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

The debuff from the Phantom Wings instantly enveloped them, and Lin Miao's character was naturally affected, with her health and movement speed decreasing significantly.

Komisda and his two companions were completely different. Gritting their teeth, they charged towards the materialized, terrifying evil spirit, the rings on their fingers glowing faintly.

These items, airlifted from what is known as the alternate world of Dark Souls, are working perfectly to completely neutralize the Phantom's mental curse.

Looking at this scene, Lin Miao thought to himself: It seems that's all there is to it.

Since even powerful debuffs in the game can be nullified, Phantom Wings can't be considered a very strong enemy.

And that was indeed the case: Bruno, now a sorcerer, fired a fireball from his staff, which struck the Phantom Wing squarely. It let out a shrill scream and trembled violently. Taking advantage of this moment, Vanguard Mista's spear pierced its chest with pinpoint accuracy.

Unlike the monsters in the game who don't know what running away is, this evil spirit, which tried to flee in panic, was caught up by Rosie's wall-jumping leap and the short sword she held in both hands cleaved it in two.

Anyone could see that Huan Yi, powerless to resist, was chopped into mincemeat by Luo Xie's sword while trying to escape.

As Mista watched the black smoke dissipate from the Phantom Wing, she couldn't help but sigh, "Compared to the experience of using methods found in other games, which severely injured her and caused us a lot of trouble, this time it was resolved far too easily."

Looking at the scene on the screen, Lin Miao thought to himself: The combination of elements from different games that would never have met before is perhaps the strongest weapon of the residents living on the screen.

As Phantom Wing's screams completely disappeared, it was indeed a BOSS-level monster that appeared in a high-difficulty area; it immediately dropped its Monster Essence.

Lin Miao even felt that this essence was brighter and larger than the essence of other monsters. When Luo Xie slowly picked it up, the difference between the two became even more obvious.

Luo Xie, holding the ball of monster essence, slowly walked towards Lin Miao, who was haphazardly munching on food to replenish the stamina lost due to the debuff.

The others also noticed the strange atmosphere. Lin Miao involuntarily stopped putting food into his mouth. He knew that now was not the time to make chewing noises to fill his stomach.

Lin Miao smiled bitterly to herself: Every time this happens, it puts a lot of pressure on me.

Rose knelt on one knee with utmost respect and offered him the essence of the monster.

Although collecting and using monster essences was something Lin Miao had always been doing, after experiencing this life-or-death crisis, Luo Xie's attitude became noticeably more devout. Perhaps her heart underwent a tremendous change during this incident.

Lin Miao knew very well that they regarded him as a god-like being, and Attila was deliberately using this to control the tribe and unite the people.

If we put ourselves in their shoes, it's only natural that they would have this thought.

But whenever he saw how they followed him as if he were an absolute being, the burden on his shoulders grew heavier and heavier.

In reality, Lin Miao is just an ordinary person. When he thinks that their lives depend on his every judgment and action, he finds it hard to maintain a relaxed attitude.

After avenging Phantom Wing, Lin Miao used the monster essences she had collected to awaken the unawakened but potentially powerful warriors, while chatting with Li Sushang.

Lin Miao spoke into the microphone: "The system framework has been initially built according to the plan. I have established the necessary systems for the residents through various games, including resource gathering, skill acquisition to enhance strength, and equipment crafting that contains special powers. Of course, whether it can operate smoothly still needs time to verify."

Li Sushang's response came quickly through the earpiece: "I'm about to start my third game now, and I'll definitely take your experience into consideration."

As the vanguard, Lin Miao offered advice to Li Sushang based on her own experience, and Li Sushang then used these methods to cultivate her own residents; Li Sushang, who received help, used her real-world identity to solve the problems that Lin Miao found difficult to handle.

Soon, Li Sushang's voice came again: "It's all taken care of. It was quite a sum... Are you planning to withdraw cash?"

Lin Miao responded, "Let's do it this way this time."

Li Sushang didn't even know what he looked like, so naturally she couldn't know his bank account number. Therefore, Lin Miao decided to withdraw all the money from the sale of the spoils in cash.

This sum of money even exceeded his annual income.

