Chapter 179: Gains
The first rays of dawn pierced the night sky, and the group began to assemble at one of the Roman garrisons strategically positioned along the imposing fortified walls. As the players arrived, a sense of weariness and anticipation hung in the air. The makeshift camp began to take shape, with clear boundaries separating the players from each of the four servers, each group claiming their respective space near the garrison.
Alan catches sight of the French noble, Axel, orchestrating the Roman soldiers under his command with calculated finesse. The man had seamlessly seized control of the Roman faction in the aftermath of Artorius's death, leveraging his influence to gain their unwavering allegiance. The sight of Axel's authoritative sway over the Romans was a thorn in Alan's side, a bitter reminder of the sacrifices made.
Determined to put aside his feelings for the time being, Alan set his sights on Captain Carter and provided her with a clear and concise account of the events that had transpired over the past three days.
When he was done, he made his way back to the Wolverine unit's camp where he learned that most of his units were not only alive but in relatively good health, a stark contrast to his condition after the grueling battle.
The concern for Alan's arm was palpable within the group, and despite his attempts to appear nonchalant, it was evident that his condition troubled his comrades. The fact that it was not the undead but the actions of the French that had caused his injuries added to the collective frustration.
"That French bastard! Let's cut his damn dick off as payment!" Vicky exclaimed angrily, mirroring the group's heightened annoyance at the situation.
Alan's thoughts returned to Rose and Merle, who were in a precarious state after their ordeal. He couldn't help but feel a strong mix of gratitude and remorse for sending them into the thick of the fight
Rose, remained her usual silent self, not expressing much, while Merle, on the contrary, was vocal about Alan owing him big time for this mission.
Turning his attention to Vicky, Alan asked for details about their arrival and the circumstances that had brought them here. Vicky explained that it had been Captain Farell who had conveyed the French request to them, prompting their swift response. Vicky also assured Alan that the remaining New York server players were holding their positions at the old garrison, following Alan's plan.
With the weight of the recent events on his shoulders, Alan decided to take a short break to gather his thoughts and regain his composure. Before doing so, he opened his game link to assess the gains and losses they had experienced during the tumultuous battle.
[Alan D Angello, Male, 27 years]
[Level 32: 133,520/140,000]
[HP: 320/320]
[Survival Points: 17,750]
[One attribute point to distribute]
Alan had gained one level, accumulating nearly 25,000 XP and 12,500 survival points since the game round had started. A significant portion of this progress was attributed to his high contribution during the battle, especially when he helped Arturous defeat the B-rank creature known as the Dreadnought. This victory alone rewarded him with 8,000 XP, 4000 survival points, and one D-rank reward.
[You have 1x D rank reward and 2x E rank reward]
Now, Alan's attention shifted to the reward. He had anticipated receiving an [Epic box] for his contributions, but due to Arturous dealing most of the damage, he had received two [Rare boxes] instead. Curious about their contents, he eagerly opened them.
[Strength Gauntlet]
[Rarity: Superior]
[Attributes: Defense 8]
[Effects: Strength +2, Melee attack increase 20% damage]
[Able to Bring Outside the Game: No]
[Remarks: Gauntlet of the berserker]
The Strength Gauntlet seemed to be a valuable item, offering increased strength and melee attack damage. However, the cruel irony was that the game continued to taunt him with his one-arm condition, preventing him from properly wearing the item
The second item was:
[Name: Overdrives]
[Type: Medicine]
[Rarity: Superior]
[Attributes: STR +4, PER +2, AGI +2, +2 END, Damage Resistance 50% for 300 seconds]
[Effects: HP and STAMINA - halved for 30 minutes]
[Able To Bring Outside The Game: No]
[Remarks: A shot to enhance one's body, beware of kickback]
The Overdrive was a different story, it was a powerful booster, offering significant attribute bonuses and damage resistance for a limited time. This item had the potential to be a game-changer, particularly in life-or-death situations.
Alan's inventory had expanded with two more superior items from the battle:
[Shield of White Knight - Superior]
[King's Sword - Superior]
While the King's Sword was a painful reminder of his failure to save Arturous, it was also a symbol of the Roman commander's legacy. It came with a quest, and as Alan tightly gripped the sword, the quest information unfolded before him:
[The Legendary Sword of Light]
[Have you heard about the origin birthplace of the Britannia sword of legend? It was said the sword came from a hidden people of the forest, the fey people]
[Hidden quest activated]
[Find the Fey village and ask about the sword of light]
The revelation of the hidden quest, linked to the legendary sword of light, filled Alan with a sense of excitement and anticipation. The story of Excalibur had always been treated as a mere rumor among players, a topic for speculation and legend after the game had ended in his previous life.
Alan had shared this tale with Axel, as a lie hoping it would persuade him to keep Artorius alive. But now, with the activation of this quest, the possibility of Excalibur being real felt tangible.
As his excitement about the quest grew, he was interrupted by a Roman soldier, bearing news of an impending meeting with the leaders of all four servers.
Alan couldn't help but wonder about what the French noble might have to say in this gathering of leaders. The game had taken an unexpected turn, and Alan knew that the decisions made in this meeting could shape the fate of the players and their chance of surviving the round.