MOBA Game Apocalypse-Chapter 42: So Near, And Yet So Far

Chapter 42: Chapter 42: So Near, And Yet So Far
"You’re... late."
Adam could barely stand, staggering where he stood as he looked at Bjorn.
Bjorn signed something to him, but he couldn’t understand what it was. But, then again, even if Bjorn spoke, he probably also wouldn’t know what he was saying from how foggy his mind was.
What he did know, however, was that Bjorn did not see his wounds heal and his limbs correct themselves—if he did, then he probably would have attacked him by now.
Either that, or Bjorn truly wasn’t aware of his existence and the
Hospital
didn’t tell him anything.
Adam waited, waited for Bjorn to do something.
And he did.
Bjorn nodded to Adam before looking at the people still holding him.
The enemy creeps quickly scattered back, tripping over themselves. Their faces twisted with terror at the sight of a Hero. His face was also covered with blood, and the reason he was late was most likely because he was also fighting against another Hero.
Bjorn turned his focus back to Adam, and Adam also returned his gaze. And slowly, a smile, slightly mad, crawled on the Silent Brawler’s face.
And then, without any warning, and perhaps as a sort of respect to the blood-riddled man in front of him... Bjorn pulled his own head back and slammed it against the crystal, hard. Extremely hard.
The impact shook the ground. Cracks formed across the crystal’s surface, glowing blue light leaking through the fractures.
The creeps who were still near were blown away, rolling violently across the ground. Only Adam stood his ground despite his mind barely working.
Bang!
Bjorn slammed his head again, even harder this time. The pillar of light surrounding it pulsed outward, and a wave so violent rippled on the Dome’s surface—before fading away.
The crystal shattered completely, fragments raining down like broken glass.
[Wow! Enemy Inner Crystal destroyed! Get ready for the final stretch, march!]
Adam could barely hear anything, but he did hear a voice. A familiar voice, but different now. Amused.
[The Administrator, Mikhal, is highly impressed. But also curious. Mikhal is personally watching you now. 3 status points granted.]
Three levels at once.
Level 6.
Only 4 more until he becomes a Hero, and he did so in just a single Game.
He didn’t care for it, however, and just immediately put everything on Strength.
[Name: N/A | Planet: SS4E | Strength: 6 Agility: 1 Endurance: 1 Perception: 1]
The rush of power nearly knocked him to his knees. His arms thickened slightly, veins pushing against skin. His body hummed with sudden power, cells vibrating, muscles tightening.
Grace and Samantha rushed to Adam, their arms clinging to his battered body with embrace as he swayed on his feet. Blood matted his hair, and some still trailed down his face, but he remained standing.
"A...Adam! I... I’m sorry... I’m sorry you had to do that alone," Grace said, her voice breaking as she pressed her forehead against his shoulder. Her fingers dug into the fabric of his tattered shirt, clinging to him as if afraid he might disappear.
Samantha also wrapped herself around his leg, her small body shaking with sobs. She didn’t speak, just held on with all her might, her tears soaking through to his skin. Adam’s hand hovered uncertainly over her head before gently resting there, a gesture so tender, it almost completely erased how feral he was just moments ago.
The ringing in Adam’s ears began to subside, replaced by the sounds of celebration. The Red creeps were cheering, their voices rising, and their heavy breaths came with relief.
As for Bjorn, he silently approached Adam and gave him a thumbs up.
The Blue creeps continued on cheering, some of them rushing to Bjorn. But Bjorn merely glanced at them before striding toward the enemy creeps.
His massive hands flexed at his sides, his knuckles emitting minuscule crackling explosions.
The Blue creeps, who were already down and had completely checked out from their current reality, all gasped and crawled back.
But before Bjorn could get close to them, Adam’s body moved on its own. He stepped directly into Bjorn’s path, shielding the scared people once more.
Blood still dripped from his chin, but his eyes were firm, unwavering. He didn’t say a word—he simply shook his head, a silent plea for mercy.
Bjorn stopped. The two men stared at each other again.
And with a slight nod, Bjorn turned and walked away, leaving the enemy creeps untouched.
Bjorn turned his eyes forward.
And there, everyone saw it. From afar and between the buildings, from between the thick smoke, the invisible wall of the Blue team became translucent, slowly withering and melting away.
And there, the light of the Spawn crystal showed itself. Seeping from the cracks of their narrow horizon.
Everyone’s chests heaved, before bursting out a unified roar as they all rushed forward. No more words, Bjorn led them in their march.
As for Adam, he stared for a while and glanced at the enemy—no.
None of these people were his enemy; most of them were victims of the Game, like him. Like everyone else.
Adam no longer apologized, but what he felt was still obvious from his face.
He could only offer them silence.
Grace grabbed his arm, and their eyes locked onto each other. Their lips, almost meeting. But before they could touch, both leaned away from each other.
They looked at Samantha, and then looked at each other again.
And with a nod, they followed the others and raced toward victory.
They marched, and they ran.
Their desperation fueled their legs to move. The buildings felt like they blurred past them—like they were smeared paint, and the only thing real was the narrow horizon and the light from afar.
It almost felt like they were in a tunnel, and a random, silly thought allowed itself to sit in Adam’s fractured mind.
Was this what they call tunnel vision?
They were so close now that they could see nothing else. The ground beneath his feet was gone, and he didn’t even care about the shattered glass that crunched under him.
He had never felt this light before—so light that he carried Samantha with ease and cradled him in his arms.
Grace did not say anything, he only let go of Samantha’s hand, fully trusting Adam as she focused on running forward. Samantha, too, trusted Adam fully as she wrapped her arms around his neck.