Although she was a little uneasy, Lin Miao had not yet revealed her true identity to Li Sushang.

Perhaps this is because deep down, a lingering fear of inferiority still remains. Lin Miao is, after all, just an ordinary person, and he is unwilling to abandon this fact. Once he crosses that line, he will never be safe again.

Lin Miao stared at the computer desktop, which had started raining sometime earlier, and watched the residents rushing around on the screen to avoid the rain. She sighed softly and thought to herself: So we must nurture them as well as possible.

Ultimately, the best he could do was to take good care of these residents. So far, he believes he has done a pretty good job.

Although there were sacrifices, Lin Miao preserved the tribe's fighting strength to the greatest extent possible through reasonable resource allocation and investment.

While those key trainees are undoubtedly exceptionally talented, his ability to discover their strengths is also a testament to his skill.

Lin Miao suddenly frowned and muttered to herself, "...Did I forget something?"

Just then, he suddenly remembered something he had forgotten because of the urgent matter. After a few seconds of stunned silence, he suddenly recalled it and, in a panic, immediately logged back into Monster Hunter, which he had closed a few hours earlier.

◆◆◆

Dulin looked around anxiously and asked, "Hey, where did everyone go?"

Thorfinn looked equally bewildered, muttering to himself, "I've never heard lines like this before. This is..."

Thorfinn quickly composed himself and said, "This is Hunter's City, in front of the guild."

Thorfinn and Dulin, having just completed their first mutant hunt, were looking around anxiously in front of the guild.

The bipedal Felyne that had been guiding them suddenly vanished into thin air. This completely defied their common sense. It was said that when traveling to another world, various forms of divine avatars would guide them throughout the journey.

Thorfinn managed to regain his composure, shook his head at Dulin, and said, "Calm down. We were planning to rest anyway, so they probably just want us to stay put for now."

He felt that the person in question would not abandon them; as long as they rested and waited here, the person would surely return.

Upon hearing this, Dulin showed a slightly relieved expression and began to look around.

For them, who were used to seeing the sights of grassland tribes, the city streetscape, observed calmly, was truly full of mystery.

Regardless of the fact that this was a city built by people who made a living by hunting monsters, it was the first time they had ever seen such a large settlement where so many people lived together.

Dulin spoke somewhat hesitantly, "Uh, I don't know which way to go. It's not really appropriate to just stand here, is it?"

Thorfinn nodded and replied, "Yes. It would be better to go somewhere else."

The two people standing in front of the Hunter's Guild's main entrance attracted frequent attention from passersby. Although their appearances were not particularly special, the two, feeling inexplicably pressured, decided to leave first.

But just then, someone recognized them. The two were shocked to find a girl staring at them with wide eyes, and they immediately panicked.

Tina immediately thought of Lillie, whom she had met a few days ago, and walked up to her with a smile, asking, "You two wouldn't happen to be that little girl and her Palico's companions, would you? You look quite alike."

Tina looked them up and down, then continued, "So you've teamed up. You'll level up quickly, that girl's got the ability to solo a Sand Dragon."

Before the two could react, Tina, half-pushing them, led the group of people who claimed to be Lillie's companions toward a nearby shop.

The two held the drinks offered by the girl they didn't know in their palms, carefully savoring them from the large wooden cups.

As the cool sweetness melted on their tongues, they both exclaimed in unison, "Wow!"

In this sweltering weather, this ice-cold drink, made in ways they didn't know, with its intense sweetness that came with their first taste of life, instantly dispelled all their unease.

Although this juice is one of the simple items in the game that provides various content besides hunting, they naturally had no idea about it.

Dulin's eyes lit up, and he quickly asked, "W-can you get another one of these?"

Tina laughed and replied, "Of course you can buy it if you have the money, and as for the money... you know, you have to earn it by hunting."

Tina chuckled at their curious reactions and pointed to the shop owner, who was eyeing her prey intently, ready to sell his wares.

The thought instantly popped into their minds: it would be great if we could bring this back to the village.

The word "money" made them immediately start rummaging through their pockets.

Before abruptly exiting the game, Lin Miao, on a whim, gave each of them a gold coin.

