Gamers Are Fierce

Dust filled the air. A swarm of bees buzzed as they returned to their nest, falling into a feigned death state under the stimulation of the Queen Bee's pheromones.

Li Ang stored the Beehive in his backpack slot and looked toward the ruins behind him.

After the House of Integrity collapsed, the three roads hadn't disappeared. The van Li Ang had driven was still visible, parked under a nearby streetlight.

Not only that, but beyond the T-shaped intersection, a new road had emerged behind the villa. It was an identical concrete pavement, four lanes wide. However, the streetlights on either side emitted a dim, blood-red crimson glow. From a distance, it resembled a long, straight road leading directly to the Underworld.

"I came from the road to the left of the villa, and the other two players, who are now dead, came from the right." Liu Wu Dai frowned as she gazed at the ominous road. "It seems we have to take this road," she said slowly.

She thought for a moment, then took a square, silver metal box from her backpack slot that resembled a miniature washing machine and set it on the ground. The box's surface was covered with gorgeous, dazzling patterns, looking somewhat like the legendary phoenix.

Li Ang exclaimed, "A Saint Seiya Cloth?"

"It's not." Liu Wu Dai shook her head, her tone somewhat embarrassed for some reason. "Personal vehicle."

She reached out and pressed the top of the silver metal box.

Suddenly, the four corners on top of the box opened simultaneously, releasing a plume of misty steam. Following that, the openings at the corners emitted brilliant flashes of light. Through these openings, various internal components could be seen rapidly rotating, assembling, and fitting together with a series of WHIRS, CLICKS, and CLACKS. Like a Transformer changing form, it wildly reconfigured—a full-blown display of futuristic technology, so cool it was unreal.

Before Li Ang's stunned gaze, the metal box adorned with phoenix patterns finally transformed into... a bicycle.

It had a plain, unremarkable rusty frame, wheels with interlocking patterns, backward-sweeping handlebars, a saddle with a hole in it, and a small basket at the front for carrying items. Indeed, this was an old-fashioned Phoenix brand bicycle from the last century. It differed only in style from the one Li Ang himself rode, which he'd left in the bike shed downstairs. Even if taken to a flea market, it likely wouldn't fetch much money.

"..."

Li Ang was taken aback. "This thing... is your vehicle?" he blurted out.

"Mm." Perhaps it was an illusion, but Liu Wu Dai's cheeks seemed to turn slightly red under the streetlight. "This bike... is actually quite fast."

[Name: Old Phoenix Bicycle]

[Type: Vehicle]

[Quality: Excellent]

[Special Effect: Autopilot. In addition to pedal propulsion, the Old Phoenix Bicycle can switch to autopilot mode. This mode consumes a certain amount of Spirit Power Value. The more Spirit Power Value invested, the faster the bike's speed.]

[Note: Accompanying you on the journey and for life, Old Phoenix is your eternal choice.]

[Note: Hold the handlebars tight, uncle is about to speed up.]

This plain and unremarkable bicycle, although it appeared laughable, was actually a quite useful personal vehicle. For every 50 points of Spirit Power Value invested, it could travel at 100 kilometers per hour for about 40 minutes. If more Spirit Power Value was invested, it could even surpass professional racing cars in a straight-line sprint. As long as the user's reflexes were fast enough, they could ride this bicycle over rooftops and walls, perform various stunts, and traverse a hail of bullets.

In fact, professionals at the Special Affairs Bureau had tailored a combat method for Liu Wu Dai based on this bicycle: she would ride it in autopilot mode, speeding ahead, while simultaneously utilizing the Good Horn Bow's sure-hit effect to kite distant enemies. Advance when the enemy retreated, retreat when the enemy advanced—leveraging the Old Phoenix Bicycle's extraordinary mobility to always maintain an unbeatable position.

The only issue was that this way of fighting was a bit unseemly. After all, bicycling into battle was somewhat incongruent with the persona of an icy beauty.

