Aftermath

There were more than 20 million citizens residing in New York City, with a staggering number of over 900,000 buildings.

With the emergence of 9,000 players within the city, the player-to-NPC ratio stood at approximately 2,000 to 1. Each player was randomly placed at a distance of about one block from one another, creating an air of uncertainty and isolation.

When disaster first struck, many citizens sought refuge in the nearest sturdy buildings, seeking safety amidst the chaos that unfolded. One such location was the New York Library, a renowned institution that had now become a sanctuary for survivors.

Among the throngs of NPCs that sought shelter within its walls, Alan noticed a familiar sight: a small group of individuals donning the same distinctive red tracksuit as him. They were fellow players who, like Alan, had sought solace and protection within the library's hallowed halls.

The atmosphere within the library was tense, with none of the players yet to show any interest in interacting with one another. They were still processing the aftermath of the disaster, coming to terms with the chaos that surrounded them.

Meanwhile, Alan, soaked to the bone from his rescue efforts, focused on drying his clothes and seizing the opportunity to check his stats.

Logging into the game link, Alan reviewed his current status:

[Alan D Angello]

[Level 3: 500/1000]

[HP: 50/120]

[Stamina: 78%]

[Survival points: 800]

[You have one attribute point to distribute]

[You have 1x F rank reward, 1x E rank reward]

A sense of satisfaction washed over Alan as he saw his progress. Achieving Level 3 and accumulating survival points in just 15 minutes of gameplay was a testament to his skills and quick thinking.

The reward system in the game provided an additional 10 HP and an attribute point for every two levels in their first thirty levels as a way for a first-timer to gain more advantages in the game. Afterward, it will be every 3 levels.

Without hesitation, Alan reached for his trusty water bottle from his inventory and drank it replenishing his health and stamina:

[Recover 30 HP and 10% Stamina regeneration within 5 minutes]

Some might consider it wasteful to consume the water at this moment, as health and stamina naturally regenerated over time based on a person's endurance.

However, given the game would only last for a short 8 hours, added to the unpredictable challenges that lay ahead, Alan didn't want to leave anything to chance. Besides, he knew where to find more of those water bottles or similar items again.

Next, Alan access the game link again to distribute his newly received attributes. Alan right away decided to stick with the plan he had initially devised and chose to increase his endurance.

[Strength : E-]

[Agility : E]

[Endurance : E-]+ 1 [E- > E]

[Perception : E]

[Intelligence: D-]

[Spirit : F-]

Knowing what was ahead of him, Alan put endurance as a priority. Plus adding an attribute in endurance gave him the much-needed extra health.

[Increase 10 Maximum Health Points]

[HP: 120 > 130]

As for the reward, Alan decided to keep for later use.

After a short while, another notification flickered in his mind through the game link:

[Updating current players]

[Players still in the game - 7,932]

In a span of time that was less than 30 minutes, more than a thousand players had been eliminated from the game.

The majority of these players should be those who tried to get extra points by helping survivors but ended up being carried away by the waves instead.

Although it was terrible news, this number brought a little smile to Alan as the last time he played the game, the number reached close to 3000. He took a little comfort that his warning had something to do with it.

Just as he processed this information, another crucial notification appeared:

[Warning: The snowstorm has arrived. The temperature will start to drop]

The room buzzed with commotion as people rushed to the windows to witness the transformation outside. The torrential rain had ceased, replaced by a gentle snowfall. However, what truly shocked everyone was the sight of the once-flooded city streets now frozen solid. The icy grip had reached even the bus that Alan had rescued survivors from, freezing it in place within the lobby.

In a remarkably short span of time, the circumstances had drastically changed. Alan could feel the chilling cold creeping into his bones as the temperature plummeted.

A status alert appeared in his interface:

[You Received Status: Cold Level One]

[Stamina Regeneration Drops 10%]

With this development, the battle against the freezing cold had officially begun. Each player's primary objective was to keep warm and survive the eight hours of the game.

However, as tension filled the hallway, a sudden commotion erupted from the crowd. A man clad in a soldier's uniform stepped forward, commanding the attention of everyone present. His authoritative voice reverberated through the room, cutting through the murmur of uncertainty.

"Listen up! I am Private Briggs of the U.S. Army. We need to evacuate this place before the temperature drops any further"

His words hung in the air, stirring a mixture of hope and doubt among the gathered crowd. Private Briggs was one of the 1,000 army personnel integrated into the game, tasked with providing guidance and assistance to other players. While they may not possess the experience of veteran players, the government had equipped them with basic gear salvaged from previous rounds, including their soldier uniforms and potentially more based on their rank.

Private Briggs' declaration quickly captured the attention of not only the dozen players present but also the few hundred NPC civilians seeking refuge within the library. However, an older player, a man in his late thirties, stepped forward, his voice filled with skepticism and concern.

"Sir, you want us to go out there? Just one soldier like you leading us? No! No! I would rather stay here and wait out the weather!"

His words resonated with some of the other players and civilians who were still gripped by fear and uncertainty. The room quickly buzzed with conflicting opinions, creating a tense atmosphere as individuals grappled with the decision that lay before them.