This was originally intended to test whether the gold items circulating in this world could be turned into artifacts, but they left before they could be retrieved.

Tina glanced at the single gold coin in their hand and said with a smile, "What? Just this little bit? A single coin can't buy much."

Thorfinn's eyes lit up instantly, and he said to Dulin, "Looks like we need to earn more. Let's keep hunting those monsters."

Previously, they fought monsters with a sense of mission as chosen by the gods, but now another kind of desire has sprouted in their hearts, a rather healthy desire: to work hard to earn money, buy a glass of iced juice, and let the people in the village taste this delicious treat.

Tina nodded and said with a smile, "That's right. With hard work, you can buy these things anytime."

Seeing the two rugged, hairy country men's eyes light up at the sight of a glass of juice, Tina chuckled and prepared to leave, saying, "See you again sometime."

Dulin quickly asked, "Are you going hunting too?"

Tina nodded gently, reaching out to stroke the arrows in her quiver, and said in an expectant tone, "Of course. My level is high, catching small fish and shrimp is no fun. I just heard that a new species that seems to be of a high level has appeared nearby, supposedly a scorpion monster with a black shell, and several people have already fallen victim to it. Capturing a powerful new species can greatly help in leveling up."

Then, as she waved goodbye and walked away, Thorfinn and Dulin stared at her blankly for a long time.

Just as Lillie grew through faith-related experiences in the world of Dark Souls, their encounter with Tina was an unexpected opportunity that shook and shattered their established values ​​and worldview.

The moment Lin Miao remembered the two forgotten people, she logged back into the game.

Seeing that Thorfinn and Dulin were safe and sound, Lin Miao breathed a sigh of relief, then picked them up and took them back to the village.

Lin Miao looked at the two people on the screen and couldn't help but smile: It seems they're having a lot of fun.

As soon as Thorfinn and Dulin arrived in the village, they grinned and immediately walked toward the villagers who had gathered around them.

Asking for information from those who have gained the approval of the guardian deity and are allowed to travel to other mysterious worlds has long been a fixed cultural custom in the village.

Those stories, sometimes exaggerated and even boastful, are gradually transforming into new legends as they are passed down by word of mouth among the villagers.

◆◆◆

On a stormy day with dark clouds looming overhead, Alan, a miner carrying a pickaxe, walked to Attila's side, who was taking shelter from the rain under the eaves.

Allen said, "This rain is really heavy."

Attila nodded and replied with a smile, "Luckily, the road was paved in advance. It's great that the road didn't turn into a mud pit."

Allen was working with the porters to repair the village roads and pave them with stones.

According to their plan, the stone-paved road, which is now nearing completion, will never again be turned into a muddy mess by rain.

Attila looked at the road in the rain and continued, "But it doesn't look quite right. It would be best to dig a separate drainage ditch."

Allen's eyes darted around for a moment, and he hesitated before speaking, "This...this..."

Attila nodded as he placed additional orders for seemingly necessary facilities, various renovation plans constantly emerging in his mind.

With a swing of the pickaxe, both soil and rock would crumble, but swinging the pickaxe required several times the physical exertion. Allen vaguely sensed that he was about to embark on a difficult path.

Attila gazed at the village in the rain and said softly, "It is good to use the power we have gained to fight monsters and enemies, but why can't we use it for ourselves? We, who are despised as barbarians by those outside the high walls, may also be able to create great achievements that rival theirs."

Allen sighed slightly and bowed in response, "I think I understand what you mean."

Upon hearing Attila's thoughts, Allen instantly understood his intentions.

Superficial prestige is indeed very important. Not only other tribes on the grasslands, but even people living outside the barrier dare not easily provoke those powerful and prestigious tribes.

Besides these practical considerations, Attila also hoped that, as chosen by the gods, they could become a great clan that could not be ignored on this grassland.

After saying this, Attila smiled bitterly and blamed himself, thinking to himself: I've become at peace with myself now.

Not long ago, they were just refugees struggling to survive until tomorrow, but now they have begun to care about superficial prestige.

Allen looked at him and comforted him, "Hasn't our tribe grown much stronger already? We have nearly a thousand inhabitants, and the number of warriors is constantly increasing. Even before we migrated here, we weren't this large. We should already have enough prestige."

