Gamers Are Fierce-Chapter 72 Going Downstairs

Long before most civilizations were geographically isolated during the Middle Ages, the esoteric circles of these various cultures, which had no contact with one another, had already reached a tacit consensus on some matters.

For example, various memes—including language, gestures, totems, talismans, symbols, and rituals—were necessary mediums for communicating with the "World’s Spirit" and harnessing extraordinary energies, be it Spiritual Energy, Arcane Energy, Aether, or something else.

The Voodoo Dolls of the Religion of Five Poisons, which originated in South Africa and were crafted from animal bones or straw, bore a striking resemblance to the effigies used during the Han Dynasty to avert evil.

The human sacrifice rituals of the South American Maya civilization were also extremely similar to those of the Yin-Shang civilization.

The broken Cinnabar Brush, although its cinnabar tip was merely faded and not rubbed off, had undoubtedly lost the "integrity" widely recognized by the esoteric community.

Just as only glutinous rice, not japonica rice, can remove zombie poison, minute differences in mysticism could be infinitely magnified, ultimately leading to the complete failure of an entire "ritual."

Ao Yong @-mentioned everyone in the WeChat group, but no one made a peep.

"Hello? Anyone there?!!"

Ao Yong’s new messages continuously vibrated the screen as he sent a string of exclamation marks.

Gently brushing her fingertip over the phone screen, Liu Wu Dai hesitated for a moment before she privately messaged Li Ang, "Shall we go down?"

"Hmm... let me think," Li Ang mused for a moment, then typed, "You should have brought heavy weapons, right? Care to share which ones?"

Liu Wu Dai remained silent for quite a while before answering, "AT-4 CS and M202A1."

WOW.

On the other side of the phone screen, Li Ang couldn’t help but smack his lips and shake his head in astonishment.

The AT-4 is a single-shot, man-portable anti-tank weapon produced by the Swedish company Saab Bofors Dynamics. It has been widely used in conflicts such as the Panama War, Gulf War, Afghan War, and in regional wars in Mexico and Africa, making it one of the most common anti-tank weapons in the world. The AT-4 CS is an upgraded version designed for enclosed spaces; upon launch, it discharges saline water from the rear to neutralize the flame and prevent backblast from hitting the user.

The M202A1, on the other hand, was a quad-barreled rocket launcher firing incendiary rounds. Developed for and equipped by the United States military in the 1970s, it could launch rockets, anti-armor projectiles, gas rounds, and even thermite charges capable of generating temperatures exceeding 3,000 degrees.

Regardless of whether Liu Wu Dai had obtained these two rocket launchers through smuggling channels or purchased them directly from arms dealers in war-torn countries, it was clear proof of her substantial financial power and incredible connections. She was far more high-profile than Li Ang, who merely assembled flammable and explosive devices from purchased parts.

Of course, Liu Wu Dai hadn’t stored these two rocket launchers and their ammunition in her inventory slots. Instead, she had hidden them in a secret crevice in the ceiling on one of the Longheng Shopping Center’s floors.

Recently, a theory causing an uproar on player forums suggested that the System tailored script missions based on a player’s own ability stats. If a player possessed poor overall strength, lacked intelligence, and had terrible overall aptitude, yet carried numerous modern lethal weapons in their inventory, they would likely receive a hidden penalty from the System. For instance, the System might place them in a monster-filled world where modern weaponry was ineffective, or it could shorten mission timers and increase task difficulty.

Modern weapons purchased through various means were considered "external objects" by the System. This incurred a hidden penalty, making it difficult for such weapons to translate into personal advantages during script missions. However, if these modern weapons were created and assembled by the players themselves, the System would recognize them as part of the player’s individual abilities, and no hidden penalty would be applied.

This viewpoint gained considerable traction on player forums. Some professional strategy teams even conducted dedicated experiments on this topic, publishing their findings as featured posts. Due to limited control variables and comparative samples, the experimental results were rather vague and not universally accepted by all players. To this day, no widely accepted conclusion has been reached through debate.

However, judging by the Special Affairs Bureau’s practices, it was highly probable that official strategy teams endorsed the theory that "individual player abilities are paramount." If players could freely carry modern weapons into scripts, those with official backing (like Xing Hecou) could potentially pull main battle tanks, third and fourth-generation fighter jets, all-terrain armored vehicles, and rocket artillery from their inventory upon entering a mission. Ordinary players, armed only with kitchen knives, wouldn’t stand a chance.

Similarly, influential real-world elites, upon becoming players and entering instances, found it difficult to convert their worldly wealth and power into personal advantages. Ultimately, success depended on individual skill. This system prevented players from ordinary backgrounds from being suppressed early in the game and unable to advance.

Liu Wu Dai also subscribed to this theory. That’s why, after receiving the mission during the day, she had prepared in advance, hiding both rocket launchers in a corner of the Longheng Shopping Center instead of keeping them in her inventory.

When Li Ang asked, Liu Wu Dai didn’t hide anything and frankly disclosed this information. This served as both an exchange of information to maximize their chances of clearing the instance, and a subtle hint to Li Ang about her real-world influence and potential value, paving the way for future cooperation.

It was convenient talking to smart people; even if it involved cunning schemes and mutual exploitation, everything was highly efficient.

Li Ang typed bluntly, "Bring the rocket launchers. We’re going to the third-floor hall of Building A. I’ll take the left corridor, you take the right." freewebnoveℓ.com

"Okay."

After glancing around to ensure her surroundings were clear, Liu Wu Dai walked directly to a corner, pried open a section of the dropped ceiling tiles, and retrieved two large wooden boxes from above. She then took out the two rocket launchers stored inside, loaded them with ammunition, stowed one in her backpack, and slung the other over her shoulder.

She descended the stairs to the third-floor hall of Building A and entered the right-hand corridor. Across the hall, in the opposite corridor, she saw Li Ang. He stood with his legs slightly apart, one hand resting on the banister, looking remarkably relaxed.

Ao Yong stood at the intersection of the corridors in the second-floor hall of Building A. Upon seeing Li Ang and Liu Wu Dai approach, he was visibly excited, waving frantically and gesturing for them to come over quickly for support.

However, Li Ang and Liu Wu Dai remained motionless, as if they hadn’t seen Ao Yong’s frantic gestures, offering no response.

After gesturing for a good while and realizing the two had no intention of cooperating, Ao Yong clenched his teeth in frustration and anger. He typed furiously in the WeChat group, "What are you doing?! Is this the time to slack off? Don’t just stand there doing nothing! Do you still want to clear this mission or not?"

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