Chapter 57: Testing II
Machine gun fire shredded through the front line like a buzzsaw through paper. Screams echoed, mixing with the chaotic roar of artillery and the relentless chattering of MG-42s. Richard’s player character was at the far back of the LCVP, but that didn’t mean he was safe.
"Jump!" a sergeant shouted, his voice raw, throat stripped bare from barking orders. Soldiers hurled themselves over the side of the craft, plunging into the frigid water.
Richard’s character followed, hitting the icy surf with a jolt. The water was deep, deeper than he expected, and his avatar flailed beneath the surface. The weight of the gear dragged him down, helmet filling with saltwater. Around him, other soldiers were sinking, their packs and rifles pulling them under like anchors. Hands clawed at the air, desperate for a breath, but most of them wouldn’t make it.
Richard gritted his teeth, hammering the W key to swim. He kicked, fought, and finally broke the surface, gasping as bullets sprayed the water like hailstones.
Ahead, the beach was a bloody mess. The other LCVPs were in flames, torn apart by artillery fire. Those who managed to get out were being mowed down before they could even hit the sand. The sound design was horrifyingly realistic — the wet thwack of bullets tearing through flesh, the screams of men dying, the metallic clang of helmets hitting the sand.
Richard’s character sprinted for cover, but just as he reached the shingle, a mortar round landed nearby. The screen flashed red.
You Died.
Richard cursed under his breath. He hit Load Checkpoint and respawned in the LCVP, the screams and chaos starting all over again.
This time, he didn’t charge forward. Instead, he dropped to the sand and crawled, pressing his belly into the wet gravel. The game’s Chaos Stat was in full effect — his aim shook with panic, the crosshairs wavering as his character trembled under fire. Every shot was a gamble, and he missed more than he hit.
Across the room, Jack’s screen was a similar scene of carnage. He gritted his teeth as his character’s squad leader shouted, "Get to the craters! Move, move, move!"
Jack’s avatar scrambled forward, but the instant he rose to sprint, a machine gun tore through him, the screen going black.