Re: Apocalypse Game

The fifth night had come to an end, but it had taken a heavy toll on the defenders. The casualty numbers were grim, with over 500 players lost in the battle:

New York Server: 2,711 (2,502)

Paris Server: 1,031 (959)

Cairo Server: 724 (607)

Bangkok Server: 689 (562)

The New York server had suffered the most significant losses, with over 200 players casualties. Considering that they were tasked with guarding multiple garrisons, including the watchtower, this number was sadly reasonable.

Alan couldn't help but feel relieved that all the players who had come with him had managed to survive the night. They had weathered a fierce battle, and the fact that they had all made it through was cause for celebration. However, there was one member of their group missing.

"Who is missing?" Alan pointed out, while the group took a moment to rest after the exhausting battle.

Pinball, one of the convicts, couldn't resist the opportunity to inject a bit of sarcasm into the conversation. "It's Smiley. He escaped with all the horses." he remarked with a smirking tone, drawing a few half-hearted chuckles from some of the others. Their amusement stemmed from the seemingly absurd idea that Smiley, the skinny and seemingly timid criminal, would have the audacity to make a successful escape with all the horses.

"He's not coming back, guys!" one of the convicts chimed in with a hint of frustration, echoing the skepticism that was beginning to spread among the group. Many had started to doubt that Smiley would return with the horses, given the dire circumstances and the relentless pursuit of the undead.

Milo, on the other hand, was quick to react and took charge of the situation. He moved to quell any further laughter or doubt, maintaining a glimmer of hope for Smiley's safe return. . Then, as if on cue, their attention was suddenly captured by a shocking sight.

Smiley emerged leading a group of horses; 12 of the original 20 horses had survived the ordeal. Smiley's face was streaked with tears, and his trembling form told a story of intense fear and relentless pursuit by the undead. 

With the immediate undead threat temporarily quelled and the promise of a brief respite, the Fey chief extended an offer for Alan and his group to stay in the village and rest. The offer was a tempting one, especially given the group's exhaustion after the grueling battle. However, Alan, with a sense of urgency and responsibility, politely declined the offer, explaining that they needed to return to the others right away.

Alan turned to Merlin, seeking his cooperation. "You are coming with us, aren't you?" Alan inquired, wanting to ensure that the formidable NPC would accompany them.

The Fey, unfortunately, lacked horses, and they required time to prepare for the journey. The distance to Fort Sterling, which lay 60 miles away, and the Roman walls, 80 miles distant, was significant. Walking that distance would consume more than 12 hours of their time. Faced with this logistical challenge, Alan made the difficult decision to have only Merlin and Guinevere accompany him for now, with the others following later.

Merlin, as the chief of the Fey, found himself bound by duty and was unable to leave without his people. It was Guinevere who could be spared to follow Alan for the time being.

In moments like these, frustration welled up within Alan as he couldn't help but curse the game makers once again. He wondered why the game couldn't provide a more convenient solution, such as allowing the wizard to cast a spell to summon a hundred horses or enabling everyone to fly to their destination.

"Alright, let's go," Alan declared as everyone readied themselves.

With only 12 horses available, they had to share rides. Rose quickly claimed one of the horses and approached Alan with the intention of riding with him. However, Daniel managed to act a bit faster and generously offered the horse to Alan, saying, "Mr. D, you can have your own ride."

Alan expressed his gratitude, but in that fleeting moment, Daniel felt an inexplicable, bone-chilling sensation, as though death itself had brushed past him. The eerie feeling only dissipated when Rose rode away to scout the path.

Their journey back was surprisingly uneventful, with no obstacles to hinder their progress. It took them a relatively swift four-hour ride to finally return to the old garrison where the other survivors awaited.

Before them, the once formidable fortifications now bore the scars of a fierce battle. At least three of the massive stone walls lay crumbled, their stones strewn across the ground in disarray. Trenches, once carefully dug defenses, were now cluttered with the lifeless forms of fallen undead. Signs of destruction were evident throughout the fort, with several buildings reduced to rubble.

However, amid this scene of apparent chaos and devastation, a glimmer of hope emerged as the players within the garrison spotted Alan and his group returning.

"They've returned! Alan is back!" exclaimed a beautiful brunette girl who watched them from the wall. Vicky and the Wolverines took up the first guard duty to welcome their arrival.

Alan's timely return brought a sense of relief to the garrison, and he wasted no time in calling for a meeting with the squad leaders. Lieutenant Marsh, Lieutenant Sanderson, and Sergeant Dylan joined the gathering to share their insights about the battle that had raged through the night.

The night had indeed been brutal, with an unrelenting horde of over 5,000 undead relentlessly assaulting the garrison's walls. The 200 support players had taken on a more aggressive role, fighting on the walls with spears and utilizing a dozen [Homemade Bomb] to repel the relentless assault. Despite their efforts, the aged walls of the garrison had proven fragile, gradually succumbing to the relentless pounding from the undead. It was during these final hours that casualties had mounted.

As the reports concluded, Alan faced a critical decision: whether to remain and defend the fort for another day or to join the others at the Roman's Wall.