Chapter 50: Stress Test
The training ground was abuzz with excitement as the famous Crimson Gunner, Merle Rooker, stepped up to take on the obstacle challenge.
With a confident smirk, Merle positioned himself at the starting line, ready to showcase his prowess. As the signal was given, he sprang into action. His high agility allowed him to dash through the course with remarkable speed, his movements fluid and precise. With each stride, he covered ground effortlessly, making quick work of the three-kilometer run on the hilly terrain.
Scaling the hill presented no challenge for the veteran player, as he utilized his enhanced strength to bound up the incline without breaking a sweat. The onlookers were captivated as Merle smoothly tackled the various obstacles in his path, leaping over barriers and ducking under barricades with incredible ease. He seemed like a force of nature, moving with such grace that it almost appeared as if he was dancing through the course.
As Merle approached the shooting section of the challenge, he handled the M16 in his hand like an extension of his body. His enhanced perceptions allowed him to quickly line up the shots, and the targets fell one after another under the precise fire of his assault rifle. Out of the 30 targets, he fiercely hit 26 of them, a feat that left the spectators in awe.
With a final burst of speed, Merle reached the finish line, completing the entire test in just 10 minutes and 55 seconds. The crowd erupted into cheers, witnessing a performance that surpassed all expectations. It was a new record, breaking the previous best time; 12 minutes with 24 target hits.
Despite his incredible speed, Merle's accuracy had not suffered. Only four bullets narrowly missed their targets, showcasing his exceptional marksmanship even under such demanding conditions. With a total score of 510 for this round, Merle's combined score now reached an impressive 1020 points, securing him a Rank A pass.
The spectators were still in shock at the astonishing display of skill they had just witnessed. The previous record was already a testament to Merle's abilities, but now he had outdone himself. Even the Crimson Gunner himself was elated by the achievement, a wide grin of satisfaction on his face.
The news of Merle's extraordinary performance spread like wildfire throughout the facility. Players and onlookers alike were in awe of the Crimson Gunner's display of mastery. Whispers filled the air as they marveled at his agility, strength, and precision.
"He's a true legend!"
"I can't believe what I just saw! That was incredible!"
"This record is unbeatable!"
The training ground had witnessed something extraordinary, and the name of Merle Rooker, the Crimson Gunner, would be etched into the annals of the game's history.
As Merle basked in his triumphant moment, he approached Alan with an air of pride and confidence. He extended his hand toward Alan, requesting the return of his prized Baby M16. However, Alan's response was far from what Merle expected.
"Not just yet," Alan replied with a perfunctory smile. The crimson gunner's expression faltered, puzzled by Alan's response. His prideful demeanor wavered as he tried to make sense of the situation.
With the NPC announcing Alan's turn to start, he wasted no time in action. In a swift motion, Alan dashed forward with an incredible burst of speed that stunned both Merle and the watching crowd. For a moment, the training ground fell into silence, as everyone's preconceived notions about the supposed "school teacher" were shattered.
The spectators had expected a novice, someone who would struggle through the obstacle course and target shooting. Instead, they were witnessing an incredible display of athleticism and skill. The speed with which Alan traversed the course left them in awe.
As Alan continued his remarkable performance, it became evident that his D rank Agility was no hindrance at all. In fact, it gave him a level of flexibility and speed that could match a veteran. He smoothly dashed through the forest, swiftly navigating past the obstacles with ease.
Despite the weight on his back, Alan's agility allowed him to maintain a remarkable pace. His movements were precise and efficient, showing no signs of strain. While others struggled with the physical demands of the test, Alan seemed to glide effortlessly through each challenge.
In the game, enhanced attributes were certainly advantageous, but as the crowd witnessed, experience was the true differentiator. Alan's countless hours of training and practice in this very place in his past life gave him an unparalleled advantage. It was like a teenager driving a Ferrari - raw potential could only take you so far without the skill and experience to back it up.
Alan knew the training ground like the back of his hand. He had memorized the layout, the obstacles, and every strategic detail. He even knew the best shortcuts and tricks to save precious seconds.
Around six minutes into the test, Alan made a daring move. He suddenly jumped from a huge fallen tree trunk, using his agility to balance himself as he slid down the hill. This unexpected shortcut allowed him to gain a significant advantage, coming out of the forest nearly half a minute faster than the Crimson Gunner.
The spectators, including Merle's redneck group, were left in awe and disbelief. Alan's daring maneuver had caught everyone off guard, and the shock on their faces was evident.
But Alan's trickery didn't end there. The obstacle test was designed to be a stress test, challenging participants physically and mentally. The combination of running, jumping, and carrying the weight took its toll on the stamina levels of normal players. It was a true test of endurance and perseverance.
Yet, Alan seemed unaffected by the strain. While others began to tire and slow down, he continued with the same agility and speed as before. His Scholar job class passive stamina boost of 20% played a significant role in helping him maintain his performance.
The strenuous obstacle test took its toll on even the seasoned veteran, Merle. His low stamina hindered his performance. He previously had to take a few seconds to catch his breath, but even then, he still had four bullets that missed their targets.
In contrast, Alan showed no signs of slowing down, maintaining his speed and accuracy throughout the entire challenge. With his enhanced stamina, Alan continued to dash through the obstacles effortlessly while firing his [1911 Colt] with remarkable precision.
Alan's experience and familiarity with the weapon played a crucial role in his success. He knew the 1911 inside and out, understanding its balance, drawback, and other factors that affected his performance. He rapidly fired bullets with impeccable accuracy, he didn't even need to glance at some of his targets. Each shot hit its mark with deadly precision.
Tar! Tar! Tar! Tar! Tar!
With every shot fired, the crowd held their breath in anticipation. It was a mesmerizing sight to behold as Alan cleared the challenge with only one missed shot and a staggering 40 seconds faster than the Crimson Gunner's time.
The NPC overseeing the challenge announced the result with excitement evident in his voice, "10 minutes and 15 seconds! it's a 580 score!!, A new record!!"
The whole atmosphere was electrifying, and the excitement was palpable. Alan's achievement was unprecedented, and he had surpassed the famous Crimson Gunner with flying colors.
As the screen displayed the scores, it became official:
[Rank 1 - Alan D Angello - 1030 score]
[Rank 2 - Merle Rooker - 1020 score]
Merle, the Crimson Gunner, was still frozen in place, his jaw dropped in astonishment. He couldn't believe that a seemingly inexperienced player had accomplished it.
######
Loud cheers and commotion were heard from the training ground reaching up to the US military command center and heard by the Captain in charge.
"Why such commotion! Sergeant O'Connor, go check it out, will you?"
"Yes, Sir!" Said the African American sergeant as he walked out of the camp and inquired about the matter.
As he arrived at the scene, he saw the excited crowd, still celebrating the astonishing record set by Alan D Angello, the high school teacher.
The sergeant couldn't believe what he was witnessing. He knew the reputation of the Crimson Gunner and the difficulty of the obstacle challenge. A score of 580 points was unheard of, and it seemed impossible for someone with no military background to achieve such a feat.
"Is he really not a veteran?!" he asked the private station in the area, trying to grasp the reality of the situation.
The private quickly checked the data and confirmed, "No, sir, I have his data here. Alan D Angello, 27 years old, last known occupation, high school teacher. He doesn't have any military background."
The sergeant shook his head in awe and disbelief. He had seen many skilled soldiers and veterans attempt the obstacle challenge, but none had come close to this remarkable score.
However, despite his initial skepticism, he knew that the data didn't lie. The sergeant realized that he needed to find out more about this mysterious individual who had defied all expectations.