Chapter 207: Veterans
As Alan made his way towards the designated meeting place just outside of Camelot city, he was accompanied by four NPCs: Merlin, Guinevere, Percival, Dagonet, and five fey warriors. All of them were mounted on horses, a strategic choice based on the nature of the quest and its location. Alan believed that bringing a smaller group would be more effective, allowing the remaining fey warriors to provide support for his friends within Camelot's walls.
When he arrived at the meeting point, Alan found a group of two dozen individuals waiting for him. He recognized roughly half of them; they were a combined group of Black Sand mercenaries from two different teams. The New York server team was led by the scar-faced Hispanic Cachellos, while the French team was commanded by a tall, blonde man wearing thin glasses - a veteran player named Gabriel Baptiste, known as the Bishop.
Among Cachello's team were several notable members: Fin 'Force,' Maddox the formidable warrior; Nash 'Tempest' Rourke, the Elementalist with mastery over lightning-based attacks; and Cade Harlow, the Archer known for his precision and accuracy.
Within the French Black Sand team, Alan recognized Cammie, the Blue Blaster, stood out with her striking blue-highlighted hair and a massive energy gun slung over her back. Then there was Darcy Manon, known as the Bear, a formidable figure with imposing, hairy arms. Lastly, a man with long brown hair named Florent 'Gale' Collete sat in silence, his spear standing high.
All of the two dozen players gathered there were not just veterans with over 40 levels; they were highly trained mercenaries in the real world. They were considered the cream of the crop, the best team money could buy in the Apocalypse game.
As he approached the gathered mercenaries, Alan initiated the conversation, stating, "I guess we're all waiting for the boss now."
Cammie, the blue-haired and somewhat wild girl, fixed him with a fierce gaze. "This one... he is the Teacher, isn't he?" she questioned.
"Yes, you could say that. I am Alan," he confirmed.
Gabriel Baptiste, known as the Bishop, stepped forward and politely introduced himself. He then observed Alan's companions and inquired, "All NPCs?" He particularly took notice of the elderly Merlin with much interest.
As they waited, another group approached from the city. Axel himself led this group, accompanied by his bodyguard, The Silver Rapier, Zencher, and two other Death Knights. They were also joined by 30 Britannia Cavalry Knights. To Alan's surprise, two other veteran figures, Marcus and Jason of the Blood Patriot, were among Axel's followers. The fact that Axel could attract such extremist players demonstrated the extent of his influence.
Axel surveyed the group of players and NPCs, totaling 70 in number, with satisfaction. He then turned to Alan and issued his orders. "Okay, everyone is here already. Please lead the way."
Alan led the way, guiding the group northward and passing through the half-destroyed gate that marked the city's boundary. They proceeded eastward into the desolate landscape beyond, where the once-green fields had turned into a grim tableau of death and decay.
As they ventured further from Camelot's safety, the signs of impending doom became increasingly evident. The landscape was marred by withered trees, dead grass, and scattered skeletons, while rotting corpses lay scattered about, waiting for the encroaching night to reanimate them into a grotesque army of the undead.
In a moment of curiosity, Zencher decided to test one of the nearby corpses by beheading it, hoping to gain some valuable XP or points. However, his efforts were in vain, as these lifeless bodies were nothing more than macabre decorations, devoid of any reward.
As they continued their journey northward, the sheer scale of the horror unfolding before them became undeniable. Piles of corpses began to accumulate, forming gruesome mounds of death that stretched as far as the eye could see.
Alan had never witnessed such a gruesome sight during his previous journeys to the north. It was clear that the game had reserved an apocalyptic climax for tonight's battle.
Riding past thousands of undead, the group couldn't help but feel that this journey was turning into a one-way trip, filled with uncertainty and dread.
Alan, his mind still grappling with the gruesome scene around them, decided to engage Axel in a conversation. He was curious about Axel's motivations and asked, "Tell me, why are you risking so much for this quest? What's your ultimate goal here?"
The French noble turned to Alan, wearing a wry smile, and replied, "Well, isn't this the main quest of the round?" He went on to casually reveal that in the previous round, he and his French team had successfully disabled a weapon of mass destruction (WMD), but they had failed to access the scientists' research, which he believed to be the round's grand reward. "This time," he said with determination, "I'm not going to miss it."
The super soldier serum he had received in the previous round indeed had been a substantial prize, leaving him to wonder what kind of extraordinary reward might await them in this quest.
"We're close," Alan announced, pointing toward a stone building that served as the catacomb. Perched on high ground, overlooking the eastern sea, the location had an air of majesty about it, despite the gloomy, dusky sky and the hundreds of corpses strewn around.
Upon reaching the massive stone door of the catacomb, the group received an update to their quest:
[You have found the Lich King Tomb]
[You received E rank reward x1]
[You received 1000 survival points, 1000 XP]
[Hidden Quest Updated]
[Warning: The catacombs will be open at Dusk. To clear the tomb, you need to destroy the 4 Lich King generals]
The update stirred excitement among the veterans, as such a quest involving the elimination of multiple bosses promised substantial experience points and rewards.
"Alright, let's open the gate," Axel declared, ready to embark on this perilous journey into the unknown.