Strategy game? Then I'll have to control you properly.

"The attack pattern is to roll and then ambush, pause for a moment, and then... sigh, what's the point of researching this now?"

Lin Miao tried to control her character to dodge according to the enemy's behavior patterns she had learned beforehand, but the problem was that this was a narrow underground passage lit only by a few scattered torches.

This game was originally designed for single-player mode, including the map and monster configuration.

Although Lin Miao and Lillie tried to fight side by side, the narrow passage forced the enemy to get close to her.

The enemies that Lillie faces are no longer monsters that follow a fixed pattern.

"Uh..."

Watching his character fall to the ground after being hit by the Torch Spirit's wall kick, Lin Miao couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement. Such a flashy combo shouldn't have happened to a mob.

"Does this mean I have to solo it?"

Lin Miao stepped back and watched Lillie's figure fighting the Torch Spirits. She was a true warrior because she was not bound by fixed patterns.

No matter how tricky the enemy's attack, she can instinctively block and counterattack.

Thinking about having to fight the boss one-on-one according to the strategy guide in the future, but this weird game exists to help Lillie and the others grow, then it would be putting the cart before the horse.

Just as Lin Miao was distracted, the torch-wielding spirit that was leaping between the walls and the ceiling had its arm severed by Lillie's skill, which was enveloped in light, and collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Her combat prowess was reassuring, and when Lin Miao changed classes, she became even more convinced that choosing a ranged support class would be the best way to complement her.

After confirming the first kill achievement, Lin Miao gestured for her to move forward as she adjusted her breathing. Her profile, with her lips pursed and nodding, was illuminated by the firelight.

It was unclear how much stamina she had left. Unlike the vengeful spirit soldiers who could be killed in one strike, this battle was extremely fierce.

If two or three of these monsters appeared at the same time, she would eventually be unable to hold on due to her limited recovery ability.

"This is too difficult. If only we could talk to each other... no, even just see her status bar would be nice."

After confirming that the area had been cleared, Lin Miao watched as Lillie walked backwards.

Just moments before, where terrifying undead monsters had emerged, she stared wide-eyed at Lin Miao's strange behavior of retreating steadily without wavering, her limbs visibly trembling.

Lillie always showed a tendency to obey Lin Miao's orders. She would fight if told to fight, and retreat immediately if told to flee.

Moreover, even if it was difficult for her, she would still reluctantly carry out Lin Miao's instructions.

Lin Miao roughly understood why she was acting this way, but that only made things more problematic.

If you work yourself to exhaustion, where will you find someone as outstanding as Palu?

[Recommended Screenshot Applications]

[Activate screenshot application: 1000P]

At this moment, Lin Miao noticed a software recommended by the system on the desktop.

Actually, that recommendation icon popped up before I started Dark Souls, but I didn't pay attention to it and skipped it.

Achievement Points: 1100P

Lin Miao stopped moving her fingers, which trembled hesitantly above the mouse.

Currently, I have accumulated 1100 achievement points through Minecraft and Dark Souls, thanks to the large number of achievements I obtained in the early stages of Dark Souls.

Lin Miao can apply the screenshots to the system whenever she wants.

"Is it really necessary to spend points to collaborate on something that's just a screenshot?"

Lin Miao couldn't understand what use this program that could take screenshots and save images could be now, but considering that everything linked to the system would become strange, it didn't seem impossible.

"It's already ridiculous enough that two people are playing single-player mode..."

[Screenshot application launched]

Lin Miao activated it after all. In this hardcore Dark Souls, a character only has one life, and Lillie originally only had one life as well, so she needed a more reliable safety guarantee.

[Target can be captured]

"Is that how it should be used?"

Just like when using a program, Lin Miao clicked the "New" function, aimed at the screen, or more precisely, at Lillie standing blankly on the game screen, and pressed the screenshot button.

Her image immediately and accurately appeared on the program interface.

[Chief's Daughter: Lillie]

【Traits: Martial Arts (Growth Rate: 85%), Leadership (Potential)】

Overall Fatigue Level: 78%

[Magic Value: 42%]

[Emotions: Confusion, Doubt]

Wow.

Along with the image, more information also appeared. In addition to the basic information that would be displayed when you right-clicked on her body, detailed data such as fatigue value and magic power value were also on full display.

It can even read her emotional state in real time.

At this moment, Lillie was confused because Lin Miao suddenly stopped. After all, she had no idea what was going on. He had been following her just a moment ago, but now he had suddenly stopped.

Let's activate this save point first and then retreat.

Judging from her condition, the battle plan to complete all preparations today is probably going to fall through.

It would be better to send her home to rest before her fatigue level continues to accumulate.

◆◆◆

"what……"

The game is closed.

