Chapter 38: Last Minutes

Chapter 38: Last Minutes

The objectives were clear: first, disarm the Veteran of his deadly assault rifle, and second, make him plunge into the icy waters of the frozen river.

Having arrived early to the scene, Alan meticulously examined the frozen river's surface, gauging its thickness and calculating the force required to break it with his knife. With the confidence of his scientific calculations, he put his plan into action.

CRACKKK!

In a matter of seconds, a lightning-like fissure ran through the frozen river surface like a snake crawling towards its prey. The ice beneath the Crimson Gunner's feet gave way, and he plummeted into the freezing river with a loud splash. The cold water engulfed the gunner, and his final curses were silenced by the frigid embrace of the river.

Alan himself swiftly capitalized on his enhanced agility, leaping away from the breaking ice to a safe distance. A rush of satisfaction washed over him as he witnessed the success of his calculated risk. The once formidable adversary was now disarmed and immersed in the icy water, vulnerable and defeated.

'Bye bye"

There was actually no point in checking on the man anymore as the frozen river water underneath should do the finishing work for Alan. Even if the former didn't die, the water current would drag him towards the south, away from the dock.

As Alan took two confident steps forward, suddenly three hot metal bullets pierced the ice he stood on, doing their job by cracking the surface. The ice shattered under the pressure of his body weight, and he found himself plunging into the river along with the freezing water he stood on.

"Dammit!!"

[Warning - Cold status increase: level 4]

[Warning - Cold status increase: level 5]

[Warning - Cold status increase: level 6]

[Cold damage - 2 Health Points inflicted every second]

The cold immediately seized him, and his body was wracked with shivers and trembles. Desperate to find something to hold on to, he felt a human hand grip his leg with determination, pulling him downwards. It was the crazy Veteran, ready to take him down with him.

Struggling to break free, Alan used his other leg to kick the man under him, but the 90% stamina penalty made his kicks weaker and flimsier. The gunner, too, was in a weakened condition due to the cold damage.

[Cold damage - 2 Health Points inflicted every second]

The battle of endurance had begun, and the outcome hung in the balance. The last man standing would prevail.

Unsure of the gunner's condition, Alan quickly reached into his secret stash and retrieved a vial of [Buffout] he took from the hospital.

[Type: Medicine]

[Rarity: Uncommon]

[Attributes: STR +2, END +2, MAX Hp +30 for 120 seconds]

[Effects: HP and STAMiINA - halved for 30 minutes]

He quickly consumed it.

[HP: 142/160] +50 [HP: 192/210]

[Stamina: 62%]

[Strength: E-] +2

[Endurance: E] +2

With increased strength and endurance, Alan felt more confident in winning the battle. He even felt that the grip loosened a bit.

However, just as he thought the happy ending was near, Alan glimpsed the Redneck taking out a frag grenade, pulling off the pin with a crazy smile on his face.

"Fu–"

KABOOOOMMMM!!!

[Impact: Lethal Explosion inflicted 158 damage]

The explosion in the water was a devastating lethal attack that send a shockwave through Alan's body. The force of the blast propelled him out of the water, but he was dying.

"Fukk crazy redneck!"

[Hp: 28/210]

And if that wasn't severe enough, the Cold status still plagued Alan as his body was soaked with chilly water, causing the damage debuff to stick for a few more seconds and with his current health, he would die in less than 15 seconds.

Gasping for breath, Alan's mind raced as he clung to consciousness. He knew he had to act quickly to counter the deadly effects of the cold water that threatened to consume him. Ignoring the [Medical Gauze] for the moment, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a bottle of [Liquor]. With trembling hands, he hastily removed the bottle cap and gulped down the contents in one desperate swig.

[You are disoriented]

Alan's vision blurred for a moment. But soon, he felt a warm sensation spreading through his body as the [Liquor] took effect. He had received the "Heat" status for ten minutes, providing some respite from the freezing waters.

However, he knew he couldn't delay any longer. The cold status was still at level 5, and the damage it inflicted was relentless. He reached for the [Medicated Gauze] and applied it to his wounds, wincing as the healing properties began to take effect.

A few seconds passed as Alan recovered enough to walk again. Immediately after, he stood up and crossed the bridge where he saw the others finishing the last wolf while leading the VIPs to the helicopter that had just landed.

[3 minutes 20 seconds]

Gradually, the cold status subsided, and Alan felt his strength returning. With renewed determination, he pulled himself up from the icy water, his legs still wobbly from the ordeal. He steadied himself and took a deep breath, trying to focus on the mission at hand.

Looking around, he saw the others finishing off the last wolf and guiding the VIPs towards the waiting helicopter. The mission was almost complete, but Alan's instincts kept him alert. He couldn't let his guard down, not when danger might still be lurking.

Suddenly, a glint of crimson caught his eye – a discarded rifle lying on the dock platform. Alan's curiosity piqued, and he quickly moved to investigate. "Bonus Item," he mumbled, realizing that luck was on his side.

Securing the rifle, he made his way back to the waiting helicopter, where the others were already on board. Without wasting a moment, Alan climbed in, and the chopper swiftly took off. A

As they ascended into the sky, Alan gazed down at the city below, now transformed into a surreal frozen landscape.

[You have successfully gotten the VIP out of the city]

[You have completed E level quest]

[You received E rank reward x1]

[You received 500 survival points, 500 XP]

A minute and some after the quest completion, the countdown finally reached zero, and with it, an array of words popped up through the Gamelink.

[Game concluded]

[Survivors Detected; 4,833]

[Processing player data...]

[Calculating player rewards...]