The Possibility of Handcrafting an RPG

Gu Mo took a deep breath of air that seemed not to belong to the human world. He looked at the black-haired girl, who had instinctively stepped in front of him the moment they entered Perpetual Darkness, vigilantly watching ahead with one hand held slightly behind her to protect him.

A strange glint flashed through his eyes, but his reaction was just as quick. He immediately stepped forward, closing the distance and standing directly behind the girl. When he turned around, he saw that the soldiers who had entered through the estate's main gate were all pale-faced and swaying, their expressions becoming listless in a matter of moments.

They looked as though they might collapse at any moment.

"Don't come any farther. All of you, get out and wait outside... Tokichiro, I'm leaving them to you."

Gu Mo made the decision decisively. As he gave the order, he shot Monkey a meaningful look.

It was not their fault. They were already somewhat exhausted. Even if they did nothing, they would need to rest properly afterward, eat some rations, and recover for a while. People were not made of iron; they had to replenish the physical and mental strength they had spent along the way.

Yet before they could rest, they had stepped into a yokai's Perpetual Darkness domain. The laws of Tokoyo were not the principles of this world that suited human survival. Those who entered Tokoyo's domain were like drowning people plunged into the deep sea, or fish stranded on shore.

Their energy rapidly drained away as they struggled against it. Their bodies grew heavier, their chests tightened and their breathing became labored, their heads spun and their vision blurred. They could barely think normally. The suffocating sensation of drowning grew heavier and heavier until it overwhelmed everything.

If they did not retreat in time, the enemy would not even need to lift a hand. In just a little while, they would all collapse and die.

Once their physical and mental strength had been drained, the domain would not simply stop. Perpetual Darkness would continue squeezing and extracting their energy. But if their physical and mental strength had already been emptied, the energy being extracted could only be compensated for by overdrawing their lives... If something kept draining away, then even a river as vast as the Yangtze would one day run dry.

Not to mention that mortals were inherently fragile, limited vessels. Even Gu Mo, whose physique had reached 13 points, was no exception. Though he did not immediately show signs of being unable to bear it, his body was also becoming heavier, and Perpetual Darkness's suppression of his energy was extremely obvious.

"Quick! Everyone, retreat with me!"

Tokichiro reacted quickly as well. Seeing Gu Mo's movements and signal, he understood at once. He hurried forward to provide cover, shouting loudly as he waved his arms about wildly, barely managing to draw the swaying soldiers' attention toward himself.

Monkey knew exactly what he needed to do at a time like this. He decisively led the soldiers out of the estate covered by Perpetual Darkness while they could still move, lest they fail to help at all and instead lose manpower for nothing.

"Alright, they've all left. Monkey will watch over them. Let's hurry and deal with the master of Perpetual Darkness."

Listening to the clanking armor and pounding footsteps gradually fade amid the chaotic noise, Gu Mo let out a sigh of relief and looked toward the black-haired girl ahead.

"?"

Hidechiyo turned back to look at him with slight surprise. Although she said nothing, the expression on her face was easy enough to understand.

The phantom Spider Lilies on the floor rapidly bloomed and withered, like footage from a science documentary sped up countless times. In this nearly monochrome world, this ethereal and beautiful space suited for yokai habitation, the black-haired girl who still covered the lower half of her face had grown a pair of exquisite Demon Horns, delicate as deer antlers, from her forehead.

They were like phantoms, their outlines slightly blurred, seeming illusory and unreal. Yet in this ethereal space, they gave off a faint, sacred radiance like a golden full moon.

—They carried a mysterious, beautiful sense of danger, and a bewitching power that seemed able to seize one's soul and make it impossible to look away.

Watching this scene, Gu Mo suddenly understood why, in the original course of fate, Hidechiyo had always acted alone... In this era, yokai and humans inevitably lived together upon the land. It was a problem that could not be avoided.

Once she encountered demons or Perpetual Darkness, she could no longer conceal her inhuman side.

Perhaps she had later learned how to control her Yokai Bloodline, but by then she had long grown accustomed to traveling alone. She still acted by herself and no longer needed to hide anything.

