Players, Please Board the Train

“Too arrogant!” One of Brother Liang’s players leaped onto the bridge leading to the center of the lake. Using a shield item to block the incoming bullets, he charged through two-thirds of the distance in one go, then flung a metal ball toward the center of the lake. When purple smoke sprayed out, the two black-cloaked figures with guns directly in front of him were knocked unconscious.

But just as he was about to step onto the lakeside club, two small bombs flying from a distance exploded directly on the bridge. The intense blast sent him and his item flying several meters away. Before he could land, another round of fierce gunfire erupted from the club!

“Dazzling Lights!” Two players by the shore rushed forward to save him. One tossed out a flash ball to disrupt everyone’s vision, while the other caught the falling player and stomped his foot. The bridge’s wooden planks quickly rose up, forming multiple shields in front of them, barely holding off the impact.

Meanwhile, several players who had arrived later with Brother Liang ran into the First Association members who had come to rescue Tan Yang. They launched an attack from the other side of the lake, instantly drawing away some of the enemy’s fire.

But again, dense bullet sprays combined with devastating bombs crushed both sides’ attacks midway. They couldn’t even reach the lakeside club, let alone rescue anyone!

“The firepower is insane!” On Xu Huo’s side, the three players managed to escape safely, with only the first one injured by shrapnel. But thanks to his enhanced body and a timely healing potion, the bleeding had stopped and he was fine.

“How are we supposed to get across?” Huang Junjie had already spotted Tan Yang and Pu Kang. “Those at the table should include Sima Xiao Er, right? No idea if he’s alive or dead.”

“Alive.” Xu Huo stood behind a tree, observing the lakeside club.

The club was over seventy meters from the shore, far beyond the effective range of ordinary items. To truly fight, the players on the shore would have to charge onto the club.

Around the club, there were only four bridges. Even as Evolvers, most players couldn’t walk freely through the air or water—they’d still have to use the bridges. By using sheer firepower to suppress them, Double Snake’s players weren’t expending any of their own traits or items. If this stalemate continued, casualties would soon appear.Moreover, Double Snake had more players than those on the shore. If the situation couldn’t be turned around quickly, and the ammo kept draining the shore players’ items and traits, even a safe retreat might become impossible.

“Is this all the First Association brought?” Little Zhang, after calling his companion, looked at Huang Junjie in disbelief. “The First Association claims to have hundreds of players!”

Huang Junjie’s face darkened. “I have no real power in the association. My words don’t carry weight.”

It was only the earliest group of players who had gathered based on Tan Yang and a few others’ charisma. When Tan Yang went to Flower City to recruit Xu Huo, that group was the core—those were the ones who shared a bond through hardship. The others, and those who joined later, mostly came for the First Association’s reputation. These people had their own little circles. Even if they had some attachment to the association, they wouldn’t necessarily risk their lives to save anyone. It was already good that they came at all.

To put it bluntly, if Tan Yang died, plenty of people would be waiting to take over.

“What’s done is done. There’s no point talking about it now.” Abel said, “Let’s think practically. Either we break through, or we retreat. Otherwise, once our items run out, we won’t even be able to escape.”

The lakeside club paused its shooting. The sound of reloading magazines echoed from all directions. The players lurking nearby saw another group of black-cloaked figures dragging in ammunition crates... What a perfect opportunity!

Acting in unison, several players struck from different directions. A fireball descended from the sky, smashing straight toward the ammunition crate. At the same time, a nearby black-cloaked figure suddenly turned and shot at the crate himself. The guns in the hands of the black-cloaked figures around him all exploded!

Chaos erupted on the lakeside club. Seeing their chance, other players emerged from behind the trees. But within seconds, a gray-robed figure flashed to the side of the ammunition crate. With a clap of his hands, a row of silver metal plates automatically surrounded the crate. Then he raised a hand, and the fireball exploded into fireworks midair.

And that wasn’t all. The gray-robed figure dashed to the lake’s edge, hoisted up something like a pump tube, and plunged it into the water. With a loud rumble, waves surged from a spot more than ten meters away, as if a huge fish was passing beneath the surface. But then the gray-robed figure lifted the pump tube, and dangling from its nozzle was a player!

The player’s legs flailed outside the tube twice before he disappeared. The gray-robed figure stowed the item and gave an order. The black-cloaked figures surrounding the club resumed their frenzied shooting at the shore players. A few were taken down, but others quickly filled their places.

Just then, a roar came from the distant sky—helicopters!

Neither the First Association nor Brother Liang’s side could afford such a display. And Double Snake’s lavish use of ammunition like it was pebbles had already made it clear they had extraordinary backing. There was no need to guess whose reinforcements those helicopters belonged to!

“No wonder Double Snake grew so fast in such a short time, without leaving a single trace...” Tan Yang’s heart sank. He looked at the smug Mr. Qiu. “Aren’t you afraid of drawing the Special Defense Department’s attention by slaughtering players on such a scale?”

Mr. Qiu slapped the table and laughed. “A few dead players don’t hurt anyone.”

“Besides, these fools were stupid enough to oppose Double Snake and ruin my good time. They deserve to die.”

He dismissed human lives as casually as nothing. Turning to the gray-robed figure outside, he said, “Wrap this up quickly. I want to eat.”

There were a total of ten gray-robed figures at the lakeside club, all originally gathered around Mr. Qiu. Two had already left. Now, hearing his command, four more stepped out of the club. A total of six gray-robed figures, under the cover of the black-cloaked ones, headed toward the shore.

Huang Junjie watched as two gray-robed figures charged directly toward his group, stepping back in fear. “They’ve definitely undergone rigorous training. They’re experienced and well-stocked with items. We can’t beat them!”

Several players nearby began to waver. But Little Zhang and the others, undaunted, charged straight out. Guan Zuhong slammed both hands onto the ground, and the mud beneath the gray-robed figures’ feet rose up, trapping them. Then Little Zhang tossed out a white ball. “Absolute Focus!”

The white ball passed between the two gray-robed figures, and both their eyes involuntarily followed it. At the same time, several other players struck from left and right, aiming for their backs!

But the coordinated attack failed. The gray-robed figures broke free from the trait and item control in time. One grabbed a fan-like device, sending the nearby players tumbling in a dizzying whirlwind. The other drew his gun.

The players steadied themselves in the gale, ready to press the attack. But the gray-robed figure with the gun attached a strange item to his weapon, and the bullets it fired carried the force of bombs. Two players were immediately severely wounded!

Seeing this, Guan Zuhong hurled out a rope, lassoing them and pulling them back. But the two gray-robed figures clearly had no intention of letting them go. Breaking free from the mud, they chased after them!

“Help!” Little Zhang shouted back. But the First Association players had already retreated far away. Though Huang Junjie and Abel hadn’t left, they remained still. Their attention was partly on Xu Huo. Seeing him making no move, they grew anxious. Just then, Xu Huo, who had been watching the distant helicopters, finally stepped out from behind the tree. “About time.”