[Magic Circle Beginner Assessment: Investigate the Target of Woodheart Camp]
Leaving the city gate, Shu Tu summoned Banban. Perhaps still miffed about Yu Yu sending the real-world big cat away, she immediately gave Banban' head a vigorous rub. Seeing the mount, Yu Yu tactfully hopped on. In-game Banban wasn't as useless as its real-world counterpart. Its shoulder reached past Shu Tu's waist—a massive cat.
"What're Banban' stats?"
Shu Tu replied, "Strength 14, Constitution 14, Dexterity 13, Perception 15, Intelligence 4, Will 4."
"No wonder it's a big cat," Yu Yu marveled. "Normal player stats are 4 or 5. Its Strength beats Zi Shu's."
Zi Shu: "…Its Constitution's higher too."
7788, envious: "Its Dexterity and Perception outstrip mine."
"Boss's Banban?" Yu Yu feigned shock.
Shu Tu patted Banban' head again, clearly pleased.
"No wonder you could stay in the forest without returning to town early on."
7788 sidled up to Shu Tu, grinning. "How'd you find Banban? Got any siblings?"
Shu Tu, in a good mood, said, "Nope, it was the only animal on that mountain."
"It was injured. Took me a whole day to earn its trust, then days of bonding to become partners."
She explained, "Ranger's Animal Affinity helped. I can sense its emotions. If you get a similar talent, you could try."
7788 groaned, "Why didn't I pick ranger?"
Not a Hall of Fame player, she had no fixed class and could've chosen anything.
Zi Shu scoffed, "Can you even shoot straight?"
"Shut up!" 7788 snapped, embarrassed.
Yu Yu pondered, then asked, "Forgot to check—how's your archery? Not some edge-aiming nonsense, right?"
Zi Shu and 7788 perked up instantly. Shu Tu was a legend, but this game was unlike any before. Even Destiny, with its boasted 99% freedom, paled in comparison.
Was Shu Tu-sama still as strong?
Shu Tu glanced at Yu Yu. "Didn't I take you to a shooting club? You saw me."
Yu Yu: "Did we? Forgot."
Shu Tu countered, "I have learned it, what about you?"
"I remember that spells in this game also require aiming. Can you aim accurately?"
Yu Yu fell into deep thought. She may not be sure...
Oof, boomerang to the face.
After a moment, Yu Yu said gravely, "I'm not precise, and my AOEs might hit allies. Watch yourselves."
The trio: "…"
Yu Yu glanced at Zi Shu's foot. "Your leg okay?"
Zi Shu: "Real-world injuries don't seem to affect the game."
Yu Yu nodded. "No iron boots, so I'm less likely to misfire."
Zi Shu: "?"
This game's quests were unlike past games, with almost no guidance. No markers for where to kill monsters, collect items, or deliver to NPCs. Most quests gave a vague title, leaving completion up to you. And completion methods varied wildly. Take Yu Yu's patrol team quest—she'd raced NPCs to finish it and barely won.
She'd gotten intel from the city guards but planned to scout the site for clues. Passing a rocky pile, Yu Yu spotted a bustling construction site. "What're they doing?"
7788, unfazed: "They want a player hub here. Moon Bay Town's too small—can't handle players. No rest spots, you eat standing up."
"No gardens, markets, shops, warehouses—nothing. So…"
"The Archon approved?" Yu Yu hadn't seen this on the forum.
"Of course not, so they're hiding here," 7788 said. "They're always chasing whims. Who knows?"
Yu Yu shook her head. "If it fails, fine. If it succeeds, they'll fight over it."
Shu Tu mused, "Won't happen. Guilds are moving in—they'll take over."
Yu Yu didn't care to dwell on guild drama and moved on after a glance.
Guild squabbles? Not her problem.
"Boss Yu! Hello, Boss!"
"Shu-Shen ah ah!"
Zi Shu and 7788 trailed behind, playing invisible. New players were enthusiastic. Yu Yu just disliked guilds—too many people, too much scheming.
Yu Yu waved, then patted Banban' rear, whispering, "Speed up."
Banban ignored her, swaggering with supreme confidence. Shu Tu coughed. "Let's move, or we'll get stuck." Shu Tu's fame was unmatched—current third on the leaderboard, her popularity undimmed by her contract's end. Even with fewer players around, many recognized her. Yu Yu pulled her hood low, hiding half her face.
She'd risen early, fallen early. Years later, no one should remember her. Banban picked up the pace, and the four vanished into the forest. The game's friend system was garbage—only showing if someone was online, no chat, no tracking. So Xiang Qin's group couldn't find Shu Tu. Hearing she was here, they rushed over, only to miss her.
Leveling from 4 to 5 was grueling, even with guild support.
Eyeing the dense forest, Shang Wei instinctively reached for her pocket, then stopped. "Looks like Captain's avoiding us on purpose."
Her gaze darkened. "Yu's Yu Yu, right?"
Xiang Qin looked at her, voice steady. "Don't do anything reckless."
