20 Game World 1: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ : _ _ E _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ A _ _ _ _ _ (8)

Aectaeon did gather up the resolve to face the tanks. However, he didn't know how to go about it.

'Should I just run straight and climb those tanks? Or should I go for the gaps in between them? What if there's another group waiting for me beyond this line?'

He put his left foot behind him, digging through the dirt with the tip of his boot. He then slightly lowered his upper torso and bent his knees.

'In the first place, can I even dodge a tank's gun? I've seen demonstrations, and they could fire rounds in insane velocities. That's not something that a human should dare challenge. And I, a flimsy human, should not even be thinking of that. But here I am.'

Laughing at himself, Aectaeon let his eyes land on the countdown panel.

[[ Return Countdown: 15 D ; 16 H ; 13 M ; 38 S ]]

He still had a lot of time to spare, so to speak. Withal, that was only if he had a clear idea of the game's proceedings. The most important of all, for Aectaeon, was to learn just how frequent the appearance of the letter rewards was.

From that information, he would be able to make a concrete plan for his journey. He was the type to plan his day out, heeding to it religiously as long as it was physically possible. That's the reason why the timing scale was just as crucial to him as his survival.

'Anyway, I should stop thinking for the time being. Nothing about my situation confers to logic. I'm wasting time as it is.'

He proceeded to check the panel below the countdown.

{{ Time Limit: 00 D ; 00 H ; 17 M ; 56 S }}

Without further ado, Aectaeon inhaled through his gritted teeth. A grin -- half mischievous, half foolish -- came into view on his face that was breaking out with sweat.

After blinking once, Aectaeon started to run.

"Intruder! Stop this instant!"

"If you don't surrender, we will resort to more violent measures!"

At the outset, Aectaeon didn't want to pay attention to the warnings. He had already made a decision. Withal, he couldn't stay silent at the last remark he heard.

In an outrage, he clicked his tongue, breathed sharply, and screamed, "What do you mean by more violent measures?! Isn't this violent enough?! What's next?! Dropping a bomb on my head?!"

"This is a restricted area! I repeat, this is a restricted area! We will spare your life if you decide to surrender!"

"No, thank you!"

Out of all the noises surrounding him, Aectaeon's ears were pricked with the whirring of rusting mechanical gears in motion. He could see that the barrels of the tanks were slowly being pointed at him.

"Alright, alright! Come at me!"

Aectaeon put more strength in his legs for possibly the last sprint of his life. Right when he was only a couple of meters away from the leading tank, he whispered, "Use Vityaz-SN"

{{ Vityaz-SN In Use }}

He placed his left hand towards the side, and there, in his grip, did a submachine gun materialize. Aectaeon quickly directed the nozzle at the pursuers on his trail, going under the barrel of the tank in front of him.

Just as he stepped on the tank's armour, Aectaeon pulled the trigger.

The gunshots drew a line between him and his pursuers. Meanwhile, he was trying to keep his balance on the tank. He surveyed the scenery around him, and as he had expected, there were more men waiting for him on the other side.

Aectaeon held out his right hand, muttering under his breath once more, "Use MAS-38 x 1"

Another submachine gun materialized in his hand. He then hurriedly redirected the Vityaz-SN towards the soldiers afore him. Using those two guns, Aectaeon found a way to buy himself some time.

"Lock on,"

His eyesight immediately turned into that of a scope again. He examined the formation of the soldiers and every single movement they made. Aectaeon then found the sweet spot he was looking for.

There was one thing that Aectaeon was grateful for.

It was the fact that guns had unlimited ammo. He had already tested the phenomenon earlier with the MAS-38. The cartridges were being replenished by the system. He didn't know whether it was a permanent function or it's only exclusive to the weapons he acquired as starters. But he didn't dare question it in fear that he would lose such a perk.

Aectaeon fired the guns.

A great amount of debris began to fly in all sorts of directions. An enormous smoke rose high up in the air just as Aectaeon had planned. In a haste, he got down from the tank and ran straight ahead.

"Store Vityaz-SN. Use Survival Knife."

{{ Vityaz-SN returned to Inventory }}

{{ Survival Knife In Use }}

The guns vanished in an instant, the knife appearing in his right hand thereafter.

"Lock on,"

Through the scope, Aectaeon could see the slightest shift in the smoke. No, it was more than that. He could see through the blanket of smoke that was supposed to be obstructing his vision.

He ran and ran, using his knife to fend for himself when necessary. He bumped into a lot of soldiers, some failed to recognize him. For those who did, Aectaeon was able to escape their clutches right away.

Unfortunately for him, they were also prepared to retaliate.

Aectaeon felt a burning pain on his arms, next on his shoulders. He didn't have the time to inspect his wounds, but he knew that they weren't that deep. Though the reality changed in a heartbeat.

The sensation of a cold piece of metal burrowing through his muscles, even grazing his bone, rattled Aectaeon's being. He clenched his jaw all the while gritting his teeth. The pain he felt physically was something he could tolerate.

As for his trauma, he couldn't evade it.

The pain was familiar. To his fortune, the environment wasn't, so he quickly regained his senses.

Aectaeon placed his knife in his belt and grabbed the handle of the knife rooted in his thigh. He pulled it out in one swift motion, grunting as the wind caressed the laceration. He threw the knife forthwith and resumed his escape.

In the moments before reaching his objective, Aectaeon heard a voice boom within the area.

"Intruder, state your name and your purpose!"

Without stopping his feet, Aectaeon thought about the command.

'Name? What name? Come to think of it, I have no name in the game. Is it my pseudonym…? Wait--'

Aectaeon darted his head towards the front, his chest heaving erratically.

He didn't wait until his breathing stabilized, shouting as he took one last step, "Igor Vali has returned from the mission, Commander!"

{{ Objective 'Return to Base' Accomplished }}