Might of Players

---Logan's POV---

Among the three of us, ProGamer_Daddy had the slowest tree-chopping progress. Moreover, his additional experience points increased at the slowest rate.

I watched him carefully.

Observing nature attentively was indeed a way to gain extra experience points, but even when mimicking the methods of us two "true experts," his understanding just couldn't catch up to ours.

With each frustrated swing, his movements became more erratic.

After thinking it over, I could see his decision forming: Forget about those extra experience points! As long as he chopped trees fast enough—one tree every five minutes—he could completely offset the loss of bonus experience.

But to achieve that, he would need a better logging tool than the Thornleaf Blade he was currently using.

"Chopping trees is satisfying, sure, but we can't just keep using this game as a workout routine!" he punched his arm in frustration. "The strength I gain in the game doesn't carry over to real life anyway."

He examined his Thornleaf Blade. "And this thing? It's like trying to cut down a tree with a butter knife!"

I was lost in thought.

Despite my enthusiastic start that morning, as someone who had logged over a thousand hours in farming and base-building games, I knew myself too well.

Sure, I could chop trees all day long without getting bored for the first few days. I might even sit cheerfully under the tree by the village entrance, looking at the stumps left behind and feeling a sense of accomplishment.

But give it two or three days, and the grind would start to wear on me. Even with the variety of labor-intensive tasks on the game's task board, cycling through them one by one, I estimated I'd last no more than half a month before burning out.

"We really should think about ways to improve task efficiency," I mused. "The game's premise is about conquering the world. We can't afford to spend two or three years just grinding in the starter village."

My mouth parched from speaking, I grabbed an unidentifiable wild fruit and took a bite.

"But pursuing the path of magical plants seems like a dead end. If there were easier tools to use, the NPCs would've given them to us by now. And even if they exist, they probably won't show up until the next expansion or two."

Garble furrowed his brow. "Could it be that the geographical environment nearby just doesn't produce plants better suited for tools than the Thornleaf Blade?"

"Probably," I replied. "It all boils down to the same thing. But your explanation sounds more like something a game dev would say to justify the lore and keep players hooked."

ProGamer_Daddy winked at Garble. "Who'd have thought that, despite your towering build, you're an immersive roleplayer! First analyzing the story, now defending the lore. If you posted that on the forums, you'd definitely get roasted as a 'loyal dev apologist' after the devs inevitably mess something up!"

Garble was momentarily speechless, unsure how to respond. Finally, he said, "This game is worth getting immersed in…"

I noticed him glancing down at his right hand and legs, murmuring something to himself that I couldn't quite catch.

"What?" ProGamer_Daddy, lying beside him, asked.

"Nothing." Garble's tone made it clear the subject was closed. Returning to the previous topic, he suggested, "If finding new tools isn't an option, why don't we just make them ourselves?"

"You mean unlocking the tech tree?" I immediately caught on.

In most games, unlocking tech and advancing infrastructure were standard strategies. But wasn't this game set in a magical fantasy world? Would going down a tech-focused path break immersion with the main storyline?

ProGamer_Daddy smacked his forehead in delight. "Exactly! This game is so open-ended—of course we can do whatever we want!" He sat up, suddenly energized. "If we can find iron ore, we can make a chainsaw. Then we'll really take off! Let's show this magical world the power of modern technology!"

Garble thought for a moment, his expression serious. "To refine iron, we'd need to smelt out the impurities to achieve the hardness required for a chainsaw. That part, I can handle."

I watched dumbfounded as the two of them enthusiastically dove into brainstorming. "Wait, you guys actually know how to make a chainsaw?"

ProGamer_Daddy grinned. "As long as I have the parts and raw materials, whipping up a DIY chainsaw shouldn't be too hard—it just needs to work!"

"I only know how to smelt iron," Garble said.

"What? Only know how to smelt iron? That's already insane! Who in real life even touches that stuff?" I suddenly felt like the two people beside me were complete strangers. Was I the only one who'd only done crafting in games?

The only "hands-on" experience I had in real life, if I was honest, was assembling a PC—hardly comparable. It wasn't like I had ever built my own capacitors or resistors.

ProGamer_Daddy rubbed his forehead. "Ugh, it's because I picked the wrong major! I was dumb enough to choose mechanical engineering. My dad said if I failed my courses and embarrassed the family, he'd cut off my allowance! Man, the things I've been through…"

He chuckled, but there was a hint of real frustration in his voice.

I gave him a complicated look. "Your dad's hardcore. But even so, I've never heard of a mechanical engineer who can just whip up a chainsaw!"

And it couldn't be a coincidence that, just as the game required it, ProGamer_Daddy just happened to have this niche skill. What else was this guy hiding?

