This Game Is More Than Just a Numerical Competition

"You're going to fight a Raider???"

The Ghost Face Demon Fox exclaimed in shock.

As the most level-headed of the three, the Demonic Fox rarely raised his voice. The Thin Dog's words reminded him of the last time the two of them were brutally defeated by a Raider. In that narrow tunnel, he died after taking three hits.

When he died, the Raider still had 80% of its health left.

They were on completely different levels!

"No. Thin Dog, you don't actually think adding Lin Tang will improve our Combat Power that much, do you? What does a mod maker know about fighting!"

Lin Tang: "???"

Demonic Fox: "If I die again right after reviving, what if an NPC bans my account? This isn't a single-player game where you just get back up and teleport back to fight. This game has a Death Penalty!"

"Hu Da, don't get so worked up, don't get so worked up!"

The Thin Dog quickly tried to calm the Demonic Fox.

"I'm not messing around. I consulted my Special Forces Coach. I have a thorough theoretical plan before the battle."

Time rewinded to one day prior.

After logging off, Pu Shenqi, who had been idly chatting in groups and forums for half the day, sat in his study, which was over 100 square meters, and grew increasingly angry.

"Why can't the two of us defeat the Raider?"

"Theoretically, as long as a Monster has a Health Bar, it can be defeated."

He remembered a guide he had made on the Sekiro forum, challenging the final boss with level 1 stats and no Equipment or Skills!

That was originally a Plot Kill. The player character was supposed to die in one hit, and the battle was just a formality.

But when Pu Shenqi discovered he could deal a tiny amount of damage to the Boss, he got an idea.

"If I can avoid getting hit by him even once, theoretically, I can kill him."

And thus, the video that shocked the Sekiro forum for an entire year was born: "Sekiro Cleared from the Start, Level 1 Challenges the Final Plot Boss - African Thin Dog."

He became famous overnight!

If Lin Tang's advantage in their three-person team was his deduction of the game's underlying design Logic, and the Demonic Fox's was his insight into various Data, then Pu Shenqi could call himself the top player on the forum – his Combat Power!

A top hardcore player!

A mechanical prodigy!

"Since the two of us managed to take off 20% of the Raider's health just by flailing around, it means that with proper operation, we can completely kill the Raider!"

"Given how realistic the physical engine of this game is, Data can absolutely be compensated for with operation and strategy!"

Immediately, Pu Shenqi called his coach – the retired Special Forces instructor, Chang Sheng.

There was a rule in the Pu Family, the founders of Duoyu Group, left by Pu Shenqi's grandfather.

"In our Pu family, regardless of gender, we must strengthen our bodies and train ourselves from childhood. Only a strong body can support a resilient Soul!"

This was a family rule that everyone surnamed Pu had to abide by, and it had to be passed down.

It was said that this family rule was established because Pu Shenqi's legendary grandfather had died young.

Pu Shenqi's grandmother had been strict with him since he was young, not pushing him to study, but only demanding that he strengthen his body, and she even found him a Special Forces coach.

Inside the villa's boxing ring.

"Coach Chang, I have a simulated battle I need your advice on. Suppose my opponent is 2 meters tall, 30%-50% heavier than me, extremely resistant to damage, and possesses twice my Strength. He uses a blunt Weapon like a club, and I can only choose a blunt Weapon of similar size. For a Weapon combat scenario with such a significant difference in our levels, how can I win against a stronger opponent?"

Chang Sheng thought for a moment.

"Is it an unrestricted fight?"

Pu Shenqi: "Completely unrestricted. The goal is to incapacitate the opponent."

Chang Sheng nodded. "Based on your description, if it were unarmed combat, you would have no chance of winning. However, in a Weapon fight, there's a chance!"

"Unarmed combat and martial arts are contests of skill and Strength, emphasizing restraint. Weapon combat is... a killing technique."

"In Weapon combat, the importance of Strength ranks behind Speed and timing. If your opponent has the advantage in Strength and stamina... you just need to be faster than him, seize every opportunity to strike, and hit his vital points to win. How is his technique?"

Pu Shenqi recalled the Raider's wide, unrefined attacks: "No technique at all, just brute force!"

"Then your chances of winning are even greater. Although you haven't learned the Bagua Step, the principles behind it will definitely be useful in this simulated battle you've described. That is..."

"Receive, redirect, counter?"

Lin Tang interrupted the Thin Dog's explanation.

Thin Dog: "???"

Demonic Fox: "Don't interrupt, let the Thin Dog finish! What principles?"

Thin Dog: "Make large circles, take small steps, strike after the opponent!"

"It means using our agile bodies to find the Raider's weaknesses, constantly moving into its blind spots, preventing it from exerting force directly. At the moment it attacks, dodge and exploit its attack recovery to counter-attack! Strike it while its force hasn't fully receded!"

"The coach was talking about 1-on-1 technique. If operated well, we can definitely wear down the Raider! If it's the three of us against one Raider... then we'll have plenty of room for error and can definitely defeat it. It's a sure thing!"

Lin Tang and the Demonic Fox simultaneously gasped.

Lin Tang: "Hiss~ You can fight like that too!? I feel like I'm back in the game!"

Demonic Fox: "Hiss~ This is my first time using real-world techniques in the game. That's right! We should use real-world techniques in this realistic, cross-era virtual game! I was blinded. This game isn't just about comparing stats."

Seeing that his two teammates had gained enlightenment, Thin Dog immediately said, "Then let's go find a lone Raider and try out our tactic!"

"Let's go! We can still see the Raider camp we went to last time on the map. Let's go take a look."

As the three of them started down the mountain, they saw a green-skinned Raider carrying a mace in one hand, preparing to go up the mountain.

Their eyes met, and both sides showed expressions of surprise.

The Raider was surprised to have found the humans their boss wanted them to kill.

Based on their combat experience, three ordinary humans were easy prey, and they would at most sustain minor injuries.

The three players were pleasantly surprised to have an opponent appear!

"Roar!"

The Raider let out a roar and charged forward first, swinging his mace with both hands.

This roar was both the signal to begin the battle and a call for other nearby Raiders to come.

This attack was delivered with overwhelming momentum. If it were ordinary humans, they might have wet themselves from fear.

"Bang!"

Thin Dog, who was the first to bear the brunt of the attack, silently chanted, "It's just a game, I'm not panicking, I'm not panicking!"

He took a step back, narrowly dodging the Raider's attack. The large mace smashed into a rock on the ground, sending out a spray of gravel.

Thin Dog was unharmed. He raised his mace and quickly took a few small sidesteps.

Seizing the opportunity, the other two players each hit the Raider with a crowbar.

[hp-20]

[hp-19]

Two black numbers representing physical damage popped up above the Raider's head, and its health bar decreased slightly.

Thin Dog did not attack. His mace was too cumbersome, and if he tried to strike, he might also get hit by the Raider.

"Come on! Let's circle around it together!"

Another chapter will be out soon.