Shang Wei: "Don't look at me like that. I'm not that stupid."
It wasn't just Captain with ideas. If she attacked Yu Yu, Xiang Qin and others would react. Pointless and unrewarding.
Tch.
Shang Wei lowered her eyes, hiding a smirk. They were all the same—why was Yu Yu so special?
Zhong Ye toyed with her dagger, breaking the tense silence. "Xiao Wei didn't say she'd do anything. Focus on what's ahead."
Yu Yu had left the team. Shang Wei was as strong as her—why upset teammates over someone gone?
Except for Captain, of course.
Xiang Qin caught her meaning, looking away. "Let's go. They're level 5, and we're still 4."
Shang Wei sauntered after. Second on the leaderboard, she outranked Captain. Valuable people weren't abandoned, right?
"So high. Can Banban really jump that?"
A three-meter cliff drop made Yu Yu nervous. Shu Tu signaled her to dismount. Soon, the big cat, carrying its master, stood proudly atop the cliff.
It inhaled deeply, "Roar~~~"
A tiger's roar shook the forest. Shu Tu directed it to fetch the others.
7788 bounced, testing. "Give me a foothold, and I can climb myself."
"Once my Dexterity hits 12, I'm scaling that."
Zi Shu, riding the cat shuttle, pretended not to hear. Soon, the four stood at the old camp, investigating.
[Magic Circle Beginner Assessment: Investigate the Target of Woodheart Camp][Clue Updated]
(Vile scalefish crossed the mainland to come here—merely for scenery? Look around.)
Yu Yu shared the log copied from the quartermaster. "City guard log. NPCs aren't always right. Check it."
Zi Shu, impressed: "Their logs are well-written."
7788 glanced. "Just neatly formatted. Chill your OCD."
[A band of cultists from Woodheart Camp, small in number, no mid-tier classes, targeting the rift. Likely a prelude to action. Recommend increased scouting, proactive elimination.]
Shu Tu read carefully. "The rift?" She glanced at the cliff. "Target's below?"
Yu Yu tried to pocket her hands, then realized her robe had no pockets. Lame.
"Since the guards say they're after something in the rift, why investigate their target?"
Yu Yu: "Ask the Magic Circle."
"Maybe there's another reason, or I need to see it myself."
Zi Shu frowned. "Is NPC intel reliable? We can't handle mid-tier classes."
Mid-tier, level 9+, with passives and skills far outclassing them.
Yu Yu shook her head. "Hard to say."
The guards seemed unconcerned with follow-ups, likely passing it to the Magic Circle.
Which… landed on her.
Zi Shu: "Don't overthink. Players can be resurrected after death, and their attributes will not be lost if they do not delete their accounts."
7788 blinked. "Right, I forgot we're gaming."
"Let's go and search the area first to see if there are any fish that have escaped the net."
Yu Yu rode Banban. "I'll cast detection spells along the way. Stay sharp—watch for ambushes."
This wasn't a hack-and-slash game. Ambushes were brutal. The guards had done well—both sides of the rift showed no cultist traces. Now, they trudged through the rift, one step deep, one shallow. The terrain was rough: muddy patches, rocky outcrops, drops over five meters. Deeper in, the space narrowed.
Eyeing the path ahead, 7788 groaned. "This is awful. It's not far, but moving's painfully slow."
"No fighting for this quest?"
Yu Yu finished a detection spell. "…Afraid not."
Shu Tu froze. "Combat?"
The rift narrowed to a choke point, a winding trail barely wide enough for one. Yu Yu had been casting detection spells nonstop. Seeing the terrain, she instinctively cast another and hit the jackpot.
Yu Yu: "Four enemies, levels unknown."
She closed her eyes, sensing. "Two at the trail's exit, one on the cliffside, another twenty meters behind."
Good thing she didn't skimp on mental points, spamming 1st-level detection spells, or they'd have walked into an ambush.
Shu Tu: "Confirmed monsters?"
Yu Yu: "Not sure, but treat them as such."
If they were allies, the Magic Circle or guards would've mentioned them. Unlikely.
Shu Tu focused, Eagle Eye passive activating.
"Can't see," she said. "Based on Woodheart Camp, it's usually two or three melee, one ranged."
"With your positioning, probably two ranged, two melee."
Zi Shu silently drew her sword. "How do we fight?"
7788 wavered. "Although we have reached the beginner level, we have only fought against bugs. The previous attack on the Muxin camp was the result of a group charge by players. There were heavy casualties at that time... Can we win?"
Yu Yu: "Being prepared for resurrection and having the opportunity to practice fighting is a good thing in itself."
Past experience barely applied to Eternal Darkness. Yu Yu hadn't expected a clean victory from the start. Barely any gear, incomplete skills, no combat experience. If these were fodder mobs like old games, they might win. But this game… every humanoid was an elite.
Yu Yu: "When your life is at its lowest, run back. Don't die on the battlefield, or it will be hard to pick up your body."
