Pei Guang hadn't planned on asking Dan Heng for help, but as he thought about one of the games he was designing, he reconsidered. "There won't be any combat involved, but I might need your help. One of my ideas involves a chase scenario, and I could use someone with a steady mind to help test it out. If it works well, it'll be a backup option. If it doesn't, I'll stick to a simple boss fight."
March 7th glanced at Pei Guang, "Why don't you test it yourself?"
Pei Guang: "What's the point of me testing a game I've already mastered? Besides, I've played the games I'm thinking of over and over. The first-time thrill is great, but after you've played them enough, it feels like coming home—I can speedrun them! How could I test the real effect?"
Because Pei Guang had played so many times, he no longer felt any fear from horror games. Plus, given how bizarre the world around him was, with so many powerful entities, he wasn't even sure if the games he created could live up to his expectations.
Finding someone strong to help test the game was the best choice. Whether it was battling a boss or testing a chase-and-hide scenario, Dan Heng was the perfect fit. He was powerful, mysterious, and clearly a big shot.
And with his vast experience, he must have already faced countless terrifying situations in real life, so having him test an escape game would definitely be fun for him.
As Pei Guang grew more excited talking about it, Dan Heng's expression stiffened. Being chased down in real life was one thing, but getting hunted in a game as part of a test?
Dan Heng accepted it with calm resignation—it was just testing a game about being chased, after all. What a joke! It's not like the game would feature Blade chasing him across the galaxy, right?
With his decision made, Dan Heng nodded. "No problem. If it's about being chased, I do have some experience."
March 7th couldn't hold back a laugh: "Pfft~ True! Every third world we visit seems to involve us being chased across the whole map. You've got plenty of experience!"
Pei Guang: "Trust me, after playing this, you'll learn how to properly hide in boxes, trash cans, wardrobes and under beds. You're a real friend for helping. Pick whatever kind of attributes you want for your puppet—I'll make sure you get the best one."
Dan Heng: "Alright."
Dan Heng was curious about what kind of puppet Pei Guang had managed to get his hands on that he was treating so seriously.
But when Pei Guang, Stelle, and March 7th led him to the room, and Dan Heng saw an entire row of neatly arranged Herta puppets, he rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
Dan Heng was shocked. "Did you steal Herta's puppets?"
Pei Guang was just as surprised: "How could I? Do I look like a thief? Everything I take, I take openly—never steal. Does looting count as stealing?"
Stelle agreed, "Of course not! They're our spoils of war—just reclaiming what's rightfully ours."
March 7th added, "Exactly! It's just our mission reward. How can that be called stealing?"
Dan Heng sighed, "Forget it, let's not get caught up in the details. How do these things work?"
Hearing the question, Pei Guang responded seriously: "Using these requires a lot of care. Even though they're puppets, we need to nurture their affection. From my understanding, once you've built up enough affection with them, they'll unlock more abilities and get stronger. In the future, they might even carry us through games."
Stelle asked, "So the real question is, how do we raise their affection?"
Pei Guang: "You feed them their favorite foods, dress them up in cute outfits, and make sure to pat their heads and chat with them from time to time. It's a character-raising game. Remember, patience is key—cater to their preferences, and eventually, they'll develop feelings for you. Keep giving them gifts."
March 7th looked skeptical, "Raising affection... will that really make them stronger?"
The whole "affection-raising" idea still felt a bit strange to her.
Pei Guang turned to her, "Don't you have more affection for me now?"
March 7th, with a serious nod, replied, "Yes, I do."
Pei Guang grinned, "And don't you feel stronger than you did before you met me?"
March 7th confidently replied, "Yeah, I've learned a lot and gotten way stronger since then."
Pei Guang turned to Stelle and Dan Heng, "See? I've been grinding March 7th's affection points, and she's gotten stronger! So, raising affection definitely works. But I'm not done—I need to max out her affection points. Since I've started down the 'pure love' route, I'm going all the way to the ending! No need to raise affection with the puppets—I'll focus on maxing out March 7th."
March 7th: "Uh-huh?!"
Dan Heng didn't know how to respond. Everything Pei Guang said was technically true, but there was something off about the way he said it.
Then again, Dan Heng thought, why not just go along with it? It wouldn't hurt to listen to Pei Guang. Who knows—maybe the next time he faced Blade, this puppet could come in handy.
Considering future battles with Blade, Dan Heng made a small request. "Actually, I do have a request. If possible, I'd like a puppet that can counter specific techniques and work with my attacks to take down special enemies."
Hearing Dan Heng's request, Pei Guang thought for a moment, "I get it. You need a counter—something against swords, right? In that case, you'll need a shield. Swords are physical attacks, and sword energy is also physical. A shield can block all physical attacks. I'll program some basic blocking techniques into your puppet, and she'll have your back!"
Dan Heng frowned, "Your techniques... can a puppet use them?"
Pei Guang confidently replied, "Of course! Any game with a blocking mechanic means that the teammates you summon can use this technique too. Some bosses might use the same tactic, but don't worry—I'll make sure your puppet is fully optimized against physical attacks. If her reaction speed is good enough, she might even block things I can't!"
As Dan Heng glanced at the row of Herta puppets and thought back to Pei Guang's blocking techniques, a small smile appeared on his face.
"That sounds good. The enemy I have in mind primarily uses sword-based physical attacks, though they do have a few other moves. But according to your logic, those are all 'physical' attacks. Let's go with that. Also... can you get me a large bucket of that coffee?"
Pei Guang: "No problem. How big of a bucket are we talking?"
Dan Heng gestured with his hands, indicating a two-meter-tall bucket. Pei Guang, looking at the size Dan Heng was suggesting, raised an eyebrow. "That much? Are you trying to drown them?"
Dan Heng replied calmly, "It's for an enemy with immortality."
At that moment, Pei Guang understood. He made an "OK" sign with his hand. "Leave it to me. I'll design an IV drip system. We'll keep them under control for ten years straight."
Dan Heng: "I'm counting on you."
Stelle, standing with her hands on her hips, remarked, "You're being way too polite with Pei Guang. We're all in the same crew, no need for formalities."