"Is this the damn first level?"
"Starting with a boss fight, huh?"
"Explain, what the hell is an opening shock!"
"My package!! Shit!!"
"Going all out?"
"Cinematic visual effects."
"You can always trust Lingjing's VFX standards!"
...
Big Bird: "B-6! Answer! B-6, what's your status?"
The immediate reaction of the Air Force's special forces was an enraged roar: "Damn it! What the hell happened?"
Dai Xiaomei was dazed by the explosion.
From Old Man Mac's perspective, they could see a struggling Price getting up after being blown away, followed by a gurgling sound.
Gates next to him vigorously shook Dai Xiaomei's body. The water inside the cabin had already reached Gates's waist. He shouted at Dai Xiaomei, "The ship is sinking! We have to go, quick!"
Big Bird: "B-6! Answer! Damn it!"
"Big Bird, this is B-6, we are leaving!"
Price replied, holding his earpiece, then turned to help Dai Xiaomei up: "Get up, soldier! We're leaving!"
"Hurry!"
Price had already removed his mask, and Dai Xiaomei saw a stern and impatient old face.
The water had already submerged half of the cabin. Coupled with the dense drumbeat mixed with the BGM, the tension reached its peak.
Dai Xiaomei, controlling the mouse on screen, felt her hand tremble slightly. She clearly hadn't expected the developers to be so bold, with such an explosive opening. If she didn't know better, she'd think the game was already in its final stages.
The viewers watching from outside were equally shocked. The game's pace had deviated from the norm almost since they boarded.
Whenever they thought they knew where the next plot point was heading, the game's direction would always be unexpected.
This was true for the viewers outside, and even more so for Dai Xiaomei, the player. She stood up unsteadily, following Price closely in the rocking cabin.
"Get to the ship's walkway! Fast, fast, fast!"
"Hurry up and go!"
"Steady, let's move!"
Dai Xiaomei felt like her mouse and keyboard were being worn down to nothing, but her escape speed was still not ideal. She remained at the very back of the group.
*Bang!*
A water pipe burst in front of her, and surging seawater poured into the narrow walkway, blocking Dai Xiaomei's path.
Pushing forward against the current, Dai Xiaomei felt an unprecedented pressure.
"It's collapsing!"
"Faster! Faster!"
Her teammates ahead yelled desperately.
Dai Xiaomei's fingers were aching, a fine sheen of sweat beaded on her forehead, and her entire body was tensed in front of the screen.
Reaching a corner, water surged from all directions as the ship tilted severely.
Two paths appeared ahead. Her teammates had long since disappeared, and only the sound of hurried footsteps mixed with seawater filled Dai Xiaomei's ears.
"This is bad!"
"Which way to go?"
Lost, panicked, helpless, her heart pounding like a drum.
Dai Xiaomei's voice trembled slightly. She had lost her way.
"What do I do!"
"What do I do!?"
In despair, a man in a light blue camouflage uniform appeared at the corner ahead and waved at Dai Xiaomei: "Quick!"
In this cabin filled with seawater, that figure became Dai Xiaomei's only beacon of light, illuminating her path and warming everyone's hearts.
"Gates!"
Dai Xiaomei's eyes instantly welled up, her nose tingling with emotion.
The last person who had greeted a newcomer like this was that mysterious man.
Seeing Gates's path, Dai Xiaomei suppressed the tears about to burst forth and immediately sprinted to follow him.
Tears would be shed after victory!
"Tell me, B-6, where the hell are you guys?!" Big Bird's exasperated voice came through the earpiece. It seemed he was overwhelmed on his end.
"Standing by, we'll be there soon!" Price replied.
"That direction! Does that direction lead directly to the helicopter?!"
"Go right! Right!!"
Price: "We're running out of time! Hurry! Faster!"
Accompanied by the stimulating BGM, everyone in the livestream was drawn into the incredibly tense atmosphere.
They stared intently at the screen, not daring to breathe, and even the bullet comments briefly paused.
Afraid of disturbing the streamer's operation.
On Dai Xiaomei's side, thanks to Gates's crucial guidance, she found the correct path. She had now followed the team outside the cabin, with towering waves tens of meters high just within reach.
*Whoosh whoosh whoosh~~*
The sea breeze blew against her face, almost throwing her off balance.
Dai Xiaomei immediately held her breath and focused her attention on the operation.
The helicopter in the distance was brightly lit. The ship was tilting violently, and she had to move her mouse very far to adjust her perspective.
"Keep moving!" Price, holding his gun, moved like he was greased, sprinting rapidly.
Dai Xiaomei followed closely behind. They were the only two left who hadn't boarded the helicopter.
At the end of the deck, the helicopter circled left and right. A teammate in the tail hatch stood at the edge, reaching out their hands to them: "Faster! Faster!!"
Price in front of her sprinted and leaped, successfully jumping into the tail hatch.
Seeing this, Dai Xiaomei immediately did the same!
"Here I come!"
*Screech—*
The moment she stepped onto the edge of the deck, Dai Xiaomei instantly pressed the jump button. However, whether it was because her body was too heavy from being soaked or due to the strong wind resistance, her posture wasn't as graceful.
Like a big frog, she lunged at the edge of the tail hatch, her lower body hanging in the air.
She had jumped, but not entirely.
*Plop plop—*
Her hands slipped, and Dai Xiaomei immediately dropped a distance, and didn't stop.
"No!"
Just as she was despairing and preparing to restart, a few familiar faces appeared before her. The gun, which had never left her hands, was tossed aside with a dull thud.
Then, a pair of strong, capable arms timely grabbed the falling Dai Xiaomei.
"Thanks, Uncle Price, you're a good man."
Dai Xiaomei, her voice choked with tears, looked at him with gratitude.
It was no wonder they said the friendship forged on the battlefield was the deepest – a genuine life-and-death bond. And she would experience similar scenes more than once in future combat operations.
Shaken, Dai Xiaomei looked back at the slowly sinking cargo ship, a sense of lingering fear washing over her.
She thought to herself: This welcome ceremony for new recruits was a bit too grand.
"He threw his gun to save Soap, what a brother!"
"MP5 in Captain Price's hand: MMP!"
"This grab moved me, only the captain was thinking of you!"
"No, Gates turning back also moved me."
"If you slow it down here, you can see Gates raised his hand first, then Soap was picked up by Captain Price."
"Whoa, are you guys watching the stream with a microscope? That's too much detail!"
"This Soap is too slippery doge"
"You better be talking about Soap!"
"This is the damn first level?"
"More than once, I've seen a shadow of Ghost in Gates. They have commonalities in how they look after new recruits."
"Wuwuwu~~ I miss him!"
...