What the hell is Super Mighty Blue Cat?
The four players present clearly had no childhood. They all looked confused, completely unable to understand Li Ang's reference.
"You're a player too, right?"
The handsome young man in a red suit glanced at the monsters densely surrounding the edge of the woods and said coldly, "You've caused quite a stir, haven't you?"
"Just average, average."
Li Ang shook his head and smiled. "What, you didn't encounter them when you arrived?"
The suit-clad young man was about to speak but suddenly thought of something. Frowning, he said, "Since it's a cooperative mission, show us your player ID first."
Displaying player IDs serves multiple purposes. It enhances understanding (allowing players to judge teammates' strengths from their Title Skills) and builds trust. Furthermore, it prevents scripted mission bosses from impersonating teammates, making it a crucial foundation for player cooperation.
"Thanks for the invite, but you show yours first."
Li Ang was unmoved. "There are too many people in this circle; I need to remain anonymous," he said.
The suit-clad young man grinned, glanced at his other teammates, and revealed his player information:
[Wrath Seething · Ur Wunnian][Lv11]
He was also a Level 11 player, though the specific effect of the Wrath Seething Title Skill was unknown.
The remaining three were silent for a moment before each displayed their player titles.
The player information of the young European woman, Forest Cat, read:
[Rainstorm Swallow · Forest Cat][Lv10]
A swallow in a storm? Does Forest Cat refer to the Norwegian Forest Cat or the Siberian Forest Cat?
The information of the young man in plain clothes and a top hat was:
[Roc Wing Slash · Dong Fengpo][Lv10]
Dong Fengpo is quite something. And Roc Wing Slash... It seemed like an active attack skill of the slashing type.
As for Stonemason, whom Li Ang had encountered before, he did reveal his player information this time:
[Maze Lock Liancheng · Stonemason][Lv11]
Including Li Ang, there were three Level 11 players and two Level 10 players among the five present.
Although there's only a one-level difference between Level 11 and Level 10, the amount of Experience Points required to advance grows significantly as levels increase. A one-level gap signifies more scripted missions, higher clearance ratings, and more abundant, higher-quality equipment and items.
However, the fact that these two Level 10 players were grouped with them also proved they weren't inferior players who had climbed up by mooching points; their individual capabilities were undoubtedly sound.
Li Ang displayed his ID. Since he hadn't revealed his player information to Stonemason in the Abnormal World previously, he now pretended to be entirely unacquainted with him to avoid any potential revenge.
"We still have some time left before the one-hour task limit."
Stonemason broke the silent, oppressive atmosphere. "You just arrived," he said to Li Ang. "We've been discussing what each of us encountered after teleporting. I was transported to a beach. According to my compass, it's likely in the northeastern part of this estate, with the current flowing from southeast to northwest."
Li Ang raised an eyebrow. "Is it an island or part of a peninsula?"
"Based on the variety of coastal plants and biological diversity, I think it's more likely to be a medium to large island." Stonemason shook his head. "As for the exact geographical location, dense fog near the beach and over the sea obscured visibility. Electronic devices like GPS and mobile phones all malfunctioned, making it impossible to determine our coordinates. After observing for a while, I headed southwest toward the manor where I saw light. I moved stealthily, hiding and taking cover whenever I heard noises, until I reached this clearing."
Li Ang thought for a moment. "Um... is there any garbage on the beach?" he asked.
"No, the beach is very clean, with only some withered branches and leaves on the sand." Stonemason shook his head; he clearly understood Li Ang's implication. Due to ocean currents, various types of human-made refuse often wash up on beaches. The quantity and type of this garbage can help deduce the specific era and approximate location of the scripted world.
"I was the second to arrive." Forest Cat spoke up. "I was teleported near a mountain ridge with a direct view of the manor. To avoid the enemies hinted at in the mission's hidden prompts, I took some time and approached slowly."
Dong Fengpo and Ur Wunnian were both teleported near a river, arriving third and fourth at the manor, respectively. On their way, they found each other. However, some creatures hidden in underground tunnels also noticed them and gave chase. Despite considerable effort, they ended up surrounded. Fortunately, with help from Forest Cat and Stonemason, they managed to escape the woods and reach the manor. They also noted that the creatures seemed unwilling to leave the forest.
After the four of them gathered, they didn't rashly enter the manor but waited at the flowerbeds out front to see if any other teammates would arrive.
None of the players had found any signs of human inhabitants in the area. It was either too remote, far from any human settlements on the island, or the place was simply uninhabited.
Li Ang frowned. "Considering these creatures are all over the place," he said, "I think the second possibility is more likely."
"That may not be the case."
Ur Wunnian took an indifferent drag from his cigarette, which showed no sign of shortening. "If there were no people on the island, then who built this ancient manor? I believe people originally lived on the island, but they withdrew after some accident. And that accident is likely connected to the creatures in the woods."
With his gray hair and red suit, Ur Wunnian looked quite dashing. The rakish charm hinted at by the cigarette at the corner of his mouth was particularly striking; in the real world, it would be enough to make countless young women swoon and comment madly, "Oh my god, he's so handsome! What a total dreamboat! Love him, love him!"
This didn't mean his Charm Attribute was exceptionally high. According to the annotations of the "killing games," the Charm Attribute primarily makes a player appear more "pleasing to the eye" to others, increasing their chances of persuasion. It doesn't directly enhance physical attractiveness—if it did, official inspections would easily detect it, which would be undesirable.
There's a featured post on the forum that tests the effects of the Charm Attribute, thoroughly discussing its mechanics and development potential. Some players prioritize the Charm Attribute, raising it to 15 points by Level 10. A flirtatious glance, combined with a Charm Skill, can directly sway a scripted Boss. By using appropriate equipment and items, they can then compel the Boss to willingly become their familiar. In every battle, these players deploy a host of familiars to fight for them.
However, this "Charm Summoning" strategy is wildly unconventional and has high requirements. A Lone Wolf Player who hasn't yet developed Charm Skills might be killed early on due to insufficient combat strength. In other words, only players who are already highly attractive in the real world (with a natural appearance score of 7 or 8) could potentially pursue the Charm strategy, likely with the support of a major organization.
Hmm... Thinking about it, those androgynously beautiful young men in talent shows, each more enchanting and alluring than the last, would be excellent candidates for the Charm Summoning strategy.
However, Charm Summoning has its downsides: the scripted Boss isn't always female, nor always male, and sometimes not even human...