Chapter 106: Chapter-104
Horn glanced at the remaining energy in his electromagnetic rifle. The realization was sobering—continuing this way would lead to complete exhaustion of resources, leaving them vulnerable. He quickly turned to his companions.
"Let's go! Let's get the airdrop!" he said, decisively heading toward his red Intimidator armored vehicle.
Horn wasn't the only one with this idea. Many players, recognizing the limited utility of holding their ground, quietly departed in their vehicles, drawn toward the airdrop's rising signal smoke.
"Buzz buzz!!!" The engines roared as armored vehicles sped away, leaving the bridge behind.
Chaos erupted among the remaining residents.
"Hey! Where are you going? Come back quickly!" shouted one of the desperate citizens.
"Fake! How can you leave us like this?"
"I'll pay you! A lot of money! Please, take me with you!" pleaded another, waving handfuls of cash.
Some players, enticed by the interlinked game and real currency system, agreed to transport a few paying passengers. Others refused, focused solely on reaching the supplies.
As players left, the ultraviolet-protected circle of the stronghold shrank, forcing police officers to retreat into the remaining safe zone. But with every step back, infected bodies surged forward, their inhuman growls echoing into the night.
While the shrinking perimeter consolidated defenses, it also left those outside the light's reach to fend for themselves against the horde.
The airdrop changed the game. Hidden players, who had been quietly grinding points and hoarding purple lights or silver weapons, emerged to claim the coveted supplies.
Though some wielded their rare items to fend off monsters, their ultimate goal was to obtain new skill chips or the virus serum—a critical resource to cure those infected with the vampire virus.
Meanwhile, some entrepreneurial players saw an opportunity, offering silverware and other resources for sale, but the promise of the airdrop lured even them toward the landing zones.
On the bridge, Rhodes was growing frustrated. "What should we do next? These monsters are endless! Killing them like this won't get us anywhere!" he shouted into the headset, his electromagnetic pulses knocking down infected bodies one after another.
"We need to find the vampire aliens hiding in the shadows," Merlin responded, swinging an electric whip taken from Ivan's damaged armor. The modified weapon sizzled with energy, cutting infected bodies in half with each swing.
"Of course I know that," Rhodes retorted, "but these things are impossible to find!" He paused, exasperated. "When will the players from Liberty City get here? Their help could turn the tide."
Meanwhile, Gwen zipped across the city using her spider threads, rescuing civilians trapped in precarious situations. Her agility and precision made her a beacon of hope in the chaos.
Stark's voice crackled over the comms. "Let's check out the airdrops. Maybe there's something useful there."
"Good idea," Rhodes replied, already changing course.
Merlin smirked knowingly. He was well aware of the contents of the airdrops—he'd placed them himself. Still, the prospect of opening them like a blind box intrigued him.
With a powerful push, he took to the skies, followed closely by Arcee, who remained vigilant.
As the night deepened, the battle for survival in Los Santos raged on, with airdrops serving as the city's last hope against the tide of infected and alien threats.
Horn glanced at the dwindling energy levels of his electromagnetic rifle. The realization was sobering—continuing this way would lead to complete exhaustion of resources, leaving them defenseless. He turned to his companions with urgency.
"Let's go! Let's get the airdrop!" he commanded, heading decisively toward his red Intimidator armored vehicle. The vehicle's rugged build and reinforced plating made it the perfect tool for navigating the chaos.
Horn wasn't alone in his thoughts. Many players, seeing the futility of holding their ground, quietly slipped away, drawn toward the airdrop's signal smoke rising into the night sky.
"Buzz buzz!!!" Engines roared as an array of vehicles—armored, flashy, and some barely holding together—sped off, abandoning the bridge.
The remaining residents panicked, their voices rising in desperation.
"Hey! Where are you going? Come back quickly!" shouted a distressed man, his voice cracking.
"Fake! You can't just leave us here!" another screamed angrily.
"I'll pay you! I'll pay whatever you want! Just take me with you!" a woman pleaded, waving handfuls of cash.
Some players, enticed by the integration of game and real-world currencies, agreed to take on passengers—at a steep price. Others were unrelenting, focusing solely on reaching the supplies.
As players left, the ultraviolet-protected perimeter began to shrink. Police officers, armed with makeshift defenses, retreated to the remaining safe zone. But with every step backward, the relentless horde of infected surged forward, their grotesque snarls echoing ominously.
For the unfortunate left outside the circle, survival was now a desperate struggle against the nightmarish tide.
The arrival of the airdrop shifted the balance. Hidden players, those who had been biding their time in the shadows, emerged to claim the coveted supplies.
Some wielded rare items—purple lights that repelled the infected and silver-crafted weapons deadly against the alien vampires. Others focused on obtaining vital skill chips and the elusive virus serum, a potential cure for the dreaded infection.
Opportunistic players even set up makeshift markets, selling silverware and other essential tools. But as the signal smoke rose, all were drawn toward the airdrop, abandoning their ventures.
On the bridge, Rhodes growled in frustration. His electromagnetic pulses shot through the infected, dropping them momentarily before they rose again.
"What's the plan? These monsters are endless! We can't just keep shooting!" Rhodes shouted into his comms.
"We need to find the alien vampires," Merlin replied, his voice calm. He swung a crackling electric whip salvaged from damaged combat gear, the high-voltage lash cutting through infected bodies with ease.
"Yeah, no kidding!" Rhodes retorted. "But where are they hiding? These things don't exactly come with GPS!"
"When are the players from Liberty City getting here?" Rhodes muttered. "We need reinforcements."
In the city, Gwen zipped through the chaos on her spider threads, expertly navigating between collapsing buildings to rescue stranded civilians. Her swift movements and unyielding determination were a beacon of hope amid the chaos.
Meanwhile, Stark's voice echoed over the comms. "The airdrops might have what we need. Let's check them out," he suggested, already charting a course.
"Finally, a good idea," Rhodes replied, changing direction to follow Stark's lead.
Merlin smirked to himself. He already knew the contents of the airdrops—he'd played a role in their placement. Still, the thrill of opening them added an element of excitement. With a burst of energy, he took to the skies, Arcee trailing close behind.
Above the commotion, a sudden, haunting laugh echoed. From the shadows of the tallest building, a figure emerged—Dominic, the infamous leader of the alien vampires. Dressed in an ornate black and crimson robe, his presence radiated authority and menace. His long, silver hair and piercing green eyes reflected centuries of cunning.
"Humans… always running toward false hope," Dominic sneered, his tone dripping with disdain. "Do you truly believe these airdrops will save you?"
As he spoke, waves of infected swarmed toward the airdrops.