Chapter 52: This One's in the Bag

Chapter 52: This One’s in the Bag

Lu Xing’s dramatic showdown with Mirage Butterfly became an event Qi Sheng followed closely.

The spectacle left him equal parts amused and exasperated.

During the match, Mirage Butterfly’s Hunter Rank skyrocketed by six levels—an outcome Qi Sheng hadn’t anticipated. But he understood why the Primordial Monster had suddenly grown stronger.

Imperial Omen, the creator of Monster World, had forged the game’s foundational framework. Every Primordial Monster born from his power represented a fundamental aspect of the world. These entities couldn’t truly die; even when defeated, they’d respawn elsewhere, perpetuating their existence.

Primordial Monsters had multiple paths to growth. While absorbing external power was one method, the game itself constantly generated energy through natural processes—cultivating flora, forming Spirit Ore, and so on. Any entity adhering to the world’s natural laws could draw from this ambient energy to evolve.

Primordial Monsters, of course, had their own unique behavioral patterns tied to the world’s mechanics. Whether devouring prey, meditating, or even idly loitering, completing these in-game actions granted them “Experience Points,” akin to fulfilling quests assigned by an invisible world Npc.

Mirage Butterfly’s bullying tactics, then, were perfectly logical. By tormenting Lu Xing, it earned divine energy rewards, propelling its level from 7 to 13. What seemed absurd at first glance was actually as natural as human respiration—a symbiotic exchange sustaining the body.

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Dizhong Village

Logging back in, Lu Xing wore a gloomy expression. After years of virtual gaming, he’d finally found a title he adored, only to suffer a humiliating defeat.

Mirage Butterfly’s smug, arrogant smirk haunted him like a curse.

Later, while browsing forum livestreams, he’d seen low-level players daring to challenge the monster. Mirage Butterfly, however, refused to engage—its timid behavior earning it the nickname “Butterfly the Coward” online. Yet against Lu Xing, it unleashed relentless aggression, sending him fleeing in disgrace every time.

The double standard was clear: Mirage Butterfly saw him as easy prey. The realization gnawed at him.

Clutching his fists, he swore silently—I’ll defeat you no matter what.

As he opened his livestream, players flooded the chatroom.

Reading the comments, his expression shifted to bafflement. The chat had become an impromptu motivational seminar, urging him to persevere.

“Keep fighting! Victory will come if you never give up!”

“Try these tactics—we’ve got your back!”

The crowd’s overhyped strategies amused him. Before battles, every viewer became a self-proclaimed expert. But once the fight began, their advice devolved into chaos, utterly useless.

Then a comment caught his eye.

Usernametoolongtonoticebehindtree: You’re so clueless. Let me give you a surefire plan—buy weapons from the arms dealers. Their gear’s insane. Trust me, tech can bridge any power gap.

Lu Xing had heard rumors of the “Doomsday Tech” guild—a notorious group crafting real-world firearms for sale. Their standout performance in the Gloomspire Caverns purification event had earned them the nickname “The Arms Dealers.”

Initially planning to grind levels first, he now reconsidered. The suggestion made perfect sense.

He asked the chat for the guild’s contact details. Moments later, a friend request popped up:

Big Weapon: Brother, here to buy gear?

Explorer: What kinds of weapons do you have?

Big Weapon: Due to budget limits, we’re only selling Spirit Energy Firearms for 150 Sacrificial Power each. Ammo’s free—you buy Spirit Stones from the Mall to load ‘em. But stick to mid-tier stones. High-tier ones risk blowback explosions if you rapid-fire.

Explorer: One Spirit Energy Firearm, please.

Lu Xing confirmed the transaction via neural interface.

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A 3D model of the weapon materialized in his inventory.

Spirit Energy Firearms

Item Quality: Tier 4

Description: A customized weapon by player Big Weapon. The barrel features compressed energy channels, firing explosive spirit rounds that detonate on impact for area damage.

With the deal done, Lu Xing equipped the weapon, his resolve reigniting. He renamed his stream “Reckoning,” embarking on his journey to Stormwhisper Pond amid cheering viewers.

Testing the firearm on a Bloodfiend, he grinned—its firepower was devastating, albeit costly. Each bullet drained Sacrificial Power, devouring most of what he earned from kills.

After shredding another Bloodfiend, his eyes gleamed.

“This one’s in the bag!”

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1 Hour 30 Minutes Later

Face-to-face with Mirage Butterfly, Lu Xing realized his fatal oversight.

Mirage Butterfly could deflect bullets with its wind blades.

“Cheap tactics! Since when did wind blades count as fair play?!”

“Ow! Try a real fight—no Gale Command, no guns. Let’s settle this hand-to-hand!”

The chat roared with laughter as Mirage Butterfly battered him with cyclonic wing strikes.

Crumpled on the ground, bruised and broken, Lu Xing finally grasped a universal truth: Never trust a word streamers say.

For all his gaming grit, Mirage Butterfly’s humiliating assault shattered his resolve. As motivational quotes scrolled past, the dual assault of pain and mockery broke him.

Tears streaking his face, he sobbed:

“Wuwuwu~ Bastard… Never again!”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end