Re: Apocalypse Game-Novel

Chapter 176 Dreadnought

In a manner reminiscent of the American military, the French forces had meticulously prepared a cache of artillery. At Axel's signal, these formidable weapons roared to life, sending forth a relentless barrage that began to rain down upon the advancing undead hordes.

"KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM!"

The relentless bombardment proved effective in reducing the numbers of the undead, claiming the lives of hundreds in a maelstrom of destruction. However, the undead, unlike their human counterparts, remained impervious to fear or pain. Even as they were maimed and dismembered, these legions of darkness continued their relentless march forward, their unity unbroken.

There was a moment of elation among the players when a single missile struck the colossal giant, eliciting cheers. However, this minor victory was short-lived, for it merely succeeded in causing the giant to kneel momentarily before it rose again, its fury undiminished.

To Alan's surprise, the colossal monstrosity seemed to have chosen Artorius's formation as its target. In his desperation, Alan cried out,

"Dammit! You've targetted the wrong people!"

Alan urgently implored Artorius to retreat, but despite Alan's well-intentioned advice, Artorius remained resolute in his decision to confront the colossal adversary head-on. With a commanding presence, he issued a decisive order, "Knight! Break formation!"

To combat a foe of such immense proportions, Artorius strategically divided his one hundred soldiers into three separate groups, each consisting of thirty to forty men. Leading these groups were Artorius himself and his two trusted knights, Lancelot and Percival. The objective was clear: to assail the giant from three distinct sides, forcing it to contend with multiple fronts simultaneously.

However, even the valorous knights of Artorius were ill-prepared to face such a monstrous adversary. A single swing of the giant's immense weapon proved to be a devastating force, capable of shattering shields and claiming the lives of several soldiers positioned at the front lines.

Recognizing Artorius's dire predicament, with swift and practiced coordination, Lancelot and Percival's group initiated a coordinated assault from the rear, employing a tactic reminiscent of battles against bears or lions in the wilderness. It was a calculated maneuver designed to unsettle the giant, disrupt its focus, and exploit its vulnerabilities from multiple angles.

Understanding that he couldn't simply instruct Artorius to halt his advance, Alan made the unwavering choice to provide his fullest support to the Roman commander.

With his spirit points limited and the knowledge that his spells alone wouldn't suffice, he cast aside his reservations and reached for the spare firearm in his bag—a [Luger PO8]. Armed with his expertise in [Small Weapon] usage and heightened by his [Eagle Eye] active skill, Alan made every bullet count, meticulously aiming for lethal shots.

Each pull of the trigger heralded a precise and calculated attack, inflicting considerable damage on the formidable boss-level creature. The notifications confirmed the impact of his shots: [Shooting: Lethal Attack. Inflicts 15 damage].

As Alan observed the health bar of the colossal giant, he could discern the extent of the damage inflicted. Currently, the bar displayed a formidable 30% depletion. It was a testament to the combined might of the direct artillery missile strike, the relentless strikes by Artorius and his valiant knights, and Alan's own contribution. Yet, it was equally astonishing to note that the behemoth still retained a formidable 70% of its health, underscoring the daunting and indomitable nature of this monstrous adversary. 

Alan pressed on with his determined assault on the colossal giant, continuously discharging rounds from his firearm, and emptying the entire magazine.

The notifications detailed the results of his marksmanship:

[Shooting: Inflicts 9 damage]

[Shooting: Lethal Attack. Inflicts 14 damage]

Nine bullets had found their mark, and thanks to his precision, five of them proved to be lethal, amounting to a total of 100 damage inflicted upon the giant. However, the overwhelming strength of the creature rendered even this substantial assault a mere dent in its formidable health.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Alan retrieved a backup firearm he had selected from the pile of looted Nazi weaponry—a powerful [AK-47] assault rifle. This particular weapon boasted the highest firepower, and Alan opted for a single-fire configuration to ensure no bullets went to waste.

The ensuing notifications reported the following outcomes:

[Shooting: Inflicts 3 damage]

[Shooting: Inflicts 2 damage]

[Shooting: Lethal Attack. Inflicts 4 damage]

Alan maintained his relentless fire, darting and weaving among the Roman soldiers who offered him a measure of cover and protection. Nevertheless, his lack of proficiency with firearms became apparent, and he struggled to achieve significant results. He managed to land only twenty-four bullets on target, and of those, a mere three critical hits produced a total of 50 damage.

In sum, Alan's unwavering efforts had contributed a cumulative 150 damage to the B-rank giant. However, when measured against the sheer might of the creature, this amounted to a mere 2-3% reduction in its imposing health. The odds remained stacked against the brave defenders, and the battle raged on, a relentless test of their mettle and resolve.

With his brief but intense shooting spree concluded Alan swiftly redirected his focus to the application of healing and blessing spells. There was no target more deserving of his attention than Artorius, the formidable C+ rank character renowned for his 1000 HP and formidable defense. Among the assembled characters, Artorius stood as the sole figure capable of withstanding the relentless onslaught of the Dreadnought's attacks, especially when further fortified by Alan's supportive magic.

Regrettably, by this juncture, the colossal giant had inflicted grievous losses upon Artorius's valiant knights. The severity of the round once more manifested as each fallen soldier returned as an unholy [Zombie knight], while any unfortunate player met a similar fate, rising from death as [Ghouls].

The seemingly endless tide of the undead continued to swell, and in a scenario where they could neither control nor decisively turn the tide of battle, it became abundantly clear that humanity would eventually find itself on the losing side. The grim reality of the situation underscored the immense challenges they faced, as the relentless onslaught of the undead threatened to overwhelm them in the long term.

The French captain, his voice fraught with desperation, implored, "Axel, we are losing! We should sound the retreat!"

But Axel, the composed French noble, maintained his stoic demeanor. He responded with reassuring calmness, "Calm down. Reinforcements are on the way."

Just as Axel conveyed this message of hope, a commotion erupted from the western hillside. The sound of a thousand new fighters marching out from the forest filled the air. These formidable reinforcements were none other than players from the New York Server, arriving to join the battle.