He waved his hand dismissively, sighing dramatically. "Don't remind me. I thought I was playing this game to be a superhero, not to end up doing engineering projects!"

As for Garble, he simply said, "Work experience," in his usual concise manner.

I fell silent. Fair enough. Life had forced both of them to develop their own unique tech trees.

That said, even with two chainsaw-building experts, crafting one wasn't something that could be done overnight.

During a break, we sought out Viktor, who was sunbathing by the chapel door, and managed to get some valuable intel: The materials for iron ore in the starter village had already been prepared, but we had no idea where to find them.

Viktor had only vaguely hinted that the Great Oak Forest was resource-rich, suggesting we explore on our own.

We weren't stupid.

Just because we hadn't encountered danger that morning didn't mean we were eager to leave the starter village and court death.

In the end, we decided to focus on chopping trees to reach Level 2 first. Once we had some self-defense capabilities, we'd venture out.

Night soon fell.

Garble was the first to accumulate enough experience to level up. But he didn't immediately leave us behind to turn in his quest.

Ignoring bonus experience for now, we still needed to chop 60 trees to level up as a group.

The trees near the village entrance were far from enough. Many were too short or too thick, requiring three times the effort to chop as a standard tree.

We had to head deeper into the forest to find better trees.

Considering the game's background lore about the Great Oak Forest, Garble worried we might encounter danger if we went alone. So, we stuck together, watching each other's backs as we ventured further in.

Everything went smoothly—until nightfall.

As the last rays of sunset faded, the sky above us suddenly turned pitch black.

Raindrops seeped through the leaves, moistening the ground, as distant rumbles echoed through the clouds.

I hurriedly tied the logs on the ground with vines, shouting to the others: "ProGamer_Daddy, hurry up! It's about to storm!"

The last thing I wanted was for my first in-game death to be from standing under a tree in a thunderstorm.

"Almost done! Just one more tree!" ProGamer_Daddy called back, quickening his pace.

Sparks seemed to fly from his Thornleaf Blade as he hacked away. He was already halfway through the trunk and couldn't bear to give up now.

I could understand his frustration—the thought of being the only one who hadn't reached Level 2 by the end of the first day was simply unbearable.

No one wanted to be the weakest link.

Rustle... Splash!

In just a few moments of conversation, the drizzling rain thickened into heavy droplets.

They landed on my hands, stinging with a sharp pain.

I looked at the rain growing heavier, my gaze shifting between the logs on the ground and the figure chopping trees ahead. The rain was getting worse by the second.

"Forget it, I'll help you!"

Garble and I both dropped the vines in our hands and walked back together. The faster we finished this, the sooner we could get out of this painful downpour.

With three of us working together, the tree was soon chopped down.

Boom!

The trunk crashed to the ground, shaking the surrounding soil slightly. The impact echoed through the forest, momentarily drowning out even the sound of the rain.

Red thumb-sized fruits growing on the tree scattered everywhere upon impact, bouncing off the muddy ground like tiny rubber balls.

We worked together to strip off the excess branches, reducing the weight. Our hands moved quickly, knowing time wasn't on our side with this weather.

Without the tree's leafy canopy for cover, the three of us were soon soaked to the bone by the rain.

I wiped the rainwater and hair off my face, struggling to open my eyes.

This is getting ridiculous. Can barely see two feet ahead of me. "Ugh! Hope I don't log in tomorrow with a cold debuff."

Or better yet, maybe leveling up would reset our in-game status or something.

Dragging the processed lumber behind us, we began heading back.

And then—

My foot slipped.

"What the—?!"

The muddy ground beside the freshly chopped stump had been unusually loosened by the rainwater, as if turning into a patch of quicksand.

If not for Garble's quick reflexes in pulling me back, I would have fallen right in. His grip on my collar probably saved my life.

Taking two steps back, I muttered, "What the hell is this? A sinkhole?"

Just as I finished speaking—

The muddy ground began to ripple and bulge unevenly, shifting and moving like a pot of boiling water.

A massive cylindrical creature burst out from the earth, appearing in front of us with frightening speed.

"Holy sh—!"

Only the rawest exclamation could express my shock at the creature before me.

Even with the rain blurring my vision, the creature's vibrant red body dominated my sight.

It was an enormous red worm, its diameter easily three meters wide—larger than any stump we had chopped.

Its segmented body resembled twisted tree vines, looking grotesque and menacing.

"Who was it this morning who said they hadn't seen a magical creature before?"

Whoosh!

The red worm's body scraped against the muddy ground, raising its head and targeting us. The sound of its flesh sliding against the wet earth made my skin crawl.

It lunged fiercely!

We scattered in different directions, our feet splashing through puddles as we ran.

"AHHHH! Here's your magical creature—look at it!!" I yelled while running, my lungs burning from the effort.

