Re: Apocalypse Game

As an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb.

When a reporter asked, "How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?"

Edison replied, "I didn't fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps."

Alan fully embraced the spirit of determination and innovation, much like a great scientist who learns from each experiment to refine their approach. He recognized that failure in his initial attempt was not a setback but a stepping stone toward success.

With newfound knowledge and a clear strategy in mind, Alan decided to optimize his offense and defense for the upcoming battle. He buffed the legendary Excalibur, making it capable of dispatching skeletons with a single strike. This not only increased his offensive efficiency but also conserved his stamina, a valuable resource in this challenging quest.

For defense, Alan understood that evasion was not a viable option on the narrow bridge, and parrying with his weapon would only slow him down. Hence, he made a tactical decision to equip the [Shield of the White Knight]. This shield not only allowed him to block the attacks of the skeletons but also provided a significant boost to his defense with its 15 defense rating.

Armed with a weapon capable of swift kills and a sturdy shield to withstand the onslaught of arrows and swords, Alan was ready to make his second attempt at crossing the rootlike bridge and confronting the evil spirits that awaited him on the island.

[Stabbing: Inflicts 402 damage]

[Stabbing: Block attack, Received 4 damage] 

[Stabbing: Inflicts 401 damage]

[Stabbing: received 17 damage]

[HP: 212/340].

The cacophony of steel clashing against bones reverberated through the cavern as Alan maintained a cautious stance, positioning himself defensively in a corner of the bridge. As the minutes ticked by, he efficiently disposed of a dozen skeletons with methodical precision, steadily thinning their ranks. Each strike and parry was executed with a calculated finesse, allowing him to maintain control of the battlefield.

Alan's preparedness extended beyond his combat skills. He made good use of the [Medical Bandage], which steadily healed 60 of his HP per minute, while the Excalibur's 10% regeneration provided an additional 34 HP. This combination allowed him to maintain a healthy HP pool throughout the battle.

Despite the damage he sustained during the intense fight, Alan's calculated strategy ensured that he maintained a significant surplus of health, allowing for a full recovery within just 5 minutes. His meticulous planning and adaptability were paying off, ensuring that he remained in peak condition during the challenging quest.

In the midst of this relentless battle, Alan received a welcome notification.

[You have level up]

[Alan D Angello, Male, 27 years]

[Level 35: 180,250/200,000]

[HP: 332/340]

[Survival Points: 37,250]

In a mere 10 minutes of relentless combat within the quest, Alan had already vanquished over 40 skeletons, showcasing his determination and combat prowess. He had even contemplated the possibility of staying indefinitely to farm even more of these undead adversaries. However, two pressing issues prevented him from doing so—his dwindling stamina and spirit points.

Alan's stamina had already dropped to 78%, and despite the benefits of his [Scholar Spirit] and the stamina-boosting food buff, the continuous fighting couldn't provide him with a surplus of this crucial resource. Additionally, the constant use of [Minor blessing] had drained his spirit points, requiring him to pause the spell for a minute every two minutes of combat.

These challenges underscored the need for strategic resource management as he continued to battle the relentless tide of skeletons on the precarious bridge.

As Alan took a moment to rest in the safety of the bridge's corner, he couldn't ignore the fact that the number of skeletons spawning from the eerie lake just kept increasing. The bridge was now teeming with hundreds of these relentless undead foes, and on the island, there were still two dozen more awaiting him.

The urgency of the situation became apparent. If he didn't take action now, Alan might find himself overwhelmed, and the quest would remain incomplete. With determination in his heart, he knew he had to step up his game and press forward. One step at a time, he cautiously advanced, skillfully parrying and striking down the skeletons that blocked his path.

Alan understood that using active skills like [Swift Blade] and [Shadow Strike] was essential, but he had to be judicious in their use. Each activation drained his stamina, and he couldn't afford to exhaust himself prematurely. Therefore, he reserved these powerful abilities for critical moments when he needed to thin the ranks of skeletons or reposition himself safely away from imminent danger. This cautious and calculated approach allowed him to make steady progress despite the overwhelming odds.

