C12 Survivors

Before the game's launch, a group of early testers had already strategized in their chat group. Upon logging in, their first move was to head back to the village and stash all the materials they'd collected in a secluded corner. With the second wave of players yet to receive their helmets and join the game, there was no concern about others swooping in to take advantage.

Once they had sorted their gear, the group set off towards the cave entrance, exuding a mix of dark confidence. Everything proceeded without a hitch, and within half an hour, the rest of the players had congregated, forming an impressive gathering that seemed capable of steamrolling any monster in their path.

"Wow, you guys actually found such a hidden path!" The players were thoroughly impressed by the tunnel entrance, revealed only after an explosion had taken out a corner. Such fortune was rare—could there be a 'European King' among them, blessed with exceptional luck?

After exchanging a few jokes, they turned to planning their next steps. The tunnel ahead was narrow, allowing only single-file entry—a peculiar sight if all hundred-plus players queued up. Moreover, any lurking monsters could potentially pick them off one by one, like a game of Snake.

Following a brief discussion, they decided to send two scouts ahead to assess the situation. Black Face, one of the mission's discoverers, naturally volunteered for one spot, while Running toward the Sunset claimed the other. His proven ability to escape a zombie bite unscathed made him the unanimous choice to back up Black Face, ready to sprint back with news should they encounter danger.

To ensure the success of their reconnaissance, their eager companions equipped the duo with formidable weapons: four sturdy sticks, each about a foot long and as thick as three fingers, reportedly scavenged from an abandoned house in the wilderness—perhaps once used as firewood or for some other purpose.

Black Face and Running toward the Sunset crept cautiously into the tunnel, while the other players waited anxiously at the entrance, visibly more tense than the explorers themselves.

The tunnel sloped downward, its end out of sight, with several sharp turns along the way. It gradually widened, eventually allowing two or three people to walk abreast. Embedded in the tunnel walls were fragments of an unknown mineral, emitting a soft glow. Though dim, the light was sufficient to illuminate their path, sparing them from having to retreat into the darkness.

Finally, after rounding a bend, they were greeted by a vast space that suddenly opened up before them. Within this area, roughly three meters high and spanning five to six hundred square meters, several individuals stood on guard. Armed with bows, hammers, swords, and daggers, they exuded a palpable sense of menace.

"Elves? Dwarves? Humans? They've got to be survivors, right?" Spotting these figures, they sprinted toward the setting sun, ready to embark on their quest.

However, upon witnessing the scene, his face darkened with confidence, and he quickly halted his companion, who was running toward the sunset. The last thing he wanted was for a misunderstanding to lead to their demise at the hands of these NPCs. Noticing their pause, the survivors' expressions softened, and their weapons were no longer trained on them, though they made no move to initiate a conversation.

"Stay back," he instructed his companion, "I'll go trigger the mission. If anything goes wrong, head back to the surface and bring the others down. We can't afford to lose both of us here; it would cost us too much time."

With a nod, his companion retreated several steps, watching as he confidently approached the diverse group of survivors.

"Stranger, what brings you here?" inquired the dwarf at the forefront as he walked up. His heart leapt with joy—activating the mission was a good sign. Yet, this NPC's intelligence was uncanny, his tone and expressions indistinguishable from a real person.

"We've come to save the world," he explained, "We've established a base in a nearby village to launch a counteroffensive against the Darkness, and we came to investigate upon hearing that there were survivors hiding underground."

After a moment's thought, he stayed true to the mission's briefing in his introduction. He had expected the mission to proceed smoothly, but the NPCs before him simultaneously furrowed their brows, their eyes flashing with scorn. "You think you, the powerless, can stand against the darkness? Do you have any idea how fearsome the power of darkness is? Even the mightiest, a thousand or ten thousand times stronger than you, meet only death when facing the formidable Darkness Monsters."

Feeling the sting of their contempt, he was about to defend himself when his previously cautious companion, now seeing no danger, boldly stepped forward and declared with a slap on his thigh, "We fear not death! As long as darkness remains undefeated, we'll rise from hell itself a thousand, ten thousand times if need be."

[What the fxck...]

He could hardly believe his ears. Such melodramatic words, and yet they seemed to resonate with the NPCs, who looked on with approval and relief. They exchanged knowing glances, and one particularly beautiful female elf with pointed ears gave a slight nod. "The foundation of strength is a courageous heart," she said, "but we've already lost too many. It's crucial that each of us finds a way to survive."

His interaction with the NPC was strikingly different now; his face was set in a dark, self-assured expression that made him second-guess his life choices. Was this all due to the game's favorability settings? Did he really need to embrace a bit of that adolescent fantasy after all?

Holding onto that thought, he spoke up, "Our allies are waiting at the tunnel entrance. Please, join us in rebuilding the village. It's the first step in our counterattack against the darkness!"

Thankfully, the NPC didn't put up any resistance. After a brief huddle, they agreed to the proposal. With a sigh of relief, he and his companions, now joined by several NPCs, made their way to the surface.

The players above were nearly dozing off when the sound of footsteps from the tunnel snapped them to attention. They quickly rallied around the entrance, eyes fixed on the emerging figures.

"Holy smokes! Elves, Dwarves? And a little loli!"

"They're equipped! Old Shit's theory was spot on; our progress hinges on them!"

"The loli's mine; you guys can have the rest!"

"Pfft, choices are for kids. I'm claiming all the ladies!"

Eve, the White Elf, scanned the players with a look of discontent. "Weak and undisciplined. Sohlin, do you truly believe they can stand against the darkness?"

Sohlin, the Dwarf, rubbed his beard, clearly doubtful. "What choice do we have now? This many people together will surely draw the darkness to us. We need to act quickly."