That was why he had covered for the girl just now. Tokichiro had also reacted in time, and only a small group of soldiers had entered through the door. Those farther back could not see what was happening ahead, while those in front immediately became dizzy, disoriented, irritated, and short of breath upon entering the range of Perpetual Darkness. They probably had not noticed anything.

Even if one or two people had seen it, they would likely suspect afterward that their condition had been poor at the time and that they had merely imagined it.

—Though even if she were exposed, it would not really be a problem. Forget Hidechiyo's identity or Gu Mo's current status; Tokichiro alone could handle this matter... It was not as if a few lowly foot soldiers' idle gossip could turn into some melodramatic disaster that left their superiors scrambling helplessly.

He simply did not want any disturbances to arise during this trip, nor did he want conflicts within their team. If the soldiers under their command developed suspicions and feared the person leading them, that would be the real trouble.

"Hmm?"

At that moment, Hidechiyo could not help raising her brows and making a questioning sound.

"I'll act with you. Don't worry, I can hold on..." Gu Mo withdrew his gaze from the girl's horns and waved his hands nonchalantly. He was no longer the old Amon he had once been. He would not fail to endure even a short while. This was all thanks to his hard work!

But words alone were hardly convincing... Hidechiyo furrowed her delicate brows, apparently not so easily persuaded.

Gu Mo thought for a moment, then reached into the pouch tied at his waist and theatrically pulled out an emerald-green bamboo tube. The moment he removed the stopper, a burst of fresh spiritual water vapor met him, carrying a unique clear and misty sensation. It seemed that merely inhaling it made one feel energized and refreshed.

Under the girl's puzzled gaze, he took a drink. It tasted as sweet as a mountain spring, sliding smoothly down his throat as though the liquid turned into a cloud of pure air in his stomach.

Threads of cool, soothing freshness gradually spread through him, extending to his limbs and throughout his body, making him feel noticeably lighter.

Though he could not see his Status Panel at the moment, he was certain that he had gained a BUFF that increased his energy recovery speed! It could not completely counter Perpetual Darkness's suppression, but it would let him endure longer.

"See? No problem at all! Want some too?" Gu Mo gave the girl a thumbs-up and smiled. Although he did not possess a Yokai Bloodline, he could make up for it through certain means. Once he learned Barrier Talismans, there probably would not be any problem at all.

Hidechiyo studied him carefully. Only after clearly sensing fluctuations in his aura did she unconsciously nod lightly.

It seemed he really could hold on for a while. At least, nothing would go wrong in the short term... She was no stranger to Sacred Water, but she had not expected him to be so thoroughly prepared.

"Huh? Oh, sure, here you go..."

Gu Mo froze for a moment, then immediately realized what she meant. Looking at her with some surprise, he handed over the emerald-green bamboo tube. He had only invited her out of habit and had not thought she would accept, but she actually wanted to try it?

Then it was Hidechiyo's turn to freeze. But she realized what had happened just as quickly and immediately shook her head over and over. Her unconscious nod had not meant that at all. He had definitely misunderstood.

After expressing her refusal, she decisively turned and headed forward in the direction of the Yokai Energy she sensed.

What did that nod followed by shaking her head mean?

Gu Mo tilted his head in confusion. But seeing the girl's slender figure already moving ahead, he could only hurry after her. At the same time, he casually replaced the stopper on the bamboo tube in his hand, hesitated for a moment, then put it back into the inventory that only he knew existed.

It seemed different from games, where using an item always consumed one and reduced its quantity.

The use of items was quite realistic in this regard. He had taken a normal sip, and it had already taken effect, while plenty of Sacred Water remained in the bamboo tube. It seemed he could continue drinking it later... Did that mean a single tube of Sacred Water could be used many times?

Hmm, he would reserve judgment for now and observe further.

There might be other mechanics involved. For example, perhaps the amount consumed determined the strength and duration of the effect, and drinking it separately meant he could not fully unleash the power of one "unit" of the item;

Or perhaps he had only taken one sip, but the system had determined that this item had already been used. He had therefore received the item's full effect, while the remaining water had lost its potency and could not be used again...

Hidechiyo walked straight ahead, following the source of the Yokai Energy. Through this form of perception, she could easily lock onto enemies beyond her field of vision. Their auras stood out like torches in the night. But in this Tokoyo of Perpetual Darkness, where many ordinary demons still existed—especially in this cramped indoor map—some demons were even crowded into the same room.