Having completed her schedule before reaching her limit of fatigue, Liena returned to the village on the desktop, while Lin Miao, slumped into a chair with a sigh, returned to the real room.

His mind was a little fuzzy.

I've never been so focused on playing games in my life, maybe that's why.

I sit in front of the computer all day and haven't even had the thought of eating.

"Are you going to gain weight?"

Lin Miao, after ordering takeout and closing the app, stared blankly at her computer desktop.

I already don't get enough exercise, and lately I've been spending all my free time in front of the computer.

While waiting for their meals, they used the newly activated screenshot software to capture information about each villager.

While you can view the name and features by right-clicking, a screenshot can provide more detailed information.

It's particularly interesting that you can see the hidden traits, such as the trait growth rate and the marked (potential) traits.

Unlike Lillie, who was born with special abilities, the miner Allen, who only awakened his abilities in the first round of the game, has a growth rate of only 22%.

He was clearly a seasoned miner who had mined thousands of blocks in the First World.

What will it evolve into once this value reaches 100%?

While the awakening conditions for some traits are clear and others are still unknown, if this system can be used effectively, it may be possible to awaken more traits in more villagers.

"I wish someone could take a picture of me."

As the sun set and the noisy villagers finished their work and prepared to go to bed, Lin Miao ate her belated dinner with a bitter smile on her face.

If talent-capturing apps could be used on myself, I might be able to discover what talents I possess.

"Ah... I have to go to work tomorrow."

The realization of this fact while I was lost in thought felt like a blow to the head.

Feeling her body suddenly become heavy, Lin Miao got up and walked to the bed.

Since it's right next to the computer desk, you can just stand up from the chair and collapse onto the bed.

Surprisingly, I fell asleep quickly, probably because I had exhausted too much energy from playing games.

When I open my eyes again, it will be tomorrow morning.

◆◆◆

"Is it already this late?"

"Let's switch shifts. Is everything alright?"

"Um."

As moonlight and the cascading starlight enveloped the grassland, yawning soldiers staggered toward their comrades on duty in the watchtower.

"Wow, that's amazing. These watchtowers can be built in an instant."

"It's a miracle."

The watchtower they were climbing with ladders was rather unusual; at first glance it was just a thick wooden stake, but upon closer inspection, something strangely out of place could be found.

This is a building constructed from perfectly shaped wooden blocks that could never exist in nature.

A resident who awakened his porter-like abilities and could manipulate the resources of the first game like a player attempted to build this demonstration facility.

"I'm especially...tired today."

"You too? Repairing the fence today must have been tough."

Although the handover was successfully completed on the newly built watchtower, the two soldiers on guard duty couldn't resist their drowsiness and kept dozing off.

"You go to sleep first. I'll wake you up later, then it'll be my turn to sleep."

"That's a good idea."

Ultimately, the two decided to take turns resting. The problem was that the soldier who was supposed to be on duty first also began to succumb to sleepiness and started nodding and slouching.

If they hadn't dozed off, they might have noticed the anomaly earlier. If they had noticed it earlier, they might have been able to handle it more easily.

[Level 1 fault detected]

[Probability of a pupa-like malfunction evolving into an Invader: 85%]

A malfunctioning entity silently appeared. This thing, pulsating with a hazy purple light in the darkness, was different from the types that had appeared before. It had neither offensive nor defensive capabilities; it was merely a pupa-like existence. Now, perhaps an arrow could take it down.

But the soldiers, who were fast asleep and snoring, never found the pupa.

[Level 1 Eroder Appears]

So, at sunrise, the cocoon broke open.

The first to emerge were tentacles that were as black and viscous as tar and wriggled out.

The tentacles did not reach the village.

For it, which has grown into an eroder, the villagers can no longer serve as nourishment.

The eroder stretched its tentacles into the void.

But the dark tentacles pierced through the invisible barrier, wriggling and disappearing on the other side.

Rustling.

The tentacles groped around, searching for their target.

Keyboard, mouse, desk, and even the floor.

Over time, their tentacles have grown increasingly thick and are now more menacing than human fingers.

Finally, the tip of the tentacle wrapped around the target's ankle.

[The Invaders have gone berserk!]

Lin Miao still doesn't know the true form of the monster that's wrapped around her legs.

"W-What the hell! Are you crazy?!"

The tentacles suddenly exerted force, lifting Lin Miao up.

Lin Miao, who was forcibly awakened, witnessed a horrifying scene in the morning light.

Black tentacles gushing from the monitor were pressing down on his body in layers, as he struggled frantically to break free of the screen's confinement.

"Damn it!"

A superhuman strength that humans cannot resist.

When the tentacles wrapped around the neck began to tighten...

Lin Miao struggled violently in mid-air like a fish out of water.