The impact was immediate. The concussive grenade attached to his midsection erupted, the blast knocking him back with brutal force, his form disintegrating into pixels as his health bar plummeted to zero. The virtual jungle went quiet again, the echoes of battle dissipating into the dense, humid air. Vee didn’t wait for the spectacle to fade; she was already moving, slipping back into the shadows.
She could feel the adrenaline coursing through her, sharpening her senses and adding a razor’s edge to her focus. She’d taken down three of them, but her instinct told her there were more lurking out there, biding their time. Each takedown was only a temporary victory; these were experienced fighters, and they’d likely regroup and retaliate. But that suited her just fine - she thrived in the chaos, and this was exactly the kind of edge she needed.
Her HUD flickered with new data as her team’s vitals reappeared. Her squad was still holding up - barely. The concussive rounds she’d heard earlier were from Ladera, who was pinned down a few meters away, her health bar dangerously low and flickering in the critical red zone. Vee grimaced; she needed to close the distance, fast.
Activating her agility boosters, she moved with a predator’s grace, dodging between the trees, every footfall silent and precise. Her decoy was still up, back at the vantage point, mirroring her pre-programmed idle motions. It had drawn a few stray shots already, buying her just enough time to reposition. Vee approached her teammate from behind, her daggers glinting in the dappled light that cut through the canopy.
Ahead, she saw him: an enemy combatant perched just outside Ladera’s cover, his rifle poised, eyes scanning the horizon. He was close, too close for her to risk firing a shot. So she crept closer, closing the gap inch by inch, her form almost invisible against the foliage.
With one swift movement, she lunged, her daggers finding their mark. One blade struck beneath his left shoulder, another sliced across his jugular. He had no time to react, his body dropping silently to the ground, his health bar vanishing in an instant. A quick incendiary charge ensured he wouldn’t respawn nearby.
Ladera’s comm clicked to life, her voice breathless. “Mad Kat, you’re a sight for sore eyes. Thought I was done for.”
“Can’t have that,” Vee replied, her tone light but focused. “How’s your ammo?”
“Low,” Ladera admitted, wincing as she checked her rifle. “But I’ll manage. Got a reload in about sixty seconds. Can you cover?”
“On it,” Vee replied, already scanning their surroundings.
She replaced her pistols in their holsters, picking up the enemy’s rifle. As soon as her grip adjusted to the weight of the new weapon, she started firing in the direction he’d been targeting, making it appear as if he was still alive and covering the area. She moved with calculated precision, her shots punctuating the silence, keeping the illusion intact.
System Notification: Tactical Advantage Gained - Enemy Confusion. Decoy Kill Bonus: EXP awarded.
She allowed herself a slight grin. They were disoriented, unsure if they were dealing with one assassin or a team of ghosts. Her strategy was working.
Another comm ping came through. This time it was Stein. “Mad Kat, whatever you’re doing, keep it up. We’re close to regrouping, but they’re zeroing in on you. We just saw three of them mobilize towards your location.”
“Good,” Vee replied smoothly, her voice calm despite the news. “I’m feeling generous today. Let them come.”
She moved quickly, taking up a position behind a low stone wall. Another flicker on her HUD showed a figure approaching fast. Her heart thudded in anticipation as she watched his cautious steps, his eyes scanning the area. He was wary, clearly expecting her. But she had a plan.
She placed another decoy down, this time programming it to mimic her own movements precisely - the subtle shifting of weight, the minute adjustments. As she activated it, the decoy sprang to life, moving just as she would, creating a perfect distraction.
The enemy locked onto the decoy instantly, raising his weapon. He hesitated for just a second, and that was all she needed. Vee slid behind him, silent as a shadow, and pressed the muzzle of her pistol into his back, firing a single, lethal shot. He dropped wordlessly, and Vee tossed an incendiary on him without a second thought.
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System Notification: Execution Bonus – EXP awarded. Stealth Mastery Increased: Level 2.
She didn’t pause to relish the message. Another figure was approaching, this one moving with more caution. As he closed the gap, she recognized him - a high-ranking player, fully equipped in specialized combat gear. His movements were precise, his gaze sweeping the area with a practiced eye.
“Alright, big guy,” Vee muttered, readying herself. This one would be a challenge.
The terrain was rugged here, strewn with rocks and fallen trees, and she used every bit of it to her advantage, keeping low, her body melded to the shadows. But he was good - even her decoys didn’t fully distract him. He paused, listening, his gaze narrowing as he scanned the area, clearly sensing her presence.
