Chapter 1463 - 470: Twisted Gamer (2)

Chapter 1463: Chapter 470: Twisted Gamer (2)

He remembers everything from the beginning, remembers the cause and effect.

But now it seems, he has retained these memories, yet still... been defeated by the game many times.

Luckily, he didn’t choose "expert mode" on the initial questionnaire.

"Which means I’ve already failed many times in the game."

"I encountered a powerful enemy that defeated all the factions of myself."

"What kind of enemy is this?"

He recalled the goblin’s words again—

"But can you really... defeat that person? Or will you... become one of us?"

Could it be that dying too many times turns you into an NPC like the goblins?

Maybe the goblins, Kelly, or even these mirrors right now, were once players?

Are they... hinting at me? Reminding me?

They’re trying to make me feel a sense of cycle, attempting to awaken my former memories. So that I can find the true way to crack the game?

Otherwise, I’ll keep repeating the same failures.

Wen Xishu suddenly recalled some thoughts from his past life—"If only I could erase my memories of playing xx game."

Can’t deny, certain games bring immense joy, and all game designers are pondering how to make players endlessly immerse in their games.

Some pursue graphic realism, others the immersive feeling, some chase epic narratives, but the main road will always be the gameplay itself. There are also those who take the crooked path—scamming sales with marketing, they don’t care if players play, only if players buy.

Anyway, whether the main road or the crooked path...

After a while, players are likely to slowly lose interest in a game.

"No one will love a game forever. Once all the game content becomes familiar, once the game can’t present any freshness... they’ll inevitably slowly abandon it."

So many people facing a game they once loved will say:

"If only I could erase my memories of playing xx game."

If given the chance, most game designers would hope for this too.

Though it’s certainly not the correct and challenging approach, it’s damaging to players’ game time, and erasing players’ memories is essentially laziness, it’s robbing players of their assets.

The correct and challenging approach is to continuously develop, update the game, and create content that players expect, extending a game’s lifespan.

But if indeed mastering this ability allows players to lose their sense of freshness, then acquiring the ability to erase their memory...

Will the designers truly resist using such an ability?

Suppose you are a capitalist, players complain that the game content is too short, do you spend money and manpower to create more content, or directly erase players’ memories, trapping them in repetitive game content?

As long as you always restart with one click as you near the end, you’ll never feel the game content is short.

It’s like how readers forget the book’s content every time they reach "end of Chapter," they’ll never think the author is lazy.

Wen Xishu suddenly feels, maybe the Gamer... is someone who has mastered this ability.

Combining the past of the Judge and the Cosmetic Surgery Family, Wen Xishu feels that the Gamer might also have some sort of twisted experience, resulting in a warped mindset.

Wen Xishu thinks while continuing to browse the mirrors.

"If my speculation is correct... then maybe everyone I fight against isn’t my real enemy."

"They might be restricted, unable to directly say my situation, but would hint at me going through more than once, thus stimulating my memory."

"Making me remember that I’ve played this game."

"But... at the same time they indeed are my enemies."

Wen Xishu steps in front of a mirror, this mirror’s Wen Xishu still desires for Wen Xishu to come closer.

Wen Xishu is certain—if he really gets close, something bad is sure to happen.

"I need to find out the difference between mirrors, or rather, find the most special mirror."

Since it’s only the third level of the game, Wen Xishu quickly finds that special mirror.

It’s a mirror with cracks, as if a fragment could fall off at any time.

And because this mirror has cracks, this time, the Wen Xishu inside the mirror does not make the gesture hinting for Wen Xishu to approach.

Within the mirror, it’s a Wen Xishu full of violent aura, his eyes are scarlet red, the whole person shrouded by dark aura, like a dark version of Wen Xishu, holding a Great Tachi, raising the Tachi, fiercely smashing the mirror.

Outside the mirror, Wen Xishu couldn’t imagine that the "Dark Wen Xishu" inside the mirror could actually smash the mirror.

