Chapter 14: The Ruthless Player

Chapter 14: The Ruthless Player

Half an hour later.

[Foodie Criminal Syndicate Chat Group (Online: 21 members)]:

Wasnibutterfly: @Everyone! Huge breaking news!! This link lets us download the full version of Darklands! We don’t have to fight for purchase slots anymore!!!

Beaverbeats: Uh… What’s gotten into you, big sis? You’re talking nonsense now.

Shelledheart: I was already half-asleep before you scared me wide awake. Did she finally snap from failing to secure a purchase key?

Wasnibutterfly: @Everyone, I’ll repeat—this link gives us the cracked version of Darklands! Download it now and get in-game. I’ll go tell Grandpa first—he needs to install it too!

Wordduck: This must be real if she’s notifying Iron Master. The strongest warrior in our group is finally returning to action. Time to download.

…

When the group admin mentioned contacting Iron Master, the members instantly realized this wasn’t a joke.

Iron Master, whose in-game name was Ironforged, was known in real life as Li Tie—the grandfather of the group’s founder, Li Siyu.

Once a gene-enhanced soldier in the Human Federation’s Judgment Army, Li Tie had fought against alien warlords who fled to Earth during his youth. After retiring with severe combat injuries, he developed post-traumatic stress disorder, often losing himself in wartime memories and unable to distinguish reality from battlefields. He was a ticking time bomb, unstable and unpredictable.

Under his therapist’s guidance, Li Tie turned to virtual games, continuing his life as a warrior. He became the Foodie Criminal Syndicate’s top enforcer, dominating multiple games with his reputation as an elite player.

Unlike ordinary players who sought fun, Li Tie played only to vent his pent-up fury. This was why the group now took the announcement seriously, rushing to download the game.

…

Foglamp City, Postwar Recovery Center

Gymnasium

Heavy breathing echoed in the room. A muscular, white-haired man performed bench presses, the barbell loaded with an astonishing 800 kilograms—far beyond human limits.

Clack!

He locked the bar back onto the rack and sat up, attaching his prosthetic left leg. Standing at two meters tall, he wore only a sweat-soaked compression vest, his chiseled physique glistening with exertion. Every muscle seemed sculpted for destruction.

Suddenly, his body began trembling.

Battlefield memories surged.

He saw himself in black armor, facing an endless mechanical army. The roar of energy cannons behind him, he led comrades charging into alien machines.

“Kill!”

Reality and illusion blurred again.

When he came to, the gym was in ruins, his fists bloodied.

Slumping to the floor, he gasped for air, chest heaving violently.

Then, a hologram projector embedded in the ceiling activated, forming the image of a youthful, radiant woman in mid-air.

Seeing the wreckage, her expression turned worried.

“Grandpa, your condition’s gotten worse.”

“I’m fine.” A rare smile softened Li Tie’s face at the sight of his granddaughter. “Siyu, what’s up?”

“I found a new game perfect for you! The download link’s in the group chat. Hurry up and install it.”

“Alright.” He nodded without hesitation.

After ending the call, he entered the adjacent bathroom, washed up, changed clothes, and returned to his bedroom to follow Siyu’s instructions.

He didn’t expect much from VR games—they’d always felt artificial and disconnected from reality.

But for him, immersion wasn’t the goal. He simply wanted to fight alongside his granddaughter in-game.

An hour later…

Li Tie’s perspective shifted as he spawned at the Dizhong Village resurrection point.

He reached out, feeling the breeze brush his fingertips—surprise flickering in his usually expressionless eyes.

More shockingly, his missing left leg now responded as if real within the game.

Walking around the village square, he marveled at the lifelike sensation of his prosthetic. This game was unlike any virtual world he’d experienced before.

Suddenly, an in-game notification chimed:

[Player “Wasnibutterfly” has sent a friend request. Accept?]

He accepted. A video call popped up. With a click, a translucent screen materialized, revealing a small chicken avatar with fiery red wings bouncing excitedly.

“Grandpa! We’ve left the village and are heading to Crimson Plains. You wanna explore solo or join us?”

“Solo.”

“Got it! I’ll call you when something happens!”

“Iron Master, show us your strength!”

“Long time no see, Iron Master…!”

Others from the Foodie Criminal Syndicate chimed in behind her.

They weren’t surprised by Li Tie’s choice—Iron Master had always been a lone wolf, only joining during guild wars or faction battles to lead the charge with unmatched power.

Leaving Dizhong Village eastward, Li Tie conversed with his Npc guide while walking along the cobblestone path.

Five minutes later, he encountered his first monster.

A foul-smelling Cursed Soldier (Malevolent Entity) rose from the ground, lifting a rusted broken sword toward him.

Li Tie activated Gargoyle Form.

Unlike other monstrous forms, Gargoyle most closely resembled a humanoid shape—why he’d chosen it.

As the Cursed Soldier swung its blade, Li Tie lunged forward, gripping its elbow joint to halt the strike. He stepped forward, placing his foot between its legs, twisted his body, and sent the creature crashing down.

Then his fists rained down like a storm, shattering the Cursed Soldier’s skull until the fire within its head extinguished.

A black energy orb floated from the corpse, gathering momentum before hurtling into Li Tie’s body.

A wave of exhilaration surged through him—like gulping iced water on a sweltering day. His dormant body awakened, pores opening, revitalized.

The sensation vanished as quickly as it came.

The battle ended, but Li Tie frowned. He’d noticed a flaw.

Every sense—touch, smell, sound—mirrored reality perfectly, yet pain feedback was drastically dulled. His fists struck bones with only physical resistance, but the pain was muted.

Frustrated, he felt the fight lacked intensity. He immediately asked his guide if adjustments were possible.

Upon learning pain settings could be modified, Li Tie opened the Function Panel, dragging the pain feedback slider from the default 10% to 100%.

A rare smirk tugged his lips:

“Now that’s more like it.”

“Hardcore!” The guide gave a thumbs-up, impressed.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end