"I—DON'T—WANT—TO—SEE—IT—ANYMORE!" ProGamer_Daddy yelled back through the downpour, probably gulping down half a stomach of rainwater in the process.

I could tell he had wanted to see magical creatures, but definitely not this monster.

The worm dug up our only path back to the town and used its massive body to block all other exits, leaving us trapped, running in circles.

Creak!

The worm knocked over a small tree not far from me, the crash sending vibrations through the ground beneath my feet.

"Damn it, I'm not running anymore!" I panted heavily.

The heat coursing through my veins from all the running had me burning up. If we kept running until we were exhausted, we were as good as dead.

Might as well fight!

Gripping the Thornleaf Blade tightly, my chest heaved as I caught my breath. "Dammit, I was the second-place javelin thrower in college—I'm not just here to take hits!"

ProGamer_Daddy saw this and ran toward the worm. "Bro, I'll distract it for you!"

He picked up a stone from the ground and threw it at the worm.

The worm turned its head successfully, opening its maw and lunging at him. Its movement was faster than anything that size had any right to be.

ProGamer_Daddy leaped and darted between the trees like a monkey.

Now!

I took a deep breath, muscles tensing as I assumed a perfect javelin-throwing stance.

I leaned back and threw the Thornleaf Blade.

It sliced through the rain, aimed straight at the worm's mouth.

But just as it was three centimeters away from hitting, its momentum suddenly faltered.

The blade dropped straight down.

I clutched my head. "Crap, I missed!"

ProGamer_Daddy looked back while still running. "What? Didn't you say you were second place in the javelin competition?!"

"There were only three people in the competition!"

"You son of a—!"

I had thought the target was so large, so close—what could possibly go wrong? Turns out, plenty could go wrong.

"I'll draw it this way! I'll save you!" I yelled, running toward ProGamer_Daddy while trying not to slip in the mud.

Squelch!

The forgotten Thornleaf Blade finally hit the ground, and accidentally pierced part of the worm's body.

It sank in halfway.

The worm writhed in pain and quickly burrowed back into the earth, leaving a hole where it had been.

My eyes widened. "Holy crap, I'm amazing!"

"Wait—this monster's defense is that weak?" ProGamer_Daddy froze.

Garble, recovering from the shock, shook his head. "No, the worm's defense isn't weak. It's just that our quest items are ridiculously strong."

The blade that had chopped down over a dozen trees without dulling? Its sharpness was beyond imagination!

He grabbed the vine tied to the lumber and motioned to us.

"Don't just stand there—let's go while we can!"

We jumped in to help, our feet slipping in the mud as we tried to drag the heavy log.

But we hadn't gotten far when the worm returned, its wound healed, and the Thornleaf Blade gone.

It had removed the blade.

Wounded and enraged, the worm's violent temperament exploded.

With its massive body, it stirred up mud and sand, launching another attack at us.

But this time, with a clear strategy, we were no longer as terrified as before.

ProGamer_Daddy gripped his Thornleaf Blade and tested his wrist. "This time, let me try!"

He adopted his skipping-stone stance.

The moment the worm opened its mouth, he threw the blade.

But the worm twisted its head at the last second, turning the blade's target from its head to its midsection.

ProGamer_Daddy's jaw dropped. "This thing can bait skills?"

I swear I saw a smug glint in the worm's movement, as if it knew exactly what it was doing. The creature was far more intelligent than we had initially thought.

When the blade was about to hit, tiny bristles shot out from the worm's body segments, deflecting the blade entirely.

"What the hell is this?!" ProGamer_Daddy and I cursed in unison.

Hidden mechanics? How were we supposed to win now? This was some serious endgame boss mechanics in a starter area!

Garble suddenly darted out, catching the deflected blade mid-air. Spinning around, he wielded a Thornleaf Blade in each hand and charged the worm at close range.

Without time to react, the worm's bristles couldn't block the force of his attack.

Squelch! Squelch!

The sound of flesh being pierced rang out.

The worm thrashed in pain, its tail scraping the ground with an ear-piercing screech that made my teeth ache.

It tried to retreat into the mud again, but Garble didn't give it the chance.

With the bristles retracted, he clung to the worm's slimy body, gripping it with his legs for support.

With a shout, he plunged the two blades downward.

Rip!

He carved through the worm's body like unzipping a zipper, splitting its flesh wide open.

Red ichor sprayed into the rain.

The more the worm writhed, the deeper the wound grew, until nearly half its body was severed.

ProGamer_Daddy and I were stunned by Garble's ferocity. Remind me never to get on his bad side.

Once we snapped out of it, we rushed to join him.

The rain had turned red around us.

Together, the three of us hacked the worm into two before it could burrow away, our blades flashing in the rain until the monster finally stopped moving.