Chapter 289: The Global First-Place Reward

The soldiers who had been driven back shouted and cursed.

Many people angrily opened fire on the rear positions with their guns.

They didn't know why they were fighting, nor why they were dying.

In the rear position, the twenty Awakened Ones who had been threatened to step out looked at each other and couldn't help but give a bitter smile.

They were recruited survivors.

I never expected Luo En to threaten them with the lives of their own families.

Either fight the mutants, or I'll kill your families and then fight me.

Luo En's words still rang in their ears.

They could neither resist the army nor resist the powerful Luo En.

I never thought that this force, which I believed to be a regular military faction, would turn out to be just like any other private militia.

The entire North American war zone, or rather, the whole world.

Awakened Ones who held great power and armed forces realized they could completely drive their subordinates to die in order to kill the mutants.

Convenient, safe, and quick to level up.

Thus, a large number of meaningless deaths appeared.

In order to ensure that the system would recognize their damage, many factions would let the Awakened Ones sent to die merely wound the mutants.

Like Luo En, his rank was only two away from reaching Second Level.

The twenty Awakened Ones, faces bearing death intent, had no choice but to desperately meet the man-eating monsters in the position under Luo En's icy gaze.

Miserable screams and wails never ceased.

In just five minutes, the front position had already been overrun by the corpse tide.

Large numbers of soldiers who couldn't escape in time were torn apart flesh by flesh by the dense zombies, then completely devoured.

The lickers that charged into the artillery position occasionally hurled mortars, smashing the fleeing soldiers into piles of meat paste.

The tank mutant protecting its head roared while laying down heavy machine gun fire, step by step approaching the soldiers who wanted to fight desperately.

"Almost..."

Luo En coldly watched the twenty Awakened Ones go to their deaths like ants, secretly calculating the amount of experience in his mind.

One Second Level, plus two First Levels.

Compared to the weakened weapons, the twenty Awakened Ones, fighting desperately, ultimately managed to injure the weakest licker.

Four minutes later, after launching another light air strike, Luo En panted heavily, the flame in his hand struggling to extinguish.

Beneath him, reduced to charcoal, the tank whose legs had been shattered by missiles lay motionless.

He mobilized the last trace of spiritual energy, straining to deliver the final blow.

Dark red flames, like a stream, drilled into the tank's brain, wafting out a scorched stench.

"Beep, successfully killed a Second Level mutant."

Dots of spiritual energy seeped into his body, the effect of the level-up completely dispelling his fatigue.

I...

Second Level!

Luo En was overjoyed, his whole body trembling with excitement.

The Awakened Ones following beside him had ashen faces, gazing at their leader with complex eyes.

After sacrificing four thousand soldiers and thirty-three Awakened Ones, Luo En fulfilled the upgrade requirements.

As for the corpse tide?

After using a batch of Awakened Ones as bait to lure the tank mutant here, Luo En directly issued the retreat order.

His primary goal was to level up; clearing the corpse tide in the city came second.

An orange-red mushroom cloud rose, and the earth trembled.

Even though they were tens of miles apart, the violent circular shockwave still swayed everyone's figures.

The mushroom cloud rising behind them foretold that the soldiers left to block the enemy, together with the zombies, would turn to ashes.

Luo En, utterly indifferent, gazed at his hands; the powerful feeling was addictive.

These ordinary people died just like that; I just don't know how many of the corpse tide were wiped out...

Just that.

Where is the system announcement?!

Where is my global announcement?!

After feeling the power within him, he anxiously lifted his head to look at the sky.

He had sacrificed so many subordinates, wasn't it just to be the first to reach Second Level?

Although he didn't know why the system had malfunctioned, the system later stated that in this stage, no one had yet reached Second Level.

He didn't believe other war zones had such favorable conditions as his, nor did he believe other war zones could control their armies to sacrifice troops just to boost strength like he did.

I must be the first!

Hurry up!

My honor! My reward!

The long-absent global announcement made him feel a sudden unease.

Luo En's face turned ashen.

One minute has passed!

Damn it, one minute has passed!

Where is the announcement!

He dares to sacrifice his subordinates like this, thinking only of his own promotion to Second Level, then relying on the fame of being first to continue recruiting subordinates.

Even other Military Regions can only hold their noses and accept his actions.

If there isn't...

Even without obtaining the reward...

He emotionally grabbed the collar of the Awakened One beside him, loudly questioning as if he had lost his mind.

"Have you guys heard the global announcement!"

"Luo En! Luo En is the global first! I am the first Second Level!"

The surrounding Awakened Ones stared at Luo En, who looked like a madman, with fearful expressions, no one daring to say they hadn't heard.

After a long while, just as Luo En fell into utter despair and madness, a mechanical voice suddenly sounded.

"Global announcement: Congratulations to player Luo En for successfully advancing to Second Level, becoming the world's first Second Level Awakened One."

"The leaderboard opens, and the reward for the first Second Level Awakened One is issued."

Great ups and downs.

Although this global announcement's content differs somewhat from the last, in the end I was acknowledged by the system.

Luo En shouted excitedly and laughed loudly to the sky.

It's fine.

Even if the global announcement is delayed, it's fine as long as I'm acknowledged!

I am the global first!

I am the strongest player in the world!

At the moment the announcement sounded, the Awakened One beside him flashed a look of envy and jealousy in his eyes.

Global first, oh, such a title in the Apocalypse has more rallying power than a president...

Moreover, the system will also issue rewards.

Luo En felt refreshed, his eyes showing hatred.

Damn Chief of Staff, he actually called me stupid!

You don't understand! You all don't understand!

In the Apocalypse, as long as my strength is strong enough, everything I do will be glorified!

He excitedly opened the North American War Zone chat channel, and immediately saw a flood of messages.

People are praising me!

Countless people madly praised Luo En's name, most unaware that his Military Region was desperately sending messages, hoping he would join.

Extreme satisfaction.

Luo En could imagine how many of the global tens of billions of people were staring in shock at the leaderboard.

But the occasional doubts flashing in the channel made him irritable.

When the first Second Level appeared earlier, the system announcement caused many to doubt.

To the extent that many speculated whether the global first, after appearing, had used special means to hide himself.

Luo En wished he could kill those guys who doubted him.

How could anyone possibly be stronger than me!

I fucking sacrificed an entire unit! To test the weapon and player damage ratio needed for upgrading, I fucking emptied the entire fleet's missiles!

He looked expectantly, devoutly raising both hands, waiting for the system to send the reward.

Hurry!

My reward!

Buzz—

In the high sky, a beam of light instantly shot out, piercing the atmosphere straight to the North American War Zone.

Luo En trembled all over as he looked at the mysterious iron box in his hand.

At the same time, the system's prompt also sounded instantly.

Ding, obtained Soul Key: A-rank Props (exclusive reward for the global first Second Level player).

Soul Key?

A-rank?

He struggled to swallow his saliva, unable to contain his excitement.

A-rank! He has never obtained A-rank Props!

Just looking at the iron box holding the key seems otherworldly! He can't imagine what this A-rank reward could be!

Too strong! It must be super Props!

The iron box opened, Luo En impatiently, full of anticipation, looked ahead.

The empty iron box contained nothing.

Clang—

The iron box fell to the ground, rolling to the side of his foot.

The system's prompt sounded coldly.

Unknown error, the reward has been lost.

Ahhhhh!!!

Who stole my reward!!!

Furious, desperate roars rang out, echoing across the sky.