Then, in a sudden movement, he lunged, weapon swinging in a deadly arc. Vee backflipped, her knives sliding into her hands as she braced for a close-quarters fight. His kukri blade gleamed in the faint light, and he wasted no time, following up with a swift series of attacks that forced her to stay on the defensive.
She dodged, twisting and weaving with an agility that matched his, her own blades flashing as she countered, each movement calculated to avoid the brutal force of his swings. They moved like a dance, back and forth, neither giving an inch, their weapons clashing in a rapid staccato of sound.
Then, with a quick sidestep, she flicked her foot out, her boot’s hidden compartment clicking open. A marble-sized concussive grenade rolled out, attaching to his leg before he could react. She grinned as realization dawned in his eyes, just a second too late.
The grenade detonated, sending him sprawling. Vee closed the distance, finishing him off with a swift strike to his chest. His form faded, pixels scattering into the digital wind as her HUD flashed with another notification.
System Notification: Major Enemy Defeated – EXP awarded. Concussive Combat Rank Increased.
Another kill, and still the jungle was restless, her radar blinking with scattered blips of movement. She had only seconds before they realized he’d been taken out.
She ducked back into cover, her comm buzzing once more. Stein’s voice was edged with urgency. “Mad Kat, regroup point is just ahead. We’ve got heavy artillery inbound, ETA less than a minute. You need to move.”
She glanced at her HUD - the regroup point was only about fifty yards away, but with the incoming forces, it might as well have been a mile. “On my way,” she responded, tightening her grip on her weapons. She sprinted forward, navigating through the dense underbrush, the heavy sounds of artillery fire echoing through the trees as her team provided cover.
A laser whizzed past her, barely missing as she dove to the ground, rolling into a crouch as she raised her rifle, firing back with pinpoint precision. The figure pursuing her dropped, her HUD confirming another kill. But there was no time to stop; the artillery was closing in, and her window was shrinking.
Finally, the rendezvous point came into view. She saw Stein, Ladera, and Skater, all taking cover behind a stone barricade, their faces tense and determined.
“Vee, nice of you to join us!” Stein called out, grinning despite the chaos.
She smirked, sliding into cover next to him. “What can I say? I like to make an entrance.” She gave a quick nod to Ladera, who tossed her a spare ammo clip. Vee caught it smoothly, reloading in one fluid motion.
With her squad momentarily regrouped, Vee allowed herself a quick glance at her tallies. Her HUD display showed her current placement in the tournament - she was holding steady at seventh place, just outside the qualifying bubble for the top five. A red marker glowed ominously beside her name, indicating her precarious position. She knew that only two rounds remained, and unless she scored big in each of them, her dream of the championship would vanish like pixels on a failed respawn.
“Almost there,” she muttered to herself, clenching her fists as determination surged through her.
“Vee, you good?” Ladera’s voice broke her concentration.
“Just outside the top five. I need this next round to be flawless,” Vee replied, her voice carrying an edge that matched her steely gaze. “No more mistakes.”
Stein’s grin faded slightly, his tone serious. “Then let’s make it count. We’ve got two waves before they bring in the heavies. We take out enough of them, you’ll rack up enough points to push through the bubble.”
Vee nodded, shifting her weight, her mind already running through potential strategies. She knew she’d have to take risks, pushing harder, moving faster - her usual approach dialed up to an eleven. The rest of the team could see her focus sharpen, their expressions a mix of admiration and determination as they prepared to back her every move.
The silence shattered as the next wave surged toward them, a relentless rush of figures sweeping through the trees. Vee and her team sprang into action, bullets and energy blasts tearing through the air. Vee’s HUD painted targets across her vision, each hit bringing her one step closer to her goal. She moved with lethal precision, her mind in the zone, blocking out everything but the mission, her resolve unwavering.
As she took down enemy after enemy, a notification pinged, and she glanced at the leaderboard with a quick flick of her gaze. Her ranking had shifted to sixth place - just one spot away from the bubble. Her Kill/Death ratio was on point. But she couldn’t let herself relax now.
“Almost there,” she breathed, firing off another round, her mind racing with anticipation and grit.
One last burst of gunfire, and the final wave fell. Her HUD flashed with a tally update, confirming her position.
She exhaled, her muscles tense but steady. This was it - the final stretch. Everything she’d fought for rested on this last push, one more round, one more fight to cement her place in the championship. The jungle stilled, her team regrouped, and Vee steadied herself, ready to give everything she had for the title that was now within her grasp.