Attila shook his head with a wry smile and replied, "Perhaps in the past."

They have now far surpassed the size of a small tribe; not long ago, they were considered a large tribe with considerable strength.

But the situation has changed. As several grassland conquerors have begun to take active steps, the tribes that were originally scattered across the grasslands are gradually gathering into a large alliance, whether they are willing or not.

Even Theodore, the patriarch who was at odds with them, was one of the leaders of such an alliance.

Attila's expression gradually turned serious, and he continued, "We have steadily built up our power to this day, yet we cannot be at ease. Because in their eyes, we may just be a piece of juicy meat."

He had long anticipated that a direct conflict would eventually erupt between the two sides. Although they were located on the very frontier of the frontier, the resources and supplies in their tribe were so abundant that any steppe tribe would covet them.

At dawn the next day, Attila and his many warriors gathered in the square in the center of the village, staring intently at the equipment displayed on the wagon.

Attila looked at Thorfinn and Durin and asked, "How is it? Did you sense anything too?"

Thorfinn gripped the bone longbow tightly and replied, "Oh, there is indeed some unknown power residing within it. My hand is numb from holding it."

Thorfinn and Dulin unconsciously shrugged, coughed a few times, and began to introduce the equipment to the other soldiers.

These are armor and weapons made from mutant materials, which they obtained by selling Zerg byproducts during monster hunts.

Apart from a few individuals like Lillie who can acquire special equipment in the Dark Souls world, the rest of the tribe still fight using ordinary iron weapons and armor.

Even their powerful bows and iron arrows could not penetrate the insectoids' hard shells, while these weapons, imbued with the power of magical mutants, allowed hunters to inflict effective damage on giant monsters, making them undoubtedly more advanced weaponry.

A new warrior, who had just awakened after obtaining the essence of a monster, gripped a large bow made of bone and leather. After testing it with an arrow with a bone arrowhead, he exclaimed in amazement, "This arrow is absolutely powerful. Please take a look."

The arrow shattered the suspended steel armor in an instant and even penetrated deeply into the wooden stake behind it.

This is not simply physical force, but rather a special force contained within the arrow, powerful enough to shatter the incredibly hard shell of the damaged object.

Attila, who stepped back to observe, seemed to see a more distant future.

He knew very well that although there were only a few items at the moment, if the hunters could continue to supply resources from that world and use these items to arm all the warriors, they would become the strongest warrior group in the area when the tribe expanded and the number of warriors increased.

In fact, Lin Miao, who was watching all of this from outside the screen, had exactly this intention.

Moreover, the investment the soldiers received went far beyond just equipment.

Attila looked at the rookie warriors who had just awakened yesterday and said, "Today, that lord will probably take you to the 'castle'."

Attila explained in detail what was about to happen to the newlyweds, who listened intently to the explanation.

For ordinary people who were not selected, the game world with its limited spots is like a sacred place from legends or myths.

That's why they would pester the warriors all day long to tell them stories of another world, repeatedly depicting that scene in their minds.

Having already grasped this mentality, Attila seized the opportunity to encourage them, saying, "You are chosen by the guardian deity. So it's okay to be happy."

Since they were able to grit their teeth and endure the arduous battles and missions by relying on their faith in the gods and their sense of honor, it was only natural that they would gladly accept this mission.

A young, newly recruited warrior, his eyes filled with anticipation, asked, "Chieftain, what exactly is the significance of the trials sent down by the guardian spirit?"

Attila paused, then hesitated before speaking, "Ah, well..."

But to win people's hearts in this way, Attila needed a simple, plausible "story" that could be explained to the villagers with shining eyes.

In fact, even Attila himself was not entirely clear about the ultimate intentions and full power of the being that protected them.

Although he knew that the other party was providing support to remove the faulty component, this simple fact alone was not enough to convince the hopeful villagers.

Upon hearing of Attila's predicament, Lillie recalled her own experience with the World Order and instantly realized that she needed to explain in detail the intentions and reasons behind the god who directly governed them.

Lillie looked at Attila, who seemed troubled, and said softly, "I think I understand what Father is worried about."