Simply put, the little red dots on the map could overlap, and she could not necessarily grasp every demon's movements precisely.

The ground was a complete mess. Delicate paper sliding doors and folding screens had been damaged, while ornate decorative vases and other furnishings had shattered across the floor. It was extraordinarily chaotic.

Walking through the ethereal, monochrome space blanketed by Perpetual Darkness, looking at the outlines of various objects under the dim and uncanny lighting, Gu Mo felt a subtle sense of discord. It was as though he had somehow entered the world of an ink-wash painting.

A fox-shaped spirit with nine tails silently followed at his side. In an invisible realm of vision, it kept pace beside him step by step.

No yokai suddenly jumped out at them. They continued on like that until they reached a corner ahead.

The next instant, Nine-Tails suddenly stopped. Its eyes sharpened as it turned toward the left, as though its gaze had penetrated the thick wall and seen something.

Receiving that warning, Gu Mo immediately stopped and reached out to grab the black-haired girl in front of him. Hidechiyo first turned back in confusion, then understood. She gently freed herself and gave him a look that told him not to worry before quickly continuing forward.

Gu Mo could only follow. As he rounded the corner, he saw a long, pitch-black corridor ahead. The darkness was so deep that he could not see its end or tell what lay there. It was like the open maw of some enormous beast, waiting for them to walk into its trap.

He narrowed his eyes and tried hard to make it out, but still saw nothing. Yet the girl ahead had already drawn her blade. Then, with a thunderous boom, a flash of fire suddenly lit up at the far end of the corridor and came howling toward them!

Blazing fiercely, it carved a high-speed spiral trajectory of death through the air, dragging a long burning trail behind it!

For an instant, Gu Mo nearly thought someone over there was carrying a shoulder-fired rocket launcher and had launched an RPG at them!

Then...

His eyesight could not make out what happened, because a dreamlike purple brilliance suddenly surged forth, illuminating the entire dark corridor and overexposing his vision. He could only vaguely make out a floating figure with disheveled silver hair, violet streams of light swirling around her like fireflies...

—That strange yet beautiful posture flashed past in an instant!

—Leaving a sharp visual afterimage on his retina.

In less than two seconds, his pupils had already adjusted to the change in lighting, allowing him to see more clearly. But by then, everything had fallen silent without warning. Not only had that sudden RPG vanished without a trace.

The black-haired girl was no longer a few steps ahead of him either. She had already appeared at the far end of the corridor.

Hidechiyo flicked the blood from her blade. Her long black hair, rich in texture, swayed behind her, the strands spreading like flowing water under the force of inertia.

At her feet lay the silent corpse of a demon, no longer making any sound.

Though he had not seen the process at all, it did not stop Gu Mo from reconstructing the scene from that imposing posture... This was simply the perfect union of speed and strength.

The corner of his mouth twitched as he glanced sideways at his Guardian Spirit. The Guardian Spirit's warning was useful, but when he teamed up with Axiu, it felt completely unnecessary... Still, had Axiu just actively used her yokai power?

Perhaps because she had endured that loss of control and frenzy in Thirteen Cherry Blossom Village through her own willpower and reclaimed her mind, she had effectively completed her coming-of-age ceremony. The primordial power hidden deep within her bloodline had begun to truly belong to her?

That thought flashed through Gu Mo's mind as he quickly walked forward.

The girl sheathed her sword. The demon at her feet was horribly malformed. It looked like a human soldier and still wore standard armor, but Oni Horn had grown from its head, while crystalline material resembling a carapace covered its body from the head down through half its torso—especially its arm...

That entire arm was covered in yellow Essence crystals. It was so thick that it nearly rivaled a person's body in size, making the demon's form especially grotesque.

That RPG attack just now had been the work of this arm.

Heretic Soldier...

Gu Mo silently recited the name of this type of demon in his heart and casually scooped up the gathered Item Light Spot.

Another Soul Core. If he remembered correctly, this Soul Core's skills seemed to be the same as that attack just now...

Looking at the item he had obtained, Gu Mo could not help looking toward Nine-Tails beside him. Could the day when he could handcraft an RPG really be arriving this soon?