Hirata Main Manor!
Pure Black traversed mountains and rivers to reach the building with the largest flames in this small manor. There were no soldiers guarding the surroundings, but as he went deeper, he still encountered both friendly and enemy forces.
The Hirata estate was a very mysterious place, holding secrets from the blank depths of Wolf's memory. With every step deeper, Pure Black had an opportunity to unlock new skills.
As soon as he stepped into the main manor, a series of prompt sounds echoed in his ears—
Ding ding ding ding ding!!!
[Acquired: Whirlwind Slash
A sect technique that spins and slashes at surrounding enemies.
With sharp slashes and rotational momentum, it can easily ensnare multiple enemies and deal damage even through their defenses. It allows one to escape even when surrounded by many.]
[Acquired: Jumping Monkey Slash
A sect technique where one spins and leaps forward to deliver a slash, instantly closing the distance to enemies from afar.]
[Acquired: Jumping Monkey Slash - Reverse Spin
Jumping Monkey Slash can be performed with a forward spin or a reverse spin. By combining forward and reverse spins, it becomes an attack and defense integrated technique.]
[Acquired: Prostration Combo Fist
A body technique sect move that attacks with the elbow and the heel of the palm, using swift combos to thwart enemy advances and chain attacks.]
[Acquired: Prostration Combo Fist - Demon Break
A sect skill that adds a backstab to the Prostration Combo Fist.]
"Whoa whoa whoa!!!"
Pure Black jumped up excitedly, having unlocked a pile of new skills all of a sudden.
Bullet Comments:
'?????'
'So the map from three years ago was purely to give players cheats.'
'Suddenly feels like this is a wuxia game, and a half-invincible one at that.'
'A top-tier kendo master, who due to some incident three years ago, lost his memory and lived in a well, occasionally encountering old acquaintances, growing stronger step by step, gradually recovering his lost memories, and reaching the pinnacle......'
'Got that vibe!'
......
It had to be said, the viewers' ability to imagine was top-notch.
Even Pure Black couldn't help but give a thumbs-up, "To be honest, you could probably make a similar game following this script. It's quite interesting."
After interacting, Pure Black shifted his attention to the newly acquired skills.
"Tsk tsk tsk......"
He couldn't help but exclaim with admiration as he read, "There's even fistwork. It feels like a combined version of the Shoryuken and Iron Mountain Press."
*Slap!*
As he spoke, Pure Black threw a few punches at the air.
*Slap! Slap!*
Prostration Combo Fist, hitting three times in a row. Pure Black was a little smug, "I heard that when this technique is mastered, it can hit nine times in a row. I wonder if that's achievable in this game."
"It seems Wolf learned quite a variety of things before losing his memory, even knowing fistwork. I need to spend time practicing these new skills properly."
Sharpening the axe does not delay the chopping of wood!
Approaching the deepest part of the Hirata estate and suddenly unlocking a bunch of new skills, he felt it couldn't just be for the players to get a cheat. Clearly, a formidable enemy existed in the deepest parts.
And these newly learned martial skills would be the key to overcoming the formidable foe.
Therefore, Pure Black spent a full hour honing the newly acquired skills to perfection.
"I wonder if it's because more memories have been unlocked, but I feel this body has a high compatibility with these skills," Pure Black muttered, sheathing his sword.
Unbeknownst to him, how much it gnawed at the viewers outside the game.
Besides the fact that Wolf himself had mastered these skills before, a larger portion was due to the player's talent and practice time.
Talent was a given, referring to Pure Black's brain-body coordination ability.
In PC games, this was commonly known as hand speed. In the VR world, it was not yet defined and was collectively referred to as talent.
Besides talent, practice time also played a part.
There was a significant difference in proficiency between two and a half years of practice and two hours of practice.
It was like in wuxia novels where disciples of the same sect learned the same moves and skills, but due to different talents and practice times, their martial arts prowess varied.
And Pure Black possessed top-tier talent, far surpassing what most viewers could achieve, yet he remained unaware. How could they not grit their teeth in frustration!
It wasn't that he was being humble; it was mainly because the game had only just been released on its first day, and players hadn't yet established significant gaps.
As for defeating Genichiro, he felt it had a lot to do with his prior preparation. Moreover, two others had passed him more smoothly before him, and Pure Black understood that there were always people better than him.
However,
Regardless of how humble he was, his strength had indeed improved significantly after getting familiar with the new skills.
During his sweep through the Hirata main manor, his speed was indeed much faster than that of ordinary people.
While Zhou Jie was still in conversation with the adoptive father, he had already bulldozed through a line of minor enemies and arrived at the Hirata Corridor.
Along the way, he only encountered one relatively strong elite enemy, Snakey Chōbei.
But it only cost him one life to successfully defeat this sumo wrestler wielding a curved blade.
The flames in the corridor had weakened a bit. Pure Black scavenged for treasures within the corridor. Upon seeing a conspicuous Divine Heirloom near a pillar, he chuckled.
"It seems the designer is very thoughtful. Knowing that we'll die many times against the upcoming enemies, they've placed a Divine Heirloom in the nearest location, saving us the trouble of running back after dying twice."
Seeing the Divine Heirloom, he knew he wasn't far from the true boss of this stage.
"Yaaaa!!... Son of the Owl..."
An old woman knelt in a corner, hugging her head, trembling all over, saying, "I... I saw something terrifying..."
"They kept coming out!"
"One after another... without end, without end...! Eeeeek~"
"Young Master... The Young Master is in the innermost part of the manor... My son... has already rushed over, so he should be safe for now..."
"You should hurry and save the Young Master too!"
Despite trembling with fear, the old woman kept urging Wolf to save the Prince. Clearly, the Prince's family was deeply loved by the populace.
"This old woman seems similar to that deranged old woman in the real world. She seems to have contracted Dragonrot from interacting with me," Pure Black cast a deep glance at the old woman, then continued searching for a hidden door in the corridor.
At the end of the corridor, a blood-covered guard lay to the side, next to the secret underground passage he had been looking for.
"I advise you not to go any further."
As Pure Black passed by the guard, he weakly advised, "That illusion is too terrifying... It cannot be broken without the Mortal Blade."
"This... there's only a little bit left... I entrust it to you."
[Acquired: Mortal Blade
A purple seed that emits a loud sound when crushed between the fingers.
It can dispel the effects of illusions.
If an illusion is seen, the presence of its caster is certain.
To completely dispel an illusion, one must defeat the caster. The Mortal Blade can assist in this endeavor.]
"Mortal Blade... Illusion..."
After reading the description, Pure Black stroked his chin, analyzing, "The person inside must be a master of illusions. This is the first time I've encountered such an enemy, and it's quite novel. The Mortal Blade should be used at a crucial moment to deliver the final blow, but that's only if I can endure until then."
"Whatever, hesitation leads to defeat. I cannot have any thought of retreating!"
Feeling a hint of retreat in his heart, Pure Black gritted his teeth and pushed open the secret door to the underground passage.
*Creak—!!*
As the door opened, all he saw was a sea of crimson.
The Prince, smaller than in the real world, wearing simple thin clothes, wandered confusedly in the underground palace.
"Father... Mother... Butterflies... Where has everyone gone..."
Wolf immediately leaped forward, supporting the trembling young Prince, "Prince... Have you fallen under an illusion?"
"It's been a while."
"Son of the Owl."
An ethereal voice echoed from the great hall. Wolf instinctively shielded the Prince behind him, then gazed warily at the approaching figure.
Upon seeing the newcomer's appearance, Pure Black, from a bird's-eye view, exclaimed, "Holy crap?"
"Is that you?"
"Granny Shinobi?!"
......