"I'll ride this." Thanks to her perpetually expressionless, ice-queen face, Liu Wu Dai's complexion was only slightly flushed, showing no actual embarrassment. "Do you want a ride?"

Electronics couldn't be used in the Shengnan King's Dream. Consequently, this Old Phoenix Bicycle, powered by Spirit Power Value, was perfect for travel.

"No need..." Li Ang glanced at the plain bicycle, which lacked a passenger seat. Was he expected to sit on the crossbar, or maybe in the small basket at the front?

That might result in some bizarre, adorable contrast... Miss Chai thought about the image and almost snorted with laughter.

Li Ang pointed to the van nearby. "I'd better drive that one."

Liu Wu Dai looked at the ruins of the House of Integrity, now a pile of rubble, broken stones, rotten wood, and tiles. "The road is blocked. You won't be able to drive through, will you?"

"No problem." Li Ang shook his head. He walked to the front of the van, sized it up, then bent down and reached under the vehicle. Activating the Ripple Breathing Method and unlocking the Divine Mark, he lifted some of the restrictions on his strength. He then hoisted the entire van and slowly trudged over the rubble-strewn ground, carefully lowering the vehicle back onto the road.

Watching Li Ang's brute-force method of moving the van, Liu Wu Dai silently put away the Old Phoenix Bicycle.

I might as well take his vehicle... Riding a bicycle in the night breeze is quite chilly, after all, she thought.

With this in mind, Liu Wu Dai walked up, pulled open the passenger door, and prepared to get in.

Li Ang remembered the Nun who had risen from the passenger seat earlier, and his expression suddenly turned strange. "Wait a second."

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing." Li Ang shook his head, took a napkin from the storage compartment, and wiped the passenger seat. "There, you can sit now."

Liu Wu Dai blinked but sat down anyway.

"Fasten your seat belt," Li Ang said. "Also, tell me, what did you mean before when you said Experience Points are more important than equipment and items? And how many players are participating in the Shengnan King's Dream?"

***

The gloomy forest was deluged by a torrential rainstorm, as if seeking to submerge the world.

PANT, PANT.

Wanli Fengdao frantically fled through the woods, his rapid breathing overpowering the sound of the wind whistling past his ears. He still wore his signature white shirt, yellow beach shorts, and flip-flops, with a Longsword hanging at his waist. A dark gray suit jacket was thrown over the top. The suit jacket appeared to be hand-tailored from fine material with exquisite craftsmanship, looking quite upscale. However, its size didn't quite match Wanli Fengdao's frame, giving him the appearance of a monkey dressed in silk.

Flee, flee faster!

Wanli Fengdao was completely drenched. The pelting rain soaked his face and matted his mustache. His greasy, middle-aged face—which looked like it was a decade past its prime and inexplicably exuded a sleazy aura—was etched with tension.

Up ahead, a stream had swelled due to the downpour. Even the thunderous roars from the sky couldn't stifle the sound of the rushing water.

Wanli Fengdao didn't dare look back. He gritted his teeth and, with a swing of his arm, a grappling hook shot out from beneath his suit jacket sleeve. The sharp spike at its end buried itself into the trunk of a towering tree ahead. As the rope automatically retracted, Wanli Fengdao swung forward, gliding stealthily over the narrow stream like Tarzan.

PAT.

He landed nimbly on a tree branch on the opposite bank, his scabbard brushing against the rough bark and picking up stains.

THUD! THUD! THUD! THUD!

Heavy footsteps approached from behind. Through the shadowy trees, it seemed as if something was shattering the dense curtain of rain, kicking up fallen leaves, and snapping every obstructing branch in its path as it rapidly pursued him.

Damn it!

Wanli Fengdao tapped his foot lightly on the branch, slipping behind the tree to conceal his form and hide his presence. His face was as pale as parchment, his hand instinctively gripping his sword hilt as boundless fear rose in his heart.

BOOM!

The heavy footsteps splashed into the stream, sending water high into the air. In the next second, the figure leaped across, landing in the woods on the same side of the bank where Wanli Fengdao was hiding.