Wumeioge stood in the ruins of Morlan village with a bloodstained dung fork in hand, staring stupidly at the fierce female hunter, as she fell under the onslaught of Precipitated Niu Niu and his own NPC allies.
Although this wasn't his first test, neither was he an inexperienced youngster, but Wumeioge's heart was still pounding.
There were two voices in his head, fighting.
The rational one reminded him it was just a game, so he had to stay calm! Yet, the more excited voice roared crazily at his brain.
Look at all of this!
The bloodstained sunset, the collapsed ruins, the comrades standing with him after a bloody battle, and the strong enemy finally defeated. The hand of war was stirring up the primal instincts buried deep within this man!
He could feel his heart stop beating for a few seconds because of the dangerous adversary's fall.
Really!
He had just fought a battle with these evil enemies!
And he had won!
So... to hell with rationality.
"We won, we won!"
Wumeioge hoisted his dung fork and howled, nearly cracking his voice with excitement. The surrounding players, awoken from their stupor, began cheering as well, even Lumina the formidable maimed girl lifted her Dwarf Hunter Gun with the help of Milian.
This scene was very much like a gaming team's victory celebration after successfully conquering a dungeon, but the immense sense of achievement and satisfaction they felt now was something a simple game could never offer.
The cheering from behind made Precipitated Niu Niu, who had just achieved a deadly "kill", feel surreal.
He gazed at the fallen Hunter Captain and the heavy, strange steam-powered weapon lying on the ground, his head dizzy and out of breath, like after an adrenaline rush, and plopped down on the ground.
The sneak attack just now was too thrilling, wasn't it just like charging a tower under AK gunfire?
He hadn't expected to run so fast, he was bewildered when he logged on, but in the blink of an eye, he'd become everyone's hero.
This game is really incredible!
Precipitated Niu Niu looked at his hands, which were identical in-game to those in reality. Then a shadow cast on him, and he looked up to see the handsome NPC extending a hand to him.
"Is this your first time experiencing this feeling?"
Sir Morphy asked softly, standing with his sword against the backdrop of dusk, his scarlet cape fluttering behind him, as though blocking out the last streak of light.
The sportsman was stunned.
Damn, the real-time CG animation felt so realistic!
"Huh?"
Precipitated Niu Niu responded dimwittedly.
He didn't quite understand what the NPC meant, but he accepted Sir Morphy's help and was pulled up from the ground.
Then he heard Sir Morphy say:
"What I mean is, the feeling of wanting to sink into the intoxicating wine of victory, the feeling known as survival, look, my warrior, your comrades regard you as a hero!
As do I see you as a heaven-sent warrior, you are a true warrior!"
"Hehe"
Precipitated Niu Niu turned subconsciously and glanced at the players who could still stand behind him. Lead by Wumeioge, they were whistling and cheering at him.
This scene seemed like when he broke the record at a school sports event and stood on the podium, making him bashful and a bit proud as he brushed his dusty nose.
"The feeling is indeed great, Sir...mm, Sir Morphy!"
He replied, and then saw Sir Morphy bend down, draw an exquisite hunting combat knife from the waist of the unconscious female hunter, and handed it to him with a respectful gesture, saying:
"Today, you too are the hero of this devastated Morlan village, the departed will be grateful for your kindness, accept this, it's yours by right."
"Ah, thank you."
Precipitated Niu Niu promptly reached out and accepted the weapon.
It felt like he was receiving a trophy, even though it was just in a virtual reality game. But there was no helping it, the atmosphere had been set, right?
"Sir Morphy! The four garbage Witch Hunters at the village entrance have run away!"
Running over with a half sword in hand, Spicy GuGu Chicken was very excited. He saluted Sir Morphy in a bizarre way and reported,
"Should we chase them?"
"Does anyone here know how to ride a horse? Warriors."
Sir Morphy raised his voice and asked, causing the cheering players to suddenly quiet down. They looked at each other until Wumeioge finally spoke with a weird expression,
"Muddy Head Car usually likes this kind of thing, he should be able to ride."
"Where is this warrior now?"
Sir Morphy asked again, to which Wumeioge shrugged, pointed at the collapsed "sniper tower" above, and muttered,
"Probably turned into a sieve by now."
"Then why bring it up?"
With a resigned expression, Sir Morphy suppressed his overwhelming urge to retort. He then shook his head with the composure befitting an NPC and said,
"It seems we cannot pursue. The Witch Hunters' warhorses are specially trained, fast and enduring. Even if it wasn't daylight, I would not be able to catch them.
Still, this is a victory worth commemorating. Once again, you have proven your courage and potential."