[HP: 311/350]

[Stamina: 49%]

[Spirit points: 52/110]

Alan encountered another issue as his stamina dropped below 50%—his base damage with his sword strikes decreased:

[Stabbing: Inflicts 392 damage]

Although the reduction was only a few points, it had a significant impact on the battle. Alan could no longer dispatch the skeleton warriors with a single strike, necessitating the use of skills like [Force] or [Levitate] to create breathing room and allow his stamina to recover. However, this came at the cost of his spirit points, prolonging the time required for them to regenerate and be available for the crucial [Minor Blessing] skill.

The battle became a complex interplay of skills and calculations as Alan sought to find the right formula to keep himself in the fight, just like Edison's relentless pursuit of the perfect light bulb. Each decision he made was a strategic move to optimize his resources and ensure his survival in the face of overwhelming odds.

As Alan reached the two-thirds mark of the bridge, he had successfully dispatched another 50 skeletons, but their numbers seemed relentless as at least 40 more crawled onto the bridge to replace the fallen. However, a welcome notification interrupted the relentless combat:

[You have level up]

[Level 36: 20,050/220,000]

[HP: 263/350]

[Stamina: 42%]

[Spirit points: 48/110]

[Survival Points: 47,050]

[You received one attribute point to distribute]

With the newfound attribute point, Alan wasted no time and promptly allocated it to his strength:

[Strength: D-] +1 [D- > D]

This boost in strength afforded him additional damage, ensuring that he could still secure one-hit kills even when his stamina was running low.

[Stabbing: Inflicts 405 damage]

[Stabbing: Block attack, Received 5 damage] 

[Stabbing: Inflicts 408 damage]

[Stabbing: received 17 damage]

Despite his efforts, Alan still struggled to maintain a surplus of stamina, and this was further compounded by the onslaught of skeleton archers who had started to fire at him, making his defense more challenging.

[Piercing: Block attack, Received 6 damage]

[Piercing: Received 18 damage]

[HP: 231/350]

[Stamina: 39%]

[Spirit points: 43/110]

Recognizing that he had some stamina left, Alan made a strategic decision. He charged onto the island, determined to eliminate the annoying archers who were causing him trouble. He also braced himself for the next challenge he knew would arise.

True to his expectations, the quest was updated as soon as he set foot on the island:

[Evil Spirit has detected your presence]

The temperature dropped further as Alan's breath turned into frosty clouds in the chilling air. From the dense gray trees on the island, three ghastly undead knights materialized. Their spectral forms emitted an eerie, otherworldly green glow, which cast haunting shadows across their ghostly swords and ethereal armor.

[Wraith]

[Type: Inhuman]

[Rank C]

"Damn it, three of them!!" Alan muttered, his heart pounding as he assessed the situation. The evil spirits mentioned in the B rank quest appeared to be far more formidable than he had anticipated. Each of these C-rank creatures possessed the power of a Revenant, and on top of that, they had a unique ability that made them invulnerable to conventional physical attacks.

As he watched the three wraiths draw closer and with dozens of skeleton warriors swarming from the root bridge, Alan couldn't help but steal a glance toward the stone altar on the island. A fleeting thought crossed his mind:

Should he abandon the B-ranked quest and preserve himself by thrusting the legendary Excalibur into the stone altar, or would he continue to confront the looming threats and strive to complete the daunting task before him? 

x x x x x

Author Note:

I apologize for the error that has just been fixed.

1. When Alan upgraded his Spirit three times in the spell shop, he gained 30 extra spirit points, giving him a total of 110 not 80.

2. After reaching level 30, players receive attributes every three levels. Hence, the change to upgrade Strength occurred in the previous chapter, with another one happening in this chapter.

My apologies for the inconvenience.