Because as the Dark Wen Xishu continued his actions, the mirror’s cracks increased.

Bam!

The mirror shattered, the entire mirror swiftly turned to dust, but only one fragment appeared on the ground, emanating a special glow. As if a drop of high-quality loot.

Wen Xishu discovered the hidden storyline. He didn’t approach other intact mirrors, didn’t get pulled into various versions of his own world to fight monsters.

Many people who participate in this level would think they need to choose a mirror.

Some would be seduced by themselves in the mirror, lured by those powerful equipment, and then miss that cracked mirror.

"It’s you again! Oh, you’re luckier than last time." Dark Wen Xishu sneers.

Wen Xishu frowns.

Is this saying he got a Luck Value +2 this time?

No more unnecessary words, Dark Wen Xishu’s hostility is heavy.

"Stupid things! Stupid things, I hate playing these stupid things!"

Great Tachi slashes wildly!

Upper section cleave, back jump, sweep, chase attack!

Wen Xishu’s combo used to defeat the goblin has surprisingly been employed by Dark Wen Xishu. But Wen Xishu knows these moves too.

Wen Xishu immediately drinks a potion of strength.

With the same moves, though Dark Wen Xishu seems very violent, he’s merely got a higher health bar, in terms of strength he is similar to the real Wen Xishu.

And after drinking the potion of strength, Wen Xishu is noticeably stronger.

Especially since Wen Xishu also has the Luck Value +2 attribute.

Wen Xishu executes an upper section cleave!

Dark Wen Xishu executes an upper section cleave!

Both attack without defense.

The immense force hits each of their heads.

Bam bam!

Wen Xishu’s Life Value immediately halves, Dark Wen Xishu does too. Although he has higher health, Wen Xishu’s strength has increased.

Not only that, but Wen Xishu also triggers a stun effect, he endures severe pain and launches a chase attack!

Dark Wen Xishu didn’t expect Luck Value +2 to be so directly reflected.

Wen Xishu takes the chance to furiously swing the Great Tachi during the opponent’s stun!

Dark Wen Xishu’s dark aura starts to rapidly dissipate.

"Interesting..."

"Luck is also a part of strength huh."

"Hahaha, progressing quickly... but will you encounter me again? You don’t have many chances left to be called a fool! Though after you become one of us, you’ll probably rank higher than me..."

"But in my eyes, you’re all fools, fools! Fools like me."

Dark Wen Xishu speaks his manic farewell words, then disappears.

Wen Xishu has to admit...

Luck indeed is the key to victory, one stun can cost the opponent a quick end.

"It should be some player as well, based on the mirror’s characteristics, who changes its appearance depending on the Challenger."

"It starts cursing the Challenger as a fool, likely... because these Challengers, that is, players, and like it in the beginning, can’t realize they’re caught in a cycle."

"And finally failed too many times, becoming an NPC in the Infinite Mansion."

"Fool is a mockery of itself, also a hint for players to remember what they lost."

Wen Xishu gently sighs.

Then he sees the shiny, seemingly high-quality drop.

This is the special item "Broken Mirror Shard" Kelly requested Wen Xishu to obtain.

Even though Kelly didn’t say it, Wen Xishu still got it.

[Basic reward: Game currency 25.]

[Hidden reward: Broken Mirror Shard.]

[Please choose one of the following rewards.]

[1: Unknown fragment. Effect unknown. Possibly worthless.]

[2: Weapon upgrade, gain extra entry, rarity linked with personal Luck Value, explore ways to obtain Luck Value.]

This time, Wen Xishu decided not to choose the unknown fragment. He chose weapon upgrade.

The elevator door appeared, about to head to the fourth floor.

When Kelly saw the shard in Wen Xishu’s hand, Kelly was surprised.

"Did he remember something? Without my reminder, he managed to get the shard..."

"Interesting, maybe he really can clear the game."

(Another extra Chapter later.)