Chapitre 8: ch8- Strategic Assault
"Let's head to the shopping mall near Jiarong," suggested Danny Carter. "It's the closest spot."
"No, I think we should go for Huaji Convenience Store. The route to Jiarong is rough," countered Max Wong.
"But Huaji has two monster zones nearby. We might end up facing double the number of monsters!" Alex Grant chimed in.
"We should team up with other classes. Our group is too small; it's too risky," Danny added.
"We also need to figure out teamwork. I have a 'Shock' skill—it doesn't do much damage, but it can paralyze monsters temporarily," offered Jason Reed.
"I've got an attack skill!" someone else piped up.
"Mine's a defense skill!" came another voice.
"We also need to conserve stamina. I burned a lot running back earlier!" one more chimed in.
The boys, all of whom had experience gaming together and running strategies at internet cafes, were getting excited. The fact that they were now planning a real-life operation was almost thrilling to them. One by one, they pitched ideas to refine their strategy.
In the end, they settled on a team of nine: Alex Grant, Max Wong, Danny Carter, Jason Reed, and five others. Max had a group defense skill that could raise a three-meter-wide dirt wall, blocking multiple attacks for five seconds, at the cost of 30% energy. Danny's skill could weaken enemies, reducing their combat strength by 20%, while Jason's 'Shock' ability could paralyze monsters for five seconds. The others had a mix of attack skills and single-target buffs.
With Alex, who wielded **R-level Deity** powers, designated as the main attacker, and Max as the team leader with his group defense skill, the team was set. The other five boys who stayed behind would rotate in if needed, ensuring there was a backup plan.
As the group prepared to leave, Tina Young hesitated but then called out, "I'm coming too!"
Her sudden announcement made the boys pause. Max raised an eyebrow, "Didn't you say it was too dangerous earlier?"
Danny laughed nervously, "Yeah, Queen Tina, maybe sit this one out. It's our first time out there; we don't know what we'll run into."
Tina crossed her arms, unbothered. "Don't think I can't handle this. I'm better at sports than half of you. I've even taken karate lessons! And my skill is way stronger than most of yours."
Tina's ability, a rare ranged magic attack called **Explosive Fireball**, dealt 50 damage at the cost of 10% energy. In theory, just six fireballs could take out Alex, and only two were needed to knock out a typical **N-level Deity** user. Her luck in acquiring such a powerful skill made the rest of the group a bit envious.
Tina's words left the boys with no argument. With her long-range magic, she didn't need to be in as much danger as the others, and her firepower would significantly bolster the team's overall strength.
Just then, Luke Roberts, who had gone to inform the teachers, returned. He blinked in surprise at the sight of Alex and Tina in fresh uniforms, then delivered the news. "The school's organizing ten large teams for the first mission. Over a thousand people are going to help set up the hidden base."
Although only a couple of hours had passed since the world turned into a game, most communication systems—phones, internet, TV, and radio—were still working. After the **Guide**, Quinn Frey, issued the first mission, many other cities received similar tasks.
Despite the chaos that followed the world's sudden "gamification," organizations like the **Alliance** and the military were still functioning efficiently. Reports and intelligence had been quickly analyzed, confirming the importance of completing the base-building mission.
Luke explained that when he had spoken to the teachers, the school had already received official guidance from higher-ups. The **Alliance** and military couldn't deal with all the monster threats immediately, so it was crucial for each base to build up its defensive strength. Setting up the base was the best way to ensure survival before reinforcements arrived.
After some deliberation, the school had decided to send out a team of 1,000 volunteers. There were over 8,000 people gathered at the school—3,000 of them students, with the rest being locals seeking refuge. The volunteer team would be assembled on a first-come, first-served basis.
With Luke's explanation in mind, Alex and his group—now nine boys and Tina—headed for the assembly area on the sports field. Along the way, they spotted classmates from other groups. While most of the volunteers were male, there were also a good number of girls ready to fight.
By the time they reached the field, hundreds had already gathered, about half of them students. After a few more minutes of organizing, the number of volunteers swelled to almost 2,000.
One of the teachers in charge, Mr. Garcia, stood at the front of the crowd and addressed the volunteers. "You are all brave and noble for stepping up. We all understand that this mission carries some risks, but we can't be reckless. Only 1,000 can go on this mission. The rest of you will need to stay behind and help protect the school in case of emergencies."
Surprisingly, it wasn't the school administrators leading the operation but mostly younger teachers. At the head was Mr. Garcia, a math teacher who was popular with the students.
The plan was to divide the students and teachers into groups of ten. Alex's group was part of the third team, which would be assigned to clear the monsters near **Huaji Convenience Store**, the area they had discussed in class earlier. Their squad consisted of four student teams, six adult teams, and five teachers responsible for strategy and communication.
This mission was meant to be a cautious trial run. The first objective was to eliminate the monsters lingering near the school. The monster population outside the gates had swelled to over a hundred, and if left unchecked, they could threaten the safety of the school.
With their mission clear, the team steeled themselves for the challenge ahead.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone