This Game Is Too Real
Chapter 233 Where on Earth Did All These People Come From?

Chapter 233: Chapter 233 Where on Earth Did All These People Come From?

If it weren’t for what he had witnessed, Gang Ya would never have believed what he was seeing.

The sound of gunfire, like scattering beans, came from across the snow-covered slope, bullets whistling through the air, falling like raindrops all around them.

The two snow slopes were at least six or seven hundred meters apart, and without professional aiming devices, it was not easy to hit someone, but the sheer volume of fire made up for precision.

Hundreds of rifles fired almost simultaneously, catching them off guard.

Within a few breaths, four Looters were hit and tumbled down the slope; the others could only return fire hastily.

Unfortunately, their position was terrible, half the team mid-slope and only half at the top.

Additionally, they were fighting against the light.

Looking westward, a huge chunk of the setting sun hung on the horizon; the entire snow slope looked gilded, harder to make out the higher up the slope it went.

Gang Ya couldn’t even count how many people were on the opposite side, sensing in the twilight that at least two hundred-man teams were rushing toward him, with people scattered all over the vast snowy field.

"Boss! There are so many people ahead!"

"They’re advancing on us!"

"Great Antler God above, grant me the monster’s strength and the divine deer’s agility..."

"Damn, how many of them are there?!"

"Has the whole ’North Suburb’ come out?!"

Chaos reigned all around.

Knowing this was no time to stand their ground, Gang Ya made a split-second decision and shouted:

"Retreat to the north!"

"Run into the forest!"

Crossing through the forest was a risky decision.

The snow would be thicker in the woods than on the plains, and they might encounter Mutant Brown Bears, Snow Wolves, and other carnivorous Variants.

Originally, according to his march plan, they were to proceed westward along the edge of the forest, then cross through the ruins north of Qingquan City, bypass the old school site and head north toward Far Creek Town.

But who expected that just as they approached the edge of the forest, they would run into so many people!

At this moment, Gang Ya felt just like he had been screwed over.

Several Centurions, receiving the order, immediately motioned for their followers to run north.

From a distance, the scene resembled a duck chase as over two hundred people pursued about a hundred and twenty to thirty others, though the relentless gunfire was far more thrilling than any duck chase.

"Stop!"

"Don’t run!"

"Thieves ahead, dare you stop and fight?"

"My axe longs to feast!!"

"Damn it, these bastards run fast!"

Those behind yelled frantically, and the ones in front were shouting too, but no one could understand what the other was saying.

Following the Centurion’s footsteps, River Beaver glanced back fearfully, seeing glinting bayonets flashing white in the snow.

Still four hundred meters away!

These people had already fixed their bayonets.

Were they all mad?!

"What kind of opponents are we fighting against..." huffed Iron Knee, gasping for breath.

"I don’t know, but if I can help it, I never want to come back. Damn it, we should’ve gone east and left this mess for Lion Tooth and his lot!"

"Hey, did you hear the explosions earlier? I think they had at least ten cannon..."

"At least a thousand-man team from the northeast side, and now at least two more hundred-man teams chasing us, are there even so many people in the entire ’North Suburb’!"

"Insane, insane!"

Listening to the nonsensical chatter of his subordinates, Gang Ya didn’t have time to respond.

He finally reached the edge of the forest and let out a sigh of relief.

Looking back at the dozen or so bodies left in the snow, Gang Ya felt a pang of pain in his heart, gritted his teeth and turned his head back.

"Run toward the true north!"

"We’ll regroup in Far Creek Town!"

This journey would likely see many fall behind.

But compared to being captured by those survivors, escaping was undoubtedly the better outcome...

...

"Darn it, let those bad guys escape!"

Watching those ten squads disappear into the woods, Tail, reaching the edge of the forest, plunged his rifle into the snow and leaned on the barrel, panting hard.

They were so close to catching up!

Unfortunately, the snow on the ground was too thick, burying up to the shins in some places, and directly up to the knees or even thighs in others, making it impossible to run.

Tail couldn’t help thinking of Meat Meat.

It would have been great if her bear were here!

After waiting for a while, Si Si and other players caught up from behind.

"Ah Wei, are you okay?"

"Tail’s still okay, just a pity we were so close!"

Watching a dejected Tail, Si Si looked up at the forest ahead and said helplessly.

"Enmm... after all, they didn’t even follow the process and just started running."

These people were so desperate to live that catching up was now out of the question.

Even that NPC wearing an exoskeleton couldn’t catch up, right?

Seeing the deputy captain of the guard squad have stopped at the edge of the forest and fired a few shots into the woods before retreating.

It seemed he had decided not to pursue further.

Si Si said encouragingly,

"However, Ah Wei did great today."

Hearing the praise, Ah Wei, who had been somewhat disappointed a second ago, couldn’t help but lift the corners of his mouth with pride and said,

"Kidding, Ah Wei is super brave, alright!"

Si Si chuckled.

"...Should I say ’show me’ at this time?"

"??? You’re not right, meow."

...

Having hurried through the forest, it was only after it had completely darkened that Gang Ya finally slowed his pace and gathered his subordinates.

Looking at the sparse group of fifty people, his heart sank slightly.

Though he had anticipated some would fall behind, he hadn’t expected so many.

Gasping for breath, River Beaver stepped forward and suggested to the Centurion.

"...The brothers are very tired, if we keep going, I’m afraid more people will fall behind. The pursuers haven’t caught up; I suggest we camp here, rest until dawn, and wait for those who have strayed."

Another Centurion, Iron Knee, also concurred,

"I agree... The temperature is too low at night, traveling is too dangerous!"

It was dark, and who knew what was hidden in the snow.

If they continued, it was doubtful many would make it out of the forest alive.

Gang Ya thought there was reason in their words and nodded.

"Set up camp."

Hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and exhaustedly leaned against the trees nearby.

Everyone was tired.

Some even fell asleep standing.

Rubbing his frostbitten hands, a Looter said tremblingly,

"I really want to start a fire..."

Hearing these words, bitter expressions appeared on everyone’s faces.

Start a fire?

Here?

Are they insane?

Although it seemed the survivors hadn’t pursued them into the forest, they didn’t believe they’d just let them go.

Perhaps the Hunter was nearby, just waiting for a moment of laxity to pounce and slit their throats.

Even while resting, many were on edge, clasping their guns cold as ice cubes, not daring to let down their guard.

The night grew darker, and moonlight filtered through the trees, the surroundings deathly still.

Occasionally, a strayed brother would find their way back, but ultimately, only a few returned; most were still unaccounted for.

Now, they could only pray those alive would make it out of the forest and safely reach Far Creek Town to meet them.

A worried look appeared on Gang Ya’s face, marking the first time he felt uncertain about the future since he had followed Lord Black Snake’s steps south.

Just then, a sound of trudging through the snow came from the darkness, and he immediately raised his gun.

Gang Ya whispered sharply,

"Who?"

Around Gang Ya, guns were quickly raised.

"It’s me! Don’t shoot!"

From the darkness, a man walked out with his hands raised, his weathered face filled with tension.

Upon recognizing the face, Gang Ya relaxed and lowered his gun.

"One of us."

Yu.

Previously under his command.

Though they lost at Winter Willow Camp, Yu was no slouch and was also an Awakener.

After retreating from Qingquan City, Yu had been taken by Lord Black Snake to be groomed as a Centurion.

To think that they would reunite under such circumstances...

Gang Ya holstered his gun and asked,

"Weren’t you with Lord Black Snake? How are things there?"

Though he suspected the situation was dire, he asked, hoping for a stroke of luck.

A bitter expression crossed Yu’s face.

"It’s all over."

"Except for a few who escaped, the rest are done for."

Before Gang Ya could respond, River Beaver said anxiously,

"All over?! How is that possible... over 600 people, even if they were captured, it should have taken some time."

The incredulity was evident on his face.

Gang Ya’s expression mirrored his disbelief.

No matter how bad the luck, even if they had lost all their supplies, escaping with two hundred-man teams should still be feasible, right?

Once they reached Far Creek Town, they could regroup and reunite under the flag of Lord Black Snake.

However, hearing River Beaver’s words only deepened the bitterness on Yu’s face.

After a moment of silence, Yu recalled the events from hours earlier and slowly began,

"The fire was raging, at least 10 shells... maybe 20, landed on our positions. Then they began their charge, whistle signals from all directions, we could only retreat north, but the situation quickly worsened."

"Their vehicles sped through the snow like sleighs, while our armored pickup trucks got completely stuck and were destroyed one after another."

"Automatic rifles, machine guns... and a type of gun with a very long barrel capable of piercing steel plates, their firepower was fierce, and as soon as the battle started, we suffered heavy casualties."

"It wasn’t just firepower; they fought us close quarters with axes and bayonets, and we were no match at all."

Fear gradually emerged on everyone’s faces.

Usually, it was they who initiated close combat, using incendiary bombs and projectiles to force the defenders out of their shelters and then charge with bayonets.

It saves bullets that way.

This was the first time they had encountered a method of fighting more brutal than theirs...

Still unable to believe these words, River Beaver asked anxiously, "What about that big guy? Don’t we have that... thing called a tank?"

If they can blow up armored pickup trucks, surely they can’t blow up tanks as well?

Yu shook his head.

"It was blown up."

Those three words stiffened the surrounding air as if it had been frozen.

The people listening involuntarily held their breath.

Blown up?

That tens of tons behemoth?

Gang Ya’s expression shifted slightly, suddenly recalling a previous looting in the Central Region.

They had encountered trouble then, unable to conquer a survivor settlement after a long attack.

The locals somehow got a cannon, and during the assault, they suffered heavy casualties.

It wasn’t until later that their Centurion, Lord Black Snake, obtained a tank from their leader.

Shells hitting that tank were like scratching an itch.

Those once-despairing fortifications in front of the steel tracks seemed just like paper, and they easily breached through and massacred the defenders.

And now, someone was telling him that unbeatable iron monster was blown up?

What on earth could blow it up!?

"... At least two thousand-team units are besieging us, these survivors likely have the support of Giant Stone City."

"We are no match for them, and neither is Lion Tooth."

"Targeting them from the start was a wrong decision, and an even bigger mistake, thinking we could end this war by winter."

Two thousand-team units!

The people around whispered among themselves, their faces no longer just fearful but visibly terrified.

Gang Ya also looked grave.

Beyond his apprehension, he couldn’t understand.

If these people were so strong, why did they fight him to a standstill more than a month ago?

Gang Ya remembered clearly, at that time to support the besieged vanguard, he only brought a hundred-team unit.

Though they fought all day without gaining an upper hand, they at least wiped out one of their elite teams.

Back then, he didn’t rate the strength of the survivors in this area very highly, barely capable of making up two hundred-team units.

If given a few more people, he wouldn’t even need Lord Black Snake’s help to take down this place.

And now, those who escaped from the front lines were telling him that they were besieged by two thousand-team units!

In just one winter, their combat power had a zero added to it, how did they manage that?!

Doesn’t it take time to produce children?

This rapid expansion was too fast!

After a long moment of contemplation, Gang Ya said.

"... We must get to Far Creek Town as soon as possible to inform our allies."

He and Lion Tooth were of the same clan, the Ya Clan, so Lion Tooth shouldn’t make things difficult for him.

River Beaver, Iron Knee, and the other Centurions looked at each other, no one daring to speak.

To be honest, after hearing Yu’s description, they didn’t want to go to Far Creek Town at all.

They just wanted to leave this place, escape from the south of River Valley Province, the further the better...

...

At the entrance of the provincial highway.

The convoy filled with supplies had been moved to the relatively higher ground of the highway.

Although an encounter had broken out on the way, Liuding’s reinforcement troops managed to arrive at the front line before dark.

The war here had already ended.

Players even gathered rocks and branches to start a fire on the highway, clearing a space to cook potatoes.

Many players were both combat and lifestyle professional players.

Like scrambled eggs with tomatoes.

As one of the veteran players who joined the game in its early versions, he was not only a cook but also a Body Constitution System Awakener.

He leaned his gun aside, picked up the snow to wash his hands, and then took the pot and spatula to start cooking.

The aroma of food spread across the temporary camp, making the players restless and as lively as a festival.

The captives tied up nearby kept gulping down their saliva but didn’t dare ask for food.

Soon, two players pinching their noses walked over and dropped a bucket filled with nutrition paste on the ground.

"Eat up."

Even though the nutrition paste was frozen like blocks of ice, the captives were far from picky, almost fighting over a few bites.

A few players stood by, chatting casually.

"Speaking of which, where have all the captives we caught been sent?"

"Changjiu Farm seems to have a prison, I remember Outpost Base having one too."

"Can such a small prison hold so many people?"

"How could everyone fit inside a building? I heard there’s a labor camp near the north of Rhombus Lake. They’ll probably send people there to clear the land."

"Digging for potatoes, huh? Exciting."

On the other side.

The rescued slaves were given some food rations along with branches and firewood for daily use.

Liuding picked a few who could cook, and set up a large pot on an open space to make porridge.

Once the warm porridge was in their stomachs, a relieved expression appeared on everyone’s faces.

The new master seemed not bad.

He didn’t eat them and even gave them something warm to eat.

Many people began to have hope for their future lives.

Rushing over to Liuding’s side, Lu Bei stood at attention and saluted.

"Report! The count is complete, 488 slaves liberated! A total of 257 prisoners of war!"

That made nearly seven hundred people in total.

Liuding nodded, pressed his hand to his headset, and reported the situation at the front line to headquarters.

Headquarters then issued instructions: Rest in place for half an hour before setting out immediately, taking all supplies and prisoners of war to Changjiu Farm and relocating the liberated survivors to a temporary shelter.

"Go tell our soldiers to start moving in half an hour,"

Lu Bei said crisply.

"Yes!"

With that, the young man trotted off towards the players’ direction.

After conveying the Manager’s orders, Liuding looked at the rescued slaves beside him.

people.

Mostly young adults, seventy percent male, thirty percent female, almost no elders, and not a single child.

Clearly, this was not a normal age structure.

There was only one obvious possibility.

"...These bastards."

Glancing at the prisoners competing for nutrient paste nearby, Liuding cursed under his breath and walked toward the truck.

He needed to issue a mission to recruit players who could drive the seized trucks back.

The rest would have to walk.

Including himself.

...

"It’s okay now, the bad guys have been driven away."

With the cat overhead gently swaying, Sesame Paste squatted on the snowy ground, comforting the crying girl.

Not far away.

Carrying a sniper rifle, Night Ten, along with Wild Wind, had finally returned from the north.

"MMP, why do I feel like I was just an extra in this fight?"

Watching the grumbling Night Ten peeling potatoes, Fang Chang casually replied.

"Not really, your information was very useful, and what you did perfectly matched the role of a scout."

Night Ten sighed, "Well, that’s true, but damn, I waited two days and didn’t fire a single shot. How is that reasonable?"

Even the rookie players had a battle!

Fang Chang smiled and said,

"Well, isn’t that perfect? All the bullets you saved are yours now."

In the current version, factions distribute ammunition before a war mission starts, and unused ammo can be kept.

This is also why many players prefer bayonet fights.

Shooting might miss, and missing two shots could mean a big loss. It’s better to go for close combat, as most Looters are no match.

However, there have been fewer such incidents lately.

Mission rewards kept increasing, but bullet prices stayed the same, and the soldier’s occupation even got a ten percent discount. Supplies weren’t as scarce as before.

Sometimes saving bullets was just a habit, and nobody deliberately scrimped on them anymore.

Night Ten rolled his eyes, squatted down, picked up a potato, and started peeling it too.

Their brought food was all gone, and he was famished, eager for a hot meal soon.

"Where’s Old White?"

Fang Chang asked casually.

"Something came up in real life. He logged off after the war points were distributed. He’s lying in the truck now. I have to carry him to a save point later. You two help me out."

Night Ten chuckled mischievously.

"Oh? Old White trusts me that much?"

Wild Wind shot him a look.

"What are you planning?"

Night Ten grinned and said, "Heh, nothing much. Just wondering whether to draw a mustache on him or something."

Fang Chang rolled his eyes.

"Can’t you be a bit more ambitious?"

Wild Wind coughed slightly and said, "Are you sure you want to destroy the trust between people? We all have real-life emergencies sometimes."

Hearing this, Night Ten instantly backed down, awkwardly laughing.

"Uh, just kidding."

-

(The next Chapter will be ready around 12 pm.)