Tar Tar Tar

The deafening sounds of multiple gunshots echoed in the frozen streets of New York City's riverside.

A man in a camouflage suit could be seen running through the freezing snow with no fear in his eyes.

As he streaked through the white landscape, a Crimson-plated M16 assault rifle in his hand roared its existence, firing bullets toward the bunch of sprinting and leaping wolves, canines bared.

"Keep it close, if you dont wanna get left behind," said the man as three figures in blazers were following him, ducking their chin to hide their neck from the cold temperature and the pack of predators merely meters away from them.

He brute-forced his way through towards the dock where a Helipad could be seen.

Standing between him and his objective was at least two dozen ferocious wolves, hungry for a piece of human meat.

Going through this pack of carnivorous predators while protecting three NPCs... was certainly not an easy task.

This sort of mission normally required at least half a dozen players to have a decent chance of success. But fortunately, the man was a veteran who was in possession of a special assault rifle, making this difficult challenge look like a walk in the park.

Tar Tar Tar Tar

The ear-piercing gunfire continued, as the group of four continued to advance forward. A single man drove away the madness in the eyes of wolves, causing the beast of prey to tread with dread and caution. He mowed over any number of wolves with his seemingly infinite ammunition.

"Y'all want some more?!!!"

After shouting menacingly, the man eyed a small building nearby their current position. It was the reception front towards the dock where Helipad remained.

The man approached the building with swift yet cautious movements. He spent a few precious seconds scanning the surroundings with a probing gaze to make sure he was not being followed by any players.

"Go inside now!!" The man shouted at the three VIPs, before proceeding to take out a frag grenades and throw them towards the pack of wolves tailing them.

Kaboom!!

"Hahaha!! Taste that sucker!!" spat the Crimson Gunner with apparent joy, as his eyes sparkled and gleamed at the sight of wolves' bodies devoured by explosion.

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Immediately after, the man rushed into the reception building and shut the door behind his back. He gasped for air as he had finished the most challenging part of the escort mission. However, he didn't let his nerves settle nor his guard down, because the notification about the completion of the quest had yet to arrive.

And just as he expected, it arrived a few moments later.

[The VIP has arrived at the destination; the helicopter will land in five minutes. Get them out of this city]

The man gazed through the window behind him. There, he saw a dock constructed over the frozen river. He waited for a minute before the sight of a helicopter distant in the sky could be seen in the window.

"Let's go!" He ordered the three NPCs.

The moment he stepped out, another notification greeted him, followed by a strong gust of cold wind hitting his body.

[10 minutes left to survive]

[Updating current players]

[Players still in the game - 31,005]

[Warning: The final super storm is here, The temperature will descend rapidly]

"This weather... Goddammit."

[Warning - Cold status increase: level 3]

[Stamina regeneration decrease 50%, slow movement 30%]

"Let's go!" he said. Not wanting to spend another second in this god-forsaken place.

The Helipad was only 200 meters away from the reception building. The man jumped in with the crimson rifle close to his chest. As they stepped on the dock bridge, several wolves came chasing, baring fangs to the group of four.

"Argghh, you dumbass beasts!!"

Tar Tar Tar Tar

The man stayed guard at the back while moving swiftly toward the end of the dock and firing his gun. However, halfway through the wooden bridge, with his high perception, the man spotted a human figure jumping from under the bridge, approaching at a rapid speed.

It was a brown skinned man that he recognized.

The Crimson Gunner quickly shifted the muzzle of his gun and released a few shots towards the new arrival, forcing him to jump back into the frozen river.

"Huh!! Get your brown ass away from me." He did not celebrate his successful action of thwarting his enemy's plan. He knew that if one arrived here, there was nothing to stop the other one from being here.

Splaattt

[Sneak attack - Stabbed - Received 38 damage]

Urrggghh!!

To his shocked he he felt a knife digging into his shoulder force him to drop his rifle

"Fu*ck!!"

He didn't expect that the other party could sneak up right behind him, successfully escaping his trained perception.

The Crimson Gunner quickly tried to reach for the rifle. Unfortunately, the man in a dark cloak was shockingly faster as he once again jumped at him, pushing him down the bridge into the frozen river.

CRAACCKK

The fall creates a loud sound on the ice; however, the man's senses warned him of an incoming stab, which he deflected in time by delivering a kick.

The Gunner was skilled and strong enough to push his opponent away with just a kick. Afterward, the two stood facing each other. A stalemate developed.

"Huh!! How the fuck did you sneak up on me!!"

The Crimson Gunner quickly glance behind him and was surprised to see the brown skin man had already climbed on the bridge, to protect the VIP from the wolves.

Realizing that it would be just two of them, he turned his focus back at the man in the dark cloak and said, "Hahaha fool! you dare to fight one on one against me!?"

He brought out the Beretta pistol he took from the guy before and aimed the gun at his head.

A grin appeared on his face when he said "'I am stronger, faster, better armed, and especially more experienced. Amuse me, how the hell do you plan to defeat me?" He said as his shoulders lowered and relaxed, not bothered by the man with the knife.

The man in the dark cloak smiled and said, "Well, at least I believe I am smarter than you."

As he said it, he threw the knife to the ground and stomped on it with everything he got.

Craackkk!!

At first, the Crimson Gunner was confused by the other party's actions. However, it didn't take long for the ice underneath him to crack apart, and before he could jump away, it broke apart.

"What the fuk!!"

The veteran body plunged down, he fell into the water below with his mouth wide open.

Ice freezing cold of the river quickly drench his body like being pierced by hundred sharp knives

[Warning - Cold status increase: level 4]

[Stamina regeneration decrease 90%, slow movement 50%]

[Warning - Cold status increase: level 5]

[Cold damage - 1 Health Point inflicted every 5 seconds]

[Warning - Cold status increase: level 6]

[Cold damage - 2 Health Point infected every second]

The man's cold status increased by three whole levels and he would be dead in two or three minutes even if doesn't get any help.