Chapter 22: Fireteam Showdown
The hum of the Core Server filled the air with a strange, metallic vibration.
Zayn stepped back from the console, eyes fixed on the symbol now pulsing across the server's surface. It resembled a distorted eye, surrounded by jagged code fragments rotating slowly, like a digital storm trapped in a box.
"This wasn't placed here by chance," Kira muttered. "This was hidden… buried in the game itself."
Iris circled the room, rifle ready. "Then why give us a mission to find it?"
\[Alert: Zone Shrinking – Safe Area Reduced]
\[Remaining Squads: 4]
\[Next Collapse in 2:00]
Max glanced at the minimap. "If we stay here, we'll get overrun. One team's already closing in—fast."
Zayn nodded. "We carry the core. Move out. Nearest safe zone is behind the broadcast tower."
They retrieved the Core Server—it shrunk into a sphere, floating just above Zayn's palm, glowing faintly with a red pulse. A data weight settled in his inventory slot, labeled: *UNKNOWN OBJECT — DO NOT DROP*.
The squad moved quickly, cutting across cracked roads and scorched forests. Enemy gunfire echoed behind them, a clear sign that the final squads were locking in for the endgame.
As they reached the outskirts of the broadcast tower, the sky turned amber—smoke and ash rising from distant airstrikes. The platform was occupied.
Max stopped short. "Another squad's dug in."
Through his scope, Zayn counted four players. Armored, well-positioned, already looting care packages. One wore a crimson cloak—an elite player skin from a top-tier clan.
\[Identified: Fireteam Omega – Rank: Platinum Division]
\[Kill Leader: "Nightblade" – 6 Eliminations]
Kira crouched behind a concrete barrier. "We don't fight them head-on. We pull them out."
Zayn smiled faintly. "Time for a distraction."
He threw down a decoy drone. It zipped forward, mimicking player movement and weapon sound.
The enemy squad took the bait.
Three of them advanced toward the decoy's position, guns drawn. Zayn and Max flanked right, slipping behind them. Iris climbed to an elevated rock, sniper locked in.
\[Engagement Begins: Squad #11 vs Squad #3]
Max opened with a frag grenade—boom.
Zayn dashed forward, sliding and blasting with his shotgun. One enemy dropped instantly.
Nightblade turned, reacting fast—unloading with a Vector akimbo combo. Zayn barely ducked behind cover, but his health bar dipped dangerously.
"Zayn, down!" Iris warned.
Kira threw a healing drone, the small bot zipping over and patching Zayn's health just in time.
The second enemy charged. Max met him head-on with a katana slash. Sparks flew. A clean takedown.
Then Nightblade activated his active skill—Shadow Phase.
He disappeared.
Zayn spun, searching. "Behind!"
Too late.
A knife slashed across Zayn's vest—armor broke, red flashing on his HUD. He stumbled, falling.
Nightblade stood over him, smirking. "You don't belong in this tier."
But before the final strike, a gunshot rang out.
Iris.
Headshot.
Nightblade dropped to his knees, collapsing in a glitch of sparks.
\[Kill Confirmed: Fireteam Omega Eliminated]
\[Remaining Squads: 2]
Zayn exhaled, barely rising to his feet. "That… was close."
Iris walked up calmly, her sniper smoking. "I told you I've got overwatch."
Kira helped Zayn recover, quickly injecting a stim. "You okay?"
He nodded, eyes hardening. "We can't stop now. One squad left."
\[Final Collapse in 1:00 – Last Safe Zone Activated]
\[Warning: Core Server Emitting High Signal Levels]
\[Tracking Alert – You Have Been Marked]
Zayn's hand tingled as the server pulsed again. Its red light was now visible from the horizon.
Iris checked the distance. "The last squad will come for us. No doubt."
Max smirked. "Then let's set the trap."
They moved quickly into position—Zayn and Kira behind rocks near the safe zone edge, Iris climbing high again, Max taking cover by a destroyed jeep.
And then they came.
Squad #7—fast, coordinated, and silent. Their loadout was maxed. Gold armor. Custom weapon skins. One carried a drone above, scanning.
But Zayn's squad had something they didn't: desperation and experience.
The first enemy stepped into range—*bang*. Iris dropped them instantly.
The drone pinged their location—Max lobbed a smoke grenade.
In the confusion, Zayn moved forward, activating a new skill he'd just unlocked from the Core Server.
\[Skill Unlocked: Echo Blink]
\[Effect: Short-range teleport with 3-second cooldown]
In a flash, he blinked behind one enemy, firing point-blank.
Down.
Kira dropped two mines as backup and pulled Zayn out of the fray just as the final enemy opened fire.
Iris finished it with a perfect flank.
\[Squad #7 Eliminated – Victory Achieved]
\[Booyah!]
\[Core Server Secured – Extraction Initiated]
The map blurred, then faded into white.
Silence.
Zayn opened his eyes.
They were standing in a quiet, digital void—alone with the Core Server still pulsing.
\[System Message: Data Sync Complete]
\[Welcome to Tier-2 Access]
\[New Game Zone Unlocked: Grave Sector]
\[Next Mission: Enter the Dead City]
Kira looked at him, eyes wide. "Dead City? That's a blacklisted zone."
Zayn tightened his grip on the Core Server. "Then that's where we're going next."
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Author's Note:
Thank you for reading Chapter 22! We're heading deeper into the action now, with more Free Fire-inspired chaos, PvP showdowns, and new zones coming soon. Your support keeps the story alive—if you're enjoying the ride, I'd love to hear your thoughts or suggestions! Stay tuned for Chapter 23, where the squad enters Dead City—a place where even the system fears to go.