Zi Shu, already tense, was speechless. "We haven't fought, and you're planning deaths?"
Yu Yu, candid: "Because it is really difficult, be mentally prepared."
Zi Shu sighed. "Fine, I'm ready. How do we fight?"
Yu Yu grinned. "Arrange the terrain. We can't go directly through the small road. I suspect there are probably traps on the small road."
"Here's the plan…"
Soon, Shu Tu stealthily reached the cliffside, claiming high ground. No natural vantage existed, but Yu Yu's Stone Wall built one for Shu Tu to perch on. Rangers had long range, amplified by elevation. Yu Yu's spells rarely instant-cast, so Shu Tu was the early damage dealer.
"You must tie up their melee. We'll support," Yu Yu said. "Turn off pain settings. This is make-or-break."
Yu Yu recovered her mental points. Shu Tu drew her bow, and Zi Shu closed her eyes, focusing.
Yu Yu cast Featherfall on 7788 and Strength Blessing on Zi Shu. "If possible, it's best to finish the spell within five minutes. Otherwise, once the spell effect wears off, I may not be able to cast another spell."
Yu Yu had few offensive spells, and spellcasters' combat pace was slow—long chants. In-game, you couldn't shortcut spell models like in reality; you grinded proficiency to upgrade. Yu Yu's proficiency… cough, she was working on it.
"Get ready. Zi Shu, bait them. Don't enter the trail."
With that, Yu Yu began chanting.
Battle start.
Zi Shu, sword in hand, approached the narrowing trail.
Her stats:
Health: 105
Mental: 12
Armor: 21
Weapon Damage: 21–31
Warriors had few skills, and Zi Shu, short on contribution or time, hadn't learned them all. Her gear was just a weapon, chestplate, and leather boots—dirt poor. Nervous, she neared the trail, but no monsters rushed out as Yu Yu predicted. Puzzled, she wondered if they were luring her deeper, waiting to strike.
That'd be too clever.
Zi Shu circled twice, standing tall, Defensive Stance.
Wait…
At the critical moment, her instructor's words flashed. Zi Shu spun, raising her sword in a perfect block.
Clang~
A dagger's glint met her blade, then vanished.
A stealthed rogue!
The moment the rogue struck, an arrow flew, and icy mist filled the air. Zi Shu felt biting cold. Iron boots thumped the ground, and someone was charging towards her. Without time to think, Zi Shu rolled on the spot and retreated according to the plan, leaving the opponent's long-range skill range. Her senses were triggered again, and Zi Shu realized that rouge was attacking from behind. He tried to dodge, but it was too late, and a bloody wound appeared on her waist.
She is not fully equipped!
"What trash?" The warrior's charge kicked up dust, his tone mocking. Zi Shu gritted her teeth.
Just an NPC. Acting smug?
She'd kill him eventually!
The rogue's movements were elusive, but the warrior was right there. Zi Shu parried, outmatched in Strength, her inexperience glaring. With the rogue's threat, her health dropped a third in seconds.
[Slowing Arrow]
The rogue appeared, hit by a deep blue arrow. 7788, abandoning stealth, eagerly rushed to follow up.
Stealth, Venom, Bone Carve.
Combo done, 7788 vanished.
The enemy warrior switched to Defensive Stance. Zi Shu seized the chance, chugging a potion.
Slow regen potion: 1 health per 5 seconds, lasts a minute.
Potions were scarce. Besides Yu Yu and Shu Tu's stock, they'd bought ten slow-regen bottles for 50 silver. Truth be told, the potion tasted abysmal, but Zi Shu had no time to care. The rogue targeted Shu Tu. Zi Shu couldn't pin both, so 7788 stepped up.
Then, the enemy ranger and caster finally showed. Perhaps overconfident, they abandoned their advantageous terrain.
7788 and Zi Shu barely held the melee, not for long, but it bought time.
Shu Tu's eyes lit up seeing the enemy caster.
Drawing her bow, Double Shot!
Arrows flew like lightning, but the caster waved his staff.
Wind Wall.
He chanted behind it.
7788 panicked, wanting to break off and interrupt, but was pinned. The enemy's speed, strength, gear, and skills outclassed her. Without Featherfall, she'd have crumbled faster.
Zi Shu was down to half health. The enemy ranger, like Shu Tu, targeted Yu Yu further back.
A chilling arrow flew.
[Summon Wolf]
Yu Yu's spell finished, mere moments since combat began. She dodged the arrow with a hair's-breadth sidestep, despite her Deflection Field.
The arrow hit the ground, frosting a patch white. Yu Yu sighed in relief—she hadn't trusted Deflection Field to block it.
Then, the hidden Banban sprang into action. Its earthy hue, deliberately concealed, had gone unnoticed.
It charged the rogue entangled with 7788, while Yu Yu's summoned wolf pounced, flanking the rogue from three sides.
Better to break one finger than wound ten.
The tide turned sharply, victory tilting toward Yu Yu's team.