relationship status with NPC has increased from Neutral to Friendly]

[Artorius - Legendary]

[Type: Human]

[Rank: C+]

[Status: Friendly]

####

With Artorius back on his feet and regaining his strength, he wasted no time and urged his knights to move. The Roman commander swiftly engaged the undead, his sword flashing through the air as he systematically dispatched the monstrosities surrounding them. They needed to get out of the heart of the battlefield.

For Alan, this wasn't the time to take an offensive stance. Instead, he decided to provide support. He cast [Minor Blessing] on Artorius, granting the legendary NPC a 15% boost to both attack and defense. This enhancement was a significant advantage for a formidable character like Artorius.

As Alan focused on bestowing his blessing upon Artorius, his game link started to populate with notifications.

[You have received 40 Survival Points and 80 XP]

Only one-fifth of the reward was added to his account for every Artorius kill, but with Artorius's formidable might, he could effortlessly dispatch any zombie with a single swing of his sword. Alan's game link was a continuous stream of notifications, each kill rapidly increasing his XP and Survival Points. However, this came at the cost of his dwindling spirit points.

"Dammit, I need more Spirit points!" Alan cursed under his breath. In a situation like this, he wished he had the [Acolyte Spirit] that offered a permanent 20% spirit point regeneration bonus. With his current spirit level, Alan was only able to regenerate 30 points every minute. It was far from sufficient for effective combat in such a war.

Midway through the chaos of the battlefield, one of the Revenants fixated its sights on their group, and Artorius was fully prepared for the upcoming battle. This monstrous opponent was formidable, but Artorius's strikes were enough to deflect the creature's massive sword. However, Artorius was not alone in this struggle. Two of his champion knights joined the fray. One was a striking, dark-haired youth, and the other a bald, muscular man.

[Lancelot - Champion]

[Type: Human]

[Rank: C-]

[Status: Friendly]

####

[Percival - Champion]

[Type: Human]

[Rank: C-]

[Status: Friendly]

These three knights worked in perfect tandem to fend off the Revenants, while the remaining soldiers protected them from any additional threats that dared to approach.

Alan seized the opportunity to expend all of his recently recharged spirit points to cast [Minor Blessing] on Artorius and his two champion knights. 

The battle was intense and brutal, with sparks flying as swords clashed. The Revenants were relentless, but under the combined might of Artorius, Percival, Lancelot, and Alan's spells, they gradually began to wear down.

As their teamwork and coordination improved, the Revenants found themselves pushed to their limits, their monstrous bodies struggling to withstand the unrelenting assault. Alan's spirit points depleted rapidly as he maintained the blessing. As the final blows landed, the Revenants crumbled to the ground, defeated. 

[You have received 1000 Survival Points and 2000 XP]

[You received a rare box item]

[You received a quest item; Knight Sword]

With no other players participating in the Revenants' defeat, Alan had successfully obtained both the reward and one of the quest items he coveted.

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